Where am I and What am I doing?

I'm visiting my Nanny this week.  She visited the Heart Specialist last week and he said that Nanny needs a pace maker.  Nanny is my mother's mother (in case you are wondering).  Nanny has lived in her house for more than 50 years.  My Pa passed away in 2009 and Nanny has lived alone since then.  My sister is quite the worrier at the best of times, but now that she is pregnant, she seems to worry more.  When she heard that Nanny needed a pace maker, the sister flipped out and despite all our assurances, she insisted that someone stay with Nanny in case "something" happens.

I love Nanny dearly and I'm on holidays from school, so I told the sister that I would go.  The sister booked the ticket and before I knew it, I was stowing my cabin luggage and waiting for the safety presentation.  Almost as soon as I arrived at Nanny's, I took a photo and sent it to the sister so she could see for herself, that Nanny is just fine.  We spent a few days at home but we have also been out and about. Mini-golf, cinemas, shopping outings, bus rides, family gatherings and doctor visits have made the week eventful.

Meanwhile, Nanny has no symptoms of heart trouble.  She can walk faster than me (not a great feat, I suppose), she takes perfectly good care of herself and is doing a great job of caring for me!  My job is to watch her and call an ambulance if she has a "turn".  But, it's all quiet here.  Nothing at all to report.

I don't feel much like 'writing' at the moment.  I don't know why. There is so much to do... and there must be a lot to say, I wish I knew what it was.

Oh well - now you know where I've been and where I am.  Now you know, that I'm not just slacking off, but I have a legitimate reason for my absence from the blogosphere. That's that then.

What to do in January?

There is a lot happening and on this, Brisbane's hottest January day in about 100 years, I am feeling like hiding in my bedroom with the air conditioning cranked to the highest setting!! In fact, that's what I did today.  I hid in my bedroom, with the air conditioning on.  It was so hot, that even Shelly was lying right in the a/c air flow and breathing slowly, so as not to break a sweat.  Usually, she finds my room a little on the 'freezing' side and either hides behind me or curls up in a teeny tiny fur ball in an attempt to stay warm while enjoying my company.  When she has had enough of that, she goes and hides under my Dad's bed.  But today, even Dad's room was too hot for an afternoon nap.  Today's post isn't really about Shelly or the weather... because a post about the weather would be kind of boring.  Challenge Accepted... but not today! 

My other blog persona is undertaking the Word Press Zero to Hero Blogging Challenge: 30 days to better blogging.  I decided that I should also do something to brighten things up around here.  We have a few choices. 

1. Do the same 30 day Zero to Hero Challenge and complete the projects twice over: once for AGT and once for my other blog.  

2. Write one story/ song/ poem by completing only one sentence each day.  

3. Use a single writing prompt tool to determine the topics/ genres that I will write in January.  

What do you think? 

Leave a comment if you have an opinion. 

I am not entirely certain that I can commit myself to writing everyday this month.  I would like to, but it is already the 4th and as you can see, I haven't had much success with that so far.  Perhaps I could aim to write everyday, but post twice a week.  That way, I should get ahead a little and that will keep us all going through the early weeks of the school year.  Did I mention that I'm already dreading the inevitable return to school and work?  I didn't?  How strange.  

Anyway, I'm thinking along the lines of writing prompts and twice a week posting for this month.  I could plan for the year, but it is probably best not to think too far into the future.  One day, one week, one month at a time.  That's that.

I will be back very soon with something  that I hope will be a little more entertaining.  

Good Night 2013

It is ten minutes past eight on this, the last night of 2013.  I am sitting in the corner of my bedroom and typing this last blog post of the year.  Out of the corner of my eye I see Hagrid flopped on my bed in the shadows of the bedside lamp.  I hear a season 6 episode of The  Big Bang Theory.  The soft breeze from the Onix Air Circulator is a welcome relief from the humid day.  Shelly meows!

This year is swiftly ticking towards the next and as always, I begin to reflect.  What a year it has been.  What a month.  What a week.  What a day!

Regardless of our intentions, much can change in a year.  The best any of us can do is go with it.  I was asked today, if I have listed any New Year's Resolutions.  In the past 20 years I have learned from experience that resolving on New Year's Eve is a sure fire way to fail.  Tomorrow morning, the breakfast shows will feature experts speaking about the various types of resolutions and how to keep them going.  The latest and greatest fitness fad, diet, medical breakthrough and educational theory will be flashed across our screens over and over again.

Therefore, I am not going to 'resolve' to do anything.  I will not write a meaningless list of wishes for the year ahead.  I will not berate myself in February for all the failures of January.  I will not disappoint myself in 2014.  I will not allow the festivities to befuddle me.

Tonight I will go to bed at the regular time.  Tomorrow I will go to my sister's house.  The first Annual Family Art Day will make a marvelous mess in the backyard.  The kids will have a blast!  I will have a blast!  This time tomorrow there will be glitter in my hair and paint on my face.  I will soak in a hot bath and fall into bed with that happy exhausted feeling that only comes from having fun.  I will be ready to sleep.

I hope you party tonight. Whether that means streamers and balloons, or tidying up a room, finishing a puzzle, watching fireworks, dancing in the streets or getting to bed for an early sleep.  May your evening allow you to send out the year with a smile and welcome the new beginning with another one.

Good Night, Dear Readers.
Good Night, 2013.
Good Night.

The Tree is Back in the Box

Mum pulled down the Christmas tree yesterday.  In our house, this is the signal from Mum that Christmas is done.  She is sick of eating left over ham and ready to run head long into the new year.  Mum doesn't do anything without running into it and the first of January is no different.  Now that the joyous season of Christmas is over, it is time to tell you all about the fun we've had.  It is also a perfect opportunity to step back into the writing world.  I've felt a little lost lately and couldn't quite work out how to get back into the ink well.  

Shelly cleaned up this year!  It was her first Christmas with us, after all.  Watching her play with all her new toys was great fun.  It was much like having a child opening gifts on Christmas morning and then yo-yo-ing between them all day.  Of course we had to leave my poor kitty at home for our trip to the Sister's house.  But Shelly forgave us when we came home and the playtime continued.  

I suppose you want to see some photos.  We will start with a few 'pre-Christmas' pics that prove how helpful Shelly is at this time of year.  

On Christmas Eve, I decided to get the festivities rolling by giving Shelly two of her bigger gifts (from me, of course).  I brought a box, with the gifts inside, into the lounge room and called Shelly.  She came trotting over nonchalantly and sniffed.  I whispered, "ooh, what's in the box, Shelly? what's in here?" Her brown eyes fixed on mine and then flicked back to the box.  Curiosity had finally got the better of her - she tiptoed closer to the box and lifted a paw to the lid.  I sat on the floor beside her and lifted the flaps to reveal what was inside.  A fold-able tunnel and a ball track with spring mouse.  You can see below.  "Wow," I exclaimed as I lifted out each item and untied the tunnel allowing it to unfold.  Her wide eyes stared and her head cocked to the side before she took another cautious look at her gifts, now laid out on the floor ready for her to play.  She looked from me to the toys and then her eyes darted to the box her gifts came in.  She stepped slowly towards the three items then jumped up and landed gracefully in the box!  The adults on the couch, laughed and so did I, in spite of myself.  Shelly eventually discovered how much fun it was to hide in the tunnel and run through it.  She dived inside it and jumped from box to tunnel.  The mouse on her track bopped her in the nose and it was on.  

In the morning, Shelly was showered with even more gifts: tiny tennis balls from "Santa" were left in her personalised Christmas Stocking.  Nanny gave Shelly a soft bumble bee toy filled with catnip.  She threw in a bag of Shelly's favourite dental treats, for good measure.  My mum and dad gave Shelly a Cat Tricks and Treats gift box which contained two jingle balls and a string mouse laced with catnip.  There was also a recipe book of human friendly cat foods.  Well, at least the dishes are easily home-made using regular grocery items. Shelly loves the mouse and I love the recipes.  There are a few that I'm looking forward to trying out. You will hear about that when I get to it.  

The grown ups exchanged gifts (Nanny gave us cash!) before packing up and heading to my Sister's house.  Sis and her Hubby have seven kids and there's another one on the way.  They installed a new kitchen, complete with double oven and preparation/ serving island, a few months ago.  It made sense for them to host Christmas.  My cousins came too with their three boys and some family friends as well. The food was great the kids were delightful and my favourite part was the nap.  

That's that then, I suppose.  I hope you had a glorious Christmas with your family and/or friends, I did.  

Love

More on GIFTS! Video and Links

Yesterday we looked at a video of Penny and Sheldon exchanging gifts at Christmas time.  For your viewing pleasure, check out this little snippet from season 5 of The Big Bang Theory when Amy gives Penny a 'small' token of appreciation.  Oh, WOW! 

You should be wrapping your gifts by now!  Want some inspiration?  Check out these links for some great tips and ideas for gift wrapping. :D

 

My 2012 Gift Wrapping Tips

Gift Wrapping Tips from Older and Wisor

My Newest Pinterest Board: Gifts and Wrapping

Happy Wrapping!