I was just advised that many may not realize what I was talking about! Apparently, some people have 'other ideas' on what this might mean.   I simply meant the new practice of making a big deal out of telling friends/family whether it's going to be a boy or girl. The subject came up recently, when a relative mentioned they are expecting a baby. And my daughter and I agreed that we hope there's no big 'reveal'!

We prefer the old-fashioned way of just 'telling people'  if the parents 'know' in advance. Back 'in the day' we didn't find out before birth if it was a boy or girl--and that was fine with me.  We just TOLD our family when we were expecting--no big 'party'.  

And what I think is ridiculous, according to what I've been reading online--the mother-to-be actually doesn't even "know" beforehand! She apparently chooses someone close to her to arrange the party & be informed whether it's a boy or girl--then at the big 'reveal', the parents learn along with their guests! I've seen some articles online where one of the parents was extremely disappointed at the reveal--one good reason to keep it private, in my opinion. Not to mention, one article told about a sister-in-law (who was the planner) who told her mother--who then told "everyone" (all her social media!) what the baby's gender was, before the mother even knew!  

 I'm not saying they shouldn't "know" the gender, if they want; I just don't think it's necessary to plan some big party & go 'wild'--like some of the things I've read about recently.    

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I haven't answered this poll yet, because it's complex! So here is my 'answer'.

I definitely prefer a phone call from family and friends.  But a text is good for a 'short' conversation. My kids--now in their 50's!--often text, via Facebook when they don't have a lot of time.  I absolutely hate texting by cell phone!  So..if possible, I use FB's chat (Instant Messenger) to 'text' my kids.  I can 'type' quite well using my keyboard. Not so much on a tiny cell phone keyboard. 

As for 'not friends'--I prefer them to 'call' and leave an answer on the machine! That way, I can decide if I even want to listen,   .  

As for pen pals or friends I 'write' to--I prefer email. Snail mail only if the person doesn't have a computer! So you can see my dilemma.    "ALL" is my answer--depending on 'who' I am communicating with. 

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 I don't feel "old". I don't "feel" elderly. But according to everything I read and hear, at 75, I am definitely 'elderly'.

Sometimes, contrary to my actual wishes, I do 'act' elderly. I can't walk very far now. And climbing steps is problematic.   But my 'mind' doesn't feel elderly. I'm still able to do creative things. In fact, I think that's what keeps me feeling 'young'. 

However, I admit I prefer 'golden oldies' in music. I never bother listening to 'modern' music. And I think a lot of the 'new' customs are silly. I don't understand the big deal about avocado toast. Or having 'gender reveals' when someone is pregnant.  We didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl--and it didn't matter, as long as it was a healthy child. That's what's important. 

On the other hand, I'm very much 'modern' in my beliefs. I think every person deserves the right to be happy, to love whoever they want, and to be whoever/whatever they want.  Who someone else loves doesn't bother me; it isn't my business.  I may not like how they look; but again, it's not my business. I believe in 'live and let live'.

My thought is: worry about yourself, not what someone else does.  I think the world would be a better place if everyone believed that. Let's hope that's what the future brings.

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I just got an 'ad' email from Dairy Queen, so that's on my mind right now.  I absolutely love 'soft' Dairy Queen ice cream!  (My husband prefers HARD ice cream, lol--but he'll sure eat DQ!) 

Of course, it's kind of expensive to do 'constntly'. So we don't go there often.  We especialy love the Blizzards: Choc Chip for my husband and usually Choc/Cherry for me.  We normally get the 'large'--and it will last us 3-4 days.   I did once try their special that had Caramel chunks-very good!  

Of their current Specials, I might try that S'mores Blizzard or the Choco-dipped Strawberry. But...the 'Cotton Candy' one sounds a bit too rich for my taste!  I did try the Royal New York Cheesecake once--very good!

  And as I mentioned in my poll just now : I've had and enjoyed their Banana Splits. But it's just not 'me' now. 

 And...as I said, DQ is a bit expensive, so we usually just get ice cream at the grocry.  Today, I got Black Raspberry Choc Chip--a diet splurge for my upcoming birthday, lol.   My husband chose: Mint Choc Chip. And surprise: his 'Breyers' was less expensive than my store brand! Oh, well..I got MY fav flavor! Now...if I can just 'ration' it, I'll be fine.  

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I just realized my 'NOTH Anniversary' was 2 days ago!  Wow. Fifteen years. I can't imagine NOT being here now. Before I joined Not Over the Hill (The Hill or NOTH)--I wasn't active on social media. Oh, I had an account at the 'first' social site (I think it was first, anyway)--but didn't "do" anything there. And I didn't 'stay' there long.  (PS--I won't NAME it, since that's against our Terms, lol; I was surprised to see it's actually still 'around').

And of course, I used Cloudeight's Stationery.  So when they announced they were starting this social site for the 'over 40' group--I decided this was where I wanted to be! And I've never regretted it. I hope to be here 'forever': I hope my daughter will ask to have my page put in the Memoriam group, when the time comes. But for now, I plan on continung to be an active member for a long, long time!  

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Something made me think of this recently.   So my new 'avatar' for the Computer Group page/account is my first computer-style device: a Brother Word Processor. I bought it at an office equipment  store, which is also where I got my ribbons and disks. 

I used colored ink 'ribbons':  blue, green, red, and brown, as well as black. And..I had 2 or maybe 3 'font' disks: Script as well as Pica and Elite.  I used blue or green ribbons with Script for letters--which was mostly what I did back then. Well, that and my 'writing', of course. 

And yes, it had a Floppy Disk drive, for storage. You can also see the 'handle'...which could be used to carry it, when the keyboard was 'up' (stored, covering the screen). One thing I especially liked about this: I could actually 'type' when I wanted:  insert paper (usually stationery) & 'write' letters by typing onto the stationery, which was usually 4 in. by 6 in. (I think I actually still have 1 of those stationery pads here!).  

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I'm sure I'm not the only one having senior moments!  But just a sample:  A few days ago I asked my husband to take the Kodak camera (a good one) outside to take pictures of our lights.  He did, and got some good pictures. 

 However, when I uploaded the pictures to the computer, I noticed it said the battery needed to be charged. So I immediately went to look for the battery charger. It's nowhere to be found! I 'thought' it was on the dining room hutch. Nope. Not there. 

So I started looking: in both file cabinets in this room, the 2 drawer nightside thing where I keep things like extra USB cords, SD cards & flash drives. No--not there either.   I even looked in my 'boxes' of stuff; yeah, I have several 'boxes' where I store things--keep them near my desk.  Nope. Not there either.   Yeah--I even looked in my walk-in closet where I store some things.  I'm out of places to look--and still haven't found that. 

Plus...I also can't find the 'control device' for the NIX digital picture frame.  I had put that away (in this nearby file cabinet) a few months ago; but I decided to put some nice Christmas pictures on it & use it again. Yes, I do have the digital frame--but no control device. So that can't be used. (Yeah--it 'should' have been in that file cabinet with the frame--but it isn't!)

Yes, another senior moment. Where did I put it? Where did I put the camera charger?    My husband laughs at how much stuff I "lose". Usually, I know where everything is--or I can eventually find it. But not this time.  I'm totally frustrated!

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In  today's Newsletter, Cloudeight  gave the link to download their Winter Screensaver! I just did and it works grat on my Windows 10 (special instructions come with it). More info in the Computer group.

Everyone knows we don't "need" screensavers now, with the better monitors/screens.  But I've always loved pretty screensavers--I even 'bought' a couple--my favorite was an Aquarium, which sadly no longer works. Two of my other favorite screensavers came from Cloudeight.  One was winter, with options for a light in the cabin window, an outside porch light on, falling snow, etc. The other was an Aquarium. It has the options for which fish and how many of each kind of fish you can have swimming around. 

I've always loved aquariums; at one point, I had a 20 gallon tank, with lots of fish!  But it eventually became impossible to keep--too much physical work to keep it clean, not to mention the cost of all the materials needed!  So not long ago, I decided to start using the Cloudeight aquarium screensaver again--I love 'hearing' the bubbles & watching the fish.  I now have that on my main laptop.  I've set the screen to stay on longer now, so that I can enjoy the aquarium screensaver.

  Then, I recently 'found' my folder of 'my' screensavers, made with one of my Print Shop programs. Yesterday, I tried using two of them on my other laptop. They still work! However, since 'officially' the title of all of those I made is the same (even though I 'named' them differently)--I can only have ONE 'on' the computer at a time. So to change to a different one, I have to move the others somewhere else--in my case, an SD card.  Yesterday, I first tried the summer one: I have 3 of those with pictures of my lilacs;  this one had Afternoon Delight as the music!

Then I switched to the winter one--which I'd put Phantom of the Opera as the music! 

   Anyway...now that I'm energetic...just maybe I'll get around to making a new screensaver! I noticed my Autumn/Fall one didn't have the correct photos for this season. But I have a hunch I'll soon switch over to the Cloudeight Winter one with snow falling! 

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I have a habit of 'saving' recipes that sound delicious.  In the old days, I had an actual cardboard box full of recipes I'd cut out of the newspaper! And before that, I'd "handwritten" some; that was in the 70's when 'poke cakes' were so popular. I must have had a dozen of those recipes! Some had jello 'poured' into them, others had pudding.

 Later, I scanned my favorite recipes into the computer, so that I now have a large folder of them; that folder is now mainly comprised of online recipes.  But it does still contain many of my 'old' recipes.   

Now, that probably sounds normal to many people. However--I hardly ever actually "cook/bake" any more! I have maybe 4 recipes that I actually use now. Yet, I can't resist saving/copying a new recipe that sounds delicious!

Just this morning, I 'almost' saved a recipe for a cake that I would love to eat: however, I can't actually see myself "baking" it--since it's a very compex recipe! So...what I finally decided to do is 'save' the photo--and possibly use it sometime when I want do do a theme page on 'favorite foods', etc. 

As for what I actually do cook/bake from scratch:

the family recipe for homemade spaghetti sauce,

Roast Beef with potatoes and carrots,

Swiss Steak,

and two kinds of cookies.  

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