The Holiday for the Rest of Us

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I’d like to wish you a Happy Festivus!

What am I talking about? My parents were huge fans of “The show about nothing.” Even today, over 25 years later, we can’t have soup for dinner without one of them talking about the soup Nazi and usually when it’s about time Dad for to set up the Christmas tree he starts talking about Festivus.

Unfamiliar with this holiday?

I was, too. It’s a show I didn’t watch, so I googled it. Festivusweb.com explains the entire celebration.

When I think about it, this post was really a post about nothing, too. Fitting, don’t you think?

Herd Mentality

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Today my “assignment” was to pick a picture from four and use it as inspiration for a post.   I kind of cheated. I knew what I wanted to write before I saw the pictures, so sorry if you don’t see the correlation; I’m going to try. I picked a crowded train station, probably Grand Central Station.

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I am probably the only 30-something who has never seen “Star Wars.” I don’t plan to, either. I hate science fiction. I watch the ABC affiliate of the news in Los Angeles. Since Disney owns ABC, and now the “Star Wars” franchise, it seems for months “Star Wars” is all the news has talked about.

We got to see a huge movie prop, I guess it was, travel through the streets of Los Angeles for the movie’s premier. Actually it might have been “Breaking News!” on TV. And don’t forget all of the people dressed in their costumes waiting in line to see the movie.

In all fairness, those folks probably didn’t see why the herd followed “Downton Abbey.” I was definitely a sheep. I loved the show.

Okay, maybe I do get it. I guess it’s okay to go against the grain. Sometimes you might find it’s refreshing not to follow the crowd.

Flower Children

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It’s day three of Everyday Inspiration. Today I had to pick a word from a list of 5 or 7 and have that be my inspiration. I chose the word “love.”

Even as a kid my favorite flower were pansies. They just look happy. Like they are smiling. Seeing that flower reminds of chilly afternoons with me riding my bike in front of our house watching Mom and Dad plant pansies in the front yard. The mountains visible from our house are snow capped and although the air is nippy, I’m warm in my sweatshirt.

I think it’s the nostalgia I like. Besides it being a pretty flower.

Last year I got a pansy growing kit for Christmas. Mom saw it as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things. It’s kind of creepy, but you can grow flowers in mason jars. The seeds were planted a couple of weeks ago, and now I have my flower children.

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As you can see, they have a lot of growing to do, but I already know the pot they’ll go in; it’s high up, away from somebody’s nosy paws, but directly in view from my bedroom. Every time I see my pansies all of those nice childhood memories will come back.

Brought upon by a flower.

I Love Christmas, But…

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Day 2 Assignment: Lists

Let me preface this post by saying that I am not in way a Grinch or Scrooge. I LOVE Christmas. But for day two of Writing: Finding Everyday Inspiration I had to come up with a list.

Although I’m no Grinch, there are some things that annoy me about this wonderful holiday.

The 12 Annoyances of Christmas

  1. The church up the street from us having their tree up since Halloween.meme-christmas-600x456
  2. Everyone, especially stores, “celebrating” so early.
  3. Gaining weight (can you say “good food?”).
  4. Commercialism.
  5. Cold (although today is about 60 degrees here and it’s freezing to us, the rest of the country would probably kill for that).
  6. Crowds.
  7. Pressure of finding the right gift for everyone.
  8. Candy canes (not really an annoyance, I just can’t stand them).
  9. Not being able to put my tree up in my room this year (sorry, small black puppy, I’m not really annoyed…).
  10. Any Elvis Christmas music.
  11. Having to burn a pine-scented candle for a Christmas-y smell (our tree is fake).
  12. Sports on TV on Christmas (I have no idea why it annoys me, it just does).

Now You Know

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I know I started the WordPress “class” yesterday, but I decided that I would do my assignments when I don’t like the prompt and wasn’t going to write a post. Today, though, is a post day.

Okay, something in my life is maddening.  Rather, someone in my life: myself.

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I’m one of those people that gets all excited at first, but then either get bored or quit when it turns out to be harder than I expected. It’s also embarrassing. Mom, who retired as a medical editor, is also now a writer. She and “I” wrote a memoir.   I use quotes because it was about ninety percent her, ten percent me.   Mom researched editors, publishers, and queries. I would have quit long ago.

I’m good at the goals. It’s the follow through that’s lacking.

I have two resolutions this New Year (I normally don’t make them because I know how I am).

Number one is to regularly donate to Loma Linda University Hospital’s Cheerful Encounters program. It’s a program where you can donate simple things like travel sized toiletries, soduku books, etc. to patients.

Number two is much harder. It would take several essays, but I’d like to write them to explain how I went from basically being an atheist to working with a Christian charity.

I’m hoping since you all now know that I’ve made two resolutions, I have to keep them!

Good Question

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Courtesy smoosh.com

I’m currently in WordPress’s “class,” Writing: Finding Everyday Inspiration.   I am going to try to keep up, but I completely forgot about Christmas when I signed up.   So, I may get backed up, but my first assignment…

Day 1: Why do you blog?

My answer to this question has changed.   Like I said in my “About Me,” I had a blog about my life, in general. I had hoped to connect with people in my same situation. But I guess if doctors, with all of their experience, have never seen a case like mine, I wouldn’t find it with a blog. Plus, my life is a challenge, often frustrating. The last thing I wanted to do was to reflect on that, I found.

When I think of “follies” I think of something just fun. Some people scrapbook for fun, others collect stamps, or stargaze. Me, I write. I like the mental challenge and, being nonverbal, it’s like I am speaking to the entire world!

So, I guess this blog is something fun for me. A hobby, if you will.

There. Day One of class done–many more to come!

Is It The End of December Already??

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Less than two weeks till Christmas (and less than three of 2016, how is that possible?). I’m almost done with my “shopping.” Our family is donating to charities again, and I know the charity for Kelley, I just need to do it.

I guess until I do I shouldn’t judge, but driving to dinner last night we passed a shopping center. From the freeway I couldn’t see all the stores, but I know Barnes and Noble and Best Buy where there. Needless to say, their parking lots were full. Poor Mom does grocery shopping at Target and why she doesn’t say “Oh, the heck with it,” and flee, I have no idea. This time of year there should be a “I’m-not-Christmas-shopping-I’m-regular-shopping” cash register open.

What I don’t understand is Christmas isn’t like, say, Easter. The date has always, and will always be, December 25th. Why do people act like it’s a sudden surprise come mid-December?

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image courtesy of demonsinmybritches.blogspot.com

I can understand why people like to be out in the hustle and bustle of a festive environment, but when that environment includes harried shoppers and tired kids, count me out.

Overachiever (Is That Spelled Correctly?)

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All of these WordPress words, there have been more than a few that I’ve had to Google their definition, I’m afraid, reminding me of a spelling bee.

I remember, barely, representing Mrs. Compton’s fifth grade class in the school bee. I don’t remember what word got me out, but doesn’t mystical sound like (and look like) one that could? Mystical. It’s tricky for a child. Should be mysticil, I think.  Until I see it. Then neither seems right!

I watch the national spelling bee on TV, and it’s definitely not good for the ego. Children (one contestant a first grader, meaning he’s six), are spelling ridiculously long words that someone in their 30s, meaning that I have 27 years of life on them (I had to use a calculator), couldn’t necessarily spell

Here is the youngest contestant from the 2016 bee, spelling the longest word I have ever seen:

I think when I was six, I was using our dog as Barbie’s school bus. In my opinion, this child has too much time on his hands.

I questioned whether or not I should write this post. I didn’t want my readers to feel inferior to a six year old.  But misery loves company.

Fleece Navidad!

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This post is a bit of a cheat as the only thing it has to do with the prompt is the word “horizon,” and I might do another one that truly has to do with the actual prompt, but for now…

Unless you live in a cave, you know that Christmas is on the horizon. Commercials are all Christmas related, either for toys or showing a frigid winter scene, and I listen to the Holly station while I write or do my Christmas business.

This morning I was in a particularly festive mood. I don’t know what it was. Maybe wearing my “ugly” (I use quotes because I don’t find it ugly at all) Christmas sweater bought by Mom and Sarah. They said I could not wear out of the house, although I would if I could. The whole thing doesn’t show up in the picture, but it says, “Fleece Navidad.”

Because of the mood I was in, I decided to go all out. I’m also wearing my Christmas socks (which you can’t see) and I’m under my “tree” (a certain black puppy visits my room and I didn’t trust her with a real tree; maybe next year).

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Happy early holidays! I hope this post finds you in a festive mood!

Retreat

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Imagine, if you will, it’s 5 pm, I’ve already had dinner (dad is obviously out of town), and I’ve turned in. Hey, I had physical therapy this morning and I’m beat—please don’t judge. Not turned in to go to sleep, mind you, but to relax beforehand. My DVR has some good things recorded: “This is Us,” “Code Black,” “Intervention.” Or, I might choose to read on my TV using Apple TV, where my book shows up on my TV because of the mirroring feature. Another option is watching streaming Netflix. I’m on a “Fuller House” kick now.

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The electric blanket is on and Maggie might be on the foot of my bed. Although nothing is supposed on top of the electric blanket, a 30-pound dog doesn’t count on a chilly evening, does it?

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I signal that I’m ready for bed at nine (I am an early riser) using an app on my iPad that flashes a light in the family room for Mom and Dad.

Although I turn in early, I love my bed. You would probably agree with me when I say that sleep—your bed, period—is very underrated.