The Friday Five Feb 18 & 11 and other news
I've been away for TWO WEEKS! *hangs head in shame* I have unfortunately been in one of those slumps where I didn't want to participate in any sns conversation. I have also been awol from Facebook. But now that I have a few pictures to share and have somewhat caught up with at least a weeks worth of posts, here I am. First, the Friday Five.
1. Do you have Spring or Fall allergies?
Yes. Both. I got it from my mom, who seems to be allergic to every kind of pollen. Fortunately, I don't have a very strong pine allergy, which seems to be very popular in Japan. I know this because pine pollen starts blowing in January if early, and I am not much affected at that time. Mine is supposedly Hinoki, a Japanese cypress, in the Spring - it starts travelling in April or May - and Butakusa or ragweed in the Fall. I also have a lily pollen allergy.
2. Do you have something in particular that you are allergic to or is it just general?
Oh, sorry. Answered above. None of this is certain except the lily. Doctors here are not very excited about checking allergies unless in dire circumstances. They just tell you offhand.
3. What do you take, if anything, to help?
I don't usually take anything nowadays. I used to take some stuff to help the runny nose when I was younger. It's really not bad enough these days. My mom got bad asthma from her allergies so she used to have an inhaler.
4. Do you seem to be saying, “It’s just allergies” a lot more than usual these days (i.e. because of Covid)?
I don't, because I don't have it very bad, but I hear it more.
5. What do you hope to get out and do this spring, allergies and pandemic willing?
Hanami - or cherry blossom viewing - and our Easter Picnic :)
********************
Here are my answers for last week's questions!
1. What's your favorite candle scent?
Cinnamon spice
2. Do you have an artistic or crafty hobby? What is it?
I like playing with photographs. I used to make scrapbooks, and that evolved into Photoshop manips, gifs and scrapbooking. I do enjoy making vids too, but I haven't in a while. I also have a whole bunch of resin stuff that my daughter uses more than I do now.
3. What's one weird way you save money on food?
I don't LOL Not very well. I have found that deciding on a weeks worth of menues and buying all the ingredients in one go so I don't have to go shopping often helps. That's not weird though.
4. Do you collect anything weird or unusual?
Nope. I collect recipes, pics and gifs, books.
5. Do you fear the deep ocean, or does its unknown depths excite you?
I guess I fear it. At least the idea of going down there. I am rather afraid of any atmosphere that disables breathing. Space as well. But the unknown excites my imagination if not my courage LOL
Now onto the news. Last Sunday we went downtown and sang at the contest. The conditions were difficult because of COVID restrictions. We couldn't have a warm-up at the hall before our turn and we had to go up from the seats. We also had to sing at night because I guess there were not enough groups to warrant renting the hall during the day. Our first song was in Latin (Miserere Mei by Ko Matsushita). Unfortunately, we were not able to do very well on it - maybe because we were so nervous and just not ready. The second was in Hungarian - a song of praise (Psalms 150 by Kodaly) and we did much better on that one. If you'd like to have a listen, I have them at my google drive and attached the links to the titles above. I am singing alto.
It was fun though, LOL
Monday was Valentines and this year only Julian and I made something. Julian tried to make rice crispy bars on his own and they unfortunately did not turn out as well as he had hoped but the kids all ate it all up in a jiffy - how could you go wrong with rice puffs, marshmallows and chocolate? LOL I made a pistachio/Chocolate tart which turned out very well. The crust was made of cashew and hazelnuts. Yum.
We had an accident on Monday as well. Hana got to her bag of snacks and ate them all up! So she is now only allowed veges and chick peas for a month or two. She also was unable to sleep properly Monday night, probably because of the extra food and was barking on and off from around three in the morning to let her out. I knew she would not go back in her cage if I did so I held off until 5. When I finally let her out, she did some very soft poo on her toilet. I was surprised she had been able to hold it for so long, poor girl. After that, I was right - she wouldn't go back in - so I decided to take her out for an early walk and enjoy the sunrise. So a picture of that too.
I think I need to get some lunch in me now before choir practice. I really don't want to goooooooo.... But I will. Talk to you all later!
1. Do you have Spring or Fall allergies?
Yes. Both. I got it from my mom, who seems to be allergic to every kind of pollen. Fortunately, I don't have a very strong pine allergy, which seems to be very popular in Japan. I know this because pine pollen starts blowing in January if early, and I am not much affected at that time. Mine is supposedly Hinoki, a Japanese cypress, in the Spring - it starts travelling in April or May - and Butakusa or ragweed in the Fall. I also have a lily pollen allergy.
2. Do you have something in particular that you are allergic to or is it just general?
Oh, sorry. Answered above. None of this is certain except the lily. Doctors here are not very excited about checking allergies unless in dire circumstances. They just tell you offhand.
3. What do you take, if anything, to help?
I don't usually take anything nowadays. I used to take some stuff to help the runny nose when I was younger. It's really not bad enough these days. My mom got bad asthma from her allergies so she used to have an inhaler.
4. Do you seem to be saying, “It’s just allergies” a lot more than usual these days (i.e. because of Covid)?
I don't, because I don't have it very bad, but I hear it more.
5. What do you hope to get out and do this spring, allergies and pandemic willing?
Hanami - or cherry blossom viewing - and our Easter Picnic :)
********************
Here are my answers for last week's questions!
1. What's your favorite candle scent?
Cinnamon spice
2. Do you have an artistic or crafty hobby? What is it?
I like playing with photographs. I used to make scrapbooks, and that evolved into Photoshop manips, gifs and scrapbooking. I do enjoy making vids too, but I haven't in a while. I also have a whole bunch of resin stuff that my daughter uses more than I do now.
3. What's one weird way you save money on food?
I don't LOL Not very well. I have found that deciding on a weeks worth of menues and buying all the ingredients in one go so I don't have to go shopping often helps. That's not weird though.
4. Do you collect anything weird or unusual?
Nope. I collect recipes, pics and gifs, books.
5. Do you fear the deep ocean, or does its unknown depths excite you?
I guess I fear it. At least the idea of going down there. I am rather afraid of any atmosphere that disables breathing. Space as well. But the unknown excites my imagination if not my courage LOL
Now onto the news. Last Sunday we went downtown and sang at the contest. The conditions were difficult because of COVID restrictions. We couldn't have a warm-up at the hall before our turn and we had to go up from the seats. We also had to sing at night because I guess there were not enough groups to warrant renting the hall during the day. Our first song was in Latin (Miserere Mei by Ko Matsushita). Unfortunately, we were not able to do very well on it - maybe because we were so nervous and just not ready. The second was in Hungarian - a song of praise (Psalms 150 by Kodaly) and we did much better on that one. If you'd like to have a listen, I have them at my google drive and attached the links to the titles above. I am singing alto.
It was fun though, LOL
Monday was Valentines and this year only Julian and I made something. Julian tried to make rice crispy bars on his own and they unfortunately did not turn out as well as he had hoped but the kids all ate it all up in a jiffy - how could you go wrong with rice puffs, marshmallows and chocolate? LOL I made a pistachio/Chocolate tart which turned out very well. The crust was made of cashew and hazelnuts. Yum.
We had an accident on Monday as well. Hana got to her bag of snacks and ate them all up! So she is now only allowed veges and chick peas for a month or two. She also was unable to sleep properly Monday night, probably because of the extra food and was barking on and off from around three in the morning to let her out. I knew she would not go back in her cage if I did so I held off until 5. When I finally let her out, she did some very soft poo on her toilet. I was surprised she had been able to hold it for so long, poor girl. After that, I was right - she wouldn't go back in - so I decided to take her out for an early walk and enjoy the sunrise. So a picture of that too.
I think I need to get some lunch in me now before choir practice. I really don't want to goooooooo.... But I will. Talk to you all later!