Puzzles

Blog Prompt: Today is National Puzzle Day. Do you like to solve puzzles? Why or why not?

I like puzzles and feel it very satisfying when I can solve it. I love jigsaw puzzles and putting them together because it brings back lots of great memories of my mother. I remember living at home and helping her work on them. I also like word searches and crossword puzzles because when I’m done, it makes me feel like I accomplished something. I haven’t done well with Sudoku puzzles though but I try them every once in awhile.

If I ever run into a challenge in my own life, I try to imagine it just as a giant puzzle and approach it with the same strategies. It helps me look at the situation differently and more objectively. Again, when it is solved, it makes me feel really good.

Original image: 'Puzzle'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85763206@N00/2944362379 by: Liza

Garbage

Blog Prompt: What would people think if they went through your garbage?

They would think that we eat a lot of junk food! We don’t have a lot of cooked food waste because I have a worm bin for most of the food and I also have been learning to cook in smaller portions so we eat most of what I cook. Any paper I have usually gets shredded and put in the worm bin also. Only meat scraps and containers go in the garbage. I have finally been going through a lot of my teacher stuff from when I retired two years ago and throwing a lot of old materials. It is almost a relief to finally sort through all of that.

Original image: 'bar sixty two'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91256982@N00/3034518506 by: Jes

Alice in Wonderland

Blog Prompt: Today is Lewis Carroll’s birthday. Have you ever felt like Alice in Wonderland when everything seemed very strange to you? Describe your experience.

Whenever I go to something new, whether it is to learn something new or meet people I have never met before, I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Before it happens I am so excited and I don’t think twice about signing up or planning to go. Then when I arrive, I am surrounded by people I don’t know and I don’t have anyone to talk to so it is scary. My mind is screaming at me and asking why I am even there. I ask myself why I do this to myself when I know this happens every time. In fact, I am so busy having a conversation with myself that I usually stand off to myself. Once I convince myself that since I’m already there and I won’t leave, I find someone else who is alone (and probably asking themselves the same questions). As I start up a conversation with others, I usually relax and things come back into focus. By the end of the event, I am usually glad that I went to it.

Original Photo by Pat Hensley taken on the Carnival Miracle

Australia

Blog Prompt: Today is Australia Day. Have you been to Australia? Do you live in Australia? If so, tell us why you went there or live there. If not, tell why you would or would not want to go there.

For me, Australia is a magical far off place that I hope to visit someday. When I hear or read something about Australia, it makes me really want to go there. When I see pictures or movies about it, I can picture me there. I think people who live there are so lucky and I love to see my online friend’s pictures of their home. I think part of the magic is that animals are there that we don’t see here. When I go there, I really want to see kangaroos, wallabies, koala bears, and cockatoos. It is hard for me to imagine these animals roam wild when I only see them in the zoo here.

Original image: 'Koala'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74693095@N00/384868930 by: Tim Williams

Rainy Days

Blog Prompt: It has been rainy here this week. Tell what you like to do on rainy days.

I don’t like cold rainy days and try not to go anywhere outside my house unless I have to. When it is rainy, I love to start the day with a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate. Then I cover up with a blanket and read a good book. After awhile, I get tired of doing that so I will play on my computer. When it is time to shift to something different, I will knit and watch a movie on TV. During all of these activities, I usually have some kind of junk food by my side. If I get really cold, I like to get in the hot tub and relax. The heat envelopes me and keeps me warm usually for the rest of the day.

Original image: 'yellow umbrella'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7185311@N03/1084349065 by: Michael Backhaus

A Cat’s Questions

Blog Prompt: Today is Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day? What kind of questions would a cat have if it could ask?

1. Why are you so grumpy?

2. Why do women need makeup?

3. Why don’t you just lie around and enjoy the feel of the sun on your body?

4. Why don’t people hug each other more?

5. Why don’t people purr when they are content?

6. Why don’t you spend more time playing with the little things instead of worrying about the big stuff?

7. Why do you eat so much?

8. Why don’t you spend more time with me?

9. Why do you work so hard?

10. Can’t you give me something tastier to eat than that yucky canned food?

Original image: 'kitten'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76016463@N00/2473548737 by: Art Siegel

Lupus Foundation

Blog Prompt: Tell about our favorite charity and why you support it.

I love to use this prompt because I get to tell about my favorite charity. It is the Lupus Foundation of America. My oldest sister died from Lupus, my mother had it when she died, and my middle sister has had it for many years. So my hope is one day that a cure will be found for it. Every year, my sister participates in a fundraising walk and I donate to the foundation. If you are ever looking for a good charity to support, I hope you check out this one.

Cheese

Blog Prompt: Today is Cheese Day. What is your favorite cheese and why?

I love cheese but cheese doesn’t always love me. As I mentioned before, Asians have trouble digesting dairy products so we never had much cheese in our house when I was growing up. As a college student, I worked for Hickory Farms and learned a lot about cheese. I love havarti cheese but it is more expensive than I am willing to pay. I keep a lot of extra sharp cheddar and Monterrey jack cheese in my refrigerator. I eat a little bit when I’m craving cheese.

Original image: '"Hanging Cheese" - this is a category of cheese?'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035767928@N01/66237447 by: Brett L.

Popcorn

Blog Prompt: Today is Popcorn Day. Do you like popcorn? Why or why not? If you do, how do you like it cooked?

I love popcorn! When I need a snack in the evening, I love to pop a bag in the microwave. I remember when I was in college; we put oil in a pot and just added the popcorn. Then we popped it on the stove. Popping it in the microwave is much easier and faster. I also love to put lots of salt on it too. When we go to the movies, I love getting popcorn. A couple of weeks ago, we went to see Avatar 3D and since it was so expensive, we decided against the popcorn. But when I bought my ticket, I had enough bonus points on my movie rewards card to get popcorn for $1 so we splurged!

Original image: 'Everything you need to know about microwave popcorn'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34361916@N00/421067966 by: Jimmy McDonald

Tigger

Blog Prompt: Today is Winnie the Pooh Day. Which character in the Winnie the Pooh stories is your favorite and why?

I always loved Tigger. He was bouncy and outgoing. He was what I always wished I could be. Outside of the computer, if I met you face to face, I would be kind of quiet and cautious until I got to know you. Yet, Tigger, in any situation seems to fit right in. He is never shy and seems to adapt to any situation. He always sees the positive and is always smiling. I would love to always see the world in rose colored glasses!

Original image: 'Tigger'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66578088@N00/923914236 by: Dylan Ashe

Dreams Come True

Blog Prompt: Today is Make Your Dreams Come True Day. What is a dream that you wish would come true?

I wish they could find a cure for Lupus. My older sister has lupus and it makes me sad to hear about all the medicines that she has to take. I think she has other health problems which are caused by all the medicines she has to take. She calls me and tells me about all the doctor’s appointments she has to go to and I wonder how much of her life she spends at these doctor’s offices. I wish that one day she would wake up and feel the best she ever had in her life and then she finds out that she no longer has lupus. That is my dream that I wish would come true.

Organize Your Home Day

Blog Prompt: Today is Organize Your Home Day. What could you do today that would help organize your home. How will you organize this stuff?

I have a plan. If you read my post the other day, you know that I want to work hard on decluttering my house. Once I get rid of a lot of the “stuff” that I don’t need, I will have room to put stuff I want to keep. I will also make piles of my teacher stuff that I will give away to teacher friends who want them. I don’t expect there to be anything left over because all of the stuff is pretty good. I will also get rid of a lot of clothes that no longer fit me or are so worn that I won’t wear them and I will donate the good stuff to Goodwill. I think once I do all of these things (which may take years at my rate of one hour a day), I think my home will be organized.

Original image: 'Kitchen Cupboard Make-Over: After'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49488259@N00/3350514337 by: Pieter Pieterse

Top 10 Products

Blog Prompt: List the Top 10 products you use.

1. Sony TV

2. Toshiba laptop

3. Olympus Digital Camera

4. Treadmill

5. Toyota Prius

6. Knit Picks Zephyr knitting needles

7. Crest toothpaste

8. Listerine Mouthwash

9. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion

10. Dawn dishwashing soap

Original image: 'Crest in America'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48355243@N00/821112991 by: Adam Lederer

Work Harder Day

Blog Prompt: Today is Work Harder Day. What is something you would like to work harder at and why?

I would like to work harder at decluttering my house. My dining room is still full of teaching stuff from two, now going on three years ago. My office is full of stuff. I need to go through lots of it and get rid of probably most of it. But I am always making excuses.

I’m too tired. I’m too cold. I will do it tomorrow. I will do this weekend. We are getting ready to go away and I can’t deal with that right now. I just don’t feel like it. I’ll do it tonight. I’ll do it in the morning. I’ll do it when it warms up. It’s too hot. It’s too dark. It’s too boring…I guess you get the picture.

My plan is to take an hour of every day and do what I can. I will do a little bit every day and eventually I’ll look up and there won’t be anything to do…I hope. Maybe one day. But I will work harder at it.

Original image: 'Disqueuse'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11130401@N03/1589421250

Milk

Blog Prompt: Today is Milk Day? Do you like milk? Why or why not? If you do, do you like it plain or with added flavors?

Milk is my least favorite beverage. Part of this comes from being allergic to cow’s milk as a baby and I had to drink alternate stuff like goat’s milk and powdered milk. Then I had to take calcium pills as a child. Now I will use milk in cereal but I eat the cereal and leave the milk. I also use milk in recipes but I don’t drink straight milk. Growing up and researching milk, I have found out that many Asians lack an enzyme to digest milk so milk is not a major item in their daily diet.

Original image: 'just milk'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56044438@N00/2464619281 by: Pedro Moura Pinheiro

Elvis Songs

Blog Prompt: Today is Elvis’s birthday. What is your favorite Elvis song and what memories does it bring back?

My favorite Elvis song is Can’t Help Falling in Love from the movie Blue Hawaii. I love that movie too. I remember watching this with my older sister before she passed away. I think it was her favorite movie too.

Original image: 'Elvis Cupcakes'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/84697363@N00/3201810176 by: Terri Goodwin

Bubble Bath

Blog Prompt: Tomorrow is Bubble Bath Day. Do you like bubble baths? If so, what is your favorite kind. If not, why?

I love the thought of bubble baths but I don’t like them because I’m allergic to them. Usually the bubble baths have fragrance in them which I’m highly allergic to and sometimes the soap used irritates my skin. I always liked the movies that showed the romance involving bubble baths and wished that I could have one. I like the scene in the movie Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts where she is taking a bubble bath. Oh well, I’ll just have to keep on dreaming.

Original image: 'Bathing Tyler'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65846543@N00/302339292 by: Jason O'Halloran

My Favorite Soup

Blog Prompt: January is National Soup Month. What is your favorite soup and why?

My favorite soup is Won Ton Soup. When I was young girl and would get sick, my father would bring home soup from work for me. He would wake me up when he got home in the wee hours of the morning and sit with me while I ate some soup. I really think it had healing powers because the next day I would be fine. When I was a teenager and didn’t feel well, I would call him up at work and ask him to bring home some soup. Now that I’m married, I still like to have this soup when I don’t feel well. Of course I like to eat it when I’m healthy too.

Original image: 'Wonton soup and xiao long bao (fotomóvil)'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7394371@N06/2933332775

Birds

Blog Prompt: Today is National Bird Day. What native wild birds are flying around your area and which ones are your favorites?

We have Blue Jays, Doves, Carolina Wrens, Finches, Bluebirds and Cardinals. I’m sure we have others but I just don’t know how to identify them. When I go hiking with some friends who are bird watchers, they can give you lots of names that I have never heard of. My favorite bird is the cardinal because I love how the bright red stands out. I also like to watch them drink from my water garden right outside my window.

Original image: 'The Red Bird'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11510574@N02/3507508823 by: S Pisharam

Trivia Day

Blog Prompt: Today is Trivia Day. Please share a tidbit of trivia that you think no one else knows.

The first product to have a bar code scanned was Wrigley’s gum.

Original image: 'Born on date'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30663385@N00/108466211 by: Austin King

New Year Traditions

Blog Prompt: What traditions do you follow for the new year? Do you eat special things or do special activities?

Every new year we eat collard greens and black eyed peas. This year I decided to cook them from scratch instead of buying the cans. I was really surprised how good they turned out and they are much better than the canned ones so I will probably do this again.

I try to clean the house as much as possible so we start the New Year with a clean house.

On New Year’s Day, my husband goes outside and walks back in. I was always told that the first one to enter the house should be a man for good luck.

We do not argue or say anything bad to each other. We hope to begin the year as we plan on spending the rest of the year.