Dancing While on Lockdown

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My friend Nonie sent this video to me a month or two ago and I watch it frequently. The dancers are good, but the audience at the end cracks me up each time I watch. We all need something to bring us cheer and happiness, laughs and giggles. So here. Laugh. Giggle. Join the dance. It’s less than a minute long. Indulge! Save it to your desktop and indulge often. It’s necessary. Honest. Trust me.

And I’m still getting emails, about five a day, from Team Other (formally known as Team Opposition). Oh. Em. Gee. They are better than getting a joke a day. Of course, I also get emails that are almost the same from Team Us, so I can’t complain about the one and not the other. Somehow, the ones from Team Other are funny, and Team Us emails are just annoying. Perhaps it’s my warped sense of humor?

The little House Finch outside my patio could care less how many emails I get from anyone, or even if I get any. All he (females are drab, males have color) cares about are the seeds he’s busily harvesting.

My new computer is here, is up, and is working. I wasn’t sure how to get all the stuff from my old computer to my new one; but figured a good place to start would be to use the Quick Start guide that always comes with new computers. Bwahahahaha! Tweren’t none! They assumed (silly Apple people) that if I was smart enough to buy an iMac, I was smart enough to plug it in and turn it on. Eventually, I figured that out. Then there were two pictures that kept alternating. One of the keyboard; the other the mouse. Eventually I realized there is a wee teensy on-off switch and I had to turn them on. Sigh. From there it was relatively painless. Did I have another Mac? Yes. Did I have data I wished to transfer from it to the new one? Oh, yes. Well, then, do this, this, and go have a cuppa. Voila! If directions are there, I’m pretty good at following them ;-). Sometimes. Especially if they are in words. English words.

I do have suggestions for Apple, not that they’re overly excited to reach out to me, or read the emails I’ve sent — 

  1. While the keyboard is stylish, and cute, I can’t use it. Make it so it breaks in half and can be tented (think Gold Touch) and add a ‘right’ delete button as well as a ‘left’ delete button, I would be much happier with it. I tried using the new keyboard and my carpal tunnel started acting up again. The oh-so-stylish magic mouse has also been swapped out for my ‘tower’ mouse. Same reason: tunneling carpals.
  2. ALL the slots for peripherals are in the back, at the bottom. Nothing remains on the side. There are nonApple after-market ‘hubs’ one can buy and fasten to the front or bottom of the iMac for most of the slots, or one that the iMac can stand on, adding an inch or so to the height, that handles jacks, and everything else. Still, when one pays what they pay for a computer, I think one should get a couple of ‘easy’ fixes for free. Especially when I’m the one forking over my retirement check!
  3. They could also preload it with a no-charge commercial-free game of solitaire! 

So, now I have my new one working away, and I hope to get back to podcast recording soon. I really want to go live before the end of June.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date to go dancing. Harharharhar….!!!

Have a great week. Remember to laugh, sing a little, dance like no one is watching and be sure to stop by again—same bat time, same bat channel. The coffee will be made, the biscotti are homemade, and we always have time for a short break. Stay safe, stay healthy, care for, and love one another—because one another is all we’ve really got.

Auntie Lenora

Surveys and the People Who Send Them

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I know, I promised to try not to talk politics, but this was just too funny not to talk about. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima grande.

I received one of the best chuckles ever the other morning when I opened up my email and discovered I had joined “Team Opposition.”

The day before, as I read an article online, an ad appeared wanting to know if I approved/disapproved/or was unsure of a certain politician. I clicked Disapproved. Of course, in order for my vote to count, and they assured me it was veryimportant, and they would welcome my input, yadda yadda yadda, I had to add my email. (I know how to block emails so wasn’t too concerned) and submitted. To be honest, I was surprised they didn’t ask me for money, but then I figured since I disapproved, the algorithms of their site would realize I wouldn’t donate.

The next morning, I received a great email welcoming me to “Team Opposition.” That said Politician is counting on me, and to please add my cell number to the list so I can get said Politician’s PERSONALLY sent updates, etc. Oddly, the home team still didn’t ask for money. And I didn’t volunteer my number.

I hate that they are counting me as part of their team, because I’m not, but then, it may skew their numbers a wee bit if enough of us ‘join’ the team. But they’re good for a laugh. Okay, a chuckle, now and then.

I also really hate all those online and emailed surveys where they try to assure me how important my opinion is, but all they really want is my money. They obviously don’t read their surveys, they merely glean emails, and figure if you responded, you’re on their team. Not!

Sometimes, I think Britain has the right idea. No campaigning until six weeks before the election! Actually, it isn’t sometimes I think this, it’s most every day, every hour I think of politics, I think of this. Think how much real work would get done if we weren’t so immersed in party politics day in and day out. 

A duck swimming in a body of water Description automatically generated

A Pelican Pollster dabbling for important input and greenbacks. Lotsa Greenbacks.

Addendum: A couple days later, I received another one question poll, I answered and was immediately sent to the website. The poor, pitiful, politician looks like he’s going to bawl, and now he really wants my money (I knew he did!), but I’m not donating. Well, not to him, anyway. As I started to close the link, a note popped up telling me I wasn’t through yet, I hadn’t donated any money. Computers are getting too darned smart.

A swan swimming in a body of water Description automatically generated

This is not a Politician. She’s a Pelican. And she’s cold (picture was taken in January 2020). She doesn’t really know about, or care about, Politicians of any ilk. She’s far more interested in finding lunch. She should be interested in politics, as Politicians control whether or not she will have lunch available to find in years to come. And I have no idea of the maleness or femaleness of said bird. I figure it’s only important that the bird knows!

In the meantime…

Are you a poet? Do you like poetry? Do you miss Open Mics? If you answered at least 2 out of 3 of those questions with a Yes, check out Rattle.com.  They are now hosting a dedicated weekly open mic show in addition to their usual livestreamed Rattlecast episodes. This week’s open mic will broadcast live on Sunday at Noon ET /9am PT at https://youtu.be/Zu4b9Hm1r1Y

If you’re interested in sharing a poem that relates directly to current events, published or not, you can join in by Skype (rattlepoetry) or the regular phone. Just contact Tim (Tim Green, Editor, Rattle) either of those ways during the show, and he’ll call back as many people as he can. Details are in the notes on the YouTube page, and he gives out the phone number during the broadcast, but it’s 818-850-7727—and while you’re there, please do click that “subscribe” button. I haven’t joined in yet, but I did take a couple minutes to lurk this past Sunday and plan on participating next week. 

It’s worth marking and remembering, and also worth remembering my favorite quote about poets from the late Robert A. Heinlein, “A poet who reads his verse in public may have other nasty habits.” Oh, yeah….;-)

Hmmm, maybe the pelican pollster is really a pelican poet looking for an open mic??? Do fish write poetry and have open mics??

Have a great week. Remember to laugh, sing a little, dance like no one is watching and be sure to stop by again—same bat time, same bat channel. The coffee will be made, the biscotti are homemade, and we always have time for a short break. Stay safe, stay healthy, and care for and love one another—because one another is all we’ve really got.

Auntie Lenora

What the World Needs Now…

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Oh, this is soooo exciting. Well, to me, at least. I decided to upgrade my free blogsite, and buy a real site, so you have yet one more URL to deal with, but this is it. Honest. Trust me. With many thanks to my friend Barbara, who built the site for me. https://coffeebreakescapes.com is now up and running. She wasn’t able to move the subscriptions from the last blog over to this new URL, so I’d really appreciate you subscribing one more time and following me around on the web. With all the social distancing of the moment, it’s the closest I can get to an in-person hug. And I like hugs. You’ll find this site is new, improved, different, and built by someone who knows what she’s doing—my friend, Barbara. Alas, it’s still the same old me. 

Like my previous blogs, I’ll be discussing a bit of this and a tad of that, and sharing some of my photos, and perchance some of my writings. Now and then something from the news. I’ll keep you up to date on the Podcasts, which I know you’re interested in. I’m hoping to have a Grand Launch Party by the end of the month. You’re all invited. 

Speaking of photos—the blue background visible on a full-screen computer if not your phone, is of the Columbia River taken on one of my walks. The header—flying bird—is a pelican, gliding over the Yakima river where it joins the Columbia. Living on the Columbia I have opportunities to take pictures both from my walks along the river, and from my patio. My apartment looks out on Bateman Island Wildlife Refuge, and earlier this spring, I saw a gossip session out on the flooded sand bar. Photo taken from my patio using a telephoto lens.

Gossip Session
Canada goose, Great Blue Heron, four American White Pelicans
The hump on the pelican indicates it’s breeding season. Both male and female develop them then shed them by the end of the breeding season.

A couple of people have asked why I’m using ‘Auntie’ Lenora in my blog and podcasts. Auntie is a term used to refer to elders by Indigenous cultures (world-wide, actually) whether related or not, and I am after all, part Catawba and African. Though I am an Auntie to several adorable nieces and nephews, now I can be Auntie to you, too, if you’re in the market for a new auntie. Of course, if you don’t want a new auntie, we can be friends. Yes, I’m admitting to being an elder by using the term, but it doesn’t make me feel as old as I probably am and should embrace.

I have spent the last week enjoying an ear worm. (Is that the right phrase? I know it isn’t a Ceti Eel!) At any rate, because of the situation in the outside world, I’ve had a song going through my head, and I don’t mind. Really. In fact, I’m going to share it. It’s from the ‘60s, by Burt Bacharach and there are several recordings of it on YouTube, and I like them all. Here is Jackie DeShannon singing What the World Needs Now Is Love. If you don’t remember it, give a listen. If you’ve never heard it, give a listen. Check out the lyrics and see if you don’t agree with me.

Have a great week. Remember to laugh, sing a little, dance like no one is watching and be sure to stop by again. Same bat time, same bat channel. The coffee will be made, the biscotti are homemade, and we always have time for a short break. Remember to stay safe, stay healthy, and to care for and love one another—because one another is all we’ve really got.

Hello!

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Hey, it’s Auntie Lenora here with a brand-new blog, Coffee Break Escapes with (who else?) Auntie Lenora. You may have to sign in, or create a WordPress account, to leave a comment. With luck, that will be a one-time deal, at least creating the account. Signing in may be another story; sorry about that.

I’m letting the old blog die a natural death. For whatever reason, I was having, after years on that particular hosting site, problems. Perhaps I had used my lifetime supply of commas? I dunno.

Anyhow, I thought we really need yet one more blog, one in which I shall do my best to avoid discussions of either pandemics or politics, and offer lighter fare, shorter fare, suitable for a coffee break. 

Okay, there is one other reason for the new blog. An ulterior motive, if you please. I am working at developing, recording, and publishing some podcasts. They aren’t quite ready for prime time. Yet. But soon, I hope. 

Learning how to use new software, and hardware, isn’t always easy. But, y’know what? I am living proof even an old fartess can learn a new trick or two. Like how to record a podcast, using a podcast mic instead of the built-in mic of the computer. I had originally thought of doing videos, but I had to read the script, and it was way too annoying watching my eyes go forth and back and forth and back. Kind of like watching a metronome or a watch swinging on a chain. Boring. Not to mention the horrible thought of mesmerizing the viewer. I’d feel terrible if your partner came home and found you in a trance, staring at the computer. And if the viewer tended toward motion sickness, not fun at all. So, my podcasts were born. They are growing fast, and will soon be past the toddler stage, I hope.

Here’s Auntie Lenora in front of her podcast mic.

They will, for the most part, be short, around ten minutes or so. Some longer. Most will be my fiction, nonfiction, or (oh, shudder) poetry; however, there will be the works of some of my friends, too. Some I shall record; some they shall record. And—excitement and a drum roll please—I have a theme song, composed and recorded by Farris Hallaj. He is the grandson of my publisher, Dixie, and has the most amazing voice. You can find him at Farris Hallaj Music on both YouTube and Facebook.

As soon as I have a half dozen episodes recorded, I’ll upload them to the podcast platform of my choice and let y’all know. In the meantime, don’t you like my cover? It was designed by AzeeCreations on Fiverr. Thought I’d use it for the blog as well as the Podcast. 

I hope you enjoy this new blog and will subscribe and return for the next one. Remember, the coffee’s always ready, the biscotti are homemade, and it’s always time for a short break.

Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, and remember to care for one another, because one another is all we’ve really got.