Friday Randomness
Here I was thinking likely I wouldn’t have anything to share with you this week, but then along came life and I have some content. Mostly good this week, so that’s good.
First off, the picture above is a little hummingbird (or maybe a big hummingbird, I don’t know) at the feeder outside our kitchen window one autumn. The other night I went outside for a minute and saw it on the ground. The top, where the hook holds the feeder, is plastic, and after many years of service, it gave way and broke. Did something hit it (Bird? Squirrel?), or was it just time? I don’t know. Anyway, I’ll be going to the store today and buying another, I love seeing hummingbirds outside our window. I don’t feel a lot of urgency, though, because there is an orange tree in bloom perhaps 3 feet away, and lots of other flowers around.
There is a large apartment complex on my morning walk, and I often see people with their dogs out front. I think this is the first time I’ve seen someone with their cat. Of course, the cat had to turn and look at me, which made for a good picture (though not entirely in focus, it’s not you).
Last Friday, I was walking to a grocery store nearby in search of the good eggs (2 stores on Thursday did not have the brand I like) and walked through an office complex, and found this goose. She hadn’t moved in long enough that employees had put orange cones up so people would see her and leave her alone. I assume she was planning to lay an egg. She stood up once and it was wet underneath her, then she planted herself down again. Not a great place to lay an egg, for sure. A few hours later I was again outside and near that complex, and a goose flew above me, squawking like crazy. Maybe it was her and she finally got that damn egg out?
On the other side of that same office building, I took a picture of these pretty flowers. We don’t live near woods, lakes, or waterfalls, but there is still beauty to be found out in the ‘burbs.
What else…last Saturday was the big ‘Hands Off’ rally, which was GREAT. SO MANY PEOPLE. Estimates are that there were 5,000 people, which is amazing for our suburb, especially since there were also rallies in smaller neighboring towns and our big city neighbors as well. Ours was one of the bigger ones. I had to share this picture because I love Smokey Bear. Another sign I liked said, “So bad, even the introverts are here.”
We’ve been enjoying some good TV lately.
- The White Lotus season finale was last Sunday. Excellent TV, as always, though I was a sad by a couple of the story lines. Money corrupts, is all I will say about that.
- We’ve been rewatching season 1 of The Last of Us in preparation of the new season coming out on Sunday. I swear, episode 3 (the one with Bill and Frank) of season 1 is some of my favorite TV ever. If you have HBO, I would encourage you to watch it. You don’t really have to know what the hell is going on I don’t think. Nick Offerman gives such an amazing performance.
- The new season of The Handmaid’s Tale has started on Hulu. I couldn’t watch the series when it first started, it was early in Trump’s first presidency and it just stressed me out. I feel the same way now. I did enjoy watching while Biden was in office. I mean, it doesn’t stress me out like I can’t sleep, it doesn’t give me anxiety, but it feels too close. But I’m all in now for watching, it’s great TV.
Perhaps I’m burying the lede here, but OMG you guys, I CAN NOW COMMENT ON BLOGGER BLOGS WITH MY iPAD!!! This has been an issue for YEARS and it drives me NUTS. I could be logged in to Blogger with my Google ID, and it would still give me an error. SO frustrating. I would log in to GMail, that didn’t help. Nothing. So if I wanted to comment on your blogs, you blogger folks, I would have to do it on another computer, which wasn’t always convenient. Well, an old blog friend, Heidi (who no longer has a blog, so I can’t send you her way) is writing a book, and asked a handful of people in different demographics to read it and give her our thoughts. When she sent me the first section, she sent it via Google Docs. I didn’t have the Google Docs app on my iPad, but when I added it I had to log in, and somehow logging in that way has now fixed it so I can comment on blogger blogs! YAY! What a relief! I hope it lasts.
OH, in other exciting news, we’re going to Los Angeles in May for the weekend, to see the Cruel World music festival. VERY exciting. Ted is a big music lover, and he’s turning 60 in May, so this is our celebration.
And other exciting news is that Birchie is going to be in NorCal in May! NorCal blogger meetup with Birchie and San! I’m excited for that.
Speaking of bloggers, look at the charming postcard that Elisabeth got me in Paris! She said it made her think of me because of my volunteer work with rescue kitties. And Kyria sent me a text with some pictures of street cats in Türkiye, which apparently are well fed, and get care from mobile veterinarians.
The very next day, I received this post card from Engie!
And now I’ve just realized that I am remiss in other wonderful blogger snail mail that I have received.
Back in early March, Engie sent me a St. Patrick’s Day card.
Suzanne sent me this beautiful postcard from Brussels, of the market place filled with a carpet of flowers.
And Sarah sent me this postcard of Madison. I have never really had any desire to go to Wisconsin in the past, but WOW, that is stunning and now that I have so many blog friends in the midwest, it suddenly seems like a great idea.
This weekend? Tonight we are having dinner with my cousin and her daughter. This cousin lives in SoCal, and I don’t see her often. She’s the Master Gardner who helped me save my avocado plant (among other plants she has rescued with her advice and knowledge). Her daughter has been accepted to UC Berkeley, and they are touring the campus today, dinner with us tonight, then on their way to check out another school tomorrow.
Tomorrow is another demonstration near the Tesla dealership. Other than that, I don’t have any weekend plans. Oh, that’s right, I need to buy a hummingbird feeder…
30 Comments
AC
I am in Blogger, but used to have trouble logging in a commenting on some blogs. It’s basically fixed now, but I often still have to tap on individual posts to comment. It’s easy enough, but I don’t;t understand why. This is on the pone and ipad.
If only you had been looking for goose eggs instead of good eggs. But then, does anyone want a goose egg of ether the real kind or the bump and bruise kind?
J
I had a duck egg once, and didn’t care for it, the flavor was really strong. In my mind that means that goose eggs would be even worse. True? Who knows!
Ally Bean
I’m happy that you and your iPaad are now playing nice with Blogger blogs. I gave up using my iPad to comment on any blog anywhere, but maybe I should give it another try. Small victories, eh?
I know you mentioned previously about protests at your local Tesla before so I looked up where our Tesla dealership is. I saw that there were a few protests but nothing significant. Not surprised, I live in a very conservative city in a very conservative state. Blue dots are few.
J
I had given up on the blog commenting too, but for some reason when I had to sign in to GMail, I decided to give it a try. Maybe it’s coincidence, who knows?
Jenny
Wait- is that cat sitting on someone’s SHOULDER??? And I’m worried about the goose. Did she get the egg out? Was eveything okay? Yes, not a great place to choose to lay an egg!!!
One of my clients told me she attended the protest on Saturday. She said there were a LOT of people there- which is surprising for our red area (but uplifting as well!) I work on Saturdays, but I could have scooted over there afterwards. I’m feeling guilty that I didn’t go, especially since the client who went is ELDERLY AND WALKS WITH A CANE. I mean, sheesh- if she made it, I could certainly make it as well.
I also have gotten several postcards lately. Your post reminds me that I need to write some!
J
Yes, the cat is on her shoulder…crazy, huh?
Regarding the protests, I see so many folks…on crutches, in wheelchairs, with a walker or cane. It’s humbling.
NGS
Wisconsin meet up!!! DO IT!! We are cool and Wisconsin is pretty in its own way. Just don’t come December through April. We shine in warmer months.
J
My FIL is from Wisconsin, so my husband has been a few times. He says it’s really pretty, really green compared to how dry it is here.
Elisabeth
“So bad, even the introverts are here.” Ha. As an introvert, this speaks to me.
Yay for blogger mail. What a wonderful collection you’ve received. It always makes me smile to see something personal in my mailbox and I’m so glad you’ve had some smiles to offset the poopshow going on around us.
J
LOL, poopshow indeed! Yes, it’s been fun to get some mail, and also email, from blogger friends!
Margaret
Those are gorgeous postcards! I love getting and sending them; it’s so old-school, like what we always used to do on trips. I miss visiting LA with all the fabulous eateries and beaches. If I don’t use my laptop, I have to log in with a user name and password which I never remember. LOL
J
I too love getting postcards, and sending them too. Fun!
Nicole MacPherson
Maybe the Canada goose was protesting the government’s treatment of Canada! A one-goose protest, as it were.
So much fun snail mail!
J
Oh, that’s it, she was having a Sit In! Good going, goose!
Noemi
I also…
… went to a Hands Off rally on Sat
… liked the White Lotus season and finale
..: can’t watch Handmaid’s Tale right now
… can’t comment on Blogger blogs from my phone/iPad. I’m glad you have found a solution. I have not.
I hope you have a good weekend!
J
Yay, so glad you went to the rally! I saw that in my email, but haven’t been by to comment yet.
Allison McCaskill
I have a companion goose post!
https://bibliomama2.blogspot.com/2022/04/pressure-sequel.html
I love that cat on the shoulder pic! And that carpet of flowers is amazing! I am using way more exclamation marks than I usually limit myself to.
New season of Last of Us? SO EXCITING. I tend to be oblivious about them until they come out. Fully agree about that episode, it is masterful. My husband might even be around to watch some of the new season. After we finish Severance, I guess.
“So bad even the introverts are here” – if that doesn’t say it all. The signs have been killer.
I have issues commenting on NON Blogger blogs when I’m not on my laptop. Which is fine, except if I read the post somewhere else and resolve to comment later, well, you know my memory at this point.
J
I have the same issue when I read a post in my email or on a blogger blog and then forget to go back and comment, so I am THRILLED that it appears to be working now! YAY!
Birchie
YES YOU NEED TO GO TO WI!!!! It was worth it for the people alone, and I was not expecting it to be so beautiful. I am so excited for CA, and it will be here very soon.
Thanks for the pic of the cat on the shoulder. I needed the laugh.
J
Regarding the cat on the shoulder, I must say I was NOT expecting that. I’m so excited to meet you and San!
Allison McCaskill
Aaaand my comment’s disappeared again. Maybe I can’t comment in any platform anymore?
J
I will come over to your blog and let you know what’s going on, but somehow all of your comments for the last 10 days have wound up in my spam. I’m glad you said something on Engie’s blog, and that I went back to see if anyone replied to my awesome Bowie dreams! HA! Vanity.
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Yay! You are going to have so much fun with the ladies! I know you are! Also, May is my favorite month and is especially nice in the Bay Area, and even more so if Diablo and the hills are still green. Good luck with the hummingbird feeder!
J
May is a beautiful month to be here, Birchie is going to fall in love…
Suzanne
Woo!!! A blogger meetup with Birchie and San!!!! So exciting!
I love all the pictures accompanying this post. Such variety and color! The goose reminds me of a series of reels I’ve seen on Instagram about pigeon nests and how terrible they are. There are a lot of different ways to parent, I guess.
So glad you got the postcard! I had to laugh at the card Elisabeth sent you — I swear I bought the same one and sent it to someone! Can’t decide if I am glad or sad it wasn’t you; it would have been pretty hilarious to receive the same postcard from Paris from two bloggers who don’t live there.
J
LOL, that WOULD have been hilarious! I’m glad to have gotten your beautiful card from Brussels, though. I’ve never been, except on the train trip from Amsterdam to Paris on my honeymoon, when we went through Belgium. But that doesn’t really count. I have some blog friends who live there, though, so if I were ever there I would have someone to show me around a bit!
PocoBrat
What an awesome haul of cards and postcards, J–I’m in awe of people who send snail mail.
I want “Tim, have you heard of wine, Tim? to be a meme 🙂 (White Lotus)
I hope your hummingbird feeder is fixed and you’re having a great weekend! XOXO
J
Thanks Maya! I bought a new hummingbird feeder on Friday, but haven’t seen any at it yet. Am I just not looking at the right moment, or did I not wash it thoroughly enough and it still smells wrong to them? Time will tell. I’ll wait a day or two before dumping out the sugar water and trying again. They were without for about 36 hours only.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Argh… the blogger blogs give me a headache ever since I am on the blogosphere. The reason they are always the last to get my attention if I am perfectly honest.
I can only comment from the desktop and when using the chrome browser. Its annoying.
What a great turn out for the demonstration.
And so much fun snail mail. Love it.
J
Yeah, the blogger thing drove me NUTS and I was really surprised when it suddenly started working for me.