Share Your World 2015 : 3-5
Well, late again, absolutely. This week is Week Five for Cee’s Share Your World series of questions. Be sure to click on the link if you wish to participate. I’m also going to try to share this on Facebook, since a few of my family and friends keep track of each other there. Just to see if it works this time.
As you may know, I have missed Weeks Three and Four, so I am adding them in here, too. If you wish to see what others wrote, just click on the week title and it will take you to the page. That’s a lot of questions to answer, but hey, it’s fun so why not? Here they are:
Share Your World 19, 20, 21
I’ve missed some weeks of Share Your World, so I’m hoping to catch up with a few.
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So here are my answers for week 21:
If you were having difficulty on an important test and could safely cheat by looking at someone else’s paper, would you do so? Nope, not even tempted. I don’t understand how people can feel good about claiming something as their own work when it isn’t.
Since adolescence, in what three-year period do you feel you experienced the most personal growth and change?
As a mom, I’m tempted to say the three years after the birth of my first child, but while that was certainly a period of change and growth, it still doesn’t compare to the changes and growth that took place in me after my divorce. Learning that I could be self sufficient took at least those three years, and i’m still learning, but it has been a wonderful process of personal growth for me.
If you could change one thing about your home, what would you like to change? No More Stairs! I live in a condominium style home that has three floors, and the stairs are becoming very difficult for me. OUr house is for sale actually and I hope to find a cozy apartment on one floor.
If you were given a yacht today, what would you name it? Merrilly’s Dream. (pun intended for those that get it)
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On to Week 20 (I know, I’m going backwards, it’s how I do things, lol):
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? That’s a hard one. Physically, most of the time I feel about 80, though that’s not really fair because when my mom was alive and well at age 85 she still had a lot more energy than I do. Emotionally? Actually, I feel pretty mature, so I think I am pretty much at home with my age, 60. I know I’m supposed to say I feel young at heart and all that, but do I really? No. My heart is where it is, settled in after 60 years of living, and still enjoying being alive. So even if I didn’t know my age, I’d still guess myself to be on the upper end of the scale.
What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you? When I was 15 and diagnosed with Hodgkin’s my parents told me the truth. I think that was not only the kindest thing they could do, but the bravest. Never underestimate your children and what they are capable of understanding.
What was your favorite childhood television program? Leave it to Beaver. We watched the originals in black and white, no color tv back then. I wanted to say Star Trek, but I think we weren’t allowed to watch it when I was little, but I caught the reruns when I was older.
Which cooking utensil (other than the usual pots and pans etc) would you miss the most? Cooking utensil? What’s that?
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And back again, to Week 19:
Do you believe in ghosts? I guess it depends on the definition. Actual ghosts, dunno, but energy left behind, that can be felt by some people, yes, I think that’s possible. We all leave our imprint to a degree, and some of that energy can be left behind. I know I’ve had a few experiences that are not so easily explained, so I’m open to at least the idea. And I like to think I’ve had dream visitations on occasion.
What is your best recipe? The perfect boiled egg. Put eggs in a pan, cover them with water, add a splash of vinegar, and set the heat to medium high. As soon as the water starts to boil (you do need to watch for it) turn off the fire (remove the pan from the heat with electric stoves) then put the lid on and let it set in the hot water for 18 minutes. After that, run them in cold water for a moment and remove them and let them cool. Perfect cooked eggs every time. You may have to adjust the 18 minutes depending on the size of the eggs. And that is the only recipe I know…
What is your most favorite smell/scent? Cinnamon.
What subject was your favorite in all of your schooling? Why? A Creative Writing class I took at University, because it didn’t so much teach as inspire. There were a few basics included, but the emphasis was on creativity and I loved that.
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That’s a lot of questions answered and shared. If you’ve stuck around long enough to read all of that, thank you for your patience! If not, that’s okay, too. Thank you Cee, for this and the others – I hope to catch up on reading some of them soon!
Share Your World 16
This is week 16 for Cee’s Share Your World where each week Cee poses 4 or 5 questions for us to get to know each other better. I’ve missed a couple of weeks, couldn’t be avoided, but absolutely wanted to participate this week so you (and Cee) would know I haven’t abandoned it, just doing it when I can.
If you’d like to participate or just see what answers others have given, click on the logo or the link above it and check it out. The more, the merrier!
The questions for this week:
- If you had a choice, which would be your preference: salt water beaches, fresh water lakes, hot tub, or desert?
- What book do you think everyone should read and why?
- What’s your favorite way to wake up and what’s the first thing you do?
- What do you do to relax?
My Answers:
If you had a choice, which would be your preference: salt water beaches, fresh water lakes, hot tub, or desert?
You know, I really had to think about this. I live near a fresh water lake and love it, there are pebble and rock beaches instead of sand, and the wind causes mild waves to wash up on the shore. Sorry I don’t have a picture, but I don’t get out that often anymore. My truest desire though, would have to be salt water beaches. I’ve always loved the ocean, the smell of salt water beaches, the sand beneath my feet. I think if I had a choice, I’d choose that. Though I’d probably want it to be on a private island so there wouldn’^t be any crowds of people there, lol. But even so, if I’ll honest I have to say my aging body would probably prefer a hot tub!
What book do you think everyone should read and why?
Illusions, by Richard Bach. He’s the one who wrote Jonathon Livingston Seagull. Illusions is perhaps less well known, but is nonetheless thought provoking and soul enriching. Two of my favorite lines from the book:
“Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.”
-and-
“You teach best what you most need to learn.”
What’s your favorite way to wake up and what’s the first thing you do?
My favorite way to wake up is naturally, with the sun, and my mind still halfway inside a dream, drawing it with me or leaving it behind as I slide easily into my morning. Unfortunately, while it may work sometimes, and I often enough do wake around the same time, on occasion I’ve slept through the morning and awakened only around 2 in the afternoon! My daughter now knows to wake me if I’m not up before she leaves. I hate alarm clocks. As for the first thing I do, it’s turn on my computer, grab a cup of Instant Human, and sit back comfortably to read my mail. Isn’t that what we all do? 😉
What do you do to relax?
For relaxing, I read or listen to an audiobook. I also like to play what I call “desktop” games – card games and puzzle games, not online, but against the AI of the game. One of my favorites is Canasta. It’s in many ways less high-tech, more about the game, and the fun part is that there is a computer AI voice that talks to me and addresses me by name, things like, “Hello Judee, welcome back.” and “Goodbye Judee, come back soon.” and of course gameplay in between. I know it’s silly, but it’s just a nice little touch. Once I’m actually in bed, I usually just read until I am sleepy.
So, those are my answers. I have a lot of reading to catch up on, some writing challenges too, so please understand if I don’t get to yours immediately, but I do want to see what others have written so will be popping in and out for that throughout the week.
Cee, thanks again for the fun!
Share Your World 13
It’s week 13 for Cee’s Share Your World questions. Click the link to see what Cee and others have answered this week, and why not give it a try yourself? It’s a great way to get to know your fellow bloggers.
This week’s questions are:
- What is your favorite month of the year?
- What is something you learned in the last week?
- What color looks best on you?
- If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
My answers:
What is your favorite month of the year? September, because the leaves are just beginning to turn, and Autumn is in the air, you can both smell it and feel it. I love Springtime, too, but there is just something special about Autumn, especially the colors, and the cool after a hot summer.
What is something you learned in the last week? That I really can’t “do it all” and, more important, I don’t have to do it all. Sometimes I need a reminder that I have all the time in the world, if only I follow one simple idea – be here now. Let inspiration come not from something on a to-do list, but from the spark of an idea, the whisper from a muse, or just wanting to be in touch with someone. It all gets done, in the rightness of time. And if it doesn’t get done, there will still be new inspirations and new days, new moments, in those future moments of being right here and right now.
What color looks best on you? I have no idea. I know I mostly wear faded jeans and blues and greens and purples for t-shirts or pullovers, depending on the season – most of them are kind of faded too. I guess i like colors that don’t outshine me, because I’ve faded quite a bit with age, too – hair getting more grey, etc. Bright colors just don’t seem to fit.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? That’s a tough one. I think I would like a power of Awakening. One that would give me the ability to help people see clearly, to look inside and realize what it is they want or don’t want by seeing their own truth. So many people live their lives without questioning, just doing whatever they do because they’ve been told it’s best. And while there is nothing wrong with that, as it does take all kinds, I’d still like to help a few people “wake up” and at least think about what it is they want in life.
Okay, those are my answers. I hope to find some time to check out some of the others before week 14 gets here. 😉
Thanks to all who take the time to read,
-Judee
Share Your World 12
Another Share Your World, hosted by Cee. This is week 12 for her, I think maybe the third one for me. It may be the longest one, too, because the first question is one that stimulated me to go off hunting, hope you don’t mind all the vids, but hey, music is always great to share, right? To see how Cee and others have respond to this week’s questions, just click on the image below.
This week’s questions:
- What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?
- What is your favorite time of day?
- What is your favorite part of the town/city you live in. And what City and Country do you live?
- If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
My answers:
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What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?
Okay, this may seem silly, but I’ve included a couple of children’s songs I used to listen to as a child, because I think sometimes music can influence children, inspire them, and make them pay attention to things they might not otherwise notice. Or, maybe they notice and remember certain music because it reflects something within them? Either way, here are two of my very first 45 rpm songs –
Shake Me I Rattle (Cristy Lane)
(…)
They were closing up the toy shop
as I hurried through the door
just in time to buy the dolly
that her heart was longing for
It’s a story of what these days we would call a Random Act of Kindness. It was my first exposure to the concept of heartfelt giving, and it has stayed with me all my life.
The second of my favorite 45’s as a child is the following song – I couldn’t find the original version, but this one is sweetly presented, and closest to the original in terms of feelings evoked.
Sing a Rainbow (??)
Red and yellow and pink and green
purple and orange and blue
I can sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow too.
Listen with your eyes
Listen with your eyes
and sing everything you see
You can sing a rainbow
sing a rainbow
sing along with me.
The idea of listening with your eyes, and singing a rainbow, had an impact on my way of looking at the world, the mere idea of hearing colors, that the senses could be intertwined so easily. Childhood was magical for me, and this was just a part of the magic.
Moving on into the teen years, my theme song,
Hey Jude (The Beatles)
Hey Jude, don’t make it bad,
take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her into your heart,
then you can start to make it better.
There are so many memories attached to that one song, I can’t even begin to tell them, just to say, it was my “coming of age” song, and it is a song that always stayed with me, even to this day.
Three down, three to go –
Bridge over Troubled Water (Simon and Garfunkle)
When you’re weary, feeling small,
when tears are in your eyes,
I will dry them all. I’m on your side.
When times get rough,
and friends just can’t be found,
like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down.
This is all I’ve ever wanted out of life, to help others, be their bridge and take them past their pain. It is a strong theme in my life.
Let it Be (The Beatles)
Speaking words of wisdom,
“Let it Be.”
Whisper words of wisdom,
“Let it Be.”
There will be an answer
“Let it be.”
Shine until tomorrow
“Let it be.”
What else is there to say? Oh, yes, the other questions…
What is your favorite time of day? Morning and late at night Morning because it’s when my energy levels are highest, late at night because it’s when I sit back, relax and either read or listen to audiobooks.
What is your favorite part of the town/city you live in. And what City and Country do you live? That’s hard to answer because the town I live in is hardly big enough to call a town, at least in terms of what most people in the US would imagine. There isn’t much here, but I do have a view, of Lake Geneva. Check my blog a round tuit for the latest Sunday Post and you’ll see a picture taken from my study window. I live in Switzerland, a long way from Texas where I grew up. This year will make half of my life that I am here.
If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? Listening. I’m a good listener, and I don’t judge people, perhaps that’s why people tend to find me to talk to when they have something troubling them. I never tell them what to do, I just give them my perspective, and ask questions to make them think, to reflect on what it is they really want in a given situation.
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Again, thank you Cee, for some stimulating questions. And for those of you who managed to read this far, thanks for reading and visiting.
— Judee
Share Your World 11
It’s another week, and another Share Your World post, thanks to Cee for hosting this and coming up with questions to ask. It’s a nice way to get to know your fellow bloggers.
If you would like to see what Cee and other participants have shared on their blogs, just click the emblem above and it should take you there. Here are the questions and my responses:
What’s your least favorite mode of transportation? I’d have to say airplane, I just don’t like how crowded they are, sitting shoulder to shoulder with strangers and even sharing arm rests.
Are you a cat, dog, goat or prefer the zoo person? I’ve had dogs all my life. This is the first time in 50 years I’ve been without a pet. I love dogs, and always will. But I have to be honest and say that if I weren’t allergic, I’d probably have been a cat person all along. I really love watching cats, and see they too have their own unique personalities, just as dogs do, but I simply can’t touch them or live in a house where they live. Always wished I could.
What really makes my heart sing? My daughters. Watching them become adults, being there for them, feeling proud of their growth and independence. Oh and a really sappy romantic comedy can do it too. I love to live vicariously.
What word or words are fun for you to say? Hmm… evermore… sweetheart… serendipity… juxtapositions… oh, and that old favorite – antidisestablismentarianism.
Hope everyone is having fun. I’ll be coming around to read.
Sunday Scatterings 02/19/12
I think I may change my Sunday Scatterings to Saturday Scatterings next week – there are just too many different things I post on Sunday, makes it hard to keep up. But here we are with another week passed, and lemme see, have I done anything? Well, my taxes are still waiting on me, so if next weeks pickings are slim, we’ll know why.
I also feel like I’ve had a very lazy week, especially in terms of creativity. Guess I better go look see…
in tuit that’s this one, so you may have already seen, I did manage two posts this week. First off, I answered Cee’s questions for the weekly Share your World and let’s not forget the Weekly Photo Challenge, this week the topic is Down. Cee has already posted the next weekly share, but it may take me a day or two to get tuit.
a round tuit Well, I didn’t get any of the planned posts on digital art posted, bad me – but I did manage two posts, both on a Sunday, one last week and one this week. Thanks to jakesprinter for the inspiration, I’ve managed to create a couple of posts at least, Sunday Post – Expression and Sunday Post – Colorful. Yes, I actually got a post done on the same day of the theme, but I admit I had help because jake posted the prompt yesterday. 😉
write tuit No 100Wcgu this week as the last one was for 2 weeks duration, but I did manage to write. We had another Friday Fictioneers picture prompt which inspired my Flash Friday – Alive post. I do love these challenges. I also have two posts for Saturday Centus, again I managed the second one this week, but only because it was a 6 word challenge instead of a 100 word challenge. Crafty Jenny. 😉 You still have plenty of time for this weeks challenge, and will find the link on my page. My two posts are here: Saturday Centus – Firehouse Wedding and Saturday Centus – Autobriefagraphical
Hey, unless I’m mis-counting, that’s 7 posts. Pretty good for a week.
I also got an award! Yep, little ole me – but you’ll have to check back to see what it’s about. (Hey, gotta keep you coming back one way or another, right?)
On a side note – Jenny’s Centus is hosted at Blogspot, and I am having problems posting comments there Sometimes (maybe 10% of the time) OpenID works, most of the time, not. WordPress sign in, the same thing, about 98% not working. So if you are a Blogspot blogger, know that I do read and appreciate all challenge posts, I just can’t always comment. In fact, i can’t even comment on Jenny’s own post, if it weren’t for the linky thing I wouldn’t be able to participate.
One thing that does work is if you leave the option to comment with Name/URL. Those usually do work. Some of them come with the “captcha” bot and while that is better than not being able to comment, I must say sometimes the words on there are very very difficult to read. If I may suggest, try without it and see, maybe you won’t get too much spam, but if you do feel you need it, keep it – just give us an alternative sign-in (like Name(URL) pretty please…
No dreams this week, so nothing added to that blog, and nothing yet on the Life Adapted blog – though I do have intentions for that one, it’s not something I like to focus on, and i need to be in a certain frame of mind to work on it, so any of you interested, please be patient. Though if you are interested, you probably learned patience already…
Have a great week everyone, and above all – Enjoy!
– Judee
Share Your World 10
Tis is week 10 at Cee’s place, week 2 for me with this great getting to know you weekly theme. This week there are five questions:
- Can you change a car tire?
- Are you a collector of anything?
- If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to?
- What am I wearing right now?
- If you could be a tree or plant, what would you be?
To see what Cee and others have answered, and to participate yourself, just click on the banner below and off you go.
But first, maybe you want to check out my answers here:
Can you change a car tire? Nope. I wouldn’t even know how to begin, and physically I’m probably too weak to do it anyway, so I guess I’d have to call someone to help. Hopefully that won’t be a problem. *knocks on a bunch of wood*
Are you a collector of anything? Small figurines of angels, fae, butterflies, anything with wings – I even have a winged dragon or two. I have winged creatures in crystal, some in pewter, wood, ceramic, stained glass, so many different kinds. When I used to wear rings and necklaces, I always chose butterflies. Wings, wings, let my thoughts fly.
If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to? Well, actually, I did change my name, sort of. My first name is Judy, my middle name is Dee, and sometime around 15 to 20 years ago I changed it to Judee. It just felt right. I am Judee, Judee is me. I really can’t imagine myself with a different name, but if I HAD to, I guess I would choose Elise.
What am I wearing right now? Loose sports pants and a comfy long sleeve top – all grey, like a reflection of the sky outside. Sometimes I like color, but on quiet days I like to be toned down. Grey is comfort. Grey is quiet, and peaceful.
If you could be a tree or plant, what would you be? Aloe Vera. Filled with healing gel, ready to soothe.
have a great week!
Share your Week 9
I came across an interesting weekly at Cee’s Life Photography blog. It’s called Share Your Week, and usually posts several questions each week as a kind of “getting to know you” prompt. If you want to check it out, click on the banner below and go see what others have to say.
This week is a photo share, asking to share your three favorite photographs and explain why they are your favorites. Or, to describe three favorite scenes. Well, I’m not a photographer, but would like to share these scenes with you anyway, because each has a special meaning to me.
This is the first home I lived in when I moved to Switzerland. We (my then-husband) lived in the right half – as in the right side of the photo, where the three windows are. It was actually a rather small place, the first floor had just a kitchen and dining area, the second floor where those windows are had our living area across the front, with a hallway, small bedroom, and bathroom along the back, then upstairs to the main bedroom. We shared a veggi garden plot with the neighbor next door and grew tomatoes, potatoes, leeks, huge zucchini squash, and strawberries. I made tomato sauce from the extra tomatoes, and strawberry jam, all put in hermetically sealed jars for later consumption.
We were in love, and life was uncomplicated, well, for the most part. Our first daughter was born when we lived in that house. Finances were shaky at best, but we made do. Sometimes struggles can make a marriage strong. It’s when there are no more struggles, when things go well, that ennui can seep in and do its damage. But I digress. Next photo.
This is the view outside my study window. I even have it as one of my desktop themes. Can you see the rainbow? This is the home we bought to try to repair a broken marriage. Note – buying houses will not repair what is broken. But when we divorced, theEx gave his half of the property to our daughters, and I took over the payments. It has been a good home these past 15 years, but the girls are grown and one is already on her own, the other looking for an apartment, and I cannot keep up with it on my own. We will be selling it this year, and oh how I will miss that view!
And finally, my study, my home within my home, my main living quarters besides the bedroom. That exercise bike doesn’t get used as much as it should, because I am usually sitting in that chair looking at the computer screens. When we sell the house, I will probably set up the computer in the main room, living room whatever you want to call it, and just add a small sofa and maybe a comfy chair for visitors. It’s really all I need – a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a place to put my big corner desk and computer. Oh yeah, and the exercise bike.
It’s funny, but in all the time we lived here, I never had any of the walls painted. It always felt like a transitional home, even though it did last 15 years, got me through the divorce, kept my daughters safe and sheltered as they went through adolescence and bloomed into young adults. This was “our” house, and will always be special to me. But I am looking forward to moving, to finding a small cozy apartment just the right size. I’m already thinking of what color I want to do the bedroom and living room. Hmmm… anticipation is such a lovely feeling.
I will miss this home, but I’ll always have the memories – and the pictures to spark them to life.
Thank you Cee, this was fun.
in tuit 