Life in progress

Category Archives: Life


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#JusJoJan the 16th – Ridiculous

Apparently we’re supposed to get a ridiculous amount of snow overnight tonight and tomorrow.

And I’m fed up.

But it’s not what you think.

Last week (after not being at school since before Christmas), I was having a really tough time trying to convince Alex that Monday the 17th was the day to go back to school. He fought and fought, because he’s watching the news like everyone else, and he doesn’t feel like it’s safe to go back.

I might agree with him if three of his classmates weren’t likely going to be off school next week.

Because he’s in a class of four students—he’s going to be alone with his teacher and his EA.

So I talked to his teacher last week by email and told her he was nervous. She got on Zoom with him on Friday and did such a great job of convincing him that he should go back to school on Monday, that now he’s mad at me because I likely won’t be able to get the car out of the driveway in the morning because of the snow.

Just when you think everything’s going your way …

Ugh! I’m so fed up.

(Don’t feel bad. I’m actually laughing. Because what else can you do? Hehee!)

***

This frustrating post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Lauren! Check out Lauren’s post here! Click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2022/01/16/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-16th-2022/ It’s fun!


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#JusJoJan the 14th – Freckled

A lot of people know of my struggles in life.

Single with two disabled adult kids.

Two full-time jobs (which I’m blessed to be able to do from home).

An only child whose mother is in a long term care home, who I don’t see nearly enough (her home has been in outbreak status since before Christmas, though none of the residents are sick—staff in the home tested positive).

But with all this and more (did I mention housework? It’s the bane of my existence I tell you!)…

My life is freckled with moments of joy.

It finds spots in my day through the laughter of my children,

the occasional sale of a book,

something online that makes me smile,

the coming together of this blogging community …

These things (and more) make everything worth getting up in the morning.

***

This day-late (sorry, Maggie!) stream of consciousness post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Maggie, with the prompt, “freckled.” Check out Maggie’s post here. Thank you so much for the prompt, Maggie!


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#JusJoJan the 13th – Protocol

I’ve set up a specific list of to-dos this year—an informal protocol, one might say, for keeping myself on track.

How am I doing with that so far?

Well, my writing and editing have been consistent.

I have walking written down too, but I’ve missed that a couple of days so far.

Blogging? Yeah, not so much.

But you know what trips me up the most?

Stuff I wasn’t expecting.

That stuff does not follow protocol.

No sirree.

***

This tardy (sorry, John!) stream of consciousness post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and John Holton with the prompt, “protocol.” Check out John’s post here. Thank you so much for the prompt, John!


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#JusJoJan the 11th – Cosmopolitan

Yes, I’ve always loved traveling.

I love the experience of seeing how other people live. I love people-watching.

But I don’t think that makes me “cosmopolitan.”

I’m just really curious.

I actually had to look up cosmopolitan in the dictionary to make sure I knew what it meant.

Here’s what Merriam-Webster has to say.

1 : marked by interest in, familiarity with, or knowledge and appreciation of many parts of the world : not provincial, local, limited, or restricted by the attitudes, interests, or loyalties of a single region, section, or sphere of activity : worldwide rather than regional, parochial, or narrow
2 : marked by sophistication and savoir faire arising from urban life and wide travel

Yeah, I’ve got the appreciation part down and the wide travel. But sophisticated? Me?

I live in my pajamas.

When I’m not traveling, of course.

***

This very late (sorry, Willow!) stream of consciousness post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Willow with the prompt, “cosmopolitan” Check out Willow’s post here. Thank you so much for the prompt, Willow!


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#JusJoJan the 9th and 10th – Unicorns of Chocolate

I need chocolate that tastes as good as real chocolate but that has no calories.

So not real.

Like a unicorn isn’t real.

Or is it?

Hmm…

I shall travel far and wide to find no-calorie chocolate!

Like hunting a unicorn, not to shoot it with an arrow, but to lick it.

Wait …

Do I really want to lick a unicorn?

Would it be tasty?

Maybe its poop would be made of no-calorie chocolate.

Like Moose Droppings.

(Only they have calories.)

(No, seriously. Click the link. They have calories.)

Or maybe I’ll just stay home and stick a horn on the dog and get fat on Turtles.

(Turtles are real. And they have calories.)

***

This stream of consciousness doubled-up post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Astrid with “unicorn” (check out Astrid’s post here) and Ritu with “chocolate” (check out Ritu’s post here). Thank you so much for the prompts, ladies!


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SoCS & JusJoJan the 8th – In the …

In the attempt to do all the things today, I still missed the thing that is blogging.

Until now, but it’s officially Sunday, and no longer today.

Today meaning Saturday … it is no longer.

I almost forgot to schedule the prompt for tomorrow!

Which is technically today.

Because today is Sunday, and today will have a new prompt.

Which I almost forgot.

In the attempt to blog today (which is not today) it seems I have forgotten how words work.

For this is a very odd post indeed.

And forgetting how words work on a day that I am sure is not today but tomorrow, is par for the course.

Because as you know, I am the one who asks …

What day is it anyway?

Most days.

Okay, kids are calling me.

Good night!

***

This odd post is brought to you by SoCS and Just Jot it January. Click the link to see how you, too, can join in! It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2022/01/07/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2022-daily-prompt-jan-8th/

 

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


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#JusJoJan the 7th – Just the tempest

Back when I was in my late twenties, I lived in an apartment and supported myself by working in various offices for an agency.

I remember my agency called me late one afternoon and asked me to be at a new job first thing the next morning, as they needed someone desperately.

But when I woke up the next morning, I was so sick, I couldn’t even get out of bed to call them to tell them I couldn’t make it.

They didn’t call me again—I’d been effectively fired for not showing up on the first day.

Making me the tempest temp there ever was.

*ba-dum-tss!*

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This corny but true post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Liz! Check out Liz’s post here! Click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2022/01/07/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-7th-2022/ It’s fun!


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#JusJoJan the 6th – Anticipation

Just a quickie jot tonight since it’s late. I started a new editing job yesterday, and though I was anticipating its arrival, I had to struggle not to get behind today. Something had to give, and today, that thing was the blog.

Sorry! I’ll try to get to all the comments tomorrow and continue my recent new habit of trying to read a few posts a day.

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This quick post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Pamela! Check out her Daily Quip here! Click the following link to see how you, too, can join in!https://lindaghill.com/2022/01/06/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-6th-2022/ It’s fun!


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#JusJoJan the 4th – Generosity

It’s come to my attention that having a debit card has stunted my ability to be generous.

Just this morning I walked out of the grocery store to find a man standing at the door asking politely if I might have a dollar to spare.

I said no, I had no change. And it’s true. I haven’t had change on me in months. If I’m going to park somewhere with a meter and I don’t remember to search for change in old wallets and infrequently used drawers before I leave home, I either have to park somewhere very inconvenient, or risk a $13 ticket. Sometimes for the sake of not having even 25 cents on me.

So yeah, back to the guy this morning.

I choose to be generous enough to believe he has Tourette Syndrome and that he wasn’t actually swearing at me purposely as I walked to my car with my groceries.

Generosity comes in many different forms.

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This slightly disturbing post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and Sadje! Check out her post here! Click the following link to see how you, too, can join in!https://lindaghill.com/2022/01/04/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-4th-2022/ It’s fun!


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SoCS & JusJoJan the 1st – Resolve

I know what you’re thinking.

Is that actually Linda? Like, writing a real post? On her blog?

And the answer is yes. ‘Tis me. The great and powerful LindOz.

Who we all know was never great nor powerful at all.

Ah, I’ve missed stream of consciousness writing. Can’t delete it now. It’s the rule.

So I’m resolving to do my best to participate in JusJoJan every day. My posts might all be stream of consciousness, for the simple reason that it means I don’t have to plan what I’m going to write.

Because planning what I’m going to write makes my brain ache these days. Since November 1st, I’ve written more than 90K words, and I don’t plan to slow down much.

Aside from my resolve to post this month, my resolve for the year is to publish at least three books, plus a weekly serial I’m writing under a secret pen name. 5K words on each of 52 weeks. I’ve written almost half of it, but I plan to write at least three quarters of it before I start publishing.

Is all this an actual resolution? Like, a new year’s resolution?

I suppose by definition it is.

But I’m almost superstitious about those. I don’t think I’ve ever actually followed through with one.

So let’s not call it that.

M’kay?

M’kay.

***

This odd post is brought to you by SoCS and Just Jot it January. Click the link to see how you, too, can join in! It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2021/12/31/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2022-daily-prompt-jan-1/

 

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