I have emails with all the large web-based companies, but last week I needed a dedicated email for a new project someone suggested I check out Mail.com, a web portal and email service.
Setting up the account was easy. There were more than 200 domain names, which cover professions, geographic locations, interests, and beliefs. I kept it simple, though, and chose mail.com. For this project I just didn't think that catlover.com, hotshot.com, or saintly.com (just a few of the many options) would give the right impression.
The site homepage, was filled with news articles, similar to Yahoo's. At the very top of the page there are links to sign up and log in for email. There are two types of accounts. The free version gets you a basic inbox, mail collector (which will collect messages from other accounts), and mobile access through an app. There are also ads. If you want more than that you can sign up for "Premium", which is ad-free.
The main email page is simple, but it gets the job done. I've already received a couple of messages from people about the project, so it must be working. Once the project is done I can see converting the address into the one I give out for entering contests and places I know will send me a lot of spammy updates.
Five years ago today: Out Of The Gutter
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Monday, October 16, 2017
No Phone. No Problem?
For the past few weeks Hubby Tony has been having trouble charging his cell phone. The problem became critical over the weekend, and matter what he did the phone would not charge. Eventually he gave up and decided to buy a new one online through our carrier. Until it arrives he will be without.
Today was the first work day Tony was phoneless. I didn't think it would impact me so much.
Several times during the day today I had a question for him. Normally I'd just send him a quick text, but of course with no phone he wouldn't be able to see it. The issue was too minor to bother him on his work phone, but even if it was more major I didn't remember the number. In the eight years he's been at this office I think I've called him once.
Tonight our church was having a missionary speaker, and at the last minute I decided to go. As I gathered up my things to leave the house I tried to figure out the best way to let Tony know where I was in case he got home first. We're out of the habit of leaving each other notes, so I didn't know if he would even look around for one. In the end I jotted some information on the corner of the flyer, then taped it at eye level on the garage screen door.
Thank goodness the phone is scheduled to arrive by mid-week. I don't know if I want to go back to the old days permanently!
Five years ago today: Pillow Inspiration
Today was the first work day Tony was phoneless. I didn't think it would impact me so much.
Several times during the day today I had a question for him. Normally I'd just send him a quick text, but of course with no phone he wouldn't be able to see it. The issue was too minor to bother him on his work phone, but even if it was more major I didn't remember the number. In the eight years he's been at this office I think I've called him once.
Tonight our church was having a missionary speaker, and at the last minute I decided to go. As I gathered up my things to leave the house I tried to figure out the best way to let Tony know where I was in case he got home first. We're out of the habit of leaving each other notes, so I didn't know if he would even look around for one. In the end I jotted some information on the corner of the flyer, then taped it at eye level on the garage screen door.
Thank goodness the phone is scheduled to arrive by mid-week. I don't know if I want to go back to the old days permanently!
Five years ago today: Pillow Inspiration
Friday, October 13, 2017
There's A Name For Everything!
On our walk tonight Hubby Tony and I were chatting about bad luck occurrences on our respective Friday the 13ths. (Fortunately, neither one of us had any issues.) After that we segued into a general discussion of the day/date combination.
After I got home I decided to do a little bit of research about Friday the 13th. I poked around the internet and came upon Fearof.net, where I learned that some people have phobias about the day. The phobia has two names, both of which piggyback off the more general Triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13). One is Paraskevidekatriaphobia (after Paraskevi, the Greek word for Friday). The other is Friggatriskaidekaphobia (after Frigg, the Norse goddess that Friday is named for).
Thank goodness I have neither, although today I made sure to look both ways when I crossed streets and gave the ladder in the middle of the TV department at Costco a wide berth. Better to be safe than sorry.
After I got home I decided to do a little bit of research about Friday the 13th. I poked around the internet and came upon Fearof.net, where I learned that some people have phobias about the day. The phobia has two names, both of which piggyback off the more general Triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13). One is Paraskevidekatriaphobia (after Paraskevi, the Greek word for Friday). The other is Friggatriskaidekaphobia (after Frigg, the Norse goddess that Friday is named for).
Thank goodness I have neither, although today I made sure to look both ways when I crossed streets and gave the ladder in the middle of the TV department at Costco a wide berth. Better to be safe than sorry.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
One Year Old (And Wonderful)
I can't believe how fast time flies! Monday of this week marked exactly one year since we received a text from Son Brian telling us that Baby Jay had entered the world.
Last weekend Hubby Tony and I flew out to California for four days to help Jay (along with his Mom and Dad) celebrate the big event. The social event of the weekend, the official party, was on Sunday. However, during our visit we also got to visit DIL Nicole's office for lunch, a pumpkin patch, and several parks.
The highlight of the trip for me, though, was playing on the floor and getting baby hugs.
Five years ago today: Not So GRRRRR!!!
Last weekend Hubby Tony and I flew out to California for four days to help Jay (along with his Mom and Dad) celebrate the big event. The social event of the weekend, the official party, was on Sunday. However, during our visit we also got to visit DIL Nicole's office for lunch, a pumpkin patch, and several parks.
The highlight of the trip for me, though, was playing on the floor and getting baby hugs.
Five years ago today: Not So GRRRRR!!!
Monday, October 9, 2017
Mouse Control
Sometimes I just have to laugh at myself...
My main computer is placed underneath the desk in the kitchen, and the monitor, wireless keyboard, and wireless mouse are on top. I also have a laptop/tablet computer that I mainly use in the family room. Its home is on top of a table next to my side of the couch.
The other day I was getting ready to go on an adventure and needed to take my laptop with me. When i went to bed the night before I moved the laptop mouse into the kitchen next to my purse (which is part of my system for remembering things). The next day I got busy doing too many things at once; all of a sudden I remembered the laptop.
I grabbed a mouse and went into the family room. When I tried to shut the laptop down I couldn't get the mouse to work. Growling, I used my finger and the tablet function to do it, then turned off the mouse and put everything into the computer bag.
The next time I sat back down at the desk computer its mouse was gone, and a light bulb went off. I looked over to the island, where the laptop mouse was still perched on top of my purse. Shaking my head at myself, I backtracked to the computer bag, where I removed the kitchen mouse and replaced it with the correct one.
Five years ago today: Priorities?
My main computer is placed underneath the desk in the kitchen, and the monitor, wireless keyboard, and wireless mouse are on top. I also have a laptop/tablet computer that I mainly use in the family room. Its home is on top of a table next to my side of the couch.
The other day I was getting ready to go on an adventure and needed to take my laptop with me. When i went to bed the night before I moved the laptop mouse into the kitchen next to my purse (which is part of my system for remembering things). The next day I got busy doing too many things at once; all of a sudden I remembered the laptop.
I grabbed a mouse and went into the family room. When I tried to shut the laptop down I couldn't get the mouse to work. Growling, I used my finger and the tablet function to do it, then turned off the mouse and put everything into the computer bag.
The next time I sat back down at the desk computer its mouse was gone, and a light bulb went off. I looked over to the island, where the laptop mouse was still perched on top of my purse. Shaking my head at myself, I backtracked to the computer bag, where I removed the kitchen mouse and replaced it with the correct one.
Five years ago today: Priorities?
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Kindness Matters
A great inspirational video from Lady Gaga, who spoke (along with the Dalai Lama) at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in June, 2016.
Five years ago today: Barometer
Five years ago today: Barometer
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Designed For A Door
This past weekend was the 2017 installment of a couple's retreat Hubby Tony and I attend.
For the past three years we have been on the retreat planning committee. At the beginning of the process this year the group decided that the theme would be Classic TV. Each of the couples used a TV show as the title of their presentation. Tony and I picked The Love Boat. A tradition at this retreat is for the committee members hang a decoration on their room door that coordinates with the theme. This year we all started with a plain artificial wreath. I'm not the most creative when it comes to craft projects, but I'm pretty proud of what I came up with.
The first step was to go online and find the show logo. I wanted the colors to be vibrant, so I had it printed at a copy shop. Next I carefully cut the shape out. I took the design to the scrapbooking section of the craft store, where I found a piece of paper that coordinated with the blue of the logo. At the same store I also purchased a remnant of bright blue nylon net.
Back at home I cut the nylon net into strips and wound them loosely around the wreath. I cut a circle out of the scrapbook paper and glued it to a small foam plate. After it dried I attached the logo in the center. I printed out our names on card stock using an Art Deco font, glued them to cardboard, and secured them to the plate with hot glue. The last step was to tape a strip of nylon net to the back of the logo and tie it to the top of the wreath, centering the plate in the hole.
At the retreat I clipped a large magnetic binder clip onto the back of the wreath and stuck it to the metal door. I was concerned that the wreath would be too heavy for the magnet to hold up, but it worked like a charm. Everyone at the retreat knew which room was ours!
Five years ago today: Fly! Fly! Fly!
For the past three years we have been on the retreat planning committee. At the beginning of the process this year the group decided that the theme would be Classic TV. Each of the couples used a TV show as the title of their presentation. Tony and I picked The Love Boat. A tradition at this retreat is for the committee members hang a decoration on their room door that coordinates with the theme. This year we all started with a plain artificial wreath. I'm not the most creative when it comes to craft projects, but I'm pretty proud of what I came up with.
 |
| The finished product |
Back at home I cut the nylon net into strips and wound them loosely around the wreath. I cut a circle out of the scrapbook paper and glued it to a small foam plate. After it dried I attached the logo in the center. I printed out our names on card stock using an Art Deco font, glued them to cardboard, and secured them to the plate with hot glue. The last step was to tape a strip of nylon net to the back of the logo and tie it to the top of the wreath, centering the plate in the hole.
At the retreat I clipped a large magnetic binder clip onto the back of the wreath and stuck it to the metal door. I was concerned that the wreath would be too heavy for the magnet to hold up, but it worked like a charm. Everyone at the retreat knew which room was ours!
Five years ago today: Fly! Fly! Fly!
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Volunteering Vegetable
The other day I noticed the grass was getting long. With the days getting shorter Hubby Tony hasn't had a chance to get around to cutting it, so today after lunch I fired up the lawn mower and did the job. The weather was perfect for outdoor work; 75 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. I was outside for 45 minutes and barely broke a sweat.
Along one side of the back yard there's a bed that I've planted with a variety of perennial flowers and plants. However, even those low maintenance plants need attention, and I haven't taken care of the bed for weeks. Now it's a ragged-looking tangle of stems, blooms that should have been deadheaded, and annual weeds. Today as I walked by I took a good look at the bed and noticed some vines with large leaves and yellow flowers that looked an awful lot like squash plants. When I investigated, I found out that I was right.
There were two vines that wound their way past the peony bush and coneflowers and sprawled on top of the weeds. When I moved the vine to the side, I noticed one small fruit hiding underneath the leaves. The skin was completely ripe, so it came into the house with me.
The squash is a little guy, weighing in at a little over a pound. All afternoon I mulled over how the vines had gotten there, and eventually remembered dumping some compost in the bed when I redid the pile in the spring. I guess the compost included a couple of seeds that were still viable. I've never tried to grow winter squash before, and I'm looking forward to cooking the one that grew all on its own.
Five years ago today: Rescue Plant
Along one side of the back yard there's a bed that I've planted with a variety of perennial flowers and plants. However, even those low maintenance plants need attention, and I haven't taken care of the bed for weeks. Now it's a ragged-looking tangle of stems, blooms that should have been deadheaded, and annual weeds. Today as I walked by I took a good look at the bed and noticed some vines with large leaves and yellow flowers that looked an awful lot like squash plants. When I investigated, I found out that I was right.
There were two vines that wound their way past the peony bush and coneflowers and sprawled on top of the weeds. When I moved the vine to the side, I noticed one small fruit hiding underneath the leaves. The skin was completely ripe, so it came into the house with me.
 |
| Grown completely by Mother Nature |
The squash is a little guy, weighing in at a little over a pound. All afternoon I mulled over how the vines had gotten there, and eventually remembered dumping some compost in the bed when I redid the pile in the spring. I guess the compost included a couple of seeds that were still viable. I've never tried to grow winter squash before, and I'm looking forward to cooking the one that grew all on its own.
Five years ago today: Rescue Plant
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Feels Like Fall
Finally!
Overnight our hanging-on summer weather disappeared, replaced by temperatures that were 20 degrees cooler. It wasn't exactly sweater weather, but I finally felt like I could put away my tank tops and white pants.
For dinner I made a sweet potato hash and baked it in the oven. When I opened the door the heat coming out actually felt good. After dinner I craved a cup of herbal tea, something I'd given up when the temperatures soared.
In honor of the newfound new season, here's my favorite version of the song "Autumn Leaves". Enjoy!
Five years ago today: Churchillian
Overnight our hanging-on summer weather disappeared, replaced by temperatures that were 20 degrees cooler. It wasn't exactly sweater weather, but I finally felt like I could put away my tank tops and white pants.
For dinner I made a sweet potato hash and baked it in the oven. When I opened the door the heat coming out actually felt good. After dinner I craved a cup of herbal tea, something I'd given up when the temperatures soared.
In honor of the newfound new season, here's my favorite version of the song "Autumn Leaves". Enjoy!
Five years ago today: Churchillian
Monday, September 25, 2017
Monster Plant
This year's official 'garden' at my house consisted of one tomato plant and three pots of herbs, all purchased from a garden shop. Back in June the tomato got pruned by some type of critter, but after a short setback started growing again. It never produced much fruit, though. (Or maybe the same critter had a taste for green tomatoes?)
When the weather turned steamy I started spending as little time outside as possible. Even though the plant was in a bucket right next to the compost pile I barely glanced at it as I dumped the food scraps and scurried back inside. At the beginning of August I noticed the plant had grown tall enough to lean on the pots hanging on a nearby shepherd's hook. By that time, though, it was so entwined with the hanging plants I decided to leave it.
The beginning of September was so cool I thought about pulling out the plant. After I harvested the first tomato of the season, thought, I decided to leave it in place. Then the weather got hot again, and the plant went into overdrive; it's now it's the monster of all tomato plants! The stems that were leaning on the shepherd's hook are now poking though the deck rails onto the steps, and others are sprawled out on the ground, making it hard to walk in the area.
The plant is big, but I'm not complaining since I've been harvesting a ripe grape tomato or two every day for the past week. I know that as soon as the weather cools off production will drop off to almost nothing.
Five years ago today: Music, Music, Music
When the weather turned steamy I started spending as little time outside as possible. Even though the plant was in a bucket right next to the compost pile I barely glanced at it as I dumped the food scraps and scurried back inside. At the beginning of August I noticed the plant had grown tall enough to lean on the pots hanging on a nearby shepherd's hook. By that time, though, it was so entwined with the hanging plants I decided to leave it.
The beginning of September was so cool I thought about pulling out the plant. After I harvested the first tomato of the season, thought, I decided to leave it in place. Then the weather got hot again, and the plant went into overdrive; it's now it's the monster of all tomato plants! The stems that were leaning on the shepherd's hook are now poking though the deck rails onto the steps, and others are sprawled out on the ground, making it hard to walk in the area.
The plant is big, but I'm not complaining since I've been harvesting a ripe grape tomato or two every day for the past week. I know that as soon as the weather cools off production will drop off to almost nothing.
Five years ago today: Music, Music, Music
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