A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

blogging challenge

Reading, writing, and learning to journal in middle age

Throughout my life, I’ve always been a writer.

Sometimes it was professionally. Sometimes it was personal stuff. But I’ve always been that writer.

The one thing I haven’t been good at … was journaling.

That being said, one could argue that blogging is a way to journal — but I wanted it a little more traditional. The idea of bullet journaling has interested me for a while. I love seeing spreads and ideas on what people do. What I like about it is how it can work not just as a version of a traditional journal, but as a guide for life. I don’t look at it as a planner as many might. I look at it as a tool to document your doings, while still kind of keeping with your current life and staying on task. 

It’s funny, though. Sometimes one has to watch where they say things like this. Much like every other thing a person can do, when you get out in social media, things can get rather nasty – even with something like a bullet journal. Not to get on a soapbox – and I will keep this brief – but as I was learning about the different aspects and facets of bullet journaling, there are people who get downright forceful in their belief that their way; or maybe that of the originator’s way; or some other way – is the only way to do this. And if you go off that path, you are doing it wrong and so many internet people will lash into you over it. 

It’s a journal. Nothing more, nothing less. People will make it their own and do it their own way. Deal with it and move on. Better yet, if you feel the need to slam people over how they do things – move along. 

Anyway, I digress. 

I don’t need a lot of room for daily thoughts. I just need to make sure I stick with it!

I’ve never been successful with journals. I didn’t keep up or I didn’t get a flow. A bullet journal seemed to be something that could help me. (I have been working on a larger post about my path in bullet journaling in more detail and that will be coming out soon). I think it’s more about sitting down and trying to put personal thoughts to pen and paper more than anything, 

Reality is, the world is a crazy place, It can be amazingly good or shockingly bad. There’s a lot of middle ground, too. There’s heartbreak and joy. So much goes right and wrong in this world. But in the end, it’s not a bad time to be alive. Keeping that in mind, it’s also a time when the world needs to focus on people, be it good or be it topics like mental health. 

I work in schools and see a lot about mental health issues and what we can do about it. I’m very cognizant of my own mental health and realize sometimes you can’t keep things bottled up. I also know there needs to be an outlet of sorts where I can get thoughts out and understand my own path in life. 

Hence the journal. 

I like other aspects of journaling, which theoretically should help keep me on task.

Let me say that I’m a bit jealous of people who have journaled for years and who have created their own style and way of doing things. I’d love to go back and read my own writing about issues or successes in the past. I’d love to see my thoughts on a more personal level, and not just on my blog. Though I’ve shared some life-altering things in life on this blog, I tend not to get way too personal with a lot of other things. 

So this journey for me, is just starting. I read a lot about how journaling has helped. I’m trying to define a style and a schedule to keep. I haven’t done too well, so far. February was OK, but I haven’t done basically anything in March. April will be a new month and I’ll try to find that flow once again. So far, reading how others have done this is helping, but then I need to get to the doing part of things. 

It’s even harder doing this, though, as a middle age guy. I have so many other things I’m invested in, at times it feels like a burden, and that’s something I don’t want this to be. I’d like it to be something good. Just like anything else, I know I need to make it a routine and find a rhythm. I think if I can do that, I’ll start to feel that flow more. It might be where I need to do it every other day. My memory is good enough where I won’t forget all the good from the day before if I do it every couple of days. I’m not one who wants to do it whenever I think about something as it will then consume me. It needs to be real and organic for it to really work for me. 

I do feel that rhythm will be found, eventually, A few months from now, I’m sure I will look back and know there were just a few speed bumps in the way of getting things the way I need them to be. 

So how about all of you out there? Do you journal (and what form? Regular, BUJO) and, if so, how long have you been doing it? And what kind of routine do you have for journaling?

Blog With Friends: March 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 “Read Across America.” Links to their posts can be found below the image!

Check out what the others did with Read Across America!

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) 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!

Photo Blogging Challenge: March 2020’s theme is …

March?

Yikes! Next thing you know, we’ll be moving our clocks ahead and having longer days! That means more time for taking photos and, hopefully, other things for you!

PBC logo

March, each year, is a good time for this challenge as it marks another year we have been doing it. Of course over the years, we’ve seen fewer people take part. That being said, I do enjoy doing it, so we keep moving along and see what happens with it.

So as we celebrate our anniversary, let’s hope we find a way to grow the challenge and maybe get other people involved. I know there are a lot of challenges out there and people take part, but the beauty of this one is it’s all about interpretation and very open-ended. So let your blogging friends know and maybe we can grow!

Here’s the thing to always remember about this challenge: It doesn’t matter what you use to take the photos. It can be a DSLR, your phone, a compact camera, or heck, if you can get things set and scanned in time, a film camera! Just have fun and try and challenge yourself.

So with that in mind, let’s look at the monthly “group” challenges:

Challenge 1: Tell others about this photo blogging challenge and get some friends to come join us.  Let’s see if we can get people interested in the challenge again.

Challenge 2: Make friends with your camera and see what you can come up with. Have fun!

Challenge 3 is at the end of this post (the theme!).

Before this, here’s some housekeeping items. For those who might be new to the challenge, here’s how it works.

  • See the theme (first day of the month);
  • Take photos throughout the month (don’t use old ones!);
  • Select five photos and create a blog post;
  • Come back here and link up on the final day of the month;
  • Use the official hashtag — #Photoblogchal — on social media posts;
  • Hopefully go visit and comment on other blogs.

That’s it. There’s no rules on equipment or anything else. Blog posts can be short and to the point, or in-depth. Interpret the themes as you see fit.

The one big rule?

Have fun!

This month’s theme? Seven. If you’ve been with us for a while, I’m sure you had an idea what was coming for this month’s theme! Please make sure your blog post publishes Tuesday, March 31. Then come back here and link up.

If you think you are going to take part in this, drop a comment below so we can see who all might be trying to tackle this challenge!

There is also a Facebook group for those who are interested.

If you would like to visit the history of the challenge, which started in 2013, please go to the Photo Blogging Challenge page for more!

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 (February 2020): Money

Money. 

I mean, down deep, we all want it. Heck, we need it. Some people want more than others. But money makes the world go around, that’s for sure. 

And though they say money can’t provide happiness, I always say it’s a pretty good start. Think about how often money makes things tough or hurts relationships and lives. 

It’s taken me a few years to understand finances a bit. I’m getting better with it and am actually looking to be somewhat debt free (outside of student loans) within the next three years. Of course, I know there could be major purchases that would interfere with that; and then all the normal bills … but I’m talking about things such as credit cards and debt like that.

Anyway, money. 

When I first posted this theme, I had some ideas. I kind of went with said ideas, but the photos aren’t as … exciting … as I hoped. But they will do the job. 

For those of us who live in the states, you know our money is boring. It’s green, and it is just there. The coins are OK, but nothing special. 

If you look around the world, money is different. 

It’s colorful. It’s nice to look at or to use. The denominations are even quite different, as you’ll see. It’s something cool to see color with money and designs that make the money a bit more friendly, so to speak. 

What I set out to do was find some money that was nice to look at and share. eBay proved to be the spot as I found a place that sold some good stuff, so that’s what I am sharing. 

With all of that in mind, here are my five for February!

1. One billion!

Imagine having the largest bill? Yowza! These bills are from the former Yugoslavia. I couldn’t resist saying I was a billionaire, though!

2. Funky!

I love when the bills from other countries just have an interesting look, or what I would refer to as funky. Agree?

3. The colors!

When I look at these bills, from Madagascar, all I can think is the colors! I love how colorful the money is and how it just stands out. It’s so nice to look at. 

4. One with nature!

How nice are these bills? The nature is front and center as well. And I like the intricate details. 

5. Coins

Even coins from afar have such a nice look to them. The coins in the US aren’t bad, depending what you get. But some coins are just older and just don’t feel exciting.

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.

Make sure, too, to come back tomorrow to see March’s theme!

Photo Blogging Challenge: February 2020 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!

Masks and beads and food and drinks OH MY!

In all the years I’ve been on Earth, Mardi Gras is … not something I’ve known much about. 

Sure, you heard it every year. 

And supposedly it’s one hell of a party each year in New Orleans. 

There are beads. And colors. And drinks. And food. 

So.

Much.

Stuff. 

A bit on the backside of this – when I was younger, I didn’t mind going out for drinks and basic shenanigans. But I wasn’t much on massive parties and craziness. I never wanted to go somewhere south for spring break and I had no interest in places where the main objective was partying and getting, well, shitfaced. 

As I’ve gotten older, I look at things differently. I’m not into that shitfaced part, still, but I look at the whole Mardi Gras thing as an experience. And though I’m sure I’ll never do it, it’s still a bit more interesting to me, even if just for photography purposes. 

But what the hell is Mardi Gras? 

And why do I care about beads? 

I set out to find out, in easy terms what this day is and what kind of things you might be able to expect. 

So what is Mardi Gras? 

Also known as Fat Tuesday, it’s the day before Ash Wednesday and is the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before Lent season. 

Basically, stuff your face and live it up before giving up certain things for lent. 

This is not something observed throughout the United States (it’s different throughout the world, but being I’m in the States, I’ll stick with that), it is something you see in traditionally ethnic French cities and regions. New Orleans is one of the biggest and probably best known. 

Costumes are often part of these celebrations. Masks, costumes, and bright colors – often yellows, purples, and greens. Nowadays, the costumes can become elaborate, using feathers and capes as well. There sometimes are themes with the costumes. 

I know a few people who have done the Mardi Gras trip in New Orleans and one thing they pointed out is that some ladies like to go topless, which apparently has been documented since 1889 according Wikipedia. The French Quarter is seemingly a big place for this, where people will expose themselves on balconies, getting a crowd to form on the street below. 

And this is where the beads and trinkets apparently come into play. I was always curious about this and what the point was. Again, according to Wikipedia, it seems the rise of producing commercial videos catering to voyeurs has helped this, so the tradition is women bare their breasts in exchange for beads and trinkets. A study in 1991 found 1,200 instances of this happening!

Yowza!

So let’s flip this a little – to something a little more tame. 

Food and drinks. 

When I was originally looking at something for this challenge, my initial thought was to find a recipe and make it. One thing I noticed, though, is what the foods that seem to go with Mardi Gras are like – and that would be not very kind on my blood sugar! Have you seen the King’s Cake? It looks divine, but … it wouldn’t be good for me! 

The drinks… they look strong but tasty. Try a hurricane. I’d say it would be super delicious!

Mardi Gras is an interesting holiday. I honestly can’t say I’d head to New Orleans for this celebration, but I’d like to try some of the food and drinks. 

How about any of you? Have you been part of anything with Mardi Gras in the past? This year it is Tuesday, February 25.

Blog With Friends: February 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 Mardi Gras. Links to their posts can be found below the image!

Check out what the others did with Mardi Gras!

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!

Photo Blogging Challenge: February 2020’s theme is …

Well hello, leap year!

You know what that means … an extra day in February!

PBC logo

That means we are off and running in 2020 with our second month and you get that 29th day to get those photos done. We won’t be posting on the 29th of February for four more years.

Hopefully we last that long!

Anyway, drop a message letting us know you are taking part and maybe convince a blogging friend to join us as well! It’s the time to start snapping photos and getting things done!

Depending where you are, I hope you are staying warm and having a good year so far!

Before we get to this month’s theme, let’s do our monthly “group” challenges:

Challenge 1: Tell others about this photo blogging challenge and get some friends to come join us.  Let’s see if we can get people interested in the challenge again.

Challenge 2: Make friends with your camera and see what you can come up with. Have fun!

Challenge 3 is at the end of this post (the theme!).

Before this, here’s some housekeeping items. For those who might be new to the challenge, here’s how it works.

  • See the theme (first day of the month);
  • Take photos throughout the month (don’t use old ones!);
  • Select five photos and create a blog post;
  • Come back here and link up on the final day of the month;
  • Use the official hashtag — #Photoblogchal — on social media posts;
  • Hopefully go visit and comment on other blogs.

That’s it. There’s no rules on equipment or anything else. Blog posts can be short and to the point, or in-depth. Interpret the themes as you see fit.

The one big rule?

Have fun!

This month’s theme? Money. This is a pretty broad stroke, so hopefully you can have fun with it and find some great images!! Please make sure your blog post publishes Saturday, February 29. Then come back here and link up.

If you think you are going to take part in this, drop a comment below so we can see who all might be trying to tackle this challenge!

There is also a Facebook group for those who are interested.

If you would like to visit the history of the challenge, which started in 2013, please go to the Photo Blogging Challenge page for more!

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!