Goodbye Velma

I named my van a couple of years ago, thinking if we were on a more friendly basis, she might stop acting out. There were a number of times she wouldn't start, demanding a new battery, and I gave in.

I'm not sure where the name Velma came from but it seemed appropriate, suitable for the grand old lady that was my vehicle.

I called her maintenance trips to the garage Velma's spa trips, a bit of pampering to keep her happy and running smooth. Much like me, where the mind, or in Velma's case the engine, was willing but the body was failing, Velma suffered from a case of terminal rust.

Her spa master had warned that the rust was getting so bad he would soon have to take her off the road for safety reasons, so I could see our relationship changing.

Our Canadian winters are rough on a vehicle, and I'm the worst kind of driver for this climate. I only drive short distances, to the store, to see friends, and don't drive every day.  So Velma sat out in the damp and cold, the salt off the roads eating away at her from the underside. Other than that she was in pretty good condition for a fifteen year old car with 150,000 Km .

The thought of buying a new car was daunting, But then I was given a special gift.

A long time friend of mine, eighteen years my senior, lost her license, doctor's orders. Her car, also a van, was older than mine, but in better condition. My friend gifted me her van which I have named Bertha. She drove even less than me and had neglected it a bit, so I took her to the spa for a checkup  and some required repairs before we did the paperwork to change the vehicle into my name.

I am now her designated driver, and very appreciative of her generosity.

Let me tell you, growing old sucks. I have watched my friend change into a frail old woman over recent years. She has fought the aging process, but it gives you with new challenges on a constant basis and she was losing the fight. Sometimes, I tell her, it makes life easier to give in to things like a cane or walker, but she would rather struggle through, fighting to maintain every ounce of her independence.

We all manage the best we can, and for us, we'll continue the fight, helping each other as best we can.

Change One Thing...

Have you ever noticed that when you change something, be it a routine, vehicle, or the introduction of something new, there is a snowball effect and many things change because of it.

I got an i pad at Christmas, and it has caused many changes in my life.

I love the i pad, especially the portability and the camera. It's use has caused me to change the way I do things.

My daughter set the i pad up for me and I have had fun playing games, keeping up with Facebook and of course, my addiction, Pinterest.

Before I used my laptop and went through a morning routine, checking E mails, Facebook and Pinterest. I have many craft patterns saved to Favorites as I do the sites for keeping up with the Maple Leaf hockey schedule, the current tennis tournament and whatever is of current interest.

I use the laptop for writing, and because I have never set up my blogs on the i pad, I need to use the laptop there.

Here's where the change comes in. In the late fall I got a new chair with a big ottoman so I could put my feet up. But I don't have the proper table that would allow me to comfortably use the laptop. So I have not been writing, the book or either of my blogs. There are health issues that add to this but that's another issue.

I found I could use the i pad in bed, and as I need to rest, put my feet up, it seemed ideal. Except that the light glares on the screen and when I lie down the screen changes from vertical to horizontal every time I move. Damn annoying.

I found I was leaning up on one elbow to see the screen and keep it steady, but this put pressure on my shoulder and put a kink in my neck. Increased pain I don't need.

I can tell you the number of boards I have on Pinterest, and the number of pins has increased dramatically. I have such plans to create, crochet and art and photography. More ideas than energy I'm afraid.

I'm using the i pad so much there are days I don't use the laptop at all, and then I fall behind in checking E mails, the blog. I really need to get that set up on the i pad.

The biggest change with the i pad is the new ability I have to communicate. I now text with my kids and grandchildren, and just a short message at the end of the day is great, heart warming.

Now, a cell phone, maybe that will be my next adventure. What changes might that bring?

NCIS Cast Changes

I am a die hard fan of the television show NCIS, the original and the offshoots into the cities of Los Angeles and New Orleans.

As the show is syndicated, I can watch reruns most any day and any time. I am able to watch as often as I do because I don't pay much attention. The television is background to whatever I might be doing. Usually it's art, or crafts, maybe cooking, less often housework.

I have detested one character in particular, that being Tony DeNozzo. He is, without mincing any words, a jerk. He bullies his coworkers, especially if they are male and might have some superior skill, as with McGee and his talent with computers.

He feels every female agent should be falling for him, as he is a gift to all womankind.

And as much as he seems to respect Gibbs, their fearless leader, he mocks him for his age, his need for glasses, his many failed marriages. I was tired of the antics of this character on the show, and if I did nothing but watch, would most likely have ceased to watch years ago.

When I heard that Michael Weatherly, the actor playing Tony DiNozzo, was leaving the show, I was overjoyed. Finally.

Other characters had left, namely the two female stars, to be replaced by the character Ellie Bishop. Now her I liked.

And I liked the other two characters thatrecently joined the NCIS team, though one only lasted that one season.

Now I read that Pauley Perette is leaving the show. She plays lab rat Abby Scuito. Many fans might be disappointed to hear this news, after all, she's been on the show from the beginning and seemed to be a key part of the Gibbs team.

Myself, I like to see a character grow and change, and I grew tired of this character's little girl yet Goth persona. She never seemed to have an ongoing relationship and really, after 14 years could she not wear her hair in something other than those pigtails?

I read an article on line that stated she was leaving the show because Mark Harmon (Gibbs), brought his dog on set and she was afraid of it. Apparently Mr. Harmon ignored her requests to have the dog removed and she had no recourse but to quit the show.

The article stated that it was so bad on set she couldn't film a scene with her coworker, who is also the executive producer. This made me curious so I watched the last three segments of the show on On Demand and noticed that indeed, these two actors did not appear in a scene together. Maybe there is some fire to go with all that smoke.

Makes you wonder if it was as harmonious on the set as it was depicted, that an issue like this, if real, could break up the cast.  I for one, am looking forward to see who joins the cast, and hope they make whoever it is is a real person, and not some cartoonish character of a lab rat nerd.

The eccentric, odd ball brainy type is wearing thin, as every crime show has their own version. (Bones, Scorpion, NCIS Los Angeles, NCIS New Orleans, CSI, Elementary to name a few.) People with superior brains can be just as "normal" as the rest of us.

Photo Shoot

I was out for lunch with my granddaughter one day last week, and fully intended to take some wonderful photos, with both the camera and the i pad, but the day was not as successful as I'd hoped. The sun may have been shining bright, deceiving one into thinking it was warmer than it actually was, as we dealt with an icy cold wind that sent shivers right to the bone.

I discovered it is difficult taking pictures with the i pad when the sun is streaming across the screen. You see nothing but your own reflection. And it takes a bit of getting used to holding something that big, and awkward.

I frequently saw this orange color and finally realized I kept moving my finger over the lens. And then, so used to a camera that clicks with the picture, I never knew if I'd taken a picture or not. Well, of course, I hadn't, because, being the slow learner I appear to be, I was not pushing the button that was for taking pictures but the other button, you know the one. It changes screens, is the touch on etc.

Needless to say, I missed some good shots.

I reverted back to the camera and got a few photos before the batteries went dead. This one shot was worth it all.

I'd have more to share but I write this on the laptop and have all the other photos on the i pad, and have yet figured out how to make them share. That's a lesson for another day.