Life in progress

Monthly Archives: April 2020


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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 – Left

 

My day today so far–10:24pm: 

Gah! I’m so late again! I spent another day working on my manuscript, and I still haven’t finished it.

Alex and I got out for our first walk in three days, though, so that was nice. Along the way, we passed a little lending library and I just had to stop and take a picture.

Someone left a roll of toilet paper inside. I didn’t notice until I downloaded the picture and expanded it that there’s a stack of Canadian Tire money in there as well. For international friends who aren’t familiar with Canadian Tire, they have their own money. And yes, it’s real money that can be used in the store to buy just about anything except food–they don’t sell food.

What a lovely gesture.

Kindness prevails.

Click to get a close look.

Photo: A lending library with a peaked roof and a window in the door through which you can see plenty of books, a packaged roll of toilet paper, and a stack of Canadian Tire money. The library is painted red, with bricks, to look like the house that it sits in front of.

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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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Monday, April 13th, 2020 – K

 

My day today so far–10:53pm: 

K. As in the short, very lazy text form of “okay.”

K, today went by quickly. It felt like a Sunday for some reason.

I promised myself I’d edit 100 pages today. I’m at 33–only 67 to go. And I’ve been working on it all day.

K.

I keep seeing memes on Facebook that say don’t beat yourself up over being home all day and not getting loads of stuff accomplished.

Yet, I still feel like I should be beating myself up.

You ever feel that way?

Yesterday:

Last night, my son Chris came out to the living room and asked if I was going to put Alex to bed yet. He does this every night.

I said I would, and I closed all the windows on my laptop right down to the desktop, which had a picture of Sakurai Atsushi on it. Chris asked me if Atsushi was in Japan in the picture, and I said I wasn’t sure. He might have been in Tibet.

Chris: What’s Tibet?

Me: It’s a region in Asia.

Chris: How do you spell it?

Me: T-I-B-E-T.

Chris: Okay, thanks, Mom.

Me: You’re welcome. Now I’m going to put Alex Tibet.

That got a laugh.

It’s the little things that keep you sane.

Sakurai Atsushi – definitely not in Tibet

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? Sunday, April 12th, 2020

My day today so far–3:52pm: 

*sigh* Not much going on today. I’m still in my pajamas, working in my bedroom while Alex sits in the living room watching movies. I’ll try to get him out the door for a walk this afternoon, since we’re supposed to have an absolutely horrid day tomorrow, weather-wise. I’ve been thinking about having dinner delivered, and was going to do it tomorrow, but with driving rain, thunder storms, and 100km/h winds, I ain’t doing that to some poor delivery person.

Yesterday A few days ago:

When Alex and I were out walking, I came across this sign in a window. It was a refreshing change from the usual “We’re closed indefinitely because of Covid-19.”

Photo: A handwritten sign that reads: Notice. We are presently not open because we are closed.

Happy Easter, everyone!

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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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? #SoCS Edition Saturday, April 11th, 2020

 

It’s been a tough, stressful day today. We all have them once in a while. Some of us are lucky and they’re few and far between. Some of us have them often, some constantly. Whatever the case, we’re all in crisis.

We–mankind–are battling a common enemy for the first time in our lives, unless we’re a hundred years old or more. Which is why it needs to be a joint effort.

And when you think about it, it’s the first time in human history that we’ve all been able to fight together. To really come to one others’ aid, to educate one another, to support one another, and to face the same fear together.

This connection we have with one another is so very powerful. One might say we’ve all, on the earth, always been connected somehow. That events and actions are able to change lives on the other side of the world. But never like this: in real time.

Which is why we’re so powerful to beat this new enemy.

Even though we’re not physically able to visit one another all over the world the way we did last year, we’re able to communicate. To empathize. To uplift and to hold one another in our hearts.

Humanity has never had such a gift.

We need to use it for good.

Even if we can’t touch each other physically. Even though we can’t heal one another in person. We can reach out and comfort each other’s souls.

It’s a joint effort.

 

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

This adaptation of #AtoZ2020, #WDIIA and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is brought to you by all three. 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/2020/04/10/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-11-2020/ Or you can link to this post if you just want to write a What Day is it Anyway? post.


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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Friday, April 10th, 2020 – Indeed

 

My day today so far–10:49pm: 

Indeed, I probably use the word “indeed” far too much.

I am, indeed very late posting my #AtoZ/#WDIIA post. For that, I apologize to anyone who’s been waiting for it all day.

But I did get a lot of work done on my book today, so that’s a plus. It was too cold to go out in the car, so Alex decided to cooperate and let me work in my room. We were both proud of him for being mature. 🙂

Winston helped matters greatly by keeping him company.

Yesterday:

It seems I’ll have to write down what I did after my daily posts … I can’t remember again what I did yesterday.

Par for the course. Indeed.

(Note to self: you didn’t do anything but go to sleep after today’s post, so don’t worry about it tomorrow.)

(There. Fixed.)

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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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS April 11/2020

Guess what? It’s Friday! And that means it’s time for your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. I’ll be sure the prompt word lines up with the A to Z Challenge every week in April, so if you want to do a two-in-one, this is the place to be. Here’s your SoCS prompt for this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “joint.” Use it as a noun, an adjective, or a verb–use it 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!


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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Thursday, April 9th, 2020 – Home

 

My day today so far–1:48pm: 

Home is not just where the heart is, it’s where most of us are. Alex and I have already been for our walk today. He didn’t have much fun because of the wind. I’m not sure if he’s afraid of being blown away, but he doesn’t like it. It snowed this morning; the sudden change from warmish to cold is the reason for the strong breeze.

But the buds of the leaves are beginning to show. I took this photo when I was down by the water the other day. A young willow, getting ready to sprout its leaves.

Yesterday:

Aside from yet another walk and yet another couple of hours in the car editing my novel, I don’t remember much of yesterday.

I took this:

Oh, and I drank half a bottle of wine last night.

That explains a lot.

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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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Wednesday, April 8th, 2020 – Gratitude

 

My day today so far–11:22am: 

I haven’t done much today except get caught up on emails and peruse social media. Alex is still doing his school work through Google Classroom, but he’s not quite as enthusiastic as he was. It’s becoming routine, much like school but without the friends. They’ve set up a weekly get-together for the kids on Zoom, though. It’s an hour long and it’s lovely and quiet, since they all use sign language. For this I am grateful.

The parade of sirens the day before yesterday turned out to be in support of front-line workers at the hospital. According to my neighbour whose daughter is a nurse there, it was an amazing display of gratitude.

And again, I must express my gratitude to the front-line workers in grocery stores, pharmacies, and other places the government has deemed essential. I’m also grateful on their behalf that some of the people who looked down on them are finally seeing them as an important–essential!–part of all our lives.

Yesterday:

I was grateful to my eldest son for looking after Alex while I got out to do some work on my book. Before I went home, I went for a little walk.

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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One-Liner Wednesday, April 8th, 2020 – Connection

 

Created at Canva.com

Photo: A girl looking at a mountain in the distance. Text reads: “The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers & cities; but to know someone who thinks & feels with us, & who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.”
― Goethe

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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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 – Found!

 

My day today so far–2:25pm: 

On our walk today I found a rare gem, but I didn’t pick it up.

The temptation to take it home was there, I’ll admit it. There was still 3/4 of an inch on the roll.

Things are pretty quiet around here. Not much going on. As I’m sure you can imagine.

Yesterday:

I was sitting down by the lake in my car, working in the back seat, as I do, when I heard a bunch of sirens. The hospital isn’t far away–I could see the back of it from where I was parked. I was surprised to see a long line of emergency vehicles parading around the hospital with their sirens going. Police, ambulances, and fire trucks. It looked like every emergency vehicle in town.

So I drove past there to see what was going on. By the time I got there, there were two inspector’s trucks from the fire department sitting in the parking lot and all the other vehicles were driving away. Maybe they were just saying hi …?

Weird.

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!