Share Your World 2015 – Week 29

….a whole week without internet and I feel I’ve let you down

When I go to the cottage I like to spend some time at the local library to catch up on my emails and post an article or two and some photos. On my last visit to the cottage I made three visits to the library but was unable to connect to their Wifi. It was frustrating but maybe someone was trying to tell me something.

Now that I’m home I’m overburdened with hundreds of emails and can’t seem to get to them because of other commitments. Has anyone really missed me? Probably not but none the less I still feel somewhat guilty for not replying to comments and writing new posts.

My contribution to this week’s Share Your World is a bit later than I like to post because next week’s questions are only a day away.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Initially I wanted to be a nurse, like most little girls of my generation, but when I was 12 I knew decisively that I wanted to teach Family Studies. My teacher at the time asked me to demonstrate some sewing skills for an open house we were having and from that moment on I was focused on my goal to teach.

What was your favorite food as a child? Do you eat it now?

I loved many foods as a little girl but one food that stands out for me was a meat sauce that my father made with ground beef and peas and the base was made from a roux of flour, butter and beef stock. This is what we served over spaghetti until my mother learned how to make an Italian tomato based meat sauce. I’ve never made the original meat sauce with peas again but have made the Italian sauce numerous times.

If you were invisible, where would you go?

If I were invisible or a fly on the wall I would love to hear and see what goes on in the private chambers of some of the world’s leading politicians. We might be surprised at how much some of them struggle with day to day decisions that they have to make and we might be shocked at some of the corruption that occurs in the name of democracy.

Would you rather forget everyone else’s name all the time or have have everyone for your name all the time?

I’m not sure I understand this question as it is written. I’m assuming you mean ‘or have everyone remember you name all the time’.

I’m not good with names either but I don’t think I want to forget everyone’s name all the time. I’m often surprised how some names come back even after decades but I’m very uncomfortable when someone remembers me and I can’t think of their name. This happens often when students come back to visit me and I can’t for the life of me remember who they are. I can feel their initial disappointment but eventually I remember something about them and we can carry on a conversation. It helps when I explain that I have taught 1000s of students over the last thirty some years. When I taught middle school I used to teach every student in the school. In one school that was over 600 students.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for a wonderful week at the cottage. I wish that my family and friends from the city could visit me up there but I have good friends and neighbours on the island that I spend time with. I’m very grateful to my friend’s son, DM, who helped me transport a bed and a beautiful old oak cabinet from my girlfriend’s house to the cottage. Without his van I would never have been able to get it up there.

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This week, which has mostly passed I cleaned up the cottage and had friends from the island over for a wine and cheese party and some supper. I loved gathering flowers for the tables and preparing dips and plates of goodies.IMG_5587

I was also looking forward to yesterday’s final women’s soccer game against Brazil and Colombia. I was a bit disappointed in the overall game. It certainly didn’t feel like a gold medal game. Brazil won easily over the Colombians, 4 to 0. In the first five minutes of the game I couldn’t help but compare this game to the one I watched two weeks ago with the Canadian women. It made me wonder how the Colombians had advanced so far and weren’t able to play a better game. Their shots were wild and they only had 8 shots on goal compared to Brazil’s 120 shots on goal. I don’t know how accurate these stats are but according to my husband that’s what he saw on the scoreboard. Sitting between Brazilian and Colombian fans was quite the experience. They’re loud and exuberant if nothing else.

Share Your World – Week 29

….as with everything related to my blog lately I’m posting later than I normally do

Have you ever been in a submarine?  If you haven’t, would you want to?

No I’ve never been in a submarine. I might try it for a very short period of time, like an hour. Anything longer and I think I might become claustrophobic. The idea of being trapped in an enclosed space under water is a bit nerve racking.

Are you a listener or talker?

I think I have a good balance between talking and listening. Over the years, especially after taking my guidance course I’ve become a better listener. My husband on the other hand thinks I’m more of a talker. I do like to keep a conversation going and feel uncomfortable when all talking ceases in group situations.

Do you prefer crunchy peanut butter or smooth peanut butter?   Anything with your peanut butter?

I prefer crunchy peanut butter but my husband likes smooth and because he eats more of it than I do we tend to buy the smooth variety.

Have you ever been drunk?

Unfortunately I have but it was a long time ago during my first year at university. After that first year the novelty of drinking to excess quickly wore off and I drank more responsibly. Today we enjoy the occasional glass of wine with and after dinner and I really don’t like how I feel the next day if I’ve had too much to drink. I also find I get too emotional if I’ve had more to drink than I normally do.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for six wonderful days at the cottage last week. I’m also grateful that the mice haven’t returned (not yet anyway).

I’m looking forward to another long stay at the cottage. I’ve come home to visit my aunt, do a bit of gardening and tackle one or two chores that need doing around the house. I’m hoping to drive back up to the cottage tomorrow.

For more Share Your World posts check out Cee’s blog, here.