Whispers

Question a Day Meme - March:

2. My mother taught me to get rid of hiccups by holding my breath and then swallowing three times. It works most of the time! How do you get rid of hiccups?

Either holding my breath or drowning myself (drinking water and holding my breath) - which a French teacher in Middle School taught me. It worked better and stayed longer with me than French did. Apparently she was better at teaching how to cure hiccups then French.

3. If you visit somewhere special, do you buy a small memento to bring home (such as a fridge magnet, keyring, ornament or something else)?

Not usually? Depends. I did buy a fridge magnet in Costa Rica, and when I visited Turkey - hand painted ceramic bowls (and over the years, all but two broke) and two rugs (because one always buys rugs when one visits Turkey). My mother used to bring back a doll - so we have a collection of dolls from various locals. (It was mine, but I left it with her.)

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Feeling less gloomy today - which is odd, considering it's done nothing but drizzle all day long. Cold drizzle. Some sleet and hail. But mostly cold drizzle and rain. The sky looks like stained sheets. Gray. Gloomy. And soiled much like the snow beneath it. If I were watercoloring it - I'd use a dirty water wash.

But still less gloomy. Didn't keep me from dozing off at work - even though I'd slept better last night.

The internet keeps trying to scare me with misinformation, I keep ignoring it. The latest two bits were on Thread and FB, and I knew they were inaccurate because of where I happen to work.

The first? "New Yorkers have told to shelter in place, not leave their homes and are afraid to take the trains".

New Yorkers: eh, we all took the train this morning. They were crowded like usual. And no, no one has told us this.

Me: I work for a NY State transportation agency, specifically trains, and this is not true. They'd tell me before they would tell you.

The second? "This is happening, all New York Government employees have been given a emergency pamphlet on how to handle a nuclear crisis."

ME: Well no. I work for one, and crickets? We've received nothing and again, we'd get it before the Hudson Valley Times.

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I was pondering today how it's the small incremental slights that people do to each other, without thinking, that build up over time - that hurt folks the most. A lot of suicides happen because of those slights. It's just hard to be kind to those that...hurt me. And harder still not to be paranoid about the slights.

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Trying to figure out what to get myself for my birthday next week. I can't find a recliner that I like. Also, I have no idea where to put it - plus they all require assemblage. I can't assembly stuff right now. Maybe Orthofeet shoes? I need sneakers, and maybe either booties (it's spring soon, so maybe not) or slippers?

I did, however, manage to convince the Super to replace the light in my kitchen. Now, all the lights but the foyer have been replaced. I am less concerned about the foyer light - since I rarely use it. Now, I have a soft bright white light in the kitchen - that is supposed to last 13 years, is LED, and energy sufficient. (I bought new light bulbs, and have plenty. Anyone need a light bulb?)

Not sure what I'll watch post Angel S5. I'm considering rewatching either Veronica Mars, or maybe trying something I've not seen. I don't want to rewatch BSG - it's grim. Farscape is less grim, but is slow to start. Maybe Lost? Or I could go back to Foundation? I do want to see the rest of Monte Cristo, and maybe Maigret.