A few Measly Steps a Day

So I've been out of town. Washington D.C. with the kids and grandkids. We saw most of the museums and monuments. The Smithsonian was opening up; we saw the Native American museum the day that it opened. Highlights of the trip - hands down - being with the grandkids who are getting bigger by the minute. For me the Native American Museum was the most interesting because one of the characters I'm writing about is a First Nations elder of Canada. No, it wasn't as great as visiting the Yukon; native tribes each have their own history, culture, legends, traditions. But It was the best I could do.
Low point. The day we were to leave, I felt sick. Not really all that sick - just a little bit like something was wrong. Tom got me a COVID test kit, and Lisa gave me the test. Negative. Whew! I wasn't sure what you do if you come down with you-know-what in a strange city.
Anyway, a good time was had by all.

Hi world. D, happy your trip was mostly successful. I have no idea what one might do if sick with The Virus out of town. I guess millions of people over the past year had this experience, but now with vaccines ... like with most things one might have to improvise.

For a month I've worked hard to get read to ask questions of a Famous Author. Read his books, blog, and tweets. I reached out a few days ago and asked if he would mind answering 5 questions. I've asked 2, and both times he said "I find it impossible to answer ... " whatever I'd asked.

So, I wanted to reach out, I did, I'm basically rebuffed in a way. So I'm calling it, and stopped asking my questions and apologized for troubling him.

His works still resonate and will be quite helpful.

I did my part and asked, and must resign myself with either having missed how to frame my questions or picking the wrong topics, or some other X factor.

Sigh, dusting myself off, and getting back in the race,
Revu2

Hi, have a boost in my spirits from completing something quietly necessary but under-done about my condo situation. Namely, we have one owner who has studiously not participated actively in the 7 years of ownership. I made it my goal to reach out and offered a proposal at the annual meeting to get official, collective, clearance to proceed. This turned into a clown's routine of misunderstanding, cross purposes, and more so I officially stopped the committee and later reached out again, alone.

And eventually I got handed to the adult children of the stated owners, who are partners in their LLC, and who we never had heard about before. Talked with them yesterday and the conversation went well. They agreed to be added to the googlegroup and that I send them 8 articles about condo governance I had sent to the other owners right before our annual meeting.

Can't say exactly why this lifts my heart so, but it has to do with a feeling that this is our first step up from our collective "bottom." All intuitive sensing, yet that is 'data' as clear as a math equation sometimes.

Fresh Goals
Finish the Introduction and Start-up Kit for my Mutual Muster concept.
Reach out to Mutual Aid and Disaster Aid groups to learn what they need and create more.
Post works on a google site and announce on twitter/linked-in.
Prep every day for a bridge event at an official bridge center. Most of the games I've been playing have been rubber bridge in people's houses or as part of the Parks N Rec dept.

Yuck Goal
My MacBook Pro needs a new battery, $220. Also needed new adapter today, $90. 3 to 5 days in the shop, but I have my MacBook Air for backup service, the e and o keys stick or jam. I'll d- my b-st n-t t- us- th-m.
R-vu2

Be sober. Wash dishes. Exercise. Watch a movie or part of a movie.

Goals tomorrow/keep daily gainlinking™ for a new major grant I'm drafting; 2 or 3 conference calls; practice bridge for 30 minutes.

Sorry, I've been AWOL for a while. Apparently, if you're sick and out of town, you stay in the hotel $$$$, have people bring in your meals. My latest goal - start tweeting. Yes, I've said that before. And it still feels like foreign territory. And I may not ever figure it out, but my plan is to write up a word document with a bunch of possible tweets and then start tweeting. Just the thought of it makes me nervous. I'm going to read your posts and then reply to them.

Good luck to everyone reading this.

HI, Little Earthquakes. I love your logon.

Of course the other thing to do if you're sick and out of town is to not tell anyone. I would have to be very desperate to do that. I have strong feelings about keeping my germs to myself. But of course the thought crossed my mind. Another possibility is to rent a car, sleep in the car, at campgrounds, and then tell the car company to do a thorough cleaning job. I think that's probably what I would have done if I'd tested positive.

I'm glad you were able to make contact with your condo resident's kids. I think it lifted your spirits because we humans want to be heard. At least that's a strong issue for me.

Yes, greetings Little Earthquakes.

My 11 year saga to get our siding replaced has finally reached "The End" of the saga. Today, on our own deck, we had the long delayed (supply chain issues) screen installed. Nothing else to be done. Checkmate.

Where the action is: a random walk around SF led me to several other similar threads.

Looking for accountability partners (task check in) #2

What is the next thing you're looking forward to #2?

Something you're proud of

Revu2

I remember the siding saga and all it's setbacks and challenges. Big congratulations that it's finished.

Hi,

My latest challenge - my teeth are rotting out of my mouth. Oy, Vey!

My next challenge, getting three quotes to replace the lateral line in front of my house connecting to the sewer system. $$$$$ I'm applying for a grant which will help with the cost. Fingers crossed.

My writing - I have some fun parts that I'm working on. (Jody has gone to the dark side.) and I have some more boring things to write - necessary but not all that interesting so it's my job to somehow make them interesting.

My tooth really hurts right now. I'm actually looking forward to the day when the dentist pulls it.

I've given myself a challenge - no solitaire for a week. As you probably remember, I'm a solitaire junkie. Anyway, the plan to is to exchange writing for solitaire. It's working. I'm getting a lot done.

I found a peace garden in a Tibetan Buddhist temple close to my house. Besides being a place of healing and peace - I need both - there were some great quotes that I copied to use when I start my Twittering. Don't worry, they're quotes from people like Martin Luther King, Jr. Mother Teresa, and Gandhi, so I'm not plagiarizing. In writing this post, I realized that I didn't know how to spell Gandhi and Buddhist. Well, now I do.

Wishing you good things.

Delightful

Oh boy, this will be a very tiring month. Lots to crunch through and all before Sept 30. Plus, or minus?—a much anticipated and planned/paid for 3-day celebration of my Dear Partner's birthday with a weekend trip out of town. Had a hard time recalling the last time I packed for an overnight voyage.

Just happens that my regular assistant is ready to help and my regular partner for co-counseling sessions intuited to email me this morning. Water for a thirsty me.

Revu2

Ah, D, 2 yucks and a plus. Very good idea to swap in writing and take a break from solitaire.

Positive healing vibes for your aching tooth and the sewer connection. May your Grant be granted ...
R

Hi, R.
Thanks for the healing vibes. Tooth is MUCH better. Enjoy your celebration. You've earned it. My writing - Jody's gone over to the dark side. It's a lot more fun writing about dark than light. Believe it or not, one of the hardest things to write is a love scene. There's the head-over-heels, crazy kind of love, and there's the stand-by-me kind of love. I spent a good part of yesterday listening to love songs. (Songs do it better than poems IMHO.)
Off to the metaphorical races.

Not sure why sin is more fun than virtue. One of the strongest messages I had to offer 6th graders was on this very issue. I told them the course of their lives weren't likely to be horrible the first time they try one of the many many offers to come during their teenage years. Maybe not the second time either. It issue was the 9th, 20th and 50th times. They had to know their stops beforehand because if they didn't those around them might not supply any for them because they didn't have stops themselves.

I'm getting ready for a short vacation out of town. The research is one of the fun parts, and off to do more of that now.
Revu2

Back from vacation with several delightful memories and yet another reminder. The reminder is I live in the NW part of WA state, it's often cooler and rainier than the forecasts. Dress with layers for warmth and take an umbrella.

My latest grant project enters the turbulent stages. First, my client is going to be offline much of next week dealing with an audit. I'll have to pick up her sections. Yuck. Second, my assist had to drop out because of fatigue. Yikes. Asked a couple of friends for their help. One has accepted and I await the other.

Meanwhile, we had our window "dressing" upgraded on 6 windows today which meant dragging a lot of stuff away from the windows. Took maybe a full hour for the tech to put them in, now it's putting things back. Also have to start filling the coin jars again.

LIke in soccer (I've been enthralled by the footwork of Ronaldinho and Messi on youtube), to make the goal requires fancy footwork.

Revu2

Hi, R,

I didn't know you taught sixth grade. What you said reminded me of a sermon I heard a long time ago. People don't usually decide, "I'm going to be a horrible person. Like lost sheep, they nibble their way into lostness. I guess it takes baby steps to get somewhere bad as well as to get somewhere good.
Good luck with your grant project. Sounds challenging.

Me - On the fun side, I'm meeting with my book club today, and they are wonderful people. Also, there's a Buddhist monastery (I hope I didn't already tell you this.) near our house and they've planted a peace garden. Wonderful place to spend ten minutes or two hours.

On the work side, I have a good first draft of the love story, and the first half of the love scene written. (Hard stuff for me.)

Good wishes on everything.

Hello thread. Got to musing on sacrifices and swaps. Like D. swapping in writing and out playing solitaire. During this intensive run I'm sacrificing playing cards in person or online (which I don't enjoy as much) and possibly my reading for pleasure. Also, I play through 4 bridge hands a day and that might have to go.

So far, holding up well with the listening to New Grub Street on Librivox (with the Gutenberg Project open in case I want to copy out a line or two). Also the 4 hands of bridge, which I'll get to next.

Footwork on the grant has been my once reliable assistant dropped off due to overwork, and one of the two friends I invited to rush on field dropped off due to an uptick in responsibilities. Still have one person left.

The goal is to have someone I can co-edit with together to catch odd phrases, correct spelling and grammar, and spiffy up the organization.

Sort of rainy chilly days, just ideal for hunkering down without regrets I can't be outside.

D: A decent set of friend, a pleasant garden for contemplation, writing going well, is that not happiness?
Rv2

Crossing 2/3 of a very busy and crazy month. Two complicated projects on line, plus assorted orders falling do, machines to repair, and the random threats to peace and wellbeing of being alive.

So, today, I've worked 3 hours already on my grant. I'm behind about half a day because I meant to add new stuff but ended up working on corrections to a couple of pieces of work. Did find a co-proof reader, so that's a great thing.

Having a bit of burst of energy, so here my question: do I score the last 5 grant proposals I'm committed to review for my volunteer work? Or do I do 2 maybe and then continue with keeping the daily chain alive? I do know there's an energy gift when something is finished. This is balanced by the energy drain of doing 5 in a day.

Consulting the magic oracle: my energy will be replenished if I take good care.

What do I make of that?
Revu2

Hi, R,
Good wishes with your energy management.
Me - more bad stuff. Don't want to talk about it. Feeling very depressed.
I have two more plot pieces to work out, and then I'll have my first draft finished. I'm having fun scrapbooking, gardening, and making wall hangings. That's the good stuff.
Take care,
D.

Hi Thread. D, thanks for the wishes. I'm practicing the fancy footwork I watched at the start of the month. The grant is nearly done. Have our last call tomorrow @ 11, and it's in by 5, or it's not in at all.

And, now, since January of 2019, nearly 3 years, a "campaign" I put $139 into on Indiegogo has filed for bankruptcy in their base country of Denmark. I filed my claim and now I wait.

I think in sum from both Kickstarter and Indiegogo their haul was over $2.5 mln. In the 3 yrs I found out just why everyday frauds and scams are so rife. Can't get anyone to really clamp down. They refused to refund my money. I wrote to my credit union and VISA, I wrote to the FTC, to attorney generals in 2 states.

The AG in my state, to his credit, did make an inquiry for a refund and was rebuffed. The g-damn cheeky nerve!

Shaking it off. Next play,

Crowdfunding is a powerful tool for entrepreneurs, but it’s only as good as its reputation. And if people start losing faith in the system entirely, no one will succeed. ~ Ashley Carmen

Revu2

Hi, D,

Sorry about your experience with Indiegogo. Unfortunately, there are so many scams out there. I don't trust anyone anymore. One time when I reported a scam to the cops with a telephone number and city, and they basically told me there's nothing they can do about it. They'd gotten hundreds of complaints about that phone number. I think I"m pretty smart, but it's so easy to click on the wrong link, or in your case, believe in someone. Today, someone tried to hack into my Facebook account. Earlier this week, I got an email about a problem with an Amazon delivery. I ignored it, and the package arrived yesterday. Oy, Vey! You got me started.
I'm dealing with a massive dose of insecurity.
Positive note - I'm building a Japanese bridge. Very cute!
Speaking of massive insecurity, I'm realizing how much support I've gotten from Internet friends (including you). So thanks.
Good vibes to the world at large.

Re Insecurity: let it pass. Likely a sign your writing is getting better.

Went through a round of insecurity about playing competitive bridge which I don't like as much as social bridge. I need something in-between. The problem with social bridge is most players are just passing time.

The problem with competitive bridge is most players are too serious and there's a barrage of new tips or conventions any new partner toss my way and expects me to learn and remember immediately.

So, dang it, I told myself I'd go compete tonight only forgetting that my closest game has moved to temporary digs pending their usual space re-opening more.

Error accepted. Moving on.

Now, where was I in this book?

Revu2

Hi Thread, dealing with leaks for the past week. Plumber came and ran water for maybe 40 minutes and found nothing. Yet tonight we had reports of leaks again and went to see what was up. Yup, saw several likely places which could be the source(s).

Sort of ruined the evening.

Getting to see that feelings of completeness, contentedness, happiness, satisfaction, whatever, likely evaporate due to incoming news, events, accidents, and random stuff in less than 4 hours.

Maxim: enjoy them while they've visiting.

R

HI, D,

Sorry to hear about the leaks. May they be easily fixed./

I'm definitely dragging around lately. I'm working on the stuff that I have to do but don't want to do, and I'm making headway. If I get a couple more things out of the way, I'll start feeling in control again. Fun stuff - I built a Japanese bridge for my back yard, and I'm making a dry creek bed to go under the bridge. Also, I made two wall hangings (small) using Guatemalan worry dolls. In both of them, one of the dolls is flying a kite. In one, there's a llama in the foreground. Both of them are 3D. And both of them are crazy quilt pattered which means they're cut out any which way. Now I'm working on a quilt to go with the wall hangings. It's a project that started out as a bedspread years ago. It's not really going to be a quilt because it's just going to be one piece of cloth, not a quilt "sandwich" if you get what I mean. I have put a binding around the edges and the fun part - I'll be watching night time TV and adding whatever I want to the quilt.

Wishing everyone good vibes.