#2WordPrompt for 20-DEC-25: Soapy & Concept A concept takes hold, Clear as first morning light, Yet slips through the grip— Like soapy water sliding, Leaving only scented air. #Tanka #Poetry

#Emoetry #Prompt for Dec-20: #Nonchalant News flickers. Our eyes drift. Nothing urgent. Coffee first. Headlines blur. Alarm fades. Later, maybe. All seems fine. Nonchalant. Till it isn't. #Acrostic #Poetry

Today’s lunch from this Old Geezer’s Kitchen: sliced roast pork with a dab of marmalade, shaved Jarlsberg cheese, sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, grated carrot, plus a little olive oil & 18 year balsamic. Simple, colorful, & proof that retirement doesn’t mean surrendering lunch to boredom.

#Emoetry #prompt for December 19 is #mighty. #Haiku #Poetry Quiet strength endures— no roar, just steady resolve, mighty in stillness.

The #2WordPrompt for 19-DEC-25 is: Bond & Tube #Prompt #Poetry

“We can’t control all the variables in our lives…”—David Goggins. #Stoic courage reminds us that what matters is our response. We can dwell on what was lost or act with what remains. Strength grows through resilience. Your story isn’t written by events—but by your response.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”—MLK Jr. How we respond to adversity—with courage or retreat—defines who we are and what we stand for, when the cost of integrity becomes personal and visible.

Today’s lunch from the Old Geezer’s kitchen: sliced pork loin, roasted potatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, and cauliflower with gravy. Simple, honest food—no fuss, no garnish, just a plate that knows its job and does it well. #HomeCooking

“When the only thing left to do is die, then die well.” — Phil Van Treuren. A #Stoic knows we cannot choose the ending, only how we meet it. To die well is to face the final moment with courage, peace, and the quiet confidence of a life honestly lived.

#OnThisDay 18 December 1865: The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution officially entered into force, abolishing slavery in the United States.

The #2WordPrompt for 17-DEC-25 is: Consider & Illegal #Prompt #Freeverse #Poetry #Emoetry

Today's #emoetry prompt is #jumpy. Jolted by a whisper, Unsettled by stillness, Mind already running, Poised for what might happen, Yet nothing does. #Acrostic #Poetry

#OnThisDay (Dec 17, 1903) near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first successful flight of a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft. Orville piloted the gasoline-powered biplane for 12 seconds, covering 120 feet—and changing history forever.

“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius. #Stoicism reminds us that virtue isn’t theory but action. Justice is lived daily, in small choices. Fewer debates. More integrity, kindness, and fairness.

Today's lunch from this Old Geezer's kitchen: Penne, flavorful ground beef sauce full of onion, tomato, and peppers, with yellow squash, and carrots. #Homecooking

@commondreams.org - Tell Congress: We demand real healthcare reform! - Send a message to your members of Congress today! - To do so use this link at the Sanders Institute: shorturl.at/opLEv 26,939 Letters already sent. Only 24,261 more to Bernie's goal of 51,200 #Healthcare #Reform #Bernie

#emoetry #writers Today's word for 12/16 is #idealistic. #FreeVerse #Poetry #Prompt Continuing the theme of "Why and Unusual" in bsky.app/profile/stoi...

The #2WordPrompt for 16-DEC-25 is: Why & Unusual #Emoetry #Prompt #FreeVerse #Poetry

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius. #Stoicism reminds us that events don’t shape our happiness—our judgments do. Train the mind toward clarity, gratitude, and perspective, and peace follows.

“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” — Friedrich Nietzsche. Purpose steadies us when hardship strikes. A clear why—love, duty, meaning—turns suffering into endurance. The #Stoic lesson: hardship tests us, purpose carries us through.

#2WordPrompt #Shy & #Platform On the social platform she is bold, quick-witted, followed by thousands. In real life, shy, she lowers her voice to enter a room, Online, confidence posts itself. Offline, she waits for permission that never comes. Two selves, one person— only one needs a password.

Will VEEP Vance succeed in his Trump #successor scheme? Our nightmare! His dream. #vss365 #Successor #HaikuChallenge #Haiku #Senryu #Poetry #News #MicroPoetry #Poems #Resist #Vance #Trump #MAGA #USPOL #USPolitics #Politics #Election

Ev'ry day I awaken & brace For the latest Trump news. What a pace One must keep, if you're trying To track Donald's lying... Any truth in #TruthSocial? No #trace! #BlueskyRelay #Trace #Poetry #News #MicroPoetry #Poems #Resist #Trump #USPOL #USPolitics #Politics #Limerick #Limericks #SocialMedia

The #2WordPrompt for 14-DEC-25 is: #Bold & #Otherwise Bold in the morning, by noon quietly otherwise— conviction loosens. Even courage needs a chair to sit down and reconsider. #Tanka #Poetry #Prompt

Platinum 3776 Century in Burgundy, medium nib, filled with Platinum Citrus Black. A restrained writer’s pen—deep wine resin, gold trim, and a nib that balances softness with control. Citrus Black shades gently, disciplined yet expressive, perfect for steady thoughts and quiet margins. #FountainPens

“Leaders think & talk about the solutions. Followers think & talk about the problems.”—Brian Tracy For nearly a decade, Trump has attacked Obamacare without offering a workable replacement. Critique without solutions isn’t leadership; it’s rehearsal without a plan—governance without responsibility.

“Happiness is found in wanting less, not in having more.” — Unknown #Buddhism teaches that craving is the root of suffering; #Stoicism teaches that peace comes from desiring only what is necessary. Both point to the same freedom: loosen desire, and contentment follows.

“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” — Warren Buffett Cost is immediate; value unfolds over time. This reminder urges us to look past price tags and ask what truly endures—learning, integrity, peace of mind. In choices large or small, weigh lasting worth over short-term cost.

“Seeking a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is unrealistic, given the war is in Europe,” Pope Leo said. religionnews.com/2025/12/11/p...

“Power is never more dangerous than when it mistakes destruction for renewal.” — Seneca (after) #Poetry #FreeVerse #Stoicism #Democracy #Governance

“Success is not what you gain, but who you become in the process.” — Unknown #Stoic wisdom reminds us that outcomes fade, but character endures. Discipline, resilience, and integrity shape a life well lived. Measure success not by rewards, but by the person you’re becoming.

The #2WordPrompt for 13-DEC-25 is: #Puzzle & #Dinosaur There once were huge dinosaurs long ago, They ruled for eons, then vanished—who knows? Not teeth, claws, or roar, But why they’re no more, Is the puzzle that science still owes. #Limerick #Poetry #Emoetry #Prompt

Our nation was so flabbergasted, When a pardon was boldly out-casted. “For crimes not federal?” Asked lawyers, aghast— “The Constitution’s not so elastic.” (Trump issued a pardon to Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk convicted of state-level election machine tampering charges).

Concerning food for thought: www.commondreams.org/news/trump-m...

Nearly five years on, the 2020 election still refuses to loosen its grip on American politics. An extraordinary reminder of how relentlessly one past event continues to weigh on and shape the present. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

“Equality is not about making everyone the same; it is about giving everyone the same chances.” — Simone Veil. True #equality honors difference while ensuring fair access. Justice isn’t sameness, but opportunity—so each person can rise by their talents, not be limited by barriers.

The #2WordPrompt for 12-DEC-25 is: #State & #Harvest State of the Union, 2025: flags still fly, but trust thins. We harvest what we planted— sound bites, silos, spite. Data stripped, sides entrenched. From neglect and noise, we reap what was ignored— a bitter harvest, too late to plead surprise.

“Regret wastes today over what you couldn’t change yesterday.” — Unknown #Stoic wisdom reminds us to learn from the past without living in it. Regret drains energy better spent on what we can still shape: our choices today. Learn, release, and move forward.

A rare hopeful sign for American democracy amid a difficult year: Garrett Graff argues Trump is losing as 2025 ends — weakening politically, facing state and legal setbacks, GOP fracturing, faltering policies, and slipping approval.

#OnThisDay 12 December 1977: The music drama Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta, had its world premiere; the film was a huge hit, as was the accompanying disco sound track by the Bee Gees.

The #2WordPrompt for 11-DEC-25 is: #Habitat & #Signal Habitat is erased. The signal explains why. #Prompt #FreeVerse #Poetry

#Emoetry #prompt for 12/11: #Defiance It’s a strange sort of year, Twenty-Five, Where strongmen insist they decide. But the people say “No,” Dig their heels in just so, And prove freedom survives when defied. #Limerick #Poetry

“The best way to get started is to get started.”—Ali Abdaal. Simple advice, often ignored. We overplan and stall, when progress only asks for a first step. Start small. Action creates clarity, momentum, and motivation. What’s one small step you can take today? Action is the cure for overthinking.

“You’re not as good as you think. You don’t have it all figured out. Stay focused. Do better.” — Ryan Holiday A #Stoic reminder to stay humble, avoid complacency, and keep growing. Where have you grown too comfortable—and what’s one thing you can improve today?

#OnThisDay December 11, 1620 Mayflower Pilgrims come ashore in Plymouth Bay, traditionally thought to be at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts.

Unaccustomed as I am to the fruit of the vine, I credit last night’s Sauvignon Blanc for this early-morning insight: #Temperance The delights of excess are fleeting; their consequences linger into tomorrow with quiet regret. #Stoicism

A light supper with a glass or two of Sauvignon Blanc. What could be better? At least for this evening, this Old Geezer's at peace with the world.

Meraki (pronounced "may-rah-kee") As a #writer I relate to meraki—the Greek idea of pouring care into a cherished pastime. It urges us to break routine, carve out time for what inspires and calms us, and find something to look forward to each day—a small ritual that boosts happiness. #FountainPens

#OnThisDay Australia now bans under-16s from major social platforms, effective Dec 10, 2025. TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X and others must block new accounts and deactivate existing ones or face big fines. A bold move to curb online harms, though its real-world enforcement and impact remain debated.

Facts per government data: U.S. soybean sales to China have been volatile over the past four years, characterized by a significant peak in 2022 and a sharp projected decline in 2025 due to ongoing trade tensions.