March scavenger hunt recap

from jenn's original post:

one. march second. national old stuff day. show me two of the oldest and most favored things in your house, and tell me why you love them. 

This is Snuggles.  My uncle gave him to me when he was dating my aunt.  He was trying to win my approval because our family was very close.  I was 6(ish).  Yes, Snuggles has lost an eye and a nose but he's in pretty good condition considering he's over 35 years old.

This is my mommy's ring that she received from an aunt of hers for her 18th birthday (she's 70 now).  It's garnets (her birthstone) and diamonds.  I don't wear it, but I keep it in a place that I can see it, touch it, appreciate it, and think of my mom. 

two. also march second. national read across america day, also called dr. seuss day. there's a film, a nicholas sparks' story called the lucky one, and in it, zac efron's logan is talking with taylor schilling's beth and blythe danner's ellie about philosophy. beth asks logan, dares him, really, to give them his favorite quote by a philosopher. he does. she assumes it's something of voltaire's when in actuality, it's from dr. seuss. so what's your favorite dr. seuss book? what bit of his philosophy do you most admire?

I strolled into the bookstore remembering that I loved "Oh, The Places You'll Go" but not really remembering why.  OH MY GOSH.  Thanks to this challenge for reminding me what a true treasure this book is.  I bought it.  I love that the book can be interpreted different ways but that it is positive and encouraging about finding one's own adventure even when obstacles may arise.

"On and on you will hike.

And I know you'll hike far

and face up to your problems

whatever they are."

three. march sixth. national dress day. wear a dress. the whole day. you don't have to do heels if you don't want to, but you do have to do the dress. for some of you, this might not be a big thing. for me, i've probably put on a dress maybe five times in the past year. i hate the things. i hate having to iron them. i hate having to wear them because you can't just put on the dress. you have to put on the make up, too. BAH.

I wear dresses. I like 'em.  This was taken in the public toilets at the Australian Tattoo Convention.

six. march thirteenth. national good samaritan day. do something nice for someone you detest. do something kind for someone who's known more badness in his or her life than good. be an army of one.

Walking to Sydney Central train station after having lunch with a friend, I saw a guy sitting on the ground, playing guitar, asking for money, and he was accompanied by 2 sleeping dogs.  I sat down next to him, talked to him, gave him some money, and rubbed the bellies of his 2 blue heelers ~ mother & son, Jolie & Zac.  Sharing what we talked about and a photo aren't necessary to let you know I left him with a smile on his face after we shared a couple of laughs too.

seven. also march thirteenth. national napping day. give yourself a bit of rest one afternoon. lay down, and let your mind wander... dream a little.

I'm a big believer in naps.  So are my kitties.

eight. march twenty-first. national single parent day. surely you know someone who's raising a child all by his or herself. that's a LOT or responsibility for one person. send them a note of encouragement. if that person lives near you, offer to watch his or her child (or children) for an hour or two. give that single parent a bit of respite.

I reached out to a single parent friend of mine.  I know she's facing some challenges at the moment.  I've offered to have her and the kids over for a taco night ~ something we've been talking about for ages.  It didn't happen this month, but it is coming soon.

nine. march twenty-fifth. national tolkien reading day. what's your favorite of tolkien's tales? what's the third word on the twenty-fifth line of the three hundred twenty-fifth page of that book?

I don't read Tolkien.  Sorry, not sorry.  But, I did see the movie The Hobbit.  So, here's the word I was supposed to find from that book:  "shutting"

ten. march twenty-ninth. my birthday. send me happy thoughts, preferably via the post because i like getting mail (address is in the sidebar). please and thank you. i know. i'm being selfish. it's my day. i get a freebie on this one.

Done but not showing what I sent because I don't think she's received it yet...

eleven. march thirtieth. national take a walk in the park day. show me your favorite spot in your favorite park.

My favorite walk is with my family and these two crazy beasts ~ they love chasing ducks and going for a swim, and I love watching how genuinely happy they are while doing it.

twelve. national crayon day. grab a box of crayolas. color a pretty picture, and then send it to a friend.

Done

Jenn from Quirky Pickings has been hosting these challenges since November.  Won't you join us for April?  You don't have to do them all.  You don't have to do them on the actual day.  You can tweak them to suit you. 

February scavenger hunt recap

Jenn has been hosting these scavenger hunts since December.  I participated in the first one (read about it here), enjoyed it, but skipped January.  I did an alright job completing the February tasks.  Alright, as in, I completed more than half but could've been a little more creative.  But, hey, I did something.  That's better than January's performance.

one. february fourth. thank a mailman day. take some treats to the folks at your local post office or shipping store.

how did I do?  FAILED - I have changed the local post office that I visit after using the same one for years (the one by my old work.)  I should've visited the previous post office to tell them that I missed them.

two. february eighth. kite flying day. go fly a kite. sounds simple enough... but the WIND...

how did I do? COMPLETED (sort of) - So, I didn't actually fly a kite.  But, as I was visiting a LuLaRoe online party, I saw these leggings with kites all over them.  I remembered that it was Kristen's birthday in February, and she and I had discussed that she hadn't tried LLR yet, so Kristen got kite leggings from me for her birthday!

three. february ninth. national pizza day. treat a friend to some pizza. and not the cheap shit. if there's a gino's east, say, in your neck of the woods... it's national pizza day, for crying out loud. PIZZA, a gift from the gods, yall. YUMMY YUMMY GOODNESS.

how did I do? COMPLETED - did you really think I was going to miss out on pizza day?

four. february eleventh. make a friend day. this sounds simple enough, too, right? for geeks like me, it's really, really not.

how did I do? COMPLETED (sort of) - I told y'all that I went to tapings of The Voice Australia, and I went by myself.  While I was there, I made friends with the people that sat next to me in the audience - Jason & Fiona, Yvette, Trish, Courtney - none of us shared contact details, but for that day, we were buddies.
five. february fourteenth. ferris wheel day. go ride a ferris wheel. this, too, sounds simple enough. except if you're scared of heights, then maybe not so much. show of hands... you can't see but both mine were raised pretty high just then.

how did I do?  FAILED - I did ride a ferris wheel in December, but, yeah, that doesn't count.

six. february fifteenth. singles awareness day. all the single ladies... and laddies. so this day started as sort of a joke, but... maybe you've got a single friend who's having a rough go of it lately. take time out of your day to do something to let that person know how much he or she is loved and needed.

how did I do?  COMPLETED - I told y'all about going to Twilight at Taronga and seeing an outdoor concert with my good friend, Kate.  Well, Kate is a single gal, and let me tell you, her woes of dating make me appreciative to have my guy.  I arrived at the show first.  What did I have waiting for Kate when she arrived?  A iced-down bucket of Coronas.  Nothing says "I love you, friend" like a bucket of beer and live music.

seven. february sixteenth. do a grouch a favor day. one could argue that this task could be tied to the previous one... NO. i don't care what you do or how you do it... but find the grouchiest soul you know and put a little light in that person's world. 

how did I do? COMPLETED - I didn't have to go far to find the grouchiest person that I know; he lives with me.  My father-in-law is the king of grouchiness and grumpiness.  And, let me tell you, it's not in an endearing way.  So, this was a tough one because we already do a lot for this man with no gratitude in return.  He has no hobbies.  His only interests are the History Channel and Discovery Channel.  In the past, to be thoughtful, I've bought DVD series from that I thought he'd enjoy from these channels.  Nope.  He can't figure out how to use the DVD player and doesn't want to learn.  Anyways.......this isn't about me venting about his grouchiness.  The one and only thing that I've done for him in the past that I ever remember him showing any genuine appreciation for was filling his car up with gas.  So, I did it again.  And, again, he actually thanked me.

Want to read how Jenn did?  She completed all her tasks.

Which task of these would be the most difficult for you to tackle?  Or which is the easiest?  Why not try to do one of them in March?

Scavenger Hunt Challenge: February

Jenn started these unique scavenger hunts in December, and I played along (see my recap here.)  I enjoyed it because, for the most part, it was spreading good cheer, positivity, and happiness.  I'm a supporter of those causes.  But, January rolled around, and I failed miserably at the scavenger hunt challenge.  But......I'm back.  So, why don't you join me for February?  Really, there aren't any rules.  Just do the things however you interpret or tweak them to work for you.  The actions don't have to happen on the actual day listed. Then, post at the end of the month and tell all of us about doing them thangs.

from jenn's post:

one. february fourth. thank a mailman day. take some treats to the folks at your local post office or shipping store.

two. february eighth. kite flying day. go fly a kite. sounds simple enough... but the WIND...

three. february ninth. national pizza day. treat a friend to some pizza. and not the cheap shit. if there's a gino's east, say, in your neck of the woods... it's national pizza day, for crying out loud. PIZZA, a gift from the gods, yall. YUMMY YUMMY GOODNESS.

four. february eleventh. make a friend day. this sounds simple enough, too, right? for geeks like me, it's really, really not.

five. february fourteenth. ferris wheel day. go ride a ferris wheel. this, too, sounds simple enough. except if you're scared of heights, then maybe not so much. show of hands... you can't see but both mine were raised pretty high just then.

six. february fifteenth. singles awareness day. all the single ladies... and laddies. so this day started as sort of a joke, but... maybe you've got a single friend who's having a rough go of it lately. take time out of your day to do something to let that person know how much he or she is loved and needed.

seven. february sixteenth. do a grouch a favor day. one could argue that this task could be tied to the previous one... NO. i don't care what you do or how you do it... but find the grouchiest soul you know and put a little light in that person's world.

December scavenger hunt recap

From jenn's post:  ten things to celebrate in december: a scavenger hunt 

I knew that I most likely wouldn't accomplish all the tasks, but here's how I did with the ones that I tackled:

from jenn:  two. december second. national salesperson's day. i've done more than my share of time in retail hell. i know how dreaded this time of year is for the gals behind the counter. when you're out shopping for those special gifts, ask an associate what a good pick-me-up would be. what can you do to put a bright spot in her day? chances are good it'll be a simple as a cup of starbucks or, in the case of one of my manager friends, a route forty-four diet coke from sonic with hardly any ice in it.

What I did:  Renee sells gemstones and finished jewellery too.  She is accessible, knowledgeable, reliable, and efficient.   She cares about the successes of her customer base.  She runs all over Sydney (and the rest of this big state too) providing excellent customer service to retail jewellery stores.  December is the most hectic month for most all retailers, and to have a reliable supplier like Renee is beyond helpful to the business.  So, in the spirit of this scavenger hunt, I gave her a little "thank you" gift.

from jenn:  three. december fifth. bathtub party day. things are about to crazy, yeah? or maybe they've done so already? all the shopping and the baking and the trimming of the tree... treat yourself to a time out. snag a favored scented shower gel from bath and body works (or wherever you go for that stuff... i'm partial to bodycology's white gardenia, which can be found at the grocery store for like four bucks), pour a glass of wine, put on some music or listen to a bit of an audio book you've been dying to read but haven't had the time. give yourself a blessed hour. your family will probably thank you for it.

What I did:  I take a lot of baths already.  It's my little sanctuary on a regular basis.  This particular bathtub party consisted of a book by a favorite author, bubbles, and a Christmas candle (cranberry spice.)  Plus, two cats (not pictured)...they like to hang out in there with me.

from jenn:  four. december sixth. st. nicholas day. surely you know a nick or a nicholas (or maybe a nicole?). take some time out of your day to send a special note to that person. 'tis the season... 

What I did:  I don't know a Nicholas (or a Nick), but I do have a friend named Nikki as seen below with her sweet Sebastian.  So, I combined it with "cat herder's day" (see below) and surprised Nikki with a small care package and a note.

from jenn:  five. december tenth. nobel prize day. here's a list of the laureates in literature. choose one and share a line or two from a work you admire.

What I did:  Sorta lame, I know, but I spent some time to read quotes from Toni Morrison, courtesy of goodreads. 

from jenn:  six. december twelfth. poinsettia day. pick up one of these gorgeous creations and take it to a friend you've not seen in some time.

What I did:  Knowing that my friend Kim's son was in the care of hospice after his battle against brain cancer, I felt helpless.  What can I do?  What gesture shows that I'm thinking of them?  So, I used this list as inspiration to send a poinsettia letting them know my thoughts are with them this holiday season.  Sawyer, her son, passed away about a week after I sent them.

from jenn:  seven. december thirteenth. national cocoa day. take a breather from the christmas shopping. treat yourself to a cup of hot chocolate.

What I did:

from jenn:  eight. december fifteenth. cat herders day. surely you know someone who's got one too many cats in his or her house. and surely those cats are wreaking havoc on the christmas decor. find a cute cat card and send it their way. they may be needing the reminder of why they love the things right about then.

What I did:  I sent Nikki's kitty cat care package to her in St. Kilda (a funky, eclectic suburb of Melbourne).  Also, I encouraged her to "pay it forward", to send a care package to someone that doesn't expect it, to spread more happiness.  The world needs more care packages.  Nikki agreed to "pay it forward" and has already reported that she sent an adult coloring book and colored pencils to a friend unexpectedly. 

Jenn has another scavenger hunt ~  "ten things to celebrate in january: a scavenger hunt" ~ I'm going to participate again (like I did for December); join in the fun if you choose.

A Different Way to Celebrate December

You may have heard me mention jenn (she likes lowercase) around these parts before.  She's the only blogger buddy that I know and am friends with in real life, or as the kids say it "irl".  Like, we've shared a meal in person kind of friend.  (Not that I wouldn't be happy to do so with many others of you...there's just this thing called an ocean that separates most of us.)  In fact, I've known her since before the world of blogging...way before.  We shared the same homeroom from 9th through 12th grade. 

She created this super clever, creative, fun scavenger hunt of sorts that helps put some positivity, goodness, and kindness out into the world.  Here's a recap of her November adventures.  She's doing the same for December.  I know, I know.  Decembers are crazy busy for all of us.  But, I'm going to try to squeeze a few of these activities into my month.  Why don't you join us?

From jenn's post:  ten things to celebrate in december: a scavenger hunt

December 1, 2016

it's ten this time because a) time, b) money and c) it's my bloggy and i can if i want to. mental floss compiled a list of fourteen days to celebrate in december. i'm using some but not all because of the aforementioned reasons. if you choose to blog about this, photos are required, but they don't have to be selfies (see reason c). you can do them in any order you'd like. they do not have to be tied to their day. you've until december thirty-first to complete this thing.

one. december first. national pie day. also national eat a red apple day. buy, or if you're feeling especially awesome, bake an apple pie and take it to the servers of a favored restaurant. they bring you food and drink at your beck and call. be sweet and bring them some treats.

two. december second. national salesperson's day. i've done more than my share of time in retail hell. i know how dreaded this time of year is for the gals behind the counter. when you're out shopping for those special gifts, ask an associate what a good pick-me-up would be. what can you do to put a bright spot in her day? chances are good it'll be a simple as a cup of starbucks or, in the case of one of my manager friends, a route forty-four diet coke from sonic with hardly any ice in it.

three. december fifth. bathtub party day. things are about to crazy, yeah? or maybe they've done so already? all the shopping and the baking and the trimming of the tree... treat yourself to a time out. snag a favored scented shower gel from bath and body works (or wherever you go for that stuff... i'm partial to bodycology's white gardenia, which can be found at the grocery store for like four bucks), pour a glass of wine, put on some music or listen to a bit of an audio book you've been dying to read but haven't had the time. give yourself a blessed hour. your family will probably thank you for it.

four. december sixth. st. nicholas day. surely you know a nick or a nicholas (or maybe a nicole?). take some time out of your day to send a special note to that person. 'tis the season...

five. december tenth. nobel prize day. here's a list of the laureates in literature. choose one and share a line or two from a work you admire.

six. december twelfth. poinsettia day. pick up one of these gorgeous creations and take it to a friend you've not seen in some time.

seven. december thirteenth. national cocoa day. take a breather from the christmas shopping. treat yourself to a cup of hot chocolate.

eight. december fifteenth. cat herders day. surely you know someone who's got one too many cats in his or her house. and surely those cats are wreaking havoc on the christmas decor. find a cute cat card and send it their way. they may be needing the reminder of why they love the things right about then.

nine. december twenty-first. winter solstice day. the longest night of the year. the hardest time of the year for some. there are those who are grieving. there are those who are in the throes of some pretty wicked depression, and this time of year is NEVER good for them. find a way to bring them some warmth, to shed some light. check with your local service organizations and see what you can do to help those in need. take some flowers to a senior living facility. treat a friend who may be grieving to lunch or a movie. or just sit with them for a while. listen.

ten. december twenty-eighth. national card playing day. we spend so much time on our phones or sitting at computers being "sociable". try getting a group of friends together for a game of hearts or spades, uno, skip-bo or phase ten. turn the television off. sit at a table and enjoy each other. have a game night. unwind.