Forty Questions in Parts - Part Two

First Daffodils on the Block 

About a year ago I posted the first five of the forty questions and today, the next five: 




6. What is your favorite TV show? First and foremost may I remind you all that I am not a fan of "favorite" anything. Secondly, I love TV. There have been a great many shows over my over 50-year fandom that captured my heart and remain buried in my soul. But, as for what is among my favorite currently running program (which is what I presume the question is asking) the answer is: "The Good Fight".  


7. What is your favorite movie? Again with the favorites. And here again, a great many films over the years have reached favorite
status. But, feet to the fire to choose one, I choose, "A Raisin in the Sun". 
 
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? No hard a fast rule or particular preference as to the morning beverage. It usually winds up being whatever it on hand. I may have, at any given time, a variety of teas (herbal or green -no black teas give me a headache) coffee, milk, juice, and/or (of course) water. If I happen to have tea, coffee, milk, and juice on hand, I'd likely choose the tea over coffee. (Remember my experiment? Well, turns out I can operate just fine without coffee in the morning) 


9. Can you do a push-up? In short, yes. I can do one. Probably not more than that unless it is of the modified variety. 



10. What's your favorite jewelry? Well, look...another favorite.  This, however, is an easy-peasy answer because I am not a big jewelry person and don't have very many pieces. Until recently, my favorite piece was a silver thumb ring that I sometimes wear on the middle finger of my left hand. Presently, my favorite piece is a hand-crafted bead bracelet gifted to me by a friend. It isn't fancy, which is just my style. It was created with a purpose, which is also my style. I'm pleased and honored to wear it in support. 

    

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A Week's Worth

A Pop of Color from a neighbor's yard! 

Gargoyle may not have lead to evacuation and city's notice. 

A lunchtime stroll in nearby, "funeral park" as my daughter calls them. 

The morning moon is in this shot. 

Late season (surprise) snow. 

Time change = sun on the way home. 

The first pet, Pete celebrated his 12th birthday! 

                                                             

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Photo Memory

sun not quite up, moon not quite down. (da moon)

A year ago today (the 6th) it was Monday. A year ago today (the 6th) I posted this, a photo of an ominous looking tree set in my neighborhood.  The tree featured front and center, has since been cut down. There is an ominous blank space where the tree once stood.

I am pleased to have snapped a picture of that tree on that morning and several beyond. Until it was gone.

Take a trip around blogland

And Oh, By The Way

My son spends a good amount of time in schools.  He's employed by a theater as a teaching artist, going into schools to guide high schools students in preparation for various monologue competitions and festivals. The idea that he may encounter anyone with a lethal weapon, let alone a mass shooter is horrifying.

The idea that any of the overworked, much stressed, educators that he encounters would be further burdened with the responsibility of carrying, securing, with the possibility of having to defend the class is beyond horrifying.

In the vernacular, "I can't even with these people . . . "

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Snippet

A Neighbor's Tree 

A dream:  anxiety rising to the point of overflowing, looking for the milk. It isn't in any of the usual places so I began looking in some rather unusual places. Finally relief and then, immediate confusion. Why is there a gallon of milk in a dresser drawer? 

And then I am awake. 

Are you watching the Olympics? Loving it? Not? Somewhere in between? 

More Microblog Offerings

In My Head

This song (not particularly this version) has been roaming about my head for days now. The days have not been particularly lovely but it has been pleasant to hope, feel, think they would be. 

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Challenge. Project.

Tree of Heart

Did you know that February is International Correspondence Writing Month? No, I didn't either until recently. I'd heard of it some years ago, meant to take note but never did. And now suddenly (but not really, sudden) here it is again.

I plan to take some part. I won't go out and say I'm going to write and send a letter a day for 28 days straight. But, I will take some part.

And now, from this point forward, I shall mark the calendar, mark the links, and prepare in advance for future events.

A. Letter. (handwritten) A. Day.

Woot.

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Unfrozen Drafts

Thanks to the high winds in recent days this jaunty fellow lost his topper. He has also in even more recent days, lost his footing due to even higher winds and quite possibly critters meandering about in the middle of the night. He now lies forlornly on a neighbor's lawn, unlit. Serving no visible purpose. Waiting to be relieved of duty until the next holiday season.

He's in good company. Many neighbors have yet to remove their holiday decorations. Maybe due to the kind of weather we've been having over the past couple of weeks. Maybe due to each of their personal preferences regarding such things. Maybe due to not having the time or energy. Maybe some combination of all those things.

Whatever the reason I am looking forward to the vestiges of the season to be gone.

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Got Ready

Judging by the display from my neighbors there is no shortage of holiday spirit roaming about.

The decorations are full of whimsy, brimming with joy. 

And while I love seeing them and the joy they evoke, 

I've had a difficult time summoning up my own spirit, my own joy. It isn't so much about being unhappy or feeling down. I don't quite know... muted, low, indistinct might be more apt descriptors. 

Maybe. 

Still, despite not having much 'air in my hair' I am pleased to have spent the day with my daughter (my son is house-sitting) with happy animals, food to eat, and heat protecting us from the brrr outside. 

Wishing everyone reading a happy last Monday of December! 

Peace and Joy

  

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Nearly Official

Our Tree on 12/03/17

When I saw my younger brother's image identifying him (or his phone) as the caller I had a twinge; a twinge that he was calling to pass on some news related my older brother. (My younger brother doesn't call to 'shoot the breeze' generally speaking)

It was news, though not what I was thinking. My older brother has been on my mind much especially since Harvey and Irma. Also given that I hadn't spoken with him in months and that the last word I had related to him indicated that he was basically homeless. (Even before the hurricanes) .

The news wasn't that older brother was injured, sick, or worse. No, the news was that he (older brother) was being his usual self. Remember the lawsuit? Well, an interested third party (was finally) able to catch up with the older brother because he hadn't returned his election form. He hadn't returned it, he told the third party, because younger brother and I are heartless and we
only care about the money.
What he didn't think through is that his decision impacts more than me, more than our younger brother. There is a (half) brother and more pointedly, a step-mother (the very interested third party) who are impacted as much, if not more by his sticking his feet in cement and his head in is . . . 

Well, anyway, rumor has it step-mother was able to convince older brother to send in the f-ing form.

Younger brother and I had a bit of a giggle over his assessment of our personalities and his perception of our motivations.

But we were both clearly laughing out of frustration and anger over the entire situation.

On a lighter note, that tree in the pic is now divested of leaves. Winter is coming.

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Swerve

"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences."   -Audre Lorde

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Write The Story

writing prompt 

Don't tell, but I'm supposed to be penning one thousand words inspired by the photo shown above. Well, supposed is a little to strident. The contribution and participation are fully voluntary. But I promised myself after passing on the previous prompts that I'd jump in on the very next one.

That was before I saw the image. And the stipulations.

This image. . .     and still, I thought I'd give it a go after a first line came to me almost immediately, "Kizzy couldn't get the image out of her head."

And then, nothing.  Ten plus days, deadline two days away and, nothing is brewing, has brewed.

So away goes another prompt.

Maybe next month.  

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Brrr

Pete, keeping warm

We have had some chilly weather. There was even snow one day this week. Not earth-shattering news. It is, after all, November. And this is, after all, the Midwest. It is what happens.

Still, most, seem to be of the opinion that it is too early for such folly.

But, not I. (mostly) 

It is November in the midwest. Chilly and snow, (more often than not) are on tap. 

That said, it would not hurt my feelings one bit if the 50s would return for the next two (or three--okay, that is pushing it) weeks. 

PS: cauliflower masquerading as mashed potatoes, not half bad. 

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For Lack of a Better

The net result of having eaten cabbage as an anchor for multiple meals is getting halfway to work on Monday with a searing need to . . . well, let's just say a body had to tighten up for the last 100 steps or so to the office door. And then, cool, calm, and collected (like) make one's way to the lavatory for sweet release and relief.

Hoping (against conventional wisdom, perhaps) that the worst was over, I sat back down at my desk to work. Within an hour, the need to....

Again, release and relief and a quick trip to the convenience store across the street to score some meds to combat this condition

That is how my week (last week) began. It didn't improve much beyond that auspicious beginning.

I fell on Tuesday. Nothing was broken,  but goodness did I feel like a lummox. On the plus, several did offer assistance and asked after my well being.  My emotions recovered fairly quickly but my arms and palms were sore for a few days after.

Wednesday was the best of all. Sitting down to a dinner of left-over cabbage (it had been a few days) and cornbread. I typically use smoked turkey tails to flavor my greens, beans, and such. After a forkful or two into the meal, one of the tail bones decide to try to slide down my throat.

Except, it didn't slide. It lodged.

I shall spare you the bloody and gorier details. Suffice to say I scare the (nearly) literal shit of myself, the dog, and the cat.

Today, a week after the week that was, I am alive and well, and I finally fit into some slacks I bought over two years ago. All in all, not a horrible way to set up the end of October.

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I ♥ LESBOS

daughter and friend, Pride Parade 

This week, Wednesday, my daughter celebrates another birthday. To know my daughter is to know that she is all about her birthdays. She isn't a party girl in that sense of the word but a sentimental soul who appreciates acknowledgment especially in the form of cards (flowers and other trinkets).

I may have fed into her celebratory style over the years by stretching out the celebration, making cards, offering trinkets. On the event of her 30th, for instance, 30 days of testimonials on this blog.

This year is not a milestone year, but monumental none-the-less, because it just is.

This week, Wednesday is also National Coming Out Day.  Also a very momentous day for my daughter and me. She has stood with and supported me from the very beginning.  And of course, I have stood with her and supported her through her own coming out pronouncement. 

This year is not a milestone year but monumental none-the-less because we need the support of one another  as much, if not more than ever before thanks to the current political climate and rollbacks in protections established by the previous administration

I am pleased, honored, grateful to call my daughter my friend, my sister in arms. May she have a glorious birthday week, a fantabulous actual day of celebration and may all the out voices sing out loud, sing out proud toward supporting our sisters and brothers yet to take those tremouls steps toward living their truth.

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A Brand New Month

A neighbor's ode to Fall

I lost a book. It wasn't a very big book. Nor was it a very expensive book. But, I lost it and it is bugging me senseless. I bought this book a few years ago when I first became interested in adding more variety to my vegetable knowledge, palate, and plate.

As you may have surmised the book mostly sat on a shelf and my vegetable prowess remained status quo, with the same old notes being played and sung. Every few weeks the interest would re-emerge, the book would come out, some notes would be taken and then, nothing. 

The book would go back on the shelf in one clutter clearing frenzied moment to be forgotten about until the next time. 

Saturday just passed was the next time. All shelves checked. All stacks reviewed. No book. I can not only remember the last time I had it but of course, cannot remember where I stuck it. 

The book is lost. Heck, it may even be gone; donated to the Friends of the Library for the annual used book sale. But, while the book may be lost, the desire to add more variety to my vegetable knowledge, palate, and plate lives on. 

Next up: Spaghetti Squash.

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Where Were Are We?

Recent foggy morning

Two hurricanes ago (so pleased to know folks I know -even virtually- fared okay, so sorry for many other folks did not fare as well) we were talking about my battle with bulge and such.. More talk about that, to be sure. But having had some difficulty framing fully fleshed posts, I offer these snippets:

1. My older brother who lives in Austin, TX is ignoring efforts of outreach from my younger brother and me. He does not want to be bothered. He had a birthday (Happy 59th) on the 6th of this month--which also happened to be the 5th anniversary of our father's death. 

2. I joined an FB based writing group of virtual friends and some former blogging buddies. Four prompts in and I haven't written a word. I'm not sure I'm up for these challenges. I may not stay. It may be too much to ask at this time. 

3.Getting over a cold which hit hard and fast. Never a pleasant way to usher in a new season. 

4. FALL? FALL! IT is nearly (officially) Autumn!! What da duck? 

5. My work has been crazy challenging, frustrating, and . . . exhausting. But, on some level, fun. 

6. Insurance companies are, by and large, horrible. Okay, some insurance companies. 

7. This recent battle with bulge and more has revealed that while I love collecting recipes, looking for and finding, interesting dishes to prepare that will fit within my goals, I feel overwhelmed at the idea of actually preparing any of these dishes. 

8. I don't really (have never, really) like cooking. Though, the process intrigues me.  

9. Yet, I've been told I'm a pretty good cook. Go figure. 

10. Still, I did manage to take some known ingredients in different, healthy, delicious directions.     

11. I'm not having a fireworks celebration or anything, but I did manage to get the scale needle to move in the other (correct) direction over the past couple of weeks. 

12. The real measure of success though, for me, shall be the too tight slacks being noticeably less tight. 

13. My brothers, dad, and aunt (A turning 80 this month) had me thinking, of course, out loud and in living color, about my mother. The  FB "On This Day" feature reminded me of something I posted in 2012 about a conversation she and I had. I may have written about it here, I didn't check because frankly, I was stunned by the memory. 

14. Everything from 2012, leading to February 2013 kicked up for me in recent weeks. 

15. All that said, and sickness aside, this old body managed to average 9,886 over the last seven days--topping off at 12,008 one of those days. 

Have yourself a pleasant Monday / week.
                                                           

                                                                       

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Put Me In Coach

Sometime over the last few days, I ran across a piece of paper dated January 10, 2012. This paper is peppered with notes from a webinar I must have watched.   

Among the notes scribbled written very neatly on this piece of paper was: Set SMART Goals "SMART" being an acronym for: 

 Specific Meaningful Achievable Rewarding Time based 

And Drop 'All or Nothing' Thinking  AND Make IT Fun 

Game On. 

                                                                 

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Taken

Grassy Bowls

You know the difference between 11,572 steps and 9,654 steps?  Four aspirin.  Or rather, that is how much more my body (especially my knees and ankles) hurt the day after the 11,572 steps. Keep in mind that next day was a workday; granted, it was Friday but still, a body had to function.

So, four aspirin. (not all at once). And more steps. Friday's count: 8,760.

Yes, there must be more (steps) and more than the lifestyle adjustment. The first full week of beginning on this journey again has been a little painful, and a little fun. And to be frank, a little eye-opening.

Week One. Taken.
                                                                     

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Mom, Memory, and Me

Not my Kitchen 

My birthday a few weeks ago kicked up all sorts of memories of my mom (a big fan of birthdays and birthday cakes) as you might imagine. And just a few days later the FB "On This Day" feature kicked up this status: 

My mom asked, "so, what does avocado taste like? Describe the taste to me." I was struck to come up with anything that she might have eaten that would resemble even remotely avocado. She's never even had guacamole. One of her docs suggested incorporating them into her diet. She is, well,  resistant

That, from August 9, 2012. Some days later, after much describing and cajoling, I shared mango (another doctor suggestion) and avocado with my mom. As an aside: my mom was not what one would call a culinary adventure seeker. If one could call mango, avocado, (and fresh pineapple--another step we'd taken recently) culinary adventures. Mango received raved reviews. Avocado did not, though she did try, in the short time (mom died 2/18/2013) to add avocado to her diet.   

I mention all of this because, well, it has been on my mind. But, especially because I am in the midst of my own dietary adjustments. For me, it isn't so much about adding things like mango or avocado but about subtracting things like fried and less than healthy snack foods. 

Well, adding water. I could drink more water. 

My doctor and other clinic personnel were the only people other than myself know the following: 

HT: 5.6 1/2  WT. 263.2 LBS Pre-hypertensive Pre-diabetic      I lay bare these truths as I have been tiptoeing around this issue for the last few years.   

No more.  

                                                           

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Maybe Someday

                                                    . . . . . . . we can add, peacefully.

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