Thank you, thank you, and you, too! reverb 31

Ok, plan B is in effect, folks...

I was working on my computer.  It crashed, twice.  I fixed it. Twice.  I then received a notice from my virus protection that IT wasn't working.  No more nothing on that, until I can figure out what happened, and how to fix same.  So, I figured, well, I will go in and watch TV.  And promptly had that go mammaries skyward. 

I have decided to stealth on Husband's computer while he isn't home.  I will try NOT to change anything, but I really want to make my 31 days of blogging complete.  I suppose it's just the darn principle of the thing now... 

So, I want to thank everyone that has been following my navel gazing for this month.  I think I will return to my Wednesday and Sunday blogging.  This was a slow month (hence the reason I chose for a blog everyday.  Even then, I cut it close on a few of 'em...)  I know I didn't put responses on a lot of the stuff people wrote to me, and I didn't like that, I try to respond when people say something, and it felt like I wasn't able to as easily.  Probably could have, but just seemed like a bit to do... (Excuses, excuses...)  :)

Huh.  I might write on other days, as well, when the mood strikes me, but I found I like reading other people's blogs and writing comments, so that will probably be more the 'thing o' the day'.  And there is that book I keep talking about.  I don't know about growing extra sets of arms to type, knit and so on, so I guess perhaps I need to get the time in on the book.  Silly thing still won't write itself, no matter how much I try to convince my computer... 

And here, for... the last one of the month, is reverb 31. 

***

Prompt: Core story. What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.)

My core story?  Gee, make it an easy one.  My core story is what I am, and what I do.  There's no mystical wonderment, no grand enlightenment (that I know of), it's just a bit of this, a touch of that, and see whence it goes. 

You know how that people put things on Facebook, and so on that later comes back to bite them on the posterior?  I guess I am sorta boring.  I have very little that I would avoid putting on FB.  (I wouldn't put my pictures on there anyway, but that's because of the agreement with my husband, more than anything else...) 

I suppose my core story also is how I feel and react about things.  I have been called a lot of things. (Recently been called a witch quite a bit, but I really feel that it's not meant in an insulting way, if you can believe that.) I can be upset with the tags, titles, and names, (Ma'am sort bugged me... I am a ma'am, already?), but I can learn from them, too, if I make an effort.  Am I being called stubborn?  Is that because I am being obnoxious?  Or am I finally learning how to stand up for myself?  Am I called shy?  That could be because I am shy, but it can also be because I have found people intensely interesting to listen to, watch, and (try to) understand.  Fascinating stuff, if you pay attention.

And for the bonus question, I saw no unexpected threads, animals, writing, health (both physical and mental), my family.  Yep that's the biggies. 

Oh, and Tom Petty.  How'd he get in there?  Heh.

So, if there is a blog here tomorrow, great.  If not, I will see you Wednesday.  If I don't manage to destroy any more computer stuff. 

Messing about in boats...reverb 29

This morning the weather folk said, rain, bad day.  I walked, it was fairly nice, a little overcast. 

Had to convince the llamas we were 'friendlies', they usually don't walk UP the hill when we go DOWN.  I think the cougar has spooked them a bit more that I would like to admit.  Lorenzo is getting real skittish about body checks, I touch his hip area, and he makes to spit at me.  This part is no big deal, but then he tries to stomp.  Lorenzo has a fat, furry butt, so I have to stand fairly close.  This makes my foot in rather hazardous territory! 

But we are all doing okay so far, (I had to up Llama's feed a little, she just doesn't put on weight like she used to.  What is it about getting older and getting skinnier?)  But they are doing well.  So is Rudee, except he is getting the grumpy treatment from me, as he is finding llama beans to roll in, and smells like, well... Llama beans.  Not the worst smell, but I still don't want to pet him and smell of manure. 

Husband saw the weather, and said, well, since we can't go out if it's raining, I will go work on the boat. 

(Since we can't go out? Hmmm.)  So, he started working on the electronics.  I washed a load of clothes.  Started a second load.  Boy, it's looking nice outside.  Started cleaning the table.  It really is brightening up... Wonder if Husband will change his mind...

Door opens. "Are you doing anything this afternoon?" 

"No. Why?"

"I think I want to go out and test run  the boat."

Why was I totally not surprised one bit?  Does the fact that I already had a lunch pack put together and my knitting bag sitting ready give you a hint? 

We went out, and it was warm!  I was truly expecting it to be very cold, but I didn't wear a heavy jacket, just my sweatshirt and gloves (well, the life jacket, too), and didn't get a bit cold.  We didn't go very fast, though.  The water level was waaaay down (read:  lots of deadhead stumps and rocks), and there was lots of wash in the water, leaves and sticks and bark.  In fact, there was a lot of debris stuck in the jet intake when we got out. (Intake guards are a very good thing, Martha!)

Mud.  Lots and lots, and orange sticky gooball mud.  My shoes were coated, and so guess what little thing I have to do... (AND they are my 'good' shoes, adding insult to injury.  Couldn't find my others, and I wasn't wearing my gumboots out. Meh.)

So, it's supposed to go back to January temperatures soon, so I guess enjoy the little flings of late spring while we can, yes?  (And get my laundry done quickly!)

***

Prompt: Ordinary joy. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?

Ordinary, as in not exceptional.  Walking, and observing the weather and the area.  Seeing the plants go from scraggly ice covered branches, to fat little bud covered things, to light green starts, then the fullness of oak leaves, to head back into the quiet of winter.

Watching Rudee (and Tux, till he stopped) running up the hill, and the amusing way they would claim the top.  (And seeing who would shed the most when they were in the right amount of light. Sadly, sometimes I was the winner... eeep.)

Finding out that I can go walking and not hurt after.  Or that I can walk to stop my hurting. 

Seeing birds.  Seeing some sort of lizard run by.  Rocks that are thrust up from winter's cold.  Mud, that isn't just brown.  I have found red, brown, yellow, sort of off green, and even a whitish blue! 

And finding out just how much crap dirt you can carry in on one pair of boots... : (

Guess that doesn't count on joyful.  But the fact I have a real good vacuum to clean it up does! :)

Confusion, witchery, reverb 28

Okay, I seem to have created a complete round of confusion.  Oregon now mandates that all people who control (i.e. drive) a boat over 10 hp, (think bigger than a trolling motor), has to have what amounts to a boating version of a Driver's license.  I have heard it called a Boater's Card several times, and used it without realizing that might not be familiar to most... Oops.  And yes, it varies by state.  Some states you can hop in and go, some you have to have proof of training of some sort (like what I just did).  Hope that clears things up.  (And possibly inspires more poetry!)  ;)

As for confusion, last week, my Monday "class" was held on Tuesday, and my 'work' day here at the substation was switched to Friday, from Wednesday.  Let Chaos reign! 

Oh, and I am beginning to wonder if I need a new cat. 

Not for the reason you think, though Buzz keeps looking all over for Tux, and has been surprisingly friendly, for her.  Cuddles are out, but she will accept a lot more petting than usual. 

But anyway, I need a new cat, because I have been for about the 4th or 5th time in the last year and some, been called a witch.  I am beginning to think that I am real glad I am not in the Middle Ages.

This latest call out was at my spinning class. 

There was a new gal there, and somehow we got on the topic of how the plys were spun, and she noticed I was spinning counterclockwise, (just how I did this ply, not set out to do intentionally), and not one, but two gals said, Oh, you are a witch!  (There is a superstition that yarn spun "backwards" is witch work.)  We then started talking about superstitions, and I knew all of them. (Which was saying something, the new gal was a Society of Creative Anachronism member, they usually research things like that to absolute death.  But I have an inside straight, I had a grandmother that was Irish, and superstitious as all get out.) 

Then one of them mentioned the superstition about putting your needle into your work when you set it aside as bad luck, she knew, but didn't know why.  I told her that it was sort of like voodoo, that you are 'stabbing' the receiver of your work with the needle.  She looked at me, and then smiled. "I didn't even know that one, maybe you are a witch."

Perhaps I should grow parsley, as was recommended...  Hey, I have several hats already.  We have frogs for toes, and newts for eyes nearby.  But I should get a more cooperative cat, first.

Just call me Minerva McGonagall!  (I wish!)

***

Prompt: Achieve. What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.

Getting somewhere on my book would be a plus.  I have dinked around on it enough, I really need to get writing.  How will I feel?  Like I accomplished it, I guess.  Happy?  Happy works.  I will feel like I have gotten all the mental post-it notes I have in my head on real paper. 

10 things I can do.  Write chapter 1 though 10.  Heh.

Ok, for real...
1. Set aside time to write.
2. Don't put it off, or find something else to do when I have a set time.
3. Less innernets, more writing. (Much easier said than done. Innernets are wunnerful time suckers...)
4. Don't keep so much in my head, write it down.
5. Talk to the deputies, and my 'bosses', they are the people that would be able to answer my questions!
6. Keep talking about it, so people know if I am doing anything.
7.  Uh.  Is it to early to look at getting an agent?
8. Er.  Write?  More?
9. Now this is becoming unfair.  Lose more weight, so I can go on my ride along, so I can have a more realistic experience on what goes on with "my" folks.
10. Gah... One more thing?  Oh, I don't know, park my butt and write something!  Isn't that the most important thing? 


Ta da!  Ok, that was yesterday's, here is the prompt for today...
Prompt: Defining moment. Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.

Working on making my life better.  It certainly hasn't been a "moment", though it might be a series of them, like sand through an hourglass.  One dot of sand isn't much, but you get enough of those little dots, and you have... Well, you have a pile of sand, duh.

I am not entirely sure where I was going with that, but you get the idea.


I don't even really know when I made the decision, but I decided to start walking.  That lead to making a (somewhat better) effort to eat more wisely.  I started trying to DO things I wanted to do, not just pine away about them.  I worked on using no as a complete sentence.  Dropping (some) things that bug me, and learning what puts a "fire in my belly", as one of Husband's friends says.

So, how has it been?  Has it worked?  Yes, I would say so.  My walking is making me a bit thinner.  (Other people have said so, and I am finally starting to see it myself, in the mirror.  Took long enough...) 

The eating, good days and not so good.  But I am learning what my 'triggers' are, (don't buy chocolate chips.  They do not stay in the house. Period.), and whatever I want, take about HALF that amount.  It's little stuff, should be obvious, but I am learning, or more accurately, re-learning it. 

Finding out that I can plan something, and make it work, is highly satisfying.  Especially when I wasn't entirely sure I knew what the (ahem) I was doing, in a few cases.  That can be as simple as finding an address in an unfamiliar town, to setting up a new group for a 'guild' I run at faire, to planning and executing a trip to a certain concert...  

And learning that just because I'd been in a group for x years, doesn't mean I have to still be in the group.  (In a few cases, they still haven't figured it out yet.  I have, however!)  Others, it was more of, can we do this differently? MUST it be the way it has been?  These changes are making my time less others, and more mine again.  And now I can use it to find my writing voice, or to help with things I find more "me", or heck, sit on my tush and eat bon-bons! (That last is a family joke, no, I won't go and get bon-bons.)

So, there ya go.  Navel gazing in a nutshell.  (Which seems like it would be really uncomfortable, don't you think?)

Row, row, row, your boat... reverb 28

Well, I made Husband a happy boater.  I now have my Oregon Boating Card. 

Uh, will have my card, after I mail the certificate in.  If you have to take a boating course, please be aware, they say the test (this one) is about 3 hours. 

COWPOOP!  (Upgrade to proper swearing if you wish.)

I read quickly, the combined time for reading and testing the material over 2 days was closer to EIGHT HOURS!  But, I was able to get through it, slowly, agonizingly slowly, and passed with a pretty high grade, so I guess it works out.  But, gee holy cow crap, it was a bear to do!  I have had a MUCH easier time with FEMA classes, and those are meant to be intense! 

So.  I went out and enjoyed our sunshine, (although it's tempered with the concern that there is NO snow up in the mountains nearby, so I am hoping that we won't be paying for it this summer...  And I am yelling at the stupid tulips to go back to bed, it's January, why are they up three inches???), and asked Husband about renting a Havaheart trap.  He said one of his friends has one, and will check on borrowing it.  We then discussed a very rural, uninhabited area that we could put Mr. Raccoon, so he will hopefully not become someone else's problem. 

So, I am writing this short blog, and I think I am going to try and uncross my eyes for a bit...

***

Prompt: Achieve. What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.

Ok, folks, I am not doing this one tonight.  I am sorry, but as you read above, I have been working on passing a test online, and quite frankly, my dear...

Well, you know. 

I will try and hit it tomorrow.

The case of the Problematic Prints. reverb 26

(Oh, I lost .4 of a pound this week.  I'll take it!)

Got up for my walk this morning, and before I do, I feed. 

I went to put food in the cat's dish, turned around, and saw tracks.  Rudee has been sniffing about in one corner of the pole barn, so I knew SOMETHING was there.  I suspect that several of the 'catfights' that Tux had been in, might not have been with another cat. 

So.  I look, and there are these brilliant white footprints on the pallet.  (We feed the dog on the pallet.)  The tracks are white because we have some clay type stuff that when wet, makes a white track.  The dog and cat know enough to stay out of it. 

Sometimes, I do, too. 

Obviously, the raccoon doesn't care.

The little wet tracks are from Buzz.  The big white ones are from, we suspect, a raccoon. 

This is not good.  Raccoons eat chickens.  Raccoons eat cat food.  Raccoons eat dog food.  Raccoons fight with smaller animals.  Raccoons are a big pain in the butt.  The neighbor had a pet raccoon, didn't want it any more, and released it.  I wonder if that might be said critter. 

So, Plan A, get a "Havaheart" trap, see if we can catch it, and take it to the woods waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay away from here, and release.

Plan B.  Uh.  Sure.  We will get a Plan B... Soon.  

I want it gone for a second reason, our cats and dogs have been vaccinated for it, but raccoons can carry rabies.  Don't want to deal with that.  At all. 

Fun, oh, joy.  Dealing with ticked off cats isn't fun, a ticked off raccoon will be even more fun.  Thank G*d for Welding Gloves and heavy jackets...

News as events warrant.

***

Prompt: Soul food. What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul?

Ok, we are going include 'drink' in this, as it wasn't a food item, but a beverage. 

After going to the concert, I'd told Husband that I had a Thermos of hot water and some tea for breakfast in the morning for me (he doesn't like tea).  I think I slept about 4 hours...  I awoke, at the break of dawn, grumbled slightly about this fact, and then dressed and went to the restroom to do the morning abolutions. 

I managed to get the hair in some sembalance of order, face washed.  I was almost presentable to the human race again, walked back to the truck. 

Sitting on the picnic table was my tea.  Finished.  Sitting next to it, was Husband.  He looked up, and said, thought that you might like tea to start to your morning.  We sat quietly, my drinking tea, Husband rubbing my back, listening to the quiet of a morning, (and several people PROFOUNDLY snoring), and watched the sun rise over the camp.  I finished my tea, and he went to the truck and poured me another cupful, with a fresh bag.  We talked over the plans for the morning, and listened to birds start the day. 

Tom P. is cool, but he is no match for my Husband.

This is a blog, yes, it's only a blog...reverb 25

So, we are winding down the daily blogging.  I have found this to be an educational experience, but I have also come to the decision that daily is a bit much.  Let's face it, I have to come up with things, and on days like this, where the most exciting thing I did was laundry, things are a bit harder to get wound up writing about...

I have been looking on line a lot lately, it's been really weird on TV, can't get most of the channels.  One or two programs I want to see don't seem to be online, but I think I will live.  Very annoying, but I will live.  The strange thing, I don't know why, but I am watching TV less and have been reading a lot.  This isn't good or bad, just an observation.  Husband has been doing much the same.  (And since I have finally, but finally managed to get his subscription to a magazine he wanted, he will have more to read!) 

So, I think I will call this my blog, and see what's on the... (inter)Tube. 

***

Prompt: Photo - a present to yourself. Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.

This is okay, except for one detail.  Husband and I agreed, I don't put photos of me online. 

I will put this one up, instead.

Let's see, the image, my plants that I had just taken out of the green house and planted, taken by me, on my porch.

And what it reveals about me.  Obviously, that I grow tomatoes, and will use dang near any container when I need to plant something.  But I suspect that's not what the question was going for. 

I suppose it looks like my ideas of myself.  I am not finished "growing".  Learning, acting, DOing, getting new ideas.  And look at the amount of plants.  I don't do one thing.  Just off the top of my head, knitting, my writing, caring for my animals, gardening, walking, getting back to the guitar, (and still looking for the darn video... grrr...), blogging, drawing, volunteering.  And that is most certainly NOT an exhaustive list. 

And the greens.  Living, growing, trying to improve myself, become more than I am.  (And I recycle a lot, if you want to go that route.) 

And the kennel.  My animals are always about, somewhere! :)

I am sure I could think of several more words, (I don't think it's a thousand, yet...), but this at least gives you an idea of my thoughts on it. 

Movies for fun and learning, reverb 24

Good day from Hepzibah Catherine Marielle Funk, The Lady Formerly known as Cat. 
At least today! 

(LOOOOOVE it!!!)

Watched two movies this weekend, on opposite ends of the spectrum.  On the fluffy end, was Tooth Fairy, with Julie Andrews, and The Rock.  Complete and total fluff, just a fun bit of mind candy.  The Rock sure can act, he emotes straight from A to B...  Ahem. 

Then Mom and I went to see "The King's Speech".  Wow.  No. Let me rephrase that.

WOW!

I am not going to go into a full fledged review tonight, possibly more later, but if you get the chance to see it, GO!  Do not walk, RUN! 

The actors were amazing.  But I must say, there is one scene that just tickled me, it was so "British" in reaction.  The King and Queen show up at the house of the man that is helping the king.  The wife is gone for the afternoon, and returns early. (The husband hasn't told the wife that he's assisting the king with his speech problem.)  The poor wife walks in on the queen, in the woman's kitchen.  After a bit of protocol addressed to the wife, and the husband coming out with a "gee honey, I'm helping the king out, could you be a sport about it" attitude, the poor wife just looks absolutely shocked, and asks... If they are staying for dinner. 

I have no idea why this amused me so, except that I could sort of see something like that in my house... My husband, as far as I know, however, has no work set up for the House of Windsor, that I know of.  Pity, that.

My only one teensy, tiny problem with the movie, I know so many of the actors from other roles, I had to consciously block out, "he IS NOT playing Cadfael", and so on.  I have this same problem with other actors I am used to, in other roles...  If the movie is good (like this one), the dissonance leaves fairly quickly...  Thank Goodness! 

***

Prompt: Everything's OK. What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead?

Without resorting to a Tom Petty ditty, I don't know how to answer this question. 

I guess because all my animals made it (so far) through the winter this year?  That no one I love has been hurt or sick or died?  This question is just so... UGH!  I don't know how to answer. 

These are the frustrating kind.  Those questions like you had in grade school that you had to write a paragraph, and it was half your grade.  This one is half my blog, and it sucketh, yea verily! 

How will I incorporate the discovery?  Well, by continuing to feed and care for my animals, associate with my loved ones, and hope that the next question doesn't make me feel like I took an overdose of DUH pills!

HOT farm wear... Riiiiight... And the renaming of Cat.

(Ok, Blogger is being a S###, this was supposed to go up tomorrow.  I may or may not post tomorrow, accordingly... We shall see.)

Spew alert.  Put down the beverage.  This is a chuckle.  Ha ha.  Gaffaw.  Snort.  However you slice it, somehow I think most males in this area wouldn't be caught dead wearing this... Using it for the dog kennel, or to wipe down an oily mess perhaps, but actually wearing it?

Um. No. 

Found on this website, when I was reading Rural Revolution.  Anyway, finish your drink, and take a look.

What ARE those goofy strings hanging off the sides of the clothing?  Bailing twine, dyed to match???  Even if you don't farm, it just looks like a good way to get tangled in something...  So.  Um.  What do you want to bet this isn't going to be at the local feed store anytime soon?  (grin) 

And "matchy-matchy"?  Not exactly "macho-macho", methinks... (In fact, I seem to remember the side ties on some jeans that I used to wear when I was in high school, I don't believe the guys would have wanted to wear the 'girly' styles like that. 

***

Prompt: New name. Let's meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why?

This question reminded me instantly of a commerical for Las Vegas...

http://www.youtube.com/embed/5W-9pYOPoJ8?rel=0


Sorry, for the life of me, I can not figure out how to put this on there as the little screen thing, just click on the URL, it should work, I think... 

Anywho, er, a different name.  I go by my nickname Cat, or Knitcat, when on line, and I use Cat Lacemaker when at faire, (detect a theme here?). 

I dunno, continuing with the feline theme, Lady of the Cougar?  Cougar Lady?  (Maybe not, considering the connotations of Cougar anymore...) 

Wolflady?  Shewolf?  (Guh, that sounds like a character from a bad 70's cartoon...)

Cocoa.  'Cuz I am warm and sweet. (Gag... The name's all right, the explanation stinks!)

At one point I was going to go by my middle name if I became a famous author, but I like my first name better.  (Due to Husband issues, we won't go into either of those names... Gonna get me a Nom de Plume?)

So, let's see.  Dorothy Canby.  Just like the sound of it. 

Margaret Mary Megan Elizabeth.  To make people look twice. 

Mae West.  Because she was a woman that sounded like she had a lot of fun...

Elenor Benton Wainwright.  So I can fix wagons, or go on a trip to the gold fields in Deadhorse.

Ok, I guess I will stop there, I wouldn't remember who in the heck I had introduced myself as, at this point!

Bye for now,
Cat.  Just Cat

Sleepy, reverb 22

Sleeeepy.  Drowsy.  Zzzzz.

Do you ever wake up, and feel like you could just go back and take a nap?  That's how I felt this morning.  I walked, I have unloaded and loaded the dishwasher.  Writing the blog now...  Drinking decaffeinated tea. 

It's not helping.  Eyelids at half-mast.  Must. Wake. UP! 

Rudee chased two deer this morning, so at least he's happy and awake.  Vibrantly, excruciatingly awake. 

Lucky Dog...

***

Prompt: Travel. How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year?

How did I travel?  By foot and by truck.  Occasionally by car.  By boat.  That's about it. 

How and where next year? Lose enough that I could go to Alaska.  That would be nice.  Sturgis, for the motorcycle rally.  (Just one of those 'bucket list', dang-I'd-like-to-see-it-once things). 

How would I like to travel?  Oh, let's go a little crazy.  I would love to drive an Indy car. (I missed my chance xxx years ago when I was in Las Vegas, one of the hotels had this, and I didn't know about it until I left.)  I would like to ride a camel.  I wouldn't mind riding an elephant (I think I have ridden one before...) 

How about a llama cart?  That could be fun.  Dog sled.  Hey, if I choose the right time, I could do this when I am in Alaska, I bet!

I wouldn't mind going on a skateboard, skates, or a bicycle.  Knees have said this is not doable.  So. 

Any other method 'o movement that might be interesting.  (Space shuttle, anyone?)

green meme, reverb 21

My word.  I have a blog to write today.  I haven't the faintest idea what to put in it...  So, in minor desperation, I looked up Thursday Thunks. 

Oh, right, they quit.  Ok, now what?  Oh, looky, there is another, Monday Mayhem.  Now I have something to write about.  Or, at least, something.  Writing.  Yes.  Okay, so we start...

(Edit, sorry about the spacing, I don't know why it's so screwy...)

1. What is your favorite Green food?

Probably asparagus.  I can eat that stuff by the pound.  Spinach, too.  In fact, when I was in grade school, I would trade the garbage stuff on my plate (manufactured potatoes, anyone?) for the spinach.  The only problem was, other kids realized that I would eat spinach, and then I had fifteen or twenty servings...  Without trading!  I also bug Husband, I planted spinach, and Rudee and I would sit and eat fresh spinach from the window box.  Husband DESPISES spinach, and thinks we are both quite mental.  I think the jury is still out on who he thinks is worse... 
2. What is your most hated green food?
Pistachio anything.  Can't stand the taste of those things.  Tried pistachio ice cream.  What a waste of good ice cream! (Technically, I don't know if it's green or not, but any of the stuff I have tried with that nut is tinted green.)
3. What is green that grosses you out?
Small children with runny, drippy noses.  I can handle most other bodily fluids in a child, but that just seems to hit the power gross button.  I was studying to be an elementary teacher, and was in a kindergarten class.  One child had this line 'o slime running down his face, and I nearly vomited.  The teacher, a 20 some year veteran was unphased.  I was really, really snarked at for the rest of the class, since I couldn't "handle a little snot."  Ignoring the potential for a reply, I decided that classes where the children were old enough to blow noses might be a better choice...
4. What is green that you love?
Little frogs with black racing stripes, that hang out in my garden.  Little green shiny lizards that are up on the top of the hill.  Christmas trees.  Spring buds.  Inchworms.  Jello at picnics (that hasn't been sitting long).  Oaks in summer.  My faire bodice, but it's near retirement, it's been so well loved...  Seaweed. Moss on rocks by the river.
5. What is green that you never want to see again?
Snot nosed kids.  Ok, yes, that was a gimme. 

A deputy (ours wear green) crying because he had to inform a family that their son had drowned.  Sadly, I don't think that will be something that will go away...

6. Have you ever seen a green person?
My Dad, when we went out fishing, and the poor man got ever so violently seasick. (And I feel sorry for him to this day!)  A troop of kids on a train, who were highly hung over when the 5 am breakfast horn blew. (That I still don't feel sorry for, as they were first class jerks).  A man dressed as a tree at a renaissance faire.  A Green man at the Oregon Country Faire.
7. Have you ever been green?
Hmm.  I have been very ill, but I normally turn white, not green.  I don't know.  I painted my face green once, so I could be an Orion. (Yes, I am a Star Trek nerd, why do you ask?) 
8. Do you try to be green?
Yes, I recycle, I try to plant and grow things as naturally as possible, I try to re purpose things, rather than throwing them away.  I try to not buy unless I need.  (Yarn is need, right?  RIGHT??) 
9. What is the best green thing in the world?
Plants in spring time, just beginning to show bloom.  Especially when I have started them from a little dot of a seed.
10. What green thing should we avoid?

Doing something illegal in this county, or you will have a deputy's undivided attention.  Snot nosed kids.  Anything with Pistachios.  Mold? 
Thanks for playing and have a great week!!!
And thank you for reading!

***

Prompt: Future self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?)

1. Work on that book, it ain't gonna write itself.  And put down your notes in your notebook, so you can remember when you are writing if the character's name was Colin or Calvin, or Custer.  Believe me, a quick note saves lots of confusion!  Especially three chapters later...

2. Keep walking!  You are looking better, so says several, feeling better, so says feet, and hey, when you go to Alaska, you will be able to walk further, right?

3. No is a powerful word.  So is silence.  Use them both wisely.

Bonus. 
Y2K will be fun, you will get to see several dozen people stare at the lights simultaneously, to see if they go out, but it's a bust. 

You will find out your husband is not the cat hater he says he is, any man that will have three adult cats in a 30 foot trailer because "they were scared of the fireworks", and ends up having them sleeping on him as he lays on the couch, is most definitely a keeper.  (Especially when you find out he's allergic, and he takes shots for two years so you can still have cats around the place, even tho he mumbles it's just "to keep the mice down".)

You will join up with the Sheriff's Office, and it will be very rewarding, and you won't even have to man a radio.  You will find out, however, that paperwork, even though it's on a computer, seems to be the main export of most businesses in the world.  Let the typing commence.  And keep an eye on the deputies, it will give you lots of material for that book you want to write. Oh, and you will have one heck of a beautiful place in the future. 

And watch out for cougars.  Trust me on this...

My day, tweetingly? Tweeted? A bunch of Twits? Meh. You get the idea.

Slept in. Hey! It's getting light at 7 am, FINALLY!
-----
Walkin' up that hill, Rudee must be part ostrich.  His nose is in the dirt.
-----
Chicken house cleaning commence! (Ick!)
-----
Snif? Me?  UGH.  Bath time!
-----
Start the dryer, start the laundry.
-----
I think I am part cat. Love warm laundry!
-----
"The Case of A Place Called Midnight". I don't remember this Perry...
-----
Oh, now I do.
-----
But it's been a while...
-----
Obviously old, gun on a plane?  And BYOB?
-----
Grandma sent a letter.  Nice, but I wish she'd type.
-----
Need to send my Auntie G's wedding card.
-----
What's the weather for tomorrow?
-----
Husband looked while my computer still loads... Grrr.
-----
Beading a tree.  Sock to follow.
-----
Down to 5 knitting projects on the couch!
-----
Bargain book search. More books. 
-----
Knitpicks.  More yarn.
-----
So, where's the money tree?
-----
Well, need to go back to laundry...

(Ya know, this is kinda fun, in a "haiku" sort of way.  Still don't know if I will sign up for Tweetledom, but it does make you think small.  Which isn't normally how I write.  Or talk.  Or much of anything else...)

***

Prompt: Beyond avoidance. What should you have done this year but didn't because you were too scared, worried, unsure, busy or otherwise deterred from doing? (Bonus: Will you do it?)

What SHOULD have done, hmm...  Should have become a rock star, trashed a hotel room or three, had risque' liaisons with numerous people so I could write a tell all book.

Nah, that seems like way too much work...  Besides, I don't want to have to dye my hair.

In all truth, the "no" thing I wrote about is a work in progress, I am am figuring out how to 'unentangle' myself from a few things, and join some others.  News as events warrant. 

I haven't finished my barn quilt blocks, (mostly because I can't figure out if I want to do the one, or if I want to have more than one.  Husband is very patient about this, I think the longer I don't have it finished, the longer it will be before he has to put them on the barn!), But I do have 2 block patterns finished, soon to be three, if I would actually sit down and color them in.

I have actually started to write a bit on the book this last week, which hasn't amounted to more than half a page, but it's more than before I started, right? 

And I need to get going on my guitar stuff, but can't find the video.  I think I know where the books are, however.  (It's always something, isn't it?)

Technically, these questions also qualify as "should have done".  This was a group thing in December, and I was barely able to keep up with my email in that month, let alone do discourse on navel gazing...

So, guess that's about what I can think of, at the moment.  No hotel rooms have been harmed in the making of this blog entry... 

Feelin' groovy...

Ok, first, scale day.  228.8  Exactly what I was last week.  I would complain, but I didn't go up, and I have been noshing more than I should.  So. 

It ain't got a thing, if it ain't got that swing. La la la... 

Working harder for next week is a must.

This last Halloween, Mom and I wanted to get out for a bit, and we went to a costume store.  They had many, um, revealing costumes, some very strange costumes, some (IMHO) disgusting ones, but there were some neat things as well.  Lots of costume jewelry, hats a go-go, I think I tried on over a dozen, and came up with at least 3 ideas for knitted items...  I also found some 'devil horns' that were shaped like ram horns that tempted me, I thought it would be hilarious to wear them out some time and just see if anyone noticed.  (I have a set of goat kid looking horns that almost match my hair.  I have worn them out on some occasions with a red shirt, and when someone notices, the reaction is priceless.  Sadly, it isn't as often as I would hope...  Either that, or maybe it works to well with some people's assumptions? )  I could always say I am a Dodge Fan when I wore them...  Heh.

Anyway, one of the items that I just thought was so cool, was a hippie bag.  I showed it to Mom, and we looked it over.  I was really tempted to buy it, but Mom, having done sewing since she was small, looked at it, very unimpressed.  I, who am not particularly good at sewing, looked at what she noticed, and wasn't impressed, either.  The stitching was poor, several places the stitching didn't hold the fabric together, and the fabric itself was iffy...  So, I didn't buy it, but commented that I really did like it.

So, Mom said that she was bored the other day.  She decided to see what she could do from memory.  I think it is pretty close!  I think it's adorable, too.  Mom made a button attachment for it, and I am going to use it as a small knitting bag.  I think the brown is suede, the peace sign is a cotton flower material, and the button, I believe, is wood.   

 TA-DAAA!

***

Prompt: Healing. What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011?

Healed?  Didn't know I was sick.  Ok, I have been working on "healing" by losing weight.  Eating (somewhat) better, although some of my choices are highly debatable.  (But please don't, or knowing me, I will eat more of it in protest...)

One of my teacher talked about the body being a triangle, physical, mental, and spiritual.  So, the above was the physical part. 

My mental healing, learning that I have to give myself value, by saying no, and realizing that I can skip what I don't enjoy.  And trying to let more people know I appreciate them, not just assuming it.  Still working on that, however. 

Spiritual?  I guess the Meditation Area.  Giving myself time to be, without cell phone, email, MP3, just Rudee and a chair.  Sometimes this leads to prayer, sometimes to a mental equivalent of dial tone, sometimes to ideas for things, sometimes just a bit of time to scratch Rudee's ears. (He most especially appreciates those times!)  It makes me a bit more ready for the day, a bit less stressed ABOUT the day, and maybe, just maybe, a little more content. 

How would I like to be healed in 2011... Uh.  Less knee and ankle pain?  Less brain farts?  Be able to go on my "Country Fried 5K" this spring, or early summer?  How about, being healed of worrying about what needs healed...   : P

Racial profiling? This is a real reach...

I went to my spinning group today.  It's held in a local senior center.  This is not a problem, I love (most of the time) to hear the thoughts and stories of some of the folks there, and they seem to enjoy the wheel and finding out about what I am doing.  I even know exactly how we should solve all the government's problems, thanks to a trio of exceedingly opinionated gents that commandeer the snack table in the morning.

I have been asked many different questions about my wheel, my shirts, (I wear t-shirts with slogans and pictures, it's good for a bit of a conversation some days), and the ever present, what are you doing/spinning/making? 

The conversation took a... really weird turn today, however.

A lady walked by me, then turned quickly, and asked, "Are you American Indian?"

Now, any one who has seen me, would not realize that I am part Blackfoot.  In fact, I think I look like I am part Casper the Ghost, but I digress.  I quickly registered what she'd asked, and answered her, asking why.

"Oh, because you have long hair, I ask all people with long hair if they are Native.  I'm Cherokee."

Uh... Sure.  This woman has asked me if I am Native, because of my HAIR?  Would she have thought I was of African decent if I had corn rows, or German if I had those cute little side braids??? 

So, before I could escape go to my wheel, she asked if I had ever been to a pow wow.  I told her I had not.  She then told me that she'd been to a few, and that it would be good for my spirit to go to hear the drums.  I nodded politely, wondering if Steve Ferrone counted...  I managed to politely extricate myself from the conversation, and sat to spin. 

She then came over and asked if I enjoyed spinning.  I said yes, I found it relaxing, and fun.  She then said, oh, do you dream about it?  I told her possibly not that fun.  She then asked if I liked doing puzzles, (there was a group nearby working on one of those 5000 bit ones).  I said they were all right, but I was busy spinning and knitting most of the time.  She looked annoyed, and sniffed, "They make me want to whistle brass..." and walked away. 

I have no idea what whistling brass is, but from her expression, I figure it's not good.  But, she did finally decide she'd had enough of me.  I try to be respectful of my elders, but man, when you slide down that rabbit hole, you don't have a CLUE what's going to come by next!

(And if I cut my hair, does my nationality change?)

And since I had that goofy morning, I decided to share.  I had one of those strange, strange thoughts that you get at 2 am...  Can Santa Claus sue The Jolly Green Giant  for copyright infringement? 

***

Prompt: Try. What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn't go for it?

I think we've covered this.  I have already talked about playing the guitar, and my book, so I won't bore you with a repeat.

I suppose, trying to win the lottery.  How about that for trying something.  I have this little problem with winning the lottery, however. 

I rarely buy tickets! 

In fact, I think the last time I bought any tickets was a couple years ago, and I don't think that counts, since I gave them out as Christmas gifts.  (Sadly, no winners in the bunch, as I recall.) 

So, I guess, I will have to continue to live the beleaguered life of the un-enriched...  ; )

Sloshy sloppy slippery sliding. And that was just the first lap.

Rain, rain, go away, I really, really don't wanna do the splits today!  We have been having our rain here, snow everywhere else (except Florida, from what I gather), but we have rain.  This would not normally bother me. 

Except...

I found out that we have a type of soil that is slick.  I have walked enough that I have created a "dirt" trail.  This was a little spooky when it was icy.  But my boots grip pretty well, and my sticks dig in, so I had no big problems. 

Wet is another story.  I have to be rather careful, the boots slide, and the sticks sink.  This makes walking with speed almost impossible.  Then there are the puddles that have been marinating the llama beans.  (Or other... things.)  Splash! ICK!  I am happy to say that I have yet to lose a boot in the muck.  I am not so happy to say my laundry load is more filthy than usual... 

But, I am still alive and quacking walking, avoiding poo, and going for it, so all is well.

Squish...

***

Prompt: Lesson learned. What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?

I suppose the best thing I have found out about myself, is that I can overcome being a fluff head if I need to, and shyness can be squashed.  (And no, that's not two things, they are related...  Read on.)

I have a hard time speaking up for myself, and so, I just let people decide, oh, she is x, she can (or can't) do x, she won't (or will) x...  You get the idea.  They say this, and I have this stupid choking sensation, then don't say anything.  So X ends up being what someone else says, not what I might actually feel.  This is a pain in the posterior.  And I just grit my teeth, and say fine, then realize I don't give a rat's red rump about x, and people then think I am dork, because I don't do it, or forget to.  (Well, do you really want to do something someone else has foisted on you?) And then I get the fluff head award, because I forgot to do something, or didn't get something done.
 
For some reason, I have started saying a magic word, and it's helped a lot, solving the fluff problem, and works on the shy part some. 

Let's say it all together now, shall we?

NO.

I haven't been able to use it completely comfortably, but I am learning that "no" doesn't have to be a last resort.  I don't have to use it after trying to do something I didn't want to do in the first place, and then feel guilty about.  I can (GASP) just say no.  The world doesn't screech to a stop, throwing the llamas into space, pigs do not fly, causing Rudee to run wildly around in his kennel.  Might cause some people to think I am stubborn, or a jerk.  I guess I will have to live with that. 

At least if I say yes, it will be because I want to... And the time when I am a fluff head can be reserved for when I haven't brushed my hair...

cleaning, and reverb 16

One of those days that it's raining, I did my walk, and now I am ready to go back to bed.  Yes, I am that pathetic today.  Zzzzz.  Oh, right, blog.  Ahem.

On the "I did do SOMETHING front", I cleaned the table off in my craft room, and the writing/typing desk.  It is clear, now.  Before I break my arm in four places patting myself on the back, that still doesn't remove the umpteen boxes that are in the corner of the room, and the stacks of magazines that I need to go through and sort to see which I keep and which I get rid of. 

That's not even mentioning the basket I have stashed in the bedroom because I kept tripping on it in the craft room, and was afraid I was going to break, destroy, or otherwise damage... (the basket, not me...)

But, heck and half, it is a start.  I can see the table AND desk again!  For me, that's actually pretty good.

Now I just need to find a way to want to go through the boxes.  My biggest problem, I have stacked them in such a way, I need a pole, to poke at them, so I don't have them fall on me.  They aren't stacked REAL high, but since I have various sharp things, heavy things, and glass things, I prefer not having said things land on my FOOT!

Blah, blah, blah.  I know, do the Nike thing...

But first.  Something...

Yes.

Something.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

***

Prompt: Friendship. How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?

My friend has provided great perspective on the world over the course of several years.  He has shown me that moving is fun. (Mostly...  Sometimes he has to really encourage me, but most days I agree.)  He has given me laughter, especially when he is willing to do something silly, just to do it, not because he's worried about how he'll look, or whether it's a problem to someone else.  Albeit, that can create some minor annoyances, but we sometimes just both agree to look the other way.  He's proven that you don't need to spend a lot to do well, backing down is something you should do sparingly, unless it's the right person, and that a happy grin can do a lot.

I love my dog...

More or less halfway!

Well, this is the 15th, and I don't believe I have missed a day blogging this month.  I think, once I finish the 31 questions, I will go back to Wednesday, Sunday, and random days to be determined.  I find that I seem to be digging a bit for topics...  Let's face it, I enjoy writing, but I can get repetitive.  (And, according to the spell check, I keep screwing up the word "repetitive", but I digress.) 

So, it's been interesting here at Fur 'n Feathers Farm, there has been talk of people camping that no one knows who are nearby.  There is shooting, off and on, at hours that I am rather sure people aren't supposed to be hunting.  There is talk of starting a Neighborhood Watch group.

And guess who is the one elected to be the Law Enforcement go between?  ; )

I am fine with helping, but I am sort wondering if some of the folks don't realize THEY can call in 'suspicious activity'.  I haven't seen these mysterious campers.  I don't know where the shooting is coming from, though I have heard it.  But I keep hearing from the neighbors, well, since you work with them...

(I am overly sensitive, I am the very first to admit this, but when some of the folks say this, the word "them" is said with the same tone of voice to describe stepping on a slug with your bare foot.  You want help, don't make it sound like you are dealing with Satan incarnate!)

So, I have been checking with one of my bosses, who heads up Neighborhood Watch in this area.  I will have the first meeting at my house, I suppose.  Since the Great Cougar Party of 2010, people around here certainly know where I live!  (I think I am slightly jealous of that silly cat, more people have come to see it, than have ever come over to visit me. Jealous...  Me? Snort.)

As for the shooting?  Eeesh.  It's a fact of life in this area.  I guess I try to ignore it, but it did wake me up at about 2 in the morning... Somehow, I don't believe that's a legal hunting time... So, perhaps it's something that can be brought up at the meeting, by someone else, who might actually have a clue about where it's coming from?  Or am I just being unreasonable... 

Nah.  Unreasonable is what I said when the guy was shooting this morning... 

Or at least anatomically improbable.

(Small Edit.  Just so you know, I have gone to ACTION.  It's not much, by a long shot, but I have written a few sentences on my book.  It actually has a start now!  Let the turtles hurdle!)

***

5 Minutes. Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010. (Author: Patti Digh)

Without a doubt, I hate this question.  I guess I understand the reasoning, but having a family member that had Alzheimer's, this question struck me wrong...  But I guess I will play the game.

DING! Go.

Blood drawing for my 5th or 6th gallon.  Classes to help me learn what a Public Information Officer does, and finding out that I knew quite a few people there.  Cougars, cougars, cougars...  From the one that killed my llama, to meetings about others that have had problems with cougars, to talking with the deputies that have dealt with real cougars, stuffed cougars, and thought a dog was a cougar.  Finding out that a stuffed cougar takes up a HECK of a lot of wall space...  Tom Petty concert, seeing the guy I love to listen to on stage for real!  Seeing the Heartbreakers all going at it for one tremedous dose of power listening (well, with earplugs).  Walking the hill and finding I like it.  Losing ONE PANT SIZE!!!  Finding out I have a really smart chicken, as she can figure out how to fly over and get on my arm...

Ding.  You know, I would have probably had more written, if I wasn't trying to "beat the clock" and made quite so many typos...  And I think I see one or two still.  Pbbt.  It said 5 minutes.  That's five, folks...

Recipe for hilarity. Just add music. And a dog.

I think I mentioned I had downloaded some music yesterday.  I was walking with Rudee, and he is used to me singing. 

Did I mention I walk more or less by myself?

I found a couple songs that I added for fun, and one of them was "Get Down Tonight" by KC and the Sunshine Band.

So, I am walking, and Rudee is wandering around, and the chorus comes on, 'dance a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight, get down tonight.'  Well, I took a couple steps left, then gave a (low) kick, shake my tush, then two steps right.  More than likely the closest I will get to dancing when I am on the hill.  I was singing, too.

I did mention I walk by myself, except for Rudee?  There IS a reason for this.

Rudee turns around at the beginning of this little display, and he stopped dead in his tracks.  Just stared.  He cocked his head, and then took a tentative step toward me, like he wasn't exactly sure if I was OK.  Then I finished my little dance, started walking, he was fine.  The next chorus came on, and I repeated my little doings, laughing at his expression.

Rudee looked, then sat down, and just looked confused.  He didn't move, just watched me intently until I stopped 'dancing'.  He then followed me closely, like he expected me to fall over or something.  He even nosed me once or twice, like he wasn't sure it was really me.  I don't know why, but his concern was just cracking me up.  Laughing when you workout has to burn extra calories, right?  It sure makes it more fun.

I think, with this kind of reaction from my pet, I believe I will continue to walk unescorted.  If I freak the dog out, who knows what might happen with people...

***

Appreciate. What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it? (Author: Victoria Klein)

Oh, GLORK!  These questions sometimes hit me strangely.   This is one of those questions that I really don't know if I can come up with a answer for.  I could be completely shallow, and say my music.  I don't know that I 'express gratitude' for it, except by listening... 

Appreciate.  I appreciate my place, and show gratitude by trying to keep it up, and add to it (in fact, I am going to plant some baby, twig like trees I was given, with any luck, and the animals stay out of them, perhaps, I will have some more lovely trees on the place.)

I appreciate my family.  I show this by trying to help out when I can, and letting them know I appreciate them, though, probably not enough.

(Mom, Dad, yes, I do appreciate you.  See, it's in print, so it has to be true, Grandpa said so!) ; D

I appreciate my animals, and show it by trying to care for them the best I can...

So.  That's it.  I appreciate things, and I show it by trying to do something about it. 

(I try not to read these questions in advance, so I will answer without 'pretty-ing' it up a lot, but there are times, like this questions, that it not only isn't pretty, it looks like a dog's breakfast, after it went through the dog... Sigh...)

Sweet 'n Sour...

Scale day... Notsogood.  Up 1.4, so I am sort of grumbly.  But I know it was mostly salt, and a certain auntie coming by for her monthly visit, so I am trying not to knock myself down too hard about it.  Still annoying.  I had thought about weighing myself tomorrow to see if it was just a fluke, but I made a deal with myself, so to speak, that once a week was enough, when I was weighing myself every day, I hated getting up, because I knew that stupid scale was the next item on the list...  So, I will take the grumble grumble rackin frackin thing and try hard to do better next week.

Several of you have suggested alternating days of walking with days of weight training.  That is one of those things that I just don't seem to get into.  Maybe I haven't done the right kind of training, don't have motivation, whatever.  I try to do weight training, it will last, oh, a week, if I guilt myself a lot...  And, as a rule, I don't.  This walking thing I have been doing isn't exercise for me, it's just walkin' the dog.  That isn't really exercise.  Or at least it's what I tell myself.  So, I will keep looking for something that I can alternate, but so far, no luck.  Even if I did, though, I would have to make at least a quick run up the hill, to make sure that Rudee would get some deer chasing running time out in the yard, not stuck in the kennel. 

So, on the good side of the day.  That T-shirt that I have been wanting for some time?  The one that I couldn't mange to send a check to the company for, even though they said that there was snail mail availability to buy things?  That they kept running out of my size?  That I called the Customer (lack of) Service about?  Well, somehow, some way, I managed to get on the website.  They had my size!  I ordered.  It took!  Now will it accept my payment?  IT DID!  So, now if the delivery van doesn't blow up, or my order go into the bit bucket, or some other galactic mayhem, I will finally, but FINALLY  have the tour T-shirt I have been trying to get.  Mojo shirt to go with the Mojo socks.  Not much, in the great scheme of things, but it will make me happy...

***

Body Integration. This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present? (Author: Patrick Reynolds)

Walking has been one, but oddly enough, it's when I have taken road trips with Husband.  We go some place, we just seem to relax.  He (usually) takes his hearing aid, and is in a contained space, so he can hear me, I don't have 'things' to do, and we just talk.  Or listen to the radio.  Sometimes he holds my hand, sometimes I scratch the back of his neck.  I am usually the "turnoff lookout", he tells me which road, or flat out gives me the map, and I do a pointer dog impression when we are close.  But until then, we just enjoy each other's company.  Sometimes we don't even talk, but just watch the road, and what is going by.  It may sound strange, but with the exception of potty stops, I normally don't hurt as much, and we arrive in a good mood.  We've even been lost a couple times, and just worked our way out, 'gee, didn't we pass that building?  What direction were we going before?  Do you think the construction guy will know where this is?'  (Most of the time, they do!) 

(One exception to this was when we were first married, I had told him to get into the RIGHT lane, which he kept saying he couldn't, and we'd went around this block about a dozen times.  Finally I roared at him to pull over.  Showing him the map, he realised that I wasn't misreading it, we did need to go right.  We got to the port in time... To see the ferry leave without us.  We had some 'apart' time for an hour or so, so we didn't kill each other at that point, and have since worked out how to give directions in such a way that we don't have arguments.  Doesn't mean we are perfect by any stretch, but it does make for a more pleasant journey.)

Alapacalypse... Wow...

After all the warnings of dire bad weather, we had...  Grey skies, and not much else.  They are still warning of impending snow tonight, and there was snow a bit north of us, (Husband and I made a quick run for a Craig's List item he wanted to see), but it was not even frosty to speak of this morning.  It was muddy, for the most part, implying to me, at least, that the freeze level was a bit higher than yesterday.

I didn't walk yesterday, and ended up not doing much of anything, exercise wise.  Today I did.  It doesn't make sense to me, but I slept better last night, and today I seemed to work out better, with less achy-ness. 

Odd...

So, we shall see if I will speak too soon about the lack of an event the weather folks were warning of.  Considering the fact that on several of the blogs I read, there is flooding, snow, ice, and half a dozen other problems, I figure I have got it sooooo easy. 

If I can convince Husband that I can walk when there is frost outside.  I think that is the harder problem, really...

***

11 Things. What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life? (Author: Sam Davidson)

At the risk of these sounding suspiciously like resolutions, I will try.

1. Weight.  Lard = pain. Mostly physical, but I hate how I look with the less than delightful areas of overlap on my person.  Getting rid of it (as of this writing more than 20 pounds down!), I will hurt less, like the way I look more, and feel better!  Walking, better choices are working so far, so that's how I am eliminating them. 

2. Unnamed volunteer jobs that are a pain in the butt.  While I won't mention which ones, I have been working steadily on getting myself loosened and OUT of certain things that, while I am the GO TO gal, I just don't wanna be.  I will eliminate them... I guess by giving notice that I am no longer going to do the given job. 

3. Stuff.  When I can't find the floor, there is too much of it.  Find a home, mine, or elsewhere. 

4. TV as a thing to sit passively at.  If I am not using it as background, while knitting, or at least doing something besides sitting, I will have it off.  (And that goes for Hulu, too.)

You know, some of these questions are harder than others...

5. Mouthiness.  I will make an effort to think more before I speak.  Tends to make it a bit less 'step in it' feeling. 

6. Icky crap in the fridge.  Reaching into the fridge and having something you don't know what is, when it was put in, and why it's there, reaching back out, can be unnerving at best...  DATE ITEMS.  I have erasable markers, I need to use them.

7.  Papers.  I tend to hold on to papers that might or might not be useful.  I then have to toss pounds of paper at regular intervals.  Maybe skipping the middle man, and toss them unless I am SURE they are useful.  Betcha I won't miss 'em...

8. Over the top extreme caution to the point of ridiculousness.  I need to work on talking to people, they won't bite, as a rule (unless they are teen and tween Eclipse fans, from what I understand...  And that is only with significant others), and I really find that if I try and start a conversation, most times I find it nice, and occasionally fascinating.

9. Unrealistic expectations.  I am not in high school, I don't have the stamina  I did, and though I am improving, I doubt that I will be doing the over the top energy things I did then.  It's the drizzly blue baby s***s, but it's the truth.  Trying to deal with this by learning my limits, and trying NOT to ignore them so much. 

10. Leaking money for snacks.  If I stop buying candy bars so often, and put the money back, I can buy more music.  It lasts longer, and looks SOOO much better on my hips... (Well, okay, I wear the MP3 player around my neck, but you get the idea.)

11.  Oh, I am sure there is another thing I could think of to eliminate, but since I am getting to the point of goofiness, and thinking of resorting to potty jokes, I think 10 will have to do. 

Or... eliminating questions I don't want to deal with, by not writing an answer. 

Take your choice.  (Note: this is not applicable on IRS forms...)

Taxes... Old and New school. And frost.

Husband and I recently were watching a commercial on tax preparation software.  I commented that he'd used it before, didn't like it.  He grumbled, yeah, but I am going to have to now.  At least some kind... 

Hmm?

I guess our government is embracing technology with both arms, giving it a deep kiss, and sending it flowers.  They are now making it nearly mandatory to send in your forms via some method of computer.  It is supposedly secure.  (Wiki leaks, anyone?)  But, I guess I should be rational about this, the various stores and such have secure websites, and so on, so I guess it's not total hokum.  And, let's face it, mail can be stolen.  So, Mrs. Pessimist grumbles and will be buying a tax disk, this year, in stead of going on the hunt for form 327x for diesel exhaust manifolds, or some other bit of arcane paper work Husband needs. 

However... 

I watched the same commercial again, this morning.  Big letters in the ad,"100% accuracy!"  I happened to look at the bottom of the screen, and saw, just before it flashed to some other blather...

"Accuracy may vary."

Uh.  Cake = Eating Cake.  I thought that didn't work.  (Unless you have 2 cakes, I suppose.)  I really should see how they can claim both. 

I mean, that sounds like saying "Fats won't make you gain weight!"  "Unless you eat them." 

And, it froze last night.  I am writing this when I would normally be at my spinning yarn group.  I may pull out my wheel and oil her today, poor Glorianna hasn't had a good oiling in several sessions.  It is supposed to warm up this afternoon, so I will make a trip to the store and get 'supplies' (Read: Husband won't go into milk withdrawal...), and head back.  It's supposed to get stupid crazy tomorrow, then Wednesday could be the break off point, and supposedly we go back to 'warm' (i.e., above freezing) temperature after that.  But, I am not going to hold my breath either way, just make sure the animals have what they need, try and stay warm, and see if I can figure out some exercise to do while I can't walk the hill. (WAAH! WANT!)  I have some exercise videos, and I can do crunches, I guess. 

But Rudee somehow isn't into feeling the belly burn...  Belly RUBS, but not the burn.

***

What is the wisest decision you made this year (2010), and how did it play out?  (Susannah Conway)

Ok, I am going to say that I am talking about the T. Petty concert too much, and self censor, that was a wise decision, but I will say that it might not have been the only one... 

I was ready to quit a group I volunteer with.  I enjoy what they do, (re enactment), I enjoy my job (mostly, I am what amounts to the gift shop), but I had had it up to here (hand way above head!) with the folks I was dealing with, and had continually been told that it couldn't be changed.  I adored them as friends, but they had one way to do things.  My way rarely came into the equation. 

So I threatened to quit. 

This was to the new people that had taken over.  I really expected them to say fine, see ya.  I was so used to being told that "that is the way it is, we aren't going to change/do something different/try new things" that I was sort of twitchy, and ready to just take my 'walking papers' and go.

The new folks looked at me, and said, simply "Why?"

I let them have it with both barrels.  I told them about not being able to fire folk as I couldn't get others to replace them, I had to pay for items out of pocket, and on and on and on, and on!  I don't think I stopped talking for 20 minutes.  I finally wound down, and realized they were taking notes.

"So, if we got you some new people, and we paid for things, would you be willing to stay on for another year?"

I was so stunned I didn't even answer at first.  They agreed I had a problem?  They wanted to do some changes? 

GAH??!?!??

If I hadn't been twitchy before, I was most definitely twitchy now.  Uh.  You will take care of additional folks?

Yes, we will send as many as you need...

You will take care of the money?

Yes, we should have been to begin with.

Well, color me dumbfounded...

I went ahead and stayed on last year, and there were some bumps.  But, all in all, it was pretty good.  I still might take a sabbatical of sorts in the future, and see what it's like just to be a 'guest', but I will find someone that can do the job, and is capable.

And all because I threatened to quit. 

(And what did I learn from this?  Speak up, someone might listen.  New folks might just do things differently than the last folks did.  And try and not go "GAH??!??!" as a response to a question, it tends to make people look at you funny.)