Life in Humor

Most of us know of someone who can go on and on when telling a story. Many of us probably would admit that we do it ourselves sometimes. When listening to one such tale, it can get hard to stay engaged, let alone look interested, and heaven forbid if we've heard the story numerous times before. Ah, me, yes. And, as for me when I find myself telling a tale, I can begin thinking I'll be succinct and interesting only to realize that, alas, I have become mired in details and lost in asides. How mortifying. 

One night at our favorite tavern, I did just that, and with the owner, who probably has to listen to more of these tales than any human should have to. Luckily for him, we know each other well enough at this point, that he had no qualms admonishing me with, "Less labor, more baby."

He stopped me in mid-sentence. How perfect is that?!? Looking at baby photos is wonderful; hearing about the labor isn't. I'm trying to remember that when I start to speak: beginning (labor) middle and end (baby) and even best in five or six sentences at most. To pull from an old tv show, Dragnet, "Just the facts, m'am, just the facts," would be beneficial too. 

Sound Advice

 

AI, A Ok?

New Yorker articles do a good job of showing a variety of perspectives to any topic. But, like life, while we can be discerning readers, and even change our opinions through reading, a lot of times we stake out a position and then look for evidence to support. I did that with this week's article on AI companions.  

The phrase I liked was "there is no greater pleasure than good chat." So very true! Connections. In a look, a comment, an exchange, and even best, an extended conversation lasting over time, I love a good chat.

The article was about more than chatting, though. It was about how AI has become a go-to for many needing what used to be called human connection. While it did a pretty good job of working at convincing me, I still resist. 

I understand that not all people can find that connection or that they find it impossibly hard, and so they quit trying, but AI? Will that help them to be in the world? That was the conundrum. 

For now, AI will evolve and we will with it. My best hope is that we find ways to live and connect, human to human, and if for some, that takes time with an AI companion, so be it, but not if AI consumes us and contributes to the disjointed world we live in today where so many people stay in their own bubble, isolated and afraid to make the effort.

Time Will Tell

Tickled My Fancy

Found on a blackboard tray at the high school.

Made Me Laugh

A Mystery

What was that in the middle of the yard? 

How did it get there? 

And why was it there?

Extraterrestrials planting a marker planning a return?

Nope. High Winds

March in Mexico

March 2nd, the day before we women left for a first (and probably only) women's week in Mexico. The ice had been melting for a few days, and my hope was that it would be gone when we returned. Always the optimist, maybe our arrival home would be in spring. 

Travel was easy but with a surprise: our plane was only carrying 45 passengers. Because of Mexico's problem (egged on by our idiot in chief) or the Middle East (again, the idiot and his imbeciles in action)? No matter, to Cancun we landed, got our ride and settled into the the resort. 

Early mornings were to ourselves, although my roommate and I were both up and at it people. Me to the patio and she to the pool while later the four of us would meet for breakfast. With no more than a decision of where to eat for dinner, it was a break from thinking of food. I had lunch poolside while the rest usually went to our preferred lounge for goodies. We tried every restaurant, enjoying it all.  

Iguanas, of course. I liked viewing them from afar, but did give them leeway, jumping into my fellow walkers' space if too close and turning around instead of confronting the big guy another time when I was alone. (At the gym, that I mistook for the lobby, which, of course, made for a late arrival for our one excursion we took. Never should anyone believe me on directions, especially when I'm so doggone sure!)

Better than iguanas were the cats that roamed the resort. If I couldn't be with my own, seeing others was second best. We even, one afternoon, had two cavorting just off our patio. 

Beach time was wonderful: warm, sunny and breezy with drinks brought to us. There was talking, reading, and laughing. In our cabana we were content to lounge without documentation. Two days there, though, there was sailing off shore, not by us, but the visual was enough to pick up my phone. 

While a very sedate trip, up at 6, back to our rooms by 9:30 each night with a wine at dinner and a drink before, I did manage to have beers on the beach. In the rooms there were adorable 6 ounce Dos XX beers. Finding none at the beach bar, I asked and was able to bring the beer to my very accommodating waitstaff who kept the beer cold, while opening and serving with a smile.  They were my favorite guys of the trip! On Sunday, having our customary shot (of Jim not James), they graciously posed with me while I had mine before sending the photo to my favorites at home.

Leaving, I took one last look at our home away from home for the week. Ready to return to family,  it'd been just what we needed: a break from winter and time with friends. Memories made. Perfect.

Photo from our one excursion, to Cenote and  swimming with the turtles.

Ending where I began, the lake. My wish had come true. Ice gone, and even, for a day, warmth. False spring but spring none the less. 

Marvelous!

60 to 20

That is, degrees. Today to tomorrow morning, March in full fluctuation. This morning, though, 55 and no rain yet. Gus, going out for a second time, stayed out and surveyed what he could in the moments of a  spring morning. 

He knows to enjoy it while he can!

March Madness

What Was

On vacation I read Live By Night, another Dennis Lahane novel. Set during Prohibition, the book highlights the life of Joe Coughlin, the Tampa Prince who rules the rum running there. A gangster but one with a heart, and if not a soul any longer, one who wishes he still did. It's a good book.

What's caught my eye was a description of the KKK. While set in the early 1900s and published in December of 2016, the passage seems to me to be fitting for Trump. his lackeys, and yes, for the far right and others who voted for him and have continued to vote for him. Oh, I know not all, but really, who at this point can be for this man and not know what he stands for. There is no excuse. None.

A good gangster? Perhaps not, but he sure wasn't on the side of the KKK, and that can't be said for the gangster in the White House today.

Still Is

"You Looking At Me?!"

"I'm looking at you!"

And, I'm thinking we're both hoping that yesterday's snow could be the last of it. 

Sponge Bob and I, Optimists