Life in progress

Monthly Archives: March 2020


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What Day is it Anyway? Sunday, March 22nd, 2020

My day today so far–11:47am: 

Slept in a bit this morning. I had a weird dream, but I can’t for the life of me remember what it was. Don’t you hate it when that happens?

Anyway, that’s why I’m a little bit late this morning.

My eldest son works as a baker at Tim Horton’s. His shift is normally 3am to 11, but they sent him home early. Even though only the drive-thru is open, people seem to be taking the social distancing thing seriously. He said they had about 10 customers in six hours, and there were still baked goods left from the morning before when he went in. Granted it’s Sunday, and all the churches are closed. But Saturday must have been slow too.

Alex and I are planning to go out walking again. I’ll try to take photos. I wish he’d let us go the other way and walk down by the water (unless there are lots of people there, in which case we’d have to nix that idea), but walking around the block is good too.

The heartburn is getting better, it seems. I’ve fallen in love with Tums and have to resist the temptation to not eat them just for the taste.

Yesterday:

Yesterday was another 11K-step day! I keep forgetting to time our walks. Alex goes pretty slow, so I suspect 11K steps took us about two and a half or three hours. Didn’t get any photos, but here’s an old one of what I’m looking forward to.

Photo: Tree branches completely loaded with pink cherry blossoms.

 

Why I’m writing this post:

Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress and all over the Internet as well, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!


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What Day is it Anyway? #SoCS Edition Saturday, March 21st, 2020

Straying from the setup of my usual #WDIIA posts because I don’t want to box myself in while writing stream of consciousness style. We’ll be back to regular programming tomorrow.

Regular programming, eh? That’s taken on a whole new meaning. I realized this morning that I couldn’t remember which day I went to the pharmacy to get my prescription this week because everything is the same. I hadn’t realized until now that I remember things mostly in relation to other things I do. Like, for instance, I might have known it was Thursday because it’s the same day Alex goes to his family swim night at the school.

One day blends into the next.

Oh, hey! I discovered something new today. It might be old news to everyone else, but did you know you can have a Netflix party with your distant friends and family? Here’s the link to the site. I haven’t tried it, obviously, but it’s an interesting concept.

It’s a beautiful day, cold but sunny, so we’ll be going out for walks today. I’m not allowed to visit my mother–they’ve closed the home off to everyone but essential workers and families of people who are dying. The good news, I suppose, is that my mother only seems to remember I exist when she needs cigarettes these days, so as long as I keep her in supply, she won’t miss me. I’m assuming this of course, because she never phones me. I’m hesitant to call her, because she’s going to ask me to come and see her, and won’t remember from one minute to the next that I can’t. At least I know she’s safe, which is the main thing.

This social distancing thing is far from welcome, especially since I resolved a few weeks ago to get out more and people-watch for inspiration. But it’s really not so bad. We’ve settled into a boring yet as stimulating-as-possible routine.

We’re adapting, which is, I suppose, the best thing we can possibly do. Do you find the same yet?

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

This adaptation of #WDIIA and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is brought to you by both. To join us in the SoCS tradition, click the following link where you’ll find all the instructions and the other participants’ posts in the comments. It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2020/03/20/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-21-2020/


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What Day is it Anyway? Friday, March 20th, 2020

My day today so far–10:32am: 

Not much going on here today. It’s rainy and windy, so we probably won’t make it out for our walk. I consider myself grateful that I’m still able to leave the house. There aren’t many people out there, so they’re easy to distance ourselves from.

I came across a Youtube channel for Alex to watch of kids’ stories in American Sign Language. There’s no sound, but for those of you who are home with children, it might be interesting to watch. The gestures, facial expressions, and body language are fairly easy to understand. And kids, being the sponges they are, may just pick up a new language! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyKlPO62EsIltCabT92THlqESi0RVgIwq

On the heartburn front, it really seems to be situational. It disappears when I’m walking, sleeping, or doing anything other than thinking about the current world crisis. I really need to unplug and get working on my edit.

Yesterday:

I walked more than 11K steps! It was a good day for exercise, knowing from the forecast that I probably wouldn’t get out today. I live in an interesting old city, so there’s lots to look at.

Photo: Empty gated space between two buildings built in the 1800s. I’m not sure what they’re going to do with this spot, but I love the original 19th century atmosphere of it.

Same space on the other side–there’s a red object tucked into a pipe on the side of the building: it’s a leftover heart from Valentine’s Day.

 

Why I’m writing this post:

Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I have loads of work to do, getting my books edited and written, so I may not be around too much. But I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS March 21/2020

It’s Friday? Yep, it’s Friday, and time for your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. How’s everyone holding up? I’ll write my #WDIIA post in a bit. Here’s your SoCS prompt for this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “welcome.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here to this week’s prompt page and check to make sure it’s here in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Anyone can join in!

To make your post more visible, use our beautiful SoCS badge! Just paste it in your Saturday post so people browsing the reader will immediately know your post is stream of consciousness and/or pin it as a widget to your site to show you’re a participant. Wear it with pride!!

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours.  Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!


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What Day is it Anyway? Thursday, March 19th, 2020

My day today so far–10:51am: 

Ventured out to the grocery store for the first time in at least a week. Spotted the elusive TP–grabbed a pack. They’re only letting people out of the store with one pack. I don’t really need it yet, but my neighbours might be desperate. Every store in town was out of TP yesterday, which means they probably will be tomorrow, too. Leaving it in the trunk of my car to give away to anyone who didn’t make it to the store today.

I managed to get almost everything I needed. I was SO relieved to get into the store to find it looking the same as always, fully stocked. I had a nightmare last night that I went into my regular grocery store and they’d reduced the size of it to two aisles. No fresh produce aside from giant gourds, and barely anything else at all. And in my dream there were SO many people. In real life, not so much.

My heartburn is horrible. It feels like my esophagus is on fire all the time, except when I’m out walking, when I’m eating, and when I wake up in the morning. Which brings me to yesterday.

Yesterday:

I had a phone appointment with my doctor to discuss my heartburn. I was very happy to learn that they’re not taking patients in the office unless absolutely necessary. I phoned them at noon and got my appointment scheduled for 3:30. She prescribed something for my stomach and I had it before dinner time. I hope if they’re not doing this in every city, they will soon.

Why I’m writing this post:

Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I have loads of work to do, getting my books edited and written, so I may not be around too much. But I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!


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One-Liner Wednesday – A Challenge

“All difficult things in the world are sure to arise from a previous state in which they were easy, and all great things from one in which they were small.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

The first half of this quote is becoming all too obvious in the world we live in. But the second half remains a challenge. Think about it. What small things in your life do you now have time to make great?

 

If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, like Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com


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What Day is it Anyway? Tuesday, March 17th, 2020

Today’s What Day is it Anyway? is already a doozy at 11:00 am.

My day today so far: 

I woke up late to see my son’s coat and shoes still here. I was surprised, because he was supposed to go to work at 3 am today, wasn’t he? So, thinking he might, God forbid, be sick, I woke him up.

Me: Aren’t you supposed to be at work now?

Him: What? No. I work at 11:30 [am] on Tuesdays. It is Tuesday, right?

Me: Yyyyeahhh…

So, I woke him up for nothing. Which is why I REALLY do need these blog posts. 😛

Heartburn is a bit better. I might need Tums when I eat spaghetti sauce from now on. I had it three days in a row.

Yesterday:

Alex and I went for our walk–two of them, actually–yesterday. I managed to get a photo of a garage door with a quirky expression, complete with dimples. Do you see it?

I’m looking forward to the green grass and the leaves on the trees. This limbo period between pristine snow and true spring is less than pretty.

Why I’m writing this post:

Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I have loads of work to do, getting my books edited and written, so I may not be around too much. But I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!


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What Day is it Anyway? Monday, March 16th, 2020

Let’s play a game of What Day is it Anyway?! Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of.

My day today so far, as of 10:51 am: 

Got a phone call from Kingston General Hospital to say Alex’s echocardiogram appointment (just a checkup, nothing urgent) has been cancelled. They’ll reschedule when it’s safe to go back into a hospital.

Will go for my daily walk around the block with Alex, not touching anything except crosswalk buttons, and then only with our elbows. Will try to take some photos.

I’ve had what I think is heartburn for the last few days. Coffee seems to be making it worse … AHHHH!!!! My lifeblood!

Why I’m writing this post:

We have a wonderful community here on WordPress, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I have loads of work to do, getting my books edited and written, so I may not be around too much. But I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.

Let’s keep in touch!


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#SoCS – Wired for sound

I don’t know if it’s old-fashioned thinking or if there’s anything to it any more, but I’ve always been a great believer in physical connection where sound is concerned.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, it won’t surprise you that I love vinyl records. Computer-generated sound can’t compare to the literal depth of a needle riding the grooves of a vinyl disc.

But what about wires as opposed to wireless? Surely the connection, without physical contact, can be interfered with. Having said that, if speaker wires are frayed or dusty or missing, that can cause as much of a problem as any imagined interference in the airwaves.

I lament the day in the future when my old-fashioned stereo breaks and can’t be fixed. Not that I use it these days as much as I wish I could.

Yet, to get back to the wireless thing, I’m sitting here on my wireless internet connection with my wireless house phone (landline) sitting beside me and my wireless cell phone in my pocket. And none of those interfere with one another.

I’m probably just old-fashioned.

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

This wireless post is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday! Click the following link to find the other posts in the comment section and see how you can join in! It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2020/03/13/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-14-2020/


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS March 14/2020

Friday’s here and you know what that means: your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt! Well, Alex is off again. For at least three weeks because they’re shutting down the schools. At least we’re all healthy! (Touch wood.) Here’s your prompt for this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “wire.” Use “wire” as a noun or a verb or any way you’d like. Enjoy!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here to this week’s prompt page and check to make sure it’s here in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Anyone can join in!

To make your post more visible, use our beautiful SoCS badge! Just paste it in your Saturday post so people browsing the reader will immediately know your post is stream of consciousness and/or pin it as a widget to your site to show you’re a participant. Wear it with pride!!

2019-2020 SoCS Badge by Shelley! https://www.quaintrevival.com/

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours.  Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!