Stream of Consciousness Saturday 20190309

Abashed

There is something In this world that can leave the averaged person abashed. Yep, the blue screen of death. When it appears on your computer screen. But I have a hero in my house. My own personal IT guy. Yep. My husband is the best! Though I’m still using my tablet, it is only because he’s running all the utilities (because I’m horrible at doing that.)

I started the morning feeling sad about my poor machine. I watched season three of Game of Thrones. I finished another hat like the last one. I don’t think you’ll be able to tell the difference. But here’s the proof.

And in case you think this is old news, it’s snowing.

Ever feel you’re in a timey-wimey glitchy thingy? Me, too. Don’t forget your clocks tonight.

Thank you, Linda, for the Stream of Consciousness challenge!

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday–Inter

Since the prompt of the day is any word that starts with inter-  and I wanted to share my newest interknitted interests.

I think this one looks like a pixie or a brownie or something from Peter Pan. The green eyelash yarn interknitted with the brown makes it look like punk hair or pixie hair!

I still have a few projects that take a lot of time going on interspersing harder looming with easier looming so as to keep my hands from hurting. So I am still working on the sock that you’ve seen before, and a baby hat that is double interknitted. Another doll needs stuffing and sewn together.

If only there weren’t so many interruptions that make me interact!

Oh, and let me interject the person who caused this verbal intercourse: Linda G Hill!

🙂

#A to Z Challenge–Y #SoCS on Sunday ;-)

Well, the prompt word for #Stream of Consciousness Saturday was Yard. Yeah, I’m a day late. I was too tired to think about our yard. Even though it was sort of warm, finally, it was too windy and I was too tired to do much more than stand there as Kali did her OUTSIDE thing.

Did I mention I was tired? Yeah. Went to bed before I had the chance to write the blog. Oops! Didn’t wake up early either. Still kind of tired.

Wish there was a magical person with a magical lawnmower to mow that green stuff that is near the house. That might create a yard. Then another magical person to knock down most of the foxtails and other yellow stuff before the fire season starts. Yeah, that’s the day after the freezing temps it will be 110 in the shade–Oooo–grumpy, too!

So, you can see, maybe why I wasn’t into this prompt. Broken hubby, bro working 6 days a week, me on the tail end of fibro-flare facing the word, YARD. Even if it weren’t the prompt word of the day it looms over me with a vengeance.

Maybe I could have enjoyed the thought that a yard is really 3 feet! Broken down even smaller is 36 inches. I tried this last year. I’d go out and work on the “yard” a postage size part of the ground at a time. Never got past the front porch and the back porch before the heat robbed me of energy and fibro killed me. But the postage stamp places still look better a year later, so I say if a yard is as good as a mile, an inch is as good as a mile. And didn’t I move here for the sky anyway?

ANYWAY…

This is my contribution to the #AtoZChallenge a day late and many dollars short.

#SoCS and #atozchallenge

If you want to know and possibly participate in this challenge go HERE. This is my first time so I am not quite sure what I’m doing. I just like having prompts to get the blogging done. We are supposed to keep this short but this may be long as I am also doing the:

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday is brought to us by Linda G Hill. Click her name to see how this works. It does help get the writing chops working.

So following both prompts here is today’s blog:

As it Applies: Anxiety, Adventure, Aches, and pains.

 

Thursday morning after a night of no sleep, I rarely sleep well when I know I have to get up early for something important, I got up and talked Kali into her vest, harness, and leash. I told her that today would be an adventure. She was pretty excited about wearing the vest because the last few times she got to go on walks.

When you think of doing something for the first time, you picture it how you think it will be. I pictured one of the bins we take to hold our groceries for a dog bed to sit next to me. Instead, I put her blanket next to me. Hubby took the bin up in the seat with him.

For my tailbone issue, I brought the

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EBDV9BU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1  

I found it more helpful to turn it upside down with the little grippy side up as it made it more firm. It did help the bumpy parts of the road not hurt quite so much but it still hurt my back and neck. But maybe turning to make sure Kali was okay, or holding her on my lap made it worse?

By the time we got to our first stop we had been in the bus for an hour. Kali and I were both feeling car sick. Not enough to make messes but just yuckie, ya know? Most folks get out of the bus and get breakfast. I don’t like most breakfast foods so I pick up Pringles. The tea and coffee are always too hot for me so I just picked up a diet Dr, Pepper. These help settle my tummy.

I felt naked as I walked Kali around the store. I don’t know why. She was very good. Heeled just where she should. No one said anything about her and there were many employees around that could have said something. So I gave Hubby my purchases and took Kali back out for a walk. The next get out was another half hour away.

A couple chips and swigs of pop and my tummy sorted itself out. While everyone was eating their breakfasts I tried to give Kali a drink of water and her food. She refused.

Once in the big town we dropped people off at their appointments. Hubby asked if I wanted to come with him but I felt funny about it. I told him we would stay on the bus.

Bad news? Hubby will need to have surgery on that shoulder. Apparently there was another chip on the top of the rotator so, yeah–not just one chip on his shoulder. LOL! Still, this is going to get more complicated and painful before it gets better.

I didn’t even get out at the dollar store. There are things I need that I should have checked to see if they had but I still didn’t feel up to it. And those stores are always crowded, even without people in them.

Most every stop I took Kali out for a walk. The weather changed in that short time, EVERY time! Cloudy, sunny, raining, windy. Windy was when I aimed us back to the bus. It was the first time I’ve ever taken bags to clean up after her. On our walks in the countryside there is no need. It’s all dirt. So this was a newness for me. No biggie, just needed to be more aware.

Even at Wally World I didn’t take her in the store. I just couldn’t handle –something. Too many people? Worrying about her? I don’t know. So broken shouldered Hubby had to do the shopping. We couldn’t afford much so it didn’t take long.

Meanwhile, it was fun on the bus. Everyone has stories to tell. We laugh freely. Our driver is such a wonderful person. Always cheerful and helpful to everyone on the bus. She has that kindness that is rare. I love being on her bus. It’s just the ride itself that kills me and makes me carsick. Think about the wealth of experiences all these seniors have. There is so much to learn from everyone. And there aren’t that many people. It’s a small bus so it’s most comfortable with fewer than 6 people because of how full it gets after everyone goes shopping.

All the people loved Kali and though they spoke to her and even offered her treats, they were respectful of her job and didn’t overwhelm us. In fact, after not eating all day, one of the ladies gave her a treat that she actually liked.

At the end of the day, we dropped people off at their homes. That was the bad part for me. Each house had a dog that runs up to say hi to the folks on the bus. Kali claimed the bus. I think she was protecting me. But I tightened her leash and put her on the other side of me with a NO. I still said hello to the visiting pups while holding Kali off. Maybe I should have given her a chance but I just didn’t want that kind of behavior.

When we got home Kali was SO excited she ran from room to room and doing that crazy jumping running thing dogs do when they are happy. I took off her vests and she did that shake it off thing. She was a very happy puppy then.

But I have had 3 days of exhaustion and pain from doing very little. I don’t understand it.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday–March

Stream of Consciousness Saturday is brought to us by Linda G Hill. The prompt today is march to be used in any way.

 

 

Harness–check

Vest–check

Leash–check

Crocs–check

Sweatshirt–check

Windbreaker–check

Treats–check

Oops–Sunglasses–went back–check

Forgot GLASSES!

Forgot CELLPHONE!

Forgot Water!

I didn’t realize I forgot those last three until a mile in. We just marched on. Kali quite proud to get to lead the way. We both wimped a little at the corner house with the three barking dogs. Kept a short leash and only a few whines and “Sh’s” but once past I let her lead the way. She knew where she was going and remembered her favorite marked spots.

When we got to the next big street she decided to turn. We hadn’t gone down that dirt street before so it was an adventure for both of us.

See that haybarn? That’s where we were at this point. WAY OVER THERE!

 

I was worried that we would meet up with loose dogs. In fact, I thought I saw one ahead. That’s when I realized I only had on sunglasses. Got closer and realized it was a Jack Rabbit. Duh! Now Kali was aware! We have great things to chase here! I told her we don’t chase them, they are bigger than she is!

Seeing the rabbit seemed to give Kali a boost. She gave off a more confident air and marched with her head raised. Even though we were the next official street over we could see the back of our house. That’s when I noticed I didn’t have my cell with me. I kind of wanted to call and tell Hubby to look out the window to wave, but alas!

 

We got to the next street sign. I couldn’t read it until on top of it. Then I saw that the sign had worn out so that only a bit of the word showed up. But in the faded background, I saw the whole name. I knew this street went straight through to my own. I also knew it connected close to a house with a loose dog. Gulp.

What I didn’t know was there are two homes between where we were and where we needed to go. Gulp number two. What if there were other loose dogs?

Safely by the two nice homes with nice little fences and no barking dogs, we got to the corner of our street. Now my biggest fear: DOG HOUSE! Luckily said dog didn’t come out to either greet me as has been in my experience in pre-Kali days, nor was that dog sitting outside. We got past that house with a bit of a ‘whew’ when from across the street we heard barking. I pulled the leash close and said, “Heel!” Kali stayed close. Dog didn’t come out. We were safe. I call that house (across from ‘dog house’) Statue House because there is a statue of a frontier guy in that yard. I don’t know the people of either house but I like their unique yards.

Now safe I told Kali to take us HOME. She smelled her marked spots and led us straight here. I pulled out a treat. She smelled it but didn’t take it. She just Marched to the back porch and into the house. As soon as I took off her walking garb I offered her the treat again and she took it to her bed and enjoyed the heck out of it.

Though a little tired, I marched into my room proudly to see if I couldn’t figure out how far we went. Are you ready for this? 2.3 miles! Yay! I know. It isn’t like those 6-8 mile trips we took last year but I am still alive after this walk. Those walks KILLED me. I think if I work up to it I will find those walks more fun. Especially with Kali!

She’s pooped!

An hour later?

Me:  Wanna go for a walk?

Her:  Again? Nah, that ‘s okay you go ahead. I’ll wait right here. Yawn!

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday–Man

This stream of consciousness is due to Linda G Hill, hehe. Come jump in and float with us!

Man, I can’t believe that I still had to take it easy today. Yep, another nap day. I did get some done on the sock, but did nothing on the hat. That one seemed to hurt my arms so I backed off.

Wow, I wish my stream was moving! I guess I shouldn’t have waited until nearly midnight. There are some really cool things happening but I don’t want to jinx them by saying too much before they actually do happen. One I think I can claim is that one of my Hat Hugger friends is going to start helping me with my German. She only spoke German as a child so school was a nightmare for her. And she is moving her mother in to live with her and her mother speaks German even better, so I dread and look forward to learning the vocal language. I feel pretty good about reading it and doing the exercises on Doulingo but I know my mouth barely does English so I will have to force that social anxiety even farther. It was fun to visit her little homestead and hear her talk about her Pferd and Enten und Hühner und Hunde. It must confusing for folks who learn English when they hear the Queen’s English and those from New York and those in the south and we, who think we have no accent, in the Pacific area. Because when I took German in college, the teacher said things one way, and then to hear the speaker on Duolingo, and my new friend’s accent, the difference is so far that it is hard to understand. Apparently, her’s is of the northern area of Germany.

The prompt is Man by the way. I thought I would use it more than just that first word. My man is still healing from his broken shoulder and still working on physical therapy on his other shoulder, so we try to find the humor and not kill each other when we have the barometric pressures adding to our discomfort. At least it is warmer now. But the rains still mess with the roller coaster BP.

Do you remember how we were taught that if a child or animal are very emotional you lower your voice to help calm them? Well, when Kali first moved here she would be shaking so I would get very close to her ears and tell her secrets like how much I loved her and how good a dog she was. She listened so intently and often adjusts herself so that her ear is right next to my mouth so I can tell her more secrets. It is so cute! Somehow I have to get a picture of that. I also like to give her little kisses right there near her ear. She listens so intently that she starts sounding like she whispering secrets back. So much adorability in one small pooch!

Okay, the stream has hit a damn. Kali gets the last bark:

Man and woMan’s best friend!
.

 

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday–Short

As usual, this #SoCS is brought to you by Linda G Hill. Click her name to pop over and see how to join the fun!

Today’s blog will be a little short. Not just because it is the prompt of the day, short, that is, but because I am fighting the flare from hell. That nice, sort of productive day yesterday? Yeah. Although it might not be the little tiny, short walk, but the spring allergens floating around our area.  So short blog, short slipper, doubt I’ll finish today. Short day due to naps.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday–Projects

Sorry I’m late to the SOCS, Linda G Hill, I was busy with all my PROJECTS. Yes, all those knitting projects have kept me going all day. I am nearly finished with one or two but they take the kind of concentration one needs as they learn new stitches. YouTube tutoring included. I’ll share again when finished.

Part of the reason I am late to the party was the weather. Yep, we got snow again, but with this system rolling in the bones and fibromyalgia knocked me for a loop and when I get to that stage the only thing I can do is nap and hope to wake with less pain. And that did work. Of course that means I may be up for another hour or so catching up on everything I should have been doing at naptime.

If it helps, I am reading your book: All Good Stories, now and hope to be finished tomorrow some time. It is fun.

Well, that’s all I got for now.

 

Stream of Conscience Saturday–How

HOW is this done? I know it isn’t real, at least I hoped not. But still, I posted this on Snopes on FaceBook hoping for and educated answer–where was it filmed, what is that fish? I don’t know how to photoshop but I had hoped for some answers as to how that can be done.

Those damn rope swings….. Like Viral Fishing

I’m not sure if this comes across as video. If not maybe this:

will help you find what I was watching and the mean-spirited answers. Okay, some of the answers were quite funny and there were one or two that I thought held promise for real answers. But this is SNOPES a place where asking questions shouldn’t be treated with such a lack of respect for the person or question. It seems to me that as a country we have taken on such judgmental attitude towards others that no one can feel safe asking questions. Where did the saying, “There is no such thing as a stupid question” go?

Here is what I presented on the flow of comments after that picture on Snopes:

“Just to address the elephant in the room. What is the stupidity you are disapproving of? That I posted it? That the fish is swimming in a shallow lake? That the guy is out having fun swinging on a rope over a lake? First, I am not a computer or photoshop expert of any kinds. I have seen the Discovery Channel River Monsters type shows so there are large freshwater fish out there–maybe not this large. And unless you are the privileged folk who have never had to swim in a lake or camp in the dirt, but who have never had the thrill of swinging on a rope swing into the pond, lake, river–hopefully over deep enough water not to get hurt (and I would have tested that out before swinging as I knew someone permanently paralyzed from jumping into shallow water.) The only person on here that might have hope is the one that took the time to not call names and just explain what it could be. This is why we are not having a good time with the other side of the political aisle. We can’t just be judgemental because our experience makes us superior, regardless of the words we use. It is the lack of compassion and the patience to educate that keeps us separated.”

How can we begin to heal if we can’t feel safe enough to ask questions? Sure some have fallen for ‘fake news’ and we have all been a little gullible at one time or another, but if others can’t feel safe to ask their questions or speak the truth they know without others bouncing on them with superior attitudes, how will the right answers ever be believed? And if there are no safe spaces to present our questions, regardless of our political or religious leanings, we will just create more and more fear and what we fear most will be what rules the world.

So do we take a chance of climbing on the swing and jumping in, or do we fear that unknowable and remain fixed in fear?

What can we all do about this? How?

This Stream of Consciousness Saturday is brought to us by Linda G Hill.  Drop by and join the fun!

Stream of Consciousness Saturday–Ham

When I mentioned to my hubby the word of the day, he said, “Which ham? Rosie, Teddy, or Kali? Between them you have a whole hog!”

Above starting at the ginger, Teddy. Black bump is Rosie. Kali is hogging the foreground. Hard to believe they can now get along like this. Now they have races up and down the hallway sounding like a herd of elephants!

Now back to the weather. Rain and snow predicted for the next few days. More adventures with Kali and friends to follow.

This Stream of Consciousness Saturday with prompt “ham” brought to you by Linda G Hill. Thanks for the inspiration!