I posted a reply here yesterday, and somehow it's not there.
Oh well...

OT --- thinking... I can't decide which reference photo I want to use for my painting, dangit!
There's 2 I like. Decisions decisions...
And I need to decide so I can get started with the background.

Also can't decide to go for a tad abstract style or more realistic.
I'm struggling with this painting before I've even started, hihi.

A lot of interesting suggestions, thanks!

ZEE I've come across the Will Smith docu but haven't watched it yet.
I sometimes find it difficult to switch when someone takes on a different role. To me Will Smith is a great actor, so I don't see him as someone doing this docu, hihi.
Same with Jim Carrey suddenly presenting himself as a inspirational speaker. To me he's the Riddler and Ace Ventura. Doesn't gel with inspirational speaker so much, lol.

DON Brian Cox is great. The way he can explain difficult things that normally are beyond my wheelhouse... The man really has a talent.

GRAVELRIDGEBOY Sounds interesting!

I want to live for a long long time.
There are people on the planet who are allegedly around 400 years old. Far away from western society, deep into the Himalayas.

Apparently the Essenes have said that our bodies can last us well for at least 900 years. They also said the first 100 years were the toughest as you have to figure stuff out.

I wouldn't mind that at all. Whole lot of time to travel, learn, enjoy and so on.
But forever, not sure bout that.

haha, you're making me --> 🤣
A whole cupboard full?! Greedy git!
I'm happy if I get to buy a small bottle of the stuff. (never seen any larger ones)

What do you have to do to get 5 tonnes of maple syrup? Maybe I too can apply for that, lol.

Glad your dinner was good. Mine was a bit of a disaster but thank goodness I had a nice beetroot salad so in the end it was still okay :)

Feeling happy!
I've been wanting to start a new painting but somehow couldn't find the reference photo I was looking for.
I still haven't but decided to get started with the first step anyways.

Today I unpacked the last canvas I've got and Gesso-ed it :D (primer). Meaning that I now can start painting whenever I want.
Canvas is ready to go :)

Maple syrup???
Did anyone say MAPLE SYRUP?
I'm awake now, you got my attention!
When can you be here? You got your driveway sussed, so you should be able to leave tha house, haha.
I LOVE maple syrup!!
The rest of what you mention sounds great too. I'm hungry! It's dinner time, 17.00 over here, so you're more than welcome with that food!
Do not forget the maple syrup, lol.
Please.

Glad I never have to shovel snow, pfff...
We had 2-3 days of snow here in January. Which is quite something for the south west, right next to the North Sea.
Once was barely 2cm, didn't even cover everything, 2nd time it was about 12cm, allowing me to make a small snowman, hihi.
The next day it had collapsed as it temperatures had gone up again. Leaving me with a shawl and a cap on the ground, haha.

Right now it's some 11C and the sun is shining. Finally some sunlight again!

I'm on a dating site with a kind of forum thing. But each post has a 135 character limit.
Teaches you to rephrase, be short & sweet and leave out what isn't really necessary.
Can be a worthwhile exercise!

On the other hand side, 500 limit in email is over the top. Doesn't allow you to have a decent exchange and forces people to go off-site, which usually isn't recommended.

Makes you wonder what the goal of this site has become: war against scammers or helping people to find love.

For me things like being dizzy are related to both position and the state of my neck.
My osteopath has helped me a lot ever since my accident in 2012, but then I found a cranio facial therapist who often has success with treating tinnitus. Which I also have.
She worked on me for a year and boy did that make a difference! Tinnitus hadn't gone, which is apparently harder when you've had it for a long time like me. But my neck and shoulders had improved so much, and with that my head too.
I was hardly ever dizzy anymore, less neck pain and whatnot.
I did something wrong and wanted another appointment. Unfortunately she herself has had a bad accident and is recovering from a serious concussion. Could be months before she can work again (already has been 4 months), and then there's a waiting list a mile long. If she can ever work again.
After all, that's how I got into this chit: a bad concussion.
So for now it's back to my osteopath who is wonderful but cannot work my neck/head/shoulders the way this one particular cranio facial therapist could.

Telling you that cause maybe you could do something like that too for the vertigo.
Alternatively you could try acupressure yourself for it. I do that too. It's a matter of finding that one point that works for you but it can often bring relief.
Of late I work with Bladder 8 on top of the head. But there are many more points for dizziness.
Check out Acupro Academy on FB. Canadian woman who's brilliant!
Search the page for dizziness and start doing acupressure based on that.

BTW I too can get dizzy from watching something at times, even on tv. Normally that doesn't bother me so much, but right now that my head & neck are in worse shape I have to be real careful.

Oh and a tip: if you have to move your head in any direction, first move your eyes in that direction then follow with the head. Not like with a crazy gap in between, but let the eyes lead the way. Can make a helluva difference as then the brain knows which way you're going to turn. Eyes have a lot to do with dizziness.
As does the neck, which is why having your neck sorted can be of great help.

At times I can really enjoy watching documentaries, oftentimes concerning nature and (wild) animals.
I came across one that followed a lion pride for a longer period of time. Unfortunately I cannot recall the title. It was truly awesome.
Two new lion's took over the pride from the older one and then they kill any cub under a certain age so the lionesses get in heat again.
But the mother protected her babies and buggered off with them, and her sister's. A total of 7 that she had to feed, protect etc. while being chased by the 2 not so happy lions.
It was truly awesome, if I come across it again I will post the link.

Couple other really worthwhile docus:
Facing Grizzlies (2021)
Yukon's wild grizzlies (2022)
Wild horse redemption

The latter is about inmates who get to work with wild mustangs, train them etc. Absolutely great watch!
How some of the inmates truly changes through working and bonding with the horses.
Clearly shows how deep a bond with an animal can go and how much good it does a human being.

These 3 can be watched on knowledge.ca but who knows on other sites as well.

Morning!
Learning Kendo was also on my agenda but never happened. Oh well... next life :)

I gave up on the John Wick movies due to too many scenes with flashing lights. My brain isn't keen on that.

I have watched many Jason Statham movies, but the action ones. Because I'm a big martial arts nut, hihi. And what he can do, amazing!!
Long time ago, before pregnancies when my back was still happy, I did Taekwondo myself. Loved it!
And the way Statham acts the tough guy is appealing. Like in the Transporter movies.

Not seen any with Melissa McCarthy. For some reason I never like her much.

300 was absolute brill! Amazing how Gerard Butler trained to get that body for the movie. Seen interviews in which he told how much he had to work out for that each day.
But the story... based on historic facts. I really really like it.
300 Rising of an Empire with Sullivan Stapleton was also good, also based on history, but I prefer the other one.

Speaking of Gerard Butler... Greenland, the Fallen movie series, certainly the last one with Nick Nolte. The way they are together is totally hilarious. I think they both enjoyed the hell out of working together.

Not sure if I've given Annika a whirl... I'll have to watch an episode to find out.

LOTR and The Hobbit are great! I never read the books, just the movies.
I also like The Hunger Games. And the Divergent movies.

As for King Arthur... Have you seen King Arthur Legend of the Sword?
Brilliant movie! With Charlie Hunnam as King Arthur.
The movie is shot the same way as "300 Rise of an Empire". A style of filming I absolutely love for certain movies.

I'm still here!
Sometimes I get so busy with whatnot that I don't get to Mingle for a day or two, hihi.
Don't ask me what I've been doing, I wouldn't be able to tell, hihi. Just silly li'l things.

OT -------------
Me's thinking.... where's the sun?!?!
My solar lights start to fade and if I don't get any sunlight soon, so will I, hihi.

Vertigo? I also had that! Once had a dizzy spell. I was asleep but even in sleep I suddenly felt very dizzy, spinning, and it woke me up. I opened my eyes and saw the entire bedroom spin around me?!!
Scared the chit out of me as didn't know what was going on. Was I having a stroke? Or was it again because of my neck injury?
Thank goodness no stroke, haha.
But took me 1,5 yrs to recover from it. Unreal!
Since then I do get dizzy quite regularly. Usually not too bad, but annoying nonetheless. Right now it's worse as I pulled a muscle in my lower back on Tuesday and my entire back & neck are out of whack.

I also have to take into account what my body/neck can handle. Bummer is that I don't feel it in the moment but about 30mins later. So I have to try to remember and decide when I have to stop while I still feel okay. Not easy. I easily think "Mwah, another 10 mins!" Then there's another 10 and before I know it I've done too much again :/

I don't like asking for help either. Same as you, others already have enough on their plate as it is. Another thing is that I know a lot of people but not really well enough to ask them for help. Sometimes I do, depending on what it is.
But the volunteer thing to help people is okay. I don't feel the same hesitance with that, although I still try to sort it myself first.
According to dating coaches many women have trouble asking for help by the way... It has to do with being able to receive and feeling worthy to receive etc.

I hope you get the roofing done without too much trouble!
For myself I hope to find a really great guy! I'd so love to have this wonderful man by my side, hand in hand, in love :D

Yup, one of my 3 cats, all females :)
The eldest, 4,5 years, has developed an allergy for most food so she can only have special (bloody expensive) food. She's finally getting used to it, but I have to keep an eye on her otherwise she still eats the regular food out of the bowls from the other 2.
The youngest, li'l Meggie, on the other hand loves Nila's special food so I have to run around a lot, putting food away from this cat, put food back on the floor for that cat etc.
Kinda nuts, haha.
Free fitness, lol.

I recently found out I got mice, got mouse clamps in today, so tonight I can run around with those. Putting them up in my bedroom where I have mouse/mice and in the kitchen.
Hoping to catch them real soon, at the same time dreading that as then I'll have to deal with the dead mice in clamps, eeeewwww!

One of the many joys of being a single woman, haha.
I really need a bloke, hotdangit!!

As for French Canadians... dunno any of those, but generally speaking I don't like the French. They're different, have different roots, from the Dutch, English, German etc.
And I know the French in Belgium can be naff as well. Able to speak Flemish but refusing, looking down on their Flemish fellow countrymen.
They're prolly not all like that, but it's what I've heard through the grapevine.
So I guess French Canadians will tend to have the same attitude (attitude problem), grin.

A long read indeed, hihi.
I did watch "See", cannot remember if it was mentioned or not, nor if why not.

Some of the things you mentioned I tried but gave up on. One of which is "Person of Interest". I got fed up with it, and even Jim Caviezel's good looks and sexy voice couldn't keep me captivated, hihi.
I do love this movie he did in 2008, "Outlander". Absolutely wonderful!

I don't read much because I have a neck injury and causes me trouble in that sense.
A real pain in the neck -literally- as I used to LOVE reading!! I'm a real bookworm, have been ever since I learnt to read way back when.
Unfortunately not so easy anymore due to my neck. But the amount of books I've read in my life, unbelievable!
I still read, but have to limit it, so it's only books I really want in physical form, not as E-book.

I don't watch really old movies. I sometimes re-watch some great movies from the 90s, but nothing older than that. E.g. Men in Black, The Fugitive, US Marshals. Great movies!

Horror or WW1-2 stuff really isn't my thing. The first lowers my vibration/energy too much, the 2nd I simply don't like.
One war series I DO love is Tour of Duty. Got that on my HD. Absolutely brilliant series! (Vietnam war).

There are a few things you mentioned that I'll look up :)
Cheers for your input!

Oh, as for power animals...
I somehow feel quite strong resonance with Bear.
Which is kind of hilarious to me as I always sighed when people say their power animal is bear and their guide a Nat. Am. Indian. Such a platitude, if that's the correct word. As if they were truly spiritual if they had a bear and a Nat. Am. Indian guide.

But i feel strong mother energy in Bear. Which makes me think of Artha, the Avalonian/pagan Bear goddess.
It's a female bear, not male. That doesn't feel right.
I guess I need some motherly love and protection?

Amazing what you have done and how far you've come!
I know the mind is extremely powerful, as is the self-healing ability of the body.
It is actually infinite.
I learnt this from Dr Joe Dispenza. Many who have done his work have healed from stage 4 cancer!?! Also from stroke, being (partly) paralysed, MS and whatnot.
I have started his work a few times, but I always lose motivation/inspiration after some 2-3 months. Like with working a 9-5 job as I told before where I get bored within the same timeframe, I also have this with healing work.
I know from what Joe Dispenza says this is the exact time where you have to follow through. If you do, you're there.
Stupid thing is, I just forget. And then think a week later, "Chit, I haven't done anything anymore?!!"

In spite of my limitations I do a lot myself as well in and around the house. Being single, you have no choice, right?
Sometimes I have to get help in though, volunteers as like you I can't afford to get paid-for help in.
And funny enough much of what I do myself works fine, doesn't bother me much physically?
A few years ago I had to put up a new 7m long gutter on the garage. I'd never done anything like that, normally your man does that, hihi.
But I did it, didn't bother my neck/shoulders at all, which was quite unbelievable! But I was so proud of myself that I got it done and that it worked perfectly as well!
I have yet to finish of the gutter on the other side. Half of it is done.

Roofing I wouldn't do. Too heavy for me. I also have an issue with raising my arms up. Anywhere above shoulder height approx. makes my muscles cramp and triggers my neck.
But I have a council house so that kind of thing I don't have to do myself anyways. I just phone them to tell them XYZ is broken and they sent someone over to fix it.

I hope you manage to get or have it done without too much trouble!!

I could get a parking thing for invalids too a few years ago. But for me there's no real added benefit. Yes, parking in town would be easier I guess, but I hardly ever go into town. I'd get a traffic sign on/near my driveway, which I do not want, hihi.
But I'm on welfare as I wasn't working at the time of my accident, not disability benefit (which is substantially higher than welfare).
Since I'm in the welfare system I cannot get permanent exemption from working/applying for jobs. I can only get 1 or 2yr exemption. Last time I got 2 years, which ends this April, meaning I'll again have to go to my manager and convince him I haven't healed and still cannot work. Sigh...
Always stresses me out as when they decide I can work I'm b*ggered.

I still have my dreams and hopes for the future though! I want to be free of that welfare system, be my own independent self, travel, have a wonderful partner.
Give online courses on the masculine & feminine principles, sell paintings and meditations and so on.

For that I'll have to get myself on track again. Spend about a year on getting balance in hormones after becoming post-menopausal. I started HRT last year (hormone replacement therapy). Takes time to get a balance, not there yet. I do hope it will alleviate my issues. If so, then I can begin to do stuff. Maybe. If I have the guts, hihi.

Lucky you, not having to deal with those animals. Hopefully no human cougars either, haha.

I always felt Australians were quite a lot like us western Europeans, not like Americans, which is why it felt so good to be there.
I get the same vibe from Canadians.
I know many Dutch went to Canada. You often can tell by the surnames. Lot of Dutch ancestry there.
Also German and Belgian I think. Which makes you wonder how many have British roots over there.

Maybe time to dig into Canadian history, hihi. But for now have to chase after a cat who's trying to eat food she's not allowed to eat due to allergy, grrr...