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A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

10 Days of Heat Writing Challenge

10 Days of Heat: STORY 3: New York (Day 10)

August 31, 2017

(It’s Day 10 of the challenge! Thanks to all who took part and hope to see you in January for the 20 Days of Chill in January!)

Is Reggie’s fight over?

Will he see his wife again?

Will he ever figure out what this was all about?

Sure, he knew what life was going to be like when he took a secret covert position. It paid well. It allowed him and his family to have nice things. And he knew there was risk.

Was the risk worth the reward?

Now, his daughter was with him. He hadn’t seen his daughter in years. They didn’t see eye to eye on a mistake Reggie had long admitted. Instead, she blocked it out.

Now she was dragged into this mess.

And there was nothing he could do. They were on their way to New York from Alaska. He had spent many years in New York. He knew the city well. But this worldwide chase doesn’t make sense. Why has he been going all over the world just to get jumped and pushed into different situations where his life and others were in jeopardy.

He couldn’t sleep on the plane, just staring out the window into the dark night. His daughter was asleep next to him, her innocence being tested by something he apparently had done.

What could he do?

—–

The plane landed in New York as the sun was starting to crest the skyline. A new day was starting and the city was going to be full of hustle and bustle and millions of people going about their daily business – with no idea what was happening in Reggie’s odd world.

Kaylee was up, now clutching to her backpack. She had no idea how this was going to end.

Neither did Reggie.

As soon as they got off the plane, they walked out of the terminal and a person was standing next to a limo – and they held a sign that said “Reggie and Kaylee.”

Reggie was apprehensive as he walked up the gentleman, who was wearing a drivers outfit, including sunglasses and a cap.

Reggie looked him over before saying anything.

“Who are you?” he asked with a stern tone.

“Sir, I have been sent here to pick you up,” the driver said.

“By who?” Reggie responded.

“I work for Export Limo Service – I don’t know that information,” he said. “My company told me to come here to pick Reggie and Kaylee up. That’s all I know. “

“And where are you to take us?” Reggie asked.

“Central Park,” the driver said.

Reggie looked around, and looked over this driver. The driver didn’t look intimidating or anything of the sort, but in Reggie’s world, one could never be too careful. So Reggie slowly slid in, with Kaylee right behind him. That allowed Reggie to be right behind the driver, where he could react if necessary.

It seemed like the trip took longer than it should have, but they were soon being dropped off at Central Park. The driver said almost nothing on the trip.

As the sun started to bask over the city and Central Park, Reggie stood watching people going by. Central Park was always a wonderful place to visit. The people were always running around and there were miles and miles of paths to walk and even find some serenity.

Not today, though.

And that’s when everything happened. Standing on the outside of the main entrance, everything happened fast. A runner came by, knocking into Reggie and the two fell to the ground. He pointed across the street, just in time for Reggie and Kaylee to turn and see Reggie’s wife and Kaylee’s mother in the back of a car – she had tape over her mouth and fear in her eyes as the car, with no license plate, took off down the street.

Reggie stood and started to run, but he had no chance. Meanwhile, the runner, who had watched it all unfold, stood and started to run the opposite way. Kaylee, however, saw this and tackled him to the ground and the two rolled into a secluded area where people wouldn’t be seeing. She put her hand over his mouth as Reggie came running back.

“If you even make a sound, it will end for you within a second,” Reggie said to the runner, who stared at Reggie with a scared look.

“The next five minutes will determine the direction for the rest of your life,” Reggie said.

Kaylee stood and looked around to make sure nobody was around and then kicked the runner in the gut.

Reggie looked up at her with bewilderment, and a little bit of amazement.

“Now it’s time that he starts talking,” she said.

The sun was growing brighter. The city was full of life. And somewhere, Reggie’s wife was being taken away. She was still alive, though. And that was all he needed to know to keep pushing forward.

But first, it was time to see what the runner knew. He just had to find a way to get the runner to a secluded place where he could get the information he needed.

(You didn’t really think it would end here, did you? It’s close, though! My goal was to end this during the 20 Days of Chill – one year after I started! So I hope you will all come back for that in January. I will announce information and themes in November/December!)

This is part of the 10 Days of Heat writing challenge! There’s still time to join up with us. Do as many themes as you want! The challenge runs every Tuesday and Thursday through the month of August 2017. For a list of themes, check out the announcement post and join us!

Side note: I have not been around seeing all the blog posts of others in this challenge. It ends this week and I am hoping some things slow down for me. I promise I will be visiting/reading/commenting on every single post from this challenge!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Filed Under: 10 Days of Heat Writing Challenge, blogging, challenges, My world, Writing Tagged With: 10 days of heat, 10 days of heat writing challenge, blog, blog challenge, bloggers, blogging, blogging challenge, challenges, writing, writing challenge

4 Comments

10 Days of Heat: Best summer memory (Day 9)

August 29, 2017

This one is tough.

My summers have been different as I’ve aged. As a kid, I remember going on small family trips, especially a beach in Maryland. At least one of those trips included a first crush.

As I got older, things changed. It wasn’t always an easy thing because everybody seemed to go in different directions. There was baseball, of course. Then when I got too old for that, it was softball.

Softball has been a staple in my summers for many years. For more than 25 years, I’ve run a team. We’ve had good and bad, but over the past decade we’ve been a solid team in any league in which we played.

Still, I won’t play forever. In the past several years I’ve gotten more into going to baseball games. I’ve planned trips and have seen many different stadiums.

I’ve been to a lot of great weddings and taken trips (Ireland probably tops that list). I’ve seen a lot and always enjoy being in the position to see new things.

The funny part, though, nothing really stands out as that “one memory.”

I have talked to so many people who can pinpoint something special – ranging from one as a kid to something as an adult. It could be a camp, or a trip, or meeting the person of their dreams. But something stands out.

For me, I have a hard time with it.

I know there is a lot of good memories out there. They seem to mesh together, however. I can smile thinking back to times in the past, but there’s just not the one that jumps out.

Maybe there is and I am just not letting it come to the front of my mind.

I do cherish certain things, though. I remember the times of playing in the local county golf tournament, including one year where I played with my father and one of my brothers in the opening round. I remember the first time one of my softball teams won a championship and being able to celebrate it with one of my brothers. I spent many days watching my niece play travel soccer. I played baseball as a kid, be it a “pickup game” or on the local legion team. There were trips to Philly to visit relatives and having a true Italian “lunch” at a neighbor’s house. I was friends with two of the kids in the family and it was wild to be part of that day.

I remember stick ball or walking to the small “convenience” store in Philly, grabbing those fake candy smokes. Or buying pretzels on the corner. Goodness, Philly pretzels rule.

Trips to Montreal.

My lord do I remember those.

So many friends joined me in my obsessive trips to that amazing city. I would still move there tomorrow if I could get a job that paid well and afford me the ability to live there. I have loved the city since the first time I visited it and have been there a dozen or so times. It’s been too long though, and I need to get there and visit soon.

Maybe my best summer memory is a potpourri of memories into one. And though I can’t pinpoint just one that really stands out as “the one,” I feel I’ve had a lot of great memories about summers gone by, and I can hope they continue in summers of the future.

How about all of you? What is your best summer memory?

This is part of the 10 Days of Heat writing challenge! There’s still time to join up with us. Do as many themes as you want! The challenge runs every Tuesday and Thursday through the month of August 2017. For a list of themes, check out the announcement post and join us!

Side note: I have not been around seeing all the blog posts of others in this challenge. It ends this week and I am hoping some things slow down for me. I promise I will be visiting/reading/commenting on every single post from this challenge!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Filed Under: 10 Days of Heat Writing Challenge, blogging, challenges, My world, Writing Tagged With: 10 days of heat, 10 days of heat writing challenge, blog, blog challenge, bloggers, blogging, blogging challenge, challenges, writing, writing challenge

4 Comments

10 Days of Heat: Fireworks (Day 8)

August 24, 2017

I love fireworks.

It’s probably a mixture of things that make me love them so much, specifically the colors, the excitement, and that it brings back the feeling of being a kid.

One thing, though, is the toughness of capturing fireworks. Sometimes I can get some good images, other times not so much. I have also been trying to capture fireworks after a baseball game where the field is lit up below.

The unfortunate part is you can’t bring tripods and such into stadiums, so that makes it harder.

Fireworks, though, are still amazing. Each summer in my baseball trips, I always try to see as many games with fireworks. Sometimes the crowds are a little too big for my liking when there are fireworks, but I love them just the same.

This summer I’ll see likely more than 20 games with fireworks. It’s always a wonderful thing.

The photo up top is the best one I took this year trying to light up the field as well. Eventually, I’ll get that even better!

How about all of you? Any fireworks stories? Do you love them as well?

This is part of the 10 Days of Heat writing challenge! There’s still time to join up with us. Do as many themes as you want! The challenge runs every Tuesday and Thursday through the month of August 2017. For a list of themes, check out the announcement post and join us!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Filed Under: 10 Days of Heat Writing Challenge, blogging, challenges, My world, Writing Tagged With: 10 days of heat, 10 days of heat writing challenge, blog, blog challenge, bloggers, blogging, blogging challenge, challenges, writing, writing challenge

4 Comments

10 Days of Heat: STORY 2: Camp Life (Day 7)

August 22, 2017

I wonder if I missed out on something when I was a kid.

Maybe not as I don’t remember many of my friends doing it, either. But summer camps seem to be a big thing for kids, especially these days.

Schools host camps. There are sports camps. And 4H camps. And all sorts of other camps for kids to go to each summer.

Alas, I never went – and honestly, I’m not sure I missed much. I liked what I did in the summer. Baseball, sports, playing near the creek, exploring the woods, riding bikes, swimming – things kids did in the days before there was so much worry in the world.

This all might have been because I grew up in a rural area … so traveling to do what we could do for free honestly made no sense.

Now that I think about it – maybe my childhood summers were filled with camp days, just without the schedules and organization. I have to admit, too, I like it that way.

The structure of camps can be good. Other times, not so much. One of the school districts I work for has several weeks of summer camps and it’s truly a good thing. They do a lot and learn, all while having fun and being with friends. Camps include science things, cooking, field trips, and sports, among other things.

It’s hard to beat that, especially in the current state of technology and such. This allows kids to get out and do something, rather than just be on a computer or in front of a TV.

But as a kid growing up when I did, I’m not sure how much I would have enjoyed it.

How about you? Did you all go to summer camps? Did it help you as a kid?

This is part of the 10 Days of Heat writing challenge! There’s still time to join up with us. Do as many themes as you want! The challenge runs every Tuesday and Thursday through the month of August 2017. For a list of themes, check out the announcement post and join us!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Filed Under: 10 Days of Heat Writing Challenge, blogging, challenges, My world, Writing Tagged With: 10 days of heat, 10 days of heat writing challenge, blog, blog challenge, bloggers, blogging, blogging challenge, challenges, writing, writing challenge

7 Comments

10 Days of Heat: STORY 2: Anchorage, Alaska (Day 6)

August 17, 2017

The plane landed in Tokyo and Reggie and Kaylee soon got off the plane. They had no idea what to do at this point.

Their phones were dead.

Their bodies were drained.

The raw emotion running through each of them was at an end. It had been days and days. For Reggie, there were days or more that ran together. It could have been weeks. It could have been months. He didn’t know. Thousands and thousands of miles in airplanes and vehicles added up very fast. He’d been jumped and threatened and sent on a wild goose chase.

And now, next to him, was his estranged daughter – one he hadn’t spoken to in more than six or seven years.

Yet, he still had no idea what was going on.

He and his daughter walked out, the sun shining and the fast lifestyle of Tokyo was moving right along. It was just another day.

But Reggie … his fight was leaving.

“Kaylee … I just can’t … “ his voice started fading away.

Kaylee realized something was wrong and reacted quickly as her father started to fall.

***

Hours later, Reggie woke up in what seemed like a hospital room.  An American doctor stood next to him, talking to his daughter. He could see wires and tubes hooked up to him. He looked around as the doctor looked down.

“Ahh, Reggie, welcome back.”

Kaylee looked on, a bit of concern on her face.

“It seems you were so exhausted it finally caught you,” the doctor said. “You passed out and we got you here as fast as we could so we could get you back to where your body needs to be. We are getting you hydrated and helping you get some rest.

Reggie started to protest … but his daughter put her hand on his chest to hold him still.

“Don’t worry, Dad. We will still figure everything out. Just breathe and relax.”

Reggie stared at the ceiling and his eyelids felt like weights. He soon couldn’t keep them open any longer.

***

Reggie woke up a bit later, feeling refreshed. It might have been longer than a few hours, but the tubes and wires were disconnected. His clothes were on the nearby chair and his daughter was snoozing in the corner. He quietly closed the blind and quickly got dressed and as he pulled the blind back, his daughter was waking up.

“I don’t know what to do,” Reggie said.

His daughter reached into her bag and handed him an envelope.

“This was on your bed and I didn’t know what it was,” she said.

He quickly opened it and found two tickets to Anchorage, Alaska. He got a confused look on his face. This, took a new direction of this mystery.

Anchorage is where he met his wife.

It had been nearly 20 years since he had been in Anchorage. The memories there were mixed. Some good. Some bad. But he was refreshed. He needed to find out what was going on.

Then he saw a note in the envelope.

“Reggie, your time is running out. You know what we want. Have it with you. If you do not start complying with us, your wife will never be found. Ever.”

Anchorage it was.

They left the hospital and hailed a taxi. In the back of Reggie’s mind, he hoped this was going to end soon.

This is part of the 10 Days of Heat writing challenge! There’s still time to join up with us. Do as many themes as you want! The challenge runs every Tuesday and Thursday through the month of August 2017. For a list of themes, check out the announcement post and join us!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Filed Under: 10 Days of Heat Writing Challenge, blogging, challenges, My world, Writing Tagged With: 10 days of heat, 10 days of heat writing challenge, blog, blog challenge, bloggers, blogging, blogging challenge, challenges, writing, writing challenge

4 Comments

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She was so still for this photo. Make sure you f She was so still for this photo. 

Make sure you follow her on Instagram at: @harper_dublin !

#goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #dog #goldenretrieversofinstagram #harper_dublin #akc #photography #photooftheday #love #mydogharper #harperdublin #instagood #happy #picoftheday #fun
Life is good. #goldenretriever #dog #bestfriend Life is good. 

#goldenretriever #dog #bestfriend #dogsofinstagram #selfie #lifeisgood #enjoylife #instagood #iphonephotography #photography
After a nice snowy walk! ❄️❄️❄️ #gold After a nice snowy walk! ❄️❄️❄️

#goldenretriever #snow #winter #dog #dogsofinstagram #photography #photooftheday #ınstagood
Harper is counting down to Santa Paws! You know, Harper is counting down to Santa Paws! 

You know, of course, Santa Paws travels with Santa Clause, making sure to find treats and toys for all the good little doggies! (We know they are all deserving, right?) So, Harper put out some milk for the big guy, carrots for Rudolph and the reindeer, and special cookies for Santa Paws! She is ready! 

#SantaPaws #Christmas2022 #HarperChristmas #MyDogHarper #GoldenRetriever #DogsofInstagram #PhotoOfTheDay #Photography #Christmas #IPhoneography
One of the best parts about having Harper as my be One of the best parts about having Harper as my best friend… ❤️
Couldn't resist stopping on the way to work to sna Couldn't resist stopping on the way to work to snap this shot. The colors in the sky were fantastic and the scene was nice looking (though, to be fair, I drove by what I think would have been a better scene -- the valley and hills full of snow etc.)

#Snow #Winter #Sky #Color #InstaLove #photooftheday #picoftheday #iPhoneography #nature #love #instalove #photography #happy #smile #photo
The best of times??? 🤪🤪🤪 The best of times??? 🤪🤪🤪
Just a break on our morning walk … #goldenretri Just a break on our morning walk …

#goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #mydogharper
Tired. Tired.
Harper is ready for tonight! Let’s go Phillies! Harper is ready for tonight! Let’s go Phillies! 

#phillies #ringthebell #baseball #dog #goldenretriever
I look at her and sometimes still can’t believe I look at her and sometimes still can’t believe I have her. It’s been a year and four months and she makes me smile and laugh more each day. It’s amazing how much a dog changes your look on life, and how much joy they can bring. 

#goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #dog #goldenretrieversofinstagram #harper_dublin #akc #photography #photooftheday #love #mydogharper #harperdublin #instagood #happy #picoftheday #fun #iphoneology #retrieveroftheday #ilovemygolden #dogstagram #dailygolden #dogsofinsta
I’ve recently realized how many photos I have to I’ve recently realized how many photos I have to post here, as well as on Harper’s (@harper_dublin) account). So, as I start to transfer photos, I’ll try and catch up. So photos coming could be from all seasons and who knows when. 🤣

This one is recent from the courthouse square in Delhi. We had some pretty good fall colors this year. 

#fall #delhiny #seasons #iphoneonly #love #photography #photooftheday #instagood #happy #picoftheday
From a few weeks ago. I was trying to get Harper t From a few weeks ago. I was trying to get Harper to put her paws on the bridge and looked out, but she was more content jumping on me and looking up. I do love the way she seems to be looking at me.
Instagram post 17992900117561614 Instagram post 17992900117561614
Couldn’t resist a quick stop this morning with t Couldn’t resist a quick stop this morning with the fog and frost settled in. 

Hamden Covered Bridge 

#coveredbridge #coveredbridges #bridge #fog #frost #nature #upstatenewyork
Harper’s friend Lucy is around this weekend! #g Harper’s friend Lucy is around this weekend!

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So… @harper_dublin wants to know why she can’t So… @harper_dublin wants to know why she can’t have @mallons_homemade_sticky_buns.
This is why we can’t have nice things. Saw this This is why we can’t have nice things. Saw this on me morning walk Friday with Harper. Likely some college kids, but also as chance at local hooligans. I had Harper so not a lot I could do, but I managed to get the cart off the chair. (See second photo) This was in a local park.
Harper is ready for #nationalfetchday on October 1 Harper is ready for #nationalfetchday on October 15! @chuckitfetchgames 

Should be fun! @discgolfdarren @harmm23
Starting to feel like fall! #fall #nature #autum Starting to feel like fall! 

#fall #nature #autumn #colors #foliage #instagood #seasonchange #leaves #leaves🍁
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P.J. Harmer

P.J. Harmer
A video looking at my first year and a half of owning a golden retriever, my first dog. It's had its ups and downs, but I've truly loved the ride and look forward to the future. 

Music: Happy before we get old by Michael Shynes via Artlist. 

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Thank you for watching. :)
When these boxes come, there usually some excitement. But this one ... is the ultimate unboxing! 

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Music: Happy to be Happy (Dapun)

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I hate being in front of the camera, but also realize sometimes it's not the worst thing in the world. So, I'm getting better with it. Week 4's theme was all about us and having us in front of the camera, so I tried to come up with a creative way to do it. 

#cielovideo52 #52weekchallenge #week4 #weeklychallenge

Music: Infinite Wonder (Ben Fox)

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