Sharing My World 81

Baby sister and me at picnic grounds, random uncle in background, and some very cool cars.

Share Your World – May 28, 2018

If you were to pack a basket for a picnic lunch, what would be in your basket?

I have the fondest memories of our Sunday family picnics in a little park beside the beach in Port Elgin.  There were always various aunts and uncles and cousins from my dad’s side of the family, the heady scent of cedar in the hot sun, and picnic tables that the men would round up until there were enough to seat everyone.  There were paper table cloths and paper plates, plastic cups and cutlery, wasps, ants, screeching sea gulls, and so much food we always ended up having to decide who would take what home with them.  Because how boring to take what you brought and how fun to exchange things.  And fight over Aunt Marie’s brownies topped with melted marshmallows and chocolate icing.  Well, maybe that never happened because I can’t imagine there being any of those left.

Something that did happen every picnic day without fail was having the adults warn their children that swimming was absolutely forbidden until two hours after eating. Because to do so meant you would probably get cramps and die.  And the adults would have their after meal chat time seriously reduced too. That bit would be equally tragic.

I do not remember ever having much to do with the picnic food prep, which likely explains my picnic nostalgia.  White bread sandwiches cut in little triangles and jello salads and potato salads and desserts all just magically appeared.  And there was always Freshie.  That’s a Canadian thing from the 1950’s and beyond, an add-your-own-sugar drink mix, in kid flavours called orange, yellow, purple and red.  Purple was the best.

At this point in my life I have a hard time figuring out what the point of a picnic is when it’s just so much easier to stay home where there is less pollen and fewer bugs.  But if I was forced at gun point to pack for one, I’d fill the basket with potato salad and plastic forks.  And hope somebody else remembers to bring the Freshie.

On a vacation what do you require in any place that you sleep?

A decent mattress, clean sheets, air conditioning, a great shower, towels larger than postage stamps and internet access.  As far as I know there are none of these things in a tent.  Oh, and lots of body lotion.  Some places are very chintzy with the body lotion.  I bring my own, but still, you know, free stuff.

If you were to buy a new house/apartment what are the top three items on your wish list?

Funny you should ask because I have been watching design challenges and home purchasing shows and small home documentaries.  It is completely bizarre to me how much space some people think they need.  One woman wanted an extra room just to store her shoes.  Think about why you need such a ridiculous amount of storage space and then get rid of half your crap.  Plus, seriously, if you are one person with four bathrooms, what is going on in that little head of yours?  And more importantly, who is keeping them all clean while you’re out working your ass off to pay your mortgage?

Top three items on my list:  two bedrooms, big shower, no stairs.  The rest of the list?   Kitchen with stools and a counter you can eat at, open to living area, a little patio or balcony, no grass to cut.  A den or office area would be a nice bonus for books and art paraphernalia but if that stuff can fit in the bedrooms, even better.  Something small and easy to keep clean.  If I want to entertain I will rent a hall.  Or take you out to a restaurant.  If you get really drunk and can’t drive home, you can sleep on my floor.

What did you appreciate or what made you smile this past week?

Last summer it would often take me a couple of days to cut the grass, doing the back one day and the front the next.  I’ve done it twice now, front and back easily in a morning, no problem. So I guess those 15 minute senior workouts are doing their magic.  I also found a video that takes you on a mile long walk (1.609 km in Canada) without leaving your home.  So, great for rainy, heavy pollen, or crazy hot days. The ‘walk’ incorporates side to side and back and forth steps, arm and knee raises, kicks, twists, and generally a lot of antics that if you did them out and about in your neighbourhood would draw a lot of attention to yourself.

After all these hot days, last night we had our first real thunder-storm of the season. It was short but lovely.  There’s something about the delightful smell of a rain storm that always makes me smile.   That, plus the fact that if you had a picnic planned you’d have to call it off and eat at your kitchen counter instead.

Sharing My World 51

Does this look like February? I’m squinting and it looks like spring to me.

SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2016 WEEK 8

What household chore do you absolutely hate doing?

Is this a trick question?  If I choose laundry will my washing machine suddenly break down?  I hate them all equally.  I used to wonder why I was so accident prone when it came to housework, but now I know it’s because most of it is so mind numbingly boring it’s impossible to pay attention to what you’re doing and incredibly easy to think about something else entirely and end up twisting your ankle or falling down the stairs.  Especially when doing something disgusting like scrubbing a toilet bowl.  Ok, for the absolutely hate part, that might be the one.

I do like a clean house, I just don’t love the household chores involved in getting one, especially when they can be worse health hazards than the ones you’re trying to avoid by cleaning up.  House cleaners should get danger pay for bumped heads, sprained wrists, cut fingers, mental anguish and broken toes.

What was the last URL that you bookmarked?

Honestly I have no idea.  Since W crashed his computer (he says it got hit by lightning and I don’t have the energy to argue with that) he has taken over mine and I use my iPad for everything.  I never really had a chance to get used to Windows 10 but W hates it.  I will convert him to Apple if I live long enough.  He still has a flip phone.  The two of them could be a museum exhibit. I did show him how to use bookmarks instead of putting a billion icons on his desk top but he wasn’t impressed.

Close your eyes. Listen to your body. What part of your body is seeking attention? What is it telling you?

My right shoulder is arguing with my neck about which of them can be the most annoying.  Both are screaming for a massage.  My feet are telling me to put some socks on.  My right index finger thinks it might be arthritic.  My brain says to ignore them all and go take a nap.  I’m going to stop listening to my body now, thanks, it’s such a complainer.

Would you rather have a two-bedroom apartment in a big city of your choosing or a mansion in the country side in the state or country where you currently live?

Can you imagine how many toilet bowls you would have to scrub if you lived in a mansion?  And how long the drive would be to buy new toilet brushes because you kept wearing them out?  No hesitation here, give me a little apartment in a big city.  Somewhere with easy access to all the amenities and where someone else is responsible for things like maintenance and flower beds.

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

Today the appliance repairman replaced the broken spring on our dishwasher door so I’m grateful to be able to use it again.  He says it will now last us another 20 years.  How scary is that?  It could live longer than I do. W says we didn’t really miss it, although I don’t remember him personally doing a lot of dishes in the sink this past week so I’m not sure how he came to that conclusion.

Last night we went out for ‘all-you-can-eat ribs’ because we are crazy and forgot for a minute that we’re not 300 pound football players with voracious appetites.  Live and learn.

I’m looking forward to experimenting with my new water-soluble wax crayons.  They’re like water colours and oil pastels (neither of which I like all that much on their own) combined.  Can two wrongs make a right?  So far the answer is yes, but I suppose I can’t pretend to be an expert yet.  Give me another twenty-four hours.  Or until all those ribs are finally digested, whichever comes first.