So very sad

 We got word today that my cousin Peach's youngest daughter, Karen, died  this morning. She was somewhat older than our kids.  Peach and her husband have been gone for several years.  I see Karen on Facebook from time to time and was shocked to learn of her death. Apparently she was sick at Thanksgiving and went to the ER, thinking she had COVID but they diagnosed acute leukemia and pneumonia, neither of which responded to medication.

Though her mother was my best friend in the family, I didn't see Karen all that much thru her life.  I know she had lots of problems.  I remember making her wedding cake and she and her first husband took one of our foster dogs and loved that dog to bits.

Later tonight I learned of the worsening of a friend who has Parkinsons and is going to have to be moved from where she lives to somewhere closer to a hospital or facility, as her symptoms are only going to get worse.  A lot of decisions for her family, who are scattered throughout the country.

It seems like this year has been filled with people dying and/or being sick--or both  It makes me even more grateful that I am recovering f rom my surgery.

Karen is on the right in this photo.  She looks so much like her mother.  She also has a sister and a brother.

Back in Black

 One of my biggest faults is procrastination...and sometimes procrastination about very serious things.  I don't have a clue why I have such a difficult time doing some things.

When the computer died, all of my banking identification died with it.  I have two bank accounts and I could not log into either of them because I forgot my log in and password.  And for both banks, in order to change anything or speak to a representative you have to have them send you a text with an identification number...only the telephone number on one account is our land line (which can't accept text messages) and on the other one for some reason, god knows why, my old work office number is the number.  Neither web site has any option for speaking with a representative.

When I was in the hospital, I missed a payment on one of my accounts.  It seems to me that the penalty I had to pay was more than the payment due (something like $9 due) so I wanted to be sure I got all of my accounts paid on time.  Every day I sit down at the computer with my two credit cards in front of me and find a zillion other things to do and then decide I need a nap and never get around to calling either bank.

But a payment is due in two days and so I HAD to call the banks today.  Again, I found things to do to distract me but finally I had to call the banks.  I was amazed at how easy it was to get a user name, a password, change my telephone number, and pay all 3 bills upcoming.

Arrgh

 There was a 20th anniversary special for Love, Actually on last night.  I enjoyed the special, but realized that I had never seen the movie at all.  I have seen bits and pieces of it (what movie lover has not seen the clip of Hugh Grant as Prime Minister dancing around 10 Downing St?)

I enjoyed the special so much I decided to watch the movie and was disappointed when it was not available for free at any of the services to which we belong.

But I really wanted to watch it and rental at Prime Video was only $4, so I rented it and settled back to wtch -- it was 11:30 and I felt that I would be so sleepy when it was over that I would have no trouble falling asleep.

About 15 minutes into the movie, it stalled with that damn circle going round and round and round while waiting for  the movie to start again.

And then it did that throughout the movie.  Every 5-15 minutes it would stop and I'd have to wait half a minute t o a minute and a half (I timed it) before the movie started.  In most of the stops it was only an irritating bother, but when it stopped an emotional scene in the middle (or stopped for 1+ minute in the middle of a nude scene of  two porn actors rehearsing...who wants to watch a bare nipple for a minute?)

I made it all the way to the end of the movie the final emotional scene interrupted) but I think Prime Video owes me a free movie rental!

Holiday Time

 It must be because of the holiday season.  Or maybe spending so much time by myself.  But I've been off and on morose this week, thinking of all the people who won't be here for Christmas, and mostly all the people we have lost over the years, kids, friends, parents, dogs.  I remember how the month of December was so busy and jolly when I was growing up, getting ready for a house full of guests and this year on Christmas it will be just the four of us, like Thanksgiving.  Can't even fill the house with the smell of Christmas cookies because of my diet.  Jeri and Phil will facetime from Oregon and Tom et al. will be here a couple of days later, but I miss waking up in the morning to the sounds of excited kids checking to see what Santa brought.  I suspect this is an affliction of people as they get older.

Last night was wonderful.  I slept nearly all night.  A couple of hours on the couch in the living room and then snuggled up with two blankets, a neck pillow, and my cell phone with podcasts to listen to.  I don't know how many Jon Stewart shows I slept through, but it was nearly 6:30 when I woke up and that was marvelous.

Bubba snuggled down with me until I  went into the living room.  His favorite people have become Marta and Walt (I love how he looks at Walt) but if he can't find a favorite lap, he chooses mine and last night he just melted into my arm and slept for a long time. He's such a sweet dog.  We were so lucky to find him!

The West Wing

I always loved The West Wing and have wanted Jed Bartlet for president since it aired.  But I haven't seen the show in a long time and it was nice to discover a mega-marathon on Hallmark over the weekend.  I obviously didn't watch it all (even with insomnia, I had to get SOME sleep), but I watched a whole bunch of it.  I think it was 1 a.m. when Gibbs (or whatever his character's name was) was killed and then I went to sleep for a few hours.

During the second day of the marathon, I realized that they were only showing 5 of the 7 seasons, so  I checked out HBO and they have all seasons, without commercials, so I'm still watching the show, but now on my own time instead of being stuck with what is being broadcast.

I got my Christmas letter written, but without my Funny the World software, I couldn't do it all pretty the way I do every year, but Jeri formatted it for me in pdf.  I hope I can do it myself next year, but it was nice having the family be part of designing it. I won't be sending it out to as many people as usual, but will send to the "regulars."

I'm going to have to learn how to design in pdf.  I've never used it and I know it's not that difficult.

Sunday Stealing

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves! 

Stolen from Swap Bot 

What mythical creature would improve the world most if it existed? 

It would be fun to see real unicorns. 

 What inanimate object do you wish you could eliminate from existence? 

Are robo calls “inanimate objects” ? 

 What is the weirdest thing you have seen in someone else’s home? My friend has a Star Wars bathroom, with everything (including the toilet seat) having a Star Wars theme, photo, etc. The shelves are filled with Star Wars trivia. Towels have Star Wars design. And R2D2 is the clothes hamper. There is also a larger than life size figure of Han Solo. 

 What would be the absolute worst name you could give your child?

Murgatroid 

 What would be the worst thing for the government to make illegal? 

Abortion, same gender marriage 

 What are some of the nicknames you have for customers or coworkers? 
I can't remember them now.  When I worked for a typing service some 40 years ago, we had nicknames for customers.

 If peanut butter wasn’t called peanut butter, what would it be called? 

Peanut flavored frosting for jam sandwiches.

What movie would be greatly improved if it was made into a musical? 
Oh...how about Twelve Angry Men or Saving Private Ryan

 What would be the worst “buy one get one free” sale of all time? 

 What is the funniest name you have actually heard used in the real world? 

I hope Char will remember the name of the kid our kids went to nursery school with who had a familiar name

What sport would be the funniest to add a mandatory amount of alcohol to? 

I can think of any sport where alcohol would be funny.

 What would be the coolest animal to scale up to the size of a horse?

I've been watching the commercials where the dogs are big enough to be ridden.  Cute commercial.  I'd like to ride a German Shepherd.

What set of items could you buy that would make the cashier the most uncomfortable?

Depends on what store.  A large amount of military weapons wouldn't bother a cashier in a gun store, but probably would in a CVS!

What is something that you just recently realized that you are embarrassed you didn’t realize earlier? 

Well, not recently but I grew up 2 blocks from Greenwich St in San Francisco and I was an adult before I  realized that it was not pronounced GREEN-witch

 What are some fun and interesting alternatives to war that countries could settle their differences with? 

How about cooking contests? Ukraine vs. Russia making a cake with Duff Goldman the judge.  Japan vs. Korea in Chopped, etc.

 

 

 



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Saturday 9

 FTW - 11/26/22 - Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Two Black Cadillacs (2011)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This week's song is about two women who share a very dark secret. Are you good at keeping secrets?
Pretty good.

2) Carrie Underwood's favorite author is Stephen King. In fact, she credits King's Christine as an inspiration for this song. Have you read much Stephen King, or seen movies based on his books?
I’m not a huge King fan, though I’ve read a couple of books and seen a movie or two.

3) Carrie first came to America's attention when she won on American Idol. Prior to competing on that show, she'd never been on an airplane. Crazy Sam takes at least one round-trip flight every year and pays using the miles she accumulated from credit card purchases throughout the year. Do you try to earn miles, points, or cash back when you make purchases?
I don’t really think about it. I don’t buy that much.

4) Black is this week's signature color because November 25 was Black Friday, when retailers historically have slashed their prices and the holiday shopping season begins. Have you begun your gift shopping?
I shop for gifts all year long.  I have most of my gifts either stored away or having been ordered and waiting for delivery.

5) Black Friday began as a local event initiated by store owners in Philadelphia back in the early 1960s. When you think of Philadelphia, what comes to mind?
I remember how I felt seeing the liberty bell in person.

6) Black Friday always comes after Thanksgiving, a day of feasting. What was the best dish at your holiday table this year? 
The pumpkin pie, of course.

7) Thanksgiving is also a big day for watching football. Did you watch any games?
No.

8) What are you thankful for this year?
All that everybody has done to help me recover from my surgery!

9) Random question: You're in a public restroom and have a choice between paper towels and a hot air hand dryer. Which do you choose?
It depends on the bathroom. Some have great hand dryers and rotten paper towels, some of wonderful paper towels and ineffective air dryers.

Thanksgiving

 It was a quiet thanksgiving but a nice day.  

Marta's stepsister came over and helped us all make apple turkeys for table decoration.

Ned made dinner, I made the pie and stuffing and Marta made ambrosia, all of which were delicious, except the stuffing which was too dry..

And we finally did something I've been wanting to do since Ned and Marta moved in -- we took a family picture.  I am SO happy with how it turned out.

Pumpkin pies

 Pumpkin pies are  very big in this family, especially the tales of Char and I having pumpkin pie fights and our kids demanding to have their own fight, the year that we baked 9 little pumpkin pies and let the kids throw them at each other.

This year we are having a quiet Thanksgiving, with just the four of us having dinner.  Ned is cooking the dinner, but asked if I'd make a pumpkin pie.  I've been doing some stuff in the kitchen this past week and though my legs are still very weak, I have been able to make my own breakfasts for the past few days and I thought I could handle pie.

I have been having trouble with pie crust for years and I haven't figured out why.  I love pie crust and have made great crusts.  In fact, Jeri uses my recipe herself and is so pleased with it.  But several years ago, I just couldn't do it right.  I can make it, but I can't roll it out, no matter what tricks I try.  I can  get a pie out of the dough I prepare, but I know it's not right and it frustrates me.

For some reason today I made the best crust I have made in many years and I am so pleased.  My legs ached when I finished, but it's all in the refrigerator now.  Marta is going to make ambrosia and I will make stuffing for the turkey and then we will sit and have dinner, like we do every other night.  But I am so thankful to have Ned and Marta living here.

And I am so grateful that my pie turned out OK!

8210

Like a Good Girl

"Hon, like a good girl would you please...."  It's a phrase I always think of when holidays roll around.

It's a phrase I hope I never used with my kids as they were growing up.

We had every holiday with my father's parents, who lived in San Francisco but had no car and since neither of them had any social interaction with their families we were their only family, which is strange because she had a brother and he had 3 or 4 brothers, but I never knew any of those extended relatives, except for one brother, who was my godfather, and never heard of them getting together with them.

So everywhere we went, and especially every holiday, we spent with my grandparents, mostly with my mother hosting.  Occasionally we had others at our dinner.  My aunt lived next door to us in a flat in San Francisco and for a couple of years my grandmother lived with her too and it was nice when they joined us on holidays.  But we could count on it being my father's parents and Uncle Fred, who always brought a 2 lb box of See's chocolates for us to pass around the table after dinner was over.

My father would drive to get my grandparents and they would arrive at our flat.  My grandfather greeted my sister and me by giving us each a quarter until one year when he decided that we only liked him for the money and he never gave us a quarter again.  

My grandmother would settle herself into the couch in the living room and while my mother worked in the kitchen, what passed for visiting would take place.  Whenever she wanted anything --- water, an hors d'oeuvre, or anything else, she would always say "Hon, would you please get me...."  She never got up to get anything herself,  but always asked to "hon, would you please..."  Over the course of the cocktail part of the evening eventually I would wander out to be with my mother and then pretty soon Karen would join us and then my father, since none of us could stand being with my grandmother.  My mother would have to shoo us back into the living room to be polite.

Holidays have certainly been different with our kids.  Until they started pairing up with partners, things were mostly at our house, but you never knew how many were going to be here (the most was 24).  I loved our family Thanksgiving after Walt's mother bought a condo at Lake Tahoe.  We all went up there and it was a pot luck.  She cooked the turkey and everyone else brought something to share.  My mother never came because she had remarried and so all holidays were spent with his family.  But we had such a good time.

There were games to be played, endless solitaire contests and then after dinner we always played charades, my favorite part of the whole weekend.  Watching the kids try to make things difficult for Walt's mother (and her being willing to try to act things out) was always such fun.

This year will be quite different, with only the four of us here for dinner.

8209

FTW 11/22/22 - Reading`

 Well, it's a good thing my cell phone died yesterday.  And there was nothing on TV I wanted to watch. So yesterday was a reading day.  I'm trying to get to my goal of 50 books in 2022 and after yesterday, I am at 45.  I finished one book and read two others.  I'm trying to read short books to make it to 50.

The first book I finished was "Finding Chika" by Mitch Albom (who wrote "Tuesdays with Morrie").  This is the story of the work he and his wife have been doing in an orphanage in Haiti after one of the big earthquakes, and the little girl they sort of adopted, who was dying of a rare form of cancer.  She became so special to everyone, and actually lived out a year or more longer than her diagnosis.  A very good story.

I wasn't sure what I was going to read next because all the books I wanted to read were on my Kindle, but I saw up on a shelf a hardback copy of "Animal Farm," a book I'd never read and was embarrassed because it seems everyone knows  that book, so I started reading it and actually finished it.  The book was written in 1945 and someone at the time told George Orwell it was prophetic and it certainly is.  It could be written about politics today, especially as we watch the pigs, who are in charge of all the animals, gradually take over power and end up running the animal farm pretty much the way the humans did.

When I finished that book, I read "Foster" by Claire Keegan, which someone on a discussion raved about, saying it was the best book she ever read.  I didn't find that.  It felt like a long chapter  taken out of a longer book and I wanted to know what came before...and definitely what came after.  I only gave it 3 stars on GoodReads.  Maybe I didn't read it right--it's won awards.

I am finding that my strength is coming back.  I can walk for a few steps without the walker, which is encouraging.  And I've started making my own breakfasts.  I told Ned he's been doing so much for me and I usually like to eat earlier than he likes to fix my breakfast, so I've now made 2 breakfasts.  In truth, it exhausts me and my legs ache when I finish, but as I continue, I'm sure this will be good exercise for me.

#8208

FTW - 11/21/22

I have no phone! My cord has stopped recharging the phone I thought I had a new cord in my office, but can't find it, so I've ordered 2 new cords, but they won't be delivered until tomorrow. I can live without the phone and its apps, but I've been reading a lot and all of my books are on Kindle, which is on the phone. Guess I'll be watching TV today.

FTW - Sunday Stealing - 11/20/22

 Sunday Stealing

-What’s your favourite childhood memory?
I guess holidays. I loved family dinners.

-Do you sing in the shower?
Never

-What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
Other  than my kids, I can't think of "A" best gift.

-Do you prefer being indoors or outdoors?
Definitely indoors

-Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone?
My daughter called last night.

-What do you keep in your bag or handbag?
Minimal stuff--wallet, tissues,

-Can you knit?
I did some 50 years ago, but haven't knit anything since.

-How many hours do you sleep each night?
3-5

-Who is your role model?
I don't know that I have one.  Maybe Jane Goodall.

-Who was your first ever pen pal?
A girl in England when I was in grammar school in the 1950s.  I don't remember her name now

-What has been your favourite job so far?
Private secretary for a physics professor.

-What is your favourite go-to recipe for mid-week meals?
I don't cook any more,  but it used to be Joe Special (Hamburger, spinach, eggs, cheese)

-How often do you eat in a restaurant?
Maybe 4 times a year?

-Are you close to your family?
Very close.  I'm proud of that.

-Which phone app could you not live without?
I could live without any of them, but I would hate to lose Facebook.

-If you could afford to volunteer full time for a charity, which would it be?
If I were much younger, it would be some sort of animal charity, like the zoo or a pet sanctuary...or the elephant sanctuary in Tennessee.

-Do you have any siblings?
I had a sister who was murdered in 1972

-Who is your favourite YouTuber?
Randy Rainbow

-Have you ever been a bridesmaid or a groomsman?
Yes, a few times.

Saturday 9, 11/18

FTW: 11/18/22 - Saturday 9

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows (1965)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1. In this song, Lesley Gore sings that sunshine is wonderful. It's hard to argue with that. Is it sunny where you are today?
Sunny, but chilly (in the 40s in the morning)

2. Tootsie Roll is the world's #1 manufacturer of lollipops, and cherry is their most popular flavor. Do you have a sweet tooth? If yes, what's your favorite sweet treat?
I have a very sweet tooth, with chocolate anything being my favorite.

3. According to myth, you'll find a leprechaun's pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. If you suddenly, unexpectedly came into $100,000, what is the first thing you would buy?
New curtains for our living room -- the ones we have are 50 years old.

4. She feels brighter than a lucky penny. Abraham Lincoln was the first person to appear on a U.S. coin, when the 1909 penny was struck in honor of his 100th birthday. Thomas Jefferson is on the nickel, George Washington is on the quarter, and John F. Kennedy is on the half dollar. Without looking, do you know which President is on the dime?
I haven't checked this, but I believe it's Eisenhower.  I think I remember being in grammar school when there was a big deal about Eisenhower being chosen to be on the new dime

5. Lesley Gore was very popular in the 1960s, with 11 Top Ten hits. Most people don't know that, while she was making records, she was also attending Sarah Lawrence College and graduated with her BA in 1968. What's something most Saturday 9ers would be surprised to know about you?
I worked for five years as a cake decorator 

6. She performed "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" in the movie Ski Party. Do you plan to ski this season?
I have never skied.  If I did now, I'd probably kill myself.

7. This song was written by Marvin Hamlisch, who would go on to win three Oscars, four Grammys, three Emmys, a Tony, and a Pulitzer Prize. That's quite an impressive list! But we believe our Sat 9-ers are impressive, too. So give yourself an award this morning. (For example, Crazy Sam is now Meme Mistress of the Year.)
Recovering Bev made her own breakfast this morning.

8. In 1965, when this song was on the charts, I Dream of Jeannie premiered. This supernatural sitcom, about an astronaut who finds a genie on a beach, competed for viewers with Bewitched, which was about an advertising executive who marries a witch. Do you prefer Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie?
I enjoyed them both, but I preferred Bewitched.

9. Random question -- Which would you rather have, tacos or pizza?
Oh definitely taco!

Pickled

FTW 22/28/22 - Pickleball is a game invented in 1965 which has become wildly popular in senior citizen residences (among other places). According to Variety, more than 4.8million people play the sport in the US. Last night Stephen Colbert hosted "the first pickleball tournament" as a celebrity fund raiser. The two-hour show pitted 8 teams to play against each other to the championship trophy (which was actually a soccer trophy because Colbert explained they could not find a pickleball trophy). The winners were singer Dierks Bentley and TV personality Phil Keoghan, the host of Amazing Race. 

I loved the show. What a great show for non-athletes. The players are so-so, there are lots of strange errors, the ball does not go so fast over the net that you can't see it, and the players move about the way your neighbors would if they were playing. It was just great fun. Definitely my kind of athletic competition!

Ants

 FTW - 11/17/22 

We have been attacked by ants.  Walt was wondering where they all were last night when he was loading the dishwasher because there were none on the counter--and then he found them inside the dishwasher.

We haven't had ants like this since the 1980s.  The last time I remember a big attack of ants was when we were hosting students from Chile and their leader, a physician, was living with us.  I remember he said we could make an ant sandwich by putting mayo on a piece of bread and turn it upside down on the counter.

I have to admit I had fun with those ants. I studied them a lot and saw a lot of their behavior.  I remember that if you killed one, the others would come and haul it away.  I got rid of a bunch of them once by smashing seveeral of them at night and when I got up in the morning, they were all gone.  I also remember one ant who was trying to help another ant who had slipped over the edge of the kitchen counter.  The ant on the counter was trying to pull it back up again.  I decided that if he managed to get him up, I'd let them live; if he couldn't I'd kill them.  Eventually, the two of them fell onto the floor and I stepped on therm.

But we haven't had ants like that since the 1980s.  This isn't as bad as that attack, but very frustrating finding them on the kitchen counters and in the bathroom.

At least this time Ned is taking care of the kitchen, so it's his problem to clean up.  And we don't have enough of them to make ant sandwiches these days.

My movie

 FTW 11/26/22 - My Movie

I had the weirdest dream last night.  I don't usually dream much and if I do it's only bits and pieces.  But this was a full movie, with plot, humor, terror, etc..  From beginning to end, with lots of scenes in the middle.  I was part of a group going to a small town to see about making a movie about the town.  What was unusual about the town was that everybody in the town was a stamp collector.  We had many conversations with residents of the town, none of whom wanted the movie made because they didn't want to bring lots of outsiders into the  town.

Then "something" happened.  I never found out if it happened regularly or only every 20 years or so, or if it rarely happened but something came down on the town making everybody, humans and animals, angry with each other and they started fighting and killing each other.  The animals (some of whom were African animals).  There were lots of scenes of battles and I found myself in a book store with a guy who wanted to kill me.  But I realized that he had the desire to be a movie star, so I started talking to him about how I could help him get into Hollywood.  He forgot he was supposed to kill me until suddenly he remembered.  I ran out of the store and it started raining...turns out that rain kills the effect and everybody went back to being nice again and the animals returned to the hills.

After that, the movie people talked with the residents of the town who decided that they would, after all, let them make a movie about the town.

It's a silly plot, but it's a plot that takes you through a whole movie and was amazed when I woke up.\

Chopped

 I'm not a big fan of Chopped but occasionally I do turn it on to see what is going on.  I decided they have run out of regular foods and are now into the very weird.  For the first round they had a pig head and snails amd 2 other things.  In the second found they had stuffed lamb intestines, a tuna heart, and garlic ice cream.  I'm sorry I didn't stick around to see how they used the ice cream!

When the nurse was here a couple of weeks ago she pointed out that my foot was somewhat swollen and suggested we get elastic stockings, but I didn't feel I could wear them because I'm somewhat claustrophobic.  Instead she took an elastic band and wound it wound my upper leg.  In the morning, my foot was VERY swollen, so we took it off.  Then she suggested a roll of elastic tubing.  It's great.  You cut off what you need.  The roll arrived today and Ned cut off a piece for me and it feels great...and helps keep my foot warm.  We'll see how things are tomorrow, when the nurse comes again. I hope it works.

Friendships

 FTW 11/14/22 - Friendships

I listened to an Ali Wentworth podcast last night.  She was interviewing someone whose specialty was in how to end friendships without hurting the friend whose friendship you were ending.  Her feeling was that you should end friendships after about 7 years to make way for new friendships.

Not only do I not have groups of friends that I should end friendships with every 7 years, I don't have groups of friends at all.  All of the friends I have made in Davis have either died or moved away or just stopped contacting me.  So I don't need to know how to end friendships.  And since I almost never leave the house, i.e., belong to no groups, it is unlikely that I will make new friends at my age.

Over the years, I have had friendships which have ended.  The first that I remember was a friend from St. Brigid's grammar school

                                St/ Brigid Church. VamNess and Broadway, San Francisco.

My best friend from grammar school and I did not go to the same high schools, because we lived on separate ends of San Francisco and went to high schools closer to our homes.  I don't think I saw her through high school, but in our senior year, she arranged for us to have lunch.  I was thrilled.  It had been so long since I'd seen her and I was looking forward to getting caught up.  Lunch was fine and then I never saw or heard from her for about 30 years.

There have been other friendships which have ended, mostly painfully (they all needed to listen to this lady Ali was interviewing!)

 I guess one of the most painful was my best friend through our years working together in Davis.  We were best friends.  I helped her end her marriage and take up with a man whom she met at work.  They moved across the country and when she was pregnant and getting ready to have a baby, she arranged for me to move to her house and work her job.  We figured it would be perfect because she would be there to answer all the questions I had.

The move didn't work out the way either of us thought it would and years later, she came to Davis and we had a lovely dinner, at which she explained that our previous friendship really WAS a good friendship...and then I never heard from her again.  I still don't know why she ended our friendship.

I guess it's more comfortable now with no close friends and probably no upcoming good friendships.  At least it doesn't hurt now.

Podcasts

 FTW - 11/13/22 - Podcasts

One of the things I got into at the hospital and when I got home, when I didn't feel like either reading or watching TV is getting more serious about podcasts.  I've had podcasts for a long time and I've listened from time to time, but I got more serious about podcasts this past month.  If you're looking for a podcast to help you fall asleep, I recommend Ali Wentworth ("Go Ask Ali).  She has dozens of inerviews with people, most of whom you have never heard of before.  The interviews are interesting, but you don't mind if you fall asleep listening and when one finishes, it automatically goes to the next one, so you could actually have her podcasts on all night to keep you sleeping.

Rachel Maddow has interesting podcasts, some are just the recording of her news show, but she lately did a show called "Ultra" which traces the history of the Nazis and it's fascinating.

Jon Stewart has a weekly show.  He started it a couple of years ago and after the first recording, there was nothing more from him for a long time, so I stopped checking him out, but I checked recently and discovered that he has been more faithful recording every week...and it's like The Daily Show back again.

Anderson Cooper has 3 podcasts, two of which revolve around news but he recently set up an 8 podcast series where he discusses death and grief with people who have lost loved ones ("All There Is").  For anyone who has suffered grief, this is an absolute must.  When you lose a loved one, nobody wants to discuss it with you for fear of making you sad -- like not talking about the person you loved will make you forget that he/she is gone.  I remember being in the supermarket and starting down one aisle of food and seeing a friend at the other end, who spied me and turned her cart around and went to a different aisle.  I also remember going to Ireland and seeing Cousin Nora, who apologized and said she promised not to bring it up again, but she just had to tell us how sorry she was that David died...and then she never mentioned him again during our two weeks with her.

What people don't realize is that talking about the person you've lost is such a help.  It brings them back again and it's wonderful to share memories.

The best of the 8 shows, for me, was with Stephen Colbert.  Cooper lost his father at 10 and his older brother committed suicide in his early 20s,  Colbert's father and two brothers were killed in an auto accident when Colbert was 10.  The discussion between the two men is emotional (both cried)  and absolutely wonderful.  So incredibly open, both of them.  He also talked with a woman who had lost her husband and I can't remember the other discussions, but the final episode was recording of people who had called in talking about how the series made them feel.

Anyone who has suffered grief or lost a loved on should definitely check out this podcast. 

Google

  FTW 11/12/22 - Google

Remember the days before Google?  First there was no easy way to find another web site about a certain subject, and then there were several, each exploring one particular type of web site.  Sometimes you had to search all three (or more) browsers to find what you were looking for.

And then Google came along.  You could search everything from ants to zebras, from the simplest topic to the most complex and what a great invention that was.  You wanted to look for a specific subject, typed in the name and it brought up a few pages you could try.

Now there are hundreds of pages about hundreds of subjects and when you type in a subject, it brings up a long list of pages.  Pick a page that seems to be what you want and click on it and it brings up another long list of pages.  And on...and on..and on.  You might never find the page you are looking for and many of the lists double back to pages you've already seen.

When the nurse was here last week and asked what my blood sugar reading was, I told her it had been 62.  For someone who has had sugars in the 200s I was pleased that the new readings are so low....but she told me this was low blood sugar and gave us some suggestions for how to raise it.  I had a vague feeling that when I was first diagnosed with diabetes 2 the doctor said my blood sugar should be between two different numbers.  I had the idea that it was between 90 and 120 but I can't get into my file cabinet where all those pages are stored, so I couldn't check what she had written to me.

I tried to get the answer through Google and, I kid you not, I spent half an hour going from page to page just trying to find a site that would give me the ideal numbers and never found it. I am assuming it is between 90 and 120 but the only thing Google will give me is the symptoms of low blood sugar, but it won't say what "low" blood sugar is,

But we changed some of my diet yesterday and the number is higher today -- close to 90, but not quite there.  Better than 62 anyway.

I kind of almost wish I had three different browsers to check again...it might make it easier  to actually find what I'm looking for.

Veterans Day

 FTW 11/11/22 - Veterans' Day

I always feel somewhat guilty when military honors days come around.  People are always talking about going to the cemetery to salute their loved ones...but I have no close relatives who were in the military.  Two uncles were, and were in concentration camps, but they were uncles I never knew at all and I don't have a clue where they are buried.

My father dearly wanted to be in the Navy.  In 1934, when he was 19-20, there was a waterfront strike in San Francisco.  All of the ships in the bay were stranded and none of the employees were allowed to get off.  My father was working on one of the ships.

My grandmother decided that her little boy shouldn't be part of the strike and went to see union organizer, Harry Bridges, to insist that her son be let go.  And he was.  He was furious with her for spoiling the adventure he was having.

A couple of years later, he enlisted in the Navy but when he took his physical, they discovered he was asthmatic and he was listed as 4F, so he never got a chance to go into the Navy.

He never  got a chance to ride on a Navy ship and though his career consisted of some 30+ years working on the trains, working the mail from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back again, he never even stepped on an airplane.  It always seemed so sad that he died without ever having flown anywhere.

Kaiser Nurse

 FTW - 11/10/22 -  Kaiser Nurse

Kaiser is really great. After surgery then schedule 6 weeks of nurse visits and 6 weeks of physical therapy visits.  We've had Sandy for five weeks so far.  She takes all of my vitals and double checks with Ned about what my body is doing.  Basically she says I'm doing well, though I shouldn't be having diarrhea any more (though it has diminished a lot) and my blood sugar is too low.  Nobody has EVER told me my blood sugar is too low!  the remedy is to ... eat more.  She suggested crackers with peanut butter the last thing at night and the numbers went up 20 points this morning.

The only problem I had to talk with her about was my sleeping.  I keep telling people sleeping has been a problem for me for years.  My body can't seem to sleep more than 2 or 3 hours at a time, then wake for a n hour or so and then go back to sleep for another 2 hours.  But this week sleeping has been terrible.  I literally have not slept at all for 3 days.  I don't want to be a pill taker, but I asked her if there were some mild over the counter pill I could take.  She recommended the pill I was given once in the hospital so I took one last night.  Like my normal sleep, I didn't sleep longer than 3 hours at a time, but I could feel that I slept more soundly and had better dreams.  I will  try taking it for a few days and see if I can get my sleeping better arranged...or at least sleep SOMETHING every night.

Of course the day I asked for it, I had no sleep the night before and literally slept all day the next day, so when I took the pill, I have no idea how much it helped.

My daily schedule:  Wake up around 3 a.m. and turn on Morning Joe, which either keeps me awake or puts me to sleep (It kept me awake more when Trump was in office).  Wake or nap until The Today Show comes on.  Frequently nap through the first hour.  Ned feeds me breakfast and then I nap for a couple of hours. Wake up and come into my office, where I work for an hour or so, until time for lunch.  Ned  feeds me lunch and I take another short nap.  Watch TV until time for dinner.  After dinner Walt and I watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.  I usually watch TV the rest of the evening; Walt goes upstairs until time for him to go to sleep, then he comes downstairs and turns off all the lights.  I watch TV until Colbert,  then do the day's Wordle, then go to sleep until 3 a.m.

FTW 11/9/22

 FTW 11/9/22

I've discovered how to deal with an election day.  We have, like everyone has, been so inundated with media for weeks/months.  There are some particular issues that seem to run videos every half hour or so.  Two I voted no on just because I was so sick of their constant ads.  I would have voted no anyway, but I gleefully checked "no" when time to vote.

Plus, everybody had projections for who is going to win and why and what  that will mean for the history of the country.  And, of course, our former president is on the tv all the time for his favorite candidates (Dr. OZ???)

While they could not do any political projections before the polls closed across the country on voting day, by 4 p.m. Pacific time, the news groups were guessing what was happening, and predicting who was going to win.

I was so sick of it that I kept the TV off all day except for watching some Netflix stuff.  I went to sleep -- or as much as I "go to sleep" these days -- and then woke up at 3 and turned on Morning Joe and the first thing I heard was how wonderful it was that all those projections for weeks had been wrong.  As Joe Scarborough put it, Biden "kicked Trump's ass."

So I got the news ... the right news ... and I didn't have to go through a day of  worrying about what was going to happen to the country in the coming months.  Now if only we can get the five remaining states to declare their winners.

FTW 11/8/22

 FUNNY THE WORLD - 11/8/22

What a wonderful day!  It's raining!  And it's predicted to rain again tomorrow.  After so many weeks/months of no rain, any rain at all is terrific.

So...returning from the hospital was such a relief.  They make it as comfortable as possible, but what with the nurse having to do "something" to you ever 15 minutes and a bed that is not at all comfortable, 9 days in the hospital is a very. long. time.  The back of the bed reclines, but only a bit, not like my recliner which can go to many different positions.  So coming in the front door and seeing the recliner was such a wonderful sight.  I felt better instantly.

Plus, our new dog, Bubba, is a lap dog.  He hates to go outside and will stand in the driveway if you try to take him for a walk.  All he wants is to be in someone's lap, so he and I spent a lot of time together in the first several days.

Ned has taken over caring for me.  I don't know how anybody recovers from something like this without Ned around.  First of all, he has been responsible for meeting with all of the medical people.  He takes intricate notes and asks questions I would not think to ask -- and since I can't remember anything myself, having his notes to refer to is wonderful.

He has also taken over taking care of me physically.  The first two weeks of recovery included lots and lots of diarrhea which came on so fast, there was no time to get to the bathroom.  He has spent a lot of time cleaning me, my clothes, and the floor.

And he does all the cooking.  After the first few days we decided that feeding me 5 small meals rather than 3 regular meals worked better and he has come up with some wonderfully inventive meals.

With Jeri in Boston and Tom helping his wife take care of her father like Ned is taking care of me,  I am so fortunate  that Ned is available and I am so grateful to him for all the work that he is doing.

Today is election day and I'm keeping the TV off all day.  I am so terribly afraid of what the results are going to be.

FUNNY THE WORLD

 FUNNY THE WORLD

11/7/22

Well, I'm getting tired of not writing Funny the World so I've decided to start it here on Blogger.  My first problem was that my computer just stopped working and I needed to get a new one.  Then, while we were waiting for help getting a new computer, I developed pancreatitis and had to be hospitalized for 9 days while I had my gallbladder removed.  I couldn't get out of my recliner for a couple of weeks during such time.  Ned got the computer set up and it was awhile before I could use it.  Now I don't have a clue how it works...and hate it.  But I haven't had a chance for Ned to go through and explain things to me.  So I am well, and I have a computer but I don't know when I'll be able to find a program that will allow me to program FTW, so in the meantime I'll just write here on Blogger.

For those who don't know the story of my hospitalization, this is it:

It was a Saturday. Ned and I were going somewhere and I mentioned that my stomach hurt. He insisted that we go to kaiser ER and have it checked out. A couple of hours later, we were seeing the doctor who said I had pancreatitis. He also said there were small stones in my gallbladder and he wanted to get an MRI to see if I should have my gallbladder removed. I wouldn’t be able to get the MRI until the next day so I would have to spend the night. The next day, they had no room for me for the MRI. It turned out it took four days to get the MRI (several other patients had the same problem). The problem is that you can’t have anything but water before an MRI so it was five days before I could have anything but water.

When they finally got me in for the MRI, it took them an hour to get a needle in my arm. A doctor had to do it and my arm is still covered with scars from where they tried. I used to be a regular blood donor but no more. I am now classified as a "hard stick." The nurse who comes out to see me has tried to get blood and gave up.

The gallbladder surgery went well and I've forgotten all the things that went on in the days remaining (i thought I would remember everything). I was in the hospital a total of 9 days. They had to do "something' to me every 15 minutes 24/7 Blood tests, blood pressure, blood sugar, temperature, etc. I couldn't leave until I'd had a bowel movement and when it finally came, it took 3 painful hours and was so plentiful it filled a chair. They'd never seen such a large bm. I said that the nurses deserved canonization.

I will never feel upset when nurses strike for better pay. My word those nurses work so hard. I was amazed watching them swoop in, do a bunch of things to me and then swoop out again. Now I have a nurse who comes once a week to check on my progress. She'll come for two more weeks.

The worst part of being in the hospital for so long was being unable to get comfortable. The bed could slant, but not enough and there were alarms under everything so if you tried to move into a more comfortable position the alarm rang throughout the floor.

But I'm finally home and if this computer doesn't drive me crazy, I will try to add an entry every day again.  The problem is that during my hospitalization so many things happened that I felt would make a lot of interesting entries...and by the time I got home, I've forgotten most of them.  If I am ever hospitalized again, I will make video  notes!

Ned has been absolutely wonderful taking care of me. He feeds me 5 times a day (small meals) and cleans me up whenever I poop (many times a day). I never realized my son would be doing this for me. I don't know how anybody recovers from a surgery without someone like Ned to take care of them. I don't know how much longer it will be before I am back to normal, but things are getting a little better every day.