5 Things Around My Computer

Blog Prompt: Name five things lying around your computer.

1. TV remote control
2. Can of Diet Pepsi (It is 100 degrees outside!)
3. Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Read a chapter, take a break, play on computer and then go back to reading)
4. Printer
5. External Hard Drive

What can I say, I'm a geek!

Elvis

Blog Prompt: Aug 16 is the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. Do you know who Elvis is? If so, what was your favorite movie? Are you a big fan of his? Why or why not?

I grew up watching Elvis movies because my oldest sister loved Elvis! My favorite movie was Blue Hawaii and I could watch it over and over. I love the songs and the sweet romance and the fact that it takes place in Hawaii (where I've never been before). I'm not a big fan of his other than I like to watch his movies. I remember near the end of his life that I had thought he was just a big fat drug addict. It was such a waste that he abused his body so much when he seemed to have so much so I don't think I would still be a fan if he was alive today.

Relaxation

Blog Prompt: Aug 15 is National Relaxation Day. Tell what things you see, hear or do that relaxes you.

1. Reading: I love to read when I'm eating (which sometimes drives my hubby crazy!) but I find it very relaxing.
2. Music: especially when I'm driving (which tends to stress me out a little).
3. Hiking: I makes me glad to be alive. It puts any problems I have into perspective and I'm not stressed out anymore.
4. Browing layouts in DSP Gallery: I love to look at the techniques used, the stories told, the photos used, the colors used.

A Childhood Sound

Blog Prompt: Describe a 'sound' from your childhood. What was it? When did you hear it? What does it bring to mind?

Yesterday as my hubby and I walked in the park for our evening exercise, I heard the music of an ice cream truck. Immediately that brought back some memories of childhood. I didn't get to buy ice cream much from the ice cream truck (called Mr. Softee) but when I did, it was a big deal! I used to get a cone that was called Mickey Mouse (nonpareils were used as the ears, and a cherry for the nose).

Another time I remember staying at my aunt's house during the summer one time when I was about 8 years old. There were 6 kids much older than I was and when they went to work, I was left alone with my aunt and uncle, who did not speak any English. Of course, I didn't speak any Chinese so this was a challenging time for me. I was a little lonely, bored, and scared but I had my books with me so I knew I would be alright. My aunt brought me in this huge tray full of hard candy that tasted like coconut so I was happy as I read the morning away. In the afternoon, she came and took my hand and made me go outside. I was a little confused until I heard the ice cream truck. With a huge smile on her face, she handed me some money and let me buy ice cream. When everyone came home from work, I realized that I had a wonderful day and it didn't matter that we couldn't speak each other's language, we still communicated!

Scary Movies

Blog Prompt: August 13 is Alfred Hitchcock’s birthday. In honor of his birthday, name the movie(s) that scare you the most.

I refuse to watch horror movies that are filled with blood and gore but the suspenseful scary movies really get to me (and I try to avoid them too). The movies that have scared me the most are Halloween because of the suspense of waiting for something horrible happen. There is one scene where they are walking towards a tall hedge and you just know something evil is waiting on the other side. The music is building and they are walking closer, closer, and then...nothing happens. It is like the downhill side of a roller coaster. The other movie is When a Stranger Calls which has recently been remade. I saw that at a drive in movie theater with my boyfriend (who is now my hubby) over 25 years ago. It deals with a babysitter who gets creepy calls from a killer telling her to check the children. The next day I had to babysit and I made the kids sleep on the couch and my boyfriend stayed on the phone with me the entire evening until the parents returned home. That was the end of my babysitting days.

A Rough Day in the Woods

(This photo was taken with my new camera!)

In order to get out of the heat, my hubby and I fled to the mountains. We decided to go up to Mt. Mitchell, NC and do some hiking. First we got up and went to the flea market so my hubby could buy some "treasures". We arrived at Mt. Mitchell in time to look at some beautiful views and have lunch. After lunch we decided to hike the 2 mile Commissary Ridge Trail (rated easy) and back. Well, the trail was an old logging road full of rocks and in full sun. I decided that we needed to get on the Camp Alice trail and hike the .5 mile strenuous uphill to get out of the sun. I thought when we got to the top, we could take the Old Mitchell trail back down to the car because I was worried that my hubby was not drinking enough and he was dripping with sweat. After a few minutes he let me know that he was pretty nauseous so I assumed he was experiencing some difficulty due to the heat and tried to encourage him to drink more. This made him a little grumpy but we continued slowly up the trail. Finally we reached the top only to find out that the trail kind of went up and down instead of all down like I had hoped. At least we were in the shade and hubby was drinking more. I noticed he was even looking better as we traveled down the trail. Thank goodness because thoughts of having to drag his butt out of the mountain was not thrilling me! When we were about 10 minutes from the car, I was attacked by yellow jackets behind my knee and above the ankle on the back of my leg. The bee got stuck in my sock and kept stinging me or there was more than one but whatever happened, there is a pretty big bite on the back of my leg. Of course I was worried about my allergies and having an allergic reaction so I immediately took the Allegra D that was in my pocket (I had forgotten to take it this morning) and when we got to the car, I took a benedryl too. Don even chewed up an aspirin into a paste and put it on the stings. Boy, was I sleepy all the way home. I could barely keep my eyes open at McDonalds for dinner. Of course by the time we got to our town, I was awake enough to eat freshly baked hot doughnuts! Now I am recuperating at home but I can't believe after 5 hours it still stings. All I can say is Ouch!

Smithsonian Item

Blog Prompt: Friday Aug. 10 is the anniversary of the Smithsonian Institute. If you could put one item in the Smithsonian (national Museums in Washington DC), what would you want preserved for future generations?

After careful thinking, I believe I would like to see my accordion put in the Smithsonian. I only know one other person personally who plays the accordion and he is in his 70s. I recently started to play my accordion once a week during lunch at a local nursing home. I played some sacred songs and was thrilled when I heard some of the residents singing the songs while I played. It gave me such a wonderful feeling! You always hear of people playing the piano or an organ or a band or symphony instrument but not many accordion players. I remember growing up watching the Lawrence Welk show and my parents hoping that I would someday be as good as the one on TV. I also remember wishing that I wasn't the only one in my age group (I started when I was 4) who played an accordion because all of my other teenage friends were playing the "cool" instruments. I eventually taught myself the guitar and I took organ lessons but after all these years I have come back in a full circle to the accordion. I'm not worried about what other people think anymore and can really enjoy playing my accordion. In the past few years I have been asked to play in different homes during the Christmas Tour of Homes and I have played for friends who were very sick. I realize that this instrument is easier to bring along than a piano or an organ and now I am proud of playing a different instrument than most people. I imagine that playing the accordion will become a lost art.

Favorite Day/Gas and Weather

I'm a little behind because yesterday I bought a new camera (took half the day to buy it and the other half to read the directions!). I got a new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8K. I'm so excited and I can't decide what to photograph!

Wednesday's prompt:
What is your favorite day of the week?

Now that I'm retired, my perspective on this question has changed immensely! My favorite day of the week is now Wednesday. It is the day I go hiking with my hiking buddies. We all come from different walks of life and are all different ages. I love to talk with them and find out what they have done all week, their opinions on books, movies, and life in general. I love being around them because of their love for life! Many of them are over 75 and don't want to waste a minute of living. I hope I will be like that at that age.

Thursday's prompt:
Blog Prompt: I'm in the mood for some "current events" today and would love to hear what the weather is like in your part of the world. Also, how much did you pay for gas the last time you filled up your car?

This morning I filled my car up with gas that was $2. 48 per gallon which is the cheapest it has been in a long time. I don't understand how the same store could have it 10 cents more across town. Is that not an example of price gouging? Oh well, I won't get started on that. As for the weather, it is supposed to get up to 103 today with a heat index of 110. My hubby uses this as an excuse not to walk our 3 miles. Can you believe that?!

My Hands

Blog Prompt: Look at your hands. Why are you grateful for them?

I'm so grateful to have hands to:

• Hug others.
• Use the computer.
• Garden.
• Care for myself.
• Take pictures.
• Feed myself.
• Help others.
• Play the accordion

After I typed these, I wondered if it was just off the top of my head or whether my brain made me put them down in order of importance. Hmm....

Joke for Monday

Blog Prompt: Aug. 6 is Lucille Ball’s birthday. I thought she was a great comedienne so in honor of her birthday, I thought we could tell a joke. Since it is also Monday, I think many of us need a joke to make us smile today!

Q: Two yellow jackets were flying through the air. One of them had his legs crossed. What were they looking for?

A: A BP station

If I found $20...

Blog Prompt: How would you spend a found $20 bill?

I would probably use it to buy more DSP kits. Now that I'm retired I'm really trying not to spend so much money but I can't help it. I have limited myself to $12 a week and it is really hard to choose what to get. And of course, I don't count Club Digital! I can only hope that the ones I don't get will be on sale some day.

Ideal Picnic

Blog Prompt: If you could plan the ideal picnic for your family, what would it look like? Be sure to include the following: Food, Location , Activities

My hubby and I've gone on more picnics this year than we have in probably 10 years. We are not picky about the food as much as the location. One time we just had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, one time we had Kentucky Fried Chicken, and another time we made sausage dogs. But all of the times, we were near a mountain river and it was just the 2 of us. We usually have a picnic when we are hiking too because we are usually miles into the forest and we bring our lunch. Around lunchtime we try to find a nice spot along a river or if there isn't any river, we try to find a place with a nice view. For some reason I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when I'm hiking. I usually bring fruit for us to eat, and cookies for desert. If we are near the water, we usually play in the river after we are done eating (in the summer, not the winter).

The Internet

(Decided to scrap yesterday's photo last night!)

Blog Prompt: Tell how the internet has made an impact on your life.

1. It has made doing research on places we plan to go much easier. I don't have to run to the library only to find out the book I want is already checked out and the book store has the book but it costs a gazillion dollars!


2. I also love emailing vs. snail mail! I save on money, time (because I get quicker responses), and it is soooo much easier! I hate talking on the phone so this is much better for me.


3. I have reconnected with relatives around the country through AOL Instant Messenger. I have a cousin in California that I haven't seen in 35 years and I hope to see him next summer. I have also gotten much closer to my sister because we talk every day on the computer which has led to both of us getting Verizon so we also talk on the cell phone more frequently.


4. I have learned how to do digital scrapbooking because of DSP! If I hadn't been searching for answers on why my first attempt at paper scrapping was so bad, I would never have found DSP. I was so disappointed and frustrated, that I was delighted to know there was an easier way. I've been hooked ever since.

Photo - not scrapped yet

Blog Prompt: Take a photo you've been meaning to scrap and write your journaling for it here.

I've been meaning to take a photo of this since the momma bird started to build the next on my side porch. Then I watched her sitting there and took a photo of that. I decided to wait and get a photo of the eggs but I never saw her leave the nest to get a photo of the eggs. I noticed lately that she wasn't sitting on the nest much and wondered if she gave up. My hubby says that I probably scared her away because I showed so much interest in her. Today I brought my tall ladder over to the nest and thought I would see unopened eggs. Was I surprised when I saw the baby birds! I hope she doesn't mind that I took a picture of her babies!

Different "Hats"

Blog Prompt: How many different 'hats' will you wear today? Will you be mom, grandma, employee, employer..etc. How do you balance all of it?

1. Wife: My favorite hat to wear. I enjoyed having breakfast and lunch with my honey! I will be cooking him dinner tonight also and we will enjoy our 3 mile walk after dinner.
2. Retired teacher: I went by my old school to pick up my last pay stubs and arrange to get the last of my materials from my classroom.
3. Boss's Wife: When I go to my hubby's office, his staff treat me like I'm a queen! (which I don't expect them to do since I'm usually wearing these dirty blue jean shorts from gardening and a sweaty ol' tshirt!)
4. Volunteer: I went by the nursing home and arranged to play my accordion once a week during their lunch. (Just like a fine dining restaurant!).
5. Library User: I use the public library a lot and I'm in the middle of re-reading the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix book.
6. Gardener: I did go out and weed some of the flowerbeds this morning before going out to breakfast.
7. Web designer: I designed a web page for our rental property (My hubby has been asking me to do this for about 2 years).
8. Aunt: I keep in touch with niece and nephew through email and AIM.
9. Scrapbooker: I am trying to do a page a day and learn new skills through DSP and Digital Scrapbooking magazine.
10. Relaxed and Lazy retired person: I'm thinking about laying down and possibly taking a nap (if it happens, it happens) while I watch whatever strikes my fancy on TV.

Exercise

Blog Prompt: What do you do for exercise?? And if you don't exercise, why don't you? And if you do, what is your motivation to keep going???

My hubby and I go walking for exercise. About 20 years ago, I lost all of my hair due to stress. Even now I find small bald spots on my head, which keeps me motivated to walk. Every evening, after my husband gets off work, we eat dinner and then walk 3 miles. For one thing, I am off the computer (which I'm on all of the time) and he is not in front of the TV (which is watches all of the time!). We spend the time talking about the future and what our plans are going to be. He also shares with me about his work and I used to share with him about my class (when I worked). We both look forward to that now and it has become a good habit.

I have read a lot of books on health and exercise but I think we get in a rut. My hubby has been complaining that with all of our walking and watching what we eat, he doesn't feel like he is losing weight. I just read that we need to do interval walking which would increase our losing weight. Of course, I knew this but just forgot about it. So, we are walking for 5 min. and then the next 5 min. we walk much faster. Then alternate every 5 min. I hope this helps and will let you know in the future.

We are also watching the calories we eat and try to eat healthy (but not to the point we are on a diet.) On the weekends, we eat whatever we want to and during the week, we cut out all sugar and junk food. I plan to increase the number of times I eat also (I can do that now that I have retired!). I plan to have a snack at 10 and 2 and 7. That will mean I'll be eating 6 times a day. The book says this will help kick in my metablolism. The jury is still out on that one too.

Movie that made me laugh

Blog Prompt: What was the last movie that made you really laugh? Or do you have one you've seen over and over and still makes you laugh?

I guess I'm easily amused so if we go see a comedy, I'm going to laugh. But something that makes me laugh is watching my hubby watch Ice Age. He loves that movie! I think it is all the body sounds that he can relate to but he really enjoys this. He doesn't usually let himself enjoy movies and says that some funny movies we see are "okay" but he really doesn't think many of them are as funny as advertised. But he has watched Ice Age about 3 different times and he really gets a kick out of it. I usually laugh at funny movies because I feel they are entertaining and funny and I don't try to analzye the funniness of the move! But I REALLY laugh just watching him laugh as he watches Ice Age!

Excuse Not To Work

Blog Prompt: Make up a great excuse why you can't work today.

First let me start off by telling you what has to be done today. I have to wash a load of clothes, which can only be done if I'm home. Usually I start a load even if I'm leaving the house but now we think the vent came off the dryer and has blown lint all behind the washer, dryer, and stove. I have to vaccuum all of that up but can't unless hubby is home to move the appliances since 2 of them are hooked to a gas line. So, I'm stuck babysitting the washer and dryer. I also have tons of boxes to sort through that I've brought home from work when I retired which has taken over my dining room. I also have vaccuuming to do since I've seen some dirt that I either need to sweep up or vaccuum up. It's also about time to clean the bathrooms (yuck!). I also have to make 2 phone calls that I am dreading to make since I hate talking on the phone. I also have to read a couple of library books since they are only loaned out for 14 days as new books.

Well, the main reason that I can't work today is...I'm retired! I shouldn't have to do anything that I don't want to if I don't want to! There is always tomorrow. I also checked out 3 DVDs of old movies to watch and my hubby doesn't like old movies so I have to watch them while he is at work. I also have a couple of layouts to do because the deadline for the challenges are coming up. I also have to "feed the hungry layouts" because I hate to get behind since everyone is so great about leaving nice comments on mine. I guess my main excuse is that I'm just too busy to do any work!

Favorite Spot

Blog Prompt: Stand in a favorite spot in your house, garden, wherever and describe it for us in detail.

I am actually sitting in my favorite spot in the house but it is my favorite spot only in the summer because it is so hot outside right now. I am at the table with my laptop which is located in my "playroom". Since there is just my hubby and myself, both of our laptops are plugged in and left on this table. This is also the table where we eat dinner and lay mail down on and have printers and a scanner on. In front of me, against the wall is our big screen TV which we took out of bedroom to make room for the new HDTV. In the middle of the room is the pool table (which we hardly ever use unless we are entertaining). Against the wall near where I am sitting is our treadmill which I use every morning. On the other side of the room is our hot tub,which my hubby uses every morning. There are big windows behind me that look out into our deck and huge backyard. I can see my water garden (in a huge flower pot) on the deck and watch the birds come in for a drink. I really enjoy this room.

Words of Wisdom

Blog Prompt: Find a proverb or saying that you think is true.

I think the saying that has most influenced me is any versions of "What goes around comes around!" or as my mother used to say "If you pee in the air, it will come back on you!" Of course it has to do with "Do unto others as you want them to do unto you."

I try to be nice and helpful to others because at some point in time, I may need help. We have gone out of our way to drive Appalachian Trail hikers to the doctor and even given them care packages of food. People who do this are considered "trail angels" and I am banking trail angel hours so when I'm on a hike and need help, someone may be there for me. I have helped elderly neighbors when they needed to go somewhere. We have even helped strangers when it is possible and safe to do so. All of this has come back around to us so many times!

For example, a few years ago we were on a trip to Chattanooga, TN one weekend when we had a flat tire. Since my husband's back is in bad shape, we really dreaded changing this tire so we called AAA. Within minutes, this nice young couple stopped and the husband changed our tire quickly before we knew it. They even refused to let us pay them! Then we stopped at a WalMart to try to buy a new tire, but they didn't have it in stock so they called another store about 20 miles away. Luckily that store had it but it was getting late on a Saturday evening so we were very worried they would close. When we drove up to this store, we knew it was past the tire dept. closing time but went there anyway. We couldn't believe our eyes when the 2 men were waiting on us. They had stayed open just for us and changed our tire so we could be on our way. We paid for the tire but the 2 men would not take any extra money from us for their troubles. People complain about all the bad in the world but its times like this when I realize how much good there is all around us!