Sunday Stealing
1. Has anyone ever made fun of your taste in music?
A. Not that I recall.
2. Is anyone’s birthday coming up?
A. My stepmother's and a friend.
3. Do you remember who you liked in grade eight?
A. No.
4. When was the last time you burned any part of your body?
A. A very long time, since I can't remember anything specific.
5. If I gave you ten dollars, what would you spend it on?
A. I'd buy you lunch.
6. What are you most excited about right now?
A. I bought a new keyboard and it's so nice to have the keys jumping and not sticking!
7. Does / did either of your parents serve in the military?
A. My father served.
8. Are you somewhat of a perfectionist?
A. There is no "somewhat" about it.
9. Do you like sour candy?
A. Sometimes.
10. Are all-nighters something you have grown used to?
A. I am too old for all-nighters.
11. Do you usually wear sunglasses when you’re driving?
A. Yes.
12. Do you wear your shoes around the house?
A. Yes. I do not like to go barefoot. Never have.
13. What clothes are you most comfortable in?
A. Jeans and a t-shirt.
14. Are you good at painting nails?
A. No.
15. Smoothies or slushies?
A. Neither one.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Saturday 9: No One's Here to Sleep
Saturday 9: No One's Here to Sleep
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Here it here.
1) This song is the theme of How to Get Away with Murder, the legal drama that premiered in 2014 and airs on Thursday nights. Are you a fan?
A. I have never seen this show. This should not surprise regular readers, who know I do not watch a lot of TV.
2) The song's refrain says, "I'll never catch up with you." Behind the wheel, do you carefully observe the speed limit? Or do you have a lead foot, making it hard for anyone to catch up with you?
A. I used to have a lead foot, but now I'm older and I don't go *too much* over the speed limit.
3) How to Get Away with Murder is about Annalise Keating, a law professor at a top Philadelphia university. She has a reputation for being tough, demanding and able to turn her students into successful defense attorneys. Tell us about a teacher who helped prepare you for life after graduation.
A. I had several teachers who were instrumental in my success, many of whom I have written about here. I think I will tell you this time about Jeanne Larsen, my English professor at Hollins. I took as many classes under her as I could, beginning with Freshman Poetry (or something like that, I'd have to look at my transcripts). Jeanne was a wonderful teacher, very perceptive, and encouraging. She was incredibly nice to her students and I think I only saw her somewhat angry once in all the years I had a class with her. She helped me to see that I did have a writing talent and wasn't simply mediocre. I have always thought I disappointed her, though, by not applying myself to poetry or novels and instead venturing into news writing.
4) The students she feels show the most promise -- and are recruited to help her solve murders -- are known as The Keating Four. Did you ever sense that you were your teacher's favorite?
A. Yes. I generally was the teacher's favorite, especially in elementary, intermediate, and high school. I was a straight A student. I wasn't the teacher's pet in something like biology or gym, but I usually was in English.
5) Viola Davis was just nominated for an Emmy for playing Professor Keating. Ms. Davis was born on a farm in SC. Have you spent more of your life in a rural, suburban or urban setting?
A. Rural.
6) Next to Annalise Keating, Viola Davis is best known for her Oscar-nominated role as Aibileen in the movie, The Help. Have you seen it?
A. I have. The book was better than the movie.
7) In 2014, the year How to Get Away with Murder premiered, we lost two famous comedians: Robin Williams and Joan Rivers. Who was the last person to make you laugh out loud? (This means actually, literally laughing out loud, not just keystroking LOL.)
A. I had a phone conversation earlier today with the editor of my local paper, and I called something going on in the county a "clusterfuck" and she wanted to know if she could quote me on that.
8) The 2014 Olympics were held in Sochi. Have you ever been to Russia? If not, is it a dream destination of yours?
A. I have never been to Russia and it's never been high on my list of destinations.
9) Random question: The sign on the railing says, "Wet Paint." Do you touch the railing to see if it's really wet?
A. If I'm just walking by, no. If I want to stop and look over the railing at something, yes.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Here it here.
1) This song is the theme of How to Get Away with Murder, the legal drama that premiered in 2014 and airs on Thursday nights. Are you a fan?
A. I have never seen this show. This should not surprise regular readers, who know I do not watch a lot of TV.
2) The song's refrain says, "I'll never catch up with you." Behind the wheel, do you carefully observe the speed limit? Or do you have a lead foot, making it hard for anyone to catch up with you?
A. I used to have a lead foot, but now I'm older and I don't go *too much* over the speed limit.
3) How to Get Away with Murder is about Annalise Keating, a law professor at a top Philadelphia university. She has a reputation for being tough, demanding and able to turn her students into successful defense attorneys. Tell us about a teacher who helped prepare you for life after graduation.
A. I had several teachers who were instrumental in my success, many of whom I have written about here. I think I will tell you this time about Jeanne Larsen, my English professor at Hollins. I took as many classes under her as I could, beginning with Freshman Poetry (or something like that, I'd have to look at my transcripts). Jeanne was a wonderful teacher, very perceptive, and encouraging. She was incredibly nice to her students and I think I only saw her somewhat angry once in all the years I had a class with her. She helped me to see that I did have a writing talent and wasn't simply mediocre. I have always thought I disappointed her, though, by not applying myself to poetry or novels and instead venturing into news writing.
4) The students she feels show the most promise -- and are recruited to help her solve murders -- are known as The Keating Four. Did you ever sense that you were your teacher's favorite?
A. Yes. I generally was the teacher's favorite, especially in elementary, intermediate, and high school. I was a straight A student. I wasn't the teacher's pet in something like biology or gym, but I usually was in English.
5) Viola Davis was just nominated for an Emmy for playing Professor Keating. Ms. Davis was born on a farm in SC. Have you spent more of your life in a rural, suburban or urban setting?
A. Rural.
6) Next to Annalise Keating, Viola Davis is best known for her Oscar-nominated role as Aibileen in the movie, The Help. Have you seen it?
A. I have. The book was better than the movie.
7) In 2014, the year How to Get Away with Murder premiered, we lost two famous comedians: Robin Williams and Joan Rivers. Who was the last person to make you laugh out loud? (This means actually, literally laughing out loud, not just keystroking LOL.)
A. I had a phone conversation earlier today with the editor of my local paper, and I called something going on in the county a "clusterfuck" and she wanted to know if she could quote me on that.
8) The 2014 Olympics were held in Sochi. Have you ever been to Russia? If not, is it a dream destination of yours?
A. I have never been to Russia and it's never been high on my list of destinations.
9) Random question: The sign on the railing says, "Wet Paint." Do you touch the railing to see if it's really wet?
A. If I'm just walking by, no. If I want to stop and look over the railing at something, yes.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Friday, August 23, 2019
Happiness Friday
The writing is going well, even if it is a bit exhausting.
Oh, and it's not 100 degrees today.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Oh, and it's not 100 degrees today.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Thursday Thirteen
1. A magnifying glass.
2. A water glass
3. A cellphone glass cover.
4. Glass camera lens
5. Glass in the temperature gauge
6. Glass in my glow light
7. Glass in the picture frame
8. Glass covering the clock
9. A candle in a glass holder.
10. A glass piggy bank.
11. An owl decoration made of glass.
12. Glass on my watch.
13. Glasses on my eyes.
__________________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 618th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
2. A water glass
3. A cellphone glass cover.
4. Glass camera lens
5. Glass in the temperature gauge
6. Glass in my glow light
7. Glass in the picture frame
8. Glass covering the clock
9. A candle in a glass holder.
10. A glass piggy bank.
11. An owl decoration made of glass.
12. Glass on my watch.
13. Glasses on my eyes.
__________________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 618th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Happiness Wednesday
Today I made a decision and stood up for myself, ending something that had been going for five weeks.
So there.
Doing so made me happy.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
So there.
Doing so made me happy.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Happiness Tuesday
This morning I'm going to the physical therapist. That in and of itself doesn't make me happy, but I am happy that I have the services of a quality physical therapist available in my area. It helps when people know what they're doing.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
1) What do you enjoy about summer?
A. It's not freezing cold, and things are green and not dead-looking.
2) Do you like snow? Why?
A. Not particularly. It makes it hard to feed the cattle and I no longer have a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
3) What do you think about dogs?
A. I don't think about them very much, actually. I get tired of seeing all the lonesome dog photos on Facebook from groups begging for money. I block them. I like dogs and used to have one, but I don't need to see the pictures of beaten or abused animals every day.
4) Have you ever gotten lost?
A. Once when my mother had taken us shopping, I lost her. I started crying and a salesperson got me. She took me to the service counter and they made an announcement. My mother came up within a minute. "I'm right here," she said. I got in trouble for causing a scene.
5) What are your favorite type of socks?
A. The kind that stay up.
6) What is your favorite style of shoes?
A. Sneakers.
7) What would you name your boat if you had one?
A. Galadriel.
8) What common misconception do you hate to hear repeated as fact?
A. Um. Unfortunately, pretty much anything that comes out of the White House these days.
9) What was the last shop you went into and what did you buy?
A. I went to Food Lion and I bought TV dinners, potatoes, and tea.
10) What's your favorite thing to do to pass the time?
A. Read.
11) What is a way to die that scares you the most?
A. A long slow decline from an illness.
12) Travel or home body?
A. Home body.
13) Have you ever gone to a Bingo hall?
A. Yes, but it has been a long time. The VFW Hall used to host Bingo games on Friday nights. They don't anymore.
14) What is the longest plane trip you have taken?
A. I flew to Spain.
15) Do you text more or call more? Why?
A. I call more. I prefer to hear a voice. You can tell more about what a person means, or how they are feeling, and hear a real laugh that means more than any LOL ever could.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
1) What do you enjoy about summer?
A. It's not freezing cold, and things are green and not dead-looking.
2) Do you like snow? Why?
A. Not particularly. It makes it hard to feed the cattle and I no longer have a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
3) What do you think about dogs?
A. I don't think about them very much, actually. I get tired of seeing all the lonesome dog photos on Facebook from groups begging for money. I block them. I like dogs and used to have one, but I don't need to see the pictures of beaten or abused animals every day.
4) Have you ever gotten lost?
A. Once when my mother had taken us shopping, I lost her. I started crying and a salesperson got me. She took me to the service counter and they made an announcement. My mother came up within a minute. "I'm right here," she said. I got in trouble for causing a scene.
5) What are your favorite type of socks?
A. The kind that stay up.
6) What is your favorite style of shoes?
A. Sneakers.
7) What would you name your boat if you had one?
A. Galadriel.
8) What common misconception do you hate to hear repeated as fact?
A. Um. Unfortunately, pretty much anything that comes out of the White House these days.
9) What was the last shop you went into and what did you buy?
A. I went to Food Lion and I bought TV dinners, potatoes, and tea.
10) What's your favorite thing to do to pass the time?
A. Read.
11) What is a way to die that scares you the most?
A. A long slow decline from an illness.
12) Travel or home body?
A. Home body.
13) Have you ever gone to a Bingo hall?
A. Yes, but it has been a long time. The VFW Hall used to host Bingo games on Friday nights. They don't anymore.
14) What is the longest plane trip you have taken?
A. I flew to Spain.
15) Do you text more or call more? Why?
A. I call more. I prefer to hear a voice. You can tell more about what a person means, or how they are feeling, and hear a real laugh that means more than any LOL ever could.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Saturday 9: Where You Lead
Saturday 9: Where You Lead (1971)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.
1) This is the theme of The Gilmore Girls, a TV show that ran from 2000 to 2007. It recently enjoyed renewed popularity as a reboot. Were you a fan?
A. I have never seen this show.
2) The show is about thirtysomething Lorelai Gilmore, her teenage daughterRory, and her parents, Richard and Emily. The four of them had dinner together every Friday night. Who did you have dinner with on Friday? What was on the menu?
A. I had dinner by myself. My husband was working. I ate a sandwich.
3) Lorelai is outgoing and talkative. How about you? Are you seldom at a loss for words?
A. I am not the most talkative person. Someone once described me like this: "She's very quiet, but if she says something you should listen because she only speaks after she's thought about what needs to be said." I think if you're someone I know, I talk more. I'm rather quiet in public.
4) Rory dreamed of going to an Ivy League school and then becoming a broadcast journalist. When you were in high school, what were your ambitions?
A. To be a writer. I wanted to be a ghost writer, really, and write Nancy Drew books, or something like that. A good steady job of writing that would pay the bills and keep me happy and intellectually stimulated. I became a news reporter instead. Close enough, I guess.
5) Rory's grandfather (and Lorelai's dad) went to Yale and performed with the Whiffenpoofs, Yale's famous a cappella group. Have you ever sung in front of an audience?
A. Yes, I have. I used to play guitar and sing in a band when I was in high school. I've a picture here someplace.
6) Rory's grandmother (and Lorelai's mother) Emily was very active in civic organizations and worked hard on the Hartford Zoological Society'sAnnual Silent Auction. Have you ever attended an auction?
A. Yes. Auctions are popular past times in rural areas. I don't go much anymore because someone always has a cigarette going, and I can't take the smoke because of my asthma. I used to go to them more frequently when I was younger. I once bought my husband a lot of tools at an auction. We also once bought a big bucket of hammers at an auction. Apparently we mostly buy tools at auctions.
7) Alexis Bledel, who played Rory, went on to appear in Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale. Of these three shows -- Gilmore Girls, Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale -- which would you prefer to binge watch?
A. The Handmaid's Tale. I haven't see any of these shows.
8) Carole King originally wrote this week's song, "Where You Lead," for her Tapestry album. Do you have a favorite Carole King song?
A. Probably "So Far Away," but she wrote "You've Got a Friend," and I love that song, too.
9) Random question: If zoo animals could talk, which animal do you imagine would be the rudest?
A. That's quite an intriguing question. I've been watching Serenghti on Discovery - great show if you're into watching lions, monkeys, etc. in their natural habitat. On that show, anyway, the baboons come off as being the rudest. Or maybe it's a tie with the hyenas.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.
1) This is the theme of The Gilmore Girls, a TV show that ran from 2000 to 2007. It recently enjoyed renewed popularity as a reboot. Were you a fan?
A. I have never seen this show.
2) The show is about thirtysomething Lorelai Gilmore, her teenage daughterRory, and her parents, Richard and Emily. The four of them had dinner together every Friday night. Who did you have dinner with on Friday? What was on the menu?
A. I had dinner by myself. My husband was working. I ate a sandwich.
3) Lorelai is outgoing and talkative. How about you? Are you seldom at a loss for words?
A. I am not the most talkative person. Someone once described me like this: "She's very quiet, but if she says something you should listen because she only speaks after she's thought about what needs to be said." I think if you're someone I know, I talk more. I'm rather quiet in public.
4) Rory dreamed of going to an Ivy League school and then becoming a broadcast journalist. When you were in high school, what were your ambitions?
A. To be a writer. I wanted to be a ghost writer, really, and write Nancy Drew books, or something like that. A good steady job of writing that would pay the bills and keep me happy and intellectually stimulated. I became a news reporter instead. Close enough, I guess.
5) Rory's grandfather (and Lorelai's dad) went to Yale and performed with the Whiffenpoofs, Yale's famous a cappella group. Have you ever sung in front of an audience?
A. Yes, I have. I used to play guitar and sing in a band when I was in high school. I've a picture here someplace.
6) Rory's grandmother (and Lorelai's mother) Emily was very active in civic organizations and worked hard on the Hartford Zoological Society'sAnnual Silent Auction. Have you ever attended an auction?
A. Yes. Auctions are popular past times in rural areas. I don't go much anymore because someone always has a cigarette going, and I can't take the smoke because of my asthma. I used to go to them more frequently when I was younger. I once bought my husband a lot of tools at an auction. We also once bought a big bucket of hammers at an auction. Apparently we mostly buy tools at auctions.
7) Alexis Bledel, who played Rory, went on to appear in Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale. Of these three shows -- Gilmore Girls, Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale -- which would you prefer to binge watch?
A. The Handmaid's Tale. I haven't see any of these shows.
8) Carole King originally wrote this week's song, "Where You Lead," for her Tapestry album. Do you have a favorite Carole King song?
A. Probably "So Far Away," but she wrote "You've Got a Friend," and I love that song, too.
9) Random question: If zoo animals could talk, which animal do you imagine would be the rudest?
A. That's quite an intriguing question. I've been watching Serenghti on Discovery - great show if you're into watching lions, monkeys, etc. in their natural habitat. On that show, anyway, the baboons come off as being the rudest. Or maybe it's a tie with the hyenas.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Happiness Friday
Last night I went to listen to my father's band play at the local retirement home. Dad is in his late 70s, but he is in good form.
I enjoyed listening to him sing, and watching him be the showman he is. He's very charismatic and good at working a crowd. He always has been.
His band, called Stone Coal Gap, played mostly 1950s music. I knew all but three of the songs. Many of those songs I grew up hearing my father sing. He's always been into music.
Here are photos of him and his band at their gig last night. My dad is the guy in the pink shirt up front singing and playing the guitar.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
I enjoyed listening to him sing, and watching him be the showman he is. He's very charismatic and good at working a crowd. He always has been.
His band, called Stone Coal Gap, played mostly 1950s music. I knew all but three of the songs. Many of those songs I grew up hearing my father sing. He's always been into music.
Here are photos of him and his band at their gig last night. My dad is the guy in the pink shirt up front singing and playing the guitar.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Thursday Thirteen
Since I was supposed to be writing about happy things in August and forgot, I'll make up for it here with a list of 13 things that makes me happy.
1. Good music.
2. A good hair day.
3. My husband's smile.
4. A phone call from my brother.
5. A visit from a friend.
6. Sunsets.
7. Fawns (before they turn into deer eating my roses).
8. A good bloom on my rose bushes.
9. Sleeping well.
10. Chocolate.
11. Reading good fiction.
12. Feeling like things are falling into place.
13. Being remembered.
__________________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 617th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
1. Good music.
2. A good hair day.
 |
| This was not a good hair day. I must've been 12 or so. Yikes. |
3. My husband's smile.
 |
| A little grizzled, but smiling. |
 |
| The boy doesn't look like this anymore. |
5. A visit from a friend.
 |
| This is Gertie Groundhog. We're friends. |
6. Sunsets.
 |
| That was a red one, wasn't it? |
7. Fawns (before they turn into deer eating my roses).
8. A good bloom on my rose bushes.
9. Sleeping well.
 |
| The deer sleep well around here, anyway. |
10. Chocolate.
11. Reading good fiction.
12. Feeling like things are falling into place.
13. Being remembered.
__________________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 617th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Happy I Have Morals
I think this was the second episode. I missed the first one.
The premise is that Billionaire Man will go into some city and in 90 days create a $1 million company. This is to prove, I think, that people who are poor are poor because they aren't smart or can't figure out how to beat the system or something. It's obviously slanted in that direction.
It's propaganda.
To my absolute horror and dismay, in the first minutes of the episode last night, Mr. Billionaire went onto private property (some vacant industry), then drove around back and waded through a pile of tires until he found several good ones. He then STOLE those tires and sold them for $1500 to get his "seed" money for his business. (Actually it was to get him a room because he'd been sleeping in his truck.) I don't know what happened after that because I turned the TV off.
The moral here I guess is that if you're willing to (a) trespass and (b) steal, then you can move forward in life. (Can you see my eyes rolling?)
He is nothing but a crook. If he thinks this is ok, then I doubt he's a billionaire because he did something legal to earn his millions.
This morning I am happy that I am not a crook. I am happy that I know right from wrong, and that I do not believe that just because your bicycle is out next to your house, I have the right to take it. Basically that is what Mr. Billionaire did. Even if the property had been reposed by the city, that land and its contents belongs to the taxpayers and the stuff wasn't Mr. Billionaire's to take.
So I am content to be mediocre and not of great wealth, because at least I have my principles.
I am happy that I have good morals.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
The Happiness Challenge
One of my blogging buddies initiated a "happiness challenge" for August.
I meant to participate in it everyday, but I was busy and wrapped up in other things and forgot about it.
It's never too late to partake in a happiness challenge, is it? I hope not.
Along with this goes some picture or something that makes me happy to see. I haven't figured that one out yet.
Hmm.
Anyway, what am I happy about today?
I'm happy I have a home and shelter as thunderstorms move in. That's what I'm happy about today. Because while I like to watch a good thunderstorm, I don't particularly want to be outside in one.
And here's a picture that makes me happy, although I don't know if I want to see it everyday.
I meant to participate in it everyday, but I was busy and wrapped up in other things and forgot about it.
It's never too late to partake in a happiness challenge, is it? I hope not.
Along with this goes some picture or something that makes me happy to see. I haven't figured that one out yet.
Hmm.
Anyway, what am I happy about today?
I'm happy I have a home and shelter as thunderstorms move in. That's what I'm happy about today. Because while I like to watch a good thunderstorm, I don't particularly want to be outside in one.
And here's a picture that makes me happy, although I don't know if I want to see it everyday.
 |
| Photo by my friend B. during one of her trips. I think she was near Roswell or Area 51. |
Monday, August 12, 2019
I Have Taken More Breaths
Today is the day that I have taken more breaths than my mother.
This year I turned 56, the age my mother was when she died. Her birthday is 12 days after mine. Twelve days from now, my mother will have been dead for 19 years.
The numbers are kind of wonky. I was born when she was 18 but she turned 19 just 12 days after I was born.
Nineteen years difference between when I turned 56 and she died.
She died on August 24 at 1:45 a.m., so this morning when I woke up, I had already taken more breaths than she had, as she did not live out the entire day of August 24. She only lived less than two hours of it.
This has eaten at me since my birthday. It is a strange notion and I have fretted over it more so than I think healthy. I can be morose that way sometimes. I hope that is over now, now that I have outlived my mother.
This morning when I was realized that I didn't have to wait until tomorrow, that in reality I've already lived longer than my mother, even to this very moment, I felt relieved. I felt like I'd jumped through some magic hurdle that until then I didn't even know existed.
I also feel sad, because this was a very young age to die, really. I know it is beyond middle age and heading on into plain ol' "old," but 56 is not that old, really. Not when my grandmother lived to 87, and some of her family lived beyond 100. Heck, I haven't even reached the halfway point of the age Aunt Pearl was when she died at the age of 107.
My mother was scared to die, I know. She fought it hard. She didn't talk about her fears to me, though. I think she did with her sister. But not with me.
I was 37 years old when my mother passed away. She probably thought, and rightly so, that I couldn't relate. I couldn't, not really. Not at that age.
People in their 60s still have their parents with them today. I was not that fortunate with my mother. But she died young and still pretty, and even though it was cancer that took her, I suspect she would rather have died while she had her looks than to have grown old and haggard.
I wear "old and haggard" like a badge of honor. I earned the soft-white hair, the wrinkles around my eyes. They are external signs that I have lived.
Forgive me for the weird post. It's just been that kind of Monday.
This year I turned 56, the age my mother was when she died. Her birthday is 12 days after mine. Twelve days from now, my mother will have been dead for 19 years.
The numbers are kind of wonky. I was born when she was 18 but she turned 19 just 12 days after I was born.
Nineteen years difference between when I turned 56 and she died.
She died on August 24 at 1:45 a.m., so this morning when I woke up, I had already taken more breaths than she had, as she did not live out the entire day of August 24. She only lived less than two hours of it.
This has eaten at me since my birthday. It is a strange notion and I have fretted over it more so than I think healthy. I can be morose that way sometimes. I hope that is over now, now that I have outlived my mother.
This morning when I was realized that I didn't have to wait until tomorrow, that in reality I've already lived longer than my mother, even to this very moment, I felt relieved. I felt like I'd jumped through some magic hurdle that until then I didn't even know existed.
I also feel sad, because this was a very young age to die, really. I know it is beyond middle age and heading on into plain ol' "old," but 56 is not that old, really. Not when my grandmother lived to 87, and some of her family lived beyond 100. Heck, I haven't even reached the halfway point of the age Aunt Pearl was when she died at the age of 107.
My mother was scared to die, I know. She fought it hard. She didn't talk about her fears to me, though. I think she did with her sister. But not with me.
I was 37 years old when my mother passed away. She probably thought, and rightly so, that I couldn't relate. I couldn't, not really. Not at that age.
People in their 60s still have their parents with them today. I was not that fortunate with my mother. But she died young and still pretty, and even though it was cancer that took her, I suspect she would rather have died while she had her looks than to have grown old and haggard.
I wear "old and haggard" like a badge of honor. I earned the soft-white hair, the wrinkles around my eyes. They are external signs that I have lived.
Forgive me for the weird post. It's just been that kind of Monday.
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
1. Have you ever had a great conversation with a complete stranger?
A. Yes, although they generally tend to be more weird than great.
2. Where did you go on the very first vacation of your life?
A. I have no idea. Probably camping at Myrtle Beach, SC but I'm not sure about that.
3. Open the door of your refrigerator. What is the first thing you see?
A. Mayonnaise.
4. What is your favorite place in your home?
A. My office, where I have my guitar, my computer, and my books, followed by my chair in the living room.
5. If you had wings to fly about the universe, where is the first place you’d land?
A. On a Class M planet to get a drink of water.
6. What is the first thing you do when you get in your car?
A. Adjust the mirrors.
7. What is special about the town you live in?
A. Ah, good ol' Botetourt. Next year she celebrates being 250 years old. Did you know at one point this county stretched all the way to the Mississippi and into Wisconsin? Loads of history here. This is a place full of scenic vistas. I don't live in a town, it's a rural area. But the best thing about it is I live here.
8. What is the last thing you heard about your first love?
A. That he was in a bad car accident that involved a fire truck. I don't know if he survived.
9. If you had created the world in seven days yourself, what would you have created on the First Day?
A. The world. You have to have the foundation first.
10. How do you beat the summer heat?
A. I stay inside in the air conditioning.
11. Did you enjoy your senior year in high school?
A. Not particularly.
12. Who is your favorite First Lady of all time?
A. Eleanor Roosevelt.
13. Post a link to your first blog post.
I was actually blogging on something called AOL Journals before I moved to Blogger, but it is long gone. Here is the first post with this blog: http://bluecountrymagic.blogspot.com/2006/08/new-beginning.html
14. When was the last time you needed First Aid?
A. You mean like a cut finger and a bandage? Or an emergency room? It's been a while for either.
15. Can you explain what a first down is in football?
A. It is where the offense has moved the ball 10 yards down the field from their starting position, wherever that was.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
1. Have you ever had a great conversation with a complete stranger?
A. Yes, although they generally tend to be more weird than great.
2. Where did you go on the very first vacation of your life?
A. I have no idea. Probably camping at Myrtle Beach, SC but I'm not sure about that.
3. Open the door of your refrigerator. What is the first thing you see?
A. Mayonnaise.
4. What is your favorite place in your home?
A. My office, where I have my guitar, my computer, and my books, followed by my chair in the living room.
5. If you had wings to fly about the universe, where is the first place you’d land?
A. On a Class M planet to get a drink of water.
6. What is the first thing you do when you get in your car?
A. Adjust the mirrors.
7. What is special about the town you live in?
A. Ah, good ol' Botetourt. Next year she celebrates being 250 years old. Did you know at one point this county stretched all the way to the Mississippi and into Wisconsin? Loads of history here. This is a place full of scenic vistas. I don't live in a town, it's a rural area. But the best thing about it is I live here.
8. What is the last thing you heard about your first love?
A. That he was in a bad car accident that involved a fire truck. I don't know if he survived.
9. If you had created the world in seven days yourself, what would you have created on the First Day?
A. The world. You have to have the foundation first.
10. How do you beat the summer heat?
A. I stay inside in the air conditioning.
11. Did you enjoy your senior year in high school?
A. Not particularly.
12. Who is your favorite First Lady of all time?
A. Eleanor Roosevelt.
13. Post a link to your first blog post.
I was actually blogging on something called AOL Journals before I moved to Blogger, but it is long gone. Here is the first post with this blog: http://bluecountrymagic.blogspot.com/2006/08/new-beginning.html
14. When was the last time you needed First Aid?
A. You mean like a cut finger and a bandage? Or an emergency room? It's been a while for either.
15. Can you explain what a first down is in football?
A. It is where the offense has moved the ball 10 yards down the field from their starting position, wherever that was.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Saturday 9: Frasier Theme
Saturday 9: Tossed Salad & Scrambled Eggs
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here. (It's the theme from Frasier.)
1) This is the theme from Frasier, a TV show that ran from 1993 to 2004. Were you a fan?
A. I watched it more in reruns than I did when it was on, but I like the show.
2) The show is about a radio advice show host, Dr. Frasier Krane. When you listen to the radio, do you tune in for talk or music?
A. Both. I listen to many NPR talk shows and I listen to music. Depends on my mood.
3) The theme's composer explained that tossed salad and scrambled eggs are both "mixed up," like the people who called Frasier's radio show. Which did you eat more recently, tossed salad or scrambled eggs?
A. I think I had both on the same day. But not at the same time.
4) Peri Gilpin played Roz, Frasier's coworker at the radio station. The actress originally cast was Lisa Kudrow, but the show's producers didn't feel she was "right." Being released from Frasier gave her the opportunity to accept a bigger and better part: Phoebe on Friends. Can you think of a time when a setback was really a blessing in disguise?
A. In the mid-1980s I started a new job at a credit union. It was the most mind-numbing, dull and awful job I could have had. I cried every day when I got home. I quit after about six weeks. But then I had to do something, so I found part-time work and went to Hollins College (now Hollins University) in their program for older adults. Same degree, but it was only part-time schooling (I think they've since changed that). Quitting the job felt like a setback as I caught a lot of flak for it - it was considered a good job - but it led me to college and finding a better sense of place.
5) Dr. Krane shared his home with Martin, his retired dad. Martin's favorite chair was well-worn recliner, held together in parts with tape. Frasier tried to replace it by giving his father a brand-new, expensive leather chair as a gift. Martin wanted his old recliner back. Tell us about a present you either gave or received that wasn't a hit.
A. I once received a Harry Potter book. It was a hardcover and I suppose somewhat expensive edition. I had of course already read all the Harry Potter books. Apparently it was obvious from the look on my face that I had read the books, so the giver asked, and I answered in the affirmative. She took the book back and said she'd return it and send me something else. She never did. After that, no matter what I receive, I say I love it and don't tell the giver otherwise. Then I dispose of it myself.
6) Kelsey Grammer played Dr. Krane on three different series (Cheers, Wings and Frasier) over 20 years. What job have you held the longest?
A. I have been a freelance writer since 1994. I have mostly retired from it due to health reasons, although I'm currently working on a project anyway. It's more for fun than for pay, though.
7) Before he found success on Cheers, Grammer played bit parts on the daytime dramas Ryan's World and Another World. Have you ever followed a soap opera?
A. I used to watch Dark Shadows and The Guiding Light.
8) In addition to work in front of the camera, Grammer has done voice over work on commercials for Dr. Pepper and Cheerios. Are either of those products in your kitchen right now?
A. Both are, actually. My husband drinks Dr. Pepper and I have Cheerios that I eat dry sometimes as an afternoon snack.
9) Random question: You're invited to a party where dinner is served buffet style. There's spaghetti with tomato sauce, barbecue spare ribs and buffalo wings. When the evening is over, how likely are you to have a food stain on your clothes?
A. Not at all, unless someone else splatters something. With my ulcers and sensitive stomach, I wouldn't be eating any of those items. My husband, on the other hand, would have BBQ spare rib sauce on his shirt.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here. (It's the theme from Frasier.)
1) This is the theme from Frasier, a TV show that ran from 1993 to 2004. Were you a fan?
A. I watched it more in reruns than I did when it was on, but I like the show.
2) The show is about a radio advice show host, Dr. Frasier Krane. When you listen to the radio, do you tune in for talk or music?
A. Both. I listen to many NPR talk shows and I listen to music. Depends on my mood.
3) The theme's composer explained that tossed salad and scrambled eggs are both "mixed up," like the people who called Frasier's radio show. Which did you eat more recently, tossed salad or scrambled eggs?
A. I think I had both on the same day. But not at the same time.
4) Peri Gilpin played Roz, Frasier's coworker at the radio station. The actress originally cast was Lisa Kudrow, but the show's producers didn't feel she was "right." Being released from Frasier gave her the opportunity to accept a bigger and better part: Phoebe on Friends. Can you think of a time when a setback was really a blessing in disguise?
A. In the mid-1980s I started a new job at a credit union. It was the most mind-numbing, dull and awful job I could have had. I cried every day when I got home. I quit after about six weeks. But then I had to do something, so I found part-time work and went to Hollins College (now Hollins University) in their program for older adults. Same degree, but it was only part-time schooling (I think they've since changed that). Quitting the job felt like a setback as I caught a lot of flak for it - it was considered a good job - but it led me to college and finding a better sense of place.
5) Dr. Krane shared his home with Martin, his retired dad. Martin's favorite chair was well-worn recliner, held together in parts with tape. Frasier tried to replace it by giving his father a brand-new, expensive leather chair as a gift. Martin wanted his old recliner back. Tell us about a present you either gave or received that wasn't a hit.
A. I once received a Harry Potter book. It was a hardcover and I suppose somewhat expensive edition. I had of course already read all the Harry Potter books. Apparently it was obvious from the look on my face that I had read the books, so the giver asked, and I answered in the affirmative. She took the book back and said she'd return it and send me something else. She never did. After that, no matter what I receive, I say I love it and don't tell the giver otherwise. Then I dispose of it myself.
6) Kelsey Grammer played Dr. Krane on three different series (Cheers, Wings and Frasier) over 20 years. What job have you held the longest?
A. I have been a freelance writer since 1994. I have mostly retired from it due to health reasons, although I'm currently working on a project anyway. It's more for fun than for pay, though.
7) Before he found success on Cheers, Grammer played bit parts on the daytime dramas Ryan's World and Another World. Have you ever followed a soap opera?
A. I used to watch Dark Shadows and The Guiding Light.
8) In addition to work in front of the camera, Grammer has done voice over work on commercials for Dr. Pepper and Cheerios. Are either of those products in your kitchen right now?
A. Both are, actually. My husband drinks Dr. Pepper and I have Cheerios that I eat dry sometimes as an afternoon snack.
9) Random question: You're invited to a party where dinner is served buffet style. There's spaghetti with tomato sauce, barbecue spare ribs and buffalo wings. When the evening is over, how likely are you to have a food stain on your clothes?
A. Not at all, unless someone else splatters something. With my ulcers and sensitive stomach, I wouldn't be eating any of those items. My husband, on the other hand, would have BBQ spare rib sauce on his shirt.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Thursday, August 08, 2019
Thursday Thirteen
Yesterday afternoon I had a great conversation on the phone with my brother. When I hung up, I was smiling. It was an intelligent discussion of events of the day. While we vote differently on the political scale, ultimately we think alike. I find this to be true of most people. The differences are how we get to where we all think we should be, I think.
At any event, one of the things that struck me after we talked was how much I consider my brother to be not only my brother, but my friend. Would we be friends if we weren't siblings? I don't know. I'm not sure where we would have met, as we run in very different circles. But he is my friend, and it means a lot to know that I've not only a brother but a friend.
Friends have always had important roles in my life. I do not take my friendships lightly. If I call someone a friend (and I don't mean in the Facebook way), then that person is special in my life. My friends are people I have deep feelings for, and people I trust.
I try very hard to be a good friend in return, but I am only human, and just as my friends sometimes fail me, I am sure I fail them. Humans are not perfect beings and no one person can be everything for someone else. But it's good to remind myself that there are steps I can take to ensure relationships flow smoothly. Or smoother. Or something.
Anyway, 13 ways to be a good friend. A reminder for myself.
1. Be dependable. A friend should keep his or her word, because this creates stability and predictability, which goes a long way toward keeping a relationship going. Of course there will be times when things come up because life is messy and stuff happens, but on the whole, dependability is important.
2. Be sincere. Don't be someone else, or pretend to be someone else, when I'm with a friend. If I'm having a great day or crappy day, I should be open enough with my friend to be honest about it. If I hide the fact that things are going wrong - or right - then I'm doing my friend a disservice.
3. Be loyal. I'm not talking about swearing total loyalty to a friend. If a friend breaks the law then of course one must do the right thing and turn in #45. But a good friend keeps confidences. I should stand by my friend's side through whatever weather, and my friend should stand by me when the roles reverse - and the roles will reverse.
4. Be honest. Lying doesn't help anyone, plus who can keep track of things if you lie about it?
5. Acknowledge you're both human. Sometimes there will be missteps. Shit happens, and sometimes it smells or it gets stepped in, and neither is pleasant. But it is important to know that once the stink clears, I'll still be your friend.
6. Be respectful. I shouldn't make fun of my friends if they believe things that I don't (well, if you're a flat-earther I might not be able to help myself, but we're probably not friends anyway). My friends should do the same (and if I become a flat-earther, somebody hold an intervention, please).
7. Be generous. I should give my friend my time and my resources (within reason). Time, especially, is important. Friends should talk or text frequently, and I should help my friend meet whatever needs he or she may have, if I can.
8. Be protective. I should look out for my friend, and defend him or her against anyone who might say something negative or bad about my friend. Additionally, I should feel safe in my friend's presence at all times.
9. Give back. I should give back to my friend as much as I get from the relationship, or try to. There will of course be times when a friend is more needy or less needy than I might be, but so long as we each step up when necessary, the scales should stay close to balanced.
10. Do not hold grudges. I should forgive my friend for past mistakes, and hopefully be forgiven for my own errors in judgment. That goes back to the being human thing.
11. Show empathy. This is so important these days. Empathy means understanding or taking the time to understand how someone may be feeling. We can't know everything a person is going through, of course, so it is important to remember that we're all fighting our own battles and inner demons (and sometimes outer ones, too).
12. Listen. This is important, too. Listen to hear and understand what a friend is saying, not to immediately formulate an objection or express your own opinion. I should reiterate what my friend said to be sure that I understand. "I heard you say that . . . " is a good way to ensure you're both on the same page.
13. Be courteous. I should always be respectful and courteous of my friends and not take advantage of him or her. I should open doors, carry loads, offer him or her a seat. I certainly should not curse my friend (although I might curse WITH my friend) or otherwise offend him or her.
I'm sure there are other things but that's 13. What do you do to ensure you keep your friends and yourself happy in a relationship?
___________________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 616th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
At any event, one of the things that struck me after we talked was how much I consider my brother to be not only my brother, but my friend. Would we be friends if we weren't siblings? I don't know. I'm not sure where we would have met, as we run in very different circles. But he is my friend, and it means a lot to know that I've not only a brother but a friend.
Friends have always had important roles in my life. I do not take my friendships lightly. If I call someone a friend (and I don't mean in the Facebook way), then that person is special in my life. My friends are people I have deep feelings for, and people I trust.
I try very hard to be a good friend in return, but I am only human, and just as my friends sometimes fail me, I am sure I fail them. Humans are not perfect beings and no one person can be everything for someone else. But it's good to remind myself that there are steps I can take to ensure relationships flow smoothly. Or smoother. Or something.
Anyway, 13 ways to be a good friend. A reminder for myself.
1. Be dependable. A friend should keep his or her word, because this creates stability and predictability, which goes a long way toward keeping a relationship going. Of course there will be times when things come up because life is messy and stuff happens, but on the whole, dependability is important.
2. Be sincere. Don't be someone else, or pretend to be someone else, when I'm with a friend. If I'm having a great day or crappy day, I should be open enough with my friend to be honest about it. If I hide the fact that things are going wrong - or right - then I'm doing my friend a disservice.
3. Be loyal. I'm not talking about swearing total loyalty to a friend. If a friend breaks the law then of course one must do the right thing and turn in #45. But a good friend keeps confidences. I should stand by my friend's side through whatever weather, and my friend should stand by me when the roles reverse - and the roles will reverse.
4. Be honest. Lying doesn't help anyone, plus who can keep track of things if you lie about it?
5. Acknowledge you're both human. Sometimes there will be missteps. Shit happens, and sometimes it smells or it gets stepped in, and neither is pleasant. But it is important to know that once the stink clears, I'll still be your friend.
6. Be respectful. I shouldn't make fun of my friends if they believe things that I don't (well, if you're a flat-earther I might not be able to help myself, but we're probably not friends anyway). My friends should do the same (and if I become a flat-earther, somebody hold an intervention, please).
7. Be generous. I should give my friend my time and my resources (within reason). Time, especially, is important. Friends should talk or text frequently, and I should help my friend meet whatever needs he or she may have, if I can.
8. Be protective. I should look out for my friend, and defend him or her against anyone who might say something negative or bad about my friend. Additionally, I should feel safe in my friend's presence at all times.
9. Give back. I should give back to my friend as much as I get from the relationship, or try to. There will of course be times when a friend is more needy or less needy than I might be, but so long as we each step up when necessary, the scales should stay close to balanced.
10. Do not hold grudges. I should forgive my friend for past mistakes, and hopefully be forgiven for my own errors in judgment. That goes back to the being human thing.
11. Show empathy. This is so important these days. Empathy means understanding or taking the time to understand how someone may be feeling. We can't know everything a person is going through, of course, so it is important to remember that we're all fighting our own battles and inner demons (and sometimes outer ones, too).
12. Listen. This is important, too. Listen to hear and understand what a friend is saying, not to immediately formulate an objection or express your own opinion. I should reiterate what my friend said to be sure that I understand. "I heard you say that . . . " is a good way to ensure you're both on the same page.
13. Be courteous. I should always be respectful and courteous of my friends and not take advantage of him or her. I should open doors, carry loads, offer him or her a seat. I certainly should not curse my friend (although I might curse WITH my friend) or otherwise offend him or her.
I'm sure there are other things but that's 13. What do you do to ensure you keep your friends and yourself happy in a relationship?
___________________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 616th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
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