The end of Winter?

 

Today, according to my favorite weather person, is the last day of meteorological winter, which means tomorrow, March 1, is the first day of meteorological spring.  Hooray!!  I guess I'm happy with this information because it seems that spring comes earlier.  When I was very young and in school, I don't remember any mention of meteorological spring or any other season.  I also don't remember any variation on when the seasons started.  Spring, for example, always started on the 21st of March, winter on the 21st of December and so forth.  But honestly, I don't care if spring actually comes on the 20th or 21st or even 22nd of March.  I am rejoicing in the fact that February is behind us.  March on!!!!

PS. February 28 is National Public Sleeping Day.  The only public sleeping I ever do is on long overnight flights and I started wearing masks on those flights long before it was a health requirement.  I discovered that if I have a mask on no one can tell if my mouth is open and it muffles my snores.  Can you tell I'm longing to travel?

It's amazing.

 When I was a young child the telephone that hung on our kitchen wall could do two things - make and receive calls. And that was very nice. When I was a working Realtor I had a car phone, big and boxy but still able to make and receive calls.  Eventually I graduated to a flip phone which allowed me to send texts if I was patient enough to tap each key multiple times to spell out words.  Then I got a semi-smart phone and could send texts more easily.  Finally, a few years ago I got my Moto7, probably old technology now but still a tool that continues to amaze me.  From emails to texts to Facebook to YouTube to ordering groceries to even making phone calls it does it all.  And today I discovered a new (to me) app that makes it even more marvelous.  I have long been a fan of books on CD that I could listen to while I was busy with other things like driving, but now I don't need a CD player or a trip to the library.  I can use "Libby."  I clicked on it by accident but discovered that, with it, I can check out recorded books from the library and listen to them on my phone.  Isn't that amazing?  Who ever thought that our phones could do so much?  I think Libby is destined to become my new BTF (best technology friend).

high definition

 Another side effect of my recent cataract surgery is that I now understand what high definition television means.  Suddenly news announcers and weather persons whom I've watched for years look their age.  Whole bunches of fine lines and wrinkles now show on their faces.  Now I knew, when I bought my TV a few years ago, that it was a high def TV.  What I didn't know, and it's not nearly so amusing, is that I also now own a high definition mirror.  

a new model

 After sharing my dead battery tale of woe with my brother he informed me that Fiat is coming out with a new total electric version of the Fiat 500, which is the model I drive.  I really like the idea of an electric car but it would require a place to plug it in.  Before I downsized that would not have been a problem.  My garage had several outlets that would have worked well.  Here it would not be so easy.  There is electricity for the overhead lights in our cave-like under ground garage.  Unfortunately, since this building was built in 1965, no thought was given to being able to plug in a car.  Someone would probably notice if I took out a lightbulb and screwed in an outlet (can you even do that?).  I could run a heavy duty extension cord from my apartment.  I pay my own electric bill so this wouldn't be cheating.  I figure 500 feet should do it.  I could either drop the cord from my balcony (I do have a heavy duty outdoor outlet there) or I could run it along the hall and down the stairwell.  If I dropped it from the balcony I would need to park outside but it could serve double duty as a fire escape.  I could zip down that cord, hop in my car and drive off.  Really, it's probably easier if I just keep my little gas guzzler but I do have to fill it up at least every six weeks.  

not exactly intentional

Today is Inconvenience Yourself Day, and while I didn't do it intentionally, I did manage to inconvenience myself.  This afternoon I had planned to go grocery shopping.  A few weeks ago I bragged to a friend about how reliable my little blue Fiat is.  I should have known better.  Truly, it had been very reliable.  Never a problem starting it, even if I hadn't driven it in two or three weeks, which happened a lot this past year.  However today was the end of that enviable record.  I loaded my cart and my bags in the car, and some books to return to the library, and confidently slid in behind the wheel.  I put the key in the ignition (no, I don't have a fancy keyless system) and turned it.  All the usual lights on the dashboard came on including a new one that seemed to be trying to tell me something about my battery. I really didn't need a little flashing symbol.  The fact that it was DEAD was very obvious.  Not even a groan or a whimper, just silence, lots of silence.  I've lived here for 5 years and have wondered occasionally how someone from AAA would get to my car in the underground parking garage if I ever needed help.  Well now I know.  The nice man from AAA hopped out of his big tow truck, which would never make it through the garage entrance, toting his handy dandy battery pack (about the size of a brief case, but blue and with wires).  We walked down into the garage, he jump started my car, after cleverly figuring out how to pop the hood, and hurried off to rescue the next person on his list.  I did not risk turning the car off but instead drove directly to my dealership where they checked everything out and cheerfully sold me a new battery.  Since the car is six years old that didn't really surprise me.  They also checked my tire pressure and gave me a 'free' car wash so, all in all, not a bad afternoon.  I'll try for the grocery store tomorrow which happens to be National Clam Chowder Day.  I will add that to my shopping list.

another great day

 Today is National Dog Biscuit Day.  It's also National Banana Bread Day, but (wait for it) even better than that, today is also National Rationalization Day.  I'm really not interested in dog biscuits and I baked gingerbread today because I didn't have any bananas.  Also I like gingerbread better than banana bread. I can however rationalize with the best of them.  Why today alone I rationalized that I could put off dusting because I could think of at least four or five more interesting things to do, like baking gingerbread.  I rationalized not watching an educational show on PBS because I really needed to find out what happens next on "This is Us." I rationalized that it was ok to have gingerbread for lunch, supper and bedtime snack because it's always better on the first day.  And I even rationalized that it was ok to write about rationalization today because I just couldn't think of anything else.

a Monday confession

 OK, I admit it.  Tonight I'm watching The Bachelor.  This is the first season I've watched this silly show.  It's so unbelievable and yet strangely addictive.  I do have my favorite candidate for the bachelor's future bride but I had to question my preference this evening.  I liked Rachel from the beginning because she seemed more "real" than most of the others.  Tonight, though, I have begun to question her common sense (if not her sanity).  It was her chance to organize their date and her choice was to go sky diving!  If you read this blog regularly you know that sky diving is right on the top of my list of things I would never ever do.  But they both survived so the show will go on.