Life in progress

Tag Archives: weather


by 20 Comments

#SoCS – Affirmative

Yes, I can affirm that today has been a challenging one with the child who is no longer a child but acts like one. I can state that unequivocally.

But is that the way the word “affirm” is really supposed to be used? An affirmation–the word affirmative–means yes. So to state something negative (like saying it’s been a bad day), would be a confirmation, wouldn’t it? Because, like, pros and cons. So is there such a thing as a proffirmation?

Gah! That makes my brain hurt.

Or is it a proclamation? Which would be the opposite of a conclamation. Haha.

I like making up words.

I do like affirming that I CAN do stuff. There are days when that’s easier than others. I can sometimes wake up in the morning and, for no apparent reason, feel like I can do anything.

Then there are days when I just want to throw in the towel because I can’t seem to do anything right.

And I have no idea why either of those things happen.

Except when I get a negative comment or review on my work and then I spend five minutes saying fuck it, I can’t write. What made me think I ever could?

I’m glad it only lasts five minutes. Most of the time.

So yeah, I’m hoping Alex will be able to go to school for a full week next week. I’m sure his behaviours are at least in part due to the fact that he’s getting bored staying home. I think he’s only been to school seven days so far this year.

But with this crazy weather …

Last week it was cold enough the balls off a snowman (the snowballs–get yer mind outta the gutter), and tomorrow we’re supposed to get freezing rain. Monday? Rain.

I may just take Alex to school on skates.

SoCS badge by Pamela, at https://achronicalofhope.com/

This very late, very random, very made-up post was brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Click the following link to see how you, too, can join in the fun. And read the other participants’ posts while you’re there! You’ll find all the links in the comments. https://lindaghill.com/2019/02/01/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-2-19/

 


by 4 Comments

245. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Thursday, May 3rd, 5:00pm
Hubert (and Zoey)

 

Hubert sits at the window. Zoey takes the seat beside him.

Hubert: Nice day today.

Zoey: Yes.

Hubert: You don’t recognize me, do you?

Zoey: (rolls eyes) Not another one.

Hubert waits politely for an explanation.

Zoey: The last guy who said that to me thought he looked like Johnny Depp.

Hubert: And did he?

Zoey: Not at all.

Hubert: (laughs) Well, I’m not supposed to look like anyone. I’m the weather man.

Zoey: Oh yeah? Do you work at one of the local TV stations, or …

Hubert: Nope.

Zoey: … radio?

Hubert: Nope.

Zoey: Oh, you’re the guy who actually figures out what the weather’s going to be.

Hubert: (smiles) That’s right.

Zoey: So what’s it going to be like tomorrow?

Hubert: It’s not.

Zoey: Errr … what do you mean it’s not?

Hubert: There won’t be a tomorrow.

Zoey: Oookay.

Hubert: The tides will start going backwards tonight and time itself will reverse.

Zoey: So you’re saying …

Hubert: Tomorrow will be yesterday.

Zoey: Damn.

Hubert: What? It was nice out yesterday, too.

Zoey: Yeah, but I was looking forward to summer.

Hubert: (shrugs) I’m just the weather man. Nothing I can do about it.

Zoey: Are you sure?

Hubert: (frowns) Do you doubt me?

Zoey: Nooo … I’m just going to change seats.

Hubert: (smiles) Nice meeting you.

Zoey: You too.

Hubert: And say hi to Johnny Depp when you see him next. (winks)

Zoey: Will do.

 

Next stop: Friday, May 4th, 8:00am

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


by 11 Comments

#JusJoJan 2018, the 25th – Prediction

You know who I wish could make a decent prediction? The weather man. Just imagine never getting caught without an umbrella when you need one. Or a coat. Or a toothbrush for when you’re unexpectedly served something full of garlic. … oh wait. Wrong kind of prediction.

But seriously. It would be cool if the weather man could positively predict what you’re going to end up eating on any given day, wouldn’t it? You’d never have to stress over another grocery list.

Man, am I tired. Can you tell?

This silly post is is brought to you by Just Jot it January, and in particular, prompted by the word “prediction,” provided by Dar! Thank you so much, Dar! You can find her last JusJoJan post by clicking right here. Please go and say hi! To participate in the prompt, please visit this post, where you’ll find the rules and you can leave your link in the comments.


by 10 Comments

Just Jot It Jan 30 – Blue

I’ve spent the last couple of hours, on and off, trying to come up with something I could write to do with the colour blue. I thought of the sky – something I haven’t seen in a while. First, because it’s been cloudy all year, and second, because I haven’t been out. I’ve missed the sky, and I’ve missed going for walks. Being glued to the couch isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, trust me.

In searching for some pictures of blue sky (I’m sure in hopes of absorbing some vitamin D by force of sheer will), I discovered that I haven’t been out for a walk since November 27th. I know this, because every time I go out, I take a picture.

img_20161127_153709

Next time I see the sun through my window, I’ll make an extra effort to get out in it.

compromise

Today’s prompt is brought to us by John Holton of the blog, The Sound of One Hand Typing. Thanks, John! Go give him a visit, and tell him I said hi! Here’s his latest post: https://thesoundofonehandtyping.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/mondays-music-moves-me-blue-monday-jusjojan/

And to find the JusJoJan prompt, click here: https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/30/jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-30th17/


by 27 Comments

The Perfect Place to Live

CAM00178

We’re having a snow day. It’s the third one since school started in September. I swear, all there has to be is the slightest whiff of the white stuff and the school buses are canceled. So I’m home with Alex today, doing my best to keep him entertained instead of doing what I need to do. For instance, getting out of my pyjamas. …okay, maybe I don’t really need to do that, but you get the picture.

For many of us in Canada, snow and cold weather is something to be dreaded. Reasons vary; some of us northern dwellers only hate snow because it’s a pain the ass to drive in, some can’t stand it when they walk outside and their nose hairs freeze with the first breath (okay, most of us hate that), and some, like me, simply don’t like having cold feet all the time. But we Canadians live with it because overall, Canada is a great place to live.

Earthquakes, tornadoes, and extreme heat are just a few things that make Canada and other places on earth unpleasant at times. Yet they are, in most cases, worth suffering through to stay where we are. Is there any such thing as the perfect place to live? I mean, we all have something where we live that makes life unpleasant, or even downright terrifying at times, don’t we? .

What forces of nature make your country/state/province/island a great and yet not-so-great place to live?

After you comment, please head over to vote in Cover Wars for my book cover. You can vote once every 24 hours. Here’s the link: http://authorshout.com/cover-wars/ Both Belinda, my lovely cover artist, and I appreciate it! We’re way behind and we’ve gotta catch up!

img_1918


by 36 Comments

New news

My boss at the newspaper found someone who is willing to take over my route until the snow is gone! Which is wonderful (for me, not for my replacement) since the freezing rain is coming down like a bugger right at the moment. In fact I hope I can get this post finished before the power goes out.

In celebration of the fact that I didn’t have to deliver papers today, I went to the local community center where they have an indoor track for walking and running. It encircles a hockey arena, so the temperature was rather chilly, but it’s a safe environment for walking, albeit pretty boring. I walked for 40 minutes and it felt great! With the lack of interesting things to look at however, I think I may take my headphones tomorrow and listen to music while I walk.

So that’s my news. What’s new with you? How’s the weather?


by 21 Comments

JusJoJan 27 – How Parenting is Like the Weather

Long ago I read a story–it’s probably a famous one, but I’ll relate it here in brief–about how the sun and the wind entered into a competition to make a man take off his coat. The wind, of course, tried to blow it off, but the harder the wind blew, the tighter the man held his coat around him. The wind eventually gave up and then the sun came out. The man, becoming hot, took off his coat. The moral of the story is that sometimes coaxing is better than trying to force someone to do something.

The story came to mind today, as it often does on a bitterly windy day, when I try to bury myself in my scarf. For some reason the thought led to parenting.

My motto has long been, “Pick your battles.” If it’s not that important, meaning no one is going to get seriously injured or be more than ten minutes late for something, I tend to either let the issue go or do my best to be persuasive rather than forceful. The practice has improved my powers of persuasion to the point that I’m getting pretty good at it. Failing that, I’ve learned to be patient. To take a deep breath and remind myself that it’s not the end of the world if Alex completely empties a drawer of perfectly folded clothes to do it again himself, or insists on cleaning his own feeding tube when I know damned well he’s going to ask for the help he at first refuses because it can’t reach where it has to hang.

But I’m only human. There are times when I feel I must stuff him in the car against his will, or restrain him to keep him from falling out his second storey bedroom window. Part of these necessities come down to the fact that I’m not completely fluent in sign language – part of it comes from his own behavioural issues and the fact that he’s mentally well below his age level but physically entering puberty. This puts him in the range of adolescence mixed with the terrible twos.

Still. It’s better to be sunny than windy.

JJJ 2015

Just Jot It January is nearly over – link your post today and get your participant’s badge at the end of the month! https://lindaghill.com/2015/01/01/just-jot-it-january-pingback-post-and-rules/