I would love to sit down to dinner with Elizabeth Bennett. I’ve written about her before and I love her character. Last year, someone told me that I reminded him of her in many ways. I took it as a compliment but I think he didn’t mean it as such. He thought I was way too complicated! We’re not seeing each other anymore.
Who is this character? She is the protagonist in Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. The lady is intelligent, knows what she wants, and witty to boot. She is also fiercely independent. At a time when marriage was based on gaining financial security, she chose to settle for love. Her journey with Mr. Darcy was wrought with complexities but she wants what she wants. She is judgmental and has a mind of her own which is rare back in those days.
Her nicknames are Lizzy and Eliza but don’t let that sweetness fool you. She is strong-willed and perhaps as stubborn as a mule but her character is also lovable although filled with flaws.
Sitting down to dinner with her would be a dream come true. I have always admired and adored her and imagine all the stories we can tell and share!
Daily writing prompt
If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be?
The friend who passed away introduced me to them. He brought two Dyson fans one day and I was hooked! In a country where air-conditioning is frowned upon, the fans are a godsent. They are quiet and they do the job of cooling things down like a pro and I still use them.
Then it was my turn. I bought a Dyson vac, a big one, a small one, and one for the mattress as well! They work like a dream with little work and since I have three cats here now, vacuuming the stairs doesn’t require some heavy-duty machine lugged up and down the stairs but a hand-held version that does the job better than any traditional vacuum cleaner can. They are expensive but worth the money.
I also bought a Dyson hairdryer with all the attachments. It uses less energy, cuts out the damage that normal hairdryers cause and since I have long hair, I wanted something that does the job in half the time. It didn’t disappoint and works like a dream as well.
Dyson has a heat and cool gadget out now. It cools in summer and heats up the room in winter. I’ve got my eyes on that machine but haven’t bought one yet. Not to say I won’t do it!
I wouldn’t say that the Dyson purchases are the best I’ve ever made but they come close and this is one technology I can work with!
I don’t know if you would call it the funniest misunderstanding but it was funny at the time. I’ve spent a lot of time in Asia and I thought I knew all the customs and how not to step on someone’s toes but there was one time when we, my ex and son, went to Singapore to see why I loved the place so much.
Things change very quickly in Singapore. It never stays the same and perhaps that is the attraction of this tiny island nation and we were prepared for a great time with good food and lots of things to see. We did get some delicious food and lots to see as well. However, things had changed again. They have these food courts or rather hawker centers and if you want really good food at low prices, it is the place to be.
We went there one evening. The atmosphere was great and the place was bustling. All the tables were taken and then I spotted one in the midst of all the chaos and it was empty! We rushed to it glad to have found it. There was a pack of tissues on the table and we were very grateful. It was hot and that pack of tissues came in handy. We opened it, cleaned our hands, and wiped the sweat off our faces. We noticed people glancing in our direction but paid them no mind.
A few minutes later, a young couple approached us and said, “Excuse me, this is our table.”
Me: “Sorry, we saw it first. It is ours.”
Lady: “We choped it first.”
Me: “What do you mean choped? What is that?”
Lady: “In Singapore, if there is a pack of tissues on the table, it means it is taken.”
You can imagine our embarrassment. We apologized and left the table politely and quickly.
Choping or rather reserving a seat is done by placing a pack of tissue paper on the table. This only applies at the hawker centers or at least I think so, maybe they’ve changed that again! It means it is taken or rather reserved. It is also considered a massive local taboo to break that rule.
We later laughed about it BUT we learned to read up on the rules and regulations and believe me when I say, breaking of rules and or laws in Singapore can cost you more than a pretty penny! The one we broke only cost us a laugh, but it could have been worse.
Daily writing prompt
What’s the funniest misunderstanding you’ve ever been part of?
There is an app for almost anything these days. They’re supposed to make your life easier or so they say. I have a few apps I use regularly but nothing that consumes most of my free time. It is a quick in and out.
Some people download lots of them and I know someone who does that but he uses only a few. I, on the other hand, have the same kind of attitude towards them as I do towards technology. I know that it is a necessary evil but I don’t have to tie my wagon to them.
What about the dating apps? Hmm….those I do use but not on a regularly basis. I get a message or messages that say I got likes and my first thought, “Oh God!” I do go in to see who wrote me just for curiosity’s sake. Sometimes I reply if the person seems nice but most days, I ignore and delete if the message is obnoxious and not to my liking.
Apps are necessary I suppose in this day and age. Everybody and almost every store uses it so there’s no getting away from them. However, it is up to me if I want it to take up all my time or just enough to keep my existence going!
Daily writing prompt
What app eats up most of your screen time — and do you even feel bad about it?
I can’t remember their names! Dad used to order lots of books, puzzles, and things of interest and I got my hands on them! I would work the puzzles, and read all the other stuff that was there. That’s how I took an interest in reading. I have dad to thank for that.
Then one day, those new magazines started arriving. They had beautiful pictures of faraway places. I could go there and dream without ever leaving home. Switzerland became my fav place and I read up on everything I needed to know about that place. One day I was going to visit this marvelous place and experience it for myself. It never happened.
Other places came along. Sri Lanka, Brazil, Hawaii, Asia, and many many more. I would visit some of those places in real life and experience the culture, the people, and the cuisine for myself.
I realized that I didn’t have to leave home to go to my dream places. I could do that right from my bedroom and flipping pages took me to some wonderful lands and faraway destinations.
Traveling was not a choice. I married somehow who traveled alot, career choices helped with some other visits, and I went along whether I wanted to or not. These days I am content with where I am at. Peace and quiet is what I seek the most and those faraway places will remain undiscovered as far as I am concerned. I’ve done enough traveling in my life, time to hang up those shoes and COOL it for a while at least.
To answer your question, no movie or book inspired me to travel or maybe it did but I can’t think of any right now. Those magazines come to mind so question answered!
Daily writing prompt
What’s a movie or book that inspired you to travel?
Trends come and they go. They come to stay for a while and leave just as quickly. It takes the fashion world by storm for that moment in time and it is all the rage. Everyone wants to duplicate, imitate, and let it all out as far as that trend is concerned but it is not a permanent fixture. Just a passing phase.
As a former fashion editor, I’ve kept up with them, worn them, and written about them. Fashion has evolved with the times and it went from opulent wear that were restrictive to say the least to more functional streetwear. The 1920s brought about a revolutionary style of dressing. Gone were the tight-fitting corsets and these were replaced by drop-waist dresses that moved freely and gave women a sense of freedom.
Remember the bell-bottoms? This was the trend in the 1970s. The wider the bottoms, the better! I’m talking about the pants of course. Bohemian was in and casual ease was the trend.
1980s brought power dressing to the forefront. Oversized blazers, bold jewelry and PADDED shoulders took dressing to a new level. Add big pieces of jewelry to that and you were on your way to success.
Then Grunge came in and held court for a while. It was based on minimalism. Low-rise denim and velour tracksuits were in. Combat boots and slip dresses were in too. Comfort was in and who cared about dressing to the nines?!!
Today, we have a mishmash of all those styles. Anything goes and if you borrow from all those styles, you are considered fashionable and ready to step out and be seen. Today’s trend is based on blending comfort with high fashion. Yoga pants, sweatpants, big comfy tops, are the norm for daily wear as it is with me and I dress it up a LITTLE for the evening with a nice shirt, a good pair of jeans and comfortable shoes and I’m ready to be out there looking smart and fashionable.
Coming back to your question. If I could erase one trend from history, it would be those bell-bottoms. I think they looked ridiculous back then and still do today! That’s just my opinion. However, they are making a strong comeback. Celebrities love them and so do the normal folk. Updated to look better than they did back then, today’s trend has high fitted waists and flare gently past the knees. It doesn’t look that bad depending on who wears them but I’m hoping it leaves quickly and goes to never never land!
Daily writing prompt
If you could erase one trend from history, what would it be?
All the new cars have this keyless system. You can start the car before you get in, tap the key pouch or whatever they call it and the engine revs up! If that isn’t scary, I don’t know what is.
This year was a hard year as far as my car was concerned. I had problems, two major ones and I had to step back and decide if I should give it up, trade it in for a new car. I did do that or was about to do that. Let me tell you, the experience wasn’t a pleasant one. We went to two or three dealerships, a friend and I, and it was mind-boggling. I saw some really nice cars but all with the keyless function. Add “hybrid” to that and my whole being rebeled automatically. I’m not equipped for new technology. It seemed I had no choice. I asked if I could get one that started the old-fashioned way, with a key no less!
The guy shook his head. “It is so easy, once you get used to it you wouldn’t want to go back.” Hmm….but I want what I want. No can do. So I stepped into one to do a test drive. It started when I held that thingamagig to the start knob, I think that is what I did. It revved up. My heart jumped and wanted to run away from that place! I took a deep breath and we took off. It drove like a dream and I felt good driving that car. Inside my “tech demon” was jumping up and down. It hates all things new and kept screaming, “STOP IT! You and this car don’t jive.” I went against what it had to say and decided to buy the car. Two weeks later, I had to sign the contract and this new “tech” machine would be all mine. An hour before, I backed out. The “tech demon” had been working hard and it gave me the pros and cons. I must say it had some good points. One of them being, “Don’t expect me to get in that car with you!”
So I got my current car repaired at a huge expense and it is running fine. Tech demon is happy as well. Here’s the thing, the keystart method is still there if you find an older model and at a used price. Most new cars have a whole new technology going.
I know Elon. You think different but you’d never catch me in a Tesla! Why? The “tech demon” has been giving me pointers on that one too. It is enough to make you want to go back to when cars took you from Point A to B and didn’t have all the gadgets they do now. My current car has them too, I use some but I don’t know how the rest works! It is there for decorative purposes, nothing more, nothing less. That is my opinion and I will stand by it.
You think I have problems with men. I’m on the same path with technology as well, anything new that is!
Daily writing prompt
Which outdated technology do you miss the most, and why?
This is an excuse my ex uses to his advantage. He has been using it for a long time now. The man is not only a cheater, a liar, and an all-around two-timer, he pulls out this one card every time he doesn’t feel like doing something.
The man doesn’t realize that “crying wolf” too many times doesn’t work to his advantage. He is very intelligent, a physicist, and anything to do with science he has a handle on but when it comes to the social stuff and how you should handle people he is clueless!
“I’m not feeling well,” is his get out of jail free card so to speak. I know it well, I’ve lived with it for a long time picking up the slack when he was too busy pretending to be sick and galavanting to his heart’s content. No, he is not a good person. What did I see in him? Nothing much at first but he was quite good at pulling the wool over my eyes that I believed every word he said.
Coming back to the question at hand. This is his best excuse and the one he uses often. It means he is too sick to do anything he doesn’t want to do. The problem is, his son is catching up on what this is about as well. The ex was supposed to do something important, had promised (he never keeps his promises), but at the last minute backed out using his worn and tattered card once again. “I’m not feeling well.” The son finds out that he is well enough to go on vacation with his current fling. Anger? Yes, he feels it and so do I. However, there is nothing much you can do with someone who is remorseless and is all about himself.
It takes work on my part to cool the situation down which I have been doing for a long time now. This doesn’t mean I don’t feel the anger, the hurt, and the pain my son feels. There is not much I can do about that GUY! I can only see what I can do to make my son feel that he is important because he is far from feeling that at the moment.
“I’m not feeling well.”
To cry wolf means “to raise a false alarm or give unnecessary warnings.” It also destroys your credibility of which he has none I might add. One day when an actual emergency arises, no one will believe a word he says and that day couldn’t come soon enough!
Now that I’ve had a full-on vent session, I’m feeling so much better!
I would say we are shaped both by our experiences and by who we are. Experiences do much to shape our worldviews, how we see ourselves, and how we react to the world around us. Some of those experiences, especially the good ones do much in how we react to the people around us. Acceptance by our peers gives us the self-confidence to want more of the same. However, the bad experiences can take us on another route. It helps to diminish who we are and SOMETIMES accepting what is dished out shapes the person we are.
I think we are born a certain way. Those intrinsic qualities are there whether we like it or not. Good looks means you don’t have to work half as hard as someone who got the other end of the stick. People look up to you, they are willing to overlook mistakes and sometimes they bend over backwards to accommodate you and your idiosyncrasies. It is half the work. Someone who is less fortunate in that respect has an uphill battle and their worldviews and who they are is shaped by those experiences.
One source says, “Our inherent traits (“who we are”) from the lens through which we interpret the world, while our experiences provide the lessons and environments that mold those traits over time. It is a continuous loop of nature and nurture working together.”
Next question please…..
Daily writing prompt
Do you think we’re shaped more by our experiences or by who we are?
If I had to be an animal for a week, I would definitely choose to be Chachi! I love cats, not all cats but the ones I’ve had. They are the sweetest and gentlest of creatures and they show unconditional love.
I would like to experience life from Chachi’s perspective. What is it like for him? Is he loving his life? Is he unhappy and is there lack where he is concerned? I think he has a wonderful life. All his needs are met and he gets plenty of love. The only thing that was missing was companionship of his kind. He has that now. The two “cousins” Shiro and Gallahad came to visit, well it was more than a visit. They’ve been here for over three months! They are his best buddies now after much haggling, but they will be leaving soon and then he will be on his own again with just “mommy” for company. It will take time getting adjusted to the new reality again.
I would like to know what he thinks about or if he even thinks about anything for that matter. Do we underestimate how smart they are and do they have some kind of hidden powers that we are unaware of. I know that Chachi comes running whenever I’m sad and cuddles as if to say, “It is going to be alright.”
Most of all, I would like to know what he thinks of me. I think he LOVES me and I’m his world. I may be wrong but it would be worth finding out. Perhaps, I can also find out how to make his life better than it is now. FREEDOM?!! I know he would love to be out there running around like his girlfriend, Miss Ipanema. That girl is on the prowl every chance she gets! I say, “Dream on buddy!” It is not going to happen.
Daily writing prompt
If you had to be an animal for a week, which one would you be and why?
