jody's blog
random thoughts, ideas and chaosTest PPT
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Can a stegosaurus wear a backpack?
The simple answer is yes, but the search for a pack that works is not easy. In 1978, I broke my back in an unfortunate tire swing accident. It healed just fine, but the combination of that and scoliosis meant I had to have back surgery to keep from being crippled in...
Please don’t play Pacman with me
It's been almost seven weeks since I was hit by a car on my road bike, and ironically, one day after writing a blog post about riding safely during COVID-19. I was following all road cycling laws and safety rules, but unfortunately that wasn't enough. With the...
I just want to ride my bike
I’m a cyclist. Not a race-winning, super fast, well-known cyclist, but an average-pace, somewhat normal human being that loves to ride a bike. In fact, I love to ride so much, I’m planning to ride the Southern Tier in September this year. I need to practice a lot to...
My hate-hate relationship with food
Whole30. Hell30. Call it whatever you want. I’m starting day 5, and quite honestly? The thing that’s bothering me the most is how this program consumes your life. Yes, I understand it’s about changing the way we think about food, cook food, consume food, and relate to food. My relationship with food?
I slept outside last night. Why?
Last night was our first bout of cold weather in the North Texas area, and with an overnight freeze warning. I chose to sleep outside. I'd like to say I slept outside as one of my social experiments to try and help people in some way. No, this time it was to test out...
What happened to the items I donated last year?
I awoke this morning to a long feed of social media posts about snow in the North Dallas area this morning. Most people think snow is beautiful. I lived a portion of my childhood in Wisconsin and I see snow a little differently. Yes, it's beautiful, but I only want...
1,001 Challenge: Day 3 – 448
Not familiar with the challenge? Here's the final item list: 2 books 1 broken racquetball...
1,001 Challenge: Day 2 – 249
249 items today. Not as many as I was hoping to purge. Getting to 1,001 items is a little more difficult than I thought it would be. Not familiar with the challenge? [button style="large light-yellow"...
1,001 Challenge: Day 1 – 304
304 things on the first day! Not too bad. Here are a few rules I made along the way. What? If I try to define everything up front, I’ll never start it.
Frisco Light Painting . . . Again!
I found this BIG gem at the Treasures for Peace Thrift Store & Speed Dating place in Spring Hill, Florida, while searching for mermaids.
Light Painting with Steel Wool
Light Painting with Steel Wool, a set on Flickr. If only fireworks weren't illegal where I live...
The Blue Play-doh Moment
Getting rid of the Infiniti Sleigh was one of the most difficult things we’ve ever had to do. Our 1997 QX4 served us well for 14 years. We were about to get $1,200 for it, money that would go toward our new car. Considering the $7,128 price tag to get everything fixed on it, it was time.
Tom, 4 years later
I wrote a story about Tom four years ago. As part of NaNoWriMo, I decided to rewrite it, applying some of my new writing skills. The stark cold stung my face as I left my warm house. The gloomy Texas day should have been for sleeping in and sitting by the fireplace,...
No social media or games for a month
To do the writing challenge, I decided to give up social media for a month. I gave up iPhone games as well. How did that go? Day 1 Yes, I’m 28 minutes into it and all is well. No Twitter. I could care less. I'm visual, so Twitter is a secondary social media for...
It’s 5 a.m. somewhere…
Can’t get started? Intimidated by that blank sheet of paper? In a trance looking at that blank screen? Just write. Free write. Start writing and don’t stop for at least one full page. If you have nothing in your head, write, “I have nothing in my head.”
Mission accomplished in 50,287 words
I challenged myself to write 50,000 words in the month of November. Why? Mostly to get myself back into a good habit of writing regularly. I enjoy writing, however it doesn't come easy to me. I don't consider myself a writer. I like brainstorming and making...
The biggest no-brainer purchase EVER!
I'm doing a new challenge, one I've decided not to blog about until it's complete. Well, I guess I'm breaking my own rule here, as the challenge is for 2 months and I haven't even completed the first month. The challenge is to buy nothing new. This excludes...
![I’ve been inspired by packaging [day 28 & 29]](https://i2.wp.com/adventures.jodywissing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Blank-canvas-inspiration.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
I’ve been inspired by packaging [day 28 & 29]
I've been inspired to create an art series, or maybe this will be a new addition to my Excessable series. The extreme disposable excess in packaging baffles me. In some cases, I understand where they're coming from, however that equates to about 10% of my...
![Snack packs & disposable stuff I appreciate [day 27]](https://i2.wp.com/adventures.jodywissing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Gimbels-department-store-1959.jpg?resize=400%2C250&ssl=1)
Snack packs & disposable stuff I appreciate [day 27]
Honestly? The challenge isn't so bed. Trying to blog it everyday? That's the difficult part. I think I need to do my challenges, take notes, then blog about the lifestyle changes. OR, maybe I just don't blog everyday. OR, I micro blog with social media. Today,...