Grocery Store Pickup

My right hip is causing enough problems that I can't go through the grocery store to choose items, even with the roller/walker I bought.  Can't manage the roller and a shopping cart at the same time.   So I decided to surrender and get store pickup.  I can drive without any difficulty.

I have had a few CT and X-rays of the hip, but nothing is "for certain" yet.  I'll tell you all when it is.

I say "surrender" because I am fussy about fresh fruits and veggies.  I'm sure I will get hard peaches and limp lettuce.  I think my "fussy" days are done.  I can use the roller in small shops where I am buying small amounts.  But my grocery-shopping is bountiful.  

So I tried out shopping online at Safeway (and I'm sure other stores are about the same).  It was difficult.  OK, it was the first time...  I had to look up categories and scroll through pages of items by popularity to find what I wanted.  They seem to think that everyone wants only canned, frozen, and prepared foods.  And I suppose they are right, but I'm not in that group.  

So I went through veggies, fruits, condiments, and a few other categories.  Finally finished with 48 items.  And then couldn't check out!  Went around in circles with the cart and "continue" several times.  Finally saw a small chatbot button and tried it.  It's pretty stupid, but eventually I figured out the right question.

Apparently, even though I was signed in, I had to sign in again.  I guess that the 2nd sign-in actually registered I was placing a pickup order.  Even then, I had to go through my entire shopping order to undo "allow substitutions".  Seriously, if I am ordering yellow peaches I don't want a white nectarine.  They should have a button at the top to say "no substitutions" for everything.

I wish I was a young coding expert working for them who could do things like that.  But then, they probably just order delivery food every day.  And just mentioning that the store cashiers are baffled at things like bok choy or parsnips.  Well, OK, I understand.   If it isn't something you buy yourself, you don't recognize it very well.

But I finally managed to get to a payment page!  After that I got an email confirmation on the order.  I sure hope the stuff is decent quality...

I'll tell you how this all went tomorrow.

The Wildlife Is Vanishing

Yes, true worldwide, but I'm thinking of the local ones.  And specifically my yard.  

I keep a mostly organic yard (OK, I spray individual poison ivy plants).  But I do things to help the birds and bees and other stuff thrive.  Half my backyard is left semi-wild.  Lots of small trees for bird-nesting.  I have black oil sunflower seed in one feeder for most songbirds, 2 thistle seed feeders for the purple and gold finches, and 2 nectar feeders for the hummingbirds.

I have 5'x3'pond for frogs.  With plants and debris at the bottom to support aquatic insects.  I have butterfly bushes, pollinator plants, and plants that insect larvae can develop on.  

I used to see some possums and raccoons at night.  I used to hear thousands of Spring Peeper frogs in the swamp across the street in the Spring.

But that has been changing.  I noticed a few years ago that the Swamp was quiet; no Spring Peepers calling in the thousands.  I used to see deer in my front yard and the neighbors in snow prints and visually.  I used to see snow prints of other various critters.

When I moved here 37 years ago, there were no cardinals, finches, etc.  But when I set up feeders, I got up to 6 pairs of cardinals, a bunch of purple finches, a dozen goldfinches, and various smaller birds (titmice, wrens, woodpeckers, etc).  Sometimes, the sunflower seed feeder was mobbed by starlings (I did tend to chase them away as they would just empty the feeder in a few hours, leaving nothing for the other birds and the stuff is somewhat expensive).   I haven't seen it mobbed in a few years.

I think we are in trouble.  If my generally organic semi-wild yard can't support cardinals, finches, and other small birds with good food, something is going very wrong.  If there are no frogs in the pond, something is very wrong.  If the deer (those damned landscape-eaters) are becoming more rarely seen,  something is very wrong.  

My hummingbirds haven't come back this year.  I haven't seen a single butterfly.  I haven't seen a possum on the deck at night.  I haven't seen many bees (Honey or Bumble) and it has been warm enough for a month.  I haven't seen any hornets (not that I love them).  But still, that is not a good sign.

Something is going bad, and I think we are causing all this.  As Pogo said "We have met the enemy and it is us".  

 

Last Daffodils and Good Deck Pots

The daffodils are fading.  This is from a week ago on their final days. 

Fortunately,  my cherry tomato pot has these survivors from last year.

The pansies are finally blooming better.  They just didn't do well over Winter.

Several different color combinations.  When I bought them in Fall, there were no blooms, so it was all random.

I like the purple ones.

I'm not sure if these are asters or tithonia.  Regardless, I will enjoy them.

These are Moonbeam Coreopsis.  They have been growing in that pot without much care for about 15-20 years now.  They might outlast me.

The star-gazer lilies are growing again.  They are about as old as the coreopsis.

I need to go off the deck and the pictures of the yard flowers...

May 4th

 May The Farce Be With You this day!

Adventures In Driving

 Last month, my cable box partially died, so they sent a replacement.  But they wanted the old one back anyway.  The store in town only handles wireless services.  So I had to either get a shipping label and stand in line at UPS or drive 10 miles.  I hate driving!  But as I posted yesterday, it hurts to stand.  So I decided to drive.

I've lived here 38 years.  But I almost never drive south.  So first, I tried to avoid the highway and take a bypass.  I got lost.  It took 15 miles and 20 minutes to get 5 miles heading south.  And that wasn't the worst part!

I was using a County street book map.  In the town where the cable equipment return was, there were only 2 turns to make off the highway to get to them.  I couldn't find the street.  You are gonna laugh at this...  The book map is oriented north.  I forgot I was driving south!  I got the streets all backwards.  And right turns were left turns.  😭

It took me over an hour to find a place 10 miles away!  At least the drive home only took 15 minutes.  👍

NOW What?

It's always something, right?  The morning after the DR exam, I discovered it hurt to stand up.  My right hip feels weak.  Oddly, walking is not bad and sitting/sleeping causes no problem.  I can't figure out what is causing it though.  I didn't fall, bump a table corner, or do anything strenuous.  There is no bruise or swelling.  I can push on the sore spot and even pound on it without pain.  

But standing hurts!  Standing at the kitchen counter to prepare dinner is miserable.  Same with preparing the cat bowls, and that is 6 times a day.  

I sure hope this heals on its own, fast.  I have 2 velcro knee braces for occasional use.  Today I put one on the right knee.  Sometimes pain is caused in one spot due to a problem in another.  And I used the other above that as close to the hip as I could get it.  

That helps slightly.  So does standing with my feet about shoulder-width apart.  And so does keeping my right foot slightly behind the left.  But "slightly" is not much!  I'll be doing a lot of sitting.  Fortunately, I have plenty of computer work to do.

I hope this isn't a problem re-emerging from the ladder fall in 2021!

 

Dr Visit

I put off the annual exams because of Covid, but went today (been 6 years, actually).  More questions from the Dr than I remember from past visits.  Alcohol and tobacco usage, diet, sleeping habits, socialization, happiness level, activity level.  All of which make sense.  I keep up with medical advice from trustable sources.

It's not like I smoke or drink much, but less is always better.  I probably won't change that, much.  A cocktail while I am preparing dinner and 2 small glasses on wine with dinner aren't exactly binge-drinking.  And I'm not the most face-to-face social person (but I did attend a small party at a neighbor last week, and everything went well).  And I just generally feel pretty happy with myself.  Some people can't stand being alone; I have no problem with that.  And the Dr agreed.

The tests went great.  Reflexes good, diet great, mental alertness better than average (he asked a few odd questions), general activity level satisfied him.  He had me stretch a few times, touch my toes standing up, and reach across my back to have my hands meet (they did, barely).  So, in general, he says I'm in better than average condition at 73 (and 74 next month).

There was the always weird prostate exam.  Woo-Hoo!  But he found no problem.

The technician said my EKG results were excellent.  I'm not sure about the blood pressure.  It was 163 over 80.  She said the systolic is always a bit high in the stress of an exam, so maybe reality is 140 over 80 and she said not to worry about that.  

I have to visit a separate office for a blood panel and a different one for a cancer screening.  And another for one of those general allergy tests (where they stick a board of needles in your back and see if one spot puffs up).  

There were also question about family medical history.  None have died of anything that seems genetic (well Mom had Parkinson's).  The main cause of death in my lineage seems to be old age.  So I might reach 2050.  100 would be cool (if it was in good health).  But personally, I'm willing to "check out" if things get too difficult.

But it was a really positive visit and I'm glad I went.  I even (oddly) feel healthier.  😀

Found The Missing Camera

I found it in the washing machine.  Which doesn't make sense.  Knowing it was missing, and looking for it everywhere, I took all the clothes out of the hamper a few days ago and felt around all the pockets and did not find it.  From any logic, I could just as well found it on the roof.

But there it was...  I've taken the memory card and battery out and I'm letting it sit to dry for a couple weeks.  Maybe it will work after that and maybe not.  And maybe the memory card and battery will work and maybe not.  No rush since I have a new camera, but there are pictures on the memory card and I would like to get at those.

In one sense, it is good to have a mystery solved.  On the other, it is sad to ruin a camera by carelessness.  Fortunately, the cost is not a problem.  And the replacement is identical, so there is no learning curve involved.  

I've taken more pictures with the replacement, but I am too worn out from preparing taxes, Binq's vet visit and sorting out general clutter to process them today.  I'll catch up.  

Flower Report

Spring is such a lovely time of year.  I love daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths.   The tulips don't last very long (in terms of years) even when planted in wire cages to keep the voles away from the bulbs.  But they vary in lifetime.  I have some 10 yer old red tulips.  The fancy ones die young.

And once, I planted some yellow tulips among the yellow daffodils.  What was I thinking?  They showed up like ice cubes on snow.  LOL!

The hyacinths live longer, but they need cages from the voles too.  Tulips and hyacinths are vole-candy!  But the daffs are slightly toxic and seem to live forever.  I recall driving past a Washington DC hillside where Lady Bird Johnson had them planted in the 60s.  40 yers later, they were still growing and blooming wild.

So I love daffodils...

I planted a front yard box of a mix of early and late varieties 30 years ago.  They are still growing great!  Here are the late ones (and they are fragrant, which is unusual for a daffodil).

Some of the surviving red tulips...

In the daffodil bed, I planted a few caged tulips, 9 each cage.  Some still last.

But what happened here?  I don't recall planting any mixed colors in a cage.  And I'm pretty sure they don't change colors!  

My guess is squirrels.  I've read that sometimes squirrels dig up bulbs (thinking they are nuts they buried) and replant them elsewhere.  That doesn't really explain why "all in the same spot", but who knows how a squirrel thinks?  I do know that there are crocuses in my lawn where I never planted them.

But I enjoy whatever Spring flowers I get...

And speaking of flowers...  The pansies I planted last Fall had a hard time of it over Winter.  I thought none would ever bloom!  But about half of them are perking up now, so I will enjoy what I can of them before Summer heat kills them off.  

Years ago, I put in a flowerbed edging of "species" (old simple ones) daffodils and purple&yellow crocuses.  The voles ate the crocus bulbs (mostly), but the daffodis remain.

They looked like this, back then...

This last is the cat memorial garden.  I took the boxes off (don't worry, I know where each one goes) and covered the area in cardboard last Fall.  By Summer, all the weeds should be dead.  

And then I'll put down weed-blocker fabric so the kitty-angels won't be insulted with weeds.  OK, OK, I know they don't actually care.  But it matters to me.  I look at the spot often enough.  And they were my daily companions...

Taxes

 It was gruesome!  Not because I couldn't do them, but because all the computer stuff was "off".

Last December, the laser printer stopped printing in color.  I haven't solved that yet.  But last week, it stopped printing at all.  Just kept saying "load paper".  Which I did without it working after.  And just before tax time of course.

I use H&R Block software (for about 10 years).  Never a problem.  I just check off boxes and add a few numbers (and they are very good saying "enter number in box 1A here").  And that sure helps.  I have index stocks, and (for example) one question is "foreign taxes paid".  Like I have any idea what that really means.  But they do.  So I go to the my index fund site and they tell my a number.  I add that to H&R.  

At the end, they do a review for inconsistencies.  If there are any, they send me to the place to review the numbers.  If not, my taxes are done and I just hit "print".  I like to send printed tax forms; it's just easier in some ways.

But here's the problem.   As I mentioned, my printer stopped working.  And H&R Block software said I had no internet connection.  Which was ridiculous.  I had just downloaded the software on the internet, I got an email confirmation security code from them, and my email is working just fine.

But I couldn't get to their help site online "no internet connection", according to them.  So I couldn't finish my tax forms, couldn't ask for help, and I couldn't even print out a filing extension form!  The printer call number said queue was an hour at best.  And I tried that one before with no success.  H&R was worse.  Not even a guess as to wait time.

I spent the entire past few days trying to fix problems.  It's maddening.  Trouble-shooting company sites send you around in circles.

But I finally solved the immediate B&W printer problem so I could at least print out the tax extension request forms from direct Federal and State sites.

That was only because it finally occurred to me to download the printer manual and search it.  Sure enough, it solved the problem.  Not that it was easy.  The manual addresses several models and even for my own, the displays didn't exactly match the instructions.  

Part of the problem is that my Canon printer can be used as a network printer and the defaults are set for that.  Stuff like needing a network ID and "secure printing".  Undoing all that was a real bad day!  The settings are so individual-unfriendly, you even have to specify the weight and brightness of the paper!  I suppose that makes sense on an office network where everything stays the same.  But sometimes I buy cheap paper.  

I did get that all undone.  But why did it work so well for 4 years and then suddenly stop?  Probably an update aimed at office network printers...

I hope I never have to do it again.  But the joy I felt when seeing a short document print out was HUGE!    

JOY!  DANCING!  GLEE!

Now I just have to get the color working again..  But B&W was enough to print the tax extension due-date forms, and that gets me time to deal with H&R Block software problems.

Still, I had to send Federal and State checks.  I had 2 forced withdrawals from my Govt Thrift Saving Plan and didn't anticipate that.  So I owe more than usual.  But the TSP  told me; I just didn't realize the tax consequences.

Live and learn.  But at least I solved a couple of computer problems.  That deserves a steak dinner.  And I don't care if it is actually 11 pm just before I have this post scheduled for "tomorrow", I'm going to cook one and eat it watching some superhero movie!  I'll catch up on the veggies tomorrow.

Feeling good...

Poker Night

 OK, my Dad used to play poker "with the guys" on Friday nights.  He even built a round poker table (and it was "perfect" with pockets for drinks and others for the chips..  He was good at stuff like that.  But average at poker.  We kids could tell when Dad had a bad night because our allowances came late.

I used to play penny poker in college.  I was better than average (my penny collection box got heavier) but I was never in it for the pennies (broke as I was at the time).

But at least I understood all the rules.   Five card draw, 7 card stud, even "chicago" (best and worst hands split the pot).

So my neighbor has weekly poker nights for quarters and has been asking me to attend.   I decided to attend last Friday.  I can play for quarters.    So I arrived with a bag of potato chips as a gift and a pocketful of quarters.  

But OMG!  Their basement was a room of games.  Poker table, pool table, darts, some old video game,  etc and 2 tables of fancy snacks.  Let's just say I set my bag of potato chips in a corner, LOL!

And they don't play any version of poker I know.  I can't even find them on Google.

Bowtie - I can only HOPE I describe this correctly.  5 cards down to each and YOUR middle one is automatically wild for you.  And so is the same card for the person to your left (but not others).  So if the person to your RIGHT has a wld card you have, you have that too.  

Then you turn up a down card from (fom left to right) and decide to bet a quarter or not (which can be raised a quarter).  And everyone has to know what each other's wild card (and the person to the left) is. 

And you can buy a new card for $1.50 (and that is routine).   Eventually, there is a (sort of) standard poker hand that wins.  But, by the time they are done with all the various wild cards, a straight or a flush is a loser.  

They all know the game and there are cards being flipped and quarters tossed into the pot almost too fast to follow.

27/7 - Some combination of 21 and Natural Nine.  I thought I had a chance at understanding this one, but no.  The object is to get 7 or 27 points and 7 beats 27.  Aces are zero and face cards are a half point (a 6 and a face card is great) but a 7 is bad because you have to accept at least 2 cards and a face card throws you over 7.  

And they throw quarters around like they know what they doing (and they apperently do.). I've seen those machine coin counters in stores, and they don't move quarters around as fast!

I've read "Never play poker with a man named 'Doc'".  Well 'Doc' would lose his mind and money in these games.

And oddly, these folks are helpful to each other about who won each hand.  I can't say it was a "vote", but often enough the groups seemed to decide who had won each hand.  I have the vague idea it was so someone would got more quarters, but not by much.  On the other hand, they were pretty firecley trying to win each hand.

I tried one hand of bowtie on the promise that if I won, they would tell me.  LOL!  I eventually left  with 4 quarters less than when I arrived.

The good lady neighbor tried to explain each to me, even showing me her cards (thankfully, I do have a bland poker face), but none of it made any sense to me.

But there were great snacks.  And the pool table.  And dart bord.  And a bored English teen from one of  the poker players.  We played darts.  First person to hit the bullseye won.  Neither of us could.

Pool Table - At least I know that!  So I racked up and practiced.  The neighbor lady left the poker table to play a round with me (good hostess she was).   Naturally, the game wasn't what I expected.  I know 8-ball and rotation and I've played 9-ball.  

But she said "stripes or solids"?  Huh?  Oh, I caught on fast after thinking a few seconds.  You each try to sink all "yours".  I won that easily (and she was trying her best, honest).  

So the english teen asked me to show him how to play.  When I was his age, I could play a double hit to a corner pocket and jump a ball.  But I was also an advanced Boy Scout and Cub Den Chief at his same age, and helping other's learn a skill comes naturally to me.  

We had a grand time of it.  He thrust the cue like trying to kill a bison, LOL!  So I spent a good happy hour teaching him  that the forward hand was like a golf tee (just a holder) and all the aim came from the back hand.  He was a "lefty" so I had to adjust my advice for that.

I explained that pool was (mostly) all geometry (my favorite class in high school) and he was taking that himself).  And he caught on to that.  

I couldn't get him to stop hitting the cue ball at the bottom though.   Can't teach everything in 1 hour.  But I did get him to actually aim and move his cue slowly.  His Dad gave me a "thumbs up" a couple times.  And neighbor lady smiled a few times too.  

I enjoyed the evening, even if I had no idea how to play the weird poker games.  But sometimes it is good to just be around other people.

And I wonder if that teen will someday remember "that old guy" who showed him pool.  It's like mentioning something to a person in a grocery store about how to choose good produce.  Maybe they will remember or maybe they don't.  And you will never know.