Category Archives: odds and ends

Share Your World 8/7/17

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What was the last URL that you bookmarked or saved?

How long has Donald Trump been president?  Seriously, there’s a website for this.

Do you believe in the afterlife?  Reincarnation?

I believe in an afterlife, but I’m cool with what most other faiths believe happens after death.  The only concept I struggle to grasp is the Buddhists’ belief that achieving nirvana leads to the extinguishing of a life force altogether upon death.  I’m working on processing that one.

If you were or are a writer do you prefer writing short stories, poems or novels?

I write some poetry, though not as well as many others do.  My favorite genre is very similar to the blog – first person narrative in short stories or commentary.

What inspired you this past week?  Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination. 

Watching the herons swoop across the lake.  I always enjoy seeing these graceful birds, even when they’re standing like statues at the shoreline, searching for food like a cat stalking prey.  I rarely see more than one but several times last week I spotted two flying together, swooping into the tree line to find a more peaceful resting place.  It was beautiful.

Cee’s Share Your World is a fun Monday blogging prompt.

more “aww, HELL no” items from an otherwise “I’ve got this” girl

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**  Cockroaches.

Yes, I’m a grown a** woman who’s had to handle all sorts of gross things but y’all, please.  Cockroaches?  Just…no.  Their giant bodies (are they BORN enormous?) and creepy skittering movements.  Plus that disgusting *crunch* they make when someone (not me ‘cuz COCKROACHES) stomps them flat.  Let’s not even talk about the yucky mess of guts they leave behind.  Just…no.

**  Bloodsucking mosquitos.

Please don’t talk to me about the delicate balance of the ecosystem and such.  I’m sure there’s a parallel universe in which I care about the mosquito’s survival rate, but it’s not this one.  In this one mosquitos feast on our arms and legs as we watch ball games, have neighborhood cookouts, or enjoy the last bit of daylight when it’s not 98 degrees.  Even more fun?  Playing who’s-got-the-most-bites the morning after a family outing and running through half a tube of cortisone.

**  Cigarette smoke.

Indoors, outdoors, in a small room or a large courtyard.  Walking behind someone smoking, sitting near a smoker, getting closed into an elevator with the guy who just took his smoke break.  And don’t talk to me about vaping being the Great Solution.  Cigarette smoke.  Period.

**  Blisters.

Is there anything more wrenching than the betrayal of a pair of perfectly comfortable looking shoes?  Well, sure, of course there is, but still.  I know I’ll be doing a boatload of walking, I put on shoes to get me through the day, and by lunchtime I feel that telltale burn at my heel.  Raw blisters, blood blisters, blisters you can “fix” by draining them (yeah, yeah, I sterilize the needle first) – no matter the type, the hate remains the same.  Dammit.

**  Short people gaslighting.

Okay, for the record, I accept that “short people” comments regarding my particular kids will forthwith be in jest only.  There.  I admitted it.  They’re looking me in the eye.

But what isn’t in jest is the flash fire behind my eyes when those kids gaslight me and there’s a split second when I really can’t remember if I agreed that they could stay out an extra thirty minutes.  Half of me wants to scream omg I know what time you were supposed to be home while the other half is busy thinking hmmm…

a few (more) of my favorite things

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Pringles, soft blankets, spellbinding paperbacks, and coffee.

Oh, plus these.

“Parenthood.”  Have you guys seen this show?  I’m sure you have because BrightSide and I tend to be roughly 3.8 years behind the curve when it comes to network television.  (Case in point: we still haven’t seen “This Is Us.”  Yeah, I know, don’t yell at me.)  We loved every single episode of “Parenthood.”  It was so on the money – Asperger’s, adoption, divorce, the N word.  They handled real life issues with a graceful yet expert touch that never came off as heavy handed.  Impressive writers; even more impressive show.

Ben & Jerry’s.  I’m drawing a blank on whether I’ve included this on one of my “favorites” lists (how could I not have by now?) but c’est la vie, here it is again.  Forget the smooth, creamy delightfulness as it melts on your tongue.  Let’s talk about flavors.  The selection alone is a decidophobic’s worst nightmare.  I can’t even get an accurate tally of flavor options – some sources say more than forty, others put it at more than sixty – I imagine it has something to do with whether one counts special edition flavors.  Regardless…Cocoa Loco, Truffle Kerfuffle, Bourbon Brown Butter, Empower Mint…Boom Chocolatta Cookie Core, Bourbon Pecan Pie, Chocolate Therapy, Half Baked, The Tonight Dough…endless choices, endless opportunities for sugar induced bliss.

Proper cookies.  Preferably homemade, definitely chocolate chip, chewy with gooey milk chocolate.

Potato chips.  There’s no denying original Pringles (call me a purist) are salty heaven in a can, but there are surprising elements of craving involved in potato chip love.  Certain days demand BBQ Lay’s, others call for Sour Cream and Onion.  All around, though, I’d have to say there’s rarely a day the potato chip can’t improve.

Diet Dr. Pepper.  Yes, I know.  Diet soda is the devil.  I’m working hard to drink more water, and I’m doing better at home…but an unfortunate side effect of BrightSide moving me out into country life with our über deep well has been that all restaurant water tastes like chemicals.  Ugh.  So my first question is why can’t restaurant water taste decent.  My second is why on earth don’t more restaurants carry diet Dr. Pepper.

Interested in other random favorites lists?  You can read some here and here.

5 ways to kill your lunch hour instead of your coworker

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Now, for another edition of “I didn’t know I could find that on the internet.”  No, not the naughty stuff, get your mind out of the gutter.  Just a little fun to help waste pass the time. 

Scamper off, now, and check out some of these links to kick off your morning.  (Or afternoon, depending on your blog reading habits.  Oh, and thanks for visiting.)

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Damn You Auto Correct!  For all the times your phone auto corrects your texts to absolute nonsense.

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Scrolldit  Because who doesn’t love a site that sorts through all the crap on Reddit and highlights just the images people are sharing?  I sure do.

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Dilbert  Guaranteed laughs for anyone who’s ever worked an office job.  Because Dilbert.

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Passive-Aggressive Notes  For those of you who can appreciate the laugh behind digs and counter digs.

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There, I Fixed It  Bwahahahaha!  Now here are some fix-it jobs even I could have handled better.

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Share Your World 7/17/17

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What is your favorite cheese?

Mozzarella.

Are you left or right handed?

Right handed.

Do you prefer exercising your mind or your body? How frequently do you do either?

My mind.  I remember when I liked to work out – I’d do thirty minutes on the elliptical, the treadmill, a Pilates class (in my really ambitious days) – but I haven’t felt that drive in a long time.  Now I like writing exercises, word searches, and reading.

Complete this sentence: Hot days are …

draining.  sweaty.  the sort of thing that makes me long for shade and fans and frozen pinã coladas.

Optional Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m beyond grateful for getting away with good friends for a long weekend.  After three days at home to get some life stuff taken care of, we packed it up and hauled tail to the lake.  Our lake days were gorgeous — blue skies, clear water, even tolerable hot weather after a huge storm rolled through Thursday night.  There’s nothing like seeing some hummingbirds, hawks, and fish to bring down the blood pressure.

This week my kids are off doing their thing at camp.  I’m looking forward to decompressing and having some girl time.  Pedis, anyone?

Cee’s weekly party for people who like random questions.

What’s happening in your world today?

Share Your World 7/10/17

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How do you like to spend a rainy day?

Watching movies, taking a nap, reading a good book, and blogging.

List at least five favorite treats. (They do not have to be sugary).

Tortilla chips and queso.  Really good pizza.  Warm, buttery croissants.  An old fashioned hot fudge sundae.  Delicious coffee cake.

Where’s your favorite place to take out-of-town guests?

A show at DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) or dinner at the Five Star Gas Station.  This is literally a gas station that serves amazing food cooked by the chef next door.  Current menu choices include Duck Salad, Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs, and Beer Braised Pork Carnitas.  I’ve also enjoyed a delicious scallop succotash there.

You are trapped in an elevator, who would you want to be trapped with?

I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t matter who was with me seeing as being trapped in an elevator is the sixth circle of hell, but…BrightSide, gem, and sista-friend would all be great at passing the time and hopefully love me enough that they wouldn’t strangle me for being all freaked out and spazzy.

Optional Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

We had safe travels with family last week.  I got to see three areas of the country I’d never visited before, plus no one got lost in the airport.  So good on us.

This week I’d like to find a little more laid back time.  I need to recharge my batteries a bit before heading into phase 2 of the summer.

Cee’s weekly Share Your World post is always a good time.

What’s happening in your world today?

odds and ends: San Francisco

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We spent four and a half days in the beautiful town of San Francisco.  Trolley cars and street cars, the Golden Gate bridge, and yes, even Rice-a-Roni – wait for it – the San Francisco treat! 

Just kidding, we didn’t have Rice-a-Roni while we were there, but I’ve got a few observations from our time in the city…

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Forever Family: odds and ends #3

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Another collection from my world.

It’s been a roller coaster of a spring, one that’s made me feel like I’ve got a split personality.  For someone who’s done so much work over the last eighteen months I find I’m remarkably swooshy – one day I’ve moved past an issue, the next I totally reverse my position, the week after I’m torn equally between the two.  It’s hard to sort things out when everything feels genuine in the moment.

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