Share My World

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS? – Marilyn Armstrong

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SHARING MY WORLD AS WE WARILY APPROACH THE HOLIDAYS

SantaSYW

What is the truth? (Credit to Ursula) 

The opposite of lying.

What’s one thing people would never know about you just by looking at you?

Damned if I know. This is a question for other people because as far as I know, I’m exactly what I look like I am. What do YOU think?

Do loud noises bother you?

Only if they are really close to my head. Not from a distance.

If you were guaranteed the correct answer to just one question, what would you ask?

There’s nothing I want to know that much. Most of the questions that seem urgent — I really DON’T want the answer. Really. I don’t.

What fills YOUR heart with joy?

Having more money than month, as opposed to the more typical, having more month than money.

christmas joy

SHARE MY WORLD: ALMOST THANKSGIVING — Marilyn Armstrong

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Share Your World –11-26-19

What did you have for dinner last night?

Baked chicken in lemon sauce with rice.

Would you rather go out on a Saturday night or stay in?

We are retired. If we go out, we’ll do it any night we feel well enough to go. Also, less traffic during the week.

How are you, truthfully?

Better than I was and I hope even better tomorrow.

What’s the best topping/ice cream combination?  If you don’t eat ice cream, what’s your favorite combination dessert?  

I like ice cream. Plain or in a cone, though my favorite is a vanilla ice cream sandwich. Pretty simple I guess.

Share Your Gratitude with a thought (quote), a picture or a short paragraph. 

Under repair

Through the generosity of beloved friends, we were able to get rid of a badly rotted door, insulate and seal the front door, and put up gutters so that next year we will still have a roof. I will never stop being grateful. Without their help, we’d be in big trouble. And there was enough to pay for at least a quarter of the price of the gutters.

I have the best friends in the whole world.

sywautumn

SHARE YOUR WORLD FOR THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER — Marilyn Armstrong

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World Sharing – Mid November — almost holiday time!

Can we ever experience anything objectively?  Why or why not?  (Now for the people who may not understand that idea, this is what objective means (definition wise):  Something that is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions).

I would like to think that mathematics, physics, and scientific inquiry are non-emotional. That’s true, but not entirely. Expecting a particular result tends to make it more likely that scientists will find that result. Also, a lot of scientific inquiry comes up with answers that are hypothetical and theoretical and not “hard” science. A scientific “theory” is not the same as pretending something that’s not true IS true. It’s not “fake.” It’s just something that can’t be absolutely proven.


Answers change as new technical solutions become available and also when the culture sees the world “differently.” When the rigid Catholic control of Europe began to slip, the way we looked at the universe changed too. In fact, that change of cultural control was critical to scientific inquiry.


So no, there’s no such thing as “entirely objective,” but there is certainly a big difference between fantasy — completely made up — and reality. Fact-seeking brings us a lot closer to objectivity than deciding the truth before you hear the facts and deciding anything else is not true. Climate change is one of those things.


Massive amounts of science have been used to determine the reality of this event and objective events — storms, rising water, and melting ice — have shown us that this is real. This is probably as close to objective as anything gets … yet those who are likely to make money from further despoiling of our environment reject it.

It isn’t that is is not true or objective. It’s greed, pure and simple.

Do humans have a soul? Do animals have a soul?

I don’t know. Do you?

Why are people told to respect the dead? (example: “Don’t speak ill of the dead”)

That’s cultural. Some religious groups idolize their ancestors, others merely bury them. Most people would really like us to have a soul, but I reserve my judgment on this. I don’t know. I don’t think anyone “knows.”

We hope. We believe. We yearn. We may (or may not) pray — but we do NOT know because the dead have not come back to chat with us. Until they do, we can just wonder and hope.

Without using the names of specific people, discuss “the ideal” President or another world leader.  Saying ‘anyone who is the exact opposite of a certain orange-skinned creature’ is cheating.  While (to me) that’s a true statement, there’s more depth to the question than to reduce it to one sentence.

I don’t know if there is any such person. Politics does what it does. Even the most honest people and truthful people get bent in politics.


So you do the best you can, trying to find people who believe what you believe and you hope that they will do their best for you and this world.

SHARE YOUR WORLD 11-12-2019 – Marilyn Armstrong

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Sharing My World – 11/12/2019

Questions:

Is copying and pasting images or information from the Internet considered plagiarism?  

Yes. Absolutely.

Do you credit those whose work you ‘borrow freely’ or do you think the idea is repugnant?  

First of all, do you steal from your friends and think it’s okay? How about stealing from casual strangers? Is that okay? Because “the idea is repugnant” doesn’t cut it. Plagiarism is ILLEGAL. Period.

If you didn’t write it and you are copying it, it is plagiarism and it doesn’t matter where you got it. You can’t always find out who wrote stuff and when you can’t find any evidence of the author, there’s nothing you can do about it. But if you are taking it from Wikipedia or any blog, you need to give them credit for authorship. Even if you are just using a piece from someone’s blog, you should give them at the very least, a link and a shout-out.

Plagiarism IS a crime. If you are a non-profit blog and you give credit, most people are okay with that. If you make a profit-making organization, you may have to pay to use the material. If you can’t pay the price, don’t use the material.

If you are using a photograph, at the very least, do NOT remove the author’s signature. I don’t mind people using my pictures, but I really resent when they remove my signature as if no one took the picture. That is insulting.

Do you let sleeping dogs lie?

If they aren’t barking, oh sleep my darlings. Sleep.

What’s the strangest pet name (for adults) that you’ve ever heard someone called?

Pagan – Ch. Goose Creek’s Dancing In The Dark

I’ve heard so many, I really can’t remember them all. Although the dog we got whose name was Pagan. Her registered name was Goose Creek Ch. Dancing in the Dark, but everyone called her Pagan was a favorite.

Do you like to dance?   If yes, what’s your favorite and if no, why not?

I was never a good dancer, but I could get up and not totally make a fool of myself. I really wish I’d been better.

Gratitude Question:

November brings Thanksgiving to Americans.  I know Canada celebrates Thanksgiving too, but I believe it’s in October.   Does your country celebrate a similar holiday?   If you’d like, share some traditions you observe around Thanksgiving or if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, what are some traditions you have?

We get together as a family and have dinner. We do it because everyone feels they need to do something. But I’m not sentimental about it and if it doesn’t happen, I’m okay with that, too. I’m also good with pizza for dinner and a good movie.

SHARE YOUR WORLD – Marilyn Armstrong

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Share Your World 11-4-19
QUESTIONS:
What is the meaning of true love?

I don’t know, but I think you know it when you find it. I could not possibly provide a definition. It’s different for everyone and even for a bonded couple, they will both give different definitions of “true love.” The one thing that seems to be true is bonding and loyalty … and sticking with it.

If you’ve got “a good one,” you will also have to put up with bad habits as well as love and the good stuff. You’ll find yourself say you’re sorry even if you’re not while remembering that your mate is doing the same for you. We all have to put up with stuff. No one is “made” for someone else. Some of us are barely made to be ourselves, much less for someone else.

I suspect it’s why second marriages are often more successful than first ones. We’ve gotten old enough to learn that it is never perfect, but if you learn to let things go, it can get pretty close.

Do acts of kindness have a motive? 

I suppose it depends on the individuals. Maybe some do, others probably don’t. I tend to be pretty generous when I can. But I may call in a favor because I need help and this is the person I think knows how to help.

If we live in a civilized world why do we see so many distinctions between rich and poor?

Because we have some really awful governments and far, far too many greedy corporations!

Do we love ourselves more in the virtual world than in the real world?

I don’t know what that means.

Our house on the square

Are you grateful?

For being alive and having a husband and friends I love. Dogs I love and a day and a comfortable place to sleep. There are many things about which I am a bit appalled, but on a personal level, we do okay.

Most of the time.

SHARING MY WORLD – OCTOBER’S END AND WINTER BEGINS – Marilyn Armstrong

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Share Your World – and a Happy Halloween!

Questions:

Where’s the line between respectful disagreement and being downright mean (bullying) to someone?

There’s no official line, but I think you know it when you hear it.

Would you prefer to live in a world where alcohol was free or where politicians were honest?

Aw, c’mon. I don’t even drink.

What’s one habit you have that your family or friends think is rather childish?

Staying up all night reading a book. I’ve never managed to entirely break the habit, but I’m not allowed to complain how tired I am the next day. I made the decision, I bear the consequences.

Would you rather go to a big party and rub shoulders with the rich and famous or go to an amazing quiet Garden that hardly anyone has ever visited?

Ironically, because of Garry’s job, I’ve gone to a lot of rich and famous parties and pretty much all of them were expensive (you had to get clothing, right?) and when you got there, dull. Almost ANYTHING, including watching old TV shows, has got to be more exciting. A quiet garden sounds fine. Maybe with a bit of background music, too.


Halloween Question:    What do you think of the idea of “trick or treat or money for a charity” as a way of making Halloween more useful?

Nice idea. I don’t think it would really work, but it’s always worth a try.

SYWSkeletalHand

SHARE MY WORLD AND SAVE ME FROM DROWNING IN ALIEN ELECTRONS – Marilyn Armstrong

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I am drowning in email. Between the politics, news, advertising, blog notifications, comments and an occasional note from someone I actually know — like in person? I’ve been getting THOUSANDS of emails. I’m just about ready to unplug the computer. Nah, I don’t mean that. But I need to make this Tsunami to away.

Compared to the actualities and realities and problems around this world, I know this is nothing. But it’s driving me nuts. I don’t read anything anymore. I read headlines because I know the same news story will show up in my pile of emails within a mere minute or two of deleting it.

Every day, I delete for hours, sometimes stopping t make a short comment. i don’t have time for more because while I write, the emails are piling up.

Traffic is slow right now anyway, so maybe this is a good time to take a few days off, see if I can unsubscribe to enough material to make it possible to find the message for which I’m looking?  It’s going to rain all week anyhow, which will finish off the autumn leaves before we actually get to see them. Then there are three doctor and dentist appointments — and the bug guy who is coming to do his autumn mouse trapping, termite spraying — and did I mention my son is moving home? That’s the good part.

I’m drowning in electronic messages, but HOW CAN I DROWN IN SOMETHING THAT HAS NO PHYSICAL FORM? Don’t I need water or mud or sand or some physical thing for drowning?

Notes:

      • I’m feeling a LOT better. Fibromyalgia has finally moved on.
      • Garry will be better as soon as his tooth is fixed — the day after tomorrow.
      • The dogs are fine.

Since the middle of my week tends to be pretty unexciting, maybe this is a good time to take a couple of days off? By the weekend, I’ll be itching to write and I’ll have taken a few new pictures.

I still don’t know what I’m going to do about this massive wave of electronic junk mail. Garry is having the same problem, so I don’t think it’s personal.

And now …

Share Your World 10-7-19

These are the colors that our leaves are supposed to be. Bah! Humbug! It’s good there are birds to photograph or the world would indeed be terribly drab.

The Questions!

Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat) a good thing, a bad thing or a mixture of both?

I don’t “do” social media except to publicize this site. Did I mention I’m buried in email? I think a new wave of social media would probably finish me off.

Are you camera shy or do you pose for the camera with confidence?

I look best when I’m pretending there IS no camera pointing at me. Even if I know Garry is taking my picture. He always seems to be taking my picture, probably because we have very brief short-term memories, so it’s possible if he doesn’t have pictures, he might not recognize me.

Is there anything you’ve kept from younger years for sentimental reasons alone?

Yes. Some of my dolls and a great love of “Oklahoma!”

Do you like to decorate for different holidays?

ahb  ahb1

No. Those days have gone! I do appreciate the efforts other people make, though. I really love a beautifully decorated yard, especially for Halloween.

Do you feel you’re a strong person character-wise?   Also, if you do have a gratitude thought or picture you’d like to share, please feel free!  The world can always use more positive vibes!

I have no idea of whether I’m a strong person or just a desperate survivor. Either way, I’ve made it this far, so I’ll probably claw my way through another year or two. Or not. Anyone can be hit by a bus. Oh, wait. We don’t have any buses. How about a small truck?