Making Progress in the Kitchen

I made some cleaning progress this weekend, but it was mostly in the kitchen pantry and cabinets, where guests don't always look (at least not if I can help it!!). But I know the progress, and that helps a lot! (I was surprised to find as much expired stuff as I did! Ick!)

I'm still unpacking from my recent trip to Alabama, but I did manage to put all my clean laundry away, and that's progress too! (Lately, I've been pulling clothes out of my clean clothes basket to wear each day, I'm trying to be better organized before work in the morning AND take better care of my clothes.)

Cleaning Out Closets

Last week, my sister and I met at our parents' house for the better part of a week to work on cleaning out closets, cabinets, drawers, and what not. Our mom is still living, but we decided to start the challenging task of weeding. There's so much stuff, and we processed a lot of emotions while doing this. We left determined to start the decluttering process on our own homes, while we're still able. I'm trying to back some progress most every day, even if it's going through a stack of junk mail and tossing or shredding everything I can.

My Dad in College

One of my favorite discoveries last week was this photo of Dad from his college days. He played football in college, and I guess that was his varsity letter. We think the photo was taken in front of his home. I was delighted to find this picture, but it made me miss him even more. He'd probably forgotten this picture, which we found in the "Christmas closet." Who knew?!

Going to the Dentist

I had a checkup and teeth cleaning at the dentist yesterday. Most folks dread going to the dentist, I think, but I enjoy going to mine. She's very good and so nice, so I always enjoy catching up with her. I had a new-to-me hygienist, but she did a good job, and was chatty (in a good way). I always choose the cinnamon flavored tooth polish. What's your flavor of choice?

Fun at the Museum of Life and Science

George and I had a fun time last week at the Museum of Life and Science! We enjoyed walking around the museum, and then we went out back and walked around the Butterfly House. George tried rock climbing for the first time and really enjoyed it, so he's going to join a local rock climbing place for the exercise.

Adult Summer Camp at the Museum of Life and Science

Tonight, George and I are going to Adult Summer Camp at the Museum of Life and Science. It's a

popular event with tickets that sell out early! It's part of their Museum AfterHours program. This will be our first time to go, and I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully I'll remember to take pictures!

Friday the 13th

Do you have  paraskevidekatriaphobia, a fear of Friday the 13th? I'm not a superstitious person by nature, but I find the history interesting.

Most Friday the 13ths, I try to do something fun and/or productive to counteract the Friday the 13th "jinx," even though I don't believe in it. Today, a work colleague brought in blueberry doughnuts from a local bakery--yum! On my lunch break, I took care of some bills, including renewing my AAA (American Automobile Association) and American Library Association memberships.

How do you celebrate Friday the 13th?

What Are You Reading This Weekend?

On Twitter, Goodreads (the social media website for book readers) likes to ask "What are you reading this weekend?" on Fridays. I always chuckle when I see that question, because I often have several books going at one time. I know some people just have one or two books going at a time, while others (like me) juggle multiple books, based on interest and mood.

Which type of reader are you? Do you keep several books in the mix, or do you stick to one or two at a time?  And what are YOU reading this weekend? (One of the books I'm reading is Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter.)

Have a good weekend!

In Cleaning Mode

I've been in "spring cleaning" mode this week, at least some of the time, both at work or at home. Since it's still spring, I'm good! :-) I feel like I'm back in college, when I cleaned more dorm room to
procrastinate doing other things. But getting better organized, cleaning out some of the clutter, is a good thing.

What are your favorite cleaning websites? One website I check periodically for inspiration is A Bowl Full of Lemons. (It's a cheerful title, isn't it?!)

What Makes Me Well Rounded? (Blogthings Quiz)

"Your Cleverness is Well Rounded"

You are a sharp and witty thinker. You would get bored quickly if you weren't so good at keeping yourself entertained. You are a natural explorer, and sometimes you even poke your nose where it doesn't belong. You love to investigate. You are a constantly changing creature, and people have trouble keeping up with your dynamic ways. You're a hard nut to crack. You may be always in flux, but you also strike a good balance in life. In fact, most of your change is just an effort to rebalance a bit. You have a deep intuition, and you're good at figuring out what you need. You rarely ask others for advice. You take a bit of time for solitude and communicating with yourself. You listen carefully to your inner guide.

What Makes You Well Rounded?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

Camping Advice

The word "camping" brings back memories of summer camp, Girl Scout camp, campfires (a favorite!), and s'mores (yum!). I've been thinking about it again, wondering if it's something G. and I might try as a new thing. There are plenty of campgrounds near our home, so I'm thinking about one of those places nearby for a test run. (Falls Lake looks especially nice!)

So, I've started reading up a bit on camping, looking at websites and scouting out types of equipment. It turns out that my employer rents out some camping equipment as a perk to students and staff. I'm not sure of the cleaning procedures, but if you can get past the potential "ick" factor to try some things out, it sounds promising.

So, I welcome advice from more seasoned campers! We don't have an RV, so I think that tent camping is probably what we'll try first (if I can talk G. into it!).

Old Memories

My sister is visiting our hometown, working on my parents' home. She came across one of my old stuffed animals, Winnie the Pooh, so she texted to see if I want to keep it or give it away. It was a quick decision to keep the bear.

What's your favorite A. A. Milne book/character?

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

"In 1963, A Stamp Cost 4 Cents"

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

What Kind of Garden Am I?

"You Are a Wildflower Garden"

What Kind of Garden Are You?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

Restaurant Review: Venable Rotisserie Bistro

One of my goals for this year is to visit at least one new-to-me restaurant each month. On April 1, Easter Sunday, we visited Venable Rotisserie Bistro for brunch. Venable is located in Carr Mill Mall, at 200 N. Greensboro Street in Carrboro. I made reservations on OpenTable, and we were seated promptly.

Even though I'm nuts about breakfast food, I was in the mood for vegetables, so I ordered the Cobb Salad, plus a side of cheese grits for my breakfast good fix. The salad was well portioned with goodies to mix together, including bacon, egg, grilled chicken, diced tomatoes, and blue cheese. It's just what I was craving! G. ordered the English Breakfast, and was able to get fruit in place of the baked beans. He enjoyed his breakfast.

We finished our meal with a pot of French press, just right!

I'm glad we made Venable our Easter Brunch restaurant this year. I'd love to return for another meal sometime.

Spring Snow

Springtime Snow Behind Our Apartment

Yesterday was the first FULL day of spring, and we had SNOW yesterday morning! Big, fluffy flakes stuck to the grass and trees in my area, but didn't cause a problem for me getting to work. I've come to love snow (especially when I can stay safe and the power's on!), so I enjoyed yesterday's snow fling.

It's a clear day today, but still a little chilly.

In Case I Ever Visit Italy...

I would love to visit Italy one day, and BlogThings tells me I am the history! Ha! That makes sense, since I was a history major in college. "You Are the History"

What Part of Italy Are You?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

10 On Tuesday: Things I've Learned Since My Dad Passed Away

So, this post may be grim, but it's part of life. I've learned many  things about life and death since Dad died. Here are ten of them:

1. Grief isn't linear. Some days are better, and some days are harder than others.

2. Dad's favorite flower was the pink azalea. My sister knew that, but I didn't.

3. Losing a parent is different in so many ways from losing a grandparent or more distant relative.

4. Even though Dad was sick when he died, I do not feel like he's "in a better place" now. I miss him, and I wish he were still here.

5. Having a sibling helps when planning things related to his death, but we don't always agree. That can be hard at times.

6. Reading books Dad would've enjoyed helps sometimes, but other times they make me sadder. It's part of the grieving process.

7. It helps to hear others' memories of Dad, especially the funny ones.

8. It's hard to explain this grief to someone who hasn't lost a parent.

9. Paper notes and cards received in the mail have been surprisingly meaningful and appreciated. It's inspired me to order some cards to send via mail on my own.

10. My relationship with food is a strange one during the grieving period, especially since I'd like to lose weight. Sometimes I don't feel like eating, sometimes I'm all into the comfort food.

Favorite YouTube Videos: 12-year-old Singing Ventriloquist

I love a good YouTube video! So I've decided to start sharing some of my favorites on this blog. Here's a video from last year's "America's Got Talent," a 12-year-old singing ventriloquist! She ended up winning the contest! This was her initial audition. It makes me smile every time I watch it.

Taking On Shakespeare

I've decided to read all of Shakespeare's plays. That's 37 in all. Actually, I already read Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet some time ago, so that's 35 left. I finished Macbeth a few days ago, and now I'm reading The Tempest.

Why, you ask? Well, my dad passed away last month. He was an English major in college, and he and my mom met in a Shakespeare class. I wish I'd read more Shakespeare while Dad was still living so we could discuss them, but better late than never, is what I figure. I think he'd like this project.

Would you like to join me in my Shakespearean journey? If so, comment below! Better yet, join me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1674575-lesley-looper

Writing a Family History

I've been involved in genealogy research since the early 1990s. Lately I've been thinking about picking one of my lines to concentrate on putting together a book. So, I decided to pick one line from my dad's side (Burdine) and one line from my mom's side (McCauley) to focus on. I've discovered that, especially with my AncestryDNA and 23andMe test results in, it's easy to get distracted with other family lines, but it's all good, really.Sometimes it's good to "go with the flow," especially when it includes getting in contact with a "new" cousin!