Random Confessions

[Sam-Skwantch]

I’m sick too

#CoughMedz

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

In the past week or so, I have found out a couple of very interesting facts about my local area which I never knew. And they both have a connection to 22[SUP]nd[/SUP] November 1963...

Firstly, the man who was driving the car that John F. Kennedy was in when he was killed is from the same village as my Dad. And knowing how everybody in Stewartstown knows everybody else, I would bet you that my Granda knew him.

But, the first I heard of this connection was when my Dad brought home a copy of the newest edition of the village's history journal. There was a quiz in it asking you to identify local historical figures from pictures. And Bill Greer was one of the people featured in this quiz.

Secondly, I have known for a long time that my Mum's Granda was once upon a time a gardener at a local big country house, Lissan House. And that it had been occupied by the same family from it was built in the early 1600's until a few years ago - the Staples family.

But, the penny only dropped with me yesterday that the writer of the "Narnia" stories (which I read when I was in my early teens, and absolutely loved!), CS Lewis, was a member of the Staples family.

Before I go on, I should explain that I am awful at remembering the names of authors who are known by their initials. JM Barrie; PG Wodehouse; AA Milne; DH Lawrence; TE Lawrence; TS Eliot; JRR Tolkien; F. Scott Fitzgerald; CS Lewis; JD Salinger... I think the only one I can remember is Joanne Rowling. Which is ironic, as I have no interest whatsoever in Harry Potter!

Anyway, on Saturday, we were watching an episode of "The Chase" that was originally shown a couple of weeks ago. One of the questions that day was "what do the initials stand for in CS Lewis's name?" Well, when the three options came up, I picked the wrong one. But, even when Bradley Walsh revealed the correct answer was Clive Staples, it didn't register with me.

It was only yesterday that I finally twigged. I had gone onto Facebook, and I saw a friend of mine (you know who you are!) had posted a quote. I was curious to know where it came from, so I copied it into Google and found that it was from "The Silmarillion" by JRR Tolkien. (When I went back to the post later, I spotted that she had actually put these details in as hashtags. But, I NEVER read hashtags, so I missed that).

As I had never heard of this book before, I looked it up on Wikipedia, and in the opening sentence of the article I saw a word I had also never come across before, "mythopoeic". So, I clicked through to that article to find out what it meant, and found a section on CS Lewis. And that started me thinking "Oh, what was his full name again?" So, I clicked through to his article, and as soon as I saw his full name written down in bold letters, the penny finally dropped: "Is he anything to do with Lissan House?" And, once I scrolled down to the section on his early life, it was confirmed.

Why on Earth is this connection to the Cookstown area not made a big deal of?! Like, this is one of the most famous authors in the world! Rathfriland makes a big deal of being the ancestral homeland of the Bronte sisters. Why doesn't Cookstown do the same with CS Lewis?!

Oh, and in case you are wondering where 22[SUP]nd[/SUP] November 1963 comes in, CS Lewis also died on that day. But, it went pretty much unnoticed, being overshadowed by President Kennedy's death.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Crossover]

I've been on a diet for some period, so it is really hard to refrain myself from eating delicious holiday foods or drinking beer and wine.

 

[NoNameFace]

I've been on a diet for some period, so it is really hard to refrain myself from eating delicious holiday foods or drinking beer and wine.

, I can relate about food, since I don't drink alcohol (some wine occasionally), I have to cut all sweets out going forward and snacking habit that is my undoing... Though I sampled everything we prepared for the Christmas with my mom, but tried to stay rational and to move a lot.

Today, I plan a loooong walk since the weather is great and listening (like every Jan 1st) to the All-time best 100 songs list in our radio, made by listeners

 

[NoNameFace]

Pretty sure I've come down with the cold that was going around my office... I don't want to be sick on vacation

I’m sick too

#CoughMedz

Take care, guys!

 

[lavenderblossom]

Thanks to an overabundance of glitter in our leftover Christmas crackers I now have sparkly dandruff.

 

[Arriba627]

Thanks to an overabundance of glitter in our leftover Christmas crackers I now have sparkly dandruff.

I love Christmas crackers! They're so cool! Do lots of people have them as part of their celebrations? Not too many people here do. My favorite part is always the red or green crown!

 

[lavenderblossom]

I love Christmas crackers! They're so cool! Do lots of people have them as part of their celebrations? Not too many people here do. My favorite part is always the red or green crown!

I think so we always have them! A must for every festive season! And here you can get crowns in all kinds of colors depending on which ones you buy. They also come with little gifts and jokes. I got a pretty keychain this year. But there is also a strong chance things will go flying all over the place. We spent 20 minutes looking for a mini yoyo that went down the back of the cabinet earlier

 

[Arriba627]

I think so we always have them! A must for every festive season! And here you can get crowns in all kinds of colors depending on which ones you buy. They also come with little gifts and jokes. I got a pretty keychain this year. But there is also a strong chance things will go flying all over the place. We spent 20 minutes looking for a mini yoyo that went down the back of the cabinet earlier

Such fun! This year my little gift was a small shoe horn. Ours also had jokes. We had quite a wild Christmas Eve. We also decorated Ugly Sweater Sugar Cookies. Really, I'm getting too old for all this excitement!

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I wrote “2017” for the date on two forms I filled out today

At least I’m not sick anymore

 

[yoloaxel]

I stumbled upon a YT video called "5 ways to comfort a kitten" and IT MADE ME CRY why am I like this

 

[mrrice]

I heard this joke today........Dude, How did you gain so much weight? Uh......By "Snackccident" too many pizza rolls......Me....

 

[Mrs. P]

I caught the San Jose/U.S. Nationals crud. Good thing I'm on vacation this week. I'm better today than yesterday and still managing to get one mile (jogging SLOWLY) in yesterday (and will do so again today). Channelling my inner Alysa Liu!!

But I feel bad for people that have to witness my excessive coughing. I've like tried to do my best to make sure other people don't catch it.

 

[lavenderblossom]

I'm such an idiot!!!!!

I was doing laundry all day yesterday and forgot to zip up my hoodie before i put it in the washing machine... which in itself is not a disaster but I also totally forgot to put in the detergent, and not just for that wash but for the last 3 washes :hopelessness: I feel so stupid. How did I forget not once, not twice, but 3 times?!

 

[NoNameFace]

I caught the San Jose/U.S. Nationals crud. Good thing I'm on vacation this week. I'm better today than yesterday and still managing to get one mile (jogging SLOWLY) in yesterday (and will do so again today). Channelling my inner Alysa Liu!!

But I feel bad for people that have to witness my excessive coughing. I've like tried to do my best to make sure other people don't catch it.

the good side is that You have it now, not had it during Nationals (looking for good sides of being ill, how pathetic)

in place where I work, there are 2 people (woman and man) sitting few rows ahead of me who seem to have no cold etc., but boy - when they have sneezing attack it's a sound to remember, we really try to contain ourselves with laughter, but usually failing miserably. And there is also a guy in my team who tends to loudly sigh in the most quite moments of the day, let's say it's never boring

hope You'll get better!

 

[Mrs. P]

the good side is that You have it now, not had it during Nationals (looking for good sides of being ill, how pathetic)

in place where I work, there are 2 people (woman and man) sitting few rows ahead of me who seem to have no cold etc., but boy - when they have sneezing attack it's a sound to remember, we really try to contain ourselves with laughter, but usually failing miserably. And there is also a guy in my team who tends to loudly sigh in the most quite moments of the day, let's say it's never boring

hope You'll get better!

Thanks for the well-wishes! I'm bummed cause I had hoped to do more on my vacation than lounge around, but maybe I needed to chill out. I also have gotten to do quite a bit of Netflix binging.

I'm just glad I'm home and not giving it to anyone, except my family -- though my daughter has had a cold already, so I'm crossing my fingers that she doesn't get it.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I'm such an idiot!!!!!

I was doing laundry all day yesterday and forgot to zip up my hoodie before i put it in the washing machine... which in itself is not a disaster but I also totally forgot to put in the detergent, and not just for that wash but for the last 3 washes :hopelessness: I feel so stupid. How did I forget not once, not twice, but 3 times?!

Maybe you are simply out of detergent and just failed to notice

 

[lavenderblossom]

Maybe you are simply out of detergent and just failed to notice

No, I had plenty, in a box right next to the washing machine too.

I remembered a quote from Romeo & Juliet today even though I haven't read it in 5 years "My love is like a boundless sea / The more I give to thee the more I have / For both are infinite." ...or words to that effect, probably I got the exact wording wrong.

edit: I got it all wrong, but the sentiment is the same I guess lol
"My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite."

 

[cheerknithanson]

This past few days I've been reflecting on how one person can mean so much to someone. Like a friend of mine I met online almost 2 months ago....well from August 2 to some point in November, I was not my normal super happy and joyful self. I was in almost in a sort of depression. I know why I was in that state, but I'm not going to say why on here as it's a little personal. But it was not doing good on me. October was when rock bottom hit. I didn't know how I was going to get out of it and move on. I wanted to be happy again. Talking to my friends helped, but something was preventing me from doing it. Then I met that friend online that I referred to earlier. I started talking to him, and that plus Skate America were the final pieces I needed to move on and be myself again. To be optimistic again. Talking to someone else about the situation and hearing from someone else, and hearing what they have to say really does help in some ways.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

This past few days I've been reflecting on how one person can mean so much to someone. Like a friend of mine I met online almost 2 months ago....well from August 2 to some point in November, I was not my normal super happy and joyful self. I was in almost in a sort of depression. I know why I was in that state, but I'm not going to say why on here as it's a little personal. But it was not doing good on me. October was when rock bottom hit. I didn't know how I was going to get out of it and move on. I wanted to be happy agaTalking to my friends helped, but something was preventing me from doing it. Then I met that friend online that I referred to earlier. I started talking to him, and that plus Skate America were the final pieces I needed to move on and be myself again. To be optimistic again. Talking to someone else about the situation and hearing from someone else, and hearing what they have to say really does help in some ways.

I'm glad you are feeling better!