Texting on the 4th

I was minding my own business, safely tucked away in my bed at 8:29 this Independence Day, when I was jolted awake by my phone alerting me that I had a text message!

What?! It's 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday. A Holiday Saturday. This text is obviously important.

I feel around for my phone, obtain it, open my eyes and see "Happy fourth of July" from an obscure contact.

Sigh.

Are you kidding me?

I was was jerked out of my peaceful slumber for this??


Yes, obviously, this is my fault. Seeing how I can't control other people, I should be more responsible and turn off my phone.

BUT, I just can't do it. I have the hardest time turning off my phone at night. What if someone really needs to get a hold of me? I have been in the position where I needed help and couldn't receive it because cell phones were off. So anyway, I keep my cell on most of the time, so I suppose I must deal with the little annoyances.

But I don't want to.

I propose a filter for texts. My phone should be able to filter texts and decide if it is appropriate to send through based on time of day and the content of the message. If it is of no importance, like the message I received this morning, my phone will not alert me of a message, but the text will be waiting (quietly) for me in my inbox when I choose to find it. If, however, the text is legitimate, my phone will proceed with it's usual message waiting indicator.

I would ask the sender of the text to go through these same filters, but I think it will be more realistic for my phone to accomplish these goals.

More Than Ever Before

Obviously nothing is happening in my life.

Oh, I got a mole removed when it was slow at work a few weeks ago. That's something.

Umm, I placed a large amount of holds at my library. More than ever before. And, interestingly, starting July 1, the library will be charging a .50 cent (fiddy ceh) charge for every item placed on hold.

Also, I'm thinking about making some pesto. But... that would require actually going out into the garden and also finding a recipe, and I don't think I'm feeling that ambitious.

Father's Day

My home is situated on a small piece of property. Our neighbors are really very close.

As a kid, I never quite realized this, even though we were always climbing the fence to fetch the balls that flew over into the neighboring properties.

But, now I've figured it out, and I also figured out that I don't mind it much.

The reason, I think, is nature.


It is a glorious Sabbath afternoon. I have all the doors and windows open. As I move through the house, each view is one of nature. Sure, I see some buildings, but mostly I see nature.

I see trees and branches and leaves. I see bushes and plants and flowers. I see grass and soil and pebbles. I see the sunlight bouncing and dancing on anything it can find.

I hear the trees rustle in the breeze, I hear the birds chirping.

The birds, by the way, seem always to be chirping.

And, if I listen hard enough and imagine that it is 1995, I will be able to hear the creek as it rushes along.


I just wanted you to know that it is beautiful here.


I just checked again, and it is so green and bountiful.

I suppose I also wanted to give a shout out to everyone who helped to make each view from my home filled with nature.

It brings great comfort to my soul.

Thank you.

4.4 Magnitude Earthquake

This morning a 4.4 magnitude earthquake hit our area. The epicenter was 15 miles west of Paso Robles. There was no damage.

It hit around 5:30 a.m. which means I was still in bed. I remember the bed moving, shaking back and forth, and I woke up enough to think, "Oh, an earthquake." Then I went back to sleep. No aftershocks.

Sigh.

Is it too much to ask, that when a non-aftershock-no-damage earthquake hits, that it happens when I am awake to enjoy the movement of the earth and all the objects around me? Is that too much?

"We are on our own, Marie."

This week has a busy Wednesday. My Aunt, Uncle and Laura are moving to Missouri. My parents are going on vacation for... I don't know. Two weeks? Three weeks? All I know is that they leave on Wednesday.

This means Mary and I, but mostly I, will be in charge of Grandma. I told Grandma to call me on my cell because I never answer the house phone. I usually only answer the house phone when Judy Mallett is calling. Grandma told me I needed to pick up her mail every two days and bring it over to her frequently because she doesn't want it to get stale. FYI, the post office is on one end of town, I live in the middle, and Grandma lives on the other end of town. I just wanted you to know that. Also, please do not drop off the mail during nap time (a time that varies every day), toilet time, or eating time.

She also reminded me I need to take her barrels to the street on Sunday and bring them down on Monday. I will tell you that you shouldn't be too hasty on Monday. Don't think that just because it is the afternoon the trash has been collected. No no. You will be making two trips if you do that. Although, if you wait past seven P.M. to bring down the cans, you will get a frantic phone call from Grandma worried sick that you have forgotten to bring down her barrels, and don't forget, because she apparently has a lot to put in them seeing how it's been 24 hours since she has been near them. So, it is ideal to take the barrels down right around dinner time and FHE time, thanks.

The removal of my parents from Atascadero also means a removal of family dinners. Grandma tells Marie as they are walking out the door, "No more dinners until July, Marie. We are on our own Maire, we are on our own." She makes it sound like they will probably die in the meantime.

So, this also means I am available for dinner for the next two Sundays. Does anyone want to feed me? And can I bring Grandma and Marie?

Bing

I don't like Bing. "Decision Engine" my foot!

California YSA Conference

Have any of you heard of the California YSA conference?

I'm a little behind on knowing about it, but I think it's going to be really cool.
I don't think anything like this has happened before.

Anyway, I registered tonight. One minute ago, actually.

I hope, if you are a young single adult in California, that you have registered too.

You probably have. You're always on top of things like that.

the IG

Institute Graduation knocked the socks off Sacrament Meeting.

I'm glad I attended Institute Graduation. It was enriching and edifying. I wish all our meetings could be like that.