Thankful Thursday
Apr. 10th, 2025 02:21 pm1) The home we've made.
2) BBC's The Repair Shop, full of cozy problem solving.
3) Longer days (yay axial tilt)
4) Library ebooks. Currently reading Ann Cleeves' Hidden Depths with Vera Stanhope
5) New afghan has been finished long enough it's moved to "nice warm blanket" and not just "new crochet project."
2) BBC's The Repair Shop, full of cozy problem solving.
3) Longer days (yay axial tilt)
4) Library ebooks. Currently reading Ann Cleeves' Hidden Depths with Vera Stanhope
5) New afghan has been finished long enough it's moved to "nice warm blanket" and not just "new crochet project."
Thankful Thursday
Jan. 23rd, 2025 05:46 pm1 Weather. I know, I live in the greater Seattle area, but we've had a stretch of sunny days. I'm pleased.
2 The "Make Me Smart" podcast from Marketplace.org is back from the holiday break.
3 Library. Some recent interesting books were Ina Garten's memoir (Be Ready When the Luck Happens), Happy Town, Some Desperate Glory, and Elly Griffiths' story collection.
4 Keeping knee pain at bay with exercise.
2 The "Make Me Smart" podcast from Marketplace.org is back from the holiday break.
3 Library. Some recent interesting books were Ina Garten's memoir (Be Ready When the Luck Happens), Happy Town, Some Desperate Glory, and Elly Griffiths' story collection.
4 Keeping knee pain at bay with exercise.
(no subject)
Nov. 20th, 2024 11:16 amPower is out in my part of Kenmore. Currently in the sunroom, which at least has a decent amount of sunlight.
The battery system powered CPAPs and kept the house at 60F. Solar is currently providing power and recharging the house battery.
Comcast internet/cable is down. I have my phone, but. Sad how dependent I can be on 1s and 0s.
The battery system powered CPAPs and kept the house at 60F. Solar is currently providing power and recharging the house battery.
Comcast internet/cable is down. I have my phone, but. Sad how dependent I can be on 1s and 0s.
Thankful Thursday
Sep. 5th, 2024 06:00 pmAnnual trip to the Puyallup/state fair was fun. (If you're curious, TheFair.com has more info.)
Heat pump that keeps the house in 70s while it's 89F outside.
My mobility scooter managed the fair fine...but I do admit I didn't try driving onto any rides. ;)
Plugin hybrid van that doesn't need gas often.
A summer of good air quality (my asthma is happy).
Heat pump that keeps the house in 70s while it's 89F outside.
My mobility scooter managed the fair fine...but I do admit I didn't try driving onto any rides. ;)
Plugin hybrid van that doesn't need gas often.
A summer of good air quality (my asthma is happy).
Thankful Thursday
Aug. 22nd, 2024 04:38 pmRelatively painless blood draw in advance of annual physical. It was a fasting draw, but I have discovered it's easier to get up without an immediate need for caffeine and food if you're not sleep deprived in general. (WHO KNEW???)
Fun with Woobles. I've got a cactus smiling at me from across the room.
Plants that keep surprising me. Two volunteer rosebushes, mint seeds sprouting ages after I gave up and replanted with other seeds....
Vanessa the plug-in hybrid. The vast majority of my trips are within electric range, we have a charger at home, so unless we do a road trip we don't need to bother with gas. (I realized today I don't remember which side has the opening for the gas tank. I do know where the electric charging port is.)
Finding a "Get Out The Vote" job I can do. In my case it's postcards reminding people to vote. I was sent nice postcards with reminder to vote on Nov 5, some tested-out messages, and addresses. I'm providing stamps and labor (addressing and writing a "Thank you for being a voter!" message). I went through https://turnoutpac.org/postcards/ but there are others.
Tillamook medium cheddar
Glad I got a few extra ebooks from the library during the DNC
Fun with Woobles. I've got a cactus smiling at me from across the room.
Plants that keep surprising me. Two volunteer rosebushes, mint seeds sprouting ages after I gave up and replanted with other seeds....
Vanessa the plug-in hybrid. The vast majority of my trips are within electric range, we have a charger at home, so unless we do a road trip we don't need to bother with gas. (I realized today I don't remember which side has the opening for the gas tank. I do know where the electric charging port is.)
Finding a "Get Out The Vote" job I can do. In my case it's postcards reminding people to vote. I was sent nice postcards with reminder to vote on Nov 5, some tested-out messages, and addresses. I'm providing stamps and labor (addressing and writing a "Thank you for being a voter!" message). I went through https://turnoutpac.org/postcards/ but there are others.
Tillamook medium cheddar
Glad I got a few extra ebooks from the library during the DNC
(no subject)
Jul. 14th, 2024 10:07 pmPEOPLE magazine has an article on Project 2025. If you've been meaning to learn more or looking for something to share, take a look:
https://people.com/what-is-project-2025-inside-far-right-plan-trump-presidency-8622964
https://people.com/what-is-project-2025-inside-far-right-plan-trump-presidency-8622964
Proof of life
Jul. 1st, 2024 06:09 pmChecking Bluesky this morning may have been a mistake :( Oh joy, the US Supreme Court is worse than I thought. Argh.
That said, I did slightly assist Jesse in attacking blackberries behind some roses; I used a rake to hold rose canes out of the way while he went back to the blackberry canes growing next to the house. Also as usual, on Monday I did some treadmill time with Marketplace podcasts from last week.
Treadmill is usually MWF. Baby steps for now, but working on getting heart, lungs, and muscles to all cooperate.
Books finished recently:
I have now weakened enough to turn on MSNBC. Hi Rachel.
That said, I did slightly assist Jesse in attacking blackberries behind some roses; I used a rake to hold rose canes out of the way while he went back to the blackberry canes growing next to the house. Also as usual, on Monday I did some treadmill time with Marketplace podcasts from last week.
Treadmill is usually MWF. Baby steps for now, but working on getting heart, lungs, and muscles to all cooperate.
Books finished recently:
- Bats in the Belfry by E.C.R. Lorac. 1930s mystery set in London. Twisty and interesting.
- No, You Shut Up: Speaking Truth to Power and Reclaiming America by Symone D Sanders. Published in 2020, part memoir and part how-to of a political operative and communications professional.
- Death Comes At The End by Agatha Christie. Christie's only book set in the past (ancient Eygpt) and with a non-European cast. Agatha created this book at the urging of an Eygptologist friend of hers, and it's based in part of real letters from the time. It's a bit slow going but I did enjoy it.
- They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall. It's an updated And Then There Were None, all the way to the end.
- State Tectonics by Malka Older, the third in her Centenal Cycle. (Read Infomacracy first, then Null States)
I have now weakened enough to turn on MSNBC. Hi Rachel.
The weather changed.
I woke up with one of worser sinus headaches. Took daily meds (which includes allergy meds) with water and realized I felt dehydrated; drank more water. Coffee and breakfast helped more as the meds really kicked in. Now I'm willing to listen to quiet talking podcast.
It's also colder than it has been, and rain in forecast this afternoon. Oh right, weather can cause headaches.
---
The podcast, btw, is "Why Is This Happening?" hosted by Chris Hayes. This episode is Chris interviewing Signal CEO Meredith Whittaker. I'm intrigued to learn Signal is a non-profit that specifically does not sell advertising, and so has no reason to track a lot of data that other apps track as a matter of course.
I woke up with one of worser sinus headaches. Took daily meds (which includes allergy meds) with water and realized I felt dehydrated; drank more water. Coffee and breakfast helped more as the meds really kicked in. Now I'm willing to listen to quiet talking podcast.
It's also colder than it has been, and rain in forecast this afternoon. Oh right, weather can cause headaches.
---
The podcast, btw, is "Why Is This Happening?" hosted by Chris Hayes. This episode is Chris interviewing Signal CEO Meredith Whittaker. I'm intrigued to learn Signal is a non-profit that specifically does not sell advertising, and so has no reason to track a lot of data that other apps track as a matter of course.
I'm kind of assuming I'm retired at this point, but still have my rut.
Example 1: Exercising at least 3 times a week, using treadmill, hand weights, and body weight. This is made more complicated by poor lung cooperation (like, staying in 'aerobic' mode more than N minutes doesn't work) but I persevere.
Example 2: Making use of my county library card to check out ebooks. The Libby app lets me download books to my phone or tablet. Often I can read in the Kindle app or Libby's; I generally prefer Kindle for copy/paste purposes. Agatha Christie published 66 novels under her own name, plus short stories, some other books as Mary Westmacott, and a few travel books. Kerry Greenwood is still writing Phryne Fisher books, plus a contemporary series.I've also dabbled with Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and other authors (I already owned all of Dorothy Sayers mysteries.) SFF reading includes Ann Leckie, Octavia Butler, John Scalzi, and Mary Robinette Kowal.
Example 3: Silly tablet apps like June's Journey and Lily's Garden.
Example 4: Checking on how much power our solar panels are producing and when will the electric utility recognize we have sent power to the grid.
Example 5: Household maintenance like laundry, cleaning, and other chores.
What's up with y'all?
Example 1: Exercising at least 3 times a week, using treadmill, hand weights, and body weight. This is made more complicated by poor lung cooperation (like, staying in 'aerobic' mode more than N minutes doesn't work) but I persevere.
Example 2: Making use of my county library card to check out ebooks. The Libby app lets me download books to my phone or tablet. Often I can read in the Kindle app or Libby's; I generally prefer Kindle for copy/paste purposes. Agatha Christie published 66 novels under her own name, plus short stories, some other books as Mary Westmacott, and a few travel books. Kerry Greenwood is still writing Phryne Fisher books, plus a contemporary series.I've also dabbled with Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and other authors (I already owned all of Dorothy Sayers mysteries.) SFF reading includes Ann Leckie, Octavia Butler, John Scalzi, and Mary Robinette Kowal.
Example 3: Silly tablet apps like June's Journey and Lily's Garden.
Example 4: Checking on how much power our solar panels are producing and when will the electric utility recognize we have sent power to the grid.
Example 5: Household maintenance like laundry, cleaning, and other chores.
What's up with y'all?
(no subject)
Oct. 22nd, 2023 01:38 pmCaller ID showed cent_mvs7. That's suspicious right there.
A computer voice said I'd had a "suspicious order" on my Amazon account. "Press one to delete order."
They came a woman’s voice. "I'm from Amazon customer service, how can I help you?"
I said that her company called me. (I was plenty suspicious at that point.)
"Oh yes, I see an order from your account for Apple airpods for $1200, is that correct?"
I say "no" while pulling up the Amazon app.
I'm not sure what she said next. I interrupted with
"I have looked through physical and digital orders and it's not there".
*click*
Well, that's clear. Didn't even get to asking my username or password. I'm torn between "how sad they were so easy to see through" and "HOW DARE".
A computer voice said I'd had a "suspicious order" on my Amazon account. "Press one to delete order."
They came a woman’s voice. "I'm from Amazon customer service, how can I help you?"
I said that her company called me. (I was plenty suspicious at that point.)
"Oh yes, I see an order from your account for Apple airpods for $1200, is that correct?"
I say "no" while pulling up the Amazon app.
I'm not sure what she said next. I interrupted with
"I have looked through physical and digital orders and it's not there".
*click*
Well, that's clear. Didn't even get to asking my username or password. I'm torn between "how sad they were so easy to see through" and "HOW DARE".
Another Parkfilk!
Aug. 18th, 2023 02:23 pmSame park, September 23rd, singing in a park in Redmond WA! Info at https://conflikt.org
(no subject)
Aug. 15th, 2023 07:24 pmI appear to have created a morning routine and dislike having it changed.
In today's case, I skipped coffee and breakfast until after getting blood drawn for my annual exam, then picked up Starbucks as a treat. (I took my usual meds, naturally.) But I still feel off.
Other parts of my routine includes initial med, wait for it to work, meds, shower, dressing, breakfast. MWF I do treadmill stuff, otherwise I tend to check the news.
In today's case, I skipped coffee and breakfast until after getting blood drawn for my annual exam, then picked up Starbucks as a treat. (I took my usual meds, naturally.) But I still feel off.
Other parts of my routine includes initial med, wait for it to work, meds, shower, dressing, breakfast. MWF I do treadmill stuff, otherwise I tend to check the news.
Raphael Warnock
Aug. 13th, 2023 02:20 pmChris Hayes: You know, the history of voting rights legislation is interesting in this country because you have to keep doing it. So, I don't think people recognize like --
Sen. Raphael Warnock: It's like brushing and flossing. You have --
Chris Hayes: I never thought of it that way. Yeah.
Sen. Raphael Warnock: You have to maintain the democracy.
Chris Hayes: You don’t just do it once.
Sen. Raphael Warnock: Yes.
from the "Why Is This Happening?" podcast from August 8. You can listen or view a rough transcript at https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc-podcast/why-is-this-happening/moral-moment-america-sen-raphael-warnock-podcast-transcript-n1307014
FILKERS near Seattle
Jul. 28th, 2023 03:52 pmConflikt is organizing a filk in a park, a Parkfilk, if you will, on August 5th from 1-5pm.
Much more info is on https://conflikt.org
Much more info is on https://conflikt.org