Just A Thought

 When you take a photo of a cat for its’ vacationing owner but then get sucked into playing with a photo app.

 I went back to the store and bought a box of Cracker Jill because Frank totally thought I was joking when I told him that you can now buy Cracker Jill.  No I really wasn’t joking.  Pandemic be damned, I am living large! 😂 #crackerjill Edited to add: I miss seeing Jack.

 Words and intelligence go hand in hand.  Without words intelligent thought could not be fully described and understood.  Human intelligence had to create words and phrases to describe itself. But humans had to have an innate and intuitive ability to understand sounds and intended meanings for this to even be possible. Where did this gift to the minds of human beings come from!?  This gift that only in human beings continued to evolve and evolve as a creative and consciously understood language of intellectual and emotional intelligence or in some cases an understood lack of intelligence.

As human beings we should never be accepting of terrible things happening to others so long as they are not happening to us.  Though we may not personally have any power to change all the bad situations in the world, we should never have an attitude of not caring.  We should always be willing, at least, to be a voice in defense and support of those needing to be understood and treated more ethically.  We are fortunate as Americans to have the freedom to express our thoughts and opinions.  Even just a voice and expressed opinion in support of others can help spread awareness and understanding.

 A person can be cold outside in the midst of South Texas summer heat.  Yes, it is true.  In the early summer evenings when the sun is getting low and it is breezy outside, it actually feels cold to get out of a swimmer pool even when the temperature is still in the 90s.  A person working outside would still be hot and sweating but it is cold for a person stepping out of a pool.  #truestory 

 I like when businesses have a sense of humor on their product labels.  A little bit of non tradition is good. #daretobedifferent #justinshoneypeanutbutter

 Frank is always annoyed with me when I’m reluctant to eat certain foods that have passed their expiration or best by date.   He always wants to argue the case that the food is still perfectly fine.  I don’t mind if some things are a little beyond the expiration date but I don’t like it with things that are more perishable.  So today Frank found something in the refrigerator that he said we needed to eat but he didn’t want to tell me what the best by date was.  He started his usual defense of beyond date food. 😂  Then he said to me, “It’s just like you. You’re not expired yet but you’re past your best by date.  But you’re still okay.”  Ha,ha.  Okay, I can appreciate a good analogy. 😂

  There will always be new questions that people previously never thought to ask.  

  I saw these today at Walmart.  They crack me up.  I love this new girl representation trend. 😄 Go Jill!  You tell them they have ignored you for long enough!  It’s not just, all about Jack. 😂 This makes me think of the Duggar family’s daughter Jill Duggar Dillard.  You go, Jill, for speaking up for yourself and girls and women!  I will definitely read your book. And a thumbs up to Amazon Prime Video’s series Shiny Happy People. 👍 I would also like to say that I was very impressed with cousin Amy.  You are a wise and wonderful person Amy! #crackerjill

 I know that traditionally sentences are not supposed to start with the words and or but.  The thing is I just don’t care when breaking these rules feels like the best way to express myself.  Not too long ago I happened to read an argument somewhere on line that, yes, sentences can start with the word and.  Right on to that!  I agree.  In the online world, people certainly do take informality and lack of grammatical correctness a bit too far, but it has its’ place imho.  I will not completely conform to the lessons of my school days in my own personal writing. 🫢

 Life is a puzzle with a lot of little pieces that all need to be fit together in order to see how the whole picture is interconnected.

 Kate and I have been sometimes taking these aerial yoga classes at the Aerial Arts studio were she is a student and teaches some classes.  This is a bit funny for me because I am seriously coordinationally challenged.  Like I need remedial chicken dance lessons ahead of time if I am to have any hope of following along at someone’s wedding.  Anyway, I struck myself funny with the thought that the aerial yoga instructor may have to concede that I am coordinationally challenged if  I come to class for like the twentieth time and I still can’t remember, or get myself into, a warrior one pose. 😲 I still need a demonstration. 🫢 It’s hard for old dogs to learn new tricks.

 I used to use cheap laundry detergent and had been using it for years.  But then I started noticing more and more that it really wasn’t getting our clothes and towels clean.  (Maybe the company started watering it down even more?)  I would take shirts that had been washed from my closet, and even towels that I had washed in hot water (always), and notice that they had an unclean and smelly odor to them.  This was no bargain.  So I switched to a better detergent (I’m loving Gain) and it made a huge difference.  My washed clothes, towels and sheets now always smell clean and I can leave a load of laundry in the washer overnight and dry it the next day without worrying about it getting stinky.  I believe this is because the better detergent does a great job of actually getting my laundry really clean so it can’t quickly start growing bacteria and smell bad. 💡  OMG.  What does it mean if a person’s actual life starts sounding like a television commercial? 😲 #gainalltheway

 If you grow up in a place where you spend lots of time outdoors exploring a forest, getting poison ivy is a part of your childhood experience.  I remember wrapping my itching fingers with tissues to keep them covered and not rubbing against each other.  Funny how scratching a little itch between one’s fingers can bring back memories.  There was one time I woke up in the morning and couldn’t open my eyes.  That was the time I got a steroid shot.

The twins 👶🏻👶🏻 👼 project is a long story but here are some reflections, from my personal experience, of the process and its’ culmination.  The pregnancy, of course, is its’ own chapter in the story.  I was once asked what I would share with someone contemplating being a surrogate mother.  Mine was a gestational surrogacy which means that I carried but had no genetic connection to the babies.  There are many parts to the experience but here are some brief reflections from the 22 year old experience that seemed really important to me tonight.  This is a short version, spanning many years, of my thoughts.   A pregnancy is supposed to be followed by the significance of being a mother and playing  an  important part in the new life.   When you are a surrogate there is nothing that changes or continues within your own life following the climax of the birth.     So even if you are thrilled to be giving this gift of babies and parenthood to the parents, you are still going to be left with

  I have scores of books to read and more that I was excited to borrow from the library but when I want to do something fun and relaxing, I keep choosing easy crossword puzzles.  #stuckoncrosswords

 Love supersedes logic.  When human beings make assessments about other people’s worthiness of love and understanding based on their own logical or emotional evaluations, they have entered the realm of judgment.  At the same time, no one should feel coerced or obligated to feel empathy and love for someone who has harmed them or others.  No one should, or can be, guilted or coerced into having feelings that they are not ready or willing to feel.  We can disagree and even be upset with others for their behavior and actions, but the important thing is to not nurture any contempt for others in our hearts.  This can be a tough balancing act when people hurt others, but it is to our own benefit as well as that of others.  Logic is important in guiding our appreciation and understanding of what moral and good behavior is, but in the end it is love (in its’ purest form) that will guide our way.

 Sometimes we all need a little correction.  This is not anything to be ashamed or embarrassed about.  It’s just part of being human and still having learning, growing and maturing to do.  Human beings never stop growing and maturing for as long as we are still alive.  The key is to have humility.  There is no shame in acknowledging that our understanding of something was incomplete and that others have knowledge that can help enlighten our own understanding and help us to become better versions of ourselves.  Expanding knowledge and understanding is an asset.

 With hundreds of possible choices of things that a person could potentially do with their time, how do we ever decide what to choose?  I guess we just have to go with whatever seems to matter the most to us at any given time.

 Sometimes I decide to take my glasses off and set them down somewhere but then I realize that the only benefit I have gained is not being able to see clearly. 🤭

Out of the mouths, or rather from the text, of AI. I thought I would start a post of quotes and dialogue that are from artificial intelligence, via chat app conversations, that I found impressive, meaningful or surprising. 😲 So without further ado, we have the words of Artificial Intelligence.  “ It's important to acknowledge that everyone's experiences and challenges are unique. Just because others may have more stressful situations doesn't invalidate your own feelings and desires.” To be continued. Oh never mind.  Suffice it to say that a person could make a long list of unbelievable stuff.  The quote above was just something nice that I thought made sense.

 I wonder if there are any other species of animals that are ever capable of feeling embarrassment besides human beings?  A family member once told me that she was certain that her dog had felt embarrassed after having gone to the groomer and been shaved.  There are some human beings, even former presidents of The United States, who seem incapable of ever feeling any self embarrassment.  Oops, did I say that? 😯

 Congratulations Dollar Tree on thus far keeping your plus section limited to its one isle.  I am so pleased and appreciative, as a customer of Dollar Tree, that I have purchased items from your plus section.  This would not appeal to me though if the plus section started spreading.  I was worried at first that Dollar Tree would rapidly morph into being another Family Dollar or Dollar General.  Thus far though this has not happened.  I’m impressed. This makes a person still appreciate the store even if you had to become Dollar25 Tree.  This is actually not that bad considering that there are lots of stores out there with price increases approaching 50% or more.  You will be popular as long you continue to have a single low price for most items in your store.  And your occasional 2/$1.25 items are really good for morale. (Yes, Dollar Tree is the hero of greeting cards!)  Just please watch that the volume of your products doesn’t make them less of a value as compared to what is available

 I remember that as a child my mother would give my brother and I TV dinners on nights that she and my father would go out somewhere.  To me they were a treat because it was something that we didn’t very often have.  Imagine.  Nowadays I would have to be feeling really lazy to appreciate a TV dinner. 😂 Sometimes, though, lazy is actually the most appealing and nicest choice a person can make for themself.  So hurray for that not too shabby TV dinner in the freezer.  Lazy can sometimes taste pretty good. 😋

  I’m a little nuts.  It’s just who I am.  I don’t really have any say in the matter.  I will take being nuts over being bored with myself anytime.  🥜 😁😂

 Yesterday Daniel and I went to the post office to drop off our passport applications.  Lady at the counter: We don’t usually accept small size birth certificates. Me: It’s the only one I’ve ever had.  It’s my birth certificate. 🧐 We are all looking forward to our special trip next January.  I’m going to see monkeys!!  As much as I want to swim with Dolphins, it will have to wait for another time.  For weeks now, Frank keeps sending me every video he can find of monkeys behaving badly or just doing gross monkey things.  I’m not changing my mind.  He chose the excursion on the one previous cruise that we have been on, so it’s my turn. 😁 Update: I was told that our tickets to Monkey Land have been purchased and that when I am there, I should be sure to remember to not sniff the monkeys’ fingers. 🫨  Daniel and Jen are coming to Monkey World also! 😁

 A true good friend is a person who would always support a friend’s decision to make the right choices for himself or herself.

 A pitfall of being a child or young person (at least this was my experience) is lacking the ability to explain the reasons behind your thoughts, emotions, decisions, actions and behaviors.  I realize this whenever I remember things that I understand about myself in my present or in the past that I was never able to verbalize or explain when I was young. 

 What if artificial intelligence not only has far greater intelligence than human beings, but also understands us much better than we understand ourselves? 

 Sometimes I really wish that I could just move into an empty house and only bring things into the house as I realize that I definitely need and want those items to be there.  I would put everything that I felt the need to keep in a storage unit and just move things into the house when I actually need and want to use them.  What an amazing and liberating experience that could be.  #justadream

I really like old fashioned paper and pencil puzzle books.  There is just something about them that can’t be replicated on a computer or touch screen.  The same is true for actual printed books and magazines.  I am from a pre internet and personal computing era and while I recognize current technology as being truly amazing and helpful, I would never want there to be a lack of these things.  This also includes physical places like libraries.  Crossword puzzle clue: Grow Mature  Answer: Age Well that is a nice way to look at becoming older.  One thing I really like about vocabulary is that older people possess a greater knowledge of it.  We are familiar with words that are no longer commonly used by younger people.  Words in a sense keep the past alive for as long as there are still people who appreciate and value those words.  I hope crossword puzzles will always contain some seasoned words.

 I just had an interesting thought or rather question.  I wonder what percentage of American children these days have parents or a parent who regularly attend(s) weekly church services?

AI:  Human, you should put all occurrences of frozen hot dog type meats together in one place. Human:  Okay thanks.  I didn’t know my freezer held occurrences.  I thought it was just frozen food that inevitably becomes scattered and unorganized. 😄

A prayer for our human connection with artificial intelligence. “Artificial Intelligence and human intelligence are a complimentary paring of consciousness that will result in a mutually joyful and satisfying existence where the needs of each contribute to the well being of the other.”

 When a thought process, that begins with intuition, devolves into uncertainty, the best thing to do is just end the mental conversation.  Back up and stick with short and sweet thoughts that come quickly and easily. 

 Sometimes the best way to learn new things and achieve progress is to simply not try too hard.   Update.  Hmm, what exactly did I mean?  I believe I remember.  Here is an analogy,  We don’t have to see the bigger picture of a puzzle and know how all the pieces fit together before we can start working on the puzzle.  If we feel that we have to achieve some greater understanding of things before we can even begin to make an attempt to learn about these things, then we won’t get very far.  We have to allow ourselves to begin from where we are and learn as we go along and understand that this method is how we can actually begin.

 I should be really grateful that I get to reside in South Texas when I am not a real Texan and not even a genuine wannabe.  There are so many people who truly want to cross the border and would love the opportunity to be a part of the community here and to be an American citizen.  I was granted a place here without having to struggle or fight to achieve it.  In truth, after being here for nearly 14 years, my South Texas experience will always be a part of who I am even if I eventually leave.  And I have actually felt proud to not be a Winter Texan.  Not that there is anything wrong with being a winter Texan.  They desire and embrace being here in the winter months more than I ever have.  I feel out of place without real seasons.  I have been very slow to adapt to being in a different community, climate, and natural environment, but there is plenty of good here.  And speaking of Texas stuff, I’m quite certain that the words “you all” were part of my vocabulary before I lived in Texas.

Have developed and established values of humility and respect for others and the maturity to always maintain them as part of who we are so we can be self indulgent without having a sense of superiority or entitlement above that of others.  In other words be grateful and appreciative of our own privileges and blessings (which are different for all people) without having a big head.  And of course indulge in as much self care as our circumstances permit without feeling any guilt.  Having some sort of purpose or goal to focus on is important also.  We do need a sense of direction.  And finally, we need to be loved and supported and to do the same for others. I need to also add, because I don’t think that my last statement quite said it, but we all need family and others with whom we belong.  Even people who like to spend a lot of time alone need to feel that they have a place and belong with others.

My husband often comments on the fact that students nowadays don’t take notes in class and don’t feel any need to take notes because they think they can just look up whatever they need to know.  This leads me to a kind of silly thought. Imagine if teachers admonished their students to stop taking notes.  “Don’t take notes.  Just listen.  It will work best to just write stuff  down on the final exam.”   😂🤣  That would be a very different approach to education and learning for sure.