Category: Write-Up

Tag, You’re It!

Published on by Claudia3 Comments
Design: Claudia Braun 12/2025

Happy Friday, everyone!!

I’ve been tagged by Midna Twili, to participate in a challenge called “The Music Tag”. Thanks very much, Midna, for considering me. I truly appreciate it. But how about the rules, you may wonder? Well here they are…

🎵 write down ten songs, that come on shuffle (no skipping)
🎵 write down your favorite part(s) of the lyrics from each song (one or more, if desired)
🎵 tag other people of choice

Now that should be fun, so let’s begin…


“Smile” by Nat “King” Cole
[…] If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through, for you […]

“Going Home” by Tyler Joe Miller
[…] I’m a rolling stone, never can stay long
Leaving is a bittersweet freedom
Even if I drive a million miles
I can never shake that feeling […]

“Shine On You” by Gloria Tells
[…] I am a woman
Play by my own rules
I got my two feet on solid ground
And then I take the first step, a million more
And I’ll make mistakes I’ve never made before […]

[…] I’m gonna let it shine on you
Make room for everything that’s true
Do whatever I wanna do […]

“I Believe In You” by Michael Bublé
[…] I believe in starting over
I can see that your heart is true
I believe in good things coming back to you
You’re the light that lifts me higher
So bright, you guide me through
I believe in you […]

[…] And all I want
Is to know you’re near
You’re all I need here […]

“Still Rainin'” by Jonny Lang
[…] They say that time heals everything
Well I know the pain, honey, that love can bring
It don’t get no better with each passing day
Every hope I had, slowly slipping away […]

“Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright
[…] Fly me high through the starry skies
Or maybe to an astral plane
Cross the highways of fantasy
Help me to forget today’s pain […]

“Heart Like A Truck” by Lainey Wilson
[…] I got a heart like a truck
It’s been drug through the mud
Runs on dreams and gasoline
And that ole highway holds the key
It’s got a lead foot down when it’s leaving
Lord knows it’s taken a hell of a beating
A little bit of love is all that it’s needing
But it’s good as it is tough
I got a heart like a truck […]

“For A Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic” by Paramore
[…] Just talk yourself up
And tear yourself down
You’ve hit your one wall
Now find a way around
Well what’s the problem
You’ve got a lot of nerve […]

“Numb” by Linkin Park
[…] I’m tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
Don’t know what you’re expecting of me […]

[…] All I want to do
Is be more like me
And be less like you […]

[…] Can’t you see that you’re smothering me
Holding too tightly, afraid to lose control
‘Cause everything that you thought that I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you […]

“Everybody’s Fool” by Evanescence
[…] Perfect by nature
Icons of self indulgence
Just what we all need
More lies about a world that
Never was and never will be […]

[…] Without the mask
Where will you hide
Can’t find yourself
Lost in your lie […]

And there we have them, the ten random and unskipped songs, hot from the iPod 😊
But now comes the difficult part: to tag other bloggers, who enjoy music…….[do you hear the crickets chirping yet again??]. Well I know of Jim Adams, because he hosts a prompt called Song Lyric Sunday. I participated a few times, many moons ago. And then? There’s a fox, who reviews rock, and checks in with me once in a while, so I’ll tag him as well. Unfortunately, that’s about it I’m disappointed to say. But if you, dear reader, wish to participate without having been named, consider this your heartfelt invitation. The more, the merrier after all. Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic weekend!!

Hush!

Published on by Claudia3 Comments
Daily writing prompt
Tell us one thing you hope people say about you.
View all responses

I wish people would quit talking about me, no matter if positive or negative. NOT. AT. ALL.
There are certainly more important and interesting topics to discuss. Please exclude me and my day-to-day life from your boring chit-chat. Move on to other subject matters, or hush to begin with.

Happy Sunday!! 😊

Forever

Published on by ClaudiaLeave a comment
Picture: Alvan Nee @ Unsplash [via Sadje]

Forever

Look here, now
two-legged friends of ours
We will teach you a thing or two
about unconditional love
On all the good days,
through the tough ones for sure
we’re joined in friendship
with respect and mutual care
Come hell or high water
a package deal we are
No one and nothing
will separate us
– ever.


** Written for What do you see #318, hosted by Sadje **




Scrambled Mess

Published on by ClaudiaLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What could you do less of?
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In recent years, here on WordPress, I may have mentioned a time or twenty-five, that I’ve turned into quite the YouTube junkie. Especially in relation to junk journal craft videos, there’s an abundance of project ideas to make your head spin. What I could do less of? Well…
Instead of watching one video after the other, I should pick one that looks interesting to me and put that into action after seeing it, before moving on to the next fantastic and truly beautiful idea.
As of late I have noticed, that this “endless watching” of creative offerings by all the talented YouTubers leaves me overwhelmed and yes, frustrated to be honest. That’s because all this input ends up being a scrambled mess in my head, without a “filing system” or an immediate “outlet”. Should I turn this into an actually attainable New Year’s resolution? I think so. Thanks for stopping by, have a great start to your week 😊

Personal Highlights of 2025

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Daily writing prompt
What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?
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Good morning and happy Sunday to begin with…
In review of this year, two positives come to my mind immediately, being

our cruise with the Vasco da Gama from May 13th to May 20th
as well as
Lilly’s move from the streets of Italy into my heart and home on June 12th

🛳 I am thankful beyond measure to my mom. She made a second cruise experience possible, not only allowing me to see new places and gather lasting impressions, but more importantly to create lovely memories from the time we spend together in various beautiful locations.

🐕 What greater feeling is there, than to fall in love? Lilly captured my heart the minute I first laid eyes on her. This sweet, little whirlwind adds so much joy to every day, it’s amazing. I love Lilly to bits and am unbeliebably grateful, that she chose me (with Aubree’s help) to give her love, health, safety and an abundance of happy moments for the rest of her life.

We all know, that each year has good days and better ones. True is also, that ‘the dark days’ are a part of my life as well. Luckily they’ve been merciful this year, spread far and few between. That by itself is a blessing. Have a lovely Sunday!!

Unsought Encounter

Published on by ClaudiaLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
Do you ever see wild animals?
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For the longest time, I’ve been a big fan of leisurely walks through the woods. Oh my days did I change my mind since late spring of this year! Why?
It was late morning on a Sunday, when mom and I went for a walk after visiting our family tree at the forest cemetery. We weren’t talking for a short while, when I heard stomping noises. They were getting louder. What the fluff? Right in that moment, when I asked my mom what she thought this sound could be, a sounder of wild boars came running up the hill. They crossed the trail we were on about 250 meters away from us. We stood still immediately and watched in awe. I don’t know whether they did not take notice of our presence due to the wind’s direction, or if they just followed their leader come hell or high water. Dang! This is the kind of experience I don’t need to have again, to be sure. And guess what? Since that unsought encounter this past spring, I haven’t been in the woods for a leisurely walk. 🐗😞 Have a lovely Saturday!!

Beloved Weekend Getaway

Published on by Claudia1 Comment
Daily writing prompt
Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?
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Back in the States, I had quite a few favorite places. One of them always was the ‘Algoma Beach Motel’ in Wisconsin. One weekend out of the year, usually the beginning of September, I drove up there to escape from everyday life. This two day ‘mental check-out’ was never long enough for me to miss my apartment and routines, but still sufficient to recharge the batteries. It became a regular getaway I ended up looking forward to all year. The lovely motel right on the beach is also special, because each one of my puppy girls spend the weekend there with me at least once, and I got the same room, too. Lots of fond memories, always 💗🐾🥰
A few snaps from 2011 [sorry, the picture quality isn’t that great]…

All pictures by Claudia Braun

…[Crickets Chirping]…

Published on by ClaudiaLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
Share five things you’re good at.
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First off: Nope! I’m not being a drama queen because of this…
1) …?
2) …?
3) …?
4) …?
5) …?

…I come up with nothing, that I am [exceptionally] good at. This is the plain and disappointing truth. It’s funny though, because before my inner eye I see a rolodex-type-thing with images of people, who flip a lid whenever I say that. They would tell me not to always cut myself down like this, and then ‘desperately’ try to name things I’m [sort of] good at. The problem is, that what they try to give me credit for [or make me feel good about] isn’t worth mentioning. So, I have nothing to share with you today. Sorry.

    Why So Negative?

    Published on by ClaudiaLeave a comment
    Daily writing prompt
    What is one thing you would change about yourself?
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    Out of several ‘issues-in-need-of-address’, more positivity in everyday life, including my outlook into the future, will take priority. Yes, I have project ‘brighter spirits’ in the works already, but there’s still quite a bit of room for improvement. So, with the saying “cheer up, it can only get better”, I will keep on truckin’… And on that note, have a perky and speedy hump day!! 😊

    Grandma Used To Say…

    Published on by ClaudiaLeave a comment
    Daily writing prompt
    What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?
    View all responses

    …”Who knows, what it’s good for”?!

    We’ve been over this a million and a half times, or so it feels. Why not again?? 🙃😂
    Out of all the difficult decisions I made to date, I most regret leaving America, to move back to Germany. From 2017 onward this regret started to fade slowly with Donald Trump’s first presidency, because America began its negative transformation [in my humble opinion from far away, based upon the news coverage available to us].
    After my divorce in 2001, it took me 12 years, five job changes, five relocations, a lot of determination and elbow grease to create a good life for myself. When it was finally time to “enjoy the fruits of my labor”, my dad became terminally ill. Family comes first, that’s the way it is and this is the reason why I’m back in Germany. I’m not happy here to be perfectly honest. Still, I am grateful beyond measure for the remaining time with my dad. We always had a rather difficult relationship and “making peace” was important for both of us.

    I left the better-for-me life behind, to do what’s right. And in the end, this decision – perhaps not in its entirety – ended up being the right choice. With the current developments in America, who knows? Maybe I would have been deported by now and back in Germany anyway? At the very least I always know that I left America on my terms, with good intentions.