tough tines

 I may be losing my abilities

    The last 3 crossword puzzles I have worked on have beaten me.

    Kicked my butt!  I look at the clues, come up blank, leave the puzzle for a while, then come back and still end up with blanks.

    It's getting frustrating.

    Clues like:  German city (4 letters); element 56 (2 letters) sodium.......they have me stumped.

    Why did I not pay attention in high school chemistry?

    Oh wait...I never took that class.

    I did take biology.  

    We had to pick lab partners, and I had my eye set on the prettiest girl in the room.  She had her eyes set on me.....until I realized she was actually looking at the guy behind me.

    I ended up with a girl I will call Rose.  

    We sort of picked each other, because we were the only 2 left.

    I will say this about Rose, not only did she pick me, she also picked something else which made it very difficult to focus on  dissecting  a worm.  Or maybe it was a frog.  I don't remember that, just that I would not touch her hands for fear of getting a booger on me.

    But enough of that.

    There was a broken shade in our classroom and open house was approaching.  The teacher was worried because she had a short movie to show and she thought it would be too bright with the broken shade.

    I was the one to remind her open house was at night and the sun would not be a problem.

    Mickey Dolenz, Mike Nesmeth, Peter Tork and Davey Jones.  They were the Monkees, who were supposed to be America's answer to the Beatles.  But they were not.

    I can remember their names but not where I put my glasses.  Or wallet.  Or phone. 

    As far as German cities of 4 letters, I remember Koln, but I don't think that is what the puzzle makers are thinking. 

    That's all I have.......I am going to pull up. the table of elements and maybe a map of Germany.

    That isn't cheating, is it?

    If it is, tough noogies.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

A penny saved

I always taught rounding in school

    You know, if the number ends in 1-4 you round down, 5 o more you round up.

    I thought it was a simple concept.  Fifth graders did not.

    But with the penny eventually going away, rounding is hot topic.

    Congress is looking at something called "symmetrical rounding," which will be a fair, impartial, consistent way to round.  It would become a national law, or something like that.

    You tell me.

    The proposal is:  If it ends in a 1, 2, 6, or 7 you round down.  If it ends in a 3,4,8, or 9, you round up.  5 stays a 5 because we still have nickels.

    My guess is you will see very few prices ending in a 1, 2, 6 or 7.  Most merchants, I suspect, will round to a 3, 4, 8, or 9 to optimize profits.

    Of course, if you use a debit or credit card, rounding will not be an issue.  Yet.

    I am reading Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad.  The last chapter I read dealt with the Pere LaChaise cemetery in Paris.  In his book, Twain told the story of Abelard and Heloise, a true French love story.

    Strangely, today I had a FB posting from a Paris site I follow and it talked about Abelard and Heloise!

    Coincidence?   I wonder.

    I mean, AI isn't. reading my mind, is it?  I did not do a web search on the pair and the Paris site has lots of photos.

    It is an interesting story and if you Google it, you may compare it to Romeo and Juliet with a less lethal ending.

    How ironic is it that a woman who wrote a book about grieving for children was just convicted of murdering her husband?  

    It's a strange world.

    We went to Sycamore for a doctor's appointment.  Gas at one station was $3.59 when we left, $3.99 when we came back 2 hours later.Yikes!!

    Now it is time to root for the USA agains Venezuela, which I hear could become our 51st state.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

1 week

 Watching the frozen tundra, I had a spring thought

    The Cubs open at home March 26.  10 days.  It better warm up by then.

    John, Dan, Linda and I used to buy game packs.  We always did the Friday afternoon pack but that ended with Covid.

    The worst games were March and April, when we seemed to have 2 or 3 of the games.  It was always chilly at the Confines.

    The White Sox catch a break.  They open in Milwaukee, which has a dome, and then go to Florida, which is just hot.

    I put off going to the store until 4 today.  That was a nerve wracking  drive.

    Flagg Road was ice.  I thought of turning around, but then I thought heck, it has to get better.  It did not.  At one point I figured I was half way there and the road would surely get better. It did not.

    Jackie has a doctor appointment in Sycamore tomorrow and I am concerned about the roads.  As cold as it is, the roads may not be much better than they were tonight.

    Time will tell.

    I watched the USA/DR game last night.  For 2 teams that hit a lot of  home runs, a 2-1 game was not wha I expected.

    And not to belabor the baseball angle, the last pitch, the one that struck out the DR batter on a full count, was no where near the strike zone. 

    USA caught a break.

    But, that is life in the  bigs.

    Speaking of bigs, Kevin K was a big help the other night.  For some reason, I moved Jackie's chair when she went to sit.  She ended up on. the floor in the bathroom.  I called Emily, but she did not answer because her phone  was on do not disturb. .  Found out later if I had called back, the call would have gone through.

    But Kevin came to the rescue.

    No blood, no foul.  All was well.

 Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

She sticks her noe in the snow.

Hello, winter

It could get interesting tonight and  tomorrow

    We have a blizzard warning and schools have already called off.  Even NIU.

    I was just out with Beth and darn near fell on my butt. the sidewalk was so slippery  The wind is howling and the snow is starting to fall.

    I'm watching the WBC and was wondering... is using the word old passe?  The announcers say 24 years of age, or 27 years of age.  Not old, years of age.  I mean I am old, so 77 years old makes sense.  I don't think I would be 77 years of age.  Or would I?

    I looked out this morning and noticed a squirrel in our bid feeder.  The feeder is on an iron post. that is about 1 inch in diameter.  Makes me wonder how the little critter got up it and if I grease the pole with Vaseline will that stop future raids of the feeder?

    I think next year Rochelle should consider dying the Kyte River green.  There could be a short parade, maybe a duck derby, throw in some bands and Irish dancers and you have a festival.  Not as big as Chicago's, but small.  Quaint.  Peaceful.

    Gravitating back to our blizzard warning.

    I read upper Michigan and Wisconsin have had a lot of snow.....B and D, enjoy Florida.  You are missing a huge snow.

    I always wonder when I see stories of huge pile ups during snowstorms why people are out there driving in the first place.  Pull off, find a motel, sleep in your car, spend the night in a 24 hour store, but don't drive in blizzards.  

    And I realize sometimes it can't be helped.  If you are on vacation and a blizzard hits, you might not have options.  Or if you are a trucker.  

    And don't  through floods.  I also see people having to be rescued from their cars after they get caught in a flood.

    People just need to be smarter.

    Stay safe out there.  Stay home.  Stay warm.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

pi day?

 Beware the Ides of Pi Day

    We are long past the days of having a whole pie on any day of the year!  With just the 2 of us, Jackie would have 1 slice and I would finish it off.

    So I get the little pies.  (Bob, The f_ _ _ _ in cherry pies)  I used to get them at Walgreens, but they don't carry them anymore.  Neither does Walmart.  So I have to stock up when I go to Woodman's.  

    I just like them.  I think it is the sugar glaze that appeals to me the most.

    Julia brought us a dessert today, so I won't be having pie on pi day.

    But I will have it during the Ides of March.

    Or maybe the Ides of April. Or the Ides of May.

    The Romans determined the Ides were the midpoint of the month.  Every month has them, but Julius     Caesar made March's famous when he got stabbed by malcontents. 

    But enough of that.

    I got a text from Capital One about a charge on our account.

    Jackie had purchased something about 2 weeks ago, using her card..  Today another charge for the same company showed up and Capital One flagged it.

    They sent me a test and an e-mail so I called the customer service number on the back of the card and learned that her card had been used and declined 10 different times  before a charge went through.

    So now she gets a new card.  

    I read my AARP magazine this morning that highlighted fraud 

    I am 77.  I am not young.  But some of the people that got scammed were younger than me! I wonder what people are thinking when they get texts, or e-mails either promising them riches or threatening them with arrest for some reason.

    People fall for it.  And the scammers get rich.

    So, hold on to your wallets.  Keep a close on you charges.  Be safe.

    Speaking of safe,   there is a blizzard warning for counties west of us.

    And I ain't talking Dairy Queen!

    Beware the Ides of March.  (Also the name of a band from the 60s...I think from the Chicago suburbs but I don't remember for sure.)

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

Jackie got an Easter cactus from Emily and Peeps from Julia

I know.....I should not eat this stuff.  But I will, eventually!
And no, that is not a boomerang stuck in my head.  

odds and ends

 Just a collection of strange things tonight

    I have been watching Twilight Zone reruns for the past couple of weeks.

    I was surprised at the number of "famous" actors that have appeared in the series.

    The episode today had a lead male who looked familiar, but I could not place him.  When the credits rolled it turned out to be William Shatner!  Back in the late 50s he was a really good looking young man.

    Others who have appeared that I remember were Burgess Meredith and Orson Beane.  One young girl who appeared was not listed in the credits, but a search turned up her name.  She stole the show in the Twilight episode, went on to do many movies, but I don't remember her name.  

    Went to Culver's tonight.  As I was walking out 2 young men stepped in front of me and immediately apologized.  One held the first door for me and the other held the second door for me.  I thanked them and reminded myself there is hope for the future.

    Drove past 5 gas stations in town and 4 of them were at $3.59.  The fourth was $3.57.  Thanks, Sleepy Joe!  Just funny that they were all the same.  One station does offer gas for $3.49 if you pay cash, otherwise it is $3.59.  

    Watching the WBC and am amazed how many people decorate themselves.  Painted faces, costumes, wigs.....interesting to watch the crowd.  It's sort of like watching all star teams play.  Of course, I root for the Cubs and former Cubs I like, like Owen Cassie, and Kyle Schwarber.  

    Wind seems to have finally died down.  I was up until late (or early, depending on your point of view) because it just was blowing so hard I was a bit unsettled.  

    I watched a drone video of Wheatfield Indiana where a tornado went through solar farms.  I was shocked how many farms there were!  There was damage to the fields, and now I wonder if the whole field shuts down or just the damaged area.

    Please tell me we are not going to have a winter storm next week.

    Exit 99, our improv group, is performing April 17.  Details to come.  We really are a funny bunch.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

fit mess

I have a fitness tracker on my phone 

    It keeps track of the steps I take during the day.

    I set a goal, and when I reach that goal it sends me a little message.  It's like a participation trophy.

    Lately I have not been reaching my goal!

    I must not be walking as much, or not carrying my phone.

    I think it is not carrying my phone.  

    Parking far away from the front of a store is one strategy I use to increase steps, but I don't go to the store every day.  And the other day I forgot where I parked.    

    When I am close to the goal, I let Beth out at night and then march back and forth like a sentry on duty.  If my neighbors spot me they will probably think I have finally gone off the deep end.

    Last night I was real close to the goal.

    I thought if I walked around the house, I would reach the goal.

    I made 12 loops through the kitchen, great room, dining room.

    The needle did not budge.

    Made another 12 loops.....no change.

    Made 20 loops.....no change.

    By then I was damn tired, so I settled down with a cup of honey laced tea that is supposed to relax me.

    Well, it did relax me.....but drinking it at 10 before bedtime proved to be a mistake.  I was up at 12:30, 1:30, and 3 to use the bathroom.  Beth barked at some point, Jackie poked me, and I told them both I was not getting up.

    The house was quiet until Beth started barking again, Jackie started poking me again, and I said again I am not getting up to let her out.

    You know what?  Beth was fine.  

    I figure in an 8 hour period, I was up or poked 5 times.

    No wonder I am tired.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace.