Life in progress

Category Archives: Life


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AtoZ/What Day is it Anyway? Tuesday, April 21st, 2020 – Rest

 

My day today so far–11:59pm: 

There will be rest for the wicked!!

Of that I am both sure and determined to make true.

Soon.

I spent yet another day editing, but good news! I’m finished!

Which means maybe tomorrow I can get caught up on a few things I’ve been putting off. Like packing my mother’s stuff.

I posted the first chapter of the new book on my fiction blog. If you’re curious about what I’ve been working on, click here.

I get the feeling that when this month is over and the book is released, my mother’s room at the retirement home is empty, the A to Z Challenge is finished, and we’re all still stuck at home, I’m going to miss being so busy. Life is so frenzied right now, I barely have time to think.

Enjoy every minute, my friends. Especially if you have your family close.

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 20th, 2020 – Quite

 

My day today so far–11:59pm: 

I’m quite miffed at myself for failing to get a post written on the day it was supposed to be posted, yet again. Not as much for having failed myself, but for having failed you. I’m sorry. (Which is partially an ingrained Canadian thing.)

Alex and I went for a walk this afternoon. Aside from that, all I did was worked on my editing. Almost done. I swear I’m going to take a couple of days off when all this is finished.

Except I’m still going to have to pack my mother’s room at the home. It’s been three days of slogging away at my computer and nothing else done.

So stressful.

But you know what’s not stressful?

A cloudless blue sky.

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 19th, 2020

My day today so far–11:59pm: 

Day two of not changing out of my pajamas.

I’m beginning to wonder if I need more pajamas.

I did a thing, though.

It’s a book.

A funny book.

A romance book.

Get it here.

The price goes up April 28th.

Thank you. 🙂

Back to your regularly scheduled posts tomorrow.

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 18th, 2020

 

Aaaand, I didn’t do any better today at getting my post written early.

But I’m motivated now. I’ve decided after I publish this that I’ll open a bottle of wine. Because I’m celebrating! I’m not finished my final proofread of my new book, but I did get the description written, which is huge!

I’m definitely finding that practice makes perfect (okay, maybe not perfect, but not too bad) when writing blurbs. I’m hoping this will turn out to be a good one. One that’ll sell some books.

Proofreading is another thing I find I’ve become much better at with practice. Where to stick in a comma has become automatic, for instance. I used to have to think so hard.

Practice is the word of the day for Saturday, but I had no idea what I’d write when I came up with it, and I still don’t have any idea what to write. It seems all my idea energy went into my blurb earlier, and now I’m out of them. Bereft. Blank.

I didn’t make it out of my PJs today, so I didn’t get any packing done at the retirement home. My mother called me this afternoon to let me know she’d be having supper at the hospital. As though she hasn’t had every meal there for the last month, almost.

Dementia really sucks.

I’m going to try to go around to the hospital and call her from my cell in hopes of waving to her. Me on the ground, her on the fifth floor.

Better than nothing.

Everything sucks.

Except my new book!

Gotta focus on what I can do rather than what I can’t.

That’s a good mindset to practice, don’t you think?

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/2020/04/17/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-18-2020/ 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 17th, 2020 – Oh, Right

 

My day today so far–10:57pm: 

Oh, right. I’m supposed to write a post for AtoZ and my own WDIIA thing. In my own defense, it’s been a day. A tiring day. You know the kind.

Alex and I managed to get out for a walk this afternoon. We went past the little library, and the roll of toilet paper was either still there, or someone has been restocking it.

I spent another hour and a half in my mother’s room at the retirement home. Made another small dent in the packing. She has SO much fabric and half-done sewing and quilting projects that I don’t know what to do with. I suppose I should give most of it away, but this is a terrible time to try to do it. The home is going to store the big stuff until the lockdown is finished, so I don’t have to worry about carrying that out of there by myself.

I called the hospital today to try to talk to my mum. The nurse said she’s been very tired all day. She put me through to the room, but my mother didn’t pick up.

I’ll try to do better tomorrow with the blogging thing.

Stay safe and healthy, my friends.

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? Thursday, April 16th, 2020 – Nixed

 

My day today so far–8:10pm: 

Another day without a walk. But I did get to the grocery store. The only thing they were out of today was large bags of dog food. Oh, and dog treats too–no rawhide or any of that stuff. But that’s okay–even if I’m gaining weight, it doesn’t mean Winston needs to too.

While I was at my mother’s retirement home, standing in the middle of the room with two boxes to pack up years’ worth of stuff, I got a call to say they’re not moving her to the nursing home after all. The province of Ontario decided to close new admissions to all nursing homes, so she’s got to stay put in the hospital for the time being. Which, in a way, is good. She won’t be stuck in isolation in a place she doesn’t recognize at all. At least in the hospital she has a roommate and nurses coming in regularly.

So I made a very small dent in the packing of her room in the two hours I was there.

One thing I found that I’d rather not have?

She had a banana in her coat pocket.

And she hasn’t worn her coat since the 22nd of March.

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 15th, 2020 – Mother

 

My day today so far–7:35pm: 

Again, not much going on except working on my manuscript. I’ll be happy to have my book finished so I have time to go out for long walks again.

However, I’m not going to manage much of anything like that tomorrow–neither editing nor walking–because I have to go clean out my mother’s room at the retirement home. I have until the end of the month. I received an email from the administrator, someone we’ve known for how long? Five, six years? To say any time you want to come by and get her stuff, you can come alone. We’ll have someone help you get the large items out. That was it. No, “We’ll miss your mom,” or “Thanks for all the memories.” No. Get your stuff. They’re reducing her rent by the cost of the extra services like dispensing her pills and doing her laundry, but we’re still paying for all the food she won’t eat for the entire month of April.

So yeah, I have that to do.

She has a placement in a nursing home, so she’ll be leaving the hospital on Friday morning. Which is good since they have Covid-19 patients just down the hall. I just hope they treat her well at this new place. I doubt she’ll be happy, however. She’ll have to be isolated for 14 days. And she won’t understand what’s going on.

Yesterday:

There was no yesterday, but here’s a picture I took last October of the sun setting on over the lake.

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 15th, 2020 – Kindness

Created on Canva.com

Photo: Mountains in different shades of blue. Text reads: “I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” ~ Gandalf (J. R. R. Tolkein ~ The Hobbit)

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 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!