I woke up this morning and had that feeling I was late for work! It was 8:01 and Tigger jumped up onto the bed for cuddles and I had to keep reminding myself it’s Saturday! I hate when that happens! Last Saturday night, through the night, I woke up and “remembered” that I’d “forgotten” to set my alarm and actually went back to bed and set it. A couple hours later, got up, realized it was only Sunday morning and turned it back off when I went back to bed. The mind does play its tricks doesn’t it?

It is very quiet right now and I’m puttering away at one of the trees and drinking my tea and now typing this. The Being present prompt for today is What makes you hopeful when you look around right now… seeing as everything, and I mean every surface, has something Christmas on it waiting to find its home for the season. So I’m hopeful that they will all find their place and that will lead to just a very nice Christmas for us.

Getting through the dark nights prompt for today is If you had to volunteer today, what would you do?… That’s tough because there’s so many things I have thought of over the years. Once I retire… would I go back to the hospital? Maybe. Would I try the library? Maybe. When there are so many options, it’s harder to determine what I would do. Tomorrow they are decorating Harbour Hill and I can go in but I’d go for a couple of hours. Have to see where we get with our decorating!

Okay, I’m going to hop in the shower and get on with decorating!

And I’m finally home and about to sit down. Life is just TOO busy right now. I did get a good part of that list knocked off though so stay tuned.

The Being present prompt for today is How the sky makes you feel when you look up at it… well that depends on what’s in it! I love the stars and the moon… they remind me how vast our universe is. The sun makes me smile that it has come to say hello but the clouds make me sad.

The Darkest nights prompt for today is What you’d tell your younger self to inspire them about life… this one has been done before. I’d tell my younger self to do some research and “shop” around for things in life before settling on a number of things… including writing vs medicine.

Anyway, I’m on my own so I’m going to go and take a load off.

Last evening the tree went up and the lights went on. Tonight I came home from work, late because I stopped to check out Ladies Night on the square, and there’s Larry, up a ladder hanging Christmas lights on the house! That’s most of the lights now. Just need the decorations! How are your decorations coming along?

Ghosts start very soon so let’s go on to our prompts for today.

Being present is The most comforting sound you can hear if you go outside now, and why?… I was outside, longer than I wanted to be and the one thing that was so neat to hear was the geese flying overhead, honking away.

Getting through the dark nights is What part of your town or city is most beautiful during fall?… There is a bridge that takes Highway 21 over the river and up into the town of Goderich. The far bank is covered in trees and they all change colour in fall. Driving up and down that hill and over the bridge just grabs the eye and aside from standing on the bluff looking down over the mass that is Lake Huron it is stunning!

I can say that now! Woohoo! It was a busier day than anticipated with a meeting I was hoping would be 45 minutes that actually lasted almost two hours! That was exhausting. And I have so much to do and I’m just not getting it done. It’s tempting to say I’ll be working from home for half a day so I can focus and not be distracted!

Okay, I’m making supper too here so here’s the prompts for today.

Being present is What you love about the room you’re in right now… I’m currently in the kitchen and it’s nice and big! It actually makes me want to bake again. I have every intention of trying to make fudge and dig out a recipe or two of my great-grandmother’s.

Getting through the dark nights is Something that, looking back now, wasn’t that big of a deal… I’d say the events of June but how that mentally impacted me is still too fresh. One day I will look upon it as not a big deal but right now, it’s like the woman in a verbally abusive relationship vs a violent relationship where the bruises and fractures heal but the words leave a harsher and longer lasting mark.

Okay, my computer is being stupid so I’m going right now. Maybe it will sort itself out!

I’ve never had a boss who has made a point of telling staff to make sure they take the time at 11:00 to pay tribute to the lives lost for our freedoms. I had already planned on it so I tuned in Chym FM and did my usual program. Then everything goes back to “normal” and it feels like it’s all over. It’s kind of a weird concept. Also chatting with my brother some more. I feel so bad for him. Wish he could come here!

On to the prompts for today because, honestly, I wish this was Friday, or at the very least, tomorrow was Friday. And I’m not the only one who feels that way today. My Assistant DOC felt that way and so did my chiropractor!

Okay, okay… Being present for today is Something you usually rush that you can try to give more attention… ha ha! The first thing that popped into my head is washing my face! I don’t know why! But it’s worth the chuckle! Sometimes I feel like I’m rushing through these. I’m certainly not getting the time I used to have so that’s something I have to get someone to understand.

Getting through the dark nights for today is What someone could learn from you… how to win an argument! Well, it’s just fake arguments but I usually win them! Seriously though, someone could learn writing from me and someone could learn how compassion works. There’s probably a ton of other things but we’ll leave it at that for now.

NCIS is on tonight and it’s a crossover event and, I believe, Gibbs is returning… for the episode. So I’m going to go put my feet up and relax a little bit! I hope!

I am here! Just a little distracted tonight with things to discuss with Larry. Plus, I’ve had a migraine all day… damn weather! I was watching Mr. Christmas but before that Larry agreed to watch another Christmas movie with me. I can now write yet another Christmas movie post too!

Onto the main event… the prompts.

Being present for today is A fond memory you have from a cozy sweater or piece of clothing you’re wearing… well, at this hour, I’m in my PJs! I can speak to PJs in general because I’ve always loved getting into my PJs. The older I get, the more I can’t wait! Why? Because they are cozy, they help me relax and remind me sleep is near!

Getting through the dark nights for today is What brings you a sense of peace when you look out of the window… at this moment, the fact that the roads are wet and it’s not snowing brings me peace. I forgot to bring my laptop and I need to start getting into the habit of that… just in case! But, for now, that brings me peace!

It’s time to start getting ready for bed. I think exhaustion is playing its part in my migraine as well but I think it’s mostly the weather.

Goodnight!

I’m not sure where you are but it’s just starting to snow lightly here. However, my daughter informed me they have snow there already! I’ll take what we’re getting because I believe it’s much less. Just started working on my Christmas letter so I can get to my cards this week. It’s been a quiet morning and, well, I manufactured it that way!

Today’s Being present prompt is… The story behind the closes family photo or memento you have… that would be the one of me on the dance floor with my brothers dancing the Macarena at my brother’s wedding last year. We all have giant smiles on our faces like we cared about nothing else. I was in between them and we were having a blast. The year I got married was right around the time Macarena became a hit and I did it at my wedding. I believe DJ did it at his first, TC did it at his wedding and now this go around. All in the same hall too!

Today’s prompt for getting through the dark nights is… Local places you can go to join a community activity… the library has tons of activities up here, the Courthouse Square also hosts stuff year round. Our neighbourhood clubhouse has a calendar full of activities and there are various other locations in town that have community gatherings. The town also sponsors free ice skating every Sunday for an hour! I do plan on doing a lot of these things. Just have to get into a rhythm!

Okay, so that’s that for today. Haven’t had breakfast yet… I let Larry sleep. It’s time for that though.

It was impossible, again, to get this page to load. I’m back at home and here I am. What a night and day. I packed sooooo much stuff, my car was stuffed. MY stuff was in the front seat! I managed to do it all by myself too, but, I’m paying for that now! I think I must have been doing it on an adrenaline high because now the pain is showing up!

Anyway, I got stuff to do so here goes it with the prompts…

Being present for today is Intently appreciate the craftsmanship of an item or appliance near you… the item right in front of me is a laptop and they are really amazing items because of all the things they do so automatically. And the internet is quite something. Think of the computer I had 25 or 30 years ago compared to now! We’ve come a long way baby!

Getting through the dark nights for today is People you can talk to who have an optimistic outlook… Kunj! Number one! She is always finding the good in everything! And if she can’t, she seeks my assistance!

Okay, I’m cooked. I’m going to, finally, go put my feet up and do a few other little things that I couldn’t do before!

I made it! Been going crazy. Very all over the place. Then my laptop wouldn’t load WordPress… not for a lack of trying!

So right to it.

The being present prompt today is Imagine the vastness of the journey a piece of fruit or a vegetable in your kitchen took to get to you… wow! Okay. Well, it’s been Ontario veggie season so they came off the farm, hopped into a truck and zoomed off down the highway to its destination.

Getting through dark nights prompt for today is What gives you hope going into next year?… that it will be significantly better year ended up being though I was hoping the same thing last year and look what happened. The difference this time is there is that other opportunity and you just never know!

Okay, bedtime for me as I’m now exhausted!