He was very timid. This was his first attempt to find a job. Only sixteen years old and out of school for the summer, he really wanted something that was not too intimidating. He was hoping to make enough to finance a used car to drive to school.
He locked his bike and gathered his strength and determination walking to the door. He had rehearsed a few potential questions with his mom who worked in human resources at a retail store. The questions were mostly innocuous, but she warned him there could be some more personal ones asked that would be used to judge his character.
After, what seemed like an agonizingly long, four minutes, he was called into the office for his interview. The woman seated behind the desk was quite pleasant and had the ability to put him a little at ease. They discussed his potential job and his qualifications. Found out what his goals were and then she asked the question he was hoping for. “When can you start?”
Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – innocuous
Nominate 10 bloggers. Ensure that they are aware of their nomination. Neither the award’s creator, nor the blogger that nominated you, can be nominated.
At the end of 2020, every blog that ping-backs the creator’s original post will be entered to win the 2020 Outstanding Blogger Award!
The questions I was asked:
How did the Covid-19 affect your life? I am an introvert so I don’t do a lot of socializing except with my small circle of friends… so there has not been a huge change to my life. It is the impulse outings I miss and of course having to wear a mask everywhere, which is a bit of a challenge sometimes with my asthma and anxiety.
What one special thing would you like to do for the world? Me personally… not much I can do for the whole world except do my best to reduce, reuse and recycle.
It’s almost the end of the year, what one thing do you want to accomplish before saying goodbye to 2020? Getting caught up on my reading and posting on WordPress!
What do you look most forward to in 2021? Two things. First a president that lies less frequently and a lot less obviously and the end of the Corona Virus
What is your favorite song of all time? Favorite, just ONE? Musically you have to give a nod to Queen and Prince both ahead of their time. Lyrically “Imagine” has always been a favorite. And growing up I loved the music of Mason Proffitt who had a lot of good things to say in their lyrics. One Love One You will always be number one in my heart as it was the first dance at my wedding. Ok, I will stop there of we will be here all night. Ha, ha!
What one book would you recommend to everyone? There is a book called 29 Gifts: How a month of giving can change your life by Cami Walker. It is inspirational in showing how powerful giving can be to the giver. It is one of my favorite nonfiction books.
What one question would you like to ask me? It is a question I have asked others and no one has been able to give a concrete answer… how do you keep your faith strong when there is so much sickness and ugliness in the world? I just dont understand how a “loving” God can let it all happen.
My questions:
Name a series you would like to see modernized and brought back to television.
Are you a watcher or participant in sports and what kind?
What solo artist or band was the most influential in your opinion and why?
What is your favorite biography that you have read?
Do you enjoy your family size or have you always yearned for another smaller or larger family?
Name one person living or dead you would like to spend an hour talking to.
What is your favorite form of art – painting, sculpture, street art, drawing, etc.?
My nominees:
…Oops, I forgot. I don’t do nominees. I follow all outstanding blogs and I don’t want to leave anyone out. SO, consider yourself nominated and answer some questions if you have the time. Thanks for being so wonderful!
Sadje at Keep It Alive has so kindly nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. You should really check her blog out. She does poetry, flash fiction and photos… a well rounded blog! THANK YOU so much Sadje! 😊
The Sunshine Blogger Awardis given by bloggers to bloggers who inspire positiveness and creativity in the blogging community.
The rules are:
Thank blogger(s) who nominated you and link back to their blog.
List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.
Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
Nominate up to 11 new blogs to receive the award, write them 11 new questions and notify them about the nomination.
Sadje’s questions:
What is your favorite time of the day?Probably midafternoon. I am fully away and have worked out the kinks of the day, I have a little time for myself before my boyfriend is off work and I feel the loneliness that haunts my night.
How strict are you with yourself, regarding health? I wish stronger… I have a sweet tooth and give in to it far too often. Exercise has been put on hold during the shut down as I did aqua therapy and the pools are closed. I would like to lose some weight and be more aware of my food. I have an app I am starting to use and with any luck my health will improve.
Do you follow back a blogger who follows your blog?I did when I first started, but learned fast there is only so much time to read. I will however be more apt to follow back if they are engaged with my blog with commenting.
How do you deal with criticism in real life?Better than I used to. With both anxiety and depression I was at a point where everything was “my fault” even if I had nothing to do with it; that is the nature of the disease.
How do you deal with criticism in the blogging world? I would love to hear any constructive criticism about my writing… that is how we improve. Just don’t be a jerk about saying it.
Any ideas about how we can turn the current situation to our advantage?Continue to connect more with our immediate circle. Stay home and play a game together, binge watch something together… don’t put too many priorities in your life ahead of your family time. Also staying home more would reduce gas consumption and pollution.
Are you a dessert person?Cake, pie, cookies, brownies, ice cream… yeah I love it all! And unfortunately it shows!
What colors do you like to wear?Red, purple, black, grey and some green.
What color decor you like around you, in your home? Blue, green and purple … at least that is the plan. Right now we are still in process of the kitchen remodel which will be white and blue.
What is your favorite place to write from? The comfort of my own recliner. Preferably with a little music playing. But I do always have paper and pen with me for when inspiration strikes me.
Do you like getting Blogging awards? Who doesn’t like being recognized. I am really bad though about narrowing down my followers list to pick the limited number I award, so I open it up to all. I don’t want to leave anyone out… I wouldn’t be following them if I didn’t like their work. And answering the questions is fun.
My Questions:
Ok, you write a blog, so do you also play word games of any kind?
Do you have any other type of creative outlet besides writing? Art, sewing, photography, jewelry making, etc.?
Do you listen to anything while you write or does it need to be quiet?
Are you an avid book reader?
Name a country you would love to visit if the world wasn’t shut down because of the virus.
Have you ever written a poem about someone and gave it to them?
Is there an author (living or dead) that you would love to sit down and talk to for an hour?
Have you ever met a fellow blogger or interacted off WordPress?
Cake or pie?
Coffee or tea?
What is the strangest movie you have ever seen?
This is where I should nominate 11 bloggers… instead I nominate all my followers cause you are all pretty neato and this will be fun to do! 😁
Thanks to Sadje again and to all who join in! Have a great day! 🌺
Share some of your highlights over the past decade, and if you want a few low points
Tag whoever you wish to.
Ask them some questions.
Use any picture appropriate for such a tag.
The last decade for me…
I finally had my depression diagnosis and began to get help to cope with it. Starting to go to my therapist is the best thing I ever did.
I met someone who became my best friend and still is to this day.
I started my blog.
I met my boyfriend of 7 years now.
I “adopted” a three legged cat who became my shadow and we rescued a “runt of the liter” from a farm to become our spoiled princess cat.
My daughter graduated, got a job and moved into her own place. I think this is both a highlight (I’m so proud of her) and a low point (empty nest syndrome)
I moved into my first apartment at 43 when I left my alcoholic husband.
I got my diagnosis of fibromyalgia and began to get treatments to help somewhat.
My daughter became engaged.
I moved into the house that I grew up in that was left to me and my sister.
My daughter became store manager at the coffee shop she works at.
I made it to 17 years survival from breast cancer.
But the last ten years held a lot of loss… the death of my mom, my three legged cat, and my father. I also divorced after 20 years of marriage
Questions …
How are you planning to spend the next decade in improving your health?I am trying to lose some weight by eating smaller portions and more fruits and vegetables. There is not many exercises I can do that won’t flare my fibro but I have started water therapy.
Have you noticed your tastes in music, literature and clothing change drastically over the last 10 years? Not really. I still enjoy all genres of music. I don’t read as much as I used to now with short term memory problems. And I have become much more comfortable with what I wear – comfort over looks.
How would you rate your last decade in terms of achieving life goals? There were many major changes for me this last decade but life goals… probably the discipline I get from daily blogging. I have worked a lot on my writing and hope I entertain some of you a little.
Do you think our planet will be doing well in the next decade? I can’t see it going any direction other than worse. We MUST get leaders who are concerned with the planet’s health and welfare or there will be no way to sustain human life any longer down the road. We all can do our part by electing officials that care, We can reduce, reuse and recycle.
This is where I am supposed to tag people to do this… but I hate to leave anyone out. So, you are all encouraged to answer these same questions and let us know how your decade went. Thanks again Sadje!
About a million years ago… ok, more like two weeks, I was tagged by Sadje for this New Years Tag. I am slow but I finally got around to answering it. Let’s start with the rules…
Share a link back to the person who tagged you – Sadje
Share a link to the person who created the tag – jesusluvsall
Share a favorite New Year’s memory.
Answer the questions of the person who tagged you.
Tag whoever you want.
Use any picture that you like for New Year’s.
One of my favorite New Year’s memory is when we traveled to see my family in Omaha over the holidays one year. My uncle knew of a bar having a New Year’s bash and thought it would be fun if we all went. So it was me and my sister, Mom and Dad, my Aunt and Uncle and my other Uncle… we all got there and were given teardrop stickers to put on our cheeks. The band playing was called Cry Baby, so that explained the stickers. I remember dancing and laughing and seeing everyone else so happy. It wasn’t long after that when my Mom got sick and we never had another New Year’s like that again. And I was pretty young and totally crushing on the guitar player, although I don’t remember his name. Forever known as the Cry Baby New Year.
1.If you could celebrate New Year’s anywhere, where would it be.
I would really like to have a New Years party at home with family and games until midnight.
2.What is your favorite snack food for New Year’s?
Can’t go wrong with the classic chips and dip… but I also love a good veggie tray with dip.
3.Have you ever kept a New Year’s resolution? If so, what was it?
Can’t say that I have ever kept one, so I stopped making them years ago.
4.What do you want to do with your blog next year?
Pretty much the same I have been doing… if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
5.Do you prefer a big party or a small gathering to celebrate?
A small gathering for sure. If they can’t all sit down in my living room at the same time, it is too big a group. We can comfortably seat 7 max.
And this is when I am supposed to tag others, but it is so late in getting this done I will just allow anyone who wants to share to feel free to do so.
Leigha Robbins 