I spent yesterday on the couch. On purpose. And it felt good.
I had several books I'd begun reading and was still reading, and I decided to "git 'er dun."
I used to be an avid reader who usually had several books going at one time. One in the living room, one in the bedroom, one in the car. Often more than one in some of those locations and a couple more at the office. Wherever I was I'd pick up the book at hand and read.
Then for years I struggled to read, not because I couldn't, but because the way I learned to read, as necessary, in grad school was a chapter or a page or a paragraph at a time, no more than necessary. I developed a style of reading that I would dub "ADR," or Attention Deficit Reading. When I finally had time to read again, I could not read more than a short time without my attention going all over the place. I was scanning letters and turning pages without retaining much or anything.
When my daughter and her hub bought me the Kindle recently, my reading ability returned. For whatever reason the Kindle is easier for me to remain focused on more than a small amount. I found that I was able to read for hours at a time, not minutes. Then in the past two or three weeks, I picked up several books that I've had for some time, and wanted to read, and another that I recently ordered because I couldn't find it available for the Kindle. I've learned that my focus is back, the "spell" is broken! I had started several on the Kindle and two printed books, and I was switching back and forth among them.
So yesterday I made a decision to do nothing but lay on the couch and read. And I did! I finished a kindle book and a printed book and got a good way into the other printed book! Woo hooo!! It was so good to be totally lazy for a day!
Maybe I'll go for two in a row!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
IMPORTANT!!
PLEASE TAKE NOTE!!!!
We all need to be prayerful for people on all the islands in the Pacific. A tsunami is expected to hit Hawaii in coming hours (I'm hearing different estimated of time). Please include my dear friend Dell who lives on the Big Island. He says there are reports of water receding near Hilo. Not a good sign.
Friday, February 26, 2010
I got nuttin'
It's a slow news day at Chéz Lynilu. The weather is good (SUNNY/NO WET STUFF FALLING FROM THE SKY!!!). Well, there is another snow storm on board for Sunday and Monday, which I seriously hope fizzles. I have no health issues, although my final post-surgical check up is on Monday. Several friends are going along and we are going to have our usual shopping and lunch out on the town, but there's nothing to say about that yet. I don't even have anything to say about what I don't have today.
That being said, you're stuck with some short doggy videos. Sorry. It's all I've got.
Suffer.
Have a great weekend, everyone!!
That being said, you're stuck with some short doggy videos. Sorry. It's all I've got.
Suffer.
Have a great weekend, everyone!!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
I thought I'd never say ....
NO MORE!!!!!!!!!!!
Last night I took this picture of the Capitan Mountains at sunset with some snow left in the ravines. It was very pretty, very peaceful.
But I thought .... "Honestly, I hope this is the last picture I post of snow for this winter!!"
Earlier yesterday, I drove to town to get a haircut. On the way home I took some pictures. As I said above, I hope this is the last picture of the season for Sierra Blanca ......
...... and Nogal Peak .....
..... and the mountain where I live. (I life on the small hill at the base of the two big ravines, nearly center of the photo. I'm approximately behind that one tree in the foreground.)
But I'll post lots more like this, regardless of the weather!
Lola and Sam are having a tug of war with a short piece of rope.
This battle went on for the longest time, and you would have thought it was something to eat with the ferocity involved and the growling from Lola! BTW, that girl's gotta have a diet. She is chunky!
OK, I'm done for today. Snow, snow go away, and don't come back for many a day!!!
Last night I took this picture of the Capitan Mountains at sunset with some snow left in the ravines. It was very pretty, very peaceful.
But I thought .... "Honestly, I hope this is the last picture I post of snow for this winter!!"Earlier yesterday, I drove to town to get a haircut. On the way home I took some pictures. As I said above, I hope this is the last picture of the season for Sierra Blanca ......
...... and Nogal Peak .....
..... and the mountain where I live. (I life on the small hill at the base of the two big ravines, nearly center of the photo. I'm approximately behind that one tree in the foreground.)
But I'll post lots more like this, regardless of the weather!
Lola and Sam are having a tug of war with a short piece of rope.
This battle went on for the longest time, and you would have thought it was something to eat with the ferocity involved and the growling from Lola! BTW, that girl's gotta have a diet. She is chunky!OK, I'm done for today. Snow, snow go away, and don't come back for many a day!!!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Old friends, new friends, internet friends, and all of the above
I love the internet, as if you didn't know that. I've been able to connect with a number of people that I likely would not without it. I have been writing to, and in some cases having phone conversations with several people from long, long ago. One of these is really interesting. I'll call him "D".
You know how we often have very different memories than do others with whom we shared a situation? That's how this story is. It started back in junior high. I can't remember if it was 8th or 9th grade. This guy, D, sat behind me in one of my classes. I can't say that I knew him. He was one of those people who is in the category of "a vague memory." And I suppose we didn't speak more than a few words to each other back then.
My single memory of him is this: One day in class, there was something unusual happening, but I don't remember what. We were having to stay in the classroom longer than usual, perhaps a lunch-time snafu. Anyway, we were told that if we had something to eat, we could go ahead. I didn't, but D had an apple. He asked if I would like half his apple.
Now, keep in mind I don't really know this person, and he is asking me if I want to share his apple. My head was full of thoughts along the line of "How is that going to happen? I'm not going to take a bite after he does!" I think I said something similar to,"How are we going to cut it?" Back them pocket knives in a guy's pocket was acceptable, and I thought he might have one. His reply was to take the apple in his two hands, twist his hands in opposite directions, and the apple split right down the middle! I was amazed! I'd never seen anyone do that. I thanked him, took the apple and enjoyed it.
Next memory? NONE! I didn't remember him in school after that. Isn't that peculiar? Now that we've talked I know that he left school in our Junior year to join the Navy, but what about the two or so years between?
His memory of me? Actually, he doesn't have one! He didn't remember the apple thing. My name rang a bell, but he couldn't place my face.
We began talking a few months ago after I got a message from classmates.com that someone had left me a message. If you're not familiar with Classmates, it is a pain in the neck, IMO. It used to be about the only way to find old high school friends, but over the years, they have changed it so it is very difficult to navigate and find anything unless you pay the $19.95 each year. And I won't.
So I went to the site to try to find the message. I looked and looked without being able to find the message. The only thing I could find seemed, vaguely, to be from D. But it wasn't clear, almost as if part of the message was missing. So anyway, I emailed him, asking if he was trying to reach me. It was a couple weeks before he responded, and he said he hadn't been. I responded with an apology and said it wasn't clear, etc.
But then he emailed back with some questions, trying to place me, and eventually, we got off the classmates email system and began emailing directly. Later on, we have discussed how we both felt an odd but strong connection of some sort while this was going on, almost as if we needed to pursue this, to find out about each other.
I won't go into boring details, but over the last few months we have emailed and talked on the phone a lot, and the friendship we have developed is very special. There is something that keeps us coming back for more about each other. We share a lot of spiritual ideas. We share many political, economical and relationship ideas. It is amazing to be talking to him and learn all these similarities.
To make this more unusual, we have learned that we lived a few blocks apart and rode the same bus to school inl our years of junior high and high school, went to the same church as children (and went to all services Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening), were in the youth group together .... and with no memories of each other in those settings!! Isn't that odd?
We would love to get together, but the likelihood of that is slim. We both have limited incomes, so traveling to get together isn't likely. You see, he lives in Hawaii now. He also has a serious illness, a Parkinson's-like syndrome, which further limits him.
In spite of that, we have formed a wonderful, warm friendship. We talk on the phone for an hour or so at least once a week. We share our love for poetry and good literature. We talk about out life travels .... and travails. And we just support each other in ways that no one else does. It just happens because of that connection we have, one that neither of us can explain, but we are thankful it is there.
I'm still in awe of this, how it came about, how it has grown on us, and how we didn't notice each other "back then." I guess we didn't need each other until now.
You know how we often have very different memories than do others with whom we shared a situation? That's how this story is. It started back in junior high. I can't remember if it was 8th or 9th grade. This guy, D, sat behind me in one of my classes. I can't say that I knew him. He was one of those people who is in the category of "a vague memory." And I suppose we didn't speak more than a few words to each other back then.
My single memory of him is this: One day in class, there was something unusual happening, but I don't remember what. We were having to stay in the classroom longer than usual, perhaps a lunch-time snafu. Anyway, we were told that if we had something to eat, we could go ahead. I didn't, but D had an apple. He asked if I would like half his apple.
Now, keep in mind I don't really know this person, and he is asking me if I want to share his apple. My head was full of thoughts along the line of "How is that going to happen? I'm not going to take a bite after he does!" I think I said something similar to,"How are we going to cut it?" Back them pocket knives in a guy's pocket was acceptable, and I thought he might have one. His reply was to take the apple in his two hands, twist his hands in opposite directions, and the apple split right down the middle! I was amazed! I'd never seen anyone do that. I thanked him, took the apple and enjoyed it.
Next memory? NONE! I didn't remember him in school after that. Isn't that peculiar? Now that we've talked I know that he left school in our Junior year to join the Navy, but what about the two or so years between?
His memory of me? Actually, he doesn't have one! He didn't remember the apple thing. My name rang a bell, but he couldn't place my face.
We began talking a few months ago after I got a message from classmates.com that someone had left me a message. If you're not familiar with Classmates, it is a pain in the neck, IMO. It used to be about the only way to find old high school friends, but over the years, they have changed it so it is very difficult to navigate and find anything unless you pay the $19.95 each year. And I won't.
So I went to the site to try to find the message. I looked and looked without being able to find the message. The only thing I could find seemed, vaguely, to be from D. But it wasn't clear, almost as if part of the message was missing. So anyway, I emailed him, asking if he was trying to reach me. It was a couple weeks before he responded, and he said he hadn't been. I responded with an apology and said it wasn't clear, etc.
But then he emailed back with some questions, trying to place me, and eventually, we got off the classmates email system and began emailing directly. Later on, we have discussed how we both felt an odd but strong connection of some sort while this was going on, almost as if we needed to pursue this, to find out about each other.
I won't go into boring details, but over the last few months we have emailed and talked on the phone a lot, and the friendship we have developed is very special. There is something that keeps us coming back for more about each other. We share a lot of spiritual ideas. We share many political, economical and relationship ideas. It is amazing to be talking to him and learn all these similarities.
To make this more unusual, we have learned that we lived a few blocks apart and rode the same bus to school inl our years of junior high and high school, went to the same church as children (and went to all services Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening), were in the youth group together .... and with no memories of each other in those settings!! Isn't that odd?
We would love to get together, but the likelihood of that is slim. We both have limited incomes, so traveling to get together isn't likely. You see, he lives in Hawaii now. He also has a serious illness, a Parkinson's-like syndrome, which further limits him.
In spite of that, we have formed a wonderful, warm friendship. We talk on the phone for an hour or so at least once a week. We share our love for poetry and good literature. We talk about out life travels .... and travails. And we just support each other in ways that no one else does. It just happens because of that connection we have, one that neither of us can explain, but we are thankful it is there.
I'm still in awe of this, how it came about, how it has grown on us, and how we didn't notice each other "back then." I guess we didn't need each other until now.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Pogo stick weather
Pogo stick weather, not as in springtime getting outside and having fun weather, but as erratically up and down as a kid on a pogo stick.
I gotta tell you, it has been all over the place today. Temperatures have risen and fallen 10° in just more than an hour at times. It has been as high as 43°, then dropped to 30°, up to 38°, down to 29, up to 35°. We've had snow, the bright sunlight, back to very hard snow, sunny again, and then repeat the cycle. It is just crazy!
The first snow was around 9:00 this morning, and after a half hour it stopped and the sun came out. It remained sunny with just a couple slightly cloudy periods with snow flurries till after noon. You can see in these pix how hard it was snowing at about 2:30. Then about 3:00 we had brilliant sunshine for a half hour or 45 minutes. Then about 3:45, it began clouding over again and it has begun snowing once more. Oh, and 10 minutes ago (around 4:00) I could see the mountains, but not now! When I looked out a few minutes ago, I thought about taking a picture, because you could see the "waves" of the storm. There was a huge black cloud on the other side of the mountains which moved through here a while ago, then a good stretch of brilliant blue sky right over the mountain tops, and overhead me was another dark cloud. I decided to get these uploads going and then go out. HA! It's gone now! The wind is blowing very hard, and the snow is swirling everywhere. and the temp has dropped 4° in those 10 minutes. No, I'm NOT going out to get a picture for you!
I seriously think this could be a very bad storm.
These videos are very short, 15-30 seconds. They show the hard snow.
This last one was taken later when the wind was blowing a lot. Yes, I broke down and did it, just for YOU!! Brrrr. Wind and blowing snow is c.o.l.d!!!
Crawl in bed and pull the covers up to you nose!!!
I gotta tell you, it has been all over the place today. Temperatures have risen and fallen 10° in just more than an hour at times. It has been as high as 43°, then dropped to 30°, up to 38°, down to 29, up to 35°. We've had snow, the bright sunlight, back to very hard snow, sunny again, and then repeat the cycle. It is just crazy!
The first snow was around 9:00 this morning, and after a half hour it stopped and the sun came out. It remained sunny with just a couple slightly cloudy periods with snow flurries till after noon. You can see in these pix how hard it was snowing at about 2:30. Then about 3:00 we had brilliant sunshine for a half hour or 45 minutes. Then about 3:45, it began clouding over again and it has begun snowing once more. Oh, and 10 minutes ago (around 4:00) I could see the mountains, but not now! When I looked out a few minutes ago, I thought about taking a picture, because you could see the "waves" of the storm. There was a huge black cloud on the other side of the mountains which moved through here a while ago, then a good stretch of brilliant blue sky right over the mountain tops, and overhead me was another dark cloud. I decided to get these uploads going and then go out. HA! It's gone now! The wind is blowing very hard, and the snow is swirling everywhere. and the temp has dropped 4° in those 10 minutes. No, I'm NOT going out to get a picture for you!
I seriously think this could be a very bad storm.
These videos are very short, 15-30 seconds. They show the hard snow.
This last one was taken later when the wind was blowing a lot. Yes, I broke down and did it, just for YOU!! Brrrr. Wind and blowing snow is c.o.l.d!!!
Crawl in bed and pull the covers up to you nose!!!
Bah, Humbug!!
I don't freakin' believe it!!! I just DON'T!!!
It was supposed to start snowing late this afternoon and continue through tomorrow midday. We were supposed to get as much as 8-16 inches. But I was hoping that by the time the storm actually got here, it would change and be less accumulation.
It started snowing about 8:30 or 9:00 this morning, just tiny, very sparse snowflakes. I didn't worry. Much. But by 10:00, it was coming down fast, huge flakes. And now .... the ground that was mostly clear by yesterday is covered again!!! It's not heavily covered, but except in protected areas, the ground is white, ALL white, again.
I like cold weather. I like snow. But I've had snow for nearly three months now, and I'm ready for something springlike!!! At least for a couple weeks, please, could I have bare ground, blue skies, and temps in the 50s? PLEASE????
last week, the long range forecast said we would have mid 40s to mid 50s. Remember? I told you about it. Now it is snowing, accumulating into another confining depth, and another storm is moving through later in the week and again over the coming weekend!!!!
OK, OK, OK!!! I know you're tired of hearing me whine, so I'll quit. Is it OK to start drinking at 11:00 in the morning?
sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
It was supposed to start snowing late this afternoon and continue through tomorrow midday. We were supposed to get as much as 8-16 inches. But I was hoping that by the time the storm actually got here, it would change and be less accumulation.
It started snowing about 8:30 or 9:00 this morning, just tiny, very sparse snowflakes. I didn't worry. Much. But by 10:00, it was coming down fast, huge flakes. And now .... the ground that was mostly clear by yesterday is covered again!!! It's not heavily covered, but except in protected areas, the ground is white, ALL white, again.
I like cold weather. I like snow. But I've had snow for nearly three months now, and I'm ready for something springlike!!! At least for a couple weeks, please, could I have bare ground, blue skies, and temps in the 50s? PLEASE????
last week, the long range forecast said we would have mid 40s to mid 50s. Remember? I told you about it. Now it is snowing, accumulating into another confining depth, and another storm is moving through later in the week and again over the coming weekend!!!!
OK, OK, OK!!! I know you're tired of hearing me whine, so I'll quit. Is it OK to start drinking at 11:00 in the morning?
sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
One more thing
When I was a little bitty squirt I had SUCH a crush on Roy Rogers. I know some of you have no idea what I'm talking about. Allow me to enlighten you. Roy Rogers was a cowboy movie star and singer in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. I fell in love when I was about three or four, in the mid 40s. I had a cowgirl outfit ( red corduroy skirt and vest with white plastic fringe, and a red cowboy hat with white trim) that I would put on and when I heard his music on the radio or could talk someone into putting his records on the record player, I would dance like a crazy woman, er, child around the living room. Often I was entertaining the adults, but I wasn't particular. I just danced for love !!!
Here he is with his wife Dale Evans.
And here he is alone, Hubba, hubba!
One more. Sighhhhhh.
And then I got to be a little older and my crush faded. I still liked him, don't get me wrong, but I was too old for childish crushes when I was a more mature eight or nine.
And about the time I was nine, I fell for another man. This time it lasted for 55 years. It began when my sister brought home this handsome man.
Hmmm. There is a likeness between the two men, don't you think? Getting right down to the nitty-gritty, I think my brother-in-law was the more handsome of the two.
I honestly didn't notice this until the last couple days, so I just had to share it.
Tomorrow I'm moving on to other topics, but that just had to be recognized tonight. :')
Here he is with his wife Dale Evans.
And here he is alone, Hubba, hubba!
One more. Sighhhhhh.
And then I got to be a little older and my crush faded. I still liked him, don't get me wrong, but I was too old for childish crushes when I was a more mature eight or nine.
And about the time I was nine, I fell for another man. This time it lasted for 55 years. It began when my sister brought home this handsome man.
Hmmm. There is a likeness between the two men, don't you think? Getting right down to the nitty-gritty, I think my brother-in-law was the more handsome of the two.
I honestly didn't notice this until the last couple days, so I just had to share it.
Tomorrow I'm moving on to other topics, but that just had to be recognized tonight. :')
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Rest in Peace, dear brother.
My dear brother-in-law, Odess McNeme, passed away early this morning.
I will always remember him as the most gentle man I ever met.
He is already missed greatly.
Please keep his family in your prayers.
I will always remember him as the most gentle man I ever met.He is already missed greatly.
Please keep his family in your prayers.
Friday, February 19, 2010
A memory ......
My sister told me the sweetest story tonight. I had called to chat and give her encouragement. She had just returned to her home at the assisted living facility after being with my brother-in-law all day. She mentioned that the employees at the facility have been sweet and caring to them, and today a couple of them were really emotional about my BIL going into hospice. She said they really do seem to care, and a couple of them have said they just love him with his kind attitude and his sense of humor, even in the face of his many limitations.
I said, "Well, he's very easy to love."
She replied, "You're not telling me anything. [They've been married just short of 55 years] He's the first and only man who walked into my office, asked for my phone number and got it!"
I'm so glad she has the precious memories.
I said, "Well, he's very easy to love."
She replied, "You're not telling me anything. [They've been married just short of 55 years] He's the first and only man who walked into my office, asked for my phone number and got it!"
I'm so glad she has the precious memories.
Prayers
Some prayers, please, for my sister and her family. My brother-in-law had another stroke a few days ago and his vital systems are slowing down. He is being moved to hospice today.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Feelin' good and makin' plans
I have noticed how well I am feeling the last few days. I'm not 100%, but close. I'm trying to still not overdo the physical stuff, but I'm doing a pretty much normal schedule now, and feeling very good. That's very good news.
Of course, it is good news, but I mean it is especially good news! I will go back for my final checkup on 3/1, and six days later, Linda and I are setting out on another road trip. This is not our usual day-trip, however. Nope. This is a biggie!
We are heading to Florida! When I make the trip by myself, I usually take four days to drive it. I just don't do well past about seven hours at a spell. But with Linda to help drive, we can go farther each day. We'll take two days to get to Pensacola. Linda's parents live in there, so I'll drop her off there. Well, actually, I will spend the night there, then the next day I will continue across to the East Coast and be at my daughter's house.
I will be able to spend about five days with my sweet family in Melbourne. I won't be there in time for Philip's birthday on the 8th, but in our family, we celebrate birthdays whenever we can all get together. I will be there for TL's birthday on the 11th, I will go to Grandparent's Day at Philip's school on the 12th, then have the weekend to spend with the whole family. I'm assuming we will celebrate both birthdays on the weekend. Then on Monday, the 15th, I will head back West across the state to pick Linda up and buzz home. Kind of a fast trip, but with Linda to help drive, I think it quite doable. I haven't been to Florida in a couple years, so I'm excited about it.
It feels great to be feeling well enough to seriously make plans again. Yay!!!
Of course, it is good news, but I mean it is especially good news! I will go back for my final checkup on 3/1, and six days later, Linda and I are setting out on another road trip. This is not our usual day-trip, however. Nope. This is a biggie!
We are heading to Florida! When I make the trip by myself, I usually take four days to drive it. I just don't do well past about seven hours at a spell. But with Linda to help drive, we can go farther each day. We'll take two days to get to Pensacola. Linda's parents live in there, so I'll drop her off there. Well, actually, I will spend the night there, then the next day I will continue across to the East Coast and be at my daughter's house.
I will be able to spend about five days with my sweet family in Melbourne. I won't be there in time for Philip's birthday on the 8th, but in our family, we celebrate birthdays whenever we can all get together. I will be there for TL's birthday on the 11th, I will go to Grandparent's Day at Philip's school on the 12th, then have the weekend to spend with the whole family. I'm assuming we will celebrate both birthdays on the weekend. Then on Monday, the 15th, I will head back West across the state to pick Linda up and buzz home. Kind of a fast trip, but with Linda to help drive, I think it quite doable. I haven't been to Florida in a couple years, so I'm excited about it.
It feels great to be feeling well enough to seriously make plans again. Yay!!!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Writing on demand, my latest self-inflicted challenge
I am going to be involved with a writing group. It is being set up, organized right now. I think it will be fun. The whole group will have a challenge to write for ten minutes every day on a given topic. I've decided I want to know how well I do when I'm given a subject by someone else, one that isn't my choosing, to see how productive I can be "on demand." Another challenge for me will be to keep it to ten minutes. You know how verbose I can be!! I want to learn to be focused enough to complete an article in the ten minute time frame.
The purpose is simply to write, each on our own terms, toward our own goals. Mine is as I stated, knowing whether I can muster up for ten minutes on a topic that is arbitrary and be able to stay on task well enough to complete it in the framework of time. Someone else might want to improve writing skills. Maybe another might want to set the habit of daily writing.
If you would be interested, let me know. I will put you in touch with the spearhead of this project, my long time blogging buddy, Froggi Donna.
And when we get started I'll post the link for a blog where my 10 minutes wonders will be posted, in case you are interested in more reading.
The purpose is simply to write, each on our own terms, toward our own goals. Mine is as I stated, knowing whether I can muster up for ten minutes on a topic that is arbitrary and be able to stay on task well enough to complete it in the framework of time. Someone else might want to improve writing skills. Maybe another might want to set the habit of daily writing.
If you would be interested, let me know. I will put you in touch with the spearhead of this project, my long time blogging buddy, Froggi Donna.
And when we get started I'll post the link for a blog where my 10 minutes wonders will be posted, in case you are interested in more reading.
Gah & Yay!!!
Okey-dokey, I'm giving up! I'm gonna trash the anniversary counter until a later date. It's just driving me nutz!!
But on the plus side of my world, the "snow divots" are working!! I checked it the driveway, and melting is occurring at ground level in those divots!! Woo hooooo!! I did a bunch more and I will probably be able to drive that end of the driveway by Friday at the latest!!
Whew.
PS - Now the title can be "Yay & Yay!!!" I figured out the problem with the counter!! Dayummm I am smart!! (Yeah, most of us are the 147th time through!! And I don't even want to tell you how simple it was. Embarrassing!!)
But on the plus side of my world, the "snow divots" are working!! I checked it the driveway, and melting is occurring at ground level in those divots!! Woo hooooo!! I did a bunch more and I will probably be able to drive that end of the driveway by Friday at the latest!!
Whew.
PS - Now the title can be "Yay & Yay!!!" I figured out the problem with the counter!! Dayummm I am smart!! (Yeah, most of us are the 147th time through!! And I don't even want to tell you how simple it was. Embarrassing!!)
I must have an overly-magnetic personality.
I think I'm losing my marbles! Really! I must have something going on that skews everything I touch on the internet.
Remember a few days ago when I noticed that my Blogoversary counter was saying that it was over 200 days till May 27? Well, it was still not fixed, so I went on a hunt for another one. I found one I really like, set the date for the anniversary, and put it in my side bar. Then I opened my blog and was very happy with it appearance!
And then I read the counter ..... now it say there are 30 days till May 27!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went back to the site, thinking I had put the wrong date in, but nope it was right.
Damn.
I'm going shopping again. Be back later.
Remember a few days ago when I noticed that my Blogoversary counter was saying that it was over 200 days till May 27? Well, it was still not fixed, so I went on a hunt for another one. I found one I really like, set the date for the anniversary, and put it in my side bar. Then I opened my blog and was very happy with it appearance!
And then I read the counter ..... now it say there are 30 days till May 27!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went back to the site, thinking I had put the wrong date in, but nope it was right.
Damn.
I'm going shopping again. Be back later.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Attitude!!
I had to laugh at Lola this morning. She was sitting near me on the couch, chewing on a toy. Her butt was near my hip, probably about four to six inches away. She was minding her own business, I was reading.
Joey hopped up on the couch, stepped over Lola, and sank into a comfortable spot right next to my hip and thigh. He sighed a contented sigh. I patted him without stopping reading, then glanced over and immediately laughed out loud.
Lola was apparently not pleased that he had plopped down between herself and me, and she was giving him The Evil Eye!!! I swear, it is the same cold stare I've seen my kids give each other when they know better than to say something that would start an argument! I couldn't get to the camera, but this is almost The Look:
"I was next to Mom first. Get out. Get out! And don't touch me again!!!!"
After about thirty seconds of steady glaring, she put her mouth back on the chew toy, stopped and looked at him again for another five seconds. Then she gave a short, throaty growl, and went back to chewing .... after moving herself just far enough that he was no longer touching her!!
Joey hopped up on the couch, stepped over Lola, and sank into a comfortable spot right next to my hip and thigh. He sighed a contented sigh. I patted him without stopping reading, then glanced over and immediately laughed out loud.
Lola was apparently not pleased that he had plopped down between herself and me, and she was giving him The Evil Eye!!! I swear, it is the same cold stare I've seen my kids give each other when they know better than to say something that would start an argument! I couldn't get to the camera, but this is almost The Look:
"I was next to Mom first. Get out. Get out! And don't touch me again!!!!"
After about thirty seconds of steady glaring, she put her mouth back on the chew toy, stopped and looked at him again for another five seconds. Then she gave a short, throaty growl, and went back to chewing .... after moving herself just far enough that he was no longer touching her!!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Out of sync day
I woke very early this morning, around 3:45, and was feeling just slightly sick. Nothing serious, just a little bit of upset stomach. I tried several things to calm it, but nothing seems to work. I never got any sicker, just stayed barely enough icky that I couldn't go back to sleep.
I got up and did a little work, some straightening and a load of wash to keep my mind off how I was feeling, and still felt no better, no worse. I had a little to eat, a couple mini scones, and it helped a minuscule amount.
By 6:00 or so, I laid down on the couch and slept for a couple hours. When I woke, I felt better, however, I've had trouble finding any food that appeals to me. I've been hungry, but nothing sounds good. I keep nibbling on things, but nothing is satisfying me. I don't know what is going on in my body. I really hope I'm not getting sick. I don't think so, because the slight nausea is gone.
Just one of those days, I 'spose. I'll probably continue to feel out of sync for today and be fine tomorrow. I surely hope that is the way it goes!
I got up and did a little work, some straightening and a load of wash to keep my mind off how I was feeling, and still felt no better, no worse. I had a little to eat, a couple mini scones, and it helped a minuscule amount.
By 6:00 or so, I laid down on the couch and slept for a couple hours. When I woke, I felt better, however, I've had trouble finding any food that appeals to me. I've been hungry, but nothing sounds good. I keep nibbling on things, but nothing is satisfying me. I don't know what is going on in my body. I really hope I'm not getting sick. I don't think so, because the slight nausea is gone.
Just one of those days, I 'spose. I'll probably continue to feel out of sync for today and be fine tomorrow. I surely hope that is the way it goes!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The day I had planned
Boy, was I wrong!!!!!!I thought my driveway was melted down to about six inches, and I planned to spread ice-melt to help it thaw. This is the North end of the driveway (2 pix to right), the one that has been frozen and icy since, well, forever!!! I'd really like to be able to use it again. Having a circle drive sucks when on end is dangerously frozen, making it necessary to back down the curved and steep other side. The "good" side is now almost completely free of snow, but having to back down it is not fun.
It's a long drive way. I've never measured, but probably 30 yards, at least.
So I took the snow shovel to see how deep and whether I needed to shovel off a little bit so that the ice-melt could go to work quicker and better.
I walked about 10 feet into the snow ...........
....and I was suddenly up to my mid calf!!
Later I measured it and it was between 12 and 15 inches over most of the drive, and that's just the snow! Ice, at least an inch thick, was under that.
So I ended up making "divots" in the snow every foot or so, in hopes that the sun will be able to reach far enough down to melt more. Each is about 8 inches wide and down to the ice. I don't know if it really will work, but hey! Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
I only did about 10-15 feet. That was about all I could do. I will wait and see if that helps, and if so, I'll do a few feet every day till it is all the way down the driveway.
Looks like steps, doesn't it?
I donno. We'll see.
The next chore in my plan today was to pick up puppy poop in the back yard. Now that the snow is mostly melted, I could actually get to it. I went out and picked up the puppy-pooper-scooper .... and broke it! It was frozen to the ground! Well, there was too much to even consider picking it up by hand (I heard that!! Don't be ridiculous! I would use rubber gloves!!), so I guess it is just going to stay till I can repair the scooper or buy a new one. Sigh.
And now .... NOW .... it is clouding up and I just took a look at the forecast and learned that IT IS GOING TO SNOW!!! Just flurries, so it says, but at this elevation, who knows? We weren't supposed to have more snow for at least ten days!!! GIMME A BREAK!!!!! I hope those divots done get covered up.
WTF.
I'm done!!
I'm on the couch, watching the very silly "Death Becomes Her," and having a cup of Irish coffee.
PS - BTW, in an hour, the temp dropped 16 degrees, 43° to 28°!! Jes' sayin'.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Valentine's Day Trivia
I haven't done trivia in ages. I was too preoccupied with health issues, but when I found these this week, I thought it might be time to try to be getting back on track. So I'll begin on the wrong day for Tuesday Trivia! Hey, whatd'ya 'spect? It's ME!!!! :D Right path, wrong foot!
Trivia about Hearts, both real and candy, and Valentines Day
Trivia about Hearts, both real and candy, and Valentines Day
Conversation hearts were invented in the 1860s by the
brother of NECCO's founder. These first hearts had printed
paper notes tucked inside. The lengthy, old-fashioned
sayings included such wistful thoughts as "Please send a
lock of your hair by return mail."
Some classic sayings include "Kiss Me," "Sweet Talk," and
"Be Mine." Some mottos are discontinued for awhile and then
make a reappearance, while others are deleted for good when
they become too outdated. Examples of outdated sayings
include "Dig Me" and the cheerful "You Are Gay."
NECCO must produce about 100,000 pounds of the candy hearts
every day in order to meet the Valentine demand, when about
8 billion hearts are sold in six weeks.
For 2010, NECCO introduced new flavors and sayings. The new
flavors include strawberry, green apple, lemon, grape,
orange, and blue raspberry.
For the first time in its 145-year history, the American
public was invited to participate in an online survey to
decide which phrases of love would appear on conversation
hearts in 2010. The winners include: "Tweet Me," "Text Me,"
"You Rock," "Soul Mate," "Love Bug," and "Me + You."
Conversation hearts come in two sizes—the standard 1/2 inch
and the larger 3/4 inch model. The small hearts generally
can fit no more than two words with four letters each, while
the large hearts may accommodate two words with six letters
each.
The average adult heart beats 72 times a minute; 100,000
times a day; 3,600,000 times a year; and 2.5 billion times
during a lifetime.
Every day, the heart creates enough energy to drive a truck
20 miles. In a lifetime, that is equivalent to driving to
the moon and back.
The “thump-thump” of a heartbeat is the sound made by the
four valves of the heart closing.
The right atrium holds about 3.5 tablespoons of blood. The
right ventricle holds slightly more than a quarter cup of
blood. The left atrium holds the same amount of blood as
the right, but its walls are three times thicker.
French physician Rene Laennec (1781-1826) invented the
stethoscope when he felt it was inappropriate to place his
ear on his large-buxomed female patients' chests.
A woman’s heart typically beats faster than a man’s. The
heart of an average man beats approximately 70 times a
minute, whereas the average woman has a heart rate of 78
per minute.
Valentine's Day stems from the ancient Roman festival of
Lupercalia, a fertility celebration commemorated annually
on February 15. Pope Gelasius I recast this pagan festival
as a Christian feast day circa 496, declaring February 14
to be St. Valentine's Day.
Most scholars believe that the St. Valentine of the holiday
was a priest who attracted the disfavor of Roman emperor
Claudius II around 270. According to one legend, Claudius
II had prohibited marriage for young men, claiming that
bachelors made better soldiers. Valentine continued to
secretly perform marriage ceremonies but was eventually
apprehended by the Romans and put to death.
Another legend has it that Valentine, imprisoned by Claudius,
fell in love with the daughter of his jailer. Before he was
executed, he allegedly sent her a letter signed "from your
Valentine." Probably the most plausible story surrounding
St. Valentine is one not focused on Eros (passionate love)
but on agape (Christian love): he was martyred for refusing
to renounce his religion.
It was not until the 14th century that this Christian feast
day became definitively associated with love. it was Chaucer
who first linked St. Valentine's Day with romance in 1381
when he wrote a poem in honor of the engagement between
England's Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. He associated the
occasion with the St. Valentine's feast day.
Over the centuries, the holiday evolved, and by the 18th
century, gift-giving and exchanging hand-made cards on
Valentine's Day had become common in England. Hand-made
valentine cards made of lace, ribbons, and featuring cupids
and hearts eventually spread to the American colonies.
The tradition of Valentine's cards did not become widespread
in the United States, however, until the 1850s, when Esther
A. Howland, a Mount Holyoke graduate and native of Worcester,
Mass., began mass-producing them.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Famous movie star at my house!!!
Remember "The Little Rascals"? Alfalfa lives at my house. Skinny, lanky kid with hair that always stuck up on the top of his head.
I don't remember Alfalfa having that Fu Manchu beard, however.
Time for haircuts at my house!
I don't remember Alfalfa having that Fu Manchu beard, however.
Time for haircuts at my house!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Groggy brain
I took a short nap, and when I woke, I thought my eyes or my brain weren't working. I opened my blog to check on messages, and I saw the "Blogaversary" badge in the right side bar. It said that my anniversary is in 228 days. For a few minutes, I just stared at it, confused, thinking it wasn't right, but unable to move out of the murky mire of my brain. I finally counted the days, just to be sure, and it is 105 days till May 27.
I figured the HTML was somehow wrong, had become scrambled or something. A couple days ago I had a post almost ready, but was tired, so decided to save it for the next day. When I opened it the following day, almost half of what I'd typed was missing, and some of the remaining text was garbled. Today I thought the two might be related. I went to the website for Blogaversary and generated a new HTML, pasted it to the box in the sidebar, and .... no change.
I'll leave it a couple days. Perhaps somebody at the site will correct the problem. If not, I'll just remove it. What a way to wake up!
I figured the HTML was somehow wrong, had become scrambled or something. A couple days ago I had a post almost ready, but was tired, so decided to save it for the next day. When I opened it the following day, almost half of what I'd typed was missing, and some of the remaining text was garbled. Today I thought the two might be related. I went to the website for Blogaversary and generated a new HTML, pasted it to the box in the sidebar, and .... no change.
I'll leave it a couple days. Perhaps somebody at the site will correct the problem. If not, I'll just remove it. What a way to wake up!
Feeling old and tired this morning
When I get tired, I feel old. Do you?
I went to bed at the usual time last night, watched a sitcom I'd recorded, turned off the TV, and fell asleep almost immediately.
Then I woke less than an hour later and couldn't go back to sleep.
After an hour, I had a glass of milk and read for a while. I became sleepy again, turned off the light .... and my senses popped wide open again.
I got up, sat in the living room with a book, and when I felt sleepy, went straight to bed. Nothing.
Finally, after 2:00 AM, I gave up and took a mild sleep aid, and 45 minutes later, felt drowsy. I did finally fall to sleep, but at this point I was exhausted. I slept until after 8:00 this morning, but I'm hardly refreshed from what sleep I got. I'll take a nap later, and hope tonight is better.
Yep, this is how I feel right now. I do hope I get some rest and and "grow younger."
sigh.
I went to bed at the usual time last night, watched a sitcom I'd recorded, turned off the TV, and fell asleep almost immediately.
Then I woke less than an hour later and couldn't go back to sleep.
After an hour, I had a glass of milk and read for a while. I became sleepy again, turned off the light .... and my senses popped wide open again.
I got up, sat in the living room with a book, and when I felt sleepy, went straight to bed. Nothing.
Finally, after 2:00 AM, I gave up and took a mild sleep aid, and 45 minutes later, felt drowsy. I did finally fall to sleep, but at this point I was exhausted. I slept until after 8:00 this morning, but I'm hardly refreshed from what sleep I got. I'll take a nap later, and hope tonight is better.
Yep, this is how I feel right now. I do hope I get some rest and and "grow younger."
sigh.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
If you own a certain stock, thank me now.
Who'd a-thunk it? When I adopted five rescue dogs, I had no idea that Vaseline would become my new best friend. But it obviously is.
I was sitting on the couch doing a crossword puzzle. Apparently I dropped my white-out pen. I thought I stuck it in my pocket, but who knows whether I missed the pocket or it fell out. I assume it was on the couch beside me when Lola got up and sat with me for a while. When she got down I didn't pay much attention, but now .... isn't hindsight wonderfully clear? .... I realize that she kinda sneaked off the couch and went to the end of it, out of my sight.
I made a mistake in the puzzle, and I reached for the pen, and it wasn't in the pocket. I stood up and began looking between the couch cushions. Next I decided I must have not put it in the pocket as I thought, so looked all over the coffee table, nothing. On the floor, nothing.
And then ....
I saw her at the end of the couch, looking very guilty. She does not hide it well when she has done something she knows she shouldn't. And right in front of her was a well-chewed white plastic used-to-be pen. I picked it up and the palm of my hand filled with white-out, so I'm assuming she didn't get much ingested. I threw it away and cleaned my hands as best I could, then called the vet.
The receptionist answered the phone, and said just a minute, she would ask doc. When she came back to the phone, I heard him chuckling in the background as she relayed his remedy. A half tablespoon of Vaseline repeated every four hours for four times. You might remember that Maxey had to have a similar treatment recently when he ingested a tampon.
I guess I'd better buy an industrial size container of Vaseline. Looks like I'm gonna be needing it over time.
Anybody want a dog?
NO, CAROLINE, I'M KIDDING.
I was sitting on the couch doing a crossword puzzle. Apparently I dropped my white-out pen. I thought I stuck it in my pocket, but who knows whether I missed the pocket or it fell out. I assume it was on the couch beside me when Lola got up and sat with me for a while. When she got down I didn't pay much attention, but now .... isn't hindsight wonderfully clear? .... I realize that she kinda sneaked off the couch and went to the end of it, out of my sight.
I made a mistake in the puzzle, and I reached for the pen, and it wasn't in the pocket. I stood up and began looking between the couch cushions. Next I decided I must have not put it in the pocket as I thought, so looked all over the coffee table, nothing. On the floor, nothing.
And then ....
I saw her at the end of the couch, looking very guilty. She does not hide it well when she has done something she knows she shouldn't. And right in front of her was a well-chewed white plastic used-to-be pen. I picked it up and the palm of my hand filled with white-out, so I'm assuming she didn't get much ingested. I threw it away and cleaned my hands as best I could, then called the vet.
The receptionist answered the phone, and said just a minute, she would ask doc. When she came back to the phone, I heard him chuckling in the background as she relayed his remedy. A half tablespoon of Vaseline repeated every four hours for four times. You might remember that Maxey had to have a similar treatment recently when he ingested a tampon.
I guess I'd better buy an industrial size container of Vaseline. Looks like I'm gonna be needing it over time.
Anybody want a dog?
NO, CAROLINE, I'M KIDDING.
Beautiful winter weather
I woke this morning with a complete covering of dense fog again. There was a coating of frozen fog, hoar frost, on the trees once again.
It is really pretty on the long needles of the Ponderosa pines, especially.
Now, two hours later, the cloud has moved down the mountain and is settled in the valley below me. Capitan must be socked in. You can see from this photo that it is low enough for the mountains to poke out above it.
Although I'm in the bright sun now, and the cloud/fog has moved down a thousand feet or so, the frost on my trees is still very much present. You can see the frost in the tree in the lower left hand corner.
This is so pretty. I'm looking forward to warmer weather and having the snow gone, but I'm not complaining. The temperature is rapidly climbing now. It was 20° at 7:00 and now (9:20) it is 35.6°. In the 15 minutes since I took the photo, the frost is nearly all gone.
There is another storm poised to come in tonight. The forecast of accumulation is still vague, but it seems that I'm at the elevation to get the greatest amount of what does fall. Go figure! I guess I'll have to wait and see, right? OK, that's something I do pretty well.
Waiting ....... waiting ....... waiting ....... waiting ....................
It is really pretty on the long needles of the Ponderosa pines, especially.
Now, two hours later, the cloud has moved down the mountain and is settled in the valley below me. Capitan must be socked in. You can see from this photo that it is low enough for the mountains to poke out above it.
Although I'm in the bright sun now, and the cloud/fog has moved down a thousand feet or so, the frost on my trees is still very much present. You can see the frost in the tree in the lower left hand corner.
This is so pretty. I'm looking forward to warmer weather and having the snow gone, but I'm not complaining. The temperature is rapidly climbing now. It was 20° at 7:00 and now (9:20) it is 35.6°. In the 15 minutes since I took the photo, the frost is nearly all gone.
There is another storm poised to come in tonight. The forecast of accumulation is still vague, but it seems that I'm at the elevation to get the greatest amount of what does fall. Go figure! I guess I'll have to wait and see, right? OK, that's something I do pretty well.
Waiting ....... waiting ....... waiting ....... waiting ....................
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Jazi and the deer
Do ya have a couple minutes? Good. Watch these videos. The first kinda sets the stage, and the second really gives you the full idea of how funny this is.
Here's the deal. We were all sitting on the couch, snoozing or watching TV, and suddenly Jazmyn, from her favorite spot on the back of the couch, saw some deer out the window. (BTW, one was one of the babies, now a young stag with 4 points, I've watch grow up, so they haven't left me!! Hurray!) Anyway, here is what happens at my house when "they" appear out the window .....
So this is how it starts .....
And then a couple minutes later ....
Isn't she a pip??
Here's the deal. We were all sitting on the couch, snoozing or watching TV, and suddenly Jazmyn, from her favorite spot on the back of the couch, saw some deer out the window. (BTW, one was one of the babies, now a young stag with 4 points, I've watch grow up, so they haven't left me!! Hurray!) Anyway, here is what happens at my house when "they" appear out the window .....
So this is how it starts .....
And then a couple minutes later ....
Isn't she a pip??
Thanks, Caroline!
I read a really nice post over at Linda's place, and I was reminded of something I haven't done in a long while.
My husband passed away in October, 2005. He had been sick for a long time, but he wasn't expected to go when he did, not until just a few months earlier when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. We had been planning our return to New Mexico, home to us both. He came home, but not before his death.
In the spring and summer of 2006, I was back in Kansas City, preparing our home for sale. I was happy that I was going to come home, but it was a hard time for me, too. I was preparing to leave my home, the memories attached to the home, my friends, my job, everything that was my life for the 30 years I'd lived there. I was very alone, not because family and friends neglected me, but because no one could walk in my shoes with me. The happiness about returning to New Mexico was precariously balanced with the pain of leaving so much of my life behind.
One of the "things" I was leaving behind was my friend and next door neighbor, Caroline. My kids had all moved away, Caroline was a little younger than my youngest, and she had become almost like another of my kids. She had been my neighbor for about eight years, but I knew her since she was just a little kid. Her grandmother had been my neighbor in that house for many years, and when she passed away, Caroline bought it.
That spring, '06, Caroline badgered me, just as she had for several months, about starting a blog. OK, OK, OK. So she didn't really badger me. She encouraged me. The thing that held me back was just my silly opinion that blogs were for "kids." Why would a person of my age (61 at that time) have a blog? Finally, I read her posts and a few of those linked to her blog. And I read again. And I eventually broke down. I started a blog in May 2006.
Gradually, I gained a pretty good list of readers. I was really enjoying the "company." By August I had around 20 regular readers and another 10 or so stragglers. I was enjoying reading and being read. It was good for me to be writing and having feedback on what I wrote, rather than bottling it all. The most interesting part to me was the friendships that developed with some of these people, other bloggers I'd never met. But I seriously began to feel friendships with several of them. Yes, I was really glad I had begun the blog.
By the time I left Kansas City in September of that year, I hit the road with my three Shih Tzu, Mai Lin, Ali, and China Doll, a trailer in tow, and with a dozen or so good friends who were moving to NM with me! I brought Caroline and all the others along on the move and set them up in the imaginary house next door! My stepson was here, so I wasn't alone, but I also had a gaggle of buddies who visited my place daily! I really didn't feel alone. I really wasn't alone.
As time went on, I met some of those blogging buddies, my neighbors in Bloggerville, in real life as I traveled. And I gained new friends along the way. As in real life, some of the old friends got lost along the way, because they grew in a different direction or because I did, but the blog roll continued to grow and throb with life.
Then about a year ago Caroline once again began yammering at me. This time it was Facebook. Oh, lawdy, what did I need with something that teenagers were using to get into trouble? Now this was a more difficult decision because you can't really visit FB without signing up. But I was comfortable enough with the electronic cyberworld now that I knew I could back out if I didn't like it, so I took a big breath and plunged in, once again.
Facebook opened a different set of doors and windows than the blog did. With Facebook I've continued many of the relationships that began with blogs. Some of those have stopped their blogs, but many have continued with both, thank goodness. I like the in-depth capability of the blog for most writing, really expressing oneself. FB, however, gave the opportunity to reconnect with old friends I hadn't seen for years or decades as well as those family members that you have just occasional contact as we've grown older and get busy with individual interests and our personal lives. My gosh, within just a short time, my list of contacts on FB had grown to over 100! I didn't know I knew that many people! LOL!
So .... FB has a very different purpose in my cyber-life and my real life than does the blog. Both are important to me. And it is because Caroline gently nudged me to start them both. I loved my technology, yet I would not have entered either, at least not as soon as I did, had it not been for my dear neighbor. I'm so glad she urged me, because through these methods of communication I've gained so much, most importantly the friends and the outlet for expression and connection.
I read somewhere not long ago that over half the blogs are representative of "older" people. I forget the age break, but I think it was age 50. We "seniors" are ruling the world with our communication in the cyber world. Hurray for us! The internet is not just for kids!! I have be in touch with at least 15 people from high school (50 years ago) and college (20+ ago), six or seven former coworkers (10-30 years ago), and a half dozen former neighbors. How much better can it get? I don't know if it can, but if so, I'm betting Caroline will let me know!!
My husband passed away in October, 2005. He had been sick for a long time, but he wasn't expected to go when he did, not until just a few months earlier when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. We had been planning our return to New Mexico, home to us both. He came home, but not before his death.
In the spring and summer of 2006, I was back in Kansas City, preparing our home for sale. I was happy that I was going to come home, but it was a hard time for me, too. I was preparing to leave my home, the memories attached to the home, my friends, my job, everything that was my life for the 30 years I'd lived there. I was very alone, not because family and friends neglected me, but because no one could walk in my shoes with me. The happiness about returning to New Mexico was precariously balanced with the pain of leaving so much of my life behind.
One of the "things" I was leaving behind was my friend and next door neighbor, Caroline. My kids had all moved away, Caroline was a little younger than my youngest, and she had become almost like another of my kids. She had been my neighbor for about eight years, but I knew her since she was just a little kid. Her grandmother had been my neighbor in that house for many years, and when she passed away, Caroline bought it.
That spring, '06, Caroline badgered me, just as she had for several months, about starting a blog. OK, OK, OK. So she didn't really badger me. She encouraged me. The thing that held me back was just my silly opinion that blogs were for "kids." Why would a person of my age (61 at that time) have a blog? Finally, I read her posts and a few of those linked to her blog. And I read again. And I eventually broke down. I started a blog in May 2006.
Gradually, I gained a pretty good list of readers. I was really enjoying the "company." By August I had around 20 regular readers and another 10 or so stragglers. I was enjoying reading and being read. It was good for me to be writing and having feedback on what I wrote, rather than bottling it all. The most interesting part to me was the friendships that developed with some of these people, other bloggers I'd never met. But I seriously began to feel friendships with several of them. Yes, I was really glad I had begun the blog.
By the time I left Kansas City in September of that year, I hit the road with my three Shih Tzu, Mai Lin, Ali, and China Doll, a trailer in tow, and with a dozen or so good friends who were moving to NM with me! I brought Caroline and all the others along on the move and set them up in the imaginary house next door! My stepson was here, so I wasn't alone, but I also had a gaggle of buddies who visited my place daily! I really didn't feel alone. I really wasn't alone.
As time went on, I met some of those blogging buddies, my neighbors in Bloggerville, in real life as I traveled. And I gained new friends along the way. As in real life, some of the old friends got lost along the way, because they grew in a different direction or because I did, but the blog roll continued to grow and throb with life.
Then about a year ago Caroline once again began yammering at me. This time it was Facebook. Oh, lawdy, what did I need with something that teenagers were using to get into trouble? Now this was a more difficult decision because you can't really visit FB without signing up. But I was comfortable enough with the electronic cyberworld now that I knew I could back out if I didn't like it, so I took a big breath and plunged in, once again.
Facebook opened a different set of doors and windows than the blog did. With Facebook I've continued many of the relationships that began with blogs. Some of those have stopped their blogs, but many have continued with both, thank goodness. I like the in-depth capability of the blog for most writing, really expressing oneself. FB, however, gave the opportunity to reconnect with old friends I hadn't seen for years or decades as well as those family members that you have just occasional contact as we've grown older and get busy with individual interests and our personal lives. My gosh, within just a short time, my list of contacts on FB had grown to over 100! I didn't know I knew that many people! LOL!
So .... FB has a very different purpose in my cyber-life and my real life than does the blog. Both are important to me. And it is because Caroline gently nudged me to start them both. I loved my technology, yet I would not have entered either, at least not as soon as I did, had it not been for my dear neighbor. I'm so glad she urged me, because through these methods of communication I've gained so much, most importantly the friends and the outlet for expression and connection.
I read somewhere not long ago that over half the blogs are representative of "older" people. I forget the age break, but I think it was age 50. We "seniors" are ruling the world with our communication in the cyber world. Hurray for us! The internet is not just for kids!! I have be in touch with at least 15 people from high school (50 years ago) and college (20+ ago), six or seven former coworkers (10-30 years ago), and a half dozen former neighbors. How much better can it get? I don't know if it can, but if so, I'm betting Caroline will let me know!!
Thank you, Caroline!!!
You rock, my friend!!
Frozen icy morning
Frost. Big time frost. Frozen fog. Ice crystals growing on ice crystals. Whatever comes to mind, it is beautiful.
I encourage you to click on some of the photos to enlarge them and look at the crystal formation. Gorgeous.
I encourage you to click on some of the photos to enlarge them and look at the crystal formation. Gorgeous.
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