Randoms for the day <3

Randoms of the techy kind shall be continued today. 

Random #1

Before I share some concerns and frustrations about AI, technology and the modern world, I need to confess a human error from yesterday. 

I typically type these, hurriedly proofread, publish and then go back waaaaay later in the day and read it again. That is when I discover typos, glitches and places where I self-edited and ended up removing some helpful part of a sentence or paragraph. 

It’s painful and you think I would learn, but no. I don’t. 

So yesterday when I reread what I had written, I realized I talked about my dad honoring both sides of my family tree. But…I didn’t finish the thought. My dad honored them by sending a donation to have their names engraved on the Wall of Honor on Ellis Island. 

I have been blessed to see it first hand with a couple of times. First with two friends when we were celebrating one of them turning forty and then a few years later I got to find them with our daughters. Russ knew I had loved NYC and he gifted Rachel, Sarah and I a trip there for Spring Break of Sarah’s sophomore year in college. 

The trip to Ellis Island and tour of the building and grounds was a highlight for me. 

The photos above are showing proof positive we found them. It was a touching experience to have the girls see the facility where there great, great grandparents were processed and to find their names in the registry and on the wall, thanks to my dad preserving their story. 

Random #2

I spend way too much time on social media, and it’s going to be evident as you scroll through the next randoms. Mostly I look at recipes, Maileg Mice and the whimsical world they live in, art and journaling ideas, knitting projects, pilates and strength training for aging bodies and miniature dachshund owners spoiling their dogs. 

Apparently this leads the logarithms to guess me to be in my 60’s so I also have been getting random videos of women who are wrinkle free, have no sagging in their necks or any other part of their body and seem to be able to dance with abandon around their house in leggings and small t-shirts. 

And splattered across such videos are the words…”I am ____ years old and here’s what I do”

The age belies the photo and is anywhere from 62 – 70. Oh…and their husbands are sometimes featured, also looking like they just stepped off the gym floor and they, too, are miraculously approaching their 8th decade on planet earth. 

After seeing about four of these I decided that something must be going on because I know some women who look great for their age, but come on. 

So I was justified when a different kind of post showed up calling these out as terribly deceptive ads. The writer of this post pointed out that they are always selling some product and the people featured are most assuredly not the age they are claiming to be. 

This writer was not happy with the way it was making real women feel about how they look as they are naturally and beautifully and truthfully changing over the years. 

I felt vindicated. 

Now I just scroll on past. 

Liar, liar yoga pants on fire. 

Random #3

Another recent disclosure has brought me some relief as well. 

There are numerous posts and articles about how Apple subtly changed something about our keyboard and all the typos and crazy autocorrects are not really our fault. 

I learned from these that my phone also stores a mistyped word and forever substitutes it for the mistake. 

My personal nemesis happened when I was trying to type “there on” but accidentally typed “their on” . I tried to correct my spelling to the right form of “there” but it changed it to Theron. I didn’t catch it. 

Now whenever I type the words “the” or “there”…it changes it to Theron. 

My uncle was named Theron. 

I loved him dearly and still do. 

But he is not a suitable substitute for “the” and “there”. 

Help me. 

Random #4

Let’s talk about the demise of the penny. 

While I understand we are not wise to keep making something that costs more to mint than the actual value of the coin. That one is a no-brainer and should have been nipped a long time ago. 

Like the moment the balance sheet revealed the discrepancy. 

However, I do believe we have enough pennies circulating that we could probably just keep using those babies til we figure out how to add tax to a charge and make it end in zero or five. 

I’m not an economist, but I feel certain there is a way. 

It’s a crap shoot when you go to pay with cash anymore. Some places are still dealing in pennies and others are acting like you are trying to pawn off a euro. 

The other day I got a coffee at the McDonald’s drive through. The total was $2.01. 

I handed the girl at the window two bills and a penny. 

She looked at me with more disdain than I have probably ever received and said, “We don’t take THOSE.” 

I retrieved my coffee and slipped my dirty penny back in my purse and drove off trying not to laugh too hard. 

It’s been a fun story to share with others who still carry those little brown coins around and are delighted to find a lucky one in the parking lot on a rainy day. 

Sigh. 

Random #5

I am out of randoms so let’s just close with saying I hope you have a fantastic day. 

I hope your autocorrect and Siri treat you nicely. 

I hope when you look in the mirror you see a beautiful face smiling back at you. 

I hope you find some things to laugh about and someone to giggle over them with. 

I hope you find a lucky penny and I hope you know you are dearly loved <3