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 |   Getting to know me. |
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One of the goals I set for myself this year was to create a blog. There are a lot of reasons I wanted to do this. 1. I think a blog will encourage me to write more often. 2. I want people to get to know me better, and hopefully I'll know more about you from your comments. The grammar won't be perfect, but a blog is a more relaxed type of writing, I think. I want to share my, and Sir Trevor's, adventures and lots of other things too! |
 This is a No Prompt Day. Sunday, Agust 14, 2016 It's a rainy Sunday afternoon a great day for getting caught up with things. That's what I told myself this morning when I finally crawled out of bed then the procrastination kicked in. Armed with a hot cup of coffee I sat down at the computer and opened up WDC. To my horror, a long list of notifications, newsfeed entries, and 307 emails appeared on the screen.  I began with the notifications because that list was the shortest. Then on to the email. How did they pile up so quickly? I will weed through them one by one. On a more personal note, my crochet entries for the County Fair are sitting forlornly in a basket waiting to be completed. That doesn't sound too frightening except the fair is only two weeks away.  Time to show off my hoodie for Project Write World which starts tomorrow!  As you may have guessed I'm part of Team Canada. Thank you! Thank you for the emails and forum posts enquiring about my health. I was a sick puppy for a while, but the antibiotics did their job and I'm feeling much better! WDC is an amazing place filled with awesome people. Thank you for your support. That's it for today. River  |
| Day 1367 - August 13, 2016 Ring around the posy - a pocket full of.. .. .. What are you pockets full of? Empty Pockets I'm one of those weird people who don't use their pockets. If I have a bad cold I might put a package of kleenex in my coat pocket, but that's it. It makes laundry day a lot easier.  You'd be surprised at what I can stuff in a purse, though. Reviews I'm taking a break from my routine today. Most of my reviews are for Newbies, but this weekend I'm reviewing for  the SPECULATIVE SPECTACULAR "WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group"  Party Review Raid!! It's been a long time since I've participated in a Raid so here I go. Cats & Dogs & Other Weird Stuff! It's a dull, dreary, rainy day. It's raining cats and dogs! How did that phrase get its start? A torrential rain. As in, "It's raining cats and dogs. Which sucks because my hat is made of pure sodium." Most say it came from ... In the 1500s human beings had the pleasure of living in homes with thatched roofs which, keep in mind, had the ability to repel winds no stronger than a burrito fart. In these strange times, humans for some reason didn't want their pets pooping in their homes and so they were always kept outside. The animals would keep themselves warm in the little nooks in the thatching on the roofs and store their food up there for a rainy day. When an especially rainy day did come along, the animals would either get washed off of the roof or would come leaping down looking for better cover. The story goes that the townsfolk would look out their window, see pets falling from the sky, and proclaim it to be "raining cats and dogs." Then they would probably burn a witch or something. Other weird sayings and possible meanings: Rule of Thumb  "The rule of thumb is one part tonic to four parts gin." Most say it came from ... 17th century English Judge Sir Francis Buller, who allegedly ruled that it was A-OK for a husband to beat his wife with a stick, given that said stick was no wider than his thumb. Bite the Bullet Accepting something difficult or unpleasant. As in, "You're going to have to bite the bullet and admit you killed that hooker." Most say it came from ... When engaged in war there are times when emergency surgery is needed: Legs have to come off or deeply-buried bullets need to come out. And sometimes, there's no time for anesthesia when the Nazis are bearing down. So, rather than stabbing a patient in the arm to distract him from the saw going through his foot, the surgeon would supposedly shove a bullet in his mouth and ask him to bite down. Basket Case One that is in a completely hopeless or useless condition. Most say it came from ... The supposed origin came about during World War I and was used to describe servicemen that had all of their limbs either surgically or explodingly removed--leaving them as nothing more then torsos that would have to be carried in a basket. Bust Your Chops To give someone a hard time. Don't bust my chops.  Most say it came from ... There was once a time in the world when it was considered cool to sport a long, ridiculous pair of mutton chop side burns. From America to England, Russia to ... some other place even further away than Russia, the civilized global population couldn't get enough of these peninsula-shaped patches of hair. Then, these people got punched in the face--their "chops busted," if you will--and an idiom was born. Wrong End of the Stick  wrong end refers to a misunderstanding. Most say it came from ... As advanced as their sewage systems were, the Romans still had not arrived at the toilet paper stage. In their public toilets, the pooper would rely on a sponge or cloth that was attached to a stick which rested within a bowl that contained a mixture of two-parts salt water and three-parts nightmares. After a person had finished discussing the days events with their constituents, all while becoming a few pounds lighter, they would request the sponged stick to be passed along to them. If they weren't concentrating on the task, they would end up grabbing the end of the stick that was covered in the poop of 50 other guys. This was considered grabbing the "wrong end of the stick." As Pleased as Punch  To be very happy. As in, "Uncle Bernie is pleased as punch now that he has his cocaine." Most say it came from ... Apparently, the phrase spawned from an English puppet show that goes all the way back to the 1600s (Punch and Judy) which was written by a chemically imbalanced sociopath, or a 17th century Eli Roth. No two performances of the show were totally alike, but they all usually involved the same events. Dead Ringer An exact duplicate. Most say it came from ... This origin holds that a "Dead Ringer" was a person that was prematurely buried and is supplied with a rope attached to a bell with which to draw attention to the not-so-dead guy in the totally-for-dead-people box. Through some research, we found that such a practice never actually existed, although there were instances of people being buried alive and there is actually a patent held for such a life-saving device. Please take these explanations with a grain of salt. You can't believe everything you read on the internet. That's it for today. River |
| Day 1367 August 12, 2016 Title Prompt: The Cyber- Thoughts Cybercrime – It's all around us! The internet is a wonderful tool, but as cyberspace is constantly evolving, so too are the cyber threats to our security, prosperity, and quality of life. Cybercrime is a criminal offence involving a computer as the object of the crime (hacking, phishing, spamming), or (child pornography, hate crimes, computer fraud). There are a lot of creeps in Cyberland ready to prey on the innocent or uninformed. In Canada, all our government departments (including the Department of Justice, the RCMP, Public Safety Canada, and Global Affairs Canada) work together to protect Canadians from the threat of cybercrime. Partnerships have also been developed between International, Federal, and Provincial law enforcement agencies. One example of this type of coordination is the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, a joint effort of the RCMP, OPP, and the Competition Bureau of Canada to combat internet and mass-marketing fraud. We can't depend on the government alone to protect us. We need to educate ourselves, take precautions and use our common sense. Don't be too trusting, be careful what you click on. If you see an offer that seems too good to be true then it probably is. Change your passwords often, encrypt your files, and encourage your children to use the internet safely. The Olympics I'm not a huge sports fan but when the Olympics roll around with all their magic I find myself glued to the TV. I watched proudly last night as 16-year-old Penny Oleksiak won a gold medal for Canada in women's 100m freestyle swimming. The look of joy on her face when she looked up at the scoreboard and realized she had won gold was awesome. The Canadian girls have been doing a great job in the pool this year. They're good role models and I hope they inspire younger girls to follow in their footsteps. I'm cheering for Canada of course but I admire the men and women from all participating nations. I can only imagine the time they devote to training for their sport. I catch myself holding my breath as they approach the finish line and share in their victories and defeats. I cringe when they're injured and send up a prayer for healing. Whoa! I took a long nap. Look at the time! If I don't post this now, it'll be time to write tomorrow's Blog Entry y. That's it for today. River |
| DAY 1364 August 9, 2016 Let's discuss nightmares. Do you have them? What do you think is the reason you do? What's the scariest one you've ever had? Oh my, I've had some bad nightmares over my lifetime. Some people tell me they are a gift, but I tend to think they are more of a curse. I've fought against this so-called gift my entire life because I don't want it. I hate it! This is the one I consider the scariest because it is still vivid in my mind. The nightmare happened on a Thursday night in May of 1988. I dreamed I was talking with my mum then suddenly we were in a really cold dark place. It wasn't just dark there was a complete absence of light, not a glimmer. It was creepy. Mum asked me, “What are we going to do now?” I replied, “I suppose we'll have to buy a coffin.” The next morning over coffee I told my neighbour across the hall about the dream. I couldn't get it out of my mind. I felt anxious all day I defrosted the fridge, did the washing, and tidied up my apartment. Convinced my mum was going to die, I packed a bag and went home for the weekend. Friday night my stepfather couldn't sleep he kept getting up and coming out to the kitchen where Mum and I were chatting and having coffee. He would walk over to the window and look outside. He said he couldn't sleep because he felt nervous inside. Eventually, the house settled down and we all went to sleep. Early Saturday morning my stepfather got on his tractor and headed off to the woods to cut firewood for the fall and winter. He never got there. About ten minutes after he left his tractor went off the road and landed in a field. Crushed under the tractor he died almost instantly. I felt terrible because I had interpreted the dream wrong and have always wondered if there was something I could have done to prevent his death. If I would have thought about it more I would have realized Mum wouldn't have bought a coffin for herself and he was acting so strange Friday night. That is why I call it a curse. What good is a gift if you don't know who is going to be affected? Banging My Head Against a Wall.  Or Murphy is Back Again. (Murphy's Law) Speaking of darkness, my outside light has burned out. It is so inky dark out there and kind of creepy. I live across from a cemetery and the only light I can see is the glow of solar-powered lights some people have put in front of gravestones.  As the weather is hot and humid I thought it might be nice to take a shower. That is how I discovered my hot water tank is dead. So now I must wait for the janitor to arrive with a new light and a new hot water tank. Go away Murphy!Getting to Know Me I'm rather weird. I've suffered with precognition my entire life, clairvoyance relating to an event or state not yet experienced. I've fought against it all my life! That's it for today. River |
| Blogging Day 1361 - Critters Do you have critters or a certain critter visit your yard every day? I do, and he follows the same routine every morning and evening. I call him Ollie, he is a little bird and tonight he brought a friend. Never Underestimate the Power of the Sunflower!  It all started innocently enough. One day last summer I decided to buy some sunflower seeds and put up a bird feeder hoping to attract a few birds to my patio. I also hung up suet and a hummingbird feeder. I soon had more than I bargained for. The sunflower seeds began disappearing at an alarming rate and I had to start buying in bulk. First came the birds. There were Woodpeckers, Hummingbirds a Northern Flicker, Blue Jays, Robins, a Gray Catbird, Blackbirds,Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Chickadees, Sparrows, a pair of Mourning Doves, and my favourite, the American Goldfinch. A lot of the birds flew south for the winter, but curiously the sunflowers continued to disappear. It turned out other critters enjoy feasting on them too! All winter I had two deer on my patio every evening, both were young males, I called them Scruffy and Peanut. Peanut was very tame and so sweet. Another night time visitor was a cute little skunk who I called Stripe. In the morning there were two gray squirrels I named Fast and Furious! There was also a black squirrel who, of course, is known as Blackie. I can sit for hours watching all this wildlife congregating on my patio. These critters are all seriously addicted to sunflower seeds! Update on the Bugs! Well, the exterminator came and sprayed some horrible, poison chemical all around the building last week. One application of this insecticide is supposed to eliminate these bugs and their larvae.  I have heard these little buggers called Hanneton bugs , European chafer, and Japanese beetles. They basically look like June Bugs, but much smaller and they're not native to Canada. The theory is they came here in a shipment of something from somewhere. To make a long story short, I looked outside last night and discovered that my screen was covered with the things. Like, I'm talking literally black with bugs. The males stick there all night and drop dead before sunrise. The females gleefully fly off to lay eggs in the grass and ruin lawns. Throughout the day people drag the dead bugs into the building on the soles of their shoes. More problems! Because it has been so hot and humid, we're now infested with Earwigs. I do not like these creepy bugs that lurk under things and in small crevices then jump out at me every time I move a plant pot or put my hand in the clothespin basket. *Screams in terror and disgust * They even have a pair of forceps-like pincers on their abdomen!  Another Kind of Bug. I've had a ghastly bug for over a month. With my weakened immune system, I developed an infection, but I'm feeling better. The antibiotics are doing their job.  That's it for today. River |
| DAY 1358: August 3, 2016 Prompt: I took a short walk around my neighborhood and saw... Tell me what your or your character saw. I took a short walk around my neighborhood and saw a young woman walking her dog. The dog was a Pit Bulls. As I approached, she snapped her fingers and the dog immediately sat down. He was a beautiful animal so calm and well trained. I asked her what the dog's name was and asked permission to speak to him. “His name is Oliver and yes, you may speak to him, he's very friendly and loves meeting new people.” I looked at the dog and said, “Hello Oliver, how are you today?” He put one paw up for a high five, I laughed as I high fived him back. The young woman's eyes filled with tears. I asked her to sit down with me on a nearby bench. I learned her name was Jesse and she was distressed because of Pit Bulls ban in parts of Quebec; Pit bulls are banned in Desbiens, parts of Montreal, Sherbrooke, Saint-Jean-Sur-Richilieu, Chapais, Ville St. Laurent, Kirkland, Outremont, Châteauguay and Saint Genevieve. Other towns across Quebec are planning to make this a law, including our town. What this means for Jesse is her beloved pet will be taken from her and put down. It's not the Pit Bulls' fault. I remember seeing one dog chained, her whole life in the scorching sun, if she got any attention at all, her owner kicked her on his way by because she'd knocked over her empty water bowl. Her ignorant owner had never brushed or bathed her, or taken her to the vet even to get her shots. And never a kind word to the poor old girl. One day she broke loose and attacked her owner who in return beat her to death. I know Pit Bulls that are good, loyal, dogs, but they had good, responsible owners. The owner makes all of the difference. Wednesday, August 8, 2016 Pit Bulls, Friends, and Antibiotics Friends I'm looking forward to a visit from my friend this evening. She has been away on vacation so tonight I'll hear all the highlights of her trip as we have our regular 'Coffee and Calories Wednesday.' Rhodie is what I envision when I hear the phrase True and loyal friends. (Is that even a phrase? I guess I could say we're BFFs in  speak. It's me she comes to when she needs comfort, a hug, or needs to vent. I listen, make suggestions, share my wisdom, but always tell her the truth. She does the same for me. We're there for each other.I know she'll always stand by my side when the going gets rough, she'll do or give me what I need whatever the circumstances and I'll do the same for her. There is no talk of payback even when we do a lot for each other. That is just how we are. To me, that's what real friends are. Catch up Week I'm so far behind. I can't do it in a day so this will be catch up week. I'm on antibiotics again and so hopefully, I'll have a bit more energy I'm going to need it! This morning I did a bit of housework and wrote this blog entry... well that's a start. It's almost noon and my daughter will be popping in with our lunch. I think after that I'm going to take a nap. River |
| Day 1354 - Thrill Seekers Prompt Amusement Parks can be found everywhere. Are you fond of them and if so, what is your favorite thrill seeking ride and why? I love the excitement and aromas that are part the of the Amusement Park experience. It's fun to watch the kids and adults spin around on the rides. I don't go on the rides anymore, but my favourite was The Tilt-a-Whirl. The last time I was on that ride was when my grandson was about 12 years old. We went on that ride over and over that day. Writing about it brings back good memories! July 30, 2016 Thrill Seekers,Routines,and Obscene Phone Calls The sun is rising and I'm enjoying that ,all important, first cup of coffee. There's a fresh,cool breeze coming in the patio door. Such a welcome relief from the heat and humidly of the past week. My dehumidifier clicked off last night and I was able to sleep well. The early morning birds are feasting at the feeder, and a squirrel is running around the patio, picking up fallen sunflower seeds, it's a perfect morning. Routines: Have you ever noticed how morning routines are pretty much just the opposite of bed time routines? Or how easy it is to get out of sync when something happens to mess up your routine? I have a close friend who is on vacation. She usually visits on Monday and Wednesday evenings. We chat, vent, and enjoy “coffee and calories.” Now, her absence threw my routine off to the point I was wondering, at times, what day it was. Or is that just dementia? We need routines in our lives, but we don't need to get stuck in a rut. Get out of the house today and do something fun and different. Telephone Terrorists: I have been getting a lot of hang ups and weird calls lately. Last night I got an disturbing obscene phone call. The strange part was, I could tell it was from a telemarketing call center. I always pick up then quickly hangup to prevent getting a long message I'll have to suffer through before I can delete it. Anyway, before I could hang up I heard this creep say, “Ma'am, your boobs are too big, you know?” Well, I couldn't resist, I replied, “Your mouth is to dirty.” Then I hung up. The disturbing part was, why was this guy making obscene calls from work? I thought about it awhile, and I have a suspicion. I know a girl who works at a call center and I think she put him up to it. She was married to my friend's son and they are in the process of getting a divorce. She has it in for me because she thinks I'm “taking sides”. She also deleted me from this week. So what is the point? Am I supposed to be shaking in my my socks? End of Rant.  That's it for today, peeps. Wishing you a super, great weekend. River |
| DAY 1353 July 29, 2016 Prompt I was reading a writing prompt on Writing.Com when suddenly... I don't know where you're going to take us but I'm looking forward to the journey. I was reading a writing prompt on Writing.Com when suddenly the lights went out. Oh not another power failure. The darkness was inky black, not even a glimmer from the full moon penetrated this total lack of light. I groped for the flashlight I always keep on my desk and clicked it on. Nothing, it was completely dead, even though I had changed the batteries yesterday. Then I noticed how still the air was and the utter silence that surrounded me. Why wasn't the wall clock ticking? Where was Sir Trevor? I hadn't heard a sound from him since the lights went out. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I sensed that I wasn't alone. I couldn't I hear breathing or movement, but I knew there was someone or something in this room with me. I stared unseeing into the darkness hoping my eyes would adjust. I waited and waited, then I saw the faintest glow, there was a face staring back at me. It was an evil face, with huge hollow eyes, and two rows of sharp, misshapen, pointed teeth. It grinned at me maliciously, and I knew it wasn't human. I screamed as it began to approach me slowly and silently. My heart beat wildly in my chest, my breath came in short , tortured gasps, and I slowly sank to the floor. July 29, 2016 The Prompt,The Blog,and Time The Blog I'm enjoying blogging. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time and I try to make it interesting for the readers and myself. It's still evolving because I only started blogging on July 20, 2016 so it's a new blog. So far, I have a non-existent small following with few likes or comments. I guess these things take time...That's all I have time for today. Real life rears it's ugly head. I have so much to do, The To Do List grows and grows like a giant weed, choking out my creative soul. Until next time, River |
| Day 1352: July 28, 2016 Prompt So I just moved into my very first apartment. Tell me about the first time you moved out on your own. It can be into a dorm, or into a place with roommates, or when you first got an apartment or house that was yours (ALL YOURS!) If you haven't gotten to that point, tell me about your dreams for when you DO get to that point and if you are planning, then what you're planning for (just a small apartment while you climb the corporate ladder, or a dorm shared with others while you get your degree, something else?) Use your creativity and paint the picture of what this looks like for your readers. Life at home became unbearable, stuck in a small house the country which I called God's Forgotten Acre. B&W TV and only three channels, no internet, and a domineering, manipulative mother finally drove me out. It was either move out or have a major meltdown. I moved to town, and what a difference it made in my life. My first apartment was above a flower shop. The stairs were very steep, there were exactly 22 stairs to climb! It was a small apartment, but bright and cheery. I was within walking distance of all the stores, got cable and a coloured TV, and soon made lots of friends. It was the best decision of my life! August 28, 2016 A Healthy Life Style? and This and That and the Cat A Healthy Life Style? Breakfast this morning was definitely not a healthy one. I slept late and was rushed so I grabbed the first available thing which just happened to be a container of Lay's Stax chips and a bottle of Boost. My logic was; The Boost would provide all the vitamins and minerals needed. Lunch will be baked beans, delivered by my daughter. I'm trying to cut down on coffee and cigarettes. That isn't going very well. I'm getting pretty moody!    Oh yes, I'm also trying to get more exercise. I wonder if a healthier life style is worth the struggles..This and That and the Cat Sir Trevor is not in a good mood The heat and humidity have got to him. After his mock hunting trip, belly to the ground, ready to pounce at the birds on the patio, he once again smashed into the patio door. “Meooow!” Trying to look cool, he got into his bed and took a leisurely feline bath. Once his head stopped spinning from the contact with the glass door he slowly headed to his cat house. He used the last of his energy to jump up to the part of his house that contains hi food bowls. Nothing appealed to his gourmet taste, so he jumped back down, gave me a look of scorn, and decided to take a cat nap. A Newbie poem I thought tied in with today's Circle of Friends prompt.
Getting to Know Me I'm a coffeeholic. My To Do List is too long. I'm longing for fall and cooler weather. Until next time, River |
| Wednesday July 27, 2016 Circle of Friends,The County Fair, and Crochet. DAY 1351: July 27, 2016 Prompt: I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. Jimmy Dean I'm Sailing on the Wind The air is hot and muggy, and I long for a cool breeze. Sighing, I close my eyes and try to imagine a current of air swirling gently around me. The wind is almost non existent and it's coming from the south. Throwing off the blankets, I sit up on the side of the bed and glare at the fan. I can't change the direction of the wind, but, I can move the fan closer to the bed and turn the setting up to three! Finally, I feel cooler and soon I'm sailing on the wind to dreamland. Today, I joined The Blogging Circle of Friends. The County Fair is coming up in early September. It's an exciting time of the year in this small town. Everyone is working on their fair entries and dreaming of the ribbons they hope to win. Our small scrapbooking group have put away our pictures, and Monday nights find us sitting around my kitchen table frantically knitting, crocheting, and cross stitching hoping to complete our entries on time. (We also talk to ourselves and curse now and then). Crochet I'm working on four projects to enter in the fair. My fingers don't fly as fast as they used to, though. People who crochet are a bit odd. We have huge stacks of yarn, every hook size imaginable, and still want to make a quick trip to Michaels for “just one more ball of yarn.” We speak a different language than other people. We have to Frog it, meaning rip out rows. This came about because frogs say, “Rip it, rip it, rip it.” We're very proud to say, “HOTH” (Hot off the Hook). It's like a different culture. The Comedy Newsletter Have you read the latest issue of the Comedy Newsletter? The Viral Workout by Robert Walz I can identify with the subject! It's a hilarious look at a summer cold that just won't go away. I got a good laugh out of it because I have a summer cold that has hung on for over a month. Book Recommendation  Come Home by Lisa Scottolini. I borrowed my copy from the library, but I believe it's still available from Amazon. Brief summery: Jill Farrow is a suburban mom who has finally gotten her and her daughter's lives back on track after a divorce. She loves being a pediatrician and is about to remarry, while her daughter, Megan, is a happily over-scheduled thirteen-year-old. But Jill's life is turned upside down when her ex-stepdaughter, Abby, shows up and delivers shocking news: Jill's ex-husband is dead. Abby insists that he was murdered-and pleads with Jill to help find his killer. Jill reluctantly agrees to make a few inquiries, and soon discovers that the story doesn't add up...As she digs deeper, her actions threaten to rip apart her new family, destroy their hard-earned happiness, and even endanger her own life. Yet how can Jill turn her back on a child she loves and once called her own? What are the limits of love, loss, and family? Getting to Know Me I hate hot muggy days and nights. I swallow 17 tablets and capsules a day to control RA and Type Two Diabetes. I love the comedy Genre. That's it for today. River |
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