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VAPING GRANDPA GREETS SCHOOL BUS

While driving home from the mall on a winding  road, I came to a stop behind a school bus as a young girl disembarked.  Since I was several cars back, I could see the child running up the hill toward a house at the top.  A  gray haired man coming from the opposite direction came to greet her.  A tender moment, yes? Except, he was surrounded by a vaporous cloud  coming from his right hand.  I’m not sure if he was her grandpa or another relative, but it seemed like a bad thing to do. Should a vaping grandpa greet the school bus?

Grandparents who vape grew up when it was commen to smoke around children
SHOULD A VAPING GRANDPA DITCH HIS E-CIGARETTE WHEN HIS GRANDCHILD IS AROUND?

When I was a child, most adults smoked—including my parents.  Consequently, I started smoking as a teenager.  That was the tobacco industry’s heyday. No one connected smoking with cancer.  Cigarette ads featured movie stars who made it seem glamorous.  On college campuses, free cigarettes were passed out to encourage smokers to start smoking particular brands.  It took me 20 years to stop smoking.

Fast forward to the 21st century. Exposing children to secondhand smoke is considered child abuse.  Parents who smoke go outside and hide behind the garage to vape.    For their own sake, I wish they could quit, but at least they are trying  to protect their children.

Let’s go back to Grandpa, and give him some credit.  Maybe he’s turned to vaping as  an attempt to reduce his addiction to nicotine.  Perhaps he was outside with the idea of having a smoke  before his granddaughter got home from school.  Maybe she arrived earlier than expected.  But still, he had to have seen her running up the hill.  Why didn’t he ditch the e cigarette the moment he spotted her?  He’s obviously a caring person  who loves the little girl.  She isn’t a latchkey kid.  She has someone waiting for her to get off the school bus.  So, he’s doing a good thing, there.  But, in a few years, she will be a teenager, and she will know exactly how to vape.

According to  statistics compiled from 2011 to 1015,  vaping is the most popular form of tobacco use among teens. In the US, e-cigarette use rose by 900 percent among high school students..

By 2016, over two million middle and high school students had tried e cigarettes.  40 percent of vapers from age 18 to 24 had not been smokers before.

A growing body of research suggests that that vaping is dangerous for teens.

https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/teen-vaping/

Stop vaping, Grandpa!

 

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TEARING MY HAIR WITH TECH SUPPORT

It started out like any other day.  As I was leaving Tai Chi, I tried calling my husband to tell him that I was stopping by Kroger’s. Because  he’s handicapped, I like to let him know if I’m going to be a little late.  I hit our home number and waited for the ring tone.  Nothing. Dead silence.  Tried again. No sound at all, even though my phone said it was calling that number.  When I got home, my husband said he hadn’t received my call.  That’s when I started tearing my hair with tech support.

It's frustrating to spend several hours on the phone with tech support
IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL HOURS WITH TECH SUPPORT TO FIND A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM

Called our wireless  provider, Spectrum, got connected to the usual automated voice message where you  have to tell them who you are, where you live, what’s on your mind, etc.

Once the robot found no outage in our area,  I was connected to a real live tech support person  with a strange accent who talked so fast that I had to ask her to repeat herself.   First, she checked to see if my home  landline had my cell number blocked.  No, it didn’t.  Techie said it was probably something wrong at AT&T.

To reach a real live person at AT&T, had to go through numerous steps :  enter forgotten pass code, get a new one, identify myself in  various ways. After about 30 minutes, got a support person  who got impatient when I asked  her to  speak clearly, and slow down.  First question:  was cell phone number blocked?  No, Spectrum had assured me I had no numbers blocked.  AT&T used their cell phone to call my home. It went right through, so they said it wasn’t their fault, but they would run some tests and get back to me.

Next morning nothing had changed.  Cell couldn’t call home.   I wondered if something was wrong with my Apple iPhone.  Maybe the settings were wrong. Again, Apple had me enter user name and pass code, long forgotten.  Took about half an hour to receive numerous e mails,  find  user name, put in a new password, etc.  First question:  Did my home phone have blocked numbers?  No.

Apple said to refresh my software.  This meant I had to sign up for I Tunes in order to save all my data.  It was a lengthy ordeal, but after about an hour, my phone had been completely updated.  Great!

Now, tried to call my landline again.  Still didn’t go through.  Apple said it was probably AT&T’s fault.

Called AT&T back, went through all the rigmarole to identify myself.  This time, got a person who spoke plain English.  I told her everything that had happened, and she said to go to phone settings.  There was an item at the bottom of the list, SHOW MY CALLER ID.  She asked me if that button  was on or off.  It was on.  She said to turn it off.  Voila!  My call to my landline went through.  One tiny little setting had been  causing the whole problem.

Called Spectrum back and asked why they had assured  me there were no blocked numbers on my phone.  They sputtered around and said, well, your landline didn’t  have a list of blocked numbers,  but yes, there was a block on all calls with no caller ID.   Whoa, Spectrum, why didn’t you tell me that yesterday? They could not explain, but did apologize.

Total time invested: 5 hours

Next day, had a problem with blue ray settings On TV.   Another few hours before that got fixed by Sony.

 Anyone over eighty should take a tranquilizer before they call tech support.

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WHY ARE WOMEN SO FICKLE?

Men have a bad reputation for being cheaters, but research has proven that women are far more fickle than men. This doesn’t mean they’re more apt to be unfaithful lovers.  It’s just that they’re always changing their minds about what they like and don’t like.  Psychologists say that men’s personalities are  more predictable and stable.  Why are women so fickle?

According to a report in Psychology today,  a woman’s preference in men depends on where she is in her ovulatory cycle. Right before her “fertile” days, she’s more attracted to men with strong masculine traits.   During the days in her cycle when she can’t conceive,  she prefers men with softer features, less defined bodies, higher voices and a gentler manner. Yikes!  No wonder a woman  keeps changing her mind. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201011/the-double-life-women

 But it may not be all hormonal. Studies show that females of all ages have less predictable personalities. The trend applies across the animal kingdom, from humans to birds, according to the review of 35 years of research.    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article…/Females-fickle-nature-say-researchers.html

Some  people prefer a male boss because  female managers change their minds too often.   They may give a directive that’s faithfully carried out, only to criticize what you’ve done because they have decided they want something different. One man complained that women bosses are “picky, irritable, and hard to please.” Most of us have had male bosses who would fit that description, but the constant changing of women’s fashions seems to prove that women’s preferences change far more frequently than men’s.

Women are wearing tights, but that may soon go out of stylet
Women of all ages are wearing tights today

The fashion industry is the largest benefactor of women’s fickle  nature.  Look back 50 years, and you’ll see photos of men wearing suits and ties very similar to what you see today.  Women’s fashions change so frequently that they’re hard to keep up with.

Take the recent preference toward “tights” and leggings. At first it was just a fad for young girls, and then  older women  began wearing tights.

But  have you noticed the latest style in pants?  Culottes are making a big comeback.  Wide legs are showing up in women’s clothing stores. .  It won’t be long before tights are as outdated as bell bottoms.  Fashion designers and clothing manufacturers know that women are fickle, and they love it.  How else would they make so much money?

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EVERYBODY LOVES A BABY

Most people don’t like to be in a roomful of strangers.  You know nothing about them—whether they’re hateful , rude, snobby, or unpleasant to be around.  When entering a restaurant in a new  city, we don’t feel comfortable surrounded by men and women we’ve never met.  Then, someone walks in the door with a baby , and the whole atmosphere changes.   People smile and wave.  Everybody loves a baby.

Babies bring families together
EVERYONE LOVES TO SEE A CUTE LITTLE BABY

Science has proven that the maternal instinct is wired into women’s  brains.  And it’s a good thing, because those “love” hormones get a parent though  a lot of sleepless nights.  But even if it isn’t your own child or grandchild, most people sort of melt when they see a sweet little baby.  Why is that? Psychologists say it’s because we feel safe and secure around a baby. They aren’t judging us.  If we smile at them, they often smile back.  And even if they cry, we still think they’re cute because we know it has nothing to do with us, personally.  Maybe they’re tired, or sick, or  afraid of strangers—just like we are.

They’re sweet  and appealing and uninhibited.  We love the softness of their skin and the brightness of their eyes. They remind us of our own children when they were babies, and bring back wonderful memories.

Best of all, a new baby  often brings families closer together. Family feuds and past resentments fade away at holiday gatherings  when there’s a baby in the midst.  You don’t have to force conversation or talk politics.  All you have to do is ooh and aah while a toddler takes his first steps, or holds out her arms to be held. And sometimes, relatives who have been estranged are reunited when a new baby is born.  Everybody loves a baby.

Family feuds are forgotten when a new baby arrives
A NEW BABY OFTEN BRINGS FAMILIES TOGETHER

“Pretty Baby” was a popular hit tune written in 1915.  But most of us who are alive today remember it as  crooner Dean Martin’s hit album in 1957.

PRETTY BABY

Everybody loves a baby
That’s why I’m in love with you
Pretty baby, pretty baby
And I’d like to be your sister
Brother, dad and mother too
Pretty baby, pretty baby

Won’t you come and let me
Rock you in my cradle of love?
And we’ll cuddle all the time
Oh, I want a lovin’, baby
And it might as well be you
Pretty baby of mine

Everybody loves a baby
That’s why I’m in love with you
Pretty baby, pretty baby

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6 FAVORITE CREATURE COMFORTS

Some of the things that make life enjoyable  don’t require much material wealth.  These are simple pleasures you can enjoy whether you live in a beachfront mansion or in a small apartment building. Here are my 6 favorite creature comforts.

#1. Comfortable bed.  No matter how your day has gone, or whether you’re coming down with a cold, the most welcome thing you can look forward to is a good night’s sleep.  If your mattress is hard, soft, or lumpy, watch for mattress sales.  This is the best investment you will make in terms of your own well being.

#2. Warm bath or  hot shower.  Nothing is more soothing than a long soak in a warm bath.  People don’t take baths so much anymore, but if you have a tub and the time, one of the most pleasurable things you can do Is sprinkle some bath salts in your bathwater, lay back, close your eyes, and bask in the solace of water.    Showers aren’t quite as relaxing, but they are refreshing and invigorating.  Who doesn’t feel good when they step out of the shower?

mANY CREATURE COMFORTS MAKE LIFE ENJOYABLE EVEN IF YOU AREN'T WEALTHY
YOU NEEDN’T BE RICH TO ENJOY THE COMFORT OF A WARM BATH OR HOT SHOWER

#3. Morning coffee.  We load up our coffee maker each night before bedtime, so that a press of a button makes hot coffee available in minutes.  Some people don’t like coffee, but maybe a cup of tea or hot chocolate?  Sit down for a moment and sip a warm beverage while  gathering strength to face the day.

#4. Sunlight on your face.  This is more difficult in winter, but now that spring is here, try to find 15 minutes to lift your face to the sky and bask in the warmth of the sun.  Doctors tell us that it’s good for our health to spend a little bit of time in the sun each day.  They don’t recommend more time than  a quarter or an hour in the sunlight unless you’re using a very strong (50) sunscreen.

#5 Fragrance of  flowers.  Besides enjoying the sheer beauty of all the flowering trees and shrubs, stop and smell the lilacs , hyacinths,  and all the other fragrant flowers and bushes.  If you don’t have your own garden,  you can always go to a park or step inside a florist shop.

#6. Curling up with a good book.   Never has it been easier to find a good book to read. If you don’t like downloading e books, go to the library and check out the latest best sellers for free!

Those are my favorite creature comforts, but you can probably add more to the list.  The next time you’re feeling frazzled and stressed, reach out for one of these creature comforts, and enjoy life!

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THE PENDULUM SWINGS IN POLITICS

Ever notice how a person’s second marriage is radically different from the first?  After a divorce,  people often marry someone totally unlike their original spouse.  A man married to a socialite may choose a waitress the second time around.  A woman may choose a  modest gentleman  over her boisterous first spouse,  I think the same thing could happen with elected officials.  After Nixon resigned, his VP Gerald Ford got beaten by the pious, soft spoken Jimmy Carter.   Nixon’s deceptive practices  made  voters  turn to someone they thought  could trust.  Four years later, they decided they didn’t want a  small town Sunday school teacher, after all, and elected  Ronald Reagan, a divorced movie star from California. The pendulum swings in politics.

Voters wanted a change in the last election
VOTERS WANTED SOMEONE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THAN OBAMA

Is that what’s happening now? Obama’s popularity as president was based partly on his refined, scholarly demeanor.  He was a literate, elegant man who published beautifully written books.  Obama wasn’t an experienced candidate, but he had class.  Then, the public turned on his chosen successor, Hillary Clinton, and elected a brash, egotistical womanizer from New York City who never held a political office and brags that he never reads a book.

People often vote in a man who is entirely different from the incumbent
Pete Buttigieg is a gay intellectual who offers voters a complete contrast to Trump

Now ,  a rising star in the Democratic politics  is a soft spoken, gay intellectual  with a hard to pronounce name  who is the mayor of a small mid  western town.  Whether  Pete Buttigeig wins the nomination or not, it looks like the voters are looking for someone in total contrast to Trump.

We aren’t always satisfied with our choices. Second marriages have a high divorce rate. Is it wise to go from one extreme to the other?  And should people vote for a candidate simply because that person  is entirely different from the incumbent? I’m not sure, but I’m thinking it’s just human nature

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SHAVED HEAD, GELLED HAIR? NO THANKS.

I know I’m going to sound like an old lady, but here goes.  On a news discussion program that we watched the other night , the  representative of one political party may have made some valid comments. But I can’t remember a word he said,  because I was too distracted by his hair style.  Shaved head, gelled hair? No thanks.

A news reporter with "regular" hair gains my respect more than one with a strange hairdo
NEWS REPORTERS WHO WEAR STRANGE HAIRDOS AREN’T TAKEN SERIOUSLY

A man  from the opposing political party also sported  gelled hair, spiked up in sort of a dome.  This wasn’t quite as arresting as the shaved head guy, but It make you wonder what they have against what we used to call “regular.” haircuts.

I can’t take a person with a shaved head on one side, and gelled hair on the other side,  as seriously as I take someone who looks like what my generation would call “normal.”

I can remember  the evolution of many men’s hair style fashions. After World War II, the GI’s came back with  burr cuts and for a long while, that was all the rage.   Before Elvis Presley left for service, most young men were sporting a  copy cat “duck tail,” hairdo. That was pretty sexy.  For a couple of years in the late fifties, men went back to “regular,” haircuts.  And then, in the sixties,  young men started protesting the Vietnam War, and they identified themselves as hippies by their long hair and occasional beards.  More recently,  those  wishing to make a statement against the status quo wear dreadlocks, the man bun, or shave their heads completely for the bald look..

nEWSCASTERS WITH REGULAR HAIRDO'S GARNER MORE RESPECT
GELLED HAIR STRIKES SOME PEOPLE AS AN AFFECTATION

During all these  hairstyle changes throughout my lifetime, most television newscasters and journalists remained pretty staid.  They wore suits and ties, black shoes and socks, and “regular” hairstyles. While we may not have always agreed with their comments, we respected them.

David Muir on ABC Is  my favorite  evening news anchors .  Who can resist that dimpled smile and dynamic delivery?

Recently, I noticed David’s hair sticking straight up on one side, and thought maybe he had been caught in a windstorm.  But since it’s begun to look that way every night, I have to believe he’s using gel.  That’s  not too bad.  But please, David.  Don’t shave your head.