Standing Into Danger: 2025

Friday, October 17, 2025

On the Move

I'm back after traveling to Las Vegas twice in two weeks, once without a computer.

We were meeting up with different friends, Jon and the East Coasters from the US

and then Janeth from Ottawa, Canada. Hectic, but fun!

An Artsy View of Vegas ~ The Arte Museum

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 8, 2025

Best of Friends ~ Jon and Terry

Benny's Smokin' BBQ & Brews at Binion's

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 2, 2025

*Note the roll of paper towels. They're needed for scrumptious ribs!

Terry and I Split a Rack of Benny's Ribs ~ So Yummy!

Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 2, 2025

We crammed everything we could into our visits,

and my special thing was listening to my favorite band Alter Ego at the 1st Street Stage.

They had transformed into Alter Igor for Halloween.

Kevin Vecchione, Rich Embry, and Dancer ~ Alter Igor

Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 7, 2025

Base Guitarist Kevin Vecchione and Dancers ~ Alter Igor

Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 7, 2025

Terry, Jon, local Jim, and the East Coasters (Harv, Scott, and Catherine)

enjoyed their Mattress Poker Game at the Palazzo.

They had a tournament pot of $150.

Terry placed 2nd winning $60 and Jim 1st winning $90.

Jim, Terry, and Harv ~

As Harv's Sidekick, Monkey Jacques, Oversees the Exciting End of the Game

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 2, 2025

Harv, Terry, Me, Scott, and Catherine ~

Enjoying a Meal at Andiamo Steakhouse in the D

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2025

Janeth and I took in an immersive exhibit at the Arte Museum on the Strip.

It was fabulous! Mind-Bending!

A Mind-Bending Experience at the Arte Museum

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2025

Pungsokhwa (genre painting) of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea ~

Showcasing the Energetic Dance Moves of Samulnori

Arte Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2025

During our two trips we saw lots of sports events

(football, baseball, hockey) in different venues.

A definite fun time was Wednesday Night Hockey in Bar Canada at the D!

I was definitely thinking of my blogging buddy Debra who is a big Oilers fan!

Unfortunately the Edmonton Oilers lost to the Calgary Fames 4-3 in a Shootout. 😱

Cheering for the Edmonton Oilers!

Arte Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2025

We ate so much great food, which is why I don't want to step on my scale! 😂

At the Chart House in the Golden Nugget

Downtown, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2025

Janeth and I at the Chart House

I will not show the food or us gorging! 😱

Downtown, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 8,, 2025

I do love Las Vegas!

It takes me away from everything!

I did gamble a little, and I had a win of $288.00 when I won a progressive Straight Flush.

I am not a whale. I am a low roller.

My Big Win!

The D, Downtown, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 8,, 2025

So now I'm home for a good stretch! Yay!🤞

Vegas and Alter Ego will just have to manage without me!

Happy weekend!

Drummer Daniel Conway ~ Singing His signature Hotel California

I think it's better than the Eagles original.

Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 8, 2025

Now that I'm home, maybe for two months, I'm determined to get on top of my blogging.

We shall see, because life is full of surprises.

Wishing you happiness, fulfillment, and energy!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 🤞

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

IWSG: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 ~ Gingerbread Girl

It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.

To visit the IWSG website, click here.

To become a member of the IWSG, click here.

Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are

Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!

Stop by their posts and thank them for hosting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every month the IWSG announces a question that members can answer
with advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.

Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.

Remember the question is optional.

This month's optional question is:

What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy October, Everyone!

I hope all is well with each of you.

Tough question this month!

Tough in that it's hard to choose my most favorite thing I've ever written.

Was it my short story "Ugly Little Bastards"

that was published in "The Antigonish Review," a Canadian literary journal?

My research paper "A Bestiary for 'The Saga of Pliocene Exile'

by Julian May with Notes on the Pliocene Epoch"

for my Paleontology Certificate for the Denver of Museum and Science?

My short story "Dare Double Dare"

that was published in the IWSG anthology "Voyagers: The Third Ghost"?

My research paper "Reflections on Eternity" which compared Milton's "Paradise Lost" with Tolkien's "Silmarillion?"

There are so many things I've written that are favorites,

because I poured everything, heart, mind, and soul, into them as I wrote.

I Can't Believe It!

Copies of Voyager: The Third Ghost Arrive

Photo by Terry Barbour, May 1920

I have decided on one, and my choice surprised me.

It's a blog post titled "The Lansdowne Letters: The Pervert and the Sandwich Man."

Just reading it now made my heart beat faster and my throat close.

It's the story of my run in with a pedophile when I was eleven years old.

Mom, Our Beloved Dachshund Gretchen, and the Five of Us

Not Long Before I Met the Pedophile

Late Spring, 1961

Landsdowne House, Ontario, Canada

Why on earth would this be my favorite?

Because I finally had the courage to write it.

Because this and a second event changed the person I was

and impacted my life for decades.

I'm still struggling with writing about the second event.

Together they made me the Gingerbread Girl.

Run, run as fast as you can ...

Wikimedia ~ DylanIsChilling ~ License

It's part of the memoir I've been trying to write,

the memoir I've been struggling with forever.

Even this morning I woke up and thought,

"What if I just say "Screw it!"and let it all go.

Play "Royal Match" and "Words with Friends."

Kick back and enjoy the rest of my life.

Take up painting? 😂

But, I can't.

I've just got to slog on.

I'm looking forward to seeing how others respond to this month's question.

Have a healthy, happy, and creative October!

Take care!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be Friday, October 10th 🤞

Just so you know, I monitor my comments before publishing them. This means your comment won't appear immediately. I will not publish mean spirited or commercial comments.

Friday, September 26, 2025

Shocked!

Every so often Terry shocks me with something so unexpected!

It happened most recently on Tuesday.

It was a small thing, but a big thing to me.

I was downstairs unpacking, sorting through a box

of what-the-hell-should-I-do-with-these things?,

when Terry turns up and interrupts me saying,

"Would you like to go see Downton Abby at the movie theatre?"

Teaser Poster for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

Wikimedia ~ License

I did say it was a small thing. 😂

Terry hasn't taken me to a movie since before the pandemic.

I can't remember the last movie I dragged him to. Cloud Atlas???

As for him inviting me to go to a movie, it might be 15 or more years ago.

That's why it was a big deal for me.

I hesitated for a moment, mentally rearranging my To Do List,

and Terry said, "You said you didn't have anything to do this week."

"Outside appointments," I answered. "I have plenty to do at home!"

"Nothing that can't wait for a few hours. It's cold and rainy out.

This is a perfect day to go to the movies."

"You're right! I'd love to go see Downton Abbey. Let's go!"

On the way upstairs Terry said, "This was my own idea. Jon didn't suggest it."

Our friend Jon, a movie buff, frequently suggests movies I might like to see.

But Terry is a reluctant movie goer (I'm not sure why).

Perhaps Jon has given up on suggesting in-theatre movies.

Lately he's been suggesting movies and programs on tv ~ like The Accountant,

which is one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time.

Jon and Terry

Aurora, Colorado, USA

August 22, 2025

"I bet you're shocked," Terry added as we reached for our jackets.

"Shocked and delighted!" I said.

AMC Chinese Theatre at Arapahoe Crossing

Nextdoor

Well, it has been a looong time since we were at the movies.

We went inside and discovered there was no one selling tickets.

We had to use a computer to buy our tickets and preorder our snacks.

Preorder our snacks?

Could we get everything to work right on the third or fourth try?

No.

On Our Own

Yelp

It was humiliating when a young guy came up to the adjacent computer

and had his movie and snack tickets spitting out in 15-20 seconds.

I was thinking, I really am an old fossil!

Eventually the tickets emerged, we collected our hotdogs and a giant soda,

and headed for Theatre # 10.

Yum!!!

Terry was shocked!

We went to the cheapest matinee with senior prices,

split a drink-and-2-hotdogs special, and the cost was $47.63!

I was a little surprised myself.

When I went to the movies as a preteen in Sioux Lookout,

I could buy a ticket, pop, and popcorn for 25¢.

(soda ~ American, pop ~ Canadian).

It took us a while, but eventually we found our assigned seats, and settled in.

Well, Terry settled in.

I got excited and frustrated trying to recline in my comfy chair,

and it was bucking up and down like a bronco.

It's times like that Terry pretends he doesn't know me. 😂

My chair quieted, the feature rolled, and we happily ate our hotdogs and shared our soda.

The clarity of the images, the vividness of the colors, and the stereo sound were amazing!

Obviously screen technology has improved too.

AMC Theatres "We Make Movies Better" ~ Yes, they do!

Yelp

Of course, we both enjoyed Downton Abbey.

It was wonderful to see all our favorite characters and to have a satisfying end to the story.

The only downside was that this movie was the end to the story.

We had a great time, and I predict we will return to the movie theatre soon.

And next time, I'll know exactly what to do! 😂

Happy weekend!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 🤞

Friday, September 19, 2025

Sometimes We Just Need to Laugh!

Today is a much better day than where I was week ago.
I spent the afternoon with four teachers, specialists,

and a teaching assistant from my former school, Sunrise Elementary.

We are all retired, and we get together in our book club.

I love it because I get to see them all again, and I read books I never would have heard of.

Today (Thursday) we discussed Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere.

What a fabulous book; what a fabulous discussion!

Motherhood from so many perspectives.

This week, after all the turmoil and distress of last week,

I just wanted to look at things that made me laugh.

There's no rhyme or reason to my choices for the memes I'm sharing,

other than they made me laugh when I really needed to.

So here are a few memes that I found in different places on the internet:

Every day it's getting a little calmer, and I am a little more together.

I hope things are looking up for you!

Have a good weekend everyone and a happy, carefree week to follow!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Friday, September 26, 2025 🤞

Friday, September 12, 2025

When Will It Be Enough?

I didn't want to write this post!

I am both sickened and heartsick.

The assignation of Charlie Kirk yesterday was horrific,

and my heart goes out to his family and friends.

Charlie Kirk

July 2025

Wikipedia

The murder of Charlie Kirk yesterday was another tragic event

in a long list of political motivated attacks and killings in recent years.

People on the "left" and the "right" have been attacking and killing fellow Americans,

because they disagree with their political views and actions.

Political violence is wrong, period.

When is enough going to be enough to promote change?

Are we going to continue to spiral down into worse and worse violence,

or are we going start reaching out to those who think differently from us

in an attempt to better understand each other better and to find common ground?

Guns and violence cannot continue to be the answer.

Our country is broken, and we need to find a way to mend it.

Tear gas outside the United States Capitol on 6 January 2021

Photo by Tyler Merbler ~ Wikimedia ~ License

Mostly lost in the atrocious news of Charlie Kirk's death yesterday

was the news of yet another school shooting in Colorado.

A high school student at Evergreen High School shot two of his classmates

then turned the gun on himself.

The unidentified shooter died, and his two victims were hospitalized in critical condition.

One student has since been released, the other remains in critical condition.

When is enough going to be enough?

Columbine wasn't. Sandy Hook wasn't.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas wasn't. Uvalde wasn't.

I have written about school gun violence in the past. Friday, May 27, 2022

I almost wrote about it again, after the heartbreaking shooting

at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on August 27, 2025.

As I see it, America loves its guns more than its children.

Actions speak louder than words.

Source

A common denominator in political violence and school violence is guns.

These aren't the only kinds of gun violence.

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's

Center for Gun Violence Solution's

most recent report on gun violence in the US (2023) states:

"27,300 people died by firearm suicide, 17,927 died by firearm homicide, 463 died by unintentional gun injury, and an estimated 604 were fatally shot by law enforcement. In addition, an average of more than 200 Americans visit the emergency department for nonfatal firearm injuries each day." Source

When is enough going to be enough?

How many people have to die before we enact changes to our gun laws?

The October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, with its 60 dead, 413 wounded,

and 394 injured in the gunfire-induced panic wasn't enough.

The Las Vegas Sign on The Strip, October 9, 2017,

covered in flowers in the wake of the 2017 Las Vegas Strip shooting.

Rmvisuals ~ Wikimedia ~ License

Political violence, school shootings, and gun violence in our country

continue to shock and stun me.

Something has got to change!

We need to reach out and communicate with those who have different political views.

Not kill each other.

We need to address school shootings and find real solutions.

Not sit back and accept our children continuing to die.

We need to strengthen our patchwork quilt of state and federal gun laws

with some reasonable, research-based changes such as

universal background checks, waiting periods between buying and possessing guns,

firearms safety training, and secure gun storage.

Not wallow in the carnage and accept it as a way of life.

South L.A. residents rally to end gun violence.

Photo by Luke Harold ~ Wikimedia ~ License

I'm really discouraged right now.

Every time I think of Charlie Kirk, I literally feel nauseous

from the horror, the senselessness, and the loss of his young life.

And I feel heartsick for his wife and children.

I didn't agree with him politically, but I would have loved to have conversation with him.

No one should be murdered like that!

I feel almost hopeless over the continued school shootings

and the unending gun violence in our country.

But I haven't given up.

I'll regroup and continue to stand up and speak about my beliefs.

I have faith in our country.

We've gone through very dark periods in the past.

I believe we'll get through this difficult time too.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Friday, September 19, 2025 🤞

Pages

Friday, October 17, 2025

On the Move

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

IWSG: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 ~ Gingerbread Girl

Friday, September 26, 2025

Shocked!

Friday, September 19, 2025

Sometimes We Just Need to Laugh!

Friday, September 12, 2025

When Will It Be Enough?