Sudden Unexplained Near Death Experience

Shock! Dismay! Loss! But only until I returned to my senses and put the event into perspective.  It wasn't a person or a home or a beloved pet.  It was only a thing . . . but my iPhone thing.  Dead.  Oh, I beseeched it, if only you will light your screen when I push the home button.  I will never drop you or let you get dirty or wet.  (I have never done any of those!)  I will carry you only in the softest case and give you more rest time.  (I am guilty of neglecting such care as that.) 

After attempting CPR with three different chargers, I continued to encourage and cajole, even descending to desperate baby talk.  Pretty please, turn on for mommy. 

Finally, I could no longer face its demise alone.  I called Apple technical support, on my house phone, of course.  (See, there is still a need for land lines.)  Gregg, be my hero and tell me how to revive my iPhone, quickly and painlessly, no reset nor restore, just give me the magical incantation.  (This is the point where you should expect the worst, a denouement to bring tears to even the most hardened technophobe.) 

Fanfare rolling, trumpets blaring, sun bursting through the clouds, the silver apple symbol breathed onto the screen.  Oh joy, rebirth, triumph!  It was back in all its glory to live another day (and many more, I hope but was not promised by Gregg).  I was so ecstatic that I scarcely heard the male voice murmuring something about powering off at least once a week, shutting off apps that want to run in the background, blah, blah, blah.  IPhone, we're back! 

(There is no photo to accompany this post because even though I can take a photo of me, my iPhone cannot take a photo of itself.  I'm working on that one.  Hey, Gregg!)

Porch Sounds

From my porch this evening, I hear several kingfishers clattering, a wind chime plinking across the river, the flip-flop flag popping, and a young kayaker screaming, "Oh cr#%! Bad idea! Bad idea!" after he rolled into the frio Frio.
Ah-h-h-h, spring!
Sent from my iPhone

Welcoming Purple Martins

This morning a woman in my meeting reported that a martin was in her yard checking out her martin house yesterday. What? Suddenly cleaning out ours moved to the top of the chore list. Since I was at painting class today, husband did the duty, but only after ridding the house of yellow-jackets first. Now the welcome mat is out, so I hope to have some purple feathery visitors swooping above there soon.

Sent from my iPhone

Passed

Passed the written test, passed firing at a target, passed filling out all the paperwork.  Too bad this weekend or something similar is not required for anyone who wants to own a gun. 

After leaving the shooting range, my mind focused on getting down to the river as fast as possible.  Changed into a swimsuit, packed a cooler, grabbed a tube, and headed down the sidewalk.  Sun, at least 90 degrees of it.  Water, refreshing. 

Packin'

Most of the time the title word means that I am preparing for a trip somewhere, but this time it means that I spent all day today in class to acquire my Concealed Handgun License.  Since I passed the test at the end of the session, tomorrow I will be at the shooting range qualifying with my pistol of choice.  Then I will tackle a stack of forms, mail them, and wait for several months to receive my license. 

I wasn't surprised by all the laws and guidelines presented, but they certainly reinforce how complicated the Second Amendment is.  The plethora of changes, interpretations, comments, decisions, etc. total more than any one person could ever master in a lifetime, especially since lawmakers keep changing the rules.  My favorite topic was safety, and more safety, and--did I say?--safety.

Airport Antics

I'm safely home again after craziness at MSP airport. The time from when we were dropped off until we reached our gate was one hour. One hour! Bag drop-off had a long line even though we had checked in ourselves and our bags online. Longest line ever was at security with only one machine working and one checker halfway working. Finally, some staff started another line. We looked at the other checkpoints, and they were just as bad or worse. After rushing to our gate C14, we found every chair empty and another destination posted. Desperately, we went next door to C15 for help and saw San Antonio on the screen. They had changed gates without announcing or calling because it was only next to the posted gate. Yes! We felt sure boarding had already begun, but no, not possible, because the captain on the previous flight had left his things on the plane, and rules state no one can touch them. Eventually, he appeared to resolve the issue and we boarded. Then our flight attendant had a sarcastic wit better reserved for her evenings with a wine glass in her hand. Whew! Happy to be out of there but always ready to plan another trip to see my precious family!

Shakespeare Redux

We took granddaughters to the movie theatre to see Gnomeo and Juliet. I would not have gone under any other circumstances, thereby attesting once again to my unsurpassed love for them. Several allusions (e.g. R & G moving van) to Will's earlier drama were subtle enough to question their raison d'être, perhaps to keep the screenwriters awake and motivated. Poetic (actually not poetic at all) license ran rampant (just like my cliches, French, etc.). Eventually the bard himself made an appearance, albeit in the form of a statue come semi-alive. As for the dénouement, go see for yourself but be warned. 
The popcorn was delicious.

Winter Snack

Ever since first experiencing snow as a toddler, younger granddaughter prefers to nibble the fresh white stuff right out of her mitten.

Winter Smile

Happiness is stomping a hole in the snow hill until she's up to her chin.

Shovel Master

S-I-L couldn't wait for snowplow to clear garage door since girls had early appointment. Fortunately, and not by accident, daughter has 4-wheel drive jeep to handle the driveway.