Frustration or Just Hard Work

Well, tonight, I was making some adjustments to one of the group mailing lists in my contact list.  And, low and behold, I wiped it out.  Well, that was not a bad thing.  I looked back at the group mailing lists from my old computer, and realized that I could not use any one of those to find the addresses I needed to reload this mailing list.  So, I devised a system to reload the list, only adding addresses that were not already on the other group lists.  This actually set my mind at rest, because I was not sure I had everyone on the lists that needed to be on the list, but put that to the back of my mind to deal with later.  So, later was tonight.

Sometimes, I Don't Know What to Do!

Sake is again not eating well. I make efforts to get home mid-day when I can to put out fresh food, even if she does not show.  And of course, over the weekend, I try to feed her when she says she is hungry. 

So, Saturday and Sunday morning both, I was putting out cat food at 4:30 AM, at her request.  Just for Sake.  Saturday, I bought beef liver for me, and before I put it into the refrigerator, she was on the counter, checking it out.  So, after I cooked it, I gave her some, several times Saturday and Sunday. She ate it until dinner time, Sunday night, when she ate chicken well. Of course during the course of the weekend, she ate chicken, and the Fancy Feast Chicken Florentine http://www.fancyfeast.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=cat-fancy+feast-computer%7Cbing%7Cbranded%7Cexact&utm_term=fancy+feast&utm_campaign=always+on  that she likes.

And, since I ate the beef liver,I went back to the store and purchased some more, and cooked some up so it will be available.

This is not a problem.

What is a problem is that Haiku and Taki think that when I feed Sake, I should feed them. And really, I do not mind.  Haiku can stand the extra food, but Taki is way over weight. So, I put fewer pieces of treats in her dish.

But, this has created a problem: Sometimes Taki and Haiku sit there and cry, wanting something, but I do not know what.  I can deal with Sake asking for food, and deciding she does not want to eat it because she does not feel well.  But the behaviors from Taki and Haiku are frustrating.

I do not blame them.  I am the adult here, and I have to set the limits.  It is just hard for me to say "no" to Taki, who is so overweight, and feed Haiku. 

The New Printer

So, today was the day that I had to set up the new printer.  I was in hopes that all would go smoothly.  And, in fact, it did. Until I tried to set up a file to print a postcard.  Either the new printer, or Microsoft Office, did not want to accept the size parameters for a post card.  I worked and worked and worked.  I had to reinstall the printer at one point.  I figured out I could set up a postcard message as if it were the address on a small business envelope, and adjust it to fit on the postcard. But, the post cards are so light weight, they will not go through the printer.  Grrr.

I will contact the post office to see if I can just glue information on the post card. If not, I will send out first class notices.

In the process, I learned a lot about working with Microsoft Office 2010 and my new printer.

Toshiba, Microsoft, Suddenlink, and Me

So, I have written that I purchased  new laptop computer.  I purchased a Toshiba Satellite http://www.toshiba.com/us/computers/laptops/satellite?src=MAXQ&cm_mmc=SEM_Direct_Bing&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc because I was pleased with my old computer, a Toshiba Satellite, until it became outdated, including because of the software, not the hardware, and I decided not to put new money into an old computer.

I was not really happy about having to use Windows 8.1, but I can learn to live with it.  Because the files on my old computer were not compatible with the new computer, I have been entering all of my many hundred email addresses manually. And made quite a number of mistakes, which I fixed as I could.

Until Thursday night.  I could access the primary email account I have with Suddenlink http://home.suddenlink.net/, but not the secondary email account which is the one with most of the email addresses.  I was afraid this might happen. For security reasons, in the past, Suddenlink would lock me out of this account if I had too many bounce back emails.  The first time I reported it, the technician fixed it right away.  The next two times I reported it, I went through customer service hell to convince the technicians that this was the problem, but finally, we got it fixed.

So, Thursday night I called Suddenlink, and was connected to a nice young lady who heard my story and immediately told me I was not locked out of my account. We spent an hour or so changing all kinds of settings to try to activate the account, to no avail.  She transferred me to Microsoft http://www.Microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx for further assistance. The first representative I got was not very helpful, had a very heavy accent that I could not understand, took my phone number "in case we were disconnected" and when we were disconnected, did not call me back after about 8 minutes. Fortunately, the Suddenlink representative had given me the Microsoft number, so I called back, and was connected to a very patient and very knowledgeable representative. We tried several things, and discovered that when I signed onto Suddenlink to access my secondary (problem) account, I was indeed locked out. He suggested I totally delete my secondary account, and not set it up until Suddenlink unlocked this account. He also told me that I had free access to Microsoft technological help for 90 days from the date of purchase of Microsoft Office. That was REALLY good to know.

By this time it was well after 9 PM. I had not eaten dinner and had other things to do on the computer, so decided this could wait a day.

Friday night, I called Suddenlink again, and explained the entire story and problem, including my interaction with Microsoft.  The gentleman I worked with was very nice. I told him I was older, had bad vision and difficulty reading the small fonts and adjusting to a new key board, all of which contributed to my typographical errors.  He related to me as an older user, also.  He had a good sense of humor. He accepted the premise that I was locked out of my account (probably verifying it on his end.)  I had trouble resetting my password.  He helped me, accepting the unimaginative process I was using to reset the password, and it worked. I had to run a virus scan before he could submit the request for reset, and we had time to chat because it took so long.  When it was reset, he told me the manager who did it was a reliable manager and he trusted that person. He gave me the setting to re-establish my Microsoft Outlook account. And he made sure that I was able to send and receive mail with the Suddenlink account I had previously had trouble with.  He was great! 

Every time I think I have everything set up with this new computer, something else happens.  I had hoped to set up the new printer and the mail merge files I need to do last weekend, but that did not happen, as I was still trying to update email addresses and figure out the Outlook program. 

I am in hopes that this weekend, I will be able to set up the new printer and the mail merge programs.  Although I will have to move the old printer, I can set it up to use, with the old laptop, if I cannot figure out what I need before I need it, using the new computer.

This has been an adventure.  Not a bad one, but still, an adventure.  And more work and much more time consuming than I had bargained for. But, it will be okay.

School Supply Drive At Monford

Today we received announcement that the Montford Medical and Psychiatric Unit http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/unit_directory/jm.html - TDCJ http://tdcj.state.tx.us/ and CMHC http://www.ttuhsc.edu/som/cmhc/ staff are being encouraged to donate school supplies for foster children in the community.  A few months ago, we were asked to donate food, diapers, and other essentials for people in the community. And we did.

I know the person who is spearheading these drives means well. But I wonder if this person understands that on a standard correctional officer salary, without overtime, many of our correctional officers would meet the financial guidelines for services with community agencies.  And, many of our non-licensed clerical staff would also probably fall into those categories.

The staff at Montford is generous. But we need to take care of and support our own. And we have, when one of our own has had a tragic, or life changing event. But maybe we need to be more sensitive about our fund raising events.

A Full Day

It was a full day.  The cats wanted me up before the alarm, but I put them off. Haiku kept slapping the inside of my nostrils.  I do not know how she figured out this was sure to wake me up and get my attention, but she did. I did get up shortly after the alarm went off, which meant I was ready for work early, and went in early.  I stayed at work, although I could have gone home mid-day to check on the cats. Sake's eating is so sketchy, a trip home may or may not have been productive.  I probably did the wrong thing. I never know what to do.

After work, I went to a reception at Catholic Charities http://cclubbock.org/ for the graduates of the Parent Empowerment Program. It is so heart warming to see people the agency has helped become self-sufficient citizens.  That is so great.

I stopped at a nursing home on my way home:  A co-worker had been there for wound care and antibiotics. She left today. That was great, it is her birthday, and going home is a great birthday present.

I had some mail that could wait. In fact, some I will bring to work.  I am behind in my plan to set up the new computer, but it is going along. Tomorrow night, I hope to update two more address books from the old computer.

If I do that, I will send out some announcements from the new computer. If it extends beyond Wednesday, I will do the announcements from the old computer.  I still need to work on written postcard announcements, mail merge and so many things.

Tonight I watched the Yankees lose to the Texas Rangers.  Tomorrow night, the game between these two teams will again be televised on a TV channel I can watch.

One day at a time, one day at a time. Tomorrow, while the Rangers vs Yankee game is on, maybe I can finish the addresses.  I did not get the old printer moved and the new printer set up over the weekend as was my plan.  But I am not strapped for printing service at this point.

I am so proud of myself.  When I purchased my first laptop, I was so stressed to get everything set up and changed over in a hurry.  Now, I am not so worried.  When I purchased the laptop, my desktop was still fairly functional. So there was no rush. But rush I felt. Now, I am feeling free to work at a more leisurely pace. Even if the old laptop becomes unavailable, I can still figure this out, but with more effort.

Winding Down

Well, this topic came up last night, but I was too tired to write about it.  I am almost too tired to write about it tonight.  But last night, I went out to a musical comedy and returned home after 11 PM. It was a wonderful experience, but as usual, I had trouble winding down after the event. It was well after midnight before I was wound down enough to go to sleep.  This is a problem for me.

I come home from work, take care of the cats, read, do computer stuff, and now physical therapy exercises, and work on winding down.  It takes me two or three hours.  So, when I go out to an activity such as the book club, the Lady Raiders basketball games, or a play, my winding down process just takes that much longer. 

I am acutely aware of this, and try to plan accordingly. Including and especially during the work week. But I cannot go to bed and fall asleep if I am not actually at the point of being ready to fall asleep.  This has been true my whole life. Why I think it should change now, I do not know.

More Physical Therapy

Well, the insurance authorized 4 additional visits for physical therapy.  I had the second of 3 pool sessions last Thursday (the last session will be a "dry" session, mostly for evaluation purposes.)  I knew while I was doing this last PT session, Thursday, July 17, 2014, that I was working harder than I had been.  I did not mind, because I want to get the maximum benefit from PT. When I got out of the pool, I was flushed and tired.  I stayed for 15 minutes of moist heat and then, went home. It is good that Spectra is not far from where I live.  I had trouble driving home. 

I fed the kitties, and later myself.  I was so tired I had to sit and rest, just moving around my little house. I was tired, but unable to get comfortable or sleep.  I was too tired. My problem is that my body may be tired, but my brain is very active.  And, I know that if I go to sleep too early, I will wake up in about 5.5 or 6 hours, wide awake, and generally be unable to go back to sleep.

Also, I noticed I had scraped the big toe of my right foot.  It makes sense: in the current, trying to walk in the pool, I use my toes to help me navigate, and I obviously scraped the bottom of that toe on the cement floor of the pool

I was so fatigued, I was very concerned, including that I might not wake up for work in time the next morning.  I sent my coworkers an email saying I might be late going to work.  Then about 10 PM, I went to bed. (My usual bedtime is closer to 11:30 PM or midnight. Tonight, I am still trying to wind down from having been out to a play until 11:15 PM, so it is really not tonight, but early Sunday morning.)

Well, sure enough, at 3:10 AM, I was wide awake.  I used my "tricks" to help me to return to sleep: a drink of juice and relaxation exercises.  That worked.  I tried to sleep in, but the cats wanted breakfast, so I was up at the normal time.  I could have made it to work at the regular time, which for me is about or slightly before 8 AM.  Because I had to rest so much in between doing things to get me ready for work, and feeding the cats, it took longer.  I can usually leave the house about 45 minutes after waking up, but often, I stay home so I will not get to work too early. (I have trouble leaving work on time, and try not to work overtime by not going in early.)  Well, Friday morning took me about 90 minutes to get ready for work, as I had to rest so much.  So, I arrived about 8 minutes late.  Even with that, I had my time in for the week before 5 PM, and left after finishing my tasks for the day.

So, all this to say that I am still in PT, and doing exercises, admittedly not every day, but on the schedule suggested by the PT, at home. I am also using the electronic stimulator device I purchased some time ago.  I think between the two, I am really improving. 

I can say that:  I did house work on Saturday.  The bending and twisting causes discomfort in my lower back.  If I sit frequently, I can alleviate the discomfort.  An electronic stimulation treatment afterwards, along with a certain set of exercises taught to me in PT, can eliminate the discomfort.  I still have muscle discomfort because I am again trying to use muscles I have not used recently. But, I think I can tell the difference.

I have written more than the casual reader wants to read or know.  The point is that although it is difficult, physical therapy can be so beneficial. But, we need to remember to allow for the impact it has on our body and brain.

Moonlight Musicals

I have been attending the Moonlight Musicals http://lubbockmoonlightmusicals.org/index.html since their inception in 2006.  I have not seen all of the shows they present at the summer time outdoor theater, but I have seen most of them.  I went to their inaugural dinner theater presentation of White Christmas in 2010 with a co-worker.  I enjoyed it but find dinner theater a little intimidating going alone. I am not sure why, but I do.  I should get over that.  I have been to many activities by myself, and dinner theater should not be so bad.

I sat with a co-worker and her husband. She had been before, he had not been at all.  I think he enjoyed himself.  I know she did. She had distant relatives in the cast.

They commented on how the Moonlight Musicals are still not well known in Lubbock.  I have seen the attendance grow over the years.  I am pleased they are attracting good crowds. They deserve it.  Even with the bare-bones equipment and staging of the first few years, they generally do a good job.

This is a really nice event for Lubbockites.  While it is not a "destination attraction," I suspect that this attracts people from outside of Lubbock.

Thank you for your vision, Gerald Dolter!

Computer Progress

I am still working on updating the new computer.  I have a lot of things I want to enter into it, but the files from both are not compatible, so I have to do the entry by hand. I think I have figured out how to use Microsoft Outlook.  There are a lot of safeguards built in, but it is cumbersome to use.  But, I have the time.

My plan for the weekend is to set up the new printer.  And work on data entry, especially email addresses for NASW. 

This is time consuming, but something I can do when I am too tired to think or read.

Efficiency Deficiency

I have written before about the fact that I am told that I am very organized.  I do not think that I am, but I like routine and plan, and I try to be efficient at accomplishing tasks.  I try to put things so I know where they will be.  I like to keep track of things, count things, and register when tasks are accomplished.  I like to make lists, and check things off the list.  I actually get a physical oomph from being able to cross something off a list.  It is a small oomph, but one I really enjoy experiencing. I may be addicted to this oomph.

My house and office are cluttered,  I have a bit of a hoarding tendency, and I can manage dust, dirty windows, and stuff on the carpet (not food or cat leavings other than fur) without it bothering me.

I was thinking about this today.  I like to get things done right the first time.  If I have to repeat something, I like to do so promptly, and get it finished. I even "power through" activities to finish them.  If I start something, I want to finish it.  If I have a piece of paper in my hand, I want to handle it and be able put it aside. I like to keep things out where I know where they are, even if that looks messy to someone else. Although it irritates me to do so, I am self disciplined enough to do the preparation for things before I engage in a task, so it will go smoothly to the finish.

I sometimes forget to do things, but have an ability to keep things in my brain so I can remember to do tasks.  I use lists, sticky notes, and electronic reminders to help me.

Recently, I was visiting with someone who shares knowledge of another individual with whom we had to interact.  We were discussing this third person's tendency to be scattered and inefficient. This third person is a wonderful person. But, she forgets things.  She puts things in folders, thinks she has finished them, but has not even started them. She loses things. She repeatedly does the same thing. She handles the same paperwork two or three times, putting it down, and never finishing it.  She creates for herself an efficiency deficit:  Instead of getting organized, and getting ahead, her interruptions, repetitions, starts and stops lose time for her, instead of making her efficient. She continually is "getting behind" because of her inefficiency.

This person has wonderful relationship skills, except that she is often late, and frequently has to be reminded to follow through with things. She knows how to make people feel cherished, important, and appreciated. Until she forgets to do something that puts another person on the spot. She accepts responsibility and vows to be better, but of course, she does not.

I think of some of my coworkers who have the same traits: they cannot meet deadlines, they forget to do little things that would make their job, and that of their coworkers, easier, they start something and do not finish it, they think they have done something, and they have not. They are not plan-ful or mindful of what they do.

I am a person of habit, and some of that leads me not to be mindful:  Did I close the windows, and turn on the AC before I went to work? Did I shut off the TV before I left the house. Did I lock the doors?  These are things I do rather routinely, without thinking, so then I do not remember if I have done them.  I cannot tell you how many times I have turned around to go home and double check myself.  I have learned to stop in the driveway before I back into the street, and go through the inventory before I leave the house.  This short pause helps me to be more efficient.  If I have to check something, I am still at home. And, chances are, I did it already.

Having a plan, having things where they are available, doing things one time, right the first time, handling paper only once, preparing even if that is time consuming, all help me to be more efficient and effective.

I have this quote in my office, from Peter Drucker:

Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.  I hope always to do both. 

I will admit that sometimes, I am frustrated with people who are inefficient, and even more so, ineffective.

Treats

Haiku asked for treats tonight. She does not do that often, but when she does, I like to accommodate her. She is not too thin, but she is not overweight, either.  So, tonight, she got treats.  Of course, if Haiku wants treats, Sake and Taki do, too.

Sake is actually eating well tonight, after getting a shot from the vet today.  She had chicken, liver, and now, treats.  When she asks for treats, she gets treats. And if one type of treat does not appeal to her, I will try several, until she decides nothing appeals to her, or, until I until I run out of options.

Unfortunately, I let Taki get way overweight.  I am trying to be more judicious about feeding her. She gets fewer treats, and if she is the kitty who asks for treats, I ignore her. I hate to do that, but it is for her own good.

Knitting in the Park

I attend the weekly Westwinds Brass Band http://westwindsbrassband.org/index.php concert in Wagner Park when I am able.  They play every Sunday night in June, and into July.  Tonight was the last concert in the park for this summer season.  They play elsewhere. But this is my favorite venue.  They have played at the High Noon series  http://www.visitlubbock.org/calendar at the Lubbock County Courthouse, the patriotic concert and chorale at the First United Methodist Church, the Fourth on Broadway Stars and Stripes venue http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2014-07-04/fourth-july-begins-broadway, and with the Texas Tech Band and Orchestra Camp Wind and Brass ensemble at the Texas Tech Museum http://www.depts.ttu.edu/museumttu/event.html, since the second of July.

They usually play at the Lions Club Pancake Festival http://lubbocklions.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14 in the spring, the Fiesta at the Garden Arts Center http://www.mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/garden-arts-center/events in September, and they have a Christmas concert to raise funds for a music scholarship.

Well, when I attend one of their concerts, except for the Pancake Festival and Fiesta, I usually bring my knitting.  I am a fixture, and concert attendee regulars ask about my project, or why I do not have it, if I do not bring my knitting. I receive such warm comments about the beauty of the piece, the color, and sometimes, as folks want to touch it, the softness of the yarn.

Tonight, one of the boys who is regularly in the park came up to me, and said "hello."  He asked "Do you like knitting?"  I replied that I did.  I asked him if he knitted. He said "no" and ran off.

I get a lot done when I am knitting in the park.  But sometimes, I make a mistake. Well, that is not new.  I make mistakes when I am knitting at home or at other venues, also. So, I just have to take it apart, and figure it out.

More Computer Setup

I am still working on setting up my new computer.  I am getting used to Windows 8.1, the sensitivity of the touch screen, and setting up Microsoft Office.

I did not know it would be such a chore to set up Microsoft Office Outlook to get it to work.  I knew I would have to data entry all of my addresses and emails because Outlook is not compatible with the Outlook Express that I had been using.

And, Outlook does not actually offer me the flexibility of Outlook Express.  Or, if it does, the access to that flexibility is so obscure, I cannot find it.

So, I am still working at it, and still frustrated.  I have not even attempted to set up the new printer.  That will occur later this month.  And, I have to learn to do envelopes, mail merge, and how to print to a post card.

This will be interesting and continually frustrating. But challenging, and with help, I have met the challenges so far. So, I suspect I have many more successes in me, along with a few failures.  But failures teach me what not to do.

Blogging revisited

Well, I had been blogging quite regularly in the month of June, and found myself able to do several blogs a day sometimes.  But after the 4th of July holiday, I hit a wall.  I know why:  I was dealing with trying to set up the new laptop computer I purchased, attend to several social activities, keep up with work while continuing to keep up with social activities, attend a continuing education workshop, but get all of my work done at work, get help downloading Microsoft Office onto my computer, setting up the Outlook email accounts, go to a couple of Westwind Brass Band concerts, including the combined Westwind Brass Band, and Texas Tech Band and Orchestra Camp Wind and Brass Ensemble concert, go to PT, read, knit,  keep up with work, and go to the Mystery Book Club.   Whew!

Reading all of this just tires me out.  Tonight, I thought I had set up the Outlook email program I needed, but hit yet another wall.  So, I called Suddenlink, but, as I expected, they said it was a Microsoft problem.  So, I went looking for help on line, but could not find a help topic explicit to what I needed.  So, I gave up. I decided I would contact the TTUHSC IT people to help me by phone tomorrow, and make a plan to go in next week for help. Or, at least find out if they could help me, or if I needed to contact Microsoft. So, after I did what I wanted to do on the computer tonight, I shut it off. 

I was reading, but got restless, and realized that I had a blog in me tonight, so turned the computer back on.  I have not blogged since July 8, 2014, and before then, since July 5, 2014. 

And, when I checked the Microsoft Outlook program, it appeared to be working. I will check more tomorrow: sending emails from work, and the emails I have saved on my old laptop that I want to send to my new laptop. 

Because, my next adventure is setting up the new printer.  And printing several things.  I will not totally disassemble the old printer, just in case, because what I need to print can come off of the old laptop.  But, we shall see how all of this works.

What I am most impressed with during this process is my patience.  The last time I did this kind of computer shift was in 2006.  Then, I thought I had to have every thing done "right away."  Now, while I feel a sense of urgency to get things done (the biggest thing was to get connected online), I am okay with taking care of the various other things in bits and pieces, as we go.

Patience is a virtue. It bestows upon the waiter the peace of mind that it is okay to wait and to take time.  It allows unexpected things to happen around us, while we are waiting, that makes our wait worth while.

It allows us to learn to take our time as we fumble through life, so that we can appreciate and enjoy the good things, and build memory files of them, to help us to get through the bad times with a minimum of distress.

As with setting up Microsoft Office, it is there, it is done. I just had to be patient enough to know how to finish the process.

Patience truly is a virtue

All of this to say, that when I have so many things bouncing around in my mind, I cannot reliably be present to attend to one thing. That makes blogging so much harder for me.  But, I can get it done, and I did tonight.

I Am Exhausted

I am amazed about what I have written about physical therapy before. My posts tell me it was an overall positive experience the first time, although it mostly yielded strengthening and range of motion. And, that it wore me out.

I returned to physical therapy after the second pain management treatment (epidural) that did not seem to help much, and in the first few days after the treatment, exacerbated my pain.

When the doctor said I needed to return to physical therapy, I asked to return to Spectra, http://spectraphysicaltherapy.com/services.html for physical therapy, because I knew that the therapist was an excellent, well respected therapist.  In addition to reviewing the exercises I had done during my first stint in physical therapy, he added water therapy.  The first day I did water therapy, I spent an hour walking in the pool. An hour walking would have meant pain in my back, leg/calf cramping, and tingling/cramping toes.  None of that occurred.

And, as I engaged in my regular activities, I had less and less discomfort and problems. To the extent I could stand for an hour without back pain, or leg or toe discomfort or numbing.  I continued to do water therapy.  It has been great!

I over did it over the 4th of July holiday weekend.  I walked too much and too quickly, and did not rest enough when I did house work and yard work. I  powered myself through housework and yard work. But, the discomfort that resulted was muscle discomfort, and responded to analgesic patches.

Today, I went to PT before I went to work. After spending time in PT in the pool, and doing some paperwork, I went home, cleaned up and dressed for work, and went into work.  I had planned to stay late at work, because I knew what tasks I wanted to do.  I completed those tasks in about 8 hours.  This did not surprise me. The tasks were what I would have planned for eight hours starting at 8 AM  instead of 1020 AM.

However, I am exhausted. I was able to do the foot strengthening exercises I need to do, but I am too tired to do much else.

I am hoping the insurance will authorize many more visits for physical therapy.  I like the water therapy.

Oh, but the point of this is that the water therapy wears me out.  I was able to complete the tasks I needed to do at work.  I stopped at the grocery store on my way home from work, and among other things, bought something off the deli counter because I was too exhausted to do something else to fix dinner.

I will be ready to sleep soon, after my brain winds down. 

Barnes and Noble Myster Book Club

Surely I have written about the Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ mystery book club before.  About how they made me feel welcome at the first meeting. About how fun it is to join this group for dinner before we actually go to the meeting. About how fun it is to talk about the book we read. If we all like the book, the discussion is usually minimal, unless we really, really like the book. If we disliked the book, the discussion extends.  Sometimes, we learn from members about background information pertinent to the book.

The selection process for the book to read has varied: We sometimes decide as a group. There was a time that each member was assigned a month to pick a group.  There have been a few times when just a few members have been asked to select the group. Those who are consistent and persist with the group do not complain if the selection is not to their liking, because, ultimately, they do have the opportunity to select a book, too.

We have had an author, with ties to Lubbock, join us on more than one occasion. That is neat. But, that does not mean that we select the author's book to read for the book club.

Maybe Time Out Really Does Work with Taki

Taki sometimes gets too out of control in her play, biting and scratching. I think, because she did not have sibling kittens to play with as a baby and young cat, she never learned how hurtful that play is, so she continues with it.  That is probably my fault, but from an early age, I tried to dissuade those behaviors. I usually try to redirect her. 

When I was doing physical therapy exercises before, and when I resumed this time, she was fascinated with my feet when I did certain exercises. I prefer to be in my stocking feet in the house, but often wore shoes when I did the PT exercises before.  When I wore shoes, her attentions to my feet did not bother me.  But, in my stocking feet, her attentions are almost painful.  More ticklish, but almost painful, and very distracting.

The first time I did PT, I did my best to discourage Taki from her attentions as much as possible, but put her in "time out" only once or twice. "Time out" is the bottom cage of the cat stroller, which has a prominent place in the living room.  All three cats like to sit or lay in the top cage of this double decker stroller from Kittywalk https://www.kittywalk.com/double_decker.asp. I leave the doors to both levels open, but the door to the top level blocks the lower level.  So, sometimes a cat will go in the lower level, but they usually choose the top level.

Well, this time, doing PT, Taki again could not resist my feet, and attacked them consistently, at the same exercise each night.  After a couple of nights of loud "nos", I did put her in time out when she started misbehaving.  I put her in "time out" two nights in a row. She was not in for long, and I did not finish the PT sessions before I took her out, I just finished the parts of the sessions that set her to grabbing and attacking my feet.

Now, I have noticed that when I do PT, Taki stays away from me, until I get to the offending set of exercises.  Then, she come into the living room, watches, but does not grab for my feet.  Maybe "time out" does work.  Recently, I had told a friend I did not think "time out" worked for Taki.   I think Taki has a learning disability.  She is slow to try things, and doing something once does not mean she knows how to do it again. (Unlike Sake and Haiku.  Doing something once makes it a tradition for them.)

So, maybe time out does work for Taki, after all!

I don't think I'm organized....

I have written before about my perception that I am not very organized.  And the fact that other people think I am very organized. Well, when I purchased the new computer, I needed to find the key for the secure wire-less network that I set up.

I had looked for it before, but was not sure that I found it.  I did a dumb thing, and used the key set by the manufacturer, which was a complex series of letters and numbers that made no sense, and had no rhyme or reason.  Well, what I remembered finding before did not seem right, but it was all I could find.

With the purchase of the new computer, I needed the key to set up the wireless system, again.  Well, I went looking in the box I thought  contained those papers, and there it was, plain as day! Was I surprised? A little. Relieved? A lot. But it was where I put it when I put it up some 8 years ago.  Maybe that is being organized.

Haiku and the Off Limits Surfaces

Of all of my cats, Haiku likes boxes the most.  She likes to tear them up, she likes to hide in them, she likes to chew on them, she likes to lay on them.  So, Wednesday night was a tough night for her.  I brought home a new computer in a box.  I had the box open on the TV tray next to the computer desk.  Haiku jumped on it twice.  I removed her both times.  After the second time, she got her feelings hurt, and went away.

But when she came back, she jumped on the old laptop keyboard.  All three cats do that, although Sake, and to a lesser extent, Haiku work around the keyboard to a slight extent, some of the time.  Taki totally does not get it, she even likes to just sit on the keyboard. So, Haiku again had to be moved.  That really hurt her feelings. 

She got over it. But, I hated that she had such a tough night.  She is such a sweet cat, that I hate to deny her any requests, or discipline her. But sometimes, she needs to be redirected, even if it hurts her feelings.

A Plug For Office Depot

I live within walking distance of Office Depot http://www.officedepot.com/, and indeed, when I did not have back problems, I have walked there before.  I use them a lot because of the convenience.  Like any store we frequent, I have become familiar with the layout, and if for that reason if no other, I prefer it to Office Max.  I use Staples some, too, but they are further away.

Anyway, they were very helpful. I went comparison shopping Tuesday night. I started with Office Depot.  I am glad I did. The gentleman spent a lot of time answering my questions about the new technology (Windows 8 and 8.1.)

I went to Staples http://www.staples.com/ next. Like Office Depot, they had a variety of computers to look at.  Unlike Office Depot, there were very few that had prices marked. When the sales gentleman came to help me, he was not very forth coming with information, and his answers were the kind that someone who knows the jargon uses, without consideration for whether or not someone else knows the jargon.  He rattled off comparisons and prices so quickly, I could not digest the information.

I went to Office Max http://www.officemax.com/.  They had very few options from which to choose, and I could not even scare up a sales clerk, but I did not try too hard.

So, of course, I stopped at Wal-Mart.  I had some other things to pick up, anyway.  I went to the computer aisle, and there were several laptops, 2 customers, and a sales person describing the computers to them.  The prices were great, in the range I really wanted to spend, but not with the features I could get on the computers at Office Depot.  And I was unsure of the brands.

By then, it was  a little after 8 PM, and I could have gone back to Office Depot and purchased the computer.  But I had stuff to do at the house, and would not have had much time to start setting up the computer. So, I went back Wednesday on my way home from work, asked a few more questions, and purchased a computer.  (It came in a tiny little box.  I remember my first computer.  It came in a huge box!)

I did not start setting up the computer until after I took care of personal business.  I realized it would take me more than one night to set things up.  That was a little frustrating, but okay with me.

I realized that I needed a flash drive to make a recovery program.  I had some, but I was not sure they were compatible with Windows 8.1, and I did not want to take a chance.  I raced back to Office Depot, told the sales agent what I needed, and she made the correct recommendation! (This was such a quick trip, I did not shut off the lights or TV in the house!)

The other thing that Office Depot does, and many stores now do, is if there is a mail-in rebate attached to the sale, they provide a duplicate receipt for that exact purpose.  The one thing they do not do right though, is they do not show the itemized purchase information on the screen where you swipe the credit card.  That would be nice.  But I give them a high B at worst.

So, kudos to Office Depot.  They did good, not great, but good.

16 to 9, is this Football?

Wednesday night, I watched the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox play baseball on TV. The game was at Fenway Park.  I am not sure I would call it a good game, because the Red Sox lost.  But there was a lot of action, and the final score was Chicago 16, Red Sox 9.  Now, that score is an American football score, not a baseball score.  That was amazing.  It was a long game, too. But with a lot of scoring, it is fun to watch, although the team I was cheering for did not win!

Google, Blogger and Me

A couple of years ago, all of a sudden, I could not access my blog, Joyce's Jabberings. I finally gave up, and re-signed onto Google with a different account, did one Joyce's Jabberings, and created Lisenby Lines.

Well, I have a new computer, and I am trying to set it up.  That has been trying and interesting, as the technology and software has changed so much.  I am getting used to the Microsoft 8.1 and the touch screen.  I have set the default, though, so the computer will open to the desktop instead of the Windows tiles.

As a Texas Tech employ, I have access to discounted and low cost downloads, including Microsoft Office.  I checked the other day, and Office 2007 was available and free.  Now, it is not on the download list.  Oh, well, I can get Microsoft 2010 for $10.  I send for it by mail, or go to the library and buy it.  I am hoping the media support center will be open this weekend so I can get it. 

I decided to open a Microsoft email account, anyway, so I could send stuff to myself. The one thing I wanted to send to myself was the Lisenby Lines access information. 

Well, that did not work, because I kept getting my first blog account for Joyce's Jabberings. I worked at it over and over. I kept having to change my password and I just could not get it to work.  It took me forever to realize the Lisenby Lines is associated with a different gmail account, and then not quite as long to figure out how to change to that account so I could get to Lisenby Lines.

Well, obviously, I am there, and this is my first blog since June 24, 2014.  At first, it was because the other laptop would freeze up too often and for too long. Then, it was because I could not figure out the access problem on this computer.  Well, this sight is now favorite placed, so I should be able to come back and post again.  Soon!