Noted in November - 2018

I almost blogged the 31 things in 31 days but I missed by 4.  To be fair, I had two days of shopping fun with my daughter and then a catastrophic event that consumed 2 days.  Then I needed one day to decompress from the stress.  The recap of these events goes as follows:

#28 - Drink:  I don't drink alcohol often so when someone says drink I think of my morning coffee and warm water with lemon.  Special occasions are different, such as when my husband and I went to Oregon earlier this year.  That deserved a pre-flight mimosa for me and bloody Mary for him.

When I went out to dinner the other night with my girls they were having a happy hour special with drinks for $1 at Applebee's so I had to try one of their spooky specials.  It was basically fruit punch with some rum and a "brain" gummy floating in it.  I'll have more to say on that experience in another post.  

#29 - Smell:  My favorite smell is vanilla.  I also think there is nothing like the smell of fresh baked donuts or cinnamon rolls, or bread or the smell of a good steak cooked on a barbecue or berry pie, and lemon, I like the smell of lemon.  Think all my smells are associated with food?  Pretty much - LOL.  I am really not fond of smells like lavender or jasmine.  They are too perfumey for me.  I like fresh and clean scents.  

#30 - 3:35 PM.  Here is where we get to the stressful incident.  On the 30th at 3:35 PM I was in a state of anguish because I had done a really stupid thing on Saturday and upgraded my Mac software to the newest version, Mojave, but I forgot to check its compatibility with my other necessary work software, Olympus DSS.  I went through this scenario once before when Mac took the Rosetta compatibility away and I didn't upgrade then until I knew it was safe for all my programs, so I should have been smart enough to double check before upgrading but it has been a while so I forgot.  

Since I hadn't done any work Saturday or Sunday because I went shopping with my daughter (which I shouldn't do because it resulted in a new cellphone for her, my husband and I and then new curtains for the kitchen!), I didn't realize that they wouldn't play together until Monday.  I couldn't open the program I needed so I went to the Olympus website and it said right on the front page - Not Compatible With Mojave, Do Not Upgrade :(   Of course I Googled all the "fixes" for the problem and spent Monday backing up my photos and other important documents onto my laptop and into the Cloud.  Fortunately I had not done the upgrade to my laptop so I was able to do my work from there but I can't do my work on that all the time.  I had to uninstall the Mojave upgrade.  

I am not afraid to try things but I am really not computer savvy when it comes to the programming aspect and when the "fixes" started talking about going to the terminal and typing in commands I was out of my league.  One "simple" fix was to reboot from my back up disk which fortunately I had.  It showed that the most recent backup was September (so there obviously was an issue with the backup drive too) but at least that was before the Mojave incident and since I had been able to move my files to my laptop I was okay with going back to September.  I tried doing the reboot thing but it kept starting back up with Mojave.  Finally I was able to talk to my son whose roommate is a computer genius and after I established with them that I had tried everything I could by myself, his roommate promised to come over when he got off work to see what he could do.  There were a few tense moments and my computer was reluctant to cooperate at first but finally Steve triumphed and there was a reboot in progress.  By the end of the night I could see that it was starting up again in the correct program, High Sierra, and that I would be able to piece things back together.  

#31 - Joy  How fitting that the last of my 31 words is joy because that is exactly what I felt when I was able to get back into my work programs and even though I had to put in some passwords again on a few of my sites, at least I know that everything will be okay.  I will not make that rookie mistake again!        

So, Noted in November begins with these last few bits of October.  Tomorrow we'll start fresh...thank goodness!

Observations in October - 2018 - #31Things - Covet and Hobby

Behind again but I guess that's what life is about sometimes.  These two prompts go well together though I think, Covet and Hobby.

I am Catholic and we were told by the 10 Commandments not to covet so I try my hardest not to.  However, when it comes to my crafting, there are a few things I covet.  You know I have a room to pursue my hobby (which I hope to turn into a money making venture)

and I am so grateful that I have that room, but I really wish I could make it more like one of these:

 

         


   





Imagine what kind of production I could have with spaces like that!  For sure I could take my "hobby" to the next level. 

Of course, to be able to have a room like that, I might need a house like one of these:




I don't covet much!  Got a hobby?  Covet things?  Share!

Observations in October - 2018 - #31Things - Outside

Most of my day I must admit is spent inside working.  Yesterday I did go outside to take my mom to the doctors and I saw these pretty flowers.  The way the dew was sparkling it looked like there was glitter on them. 

Then I saw these pretty purple stems.  

Then last night was the full moon and at first I thought I was going to miss it because it was very cloudy.  Fortunately, Ms. Moon made an appearance for me before the night was over.  

Short and sweet today.  Going outside to go to a concert tonight - Phil Collins - with my son.  Well, the concert is actually inside but I'll be going outside to go inside :)  Did you see the moon last night?  Like Phil Collins?  

Observations in October - 2018 - #31Things - Relationship

Relationship is the topic for the day and I have been noticing lately how much my relationships have changed over time.  I really love my husband but our relationship is not quite the same as it was on that day in May when we exchanged our vows overlooking Lake Tahoe.  In some ways it is much stronger given what we have gone through together between his illnesses and having the children.    

My relationship with the kids has changed now too since they are no longer these little babies who depend on my for everything.  

Instead, while they still come to me for advice occasionally, for the most part they are all self-sufficient adults, making their own way in the world.  Sometimes days go by and I don't talk to them.  I know that's how it needs to be.

The relationship that is changing the most now though, I think, is the one with my mother and to some extent my sisters.  I wrote about the recent emergency I had with my mom on the bus trip and while things are calm now and she is going to be okay, my sisters and I are communicating a lot more about how to handle my mom and her care.  

Sisters Judy, JoAnne, my mom, me, sister Jaye

 (I never realized how much taller I was than my sisters!  This must have been in my high-heel days!)  

Since I am the one who lives the closest, it is becoming my job to go with her to doctor's appointments and the like.  Today she told the doctor that I was turning into her mother and that I yell at her!  The doctor told her to listen to me and that I was only doing it because I care about her. 

My sisters Judy and Jaye (we lost JoAnne several years ago) are taking turns calling her every day and we talk with each other and compare notes.  In some ways this is bringing me closer to my sisters since we haven't always spoken to each other on a regular basis.  Everyone says that mom really looks good for 95 (I think she was 92 or 93 in this picture) and it is true that she has not had very many medical problems until recently.  

Mom continues to say that she doesn't want to "bother" me with things and I continue to tell her that I would rather she tell me when she first feels something is not right rather than wait until an emergency room visit is necessary.  I try to reassure her that she is not bothering me and that I have time to help her.  Plus, I tell her that I am leading by example.  My kids are watching how I handle things with mom so they will know that when the time comes they may have to help in that way with me and their father.  

I want my mom to remain as independent as possible (she is still living alone and driving) but I don't want her to be in a position to hurt herself or others.  For now, we'll take it day by day.

Notice any changes in your relationships?  Have a parent who needs your help?  

Observations in October - 2018 - #31Things - Write

Today's 31 Things is "Write."

I may be a paper crafter and spend my time making cards and scrapbook albums but I started out my artistic endeavors as a writer.  I made newspapers for my family when they went on vacation so that they could keep up on the news when they returned.  Slight exaggeration in some of the stories but it wasn't fake news!

I used to watch my sister's children when she and her husband went on vacation and they brought me back a blank book from a trip they took to Carmel.  I did write some things in it but there are still a lot of blank pages.    

When I was in high school I wrote a mystery story and got an A on it.

Since the teacher thought it was suspenseful, I sent a more detailed version of the story to Redbook as part of their Young Writer's Contest but unfortunately it didn't win. 

I put away my writing after that until after I was married and the kids were born.  Then I wrote a little story using stickers and the names of their friends.

It was interesting and amusing to go back and read these old things.  I have kept them all these years in a folder.  There is another story there that is handwritten and over 100 pages!  Some silly story about girls and their boyfriends.  Definitely was a fictional story since I never had boyfriends in high school!

Now I get my writing fix with this blog.  I knew there was a reason I was doing it.  Who knows, maybe someday I'll give writing another try.  How about you?  What do you write about?   

  

Observations in October - 2018 - #31Things - Think and Spot

Still doing the catch up thing so I'm putting these two together.  They seem to fit actually.  Whenever I have something that is particularly bothering me or if I want to just get in some good old fashioned thinking there are a few spots I go to.

One is the trail along the San Francisco Bay.  The whole trail extends for quite a distance but there is one part that is really easy for me to get to and walking it takes about 20 minutes.  That's just enough time for me.  I can walk and see the planes doing their come and go dance and the water splashes up on the rocks.  The beach would be my first choice but this little spot is closer and it is on my way when I make work deliveries. 

Another good spot for me if I want to take a break and read or just relax is right out my back door.  We have a cute little porch and it is a great place to sit a while.  I should make more time for myself to do that but I don't.  Soon it will be too cold to sit out there.  Sometimes I take my first cup of coffee out there and use that time to plan my day.  I'd really like to make use of the rest of our backyard more so when I sit here, I'm envisioning a plan to put a fire pit with some chairs around it in the middle of the yard.  Not too much landscaping because I don't want to have to "garden."     

And then of course there is this room.  My real haven.  Sometimes I think my husband is getting jealous of the time I spend in here but when I am in the creative spirit and making my projects I have the music going and it is really heaven.  I'd much rather be in here than sitting in front of the television watching those mindless programs.    

Where are your thinking spots?  Got a favorite place around your house?  Share!

Observations in October - 2018 - #31Things - Carry

While shoes may not be my thing, purses are an entirely different story!  I love purses and have a bunch, although I do have my regular go-tos for certain occasions.

If I am going shopping I have a couple of bags that are pretty large because here in California the stores don't give us shopping bags anymore, we have to pay for them so I can either put the things I buy in my purse or carry a few folded shopping bags. 

I have this one for when I know I am going to be gone for a long time, like on our recent bus trip, when my husband is in the hospital or when I am going to a scrapbooking event.  It has a ton of pockets on the outside and the inside is wide and roomy to hold magazines and stuff.  It also has handles and an over the shoulder strap which makes it easy to carry.

When I am going to a concert or out to dinner I use purses like this that are small and just have room for money and my phone. 

This one has a pocket that I use to "hide" my camera when we go to concerts.  I love the fringe but it is getting old and worn so I might have to look for something to replace it.

Sometimes I just carry my wallet (the blue one) if I am just going to make deliveries for work since all I do is run in to the office and back out again.  I use the pink one with my initial on it for my money, driver's license and credit cards when I use the smaller purses so I don't have to take my whole wallet.

Most of the time the things I have in my purse are my wallet and glass case, keys, a pen and paper and gum.  Gotta have the minty gum wherever I go!

What do you carry on a regular basis?  

Observations in October - 2018 #31Things - Listen - #SoCS - Can

Can you hear me now?  Combining these topics today because I had a big day the other day and it took a day to decompress. 

I went on a bus trip with the local church group called "The Grown Ups" to an Indian casino about 2-1/2 hours away.  We left home at about 8 AM.  My husband was going to come but at the last minute he had to stay home because his back was stiffening and the cramped seats on the bus would not have been good for him.  My mom and I and our friend Mike sat at the back of the bus.  We had a good time chatting the time away.

When we got to the casino we gambled for a while and then my mom and I had lunch with my niece who met us there.  After a little more gambling we got back on the bus to go home.  Unfortunately, none of us were winners this trip.  Since we had spent the way up talking and story telling, on the way home I took out some magazines and was going through them.  My mom started to take a nap, I thought.  

I looked over at her and I knew immediately there was something wrong.  Her eyes were open and staring and she was not responding to my calling her name.  "Mom, mom, can you hear me?"  Long story short, the bus had to pull over and paramedics were called to come to check her and it was determined that she needed to be taken to the nearest emergency room.  

Fortunately it was not anything too serious although at 95 you can never be too careful.  Tests were taken and it was determined she had a bit of dehydration and a urinary tract infection.  They gave her some fluids and a prescription for an antibiotics.  We had to wait in the waiting room for 2 hours while my husband and our daughter came up to get us because of course the bus had gone on home.  While we were waiting my mom and I had a discussion about what had happened and she kept saying that because she had felt no pain, she didn't think anything was wrong, although she did admit that earlier in the week she had felt a little woosey at times but she didn't want to tell me because she was afraid I would tell her not to go on the trip or, worse in her eyes, go to the doctors! 

I explained to her that she needed to listen to her body more and that feeling woosey is not a normal thing.  I also told her that she needs to be more forthcoming with me and tell me when she is experiencing something like that.  I can help her decide if it is something that is urgent or if we can wait a bit before going to the doctors.  She is still living on her own and drives herself to church and to the grocery store but if she is having "spells" I don't want her doing that.  She said she understood.  

Do you have parents who listen to you?  Do you listen to your body?  Can you blame me for scolding my mom?    

Observations in October - 2018 #31Things - Shoes

I've never been a big shoe fanatic.  I am not into expensive shoes or overly fashionable ones.  Jimmy Choo who?  Still, when I was younger I did wear heels to work every day when I was the office manager until the kids were born.  I got used to wearing flats when I was pregnant and now I don't even own a pair of heels.  Comfort is key for me. 

I call these my Vegas shoes because I went to Las Vegas for a seminar a few years ago and I wore heels which ended up hurting my feet so bad a friend of mine got these for me to walk around in. 

Otherwise my shoes are pretty plain.  I have one pair of pink flowered shoes but the rest are basic black, brown and blue. 

I do like fun slippers though.  I call these my unicorn slippers.

Love the sparkles these make when the sun hits them.  

How do you feel about shoes?