Back to Normal - Learning and Using AI

Shalimar, FL  (Hi 89  Lo  73)

While I was in Illinois with family, my grandson and son taught me  AI, (Artificial Intelligence.) Like anything else on the technology side of things, it has it's good points and bad. I put in a rough draft for the blog and this is what it came up with. It's fun to work with, especially if you're a loss for words. I won't use it all the time, but it makes for a fun blog when I do. Please let me know in the comments either on Facebook or the blog what you think.  (Click on the photos to enlarge)

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After a few weeks of unpredictability, it feels good to settle back into a "normal" Sunday—whatever that means these days. I took some time to revisit my calendar, make sense of the week ahead, and reflect on the one behind me.

Here’s what my week looked like:

Monday: New Faces and Storm Prep
I started the week by meeting the three new activities people—always exciting to welcome fresh energy into the community! I also gathered some initial information about what to do if a hurricane heads our way. Preparation is key, especially during this season. There's work being done putting up cement power poles all over town. I hope they get them done before hurricanes season starts. 

Tuesday: Zoom Friends in Real Life & Council Work

A highlight of the day was finally meeting in person a woman I’ve only known through Zoom for the past couple of years. It’s always interesting how well you can get to know someone through a screen! I was also voted in for another year as a council member and have started planning more workshops—stay tuned!                               Marcy and Dee                     

Wednesday: Cards & Community Meetings

I played cards for about an hour, which is always a fun way to connect. Later, we had our residential meeting, where we discussed hurricane season protocols. The plan is to rely on the Eglin AFB to inform us 96 hours in advance if evacuation becomes mandatory. If that happens, no one can remain in the complex. It’s sobering but reassuring to have a clear plan.

Thursday: Crochet  
I spent the day with the crochet group, catching up and working on pieces for the upcoming craft sale in August. It’s a relaxing, rewarding hobby—and it’s always nice to create with purpose.

Friday: Mystery Puzzle,  Sip and Paint
I worked on a mystery puzzle with a neighbor—those things are addicting! Then in the afternoon, I joined the "Sip and Paint" session where I painted a bridge scene. I’m not a professional, but there’s something satisfying about putting brush to canvas and seeing what comes out.

Saturday: Catch-Up & Clean-Up

Saturday was a much-needed catch-up day. I finally dusted and swept the floors, worked on the puzzle again, and even tackled a bathroom closet purge. It felt good to get rid of items I no longer need. I also started chair yoga, maybe that will help more with balance issues.

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All in all, it was a full and fulfilling week—plenty of community, creativity, and a healthy dose of preparation. As I look ahead to next week, it's going to be beat the clock week. Lots of activities in the same day. 

Storms all week - Watching Storm Chasers

Storms all thru the midwest and devastation. I watch Ryan Hall Y'all when there's a line of storms. He does a terrific job in warning people where tornadoes are located and where they're headed. If everyone would turn to youtube to his channel he can save a lot of lives. On Friday night a tornado in Colorado came down, but at this writing it was in fields, no buildings. 

Grandson Kendall Collage Graduation - Visit with Sister

 O'Fallon, Il   (Hi 72  Lo 56)         Troy, MO   (Hi  83  Lo  73)

This trip is going to Illinois for four days in Illinois than 3 days in Missouri. This will be picture intensive and the whole week into one blog instead of breaking it up. Here we go. 

 Friday May 9, I flew to my son's in O'Fallon and got a rental car, Ford Bronco at the airport. The flight was a bit bumpy, but I've been in worse flights. I visited for the rest of the day. We did have grilled brats/hamburgers for dinner which is always great. (Click on the photos to enlarge)

Frank

Saturday May 10, Holly and GGrandson were the only ones at the house. The rest of the family were in KY for the grandson Kendall's graduation. We watched it on live stream. 

                                                Kendall getting the diploma. I took from the TV

Kyle and Kendall                               

                                                Kyle, Kendall, Frank and Angie

The family got back about 5, we talked about the graduation ate dinner and visited. 

Sunday May 11, Graduation party! We had a lunch in town for just the family. The main party was at 3:00 and there was a great turnout with family and friends. We had pictures taken and lots of food. 

The baby's pictures will not be posted. The family doesn't want any baby pictures online. 

Monday May 12.  A day with Frank. It rained most of the day. We did some running around town. Tornado hail damage in town was first to check out. Click to enlarge, the whole side is from 90mph winds and F1 tornado a couple weeks ago. Luckily no other damage. 

Frank taught me more about the ukulele but on the guitar. It was fun learning the "tabs" I was doing it all wrong. He's a very good player. Gives me more incentive to play. 

We ate at my favorite BBQ place and went to the guitar store, I got a capo to play the electric guitar by placing it on fret 5 to make it the ukulele. Now I can do both. 

Tuesday May 13,  I left about 10:00 from Frank's and made my way to Missouri. Traffic wasn't bad. There was heavy fog, but by the time I got to Mississippi River it was disappearing.  There was a stalled vehicle on the bridge and I had to move left, a truck flashed lights and I moved over the same time another can did, we almost collided. Whew. 

I stopped in to see a friend from GBM zoom. We had a great lunch at Raising Cane, my first time at that restaurant, it's great! Thank you for taking time off work to meet up with me, Chelsea. 

I didn't stay long, and made my way to my sisters. Nice drive and not so much traffic since it was before noon. I got to her place and settled in then went to eye appointment with her hubby, Herm. 

When we left there we went for an early dinner in a Mexican place. Oh, it was wonderful!  I had a Margarita. 

                                                        And Sopapillas

We had a great evening, we fed the catfish, they supply their lake yearly. 

                                                     Sis has a cute decoration beside the deck

Wednesday May 14, When I got up I found a happy birthday card on the bathroom sink. It was for a massage at 2:00. Wow that's a great gift! 

We had a visitor in the back yard.  It was the first time sis saw her in the morning. Sis puts out corn and bird feed to all the animals. She has several humming bird feeders. She also has lots of squirrels and raccoons.

We tried to keep the squirrels out of the bird feeders with a slinky, it didn't work. She's going to try to raise the slinky to see if that will help. 

              Vines are climbing the trees and killing them. Creepy

When we left there it was 3:00 traffic. but we headed to Wentzville for Shushi. Sis loves it and I'm just learning on what I like. I can only eat a few, but I did like the fried oreo cookie. We sat outside with some wine and she had a Mule. We did watch Survivor thenn went to bed. 

                                                            Fried Oreo cookie

                                                             Shushi AI, in Wentzville, MO

At Shushi AI, it's all you can eat, but if you don't eat it all, you pay a higher price.

Thursday May 15, We took a neighbor and went to Hannibal. I go every year that I'm with sis. It's our favorite shopping area. It's been two years and it's changed a lot. The houses are in bad need of repair. There were many stores no longer open and our ice cream shop is one of them. They aren't open in the winter months and most come back in May for the summer, this time the stores are totally empty.  So sad. I love Hannibal, but like many towns it's disappearing.  We ate lunch at a place that advertised giant tenderloins. I used to go to Flag Pole in Warsaw as a kid to get tenderloins and this was even better. The bun was under and top  corner of it. It sure was good and sis put a big piece of it in the freezer for my July trip. 

We had chicken parmesan for dinner and none of us were really hungry. We sat outside till the bugs made us come in. 

Friday May 16,  I got up about 8:00 and got packed for the trip home. It was supposed to be bad weather but it was wonderful sunny morning. I left sis at 9:30 and so glad I did. The traffic wasn't too bad and the trip to the airport was ok. I got gas just a mile from the airport and I turned in the car at the rental lot. A woman came out for the key so I didn't have to go to the desk. There's a story on the security. I couldn't get the phone to bring up the boarding pass, but it never does. I had to go back to the main desk and get a paper one. I went back and got thru the security and got stopped at the TSA. I had to take off my shoes. I thought the age was 70, the guy said 75. I said I never take off my shoes anymore at airports, he kept his cool and I ended up taking off my shoes. I got in the plane and remembered I'm over 75 and I forgot. It was a compliment the guy thought I was a lot younger, so I'm not upset. But it's funny I forgot my age.  The trip back was smoother then going north. It was 89 deg and I had a jacket on when we landed. I bet people there thought I was nuts. That came off real fast. I got home and did laundry and crashed about 9:30. 

It was a great trip!  Now back to normal, once I get my ears to pop from the flight. 

Volunteering - Special Trip Next Week

 Shalimar, FL   (Hi  77  Lo 65)

I'm doing the blog early because I'm on the way to Illinois for a week with the kids and my sister. I wanted to separate the days on the blog. 

Monday my neighbor came over about 10:00 to say the United Way needed volunteers to put together some little book marks of clothes pins that look like caterpillars. A few gals showed up but none of us could stay long. I had bowling, another gal had nails to get done etc. It's fun around here, pick your activity and go for it. (Click on the photo to enlarge). 

In the afternoon on Monday we had an AI workshop.  We learned how AI is changing society with so many scams. Changing pictures of children to look older that ruins their lives in the future. More and more scams are geared to the seniors. Our lives changed with social media and it's advancing fast. Please be alert on what you "click on" any link on  the computer. 

Tuesday started with diamond art. I'm working on a Halloween picture of gnomes. I should have it done by October, maybe. I still need to do the crocheting for the craft sales in August. The Christmas manger sets are also in the line to make. I usually crochet at night, and there's still "time" before Christmas.  After diamond art I went to meditation. We're doing a series on Oprah and Arthur Brooks on Build the Life You Want. 

The best part of Tuesday was a hair cut. I looked like a shaggy dog, but it's hard getting an appointment here and I liked the gal I went to downtown, but she quit so decided to just stay here. Now I'm looking decent for the trip home next week. 

Wednesday was the last Wii bowling for this season. I'm ready for a break this year. I'm on the decorating committee and helping out with the flyers for the village. I played cards then on to a massage and chiropractor that I do once a month. I played cards in the evening and zoom with friends till almost midnight. 

Thursday I got my boarding pass for the trip. I just have to get up early tomorrow morning. I got a few of the last minute stuff done. I had lunch with a couple other crochet gals and then went to another village to crochet with quite a few gals, both from our place and off campus. I took the yarn that was in an office at the commons and they went through it. 

It's so fun to see the prayer shawls and other things the gals make with yarn. I only do thread so I get some of that when people can't work with thread any more. I came home and packed the last minute things, cleaned up the apartment a bit, ate and worked on the ukulele and watched shows on tv. I'll have zoom with the gang tonight and go to bed early. The car place called and verified my rental car will be there tomorrow when I land,  so that's going to be waiting. 

I will write another blog when I get back next weekend. It will be a big one. 

Ice Cream Social - Kentucky Derby Party - Decorating

 Shalimar, FL   (Hi 79   Lo 63)

 Monday was a fun day! I had Wii bowling at 11:00 then went to the dining area to help with setup for a great social function, Root beer floats at 1:00. We had a great turnout and I had fun pouring the rootbeer. The people from headquarters came and we got pictures with them. (Click on the photos to enlarge). Sorry, I don't have names. Tina is the activities director till they hire someone, Anne is my next door neighbor, then Barbara that works as receptionist at the headquarters and me. 

                                        Lots of people in line for the ice cream floats. 

                                                                      It was so good!

                                                Just us servers, Connie, Dee, Anne and Barbara

Tuesday was normal, tiktoc meeting, diamond art, meditation and a zoom meeting. In the evenings I still have zoom with people from RV'ing and others that has joined us every night. 

Wednesday is Wii bowling, with only one more week to go for the season, I'm happy and sad. I'm looking forward to the break but yet having two mornings a week gives me time to do other things that I'd like to start, like yoga and exercising. 

Thursday starts a another new month.  It's now MAY,  I helped with the setup and decorations for the KY Derby party. We had a good time getting ready. We had dozens of roses to put in tiny glass jars.

                                            We wrapped ribbons around the jars. Judy was helping me.

                                                Decorating the food table

                                                Lots of food which was really good

                                            The setup on each table

                                                     Get your picture taken with a friend

Friday the rest of the setup was done and the party started at 3:00. I know group pictures all look alike but shows how many come. The past years derby races were on the big screen and some of the gals yelled out as if it was the race today.  

We had a duck race, but it didn't go as planned. We had little ducks that had numbers on them and the first three to reach the other end of the pool won a prize. The only problem, Mother Nature had other plans with wind and the little ducks stayed at the starting point of the pool. It was a great idea though. There were three ducks that did make it to the other end. 

                                                This was our table at the party. 

                                                   This is Patti that took the above picture

                                                Attendees

                                            Judging of the hats.

Saturday we had Village one monthly meeting. We didn't have a lot of info but enough to plan for the month of May and what we'd like to do. We decided to have an ice cream social every month on the first Sunday. That's going to be fun and hopefully get people out of their apartments. Anne and I went over to the dining room to setup for the next party on Monday, Cinco de Mayo. 

                                                Tina pulling the crepe paper across the beams.

                      As time progressed the lowering of the crepe paper was apparent it wouldn't work.. 

                                          Tina found flags and that looks so much better. 

                                                            Anne and Tina

Saturday night we had social hour in our village. We had a great group and laughed having some good times. We had a good storm and finally got some rain. 

I have to end with this little article that Ellen gave us.  Please click to enlarge