Life in progress


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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


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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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Hey! It’s a free paranormal romance novel!

It’s been an exciting week for a couple of reasons. One, my book, The Magician’s Curse, scored a spot on Kobo’s free page. Only six books are chosen per week in each featured category, so the ebooks have been flying off the virtual shelves!

Check it out here!

What’s really cool? I’ve distributed my book to 26 countries this week. Here’s the map.

Enter a world of dark family secrets …

Herman believes setting out to make a better life for herself will solve all her problems. Until she meets a charming, mysterious stranger on a train.

The moment Stephen Dagmar sets eyes on Herman, he knows he’s found a new assistant to join him onstage in his magic show. And the woman of his dreams.

At home in Stephen’s Gothic mansion, Herman revels in the extravagant romance he lavishes upon her. Yet a shadow hangs over their fragile love. Is his devotion really what it seems?

Amidst lace and leather, innocence and debauchery, The Magician’s Curse begins the spellbinding tale of The Great Dagmaru.

Start the journey now.

Winner of the Paranormal Romance Guild’s Reviewer’s Choice Award!

Do you have your copy yet? If not, today is your lucky day. Here’s where you can pick it up:

Kindle US

Kindle CA

Kindle UK

Kindle AU

Kobo

Apple

Nook

And more!

Would you rather read the paperback for free? You can! Just request it from your local library. It’s available for them to buy.

But that’s not all! I have some more exciting news!

I’ve set up Book 3 of The Great Dagmaru series, The Magician’s Soul, for preorder. The book has a placeholder cover for the moment. Click here to have a peek.

Pretty ugly, eh?

But there’s a method to that particular madness. I’m having a contest next week that will be available to enter only via my newsletter. Suffice to say the contest has something to do with the cover of the upcoming book! If you haven’t already subscribed, you can join my newsletter here. Contest details will be mailed to you on Wednesday, August 19th if you sign up in time. I hope to see you there!

Now, go get your free book! Thanks for reading.


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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Aug. 15/2020

Friday? Friday! Friday’s here and so is your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. My week feels like it’s been a week and a half long. But how can I be surprised when the year has lasted 116 months already? Here’s your SoCS prompt for this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “pro/con.” Talk about the pros and cons of anything. 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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One-Liner Wednesday – Strength

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”
― Helen Keller

created with Canva

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

ON TIME Kickstarter Launch!

by

Check it out! I have a story in the upcoming anthology, ON TIME. It’s sure to be amazing! Please consider pitching in to the Kickstarter and pre-order your copy!

This gallery contains 5 photos


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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/


by 49 Comments

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Aug. 8/2020

It’s Friday! And I’m here with your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. I’m happy to be able to report that we’ve had cooler weather this week. It was downright cold last night! My A/C is happy to have a break, I’m sure. Here’s your SoCS prompt for this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “spot.” Write whatever image the word “spot” invokes. 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!