Thursday, February 25, 2016

Breaking An Addiction


Not all addictions have to be drugs or booze. There are good addictions and bad addictions. One of those addictions 'was' Facebook's Farmville 2. It was one of those love/hate relationships where we would fight and then make up merrily clicking away. Well, Farmville 2 will no longer play with my emotions for I have reached the end of my virtual farming rope. You are out of my life for good! I will go on Facebook, that's where my friends and family are but I will go in with sunglasses and a big floppy hat on.

Here is the 'Dear John' letter I sent to them:

Dear Farmville 2,

YOU SUCK. I could just leave it at that but I'm not. You started out as this little plot of land with visions of a big thriving farm. Oh, the fun we were going to have. It started out innocent enough. Plant some crops, buy a chicken or two watching you grow and thrive. Your animals 'moved', oh how cute I said. This is going to be so much fun! Working hard the first plot of land I bought was so awesome. Little sheep would come, or was it goats, and eat up all the grass and presto, more room for more soil, animals and trees.

Sending 'presents', receiving presents, winning awards, oh what fun we had. If I went abroad vacationing leaving you for a week or two you would lure me back in by giving me something awesome, like water! Oh the excitement. I'll come back to you my love never to leave you again. Day after day I planted, grew, bought, fed, watered watching you growing into an even bigger farm. Holidays and parties were thrown, the world was a better place with you in it.

One year went by, then another, I was so happy I had finally found my one true love learning about plants and trees I had never heard of before. You were so educating. I will stick with you forever. Until that day came when you got a little too big for your FarmVille 2 britches. Your true colors were coming out, each time I forgave you but I was becoming moody, withdrawn, determined to get the old happiness back. We had such good times together.

I told you not to get jealous. You can love two things at once. I had enough love for both of you, so I became a blogger anyways. You froze up on me time and time again. The yelling, the swearing, the pleading did nothing to make you change so Farmville 2, goodbye forever.

From,
Grandma Rose


Friday, February 19, 2016

Ageing Hands


Now how in the world can ageing hands make you smile you ask?

Yesterday I'm sitting at our computers and I hear Grandpa Rose exclaim holding out his hand at arm's length, "My hand looks old." "When did that happen"?

I snort because I am five years older (yes I'm a cougar) replying, "You think your hands look old, look at mine," holding one of my hands up for him to see.

Which got me to thinking about what my hands have done over my lifetime to make smiles and magic.

  • The first time holding your newborn.
  • Hands can defend you or someone else.
  • Making crafts for our loved ones.
  • Hands can talk with sign language.
  • Typing or writing a story or a book.
  • We use hands to grow food and flowers.
  • Play musical instruments and make beautiful music.
  • Hands can get excited helping to tell a story.
  • Waving hello or good-bye.
  • Hands can heal, wipe away tears, hold and comfort a crying child.


The list goes on and on. Hands are magical and can make you smile. I have earned every wrinkle and will continue to use them to make the world a happier place.

What kind of things can you do with your hands? (Keep it clean ~wink~)

100 Exquisite Adjectives
By Mark Nichol

I love words and came across a list of them. I'm going to add a word a day to my posts as long as I don't forget.

Word #30 Fecund: prolific, inventive

In a sentence:
The computer programmer was a fecund person who could quickly identify and solve problems.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

M. A. G. I. C. Making A Grin Is Cool



It's almost Valentine's Day so sharing a few thoughts to get you through your day. I love this vintage cupid and I'm reposting it. I love the look it's so pretty. And Cupid's a rock star.

I'm a lover of playing on words and their meaning not to mentions I love limes.


 Yes, I believe in magic, who doesn't?
To the lost and the lonely, to our elders and youngsters, married couples and those who are just plain together...A Big Huge Happy Valentine's Day to you from all of us here at Life Explained.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Make A New Friend Day


First off seeing that there was a bit of confusion over one of my earlier humorous posts this is where I get the days and events for that day for inspiration. Holiday Insights February.

Today is every day for one such as me, lover of new experiences, people, and life. Make A New Friend Day doesn't necessarily always mean of the human persuasion either. You could go out and get a puppy. In fact, I was referred to puppies once because of my friendliness.

Or you can call up an old friend and catch up, maybe send an e-card to a friend just to let them know you care. I usually send something with a bit of humor, I don't think that surprises you at all.

When I first got my computer many moons ago my first thought was excitement at being able to make new friends that otherwise I would never have met. It's been a great trip so far.



Make A New Friend Day is every day for this girl.

100 Exquisite Adjectives
By Mark Nichol

I love words and came across a list of them. I'm going to add a word a day to my posts as long as I don't forget.

Word #24 Effulgent: brilliantly radiant

She was effulgent in her performance at the opera.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Send A Card To A Friend Day


We often think about our friends.  We wonder how they are, miss them and remember fond memories  of times shared. Always observed on February 7th, National Send A Card To A Friend Day is the day to send our friends a card and let them know that we are thinking of them!
It is always a nice surprise to receive a card from a friend.

 This day I like. I think surprising a friend, co-worker, husband, wife, whoever is right up my alley.

Also, this has become much more important as I grow older, long time friends have passed this world so don't wait.

I remember when I started flying my son to Florida every summer. Each week he was gone I would send a card with a beef jerky in the envelope. It got to where his dad, he told me later, would yell, "Your jerky's here". He still remembers that.

Send a card/s, e-card/s to someone to make their day and it will make your day too.

Do you like making a person smile with random kindness? I love stories so do tell.

100 Exquisite Adjectives
By Mark Nichol

I love words and came across a list of them. I'm going to add a word a day to my posts as long as I don't forget.

Word #15.Concomitant: accompanying

The fast was a suitable concomitant of that contrition which befitted the occasion.

Friday, February 5, 2016

The Dreamers -- Confessions of an Absent-Minded Writer


My mystery novel's main sleuth character, Jack Donegal, is a toy inventor with some absent-minded characteristics, while his more down-to-earth buddy, Andy Westin, helps to keep him on track. I was partly inspired by my father, a scientist and inventor, who earned the nickname of “absent-minded professor” from my aunts and uncles when he was growing up. Really though, I didn't have to look very far for inspiration for an absent-minded character, because I'm an acorn that doesn't fall far from the tree. Dad's inventions deal with U.S. national security – among other things, he worked on a secure phone used by President Ronald Reagan – and later with satellites and GPS. My inventions are my fictional characters and stories.

I have friendly relationships with several of the business owners and workers on the street where I work. One of these friends is a worker at the 7Eleven where I frequently buy my lunches. This friend bought my book some months back and made my day with some encouraging words, “You are a very good writer, Ma'am.” In recent times, I was at the 7Eleven again and, as I was making my purchase, I found myself staring at the card swiping machine as if this was a hard and difficult task. I looked up at my friend. “I'm sorry. My brain is somewhere else,” I told him as I tried to pull myself together and do the next few steps. He answered, “You are an artist, Ma'am. An artist can be in two places at once.” How very insightful of him. He was exactly right, and I was happy again with the compliment as well as the understanding. This was not, however, the last time that this particular person would observe my absent-mindedness.

Some time after this incident, I wanted to go to the Dunkin Donuts for my lunch, which is a block closer to the office than the 7Eleven. My feet, however, decided to go on automatic pilot and took me past the Dunkin Donuts to the 7Eleven. When I walked through the doors at the 7Eleven, I had the familiar feeling you get when you walk into a room and forget why you needed to go there. The first words that came out of my mouth were, “I'm confused.” I'm not sure a younger, shyer version of myself would have made such a statement that amounted almost to an announcement. Now, my friend was looking towards me and I felt a need to give some explanation. “I didn't mean to come here,” I said. “I'm on automatic pilot, I think.” Remembering his earlier comments to me about being in two places at once, I added, “It's just like you said.”

Of course, this felt like a bit of an awkward confession bordering on rudeness. How could I leave the store without purchasing something? Loyalty compelled me to go pick up something for my lunch here anyway. As I was at the register, my friend says, half chuckling, “So, you didn't mean to come here today?” We chatted for a moment about being on automatic pilot, and he made his own confessions of doing things absent-mindedly.

When I showed up again a day or two later, he asked me, “So, did you mean to come here today?” This time, I answered, “Yes.”


Does anyone else have a good story of being so distracted by your creative work that you did something absent-minded?

If you find yourself having absent-minded moments, you are in good company with some of the great minds of history. There are some amusing examples here. If you look out, you may find some more, Einstein, Edison and Isaac Newton are known for a few absent-minded moments as well as the writer G.K. Chesterton.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

6 Simple Ways To Teach Kids To Be Kind




Smile. As author William Arthur Ward said, “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” By seeing you smile at other people (whether it’s your spouse or a next-door neighbor you happen to see while getting your mail), children can learn that a smile can be a powerful way to spread kindness.

Perform your own acts of kindness. When you’re paying for your gas, ask the clerk how their day is going or let someone with fewer items go ahead of you in the grocery store check-out line. You might not think that your child picks up on this type of behavior but they do.

“Teach children how to share.” Helice shared this piece of advice with us on Facebook and we couldn’t agree more. Reading friendship-themed books such as Should I Share My Ice Cream? can be helpful in teaching children how to be generous.

Talk about ways to help friends: If your child’s friend or classmate is having a hard time, ask your child for ways she thinks she might be able to help. This can be a very useful way to teach them how to build meaningful friendships. You might ask, “How do you think Sam feels?” “What do you think you can do to help?”

Validate positive behaviors: When you see your child treat someone with kindness or care, express your appreciation. Say, “I noticed how patient you were when Kate was feeling frustrated. I think that really made her feel better.

Celebrate the helpers. When you hear about someone doing a kind deed for other people, share the story with your child, recommends Parents.com. It will get them thinking about the acts of service they could do themselves.

I love this, start with the children, I did and my kids and their friends are amazing.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Smiles All Around



This morning I got a Skype call from my son Tysen who is in the Airforce. We were on Facebook, at first, being that I don't own a cell phone as of yet so that's the way I communicate.

He asked me which made me happy, we had a very nice chat. I got to see his room which is small sharing with a roommate who Tysen told me is glad he keeps his side clean.

He will be deployed for six months and thank the heavens for technology. I also got his address and I will send a letter with something little in the envelope. Anyways that's the plan.

I live and breath for my children and am so grateful they are so good at staying in touch even if they live so far away.

Are you a long-distance parent or grandparent yourself? I love stories so do tell.