Thursday, July 29, 2021

August Diversions

 



1 - National Mahjong Day

I’ve always wanted to learn to play Mahjong. I just love the various versions of the tiles. There are several online solitaire versions of the game that I play. Those are mainly matching games. The real game calls for some strategy, which I pretty much suck at, but would like to give it a try.

 

 


8 – International Cat Day

Anyone who knows me even slightly knows why this day is special to me. As the saying goes: “My cat is best cat. Your cat is also best cat. All cats are best cats and that is science.”

 


 

13 – National Kool Aid Day

Invented in 1927. I don’t know when they came out with sugar already in it, but those first batches were mighty sour to MY taste buds! That’s what we had along with store-bought hard cookies at VBS in the summer. Yuk! It’s very versatile, though. You can color Easter eggs with it and I have an outstanding recipe for orange mandarin salad that is a great dessert.

 


 

18 – Bad Poetry Day

I was MADE for this day!! I can crank out bad poetry all day long! To celebrate this day, you don’t just write bad poetry, you need to read it to someone! So here’s mine:

 

Alas! Alas!

My empty glass

Mocks me now.

I’m all forlorn.

 

No more to drink.

Life’s a fink.

All I do

Is mourn.

 

 


19 – National Potato Day

I do love me some spuds! I think of the scene in Forrest Gump where he’s listing all the things you can do with shrimp. You may not be able to do as many things with a potato, but what you can do is always enjoyable. Fried, boiled, mashed, baked, even raw. Yum! There is a wonderful little song in praise of potatoes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Co4YI_Vsmg

 


Thursday, July 22, 2021

Avoiding Social Commitments



Most of us at one time or another have faced a social event or commitment that we did NOT want to take part in, but didn’t have a really valid excuse. The following was written with the help of my granddaughter, Lia. Even if the excuses are specious, they just might keep people from ever asking you again…

 

“I’m sorry, Ursula, but I can’t (whatever the occasion) because when taking my meds, it left pill residue on my tongue. I’m sure you understand.”

 

“Oh, Tristan, I can’t. I got NO sleep last night. There were lizards on my ceiling!”

 

“I’d love to, Bentley, but I’m afraid I’m going to be too busy rounding up the skeletons that escaped from my closet.”

 

“I wish I could, Kendra, but I have to write my will. You never know just when the Grim Reaper is going to visit…”

 

“Gee, Rowan, it sounds like fun, but I set that time aside to alphabetize my spice rack.”

 

“Maybe next week, Tinsley. This week I’m prepping for a colonoscopy.”

 

“I don’t know, Marlowe. Can I bring my dog Bootsie along? Poor thing has been suffering projectile diarrhea and I hate to leave her alone. I’ve got protective pads to lay on your floor…”

 

“Oh, Esme, I wish you’d asked me last week. I was free then. Now I have all these cats.”

 


 

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Unpopular Opinion – Lia’s Version


 

The guest blogger this week is my granddaughter with her own take on her dislikes that most people seem to like.

***

My top ten dislikes:

 

#1- clocks ticking

    I have no idea why, but not only is the ticking of a clock annoying, it’s also frightening at the same time. I’ve always felt like the ticking gets louder and louder each tick as if it’s counting down. I know some people feel like a clock ticking is relaxing, soothing. But for me it’s the exact opposite. It’s like the clock is telling me that I have to run from something or constantly look over my shoulder. What is it trying to tell me? Well, it’s a clock. It doesn’t say anything, I just like to overthink involuntarily.

 

#2- the concept of vampires

    Being someone who likes to write, especially about worlds and creatures that only exist in mythology, I think that having iconic, creative, and terrifying characters is important. HOWEVER, I personally think that the concept of vampires is heavily overused. The way modern day television project vampires as seductive, attractive, graceful killers is...well, frankly, boring and aggravating. But everyone has different tastes. For me, I like to think of vampires as a form of the undead, possibly with a slightly higher range of intelligence that differs from zombies. I like vampires who are cunning with horrifying features like rows of pointed teeth, blood running from their hollow eye sockets, and not just two flimsy fangs. 

 

#3- calendars 

    One of the most generic Christmas gifts you can find, at least for me, is a calendar. You don’t know what to get your distant relative you haven’t seen in years but they just gave you a check for your b-day so you don’t want to seem rude? Well, you can’t go wrong with a calendar. However, with smart phones and modern technology, you can access a reliable calendar within seconds. There are even refrigerators with a built-in touch screen that includes a calendar! For some, it makes things organized, but I just don’t like seeing how fast time passes each day as I walk through a house. 

 

#4- heavy necklaces

    I don’t know why but heavy jewelry seems to weigh down on my entire vibe. They’re just not for me. 

 

#5- The movie Titanic 

    I don’t see the whole hype with the movie Titanic. It was a ridiculously long movie for a painstakingly tiresome idea of romance. However, it just isn’t my genre. 

 

#6- sweet and salty combo

    Maybe it’s just me, I know many people like the sweet-salty combo. I wouldn’t be able to stand cHoColaTe CovEerd BAcoN even if my life depended on it. Even if I were drinking something sweet with a plate of crackers, it wouldn’t be enjoyable. 

 

#7- Theme parks

    Of course, who doesn’t love a good roller coaster? Or fair funnel cakes and churros? Well, me. I like the food and the rides, but theme parks are generally so incredibly crowded. I, being someone who doesn’t like crowds too much, think a theme park is not exactly my idea of a vacation. 

 

#8- sleeping in

    Waking up after everyone else and being the only one still snoring in bed while everyone else is ready for their day is not a good vibe. 

 

#9- wearing socks to bed 

    I hate having my feet hot whilst the rest of me is perfectly comfortable under the blankets. I also hate having to stick my feet over the edge of the bed while sleeping (I’m still mentally five years old). 

 

#10- Hot drinks 

    Drinking hot drinks, even in winter, I just can’t stand it. My head feels like it’s burning up even if I just take a few sips of a coffee or a hot chocolate no matter how cold it is. I’m the type of person to drink ice water and eat ice cream when it’s 40 degrees out.