Category Archives: Technology

2025, animals, home, Kids, Nature, Technology

Buzzin’ Around

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The sad news in our neighborhood is that my next door neighbors (the ones with the two little girls I adore) are moving.  Not too far away, but moving nonetheless.

This has meant a lot of activity next door.  Cleaning and organizing the place – a big job with two girls ages 5 and 9.  Moving lots of stuff to a storage place.  Marie’s elaborate cardboard box car is actually on my front porch right now.  Lots of showings and two Sundays of open houses.  Phew.

They had an offer on Friday so Monday was the official inspection.  First there were two different plumbing trucks – the funniest name for a plumbing company I’ve ever seen – The Sewer Rat.  Then at about 10 a.m. I noticed something on the sidewalk right outside their front porch. I wasn’t 100% sure but I thought it was a drone.  Fairly small.

I was so curious – why in heaven’s name was there a drone sitting on the sidewalk.  I wasn’t curious long – a young man came around the corner, got the drone going and started flying it over the house.  He was inspecting the roof!  I probably would not have thought of that as a use for a drone on my own.

As I was watching I started thinking about why drones are called drones.  I was thinking of a dull, monotonous sound – maybe what drones sound like when they’re flying?  Apparently not… the internet says based on the male worker bee, the drone.  I might have thought of that eventually. 

Have you ever operated a drone?  If you were going to, what would you use it for?

2025, animals, Art, Technology, Uncategorized

Ten Stars

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Today’s post comes to us from Linda.

I went to the post office to buy stamps. This happened awhile ago, so I was looking for stamps for Christmas cards.

I looked at the bulletin board that had the available stamps displayed. There was a design I liked, with a deer, a rabbit, a fox, and an owl in winter settings. Appropriate for Christmas or Solstice, or whatever.

While I was waiting in line, my thought was that I would ask for the stamps with the woodland creatures. It’s a design theme that’s been trending in recent years.

As my turn was approaching, the postal worker behind the desk turned and called out to the back room, “Hey, Judy – can you bring me some more of the critters?”

I felt inordinately delighted by this. When it was my turn, I asked, “Could I get a book of critters, please?” and it made me happy for reasons I can’t quite put words to.

My post office receipt had a QR code that took me to a survey, and I gave my postal worker top scores.

Would you recommend this blog post to friends and family?

If you’ve appreciated this blog post, please consider filling out this survey for Linda!

https://form.jotform.com/250767936576171

2025, Government, Technology, Uncategorized, Weather

Jury Duty – Big Bust

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My guess is that I’ve thought more about jury duty than most folks.  With my dad being a trail lawyer and our shared love of Perry Mason, I’ve known about juries from childhood. 

About 35 years ago I got a summons for jury duty but despite sitting patiently in the basement of the Government Center every day for a week, I didn’t get impaneled.  On Friday afternoon they released me and said I didn’t need to return.

Right before Christmas I got the Summons in the mail.  Things have changed somewhat in 35 years (doh!).  The biggest change is that you don’t have to show up on Monday morning and sit all week.  You get assigned a group number and twice a day you check online (or call in) to see if your group needs to go in.  One thing that hasn’t changed much is the stipend.  It’s not enough to pay for parking downtown (which is just outrageous) so if you are on a fixed income, if you drive and park, it’s like you’re paying to get on a jury.  I took the bus.

My group didn’t get called in until mid-day on Thursday (12:15 notice that you have to be at the Government Center at 1:30).  The waiting area is now on the 24th floor and is referred to as “The Jar”.  Hmmmm.   There were 33 of us in the room; orientation took 15 minutes and at 2 p.m.  they pulled the first group of 22.  That left 11 of us, not enough for a jury. I assumed at some point 10 folks would come back and then there would be enough of us if they needed to call a new group.  Nope, at 2:15, the 11 of us left in the room were sent home and told we didn’t need to come back in the morning or the following week.  Our service is complete – we won’t be eligible again for 4 years.  (This puts me above the required age limit so I can decline with no reason if I get called again.)

45 minutes of jury duty.  I spent more time on the bus than doing my civic duty.  And if you add all the time I spent researching how it works these days, rates at downtown parking ramps, bus routes and senior discounts not to mention the weather….. way more prep time than jury time. 

I’m not begrudging the time – I do actually think of it as my civic duty.  I know I wouldn’t want to be on trial and have it go wrong because you couldn’t find enough folks for a jury.  Although I do think it would have been more fun to actually get impaneled and see a real trial!

Any good jury duty stories?

2025, Business, Food, Technology

Identification Please?

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Yesterday I had to stand in the check-out line at Target; I was getting a giftcard for YA and I’ve never managed to do self-checkout successfully with a giftcard.  There was only one cashier working the regular check-outs and the line was pretty long.  The woman in front of me had a cart full of items, including a bunch of veggies which the cashier had to look up one by one.  At one point the cashier asked to see her ID – it was a six-pack of something.  This woman was clearly a senior citizen: completely white hair, hearing aids, cane on the side of her shopping cart.  If I had to guess she had to be at least 80.  The cashier looked at her license and typed something into the cash register.  The line behind me got longer as this happened. 

I understand that there are probably laws and/or corporate policies that lead to asking every single person for ID in these circumstances, but truly, carding an 80-year old woman at Target?  And considering that I never get carded at the liquor store here in Minnesota or even buying liquor in Wisconsin (wine advent calendars at Aldis), I’m guessing it’s a Target policy and cash register programming enforces it.  Sigh.

As I was heading to my car, it occurred to me that the woman’s purchase couldn’t have been alcohol.  In Minnesota you can only buy alcohol at a state-licensed liquor store. 

So what in heaven’s name was she purchasing?

2025, Mysteries, Technology, Travel

The Waiting Game

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People watching at the airport is almost as much fun as at the State Fair – if you’re not stressing out.  I take a page from my mother’s playbook and always get to the airport with way too much time so I’m not usually too worried about time in the TSA line. 

There was a pretty long line on Saturday so there was plenty to watch.  The most interesting was the young couple in front of me.  When I first noticed them, the young man was wearing a fairly large, stuffed backpack and handling a big carry-on as well.  The young woman was unencumbered.  Before I had a chance to process that, she tried to take over carry-on duty.  He wouldn’t let go of the bag.  She was mad.  She ripped it out of his hands and if looks could kill, he would have been a goner.  Then he made two really bad mistakes.  First he tried to take the bag back and when she spoke to him in a stern voice, he smiled.  I wanted to say “ooh, buddy, bad move” but I didn’t need to.  She blasted him and they didn’t speak for  minutes until they got right up to the TSA desk.  I didn’t see them again.

Our plane wasn’t at the gate on time – late from its last stop I assume.  There was a red-haired woman who was just freaking out about this.  Not enough to get security called on her, but enough that all of us in the waiting area heard every word.  She somehow seemed to think that the gate agent could magically make a plane appear.  After venting her spleen she wandered off; I didn’t see her come back.  There weren’t any other flights that were leaving any time around the time of our flight so I don’t know what she did.  Maybe she had a couple of stiff drinks and was the last one onto the plane?

Of course when the plane did come and we were all loaded, the pilot made an announcement about some outside door flap being frozen.  Twenty minutes they said, which is airline speak for “at least an hour”.    We were going to St. Louis, so I’m guessing from the flurry of panicked phone calls, there were quite a few people with connecting flights.  The woman in front of me was positively melting down about it.  I wasn’t connecting although my sibling gathering was planned for that afternoon.  No meltdown from me. 

We made most of the hour up in the air so I was in time for the sibling gathering but not enough time to stop at the deli to pick anything up for the party!

How do you like to pass the time while waiting?

2024, Family, holidays, Technology

Gifting

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I can’t remember the last time I set out of the house to go shopping for Christmas presents for our family and loved ones. I spent much of my morning yesterday scrolling through the Amazon lists and other lists of things our son, daughter, and daughter in law wanted and conveniently sent to us. A few clicks, and their gifts were on the way. Later this week I will fill the treat boxes for our far flung friends and family and get them to UPS to deliver.

Husband and I told the kids we didn’t want any presents this year as we don’t want more possessions that we will have to move. I don’t think either of them listened to us, and we will get books at a minimum. I also told daughter that bubble bath and toiletries were good options for me if she really wanted to get me something.

Right now I don’t have the time or the energy to go physically from store to store in a mall or in a big box store shopping for people. Is that a sad commentary on our current state of affairs, or something to rejoice over? I am not sure.

How does your family gift one another? What are you hoping for this Christmas?

2024, Family, History, Technology, Uncategorized

Gateway Arch

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When  I was nine, the St. Louis Arch was completed.  Not the whole she-bang (viewing room, elevator, greenway, museum) but the structure of The Arch.  It took 2½ years from breaking ground until October 28, 1965, when the last piece was put in place.

Although my family was actually living in Jefferson City at the time of the completion, we were St. Louis folks through and through.  The Arch was a big deal back then and we had been down to the site a couple of times during the build; it was exciting to see the two legs each inching up. 

As a child it seemed impossible to me that they could build each leg separately and actually have them meet in the middle.  The day that they put the last piece in place, joining up both legs, it was big news and as a family we watched it on television.  Here’s a short version:

At the time there were a lot of folks who thought once they put the last piece in place, The Arch would just fall down.  My father was not in that camp, asserting every time it came up in conversation that it would be an engineering marvel.  I guess he’s right – it’s been standing 59 years now.  Growing up mostly in St. Louis, I’ve actually been up in the Arch about a dozen times; it was always on the agenda when folks visited from out of town.  Since it’s my “home-town” monument, I’m pretty proud that it’s still standing!

Any monument you think is particularly impressive?  Or not?

2024, animals, Mysteries, Nature, Technology, Uncategorized

Amazing Cell

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Yesterday I trekked over to Gertens; I had a great coupon.  Normally just a coupon wouldn’t get me to drive over there but they do carry that hot bird seed that I like, so figured a chunk of change off one of those cylinders would be nice. 

It took me a bit to find the seed cylinders – they’re ramping up their Christmas stuff and have moved a lot of the endcaps around in the feed department.  When I did come around the corner, what confronted me was a TON of products from the company who makes the hot stuff.  The photo above is the endcap with all of it.

Right next of my Flaming Hot Feast there was another big cylinder called Burning Love.  I looked at them both, different ingredients although both seemed to have the hot pepper that deters the squirrels.  But at the price point, I didn’t want to make a mistake.  As I stood there considering my options, it occurred to me that I could check online to see the difference.  And then I had the ephiphany that I could just call the company directly.  A helpful woman answered the phone right away and let me know that the difference was that Burning Love is just safflower seeds with hot pepper.  Flaming Hot Feast has a bigger variety of seeds with hot pepper. 

The Burning Love was almost a pound heavier at the same price point, so I decided to give it a try.  As I walked away, I thought about the amazing thing I had just done – used a small hand held device to call a company in Texas for no cost to get an immediate answer.  (Yes, I am aware I could have found someone who worked at Gertens and asked them, but I think this was faster.)  While I sometimes think technology is too big for its britches, yesterday I loved my cell phone.

Any technology that has amazed you recently?

2024, animals, Family, Farming Update, gardening, Nature, Technology, Uncategorized

False Fall

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The weekend Farm Report comes to us from Ben. 

First false fall, I believe that’s what we’re in. 
I’ve seen a few soybeans turning color, the leaves are starting to drop, and it sure is getting dark sooner. The temperature has been very nice the last week. I don’t know if the barn swallows have all moved on, or if it’s just because I’m at work and I don’t see them so much. I did notice a couple flying around the other day.  

The deer are really doing a number on the soybeans. It’s surprising how many leaves and beans a herd of deer can eat overnight. Most of my beans are over my knees, but that one field I rent, the beans are barely to my knees there, and the top of the entire field has been nibbled by the deer. It’s a lot of dollars they’re eating.   

I spent a few hours in the tractor Thursday night going over the oat ground a second time. The second time, I worked the field perpendicular to the way I worked it the first time. All an effort to work it up better. And I used the boating app to find my way again.  

I’m hoping to have started planting winter rye by the time you read this. I use it as a cover crop to keep some roots in the ground over winter, and to hopefully provide a little extra nitrogen come spring. 
Daughter and Bailey joined me in the tractor as my tractor buddies for a while. That gave us some nice time to talk about her day and I shared random tidbits about the crescent moon.  

 I’m sure I’ve mentioned before how I have the entire audio recording of the movie All That Jazz in my music library. I hadn’t listened to it for a while and I had it on the tractor that night. I can recite it line for line and every time I hear it I pick up something different. It’s loosely based on the life of actor, dancer, choreographer, director Bob Fosse. He wasn’t a real nice man, but he was a very talented man. In the tractor, and later, wearing earbuds, I could hear subtle background noises I hadn’t detected before. It makes me appreciate him more as a director for the details he added.  

Sometimes while driving down I35 or Highway 52, I wonder how many of my fields a highway like that would take up.  It makes me a little sad, to think about how quickly a bulldozer can change the landscape and erase any memories of a farmstead that may have lasted years and raised generations. It should still be called progress that it doesn’t take as many small farms to produce the food we need, but the lost memories still make me sad.  

* * * * * * *
 
I feel fortunate that I’ve made some pretty good business connections over the years and I’m lucky that one businessman has let me borrow his scissor lift for a few days. Kelly and I used it to paint the front of the theater last Saturday.  

A year ago we did this with an extension ladder on a day it was about 90°F And the whole thing was just hot and miserable. This second time around we were much more prepared and it was almost fun. My nephew let me borrow his paint sprayer and we knew how to tape off things a little better (or at all)  and it went pretty well.  I’m also using the lift to swap some lighting in the theater. The Rep Theater was fortunate to receive large grant to purchase a new Lighting Console and some LED lighting. I’ve been having a good time getting that set up, and when I got the lights to turn color the first time I let out a big “YEAH BABY!”.  

At one point I knocked over a riser section and wedged it under part of the scissor lift. I swear, there are days I should not be left alone.  

At home I am rarely left alone thanks to my white shadow. 

Unless she’s on a walk with daughter, she’s not far from me, hoping I’ll be doing something interesting soon.  

DO YOU SWEAT THE DETAILS? I’VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THEY’RE NOT IMPORTANT.  

2024, Business, Family, Food, home, Technology, Uncategorized

The Yeast Of My Worries

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We typically have pretty good luck with orders and deliveries here, that is, until recently. On July 30 I ordered six, 2 oz packages of fresh yeast on Amazon. Husband has a Nordic baking book that uses fresh yeast in the recipes. Since I had thrown out the remainder of a huge shipment of fresh yeast that I had ordered about a year ago (it got too old in the freezer) it was time to order a more manageable amount.

The order was supposed to arrive on August 5. I tried to track it on Amazon as soon as I got notification that it had shipped, but had no luck. The 5th arrived, and still no yeast. I knew it had to be kept cold or it would start to do its yeasty thing and start growing and expanding. I received a notice that it would arrive on the 9th. It didn’t. By this time, I knew something had gone amiss, and finally Amazon said that it was lost and I could have a refund. It was a bit of an ordeal, but I got the refund and ordered more. This time around I have been able to actually track where it is. It is to arrive today or tomorrow.

The most unreliable delivery service seems to be the US Postal Service. UPS, FEDEX, and Speedee Delivery all do a good job. The latter always makes me think of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Husband is excited that the yeast will arrive soon. I worry that it hasn’t been kept cold. We shall see.

What delivery disasters have you encountered? What are your favorite memories of Mr. Rogers or other children’s programming? What are you worrying about these days?