This Tree Is Now Naked

Okay, so maybe that's a little bit of hyperbole ... there are a few leaves left on the tree. But high winds and a bit of rain have decimated the foliage. 

It's a lovely Saturday afternoon with sunny skies and 57 degrees F. (Why do we say "skies"? There is only one sky.)

I have spent waaaay too long at this bloomin' computer trying out my new cable ($20 from Verizon) to download pictures directly from my phone picture gallery. Apparently, my laptop (which I use as a desktop) is going through a "I'm old, so leave me alone" stage.

I did. Went downstairs and loaded a laundry after fighting with the packaging on Tide pods.  Normally, I use liquid detergent but when I got back from California last April, the detergent was like sludge due to the cold in the basement. I thought I would avoid that ... and I tried the pods. The packaging was almost Tina-proof but I did figure out how to open the plastic container, making me wonder if it is indeed child-proof. I was surprised that the pods are squishy.

Before I came upstairs, I gathered some household items to give to the church White Elephant Sale. It's big stuff -- like the extra large serving plastic bowls that will either hold macaroni salad for 15 people or a six pack on ice. I'm probably not going to do that type of entertaining any more.  

Anyway, I need another break (and this program keeps telling me there's an error so I will give the computer a break) and I need to clean that glass baker's rack. The layers of dust remind me of a geologic site with stratifications ...

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Second load of laundry is in; baker's rack is sparkling and dust free. You know how nothing is easy? I was setting up the sewing machine in the living room next to the Ott light. (It's a bright light that shows true colors without a yellow tinge.) Mindful of Emily's exhortations to never use extension cords, I plugged in the new energy saving multiple outlet unit (from MassSave) and grabbed the extension cord to roll it up. I did not realize that cord was wrapped around the metal ladder-style quilt rack which promptly closed but did not fall because my foot stopped it. It did, however, dump the half dozen quilts and UFOs (UnFinished Objects).  Sigh.

Yes, I did make keto biscuits this morning. Over easy fried eggs were good on them, but my next project is to learn how to make a perfect poached egg. My goal is to make myself eggs benedict, which I love.

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Speaking of maddening  technology, I was at a friend's house the other night watching TV with her. Suddenly, we heard, "Yes, o.k." in a woman's voice. My friend thought it was my phone and I knew it wasn't. We heard one more snippet. It turns out, it was her ipad and Lexi was responding to ... ? My friend said, 'That's the only time that has happened.' I observed that she could be in bed asleep and her ipad was having a whole conversation out in the dining room. She wouldn't know it.

Also, I think my Chromebook (the one that won't let me do anything with my pictures except look at them) is listening to me. I was telling Mom and a friend (two different occasions) about how I like "Below Deck" on the Bravo TV channel. The next day I got an email inviting me to a yacht sale in Florida. Out of curiosity, I looked at the rentals for a yacht that holds 8 passengers, 6 crew. It's quite a bargain since the rental starts at only $145,000/week. 

The next day, I got an email offering to help me sell my "current" yacht. I laughed out loud since I had just had a debate with myself on whether I should go to Aldi's after Stop and Shop because Aldi's eggs are 50 cents cheaper. (I didn't -- I splurged.)

One last technology rant. When I turned down an aisle in Stop and Shop, I saw an older man do a quick side step to get out of the way of the robot who seemed to be advancing on him. The robot stopped abruptly but the guy managed to get out of the way. "And how did you get this injury?" "I was run over by the store robot in Aisle 3."

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Halloween 2013

Left to right: Lisa, Tina, Sue 

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It's Sunday now and it's raining like a summnabitch. I'm hoping it goes above the current 46 F. but we are predicted to get as much as one inch of rain. 

Was hoping to eat breakfast with CBS Sunday Morning but came back to the orange one giving a press conference about the death of an isis leader. (Yes, the lack of a cap is due to my disrespect for the organization.) I wonder if anyone has ever counted how many times he says "great" and "very."

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Remember in the old days when we all had wire hangers from the dry cleaners? We know those were multiplying overnight in the closet. I used to take out bags of them and there would be more the next day. I think they were having hanger parties. 

A few years ago, I decided to go with plastic hangers, one package at a time. With them, there's no danger of rust on a hand washed blouse. Anyway ... these guys disappear. I have donated two or three bags of clothing and I don't have enough hangers! I haven't bought anything since last winter. Do you suppose they are snow birds too and I'll find them in Palm Springs?

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I think people finally know that Palm Springs is in California and not Florida. Why do they say, 'When are you going down there?'? To me, "down there" is Florida and "out there" is California. Am I wrong?

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My breakfast is over and the food's all cooked and he's still rambling about nothing. Now what do I do? No Sunday Morning to enlighten and delight me.

Yes, I cooked for the week: turkey meat loaf and four different seasonings on chicken thighs. Oh, yes, and a cute squash.

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WOW! WOW! Two UMass graduate students have discovered a whole NEW galaxy! They said it was unseen prior to this because the light from them took 12 billion years to get here (how can they measure that???) and there has been a veil of dust hiding it. 

I'm so glad I switched channels to the local news!

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This weekend is Homecoming for both UMass and Amherst College. I heard fireworks last night around 7:30 p.m. and I'm guessing that was from Amherst College (which is closer to me). I'm glad they had a nice sunny fall day yesterday for the football game(s). I didn't go to any of the events even though I got an email inviting me as a "leader." I always thought I was anonymous at school so I think that was buttering me up to give a contribution.

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I did get to watch a very truncated version of Sunday Morning which closed with spiders in their webs from the National Preserve in Florida. As long as I know where they are (as in not over my bed), I am fascinated and love the patterns of their webs. 

Have a great week! Cheers!