dailyprompt – Page 10

New-Fangled Technology!

I have an aversion to anything that is new and requires brain power to figure it out! My life revolves around “no changes” but, unfortunately, the tech giants love sitting up in tech heaven and they want to outdo each other as to who’s the smartest in the land. In their rush to come up with new-fangled technology, they oversee those of us who want to cling to the old way of doing things.

Cell phones, smart tvs, computers, and cars with so much electronic know-how that they can practically drive themselves and leave you by the wayside watching them take off on their own! I enjoyed knowing how to start, stop, and a few other things that I deemed necessary. However, my current car beeps every time or flashes a message that this or that needs looking into. Not only that, backing up is a noisy affair. I understand that it is all done in the name of safety but do we need to “beep” like the world is coming to an end! I can do without that feature.

Computers are next on the radar. I have a love-hate relationship with them. I can and can’t do without them. I want it simple so that I can get in, do my thing, and get out without pulling my hair out. It has so many features that when a question pops up on the screen, I try to get rid of it! “I don’t want to hear it!” is my response. The co-pilot, whatever that is, wants to know if I need help. “I’m fine thank you!” is my answer. Do we need so many new-fangled features? We were doing just fine when all you had to do was turn it on, do your thing, and turn it off. Maybe, tone down the constant deluge of new features and new technology. Tech Gods, are you listening?

I’m a tech klutz as I’ve mentioned here many times before but I am learning to keep up with the changes. The problem. The minute I get something down pat, it goes and changes on me! A message to all Tech Gods, find something else to do! Take a vacation and let’s slow down the insane pace of working overtime to flood the market with “things” we don’t really need!

Daily writing prompt

What technology would you be better off without, why?

View all responses

The Separation

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

The hardest decision I’ve ever had to make was the decision to go separate ways. I was looking at a 16 year marriage going under and a little boy who doted on mom and dad and I knew it would break his heart and it did.

However, there was no other way out of the predicament I was in. I could pretend to stay in a marriage where one person dictated how it was going to be run. Meaning “cheating” was alright and I had no say in the matter. He learned different. Still, it wasn’t an easy thing to do. I had to take everything into consideration. I was in a foreign country, didn’t speak the language well, and I had a young boy to take care of. I still remember the letter our son wrote asking if he was the problem and if he was, he would do better. It broke my heart.

Walking away and shutting the door behind me was not an easy decision for all the reasons mentioned above but there was one other thing that took a hit. It was my self-esteem. I hit rock bottom and it took a long time and much working on myself to bring it back up. I learned that “cheating” destroys, it is a selfish act and the person who commits it, well they will do it again. It is just a matter of time. It becomes easier the next time around.

I wanted no part of that. During my journey, I also learned to find my self-worth and self-respect. It didn’t come easy but I knew that I was worth so much more and being in a mediocre relationship is not what a relationship is about. I don’t regret the decision to walk away.

Daily writing prompt

What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?

View all responses

Special Dishes for Christmas

This one might shock you as it did me when I first had it at my in-laws. It was roasted rabbit and my ex loved it. It came with all the trimmings, red cabbage with apples, dumplings and brown sauce to add to the calorie count! My first thought, “Yucks!”

It seems this is considered a very festive meal, the rabbit I mean. If you’re thinking of the cute bunnies, well, these are farm raised for the specific purpose of Christmas or New Year’s lunch or dinner. Since that first time, I’ve made rabbit many times. Only because the ex insisted on it and the in-laws loved it. I’m glad those days are over with. My son is not too much into eating bunnies!

Special dish? I made goose last year. It turned out great, stuffed with chestnuts, rice, and chopped dates. It was delicious. This year, Christmas will be on a smaller scale. My son is planning to show up here so it will be his favorites on the menu. Tuna melt and Lasagne. He doesn’t care if it’s Christmas, he just wants to have what he wants.

Looking back over the years, there were many special dishes that made the holidays festive but I can’t remember all of them. I remembered “the rabbit” because it stood out from the rest and it was something unusual.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Daily writing prompt

Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?

View all responses

Sleepless Nights

I’m not sure what to do with this question. If I didn’t need sleep, I would probably want sleep! It is human nature to want something you can’t have. Okay, what would I do with all the extra time?

I really don’t know. Sleep usually rolls around one way or another. Coming back to the question, I would probably spend it writing. I have spent some nights writing when the world out there was asleep. It went well. Ideas kept rushing in and before I knew it, I had two articles written. Or I would spend my time watching senseless stuff on TV. Horror comes to mind. I love spooking myself so I watch all kinds of paranormal stuff and if I am brave enough, a horror movie or two. Sometimes I love watching comedies and at times love stories, the kind that make you want to cry your heart out. Crying is not a bad thing. Sometimes after a good cry, my world rights itself out!

I think I would want sleep vs. the extra time. I’m into beauty rituals and what better ritual than to get your 8 hours in? I prefer to look rested and the owl-eyed look does not suit me well.

Next question please……

Daily writing prompt

If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?

View all responses

My Top Three Pet Peeves

It is defined as “something that a particular person finds especially annoying.” I have plenty of those but I’ll try to stick to three that I find not only annoying but wants to make me pull my hair out!

Not being punctual is one of them. This is one of the top “pet peeves” because as a person who believes that being punctual speaks to your character, I seem to be surrounded by people who don’t give a hoot about being punctual. My first reaction is extreme annoyance, the second is to reel it in and to let it go. However, the letting go part doesn’t always work. It just gives the person more leeway to keep on doing what they do. Now, I give a few chances and then I pull the plug. Meaning it is a friendship lost instead of putting up with someone else’s tardiness.

Next on the list are liars. I can put up with one or two lies but when it is a constant and it is very evident, it becomes a pet peeve of mine. I’ve met people who make “lying” their motto and if they can get away with it, so much the better. However, once in a while they come across someone like me who can spot a liar even before they get close! My problem is, I give them enough rope to hang themselves but then I go back and take it away! Does that make sense? It does to me. Instead of sending them on the way, I play this “nice person” and try to find out why they are the way they are. No more playing “nice guy,” I am learning to be more assertive and to understand that you can’t change people. They are the way they are.

Last but not least are fake friends. People who claim to be your friend but are never there when you need them. They are there for the good times and are invisible when times get tough. I’m sure you’ve met them too. These days, I look for the “I’m with you all the way,” kind of friendship. Friendship is a hard thing to maneuver but it is made harder still when you come across fake friends. Choose carefully.

Those are three of my top pet peeves. I have plenty more but for now, these three take the cake!

Daily writing prompt

Name your top three pet peeves.

View all responses

My Current Favorite People

Jasmin Felicia Crockett

She is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Texas’s 30th congressional district since 2023. The lady has chutzpah and “fireworks” should have been her middle name! I like her because of her no- nonsense and no holds barred style of politics. It is engaging and she brings humor into the equation. She is not everyone’s cup of tea but she is well-liked and she speaks directly to the people. Her down-to-earth manner is relatable and she is a fierce advocate for Democratic policies, protecting voting rights. public education and the lady knows what she is talking about. Her legal expertise and her articulate way of bringing her point across is refreshing. We need more people like her.

Meghan Markle (Duchess of Sussex)

Yes, her. I like her because the lady has class which is more than I can say for some people. The spotlight was trained on her when love stepped in and she married a member of the royal family and since then her life has never been the same. The girl who once wrote to Proctor & Gamble at only 11 years of age to “protest a sexist commercial that suggested only women belong in the kitchen,” has become everybody’s “whipping girl.” Nothing she does is ever right. Everything is shredded under a magnifying glass only to find her sorely lacking.

The Duchess of Sussex is featured in Harper’s Bazaar’s Art Issue and it is drawing comparisons to images of Princess Diana. Here we go again, wait for it! There will be another onslaught against the Duchess, that’s for sure. However, the photoshoot shows a demure looking Meghan and it is hard not to overlook the sadness in her face. She knows as we all know that whatever she does, it will not be enough in a world that loves to bring people down for one reason or another.

I like her because even under tremendous pressure, she has kept her calm and she has chosen to let “silence” reign supreme. When others would have broken under the constant scrutiny and criticism, she has held her head up high and she is making her own way and that in itself speaks to who she is. A calm and collected individual with tremendous strength.

Those are my two favorite people at the current time. It might change in the future but that’s alright. People come and people go and others will step in to take their place.

Daily writing prompt

Who are your current most favorite people?

View all responses

My Favorite Animals

I’ll go with one. CATS! Not every cat but the one I have had and the current one I have, Mr. Know It All, are my favorites.

The first one I had was called Twitty. I met him one cold November evening when I saw him with his two siblings wandering around behind the apartment complex. He was an orange cat with deep dark eyes and his siblings were all black but unlike Twitty, they wanted nothing to do with me. Each time I approached them, they would hiss. My adorable Twitty would look at me with those big eyes and there was an instant connection. One day, a friend caught all three because they were just a few weeks old and winter was approaching. I had to take two of them away but I kept my sweet Twitty. He was a gentle and lovely companion. I lived in a “No Pets Allowed” apartment complex but the maintenance guys knew of his existence and said nothing! Twitty would spend his days sitting on the windowsill until I came home from a long day at the university and the minute he heard me opening the door, he would do this happy dance on two legs! I brought him to Europe with me but he passed away a few years later and it was a devastating loss.

A few years later, Chachi, the cat walked in. I wasn’t ready to embrace another cat because I didn’t want to feel that kind of pain again but life had other plans. Little cuteness walked in, took one look at me and decided “he was all in!” I love him to bits and I know it will hurt if and when he leaves but I am prepared this time around or maybe not.

I think cats are lovely creatures. They are smart, loving, make good companions and they listen or at least they pretend that they do! Chach is my second shadow and his world revolves around me as mine does around him. Some days, he is disgruntled because he wants to be out there like his girlfriend, Miss Ipanema, an all black cat with beautiful green eyes that roams the neighborhood. I bet she has seen more than Chachi ever will! Let’s keep it that way. Anyway, Chachi wants to go beyond the “garden fence” like Honey dreams of in my book. It’s not going to happen!

Cats are my favorite animals, not all but the ones I’ve come to know. There’s more to them than meets the eye.

Daily writing prompt

What are your favorite animals?

View all responses

Beach and Mountains

I love them both. They each have something different to offer. As a young girl, I loved the beach. Singapore was home then and being close to the beach was something I treasured. Weekends spent with the family by the beach was normal and mom always had a picnic basket packed with goodies. It is a memory that I treasure. When night came, the skies were lit with a thousand stars and all was quiet except for the soothing sounds of the waves rolling into shore. Sitting alone with my feet dug into the sand and gazing at the stars was something I loved doing and I still miss.

I now live in Europe and mountains are not too far off. When I take my walks in nature, I can see the outline of the mountain in the distance. It is always there, ever watchful. Sometimes it is shrouded in mystery when fog rolls in and at other times quiet but visible but no matter which persona it wears, it is always present. There is something about its quiet presence that captures my imagination. I sometimes wonder what mysteries it holds.

I like them both for different reasons. Each have something different to offer and sometimes I wish I was closer to a beach or to water but only for a moment because what I have now is complete and utter peace surrounded by beauty of another kind and that is enough.

Daily writing prompt

Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?

View all responses

Family Favorites

Back when I was cooking, there were many family favorites. I’ll go with the ones that my son loved and still loves. When he heads back home which is not often, he places the order a week in advance and then when he is home, he asks for the same dishes over and over again!

The first one and at the top of the list is Tuna Melt. This one takes the Blue Ribbon as far as family favorites go. It is a simple dish that doesn’t take much effort but I tend to pep it up so that it comes out finger-licking good.! He’ll ask for seconds and thirds and then asks me to make it again the next day! That is how good it is to him or is it just memories attached to it? I don’t know but it’s his favorite.

Next one on the list is homemade Lasagne with lots of sauce and with three kinds of cheese! This one takes more prep time but it is well worth the effort. It tastes better the next day but whenever is just fine with him. He doesn’t just eat it, he sniffs it in and it is gone in minutes!

Last but not least are pork ribs smothered in a rich dark red sauce that shimmers and dances! Okay, it is called BBQ ribs but done my way. The meat falls off the bone and it is messy to eat but both my ex and my son loved it. It didn’t matter if they had “sauce” running down their arms, it was all about the ribs. I must say, it was delicious.

Those are the three that I can think of and ones that I have on repeat redial when my son comes home. He loves feeling like a little boy again, although he keeps reminding me that he is not 8 anymore! After the meal, he reaches for my hand and lays it on his head like he used to as a little boy and looks up at me with those sweet adoring eyes enough to melt any heart! I guess they never grow up! I’m not complaining!

Daily writing prompt

What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?

View all responses

Trusting Your Instincts

Where do I start?!! I want to say that I trust my instincts because I have a good head on my shoulders but, alas, it’s the other part that I worry about. The part that sees and doesn’t want to see and does its own thing. So far, it has been running rampant and doing whatever it wants. I call it “my heart.”

I am a softie when it comes to matters of the heart. Deep down inside I know that the path I’m taking is not a good one and it will lead to trouble but still I keep on, sometimes out of curiosity and sometimes out of sheer stupidity!

This journey of self-discovery I am on has helped to keep me on the straight and narrow but the heart wants what it wants. It wants excitement, the feeling of danger, the throbbing that comes from the adrenaline rush and so it goes. I’m not an adrenaline junkie, never have been, but I go for the “bad boys!” The ones I know from the get go that they are better left alone. However, I want to play the “helper” or rather the person who wants to save them from their misery.

Self-discovery has helped me to see things with a clearer perspective. Still, I am not all the way there. It is going to take time. Do I trust my instincts? Absolutely!

These days, I’m giving the “good guys” more than a chance. They are boring but it’s time to take my boots off (the adventurous ones) and to give those house slippers a chance to reign supreme. Who knows I may just find what I’m looking for. A nice guy with a heart of gold and one who doesn’t need saving!

Daily writing prompt

Do you trust your instincts?

View all responses