About Those AIs -

One of my readers asked me if I would compare the different AIs I have been experimenting with. I use the free version of all of them, which seems to be enough to do what I need for the moment.

Each one does something a little different, and it takes a while to determine which one you might wish to use for what purpose.

For general purposes, ChatGPT rises above the rest. It recently had an upgrade that makes it sound more like a graduate student with a textbook than a person carrying on a conversation, but for general chat, asking questions, planning a trip, asking for suggestions about specific topics, ChatGPT is hard to beat. 

One of its biggest problems is its lack of links and sources. It also tends to insist it's right and I have had it argue with me on occasion. Early on, it hallucinated a lot, but it doesn't do that as badly now (though I would still check everything it says if it's an important piece of work).

It can make images and graphics, too, but it is incredibly slow at it. Definitely not the AI to use if you're in a hurry for a picture.

Claude is very good at nuanced conversation, and it seems to have a more intricate thinking system on some topics than ChatGPT. I use it sometimes just to have a conversation or to learn about something. Recently there was conversation on Facebook about an upcoming Rapture, so I went to Claude and asked what that was about, for example.

Microsoft CoPilot is great for quick searches. For one thing, it comes back with links (although they are not always correct, so check them). It also will make up quotes occasionally, so ask where a quote came from if it tosses one at you. I used it recently to research the VA250 traveling museum, for example, and learn more about it. It is also quicker at making pictures, graphics or logos than any of the other AIs, although sometimes it has trouble with words.

Julius is an AI I just stumbled across. It’s mainly built for data work, not conversation, so I don’t expect to use it much myself. Still, as a sample of what it does, here’s the comparison it generated of the four AIs I’ve been trying out:

 

ChatGPT (OpenAI)

Strengths:

• Versatility: Excellent at creative writing, coding, brainstorming, and general conversation
• Model variants: Offers GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, and GPT-3.5 with different capabilities and speeds (Note: This description is a little out of date — the free version I’m using now is running on GPT-5.)
• Plugins & tools: Extensive ecosystem including web browsing, DALL-E image generation, and code interpreter
• Large user base: Most widely adopted, with extensive community resources and examples
• Voice capabilities: Advanced voice mode with natural conversation flow

Weaknesses:

• Can be verbose and sometimes overconfident in incorrect answers
• Knowledge cutoff dates (though web browsing helps)
• Can refuse requests more frequently due to safety filters

Best for: Creative projects, coding assistance, general-purpose tasks, and conversational AI

---

Claude (Anthropic)

Strengths:

• Context window: Massive 200K token context (can process entire books)
• Nuanced responses: Often more thoughtful and balanced in complex topics
• Safety & honesty: Designed with "Constitutional AI" - tends to be more transparent about limitations
• Document analysis: Excellent at analyzing long documents and extracting insights
• Coding: Strong programming capabilities with detailed explanations

Weaknesses:

• No native image generation
• More conservative with certain requests
• Smaller plugin ecosystem compared to ChatGPT

Best for: Long-form document analysis, nuanced discussions, research, and users who value thoughtful responses

---

Microsoft Copilot

Strengths:

• Free tier: Generous free access with GPT-4 capabilities
• Web integration: Built-in Bing search for current information
• Microsoft ecosystem: Seamless integration with Office, Edge, Windows
• Image generation: DALL-E integration included
• Enterprise features: Strong security and compliance for business users

Weaknesses:

• Less sophisticated than standalone GPT-4 or Claude
• Heavily tied to Microsoft ecosystem
• Can be inconsistent in response quality
• Less customizable than standalone ChatGPT

Best for: Microsoft 365 users, enterprise environments, quick web-based research, users wanting free AI access

---

Julius (Julius AI)

Strengths:

• Data analysis powerhouse: Built specifically for data science, statistics, and quantitative analysis
• Live code execution: Can run Python code in real-time with full library access (pandas, matplotlib, scikit-learn, etc.)
• File handling: Upload and analyze Excel, CSV, images, PDFs, and other data files directly
• Visualization: Creates charts, graphs, maps, and interactive visualizations on the fly
• Persistent workspace: Files and data persist across conversations
• Mathematical computation: Can perform complex calculations, statistical tests, and modeling
• Image analysis: Can inspect and analyze images using vision models
• Web scraping & automation: Can use Selenium and other tools for data collection

Weaknesses:

• More specialized (data-focused) rather than general conversation
• Not designed for creative writing or general chatbot use
• Smaller user community compared to ChatGPT
• No voice interface

Best for: Data analysis, statistical modeling, creating visualizations, working with spreadsheets/datasets, quantitative research, programming tasks that need execution

---

Updated Comparison Table

Feature	ChatGPT	Claude	Copilot	Julius
Context Length	~128K tokens	~200K tokens	~32K tokens	~128K tokens
Web Access	Via plugins	Limited	Built-in (Bing)	Via code (Selenium)
Code Execution	Sandboxed	No	No	Full Jupyter notebook
Data Analysis	Basic	Basic	Basic	Advanced/Specialized
File Upload	Yes	Yes	Limited	Yes (multiple formats)
Visualizations	Basic	No	No	Advanced (matplotlib, seaborn, etc.)
Best Use Case	General purpose	Long documents	Microsoft ecosystem	Data science & analysis
Pricing	$20/month	$20/month	Free + $20/month	Various tiers
Company	OpenAI	Anthropic	Microsoft	Julius AI

---

Which Should You Choose?

• Choose ChatGPT if you want the most versatile AI with the largest ecosystem and plugin support
• Choose Claude if you work with long documents, need nuanced analysis, or prefer more careful/honest responses
• Choose Copilot if you're embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem or want capable free AI access with web search
• Choose Julius if you're working with data, need statistical analysis, want to create visualizations, or need to execute code and see real results

---

The Real Power Move

Many professionals use multiple AI assistants for different tasks:

• Julius for data analysis and quantitative work
• ChatGPT for creative writing and general tasks
• Claude for analyzing long documents and research
• Copilot for quick searches and Microsoft Office integration

Each tool has its specialty, and using the right one for the job makes all the difference!

Thursday Thirteen

Peanuts! 

1. Peanuts premiered on October 2, 1950, in seven newspapers. Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz had wanted to call it Good Ol’ Charlie Brown, but the syndicate chose Peanuts. He disliked the name, considering it trivial.

2. Schulz wrote, drew, and inked every strip himself for 50 years, producing 17,897 strips.

3. The Little Red-Haired Girl was based on Schulz’s real-life lost love, Donna Johnson.

4.  Inspired by Schulz’s childhood dog Spike, Snoopy debuted on October 4, 1950, and evolved into a master of fantasy. He was a flying ace, lawyer, novelist, and more. Schulz used him to explore escape and imagination. Spike later appeared as Snoopy's brother.

5. Charlie Brown’s father, like Schulz’s own father, was a barber.

6. Schulz introduced Franklin in 1968 after MLK Jr.’s assassination, making him the first Black character in a mainstream comic strip. Woodstock was named after the 1969 music festival, and Peppermint Patty was inspired by a candy Schulz saw in a store.

7. Schulz popularized the term "security blanket" through Linus, though he didn’t coin it.

8. Schulz excluded adults from the strip, believing they’d be “uncomfortable” in the children’s world. In animated specials, the teacher’s “wah-wah” voice was created using a trombone, thanks to composer Vince Guaraldi.

9. By 1999, over 20,000 Peanuts products were being marketed annually.

10. At its peak, Peanuts was published in 2,600 newspapers, in 75 countries, and 21 languages.

11. Lucy’s Psychiatric Booth was inspired by real-life therapy and Schulz’s interest in psychology.

12. Shulz once said, “Charlie Brown must be the one who suffers,” making him a vessel for quiet endurance and emotional truth.

13. Schulz’s last strip ran on February 13, 2000, the day after he died. Scholar Robert Thompson called Peanuts “arguably the longest story ever told by one human being.”

*An AI tool helped me compile this list.*

_________________

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 927th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Historic Fincastle Festival

Saturday was the date of the annual Historic Fincastle Festival, a time when crafters, history interpreters, and others all come together to showcase the town.

It was a little different this year. First, the courthouse is just a pile of rubble, since the county has torn it down to make way for a new one. That's not exactly a picturesque setting.

Second, the weather forecast was dire.

We were getting ready about 10:30 to head to the festival when I realized my glasses had something wrong with them. I picked them up and they broke in half at the weld on the bridge.

After much scrambling through drawers, I found an old pair of glasses that looked close to what I had, and we drove to Roanoke to LensCrafters to see if they could put my lenses in the old frames.

Fortunately, that worked out just fine. Whew.

It was about 2 p.m. when we finally arrived at the festival.

It was dead, or nearly there. Some tents with crafters remained, but we saw others packing up and leaving, even though there were still two hours to go.

Unbeknownst to us, some of the vendors had moved into one of the church's meeting halls, but there were no signs to indicate that, and we never went that far along the route.

It is never good when an event goes sour like this. The Fincastle Festival used to be a very big deal. Back in the 1980s and early 1990s, I feel sure at least 20,000 people visited the 2-day affair. It was a big money-maker for Historic Fincastle, Inc.

The festival then was so full of people, I could barely squeeze my way through the crowd. Kids ran all over the place and the craft booths overflowed with lookers and buyers.

But times change, and people grow old. The festival took a hiatus for a while in the 2000s, and returned as a smaller version of itself, just a one-day affair.

The weather makes a difference, too. A day like Saturday, when the clouds were dark and brooding, and rain drops splattered the windshield, doesn't exactly make anyone want to be outside.

Here are a few shots of the festival:

The VA250 Traveling Museum

On September 26 and 27, the VA250 Traveling Museum stopped in Fincastle, inviting residents to explore 250 years of Virginia’s Revolutionary legacy. Parked near the Fincastle Library, the mobile exhibit offered an immersive experience that connected statewide history with local heritage.

I checked out the museum on Friday with several friends. We had a really good time, especially when we were all reciting Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty" speech together. I guess every Virginian was required to learn that in the 4th grade.

The museum is part of the VA250 initiative, a multi-year commemoration of the American Revolution’s 250th anniversary. The rolling exhibit features interactive displays, historical artifacts, and digital storytelling that highlight Virginia’s role in the founding of the United States. It's on a tractor trailer and moves from town to town.

While we were there, we explored themes ranging from indigenous history and colonial resistance to civic evolution and community memory. For Botetourt County, whose own Revolutionary contributions include the drafting of the Botetourt Resolutions in 1775, the museum’s presence served as both education and affirmation.

The Botetourt Resolutions were a significant declaration by the leaders of Botetourt County, Virginia, expressing support for American independence and self-governance. The document was issued during a time of rising tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain. 

It was prepared by the freeholders of Botetourt County and sent instructions to their representatives attending the Second Virginia Convention. This document was a response to the increasing dissatisfaction with British rule and the desire for greater autonomy among the colonies. 

The resolutions articulated the county's commitment to liberty and the principles of self-governance, setting a precedent for the revolutionary movement. They emphasized the importance of unity among the colonies and called for action against British oppression. The Botetourt Resolutions predated the Declaration of Independence by more than a year, highlighting the county's early stance in favor of independence.

Local volunteers and historians helped contextualize the broader narrative, linking national milestones to Fincastle’s own layered past. The museum’s visit was part of a larger series of events planned throughout Virginia leading up to 2026, as communities reclaim their place in the nation’s founding story.

I became so involved in reading the history that it wasn't until we were nearly done that I remembered to take pictures for the blog, so these are not the best.

If it comes to a location near you, it's definitely worth seeing.

Five Things

 

Last week, I:

1. broke my glasses and lucked out when the lenses fit in an older pair.

2. visited the VA250th traveling museum.

3. wrote a short story.

4. had a long talk with one of my editors.

5. learned about yet another AI called "Julius."

________________________

In solidarity with federal workers, who were tasked in late February 2025 with listing 5 things they did the prior week in order to keep their jobs, I started listing 5 things I did last week every Monday. On August 5, 2025, the federal government decided this was a waste of employees' time (as if we all didn't know that already). I have decided to keep it up, at least for now.

My Aunt in a Podcast

 This is a podcast featuring my aunt in Texas.

Sunday Stealing

Memememe -- Part 2

11. You can build a dream house anywhere in the world. Where would it be located?

A. In the middle of 1,000 acres near Charlottesville, VA.

12. Have you ever taken a photo in a photo booth?

A. A very long time ago. Like, decades ago.

13. What's your favorite kind of mustard (dijon, spicy brown, bright yellow)?

A. I am not a big mustard fan, but the only mustard we have here is French's yellow mustard.

14. What did you do on New Year's Eve?

A. I went to bed and slept through it.

15. Did your parents ever share memories of their high school days?

A. Occasionally. My mother told me about being a Girl Scout. My father had a business selling bait.

16. What's the most famous thing to happen in your hometown?

A. William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame married a woman from my hometown, Julia Hancock. She lived at a place called Santillane.

17. Did you ever have a MySpace page?

A. I think I did. But it wasn't much, whatever it was.

18. Will you eat a cookie today?

A. Not unless I go out and buy a cookie. There aren't any in the house at the moment.

19. Who is the last person you spoke to – not texted with – on the phone?

A. My husband.

20. Do you play poker?

A. I know how to play poker, but I haven't played in many years. I'd probably need a refresher course.

__________

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: The Entertainer

The Entertainer (The Theme from The Sting) 1973

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

Chosen in memory of Robert Redford: Aug. 18, 1936 - Sept. 16, 2025

1) The Sting marked the second teaming of Robert Redford and Paul Newman. The two enjoyed almost 40 years of friendship. One passion they shared was sports cars. Newman raced Porsches professionally and Redford was deft behind the wheel of a classic Karmann Ghia convertible. Think about one of your longest friendships. What did you two first bond over?

A. My oldest friendship came about because we worked together, but we stayed in touch after I left. We both liked to read and have intellectual discussions.

2) During their first movie together – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – Redford was late so often that Newman joked they should change the title to, "Waiting for Lefty." Do you have a friend who is perpetually tardy? Or are you that friend?

A. I am almost always on time. 
 
3) Back in 1936, when Redford was born, baseball's Hall of Fame opened in Cooperstown. Coincidentally, two members of his high school class of 1954 are represented in the Hall: Redford, with memorabilia from his baseball film, The Natural, and his teammate on the Van Nuys Wolves, Don Drysdale. "Big D" was inducted for his stellar Dodger pitching career. Have you recently spoken to, or corresponded with, one of your high school classmates? 

A. A while back, I received a strange note from one of my old classmates with an attachment in a FB message. At first, I thought someone had taken over her account, but she told me she was cleaning out old things and had run across a booklet of stories and poems from an old high school English class. She sent me a photo of something I'd written.

4) Redford admitted he had a few run ins with law enforcement during his teen years. He specifically recalled being picked up for breaking into the neighbors' back yard and swimming in their pool. Were you a mischievous kid?

A. I don't think I was all that bad, but I know my parents thought otherwise.

5) Redford went on to CU Boulder. He confessed to being a distracted student and only lasted a year and a half. While not good in class, he was popular with his coworkers at his after school job, mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms at a restaurant called The Sink. The restaurant is still thriving, and Redford returned whenever he was in Boulder. He wore a Sink t-shirt during a national press conference in 2018 and when asked what The Sink was, he was happy to plug his former employer. Do you often wear graphic tees, decorated with a favorite band, restaurant logo, team mascot, vacation destination, etc.?

A. I have a t-shirt with Lord of the Rings on it that I wear sometimes. But since I am mostly home, I wear my husband's old firefighter t-shirts, so they have the city firefighter logo on them.

6) When he was a struggling New York actor, he and his wife lost their first child to crib death. Redford told AARP magazine that he blamed himself and said it's a wound that never healed. Tell us about a time you felt guilty but shouldn't have.

A. Recently a friend invited me out. I thought I was just going to meet her, but she invited another friend, too. While out, we ran into someone we all know, and I discovered as she was leaving that her feelings were hurt because she was excluded. I felt guilty about that even though I had nothing to do with it. It was a spur of the moment thing, and I had no reason to feel guilty about it.

7) Legendary costume designer Edith Head said she liked putting Redford in hats because they balanced his strong, square jaw. Do you take your figure flaws into consideration when you choose your clothes?

A. I take my figure flaws into consideration in order to see if the clothes fit.

8) Forever fit, Redford credited his physique on exercise and genes, not diet. He said, "Healthy food is good for the conscience, but Oreos taste a helluva lot better." What's the last cookie, candy or treat you indulged in?

A. I had a Pepperidge Farm chocolate chip cookie.
 
9) Random question: Do you prefer to bathe or shower first thing in the morning, after work, or before bed?

A. I prefer the morning.

_______________

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. 

 

The Hawk

 

As I was heading out, I spied this smallish hawk sitting on the fence post. I took a shot with my cellphone. It flew over to a dead tree and sat there long enough for me to get another photo. I think the bird on the tree looks like a totem pole.

Thursday 13: The Power of 3

 

1. Trinity Power. From the Holy Trinity to the Triple Goddess, the number 3 holds divine symmetry. It speaks of unity in multiplicity, of forces that balance and transcend. For example, Father, Son, Spirit (or Holy Ghost, if you prefer); Maiden, Mother, Crone. The number sanctifies the cycle.

2. "Beginning, Middle, End" are the architecture of narrative, ritual, and memory. Every story, whether whispered or shouted, finds its spine in this triad. It’s how we make sense of time, transformation, and truth.

3. The three acts of setup, confrontation, resolution are the dramatic arc that mirrors life’s own unfolding and can include the call, the struggle, the reckoning. Whether in memoir or myth, this structure gives shape to chaos.

4. The triangle is the most stable shape in geometry. It is used in bridges, pyramids, and sacred symbols. Three points define a plane, and in metaphor, a triangle often reveals hidden tension or divine balance.

5. "Third Time’s the Charm" is a folkloric promise that persistence births magic. The first attempt falters, the second stumbles, but the third, always, sings with possibility.

6. Three wishes are the fairy tale standard: not too few to feel cheated, not too many to tempt ruin. The number 3 here becomes a moral compass, a test of character, a gate to transformation.

7. The Three Fates in Greek myth spin, measure, and cut the thread of life. Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos are the sisters of destiny who remind us that life is woven, not random.

8. The three-point perspective in art adds depth and realism, allowing the viewer to step into the scene. It’s how flatness becomes space, and how vision becomes immersion.

9. The three primary colors are red, yellow, blue. They form the elemental palette from which all hues are born. A triad of creation, echoing fire, sun, and sky.

10. The three dimensions are length, width, height. This is the spatial trinity that defines our physical world. Without the third, we’d be trapped in flatness; with it, we move, build, and belong.

11. Three-part harmony in music is the layering that evokes emotion, memory, and soul. A single voice is pure, but three together become haunting, holy, whole.

12. The three-legged stool is a symbol of balance and interdependence. Remove one leg, and it topples. Keep all three, and it stands firm, just like truth, love, and courage.

13. The "Third Eye" is the seat of intuition and inner sight. Beyond the physical, it perceives patterns, energies, and truths unseen. It can be a spiritual lens for those who seek beyond the veil.

*An AI helped me compile this list.*

_________________

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 926th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Geoff the Fiddler

A while back, we went to listen to Geoff the Fiddler play his fiddle and guitar at a presentation put on by the Botetourt County Historical Society and sponsored by The Reeds and the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. 

Geoff the Fiddler was very good, and his knowledge of his music was impressive. He had been asked by the Historical Society to focus on mid-1800s music, which is basically Civil War era. He came dressed in a Confederate soldier's outfit.

He played a variety of reels and jigs, many of which I am sure most folks would have recognized. He sang a little, too, and he has a very fine voice. He said he plays a mix of Celtic, Appalachian, and a touch of Cajun fiddling. The result is a unique and authentic American-Celtic style, he said.

He said he takes part in Civil War reenactments sometimes and enjoys playing with other musicians who love the music of that time period, too.

My favorite part of the hour was when he played The Battle Hymn of the Republic. He said he wasn't going to sing it, so the audience sang it for him. Well, we sang the first verse and the chorus. Nobody seemed to know the other verses, including me, though I struggled a bit to try to remember the second verse and then gave up.

There were a few other songs that the audience sang along with as well. We didn't know the second verses of those songs, either.

It was a nice way to spend some time with the community, and I certainly enjoyed the music. Visit Geoff's website linked in the first sentence to learn more about him and see videos of his work if you are so inclined.

From the Springhouse to the City Tap

In 2013, my husband and I spent close to $100,000, along with weeks of sweat and labor, to fence our cattle out of the springs and ponds on our farm. We live on land that feeds Tinker Creek, and like many in our area, we’ve always known that the water starts around here. It bubbles up out of the ground, clear and cold, and gathers itself from every spring and seep along these Botetourt hillsides until it becomes something big enough to name.

We took on the project through the Mountain Castle Soil and Water Conservation District, with partial help from federal cost-share programs. But a lot of it came straight out of our pockets. My husband laid miles of pipe by hand, running water from a well to troughs so the cows could drink without stepping into the streams. We did it because it was the right thing to do for our land, for the wildlife, for the water downstream.

That water, of course, ends up in Carvins Cove.

Most folks around here know that the reservoir sits just over the line in Roanoke County, but part of it is actually in Botetourt. What many forget - or maybe never knew - is that the water in Carvins Cove is largely Botetourt water. Tinker Creek, Catawba Creek, and dozens of smaller veins start here, not in the city. Springs like ours feed them. The Tinker Creek diversion tunnel, built decades ago, rerouted that water into the reservoir. With the turn of a valve, it went under the mountain.

Botetourt County officially joined the Western Virginia Water Authority in 2015, but that doesn’t erase what came before. Back in the 1930s and '40s, Roanoke City needed water. It looked north, acquired the land, and built the dam. The community of Carvins Cove was condemned and flooded out. Families lost their homes. The city owned the reservoir and, for decades, controlled the flow without asking much of the county where the water began.

Now, Botetourt citizens pay the same rate for water as anyone else in the region. That’s how the Water Authority works: a uniform rate for a shared system. Fair on paper, maybe. But it still bothers me. We protect the source. We fund the conservation. We watch the rain fall here, the springs rise, the runoff roll downhill—and then county residents on public water pay the same as folks whose water comes through miles of pipe and a whole other county. (We are on a well, not public water.)

To me, for the folks who have to use the water that originates here, that feels a little like buying your own apples back from the store.

I understand how infrastructure works, and I understand the need for regional partnerships. What I don’t understand is why there’s still so little public acknowledgment of where the water comes from and who’s been caring for it all this time.

Carvins Cove is one of the largest municipal parks in the country now. A conservation easement protects over 11,000 acres around it. People hike and bike there, unaware that the water under their feet may have started in a cow pasture ten miles away where someone like us chose not to let the cows walk through it.

Water is going to become more important than ever in the years ahead. Google in June bought 312 acres in Botetourt County to possibly build a data center. There’s been talk about infrastructure, power, and taxes—but not much yet about where the water’s going to come from. I can tell you this much: it’s not going to come from Roanoke. It’s going to come from us. From our farm and all the farms around us who have springs that flow on into Tinker Creek.

And we’ll still be here watching the deer, walking our fields, and keeping our springs clean. Whether anyone says thank you or not.

Five Things

 

Last Week, I:

1. Went to lunch and a movie (Downton Abby) with my husband.

2. Went to a seminar at the library.

3. Went to the chiropractor.

4. Worked on my project with Chad and Sage (it's getting weird).

5. Found some stuff I'd been looking for.

________________________

In solidarity with federal workers, who were tasked in late February 2025 with listing 5 things they did the prior week in order to keep their jobs, I started listing 5 things I did last week every Monday. On August 5, 2025, the federal government decided this was a waste of employees' time (as if we all didn't know that already). I have decided to keep it up. Since I don't have a regular job, it's a fairly mundane list.

Sunday Stealing

Memememe -- Part 1

1. The phone rings. Who do you want it to be?

A. I want it to be Publisher's Clearing House (pre-Chapter 11), telling me I've won their big sweepstakes.

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?

A. Of course I return the cart, unless some nice person says, "May I take your cart for you?" which happens occasionally. I also do that for other people if they're unloading groceries as I walk by.

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?

A. I tend to listen more. As one of my friends once said of me, "She doesn't talk much, but when she speaks up, it's probably best to listen."

4. Do you take compliments well?

A. What's a compliment? 

5. Do you play Sudoku or Wordle?

A. I play Wordle sometimes, but I haven't in a while. 

6. Did you ever go to camp as a kid?

A. We went camping as a family, but I was never sent away to camp.

7. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you?

A. I've been married for over 40 years, I don't date. But the answer would be yes.

8. Would you rather pursue or be pursued?

A. I think I would rather pursue.

9. Have you ever fired a gun?

A. I have fired a gun on many occasions.

10. Would you rather dine at Olive Garden or Panera?

A. Hmm. The local Olive Garden is where a waitress dropped a plate of spaghetti on my brand-new pair of $150 suede shoes, and when I made them pay me for the shoes, I was told never to return to that establishment. As far as I know the Panera here closed and if there is another, I do not know about it. So, I think I will have to take a pass on this answer.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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: Come See About Me

Saturday 9: Come See About Me (1964)

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

1) In this song, Diana Ross sings that she's given up her friends for her boyfriend. Have you ever had a lover your friends disapproved of? Has a friend ever dated someone you didn't care for?

A. I don't know that I've ever had a boyfriend my friends disapproved of. I have seen people I cared about date people that I didn't think were good for them.

 

2) Without her man at her side she feels uncertain. Let's be more positive: what's something you're sure of? 

A. The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun!

3) When this song was popular, the Supremes were known for their elegant hair and wardrobe. When was the last time you got dressed up?

A. Tuesday. My husband took me to lunch, and we went to the movies.

 

4) The Supremes went on to have a dozen #1 hits. This must have been hard for Betty McGlown, the fourth Supreme, who left the group before they recorded their first song. Can you think of an opportunity you missed?

A. I can think of plenty of opportunities I missed if I'd been willing to give over my sense of self to walk around with my head up someone else's butt, but I am not that person.

5) After she left the Supremes, lead singer Diana Ross went on to have a successful solo career. But it hasn't always been easy. She stumbled in her high heels and broke her ankle as she left the stage after a November 2012 concert. Have you taken a tumble recently?

A. I have not fallen in a while. ::knock wood::

6) Ever the trooper, she honored her commitment to perform at a White House-sponsored Christmas concert just weeks later, even though her leg was still in a cast. Tell us about a time when you "played hurt."

A. I had my right arm in a cast for six weeks in the 7th grade. I am right-handed, of course. My teachers let me take my tests verbally with them.

7) In 1964, when this song was popular, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was born. What was in your most recent Amazon shipment?

A. Shoes for my husband.

8) Also in 1964, women still routinely wore white gloves to complete a outfit. Short gloves that ended at the wrist were popular for everyday wear. What fashion trend do you wish would come back?

A. Well, not that one. I actually liked shoulder pads; I thought I looked better with them than without them.

 

9) Random question: If you were in the witness protection program, what new name and occupation would you choose for yourself?

A. My new name would be Sabrina Wetherwood and I would work in publishing as a book editor.

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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. 

 

Bottle Feeding Baby

Recently, one of our cows surprised us with twins. That hasn’t happened in more than a decade.

At first, the momma fed both calves. Then she began to favor one and ignore the other, walking right past him as if he weren’t there.

We watched for 24 hours, hoping it was just a fluke, but the little fellow wasn’t getting his share of milk. That happens sometimes with twins - the momma cow rejects one of them. Finally, we pulled him from his spot under the shade tree and carried him to the cattle work pen to start bottle-feeding.

Part of me hoped we were wrong. Maybe another cow would turn up the next morning, bawling for her calf. Or maybe the momma would change her mind. But dawn came and no one claimed him. The poor thing was hungry and missing his mother, and there was nothing left to do but step in.

Bottle-feeding isn’t hard, but it’s not exactly pleasant. My job was mixing the powdered milk from the farm store. It smells like a can of Carnation milk gone a little sour, and it has to be blended with hot water. Since the barn is a ways from the house, I made it with the hottest tap water I could so by the time my husband carried it down, it would be close to the 100 degrees the directions required.

The calf caught on quickly, slurping away, but he was lonely. A few times he tried to follow my husband out of the pen, just like he would have followed his mom if she'd been doing her job. 

We had thought about sending him to the stockyard, but instead we found a family with three young boys who were excited to bottle-feed. That seemed like the best outcome. The calf would get plenty of attention, and we’d hand the job off to someone who wanted it.

I like to picture him now, ears scratched, belly full, and growing up with kids who will give him a name and maybe show him off at the agricultural fair. That feels better than watching him stand in the field, waiting for a mother who never came.

Here are some photos of my husband feeding and scratching on the little guy’s ears.