Kind of up to date

Well, I'm officially up to date with the Into the Fray podcast I've been listening to for the past 2 years or so. 

Actually, I'm one episode away from being 100% up to date, as I've yet to listen to this past week's story.

I'll probably get back to it once I am up to date with Rachael's podcast. 

Randomly, Apple Podcasts keeps pushing all the series I subscribe to, as a "listen now" and not in order that I would want it to be. For example, since I've missed well over a year of stuff about ladybugs (or lady birds in the UK, which is Rachael's talk) and my podcatcher wants to give me the newest episode of a series I haven't even started yet, let only doesn't explain why I should be on season 3. So going into the insect show, I don't get the opportunity to listen to whatever is the next episode of the last season I listened to. 

I know. Confusing.

What I'd like to do... and from research saying it's a glitch in the Apple Matrix because their podcast system sucks (this is what people say and I am starting to believe it with every iOS update)... is have all the shows I started listening to in late 2019 to now, be in order under the "listen now" tab from the date of last listen. Meaning, if the last time I listened to Aaron Mahnke's Lore podcast was in May of 2020, then whatever that next episode is, is played. Whether that's May 25 or  June 8 (as the show drops every other Monday). 

But that doesn't happen in the fruit podcatcher. They give you whatever the hell they want to, first. I could probably download Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music / Podcasts, or any other catcher, but then I've not only got to re-subscribe to everything, I've also have to maintain a playlist or figure out how I can tell the app that I've gotten so many episodes into the show. Plus, does any of it take up a lot of room on my phone? As I've been watching my internal memory creep everywhere because of random apps I already own, I don't want to bog my cell phone down with more stuff. If the podcatchers download the episode(s), that's going to fill my phone up super quickly. I don't know too much about it all, so I'm probably over thinking it and all the data for each app stays within the app. I welcome opinions and suggestions regarding this challenge if anyone has found a loophole or a fix.

I also welcome the suggestion regarding Apple Podcasts if fan children know the workaround. I don't want to have to download a new piece of software to listen to all the series in order, nor do I want to download each episode to my phone and place them in some semblance of order that I want, as that'll take up internal space too. 

On a 64GB capacity iPhone 11 with 33.31GB currently available. 

Yeah, I know. I've got half the fecking world to play with, as almost half the memory is still free and odds are each show I listen to (combined), probably won't fill up but 10 GB total. They all come out at random times. Why try to actively maintain it? I like the fact they silently slip into the mix as new and updated, and I don't have to worry. I don't know if I can handle them downloading to my phone in the middle of the night without me telling it where to go.

I'm totally making a mountain out of a molehill on this. There has to be some easier way to go about this. 

Someone want to please help?!

Until I can fully get this situated... be nice to your ears. Listen to something new! 

Cheers;

See also

Rachael's Links:

• Hidden Wings and Bloodlust Podcast on Facebook
  
• Hidden Wings and Bloodlust Podcast on Podbean
  
• Hidden Wings and Bloodlust on Twitter
  
• Hidden Wings and Bloodlust on Ko-Fi
  

Drivy talkie?

If you talk about something it'll happen... 

Yesterday morning on my way to work, I passed the car that has the "Please don't honk" sticker. It's not a Honda, it's a Mitsubishi Mirage. I happened to see the car around the same area I saw it the day before, too. 

It is actually quite funny how there are times you see something once (and it could be forgetful), and then there are times you see something twice (and it could be memorable). I wonder if Monday I'll see it again. 

If I do, I know that person is local enough that they have a similar commute. 

Just wanted to update, so until I see it again, happy driving!

Cheers;

Moment of randoms?

 This morning on my way to work, I saw a weird sticker on a car. No, it wasn't a Dead Head Sticker on a Cadillac, because I don't remember the make of the car. Maybe it was a Honda Civic. Who knows. 

But the sticker said "Please don't honk I already hate it here" and it has a cartoon opossum that is crying (I think it's a opossum?).

I don't understand it. I mean, I think I understand it, but I kind of don't. Is it supposed to be for the people who want to not scare the animals (especially the marsupials)? Or is it to not have to deal with road kill and make sure everyone stays within their lane?

I could think of variables to answer this question and definitely accept suggestions. I wish I had an answer because this type of thing confuses me. Unless I'm completely stupid and missing the point because it relates to some popular manga / anime or what not. The car had something else on its back end but the stickers were so tiny, I'm lucky I caught the "please don't honk", as it was on the right side of the car as the driver was passing me on the left. 

When I tried to image search that, I actually went into Amazon and they don't carry it in stock. However, when searching "please don't do", the first line of things that came up was "coke in the bathroom". Which is kind of funny since I have a friend (hi Tay) who is into music from the 1980s and we were talking about musicians and drugs the other day. I found the neon signs rather fitting because he also talks about music from the 1970s (another decade of decadence). 

I must say, if I had know these stickers were available when I was dropping PHWNH stuff in places, I would have definitely added them to the repertoire. Happy 60th Birthday, Eddie, if you're reading this, by the way. 

Still on the "don't do" bus, there is also "Please Don't Do Ketamine Off The Koala Kare Changing Station" items, which is more apt for businesses rather than the general use of not doing other powder on toilets. 

Either way, I've gone completely off topic from the original thought of the cartoon sticker. I don't even know what to word it in search engines to see what the meaning is. Unless I string "please don't honk" in terms, it could be snowflake related (don't honk | I'll cry via Amazon)? Is that the underlying reason? 

Like I said, I don't totally understand this as a cultural reference. There are some things I can admit to, where I'm probably the 40 watt bulb among the 100 watts, but I'm also the energy saver too. If that'll help. Other instances, I'm the most used crayon in the 96 count box with sharpener. I just can't promise there is still enough paper to finish the story with. 

Oh well, to each his own. If anyone cares to elaborate on this woder of mine, I would surely appreciate it.

Until then..

Cheers;

Drier than the Mojave after a rain storm?

I'm sure I talked about this before, so if I have, it's updated information. If I haven't, well, I've been apparently out in the sun too long and have hung around a bunch of 80 year olds for even longer. 

I've been using the Native Charcoal deodorant since close to my last post about Tom's of Maine (in May). 

At first glance in the tube, the grey color is concerning. I'm used to white sticks, or when using gel, translucent. The dark color of the deodorant was "oh that's new". However, I think I've had other colors from this brand where it 'matched' the scent. I don't remember what flavors I had looked at previously where it wasn't the usual white. They are still on the lighter end of the color spectrum.  

Sniff test: There's no over powering smell to it; you really have to put your nose up to it in order to get a whiff of something clean (the Native website states that it's "ocean-fresh, mineral fragrance features a hint of citrus, the power of charcoal, and an air of mystery"). While working in 90 degree heat and running around all day, I'm not finding myself stinky, nor am I smelling like I went for a dunk at Guthrie Beach and somehow ran through an orange and lemon grove afterward). I think this has to do with the charcoal powder dispersed within the deodorant.

Dryness: Again, with the charcoal powder, I think that it is prohibiting me from overly sweating because I wasn't feeling gross or wet after said running around. Surprisingly the pits were the only ones who didn't feel like they were bathing after heavy lifting. Being inside in air conditioning and then outside in the 100 degree humidity and moving furniture or driving in a golf cart, you get a little drippy in places, especially when you're a fat kid. But my under arms stayed fresh and I think it's due to the charcoal absorbing everything. 

There are reviews about this brand (in particular) staining clothes. When I originally bought the 3 pack bundle of scents on the Native site (2 years ago already?), I was concerned about that happening to me. I wasn't finding any discoloration on my outfits and even with this new stick, I am not finding it leaving trails. 

Trust me - I wore a white shirt the other day and I saw no marks under the arm sleeves. 

Other reviews, especially for the charcoal, are saying it stains your skin and leaves a rash. Me, who looks carefully at the ingredients for certain terms, needs to be cautious on what's in the bottle. Knock on wood, I haven't had any negative effects so far in regards to breakouts, but am on the fence on how the stick changes the pigmentation on the skin. My arms don't look like the pictures posted in reviews, that's for sure, but I also have dark hair, so I can't say the brand is ruining my body unless I also say my own body is ruining itself (I've always had challenges after shaving my pits, so it's not Native for leaving smudging under 2 layers of skin... could be me).

Yes, I know, lots of TMI, but I'm not immune to making the comments on here. Look at the first time I posted regarding Native and other items. 

All in all, I think I'm still going to look around and test other products. Not stay with one thing unless I'm finding it works really well. I wanted to update on this particular brand and say how the new scent is working. It's my last stick for the company, even though I always look out at retailers for a price cut (because, really, $13 is steep when other "natural" brands range from $6-10). All budgets are different, however, if I'm finding a particular brand is better than this (due to interactions) and it's also reliably less money (sometimes with coupons and sales!), I'm going to reach for the competitor first. Plus, Native is not in all stores right now. If they are, the stock is limited to a few scents, although I forget where I recently was - there was a good 2 dozen flavors on the shelves, when usually there's under 10. 

Find what you're worth and work it. 

Cheers;

See also:

• We all get a (free) mini deodorant if you order on Native (I've gotten the free stick before and it's really very little. Good for traveling, though). 
• Amazon has the charcoal deodorant at $12.97.
  
• Native website has the charcoal deodorant for $13.
  
• Native is currently running some offers:
  
  
  
  
  
• I've seen the brand at big box stores for $13+ but sometimes it's $11 or under if the store wants to get rid of it (the Candy Cane flavor was real cheap a couple years ago at Target and it smelled amazing. I bought the last stick when I saw it). 

People aren't immune from this blog...

... But I do make it a point to change names, as the stories I tell are sometimes drawn from real world examples. In all the instances I give, the reader will either know someone like this, have it happen to them, or in a tiny case, the person I talk about is actually reading this. 

In any case, I have a story to tell. So sit back, buckle up, and get ready for a 2 minute read.

Seriously. It's not that long, so there will be no choosing of your own adventure turn page at the end. This is just a quick laugh for a Monday and I did find the situation highly comical when it happened. 

About two weeks ago, I had set up a big room at work. It was a 100 person lecture with microphones, a baby grand piano and the presenter was bringing their own computer. People were slowly filing in and the presenter hadn't shown up yet (which is sometimes the case with the guy. It's nothing new) and there I was, leaning over the second floor balcony, watching the octogenarians below. I needed to hang around because the presenter might have slight challenges hooking up his laptop to the system (again, nothing new). Plus, I needed to fill him in on some news (which I didn't have full opportunity to do). 

Anyway, as I'm standing outside the room, the elevator across the way opens up to floor I'm on, and out comes a couple people. This includes a husband and wife who I've made friends with over the last several years (the wife in particular, since we have similar interests and she's been a great source of information about all things random). As they are walking towards me, the woman is a few feet ahead of her husband and we catch each other's face.

Next thing you know, she's so excited to see me, that she booms out "I had a dream about you!" into a hollow area. Her husband and I look oddly at each other and laugh. I told her she "better be careful, [her husband] might get worried!" and he chuckled again as the woman stayed close to me so we could catch up. The husband went in the room to find a seat. 

She had some concerns about things and wanted to confirm the dream with me. Although she is not one to be overly dramatic and have forebodings, she just needed a little reassurance about things. I filled in all the gaps she needed and we discussed how, if she does that greeting again, people are going to start talking. Which wouldn't be so bad... you need the dust kicked up once in a while. It's an easy win. 

After the talk, she walked in to the room to find her husband, which I also said he's probably plotting something crazy at this point, and the next thing I know, the presenter has arrived and as guessed, he needed computer help / someone to double check his work / help to get him on the right track / to make the presentation seamless. I got him sorted, he apologized immensely to the crowd for being late (he had lost track of time in his last presentation, which was a 45 minute drive away), he forgot his phone, but he's all good now. Time to rock and roll. 

All in all, I guess you had to be there to gain the full experience. I just found it comical how the little things you don't think you'll run in to, can definitely make the day go quickly when you're not expecting it. It's great to have such fun friends that allow you to have truly random conversations and if they are with their person (spouse, partner, etc.), that human can take the joke as well (hopefully). It is always a fun time when you can share a giggle among the generation gap and walk away like "what just happened??" ... but in a positive way. 

Stay true to yourself. Don't question the crazy unless the train is at the wrong station.

Cheers;

I seriously need to learn to use...

 ... my Fotodiox Macro Extension Tube better, since obviously I failed this morning. 

Trying to do something interesting, I snapped a few pictures of the water droplets that formed on the drying mattafter I made my smoothie*.

Not having amazing light in my kitchen and not trying to hook up all the contraptions (a tripod, an external light source, the external shutter remote), I took it upon myself to tell my brain to make my arms not shake enough so I could use my camera. 

Well... out of 35 pictures, no one wanted to play nice together and I only have a couple stills where the H2O looks pretty cool against the textured background of the drying matt.

An HP laptop not designed for photo editing, all I did was put everything in Photoshop to put my name on them. Otherwise, WYSIWYG from my Canon T7i. 

I know it's not the best because I wasn't really trying. I thought the droplets were cool and wanted to see what I could get with my macro lens and camera. I know they aren't the best, but I've learned a valuable lesson: you like it, you want to capture it? Slow down and get the correct gear. Don't try to let your head tell you otherwise. 

Until I can figure out some more stuff to do... 

Cheers;

* I'm still trying the "subscribe and save" on Amazon for the Orgain Organic Protein + Superfoods Powder, Vanilla Bean but every time I have "send every month", someone lately asks me if I want to go to Costco. So I end up buying the bigger tub as it was on sale the last two times I went to the warehouse. Now I've got a couple saved, I've gone to "send once every two months". I may end up switching back to monthly because it really does last the month. We'll see. 

I also have been trying other recipes too, as my mom saw one online that uses a frozen banana cocoa powder, coffee, peanut butter, milk and the protein power. Plus ice. My friend Tay says he drinks something similar all the time and loves it. I think I have a slight allergy to peanut butter or I keep using too much because it turns my stomach. But trying the McCafe Paris Café as the coffee, I can taste the java and it has a weird aftertaste. As blended as everything is, I can taste the coffee and it's not overly amazing. Yet, the coffee with just creamer is fine. Not "zomg, I am throwing out all my other K-Cups" amazing, but good enough that I'll rotate it in with my other brands.