Fun Monday–holiday snail mail!
Posted by: cynicalgirl57 on: December 21, 2009
since it’s just five days before Christmas, I thought it would be fun to share some of your holiday “snail” mail. Now I realize that a lot of people don’t get into writing and mailing out holiday greetings, especially since we can be in contact with friends and family 24/7 through technology–phone calls, texting, twittering, facebooking, blogging, e-mailing, videoing. But, for most of us it’s still a treat to see a holiday envelope mixed in with the bills and junk mail in the mailbox, especially if it’s a handwritten message.
So far, I have received one Christmas card. As stated above, most of my contact is done online these days. What I do get are last-minute pushes to give to charity in one way or another. All good causes, but it’s a bit overwhelming when they all come at once! Also two copies of my new health insurance cards, a bill for lab tests, reminders that After-Christmas sales start Saturday, and sales pitches for the new health and fitness club down the street.
Merry whatever-it-is-you’re having, Happy Christmas, and go visit Faye and see who else is playing (and may you all have better snail-mail than I do).
got a postcard…
Posted by: cynicalgirl57 on: December 15, 2009
Wendishness introduced me to Postcrossing. She’s been doing this for awhile, and has been rewarded with many wonderful postcards from all over the world. Today I got my first one, from China. Yes, I’m excited.
My first Postcrossing card. My scanner is out of commission, as is my main computer, so a digital pic will have to do.
So far I have sent two cards, one to Italy and one to Finland. Both have been received, so off I go sending more cards!
Fun Monday–oh, those naughty noughties; or, how I spent the first decade of the millennium
Posted by: cynicalgirl57 on: December 14, 2009
The lovely and charming Wendishness hosts Fun Monday. Her assignment…
Okay, your mission, should you choose to accept it is this – we’re at the end of decade and in the media we’re seeing a lot of highlights, mishaps, misfortunes etc.. that have happened in the news. But what about everyone else? I would LOVE to see your highlights and lowlights from the “noughties”. Photos would be fantastic but you don’t have to – the choice is yours. (so, show us the last decade for you)
hmmm… ok, first things first. “Noughties” doesn’t seem to have caught on as a name for this first decade of the millennium here in the US, but then, neither has anything else. With that out of the way, here is a quick survey of the first years of the century.
2000: I had been online for about a year at that point. In February of that year I met my first online friend when she came to Omaha for a few days. In March (just in time for my birthday!) I went to Washington, DC, and met more friends from the internet! Someday I will dig out those pics and scan them, but since it’s been this long, don’t expect me to do it real soon. :p In July I had a hysterectomy because some fibroids were out of control (best copay I ever spent, honestly). October, I moved to a funky studio apartment in an old school building.
2001: Met a couple more people in-person from online–this time, local people. The bad–an idiot turned the corner too wide and hit me–then had the nerve to sue me. The suit went away when witnesses let it be known he moved his car so there was no way of knowing what really happened.
2002: had a heck of a birthday party with friends. Became friends with Wendishness and other people from different parts of the world.
2003: moved into a different apartment with my mother, who, while in decent health, really couldn’t be alone all the time. I could walk to work!
2004: don’t remember much from that year. Could be just as well.
2005: filed bankruptcy. It sucked, but had to be done. It’s not as convenient living without credit cards, but I’m better off without them. It didn’t sink in how deeply I was in debt until I saw how much money I was saving without them.
2006: my department moved back to the home office. I had to drive to work again, just as gas prices went way up. Oh, well…
2007: went to California with my mother. Never did finish putting the pics up on Flickr–had almost 1500 pics to go through, and made it through 20. We went on the train, which was a vacation in itself. It was a good thing we went. My mother’s sisters were in their 80s, and this was our last chance to see them. One aunt died a few months ago, and the other had a stroke last year.
2008: I went to London for 11 days and loved it. Met more online friends, explored the city and still didn’t get to see everything I wanted. It means I need to go back. Also, it was my 20th anniversary at my job.
2009: stayed home and recovered from two years of travelling in a row!
Now, go visit Wendishness and see who else is playing.
begging… for a Fun Monday host!
Posted by: cynicalgirl57 on: December 9, 2009
Anyone want to host Fun Monday next week? Pleeeezzzeee??? With sugar on top? Faye of Summit Musings has kindly offered to host on December 21, but we still need someone to do it next week. *grovels*
Let me know in the comments.
Pretty please?
Fun Monday… the Christmas songs you love to hate…
Posted by: cynicalgirl57 on: December 7, 2009
I’m hosting Fun Monday today. My question for today:
What Christmas (or other holiday) song would you prefer never to hear again, and why? It could be one song in particular, or songs by a certain singer, or a version of a song you usually enjoy that grates on your nerves. We promise not to judge. It’s your chance to vent.
We’ll start with a classic of its kind–barking dogs “singing” Jingle Bells.
Well, you expect that to be obnoxious after a few listenings. I’ll spare you the cat version.
Then, of course we move on to the ever-popular “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.”
But the Christmas song that fills me with dread, that makes me wish I could avoid the holidays until they are over and the new year safely begun is this:
Now, the fact that I loathe “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” is not the fault of Andy Williams, who is probably a wonderful human being and all that. I liked “Moon River.” No, the blame is put squarely on the place I worked during my high school years–a department store which shall remain unnamed.
I worked in the accessories department, which was almost in the middle of the store. On one side was Young Men’s clothing, on the other, the Juniors’ department. The guys in the Young Men’s department would torment us with constant playings of Jethro Tull’s “Aqualung” album most of the year. In November and December, the girls in the Juniors’ department would play one album over and over again… the Andy Williams Christmas album.
I didn’t mind, at first. Then, when it became obvious that it was the only album the Juniors’ department had, and no matter how much we begged, we wouldn’t get a break, it became torture. Especially when “the most wonderful time of the year” was filled with impatient customers, dwindling stocks, and higher prices.
Indeed, when I was in college, I suggested to a friend he should name his punk band “Andy Williams Must Die.”
I have since made peace with Andy Williams, though I can’t listen to him singing Christmas music without the desire to smash things. As for “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”–I still hate it. Even when other singers sing it.
Now, go visit these fine blogs:
and the next Fun Monday host is… me!
Posted by: cynicalgirl57 on: December 2, 2009
I’m hosting Fun Monday on December 7th. Be afraid. Be very afraid… nah, not really. 
But it IS holiday related.
A big part of many holidays is the music, but none more so than Christmas, whether or not you celebrate. It’s everywhere–on the radio, TV, in the stores. While many of the songs are lovely and happy and a part of the holiday tradition, a few songs just drive you insane after awhile. Especially since they tend to be repeated over and over, day after day.
So, my question is this: What Christmas (or other holiday) song would you prefer never to hear again, and why? It could be one song in particular, or songs by a certain singer, or a version of a song you usually enjoy that grates on your nerves. We promise not to judge. It’s your chance to vent.
If you have a YouTube version of the offenders handy so we can share your pain, all the better.
Have fun thinking about it, and I’ll see you Monday the 7th. If you’re joining in, let me know in the comments!
Fun Monday–give, give, give
Posted by: cynicalgirl57 on: November 30, 2009
Sayre of Sayre Smiles asks:
How will you express your inner-Giver this season? Do you donate to a major charity? Do you serve food in a soup kitchen? Is your generosity something private that you do without recognition or do you hand the guy on the corner a dollar whenever you drive by?
Not only do I want to know what you do, but how you do it, why you do it, and a story about your activity and how it made you feel.
As far as money goes, my tendency is to slip something in the Salvation Army kettle or the jars for various charities you see on checkout counters in stores. Little things do add up.
My main way of giving is something I’ve done for years–I give blood. With the standards for giving blood becoming stronger than ever, what I can give helps all the more. And I feel better for doing it, both mentally and physically.
How many lives have I saved? I have no idea. Even if it’s just one, it’s worth it.
Go visit Sayre Smiles and see who else is playing today.
thankful…
Posted by: cynicalgirl57 on: November 23, 2009
Wendishness this week would love to know what we are thankful for. Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the US, but gratitude is universal.
I’m very much thankful that I have a job. A lot of people aren’t that fortunate right now. Yes, it’s not what I thought I would be doing, and I’d love to be making more money, but I’m happy to have somewhere to be five days a week, with the flexibility I need to take my mother to appointments and so on. We have a roof over our heads, food, transportation, and the ability to have some fun sometimes.
I’m thankful for the internet and its ability to take me around the world. I met lots of wonderful people and have learned a lot. It’s hard to imagine life without it. Not to mention a couple of vacations through the years I might not have taken if it wasn’t for the prospect of meeting online pals face-to-face.
Family, love, and friends… all the good things in life.
And what would Thanksgiving be without a little Alice’s Restaurant? A less humorous one, no doubt!
Visit Wendishness and see who else is thankful this week.
fun Monday… the oldest thing I possess (sort of)
Posted by: cynicalgirl57 on: November 16, 2009
Ari_1965 of Beyond My Slab wants to know:
What is the oldest possession in your house or flat? Describe it or show us a picture. Where did it come from? Why do you hang on to it?
There are a few things in my life I’ve had a long time. Books I received as a child, a bracelet that I got as a gift for First Communion. Things that come and go, end up in storage, things that got lost in the shuffle of a few moves.
The oldest item in my apartment belongs to me, and yet it doesn’t. It has been a part of my life my entire life, and has never been away even when not with me. A source of unfailing support, comfort, and love since the day I was born. Without her, I wouldn’t be who I am now.
Of course, I’m talking about my mother, who is 81 now. She has lived with me for the last several years, and it would be hard to imagine life without her, though one day I must. Her mind is fairly sharp, even though she worries about forgetting things. Right now, she’s learning how to use a computer. The mysteries of the internet and email are all new to her. It’s not easy, but she’s hanging in there. It’s a little odd to teach the one who taught me, take care of the one who took care of me as a child. But there it is.
Possess her like a book or a knick-knack? No, not really. She’s my mother, a part of me, a part of my own life.
a day in the life…
Posted by: cynicalgirl57 on: November 9, 2009
Grace of Mama Rehema wants to know:
please describe to us your typical weekday, from when you wake up until when you go to bed, what do you do to get you up and going, how do you wind down in the evening and what happens in your life in between those times. For some of us, the drama is in the mornings and evenings and for others, it is during the day.
Drama? What drama?
I generally wake up early during the week. I’m not an early riser by nature, but if I get up and rush to get ready, I don’t feel awake enough to get through a work day. I go online and say hello to friends on Plurk and Facebook, as well as a couple of forums I follow. My mother, who wakes up even earlier, pops in and out to tell me something she just saw on the news. Since she’s been up forever, she’s bright and chirpy, and I’m still communicating in grunts. After that, I shower and get dressed.
Then the drive to work, which may or may not include a stop for something along the way. I start my work day at 7 a.m., and am pretty much busy until lunch, around 11:30. Lunch is 45 minutes, and usually includes a quick check of email and Plurk from my cell phone–I don’t have internet access on the job, and if I did, most of the mail and social sites would be blocked.
Finally, it’s 3:30 p.m., time to go home. But first–rush hour! What a lie… everything slows to a crawl. Sometimes I stop for errands, sometimes I go straight home. Then I pick up the mail, talk to Mom, eat dinner, and unwind until bedtime, which seems to get earlier all the time.
Still awake? If you are, then go see Mama Rehema and see who else is playing. Maybe someone out there has a more exciting life than I do. :p
Middle-aged, cynical. That's about it, really.
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