What have I been doing since my birthday? Glad you asked!

When I wanted to write a blog, I did some research to see what it entailed. I even bought a book on how to write a blog.... but as usual, my 'bad' habit of buying these types of books and not reading them kicked in... now that book is on my list to read. I first sat down and wrote a precise list of the topics for the upcoming year.

To be honest, I forgot about my blog. It was on my list of "to do" and once I wrote and posted, it felt like it was 'done'. I have so many projects on the go that I get overwhelmed and things get lost. I missed writing my blog posts from my carefully prepared list of topics: Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day.

Pro: as a spinster, you only have to answer to yourself. the log was / is a project for entertainment only and not for payment.

Con: You may have too many projects going on at once that things get pushed aside. There is no one to nag you to finish or continue. (also can be a Pro)

Now, Let's get started shall we? Grab a coffee put your feet up and read three months worth of what I like to call 'Val's World'.

Christmas, 2020: despite the COVID-19 pandemic, this Christmas was jolly. I had fun putting up my outdoor lights, decorating my house, singing Christmas Caroles... see fun!

As a spinster some say what's the point of putting up a tree? Or doing all that work, there is just you. I say to them, "I like bright coloured lights, I love getting gifts, (though I think giving is so much better) and I like the look of them under the tree. Not to be rude or negative, but when did Christmas become just for people with kids? Why shouldn't a single person put up a tree? Being a Christian I know what it's all about. It's not the tree or decorations, they are just a bonus. I love things that are bright and sparkly. At Christmas you can judge my mood by how sparkly the decorations are. If there are no decorations outside call the EMTs because I'm dead and I'm being eaten by my cats.

As per every holiday, single people (especially older spinsters) get invited to partake in the festivities. I usually accept as they are kind and fun people. The family I've been doing Christmas Day and Boxing Day with for the past 5 or so years, is a pretty big group, from toddlers to 80, from wine to teetotalers (like myself), it's awesome.

Because of COVI, last year our annual Boxing Day 'murder mystery' didn't happen. However, two nieces of my friend who I spend the day with, decided to do one in January and we all played over ZOOM... it was pretty awesome.

Pro: Being a spinster at Christmas is perfect. I decorate how I want, I get to choose which family I want to spend the day with, only have to bring one dinner item and can leave whenever I want. Over all, it's pretty great, especially if you have great friends like I do.

Con: I have to climb the ladder in the freezing rain to put up my outdoor lights, (like last year).

New Years 2021: Now, New Years was different. When I was younger, in my 20s I planned for a big night of drinking. 30s it was single dances with my other single friends. 40s it was going to a friend's house for a fun night. During most of my 50's it was BINGO with my buddy Amanda. This year, for some reason, after December 26th, I crashed. I crashed big time. For about almost 2 months I didn't do anything, didn't go anywhere or didn't contact anyone (unless they threatened to send the police over to see if I was still alive). I did no church activities, nothing but a bit of organizing of the house, binge watching British murder mystery shows (I made a list of what I wanted to watch, I'm almost done the list, and it was long). I did go to my physiotherapy and massage appointments.

Pro: Being a spinster, I can sit around all day doing nothing if I wanted to do just that. I can stay in the same pjs for a week, to the point of stinking (yes, that did happen, it can also be a Con, but as a Pro no one dictates how I spend my day or night.

Con: If I stink, so what? There's no one here to smell me. I'll have a shower, eventually. Problem? There is no one to tell you that you stink. I mean, to smell yourself you've got to be pretty bad, right?

Valentines Day 2021: came and went. Typically, this day is the worst day of the year. It's all about couples and love. Human love, not cat love. I almost said "yuck", which is silly because I pray and hope I fall in love with a good kind man. I've done a lot to find just such a man and I am starting to think that I will not find him in this life. Let's face it... I was in the military and that was nothing BUT men. I have met a lot of men, and there is no double entendre here, I mean I literally met. I've been infatuated with men so many times I actually started wondering if there was something wrong with me. After a few years of therapy... of course it's not me... I may or may not be a great catch, but I am a catch. See, therapy really does work.

Pro: As a spinster, Valentine's Day comes and goes. No need to buy a mushy sentimental card, gift nor new dress, shoes nlingerie. (luckily I can buy these things whenever I want)t that fell by the wayside) to help find me 'my man'. I specifically asked to meet one with kids, I even watched her write it down during my interview. My idea of success is to be a step-grandma. Unfortunately, they have chosen men that do not have kids. With a business such as this, being new in the 'game' and having bought the ultimate lifetime package, you would think that they would take a little more time to to find a compatible partner. Oh no, so far what I've been given are men with no children who have been looking for 5 to 7 years. We literally had no comparability. The only thing in common was being single, never married and have no children, I feel like they are using me because I'm new and they nare offering my profile to these types of men to kill two birds with one stone. With COVID all the 'meetings' are... well, I don't know... I haven't called in a year.... well, I'm going to dust off that project and get it going again.

Pro: As a spinster, Valentine's Day comes and goes. No need to buy a mushy sentimental card, gift, new dress, shoes nor lingerie. (luckily I can buy these things whenever I want)

Con: Can be a wee bit disheartening if you let the commercial hype get to you. Remember what Valentine's Day is all about? No? ...Google it...

To be honest, I'm not too sure what I did for those almost 2 months. Yet, it doesn't matter. I got past it and I'm moving forward.