Life in progress


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JusJoJan 19/26 – Consistency

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “consistency,” is brought to us by Warren. Check out his blog here!

Does consistency lead to routine or does routine lead to consistency?

Kind of a chicken and an egg sort of question.

One part of my routine that I count on is drinking coffee. (That might actually be a habit, but let’s not get into those for the time being.)

To drink coffee, I have to first make it. And I’ve decided of late that I’m really tired of having to make coffee.

Like, I get weary just thinking about having to fill the coffeemaker with water, throw out the old filter, wash the basket, wash the pot, put in a new filter, add the coffee … You see how boring it is?

But if I want coffee …

That’s it! I need a maid!

But first I have to consistently earn money.

Damn it!

*makes boring coffee myself*

It’s such a daily grind. (Pun intended.)

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

Thanks again to Warren for today’s prompt!


10 Comments

JusJoJan 18/26 – Organ

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “organ,” is brought to us by Kaye. Check out her blog here!

Okay, so here’s something I haven’t thought about in ages.

When I was a kid, I had a Magnus mini chord organ that I absolutely loved, though I think I only learned to play about four songs on it.

I’ve always been in love with the idea of being able to play music.

But it’s an aptitude I’ve never mastered.

Anyway, I Googled small organs to try to find the one I had, but none were immediately identifiable enough to point and say “it was that one.”

The depressing part was the fact that all the ones that might have been the same as mine on Ebay are described as vintage.

Nothing like the “v” word to make you feel old.

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

Thanks again to Kaye for today’s prompt!


14 Comments

JusJoJan 16/26 – Philosophy

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “philosophy,” is brought to us by Sadje. Check out her blog here!

I’ve strayed away from it, but at one time, I closely followed the teachings of the Tao Te Ching.

The philosophy of Taoism makes a lot of sense to me.

Chapter 11

Thirty spokes share one central hub; it is the empty space within that makes the carriage useful.
Clay is molded to form a vessel; it is the empty space within that makes the vessel useful.

Doors and windows are cut out to make a room; it is the empty space within that makes the room useful.

Therefore, while substance (Being) offers the benefit, emptiness (Non-being) offers the utility.

As a way to apply this to life, think about living in the present; emptying the mind of thoughts of the past and worries of the future allows a person to fully concentrate on what they’re doing, making their actions more controlled and therefore more useful to the moment.

Something worth thinking about.

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

Thanks again to Sadje for today’s word of the day!


37 Comments

The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan 2026 Daily Prompt for Jan. 17th

It’s Friday already! And I’m here with your combination Daily 2026 Just Jot it January prompt and Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. This one is for SATURDAY, JANUARY 17th. It’s been a busy week for me of appointments and editing and shoveling snow. I still want to hibernate!

For those of you joining SoCS for the first time, it’s a little different than the other prompts in that it’s not always a whole or single word. If you’re joining in from JusJoJan and don’t want to write stream of consciousness style, no worries. It’s up to you. If you do want to try it, please check out the rules below. It’s fun! Here’s your Saturday prompt:

Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 17th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “favorite saying.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at 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 post. Anyone can join in!

To make your post more visible, use our 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/

You can also use the Just Jot it January badge! To find the rules for Just Jot it January, click here.

Here are the rules for SoCS:

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. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on 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 simply a single word to get your 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 everyone’s! 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 right 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!


6 Comments

JusJoJan 13/26 – Symbiotic

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “symbiotic,” is brought to us by Sally. Check out her blog here!

After the past couple of days, I’m too tired to fully comprehend the meaning of “symbiotic.”

Can I have a symbiotic relationship with my bed?

Please?

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

Thanks again to Sally for today’s word of the day!


3 Comments

JusJoJan 13/26 – Rubbish

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “rubbish,” is brought to us by Di. Check out her blog here!

I have to pay to put out my garbage in this town. I’ve never had to do that before.

As a result, I accumulate things more than I might if I could just stick five bags of garbage at the curb like I used to be able to.

I have stuff that came with me when I moved seventeen years ago that I’ve never bothered taking out of boxes. Do I need that stuff? No. Can I afford to get rid of it? No again.

So much rubbish. 🙄

It’s not hoarding if you want to get rid of it, right?

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

Thanks again to Di for the prompt!


3 Comments

JusJoJan 12/26 – Chewy

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “chewy,” is brought to us by Liz. Check out her blog here!

I love salmon. I mean I really love salmon. It’s probably my favorite food.

But I hate when I cook it too long and it gets a bit chewy. It needs to be cooked just right.

Unless it’s not cooked at all. Because there’s nothing like salmon sashimi—a slice of salmon and nothing else.

It melts in your mouth.

I can’t wait for my birthday. My mouth is watering already.

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

Thanks again to Liz for the prompt!


20 Comments

JusJoJan 11/26 – Opinion

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “opinion,” is brought to us by John. Check out his blog here!

I have very strong opinions on a few topics, but I rarely post about them on social media.

Particularly the topics I have strong negative opinions on.

And it bothers me that I rarely post about them—I wish I could be more vocal. I feel guilty, often, for not doing more than making the occasional comment on the post of someone who shares my opinion.

Why do I lack the courage to voice my outrage?

I’ve seen what happens.

The responses that state without reason that the original poster is wrong. The name calling and the bullying.

I don’t have the energy for that.

So I sit quietly and seethe.

And wonder how many blame me for not coming out and standing up for them. For not adding my voice to their cause.

It’s a very loud world we live in as we sit silently at our keyboards and doomscroll.

And if I let myself, I hate that I’m not contributing to the noise.

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

Thanks again to John for the prompt!


16 Comments

JusJoJan 9/26 – Celebrate

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “celebrate,” is brought to us by Wendy. Check out her blog here!

It’s January—I may have mentioned that a time or two on my blog—which means it’s the month I celebrate my birthday.

And by celebrate, I mean I usually don’t.

Years ago, Alex would insist I buy myself a birthday cake so he could eat a sliver of it, but I don’t remember when the last time was.

My eldest son buys me dinner every year and has it delivered, then I sit at the kitchen table with a book and eat alone, like I do every other day of the year that’s not Christmas, New Year, Easter, or Thanksgiving.

It all seems a bit sad on the surface.

But do it enough years in a row, and it becomes tradition.

More of a tradition than a celebration.

I mean, seriously, who over the age of 21 wants to get older anyway, am I right?

This post really sounds like I’m whining, but I’m not.

#amhappy

This not really sad post is part of Just Jot it January! Want to join in? Just click here to get to the prompt and drop your link in the comments. It’s fun!

Thanks again to Wendy for the prompt!


39 Comments

The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan 2026 Daily Prompt for Jan. 10th

Today be Friday, so here I am with your combination Daily 2026 Just Jot it January prompt and Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. This one is for SATURDAY, JANUARY 10th. I tell you, the weather really can’t decide what it’s doing these days. All I want to do is hibernate!

Anyhoo, for those of you joining SoCS for the first time, it’s a little different than the other prompts in that it’s not always a whole or single word. If you’re joining in from JusJoJan and don’t want to write stream of consciousness style, no worries. It’s up to you. If you do want to try it, please check out the rules below. It’s fun! Here’s your Saturday prompt:

Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 10th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “don’t get me started.” Use the phrase in your post or just write about the first thing it conjures in your mind. Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at 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 post. Anyone can join in!

To make your post more visible, use our 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/

You can also use the Just Jot it January badge! To find the rules for Just Jot it January, click here.

Here are the rules for SoCS:

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. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on 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 simply a single word to get your 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 everyone’s! 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 right 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!