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What’s on your mind?
- Thread starter Gutwrench
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It's a chilly 35 degrees here, but I need to go out anyway, as there is a book being held for me at the library and if I don't pick it up today it'll be returned to the branch from which it came.....I don't want that to happen! I have books to return, as well, and it's time to find new reading matter.
Nothing exciting on my agenda for the day or for the weekend.....just the usual routine!
Nothing exciting on my agenda for the day or for the weekend.....just the usual routine!
No, they hold books for just one week, and it's my own fault for not getting over there this past week to pick it up. If I recall correctly the book came in the day after I'd just been there anyway, and then of course we had bad weather so I wasn't going out anywhere for several days. I just checked again and actually Monday is the final day, so I could wait until then, come to think of it..... Hm..... tempting!!
Significantly warmer -- in the high 40's! That's an improvement, to say the least!
It's early yet, I'm still thinking about this.....
I am definitely leaning in that direction now..... Monday will be warmer -- if the prediction of in the high 40's turns out to be accurate -- and a nicer day generally, and by then I'll also probably need some things at the grocery store, too, so might as well make Monday the day that I do several errands at once.
These days, I find myself approaching errands in a similar frame of mind, also; whereas pre-Covid, I would have availed of any excuse or opportunity (oh, a book has arrived in the library) to head into the city, now, I wait until I have several errands to do at any one time before venturing forth.
Yay! Blue Jay in the tree outside of the kitchen window.💙 A very brief visit, no floof style puffy bird. Just so pretty.
Trying to keep positive here, and am hoping the AirPods Max weight is not causing arthritis flare ups in my neck (an old pain point that is largely under control). Really want to keep the APM, but if I have to return because of this, I’ll live. Still undecided on the MBP...once I know about the AirPods, I’ll make the decision about the MBP.
Sadly, the 8th gen iPads have to go back... defective speakers in both. So we’re hanging onto the faulty 7th gens for now.
Trying to keep positive here, and am hoping the AirPods Max weight is not causing arthritis flare ups in my neck (an old pain point that is largely under control). Really want to keep the APM, but if I have to return because of this, I’ll live. Still undecided on the MBP...once I know about the AirPods, I’ll make the decision about the MBP.
Sadly, the 8th gen iPads have to go back... defective speakers in both.
So we’re hanging onto the faulty 7th gens for now.
For years, especially when gas was at record high prices, I have tried to organize myself so that I ran errands all at the same time rather than doing one here, one another day, etc. Also while I was working and my time was more limited, I often would stop somewhere on the way home from work or sometimes on the way to work if I were working the 1-9 shift, to pick up something or leave it off to be cleaned or repaired, whatever. Once I retired, though, and when gas was more reasonably priced, I kind of eased up with the errands thing and as well I'd suddenly get an idea, "oh, I want to look at the new Apple [name the product], the store has them now!" and just jump in the car and head on over to the Apple store. Not these days!
I still DO want to go over to the Apple store and look at the latest new goodies but am biding my time since right now it IS the major Christmas buying season and there are likely to be more people at the mall and in that store than there might be otherwise, pandemic or no pandemic. I figure it's not that urgent, I can just hold off until after the holidays are finished and the rush for the latest new M1 machines and other goodies has settled down.....
Kazmac, I envy you, being able to see your beloved Blue Jays! I haven't seen any of my little sparrows and other "backyard" birds for a while now, although of course I do still see the waterfowl on the lake. Earlier this afternoon for a while Hooded Mergansers and Geese were amicably, peacefully sharing the limited amount of water that was available for swimming, since much of the lake is lightly iced over. I've noticed the geese are smart, they're not trying to get up on the ice, so they must instinctively realize that it is too thin right now to hold their weight. Later on in the winter when we've got even colder weather and the lake is really frozen over, it's fun to watch them trying to walk on the ice. They slip and slide and try to keep their balance. Occasionally one will fall in if he hits an area where the ice is thinner.
I hope that the new new AirPods Max will be OK for you after all and that you won't need to return them! That is too bad about the 8th gen iPads. Must've been a bad batch if both of them have defective speakers.
I still DO want to go over to the Apple store and look at the latest new goodies but am biding my time since right now it IS the major Christmas buying season and there are likely to be more people at the mall and in that store than there might be otherwise, pandemic or no pandemic. I figure it's not that urgent, I can just hold off until after the holidays are finished and the rush for the latest new M1 machines and other goodies has settled down.....
Kazmac, I envy you, being able to see your beloved Blue Jays! I haven't seen any of my little sparrows and other "backyard" birds for a while now, although of course I do still see the waterfowl on the lake. Earlier this afternoon for a while Hooded Mergansers and Geese were amicably, peacefully sharing the limited amount of water that was available for swimming, since much of the lake is lightly iced over. I've noticed the geese are smart, they're not trying to get up on the ice, so they must instinctively realize that it is too thin right now to hold their weight. Later on in the winter when we've got even colder weather and the lake is really frozen over, it's fun to watch them trying to walk on the ice. They slip and slide and try to keep their balance. Occasionally one will fall in if he hits an area where the ice is thinner.
I hope that the new new AirPods Max will be OK for you after all and that you won't need to return them! That is too bad about the 8th gen iPads. Must've been a bad batch if both of them have defective speakers.
It's a clear night here, so I took my binoculars and went outside to look for Jupiter, as it approaches its Great Conjunction with Saturn on 21 Dec.
Like a dummy, I didn't check which direction to look before I went out, so the first bright shiny thing I spotted was big & coppery: Mars. I had to walk around a bit to get the trees out of the way, but I eventually saw them, a little ways above the western horizon a little after sunset.
They're already very close togther, but I'll check again every night this coming week and see how it goes.
I haven't looked for planets since a couple summers ago, when Venus and Mercury were both visible shortly after sunset.
Like a dummy, I didn't check which direction to look before I went out, so the first bright shiny thing I spotted was big & coppery: Mars. I had to walk around a bit to get the trees out of the way, but I eventually saw them, a little ways above the western horizon a little after sunset.
They're already very close togther, but I'll check again every night this coming week and see how it goes.
I haven't looked for planets since a couple summers ago, when Venus and Mercury were both visible shortly after sunset.
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@chown33 The iOS (iPad) app, Sky Guide is outstanding for locating celestial odds-n-ends It's very cool in compass mode where you just physically "look around" with the device.
apps.apple.com
We've had this event on our calendar for a couple of months!
It's very cool in compass mode where you just physically "look around" with the device.
Sky Guide
Bring the beauty of the stars down to Earth. Hold Sky Guide® overhead to automatically identify any star, constellation, planet or satellite! Easy to use and powerful, it’s epic stargazing for any experience level. Is it a star or the planet Mars? Knowing what’s up in your night sky is easier...
apps.apple.com
We've had this event on our calendar for a couple of months!
Given the clouds and rain in the U.K. I don’t fancy my chances of seeing it.
Nasty, threatening, charcoal clouds here, pregnant with frozen moisture, busily dispensing hailstones, interspersed with small bursts of brassy sunshine.
While I would love to say that I have seen such a spectacle, I'm not sure that conditions here will permit it.
Exactly.
My mother is on my mind; today, well, tonight, just before midnight, is the second anniversary of her death.
Yes I was thinking this was coming up. Hope you and your brothers or the career can share some happy memories of her. Will you be listening to some ABBA?
I, too, recalled that the anniversary was right around this time..... Such a bittersweet time for you and your brothers! Have you seen or been in touch with the carer recently? I imagine she, too, is thinking of your mother and of you..... In my experience, the second anniversary is a little less difficult than the first one, but still a time for reflection, looking back at happier times, savoring cherished memories....
Strange to relate, but I haven't listened to ABBA since the night my mother died, when ABBA was playing.
Yesterday, I attended church - what was, in practice, my annual visit and read a reading (by invitation) - a strange experience, in these Covid times - and my mother's name was mentioned (among other things, it served as a sort of anniversary memorial service).
Normally, my brother would have attended with me, in fact, we would have used the excuse of this service to invite cousins for coffee, sandwiches and scones, to a local hotel afterwards - it would have been nice to catch up and exchange news and chat - but all of these traditions and gatherings are temporarily in abeyance, on account of Covid conditions, constraints, and restrictions - and one cannot say that - or when - they will be resumed when conditions permit.
However, due to Covid, my brother (Decent Brother) had decided weeks ago that he wouldn't travel; instead, he attended remotely by webcam, watched me read, - my glasses kept steaming up in the church, but I was able to remove my mask in order to be able to read - and we chatted for almost an hour last night.
I saw the carer - briefly - around a fortnight ago, when she came to collect some post, (mail), as I had phoned her to let her know that stuff had arrived for her; one was medical, and needed her attention.
Thank you, both, for your kind words & thoughts.
Bittersweet, yes, but I am very glad that she didn't live long enough to have to endure the care conditions engendered by Covid; the strain of trying to keep her safe and sound in such a world - elderly, confused, with an exceptionally compromised immune system, on a veritable cocktail of medication daily, visited daily by healthcare workers and nurses - and doctors - who themselves are in the front line and are prime candidates for infection, - would have been a source of stratospheric stress. And it would have been a horrible way to go, and she would have been frightened and distressed.
At least we were all with her, and she was in her own room, in her own bed, where she was warm and comfortable and content and cosy; we were holding her hands, ABBA was playing, a lovely lavender candle was lit, and the semi-naked firemen on her bedroom wall from the local firemen's charity calendar (she loved that, and thought it hilarious), were there, when she passed away. The doctor, her GP - who very kindly came out later that night to certify her death told us that "death does not get any better than this", and grinned at the firemen ("I so totally approve of this"), and so, I'll take considerable comfort from those memories.
We looked after her and cared for her exceptionally well. And while there is grief, there is no guilt, and while there is sorrow - and it is bitter-sweet - there are no regrets.
But, yes, a time for reflection, looking back at happier times, - Decent Brother told me that he used to love watching TV programmes with her, and they would tease one another, or chat away to one another - and savouring cherished memories.
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Looks like the heavens are celebrating the anniversary of her arrival with an amazing planetary show today (the Great Conjunction) for all of us to see.
Well except those of us who live in a country where it rains all the time!