Blogging from A-Z - Road Trip 2025 Wrapup

May was a busy month at work and then June somehow just slipped by and now it's July but at least I have done a bit of road tripping for the Road Trip challenge. I went through the Road Trip list and the Master List but didn't find any particular new-to-me blogs and I had looked through the lists more than once. I think now the Road Trip challenge should just be a month or two months, like in May and June because without a deadline, I seem to keep putting it off. More about the Road Trip challenge at the A-Z blog over here.

Here are the two blogs that I enjoyed on my Road Trip:

01 - Ruth Blogs Here > link
Ruth posted a photo a day for the a-z challenge, some photographs and some of her artworks.

02 - A Slice of Life > link
Lady posted a photo a day and thought of them as digital postcards and kind of like a look into what is she is thinking that day.

Have you done the Road Trip Challenge? Have you discovered any new blogs lately?

Blogging from A-Z - Road Trip 2025

Alternative road trip badge A

Alternative road trip badge B

Reading Charlotte's post (link here) convinced me to join in the Blogging from A-Z Road Trip challenge. It's a second chance to visit the blogs I might had missed. When the A-Z challenge started, I had gone through the master list (containing all the participants) every couple of days until the closing sign-up date and picked blogs to visit based on their themes or in some cases, no themes. Maybe I might have dismissed some blogs a bit too hasty.
    I will limit my visits to a few blogs because my wifi keeps going off and on so it's a little hard to stay online. I made Road Trip badges so if you're participating, feel free to use one or both badges on your blog. [More about the Road Trip at the A-Z blog here.]

Here are my Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2025 posts links:

• awkwardly awesome april • brevity • criminal (fiction) • diva (fiction) • erase • follow • grumpy • headphones (fiction) • impulse • java • kerfuffle (fiction) • lackadaisical • mundane

• noodles • ocean (fiction) • postcards • quirk • rainbow (fiction) • speechless • two • umbrella • vicarious • witch (fiction) • xoxo • yatter • zine

Did you participate in the Blogging from A-Z Challenge last month? If so, are you doing the Road Trip?

A-Z April 2025 Challenge: Reflection

Here are some ramblings about my experience in finishing the Blogging From A-Z challenge this year. More about the challenge over here. (The theme I had for my alternative a-z badges is beginning or spring so that's why the sun and plant/tree graphics above. You can see the badges here in this post.)

01 - I had picked three words and let the readers choose which one I will be rambling about or if I have an inkling, tell a (fictional) story. This was maybe a good idea but readers don't seem to want to choose so then I decided I can choose the word if it gets too late to post. Since I have to wait for people to choose the words, I have to write/post on the same day so that means just a few hours to write each post which is a bit nerve-wracking but still kind of fun.

02 - I made a list of blogs I was going to visit (from the master list) - a very short list because I want to make it easier for myself. I admit there are many themes I have no interest in but I did visit all the blogs on the master list (except for the adult content ones) just to check them out.

03 - Before the challenge started, I had made coffee mugs with the alphabets so I don't have to think up or make images/graphics for each post which lowers the stress (see above and below).

04 - I debated on leaving a link (to my a-z posts) whenever I leave a comment. I don't want people to think they have to visit me back but at the same time, I want to make it easier for people to visit me. So in the end, I left some links but not a lot.

05 - I did get a little lazy at commenting toward the end. I really do try to leave a comment but my attention span seemed to wane a lot. Plus my wi-fi sometimes had nervous breakdowns just for fun so sometimes I'm not sure my comments went through and I was too lazy to check.

06 - I'm very grateful to those who chose to visit and leave comments - they made the overall challenge more fun and more interactive. Without readers, it wouldn't be as fun so thank you all.

Zine

The choices for today are: (1) zippy, (2) zoo, (3) zine. The chosen word is zine.

Zine (according to Merriam-Webster) is another word for magazine and especially a noncommercial often homemade or online publication usually devoted to specialized and often unconventional subject matter.
    Zines are a tactile creation experience (according to Arts Midwest link here). They can be made by anyone and you don't even have to have experience. I like those made by hand and copies made by xeroxing. I think of them as DIY magazines in mini sizes. I had thought of making zines (but digitally) with short stories and artworks and all sorts of creative outlets, much like my blog but on paper but I've never done it. But if I am to make one, I thought of some names for it: Moon Cakes (I like moon and cake), Seven (my favorite number), The Mighty Wallflower (as I'm quite an introvert). I made an example of a cover and inside spread - see below. (The cover art is one of my pieces over here and the inside artwork you can see it here.)

example

Do you think about making your own zine?

This is the last of the alphabets and the last post of the A-Z challenge. Later, there will be a reflection post.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Yatter

The choices for today are: (1) yawn, (2) yatter, (3) yeah. The chosen word is yatter.

Yatter according to Merriam-Webster means (as a noun) idle talk or chatter and (as a verb) to make idle chatter or prattle.
    I don't like idle talk as I like to make my point in as few words as possible. But no matter how well I am at being concise, my mouth doesn't always follow my brain's directions so sometimes I say things that are outside the point I'm making - frivolous bits that just appear and I can't control them. But yatters are fillers and I need them, that is, we need them. They fill in the spaces in between points. They give a break in conversation. Since no one pre-writes what they say, they can't edit out the yatter but I guess if you're a habitual, concise talker, you can.

Do you yatter much? Are you a concise talker?

For tomorrow, the letter Z, the last letter, the choices are (1) zippy, (2) zoo, (3) zine. Choose which word I might ramble about.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

XOXO

The choices for today are:  (1) XS (extra small), (2) XCIX (99), (3) XOXO (hugs and kisses). The chosen word is XOXO (hugs and kisses).

I don't write letters a lot but I do like snail mail - it's nice to read or write a letter on paper. I usually end a letter with sincerely or something tame. I guess if I ever write a letter to a love one such as a boyfriend or husband, I might use X's and O's but I doubt it. Even though I like the idea of X's and O's, I find it seems rather intimate and I doubt I would express such things on paper. If I can't mean something, I can't write it.

Are you a letter writer? Do you use X's and O's in your letter writing?

For tomorrow, the letter Y, the choices are (1) yawn, (2) yatter, (3) yeah. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Fiction: Witch

The choices for today are: (1) witch, (2) warrior, (3) worker. The chosen word is witch.

Fiction: Witch
Celia didn't mean to do it but there was no way to undo it. As she vacuumed and dusted each room in her house, she pondered again why she did it.
    The two widows, also sisters, Mrs. Khaos and Mrs. Wort, talked so much they carried around lozenges everywhere they go. If they had not been careless in what they said, Celia wouldn't have lost her fiancé, her dog and her father. The fiancé, she didn't mind losing since she didn't want to marry anyone who didn't trust her. Her dog, who was the victim of stupid people who kidnapped him for his safety but didn't know how to care for him, will be remembered. Her father, who was always faithful to his wife, had an heart attack when he heard how his wife had ran around with another man before her death, will always be missed.
    Taking out the trash, Celia paused to look around the neighborhood she had lived in her whole life. All was quiet on this Saturday afternoon. In five days, she would be gone from here.
    Once inside the house, Celia thought of Mrs. Khaos and Mrs. Wort stewing in the basement. The only fact they got right was Celia was a witch though that was no comfort.
    Celia took two cups of water down to the basement and placed them inside each cage and closed it. If they hadn't been scratching each other with their sharp claws, she wouldn't have separated them.
    Back upstairs, she started on taping up the boxes. If it was wrong to turn the old biddies into cats, would it be even more wrong to alter them to always speak only the truth? Wiping their memories of the last month was probably wrong too. Unless they weren't thirsty, their memories would stay intact. She hoped when they changed back tomorrow, they wouldn't remember her.

For Monday (as we skip Sundays), the letter X, the choices are (1) XS (extra small), (2) XCIX (99), (3) XOXO (hugs and kisses). Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Vicarious

The choices for today are: (1) vicarious, (2) vexation, (3) vacation. The chosen word is vicarious.

I watch a lot of youtube and tv shows, read a lot of books, listen to a lot of music, read a lot of blogs and websites, all to live vicariously through other people as I lead a mundane life. I do life to life things but they don't always occupy my mind. In a way I'm cultivating and entertaining my mind by doing all the above things and also so I wouldn't go about committing crimes. Being idle is not a bad thing but sometimes I like to be doing something even if just to keep my mind partially occupied.

Do you live vicariously through the media and such?

For tomorrow, the letter W, the choices are (1) witch, (2) warrior, (3) worker. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Umbrella

The choices for today are: (1) undo, (2) umbrella, (3) unbiased. The chosen word is umbrella.

I used to love photographing the rain during rainy days and this led to searching for umbrellas especially yellow ones as they were rare. I've only actually taken less than five photos of yellow umbrellas in 10+ years and none of them were good as I always seemed to late to capture it and the person carrying the umbrella was gone before I can take another shot. I still look for yellow umbrellas now and then.  I don't want to say I have an obsession with umbrellas but I have them in my artworks and yes I do own a yellow umbrella but it's too tiny to use during the rain.
    Below I thought I share one of my recent redo artwork. I'm still unsatisfied  with some of the colors. I had called it Flatiron (after the building in the middle of the piece) but decided today this piece should be called raining sunshine.

raining sunshine, 2025

Do you look for umbrellas in the rain?

For tomorrow, the letter V, the choices are (1) vicarious, (2) vexation, (3) vacation. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Two

The choices for today are: (1) tiny, (2) two, (3) transport. The chosen word is two.

Here are two things that made me happy today:

(1) Cherry blossoms trees - saw them all over the city (at least in the area where I was today) but sadly, I forgot to take photos but I'm happy to have enjoyed the views.

(2) The sky (see photo below) - there's always a good show

What two things are making you happy today?

For tomorrow, the letter U, the choices are (1) undo, (2) umbrella, (3) unbiased. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Speechless

The choices for today are: (1) subway (2) Se a vida é (That's the way life is), (3) speechless. The chosen word is speechless.

"I am a writer perhaps because I am not a talker." - Gwendolyn Brooks

The above quote might be me making that statement. I am not much of a talker except when I'm writing (like on this blog). I guess I can be a bit speechless or silent which I suppose might bother some people. In conversations with people, my mind would sometimes go blank. The subject matter have to be real interest to me or else I have nothing to say about it. Plus, I'm not good with small talk or even regular talk. As I said, I'm not much of a talker.

Are you a good talker?

For tomorrow, the letter T, the choices are (1) tiny, (2) two, (3) transport. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Fiction: Rainbow

The choices for today are: (1) rebel, (2) rainbow, (3) reverse. The chosen word is rainbow.

Fiction: Rainbow
Sally's grandmother used to tell her, "Make a wish upon anything you see because rainbows and billionaires are hard to find. The latter is harder to convince that your wish is not stupid." Naturally Sally made wishes upon anything she saw since rainbows and billionaires were scarce.
    While contemplating why she was penniless on her 29 birthday, Sally saved a billionaire from being crushed by a truckload of watermelons. To repay her, the billionaire offered to fulfill one of Sally's wishes. After she explained about a rainbow bridge where people may come to make wishes, he had it built even if he did think it was a bit dumb.
    Six months after the bridge was opened, it collapsed and killed over a hundred people. It was speculated the cause was the locks people hung on the bridge for their wishes. A month after, Sally was outed as the person who bribed the contractor to use subpar materials on the bridge and took the difference. She was trialed and jailed.
    In her cell, Sally spent many nights wondering why she didn't just ask for money and spend it on frivolous things like ugly artworks and clothes that looked terrible on her instead of a bridge?
    When Sally turned 49 and still in jail, the contractor, on his deathbed, revealed he had framed Sally for the bridge collapse. He left evidence of his dealings.
    Months afterward, Sally stepped out of the prison gates and onto the rain-soaked streets. In that moment, she saw a rainbow in the sky, smiled and dismissed it.
    Later, Sally would found out before the billionaire had died, he had made one other Sally's wishes come true - to have her own home in the country and that's where she went to raise horses.

For tomorrow, the letter S, the choices are (1) subway, (2) Se a vida é (That's the way life is), (3) speechless. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Quirk

The choices for today are: (1) quiet, (2) question, (3) quirk. The chosen word is quirk.

One of the meanings of quirk is a peculiar trait, an idiosyncrasy. One of my quirks is I check things over many times, more than necessary. Check, recheck, and then recheck several more times. I don't know why I'm so uncertain when the evidence is right there telling me I've done it correctly. Maybe this idiosyncrasy is a bad habit? I don't know. I can't stop doing it. I guess quirks can also be habits.

What is a quirk you have that you can't stop doing?

For Monday (as we skip Sundays), the letter R, the choices are (1) rebel, (2) rainbow, (3) reverse. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Postcards

The choices for today are: (1) potato, (2) passenger, (3) postcards. The chosen word is postcards.

I guess I have some affinity with postcards. Here's a list.

01 - The name of my blog is Postcards from the Bookstore which named because I used to (and I still do now and then) buy postcards from bookstores and sometimes other places if I happen to see them. I once also had a blog named Postcards from the Rain and another named Postcards from the Clouds.

02 - One of my favorite books is Postcards from a Dead Girl by Kirk Farber. It's kind of a sad (fictional) book about grief, letting go, postcards, travels and neurotic dreams. But it's a funny book. It's the only book I ever laughed out loud while reading. More about the book over here.

03 - There was one time I joined a postcards exchange and got a bunch of cards in the mail which was fun. I sent postcards with some of my maybe-poetry (I'm not sure if some of them would be considered poetry) and it was a good exercise in trying to fit words into a tiny space on the back of a postcard.

Photo taken in New York City, 2014

04 - I collect postcards relating to New York but I haven't found any new ones these days as there are seldom new designs. I really like the idea of New York postcards and probably would have created a blog and named it Postcards from New York.

05 - Sometimes I get postcards of Maine from one of my pen pals. I've never been to Maine but I think if I ever want to move, I'll probably pick Maine.
    
06 - I have done some artworks relating to postcards. You can see one here on this post.

Have you ever collected postcards? Do you like postcards?

For tomorrow, the letter Q, the choices are (1) quiet, (2) question, (3) quirk. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Fiction: Ocean

The choices for today are:  (1) observer, (2) order, (3) ocean. The chosen word is ocean.

Fiction: Ocean
Under the early morning orange light, a woman pushes a small canoe out into the water. For a long while, she rows in silence.
    Ten months ago, she had heard from a friend of a friend that if you row from one end of the ocean to the other, all your sorrows will be forgotten. At first, she thought it was all nonsense but then her husband died. Through the ocean of sorrow, she hopes to forget.
    The sky darkens and it starts to rain. A strong wind begins to whip the rain about. Soaked through with arms aching and a stiff back, she slacks her pace.
    The wind increases and the canoe flips over and she is thrown into the water. With a tight grip on the paddle, she swims from under the canoe and takes in a few breaths of air. She adjusts her life jacket and wipes at her eyes. Is it tears or just the rain? Not far off, she spots a light. A strange certainty tells her that is where she should go. With renew strength, she flips the canoe, removes bits of water with a pouch and gets back in.
    After a while, the wind dies down and the rain turns into drizzle. When she reaches the light, she is relieved but tired. She gets out of the canoe and sits on the ground. A fog has encircled the small isle but the top of the lighthouse is in view.
    She thinks of her life. All the memories are there but the ones that are painful and one particular where her husband dies, she can't recall. Is this how it will be? Her sorrows are forgotten but she doesn't want all of them to leave her.
    "If you want your sorrows back, just row back to where you come from," says a man sitting in a fold-out chair and smoking a pipe. She swears there haven't been anyone a moment ago.
    She glances at him. The unruly beard. The dark eyes. That ratty blue sweater. Then it strikes her. "You're—" She swallows.
    "Yes, Sweetheart, it's me only I'm not really here." He removes his pipe from his mouth and turns to face her. "You don't have to remember me and you don't have to forget me. You just need to move on."
    "Is that what I should do?" she asks.
    He chuckles softly and waves the pipe about. "Sweetheart, the world is expansive. Do everything! Don't waste time dwelling on the past. And don't stay here. Many had come only to return. You need to go back." He smiles.
    She wipes the tears from her eyes. When she looks back, her husband is not there. Has it been her imagination?
    She looks toward where she has come from but sees only the fog. Hasn't she wanted to forget? For a few moments she sits and watches the fog and rain.
    A little while later, back on the shore where she has started several hours ago, she smiles as she remembers again all her sorrows.

For tomorrow, the letter P, the choices are (1) potato, (2) passenger, (3) postcards. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Noodles

The choices for today are:  (1) no, (2) noodles, (3) nostalgic. The chosen word is noodles.

I used to eat those ramen noodles, those in packets where you buy them by the box full. I don't know if they are ramen noodles as there are so many types but I remember the packaging is either red or orange. It's easy to prepare the noodles because all you have to do is heat up a pot of water, throw the noodles square (which I break in half) in along with an egg or two or some leftover meat or vegetables and when it's about done, you put in the packet of sauces though I always throw out the oil packet and then in a few minutes, it's ready to eat. It's what college students liked to eat, at least, I did. I was and still am a pretty bad cook so easy food like prepackaged noodles makes for a quick meal.

What kind of food did you like to eat as a student?

For tomorrow, the letter O, the choices are (1) observer, (2) order, (3) ocean. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Mundane

The choices for today are: (1) mute, (2) Monday, (3) mundane. The chosen word is mundane.

The quote above my header is "My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence." which is from the story, The Red-Headed League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and this could be my motto in life. I live a very mundane life and that's not a bad thing. Sometimes I think I should be leading a more exciting life but other times, I think mundane is good. Mundane is safe and I don't panic too often. But I don't oppose to having some exciting thing happening every now and then. Something like getting a free book can be exciting to me so I suppose what I think of as exciting might be mundane to other people. But most of the time, I prefer a peaceful existence with a little touches of excitement to break the mundane.

Do you think you're living a mundane life? Do you prefer mundane over exciting?

For tomorrow, the letter N, the choices are (1) no, (2) noodles, (3) nostalgic. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Lackadaisical

The choices for today are: (1) lackadaisical, (2) literature, (3) loophole. The chosen word is lackadaisical.

Sometimes I can be lackadaisical and it can go on for days or weeks. I don't want to say I don't have the will to do things but some days, it is like that. But strangely, I get things done when it is absolutely necessary. I guess I'm used to finishing tasks and was never lazy doing them. I have always thought when a person gets older, they would be more diligent but it seems I am less so. The older I get, the more lazy I get and I'm better at letting things go as well. I'm sure nobody is working their ass off every minute of the day so I don't feel  too bad about being lazy and I don't think anyone should.

Do you have lazy days?

For tomorrow, the letter M, the choices are (1) mute, (2) Monday, (3) mundane. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Fiction: Kerfuffle

The choices for today are: (1) kitchen, (2) knucklehead, (3) kerfuffle. The chosen word is kerfuffle.  Kerfuffle, according to Merriam-Webster means, a disturbance or commotion typically caused by a dispute or conflict.

Fiction: Kerfuffle
It was just a little commotion but it disturbed his afternoon nap. So he let a drizzle fall under the bright spring sunlight. If anyone noticed the raindrops tasted like lemon drops, they didn't let on. The two boys who were fighting and the adults having an impromptu barbecue rushed inside their house.
    Across the street, in the front yard, between two apple trees, and lying on a hammock beneath a blanket, the small figure stretched and then settled down for another nap.
    "Kerfuffle! Where are you?" The voice of eight-year-old Emma rise above the rain. She had a habit of looking for things that didn't want to be found. He yawned and encouraged the rain to fall a little harder. The trees and the blanket just about kept him from getting wet.
    "Emma! Close that door now! Don't let the rain in!"
    He heard the slamming of the door.
    For a moment, the falling rain lulled him toward sleep but a screeching noise interrupted. He took a peek between the blanket. A car was veering from side to side and missing the lawns of several houses.
    Why couldn't he have a peaceful nap? He yawned. The car stopped just before the mailbox a few feet away from him. He let the rain subside and turned his body around to face away from the car.
    Moments later, Emma was cradling Kerfuffle and muttering sweet praises with breaths that smelled like licorice. Inside the house, she placed him on his bed. He didn't mind another nap. What cat would?

For Monday (as we skip Sundays), the letter L, the choices are (1) lackadaisical, (2) literature, (3) loophole. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.

Java

The choices for today are: (1) just, (2) junk, (3) java. The chosen word is java.

"Blogging without coffee since 2006"

The above is a tagline I had wrote a while back and it's still true today because I'm not a coffee drinker. You'll never hear me say 'I like a cup of java.' Nope. Tea is more my kind of drink. I don't like the taste of coffee and only ever had one taste of it. Some might say I need more than one taste to judge but I think some food, once you taste it, you just know you don't like it. I think if I had tried coffee when I was teen or younger, I might had grew to like it but in a rebellious way because when people tell me to not like something, I go the opposite way.

How about you, are you a coffee drinker?

For tomorrow, the letter K, the choices are (1) kitchen, (2) knucklehead, (3) kerfuffle. Choose which word I might ramble about or tell a story.

Click above or go here to find out more about the Blogging From A-Z Challenge.