Dreama Astrid's Journal

Is there an interesting story behind your username?: It was my faire name back when I worked at the Renaissance Faire in 2000 and everyone that worked there seemed to have a chosen 'Faire Name'.

Location and language(s): Maryland, United States, English and bad English. Had French classes in Jr. High and remember enough I could read menus when traveling out of the country.

Age range (e.g 20s, 30s, etc.): I'm in my 50s.

Hot button/deal breaker issues that will likely lead to unfriending: Bigotry and being unkind.

Do you have an "About Me" post new friends can read to get a sense of who you are, the people you talk about regularly, etc.?: Nope but updated my profile recently.

Is your profile up-to-date or at all useful?: I think so.

List a few things you think it's important new friends know about you right away: I talk a lot. Have varied interests, talk alot about work, friends, family, places I visit and everyday minutia.

You mostly write about: My interest, hobbies, work, family, friends, pets and everyday minutia like what I eat, the weather, where I traveled, things I did, health posts, what I purchased, who or what I saw this week, things I did or plan to do.

You never or very rarely write about: Politics except for super egregious things in the news that upset me.

Is your journal mostly public, locked, or a mix of public and locked?: mostly friends only, some locked to just myself (generally reminder lists) and some public.

Do you use filters for certain types of posts (e.g. fandom-related posts, or posts about sex, or mental health issues, etc.)?: No.

Your posting frequency (e.g. daily, every few days, weekly, etc.): It varies. Sometimes not for months, sometimes weekly, sometimes 4x in a day.

Does your journal frequently include any of the following: memes, links, gifs, photos, videos, etc?: Photos often, links occasionally.

What do you enjoy most about journaling?: Having a place to record my random thoughts, my accomplishments, everyday moments, memories, and sometimes just to clear my head or blow off steam to process stress.

How often do you read your friends list (e.g. daily, every other day, once a week, etc.)?: I try to read weekly if I can but sometimes life is hectic and I go weeks without reading.

You really enjoy reading about: people's ponderings, snapshots of others lives, and interesting news,

You have very little interest in reading about: fandoms, sexual content, step-by-step car repair,

Your thoughts on journals that regularly include any of the following: memes, linkspams, gifs, photos, videos, etc?: It depends. Perfer to read an item than watch a video but love photos.

When it comes to comments on your posts, what matters more -- quality or quantity?: I like quality comments, but I also don't mind people just responding with a emoji.

Do you unfriend people who don't comment much, even if you know they are reading you regularly?: Nope,

What is your approach when it comes to commenting on other journals?: If it is particularly interesting post or cool photos.

When you friend someone, but things don't really click, do you unfriend them without warning, or do you send them a note first? How do you prefer to be unfriended in similar circumstances?: I would unfriend them if I find their content or comments offensive or unduly annoying.

AND LASTLY

Friending memes often ask people to list their favourite TV shows, movies, books, etc., but more often than not, those aren't things people actually write about in their journal. Do you have any favourite TV shows, movies, books, etc., that you DO often write about -- not necessarily in a fandom sort of way, just in general?: Not really but if saw a cool show or movie I'd mention it.

Any final thoughts you'd like to share with potential new friends?: Gingers are awesome.

1. What is place you have visited, or want to visit, that starts with D?
Denmark, Denver, Daytona Beach, Disney World, Disneyland - all places I've vacationed and would love to visit again.

2. What is a food that you like, or don't like, that starts with R?
Rice, Rice pudding, Ramen Noodles, Raisins - all things I like

3. Own anything that starts with the letter M?
Magazine - subscribe to Coastal Living Magazine, Mask - own a White Feather Mask and an Autumnal Leaf Mask, and an assortment of COVID masks w/filters and KN-95s.

4. Know anyone whose name (first, middle, or last) that starts with N?
I have an Aunt Nancy

5. Favorite movie, book, TV show, or song whose title starts with T?
The only movie I can think of is 'The Terminator (1984)' which is a Schwarzenegger classic - a good rainy day movie to watch. And the song 'Thriller' which is the best music video of all time.

Friday Five: https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/

1. In an average week, how many nights do you eat home-cooked dinners?

We eat home cooked meals 4 or 5 nights a week.

2. Do you plan your meals out in advance, or just wing it?

Hubby cooks most of the time. Everything from BBQ on the outdoor grill to pasta, chicken, burgers, steak, seafood etc. Sometimes just soup and sandwiches, or occasionally breakfast for dinner.

3. How many nights per week do you eat out or order food delivered?

Probably 2 or 3 nights a week. Most places the portions are large enough we then have leftovers for a day or two. For example this week we ate out for lunch over the weekend and dinner last night and I'll have the leftovers tonight when I get home, (part of a grilled chicken sandwich and 1/2 a crab grilled cheese), and maybe some for lunch tomorrow depending on how much is in the leftover containers. If the leftover bread/roll is soggy I'll eat it without the bread or on a fresh piece of bread.

4. Do you keep a stock of nonperishable foods from which you could whip up a meal or two if you needed to?

We always have soup, pasta, tomato sauce, rice and cereals in the cupboard. Canned veges & fruit & juice in the pantry and frozen veges in the freezer, and usually a few full meals in the freezer. And in the fridge we always have eggs, milk, & cheese. And we have bread on the counter. Soup & a grilled cheese or a PB&J is always an option when we don't feel like cooking.

And right now we have fresh Lettuce, Spinach and Herbs in our container gardens on the porch we can pick to go with a meal.

5. Have you ever tried preparing meals for the week all at once, say, on the weekend?

When I was single I did this quite often and would freeze individual servings to take for lunches. I'd buy a big pack of chicken divvy it up and cook different chicken meals (like shake and bake chicken, chicken cacciatore, chicken marsala, mexican chicken, etc) with sides and wrap them in individual servings and freeze them.

This week we had friends over on Sunday and Hubby BBQ'd chicken out on the grill. He made one pack with a sweet Mango sauce and another pack of chicken with Jerk. He made rice. I shucked and cooked corn on the cob, made veggies, salad & Mango salsa. Friends brought biscuits and desserts. We've been eating the leftovers all week for dinner and lunches. I just finished the last of the Mango chicken for lunch with rice & Mango salsa today with the last of the corn.


Friday Five: https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/

These are thefridayfive questions for May 1...


1. Do you like to spend time outdoors?

Yes, I enjoy time outdoors in pleasant weather.


2. What is your favorite flower?

I love roses, carnations, heather and thistles. I also enjoy cherry blossoms and dogwood trees, as well as azalea and hydrangeas.


3. Any favorite warm weather activities?

The beach, the pool and kayaking on lakes. I also enjoy street fairs, farmer's markets, celtic festivals and renaissance faires.


4. Have you ever kept a garden? If so, what did you grow?

Last year, we had a small container gardens for vegetables (lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, peppers and snow peas), as well as, herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, chives, etc).


5. Do you know how to swim?

Yes but I’m not a strong swimmer.

Friday Five: https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/

1. What's one of the nicest things a friend has ever done for you?
Bought me a thoughtful present for no reason at all.

2. What's one of the nicest things a stranger has ever done for you?
Stopped and helped me when I was in a major car accident. They were a nurse that helped with first aid until an ambulance arrived and the fire dept cut me out of my car. I was hit head-on at 50 mph by a drunk driver.

3. What is a trait in another person that you instantly admire, and that draws you to them?
Empathy and kindness for other humans especially those less fortunate.

4. What is a trait in another person that instantly repels you, and prevents you from forming a close relationship with them?
Being greedy, selfish, arrogant and self absorbed.

5. Time to vent: tell us about something rotten someone has done to you.
Had a friend going thru a breakup/divorce and took it out on me instead, ending our friendship. Misplaced aggression and anger.

Friday Five: https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/

Didn't realize I never posted this here only on facebook. But Dark Twin died back in February, she was diagnosed with severe kidney disease. She was such a sweet cat and the last month or two that we had her she was venturing out of the master bedroom into the rest of the house and Bean had started to tolerate her being around. But she got sick and went downhill rapidly. So we are back to being a one cat household.

DarkTwin 2011-2025

Dave sent me a pictures of both cats on the bed maybe a month or two before she died.

SmolBean: green eyes | DarkTwin: yellow eyes
Bean in the foreground


( click here for hubby's post back in February )

AUGUST

( August 20th thru 31st Questions )

Questions are here:

1) Is summer a break for you, or is it busier?
At work it is always busy as so many things need to be upgraded and new things installed for the Fall Semester. At home it is generally move weekend trips and a week or two vacation. But this year I think most weekends will be working on renovating the house my SIL inherited from her dad so it is livable (so much pet damage and termite damage and disrepair).

2) What's next for your travel plans?
A trip to see MIL in NC and a trip to Florida this summer and maybe a weekend trip to the beach too.

3) What have you spontaneously done lately?
Trip to Sherwood Forest Ren Faire in Texas when work unexpectantly sent me to San Antonio for a conference. I filled in for someone that had to cancel. I tacked on the weekend, took the hubby along for the trip and the spouse and I had a blast at Faire on Saturday and visited the Texas relatives on Sunday.

4) What's your favorite way to unwind after a long day?
A hot cup of decaf Lady Grey Tea and catching up on shows I have on recorded with the cat beside me on the sofa, and playing a puzzle or two on my tablet. Or a long hot bath!

5) What's in your pockets?
Tissues, a KN95 mask, a finger splint for my sprained finger, my phone, a thumb drive, cough drops, antiacids, pain killers, my work ID, a bluetooth earbud, and some change for the vending machine. I wear cargo pants and a frumpy cardigan sweater with pockets most days to work - so lots of pockets!

1. Rice or potatoes?
Either depending on the meal.  Some things go better with rice other items better with potatoes.

2. Fish or red meat?
Red meat is my preference (burgers/steak).  Not a big fin fish fan (the occasional fish & chips). But I love shell fish (mussels, clams, oysters, shrimp, crab, etc.)

3. Salad or cooked vegetables?
Depends on the meal.  I love both, and soups made from veges like squash soups.

4. Cake or ice cream?
Yes - love cake & ice cream. And I also love pies, puddings, trifles, scones, muffins, etc.

5. Water, soft drink, wine, beer, or hard alcohol?
Addicted to sodas, but enjoy water, red wine, a few beers (red & amber ales), fruity mixed drinks (Daiquiri, Margaritas, Crushes, Blender drinks, etc).  And I also enjoy some ciders & meads. But I'm a big tea drinker (hot & iced) and drink milk most days as well.

It's presidents' day in the US, so in honor of the long weekend...

1. Have you ever been the president of anything?
Yes! I was president of the Columbia Jaycees back in my 20s.

2. What do you think is the most important leadership trait?
To be diplomatic and be able to direct people. Wranging people all in the same direction in a volunteer organization is like herding cats. And also knowing which people really don't get along and be sure not to schedule them to work the same shift alone together for an event.

3. What time period did you find the most interesting to learn about in history class?
I loved a US History class I took in college that was a Saturday class. Every Saturday we would take a field trip to a local "history" spot and it was awesome to see the history or see where the history occurred.

4. What's something you think about doing, but you haven't gotten back into in several years?
Mosaic glass art, archery, and cycling. Since we purchased our beach house we've been very busy with fixing it up. And since COVID, we have not been indulging in hobbies that put us in close proximity to strangers. And since FIL died we've been swamped with ESTATE stuff and rehabbing SIL's house (inherited from FIL) in any and all spare time.

I would also like to do more TRAVEL as much of our travel was curtailed since the COVID pandemic started, and more international TRAVEL as we haven't done any since we purchased our beach house, as our international travel budget was replaced by the vacation home budget.

5. If you could add one more random holiday to February, what would it be?
I just need to start observing these two: National Internet Friends Day Feb 13th and National Margarita Day Feb 22nd.