This is a Tractor

 

A Note to Whomever Needs to Read It

If you are reading my blog because you think I might say something bad about you, or something you don't like, then (a) maybe you should have been nicer to me and then you wouldn't have to worry about what I might say and (b) don't read my blog and you won't know if I write something you don't like.

Get a grip, people. Geez.

Five Things

 

Five things I accomplished last week -

1. My husband and I went to a historical lecture on the history of Carvins Cove. The Cove is Roanoke City's main source of drinking water, but it is located in Botetourt County. It is named after William Carvin, who was an early settler in the area.

2. I listened to the Board of Supervisors meeting to see what my local representatives are doing. Big announcement! One of our industries is making a $30 million investment and bringing in 270 jobs.

3. My chiropractor and I had a long talk about health issues. I probably need to find a podiatrist.

4. I wrote an 800-word short story. It is now sitting in my "look at in about 6 weeks" file. Things like that always require a second rewrite.

5. I picked the guitar back up and for 5 nights in a row I have played 2-3 songs. I am using a cheap travel guitar that weighs nothing because of my back issues, and the strings are difficult because I need a lighter gauge, but for the moment the heavier gauge string will help get the callouses back on my fingertips quickly and once that happens, I will change them out. So far, the tendonitis in my upper arm and shoulder that caused me to stop playing is not overwhelming me with pain. Fingers crossed.

Sunday Stealing

Stealing from Shannon 

 

1. What book are you currently reading?

A. I am listening to The Plot, by Jean Hanff Korelitz and reading Obsession by Stuart Woods.

2. Have you ever smoked?

A. I tried cigarettes when I was a teenager but did not like them and never picked up the habit.

3. Do you own a gun?

A. When I was 10, my grandparents visited from California. My grandfather brought with him a .22 "survival gun" that broke down and fit inside of the gunstock for easy carrying. I admired it and my grandfather told me if I learned to break it down and put it back together in less than 2 minutes, he would give it to me. I practiced and before he left, I broke the gun down and put it back together in under 2 minutes. He kept his word and gave me the gun. I don't think he had thought I could do it.

4. What is your favorite candy?

A. Chocolate. At the moment my favorite is Lindt's milk chocolate, a Lindor bar.

5. Hot dogs: yay or nay?

A. They are ok occasionally.

6. Favorite movie?

A. The Lord of the Rings, all three movies (The Fellowship, The Two Towers, The Return of the King), extended editions.

7. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?

A. I drink a cup of hot water in the morning.

8. What do you drink throughout the day?

A. I drink water throughout the day. I stopped drinking anything but water about five years ago.

9. Do you do push-ups?

A. I do not do push-ups.

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?

A. My favorite piece of jewelry is my wedding band, followed by my cheap Timex watch.

11. Current worry?

A. My current worries . . . (a) fixing the roof, (b) the lack of rain, (c) my husband's health, (d) my brother's health, (e) my father's health, (f) my mother-in-law's health, (e) my own health, (f) the state of the nation.

12. Current annoyance?

A. The air purifier in the hallway has developed a very annoying squeak. My husband can't hear it, but I can. I am also having a bought of tinnitus, and the squeak doesn't help that.

13. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?

A. I do not know that I have ever slept on satin sheets. Mostly I sleep on cotton sheets.

15.  Can you whistle?

A. I can whistle. Some days I can whistle better than others.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Can't We Talk It Over

Saturday 9: Can't We Talk It Over (1950)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, The Andrews Sisters plead for verbal communication.  Is there someone you'd like to engage in a heart-to-heart conversation?

A. Yes, but I don't think doing it here on my blog would do much good.

 

2) They want to sit together for this talk. Think about the most recent personal conversation you had. Was it in person, over the phone, or via Zoom?

A. The most recent conversation I had was in person with my husband. Before that I had a text conversation, then a phone call from my husband. I haven't used Zoom since January, when I visited with my doctor when I was ill.

 

3) This week's tune was written by Victor Young. He was prolific, earning 22 Oscar nominations in 18 years. (His one win came after his sudden death at age 57.) Think about your friends and family. Who is the most active, productive person you know?

A. I think my brother has earned the title of most active, productive person I know at this moment. There are runner-ups, but he is definitely the winner.

 

4) The lyrics were written by Ned Washington, who is perhaps best remembered for "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Disney's Pinocchio. Do you believe, like Jiminy Cricket, that dreams come true?

A. I do not believe that dreams come true. Since most of my dreams are nightmares, that is probably a good thing. If you are talking about hopes or goals, sometimes they come true with work and a little luck.

 

5) This week's song is performed by The Andrews Sisters -- LaVerne, Maxine and Patty. Do you have siblings? If yes, are you the oldest, the middle child, or the baby?

A. I am the oldest of two children.

6) With more than 80 million records sold, the Andrews Sisters remain one of the most successful female vocal groups of all time. Name another girl group.

A. Heart. The Supremes. Blondie. 

 

7) In 1950, the year "Can't We Talk It Over" was released, we were introduced to the Peanuts comic strip. Without looking it up, do you know who created Peanuts?

A. Charles Shultz created Peanuts, and no, I did not have to look it up.

 

8) In 1950, most suitcases were hard sided rectangles, with no wheels and a small handle at the top. They came in colors like tan, copper, green and blue. What does your luggage look like?

A. I have soft-sided luggage with wheels and many pockets. It has been used so seldom that it probably needs replaced because it has dry-rotted. I haven't seen it in years. It's in the back of the closet.

9) Random question: Who was the last person to phone you? Did you pick up, or did it go to voice mail?

A. The last person to phone me was a solicitor who wanted to speak to my husband about farm crops for some survey. I picked it up. I could have answered his questions, probably, but didn't offer up the information, and hubs wasn't home.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Twenty-Six Questions

From Sunday Stealing March 2009

1. Did you date someone from your school?

A. I did date someone from my school. In fact, I married someone from my school, although we were not in the same class. He is older than I.

2. Did you marry someone from your high school?

A. I did marry someone from my high school. 

3. Did you carpool to school?

A. I rode the bus, or I drove. There was a short period of time when my mother dropped me off at high school on her way to work. Once I had my driver's license, then I drove to school.

4. What kind of car did you have?

A. I had a Datsun. It was burnt orange color and had a hatchback.

5. What kind of car do you have now?

A. I have a white Toyota Camry.

6. Its Friday night! Where are you now?

A. On Friday nights I am at home with my husband watching TV or reading a book.

7. It is Friday night! Where were you then?

A. When I was in high school, I was in the marching band, so I had to attend the football games.

8. What kind of job did you have in high school?

A. I played guitar in a rock/Top 40/disco band in high school. I also worked for my father's business during the summer.

9. What kind of job do you do now?

A. I am a writer.

10. Were you a party animal?

A. I was never a party animal, although I did go to parties in high school.

11. Were you considered a flirt?

A. I don't know. I hope not.

12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?

A. I was in band. I played the flute and the piccolo. 

13. Were you a nerd?

A. I was a nerd. I still am a nerd.

14. Did you get suspended from school?

A. I received in school suspension for skipping band class. In school suspension back then just meant you had to spend time in the cafeteria doing your homework during some certain period of time. It was no big deal.

15. Can you sing the fight song?

A. We're Cavalier born and Cavalier bred and when we die we'll be Cavaliers yet! So rah rah for Cavaliers, rah rah for Cavaliers, rah rah for Cavaliers!  I guess that is the fight song.

16. Who was/were your favorite teacher?

A. My favorite teacher was my algebra teacher. I had her for three years. We are still in touch.

17. Where did you sit during lunch?

A. I sat at a table. I don't recall having any specific routine at lunch, aside from eating and occasionally tossing my retainer in the trashcan by accident.

18. What was your school's full name?

A. Lord Botetourt High School.

19. Where did you party the most?

A. I did not have a particular place where I went to party.

20. What was your school mascot?

A. I think it was a person dressed up like a Cavalier.

21. Would you do it again?

A. Do what? Go back to high school? No.

22. Did you have fun at Prom?

A. I went to prom when I was a sophomore. I wore a blue dress. I guess it was fun. It was so long ago that I don't remember all that much about it.

23. Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with?

A. No. I don't even know where he is or if he is still alive.

24. Are you planning on going to your next reunion?

A. I seriously doubt my class has another reunion. I went to our last one in 2011, and I can't see myself attending another.

25. Do you still talk to people from school?

A. I talk to my former algebra teacher, and my banker went to school with me. So yes, I still talk to people from school.

26. What are/were your school's colors?

A. My school colors were red and gray.

Thursday Thirteen

I have been pondering the use of AI in writing. It's here, and it's going to stay. There are some authors who firmly oppose it, others who are using it to write practically everything. I've dabbled with it, but I am not sure where I stand.

So here are some pros and cons: 

13 Reasons Writers Would Use AI

Enhance creativity by brainstorming fresh ideas.

Speed up the writing process with automated content generation.

Generate outlines or story structures quickly.

Conduct efficient research and organize findings.

Edit and proofread drafts for grammatical accuracy.

Experiment with new writing styles and tones.

Create engaging marketing content and social media posts.

Develop character profiles and world-building details.

Translate content into multiple languages seamlessly.

Perform sentiment analysis to tailor content to audience emotions.

Write consistent content for branding purposes.

Produce articles or blogs on niche topics with little input.

Simplify technical writing and user manuals creation

13 Reasons Writers Would Avoid Using AI

Concern about losing originality and personal voice.

AI may lack the depth needed for nuanced storytelling.

Fear of over-reliance on technology stunting creativity.

Risk of producing generic or repetitive content.

Ethical concerns about AI replacing human jobs.

Difficulty trusting AI’s judgment on emotional matters.

AI-generated content may inadvertently plagiarize existing works.

Struggle with integrating AI outputs into artistic vision.

Lack of control over AI’s stylistic choices.

Poorly contextualized content requiring extra edits.

Inaccuracy or bias in research results.

What do you think? Are you a writer? Would you or do you use AI? What do you like or dislike about it? (The list was produced by AI.)

_________________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 900th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

A Glitch in the Matrix?

Yesterday before I headed out to the grocery store, I opened the front door to see how cold it was outside.

The yard was full of birds - at least seven of them - and I expected them to all fly off when the door opened.

But instead, they froze.

All of them. The robin staring right at me. The little woodpecker with his head cocked to the right. The blue jay in mid effort to attack a worm. They stood frozen, as if in a picture.

It was just seconds, but long enough for me to stare back and think, "What is going on here? Why aren't they moving?"

They should not have stayed still that long. Birds move around so much they are notoriously difficult to photograph. They certainly don't freeze.

They did not fly away until I moved to close the door. At that point, it was as if they had all been released from a spell - and each bird flew off in the same instance. 

They headed for the trees like they should have done when I first opened the door.

Sometimes I see videos about "glitches in the matrix" online. They usually are something I can explain by say, optical illusion. Or a bad perspective.

I cannot explain this "freezing of the birds" when I opened the door. It was so odd that it made me shiver. "How weird," I thought as I shut the door.

Five Things

Five things I did last week -

1. Prepared country style spareribs and did not overcook them this time.

2. Walked on the treadmill and finally hit the 30-minute mark. It's not yet sustainable but I'm getting there. Twenty-five minutes is still the go-to mark but I am walking that at a little faster pace now, too.

3. Finished a book called Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine, which was a science fiction book a friend gave me for Christmas. Very deep and intriguing especially with regards to language use across empires.

4. I listened to another book called You Will Find Your People by Lane Moore. This was a self-help book about finding friends, being a good friend, and setting boundaries. It honestly was the first book I've ever read on that topic that resonated with me.

5. The grocery store saw me enter it twice; once on Tuesday and again on Friday. I paid my first tariff on Green Giant lightly sauced broccoli. It had been two boxes for $1.50, now it is up to $2.19 per box. It says on the package "Product of Mexico." I like these steamers as they have just enough food for the two of us and make an easy way to ensure we get a vegetable at dinner, but at that price I will have to look for something else now. That's too expensive. I didn't have time to browse when I was in the store so that will be a chore for this week.

Sunday Stealing

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

These journal prompts were stolen from CountryDew, (hey, that's me!) who originally posted them in February 2021. She undoubtedly stole them from another blogger, but we're not busting her. Here at Sunday Stealing we encourage theft. 

Prompts and More Prompts

1) How do you show others love? What makes you feel loved?

A. The book, The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman, says there are 5 ways to show love. They are physical contact, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, and receiving gifts. I show love to others in all of these ways, as I think most people do, but mostly through time, offering words of affirmation, and giving gifts. In order for me to feel loved, I would need someone's time, words of affirmation, and an occasional box of Tic Tacs.

2) Who is someone you admire? Why?

A. I admire my friend Teresa. She has it all together. She is a terrific artist and does all sorts of crafty cool things and is a great cook. She is smart, funny, and thoughtful.

3) Do you have the qualities you value in a friend?

A. I would like to think I have the same qualities that I value in a friend, and I probably do, but not necessarily to the same degree as other people. Some I may have more of, others less. Here's what AI says makes a good friend: 

Trustworthiness: A good friend keeps your secrets and is reliable.

Empathy: They listen and understand your feelings without judgment.

Loyalty: They stand by you through thick and thin.

Honesty: They give you the truth, even when it's not easy to hear.

Supportiveness: A true friend cheers on your successes and provides comfort during challenges.

Respect: They value your boundaries, opinions, and individuality.

Humor: A shared sense of fun can make even tough times more bearable.

Do you agree or disagree with Miss AI?

4) What is something you enjoyed doing when you were younger but don't do anymore? Why did you stop doing it?

A. I used to enjoy bicycle riding when I was young, but I do not do that anymore. I stopped because I grew up and married and didn't have time for it.

5) What is something other people think is fun but you don't?

A. Parties. I do not like parties much. An occasional one is fine, but I don't like them very often.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Photograph

Saturday 9: Photograph (1973)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Ringo stumbles upon a photograph that reminds him of a lost love. Are there any photos displayed in the room you're in right now?

A. I have a calendar with a picture of yellow flowers on it, a copy of a painting by Van Gogh, a photograph I took of a flower with a honeybee in it, another picture I took of a sunrise over the Peaks of Otter, and a signed picture of Bonnie Raitt and another autographed by Charlie Sheen. I won those somehow over the Internet back in the 1990s and they have been in my office ever since. I don't particularly like Charlie Sheen, but I do like Bonnie Raitt.

2) While there are approximately 180 published songs credited to Lennon-McCartney, this is the only song written by Harrison-Starr. When you think of Ringo's old band, the Beatles, what's the first song that comes to mind?

A. "She's Leaving Home" from the Sergeant Pepper Lonely Heart's Club Band album.

 

3) George and Ringo wrote this song while on a yacht in the South of France. They, and their wives, had just attended Mick Jagger's wedding to Bianca in Saint Tropez and decided to take a little holiday together. What are your vacation plans for 2025?

A. I have no vacation plans for 2025.

 

4) At 5'8, Ringo was the shortest Beatle and the only one with blue eyes. How tall are you? What's your eye color?

A. I have about 5'2" tall and my eyes are hazel. They generally have a blue tint to them because I wear a lot of blue.

5) Ringo gave his first wife, Maureen, a one-of-a-kind birthday gift. Frank Sinatra recorded "The Lady Is a Tramp" with special lyrics, written just for her. Do you have anything that's personalized? (It could be a monogram on a scarf, it doesn't have to be as cool as a gift from Frank Sinatra.)

A. I have my press pass from long ago.

6) Ringo appeared as Mr. Conductor on Thomas the Tank Engine. He recorded the narration for the entire first season in just a week. Tell us what you did last week.

A. I went to the grocery store twice, I worried constantly, I did umpteen loads of laundry, fixed dinner every night, talked on the phone with friends, read a lot of news, and cried when no one was around.

7) As a boy in Liverpool, Ringo loved watching American westerns. Do you like cowboy movies/shows?

A. Not particularly. 

 

8) In 1973, when this song was a hit, former President Lyndon Johnson died. Who was President when you were a kid?

A. Kennedy was killed when I was 6 months old, so then Johnson, then Nixon. I vaguely remember Watergate. I remember Ford being president, and I was a senior in high school the day Ronald Reagan was shot.

 

9) Random question: When you woke up this morning, did you know the day and date (before looking at your phone)?

A. The day and date wasn't the first thing on my mind, but yes, I knew what the day and date was. I never look at my phone for that information. That's why I have a calendar and a clock hanging on my wall. Yes, I am old school.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Twenty-Five Questions

From Sunday Stealing March 2009

1. Are you single?

A. I am happily married. I have been married for 41 years and counting.

2. Are your parents still married?

A. My mother died in 2000. My father remarried in 2007, and he and my stepmother are still married.

3. Are you in love?

A. I am in love with my husband, yes. I wouldn't have been here for 41 years if I wasn't.

4. Do you believe in love at first sight?

A. I think you know when you meet people whether or not you will be friends (or lovers). Some people you meet simply click with you. My husband and I clicked when we first met. I knew within a few weeks that we would marry.

5. Who ended your last relationship?

A. I don't have a last relationship that ended, outside of friends dying. I married when I was 20 and I wasn't serious about anyone before I met my husband.

6. Have you ever been hurt by a break up?

A. Oh, I'm sure my little heart was broken in elementary school by some boy or another, but that's part of growing up.

7. Have you ever broken someone’s heart?

A. Probably.

8. Have you ever had a secret admirer?

A. I have never had a secret admirer that I know of. Wouldn't the person not be secret if I knew about it?

9. Do you prefer love or lust?

A. I prefer love.

10. Do you prefer a few best friends or many regular friends?

A. I tend to only have a few friends. I'm fairly introverted and shy, although some people think my shyness is "being stuck up."

11. Would you prefer a wild night out or romantic night in?

A. I would prefer a romantic night in.

12. Back in the day: were you ever caught sneaking out?

A. No, I was never caught sneaking out. I ran away from home once and was picked up by the police, but that wasn't sneaking out.

13. Have you ever wanted something/someone so badly it hurt?

A. I have only ever wanted to be loved so badly it hurt.

14. Who are/is your best friend(s)?

A. I have several close female friends, but my husband is my best friend.

15. Have you ever wanted to disappear?

A. I have wanted to disappear very badly.

16. What are you first attracted to, someone's smile or their eyes?

A. I think I am first attracted to a smile and then eyes. If someone is frowning, I move on.

17. Do you prefer intelligence or attraction?

A. I take this question to mean do I prefer looks over intelligence. I prefer intelligence.

18. What was the last phone call you received?

A. The last phone call I received was from my father.

19. What was the last thing you drank?

A. The last thing I drank was water.

20. Before your current one, when was your last relationship?

A. My last relationship was so long ago that it does not matter.

21. Do you and your family get along?

A. My family and I have a truce of sorts. It is up to them as to whether it holds.

22. Would you say you have a "screwed up life"?

A. I would say I have lived a different sort of life than many people, since I have lived in a rural area all of my life, and I did not go into the corporate world.

23. Have you ever gotten kicked out somewhere? If yes, do tell.

A. I was kicked out of an optometrist's office once. I had taken him a pair of glasses to have new lenses installed, and I don't know what he did, but the frames were a different color when I picked them up. I argued with him that they weren't my frames (the frames I took in were brown, the ones I picked up were pinkish brown) and he dismissed me. When I continued to argue, he threw me out. I was so mad that I turned him into the state Department of Regulations, which licenses business professionals in my state. They even held a hearing about it in Richmond. I did not go, but they sent me a copy of the letter they sent to him, which admonished him to be more mindful of his customers concerns. I never went back there.

24. Do you trust all your friends?

A. I trust most of them. I have a few I am careful with.

25. Who knows the most about you?

A. My husband.

Thursday Thirteen

This week is Sunshine Week, a time when news organizations and others who are interested in freedom of information about the government at all levels, try to shine a light on the issue. Below are resources anyone can use to find out what's going on. From: Freedom of Information – Sunshine Week.

Muckrock
A non-profit collaborative news site that provides tools to keep our government transparent and accountable, Muckrock offers dozens of freedom of information guides, tips and flowcharts that range from beginner to intermediate to expert.

The Society for Professional Journalists FOI Resources
Includes links to stories, websites and document-driven ideas you can use in your own community. 

SPJ’s step-by-step guide on FOI
If you’re unfamiliar with FOI laws, need help submitting a records request or simply don’t know where to start, this guide can help.

SPJ How to Conduct an Audit ToolKit
Details on how to perform an audit to monitor government compliance with freedom of information laws.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Of particular note are the:
First Amendment Handbook
Open Government Guide (by state)
Open Courts Compendium

National Freedom of Information Coalition
This nonpartisan alliance of state open government groups publishes state FOI news and other resources. It also maintains a listserv, used by open government experts, as well as novices seeking help in accessing public records

FOIA Wiki
Federal Freedom of Information Act resources. Maintained by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, with contributions from The FOIA Project at TRAC, MuckRock, The National Security Archive, FOIA Mapper, Project on Open Government and users like you.

First Amendment Coalition
Their Asked & Answered database is helpful. 

New England First Amendment Coalition
They offer a FOI Guide to states in New England and public records law video tutorials.

Ashley’s Totally Basic FOIA Tutorial (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.)

I used to use FOIA resources all the time when I was a news reporter.

_________________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 899th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Yay! Daffodils!