UnquietBones lie quiet, lie still...

[UnquietBones]

I had some crazy depressing stuff happen right at the end of the last challenge... so this challenge is going to be very very simple.

 

Post at least one good thing that happened today.

Addendum: I may not say 'but' or 'except' or any other negative qualifiers.

[UnquietBones]

Monday 2/6

 

I cooked lunches yesterday and thus had a nice chicken and broccoli meal for work today.

 

I took the NinjaPuppeh out for a walk in the park with the new 25 foot lead and let her run in circles around me. This meant that I had to walk through the middle of the field instead of staying on the path, but it was a great workout for her and the uneven ground made my ankles and calves nice and tired too.

 

I sang my walking songs (because reasons) and realized I couldn't remember all the words to The Ghost of Herington Hill, so I looked them up when I got home. Turns out I remembered more than I thought, but the pauper’s grave verse always gets me. I may need to rewrite it. *pokes song*

 

Spoiler

 

There’s a light in the limbs of the old oak tree,
Where they hung the mutineer Jones.
There’s a light in the limbs where none should be,
And a rattle of unquiet bones.

Bones lie quiet!
Bones lie still!
Bones lie buried in Herington Hill!

The sun burnt red when he went to sea,
An omen as dark as the night.
The sun burnt red and the winds blew free,
As he followed them into the light.

Bones lie quiet!
Bones lie still!
Bones lie buried in Herington Hill!

And when he returned on the wind and the wave,
Alone on the deck of the Spry
And when he returned it was straight to the grave,
In Herington Hill he resides.

Bones lie quiet!
Bones lie still!
Bones lie buried in Herington Hill!

Not a word did he speak, from the ship to the tree,
Those fleeting last moments of life,
Not a word did he speak, nor did offer a plea,
For the care and support of his wife.

Bones lie quiet!
Bones lie still!
Bones lie buried in Herington Hill!

She watched him rise and she watched him fall,
At the hands of family and friends,
She watched him rise and she watched him fall,
And she vowed she would have her revenge.

Bones lie quiet!
Bones lie still!
Bones lie buried in Herington Hill!

They laid him down in a pauper’s grave,
And covered him deep with stones.
They laid him down, but he won’t stay laid,
Because of the widow Jones.

Bones lie quiet!
Bones lie still!
Bones lie buried in Herington Hill!

She called him back from the shadowed lands,
Where the spirits of murderers roam.
She called him back and she took his hand,
And they walked out into the foam.

Bones lie quiet!
Bones lie still!
Bones lie buried in Herington Hill!

And the town that was by the edge of the sea,
Lies empty it’s denizens fled.
And the town that was will nevermore be,
For it harbors the wrath of the dead.

Bones lie quiet!
Bones lie still!
Bones lie buried in Herington Hill!

There’s a light in the limbs of the old oak tree,
Where they hung the mutineer Jones.
There’s a light in the limbs where none should be,
And a rattle of unquiet bones.

 

 

[Manarelle]

Is that song where your name came from? I hadn't heard of walking songs before, I am intrigued!

 

Also, good challenge. Hope it helps with the depressing stuff, and moving forward to make new habits. /hugs

[UnquietBones]

11 minutes ago, Manarelle said:

Is that song where your name came from? I hadn't heard of walking songs before, I am intrigued!

 

Yup! It was the name of my writing blog for a while too, I just love the feel of it. Walking songs may just be a thing I do, but my brain is always churning-- so I make up songs that match the cadence of my steps. They make me pick up the pace (or slow it down) so I've got a couple of them, but the ghost story is one of my favorites!  (I have another song that's basically Stargate Atlantis fanfiction set to almost the same tune, but I'm constantly rewriting the verses because I forget them, which amuses me highly.)

 

Spoiler

There's a ghost who walks the edge of the sea,
In silver and lightning and foam.
Singing songs of a future that never will be,
In a voice that reminds you of home.

Sing to remember.
Sing to forget.
Sing for a future unmade.
In memory linger forever, and yet,
She cries for the dreams of the brave.

There's a ghost who walks the edge of the sea,
In search of a future she lost.
Traded away for a chance to be free,
Before she had counted the cost.

Sing to remember.
Sing to forget.
Sing for a future denied.
She never expected the weight of regret,
Nor the hollow she caries inside.

There's a ghost who walks the edge of the sea,
Reciting the names of the dead.
If you listen, entwined in that sad litany,
Lie the futures, unwritten, unread.

There's a ghost who walks the edge of the sea,
In silver and lightning and foam.
Singing songs of a future that never will be,
In a voice that reminds you of home.

 

19 minutes ago, Manarelle said:

Also, good challenge. Hope it helps with the depressing stuff, and moving forward to make new habits. /hugs

 

I know things will get-- well, not better, easier maybe? I just need to focus on putting one foot in front of the other and reminding myself that there are still good things in the world. Death is just another part of Life, and I know that, but it does seem to devalue Life if I focus in on it too much. So. Happy things. Little steps. And by next challenge I should be back in a place where things can have forward momentum again.

[Manarelle]

15 hours ago, UnquietBones said:

Yup! It was the name of my writing blog for a while too, I just love the feel of it. Walking songs may just be a thing I do, but my brain is always churning-- so I make up songs that match the cadence of my steps. They make me pick up the pace (or slow it down) so I've got a couple of them, but the ghost story is one of my favorites!  (I have another song that's basically Stargate Atlantis fanfiction set to almost the same tune, but I'm constantly rewriting the verses because I forget them, which amuses me highly.)

 

That is fantastic. I feel like I used to make up songs/ rhymes like that when I was a kid, but I stopped at some point. I might have to steal your idea and get back into that (or just steal your songs!). 

[Dagger]

Your songs are amazing (are both yours?). I love the idea of walking songs. I definitely sing at times when I take long walks, although I haven't ever made up my own. Well, snippets.

 

I like your challenge. It is a good one in time of mourning. <3

[ButterFactor]

I just started walking in the mornings, and I love the idea of walking songs! I'll have to try that out instead of plugging in headphones!

[Captainfantastic]

I've been doing a similar thing a while with the walking songs and my wife gets tired of it sometimes but mostly it's just fun, my daughter seems to like it(I do it go get her to sleep) but your bones lie quiet(how I sing it in my head at least) has been stuck in my head since you posted about your name, I like it a lot! Good luck with your challenge! Can't wait to read all the positive things!

[UnquietBones]

11 hours ago, Manarelle said:

That is fantastic. I feel like I used to make up songs/ rhymes like that when I was a kid, but I stopped at some point. I might have to steal your idea and get back into that (or just steal your songs!). 

 

Songs are also great way to distract you from the fact that you really don't want to go any further! Plus they make other folks on the trail laugh and laughter is always good.  

 

7 hours ago, Dagger said:

Your songs are amazing (are both yours?). I love the idea of walking songs. I definitely sing at times when I take long walks, although I haven't ever made up my own. Well, snippets.

 

I like your challenge. It is a good one in time of mourning. <3

 

Yup! I have a few others, not sure if I ever wrote them down or not so I'll have to go check. I always use Sparasponda (not mine) when need to speed up!

 

5 hours ago, ButterFactor said:

I just started walking in the mornings, and I love the idea of walking songs! I'll have to try that out instead of plugging in headphones!

 

It's a lot of fun!  I've heard other folks say that you want to be working out just hard enough that singing is a challenge, so I also use it to measure how hard I'm trying.

 

2 hours ago, Captainfantastic said:

I've been doing a similar thing a while with the walking songs and my wife gets tired of it sometimes but mostly it's just fun, my daughter seems to like it(I do it go get her to sleep) but your bones lie quiet(how I sing it in my head at least) has been stuck in my head since you posted about your name, I like it a lot! Good luck with your challenge! Can't wait to read all the positive things!

 

I almost never sing the songs the same way twice myself!  I had no idea Edge of the Sea and Herington Hill had basically the same tune until I tried to make sheet music for them.  Now I'm sort of revved up to write some more of them this challenge.

[UnquietBones]

Tuesday 2/7

 

I brought lunch again! Nomnomnom....

 

I finished editing all the photos for the Fat Animal magnets, so now I can do the rest of those posts. *small happy dance*

 

I finished up a decent first/final draft of On Being Batman (a Baron'verse drabble) so I'm back in the saddle for 52 Short Stories in 52 Weeks and that'll go up to Wattpad and the blog soon.

 

I went doggie walking with the NinjaPuppeh again! She's having a lot of fun on the long leash and it's definitely tiring her out. I remembered to wear my fitbit this time 

 

I put some posts in the ground in roughly the spot I think I want to build the raised garden bed. (Squarefoot garden FTW!) Now I just need to keep an eye on the shadows tomorrow...

 

I took measurement, sketched out a plan, and went to Lowe's to price out building a box around the blueberries to keep the birds out this year.

 

...Not qualifying these with negative statements is a LOT harder than I expected. Darn you you tricksy brain, I shall defeat thy gloom yet!

[Dagger]

9 hours ago, UnquietBones said:

Tuesday 2/7

So much win.

[Manarelle]

15 hours ago, UnquietBones said:

...Not qualifying these with negative statements is a LOT harder than I expected. Darn you you tricksy brain, I shall defeat thy gloom yet!

 

You got this, you're awesome, and none of those needed qualification.  

 

What are you looking to build for the blueberries? I've put stakes around the box edges and draped netting over mine for the past two years. I'll occasionally get a large insect stuck inside between harvests, but the birds left it alone and the netting is reusable (and I'm cheap). So excited about spring coming and gardens and yay!

[Teancum]

Those songs are incredible! I like walking songs too, but I'm not creative enough to make up my own so I usually use the ones in lord of the rings because they make me feel adventurous. 

[UnquietBones]

I've been sick, so no update... which means I will probably spent time today trying to remember the good things that happened so I can come post them!

 

The Katsucon trip is coming up quick and I don't know if I'll be able to bring my laptop to that (staffwork is going to eat up ALL of time time ) so I may be back to radio silence come Thursday night. 

 

I'm just glad I finally started feeling better yesterday and could get some artwork (and housework!) done... I've felt so accomplished this month.

[UnquietBones]

This is a placeholder post for as I think of things...

 

Wednesday 2/8

• I listened to my coworkers and went home early(ish) because I wasn't feeling well.

 

Thursday 2/9

• I stayed home sick and took it easy.
• I slept all day instead of trying to get up and be 'not-lazy'.

 

Friday 2/10

• I stayed home sick and took it easy. (Because I have a fever Thursday and lo, the 24 hour rule is Not a Thing To Be Trifled With.) *solemn nod*
• I got up and went in to work to grab my lunchbox so that the cleaning folk wouldn't throw it out. (And got there in the middle of the lockdown, so I have a cool story to tell the coworkers who missed out! ) ((It was a non-event, but it was still fun to be there for.))

 

Saturday 2/11

• I was feeling a smidge under the weather, so instead of pushing myself I sat in an watched movies on Netflix while the dog and cat hung out on the bed with me.

 

Sunday 2/12

• I did dishes and laundry and vacuumed and felt Like An Adult!
• The weather was wonderful so I finished sealing the three horses that have been sitting around waiting for a nice day.
• I made a lovely little cardstock box for the corgi magnet that someone bought from my Etsy store as a memorial present for a friend whose dog had passed.
• I sat outside in the nice weather while I was working on art so the Fluffeh Puppeh could Ninja around the backyard to her hearts content.

[UnquietBones]

On 2/8/2017 at 0:13 PM, Manarelle said:

 

You got this, you're awesome, and none of those needed qualification.  

 

What are you looking to build for the blueberries? I've put stakes around the box edges and draped netting over mine for the past two years. I'll occasionally get a large insect stuck inside between harvests, but the birds left it alone and the netting is reusable (and I'm cheap). So excited about spring coming and gardens and yay!

 

Thank you!

 

I've done the draping before (at the old house), but there was a robin who constantly ended up tangled in the netting and he got eaten by something one day... there was only a leg left in the netting when I got home.  So I'm trying to build a framework that I can put screens into (think like a box of window screens, only with chicken wire).

 

I wasn't up to the task before, but I have a pretty good idea of what I want to build once I feel better (and have time! )

[UnquietBones]

On 2/8/2017 at 1:41 PM, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

Those songs are incredible! I like walking songs too, but I'm not creative enough to make up my own so I usually use the ones in lord of the rings because they make me feel adventurous. 

 

Thank you! I will admit there are times when I faux-kazoo the Taking The Hobbits to Isengard... because I am a silly silly person.

[Dagger]

2 hours ago, UnquietBones said:

I'm just glad I finally started feeling better yesterday and could get some artwork (and housework!) done... I've felt so accomplished this month.

Glad to hear it and it sounds like the details were good considering you were sick.

[Manarelle]

Props on taking care of yourself. I feel like society really stresses the whole "push yourself the whole time, you can't afford to be sick" but you recover so much faster and healthier when you really take the time to care for yourself. Glad you're feeling better!

 

5 hours ago, UnquietBones said:

I've done the draping before (at the old house), but there was a robin who constantly ended up tangled in the netting and he got eaten by something one day... there was only a leg left in the netting when I got home.  So I'm trying to build a framework that I can put screens into (think like a box of window screens, only with chicken wire).

 

Woah, yeah, that's not good. A couple in the community garden last year had a snake caught in their netting. Knock on wood, the worst I've had was a few bugs so far. Framework sounds like a good idea though! I'm so exciting it's springtime(ish)!!

[UnquietBones]

Monday 2/13

• Finished the Valentine's Day card for hubby (construction paper masterpieces FTW! )
• Gave painting the Star Trek insignia a few more tries on his Penguin Science Officer magnet, but no luck... resolved to try again tomorrow!
• Got the next short story idea in place for 52 in 52 and got the Outline posted to Wattpad.
• Started prepping for the Katsucon trip and tried to catch up on the work I'd missed from being out sick last week.
• Reminded my boss I was going on the Katsucon trip, which he keeps forgetting about.
• Got to bed on time, got to sleep almost on time (getting better!)

[UnquietBones]

Tuesday 2/14

• Woke up before the alarm clock (it's a sunrise alarm, so woke up while it was getting brighter but the song hadn't started)
• Got caught up on all my work so I don't have to worried about work whilst I travel!
• Figured out what I needed to do in order to be all ready for the con
• Took a nice nap when I got home
• Hubby enjoyed his card!
• I got a cool 'evil face' bear and a giant box of chocolate from hubby!

[Captainfantastic]

That's awesome! Let's see that card!! I got my wife a Buddha board, I'm not really good with crafts!:)

[Manarelle]

9 hours ago, UnquietBones said:

Reminded my boss I was going on the Katsucon trip, which he keeps forgetting about.

 

Hahaha, yup, I can sympathize with that. Nice job getting to bed on time, making good progress there! Your body must just be confused and still trying to wake up after a short amount of sleep.  

[UnquietBones]

Wednesday 2/15

• Found all the stuff I needed at Wally World for the trip and most of it was on sale! *happy dance*
• Got everything packed and was out of the house by 10, only forgot one thing (which I picked up on the way). 
• Had a wonderful trip up, it was a it rainy to start but then went to sunshine. I'd forgotten how much I love car trips!
• Got to hang out with Mom and sort of help cook dinner (I made berry cake topping reduction sauce thingy)
• Mom offered to give me a lift to and from the con which means I save $100 in parking!  She is too awesome!!
• Took advantage of the 50% off offer for Nerd Fitness and now I am in the academy too.  (Me)

[Suzaqu]

Hello! I found you! I love your simple challenge, the no qualifiers rule is awesome.  I also went back and looked at your old challenge. Hugs!