Happy New Year

Saturday Boredom

Hi, y'all.

I'm a little bit bored this evening. Early evening.

This morning I bit the bullet and downloaded Windows 10. It took awhile, but the process was seamless and easy even for a non-techie like me. Microsoft did a good job with this, from my point of view.

So now I'm facing something I've often wanted to face but didn't quite have the guts: Windows 10 does not have the simple solitaire and mahjong games that I've used to mindlessly while away time. Alas. The iPad doesn't have any, either. Yes, I could download some, but every time I try that I'm disappointed with what I got.

It's just as well, really. I need/want to not be so devoted to them anyway.  I still have the New York Times crossword puzzle, as well as their new spelling game (which I love!) and a few others I haven't tried. I'll just need to read, or something worthwhile, instead of mindless play.

Mostly, after the go-round with Microsoft this morning and a few errands about town afterwards, I've spent the day with The Queen. Signed up for my annual 30-day free trial of Netflix a couple of days ago, opted to watch most of season 2 to jog my memory, and am now into season 3, which I haven't seen yet.

One of my new neighbors is a wonderful artist (as in, a pro who actually sells her work) and she gave me a print for my birthday. Today I found the perfect frame for it, but the foam backing is too thick for the frame so she's going to switch it to a thinner backing tomorrow for me. It looks absolutely smashing, I must admit. The photo does not do it full justice, as I couldn't get the colors exactly right, but it's pretty close. Then there's the glare on the frame, and the fact that it's crooked. But -- you get the idea. The colors are vibrant and strong and well balanced and the brass frame was perfect for it -- as soon as I put the print into the frame at the store, it sang to me.

What will Sunday bring? Laundry, for one. Rain. A couple of good books to read, and some exercise machines in the next room waiting to be used.

Can the iPad become my camera?

Now that my energy is improving after the dreaded holiday is past, I opted to take a walk along the ponds to give the new iPad a test run as a camera. Random photos, no real effort at making them interesting, just trying to grab some different scenarios.

This one on the left is the result of a small amount of tinkering with the built-in photo editor, which is actually quite good. I only made one adjustment here, which was color saturation. Compare to the original, below.

 Clearly, the first photo is better, with the colors popping more.

There were a myriad of other options -- making it black and white, adding an over all tint, plus the usual adjustments one might want to make to a photo.  I only made the one because I suspected that whatever changes I'd make would overwrite the original, and I was correct. No 'save as' option, though knowing Apple there's probably something I haven't found yet.

Here are the others, unedited, merely as examples.

Merry Ho Ho

Christmas Eve, and it's the grinch here, as always.

Aside from being totally unable to forget/ignore the date and still live in the western world, my body and mind are sensing the end of a season that has for decades been unpleasant, to say the least. Thankfully, I'm long past the years when I'd go into a real funk every year, often not realizing what the problem was until the sunlight of my mind reappeared magically when the season was over. Or perhaps worse, realizing what the problem was but unable to do anything to stop it.

Plop Plop Fizz Fizz, oh what a relief it is! I used to work with the people who created that Alka Seltzer ad. Apropos of nothing.

Nowadays, though, the 'funk' has become much more insidious and sneaky so I don't necessarily realize it's even happening, though I realize something is off. Or, as in this year, I've noticed an increase in anxiety and sleeplessness, a general uneasiness and certainly a need to eat too much of the wrong foods. Comfort foods. But I didn't realize the extent of any of this until the last day or so when I noticed it starting to lighten up. Because it's almost over again for another year. I'm beginning to be more inclined to want healthier foods, and less interested in the red wine of an evening. I feel some inner excitement blossoming because the end is near, only another day or two left (and a few days after that before the media lets go of the fuss and advertising completely).

And here I thought I was such an expert at spotting this! Sometimes, it still beats me because now it's become quiet and sneaky in its ways.

For the first time since I've lived in this building (a little over 3 years now), I've appreciated the community this season. Much more connected to some people (possibly because I've reached out more). It's been a comfort I didn't expect, but appreciate very much now.

Wherever you are, whatever you celebrate or don't celebrate this time of the year, may you be happy.

Sleet, travel, and new toys

Took a drive to Portland this morning, early, trying to beat the mad rush at the store I was headed for. And did it today because I'd rather not face the weekday traffic headed north and in the general area.

A few months ago an old and dear friend gave me a pass to the Columbia Sportswear employee store. Her husband is on their board of directors and they'd just come from there.  A couple of months ago I decided to check it out and look for a new winter jacket. The one I have is almost 25 years old (kind of like my bike, both purchased my first year in Oregon, 1996). I still love it, but one snap is missing and it's no longer as waterproof as it once was.

I found the store hectic and confusing that first visit, and felt I had to find something because the pass was a one-time use and I didn't want to waste it. The jackets really weren't cut for a short and pudgy old woman -- more for younger and fitter women with flatter bellies. And I didn't like the colors. Just not colors I like to wear. Finally, I found a jacket in their Mountain Hardware division that didn't really fit my needs, but I bought it anyway, ready to get out of the store. Big mistake!

Mountain Hardware is a great brand. I own other of their items. They are made for active, outdoor people who spend time in the wilderness. I used to do that, but not anymore. After I got home and tried it on again, it just didn't feel right. I stewed for a week about taking it back, but didn't want to drive back to Portland, so I finally hung it in my closet. Last week the weather here was really cold and wet so I put it on, thought I'd give it a try. Again, I knew it wasn't right or comfortable so I took it off and wore my old jacket. For one thing, it's just too warm for the use I'd have for it. Too warm to be comfortable inside a store, for example, and when I leave home I'm generally going to some kind of indoor commercial establishment. I would have sweltered in that jacket. It was a great jacket, just a stupid decision for me to buy it.

Yesterday I decided to take it back, and that's where I went today. Because it was past the 60 day return window, the refund was only for store credit, but that was cool. I learned a lot from my first visit and while the place was already packed just after 9am, I knew my way around. In the end, for the price of that one jacket plus $26, I got two jackets, a pair of long water resistant active wear pants, and two pair of socks. I could wish I hadn't bought the socks, but they didn't cost much. One jacket is a bright yellow trench style rain jacket that will be perfect for biking. Very visible. Long enough to cover my torso. The other one is water repellent with a fleece lining, which is what my old jacket is. I didn't realize until I got home that the fleece lining zips out easily, and the shell has a reflective lining that bounces body heat back inside the jacket. The pants are for cycling, though I'll have to figure out a way to use them with my current bike, which has no chain guard.

I've pretty much decided to wait awhile to buy the new bike. It's pricey, and I'd hate to find out that my knees are going to reject cycling after I buy it. So I think I'll work on strengthening my knees on an indoor contraption, and see how much I ride the bike during the winter. Even with the new clothes, I can't imagine there will be lots of days when cycling would be fun.  I might, however, start doing shorter errands with it, perhaps starting this coming week when I need to go across the river for a small item that other places don't carry. It's a hassle to get there and back in the car, but it's just over the nearest bike bridge from home and a short ride beyond that. Seems like a good time to start, and see where it goes. The market I use most often is also an easy reach on the bike path. If my knees stay happy all winter, then I'll get the new toy.

It was sleeting when I came out of the store this morning and started home. I could barely see the roads, but fortunately after I traveled southward a short distance, I left it all behind and even found a little sunshine.