lizzybuffy2008

21. In Egypt, National Food Day is a day to celebrate the country's diverse cuisine. Do you like falafel?

I love falafel. I have not ever tried to make it though, it is on the list.

In other news; I have finally starting going through the pictures from Greece and should be able to post some soon. Also, cleaned my hearing aids yesterday and now the left one is having issues. I will take it in tomorrow and hopefully it is something minor that they can fix while I am there.

28. Most countries have at least one example of a long-running soap on TV. Do you watch soaps (have you in the past)?

I grew up watching soaps (or stories as my grandmother called them.) We watched "All My Children," "As the World Turns," and "Guiding Light." For a while also "Search for Tomorrow" and "Ryan's Hope." When K and I lived in Boston and he was in graduate school, we both got hooked on "Santa Barbara." So much so that we taped it to watch together. One time, a big storyline with our favorite characters was coming to its zenith; we were watching it and K was not seeming all that excited or surprised by the events. It then dawned on me that he had already watch it...he got yelled at.

3. Have you ever had a hearing test?

Yes, quite a few over the last 10 years. I have moderate hearing loss in both ears, so started wearing hearing aids in 2016. I thank K for making me go to the doctor back in 2016, because the aids have made a profound difference in my life. I would encourage anyone with hearing loss (no matter how young) to get fitted with hearing aids. They are not perfect, but they will help to keep you from withdrawing, due to not being able to effectively communicate with others.

Happy New Year!! I so hope that 2024 is better than 2023...For me personally, it has been up and down. K being gone for work and having a constant lung infection have been really worrying and depressing, but managing to have a couple of small domestic getaways and doing home improvement; have been nice and uplifting. We hope to have his lung issues addressed by the end of January (cross everything) and one way or another, this will be the last year he is going to be away for work...

31 – Make Up Your Mind Day: How decisive are you? What is likely to make it hard for you to make a decision?

Very. I try not to make snap decisions, but can come to a decision quickly, if need be. I also don't do regret.

Thanks to the lovely kazzy_cee, we have the beginnings (first 2 months) of the yearly meme:

January

1. New Year's Day is the first day of January in the Gregorian Calendar. Samuel Pepys began his diary on January 1st 1660 - have you ever kept a handwritten diary?

No, I have tried a few times in my life, but it never lasts for long.

2. Today is Science Fiction Day - are you a fan, and if so, what is your favourite book, film or TV series?

3. Festival of Sleep Day is a whimsical and lighthearted holiday dedicated to the joys of sleep and relaxation. It's a day when people are encouraged to take a break from their busy lives and catch up on some much-needed rest. What would be your favourite thing to do on this day?

4. Today is World Trivia Day - popular culture often has obscure trivia - is there anything that you've noticed recently?

5. It's National Bird Day - have you ever been bird-watching and can you recognise many birds local to your area?

6. In 1945 Pepé Le Pew, the cartoon character was created by Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese, and voiced by Mel Blanc. Are you a fan of the character?

7. National Old Rock Day celebrates the history of the Earth - back in the day, you could buy tumblers to polish your own rocks/stones. Have you ever done that?

8. It's World Typing Day - can you touch type using all your fingers? If not, do you wish you could?

9. Joan Baez was born on this day in 1941 - do you have a favourite of her songs?

10. It's the start of the Lunar Chinese New Year - the year of the Dragon. Do you know your Chinese zodiac animal?

11. Today there is a New Moon - a good day to star gaze - are you familiar with any of the constellations (and you point them out)?

12. It's National Pharmacist Day. Agatha Christie trained as a dispenser during the First World War. Have you ever read any Christie novels?

13. Make Your Dreams Come True Day - if money, time and location were no option - what would be your dream?

14. National Dress up your Pet Day - do you have any pets? If you used to, did you ever dress them up?

15. National Hat Day - do you like to wear hats? What does your favourite hat look like?

16. It's Fig Newton (or Fig Roll) Day! Are you a fan?

17. We're halfway through January - what's the weather like where you live?

18. Do you like Chinese food - what would your ideal meal consist of and would you eat in a restaurant, get a takeout/delivery or cook your own?

19. National Popcorn Day? What would be your favourite flavour of popcorn?

20. What is your favourite cheese on Cheese Lovers Day?

21. It's National Hug Day - who did you last hug?

22. Have you any snow where you live? When was the last time it snowed in your area?

23. What is your preferred type of writing implement - fountain pen, ballpoint, pencil or something else?

24. National Peanut Butter Day - have you ever made your own peanut butter? If not, which type do you prefer?

25. It's Burns Night - will you be raising a small dram?

26. International Customs Day - have you ever been stopped at Customs when travelling?

27. Are you a fan of chocolate cake? Have you ever made one?

28. Lego has been around since 1932, have you ever made things with Lego?

29. Have you ever made a really large jigsaw? How many pieces is the maximum you've made?

30. It's croissant day - do you prefer sweet, savoury, plain or would you rather not eat them at all?

31. When was the last time you looked at some art?

20 –Fried Rice Day AND Pepperoni Pizza Day: September 20 is both Fried Rice Day and Pepperoni Pizza Day. Which do you prefer? Do you make your own fried rice and/or pizza, or is it take-out only?

I really don't know as I rarely eat either. It has been 30 years or more since I have had pepperoni on a pizza; although back then I remember liking it. Fried rice I usually make at home, but have had it out a couple of times from a local Lao restaurant.

21 – World Gratitude Day: For what (or who) are you grateful?

I am most grateful for K. For the love, support, security, friendship...everything.

It has been a busy week! K has been home this week and there have been lots of doctors appointments as well as trying to move forward on decisions regarding the latest remodel and planting for the fall.

3 – Clean Your Floors Day: How often do you clean your floors? Do you have to deal with different types of flooring (carpeting in some rooms, hardwood, tiles, linoleum in others)? Do you use a regular vacuum cleaner or a robovac, or both? Have you ever gotten down on your hands and knees and actually scrubbed a floor – the whole floor, not just one stubborn stain?

Probably not often enough. When you cook most every day, you probably should at least sweep every night...I don't.

We have tile in the kitchen, sunroom, and full bathrooms, wood floors in the LR, DR, 1/2 bath, MBR, stairs to 2nd floor, and entry way. The only carpet is in the 2 upstairs bedroom and landing.

I have never scrubbed and entire floor, but have done bits and pieces.

In random, weird news; after scrubbing the fridge and removing/cleaning all of the shelves and drawers over the past 2 days, it is working this morning...they are supposed to install the new control panel this afternoon.

12 – Red Rose Day: Are roses -- red or otherwise -highly overrated?

When I was a child, I loved yellow roses. I still like them, but appreciate all of the pretty colors now. I love them when they are quite fragrant.

We had a good weekend; cocktails, gardening, visiting the fruit stand for berries, cooking a little, watching cycling and spending time together. Today is our 35th wedding anniversary. It isn't the first anniversary we have spent apart, but hopefully it will be the last.

15 – World Art Day: what is your favourite piece of art? Have you ever seen it or only admired it in pictures?

I am a big fan of the old masters and the impressionist movement. I have been lucky enough to have seen quite a few of them in person. Some favorites: Da Vinci's Last Supper (I could gaze at it for days,) Michelangelo's David and Pieta are astounding, I really like quite a few Caravaggio's, particularly his young John the Baptist, as well as Van Gogh's still life, Rembrandt's portraits and Monet's London paintings.


16 – Garden Month: Do you have a garden, or access to a community garden? Is your garden all flowers, or do you grow herbs, vegetables, berries, etc.? If you live in an apartment, do you have a balcony garden?

I have had a garden in the past, but currently just have herbs in pots. I do not have access to a community garden, but live in an area that has many local farms and access to local produce. I subscribe to a CSA from a local farm that runs 25 weeks a year with a full share pick up every week. In my own home, I have not bought or eaten a non local egg in 13 years.

Last night was our penultimate show of the this season. It was "Cats," which we had never seen before. The dancers were amazing and "Memory" was haunting and beautiful, but it is not a show I care to ever see again. We did have a nice dinner beforehand from a local fish place and it was a lovely weekend.

20 – Love Your Pet Day: Do you have pets? Tell us about them – cats, dogs, other species? How many?

No, not anymore. We lost our 15 year old Pomeranian in late 2007 and that really broke our hearts. We might someday get another dog, but not in the foreseeable future.

We had a nice weekend. After swimming on Friday, K and I went to the fun town in the state over and had our hair cuts, then since it had turned blustery stopped and had ramen for lunch. It was a new to us place and quite yummy. Friday evening we had cocktails and left overs for dinner, then watched 2 episodes of "Dark Winds," which we both quite liked.

Saturday was my day off from exercise, so I read and puttered around in the morning and then had a pretty easy day, just had to make dinner and make sure everything was ready for K to be out of town next week. We also watched episode 5 or 6 (don't remember) of "Poker Face" and I think that is it for us. I just do not get the appeal.

Sunday, we worked out, went to the library and enjoyed a little time outside. Watched another episode of "Dark Winds" and turned in early to read and get some sleep before getting back to the normal week.


21 – International Mother Language Day: What is your native language? How many languages do you speak fluently or near-fluently? How many languages besides your native language have you studied?
22 – World Yoga Day: Do you do yoga? How do you benefit from it?
23 – Digital Learning Day: What are the benefits of digital learning compared to other methods of learning? What are the disadvantages?
24 – International I Hate Coriander Day: Do you love or hate coriander? If you don't like it, what don't you like about it?
25 – Real Bread Week: Real bread refers to any type of bread that has been made without the use of processing aids or any other additives and includes any type of additive-free bread (e.g. pita, paratha, tortilla, oatcakes, roti, bagels, etc.). Do you, or have you ever, made bread? Do you use a bread maker? If you always buy rather than make bread, do you look for bread that at least claims to be additive-free, made from organic flour, etc.?
26 – Carpe Diem Day: Are you good at seizing the day? If not, what holds you back?
27 – Pokemon Day: Are you or is anybody in your family a Pokemon fanatic?
28 – Tooth Fairy Day: Did the tooth fairy visit you whenever one of your baby teeth fell out? If you have children, did/do you have the tooth fairy visit them when they lose teeth? Why or why not?

30 – Bubble Wrap Day: Does bubble wrap deserve its own day? Why or why not?

IMO, no, but I am sure the inventor would feel differently.

It was a good weekend, even though it started out fairly sketchy. K has asthma, so we are used to him coughing and having things that bother him; strong smells, dust, cigarette smoke...Last weekend, it started to seem like something else, so he had a doctor's appt. on Friday. Not COVID, not the flu, but the doctor thought it was definitely a lung inflammation, so prescribed an oral steroid and did a chest x-ray (just to make sure.) He called when we got back from picking up the prescription to say that the x-ray showed a bit of pneumonia in K's left lung, so back to the store to pick up two antibiotics.

He is still coughing some, but overall is much better and gets to stay home this week, so silver linings...