Backgammon, the game

I really enjoy the game of Backgammon but don't get to play often because, after all, it is a game for two and my cat hasn't caught on to it yet.  However, I did make a wonderful discovery on my smart phone.  It contains a backgammon game - yeah!!  I find I'm not too bad at the game, which, blissfully, can be set at several different difficulty levels.  I'm honing my skills and someday soon I will challenge my friend Al to a game.  He is the champion of acey ducey backgammon and I would really enjoy beating him once.  Everyone needs a goal...

now that's astonshing

A weather reporter on TV yesterday informed the listeners that the low that morning was 48 degrees, making it, he said "the second coldest day ever."  That surprised me a little because I distinctly remember some sub-zero days this past winter that certainly seemed colder to me.  In the next weather report, some 20 minutes later, he had modified his story somewhat and informed us that yesterday was the second coldest July 29th ever, which sounded a little more reasonable, but still ever is a long, long time.  Finally, the third time around, he explained that we had almost broken the record for coldest July 29th which was set in 1904 at 47 degrees.  Now that is amazing.  I didn't even know they kept records in 1904, but, I'm sorry, it's still not 'ever".  I suspect that there were colder Julys during the last ice age.  Of course July hadn't been invented yet, so I'm not sure if that counts.

Don't just sit there!

I heard the results of another study this morning and this one resonates with me. It seems that too much sitting is bad for your health. Too much sitting actually shortens your life span. When I think about it I know that I do much less sitting when I'm at home just doing general house and yard work than when I'm at work sitting in front of my computer. So it seems obvious to me that my retirement (still 7 months away) is coming not a minute too soon.  Retirement is good for your health.

salute to twizzlers

Twizzlers are a funny kind of candy. Chewy and fruity and not too sweet. They don't (usually) taste of chocolate and they don't melt in your mouth, but they are strangely satisfying.  I bought a package at the movie I went to with my granddaughter yesterday and had a few of them as a snack this evening. I hadn't had a Twizzler for a long time, but now I'm contemplating buying some at the grocery store when I go shopping tomorrow evening. Hummm, I suspect they may be addictive.

getting preachy

I try not to get preachy too often in this blog but today I was struck with an idea while I was in church.  It does happen every once in a while. Yesterday I wrote about a survey which purported that most people thought they would be happier if they had more money.  One prayer this morning began "Dear Lord, we give back to you in thankfulness what you have given to us in kindness."  I suspect that people would really be deep down happier if they focused more on giving than getting.  A fairly cliched idea, I know but worth contemplating I think.

again, why is this surprising?

Results of another survey announced on TV. It seems that 65% of Americans surveyed think they would be happier if they had more money.  $100,000 income per year seemed to be the standard goal.  It seems, from the same survey, that 20 years ago people dreamed of making $50,000 a year.  Surprise! Inflation even in our daydreams.

something other than 13.1

I was driving with my daughter recently and saw an oval sticker on the back of a car which simply said 13.1.  I commented on it and my daughter explained that it indicated someone who had successfully completed a half marathon.  She went on to say that if you finish a full marathon you can get a sticker that says 26.2. It got me thinking about what sort of sticker I could put on my car, maybe 0.1 if we're talking running.  I actually can walk a mile so maybe W1?  I did a two mile hike recently up and down a fairly steep hill.  Perhaps /\2?

Back to School??

They are starting to run back to school ads on TV and making announcements asking for donations to back to school causes.  I know, in my mind, that it really is only three weeks until students in this area go back to school - they start back in mid-August.  But today is a 90 degree day in July and it does not feel like back to school.  I would like to protest the speed at which this summer has flown by, but everyone's too busy back to school shopping to listen.

Auto envy

I saw a car today that just might be my next car.  I saw it at the Buick dealership while I was waiting for some repairs to be done on my current car - a 2004 Rendezvous.  Now I like my Rendezvous a  lot, but it is 10 years old and does have 125,000+ miles on it, so sooner or later I may have to consider trading it in.  Today I got a good look at a Buick Encore - cute, cute, cute.  Then I looked at the price tag - ouch, ouch, ouch!  I guess I'll be waiting a couple of years and shopping for a nice used one.  I must control the impulse!

the lowly Tootsie Roll

I like candy.  I love dark chocolate and am convinced that it's one of the basic food groups. But for pure snacky enjoyment, it's hard to beat a Tootsie Roll. Mind you, I hadn't had one for a long time, but yesterday I caught some tiny Tootsies being tossed from a float in a parade I was watching and tonight I am enjoying them. Yumm...

Welcome to Indiana, Susan

My daughter-in-law's mother moved to Fort Wayne three weeks ago, and in the time since she got here the delivery of her furniture was delayed by two weeks, her washer was incorrectly connected and leaked all over the floor, a box left on the stove in her apartment caught fire, and she has had to undergo treatment for a detached retina (thankfully successful). In addition, a few pieces of furniture were damaged in the move and when she tried to apply for inconvenience compensation because of the delayed delivery, she was informed that her stuff didn't weigh enough to qualify.  Welcome to Indiana Susan, it can only get better from here.

reunions

Tomorrow evening I'll be attending a unique sort of reunion.  140 of us are gathering to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first graduating class from the first high school I attended.  Interestingly, I was in the last class to attend that high school.  In my sophomore year we merged with another school and my class size jumped from 30 to 50 students - talk about your big schools!! Which leads me to one of the thing that I'm looking forward to most about this reunion. I'll be one of the youngest ones there, and believe me, at 69, that doesn't happen too often.

BMV missives

Since I got home from vacation I've had two interesting pieces of correspondence from the Indiana BMV. The first informed me, in no uncertain terms, that I must file proof of insurance because of the accident I had been in before I left on vacation (which wasn't my fault and I had shown the policeman my insurance card).
If I didn't submit such proof by August 13 my driver's license would be suspended.  Happily, when I checked with my insurance company they knew what I was talking about and had already taken care of it.
Today I got the second letter informing me that my license won't be suspended this time although it doesn't prevent any other suspensions that might be pending. Such warmth! Such reassurance! Their tone could freeze fish.

to each her own

I love my dishwasher,  It's sloshing away right now, cleaning up my dishes, while I sit here in the family room "working" on my computer.  While visiting with my brother and sister-in-law last week, I did dishes, or helped with the dishes, several times (I try to be a good guest).  They have a lovely home with all the modern amenities, including a huge frig and a six-burner professional range, but my sis-i-l prefers not to have a dishwasher.  She and my brother have raised five children over the last 30-some years (the youngest is 16 now) and it seems to me a dishwasher would have been a nice thing to have.  On the other hand she has had a fairly steady supply of child labor so maybe she knows what she's doing.  She also hangs clothes on a clothes line, even though she has a dryer, but that I understand completely.  If hand washed dishes smelled as good as line dried sheets I would wash them by hand myself.  No I wouldn't.  Who am I kidding?

first day back

Today was my first day back at work after a lovely two-week vacation.  Talk about mixed feelings. glad to see people but reluctant to get back to work.  First thing in the morning I was hit with the information that my friend who covered for me for the last two weeks has had the nerve to go on her vacation this week, so now I'm covering for her.  I ask you! Then I was hit with a reminder of two major projects that I started before vacation and need to finish this week.  One day back and I'm ready for another vacation.

This doesn't bode well

I just heard a story on the evening news saying that someone has stolen a cannon from the Old Fort. A man being interviewed said that if someone tried to fire it without knowing how, it could blow up like a 250 pound pipe bomb. Yikes.  I suspect that whoever stole it does plan to fire it off - maybe with the idea of a delayed 4th of July firework. Unless the plan is to use it as a dramatic lawn ornament - one can only hope!

mail call

A huge bundle of mail was left in my mail box today, the accumulation of two weeks, the sure sign of "vacation's end" sob. I've always sensed that most of my mail is junk but the time I just spent sorting through the accumulation was proof positive.  Over 50 pieces of mail netted 5, count them, 5, pieces of important mail. The post office recently announced that they might have to stop Saturday deliveries and maybe even another day of the week.  Really?  That wouldn't bother me at all.

back home again in Indiana

I've just returned from a two week driving trip to Spokane, WA to visit my youngest brother and his family.  We had a wonderful visit but I discovered on the trip coming and going that the Interstate road system lies to travelers. They're very honest about upcoming road construction areas but the lie comes as you're leaving a construction zone.  There is always a little sign at the end of each construction zone saying something like "end construction" or "construction zone ends".  No it doesn't!  It always starts up again in 20 or 40 or 60 miles.  I think a more honest sign would be "construction intermission".