Steve’s Music Mix – The Kipling Version

March 20, 2014 The Indecisive Eejit15 Comments

For those of you still not familiar with the workings of Steve’s Music Mix, what on earth have you been up to and where have you been, we’re on week a million already…ffs!

If however you are interested, here is a refresher of the rules:

Each week Steve will post 3 new questions so…

(1) Go to the music player of your choice and put it on shuffle
(2) Say the questions aloud and press play
(3) Use the song title as your answers
(4) NO CHEATING

Title your post “Steve’s Music Mix – …” and link back to this week’s page.

Post your response in the comment section of that week’s page.

Have a look at the Archives or click on the “Music Mix” category in the category cloud on this page to see all previous weeks.

Any suggestions for future questions welcomed!

For more information, to submit ideas for future questions or just general feedback go to Steve’s Music Mix.

This Weeks Questions

1. If I ruled the World? – Hurt U by Dusted – I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone. If I ruled the world I’d want to stop all the pain and fighting, a task which seems impossible. I would make people pay for their misdemeanors, but as it’s hard to imagine a world without crime I would have to devise a rather clever and flawless penal system. All I can think right now is, am I ever glad I don’t rule the world!!

2. If only I could? – Freshy by Will.I.am – I’d love to feel all freshy and alive every morning on waking up. Sadly for me it’s more like, WTF!? Shut that alarm clock up before it flies through the air to meet Mr Wall!

3. If I had a million dollars? – Telephone and Rubber Band by The Penguin Cafe Orchestra – Whilst initially I looked at this and thought how random, for me it’s actually pretty spot on. I have a fetish for stationary and I love mobile phones, so were I to have a million dollars in my possession I might indeed buy a telephone and a rubber band. By the way if you have never heard of the band, well they are more of an orchestra, check them out. Brilliant easy listening!

Steve’s Music Mix – Me, Myself & I

February 17, 2014 The Indecisive Eejit9 Comments

I missed last week, bad me! But in an effort to make amends I am doing the quiz on the day it is actually published, surely that has to win me some brownie points!

Rules Recap

Each week Steve will post 3 new questions so…

(1) Go to the music player of your choice and put it on shuffle
(2) Say the questions aloud and press play
(3) Use the song title as your answers
(4) NO CHEATING

Title your post “Steve’s Music Mix – …” and link back to this week’s page. You can also find out all the gen by clicking the link!

Post your response in the comment section of that week’s page.

Have a look at the Archives or click on the “Music Mix” category in the category cloud on this page to see all previous weeks.

Any suggestions for future questions welcomed!

For more information, to submit ideas for future questions or just general feedback go to Steve’s Music Mix.

This Week’s Questions!

1. I feel Like? – Hallucinations from the Tudors Soundtrack – I’m not actually sure I would like to experience Hallucinations, unless of course they were going to be much more exciting than real life. I suppose it would mean I always had someone to talk to though!

2. I want to? – Satisfaction – Swedish House Mafia – Hmmm now that’s quite pertinent since Valentines Day has just passed. If I said that right now I can’t seem to get any satisfaction it would send your minds down the wrong path entirely so I’ll just skip on quickly!

3. I need to? – Thousand Crazy Nights – Go Music Go – Oh I could so do with a Thousand Crazy Nights out on the town to blow of the cobwebs and make me feel that there is more to life than work, cooking and cleaning. Anyone up for a huge WordPress Party?

Check out Steve’s page using the links for more information and to throw in your two pence worth if so inclined!

Fellowship of the Ring Haiku: Three is Company

February 3, 2014 The Indecisive Eejit17 Comments

Laith’s Ramblings has started the above Group Haiku Project. I’m only learning about all things Haiku, ask Rob, I posted my very first on his Haiku Challenge. You can also ask Laith, who provided me with some tips.

I liked the idea of this when I first saw it, but didn’t feel confident enough to take part. I outlined all my excuses to Laith, who was very understanding. But I’ve decided to grab the bull by the horns and give it a go, because the Lord of the Rings Trilogy are three of my favourite films.

The books are being done in chapters and there are still some slots available should you wish to join in. You can read all about it here.

Three is Company

All possessions sold,

Frodo and friends leave the Shire.

Danger lies ahead.

Make sure to check out the previous posts! and thank you Laith for accepting me at the last minute!

Leave your shoes at the door!

February 2, 2014February 9, 2014 The Indecisive Eejit23 Comments

I don’t normally do the DP Weekly challenge, but this one’s Rara’s so I’m going to give it a go!

Weekly Writing Challenge: Leave Your Shoes at the Door

I’m usually afraid to do challenges like this because I am always scared that my interpretation of the question will be so far off the wall that no one will have a clue what I am on about.

For some strange reason when I thought about this challenge all I could think about was writing what it would be like to walk in someone else’s shoes for a day. Then I thought, why would I walk in someone else’s shoes, when for so many reasons I am not comfortable walking in my own.

On the 5th July 2012 my life changed. People had a habit of saying to me, if you don’t slow down, something is going to happen to make you slow down. My Mum had a mini stroke which resulted with a bleed on the brain around 10 – 12 years ago. Over the last 5 – 6 years she has been getting worse with regards to memory, speech etc, albeit very slowly.

I’d already started to do the housework on Saturdays, after working all week, and then heading in for a 10 hour night shift on a Saturday night. My own work at the time was pretty stressful and on the day of my accident the form in the house was pretty bad. Walking through the living room I tripped and ruptured the patella tendon in my left knee.

I’d never had surgery before. I’m not ashamed to say I cried. It was the first time I’d had to sign a form to acknowledge the fact that I might die during some procedure or another. Thankfully I came out the other side.

In the following months during my recovery, I was really low. Always used to working I found the whole doing nothing thing was harder than I imagined. I’m a terrible worrier, in fact, if I am not worrying, I start to worry that I have forgotten what the original problem was. I am also crippled with anxiety. I am finally able to admit it now. I was worried I was never going to walk again.

Being at home for 6 months allowed me to see just how much my Mum had deteriorated and about a month before I was due to go back to work I started to cook the dinners, I was the hop along chef! It’s stayed like that ever since. Now I do the washing, change the beds, all the cooking and cleaning.

I can no longer walk in the shoes I wore pre accident, and I am not walking the same path either. Everything has changed, I can’t honestly say for the better. If I had a pound for all the people who have told me it will get worse before it gets better, I’d be a rich woman.

I have no self confidence, I am a born worrier prone to anxiety and despite how I come across I am actually quite shy until I get to know you, being behind a computer screen is fine. I also now have an intermittent limp and pain most days, but I am walking and that’s the main thing.

So now you see why I wouldn’t feel comfortable writing about being in someone else’s shoes, until I am comfortable in my own. I have a lot of work to do! I need to get new shoes :)

There’s a what, in the where….

January 27, 2014January 27, 2014 The Indecisive Eejit21 Comments

The fact that he had just been told there was a spaceship in his neighbours garage should really have caused Seamus some concern right? The thing is, if you knew anything about the man next door at all, then you would understand that in the grand scheme of things a little spaceship wasn’t that much out of character.

So the news found Seamus calmly shrugging his shoulders as opposed to running about the yard like a headless chicken, whilst squealing like a pig!

“So what does he plan to do with this spaceship then?” he asked.

“Well dance to it I presume,” said Billy looking at his best friend quizzically. “What the feck did you think he was going to do with it?”

Seamus started to laugh, until that is he looked at Billy’s face and realised that he was actually serious.

“Is there some kind of little dance you do to get it started? Does dancing make it happy? How the hell can you dance to a spaceship, Billy ffs, catch yourself on!”

“There’s no need for the sarcasm sunshine, I’m pretty sure you press a button to turn it on, and dancing to it certainly seems to make him next door happy. Yesterday I heard him singing along to it as well.”

“Billy sometimes I wonder about yo….” started an exasperated Seamus.

“Look if you don’t believe me, see for yourself, there he goes now to get it started,” said Billy pointing towards the garage at the top of the garden.

Sure enough, giving them a wave, their neighbour slipped in through the garage doors. Many bangs and clanks could be heard from within.

“Any minute now,” shouted an excited Billy bouncing up and down.

Next thing Seamus sees are the doors of the garage being flung open and he can hardly believe what his ears are hearing, as out of the garage comes the all to familiar lyrics….

♪ Looking in your eyes I see a paradise, This world that I found is too good to be true.
Standing here beside you, Want so much to give you…… ♪

“I know what I want to give you Billy ya fecking dickhead, that’s not a spaceship, that’s Starship!! See if I get my hands on you……”

Written for the Okay, What If? Month Long Writing Challenge – What if you discovered a space-ship in your neighbor’s garage?

Steve’s Music Mix – Communication

January 27, 2014 The Indecisive Eejit12 Comments

SteveDJ — Join Steve doing the funky chicken!

So I know this makes two similar posts in quick succession, but for once I am trying to be a little ahead of myself by doing something on time.

Again, here is a refresher of the rules for Steve’s Musix Mix for this week!

The Blurb

Each week Steve will post 3 new questions so…

(1) Go to the music player of your choice and put it on shuffle
(2) Say the questions aloud and press play
(3) Use the song title as your answers
(4) NO CHEATING

Title your post “Steve’s Music Mix – …” and link back to this week’s page.

Post your response in the comment section of that week’s page.

Have a look at the Archives or click on the “Music Mix” category in the category cloud on this page to see all previous weeks.

Any suggestions for future questions welcomed!

For more information, to submit ideas for future questions or just general feedback go to Steve’s Music Mix.

This weeks questions:

1. Are you a good listener? – The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver by Elbow – This song contains the lyric’s ‘Send up a prayer in my name. Just the same. They say I’m on top of my game’ So I guess that means I must be a good listener right?! I suppose the best people to ask would have to be my friends.
2. Are you a good public speaker – Metropolis by Owl City – Hmmm I would have no desire to publicly speak in front of a whole Metropolis. I actually did public speaking when I was younger for the school Young Farmers Club. We won a Northern Ireland Championship so we must have been the best of a bad bunch. It funny how when you are younger you are less self conscious. I would hate the thought of having to stand up in front of a crowd now.

3. Are you a good writer? – Inside by The Guillemots – That’s pretty accurate. Inside I want to be a really good writer as it’s something I have found I really enjoy. The reality though as far as I am concerned does not match up. I have issues with grammar and spelling, but I am hoping practice will push me towards perfection and if I am entertaining people along the way then I am happy!

If you would like to try this quiz for yourself, then click on the picture at the top to be taken to Steve’s page. He’d love you to tag along and have a go.

Don’t also forget to check out my challenges page which has links to this one and a couple of others that are worth checking out!

Steve’s Monday Music Mix – Week 11

January 5, 2014January 5, 2014 The Indecisive Eejit4 Comments

I should think by now you will all be getting the hang of Super Steve’s music challenge, but just in case you are new and want to try it for yourself, click on his picture above.

Here’s a reminder how it works:

Each week Steve will post 3 new questions so…

(1) Go to the music player of your choice and put it on shuffle
(2) Say the questions aloud and press play
(3) Use the song title as your answers
(4) NO CHEATING

Title your post “Steve’s Monday Music Mix – Week…” and link back to that week’s page.

Post your response in the comment section of that week’s page.

Steve would welcome any suggestions for future questions!

For more information, to submit ideas for future questions or just general feedback go to Steve’s Monday Music Mix.

This weeks questions:

1. How do you feel right now? – I feel better by Gotye – That’s actually a good song for me, the blues of post Christmas seem to have lifted a litte bit, so he’s right, I do feel better. It a nice wee feel good song too, so if you need cheered up check it out, sing along and dance like there is no tomorrow!

2. You will only make one New Years Resolution and it is…? – Teardrop – Newton Faulkner cover – This is one of my favourite songs of all time. The original by Massive attached is the best version, but Newton here does a sterling job with his cover. Hopefully this means I am going to shed a few less Teardrops in 2014 :)

3. What do you think of this Steve’s Monday Music Mix? – She’s a Rebel by Greenday – Oh I’m a rebel all right because I never do the challenge on the day I am supposed to, but as the man (some random man that is), better late than never, and Steve hasn’t shouted at me yet :)

There will be a new one up tomorrow so please feel free to join in!

Daily Prompt: Beyond the Pale!

January 5, 2014 The Indecisive Eejit17 Comments

Daily Prompt: Beyond the Pale

When was the last time you did something completely new and out of your element? How was it? Will you do it again?

How-long-does-chicken-last-in-refrigerator — Image from sophisticatededge.com

Seriously folks, this is so randomly boring and banal that you’re going to think to yourselves, seriously, WTF!!, did she just post that!

On Wednesday the 1st January 2014 for New Year’s Day dinner I cooked a whole chicken! Now before you all start to panic, the chicken was not alive at the time, in fact it looked quite peaceful in it’s little roasting bag, lightly dusted with herbs and spices. I did however have a minutes silence, after I saw my neighbours brood lined up outside my kitchen window giving me the evil eye. Now before you all start to panic again, it was NOT one of my neighbours in the bag.

I have to be honest and say that while I had respect for the bird before me, I had no remorse, because if truth be told chickens, the live ones that is, scare me just a little. They seem to lay in wait around the vicinity of the back door and when I step outside they are prone to chasing me and pecking at my feet. They always seem to pick the bad leg too, because they know I cannot kick them a boot up their feathered fandangos. In my head they are saying, “Here lads, look at the drumsticks on that, attttttaccccckkkk!!!” In reality there are probably saying, “fooood, this bitch is bound to have foooooood.”

Now I know for most of you cooking a whole chicken will be the easiest thing in the world, in fact most of you probably do it with your eyes closed. I know when I do the funky chicken, everyone else keeps their eyes closed. The thing is, my Mum was a fantastic cook and she would have been the one who did all those kind of things when we were younger. In later years I cooked for myself, but I preferred things like stir fries, korma, noodles etc. Don’t get me wrong I have a healthy appetite but not even I could eat a whole chicken on my own.

The saddest things about the way my Mum’s illness has progressed is that there never seemed to be a need to learn all the cooking secrets that she knew, and now I need to know them, she is not able to teach me. Thankfully for most things I knew the basics which I was able to expand on.

Now I cook for us all everyday and I’ve been trying to experiment and try new things in an attempt to vary our daily menu, which if truth be told is the bit I find the hardest in the whole caring process to date. So you see, to me cooking a whole chicken, which was not only edible but delicious as well, and best of all didn’t kill anyone was actually a big deal. I served it up, and looked at the plates with a huge smile on my face and thought I did that, while mentally high fiving myself.

Next, which will be another first for me is Shepherd’s Pie….and no before you ask, no Shepherd’s will be harmed in the cooking process!

Under no obligation.

January 4, 2014 The Indecisive Eejit4 Comments

Obligation – an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment.

This week Jed from Okay, What if? challenged us to think about what life would be like if we had no obligations in the New Year.

It’s a very complex issue, as we have many obligations in our daily lives. I’m terrible at saying the word ‘no’, I think it in my head but it’s never what comes out of my mouth, therefore I place myself under unnecessary obligations all the time .

The biggest one in my life at the minute would have to be work. In fact for a long time everything was about work. Something changed though, I am not sure whether it was to do with the time I had to take off because of injury, a change in job, a change of office, or simply the fact that I have more obligations at home, but I don’t seem to have the same enthusiasm I once had. I like being challenged and kept under a little bit of pressure, those are the conditions under which I thrive.

Even though, at present, I no longer do my part time job, I still feel obligated to them. Another firm approached me about a position if I ever consider making a return, but I don’t feel like I could make the move without giving my old firm another try, even though I know the new position would be less stressful as there is a better structure of management in place.

Home life has become more of an obligation in the last year or so, although it falls more into the ‘sense of duty’ category. It somehow does not seem right to refer to looking after a parent as an obligation, it makes it seem cold and clinical .

I think it is expected that we look after those who have looked after us. We don’t always have to like it, but its the way of the world.

We’ve been given this life, and we have an obligation to see it through to the end.

Jiggling Jingle Bells!

December 22, 2013 The Indecisive Eejit29 Comments

Writing challenge. What if you could rewrite your favourite Christmas song?

So Jed from over at Okay, What if? has set us the above challenge. Right from the outset I liked the idea, however I have to be honest and say it was a little harder than I initially thought!

Anyway for your entertainment, here is my remake of that old classic ‘Jingle Bells’. Remember you can’t just read it, you have to sing along, to the tune of , yep you guessed it, well, Jingle Bells of course!

Laughing in the snow,
They say more is on the way,
There are presents still to wrap,
and food to cook for the big day.

The sprouts they do their work,
They produce cool musical toots,
Lets hope we cook the turkey right,
So we don’t give ourselves the scoots!

Jingle Bells, Santa Smells,
He’s had too many greens,
He gets the presents muddled up,
and gives everyone a tin of beans.

Jingle Bells, now the whole town smells
There are lots of musical toots,
Santa lets a big one rip
and blows himself clean out of his boots!