Category Archives: Reader Suggested Fun

Nov 20 2012
Leave a comment
Fun at Work, Reader Suggested Fun

Day 57: Disposable Camera Challenge Part 2

This morning included a small adventure called “Where can I get film developed?” The brand new Walgreens on the corner of Sheridan and Irving Park does not have that capability. BUT Broadway and Waveland does. I struck up a conversation with the woman working behind the counter, and she told me that I might be surprised to know that a lot of people still get film developed. She is busy most days with film. I did find that surprising. And then when she asked me if I wanted singles or doubles, I balked. The choice of sIngle or double prints is something that had totally left my brain (and I used to have a job running one of those photo machines). Why doubles of course!

The pictures were ready for pick up by the time I got off work today, so I got them and eagerly came home to take a look. It was better than I had expected. My coworkers and I managed to take some cute pictures even though we couldn’t double check how we looked! I think I was the worst at actually taking the pictures. A few of them even feature my thumb…

Now the irony of this is not lost on me, but below please find some pictures–that I had to take with my iPhone–of the best pictures in the bunch. I can’t wait to share these with the people in them. See, that’s why you get doubles.

Nov 15 2012
Leave a comment
Friends and Family, Online Fun, Reader Suggested Fun

Day 52: FaceTime

My friend Amanda, who I’ve been friends with since high school, sent me a list of suggested activities that included “FaceTime chat your long lost friend Amanda.” It’s true that we are not the best at staying in touch, but it is also true that when we do talk or see each other, we are the type of friends who can pick right back up again.

FaceTime, although not particularly revolutionary in the grand scheme of all things technological since video chat has been around for a while, is fairly new to me. I have used it a few times to chat with my mom when we both first got Apple devices, but I don’t think to use it regularly. I wish I did because it definitely feels more like having coffee or a drink with someone than talking on the phone. I could see Amanda’s expressions when telling a story and her responses to mine. And while we may have had to contend with technical glitches and “reconnecting,” it was still so nice to see her!

 

Nov 02 2012
Leave a comment
Reader Suggested Fun, Solitary Fun

Day 39: the Card Aisle

This is another suggested activity-I’m on a roll. It was actually one of the first suggestions and it came from a former teacher of mine. We probably have not spoken since I graduated high school. Ten years ago! But we re-connected over this blog, and it has been really great catching up with her. She suggested I go to a Hallmark Store and read cards, especially funny ones, for at least ten minutes and laugh out loud at least five times.

Today, I was picking up a few things at my local Walgreens and decided to check out their card aisle. It is a little meager, compared to a whole Hallmark store, the likes of which I’m not sure we have in Chicago. However, I managed to find a few cards that made me chuckle; caroling with Yoda (it’s hard because he speaks strangely), a banana age joke, and, my favorite, Santa’s stache (see below). Walgreens has a whole line of Christmas cards that include fun things like ornaments, build your own mini tree, a banner and, of course, a Santa’s mustache. (I may have also purchased a December countdown to Christmas activity calendar. Squeal! It is probably full of ideas for Holiday related fun).

I decided to add to this activity by purchasing a few cards and sending them to friends for various reasons ranging from thank you to birthday. I enjoyed writing each friend a little note and hoping it would be a surprise when the card arrived in the mail. What a nice and simple way to spread a little love and fun. 

Nov 01 2012
4 Comments
Fun for Couples, Reader Suggested Fun, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Day 38: Bucket List

Its the first time I’m doing a suggested activity from a reader! I have received several very exciting and good ideas from people reading this blog, and I fully intend to do as many of them as I can over the year. The days that I have the hardest time coming up with something to do are the ones where I work until almost 8:00pm. Usually I don’t do the fun thing until I get home and, at that point, I am usually quite tired so going back out to do something is not a great option. My sister sent in a suggestion for something the hubs and I could do together that would also work for our no devices time: make a couple’s bucket list.

We sat at our dining table and started thinking of things we want to do together as a couple. The first thing we came up with was “buy a house.” We put it on the list, but I wanted us to get more creative, to dream a little bigger and maybe even challenge ourselves. I suggested everything from “go in a shark cage” to “climb down a volcano” just to get our minds brainstorming. We then came up with seven less terrifying things to add to our bucket list that is written in the last page of that new notebook.

This whole time, my new shot (Enbrel) was sitting on the table. If you take it out of the fridge about 20 minutes before you do it, it is less painful (something about it being cold or not). Instead of sitting and staring at it, waiting to do a shot, I was engaged in a creative and fun activity with my husband. Even while I was going through all of the steps of the injection–of course I was focused and made sure to do them properly–I was thinking of new ideas. It took my mind off of what can be an intimidating and anxiety producing activity and for that, I am very grateful.

Once I finished, we made it a goal to have 10 items on the list, so we came up with the final two, both excellent, but I am partial to “Go to the Super Bowl.” We can surely add to it if we think of more things we would like to do. I am thinking of it as a continuation of the Year of Fun. We probably won’t get to most of the things on the bucket list this year, if any, so they will keep us (me) going after this year is up. Thanks sis for the suggestion (you should do it too)!

Newer posts →