Prompt & Photo Challenge: Day 23

So, "How you came up with the name of your blog" is today's topic. This actually ties into another question, how did I get the nickname "Froggi". I'll try to keep a long story, not too long...LOL!

Back in the dark ages....okay, only back to the late 70's, I was out at lunch shopping for a baby shower gift for a friend at work. As I checked out I noticed this cute little latex squeaky frog...since I was learning computer programming, I had to buy it to eat the bugs in my programs. Over time folks started giving me frogs and my collection grew quite large.

Fast forward to 2003 and my desire to learn how to ride a motorcycle. In order to participate in various online motorcycle forums, I needed a nickname. I'd never had a nickname growing up. This needed to be a unique name, so since I collected frogs, I picked "FROGBIKER".

As I made more and more friends online and off, I became Froggy Donna. (Why it is now Froggi is another story....) My first RV was a used Class C motorhome aptly name The Lily Pad (and my first blog was "From the Lily Pad" and my first toad (towed car) was Tadpole.

I wanted a blog separate from our "couple" blog, 2 Taking a 5th and thus "Hopping through life..." was born.

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Prompt & Photo Challenge: Day 22

"Your favorite holiday" is the prompt for today....

As a kid, Christmas was the holiday of choice. As a young adult I loved the family time of Thanksgiving. As an older adult July 4th filled me with an immense pride in my country and all it stood for. New Year's Eve became special when my late husband and I got married in 1985. So many holidays, so many traditions, so many things have come and gone.

So I'd have to decline today's prompt to chose favorite holiday. I'm much wiser and older now. I've lost two husbands (one and ex) to cancer. I've lost too many friends and loved ones and I've watched too many friends do the same.

My favorite holiday is any and every day...savor it to the fullest. You never know what tomorrow will bring. Enjoy your old traditions, make new ones, celebrate in your own special way. But always remember this....

"The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present." ~ Alice Morse Earle

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

"I refuse to sit around waiting for the perfect tomorrow, I'll continue to enjoy my imperfect todays." ~ me, 2007

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 21

"Something you love about yourself..."

I like my blue eyes but they are such a dark blue that most people don't realize they are blue unless they see me outside...made harder because of my glasses.

I get a lot of compliments on my smile but it's not my favorite thing.

I have a strange greying (actually white) pattern to my hair and get a lot of comments from folks who love it. Some have even asked me who does my coloring...LOL!

So much for the physical attributes...no, not going to discuss bodies. LOL! Now on to character traits....

I've always been too much of a perfectionist, too judgmental, too impatient so I think the thing I like about me best is my change in all of those...for the better. I still have a ways to go but I feel I have moved from a Type A to at least a Type C, with hopes for getting to a Type XYZ someday!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 20

Your biggest insecurity is today's topic. Over the years this has changed.

In my working career I worried about how I looked, how much I knew, how I was perceived, if I could learn what I needed, if I projected the right image, if I was smart enough. I was, but I never felt secure, always waiting to be shown up as a fraud.

At age fifty I stopped worrying and retired from the professional life, moving to part-time work at a much lower level and loving it. At that point I figured if someone didn't like me or the way I looked, it was THEIR problem.

So my current biggest insecurity? Worrying about the health and financial well being of my large, extended family. Health is currently good, financial well being varies...we all know the current economic climate. Here's to better times for all...and less insecurity!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 19

Oh my, the topic for the day is "a skill you’d like to learn"....if I were young this would be SO much easier to answer.

But at almost 64, I'm more for laying back and just enjoying life than I am challenging myself. I think some of that comes from too many years of being a perfectionist, workaholic putting in 60-80 hour weeks while raising a family. I loved challenging myself with new skills and putting them to use...although most were work and computer related.

I've done basic knitting and sewing but really enjoyed doing cross-stitch (self-taught). But my vision won't let me do that anymore. I've never learned crocheting but again, vision and arthritis limit that. Painting isn't going to work unless I go really abstract...LOL

I have never been good at languages...took three years of Latin and four years of French and my teachers were always frustrated that I mixed up my vocabularies. I never got the knack of thinking in French...I was always translating in my head. So not going to try to learn a new language now.

Mechanic? Naw, not a fan of dirty hands and have no strength.

Teaching? Been there, done that.

Quilting? Too expensive and time consuming as well as taking up a lot of room.

Bird watching? Hmmmm, is that a skill?

I guess the only thing I can think of would be acting....but who wants a 64 year old grandmotherly type? LOL!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 18

I've already got the shivers about this topic...."Something you are afraid of..." There are two things that I am majorly afraid of...spiders (which I won't post a photo of!!!!), and this...



I can't even watch roller coasters on TV...I get dizzy. This photo [click for larger view] was taken at Universal Studios where we took my granddaughters. Both of them, age 8 and 9, as well as their 5 year old brother LOVE roller coasters. Ah to be young again...LOL!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 17

Interesting topic today...."Are you named after anyone?". Easy to answer...NOPE!

But a few interesting trivia points...my mother wanted to name me Jane. My second husband's ex-wife was Jane. My late husband's son married a Donna and my current husband's brother is married to a Donna. So twice I have taken on a last name used by another and once I almost did.

Donna hasn't been a common name...I remember one other in elementary school and none in high school. Now that the world has gotten so much smaller, thanks to the Internet, and mixed with my traveling, I run into many, many Donna's (most baby boomers like me). In fact I follow blogs for several Donna's who also are RVers....

• Cave Dwellings - Dennis and Donna
• Green2GoRV - Keith and Donna
• Our Adventures with Tassie - Ralph and Donna
• Travels in Therapy - Russ and Donna
• 5th Wheel Vagabonds - Sam and Donna
• The Best Half of Our Life - Nolan and Donna

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 16

Oh my....today's topic is "Your least favorite chore"...

I'm lucky that some of my old least favorite chores have been replaced because I no longer have to do them...like oven cleaning (we have a convection/microwave). And ironing...I don't buy things that need ironing and if I absolutely HAVE to, I send it to the cleaners. I can even put up with vacuuming with the right equipment. Cooking is a necessary evil but with modern appliances and fresh food readily available...and a hubby that helps out..., it's not so bad anymore.

So what chore has remained the same...still hated, dreaded and procrastinated?

 

UGH!!!!!! Need I say more? LOL!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 15

Oh boy, where to start on this topic: "Something that bugs you..."

There are all the everyday things....rude people, speeding drivers, people that want to force their beliefs on everyone else (they think their way is the ONLY way), liars/cheaters/thieves, grocery bags that tear when you least expect (and need) it, appliances/vehicles that break down just out of warranty, ladies who wear too much perfume, folks that stop to chat and block the entire aisle in a grocery store, people on motorized scooters/chairs that seem to feel they are more important than anyone else, people who think turn signals go on and off by themselves, people that don't clean up after their dogs, people who litter, people who wear pajamas in public, boys who have their pants hanging down to their knees [hee-hee]. I could go on and on.

In general, it's the ME society we have turned into...it's all about ME. It's more important that I shave 2 seconds off my drive, it's more important that I arrive at the check-out before you, it's more important that I get to the front of the line, it's more important that I get two cars ahead of you (even though I am immediately turning off)....you get the idea.

And tied in very closely with this is the VICTIM society...everything is the fault of someone else. They grew up poor, their teacher didn't like them, their boss made fun of them, their parents worked too much, they are too young/old/short/fat/pretty/ugly, heck - they had a bad hair day? It's all ridiculous....you screw up....take the blame and grow up.

Yup, time to put on your big boy/girl panties and deal with it! Okay...rant off! LOL!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

A gidgit, a gadget....

I love gadgets...but living in an RV means limited space for things. The good thing is that I don't cook...much. So that limits kitchen gadgets....well, unless it's something hubby wants. LOL!

We have two vacuum sealers. Stu had a nice one, similar to this model, when we got together and I had the little portable one that was sold a few years back (here is a newer model). His takes up a lot of space but we can make bags of any size. Mine takes up almost no space but I have a hard time finding replacement bags (might have to try the qt/gal ones from Amazon).

Recently I found a nice little compact unit....FoodSaver FSMSSY0210 MealSaver Compact Vacuum-Sealing System, but know our current units still work. Well, I'll bookmark it for later...

So, on to the next gadget...which really isn't a gadget but qualifies as one because it's the LATEST and GREATEST...or so everyone tells me. We have an older version of this Mr. Coffee with a stainless steel carafe. Stu likes it because there is no warming element, thanks fo the carafe.

We all know the lifespan of a coffee maker is fairly short, thanks to all the minerals in our tap water (even though we filter it). Now everyone seems to be getting a Keurig coffee maker. They seem to range from $100 for the newer compact version to upwards of $200 for the platinum premium deluxe gold models [snicker...sorry].

I've had single coffee makers before and they were nice but they were in the $20-$40 varieties. My daughter and her husband had a Senseo that made good coffee but the refills were expensive.

Guess since the current coffee maker is still working, I will wait to see what the next generation brings.

The one thing I don't gadgetize (is that a word?) is my can opener. My mother always insisted on getting my electric can openers for Christmas. I hated them. Simple ones, ones with built-in knife sharpeners, ones that were battery operated...I hated them. I always went back to my simple hand-held one...I was SO glad when I discovered that Stu preferred the hand-held as well!

But don't think I won't still keep an eye out at the new kitchen gadgets...you never know!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Old Cell Phone? Donate or Sell

In the last two days I have seen articles about getting rid of old cell phones so figured it was time to do a post about this. I used to give my phones to local police stations who distributed them to folks in need. This was back in the phone only days, long before smart phones. The phones could still be used to call 911.

Now you can sell your phone on eBay and similar sites (just need to remember what service you were subscribed to, not all phones work for all suppliers), donate them to charities and sell them to be recycled (and resold).

Here are some links to help you make a decision on what to do with your old phones:

• DONATE: Cell phones for soldiers
• DONATE: Wireless Foundation used for Domestic Violence
• DONATE/RECYCLE/RESELL: Shelter Alliance
• SELL/RESELL: NextWorth
• SELL/RESELL: Gazelle
• SELL/RESELL/Free Tree Planted: GreenPhone

Here's a good article about what to do with your phone before you donate and more links to check out for good donation spots.

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Perfect Kindle App...for me...maybe for you!

The one feature that I had hoped to find on my Kindle was a note taking one. I found out that I could take notes but they had to be linked to a book. I guess I could have created a fake PDF and linked to that but opted not to bother.

Recently I found a brand new app, Notepad, that does exactly what I want! Best part is that it costs only 99 cents. WHOO-HOO!!

Here are some notes from the Kindle Review Blog:

Things the Kindle Notepad App is Not


It’s not a Word Processor – there’s no spell check and no copy/paste.

It’s not Free – We’ve priced it at $1 to ensure as many Kindle owners can get it as possible. However, it’s not free since it wasn’t free to make.

It’s not an ebook reader – You won’t be able to open up really big text files. It’s a notepad and it’s meant for notes and not for writing books or reading books.

It’s not magic.

It doesn’t put form over function. Example 1: Between making the typing really fast and making the fonts anti-aliased, we chose the former. Example 2: Between making the app fast and responsive and adding animations and elaborate backgrounds, we chose the former.

There are currently 17 reviews, all 5 star. I should add mine, would also be 5 start. I love the fact that I can be out and about, reading my Kindle and when something strikes, I can add a note. Later I can just review my notes or transfer them to my laptop.

Kindle Notepad Video

Anyway, just wanted to pass this along to all my Kindle fiends...errr, friends. LOL!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna
NOTE: Duplicating this on my 2 Taking a 5th blog...if you read it here, you won't need to read it there.

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 14

I have thought about this one a lot, ever since my late husband was diagnosed with cancer and passed in 2004. "One thing you want to do before you die..."

I have been very fortunate in my life and have done a lot of things that I were on my "bucket list"....even before I knew what that was.

• I got several roles in community theater, something I had wanted to do since I was little.
• I learned to ride a motorcycle at age 55.
• I got my first tattoo at age 54.
• I rode 42 states, 27k miles on my motorcycle....solo at age 58....the year after my husband passed.
• I've been to Cancun and Cabo; I've cruised to Nassau, the Panama Canal (including Jamaica and Aruba) and the inside passage of Alaska.
• I get to travel year round, ride my motorcycle year round, see this beautiful country we live in year round.
• I volunteered for three weeks on the Blackfeet Nation reservation in Browning, MT.

I still have a few things on my list, no one has precedent over another so I'll just list a few:

• Go whitewater rafing
• Take a hot air balloon ride
• Visit Scotland and Australia
• Tandem skydive
• Ride Route 66 on my motorcycle (planned for 2012)
• See a South American rainforest
• Go on an Amazon river cruise

That's enough....LOL!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 13

Oh, I love today's topic - "How you relax". Relaxing is something I have never had trouble with...not feeling GUILTY about taking the time to do it, is....

People talk about guilty pleasures...relaxing should not be one of those but in our workaholic society it often is. So how do I relax? Count the ways....

• Reading...the perfect escape
• Watching a good movie...second only to reading
• Riding my motorcycle...the ultimate convertible
• Sitting by the water, watching the sun or moon glisten...only surpassed by adding in the sound of ocean waves
• Snuggling with my hubby...at the end of a long day
• Listening to the laughter of my grandkids...

There are lots of ways to relax....sitting and doing nothing, thinking about nothing, worrying about nothing. To borrow a slogan....JUST DO IT!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 12

The topic of the day is "Something you do every day". Hmmm, there are so many things that get done every day, what to chose.

For those of you that know me, I am definitely not an impulsive person. I like routines. I tend to be somewhat regimented. Yes, I'm a little OCD at times. Everything in it's place (although it's harder to remember where that place is sometimes...LOL!).

Most daily things are mundane....getting up, brushing teeth, taking pills, making coffee, checking email/blogs/Facebook, playing with Sadie, writing blogs, eating. You get the gist. Other more interesting things aren't done every day....meeting up with friends, riding the motorcycles, going to the movies.

But one thing that I do every day is to tell my husband that I love him.

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 11

Today's topic: "A photo that makes you laugh..." I did some searching for this one, I only have photos on my computer from 2005 and forward (for the most part). A few motorcycle photos from 2001-2004. LOTS more photos since I hit the road RVing full-time in 2007.

So the photo that makes me laugh is this one of my three grandkids in Atlanta area. It was taken on Thanksgiving 2008, when I took Stu to meet them for the first time. Mom was dressing the pumpkin pie with whipped cream...and decided to "dress" the kids as well.

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 10

The topic of the day is "Your favorite room in your house".

Do I get to wimp out of this one? I don't have a "house". Nope, not a house, or a condo, or a townhouse, or even an apartment. I live in a recreational vehicle...a trailer on wheels, rolling down the highway. LOL!

We only have two rooms...the combination living/dining/kitchen...

...and the bedroom.

Well, unless you want to count the garage...or MAN cave. That's where our motorcycles are carried.

So guess I have to abstain on choosing a favorite room in my "house".

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 9

The topic of the day is "Your most treasured item".

How to answer this one? I have learned that materials things are just STUFF. It's the memories that they bring to mind that are the treasured items. When I wear the necklace my father gave my mother for their 35th wedding anniversary, my mother's smiling face comes to mind.

When I hang the little stained-glass froggie suncatcher, I see the faces of my three grandkids in Georgia when they gave it to me, asking if I would have a place for it in our RV.

My "Hugs and Kisses" Black Hills Gold earrings bring my late husband to mind. He was so tickled to find something that combined my love of Black Hills Gold jewelry and our love.

Whenever I look at my various frog items, I think of Stu's youngest Melissa who also loves froggy things.

I have a handpainted piece of bone that was done by a good artist friend of mine...he's in Arizona and is truly an inspiration to just live life.

Then there is the oil painting done by a former neighbor when I sold my house and went full-timing. It's in storage right now but I still think of it fondly and can't wait to find the perfect spot to hang it in our future cabin.

So many treasured items....so many treasured memories.

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 8

Today's topic is "A birthday celebration...".

This is tougher than you'd think at my age. I really don't remember my birthdays as a child and never really did anything special as an adult. So the only real memory I have to pass on is my 30th birthday.

Everyone expects the milestone birthday's to be tough...21 is when you're happy it's legal to drink; 25 marks a quarter of a century; 30 means you're not a kid anymore; 40 starts the over the hill decline; 50 is an OH MY, a half century gone; 60 qualifies you for many senior discounts; 65 is the traditional retirement age and now means you can get Medicare.

So, at age 30 I did something a little different. I was in my second marriage, was pregnant with my third child and finally had a career that was going well. So to celebrate my birthday I sent my mother a dozen red roses and a thank you note. Think about it...without our mom's we wouldn't HAVE a birthday!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 7

Today's prompt is: Something you use every day...

Had to spend a little time thinking about this one...rather ignore the mundane like my toothbrush, face moisturizer and microwave. But if it isn't mundane, then do I use it every day? Took a walk around our RV, looking at things, thinking about when I use them. The obvious is my laptop...but not going to use that, but I am a gadget kinda gal....laptop, smartphone, Kindle, multiple point 'n shoot cameras.

More walking around...the motorcycle doesn't get used every day so it's out. Same with my favorite anti-gravity lounger outside. I sat back down and realized I had my thing(s) right beside me!

My fan, water jug and coffee cup

Simple but everyday things....my battery operated fan for those pesky "personal summer" moments, my ever-present jug of water and my favorite coffee cup (Milepost: Alaska Travel Planner). They sit on my end table...which is really Sadie's dog crate.

Life is good....got to love the simple things!


Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 6

The prompt for today is, "A Favorite Memory". Guess this will be another photo day....

Fun at Senor Frog's in Cancun
2008 Photo Album Cancun, Mexico

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Refurbish, renovate, renew

I've been working on my 31 day challenge blogs, doing several days ahead since I know some nights I just won't have the energy to write...thanks to Bike Week...LOL! One of the topics was your favorite room in your home.

After writing on that topic, I got to thinking about furniture in RVs. If you have looked at newer rigs you will see some really ugly decor and furnishings to match. Granted, not all rigs are bad but many are.

Take sofas...in a traditional house you find traditional sofas, sectional couches, love seats, and sometimes hideabeds and futons.

In RVs you often see sleeper sofas, sometimes jackknife sofas (so named due to the action required to convert them) and plain old sofas. Unfortunately they are often not only ugly but very uncomfortable.

In our rig the traditional sleeper sofa was replaced with a leather loveseat with dual recliners. Much nicer, especially at the end of the day when you want to put your feet up. That allowed Stu to add a lift top coffee table similar to this. Here are some morelift top coffee tables.

RVs come with pre-mounted lights on the walls but many of us add lamps on end tables and night stands. I've even seen some floor lamps added. I like the looks of some of these candice olson lamps. When we build our cabin, I'll have to choose lighting all over again.

Our decor is pretty understated, a muted background with an ivy-like border around the center. It's neutral in color with green accents...nice earth tones. Some of the more utilitarian toy haulers have more of the "hose 'em down" look. That is practical for them since their target audience are dirt bikers and ATV riders. They might enjoy this zebra wallpaper.

I have friends who have completely redone their rigs...painted the walls, changed out all the furniture, pulled up carpet and put in laminate floors...really made it their own. Others just accessorize to suit their style, be it cabin cozy, southwestern or even nautical.

Be bold and brave...you aren't locked into much in your rig. Make it yours!

Happily hopping through life,
Donna

Photo & Prompt Challenge: Day 5

Today's prompt is a simple one, "Your Day". Doesn't say what day....so here is a photo. Be sure to click to see the large version.

Yellowstone National Park - 2005 Solo Motorcycle Tour

Happily hopping through life,
Donna