Living Our Best Lives

 Yesterday set the mood...

Shirley and I attended a performance of 'The Nutcracker' at our local art center. Local talent, all but the sugar plum fairy, whom they imported. haha

It was such a delightful event. I hadn't seen that dance since my granddaughter danced in a performance how many years ago!! She has a grown son now so it was awhile. 

A little 5 year old sat next to me. The place was sold out so Mommy had to sit just behind her. She was quite nervous about it all to begin with and then that child got so caught up in all the excitement of the Nutcracker and the little mice and so on. Pretty soon her body was pressed up against my arm. It did my soul good to see all of that through a child's eye again. I loved it. 

So, on to other things. 

My college football team (Alabama) played like junior high kids on Saturday and lost the SEC championship. I turned off the tv at halftime. So, here's  what I did instead.....

I'm pretty old. And, I have had a pretty good attitude about growing old,  I think. I have spent some time over the last years discovering who I was and what I was supposed to do with these last remaining years. I regularly get comments from others that I inspire them. I don't know about that. I am just being me but it has been a dream of mine to set an example for  others. And to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren. 

I see so many older ones that just sit around waiting to die, no interest in anything, constantly complaning about everything, making themselves and everyone around them miserable. I decided a while ago that I was not going to be that person, nor was I going to be around people who are constantly negative. 

So, on Saturday afternoon instead of watching my football team lose a game, I set up a facebook group for us older women. It's open to anyone of a 'certain age'. I have 20 members so far and I hope it grows. I want us women to be there for each other, to support each other

My blog is so dear to my heart. I have made so many wonderful friends here and sure want to keep them close to me forever. I won't give that up but, I just wanted to do something a little different as well as keeping my blog going.  This woman must have tooooo much time on her hands. haha

If you are interested in joining, go to facebook and look us up. We'd love to have you. 

A Great 'Sunday Morning'

 As usual, on a Sunday Morning, I tuned into CBS's 'Sunday Morning'.

In the world of television with all it's various opinions, reality shows which are NOTreality at all and the stupid sit-coms, 'Sunday Morning' is a breath of fresh air. 

I really miss Charles Karault but Jane Pauley is 'growing on me'. 

I learn so many interesting things by watching that show. it's just good, basic facts which is rare to find these days.

Take that Silicon Valley exec who had a stroke. It left him mute and paralysized from neck down. Most people would just give up. But, this guy is playing cards, writing song lyrics and connecting with his grandchildren all through robotics. Amazing!

And, the strange little buildings in southern Italy with roofs made of layered stone (nothing holding the stones in place). Well, I wouldn't want to go inside (it might cave in) but what a unique idea. I wonder why they started building them like that... 

We lived in Hawaii for a short period of time. And, I left there with a plumeria lei around my neck. I found out on ;Sunday Morning' that due to farm land in Hawaii being gobbled up with urban sprawl and the environment changes, Hawaii has a shortage of blossoms to produce those beautiful leis. As things do, that craft is evolving into using more stable items such as shells, bark etc. instead of the flowers. A way of life is disappearing there as everywhere else. 

I wonder if you are still curious about the world, if you still love to learn things and too, if you are concerned about the amount of false information we are being exposed to? 

I don't think we should ever stop being like a child, with open eyes, open heart and open mind. 

This and That!

 Well, darn!

I have another abcessed tooth! When will it stop? I am so ready. 

I'm on antibotics ... again.... wish they'd just stay in your body to help with the next infection that comes along. It would save a lot of time and money. Guess it doesn't work that way! 

So, on to other more exciting things.

We have the Kentucky Derby Party coming up Saturday here at Centerbrooke. It was tons of fun last year so I expect to have just as much this year. Maybe my tooth will stop hurting by then! 

And, that tooth about mislaid my plans for a visit to New York. My daughter was hours from making my reservations to fly there when I called and said, 'better wait to see what the dentist says'. He said I could go. So, next Wednesday I will fly off into the wild, blue yonder.  It's just over an hour for the 800+ miles. Imagine that! But, I really don't like flying anymore. Too much weird going on in the sky these days. 

We (Susan and me) have some nifty plans for my stay with her but I won't be posting while I am there. I am one of those 'oldies' who does her tech stuff on the computer not her phone or ipad. And, of course, my computer won't be accompanying me on my trip! hehe. 

It's hard enough at this age to just get myself there! 

But, I promise I will share my trip with you when I get back.

I'm not leaving for another week so I will check in with you all before I go. 

Making Health a Priority

 Sometimes we pay for not following through with our routines. Being in a household with 2 dozen women made it very difficult for me to stay focused on ME. I already have a hard time drinking enough water and guess what? I certainly didn't that week at the beach. 

Came home with a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)! Ouch! Bet I make sure I drink plenty of water from now on. 

This is a subject that many people find disturbing. No, I'm not talking about UTIs... I moved on to another subject! 

It's A1 and how it can affect our lives. There's been some form or other of artifical intellengence around for awhile now but it has progressed to a level that folks are scared of it.  I can see why. Like everything else in life, if you don't use it correctly and for the good it can be very abused and unhealthy.

Oh, speaking of health! There's so much talk about being healthy now and I think it's way past time. 

Which brings me back to A1...

My son added the App ChatGPT to my computer. I hadn't used it after that try out period, but the other day I asked it to help me with a problem. And, ChatGPT turned my way of shopping, eating, cooking etc. all around. I am more than thrilled with their help.

My problem: In an effort to eat healthier I would go online and select healthy items off my local grocer site. It would be delivered to my door. I'd put them in my pantry and frig... and then could not figure out how to make something interesting to eat out of any of it. 

ChatGPT to the rescue! It gave me some great ideas for easy meal planning and then made me a grocery list to work from. It even offered to send me some recipes to make from those items. 

I have been eating 'high on the hog' lately. A healthy hog, I might add. 

Back in my colon cancer days it was suggested I drink smoothies. And, I have never liked smoothies since. But, I made one from the suggestions I got from ChatGPT and it was so good. 

Then I made me a bowl. Now, I've ordered a bowl or two out at a restaurant but I'd never made one at home. Oh my gosh, was it  good! I used rice instead of quinoa. And I squirted some lemon juice over the top.

And, I fell in love with a wrap that I whipped up last night. I substitued a tortilla for the lettuce and used guacamole instead of the mashed avocado.

I tell you... ChatGPT is my new best friend. 

Have any of you  used ChatGPT .... just curious? 

My Day! VZ/ZXX?XUGH

 Yesterday was a Wednesday... the 4th to be exact. 

But, in my apartment, it felt like Friday the 13th! At my first peek at the internet I only saw the sign that I had none. I did the usual. You know, turning the computer off for a bit and then turning it on again. NOTHING! 

                                   I tried later. NOTHING!

Finally I get a text message from my provider saying there were problems that they were working on. Okay. So, I'll find something else to do. 

Then my cell phone started giving me notification signals.... every few minutes. Each time I'd open it up, look.. NOTHING. No new emails, calls, messages. What the heck! 

After awhile that beeping was getting under my skin! 

Then I get a text saying my network service had been restored. Yippee!

I log on, open up Facebook. look at a couple of friends posts, then I open up what I thought was a very innocent post about what celebrities had worn to a red carpet event. I like pretty clothes. 

But, pretty clothes was not what it showed me. My monitor screen was covered in over a dozen very explicit photos of porn and I could not get rid of it. I tried everything. It was telling me that my computer had been shut down and I was to call this number. Folks,  don't ever fall for that crap! It's a hoax. 

Instead I called my wonderful tech savy son-in-law, John. Over the phone he walked me through what to do to get back online. Lordy, I don't know what I'd do without that guy! 

But, the notification beep was still annoying the heck outta me. I went to settings, then notification and discovered I had a voice mail. I am one of those stupid nuts that almost never checks her voice mail. So, because I don't... I paid for it. Beep, Beep, Beep!! 

I recently ordered a book called "How To Drag a Body .... etc." In it was a chapter on computer hacking. I made notes. I'll do another post on that at a later date. But, this world of social media and life in general is getting darn scary. We all need to protect ourselves and each other. 

I think I'll never forget those porn images as long as I live. I won't be opening any more posts I don't know who posted it. 

My Computer World

Yesterday I opened up the first segment of the classes by Martha Stewart on Masterclass (online) and had a good, fruitful hour. Look forward to the rest of her instructions. 

People either hate Martha or they love her. I am not sure where I fall in that category... maybe in-between. I do know that she works hard, is extremely motivated and successful. Boy, do I give her credit for that. 

I called Susan (she's the one who gave me Masterclass to begin with) and told her she needed to watch Martha's part. And, we got to talking about computers. Martha had said she was always very excited to try out new things and she had a computer by 1982. Computers weren't in general use at that time. 

So,  I told Susan that by 1989 I had walked into Radio Shack at the mall and walked out with a computer in my arms. I had heard about them but I had never even seen one. But, the clerk said it was what I needed to keep my genealogy straight so I was all in. 

I took it home, plugged it into the socket. It came on and I stared at it. I had no idea how to make it do anything!! I called my son, Michael, for tips for making that thing to perform for me. And, I haven't stopped since. 

Computers in those days were run by DOS, long before Windows came along. And, my printer was dot matrix (the paper ran through the machine by being fed on holes at the edges of the paper). Do you know... I still have some of that paper. 

The computer has been a constant companion for me. I wrote my first book, showed my great-grands how to play games, kept my genealogy up to date. I used to write emails to family,  started my hugemongous file of photographs I've taken. That machine provided me something to do while I kept watch on my husband who had Alzheimers. It kept me sane during the Covid epidemic. And, it has given me friends that I never would have even known about, much less learned to love. 

A lot of the people that live here in the apartment complex have never had computers. Now that they are older, they are missing out on having a connection to loved ones, friends, the world beyond. I think it is so sad. 

  In 2007 I got a big new computer desk. Still have it to this day!

Do you remember the first computer you got and how old you were or what year it was? I was 55 years old when I entered the world wide web and discovered how much I could learn and grow through it's opportunities. It's been a joy for sure. 

Words on Technology

 13 years ago on this day my husband left this earth for a better place. He's been on my mind all day. 

I miss him so much. Always will.

I feel so much better today. I even packed up all my Christmas stuff... Oh, I forgot ... the wreath is still on the front door.  I'll grab that later. 

I haven't done my covid test today. When I take it, I hope that thing is negative!!  I managed to escape that nasty stuff all through the pandemic to get it right now. Just doesn't seem right to me. But, I wasn't asked. haha. 

I hope all of you are having a beautiful start to the New Year. I am going to catch up on the beautiful part very soon.

My words of wisdom for this Wednesday:

"Technology has taken away the art of true communication. "

My Grandson

 Last night I did something I haven't done before. Oh, I stream movies and programs all the time but to get to see my grandson's High School Holiday Choral performance via streaming was new to me. He's in New York and I am down here in Virginia and I 'sort of' got to attend his program. 

The event was held in the chapel at Brunswick Upper School in Greenwich, Ct. 

The entire program was done in Latin. It was very dignified, respectful, calming. The audience sang some Christmas carols, too, so my daughter said she hummed along! My granddaughter-in-law-to-be followed the music they were given and was singing that Latin like she knew what she was doing.  

Grandson is 16 now, growing up so fast. I was on speaker phone the other day with my daughter when she picked him up at school. He wanted to drive home. (He's taking a zoom classes for driving... what will they think of next!) so I am listening to the two of them on their way home. It was hilarious! His mama in the front seat... 'slow down', 'turn right here', 'brake. that guys braking ahead of you' and so on. I remembered teaching her how to drive.

But, I taught her on the back roads of Alabama and he's learning in that heavy traffic in New York. Have mercy, Lord.. My daughter gonna need it. 

Typewriters or Computers?

 Yesterday my favorite humorist/hillbilly/terribly talented social media phemon posted on Facebook about talking to 4th graders about typewriters. Sean of the South is what he goes by. His name is Sean Dietrich. I hope you'll look him up. You may like his style of humor. 

So, it got me to thinking about typewriters. Kids nowadays have no clue what they are. I've done my fair share of typing on a typewriter. It all started when I took typing class in high school. Oh, I learned how to type alright but my mind was on boys... well, actually one boy who was far away in the Navy. So, I got caught typing a letter to him during class. Whoops. 

I went through a couple of typewriters through the years and then about 1990 I walked into a Radio Shack and bought something I'd never seen before... a computer. It had a keyboard just like my typewriters did so I threw out the White-Out. I could use a backspace key to correct my mistakes.

I've been friends with computers ever since. And, just like friends... we have our arguments! Oh, there have been times I have wanted to open a window and throw that thing into the great beyond. But, we make up and all is well.

What is your connection to your computer? Since you have a blog I bet you two are pretty friendly. Any wild tales to tell that you'd share about your computer usage! I would love to hear them! 

My Wednesday quote:

"Life becomes so much simpler when we realize we don't have to hurry anymore."

Better Ways To Age?

                   What will they come up with next?

I was flipping through my latest AARP Bulletin when this article caught my eye, "Better Ways to Age". 

I am all for finding out how to make the most of my age so I started reading. It was about some useful technology for us of a 'certain age'. Heaven knows, we need all the help we can get in dealing with the constant changing world of technology so I was intrigued.

I have known about the Fitbit watches that do all sorts of things like count your steps, read your blood pressure etc. etc. I mean, it's scary these days just how much of your private life is 'out there' for others to gain knowledge of.

But, now this takes the cake, folks. There is a toilet seat called the Heart Seat that when you are doing your 'business' it will measure your blood pressure, blood oxygen and heart rate. And, the dad-gum seat sends that info to your doctor. 

I am just not sure I want my doctor informed every time I take a pee.  

I just think that's the weirdest thing EVER! What do you think? 

Tech Guy To The Rescue

 I am so proud of myself. It, evidently, is never too late to teach an old dog new tricks.

Anyone who has had computer troubles knows what I am talking about. I had to buy a new computer recently which had Windows 11. And, my genealogy program Family Tree Maker was not compatible!!!!

I have spent the last 35 years gathering documents to build our family trees. I had tons of personal family stories, too. And, all of a sudden I couldn't even access my program. I did download the files as they told me to but no personal notes were there, most of the females were missing. I had so little left of what I had gathered over the years. I was devastated. 

But... ta da... last Friday I spent 4 1/2 hours on the phone with a Family Tree Maker tech guy and I now have almost everything restored. I'll make a call tomorrow to see if we can retrieve the rest of it. First time ever to use an online tech! 

It was so fascinating watching him control the actions on my computer. The cursor running around here and there, clicking on this and that and I just sat there watching. 

So thankful I now have all my years of hard work back again. I love technology.. and the people who know how to help you use it.

Unplugging!

 If you've been following me, you know that my computer died and my son-in-law spent a lot of time trying to fix it.

I felt badly that he was having such a hard time working on MY stuff. I have a habit of drowning in guilt over people doing things for me. 

So, I thought I'd do something to make his load lighter. 

A couple months ago I quit cable tv. And, the cable company wants their receiver box back. Instead of asking John to do it for me, I went in and disconnected the box myself and proudly took it to him and announced "Here's the cable box". 

There's this long pause and he gives me this 'oh, you poor thing' kind of look. 

'That's your cd player!'

Don't go unplugging technology if you don't know what you are doing!

P.S. I don't miss CABLE!

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

 Oh Lordy,

It's been one more week. My son-in-law John came down to get my sick computer so he could work on it at his house. He gave it CPR over and over but poor thing just went on to computer heaven!!

So, I am struggling with learning a new computer, can't find my favorites, even after I save them. Everything is done differently, in a different place. But, I am finally here on blogger so will let you know that all is not lost. At least, I think I will be able to figure it out! New version of Windows, a new keyboard etc, etc. etc. 

Other than that, life has been dull as dishwater with my computer gone. It's amazing how much I use it to keep me connected to the outside world.... and to you, my blogger buddies. I missed you guys!

So, please hang in there with me while I get better using this new contraption. 

I will not surrender! and the fight is far from over. ... 

Go Fly A Kite

   I just posted this video to my YouTube channel. It said I could share it so I clicked on blog and here it is.  I just keep learning new stuff all the time. And, that's a good thing.                          What did you learn new this week?

   

                    

The Bane of My Life - Cell Phones

I hate that cellphone usage has changed us as human beings and how we communicate with each other. 

We no longer talk face to face (well, hardly ever). 

When we have guests over, they aren't talking to us much. They're pulling that phone out and checking for new text messages or answering the ring-a-ding sound. Like it's going to be an earth-shattering call! 

Probably someone just saying hi. And, I am just sitting there waiting for a conversation.

You know, a real, honest to gosh talk where two people laugh and share and it feels so good to be with someone who knows how to converse. 

When I go to events here at our apartment complex, I leave my cellphone in my apartment. The world is not going to end, if I don't take it. And, if it does... then it won't  matter one iota. Will it?

It's like we gave birth to our cellphone and the dr. forgot to cut the umbilical cord! So, we drag it around with us, scared that it will die if we don't hold it and give it attention.

Well, that's off my chest now! Oh, wait a minute... another pet peeve... 

It's those people who answer their phone in crowds of people (a store, a concert, a restaurant) and they are rude enough to talk loudly so the entire place hears every word. Take my advice, folks.... I have no interest in Sarah Janes latest affair, little junior swiping his poop all over the bathroom walls, your husband losing his job. I got enough to worry about without you dumping your gossip onto my shoulders. 

Now, I will say that's off my chest!! Am I being a grouchy old woman or do I have a legit complaint! 

What are your ideas about this 'tied to the phone' thing going on? 

Just a Nutty Old Lady

 I am just a 'spring chicken' when it comes to posting YouTube videos.

Can you believe that?

At 87 I am a 'spring chicken'.

But, I have discovered 2 (and, believe me, there are a ton more oldsters on there) who have had YouTube channels and they are older than me! Both have already passed but the videos I saw, one sweet lady was 92. Her channel was 'Depression Cooking'. and the other one was 107 and she's in the kitchen cooking with her granddaughters. I love it.

YouTube is not for the young... we oldsters are taking over!

Just type in Latane Barton to find me, if you are interested.

If you just think I am a nutty old woman... that's ok too. 'Cause when you are old you can do whatever you darn well please.

I've Got Me A New Toy

           I am so thankful for digital cameras! It has changed my life. 

  And, guess what.... I have a new one and it's an upgrade, larger zoom, more pixels. 

Back in the old camera days when you had film and you never knew whether what you took would turn out or not and it still would cost you an arm and a leg.... Oh dear. 

I am fortunate that my family knows me well enough to know that when I am in a picture-taking mood that they are to pull over and let me get my shot. Often they take me on photo-shooting jaunts. Aren't they sweet? 

Soaring through the Air!

Saturday was extra nice. It was the first day in over 2 weeks that I had not had a severe sinus headache. Finally got me some antibiotics!! It's strange going to the dr. over the phone now, just like the 'house calls' of long ago. My dr. was well aware of my springtime infected sinuses so was happy to prescribe some meds for me.

With feeling better I got busy on my computer. There's something about me that makes me get more excited, alert, energized if I have a new project going. After awhile I do tire of most of them but there's just something about starting a new project.

Yesterday I set up a private/closed group on Face Book for people from the community that Elbert and I lived in for 30 years. In 1991 I had a beautiful, hard-bound book published that I had written on the history of that community. It was where my husband and his family grew up. The book is no longer in print and I do still get requests for it. So, I decided I'd share my knowledge of the history of Boldo with those that had like interest. So, that's my new project.

Mid-afternoon I was tired so I plopped down in my recliner and turned on the tv. Oh my gosh, I had forgotten the space launch... and it was just 8 minutes to lift-off, so I enjoyed that.

I remember so well sitting on my sofa in Norfolk, Va. watching the moon shot and landing. In a way it seems like yesterday. But, just look at the progress we have made since those first grainy pictures came through over the tv screen! 

BTW, I am glad we are not paying Russia money now to take our guys up to the space-station. That's plum tacky. 

Because of a big box of James Patterson books being given to Shirley, I have started reading him. I know, I'm slow! Just never had read anything of his. 

The first book 'Now You See Her' I loved and could not put down.

Read 'Target' but wasn't too impressed

And, last night I finished 'Sail', another page-turner. 

I've finally figured out why a book is a page-turner. 

At the end of a lot of chapters in the book, you have to leave the reader with a huge puzzle. What's happening next?

So, you turn the page and read the next chapter.

Maybe I need to incorporate that into the books I write!!

I did a new post on "Our Life on Midway Island" blog.

The LINK is here.

Techno Rock-star Gigi

I get this message on my phone. My granddaughter wants me to download Messenger For Kids so that her kiddos can talk with their Gigi. 

                        Oh, my lord. Something else to figure out! 

Even though I wasn't born in this age of technology, it has never scared me... I take that back... It scares me in that just about the time I have it figured out how to do something on one program, they up and change it. But, I keep diving back into the water.

So, I downloaded this app. The little icon said I had two attempts from someone who wants to talk with me. I opened it up but guess what, by the time I found it, the person/persons were long gone. And, I'm left with this weird screen. 

I am not sure I can manage this app or if I even want to. But, when it does work and I hear those sweet little voices speaking to me, I'll be a techno rock-star Gigi again.