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 Theses are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call life. |
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These are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call Life. I blog with these groups:     "Blogging Circle of Friends " [E] 
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Blog City - Day 2827 Prompt: March WeatherβIt was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.β Charles Dickens, Great Expectations How is the weather in March treating you where you are, this year? March raises our hopes even when it promises warmth, but batters us with wind. The trick is to find a sunny spot blocked from the wind and you can smile at that little corner of heaven after a harsh winter. Yesterday a good chunk of snow melted off our front yard. I can see grass packed down and weathered. I am hopeful. Birds dance over the matted leaves picking at any bits of life that hides in the grime. The cat is watchful and excited. We are not to disturb the leaves until 10 degrees Celsius is the norm. (That's 50F for my American friends). Today it promises 10 degrees Celsius. The sun is fighting to come out and stay and I long to take a walk and stretch my legs. Yesterday it was 16 and tomorrow is expected to be as well. But being March, the temperature can change on a dime. Negative temperatures can assail us. We need to be patient. Nothing too drastic from winter to spring - that can bring the flooding, so we pray for an ease into the season. That rarely happens. I still remember the year it was 30 degrees Celsius during March Break... that is only a week away. Crazy ass weather. I think that might of been the year we had our last snowstorm in mid-April. I'm just glad to see more sun and feel the grip of winter slip away. I long for the days I can sit outside on the front stoop and write. Soon, whispers the wind and I smile knowing nothing lasts forever, so savour it. The anticipation of spring is fantastical. I watch for robins to return. I may don my shoes for a walk. Get out of those heavy boots for a day. Can't put them away yet, but soon. |
Blogging Circle of Friends - Day 4105 March 05, 2026 Did you know on this day in history in 1963 the hula hoop was patented? Have you ever used a hula hoop? Did you find it challenging to use?Did you use it for fun or to get in shape? For those of you who have never tried a hula hoop, what childhood toy did you use for fun or exercise? I have used a hula hoop, but I cannot get it to 'work'. I am always impressed by those who can keep it going. They make it seem so effortless. I haven't managed that talent so I often used it for other things: to loop over friends and run with them like it is a 'bridle' on a horse. My imagination was key. As a kid, my friend and I explored our backyards and let our imaginations run wild. We played 'cowboys and Indians", but for us the cowboys were the 'bad guys' and the 'Indians' were the peaceful hunters and gathers that lived off the land and cared for each other. I had a soft spot for the underdog and I was curious about Indigenous culture. My friends younger brother was the cowboy and we didn't tell him.... we just kept running away from him. Poor kid. We also did running races. I remember outrunning a boy who thought that getting new shoes would make him run faster. He also thought boys were better than girls... that kid got crushed under the reality of me winning every race he asked for until he finally gave up and went to play with someone else. I could never abide by comments and thinking like that. I had to prove it wrong. I am still that way, but I have become more subtle in my push back. I have learned that the male ego can be fragile and they can be violently reactive when antagonized. I learned to tread carefully... sad, but true. But back to fun and exercise. As a kid we roamed our landscape. Climbed the back hills. Played on the train tracks behind our property. I climbed trees and hung and flipped myself around the parallel bars. Exercise for me was just getting around. Whether I was walking, running, or riding my bike, I managed to cover every inch of my small town several times over. We had a lake so into the water I'd go. We had playgrounds with all those 'dangerous' items that were a riot to fling yourself onto and off of.... spinning and dizzy was lots of fun. Even when we moved to southern Ontario we didn't have a car for the first 5 years so we walked most places. It always boggled my mind that my friend wouldn't go somewhere because her parents were around to drive her. I thought that was daft. I do remember playing with some 'exercise' thing my Grandma had for wittling her waist. You stood on it and twisted yourself back and forth. It was fun, but I never once saw her use it. She never showed me what was done, but I learned by trial and error. Oh the life of a GenXer. Freedom to explore and discover. I remember being outside much of my time. I wasn't locked out, but I was not allowed to go in and out without getting yelled at, so once out I stayed out. |
Day 4104 - Blogging Circle of Friends What are you reading? Would you recommend it? Why or why not? I am doing a slow read of Jane Eyre. I read this many years ago, probably in high school, but for my own interest not for a school assignment. Rereading it has been fabulous. I am doing a slow read with Caroline Donahue's - The Tattooed Governess - on Substack. How that works. Well, we read about three chapters a week and then at the end of the week Donahue does a debrief which includes a summary, craft notes, art & historical information, and archetypes. All very interesting stuff. Then there is discussion within her Substack forum. People have been very inciteful and kind in their comments. Would I reread if not for the slow read? Probably not, but the fact that I am enjoying this process very much makes me think this is a worthy endeavour and for that I am grateful. Would I recommend the book? Yes, this book is a classic. Taking the time to read it and savour it has given me some comfort in my own station. I also find it interesting that her sister's Wuthering Heights has recently been released as a new movie version which I am dying to see. Apparently it is a steamier version. I had to chuckle at the fact that the day I started reading Jane Eyre, the Vision TV channel put the Jane Eyre movie on. I taped it. I plan to watch it on my own time when we complete the book - in May. I have a feeling this year is going to be a year of reading more classics.... I have a desire to read The Secret Garden again. Whatever you read, may it be soul nourishing this year. Happy reading. |
Day 2822 - Blog City Prompt: In This 21st Century"Learning is what most adults will do for a living in the 21st century," said someone named Perelman. Was he right? What and how do you believe we are now doing here in the 21st century? If you are not a life long learning, you will be left behind. In our current culture progress means never resting on your laurels. It means self improvement at every turn. It means staying on top of changes.... changes that seem to morph overnight. Stagnate and you are dead in the water. Shark bait instead of the shark. Society perpetuates this kind of cultural frenzy. The rat race is what it is. Working in education it is hard to keep up. We are not just teaching the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. We are told to teach to a curriculum that is constantly changing and one that is overwhelming to get through over the course of 10 months. Children don't learn like robots, none of us do. Most classrooms are filled with behaviour challenges and children with so much going on in their wee lives that trying to teach a basic lesson is almost impossible. The system is created to teach children who would absorb the lessons like sponges, but there may only be a few children in the classroom like that and with huge class sizes so many children don't get what they need. But I digress.... Any profession has its own standards to maintain and build upon. Nothing stays the same. I would caution that while learning is important, so is taking time to process the changes and let the learning settle in. Don't rush to gorge yourself on New, New, New. Be discerning and don't shortchange yourself. You can't do it all or you will burn out and be of no use to anyone. |
Blog City: Day 2762 January 1, 2026 Prompt: 2025. Was it a good year or a bad year? Write about this in your Blog entry today. Good or bad, I'm just glad it's over. Several of our family members have struggled and fought for their health. My uncle's many strokes clarified his misdiagnosis of Alzeihmer's, but my aunt was told the strokes could lead to dementia over time. The cancer my cousin was fighting since last summer was going well. He got his bladder and pancreas removed in the first part of the year. He was on the mend, until a blockage in his colon alerted them to colon cancer that was inoperable. That was the day before our Canadian Thanksgiving. He died December 19 after 20 days in hospice. The funeral will be January 9. Christmas was quiet this year, but we did get together. Family close was helpful. Since Christmas my uncle has been struggling with his pain and he can't find his pain meds. He thinks my aunt took them (she didn't and she can't find where he may have put them).... so he took her anti-anxiety meds. So she too is struggling. My mother's dementia journey has had many ups and downs; including her calling the police on me when I was sick and being the 'bad Carolyn' who wouldn't leave. That was from delirium from a bladder infection. Once that was taken care of, things have been 'better'. That incident also got things moving to get help, but mom has to agree to help to get Personal Support Workers (PSW) in to help me with her care and she won't - she's too anxious to say yes. So I am on my own and I am struggling to balance work and her care. I'm trying not to stress over things, but when the woman is incontinent and is not motivated to shower... and is prone to UTIs, Her last shower was November 27 - the day before my cousin's 35th birthday (which she didn't attend because she was too anxious). I was hoping a PSW would be able to convince her to shower more frequently. Listening to her daughter (me) is not always something she wants to do. I find myself worrying what will others think.... I'm doing a poor job managing my mother's care. I do a lot of meditation and steadying myself in the moment by moment issues. On the more positive side, I have been able to get some of my online identity back - from 2024's robbery over Christmas break. I was able to get my hotmail account back, but not my original Google account. This has caused some issues, but nothing too bad. I got 35 of 52 stories written for The Bradbury. That is a success as far as I am concerned. In the beginning of the year I was doing Body Groove every day... I need to get back to doing that as it was helping with my day to day concerns. I was also doing Sahaja Yoga Meditation at the beginning of the year... and it dwindled off as the year deepened. It was another helpful day to day thing. I read three books more than my 30 book goal on Goodreads.com. With my writing, I feel like I have gotten no further ahead than I did at this time last year. I am still floundering with my novel in progress. I haven't been to Paris, Ontario to read all that often for open mic poetry nights - mom has often had issues on that evening so I haven't been able to go or she wants to go out to a restaurant to drink. I have managed to get mom to drink less. Last year at this time she was having a 750ml bottle everyday and drinking it in just over an hour. That is equivalent to 24 oz, She would drink to knock herself out.... then wake up when she had soaked the couch. Getting her to drink less means less laundry jobs for me. The alcohol also magnified her dementia symptoms. Some of this drinking less can be attributed to me not taking her out as much (another thing I feel guilty about) and also going with her to restaurants and asking the server not to bring the wine until the food arrives. This makes her drink more sensibly. It does not help that our Premier of Ontario made wine and beer sales in grocery and convivence stores available... making access easier and limiting where I can take her. I have not been working as much as I feel I should be.... not wanting to work if mom is having a 'bad' day. So doing supply work makes things flexible for me, but I feel my confidence has slipped. Curriculum changes have happened over the course of several years. When I was doing long term occasional teaching in a special education class I found myself not being in step with the new changes. So I need to get myself back up to speed. I would say the year was heavy, not good or bad, just heavy. It would be nice to have someone come along side to help carry the load. I am looking forward to a fresh start and a reboot. 2026 will be an amazing year. Happy New Year! May this year be productive and prosperous for each and every one of you. |
It's WDC - 25th Birthday It's the final entry-- Part 1:Go back to Day 6 and pick a favorite from the other contestant's static item they shared and tell us why you like it the best. The best static entry chosen by you will receive an 10,000 awardicon. Part 2: if you were making a soundtrack for WDC's 25th Birthday what would be your number one (1) song. Embed the video in your entry. If you can't remember how it's on the forum, and if you're a non-upgraded member the instructions are on the forum, but this time pick someone in the contest and send them 150gps. I really enjoyed Soldier_Mike   's piece - "Father Fares Well" . I liked the father son connection. It was a sweet piece with autobiographical parts. As for the song to be a soundtrack for WDC 25th Birthday.... I would have to chose: I realize I am supposed to write more than I have but I am exhausted from my adventures to the Eden Mills Writer's Festival. |
Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2025 Prompt 7. Sept 7. The last day of this blogging week. Thank you all! βThe surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us.β β Bill Watterson Not sure what I am supposed to do with this.... comment, I suppose. Since intellegent life never tired to contact us... I figure I won't bother with the comments either. Thing is I am so tired. I got up early this morning so I could go to the Eden Mills Writer's Festival. I took my Morning Page notebook with me so that I could write them in the Cedars. It was really nice to write outside in the fresh air. Afterward I took a good walk through the Cedars. It was wonderful. When I returned to my stuff, I had enough time to use the port-a -potty before the Sarah Selecky began her workshop - Story Is A State of Mind. From her book she just published. It was a wonderful session and it kept me from listening to and buying too many books. In fact, I only bought one book today - Melinda Burns's book of poetry called Homecoming. I was not able to hear her read - I was at the workshop, but I wanted a copy of her book. I have taken some writing workshops with her in the past and wanted to support her. It was a lovely day. 17 degrees Celsius and sunny. Word count = 205 words. |
It's WDC - 25th Birthday Blogging time-- Today, write an entry about yourself, not something we can see in your bio and what attracted you to WDC. Tell us how long you've been here and then choose your favorite static item from your portfolio and post the item number "Maine Dyno-mites" ( I used Maine Dyno-mites just an example) inside your entry for others to see in addition to the three paragraphs you write about yourself. So I have to write about myself. Should be easy, but I have put this off all day. In fact, I usually do this blog first and then the other one, but today I did the other one first. I also read my Masquerade bits beforehand as well. I also keep worrying that tomorrow will be crazy busy and I have a Writer's Festival to go to out in the small village of Eden Mills. It is in their 35th year and they are starting early to let people write in the cedars by the Eramosa river.... with no Wi-Fi. By hand, baby. So no time or internet access to scout for scavenger hunt stuff until later.... if I still have energy. Sarah Selecky is doing a workshop based on her book Story Is A State Of Mind and I am so looking forward to it. I did a workshop with her years ago in Stratford when they had a writer's festival. It only happened a few years before Covid hit and then that festival died a quick death. So that's one thing - I love going to writer's festivals. September is a good month for them here in Southern Ontario... Canada. Word on the Street is in Toronto in a few weeks, but I probably won't make it this year as my mother is in the throes of dementia and going too far is not an option for me as much anymore. This is why the Kingston Writer's Festival is definitely a no go this year. I am also a teacher. I didn't apply to any long term teaching positions this fall. I don't know what to expect with my mother. Some days are good and others not so good. And I am her only caregiver. I know I need to get more help, but it seems a waste of money if she seems fine during the day.... but things have taken a turn in the last couple of weeks. I love special education and I have a great deal of patience, but I find that patience is harder to come by when it's my mother. Especially when my mother likes to drink wine and 'knock herself out with the booze' - those are her words, not mine. She was drinking heavily in the winter - a 750ml bottle in an hour and fifteen minutes. That is a regular size bottle. I have managed to get her to slow down, but boredom has her sleeping a lot. That may seems good, but the problem is when she does had an awake day, she perseverates so badly that it is hard to reason with her or get her calmed down. The more she drinks the less I do. One of us has to be on the ball. I'm not much of a drinker to start with, but it sure takes the fun out of it. I am more into ginger ale with juice in it. So that's my three things - I love writer's festivals; I'm a teacher who loves special education and I am not much of a drinker. I also love WDC and find the first week of September is a great time to celebrate it's 25th birthday. Here is my funny offering: "Miserably Stuck" |
Blogging Week Bastion 2025 Prompt 6. Sept 6. Look at the entries of this week by two members of this blogging group and do TWO reviews (more than 150 WORDS each, not characters). Post the reviews here Invalid Review  .I visited Silvern  's blog to leave a 'hi and welcome' message. They are the only black case that was brave enough to take on this challenge and my hat is off to them. This week I have been trying to share the love, by reviewing all the colours of our cases. I have done a lot of blue and purple ones this time around. They often don't get the reviews.... but everything has been wonderful. I decided to review someone that Silvern had praised as helpful - dogpack saving 4premium+  . Someone I had not reviewed before.... I think. Review of "Service Dog Bella " My second review Review of "Whatchamacallit" found a fellow Canadian with a cool sense of humour. Love that. Winter Wonderin' Wanderin'  . I believe I have reviewed her before because I remember that username. Each review was over 1000 characters so I am thinking I made the required 150 words easily. I may come back and review some more, but first I need to tackle other birthday celebrations I have ventured to join. |
Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2025 Prompt 5. Sept 5. Music Prompt with coffee. Well that was crazy silly, but fun. I think I need some coffee before I write anymore. And lunch would be good too. Beyond that I can't get into that prompt. I have promised my mother I will take her out to do some shopping. I need to get cat food at Ren's Pets and maybe some things at Walmart. She wants to go out to dinner. I am not a fan of going out for dinner with her. I know that sounds awful... but think of a woman with Dementia who only wants to go out to drink. Drinking makes the dementia worse and she is drunk within minutes of downing a glass of wine. I hate spending time with anyone that is drunk, if I can help it. I used to drop her off and let her take a cab home, but I am finding she can't do that anymore. She's also misplaced her housekeys.... so it's probably easier to go with her. For my sanity, I ask the waitress not to bring the wine until the food comes. I find she does not drink as fast or as much if there is food in front of her. If she doesn't order anything, I can order something for her and tell her she ordered it. She usually forgets that we ordered anyway. Taking her out tonight will also allow me to feel less guilty when I take the day on Sunday to go to the Eden Mills Literary Street Festival. I'm looking forward to listening to writers read from their works and taking part in Sarah Selecky's Story Is A State Of Mind workshop in The Cedars by the Eramosa River. I'm so looking forward to it, but I don't want to get my hopes up in case Mom is having a bad day and I have to not go... then my ticket becomes a mere donation. I never thought my life would come to this, but I still have my mother - even if she is not her usual self. At this point she usually knows who I am. I am also wondering how I am going to maneuver my supply teaching work. On good days all is well, but what about the more difficult days? It's time like these that I wish I wasn't an only child. I also wish my aunt lived closer... but she also has her hands full with my uncle's declining health and my cousin's cancer rehabilitation - he picks up every infection and the cancer magnifies the issue. She's currently in hospital suffering with caregiver burnout. It's a real thing, people. Word count = 438 words. |
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