Rose Photo

Red is my favorite color. 

Once in a while I submit one of my photos to our local NE PA station where I watch the news and weather.  In the link below, I apologize for the advertisement at the beginning, but the video below shows lovely pictures that are sent in by others like I do sometimes. 

 https://www.wnep.com/article/life/photolink/how-it-all-began-in-the-photolink-library-mike-stevens/523-8153d60f-b8a8-4313-8ffe-779240eb5734

I have manipulated this same photo for an "arty" piece.

Nature Photos in Slide Shows

I haven't submitted any of my photos to our NE Regional TV station since *November, but thought this one of the flowering trees had merit. Much to my pleasure it was used in the Friday evening slide show along with many others that were so appropriate for this time of year. Mike Stevens, who hosts and creates this section of the program once suggested to me to try to get photos that don't have man-made things in the background unless they directly relate to the subject being photographed. I'm really an amateur with an eye for nature so this has helped my images be more pleasing, I think!

Here is the link to this particular slide show: 2019/05/17 Slide Show

Here is the link to see my submission in the *November slide show:  

2018/11/30 Slide Show

Here is the link to the entire slide show library:  https://wnep.com/tag/photolink-library/

TV Service Needed and We're OK NOW!

Lately we have been getting really annoyed with the warning banners and loud alert sounds coming from our TVs during storms. Some of them don't even pertain to our area. We know they are a good thing for those with impending severe weather conditions and we just muted the TV or turned the sound down or even changed channels for the period they are shown and heard. 

During the last few days the alert notifications have been freezing the dining area TV and I could not mute, lower volume or change channel and, unless I shut down the unit, I had to wait until the alert is over. 

The other evening the alert and banner came on and the sound went off by itself and the picture remained for the the time. Afterwards, the TV returned to normal. Again, the alert and banner came on and the sound on the TV remained but the picture went black. When it returned all was ok until the next alert. This time the TV automatically re-booted itself and only got halfway through it and all returned. On the NEXT alert the TV then went to "no signal."

After being on the phone with the cable technician for about 1/2 hour, nothing was fixed so today we are awaiting the arrival for a person to come directly to the cabin. 

We know this is a minor inconvenience compared to all of the storm damage in our area, but it needs to be fixed and we have been very fortunate to have good service in the past and hope it will continue.  Follow up post:

He came- he fixed- he's gone. All OK now! Sure hope it doesn't happen again!! Don't ask what he did. It took a few clicks and a couple of minutes. Good Guy!

Photographs

I am really flattered that sometimes one of my photo submissions is shown on our local regional TV station. There is a marvelous assortment of photos in the WNEP library. So many excellent photographers and pictures of beauty and wonder give inspiration that even I can do it once in a while. The image below is a screen shot. The video link is below.

click on image to view larger

Video Link

The "Foodie"

I have been called this. Well I admit to really enjoying some special (to me) foods but the real "foodie" in me is regularly watching a particular show on TV. About a year ago I discovered the show, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." This guy Guy Fieri travels across America in search of "greasy spoons" and shows the fun at these eateries with the cooks, chefs, customers, and he really causes me enjoy the shows. I like it that he has a kooky hairdo, and colorful tattoos, his wardrobe is just a shirt and slacks or shorts and is married with sons. He has nice cars —he's a fun television personality with lots of knowledge about foods.

I do not like any spicy hot foods but he seems to. I have noticed that he sometimes slurps very hot (not spicy) foods without being burned. Wish I knew how he did that! I have learned a lot about spices and herbs and ways of cooking. Sometimes a simple sandwich that is built on a show seems to be over the top and wouldn't interest me at all but still is fun to see. His spoken reviews during his tasting seem to be so honest and appreciative of the work that the kitchen puts out for customers.

I don't care much for his grocery game show or cookoffs. A show about comfort foods and how they're made and served is my cup of joe. Delivered by Guy makes it fun.

The 50's were my times for eating at these familiar places and diners, and they were especially an important part of my teen years. I have worked as a waitress at a high class restaurant and at dives. I'll take the dive any time as it didn't have a fussy owner or temperamental chef and the customers were plain good ole folks.

So...the TRIPLE D is FOR ME! I'm a fan. Take a leap and try it! It is a simple and brilliant show in my estimation. FOODIE I am!

My images may be viewed larger by clicking on one

Discovery

When fooling around with my laptop this afternoon I discovered that I can watch TV programs on my computer! Well this may not be such a surprise to others who are savvy, but to me it was a wonderful discovery! Just look at what I found! Now I may not be seen in public for months! I had no idea this was an option. I discovered it by accident. 

Bones is one of my favorite shows along with NCIS.

Take a Break....

I have noticed that our cable TV stations have some old television episodes, but not the ones I used to enjoy in "old days time."

Going back to light and silly and sometimes offensive "comedy" was tons of fun for me this morning. I just spent many moments watching full episodes of a few old favorite shows. Wow! TV content was definitely very different back then! Better too, in my way of thinking. Not much violence and no gore. 

Thank you dear YouTube and steady internet connection for my painful ribcage from laughing too hard. 

Remember these?

Johnny Carson

Alfred Hitchcock

All in the Family

Barney Miller

Burns and Allen

Bewitched

Dennis the Menace

Doogie Howser, M.D.

Evening Shade

Family Ties

Father Knows Best

The Flying Nun

Good Times

Green Acres

Hazel

I Dream of Jeannie

It's About Time

Jack Benny

The Jeffersons

Leave it to Beaver

Maude

Mr. Belvedere

Mister Ed

My Mother The Car

Newhart

One Day at a Time

The Partridge Family

The Ropers

Sanford and Son

Small Wonder

Three's a Crowd

Three's Company

The Three Stooges

Too Close for Comfort

Normal Winter

I submitted a photo I took at 7am to our regional news station and the chief meteorologist used it on the noontime news program. The weather hasn’t been “normal” this time of year and it finally is getting cold as it should be. 

The temperature has been dropping all day and now, at 4:40pm it is hovering just above ZERO. 

I wonder what tomorrow morning will bring!

Scattered Happenings

This is REALLY a mix of just little parts of recent days.

Dominic Ernesto S. arrived. 

I think their family dog Massimo, was feeling left out.

My daughter (new grandma) has nice tomatoes from seeds I saved.

My fog photo was included in the weekly TV slide show.

I have made over 80 scans of an ancestor's 3" x 4" 1860  fragile farmhand diary and learned some very nice facts. I will work many more hours on this project. I then will tell you what life really was for him throughout one year at age 27. I even found an old receipt in the pocket of the diary.

I made wild plum jam AND yesterday, I made simple wild plum leather. There are no preservatives - the only ingredients are pureed plums and a little sugar. Since I had never done this before and don't have a dehydrator,  I was amazed how satisfactory it came out and how very tasty it is! Nice surprise.

Please click on image to view larger

Determination Pays Out

Chickery Chick Cha-la Cha-la

A number one song in 1945, Chickery Chick by Sammy Kaye was the song!

Once there lived a chicken who would say "chick-chick"

"Chick-chick" all day

Soon that chick got sick and tired of just "chick-chick"

So, one morning he started to say:

[Chorus]

"Chickery-chick, cha-la, cha-la

Check-a-la romey in a bananika

Bollika, wollika, can't you see

Chickery chick is me?"

Every time you're sick and tired of just the same old thing

Sayin' just the same old words all day

Be just like the chicken who found something new to sing

Open up your mouth and start to say

Oh!

[Chorus]

"Chickery-chick, cha-la, cha-la

Check-a-la romey in a bananika

Bollika, wollika, can't you see

Chickery chick is me?"

To this day (over 69 years later) I still find myself singing this song when I'm in a good mood. And I AM IN A GOOD MOOD!!

If you have a special monthly promotional rate for your bundle of telephone, internet, and cable TV services - listen in! We have been with the same company since 2009 when I bought my 27 inch iMac computer. Since then I have added WiFi service for my laptop. I have standard internet and no WiFi charges because of a very small internet modem lease.The Mister has added digital service to the TV he watches so he can better enjoy the wide screen to watch his car races and nature and law enforcement programs. He has also added a variety pass which enables him to receive a race program channel that was not included in the standard package. 

All in all, the monthly charge has been a total of $152.43 for the past two years. I changed our bundle last year because of the expected increase in the annual promotional rate. It remained the same and charges were knocked down to the current rate and not affected by the yearly increase after the 12 months promotion expired. 

We have constantly had excellent technical service when there were any problems with either the TV or internet throughout the years as their customer.  

Now to get to my point.

It took me a little over 40 minutes on the phone this morning to create such a good mood! I first called and spoke with the sales staff and asked to have my account reviewed. After persisting that I was not going to continue with the company if the monthly rate increase of $16.72 was not eliminated or dropped significantly, I was transferred to a customer service person, who in turn, after a question and answer period transferred me to a “Customer Solutions” manager. I persevered with “Chuck” that, being absolutely on a very tight fixed income budget along with our age and excellent payment record I must have resolution to this charge now.

I’ve always known that you get more bees by offering honey than vinegar, so my sweetest, calmest, firmest manner was put forth. YES! It “Paid off.”  

My EXACT same services including taxes will have a monthly charge of $144.27. FOLKS! That is a $24.88 monthly savings!! for the next 12 months! It is LESS now than it has been for the past two years!

If I have to go this route once a year it is worth it.

Chickery Chick Cha-la Cha-la!

By the way, I don’t like their choice of music flowing into my ear while I wait in-between departments, but what the heck…. 

Then and Now Recognition

I am guilty if shouting out during last night's NCIS show, "I know who that actress is!" When I saw the lady I knew I knew her as an actress from the past. She is still beautiful.

Now it would have bothered me ALL night if I hadn't been able to learn from where I recognized the lady's face.

So........right in the middle of the show I turned on the computer and googled the show's cast. Nothing rang a bell. I persisted until finally succeeding and went to bed after the show feeling very relaxed.

 I identified her as a cast member of OLD Star Trek. I knew it was the same person.  Here's the information: Her name is Marina Sirtis. "Berlin" introduced the new Mossad director, Orli Elbaz, on last night's episode. She is best known for her role as Counselor Deanna Troi on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the four feature films that followed. (1987-1994) See 'now and then' photos that I found.

Updates and Outdates

The cable guy came this morning because we had a power outage last night and the box wouldn't reboot. I spent over 45 minutes on a live computer chat with our service and, finally, she told me we need to have a man come. DUH!

It seems that, since my husband finally bought his new 46 inch flat screen TV, much to our surprise the cable box became outdated. We simply could make that old box function after a small power loss. (It was actually about 2 years ago the box was put in so husband could watch car races on a channel he can't get otherwise.)

I hate it when old things don't function as well as new things because they once did and new things just don't care! Am I making sense? Well, maybe not. I don't function as well as I used to either.

One end result is that the new box doesn't accommodate both the VCR and the DVD players. Only one of them can be hooked up at a time. Oh, the choices the man of the house here has to make!

The cable man just got out the door and had started up his truck when my husband discovered the hand remote control wouldn't jump back to the channel that he was on before moving to the one he was currently watching. Caught him just in time! There was a bit of panic in husband's voice as he darted to the front porch waving his hands.

Now we have a new cable box, a new remote control and a new TV. Whoop-de-do!

And.... his remote headset plays in stereo. It never did. 

YES! We rejoice with all of the wonderful changes. YES! (If we say so, it must be true.)

The Shopper - Part 2

The Shopper - Part 2

On January 13, I told you about my husband and his recent TV shopping experience. After the first TV went back, he came home, reset up his old TV and was back in his groove.

I was sure he'd go again and he did! He wanted a TV that would accommodate his wireless headphones and would allow the football scores and downs to be fully displayed on the screen.

This time he knew he had to get one with audio output ports. A trip to Walmart (once more) was in order. The one he purchased three days ago was 42" and had them! Whoopee!  It was a little bit too large to suit him but it did fit into the space where it had to go. Ok - Perform the whole operation again of unpacking, setting up, hooking up, attaching everything and then get ready to have it all. Did it!

Well, no one can have it all. Yes, the wireless headset was plugged into the correct ports and would work - IF - IF the sound on the new TV was turned all the way down. It didn't have the ability in the program to be turned OFF so it wouldn't annoy others in the room, but it did go down. Then, the headphones had to have the volume adjusted by turning the knobs on the headphones and NOT by just pushing the button on the remote hand controller up or down as the old one would; that annoyed him to no end. He said he could live with that, BUT..........

He also was very displeased with the quality of the picture and no matter how ALL picture adjustments were changed and tried many different ways, the picture was BLURRY - well, not actually blurry, but lousy. He had 7 screen choices and NONE made the picture sharp and clear either. I agreed.

Today after the tearing down, repacking and resetting the old TV back in place, he again took the 60 mile round trip back to Walmart with the second new TV for completion of his second return. The second credit IN FULL was applied to his credit card and he "seems" to be happy again, sitting in the old lounge chair, hearing and seeing everything in the way he likes.

The old, large JVC TV was purchased December 7, 2009! It's time for a new TV, don't you agree?

The Shopper

My husband is frustrated with our old large TV because he can't read the football downs and scores on some of the channels. They are posted on the far upper left side of the screen and we don't have a wide screen TV! He has a cable box hooked up already so he can see the Speed channel for his auto races. That had to be done when there were some of them being run on an channel that isn't in our cable plan. He didn't want to upgrade to a better channel selection just for that one channel due to increased costs. A digital box was installed a couple of years ago.

I think by now you're getting my point - he watches a lot of TV in the wintertime. Every time we go to Walmart, a 60 mile round trip, for grocery items that we can't get here, he heads to the back of the store to check out TVs. The last time we went he came home and said he found the one he wants. He then told me he was determined to have it and will put it on the credit card! That is supposed to be used only for emergencies. Oh well, I gave in. After all, I have my computer to keep me busy and he only has an old TV. 

The very next day, he left early heading to Walmart. He really must have had itchy britches, you think?  He returned several hours later with a large, but not heavy box. Or so he said. It reminded me of this quotation "He's not heavy, he's my brother." 

It took about 3 more hours for him to set it up. The stand stood empty because the first thing he did was to put the older TV in the middle of the living area floor. When I asked where he would move it to later, he said nothing. All the input/output wires from the cable box, CD player and VCR were attached and it functioned perfectly after being programmed.  He loved his new TV. The only thing yet to do was to attach his remote wireless headset. Oops! No output port ANYWHERE!

Nadda! Nuttin! NO WAY! He cannot use his wireless headphones and charging cradle with his new TV.

You see, he is VERY hard of hearing. His hearing aids pick up too much of surrounding noises and annoy him to the point of taking them out. The next thing he did was call for customer support. The answer was that he needs a TV that has an audio output port. DUH! 

Next day.........New TV all repacked to perfection, loaded in truck and a trip back to Walmart.

The only ones they have with the necessary hole are too large, too expensive, or not in stock.

After returning home, he completely reset up his old TV, and today is sitting comfortably in his lounge chair, headset on head, watching football. A credit IN FULL (no re-packing charges) has been applied to his card and I'm sure, this will all start over very soon.  

He has been one very busy, very frustrated fellow.