Wonderland Burlesque's Whatcha Doing Quiz?

Wonderland Burlesque's 

Whatcha Doing Quiz?

In these days of covid... that's how I refer to these times, many of us have time on our hands. We keep busy, but not in the same way we used to; we're not running here and there as much (I hope). And while we get our exercise (I hope), we are all a bit more sedentary than we used to be.

So, umm... whatcha doing?

How are you spending your time?

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1/ Reading? What book are you currently reading? What was the one you read before it?

Just finished The Bluest Eyes by Toni Morrison. Before that, I Left My Back Door Open by April Sinclair. Before that The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. Next up: Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf.

I am on a kick. 

In between a major book, I read one by Judy Blume. Her children books are quite awful, but her young adult books have their charms (Tiger Eyes)... and her adult stuff is quite hit and miss (Summer Sisters). It's all very privileged and very white.


2/ Are you binge-watching anything?  

I finished Schitt$ Creek. Pure joy. Be sure to watch the mini-documentary included. I cried several times.

Before that, we binge watched At Home With Amy Sedaris.  It's a spoof on home/crafting shows. Cute. It has its moments.

Also catching up on: The Haunting of Hill House, Sabrina, Bob's Burgers and Get Krack!n.

3/ What's the most recent movie you watched?

The Selling.

It's a horror/comedy starring a bunch of people I have never seen. It was free on Prime and turned out to be quite funny and very well done. I recommend it. 

The plot: a pair of house-flippers who get tricked into buying a haunted house which they then try and unload. I liked it. It's a pleasant watch.

4/ Video games?

So, up until the end of April, I was playing Civilization V (Civ 5) every day. I was even playing on-line with my sister in Madison. But then... no more. I started blogging instead. I still play video games on-line with the boyfriend, my youngest sister and her husband on Saturday evenings. We play Overcooked 2, Friday the 13th, Unrailed!, Don't Starve Together, and others. A session typically takes three hours. 

On my own? Well, the boyfriend bought me a PS5(?) so I could play Animal Crossings. It is a cute game where you are on an island and gather stuff, build stuff. Very sweet. Non-competitive. A time waster, to be sure. 

The boyfriend is very into video games, so, I am trying to be a good boyfriend.

5/ Board games?

I stopped playing board games where you kill things (zombies, demons, etc.). Not my thing. So that means I am not playing much. 

The only games I have played since March 9th are:  this game where you build park reserves, and this game called Calico, where you try to earn cats or maybe you are a cat? I dunno. Oh, and I play Carcassonne on-line with my little Saturday night crew. You just lay down tiles, creating kingdoms and roads, in the hope of earning the most points.

Again... boyfriend thing. I'm trying to be a good boyfriend.

6/ Have you been listening to music? Catching up on old favorites? What are you listening to these days? 

I keep an active list of what I am listening to on my blog (right side column). When I do my morning regime, I pull a CD from the little closet they're stored in... something different every day. Most recently it was a Firefall hits collection. Before that England Dan and John Ford Coley. Barry White. Chris Rea. Kristine W. Toni Braxton... every day something different. 

I feel like I neglect my CD collection a lot. But, I don't have a lot of time. When I play music, I want to actually listen to it... and that is hard, given everything else I am doing.

7/ Spending more time on-line, browsing?

I am browsing more... for research and pics for the blog. This blogging re-birth? Has totally changed up my use of time.  In many ways, I am enjoying it. I do worry that I could do something better with my time... but, that seems to be a constant thought - that I could be doing something more constructive. I think that's human nature. But it would also seem to be a part of a pattern for me: not living in the moment, not enjoying the moment. 

I think what I need to start doing is redirecting those thoughts. Every time I start thinking I should be doing something else, I need to remind myself that what I am doing is something I enjoy, so I should concentrate on that and enjoy it. 

Hmm. Old dog. New tricks.

8/ Shopping on-line? In person? 

I finished my Xmas shopping on Wednesday. Everyone is getting the same appliance. I used all my credit card points to pay for most of it. Had been saving them for a plane ticket, but... THAT's not happening anytime soon, so... spread the wealth and take advantage of this perk now, rather than someday. 

The only in-person shopping I am doing these days is for groceries - once a week. I get a list from my Mom and buy her stuff, as well. I find it stressful and dislike being around other people.  

But I like food and eating, so... 

9/ Socializing? Virtual happy hours? One on one at an outdoor café'? Home visits with masks?

Have started a virtual happy hour every Friday with the boyfriend, my youngest sister and her husband. We talk about a little bit of everything - politics, covid, movies, work, finances, food, and cats - lots about cats. 

Having a cocktail in hand? Makes the conversation fly and before you know it... Happy Hour has eaten up three hours.

Have not been in a restaurant, bar, or coffee shop since March. 

Home visits are with my Mom, my ex, my boyfriend and, on Wednesdays, I see one of my nieces, for about a minute, as she is arriving to see my Mom and I am leaving.  

Going this weekend to Madison to see my youngest sister and her husband. That will be nice. Not thrilled about being in Wisconsin (high covid rates), but will take extra precautions on the way there. This will be my second trip to Madison this year. I also plan on going for New Year's .

10/ Are you getting your exercise? Going to a gym? Making do at home? How have these times affected your regimen?

I feel like my chest is collapsing. Sigh.

My rotator cuff is still on the mend... I keep re-injuring it. But I don't want to go to a specialist or see any doctors. It has been this way since the first of the year. I ripped it during my last Zumba class. 

I do have a yoga mat and some dumbbells. I have created a little routine I do while waiting for my water to heat up, when I make tea. 

The boyfriend got a weight bench, so I have been going there three times a week to get a more thorough work out, though I miss all the equipment at the gym. Doing the best I can with what we have. Though I could always do more. 

The boyfriend and I started interval running... you run for a minute, walk for a minute and you do that 14 times. I was also riding my bike a lot... but no more.  I won't ride my bike when there is ice on the ground. 

I really missed out this year going to the prairie, as that is where I do a lot of trail hiking. Typically, I count on it as a means of keeping my weight in check. 

That said, I have lost 8 lbs. during this crisis. Sadly, I think it is all muscle mass. Sucks.

Doing what I can. 

Aren't we all?

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 Okay, your turn.

Thanks for tuning in and sharing. Would love to know what you've been up to. Leave your answers in the comments section, or post on your blog and leave a link. 

Take good care of yourselves and be safe.

Until next time...

Spending My Time - Roxette

Time (Clock of the Heart) - Culture Club