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WeblogPoMo AMA #2

Published by Alexandra

A question I got asked for Annie’s #WeblogPoMo AMA (Ask Me Anything) challenge was from Annie (yes, another Annie), she wanted to know:

What is a habit that’s either very long-standing or has had a big impact in your life (or both)?

and

What’s your favourite time of day, and why?

First up, let’s start with the easier question, my favourite time of day has got to be mornings, early mornings. Especially as I have a habit of waking up somewhere around 5am for a pee. Which in and of itself you’d think would be annoying but … I’ve learnt to turn around what was once an annoyance to a positive. I now take the time to open the curtains and peak outside, and spend a couple of minutes marvelling at the world beyond. Sometimes I give up any thought of going back to bed and, instead, brew a cup of green tea, sit on the couch with a blanket, and either read or just stare out into the dark pondering life’s mysteries.

It’s funny what pops into your head when you stop thinking about anything specific.

As to Annie’s second question? Hmm … I’m not sure I have any long standing habits these days. I think I’ve broken myself of most of the annoying ones a long time since; like chewing my nails till I was 17, sucking my finger till I was 5 and started school, or carrying a stuffed bush baby plushy everywhere I went till the age of 3, till I threw it overboard on a boat.

There was also my habit of watching the news while eating breakfast. But watching the twin towers fall live on TV, one morning, broke me of that habit. In shock, like half the world, I couldn’t bring myself to watch the morning news for well over a decade.

I do, I suppose, have one new habit that stated in the spring of 2019, the year before covid hit. When my partner and I were planning a month long trip to Paris in the fall of 2020, and I needed to get in shape for the trip. It was walking. But, as we all know, covid locked down us and the entire planet, we didn’t go anywhere for 2 years. I did, however, walk with a vengeance. I started walked for at least 5 minutes of every hour every day, for that entire year. Not only did I gain muscle mass, but lost weight too. The upshot of that one year, which continued into 2021 and then, 2022, became my new habit.

Now I only walk about three and a half minutes every hour. But still, with everything else I do throughout the day. I walk over 7000 steps each and every day. It really has been one of the best habits and decisions I ever made.

And you, what’s your favourite time of day, and what long standing habits do you have, if any?

Cool Bloggers Walking Club April 2025 Edition – Final Week

Published by Alexandra

And … we’re finished. I’ve waited till today, to write up my final stats for the Cool Bloggers Walking Club even though I know week 4 ended, technically, on the 28th, it seemed logical to wait for the month to end. And wow, what a month it’s been.

First a BIG big thank you to Elisabeth for running this and doing her weekly round ups so we could all keep track of what everyone else was doing. And all those wonderful photos too. Funny some of the strange things people saw while out on their walks, kangaroos, and pigs … well yesterday, I saw a kestrel near the park, hunting maybe?

No, no I didn’t manage to snap a photo. Shame.

So, where am I? Well, funny you should ask, here’s the last nine day’s of stats.

  • Tuesday 22 — 6200 steps / 4.15 km
  • Wednesday 23 — 5700 steps / 4.0 km
  • Thursday 24 — 6400 steps / 4.65 km
  • Friday 25 — 8100 steps / 5.75 km
  • Saturday 26 — 5000 steps / 3.65 km
  • Sunday 27 — 5400 steps / 3.85 km
  • Monday 28 — 6450 steps / 4.50 km
  • Tuesday 29 — 7800 steps / 5.50 km
  • Wednesday 30 — 6450 steps / 4.50 km

The total for these last nine days to: 57,500 steps / 40.55 km which in itself is pretty impressive. But then, the grand total for the month is:

Grand total: 194.250 steps / 138.40 km

No wonder I’ve been losing weight. I may get a little bit healthier doing this more, this year, if I keep this up. And finally, let’s finish off the post with a floral touch …

10 Pointless Facts About Me

Published by Alexandra

David from over at Forking Mad has challenged us to share 10 Pointless Facts with everyone and, as everyone seems to be on a challenge kick these last few weeks, me included, I thought, why not.

Do you floss your teeth?

Yes, religiously every night before bed. Doesn’t everyone?

Tea, coffee, or water?

Tea.

Footwear preference?

Flip flops. Except in winter then it’s boots baby, boots all the way.

Favourite dessert?

Lemon merengue pie.

The first thing you do when you wake up?

Honey, I’m old. I pee, doesn’t everyone?

Age you’d like to stick to?

Maybe somewhere in my late 20s.

How many hats do you own?

Way to many, and I mean dozens.

Describe the last photo you took

I hunkered down to about ground level to snap a beautiful cluster of primulas in full bloom.

Worst TV show?

The one I watched last night … Lioness. Utter load of twaddle.

As a child, what was your aspiration for adulthood?

To be either a marine biologist or, an astronaut. I did eventually study earth science at university level, but as of now, have yet to make it into space. Maybe I’ll have them poot me into space when I’m dead?

And now, it’s your turn. Pop on over to David’s blog and join us in answering 10 pointless questions, or maybe, make your own up.

Cool Bloggers Walking Club April 2025 Edition – Week 3

Published by Alexandra

Another week of walking and trying to keep busy, with a lovely long weekend of peace and quiet. Though, one tinged with a great deal of sadness on Monday, what with the passing of Pope Francis. My mother in law is catholic and my partner lapsed. Québec was once a big catholic stronghold though, these days, less so. Still, everyone has been paying their respects. Lots of lowered flags.

Friday saw the opening of early voting so other than hitting the mall to buy up our monthly supplies, we thought to go vote early but, didn’t count on the fact that 2 million others were going to do the same thing. There were hundreds queuing to vote at our polling station, which was within our own building complex (so no need to go far, or, out in awful weather). And once there, we decided a 30 minute wait wasn’t so bad … except, that 30 minutes morphed into almost an hour before we got in the teeny tiny room where there were only two stations processing people.

Each staffed by two ancient ladies who moved slower than glacial decay. It. Was. Torturous. Two tables, two ladies per table, two ballot boxes, two private booths. And several hundred people. I can’t say the whole things was very well organised or well thought out. It wasn’t.

Still, we did our civic duty and voted.

Steps walked this week:

  • Tuesday — 7200 steps / 5.15 km
  • Wednesday — 6100 steps / 4.35 km
  • Thursday — 5800 steps / 3.95 km
  • Friday — 10,100 steps / 7.35 km
  • Saturday — 5700 steps / 4.2 km
  • Sunday — 4200 steps / 3.1 km
  • Monday — 6100 steps / 4.35 km

For a grand total of: 45,200 steps / 32.45 km

And, as a parting gift, a golden iris.

Mental Yoga

Published by Alexandra

I’m constantly surprised and, by this point in my life, I shouldn’t be, but I am. What of? People who feel the need to constantly be busy or doing this, that, or the other. Is it something that happened slowly, over night, I wonder? Is it since the advent of smart phones, or maybe TV? Or was it always there and I just didn’t notice it?

Because, I’m of a mind that I really don’t feel the need to be constantly doing something, anything, or going somewhere to do something (sports), whether to participate or watch. I’m not always in front of a screen, or TV. I have a life outside of smart gadgets that involves me walking around a garden, or sitting in a park staring at, well, trees, flowers or the grass, or a bird flying over head.

I can quite happily just sit somewhere, quietly, and do absolutely nothing, other than breathe. I don’t feel the need to justify myself by any other activity other than knowing I’m alive, and I exist. And that I have a keen fascination with just observing. Whether that’s clouds in the sky, people passing by, or a spider making a web between two plants.

I can sit in a coffee shop sipping my tea and be the only one not on a smart device, or making loud conversation. I don’t feel the need to be heard let alone seen. And am content to be, to all around me, invisible.

That doesn’t mean that I cannot make myself heard or noticed when I want to. I know how to be forceful when necessary. It’s a skill I learnt.

So I wonder, why so many try so hard to be seen, heard, and noticed in a world that is, quite honestly, totally indifferent to us all?

Maybe I’m from that generation, or it was how I was brought up, or what my parents instilled in me. I don’t know. I do know there are others like me, who don’t feel the need to be a performance and on 24/7. But somehow, in today’s society, I think we may be a dying breed, the last of our kind in a world where nearly everyone is suffering burn-out of some kind.

I think to myself, maybe everyone needs to start taking yoga classes, and learn to still their minds and bodies, and maybe, just maybe, stop for a moment and realise, they don’t have to compete, don’t have to be in the race to nowhere and can, instead, just sit this one out and take in the real world they’ve been missing all this time.

I feel like I want to close by saying, go hug a tree and have a conversation with it. But maybe, that’s a bit flippant. So maybe I’ll just go do it for you.