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Sunday, May. 5, 2024

5:54pm EDT

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PORCH PONDERINGS

by QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Rated: 13+ · Book · Biographical · #2198921

Norma's Wanderings around a small section of Montana

Well, hey there!
Welcome to Roundup, Montana! If it's a nice day, we'll sit a spell on my porch and talk awhile.

"All the resources we need are in the mind.” Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President of the United States of America.

Another quote I find interesting: "Creativity is intelligence having fun." Albert Einstein

What's on your mind today?

Signature for use by anyone nominated for a Quill Award in 2020

Signature for nominees of the 2019 Quill Awards

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Schnujo is Late to Lannister

Apr 28, 2024 at 7:30am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

I know carpal tunnel can be really bad. My friend's son has it really bad. At only 21, his hands were already numb because his dad wouldn't let him learn to drive so he couldn't go to the doctor and his dad wouldn't take him. He's finally moved out and learned to drive. His hands are better after he got a different job, but he's still got issues.

Have you tried learning to do speech-to-text? I hear it's quite a difficult transition for some folks, but once you get it, everything is a breeze after that. I keep meaning to take a series try at it. I did a few sentences one day, just to test it out, but didn't get too far. I need to really buckle down. It seems slower because the words don't appear on the screen as fast as when I type. But in the end, I can talk faster than I can type and I don't have to wait for it to catch up after ever sentence. lol I do need to figure out how much I can talk before it loses the thread, though.

But then, when writing fiction, I have to stop and think a lot, so it will probably be fine. lol I just need to do it enough that I feel comfortable not watching the screen anymore. I hear that's the real sticky point -- watching the words slowly appear as you are talking can be really distracting, so they recommend you don't do that. I will for a bit, just to get a feel for things and to satisfy my curiosity. But hopefully, if I take this seriously, I can let go of that need with practice and really get going.

Hmmm...I know I talk a lot. And I can talk while doing things I can't do when typing like getting dressed or making dinner or whatever. I wonder if I could actually finish a project through speech-to-text or if being bored sitting there typing isn't the real problem.

It's something to ponder and play with. Thank you! As usual, you've helped me with my writing YET AGAIN!

You're the best!

1 Like

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 28, 2024 at 1:37am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

schunujo I don't worry about NaNo or OctoPrep. I think that event is far enough in the future. I am bummed that I cannot garden this year. I've been typing and writing all this time with just one hand and three fingers so...

I am excited to get the pain level lessened. Then I found out from my daughter the other day that she suffers from carpal tunnel as well, but as is typical for her, she won't get it treated. The problem with that syndrome is if it gets too severe, you could actually lose total function of your hand. Now that is the worst case scenario of course. I am scared enough by that prospect, I'll endure a few more months of recovery pain to heal the problem.

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 28, 2024 at 1:32am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

Kåre Enga in Montana

When are you arriving back in Montana? And which airport? I'll be tied up for a few days after surgery. But I think once my husband goes back east to get our car, perhaps sometime in May we pray, I could make a road trip.

1 Like

Schnujo is Late to Lannister

Apr 25, 2024 at 7:13pm
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

Wow! You have so much going on!

I'm really sorry all of this is happening at the same time.

But I am super glad the doctor thinks he can fix you, even if you won't be good as new. But new things are too expensive anyway.

I'm certainly glad you'll be in much less (hopefully no) pain in the (hopefully not too distant) future!

I've also had times when a specialist told me I should have seen him sooner. Well, maybe if I hadn't been required to get a referral...

The surgery timing sounds pretty good with a 6-month recovery time. You'll be pushing it for NaNo, but I think you can do it. After all, I need my best cheerleader out there!

In truth, you have a big impact on my success in NaNo, but I could probably do it without you if I had to. Most importantly, I want YOU to be okay -- happy, healthy, and pain-free! If that means you miss a year of NaNo, so be it. YOU are more important.

QPdoll

Apr 25, 2024 at 6:00am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

and Kåre Enga in Montana

I hope you both can find transportation on Monday! Good luck to you!

Norma, it's good you have your surgery scheduled. I think you'll feel so much better with pain relief. My husband had carpal tunnel surgery and he is happy that his fingers don't go numb anymore.

Safe travels to you both!

1 Like

Kåre Enga in Montana

Apr 25, 2024 at 2:42am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

I don't have to explain my trip back to Montana as you get the picture.

I've been stressed for so long...

I can relax at the hostel and in Seoul airport.

Need to arrange a ride home though...

I assume you'll not be available.

1 Like

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 25, 2024 at 2:05am
In response to "Drama"

Elycia Lee ☮

Try cutting back your plants. Then try dusting them gently. They breathe through the surface of the leaves.
I found this on Google about rubber plants:
Water when the soil is almost completely dry. ...
Spray with a mister every few days, they like to keep their leaves moist.
Place in a bright room, but keep away from super sunny windows to avoid sunburn Between 15°C to 25°C is their optimum temperature.

Kåre Enga in Montana

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:50am
In response to "Drama"

I should be in Missoula May 1st. Chance of 20° or 70° ... sun, rain, snow, tornadoes, earthquake, Yellowstone blowing up?

Elycia Lee ☮

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:02am
In response to "Drama"

I never overwater them, but I think I'm underwatering them. The leaves are curling. When I put them out, their leaves burn. When I wipe them, lines appear on them... I really wanna start over, but I don't know how to... My rubber plants bottom stem leaves have dropped. Only the top is growing. For one of them, their baby leaf hasn't been growing for over 6 months now... Sounds like you've got quite the green finger there.

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:00am
In response to "Drama"

QPdoll

It was good to be out and work in the garden. We were both tired after, but that's okay. Digging in dirt always helps. There is always dirt in our lives. We have to dig up through it to get to the shining world on the other side.

1 Like

October 31, 2021 at 8:38pm

#1020489

Halloween Happenings

So it's almost November, tomorrow starts the 30 Day Blogging Challenge. I'm a guest judge. Thanks to my friend Kåre Enga in Montana

, there are, as of this writing, 22 enrolled in the challenge. Terrific! Can't wait to read all the entries.

Today is also the last day for the OctoPrep Challenge. With any luck at all, 45 challengers will complete the month-long preparation for the NaNoWriMo marathon novel writing contest. A few folks still are waiting to finish. I pray they get their assignments in before midnight.

Tonight was trick or treat in town. There is always a parade, then a hotdog feed at the Catholic church, then the goblins leave to beg for treats. My house is one block west of the church. Usually I have an endless parade of beggars. This year, it is like they don't even see my house. Strange. I'll have candy left over. But that is the good thing about hard candy, it will keep until next year.

Last night we were supposed to see the aurora borealis from a G3 magnetic storm. I was so ready, that will be wonderful. I've never seen the Northern Lights. But you guessed it, total cloud cover. Darn. Nothing.

Right now I'm watching the original 'Alien'. I totally forgot the tagline. 'No one can hear you scream in outer space.' Creepy. Since there is nothing worth watching on TV, I am staring to watch the Alien series. I found the 5 set VHS at the thrift store. And yes, I still have a VHS player. This movie was made in 1979. Amazing. That is over 40 years ago. A lifetime ago.

1 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

October 21, 2021 at 10:51pm

#1019805

Time Flies

Can you believe it's already the 21st of October? How time flies. And we still don't have any rain or snow to speak of. There was a bit of a storm eight days ago. But not a drop of snow or rain since then. Too weird and too dry.

I got sad news a few days ago. The husband of the woman we worked for in Gardiner passed away. The motel we managed was a family-owned affair, the wife of this man was in charge. Dennis worked in Yellowstone, retired some time ago from his job there. He'd been in bad health for a few years, but this was a heart attack and very unexpected. Sad news for us. He was a good person.

We put the garden to bed a few days ago. The potatoes were still in the ground. We dug out 37# of potatoes. That's after 50# of butternut squash. So pleased by that. And the squash came from just two plants! Amazing. I guess they really liked the hot spell we had in July.

The OctoPrep Challenge is rolling right along. Everyone is seeing the end. Only a little more than a week to go. I just pray I was a help in keeping everyone on track, making sure people didn't get disqualified for running into that 72 hour time limit.

Pray for us that we get some rain or snow.

3 Like • Comment • View 2 comments

October 13, 2021 at 11:05pm

#1019300

We Do the Best We Can

I'm a busy person. OctoPrep is really cooking right now. People are winning, people are dropping off. I keep track the old fashioned way, with a pen and paper. But it works for me. I am having a lot of fun sending little 'love' notes to folks reminding them of time, get back on track, you have a great idea...

We finally got a bit of rain/snow here. And it was a bit. About 1/4 inch of moisture. It's funny, that's what it's called. Not rain, not snow. Moisture. We measure 'moisture'.

A big topic came up today, seems there have been children arriving at school lately without shoes, without clean clothes on, hair unbrushed, dirty, and even with wet pants. Now how does this happen? we wonder. How do you send your child off to school for the day without shoes? In dirty clothes? no coat? And then, they wet their pants on the way there? The poor secretary at the elementary school is a bit troubled by this trend, as she should be.

So a few rallied, we gathered up some shoes, some underwear, some socks, some coats, and made arrangements to get these to the school for folks to give to children in need. No small feat in a town with limited retail. But then there is the talk 'I just hate that some people get to thinking that everything is just given to them'. Yes, but, is it right for a child to suffer, especially in the climate we have here, because a parent cannot or will not, take care in the morning to wake up, get up, for whatever reason, to get that child off to school in decent clothes and shoes? I really worry about some people, I gotta tell you.

There was a time when I was a single mom, and my kids didn't have much, but by golly they never had dirty clothes and they always went to school with shoes and they were clean.

Okay, well, enough of the ugly facts of life. After our little taste of winter, it is now to be in the 60's again in a few days. Go figure. And the barking dogs that were on the corner, the ones that barked 12 hours a day? Well, they up and moved one night. Ha! A blessing for sure.

So life goes on. We do the best we can. Now I'm off to judge the week one OctoPrep entries. Wish me luck.

Like • Comment • View 1 comment

October 6, 2021 at 11:07am

#1018787

OctoPrep is here

I am deep into OctoPrep. The cheerleading job is fun. I do so enjoy exhorting, encouraging, convincing, cajoling. It is a good exercise in creativity to respond to forum posts, send little notes to folks.

Life here in Montana is busy, as usual. Volunteering, getting ready for the cold weather we know will be here soon.

We were able to get the tomatoes out of the garden before a hard frost. Butternut squash came next. From 2 plants, we harvested over 50# of squash. Amazing. There are still potatoes in the ground, but they are safe and sound for a little while longer.

There is talk of snow and rain in the next few days. Right, rumors. I've heard of rain. It supposedly is water that falls from the sky.

I feel like the folks when Noah was preaching. He warned of rain and flood. The people had never seen rain before. The water always came up from the ground to water the earth. It had never fallen from the sky.

We'll see if the weatherman is right.

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