Artist, Handicrafter, Teacher & Entrepreneur. Proud Navy Veteran, 25+ years with the Veterans Administration. Bachelor of Science degree in Innovation and Leadership from Southern Oregon University.
Just Kidding! Well sort of. Today is my birthday and I have now completed 55 revolutions around the sun, so it is the beginning of a new year for me. And what does everyone do for the New Year? Make New Years resolutions! I officially resolve to post here at least once per week for the rest of this year.
Where do I start? Well, there are 26 weeks left in this year and 26 letters of the alphabet, so I think posting the ABCs of Me would be perfect. You simply take each letter of the alphabet, pick an adjective that starts with that letter and write about how it describes you. Easy Peasy!
Feel free to join me in this fun challenge! I am going to be doing mine in alphabetical order, but that is not a requirement. You might find it easier to write out the letters and choose all the adjectives first. I did an internet search for “adjectives that start with a” and so on, and then picked the ones that I felt described me the most. You can also take one adjective and look for a synonym that starts with a different letter. The letter X is a hard one, so many people use words that have the letter X in them, like eXasperating or eXhausted.
Then you can write a sentence, write a poem, tell a story, use a photo, or a combination. Just have fun with it. I know I will.
If I Were On a Deserted Island, What Would I Want to Have With Me?
water, food, shelter, fire, clothing
There are many people that are preppers and the motto of the Boy Scouts is “Be Prepared”. At the bare minimum, we need water, food, shelter, fire and clothing in order to survive. In this day and age, we are seldom very far from civilization and the ability to get our basic needs met.
Survivor TV Show
I used to watch the TV show, Survivor. The contestants were not allowed to bring anything with them but basically the clothes on their backs, and had to find items to help them survive through the first few days until they could win items like food, or blankets. Some would try to smuggle things in, but they usually got caught.
Remember the TV Show, Lost? That was one of my favorites. The people were on a flight from Sidney to Los Angeles when their plane crashed on a mysterious island. They were lucky that they could find some of the luggage and use the items for survival. And they had each other to depend on.
Another show I loved was Survivorman with Les Straud. He would be dumped in various locations with only his trusty multi-tool and very minimal items. He would show how to use what you could find in the environment in order to survivor. One episode showed him running out of gas on a trip through a snowy wilderness. He cannibalized the pickup truck, and showed how you could use everything in the truck, like the seat covers, the wiring, etc., to ensure your survival.
Well, I hope I never get lost or find myself on a deserted island. But, if I do, here are some things I would want to have with me. Some of these things are easily carried on you with minimal effort. Hopefully, I was on a boat that got shipwrecked or run ashore, instead of a plane. Some things, like a knife, would never be allowed on a plane, but are likely to be on a boat.
A Metal Drinking Bottle. This could be used to boil water and store it. It could also be used to cook in, in a pinch.
A Lighter or a Flint and Striker. Fire is essential for warmth and safety from predators. It is good for light, to cook food, and to boil water.
A Multi-Tool (like Les Straud). These are kind of like a grown-up version of the Swiss Army Knife.
A Combination Mirror, Whistle and Compass. This is a nice little tool that would come in handy to signal possible rescuers and help you navigate your environment. They usually have a waterproof container for matches and tinder, and a lanyard to hang it around your neck.
A Solar Charger for My Cell Phone. Depending on where I am stranded, I may have cell service, but if not, I could still use it for entertainment purposes. I have downloaded e-books, music, and some games that don’t require a wi-fi connection.
An Emergency Blanket. These little silver blankets are pocket sized and can keep you from losing your body heat, or maybe be made into a light weight shelter from the rain, though they aren’t very sturdy.
A Mini First Aid Kit. This would have at least some bandaids, alcohol pads, neosporin, tylenol, and imodium. Being lost is stressful enough without having a headache or diarrhea! These items could fit in an altoids tin.
Clothing. The best pants to be lost in are the kind that have zippers in the legs so they convert to shorts. The same thing with a jacket that has sleeves that zip off. You could be cooler during the day, but have more coverage so you are warmer at night. And sturdy shoes. I would hate to be lost wearing only flip-flops!
A bandana. These are very useful. They can be used to carry items if you tie up the corners and hang it from a stick (like the hobos had in old pictures). They can be used to strain water, to cool your neck, or as a mask if its smoky or debris is flying around in a storm.
A Paracord Bracelet. I have a friend who is an Army veteran and he wears one wherever he goes. Maybe I should get one, too.
A Big Hunting Knife. A knife could be used for many things, too. Cutting small branches to make shelter, cutting kindling for your fire, as well as hunting and protection. If it has a sturdy enough handle, it can be a makeshift hammer.
There are tons of emergency survival tools. You can spend a ton of money trying to get the best and to try to prepare for every emergency. But the things I listed above would hold me over in a pinch and hopefully ensure I lived long enough for someone to come rescue me.
When I think of superpowers, I always think of the superheroes, like Superman, Wonderwoman, Thor, etc. But we can’t forget the supervillains! Every superhero seems to have a nemesis.
I think the best superpower would be the ability to Teleport anywhere or even any time. The world is a huge place and travel takes a lot of time. Teleporting would certainly save a lot of time and money, and no more intrusive searches by the TSA!
Now the question is, would I use my superpower for good or evil? Would I just use it in order to get someplace in an instant, or would I use it to get into places that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to, like a vault, and steal diamonds and gold?
I would like to think that I would never use my superpower for evil, but I have to admit, it sure would be tempting.
If I Could Time-Travel, When and Where Would I Go?
I am a huge sci-fi fan, so this question has crossed my mind on numerous occasions. Some of my favorite books, movies and TV shows involve time travel: 12 Monkeys, Back to the Future, Continuum, Outlander, Quantum Leap, Sliders, The Terminator, Time Cop, Timeless, Timeline, and Travellers. But, setting aside all thought of time paradoxes, or whether I could change the past or not, I think it would be so cool to observe some of the iconic events throughout history. Kind of like a time tourist. It would certainly let you solve some of the mysteries, like how the pyramids were built, or what happened to the colony at Roanoke.
Personally, though, I would like to see how my ancestors lived. I think it would be so interesting to see their houses, the clothes they wore, what they did for a living, and what they did in their leisure time. I think my day to day life is kind of boring, and they probably did, too. But I would still like to know. I wonder if my descendants would feel they same about me?
I am raising my five-year-old grandson while working full time. My number one guilty pleasure is to take a vacation day, take him to school and just spend the day alone. I might go back to bed and read, or binge on my favorite series. Sometimes just shopping without him is nice. Don’t get me wrong, I love him to pieces, but he wears me out!
If I can get Munchkin’s uncle to take him for a few hours, I love to take a spa day. I might get a massage, or a mani/pedi and a facial. Heavenly.
I love to go in my studio and create something for a friend or loved one. It might be a painting or a piece of jewelry, or something decorative. I especially love making things for Munchkin.
Who doesn’t have pet peeves? They’re those little things people do that just drive us nuts. I am sure there are things I do that drive other people nuts, too. Here is a list of some of my own pet peeves.
I absolutely hate it when people use the wrong form of their, there, or they’re. I have been accused of being a grammar nazi, but seriously, using the wrong word just makes you seem less than intelligent. I’m not talking about the occasional typo, we all make mistakes, but it is obvious that many people just don’t care. The picture above is an easy way to remember the correct form to use.
The same goes for people who use “would of” or “could of”. These are supposed to be contractions of “would have” and “could have” and should be spelled “would’ve” and “could’ve”.
Another thing I hate is when people mix up their metaphors. Or just get them wrong altogether. I knew a lady once that used to say, “Not for all the cheese in China!” The correct phrase is, “Not for all the tea in China!” The Chinese are known for drinking tea, not eating cheese, so all the tea in China would be worth a lot of money.
Similar to that, I hate when people use common phrases with incorrect words in them. Like, “He’s the spitting image of his dad.” The correct phrase is, “He’s the spit and image of his dad.” I know, kind of picky, but it does change the meaning. The original phrase was inspired by the Biblical God’s use of spit and mud to create Adam in his image.
I hate rude people. It’s especially rude when someone bumps into you and they say, “Excuse you,” like it was your fault, or they don’t say anything at all.
Another pet peeve is neighbors who play their music too loud. I have a neighbor across the street that plays her music so loud that I can hear it in my room at the back of the house over the sound of my air conditioner, which is right outside my window, and the waterfall aquarium filter. And, she isn’t even partying outside! Her music is coming from inside her house. I don’t mind if the neighbors have a party, I just don’t want to hear their music after 11:00 pm when I have to work in the morning.
Don’t you hate tailgaters? I know I do. It is aggressive and dangerous, and is a common cause of road rage. I especially hate it when there is another lane that driver could get into to go around me. Or if I am driving with the flow of traffic and can’t go any faster or get over. Where does he think I can go? I usually just slow down until they pass me, or get over as soon as I possibly can. They scare me.
I am all for freedom of speech. Everyone has a right to their own opinion about any topic, be it religion, politics, being a vegan, the value of modern art, or whatever. We do not need to agree about everything in order to get along. Problems arise when one person thinks their opinion is the only correct opinion and tries to force another person to believe it or to behave a certain way. There is a saying, “Your right to swing your fist ends at my nose.” This means that you can say or do anything you want as long as it doesn’t interfere with what another person wants to say or do. I grew up in a time when we believed that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But I also believe that just because you can say something doesn’t mean you should.
Some people think it’s immoral to be rich. I disagree. Unless you earned your money by doing something illegal, there is nothing wrong with being rich and keeping your money for yourself and your family. You earned it. Many rich people are philanthropists and help a lot of people through their charitable foundations.
I never understood people who spend $1000 on a purse or $300 for a pair of sneakers. Even if I had enough money to do that, I still wouldn’t. I’m not saying I don’t like nice things, I just don’t think some things are worth as much as some people are willing to pay for them.
The California Mega Millions Lottery is currently up to $41,000,000. If I won the that much money, the first thing I would do is set up some secure investments that I could live off the interest or dividends for the rest of my life. Too often you hear about someone winning the lottery, blowing all the money on super luxury items and then they are broke within a year.
I would definitely buy a nicer house on some land, but it would not be a million dollar house. I just don’t see the need for it. I just want a comfortable place to live in a nice neighborhood.
Pretty country cottage
I currently have a luxury SUV, but I did not buy it new and so I paid less than half what it would have cost new. I would probably upgrade to the newer version and not have to finance it, but I still would not buy something like a Lamborghini or Ferrari.
I would also love to take a cruise and travel around the world. I think that would be a lot of fun. I would like to see the countries where my ancestors came from. Right now, that includes France, Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
The land of my ancestors, France, Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Netherlands
After traveling for a bit, I would love to open my own art studio and share my knowledge with other people. I love teaching people to create things and get such a thrill seeing the surprise on their faces when they realize they made it themselves. That is so fulfilling to me. I would also like to open up my studio to share the space with other like minded artists and handicrafters. I think I could learn a few things from them, too. And, of course, I would have plenty of money to buy all kinds of new art supplies.
lovely art studio
I know that a lot of schools are lacking funding for classes like art and music. If I won the lottery, I would like to set up an endowment to a local school to fund an art and music program. Maybe even donate supplies and instruments. Another cause close to my heart is helping veterans. Too many of our veterans are homeless. I have volunteered at events to help veterans apply for healthcare and VA benefits. I have helped make hats and sleeping rolls for homeless veterans, and made lapghans (lap-sized afghans) for wheelchair bound veterans. Winning the lottery would definitely allow me to do more for veterans in need.
Well, I am sure I would spend some money on foolish things, but I would like to think I would be able to put some aside so I could live comfortable and never have to work again.
I have a very eclectic taste in music. I can listen to anything from classical to country, and punk to heavy metal. Anyone going through my iTunes playlist would think I was schizophrenic. That being said, below is a list of some of my current favorites:
As much as I love books, I also love a good movie. Here are some of my favorites:
The Star Wars Saga
I am a huge Sci-Fi fan and some of my favorite movies are in the Star Wars saga. I really like the original trilogy the most, and, except for Jar Jar Binks, the Prequel trilogy is pretty cool. I am not a huge fan of Disney’s take on Star Wars, though, but I still love the whole Star Wars universe and am glad that there are more movies in the works.
Some people think you can’t be a fan of Star Wars and Star Trek at the same time, but I don’t think that is true. I have been a fan since the original series was on television, though I was seeing it in syndication. I even had a crush on Captain Kirk at one time. I love how the new iteration of Star Trek is remaining so true to the original characters as much as possible and think that the Kelvin Timeline was a brilliant idea. It allowed the prequels to exist while allowing new story lines and still remaining true to the personalities of the main characters. And the casting was amazing! I never thought anyone could do Spock as well as Leonard Nimoy, but Zachary Quinto does a great job. And Karl Urban embodies the ever pessimistic Bones to a tee. Not to mention Chris Pine. He is good looking and exudes Captain Kirk’s super confidence.
I also like the Terminator Saga. I am fascinated by the idea that your fate is not set and how the different timelines didn’t really change the inevitability of Skynet becoming sentient and trying to terminate mankind.
I’m not just a fan of Sci-Fi, though. I am also a sucker for a hot man in a kilt! Besides the Starz series, Outlander, these three movies about strong highland men are among my favorites, too.
I could really go on all night discussing movies I love, because there are just so many of them, but I think I will just leave it at this.
HootOwl Handicrafts 