A couple days ago a friend sent me this photo from last week’s Holiday Luncheon at the Greenstone Church and asked if I was singing here (yes). Anyway, two things came to mind:
- That woman across the table from me in orange is another friend from the senior center, Cussin’ Connie.
- Whoever took this photo has a camera that’s much better than mine.
Before the caroling began, I asked Connie if I could take her picture for my blog. She said “You better get that #$%^@ thing out of my face if you know what’s good for you.”
Mary (or Debbie, I can’t remember which) said “Connie you better watch your mouth, we’re in a church! Why won’t you let Doug take your picture? Are you on the FBI’s Most Wanted List?” Connie said “I soon WILL be, if you don’t shut the $%^@ up.” Then she looked at me and winked—she’s a rascal. She’s also 91 and inspires me to think young.
Anyhoo, seeing this picture really motivated me to upgrade my own phone, a 2021 Moto-g with a lousy 13 megapixel camera.
I just got this 2024 Moto-g Power with a 50 Megapixel camera. It’s 3/4” inch larger in screen size, but light as a feather compared to my old one.
I actually picked this out last December, and put it in my Amazon shopping cart. It was $299.99. Then I got sick and held off buying a new phone.
So when I went on Amazon a couple nights ago, this phone was still in my cart but marked down to $199.99. A nice discount, but was it worth being in pain for a year to save $100? Nope.
Speaking of that long covid but on the road to recovery, I’ve gained back 6 pounds of the 52 lbs I lost this year, just in the last 2 weeks. How did this happen? I still weigh 46 pounds less than last December, and I intend to KEEP it off.
(But the sooner the holidays are over, the better; I have a box of Christmas cookies in my freezer I still plan on gobbling up.)
Yesterday morning while sitting on my couch and transferring everything from my old phone to my new one, I could hear my neighbor Donna’s television coming thru the wall loud and clear. It’s usually Gregorian chants (I think she watches a Monastery Channel 24-7) but this time it was the news. I knocked on her door and asked her to please turn it down a little, my apartment is a news-free zone.
She laughed and said wouldn’t it be nice if we could really do that, tune out the news completely. I smiled and nodded my head, but I wasn’t kidding. Sorry, I still can’t accept the fact that Trump… nevermind.
So last night I asked my friend Diana if someone important dies or something big happens in the world, would she please let me know about it. She doesn’t watch the news either, but sees headlines on Facebook. She said okay and asked “Did you hear about all the recent drone sightings?” Nope—it’s the first I’ve heard of it!
And I’ve never felt more at peace not knowing too.
Isn't it interesting how easy it is to gain weight and so hard to take it off? I'm hoping you are able to stay slim, Doug. Better for you, and you look great!
ReplyDeleteSo true, and thank you DJan. You just inspired me to go light on breakfast this morning. 🙂
DeleteHi Dug! So glad you're posting more. I do look forward to them. Nice pic... and you made me laugh with 'Cussin Connie'. So glad you got a new phone. DH needs one. He has an iPhone 6 (I have a 13... think they're on 16 now). Anyway, it sounds like you may be feeling a bit better (so happy for that). And as for the news, I am informed by DH or Facebook a little, but I don't watch any more either. Can't take the constant reminder of the election and think we all deserve a little peace before... whatever. All my tests are done (thank goodness), no results yet. But I will post again soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Rian, thanks so much for your kind comments here! I'm glad Connie made you laugh, she really is a doll. I am feeling better, have a couple relapses daily but usually they fade in a couple hours. Well, I'm glad to know another "no newser". As for your older iphones, my friend Diana has (I believe) an iphone 6 and I bet her camera is still better than my newer one. I hope we hear about your tests soon, keeping my fingers crossed.
DeleteYou can enjoy all the holiday treats, but you must keep moving so as to burn those calories. That's how the weight piled on before. You have to burn as much fuel as you shovel in.
ReplyDeleteThe phone still sitting in your shopping cart makes me laugh. Shopping online is so much different than going to the store, isn't it. No one would have left a phone sitting in a shopping cart for a year in a brick and mortar.
The No-News is understandable, up to a point. Becoming disconnected from the world outside your window can be problematic. You are too young to allow yourself to disconnect.
Thank you dkzody--well, the ironic thing about losing so much weight this past year, I did no walking, exercising, nothing at all. Just ate and slept. Long covid is a weird animal. As for the no news, I know I can't keep that up forever... I don't know how long I'll hold out yet, we'll see! :^)
DeleteI love that photo and the stories of Connie. She sounds like a hoot! I don't swear a whole lot, especially in public but I enjoy those who are less inhibited than I am. 37 years teaching made me watch my language! A new phone is exciting (but scary). I need one too although the iPhones are not reasonably priced at all. However, I wouldn't have access to my older grandsons' photo albums without an Apple product. Ugh. I am somewhat disconnected from the news; I still read some stuff and look at headlines. Then I click out if my temper isn't up to it! Glad you're enjoying life more and happy to see you posting more.
ReplyDeleteMargaret thanks so much and I was very tempted to include you in this post. I was going to mention you (and your wonderful photos), you have a real eye for it plus nothing compares to Apple. I think you're getting your money's worth. Thanks for the kind words and good wishes, and please don't let yourself get too stressed over you-know--who.
DeleteMerry Christmas Doug!
ReplyDeleteYour weight gain may be a result of improved muscle tone as well as those Christmas goodies. It seems to me you needed to be stay indoors and were quite sedentary during the first several months of Long covid.
Love Cussin' Connie, she's an inspiration for those of us with potty mouths!
Haha I'm glad you find her an inspiration Maebeme, I do too! Thanks very much and Merry Christmas to you too my friend. 🙂
DeleteGood thing you told us you were singing – I thought you were sleeping (hee hee).
ReplyDeleteConnie sounds like a card. When you get to her age you can say whatever you like. I’m looking forward to it.
I lost quite a bit of weight when I broke my neck a few years ago (another drastic way of losing weight). Alas, I’ve put it all back on again. Probably a bit more but I avoid weighing myself.
Call me a Luddite, but my phone just makes and receives phone calls (and texts). Even that’s too much technology for me. I didn’t like the phone when it was just a land line. Actually, I still have one of those too. The A.M. is the only one who calls me.
I wish I could be like you, but I’m a news junkie. Have always been. It’s curse but I can’t stop. I don’t watch/listen 24 hours a day though, that’d make want to top myself. Just mornings and evenings.
Thanks Peter and you gave me a chuckle--it does look like I'm sleeping! As for Connie saying whatever she wants at her advanced age, I have a feeling she's been doing it since she uttered her first word--but she really is a dear as they come :^) I remember you telling me about breaking your neck and I'm just glad you made a full recovery. As for the new phone, I was happy with my old flip phone until my carrier said I had to switch to 4G! I still only use mine for talking and pictures. MM, If I don't talk to you soon, I sure hope you have a Merry Christmas down there, and enjoying those warmer temps :^)
DeleteI want to be Connie's friend too! She sounds like my kinda girl!!!
ReplyDeleteWe are news free, too. I am burnt out completely and don't want to hear about it. I did hear people are all concerned about drones. That was a big splash Christmas gift with my grandsons last year. I am thinking most young men between 15 and 30 probably have one? And bigger is better? I don't know and I don't care about that either.
I did read that phones are one of the things that are going to skyrocket in prices with tariffs. I have it on my list along with a stove. Do I really need either? I am not sure. But they are on the list.
Miss Merry, I always enjoy your comments--yes, you have a great sense of humor and you & Connie would get along wonderful. Everything else you said here makes me very glad to know you, thanks for the quick drone lesson and for being a kindred spirit :^)
DeleteHaving a decent camera is a treat. I like good pictures. That's a lovely gathering of people at that luncheon!
ReplyDeleteThank you Joanne, I'm looking forward to using the new camera--and it was a nice bunch of people there, I need to thank the church for sponsoring that.
DeleteI am so glad you're feeling better, and if you had to be sick, at least something good came out of it. Re: the news. It's not just you and me, Doug. Television news ratings have dropped. People have given up watching the news. I read it. It's just easier if I don't hear it.
ReplyDeleteDebby thanks so much, and for sharing this too. Wow. It does seem like a lot of people out there aren't watching, this is most curious. If I don't talk to you soon, I sure hope you have a nice Christmas.
DeleteHaha. Glad you've recovered from that covid ordeal. Nice shot of you singing. I hope your new phone gives you some joy. Take a lot of pictures and post them. I use an old iPhone that works. But, David said the phone will be obsolete and we'll have to buy 5G iPhones. Hope it's not too expensive.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gigi--to be honest, still not fully recovered I have alternating good days and bad days but am getting there. As for your old iphone, I bet you $100 that it takes pictures twice as nice as my new one! You can't beat Apple, but I know how pricey they can get.
DeleteSamsung phones take great pictures, even the cheap ones. Glad tour feeling better Doug. Dee
DeleteThanks Dee-- as for Samsung, I should've known. I have a Samsung tablet and it's favorite thing in the house. I'll keep this in mind for next time!
DeleteHi Doug. Happy to hear that you intend to maintain your "new self" weight. Much easier to never gain it than to try to take it off later! I'm also on the no news bandwagon. Actually, what I'd really like would be some sort of news filter that let me see the human interest, science, health, etc. news and filtered out all of the political news.
ReplyDeleteThanks Don! Happy to hear from you and nice to know a fellow no-newser. But you make an excellent point about the human interest stories, that's just how I feel. Hmm... I think you're inspiring a future blog on here. :^) Hope you have a nice Christmas.
DeleteHi Doug, great photo of you and the ladies. We just recently purchased our FIRST cell phone. We have always had a cell phone from Chuck’s work to fall back on. Basic phones, I think he had two different ones in the last dozen years. We purchased an iPhone 16 (I think) and in the last month I think it has been turned on maybe three times. I carry a pocket Nikon camera to take photos. I love your story about Connie. We have a neighbour Vivian who sounds very much like Connie. She is 80 years old. Swearing is something I did not grow up with and Chuck isn’t a swearing person so it shocks me sometimes when I hear it. We have had so much going on this week in Canadian politics, it is crazy. Great to see you posting more Doug. Merry Christmas if I don’t talk to you before then!❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteRobin
Robin, thanks so much for sharing your phone & camera story--I feel like such an oddball with these smartphones and now you have me thinking "why don't I just take my Canon Pocket digital camera with me" :^) I'm glad you liked the Connie story too, she really is a dear. I told her she reminded me of my mom (who was pretty good at swearing, just not in public). Anyway I will have to google Canadian politics (emphasis on Canadian) and if I don't talk to you either, Merry Christmas to you & Chuck too :^)
DeleteMary Christmas love to read your story life, thank you
DeleteThanks Orly, much appreciated! Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄
DeleteDoug, After reading this post I found myself sitting here smiling and wanting to thank you for making my day better. So, thank you! 😊 First of all, Connie sounds like the kind of lady I’d like to have sitting at my table. She’s gonna keep everyone honest! 😊 If I make it to 91 … very questionable indeed … I hope I’m able to still show up at the Senior Center for the holiday luncheon. Next, congrats on your new phone. It looks really good and the price is excellent. Lastly, I’m so with you on the news. On November 6th I realized that the orange guy would be on the news every night for another four years. I was sure keeping my fingers crossed that he might be going away … hopefully forever. Now, after finishing up this comment, I’m going to go see what’s up with drones. 😊Thank you Doug for your kind words on my new blog post. If I don’t talk to you again, have a very happy Christmas and New Year! John
ReplyDeleteHi John! Thank you so much, you always pen the best comments. I'll be honest, I did wonder on occasion where you leaned with things, but knew it wasn't my business to ask. I'm very glad we're kindred spirits. Thanks again for the good wishes, and a very happy Christmas & New Years to you as well. :)
DeleteHey Doug! Glad to see you post. That luncheon looked lovely. Wishing you continued healing, Olivia.
ReplyDeleteThanks Olivia! I hope you have a Merry Christmas 🎅 🙂
DeleteMerry Christmas🎄🎄
ReplyDeleteThank you Rajani, Merry Christmas 🙂
DeleteDoug, Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy HEALTHY New Year!
ReplyDeleteTX Mike
Thanks Mike! Merry Christmas my friend 🙂
DeleteI’m in a news free zone too for the exact same reason, Doug. I just may be tuning out for the next 4 years, which is a complete 180 for me. As far as the drones, that was already solved when they caught a man named Greg Brady with a flashlight and whistle, up to his old tricks again. Be well, my friend <3
ReplyDelete~Jase
Jase, thanks very much for sharing, I love a kindred spirit. Also thanks for the drone update, you made me laugh out loud! Hang in there, my friend :^)
DeleteI’m glad you are getting out..I understand being a recluse..my mild depression has made me as such.. thank you 1995..so I know the value of finally feeling like getting out.
ReplyDeleteBeth
Thank you Beth, I'm sorry you've had to deal with stuff like depression.
DeleteThank you..it definitely is like dealing with a chronic issue..but I’ve learned to manage
DeleteI love your blog thank you for it
ReplyDeleteChristmas is tough for a lot of reasons..I lost the love of my life at Christmas and I found out he married another at Christmas..a different Christmas than our initial split..which his marriage made me very, very sad but he made his choices and his choice was not to be with me..
But the best things about blogs is you get to communicate and I appreciate being able to share.
Beth
Thanks again Beth. I'm very sorry for what you lost in love, all we can do is pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move on. Having someone to talk to or lean on can mean everything.
DeleteThank you..
Delete