Just a quick note for anyone who still might be checking in to see if I've found my blogging voice again. I've been thinking alot lately about returning to BlogLand. I've mentioned before that I've been spending a great deal of time social networking and, while I've made a number of new friends (as well as reconnected with long ago ones), I'm just not finding the personal satisfaction that comes with sharing events, thoughts etc in a personal blog.
The one thing I really need to decide, if I do come back to blogging, is what to do about my Erstwhile Librarian persona. It's been nearly six years since I retired and I realize now that I do not think of myself as a librarian anymore. Each day I move farther and farther away from that life I led for 26 years and it no longer defines who I am...only who I was.
So I've been contemplating starting a brand new blog. I have some ideas and I'm mulling them over. Who am I now and who do I want to be 5...10...20...years down the road? Stay tuned...
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Can It Really Be September?
Holy heck! I just realized it's been more than two months since I last posted. It was never my intention to leave BlogLand permanently. It's just that I discovered the joys of social networking and I've been trying my hand at it. The real joy for me is that it limits how much you can say in one sitting and has forced me to leave my verbosity at the door. And that's always a good thing...brief is most always better.
For the most part, summertime has been fairly quiet and it's hard to believe that autumn is just around the corner. We've stayed close to home for the past two months letting families enjoy the various vacation destinations...both here in town and around the country.
About the only news worth reporting is that I had cataract surgery on my right eye on August 31st. The vision in that eye has been deteriorating for some time and I finally called the doctor and told him it was time. The result is that, for the first time since elementary school, I now have 20/20 vision in that eye. It's pretty miraculous and I'm still adjusting to being able to see clearly...at least in my new bionic eye. I am having one annoying issue...sporadic flickering light on the outer edge of my eye...which is extremely distracting and is causing nausea. The ophthalmologist is asking me to be patient in hopes that it will eventually go away once the healing process is complete. Always the impatient pessimist, I'm having doubts that it will get any better but I am willing to try and live with it for a while. Sigh...
Other than that, nothing much has been happening. As we move into the Fall months, I'm guessing we will be traveling more...at least that's the plan. We are going up to the Santa Cruz area for our annual golf tournament at the end of the month and we may extend the time away to include a road trip to Northern California...and maybe the Pacific Northwest. We shall see.
I have been lurking around everyone's blogs and I hope to have the energy to start commenting again. I make no promises except to say I will honestly try.
For the most part, summertime has been fairly quiet and it's hard to believe that autumn is just around the corner. We've stayed close to home for the past two months letting families enjoy the various vacation destinations...both here in town and around the country.
About the only news worth reporting is that I had cataract surgery on my right eye on August 31st. The vision in that eye has been deteriorating for some time and I finally called the doctor and told him it was time. The result is that, for the first time since elementary school, I now have 20/20 vision in that eye. It's pretty miraculous and I'm still adjusting to being able to see clearly...at least in my new bionic eye. I am having one annoying issue...sporadic flickering light on the outer edge of my eye...which is extremely distracting and is causing nausea. The ophthalmologist is asking me to be patient in hopes that it will eventually go away once the healing process is complete. Always the impatient pessimist, I'm having doubts that it will get any better but I am willing to try and live with it for a while. Sigh...
Other than that, nothing much has been happening. As we move into the Fall months, I'm guessing we will be traveling more...at least that's the plan. We are going up to the Santa Cruz area for our annual golf tournament at the end of the month and we may extend the time away to include a road trip to Northern California...and maybe the Pacific Northwest. We shall see.
I have been lurking around everyone's blogs and I hope to have the energy to start commenting again. I make no promises except to say I will honestly try.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Fiber Optic Dangle
Today's lesson...what to do when you're watching TV at 7:00AM and the picture suddenly freezes:
1. Check the other TVs in the house to see if they're frozen too. Yep
2. Check the phone for a dial tone. None
3. Check the computer for Internet access. No connection
4. Scream loudly.
5. Go outside the house to see your FIOS cable dangling from the utility pole across the street.
6. Call Verizon, wait 15 minutes for a representative, explain the problem and finally get promised a technician home visit some time before 2:00PM.
And that is how my day started. When the technician arrived (thankfully sometime around 9:30AM,) he smiled and pointed to the trash barrels which were out by the curb. Apparently, Verizon has had a number of FIOS cables downed by trash trucks as they go from house to house extending their mechanical arms to pick up the trash bins. Definitely not a good thing!
So the technician reattached our FIOS cable placing it higher on the side of the house so that it doesn't hang so low across the street from the utility pole. He thinks that should solve our trash truck problem...or not. Here's hoping...
1. Check the other TVs in the house to see if they're frozen too. Yep
2. Check the phone for a dial tone. None
3. Check the computer for Internet access. No connection
4. Scream loudly.
5. Go outside the house to see your FIOS cable dangling from the utility pole across the street.
6. Call Verizon, wait 15 minutes for a representative, explain the problem and finally get promised a technician home visit some time before 2:00PM.
And that is how my day started. When the technician arrived (thankfully sometime around 9:30AM,) he smiled and pointed to the trash barrels which were out by the curb. Apparently, Verizon has had a number of FIOS cables downed by trash trucks as they go from house to house extending their mechanical arms to pick up the trash bins. Definitely not a good thing!
So the technician reattached our FIOS cable placing it higher on the side of the house so that it doesn't hang so low across the street from the utility pole. He thinks that should solve our trash truck problem...or not. Here's hoping...
Monday, July 6, 2009
Cruising and Personal Responsibility
It’s been more than a week since we returned from our Baltics cruise and I had intended to write posts detailing our grand adventure. Trust me when I tell you that, for the most part, Hubby and I enjoyed our trip immensely. The weather was spectacular, the ship was fine, the ports and excursions were fascinating. I took lots and lots of photos and eventually I will try and post them here for your enjoyment.
So why have I been so reticent about regaling you with stories? Quite frankly, it’s because an end-of-the-trip incident occurred which has left a terrible pain in my heart. I won’t go into details but I will say that it involves the friends we were traveling with and has more than likely created irreparable schisms in our relationships that have existed for many, many years.
The saddest part is that all it would have taken to overcome this split would have been a simple “I’m sorry.” But I have disappointedly discovered that not all adults are willing take personal responsibility for their actions and own up when they have done something to hurt another. Why is it that so many adults cannot find it in themselves to say "I'm sorry"…and how truly sad is that?
So why have I been so reticent about regaling you with stories? Quite frankly, it’s because an end-of-the-trip incident occurred which has left a terrible pain in my heart. I won’t go into details but I will say that it involves the friends we were traveling with and has more than likely created irreparable schisms in our relationships that have existed for many, many years.
The saddest part is that all it would have taken to overcome this split would have been a simple “I’m sorry.” But I have disappointedly discovered that not all adults are willing take personal responsibility for their actions and own up when they have done something to hurt another. Why is it that so many adults cannot find it in themselves to say "I'm sorry"…and how truly sad is that?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Adventure Begins...
I can hardly believe this day has finally arrived. It seems like only minutes ago we were booking our Baltic Sea cruise (it was actually last October) and now it's here. Our bags are packed and we will be driving to our friends' home to meet the airport shuttle in just a few short hours.I promise to take lots and lots of photos to post when I get home and I'm taking my travel journal with me to record all the wonderful adventures we expect to experience. Here's hoping the weather cooperates although I know we will have a terrific time no matter what the skies do.
I hope everyone has a wonderful next two weeks and I'll "see" you soon.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Down to the Wire
It's been a hectic week as we prepare for our Baltic cruise. I've spent most of the past few days shopping for last minute items and getting some new pants shortened. I've also been playing with my new iPod trying to learn what I can about it so I can use it to hopefully email family while we're away.I think almost everything is now in the suitcases and we did a preliminary weigh-in. One large bag weighs 45 lbs while the other big bag is weighing in at 40 lbs. Since the airline baggage weight limit is 50 lbs per bag, that gives us a total of 15 lbs to play with. I might move a few items from the heavier bag to the lighter one to even things out but it looks like we'll be safe from paying overage charges.
Along with all the trip "chores" I've been doing, my leisure time has been taken up with "social networking." Yep, I've joined a couple of very popular sites and have been searching for friends and posting tidbits about what's been going on. It isn't that I'm abandoning blogging; it's just that I wanted to try some new things for a change. And I've reconnected with several childhood friends and that's the best part of it all.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Weaving My Way to Happiness
It's one week and counting before we leave for London and today I finally get my pre-cruise haircut and weave. I haven't had a weave since just before Christmas so you can imagine how depressed I've been watching the mousy brown hair growing in...oh and, of course, those annoying gray ones too. I don't know why getting a haircut and color always lifts my spirits but I will hopefully be a happy camper later today.In other travel news, I did a bad bad thing yesterday...I bought yet another piece of luggage. I was at T.J. Maxx and, as always, I wandered through the luggage area. Sure enough...there was a large suitcase with a built in suiter (perfect for taking formal wear) calling my name. The only thing is it's a magenta color which goes with absolutely no other suitcase we own but that didn't stop me from plunking down my money for it. How tacky will I look traveling with multiple suitcases all in different colors? And, more importantly, where the heck am I going to store this suitcase once we get back from our trip???
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