Subj : Another Day In The ER To : Daryl Stout From : Barry Martin Date : Thu Nov 26 2020 07:59:00 Hi Daryl! DS> I saw a T-shirt once with a picture of an ocelot on it. The DS> critter had apparently been sucking bitter persimmons. The DS> caption said: DS> "I have PMS, and a handgun. Any questions??". Thinking might not be the best time to ask details like 'is the gun loaded?'. BM> Yes, you should! As for the severe depression, hopefully not too BM> severe but not an uncommon thing: combination of shorter and colder BM> days and so being stuck inside --> less sunshine --> Seasonal Affective BM> Disorder (S.A.D.) plus the expectations and as you mentioned the twist BM> to commercialism. DS> Yeah, I've heard of that as well. I went to Kroger today, and DS> was "only going to get a few things" (you're a d@mn liar, Daryl!! ). I basically did my grocery shopping for the rest of the year, and with y DS> Kroger fuel DS> points, I have 80 cents a gallon off on gas now. All I need is DS> another $80 in purchase, and I'll have the max of a dollar off. DS> But, I was right on the E this afternoon, so I paid a bit more DS> for the gas. Yet, the price was up the day before DS> Thanksgiving...and it probably will be on Sunday. But, I want to DS> get a photo of getting gas for "65 cents a gallon". Yes, I've gone into the grocery store with a very short list and ended with the same bill as usual. Not going wild with treats, just a 3.5 oz. bottle of contact lens solution is $10.... As for buying gas before the Thanksgiving holiday, possibly not the smartest financially but you really didn't have a choice: car was in the shop, shortly you'll be running on fumes -- wait for next week and maybe price cut (could inscrease!) and you'd be the one being chased by your own fumes! BM> One thing I did years ago was to buy a full-spectrum Sun-replicating BM> desk lamp for the Computer Desk. Spend a lot of time here so the best BM> place for me; YMMV. Does seem to help take away the winter blahs. DS> I bought a portable lamp for the kitchen from Best Buy...I DS> might get one for the bedroom here. Or at least a night light! BM> Original lamp was the fluorescent version and went through two or three BM> replacement bulbs (they are available at Batteries + Bulbs. With its BM> last replacement coming up bought a LED version which is dimmable. To BM> me just off full is best. They advertise this one as being able to BM> also be used as a grow lamp for household plants. DS> I have a portable fluorescent light, but the bulb has gone bad. DS> I haven't seen any replacement bulbs that size, so I may have to DS> buy a new deal. Might be a good time to buy one using LEDs: the ones we have here are quite bright, have a dimming switch, and IIRC use four D batteries. I did splurge and buy some which can be recharged via USB if the power fails. Can recharge via the solar charger, cell phone battery bank, or even the laptop. BM> Yes, watching happy things is good 'medicine'. Distracts from the bad BM> things / reminds of the good things. Bad things are going to happen, BM> but it's not all gloom-and-doom. As one can't always be in the right BM> place at the right time to directly observe or participate in the BM> joyous and happy occasions watching recordings is the next best thing. DS> I have to admit...some of those marriage proposals are rather DS> interesting in the methods. Wanna? Sure. Well that one ended up on the cutting room floor! DS> 1) Shotgun Proposal. The guy gave his girl a real nice shotgun DS> (even her grandfather was amazed at it). She opened it, and to DS> everyone's horror, it looked like live shells in the chamber. DS> But, they were only partial shells (harmless), and at the end of DS> them, was the engagement ring. Ah! ..."Wanna?" "Nah." "Shoot. " DS> 2) Drawer Proposal. The guy handcrafted and made his girl this DS> beautiul armoir (sp?) chest of drawers...for her earrings, DS> necklaces, scarves, clothes, etc. He had also put some food in DS> there, like sausage logs, glueten free brownie mix, etc. -- she DS> said "that's my stash...I'll eat well, and get proteined up". DS> She got to the bottom drawer, and found the ring. Good thing she didn't start at the bottom! DS> In both cases, they burst into tears, as the boyfriend got down DS> on one knee, and popped the question. "Will you, Heather, take this ..umm, Slim Jim...". DS> Just thinking of the beauty of things like this, I get tears in DS> my eyes... never mind I've ruled out something like that ever DS> happening to me. One never knows! BM> Accidents will happen, once can't be constantly watching everything and BM> everywhere, but in this instance it does seem the accident would have BM> been easily preventable. DS> I don't even like to talk on the cellphone while driving. I DS> sure don't want to anger the constabulary. I have finished up a call while driving. Started the semi-urgent call at the beginning of the stop light so I wasn't moving. AFAIC there is way too much traffic in town to be looking down at the phone to start the phone app and dial. Plus when talking somewhat distracted to the conversation and not the driving. Hands-free might reduce somewhat but still distracted by the conversation. I feel I need to be paying attention to my driving so I don't talk on the phone in the car unless absolutely necessary. BM> Yes, cheaper than a new car -- not by much: used to be some $995 BM> 'bargains' sold by the car dealers around here -- you'd be buying some BM> other problems! DS> It's called "you get what you pay for". OTOH if one's car is starting to cost in repairs then may be better to put the future repair costs towards the payments of a new car. (And 'new' is "it may be 'pre-owned' but it's new to me!".) OTOH may stil be cheaper to pay just the future repairs: don't drive much, so less likely for something to fail. ...Rust for disuse, maybe. BM> I was 'taught' by Dad to never let the gas needle go below half: if BM> there's an emergency have gas and don't need to stop for a fill. DS> My Mom's Dad said the same thing to her. Hey! You're not that much younger than I am!! :) BM> I've noticed more the opposite: national or at least regional BM> commercial being superceeded by a local one. Noted some time back a BM> commercial would barely start, then the MyPillow ad would play! Gaaa! DS> The Weather Channel would be bad about that at times. I sometimes wonder (for like a half-second) what happens to the billing one a national TV commercial is superceeded by a local one. National has paid for the time even if the contract says "and we'll throw in twelve free slots which may or may not be seen locally". ("Free" -- just a redistribution of the cost per unit.) ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® .... Sometimes the commercials are better than the shows. --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .