[juliebarkley]

Juliebarkley looks at the pile of empty boxes in front of her and sighs. Everyone talks about unpacking the boxes after you move. No one ever talks about what you do with all the empties. She turns away from the teetering stack in the garage, thinking to return to her book - when a small box in the corner catches her eye. A simple yet beautiful wooden and wicker box, somehow missed when the rest were unpacked. She knows this box. She picks it up and opens it. Jewellery - carved wood and bone, stones that glow in the dull light, graceful twists of metal - all packed tightly into this little box for transport. She takes them out slowly, gently untangles them. And in the bottom of the box, a surprise. Something nearly forgotten.

 

A feather. And another. She pulls them out and strokes them against her cheek. I know these feathers too. A gift from the crow, from so long ago. The crow who spoke to me, believed in me, who saw my potential to protect the swamp, then sent me out into the wider world to grow. Who saw value and worth in me, and who made me feel in myself like I had potential and worth. She tears up for a moment. The last few years, she has drifted from those feelings, from her mission. Yet the crows have never left. They are always near. Perhaps they are just waiting for her to return to them, and to herself.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Perhaps no one remembers the storyline that I reference above, but I do (and I kind of miss it!). And I do have a small collection of crow feathers, and jewellery made from crow feathers, because of that story and the connections I feel to the bird. I thought of them when I sat down to make this challenge because I needed an outside inspiration. I have not been super kind to myself lately when I have struggled, and as a result, made weathering said struggles harder. It's an insidious cycle that undermines and drags me down, and its keeping me from both seeing and realizing the potential I once saw in myself. I need to find ways to take care of myself and build my spirit, so that is going to be what this challenge is about. With this last move now over, I am uprooted, but able to send out new shoots. I have hopes and dreams and potential, if I can only believe in and support myself enough to achieve them. So I am going to borrow some of that belief from the crow, grasp the feather, and hope that I can learn to fly again.

 

So yes, a very flowery and pretentious way to say that basic self-care will be the focus of the this challenge.

 

(I will edit this part tomorrow to add more detail in D&D stat format. Right now, I need to get to bed so that I'm not exhausted at work tomorrow. Getting enough sleep = self-care = winning already at this challenge. Have an adorable baby goat while you wait.)

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, I'm back and ready to set goals.

 

I'm trying to strike a balance here, and I'm not sure I'll get it right. Sometimes I just want to sleep, mope, or ruminate, and that's not healthy. The advice I see is to push yourself to exercise, do fun things, and stay connected by doing social things. Cool. But I also know that pushing too hard will produce too much mental strain, not to mention trigger perfectionism and feelings of failure. So the exact goals might get tweaked along the way.

 

STR: Exercise every day. I have 30 min set aside for this, though I often opt for the 15 minute version. For the purpose of this challenge, any conscious exercise counts. One attempt on the pullup bar is enough to tick off the box. Or pistol squat attempts. Or shuffle dance attempts. Etc.

DEX: If I am home (and awake) during daylight, go outside. I almost next to a nice path by the water. Take a little walk if it's nice maybe. But go outside for at least a minute, even in the rain. Bonus points for going out at night.

CON: Eat a reasonable amount of food of reasonable quality. Sleep enough. Not very SMART, but I know when it's not been done.

INT: Read every day. A little or a lot. Still planning on picking two books, just haven't actually picked them yet.

WIS: This is one of those things that I find hard to do, but which helps so much when I do. Prayers of gratitude worked nicely last time. Something every day, even if very small.

CHA: I want to get out and explore my new town, but also don't want to force myself to do it. So make a list of shops and restaurants and such to visit when the mood strikes.

Art.: Continuing organization and purging is good for me. It makes me feel like I am accomplishing things, even if the action is small, and it makes my space nicer. So put something away, repair something, or purge something every day. Even if that thing is only a browser tab.

Occ.: This does not feel like the right time to be pushing towards big goals, but at the same time, I do need to keep in touch with them in order to show myself that I believe in my abilities and deserve to nurture them. So at least a little side hustle practice every day. One script at the preset practice time. I will also find my annual goal printout and read through it every day.

Happiness: I'm going to make a special effort to seek out things that bring joy. It could be thinking about the five senses to make the environment I'm in more comfortable. It could be looking for a video (like the charming goats above) that made me grin with genuine happiness. Or something else, I don't know. But something joyful every day.

 

That's a lot, but at the same time, so small in each one. But it's more than what I'm doing now. I hope I can do it. Wish me luck!

[Mistr]

I love your story format!

 

If your town has Craiglist, that is a great place to let people know you have empty boxes to sell or give away. There is always someone moving who would be happy to come and take your old boxes.

[Loveable_Bouncer]

20 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

A feather. And another. She pulls them out and strokes them against her cheek. I know these feathers too. A gift from the crow, from so long ago. The crow who spoke to me, believed in me, who saw my potential to protect the swamp, then sent me out into the wider world to grow. Who saw value and worth in me, and who made me feel in myself like I had potential and worth. She tears up for a moment. The last few years, she has drifted from those feelings, from her mission. Yet the crows have never left. They are always near. Perhaps they are just waiting for her to return to them, and to herself.

Honestly, I have been thinking of your story challenges back in the day. Hope to hear a continuation of my own as I follow along on your journey again!

 

21 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

(I will edit this part tomorrow to add more detail in D&D stat format. Right now, I need to get to bed so that I'm not exhausted at work tomorrow. Getting enough sleep = self-care = winning already at this challenge. Have an adorable baby goat while you wait.)

Aww I always appreciate a happy self-care goat!

[Scaly Freak]

23 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

A feather. And another. She pulls them out and strokes them against her cheek. I know these feathers too. A gift from the crow, from so long ago. The crow who spoke to me, believed in me, who saw my potential to protect the swamp, then sent me out into the wider world to grow. Who saw value and worth in me, and who made me feel in myself like I had potential and worth. She tears up for a moment. The last few years, she has drifted from those feelings, from her mission. Yet the crows have never left. They are always near. Perhaps they are just waiting for her to return to them, and to herself.

 

 

SHE IS BACK!!

 

Of course I remember. Duh.  

[juliebarkley]

11 hours ago, Mistr said:

I love your story format!

 

If your town has Craiglist, that is a great place to let people know you have empty boxes to sell or give away. There is always someone moving who would be happy to come and take your old boxes.

Thanks!

 

Craiglist never caught on in this area; we used Kijiji instead. But these days everyone's on Facebook Marketplace. We might be able to sell some of the plastic bins this way. Thanks again!

 

2 hours ago, Fairly_Bouncer said:

Honestly, I have been thinking of your story challenges back in the day. Hope to hear a continuation of my own as I follow along on your journey again!

Really!? That's so cool! I remember you having stories too.

 

11 minutes ago, Scaly Freak said:

SHE IS BACK!!

 

Of course I remember. Duh.  

Aww, so sweet. It feels like a really long time ago.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I only set the goals a few hours ago so I haven't really done much towards them. I did a little reading, and found another adorable goat video. (There may be more goats coming in the future; goats are outstanding.) I made a reasonable attempt at CON by eating supper and a snack later, and trying to nap after getting home from work. Other than that I mostly just hung out with my son. He's good company and good conversation.

[juliebarkley]

STR: I did an attempt on the pullup bar. It was token, but it was intentional, and it meets the challenge criteria.

DEX: Went for a walk to the music store, a stroll by the river on the way home, and then hung out outside while watching a political debate.

CON: I slept till almost 2, which is probably not great. But I did eat enough.

INT: Reading, yes.

WIS: Gratitude prayer.

CHA: Trip to the music store let me see a new shop (and buy a microphone stand and a new violin bow). The owner is really nice.

Art.: No purging yet.

Occ.: I got a little practice in the VO group, and I made an outing for a microphone stand I needed.

Happiness: Nothing actively sought out here. I did notice how happy my cat looked sitting on the bag she conquered, and a family of life-size giraffes on the other side of the river.

 

So that's purging and happiness-seeking that still need doing, but my volunteer shift won't be finished till 3am, so they may be pretty token if done.

[Scaly Freak]

21 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

It feels like a really long time ago.

 

It does. I'm starting to think maybe it was? I mean... anything that happened before COVID is an eternity ago now, right?

[Mad Hatter]

On 5/4/2022 at 8:50 AM, juliebarkley said:

Everyone talks about unpacking the boxes after you move. No one ever talks about what you do with all the empties.

 

On 5/4/2022 at 8:50 AM, juliebarkley said:

So I am going to borrow some of that belief from the crow, grasp the feather, and hope that I can learn to fly again.

😍

 

BABY GOATS!!! 

[juliebarkley]

23 hours ago, Scaly Freak said:

It does. I'm starting to think maybe it was? I mean... anything that happened before COVID is an eternity ago now, right?

I might have only done a story a handful of times since 2018? Even discounting the time vortex of Covid, that's a long time. So even more impressive that you remember.

 

14 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

You always want me to burn things. I like that about you.

 

14 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

BABY GOATS!!! 

Please feel free to reciprocate with more goats.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STR: GMB Mobility; 15 minutes.

DEX: Hung out outdoors in the sunshine for maybe an hour.

CON: I think so, mostly. I need better snacks though. And more of them.

INT: Read a fair bit, flitting between two books. Neither of those are the books for this month, which have still not been chosen. Should probably get on that...

WIS: Yes, done.

CHA: Didn't go anywhere today. I have peeled a little too much skin off one of my heels and walking is a tad uncomfortable. I need to leave it alone to heal or I'll never be able to work towards the Big Walk. There's also a farmer's market, a "night" market (it is not at night), and a buskers' festival to look forward to.

Art.: Repaired a dress and purged four cassette tapes. Yes, audio cassettes. No, I have nothing to play them on. My son is attempting to drag me into the 21st century by introducing me to Spotify, and they were all there.

Occ.: Did a practice script without being in a practice session with other people for the first time in a long time.

Happiness: Ducklings today. (Spoiler: They cannot climb stairs. But they learn to COMMIT, and then they succeed.) I also rearranged the furniture in my room, added a small table, and basically created a little nook where I can sit in the chair and enjoy a book, a candle, or some flowers, while looking out the window at the birds in the tree. The room is still full of piles of stuff because that is really the only furniture in here, but still, that part looks pretty good. (And the cats stole the chair within five minutes of my setting it up, so you know it's good. )

 

I spent the day ticking down my list of stuff, which means things get done but the list still just gets longer. 🤷‍♀️ All little things, not worth the telling.

 

[Loveable_Bouncer]

33 minutes ago, juliebarkley said:

he room is still full of piles of stuff because that is really the only furniture in here, but still, that part looks pretty good. (And the cats stole the chair within five minutes of my setting it up, so you know it's good. )

As someone who is still having a hard time finding a home / decluttering her piles I 100% understand. 

Yay for finding a happy place amongst the chaos!

 

35 minutes ago, juliebarkley said:

Art.: Repaired a dress and purged four cassette tapes. Yes, audio cassettes. No, I have nothing to play them on. My son is attempting to drag me into the 21st century by introducing me to Spotify, and they were all there.

Good luck to the adjustment. I honestly love Spotify... It helped me through my darkest time by being the easiest to grab when I didn't have anything else to keep up with me. 

 

On 5/5/2022 at 12:48 AM, juliebarkley said:

Really!? That's so cool! I remember you having stories too.

Yes, for years I've been trying to figure out how to do my own again without getting overwhelmed. 

Helped my life is a bit more calm and happy. And help with COVID bringing out people master Solo Roleplaying and a couple people here. I now have started my own DnD challenge for the first time! (Found out there's an actual Fairy race.. which made me happy / creativity start flying). 

[Scaly Freak]

51 minutes ago, juliebarkley said:

Art.: Repaired a dress and purged four cassette tapes. Yes, audio cassettes. No, I have nothing to play them on. My son is attempting to drag me into the 21st century by introducing me to Spotify, and they were all there.

 

I hear persistent rumors that Spotify has podcasts and audio books as well. That sounds like it might be worth exploring.  

[juliebarkley]

On 5/6/2022 at 11:38 PM, Fairly_Bouncer said:

Yes, for years I've been trying to figure out how to do my own again without getting overwhelmed. 

Helped my life is a bit more calm and happy. And help with COVID bringing out people master Solo Roleplaying and a couple people here. I now have started my own DnD challenge for the first time! (Found out there's an actual Fairy race.. which made me happy / creativity start flying). 

In your challenge?! (Note to self: check out Bouncer's challenge.)

 

On 5/6/2022 at 11:42 PM, Scaly Freak said:

I hear persistent rumors that Spotify has podcasts and audio books as well. That sounds like it might be worth exploring.  

My podcasting habits are well ensconced elsewhere. Audiobooks though, hmmm.....

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Got home tired, remained tired. Very low energy. The things were minimal.

 

STR: I stopped to stretch on purpose just to move. Totally counts.

DEX: I took all my work breaks outside today.

CON: Last night I had to choose between going to bed hungry or not getting enough sleep. I chose food, and that's part of the reason I'm tired. Supper today was really unappetizing, so I haven't eaten much either I'm afraid.

INT: Only if my breaktime book counts. The ghost they're trying to help is from an Irish laundry, and the main character (who can pass as human) went to interview the superior of the convent, who is still alive in a nursing home. She was unrepentant about the abuse she meted out on the girls, so he said at the end of the interview that he was an enjoy from archangel Michael to see if she would repent, and he must now go tell him that he can't defend her before God. Then he backed through a wall so he could watch her face as he disappeared. I love this series.

WIS: No.

CHA: No.

Art.: No.

Occ.: No.

Happiness: No. Probably should have made the effort for this one, too.

 

[Mad Hatter]

On 5/7/2022 at 6:00 AM, juliebarkley said:

Yes, audio cassettes. No, I have nothing to play them on. My son is attempting to drag me into the 21st century by introducing me to Spotify, and they were all there.

More like this millennium. 😜 😆

[juliebarkley]

21 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

More like this millennium. 😜 😆

Rub it in, rub it in. But while poking around its features, I found things that he hadn't despite being a heavy user for years, so that was fun. I'm just not a big music listener, and had no idea how to find new things that would interest me. This seems like a way. Now I gather I just have to populate it with songs I have heard of and like and it will start to learn how I think and what I like (or I can pick an artist I know where I'm in the mood for more of that, and do the thinking for myself). The stuff I've put in so far seems to have not very many listens, which he says is good in terms of making it accurate faster. No idea if that is true.

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STR: A little bit of stretching. Interestingly, I can reach further if I reach for the floor while twisting than straight (ie. reaching for the floor by the outsides of my feet rather than my toes).

DEX: Hung out in the sun for a while this afternoon. Am looking forward to next week, when temps should be in the mid to high 20s.

CON: Woke up after around 10 hours of sleep. Food was mostly poutine and onion rings, which is not great quality, but it was Mother's Day ordering-in, and I was stuffed for hours. (It is also the reason my exercise is so lame.)

INT: Just a touch. I think for this month's books, I'm going to do a light and a medium one. For fiction, something classic on my kindle (it is charging; I don't know what's on there) or failing that, a mystery. For non-fiction, either something in my politics pile if the fiction is on the fluffy end (probably free speech or Russia/China), or if the fiction is a bit more difficult, You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey, which looks like a light and funny book about racism. I'll pick the fiction ASAP, so not too worried about the non-fiction right now.

WIS: Yes.

CHA: No. Well, I suppose I tried a new restaurant, but I didn't actually go there.

Art.: I ... recycled some things that were lying around? I mean, I guess it counts.

Occ.: Yes.

Happiness: My son brought me this one. The joy of friendship.

 

I've been trying to go through some of my library's French books today as I am not familiar with that collection and will need something new to read soon. For some reason, they ordered more than 2000 French ebooks this month! I also learned, through painful failed effort, that I cannot skim-read French. I can't skim-read Esperanto either, so I'm not sure if this is a second-language thing, or just a level-of-language-proficiency thing. Can you guys skim-read in your second languages?

 

Edit: Kindle now has charge. Here's what I have that looks interesting to me right now: The Moonstone (I also have The Woman in White somewhere), The Castle of Otranto, The Prince and the Pauper, Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, Erewhon, Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Wuthering Heights. Any input on the titles I have is appreciated - after all, I haven't read them!

[Mad Hatter]

3 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

Rub it in, rub it in.

😘

 

I love the suggested mixes! Except recently when it started suggesting all Finnish music! 🤣 First category was really boring radio pop ballads (which I never listen to!!) and 80s punk with names like Klamydia. 😆 Admittedly the latter might've been fun, but punk in a language you don't understand is a bit meh.

 

3 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

I've been trying to go through some of my library's French books today as I am not familiar with that collection and will need something new to read soon. For some reason, they ordered more than 2000 French ebooks this month! I also learned, through painful failed effort, that I cannot skim-read French. I can't skim-read Esperanto either, so I'm not sure if this is a second-language thing, or just a level-of-language-proficiency thing. Can you guys skim-read in your second languages?

I think it's a language proficiency/exposure/automation thing. I can't skim read Polish and it's supposedly my mother tongue. I have to process each word, I can't just look at it and it automagically gets turned into something useful. 

[juliebarkley]

19 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

I love the suggested mixes! Except recently when it started suggesting all Finnish music! 🤣 

That's like when YouTube decides every now and again that I am francophone and that it should give me all French ads for a week or so. Then I'm not francophone any more, I guess. 🤷‍♀️ You have been low-key trying to learn Finnish for a while though, haven't you? So maybe it's just "helping".

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STR: I thought about it and then didn't do it.

DEX: Went for a walk to mail a parcel and buy a nice loaf of bread to go with supper.

CON: Supper was really nice - eggs poached in a tomatoey veggie sauce with onion cheese bread. Healthy, easy, filling, and delicious.

INT: I'll do a bit before bed? I think I'm going to read The Moonstone; I really feel like a mystery/detective type book. Since it's fairly long, that means my non-fiction will probably be You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey, which I'm looking forward to. And I could use a lighter non-fic option anyway.

WIS: Also before bed?

CHA: Nothing new, though I really have to poke around that grocery store. It has a ton of local products and British imports and just plain neat stuff.

Art.: Purged one of my nightgowns. It already has in the region of thirty repairs, some of which I before putting it in the wash, and on coming out of the wash, it needs at least eight more. I think it's time to let it go.

Occ.: Nope.

Happiness: Looking at all the breads and then carrying home a big round loaf I really wanted to eat.

[juliebarkley]

STR: Bear walked across the basement, did a dead hang, then bear walked back.

DEX: Just more outside time at work. It's really been beautiful out lately.

CON: Decent enough.

INT: Yes.

WIS: Yes.

CHA: Really need to pick somewhere to visit. Maybe the other park in town?

Art.: Put away business cards and purged an invalid insurance card.

Occ.: No. Forgot about this one entirely.

Happiness: It's the narrator's reaction to the unexpected that makes it. And the fish itself, of course. Have to honour the star of the show. Even when it really does look like a garbage bag about to drift away.

[Mistr]

I loved the fish video.

 

I'm glad you are getting good weather and getting to explore your new neighborhood. 🦋🌸🌱

[Mad Hatter]

  

On 5/10/2022 at 8:27 AM, juliebarkley said:

That's like when YouTube decides every now and again that I am francophone and that it should give me all French ads for a week or so. Then I'm not francophone any more, I guess. 🤷‍♀️ You have been low-key trying to learn Finnish for a while though, haven't you? So maybe it's just "helping".

I'm pretty sure YT thinks I'm a dude. 😆

 

Nah no Finnish for me, can't be bothered. I did do the duolingo course when it came out, but all I remember is "minä olen velho"/"I'm a wizard". 🤣 I just don't have a good enough incentive to spend brain power learning this pretty useless language.

 

On 5/10/2022 at 8:27 AM, juliebarkley said:

Happiness: Looking at all the breads and then carrying home a big round loaf I really wanted to eat.

Mmm yes this happiness.

 

Didn't watch the video yet, but I adore frogfish! And they move freakishly fast for drifting garbage bags. 😆

[juliebarkley]

14 hours ago, Mistr said:

I loved the fish video.

 

I'm glad you are getting good weather and getting to explore your new neighborhood. 🦋🌸🌱

Zefrank is fun. There will probably be more from him another day.

 

I have exploratory plans for tomorrow and it's all exciting.

 

12 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

I'm pretty sure YT thinks I'm a dude. 😆

 

Nah no Finnish for me, can't be bothered. I did do the duolingo course when it came out, but all I remember is "minä olen velho"/"I'm a wizard". 🤣 I just don't have a good enough incentive to spend brain power learning this pretty useless language.

YouTube has given me ads that targeted me as an "evangelical Christian" and ads targeting me as a Muslim who needed to be converted to evangelical Christianity. Might even have been on the same day. Given the videos I watch, you'd think that one would be easy for YouTube to figure out, so I have no idea what it makes of me. If it's anything like what AdSense makes of me, it's very confused.

 

Useless when you live in the country and have to, like, talk to people? Or did you leave Finland for good and I missed the memo?

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STR: Purposeful stretching.

DEX: I had to walk to the post office? It wasn't much.

CON: The slight headache I have is telling me I didn't do well enough here.

INT: No.

WIS: No.

CHA: Not today, but I have plans for tomorrow. 

Art.: No.

Occ.: No.

Happiness: Um, I watched a political debate and really enjoyed it? Then spent like an hour talking politics with my son? (Don't throw things at me.) Or no wait - at work today, a beautiful male cardinal landed on a branch right outside the window. I called over a coworker and we watching him for a bit, then his mate showed up (also beautiful). I hope they live in one of the bushes in the garden.

 

I had plans to do... well no, actually I had no solid plans for the evening. But I pulled up the front page of the CBC, saw that the Conservative leadership debate was already 20 minutes in, realized I had completely forgotten about it, and that was my next two hours. 🤷‍♀️I've been following the race pretty closely, and I love watching political debates just in general, so it was fun for me. (And if I were a Conservative party member - I am not - I think I know how I would rank my ballot now.) This debate was interesting too because the moderator asked personal questions that the candidates clearly weren't expecting, but which revealed a little about them as people. What book are you reading right now? Who's your political hero (and you're not allowed to pick Winston Churchill)? What is the last TV show you binge watched? That sort of thing. One of the candidates said he learned English when he came to Canada by watching Married With Children with the subtitles on. 😆 My son missed the debate, so we talked about (mostly) the leadership race, strategies of the candidates, etc. (I still have to watch yesterday's Ontario debate, but it won't be the happy thing for tomorrow. The Ontario election is much more boring but I actually vote in it, so best be informed and all.)

 

That's been my whole evening, pretty much. I'll try to pick up some of the easier stuff before bed. I have plans tomorrow to go out to either a coffee shop or a bakery, then go find the other park in town and check it out.

[juliebarkley]

STR: Not today.

DEX: Yes.

CON: I really messed up my noodles with peanut sauce, but they were filling at least.

INT: Yes.

WIS: Yes.

CHA: Went to the cash-only bakery down the road. Looks like it is geared more to baking for local businesses than for retail, but we got a couple of donuts and a dozen cookies and then went to Riverside Park to eat them (well, the donuts anyway). I was disappointed by the lack of a view of ... the river ... in Riverside park, but the pool looks nice. They were just filling it up for the season while we were there. There must be river access somewhere though, because the Pride flotilla is scheduled to stop here in June and I don't think they're planning to cart their kayaks through the trees.

Art.: I did put something away, but it was a token effort.

Occ.: Yes. It was also a yes yesterday, I realized. I used the chapter of history I read to my son to try out some different read styles.

Happiness: This song. Memory lane. I love Sean Cullen's absurdist humour (and also loved MADtv). I cry a little every time I watch this performance. I have no idea how good of a parody it is of REM because I don't know REM. Funny anyway. (But improvised musical parody was their thing, so fingers crossed it is good.)

[Mad Hatter]

On 5/12/2022 at 8:54 AM, juliebarkley said:

YouTube has given me ads that targeted me as an "evangelical Christian" and ads targeting me as a Muslim who needed to be converted to evangelical Christianity. Might even have been on the same day. Given the videos I watch, you'd think that one would be easy for YouTube to figure out, so I have no idea what it makes of me. If it's anything like what AdSense makes of me, it's very confused.

LOL. That's tragic. Why are there even ads for that??

 

On 5/12/2022 at 8:54 AM, juliebarkley said:

Useless when you live in the country and have to, like, talk to people? Or did you leave Finland for good and I missed the memo?

You misunderstand how Finland works.  This is the country where social distancing was cool before the pandemic. Still here for now though, until next winter, and then we'll see.

 

On 5/12/2022 at 8:54 AM, juliebarkley said:

then his mate showed up (also beautiful). I hope they live in one of the bushes in the garden.

I read this as your coworker's mate and got very confused why you wanted them to live in a bush.  

 

[Scaly Freak]

8 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

You misunderstand how Finland works.  This is the country where social distancing was cool before the pandemic. Still here for now though, until next winter, and then we'll see.

 

[juliebarkley]

10 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

LOL. That's tragic. Why are there even ads for that??

Because "evangelical" = win people to your team who aren't already on it. Can't do that if you don't get your message out.

 

10 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

You misunderstand how Finland works.  This is the country where social distancing was cool before the pandemic. Still here for now though, until next winter, and then we'll see.

2 hours ago, Scaly Freak said:

 

Ah yes, I forgot. Must make it very hard to make friends though (as if it isn't hard enough already).

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STR: Also not today.

DEX: Breaktime at work. It was pretty short, but I got some good leg exposure.

CON: Hmm. Should probably eat something else before bed, but then might not get enough sleep.... Sigh. The eternal struggle.

INT: Yes. Nothing to brag about though. If I want to get my books done, I need to do better than I have been. And I do want to get my books done.

WIS: Not yet.

CHA: No, but I kind of fantasized a couple of times about walking barefoot down to the river?

Art.: Umm.... I have now.

Occ.: Nope.

Happiness: D&D today had some delightful silly moments of genuine smiles.

 

Other than D&D, I didn't do much except catch up on the news and eat supper.

 

[juliebarkley]

Woke up for work with a whole bunch of things running through my head that really needed doing and a feeling of being overwhelmed, but couldn't get started on them then because work. Interminable day of work finally done, can I remember any of the things I desperately need to do? 🤦‍♀️The only thing worse than being overwhelmed by all the stuff you have to do is knowing that you should be overwhelmed by all the stuff you have to do, if only you could remember what that stuff was.