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Share Your World January 13, 2020

What’s something your brain tries to make you do, which you have to will yourself NOT to do?  (could be a bad habit, a physical response to something…your interpretation is as good as mine! )

My brain tries to make me fall asleep while I’m reading. That’s because I’m in bed and relaxed and comfy and warm, it’s probably late and I’m no doubt tired. You can see why my brain gets confused. It gently nudges me to slow my breathing as it closes my eyes, while it continues on with the narrative which I am no longer reading because I can’t see it. In other words, it starts making shit up. I think it is hoping I won’t notice and will just drift off into oblivion. It’s not skilled at believability unfortunately, and if things get too wonky and weird I wake up with a start, because whatever strange turn the story has taken, even my brain has to admit that can’t be right. So I have to will myself to focus and backtrack a few lines so I can find out what really happened.

Having a confrontation with my own brain is something I’ve honestly never thought about before. I wonder if I ask it nicely if it would stop telling my hands to release their grip on my kindle at the same time as all this other stuff is happening. Because getting clunked in the face while falling asleep is counterproductive.

When someone finds out what you do, or where you are from, what question do they always ask you?

They normally just stifle a yawn and change the subject. I’m from eastern Canada, now living in western Canada, and I’m retired. See? You’re already looking ahead to the next question.

What’s something terrifying that we’ve all come to accept as a fact of life?

Corruption fueled by greed. The good guys play by the rules and the bad guys don’t.

Should governments make laws to protect people from harming themselves?  Could that even work?  (yes this one is deep, maybe too deep).

Isn’t that what they do already? There are all kinds of laws supposed to keep us from harming each other. How’s that working out for all of us? Gah, don’t get me started on politics and the state of the world. Ignorance (of the willful kind) and stupidity are rampant. Make a law against that.

Gratitude is an Attitude…
Please share your gratitude for this past week in the form of a photo, a quote or a thought.   🙂

“Paradoxical as it may seem, the purposeful life has no content, no point. It hurries on and on, and misses everything. It is only when there is no goal and no rush that the human senses are fully open to receive the world.”

— Alan Watts

This struck such a raw nerve with me, the purposeful life hurrying on and on, missing everything. I remember one long ago morning rushing around getting ready for work thinking it was all so pointless. Showering, getting dressed, fixing my hair, putting on makeup, grabbing something to eat, backing out of the driveway, being mad at moron drivers, dealing with idiots all day and coming home exhausted. Tomorrow I’d have to get out of bed and do everything all over again, and then the day after that and the day after that and on and on until death set me free. It was pretty depressing and I’ve never forgotten the feeling. But I’ve also never experienced it again to that depth of despair. I’m grateful for that.

Tiny poll:   I’m curious what type of questions YOU, the reader, would like to see more of?   Less of?   Has SYW gotten too philosophical and less fun in nature?

Life is as depressing or as fun as you choose to make it, regardless of what bits of your world you’re prompted to share. I think the questions are a nice mix of silly and serious.

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Share Your World January 6, 2020

 

Is ‘hello” enough for you these days?  (credit to Rory –https://aguycalledbloke.blog/2019/12/29/is-hello-enough-for-you-these-days/ )

If it includes eye contact and a genuine smile, it’s good enough for me. However, if it also includes asking me if I’m over 55, and acting surprised when I claim to be 15 years beyond that, even better. And then telling me I qualify for a seniors discount, simply for being old – wow! This happened to me. I wasn’t even wearing makeup and my hair was still damp and a tad wild from my shower. Normally I dont leave the house looking like that, but maybe I should try it more often.

Do you believe in Murphy?   For those who aren’t familiar with Murphy, here’s a wee explanation:  Murphy’s law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”.

Yes, I am a faithful follower of all things Murphy. That way, when things go right, it’s a mini celebration.

Does evil come from within?  If so, why?

Within, without, above, below and maybe even sideways, you just never know. I used to believe we weren’t born with it, but the nicest people can end up with the wildest houligans. One thing I know for sure, hate being the greatest evil, it can spread like wildfire.

Are intelligent people more or less happy than others?   What defines intelligence?

Not sure intelligence has much to do with happiness. I’ve met some pretty stupid people who aren’t at all sad about it.  Intelligence is the ability to learn, understand, and reason.  And then not act like a moron.  Unless that’s what makes you happy.  I try not to judge.

Gratitude Section

Please feel free to share a quote, photo or thought about gratitude.

Hmmm, what am I grateful for today.  Not the big snow dump we got overnight, or the drop in temperature, but because of both those things I’m grateful for a spouse who delights in snow blowing.  The house is warm, the sun is shining, the days are getting longer, the grocery shopping was done just before the weather got crappy, and I have chocolate ovaltine in the cupboard.  Sorry to the people who gagged about that last one.

I also talked to my sister this morning and have started another crochet project, this time for my daughter-in-law.  Those things aren’t exactly related, it’s just how my intelligent mind works, stating random things out of the blue and being annoyingly happy about weird stuff.

Life is good.  January is long.  Time to stop talking. Until next time.

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Share Your World 12/28/19

What was the single best thing that happened in your life this past year?

I woke up three hundred and sixty five mornings in a row.

 The most challenging?

Getting out of bed three hundred and sixty five mornings in a row.

One thing you learned in 2019?

It is not a good idea to travel by car on the trans Canada highway in late October in a raging blizzard and freezing rain.  Well I knew that already, but a scary hour or so of getting caught in bad weather reinforced this for us.  We were heading west and the storm was heading east, so it all worked out in the end, after I helped W pry his clenched fists off the steering wheel.

Given all your experiences, insights, and lessons learned in 2019, what’s the best advice you could give yourself for 2020?

Stop spending so much time on Twitter, for the love of God.  It is making you crazy.

What’s the best meal/food you ate in 2019?

Anything I did not cook myself.  Except maybe for that one beef roast.  Neither of us could recall the last time I cooked one of those, so it was a rare and delicious treat.  Sorry, vegetarians.  Truly we don’t make a habit of it.

That Tim Horton’s iced cappuccino I treated myself to on the way home from Ontario was memorable.  I’m not supposed to consume that much sugar, probably in an entire day, never mind 10 minutes, or however long it took me to drain the cup.  It was worth every blissful slurp from the straw.  I wanted to lick the ice cubes.

What are three activities you plan to use in the coming year to relieve stress?

Blogging, crocheting, reading, Netflixing.  You may notice that each of these ‘activities’ involves sitting down.

Gratitude Question:

What brought you the most joy and are you going to do more of that?

Well joy is a little overrated.  I can settle quite happily for contentment.  We are SO lucky to have our kids and their families close by.  I treasure the time we spend together.

Lastly – Any resolutions you’d care to share?

Nope. I gave up on those.  There is no point in setting lofty goals for yourself and failing miserably. If there are positive changes, great! If not, oh well.

Here’s to 2020 and positive change everywhere in everyone’s world.

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Share Your World II 11-26-18

If your five year old self woke up in your current body, what would happen, what would you say?

I would probably look at my hands and think, wow, I have Grandma skin! Five year olds don’t normally look in a mirror unless they are carefully applying bright red lipstick in a circle from forehead to cheeks to chin just before leaving for church. Then I would be super excited that I could reach things without standing on tip toes. And finally I would find my mom and say “Hey! Look at me! NOW am I big enough to go to school?”

What is a relationship deal breaker for you? Whether you are talking about a romantic one, a friendship or a related to sort of relationship?

This might seem like an odd answer coming from someone who thinks she can tell very credible lies, but I don’t want to be lied to. Or taken advantage of. Or told to quit ending sentences with prepositions. I lie only if it keeps me out of trouble and doesn’t hurt or incriminate anyone else. So that’s a discriminating kind of fib teller I guess. As if there are degrees of wrongness about not telling the truth. Maybe I’m lied to all the time and have no clue, but if I see through a lie I’m doubly offended that someone thinks I’m dumb enough to believe them.

Is there something out there, a thought, an idea, a current event, or a fear that you find deeply unsettling?

Global warming and what sort of horrible world we’re leaving for our grandchildren. Consumerism could kill us all. We can blame the big environment destroyers all we like, but we are the idiots demanding the crap they produce.

And one that is a bit whimsical:

If you were arrested with no explanation, what would your friends and family assume you had done?

Having spent a large portion of my life trying to convince myself that what other people think is not my problem, not important, and none of my business, I am at a complete loss to answer this. So I asked W the question. Surprisingly he was pretty prompt coming up with an answer. He would assume some secret from my past had finally come to light. He used the word “clandestine”. He told me when I say I’m going to Michael’s for yarn, I could be doing something else entirely. How clever he must think I am to come back home in an hour or less with a Michael’s bag full of yarn to cover my tracks. Woman of mystery. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve known someone or even lived with them, they can still surprise you. In our case, I guess that works both ways.

Finally

What were you grateful for this week? Something that brought some joy into your world?

My new keyboard for my IPad! Although my fat forgetful fingers are getting better, there has been a lot of fumbling and stumbling and wearing out of the delete button while I get back to what I think of as normal typing with all ten fingers. Its already getting better. Maybe blogging will start to feel like less of a pain again. You lucky blog readers.

The other thing giving me joy is crocheting. Like everything else, I go on binges. First it was slippers, then rugs that look like braided, and now suddenly it’s hats because I found a pattern. And bought a Pom-pom maker on one of my fake trips to the store. Life is good. And for all you know, I’m not talking about my secret one when I say that.

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Share Your World – June 4, 2018

Is there a piece of clothing from your childhood you still remember?

I miss the carefree days of wearing nothing but red, before the notion settled in my brain that red made me look like the broad side of a barn.  Thanks to my dad for that  awesome expression, and thanks to my mom for choosing my all red wardrobe from ages one through six.  I never paid much attention to the clothes I put on, until I got this red corduroy skirt with three appliquéd white teddy bears and straps that crossed in the back and buttoned in the front and slipped off my shoulders a lot.  I imagine I begged to wear it every day, but had to keep it for “good”.  I’m so glad there’s a photo of it.  I loved that thing.

Those socks with strappy sandals are a much foggier memory, quite possibly my own fashion choice at the time.  And I think the white blouse had red buttons.  Best outfit ever.  It’s been all down hill since then.

Regardless of your physical fitness, coordination or agility, if you could be an athlete what would you do? Remember this is SYW, dreaming is always allowed.

I have given this question a lot of careful consideration while sitting here on the couch being totally not athletic.  My sport of choice would not include excessive speed or risk or danger or physical exertion.  So that limits the field somewhat. Beach volleyball, pole dancing, weight lifting and archery all crossed my mind.  But my final answer is darts.  It’s a sport which requires a keen eye, good concentration and accuracy, and possibly a great love and appreciation of drinking beer in pubs.

In a car would you rather drive or be a passenger?

Well that depends on who’s driving.  Mostly I’m content to sit in the passenger seat and be an annoying navigator, nodding off when things get boring.  But if I don’t trust the abilities of the person behind the wheel it won’t be a pleasant trip for either of us.  I think I’m a pretty good driver and I do like to be in control of the speed and the route and the pit stops.  But I’m also getting old and slow and more absent-minded, so hopefully I will be smart enough to give it up when it’s time.  However if you told me that time has come and it’s today I probably wouldn’t take you seriously.  It’s an old person thing.  We are all stubborn as hell.  Just hide my keys.

What did you appreciate or what made you smile this past week? Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination.

This made me smile because I do almost all of these things!  It’s like a check list for a simple life.  I can’t sleep when it gets light out, so my summer mornings are ridiculously early.  I always make my bed as soon as I get out of it.  I excel at sitting.  I enjoy folding clean, fresh smelling clothes and towels and sheets.  It’s wonderful to wake up to a clean kitchen and empty sinks, so washing everything up before bed is a bit of an obsession with me.  Eat when hungry, sleep when tired – no problem – perks of being retired.

This morning I cut the grass, trimmed a tree and two bushes, watered the flowerbeds, put out the green compost  garbage bin and the recycling and cursed at the bugs.  Like housework, doing these things is a weird kind of pointless because it all has to be done again.  And again, and again.  But it’s also pointless to dwell on that.  So I won’t.

And that’s my very ordinary little old world for another week!  It’s a blessing to be this bored and content you know.  There’s something to appreciate.

 

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Sunshine on giraffe in my junky world.

SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2016 WEEK 6 

There are a lot of questions this week, so I’m going to attempt one word answers.  This will be a first.

What is your favorite word? Coffee.
What is your least favorite word? Hate.
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Art.
What turns you off? Stupidity.
What is your favorite curse word? Frack.
What sound or noise do you love? Rain.
What sound or noise do you hate? Rage.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Psychic.
What profession would you not like to do? Executioner.
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Greetings Earthling.

Welcome, and well done, you.  Pick up your halo over there to your left.  The souls you’ve been missing are waiting for you over here on our right.  Debriefing in ten.  Next assignment to be revealed when ever you’re ready.  Should you choose to accept the new challenge, buses back to earth depart from the other side of the gates every thirty seconds.

You knew I couldn’t keep up the one word answer thing, didn’t you?

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

I am grateful for coffee, art and rain.  We are having the most delightful winter weather!  I never thought I would put winter and delightful in the same sentence, but there they are, twice.  I have doctor appointments coming up (what else is new….they seem to never end) and possibly a Family Day Weekend visit to the great white north. Although even up there it is no doubt less white than they’re used to for February.

I am grateful this is a short month and spring is close.  We have decided we will not have lawn care this summer because it is ridiculously expensive and the exercise will be good for me.  (W goes east for most of the summer). He is going to visit his parents in March and bring back one of the lawnmowers from the cottage.  There’s at least three of them there, maybe four.  I don’t even care what the reasoning behind that might be.

Well, that’s gone a bit beyond next week.  What will be will be.  I predict I will now have another cup of coffee.  This psychic stuff is easy.

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First month of my “World According to Curly Girl” calendar.

This is the last world sharing prompt from 2015, number 52.  Answering it now feels late, but isn’t really because the next one is due out Monday, and today is Saturday, right?  Even though the first of January felt like a Sunday all day to me.  Two days in to the new year and already I don’t know what day of the week it is for sure.  It’s going to be a great year.

Tell how you are feeling today in the form of a weather report. (For example, partly cloudy, sunny with a chance of showers, etc.)

Mostly sunny with a few foggy patches.  Much like yesterday, also predicted for tomorrow.  If there are clouds they will quickly disperse revealing silver linings.  Long range forecast…. rain will fall and then it will stop.  The snow will eventually melt.  The sun will rise and set and rise again.  This is the most boring weather forecast I have ever heard, but sometimes boring is the best thing you could wish for.

What is most memorable about your high school years?

Five years of my life, (this is way back when there was still a grade thirteen) and the first thing that pops in to my head is the hours and hours and hours spent riding in a school bus, to and from, day after day.  Sometimes running late and missing it, sometimes the weather and the road conditions making the bus late.  My brother missing the bus on purpose so he could take the car.  He had to space those out so it wasn’t so obvious.

I was a shy and introverted loner who got crazy high marks in everything.  My classmates were nice to me and most of my teachers liked me.  I had a few good friends.  Not really a recipe for popularity in there anywhere, and yet in my final year I was voted prom queen.  That was pretty memorable.  My sisters friends all voted for me, the rest of the votes were split amongst the popular girls and my favourite teacher counted the ballots.  This is how elections are won.

My first year of high school I had secret crushes on boys who would have been very surprised to learn about it,  since I so studiously ignored them, in case they might notice I existed and try to talk to me or something.  There was a chance they would say something stupid instead of a great line from a romance novel and I didn’t want any illusions shattered.  Gawd, high school.  Weirdest time of your life.

Have you ever owned a rock, pet rock, or gem that is not jewelry?

No ordinary rocks, definitely no pet rocks, and hardly any jewelry at all except for watches and earrings and a wedding band.  I have never owned a diamond, but that’s another story.

When I was having the mysterious lymphatic lumps on my neck investigated a couple of years ago and saw Yulanda, my favourite psychic, she gave me nothing but reassuring news (which turned out to be bang on, thus the reason she is my favourite).  She also gave me a flat smooth dark yellow stone, almost an amber brown, and for the life of me I can’t remember what it was called except that maybe it started with an A.  It wasn’t just a healing stone, but had balancing properties and other calming helpful things.  It’s the kind of thing I think is a little silly, because, come on, it’s just a rock, but I kept it close to me anyway until things felt resolved.  It was a little worry stone that soaked up my worries.  You do strange things to soothe your soul.  I still have it.  Even put it on a chain so I wouldn’t lose it.  Maybe I won’t need it again, but you never know.

Complete this sentence: I like watching…

Netflix.  Because I want to get every penny’s worth out of my eight dollars a month.  Occasionally I watch movies, but mostly it’s some tv series that goes on for many seasons so I can binge watch until I’m sick of it. There is no end in sight for the mystery shows;  lawyers, police, forensics,  investigators, detectives, criminals, victims, supernatural phenomena – I watch it all.  The latest thing I’m into is Midsommer Murders, but I have to say I’m getting a little tired of women screaming every time they stumble upon a murder victim. Really, there’s a dead body and somebody screams.  Several bodies, lots and lots of screaming.  Other than that, it’s a good show.

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

I am grateful for a lazy laid back Christmas and New Years.  I was in bed well before the fireworks on New Years Eve.  The Christmas stuff is packed and put away and W is back to driving and doing the grocery shopping.   The furniture is all back to where it’s supposed to be because we no longer need a wide path for the walker.  I am brimming over with gratefulness for that alone.  There was a much welcomed and appreciated phone call from the latest clinic I visited telling me my fibroid test results were normal.  Normal is such a beautiful word, we really should appreciate it more.

In the week coming up I would like to go through my many unfinished drafts and either finish them or delete them.  I expect most of them will end up in the trash because I won’t remember what I was talking about.  And I am looking forward to the increase in daylight motivating me to make use of it in my little art studio, where the artistic “drafts” are piling up much like the written ones.

There are only twenty-nine days left in January!  Yay!  Let’s all be grateful for that one!

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This is how cool the sunlight looked on my kitchen wall, shining through the slats of the blinds and a colourful sun catcher. A perfectly beautiful little moment in time.

My November Day 30 although I wrote for only about half of them!  Back to back world sharing seems like a good way to end this semi productive month.

SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2015 WEEK #48

Are you a hugger or a non-hugger?

I am a very stand-off-ish kind of person, I’m sorry to say.  I like my personal space unless I’m with people I know well and love dearly.  Then hugs are great but I am rarely the one initiating them.  I don’t remember giving or receiving a lot of hugs with my parents or siblings, so I guess it all goes back to how you were raised.  I knew I was loved without all that physical in your face nonsense.  If that makes me a bit weird, oh well.  I guess I will just stand over here not touching you and live with it.

What is your favorite toppings on pizza?

Pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, black olives, green pepper, red onions, fresh tomatoes, extra cheese.  I also love Greek pizza with feta cheese.  Come to think of it, I will eat just about anything if there’s enough cheese on it.  I might even give you an unsolicited hug if you were to bring me pizza with lots of cheese.

If you were the original designer of one existing corporate logo, which one would you select?

I kind of like this one.

 

Complete this sentence: Where I can seek my solace is…

…… in a fully loaded extra cheese pizza and a beer.  Or, better answer, with family.  Now there’s something I did learn growing up.  Family will always be there for you, no matter what.  Even if they’re stingy with the hugs.  And the more extended your family is, with aunts and uncles and cousins and in-laws and out-laws and excellent friends, the more love and solace there will be in this world.

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

I am grateful for finding the will power to finally give up a stupid game that had been taking up ridiculous chunks of my time.  Now I can devote that time to two other games which are not quite so stupid.  Being a game addict is a terrible thing.  But a fun terrible thing.  I guess there are worse things I could be addicted to, like Molson Canadian or hugs.

I am looking forward to December!  How about you?

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My November Day Twenty Nine

SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2015 WEEK #47

In your native language which letter or character describes you best? Why?

I closed my eyes and mentally recited the alphabet, calling on my spirit guides and muses for divine inspiration.  Or, you know, some such similar nonsense, because really, how else do you come up with an answer to this one?  My brain stopped on the letter “O”.  Some days my brain is very helpful, up to a point.

Just look at how versatile this letter is – it can be paired with any number of other words and things to convey the following:

1. Dismay (with crap, damn and hell, accompanied by mournful sighs or deep groans)
2. Surprise (with my gawd, really, and some high-pitched squealing)
3. Confusion or disbelief (said with a question mark implied)
4. Joy (with YES! ALRIGHT! HALLELUJAH! etc.)
5. Understanding (as in O yeah, I get it! even when you don’t.)

Why does this describe me?  O….I don’t know.  Oh oh.  Oh phooey.  I am skipping that part.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Well it sure isn’t clothes.  Since I stopped working I have been wearing mostly yoga pants and flip flops and comfy tops with holes in them.  And everything has paint or glue or ink on it somewhere.

So my answer is art supplies, which will not be surprising to anyone who sees what I’m wearing.

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

My mind wants to do mental gymnastics at night when my body would prefer to sleep, so I have learned lots of ways to discourage it from thinking so much.  It is certainly good at dreaming up excuses during the day for my body to relax.  I like to think there is a good balance of both kinds of exercise in my life.  Liking to think such a thing does not, however, make it true.

List at least 5 things that make you laugh.

1. Savage Chickens
2. Little kids saying random swear words with no clue what they mean.
3. John Cleese
4. Baby goats
5. Bridesmaids (the movie)

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

I am grateful for our amazing weather this sunny warm November.  It’s almost unheard of to shovel snow here only once in this usually godforsaken winter month.  Our son bought a new snowblower this year, so that’s probably why.

This week coming up I should be hearing from medical offices wanting to set up appointments for me.  What a dumb thing to look forward to. But I certainly am grateful for our incredible health care coverage, without which I would probably be sick and penniless and maybe even dead.

And on that pleasant note, Happy Grey Cup Sunday!  Go Eskimos!  Oh no, I won’t be watching the game, just enjoying the peace and quiet while W is downstairs glued to the big screen.  Oh yeah.

 

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This used to be my world. A basement apartment in the early seventies complete with wood panelling and posters. And bare feet. And long hair. And strange things dangling from the green tulip pole lamp.

 

Share Your World 2015 Weeks 17, 18 and 19

Lately, for whatever reasons, I have seriously neglected to share my world.  So today I will share the heck out of it by answering a whopping lucky thirteen questions.  I will try to be brief, but when has that ever happened.

What type of pets do you have or want? Or do you not want pets?

We always had dogs and cats when I was growing up on the farm but I preferred the company of cats. They slobbered less.  The dogs loved my sister, not me.  My husband had a black lab, and then we had two cats for close to 20 years.  After that I killed a Japanese Fighting fish.  It was no match for me.  I like other people’s dogs and cats, but I’m not a great animal care giver, so I don’t think we will have any more pets in our lives.  It’s a big enough challenge looking after each other.

What was or is your favorite cartoon?

I really kind of hate the cartoons we used to watch on tv.  Although maybe hate is too strong a word.  But they always did stress me right out.  Walking off cliffs, getting blown up, having things happen to you that should result in fatal head injuries.  People and animals being insanely rude to each other.  How is any of that funny?

When you’re alone at home, do you wear shoes, socks, slippers, or go barefoot?

Bare feet are the happiest feet.  Except when you get dry, rough, cracked heels.  Or drop heavy pieces of furniture on them.  I still think the risks are worth it.

Are you a traveler or a homebody?

I am the biggest homebody that ever lived.  And yet I have gone places.  The things we do to ourselves.

What is your most favorite smell/scent?

Coffee brewing while bacon sizzles in the pan.  Tomato plants.  Clean laundry fresh off the clothes line.  The sweet smell of new-mown grass.  Whatever that smell is after it rains.  That one is hard to beat.

Do you prefer long hair or short hair for yourself?

My mom gave me dutch boy haircuts until I begged her to let me grow my hair long enough for a pony tail.  Then I chopped it all off super short, but grew it back long and straight in time for fitting in to the long-haired hippy sixties.  W said when he met me my hair was down around the hem of my mini skirt.  That’s an exaggeration.  Although those skirts were pretty damned short.   I loved my long hair, but there comes a point in your life when all it does is drag your face down with it.  So now it’s short again, and likely to remain that way as long as there are scissors in my bathroom.

Do you plan out things usually or do you do them more spontaneous (for example if you are visiting a big city you don’t know?)

I go along with whatever someone else has planned.  That way I can blame other people when I don’t have any fun.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Seriously?  Sitting in a lawn chair with my sunglasses on and my eyes closed.

Would you prefer a one floor house or multiple levels?

Multiple levels are ideal when you’re young enough to run up and down all the stair cases without collapsing in a wheezing heap of broken bones.  When we moved in to this house, W took the hand railing off the basement stairs to make it easier to move furniture down there.  He never got around to putting it back, although I have nagged him about it on and off for years.  Late this fall he is going to have hip replacement surgery, and his beloved tv is down those basement stairs.  Stay tuned for further developments.

If you have a TV, would you prefer the TV in the living room or another room?

Well, speak of the devil.  I like it downstairs where I can’t see or hear it.  Especially when W has the remote control.  But I spend a ridiculous amount of time watching Netflix and other stuff on my I-Pad.  The difference is not having to wear my glasses to read the subtitles, and not having to listen to commercials.  Plus watching any stupid thing I please.

When you leave a room, do you turn the lights off behind you or keep the lights on throughout your house most of the time? Explain your answer.

This is turning into a ‘complain about W’ post and he’s not even here to defend himself.  I turn lights on and he turns them off, so I have to turn them on again.  I especially like to leave the lights on at the back door where the railing-less steps go down to the basement.  If I’m going to fall down there and kill myself I’d like someone to be able to see the results.  But he’s away now, so lights are on in all the normally low-light places.  They will remain on until he comes home.  Or the bulbs burn out, whichever comes first.

What’s your favorite room in your home?

I like all the rooms in my house, but spend most of my time in or around the part of the living/dining room that’s been morphed into a little art studio.  I used to spend a lot of time in the bedroom at my computer, but found myself struggling to do things in the living room on my I-Pad instead, even though it took twice as long.  Then I turned my computer desk away from the wall so that it faces the window.  Now I like it here again.  But not as much as where the art is.

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

I’m grateful that W finally got everything packed up and ready to go and should be reaching his destination in North Western Ontario sometime today.  I am grateful that I can leave all the lights on now, day and night, and cook things for myself that would cause him great anxiety if he thought I wanted him to eat them.  I’m only looking forward to doing my own shopping because I can now buy turnips without being harassed.

Well!  That’s over a thousand sharing words.  What’s new in your world?  Are you wearing shoes?  Be careful on those stairs.