Why I Haven't Posted, etc.

1. No pictures: not that I haven't taken any or that my camera is on the blink. I lost the program on my computer that I used to download the pictures from my camera. I CAN do it another way, but it is more difficult and I don't like it. I guess I am getting old, because a lot of this is about not liking change.
2. Malfunctioning laptop: several months ago, maybe a year, the power cord on my laptop started shorting when I tried to recharge it. I finally got around to getting a new power cord. I hadn't had it for long when I picked up the computer, plugged into the power cord, and dropped it--not far and onto a soft surface, but it landed by chance right on the connection where it was plugged into the computer and broke it off, leaving the portion that plugs in stuck in the computer. I did find someone on the weekend in SLC who extracted the broken part--he thought the computer would work OK. It did for a while, but now the part that plugs into the computer doesn't connect properly and it only charges intermittently.
3. Decided that it was time for a new computer, and talked myself into a little netbook with a 10.2 inch screen. I think I mentioned I don't like change, and this was way too much change. It has Windows 7 "startup" and I don't even know what that means. Do I have to purchase Windows 7 to get the full program? The startup screen is confusing--I can't even tell when it is connected to the internet without attempting to get online. It is, I would say, skitzy, meaning that it is so jumpy that even when I am very careful it skips back to another line while I am typing and inserts, or even erases most of what I have just typed. And I really can't imagine why someone past 65 with eye surgeries in the past and future would think a 10 inch screen was a good idea.

Enough of that! Obstacles abound, and I haven't been energetic enough to overcome them. I think I have SAD--seasonal affective disorder. Every year as the days get shorter and the skies are dark and stormy, I kind of retreat into my shell and lose interest in life in general. I am a light seeking person and function best with lots of sunshine. I decided last week to try some St. John's Wort--an herb I had in my medicine cabinet which is supposed to help with depression. It said on the container to take one up to three times a day. I decided if one was good, I would just start with two. Who knew? Better than a shot of caffeine for me!! I was wired for a few hours and got a lot of stuff done. I have not since taken two at a time, but a couple a day seems to help stave off the winter blues.

One of the things that has delighted me was finding a set of measuring cups with a full complement of options. Imagine a picture here of this wonderful set: it has a quarter cup, third cup, half cup, two thirds cup, three fourths cup, and full cup. I discovered it browsing the isles of Hurst Ace Hardware in Cedar City--one of my favorite places. I used to have one from Tupperware that my mother-in-law gave me when I got married, but it has suffered the ravages of time. I don't do much baking these days, but that could change.

I have some Christmas cards sitting around along with a Christmas letter I typed up last year, duplicated, and never sent. If you don't get a Christmas card from me this year, and you are a friend or relative, please know that I am thinking of you and wishing you the best. Merry Christmas!