Make someone’s day! – I didn’t actually intend to do that but it happened. There is a working woman at new gym. When I come in at 8 she is finished with her workout and getting ready for work. She showers, washes her hair and gets dressed. It’s not business casual either. By the time she is done, she looks like a million bucks. If anyone has ever tried to gussy up at a gym it’s not easy. She uses the dryer you put your hands under to dry her shoulder length hair. Yet it all works out very well. After admiring her routine for many months, I finally told her so. She was so stunned and grateful that I was sorry I hadn’t said anything sooner. If you see something nice, say something nice.
Gone boy! – Facebook became tedious during and after the US election. People hate and love and have no problem ripping other views with vile language. I tired of that fast and blocked anyone who posted obnoxious things. The last time I went on to block something there was a category “Hide all DT.” (that’s Donald Trump) He may not be gone from my life but he’s gone from my Facebook.
I’m getting old – My family reunion was yesterday. This year I agreed to make one of my mother’s specialties which my grandniece had been making in recent years. It’s a long and somewhat tedious process over two days but if you like cooking, it’s enjoyable. I was very organized. (I’m old! If I’m not organized I’ll forget ingredients!) It went like clockwork. By the end my back was aching. It’s been a long time since I stood for hours. My back wasn’t happy but my tummy was. I’m too embarrassed to admit how many samples I ate (just to make it was good of course!).
One of those days — I was getting ready for the reunion. The weather was all over the place. Sunny and warm in the morning, rainy and cool in the late afternoon. I bagged my original outfit for something warmer but it wasn’t comfortable. It was close-fitting flowered jeans that shrunk a bit when I washed them. I can still get them on and breathe but it’s not comfy for an event where you want to eat and drink your heart out. Got out some old jeans that fit the bill. Stretchy sweats were on my list next!
We’re off of the Insect Air Bnb! – The fruit flies have decided that perhaps we are not their best destination. I got out the decorative apple with the cider vinegar reservoir for their swimming pool and let them drown in their joy. Word must have gotten out. Either they are diving right in or they have stopped visiting. Either way I’m good.
Haha, I’m glad the woman took it that way instead of you being a creepy person noticing her routine!! I know what you mean about FB! Luckily, I’m mostly surrounded by people who share the same views (and love for cats!).
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I see a lot of cats in my feed. They make my day.
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How nice that you made her day like that! And it probably made yours that your compliment was so well-received 🙂 Yay for you making your Mom’s recipe! What was it you made?
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Her overwhelming gratitude made my day. She’s not someone I ever exchanged “good mornings” with so I was shocked. I made strudel with the stretch dough from scratch.
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I have stayed away from FB since the election for many of the same reasons, I suppose. I was not altogether thrilled to learn how some of my friends think, to be frank. LOL! I’m going to at least find that “block all things Trump” censor which will at least help. Ha! I hope your reunion was just wonderful, Kate. I think it’s great that you managed to bring your mother’s dish, which as hard as it was on you physically, must have been gratifying. It would feel like you brought an important piece of her with you to share with the whole family. We just returned from our reunion, and I felt the absence of some of our loved ones, and always will. But I think next time I’m going to think specifically about some of the foods they enjoyed and maybe consider that we share those. It’s not been something we’ve done! Also…glad the fruit flies have moved residence! Pesky!!
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My brother brought her potato salad too. The younger folks brought all kinds of new interesting foods.
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Sounds like a top notch week. As for comfortable clothes, they are as necessary as oxygen in my old age. And shoes, too. No more achy feet for this ole bird!
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The shoes are the first to go. I swore I’d never give up my high heels. Out they went.
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Heels were easy to give up, I kept associating them with meat after deciding to become a vegetarian. Easy peezy. Maybe I should associate sugar to heels. 🤣
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The hubs and I made/cooked something long and tedious over the weekend, too. I might post about it if I get a chance. Busy week ahead. So I hope you enjoyed the reunion. I love the cartoon you put at the end. LOL So fitting for many of us. Er…uh…maybe I should just speak for myself. 😉
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Every family has a few crazies!
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I am so impressed by those who managed to work out, then get all spiffied up for work and do it so well, no one would guess they’ve been to the gym. Impressive skill – probably carried over to other things in their lives, too.
Back in ancient history times when I taught school in order to get money to travel, I had the worst of the worst kids. Seriously. They ran off 2 teachers before me and it was only Oct. On parole, violators of parole (one more chance) or about to be jail bait kids – 16 couldn’t read and didn’t care; fire bugs…you name it. I’ve always had a policy of saying 1 honest authentic thing nice about whomever you encounter. Some asked me why I bothered saying anything nice to those kids, but I knew it was probably the only thing positive some of them heard about themselves all day – each day. Each day I smiled, greetied as they came in, and closed the door – and they were like pussy cats.
There’s so much anger in the world ( I avoid FB completely as it’s mostly a stage for drama and rants now – some of WP is getting the same way….I’ve really shrunk back there, too)
So much of violence/anger could be derailed with a few nice words. (along with people being more polite to each other, moderated language and encouraged to have a sense of humor) Sigh.
HA! Fruit fly trick – thanks!
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So much truth here. People don’t have to agree but they have to be civil and kind. I am in awe of you! I’m not much of a kid person (think I’m allergic to them) but we need folks with your attitude to help turn some around.
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People call me the kid/dog whisperer…cats? debatable.
I ‘ve had multiple careers but started there. Quickly tapped to train other teachers with one of the largest districts in the country, but realized 2 things quickly: 1. those young teachers who had large/well behaved dogs would easily transfer their positive but firm and fair attitude/ style with their animals to kids and that those who went into teaching because “I love children” were most often doomed to fail – loving children isn’t enough.(That was going to be a title of a book for along time HAHA)
Left the classroom for multiple reasons – one being you have little impact or chance to improve education for many from the inside. Bureaucracy is not really focused on improvement or blocks change. Other routes have more impact. Anyway, across the career arenas, I ended up noticing people, figuring out where they were and where they needed to go, and gently shoving them in that direction. Starts with looking at them and saying something appropriately kind to them. Easier with kids as they are unfinished adults…grownups I have less patience with especially these days
(So easy to get infected by the grumpy virus going around HAHA)
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I bet you have some very interesting stories here. Grumpy virus…yes. I work hard but even I get it once in a while. That’s why I have cats. No, they make no sense but sometimes they do make me smile.
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I’ve been doing some genuine complimenting too..it sure is worth it…cos as Janis says, you end up feeling as good as the person you complimented. I saw a lady at the til in Sainsbury’s supermarket who had a fabulous head of long grey hair….we held up the queue a tad while we talked about how she achieved this…
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Hair and shoes are two things I always compliment when I see something I like. I’m am not too embarrassed to ask where they got them or who cut their hair. I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t pleased.
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“Make someone’s day! ”
This is, in a way, greatly reminiscent of the dying wish of a relative of mine (a well-known Religious Zionist rabbi here in Israel). In what turned out to be his final TV interview, he asked that we greet each other, and just say something nice – even if the person we are greeting is a stranger. If we meet a neighbour in the elevator, wish them a good evening (and mean it!), if we pass a garbage collector in the street, smile and say “Good morning”, etc. Don’t treat people as if they are invisible. Because, in the end, (in the words of the old song) – little things mean a lot.
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So true. My new gym is a place where almost everyone is invisible. Maybe it’s the early morning hour or the pre-coffee work out but there isn’t much smiling going on. I have made a few friends, all older and retired. That may be part of why I made such an impact (I really wasn’t expecting her overly grateful reaction!). It reminded me that we need to do this more often.
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I gave The Book of Face the heave ho over a month ago. At least I think I did,,, Haven’t been on to check cause I am afraid they will lasso me in again. I am glad that the fruit flies are gone, no matter how they got that way! Our week was great by Friday morning… CH got excused from the evil chair, no more coffee through a straw but still can’t drive for three months… we’ll take it!
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I stay on FB to connect with friends who I don’t see any other way but I’ve been tempted… Yay, no more facedown? Not driving just means he’s a king and his staff will chauffeur him where he needs to go!
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It’s a good thing I love to drive!
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I have pants that shrink like that too – hmmm, must be the same style and brand. I hate when you have to unzip them because you had so many samples, but samples are a necessity for the cook – must not serve food that isn’t tasty! 🙂
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Sometimes (often) when I take a dessert to an event I will cut it up and put it on a plate. People think I’m being nice. I’m not. Somehow taking an in-tact cake with a HUGE piece cut out looks a lot worse than a place of easy to grab pieces where you can’t see what’s missing. 🙂
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You make a very valid point there Kate, and hey – you have to taste it first, and you’re not going to make a “side dessert” just to taste a sample.
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🙂
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It’s amazing how awesome a little kindness is:)
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We underestimate it all the time!
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Isn’t it funny about compliments? I often give them in my head (meaning that I think them but not say them). I have been making more of an effort – hoping to make it a habit – to verbalize all those thoughts. In fact, I actually crossed the street recently to give a woman a compliment on her outfit. She was thrilled and I felt great too.
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I often ask people where they get their haircut when I see a “do” I like but I don’t always comment on clothing. It meant something to her for sure.
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Great R5 today. Would LOVE to not have anything with the word trump (doesn’t warrant a capital letter) show up in my facebook.
Never heard of the apple cider vinegar thing. Really works? Great.
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I’ve done the cider vinegar thing before and it does work. Keep it on the counter and it will go there instead of your food. Would prefer never to hear the word again too.
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Yeah, you have to choose your clothes based on type of party — evening party, with lots of standing around with a drink? Tight jeans are just fine. Thanksgiving? Elastic waist for sure.
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I have flowery flowy pants with elastic. They look great and camouflage anything I eat! Love them!
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Seems like you’ve had a positive week Kate. We’re getting on top of our problems now, but gassing the blighters!
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That is good to hear!
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I love handing out genuine compliments to people we meet. Blocking all things DT on Facebook makes infinite sense!
Glad the potato and cabbage strudel was a hit. Did your sampling of it have something to do with the snugness of your flowery jeans?
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What? No! Flowery jeans shrank all by themselves. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
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I love it that you began this post with saying something nice to someone. I try to do that as much as possible and the return is worth every kind word. And what in the world did you cook from the old family recipes that wore you out? I’ll bet it was delicious!
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It was cabbage and potato strudel. You prep the cabbage the day before — shred and fry in several batches. The second day you make the dough that you stretch out and cook the potatoes. Some people take a shortcut and use filo dough but not us. I make a lot so it takes time. It all went so it must have been good.
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Sorry to hear the reunion was so tiring, but I think it’s great that your family makes an effort to get together. We need rain! Our lake is disappearing.
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The reunion was so tiring. It was the cooking before the day so I was good for the party itself. We had quite a bit of rain yesterday and it’s going to rain for the next week. They are predicting 5 to 9 inches total. We also need the rain.
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I love this weeks R5, from the Facebook announcement to you cooking up a storm. My mother made sauce like nobody’s business that I have the recipe for, but never bother, Maybe I’ll buy some tomatoes and garlic, rosemary and thyme and make a badge.
Your family reunion has inspired me.
It’s rainy here, like Ireland, or Pennsylvania…:)
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Weather this morning is strange. Very cloudy with occasional sun peaking through but we are expecting some more heavy rains. Go ahead and make the sauce!
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I’m at Whole Foods right now fondling tomato’s. 🙂
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I love to fondle tomatoes….
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They’re so willing too. Must feel good.
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Well, you know I left FB years ago and have never regretted it. It’s really the best way to block The Donald. Don’t even give him, or any of his deluded fans, a chance to annoy you.
I made some Christmas cookies a few years ago that were from one of my mother’s recipes. They took more effort to make than I remembered, so I hear ‘ya. You forget how work-y baking used to be.
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Why can’t he see how inappropriate all this social media from him is? Is he braindead? Can you imagine Teddy, or FDR Tweeting? I can’t. A Fireside Chat is one thing, a Tweet is another. My 2 cents…or sense.
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Totally agree. Tweeting your presidency is mediocre. And telling…
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Tweeting Your Presidency, would be a great title for a book. 🙂
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Yes it would!
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Twould be a Tawdry Tale
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Actually I never got anything from DT directly. I don’t tweet and we’re not friends on FB but people post political things and other people rip them to shreds as it they were making pulled pork. Yikes! Manners people! If you don’t agree, scroll on.
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I’m surprised since he seems to be everywhere. He’s like a Gap store on every corner.
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or worse
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The cider vinegar worked to get rid of fruit flies?! Thanks for the tip!!
I wish that I could make Trump and all his ilk just go away rather than simply blocking him on FB. The world would instantly be a better place.
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They are drawn to the sweet vinegar and then drown. You know I’m not a killer but you can’t exactly rehome fruit flies! DT has encouraged the nonsense going on today. I am delighted to view FB without the intense discussions. Worst of all are the folks who justify his behavior. You can agree with his politics but don’t accept behavior from him that wouldn’t from your family.
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… unless that is the behaviour of their family 😕
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That is scary. Don’t want to know anyone like that!
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Agreed!
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It sounds like a lot of work. I hope they all appreciated your goodies!
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It is work but I so rarely do it that I don’t mind it. It’s memories of my mother stretching dough across a table.
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