SUMMER’S HERE....July 31st

It’s the last day of July; what will August bring? Will COVID-19 still be in the news?  Will some other big news story take its’ place? I look back on the past thirty-one days and I notice nothing major in my life occurred.  Being sort of in flux or grounded or quarantined from many places is not what I expected for the summer.  In a way we need to keep a positive attitude things will begin to get back to some state of normal in the coming months.  Lately I’ve been taking things day by day and not looking ahead.  I’m trying to stay the course, focused and safe.   Yesterday I went to gas up my car.  Walking into the mini-market to pay, my eyes first needed to adjust from the bright sunlight.  I had on my mask which fogged up my glasses.  I did not see the young thirty something standing in the safe distance line.  He let me go ahead of him; then explained why he was not masked.  He had medical issues and said had doctor’s  note he can’t be masked. I explained I understood; thanked him for letting me go before him.  There are, I realized, good people out there. 

Do I like being masked? NO, but complying with what I must do.  I did my next errand in a place  I swear did not have their a/c turned up.  Again the foggy glasses from the mask.  I realized when I left for gas I forget hand sanitizer but hubby brought gloves to use at the pump.  I now am making a LEAVE THE HOUSE TO DO LIST, but more about that tomorrow.  

I thought back on the past month and if I did anything exciting; the answer is NO! Oh I got an oil change; picked up a pizza at my favorite place and did errands.  Yeah!

If it were not quarantined times, I’d be out checking out events at the veterans clubs and fraternal clubs where I hold membership.  

I wrote the last of the JULY pieces about the month ending. This was indeed a challenge to do each day but I did it. 

As for the verse today it centers around the thought to live each day. Forget the past as you can not change it and you aren’t sure what the next day brings.  You can plan for tomorrow but things unexpectedly can change. 

Until tomorrow....it’s Friday so wear the RED to Remember Everyone Deplored.  

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴        

     July 31st....DAILY REFLECTIONS 

It’s Friday....it’s the last day of July....the   

      week sped by....so did the month

I looked back on this past month....most 

    exciting thing I did was get an oil change 

           on my car..oh picked up a pizza last 

             Friday

Maybe to celebrate the end of the month I’ll 

   go to Happy Hour at LA SALLE de 

         SEJOUR....they have Blue Moon Beer

            there....Cheers 

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

               

                 JULY 31st

         © Scottie-ann Murphy

 July bids us farewell today, goodbye, 

               goodbye, goodbye 

Unsure we are of what next month will bring

Let’s pray things improve for the better in 

                 August 

You and I need positivity during these times 

        of uncertainty 

       

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

            NEW MONTH BEGINS 

           © Scottie-ann Murphy

The month of July concludes today

A new month begins tomorrow 

What will August bring for us

Will it be uncertainty, woes and sorrow 

Life is like a game of poker 

Unforeseen what the cards will hold

Do you keep the ones your dealt

Or should you just go and fold

We all must decide to live for the day

Don’t worry about what’s in the past 

Tomorrow is too unpredictable 

Each day a new die is cast

No matter what you do today

Good, bad, indifferent or pleasant 

Just remember the quote ‘today’s a gift

That’s why it’s called the present

Stay FOCUSED

   Stay SAFE

       Stay THE COURSE

SUMMER’S HERE....July 30th

  

Whew was today’s challenge hard to complete.  I had to do three verses about each of veterans clubs where I frequent.  It was a ten minute to write each one (30 minutes total).  For my Legion I thought about the Wednesday lunch I generally order.  I love those bacon cheeseburgers that Sammy the cook serves; of course his BLTs are nothing to sneeze at either.  If I had to rate his burgers and BLTs they’d be an elven on a one to ten scale. 

My VFW Post has a great head bartender and words can’t describe her.  She got nicknamed Beer Goddess and Weenie Queen due to the sausage and hot dogs she cooks up behind the bar.  I have never seen her mad at anyone; always smiling even during periods of personal problems.  I do miss going to visit her too. The last piece is for all the bartenders of my AMVETS post.  Words can not express how much I miss going there (I’m their Facebook page ad person) and I miss doing it.  So to keep with the challenge I wrote about how I miss these places right now.  

As for the JULY piece, I’m thinking about vodka later today but only have grape juice at home to have with it; but do have frozen lemonade I can make up.  Also I think there’s a bottle of sour mix I need to use so who knows. 

Another up early day not sure why no place to go today.  Ah well it’s just another day of still quarantined.  

Today is National Chili Dog Day and National Chicken and Waffles Day as well as National Cheesecake Day; hopefully you’ll find something to satisfy your hunger today. 

Until tomorrow....it’s FRIDAY EVE; enjoy the day. 

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

   July 30th....DAILY REFLECTIONS 

Up before before the sunrise....up before 

     the neighbors dog went out for his 

        morning pee....the traffic at 6am on my 

          street insane

It wouldn’t be too bad but     

       everyone going over the speed       

        limit....you’d think they were practicing 

           for a race at the race track

Wonder what news alerts will pop up on my 

     phone today....yesterday more COVID-19 

          numbers....getting old for sure 

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

                    JULY 30th

          ©  Scottie-ann Murphy

Juice and vodka, orange or cranberry 

   would be nice 

  Unfortunately grape is what I have on 

           hand

     Lemonade with the vodka will surely 

           suffice

      You know that really was all along my    

             plan

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

             WEDNESDAY LUNCH

       (For Legion Post 69....July 30, 2020) 

            © Scottie-ann Murphy

I miss Wednesday lunches at Legion 

   Post 69

When I’m there I have a good time 

 Sammys’ bacon cheeseburgers are really 

      great

On scale of one to ten, an eleven I rate

Can’t venture out to there to make the 

       scene 

They are closed thanks to COVID-19

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

             WEARING THE TIARA

  (For Reggi VFW Post 4300, July 30, 2020)

      ©  Scottie-ann Murphy 

Indeed I miss going to the VFW Post

  Bartender Reggi is truly the most

    She is the Goddess of the drinks and 

                beer

        Always smiling at everyone and full of 

                  cheer

          Cooking us up those sausages and 

                 weenies

            Reggi is also known as the hot dog     

                 Queenie 

              Queen or Goddess she wears the 

                     crown

               On her face never do you see a 

                       frown

                To Weenie Queen we bow and 

                       shout hail

                   I do miss seeing you, Goddess of 

                           Ale

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

                   MISSING YOU

(For Lisa, Renee, Denny, Teresa, Bill, 

          George and Bob st AMVETS Post 21

             July 30, 2020)

            ©  Scottie-ann Murphy

Bill, Renee, Denny, Teresa, George, Bob and 

         Lisa

Just wanting you to know I really do miss ya

Serving me always the drink special of the 

        day

“Hello and how are you doing”, always you’ll 

         say

AMVETS Post 21, I enjoy your atmosphere 

For an ice cold mug, cocktail or long neck 

         beer

Glass of vino, Margarita or Bloody Mary

The drink I order,  it always does vary

Always have a good time making the 

         AMVETS scene

Sure do miss seeing you all, thanks 

         COVID-19

SUMMER’S HERE....July 29th

My husband decided I should make a funny piece about characters in nursery rhymes.  It all had to do with me saying

“Hickory....Dickory....Dock

    The time beer o’clock”

So I decided to do the JULY piece about characters in rhymes; then I decided to write a verse about them.  I loved these rhymes as a kid; although I wonder if kids today read them or have them read to them.  

The second piece I composed came from something I told my husband about the other day.  It had to do with a writing prompt I had in the group I once belonged.  The premise was to write the whole story in conversation.  He challenged me to do it about the wacky holiday for today. To say this was easy, no it was not.  As there were few to choose from I picked one I liked.   I did the conversation from the point of a couple deciding on lunch. They bantered back and forth about where to go and what to eat. The places are actually businesses in the Luzerne County area of Pennsylvania.  

A few of my earlier flash fiction (from years ago) were centered in the location of Northeast Pennsylvania.  Even though I wrote them while living in Florida, the area and situations were ideal for the stories.  I’ve heard it one time, about writing what you know.  Not sure if it all rings true but it seems a few of my lake and rainy day pieces I’ve done this year come from an image of Harveys Lake; not that the situations were true but the location.  

Today I reflected on Wednesday as it’s trash day.  I’m glad the bins are picked up by the truck so the collectors can’t see what I’m recycling or throwing out; especially bottles.  Today is a double “W” day; wings and wine.  As it’s National Chicken Wing Day I’m hoping to get some. Lately I’ve been a fan of garlic wings for some reason.  

Until tomorrow....Happy Hump day; one of my Facebook friends posted it is her Friday so I told her Happy TGIF.  Enjoy your wings. 

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

July 29th....DAILY REFLECTIONS 

Wednesday it is....”W” day for me....it’s     

     Wine O’WEDNESDAY....it’s National 

        Chicken WING Day

A two “W” day.....WINGS and WINE

   of course both will be enjoyed at 

    home....that’s how it is at the moment

As it’s Wednesday it’s also the  day my 

    trash bin and recycle bin gets rolled out   

      to the curb....glad both are picked up 

       automatically by the truck....hate for 

          them to see what’s inside 

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

                JULY 29th

             © Scottie-ann Murphy

Jack and Jill climbed a hill going to fetch  

         water....they did their chores

Under the hayloft slept Little Boy Blue 

    instead of tending his sheep....definitely a 

             slacker 

Little Miss Muffet and Little Jack Horner sat 

     around eating....two gluttons no doubt

Young Roger tapped on the window of Dolly 

       wanting to get inside....wonder why 

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

          NURSERY RHYME KIDS 

         ©  Scottie-ann Murphy 

Jill and Jack went up a hill to get water

  Two little kids doing chores 

    Showing responsibility 

Sheep tenders Bo Peep and Little Boy Blue

 Two little slackers were they 

    He fell asleep while tending his 

       Bo misplaced hers 

But at least the sheep tenders tried 

     to be productive 

Not like Miss Muffet and Little Jack Horner

 They just sat around eating pie and curds

 🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦

                     WING DAY

             ©  Scottie-ann Murphy

“Where would you like to go for lunch”,  he 

          asked. 

“It doesn’t matter to me; any place you pick   

              is fine”, she replied.

“No I can’t do that. It’s your turn to decide,” 

             he informed her. 

“Grotto Pizza, we can order antipasto salad   

         and pizza”, she said. 

“Don’t really want pizza today; had it   

          yesterday”, he explained.  

“As always we can’t decide”, she remarked. 

   

“You know what? How about the Chicken 

        Coop?” He questioned. 

“WING DAY” they both exclaimed. “Let’s 

           celebrate!” 

SUMMER’S HERE....July 28th

This was indeed an odd challenge.  On Sunday I saw a post on social media listing odd words.  I read the list to my husband who decided to be funny and said the writings would be using one if the words in each line of a poem.  I looked up the meaning of a few as I wrote the piece. The first piece SHOPPING TRIP centers around two people shopping and the one buys a useless item or so the other person thinks. 

The other piece NOT INTERESTED is just that.  A verse about a woman confused about whether or not she’s interested in the man.  She tells him she’s not interested but perhaps she would be at some point.  

This was not only two fun pieces but educational to learn meanings of these words.  

The JULY piece takes an odd turn. I was to find strange words to use to spell out JULY. This acrostic piece took awhile as I looked to words to use then out it together.  I sort of like the word YUMPLING and will use it in my lexicon of words. After finding words I was able to make up the piece about a woman waiting for a man in a diner for breakfast during stormy weather.  

I also put the translation after the piece for you to understand the words used ( they are underlined). 

Not sure what my husband has up his sleeves next as a challenge. You’ll find out tomorrow and I’ll find out today. 

This morning those odd funny words came to mind as I reflected on the news media.  They came in handy to use.  I may use them for awhile now as well as the ones from the JULY piece.  It’s Tuesday and as someone sent me something that ‘Tuesday is just Monday’s ugly sister’.  I found it funny. 

Until tomorrow....it’s National Chocolate Milk Day.   Enjoy. 

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

         July 28th....DAILY REFLECTIONS 

What new malarkey will the news media 

    put out today....getting so I can’t even 

      watch it or read it....I mute my radio 

             when it comes on while in the car  

It flabbergasts me some of the conflicting 

      things out there....especially when it 

        comes to staying safe from COVID-19

Evidently it’s ok to be out ordering a     

    cheeseburger and beer....but a beer itself    

       is taboo....it’s all gobbledygook to me 

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

                     JULY 28th

              ©  Scottie-ann Murphy

Jenticulating at the diner sipping coffee 

Umblook waiting for him to arrive 

 Leasty weather keeping everyone home

 Yumpling will not make change the 

            elements 

*********************************************

Translation of the JULY 28th piece

Having breakfast at the diner sipping coffee

Look about waiting for him to arrive 

Dull rainy weather keeping everyone home

Complaining will not change the elements

*********************************************

                 

⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳

                    SHOPPING TRIP 

               © Scottie-ann Murphy

 Flabbergasted as you might be

I know I’m not full of Malarkey 

Poppycock on what you’re trying to say

I don’t plan to Lollygag in this store all day

That Whatchamacallit there is really nice

But I’m so Gobsmacked at the price

Now listen to me you Nincompoop 

I don’t need any of your Gobbledygook 

That the Thingamajig I want to purchase

Is not  just a Doohickey that will served no 

      purpose

That Whatnot will sit on the fireplace 

         mantel

So once I buy it from the store we will    

     Skeddadle 

⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️⌛️

 

                 NOT INTERESTED 

               © Scottie-ann Murphy 

💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰

Bamboozled for spending all that money

Your Shennigans are not so funny

It’s all Codswallop don’t you see

That you can Canoodle here with me

I’m quite Discombulated I must say 

So take your Persickerty self leave right 

           away

  Don’t come back

SUMMER’S HERE....July 27th

The challenge was to write my JULY piece about Christmas in July.  The timed fiction (flash fiction) was to center around idea of never assume.  I took it a tad further and used the idea of Christmas in July as theme with it.  This time I had thirty minutes to get it done (the flash fiction story).  It was a fun story to write as I thought about someone celebrating Christmas in the summer.  

I like Christmas and probably now being home with nowhere to go, watched every Hallmark movie this month.  I thought about bringing a Santa out to display but decided not.  

After again waking up before Mr. Sun 🌞 I thought about two of the wacky holidays today. Such odd thoughts and reflections definitely.   

Today is Monday and a new week begins. I’m going to receive a different writing challenge each day not one for the week.  I don’t know what my husband has planned to give me but if it’s anything like this should be interesting.  

Until tomorrow....make this a good day and enjoy your day. 

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

           July 27th....DAILY REFLECTIONS 

As I look at two of the weird/wacky holidays   

    for today I ponder....after celebrating 

       NATIONAL SCOTCH DAY can you walk 

         on stilts to celebrate WALK on STILTS        

                DAY

I’m also wondering if NATIONAL SCOTCH  

     DAY do they mean Hop Scotch or 

       Johnnie Walker scotch....

         I loved playing hop scotch as a 

          kid....now it’s playing with Johnnie 

            Walker or Dewars scotch

After a few on the rocks....I’ll be hopping to 

    lay down for nappy time....or the day 

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

🎄🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🙏🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅

                    JULY 27th 

            ©   Scottie-ann Murphy

Jingle bells, it’s Christmas in July

   Unfortunately Santa is not coming 

      Let’s hang our stockings anyways

        You never know, he just might show up

🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅

🔴🔵🔴🔵🔴🔵🔴🔵🔴🔵🔴🔵🔴🔵🔴

            ASSUMING, NEVER DO

             ©  Scottie-ann Murphy 

Madison decided to be more creative that Saturday.  Instead of hosting one of the weird/wacky holidays of the day events, she decided to think out of the box and host another event.  Her friends took turns on either Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon being host for their weekly get together.  A year ago they decided to make it a themed event; and use one of the wacky holidays of the day as the theme or if they could not find one that appealed to them one of the monthly celebrations.  Only on a rare occasion did anyone revert to using one of the monthly weird holidays. But tonight things were going to be different; a Christmas in July evening would take place.  Although it was not on any of the lists to which Madison referred, Christmas in July was always in the news for charity events and of course the Hallmark Channel showing holiday movies all month.  She took one of her table top Christmas trees and placed it on a folding table in the living room.  The tree now decorated with colorful lights, ornaments, garland and tinsel. Under the tree she placed a present for everyone. On the top she placed a lighted star.  The scent of bayberry and pine filled the air in her apartment thanks to burning candles.  Madison baked cut out Christmas cookies in shapes of trees, candy canes, stockings and stars.  She even made each person a gingerbread man.  A red and green table cloth was placed on the the snacks and appetizer table.  She even took out her holiday plates and glassware.  A CD of Christmas songs played in the background.  Madison was more than excited for the evening.  She wondered what she would wear, then decided on the ugly Christmas tee shirt she purchased on sale after the last Christmas holiday. In fact,  she had purchased ugly Christmas tees for her friends as gifts at the same time. Tonight she’d hand them the shirt to wear; instead of waiting until December.   

None of her friends knew what type of evening would be in store, not even Austin her boyfriend.  They were shopping a few days earlier and he noticed she was purchasing a shirt with golf clubs and golf balls as the design.  When he asked what she had planned for Saturday, she replied he had to wait and see, as it would be a total surprised.  She did not want to give away the theme.  Others asked her the same thing and she gave them the same response.  

What usually happen was everyone would wait for one another to arrive then go into the host residence together.  It was a perfect solution as once Madison heard them knock on the door she’d crank up the music. There was one thing she had hoped to do but it could not happen.  Her neighbor who plays Santa during December took a vacation and would not be available to make an appearance.  Looking around her apartment, Madison smiled at the Christmas decor.   She was ready.  She could hardly wait for when she opened the door and her friends walked inside to Christmas in July night.  

She was lost in thought for a few minutes about Sunday afternoon and her upcoming golf outing.  It been awhile since she had an opportunity to get out on the links. She even purchased a new shirt to wear.  

 A loud knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She hurried and put on her Santa hat as she went to turn up the music; the singer on the CD sang of sleigh bells ringing and jingling.  Madison opened the door. 

“Merry Christmas in July,” she said.  

To her surprise everyone was dressed up in funny golfing outfits and carrying a putter.  Her friends noticed her tee shirt and hat and could hear the background music. 

They all began to laugh as they walked inside. 

“I thought for sure you’d be doing a golf theme as it’s Family Golf Month. I told everyone that’s the theme tonight.  After all you bought that funky shirt the other day,” said Austin as he looked around the apartment. 

Realizing his mistake that he should not have assumed, he said “Do we get presents?.”

    

SUMMER’S HERE....July 26th

The JULY piece seemed to just write itself. 

I thought about scrolling through Facebook and seeing jokes, funny stories and stuff to make me laugh; then I see something to depress me or get me aggravated. I do like seeing photos posted especially of family. 

I guess today’s July piece rings true to life. 

As for the last wacky/weird holiday piece I had to do a timed flash fiction. It came to me as I played Hearts on my phone. A person playing cards, poker actually, trying to win the big money pot.  As I typed I thought about best way to have the lead character win; decided it would be with wild cards.  It was a fun piece to try to get out.  

The free verse focuses on a couple just putting everything on hold for a day to do things they enjoyed while dating. It reminds me of something I wrote years ago about romance and romantic things.  I had thoughts about what would be an interesting day for two people.  These all came to mind.  

This morning I was up early again for me.  It was foggy as I looked out my window and down towards the lake but now the sun is out.  As for the coffee cup, I decided to start using one of the others I own for a change. Unfortunately it holds less than my last one.  Yes I did break my favorite wine glass the other day.  Does that mean seven years of drinking bad wine?  

This is the last of the wacky/weird holidays I had as a challenge for this week.  I’m looking forward to my next challenge for next week.  

Until tomorrow....have a Blessed Sunday. 

☕️ ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

      July 26th....DAILY REFLECTIONS 

Another day up before sunrise....tad bit of 

      fog looking down towards the lake 

Aroma of coffee actually woke me up....it’s 

     going to be a three cup day....reason is I 

        changed to a different mug to use....it 

            doesn’t hold as much as the last

That’s a good excuse I guess....I can use 

         this about my wine glass too....my    

           favorite one got broke....new doesn’t 

               hold as much as the old 

☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

                     

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

                   JULY 26th

          © Scottie-ann Murphy 

Jokes, puns, funny stories give me a 

    chuckle as I scroll through Facebook

Until I see a depressing story that takes  

       away my good feeling

Looking at my newsfeed at times 

    interesting, as I see what everyone on 

         my friends list is doing

Yesterday I saw two of them posted photos 

     of meals they made; they looked tasty

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

           DOING IT ALL or NOTHING 

           ©   Scottie-ann Murphy

    (For National All or Nothing Day,

                 July 26th)

How about you and I forget about 

      everything today

 And spend the day together 

 Play hooky from our lives 

  Doing whimsical romantic activities we 

      enjoyed when we first met 

View the sunrise by the lake as we sip 

       coffee 

Take a stroll along a sandy beach

      picking up seashells

Relax enjoying a picnic in the park

  Our basket filled with a baguette, 

      pepperoni, cheese, grapes, olives and 

            wine

Sit on the old patchwork quilt and talk about 

      whatever comes to mind 

Drink a few margaritas at a happy hour, 

     munch on salsa and chips 

 Appetizers and cold beers will be our 

        dinner

No calories we count today

Enjoy ice cream cones with two different 

      flavors 

Afterwards view the setting sun 

 as our day together comes to a close 

Let’s do all these things today or nothing at 

      all 

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

                 

  🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵  

             GAME NIGHT 

             © Scottie-ann Murphy

    (For National All or Nothing Day,

                July 26th)

Madison looked at her cards. Which ones should she discard and which to keep.  For this hand the dealer called twos and one-eyed Jacks wild. She thought about how she had lost continuously after winning her first hand of the evening.  Madison was not lucky in cards, but played because it was Austin’s turn to call the game this week for game night.  He picked poker.  Austin enjoyed all types of card games, Hearts, Pitch, Spades, Uno and he even owned a deck of Old Maid. Each week one of the group picked what games they’d be playing for game night. Staci usually picked charades or Pictionary; Mick liked games on the Wii or video games but Madison enjoyed board games. As she stared at her cards she decided which three to discard.  

“I’ll take three”, she said to Staci the dealer. 

Staci dealt her three new cards. 

Madison looked at the three cards.  As she plotted her next move she heard Mick say he’d fold. It was now up to the remaining players.  Staci said she’d raise the pot, Madison and Austin followed suit.  Austin then told Staci that he’d see her raise and raise again.  Staci was looking a bit worried; whenever she seemed a bit uneasy she would bite her lower lip.  Madison had a feeling Staci was bluffing when she raised the pot; but unlike Madison, she had not won a hand all night.  At least Madison had won the third hand but since then folded or lost. Madison was determined to win this hand. She smiled at both Austin and Staci as she said she’d see their raise and raise the pot again.  Both looked dumbfounded.  They figured Madison was just bluffing.   The look of determination on Madison’s face said it all.  She would not be folding; but continue forward.  Staci thought for a moment as she looked down at the five cards in her hand.   She had a ten of diamonds, queen of hearts, queen of clubs,  a nine of clubs and a two of diamonds (one of the wild cards).  She had three of a kind by using the wild card.  She decided she would just fold now.  After all she counted up the number of wild cards being used this hand; there were six. Odds were that Madison or even Austin had one or possibly more than one.  

It was now up to Austin and Madison. Austin smiled at Madison; she knew that was his I’m going to be champ smile. 

“I’ll raise” he said as he put money into the pot. 

Madison sighed; she again looked at her hand. 

“I’ll see your raise and raise all I have.” 

She pushed her money into the pot.  Everyone looked more than surprised. 

“It’s all or nothing”, she said looking straight at Austin. 

“All or nothing”, he replied in a smug tone as he pushed his money into the middle of the table. He thought Madison was trying to bluff.  

“I call”, said Madison with a tone of confidence. 

Austen put his cards on the table. 

“Full house”, he said, “three nines and two kings.”

“Oh wow”, Madison exclaimed.  She could barely be heard by the others. “Thats a good hand.” Her voice now a bit loud. 

She smiled and looked at the three sitting around the table. She waited a few moments then put down her five cards; a two of spades, a jack of hearts, an eight of spades, the ace of clubs and ace of hearts.  She had four aces thanks to the two wild cards. 

Austin could not believe what he saw in front of Madison.  The look on his face priceless.  

“I said it was all or nothing” Madison said sweetly as she started to grab for the pot in the middle of the table. 

Eight dollars and thirty cents the big winnings for the night. 

SUMMER’S HERE....July 25th

I had two timed writing challenges for today. The first piece deals with the holiday for today, National Wine and Cheese Day.  The verse centers around the narrator not being a wine or cheese connoisseur.  They decide to just go with the flow on what to eat and drink to celebrate the day. 

The other is a flash fiction, twenty minute timed writing, about woman hosting the wacky/weird holiday of the day.  She decides to serve box wine to her guests. The end actually is comical on what she was thinking. 

I had fun doing the fiction story. It came out about how I saw it play out in my mind. 

As for today’s JULY piece it deals with my every Friday outfit which my husband terms my Friday uniform.  I guess he’s right.  Lately I’ve added a red hat and socks; I also wear a few red bracelets.  

My daily reflection centers is all over the place.  Mostly it’s the about MLB returning.  I’ve seen conflicting stories from media that teams are kneeling but I’ve seen it before they play the anthem and that the players do stand.  But if it’s true the players are kneeling, I won’t be watching baseball.  I only hope college players don’t start this. 

It’s foodie wacky holidays today. 

It’s National Chili Dog Day, National Hot Fudge Sunday Day and National Wine and Cheese Day.  

Until tomorrow....enjoy your Saturday.  

🥎⚾️🥎⚾️🥎⚾️🥎⚾️🥎⚾️🥎⚾️🥎⚾️🥎

       July 25th....DAILY REFLECTIONS 

It’s Saturday again....and next Saturday a 

       new month begins....can’t believe it

So the MLB has begun play....now  these 

     guys doing the kneeling....I see 

            conflicting stories on this issue 

Not too long until college football 

     begins....only football I’ll watch....unless 

          they start kneeling during 

               the National Anthem 

🥎⚾️🥎⚾️🥎⚾️🥎⚾️🥎🥎🥎🥎⚾️🥎⚾️

             

🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝

                 JULY 25th 

            © Scottie-ann Murphy

Jean shorts and red shirt outfit of the    

         day

 Uniform of Friday, I wear the same each 

         week

 Lately I’ve added red socks and a red hat 

     to the attire 

Yesterday was Friday, I wore the red to 

      Remember Everyone Deployed 

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

           WHATEVER IS ON HAND 

         ©  Scottie-ann Murphy 

(For National Wine and Cheese Day, m

      July 25th)

A glass of Chablis and vintage cheddar 

     cheese

 With a few wheat crackers 

Indeed a tasty pairing

But I am in the mood for Swiss

What wine should I drink? 

I’m not a wine and cheese connoisseur 

It will be whatever I have on hand

 Guess it’s Lambrusco with cheddar 

    cheese spread on saltines 

Actually it doesn’t really matter 

  as long as it’s wine and cheese

So I can celebrate the day

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

             THE ONE SHE PICKED

        ©  Scottie-ann Murphy

(For National Wine and Cheese Day,

    July 25th)

Staci stood looking for the items in the refrigerator.  She found the bricks of sharp cheddar cheese, mild cheddar and Swiss, as well as the port wine cheese spread she purchased the other day.  She took them out of the refrigerator and began to place them on the fancy platters.  The bricks of cheese had to be cut into little cubes first.  The cheese was then arranged on the platters along with red and green grapes and strawberries. 

The port wine spread was placed in the middle of another platter; various type crackers set around the container of the spread.  It made an appealing sight.  

Now all Staci had to do was set everything out on the serving hatch.  Her portable bar was placed close to the serving area.   On the bar she placed wine glasses, wine charms and an ice bucket (for those wanting ice in their drinks) and eventually the wine would be set there. 

Staci was ready for her friends to arrive to celebrate the wacky/weird holiday of National Wine and Cheese Day.  This was her Saturday to host the wacky/weird holiday of the day. The group with which she hung out always took turns on Saturday to host the weird holiday of the day. She had a few from which to choose today; but felt this would be a better event.  After all she had plenty of wine and needed to do something with it; why not celebrate National Wine and Cheese Day.  Everyone should begin to arrive shortly.  Staci took the wine out of her wine cooler and placed it on the bar.  She just hoped they’d like her various flavors of Cardboardeaux as she termed wine that came in a box.  Her friends should be glad she wasn’t serving the wine she had in the gallon bottles or the Boone’s Farm her brother gave her as a joke on her birthday.  

 

SUMMER’S HERE....July 24th

Today is Friday again. Today my JULY piece is centering around Mexican food or as I call it Tex-Mex.  I’m a fan of chips and salsa as well as the other items listed in the piece.  Of course, I can’t order it and bring it home, I need to be out and about to enjoy; going to a local establishment for their homemade salsa one of my favorite outings.  My Legion Post has tacos, quesadillas and taco salads available on Thursdays with margaritas at a reasonable price.  My husband is a fan of fajitas from yet another place.  At the moment I am yearning some of these items, but have to wait till places open again to full capacity to partake in this fare.  

I composed the wacky/weird holiday piece all about tequila drinks as it’s National Tequila Day.  The only tequila base drink I enjoy are margaritas.  I’ve had shooters, two are my limit and probably one should be.  As for a Tequila Sunrises, they are overly sweet; do not like them.  I can not even think a Bloody Maria would be something I’d enjoy as I’m a fan of a good, really good, Bloody Mary.  I’m certain there are other tequila based drinks but I only know of these four that I’d probably want as a celebratory drink for the day.  Of course the piece is true to form as I don’t have tequila at home.  

I’m reflecting on people who can’t drive in the rain. I think they see a few rain drops and panic. I remember people like that in the snow. I wonder if these are the people who lived up in snow areas who transplanted to Florida are the ones who can’t drive in the rain. The rain kept me from doing things yesterday, but I’m determined they will be done today. 

It’s Friday the day of wearing of the red. 

Until tomorrow....have a margarita or two to celebrate the day. 

⛈☔️⛈☔️⛈☔️⛈☔️⛈☔️⛈☔️⛈☔️🌩

     July 24th....DAILY REFLECTION 

A rainy Thursday....kept me indoors....now 

    yesterday’s errands will be done today

Not that I’d melt if I went out in the rain....

  it’s the people who can’t drive in it

Up North it was drivers who couldn’t drive 

    in snow....now it’s drivers who can’t drive 

       in the rain

☔️⛈☔️⛈☔️⛈☔️⛈☔️⛈☔️⛈☔️⛈☔️

🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮

                  JULY 24th 

            © Scottie-ann Murphy 

Just thinking of tacos, salsa and chips,  

       taco salad whets my appetite 

Unless fajitas or quesadillas are on the 

        menu 

Like all these tasty Mexican foods, never 

     know which to choose 

Yearning for the day I can go out to enjoy       

       them again 

🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮

    

🔴🟤🔴🟤🔴🟤🔴🟤🔴🟤🔴🟤🔴🟤🔴

              CAN’T CELEBRATE

      (National Tequila Day, July 24th)

       ©  Scottie-ann Murphy

Salt, lime, tequila in a shot glass

  a few Tequila Shooters can knock me

    on my keister 

    I MUST CELEBRATE THE DAY

Squeeze a lime, add triple sec 

    liqueur and tequila

    tasty Margaritas can do the trick

Straight up, over ice or frozen

     as long as the glass rim is salty 

    I MUST CELEBRATE THE DAY

Of course a Tequila Sunrise would be 

    sweet and delicious 

      having one or two sounds like a plan 

      I MUST CELEBRATE THE DAY 

Perhaps I’ll have a Bloody Maira

    celery stalk, olives, a dash of horseradish 

        a twist on the vodka base drink 

      I MUST CELEBRATE THE DAY

It’s National Tequila Day today

   I’d love a  few   

       Margaritas

           Shooters

             Tequila Sunrises

                  Bloody Marias

BUT.... 

Unfortunately I can’t celebrate 

  No tequila do I have 

SUMMER’S HERE....July 23rd

Days come, days go!  They just mesh one into the next.  I wrote the JULY piece about being quarantined and needing stuff from the store; clothes to wear around the house as what I have is starting to wear out. It’s just a lighthearted piece.  

With today as National Vanilla Ice Cream Day, I write an acrostic piece spelling out VANILLA ICE CREAM about ice cream. I remember my grandmother making ice cream.  It was always a vanilla flavor probably why that’s still my favorite today.  Of course it’s French Vanilla or French Vanilla Bean.  The other piece tells it like it is.  Don’t care if the ice cream is in a cone or bowl; it’s ice cream to me.  

Again I’m up at six.  Why don’t know.  Yesterday I decided to wear my Bitch bonnet when I ventured out.  It was funny.  My neighbor asked me about it. I told her if the hat fits I wear it.  She laughed.  Seems I’ve been trying to celebrate the wacky holidays as something to do right now.  It really depends on what is celebrated that day.  

Today is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day....enjoy a cone or bowl of ice cream. 

Until next time....have a good day. 

☕️ ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

       July 23rd....DAILY REFLECTIONS 

Another morning up at six....at least coffee 

     awaits me....it’s going to be a three cup.  

          morning 

Yesterday my big day out bringing in trash 

       bin....ended up wearing Bitch  

         bonnet....my neighbor saw me and 

           asked why the hat...I said if the hats 

               fits I wear it

Today I’ll celebrating one of the 

    weird/wacky holidays again....during 

       these quarantine days I look forward to 

           them 

☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

                    JULY 23rd 

               © Scottie-ann Murphy

  Just another day of quarantine....tired of 

        being housebound 

Unless I get daring and go out to do a bit of 

      shopping....want to purchase for a few 

       clothing items to wear at home 

  

Let don’t forget the list of needed 

   wears....sleep wear, loungewear, day      

         wear, underwear 

Yard wear (aka shorts and tee shirts)....for 

        sitting outside on cooler 

         evenings....need to dress up in case 

                I’m seen 

🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨🍨

             VANILLA ICE CREAM

            © Scottie-ann Murphy

    (National Vanilla Ice Cream Day, 

             July 23rd)

Various flavors to choose....such a hard 

          decision 

Always a dilemma when standing at the 

      store freezer....which to purchase

Neapolitan is a sure thing....always a         

         second favorite of mine 

It provides three flavors....chocolate, 

       strawberry and vanilla

Low fat for calorie counters....sugar free for     

            others 

Let me go all out....give me the real stuff 

As I forget calories today....I’m celebrating 

 It is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day....I revel 

       in the excitement 

Can’t ever pass up any chance for 

    merriment....need to let go once in awhile

Especially during these pandemic 

      times....when quarantined at home 

Cone with a scoop or two....a bowl is 

       perfect 

Really doesn’t matter....it’s all ice cream to 

       me

Enjoying vanilla ice cream on a warm 

        summer day....my favorite flavor 

As I sit on the porch swing....reminiscing of 

       childhood days 

Memories of making ice cream with my 

    grandmother....always vanilla flavored of 

            course 

🍦 🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦

         ICE CREAM PREFERENCES

             © Scottie-ann Murphy 

 (National Vanilla Ice Cream Day, 

             July 23rd)

Hankering for a tasty cone 

   with three scoops of ice cream

Make it one of my favorite flavors 

     which is French Vanilla Bean

But if that flavor is not available 

   any others will do the trick

Just put it in a wafer cone 

   I don’t care which one you pick

Except....pistachio