The Friday Five: Midpoint
Jun. 28th, 2024 09:47 pmTaken from The Friday Five
1. Have you gotten everything done that you had hoped to do during the first half of 2024?
Unfortunately no. I have completed 3 of my 10 resolutions, I'm halfway through 1, and I have 6 that I haven't even started. That said, I feel confident that I can catch up a little this summer as I feel more energetic in sunny, warmer months.
2. Did anything exciting or unexpected happen to you during the first half of 2024?
Yes, the best of which was that someone I care about went into remission which was such good, uplifting news to hear. I know nothing is guaranteed but she's been doing so well. Other fun things were that I got to see the solar eclipse with my partner, and I was able to see a local production of Heathers, one of my favourite musicals. It was my first time seeing a live musical as well.
3. What big plans do you have for the second half of 2024?
I don't know if I'd call them big plans, they're really big tasks. These are: Fixing my driveway, getting the driveway resealed, cleaning up some overgrown areas around my home, and getting our attic insulation topped up. Sadly, nothing fun but I consider them big because they'll take a lot of effort and will be pricey.
4. Have you taken, or are you planning, a vacation this year?
I've taken vacation time but sadly haven't gone anywhere. I want to travel but I'm intimidated by planning a trip...which I feel a wimp about. I know so many people who travel and I know it's not as big of a deal as I'm making it to be in my head but whenever I sit down to research trips I start feeling anxious & overwhelmed by choice. It almost feels like I need to take time off just to plan.
5. Have you ever wanted to be one of the people writing and posting these questions?
I've submitted questions in the past, no idea if they've ever been picked or were too similar to past questions. I certainly like coming up with questions but never really thought about wanting to be the one posting them on a community like The Friday Five.
1. Have you gotten everything done that you had hoped to do during the first half of 2024?
Unfortunately no. I have completed 3 of my 10 resolutions, I'm halfway through 1, and I have 6 that I haven't even started. That said, I feel confident that I can catch up a little this summer as I feel more energetic in sunny, warmer months.
2. Did anything exciting or unexpected happen to you during the first half of 2024?
Yes, the best of which was that someone I care about went into remission which was such good, uplifting news to hear. I know nothing is guaranteed but she's been doing so well. Other fun things were that I got to see the solar eclipse with my partner, and I was able to see a local production of Heathers, one of my favourite musicals. It was my first time seeing a live musical as well.
3. What big plans do you have for the second half of 2024?
I don't know if I'd call them big plans, they're really big tasks. These are: Fixing my driveway, getting the driveway resealed, cleaning up some overgrown areas around my home, and getting our attic insulation topped up. Sadly, nothing fun but I consider them big because they'll take a lot of effort and will be pricey.
4. Have you taken, or are you planning, a vacation this year?
I've taken vacation time but sadly haven't gone anywhere. I want to travel but I'm intimidated by planning a trip...which I feel a wimp about. I know so many people who travel and I know it's not as big of a deal as I'm making it to be in my head but whenever I sit down to research trips I start feeling anxious & overwhelmed by choice. It almost feels like I need to take time off just to plan.
5. Have you ever wanted to be one of the people writing and posting these questions?
I've submitted questions in the past, no idea if they've ever been picked or were too similar to past questions. I certainly like coming up with questions but never really thought about wanting to be the one posting them on a community like The Friday Five.
Friday five: Old & New
Jun. 14th, 2024 12:11 pmTaken from https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/126858.html
1. What is the oldest object you own?
I'm not certain but if I had to guess the compass from my Dad's fishing boat. It looks old, weathered and I believe it was from my grandfather's fishing boat. Alternatively, the oldest object could also be the old metal mold for weights for fishing nets. They're cool artifacts of history but I have to admit I'm not sure what to do with them. They're not antique enough or good enough condition for a museum but they're not things I'm going to use. At some point I might try to clean up the compass and display it somewhere in the house.
2. What object have you owned the longest?
Probably my pink t-shirt from Sparks that reads 'I promise to share & be a friend'. For those who weren't part of the Canadian Girl Guides, Sparks is the girl guide group for 5-6 years that launched in 1988 when I was 5. I stayed in the girl guides from age 5 till I was 13, Sparks to Pathfinders. I still have my sashes with badges too but the t-shirt wins because I've had it for thirty six years now.
Sidebar - Out of curiosity I looked up current girl guide uniforms and I'm so glad they switched to simple t-shirts and I'm glad it's Embers and not Brownies now. I hated that brown dress we used to have to wear. Anytime we had to wear it for school events the shit jokes were inevitable.
3. What is the newest object you own?
The crochet book I ordered that just arrived yesterday: Retro Crochet Style: 15 Beginner-Friendly Patterns to Create Your Vintage-Inspired Closet. I've been getting into granny squares and wanted to make a sweater at some point, this book had a few interesting patterns for constructing clothes out of granny squares.
4. Who is your oldest living relative?
I'm not sure because I'm estranged from all of Dad's crowd and don't really keep touch with Mom's family much anymore either. I think I might be one of my aunt's or my sole living uncle on Dad's side because they should be in their mid to late 70s. Though I wouldn't be surprised to hear there's a great aunt or uncle on Mom's side who's still alive but generally speaking neither side of the family seems to live past 85.
5. Who is your youngest living relative?
No clue, again the joys of estranged family lol. I know a couple of my cousins from Dad's side are grandparents now so I imagine those kids would the youngest relatives I have.
1. What is the oldest object you own?
I'm not certain but if I had to guess the compass from my Dad's fishing boat. It looks old, weathered and I believe it was from my grandfather's fishing boat. Alternatively, the oldest object could also be the old metal mold for weights for fishing nets. They're cool artifacts of history but I have to admit I'm not sure what to do with them. They're not antique enough or good enough condition for a museum but they're not things I'm going to use. At some point I might try to clean up the compass and display it somewhere in the house.
2. What object have you owned the longest?
Probably my pink t-shirt from Sparks that reads 'I promise to share & be a friend'. For those who weren't part of the Canadian Girl Guides, Sparks is the girl guide group for 5-6 years that launched in 1988 when I was 5. I stayed in the girl guides from age 5 till I was 13, Sparks to Pathfinders. I still have my sashes with badges too but the t-shirt wins because I've had it for thirty six years now.
Sidebar - Out of curiosity I looked up current girl guide uniforms and I'm so glad they switched to simple t-shirts and I'm glad it's Embers and not Brownies now. I hated that brown dress we used to have to wear. Anytime we had to wear it for school events the shit jokes were inevitable.
3. What is the newest object you own?
The crochet book I ordered that just arrived yesterday: Retro Crochet Style: 15 Beginner-Friendly Patterns to Create Your Vintage-Inspired Closet. I've been getting into granny squares and wanted to make a sweater at some point, this book had a few interesting patterns for constructing clothes out of granny squares.
4. Who is your oldest living relative?
I'm not sure because I'm estranged from all of Dad's crowd and don't really keep touch with Mom's family much anymore either. I think I might be one of my aunt's or my sole living uncle on Dad's side because they should be in their mid to late 70s. Though I wouldn't be surprised to hear there's a great aunt or uncle on Mom's side who's still alive but generally speaking neither side of the family seems to live past 85.
5. Who is your youngest living relative?
No clue, again the joys of estranged family lol. I know a couple of my cousins from Dad's side are grandparents now so I imagine those kids would the youngest relatives I have.
October reads
Nov. 2nd, 2023 12:39 pm
I read nine books this month with a focus on the supernatural: 4 witch books, 1 vampire, 1 werewolf, 1 ghost, 1 cozy murder mystery (I know, cozy & murder don't really go together but...), and 1 non-fiction basically about cleaning & mental health. I had been reading How to Keep house while drowning for a while and already gushed about it on Instagram and possibly here before but I finally finished it in early October. Overall, I enjoyed the majority of the books I read this month with only two being kinda meh and having annoying aspects.
( Book chatter )
I try to keep my observations short on dreamwidth because I don't want to spoil anything but if you don't give a fig about spoilers, you can see my slightly longer reviews on Goodreads or Storygraph. I don't promise they're any good but they're there š
Feeling reanimated
Oct. 5th, 2023 03:23 pmThe end of September was swallowed by a sinus infection that knocked me on my ass for all of the last week and the first few days of October. āTis the season it seems, as the folks around the library have been in and out due to different bugs. I masked, slept a lot, and took sick time which helped, John didnāt get sick thankfully and Iām pretty much back to normal now. Well, as normal as I ever was.
While I was resting, I blew through a stack of Christopher Pike books I bought from a used book sale a while ago. One book, Witch, was an old favourite I used to have and stupidly purged back in the mistake-filled book purge of 2018-2019. Witch was fun to revisit and review through adult eyes.
Most of the other books were ones I had not read before and boy, what a trip it was. I still like Pike for his weird twists, bizarre spiritualism, and the fact he wasnāt afraid to have the young adults & teens in his books behave ābadlyā but boy, some of it is pretty dated.
A bit late but here's my September book summary:
( More book talk, video games, and television chatter )
Catching up & comments coming soon!
While I was resting, I blew through a stack of Christopher Pike books I bought from a used book sale a while ago. One book, Witch, was an old favourite I used to have and stupidly purged back in the mistake-filled book purge of 2018-2019. Witch was fun to revisit and review through adult eyes.
Most of the other books were ones I had not read before and boy, what a trip it was. I still like Pike for his weird twists, bizarre spiritualism, and the fact he wasnāt afraid to have the young adults & teens in his books behave ābadlyā but boy, some of it is pretty dated.
A bit late but here's my September book summary:
( More book talk, video games, and television chatter )
Catching up & comments coming soon!
Once more with feeling | The Friday Five
Sep. 22nd, 2023 11:45 amTaken from here: The Friday Five: Musical Edition
1. What's your favourite musical?
Ooh, tough. Of all time? Probably Rocky Horror because thatās in regular rotation in my playlists and has been since high school. I still remember the first time I watched the Richard OāBrien & Tim Curry version on MuchMusic back in the day around Halloween. Bought my own VHS copy not long after and played it repeatedly throughout University.
Hamilton & Beetlejuice are also strong contenders. Those two helped me get through the first two years after my parents died & the pandemic began. Sounds dramatic, I know but it is true they helped. Whenever I was feeling in the deep of overwhelm & grief Iād put my headphones on and listen to those albums.
2. Would you rather star in: a musical or movie?
Honestly, a musical because Iād much rather have been in something that has a few bops and is more likely to be a cult classic.
3. Which actor do you think deserves to be in a musical rather than a movie?
There are actors I think would be fun to see in a musical but I donāt really have strong opinions about which actors deserve to be in musicals. Off the top of my head some folks I think would be fun to see in a musical are Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves (imagine John Wick the musical lol), Donald Glover, Iwan Rheon, Evan Rachel Wood, Brie Larson.
4. Which is bigger in your opinion, the Oscars or the Tony Awards?
I suppose the Oscars are bigger but I base that judgement more on what I hear more about in pop culture and everyday conversations. Personally I donāt follow or watch either because award shows donāt really interest me.
5. Should old musicals be shown in cinemas for those who didn't have the chance to catch it?
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! I would love to see old school musicals on the big screen.
1. What's your favourite musical?
Ooh, tough. Of all time? Probably Rocky Horror because thatās in regular rotation in my playlists and has been since high school. I still remember the first time I watched the Richard OāBrien & Tim Curry version on MuchMusic back in the day around Halloween. Bought my own VHS copy not long after and played it repeatedly throughout University.
Hamilton & Beetlejuice are also strong contenders. Those two helped me get through the first two years after my parents died & the pandemic began. Sounds dramatic, I know but it is true they helped. Whenever I was feeling in the deep of overwhelm & grief Iād put my headphones on and listen to those albums.
2. Would you rather star in: a musical or movie?
Honestly, a musical because Iād much rather have been in something that has a few bops and is more likely to be a cult classic.
3. Which actor do you think deserves to be in a musical rather than a movie?
There are actors I think would be fun to see in a musical but I donāt really have strong opinions about which actors deserve to be in musicals. Off the top of my head some folks I think would be fun to see in a musical are Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves (imagine John Wick the musical lol), Donald Glover, Iwan Rheon, Evan Rachel Wood, Brie Larson.
4. Which is bigger in your opinion, the Oscars or the Tony Awards?
I suppose the Oscars are bigger but I base that judgement more on what I hear more about in pop culture and everyday conversations. Personally I donāt follow or watch either because award shows donāt really interest me.
5. Should old musicals be shown in cinemas for those who didn't have the chance to catch it?
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! I would love to see old school musicals on the big screen.
Friday Five: Music edition
Sep. 8th, 2023 02:55 pmTaken from The Friday Five
1. What song do you live for at the moment?
Live for feels a little strong but I do have an earworm and find myself listening to Sad Sweetheart of the Rodeo by Harvey Danger repeatedly. Iām not entirely sure why, it may just be the way the singer sounds in my head or maybe Iām just inherently drawn to escapist energy in the story of Edith wanting to run away to a cowboy dream life. I mean, who doesnāt get excited over the lusty men?
2. Is there a band or artist that you attach to a particular memory? What memory is it?
SO MANY. How do I pick just one?? I canāt so Iām doing four:
AC/DC, particularly Thunderstruck. A memory that is attached to this song is sleeping in a tent on our lawn with my older brother. I was very young, I remember I was dozing when the song started and it scared the living shit out of me. I woke up asking my brother if we were having thunder and did we have to go into the house.
Nora Jones, specifically Sunrise with a particularly romantic moment with my ex.
Alanis Morissette, listening to the Jagged Little Pill album for the first time while I was (ironically) in a tent with cousins at 11 or 12 years old. It was my auntās tape, my younger cousins werenāt into it but I remember it feeling like a switch in my brain. I always loved music but it felt like I appreciated it in a different way.
The Arkells with my current partner. He introduced me to them, they were often playing in his car when we met up for dates so listening to them bring up memories of our early months.
3. What's the most beautiful song lyric you've ever heard?
So far, the first song that pops in my mind is Iāve loved you before by Melissa Etheridge. The first part always struck me as lovely:
āWhen I think of how you know me,
No doubts no thinking twice.
When your smile can be so soothing,
A familiar paradise.ā
4. If you could choose any band/artist to cover any song, which combination would you pick?
I have no idea, I love covers but they can be so hit or miss sometimes. Also my brain can become weirdly attached to the first version Iāve heard of a song, be it the original or cover which can ruin other versions for me.
5. What's the best concert you've ever attended?
Tough question because theyāve all generally been pretty good so itās hard to narrow it down to the best. My first instinct is that itās a tie between seeing the Arkells with my partner or seeing Leonard Cohen with my ex-bff.
The Arkells were playing the George Street Festival and it was a gorgeous night for an outside concert, a good size crowd but not intense and we had lucked out by snagging a great spot early on. The opening acts Repartee & July Talk were new to me at the time and I fell in love with July Talk. It was one of those concerts were all the acts were fantastic and high energy.
As for Leonard Cohen, he was just an amazing performer and surprisingly lively. It was his last tour I believe and even though I was a fan, seeing him perform was a life goal for my former friend so we went big for the best seats we could get and Iām so happy we did. It was such a great night, he sang almost all the songs we were hoping to hear, and I remember we were buzzing with joy afterwards.
1. What song do you live for at the moment?
Live for feels a little strong but I do have an earworm and find myself listening to Sad Sweetheart of the Rodeo by Harvey Danger repeatedly. Iām not entirely sure why, it may just be the way the singer sounds in my head or maybe Iām just inherently drawn to escapist energy in the story of Edith wanting to run away to a cowboy dream life. I mean, who doesnāt get excited over the lusty men?
2. Is there a band or artist that you attach to a particular memory? What memory is it?
SO MANY. How do I pick just one?? I canāt so Iām doing four:
3. What's the most beautiful song lyric you've ever heard?
So far, the first song that pops in my mind is Iāve loved you before by Melissa Etheridge. The first part always struck me as lovely:
āWhen I think of how you know me,
No doubts no thinking twice.
When your smile can be so soothing,
A familiar paradise.ā
4. If you could choose any band/artist to cover any song, which combination would you pick?
I have no idea, I love covers but they can be so hit or miss sometimes. Also my brain can become weirdly attached to the first version Iāve heard of a song, be it the original or cover which can ruin other versions for me.
5. What's the best concert you've ever attended?
Tough question because theyāve all generally been pretty good so itās hard to narrow it down to the best. My first instinct is that itās a tie between seeing the Arkells with my partner or seeing Leonard Cohen with my ex-bff.
The Arkells were playing the George Street Festival and it was a gorgeous night for an outside concert, a good size crowd but not intense and we had lucked out by snagging a great spot early on. The opening acts Repartee & July Talk were new to me at the time and I fell in love with July Talk. It was one of those concerts were all the acts were fantastic and high energy.
As for Leonard Cohen, he was just an amazing performer and surprisingly lively. It was his last tour I believe and even though I was a fan, seeing him perform was a life goal for my former friend so we went big for the best seats we could get and Iām so happy we did. It was such a great night, he sang almost all the songs we were hoping to hear, and I remember we were buzzing with joy afterwards.
The Friday Five: Zombie Apocalypse
Aug. 25th, 2023 01:49 pmTaken from HERE
1. Are you prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse (essentially any disaster, natural or otherwise)?
Iām torn between āProbably notā and āIn some waysā for my answer but the truth is, unless itās a definite yes then Iām not prepared. I have the items & documents I need but it could be better organized as Iām sure in an emergency itās going to be a frantic scrabble to get it all together. So yeah, that might be a Sunday project for me in the near future.
2. What's in your bug-in (stay safe at home) kit?
+ Water, Iāve a few extra liters stored in the garage and if I get a little warning I usually fill up a couple of buckets and our hot water thermos kettles
+ Flashlights
+ Emergency crank radio
+ Batteries & Power banks
+ Candles & matches
+ Canned food, tea bags
+ Tarps
+ First Aid kit
3. What's in your bug-out bag?
I donāt currently have a bug-out bag so yeah, that needs to be put together. As for whatās going in it:
+ Important documents / IDs and photocopies
+ A weekās worth of underwear & socks, sleepwear, & two/three days worth of clothes
+ Notebook & a couple of pencils/pens
+ Cash
+ Power bank & charging cords
+ Tablet
+ Headphones
+A book, depending if I can fit it
4. What's on your 'to get' list?
I might pick up some hand warming packs in the winter for our kit but other than that, Iām not sure. I think we have everything we need, itās just a matter of getting organized but hey, always open to suggestions if anyone has them.
5. Do you keep gear in your vehicle, if so, what?
I do have a premade emergency kit in my car that has a small first aid kit, emergency blanket, and hazard markers. During the winter I always keep a small shovel & ice scraper/brush in the car as well. Sometimes a bag of rock salt as well, depending on how slippery it is.
1. Are you prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse (essentially any disaster, natural or otherwise)?
Iām torn between āProbably notā and āIn some waysā for my answer but the truth is, unless itās a definite yes then Iām not prepared. I have the items & documents I need but it could be better organized as Iām sure in an emergency itās going to be a frantic scrabble to get it all together. So yeah, that might be a Sunday project for me in the near future.
2. What's in your bug-in (stay safe at home) kit?
+ Water, Iāve a few extra liters stored in the garage and if I get a little warning I usually fill up a couple of buckets and our hot water thermos kettles
+ Flashlights
+ Emergency crank radio
+ Batteries & Power banks
+ Candles & matches
+ Canned food, tea bags
+ Tarps
+ First Aid kit
3. What's in your bug-out bag?
I donāt currently have a bug-out bag so yeah, that needs to be put together. As for whatās going in it:
+ Important documents / IDs and photocopies
+ A weekās worth of underwear & socks, sleepwear, & two/three days worth of clothes
+ Notebook & a couple of pencils/pens
+ Cash
+ Power bank & charging cords
+ Tablet
+ Headphones
+A book, depending if I can fit it
4. What's on your 'to get' list?
I might pick up some hand warming packs in the winter for our kit but other than that, Iām not sure. I think we have everything we need, itās just a matter of getting organized but hey, always open to suggestions if anyone has them.
5. Do you keep gear in your vehicle, if so, what?
I do have a premade emergency kit in my car that has a small first aid kit, emergency blanket, and hazard markers. During the winter I always keep a small shovel & ice scraper/brush in the car as well. Sometimes a bag of rock salt as well, depending on how slippery it is.
Resolution update & highlights
Jun. 17th, 2023 10:38 amWelp, so much for posting monthly to keep myself accountable. I'm glad I didn't make posting in my dreamwidth blog a resolution tbh. Though I am hopeful I'm going to get back on track posting & commenting ...God, it's good to have hope lol. On to the resolutions:( Resolution update - 6-month mark )
It's another grey wet morning, the robins and starlings are absolutely thriving on the lawn. Seeing them dig around in the dandelion & grass makes up for the cold weather. Though I do hope we get some warmer temperatures soon. Last week I dug out all my summer clothes and I'd like to get a chance to wear them at some point this summer.
This was a good week so far. Some highlights are:
I finally tackled the rust spots in our dishwasher, using Rerack vinyl repair gloop that looks a lot like Wite-out and dishwasher rack caps.
I hauled out a few more boxes from the attic, continuing with my goal to get the attic empty. My parents used to use the attic for storage but I find it's too much of a pain in the ass to get things in and out of. When I cleared out my Dad's fishing shed in 2021, I started moving from the attic to the shed because there's way more room and no ladders.
In the attic I found a bunch of stuff that belonged to my brother which was a nostalgia bomb in mostly good ways...except the old bottles of cologne. They did not keep well these past 23 years. I get why my parents stored it all as when we moved in 2006 it had only been 6 years since he passed so I think it was still too soon for them. Still, it was a shock as I didn't realize how much his toys, hockey gear, and clothes had been kept.
My partner surprised me with an All-In-One 24MP HDMI film scanner, which I did not expect at all. I had mentioned to him that I was thinking about cleaning up all the film negatives & a pack of old slides my parents had and trying to figure out how to get digital copies. I haven't tried it out yet but now I have a new project to work on lol. Maybe something for the winter as this summer I'm hoping to get more done around the house.
It's another grey wet morning, the robins and starlings are absolutely thriving on the lawn. Seeing them dig around in the dandelion & grass makes up for the cold weather. Though I do hope we get some warmer temperatures soon. Last week I dug out all my summer clothes and I'd like to get a chance to wear them at some point this summer.
This was a good week so far. Some highlights are:
Lousy Smarch weather: 2023 edition
Mar. 26th, 2023 03:10 pmAnother weekend, another snowstorm but I've got my fingers crossed that this weekend will be our last snowstorm of the year. It started Friday late afternoon, just as I got home from work thankfully and ended Saturday afternoon so we didn't do much this weekend except clean up and relax. I cleaned our long ass driveway with the snowblower on Saturday which took two hours and then spent an hour making it wider this afternoon. I think I've said this before but I am so, so happy we own a snow blower. Also very grateful I am way more comfortable using now compared to 2020. So much faster and easier than shovelling by hand.
Aside from that, I've been relaxing this weekend. Stormy weather can kind of spike my anxiety so to counteract that spike I make a point of only doing easy chores and letting myself game/read/watch as much as I want to. So this weekend I spent my time reading Paris Daillencourt is about to crumble by Alexis Hall, the second book in the Winner Bakes All series, playing a lot of Mortal Kombat 11, and watching Dead Meat's Scream series Kill Counts. I assume most horror fans are familiar with Dead Meat but if you're not, I'd highly recommend their YouTube channel
Storygraph review here if you're curious but the coles notes version is that the main plot is more about Paris Daillencourt's anxiety and mental health journey. The romance is there and it's an important part of the book but I think self-discovery is the larger plot. I liked it, it made me laugh out loud, and I gave it 3 stars.
As for Mortal Kombat 11, it reminds me why I stick to relaxing simulation-style games most of the time. I actually am enjoying it, I've been a big fan of Mortal Kombat since I was pre-teen but it's been a while since I've played a fighting game and I am very rusty. Thankfully it has tutorials, very different from the old SNES games I used to play growing up where you either discovered moves by accident or repeatedly read the manual. It's been fun getting back into an old fandom and catching up on all the new lore and characters.
Aside from that, I've been relaxing this weekend. Stormy weather can kind of spike my anxiety so to counteract that spike I make a point of only doing easy chores and letting myself game/read/watch as much as I want to. So this weekend I spent my time reading Paris Daillencourt is about to crumble by Alexis Hall, the second book in the Winner Bakes All series, playing a lot of Mortal Kombat 11, and watching Dead Meat's Scream series Kill Counts. I assume most horror fans are familiar with Dead Meat but if you're not, I'd highly recommend their YouTube channel
Storygraph review here if you're curious but the coles notes version is that the main plot is more about Paris Daillencourt's anxiety and mental health journey. The romance is there and it's an important part of the book but I think self-discovery is the larger plot. I liked it, it made me laugh out loud, and I gave it 3 stars.
As for Mortal Kombat 11, it reminds me why I stick to relaxing simulation-style games most of the time. I actually am enjoying it, I've been a big fan of Mortal Kombat since I was pre-teen but it's been a while since I've played a fighting game and I am very rusty. Thankfully it has tutorials, very different from the old SNES games I used to play growing up where you either discovered moves by accident or repeatedly read the manual. It's been fun getting back into an old fandom and catching up on all the new lore and characters.
Friday Five: "you've got mail" edition
Feb. 24th, 2023 12:38 pmOriginal post @ ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thefridayfive
1. Whatās the last thing you got in the mail?
Besides flyers? I think it was a seat cushion I ordered for my office chair at home to try and break myself from the habit of sitting with one of my legs tucked. My brain feels like this is the most comfortable, satisfying position but my left hip is violently disagreeing. I still catch myself doing but I think it's getting better so grateful for that mail delivery.
2. Whatās the last thing you sent in the mail?
Shamefully, it was probably last winter when I mailed a knitted shawl to my friend in BC for her birthday. I wish I mailed out stuff more tbh, especially postcards & cards because I love collecting those things but never send them out. I'd like to sign up for a mailing group but every time I've looked it seems like I just miss a sign up and I forget to check back.
3. How many unread emails are in your inbox right now?
Zero unread. I'm one of those people who can't stand the red notification of unread emails. I'd personally would like follow the Inbox Zero routine but I also like being able to search through my emails when I can't remember something.
4. What is your most recent text message about?
My office lottery group and basically how much we all want to win this week's (or any week's) jackpot.
5. Do you have a favorite postage stamp design?
I love the designs put out for Lunar New Year by Canada Post, usually gold and red themed that are so pretty.
thefridayfive1. Whatās the last thing you got in the mail?
Besides flyers? I think it was a seat cushion I ordered for my office chair at home to try and break myself from the habit of sitting with one of my legs tucked. My brain feels like this is the most comfortable, satisfying position but my left hip is violently disagreeing. I still catch myself doing but I think it's getting better so grateful for that mail delivery.
2. Whatās the last thing you sent in the mail?
Shamefully, it was probably last winter when I mailed a knitted shawl to my friend in BC for her birthday. I wish I mailed out stuff more tbh, especially postcards & cards because I love collecting those things but never send them out. I'd like to sign up for a mailing group but every time I've looked it seems like I just miss a sign up and I forget to check back.
3. How many unread emails are in your inbox right now?
Zero unread. I'm one of those people who can't stand the red notification of unread emails. I'd personally would like follow the Inbox Zero routine but I also like being able to search through my emails when I can't remember something.
4. What is your most recent text message about?
My office lottery group and basically how much we all want to win this week's (or any week's) jackpot.
5. Do you have a favorite postage stamp design?
I love the designs put out for Lunar New Year by Canada Post, usually gold and red themed that are so pretty.
Silver & Gold
Dec. 19th, 2022 04:57 pmDecember has flown very quickly for me and I cannot believe next Saturday is Christmas eve. I honestly thought I'd post more this month but it feels like I always overestimate how much I'll post each month.
December rundown
Dec 4th - I went to a knitting night at our local cat cafe which was nice. The cats weren't too active because they were tired but the folks were nice and we had a few good laughs. I'm hoping they'll have more in 2023 since the only other knitting group I know of that regularly meets tends to get together at 2pm and is geared more toward seniors.
Dec 8th - Our fundraising committee at the library decided to have a small Christmas market fundraiser. I'm not on the committee anymore (I left back in 2018) but I offered to help out with one of the tables when a member was too sick to stay and man her table. It was okay, we made about $800 which is pretty good considering it seemed to be a bit of a last-minute fundraiser. For my troubles, I ended up catching the flu from the other person I filled in š¤ I was so feverish and so annoyed because I had plans to see friends that weekend but I did the smart thing and stayed home.
Luckily it wasn't Covid, I tested negative and after my fever went away a couple of days later I was back to normal. I only had to take one sick day and stay home on the weekend. On the plus side, I did finally finish decorating our Christmas tree. I normally go for a lot of colour but this year decided to just stick with white, gold, and silver ornaments because I had that old song 'Silver and Gold' stuck in my head while I was decorating. I'm happy with how it turned out:
Dec 14th - Went out for our department Christmas lunch at Clancy's, a hotel restaurant. The food was okay, pretty much the usual fish & chips, burgers, and turkey dinners kind of place but they gave our group a private dining room which was really nice. It was also good to catch up with some of the retirees I hadn't seen in a few years thanks to Covid.
Dec 18th - Made up for missing plans with my friends the previous weekend by meeting up this weekend for sushi. It was good to see them but one of my friends was feeling crampy and I was in a blue mood so it was a bit more subdued.
I'm going to catch up on comments & posts this week but I hope everyone's December has been going well so far!
December rundown
Dec 4th - I went to a knitting night at our local cat cafe which was nice. The cats weren't too active because they were tired but the folks were nice and we had a few good laughs. I'm hoping they'll have more in 2023 since the only other knitting group I know of that regularly meets tends to get together at 2pm and is geared more toward seniors.
Dec 8th - Our fundraising committee at the library decided to have a small Christmas market fundraiser. I'm not on the committee anymore (I left back in 2018) but I offered to help out with one of the tables when a member was too sick to stay and man her table. It was okay, we made about $800 which is pretty good considering it seemed to be a bit of a last-minute fundraiser. For my troubles, I ended up catching the flu from the other person I filled in š¤ I was so feverish and so annoyed because I had plans to see friends that weekend but I did the smart thing and stayed home.
Luckily it wasn't Covid, I tested negative and after my fever went away a couple of days later I was back to normal. I only had to take one sick day and stay home on the weekend. On the plus side, I did finally finish decorating our Christmas tree. I normally go for a lot of colour but this year decided to just stick with white, gold, and silver ornaments because I had that old song 'Silver and Gold' stuck in my head while I was decorating. I'm happy with how it turned out:
Dec 14th - Went out for our department Christmas lunch at Clancy's, a hotel restaurant. The food was okay, pretty much the usual fish & chips, burgers, and turkey dinners kind of place but they gave our group a private dining room which was really nice. It was also good to catch up with some of the retirees I hadn't seen in a few years thanks to Covid.
Dec 18th - Made up for missing plans with my friends the previous weekend by meeting up this weekend for sushi. It was good to see them but one of my friends was feeling crampy and I was in a blue mood so it was a bit more subdued.
I'm going to catch up on comments & posts this week but I hope everyone's December has been going well so far!
Yay for finishing projects
Nov. 30th, 2022 02:14 pmI finished my knitted gauntlets and I'm very please with how they turned out. It's given me a lot more confidence to make more pieces with stripes/different colours. Here's a picture:
( Some more pictures )
I decided to stick close to home this weekend and I'm glad I did, I got to catch up on a couple of chores, finish my knitting project above, play some video games, and get the Christmas tree up. It's not decorated yet but at least it's up and the lights are all working this year. I am hoping to get started on the decorating tonight and will probably have a picture for my next post.
Other highlights
+ I picked up two new games on Steam thanks to the Black Friday sales: Mortal Kombat 11 & Disney Dreamlight Valley. MK11 was a really good price and I've been getting back into the MK fandom recently thanks to some fics & listening to Mortal Podkast. I always loved the games growing up but I am not good at them, it was more about lore/characters. Plus, MK and Street Fighter were among the few games I could play with female characters which younger me was all about. The Dreamlight Valley was a little more of a whim because one of the YouTubers I watch has been playing it, I've read some reviews comparing it to Animal Crossing, and I was curious. So far, it's pretty cute.
+ John & I had a dinner date with our friends who we haven't seen in a while which was really nice. They've very good cooks and grow a lot (if not all) of their own vegetables so it very yummy. It was good to catch up, especially since I had been feeling a little lonely on the friend front recently. We also got to hang out with their cats which was also lovely. Both John & I grew up with cats so we periodically talk about adopting a cat (or two, I push for two) but we also want to travel some more in the near future so we usually end up shelving the talk. So I enjoy any time I get to hang out with someone else's cats.
( Some more pictures )
I decided to stick close to home this weekend and I'm glad I did, I got to catch up on a couple of chores, finish my knitting project above, play some video games, and get the Christmas tree up. It's not decorated yet but at least it's up and the lights are all working this year. I am hoping to get started on the decorating tonight and will probably have a picture for my next post.
Other highlights
+ I picked up two new games on Steam thanks to the Black Friday sales: Mortal Kombat 11 & Disney Dreamlight Valley. MK11 was a really good price and I've been getting back into the MK fandom recently thanks to some fics & listening to Mortal Podkast. I always loved the games growing up but I am not good at them, it was more about lore/characters. Plus, MK and Street Fighter were among the few games I could play with female characters which younger me was all about. The Dreamlight Valley was a little more of a whim because one of the YouTubers I watch has been playing it, I've read some reviews comparing it to Animal Crossing, and I was curious. So far, it's pretty cute.
+ John & I had a dinner date with our friends who we haven't seen in a while which was really nice. They've very good cooks and grow a lot (if not all) of their own vegetables so it very yummy. It was good to catch up, especially since I had been feeling a little lonely on the friend front recently. We also got to hang out with their cats which was also lovely. Both John & I grew up with cats so we periodically talk about adopting a cat (or two, I push for two) but we also want to travel some more in the near future so we usually end up shelving the talk. So I enjoy any time I get to hang out with someone else's cats.
Taken from the thefridayfive
1. What is your favorite vegetable?
I love a lot of vegetables but I'm going for the one I eat raw or cooked with no sauce or additives: Peppers. Red, yellow, and orange preferred but I'll happily munch on green peppers too. Close follow-ups are tomatoes (I know, I know fruit discourse) & broccoli.
2. What is your favorite fruit?
Fresh cherries. Growing up, the only cherries I knew were the maraschino cherries that are used for cherry cake or cocktails. I honestly don't ever remember even seeing fresh cherries in person until I was 21 & studying in the UK for the summer. Had them there and was hooked. They're more common in Newfoundland now in the summer months but very pricey so I only indulge once every summer. Second & third place go to apples & strawberries.
3. What is your favorite cheese?
In these lactose-free days it's whatever Monsieur Gustav gouda or whatever lactose free stuff I can find. Previously I would have said old cheddar or blue but I have yet to find any decent lactose free versions of those.
4. What is your favorite dessert?
If there's a CrĆØme brĆ»lĆ©e on the menu then I'm absolutely saving space to order dessert but it's tied with the classic chocolate chip cookie. If I was reincarnated as a muppet I would be Sid the Cookie Monster.
5. What is your favorite beverage?
Hot - Tough choice but's probably coffee. I'm a huge tea lover but I am picky about teas. In the meanwhile I can tolerate even the worst coffee as long as it has plant or lactose free cream/milk.
Cold - Ginger Ale. I mean water is better but if I'm feeling any bit low or sick I absolutely indulge in ginger ale.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Sharing this friending meme I originally saw thanks to![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
smallrobot in case anyone is looking to add some new journals to their reading page.
thefridayfive1. What is your favorite vegetable?
I love a lot of vegetables but I'm going for the one I eat raw or cooked with no sauce or additives: Peppers. Red, yellow, and orange preferred but I'll happily munch on green peppers too. Close follow-ups are tomatoes (I know, I know fruit discourse) & broccoli.
2. What is your favorite fruit?
Fresh cherries. Growing up, the only cherries I knew were the maraschino cherries that are used for cherry cake or cocktails. I honestly don't ever remember even seeing fresh cherries in person until I was 21 & studying in the UK for the summer. Had them there and was hooked. They're more common in Newfoundland now in the summer months but very pricey so I only indulge once every summer. Second & third place go to apples & strawberries.
3. What is your favorite cheese?
In these lactose-free days it's whatever Monsieur Gustav gouda or whatever lactose free stuff I can find. Previously I would have said old cheddar or blue but I have yet to find any decent lactose free versions of those.
4. What is your favorite dessert?
If there's a CrĆØme brĆ»lĆ©e on the menu then I'm absolutely saving space to order dessert but it's tied with the classic chocolate chip cookie. If I was reincarnated as a muppet I would be Sid the Cookie Monster.
5. What is your favorite beverage?
Hot - Tough choice but's probably coffee. I'm a huge tea lover but I am picky about teas. In the meanwhile I can tolerate even the worst coffee as long as it has plant or lactose free cream/milk.
Cold - Ginger Ale. I mean water is better but if I'm feeling any bit low or sick I absolutely indulge in ginger ale.
Sharing this friending meme I originally saw thanks to
smallrobot in case anyone is looking to add some new journals to their reading page.Halloween decorations and books
Oct. 21st, 2022 12:51 pmI decided to get into the holiday spirit at work yesterday and decorated the office after my computer started randomly shutting itself on and off. Poor thing must be feeling some burnout and honestly? Same here, computer, same here. My computer has so far been right as rain since a reboot but I was glad to get a kick in the ass via a forced computer shut down. I'm the one who usually decorates our office for Halloween every year but this year I was feeling unmotivated & blue so I wasn't going to do it. Since I did though, most everyone in the office has made a lot of positive comments so that's been pleasant. Here are a few close up shots:
( More office pictures )
Currently reading...
+ Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection by Haemin Sunim with Deborah Smith (Translator) - My night time read, I've been going slowly with this one and it's a mix of philosophy, mindfulness, Buddhism, personal experience, and self-help. It's lovely, reflective, and relaxing which is great because it was a completely random purchase from my local witchy store. I was having a bad day a while back and went over to browse on my break when I found this title. Bought it on a whim after flipping through and feeling better after reading a few pages.
+ The Queen of Distraction: How Women with ADHD Can Conquer Chaos, Find Focus, and Get More Done by Terry Matlen - One of the topics I've been talking about in therapy lately is the possibility I may have ADHD or am neurodivergent in some way. There are some areas I'm still struggling in that are affecting my mental health and the more I started reading up on those issues online, the more I kept getting directed to resources for women with ADHD. All of this is a whole other topic and potential future post but I picked up this book after reading some parts at Chapters. It's been resonating though a lot chapters are like a organization book just geared more directly to ADHD.
+ Samhain Secrets: A Wiccan Wheel Mystery #4 by Jennifer David Hesse - A seasonally themed cozy mystery that I got from our library donations. I work at a academic university library so a lot of pleasure reading donations to us aren't suitable for the stacks and end getting re-donated elsewhere. Usually Better World Books tbh. Since I'm a book hoarder though, I usually grab anything that catches my eye before it gets sent off. This one is okay, it's a bit of fluff and I was curious because a Wiccan theme is not something you usually see for a cozy mystery.
+ I'll Be There (But I'll Be Wearing Sweatpants): Finding Unfiltered, Real-Life Friendships in This Crazy, Chaotic World by Amy Weatherly, Jess Johnston - Just started this one and it's a little love/hate. There are parts I love and then there are parts are more Christian focused than I expected or particularly like. I'm going to give it another few chapters to see how it progresses.
( More office pictures )
Currently reading...
+ Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection by Haemin Sunim with Deborah Smith (Translator) - My night time read, I've been going slowly with this one and it's a mix of philosophy, mindfulness, Buddhism, personal experience, and self-help. It's lovely, reflective, and relaxing which is great because it was a completely random purchase from my local witchy store. I was having a bad day a while back and went over to browse on my break when I found this title. Bought it on a whim after flipping through and feeling better after reading a few pages.
+ The Queen of Distraction: How Women with ADHD Can Conquer Chaos, Find Focus, and Get More Done by Terry Matlen - One of the topics I've been talking about in therapy lately is the possibility I may have ADHD or am neurodivergent in some way. There are some areas I'm still struggling in that are affecting my mental health and the more I started reading up on those issues online, the more I kept getting directed to resources for women with ADHD. All of this is a whole other topic and potential future post but I picked up this book after reading some parts at Chapters. It's been resonating though a lot chapters are like a organization book just geared more directly to ADHD.
+ Samhain Secrets: A Wiccan Wheel Mystery #4 by Jennifer David Hesse - A seasonally themed cozy mystery that I got from our library donations. I work at a academic university library so a lot of pleasure reading donations to us aren't suitable for the stacks and end getting re-donated elsewhere. Usually Better World Books tbh. Since I'm a book hoarder though, I usually grab anything that catches my eye before it gets sent off. This one is okay, it's a bit of fluff and I was curious because a Wiccan theme is not something you usually see for a cozy mystery.
+ I'll Be There (But I'll Be Wearing Sweatpants): Finding Unfiltered, Real-Life Friendships in This Crazy, Chaotic World by Amy Weatherly, Jess Johnston - Just started this one and it's a little love/hate. There are parts I love and then there are parts are more Christian focused than I expected or particularly like. I'm going to give it another few chapters to see how it progresses.
The Friday Five: Language questions
Oct. 14th, 2022 12:46 pm1. How many languages do you speak?
I speak English fluently and consider that my only language but I can say & read a few phrases in French & Spanish.
2. What is your mother tongue?
English.
3. What is a language that you would like to learn and why?
French because it is the second language of Canada. I wish I had been a more attentive student back in my elementary days....though, in my defense, I do have issues with pronunciation and had to do extra classes for speech therapy when I was in school.
4. Does it bother you when people speak a language you don't know in front of you? Why or why not?
No, because I assume most times it's not about me and even if there are times when I think it might be about me, it speaks more to their character if they choose to talk about me in that way.
5. Speak to me.
I wasn't going to do this Friday Five at first because I only speak one language but I'm glad I did. While I was answering question 3 I had a revelation about the speech therapy classes I used to do and how they might tie into some issues I've been discussing with my therapist. So, yay for that.
Original post here: Link |thefridayfive
I speak English fluently and consider that my only language but I can say & read a few phrases in French & Spanish.
2. What is your mother tongue?
English.
3. What is a language that you would like to learn and why?
French because it is the second language of Canada. I wish I had been a more attentive student back in my elementary days....though, in my defense, I do have issues with pronunciation and had to do extra classes for speech therapy when I was in school.
4. Does it bother you when people speak a language you don't know in front of you? Why or why not?
No, because I assume most times it's not about me and even if there are times when I think it might be about me, it speaks more to their character if they choose to talk about me in that way.
5. Speak to me.
I wasn't going to do this Friday Five at first because I only speak one language but I'm glad I did. While I was answering question 3 I had a revelation about the speech therapy classes I used to do and how they might tie into some issues I've been discussing with my therapist. So, yay for that.
Original post here: Link |
thefridayfive
We have a dedicated wall on campus for graffiti and I was delighted to see some Nightmare before Christmas inspired art work recently:
( A couple more pics behind the cut )
Other highlights of the week so far:
+ I got a manicure yesterday. It's been well over a decade since I've had my nails painted by a nail technician at a salon. I'm more the type to paint them at home because it's so pricey but it was really nice to have someone else do them along with the shaping & cuticle maintenance I tend to neglect.
+ The Mindfulness class went well this week, I've been finding parts of the practice easier and we have less homework thankfully :P We're supposed to do a full day retreat later this month and I'm curious to see what that will be like.
+ The weather has been gorgeous and I think the sunny week has been helping my mood & mind a lot.
+ I've been enjoying quite a few shows lately, such as House of Dragons, She-Hulk, Andor, and Rings of Power as well as our seasonal tradition of watching Halloween Baking Championship & Halloween Wars on Food Network. I've recently gotten into putting on old episodes of Unsolved Mysteries for background noise and that's been a trip down memory lane. My older cousin & I used to watch it religiously when we were growing up, every week we'd curl up on the couch or in my bedroom to watch it on the old 14 inch. I love it but the theme music still sends shivers down my spine.
( A couple more pics behind the cut )
Other highlights of the week so far:
+ I got a manicure yesterday. It's been well over a decade since I've had my nails painted by a nail technician at a salon. I'm more the type to paint them at home because it's so pricey but it was really nice to have someone else do them along with the shaping & cuticle maintenance I tend to neglect.
+ The Mindfulness class went well this week, I've been finding parts of the practice easier and we have less homework thankfully :P We're supposed to do a full day retreat later this month and I'm curious to see what that will be like.
+ The weather has been gorgeous and I think the sunny week has been helping my mood & mind a lot.
+ I've been enjoying quite a few shows lately, such as House of Dragons, She-Hulk, Andor, and Rings of Power as well as our seasonal tradition of watching Halloween Baking Championship & Halloween Wars on Food Network. I've recently gotten into putting on old episodes of Unsolved Mysteries for background noise and that's been a trip down memory lane. My older cousin & I used to watch it religiously when we were growing up, every week we'd curl up on the couch or in my bedroom to watch it on the old 14 inch. I love it but the theme music still sends shivers down my spine.
š¶ You gotta try, try, try, try...š¶
Oct. 6th, 2022 02:06 pmWork is a little slow so I decided it was a good time to do a little dreamwidth catch up. Two thoughts that occurred to me are:
1) Iām not alone in struggling to maintain/establish a regular posting schedule so that makes me feel better.
2) Do folks think itās weird to comment on older posts? Is it similar to āheartingā older Instagram posts? Iām cool with folks commenting on my older posts but now Iām curious, how do you feel about it?
In my last update I mentioned I was going to start a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Iām now in the third week of the program. The class itself is on Tuesday evenings for about 2 & Ā½ hours but thereās coursework weāre supposed to every day which totals to about an hour of meditation & and 20-30 minutes of work sheets. Iām enjoying the classes but the homework has been a challenge.
First, I struggle with time management so trying to fit in an hour of meditation each day has been tricky. Second, we had to do body scan lying down meditations for the first two weeks & I kept falling asleep! Thankfully, this week weāre doing standing meditations and itās so much better for me. Overall, I do think it is helping and Iām hoping that the course will help me get into & maintain a regular meditation practice.
Johnās fully moved into his new downtown and I feel weāve adjusted to the new commute. Itās nice, he has an actual view of the Narrows aka St. Johnās harbour. The only downside is his new office doesnāt have a parking lot so Iām the one always driving but thatās a very small downside since I prefer to have my car so I can run errands while waiting for him to get off since he works later.
The biggest news of the last few weeks was hurricane Fiona and how it devastated communities on the west coast of the island. We live on the east coast so we werenāt personally affected but it was still heartbreaking & scary to see the damage done. Weāve been doing some fundraising at work, like many places around the island now and along with government funding & red cross donations hopefully those that lost their houses will be able to rebuild. I just hope we donāt get hit with any other major storms this season.
1) Iām not alone in struggling to maintain/establish a regular posting schedule so that makes me feel better.
2) Do folks think itās weird to comment on older posts? Is it similar to āheartingā older Instagram posts? Iām cool with folks commenting on my older posts but now Iām curious, how do you feel about it?
In my last update I mentioned I was going to start a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Iām now in the third week of the program. The class itself is on Tuesday evenings for about 2 & Ā½ hours but thereās coursework weāre supposed to every day which totals to about an hour of meditation & and 20-30 minutes of work sheets. Iām enjoying the classes but the homework has been a challenge.
First, I struggle with time management so trying to fit in an hour of meditation each day has been tricky. Second, we had to do body scan lying down meditations for the first two weeks & I kept falling asleep! Thankfully, this week weāre doing standing meditations and itās so much better for me. Overall, I do think it is helping and Iām hoping that the course will help me get into & maintain a regular meditation practice.
Johnās fully moved into his new downtown and I feel weāve adjusted to the new commute. Itās nice, he has an actual view of the Narrows aka St. Johnās harbour. The only downside is his new office doesnāt have a parking lot so Iām the one always driving but thatās a very small downside since I prefer to have my car so I can run errands while waiting for him to get off since he works later.
The biggest news of the last few weeks was hurricane Fiona and how it devastated communities on the west coast of the island. We live on the east coast so we werenāt personally affected but it was still heartbreaking & scary to see the damage done. Weāve been doing some fundraising at work, like many places around the island now and along with government funding & red cross donations hopefully those that lost their houses will be able to rebuild. I just hope we donāt get hit with any other major storms this season.
Well, actually, I have looked at my journal & reading page in the last two weeks. I've just not been able to focus long enough to comment or write. Maybe it's just that time of the year, things have been quite busy now that the students are back on campus. It's our first regular in-person semester since 2020 with all classes on campus happening in person. While it is nice to see the campus busy again it is a little surreal after two quiet years.
The faculty & staff art show I organized finally came down at the end of August but I spent the first two weeks of September trying to get the artists to come to the library to get their artworks back. Some of them were great, they read & responded to my emails and showed up when they said they would. Others...not so much. It's extra tricky because I work in a staff-only section of the library so I might have to figure out different arrangements for next year.
This week coming I have Monday, a surprise holiday as I really didn't think Canada or my workplace would be marking the Queen's funeral. I guess I sort of think of the monarchy as being more in the background here in Canada...though as I type the above I realize that was naive of me to think given that the influences & iconography are everywhere.
Tuesday I am starting a 8 week course on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) being hosted by my therapist office.
Today's plan is to help John begin the move into his new office space, pick up the next graphic novels for the comic book club I'm in, and at some point grab lunch.
The faculty & staff art show I organized finally came down at the end of August but I spent the first two weeks of September trying to get the artists to come to the library to get their artworks back. Some of them were great, they read & responded to my emails and showed up when they said they would. Others...not so much. It's extra tricky because I work in a staff-only section of the library so I might have to figure out different arrangements for next year.
This week coming I have Monday, a surprise holiday as I really didn't think Canada or my workplace would be marking the Queen's funeral. I guess I sort of think of the monarchy as being more in the background here in Canada...though as I type the above I realize that was naive of me to think given that the influences & iconography are everywhere.
Tuesday I am starting a 8 week course on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) being hosted by my therapist office.
Today's plan is to help John begin the move into his new office space, pick up the next graphic novels for the comic book club I'm in, and at some point grab lunch.
My mom was an avid gardener, primarily focusing on flowers & flowering bushes but I did not inherit that green thumb. I get spurts where I try to work on the garden or figure out which plants we have but honestly, the interest hasn't stuck so far. There are just other things I'd rather be doing or have more priority right now. Still, I'm happy to see the plants are still surviving and, in some cases, thriving despite my regular neglect. Take this tree with the pink flowers below:
I swear to god, that tree never had flowers on it while my parents were alive. I remember my mom even complaining about it a few years after she planted it but this year it is absolutely littered with budding flowers. I'm guessing it's one of those trees that takes a few years to mature before flowers because there's a smaller one next to it that sprouted up back in 2019 and it has no flowers or buds yet. I have no goddamn clue what it is called so if anyone recognizes it let me know!
Back in the spring of 2021, I had the bright idea to trim back our hydrangea plant because it had all these dried-out dead bits. I think that might have been a bad idea because it did not flower at all in 2021 and used to always have flowers before then. I was afraid I might have ruined it so this year I left it alone and I'm happy to say the flowers have returned. Still not as much as before but I figure I might as well keep leaving it alone and hope for the best.
I took today & tomorrow as vacation time to catch up on house & garden work before the fall semester starts but Mother Nature had other ideas since we had some surprise rain. So my goals shifted to housework; namely, laundry, re-organizing and cleaning out my office, and catching up on my bullet journal. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and supposed to be dry days so hopefully, I can catch up on the outside work then.
I swear to god, that tree never had flowers on it while my parents were alive. I remember my mom even complaining about it a few years after she planted it but this year it is absolutely littered with budding flowers. I'm guessing it's one of those trees that takes a few years to mature before flowers because there's a smaller one next to it that sprouted up back in 2019 and it has no flowers or buds yet. I have no goddamn clue what it is called so if anyone recognizes it let me know!
Back in the spring of 2021, I had the bright idea to trim back our hydrangea plant because it had all these dried-out dead bits. I think that might have been a bad idea because it did not flower at all in 2021 and used to always have flowers before then. I was afraid I might have ruined it so this year I left it alone and I'm happy to say the flowers have returned. Still not as much as before but I figure I might as well keep leaving it alone and hope for the best.
I took today & tomorrow as vacation time to catch up on house & garden work before the fall semester starts but Mother Nature had other ideas since we had some surprise rain. So my goals shifted to housework; namely, laundry, re-organizing and cleaning out my office, and catching up on my bullet journal. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and supposed to be dry days so hopefully, I can catch up on the outside work then.