1. What is your idea of a good holiday? Seeing the sights, lazing on a beach, hitting the night spots, getting away from it all……………….
My idea of a good holiday is spending it with those I love and care about. Now if you want to talk about seeing sights or petite on a beach, to me, that would be a vacation not a holiday.
2. You are offered tickets to a show. Which would you prefer, Opera, Play, Cinema, Entertainment, Ice Gala, something else?
If offered tickets to a show I would go see any of those choices, however, my favorite would be to attend a local play.
3. Have you ever won a sports trophy (or something similar for a particular achievement)?
No, I have never won a sports trophy or any other kind of a similar award.
4. What is your dream car (fact or fictional)?
My dream car would not really be a car ( in my opinion), but it would be a camper van. I long to own one and travel across America visiting every one of the forty-eight connected states. I would travel to see National Parks and monuments as well as visit family and friends in the various cities and states while traveling to my heart’s content.
I would rather bake a cake, but however, with a lactose intolerant family member we usually do not bake or eat cake. I have not found a lactose free icing recipe I really like and therefore we do not celebrate special occasions with cake. We do occasionally eat lactose free ice cream for special days.
2.Do you have your main meal during the day or in the evening?
If I lived alone, I would have main meal in the middle of the day, but since I don’t, we have it in the evening.
3. Do you have a sweet tooth or prefer Savoury food?
I prefer savory foods nowadays. When I was younger, I enjoyed sweet foods, but not anymore.
4. What is one food you absolutely detest?
Pickles, if I had to pick just one. I do not care for anything salty or vinegary.
No, I do not watch or enjoy reality TV shows. Years ago, I would watch American Idol, but lost interest over the years.
2. If you had the power, where would you send anyone you didn’t like?
Timbuktu. A place often referred to in the heat of the moment when one wants to be far away from someone regardless of whether there is a dislike of the person or just infuriated with them currently. Most times I would not want to send someone away permanently, maybe I might distance myself for a time, but would be better to just show kindness and ask the Lord to help you to understand and show love towards others.
3. Do you enjoy your own company and what do you do with your ‘Me Time’?
I do enjoy my own company and I think I always have. When I have “me time,” which is rare lately, I read and work on blog posts. I used to go on walks or hikes by myself, however, that is currently impossible as am the primary caretaker of my grandson. The only “me time” I get is when I can finally get him to sleep for the night which means I am awake very late into the early morning doing what I love to do, read and write.
4. If you wanted to change anything about your partner/pet/family what would it be?
If I could change anything about my family, I would change some of their habits like vaping, but I know I cannot do that, that can of habitual behavior change had to come from within themselves. I would instead change, if it were possible, our current living environment. I would live in a completely different and separate dwelling and possibly different environment than now. I would prefer, not financially possible currently, to live in a camper van and travel continuously across America visiting relatives and seeing parts of this vast great country I have never seen before.
Do you ever feel more excited about getting the package in the mail, rather than the item that’s in it?
I have long passed the time when I would be excited to receive packages in the mail. As for the item in the mail, I look forward to receiving items I have ordered but I would not state there were any excitement involved in receiving it.
What is the difference between your ideal self and your real self? (i.e. what attribute or physical feature would allow you feel the ideal ‘you’?)
My ideal self would have perfect teeth, a beautiful personality, and a gracious and loving spirit which would shine forth onto others. My real self has a flawed tooth structure, which effects how I look when I smile. Hopefully, others can see the real internal beauty and the love of Jesus through me.
If you found $2,000 on the ground and there were no witnesses, what would you do with it?
Regardless of whether there were any witnesses or not, If I found $2,000 or any amount of money on the ground (except for pennies) I would turn the money over to the local police.
Are you ever morally obliged to take action? Under what circumstances?
Yes, I (we) am morally obligated to take action. I am morally obligated to treat myself and others with respect and dignity. I am morally obligated to always be honest with myself and with others. I am morally obligated to show kindness and compassion to everyone I meet. I am morally obligated to work hard and be cooperative with others. I am morally obligated to be grateful for what I have been given and for the love of God, my family and friends and my country. I am morally obligated to assist in any way I can when the situation arises and there is a great need. I am morally obligated to keep my word, no breaking promises or commitments. Under any and all circumstances, these moral obligations should be withheld.
Remembering my first teacher at school is not something I can do at the present time. However, I can remember a few of my high school and college professors. I remember one of my high school English teachers being named Mr. Watson. I remember him more for his name than any of the lessons he taught. His last name, Watson, is my mother’s maiden name.
2. What was your best and worst subjects?
Best: My best subject in school was mathematics, at least while I was in high school. In college, the math classes were of a more advanced level and of greater difficulty than any I had ever taken previously so I struggled somewhat to the point of needing a tutor to help me better comprehend the principles being taught. Worst: I always had a harder time in my history classes than any other subject. Today, I enjoy history as it pertains to my ancestral heritage.
3. Were you encouraged in class or did you just muddle along?
I think some teachers were encouraging while others I just muddle through the classes. One of my junior high teachers encouraged me to do research as a means of improving my grade in my history class. I loved to do research and write reports on what I learned regarding the requested topic.
4. Would you like to be a student today?
Would I like to be a student today? Not in the formal sense of actually having to attend classes, take tests, or turn in assignments. However, I believe we are all students in life, ever learning and growing in wisdom and knowledge.
Here are this week’s questions (my apologies if I have used any before):
1. How well do you know your immediate neighbours?
I do not know the neighbors directly next door to us. The apartment to the left of us ( if you’re looking outside) is currently vacant and only see the ones on the left occasionally as the enter or leave. I have met a few of the other neighbors when Coleman and I go out walking.
2. Do you notice changes in your neighbourhood : ie. new car, new dog, home improvements, etc.
I really do not notice changes in the neighborhood, not dogs, cats, cars, or home improvements. I sometimes notice when yards are decorated for a season like several in the area are now decorated for Halloween.
3. Should new neighbours move in next door, do you introduce yourself once they are settled in?
We recently (just this week) had neighbours move in next door. The new neighbors are a single woman with three girls and one son. The youngest, a girl, is only a year older than Coleman, my grandson. They also have a very lively dog named Asha. Introductions have been made and they are still in the process of settling into their apartment.
4. Have you ever had to complain to your neighbours?
As of yet we have not had to complain about any of our neighbors. Hopefully, we won’t ever have a need to do so.
No, I do not care for change. Change of seasons is expected, however, I would prefer to have spring or fall weather year-round. But then I would need to move to even come close to that happening. As far as other types of changes I would prefer not to have change, but if change was necessary then I would plan ahead and prepare myself accordingly for the upcoming change.
2. Can you remember the last time you had to use an operator service?
No, I cannot remember the last time I had to use an operator service. Now if you are referring to an automated customer service, then that is a different story. I hate automated customer service lines when you do not get the opportunity to speak with an actual person or have to go through a tremendous number of loops before the automation will transfer you to a live person. In that case, it would have been last month.
3. What is the best and worst ‘hold’ music you have had to listen to?
I would not know what the best or worst ‘hold’ music I had to listen to would have been. I tend to not listen to any ‘hold’ music.
4. Do you find numerous ‘options’ annoying when connected to an automated service?
Definitely. As stated previously, I abhor automated service regardless of whether it is automated customer service or any other kind. I would prefer to speak with a person whenever I had a problem or circumstance which needed attention immediately in order to be resolved.
How do you get on with your in-laws/partner’s family? Unfortunately, they are no longer around, and neither is my spouse. when were we first married, we got along well with one another but after we moved to a different state we drifted apart.
What is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to you?I am not sure what the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. While I was working, I was always told I was dependable. Since I’ve been retired no one says much at all except for What’s for supper? Even so, I think the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me was “I love you!”
What was your favourite ride/stall at a fun fair?It has been an extremely long time since I attended a fun fair. In fact, I do not think I have visited one since I was in my late teens. In the 1960’s my dad entered his model cars for display. He had some first-place ribbons for his model car displays. I do not ever remember going on any of the rides, only going through the exhibition halls looking over all the many various exhibits.
Would you like to be a child growing up in today’s world?No, I would not like to be a child growing up in today’s world. Growing up without technology, being free to roam the neighborhoods without fear of violence was a wonderful time period in my life. It was a life of enjoying the outdoors and not glued to a phone, a computer, or anything. Loved riding my bike of handmade skateboard outside (No helmet necessary back then).
1. What makes you smile at the drop of a hat? My grandson is what brings a smile to my face at the drop of a hat. He can be aggravating at times when he doesn’t listen and follow through with what he has been told. At other times he will come up to be and ask for a hug. I could I resist. I can’t. I have to smile and give him his desired hug and tell him I love him.
2. What makes you angry? People that hurt other people and do not even realize their doing it. I’m not taking about hurting someone with physical violence, but instead by using insulting words, undue badgering, and a controlling nature.
3. What saddens you? Losing loved ones is what saddens me the most. Whether close or not doesn’t matter, as much as the sad fact that I’ll never in my lifetime see someone again, nor be able to talk with them. So much I would have like to have asked them and wish had spent more time with them. Even the departure of someone I considered a friend is heart breaking, it is saddening.
4. What do you find most frustrating? I am most frustrated about my inability to financially afford to do the travelling I so desire to do. I so thought that when I retired, I would be able to travel and see friends and loved ones I haven’t seen in a while. I had plans and then Covid it and shut everything down making it impossible to travel and see some of the people I had wanted to visit. It became impossible when they lost the battle of their lives due to Covid. Maybe someday my frustrations will be alleviated.
1. Do you prefer a sofa (aka couch, settee) or an armchair to relax in? I’ve almost always have sat on a couch to relax in. However, my preference is to relax in a Rocker Recliner, where I can have the options of sitting, rocking, or reclining.
2. Do you prefer to sit at a table to eat your meals, or on a tray? I grew up always sitting at a table for meals. Since being on my own, I have not always had a table and chairs to being able to sit at to eat my meals. Therefore, I have used a tv table tray to eat my meals.
3. Do you enjoy a glass of wine with your main meal? No, I do not enjoy a glass of wine with my main meal or any meal. I have never been a wine drinker and gave up drinking any kind of alcohol many years ago.
4. How do you like your chips (aka fries), with salt, sauce, mayo or something else? I rarely eat chips or fries of any kind. However, one the slim chance that I would eat them I would eat them plain and unsalted.
Di at Pensitivity101 hosts Share Your World and here is a look into my responses.
Do you like to sunbathe on the beach or by a pool? No. I’m not saying a never enjoyed sun-bathing, but at my age I do not care to lay out in the hot sun.
Have you ever used a fake tan or a sun bed? No. I have never used any fake tanning lotion, spray, or other type of fake tanning. I also have never used a tanning or sun bed. what’s the point in subjecting the body to potentially harmful rays.
Have you joined or wanted to join a gym? I have joined a gym in my younger days but hadn’t until recently. I just last week joined a YMCA. I figured why not? It did not cost me anything. It is included with, my Medicare Advantage coverage.
Good health permitting, would you prefer to go hiking or take a walk in the woods? Why choose between hiking and a walk in the woods? As long as my health allows, I prefer to go hiking in the woods.
This is my entry for Di at Pensitivity101 hosts Share Your World and here is my response for the week.
Growing up, were you closer to your mother or father, or was it a balance of both depending on the circumstances? Growing up I was always closer to my dad. It was never a balance and when he passed away in 1996 apart of me was lost. What little there was between my mom and I became nonexistent sad to say.
What was your favourite toy as a child, and do you still have it? I’m not sure that I had a favourite toy growing up, however, I do have a red and white stuffed monkey with a banana in one hand that I have had since I was about five years of age.
Did you have any secrets? I don’t really have any secrets, but that doesn’t mean that I tell anybody and everyone about my life history. My life story is mine to tell when and if I choose.
What did you want to be when you grew up, and are you anywhere close? I’m not sure if I remember what I wanted to be when I was in grade school. It might have been a teacher since I played school occasionally. The closest I came to being a teacher was being a substitute teacher for many years. In high school I thought I wanted to be a nurse and took a nurses aide class my senior year. In college I never did very well with the science classes especially anatomy and physiology. The closest I ever came to being a nurse was working as a nurses aide for a couple of years. After I got married, I became a teacher, nurse maid and many other things to my family. My oldest son has/had dyslexia and the school didn’t think it was something they Neto work with; therefore I taught him at home until he went to middle school. In my perspective, a mother (or parent) performs many diversified roles throughout their child/children’s life’s.
Gratitude Gratitude It’s not happiness that brings us gratitude. It’s gratitude that brings us happiness.
Children aside, do you celebrate your birthday/anniversary or is it just a normal day for you?
For me, my birthday is just an ordinary normal day. It is not recognized by my children. Oh, I wish and long for acknowledgement, but henceforth it does not come and by nightfall I am disappointed.
Do/did you always give your child a birthday party when they were young?
I did not always give my children a birthday party. However, when I did it was usually just with family including cousins.
If your child was born on Christmas Day (or a few days either side of the 25th), did they have a ‘half birthday’ in June, two presents/celebrations, or something else?
None of my children were born near Christmas, but I do have a good friend and an “old” neighbor who was born the day after Christmas. If I remember right, and I might not, his parents tried to make his birthday special & not just combine his birthday with Christmas.
I do have a daughter that was born on “traditional” Memorial Day (traditional meaning before they made it always on a Monday). We tended to celebrate her birthday with the patriotic theme of red, white, and blue.
Would you prefer to give your child a party, or take them and a few friends on a special outing?
A party is nice, but also a lot of work and expense. When my children weren’t so young, I took them out to a restaurant of their choosing. I remember, in my teen years, my parents took me out for my birthday at the restaurant of my choice with cake and present(s) at home afterward.
A Red Rose Bud for my birthday (Not really my rose, but I can dream) Photo Credit: (c)Deb L. Waters
As a side note, today’s my birthday. I spent the day with my grandson, Coleman (But then again, I usually do). We took the city transit bus into downtown. His first time on a bus ride. First time for both of us in this area (we only moved here in February). We rode the bus downtown and then walked a short distance and hiked the Highland Rail Trail. (He loves to go hiking). The paved trail was just 1.8 miles in length one way. We stopped shy of the end of the trail and walked back to the bus station to wait for the bus to return home. (Coleman was ready to go.) After my daughter got home, she insisted on us going out to eat for my birthday. We hadn’t done that in over three years. We went to a new to us restaurant called Noodles & Company. World Kitchen. It serves many different times of noodle dishes. Italian, Asian, Vegan, and more. I had the Zucchini Pesto with Grilled Chicken. It was delicious. My grandson had the kids grilled chicken, but he was too antsy to sit still and eat. (He fell asleep shortly after we got back home). I did very much appreciate her thoughtfulness. My sons couldn’t bother with acknowledging my birthday. I am thankful for my online friends new and old who sent their birthday greetings. No body wants to be forgotten on their birthday even if they don’t care for celebrations.
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