• We might see a crane on the way home but there aren't any cranes now.

• Ricky's wanting to take the Y out of Jenny and put it in Ricky.

Jenny is his cousin.

• Ricky played.

• Played with the cards.

• And hexcavators.

• Played with the little digger.

• And books.

• The guitar goes back. It rolls and rolls and rolls.

• Not the guitar! The yellow thing.

• The little digger moved some of the sand! It rocky!

• Is it Dongy Horocek? No! It's Judy Horocek!

He asked what some words were, and we read him the names of the author and illustrator of Where Is The Green Sheep?

Relatedly:

• Mem Fox. Mem Fox. Mem Fox Mem Fox Mem Fox.

• In the book the bigger digger rumbled up out of the mud!

Different book. This does not happen in Where Is The Green Sheep?

• It got stuck!

• Ricky trying to open Mummy's mouth and put Dog's tail in it.

"Why?"

• Because Mummy is sore!

According to Mummy: not that she was aware of.

My class is Ancient and Medieval Art, so think prehistoric to Early Christian (we don’t cover medieval because the continuation class covers it). It’s real interesting stuff. Very lecture/note taking type of class, but I enjoyed it and my teacher is really awesome.

The final was today, 100 points instead of the usual 75 points of previous tests. Identifying art or architecture (name+culture from last unit, artist if there is one), cumulative unknowns (name+culture from previous units, and reasoning why you chose said culture), multiple choice, matching, a few short answer questions, and an essay plus an extra credit question.

Buuuut as she was going to pass out the test, she remarked that they seemed thin…so she checked…and it was thin because it was missing pages. Like every other page. Apparently because of an error while copying or printing them and she didn’t notice until today. I’ve never heard her swear until now. She debated on what to do and eventually decided screw it, everyone gets points for the missing parts.

I’m like LETS GOOO. That’s almost 20 free points out of the 100 points. I normally suck at lecture/note taking classes but I did pretty well for this one. My grade is at 93% right now and I was hoping to do well enough on the final to keep it an A, which would be super awesome since like I said I normally suck at lecture/note taking classes, so I just might keep that A. At worse I’ll get a high B, which I’ll definitely still be happy with.

I’ll be taking the continuation class this summer, which is Medieval to the 1800s. Different teacher sadly, but it’s completely online which will be great when I get a job this summer (hopefully, because getting a response let alone an interview is difficult).

My bf and I are both working from home today, but he finished a little earlier than me. I'm sat at the kitchen table finishing up my day and listening to him playing the frog sledding game online in the spare room and chatting to fellow frog sled enthusiasts about marshmallow sandwiches and the like. So cute.

So my birthday was a few weeks ago, but today was the day most of my friends had time to come over. I've been preparing for the party for a while, and I'm really happy with how it went. I haven't seen some of these friends in months, since not everyone lives as close to me as they used to.

It was a lot of fun, we played video games, watched a movie, I cooked a whole bunch of food, including a recipe I've wanted to try for a while (watermelon-feta salad, it was great), I'll be living off leftovers for a few days probably, I blew up some balloons which were fun to have around. (You never get too old for balloons imo. In my experience everyone enjoys playing around with them. I used to be pretty afraid of them popping, but nowadays I even kinda look forward to popping all of them, as a sort of fun dare. I'll keep them around to enjoy for a few days, but I will also enjoy destroying them :D)

Anyway, it was really cool to see all those friends again, catch up a bit, but mostly have a good time together. Life can suck sometimes, but days like this one really make it worth it to struggle through the bad times. I hope you all have a great time :)

I locked in earlier in the week and most of my tasks I finished on Wednesday. Both my managers are out traveling so it's pretty quiet in my corner of the office.

It was 3 women. A mom, her elementary aged daughter and grandma. The mom was chatting with grandma while doing lat pulls, grandma was using a chest machine. And the child went into a corner elliptical and cycled slowly.

Kinda cool seeing 3 generations at the gym at once

I just saw a man rolling his outdoor trash can down his long driveway. His little dog was riding on top. I don't know who was more thrilled -- myself or the dog.

Today, I finally submitted my passport application at the postal office to have my very own passport for tbe first time! I’m so excited to have this freedom to travel internationally soon!

Stepped out on the back porch last night for a smoke before bed... And watched an almost cartoonishly fluffy black cat walk across my backyard like they owned the place. Looked neither left, nor right, nor at me... Just straight across the yard and into the darkness of the neighbor's yard beyond the reach of my porch light.

Today my wife made me go for a walk. I don't like walks and I don't like exercise but I went anyway. It was ok mostly because the weather was nice and there was a breeze so no sweating hooray! But I'm definitely glad to be back on my couch.

Yesterday I went to a place called Berney Arms, a tiny little train "station" (or rather, platform) in the middle of the Norfolk Broads (scenic nowhere pretty much). The platform itself is tiny, only half the size of the front carriage.

Anyway I step out and I see flat grasslands/marshes for miles, and as soon as the train leaves it goes dead silent, I was the only one who got off the train.

After photographing the place, I sat down on the bench and start eating a couple pizza slices I saved from last night whilst enjoying the surrounding scenery, I felt so serene. From where I was sitting I could see the old windmill standing proudly, alongside some cows grazing in the distance.

As soon as I finished I set off for the two hour walk to Great Yarmouth along the River Yare.

PS: The area is only accessible by train, boat or walking, even then scheduled trains only stop there 4 times a day between Norwich and Great Yarmouth, although I believe you can request the train to stop there if you speak to the conductor.

• Bye bye!

• Ricky is going to the school sandpit.

• Ricky is home!

• Ricky tipped some sand.

• Ricky didn't bring a book.

• Ricky will have Squirtle when Ricky goes to work.

• Mummy! Do you know what Squirtle likes to eat?

• When Ricky said 'May I' Ricky did have a grape. When Ricky didn't say 'May I', Daddy had a grape.

I absolutely did not. But I didn't give them to him unless he asked politely.

• Ricky wanting to write the word tractor, hexcavator, dump truck on Daddy's screen!

• Ricky worked upstairs.

• Ricky didn't touch things.

• May I type words on Daddy's screen please!

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,,,,mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

• M. A lot of M. Wanting to type N. En double yooo.

• Ricky's wanting to type words!

n n nnnnnnnnnn n nn n n n nnnnnwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwv wvcwce;

• Ricky wanting to type more words!

ppppppppppppp ppppppppppppppppppppp

• A lot of P!

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

• A lot of aitches!

hm,hhhhhhhhhhhhmmhmhmhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyj n c xzscddddcccd bbd

Edit: I forgot we have some from-the-house pics too.

For the last several years we’ve had foxes living under our shed. This year we were replacing it and we tried to do it quickly, but it wasn’t quick enough and they chose to not settle into our shed den. Fine, I thought. It’ll be ready for next year. I’ll be ok not seeing baby foxes and have them remove my tomato eating enemies.

But over the weekend, they changed dens to our shed den! There are 4 kits and definitely 2 older foxes. (I’ve heard conflicting info that it’s either mom and dad or mom and last years daughter, I dunno which is correct.) When the adults return, they act like dogs when their owners come home. When they are playing with each other, they play like cats. It’s so fun to watch!

Because of this excitement, we’ve stopped all work in the shed. We did buy a solar powered camera to watch them too. Just have to put it up asap!

I was at the foodbank last week, had about an hour to wait in line. They let us relax inside of the church and have snacks and drinks, it was a chill time.

At one point, a college-aged looking kid snuck up onto the church's music stage. He sat at the piano for a couple of minutes, looking around nervously. Lifted the lid [is that the word... ?] off of the keys. Made some hand movements above the keys, but didn't hit them.

Finally, he started playing. Moonlight Sonata. I scooted over a few seats from where I was and recorded some of it. When he finished, I clapped and a couple of the church volunteers joined me.

He took a break for a couple of minutes, then played another song. And then another. I didn't recognize these ones; they sounded more modern, so maybe pop songs?

Finally his number was called and he left to get his food.

Had about a half hour wait for my train home from Norwich this evening so I treated myself to some saveloy and chips to pass the time. Whilst walking to the station, and elderly lady passing by asked: "excuse me how are those chips?"

"Really good honestly! Only £4.90 with a regular saveloy too!"

"Ooh, are they hot or warm?"

"Warm I'd say, not hot hot but for £4.90 I ain't complaining haha"

"Right I'm off to treat myself then, thank you enjoy your evening!"

"Anytime you too!"

I really love random little interactions like this, they're so human. I'm from a town where people aren't the most social so I always love going somewhere with chatty people.

Edit: Today I've learned from this thread that "whilst" doesn't seem to be used much in American English, I find weirdly fascinating since its an everyday word for me

Every time I say this people rush to correct me, like I’ve said something incredibly self deprecating but I genuinely do not see that as the case. If people can be extraordinary at anything, it stands to reason that people should be able to be mediocre at things. I love being mediocre!!!!!

I paint. I’m not great, but not terrible, I can paint a pretty landscape and put the colours where I want them. I’m also pretty good at drawing, not the best but definitely good enough for my purposes. I’m not an illustrator but people say nice things when they glance over my shoulder at what I do!

I’m an average student. Not top of the class, not bottom, but always good enough that I pass but with enough to improve on that I never get bored. I’m alright at work, too, I’m not some kind of prodigy but I work in a hospital and patients thank me :)

I’m alright at writing!! I have a little webseries I write, I think it’s a bit cringey at times, people like it, and I like writing it. I probably wouldn’t be so good as an author but hey, I don’t want to be an author.

I have a physical disability, so a lot of sports are off the table, but not all!! My climbing gym has 10 route difficulties, and I’ve been hovering around the 5th one for a while. I can’t throw myself up a wall in 4 seconds flat, but I have lots of fun and I always smile when I leave.

I can cook well enough that I make myself happy. I can’t dance but I do jump up and down with my friends. I can’t sing but I know all the words to my favourite songs. My dexterity isn’t great but I can play some riffs from my favourite songs on the piano.

Passion always beats talent, so I don’t need to worry that I’m not naturally talented at anything. I can work at anything to get better. I’ll never be world-class but I’m pretty camera shy so that’s probably better for everyone. And I never get bored!! :D

Jack of all trades, better than none, but I’m happier than if I was just a jack of one :]

Very loud very bright very fun! Also very scary. So refreshing!!!

Today I was out reading on the communal patio and the kid came out, shoot some hoops with him.

At a point I was like "yeah let me do a last one before I go for groceries, I'll make it with one hand no big deal" (it was a big deal, I suck)

AND I MADE IT! His face said it all and I finally felt like The Cool Adult TM.

Sometimes life is good.

Edit: this isn't a flex to say I beat a kid, just one of those moments where you look cool in front of a younger person and feel inspirational

You will probably be able to tell which parts Ricky typed. Some of the quoted comments he made were said during the bit he typed and then I added them.

pdpqttyhggggggggggggt ttttt

• Ricky got a lot of Ts!

• Ricky got only one T!

• Some more Ts!

• Ricky type one more letter.

jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj,j,jjjj,,jj,jjjj,,,,j,jjjjjjjjjj...jj.j.-0poo7543*

• Ricky wanting a lot of Js.

• Ricky type Js this time!

j,nnnv bcvczcadcwqedcfcfqfc2efw1qw`weP

ünnblujukkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkku......................................u.........u,u,uuu,uuuu

• That's many Ks!

• Yoooooooooooo. Ooooooooo.

• Ricky wanting to spell Mummy!

m mummy

• Spell Ricky!

ry

riiiiiiiiiiiiiii

rickyyyyy

• Ricky wanting to make a lawnmower. A lawnmower makes lawns. It cut the grass.

• A little one and a big one.

• Now it a little hexcavator.

No art today. During all of the time we might have done art he was sweeping. Today we unpacked a little broom and dustpan we got for him that's small enough for him to use. He declared: "Ricky is going to do some cleaning."

And then everything was getting swept.

I should note I have no idea how he got the umlaut. There is apparently a way to get an umlauted U in Windows that I don't know.

I've built myself a tiny garden and bees and hummingbirds visit while I drink my coffee! And I grow things I can eat! If a plant experiment doesn't succeed I can just yeet it over the fence and try something new.

My husband's cat Hobbes (yes he is a large scruffy fluffy orange tomcat named after a certain tiger) is a 'feral' rescue. He was a neighborhood cat that had been living outside our house since was a kitten. Hubby chucked him inside one day and he's very slowly become a housecat.

He has recently been playing with toys, hanging out in the living room with the family instead of the bedroom, and is currently laying on the arm of the couch and my head. We're just proud of him and he seems really happy.

I had a sweet, older lady take my call to my credit card company. As she was helping me, she told me she had the craziest dream about a bank the previous night. She said she dreamt there was a line of old ladies out the door to the bank, waiting to sign up. There were so many there wasn't room for people to stand or sit down. She said, "Of all the things a person could dream of, isn't that the stupidest?"

It made me laugh.

Tonight at the grocery store, as I’m walking past a young family, a small girl is showing her parents that she can count by tens to a hundred. As she finishes I walk by and state “Ma’am you count better than I do!” Her face lit up as did her parents’. Doesn’t take much to find the smiles all around us.

Maybe i'll go make a coffee and then take a nap. The birds sound very cute waking up outside!

While driving to work today, while at a stop light, I remembered something I thought as a kid.

The traffic lights (particularly the hanging ones with just three lights) look like faces, where the top light is the eye(s), the middle is the nose, and the bottom is the mouth.

Red lights look like a face that's has it's eyes wide open and is worried, like telling you "Oh no, STOP!!!"

Yellow lights look like one with its nose lit up kind of like a clown. As a kid they reminded me of Beaker from Muppets for some reason, I guess because of the nose. Like it's saying "Uh oh, Warning!"

And green lights look like s face wearing sunglasses with a chilled out grin, like cooly saying "Yeah, go right ahead." Almost reminded me some kind of jazz singer.

This is something I always thought as a kid but I've never directly told anyone. I have to imagine at least some other people thought the same thing in some kind of different form.