Spring 2014 5 21 Wednesday

70 degrees this morning. Should be a great morning on the patio!

Still some "jet lag" effects on sleeping patterns, but otherwise reentry has been good and the jet lag effects aren't that bad.  

Thinking some more about the Front Line program on solitary confinement, I had never really thought before the effects of total mindless rage, to the point that a person slams themselves against a steel door for hours and bleeds and other.  I was actually stunned by the program.  There are some actions that even writing can't really get across the overwhelming rage that someone feels.  I have seen it in residents who feel they have no say in a situation, and perhaps I vaguely feel it for brief moments about the way the spoiled brat professional politician and the board of fools are destroying Lakeland.  However, I can move, the resident normally gets some response (maybe not in the current Lakeland), but the prisoner has absolutely no say or even any response to his or her focused anger.  I'll look more at this.

One of the aspects of China I noticed I miss is the sound of the language itself.  I expect if I could understand it, I wouldn't notice it,but the musical nature of it is intriguing, with there being major differences in men and women speaking it.  I actually also enjoyed most of the food, much more than I expected.  

Sitting out on my patio again.  I guess I am pushing it, it probably is just a little too cool yet for early morning patio.  (The rest of the day is fine, but enjoy the early morning the best.)  I am going to sit out here for a while, but probably will give up and go in.  

I have a "virtual coffee"  (through FaceTime) later this morning.  I wish I had invested in a headphone/microphone combination for this, I'm sure it won't be the last one I have.  

At the last hotel we stayed at, they had walnuts to put in your oatmeal (this was the "western" breakfast buffet of course).  I liked it so much I am adding walnuts to my oatmeal, along with the cinnamon, blueberries and honey!  Pretty soon, I'll wander where the oatmeal went!  I eat that and an apple with peanut butter every morning.  I may need to delay the apple and peanut butter to later in the day, it is becoming a big breakfast.  

Evernote-I keep hearing about how good it is and I have been a "premium" subscriber for years.  I just recently have really started to use it, organize my notes etc.  I think I can use it to replace some database programs I pay more for.  It is so hard to get assistance on it.  That is a major reason I like Apple products, if nothing else I can go to the Apple Store and get assistance on anything Apple sells.  I'm not aware of any other product that does that.  

I wish Apple would buy Evernote!  That would really be a fascistic combination.  Evernote just has such a long learning curve and they have very little support, although eventually someone responds to me.  However, either I don't explain myself well, or they are that familiar with the program themselves.  I think they have a "in the rut" type of thinking on what the program should do and they don't envision what I am trying to do.  For years, I basically just listed the books I wanted to read (so I could refer to it) and my car mileage and occasionally some other things.  I learned the "notebook/note" system and now hopefully learning the reminder system.  I am also keeping articles in it instead of on my computer.

I really enjoy the "online" USA Today (I think it is the best on-line paper), but it is so hard to retain articles (other than on the iPad itself).

I am attending a "Veterans" Job Fair tomorrow.  I have never been to one, so it will be interesting.  

Fall 2013 August 19

57 degrees, clear

Read in the WSJ this morning that the "left brain/right brain" theory is NOT correct.  It is based on some experiments (that would not be ethical today, probably) on patients with epilepsy 50 years ago and was not a valid basis.  Somehow, this gives me a sense of satisfaction after sitting through, or seeing innumerable books and articles touting the "left brain/right brain" drivel.  It is so good to be proved correct that it is not true!  I'll discard any books I have on "left brain/right brain", although I doubt if I have any.

We are planning on trying a new place for breakfast this morning.  We have been going to Starbucks, and while I love their coffee and atmosphere, their breakfast just isn't very good and is expensive for what it is.  Their "wraps" are frequently either over or under cooked and generally just aren't good.  Their coffee is great.  Aline loved the coffee drink she ordered, but the milk was disagreeing with her.  

Halloween is coming up.   I never was thrilled by this event, to be honest.  Too much like extortion, kind of like when you are in a store and they ask you to "add a dollar" for THEIR favorite charity.  I'll give to where I want, thanks.  Of course, 50% of the time the clerk acts snotty about it, like you are in the wrong for not giving in to their extortion attempt.  (However, how to I REALLY know that the money goes to the charity mentioned?  I have not gone back to shop at several places after such an incident.)  Kind of like Sams and Costco when they try to hardsell you on their "premium" memberships.  

Glad the weekend is here.  Frankly, I could use the break.  

Sounds like a storm coming in, wind is up (7:21 a.m., Saturday, October 19).  A review of the "weather app" indicates a brief rain storm is coming in.  The information provided by the "weather app" is amazing as are many of the other "apps" and the way the "iCloud" works.  It is so nice to be able to make a note, calendar entry or contact and it appears on all your computers.   Apple products are wonderful (when they work like they are supposed to). 

Fall 2013 October 14

61 degrees.  Somehow it seems as if there is more of a chill in the air than other times when it was even colder.

I am continually frustrated (well, that may be a little strong, maybe disappointed) in my inability to find the time to learn the finer points of computers and programs (such as this one).  I know I am only scraping the surface maybe (or even that) of this program, other programs and computers/ipads/iphone etc.   I really realize it when I visit the Apple store and watch in amazement as they do all kind os shortcuts etc.  (Which I may or may not remember).  I realize how little I know.

Of course, i realize how really little I know in a lot of areas.  I decided a long time ago to not worry about it and concentrate o knowing where to look.  I know that the best way to learn something is to decide what you want to do and then find the way to do it (kind of like, "when the student is ready, the master appears), but sometimes the technology is so advanced I don't even know what it can do.

I am continuing my practice (on work days) of eating right after my morning nap instead of right before I go to work.  So far it is working well.  Along with my shortened procedure before I start exercising, it has saved me some time.  There is a time to dawdle  and a time not to dawdle.