Category Archives: Auntie Lenora

Preach it, Rev. Staceypants!

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Good morning! It is cold out (30F), and dark (6:30am), and I’ve already spent a couple of hours on poetry. My computer is playing soft, ambient music, Sammy the Bravest Dog, has been out and is now back on the bed, sleeping. Sometimes, he truly acts more like a cat than a dog, but I’ve promised not to tell his union representative 😉 After all, I did ask for a cat, and got him.

I am setting a new morning habit. I now get up, turn on my computer, and put four items on my playlist. This mornings were two of Ilia Malinan skating, one mildly political (the National Opera has pulled out of The Kennedy Center Memorial), and finishing with the hours long ambient music. I am also trying to limit my news, especially political news to two days a week—Mondays and Thursdays.

Why those two days, you may be wondering? Well, it’s easy. Those are the two mornings Countdown with Keith Olbermann is on. I admit, if I see something from David Reddish, I do tend to watch it, because a) he’s cute and b) he usually has some good snark to make me laugh.

I also watch not political news, and news not laden with American Politics. you know, fun stuff like Ukrainian winning, wars, revolutions, cats, volcanoes, Don Kim upcycling old jeans into designer bags, Quilt Like an Artist, and AI stories which don’t mean to be funny but I can’t help LOLOLOLing, because they are.

I am trying to get back to writing on a regular basis, and don’t need/want all the distractions of YouTube. Well, yes, I want them, but then I don’t write. Squirrel!! And as you may have gathered, writing is hard work.

I have resigned from my volunteer work, which was not an easy decision. I miss helping people, but let’s be honest, at my age, I ain’t as young as I used to was! At least that’s what my body keeps telling me;-) That, and it’s time to act my age—where’s the fun in that?

I also need to get back to reading. Yes, I spent a year reading very little. It’s so much easier to listen to the mindless AI stories. Incidentally, the SF/F ones, especially HFY are pretty entertaining. IF you like SF/F, give them a try. But, please, I beg of you, do not leave any comments or clicks on them. Don’t help them get better or make it harder for a human writer.

Speaking of AI, a friend sent me an interesting article on X, Footprints in the Sand: The House You Thought Was Emptyby @iruletheworldmo. Or maybe @iruletheworldmo just reposted it? I don’t know, but it is an interesting, and somewhat disconcerting if not downright scary, article on AI. My cousin pointed out to me that Yuval Noah Harari has been writing articles about this for some time. Anyhow, as my friend said when he sent it, it could be written by AI for all he knows. If you can’t open it, and want to read it, please let me know.

Oh, if you haven’t yet discovered Dr. Stacey Patton, you’re in for a treat. Especially her Sunday Sermons! Yes indeedy, this old Atheist is back in the pews yellin’ Amen! and Preach it Rev Staceypants! and anything else appropriate. I think it takes a modicum of courage to read Dr. Stacey’s columns, etc., because she is not dainty, diplomatic, or quiet. She yells it as she sees it and that’s got to be hard on some readers, especially those raised white and privileged. Google her. Check her out. She’s my kinda person!!!

I’ve now read this morning’s sermon, and finished this piece. It is now 7:30am, and the cold (31F) outside my window is black and white, in another 30 minutes or so, it will be in freezing color, but it’s o’cast, and no true sunlight, yet.

And here is my photo of the week. I took it out of my office window of an afternoon a few days ago. Those are Canada Geese in the sky, coming in for a landing.

Have a Marvelous Week, remember to be grateful you’re still looking down at the grass. Remember the words of our Dalai Lama that pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. And tell someone you love them this day.

Ready or Not, 2026 is Here!

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9 January 2026

Well, this is embarrassing. I wrote a post on the first (see below) and tried to post it, and something was amiss, so I contacted my webmistress, and she got it fixed and let me know a couple days ago all was well, and I forgot to go in and post it. So, now it’s a double post.

Except this one will be extra short 😉

And I wish you all a bang-up marvelous 2026. May goodness outweigh badness to the nth degree this new year!

1 January 2026

2025 is now in our rear-view mirror! And you know what I’m thankful for? Groundhog Day, the movie, is pure fiction. Lordy, lordy, but I hate even the shivery thought of having to repeat 2025. Ever.

True, there were some good things that happened, most notable being that Saying Goodbye to Thomas (Finishing Line Press) is now published and available at your favorite bookstore. And, should you not wish to purchase from the big A, and not have a store near you or it’s too cold to go out, I suggest www.Bookshop.org. True, you’ll have to pay s/h, but not much, and a certain percentage of the purchase price goes to independent bookstores (you can even choose your favorite).

And, of course, your favorite Old Auntie survived the identity theft and resultant aches & pains—many thanks to the help of Favorite Daughter. To be honest, I’m not sure I could have survived without her help.

I did get some poetry written and published (Thank you Quill & Parchment and Dos Gatos Press). Watched way too much YouTube. Not too much on the political front, as those tend to add to the depression I’ve been fighting, and mostly winning, for the past 14 months. The new AI stories, most on revenge, and pretty funny. The stories, the obvious lack of I in the AI, especially the so-called military ones. No, I do not leave comments, nor click on them. I’m pretty sure many of them are out of China, but if you listen, you can tell they’re AI. Maybe A+ would be a better descriptor? A-?? Also one of the ways to tell if the news you’re watching by your favorite pundit is really Pundit or A+/-. Listen. You’ll know.

On 1 June 2018, I welcomed a rescue large Chihuahua named Sammy, into my life. He was literally afraid of his own shadow, of dead, dried, zombie leaves that ran at him to eat puppy brains, any other human that spoke to him, dogs on leashes, ducks on his sidewalk, thunder terrified him, as well as fireworks. With thunder, he becomes highly (lowly? his legs are pretty short??) agitated, and he jumps off the bed, goes under the bed, then back on the bed, and repeats until the offending sounds finally quit. I changed his name to Sammy Brave Dog, hoping it would become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Last night, New Year’s Eve, the fireworks started somewhere around midnight (I assume) and I braced to become his launchpad off the bed to the floor when he nosed his way under the blankets and snuggled next to me, and didn’t so much as shiver or shake the rest of the night. In checking my smart watch, I see I was awake for a little over an hour roughly between midnight and 1:10am. When the fireworks were going off. And my puppy slept through it!!! 

And the zombie puppy-brain-eating-leaves that attack him at the whim of the wind? For the most part, he now just raises is back leg and tells them who the boss is!

While visiting a friend the other day, I was struck by a black/white photo of a white wolf in snow, on her wall. The outline was there, but it was almost all white except the eyes and nose. So, I came home and started playing with my camera and my mini-wolf. He is an extremely shy dog, but here are a couple photos, one as he looks, and the other in my feeble attempt to make him a white wolf. 

Sammy Brave Dog as he is.

Sammy Brave Wolf as he thinks he is.

Are You Adoptable?

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Oh for heaven’s sake. Somehow, when I copied and pasted, I dropped the lead paragraph: This is a reprint from my now defunct blog, Odds n Bods, from a different tim, with a few changes, and additions. /sigh/

I read an article the other day that got me to thinking a tad bit about old age, growing older, and all the related implications.

The article, “He was one of millions of Chinese seniors growing old alone. So he put himself up for adoption.” is by Emily Rauhala at The Washington Post, May 2, 2018.

It is about an 85-year-old Chinese man, a widower, with children who had long since moved away and had lives of their own. The old ways in China are dying, if not dead. Modernity has come, and with it the fact that children are not always in a position to care for aging parents as once was the norm. Han Zicheng, tired of being alone, of having no sons to care for him (he claimed he had two, one of them said there were three), posted a note in a public place asking for someone to adopt him so he would not die uncared for, alone.

Loneliness is a terrible thing, and we, as a species, seem to feel it more when we are surrounded by people, strangers. I wrote a blog about it December 28, 2015, Are You Lonesome Tonight? on a now defunct blog and even had a link to Elvis singing his popular song. Fortunately the YouTube link to The King’s recording is still available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XVdtX7uSnk.

My memory of the article about Mr. Han is he was “needy”—he complained about his plight, he didn’t want to do for himself, he expected others to do for him. He refused to go to a nursing home. There were people who maintained contact with him, sporadic at best, but not his family. 

I’m sure we all know people like Mr. Han, I certainly do. They are very needy, and though surrounded by people, no one pays them much attention because they are always angry or complaining. Most of them are also excellent manipulators, and often one doesn’t realize what is happening until they’ve been sucked in. Needy people are exhausting people. They don’t want to help themselves; they want someone to “fix” it for them, whatever “it” is. There is a reason I never became a counselor. 

Someone sent me a quote by Cynthia Nelms the other day, “Nobody cares if you’re miserable, so you might as well be happy.” It’s good advice. Truly, nobody cares. Oh, that’s not to say, when the now and again calamity hits they don’t care, but it gets jaded hearing nothing but complaints from people, even when couched in such a manner they think they’re being cute and people won’t notice. Complaining is a habit, and like any habit, it can be broken with a little work. Okay, a lot of work. Still it’s a habit that can be broken. Or continually reinforced. Pay attention to what you think, speak, and write. Is it positive, or is there a hint of whine? Cheese not included. 

I read an article the other day by a counselor, and I now wish I’d marked it, written it down, but I didn’t. Old age, ya know? Anyhow the counselor said that forgiving someone isn’t about them, it’s about the one who forgives. You can hate someone for your whole life, and guess how much sleep the hated person loses over it? Yeah, none. How much do YOU lose over it? The counselor suggested even if you don’t really want to forgive the offending person, pretend to forgive them. Every time you think of them, and start getting angry, etc., stop and say something like, “(Name) you really hurt me. I forgive you.” and then go one with your day. Repeat as often as necessary. Eventually, you’ll really forgive them without really noticing, and you’ll start to feel better than you’ve felt in years.

At some point in my life it came to me that I’m probably going to be alone far more than I’m going to be coupled, and if that’s the case, I’d darned well better learn to like myself, because I’m going to be the best, and possibly only, company I’m going to have as I age, grow old, and die.

By the way, this idea of being afraid to die alone is rather odd, if you think about it. Two things we always do alone are being birthed and dying. There may be friends and or family present, but when push comes to shove (pun intended) we’re gonna do it alone. If it frightens you, I suggest you do some searching as to why it frightens you, and then act and change so it doesn’t. Educate yourself. If the face of the god you worship is a vengeful, wrathful, frightening one, consider finding a more forgiving, humorous, and loving face of your god to worship. As Reverend Mother Odrade, BG, said, “Face your fears or they will climb over your back.”

Are you lonesome? Want someone to adopt you? Are you adoptable? Which baby do you gravitate to—the happy, bubbly baby, who loves to burble and smile? —or the grumpy one who would rather cry and whimper and scream? Who would you adopt?

Public Service Announcement: I sent two checks off to the ALS Association and End of Life Washington today, in memory of Thomas, each for $80.00. Thanks to all of you who bought the book. And thanks to all of you who will buy the book, the next check will go out in February.

Lenora

“Don’t take life too seriously. You’ll never get out of it alive.” –Elbert Hubbard

The Book has Launched

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I was at The Book Tree in Kirkland, WA on Saturday 2 August 2025, to read some poetry from Saying Goodbye to Thomas and other poems to officially launch the book, to send it out into bookstores and the hands and hearts of readers.

I spent time figuring out how condense the video my Sister of Choice, Lee, took of m reading. Finally called my Guru, and he said why not just load it to YouTube and put the link in. So, I did. This was in a bookstore, and you’ll hear me read AND the door bell, as the door opens and closes.

Enjoy the reading. Enjoy meeting Thomas if you weren’t one of the most fortunate to have known him in life, meet him in spirit.

The ISBN: 979-8899900471, take it, the title Saying Goodbye to Thomas, my name ah, come on, you know be my now, I’m Lenora Rain-Lee Good–your favorite Auntie Lenora, and go into your favorite brick and mortar bookstore to order your copy (either paper back or hardback). Remember, all proceeds/royalties will be divided equally between ALS Association and Death With Dignity.

Aho!

Lost Files and Box of Books

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Lost Files:

As mentioned a couple posts ago, I had my identity stolen last April—the nightmare that keeps on giving.

Once I had my computer back (note: the thief didn’t steal the actual computer, he hijacked my iCloud files) from the thief, I took it to a trusted computer store, and had it ‘scrubbed’ for any trojans, viruses, etc. that the thief may have planted. It came home all squeaky clean—and missing about four and a half years of my poetry. I thought my files were backed up, but, alas, not to be found. Talk about grief and depression! 

The thief also stole my phone number, and many thanks to the crew at our local Verizon store, I got it back the night before my number was to go back into the pool of numbers and beyond retrieving. We had to take my phone back to factory settings to get the thief’s phone number off it. Which meant I’d lose all the apps I’d put on. No biggee, just a pain. Well, one biggee, I’ve not been able to find the solitaire game I had enjoyed. The new ones are subpar in my opinion.

Sooo, last Monday night, I saw an app on my phone I didn’t remember seeing. Called “Files.” Now, I’m just a tad leery of clicking on things since the Great Hijacking. But eventually I had to click on it. And there were my Document files. Would my lost files be there? I wasn’t sure I wanted yet another major loss, and it was with a great deal of trepidation I scrolled down and there they were and are. Depression cured. 

When I was spending so much time in Kirkland, with Thomas, I started saving everything to the cloud so I could access files I needed/wanted from my iPad. Then, after I came home, where I had my computer, I forgot about it. Apparently, when I started backing everything up to the cloud, a magic app appeared on my phone, which I never saw (wasn’t looking for it). I couldn’t figure out why the thief would want to delete them, and seriously doubt he did. Not sure where they went, but I’m beyond delighted to have found them. 

Box of Books:

I ordered books from the publisher and received 15 pounds of books in a box the other day, direct from the printer. Books ordered from the publisher in ones and twos, such as pre-orders, should be arriving in your mailboxes this week. I am thrilled with the way it looks. The cover photo by Sherry Walker turned out great! Thank you, Ms Walker!!!

I haven’t received my hardback book yet, but I’m sure it, too, is gorgeous. If you haven’t yet ordered your very own copy, please consider ordering from the publisher, your local indie bookstore, or any of the online stores. 

Saying Goodbye to Thomas
by Lenora Rain-Lee Good
ISBN 979-8-89990-036-5 First Edition
Finishing Line Press (dot) com

Paperback: $17.99
Hardback: $27.99

Remember, all royalties will be divided equally between the ALS Association and End of Life Washington (and no, it isn’t suicide).

Please consider ordering a copy, and if you’re in the Kirkland area of Washington State, please consider combing by The Book Tree from 5:24 to 8:22 pm on August 2, 2025 for a Special, Remembering Thomas, and the official launch of Saying Goodbye to Thomas. Enjoy a great night of poetry by poets who knew and loved Thomas.

“A poet who reads his verse in public may have other nasty habits.”
~ Robert A. Heinlein

Hello! Remember me?

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Your friendly, neighborhood poet. And do I have news for you!!! Saying Goodbye to Thomas has been released by the publisher. If you pre-ordered a copy, I thank you, and it should be in your hands maybe next week. If you didn’t pre-order, that’s okay. In fact, perhaps you’ll be glad—there is also a hardback book, if you’d rather not have a paper/softback copy!

This book is available from your favorite bookstore. Admittedly, you’ll probably have to order it, as not every bookstore carries every book, but…. 

All you need is          the title: Saying Goodbye to Thomas, 
                                    the author: Lenora Rain-Lee Good
                                    the publisher: Finishing Line Press
                                    the ISBN: 979-8-89990-036-5

                                    paper back: $17.99
                                    hard back: $27.99

I will be holding a book launch at The Book Tree, in Kirkland WA the afternoon/evening of 2 August 2025, starting at 5:15pm. This was Thomas’s favorite indie bookstore. If you’re in Kirkland area, come on by!! There will be other poets there, who knew Thomas, so it will be a Thomas night superb.

Speaking of Indie publishers and bookstores—support them when possible. Buy books from the publisher, buy books from the indie bookstore in your town. 

Remember, I make NO money from this book. ALL royalties received will be divided between the ALS Association and Death With Dignity. Incidentally, DWD is not suicide, it is a hastening of certain death, usually slow, painful, and robbed of personal dignity, that will happen within the next six months or less.

Please consider buying a copy.

“In a world largely uncomfortable with death, Lenora Rain-Lee Good writes through the process of embracing grief as it approaches, “It’s so easy to be brave / when not required,” she writes, yet these poems remind us that every day, each moment, requires its own bravery—that even the rehearsals for the great performance of death demand our presence, demand that we connect with one another, insist that we open ourselves to love even thought it will break our hearts–because it is the only way to live.” —Zach Hively, Author, Owl Poems

It’s Monday, and time for a coffee break escape!

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Goodest Monday Morning to You All!

Thank you for your patience while I took a few weeks off. I wasn’t sure where the Brave Dog and I were going, in regards to our Monday Coffee Break Escapes. Part of this is my volunteer job, which is taking more and more time, which is a good thing as I’m happy to be busy, but can also play havoc with any schedule I may have whether or not self imposed;-)

First off, MANY MANY THANKS to all of you who pre ordered my book, Saying Goodbye to Thomas. If you haven’t yet done so, and now can’t find the link, well, here it is: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/saying-goodbye-to-thomas-by-lenora-rain-lee-good/ and please remember two things:

1. Pre orders determine future royalties, so please order now, before it’s too late and your price goes up.

2. ALL royalties will be donated to the ALS Association and End of Life Washington, equally.

Here is a poem from the book. It has previously appeared in the newletters of A Sacred Passing and End of Life Washington.

Your Death, Rehearsed

I rehearsed your death—
            did you know?

First, it was now and
            then, slowly became

weekly and then
            nightly.

Not that I wanted
           you to die—

We both knew
            you would.

No, I rehearsed
            your death

so I wouldn’t come
            apart at the seams,

so I wouldn’t
            bring shame to you,

to me. It helped,
            I think.

Oh, I still hurt,
            I still cry

but softly. And when
            you breathed your last

as I held your hand
            softly stroked your arm,

I could barely form
            the words, let alone

force sound out of my tear-
            constricted throat

It’s over. And then
            we all cried, held each other.

None of us could find,
            or define, the hole

that suddenly engulfed
            us, the hole

that gave dimension
            to our loss

the hole
            drilled through our hearts.

~ ~ ~

Yes, this one is sad, I’ll try for some humor next week.

You may notice there is a different format to today’s post. Or, perhaps, lack of format? Do you like it better or not?

Sammy says he may, or may not, return. The days are getting warmer, sunnier (yayyy!!), and he’s not sure about schedules other than feedings and walks. He’s stealing my line and claiming to be old and gray-haired.

Attended my first protest yesterday. There were more than a 1000 of us turned out for the Hands Off! protest in Kennewick, there was another protest in Richland, and I’m not sure about Pasco. Not sure how much good it did, but I feel like I’ve done something positive, so that’s worth the time and the standing. Am already planning my signs for next month. 😉

However you spend your week, please spend it with love in your heart and remember:

Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ “We are all related” 
~ Lakota Saying

“Re-examine all you have been told. 
Dismiss what insults your soul.” 
~Walt Whitman

Just Call Me the Late Auntie Lenora, Again

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Weather in the Tries:
It’s going to be mostly cloudy this week, with highs in the 50s and lows in the 40s with a couple dips down to high 30s. Some rain, some wind, but warm enough nights that the dog and I haven’t had to turn the electric blanket on for the last 3 or 4 nights. Just hope the rains come at a time other than his two daily walks. He just doesn’t understand why rain should fall from the sky, when it obviously needs to come from a bowl, only. Alas, he is not King of his Universe.

Just Call Me the Late Auntie Lenora, Again
I met a gal a while back [how do we define a ‘while back’? — weeks? months? years? take your pick] and we became instant friends. We were of an age, grew up with the same music, same fashions, and we shared the same sense of humor. Instant friends. Not just with Lena, as we called her, but with her kids. I reminded them of their grandma, in a good way. 

Anyhow, Lena was dying, and we all knew it. She was very open about that, and I spent time with her and her kids last week. Her kids were great. They broke into shifts, and took care of her in her own home. They had it down, and humor filled that house that was full of Lena’s things, where she could see many, and with which she had happy memories. 

Sunday, yesterday, Day of the Semi-Annual Insane Time Change, I got a call to come say goodbye. I got there 30-40 minutes before she slipped into a coma, from which the Hospice Nurse said she probably would not awaken. Lena and I talked before then, laughed before then, and just before she closed her eyes, she asked me to look after her kids (all 50 and older). I said I would. I sat with them for about 6 hours, until I had to go home and take care of my dog who was alone in the apartment, and needed both dinner and a walk. Boy Howdy! He really needed that walk. And some loves. He’s not used to being alone for so long. Housemate Dan was also gone, it seldom happens we’re both gone at the same time.

The kids and I texted through the evening, and about 11 hours after slipping into a coma, Lena awoke in her eternity. 

At my age, I say those goodbyes to a lot of friends. I come from a double line of long-lived people. But what no one ever said to me, was that she who lives the longest, says the most goodbyes. 

Photo of the Week:
This is a Hug blanket, sold by Penzey’s Spices. It’s soft and snuggly, and is a Hug. I have ordered a few of them for people who needed a Hug I couldn’t be there to give them. They are $24.95. They are on sale right now, you can order one for yourself, and one for a friend OR you can order two to be donated to persons in need. These are lightweight, brightly colored, and two blankets for the price of one is a good thing. I did not take the photo.

order at: https://www.penzeys.com/online-catalog/hug-blanket/c-24/p-3281/pd-s

Videos of the Week:
reminds me of the Blue Man Group 😉

Thousands sing for Ukraine

Quotes of the Week:

Grief is love with no place to go 
~ Neil Scott

Death is not extinguishing the lamp;
it is putting out the light 
because the dawn has come. 
~ Rabindranath Tagore

“Re-examine all you have been told. 
Dismiss what insults your soul.” 
~Walt Whitman

Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ “We are all related” ~ Lakota Saying

Love n Joy n Hugs to you all. 
Be emotionally and physically well!

Are you there, yet?

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Weather in the Tries:
Why bless my soul! We’re getting nights into the low 40s this week, as well as high 30s. No freezing!!! Our days will be like Seattle, over on the Dark Side, mostly mid 50s, with a couple jaunts all the way up to 60—and cloudy, except for Thursday which is scheduled to be sunny! Perhaps Spring is truly approaching? Officially, it arrives March 20.

Are you there, yet?
I am. In fact, I am past it. The internet is, indeed, a marvel of goodness to behold. But all coins have two sides, and the internet is also a marvel of sickness. The anger, justified or not, becomes too much when shouted from every site, every channel. 

I told my housemate his limit of news was 20 minutes per day. He laughed. But that’s about my limit, now. I change ‘channels’ as soon as the PINO (President in Name Only) comes on. Or any of his henchpeople. After Friday’s reprehensible actions in the White House, I found myself physically ill. I’m so glad I didn’t watch the live performance.

Now, I look for beauty—music, ice skating, travel, foodie shows, good news. I’ll still get enough of the doom and gloom, but it’s beginning to be like the old soap operas—if you tune in once a year, once in a while, you haven’t missed anything. 

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, welcome to my world. Set a timer when you check the news, or your social media. limit yourself. Search for beauty, give your brain a break. Your heart will thank you. Your partner will thank you. Your pets will thank you. 

Some short videos you might enjoy:

Man rescues hummingbird
Two cats talking
2 elephants enjoying the didgeridoo

And you know I’m really stressed when I, your Auntie Lenora, Mathphobe of the Universe,, click on a math video and watch it! No promises that I understand it. /snort/

Some longer videos:

Adagio Guitar & Cello about 90 minutes, good background music11 hours of 
Samurai Meditation and Relaxation Music
Space Ambient Music Mix great graphics & I think this is the same music track at the one above, but has graphics.

I use the longer music videos, for background while working, whether sewing or writing or napping. Much better than talking heads and news. 

PINO and his buddies are NOT the Borg, resistance is not futile!

Photo of the Week:
A friend and I walk down by the Columbia River, and we had sunshine and (moderate) warmth on Friday. Here is a shot with some trees, Pasco on the far shore (we were in Kennewick , Richland, third of the Tri Cities not in picture) and a group of Canada Geese heading upriver. 

Video of the Week:
well, doh, see above 😉

Earworm of the Week:
Yeah, I’m back to The HU — Wolf Totem. I love the words, and this link has the lyrics in English. I think it would be great fun to see the HU and a Lakota, or other tribe, have a musical faceoff. 

Quotes of the Week:

“It’s a victory when the weapons fall silent
and people speak up.
~ Volodymyr Zelensky

The president can’t change the country on his own.
But what can he do? He can give an example.
~ Volodymyr Zelensky

Let’s find those people whose names
do not cause controversy in our present
and in our future. Let’s name the monuments
and streets for those people whose names
do not provoke conflict. ~ Volodymyr Zelensky

“Re-examine all you have been told. 
Dismiss what insults your soul.” 
~Walt Whitman

Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ “We are all related” ~ Lakota Saying

Love n Joy n Hugs to you all. 
Be emotionally and physically well!

AI for Laughs Plus…

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Weather in the Tries:
Snow, thaw, freeze, thaw, cold, not quite so, in other words: blech!

AI for Laughs Plus…
AI has infiltrated not only our lives, but the lives of our computers, too. I’m not a fan of AI, but I can see where it has advantages. And not. My biggest gripe with AI is when I make a call and have to touch key 3 and ask a question to which I receive an answer to a question not asked. I find it fascinating that we humans have been able to design and build a computer that thinks and learns, and faster than we can.

Well, I spend waaaaay too much time prowling around through YouTube, especially when I’m fighting a cold or something similar, and I have found some of the most fun stories on YouTube. There are several channels—Revenge Road, The Storyteller’s Haven, Revenge Alley, and more I can’t remember. 

Of course, I have no proof, but I’m pretty sure the stories I’ve heard are, well, not quite ‘right.’ They sound, in many cases like they were written by men who don’t have a clue what a woman is, how she thinks, what she wants in life—or fiction. And the narrator’s voice well, it doesn’t ‘fit’ either. Words are mispronounced—usually to great peals of my laughter. City dwellers sound like they were raised out on the range, cowboys sound like Oxford Scholars. Women sound like Jackie Kennedy wannabees. One of my favorite lines takes place in a hospital room, where the quiet hum of the machines and “the constant drip of the four…” I’ll let you figure that one out. Enjoy your laugh.

The narrator frequently speeds up or slows down for no reason I can discern. The emPHASIS is not consistent with the word or accepted pronunciation that I’m familiar with. The stories I’ve listened to are supposed to be some kind of drama (if you’re old enough, think old time radio drama, without the music, or professional writers). All in all, they are fun, though I enjoy the AI videos more. Think Zythi studio. They put out short pieces with dragons and spaceships, and aliens, oh my. Music, and a bit of a story, but a lot of beauty. My guess is that they are an ad studio and what’s on YouTube are ads for their ads. Whatever, they are short and very enjoyable. 

As the lady on Anka Daily News says, though “AI is very advanced, it’s still not as good as us.” Boy Howdy, is she correct!

Photo of the Week:
The little pond outside our apartment is frozen solid, all the way to the bottom, I think. The kids had great fun shoe skating and with their skating on the ice and snow, etc., it now reminds me of a storm at sea. I love how the green of the algae on the bottom shows through.

from the desk of the warm dog;
my human is getting her voice back. it’s been a long time. she said something to me this morning and housemate dan heard her. 

Video of the Week:
 Texas Judge Can’t Believe What Was Said In His Courtroom – YouTube  This is marvelous, a huge shoutout for Judge David Fleischer!!!

Earworm of the Week:
INKA GOLD – GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY live at Mesa Regal Resort AZ – YouTube This has been one of my favorite songs since I was a little girl. 

Quotes of the Week:

“If your actions inspire others to dream more,
learn more, do more and become more,
you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

“Re-examine all you have been told. 
Dismiss what insults your soul.” 
~Walt Whitman

Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ “We are all related” ~ Lakota Saying

Love n Hugs to you all, 
be well!