Category Archives: doing it wrong

This is from the scenic trolley ride we did. At one point we rounded the bend and it was blue water, white froth and chunky brown rock as far at the eyes could see. I practically cried it was so beautiful.

It was an open air trolley which was nice although I didn’t think my hair was ever going to be the same. I didn’t bring any products so my hair was super frizzy as it was and after the wind swept ride, I looked like I slept under a bridge. But happy.

On trolley day we stopped at Kahala Mall to look for a muumuu for Mom. It was almost as grim as any mall you’ve been in lately. I keep saying this but I don’t think I will ever be over the death of retail. Remember when going to the mall was an event? Shopping? Food court? Seeing people from school. When we were kids, my sister and I once saw the actress who played Cindy Brady at the mall (Canoga Park, CA). We were beside ourselves for days.

We were all hungry and Bob found a ramen place that was amazing. We really didn’t eat any bad food the entire time we were there. There were a couple of weak breakfasts but they weren’t bad.

Did you know an acai bowl is basically fruit sorbet but they sprinkle bee pollen and add fresh fruit to make it seem healthy? I don’t know what I thought it was, but not that. It was delicious and I am in favor of any sugar laden treat branded as a healthy breakfast.

We did find Mom more of a summer cover up than a true muumuu but it worked for her.

This was a side order of pineapple that I asked Bob to pick up so Mom and I could get our fill. He was going through the take out bag and checking the contents and when he opened this we all gasped. We ate it for three days enjoying the last little nubbins on the morning we left.

Mom wanted to see Hawaii again so we took a trip

I found this wonderful 2 bedroom condo at the Ilikai with a view of the marina, ocean, surfers, and Ala Moana Park.

It was perfect.

The weather was sunny but not too hot. Most nights we had take out and sat on the balcony and watched all the activity on the water and enjoyed the breeze.

We took a scenic trolley ride and here’s Mom enjoying the Halona blow hole scenic viewpoint.

More to come.

I love cheddar fish but also don’t buy cheddar fish except on road trips because they are too easy to mindlessly eat.

Not long ago I had a gift card and decided to buy a dress. I don’t have to dress up very often and I tend to wear the same dress for every thing. My mom refers to this type of dress as a “function dress.”

I haven’t bought a function dress in a long time and since retail has been ruined, (I don’t think I will ever be over it) I was looking online.

What’s the worst part about any clothing shopping? Figuring out your size. I have even bought the same brand and the same style of clothing and when I got it, the thing didn’t fit.

So for this particular shop, I clicked on the size chart and it told me to list sizes and the labels on the dresses I already own.

How many dresses do people have?

I guess this sizing chart isn’t for people who wear the same function dress to everything for years on end.

This is from a slide that I scanned from the family archives. I have no idea who or what this is. The note says 1972 and it’s in the batch with photos from the Grand Canyon. I like to think this is Carl, a tour guide, who has spent years around the Arizona desert and loves to tell people about the Grand Canyon.

I don’t get pepper. I have never tasted anything and thought, “This needs more pepper.” I don’t dislike pepper and when the person at the restaurant with the 4-foot long pepper mill comes by and asks if I want a little pepper on my salad or my pasta, I always give an enthusiastic, “Yes, I do.”

And if I bite down on a big nugget of barely cracked peppercorn, I know that it’s pepper. But otherwise, I don’t notice pepper.

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There was a New Yorker article a couple weeks ago that described a woman as “having a frazzled aspect.” That is a great description that could apply to me. But also the article was arguably biased against this individual so it wasn’t very generous.

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The New Yorker also had an article about Michael A. Cummings who is an amazing quilting artist. I love seeing cool quilting art. Last time I was at the Clark County Fair I talked to one of the artists — I wish I could remember her name. Sewing is a skill I still would like to learn and I would love to try some quilting. Not sure how that’s going to work since I also still want to write books and work on drawing. Better to want to do too much than to wither away on the couch.

I am still sorting through my feelings about AI. I have posted a couple of AI generated photos this month. Now I am posting an AI generated post — which includes 2 cites provided by the AI. This is purely for amusement. I am not going to use AI for writing.

Okay, AI, take it away:

Waking up to the sound of an analog alarm clock is a nostalgic experience that many people miss in today’s world of smartphones. The gentle ticking of the clock, the sound of the alarm, and the feeling of turning off the alarm by pressing a button or turning a knob are all part of the experience.

In contrast, smartphones have become the go-to device for waking up in the morning. While they offer a wide range of alarm sounds and customization options, they lack the tactile feedback and sensory experience of an analog alarm clock.

According to a study conducted by the University of California, San Diego, waking up to melodic sounds such as pop songs can increase energy levels and reduce daytime grogginess compared to waking up to unmelodic alarms 1. However, the study did not compare the experience of waking up to an analog alarm clock versus a smartphone.

Moreover, using a smartphone as an alarm clock can have negative effects on sleep quality. The blue light emitted by smartphones can disrupt the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, and interfere with the body’s circadian rhythm 2. Additionally, the temptation to check notifications and scroll through social media can keep you awake longer than you intended.

In conclusion, waking up to an analog alarm clock can be a nostalgic and sensory experience that is worth revisiting. It can help you start your day on a positive note and reduce the temptation to check your phone first thing in the morning. So, why not give it a try?

I already wrote about how we gave up our season tickets. (Part 1) and (Part 2).

Ticket partner and I went to our last match of the season in October. Because of various scheduling snafus, we hadn’t even been to a match together in over a month.

I think going in: if we won and a few other teams did us some favors we could make the playoffs. But in typical Timbers fashion, we went down a goal in the first 11 minutes and never got it together. We lost 3-1.

Also, as I read the forecast, we might get a wee drizzle. So many matches I have geared up in my plastic pants and plastic jacket and brought my little towel to wipe off my seat. And so many matches there was barely a mist. I wasn’t going to haul out that stuff for this match.

That was a mistake. It didn’t rain hard but there was a persistent driving drizzle almost the entire night.

Then for the trip home we walked down to the transit mall to check if the bus was anywhere near … and walked past at least 3 people actively doing drugs. I asked ticket partner if he felt like doing some drugs and he declined and called a ride share.

One the one hand it was a bummer that the last match was so crappy. But then, we didn’t feel like we were giving up much. I’m sure we’ll pick up tickets to a match or two. Or more likely, the Thorns, next season.

This bus was parked by my bus with the “wrong code” display for a couple of days in a row. Every once in a while the bus will show up downtown with the wrong display and we give the driver a hard time (in a teasing way.)

Sometimes I intentionally pick shorter books to read — it’s the same feeling of accomplishment as reading a long book but doesn’t take as long. You can make progress on the to read pile. You can jump into the world of a book and then be done and jump into a new one in a day or two.

Here are some ideas for short books:

Elizabeth Strout is a great writer and her novels are usually pretty quick. Example: My Name is Lucy Barton

T Kingfisher — I just finished What Moves the Dead which is delightfully creepy and quick to read. Nettle and Bone is also really good.

Seanan McGuire — the Wayward Children books. I don’t know how many there are. I’ve read at least 5. They are about the children in portal stories where the portal doesn’t always lead to some magical place where they save the day and all their dreams come true.

Martha Wells – Murderbot — I think there are 5 and a 6th one coming out any minute. If you haven’t read Murderbot, drop everything and go find a Murderbot book. The first one is All Systems Red. The books are funny with action and set in space. I would start re-reading all the books this second if I didn’t have 300 books in my to read pile.

Becky Chambers – Monk & Robot books. I’m reading #2 right now. The Ted Lasso of speculative fiction books. Of the first one I said, “If a book was a cup of hot soup and a buttered roll on a cold winter’s night, this would be it.”

If I was clever I would link these to something but I am writing all these posts in about 3 minutes so they are slopped together. xo!

A couple of weeks ago when I was at the office all by myself I heard thumping outside.

They wash the windows outside at least a couple of times a year plus they send us a notice when it’s going to happen so it wasn’t a complete surprise. But it’s still a little unnerving to see some guy hanging from a rope swinging back and forth and scrubbing your windows.

I guess they had to finish the next day and the washers were out there in the early morning in the dark. I hope they get paid well.

The other thing about this picture is my diplomas. A college diploma and my paralegal certificate. I asked the law clerk if I should throw them away when I retire.

She was horrified. But no one has ever asked me for them or looked at them. If if they did, it was 25 years ago.

Not retiring yet so I can decide later.