My Dearest Belinda

Tips For A Better Dining Experience - Pizza • I Have A Friend Named…

One Minute Wit

Tips For A Better Dining Experience • Pizza

By Chef Mark Starlin

engin akyurt

If you ever go to a pizza place, and they say, “We are all out of pizza dough, but we have a nice tree bark pizza.”

Don’t do it.

Go somewhere else.

Silly Poetry

I Have A Friend Named…

fauxels

I have a good friend named Bill Ding
Property ownership is his thing
He owns a dozen apartments
And earns his wages from the rents

I have a friend name Willie Maykit
A tight rope walker who couldn’t quit
He married a gal named Betty Wohnt
Who told him plainly, “Oh no, you don’t!”
She put a stop to his career
A thing that made his children cheer

I have a friend named Ionna Castle
Whose home is nothing but a hassle
It’s far too big for what she needs
She wants to sell and move to Leeds

I have a friend named Ida Hoh
She has a garden where potatoes grow
A neighbor lends a helping hand
Her dear, dear friend, Mary Land

I have a friend named Shirley Knott
Who often starts a new boycott
She won’t allow that in her town
Her face is one long constant frown

I have a friend named Harry Mann
Who shaves as often as he can
He gets mistaken for a bear
When he goes out, some get a scare

I have a friend named Art Gallery
Painting’s how he earns his salary
Then one day he had a stroke
That turned him into a rich bloke

I have a friend named Dusty Shooz
Who loves to hike near Veracruz
The pyramids are his favorite thing
He’s also friends with old Bill Ding

Letters Home

My Dearest Belinda

Free-Photos

May 12, 1853

My Dearest Belinda;

Progress on my novel is advancing slower than I expected. I realize I told you that getting away to a cabin in the woods would allow me to focus on writing, and it has. But I have also discovered that the woods can have its own distractions.

I saw a bear yesterday. Fear not, I was safely in the cabin as he wandered by. But I did spend considerable time looking out the window before I was brave enough to use the outhouse again.

The creature made off with one of my shirts, which I had left outside after fishing. I am not sure whether it was the smell of fish on my shirt that attracted him or the smell of strawberry jam. Nonetheless, I am one shirt lighter than when I arrived.

By the way, did you know that trout are particularly fond of strawberry jam? They are. I caught several by placing chunks of bread coated with strawberry jam on fishing hooks.

I met a man while I was walking around the pond for inspiration. I find walking often leads to thinking, which is essential when you are writing a novel. This chap is also a writer. He is writing about a book about the pond. Can you imagine? Who would buy such a book? I will stick to novels.

As we were conversing, he invited me to play cards with him at his cabin. I was reluctant, but I felt it rude to refuse, so we spent the afternoon playing various games of cards. He invited me back tomorrow to play chess.

Back to my novel update. After two months of writing about a family in New York City, you can probably imagine my surprise when the thought entered my head that the novel should be set in the west.

Think of the possibilities. The wildness of the west will add considerable excitement to my novel. I am sure of it. Of course, it will require extensive re-writing. But I am convinced it will be worth the effort.

Speaking of work, I should get back to it. Please give the children my love. I miss them and you dearly. But this novel is vital to our futures. I must persist.

Your loving husband,

William

Happy Monday. Thanks for reading and responding. You make it fun.

Mark

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Monday Morning Mark • 161