A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

blogging

BWF: Party season

Party season

Let’s get those calendars ready.

Soon, we’ll be flipping the calendars to 2021. And it will be a hard one, ya know? I mean, who doesn’t want to hang on to 2020, what with the shortages of toilet paper, being shut down or held back, not being able to travel fully, and, oh yeah, a deadly virus. 

Add to that one of the most nasty and contentious presidential campaigns (as well as other offices) in my lifetime and who wouldn’t want it to end. 

Alas, we need to end it with a bang, don’t we? 

It’s December. The holiday season! Parties galore! Maybe it’s for the office. Or something among friends! Booze will be flowing freely, I am sure. Some great food with everybody dipping their hands into the servings. 

Mmmm mmmm good!

Imagine all those hugs. Maybe a few smooches. And depending on the party and people, who knows what else. 

Goodness, the holidays are upon us and the people are ready. 

But wait, 2020. You’ve really messed up our year, haven’t you? 

People are anxious. Tired. Nervous. Well, probably half. The other half seem to think they are bionic and can just waddle through everything. 

So party season? 

It won’t be like it usually is. The holidays – for many – will be smaller. The office parties and huge gatherings? I’d think most will be skipped this year. 

This virus is real and maybe with vaccines and such coming, we’ll start seeing something change. 

But the party season? 

I’m honestly going to be happy if my family stays healthy and we can have a small gathering for Christmas (it’s usually only seven or eight of us). 

I’m not much of a party goer. I used to love our softball team parties for the holidays back when I still played. But outside of that, I was never much for going to them. When I was younger, I loved the holidays with bars. However, I honestly haven’t been in a true bar for a beer since I stopped playing softball a few years ago. 

For those who live in areas where the “restrictions” may not be as strong, I hope you will all consider being smart this holiday season. Follow public health protocols. What we don’t need this party season is a massive breakout.

Stay smart. Stay healthy. Wear a mask.

Blog With Friends: December 2020
Blog with Friends is a themed collaboration challenge where a group of bloggers get together and publish a project based on a theme. Please see the others who have taken part for this month’s theme carrots. Links to their posts can be found below the image!

This is the final Blog with Friends. It’s been a fun little run and glad I was able to be part of it at the end!

Check out what the others did with home!

Enjoy blogging challenges? We have several that happen here, and we’d love to have you join us! The Photo Blogging Challenge is one of our main ones and it runs monthly! Join us as well for the Food Photo Challenge!. We’d love to see you!

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!

Secret Subject Swap: What was the best thing that happened to you (2020)?

This post is for the Secret Subject Swap, a monthly blog challenge. Information about the swap can be viewed at the end of this post, as well as links to all others taking part. Have a peek at some of the other bloggers and see what they had to come up with. If you are a blogger, consider joining up for future months!

My theme is “2020 has been challenging. What was the best thing that happened to you??” and it was submitted by Part-time Hockey Mom.

2020. 

It’s like we barely knew ya. Or, in most cases, we wish we didn’t know ya. 

During a normal year, this type of theme could be pretty interesting. My guess is I would have to really go through things and really think hard on different things. 

This year, a theme like this is a struggle. 

As a whole, I think society took a step backward. In the United States, the political spectrum has created a pretty strong line. Add in social injustices and it divides more, which is truly unfortunate. 

When it comes to Covid, I can’t say how it is in other countries (outside of what I see on social media), but it seems as a whole, once again, we’re pretty divided. Mental health issues are without on the rise, and every other issue that is combined with Covid has really strained society around the globe. 

And that, folks, is life in 2020. 

However, there has to be good, right?

Even in the worst of times, there are bright spots. But to get to the personal bright spots, you need to look at the low spots and realize where you’ve been. Remember, too, low spots to some might be nothing to others. In times like this, we have to look at each person. 

For example, my summers are usually full of baseball games. I didn’t get to go to one this year and it was an extreme downer, especially because it’s a big stress reliever for me. Going to a game is a way for me to kind of relax and spend some time in a happy place. 

Since March, too, it’s been high stress with work. I’ve been on the go for most of it and the projects that I had to undertake to help in a lot of spots have taken a toll on me. The only true “vacation” I had was in the first two weeks in July, and that was much needed. But overall, it’s been constant. 

But as much of a downer as life can be right now – and it still is at times – life hasn’t been a total strikeout. The one thing about situations that back humans into a corner .. there’s a lot of good that comes out of it. 

I’ve been able to be outside. I’ve been able to talk with friends. I’ve been able to breathe fresh air and take photos. My job has (hopefully will continue) been safe and there’s no shortage of projects and things to work on, especially in the world of communications. 

But I can’t point out one definitive thing that is the best. 

I know 2020 has whipped me, but at the same time, it’s shown me how to have resolve, and how to try and remain upbeat and positive. 

I can’t say it always works, but at times it does. 

The year has allowed me to learn to journal more; to try and be better organized (at least professionally) and to rely not just on modern technology, but old-school pen to paper. 

It’s made me look for the better parts of life, too. Look, we all know life can be a bull at times. But it’s little things. Maybe it’s sneaking a piece of chocolate. Waking up and going for a walk on a crisp morning. Seeing the leaves change brilliant colors in the fall. 

It’s not easy, no, but there’s good out there. 

This year hasn’t produced that “wow” moment for me. But it’s allowed me to dial things back slightly. I mean, one thing I guess is my savings went up. Several planned trips were canceled, so the money has been in my account. That’s not a bad thing. 

It’s all about just trying to stay ahead and find the good things. There’s a lot of positive things that have happened, even with all the crap going on in the world. 

How about all of you? What was the best thing that happened?

Five others have taken part in this challenge, so go check out the other posts and have some fun reading their secret subjects!

Enjoy blogging challenges? We have several that happen at A ‘lil HooHaa, and we’d love to have you join us! The Photo Blogging Challenge is one of our main ones and it runs monthly! We also have the Food Photo Challenge (current theme listed at end of post). We’d love to see you!

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!

BWF: Home

“Home” has really taken on a new definition since this past March. 

For many people, their home became not just home – but their office. And maybe even more. It almost became a bunker. A place where you could feel safe. 

Your fortress, to a point. 

A home is many, many things … but I am not sure any of us could have predicted how things would have been shaped in 2020, right?

I’ve recently, in the past two years or so, have gotten myself better financially and have realized my current job is one I’ll likely be keeping for my career as it’s something I enjoy, has decent pay, and great benefits. 

So I thought it would be good to start thinking about maybe buying a house. Or some land and get a home done so it’s mine from the beginning. 

Finding what I truly want hasn’t been easy. There are times I look closer than others. I probably should contact an agent (I know a few) and have them start helping me. 

What I seek is pretty defined. I want 8-10 acres, especially some wooded, so I can have some nature trails over time. A decent lawn so I can maybe have some apple trees and a garden of some sort. 

If I am not having a house built (I would look at manufactured), I don’t want to have to do a ton of work (I’m not one who would do it myself), or if it requires a bunch of work – the price needs to be right. 

When COVID first came about and then drained into the second and third months … I started thinking maybe I’d be able to find something at a decent price. Would it be a buyer’s market?

Turns out it’s not. 

It’s a seller’s market. People from downstate are buying upstate homes, often sight unseen and paying higher than market value. 

And well, that doesn’t help people like me. 

So I keep working to find a house that I can turn into my long-term home. I know eventually, it will happen and I’ll be able to put my own stamp on it. 

That home, though, might have to come after COVID!

Blog With Friends: November 2020
Blog with Friends is a themed collaboration challenge where a group of bloggers get together and publish a project based on a theme. Please see the others who have taken part for this month’s theme carrots. Links to their posts can be found below the image!

Check out what the others did with home!

Enjoy blogging challenges? We have several that happen here, and we’d love to have you join us! The Photo Blogging Challenge is one of our main ones and it runs monthly! Join us as well for the Food Photo Challenge!. We’d love to see you!

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!

Secret Subject Swap: What does Thanksgiving mean to me?

This post is for the Secret Subject Swap, a monthly blog challenge. Information about the swap can be viewed at the end of this post, as well as links to all others taking part. Have a peek at some of the other bloggers and see what they had to come up with. If you are a blogger, consider joining up for future months!

My theme is “What does Thanksgiving mean to you?” and it was submitted by Baking in a Tornado.

It’s interesting to take a look at some holidays. Thanksgiving, for the most part, has been one of my least-favorite holidays. 

Not sure why, but it’s never “wowed” me. Maybe it’s because I’m not the biggest fan of turkey. So my thoughts about Thanksgiving have kind of grown over time. Let me break it down. 

When I was younger, it was just time off from school. The family gathered on Thanksgiving and we ate. It was always earlier because it’s a holiday. 

When I got older, it took on a different meaning. 

As in – drinking. 

I’m not sure if it’s this way around you, but Thanksgiving Eve near me is one of the biggest bar nights of the year. We used to start early and end late, usually in a drunken stupor. 

But goodness was it a blast. 

People came back to town. The bars were packed. You saw people in different groups. It was just one of those nights to look forward to. 

Alas, as I grew older, that wasn’t as fun. I last did it a few years ago. But … things have changed. How? It was me and two friends who decided to pop out. We went early, had a couple of beers, and called it a night. We weren’t out late. 

That was maybe 4-5 years ago. And I don’t think I’ve been to many bars since then, period. After some softball games before I stopped playing a couple of years ago, but overall? I don’t do it often. 

And now, we bring it to the current years. It’s back to the family thing, which I enjoy much more. It’s way more low-key. It’s enjoyable just to be around family. 

So what does it mean to me? It means some peace and relaxing. It’s fun to be able to just hang out, have some good food and chill. It’s also nice to get three days off from work. When I was in newspapers, that was the one holiday I often volunteered to work because my family always ate early, and I could get in to do a shift, 

Now, though? 

Hanging with family. Having a good meal. And a cold turkey sandwich at night. Football is not part of my tradition. So it’s just a way to chill and enjoy being able to be around loved ones. 

How about all of you?

Five others have taken part in this challenge, so go check out the other posts and have some fun reading their secret subjects!

Enjoy blogging challenges? We have several that happen at A ‘lil HooHaa, and we’d love to have you join us! The Photo Blogging Challenge is one of our main ones and it runs monthly! We also have the Food Photo Challenge (current theme listed at end of post). We’d love to see you!

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!

BWF: Apples, apples, everywhere!

It’s a rough world right now. 

Between elections and pandemics and hate, it’s probably a bit more than many of us can handle. Stress levels are high, mental health issues are in the forefront, and it seems many people can’t get along. 

The one thing, however, we can usually *attempt* to control is ourselves. 

We can’t shield ourselves from everything, outside of going into the mountains and living off the land in a shack. That actually kind of sounds divine, doesn’t it? The news cycle is 24/7, so if you are around anything where news can be found, you’ll hear something. 

So what can you do to relax? To calm down? To find the inner zen?

Get outside, of course. 

This is something I haven’t done in a couple of years. And, to be honest, it’s probably silly that I haven’t. But if you want to escape from reality, find an apple orchard. 

Go pick apples. 

Take photos. 

Take some videos. 

When you go to apple orchards, you can really have a good time. Apples on the trees, on the ground, and all over. What’s nice is the color and the smells. 

And you are outside. 

It’s not just about picking some apples. Though, let’s be honest here, it’s a good part. All these varieties of apples gives you the chance to test so many different types. 

Rows and rows of apples. 

Proof that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!

This isn’t a perfect fix, of course. But it’s little things like this that can really make you take a step back in life a little and breathe. When you are out doing things like this, you have the ability to ignore things like social media, and your phone, and things like that. 

Maybe it’s only for an hour, but it’s not a bad thing, is it?

The one thing I’ve learned during this pandemic – especially over the past month or two – is there are a lot of things out there you can do to try and clear your head, all while staying safe. You just have to look. 

Depending where you are, apple season is still likely going on. Go find an orchard. Pick some apples. And clear your mind!

And always remember, an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! You’ll see that!

Blog With Friends: October 2020
Blog with Friends is a themed collaboration challenge where a group of bloggers get together and publish a project based on a theme. Please see the others who have taken part for this month’s theme carrots. Links to their posts can be found below the image!

Check out what the others did with carrots!

Enjoy blogging challenges? We have several that happen here, and we’d love to have you join us! The Photo Blogging Challenge is one of our main ones and it runs monthly! Starting up is the Food Photo Challenge and the Can of Corn Challenge. We’d love to see you!

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!