Make a word from the previous letter

[Old Wolf]

Is there nothing you feel passionate about, nothing that gets you going?

[Katmandu40]

There aren't many things. Maybe a good, old movie....black and white old movie. I also love my pets...but have to say, they can get on my nerves sometimes!

[Old Wolf]

Do you have a garden? Haveing worked most of my life out in the countryside I thought I would really miss the wildlife when I moved into the town but there is probably more in my garden than there is in the average field! About the only things we don't get are the Deer and Badgers.

[Katmandu40]

I wouldn't say we have a garden, but we have a yard over-run with weeds!!! I used to really like gardening...but now dread it. I'm so fat and out of shape that I am unable to do much in the yard...except get frustrated with myself. I would love to have wildlife come to visit...we have an opossum that visits sometimes, does that count?

[Old Wolf]

Sooo........how about birdseed feeders to attract some local birdlife? Plants/shrubs in tubs/containers don't take a lot of maintenance apart from watering during dry periods and if you choose the right ones will attract butterflies, bees and moths. I guess a opossum must count - if he's not wild enough for you poking him with a stick should take care of that!! Remember, youth is for the young, agility is for the agile - be who you are and do what you can - your body may carry extra weight but you are the same person you always were!!

[Katmandu40]

We do have bird feeders and I do enjoy watching them. We also have a cat colony outside (strays and ferals) so we do lose a few birds to them now and again which is sad....but not nearly as often as you might think!!

[Old Wolf]

Trouble is I would imagine it makes the birds wary about coming onto the feeders when there is an enemy about?

[Katmandu40]

We still get a lot of birds, but yes they are wary. The squirrels, on the other hand, are very brazen!!

[Old Wolf]

I bet! They never seem to worry a lot. We don't get many of them - just the odd one drops in from time to time.

[Katmandu40]

We put peanuts out for the squirrels. Most of the cats ignore them, but the younger ones (cats that is), they believe that they can take on the squirrels. The squirrels stand up to them and end up scaring the young cats!!

[Old Wolf]

Ha ha - that's teenagers for you, believing their invincible. We like cats and always had two, three or more while on the farm (house cats) but now we don't and try to discourage any coming into the garden in order to form a haven for the birds.

[Katmandu40]

That's understandable. Ha...I've actually seen a squirrel chase a younger cat when he was confronted...that was funny.

[Old Wolf]

Do you sit outside and watch all this going on. I find that this sort of thing always gives me a lift.

[Katmandu40]

No...I don't sit outside much. I see most of this action while in the (what do you call it?) the loo? :)

[Old Wolf]

Loos are good for contemplation! I love sitting out on the patio in the early morning (6-30 -- 7-30a.m.) before the town really wakes up - in the summer that is. If we ever have enough cash we would like to have a conservatory overlooking the garden so that we can observe things in comfort all year round!

[Katmandu40]

That really sounds great! Although, I must say, I'm not a real early morning person. I tend to be a night owl.

[Old Wolf]

These days I burn the candle both ends. You'll often find me on the patio stargazing on a warm night at between 11-30 to 12-30!

[Katmandu40]

Must be nice to have that much energy and so much that gives you pleasure.

[Old Wolf]

What you don't hear about is all the yawning in between!!

[justpottering]

Oh gosh have I got this right?

[Old Wolf]

Yup, looks good to me. Kat and I expanded this beyond the original single word answers to make it more interesting. Anyway, hello JP it's good to see another "face".

[Katmandu40]

Welcome JP...it would be nice to have some other input in this ongoing conversation.

[Old Wolf]

Brrrr, it's rather cold here again this morning - a sharp frost has put ice back on the pond, albeit a thin skin.

[Katmandu40]

It's a bit chilly here, but about right for this time of year.

[Old Wolf]

I've been out in the sunshine gardening all day so am now of to get my tea!

[justpottering]

hope you are having pancakes OW we did again I say again because I missed not having them mid February so had some then as well :barmy:

jp

[Old Wolf]

Nooo! We totally missed it being pancake day which has really p**** me off because I love 'em. Oh well, maybe tomorrow....................

[Katmandu40]

Oh, I see...must be an English thing. We don't have that. :(

[Old Wolf]

Neither did I!! I am in a hurry - have clients to see today. (Now which word should I highlight/make bold?) - (Ha ha, how about the new one........)

[justpottering]

To bad you didn't get your pancakes OW - Kat living without a pancake day! poor you do you need therapy? ha ha

jp

[Katmandu40]

As a matter of fact, yes I do; for that and other reasons! I think it's neat that you have a pancake day though!

[Old Wolf]

I can't remember why we have pancake day. Sometimes these things get lost in the mists of time I guess. (Well at least to me!!)

[Katmandu40]

We have some silly days too, but I can't think of any right now.

[Old Wolf]

The next thing to come up will be easter I suppose - the chocolate eggs are filling the store shelves at present!

[justpottering]

well pancake day is Shrove Tuesday - the day before Lent in the Christian calander it was traditionally a day when one indulged and pancakes contained flour, fat, eggs and milk - which were things given up for Lent - of course today it is just traditional to eat pancakes on this day and not because of religion

[Old Wolf]

I'm not really bothered about why, I just like pancakes. They're pretty good anyday not just pancake day!

[Katmandu40]

In my area we call it faschnaut day... (potato based donuts fried in Lard). I think it's just a Pennsylvania thing because of the Pennsylvania germans and the Amish.

[Old Wolf]

That's the thing with the States - so many traditions brought together. Do you think that all the different cultural knowledge is retained or has it /is it becoming fused in a way that is forming a new culture?

[justpottering]

everything seems to be steeped in some historical or religious event, but much of it no longer relevent to today's culture methinks, whatever the original reason 'tis nice to be able to do/eat something just because people 'do'

jp

[Old Wolf]

I think it's amazing how we adapt, bring about an evolution almost, in the original reasons for doing something so as to meet a present day need. Religion met the needs of the populace more at one time than now possibly but now slightly different needs are met by the same tradition or perhaps the same needs are met in different ways. The question is do we grow in a better direction or not? Progress is held up as a positive thing but it isn't a thing, it denotes movement or change. I think we can be so caught up in "progress" that we forget to check the direction we are moving in!

[Old Wolf]

Where did you go to Kat? Was your stoping where you did an oversight or deliberate choice? :-)

[Katmandu40]

I couldn't think of anything to soy, so it was by choice. I was just enjoying the conversation!

[Old Wolf]

Ah! I see - and there you were gone!!

[Katmandu40]

Not gone, but eavesdropping!!

[Old Wolf]

Good one! So, what are you doing today? It's 6-30 here and I'm just trying to plan my day. Weather permitting I hope to do some gardening, i.e. cut the lawn for the first time, as well as continuing with work on the shelves I'm making in the loft room.

[Katmandu40]

Thanks! Well, I have to take care of kitty litter boxes today, maybe do some house cleaning (yuck) and take out the garbage!

[Old Wolf]

I've just put our garbage out ready for early tomorrow. I didn't get the lawn cut - it threatened rain so I concentrated on the woodwork. I stopped at 5-30 for an early evening as it's Sunday!

[justpottering]

Definately yuck to housework Kat especially on a Sunday - hope you have had good days I like Sundays

jp

[Old Wolf]

Yup - a tiring but satisfying day for me and now 'tis time for bed. The forecast is for
good weather tomorrow though, of course, we can't know for sure.

[Katmandu40]

I didn't get around to cleaning today...oh well, tomorrow I guess. I also have to do laundry. OW, sounds like you kept busy!

[Old Wolf]

I quite enjoy being busy especially when it's doing something I enjoy. It looks as though the forecast was accurate - it's brilliant sunshine "wall to wall" at the moment with a crisp white frost so I hope I can get on and get caught up in the garden today.

[justpottering]

We were in the garden yesterday we are building a pond at the moment, today is my day off ha! what's one of them then? loads to do but am on here instead, I suppose I had better get on with it!

jp

[Old Wolf]

We built our pond last summer and it was looking good until 3 amorous Malards (1 duck + 2 drakes!) decided to visit this morning and stirred up all the muck. Will just have to wait for it to clear again I suppose. I quite like ducks but I must admit I felt really evil towards these particular individuals.

[Katmandu40]

Ahh...animal love is in the air!!! Both of you were busy today...I did nothing.

[Old Wolf]

Nothing's good if you enjoyed it?

[Katmandu40]

Well...not exactly...wasn't feeling well again. I think I need a new stomach!! :) I did some laundry and cleaning today at least.

[justpottering]

housework in all it's guises is what I dislike most - a necessity but not a priority in this house :-)

[Old Wolf]

I am not allowed to do housework - my area is the garden and DIY which I enjoy. I guess I'm the lucky one....................

[Katmandu40]

You ARE lucky to do what you enjoy...I'm happy for you. I need to find something to enjoy andfeel good about.

[Old Wolf]

I wonder....... is it about doing what you enjoy or enjoying what you do? I find pleasure in doing something well, anything well - and that isn't necessarily what others see as "well" which also means having confidence in your own judgement and your right to an opinion of your own i.e. believing that I am "good enough" and have every right to be who I am. It isn't about thinking I'm better than any one else, more about understanding that no one else is better than me and that I also have a right to get it wrong and when I do it doesn't make me a lesser person!!

[Katmandu40]

This is where I get myself into trouble. Even if I manage to do something well enough for even my standards, I take no pleasure in it as that is as it should be. I'm not this way with others, but I can't seem to give myself a break! But, I don't want to turn this into a therapy session either so that's all I'll say about it in here...supposed to be fun (I know, I started it...sorry).

[Old Wolf]

Hello trouble. :-) O.K. change subject - what's your take on the crises in Japan? What is it at the moment, the whole of the worlds surface seems to be on the move. It must be quite a worry for those that live on the west coast of America? Oh! and by the way, give yourself a break. I'll give you permission even if you won't - you're worth it........

[Katmandu40]

:)...haha...thanks OW! We on the east coast get a few very mild tremors at times, but on the west coast they are saying we are due (within 30 years) for a very big quake. Japan really got it bad and I really feel for them...3 disasters in 1!! Terrible.

[Old Wolf]

We had one about two years ago now. I can't remember the "size number" but it woke us up and was quite scary at the time. Before that we have had the odd rumble but nothing (thankfully!) of any size.

[Cherrypie]

Oh my gosh, what on earth is going on here!!! I have been missing out on a right old natter session!! I don't join in this game ever but if I had known you were having a good old chat down here I might have popped in more often!!! Well.. this is certainly more fun :) oh dear....seems I had better get back to work now though :(

xx Cherrypie xx

PS: You do know you two have been at this game for literally years now!!

[justpottering]

Hello Cherrypie so nice to see you

jp

[Old Wolf]

Yup, always good to see Cherry anywhere on here. We have sort of personalised these games over time and expanding this one into a dialogue gives, I feel, more meaning to the process. Drop in anytime Cherry, you're always welcome. I will be away off line from about Wednesday next week going to a funeral and the associated sorting out so I dare say Kat will welcome someone else to play with. I say this to both jp and Cherry.

[Katmandu40]

So sorry OW...we will miss you!! But you popped out without giving me a word so I had to use jp's. Hi Cherry!!!! :hug:

[Old Wolf]

Sorry, don't know what happened there - I thought I had highlit "over" but it obviously didn't work!!

[Katmandu40]

three lashes with a wet noodle!! :)

[Old Wolf]

Yuck!! I have no excuse really so I'll just blame the site or my computer!

[Katmandu40]

OW?...tell me, do you ever have a good excuse? :taunt:

[Old Wolf]

Well I would say so but I know of many who would disagree. Realistically I know that in some way everything we do is actually down to us even if it's only choosing to be in a particular place when an event occurs!!

[Katmandu40]

But some events are random and you don't always get to choose whether you are there or not.

[Old Wolf]

I don't know - if I had decided to go to Japan the day before the earthquake I may not have known about the impending earthquake but it would have been my choice to go. Even if I had been sent there - I would have to have chosen to go along with that. Many choices may be ones we didn't wish we had to make but we still choose. Even if someone is forcing me to go at the point of a gun I have a choice - refuse and get shot or do as instructed. It's not always easy to understand where the choice is but it will be there somewhere!!

[Katmandu40]

But if you were already in Japan, you did not have a choice on whether to go through with the earthquake or not. There are times when there are no choices and things just happen.

[Old Wolf]

Ah but........ I would have already been in Japan because my choice at some point was to be there/ stay there. However, I take the point that it can often feel like we have no choice about what HAS happened to us but we do still choose what to do about it once "it" has happened, that decision is always ours!!

[Katmandu40]

Was your word decision?...lol. I'll choose to believe that it is. You must admit though, that we have no choice when it comes to being conceived or being born.
Others make that choice for us.

[Old Wolf]

It was decision - that's the second time I've done that -- I'm sure I did bold it too?
I take your point about birth though there are those that say on the other side before birth we get to choose to be born and who we are born to......maybe....I'm not sure about that one!!

P.S. I nearly did it again!! What I think I do is I highlight it but then go straight to save instead of hitting the "Bold"!!

[Katmandu40]

Well, to make the right choices requires knowledge...although, no one has all the answers. Then again, who is to say what the right choices are?

[Old Wolf]

The right choice at any given time can only be the one each of us honestly believes to be the right one at that time. In retrospect or at a different time we may modify or change that choice. That's my honest belief at this time..........at least I think it is .....maybe................

[Katmandu40]

That was a graceful exit from that conversation! :) I don't have much to say this morning...need coffee!

[Old Wolf]

Nor me - time for bed. May say a quick Hi tomorrow before I go off line for a week. Enjoy the peace of my absence..........

[Katmandu40]

I will look for you tomorrow, but if you don't make it...I'll understand!

[Old Wolf]

'tis me - briefly. Enjoy my absence but don't use up all the letters!! See you in about a week.

[Katmandu40]

I will miss you actually. It has become a regular routine to sign in here to see what you've been up to!

[justpottering]

Hi Kat hope you are well, was hoping to get in here more often this week but no chance! talk about busy I think the world as gone mad - waddya mean have I only just noticed?

jp:wacko:

[Katmandu40]

Yes!! The world went mad decades ago!!

[Old Wolf]

I think it's always been a bit mad - think how boring life would be if we were all sensible and sane all the time!!! Anyway, Hi, as you WILL be pleased to hear I am now back ..........

[Katmandu40]

I am ecstatic that you are back!! I missed you!

[Old Wolf]

How nice of you to say so. I'm struggling to get back into this - my creative juices seem to be clogged up!!!

[Katmandu40]

You seem to be doing ok so far!

[Old Wolf]

I've got to this late again - I'm going to bed now - see you in the morning!!

[Katmandu40]

Sounds good to me...I'll be doing that soon myself!

[Old Wolf]

For some reason I'm late up this morning! I'm supposed to be going down the town this morning. I would normally do this tomorrow but I want to keep tomorrow as clear as I can so that I can get some more work done up in our roof room.

[Katmandu40]

I guess you needed the sleep! I'm up earlier because my cats are little monsters and decided I should be up at around 5am and since I didn't get up then, they pestered me till I did get up....grrr....some days I hate cats!

[Old Wolf]

I'm going through a "I hate ducks" phase. Three wild ducks decided to come into the garden and swim about in our pond eating the plants and stirring up the sludge!!

[Katmandu40]

Sounds like the ducks know quality when they see it!!!

[Old Wolf]

Maybe....however their awareness of what's safe is not very good!!!

[Katmandu40]

No...they know you would never, ever hurt them...threaten, yes...but actually hurt them....I don't think so!

[Old Wolf]

Yes, you're probably right. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that when the duck starts sitting on eggs the drakes will lose interest and none of them will return!!!

[Katmandu40]

Then you'll have little ducklings!!! Cute!!!

[Old Wolf]

Yeah....but NOT in my garden. They nest in a neighbours garden thankfully!!!

[Katmandu40]

Ahh....Maybe they will come to swim at your pond when they are old enough!

[Old Wolf]

That might be tempting fate - the word massacre jumps to mind!

[Katmandu40]

lol...I'll have to put out a sign warning all ducks to exit the area!!

[Old Wolf]

The trouble is that I wanted it to be a wildlife pond .... just not that wild!!

[Katmandu40]

Tell me more about your pond. Do you have fish in it?

[Old Wolf]

No fish - they make too much mess. We wanted a wildlife pond and have already had dragonflies, toads, frogs, newts, water boatmen, water fleas (daphne), larvae of various types and the local bird population ( blackbirds, thrushes, sparrows, dunnock, pigeons amongst many) all drink and bathe in the shallows. This is what we wanted but NOT ducks - they just eat all the weed and any baby frogs or newts etc and stir up the sediment!!!!

[Katmandu40]

It must be nice looking at the local wildlife using your pond. Maybe you need to make a pond just for the ducks!

[Old Wolf]

Nah, haven't got room for that - besides the river is less than fifty yards away!!

[Katmandu40]

I'm afraid I'm drawing a blank for something to say tonight. Oh well.

[Old Wolf]

Happens sometimes. What are your plans for today?

[Katmandu40]

It's supposed to rain all day, so I won't be doing any yard work today...no real plans I guess.

[justpottering]

we have had rain here today, hubby is pleased as the pond is filling up nicely, I would rather it be cold and dry myself

jp

[Old Wolf]

I see - you have a pond too. Do you get ducks on your pond?

[Katmandu40]

If you do have ducks...send them to OW!! He loves them and would give you a reward!! :)

[Old Wolf]

Now you are being spiteful! "Down with ducks" I say.....or is that "ducks with down"? ;-)

[Katmandu40]

Clever...I never would have thought of that :taunt: Actually, it is cute.

[Old Wolf]

Ha ha. What happened to you yesterday? I came, I looked and I realised you weren't here?

[Katmandu40]

I didn't check in yesterday morning...don't remember why. Oh well!

[Old Wolf]

Am I that easily forgotten?....don't answer that!

[Katmandu40]

lol...No, me and mornings don't tend to get along!! I'm not very functional in the morning.

[Old Wolf]

When I can and the weather is good I like to be up and sitting out on the patio in time for the dawn chorus. Mind you I haven't managed that yet this year!

[Katmandu40]

If it's still dark out...it's the night before...not early morning!

[Old Wolf]

Ah!, but when it's the day before it's definatley tomorrow so it must be morning? Also, the birds are singing about how great life is going to be not how great it was, They sang in thanksgiving the evening before.

[Katmandu40]

Are you sure they weren't singing, thank God the day is over?!

[Old Wolf]

Well if they were they would then have to be singing "Oh no!, not another crappy day" in the dawn chorus and who would want to get up at first light to sing that!!!?

[Katmandu40]

haha...you are too funny OW...now I have nothing to top that!

[Old Wolf]

:-) I have just watched the frost come on my shed roof - at between 6-20 and 6-30a.m. it appeared!

[Katmandu40]

Did you then watch it leave? How long did it stay? It must be colder there than it is here.

[Old Wolf]

It eventually cleared away much later after the sun had been up a while. It was only on the shed roofs not on the ground so caused very little damage to plants.

[Katmandu40]

We are going to be on the edge of summer weather tomorrow...hot!! Of course that is the day I picked to mow the lawn!!

[Old Wolf]

If everything is normal ours will be turning wet - we normally have a wet Easter holiday!!!

[Katmandu40]

On very rare occasions, we have gotten snow on Easter! I don't think that will happen this year though.

[Old Wolf]

I can remember one year getting snow in June - not something we want to see any year really!

[Katmandu40]

No certainly not!! Tonight it's really hot and humid....grrr. It's too early for this stuff!

[Old Wolf]

Yeah, I don't like that. We have yet another blue sky morning here. This is good except we had the lowest rainfall for 50 years in March so the garden could do with some rain, flowers were wilting in the middle of the day on Sunday!!

[Katmandu40]

That's not good...we've had plenty of rainfall, but not a lot of sun.

[Old Wolf]

The day has stayed sunny but there is an underlying wind that is cold so if you sit in the shade you shiver - not a good day for sitting about!!

[Katmandu40]

Tell me...do you have any plans for the upcoming weekend? It's supposed to rain here so if I do any work in the yard it will probably be on Friday.

[Old Wolf]

We may go across to the coast to visit friends at some point otherwise pretty much more of the same - loads to do in house and garden!!

[Katmandu40]

Sounds interesting...should do some housework here. Nothing exciting.

[Old Wolf]

You don't sound very enthusiastic?

[Katmandu40]

I don't like doing housework, but it got done...at least some of it.

[Old Wolf]

Do you feel better for that - haveing done it?

[Katmandu40]

I don't usually, but for once it did feel somewhat satisfying...That's a fairly big change if I let myself think about it.

[Old Wolf]

Sounds good to me! Even the most boring of jobs can give the satisfaction that comes with completion when it's done. The whole of life depends on what we bring to it - if we know that we are O.K. then life tends to be O.K. You ARE O.K.....don't let anyone tell you different!

[Katmandu40]

Oh...that's a tough one. I'm trying to learn that I am O.K...was mostly told the opposite. It's very hard to learn new ways of thinking when thoughts are so automatic!

[Old Wolf]

Yeah, I know. It's the unconscious defence system - meant to protect you really. It means something has to be experienced many times before the "default setting" is changed. If you were continuously told you were useless or no good it would become the "default setting" with regard to how you see yourself. It takes many postive inputs to undo this which is why consciously you need to accept you are as good as any one else and continually tell yourself this and then one day the "scales" will tip to the positive side and you will know this to be the truth it is at all levels. At least that is my take on it!!!

[Katmandu40]

You are very wise, my friend and a good teacher. It would be nice to feel positive about myself. Hard to even consider at this point, but I do see some changes happening.

[Old Wolf]

Just remember - don't allow the old stuff to undermine you - hang on to the new you, that's more like the real you now. You are as worthy as anyone else. We all get it wrong sometimes - without that we learn nothing and life would be really boring!!!

[Katmandu40]

Everything you say makes sense, but not easy to do....I will try.

[Old Wolf]

No, it's not easy but well worth the try. I have to go now - I only popped in quickly to say Hi. :-)

[Katmandu40]

Oh my, now what shall we talk about?

[Old Wolf]

How about helicopters and strawberries? If you landed a helicopter upside down in a bowl of strawberries would you end up with a strawberry smoothy?

[Katmandu40]

LOL...well I don't know! I cant say I remember ever thinking about such a possibility!

[Old Wolf]

Talking about things going round and round, the earth spins at a set speed but I find myself worrying that if we keep sucking the oil out it might seize up and stop!

[Katmandu40]

If that happens...which side would you want to be on? Permanent day or permanent night? :)

[Old Wolf]

I would place myself on the "evening" or "morning" line so that I could travel into day or night - what about you, what would you do?

[Katmandu40]

Well, if I followed my usual pattern, I'd stay in the night. However, I think I would rather place myself right in the middle...twilight.

[Old Wolf]

Just like me then - neither in the darkness or the light. A thought just came to me - if the world stopped turning then perhaps we would have to build many global highways so that everyone could travel around and around to simulate the world turning - we would, of course, have to have real mobile homes so that we could sleep as it passed through the dark side and get up as it entered the light!!! - Problem solved!

[Katmandu40]

Talk about a mobile society!! Everything works out the OW way!! :)

[Old Wolf]

Well, I guess eveything does work out one way or another - what was it "the man" said? - "You are exactly where you need to be in order to be where you are meant to be tomorrow." Or as a mate of mine once said _ " 'aint God wonderful? All these people, all of different hights and yet he arranged things so that we've all just got our feet on the ground!"

[Katmandu40]

I don't know...I know a few people who drag their knuckles when they walk. They haven't mastered walking upright and act like it. Have you worked in your garden recently? Are the ducks still there?

[Old Wolf]

Thankfully no. The ducks seem to have got the message and haven't returned. The newts have been "courting" etc, the pondskaters are busy and all the local birds use it as a watering hole come bath tub. It's really entertaining to watch --- when I have the time that is! I cut the grass and tidied up both in garden and greenhouse today which was good. What have you been up to?

[Katmandu40]

I was lucky to have mowed the grass when I did as it's been raining a lot here!! The pond sounds like great fun...must keep you entertained!! I've been stuck indoors so far this week.

[Old Wolf]

Oh, that's unfortunate, you being stuck indoors that is, I personally find I get so much from being out in the garden or out in the countryside even. We are heading for serious problems later this summer if we don't soon get some rain. We had the driest March for 50+ years and it hasn't rained this side of the country since!! There are plants wilting in the sun already.

[Katmandu40]

Wow....we have the opposite. I begin to wonder if we will ever see the sun again!! At least, that's how it feels...it was sunny on Fri., but that seems ages ago!

[Old Wolf]

You'll have to help us out and send a little of your rain across here!!

[Katmandu40]

I thought it was supposed to rain a lot in England...strange, now we have all the rain (at least half the country anyway).

[Old Wolf]

Weather paterns seem to be changing around the globe and there seems to be increased seismic activity as well - or is it just that the new ease of world communication means we now hear about it all? Every major earthquake/eruption apparently slightly alters the planets alignment they say

[Katmandu40]

There do seem to be a lot of extremes in the weather these past few years...although, in the past there have been extremes as well so who knows? The earth is getting bashed about...maybe the prophecies are real...the world will end 12/21/2012!!! Which leaves me in a dilemma...do I by Christmas presents for people that year?

[Old Wolf]

There are loads of prophecies that don't mention an ending so who's to say the ones that referr to an ending are any more likely to be right?
As to your question - I think there is an easy answer to that - It's the intention that is important in present buying so the answer has to be yes. (O.K. so what you getting me?) :-)

[Katmandu40]

haha :) So, I should get you a present anyway....hmmm. How about if I just intend to get you a present?

[Old Wolf]

Sounds good to me.....but perhaps you should let me know what it is you intend to get me so that I'm not overwhelmed with curiosity in the meantime? (Note please how it is the "time" which is "mean" here!)

[Katmandu40]

Ducks!! I intend to get you some ducks for your pond!!! ;-)

[Old Wolf]

Now you are just being cruel - ducks suck! Mind you....................we do have duck for dinner tomorrow, hmmm................................

[Katmandu40]

You are SO kind to ducks...poor things, but they are yummy I must admit!

[Old Wolf]

I'm now away again - tomorrow is another day as they (whoever "they" are?) say....see you then.....

[Katmandu40]

Yes, it is and I look forward to seeing you again!

[Old Wolf]

Strange....this is today not another day....like yesterday only different.

[Katmandu40]

Do you mean "same sh*t, different day"? That I'd have to agree with, except today is kitty litter box cleaning day!!

[Old Wolf]

I did answer this - perhaps I came out before the "post quick reply" button worked! Sooooo, yesterday was a different sh*t, different day day? I suppose today could be better sh*t, better day?

[Katmandu40]

Yes, I suppose. More rain here and hot today...so that is a bit different.

[Old Wolf]

We could do with some of your rain - very slight possibility of a shower tomorrow but we could do with more than that. Mind you have to be careful what we wish for, we had floods the other year!!!

[Katmandu40]

Well, I hope that you don't get floods, but do hope you get some rain!

[Old Wolf]

It's cloudy today :-) - but no rain yet :-(

[Katmandu40]

It's actually sunny and hot here today...Yet we have no water...water main broke. It's always something!

[Old Wolf]

Reminds me of that song? "Water water every where, not a drop to drink"!!

[Katmandu40]

Still not a drop to drink...main is fixed but water is contaminated. I don't think I will take a shower tonight!

[Old Wolf]

Is showering in contaminated water a kinky pastime?

[Katmandu40]

You would think so, but apparently it's done quite often!! And I thought I was different!

[Old Wolf]

It's amazing what complete nonsense we can dream up if we put our minds to the task. The fact that our understanding of reality is so easily distorted raises the question as to how real reality actually is?

[Katmandu40]

Oh dear...getting philosophical on me now!!! That means I have to use my brain and you know I don't like doing that!

[Old Wolf]

Ha ha, I enjoy playing about with nonsense - it's about all I am sure to be good at. No one can argue with what I say because it's all created by me!

[Katmandu40]

Well, you do tend to make one think a bit...I'll give you that!!! :)

[Old Wolf]

Ho ho! Thinking's good, thinking's bad. We think ourselves into "bad places" but we can also think ourselves into good ones too. What if you were not the guy, the "victim" in the movie clip you just put on that other thread but the Angel, how are you feeling then?
The Angel KNOWS what she says is true, she loves the "real person" contained within the other. How can she know, how can she love him? Because she knows herself well enough to know her own failings and yet she still loves herself and it's through loving him that she loves herself. Don't you feel that when you are the angel?

[Katmandu40]

That's an interesting and very different perspective for me. Also one that is hard to place myself, but if I were the character Angel I guess I would be feeling rather satisfied with who I am; would be able to love myself and see the good that is there, not just the flaws. I'm used to looking myself in the eyes and telling myself how much I hate me. Angel is a confident person.

[Old Wolf]

That is sad....what is there to hate? You come across as a warm and kind person who has been robbed of her rightful self belief.....you are O.K. It's O.K. to love yourself.....there's as much of that angel, if not more, than there is of the victim in you, of that I am sure.

[Katmandu40]

I don't really know what to say...except maybe thank you. I'm not able to believe that yet, but thank you.

[Old Wolf]

It's never easy to disslodge what's ground in by years of experience but it is possible. However, just because you find it hard to believe does not mean it isn't true.

[Katmandu40]

I will take "true" as the next word :) . Maybe, eventually I'll be able to erase the bad tapes in my head...I'm working on it.

[Old Wolf]

Oops! done it again :-) I hope you eventually manage to acheive that - they're all lies.............. other peoples issues dumped onto/into you.

[Katmandu40]

When we are young we trust what adults (especially) parents tell us, but you are right...it was other peoples issues and that is a good way to look at it.

[Old Wolf]

You're right...when we are young that which "is", including the information provided by our parents, is the "real" world. We learn who we are by registering how others especially (in fact, almost exclusively) our parents or main carers appear to see/view us. If they seem to value us, if they make us feel valued (i.e. loved and respected) the we feel good about ouselves and begin to feel confident others will see us in the same way. To put it another way - if they treat us like shit and tell us we are shit then that is what we are in our minds, in our unknowing way. Hopefully, as we get older we gather different information that contadicts this and we begin to question the "wisdom" of our parents and see that they didn't know it all and the understanding we have been given as to who we are may well be wrong. Once we start to do that we begin the process of undoing that original programming and begin the journey of discovery we should have been on - the journey to discover who we really are!!

[Katmandu40]

You've left me rather speechless! You gave me a lot to think about, not that my shrink hasn't pretty much told me the same thing...but it helps to hear it from others as well.

[Old Wolf]

Speechless!! Can't have you speechless....who would I talk to then? No, rather you weren't speechless - keep talking - keep questioning everything - you are as good as anyone else or as my mate puts it we're all equally shit!!

[Katmandu40]

Haha...I really like the idea that we are all equally shit!!! :) That I can relate to!! Ha!

[Old Wolf]

Soo... what are you going to be doing today? We are still stuck in this hot, dry weather which is a bit worrying following the driest march for years. April, the month of showers, and the ground is all cracking. On top of it all the wind is b****y cold so that you need a jacket in the shade and sunblock in the sun!!!

[Katmandu40]

Well, I got my usual yard work done on Friday which was a good thing because we only had two good days for it. Back to rain and chilly as well. Today I guess I'll run some errands...what are YOU up to?

[Old Wolf]

Lots of gardening to do - in a hurry - talk more later!

[Katmandu40]

Right! Well have a good time!!

[Old Wolf]

A friend called in for coffee so not a lot of work has taken place so far!! Hopefully more will happen this afternoon. How are you today?

[Katmandu40]

That sounds like fun. I'm doing O.K., but need to do some shopping today...not one of my favorite things to do!! How are you?

[Old Wolf]

Good but tired now. Managed to get a fair bit done this afternoon. Did you manage to get shopping? Where do you live - a city, a town or country town? Is your area open and "green" or more a concrete jungle!?? Off to get some tea now...........

[Katmandu40]

I have more shopping to do tomorrow to buy cat food! I live in a city on the main road, so everyone goes by my house!! I would much rather live in the country. How about you...it sounded as if you lived in an area open and green?

[Old Wolf]

Here is a county market town. More open and greener than many city areas. The part of town we live in is very green - a tree lined river runs along about 40 yards from the bottom of the garden, there is an open area comprised of bowling greens, tennis courts and a large fishing lake the other side of our neighbours garden and the other side about 10 garden widths away is the allotments (open growing area). Despite all this the town high street is less than 5 minutes easy walk away. Our garden is long and narrow as are our neighbours (130 foot X 16 foot) so these all together form another green block. It is very nice, we are very fortunate.

[Katmandu40]

That really sounds wonderful!! Our yard/garden is long and narrow as well as is our house. It gets pretty noisy here in the summer with all the traffic, especially trucks. I've been here since I was a youngster except for the few years away when I lived elsewhere (I know that didn't make a lot of send but needed a "y" word) :)

[Old Wolf]

So what do you have in your yard/garden? Do you get much wildlife, birds etc? Now I'm searching for a relevant "r" word. (See what I did there? :-) )

[Katmandu40]

You did a great job! :) We get some birds and a bunch of stray cats that my mother feeds. Unfortunately, one of those cats is very good at catching birds...oh, we get squirrels too!

[Old Wolf]

Do you have flower beds or vegetable plots within this area? Squirrels can be very entertaining but much as I love cats individually they are very destructive when it comes to small birds.

[Katmandu40]

Yes, I don't like it when they catch the birds. We have a few flower beds and we usually plant tomatoes as well, but mostly, we grow weeds!!!!

[Old Wolf]

I find the garden is a bit of a distraction - I end up sitting in it and watching the birds etc, when I should be getting on with other things! It is very relaxing though. Do you have a bird feeding table or a bath. Our neighbour feeds them all regularly so we benefit from that but what really draws them into ours is the pond which they use both for drinking and bathing.

[Katmandu40]

We do feed the birds, but I'm not really sure we should with all the cats about...the birds do know though as we don't get nearly as many as we used to. That could also be due to the fact that we no longer have many trees either. Your garden sounds wonderful!!!

[Old Wolf]

I enjoy it though right now it's probably growing faster than I can keep up with!! What happened to the trees - it sounds as though you had more at one time?

[Katmandu40]

One was very messy with lots of berries. One was sick and needed to be cut down by the neighbors. We used to have a very shady yard, now it's mostly full sun!

[Old Wolf]

Would it be possible to plant some replacements. I don't think there is much nicer than sitting in the garden on a warm summers evening (or any time really!). How big is your garden/yard? Is it mostly paved over or mostly soil? We tend to refer to a small paved/concreted area with little or no soil as a Yard.

[Katmandu40]

Interesting...it's soil with a bit of a sidewalk/walkway down to the back of the garden/yard. It's a fairly big garden/yard. Not sure of the dimensions...measured it once a long time ago. I don't tend to call it a garden unless it's a planted area...not weeds! Our garden is very wild and hard to keep up with.

[Old Wolf]

Now I'm going to be nosy....do you live on your own. I only ask with reference as to whether this garden is "yours" so as to speak - do you have a say in what is done in it?
I've been busy outside again today but they talk of rain for tomorrow which we really need so I'm keeping my fingers (and all else) crossed!!

[Katmandu40]

I'm living with my mother...with my limited income, it's hard to manage on my own. I do have a say in the garden. Good luck with getting some rain!!

Just for the record, I don't live off my mother...I do pay my fair share...just wanted that known. :)

[Old Wolf]

Recorded :-).............. Sooooo, do you enjoy "doing" the garden? Do you get any pleasure from working in it at all? Do you think that establishing a vegetable plot would be both an interesting challenge and ease some of the financial tightness? Over the years while all the family was at home (combined family of 5 children) and we were on a very low wage we grew virtually all the vegetables and fruit we consumed during the year.

[Katmandu40]

I used to really enjoy gardening as I did a lot of things, but now find it hard to do both physically and emotionally. Trying to learn that "all or nothing" thinking means doing nothing and leads to depression. We plant only a couple of vegetables...green peppers and tomatoes although we do have room to plant more things...maybe next year! Do you plant a lot of vegetables now?

[Old Wolf]

I only have a small patch for veg these days (6'6"x 16') but grow several small bits more as a treat - early potatoes, carrots, onions, beetroot, lettuce, radish, runner beans, parsnips and then in the greenhouse have peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and some early salads. We also have some fruit trees trained along the fences(to save space), apples, plums, pears and cherries as well as a thornless blackberry, raspberries and some rhubarb! All that and I still don't have a "Y" word - could have said yellow peppers I suppose?

[Katmandu40]

"Yellow" peppers works! :) Wow your garden sounds lovely! We mostly have weeds that I cut down with a string trimmer or "weed whacker".

[Old Wolf]

Why, if you don't mind me asking, do you "find it hard to do both physically and emotionally"? I find it really satisfying "creating" in this way - a way that gives me a sense of independence from the rest of the world - or at least at the hight of my "breakdown" helped meet that need in me. I don't need that any more but I thoroughly enjoy creating that ordered beauty and find it very relaxing providing I don't allow myself to feel rushed !!

[Katmandu40]

Physically, I am very over-weight and out of shape so I don't tend to be able to do much before I'm out of breath...then I get angry with myself. I feel like I have to work on the whole garden and get overwhelmed by all that needs to be done...then I get angry because I then do nothing. I had big plans for the garden that fell by the way-side. I'm working on all of this though....hmmm....still need a "y" word. I'm not as young as I used to be...hard to learn new ways.

[Old Wolf]

Might I suggest an approach I have found useful at times of feeling overwhelmed? The first bit is the easy bit and only involves a paper pad and pen/pencil and somewhere to sit in the garden - Oh! and a tape measure would possibly help though not essential. The following Stages are intended to be tackled one a day initially.
Stage 1: Measure (roughly) the garden dimensions and sit and draw a plan of the space showing only fixed items i.e. trees, paths sheds etc. If you have a scanner/copier make 4 or 5 copies.
Stage 2: Begin by sitting in the garden and day dreaming - visualise how you would like the finished garden to look. Take the general area ideas i.e. what part for vegies, flower beds, pond?, Paved area under bird feeders?, grass?, etc. and put these areas on your plan in pencil. When you are happy with the layout you want have a drink and dream a little more.
Stage 3: Sit in garden and daydream some more - decide which area you want to prioritise i.e. vegies, fruit or flowers. Forget the rest for now - that's all for the future. Mark yourself out the small plot that is your first target - maybe with canes or stones.
Stage 4: Within that plot that you now have to clear and dig as you go mark out.....NO.....set yourself a realistic time limit to work for first - this isn't a target to work towards it's an easily acheivable time span - maybe only 30 minutes on the first day. Set yourself a cool drink by your chair before you start. Start digging and clearing the ground. Do it in whichever way suits you best - if you need to get down on your hands and knees to pull out the rubbish do so. At the end of the 30 minutes stop, sit down and look at what you have done. DO NOT rubbish your acheivment however small - it's still more than what it was before you started! Do some more daydreaming - there is no rush, no preset targets other than the 30 minutes you commited your self to. The aim here is to enjoy the doing not to worry about acheivments - or put it another way the acheivment, the target is to enjoy the pasttime not just the result - there will be time to also enjoy the result later without it being spoilt by some silly missed targets. This is all about enjoying the "journey" not just the "arriving". After all, you spend your whole life "travelling" and only a very small part of it "arriving".
Stage 5: At some point, maybe after a week if weed regrowth is quick, spend your session maintaining what you have done so far i.e. hoe out the weeds before you do anything else that way what you have acheived is never lost!

At the end of each days session say out loud "f**k you" (or some favourite of your own!) to the world at large "I'm going to do it my way" and thumb your nose!! Congratulate yourself out loud on what you have done - review how you feel and on that basis decide whether tomorrow you will do 30 minutes or maybe 35/40 minutes. Don't get too cocky, better to extend the time at a rate that is easily acheivable than try to over reach. Dream a little more then leave until tomorrow (or the next dry day).

Always set the planned easily acheived amount in advance. When the day eventually arrives where you have completed your set time and should stop but you find yourself wanting to continue a little longer then do so but only for a preset additional time and then stop. You can then review your planned time for the following time/day.
This is called the "One step at a time" process and if you keep to the rules it more often than not works well.

Anyway this is my offering to your much improved future - GO FOR IT.
OW x

[Katmandu40]

There may come a time when I can and will try this plan of yours...also very similar to my own shrink's plan...I get scared in the trying. I do love the "F**k you" part and do it my way...that's different. I do need to find a way to get unstuck and out of the "all or nothing" thinking...has gotten much worse since I've moved back home. Thank you for the very thoughtful advice...I will consider it and maybe "go for it"!

[Old Wolf]

Why do you get "scared in the trying"? What is it that scares you? As you grew up were you taught that the final results were the only important thing i.e. the idea that nothing short of first place was any good? You won't believe the number of peoples lifes ruined by such crap. Anyway, it's not my place to nag you - I bet you can do that well enough yourself!! Just remember, you are plenty good enough before you do anything. What you do doesn't define who you are - who you are defines what you do.
Shut up Wolfie - your nagging again........
OW x

[Katmandu40]

Naw...you are not nagging. You are giving me good advice. Growing up; nothing was ever good enough. Even first place was...well no more than expected. Even when I do something I'm proud of...I put it down...can't be too pleased with my self...bad!!! And, I have to admit I do tend to believe that what you do defines you and you are right, it shouldn't be that way. I'm still not sure who I am.

[Old Wolf]

Ah!, so a back ground programming as a child that told you off if you showed any pride in something you had acheived? Whatever you did was never good enough and even if it was brilliant, as I'm sure it often was, to talk about it would be classed as what - big headed, bragging, boasting and of course to do that was being a naughty girl. You must never be pleased with yourself because you could always do better???
Something like that maybe? Complete crap of course often passed along the generations in an unconscious way and often haveing it's roots in the old Bible thumping belief that we are all sinners. I'm not going to say what I really feel about that because I don't know your religious beliefs and wouldn't want to offend you.
Of course this is all guessing and attempting to read between your lines so could be way off beam...............

[Old Wolf]

P.S.
It just occured to me that we are doing this in "open space" - are you O.K. with that?

[Katmandu40]

You hit it on the head basically, except the bible thumping part. Mostly, my mother doesn't show much in the way of enthusiasm or what she is feeling so I didn't get much from her and my father was a sadistic, narcissistic a-hole (literally) who would crush me whenever I showed emotions. Anyway, I seem to have taken over his role with myself to some extent and some of my mother's stuff too I guess.

P.S.
I know it's open space...figure people would get pretty bored with my story after a short while anyway...don't have a problem with it (used to, but not any more). However, I don't want YOU to feel you need to counsel me either...though I do appreciate your insight....thanks. I think you and my shrink would get along famously (she says some of the same things) :) OH and I have no religious beliefs.

[Old Wolf]

Sooo......no encouragement or real praise from the most influential teacher/programmer we each have (mother) and the denial of that most basic of rights, the right to say and show how we feel. It's a real wonder you have any sense of self at all! I bet you tried real hard to get something positive from them, to be valued just as you. Are you still seeking your mothers approval or have you given up on that one?
Sorry I'm doing it again - I'll shut up now and concentrate on the job in hand i.e. looking for a "c" word!! :-)

[Katmandu40]

To some extent, I still seek my mother's approval, but I'm not surprised if I don't get it. Once in a while she surprises me with some, which is nice. No need to apologize. :) and I still haven't come up with an "e" word. Did you know that the elephant is one of my favorite animals? I think it would be fun to give one a bath they seem to enjoy it so much!

[Old Wolf]

I think you would have to be prepared to get rather wet!! I like them too..........

[Katmandu40]

No worse than giving a dog a bath I suppose, though a dog wouldn't spray you with his mighty trunk!

[Old Wolf]

Could be a bit of a tidal wave if it sits in a hurry unless it's a very young one.

[Katmandu40]

That put a good picture in my head :) Do you have any plans for the weekend?