Share Your World – Week 45

Share Your World is hosted every week by Cee at Cee’s Photography. This is week 45. Thanks for the great questions Cee!

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “fun”?

Something exhilarating, like a roller coaster, zip lining or jumping into cold water. There are simpler things that are fun too, but these are the things that jump to my mind first.

Here is a picture of the waterfall on a volcano Hubby and I got to swim in while we were in Costa Rica. The water was cold, but it was so blue and beautiful. The blue is created from the sun’s reflection off the silicon in the volcanic rock. I’ve never seen anything like it. The photo is from the park website. Our photos didn’t give the brilliant blue justice.

What is your favorite time of day?

My favourite time of day is evening, sometime 8pm or later. I feel like after 8pm I can say my day is done, it is too late to work, do chores or justify worrying about things. It’s time to wind down and relax without feeling guilty.

Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want have a evening with?

I would want to have an evening with my husband. An evening without stress, work, grading or report cards. We have been in survival mode for a while now. It would just be nice to have some time off, together, even if it is just an evening.

Complete this sentence: Something that anyone can do that will guarantee my smile is… 

…give me a genuine smile. None of these sarcastic smirks or pity smiles. A genuine smile will always get one in return.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last Week: I am grateful for getting through last week. It was a rough one for me. I am also grateful that my sister visited. It was nice to see her. She lives far away now.

This Week: I am looking forward to seeing old friends. I will be visiting with friends that I’ve known since the 6th grade. It will be nice to catch up. I’ll also get to visit with my aunt, whom I haven’t seen since May.

Share Your World 2015 — Week 43

It is nice to be able to participate in Cee’s Share Your World again. The last one I did was week 13…and here we are at week 43 already. I’ve been gone for 40 weeks!? Eek! Time flies. Here are this week’s questions…

If you were on a debate team, what general subject would you relish debating?

I would probably never be on a debate team. I’m really not a fan of having an audience and when I do, I would rather present to you what I have learned and have you interpret rather than persuade you of my view. Debates are fun to watch, but I think I get more out of hearing others’ interpretations. If I had to pick a topic, maybe it would be mental health or low vision rehabilitation.

What’s your strongest sense?

I think it would be vision. I have always been a visual learner. Listening to a lecture never really worked for me. I always had to make notes or draw diagrams to really get the information to sink in.

What would you name the autobiography of your life?

Agh, the titles I come up with are usually so underwhelming. Writing an autobiography was a project I had to do in the 5th grade. I came up with the totally original title of “Me, Myself and I”. Perhaps “The Misadventures of Somber Scribbler”. It sounds like a kid’s picture book, lol.

List your favorite flavors or types of tea.

My favourite tea is the “Birthday Cake” tea from David’s Tea. It has rainbow sprinkles in it which is fun and it’s a nice alternative to dessert and the associated calories!

I am also a fan of “Coffee Pu’erh” from the same place. Obviously, it tastes like coffee.

Looking at their website now, they have one called “Oh Canada!”. It has a hint of maple to it. I’d like to try that one.

In terms of the less fancy types of tea, it’s green or mint…or mint green, even better!

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last Week: I got through all the things I was dreading unscathed. I am grateful for this and part of me knew I would get through, but it is always good to remind myself. I tend to forget and start dreading everything again when the next week starts up.

This week: The last few weekends have been really busy, so I am looking forward to this coming weekend which is going to be quieter. I’ll still have to drive out and spend a day with my mother in law, but at least there wont be a crowd. We’ll watch Halloween movies with her.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 12

This is Week 12 of Share Your World 2015 from Cee’s Photography. As always, thanks for great questions Cee!

When was the last time you sat on a park or garden bench for more than ten minutes? Describe the occasion.

I can’t remember exactly when, but I am pretty sure I know the “where” part. There is a park Hubby and I like to walk..or run in. It is a rather large park in the next suburb over. It has a pond in the middle a and a trail that goes around it. It is special to us because that is where he took me on our first date. He took me to see the fireflies in the forest there. It was breathtaking. During the summer months, we often go and walk around. If it gets really hot, we’ll sit on one of the benches by the pond and just chat. We did some jogging there last summer, I can’t remember if we walked and sat on a bench though.

Would you ever be interested in observing a surgery or do you turn away when the nurse brings out the needle? 

Both! If it is anything to do with me or someone I know and I get squeamish. If it’s a stranger though, I can handle it. I have always thought seeing an autopsy would be kind of interesting. During undergrad, I taught a systemic anatomy lab to other students. We used human cadavers and human parts. You get past the creepy/gross factor pretty quickly when you have to teach. The one part I never got comfortable with was the sagittal head section. It’s basically a head cut in half right between the eyes. They kept these specimen all together in a bin full of what we referred to as body juice. I’d try to grab one that was floating around with the skull portion above the juice. That part is easier to grab, less fleshy. You never knew though, if you were going to pull it up with the back of the head facing you, or the face side. The face side was always little unnerving, no matter how many times I’d see it.

Where’s your favorite place to take out-of-town guests?

I guess it depends on who the guest is. Some people would really enjoy going to a maple sugar shack which is in season here in Montreal about now, I think. Others, might prefer shopping trendy Montreal designers or seeing the Old Port. I think the one thing I like to do with everyone is go to the little village around the corner from where I live. It is really cute, especially at Christmas or in the summer. Not so much at the current time of year. The buildings are mostly historic ones and there are all kinds of little shops with different things in them. This is an old house that has been turned into a rather fancy restaurant.

The lake is only one street over too. The lake is best seen in the summer with the boats and the wind surfers out, or in the dead of winter, when the lake is frozen and the kite boarders are zipping around. Unfortunately, the kite boarders are done for the year. This is the lake at this time last year. There was less cold and white stuff last winter.

If you had an unlimited shopping spree at only one store, which one would you choose? Why?

Right now, it would have to be a local scrapbook store, Scrapbook Centrale. They carry everything I need for art journaling and drawing. I was there over the weekend and bought a few things; a book on portraits, some paper for art journaling, a spider web stencil, some portrait watercolour pencils and a funky science/steampunk stamp. I could have spent so much more in there!

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last Week: Last week, I was stressed and my mood was really weird. There is less stress this week, but my mood still isn’t right. I guess I am just thankful last week is over.

This Week: I signed up for an art journal class next weekend at the store I mentioned earlier. I am looking forward to it, but I am also having some social anxiety over it. I’m hoping it will be ok once I get there and get settled.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 11

It’s Share Your World again! Here are Cee’s questions for this week…

List 2 things you have to be happy about?

1. I’m feeling better than I was. At this time last year, my mental state was getting pretty bad. Now, I can still feel the darkness with me. I know it is there, just out of my line of sight, waiting for any sign of weakness. I am trying to fight it. It’s hard, but I have some hope. Hope that things will be better one day. I don’t know when, or how. I just have hope. That keeps the darkness at bay, for now.
2. I am enjoying my artsy stuff. At this time last year, I was forcing myself to draw because I needed to find something to enjoy and do something besides work. Now, it comes naturally. I look forward to getting my supplies out and creating something, however good or bad it may be.

Do you prefer ketchup or mustard or mayonnaise?  

It depends what I’m putting it on. Ketchup is for regular french fries and tourtiere (meat pie…a Canadian thing). Mustard is for sausages and deli sandwiches (I like honey mustard or Dijon). Both can go on hamburgers. Mayo is just ick. I’m not sure if it is the taste, or the colour I don’t like. Maybe both.

If you were to paint a picture of your childhood, what colors would you use?

I would use basic colours, the kind that would come in a kid’s finger paint set. Probably red, blue, yellow and green. I had a good childhood, an innocent one. I had my family and friends. I learned to read, tie my shoes and ride my bike. I coloured on the walls, scrapped my knees and got sent to my room for being bad. I had a typical childhood, I did everything a kid was supposed to do. For that, I will be forever grateful. I was a serious kid and often had to be reminded to smile. I’m not sure why. I don’t remember what went on in my head as a kid. That’s just the way I was.

Do you prefer a bath or shower?

Shower! It is fastest. There are so many other things I need to do/would rather do.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last Week: My sister was in town, a bunch of us went out to the Ritz for afternoon tea. It was to celebrate her getting engaged. It was fun to dress up a bit and do something out of the ordinary. The Ritz was quite fancy. They had beautiful chandeliers and a Cinderella staircase. Even the tea nibbles were fancy.

This Week: I am having a really hard time thinking of anything. All I can think of is all the work I have to get done in the next few days. Let’s go with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The parade is this coming weekend and my family, cousins and all, usually go together to watch.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Everyone!!

Share Your World 2015 — Week 10

This is Week 10 of Share Your World from Cee’s Photography….

When you lose electricity in a storm, do you light the candles or turn on the flashlight? How many of each do you own?

We have a few candles, but we usually use one flashlight and a battery operated lantern. Candles aren’t Ewok-friendly. She is a bit of a clumsy kitty, especially if she is in psycho mode. I’m worried of her knocking the candles over or lighting her extra fluffy tail on fire.

Look at that! She can barely see over her own fluff!

You are given $5,000 and the chance to exchange it for one of two envelopes. One envelope contains $50,000 and one contains $500. Do you make the trade? Why or why not?

I would take a chance for the $50,000. If I didn’t get it, $500 is still extra money and at least I’d know I picked wrong. I’d hate to keep the $5,000 and then be wondering if only I had tried, would I have hit the jackpot….

What’s your first memory?

My earliest memory is of Christmas on the farm. We only spent one Christmas there as a family and it was when I was two. I remember playing with a decoration, Santa’s sleigh with reindeer. I had little Big Bird and Cookie Monster toys too. I wanted someone to play with, but the adults weren’t paying attention. I shoved cookie monster in Grandma’s hand to get her to play with me, but she didn’t play properly.

What do you do if you can’t sleep at night? Do you count sheep, toss and turn, or get up and try to do something?

I don’t often have trouble falling asleep. Staying asleep is my problem. When I wake up after having slept a couple hours, I toss and turn hoping for sleep to find me again. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll get up. Usually I put the Phantom of the Opera movie on really low so as not to wake Hubby and I listen to the music while working or looking at the blog on my laptop. On occasion I doodle, it depends how much energy I have. I did this one last year when I was up all night…

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last Week: I am grateful Hubby and I had the same March Break. We got to spend some time together and cross a bunch of things off of our To-Do List.

This Week: My sister will be in town to finish up her wedding plans. She hasn’t been to town since she got engaged. A bunch of us girls are going to go to Tea at the Ritz to celebrate. It should be fun!