Oh my gosh! Word Press suggested this as a topic for blogging.
As kids, we could not say that word.
Our parents were quite adept at telling us a laundry list of what they could line up for us if we were bored. None of it sounded good, so we learned to entertain ourselves. We could read a book, clean our room, sweep the front porch, sweep the sidewalks, the steps leading down to the street, or we could sweep the patio. Need I go on? We always had this marvelous place to go. It was called outside. It was the answer to everything. With our bikes, roller skates, and outside toys, like lawn darts, we would head into the great outdoors, not to return until lunch. We’d head back out when we finished and be back before dinner. If we would check in with Mom every once in a while, she’d know where we were. We always had to be back for dinner at 5 p.m. Dad left for work at 6 p.m. It was a tight schedule.
I was a stay at home Mom until my daughter was three years old. I had time scheduled with them most of the day. No TV, except for Sesame Street, Captain Kangaroo, and afternoon cartoons. They played, read, built with blocks, lots of stuff. Never bored. When they were old enough to stay home alone while I was at work, they invented games from their imagination. I know I don’t want to know about some of them. What I don’t know won’t hurt me, right?
When the Babe and I became grandparents, Addison used the word bored a lot. I told her, “No, we don’t use that word. Let’s find something to do. A game, a puzzle, coloring, etc.” I laughed when Gavin came along and he used that word at our house. She told him, “Grandma doesn’t want us to use that word, so let’s find something to play with.” Anything but being bored! Yes.
What bores me now? Not a lot. I have little patience with people who complain about their lives all the time. All. The. Time. They would rather complain than take the risk of leaving. Changing is so much healthier.
I love to talk with old people, young people, artists and professional people, old friends and new friends. Yes, a variety of people. I like to spend time alone. I could probably become a hermit. The Babe gets me out of the house frequently. We balance each other well. And we’re never bored. Just grateful.
How about you? Do you get bored? How about your kids/grand kids? It could be interesting what you all have to say. Share with me. Have a great Saturday. Let’s see each other tomorrow. Thanks for Reading.
I’ve seen some folks posting on The Facebook they’re in quarantine for 8,365 days. It’s all in how we look at it. I know it’s probably easier for retired people like the Babe and me. If we were gone from a job we loved with or without pay, yes, it would seem like torture.
Unless money is an awful hardship for you, try looking at your time at home in a different way. While I was working, I left for work in the dark and came home in the dark. Yes, it was a long day, every day. And it seemed as if I never saw my house in the daylight. I was on medical leave after a surgery in the early 90s when I truly saw my house at all hours of the day. I realized how nice it was.
My kids and I were alone at that time, and it was really a long time off work and school. And yes, I was younger, 39 I believe. I came to see our home and the isolation in a much different light. I appreciated what I had been working so very hard to earn and possess. It was a time that stopped my daily frenzy and made me grateful. If you’re feeling like you can’t take it anymore, try that. It’s like looking at the world through different lenses. Not rose colored. But reality colored. Big difference.
This is my inspirational plaque.
I mentioned this plaque yesterday, and the computer gods prohibited me from showing you the photo. If you missed the post, here’s a link to it. Thank you, my dear niece and friend, Wendy. It’s hard to imagine that we used to babysit for you. You were a fun little toddler. And you are a blessing to all that know you now. I’m grateful to have you in my life.
It will be a different kind of day. Since our VFW Post is going to launch a scaled back food night for Wednesday, May 6, 2020. They have been closed since before St. Patrick’s Day. It’s not just a financial thing, it’s to help life the spirits of people who have formed a family or sorts. We miss each other. None of us know what’s going to happen in the next six months, I have a feeling it could go either way. Nebraska has lifted the stay at home life a bit. Restaurants have been given the ok to open with restrictions, and many have decided to remain take out only. It’s up to the individuals.
I’m going to go to the Post later to do some EXCEL spreadsheets for the Babe who is their Quartermaster. It’s the first of the month, and the books need to be reconciled, despite bringing in $0.00 and having expenses despite being closed. The officer group will meet and decide how to place tables, members, food service areas, and keep the doors sanitized. We have to start somewhere. We will see how it goes. People have to make their decisions. We always have the option to stay home if we don’t feel safe.
I’m really working hard to get my novel to the place of showing, not telling. That is much harder to do than it sounds. Telling is so easy. Showing is hard. I need to find how to show during a narrative of things that happened fifty years before. How the heck do you do that? I have a good reference called “Show, Don’t Tell,” and I hope the answer lies somewhere in there. It will make the process so much better. I have a feeling I have much more to rewrite than I thought. But it goes with the territory.
It is quite nice not having to take Mom to her appointments and errands. It’s been about four years since she quit driving. My younger brothers have been great about helping her out, too, and I’ve been the solo driver for weekday needs. It’s been something you do for your elders when they need it. No questions asked. It feels weird to not have the commitments, but I am enjoying my free time. I’ve told her not to hesitate should she need my help again. The danger of us getting COVID-19 will go down in the coming months. We’re social distancing like we should have been. I’m concerned about her not letting people go to the store for her, but the decision is hers. She’s insisting she needs to go, so I hope she’s surrounded by a mantle of protection from the virus. Check the definition of mantle vs. mantel. Word of the Day!
Truer words were never uttered!
We humans think we can control our destiny. We can’t. The sooner we realize that, and make adjustments in our attitudes and lives, the sooner we can live with much more ease, happiness, and joy. Yes, joy. It’s ours for the taking, all we have to do is relinquish control. Control is really an illusion anyway. We must not lie to ourselves.
It’s about time for me to meet the Babe. It will be a good rest of the day. When I return home, I’m going to layer and pin some quilts. Thank you for reading today. I appreciate your time, and look forward to seeing you here again tomorrow. Be safe!
A pessimist would say, “Why bother? Hump Day? Every day is the same as another when you’re stuck at home.” An optimist would say, “Wednesday is just a great as any other day! You woke up today, the sun is shining AGAIN!” And aren’t we lucky we have some place, whatever it is, to self-distance/quarantine ourselves? Yes, we are. When you look at countries like China, India, the Middle East, Africa, they don’t even have basic sanitation and clean water to drink. How on earth would we survive that? We need to count our blessings and be grateful.
Even if you are diagnosed with Corona Virus (COVID-19) chances are, you will survive with little damage to your lungs. People like myself, who have asthma or any other underlying health issue, will have a harder time if they have the lung damage associated with the virus. This IS different than the flu. The mucous is extra thick once it settles into your lungs. It causes permanent damage to the lungs where it sets up house, so to speak. I’d hate like hell to have my lungs compromised because some person decided they were bored and gathered with a crowd, playing a game of soccer, went shopping to Target to get their Starbuck’s and just browse the racks, or sent their kids to visit Grandma and Grandpa because they needed a break from home-schooling. Please, don’t do it!
Even though we need to be vigilant, we can still keep occupied and not go stir crazy. If you are a person who is still working, maybe enjoy how your home (apartment or house) looks all day long. You’re usually at work and don’t often get to enjoy it during the day. It makes you have a different perspective of your abode. You may (safely) have a little talk over the fence with the neighbor. The Babe is out doing that all the time. He knows everyone by first name. I love that about him. Everyone loves him. I’m lucky. And so is he!
A cousin’s daughter scheduled her wedding for April 4, 2020. They have had to cancel the reception. They will still have the ceremony, reduced to 7 people, them, the officiant, and have rescheduled the reception for later this year. Her younger sister is set to marry in August, along with another cousin’s son, also in August. Hoping these young people get started on their lives together and all brides and grooms get to have their time. I can imagine how devastated they all feel, and at the same time, they’re all very responsible people who know they must follow these new rules for living. They’re temporary restrictions, not permanent ones. God Bless all of you!
As a fund-raiser for their tip wage staff, Union Pizzaria and Sports Bar in Omaha, NE, printed some t-shirts with their various businesses on it and is donating all the proceeds to a fund for their impacted workers. What a great employer in the food and beverage business! My son works at Union, along with his room-mate. When they lost everything in an apartment fire last fall, these guys were right there, making sure they were getting what they needed, time off, whatever needed to be done. So grateful my son is associated with people like this. God Bless you guys! Go to their Facebookpost for more info!
A great way to feel better? Help someone else. There are many, many restaurants who have gone to pick-up food to keep their doors open. Try ordering out! I don’t know about you, I’m a bit tired of cooking, but I do like it’s healthier than what we eat out. I just need to get back to salads and the like. It just all takes time. I’ve probably had quite enough comfort food for awhile. I truthfully don’t even like french fries that aren’t done to a certain degree of crispness. Nothing soggy, thank you very much.
Thank you for reading, I appreciate it. Union’s tip wage staff would appreciate it greatly if you’d stop by 156 & Maple for a t-shirt or two. Order their daily special before you go and you can solve the dinner problem. They appreciate it greatly. I’ll be here tomorrow, and hope you come back. Have a happy, safe day.
Yesterday, after I wrote awhile and the Babe was finished with the Honor Guard after a veterans funeral, he called for me to meet him at Addy’s in Elkhorn for lunch. It was closer to 2 p.m. and we were starved! Usually on Saturday there is a tournament of some sort, soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc. and the parents take kids to Addy’s to eat. No problem. We love kids. All ages. That said, we also believe there is appropriate behavior expected in public places like restaurants from children who are eight years and up. You would expect them to sit at their table and talk, play video games, and you would expect their parents to enforce some sort of rules for when they are in public. Not so yesterday.
We just received our food and started to eat. These kids started running (yes, running) between the tables, over to the game machines, and weaving all around the tables. There was not much room, and there were people eating at many of the tables, ours being one of them. Nothing from the parents. They didn’t look up from their beverages or anything. OK. The kids then started yelling loud like they were in a game or on a playground. Ten boys and one girl. The little girl was probably seven or eight, one boy was probably two years old. The little girl was in charge of the little boy. All the other boys were at least ten years old or very close to it. Old enough to know better.
A boy yelled out “all the boys to the bathroom,” and all nine of them ran into the men’s room. The servers were trying to do their work, and were concerned the little girl went into the men’s room too. She didn’t. The baby did, though. All nine boys ran back out and to the machine that mimics deer hunting. They picked up the rifles and turned around with them, pretending to shoot the crowd. Yes. I am not anti-gun. I am for teaching children the proper way to handle firearms when they are old enough. Did a parent correct anyone? No. Even when my little brothers played cops & robbers or cowboys, our parents always told us never point a gun, a toy gun, a nerf gun, at anyone. Period!
Cue all eleven kids now, and they ran up to the digital jukebox, and five of them pounded on it with their fists. Any correction? No. They kept doing that until they all decided to run around all the tables again. All in different directions. By then the Babe went to the restroom. While I was looking at my phone, a boy approached the chair the Babe left out a little bit, put his foot on the seat, and jumped over, landing right next to me. All I could say was, “What in the hell?” Another diner looked at me and shook his head. By then, the waitstaff were all watching these kids, waiting for a reprimand. Was there one? No, not at all.
I’m always ready to give someone the benefit of the doubt. Especially kids. But these kids were so out of line in so very may aspects of their bad behavior it isn’t even funny. I know kids have excess energy. The place to expel it is not in a restaurant. I know kids get excited and forget sometimes. Again, the place to forget is not in a restaurant. Most kids know the difference between appropriate behavior and inappropriate behavior by the time they are eight or nine. We had to know the difference much younger. Like about four or five. They appeared to have no control over anything. Their parents certainly didn’t. I would hate to have these kids in a classroom. Or try to coach them. I hope they learn very soon how to control themselves. There could be consequences. I hope there would be some from the parents. Letting them run wild is never appropriate. If you child is autistic, ADD or ADHD, they can still learn to exhibit appropriate behavior. Someone has to be the grown up and let them know what they’re doing isn’t right. And please, parents, do it soon. You may end up with a real problem child on your hands before you know it. Boundaries. Set them. Enforce them. You will be sorry if you don’t. I have seen it happen before.
I know, I know. Get off the Babe’s lawn, too. Other diners should not have had to put up with this while they were out paying for a meal, even at a sports bar. The End.
I do. I’m writing this book, you see . . .
What will March bring for us? I hope reasonable moisture. Not a driving, torrential rain, but nice showers. That don’t make too much mud in the yard, so that the dogs track it in everywhere. It would be most appreciated. March is a special month for our family. On the 3rd is my youngest brother’s birthday. On the 14th is our beautiful granddaughter Kayla’s birthday. She will be two. How the time flies! Hope we get to see her soon, it’s been awhile. Her parents don’t allow photos on FB or in my blog, otherwise I’d post a pic of her. She’s so sweet. On the 19th is both our daughter in law’s birthday (in Maryland) AND our son in law’s birthday (in Colorado). Lots of celebrating and happiness all around.
Spring training is ongoing in MLB. The Cubs have put Kris Bryant in as lead off batter; a slight promotion in the ranks, he was the second batter before. Have fun watching your favorite teams. My very favorite is our grandson Gavin’s. He is playing in a higher age group, more appropriate for his skillset. He will have to pay attention to keep up, and that’s a good thing. He was surrounded by kids before that played in the dirt, goofed off, and naturally he would do the same thing. It’s going to be fun to see how he does. And his Daddy is helping coach. I’ve looked forward to watching him, too. He was a heckuva player. I didn’t know him during high school, so I missed out on watching him.
As I get ready to work on another chapter or two today, make sure your get outside and enjoy the nice day. In March you never know when it’ll be bad so enjoy the good days. Blizzards happen now and in April but they melt quickly. Thank you for reading, comment and like if you will, please. I appreciate your support and will see you again tomorrow. I’ll sure be here.
Hoping you are enjoying a sunny morning like we have here in Gretna, NE. As David Letterman used to say, “from the Home Office in Wahoo, NE.” (Remember?) I suppose this would be true. International Headquarters, the place where it all began, and some other descriptions. Can you think of any that are apt? Comment, and let’s have fun with it. Home Office in Gretna, NE.
You know, we are slowly gaining more readers. I’m delighted you take the time to read, share, and tell your friends about my blog. It’s great to be relevant. Today (after we do an errand for the VFW which includes checking the mail) is going to be a day or writing. This week got away from me again, and I need to catch up on the I Art Daily challenge for February. It seems my brain is full of ideas and sketches yet I continue to run out of time in the day. This is what retirements is, I guess. It is better than having your time drag on. I have never understood the work “bored.” As kids, we were never allowed to say the word. Kind of like Voldemort. (He who should not be named).
Bored is a word kids use now. I believe their parents (my children’s ages) introduced the word when kids were raising a ruckus or needing attention when the parents are busy. Busy doing things like driving, ordering dinner, and a host of other things. We used to live a long way from our daughter Tracy and her family. It took 45 minutes to get from their home to ours. By about 30 minutes meltdowns began. They were tired of sitting in the carseat. (Not bored, however). I would start singing to them. Not words to a song, just make a melody. Addison would stop being fussy. She would smile at me. And she would mimic what I was doing.
Gavin was such a different kid. Poor guy had acid reflux so bad it was horrible. He lived in a bib until he was a year old. Upset tummies are bad as adults, and worse for babies. Again, he wasn’t bored. He needed a different tune than Addison had. He was a tougher nut to crack, but we got him to stop crying. He favored men as a kid, and there was a time I thought he didn’t like me. He now tells me he’s so lucky to have a Grandma like me. His Mama thinks he’s a schmoozer. Could be. But it works. We have a great time together. Coloring, painting, playing games.
One time, Gavin and Addison were both with us. Gavin said he was bored. Addison said, “You can’t use that word around Grandma. Grandma says there is no such thing.” She found him something to do and he wasn’t bored anymore. What I’m saying is let your kids and grandkids learn to entertain themselves. It works. You may lose some patience once in awhile, but they will learn one of the most important things in their lives . . . how to pass time without being a pain to everyone around them. You will have a lot of stress relieved, trust me.
Don’t think I don’t know what I’m talking about. I’ve had three kids and I raised them myself from ages 3,7, and 10 on to adulthood. They were good kids. I could take them places and be around people who didn’t like kids. They were welcome anywhere. Raise your kids to be welcome in any situation. It’s part of the job of a parent. They deserve to learn how to get along in the world.
I hope you enjoy your day and the rest of the weekend. Find something new to do. Read a book, see a movie, watch the Daytona 500 tomorrow, engage in life! You will never have time to be bored. Just don’t waste the precious time we all have in a day. Rather be overbooked than bored!
Thank you for reading today. I hope you return tomorrow. I’ll be here, hope to see you!
Kathy Raabe 