What Do You Do on the Weekend?

I'm either enjoying comparing lists from last year with this year or I'm getting really lazy about posting every single day for November NaBloPoMo. Maybe it's a combination. Anyway...

How do y'all spend your weekend? Do you take advantage of the great outdoors? Sit in front of the television? Visit friends and relatives? Make that new recipe? That's what this list was all about- things to do on the weekend. I should probably try this when football season is over since pretty much all I do during football season is watch football. Saturday and Sunday. There are a few other things though...


My weekend list from 2015:

10 Things to do During the Weekend:

1. During football season, plant yourself in front of the television and ENJOY.
2. When football season ends, sit and pout until August when preseason begins.
3. Take the pup down the nature trail to the marsh. Take the camera. 
4. If there's a wedding in the family, do wedding planning related stuff. Do it early in the mornings so you can be back home before the games start (college football on Saturdays you know). IF it's not football season, try to drag your depressed self up and don't worry about when you leave or come back.
5. Do the grocery shopping for the week And some of the cooking. WooHoo. What fun tasks.
6. If it's raining, do the dance of joy and watch some old movies, read a book, take a nap, play with the pup---anything that suits a rainy day.  
7. If it's snowing, I'm jealous and don't want to talk to you.
8. Take the pup over to the beach for a walk or run.
9. Write some blog posts. Work does tend to get in the way of this.
10. Go downtown Charleston and take pictures of the tourists. Which is way more fun than you might think.

And this year's list:

10 Thing to do during the Weekend:

1. Sit down because you've been on your feet all week entertaining your 4-month-old granddaughter which is both exhausting because you're old and wonderful because, granddaughters!
2. Turn on the television and watch football because it's football season and no one bother me until February.
3. Write blog posts because during the week there is no time due to entertaining your 4-month-old granddaughter. Or the exhaustion that follows. But you love it and wouldn't trade it for anything. 
4. Go to the grocery store because you are too tired from entertaining your 4-month-old granddaughter to go during the week because you're old now but it's ok because, granddaughters.
5. Enjoy some take-out. I love take-out while watching hours upon hours of football.
6. Read. When the games are boring (68-0) or you don't really care that much about the games that are on at that time, enjoy a bit of reading. Haha! I don't stop watching football to read a book, I read before the games start on Saturday or Sunday.
7. Take the dog and your camera out for a walk and some picture taking. NOT during the games, though.
8. Get the house cleaned up. There's no time or energy during the week because...well, you know.
9. Go watch football at a pub with loads of televisions so you can watch your team at the same time you watch Matt Ryan, hopefully, lose. 
10. Relax and enjoy the time doing whatever the spirit moves you to do!

Not really that much different from last year except for the granddaughter part. :) The list would be much different when football season is over. I'm serious about my football, y'all. I LOVE watching it and I do not look fondly upon those who schedule things like showers, birthday/anniversary celebrations, and weddings during football season.

Ok, your turn! What makes your weekend list?

This is day 14 of November NaBloPoMo!

Stress? What Stress?

What stresses y'all out more? Work? Family? Everyday life? Taking on new challenges? What?

There are times when I feel that everything stresses me out. Fibromyalgia didn't hit me nearly as hard as it did others but it still lets me know it's here on a daily basis. I'm overly sensitive to EVERYTHING. Bright light, loud noises (and some quieter ones), any odor that contains chemicals, most any touch, strong tastes (which explains my bland palate), chaos, clutter... And then there's the fact that I am a slight germaphobe. You can just imagine how interesting life can be with these characteristics.

Today, I'm talking about the stress of taking on new challenges.

When I took on a job teaching computer to elementary students I was grateful and stressed out. Me? Teaching computers? To kids? They know more than I about this stuff! The stress that came with this job was self-inflicted and I think, with me, this type of stress is the good stuff. It's the type that motivates me to learn more and do more in certain situations. While I did know more than the kiddos, they are fast learners. To stay ahead, I had to be prepared. It was crazy. It was stressful. And I loved it! But then...

At Thanksgiving, 2015, my daughter and her husband surprised the family with news of a BABY! I knew that moment that I would quit teaching and stay home with that sweet child so that my daughter and her wonderful husband could save for their first house. The payoff is off the charts to all of us, especially me since I see Baby M every weekday, and they'll be ready to buy that house in April 2017. WINNING! But that winning didn't come without stress. It was a new endeavor that we all took on but were let down by one who claimed to be on board so...

I decided to try and get creative. Even though I'm not an artist or creative. Smart. Nope. STRESS. When you're committed to people you can't back out and I'm committed. But I had to figure out to bring in some $$. So I used my bird photographs and my lack of artist skills and began making coasters to sell on Etsy. THIS is stressful because I don't like putting myself out there. I like backstage work. I like to be behind the camera. I don't enjoy recognition. But this time, I had to do it. The courage to press the 'open shop' button on Etsy was nonexistent for WEEKS. Ok, months. But I finally did it.

The coasters are not perfect but neither am I. And I'm not going to be though I certainly strive for it. To overkill levels. Which means I have harshly judged my attempts and I have fallen short. I'm leaving them out there anyway.

If you'd like to peruse the shop, just click the link here: CoasterDoodles.

Or here:

Hope y'all are having a wonderful weekend!

Today is day 12 of NaBloPoMo for November!

10 Hashtags about Me

Looking back over past posts (I seriously had no idea that the Grits started in 2014) I found a fun post I wrote about hashtags. It wasn't an original idea and I tried to find the blogger who hosted this but, apparently, she's not blogging anymore. Anyway, we were asked to make a list of 10 hashtags that describe us. I thought I'd do a comparison for day 11 of NaBloPoMo. While I'd keep some of my 2014 hashtags today, I'm changing them all up just for fun. 



Here's 2014's list:

10 Hashtags That Describe Me

1. #momtobestdaughtersever

2. #ilovemydog

3. #iamtoooldforthatsh*t

4. #iseestupidpeople

5. #WTF

6. #itisfootballseasondonotdisturbuntilfebruary

7. #theloveboatsailedwithoutme

8. #doublecuppaontheweekends

9. #textingfool

10. #don'taskifyoudon'twanttoknow

Actually, that's not too bad. I'm still not that great at hashtags but here's 2016's list:

10 Hashtags that Describe Me

1. #firsttimegrandma
2. #passthegeritol
3. #carolinapanthersarekillingme
4. #wheresthedamngeritol
5. #walmarthasgeritol
6. #laughingalltheway
7. #tellinitstraightup
8. #lovemyfriends
9. #suckingdowngeritol
10. #rockingmiddleagelikearock

Hashtags can be fun. And funny. And clever. Or, like mine, only fun. :)

Have a great weekend!

Information Overload

It's day 6 of NaBloPoMo. I'll start it with a question: 

Do y'all think future generations will be hit with information overload as more and more people tell their story since we now have blogs instead of a few family stories handed down and told by their elders?

I suppose they will be hit with an overload of information but not simply by reading someone's blog. Reading family stories and history, to me, is fascinating. I loved hearing stories when I was growing up and, now that my grandparents are gone, I wish they had written these tales down so that I could access them anytime I wanted to. The information overload is going to have more to do with the gazillions of information that is available on the web in general. The access is bad enough but discerning truth from fiction is where the overload begins to show it's effect. I think that when bloggers tell their family stories, they are sharing something important and meaningful to those within said family. That won't cause overload at all.

As far as having a handful of family stories vs having entire blogs to read, I think that is a good thing. I would love to have blogs to read that were written by my great grandparents and grandparents as well as aunts and uncles- even the crazy ones. I imagine that would be quite entertaining! As it is now, my children and grandchildren and other family members will only have my blog to read. Unless other family members step up and start writing, that's going to be rather slim pickin' as they say. Although, that's got to better than nothing.

Will they get the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? No. I have my secrets and I plan on keeping them as long as possible. Best case- I take them to my grave. There are only two but I don't want them out. It's not always necessary to blurt out truths that may cause others to be upset or hurt. As long as I am the only one hurt, that's fine. Others who may want a truth out can get over it. 

So, no, I don't think having access to and going through all the available family tales will cause an information overload. I think people will be thrilled that the information is out there for their family to read.

What do y'all think? 

Internet Trolls: A Repost

Today is day 5 of NaBloPoMo for November and I'm reposting because, as a former computer lab teacher, I feel the topic is so important. 

Trolling. It has a whole new meaning these days. I always thought trolling had something to do with fishing boats and trolls were those cute, yet ugly, little dolls with the hair we spent hours braiding. Not these days.

The new dictionary definition of troll is: "make a deliberately offensive or provocative online posting with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them." (GOOGLE Search)

IN an article in Psychology Today by Jennifer Goldbeck (phd) 

"An internet troll is someone who comes into a discussion and posts comments designed to upset or disrupt the conversation. Often, in fact, it seems like there is no real purpose behind their comments except to upset everyone else involved. Trolls will lie, exaggerate, and offend to get a response." (SOURCE)

Yes, they're out there. And I've seen them. I cannot imagine having that much anger or being that desperate for money or appreciating such dark 'humor' as to purposefully try to upset or offend other people. How?

• they twist words
• they miss the point (or at least, they pretend to)
• they cross the line every time and on purpose
• they use bad language
• they attack you
• they play the victim 
• they are relentless
• they 'one-up' you no matter what you say

I do enjoy joking around and finding a humorous way to make a point. I have been known to express my opinion about situations/products/events that I find displeasing or pleasing. But to deliberately strike out in the hopes of hurting someone? Nah. That's not cool no matter what your reasoning.

The best piece of advice anyone has ever offered on how to deal with them is:
DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS. I see it all the time. A troll comments and someone responds. And there it is. Trolls feed off the stupidity of others. Yes, I said it. Because it is STUPID to respond to anyone, online or in person, who makes statements that are purposefully hateful or offensive. They have researched and they know your weakness. And they will pounce on it knowing you will not be able to stop yourself from commenting back.

I have friends- online and in the real world- with whom I disagree on religion, politics, education, race relations, etc. But I respect their opinions and they respect mine. We do not have to agree on everything under the sun to be friends. I will remain silent before causing a raucous. Trolls do not. Trolls will do everything they can to insult you personally and they are relentless about it.

Trolls will always criticize but never offer constructive criticism. They are criticizing to cause harm and stir up chaos not to offer helpful suggestions to make anything better. Their criticisms are insulting and personal. And, when you respond, you can sense the excitement in their responses to your response. And the cycle goes on and on and on.

It's sickening, really. But what's worse is when I see people falling into the trap. So, again, DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS.

It's this type of internet bullying that makes me worry about the kids I will no longer be teaching at school. When I taught technology I was able to explain all of the internet dangers to every student, 700+ of them, from the ages of 4 to 12. We covered everything from the importance of and how to set good passwords to cyberbullying. I even told them all about people who will try to scam their grandparents. 

Check out this video:

Bottom line: The internet is full of fun and interesting things to do, see, read, and use. But it is also full of hackers, identity thieves, cyberbullies, trolls... You MUST keep up with the bad side so that you can protect yourself and not fall into the traps that are set for you.

OH, and DON'T FEED THE TROLLS.

Have you had an experience with an internet troll?

Fall Television MEHs

Here we go, y'all. It's day 4 of NaBloPoMo. ONLY day 4...

Among other things (like my sugar detox which means my morning coffee is not CRAP) I listed the few shows I've watched this fall season that I love over on EMPTY NEST. Here, I'm going to list the less than few that I've watched that did not strike a cord with me. Why? Because it's day 4 of NaBloPoMo and today's prompt is:

Which fall shows should be canceled already?

I hope sipping coffee without sugar isn't clouding my judgment this morning...Anyway--

1. THE REAL O'NEALS: I accidentally caught this ONE TIME and was not impressed. I find them unbelievable and am not a fan of the mom. Kind of like THE GOLDBERGS. Not a fan.It doesn't help that I am not a fan of the actors either. 
2. MACGYVER: I caught this on on purpose and did not make it through the entire episode. I remember the original series and this time, they are missing the mark.
3. SPEECHLESS: I really tried to give this one a shot but, after watching all of 2 episodes and part of a third, it's just not holding my attention. 
4. THE GOOD PLACE: I know. I really hate it but this one just hasn't grabbed my attention. I tried because I adore Kristen Bell and Ted Danson. Sad.
5. KEVIN CAN WAIT: Again, I just can't stick with it. And I really wanted to. All I can give it is background noise when I want something on just for the noise and not because I want to watch it. 

And that is it. I listed 5 new shows on EMPTY NEST that I have enjoyed although I'm still on the fence with a couple of them. 

There are a few shows that are not new this season but came back and keep coming back (TWO BROKE GIRLS- seriously, the blonde is stupid and the brunette delivers one-liners as if they are conversation; MOM- just, no; THE GOLDBERGS- idiotic mom character and that kid's voice gets on my LAST nerve...) and I'll never understand why these stay on the air and good ones get canceled. Is the viewing public really that stupid? Or is it ME? YIKES!

Thankfully, NETFLIX does pick up some shows I love and between NETFLIX and HULU I do get to watch reruns of my favorite canceled shows. 

Ok, what shows would you cancel from this viewing season?

Are You Brave?

Today's post about being brave is over at Empty Nest. You know those days when you have your 3 month old granddaughter all day long and she's cranky because she is having some tummy issues? Well, what it boils down to is this: you get ONE post completed for ONE blog and SHARE that post on the OTHER blog. And then there's the fact that you already said all you really had to about being brave on THAT post...

So...click below:

Thanks, y'all!

Day 2 is done! Sort of. 

5 Ways to Uplift a Bad Mental Health Day

In an effort to give the Grits a boost, I've decided to participate in the November NaBloPoMo which means I've committed to post every day for the next 30 days. We'll see how that goes since I'm also posting on Empty Nest. Ha!

Today's prompt (yes, they give you prompts in case you can't come up with a topic for 30 days IN A ROW INCLUDING WEEKENDS AND THANKSGIVING) is: When you're having a bad day with your mental health, what do you do to hep yourself?

That all depends on the level of the bad and whether or not I got ahead of it. If I am not lucky enough to get ahead of it, I have to let it run its course which usually involves a good bit of sadness. And, admittedly, a pity party or five.

The level of bad comes into play when I do get ahead of it. Which is most of the time as I try to remember that pity parties are a complete waste of time and effort. So, depending on the level of bad, here are 5 things I do to help myself with my mental health:

• Music. Loud and with earbuds. The genre depends on the level of the bad. 
• Time-out. Yes, giving myself a time-out works wonders and gives me time to regroup. How? Either going to my room for quiet or outside on the deck to deep breathe and listen to nature. It really does help. To be honest with y'all, if I could be by myself all the time with the exception of holidays and special family times, I'm pretty sure I'd never have a bad mental health day again, EVER. 
• Text a friend. If I need a way out with a laugh, I have a friend who is perfect for that. And no explanations are ever needed. We all need a friend like this. 
• Taking the dog for a walk. Walking will take my mind off having a bad mental health day. Because I concentrate on how I don't want to walk. Ha!
• Watching television. But it has to be a sitcom. Unless my mental health day is sad instead of bad. Then it needs to be a tearjerker movie. 

And there you have my first day. 

What do y'all do to help yourself over a bad mental health day?