Life in progress

Category Archives: Life


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What Day is it Anyway? Thursday, August 27th, 2020

My day today so far–11:53am

I have failed. I have failed in my resolve and thus, as a human being.

Okay, maybe it’s not quite that dire.

Let me back up a bit.

Thursday (that’s today, right?) is shopping day. Despite best-laid plans to get up and be at the grocery store when they opened at 8:00 I didn’t wake up until my son screamed at me that it was time to go shopping now, Mom, at 9:00.

So I quickly dressed and jumped in the car.

Here’s my excuse: I’m in the ice cream aisle, it’s, like 9:40, and I haven’t had coffee yet. AN UNCAFFEINATED BRAIN CANNOT FUNCTION IN THE ICE CREAM AISLE!

So I did it. Even though I still have half a container of green tea Haagen-Dasz in the freezer at home, I bought a container of the chocolate and peanut butter one.

I have failed.

And damn it, I refuse to be sorry.
Photo: The lid of the most heavenly, most addictive ice cream on the planet: Haagen-Dasz Chocolate Peanut Butter.

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 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.

 


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One-Liner Wednesday – Just me?

Photo: A new lawn being laid with a hoe, held by someone out of the picture, evening out the soil to roll out a roll of sod on top of it. Caption reads: “Am I the only one whose eye puts an N between the W and the M whenever they read the word “lawmaker”?”

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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#SoCS – A Brush with Good Health

It’s been a while since I last had a brush with good health. You know, one of those rare moments when nothing hurts? Anyone over 50? I’m talking to you.

My latest what-I’m-calling-stress-related ailment is tinnitus. As I sit here, it’s shrieking in my ears. Driving me to absolute distraction. I had it yesterday too. Today, I noticed it only when I thought of it, which kinda tells me that it’s likely all in my head.

Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s in my ears so obviously it’s all in my head.

But getting this post written was stressing me out, so it’s back … I understand, though, that the antacid meds the doctor gave me for heartburn could have caused it in the first place. Crazy, eh? So if you’re taking a new medication and you suddenly start to get tinnitus? Check out the side effects of the medication.

And that’s my PSA for the day.

No walk for us today. It’s been hot again and will be for the foreseeable future, and I didn’t wake up until 10am this morning. I must have needed the sleep. Surprisingly, I’m exhausted now. And it’s only 1:24am.

I must need more exercise.

Yep, I’m afraid I’m done for the night. Hope you’re having a good one.

 

 

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

This tired post was brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Find the prompt here and join in! https://lindaghill.com/2020/08/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-aug-22-2020/


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What Day is it Anyway? Thursday, August 20th, 2020

My day today so far–9:24pm

Thursday has become shopping day for me. I got up bright and early, determined to get to the store before 8am, only to find they’re only open at 7 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays now. Luckily I only had five minutes to wait.

The big decision came when I got to the ice cream section. My chocolate-peanut butter Haagen Dasz in the freezer at home almost gone, I could get another one to replace it or go for something else.

…

What to do?

…

I got green tea flavour instead. The good thing about going grocery shopping before breakfast is I can’t stand the thought of chocolate until after I’ve had my first cup of coffee.

I may have to have coffee before I go shopping next Thursday…

In other news, I went out for a walk alone tonight and it felt weird.

I’ve been alone so infrequently in the past five months, I actually missed having Alex with me. I felt guilty for not having him with me. (He refused to come, as hard as I tried to talk him into it.)

But the point is, I’ve never felt weird being alone before. Walking around my own neighbourhood with my phone in my hand gave me a sense of unease.

I, who have wandered the streets of Tokyo, a half a world away from everyone I know, with no cell phone and no way to be found and felt completely at ease doing so.

It’s strange what five short months can do to a person.

Photos: A completely flat yard of gravel and the man who’s making it appear as waves of water. Also, a statue of Buddha, a bell, and a plaque explaining where it came from–Switzerland, to be exact. There’s a better description of the place in a link below.

The man spoke not a word of English, but I told him as best I could that his work was beautiful. I hope he understood me. He gave me a pamphlet, all in Japanese, and explained that I should have it translated so I could learn about the place. Honsen-ji Temple, Shinigawa. It is, indeed, fascinating.

Well, this post went off the beaten path, didn’t it?

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 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.

 


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One-Liner Wednesday – Dreamin’

Just a dog, dreamin’ of chasin’ a squirrel.


Photo: Winston, my beagle/Basset hound cross, sitting with his paws up on the back of the couch, staring dreamily out the window.

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


by 19 Comments

What Day is it Anyway? Monday, August 17th, 2020

My day today so far–8:25pm

I spent all day yesterday thinking it was Wednesday for some strange reason. So that makes today “Thurmonday” I guess? I had to laugh this morning, though. I woke Alex up at 9am (one of my little pleasures in life after having been woken up by him almost daily since he was born), and the first thing he asked, in a panic, was “What day is it?” Not that it really matters, since every day is the same anyway, but seeing myself in my son is always fun.

It was threatening to rain this morning so we didn’t get out for our walk. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous for the next couple of days, though, so hopefully we’ll get out for longer walks that aren’t at the butt-crack of dawn.

I’ve had the munchies all day today. Do you get those days? It doesn’t help that I picked up a container of chocolate and peanut butter Haagen Dasz on Thursday. It was the only one on the shelf that looked appetizing so I bought it even though I’ve never tried it before. It’s Haagen Dasz–how bad can it be?

HA!

It. Is. The. Most. Addictive. Substance. On. The. Planet.

One of the small containers of Haagen Dasz usually lasts me a week. I eat, like, six small spoonfuls a day. This stuff? I’m considering putting a padlock on the freezer door and putting the key upstairs so I at least have to walk up and down the stairs twice every time I go back for more.

I have to make it last ’til shopping day Thursday.

It’s Wednesday today, right? 😉

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 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.

 


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#SoCS – The Pros and Cons of Everything

There are, arguably, pros and cons to just about everything, if not absolutely everything. It’s like a yin/yang sort of deal.

The biggest pros and cons I’ve had to deal with lately–meaning the ones I’ve had to deal with most often–are things like whether to get up at the crack of dawn to take Alex for a walk or get another hour of sleep. Walk pros=getting exercise while it’s not too humid to breathe, walk cons=sleep is good.

I do realize I’m writing this at 1:18am, so “sleep is good” and knowing what’s good for me are obviously on the opposite end of the spectrum. I think it’s going to rain in the morning though, so I should be able to sleep in.

(Photo: A recent photo of a crack-of-dawn walk – sunlight shining through the branches of a maple tree.)

Conundrum #2, the pros and cons of eating crackers vs ice cream. Cracker pros=better for me, cracker cons=they’re not as delicious as ice cream and they don’t relieve my heart burn.

But it all comes back to the exercise and what I can afford to eat.

Conclusion: food is life.

The most important set of pros and cons weighing on me at the moment–me and all the other parents in the world–are those surrounding school.

Pros for Alex=much-needed learning in a place where he can concentrate and be taught in his own language: ASL. And having him at school will mean I’ll have a break–the first since March 12th.

Cons=the risk, however slight, of catching Covid-19. With his heart condition, it’s too much to risk. Even though we’ve had one case in our area since May, when we had four cases. His classes normally have a capacity of five students, maximum. The country currently has fewer than 5,000 active cases. And it’s a big country. But all it takes is one person driving through …

I may be paranoid, but I don’t think I can bring myself to send him.

Such a tough decision.

 

 

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

This confuddled post was brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Find the prompt here and join in! https://lindaghill.com/2020/08/14/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-aug-15-2020/


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#SoCS – Spot the difference

As I sat down to write this post, I realized that my job is basically a game of “spot the difference.” Because what is editing if it’s not finding things that are not what they’re supposed to be? On one hand, you have a tpyo, and on the other hand, you have the dictionary. The word is “typo.” Spot the difference!

And for this I spent thousands of dollars in school fees and hours upon hours of studying. HA!

Speaking of words, have you ever noticed how many four-letter words you can spell out of the letters S-P-O-T?

spot

stop

post

pots

tops

opts

Did I miss any?

 

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

This observational post was brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Find the prompt here and join in! https://lindaghill.com/2020/08/07/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-aug-8-2020/


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#SoCS – More than anything

More than anything, I wish people would stop asking me what I like “more than anything else.”

Okay, maybe that’s not what I want more than anything, but hey, it’s a prompt and I’m writing the first thing that comes into my head.

It’s such a difficult thing to choose! Which colour do you like more than any other? Which song? If you had one wish that would change the world, what would it be?

How can anyone decide what, more than anything else, would be the best thing for everyone? Or for yourself? I suppose if you were singularly focused on yourself and cared about no one else, it might be easier.

What frustrates me more than anything else at this very moment is my own failings. This is “Stream of Consciousness SATURDAY” and here I am writing my post on Sunday.

Yesterday, more than anything else, I spent the day procrastinating. What is it when you think of something you need to do and just can’t bring yourself to do it? What is it called? Because I seem to be stuck with it, whatever it is.

I’m happy to say if it concerns doing something for someone else, I’m on the ball. I spend hours of my every day looking for things to do for other people so I can procrastinate on my own stuff.

Why?

No idea.

One thing I ain’t procrastinating on any more at this very moment?

Getting my second cup of coffee. But yeah, I do procrastinate over feeding myself often these days. Don’t worry! I get there eventually.

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

This questioning post was brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Find the prompt here and join in! https://lindaghill.com/2020/07/31/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-aug-1-2020/


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What Day is it Anyway? Thursday, July 30th, 2020

My day today so far–5:45pm: 

I started the day dragging myself out of bed after five hours of sleep and going for a walk around the block. Totally worth it. It was cool out for a change.

It’s been a while since I last did an update, hasn’t it? It’s funny. Every time I get confused over the day of the week, my mind immediately goes to my blog. I’ve been busy though. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

But I’m writing today mostly because I promised you a photo of my milk. Here it is in all its 2% partially skimmed glory. It comes three bags to a package. Cool, eh?

 

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 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.