tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27643891638523457852024-03-13T23:16:40.636-07:00The Awkward Widow (2024 Reboot)New Begginings for 2024The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.comBlogger1034125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-49028362149708343922022-11-13T01:00:00.029-08:002022-11-13T01:00:00.199-08:00CAUTION - READ AT YOUR OWN RISK<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFA4vbuBa2f9zTzWeF84Lmi2GC2tw3IZizMEFhBfOWYz_fSA2FbuscESrqVoUOvyJc8YsOk3rqikQl7abhkxDU74EumaUAOyJwjn2CXD5KsdviCsni3Oqbyr52rrXkN4ikzo4D6XcWFsQvh2i9qxxPW2opcG0DrF60C3_HflLn3Uc6c96EasVJcHCNA/s578/extra.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="578" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFA4vbuBa2f9zTzWeF84Lmi2GC2tw3IZizMEFhBfOWYz_fSA2FbuscESrqVoUOvyJc8YsOk3rqikQl7abhkxDU74EumaUAOyJwjn2CXD5KsdviCsni3Oqbyr52rrXkN4ikzo4D6XcWFsQvh2i9qxxPW2opcG0DrF60C3_HflLn3Uc6c96EasVJcHCNA/s320/extra.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This will be my last blog.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My heart is not in it, I struggle to find topics and readership is half of what it used to be. If I have a negative title, I get lots of "reads". And lately the blog only gets one or two comments.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Awkward Widow days are over and now I'm just a Grateful Gramma.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for stopping by and reading. It was great fun for almost ten years.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;">P.S. Please keep blogging as I am still reading!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-22475502833650490222022-11-06T01:00:00.003-07:002022-11-06T10:57:42.360-08:00LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY!<div style="color: #1f1f1f; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 24px; text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Wow. Google can do just about ANYTHING! So so many sites that will share tips and tricks about Google with you. I will share a few that I found useful</p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Use a colon to search specific sites</p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There may be an instance where you need to Google search for articles or content on a certain website. The syntax is very simple:</p><ul class="ul1" style="color: black;"><li class="li1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: #131518;"></span>Sidney Crosby site:<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2764389163852345785/2247550283365049022#"><span class="s2" style="color: #0000e9;">nhl.com</span></a></li></ul><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This will search for all content about famous hockey player Sidney Crosby, but only on <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2764389163852345785/2247550283365049022#"><span class="s3" style="color: #133171;">NHL.com</span></a>. All other search results will be removed. If you need to find specific content on a particular site, this is the shortcut you can use.</p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Use Google search to do math</p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Google search can actually do math for you. This is a rather complex one to describe because it can be used in so many ways. You can ask it basic questions or some more difficult ones.</p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is important to note that it won’t solve all math problems, but it will solve a good number of them. For example</p><ul class="ul1" style="color: black;"><li class="li1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: #131518;"></span>8 * 5 + 5</li></ul><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If you search, it’ll return 45. It will also show a calculator that you can use to find answers to more questions.</p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Use words that websites would use This is a very important one. When people use Google search to hunt the web, they generally search for things using the same language that they would use for speaking.</p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Unfortunately, websites don’t say things the way people do; instead, they try to use language that sounds professional. Let’s look at some examples:</p><ul class="ul1" style="color: black;"><li class="li1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: #131518;"></span>“I have a flat tire” could be replaced by “repair a flat tire.”</li><li class="li1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: #131518;"></span>“My head hurts” could be replaced by “headache relief.”</li></ul><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The list goes on and on. </p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Google search has shortcuts</b></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A number of commands can be entered to give you instantaneous results.</p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Like the math example above, Google can immediately give you the information you need that is displayed right at the top of the search results. This can save time and effort so you don’t have to click a bunch of bothersome links.</p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here are a few examples of some commands you can enter into Google:</p><ul class="ul1" style="color: black;"><li class="li1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: #131518;"><b></b></span><b>Weather *zip code* </b>– This will show you the weather in the given zip code. You can also use town and city names instead of area codes, but it may not be as accurate if there are multiple area codes in the city. I used to go to my phone and use the weather app!</li><li class="li1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: #131518;"><b></b></span><b>What is the definition of *word* <i>or</i> Define: *word* </b>– This will display the definition of a word. Although I just type in the *word* and it shows the definition (and synonyms and antonyms) A mediocre tip in my book.</li><li class="li1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: #131518;"><b></b></span><b>Time *place*</b> – This will display the time in whatever place you type in. Again, I would use my iPhone when my sister was in Hong Kong. </li><li class="li1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: #131518;"></span>You can <b>check any stock by typing its ticker name</b> into Google. Just type in <i>GOOG</i>, it will check the stock prices for Google.</li></ul><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">These quick commands can take a web search that is usually multiple clicks and condense it into a single search. This is very helpful for information you need repeatedly.</p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Track your packages</b></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This last trick (and my favorite so far) is to use Google search to find out where your packages are. You can enter any UPS, USPS, or Fedex tracking number directly into the Google search bar, and it’ll show you the tracking information about your package.</p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is much easier than going to the specific sites, waiting for them to load, then searching for your packages there. How many times have you done that???? Me? Millions and going to the delivery site is usually very cumbersome for me.</p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I updated the operating system on my Mac and man it changed everything! Currently I hate it but once I watch a few more videos, I'm sure I'll find everything somewhere and will be able to make Ventura do things my way.</p></div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-9464351612870009492022-10-30T11:41:00.002-07:002022-10-30T11:41:25.956-07:00GOOGLE GURU<div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="s1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">I love Google!</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I think I’m going to try to learn one new thing about Google every week.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This search engine has so much capability.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Maybe someday I will be a Google Guru.</span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR5SSD62m1l2F0qTV_mr-W05NvMIxVbLvY4RqJS2eTHlBUXUiDUIf4F5dCdPEZDmKMyD75UkNEOEFJRJqeQmwAq1jVhBXBWIT5jwJDTgS8mTFakk272rnPQgtS_fx-i-7MLakdCokFsTKFZBVdESbT-MUwNodOGagG7upQjbSKBbwp0Fe4n2RmNYo2w/s960/B's%2012th%20birthday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="960" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR5SSD62m1l2F0qTV_mr-W05NvMIxVbLvY4RqJS2eTHlBUXUiDUIf4F5dCdPEZDmKMyD75UkNEOEFJRJqeQmwAq1jVhBXBWIT5jwJDTgS8mTFakk272rnPQgtS_fx-i-7MLakdCokFsTKFZBVdESbT-MUwNodOGagG7upQjbSKBbwp0Fe4n2RmNYo2w/s320/B's%2012th%20birthday.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;">(Birthday boy with his Mom)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sorry this post is so late in the day.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We all went to the Oregon Coastal town of Seaside for two nights and what fun we had.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mr. B turned 12 on Friday so it was anything he wanted to do!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We left about 3pm Friday afternoon as Friday night is pizza and movie night … and he got to pick the movie, of course.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>MAJOR traffic accident on the only straight way home and we were diverted into a rest area just 35 miles from home.<br /><br />It was a trailer truck and a pick up truck and oil had spilled all over the highway.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It would be 4 - 6 HOURS before traffic could move again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Luckily Kate uses the Waze app and she asked for directions home without using any highways.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was a meandering beautiful fall drive with just a bit of fog.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every once in a while there was a home, or 2-3 to make a neighborhood and I always wonder where they work! A heck of a drive even to a suburb of Portland.</span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We went through the tiny town of Vernonia and stopped to get water and a power bar but they had jacked the gasoline rate to almost $6/gallon so we made it home on fumes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Picked up an already baked pizza (ordered an hour ahead of time!) And finally got home after 8pm.</span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />While the boys played on devices in the car some of the time, we had GREAT conversations about any topic someone brought up and all of us chimed in.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Just delightful.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yet exhausting. Deacon and I shared a room but mostly we were in the bigger room (with a view of the ocean) (and a fireplace). He loves to have his privacy and he is always building "tents" or "clubhouses" or "nests."</span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d-Znx4ZTp53y_-r3EXNa_J3DgyrEVdvWAHlSopFdenM6rhNEuDBwkQFI0HNBVIvPYKvn6yTcX23piHOn-o3Tz-TKYDsX7ZG0MvkVtIT59qtPgzNv8AQiCAOKzpCHFlTpHNlzQroaXBaNkZbWBXAzX-51UjAFdB1mc6bzW6mlCYqRO3RPBE_E8t5CMg/s4032/IMG_3124.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d-Znx4ZTp53y_-r3EXNa_J3DgyrEVdvWAHlSopFdenM6rhNEuDBwkQFI0HNBVIvPYKvn6yTcX23piHOn-o3Tz-TKYDsX7ZG0MvkVtIT59qtPgzNv8AQiCAOKzpCHFlTpHNlzQroaXBaNkZbWBXAzX-51UjAFdB1mc6bzW6mlCYqRO3RPBE_E8t5CMg/s320/IMG_3124.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(D is under the table and B is on D's bed in my room)</span></i></div></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Now .... I’m going to continue to sip my cold brew while I do a little more Google research for my NEXT blog! Hopefully I'll write it before Saturday so it posts on time. Such a slacker ....</span></div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-30267429446770709252022-10-23T09:42:00.002-07:002022-10-23T09:42:28.753-07:00TIS THE SEASON<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZwLAdl1ujrC1zc30QdyAbZFgmsYleVVcusTohHYoEGJ__mG9uLHhsGQBCz7-_Tj2MkaI2bJYyiMt65OYLDE96-LPI-X3dolXOZEfNkKzd6K4Fy8UOLMoCCH1Ph_0uPDH-eIG-UXJbaXHbOl1YwEqvnIuLy_j2DhOyHiva3rGN_akiXFFHSphdAaeTQ/s4032/IMG_3098.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZwLAdl1ujrC1zc30QdyAbZFgmsYleVVcusTohHYoEGJ__mG9uLHhsGQBCz7-_Tj2MkaI2bJYyiMt65OYLDE96-LPI-X3dolXOZEfNkKzd6K4Fy8UOLMoCCH1Ph_0uPDH-eIG-UXJbaXHbOl1YwEqvnIuLy_j2DhOyHiva3rGN_akiXFFHSphdAaeTQ/s320/IMG_3098.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two spiders this year!</div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjNbSPQVzsl7Vt9hRt4OwmFySwBwCNj5imlAus4HE9avlAzzwuR7SnDqU5wRBGg2Cry9nlOo5MqiAKMHjxVxHkLlD23uQNjmZ12ndq79JFsktLjysMl4Q3IFUAG_KQ9i2GOwfBBLbrBN4bcv-_F93gmp_9v3FrAHoBUKxMVKCOBg8AjcGk-QygdoNNw/s4032/IMG_3097.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjNbSPQVzsl7Vt9hRt4OwmFySwBwCNj5imlAus4HE9avlAzzwuR7SnDqU5wRBGg2Cry9nlOo5MqiAKMHjxVxHkLlD23uQNjmZ12ndq79JFsktLjysMl4Q3IFUAG_KQ9i2GOwfBBLbrBN4bcv-_F93gmp_9v3FrAHoBUKxMVKCOBg8AjcGk-QygdoNNw/s320/IMG_3097.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Black vampire flamingos </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VQJt2peVz-Mp1fGpABb2WK3bgTcHiPa9Ovh37HqMwzuJI6nslcf8NK7_zQbh9kEcytg8ULqOyn8-FSX9y4qYHGgi6B5AFr6D46xpYyIpOH0gZfFgFHSnlfjqACOh4qA5GtWKD9rhvw5Gv64Mgim4aYbk-9DYR6pXnWQiKDnfg2BM4VPeA9jmeR03zw/s4032/IMG_3096.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VQJt2peVz-Mp1fGpABb2WK3bgTcHiPa9Ovh37HqMwzuJI6nslcf8NK7_zQbh9kEcytg8ULqOyn8-FSX9y4qYHGgi6B5AFr6D46xpYyIpOH0gZfFgFHSnlfjqACOh4qA5GtWKD9rhvw5Gv64Mgim4aYbk-9DYR6pXnWQiKDnfg2BM4VPeA9jmeR03zw/s320/IMG_3096.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Welcome!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRQiuUal8da7hAM7gyafi0RI2UUh9MjSybzOSYxJTEuAhrGJeJOuLcIbw2qevqKgJ3VGqAwSR_zjReFAI3TzgBUMEX7EoWnjYVmN653K_fG5SrBnnEIxsoj9nyko9uhFs8bnCSwHjxBxlTMyIghGClcpHiz3_KFX9zTFNz78VZ8WkOL4S-nCchyQxNQ/s3088/IMG_3102.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRQiuUal8da7hAM7gyafi0RI2UUh9MjSybzOSYxJTEuAhrGJeJOuLcIbw2qevqKgJ3VGqAwSR_zjReFAI3TzgBUMEX7EoWnjYVmN653K_fG5SrBnnEIxsoj9nyko9uhFs8bnCSwHjxBxlTMyIghGClcpHiz3_KFX9zTFNz78VZ8WkOL4S-nCchyQxNQ/s320/IMG_3102.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The wicked witch within</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-92144381977031881802022-10-16T01:00:00.019-07:002022-10-16T01:00:00.194-07:00QR CODES ARE TAKING OVER!<div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Bar Codes </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">vs </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">QR codes </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Believe it or not, bar codes were invented in the early 1950’s and patented in the US and are kinda based on the Morse code.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>However, it took over twenty years before this invention became commercially successful. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now we see them everywhere! Groceries are probably the first and most successful use of barcodes. (Which are now referred to as automatic identification and data capture - AIDC).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In fact, the first barcode was used on a pack of Wrigley’s chewing gum in 1974.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXiFIiFYW6gA0ErNzXFMiEQdjRtcdihtA9upC1ORfewrGcbm587XMMigpr7c83fCAu_XXnn7oSyUs1Uohg9UWv7o7xhXgiW0P91AqFwjlUNh9ArMTfxh2XbFUNXZYb8oz9GGtNNM6ZVjHGDz0V5RVsstcz4jz6rDB-jdcCx4CHQmoBlX44vq--8mz6w/s212/bar%20code.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="212" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXiFIiFYW6gA0ErNzXFMiEQdjRtcdihtA9upC1ORfewrGcbm587XMMigpr7c83fCAu_XXnn7oSyUs1Uohg9UWv7o7xhXgiW0P91AqFwjlUNh9ArMTfxh2XbFUNXZYb8oz9GGtNNM6ZVjHGDz0V5RVsstcz4jz6rDB-jdcCx4CHQmoBlX44vq--8mz6w/s1600/bar%20code.png" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>With the widespread use of smart phones, AIDC has now turned into QR codes</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: verdana;"> ... s</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">hort for Quick Response).</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Invented in 1994 by engineer Masahiro Hara, the original purpose of the QR code was to track vehicles and parts moving through the assembly line.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">When QR codes first morphed into more than that, we had to download an app to read them.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I first used one in the 80’s at a state park to guide you through and see special sites.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was incredible in my mind.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like magic!</span><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In 2017, Apple integrated a QR code reader in their camera app.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There are two kinds of WR codes used in 2022 … static and dynamic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A static QR code contains information that cannot be modified once it's live. This means any typo or misstep will require you to create a brand new one. The good news is that static codes don't expire — so once the content is set, your work is done.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE9kWib1rSPV7k5-zUwdFCx_hBCwEWbj34llwstSdK_I0dsOKisX2L9X1AIiE1lOdrsDkD5W_1cpvRG7iC1U88kumIvdPefbrlf8t3mfbYyqWo7lopvrw-ksAgl6BVpgceAqak36rnC6JHqWTOlWh4u_XZGEpzu5pAv9lNAawZJzVSd2fOoOVOdlWhQ/s700/qr.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE9kWib1rSPV7k5-zUwdFCx_hBCwEWbj34llwstSdK_I0dsOKisX2L9X1AIiE1lOdrsDkD5W_1cpvRG7iC1U88kumIvdPefbrlf8t3mfbYyqWo7lopvrw-ksAgl6BVpgceAqak36rnC6JHqWTOlWh4u_XZGEpzu5pAv9lNAawZJzVSd2fOoOVOdlWhQ/s320/qr.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Static QR codes are ideal for storing fixed or sensitive info — think Wi-Fi passwords, employee ID numbers, or access codes. But they're not so helpful if you need to update your data regularly.</span><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black;">Dynamic QR codes</span> allow you to change your info as many times as you want. This is because the information isn't ingrained into the code itself. Instead, it redirects users to a specific URL that can be changed at any time. For example, a restaurant can redirect users to a menu on their website.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our local Olive Garden uses a dynamic QR which instantly opens their Current menu on your phone or pad.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We could also pay our bill using a QR code.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Food Pantry will be using bar codes or QR codes soon to identify clients.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Because in the next month we will have to limit shopping to every other week.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I stopped in to Hunger Fighters on Friday to pick up a project and was shocked to see how bare the shelves are.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Both in the shopping area and in the storage area.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We are again offering Thanksgiving Boxes and all clients were mailed or emailed information on contents and how to order.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Unfortunately for us, some clients photocopied the flyer for their friends and neighbors and now we have double the number of recipients over last year.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It reminds me how privileged my life is.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-68601837564337942392022-10-09T01:00:00.064-07:002022-10-09T01:00:00.190-07:00IT'S COMING TO AN END<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My town in Oregon has had the best, sunniest Summer and Fall ever. We are still enjoying 55 at night and 80 during the day. And the 80 seems so much cooler (tilt of the earth?).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV4l9D4oxM2yNDXtOiTt93Ndm5zo6_Ac26Yjkf4ojvf9ZE_0NEpSyMBfd2N-27RqBoD4miJ6fWWDZ8qRhY0JDOoUvpmlY6PD2RFYfb3AK2G7o9qJeDDddrvo_FJ-1wSWJBTQZhgo6Fm13eRzs4PhUx2eFwQ07EORZqncbLzHj8UYEo4CT8JDJIndyOA/s1430/leaves.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1430" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV4l9D4oxM2yNDXtOiTt93Ndm5zo6_Ac26Yjkf4ojvf9ZE_0NEpSyMBfd2N-27RqBoD4miJ6fWWDZ8qRhY0JDOoUvpmlY6PD2RFYfb3AK2G7o9qJeDDddrvo_FJ-1wSWJBTQZhgo6Fm13eRzs4PhUx2eFwQ07EORZqncbLzHj8UYEo4CT8JDJIndyOA/s320/leaves.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My kidults are squeezing every bit out of summer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YS2SKW4oZ2E4bnEh-TzycPd4a37GrlMjZplpox6l1m6MfR55h90cMz7Yaiuia70-oQ3FdfSq8hvBUrVxy3arzWsKy069QSRPJO7eKY2lopDwADSCtsH1pvAUkFTnylsYnpKtUf1ObTAwg8Vu60YUzwIC9_NGAyLwLf29z1sBuHZnBIOWE2hBP5r2uQ/s4032/IMG_6445.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YS2SKW4oZ2E4bnEh-TzycPd4a37GrlMjZplpox6l1m6MfR55h90cMz7Yaiuia70-oQ3FdfSq8hvBUrVxy3arzWsKy069QSRPJO7eKY2lopDwADSCtsH1pvAUkFTnylsYnpKtUf1ObTAwg8Vu60YUzwIC9_NGAyLwLf29z1sBuHZnBIOWE2hBP5r2uQ/s320/IMG_6445.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All four of them enjoy fishing and since Kate has three days off during the week, the two of them go almost every day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoW0CVxghXYdVC0bGb--eza3QcSgzZ70BLWlMpgQNCK4ldvlowvAJiCsHFYRNk9P_8r3aCeqghY-s0ys1H3C_uMU9OWZpUe3ypmtsPgi61NHC1IRSiRul_sJLWi1ZLdnHvGihR8I1hlMEkM6K8VtvYjpPXFlWzwclRIrldlAtfmCtzBZ4a4h7qLSegQ/s1170/IMG_3091.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1170" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoW0CVxghXYdVC0bGb--eza3QcSgzZ70BLWlMpgQNCK4ldvlowvAJiCsHFYRNk9P_8r3aCeqghY-s0ys1H3C_uMU9OWZpUe3ypmtsPgi61NHC1IRSiRul_sJLWi1ZLdnHvGihR8I1hlMEkM6K8VtvYjpPXFlWzwclRIrldlAtfmCtzBZ4a4h7qLSegQ/s320/IMG_3091.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They are pro at catch and release, even though this is an edible size it won't feed all five of us! It's a bass.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My sister's son had his first grandson at the beginning of September. In Hong Kong (where she is from and where her parents live most of the time) which was an interesting journey with specific Covid testing 48 hours or sooner before boarding. They had a snafu with their documentation and had to have Covid testing at the NYC airport (to the tune of $600). When they planned their trip, Hong Kong was requiring 7 days of quarantine but when they arrived, they learned it had shortened to just three days.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chinese tradition is a big celebration at the baby's one month birthday. Red and gold, red envelopes with money, festive foods. This is my brother-in-law holding his first little one.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBY7fKv1tbCpWCFK0NTi26_iDNdOn7uFVNpTIpclslpYxfRjcyj3L2G8-FlnRMVBoSKQtXrsxhldWPRZErT1Kc9RGeVx0slxP07yWouuL1UYab-1FV2v4Ns4Dhiop9Cfs2M8RZEMg5ykq6gWZWOicO32y6OKAp2LZHEadXJ2HCu1QjzDxcavO5S41yQ/s4023/IMG_1507.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4023" data-original-width="2757" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBY7fKv1tbCpWCFK0NTi26_iDNdOn7uFVNpTIpclslpYxfRjcyj3L2G8-FlnRMVBoSKQtXrsxhldWPRZErT1Kc9RGeVx0slxP07yWouuL1UYab-1FV2v4Ns4Dhiop9Cfs2M8RZEMg5ykq6gWZWOicO32y6OKAp2LZHEadXJ2HCu1QjzDxcavO5S41yQ/w274-h400/IMG_1507.jpeg" width="274" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I made this larger so you could see those booties! He looks like a future King! His full name is Solomon Zhao-Zhe (晁喆) Hadas!! I looked up each of the Chinese words (and the symbols) and the symbols have so so many meanings, the best I got was morning and sage/wise. The grandparents got to stay for ten days and just landed in NYC on Friday night.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last but not least, my newest summer hat!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlqrdcEHmyo54CFO9gKvejilcs9_kIl32NlDvUFCnPhXTSlePrT6qlHFgCfidgt3njotK2xiXJHDMPQEXRtcDGgAzF5AHeaxTPBCg2jSqoJZZ1QiOjnlILF2YrpQOhn0TjXTcZgq3dVcmTTkwh4uwyU3ssw4dAQNEHR_ND9g-Zua0IakX-pXb6i-l4Q/s3088/IMG_3092.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlqrdcEHmyo54CFO9gKvejilcs9_kIl32NlDvUFCnPhXTSlePrT6qlHFgCfidgt3njotK2xiXJHDMPQEXRtcDGgAzF5AHeaxTPBCg2jSqoJZZ1QiOjnlILF2YrpQOhn0TjXTcZgq3dVcmTTkwh4uwyU3ssw4dAQNEHR_ND9g-Zua0IakX-pXb6i-l4Q/s320/IMG_3092.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(I really should wear make up!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><br />The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-38185513627443701942022-10-02T11:33:00.001-07:002022-10-02T11:35:15.159-07:00TECHNOLOGY OR NOT<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I like using email or texts to remind me what I've said or asked (so as not to nag).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbv7RjX2RPGpb20KeSJJ0pJUsE6RheN2G4Yj49CNYNg2h9iUd2AhwizWGuTHERVRVQ7Cw2S-qC3wRBgdXIH2GWCMM7XyWyn6JEuXfwHw0lfS2Pq6yjkv82Ppwuga5yPHMCPq4uoFTGUCFMeSt_IqHQLdEAQIbH4I8tMxRYQP8ny8rXgzuGF6PtGwXWw/s594/text.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="490" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbv7RjX2RPGpb20KeSJJ0pJUsE6RheN2G4Yj49CNYNg2h9iUd2AhwizWGuTHERVRVQ7Cw2S-qC3wRBgdXIH2GWCMM7XyWyn6JEuXfwHw0lfS2Pq6yjkv82Ppwuga5yPHMCPq4uoFTGUCFMeSt_IqHQLdEAQIbH4I8tMxRYQP8ny8rXgzuGF6PtGwXWw/s320/text.png" width="264" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>It comes in handy a LOT (explanation near the end of this short post). My kidults get way too many texts so most everything I send them is smothered by "word of the day", Facebook group alerts, etc. They rarely check their email although with two kids in school we get email every day so they are getting a little better.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I have found that handwritten notes work better at this home. All supplies and extras of things are stored in part of the gigantic closet in the master suite. Jesse has his photographic memory so he can find a bottle of hydrogen peroxide or a box of Qtips or matching pillowcases in an instance.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now I use a bold marker, the back of an envelope (or a post it) and put it on the stove. As if by magic, the request returns and sits atop the note. Many items are stored above my reach or in awkward places where I can't lean over, lift paper towels to reach the toilet paper. He doesn't use our bathroom (my and two boys, one who now enjoys LONG periods of time in the bathroom) so now paper notes work well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday my WLLO Village held an event in our large Riverside Room and the patio. Perfect weather so we had people outside most of the time. (There is a door from Riverside room to the patio). Our event was in celebration of International Older Persons Day and was from 2pm til 4pm. About 2:30 an angry bald man (who doesn't live here) came into the party and said the Board (Mary Beth) told just told him HE could have the patio for a birthday party. Turns out he is brother to one of our renters and it was a spur of the moment swim party for Rob's niece. (My son-in-law had blown the patio clean and washed all the tables and chairs and the set up committee decorated the tables).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had sent Mary Beth a text on September 15 to ask if we could leave the furniture out for our party. She agreed if we would put everything into winter positions, stacked against the back wall. WLLO was paying Jesse for his time so I agreed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzO_UmFzhmZxElv-BWLuKADWk3FbhFG7lnl4Y5vV8KD_h53YUbuIKVDLzEICaE87O1nAxQ5yHhk8-1WWqigQg-vM78BXT0c5QiFuOoXMOnDCfr0dGc5KtTxnhcwxdP0fChuI_w3QIIstPDftXWcQpLYYZlfUMepjJvmypv6V58NPvXUYuYyvj7eDjoNA/s640/patio.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="295" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzO_UmFzhmZxElv-BWLuKADWk3FbhFG7lnl4Y5vV8KD_h53YUbuIKVDLzEICaE87O1nAxQ5yHhk8-1WWqigQg-vM78BXT0c5QiFuOoXMOnDCfr0dGc5KtTxnhcwxdP0fChuI_w3QIIstPDftXWcQpLYYZlfUMepjJvmypv6V58NPvXUYuYyvj7eDjoNA/w296-h640/patio.png" width="296" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bald Boy was angry but being the nice little old ladies we are, the party committee said they could use one of the big tables. They were noisy, lots of kids and adults, lots of commotion, so we all went inside.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was rather cranky because we had filled in the reservation sheet at the beginning of September and included patio use, AND I had double checked about outdoor furniture as it is usually put away at the end of the month.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've calmed down overnight but am preparing a solution ... a new sign up sheet that includes each clubhouse room AND the patio all in one place. So the Queen can simply direct newer people to the sign up sheet. We used to have one for each location but apparently that is too much work for people to check all three.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmBtOeuiPsEtJUpgp3xfwDjiXI2odrrANwWh5WkcbY5bAqdLBcLf9x3MwLOenwQwKN_ob1Xgb59-N9XXhMuSCZOf_QiaxtXxUllDnVi3kHXgk6LFRQFPVtA_cqqajsdQ_qD4jWFq4JzT5wnK0A0HStBaU8WWpAf-U3coCgVXz9Mp8bPy-dMw0Sktmlw/s1880/sample.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1880" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmBtOeuiPsEtJUpgp3xfwDjiXI2odrrANwWh5WkcbY5bAqdLBcLf9x3MwLOenwQwKN_ob1Xgb59-N9XXhMuSCZOf_QiaxtXxUllDnVi3kHXgk6LFRQFPVtA_cqqajsdQ_qD4jWFq4JzT5wnK0A0HStBaU8WWpAf-U3coCgVXz9Mp8bPy-dMw0Sktmlw/w640-h376/sample.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It will be a legal size sheet now so people have enough room to write in the boxes! I added "be sure to add set up time and clean up time" to the column for TIME. Also a box to remind people to post their alcohol insurance rider in the kitchen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been suggesting using a Google calendar online but not everyone is computer savvy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And that's the rest of the story!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-48561684016333382072022-09-25T11:22:00.000-07:002022-09-25T11:22:02.809-07:00IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hunger Fighters Oregon has done too great at their job.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In August, we served 891 people facing food insecurity. HFO is a nonprofit all volunteer local organization ... we hired our first salaried person last July. Supposedly for just 20 hours per week but really, it is more like 20 hours per day!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two key people have stepped down from their long held posts (I think because the job hours kept increasing until it was more than full time) and our Executive Director and our past President have kept this place running in these extreme conditions.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Inflation is sending us more clients. We offer 180 different food products as well as personal hygiene and cleaning products. Clients can shop in person (we are open for two hours three times per week) or I lead a group of callers who contact 3-5 homebound clients and take their orders on the phone and input as we chat. We deliver every Monday to about 25 homebound clients, some of whom are good with a computer and order their own 30 items.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Inflation, as you probably know, have made a huge impact on the cost of food. We get food donations at three locations, we get fresh food from local farms, we glean food from many locations and yet it is hard to keep up. Some items are in such high demand we can only offer them once a month. One problem we are facing is we opened our service area to a 10 mile radius. We are so well run and have such a variety clients come from everywhere.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hopefully we will get more food drives, more corporate partners and entice more volunteers.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0iuvLJ64JAYnsxzOQiaRMwaJkZ304BuuJNA_Mj7qv9D7J7ztw1tnnkpnUh3tfIkCkcnWElOjp8adpYhY6rXFg7fGedPRfZGP4FWIXuksC4CbmAzIy0Z80nLBlZawLQLAocK_mNgfmX-h7NUSNbTn-FQAj0ivdmypfhrA6AGcJ4C_OVDoSdrBjKiM1g/s940/Small%20Acts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0iuvLJ64JAYnsxzOQiaRMwaJkZ304BuuJNA_Mj7qv9D7J7ztw1tnnkpnUh3tfIkCkcnWElOjp8adpYhY6rXFg7fGedPRfZGP4FWIXuksC4CbmAzIy0Z80nLBlZawLQLAocK_mNgfmX-h7NUSNbTn-FQAj0ivdmypfhrA6AGcJ4C_OVDoSdrBjKiM1g/s320/Small%20Acts.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Support YOUR local food pantry. With food or with money to buy food. We can make a difference!</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-65508120567251238002022-09-18T10:48:00.001-07:002022-09-18T10:48:14.900-07:00NORC<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We bought this condo almost 13 years ago. There are fourteen buildings, each with eight units. Some buildings have all 2 bedroom units and other buildings have all 3 bedroom units (although many have removed a wall between the smallest bedroom and made a large room. It never looks like one room to me, as two columns have to remain for structural integrity. Most people usually decorate like two living rooms. Very odd to me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NUrXxi1lN7mRJbgHBNapa3NFd3_2ExoVy5SrjVe2JiqnC20kWjTZSx52H9Bcjjzg5mr39GHMpgd3jeABNJPRwxiCTXaODhEyrIqcP2WtLD1LuNfD9f2Mqoed9gaIr2NVJswPmtXF1yU1dJYso5-oQVo-erVS5yen-5ldUP3cDj2fP297TR2k095s-A/s400/retired.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NUrXxi1lN7mRJbgHBNapa3NFd3_2ExoVy5SrjVe2JiqnC20kWjTZSx52H9Bcjjzg5mr39GHMpgd3jeABNJPRwxiCTXaODhEyrIqcP2WtLD1LuNfD9f2Mqoed9gaIr2NVJswPmtXF1yU1dJYso5-oQVo-erVS5yen-5ldUP3cDj2fP297TR2k095s-A/s320/retired.png" width="256" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Our community is mostly over 65 although we do have a few young families (who usually move when the kids need their own backyard). These have been condos for 25 years and the original 50-somethings are aging. (NORC means naturally occurring retirement community). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">An ambulance or fire engine drive in at least twice a week. My friend drove himself to the ER while having a heart attack because he didn't want neighbors to gossip about who the ambulance was for.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have several deaths every year which leaves a lot of single 80+ year old ladies on their own. Many of these are slowly becoming more demented. A few of these have fallen for scams from potential "husbands" and have lost thousands of dollars. One neighbor even reserved the Clubhouse for her "wedding" to a rich man who lives in a mansion in Hollywood, CA. She had to send him money several times because his is tied up in big investments. So sad.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Due to their dementia, (or maybe bad childhoods) these ladies are mostly estranged from their children. It leaves our Village trying to help these singles. One neighbor finally relinquished her keys and had her neighbor sell her car. Another neighbor had to sell her car to afford necessities. She can't sell her condo (now going for $350,000) because early on they got a reverse mortgage.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />But it's not ALL bad/sad news. With a community of 112 owners, every one recognizes almost everyone. There a several groups of close knit neighbors who help people so much. Whether setting up a meal delivery after surgery or doing a surprise birthday party, most everyone gets along. Many of the folks love seeing our boys outside playing. They are polite and chat with them, accept cookies or candy, then continue being army guys. They get Christmas gifts, Halloween bags of candy and other treats so it's like having 5 grandmothers. The boys write notes back and the ladies are delighted.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Covid threw a big wrench into our community. We have some die hard anti-vaxers so they were excluded from small outdoor gatherings. I stayed home and out of sight for so long, several thought I passed away. Things are getting back in swing! One neighbor just turned 95 and a parade was organized around her building. Banging pots and pans, birthday kazoos, balloons, silly hats and many happy birthday signs. Ending with someone providing her with her own individual cake.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm lucky to have my family living with me so when I retire from driving I'll still be able to get around. The grandsons are still a hoot and I love their curiosity. That's for another blog!</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-16748697738739856242022-09-15T01:00:00.047-07:002022-09-15T01:00:00.235-07:00sep·tu·a·ge·nar·i·an <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yep. That little box I have to tick saying I am between 70 and 79. I'm officially a Queenager and I hope to live at least as long as Queen Elizabeth II.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipJbZtq41gdiyrnPjQlopsbcjWRAUw9HJ6XOhc0C0IIU_CIFlr6GgU1x6-rutuUJ8-lxVtVVPACMRVc3OqJv-yyEzDNVtn0nlNwRB-jg-u_v8D3sj0Ty5goXpuhG-0g0OUJP4v2uLll7vaG7pIhagKYYNrwuGJsXd_NL9h8paF0WWJaQw2wW7aSN5uQ/s602/queen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="602" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipJbZtq41gdiyrnPjQlopsbcjWRAUw9HJ6XOhc0C0IIU_CIFlr6GgU1x6-rutuUJ8-lxVtVVPACMRVc3OqJv-yyEzDNVtn0nlNwRB-jg-u_v8D3sj0Ty5goXpuhG-0g0OUJP4v2uLll7vaG7pIhagKYYNrwuGJsXd_NL9h8paF0WWJaQw2wW7aSN5uQ/s320/queen.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I would love to have hats made to match my outfits. And outfits to fit my body type. Sometimes even her gloves matched her outfits. I love her monochromatic style (mine too) She always looked stunning. Currently I have a dozen hats, five are the ball caps which I don't really wear these days. (Need to donate those)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lust is the word I would use for her home life. Maids, cooks, people to dress her, business secretaries, drivers, horse and barn employees and so much more. Maybe a full time flower arranger! Oh, and I bet a make-up professional and hair stylist (491 direct employees to the Queen ... I could work with half that many!) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">She had more than 40 tiaras. And how many sets of China and silver? Shoes? Up to 12 people staff the queen's wardrobe department for big occasions including three dressmakers, a milliner and four dressers whose job it is to help the queen get dressed as well as keep her clothes in pristine.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">I think it would wear me out just living like the queen. I'm a wash and wear 100% cotton kind of girl. I occasionally glam it up by adding a scarf!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p><br /></p>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-37573540701672483482022-09-11T11:16:00.003-07:002022-09-11T11:23:28.032-07:00THE DAILY RITUAL<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UA0ZaEX74dq9dmEUUNMmtN7MPF0qwKq7w7HqkT02y9Fg7ceSFf4WRd_UVVYt__0suwytSqDZPbWLRhD3zfNKER582SuOsHADjDsKZqMISG2S1wSh3jRUC7ptiLuOjlFF0d_XprGJAOH10d6l7I2xNEocNR6F9pbsfaYn_jzuwd_wuLctAs66CEqQKQ/s984/coffee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="708" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UA0ZaEX74dq9dmEUUNMmtN7MPF0qwKq7w7HqkT02y9Fg7ceSFf4WRd_UVVYt__0suwytSqDZPbWLRhD3zfNKER582SuOsHADjDsKZqMISG2S1wSh3jRUC7ptiLuOjlFF0d_XprGJAOH10d6l7I2xNEocNR6F9pbsfaYn_jzuwd_wuLctAs66CEqQKQ/w288-h400/coffee.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gosh do I enjoy my septuagenarian daily ritual. After all those years of rushing to get a wee one off to preschool and myself off to work, and then all the years of just getting myself off to work, retirement is something I just immerse myself in. It has changed very little since I first retired.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One cup of homemade cold brew coffee. I add a scoop of Benefiber, some cream and my oh my it's good. Then I open my computer to read and answer any emails of importance. Next I read/skim our local City paper followed by the Portland paper. My favorite next step is the NY Times. I pay just $4 per month and there it is! After checking out articles of interest, I play the mini crossword and wordle. Followed by Facebook and Instagram and NextDoor.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once again we have wildfires very close to Portland. Our air quality today is "unhealthy for sensitive groups." Yesterday the air was a greenish grey and smelled of smoker. So far the worst fires are across the Willamette River so Lake Oswego is just getting a Red Flag warning. My kidlet has mild asthma and yesterday she took her inhaler to work. My neighbor friend has a moderate case of asthma and just walking a block to her mailbox gave her a 15 minute coughing session and watery eyes. She and her husband are invited to an outdoor party tonight but she is probably not going.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks for reading ... not the most exciting blog of the century but a little glimpse into the first two hours of my day!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9ZEB_DApvH2EcuAID0NylEmanv75S7l6F3P--kINfb_YC1VytoX0VA9cQXeeWtVOvQHuV36PolEj6ZTPI9-GIHoWH9nm0xP-t4CTiWN77uwDgd0JY3CdFb9qnpSrNcAWUk78oZdFUlp5j1a7cFiOjlfT0rT_t4fwDv6T2U5hmv1Fr2sOJ3r8vopbzg/s661/PNG%20selfie%20at%20work%20copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="384" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9ZEB_DApvH2EcuAID0NylEmanv75S7l6F3P--kINfb_YC1VytoX0VA9cQXeeWtVOvQHuV36PolEj6ZTPI9-GIHoWH9nm0xP-t4CTiWN77uwDgd0JY3CdFb9qnpSrNcAWUk78oZdFUlp5j1a7cFiOjlfT0rT_t4fwDv6T2U5hmv1Fr2sOJ3r8vopbzg/w233-h400/PNG%20selfie%20at%20work%20copy.png" width="233" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><br /> <p></p>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-48735956425594095882022-09-08T01:00:00.002-07:002022-09-08T01:00:00.187-07:00COOKING FOR ONE<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YwREPgED_ykIM3X8oJbZACrsJIC2RlUIPgbMlkAAb1p42PLZzeUQPFEhDM0Srm_sA-yOaGansQKV-BSS4q323walEqCdsAWGwJW0Tol5BLOA4gMZy0iUF1LD6m02TM2g3NLc2j1Ra736kIkB4YJ1KUQWy-HOSf7zNVUkZQ04pQZBDXMAiM7Xf0GoUg/s234/chef%20hat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="234" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YwREPgED_ykIM3X8oJbZACrsJIC2RlUIPgbMlkAAb1p42PLZzeUQPFEhDM0Srm_sA-yOaGansQKV-BSS4q323walEqCdsAWGwJW0Tol5BLOA4gMZy0iUF1LD6m02TM2g3NLc2j1Ra736kIkB4YJ1KUQWy-HOSf7zNVUkZQ04pQZBDXMAiM7Xf0GoUg/s1600/chef%20hat.png" width="234" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are days when the family is eating kid friendly food. Chicken nuggets. Corn dogs. Sloppy Joes. You know the stuff. I, of course, still like these foods but I shouldn't eat them very often (diabetes).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love reading recipes and I discovered a woman on Instagram, Cooking for One.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><a href="https://onedishkitchen.com/"><span style="font-family: verdana;">https://onedishkitchen.com/</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://onedishkitchen.com/"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">She posts almost every day and has the best photos. Some recipes look like two servings for me but I like leftovers. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of my favorite ideas for just me ...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Microwave poached egg. You will need to try a time or two to get the right sized cup and the right number of seconds. One cup of water in a regular coffee cup, cover with a paper towel and zap for 60 seconds. I usually leave mine in the water for another 15 seconds. Turkey bacon takes another 60 seconds. Toast takes the longest!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I haven't tried this Pumpkin Spice Latte yet because I'll have to bake a pie that day as it only calls for one tablespoon of pumpkin!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuRsxKfBqlUK-7VBO4RhoECjinsCbmI3X-kRiytdTfpJ2uW5chu04W1fXQAO8n98mg2T_xUlbfjO170j-n7JZEPy5d7qTPfe6WFvrk4gk7psnDuF1hu0bt5Fr4N26JUBJCa2utuhC9j56NOG6UGHnerEVFVWq3Mnl_71XhHGySfIpsi8y7lc9ve7KUA/s834/pumpkin%20spice%20cold%20brew%20drink.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="834" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuRsxKfBqlUK-7VBO4RhoECjinsCbmI3X-kRiytdTfpJ2uW5chu04W1fXQAO8n98mg2T_xUlbfjO170j-n7JZEPy5d7qTPfe6WFvrk4gk7psnDuF1hu0bt5Fr4N26JUBJCa2utuhC9j56NOG6UGHnerEVFVWq3Mnl_71XhHGySfIpsi8y7lc9ve7KUA/s320/pumpkin%20spice%20cold%20brew%20drink.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Usually I'm not a dessert eater (I have wine ... counts as a fruit, yes?) But those make it in a mug desserts are so great to whip up. Most of my tries have been via </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/preparation/single-serving/"><span style="font-family: verdana;">https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/preparation/single-serving/</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So so yummy to have a warm brownie whenever you have that urge.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have a very tiny kitchen so I either have to make my food first or when they are done. I also keep a stash of Lean Cuisine frozen meals for when I have no energy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The food pantry I volunteer for has a lot of Indian dishes. I hesitate to try cuisine where I'm not sure if I would like it but I did buy two pouches (microwave). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzUlKAO8l-5nmWqlYk2LChzk-GXlGWQqSHJs2GM6i-Q6_birbNDi8zpgfWlEMlKmR6Py1m6xgSXS5r3krISiVCXMxymCAM9I_yljL7CTdrcBg5Ef7KrSF5LxQrB6tKR1YunLRKhNk0vFet-Ol31FhExCP-GU3pobuDN23QIsdNjrjJpneKasLlo-NHg/s630/dal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzUlKAO8l-5nmWqlYk2LChzk-GXlGWQqSHJs2GM6i-Q6_birbNDi8zpgfWlEMlKmR6Py1m6xgSXS5r3krISiVCXMxymCAM9I_yljL7CTdrcBg5Ef7KrSF5LxQrB6tKR1YunLRKhNk0vFet-Ol31FhExCP-GU3pobuDN23QIsdNjrjJpneKasLlo-NHg/s320/dal.png" width="273" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrmDm0uJTlJKf-YnL5jh0ybMvsiPPU3gkdKIuUnHyoeOnTEGiB9m8X0eM0iuqCM18NsFaJTCXszu-0aRLP1yAfD3dzu0_-5Yo6PfPc_G7bUvfCCB4ewjmzQ49rS0ZjCs-k5JrZglkRuWU48JlGUzVEJID_5m5YNZIb0sNpLiHgmWaRHKaSpcaJnerPg/s660/potatoes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="566" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrmDm0uJTlJKf-YnL5jh0ybMvsiPPU3gkdKIuUnHyoeOnTEGiB9m8X0eM0iuqCM18NsFaJTCXszu-0aRLP1yAfD3dzu0_-5Yo6PfPc_G7bUvfCCB4ewjmzQ49rS0ZjCs-k5JrZglkRuWU48JlGUzVEJID_5m5YNZIb0sNpLiHgmWaRHKaSpcaJnerPg/s320/potatoes.png" width="274" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What are some of your favorite "just for you" meals?</span></div><br />The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-10435098519135819672022-09-04T01:00:00.005-07:002022-09-04T01:00:00.192-07:00OH GOOD GRIEF!<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheihAylBAjIOoBilOwOgsOvJGOpLwQidCNfjTWFrCZ1SbQn2rEwcbGXXfSeevic01sEzGZO5HKQNQk2H2olQSZNB3j_v7bbsj9nwwK3q4XRJom2Xgb3cfSUWyFPlxBEPh5DQUunNrWmpqhG9Ai_cycwTJKhsxsF6fXJieD9SIggRn6Srot25k1Q4GFjA/s538/notice.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="538" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheihAylBAjIOoBilOwOgsOvJGOpLwQidCNfjTWFrCZ1SbQn2rEwcbGXXfSeevic01sEzGZO5HKQNQk2H2olQSZNB3j_v7bbsj9nwwK3q4XRJom2Xgb3cfSUWyFPlxBEPh5DQUunNrWmpqhG9Ai_cycwTJKhsxsF6fXJieD9SIggRn6Srot25k1Q4GFjA/s320/notice.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Do you think your mother lives here? Well, yes, I guess I do. I'm devoting this (hopefully </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">short)</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> blog about all the things that drive me crazy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let's start with the kidults. Who are both approaching 40 although I pretend they are approaching 30 due to ten years of addiction. Makes it easier on me. They rarely write things down. Phone numbers (and they both have iPhones), passwords, account numbers (they don't use checks and every once in a while you need to provide your account number) and Kate usually puts thing on the family calendar. Jesse? Not so much.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our calendar has a different color for each of us ... I'm grey, Kate is yellow, Jesse is red and the boys events are purple. With just two cars, two boys at different schools, different sports with practices and games and hangouts with friends and overnight adventures.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now I write "JB needs the van" on my appointments that are away from here. Jesse still acts surprised when I come out with the keys. We already have days where one of us will need to drive Kate to work because we need both cars.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8d0yIYvJqjHjwGHHCFqt_xDyb-eT-tf4jPsJQqBjFDi4gv_zvdsvRsRp8URw0U2BjDVMndQIB63YsexWOOQvwEv9ZJOgQOrI8Ed-bMr7hs94zESwG9BENFwdbqDPCT_wdlnyjDyBLcRkxJpdhqml0eEvBNQ8DJV7uX2_K8yL1h-ACR5YfRXZfm-q-oQ/s2012/calendar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="2012" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8d0yIYvJqjHjwGHHCFqt_xDyb-eT-tf4jPsJQqBjFDi4gv_zvdsvRsRp8URw0U2BjDVMndQIB63YsexWOOQvwEv9ZJOgQOrI8Ed-bMr7hs94zESwG9BENFwdbqDPCT_wdlnyjDyBLcRkxJpdhqml0eEvBNQ8DJV7uX2_K8yL1h-ACR5YfRXZfm-q-oQ/w640-h389/calendar.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They are both lax about responding to text messages or checking email. Even school related stuff! Fortunately, since we live together I have gotten myself on both schools' emailing lists as well as Deacon's teacher's. And I finally got Kate's password so I can use ParentVue for more specific things, like progress reports.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No one else who lives here makes ice cubes. Currently we have NONE because I went on a silent strike.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No one else replaces the toilet paper. So I hide a roll in the back of the vanity or bring in my own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rarely do either of them make our cold brew coffee. I make a half gallon and keep it in my fridge.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No one remembers to charge their devices and both kids have already gotten warnings for not having a fully charge (school supplies) laptops.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Each child should read a minimum of 20 minutes a day. Parents are not enforcing that (okay, it's the first week of school but starting next week, I'm cracking down). They do take turns reading to the boys before bedtime.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No one else cleans out the fridge and again, I'm on a silent strike. They both know I enjoy most leftovers but if it's not labeled and dated, not me! I have a dorm size fridge in my "apartment" so I keep things they would never eat in here. (Currently hummus, coastal kale salad, cooked beets, feta cheese, hard boiled eggs and olives).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Still ... the pros outweigh the cons. When they are away, I remove all the crap left on the kitchen bar. As well as that pile on the dining room table. Usually, if the items belong to one of them, I put it on their side of their bed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJJ6tMzoVk-tei2TBmnx9TOfUN98bPV597qkCwjy6obGeeuYCZAL-GAMUM6CDNFOIwqnYU5HBK9zRWDXm4C0-eqJp18NmLtNU1KWD5hcS04E67EbFBytrv6Wyj8D_N07E-PKcnEXvmmwLqv0ra-DHO2y9UKabUB2oEa6h8W3v2GYe1TttxWBrLw2UXw/s616/scales.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="616" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJJ6tMzoVk-tei2TBmnx9TOfUN98bPV597qkCwjy6obGeeuYCZAL-GAMUM6CDNFOIwqnYU5HBK9zRWDXm4C0-eqJp18NmLtNU1KWD5hcS04E67EbFBytrv6Wyj8D_N07E-PKcnEXvmmwLqv0ra-DHO2y9UKabUB2oEa6h8W3v2GYe1TttxWBrLw2UXw/s320/scales.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When that balance tips ....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">P.S. I'll do the boys next Sunday!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-13562431357446710542022-09-01T17:37:00.006-07:002022-09-01T17:37:49.235-07:00OH NO! UNBELIEVABLE<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMVcbUe51fnXwGgXp6NGjDLjO13tr64GCtQnG-JXDB7XHe-NK2Lm3N-01Zc5qTshz_pNkd5ukIK91pWFBm-cZzi4WUZlqWQpsiqJ_QmGXYEMapEDmkjZJ3izjPFp6w43BFXJE5KOvhjsL_mmsD4Rb-C1DWTkT7Q0lyx6C5EM434l_iGOZHDAPCx_m7g/s750/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="750" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMVcbUe51fnXwGgXp6NGjDLjO13tr64GCtQnG-JXDB7XHe-NK2Lm3N-01Zc5qTshz_pNkd5ukIK91pWFBm-cZzi4WUZlqWQpsiqJ_QmGXYEMapEDmkjZJ3izjPFp6w43BFXJE5KOvhjsL_mmsD4Rb-C1DWTkT7Q0lyx6C5EM434l_iGOZHDAPCx_m7g/s320/1.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">School started on Monday. I have no words how quickly these two gents are growing up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">6th Grade at Jr High and 3rd Grade at elementary.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyKBPfkubSGqMXmtcoMr29pZm0c9LcxIZWoEtjY1Q28amL3Oe-u8qZO_FYvNpjzbFEMbUA73dXhwnOlY42JZAJ-8VHBUTPEuRyjaT2ZAnmF07PvU_ZIcdTnFx1IN4iziJj6bD1gqJuMCqwxKXo6gpI1tt6MhQIU_cwCsQMYZmJPkc9l7mhpcIDSHvVA/s1162/2022%20school%20year.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="958" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyKBPfkubSGqMXmtcoMr29pZm0c9LcxIZWoEtjY1Q28amL3Oe-u8qZO_FYvNpjzbFEMbUA73dXhwnOlY42JZAJ-8VHBUTPEuRyjaT2ZAnmF07PvU_ZIcdTnFx1IN4iziJj6bD1gqJuMCqwxKXo6gpI1tt6MhQIU_cwCsQMYZmJPkc9l7mhpcIDSHvVA/s320/2022%20school%20year.png" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sorry this is so late ...</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-25801307271601012982022-08-28T01:00:00.063-07:002022-08-28T01:00:00.195-07:00CANCER HAS HIT HOME<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCcPbD7YTQl64xgvzoWmgA4PYMQ-gySX8bwKENl7IezRxXWRK4zmBQaayDe-dmJ2zx2W5xqgLUJSAzdZicAibUh3OlP0CdB34zNMr6oF3ayoXONdlmSdGacSNR9NjXIrWXjXMKQw_n3g58HkEpAFwfKx6JWgkuujeJ21k8SR0gUFaH50ZH1DGF7QAunQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCcPbD7YTQl64xgvzoWmgA4PYMQ-gySX8bwKENl7IezRxXWRK4zmBQaayDe-dmJ2zx2W5xqgLUJSAzdZicAibUh3OlP0CdB34zNMr6oF3ayoXONdlmSdGacSNR9NjXIrWXjXMKQw_n3g58HkEpAFwfKx6JWgkuujeJ21k8SR0gUFaH50ZH1DGF7QAunQ" width="235" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>It's not as dreadful as it sounds but somehow generic blog names do not get as many reads! I went to the dermatologist on Friday and had the most thorough evaluation ever. On Saturday, MyChart had her two page synopsis that was written with great care and detail. I feel like I have the best ever medical team!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I made this appointment in October 2021 ... yes! Almost a year ago. She explained that a lot of people did not do doctor appointments during Covid then when it was safer, everyone made a date with all their various doctors and dentists.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The bad news is she had to biopsy three suspicious spots. None that I would have ever seen ... behind my knee and two on my back. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Others that looked worrisome to me were nothing. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana;">It’s so interesting to me that things I notice on my skin are never anything but common </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana;">Seborrheic Keratosis (barnacles) Cherry angioma (new to me), petechiae (thin skin … like bruising easily … she thinks maybe I cause them myself at night, fingernails barely touching my arm).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The worst news was that the spot on my upper thigh that I thought was a spider bite that never returned to normal skin color is lichen sclerosis! On my thigh! It's the most disgusting condition. No known cause and no cure. I've had it "down under" since 2018. Little did I know it could appear on other places on my body. It's not contagious. It is more common in menopausal women.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Annoying but so less stressful than my brother in law who has prostate cancer and is on last resort treatment, hormone therapy and radiation. Or my sister in law who had a double mastectomy in December last year and is still on chemotherapy and still pretty bald. I kinda hate complaining.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The good news??? I asked for advice for deep moisturizer for my face … damp skin and Aquaphor!!!</span></div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-11361787464964960362022-08-25T01:00:00.045-07:002022-08-25T01:00:00.204-07:00JUST THURSDAY<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcYxubxk6IA8gq2ax4dxrrmpJ4Yj01UPYmbykCRvkreirmq53Bdu31F9C07TggoAIcdSy7iqSKu_4zhe4tfuUvvn-lgE9UF5RB4r2Xi8euorKURII4yMjUMQUUL_24HKtHj-w3p7HCmRpIo-k14dB-yEjOH5Z3INytHcQK7hbgvMi11THbFJ32NOUKWQ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="1010" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcYxubxk6IA8gq2ax4dxrrmpJ4Yj01UPYmbykCRvkreirmq53Bdu31F9C07TggoAIcdSy7iqSKu_4zhe4tfuUvvn-lgE9UF5RB4r2Xi8euorKURII4yMjUMQUUL_24HKtHj-w3p7HCmRpIo-k14dB-yEjOH5Z3INytHcQK7hbgvMi11THbFJ32NOUKWQ" width="190" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My sister's wedding in 1989 ... Kate was one of the flower girls (age 3)</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjebSb9N2Fo3Omk6kQQSH3PG0K7jiJ-fzAKQm8BtVCmRmsEZMx89Vc5H4hHHvDkBxtQWgXYNC5cm4ugdfOtFpR2rR6mOi6gVP0wBdJGpU4OVtZyNM95VfkLkVsFXHJzU4wa_pqmSRH2jTBSvgA-2Rkn_fA4TRzl6aqUwzwlosXDs303vm705FhTYhs4EQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjebSb9N2Fo3Omk6kQQSH3PG0K7jiJ-fzAKQm8BtVCmRmsEZMx89Vc5H4hHHvDkBxtQWgXYNC5cm4ugdfOtFpR2rR6mOi6gVP0wBdJGpU4OVtZyNM95VfkLkVsFXHJzU4wa_pqmSRH2jTBSvgA-2Rkn_fA4TRzl6aqUwzwlosXDs303vm705FhTYhs4EQ" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From our front garden</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: right;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6cQMh-ZfnyBjN39Ad4CqLZxN8Fj6zT5TeoBi6QRlGu98GwA-Bv7J_uyf4zHNWE3ndcF9yuPkxrN-DAUJYiCZTkf5NASkHigl4CqrmnoV8wA5_DBN51Wwd6Q9aODUVPOZoM4_5XFHfyjn04FAR-LkeBW6AdOV8m1UspqVBbiBkahT77ez_5lVFwxS-Fw" width="180" /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My morning view of our patio</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6cQMh-ZfnyBjN39Ad4CqLZxN8Fj6zT5TeoBi6QRlGu98GwA-Bv7J_uyf4zHNWE3ndcF9yuPkxrN-DAUJYiCZTkf5NASkHigl4CqrmnoV8wA5_DBN51Wwd6Q9aODUVPOZoM4_5XFHfyjn04FAR-LkeBW6AdOV8m1UspqVBbiBkahT77ez_5lVFwxS-Fw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6cQMh-ZfnyBjN39Ad4CqLZxN8Fj6zT5TeoBi6QRlGu98GwA-Bv7J_uyf4zHNWE3ndcF9yuPkxrN-DAUJYiCZTkf5NASkHigl4CqrmnoV8wA5_DBN51Wwd6Q9aODUVPOZoM4_5XFHfyjn04FAR-LkeBW6AdOV8m1UspqVBbiBkahT77ez_5lVFwxS-Fw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIh3L3YnE1U9pU_3CvGf5lPbRObK8o-ZJ4HtgwTGp6EWj9t3qlCNM0eK4S47uQO1Jcypvh21MUwc-v9BqN-PDWoUF8Ey0SwTM2um_MSap-txXXPGC4k0A2XBuE5f2Fd2KmSCo0ftBXKxkQPN3Yr7NDJtTBU3cIb72s5fdWdQqabKpN9m4fHoIuwk_coQ" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A group of condo gals celebrating TWO of our members who bought park benches!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ9y41RJSDSK_HwSh0RTTTEB22BOiJ5spoTFAV8qpmGMlR_U4l9XwyqThohETHJSdrDmciRJG7SCdDebaxdr8g6jZDzk0hdZEOBd-BD26_DCl8K1pWAmCMLVUY_twHGRjpIw0WJz_TCS5k8MKhEnucwCuNAIkBF3-LWsO1Ix6c6qZUrYSGl0YCvRFJ3g" width="320" /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">These two brothers on a recent camping trip<br /></span><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6cQMh-ZfnyBjN39Ad4CqLZxN8Fj6zT5TeoBi6QRlGu98GwA-Bv7J_uyf4zHNWE3ndcF9yuPkxrN-DAUJYiCZTkf5NASkHigl4CqrmnoV8wA5_DBN51Wwd6Q9aODUVPOZoM4_5XFHfyjn04FAR-LkeBW6AdOV8m1UspqVBbiBkahT77ez_5lVFwxS-Fw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6cQMh-ZfnyBjN39Ad4CqLZxN8Fj6zT5TeoBi6QRlGu98GwA-Bv7J_uyf4zHNWE3ndcF9yuPkxrN-DAUJYiCZTkf5NASkHigl4CqrmnoV8wA5_DBN51Wwd6Q9aODUVPOZoM4_5XFHfyjn04FAR-LkeBW6AdOV8m1UspqVBbiBkahT77ez_5lVFwxS-Fw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6cQMh-ZfnyBjN39Ad4CqLZxN8Fj6zT5TeoBi6QRlGu98GwA-Bv7J_uyf4zHNWE3ndcF9yuPkxrN-DAUJYiCZTkf5NASkHigl4CqrmnoV8wA5_DBN51Wwd6Q9aODUVPOZoM4_5XFHfyjn04FAR-LkeBW6AdOV8m1UspqVBbiBkahT77ez_5lVFwxS-Fw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-81239799172445047502022-08-21T01:00:00.001-07:002022-08-21T01:00:00.205-07:00QUERULOUS QUEEN<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yep. Definitely crabby and all adjectives of the same.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A distant neighbor came knocking one day last week and wanted to relay some rumors she heard. She's an anti-masker so when I handed her one (to come in) she refused so I masked myself and went to her condo. The rumor is a near future assessment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After listening, I came home and looked up our past three years of balance sheets and my oh my have we blown through a LOT of cash.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I sent an email to everyone in my building:</span></p><blockquote class="" style="font-family: Verdana; text-size-adjust: auto;" type="cite"><div class=""><div class="" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div class="">I think it is IMPORTANT that we attend the annual meeting next Weds, Aug 25. 5:30 on the patio, I think.</div><div class=""><br class="" /></div><div class="">Rumors are about that there may be an assessment in our future (on top of an increase in monthly fees) as the Board has spent way more than was budgeted or in our Reserve Study.</div><div class=""><br class="" /></div><div class="">We have prided ourselves on having a large reserve fund and have not had an assessment in my 12 years here. Here is the balance sheet from June 30 (these documents should be forwarded to us every month, with the newsletter, as we did in the past). But they are on our web portal at CMI.</div><div class=""><br class="" /></div><div class="">Expenses over $3,000 need to be voted upon. Not just by the Board. WHERE HAS ALL THE MONEY GONE?</div><div class="">Attached are June asset pages from 2022, 2021 and 2020 … read the TOTAL FUNDS line in each … in June 2020 we had almost $800,000. In June this year, we have $200,000.</div><div class=""><br class="" /></div><div class="">I don’t remember voting to spend this????</div></div></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stay tuned. The same person has been on the Board since the beginning of time. She never gets three quotes on major expenses (yes, remember when I was on the Board?). Wednesday night is our Annual Meeting.</span></p><p><br /></p>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-72770069796267494182022-08-18T01:00:00.001-07:002022-08-18T01:00:00.185-07:00COMPUTER TROUBLE<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span>Sorry this is not my happy blog although it does have a happy almost-ending.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />My computer died, went completely black, on Friday evening as I was streaming TV show.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I tried the usual things to get it to turn back on but nothing worked.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Even unplugged but it seemed to be getting hotter on the upper left side.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />Sat morning I took it to our local Lake Oswego Mac Repair and this is what he said:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Unfortunately, your computer is not coming back. Sorry. It got too hot and the logic board is gone. It is over 4 years old and it is not worth replacing the logic board. Fans were packed with dust and there must have been heat warning, before it died.<br />Thank you.</span><br /><br />(I did not get any warning)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />I went to the local Apple store and worked with a great guy, Ethan, and bought a new laptop.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> THEN h</span>e noticed my 16” was still under Apple Care! Jesse took it to the Genius Bar Wednesday and they are going to fix or replace it ... and send it to my home! NO CHARGE.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">More later! Slowly rebuilding my new baby and have ordered an external drive so I can use Time Machine every week.</div><p class="p4" style="color: #8000ff; font-family: Verdana; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"></span></p>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-81127692318092961072022-08-14T01:00:00.037-07:002022-08-14T01:00:00.198-07:00GRUMPY OLD GAL<div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi0rB6qMYDtPr7y61oTSqhA0dui0Lv2G6cw3fGKz4mBCBn_dNajfc9QszRLW5o-VU20Q2UbFNkAbagsNAhR_wflcOehIabWUtcMwr_WPR72HU0dXGKjKiHR0UX5T-l5XTDxqCASF63fmIC-fDlZYOQfYm2F7ZIFVA1rj0T7dl75Vky1rrjcvx6jLbGQ/s390/crabby%20old%20lady.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="390" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi0rB6qMYDtPr7y61oTSqhA0dui0Lv2G6cw3fGKz4mBCBn_dNajfc9QszRLW5o-VU20Q2UbFNkAbagsNAhR_wflcOehIabWUtcMwr_WPR72HU0dXGKjKiHR0UX5T-l5XTDxqCASF63fmIC-fDlZYOQfYm2F7ZIFVA1rj0T7dl75Vky1rrjcvx6jLbGQ/w136-h135/crabby%20old%20lady.png" width="136" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">Grumpy Gal is going to whine and complain about inflation today.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">Let's start with Starbucks.</span></div><ul class="ul1"><li class="li3" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: white;">Starbucks’ brewed coffee price is $2.95 for a grande, <b>20.41%</b> higher than it was one year ago.</span></li></ul><ul class="ul1"><li class="li3" style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="background-color: white;">Starbucks’ Sausage, Cheddar & Egg Sandwich price is $4.75, <b>20.25%</b> higher than it was one year ago.</span></li></ul><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Kevin Johnson, who reportedly received a nearly 40% pay raise in 2021. He stepped down and Mr. Schultz has returned after five years with Johnson.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Johnson approved price increases in Oct 2021, Feb 2022 and July 2022</p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It’s the inflation you’re not supposed to see.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They didn't make any announcements and often not even their staff knew until they would ring up the prices.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So now instead of once a week for a treat, it will be once a month.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Maybe.</p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS487gnEGkkm-mitHYpXOPcuvmel2Yj0amICMExtFecJSxII8zNB6sLRtfNUY3GY_hOaB7zEpzrBe0C1zkH1jGZPZPhAL_jDVgcFWigCVEx0AxfOJk11MFs0o2UgEtWZuSamnxpWbu6HChElWPMKlkCyf0khNawG8n-0lfEFd1hGsBlPdUSxS37hNKYQ/s412/starucks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="402" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS487gnEGkkm-mitHYpXOPcuvmel2Yj0amICMExtFecJSxII8zNB6sLRtfNUY3GY_hOaB7zEpzrBe0C1zkH1jGZPZPhAL_jDVgcFWigCVEx0AxfOJk11MFs0o2UgEtWZuSamnxpWbu6HChElWPMKlkCyf0khNawG8n-0lfEFd1hGsBlPdUSxS37hNKYQ/w177-h182/starucks.png" width="177" /></a></div><br /><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the U.S., a small box of Kleenex now has 60 tissues; a few months ago, it had 65. Chobani Flips yogurts have shrunk from 5.3 ounces to 4.5 ounces</p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLJdZ96UXetMG6qf6We3QPWtpcxAM1-lwdKqrmH4U543tbD_eV4wjegyDYWZUlyIWHgiQugfeE9gfOTbebmtEgae8K9ihgHSR95toloEJwe2n90DE-JXMDCZ0M2FgE6G5I4xSwBBTEmI2_YoysCxNi4BsiVVn894f_fHGHciH8g5R3TScnLqpFsa4hQ/s650/lays.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="650" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLJdZ96UXetMG6qf6We3QPWtpcxAM1-lwdKqrmH4U543tbD_eV4wjegyDYWZUlyIWHgiQugfeE9gfOTbebmtEgae8K9ihgHSR95toloEJwe2n90DE-JXMDCZ0M2FgE6G5I4xSwBBTEmI2_YoysCxNi4BsiVVn894f_fHGHciH8g5R3TScnLqpFsa4hQ/w217-h144/lays.png" width="217" /></a></div><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Then there is Frito Lay. Bags of Fritos Scoops marked “Party Size” used to be 18 ounces; but almost every other big chain is now advertising “Party Size” Fritos Scoops that are 15.5 ounces — and more expensive. Often on sale, though.</p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUrHWjWOvKUv1wxDrTbo1CjE52AnG3fKPsM0QRv4cjWxxa6DJJo4R5hyARD4CxMTi1fSucbQYAByUFOzCDrXSNyClhfNWJJdIQyuQnoGMJb0nUwzQLHN3Wq-4hD_HCi0muvuDByAIgYtLDi9BRmGAF8uTG_NIPI0Y-Y1NrcO2ZE1vMw-KplmbcftTiQ/s546/pepsi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="546" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUrHWjWOvKUv1wxDrTbo1CjE52AnG3fKPsM0QRv4cjWxxa6DJJo4R5hyARD4CxMTi1fSucbQYAByUFOzCDrXSNyClhfNWJJdIQyuQnoGMJb0nUwzQLHN3Wq-4hD_HCi0muvuDByAIgYtLDi9BRmGAF8uTG_NIPI0Y-Y1NrcO2ZE1vMw-KplmbcftTiQ/w202-h139/pepsi.png" width="202" /></a></div><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pepsi has changed their Gatorade bottles. The company recently began phasing out 32-ounce bottles in favor of 28-ounce ones, which are tapered in the middle so they are the same height, just 4 ounces less than before.</p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Domino’s Pizza announced in January that it was shrinking the size of its 10-piece chicken wings to eight pieces for the same $7.99 carryout price. (Domino’s cited the rising cost of chicken).</p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A local restaurant we used to visit 2-3 times a year for special occasions, raised their dinner prices from $17 to $25 (pasta carbonara)!!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Good thing we all like to cook.</p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyzP85ZRlSPtEEVu4T5IlfHXeFc5K0ISmk8Dz4RHI9WqHWIcAHt_UjD3GcWSgKTmogZKHTQH_Gp6vDCPFhzwf98V9kaLJU78RLZtbsHjGafsYdcLTwEgK7a-PoG2oqo1CFENKvsmoeycb62vaNVoZkgZZPFcxuQTTxlqEwj2AOasATzNVv5SozBiqIQ/s370/cooking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="354" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyzP85ZRlSPtEEVu4T5IlfHXeFc5K0ISmk8Dz4RHI9WqHWIcAHt_UjD3GcWSgKTmogZKHTQH_Gp6vDCPFhzwf98V9kaLJU78RLZtbsHjGafsYdcLTwEgK7a-PoG2oqo1CFENKvsmoeycb62vaNVoZkgZZPFcxuQTTxlqEwj2AOasATzNVv5SozBiqIQ/w181-h189/cooking.png" width="181" /></a></div><br /><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-12258952777352661182022-08-11T01:00:00.005-07:002022-08-11T01:00:00.222-07:00POLLYANNA<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is an experiment. I am going to try to only blog positive things on Thursdays and my crabby things on Sunday. Stay tuned.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The family has sure made good use of their summer. Besides ten days in Montana with Jesse's side of the family, they raft down a local river about once a week. No rapids just a nice float for three hours. The boys take turns in a huge swim tube tied to the raft .... so they feel that are on their own. They pack snacks and fill up the water bottles then end their busy day with McDonalds. I don't even have to go pick up one driver to take them to their starting point car as in the past few years. It was tough for me as the two lane country road had people going 50 mph all the while the sun is in my eyes. Now they take both cars and do it all!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week they went to a highly rated (and not too crowded swimming hole, Big Eddy) and had a blast. It was hot as blue blazes and the water there is run off from snow pack, so very cold. They packed Subway sandwiches and chairs and life jackets and big tubes and even the parents went in!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHM9oV3hYp1PuKnY5RwYPHYMPNyClQrmdhkKRMim4qRaFOUpSqvHcLfu20UX0kLCVnpVqrRuIcJ10Os-s7Xh2fdYpfPakC0PH0wYIFTpVve7L212SP7xMvSWyj-1eXytWDQSQcqfvUOUcX7sZdzqMxDwuLLyXhZTsBCqjKcE_8qHELSfGOFSuZy6-eA/s586/big%20eddy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="586" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHM9oV3hYp1PuKnY5RwYPHYMPNyClQrmdhkKRMim4qRaFOUpSqvHcLfu20UX0kLCVnpVqrRuIcJ10Os-s7Xh2fdYpfPakC0PH0wYIFTpVve7L212SP7xMvSWyj-1eXytWDQSQcqfvUOUcX7sZdzqMxDwuLLyXhZTsBCqjKcE_8qHELSfGOFSuZy6-eA/s320/big%20eddy.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Next week they are going camping for three nights. There is a stocked Small Fry lake where under 17 can fish for two catches per day. It takes Jesse a day to pack up everything you can imagine, drive for 90 minutes and they the two of them set up like a well oiled machine. Not sure they will allow campfires this season but usually the boys gather twigs and kindling.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv07qH1h3EDfp3OlYkaugktPicwzcmfT4bDnXaMpW29n-awzP7CW03EiGTGu5GkFaSK0SLt7BNc3xyoQbGrxxEVdLe8yFTIBBuUdXdYTXVeEz_DhITIqrDfOW8JI-pvh2d2gGHIr9vncKROJMi8U0Ye61Hcu9fu1qBYB3uYtn2ugsWdrEFfJHp1UnAiA/s1274/promontory%20park.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1274" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv07qH1h3EDfp3OlYkaugktPicwzcmfT4bDnXaMpW29n-awzP7CW03EiGTGu5GkFaSK0SLt7BNc3xyoQbGrxxEVdLe8yFTIBBuUdXdYTXVeEz_DhITIqrDfOW8JI-pvh2d2gGHIr9vncKROJMi8U0Ye61Hcu9fu1qBYB3uYtn2ugsWdrEFfJHp1UnAiA/s320/promontory%20park.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And me? No commotion or chaos and I can get an organizing project done, enjoy ethnic food they don't like and go to bed as early as I like. A new upscale grocery opened just a mile away and I love love love looking. They have a great deli (where I get my exotic meals) and 10% off on Wednesdays. I get a scoop of this and a scoop of that and enjoy new tastes (Coastal kale salad, two bean spinach salad, greek salad, a slice or two of skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, Asian turkey meatballs, etc). They sell sample sizes of cheeses so one night I have new to me cheeses and fruit.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">School starts Monday, August 29!</span></div><p><br /></p>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-62649552649517529372022-08-07T01:00:00.010-07:002022-08-07T01:00:00.193-07:00CRABBY OLD LADY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8F7jwlHeXLtAtxpcfzP5cgLK7t3xFFNHACvH98GpuNXVjpt82mLExbNb2M1jW4a8wvyUeVQhkkwtGfgnYApiKpKDwbzDaHhrQ5OGZVZ6AQ6g30sHez88nigERshKH1CV6jSLrmMgjZUjenv9TzBv4g8EsqMIw-02RCXM9kJwbT4AJ17Z8V-mIBfJVg/s566/crabby%20office%20lady.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="566" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8F7jwlHeXLtAtxpcfzP5cgLK7t3xFFNHACvH98GpuNXVjpt82mLExbNb2M1jW4a8wvyUeVQhkkwtGfgnYApiKpKDwbzDaHhrQ5OGZVZ6AQ6g30sHez88nigERshKH1CV6jSLrmMgjZUjenv9TzBv4g8EsqMIw-02RCXM9kJwbT4AJ17Z8V-mIBfJVg/s320/crabby%20office%20lady.png" width="320" /></a></div><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;">Microsoft users probably remember the Crabby Office Lady who answered questions for whatever program you were using.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I loved her smart Alec advice.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sure do miss her.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">About 20 years ago we had a local drugstore with a food counter in the back.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I often stopped in for a quick bite in between breakfast and when school got out and I went to pick up my Kidlet.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Every day there was a group of older guys having coffee and a donut and chit chatting away.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>One of them explained they were a local group called SNOBs.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Senile Negative Old Bastards.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How perfect was that!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I need to start my own group.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Last week I was overwhelmed by scams and disappointments and fraudulent charges on my credit card.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I had a trip to the dentist to try to restructure my tooth so a crown would stay on.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I had asked to just have it pulled because the crown had come off 5-6 times.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He talked me into trying one more time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was a bit nervous as he would be removing some of my gum to expose the tooth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They gave me some calming drops in water (should have been a martini) and lots of numbing meds so I didn't feel a thing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He said "oh just wait til tomorrow".<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I got up at 6am to take Aleve and kept the pain at bay.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>NO PAIN!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">He wouldn't even charge me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So I tried to order tooth shaped sugar cookies to have delivered (with a little heart in the middle).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My regular place has gone up to $6 per cookie AND a three to four week wait list.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I tried my second choice and she has just not conquered sugar cookies and suggested cupcakes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Too messy, I thought.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I then decided on an edible fruit arrangement!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ordered on Friday for delivery on Tuesday.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When Tuesday rolled around and I didn't hear from the office ... I went online to track my order.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It showed the order was received by a local franchise but not delivered.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I called the number on the order (local number, I thought).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But just got the run around, not a local number and she didn't know why it wasn't delivered did I want to choose a different day.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>NO!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I just will take my money back.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Oh, well she couldn't authorize that I would have to call the corporate office ... where I waited with Muzak in my ear for 27 minutes before I hung up.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7vaDzb1AJxGVBYg-MdztJc-59CqjhCWvDGki_vTnT6Fvt-w3Tp5KF2hTn5UAIzAB8SUuaIHvDptjB-fgal_pOcbaie2OHQoD5iP_YI03iwAxR0QAdC6PKMr0fWcGp3AyMA2Riz5MaHiZpMD7MWMZSaE_TrSdF9WOumgiZHwynTkP99LByTIB-TXWwQ/s392/fruit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="392" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7vaDzb1AJxGVBYg-MdztJc-59CqjhCWvDGki_vTnT6Fvt-w3Tp5KF2hTn5UAIzAB8SUuaIHvDptjB-fgal_pOcbaie2OHQoD5iP_YI03iwAxR0QAdC6PKMr0fWcGp3AyMA2Riz5MaHiZpMD7MWMZSaE_TrSdF9WOumgiZHwynTkP99LByTIB-TXWwQ/s320/fruit.png" width="320" /></a></div><p class="p2" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I went back online to sent a CANCEL this order.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Twice. </span>Finally, two days later the refund showed up on my credit card.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Now my enthusiasm is gone.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I'll continue my whining and complaining in the next blog.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-57360516115994623492022-07-31T01:00:00.001-07:002022-07-31T01:00:00.243-07:0052 YEARS and 52 POUNDS<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My high school in Columbus, Ohio just had our 50th class reunion two weeks ago. It was postponed twice due to Covid so it was really our 52nd reunion of graduation. I started attending class reunions at our 20th. My parents and most siblings still lived there so I had two reasons to fly back as well as a free place to stay and a car to borrow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year I chose to NOT attend. Air travel is such a mess currently. Almost every flight has a delay and missed connection. It is way more expensive and I'm just too crabby to put up with flying. People are so rude, flight attendants overworked and Covid germs are everywhere.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Surprisingly we sold 85 tickets (class of 175 or so)(yes, I'm on the planning committee with my computer skills ... making invites, doing mass emails and updating our list with current addresses, emails and phone numbers). At the last minute, 5 people tested positive for Covid. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A classmate put together a slide show and asked for a current photo and my buddies always make a huge poster so they wanted one as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7fA4r2y6G0v4EcF39YhWlnfoKcsGEteBz-WXxtif5peDm6mUS2aImgdGKS9p1RweimVYB2C5FSYuEWzmgOW2ETssMjiJKT4wwfzpbPBxZRQV7rB8fGx7fViuQHAtJ82lTsnl3fh_bqmWK5DHKHhOknftD_41k0yItTUyoMFtfu4Gi4Ds_HZW2Nr_WA/s940/52nd%20Reunion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7fA4r2y6G0v4EcF39YhWlnfoKcsGEteBz-WXxtif5peDm6mUS2aImgdGKS9p1RweimVYB2C5FSYuEWzmgOW2ETssMjiJKT4wwfzpbPBxZRQV7rB8fGx7fViuQHAtJ82lTsnl3fh_bqmWK5DHKHhOknftD_41k0yItTUyoMFtfu4Gi4Ds_HZW2Nr_WA/s320/52nd%20Reunion.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">(Yes, I was a beanpole in my youth!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After seeing the Planning Committee group photo, I have been hit with a moment of vanity!! Although when I looked up the definition, it's not really vanity ... just a nudge to put me over the edge to go back to being blonde again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2X6WsiwmH3EIsNyKIye_LdPMQegIiGKO_LxH6jrntyn50dpJe5FX1Qxc2EQbGzIfbe9ijqGUDcILL74jGGea43wovQ7dpUBRPmGjrC5zEHmGu0kfkpWcO_8CGAHH8JZEMvH8zvhXDtTgCyDlRPPU--fUKEkNcrc9ApRZsWYoAe_mE0mCehENzrYuAg/s1586/team.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1586" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2X6WsiwmH3EIsNyKIye_LdPMQegIiGKO_LxH6jrntyn50dpJe5FX1Qxc2EQbGzIfbe9ijqGUDcILL74jGGea43wovQ7dpUBRPmGjrC5zEHmGu0kfkpWcO_8CGAHH8JZEMvH8zvhXDtTgCyDlRPPU--fUKEkNcrc9ApRZsWYoAe_mE0mCehENzrYuAg/s320/team.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">We are all 70 this year ... but one really looks it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been thinking about it since May, when my sister and family came out for the big 7-0 birthday.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJFEzc5E9xa6qgj1Vp9t4FdfHZ19iKx3V1js6iUCMo40MAX28bGsKJvuzh37utHmsWhXNHGrtdswElUPBqG_0fahqq48vlutlkMHFo0yWvrK1YeQbKp5iKeDbbwUP4WDjfYxMH0lgS9VJYbOX5HhSwDjaM6WpS4NADOaBmveY7uzSaMmrFrF3X6dYHQ/s960/IMG_2741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJFEzc5E9xa6qgj1Vp9t4FdfHZ19iKx3V1js6iUCMo40MAX28bGsKJvuzh37utHmsWhXNHGrtdswElUPBqG_0fahqq48vlutlkMHFo0yWvrK1YeQbKp5iKeDbbwUP4WDjfYxMH0lgS9VJYbOX5HhSwDjaM6WpS4NADOaBmveY7uzSaMmrFrF3X6dYHQ/s320/IMG_2741.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">I know I'm 8 years older, but I don't need to LOOK it!</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>I'll post the new blonde Awkward Widow IF I like the look. Stylist doesn't think we need to do a weave of different shades of blond (as I've done in the past) and is doing an all over color.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stayed tuned.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span><p></p></div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-30152469817395703482022-07-24T01:00:00.001-07:002022-07-24T01:00:00.217-07:00SOARING INTO MY SEVENTIES<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">AHHHH! That was a great 3 month sabbatical from blogging. </span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm going to try once a week, on Sunday, to see where that takes me. This blog is no longer really about being a widow and is usually just a light look into my world (small as it is). I don't really have a circle of friends, more like a dot! A few friends and a million acquaintances. But living with four others does not allow for loneliness. Earplugs at times.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">None of us has suffered a bout with Covid and here on the West Coast we still mask in indoor public spaces. We've dined outdoors a few times and I usually wear my mask outdoors (our Covid cases in Oregon keep going up and are hitting closer to home).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We've avoided the severe heat although it is predicted for next week. We are lucky enough to have a/c in each bedroom so sleeping has not been interrupted. There is also one in the living room which we have only used once.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mr. 11.5 now has a permanent man voice. He's almost 5'11". More of a teenager than a kid but still enjoys hanging with his brother. Mr. 8.5 is still a hoot. They all spent two weeks in rural Montana with Jesse's side of the family, on ten acres in a town of 1,000. BB guns, real guns, horseback riding, tubing a shallow river and being with cousins. I enjoyed being able to sit in the living room or the front patio to do my computer reading. Accomplished a few tasks that were nagging at me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibbMz-qoQC61tPbBlyHcMo2jgWVIZR4yLwJCU8H9qZhzkGe1uDc44UV1Bnz4_utefL15PBu2mTSkwKQuycWxBLV-WDGlOCawLtCRuAO-1hHtIldjuQTb_Jhuxww2StF8V7huXbLXgprt8KC5kdLRj4MfM7r6unMA__8oMLd2uBSTSHfEu0vwgQCfnyg/s4032/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibbMz-qoQC61tPbBlyHcMo2jgWVIZR4yLwJCU8H9qZhzkGe1uDc44UV1Bnz4_utefL15PBu2mTSkwKQuycWxBLV-WDGlOCawLtCRuAO-1hHtIldjuQTb_Jhuxww2StF8V7huXbLXgprt8KC5kdLRj4MfM7r6unMA__8oMLd2uBSTSHfEu0vwgQCfnyg/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuyCKgDjY-hMqBPUZV8nB39zV-wVXUG9Y7PNA-7Y8J2ckhBeEdLC_j-k1Yskq3GsnSVweMVhBhx8H9rEXDj_GZE-aXhv5uXDMf8YtJIQskWZEvhtOF3O5HgxPWTx-iJJ0ErXqC1ppsjwCiwgIze8cMj8eaG_E_zb-Y5c0YzzEjDREeSb-3A_mRxMcUQ/s4032/IMG_4033.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuyCKgDjY-hMqBPUZV8nB39zV-wVXUG9Y7PNA-7Y8J2ckhBeEdLC_j-k1Yskq3GsnSVweMVhBhx8H9rEXDj_GZE-aXhv5uXDMf8YtJIQskWZEvhtOF3O5HgxPWTx-iJJ0ErXqC1ppsjwCiwgIze8cMj8eaG_E_zb-Y5c0YzzEjDREeSb-3A_mRxMcUQ/s320/IMG_4033.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PS_0xU5HMW3zuHsskkV8K7dW7DZr-X-KzHmprmbPz8qkw8aliaMHvUQQGFOYpG0ZCl_X090vZgsc83gwaZP4xChec-p6tYrdW33MTPnbQB_JWfScWdQigmaaB7hrH1Cn1e5ErZWNDXi72aGspganNQaNVtUOmFrdTua0JOqO0NcN8CrlP8npqGRxxQ/s4032/IMG_2934.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PS_0xU5HMW3zuHsskkV8K7dW7DZr-X-KzHmprmbPz8qkw8aliaMHvUQQGFOYpG0ZCl_X090vZgsc83gwaZP4xChec-p6tYrdW33MTPnbQB_JWfScWdQigmaaB7hrH1Cn1e5ErZWNDXi72aGspganNQaNVtUOmFrdTua0JOqO0NcN8CrlP8npqGRxxQ/s320/IMG_2934.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The view from my chair on the patio</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yKVmpoUppQ5j2lnhewQiOrIiLIYPfE_8Ur_jykqDZzFpXGeCBQ4dTvYIqfQvf8ayV_OQYDme_QKEOFDobpvpRkV22K7FWkAKlaghVWVB67MGsW6Hgi2NLdu9Yu_088C79PyVhgGnzxQwW3BvXq1lgx24MTj_JaCGzSZYQDzP2pFJxZVPu-p5hnILkQ/s4032/IMG_2933.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yKVmpoUppQ5j2lnhewQiOrIiLIYPfE_8Ur_jykqDZzFpXGeCBQ4dTvYIqfQvf8ayV_OQYDme_QKEOFDobpvpRkV22K7FWkAKlaghVWVB67MGsW6Hgi2NLdu9Yu_088C79PyVhgGnzxQwW3BvXq1lgx24MTj_JaCGzSZYQDzP2pFJxZVPu-p5hnILkQ/s320/IMG_2933.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of my jobs while they were away</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-65008842303182265152022-04-26T17:03:00.000-07:002022-04-26T17:03:00.031-07:00GET UP AND GO<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think my get up and go got up and went. This blog has helped me through a lot of situations and I've met a few new online friends. So thank you for that!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For now, I'm giving myself a long break. I'm volunteering more hours at Hunger Fighters and these two young men are needing more time hauling them hither and yon.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My email is <a href="mailto:jb97034@me.com">jb97034@me.com</a> if you want to chat!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwAoPRxM6l2Ou0kStWszCSLpjvHvwm6sHkXEfOsNWQ33tyPw-3g5MT1vRoIf-nGXzjjI3GqbP5E0JFi7pC99rUw-_6i7N4kHnr0RYmKqS46WZ7fZI6Ye0EeQhgAdoz39XQuK5dBMFxkKcoIGvq6kflza1SnpJAVqeZKdRqaE9qpjN0hscX3EAG-ZdGg/s4032/IMG_2681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwAoPRxM6l2Ou0kStWszCSLpjvHvwm6sHkXEfOsNWQ33tyPw-3g5MT1vRoIf-nGXzjjI3GqbP5E0JFi7pC99rUw-_6i7N4kHnr0RYmKqS46WZ7fZI6Ye0EeQhgAdoz39XQuK5dBMFxkKcoIGvq6kflza1SnpJAVqeZKdRqaE9qpjN0hscX3EAG-ZdGg/s320/IMG_2681.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2kYU6xWF-ZiA2iDSrM3Onc4ZhFCPowLhWX2Mrfh9R7pZONODcgXeY4J8p2689eMwust1auxxRu8TkLDK47JrjLSvVc6d-V1f3ffw9t8205D4jR0lcaxTAd5Lt4U-G988ibVn4_yx6wd-ITkYWHTzawTJC7baQXIMgJEofCwn50cdFXzayK9TQUsHDQ/s4032/IMG_2599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2kYU6xWF-ZiA2iDSrM3Onc4ZhFCPowLhWX2Mrfh9R7pZONODcgXeY4J8p2689eMwust1auxxRu8TkLDK47JrjLSvVc6d-V1f3ffw9t8205D4jR0lcaxTAd5Lt4U-G988ibVn4_yx6wd-ITkYWHTzawTJC7baQXIMgJEofCwn50cdFXzayK9TQUsHDQ/s320/IMG_2599.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDODpS9xa8EBpAst6GjcGYs9t_cJv_7n_BccAeLXRAuvSZXHC2YyQDSD7BlKwfHJ9kKzHKFVEHJLJmJaaGm-y-RgkXEJ88grt6XzaftsJjzkRsPNs08nmkGrwYPwyaxjqXGml64IU3m6klVcVxUytnUbyVIfzLbkTn_azxYNYFUlA3jw9pUjxYCCPbjw/s4032/IMG_2693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDODpS9xa8EBpAst6GjcGYs9t_cJv_7n_BccAeLXRAuvSZXHC2YyQDSD7BlKwfHJ9kKzHKFVEHJLJmJaaGm-y-RgkXEJ88grt6XzaftsJjzkRsPNs08nmkGrwYPwyaxjqXGml64IU3m6klVcVxUytnUbyVIfzLbkTn_azxYNYFUlA3jw9pUjxYCCPbjw/s320/IMG_2693.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs42XIUgPeCCa61QU9fkzJ5JKYce2-Gj1wzPNnOHYlUqCC9AiNj5Dzf_RTO2INe8_8FJxVPwZ-8WxjeVraCA2m0sYNpuFWk3eBhL5cx33y_1VJ60wpN6IHAAK736C9quNCUK5kzH0Bb5fLh99MKjEyL_5iO10BsjT_17YTzmRkKplx-W69-uJPVUmQw/s4032/IMG_2602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs42XIUgPeCCa61QU9fkzJ5JKYce2-Gj1wzPNnOHYlUqCC9AiNj5Dzf_RTO2INe8_8FJxVPwZ-8WxjeVraCA2m0sYNpuFWk3eBhL5cx33y_1VJ60wpN6IHAAK736C9quNCUK5kzH0Bb5fLh99MKjEyL_5iO10BsjT_17YTzmRkKplx-W69-uJPVUmQw/s320/IMG_2602.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764389163852345785.post-42817321589200490342022-04-21T01:00:00.008-07:002022-04-21T01:00:00.201-07:00OREGON AT ITS BEST<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">April showers bring May flowers?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEaGP_SbxiGxJfiWfFEL6MJb6lC9-YjqF-mrwvjEDhk61FMFCAR58vXq4D4PExxzltfib7xzOwbSy4Yw2oMHDV4IY3SV67li3p6WUyAh9epkfW4seqGfuidmNeCEf5JmUq-6DY6B-lok_KkgCKDkJzbYvFbQ5hgy_ZdNWqOPLUB9o6OqYrAzO-p3LvwQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2436" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEaGP_SbxiGxJfiWfFEL6MJb6lC9-YjqF-mrwvjEDhk61FMFCAR58vXq4D4PExxzltfib7xzOwbSy4Yw2oMHDV4IY3SV67li3p6WUyAh9epkfW4seqGfuidmNeCEf5JmUq-6DY6B-lok_KkgCKDkJzbYvFbQ5hgy_ZdNWqOPLUB9o6OqYrAzO-p3LvwQ=w296-h640" width="296" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Maybe this will life your spirits ... it sure did mine. Childrens voices reach my</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> heart.</span><p></p></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_A-hZ44sKH4" width="320" youtube-src-id="_A-hZ44sKH4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>The Awkward Widowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.com2