Jaye Marie's Blog, page 4

What have I been up to?

Considering I am nowhere near as strong as I was, I have been rather busy of late. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love to be busy, but constructively, if possible.

Well, that hasn’t been possible, even with the best will in the world. And I like to think my will is as good as the next person’s. Is it just me, or is this technology-based world getting more and more complicated?

I started the week changing from Windows 10 to Windows 11. I wasn’t expecting it to be plain sailing, as it hardly ever is, but I needn’t have worried. Apart from a minor hiccup, it all went very well, apart from one thing which I didn’t find out about until later. I had been so careful, saving just about everything I could think of to my separate hard drive, and everything was transferred quickly and efficiently. I barely had time to pat myself on the back, when I noticed that my printer wasn’t behaving like it did before. 

Further investigation proved futile. I was forced to admit that my printer was not compatible with Windows 11. And worst of all, I had completely forgotten to save the original link to my separate hard drive. I thought I had saved all the relevant stuff but must have missed this one. I did try to appeal to Epson’s better judgement, but the answer came back fast. It was too old to be eligible for a new drive.

I had no idea what they were talking about, but one thing was clear. I will need a new printer.

My next achievement was fun, and the outcome very edible. I helped my sister make an apple pie. The one thing everyone has been missing the most. Things were certainly looking up!

The next item on the agenda was emptying the hoover. Our vacuum cleaner is new and seems very complicated until you know how to use it. I had already mastered it, prior to my collapse, so it was brought to me to do. I tried very hard not to look smug when I did this.

Finally, there was just one thing left for me to do. Find a new printer, one that I would understand and find easy. I know, I don’t want much do I?

To cut a long story mercifully short, we are now test driving our third printer… 

Have a lovely weekend, you lovely people!

Tuesday Thoughts and flowers…

I have been finding a lot of comfort in Anita’s poems lately. Although this one was more of a wake up call!

A magic moment from last summer, enjoy…

Sunday Thoughts…

A pot of Rosemary and one of Anita’s poems. I swear this one was written for me!

This poem is an acrostic for the word Unforgettable. I must try to remember that message…

Love from Jaye

Wednesday’s Review Run for the Roses #Fiction #HumerousDarkComedy @Virgilante

The Headless Horseman has mellowed over the centuries, somewhat. Who knew that he is a horse lover, and needs Lizzie’s help. An unaffiliated witch is torturing race horses in an effort to skew the parimutuel betting odds.

Can Lizzie and the hat find this renegade witch before one of these beautiful animals gets hurt? Can they do it before Detlef, The Horseman, takes things into his own hands and violates the terms of his magical parole.

It seems like everyone is standing in their way this time, including a team of YouTube ghost hunters and members of the coven itself.

Saddle up for this supernatural ride through the world of Lizzie and the hat.

About the author

Following

C. S. Boyack

I was born in a town called Elko, Nevada. I like to tell everyone I was born in a small town in the 1940s. I’m not quite that old, but Elko has always been a little behind the times. This gives me a unique perspective of earlier times, and other ways of getting by. Some of this bleeds through into my fiction.

I moved to Idaho right after the turn of the century, and never looked back. My writing career was born here, with access to other writers and critique groups I jumped in with both feet.

I like to write about things that have something unusual. My works are in the realm of science fiction, paranormal, and fantasy. The goal is to entertain you for a few hours. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Craig

Our Review

I always enjoy reading the Lizzie and the Hat stories, and Run for the Roses is one of the best.

There is so much going on as usual, with people old and new to keep the story lively.

I loved Detlef, the headless horseman immediately, his quirky attitude and language had me in stitches. I was surprised to discover that he adored horses, which makes him a man after my own heart.

The Hat excelled himself as usual with his sarcasm and interference, but such a clever bonnet!

Lizzie is one of the best people I have ever met. I love to be in her company. Long suffering and incredibly patient, she carries each story on her shoulders, with as much assistance from the hat that she can cope with!

I have also appreciated that as a reader, I can somehow join in the action because everything is so real.

I do hope there will be another Lizzie and the Hat story soon…

Macro Monday…

I have spent the last few days trying to organise my mess of an office…

Since being incapacitated, and that’s one way of describing it, I have been doing my best. Stumbling around like a pensioner at a picnic, never quite getting to grips with anything like I used to.

Consequently, there were piles of papers, posts and writing ideas everywhere. My office is not large, so it was becoming a bit crowded.

Seeing as how avoiding looking at it all wasn’t really working, I decided to set to and somehow, clear the decks. I did it once, so I might remember the ropes.

I have discovered that being a life time winger doesn’t help you remember all the details, as most of the time you’re on auto pilot, so I have had to start from scratch. It has taken days to sort everything out, and at first, things got a lot worse and I nearly gave up. Gradually, I can see some progress, which inspires me not to give up. I have a book to finish anyway, which is a good incentive!

This is also where I am health wise too. I can now stagger about a fair bit but I have to remember to be careful all the time, for doing things automatically without thinking is what usually puts me on the floor. I am waiting for a new hospital appointment to investigate why I haven’t moved on much, or what else might be going on.

Back to the Book!

Silent Sunday…

My idea of a Sunday afternoon…

The Sound of Thunder

I had a lovely afternoon yesterday, despite the gloomy skies and gathering rain clouds.

We had been promised thunderstorms and torrential rain and although we have been disappointed many times before, I was eternally optimistic, as usual.

I thought I could feel the building electricity in the air, although it could have been wishful thinking I really hoped it wasn’t.

The time went on, but I remained hopeful, scanning the skies for possible clues. So, when I heard the first distant rumble, I waited, almost holding my breath, for another confirming rumble.

“You know that’s all we ever get,” quoted my sister. She is not known for her optimism.

I just smiled.

I wasn’t in the mood for an argument, least of all about something like the weather.

The next rumble was a little louder.

“It’s just fooling you. You know this is what normally happens.”

I couldn’t detect any doubt in her voice. I just smiled.

The next rumble was loud and echoed around the house. My sister never said a word. The next rumble was more of a bang, a bang that caused all the birds in the garden to fly to a safer spot.

What happened next was one of those Hollywood movie versions of a storm, a gloriously extended series of rumbles that didn’t want to stop, so loud I couldn’t hear myself think.

“My word…,” said my sister.

And I smiled even more…

(and the rain wasn’t bad either!)

Are changes as good as a rest?

I’m sure I’m not the only one who dislikes changes.

As I have grown older, I seem to hate them even more, presumably because I am happy with the way things are and see no earthly reason to change anything. 

When we are young, we are more likely to welcome changes. I mean, some of them are supposed to be an improvement, aren’t they?

I used to be very annoyed at having to change habits of a lifetime, but I would grit my teeth and get on with it. These days, though, my grit seems to have toddled off, leaving me a bit helpless and annoyed.

My latest annoyance is, to be fair, all my own fault. Since becoming housebound, I have had to make some difficult choices. Some parts of my life have changed, and not for the better, in my opinion. These changes were beyond my control, leaving me with no choice at all for some of them.

Continuing to use my PC was something I wanted to do, eventually. My disability and medication have conspired against me. I refused to be thwarted, and so far, I am managing quite well. I have even gone so far as to trade in my old Windows 10 for the new 11.

Although this new PC is faster and quieter, it could be one of the worst mistakes I have ever made, and that’s saying a lot.

I always have to pay the price for my stubbornness, as I cannot do anything with it. 

Some things have transferred over, thank heavens, but not everything. Fixing these things will take a while and keep me away from my writing desk, but needs must, as they say…

Yes, why do I do these things?

…and Two steps back…

Every time I seem to be getting somewhere, whether it’s with everyday problems, health matters or PC related stuff, something has to stop me in my tracks. Making me rethink everything.

You guessed it… I fell again. I was standing by my bed, folding my duvet. Something I have done a thousand times, when my legs gave way and I dropped to the floor. I landed on my bum this time, so a much better landing.

After a few minutes of wondering what the hell happened, I stood up and finished folding the duvet.

The other annoying thing that happened yesterday is PC related. Something I knew would be happening, but maybe not this soon. My desktop has been doing weird things lately, things I have managed to cope with because the changeover to Windows 11 will happen, but I would like to choose when, if possible.

I logged on as usual, and the home screen appeared. So far, so good. But when I tried to open something, it appeared, but behind the home screen. All I could see of it was a very narrow strip done the left side. I stared at it for a while, wondering what kind of cruel joke had landed on my desk.

Obviously, I tried several times, but this happened every blessed time, before the penny dropped and I knew it was time to give in and buy a new stack.

Changing anything is never good in this house, but as I cannot crawl around the floor looking for sockets and cables, I hope this time is easy.

What has everyone been doing about this Windows update?

Thinking and Remembering?

This meme really added to the confusion in my head. I have been struggling with memories of how I was, compared to how I am now, and not enjoying the process.

Trying to be sensible, I do know that my life will never be the same again, and most of the time, that is a blessing. I shouldn’t be comparing anything until we really know what’s going on. If and when that happens, that is.

On a lighter note, I remembered something that happened last year. Something I would be delighted not to have to do again…

July 2024

Most weeks in our house are usually a mishmash of incidents, some good and a few of the other kind. But whatever happens, there is never a dull moment around here!

This past week has excelled itself, hurtling from one mini-disaster to another. At one point, I contemplated staying in bed, just to break the cycle, but as I am the nosiest person for miles, I couldn’t bear to think of anything happening without me. Seeing as I was born with a sword in one hand and a cleaning mop in the other, I could usually cope with anything!

It all started to go wrong when we spotted a fantastic bargain in our local charity shop, a two-seater couch in black leather. It was in perfect condition and at a price that wouldn’t bring our bank account to its knees. So, without thinking things through, we bought it to be delivered the following day.

But what to do with the dilapidated, broken-down couch in our living room?

The local council have a collection service, so all we had to do was get it out of the house. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? In case you were wondering, it definitely wasn’t.

We are both in our 70’s and not the fittest people on the block, but we were determined. We would do this, even if it meant dragging the couch out of the house in pieces. A not-so-small nightmare later, two broken and bad-tempered women sat on the old couch in the front garden, swearing never again. We didn’t understand why it had been so difficult; it was a two-seater. We clearly remembered the day years before when it was first delivered, so either the couch had grown, or the house had shrunk.

The next day, tempers and difficulty were forgotten, the new couch was delivered, and peace reigned once more. How I wish the story ended there.

At this point in the story, I can blame Anita for what happened next. She had seen (and fallen in love with) another couch in the charity shop, which she assured me, would be far more comfortable than our old three-seater. You couldn’t make up what happened next.

To cut a long and painful story short, we bought the three-seater and managed to drag the old one out. Slightly easier this time as it could be dismantled. Shame it was so bloody heavy though!

Shortly after the new three-seater was delivered, it became obvious that the blessed thing wasn’t comfortable at all and had to go. By this time, we were exhausted, unhappy and tempers were flaring. Again!

After three days of juggling large, heavy and unresponsive pieces of furniture, I have banned the word ‘couch’ from ever being spoken of in my hearing again. The furniture we have will just have to last, for there is no way I am going to lift anything heavier than the kettle for the foreseeable future!

Maybe I shouldn’t have said those last few words, for that is my truth now, for a while longer at least…

Love from Jaye