J-Dub's Grin and Bear It

#SoCS: Never Miss

Published on 06/20/202606/19/2026 by J-Dub14 Comments

Hello my lovelies! Happy Saturday.

Nope, I was not around these parts on December 5 of 2015. As a matter of fact, I didn’t hit the WP blog scene until 2016 when I made it my hobby and healthiest way to fill my empty nest.

So “miss” is new to me.

Well, it’s not, but we’re going to pretend it is.

We’re going to have an early Father’s Day for B since Lulu will be with her father-in-law Frank tomorrow. She didn’t want to miss celebrating her daddy though.

As we always have, B and I never make her choose. We believe every day is special. Or at least it should be. We just pick another day to have our festivities. That way we never miss out. We create other experiences instead.

And this one will be a doozy — it’s already shaping up. Last night I made a blueberry cobbler. I also made coleslaw and tartar sauce from scratch. We’re gonna fry up the catfish that B caught himself. I mean come on y’all. It doesn’t get any better than that.

As always, more to come.

Written for #SoCS 6/20/26. Thanks for hosting Linda. The rules and pingback are here.

70s Summertime Fun

Published on 06/19/2026 by J-Dub15 Comments

Water 💦 Wiggle Amazing that we lived to tell the tale. What’s your favorite summertime activity/ memory? As always more to come.
70s Summertime Fun

I’m really loving this throwback feature. If it were June 19, 1972 instead of June 19, 2026, we’d definitely have out the water wiggle. And that thing went wild and would wrap around you and practically knock your lights out.

Like a lot of the toys of yesteryear, safety was not a prime consideration 🙃.

As always, more to come.

Haiku Fridays with J-Dub #8

Published on 06/19/202606/18/2026 by J-Dub21 Comments

down on bended knees
searching for answers in trees
croak caught in my throat

I saw this along the Apple Capitol Loop in Wenatchee, WA. Photo taken in June of 2023.

Welcome to Haiku Fridays with J-Dub. Each week, I’ll post a haiku and a photo to spark reflection, emotion, or imagination.

Your challenge is simple: write your own haiku inspired by it—or on any theme that moves you—and share it in the comments.

Short, simple, powerful haiku—tiny poems that carry a big wallop. Capture a moment, a feeling, a memory—whatever comes through in 11 (3-5-3) or 17 (5-7-5) syllables. There’s no pressure, no judging, just a space to create and share.

This is about voice, reflection, and the quiet power of small poems.

Let the games continue.

As always, more to come.

Writer’s Workshop: Just Fridays Again

Published on 06/18/202606/17/2026 by J-Dub12 Comments

What is your favorite day of the week?

Friday.

I’m a power-through kind of person. Always have been. I can do just about anything for a temporary amount of time if there is a goal at the end of it. Head down. Make a plan. White-knuckle my way through.

Somewhere around middle age, I started putting myself out there more than comes naturally to me. Taking chances. Saying yes. Participating.

My natural state is lone wolf.

Not cool lone wolf. Not majestic wolf silhouetted on a mountain at sunset lone wolf.

More like a lone wolf whose heart reacts like teeth on tinfoil.

The kind that learned early that needing people is risky business.

So what does any of this have to do with Friday?

By Friday I’ve done the work. The week has taken what it wanted from me and I get to go home.

The Lone Wolf loves Friday.

The Sweet Baby Girl isn’t so sure.

“What if we’re missing something?”

“Missing what?”

“I don’t know. Something.”

The Lone Wolf rolls her eyes because that’s how trouble starts.

Saturday is easy. I can distract myself with gardening, baking, writing, podcasts, music, movies, or whatever shiny object catches my attention.

Sunday can go sit in the corner and think about what it’s done.

There was a time when Sunday supper with the brain trust made Sundays worth showing up for.

I still miss that.

Lately I’ve been swinging between two extremes.

I’ve got this.

And:

Just plan my funeral now.

For the record, I’m not dying today. This is what experts refer to as a slight overreaction.

But I am raw.

A few things have landed lately that hit harder than they should have.

When that happens, the Sweet Baby Girl starts asking questions.

Why would anybody do that to another human being?

The Lone Wolf has an answer ready.

“People are who they are. They don’t owe you anything.”

The Sweet Baby Girl keeps asking anyway.

And apparently neither one of them is getting the last word.

PS: For a brief window, Fridays became more than the finishing point. They were celebrations. Now they’re just Fridays again. Left in lone wolf territory.

My Writer’s Workshop Entry: 4) What is your favorite day of the week? The rules and pingback are here . Badge/feature image by Patty, http://anothercookieplease.com

#1linerWeds. Be Like Geese

Published on 06/17/202606/17/2026 by J-Dub8 Comments

Well, first I had to look up cobra chicken. Then I learned. Yep, they are a gaggle. I always enjoy trivia. Staying on the goose path, I found my one line or three as the case may be.

Geese always support each other. When a goose gets injured two birds always accompany it down to the ground. Just as geese do, we must support each other.

Emma Hayes

Written for one liner Wednesday. Thanks Linda for hosting. The rules and pingback are here.

As always, more to come.

P.S. I appreciate all you fine folks who wished me well yesterday. I gave myself the first shot. It was a complete non event. Of course I should’ve expected that on day one. I will report back after two weeks. I’m trying to keep a positive attitude about the whole thing. Instead of predicting failure, I am staying in the moment.

Tuesday Tales: Unbreakable

Published on 06/16/202606/16/2026 by J-Dub12 Comments

I’m going to cobble together a quick story because I have changed my mind on what I wanted to share today. Suffice it to say I’m yet again going through some stuff.

He’s savage but don’t get it twisted.

When I saw that caption on an Instagram post four years ago underneath a picture of my father, I felt a mixture of pride and revulsion. You know because it either meant that I come from hardy stock, resilient people or my ancestors were cruel & savage.

If there’s anything that I like about myself, it’s my ability to always be kind. To lead with that. I’m not always nice, I’m human but I have enough decorum not to act on unkind feelings.

Back then, I was just beginning to understand my roots. I didn’t want to think that there’s bad blood in me. If there is even such a thing as “born bad” for anyone. The debate is ongoing whether we are inherently good or evil. Nurture versus nature. All that jazz.

Anyway, this little “short” story is turning into a long one so I’m gonna get to the point.

I have my appointment today and I’m a little concerned. It’s about my bone health. A dexa scan shows my osteoporosis is severe and my risk of fracture is in the highest category. The sweet assistant said, “if you were my grandma, I would bubble wrap you.” The appointment today is to teach me how to inject myself. Oh, and insurance is still pending for this $2800 a month treatment. They’re going to give me a 30 day sample then appeal until it’s approved. They have the literature to support this aggressive treatment is necessary, my only chance to reverse the decline.

In typical fashion to avoid thinking about any of this, I am distracting myself.

For some reason, my bones breaking made me think of the movie Unbreakable with Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson. I don’t think it’s an original story. I think it was a comic book. Anyway, Bruce is unbreakable and Samuel is Mr. Price. A fragile character who I relate to. I need to see if I can find this streaming somewhere. In the meantime, I’m dropping the clip.

OK now I’m gonna continue my walk. I don’t leave for the appointment for another 2 1/2 hours. Time to get those steps in as long as I can.

As always, more to come.

A Place To Put This: Nostalgia

Published on 06/15/202606/15/2026 by J-Dub4 Comments

The more things change the more they stay the same. While I’m not reblogging posts from WP past today, I’m enjoying the feature immensely as I re-read them on this wet / flash flood watch, Monday. I’ve written 15 posts on this day: June 15, 2017 to June 15, 2025. My #SYW from earlier today is 16 and this post is 17.

That’s a lot of writing. And music. I’m still using music to soothe my soul. I realize though that I’m a bit stuck in a rut. One long loop around to here.

Deep breath 😮‍💨 in and slowly exhale. 😮‍💨 ohm ohm ohm.

New material.

Barbara says, …

“I showed Tat” which is short for ta-tee-nik (phonetic spelling). And I’m a puddle over here. That word. That term of endearment. Well, that’s everything ❤️‍🩹

Now a musical close. I hope you enjoy.

I’m a song

As always, more to come.

Song Lyric Sunday: Queen !!

Published on 06/14/202606/13/2026 by J-Dub20 Comments

This week’s prompt is a song that includes the act of depending, leaning, relying, or trusting another.

My choice is You’re My Best Friend by Queen.

Truth be told, I struggled with this prompt. Depending on someone has never come naturally to me. I’ve always felt on the outside looking in, fiercely independent and more comfortable relying on myself than anyone else.

That sounds like a strength until it isn’t.

The older I get, the more I appreciate my people because, y’all, I have people. Shame on me for not realizing it sooner.

I really don’t know why they stuck around, but thank God they did.

Having someone in your corner can make all the difference.

Hope you enjoy the tune.

You’re My Best Friend

As always, more to come.

Written for #SLS. Thanks Jim for hosting. The rules and pingback are here.

#SoCS: Guest

Published on 06/13/2026 by J-Dub9 Comments

Hello my lovelies. I hope you are well. If I planned this right, I’m on the open road again. Lulu and I are road tripping to ATX.

For the main event, we’re prompted with guest. All I could think of was Beauty and the Beast. That’s it, my stream stopped. My overthinking is still going but nothing coherent. Guess I’ll post the clip then say farewell for now.