A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

Photo Blogging Challenge (June 2021): DIY

Note: Please make sure you see the end of this post for the new way of doing things. It’s only one small change we made in November, but a change nonetheless. Thanks!

To say that my world has been busy would be an understatement.

But, it’s mostly for good reasons! And with that, I can’t be upset. If any of you follow me on Instagram, you’ve likely seen the photos I’ve posted of a puppy. By the end of this week, she’ll be here and a whole new adventure will be starting. There’s so much more going on in my world and I’m excited about it all. I’ve always started writing some blog posts offline, so hopefully everything that is changing will help me get back into this on a more regular basis.

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Outside of that, it’s been an interesting month. We’ve had cold days and super hot days. Work has been a bear, as it is during this time every year. and it will keep me busy into the first couple weeks of the summer, and then it’s gearing up for the fall. Working in education can be quite crazy for anybody, but in my position, I have certain times that go into uber crazy mode — this is pretty much one of them. Then add to it some other things going on and I’m all over the place. I’m tired, that’s for sure, but I’m pretty excited where things are going and the direction of everything. I’m not saying everything is perfect by any stretch, but overall I can’t complain. And that is a good thing. I’ll keep plugging along and seeing where things go and hopefully I’ll be able to keep smiling!

And now, we slowly start to head into the summer months. It seems, at least in my part of the world, things are easing up. I’m still on guard, so to speak, but it’s nice to see smiles again and see people doing things. I hope, however, you all remain safe and diligent in doing your part so we can keep moving forward.

Now … let’s get to the photos! It was a DIY sort of month and here’s what I had for my five!

1-2. Building

Cameron stayed over one weekend and Legos (as well as Nerf wars) were on the docket. This kid is really quite good with Legos and building. We had to abandon one set as it was just a bit too much, but we attacked another one and he did an amazing job!

3. Being a DIYer

I’m trying to learn new things, including some woodworking. This was a setup one weekend. Stay tuned to the end of this post for some bonus photos!

4. Learning

I now own some pretty decent power tools as I learn more. This is my friend Darren showing me a bit about the circular saw. Reality is, I never needed to use a lot of these items. But I’m not doing my best to learn them as I found it’s quite enjoyable to do some DIY stuff.

5. Leftover

From the project that day, this is some of the leftover small pieces. I thought it was kind of cool looking!

BONUS PHOTOS!

So, what did we create that day? A couple of benches! Here are the end products! I learned quite a bit that day, and look forward to learning a lot more and creating more. Now these lumber prices need to come down!

And there are my five (plus bonuses) for the month!

If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.

And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).

Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too! NOTE: We have a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.

** CHALLENGE CHANGE **

From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.

That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.

So, below is the linkup for June. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for July is Happy! … Remember to come back on August 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: June 2021 results

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Photo Blogging Challenge (May 2021): Spring has sprung

Note: Please make sure you see the end of this post for the new way of doing things. It’s only one small change we made in November, but a change nonetheless. Thanks!

Nope. No excuses.

My photos were actually done early this month. The problem was, I just didn’t even think about posting. Then all of a sudden, I was like … well hell, it’s June 2. So… here’s the post! I have started working on a couple non-challenge posts. Maybe that will get me back into being better on deadlines!

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Anyway, depending where you are in this world … the spring is here. This year feels way different than last year, which is good. We may not fully be out of the woods yet, but we are getting there. Things are opening near me. People are getting out and about. I still stay socially distant. I wear a mask where I feel it’s necessary. And I am fully vaccinated. But, I realize others aren’t (and that’s fine — their choice), so … I do what makes me feel comfortable. Either way, it’s nice to be outside with warmer weather. I’m working on some major changes in my personal world, so I am happy there’s some fresh air. Make no mistake, though, this pandemic changes me — and I’m sure the majority of people — in one shape or another. For me, I realized even more how much I don’t like being around larger crowds and how I have no issues staying 3-6 feet away from people. Here’s hoping the positive movement continues throughout this year!

And now that the spring is here, there’s color. There’s people out and about. There’s the smell of the spring. It’s very welcome. Work for me has been bonkers and will be through this month, so I’ll be happy when it eventually ends.

So, here we are. Another month. Has spring sprung for you? Here are my five!

1-2. Baseball!

OK, this is so welcomed! Before April, I hadn’t seen a baseball game live and in person since September 2019. To say I’m loving it would be an understatement! I’ve seen a handful of games so far and it’s been great. It’s even better being able to keep a scorebook and just enjoy things.

3. May showers and flowers

It’s been a bit rainy out there and the flowers show it some. The colors have been great, at least while these blooms have lasted.

4. Blue skies and clouds

After a dreary and gray winter… skies like this are so welcome!

5. Hiking views

I’ve been out hiking a little bit and I’ve loved some of the views!

And there are my five for the month!

If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.

And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).

Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too! NOTE: We have a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.

** CHALLENGE CHANGE **

From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.

That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.

So, below is the linkup for May. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for June is DIY! … Remember to come back on July 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: May 2021 results

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Photo Blogging Challenge (April 2021): Drink up

Note: Please make sure you see the end of this post for the new way of doing things. It’s only one small change we made in November, but a change nonetheless. Thanks!

OK, so …

This deserves a bit of a face slap. Especially considering I am the one who posts the themes and such. Alas … here’s the story.

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For this month, I had it in my mind that the theme was liquid. Not anything about drinking. So I had gathered a few photos when I happened to check out the post for last month … I noticed the “Drink up” theme. We dammit … the photos I did already have didn’t work, so it was back to the drawing board. I set up a light box tonight to snap some photos and I tried to come up with a different look at the theme. I think, for the most part, I captured it. I think there’s a few things I could have done differently, but I also didn’t feel like cracking something open and drinking it (you’ll see what I mean below), so I had to adapt in a different way. No problem with that. What I need to do for May is to keep the theme in my head and on my calendars. I’m taking more photos lately, so that should help.

That’s my story. I hope you all had a smoother theme month than that!

The weather seems to be changing here, and I hope it’s the same for you. Be safe and healthy and here are my five for the month.

1. A spot of tea?

I do love a cup of tea. I tend to go back and forth from teabags to loose tea, but I enjoy trying different flavors and brands. Fruity ones are more of my favorite.

2. Flavors

I have worked to try and drink as little soda and things like that as possible. I drink a lot of water, but sometimes I feel like I need to get some flavor. I like the no-sugar options that are out there. This is a few of them.

3. Red Solo cups

Whenever I see them … I still go back to my youth. Outdoor parties and filling ’em up.

4. Nectar of the Gods

I wasn’t in the mood for one tonight, or this photo would probably be of the pint glass! Either way, Guinness is amazing!

5. Water

This is from a trip from a few years ago. I picked it up and never opened it. I just thought it was very cool. Though I do wonder about water out of a tin/aluminum bottle.

And there are my five for the month!

If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.

And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).

Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too! NOTE: We have a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.

** CHALLENGE CHANGE **

From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.

That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.

So, below is the linkup for April. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for May is Spring has sprung! … Remember to come back on May 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: April 2021 results

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Photo Blogging Challenge (March 2021): Eight

Note: Please make sure you see the end of this post for the new way of doing things. It’s only one small change we made in November, but a change nonetheless. Thanks!

Eight years.

Though this challenge has had its ups and downs, and sometimes (winks) runs a little late. But, for eight years, we’ve held this challenge. And so it will continue.

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In the eighth years this challenge has taken place, it’s held different looks and feels. Sometimes we had a lot of people. Other times, not so much. Over time, I’ve seen a difference in blogging as a whole — me included. Ever since the one year where I did one post a day, I’ve just sputtered on every aspect of blogging. But I would rather not lose this. So where do I go with it? I don’t know … but eight years of blogging this challenge has made me realize there are a lot of people in this world who still blog for the reasons I started. I never looked to make money on it (I didn’t mind the occasional freebie), I always did it as a way to just write and get my thoughts out on things. But the photos has always been the fun part of blogging. That’s why even though, at times, I’ve struggled — I’ve always wanted this to continue.

But I digress.

Eight years has been a blast … and I hope there is more to come.

Make sure you all read each things here … there might be some surprises!

I hope you all had a good month and here’s also hoping for the future months to be as good or better. Be safe and healthy and here are my five for the month.

1. Eight

I’m trying to journal a bit this year and get back to pen to paper. I’ve been pretty good about it, but there’s been some missed days as I find my style and way I want to do things. I thought this made for a good entry!

2. Snail mail

I been into Postcrossing for quite a while, but like other things, I go in spurts. So I have a lot of postcards. Here are eight of them. And what should I do with these eight? Well … if you are commenting or a regular participant of the challenge and would like a postcard… let me know in the comments (you’ll need to privately send me an address).

3. Meeples

I love board games. And meeples are pretty awesome. So here are eight of them!

4. Pathtags

Part of geocaching is collecting personal items — including pathtags. Pathtags are individual coin-type items that colorful and detailed. I’ve had several made during my geocaching time. Here are eight of them. I haven’t had one done in a few years, but I might have to think about doing a new one soon.

5. Dice

I have quite a collection of dice. Here’s a few showing 8.

And there are my five for the month!

If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.

And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).

Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too! NOTE: We have a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.

** CHALLENGE CHANGE **

From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.

That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.

So, below is the linkup for December. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for April is Drink up … Remember to come back on May 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: March 2021 results

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Living with Diabetes: March 2021

It’s been a while since I did one of these posts, and there’s quite a bit to catch up on. Heck, to be fair, I’ve barely touched the blog outside of the Photo Blogging Challenge, so I need to kick it. 

The one thing I always loved about this monthly post was the accountability that it gave me. Without it, part of my accountability goes away. 

And my numbers have shown it. 

Living with Diabetes logo

I also realized I started writing one of these posts in February, and I never finished it and posted. So I am going to take things from that one and add a little more, so this could be a little longer. But that’s OK. I realize not a lot of people read these so it’s, for me, usually a way I can get my thoughts out there about how things are going. 

So where to begin?

As I write this, we are a year into the current pandemic. We’ve all been going through issues over the past year. The world is still crazy, mad, scared, upset, and every other feeling and emotion you can come up with. 

It just seems everybody reaches a breaking point and, at times, I feel I’ve reached said point more than once. 

First … the numbers

Since I’ve written about this last, I’ve had two A1C tests and they are up. But this was expected. I knew I wasn’t doing the best. The second one actually went down a smidge, but that’s because of how I rebounded in the final month. If I hadn’t, I can’t imagine what it would be. 

And why is this? 

I explained to my primary (after the first test) that yes, I knew, but I also knew what was part of it – everything going on. From the pandemic, to the political world, to everything else – I wasn’t being smart. I ate like shit, I wasn’t watching things, and when my finger prick checking of my blood sugars wasn’t great (even when I was being smart), I got frustrated and pissed off. 

So I’d eat. 

Yeah, not the smartest thing in the world, that’s for sure. And I knew it wasn’t smart, but I had no self-control. It was a crutch. 

That being said, I was keeping up my walking, for the most part. I’d stay as active as I could, but my free time was often on a computer and kind of tuning out life. 

But why?

Look, the past year has been tough. Everybody has their own story or narrative about the year. And if you are in different parts of the United States, or in another country – everything going on has a different impact on you. Some have taken it worse than others. The suicide rate is up. Depression is up. Tension is up. Some people haven’t worked in months. Others are working too much. Some want to be working. Some would rather be in their home away from everything. 

The way one person has been dealing with the past year won’t be identical to the next person. 

But, because this is from my eyes, let me outline a few quick snapshots. 

When this pandemic started, I was in the corner that we’d figure a way to contain it and we’d be back at it by May or June. I came to this conclusion based on things that had happened over the past 20 years (Ebola etc) where the world didn’t have to shut down. As it wore on, I realized it wouldn’t be a quick fix. I, like many others, had to come to terms with that. 

So, I buckled down and went at it. My workload from March through June was incredibly high. I did more hours in that span than I can account for, but it had to be done. And ever since, it’s been up and down with normal hours to many more. All part of life. 

But the little things get to you. As you look back and reflect, you can start pinpointing different aspects. I couldn’t go to baseball games. I didn’t want to eat out (I still don’t). I didn’t go geocaching or explore. I didn’t go on photo trips. I didn’t get to travel at all. I barely saw family and friends. 

This is the type of stuff that really gets to you. 

Politics

And what else did it? The presidential election in the United States. It doesn’t matter what side of the spectrum you were on for this – it was overwhelming. You have a global pandemic going on, social justice movements, and an insanely polarizing election cycle. No matter who one backed, there was tension. There were heated arguments and then add in social distancing (or lack thereof) and it got worse. 

No matter who one backed – we all had part in this situation. And the sad part is that it didn’t end in November, or even December, or hell, even January. It’s still going. We’re a nation divided and it doesn’t help with people and their mental well being. 

I’ve learned the block/unfriend/unfollow/mute buttons are very helpful in the social media world when it comes to a lot of this. I do it quietly, though. I’m not one of those who screams out I am leaving a group or I am eliminating people off my lists … I just do it. And believe me, I’ve done this to people on both sides of the political spectrum. It’s been nice that things have been relatively quiet, too. We know neither side is perfect — that’s for sure — but things being quiet is nice.

The weather

Depending where you live, this may or may not be something you are dealing with, too. But this winter near me has been shitty. It seems like we can’t go a couple of days without snow. And it’s not like we are getting feet at a time. It’s that steady, annoying, an inch or two here and there sort of snow.

We had a lot of snow this winter … which made things tough as well.

Sometimes it’s fluffy, sometimes it’s that “wet” heavier snow – like snowball weather. 

This really messes with your mind, too. 

There’s a day of sun and blue skies and you feel, even if it’s cold, that maybe something is turning. Then what happens? The next three days it snows. Two inches one day. Four the next. Three the next. It’s depressing. 

And it also forces me to stay in more. While I don’t mind walking in the cold, if I am out shoveling multiple times over a two- or three-day span, my energy is drained. 

And sure, shoveling 

The weather has been starting to turn for the better, though, so I am hopeful. But, I never think winter is done in my area until March ends. That being said, I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Into my small world

Though I was a bit more outgoing and “free” when I was younger, I’ve become way more of an introvert in my adult life. “Adulting” absolutely wears me out. Small talk drives me crazy because nobody knows where to end a chat and all. Sometimes, I just want to put on some headphones and block out the world. 

I’ve had my own bouts with different things. If I have a day or two where my blood sugar is too high, I can go in several directions. I can get angry. Or frustrated. Or upset. Or any other emotion. It’s a battle that goes up and down based on my daily mood. 

The stress of work doesn’t help, either. 

The stress of life, too. 

I’ve been looking to buy a house, as well as a new car sometime this summer. I’ve thought about a dog (which I think would help me), and I’ve looked into buying a kayak this summer. I’d like to explore more and ride my bike more. And walk more. Some of these are big, some are small. But they all add up to make it hard, at times, to keep focused on other things.

Mental health

This is real. 

Think about yourself through all of this. Have you had any mental health issues? Has it taken a toll on your health at all? How’s your blood pressure? If you have diabetes, how are your numbers? How are other things? Are there any other underlying issues that have worsened during this time?

I have had my moments, that’s for sure.

Overall, though, I’ve taken it in stride the best I could. I’ve found ways to cope – whether it be a walk or binge watching something on Netflix, or trying to figure a way to shape my new personal journal (which may be one reason I haven’t blogged as much). Too often, I tend to slink back to the computer and that needs to change a little. The computer can be fun, be it some games or surfing or researching — but turning off the screen is important as well.

I’m trying to find different ways to do things to ease stress and I think that will help overall. The warmer weather will help. I plan to start playing some golf again as the weather improves, and I’ll be walking the courses more. Maybe I’ll get back to playing some disc golf. I want to explore some state parks. If a dog comes along, well … that can only help. Home ownership could help as well with all that it would involve. I want to do more with photography, and especially videography.

It’s the little things that will help. 

OK, we get it … the numbers. 

So … about those numbers 

The last two A1C reports were in the upper 8s – obviously not where I want to be. 

But … 

One of my recent readings before dinner.

A month ago, I met with a dietician. She was uber helpful. She helped shape my meals. She offered ideas based on what I like to eat. She talked about calories, and carbs. She explained certain things. And we worked on what I could do. 

The results have been crazy good. 

I made a spreadsheet to document what my finger prick readings were for the past month and it’s quite wild to see it drop. Over the course of four weeks my numbers have gotten much closer to where they should be and for that, I am excited and thankful. It gives me the drive to keep it up and see what I can do. 

Look, the reality is this – I don’t want my medication upped. In fact, I want it downsized. For this to happen, I need to do the right thing. I also requested a new blood glucose reader – one that syncs up with the MySugr app, so that should help as well. I’ll be excited when that arrives. 

And when I saw my doctor earlier this week? I’m down 11 pounds. So that is also a good thing that helps in many ways. If I can continue my progress and do things right — maybe I can finally build the habits I need to get healthier.

Moving forward

I have some goals for this year. I’d like to continue the weight loss. I’d like to get a bit more active with my walking (pick up the pace again), and hike/explore some. Maybe do some biking and kayaking. All that will help. And by the end of the year (I would have 2-3 more A1C tests this year as I go every three months), I want that A1C staying under 7 – as low into those 6s as I can get. 

And, I need to get blogging about these things more – not just this monthly write up, but the other features I have on here that have been neglected – such as the walking with a purpose and On The Trail. 

I can’t guarantee I’ll be full force, but I am going to try and do a bit more. I’ve really crawled into a shell and I need to come back out and experience life a bit more. 

And in the end, I think that will help me overall. 

I hope everybody is getting through this pandemic. Be safe. Mask up when needed. Have some distance. Be healthy. Be happy. 

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!