lizzybuffy2008

24. Do you own a calculator, or do you rely on your mental arithmetic skills?

I am an engineer, so of course I own a calculator. I really only use it when I do taxes though. I will mostly do stuff in my head, unless there is a lot to be added/subtracted, etc.

FF:

1. What do you see when you are looking out of the window closest to you?

The back patio, a planted bank, and 2 deer eating wild ginger (hopefully.)

2. Who was the last person coming into your room?

My husband K

3. What is the most predominant colour around you?

Shades of cream and brown with a pop of blue.

4. What is right behind you?

Over my left shoulder are 2 photos that I took in Venice and over my right is the kitchen.

5. What is on today's calendar sheet?

I have been swimming already, am going to do some prep cooking for the weekend, and then we have a farm to table dinner this evening at a local country club.

24 – Flossing Day: Do you floss regularly?

I have to admit; I am not the best flosser. I tend to do it randomly and in the couple of weeks before my teeth cleaning appointment. I am blessed with strong, shiny teeth.

The Friday Five for 24 November 2023

1. What did you eat on Thursday?

Spinach and fontina stuffed turkey breast, spicy dressing, gravy, creamed leeks, fluffy rolls, cranberry sauce, and for dessert, maple cheesecake.

2. How many miles (kilometers) did you drive on Thursday?

0

3. How many relatives did you see on Thursday?

1, my husband. Although we texted and talked with some on the phone.

4. What did you wear on Thursday?

Cream sweater, olive pleather leggings, and leopard print ankle boots

5. Are you planning to buy anything in particular on Friday?

I bought K a couple of things online and am scoping out a new TV to see if it get reduced more.

24 – International Waffle Day: How do you like your waffles? Will you be celebrating today by eating any? I like waffles ok, but do not have them very often. I prefer pancakes, I think it is easier to get the butter/syrup ratio right with pancakes.


1. Forest: Do you spend a lot of time in nature? Do you want to?

Honestly, it depends on the time of year. We tend to have wet winters and early springs, so do not do a great deal outside during that time. During the rest of the year, I garden (mostly pick weeds,) walk outside, and hike some.

2. Cereal: What do you usually eat for breakfast?

Again, it depends on the day. I fluctuate between a multigrain bagel, plain yogurt with berries and homemade granola, cottage cheese with oat groats, steel cut oat groats (winter/spring,) and homemade bircher muesli (summer/fall.) One day a week, usually after a hard workout, I have eggs.

3. Flu: How do you cope with getting a minor illness?

Usually pretty well. Even with COVID, it mostly just felt like a head cold. I usually still workout, just don't swim with head colds or upper respiratory stuff.

4. Worm: What sort of dirty/messy activities do you enjoy?

I like to cook and bake; those can get messy if making bread, pizza, or anything that requires rolling out.

5. Bang: What's the last celebration you went to?

I suppose it was my women's group's Christmas dinner in early December.

1. What is the last book you read and what book(s), if any, are you currently reading?

"The Plot" by Jean Haniff Korelitz was last I finished and am currently reading "The Fifth Season" by NK Jemisin.

2. How about moving pictures? Are you a fan of any TV show or movie right now?

We are watching "Stranger Things" season 4 and "Hacks" season 2

3. What's your favorite genre, and why?

I have no real favorite; I like variety, but am not a fan of the unreliable narrator.

4. If we were all evacuating the planet, and you could only bring 3 unique works of entertainment for posterity, which would you pick? Let's just assume that we've coordinated it so there are no repeats.

A large tome of pictures of great classical art, a large hard drive with favorite movies and TV shows loaded, and a separate HD with books.

5. Do you make new works as well (fannish or original both count)? Or is that not your skillset/interest?

I wrote a couple of Spuffy fanfics ages ago.

23. Curtains or blinds?

I actually prefer Roman Shades or no coverings at all, but do have both curtains and blinds in my house.

Friday Five:

1. What was a skill you were proud to learn as a kid?

Writing in cursive. I learned early in first grade, so was surprised when I switched schools and had to help fifth graders who were struggling.

2. What's something you used to be good at, but can't do any more?

I used to be quite flexible and strong in yoga (when I was taking 2-3 classes per week.) Now that I am doing other things more and only sporadically taking yoga, my flexibility and ability to do inversions and binds has decreased.

3. What's something you haven't done in a long time, but you could pick it right back up again with some practice?

With more regular practice; I could be better at yoga again, also higher level math (calculus.)

4. What can you teach others to do?

If I had patience enough, I could teach others about seasonal cooking, bread making, using the mixer, baking, budgeting, organizing...lots of things. I am just not a very patient teacher.

5. What would you like to learn next?

I am trying to get better with French and I would like to learn ASL (it is possible that I will need it should my hearing deteriorate to that point.)

1) How is your year going so far?

It is ok; I am happy for the change in the White House, but am now worried that the people who organized and incited the attempted coup will not be punished and that we are racing against the clock before more crazy conspiracy theory politicians gain power.

2) Have you gotten vaccinated yet? If not, when do you think it's likely to happen?

No, not yet. I am 53 (but do have high blood pressure [medicated],) so I am thinking sometime in the spring.

3) Are you bored or are you busy these days?

A little of both, I am going through a bit of the post holiday doldrums and feeling unmotivated.

4) Is this pandemic good or bad for your finances?

It has been good; no traveling, no eating out (we did not do very much of that anyway, but...)

5) What are you missing most these days?

I miss being able to have people over for drinks/dinner.

I haven't done one in a while, but this one appealed to me:

1) What is your favorite December holiday food?

I love a good stollen with marzipan. Time got away from me this year, so I did not make one, but there is always 2021.

2) What is your favorite December holiday beverage?

Kenji Lopez-Alt has turned me into an eggnog fan: boozy and creamy. A little goes a long way.

3) What is your favorite December holiday song?

Not sure, but I love the old standards done by Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Luther Vandross, etc..

4) What is your favorite December holiday tradition?

I bake and make candy for a week or so every year and then give most all of it away. I love the joy that people express on receiving my packages of sugary goodness.

5) What is the one thing you will miss most this December because of the pandemic?

I miss being able to entertain friends in the house, sharing wine, food, and hugs.

1. Have you ever been in a hurricane or typhoon? Which one, when and where?

Not exactly. When I was a child, the week after we left Panama City, FL a hurricane destroyed the motel we stayed in. In 2006, we drove 200 miles through heavy rain from the remnants of a hurricane to get to the airport in Atlanta for a flight to Spain. In 2010 we were on a temporary assignment in Wilmington, NC and a hurricane was coming up the coast, we had already told people that we would not stay and ride out a hurricane, so when it seemed imminent, we drove to our permanent home.

2. Have you ever been near an erupting volcano? Which one, when and where?

We were in Hawaii on the big island in 2008 and drove down to see Kilauea, but it was erupting on forest service land, so the closest we could get was about a mile away.

3. Are there tornadoes where you live? Has a tornado come near you?

We occasionally have tornadoes, but are in the mountains, so that kind of keeps them out for some reason. I did grow up outside Atlanta and dealt with having to go into the basement of school a few times.

4. Have you experienced severe flooding? When and where?

We have been lucky and always lived on pretty high ground, so not personally. We did have to drive around it (and turn around multiple times) a couple of years ago when visiting my mother-in-law.

5. What is the most extreme weather you have ever experienced?

I have been in two blizzards, the first in 1992 in Boston. We saw all of the blizzard conditions and could not fly home for a couple of days. The second was within 3 months in Knoxville, TN. We went to bed and woke up with two feet of snow on the ground. Everything was shut down for a week.

1. Do you believe in fate?
Not really. I lean more towards believing that what happens is based on the decisions we make; i.e. "Sliding Doors."

2. If Karma was to visit you now, would it be kind or kick you in the butt?
Probably neither; I try to be the best person that I can be and help others, but I tend to be pretty judgmental (I am working on it.)

3. Do you believe you have lived another life previous to this one?
No. For me personally, there is no evidence.

4. What do you believe in with an unshakable resolve?
That, the only thing you know for sure that you have is this one life here on Earth. I think that you should make the most of it by making an effort to be your best self. To some degree or another, everyone had a crappy childhood (some much worse than others,) but you cannot let that ruin the rest of your life. Make the choice to be happy.

5. What one factor influences your life the most?
Meeting and marrying my husband completely changed the direction of my life in a good way.