Category Archives: Creative Work

Various types of written pieces for the entertainment of our community.

Squirrel Droppings: Diaper Rash or Mindful Movement Inbox

By Fred Prout Random musings on the vagaries of life. I understand that as you mature (a condition I resist with all my being) stuff happens to your body. In the past, I have recounted a few previous run ins with … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, General Interest | 5 Comments

Goodbye Darkness My Old Friend

By Fred Prout T Rex (fka Thomas King ) has been hard to find the past few months. The last time we got together was at The Unchristmas Party which was a huge success thanks to Ts efforts. Well,  this … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, General Interest | Tagged | 6 Comments

How Many Seniors Does It Take …..?

By Fred Prout A funny thing happened the other morning at the Home For Senior Delinquents. First, an explanation. For those of you who may not have reached senior status, a word of warning. I have recently attained the age … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, General Interest, Humor | Tagged | 7 Comments

I Witnessed a Miracle. Or Maybe It Was a Dog

by Fred Prout Here at the home for senior delinquents, we have two great chefs. Charlie and The Duke. Not the tall white hat chefs. The sit down and have a conversation chefs. A few days ago, one of our … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, General Interest, Humor | Tagged | 8 Comments

An UnChristmas Story

Don’t worry. No Red Ryder BB gun. No ghosts of Christmas past, present or future. Waking up to the wondrous aroma of turkey and

Posted in Creative Work, Featured | Tagged | 6 Comments

A Thanksgiving Story

John Tucker died. Outside of Ratcheds, it’s not news. You didn’t know him, why should you care? But John Tucker’s life had meaning. As do all lives. The community of Ratcheds loved John Tucker. And it went both ways. John … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest | Tagged | 8 Comments

Squirrel Droppings / Pumping Irony

By Fred Prout As many of you know, the light of my life for most of a half century was legally blind. So I am not totally ignorant of the problems and how to get around them as best you … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest, Humor | Tagged | 6 Comments

One Flew Over The Handlebars

It’s been a wild day in Ratcheds By The Sea. Shirley Shewill, incoming manager of The Ratcheds Senior Center, is conducting an audit of the books and an inventory of supplies. Apparently, some of the members were heisting bananas, coffee … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest, Humor, Opinion/Editorial | Tagged | 4 Comments

In Memorium

Everyone here in Ratcheds, and elsewhere, is in mourning today. We learned of the passing of our beloved founder,

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest, Humor | Tagged | 4 Comments

NIGHT WINDS

In the wink of an eye, my soul is turning They start in the seconds between wakefulness and sleep.

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest | Tagged | 9 Comments

Dog Rules

By Fred Prout  Dogs have their own set of rules. They supersede any that we try to impose on them. Simple: eat, drink, walk, sleep, give love, give more love, empty tanks and, to my dismay, periodically, eat grass and … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest, Humor | Tagged | 9 Comments

The Devil In the Router

By Fred Prout I write this as a reformed Luddite. Cancel progress. Too much is too much! Bring back the golden days of radio when we could use our imagination. Orson Wells could play The Thin Man, Lake Woebegone Days … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest, Humor | Tagged | 7 Comments

From Both Sides Now

By Jackie Deal (Blame Fred Prout, he started this!) I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now From up and down and still somehow It’s clouds illusions I recall I really don’t know clouds at all. Joni Mitchell was 23 … Continue reading

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Amber and the Prescription RX

By Jackie Deal “Just insert the syringe (no needle) into the corner of the cat’s mouth and squirt in the medicine.” Amber has been prescribed an appetite stimulant one ml. twice a day. There’s no way to camouflage it like … Continue reading

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Rows and Flows of Angel Hair

By Fred Prout Stuff! We’ll call it that. But you’ll understand there is a more descriptive word. It’s the nasty stuff that gets in our head, from time to time, and turns a bright, sunny day cloudy. It makes us … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, Opinion/Editorial | Tagged | 12 Comments

How does This Park Operate

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest, Members, New Members, Opinion/Editorial | 4 Comments

A Sweet Park, Timber Valley

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest, Opinion/Editorial | Tagged | 7 Comments

Fourth of July, Ratcheds By The Sea

What a great Fourth of July weekend at Ratcheds By The Sea. The weather was perfect. Thirty degrees cooler than inland, and a gentle breeze wafted in from the ocean. The festivities were nonstop starting Friday morning. By the time … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest, Humor | Tagged | 4 Comments

The Magic Lamp

I just read a scientific survey. It was published by Fox News. So you know it’s accurate and unbiased. The scientists concluded that 99.6% of the English-speaking population of The United States of America do not understand the concept of … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, Featured, General Interest, Humor | Tagged | 6 Comments

Vertigo or Squirrel Droppings or A Tale of Two Nurses

By Fred Prout My body is revolting. WAIT, WHAT?  Alexa, erase that and start over. A follow up to the vividly remembered two weeks without beer. I hope I didn’t give the impression I drink too much. Two possibly three … Continue reading

Posted in Creative Work, General Interest, Humor | Tagged | 4 Comments