George Orwell's 1984

I read this book for the first time many, many years ago. As I am discovering the benefits of an Amazon Prime account that includes books you can download I came across the title and decided to read 1984 again. I was able to load up books on my tablet to take on our recent cruise. I like the feel of a real book in my hand as much as the next reader but the lighter luggage was nice.

This book has themes that echo fears of where our government could go now more than the when I read it the first time about 30 years ago. The book talks about a layered society with no movement from one level to another. Prols will always be prols and the Party members will always be Party members that is unless they get in trouble and then they are gone. Media in the book is not really an enemy but rather a tightly controlled, constantly adjusted, publisher of a history that fits the plans of The Party. I bet our current White House occupants, the guy at the top and his staff, would love those kinds of privileges.

It is a classic and I am glad I spent the time reading 1984 by George Orwell again.


(Amazon links in this post are affiliate links. Clicking and maybe purchasing does not change your cost but gives me a few pennies of yarn money and for that I am grateful.)

Weekend Happenings

Good Monday morning to whoever stops by!

At least now I can say it's good. Over the weekend Jim had to travel in Utah, in a snow storm, driving. He did okay but someone behind him did not. His truck was hit from behind by someone who the UHP ticketed. Both vehicles were driveable but damaged and no one was hurt so Jim was able to finish his trip.

Now comes the fun (not) part of dealing with insurance.

Late Start

Been quite some time since I blogged. I missed it so here I am with good intentions.
What a year 2017 was and I am not even talking about politics. Jim was going to retire in the fall and then he didn't. I started creating a retirement nest for us in Arizona. At the beginning of the summer, Memorial Weekend in fact, Jim has a heart attack. He is doing very well these days but we kind of started adjusting timelines.

I am back nesting and he is still working. We started the year by going on a cruise. We were on the Holland America Line Oosterdam on a trip to Mexico. We had a lovely time and were welcomed back to San Diego by a couple of stunning sights. The first was the USS Midway all lit up before the sun rose and the second was a ship heading out of the harbor in the fog.

It was good to go and good to get home. I don't know when I will be here on the blog again. The plan for blogging would include the word soon. Until then take care.

National Park Song

Just had to put this here to keep it handy.

Go find your park!

🌲🌳🐿🍃🐰☀️❤️ 💛 💚 National Parks 💚💛❤️☀️🐰🍃🐿🌳🌲 @NatlParkService pic.twitter.com/l79CvN7BI3

— Joseph Gordon-Levitt (@hitRECordJoe) January 30, 2017

Updates From Last Week

What's on my mind?

I started my new medicine today. It is one of those once a week bone health pills. After taking it with plenty of water you are supposed to stay upright and don't eat or drink anything else for at least 30 minutes.
I did just as I was supposed to. During the time I listened to Rachel Maddow's podcast of the previous evening's show and paced to get the day started with steps. I love the way she presents the news with the right amount of humor, snark and compassion when called for.

Photo of the Day

Just for you all since my post next week will be after Christmas. BTW I painted the ornament many years ago during my tole painting phase. I do miss painting at times. The sad thing is this girl has only so many hours in a day and a head full of too many ideas that will never get done.

Cozy.Etsy.com News

According to the post office the hat I sold arrived safely at its intended destination. I wish more Etsy shoppers would leave reviews. If they did I would know for sure something arrived and not be tempted to commit spam to find out.

Getting Older, POTD, Shop News

What's on my mind?

I had a lovely time getting to know a new doctor this week. The doctor I have seen since I moved to Jackson has left town to start a practice in Bend Oregon. If you live there I can highly recommend Dr. Ellen Meyers MD.

Anyway the new doctor.....
She asked if I wanted a flu shot and I said yes. That pleased her and me. I missed a year once and caught the flu. I never want to be that sick again if it can be avoided. I know the shot doesn't provide perfect protection but so far the years that I got a flu shot I have not gotten the flu.That's good enough for me.

Now about that getting older part of today's title.....
It seems that my bones are thinning. I learned that is it the curse of post menopausal white women and that is exactly what I am. So I will be starting a once a week dose of medicine to improve my bone health. I guess that is better than breaking a hip. I will let you know at my next bone scan, in a year, how this works out over time.

Photo of the Day

Today I am sharing with you one of the beautiful sunsets from our recent Caribbean cruise. This one was just off the coast of Grand Cayman. The sky really was just like this. I have not edited or enhanced this picture in any way. Stunning, isn't it?

News from Cozy.Etsy.com

Great excitement and some worry in the shop this week. I sold a hat to someone on the other side of the country and that is the great excitement part.  Things I mail from here typically go from here to a bit sorting center in Salt Lake City which the package did. Now the worry inducing part. The package left Salt Lake the next day and has been in transit ever since. It should have been delivered on Monday and it is now Wednesday. I know this is a busy time of year for shippers but I am worried.
Let you know more about this next week.

Pearl Harbor, Cozy on Etsy and Photo of the Day

What's on my mind?

A couple years ago we got to spend a few days on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. One of our last days on the island was spent at Pearl Harbor. It seems fitting to remember that visit today.

The wall with all the names on it was very moving. As I stood there among the selfie stick using, grinning tourists I found myself tearing up. In my mind we were visiting a graveyard, a solemn place deserving of quiet and respect.

Maybe for me it is personal. I stood beside a sailor that always came home from the sea during a 20 year career. I am selfishly glad that for us it happened that way.

I learned of a tradition that day. It seems that in Hawaii if you are given a lei it is in poor taste to just throw it away. It is best to pass on the gift. Some put their leis on statues of Hawaiian Kings. Other people bring their leis to Pearl Harbor and put them in the water there. This is the water that to this day still has the shimmer of leaking oil from the ships below and marks the tombs of many that were killed that day. Skip the Shop News if you wish to see a couple more images from that moving visit.

Shop news from Cozy.Etsy.com

Not much new in the shop these days. I get views and favorites most days. I would love to ship something out. It is a thrill each time I get to do that.

The way I see it someone needs a gold scarf to glam up their holiday wardrobe. Don't you think so too?

If you love silver rather than gold I have a solution for that too. All my holiday scarves for winter, gifts, or for yourself are on display in my shop, Cozy.Etsy.com.

Photo of the Day

We ended our visit to Pearl Harbor that day on the decks of the USS Missouri where the treaty was signed that ended the war. The "Mighty Mo" has a place in the harbor that overlooks the Arizona Memorial.