learning something every day

Sometimes I just do an ooops

     I took a lot of pictures on vacation this summer.

     I downloaded them from my good camera...something like 1,200 pictures.

     Then I spent considerable time weeding out about 400 pictures, editing them out on the computer.

     The other day I plugged in my camera to download some pictures.  I had not deleted the files on the camera after I downloaded them to the computer.

     So the computer read the files and downloaded the 400 pictures I had deleted.

     Kinda stresses me out a little when I do stuff like that!

     Now I have to start over.  

     It's really hard for me to make decisions on pictures.  I love all of them.

     But I have resolved to get these into a book I can look at someday and even show people, asking them, "Who are these people?"

     True story.  (Not that all my stories aren't true.  But this one is really true.)

     After my mom died, I ended up with all the pictures she had taken.  

     I went through them, looking at people who she knew but I didn't.  She had marked most of them on the back.

     There was one picture of a nice looking older gent standing in front of her house in Leisure Village in Fox Lake.

     On the back she had written:  "Who the hell is this?"

     I always laugh when I think of her pictures.

    She also had a tendency to take pictures but either cut off people at their noses or foreheads....so you had pictures of people with partial faces.  Sometimes they did not have heads at all.

     I miss those days.

     Tomorrow I have to try to figure out what is causing that extremely strange smell in my garage.

    Good night....sleep tight....don't let your memories bring fright.

go figure

Sometimes life is a puzzle

     For instance, I can't get distances down.  When I ride my bike, one loop around my subdivision is 2.3 miles. 
     So today, I decided to ride into town. 
     I went partway through my subdivision, then out onto Skare Road, then north to Fowler Road, then east.....and just before I got to Emily and John's street, I hit a mile.  I didn't hit two miles until almost Flagg Center!
     Just seems longer than 2 miles, or one loop around the subdivision.
     Anyway, my round trip from my house to the Cypress House was 13.3 miles.       When I ride the bike path, including the spur, it is almost 12.2 miles.  It just does not seem possible that I am going about the same distance.
     Another example of a puzzle.
     For the past two weeks my left hip has been sore.  I have tried ointments. heating pads, ice......nothing helps.  Two nights ago I could not sleep it was so sore.
     At some point as I was tossing and turning I turned and heard a snap, like when you crack your knuckles.  And the pain was gone!  I have not hurt since!
     In my non medical mind, I must have had a piece of cartilage break off and get stuck in the hip joint. It eventually worked its way free.  True, I am not a doctor, but I have spent nights in a Holiday Inn.
     And finally, why do I get so hungry at about 10?  I am starving!  I just had a yogurt, and that helps.  But I am hungry.
     Something salty...and sweet....and crunchy....and tasty.......
     Or maybe a glass of water instead.
     That would be wiser.......but not as much fun.
    Good night, or good morning.

riding, riding, riding

I finally got a bike ride in today

     I last rode on Saturday.  But I only did part of the bike path because I got very hot and sticky.
     Sunday and Monday it was too hot, Tuesday it was too rainy, so today was the first chance I had.
     To be honest, I saw people out riding in the heat on Sunday and Monday.  But they are younger than me and heat doesn't bother young people.
     Riding clears my head, yet fills it at the same time.
     I talk to myself.  Out loud.   Nobody is around to hear me, at least I hope they aren't.
     I think.  Sometimes I think about things to write about, or things to joke about, or serious things....like an oil train derailing and consuming me in a giant ball of fire so I am in the headlines of every paper....."Exploding train takes out retired teacher out for a bike ride...film at 11."
     Sometimes I survive the crash and am interviewed by major news networks.
         Reporter:  Did  this horrific fireball and derailment surprise you?
        Me             Heck no.  In fact, I had them in the pool.  See here?  Massive destruction and giant fireball.....12:57 p.m. Aug. 30.
     I try to remember things.  The characters on Cheers.  Members of The Monkeys.  (I get Davey Jones, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmeth but Mickey Dolenz always slips my mind, although I can see that round face clearly.)  Beatles song lyrics. Lines from Casablanca.  Who was stuck on Gilligan's Island.  Who  I would like to be stuck with on Gilligan's Island.  (Hint:  Not Gilligan, the Skipper, the Professor or the millionaire or his wife.)
     Stuff like that.
     Before I know it, my ride is over. 
     And I return to the real world.
     Hopefully, it will be sunny and dry tomorrow.
     Because paraphrasing an old TV show, The old teacher rides again!
     Good night and thanks for reading me.

all prepped

I was ready for the storms

     I made sure the grill was secure and the cover bungee corded in place, the hanging plants taken down, the lightweight chairs stored under the table on the deck........prepared.

     Usually I just ignore that stuff.  But I just felt tonight might require prudence.

     It was windy, and nothing was blown away....although a utility pole was blown down about 4 miles west, causing our power to blip on and off quickly.

     All I had to do was reset the times on the microwave and oven.

     We could not watch the ball game because they lost the connection, or something.  But rain hit Wrigley in the tenth, so nothing to watch anyway.

     I had a couple of cups of coffee and my morning tea, but that didn't prevent me from falling asleep in my chair.  I sat down at 3 and woke up at 5.  I did not intend to take a nap, but I did.  Another benefit of a retired life style.

     And today I went on a little walk with fifth graders from my old room.  We talked about Rochelle's history, and a local man who was one of the first casualties in the Gulf War in 1991.

     The kids were pretty well behaved.  I do miss that age group.  I don't miss the paperwork, parent conferences, lesson planning, getting up early....... but I do miss the energy of those kids.

     That's my life.

it was hot

Today was not a good weather day

It was so muggy, I had my wallet taken three times!
It was so hot, the grass actually turned over!
It was so hot, flies were ringing my doorbell to come in!
It was so muggy, I had to use a pry bar to free my arm after it became stuck to my side!
It was so hot, birds actually took shelter in the shade my belly provided!
It was so hot, one  politician actually thought he had died and awakened to his afterlife!
It was so hot, fish jumped out of the Rock River already boiled!
It was so hot, I could fry a steak on the sidewalk to go with the egg!
It was so hot, yogis gave up walking on hot coals and walked barefot on baking roads instead!
It was so hot, I saw a tree shed its bark in an attempt to get cool!
It was so hot, I could not think of anything else to write!
Good night!!

what happened??

I had an unreal experience today

     For the past three weeks I have been making an effort to avoid sugar and sugary foods. 
     So, almost  no pop.  No frosted cereal.  No adding sugar to my coffee.  No ultra caramel frappe concoctions from the coffee people.
     No pop is the ultimate aim, but I do have one a week.  That was yesterday.
     And today I stopped at the big name coffee shop in DeKalb and had an ultra  caramel frappe concoction.l
     I took one sip.....and I did not like it!  I have had about 10 of them this summer, usually on my way home from the zoo, and I loved all of them.
     Today?  It was sweet...sickening sweet.
     I think that is a good thing, but how did that happen to me?
     I love chocolate, donuts, cookies, anything that is sweet.  But lately I have hardly had any of those items....except for the German Christmas cookies I have been saving.
     Sugar could be my nickname.  (Or my professional name if I was a stripper.  But I am not.)
     So for me to be turned off by it is kind of strange.
     I just hope I can keep it up and get it off!!!
     And that is my thought for the night.
     Sweet dreams........or in my case, no sugar dreams.

a white rabbit

I might be a well known character in disguise

     I think I am the White Rabbit in a different life.
     He's late, he's late, for a very important date.
     The story of my life.
     I am always in a rush.  Always doing stuff at the last minute.
     Sometimes it is procrastination, sometimes I am busy but usually it's because is just screwed up on the times.
     Be somewhere to buy raffle tickets?  I barely get there, thinking I am half an hour early but actually at the closing time of the booth.
     You've heard me say it hundreds of times.....  I just get cobbled.
     And it is not a new development. 
     Before Jackie and I were married, we went to a going away party for a college friend.  Jackie asked me dozens of times about the party and I always said it was at 2 p.m. on Sunday.   Well, we were 24 hours late.  It was on Saturday.
     I almost got on the wrong train twice because I did not read the complete listing.  And it's always because I procrastinate or just get rushed.
     Like this week.  I do a column for the local paper every second and fourth Sunday.  I write the column on Wednesday-Thursday and e-mail it Thursday night.
     I got in a hurry Thursday night and finished the column late at night.  I then sent it to the wrong person!  Sure, the first names were the same, but I was in a hurry and did not check the total drop down menu.
     We had a Buffett party today and I went for a brief while....but again, I was in a rush to get there and in a rush to leave, so much so that I forgot about having a good time in the middle.  I was enjoying the company when the White Rabbit appeared and started shouting , "You're late!  You're late!"
     Sad thing is, I will never change.  I'm too old a dog to learn new tricks.
     Now, I'm going to bed before the day ends.
     Peace and love to all.