tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4895623959975650512024-03-06T22:34:03.386-05:00In A New York MinutePathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.comBlogger2426125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-50817109162998554322017-09-18T15:13:00.002-04:002017-09-18T15:13:33.645-04:00My Strange ProblemFoir the past three or four months, I've been receiving an invoice from Perricone (make up/skin care) addressed to James B. Smith and my address. The first three or four, I sent back marked "not at this address" and "return to sender" with no result. The invoices kept coming. Oh, I know they are invoices as I finally opened one. I decided to stop wasting my time and started shredding them instead of returning them.<br />
<br />
So today, the plot thickens. I get this envelope from London (England) addressed to him and I opened it. It is a magazine called "Trans Life" for transgender people. What's odd is that this magazine was airmailed so it seems like something someone paid for. Ana was here so I paged through the magazine for literally five seconds and out it went. It did occur to me to cut the label and return it, but frankly I resented having to pay anything toward this.<br />
<br />
I asked a friend if he thought this could in any way be a scam and he didn't think so. Meanwhile my friend has recently been plagued by fake IRS calls telling him he's in big trouble.<br />
<br />
Any thoughts? The only thing I can come up with is to alert the post office to not deliver James B Smith mail to me. I don't know how successful that request will be.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-36954488381203215502017-09-13T23:48:00.000-04:002017-09-13T23:49:12.009-04:00Long time, no writeThe days fly by and if I don't have anything particular to share, there goes another day. My news of late is that Mary, Michelle and I celebrated 50 years of friendship this past weekend in Washington DC. We met in September 1967 when Mary and I were freshmen and Michelle was a sophomore. By a lucky (for me) twist of fate, the computer put us in three rooms right next to each other.<br />
<br />
Mary had these photos from 1967 -- Mary on top, me, and Michelle in her hair curlers. Anyone of our generation looks at those curlers, you just can't believe we slept with those things digging into our scalp. And took 15 - 20 minutes each night to "set" our hair. Yikes... so here we are:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqs0Er7Oeu39eo1sE0Eglf9qCrum_UHV9Ygi4nUwr1EtreZCxR5hBZnvxhLva25oWMMZH0qcGGmbNdDUq-9QsXEPNlSjarRY46QVe5kXEvy0GZdy7YKL409AIgc6CwLtXM2TlL8yH-TZE/s1600/50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqs0Er7Oeu39eo1sE0Eglf9qCrum_UHV9Ygi4nUwr1EtreZCxR5hBZnvxhLva25oWMMZH0qcGGmbNdDUq-9QsXEPNlSjarRY46QVe5kXEvy0GZdy7YKL409AIgc6CwLtXM2TlL8yH-TZE/s400/50.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
I actually remember when that photo was taken. We tried to make it look as if I was standing next to Warren Beatty, who was the sex god du jour due to Bonnie & Clyde.<br />
<br />
We couldn't find any restaurants/bars we remember from college days, bu we do remember a chain called Hot Shoppes, similar to Howard Johnson's, where the signature dish was a forerunner of the Big Mac called the Mighty Mo. I have no idea what Mo is.<br />
<br />
Mary found a recipe for Mighty Mo's on line and at the last minute we decided to skip the middle bun and extra patty of beef. Then, of course, we had French fries. I have to say the Mighty Mo (with its secret sauce which is like 1000 island dressing was good. Here's what it looked like:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSHOT82hWVCk4dRsF3E4v8XwHCXvkyogH5qV1idEwKEfdBDEyfXVmU8K4mTR0afUmAgVTUNh_3HH0Ck4OQng1wLP3VEg5yVbyBN7oBMmdrg6b1oCaBs8g10AiFiJCgO0Ay6ajHMSv9hE/s1600/mo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSHOT82hWVCk4dRsF3E4v8XwHCXvkyogH5qV1idEwKEfdBDEyfXVmU8K4mTR0afUmAgVTUNh_3HH0Ck4OQng1wLP3VEg5yVbyBN7oBMmdrg6b1oCaBs8g10AiFiJCgO0Ay6ajHMSv9hE/s640/mo.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
It really was good -- one of those three napkins required burgers.<br />
<br />
That was Friday and then on Saturday we went to our alma mater American University and met with a woman (a sophomore named Emma) who filled us in on what's what. Lots of new buildings, but enough of the campus was the same that we recognized it. We drove around campus for a while and then got great deli sandwiches and went back to Mary's.<br />
<br />
We just stayed in, gabbed, etc.<br />
<br />
On Sunday, we played a game I'd brought called Spontuneious which involves coming up with (and singing) five words of a song with a certain word in it. Lots of laughs with that. We like games that are simple and don't take hours to finish. And this one is.<br />
<br />
Later, some other friends came over and Michelle made shrimp tacos, and shredded beef tacos and Mexican corn, and cole slaw and Michelle's daughter and husband brought a peach cobbler and mult-berry pie from this wonderful farm stand.<br />
<br />
I left early on Monday and had a really wonderful weekend.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-29299334019933248922017-08-29T21:09:00.000-04:002017-08-29T21:09:13.263-04:00Harvey ReportsThis is from a woman I used to work with who lives in Houston:<br />
<br />
Hey! Yes we are ok. at home safe and no water in the house. We are very lucky to
be on higher ground. This has been quite the experience. Didn’t have to worry
about these things in Denver/ABQ lol! I have never seen this much rain in my
life.<br />
<br />
And here's Melissa's front yard. She told me she slept through it although she had noted that the tree was "wobbling" a bit more than normal... but she hadn't realized it fell overnight until her neighbor texted her.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHleczE4kofunYL6FCjtRwe41sTJGSP1GGvp16LmuoqbD6O2a9H1xk9LBGHt83MqsHBS27anzfrnKyZSSb5fnJN8EPFLo4-ejCs15NJeWS2RcqzcEMEOLWR0xjKdMvf57gFrEH_Po_O4/s1600/t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHleczE4kofunYL6FCjtRwe41sTJGSP1GGvp16LmuoqbD6O2a9H1xk9LBGHt83MqsHBS27anzfrnKyZSSb5fnJN8EPFLo4-ejCs15NJeWS2RcqzcEMEOLWR0xjKdMvf57gFrEH_Po_O4/s400/t.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
At least it fell the right way, right onto her neighbor's fence but it didn't leave a scratch. Her son came and cut and carted the tree away so that was that. Thank God.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-64043851145368796552017-08-21T19:18:00.000-04:002017-08-21T19:18:38.211-04:00Eclipse HappeningsI totally weenied out on anything about the eclipse... kept looking outside and it seemed to get a bit dusky, but that's about it. I had no glasses or viewing device and I didn't want to take a chance (says the Old Lady in me.)<br />
<br />
So Mary reports:<br />
<br />
<i>I decided to go outside and try the colander as a vehicle to see the eclipse (I
got the suggestion from Neil Degrasse Tyson and others). I hope you can see it
from the picture - I thought it was pretty, every hole showing the pattern of
the eclipse. We didn't get a full eclipse, I think it was up to 82%. Jill
joined me and my neighbor Matt in the alley so we were able to look at the
eclipse through her glasses. It was pretty cool.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeaQCrEreh29f25Lik875ofdYHcjFI2Ztod92qT0QIszSnb9ukB0nytINvGwmM2LZEpwJOZMYnE3Afv8Ur6-_kimOgOq-D_20tuTeT3xQj3reJNzbjRJ-4FPHe-npDfn3uQCGWcJQj4w/s1600/e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeaQCrEreh29f25Lik875ofdYHcjFI2Ztod92qT0QIszSnb9ukB0nytINvGwmM2LZEpwJOZMYnE3Afv8Ur6-_kimOgOq-D_20tuTeT3xQj3reJNzbjRJ-4FPHe-npDfn3uQCGWcJQj4w/s640/e.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And Fran:<br />
<br />
<i> I made a shoebox viewer which worked well and joined some neighbors out on the
patio/tennis courts.
</i><br />
<div id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1503346680810">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1503346755521">
<i> A neighbor Michael made a big
box viewer which was neat (see big white box in photo) and several others shared
their eclipse glasses (best views). It was heartwarming to see we are attuned to
the cosmos. Spectacular even though d.c.only had 80% coverage.</i></div>
<div id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1503346755521">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DFkiFc3eXimKzgWOSK6hbXbA-hFNZJh0BVOf741gFxH-5F97SY2cuuwsKlPgr8z5IXsRSQxYvtRXJ258qA8fnhPmS5r7S8TlYYztwstubSWqBAUTPHCMmcjxGD0pGKLLVYBxSk2YpqM/s1600/ee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DFkiFc3eXimKzgWOSK6hbXbA-hFNZJh0BVOf741gFxH-5F97SY2cuuwsKlPgr8z5IXsRSQxYvtRXJ258qA8fnhPmS5r7S8TlYYztwstubSWqBAUTPHCMmcjxGD0pGKLLVYBxSk2YpqM/s400/ee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1503346755521">
<i><br /></i><div id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1503346596711">
<br /></div>
</div>
My favorite tweet was Madeline Albright who said that the eclipse proves that darkness is temporary.<br />
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-51471502902307358312017-08-21T19:09:00.002-04:002017-08-21T19:09:32.337-04:00Amy in AlaskaAmy and her husband are on an extended trip to Alaska... here's the lodge they've stayed in and her room.<br />
<br />
She says:<br />
<br />
Finally a room I'm not a little embarrassed to send you a picture of. This is
the Mantasuka Lodge right across the valley from a glacier<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOtZpprvfJ9HQAN3mXd_a2k-Zun15in9811iuGWzzhXV6IY1QiqwSMJoFi7kanrd14p8v-Gomb3nKXR3_bJ2O8Js-Ayr6ihWmHYcvqRfQn3WJ7GsBGRgB2fLdZDvZdy_5viI5OMmYl-w/s1600/l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="874" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOtZpprvfJ9HQAN3mXd_a2k-Zun15in9811iuGWzzhXV6IY1QiqwSMJoFi7kanrd14p8v-Gomb3nKXR3_bJ2O8Js-Ayr6ihWmHYcvqRfQn3WJ7GsBGRgB2fLdZDvZdy_5viI5OMmYl-w/s400/l.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0L-akAeH-za8-7r4ZlQPwO4bogCFMQ_sGJtZNOjbkqHUYvwKo8sHHr4C_gXSGcQkeqo69L8Jq04LOeCPK_T3wmOJ-Y1Gb8DSQgW9CCEPUZEjxxLMheDbS6WE4WA3Zu0KXryrzLVCCpo/s1600/ll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0L-akAeH-za8-7r4ZlQPwO4bogCFMQ_sGJtZNOjbkqHUYvwKo8sHHr4C_gXSGcQkeqo69L8Jq04LOeCPK_T3wmOJ-Y1Gb8DSQgW9CCEPUZEjxxLMheDbS6WE4WA3Zu0KXryrzLVCCpo/s400/ll.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-16570285972164285192017-08-20T18:38:00.001-04:002017-08-20T18:38:29.252-04:00Baby LilyHere's a growing Lily who was born last week, or two months ago or I guess sometime in June. Lily is Mary's great niece.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXGW31BL0HU2Sf8Mar8ULq-TrQIiBjhmMFIT5dL_DucIME90HU5RLmZ-Vn6Q7_6R1lN6jjmWOZhV1EaSLwEzzFPaxHcHA5Y_uTk3YQzmG527SET2MLf54EjaqjKvqV17haaEj_Au1jbA/s1600/l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXGW31BL0HU2Sf8Mar8ULq-TrQIiBjhmMFIT5dL_DucIME90HU5RLmZ-Vn6Q7_6R1lN6jjmWOZhV1EaSLwEzzFPaxHcHA5Y_uTk3YQzmG527SET2MLf54EjaqjKvqV17haaEj_Au1jbA/s640/l.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-72652481580836450582017-08-20T18:28:00.001-04:002017-08-20T18:28:04.350-04:00Michelle and the Polar BearsMichelle is somewhere in Northern Canada (way Northern) on a polar bear trip and here are some she saw and she brags that she didn't get attacked or eaten.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixs2KZ5Mg2qyWbFjC9zB6P_R13vQjDYlIPeobvIIRB-43tDt1XstqzYgS6j3PnxSQeI6pv6eoskthMnBCG0KXC4PBqiiOKjhDV2MPfUrVbqMGDV7h6onVAKZoIHBxYp_x_Z2m_wB0ANyE/s1600/IMG_2880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixs2KZ5Mg2qyWbFjC9zB6P_R13vQjDYlIPeobvIIRB-43tDt1XstqzYgS6j3PnxSQeI6pv6eoskthMnBCG0KXC4PBqiiOKjhDV2MPfUrVbqMGDV7h6onVAKZoIHBxYp_x_Z2m_wB0ANyE/s400/IMG_2880.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvCntJ9k1PDTTjPqGgwiaZIeATbg0DncBa32jkjgyxfS3SH3U6yAysI9KtHQfQ4TETltC9dbps72Ywgzgc-q6TA6CgLnYQuRdFnqLTYVtXXunfTE4CcpcC0Be6PXCgZcS5_hiRNAsJBE/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvCntJ9k1PDTTjPqGgwiaZIeATbg0DncBa32jkjgyxfS3SH3U6yAysI9KtHQfQ4TETltC9dbps72Ywgzgc-q6TA6CgLnYQuRdFnqLTYVtXXunfTE4CcpcC0Be6PXCgZcS5_hiRNAsJBE/s400/IMG_2885.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErwPX3qggc97Du-sYi2w2b9UKQw20Lab8rcwR-HidbLAuV_bpRpFm3CTdoRbMFMCe1TOqPrNtEIwkBpEB23W3vQUbJz4pVJxQ0StLJmaeQ5MUWw2vfdA1Me0n-DdXP5zAkU3XLYImxTM/s1600/pb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErwPX3qggc97Du-sYi2w2b9UKQw20Lab8rcwR-HidbLAuV_bpRpFm3CTdoRbMFMCe1TOqPrNtEIwkBpEB23W3vQUbJz4pVJxQ0StLJmaeQ5MUWw2vfdA1Me0n-DdXP5zAkU3XLYImxTM/s400/pb2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-64596816701626986232017-08-14T19:34:00.002-04:002017-08-14T19:34:29.032-04:00My First Uber RideHave finally joined the Uber crowd. Had a doctor's appointment at 10 am and knew I wouldn't be able to get a cab so I downloaded Uber, played with it a bit and was afraid I would mistakenly order a car.<br />
<br />
So this morning, I went outside, entered my address, entered my destination and within two minutes (really, two minutes) a car arrived. I told the driver this was my first Uber trip and he said "Welcome to Uber!" I did Uber coming home as well as the Uber fare is about $10 less than a cab.<br />
<br />
All in all, I had an excellent experience. When we were pulling up to my destination at the doctor's office, I asked the driver if I had to sign something or just get out. He told me I had to say goodbye to him first and then get out... which I did.<br />
<br />
My question is... who tips Uber? I have asked two people, both of whom had the same answer which is "tipping is new, good question." I didn't tip the first guy for no other reason that "you don't have to tip Uber" flashed in my mind... and returning, the fare was $22 and it asked for a two dollar, three dollar or five dollar tip... so I gave three dollars.<br />
<br />
I was slow to adapt to Uber as it is typically quite easy to get a cab, but not in rush hour times like this morning.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-88428403071222044432017-08-13T20:47:00.002-04:002017-08-13T20:53:25.675-04:00Weird DreamI had a very weird dream last night, which was enjoyable, but I have no idea what it means.<br />
<br />
So first real life: Yesterday Mary arrived at her vacation place where her room overlooks the ocean and she sent me a photo of her room and I replied that I love to go to sleep with the balcony doors open and fall asleep to the sound of the waves.<br />
<br />
Further real life: I think the last time I stayed in a room like this was in Fort Lauderdale where when I was looking out at the ocean, I swear I saw a whale offshore spouting. Later I overheard hotel staff talking about the whale that was offshore and I went over and said that I had seen it as well so I supposed I did see a whale from my room.<br />
<br />
So now to the dream: I was in a hotel room, looking out at the ocean and saw a whale. I went to get a camera and this was all realistic, what I would do/act in real life and I photographed this whale. The next thing I know there are lots of whales, diving and breaching, and I'm photographing like mad and being really happy I'm getting such good photos. Sometimes a whale would "body surf" toward the shore and I'd get a really good photo.<br />
<br />
The other detail is that there were people in the water playing in and around the whale, trying to ride them, and it annoyed me they were disturbing the whales and I also thought it was dangerous for them.<br />
<br />
So I've googled "dream about whales" and then "dream about photographing" and both are very positive outcomes... whales represent important large issues and photographing represents "keeping a close eye on" something... but I can't for the life of me figure out what these big issues are that I'm keeping tabs on... finally buying a new microwave?? Taking retirement money from my nestegg like my financial guy urges me to do even though I don't want to??<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://roodepoortrecord.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/02/whale-day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://roodepoortrecord.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/02/whale-day.jpg" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="800" height="260" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
When I was in therapy, my therapist used to tell me to forget all the symbolism stuff and think about how the dream made me feel... ok, so this dream made me feel as if I were really lucky to be seeing all these magnificent creatures and proud of myself that I was getting photos of them which I wanted to share with my friends. The dream has come into my mind all day today and it still makes me feel very positive.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-28615865433799389542017-08-07T22:26:00.000-04:002017-08-07T22:26:01.197-04:00My Conversations with LaneHere are a few things I've gotten out of them for the past week or so.<br />
<br />
<b>A book recommendation.</b> Her mother in law gave her a box of books including SOUTH OF BROAD which was written by Pat Conroy, one of my favorites since her wrote PRINCE OF TIDES. I ordered a used copy, based on her recommendation, from Amazon which arrived today.<br />
<br />
<b>Help with a scam. </b>I have gotten four past due invoices to my address, including my apartment number, but a different name from Perricone cosmetics. I have sent three of them back, marked "return to sender, not at this address" and they keep coming as I received another one today. She says it's a scam, with the belief that some people will pay it just to make it stop, and ignore it. She has been through this with a fake QC bill. So I guess I'll send one more back and then ignore any more.<br />
<br />
<b>Food Envy. </b> We were of the same mind on this. If we scan a restaurant menu and one entree pops out as what we want, we have no problem. We can each be very decisive. But if we're torn between two items and our companion is going to do one, we're stumped as we may want A entree, but we fear jealousy of our cocmpanion's B entree. Why is this? I added to this quandary the notion that I actually like when my companion orders somethig I absolutely don't like (salmon, liver, etc) as then I know for sure I won't suffer from food envy.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-80868447090560418382017-08-05T17:16:00.003-04:002017-08-05T17:17:37.582-04:00What I'm Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/onix/cvr9781501160387/the-liberal-redneck-manifesto-9781501160387_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/onix/cvr9781501160387/the-liberal-redneck-manifesto-9781501160387_lg.jpg" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="230" height="400" width="261" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is a hard book to explain. One of the authors, Trae Crowder, is a stand up comedian who calls himself the Liberal Redneck. I first saw some of his pieces on YouTube during the election. He is the real thing, born and raised in Tennessee with an absert father,, a mother who served jail time and had a pill addiction and I guess people's (including me) fascination with him is his liberal views.<br />
<br />
So the book is all about the South, its traditions, its poltics, its people and how it got that way. In between these chapters are personal stories from the three authors. I have to say this book challenged (in a good way) some of my longheld views... gorwing up in NY, during the civil rights era, we simply thought of southerners as stupid and more. He does not defend beliefs, but explains them. Ok, it's hard to describe, but I am enjoying it.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-44603196586897942562017-08-03T21:33:00.001-04:002017-08-03T21:33:40.819-04:00Do you love me or my lobster roll connection?Got an email from my grade school friend who I shared a lobster roll lunch with about two weeks ago. She wrote "I think it's time for another lobster roll" and I thought "oh good" until I realized she didn't mention wanting to spend time with me. She doesn't want my company, my conversation, my delightful personality... she wants a damn lobster roll!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i0.wp.com/www.foodrepublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Picture-5_16.png?resize=700%2C%20501" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i0.wp.com/www.foodrepublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Picture-5_16.png?resize=700%2C%20501" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="700" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-49349965587977428422017-08-02T14:49:00.000-04:002017-08-02T14:49:55.329-04:00Hmmm... what do my friends think of my reading tastes?Got this from a friend, and I have to say the book does appeal to me...<br />
<br />
He wrote:<br />
<br />
The book below is written by a guy I follow on Twitter. He is a sports writer,
and a pretty liberal guy. I read him more for his non-sports comments than
sports stories. He wrote a book about his great great grandmother who killed
her husband with an axe. He discovered this story while doing geneology
research on his family. I'll let you know how it is...
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
https://www.amazon.com/Nellie-Kniffen-Took-Axe-great-great-ebook/dp/B074665VW9/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1500907203&sr=1-1&keywords=Nellie+Kniffen</div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-41448711718750492152017-08-01T12:18:00.000-04:002017-08-01T12:18:02.907-04:00Solar EclipseThere's one coming on August 21, and vox.com has a neat calculator where you enter your zip code and it tells you how much of the eclipse you'll see.<br />
<br />
Here's what I get:<br />
<br />
<h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4e4d; font-family: Balto, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 2.25rem; font-weight: 400; justify-content: center; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0.2rem 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
In zip code <span class="dont-break" style="box-sizing: border-box; white-space: nowrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><input id="userZip" name="userZip" style="background-color: #fff200; border-radius: 0px; border-width: 0px; box-shadow: none; color: #4c4e4d; cursor: text; display: inline; font-family: Balto; font-size: 2.25rem; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 122px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 122px;" type="text" value="" />,</span> you will see a <span id="eclipseType" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; word-wrap: break-word;">partial</span> solar eclipse.</h1>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4e4d; font-family: Balto, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.3; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4e4d; font-family: Balto, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.3; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
The eclipse will peak at <span id="peakTime" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap;">2:44:56 pm EDT</span>, when the moon obscures <span id="obsPct" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;">71.3%</span> of the sun.</div>
<br />
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-82318791154135836202017-07-31T23:01:00.002-04:002017-07-31T23:01:23.994-04:00Slow LearnerLane calls me today and tells me she felt like doing something special for herself and we talked about her challenge finding a manicure place she liked and how everywhere she went was booked.<br />
<br />
No clue.<br />
<br />
She then tells me how she and her husband are going out for a fancy dinner tonight and just as I was abut to say "Oh special occasion?"<br />
<br />
I realized it was her birthday and sputtered out my stupidity. She wasn't being coy because we had earlier last week talked about the dinner and her birthday and where they were going and working out the transportation arrangements since her husband was coming from work and she'd then have a car too.<br />
<br />
So I did wish her heartfelt birthday greetings and just now sent her a YouTube link which is cheesy and kitschy of people singing Happy Birthday Lane and evidently they have it for every name... so<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vC2OUNixQbk/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vC2OUNixQbk/hqdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-20430625152901541742017-07-30T22:08:00.002-04:002017-07-30T22:08:54.266-04:00Girlfriendsthis is Mary's great niece Adelyn and buddy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgfzQdR-aiEM0OhsEyGQSlZo94mJPLF02YYcmA5BEhXieeJGMOQaEzS3O4wFwQhN7fhOffo3XiZENoQEdOA_9zKV5zoHabouUlCe-o98_c4h0pbyxD4WbW82ARfPwL-bBCwLqTi1j-Dw/s1600/ad1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgfzQdR-aiEM0OhsEyGQSlZo94mJPLF02YYcmA5BEhXieeJGMOQaEzS3O4wFwQhN7fhOffo3XiZENoQEdOA_9zKV5zoHabouUlCe-o98_c4h0pbyxD4WbW82ARfPwL-bBCwLqTi1j-Dw/s640/ad1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-85343083038129047652017-07-27T22:56:00.002-04:002017-07-27T22:56:21.065-04:00RenewalAfter Mary saw an Elizabeth Warren post/selfie about going to the Lincoln Monument for "renewal," she and her neighbor decided to do the same. Here they are:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGvcdlBFwpCkqDgPCOO2igst97qOVKyLK167rd3PAdqAWhxd56x3kiTxLi9CCOiEVWljXaDvV4OjshB5_OICyf9B67bkCxX5vlXaq9AD_GN0RjLj-U__CAa9Yb2FqcZKXbaVmI3Zxl84/s1600/IMG_20170727_193917090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGvcdlBFwpCkqDgPCOO2igst97qOVKyLK167rd3PAdqAWhxd56x3kiTxLi9CCOiEVWljXaDvV4OjshB5_OICyf9B67bkCxX5vlXaq9AD_GN0RjLj-U__CAa9Yb2FqcZKXbaVmI3Zxl84/s400/IMG_20170727_193917090.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96a-MiSTFqKrWETiGaxCWthK_6ofnIu5bu9NR7fXDzZT5pSLsCQ5AvHvq1fZeJfxYTLRKzLHd2uoSyyqDqHyR6Fn43fsi8FYimrjyfxpzXNRr7vWauZWeL054bTJmKmMetIswVr8NqAo/s1600/IMG_20170727_194552300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96a-MiSTFqKrWETiGaxCWthK_6ofnIu5bu9NR7fXDzZT5pSLsCQ5AvHvq1fZeJfxYTLRKzLHd2uoSyyqDqHyR6Fn43fsi8FYimrjyfxpzXNRr7vWauZWeL054bTJmKmMetIswVr8NqAo/s640/IMG_20170727_194552300.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-13841084121451917032017-07-26T11:27:00.000-04:002017-07-26T11:27:30.005-04:00Email that Annoyed me This MorningOk, so it's minor, but I got annoyed this morning by:<br />
<br />
1. Email from the Miami Herald. Years and I mean years ago, I had to register to read an article (something I will no longer do and haven't) and I have been unable to get off their list. Every so often I get an email from them saying unless I renew I'll be dropped from the list, but, of course, it's an empty threat. I used to spend time on the site looking for unsubscribe instructions but all there is concerns unsubbing from the newspaper itself.<br />
<br />
2. An email that said "How to Measure Your Belly Fat" -- Uh, no thanks.<br />
<br />
3. Any email that has "Last Chance" in the subject line.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-82664585928449485572017-07-24T20:09:00.003-04:002017-07-24T20:09:46.652-04:00Not Much to SayBelieve it or not, I'm sitting here with a sweater on as it's in the mid-60s....<br />
<br />
One thing I will say is that I just finished reading Martin Short's memoir called "You Don't Say" named after his Ed Grimley character... and I really enjoyed it. Of course, we know all the people mentioned such as he lived with Gilda Radner (many years ago) for two years. The person who comes across as this terrific guy is Steve Martin which makes me happy. Also Paul Schaeffer. But if you're looking for a light beach read, try this. I got a used copy from Amazon.<br /><br />
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-729498157817703972017-07-22T15:13:00.001-04:002017-07-22T15:13:50.961-04:00Shopping SpreeI can get overly conservative about spending money -- I hate cheapness, and it's not about that... I will be the first to throw in more than my share of a split check... well, typically I just let my dinnermate tell me how much I owe and I never question it. I don't even care about paying more than my share.<br />
<br />
However when it comes to replacing things past their prime, I can get tight with the bucks so today I threw caution to the wind and bought three things in rapid progression, all from Amazon.<br />
<br />
First I replaced a seat cushion in the chair I sit in most of the day which had gone from about three inches to about 1/2 inch over time. That's one.<br />
<br />
Then I replaced my Sonicare toothbrush. Don't know how long Ive had this one, but I'd say upwards of five years and recently the brush head has taken to falling out during the brushing. What I am very happy to do, up to a point, is just stick it back in and resume brushing. But enough is enough. I have to resurrect that mantra of mine: You're not that poor.<br />
<br />
And I'm not, but sometimes I surely act like it.<br />
<br />
Then the third thing I ordered is a new Keurig coffee machine. Again, mine is about 4-5 years old and for the past year (yes, year!) there has been a short in it (or so I diagnosed) so that the "add water" light never goes out so the machine won't work. Hey, no problem. I just have to slap it and bang it down on the counter for a minute or so (as Barbara has witnessed me doing) and I will eventually get it to work. So it will be out with the old, in with the new, and my Keurig slapping days will hopefully be over.<br />
<br />
And because of Amazon Prime, I'll get all my new things on Monday.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-56754408979218051882017-07-17T15:21:00.001-04:002017-07-17T15:21:40.827-04:00Joys of Home OwnershipBrad's daughter, who loves snakes, found this right by their door. According to Brad, it's non-poisonous and he sort of poked it with a stick and it was on its way. This is in Albuquerque.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSdg4iUHm3S_JY7Kjm3_Ch0BdXYMzmX-jI8fvnjF3OvFr3UvHwK3fi-j1VnLnCJdUqNpZRFCf8yG6gUxhatb4sV346o2XqJos5O_lDWZRg8kCIV2PQFysi56v-oR0NNZyaeoLI83FWsI/s1600/file.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSdg4iUHm3S_JY7Kjm3_Ch0BdXYMzmX-jI8fvnjF3OvFr3UvHwK3fi-j1VnLnCJdUqNpZRFCf8yG6gUxhatb4sV346o2XqJos5O_lDWZRg8kCIV2PQFysi56v-oR0NNZyaeoLI83FWsI/s640/file.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-84176830253551545412017-07-17T12:27:00.002-04:002017-07-17T12:27:52.152-04:00Anxiety DreamI had an anxiety dream last night that was so intense that it's stayed with me even this late into the day. In short, I had to take a US History final and I didn't know what classroom to go to. Plus I hadn't studied, plus I couldn't find the textbook, plus my friends (some of whom I could identify as real people from high school days) all had these precise notes about where and when their finals were and of course they had all diligently studied.<br />
<br />
I knew it was at 2 pm but I didn't know what building or room (it was a college campus) and Mary was my roommate in the dream and I asked her how I could find out where my final was and she blandly said, "I don't know" and that was really a funny (in retrospect) part of the dream that EVEN MARY ISN"T HELPING ME.<br />
<br />
I realized that even though I didn't buy the textbook I had US History books in my personal library so I could review those so I was searching the bookcases and all the books were Mary's and I wondered what happened to my books.<br />
<br />
So in the dream I got this brilliant idea of calling the university, asking for the history department and then asking where my final is. I pick up a phone, and you know what happens in anxiety dreams. Phone didn't work, couldn't make a connection, kept trying.<br />
<br />
This dream had a subplot which is I was trying to do laundry. I had a whole bunch of dresses (??) and I wondered in the dream why I had gone so long in not doing laundry (which is NOT like me in real life). It was one of those non-sensical subplots where I kept gathering them, and losing them, and gathering them and then finally I picked out four items to take down the hall to the washing machine thrilled that I was finally making progress and there were two washing machines, both of which were in use.<br />
<br />
What added to this anxiety in real life is that I was having this dream early in the morning and I'd wake up 80% and think it was real, and doze back to sleep, and wake up again (or thought I was awake) until finally I woke up 100% and was relieved it was...<br />
<br />
just a dream!Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-80236565643665119722017-07-15T20:59:00.001-04:002017-07-15T20:59:13.533-04:00Passing of a TeacherWhen I was in elementary school, the smart kids (of course I was one of them...) were presented with French lessons starting in first grade. The teacher was Madame Simpson and she was also the mother of my good friend Hester. Her mother had actually created the job and sold the school district on teaching kids French. When I would go to Hester's house to play, I often had to speak French and the one thing I remember about dinners is that they served salad after the main meal in the European fashion.<br />
<br />
In any event, Madame Simpson became somewhat of an institution and we adored her and realized as adults what an amazing opportunity we were given. But today, Hester gave me the sad news that Madame had passed away peacefully. She was 99. In addition to the language, Madame also taught us French culture and geography. In sixth grade, we went on a French class field trip to a New York City restaurant called Les Pyrenees and then on a tour of the Ile de France, which at that time was one of the luxury ocean liners. I still remember that day vividly.<br />
<br />
To be honest, one thing I remember was the first course in the restaurant being liver pate and I wrapped mine in my napkin and the waiter realized what I had done, but just laughed. Never did like liver pate.<br />
<br />
I asked Hester if she wanted me to tell the classmates and she said yes... so this is what I sent:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>
<div>
Hester told me today that Madame Simpson passed away peacefully last week.
She said she had already told some classmates and I asked her if she wanted me
to send a note to the entire class and she said yes.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
For those of us whose lives were touched by Madame Simpson, her passing is
a sad time. I told Hester the other day that I can still see her mother entering
our class and saying "Bonjour Classe" and we'd reply in a chorus, "Bonjour
Madame Simpson."</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The first time I was in Paris in my 30s, I was on the Metro on a line that
ran both above and below ground and all of a sudden out of the window I saw the
Eiffel Tower and my immediate reaction was to gasp and think, "It's just like
Madame Simpson showed us." I remember pictures of various Paris landmarks pasted
on colored construction paper and we'd have to identify them. </div>
<div>
</div>
</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>We thank Madame for her zeal and grace and send our best thoughts to Hester
in this very difficult time.</i></span><br />
<br />
Me again: I was so sad about this and I realized that part of my sadness, a selfish part, is my own ageing. That as long as an elementary school teacher was still alive, I wasn't "the oldest" but now we are. Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-53300806007081547182017-07-12T21:20:00.005-04:002017-07-12T21:20:59.997-04:00Highlight of My DayYears ago, in college, Mary and I would sometimes talk about the happiest thing that happened to us that day before we went to bed. Ok, this makes us sound doofy, but we did it. And over the years, I sometimes ask myself the same question and typically it's the kindness of strangers, or an unexpected and appreciated compliment when I needed it, but today it was meeting Coco.<br />
<br />
I had left the doctor's office and I was sitting on this little wall, waiting for a cab to come my way, when this little black dog being walked came over to me as if she knew me... her name is Coco and her companion told me she is a SCHNOODLE... which is a cross between a schnauzer and a poodle. She even put her little paws up on me, and the owner apologized and I said I didn't care, which I really didn't, and she said, "Coco likes to make friends." So that was the nicest thing that happened to me today.<br />
<br />
And you?<br />
<br />
Here's a stock photo of a Schnoodle:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/images/breeds/305/large/91fc72c61616af487c2f8cefcd51636c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="265" src="https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/images/breeds/305/large/91fc72c61616af487c2f8cefcd51636c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Coco's front paws were white and I asked if she were old or if that was her coloring and it's just her coloring. She really is a cute dog.<br />
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-489562395997565051.post-43970974213179635962017-07-09T15:37:00.004-04:002017-07-09T15:37:44.773-04:00PS to Post BelowJust got this from someone who also knew Katrina:<br />
<br />
<div class="aolmail_MsoNormal">
I got an email from Katrina the other day. Voices from the dead. There was a dozen or so names on the address line, all from [company name], as far as I could tell. It came to my [company] email address.</div>
<div class="aolmail_MsoNormal">
Really weird when a dead person’s address book is hacked. Only message was a link, which no sane person would ever click on.</div>
<div class="aolmail_MsoNormal">
But it was a reminder of how sad Katrina’s cancer was. <b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009295013965711883noreply@blogger.com1