The prompt for SoCS is: Find a word that rhymes with “rosy” or use the word “rosy” and base your post on it. Enjoy!
I wrote a post last night but didn’t post it, because I was very dozy, having worked all day on the house that was my parents’ trying to clean it out of the last of their possessions that seem to go on and on…. The good news is, we have a buyer! And I told the realtor I’d have the house emptied by June 1. Well, the buyer wants to get started renovating, etc, so will remove whatever we leave. Now I’m bringing stuff to our newly renovated house an hour north and trying to make it cozy without being cluttered. It’s a challenging task. But I know this is first world problems – having too much stuff. I’m still donating. I think I’ll always be donating.
So this morning, having slept well, I’m writing about creating cozy. But first I’ll report on something that was the opposite of cozy. I finished my RAD self-defense class at the Sheriff’s Department Thursday night. I didn’t do as well as I would have liked and can think of all kinds of moves and techniques I could have used during simulation #2 when I sort of panicked and gave the “stop” command to end the simulation. In the first simulation, when the “attacker” grabbed me, I fell HARD on my butt. It still hurts two days later, and so do my arms and legs. I restarted simulation #2 and completed it. The simulation scenarios get harder as they go, so I took good care of myself and decided to not do simulation/scenario # 3. I’m cultivating feelings of self-esteem about this taking care of myself by declining the final simulation. What I’ve learned or been reminded of during these simulations is that I do not like conflict at all, and I have too much imagination. (I knew they were pretend, but it felt real to me.) I’ve also decided that if I’m in a situation like this again and feel trapped with no way out, I will pray out loud and sing “Amazing Grace.” I will pray for my attacker. I wish I’d thought of that Thursday night, but I was so far the opposite of cozy, I sort of turned into a marshmallow for a minute or two. But I did get back on the horse so to speak. I did okay for a 63 year old grandma. The simulations were very realistic with the “attackers” talking trash. Yep, if I’m ever in this situation, I’m gonna pray for them and me. But first, I’ll do the knee to the groin and the hammer fist and any other moves I can. But the main goal is to prevent the violence.
Today, I hope and plan to have a peaceful day, cozying up my house with my mom’s angels and things. The house is cluttered right now, but Mom’s hutch fits nicely into the hallway alcove.
(I was going to give you a photo but my phone and computer are not cooperating and I don’t want to mess up my peaceful day. Ommmmm.
Here’s a picture of some of Mom’s angels and her angel shelf I brought to my home.
Here’s wishing your Saturday is all you want it to be!
…
SoCS is all about going with the flow. For more information, visit Linda Hill’s blog:
https://lindaghill.com/category/stream-of-consciousness-saturday/
Here are the rules:
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.
2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.
3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.
4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.
6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!
7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.
8. Have fun!
May 25, 2019 at 10:15 am
You’ve learned the first rule of self-defense: go for the nuts. And remember, the best defense is not to put yourself in dangerous situations in the first place.
May 25, 2019 at 2:49 pm
So true, John! Thanks for the reinforcement.
May 25, 2019 at 5:03 pm
I totally agree the best defense is avoid dangerous situations.
May 25, 2019 at 9:04 pm
Thank you! I’m a lot more careful these days.
May 25, 2019 at 11:06 am
Your mother’s angels and shelf are so nice. I’m glad you kept them. 🙂
May 25, 2019 at 4:25 pm
Thank you! I kept my favorites. She had over 100. I gave some to friends and donated some.
May 25, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Your mom has had a wonderful collection of angels. 🙂
May 25, 2019 at 4:55 pm
There are a few more scattered around the house. I’ll take some photos of them some time. Thank you!
May 26, 2019 at 4:17 pm
🙂 🙂 ❤
May 25, 2019 at 2:52 pm
JoAnna, congrats in finding a buyer for your parents’ house. You did well in completing your RAD self-defense class. I’m too fearful to injure myself. I love your mother’s collection of angels.
The day I faced a potential attacker approaching me on a deserted street in Fortaleza, Northeast Brazil, I asked my Guardian Angel for guidance in the best possible defense. When we finally came face-to-face and he blocked my passage forward, I looked him in the eyes and greeted him with an open smile. I could see that he was stunned with my response. He responded in like manner and moved aside to allow me to continue on my way.
I agree with John Holton’s advice to avoid dangerous situations. But this is not always possible when one lives and/or works in a dangerous neighborhood and use public transportation.
May 25, 2019 at 4:35 pm
I greatly appreciate that story and how you coped with the situation. The pretend attackers acted so gruff, it triggered something foreign in me. I didn’t know the course would be so realistic or that I would react that way – both in anger and also in being overwhelmed. Prayer and goodness are more powerful than some people realize. Thank you for your insight, Rosaliene.
May 25, 2019 at 3:39 pm
I hope you never need the self-defense lessons learned, but it’s good being familiar with the tactics. The angel shelf is beautiful.
May 25, 2019 at 4:37 pm
Thanks, Dan. The angel shelf makes me smile. It reminds me that it’s okay to let go of the things I don’t have room for.
May 25, 2019 at 5:06 pm
Beautiful angel shelf. I have so many things that make my home cozy that belonged to my Mother. Happy you found a buyer that can be stressful.
May 25, 2019 at 9:05 pm
Thanks for understanding. I’m glad you enjoyed the angel shelf. 🙂
May 25, 2019 at 5:49 pm
Hope you never need the self-defense and congratulations on the sale of your family house.
May 25, 2019 at 9:08 pm
Thank you, Deborah. The timing of selling the family house is significant since we are hoping to buy a little house in the mountains. More on that later. 😉
May 25, 2019 at 5:49 pm
Great news on the house, sad at times too. I hope you don’t have to much to move out. Sounds like you got a good offer right away. that’s a nice burden off your shoulders. Always worrying about if the house is secure. Now you can take some big steps forward. What we did when David’s father gave us all the antiques we wanted was rent a storage shelter. That may provide some rest. Have a great weekend, don’t forget to take a break. Maybe a good cold Ice Tea.
May 25, 2019 at 9:15 pm
After all the time I’ve spent working on their house, I’m ready to let it go. (tho I’ll still be a little sad and might even cry.) It helps that I have the angel shelf, hutch and lots and lots of old photos. Plus there’s an exciting timing thing that I’ll write about soon. 🙂 Thank you for reminding me to take a break. Today was a relatively slow day.
May 26, 2019 at 4:58 am
I can’t wait to hear the good news and I’ll be here to remind you about self-care.
May 26, 2019 at 11:00 pm
🙂
May 25, 2019 at 8:59 pm
I think you did awesome for a 63-year-old grandma! I’m a 67-year-old grandma and I cannot even imagine taking that class. Great job! And great job on clearing out and selling your folks’ home, too … I know that must have been a bit hard, with memories flooding in.
May 25, 2019 at 9:39 pm
Thanks for the encouragement and for understanding so well. If I had known how hard the class would be, I might not have signed up. But I figured, it’s free!
May 26, 2019 at 2:16 am
My hat is off to you for trying!
May 26, 2019 at 11:00 pm
Thank you! I appreciate that very much.
May 25, 2019 at 11:10 pm
i’m happy for your good fortunes, JoAnna!
wishing you ease in the corners
and straightaways 🙂
May 26, 2019 at 10:51 pm
Thank you so much, David. 🙂
May 26, 2019 at 5:53 am
With a colleague I once ran courses on coping with violence for social workers. We were sometimes asked for defence techniques. I wouldn’t include them because I argued that it was necessary to have the mindset that would use them and most of us in the profession didn’t. This meant that trying could only get them into trouble. Eventually I capitulated and asked a martial arts expert I knew to take the slot. Initially he refused taking the same stance as I did. I told him he was exactly the person to take the session. He did. We were never asked again.
So pleased you have a buyer
May 26, 2019 at 11:03 pm
Thank you for clarifying this way of thinking, Derrick. There is a certain mind set that I’m not comfortable with. I much prefer using the listening/counseling skills I gained in my career.
May 27, 2019 at 3:06 am
Yes
May 26, 2019 at 6:18 pm
Congrats on the house sale. I don’t know what prompted your taking the self defense class; I also have taken one. I took mine because as an instructor at UCLA I often was the last one out at night. I learned so many great things about prevention, and this was years after being a city girl and thinking about defense. I dd have to use it once, and I did scare the hell out of him. Now I also carry pepper spray… And sorry I feel the need.
May 26, 2019 at 11:07 pm
Self defense has always been a mild interest in the back of my mind. When I heard the Sheriff’s Dept offered this for free, I thought, why not? It’s good to be prepared.
May 27, 2019 at 1:40 am
It is good!
May 28, 2019 at 8:02 pm
Hi JoAnna! Sending all kinds of good energy to you as you continue to sort…move…donate! I know exactly what you feel like! But that is great news you have a buyer. Real estate transactions can cause their own kind of turmoil….I will keep you surrounded in good mojo 😉 It’s nice to see your mom’s angels and shelve…I am certain it gives you peace. Many sweet blessings, friend ❤
May 28, 2019 at 11:26 pm
Yes, real estate can be complicated. And the angels definitely help. Thank you so much for the blessings and good energy. I hope you’re doing well and managing to stay cool. ❤
May 29, 2019 at 9:12 am
All good here😉 Almost 90 yesterday…but I love it!
Enjoy the rest of your week💜 Take the time to ‘live while you are enmeshed in what you HAVE to do😊
May 29, 2019 at 11:46 am
99 is the forcasted high for today. Taking it easy today. 🙂 Take time to live. I will! Thank you! ❤