Slow Motion Fall

I was at the grocery store Monday morning, heading out to my car in misty rain, when I slipped on a painted arrow on the pavement. I managed to hold on to the cart handle with both hands, so I sort of slow motion fell onto my knees, scraping my shins on the ground. 

 

I would have been less embarrassed to have fallen flat and knocked myself out.

 

Lauren, Troy and Jaxon hung out last Saturday night! Jaxon was visiting from teaching English in Japan and Troy came down from Dallas. So great to see the old besties together again. I'm so glad Lolo felt well and was able to see them.

We had friends over for dinner last night, and we were talking about if you remember your childhood phone number. It reminded me that my family's Houston phone number, when my dad worked at NASA, happened to be one digit off from the main number to the Johnson Space Center. We got calls every day for them! I actually remember both numbers. We would answer "hello" and the person on the other end would be like, "Is this NASA?" We would say, "No, their number is 483-0123." (Just checked, and their number is still 483-0123. Awesome.)

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Ukraine

Heartbroken over the war in Ukraine. It's difficult to find a balance of watching enough CNN to be aware of the daily details, while not watching so much as to be completely absorbed in it. 

It's incredibly ridiculous in the modern world for one jackwagon individual to cause so much death and destruction. It's frustrating that we can't do anything militarily without risking world war. So glad to see companies participating in cutting Russia off temporarily, along with government sanctions. If these are the only measures we can take at this time, more companies need to get on board.

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Accidental "Login with Google" Triggers Blizzard of Spam

I have an ancient "trash" email address at Outlook (formerly Hotmail), that I use for shopping, email lists and any organizations/businesses I don't trust to keep my email address to themselves. I keep my "real" email address at Gmail protected, using it strictly for friends, work and the very few organizations/businesses I trust not to share or sell my email address. That system has worked fabulously forever. Until the following experience, I had years of literally zero spam emails at my Gmail address.

I was directed to Pinterest from some search results several weeks ago. My browser asked if I wanted to login using Facebook or Google (which has always annoyed me and turns out can be turned off- see below) and I accidentally clicked the 'Login with Google' option.

NEVER DO THAT.

When you choose the Google login option, it automatically gives that website your Gmail address (and your name and profile photo). Ever since then, I have been barraged with every type of spam in my inbox at Gmail. 

I actually had a Pinterest account that I could have logged in with that day, but nooooooooo... 

I deleted my Pinterest account. My next move will probably be deleting my Gmail account and starting a new personal email. Such a pain.

I deleted my Facebook account a while back, so I don't know how to remove prompts to log in using Facebook. To turn off suggestions to log in with Google:

1) Go to your Google account

2) Click on Security in the left sidebar

3) Under 'Signing in to Other Sites' click on 'Signing in with Google' 

4) Turn off 'Google Account sign-in Prompts'

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Celeb Big Bro

So, this is what brings me out to the blog, evidently. 

In a world where lately "evil" seems to win more often than not, it was particularly disappointing to see the two most mean-spirited players end up as the CBB finalists. I had just said before the vote that the jury was going to have to choose the lesser of two evils, and Teddi said the very same thing when she started the voting. 

I agree that between Todrick and Miesha, Miesha is the lesser evil. I was initially very excited to see Todrick on the show. I thought he would be really entertaining, and a positive, joy-bringing member of the cast, but he quickly took things so negative, and also to such a personal level, like telling Chris Kirkpatrick that he didn't want to be friends with him outside the house, and that Chris's son would be embarrassed by him.

It's a game, dude. Yeesh.

Todrick made nasty comments about other cast members all along. I was just so surprised at who he really is, behind all that talent. 

The lie about Shanna playing both sides of the house was the worst. Neither of the final two would have been in the finale, had it not been for that deception. Miesha continues to defend herself by saying Shanna initially played both sides, but between Todrick straight up saying it was a lie he concocted, and Miesha's reaction when she was brought into it, she knows what she did.

So glad Carson won Fan Fave. While the Shanna thing was happening, I just kept thinking how bad Carson was going to feel when he found out what went down. He did, and apologized to Shanna on the finale.

I was initially going for Chris, then Carson, then Cynthia. Even though Cynthia sailed through the game with the help of others, she obviously worked the social side to get where she was, and should have won!

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Downton Abbey Binging in 2022

This morning the lawn guys came to do a top dressing on our lawn. We have a section of wood fence that blew down in the storm last week (trying to figure out with our neighbors how to fix it exactly), so Jeff told the lawn guys to just lean the piece of fence against the remaining fence to work on that section of grass. He watched and told me that instead of leaning it against the fence, they kept balancing it IN the empty space where it belongs along the fence line, and it kept... falling over... as one might expect. I only wish I could have watched that whole scene. That's pandemic entertainment right there.

New Netflix binge! We'd never seen Downton Abbey. Well, we did see the movie, but never an episode of the show. Now we've binged the first two seasons and are starting into Season 3. I watched so much Downton Abbey in such a short time that I'm thinking in a British accent. It hasn't actually come out of my mouth yet. Only a matter of time, I'm sure. 

The weather in Austin has been gorgeous! Sunny and cool. Disturbing manifestation of global warming? Perhaps. But gorgeous! 

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Goodbye 2021

 It's just anoooother New Year's Eve...

Happy last day of this sucky year! Woohoo!!

We started watching "Maid" this week. Fantastic show! My favorite moment so far is Andie McDowell's whirlwind of a character angrily declaring that her ex-boyfriend's wife, Petal, who is cradling a baby in the background, "looks like a f*ing bitch!" Bwahahaa. (You may have had to be there. Seriously hilarious.) So far the lead character (played by Andie McDowell's real-life daughter) is making questionable life choices, but I'm hopeful she will start standing up for herself and taking help when it's offered. It's not really about being a maid, like I thought it would be. Looking forward to the next episode.

I've temporarily gone back to curbside shopping now, with the new covid spike in full force here. Hoping it will be shorter than the previous ones. Then maybe we can all start back towards actual normal-normal!

Saturday 9: Drivers License (2021)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about a girl who just got her drivers license. Who taught you to drive?

my boyfriend at the time, in his Fiat

2) Do you like your drivers license/state ID photo?
It's fine. 

3) Think back to the first ticket you received. How old were you, and what was it for?

I was 20, and it was for having an outdated registration sticker. He also mentioned the A&M stickers I had on my license plate were illegal (even though they were very cool and we ALL had them!), but didn't ticket me for those. 

4) In this week's song, Olivia Rodrigo is brokenhearted, driving through her boyfriend's neighborhood, certain that he has taken up with the sophisticated blonde girl. When it comes to romance, do you have a jealous streak?

not generally

5) Olivia grew up in Temecula, California. Temecula is home to 40 wineries and dozens of tasting rooms. Have you ever attended a wine tasting?
several, yes

6) Her first on-screen appearance was in a commercial for Old Navy stores. Old Navy is owned by the same company as Banana Republic, Gap and Athletica. Have you done any of your holiday shopping at one of those stores? (Yes, their websites count.)
Nope.

7) She went on to star in projects for Disney studios. That's also how pop stars Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, and Christina Aguilera got started. Arguably the first teen star created by Disney studios was Annette Funicello. Do you remember her?
I do, because she was in the Beach Blanket Bingo movie(s?) with Frankie Avalon, who was in Grease.

8) "Drivers License" was one of this year's most popular songs. One of this year's most popular books is John Grisham's The Judge's List. Do you expect to do much reading between now and the end of the year? If so, what's on your TBR (to be read) list?

Mostly cookbooks.

9) Random Question: What is the longest line you ever stood in, and was it worth it?

I have been in many, many overnight lines for concert tickets, back when we had to buy them at record stores. SO fun! Always worth it.

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Misc Wednesday

Laughing at the ad for dog treats covered in "peanut butter flavored yum." Whatever in God's name YUM is... *gag* 

We finished Part 5 of "Money Heist" on Netflix. Sad day. It is a very well-written action/drama show. Fun to watch. Now it's complete. Be sure to catch all the extra behind-the-scenes videos, including "From Tokyo to Berlin", to hear some funny and interesting production stories... and also to see the regular, non-geeky version of Álvaro Morte (The Professor). 

Luckily "Who Killed Sara?" season 3 is coming out sometime, so we can look forward to that for our next foreign TV thriller binging. 

Zoom Christmas was good. My brother-in-law and nephew had/have covid. They gathered with my in-laws and other local Dallas family members, but we declined to be a part of that. We've spent waaaay too long being cautious to catch covid on what may be the last significant round of it. *crossing fingers* 

Best Zoom Christmas conversation tidbit? Here ya' go:

Grandpa: I don't play golf, because the water always sucks my balls.

*mic drop*

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Keep Apple Music Curated Playlists Playing and Updated

So. I have been enduring this Apple Music problem. 

I most frequently listen to Apple Music's curated playlist 'A-List Pop.' Their playlists are updated weekly, so I'm always listening what's new in pop music. I went to the playlist on Apple Music and hit Play. I assumed that it would just play on (unless I listened to something else, of course), automatically updating every Friday when the list was updated. If the list had been updated since the last time I listened, I figured it would finish out the current song, then just play the first song of the updated playlist. 

But no.

If a curated list has been updated since the last time you listened, your device finishes the current song from the old version of the playlist, then ditches the playlist and starts playing random music from your Library. 

I have finally found and configured a valid fix, and it is workinggggg! Here it is:

If you mostly listen to one Apple Music curated playlist, don't play the playlist IN Apple Music. Download their playlist to your Library (just press the download button at the top of the list, or the "..." then "Download"). Then play the playlist from within your Library. It will auto-update every Friday from Apple Music to your Library, and work flawlessly, finishing the current song and moving on to the first song of the updated playlist if it has been updated since the last time you listened.

Ta. Da!

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Clash of the What?

Based on the ads, the bands on the show "Clash of the Cover Bands" aren't cover bands. They're tribute bands. Weird. Why not "Clash of the Tribute Bands"? Alliteration shouldn't be that important. If it is though, to be fair...

...there may not be a good T word to use for "clash." 

This morning in a "Happy Thanksgiving" text, Kimberly messaged me a photo of myself our senior year of high school. I'm at her house by the fireplace, on my way to a Prince concert (the Purple Rain tour), wearing high heeled boots, a mini skirt and a super-awesome 80's top, with my hair in an up-do, and I look mostly... SO TALL. YES! 

The only time I've ever actually been tall was in fifth grade. I reached my full adult height (5'4) the summer before that year, and the rest of my classmates spent the next 2-3 years catching up... and eventually passing me by. As an added bonus, my hair was thick and wavy, and it frizzed in the Houston humidity, and I would not figure out how to tame it until I got a curling iron (thankyouJesus) in sixth grade. 

I was in a trio of best friends during that time- Lori, Kim (another Kim!) and me- and Kim had a "boyfriend" in fifth grade for a few weeks. That little twerp always called me Amazon Woman. (It sounds vaguely racist today, right? They haven''t been around since 500 A.D., so it's prolly not an issue.) I had no idea what he meant. When I asked him, he said Amazon women were tall and had big hair. He could have said, "You know, like Wonder Woman!" But no. 

Now, living life in the petite section, it's hilarious that long ago, I was so freakishly tall that someone made fun of me for it.

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Randomness!

That Target commercial where they say "Come in for a soccer ball... leave a part of the team." should be "Come in for a soccer ball... leave with a cart full of crap you didn't need."

Can anyone tell me why Apple Fitness+ HIIT workouts do not go with the beat of the music? Is that typical of HIIT? It gives me the heebie-jeebies.

Sunday Stealing

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

Need mascara.

2. What shirt are you wearing?

Texas A&M t-shirt, baby! WHOOP

3. Do you label yourself?

I labelled myself "not a survivalist type" last night. We were talking about a worldwide catastrophe situation, where one would have to find their own food, build a shelter, etc. I know nothing about that kind of stuff. Also, I sunburn easily. That is the first clue that you are not going to survive the apocalypse.

4. What does your watch look like?

Looks like... an Apple watch, silver with a blue band.

5. What were you doing at midnight last night?

sleeping

6. Last furry thing you touched?

Maya the kitty

7. Favourite age you have been so far?

There are wonderful things about every age, but 30 was pretty great. The kiddo was a toddler and I was really active in my mommy club and Bunco group. Superfun!

8. What is your current desktop picture?

I have the dynamic "Tree" background on my MacBook. Pretty.

9. If you had to choose between $1,000,000 or to be able to fly what would it be?

Million bucks.

10. The last song you listened to?

OneRepublic, "Someday"

11. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?

Sigh and walk away. Eh.

12. Would you move for the person you loved?

Yep.

13. Name three things that you have on you at all times?

mask, credit card, allergy medical alert bracelet

14. What’s your favourite town/city?

Scottsdale, AZ or San Diego,CA

15. Does anything hurt on your body right now?
No

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