I'm Thinking…No!

Ok – it’s the inevitable march of the seasons.  Here in the Northeast, the signs are all there.  The trees have lost their leaves and the fall colors are gone.  We’re into that no-persons land of stark tree branches and browning earth.  Although, this year it’s been warmer than usual and the grass, believe it or now, is still a bit green. 

Continue reading “Falling into . . . . . . Fall”

Two years ago, I wrote about control of the television remotes.  We have about six, and in a full and honest acknowledgement fair, I have no idea what most of them do. One came with the television, so that one turns it on. What the other buttons do, well, . . . . Another is cable access, thank you very much, Xfinity.  Others activate “streaming” services, of which we have several and only lately have we come to use them – typically when the Princess is home and she needs to watch some obscure movie for a class. We have non-television related remotes too.  Her Ladyship just got a new lamp, controlled by a remote device.  She can be bathed in a warm, golden glow, or there’s a setting for a bluish light – I guess that’s in case the living room enters a cloud and fogs up. Of course, it comes with basic services too – on and off.  One of its curious quirks is that, should the power blip at any point, the lamp comes on.  That’s fun when I get up at 2 AM and notice light pouring out of the living room.  Then I have to search for the right remote, punching off buttons on many of the wrong ones in the process and thus deprogramming as I go.

Continue reading ““Remoting” Once Again”

Perhaps you’ve seen the advertising for the new cellphones that have literally a cluster of cameras on the back.  Pictures are crisper and cleaner, the colors are bolder and more lifelike.  If you’re like me, I tend toward the “less is more” when it comes to pictures.  Or maybe you’re one of those folks that take way, way more pictures that they need to.

Continue reading “If One Picture is Worth . . . . . . .”

It was the best of Customer Service, it was the worst of Customer Service.

We purchased a power lift chair for Her Ladyship two years ago from a reputable furniture chain.  She’s had difficulty getting up and down owing to knee surgery a few years back, and this greatly aided her mobility. We bought the extended warranty, on the assumption that it’s lots of mechanical parts, more like an appliance than a piece of furniture, and might not have the lifespan that furniture typically does.  So, off we go.

Continue reading “A Tale of Two Chairs”

Yes, I know.  It’s that time again.  There are bright spots – the young folk are back in school.  The nights (and days) are cooler. The summer traffic is easing.  And the trees are turning color. Out come my fleeces and flannel.

Continue reading “My Annual Ode to Fall”

Much has been said and written about America’s excursions into Afghanistan and its lamentable scramble to get out.  There is a ton of finger pointing.  In fact, those that were part of the invasion in the first place and roundly proclaimed its noble purpose are now speaking out most loudly about what went wrong with the mission to extract Americans and American sympathizers.  Who’s to blame?  Those that brought us in, those that allowed us to stay, or those left holding the bag for wrapping up the whole mess? 

Continue reading “Out of Afghanistan”

For many of my readers, a woodchuck on the property is not a huge deal.  However, earlier this week, I noticed that one of my new, I should mention, containers had most of its petunias chewed off.  As it sits on a bench about two feet off the ground, it didn’t seem like a molestation by bunnies or chipmunks.  No, no.  This is the work of a dreaded woodchuck or gopher.  Further garden inspection saw chewed leaves on dead nettles and wholesale destruction of some beautiful yellow coneflowers I’d just put in a few weeks ago.  Now I know what it feels like when someone’s home is invaded by burglars or someone breaks into an unlocked car.  There is a sense of personal violation.  Some will argue that a rodent feeding itself isn’t quite in league in terms of malicious intent, but I have mixed feelings.  

Continue reading “Woodchuck Alert: Code Red!”

We’re reminded, bombarded actually, on a daily basis about the importance of exercise and physical fitness, particularly for seniors. It is annoying to see those seniors striding along the beach at a brisk pace, making a complete mockery of retirement. In the interests of making this blog informative, timely, and useful, I’ve developed my own regimen that I think could work on all levels for my faithful readers.  I will say that Her Ladyship, in all seriousness, does a fair bit of walking, and completes her cardio lifting faithfully every day.  She’s far more disciplined than I, but I do my bit to help out by tickling her on her way to and from the bedroom and as she gets in and out of the shower.  It’s all positive and stimulating, at least for me.  My readers will remember I mentioned the Gilbo Slapping Reflex, GSR for short, which she inherited from her grandmother, who was a champion slapper.  That kicks in here on occasion. But I digress.

Continue reading “A Senior Fitness Program”

Her Ladyship and I were watching baseball’s All-Star Game earlier this week, and I noticed a new feature of the game.  Not only has sports media taken over the game – I guess because they’re paying for most of it, but presumably the networks feel that their overexposure sells airtime maybe they’re right.  Anyway, the latest hairbrained scheme, in addition to providing commentators, color commentators, special experts and former players, is to start putting microphones on the players while the game is going on.  I know, right?  Do we need this?

Continue reading “Profiles in Stupidity”

A few weeks back, I went to pick up a take-out order from a local restaurant.  The only space available was right next to a large truck with a flat bed.  It had emblazoned on the side, “Proudly Made in America”.  (It was a domestic auto manufacturer, but odds are that this truck was assembled at one of that manufacturer’s plants in Mexico, but I digress.).  This largish truck – at least next to my little Toyota – had the engine running, spewing out diesel fumes for a good 15-20 minutes.  For this couple, love of country doesn’t seem to extend to the planet we all have to inhabit.

Continue reading “July 4th – Musing on Independence and Patriotism”