dreamaastrid | Recent Entries

These are

thefridayfive questions for May 1...

1. Do you like to spend time outdoors?

Yes, I enjoy time outdoors in pleasant weather.

2. What is your favorite flower?

I love roses, carnations, heather and thistles. I also enjoy cherry blossoms and dogwood trees, as well as azalea and hydrangeas.

3. Any favorite warm weather activities?

The beach, the pool and kayaking on lakes. I also enjoy street fairs, farmer's markets, celtic festivals and renaissance faires.

4. Have you ever kept a garden? If so, what did you grow?

Last year, we had a small container gardens for vegetables (lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, peppers and snow peas), as well as, herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, chives, etc).

5. Do you know how to swim?

Yes but I’m not a strong swimmer.

Friday Five: https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/

1. What type of hair do you have? (Thin, Normal, Thick, Frizzy, etc.)
Thick

2. What colour is your hair currently?
Mostly Red with Grey around the temples

3. What colours have you dyed/highlighted your hair?
I've had my grey covered with a color as close to my natural red as possible. And in the past I've gotten highlights in a lighter copper.

4. If you could dye your hair any colour, what would it be?
Just my natural red to cover the Grey. Lighter in the summer and a little darker in the autumn and winter.

5. What is your hair's length?
Currently waist length, and I wear it in a ponytail most the time.

Friday Five: https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/

1. What's one of the nicest things a friend has ever done for you?
Bought me a thoughtful present for no reason at all.

2. What's one of the nicest things a stranger has ever done for you?
Stopped and helped me when I was in a major car accident. They were a nurse that helped with first aid until an ambulance arrived and the fire dept cut me out of my car. I was hit head-on at 50 mph by a drunk driver.

3. What is a trait in another person that you instantly admire, and that draws you to them?
Empathy and kindness for other humans especially those less fortunate.

4. What is a trait in another person that instantly repels you, and prevents you from forming a close relationship with them?
Being greedy, selfish, arrogant and self absorbed.

5. Time to vent: tell us about something rotten someone has done to you.
Had a friend going thru a breakup/divorce and took it out on me instead, ending our friendship. Misplaced aggression and anger.

Friday Five: https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/

1. What’s harder to live without, chocolate or alcohol?
Chocolate! Like a small piece at least once a week.

2. Does the colour yellow remind you of anything?
My mom. It's her favorite color.

3. Who most annoyed you last week?
Boss.

4. Do you have a cutesy romantic nickname for your partner (or previous partners)?
Not really just his name.

5. What is your favourite Stephen King movie?
Don't have one. I'm not a fan of horror.

Friday Five: https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/

Didn't realize I never posted this here only on facebook. But Dark Twin died back in February, she was diagnosed with severe kidney disease. She was such a sweet cat and the last month or two that we had her she was venturing out of the master bedroom into the rest of the house and Bean had started to tolerate her being around. But she got sick and went downhill rapidly. So we are back to being a one cat household.

DarkTwin 2011-2025

Dave sent me a pictures of both cats on the bed maybe a month or two before she died.

SmolBean: green eyes | DarkTwin: yellow eyes
Bean in the foreground

( click here for hubby's post back in February )

SEPTEMBER

( September 1 thru 23 Questions: )

Questions are here:

AUGUST

( August 20th thru 31st Questions )

Questions are here:

1) Who are you appreciating in your life right now?
Hubby & Daughter & Father - they are my anchors. And my girlfriends: Christine, Joy, Barb & Mary - they are my sounding boards and listen to my ramblings

2) What's something you've done this year that other people appreciated
Amy's house project - gutting SIL's house down to studs and helping to rebuild it

3) What's a good way to show gratitude?
A heartfelt 'Thank You', flowers, little presents, a phone call or text or email...

4) Do you write thank you notes?
If it's something big, otherwise a call, text or email.

5) What can you use help with these days?
Organizing paperwork...

Questions are here:

1) Is summer a break for you, or is it busier?
At work it is always busy as so many things need to be upgraded and new things installed for the Fall Semester. At home it is generally move weekend trips and a week or two vacation. But this year I think most weekends will be working on renovating the house my SIL inherited from her dad so it is livable (so much pet damage and termite damage and disrepair).

2) What's next for your travel plans?
A trip to see MIL in NC and a trip to Florida this summer and maybe a weekend trip to the beach too.

3) What have you spontaneously done lately?
Trip to Sherwood Forest Ren Faire in Texas when work unexpectantly sent me to San Antonio for a conference. I filled in for someone that had to cancel. I tacked on the weekend, took the hubby along for the trip and the spouse and I had a blast at Faire on Saturday and visited the Texas relatives on Sunday.

4) What's your favorite way to unwind after a long day?
A hot cup of decaf Lady Grey Tea and catching up on shows I have on recorded with the cat beside me on the sofa, and playing a puzzle or two on my tablet. Or a long hot bath!

5) What's in your pockets?
Tissues, a KN95 mask, a finger splint for my sprained finger, my phone, a thumb drive, cough drops, antiacids, pain killers, my work ID, a bluetooth earbud, and some change for the vending machine. I wear cargo pants and a frumpy cardigan sweater with pockets most days to work - so lots of pockets!

1. Have you seen a solar eclipse? Total, Partial, Annular? When and where?
Yep, last week. April 8th San Antonio TX. I was in San Antonio for a conference and it just happened to be during the solar eclipse. Unfortunately the day was very cloudy and overcast so we only saw a sliver of the crescent peek out from behind the clouds, but we did not see the full eclipse at its peak.

I also saw a partial eclipse a few years ago, we all went outside on campus and watched it. It was a sunny day and the eclipse was quite visible.

2. Have you seen a lunar eclipse? Full? Partial? When and where?
Don't remember ever seeing a lunar eclips.

3. Have you seen a comet? Which one? When and where?
Yep, but can't say when or where. Hubby dragged me outside to see it.

4. Have you seen a nova or supernova? When and where?
No.

5. Have you seen a meteor shower? Which one, when and where?
Yep, the hubby dragged me out of bed to see part of one.

1. Rice or potatoes?
Either depending on the meal. Some things go better with rice other items better with potatoes.

2. Fish or red meat?
Red meat is my preference (burgers/steak). Not a big fin fish fan (the occasional fish & chips). But I love shell fish (mussels, clams, oysters, shrimp, crab, etc.)

3. Salad or cooked vegetables?
Depends on the meal. I love both, and soups made from veges like squash soups.

4. Cake or ice cream?
Yes - love cake & ice cream. And I also love pies, puddings, trifles, scones, muffins, etc.

5. Water, soft drink, wine, beer, or hard alcohol?
Addicted to sodas, but enjoy water, red wine, a few beers (red & amber ales), fruity mixed drinks (Daiquiri, Margaritas, Crushes, Blender drinks, etc). And I also enjoy some ciders & meads. But I'm a big tea drinker (hot & iced) and drink milk most days as well.

What is the name of...

1. Your favorite book?

Not just one but I have a few favorite series: I loved the Xanth Series by Piers Anthony back in the 80s and Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Steampunk Series (2011-2021) and a great series I read on vacation at the beach was the Demon Hunting Soccer Mom Series by Julia Kenner - just imagine "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" all grown up as a middle-aged mom.

2. Your favorite movie?

My favorite guilty pleasure movie is probably "Demolition Man" with Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes.

3. Your least favorite adaptation of a book to a movie?

OMG there are several: The Percy Jackson movies weren't anything like the books just had some characters wtih the same names. And the movie adaptation of the Golden Compass was just so sad.

4. Your least favorite adaptation ever of anything to a movie?

Avatar: The Last Airbender was terrible.

5. Your first ever novel/comic book/movie character crush?

I loved Charlotte's web as a kid and adored Wilbur. As a kid I really loved Charlotte and Wilbur. So after seeing that movie at age 7, I refused to eat pork for over a year. Everytime I was served meat I would ask it if was pig and if it was I refused to eat it.

It's presidents' day in the US, so in honor of the long weekend...

1. Have you ever been the president of anything?
Yes! I was president of the Columbia Jaycees back in my 20s.

2. What do you think is the most important leadership trait?
To be diplomatic and be able to direct people. Wranging people all in the same direction in a volunteer organization is like herding cats. And also knowing which people really don't get along and be sure not to schedule them to work the same shift alone together for an event.

3. What time period did you find the most interesting to learn about in history class?
I loved a US History class I took in college that was a Saturday class. Every Saturday we would take a field trip to a local "history" spot and it was awesome to see the history or see where the history occurred.

4. What's something you think about doing, but you haven't gotten back into in several years?
Mosaic glass art, archery, and cycling. Since we purchased our beach house we've been very busy with fixing it up. And since COVID, we have not been indulging in hobbies that put us in close proximity to strangers. And since FIL died we've been swamped with ESTATE stuff and rehabbing SIL's house (inherited from FIL) in any and all spare time.

I would also like to do more TRAVEL as much of our travel was curtailed since the COVID pandemic started, and more international TRAVEL as we haven't done any since we purchased our beach house, as our international travel budget was replaced by the vacation home budget.

5. If you could add one more random holiday to February, what would it be?
I just need to start observing these two: National Internet Friends Day Feb 13th and National Margarita Day Feb 22nd.

The Friday Five for 9 February 2024

1. At what age did you discover you had a favorite color?
No flipping idea but as a teen I loved blues. Now I prefer greens and oranges.

2. What type (genre) of film do you prefer to see in a theater versus one you'd watch at home?
Prefer to watch things like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars in theaters because the sound and color are so much better

3. What's your oldest object or item since childhood?
Probably the now mostly furless, dirt-coloured stuffed toy Scottish Terrier. I also have a few of my Grandparents things that are older than me, like dining room furniture and silver but they weren't mine until I'd been an adult.

4. In what book would you insert yourself as a side character or friend to the protagonist?
Hmmm, some sort of fantasy character with magic powers would be awesome!

5. What's your favorite shape or type of cloud?
A cloud shaped like an Ice Cream Cone or Puppy or Kitten or Dragon perhaps

1. Do you cook regularly or does someone else cook for you?
My husband cooks most the time. He is WFH so by the time I get home from work dinner is on the table most nights. I probably only cook dinner once or twice a week.

2. Which are you better at making: sweet or savory foods?
Both - things like soups, casseroles, crock pot meals, eggs, scones, breads, desserts, etc.

3. If you had to work as a chef in a restaurant of your choice, which restaurant would best complement your current culinary skills?
Comfort foods

4. What is a cooking tip that you know, but other people generally aren’t aware of?
Don't have one.

5. Do you have a recipe you would like to share?

Yes two Recipes:

Recipe 1:
Pineapple-Super Chili Salsa
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh pineapple
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
2 super chile hot peppers, stemmed and chopped
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Kosher salt

Add the pineapple, cilantro, peppers, onion, lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 cup water to a blender and puree until smooth.

Recipe 2:
Lemon Curd & Banana Stuffed French Toast with Strawberry Topping
I use Home Made Honey Bread to Make French Toast and then Spread with Lemon Curd and Sliced Bananas, then top with Strawberry Sauce

Honey Bread in my bread machine
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons butter, melted
3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Follow bread machine instructions

Strawberry Sauce
1 lb Strawberries, rinsed, hulled and thickly sliced
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice (from 1/2 Lemon)
In a medium saucepan, combine sliced strawberries, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Place over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer 20-23 minutes or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.

Week two with no heat in our office suite

Yesterday - no water in our building

Overhearing plans of Mutiny: the Malcontents are demanding both heat and water.

But seriously, my officemate purchased COSTCO spaceheaters so that is better than wearing my Snuggly or a Parka inside until they fix the HVAC. And at least the water is working the next bldg over. But I'm still hiking across campus to park in Lot 2 as Lot 5 in front of our building is an Ice-Skating Rink from the water main break that is still not fixed.

Update 01/24/2024:
1. Water main break has been repaired. We again have running water - Yeah!
2. The electric space heaters are doing their job of keeping our office a comfortable temperature.
3. I was able to park in the Lot in front of our bldg today not a mile across campus.

thefridayfive
1. Which website do you go to more often than any other?
Facebook
2. Which website have you stopped going to, that you used to go to a lot?
LiveJournal back in the day, but now I use Dreamwidth as my journal instead
3. What is the weirdest or most unusual website you have bookmarked?
Smelly poop (back in the day)
4. If you shop online, which online store do you buy from most often?
Amazon? Or Chewy?
5. Which online stores do you browse but almost never buy from?
Renaissance Faire Clothing sites. I look at things on the websites but I have to try clothes on in person.

The Friday Five for 28 July 2023

1. When did you recently have the feeling, "Life is good."
Every weekend and most evenings. I'm really loving where my life is right now.

2. Which do you need more, routine or spontaneity?
A good mix of both:
Routine - M to F to get my shit together for and at work.
Spontaneity - evenings and on the weekends.

3. Do you have a difficult or annoying neighbor?
Not currently. We have good neighors right now.

4. What do you want to change about yourself?
Get a little more fit and lose a few pounds.

5. What do you like best about where you live?
Far enough out that we are in a quiet suburban neighborhood, close enough to the city that it is a short drive to do so many fun things downtown (museums, shows, restaurants, shops, etc.), and close enough to the country that it's a short drive to enjoy the outdoors (wineries, parks, lakes, rivers, etc.).

This was an article I found online ages ago at this website which is now defunct so I'm not even sure who the author is:

http://collegewebguy.com/2008/02/04/ten-reasons-why-my-university-job-is-better-than-your-corporate-job/

And even though post-COVID, things aren't quite as rosy as they were pre-COVID, as too many people retired early (mass exodus) during COVID, and they haven't yet replaced them all, I still agree with this article even though I'm an application developer in a college environment. The following 10 reasons still apply:

( Click here to read the article )

I'll add a few benefits that are available at the college I work at:

1. Performing Arts Productions: Musical performances, Theatre performances and Art Exhibits

2. Planetarium: I've taken my family to numerous planetarium shows

3. Vaccination Clinics: for employees and family including Flu Shots, Shingle, Pneumonia and COVID Vaccines

4. Blood Drives on campus: I've donated blood on my lunch hour on many occasions

5. Professional Development Day: Day designated for faculty and staff to attend Classes on Campus to learn new skills both work related training and non-work fitness, hobby and craft classes

6. Conferences & Software Training: I've been sent to education software conferences and software training in New Orleans, Anaheim, Denver, Kansas City, and Reston, VA. I've attended these eight times in the past 10 years.

7. Tuition Discount: Still need to pay fees and books like the author above, but Full-time Benefit Eligible Employees can take credit and non-credit classes tution free, and their dependants can get tuition reimbursement for classes for their first degree with a grade of C or better. Since working here, I've completed 2 certificates, an AA Degree and taken numerous non-credit classes: IT skills, woodworking, DIY home improvement, aqua aerobics, etc. And my college-age child is currently half way done with completing their AA.

8. Vacation / Time Off: 4 weeks vacation a year, a week off for Spring Break and a week off for Winter Break on top of all the normal holidays. In private industry I could never have imagined having 6 weeks off a year. And sick leave for FT professional employees is 18 days a year which I'll never, ever use unless I need major surgery. I currently have 800 hrs of sick leave accrued, whereas, at my previous private industry job I was always dipping into my vacation time after all my sick leave was exhausted due to my kid being sick.

9. Flexible Hours: We have team members that work 7:30 to 3:30, 8:00 to 4:00, 8:30 to 4:30, 9:00 to 5:00, 9:30 to 5:30, and 10:00 to 6:00. This allows our team to have coverage during all work hours, and we have team members working all the different shift times.

10. Subsidized Cafeteria: that is much less expensive than off-campus fast food options

11. Campus Events: Snowcones, Italian Ice or Icecream on the Quad, End of Term Picnic/BBQs, Employee Service Award Banquets, Alumni Crab Feast, Year End Celebration, Holiday Party, Holiday Door Decorations, Fall Focus Luncheon, Halloween Costume Competition, Craft Fair, Lunchtime Fitness & Yoga Classes, Lunch & Sketch, Bring Your Child to Work Day, New Employee Meet & Greet, Floral Design Holiday Classes, Self Defense Class, etc.

According to the dictionary:

Contentment - a state of happiness and satisfaction
"Contentment, or the state of being content, is about peaceful satisfaction"

https://theblissfulmind.com/feel-content-right-now/

Happiness - feeling of showing pleasure
"Happiness is a sense of well-being, joy, or contentment. When people are successful, or safe, or lucky, they feel happiness."
"Happiness is self-contentedness. - Aristotle"

https://www.becomingminimalist.com/how-to-be-happy/

( more of my thoughts on this )

Current Mood: content
Current Music: it’s not having what you want, but wanting what you got.

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Dreama Astrid's Journal

(you know stuff in my head)

Recent Entries

Friday Five - May 1st

Friday Five - Hair

Friday Five for November 14th

Friday Five for 7 November 2025

Dark Twin RIP 2/13/2025

Questions September 1 thru 23

Questions August 20 thru 31

Friday Five - August 16 2024

Friday Five for May 17th

The Friday Five for 12 April 2024: Celestial Events

Friday Five for March 29th

Friday Five for Feb 23rd

Friday Five Feb 16

Friday Five for 9 February 2024

The Friday Five for 26 January 2024: Now You're Cooking

Mutiny is a Brewing

The Friday Five for October 27th: Websites

Friday Five for July 28 2023: "Life Is Good"

Reasons Why a University Job is Better than a Corporate Job

Contentment vs Happiness vs Feeling Alive vs Complacency