Up the Creek

I feel bad for people on vacation for the week;

Here, in Massachusetts, I'm afraid they're up the creek.

They don't have a paddle either.  Soon they'll have to bail...

It's been raining steadily: there's thunder, lightning, hail.

I've been in that boat before and so I feel their pain;

(Even though an ocean view is gorgeous in the rain)

If you only get a short time off for summer fun

It would stink to pick a week that's so devoid of sun.

Beach Rentals?

The beach house we'd come to love has recently been sold

And the other place we rented in the days of old

Is too small to fit us all now that the kids are grown,

So - this year - our annual vacation plans are blown.

Started the tradition back in 1998;

All of us together at the beach and it was great!

Couldn't find a house to rent this year that's big enough,

Plus we're busy with this kitchen renovation stuff.

My whole clan's in mourning for our weeks spent at the waves;

Whole days at a stretch when everybody's kid behaves...

Does somebody know a place?  Has anybody seen

Somewhere on the beach, that welcomes pets, and sleeps 15?

Dear Mr. President; Wish You Were Here?

Should have stayed in Massachusetts, Mr. President;

Here, on Martha's Vineyard, where your 2 weeks "off" were spent.

Skies are blue and cloudless and the weather's, finally, warm...

But you're back in Washington and face a nasty storm.

Tear gas clouds from Ferguson are drifting down your way;

Turbulence across the pond as borders start to fray,

Plague winds out of Africa, a Middle Eastern front,

With you at the epicenter - where you'll bear the brunt

Of the rain of fecal matter critics throw at you,

Blustering in outrage at 'most anything you do.

Come on back to Massachusetts.  Stay 'til Labor Day.

(I'd still be exhausted...  That's a lot of golf you play.)

Not as if you don't deserve it.  If we're keeping score,

You've had less vacation time than most who came before.

Not as if you're really out of touch so don't feel bad...

W. took twice as many days as you have had.

We're Baaack

I do not regret the fact that - while we're at the beach -

I make sure to place myself completely out of reach.

Haven't seen a television nor the internet...

Now we're back but I'm afraid I haven't caught up yet.

As a first impression though, it seems that nothing's changed.

Israel is still at war; Ted Cruz is still deranged.

Congressmen did so much nothing that they're on a break.

What do those guys need vacations from, for heaven's sake?

I've begun to understand why folks avoid the news

Now that I have walked a week or two inside their shoes.

Why not focus on the changing tides or starry sky?

If you get the chance to go you should give it a try.

Really? Not Really.

One of my favorite views on the planet. (Photo/Courtesy of Peter S. Corr III)

I'm imposing quarantine, informing CDC;

Once again the rhyming bug is being spread by me.

Comments on some recent posts are being done in rhyme.

'til we get this straightened out I'm taking off some time.

Sorry if the Seussilitis bug has bitten you...

I'm afraid there's nothing that the CDC can do.

No-one's working on a cure for this dreadful disease

And, though it's not fatal (1 of 10 experts agrees)

It can drive your loved ones crazy - as it's driven mine.

If you quit your reading now I think you'll still be fine.

Hopefully by August, when my quarantine is lifted,

Public feeling on we poor afflicted will have shifted.

Car Woes

Car's at the mechanics, with my youngest home from school,

Stranded 'cause his older brother acted like a fool.

Drove the car into a ditch and so, until it's fixed

All the plans we'd made for this vacation must be nixed.

No-one's hurt (except the car) but, if you're keeping score,

With this latest accident my oldest has had 4.

Guess who won't be driving in his mother's beat up car.

Parent's grow unhappy when their kids push them too far.

The Doctor is Out

Next few days are busy ones, so I will not have time

Nor the inclination to sit down and write a rhyme.

I'll be back on Monday so I hope you'll check back then;

'though I'm on vacation, I have not put down the pen.

Merry Christmas? (cont.)

Illustration/Ammon Perry/http://doodletillomega.blogspot.com

Christmas tree fell over on the floor; I wasn't thrilled.

Needles flew, the tinsel tangled, and the water spilled.

Then our oldest son surprised us; he came home from school.

Room-mate drove him back; now I don't have to...  So, I'm cool.

Still, this year (like every year) I've got a lot to do.

It might be next year before I share new rhymes with you.

Therefore, I would like to wish you joyful holidays.

May the New Year bless you in a myriad of ways.

Seussilitis Interruptus

Have to get my butt in gear; I'm running out of time.

Happens to me every year, so I can't blame a rhyme.

Well before this Dr. Seussilitis bug took hold

I'd begin to hibernate whenever it got cold.

Christmas always sneaks up on me; my attention drifts.

Somehow, I am always searching for last minute gifts.

Once I get my act together I'll be back...  'til then

Wish you jolly holidays and peace on earth to men.

Happy Thanksgiving Rhyme

Wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving.

Eldest son came home last night for his Thanksgiving break.

Want to spend some time with him and then I have to bake...

Also have to clean my house since we'll be playing host;

Therefore, I'm not gonna have a lot of time to post.

I'll be gone 'til Monday when, again, I'll have free time

And come back to hit you with another silly rhyme.
Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.  Bye.  I have to cook...

But I'm very thankful that you've stopped to take a look.

Out of Touch

Even though vacation's through I'm really out of touch.

I'd like to compose a rhyme but cannot offer much.

Two weeks at the ocean watching nothing but the tides

Means that I'm unqualified for choosing any sides.

Nothing seems to matter as regarding politics;

Don't care which new player that my local sports team picks.

I am still unpacking - getting back into the swing -

Thus, I'm too distracted to be rhyming anything.

See You Later Alligator

Wave jumping.  (Photo/Peter S. Corr, III)

Once again, my giant clan is heading to the beach.

While we're there, although the inter-net's  not out of reach,

Dr. Seussilitis symptoms do not manifest;

Ocean views and breezes give my fevered brain a rest.

Hope that your vacations are all equally as nice.

If you're staying with large groups, then here is my advice

(If that group has teenagers along you'll understand)

Keep your coolers fully stocked - with extra booze on hand.

Sincerest Apologies to My Future Team-Mates

I will be stinking up the course at Stowe Country Club, VT  soon.

It's been like a sauna for weeks.

At times, seemed the sky had sprung leaks.

It thundered and stormed,

Some tornadoes formed,

With flooding near rivers and creeks.

Some may play in this; I do not.

No fun when the weather's this hot.

Give me the canned air,

Have not been out there.

My golf game has suffered...  A lot.

But soon we'll be up North with friends;

(I think we all know how this ends)

My swing will be bad.

When team-mates get mad;

Buy drinks at 19 - make amends.

Summertime, and This Living Ain't Easy

In the summer, other things preoccupy my mind;

Then this Dr. Seussilitis blog becomes a grind.

Seems a rhyme about the news won't come as easily

When I've gone to parties and awaken queasily.

Posts become sporadic with vacation almost here...

(We're returning to The Lookout, where we stayed last year.)

Boys are home, we're busy, and tomorrow is the 4th,

Then we're in a tournament with golfing friends up North.

Looking back, I see this current trend is nothing new.

Last year, in the summer, I had other things to do.

Thus, I make no promises that I'll be up to date

Or that rhymes I do get to are gonna be that great.

Hope that you'll bear with me 'cause my record also proves

In the Fall, when life slips into its accustomed grooves,

I'll get back to politics - for me they're like a drug -

But, in summer, my brain starts behaving like a slug.

And You Thought My Rhymes Were Bad?

If it's video games that rot your mind, what's my excuse?

The boys - on vacation again -

Are sprawled everywhere in the den;

Invited their friends.

Their mother intends

To hide. There's too many young men.

The 112th Congress - Teats on a Bull

Hello?  Anybody there? (Photo/iowntheworld.com)

Now I see why people want to represent their state;

Congress's vacation benefits are really great.

They are back in recess - after 4 days on the job...

I think that's incredible, and I'm a lazy slob.

Not as if there's any work for them to do.  Oh, wait!

Yes there is.  In fact, they've left a lot still on their plate:

Farm bill, jobs for veterans, the looming fiscal cliff,

All the things they said they'd do to help the working stiff.

But - instead - they're going home, with so much left undone

Can't imagine meeting with their voters being fun.

Cannot work together so the Congress called it quits,

Proving they're as useful as a bull with massive tits.

Across the Pond - The London Games

All the local heroes from hometowns around the world:

Running, swimming, leaping, fighting, get a discus hurled.

Athletes cry on podiums and mouth their anthems' words.

Londoners remain polite despite the roving herds.

There have been some moments when I've shed a happy tear;

Caught my breath in worry with disaster looming near,

Or in awe as human bodies hurtle through the air.

People doing things that I would not do on a dare.

'though I've not seen all the Games - 'cause we were at the beach -

Even there (Perhaps the air?) Olympics news would reach.

No, I didn't watch it live when Phelps made history,

(I, instead, watched silver moonlight ripple on the sea)

Still, within the hour, I was told that he had won...

Watching the Olympics' what my nieces did for fun.

Now we're home and tuned in every night I have to say;

Even though I know the network has big bills to pay,

T.V. ads so often make the Games no fun to watch.

Wish that NBC'd agree to tone it down a notch.

Shows us sports we never see.  Perhaps some rowing heats?

Give us more Olympics. I don't care what Mike Phelps eats.

Happy Birthday! Love, Mom.

I remember when he was much, much smaller.

Happy Birthday darlin' boy - You're 17 today,
And I thought I'd use this opportunity to say
Parents hope their children know how much they're truly loved
(Probably forget to say so when you've lately shoved
Your clean clothes back in the wash when cleaning up your room

But, now's not the time to speak of things that make me fume.)
I can still recall - so clearly - that night you were born;
Realized from that day on my heart was truly torn...
Two parts where there once was one (and now, of course, there's 3)
Hope that you'll take care of what you're keeping there for me.
Don't take stupid chances... Make risks you do take count.
Always know we love you an unlimited amount.
Yes, of course you'll make mistakes. You're not the only one;

All around you, evidence that people make them son.
Don't want to control your life.  We're here to help you out...
And, if you are honest, not like either of us shout.
Make the most of all your blessings. Go and seize the day.
!

Mom and Dad and Andrew love you more than we can say.

We're Back.

Hello everyone. We're back again; vacation's through.

Hope that, in my absence, things have been okay with you.

I am just now catching up...  I find I've missed so much.

At the beach I chose to stay completely out of touch.

Didn't read a paper.  Didn't see the evening news.

Only sat and stared out at amazing ocean views.

If I owned The Lookout I would never want to leave.

Everyday I was away would be a day I'd grieve.

Once we watched a lightning storm streak bolts off to our right.

To our left a shooting star trailed through the starry night.

Tide came in and tide went out. I watched it with our dog.

Didn't see another soul while sitting on our log.

Dr. Seussilitis symptoms seemed to disappear.

Now we're home I fear my brain's no longer feeling clear.

Watched the news; read magazines.  I felt it starting then.

Must have had a relapse 'cause I'm rhyming things again.

Going on Vacation - I Really Mean It This Time

 

I am heading to the beach with rabid Red Sox fans.

14 of us watching games and working on our tans.

Mr.S. (my New York spouse) is staying just a week;

Any more and I'm afraid that we'd no longer speak.

When it's just the two of us our differences are small;

Only argue if the ump has made a lousy call.

But my family isn't quite as tolerant as I.

When he wears his Yankees' cap I worry for the guy.