How to learn about our new car tech

As we make the giant leap from 2011 car technology to a 2026 high tech version, the learning curve steep. I'm thrilled to have the modern safety and other features, but they only are useful if I understand them!

Although I haven't watched them all, I found that there are non-car company videos to help. Here is a sample.

AARP has a free online course and additional videos to help! AARP Smart Driver Tek cours

Hubby found a YouTube video that explains all the symbols, buttons and other things in front of the driver. He searched by the year, make and model of the new car. YouTube to the rescue with instructions once again (also great for home fix-its instructions and diagnoses.)

I also found this one - How to park using a rear view camera

The printed manual is over 500 pages long in tiny print and with a poor index and poor illustrations so we are not finding it helpful. It seems more like something written by engineers to satisfy legal requirements.

What have you found to help you learn about new car technology?

Covid-19 Shutdown Day 8: What did you learn last week?

Connecting while Distancing - Hubby takes drumming lessons from a neighbor and they gave it a try over Facetime. Took a while but they got it to work for them. Happy Hubby is important.

Carrying On - I find my spirits are lifted by cheerful colors so am determinedly wearing them each day. No need to hang out in "grubbies" just because we are at home for the duration. I'm glad I bought this top and cardigan recently as orange in all shades is my favorite color.

What did you learn in the last week that helps you prepare for the future? 

I learned that one of the words that my husband connects to me is solutions! I also learned I have been using more toilet paper than absolutely necessary LOL.

More importantly I learned we were not keeping enough back up food and water for the dog and enough food that doesn't require cooking for us in case of more typical emergencies that take the power and possibly water out as well as disrupting supply chains. In an earthquake and wildfire prone area this is important.

I also learned some of the steps to care for an infectious person at home and where our home care supply gaps were for that - especially disinfecting wipes and sprays. We also no longer have a cool mist humidifier but I am on the fence about buying one. The reason I didn't move ours is that we hadn't used it in at least 10 years.

My County's Data -  The first death in our county. 30 confirmed cases and still 4 in my town.

Stepping out of my comfort zone (& request for ideas)

I'm joining in with the Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone series started by the lovely Leslie of Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After

I've always loved learning, but tend to do it in a quiet on my own way or with one to a few others.

I was the kid that loved school, stayed in school through getting a Ph.D. and then for a career I gravitated toward one where I gather lots of information and synthesized it into meaningful and useful conclusions.

I like vacationing in new places rather than going back to the same place each time although we did repeat Yosemite a lot but then nature provides its own variety. We did go on some Road Scholar trips in Florida and enjoyed those.

I like going to plays and exhibitions that are new.

I do not tend to do a deep dive into a subject or develop a passion for a particular specific topic but in general enjoy the arts, science, the natural world and reading.

I had found my way in retirement in our former location but our move shook up all those solutions - in a good way but still I need to find new ones. Hence joining in in stepping out of my comfort zone.

I'm just starting to think about it so here are my observations and request for ideas.

1. I want a new big long term audacious project. Deciding to move across the country and to have a home ready to move into once we got there was about an 18 month audacious project that kept me engaged and busy. I need another one so time to put on my thinking cap and ask for ideas too. Have you had any in your life recently or right now?

2. Retirement has not provided as many ready made opportunities for learning as school or work did so my first learning is that I really need to work at making sure I have enough exciting learning opportunities in my life now. That will be part of my new big project going forward. Ideas?

3. I have met lots of very nice  people since we moved here. I am not that good at turning acquaintances into close friends as I am rather introverted. There must be specific steps I could take to speed up the process. Ideas?

4. When I volunteer or join a group it needs to be a situation where there is social interaction in smaller groups. I also gravitate towards having a leadership and/or planning role. So far I have only gotten involved in the Pet Club in my HOA community and became Treasurer. I'm looking into a nearby Women's Club and the local all volunteer theater. Other ideas?

5. Our family is lovely, loving and at times challenging especially in large groups. Hubby tends to pick out one person to chat with extensively at large family gatherings while I wander about and end up feeling alone and wishing I wasn't there. Hmmm. Time for a change there. Ideas?

An InLinkz Link-up

Allegies, stress, contractors and classes

Welcome to Atlanta in the Spring where we check the pollen count before engaging in any outdoor activity! We are really suffering this year but this morning I decided it is a cold type thing on top of allergies and oddly that makes me feel better about feeling badly.

I'm also acknowledging that I am stressed about moving, etc. Time to be kinder to myself. It hasn't helped that my husband has been in pain from a tooth problem and neck problems as well as allergies/cold problems. Well, we will just have to buck up I think.

On the preparing to move front we have had two contractors over and are waiting on estimates. We will have to replace two windows but found out we can just fix the third one (yeah!). The main floor bathroom redo will include a new tub and tile surround, new floor, new vanity counter top and sink. I am hoping we can reface the existing vanity to save money there. Since we are doing this to get top dollar in resale price and not to please ourselves, we are also going to hire someone to help us pick out materials for this renovation and make tweaking/painting/light fixture change recommendations for the rest of the house. Onward.

I started 4 senior university classes this week and like 3 of them. I took advantage of the one change per term option and switched the 4th one to something I hope I will enjoy more.

That's it here. What is up with you?

Stretching my mind

You may recall that in a burst of determination I signed up for 6 short courses through my local OLLI program (Osher Lifelong Learning). I have a tendency to talk myself out of doing things that require a commitment of time or substantial money. Well these classes are inexpensive so it is just time and I don't have to go if I don't like them. Each is one hour a week for 7 weeks held in (extremely) air conditioned comfort with intelligent and interesting classmates.

They started this week and 5 of the 6 are very interesting.

Life and times during the Revolutionary War - complete with show and tell objects! The instructor is cheerful, deeply knowledgeable, enthusiastic and used to talking to school children with short attention spans! No recitation of battles, politics or strategy. We are talking why the uniforms looked like they did, flogging with the Cat-of-9-Tails, sashes used as stretchers and so on. Interesting.

History of music part 2. Again a cheerful, knowledgeable and enthusiastic instructor. I really loved that he picked unusual performance versions to demonstrate different music. You haven't lived until you have heard baroque music played on the accordion.

Current trends in neuroscience - again complete with show and tell objects! Of course we are going to cover neurodegeneration, memory, etc. but the young doctoral student instructor is going to bring the medical school's set of teaching brains to class next week for us to look at and touch so we can really get a sense of neuroanatomy before proceeding. She was afraid we might not want to see them but of course we were enthusiastic.

Art and politics in the middle ages. What can I say - another great instructor and visuals.

Atheism. I was concerned about what kind of questions might be asked here in the Bible belt but they are interesting, thoughtful and wide ranging. Another winner.

I won't name the sixth class because I left at the first break. The instructor talked as though reading from a script, restricted questions to set times and was inflexible. I hope the group sticks with her but I prefer the free wheeling discussions and engaging tones of the other classes. So I have 5 more weeks of interesting classes to look forward to even though I'll miss the 6th week due to vacation.

The one surprise to me is how used I have gotten to not doing anything meaningful outside of the house every day. Getting up, dressing smartly, and heading out to classes three days a week is great.

My "Un-Lazy Summer" Plans to live a full life

I've been busy making plans (one of my super powers) for summer so I won't sit around inside basking in air conditioning instead of living a full life.

So what is scheduled?

I'll continue Pilates once a week and my half day of library volunteering. I'll go to my book club summer swim party and will (making a commitment here) read the book too.

I've also decided to delve into listening to music again and have started by listening to one of our CDs a day - really listening, not putting it on as background noise. If I don't like it though it is leaving the house as part of our ongoing pre-move belongings reduction.

I'm thinking about pulling out my drawing supplies as another activity. Perhaps I can find a free tutorial/inspiration series online.

We have coordinated plans with our sons and DILs and booked a vacation trip to CA for late July. We will all be together for a weekend (yeah!) and then we will stay a few days more to visit with other family members. The dog gets a vacation out of this too as she stays with her former foster family who she loves dearly.

Then there are the 6 (gasp) OLLI courses I just signed up for while telling myself that I will go to each and every one except when we are gone on our trip. Hold me to that please. I signed up for an interesting variety of courses held on three different days and then will also have the opportunity to attend some Lunch 'n Learns one day. So here is what I signed up for - a mix of history, music, current events, & (non) religion:

• Behind the Scenes of the Revolutionary War -  Join us for lectures on myths of the revolution, spies, court martial findings, American Indian wars, naval traditions, and colonial medicines/cures. As time permits, subjects may also include clothing, uniforms, weapons, and home life during the Revolutionary War period.
• Sight and Sound - Famous Popular, Folk, and Classical Music From Around the World - Using music videos we will explore the enduring songs, singers, and folk instrumentals from many countries, including France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Russia, Japan, North Africa, the Celtic World and the Americas. Music that has enchanted people from other countries will delight and educate. Background information and brief biographies will be provided.
• The Atlanta Beltline Project and Streetcars in Atlanta -  The Atlanta BeltLine is the most comprehensive transportation and economic development effort undertaken in Atlanta and among the most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs underway in the US. The BeltLine is a sustainable redevelopment project that will provide a network of public parks, multi-use trails and modern streetcar transit along a historic 22-mile railroad corridor circling downtown and connecting many neighborhoods. The class will cover BeltLine history, project updates, and long-range plans. It will also touch on streetcars in Atlanta from 1890 and the planned Atlanta Streetcar System, which includes the BeltLine. The class will culminate with a 3 hour tour of the BeltLine.
• The Brain Times: Neuroscience in the News - Interested in learning more about how the brain works? We will explore basic functions of the brain and discuss diseases that impact the brain. We will then discuss various examples of neuroscience in the world today.
• The Middle Age: From Byzantine in the East to High Gothic in the West -  Images, objects, and structures from this 800 year period as viewed from an interdisciplinary perspective.
• Atheism and Secularism: An Introduction - This course will be divided into six sessions. Part I: Purposes, labels, definitions, and questions. Part II: Main arguments for theism and atheism. Part III: Secularism--history and logic of church/state. Part IV: Religion and Morality. Part V: History of Atheism. Part VI: Resources, questions, and conclusions.

What do you have lined up for summer?

Do you OLLI?

That stands for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and there is one near me that is associated with Emory University. I have to admit that in the past I have not been that impressed with the courses I have tried but I took a look at their offerings for Spring and it seems they are under new management.

I had thought I would take a jewelry making class at the art center near us but realized I wanted to learn something but not make anything! So signed up for two hour long classes on two different days at OLLI. I'll start "Art in Havana" and "Timely Medical Topics" early in April.

Rambling thoughts

Yesterday my elderly Mom had a stent put in her femoral artery. According to my SIL, she was attentive and seemed to process what the doctor said and the follow up medication instructions. I talked to Mom about 30 minutes ago and the drugstore had delivered a prescription earlier this morning. She didn't recognize the doctor's name or know why she got the medicine which she thought she shouldn't take. I guess they didn't send written instructions home with her although she has been diagnosed with dementia that has pretty much destroyed her short term memory. I did get her to call my SIL to check and see if she remembered the instructions and we think all has been sorted out and she will take the medication. So frustrating - what would she do if no one was checking in on her and making sure she remembered the important things? Why do doctors not recognize the need for clear written instructions? It is also worrisome in the what awaits me realm.

Which leads me to my new volunteer activity. I am going to be a senior mentor for a first year medical student (other students involved are studying nursing, physical therapy, etc.). We have topics to cover but the whole point is for these doctors in training to get some perspective on how to more effectively treat older patients. Most of my input will be about my Mom's experiences and ours as her support system I imagine. It should be interesting. We are in catch up mode as her original mentor withdrew from the program.The topics to cover are:
- Personal History/Background
- Daily Diary
- Nutrition
- Health Systems-Medicare, Social Security, Aging Economics
- Friendship
- Volunteering
- Function and Relation to Health
- Values
- Bucket List
- Health Care Interactions with Older Adults

I checked off all my library related to do's this morning and came home with some interesting books. One of the advantages of sorting through the donated books is finding ones I've never heard of yet look interesting. I bring them home to read and then take them back for the next sale. Today's bonus books are:



 














I'm still working on these that I brought home a couple of weeks ago.

 

Lastly, today's library check outs.

 

 

I'm sticking to eating at home and am in the process of cooking everything needed to make a Nicoise salad for tonight - green beans, potatoes, eggs - in turn using one pot. I was thinking about what to make to take to the neighborhood potluck on Sunday evening and as usual my mind wandered to desserts. I'm being good though and making a green salad with oranges, dried cranberries, celery, walnuts and goat cheese. There will be plenty of desserts I'm sure LOL.

Trying new things

I strongly believe that it is important to try out new activities and experiences. Several years ago I had tried classes at my local OLLI senior university campus which is actually within walking distance. It was ok but not that engaging.

Well, I decided it was time to try it again. The class list was interesting and many were full by the time I enrolled so I ended up with 2 classes that started today. The first one is called The Decathlon of Life and is by the co-author of a new book by the same name. The people who picked this class are like me in that we all want to ramp up our fairly newly minted retirements.

The second class is Keepers of the Flame on poets of the Emerson, Dickenson, Poe era. The teacher is a retired professor who must be in his late 80's and so enthusiastic. He also tells old vaudeville jokes such as "Why did the young Southern belle turn down an invitation to an orgy? Too many thank you notes to write!". The class applauded his declamation of The Raven that was complete with a croaked "Nevermore".

I'm looking forward to both classes next week.

I'm also adding an exercise class to my workout starting tomorrow. It is a 20/20/20 class for aerobic conditioning and toning. I'm looking forward to ramping up my exercise although I am sure I will be an awkward beginner for the first few times I attend.

The other new things scheduled for this week are having the friends of the library board meet at my house instead of the library so we can celebrate another year of successful fund raising with wine and snacks. Everyone was eager to come once I brought it up. Then on Friday I head to St. Simons Island with some of my book club friends for a 2 night stay at one member's vacation home. I've never been to this Georgia Island but I have heard it is lovely. I'll enjoy seeing the lighthouse, going on a ghost tour, walking on the beach, spending time with good friends, and taking photos.

I don't usually have so many new things in one week but they are making this week great!

My brain is tired from giant technology leaps and steep learning curves

Help! I'm in the 2 steps forward, 1 step backward phase of upgrading my computer and cellphone. The phone is a hand me down and I learned today that the battery is going and can't be replaced (thanks Apple for a poor design decision) so I have to decide if I am will to go with a 2 year AT&T contract to get a $0.99 iPhone4. Sigh. Then I can get on with learning how to use it. How does one buy an app anyway? Do you have to sign into iTunes first? I need a tutorial.

Then there is my new computer. The old one died completely as the motherboard gave out after 10 years. The new Dell one is fine but they forgot to ship the keycode for Office so I sit here with a computer and internet access but no Office software. They agreed to send a new keycode but it hasn't arrived yet. Then I have to learn Windows 7 and Office 2013. More tutorials please.

I also get to buy a hard drive box, take the old hard drive out of the old computer, figure out how to hook it up as an external hard drive and then transfer all of my files. Fortunately all but about the last 6 weeks worth of changes are also backed up on a thumb drive. Oh, I also need to download the programs I had installed like Picasa and Savings Bond Wizard and my geneology software which I just learned is being discontinued so I have to pick a new one. Cue head banging about now.

I do believe that being a beginner is a good learning exercise for the brain but this is a lot of pain. And yes I know that if I wouldn't wait so long to upgrade my technology it wouldn't be so hard. But here I am with decisions and learning curves I'd rather not deal with at all.

I did get gently lectured by my son that if I would sign up for the free Lockbox online backup this would all be easier. The same if I switched to gmail instead of comcast downloading into Outlook. I may well do all of those things but I want my old information back from the old computer first!

One little step at a time. Today's was going to my appointment at the Apple Store (who knew you needed an appointment!) to confirm the phone battery was the problem. Now I am hanging out hoping FedEx shows up with the info needed to install Office. And I am celebrating having internet access again while the dog sleeps in my lap.