SoCS: Back to…. (oops! Back of the Frig)

 Today’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “back of the fridge.” Write the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the phrase “back of the fridge.” Enjoy!

Back to the future! Maybe one day, in the future, I’ll hire and exterminator for the waterbugs, aka American cockroaches, like I threaten to do often. I have no problem taking spiders, moths, or beetles outside in a cup. Who knows why the waterbugs creep me out so much. Maybe they freaked my mom out and she passed it on to me like her red hair and soft green eyes.

I haven’t hired an exterminator in spite of frequent threats (like the bugs can hear me), because I think the exterminator chemicals will be toxic to more than bugs. I do have termite contract, but that’s different. They don’t spray.

How does this relate to the prompt? I have to keep all food in the refrigerator, unless it’s canned or tightly wrapped. That includes bananas and the butternut squash they’ve been gnawing on. Gross, I know. If I lived in the mountains, it would not be an issue since I don’t leave food out or open for the smaller German cockroaches. But here in the sub-tropical south, the bigger cousins are prolific. Climate change may be a factor in their abundance, too. I found some old diatomaceous earth and spread it around their pathways. Last night, I put some peppermint out on cotton balls (where Marley can’t reach) along with the citrus spray. The cedar oil spray works, but the smell is awfully strong.

We are now approaching the time of year when a few bugs will come in from the cold, but mostly they die back until late spring. What a relief. I’m determined to leave no food available so maybe they will go back outside and stay there.

“Back to the howling old owl in the woods,” as Elton John sang in “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Do owls eat bugs? The song says something about them hunting the toads.

As for the toads and frogs, I hope they make it “Back to the River. Back to the Forest!” as Elliot encouraged them in E.T. I love it when the other kids in the classroom start chanting:

“Back to the River. Back to the Forest!“

And then there’s Galadriel telling Sauron to go “back to the void from whence you came!” I think that’s what she’s saying. Perhaps I shall tell that to the nameless ones if they come in through the tiny cracks.

Yeah. Galadriel. The ultimate exterminator. No, that was Frodo. And Sam. They all played a part.

(I just realized that I blatantly misread this prompt as back to the frig, but it was supposed to be “back of the fridge,” which makes more sense as a prompt. Oh well. I must have needed a laugh and Galadriel’s power.)

~~~

For more streamy streams and the ruly rules,

visit our SoCS host, Linda Hill by clicking HERE.

Mantis

I’m sitting out SoCS today while recovering from a summer cold. Here’s a post I’ve had waiting in the wings about my close encounter with a praying mantis whose deliberate movements and intent stare gave the impression of mindfulness. This is the first time I’ve ever shared a video here on WP. It should rotate when you click on it.

Have you ever had this kind of encounter with a praying mantis or other insect?

 

Pausing just in time to see you

Clinging to the lawn bag

Displaced by my weeding frenzy.

We studied each other for a bit

And I hoped I hadn’t stuffed

Other bugs in with the vines.

I leaned the bag slowly

Toward the mailbox post.

Your front legs reached, pedaling

Until you were close enough to grab hold.

I thought you’d climb down,

But you climbed on top of the mailbox

To view the neighborhood.

You swiveled your head to look at me.

We studied each other, curious.

Then you turned and walked down the other side

And prepared to dive down into the foliage.

I turned to admire the late golden sun.

You must have seen your chance

To disappear into the green.

 

 

Mini Vacations, Assertiveness, Forgiveness, and Catching Bugs

Our instructions for Stream of Consciousness Saturday are as follows:

…”instructions.” Write instructions for anything you know how to do. As detailed or as rambling as you’d like. Enjoy!

There are a lot of things I could write about. None of them are mechanical. I shy away from mechanical things. I will not write about technical things which I have forced myself to learn.

First vacations. Linda said she needs a vacation. While I’ve never taken a glamorous vacation or been on a cruise, I know how to take mini vacations, which in some ways are better because then you don’t need a vacation from your vacation.  If you can’t get a week off, take a weekend. Until you can get the long vacation, take a day, or even 4 hours. Three might work, but, nah. 4 is a minimum. That might not seem like a vacation, but when I was a single, working mom, four hours off to do something I loved was very important. I wish I’d taken more “mental health days” when I worked in the mental health field.

Anyway, the first step is to schedule it. Well maybe you need to make arrangements for child care or pet care first, then schedule it. Write it on the calendar and put it in your phone. Put stars around it. Don’t let anything get in the way of it. This time is sacred. Plan to do something you really love or enjoy. You could take a nap, but then you might miss your mini vacation. Read a book. Put on some of your favorite music. You deserve this! Pretend you are a tourist in your own town. I read this thing once that if you have three days, pick a direction. Drive the first day, spend the second day exploring and drive home the third day. I’d rather pick a place. Something with a body or water. Be mindful of all the things around you in a beautiful place. A garden maybe would work. Not a garden you have to tend, unless you really love that.

Okay, enough of that. You get the idea.

I know how to be assertive, though sometimes I forget. The steps to assertive communication I used to teach in my groups were:

1. State the facts.

2. State your feelings.

3. Say what you want or need.

Of course you can be assertive with yourself about why you / we deserve a vacation for example:

I’ve been working x number of hours per day for x number of days per week. I feel exhausted/tired/worn out/ (whatever the feeling) and I want/need you to watch (child’s name) for a couple two days.  Be specific. If you’re talking to someone who is not a friend or who may be difficult, you can skip the feelings part, maybe even just state #3.

I know it’s not always easy, but I’m open to questions.

I was going to write about forgiveness, because I know how to be in that process which, for me, might not ever be finished. I’ll cut it short and say first I had to pray for the willingness to forgive.  I focused on compassion, kindness, and gratitude for my ex husband and his spouse for about a month before I saw them at my son’s wedding. Then I went right up to my ex husband who I hadn’t seen for many years and shook his hand and introduced him to my husband. I wasn’t trying to be anything. I asked how he was and wished him and his spouse a safe trip home two days later in the parking lot….. I am convince that God was with me during these encounters, prompting me, nudging me, because I asked God to do that.

Lastly, here is how you catch a spider or other bug you don’t want to kill and take it outside.

1. In advance get a clear or semi clear jar or cup with a mouth about the width of your hand.
2. In advance get a stiff piece of thin, slick cardboard or thick piece of paper (I usually use junk mail) bigger than the jar or cup mouth.
3. Put the jar/cup and paper/cardboard in a place you are likely to need it.
4. When you see the bug you want to catch, try to make sure your back door is unlocked. Quickly place the cup/jar over the bug. (Flies are really hard.) Be careful if it’s on a window. Don’t hurt yourself. Try not to hurt the bug, but you have to be quick with some of them.
5. Slowly and carefully slide the paper/thin cardboard under the cup and under the bug. Sometimes I move the jar/cup at the same time.
6. Carefully carry everything to the door. I usually put the bottom of the jar on my stomach if I have to open the door.
7. Once outside and at least a couple steps away from the door, let the bug go in an appropriate habitat.
8. An alternative that sometimes works for small lizards is to throw and old towel or sheet on them and carefully gather it up and hope they’re in there when you carry it outside.

Good luck!

Here are some bugs I’ve caught and released:

 

Glass wing moth on a dusty lamp. The posterior end was moving back and forth like some kind of alien.

 

Sweet visitor in my bathroom.

 

Spider on bedroom the ceiling. That was a tough one.

 

This was on my brand new bathroom wall. No way I was gonna squash it.

…

SoCS is hosted by Linda G. Hill who will soon or now be on vacation. For more streams of consciousness and related rules, visit Linda at:

https://lindaghill.com/2019/07/12/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-13-19/

What’s That Crawling on the Ceiling?

Just a friendly visitor

I’m not a fan of staring at the ceiling, though I’ve certainly done my share. When I was a teenager, I had posters on my bedroom ceiling, and the walls were covered with posters. I think my ceiling had a “Let it Be,” poster with a serene water scene, and the words, “Let it Be,” across the bottom.

Now, I have no posters on the ceiling, but there are a few stars left on my daughter’s old bedroom ceiling. Some have fallen off and left that sticky stuff. Maybe I’ll put more stars up there. It’s my studio now, so I can do what I want with it!

I wonder how bugs walk on the ceiling. Some are better at it than others. I don’t mind spiders so much on the ceiling. Spiders catch other bugs. Spiders are interesting. But if I can reach them, I’ll catch them in a glass and slide a card underneath. But there are some bugs I do mind on my ceiling, and I don’t catch them and put them outside. I spray them and get ready to run in case they fly at me. I’m talking about the big palmetto roaches we call water bugs. Where I live, the summers are hot and humid, and they (the bugs) are prolific. I wish I wasn’t afraid of them, but I’ve been knows to scream when they fly at me.  I think this fear is something that has been passed on through generations.

Enough of the scary bugs! I’d rather think about stars on the ceiling. A skylight would be nice! But I wonder if I’d see the bugs crawling on the skylight. STOP THINKING ABOUT BUGS!

Maybe a poster on the ceiling would be better. Like the “Let it Be Poster.” When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.  I will let the spiders be. Sorry roaches. STOP IT!

My favorite ceiling would be outside under the real stars. You won’t see any bugs crawling on that ceiling. And if I stay close to the campfire, they might not crawl on me.  Maybe if I was outside, I’d just brush them off and not be afraid of them as much.

Let it be. Let it be. Let it be. Let it be. Whispered words of wisdom, let it be…..

Some bugs don’t scare me at all. Here are a few other friendly visitors I’ve discovered in and around my house.

A visitor in my bathroom two summers ago.

This beauty took up temporary residence in the kitchen.

 

Tiny critter on the back screen door

A lovely surprise on the back porch

Cicada molting at my front door a few nights ago.

Today’s Stream of Consciousness prompt was: “sealing/ceiling.” Use one, use both, have fun! For more SoCS fun, visit our host, Linda Hill at:

https://lindaghill.com/2017/07/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-2217/

Here are the SoCS 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. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on 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 simply a single word to get your 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 everyone’s! 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 right 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!

The Day Water Delayed My WIP

Today’s Stream of Consciousness prompt is, “book.” Yesterday I was going to work on my book in the afternoon, because that’s my schedule. Wednesday and Fridays afternoons are for my WIP, my book. Wednesday and Friday mornings are for platform building and business related to my book. Which reminds me, what do you think of the new look here at
“Anything is Possible?” I didn’t want to make a static home page, because I don’t know if that will make it harder to find my blog posts. One step at a time. I did add a WIP page and a page for my art.

Anyway, I also went to the gym in between the business book work and the book work, and it was HOT out, so I decided to take a shower! I have an exclamation point there  because now, with my new schedule, I have the freedom and flexibility to take a shower whenever I want, almost. The problem came when I could not turn off the cold water! I tried and tried, but it still flowed out happily – more than a trickle but less than a gush.

 

I called my husband who told me where the cut off was right in front of the house. Yes, I should know that. He said it was under the bucket just under the bedroom window. I pulled that bucket for a while before it came up. There was no turn off to be seen. Only bugs. Lots of bugs. I poked around a bit, but then recalled that there is also a shut off closer to the street. It took about five minutes to figure out how to lift the cover off the hole. I got my biggest trusty screw driver, after the shovel didn’t work, and lifted it. More bugs. Living in the south, in a humid environment, we have an abundance of large cockroaches. We call them water bugs. I don’t mind them as much when they’re outside….

I poked around and found the meter. The screw driver tapped something that might have been the turn off valve next to the meter. But there were lots of roots covering the whole shebang. I don’t usually use that word. I don’t think I’ve ever written the word, shebang. I don’t like the looks of it. Roots covered the whole apparatus.  I had to dig at them, but they were tough. I used my hands some which made me feel brave. I set my jaw the same way I used to when I was single and had to do this stuff myself most of the time. I had thought of calling my husband back and telling him I couldn’t find the dang turn off, but I decided to push through and not make him come home from work. After I got a plastic grocery bag to use as a glove (we only get them because they’re great for picking up after the dogs) things moved quicker. I saw the turn off valve! AND I had the turn off tool the plumber left with us which made it much easier to turn off.

Then I went to wash my nasty hands. But there was no water! Thank God, I had put a pot under the bathtub faucet before I started looking for the turn off. I had meant to save it for the dogs. But I’m so glad I could use it to wash my hands. So, I could finally get back to my book! Oh, the adventures of working from home.

If you’d like to get your feet wet in the Stream of Consciousness, visit Linda G. Hill at:

https://lindaghill.com/2016/06/03/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-416/

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. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on 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 simply a single word to get your 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.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! 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 right 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!