SO DISAPPOINTED IN THE USPS

 I got a letter in the mail today.  It arrived in a plastic bag with a notice on it from the USPS saying it had been opened.  I opened the plastic bag and there was a card inside. The card had been opened by being slit along the top like with a knife.  Inside was a HELLO card from a friend with a letter inside the card.  It was not like a Hallmark card.  On the outside of the envelope there was a stamp from the USPS and checked off was that the envelope was unsealed (which it wasn't) and that it was in damaged condition.  The envelope was sealed.  The stamp was not canceled with a postmark so I can't see where and when it was mailed.  I know it was mailed around July 20, 2020 in New York because that is where my friend lives.  

My assumption is that someone at the post office intercepted the letter before it got to the machine that postmarks the letters and opened it looking for money or a check.  The letter then got put in some sort of bin that it got across the country and got to my main post office where they realized it was opened and stamped it, put a line through the stamp (thereby canceling it) and put it in the plastic bag.  All of that took a month.  

Tell me again that there is nothing wrong with the post office?  I have never in all my years had a piece of mail opened in such a blatant way.  

So the USPS tally since February:

• 17 day delay in forwarded mail
• opened piece of mail that took a month to be delivered
• lost paycheck that has never surfaced

I have been such a USPS supporter and they are loosing my loyalty.  I am so disappointed.

Until tomorrow...

DAY ON THE PHONE

 I was all set to video chat with my friends when my friend S called me.  She had surgery last week and she called to check in.  It was more important to talk to her and see how she was doing.  Later I spoke to my foster kid and my cousin.  It was another Sunday on the phone checking in with people.  Funny I never used to like being on the phone.

Starting September 1 I am starting a new life plan to keep me on track with my life goals.  I think during this covid-19 time it is important to set goals.  One of my goals is to keep in contact with family and friends. Strengthen those bonds that I made during the beginning of Covid-19 and don't let them slip away. Having friends in my life has been so important.  I have not always been the best at being that friend that talks/texts every day or week.  I am trying to be better.  

I will reveal my other goals later.   

Until tomorrow...

BATHE A DOG AND CUT MY HAIR

 Today was a day of getting those tasks I don't want to do done.  I have a list on my wall of tasks I don't want to do or are task intensive tasks.  This weekend I took care of two of them:

1. I gave Lucky a bath.  I won't tell you how long it has been since Lucky had a bath but I am happy I have a short haired dog who hates to get wet or dirty.  I was surprised when I put her in the bath that the water did not go dark, it stayed clear.  It was a little stinky but so was Lucky.  I guess all those days Lucky went with the dog walker in the rain paid off. She got a mini shower!  I had to put a muzzle on Lucky to bathe her but she did really good.  She stands like a statue because water is her kryptonite. She just stares at me and waits for it to get over.  Then I take her out, take off the muzzle and towel her off.  She spends 15 minutes rubbing her coat on the towels.  Once she is dry she is allowed out of the bathroom and NOT allowed on the furniture.  She would rub herself all over my bed and the couch if I let her. She smells so nice now.

Once I was done with that task and I cleaned up from the dirty bathtub and bathroom, I gave myself a haircut.  This is haircut number 2 since quarantine.  I think I did a better job this time.  I am getting my grove back.  I went much shorter this time, as you will see below.

As you can see, I a lot of hair off.  I had a lot of hair to take off.  I feel so much lighter.  After I cut my hair there was the clean up, then the shower to get the hair off me.  

It was a whole day of tasks and cleaning up.  Then I rested.  

Until tomorrow...

GETTING MY WATCH TALKING TO MY PHONE

 I spent hours getting my phone talking to my watch today.  Since I got my new phone I have been slowly getting things to work on it.  Since I have not been wearing my watch (why bother) I didn't synch it up.  When I tried, nothing worked on it.  I also had to update the operating system so it screwed everything up.  Suddenly no emails and texts worked.  As I have said before, I can't stand when things that should work, don't work. It drives me crazy!  

 Then I figured out that a button wasn't clicked and Voila! it all worked. It always boggles my mind how one button not clicked can screw everything up.  It all works again.  I am happy.

 Until tomorrow...

MY BROTHER IS THE BEST!

 My brother C is the best IT support.  My printers have not been working.  My black ink printer has been not working on my network since January.  It is so annoying to not be able to print on my workhorse printer.  It is really old but it is chugs along.  It is the best printer I ever bought. Then I have my color printer and it is nothing but annoying.  It prints then it stops printing. Then it prints when it feels like it.  Then it stopped printing all together.  I had no printers.

Then my new phone didn't print.  I was in printer hell.

In came my brother C. He spent almost 3 hours on the phone with me getting all the printing going.  The color printer is now working. It was an easy fix.  Then it took hours to get the old workhorse printer working. It is so old it was hard to get information.  Finally C found a solution and it worked.  My phone prints now too.  Hallelujah! 

We are going to make a date to fix my other computer issues.  I gave him a preview and he is going to work on a solution in advance.  It is fun to spend time together, we get along really good.  But it is really satisfying to get this problems fixed.  I really hate when I can't print or something doesn't work the way it is supposed to.

I got my replacement veggie and fruit box at 8pm last night. I was just putting the lock box on the door and the guy came up my stairs.  I was excited to see veggies and fruit again after a week.  

Until tomorrow...

HOTEL FIGHT IS OVER!

 The fight with the hotel is over!  Here's the backstory.  

Back in January I stayed in a hotel that I pre-paid (never doing that again).  Within the time frame, I cancelled one of the days and got my money back.  I did the whole reservation through a third party.  My time at the hotel was okay.  When I arrived they charged me for the day I cancelled. I talked to management and got my money back.  Then it happened again.  I got my money back again.  Then the day I checked out it was 3 am and I didn't check my bill carefully and they charged me again. I called and got my money back again. The next month I got my credit card bill and once again I was charged. I called the hotel and got my money back again.  Then the next month I got charged again. This time I went to the credit card fraud department and they gave me my money back and then the hotel appealed it.  I appealed the appeal and got my money back. Then the hotel appealed the appeal and I got charged again. At this point it had been going on for 6 months.  

I tried to call the third party vendor around April but due to Covid-19 it was impossible to get through. They even had a third party answering calls.  I left a message but never got a call back.  I decided to call again in July and got right through to the nicest person.  She got right on the case and in a day or two I got a response that I was going to get a refund.  I was hesitant to be happy because I had been down this road before.  Well, today I got my credit card bill and there was a credit for the hotel bill.  Yippee!  It looks like the nightmare is over.  It only took 7 months to get this sorted.  But I have my almost $200 back just in time to help pay for my very expensive crown!  

My hoola hoop is great!  I am so excited.  I hoola hooped for 5 minutes today and I was exhausted.  It seemed so easy as a child.  I do have to explain it is a weighted hoola hoop so it takes more energy than the plastic hoola hoops we bought at the 5 & 10 and had as children.   I think it will be great fun.

Until tomorrow...

HOOLA HOOP ARRIVED

 My hoola hoop has arrived.  It is sitting in quarantine and I can't wait to open it and see it.  Tomorrow will be hoola hoop day!  

Today I Zumba'd for 20 minutes.  Zumba has been making me sweat.  I actually break out in a sweat!  I tried Zumba years ago and I didn't like it.  I really like it now.  I don't think I would join a class or anything but in my living room, I like it.  

I made an agreement with myself that I would workout five days a week.  Either Zumba, hoola hoop, treadmill, walking DVD, or stationary bike.  I have lots of options but with this smoke I have had those options cut down to walking DVD, Zumba and hoola hoop.  Still some good options.

My plan to get up and get moving is happening.

Until tomorrow...

BUYING BINGE

 Okay I have been buying items.  I am trying to make my home life better.  I bought a lamp for my living room so I could move the old lamp to my office.  I bought the treadmill and hoola hoop (yes, a hoola hoop) for exercise. I bought the hammock and timer for the backyard.  I bought my Covid-19 items.  I bought light bulbs, remote, air filters, batteries, etc. for getting the house in order.

I am trying to make the house more comfortable.  My office is the next thing to tackle.  A new desk and lamp is needed so I can look out the window when I work.

Until tomorrow...

DINNER THEATRE

 I picked some tomatoes from my tomato plant.  I have at least 20 more tomatoes that are not ripe. 

I was sent these photos from the dog walker. Isn't Lucky cute?

I spent most of my day talking and video chatting with friends and family. It is good to connect even if it is not in person.  Oh, I forgot to mention, my friend S and I have signed up for three plays that we will watch together (separately of course) online.   I am real excited. I think we may make a night of it and order food to eat during the performance.  Dinner theatre!  Plus something to look forward to over the next few months.

Since I didn't get my fruit and veggie box this week I had to rethink my meal plan.  I was going to make Natalie Portman's Chickpea and Zucchini Summer Stew.  With no zucchini that would be hard!  I had to pivot to making something with no fresh vegetables and instead I made One-Pot Chickpea Tikka Masala with brown rice and grilled tofu on the side.  It was a filling and nutritious dinner.  I didn't have the fire-roasted diced tomatoes but it was plenty spicy for me with all the other spices. I was thinking I would throw in some hot sauce if I needed it. I did not put in the jalapenos either. That would be too spicy for me.  This is why I like to cook Indian and Mexican food at home, I can adjust the spiciness to my own taste.  I say mild at a restaurant and my mild and other people's mild are usually two different things!

Until tomorrow...

PSYCH II THE MOVIE

 I finally watched Psych II: The Movie.  It is on the new Peacock TV.  I just love Psych the TV show.  It was fun to see the movie and all the characters again.  I hear they are filming 4 movies so that is exciting.

I watched another zoom about native gardening of the west coast.  I am really enjoying these educational zooms about gardening.  

The smoke from the fires is SO bad here. Yesterday and today I have not been able to open the windows. Of course, I am not complaining since so many people are having to escape from the fires and are loosing their houses.  It is so very sad.  I had no idea that lightening could do such damage.

My friends kid E came by to help me by going to the Post Office and picking up what I thought was a package. It was a huge pile of mail.  Why that mail did not get forwarded, I can't understand.  He walked down and got it for me.  He is so sweet.  I offered to pay him and he declined but I insisted and we decided I would give him 1/2 what I wanted to give him.  He offered to help me any time.  He is a sweet kid.  He is saving for a car.

Until tomorrow...

FEELING INSECURE

 Today was filled with the alarm company coming to do a no-contact visit to install more alarm sensors on my windows.  That completes the changes made to the house due to the theft.  It took two days to get the house changed to accommodate the next delivery for my fruit and veggie box delivery.  

It is amazing how a theft like this makes me feel so insecure.  So violated.  This is the second time someone has stolen a package from my steps and both times I don't think the person got what they think they got.  No electronics or something easy to sell. Last time it was bath salts and this time it was veggies and fruit.  

Until tomorrow...

FRUIT AND VEGGIE THEFT

 What a day!  At 3 am my food box of veggies and fruit was delivered to my front door.  At 6:08am a car drove up and a man jumped out and stole my box of fruits and veggies.  I was so annoyed when I woke up and my box was gone.

I jumped into action.  I called the company and had them give me money back (on a one time basis) and I ordered another box for next week as a special order.  Then I figured out what I could do to have this not happen again.  Obviously people are getting desperate if they are stealing food and not just electronics.

I did some research online and noticed that my neighbor was having a locksmith work on their house. I called that company and told them I saw their truck across the street. The woman answering the phone figured out the guy could fit me in since it was a little job. I decided the best thing to do was to change my gate and front door locks to be different locks (they needed to be changed anyway since someone has a copy of my front door key) and buy one of those lock box things that construction and realtors use.  The locksmith had a lock box on his truck I could buy. In 20 minutes he had my locks changed, 4 copies of the keys and my lock box all while social distancing.  

I then called my sister-in-law to find out how to use the lock box and chatted a bit. The lock box was super easy to use.  I made some labels to make sure the person using it remembers to return the key, close the lid and scramble the code.  

Then I needed to report the theft.  Reporting thefts are important to make sure the police count each theft and get the funding they need.  Since I had the video, I had to have the police come to the house and social distance.  I showed them the video and they asked me to send them this video and the video of the neighbor's possible theft.  I sent that and then I was done.  I feel so much better now that it was taken care of.  It took a whole day but it is completed.  

Until tomorrow...

FIGHTING A BOUT OF COSTOCHONDRITIS

 I have been fighting a bout of costochondritis.  For those of you new to this blog, costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage in the rib cage. The condition usually affects the cartilage where the upper ribs attach to the breastbone, or sternum, an area known as the costosternal joint or costosternal junction. Chest pain caused by costochondritis can range from mild to severe. The pain may radiate to the back or the abdomen. It may also get worse if you move, stretch, or breathe deeply.

Severe cases may cause shooting pains down your limbs or unbearable chest pain that interferes with your life and doesn’t seem to go away. The condition often goes away within a few weeks, but some cases may require treatment. 

My case has been waning in the past few days and I think (cross your fingers) it is going away.  I did some Zumba today and that should be a good test to see if it is going away.  

 There are fires everywhere out here. It is devastating.  I am once again horrified for those who are being evacuated and are loosing everything.  I can not even imagine.  The air when I woke up today was so smokey I had to put on a mask to go outside.  I started coughing just trying to breathe.  I realized that despite it being in the high 80's today I would not be able to open any windows or doors.  I had my fan running all day. I used towels to plug up any space under doors where smoke was entering.  Hermetically sealing the house.  The smoke makes me cough and makes the back of my throat get scratchy (like you wee at a smokey club all night dancing, wait do people do that anymore?).  They say it will be days before we can open a window again.  Just a couple of days ago I laughed at a friend who bought a standing air conditioner.  I thought it was unnecessary.  Well, who is laughing now?  

 Until tomorrow... 

US POST OFFICE DISAPPOINTMENT

 For anyone who thinks there is no problem with the US Post Office, here is an example of what is going on.  I have been having my mail forwarded since the beginning of Covid-19.  Back in early March my mail was forwarded and it took a few extra days for my mail to get to me.  I know because I have Informed Delivery.  Informed Delivery, if you don't have it or don't have it in your area, is where the USPS scans your mail at the district mail office and emails you a photo of the piece of mail so I know what is coming and when it should be arriving.  

Yesterday I received a piece of mail that arrived at the district mail office and was scanned at the district office on July 31st.  It took 17 days to get to me.  It was a bill and it is due in three days.  How am I supposed to pay it on time?  Don't worry I will, but this is ridiculous.  It isn't just this one piece of mail, it is all my forwarded mail.  I called to make a complaint and I was told to stop the forward and pick it up myself or hire someone to come pick up my mail so I get it on-time.  What kinds of options are those? 

A few months ago the USPS lost a vital piece of mail that was forwarded and it never shown up.  I always had such respect for the USPS but now I am disappointed.  Not at the workers but at the people in charge.  

Years ago I had mail being taken. The USPS Inspector came out and it was a cleaning person taking my Netflix DVDs out of the outgoing mail and watching it and putting it back in the mail.  So my Netflix was arriving later to the Netflix office and I could not understand why it was taking 3-4 days to get back to Netflix.  That was solved so quickly and efficiently I was surprised.  

Not to mention that the USPS will only forward mail for six months and they are not allowing any extensions during Covid-19 when we are not supposed to be going out and moving from state to state.  Isn't that stupid?  What if your business is closed for Covid-19?  What if you needed to leave your home temporarily?  What if you are a college kid who is not going back to college yet?  This is stupid.

This current situation with the USPS is so sad. I hope honor can be brought back the USPS soon.  

I did more online food shopping today.  I got my first delivery today.  I finally got tofu delivered!!!  I am eating some tonight.  Yummm.  The question is am I eating more food or does it just seem like it?  

Until tomorrow...

GOOD WEEK OF GOOD FOOD

 Today was another warm, humid, slightly stormy day.  So very unlike this time of the year.  I hear there maybe more lightening tonight. It was not as hot so I was able to cook this afternoon.  First I made a vegan macaroni salad.  It is very tasty. 

I was in such a hurry to eat some I forgot to take a photo.  But trust me it looks just like the photo in the link and it was SO good.

Then at dinner time I made Green Bean & Mushroom Casserole with Wild Rice.  It was so much better than I anticipated.  The fresh green beans I had went bad so I had to use canned green beans.  I also used canned mushrooms instead of fresh.  It was a trick I learned in a cooking show.  They were going to be cooked anyway.  The canned green beans were not the greatest (frozen would have been better if I had them) but the canned mushrooms were fantastic.  The casserole was so delicious.  The rice was not bland or dry at all.  It was moist and seasoned.  It will be a good thing to eat for the week.  Once again I was rushing to watch the Democratic National Convention and I forgot to take a photo.

It will be a good week of good food. 

Until tomorrow...

STORM IN AUGUST?

 OMG!  Starting at 3am this morning there was a loud rumble.  I woke up and thought it was an earthquake. Then I thought it was an explosion because the house shook.  Then I realized it was thunder.  THUNDER! in August on the West Coast?!  It went on for hours.  I went back to sleep around 4 am and when I woke up at 6 am, it was still going on.  I didn't know that there was a spectacular lightening show going on. 2,500 lighting bolts occurred.  Some of the photos were amazing. I woke up and the sky was dark and it rained on and off.  All day it was weird weather and humid.  People lost their electricity (I did not).  But there were warnings all day that there would be another show tonight and more people would loose electricity.  I have everything charged and ready just in case.  

I didn't even cook like I usually do on Sunday because it was humid and ugly.  Who wants to cook when it is like that?

Until tomorrow...

NOT EVERYONE IS DEALING WELL

 I did a video chat with a couple who are friends today.  It was a hard video chat for me.  I think I have been pretty upbeat during this Shelter-In-Place.  I have found plenty of things to do while inside.  I am doing a puzzle that will take me a year (if I am lucky), I am cooking, I have been watching a number of series that are super long, I have been watching movies, I have been accessing the library's events, I have been videoing friends and family and I have been trying to workout.  I have also been tackling things around the house.  Of course I am working.

My friends are very down. They are not doing anything but working and going for walks.  They don't like their jobs so the hours they work are not happy hours.  They are not doing anything outside of work.  I tried to get them to do things outside of work virtually but they are not interested.  They say it is not the same.  

No, it is not the same, it is different. It doesn't mean it is better or worse.  I think learning how to open your mind to doing things differently is one key to mentally surviving this time.  Okay, I can't go to a play but I found out my theatre is having plays (either pre-recorded or performed with no audience and filmed) online for a ticket fee that is lower than the regular theatre fee.  I can change my mindset and see a play online or humph that it isn't the same.  I choose to see the play online.  I may see something amazing!  

I may have to limit my communication with these friends because I need some positivity in my life.  They need to work their stuff out and figure it out for themselves.  I have a long haul and I need sunshine and happiness in my life.  

My foster son got his haircut finally!  Hey, it is his hair and I wasn't going to push him to cut his hair but he looks SO much better with a haircut.  He dyed it a few times recently and he didn't wait between each dye so it turned orange and now it is a combo of orange and black.  It will grow out.  He was so excited to show me his haircut he insisted we zoom so I could see it.

It is SO hot here today. 

Not as hot as yesterday but still how.  At 1:36pm it was 93 degrees in my backyard and 77 degrees downstairs.  That 77 degrees felt SO good.

Until tomorrow...

SO HOT

 It is SO HOT today.  Yes, it is hotter other places.  This is not the hottest place around.  Yes, it is probably hotter where you are.  BUT this area is not made for hot weather.  We only get over 95-100 degrees about 5 - 10 days a year.  Our homes do not have double-paned windows.  We do not have air conditioning in our homes.  We do not have very good insulation in our homes (when they opened up my walls they found newspaper in my walls as insulation).  I have a flat top roof.  So my top floor is usually as hot as it is outside.  My lower floor is subterranean so it is usually 20 degrees cooler.

Okay, it was hot today.  Here is the thermostat in the afternoon:

Ignore the dust.  Inside my kitchen was 90 degrees.  On the side of my house in the sun it was 107 degrees.  That is hot.  The fan was just blowing hot air into the house.  At 4 pm I took my temperature and it was 99.8 degrees.  I realized I was not drinking enough water and I was getting heat stroke and needed to go down stairs and cool off and drink some water. 

My day was doing practically nothing but staying cool. Ugh!

Until tomorrow...

NEW LAMP AND REMOTE

 So excited!  My new lamp arrived today.  I cheated and opened the box with gloves on and put the lamp together.  It went together easily and it looks fantastic.  My living room looks so bright now.  It also looks SO much better with this brass and white lamp as opposed to that old black industrial lamp.  

The black lamp is falling apart but I am planning on redoing my office so I will wait to get a new lamp after I redo the office. This lamp is really nice.

I also got my universal remote for my office TV.  Don't ask me where the remote for that TV has gone to.  I don't know.  I have my suspicions.  I opened the remote packaging and read the directions.  They seemed easy.  I chose to do the manual directions.  I chose a code for the TV and followed the directions and entered the code and boom! the TV worked.  On the first try.  The TV turns on/off and the volume up/down. I also made sure I could change the Input.  All good.  Then I did the most important thing: I wrote down the code that works on the direction manual. I then filed that in my TV file.  I learned over the years that things happen: dogs walk on remote controls, batteries die and remotes lose the code.  I hate not knowing the code 13 months from now so I write it down and easy peasy I can reprogram it.  It was a good day for Amazon. 

It was not a good day for my new rental neighbors.  I think I saw someone steal their packages. It happened so fast that by the time I realized what happened, it was over. I heard Lucky barking and I thought a delivery was happening. I was downstairs riding my stationary bike. I came upstairs and saw a car out front. A girl was carry/dragging a big box into the waiting car. She put the box in the backseat. She looked up and saw me watching and she shoved the box in the back seat. It would not fit but the person driving must have said "get in" cause she got in the passenger seat and they drove off with the package sticking out the open door. This all happened in seconds. When I saw them drive off with the door open I knew they were stealing it.  I have them on my camera but it doesn't show a license plate. It is one of those Kia Soul cars in white.  That is the best I can do. The girl had a mask on. Two days ago I stopped the Amazon guy from leaving a package on their door step because I was afraid it would get stolen. They are new renters and I guess they don't know not to get packages delivered when they are not home. 

Someone also told me people are going around opening garage doors and stealing things. That is scary. 

Until tomorrow...

LUCKY'S TUMMY ACHE

 I have a dog with a tummy ache.  I don't know what she ate or drank but she has a tummy that is making strange noises.  She didn't eat breakfast (but she ate the treats from the dog walker!) and now she doesn't want to eat dinner.  I gave her her morning medicine but it made another appearance a few minutes later so I won't do that again.  I guess we will skip her dinner medicine.  The poor thing is trying to fall asleep.

My new lamp did not show up today.  I guess it is showing up tomorrow.  I am going to move the black, metal standing lamp in the living room in to my office.  It will work well by my chair.  I was on a zoom today and I was so dark.  I really need a bit of light.

I had a video doctor's appointment with my gut doctor today.  She said it seems that I am doing very good in this lock down.  The probiotics I started taking seem to be working.  That and the meal plans and fitness plan are keeping things going good.  

Until tomorrow...

DEAD ECHO

 Some of my shopping items have arrived.  I received air filters for my heater, probiotics, and a new little dog bed for Lucky.  There was no longer a dog bed in my office and Lucky likes to be near me all the time.  I got a little, cheap dog, not even a bed, more like a futon for her.  It is just big enough for her to lay on so it doesn't take up much room.  But at least she will be happy laying on something that is not my lap.

My lamp and remote control for the TV will come later.  I can get up and turn the TV on for a few more days.  Actually it isn't the getting up to turn it on and off that is a problem, it is the volume.  When someone calls, I can't control the volume.  So I haven't turned the TV on at all.  I am sure you think that is good but I use the TV to listen to music (a bunch of my music is on my computer network) and I put old movies on as background noise sometimes.  I used to have an Alexa hockey puck (Amazon Echo) but it died unexpectedly right before Covid and I didn't call Amazon to complain and now it has been so long.  I had it less than a year.  Oh, well.  

Tomorrow the lamp will arrive and I will move the old black metal lamp to my office and put the new pretty lamp in the living room.  

Until tomorrow...

GETTING THINGS SET UP

 I moved my work items into my office today.  I went to turn on my office TV and can't find my remote control.  It is a very interesting dilemma.  Did I put it somewhere?  Did my foster child hide it or get rid of it?  Where is it?  When is the last time I used it?  Where could it be?  There was a remote in the room for a RCA TV.  I don't have a RCA TV.  I don't think I ever had a RCA TV.  Where did it come from?  Where is my Sharp TV remote?  I can't find it.  I finally ordered a universal remote.  The TV only turns on/off and the volume goes up/down.  It only has Roku on it anyway.  

I started looking at new desks.  I don't like my current desk because since I wear glasses with progressive lenses and I have to look out of the bottom of my glasses.  My desk has a stationary shelf for my monitor and it is too high.  I can't remove it.  So to look out of my lenses, I have to crane my neck.  It is uncomfortable.  I need a flat desk where I can have my monitor on the desk.

I also need a lamp so I have been looking for lamps. I need function.  I can move the standing lamp I have in the living room into my office and put a nicer lamp in the living room. I hate the lamp I currently have in the living room but it would work in the office just fine.

Lots going on to get things set up in this house.  I finally would like things set up.

Until tomorrow...

WATCHING A PANDEMIC WHILE IN A PANDEMIC

 I did my weekly cooking today.  I made Lentil, Mushroom and Potato Pie for dinners this week.  It was easy but I had a few missteps so it took longer.  It was a British recipe that I had to switch to American and that took a little bit of time.  It also didn't say what size dish to cook it in and I should have used a smaller dish.  It got a little dried out.  It is still tasty.

 Then I made Mexican Bean Salad.  It isn't as spicy as I thought it would be.  I may add some more hot sauce.  It is tasty for lunches.  

 I video chatted with my friends and ate lunch outside since it was a lovely day.  

I finished watching the Netflix series The Rain.  I am not sure it is good to watch a series about a pandemic during a pandemic.  It does bring a different perspective.  I watched Season 1 pre-Covid and Seasons 2-3 this week.  I saw the seasons very differently pre- and post- Covid.  Now I am weary of the rain.  Ugh!

Until tomorrow...

BUNCH OF THINGS COMPLETED TODAY

 What a day!  I got a bunch of things completed today.  First I listened to a webinar about women who participated in the occupation of Alcatraz 50 years ago.  It was a bit disorganized especially when the moderator got kicked off the video call.  While I was listening I got a bunch of my puzzle completed.  I sorted a number of pieces by color and found the remaining edge pieces.

Once that was over, I installed my new garage alarm.  It is an app that alerts me when my garage opens and closes.  I feel much better since about a year ago I came home and my garage door was open.  Then a few days later I went out and came back a few minutes later and it was open again.  I thought I was going crazy.  I called the garage company and they sent a guy out.  He figured out that someone in the neighborhood just happened to have the same random code as me and was opening my garage when they opened theirs.  He changed my code and it has been fine since.  But it made me nervous that I would not know if my garage opened accidentally. Now I will get a notification.

I put the screen protector on my new phone. That was an experience.  Talk about stressful.  You get one shot to get it right.  I think I did a good job. I have seen it done a few times.  I have my new headset now so I am finally set with my new phone.

Until tomorrow...

ROCKETBOOK PANDA PLANNER ZOOM

Yesterday I participated in a zoom from Rocketbook to learn about how to use the Panda Planner.  It is the newest of their Rocketbook series.  I am a Rocketbook convert.  I love my Rocketbook.  I have a few different types now.  Basically it is a notebook where you write your notes and then snap a photo that goes directly to your computer.  Then you erase that page and use it over again. 

The Panda Planner is more than a calendar it is a planner/goal setter/motivator/habit creator.  I didn't know what to really do with it when I first saw it and then I saw a demo.  After viewing the demo I bought one.  I was still a little unsure. Today I saw a zoom presentation with folks who filled their Panda Planners out.  I also heard from the creators.  It was interesting to hear the thinking behind how it was designed.  It is a way to balance your work and personal life.  I found it interesting and especially during Covid an item I might find a necessity.

I am going to look at it over the next few days and plan out my planner!

Until tomorrow...

PASSED ON A GIG

Today I decided to pass on a gig.  Yes, I passed on work.  I really wanted the gig but here's what happened. I started interviewing with the company back during mid-July. In the past four weeks I interviewed four or five times with staff.  Things changed in each interview.  Originally the gig was going to be 2 to 2.5 days per week and now it is 30 hours per week.  Originally it was going to be for 6 months and now it is 12 months at least.  I felt that it was not going to be the gig for me.   Another gig will come!

It was a weight off my back to pass on this gig. 

I spoke to the vet today about Lucky's progress.  She is better but still not 100%.  I thought she was supposed to be on the antibiotics for 3 weeks but the vet said no 4 weeks.  I hope the next 2 weeks makes this infection go away. She sounds so miserable.  A constant stuffy head. 

Until tomorrow...

HEADSET ISSUES

I am getting used to my new cellphone.  Things are moved and changed so it is taking me a while to figure things out. 

One thing that happened that I was not prepared for was that my headset does not work with this phone.  Well, it is not my phone but my phone case.  The case is thicker than my old phone case so my headset plug doesn't work.  The headset plug is an L shape and now it won't fit in the headset plug hole all the way.  So I had to buy a new headset with a straight headset plug.  It arrived today and I was so happy.  On long phone calls or when I have to type I don't like holding my phone.  Speaker is hard to use when you have a dog (especially a barky dog). 

I walked a mile today. 

Until tomorrow...

GETTING MY PHONE JUST RIGHT

Okay, I like things the way I like things.  This especially goes for my phone and my computer.  When I get a new computer I immediately have to set it up to work the way I like it.  The same with email.  Clients typically give me an email account from their company to work on.  I have to set it up the way I like it with single emails and not "conversations".  I hate when an email comes in and it is attached to 15 other emails that I have to figure out where the new email is.  Ugh! Just give me the new email.  I like my desktop set a certain way.  I like my icons (is that what they are called) in a certain order with one of them being files so I can easily access it in the thing along the bottom of the screen.  I like certain short cuts.  I hate clutter.

The same with my phone.  I like a certain ring tone. I like a certain tone when my emails come through. I like to give certain people their own ring tone so I know when they are calling.  I like to have my phone set on priority when I sleep so if someone on my star list calls when I am sleeping or in a meeting I will be interrupted.  I like a certain color and background.  I just like it the way I like it.  It isn't always the same from phone to phone or all time but once I get it a certain way, I want it to stay that way unless I change it.  I still don't have my phone how I love it but I am close.  A few more tweeks and I could be there.

So far I can't find a fault. 

Until tomorrow...

ACTIVATED MY NEW PHONE

After spending time today backing up the rest of my photos and videos, I finally activated my new cellphone. Okay, don't get too excited. I didn't do it on my own. I learned a few phones ago, not to do it on my own. Too many things can go wrong. At least this time I am sticking with the same brand of phone so there is less of a chance things would go haywire. One time the guy at the cell phone store got too excited and when I was logging in he pressed the wrong Gmail account and now my contacts are split between two Gmail accounts. See stupid things happen during this process. 

I called the cellphone company and they had a recording that they were understaffed due to Covid-19 and I could use their new AI system. Well, that system didn't work the first two times I called today sending me to billing the first time and telling me I was not a customer of theirs the second time but "would I like to keep the same number and be their customer?" For some reason AI systems don't understand me. 

I wanted a human being. I finally tricked the system by pressing zero right after putting in my information. I was put into a cue where they would call me back. An actual human called me back and he was a great help. He walked me through the whole set up and activation. 

I got the phone activated and all my contacts and apps showed up. All my photos and texts are here. It so far is a success. The phone is blue (not my favorite) but with the case on you would never know! 

Now comes the time consuming part of setting everything up the way I like it and logging into all my emails and the apps. It was much less painful than last time. 

I even have the blogger app again and that makes me SO happy. I can post my blog posts from my phone which is so much more convenient sometimes. 

Until tomorrow...

SOUTHWEST POLENTA BAKE

Normal temperature.

I spent the day on zoom with my Sunday friend group.  Then I attended a zoom about African Americans in the Bay Area in the 1940-1970's in black and white photos.  It was super interesting.

Then I cooked for the week.  I made a Southwest Polenta Bake for dinner for the week.

Then a Cucumber and Noodle Salad.  It is noodles and a asian sauce and cucumbers and peanuts.  Really tasty for my lunches.

I offered the lemons from the gardening yesterday to my zoom friends.  I put the lemons in a bag and left it on my stairs and they came by and took them.  One person was so sweet and she left me a bag with chocolates and a thank you note.  I saw her leaving the bag and with her mask on I didn't recognize her!  So funny to see someone in person after seeing them on zoom for months!

Until tomorrow...

WALKING AROUND THE PATH

Normal temperature.

Today the gardener came to clear out the backyard.  It made me so happy she came.  It was no contact.  We discussed from a distance about cutting back some of my little trees and plants so it was easier to walk around the slate path.  She did a great job.  I finally agreed to cut back the lemon tree which was out of control.  When she cut the branches, about 25-30 lemons were cut down.  I saved them and put them in a bag to give away.  I am going to give some to my neighbor since she has always liked them.

Three of my tomatoes are red enough to pick. They need to ripen more inside.

I can walk without being struck in the head with a branch!  It looks so nice.

The next plan is to get the sprinkler system working.  It works but the hose was stupidly pulled up by me years ago.  I thought it was broken and pulled it up.  The system still works and the gardener can put down a new hose to attach to the bit that still exists.  All I need to buy is a timer. 

Then the third plan is to clean the slate.  It is so dirty and dark.  It is supposed to be lite tan.  It needs a good cleaning with a serious cleaner.

Until tomorrow...