Cheers

An introvert’s bearish kind of week

Whew…I don’t know about you, but in my little part of the world, it has been an exhausting week.  As an introvert, named Shelley, I’ve been working dang hard to work my way out of my shell this week.  I felt quite clumsy at times.

And today, I’m feeling a tad bearish to put it lightly.

You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you.  You have to go to them sometimes. – A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

On Tuesday, I went to a coffee shop with a friend.  I treated myself to their famous avocado toast and a chai latte.  I normally don’t eat bread.  But the sourdough bread there is so yummy…!  And I normally just drink my coffee plain black, a half a cup mixed with warm water – so not strong at all.  It was a treat to spend time with a dear friend, though.

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On Wednesday, I volunteered to do two back to back presentations in front of what I’d call large groups.  The first presentation I had to start late, and makeup time, so I had to talk really, really, really fast.  The second one, I had to do the same so that I didn’t run over for the next presenter.  I survived both.  Afterwards, I was dang hungry and not very talkative.  But, I had plans.  So I kept on going.

If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient.  It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear. – A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

That night, I ventured with a friend to our local June Dairy Days meal.  Involving a large crowd at the fairgrounds.  I ate everything on my plate.  Skipped the bread though – but ate the ice cream.  Olson’s Ice Cream is the best!

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Last night, I went for dinner with my dear friends and talked and laughed and had a blast.  We (I) ate 2 bowls of chips and salsa before we ate our meal.  I like to munch on chips when I’m listening to conversations.  I like to sit back and admire those who have the gift of carrying on a discussion.  It was a lively one at that.  I adore my friends, they are the best – we’ve been hanging out with each other for close to 20 years – WOW!

If I had more energy, I’d elaborate, but I shall save it for another post.

A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise. – A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

And this morning, the night after all the week’s fun I’ve had, I’m feeling it.

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Might have been the margaritas and ALL the salty chips and spicy enchiladas, or the chicken dinner with ice cream the night before, or the toast and latte the day before, but we won’t go there.

Now that I mention it, though, I do feel quite fluffy.

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Bother

I hope to muster up enough energy to walk a few miles today.  To burn off the calories of one of the chips I ate last night.

You know what happens when an introvert does that much people interaction kind of stuff in one week AND eats so much when they normally don’t do so?

Think it over, think it under. – A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

They get all tuckered out…and feel a tad bearish.

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Red in the morning – take warning.

It’s a dang good thing that I didn’t have to work too hard to get photos this week.  And I didn’t even need to check the trail cam for the bear photos.  The bear came to us, right out of the blue yonder.   I wonder if he was looking for honey since the full moon this month was called the Honey Moon?

Post Inspiration – A very, very, very busy week.

PS – How about you, are you energized by spending time with people?  What kind of activity exhausts or energizes you?  Isn’t that a huge bear?  Would you have tried to get closer to get a better picture, or would you have run inside the house too?!  For those wondering, Copper was inside, safe and sound.  He’s tiny like Piglet. TGIF!!   

47 thoughts on “An introvert’s bearish kind of week

  1. Wow what a week! The bear, deer and bird are awesome. Scary to have a bear so close. I would also have ducked into the house. I would not have risked a bear hug.

    1. It was fun to see everything, including the wildlife. It was scary to see the bear. Our neighbor said that it almost walked into their garage! That’s way too close for a bear hug – that’s a funny way to put it! 😉

  2. Time with people is tiring. I think that was a good photo of the bear, no need to get closer. For the record: In a contest between bread and ice cream, ice cream always wins. You can substitute almost anything for ‘bread’ in that sentence.

    1. I agree with you Dan – once again your brilliance shins brightly – especially bright on the longest day of the year! 🙂

  3. Wow…….a big Black Bear…….in your garden!!! That is wonderful, scary but wonderful. Go eat so much lovely stuff and see beautiful Doe……….still can’t get over the bear

    1. Yes, he was a BIG bear! It is pretty amazing to see up that close. Wish I would’ve had a bigger lens to get a closer shot of him. Glad you enjoyed the photos!

  4. Omgosh Shelly, this is soooooo true! Being an introvert myself, I completely get it…you. I have to force myself beyond my comfort zone. It’s not at all that I’m anti-social. I can be quite sociable, I do have extroverted moments, funny, witty and the life of the party (if you can get me to the party) But, only another introvert truly understands what that takes out of us. We have a lot of visitors now that we live on the lake and when they leave, I’m flat on my back on the couch for the rest of the day or at times the next day too. It’s exhausting, draining. I love my friends and family but it’s easier on me to take it in small sips, one on ones. Crowds and huge ongoing get togethers just wither me. Lol

    1. Laura – I’m so touched by your words – I can relate to them and you too – the flat out on the couch feeling hits me too! And in small sips like you said. I can occasionally pull off the life of the party role – more of a stir the pot kind of deal with a question to get them talking so I can eat chips and nod my head. LOL! I hope you’re finding moments to rest inbetween guests. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I adore hearing from you! I’ll be by your blog to see what you’ve been up to!

  5. That is a big bear. Wow! Yesterday, I saw Baltimore Orioles at a feeder next to the pool, where I was sitting, trying to read while my guys swam. Living as close as we do to Baltimore (45 minutes) I rarely see those birds. Fun to see nature waking up–or to wake up to the nature around us! I am exhausted by large groups, even just being in them, not even talking to them. Good on ya! I definitely need quiet time after such activities. I hope you can replenish your energy over the weekend–and get some more great pics!

    1. Yes it was a big bear. I’ve been so tickled this year with all the wildlife I’ve seen, including the Baltimore Orioles, aren’t they so pretty to watch?!
      Yep, large groups intimidate me and I’m pooped after being in them. I intend to recover this weekend, but I did want to go shopping…at a large store…! But I will get more photos of something, I’m sure of that! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. 🙂

  6. First of all…a bear in you backyard! Oh my! That’s alot of nature!
    I can understand the post socializing exhaustion. I also prefer small groups and short visits. And speaking in front of large groups – as in your presentations? Such a challenge – never my favorite thing to do. The only thing that helps now is to take off my glasses so everyone looks like a blur. I only discovered that in the last few years. Better late than never.

    1. Yes, the bear was an exciting moment – scary too. They can move incredibly fast, despite their size.
      After a presentation, I feel so relieved. Most of what I do present requires a standard format, so I need my glasses on to read and stay on track. But I do like the blurring idea…hmm… I shall ponder that idea for my next round. 🙂

    1. Yes, he was. No, he was on the roam, I think. I do know that one lives/hibernates in the culvert under the road just down the road from us about a mile or so. And we have a sow and 3 cubs living in the woods near us too. I’m surprised he was out in the middle of the day. I hope he keeps on moving and doesn’t chose our yard for his playground!

  7. I tend to be an extrovert, but I need alone time after a lot of interaction. Your week sounds fun but tiring, even to an extrovert. 🙂 That bear! 😲 I’m kinda glad I’ve never seen that…I’d freak out.

    1. I would love to go to a crowd with you – you can play the extrovert and I can watch and smile and nod and feel all content and ready for a nap! Yeah…the bear…sad that we found out later that at this time of year they are on the prowl for baby fawns. ;-( I haven’t seen the one I saw earlier this week, so I hope the rumor of the bear prowling for fawns isn’t true.

  8. I get freaked out by the raccoons that come around so not sure how I’d handle a bear! Sounds like you had a lot of fun with your friends. Love the colors in your sky shot. Happy Friday.

    1. Racoons freak me out – they’re sneaky and unpredictable. And stinky too. I think I’m just remembering a childhood moment holding a baby one that pooped on me. Thank you for the photo kudo – hope your weekend is spectacular! Stay cool!

    1. Yes, that’s the one! I don’t think he left anything this round – he missed stopping by the bird feeder. He was on a different mission, so it seemed.

  9. I loved your dear friend … so very sweet and I oohed and aahed over your bear (I lingered over the picture because you know I am like your mom and used to collect ’em). The way I figure it, that bear was looking at your flower pot with the mud in it – if the birds can mess with it, he might have thought it was a pot of hunny and messed with it too! And for sure the cute robin clearly ate too many chips and salsa and bloated up like a balloon from all that salt, don’t you?

    1. Aw, I love how you find the beauty of animals – you would’ve been like me trying to stay out there as long as possible to get more photos and to see if the bear was friendly afterall! That Robin was a hoot to watch. I’ve got more shots of her to share. She was puffy – salty chips and salsa are so hard to resist for me. I need to watch it though…the fluff doesn’t disappear as quickly as it used to in my younger years!

      1. I like that you were trying to get a slew of bear shots – brave you and just hope he doesn’t come too close. 🙂 I thought that robin was especially puffy looking. I used all the shots I took at the Park yesterday for my post today … I had a horrible day for all the expectations I had about it. I had a catastrophe with my garage door where the spring broke and acted like a slingshot up in the ceiling, back down to my car and against the garage door. I don’t care about the ceiling but it damaged the car. I wrote about it but it is a long post and I used all the pics I took yesterday – not stellar pics as I had the small camera as I had charged up the big one, depleted the memory card and was ready for this morning, so grabbed the small one.

        1. Oh, no, sorry to hear about your car/garage door! I’ll be by to read your post! Hope today is better than yesterday for you.

          1. I am quite behind here Shelley. It may take days to catch up and we have a stormy day on tap for today, which will prolong things (if they are correct). I am conflicted … I am happy it did not hurt me and I am grateful it did not smash the tail light, but it will still be an expense to have it fixed (painted … buffed out professionally will not do it) plus the cost of the garage door and the ornamental hinge straps … they look nice on the door and match the pole light and coach light so another $150.00 expense. No telling about the car. I will take it tomorrow morning and see if they can fix it soon … I don’t have to drive in any rain or get it wet so it will be okay until then. My car will be 10 years old in September and only has 6,200 miles on it!

          2. Aw, that’s a lot to process and prepare for. I’m thinking about you, and hope for the best. That’s not many miles on a car for 10 years – it must’ve been in excellent condition.

          3. I am getting old – was at the car repair shop at 8:00 a.m., went on a four-mile walk after that and back here for work – the door installer was running late, so arrived here late, and door is made different for opening/closing purposes – had a tutorial, tried it. Stopped and ate dinner, then back to work to do more charts. The car is in excellent condition and that was part of the reason I was so worried about it. My last car was 21 years old with only 64,000 miles, but I had to get rid of it as the electrical issues were just too worrisome and dangerous. It broke my heart – it was a beautiful car. Needed a new car in 1988 and it was sitting on a lot at the car dealership. Someone ordered it loaded and had to cancel the order. I saw it sitting in the lot and knew it would be my next car. I took the bus for years, so it stayed in the garage. I don’t know how I racked up that many miles on it to be honest.

          4. Aw, I’m sorry you’re having to go through this. I’m glad to read you got some walking miles in. I hope it helped you sort through some thoughts and get some great photos. 🙂 Hang in there!

          5. Thank you – I should not whine so much. Didn’t hear from the car shop yet so wondering if they did have to repaint it. My handyman is scheduled for all day Friday and it is going to storm throughout the day … I don’t know whether to believe the weather folks or not. I’d like him to finish in one day so I don’t have to stay home another morning.

          6. Let’s just hope that July brings independence from the crappy weather – and many more opportunities for smooth sailing and walking! 😉

          7. Let’s hope so Shelley – we have a crummy day tomorrow and the handyman is here. My car still is not ready and if it is severe weather Friday, I’ll ask if I can leave it there – the garage door incident has become a real PIA.

          8. We had the crummy weather yesterday. I hope the storm misses you! Yes, leave the car where it is safe. So sorry that it has become such a PIA experience for you!

          9. I now have heard it will be north of us. The car guys just called me and the car will be dropped off at 10:00 a.m. … Jim arrives at 9:00-ish. Working on the roof and power-washing the house in 91-degree weather. I need to spend the next 2 days by myself tomorrow. 🙂 All this interaction and issues this week – too much for this old girl!

          10. Going to do a short post and got some work to do for Robb – didn’t work all day due to my “accident” yesterday … will do a short post and try to catch up here later.

  10. Large groups wear me out, especially if there is a lot of random talking. We gotta take care of ourselves and rest afterward. As for the bear, I would have backed slowly toward the door but stayed outside to watch. If the bear started coming my way, I’d probably go inside. There’s no place like home for introverts. Especially when the bears are out and about!

    1. Yes, that aspect of randomness bothers me too. I learned a long time ago how much I need to recoup after those events. If only I could sleep as well as I used to, I’d be golden. LOL – the bear photo op was a quick one, I would’ve loved following it to get better shots, but I stayed in home sweet home and let him wander away.

  11. Your post helps me understand my boyfriend better. He’s an introvert. I’m not. I thrive on public speaking and social interactions. They energize me. Often, my boyfriend will choose to stay home when I go out, but then he likes to hear about my interactions when I get home. I never realized those activities are draining for him. So, thanks for sharing this.

    1. Ah, yes, your boyfriend is definitely an introvert. We do adore listening to others stories, though, so nice you’re able to let him stay behind and hear what happened while you were out getting energized! I’m glad the info I shared was helpful. 🙂

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