Author: rugby843

I am a widow since 2013 and live by myself in a small apartment. I use a wheelchair to get around, but I wouldn't consider myself disabled. I'm 11 years away from having bladder cancer resulting in a urostomy and I'm doing well. This cancer was a result of having radiation in 1995 because of uterine cancer. So have faith in yourself, a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. My first try at blogging was an attempt to help other people with my condition. I am a mother of three married children, and a grandmother to eight gorgeous kids, featuring them often here, and a great grandmother to two as of today, 6/7/25! I enjoy exploring my feelings and like to try the challenges. I like humor, music, movies, games, and some sports. I absolutely appreciate your reading and commenting on my blog. I am happy to read all of your blogs and learn more about you. Please comment however you like, ask whatever, and I'll answer honestly. Thanks for reading! Cheryl

Fandango’s Story Starter

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
Sue sat up, startled. She grabbed her phone and saw what time it was. Sue lived alone, and there was no way she was answering the door at that time of night. However she was curious as to who would do that pounding, so walked to the door, turned no lights on, and peeked through the peep hole. Nothing. No person, nothing. She walked over to the window and turned one slice of the blinds to see more of the front door area. Suddenly a man’s face was at the window looking back at her through the blinds. Sue jumped back and fell on the couch, lucky it was there to catch her fall. She was surprised and stunned to see her dead husband’s face through the glass. “What the?” Sue screamed. This was crazy! The face disappeared quickly. Then she heard ringing, but it was not the doorbell. It was her cell phone phone’s morning alarm.

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Fandango’s Story Starter #218

The Writer’s Workshop

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
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“Just go ahead and press that button“ said the newly appointed secretary of war. It will fix everything all at once. The criminals, people of color, immigrants, you name it, sir, all will be gone. You will be able to join your white brothers and sisters in the safety of the highly armored golden ballroom to celebrate. The incompetent, unknowing leader of the “free” world complied.

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This Week’s Writer’s Workshop Prompts: September 18, 2025

Tanka Tuesday Choka

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

Let’s have fun with kigo words! 
We only use kigo words for haiku and haibun, but as we learned by writing to the 24 Seasons of Japan challenges we did a while back, the kigo words are fun to use in the other syllabic forms.
This week, choose from the White Dew (September 7 – 22) Hakuro 白露 kigo words or phrases and write a syllabic poem. You must use the kigo word or phase in your poem. See the kigo words below. 

Featured Kigo: Autumn grasses, the seven flowers of autumn, quail, dew, traveling, journeys, new beginnings, back to school, darkening days, autumn sunsets, autumn vigor, crows, ripening fruits, mushrooms, grapes, the harvest moon, horse chestnuts, roadside flowers of cosmos and goldenrod.

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darkening days here

threatening cold icy hail

clouds moving swiftly

small creatures into hiding

no autumn sunset

clouds covering harvest moon

nightfall respite stills the storm

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#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 30, 24 Seasons, 9/16/25

dVerse Poets

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
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A vista of rain soaked drooping garden roses brings to mind the days I planted them, with the hope or maybe it was a promise, they would rise and flourish. The silver droplets ceasing, blurring my sight, as if my aging orbs are not the reason I cannot see clearly through the glass. “The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes”, distorts the inspiration I have enjoyed these many years. Some sunny day heat may eradicate the jaundiced smudges, and I have grown patient in my years, and wait.

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Prosery: T.S. Eliot and J. Alfred Prufrock

Only Murders…

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
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“Georgie Porgie pudding and pie” was the children’s chant as they watched the alien monster grab their lunch. Everything around the alien morphed into a messy scene, but they weren’t afraid of him. It was nice to receive a surprise in the home, where strict life and uniformed witches controlled their lives. The children were fascinated and didn’t realize “Georgie” was there to gather them and fly away into a new life. They would get used to his appearance and world eventually. Anything was better than where they resided now.

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Weekly Writing Prompt

SYW 9-15-25

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized

Here are this week’s questions:

 What colour was your school uniform (if you had one)? No uniforms

 When working, did you have to wear a uniform or dress colour code? No

 What is your favourite colour to wear? Green

 What colour would you never wear unless there was no alternative? Yellow

Gratitude: Heartily grateful for healthy family and rain stopping in soccer game, ending in a draw.⚽️☺️
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Share Your World 15th September

Living Poetry

by rugby843, posted in Uncategorized
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Quite comfortable with her legs stretched out in sand

It’s been a while, she thought, with a man

Beachy love and waving water

No thoughts now of son or daughter

Just nostalgic freedom of younger days

Sitting, watching undulating waves

Was this real, or climax of her dreams

Reluctant waking as sunlight streams.

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Monday Poetry Prompt: Climax, Leg, Quite