Conditioning reality as the boundary crumbles

A few things will run by a person that bothers them that are easily dismissed as part of life. Asi es la vida. C’est la vie. That’s how the cookie crumbles. 

What is it called when a lot of crumbles litter the path of one’s daily stroll? I have no idea. It seems to me, from reading headlines, living life in general, the Such is life, moments are too plentiful.

In the end zone of life, being old, priorities can be adjusted for how we entertain ourselves. The structure of television, streaming, channels, and such, the selection is immense. There are features on my Google smart television I have not explored yet. And it is not even a high end TV model (aka it’s a cheap TV).

A skill to learn is how to blend attitude to what is offered. I love the mystery and drama genres. What I no longer have the emotional slot for is intense violence and suspense. I will turn the channel, use mute through certain scenes or stop watching. 

And here’s the catch. Given the increase in on screen time watching and reading on the Internet, the boundary between film and reality has become thin. Once I could sit through could anything on film, I now cringe and avoid regularly. My brain accepts the fakery of film as a nearer reality than it should be. We are conditioning ourselves to form new parameters that identify the reality experience.

It is sad to think that someday I will have evolved myself out of enjoying a tasteful horror film so much so that I’ll never enjoy blocking my ears, pulling a blanket over my head or running out of the room during the scariest parts. 

😱😱😱😱😱😂

Enjoy the last Tuesday
of May 2026

About Communicating Online & Off-line

On the 2nd weekend of January 2026, root beer floats with chocolate ice cream are my Saturday treat. Why? Because yesterday was my McD lunch treat day; and I do not have McD without soda. Thus, my no soda January failed. The disappointment I feel creates the excuse to have root beer floats. No soda January will resume after the root beer is gone.

After that sorrow, I have been dealing with things that require communicating online. Needless to say, it has been frustrating because the bully mentality of websites is difficult to deal with. The you do it our way or else is not a good way to treat people. 

Then, there's the issue of why of the problems happen that usually turns out to be my fault because I'm not tech savvy. I believe when pages have the plus sign, +, to open a new tab, that will be the online rule for websites. But, it is not the rule. 

For example, the AOL app. On a website that sends me an email with a verification code to my AOL email address, I cannot read that email because there is no + available for (that I found) a new tab to the AOL email to be opened. 

I uninstalled the AOL email app. Using regular AOL email isn't as good, but it gives the me control I should have as a customer. 

The other frustrating online issue is the Contact Us feature. Right off, the next page is to FAQs. Ok. I type in question just in case, (being I have a reputation for being the fault of the problem). Nothing there. So, I hunt for the Contact Us option originally given. Oh dear, I have to log in, create an account and go through more hoops that sensibly necessary. 😖

On the bright side of life, I have enough sheets of forever US Postal stamps to last me 3 or 4 years (with the one stamp use per month that I have now). How did I end up with so many stamps!? 

I think when postal clerks are so nice, as soon as they ask if there's anything else we need, knowing the postal service struggles, I feel the least I can do is buy stamps.  The other reason is my desk gets so messy, I can't find the stamps I have. So, I buy more. The Oh so that's where they are, is always a cheery moment. Also, when mailing off a package, put stamps in there before sealing the box. 

Ever see one of those shows that helps folks declutter, where everything in the room is removed, and only what is useful is put back? Well, I'm going to do that with my desk area. It has to start first thing in the morning to have time to clear someplace to sleep. 😎

How is your January going?

Password & Email Maintenance

Clearing out folders, changing passwords, and sorting photos was a monthly event for me that took hours, sometimes days. Files and photos, I feel, no longer require monthly sorting. Maintaining good password health, however, is always a priority.

In the early days of Ebay when, I believe, a lot of people were getting online, a unique password for each website one registered with was popular with some people. (Moi) A one password for all probably isn't a good security system. Writing down passwords in a tabbed address book is an easy way to keep track of that important information. 

Some tips I use for passwords:

1.   Use unique passwords for everything 
2.   Always write passwords in a notebook 
3.   Add date of creation and changes
4.   Never save passwords online
5.   Minimum 12 various characters long
6.   Never use personal information, name, dates, etc.
7.   Refresh by logging in monthly
8.   Note the website for each password
9.   Keep old password books for a few years

Tips for email addresses:

1. Write down email address in the password notebook
2. Categorize email addresses for family, websites, friends, etc.