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Pay Backs

Daily writing promptWhat are you curious about?View all responses The level of political diatribe is hitting new heights. The urge to paint your opposition in bold and unappealing colors has become irresistible. It used to be that you restrained yourself because, as the old saying went, ” What goes around, comes around.” Sometimes old truisms, folk wisdom, and proverbs are true. Smear me today,…

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday -

I am not fair-skinned. I have a Mediterranean complexion, and in the summer I tan dark. Back in the days when I sailed every day, you could have described me as “bronzed.” It was good to be out on the water in a small sloop, or on a Laser (a class of small high-performance sailboats). I’ve thought about those days a lot recently as the heat beats down. On the laser ( basically a large surfboard…

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Constantly

A Fandango Flashback Friday Presentation- from August 2021 Sometimes find it’s hard to know the difference between love and abuse. In my day, I slipped and stumbled from one bad relationship to another. Some were so bad that comparison to a horrible medical condition, say diverticulitis, is not unwarranted. You become seduced by the idea of love. You see your friends enjoying, or oblivious in,…

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Last on The Card- July, 2025

Here it is. The crew has been shortening sail in a big blow and it is not pretty: The foremast is already gone over the side. Why did I take this picture? Because I carve portraits of boats and ships and sails full of wind are easy. But sails that are slack or partially furled have proven to be a challenge. I spotted this painting at Newburyport’s wonderful Custom House Museum ( if you visit,…

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Man of Mystery

Daily writing promptHow would you describe yourself to someone who can’t see you?View all responses Describe myself? Lets see during the warm weather there is a tendency towards patterned Hawaiian shirts, Dock pants and garish decorated T shirts. I stand out. During the winter, it’s long-sleeved T-shirts or Henley shirts, Dock pants, and sweaters. If I am going into the shop it’s a bit absurd to…

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Flora? Fauna? It's A Bird!!!

Dad goes on, and on sometimes! It’s Flora, It’s Fauna… It’s a F’in Bird!

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Got Tradition?

Daily writing promptWhat traditions have you not kept that your parents had?View all responses You need to realize that when you start a family, it’s not just about you. It’s nice to keep family traditions, but there is another person involved, and they are bringing baggage to the new family unit, too. Your new unit is not faulty or in any way defective, if your new family is not a carbon copy…

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Into the unknown

Daily writing promptWas today typical?View all responses I think that by the time you reach thirty, you’ve pretty much disabused the idea of everyday being a clean slate. You and the world both bring too much history to the slugfest for those types of illusions. Each day may have the unknown, but it also has some quotidian rhythm to it. Get up. Got to work. Wash dishes and do the laundry. Can’t…

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Judy's Number Game - #83

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Elevator Talk

Daily writing promptHow would you describe yourself to someone?View all responses Self-description. The deluxe route to self-aggrandizement. Too humble, and people believe that you have poor self-confidence. Too grandiose, and you imply a Napoleon Complex – especially when you tuck that hand into the jacket. Entire texts have been composed by people promoting resumes, Curriculum Vitae, and…

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Scam

Let’s face it. We all need a pet, well-trained velociorator around the house. Yes, they are a bit rambunctious, need lots of fresh meat, and their ancient reptile mind has its limits in terms of trainability. But just think of the joy you’ll get when you set it free on the most recent rip-off artist who knocks on your door offering to sell and install cut-rate solar panels! Yes! The joys of…

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Down East?

Daily writing promptIf you won two free plane tickets, where would you go?View all responses Two tickets? I don’t need to go far this time of year. I’d just take a hop to the regional airport near the little island where I used to live on the coast of Maine. This time of year, it’s heaven. The sailboats and lobster boats signal to the bridge keeper to open the bridge, the bells ring, the bridge…

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It Was What?

Daily writing promptWhat’s the story behind your nickname?View all responses Parts of this post appeared in 2023, when this prompt first appeared. I’ve edited it a bit and added on to it. So it’s a bit different. There’s a lot in a name. For some, it’s a measure of their identity, and for others a memento of the past.  Take mine, for example. A whole raft of people only knew me by the name…

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Motor Mouth

for Fandango’s Flashback Friday – from July 25, 2023 Some cultures view disease not as a disorder of the body caused by viruses or microorganisms. They view it as an illness in the community. An objective of healing is to bring the communal body back to health. Rites and rituals are used to bring about a reconciliation of the fabric of society as well as to heal the individual. Recently I’ve…

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Nosing About

Daily writing promptWhat strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being?View all responses Ask anyone nosing about the seventh decade of life, and you won’t find too many brags about how spry, well-toned, and athletic they are. OK, there will be a few. But for the most part, if you remain healthy, you are occupied with staying that way. If your health status has slipped, you are…

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My Inner Child, and Me

The fleet was in! That’s the fleet of one, me. Last week, I was down to the coast three times. Delivering work, consulting, and goofing around. What’s not to like? Then the week before, I was also there on the weekend to take my sweetie to a late lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. The result was one delighted couple. Travel plans for the rest of the summer? More of the same, as often as…

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One Liner Wednesday!

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” Groucho Marx