Seven Word Sunday

Flamboyance of flamingos is not casual conversation.   

Six Word Saturday* Revisited

Ragged restart to rebuilding regular routines. 

*I didn't create but did participate, hope to kick-start a welcome habit. :-) 

have you ever

at the zoo 

Have you ever been streaming music when something unfamiliar yet striking comes on? So struck by this tune, you jot down the title with expectations of queuing it up some time later, to give it a good listen, to perhaps add it to a playlist or two. 

Then you misplace your note and promptly forget the note, the title, the song and whatever mood it evoked for many, many days. 

Until you stumble upon the note again. 

So, you queue up the song, give it a good listen and think, "What the heck! What was I thinking?" 

It isn't, mind you that the song was suddenly horrible. It just wasn't striking. Or rather, as striking. It is an okay song. It is (or was) a popular song. It has been covered by many artists, I have discovered. 

Maybe it was just the day, or time of day, or . . . I don't know. Whatever it was to me at that first listen it is no longer. 

Perhaps it will be again.  

Sunday Kind of Love

Or not.  

Q & A

Y'all remember that post of the first 10 of 30 questions I didn't think I had posted before? Well, turns out I had. And not only that, I did a post to update the ten and now responses!

Go here and here if you choose to compare / contrast.   What a difference a few years and altering perspectives can make.

Seeing as I've done the entire questionnaire twice and the first third, thrice, I'm not feeling particularly compelled to continue down that track.  Geez. 

So, instead some updates:

1. I haven't cut my hair. Remember??    It has been a month since that post and while it isn't all that much longer it is thicker. I still can't really braid it and am not wild about the daily maintenance, I am not driven to cut it off. 

2. This is our 5th month in this new "home" and not surprisingly it doesn't feel like home at all.  Partially due to not having closed off the old place and partially due to . . . well, too new and we just haven't fully embraced the current reality.

3. My son, the actor, is in a show. It seems to be going very well.  I am looking forward to seeing him but am not wild about the "immersive" theater experience.  I may not be fit enough for all the moving around and standing. It is a 2.5 hour show. 

4. # 3 new work-out goal.

5. Speaking of working out, no...let's not.

6. I have toyed with the idea of opening myself up to meeting / dating again.

7. Then I stopped.

8. Three months in this working from home deal. Most of what I love about it is the control over my environment in-as-much-as one may control such things. Most of what I don't love is feeling out of the loop. I don't know how long one of my colleagues had become a former colleague before I noticed.

9. Then again maybe it isn't such a bad thing to be outside certain distractions.

10. In a few days I will acknowledge another birthday. I am feeling all sorts of feelings about that and then some.  I 'm not presently poised to speak more on that topic so instead I'll leave a question to ponder: Mayo or Miracle Whip?

A Whole New Month (A While Ago)!

Good Day! 

Every day I haven't posted is a day that I haven't done a bunch of things I have had intent to do. I check in for work for that is how the fruit gets on the table (oh yes, eating more fruit and loving it, it IS summer, dontchaknow!) but beyond work and walking the dog and keeping the floors clear of dust bunnies and cat vomit not a lot is getting done.    

Except, 

I joined an accountability group toward helping me to set and achieve week to week goals.  On the plus, mostly I've able to be successful. But for the items I focus on in any given week takes all the motivation and energy for anything else.   

Not good.   

However, that being said, I feel the tide turning.   

To that end, I found this note posting by a friend some years ago which I feel like I must have done at some point but I can't find that I've posted it anywhere. Well, it could have been tumblr but I don't use that anymore. Never really did yet I keep the name active. Why?

Anyhoo... 30 questions: 

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? 

Yes. I may have mentioned that both of my brothers spent time  incarcerated. When you visit an incarcerated person you are searched. At least my mother and I were. 

2. Do you close your eyes on rollers coasters? 

No due to the fact that I don't get on roller coasters.   I used to and can't remember if I ever closed my eyes. Probably. Maybe.   

3. When was the last time you've been sledding? 

I don't know.  I took my kids (37 and soon-ish to be 34) when they were small but I don't recall going down and hills with them.  I have no memory of sledding during my own childhood. 

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else or alone? 

I'll qualify the answer by saying it depends on who the someone else is and as important, who they are to me.  

5. Do you believe in ghosts? 

No. Though I will allow that things have happened that I cannot explain. 

6. Do you consider yourself creative? 

I do. I wish I could generate the level of motivation to ACT on the creative thoughts more often. 

7. Do you think O. J. killed his wife? 

Sadly, yes.  

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? 

I'm not sure where this question was going. IF trying to ascertain my emotional or physical attraction to either then the answer is neither. I do think Ms. Jolie is the more substantial based solely on their public profiles but given that they both hooked up with BP kinda makes them invisible to me.  

9.  Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics?  (The caps were part of the original list--why? Also, why is it presumed questions wouldn't be answered honestly?)    These days I know too much about politics.  My body wants to stop, but my mind won't. WE are in trouble. 

10. Do you know how to play poker? 

LOLOLOL  well, I know the rudiments of some of the games. I remember watching some Texas Hold 'em shows. But, I wouldn't play anyone for any actual money (or honor!( 

And I think I'll stop here.  I know the beginning says 30 questions and there are 30 but I won't do all thirty here and now since I've gone long on this inaugural post for July. 

I shall be back before July is over. 

Maybe. Hopefully.  Place your bets. 

Daily Practice

So, I'm trying it again.  The IT being growing my hair out.  The growing has slowed so I'll have to live with this, what we used to call, TWA (Teeny Weenie Afro) for a bit yet. My goal is to try to live with IT for the next month (at least).  I will evaluate whether or not to keep going a few days before my birthday.

One of the drawbacks to having this hair is the near daily attention. My scalp is naturally dry. Having this much hair exacerbates that condition so I must oil / moisturize it daily.  It is still short and manageable enough that I don't need to comb it through every day but I tend to run a comb through it none-the-less. My mother wouldn't have it any other way.

As it lengthens the near daily ministrations will become more insistent and most certainly, more daily.

But I didn't really want to talk about my hair.  I really wanted to talk about routines or rather, rituals.

That will have to wait though for now I'm crying over something on television. I shall have to gather myself.  See you later, alligators.






See

Hello? Hello! Hello.

Me: Pete 

I'm Pete. The cat. The lone male remaining in this household. The pressure is huge, let me tell ya.

I miss the other guy, the actor. He was tall. He smelled good. He stood by my perch talking. A lot.

A big event some days (How many? Who knows? They all kind of roll together) ago. I caught a mouse!!

I could have caught another but that dang gum dog got nosy and made me drop the little bugger. It didn't get away though, I kept watch. The next day the mommies saw him and were able to capture him. They tried to force me to help but nope, didn't want that goofy pooch to mess it up, again.

We haven't seen any more since then, but never fear, I'm keeping up patrols.

Beyond that nothing much to report except to say, I know it is annoying the moms that I don't use the bed they bought and the three-story condo they brought from the old place but I can't help it. I love all the different box bottoms. I've worked my way through four of them. I appreciate the seemingly never ending supply.

I have to sign off now as it is time for another snack and after, a bit of a bath, and then, a nap.

Take care kitties.





 

Comfort Food

Gooey.

Most food that comfort my body and soul have a couple of things in common. Primary among them, gooey-ness.

Think 3 cheese grilled cheese (with or without a side of tomato soup).
Think triple chocolate chip cookies.
Think molten chocolate cake.
Think macaroni and cheese (3 cheese, of course)
Think brownies, hot from the oven with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream oozing over the top.

The point being is that is is May. May is a challenging month for me; Mother's Day and my mom's birthday bring memories good and otherwise floating to the surface challenging me not to overindulge in the comforts of good, gooey foods.

So It Shall Be Written

I have been having issues with the photos taken with my mobile device being available to post here on this blog. I think I know what is wrong but haven't put in the effort to correct. I'm not quite sure why I'm sharing that except as a way to explain why I'm posting this old photo taken with an actual camera during a sculpture walk a few years ago.

This piece continues to speak to me on so many levels. Forgive me for not crediting the artist. I'm sure somewhere in my files and/or archives the credit exists.

But this post isn't about that. This post is about . . . well, that is just it, I'm not sure except that I've recently come to a conclusion that it is important to my health to revive this space.

From Merriam Webster:
REVIVE: to return to consciousness or life; become active or flourishing again. 


.

Apropros of Nothing

1. I've been away but I have been here

2. The first couple of weeks after the move to the new place, my daughter was obsessed with getting/having a sofa. While that obsession has quelled we don't have a sofa yet.

3. I may be the only person who detests, "no problem" (or worse, np) as a response to, "thank you."

4. Also, I do not like cabinet doors left in an open position.

5. One of the things I love about the apartment is that it is awash with light. I haven't decided on plants yet but there must be some.

6. This space celebrated another anniversary about a week or so ago. The party was small, quiet.

7. March 29, 2006, my, my, my what a world of changes we have seen since then.

8. Speaking of changes, some weeks ago I was given the green light to work from home. And last Thursday was my first day at home, at work!

9. Two major UPs time saved traveling and no 'bus people' interaction.

10. One drawback is without the 4 to an fro bus stop/destination walks per day maintaining my steps and MOTION goals have been a challenge.  Well, more of a challenge.

11. All things considered, I will take that challenger over daily interactions with bus people.

12. Though, I suspect I will miss the bus people.

13. Albeit, not for some time.

14. What's gone on in your corner of the world?

Whole New Month

Dropping in to say hello. Not much has changed, still moving. Still trying to put one foot ahead of the other. I am still trying to get myself back in sync. 

And that Cher song lyric, 'do you believe in love after love?' just popped in my head and won't leave. 

oy. 

Longest Week

The week between the day my mother entered hospice care and the day she died is easily the longest and worst week of my life. This week (oddly enough, very nearly the same set of days six years later) comes in at a very close second.

Earlier this month our condo building was deemed uninhabitable by the village due to the absence of running water. Mind you, we've been existing without hot water for months prior to this new designation; a fact the village was maybe not so blissfully unaware.

The water shut-off is due to polar vortex-induced busted pipes leading to water spilling about the village street. Something they frown upon.

The times, they have been hard.

Over the past several days I (we) have been furiously endeavoring to relocate before the village takes the next step, whatever that is upon a domicile being deemed uninhabitable. How many more days will they allow? I don't know. I can't afford to care. Particularly since the association is broke in every conceivable way. It. Is. Time. To. Go.

Thanks to the very fine and furiously expedited help of two local social service agencies and a very good friend, relocation is mere hours and some heft away for the daughter and me. The son is making his own arrangements, finding his own way. Happy Birthday to him, by the way.

The anniversary of my son's birth not-with-standing, I can say with fervent candor that February is doing its damnedest to earn the position of my least favorite month.

But then again, maybe this move, these series of events, will prove a very positive turning point in our lives.

We'll see.  March On!

Polar

 The Arctic. Icy. Frigid. Cold.

Much to my surprise, my employer sent a message on Tuesday that the office would close on Wednesday, 

"due to the extreme weather . . . " much like many entities. Then later Wednesday, another message: closed Thursday as well. Open on Friday again, "due to the extreme weather . . . "

Woot: two days off. Except . . . not a. vacation!  You may have heard, we've had ourselves some

C O L D  

We are coming out of the arctic temperatures now and while work resumes tomorrow for me and many others, there are other issues looming for me that will require more of my mind, energies, and resources.

Those things too, like the cold, will have an end-point, some kind of outcome. I can't see it now but IT whatever IT is will be made known to me.  In the meantime, I celebrate a return to a more normal winter.

Yay to 20 degrees on the positive side of zero. Happy Friday.  

Middle

middle of the month.  

middle of a road. 

middle of life. 

I have aunts on both sides of the family tree who are over 90. Both are in fact a stone's throw from the century mark. So I may very well be very well in the midst of a middle passage. The thought of being of this earth for the next 30 or more years is a tad . . . daunting.   

To say the least. 

Still, there are many things I want to do, many more I want to see, hear, feel, and taste. The world awaits. Or whatever portion of the world I shall choose to take by storm, awaits. Storm may be a bit strong. 

To say the least.  

I am a year, six and a half months away from my sixtieth birthday. And while I am at present devoid of energy, motivation, inspiration or hope beyond getting into and through the next twenty-four hours, twenty-four hours at a time, I know this too, shall pass. I know, I know. . . I have work to do to get from here

to there. 

To say the least.

sixty... 561 days and counting 

Twenty Eighteen

Ho Ho Ho!!

Oh wait, that was last week.  This week is Auld Lang Syne time; a time to ask that haunting question about old acquaintances. Time to reflect on the previous three hundred and sixty-four days that covered twenty-eighteen.

For me, twenty-eighteen was mostly consumed with my daughter's accident in January and the physical and financial difficulties that followed for both of us. Our personal financial difficulties were exacerbated by the homeowner's association ineptitude and our building's perpetual state of disrepair.

There were times that I didn't think we'd make it here but with the help of generous friends, luck, and grit here we are, looking forward to twenty-nineteen, planning for a future for even beyond the next three-hundred and sixty-five. Well, cautiously. One. Day. At. A. Time.

All the troubles aside, there were good things about twenty-eighteen that are worth remembering.

Meeting two blog friends in real life and experiencing the city of my birth through their eyes was one such thing.

Another was my son being cast for an episode of a network TV show. And seeing him on screen. He's been acting professionally since his second year of college and while I've seen him on stage many times, and even on the small screen a few times, this time seemed somehow...extra. Maybe because this job made it necessary for him to join the screen actor's guild, which means he'll be compelled to go out for more screen work. Let's face it, screen work means not only visibility but also money. It IS a business. It is a profession.

All-in-all, I guess twenty-eighteen sums up as a break-even kind of year.

May your days be merry and bright and may all your christm...oh wait, that was last week...
Cheers and Happy New Year to all!

"we'll take a cup o'kindness yet, for days of auld lang syne"

Go here for more blogs. 

A Whole New Month

Since our last meeting, I had an annual physical which included all the annual screenings women my age are advised to . . . endure.

All is well on all those fronts. The mammogram turned into an expensive bit of drama but turned out, ultimately, all good.

In the midst of these screenings, re-screenings, and additional sets of tests, the group insurance changed. The new insurance has 'wellness' incentives called Motion. Within Motion is a taking steps incentive called F.I.T.

The object of FIT is to get up and move. The incentive, earning a buck for each goal hit each day. The dollars are accumulated and may be used toward deductibles and co-insurance balances.

When you sign up for the program you are sent a tracker that tracks and uploads your steps to your profile.

As the graphic notes; The F in the FIT is for frequency. The daily goal is to take (at minimum) 6 brief walks--the walks must be at least 500 steps within 7-minutes. The walks only count if taken at least an hour apart.  This goal is harder than you might imagine.

The I in the FIT is for Intensity. The daily goal is to step off 3,000 steps within 30-minutes. Your 500 steps may be counted within your 30-minute interval if you step off at least an hour after a previous 500 step block. I now know what 3,000 steps look like. I now know what 3,000 steps within 30-minutes feels like.
This goal is even harder than you might imagine.  For me, anyway.

The T in the FIT is for Tenacity. The daily goal to meet the T is 10,000 steps. One would think this goal would be a snap after the F and the I; I mean only another 4,000 steps are needed to hit the mark.
But one would be incorrect. As it happens, since focusing on the F and the I of the FIT I hit the T fewer times than when I was just using a trusty pedometer to count steps and just focusing on 10,000 a day.

However, all that said, since going in MOTION about six weeks ago I have logged over 100,000 steps and have earned about $60.00. Okay, so if you're doing the math, $1.00 for each letter goal or $3,00 a day multiplied by 7 days a week, multiplied by 6 weeks means I'm am well below the potential earnings. But note, to earn one must 1. wear the tracker and 2. get snow boots that are better for taking hundreds of steps in succession.

There are other programs attached to FIT / MOTION getting and staying healthier; eating more vegetables, drinking more water than sugary beverages, getting more and better quality sleep, to name a few. Some of the stated goals are easier for me than others. But to reach the overall top of the mountain, so to speak, I'll have to pull all these things and then some together.

2018 hasn't been a stellar year on many fronts. I'm looking to step my way through this new month, the last of this year right on into the next whole new year.

And away we go.





 

Well. Well. Well.

My stress ball continues to make a nuisance of itself by going missing every once in a while.

That? stresses me out.

On the real.

Forty Questions in Parts - Part Three

A Bug On A Sun Roof 

The first five questions.  The second five. And now these. These kind of 'getting to know you' are full of ~favorites~. For the purpose of getting through these questions I've relaxed by aversion to naming favorites. In the case of these five questions, not that difficult. Changing the format a bit, rather than re-imagining the questions, showing the original in red and the new thought in blue.  Turns out, not that much has changed in the years since my original responses.  Easy set.   



11. What is your favorite hobby? Toss up Bicycle. Drawing. Writing. Of late, I haven't been doing much of either of these things. It has become clear that the absence of these in my life is wreaking some kind of havoc. Things must change. 


12. Do you have ADD?  No. The answer is still no, though I'm beginning to have...something. 

13. Do you wear glasses? Nearly 24-7. Trying to break the habit of sleeping with them on. (Still) And yes, still wearing glasses and yes, still falling asleep with glasses on. Certainly leaving the television on is connected. I need a radio. Or something that is not a television. 


14. What was your favorite cartoon? Flintstones  And to this day (though I haven't seen it in years) I remember with great fondness watching Fred, Wilma, Pebbles, Barney, Betty, Bam-Bam and of course Dino. One of the kids even bought me the live action film. John Goodman, Rick Moranis, Elizabeth Perkins, and Rosie O'Donnell as the Flinstones and Rubbles, classic.  Well, I liked it. 



15. Name three things you did today. Woke up. Worked. Ate. Woke up. Walked. Worked. 
Rinse and repeat.  ~And happy for it. 




Welcome to another edition from the random blogger.  

Hair You Have It

Don't know if you were aware but for thw last several years I have kept my hair verly closely cropped, nearly bald.

There were several factors that led to that choice and most of those factors are in play now. Yet, for the last several weeks I have allowed my hair to grow.

It remains to be seen how much longer I will be able to stand it, but I can say it is beginning to grow on me.

Except for the gray. I don't mind gray the color, but gray the texture is wrong. I shall need a remedy for that sooner rather than too much later.

These Days

Haven't posted from the mobile device in a while. (Ever?) Anyhoo, as the image implies I have days and to a slightly less degree, art on my mind.

Until we meet again.