Life in progress

Tag Archives: family


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It’s been a month

First, I want to say thank you to everyone who commented on my Friday post to say they hope I’m not in (tooth) pain. I’m not. The wisdom tooth has to come out just because it randomly gets infected, and the antibiotics are tough on my system when it happens.

Fingers crossed it doesn’t get infected between now and July 26th. Must stay away from sharp food.

So yeah. It’s been a month. And not in a good way. That’s my excuse for not blogging very much. I’ve learned stuff about myself this last month, not least of which is my MO tends to lean toward avoidance. This being the post I’ve been avoiding.

It started, actually, in March with Winston getting sick.

Yes, I understand if you don’t read the rest of this post. It doesn’t have a happy ending. Aside from the fact that my two nine-hour hospital visits (Tuesday the 23rd into Wednesday the 24th and all day Saturday the 27th) with Alex turned out okay. He was throwing up, which doesn’t play well with his heart condition, but a combination of Gravol and IV fluids got him back on his feet both times.

But yeah, back to Winston.

I just wrote and deleted everything that we went through. All the appointments and the tests. But all that’s in the past. What’s important is that he was a good boy. He protected our house like none of us ever could, and he loved us and we loved him.

I received a condolence letter from the vet’s office today, along with a paw print and a nose print on a piece of heavy paper. It wrecked me all over again.

Rest in peace, Winston Church Hill.


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#SoCS – Seems clear …

The fact that I’m a day late with this post …

The fact that I didn’t post at all in the last two weeks aside from the prompts …

Seems to signal that I haven’t changed my ways after all.

But it’s not for lack of trying.

It’s been a stressful couple of weeks here, worrying about Alex and getting busy with a new proofreading job. Plus, I have to drive to Ottawa on Tuesday, so that’s got me stressed out too.

I hate writing posts that sound like “woe is me,” because I’m not actually feeling sorry for myself, and neither should you. It’s just life. You take the ups and the downs.

I do plan to do better with my posting. Maybe not this week because I have a lot going on, and I’m going to have to catch up after Tuesday’s all-day trip.

But next week for sure.

Yeah.

*touches wood*

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

This determined post was brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Find the prompt here and join in! It’s fun!


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JusJoJan24 the 28th – Families

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and today’s prompt comes to us courtesy of Kim. Check out her blog here!

Some family members you can happily live with, some not so much.

But I don’t think you’ll disagree that there are some family members none of us want to live with: the members of the rodent family.

True story that happened many years ago:

I walked into my kitchen one morning in time to see a mouse run under my stove. I shrieked, not because I’m afraid of mice, but because it startled me. I immediately got down on my hands and knees to look for the little critter, but there was no sign of it. I pulled out the drawer under the stove—nothing. It had disappeared.

But there were droppings. Lots of droppings.

I had someone pull the stove out from the wall to see if there was a hole it could have gotten through, but nothing was obvious. The next step was to take the side panels off the stove. Sure enough, there were more droppings in the insulation between the outside and inside walls of my oven. They’d built a nest. In my stove.

So I sold the house.

…

…

Okay, the family of mice might not have been the entire reason I sold the house, but I never cooked in the oven again—I didn’t want to bake the little buggers alive!—and the oven stayed in the house when I moved.

I did leave a note for the new owners.

It went something like:

The stove is yours, but not yours alone …

This reminiscing post is part of Just Jot it January! Want to join in? Just click here to get to the prompt and drop your link. It’s fun!

Thank you so much again, Kim, for the prompt!


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JusJoJan24 the 25th – Cheesy

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and today’s prompt comes to us from Yvensong. Check out her blog here!

When I saw today’s prompt, I was like How did you know?!

You see, every month, my son Chris chooses a random date when he wants pizza, and he chose today, like, three weeks ago.

I’ve been looking forward to this cheesy goodness day for a long time.

Our last pizza day was December 8th!

Maybe I’ll get cheesy garlic bread tonight too…

This delicious post is part of Just Jot it January! Want to join in? Just click here to get to the prompt and drop your link. It’s fun!

Thanks again, Yvensong, for the prompt!


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One-Liner Wednesday – Pumpkinferno!

Alex and I went to Kingston Penitentiary to see the Pumpkinferno on Saturday.

My favourite is the third from the left at the bottom. Which is yours?

Photos: Fake pumpkins stacked and collectively carved into 1. a dragon, 2. Spanish dancers and sugar skulls, and 3. individual pumpkins carved with angry, suspicious, and funny faces.

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

Available now! Click the image!


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One-Liner Wednesday – Heading out

Leaving on a road trip to my hometown today. I’ll leave you with some leaves.

Photo: Several trees at the playground that are changing colours at different speeds, from green, to yellow, to orange, to brilliant red. Alex is on the swing asking me “What?” in sign language.

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

Available now! Click the image!


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One-Liner Wednesday – What’s the hold-up?

Alex at the fair waiting for the ride to start.

Photos: My son Alex sitting in a giant bee merry-go-round.

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

Available now! Click the image!


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One-Liner Wednesday – Sometimes…

Sometimes living your best life means just going for a swing. Even if you are an adult.

Photo: My 22-year-old son, Alex, going high as he can on a swing in the playground on a warm summer’s evening.

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

The Magician’s Curse (2.99) on Amazon US and everywhere else (Amazon worldwide, Kobo, etc.)
The Magician’s Blood (3.99) on Amazon US and everywhere else
The Magician’s Soul (3.99) on Amazon US and everywhere else
“The Great Dagmaru” Complete Series (6.99) on Amazon US and everywhere else
The Magician’s Sire (free with sign-up) here.


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One-Liner Wednesday – The nose knows

Hey, Winston! Why the long face?

Photo: My dog, Winston – a closeup of his big black wet nose.

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

The Magician’s Curse (2.99) on Amazon US and everywhere else (Amazon worldwide, Kobo, etc.)
The Magician’s Blood (3.99) on Amazon US and everywhere else
The Magician’s Soul (3.99) on Amazon US and everywhere else
“The Great Dagmaru” Complete Series (6.99) on Amazon US and everywhere else
The Magician’s Sire (free with sign-up) here.


by 13 Comments

#SoCS – Almost perfect

I had an appointment booked for yesterday morning. I booked it about two weeks ago.

Then last week, my daughter-in-law asked me if I could drive her to an appointment about an hour away on the same day – yesterday. At first I said I couldn’t, but then I asked what time her appointment was. It was late in the afternoon. So I said I could do it.

Then Alex started complaining of a toothache on Thursday night (the day before yesterday), so I said I’d call the dentist, knowing for sure I’d have to cancel an appointment if he could get in.

Yesterday morning at 9:00 I called the dentist. They had an appointment available smack dab in the middle of the other two.

Perfection.

I made it to three appointments yesterday with no problem.

… okay, so maybe it wasn’t complete perfection.

I didn’t make it home as early as I hoped I would because I had to wait for the sun to go down before I could drive. It would have been shining right in my eyes on the highway.

Because there was a perfect sunset.

This almost perfect post was brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Click the following link and join in! It’s fun! https://lindaghill.com/2023/02/03/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-4-2023/