Customer lost or customer gained?

As much as I've seen the "viral videos" of people going to certain coffee chains and saying how bad things have gotten, just for a coffee, I'm not innocent in my java addiction by any means. I still partake in the "every so often" expenditure, without trying to break the bank or break a diet.

Key phrasing is “try”.

I’m still making it at home, daily. Even though the only fancy thing I do, is pour some random Torani syrup in at the last second to give the caffeine a little more (sugar free) jolt. 

For context regarding the videos, the algorithm on the gym televisions where I watch a lot of Youtube, have had various "shock" videos "promoting”, “debunking”, and "raising questions" about what places like Starbucks is putting in their blended drinks (some silica powder that turns into something hazardous to workers) or that Dunkin' is doling out a $12.99 bucket (which rumor has it that the thing is just 2.5 medium, or 1.5 large iced coffees). The individual coffees are a lesser cost than the bucket, plus you can't get it refilled unless you purchase the drinks separately. If you want to go the route of the bucket, there are places online where you can buy just the bucket itself.

While I haven't witnessed any of this first hand, except for seeing how small the Dunkin bucket actually is, I can't confirm nor deny any truth to the videos I am seeing online. I'm just making conversation as part of something I do want to discuss, with the difference being, please watch the videos with a grain of salt and do your own research. 

My personal story relating to big coffee chains is the following:

One of the local Starbucks, which is in a Target, does not accept cash to refill the Starbies app. 

Let me explain, with a little more information…

If you are a Starbucks "member", especially one with the app, you can put money on an internal (digital) card and use that to pay for your food and drink. You can also use a physical card if that’s something you prefer; you just need to link it to your account. The card is refillable and as a member, you get a certain amount of points (stars) depending on how much money you (digitally) reload on to it.

Notice I’ve said “digitally” because this comes in to play with my issue.

This also means that whenever you make a qualified purchase on that card, you also get points (stars) that can be used for other purchases. The exception is you need to meet whatever the threshold is, in order to redeem said stars (currently, 25 stars equals "$1 off a drink customization, including an espresso shot, syrup or cold foam", for example). 

Going back to my challenge at the local Starbucks:

I went in one day, cash in hand, and wanted to reload my card. I was all set to put $30 on it, as someone had given me half the money as a thank you for doing something for them. 

When I gave the barista my cash, all the workers froze in place. Almost like I was doing something bad and they were worried what the next move was.

One of the workers ended up saying “We can’t accept cash” and the rest of the team also made mumblings about my not being able to pay with the bills. 

I asked why, and I was informed that this particular Starbucks is “a highly trafficked store. Due to so many people coming in and out and doing a lot of high value orders, the store has been frauded too many times. A lot of people have come in with cash and tried loading their cards with fake money, as well as using the fake money to make purchases. It’s more on the reload side than anything else, so cash isn’t accepted to load the card”. Everyone who goes in and wants to put money on their app, has to do it via credit or debit card. The store will refuse to take your money.

Now the interesting part is, if I didn’t want to use my account to pay for my item, I surely can use cash instead. I just wouldn’t get the star to dollar points that the card gives you (for every dollar you spend, you get X amount of stars if you use your Starbucks card as a form of payment. It’s a higher amount than paying cash or using a credit card). 

Why they accept cash to pay for the order but don’t allow you to use the same cash to refill your card seems weird to me. They were adamant about not accepting my money when I wanted to load my account up. They made sure I knew exactly how the store has had cash fraud and their new rule is they can’t take your money if you want to put it into your account. I could go to another store if I wanted to load my card with cash, or I could use a debit or credit card. I just wasn’t allowed to spend my thirty dollars there with cash. 

I ended up cancelling the order and ultimately canceled whatever coffee I was going to order, because my mind was boggled over this conversation. If they accept paper bills for one transaction, they should for the other. It truly doesn’t make sense to me (literally… sense / cents. Haha).   

I haven’t tried any other Starbucks yet, as I have not gone to another location. I do want to see if it happens at any other place, because a franchise store in another bigger store has that much traffic, they get scammed on a routine basis? Here I thought the most problems lately were with cards still; that there’s somehow way for hackers to get your info within a certain radius of the card reader. People are still washing money and laundering it into other means… in this day and age? Cash is no longer king at this specific mermaid retailer, apparently. 

It is one of those “mind.blown” things to me. 

I did try again another day, and received the same information: Cash is not welcome to reload the app because the store is a high traffic store and they’ve been conned too often and the owner has made it a big rule that cash is not a valid option when reloading the Starbucks cards. It’s only welcome if you want to pay for your overall purchase. 

Which again, is one in the same – my “purchase” is reloading the app, which in turn, pays for my coffee. The other option is I can use the cash to pay for the coffee while scanning my app and not get all the points I would if I paid with the store card. It’s just a jumble now. 

The second time in, I just said fine; I’ll pay the cash for the coffee and that’s it. It’s not worth it to ask again. It really doesn’t even seem worth it to go to another location to see what they do, because I don’t frequent the brand that often to warrant it. I mean, if I get a coffee from them once a month, that’s plenty because they charge for everything again. 

Unless it’s a store by store basis, I’ve gone in and ordered an iced coffee with breve (cream) and all of a sudden my bill is higher because they poured the half and half in the cup. If I ask for “room for cream” and use the thermos on the side table that has the napkins and sugar, I’m paying less for the coffee. Same way one day the store tells me they don’t charge for syrup additions, and the next day, they do. Actually, I’ve gone into two stores that have done this, and they’ve both been in a Target. Maybe it’s a Target thing?

I feel like I’m strangely circling the wagon with this one because I just don’t understand the cash to fraud situation. I’m not defending anything by any means; I only want to know why the rule seems half baked. I don’t manage the store; it’s not my job. If they want to define the shopping experience, so be it. I will define my patronage by not ordering there too much. It is what it is.

On a relative side note,  I brewed a 10 cup carafe of Folgers decaf coffee last night and let it cool enough to put it in a recycled iced coffee bottle, to make iced coffee this week. I then added Torani syrup and Planet Oat creamer today and it was a new flavor for me.

The breakdown (how I saved myself some money instead of going to a coffee house):

I have an old school 10 cup Dominion electric percolator

. 

Mix that with two scoops of Folgers decaf ground coffee. The scoop I use is from the Orgain protein powder. It's something like 32cc and actually works well. 

I let all that do its thing and once it cooled down, I actually poured it into an old Starbucks Iced Coffee container (the type you get in the refrigerator section, pre made). Let all that hang out over night in the fridge. 

Today, I added (a new flavor for me) Torani syrup. I usually get sugar free, but World Market was giving away very specific fall flavors for members, and I picked up the Chai Tea Spice because free is free; I'll try it. 

It's normally a $10.99 bottle (and it's glass, to boot, so it has home heft to it) and it's definitely different in the flavor realm.

With that, I added the Planet Oat Oatmilk "Sweet and Creamy" Creamer.

Et voila; I had myself an iced coffee. 

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the Planet Oat bottle because I tore off the label so I could reuse the container. I bought one of those 64 ounce CoffeeMate Creamer vessels at BJ's last week and to make it easier on myself, I poured half of it into the Oatmilk container once I finished the oatmilk. #thingsyoudotosave. 

Overall, the Chai is an acquired taste and it gives off a different style of sweetness mixed with bitterness, I think because of whatever spices are infused in the syrup process. I know that "dirty chai" drinks are a bit of the rage with certain age brackets and coffee lovers, so adding this to a regular brew, rather than an espresso, is different. I know espresso is more of a condensed coffee, but when you don't have access to that type of bean, you have to make due with what's in your pantry. I think if there was a sugar free version of the Chai, I might try it, only to see if any specific flavors are toned down. It's truly a new experience and profile for me.  

When I finish this (giant ass) bottle, I'm going to try the coconut version. It was "on sale" and is the size of those small Mio packages - the type of squeezable container you can carry with you and put a drop or two of refresher in your drink. They're actually being referenced as "liquid drink enhancer" on Amazon and other retailers. It's worth the literal shot to see how this stacks up against other additions. If it can go in water or coffee, this may be a game changer.

In the end, it's easy to say "to each their own and to each experimenting with flavors" as I shall leave it here. Hopefully on the next coffee run, I learn something different and get a new idea for my home brew. You never know what to try unless you pay the full price first. Only then can you start saving at home and making variations to your liking. 

Cheers;

See also (aka links to Amazon for the products I used to make my coffee):

• Folgers Simply Smooth Ground Coffee, Mild Roast, 23 Ounce Canister
  
• Torani Coffee Syrup, Chai Tea Spice Flavor, Pump Included, 25.4 Fl Oz (third party seller)
  
• "Percolator" (keyword) (possible third party sellers)
  
• Planet Oat storefront (possible third party sellers)
  
• Torani Sugar Free Coconut Liquid Drink Enhancer, Water Flavoring 4-Pack, 1.62 Oz Ea (third party seller)
  
• "Dunkin bucket" (keyword) (this is not the branded bucket; but sellers with knock off sizes for sale)

Is it a secret if they willingly tell you?

When I went to the library the other day, I asked about the decals on the bookshelf:

• Where does the library pick them up - is it a specific site or store? 
• Are they widely available anywhere else? 

The librarian told me, rather openly, that another person "Google image searches the images, prints them, and then laminates them". I asked about the main sign, and was promptly told "that's done by someone at the main library. In the admin offices, there's a design team who works on all of those posters". The person I was talking to didn't know where the designer got the images to put it all together, as they only knew the posters arrived as you see it. Therefore, insight was limited for the creation of bigger stuff. Small stuff was different - it was all done at this branch. 

I had went on to say how I saw the pictures the other day and was really intrigued, but didn't know, or think to ask, where they came from. I know so many people (including myself) who would love the have the cryptids hanging around as decoration, but couldn't figure out where the pictures were from. The librarian basically / begrudgingly agreed with me, as I think she wanted me gone at that point because I asked her a seemingly weird question. 

I did thank her for her help and told her I appreciated the information. 

There you go; or there I have it: Whenever the library switches over to a new theme on the book case, someone in the facility goes to Google, looks for various images, meticulously cuts them out, and then the images are laminated (and cut again). 

I honestly didn't think it was that easy. Kind of taking the cheap way out, but I also understand why they would do it. It's more economical to find your own photos and tape them up, rather than continuously buy sets of decals you may not want all of (let's say it is a pack of 100 and you only want 5 or 6 images from that pack). 

Plus, depending on your printer situation, you're "only wasting" ink for a dozen or so small images. Packs of card stock or other paper can be on sale a lot too. A laminating machine basically pays for itself after the first few uses, especially if you've got a lot of things you want to put behind a plastic sheet. 

Proof it doesn't hurt to ask and the answer you get may surprise you!

Cheers;

See also (aka ideas to help home crafters):

(links via Amazon)

• Laminating machine
• Laminating sheets
• Paper cutter
• Crafting scissors
• Printer Paper
• Printer (research says any printer can work, just as long as you change the settings to print photos)

"People come and people go"

"Winds that howl and winds that blow

And you, got to let it go.

People come and people go

Winds that howl and winds that blow

And you, got to let it go."

Strangefolk. Lyrics to "Lines and Circles". From the album,"Lore". 1995.

It's been a wild celebrity ride this year, and it's not even September yet. There have been so many deaths, someone, somewhere, is super mad at the hairless apes roaming the world. 

I'm not going to go through what will become the Television Academy's "In Memoriam" page, but I do want to touch upon several "big names" for me, leading to the more recent news this week. I also am going back and forth in months because I am looking them up as I type this.

I read last month that Bud Cort had passed away in February, due to "complications of pneumonia". I don't recall this making major news because I would have remembered hearing about it when it happened; unless outlets were covering it really quickly during working hours and my not watching television. While I've only seen a handful of his movies (most notably, "Harold & Maude"), I didn't know much more of him or that he had been doing a lot various gigs up until 2016 (when IMDB stopped listing his roles). It's been so long since I've seen the other films he's been in, I totally forgot he had a character in them. For example, "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou", "Pollack", "Coyote Ugly", "But I'm A Cheerleader", "Dogma", "And The Band Played On", "M*A*S*H", and the list goes on. The characters may be briefly shown, but he's still very much credited. 

In March, the news broke about Nicholas Brendon, known primarily for his role of "Xander" on the "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" television series, but also later for "Kevin" on "Criminal Minds". He too, had an array of films and shows, but I think he was more remembered as Xander than anything else. He "died in his sleep due to natural causes" but was notorious for being a bad boy in some later years (including addictions to alcohol and pills, as well as multiple arrests and various charges). It's a shame because he seemed like a good guy and it only shows you how "the industry" can mess you up.

I am not much of a fan of James Van Der Beek, but he had passed away in February, "after a battle with colorectal cancer". He was known for playing the title character, "Dawson", on "Dawson's Creek" in the late 1990s and had some sports related movies during that time ("Varsity Blues"). He was also in the first season of "Pose" several years ago. His shows weren't ones I was regularly watching, and I think maybe I haven't seen a complete season of "Dawson" in my life. If I've seen 5 episodes, I've seen four too many. It wasn't one of those shows I was in to, but is still part of my generation. I watched "Pose" more for it being a Ryan Murphy series, as well as the portrayal of New York's ball culture rise in the 1980s. 

Showing my young age, the next name really shouldn't be on my radar, but neither should Bud Cort be listed here (and what will come later). However, I must add it because I am familiar with their work. 

Robert Duvall, who passed away in February, with nothing posted online as for reasons how (i.e. natural causes, etc). More known for his role in "The Godfather" series, he was a heavy hitter in other major films ("Apocalypse Now", "The Judge", "To Kill A Mockingbird") and television shows (known for working with horror master Alfred Hitchcock and on an episode of the science fiction shows such as "The Twilight Zone" and "The Outer Limits", although it was short lived episodes for him). More dramas and what feels like historical films than anything else, he is yet another name to add to the "M*A*S*H" movie line up (I'm sensing a theme here with the war film). 

You'd have to be living under a rock, if you didn't know the name "Chuck Norris". A man known for his action and martial arts roles, he passed away in March, after being "hospitalized for a medical emergency". Most people know Mr. Norris as "Walker, Texas Ranger", but he was also known for playing himself in television shows (walk on roles) and philanthropy work (martial arts for kids, various Veterans foundations). Local internet lore constantly churned out memes in his jokingly favor - if you needed help in a fight, Chuck Norris would scare the opponent into submission.

A voice and actress to be reckoned with, Catharine O'Hara died in January, due to a "pulmonary embolism". Known for playing Macauley Culkin's mom in the "Home Alone" movies, Ms. O'Hara was a comedic legend. She not only had a voice over role in "Nightmare Before Christmas" (one of my favorite Tim Burton movies), she starred alongside Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton in "Beetlejuice" (another Burton fave). If you look at her acting credits, it really does look favorable in Tim Burton's cache of films. Later years, she worked on the television series "Schitt's Creek" (something I didn't start) and "The Studio". This woman had such an array of credits to her name, it's amazing to see what she hasn't been in! 

I saw on the "Entertainment Weekly" website that Derry Brownson died on August 13. Derry was the keyboardist and a founding member of the British band, EMF. One of the band's top (known) singles would be "Unbelievable", which is from their 1991 album, "Schubert Dip". This, to some extent, feels like the only hit American airwaves heard from them because it hit Billboard's Hot 100 in the summer of '91. When radio stations weren't playing "Unbelievable" on rotation, parties were playing "Children" and "Lies", which is off of the same album. "Schubert Dip". It seems like that record dropped multiple singles, but the most known is track six, "Unbelievable". 

Fans of "The Sopranos" would be remiss in knowing Vincent Pastore passed away on August first. His character, "Sal 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero was a mainstay on the first two seasons of the mob show. My mom used to always watch this series, so I am familiar with the actor. His credit listing reads like he does mostly drama / gang (mafia) movies; he found his niche at being typecast as a New York bruiser. "Carlito's Way", "Goodfellas", "New Jack City", and "The Basketball Diaries" are a few other films he starred in. 

Sam Neill, better known for his work in movies such as "Jurassic Park", "Merlin" and "Peaky Blinders passed away July 13. The news reported most of his acting credits, but not once did someone mention "Merlin". It was weird and overall, his death was a shock to a lot of people. The crew of the 1920s Manchester mob show have lost a lot of people the last few years, and it's sad to see how connected to other movies they are (Helen McCrory comes to mind. She played "Aunt Polly" in the series, but she's also better known to "Harry Potter" movie fans as "Narcissa Malfoy"). 

There are way too many names on the list to continue cherry picking them and writing about it. My whole point of making this post is twofold: One to mention Dolly Parton and the other to mention Tim Curry. 

I'm not a huge Dolly fan, but I respect what she's done in her eighty years on this earth. The philanthropy she set in motion, such as libraries and reading materials for children and LGBTQIA etc. acceptance. She was an actress, a writer, a singer - royalty among her genre, but she wasn't afraid to fight for what she thought was right. She was a humanitarian and it seems a contradiction, but she was political in how she used her words in music; never in advertising or online. You just need to listen closely to figure it out. There was no malice or fighting with her when she spoke up or how she spoke up. According to reports, she made you feel like you didn't have to hide anything around her. You could be outspoken and she would not argue back (actually, she would, in her own Southern way) but you didn't feel dumb about it. She played a sort of safe route while trailblazing her way through life, not only for herself, but for others. She lived to help people, not harm them. I read the other day that she could have been a billionaire multiple times over, but due to giving away a lot of her wealth to various charitable organizations, she left this place with several million dollars. All due to her wanting to be better and do better for people. I'll always find it fascinating that she wrote the music to "9 to 5" on her fingernails! That's talent to get the rhythm down like that... seriously.  I'm glad I worked with a person who adored Dolly because I was one of a group of people who chipped in to buy him the last part of Dolly's memoir series, "Star of the Show: My Life on Stage". We all got to write a little passage in the first page of the book for the person and I think we made his holiday season. He has Dolly everything and I know he's probably not doing so well right now. JH, if you're reading this, you're being thought about and I'm so happy we all got you that book. It's a wonderful read about Ms. Parton and you deserve it. 

Tim Curry, on the other hand, is someone I've spoken about before. His acting and musical credits are pages long because he's been on stage and screen since the late 1960s. The last few times I mentioned his name here, I kept toying with the idea of buying his memoir, "Vagabond" and I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed reading it because he was insightful yet illusively evasive about his life. He wanted to write about the things he did and saw, but still kept a lot of it private. You could tell there were things he was leaving out, and it did make you want to know what it is, but I respect anything of reason for privacy. With his death on August 25 at age 80, there are rumors swirling on what triggered it, but I'm not posting those here. I will say, they would make sense, given the circumstances. Based on his book and his interviews, I know he's lived a long, hard life and again according to a few interviews he gave this year (because it's the 50th anniversary of "Rocky Horror"), he was given the death question. He said something to the effect of "not fearing it" and he is "trying to avoid it" even though he "would welcome it in the end". Based on the same interviews, I think he was appreciative for what he had in his life because his own father passed away at a young age due to a stroke. Tim was older than his father when he had his own stroke in 2012, so every year he lived past that day, was a good day. Fourteen years later, as my aunt texted me last night, "Do you think Dr. F-N-F has returned to his home planet?", to which I said "Anything is possible!". Long live Nigel Thornberry, Pennywise the Dancing Clown, Rooster Hannigan, Wadsworth, Long John Silver, The Lord of Darkness and Hexxus! 

There have been way too many memes the last 72 hours about Dolly and Tim's death, and unfortunately, some are very much geared to hating on a certain individual. I'm not linking anything here, nor am I going to explain it more. I'm leaving it at "the hairless apes roaming the woods around each continent are doing something to anger higher powers if we keep losing celebrities at a clip, yet others are still standing. Mother nature is very angry with us, given all the heat and humidity it doesn't belong in, the flash flooding, the power outages... we're definitely not on the right track". 

Until we get another list going and we fix our future, be mindful of your surroundings and tell your friends you dig them (or you'll help bury them if needed. Whatever works). Oh, and I just finished reading James Patterson's novel, "Zoo". I watched the television series when it aired, but think the book is way better. Check it out if you can. 

Cheers;

See also:

• Strangefolk "Lines and Circles"  / "Lore" album on Amazon
• Bud Cort page on IMDB
• "Harold and Maude" film via Amazon
• Nicholas Brendon page on IMDB
• "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" series on Amazon
• James Van Der Beek page on IMDB
• "Dawson's Creek" on Amazon
• Robert Duvall page on IMDB
• "The Godfather" series on Amazon
• Chuck Norris page on IMDB
• "Walker, Texas Ranger" series on Amazon
• Catharine O'Hara page on IMDB
• "Home Alone" on Amazon
• EMF's "Schubert Dip" album on Amazon
• "Entertainment Weekly" article about 2026 celebrity deaths
• Vincent Pastore page via IMDB
• The Sopranos series on Amazon
  
• Sam Neill page on IMDB
• "Jurassic Park" franchise via Amazon
• Dolly Parton's 2025 book, "Star of the Show: My Life on Stage" via Amazon
• Dolly Parton on Amazon
• Tim Curry page on IMDB
• Tim Curry's 2025 memoir, "Vagabond" on Amazon
• "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" on Amazon
  
• James Patterson's novel, "Zoo" on Amazon

"Where do you keep them in the off season???"

Had to do a Costco run today with some friends. We weren't paying too much attention to some of the items at the front of the store (entrance) but once we turned the corner from the electronics, right in our sightline, we had two huge Halloween decorations.

I know on the Costco site (over $200), so Amazon having the skeleton for under 50 means it's not the same size. Buyer beware when you're looking for something economical because "size matters" in this case. 

The Frankenstein is listed on the Costco site as "7.5' Animated Monster with LCD Eyes and Sound" but it is not available on the A to Z page. Instead, I found other animated objects for sale. Like I said, the skeleton, listed as "62" Giant Ground Breaking Skeleton with LCD Eyes and Sound" in the warehouse, is not truly the same one as listed on Jeff Bezos' stakeholder site. The crawler varies by price and size. 

I didn't notice the eyes move on the skeleton (maybe the power was off), but holy cow; when we walked down the aisle and past hoodlum Frank, his eyes really did follow us. It was weird and got me singing Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me" (the debut album of the same name was released on Motown Records in January of 1984). 

Yes, I said "Hoodlum Frank" because he looks like he's trolling the bad side of town for a quick score of cheap candy. If he wanted the good stuff (you know, the king size bars), he'd be a little more dressed up dapper, in order to go to the posh communities. Plus, he wouldn't be wearing sawed off handcuffs to mansions on the hill. Unless they were made of gold and diamond crusted. 😂

Anyway, when we saw the decorations, one of the friends asked "Where do you keep those things when they're not on your lawn?" and I said "If you're like my friend Shawn, you're using them all year round". 

I explained how Shawn has two giant skeletons in his yard, of which he decorates based on season. During big football games, they're passing the pigskin. During summer, they're wearing pool floaties. It's gotten to the point that he's had them outside for so long, he's found a creator online that can 3D print some of the joint pieces and has had things replaced (because purchasing a new full body would be silly if you know how to just reattach a single piece). When you're that skinny and dislocate a joint, it's easier to pop a new piece back into place than to worry about someone getting jealous of the new kid on the block. That, and the trash men might not appreciate having to squish a Halloween decoration in their truck; depending on how compact it gets, there's potential of someone getting worried the femur is real and police are called to the dump. You never know... since the area could be corrupt (aka mob run) and all.. we both are very well versed with New England mafia lore. 

Ok. I'm going off subject and into territories that could get me in trouble. Back on track.

I did explain to my friends though, in all honesty, that Shawn really keeps the skeletons up all year and decorates them accordingly. My aside was just that.. me going on a squirrel adventure and taking you along. 

My friends thought that keeping the skeletons up year round was interesting and a fun idea because you seriously could do so many different things with these large items and if you have great neighbors, you're apt for some amazing times. But if you're like us, living in condos or small communities where houses are on top of each other, what can you do with the 7.5 foot tall Frankenstein Monster? Houses in Florida don't have attics or basements, so it's hard to stash large items. As it is, people tend to go all out with certain holiday decorations, so blowup stuff is more manageable. All in one / put together plastic or mechanical pieces tend to not find space in a closet because they're clunky. You never know though; someone could be quite smart in how they can pack away their decorations and still have room for more stuff. All the power to that person; I know what it feels like to play Tetris with tote bins. You're not alone!

Speaking of alone, it's Wednesday and I've been at this post long enough, that the History Channel reality show, "Alone" is starting soon and I'd like to go watch it. 

Until next time, stay safe, stay hydrated and stay off the streets during the night. You never know who's following or watching you...

Cheers;

Various types of uploads

I've got a few different places to be in this post, so stick with me.

All of this has happened in the span of 5 days, give or take.

1. A Halloween related decoration I found at a random store

2. A big old gecko on a tree that I saw while waiting for the air conditioning company to come service the house

3. A random thunderstorm we had.

4. Another gecko I saw while walking to my house after checking the mail.

5. An audio book I took out from the library because the synopsis looked interesting.

6. Cool Super Hero decals at the library

Alright; so in order of things I'd like to accomplish:

One - 

At this point, I don't remember what store I was in, however, I saw a random Pennywise related Halloween decoration. As all stores are gearing up for Spooky Season, this particular store was filled with the scary items. 

I wish I got the full name and price of the piece, because it's hard to find online, unless you're checking after market websites (Mercari, Poshmark, etc). The tag I did take a photo of, says this little statue is by "Authentique Spooky Night" and is an "LED Lighted Decor". Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of the bottom, which has the on/off switch and more information. Plus, one of the eyes is a bit broken (burnt out?).

It's rather Shakespearean level creepy and really cool at the same time. I wish both eyes could light up and that I got more information from it. Being a fan of the original "IT", this is a new concept for marketing. I'm sure it's not supposed to be Stephen King related but someone made damn sure that people would automatically recognize the red hair and jester outfit. 

Searching online for it, again, it's third party websites. They're naming it things like ""Halloween LED Skeleton", "Creepy IT Skeleton Clown", "New Spooky Night IT Pennywise Skeleton Bust LED Light-Up Halloween Decor"; you get the idea. Amazon doesn't have anything remotely close. I tried "pennywise clown skeleton bust pedestal" and got various clowns that weren't Pennywise, but when they were, it was the Bill Skarsgård version. I tried "creepy it skeleton clown" and came back with nothing related to the movie.. at all.

It's literally a dead end for the A to Z seller unless you want to go after market somewhere else. Buyer beware because they're all different prices have different shipping costs. If I could remember where I saw this, I'd honestly say "or go to the store and see if they have it". 

Two - the gecko that kept me company while waiting for the AC technician:

This was one of those situations where I needed to be outside in the driveway waiting because every time we get "an outsider" (aka a service technician or a delivery), the person always missing the apartment. We end up watching them drive to the other end of the street before they turn around and drive to our direction. It's an easy oops but first instinct says they take a right instead of a left. 

It was at least 95° out and I wasn't feeling like standing completely in the sun, so I waited closer to the door. It was shady enough, where I felt I could keep an eye out for the van and stay somewhat cool at the same time. 

I also uploaded a video because he looked like he was doing pushups at one point:

It seems like the geckos are getting bigger and bigger these days. Every time we look outside, there's a monster of a lizard hanging out on the bricks. The plop plops are going to have a run for their food source at some point, if these smaller ones get any bigger. 

Three - we had a random thunderstorm.

Welcome to summer in Florida! 

Now that we're having more steady rain, we're kind of back on schedule for our daily (afternoon) flooding.

The downside to all of this, besides the fact the water comes so fast and furious with no where to go, is that it leaves just as soon as it arrives. The temperature drops for the duration of the wet, but once it's over, it gets back to being hot and humid and most of the quickly made ponds dry back up.

The only difference between my street and backyard flooding and the main roads gaining too much water, is, the main roads can't dry up as quick as my community. Therefore, the water stays for too long and makes traveling a little difficult in some areas. 

Trust me; I've gotten stuck on some of the main roads when there's been too much water around and larger cars (aka pickups) speed past you and create tidal waves on to your car. It's scary and not necessary - the way the people speed through the streets, especially during heavy storms. You don't know what you could run over and how you're going to effect the person in the lane next to you. Everyone is in a rush and no one wants to take their time through this. It's like being stuck in a snow storm; ice and sleet can bring the same amount of trouble.

Ask me how I know. Haha. 

Four - Ants go marching one by one while a gecko hangs out on the gutter.

I happened to go get the mail today and looked at a neighbor's front driveway. As we have brightly neutral colored houses, any dark shadow will stick out. 

I saw another big gecko on the drain pipe and felt the need to explore. 

Sorry if you thought I was looking in your house, dear neighbor. I wasn't snooping; I was visiting your visitor. 

This is another decent sized gecko, and he happened to have ants crawling around him. Unless the insects were his traveling companions of the eating kind, I've never seen the two together before. It was interesting.

The not so interesting part was when he fanned his chin out. According to Google, it's called a "dewlap" and it's only done by males because they're trying to impress females. Either it was hitting on me or there was a girl lizard hiding somewhere. 😂

I've seen the fan before, not just in Jurassic Park (like we're all used to), but I've seen it in the geckos too. If you stand still enough and let them do their thing, they do pop the chin thing out in hope that a friend will come visit. It's the oddest thing to see but also pretty neat. #Natureyo

Five - I went to the library and took out a 26 disc audiobook.

I happened to be perusing the audiobook on CD section of my local library and saw something new. 

They had a 2016 biography on Paul McCartney, titled "Paul McCartney: The Life" by Phillip Norman.

This is an "official" Macca biography, according to the synopsis:

"Since the age of 21, Paul McCartney has lived one of the ultimate rock 'n' roll lives, played out on the most public of stages. Now Paul's story is told by rock music's foremost biographer, with McCartney's consent and access to family members and close friends who have never spoken on the record before.

Paul McCartney: The Life reveals the complex character behind the façade and sheds new light on his childhood - blighted by his mother's death but redeemed by the father who introduced him to music. This is the first definitive account of Paul's often troubled partnership with John Lennon, his personal trauma after the Beatles' breakup, and his subsequent struggle to get back to the top with Wings - which nearly got him murdered in Africa and brought him nine days in a Tokyo jail.

Listeners will learn about his marriage to Linda, including their much-criticized musical collaboration, and a moving account of her death. Packed with new information and critical insights, Paul McCartney: The Life will be the definitive biography of a musical legend.

©2016 Philip Norman (P)2016 W.F. Howes"

Which, if you've read my past posts about a rabbit hole conspiracy called "Paul Is Dead", this book will be totally different and perhaps not all correct, seeing how 'Faul' has his own story out. 

There is a 2009 biography from Thomas E. Uharriet titled "The Memoirs of Billy Shears: The Nine After 9-09 Edition", which my friend Tay had given me a copy of. The Billy Shears version is allegedly the real story behind the tin foil hat speculation of how James Paul really "vanished" and William Shepherd / Billy Shears came to be. 

The synopsis of the Billy Shears edition (via Amazon) states:

"In 1969, a rumor erupted that Paul McCartney, “the cute Beatle”, had been replaced. Generations later, we see that the Beatles spent hundreds of hours making “Paul is Dead” clues but were required to deny it. What if “Billy Shears” really had replaced Paul and still plays that role today? How would he explain taking over the band?

The memoirs, from Billy Shears’ perspective, reveals his conflict with John but also his delight in working with “Fifth Beatle” George Martin. With a shared commitment to quality, innovation, and a global agenda, their work transformed the planet, leading us through a psychedelic revolution that changed how we see ourselves.

In July 2018 (28 months after George Martin passed away), his eldest son, Gregory Paul Martin, received an advance copy of the Nine After 9-09 Edition of the Memoirs of Billy Shears. He had known the Beatles’ original Paul since 1962 and still has dealings with “Sir Paul” today. Gregory generously found time in his overbooked schedule for this performance.

To record this significant book, he thought it fitting to use the original recording equipment that his father, George Martin, had used with the Beatles. Sitting at that same historic equipment to record the memoirs, Gregory sometimes felt that he, too, had become Paul. It felt uncanny.

Special thanks to sound engineers: William Shinker (British Grove Studios), Andy Cook (Red Planet Records), and Clint Ramon Harrigan (Ranch Trailing Post-Production).

The Memoirs of Billy Shears: Nine After 9-09 Edition is also available in hardcover, paperback, and as an e-book. Printed versions have footnotes, word-stacking, and the world’s longest acrostic. In the US, get the hardcover from www.BillyShears.com. Elsewhere, find the paperback via Amazon. Whatever you believe about Paul, let this performance take you on the Beatles fantasy of a lifetime. It is your ultimate magical mystery. With this view of the Beatles’ inner-workings, you, and their songs, may never be the same."

I'm looking forward to listening to the Phillip Norman version, to see how it parallels the Thomas E. Uharriet copy. Makes me wonder what may be different and if there are any similarities. I know I have spoken of length about the PID theory and when Tay was telling me his opinions on it, the things I learned do make sense to what I originally remember from when I first stumbled on it, decades ago. 

I know this is going to take some time to get through since it's 26 discs, running a total of 30.5 hours. The way I've been listening to things lately, I'm glad it's not due back until September.

Last but not least, six: I found some super heroes in the young adult section of the library!

Yes, I go into the young adult section because I occasionally pick up a Disney movie or one of the comic book movies. Strangely, Marvel and DC are put in the kids section rather than the adult section. 

Plus, I pick up random educational coloring pages for my cousins' kids (Hi Brady, Levi, Stevie, Marla, Lana and Daisy).

I couldn't find the exact Iron Man decal, but I linked to some variations below. The same goes for the Batman decal. However, I think I found the Captain America one, or close to it. 

I know a few people who would love the Iron Man and Captain America on their wall (Hi Cat), while I wouldn't necessarily use this specific Batman, I used to work with someone who would 100% want it in his office and at his house (Hi Travis, if you're still reading these pages). 

It is pretty rad to see the comic icons up and around; it gets the kids asking questions and reading something new, yet old. It is a good win for everyone. 

I think that's about it for now with the rest of the updates. Maybe I will have more over the weekend, but until I can sort some more things out and not put everything in one section, I should wrap this up. 

Go on and listen to something new and read something wild. Take in a nature show and don't bother the animals if they're busy with whatever life has them doing. 

Cheers;

See Also

• "IT" related searches
• pennywise clown skeleton bust pedestal
  
• creepy it skeleton clown
  
• "IT: A Novel" the book that spawned the "Losers Club" on celluloid and in toys.
• Stephen King, IT! via Cinemax on Amazon Prime (to stream)
  
• IT/IT Chapter Two (2-Pck Bundle) (DVD)
  
• IT: Welcome to Derry:The Complete First Season (DVD)
  
  
• All photos taken on an iPhone 17 
• Photos edited in Photoshop. 
• Videos edited in Pinnacle Studio 18 Ultimate. There's an upgrade to this program, as linked. The third video, or second gecko, uses Pinnacle stock audio: "Film/TV" | "Dreamscape" | "The Visitor", which is aptly fitting. 
• As I'm using a Windows 8.1 laptop and Pinnacle 18, I do apologize for the way the videos saved. the error arrows are due to software fighting itself. 
  
  
• "Jurassic Park" related searches
• Jurassic Park: A Novel. The Michael Crichton book that started it all
  
• "jurassic park film collection"
  
  
• Paul McCartney searches
• "Paul McCartney: The Life" by Phillip Norman
• "The Memoirs of Billy Shears: The Nine After 9-09 Edition" by Thomas E. Uharriet
  
  
• Window decals
• Iron Man search
  
• Batman search
  
• Captain America (group of seven decals)
  
• Captain America search

Everyone's got one and doing it..

... but are they really using it?

Over the past few months, I've noticed a lot of people in the pool wearing some sort of smart watch; whether that be Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch or Fitbit. 

Most user I have run into, have an Apple Watch, truth be told, even though I know quite a few who love their Android phone (out in the real world). I think I have come across more Apple users in my community, then there are other device users (some of the hip young kids are into the "Nothing" Phone or whatever is up and coming). 

It's strange but it's probably generational that they are all accustomed to using the same type of device (they all hang out together and trade health problems). If they have a home computer, odds are, it is Windows based. 

Yes, they also have iPads because they want a tablet and since they already have an iPhone, they want to also be able to have a bigger screen to "FaceTime" their grandkids. The catch is, if they still have a home computer, it's Microsoft. So they can't have things move between all environments and want to know why their apps aren't on the computer. Because it's two different things and the operating systems won't play together. Although, the truth is, they don't feel they need an expensive MacBook because Windows is dead simple to use and all they know the programs. Even though the iPad, iPhone and Watch probably cost as much as the MacBook, combined, when all was first purchased.

Can't win and can't talk them into anything otherwise.

Plainly because I'm a contradiction myself.

Personally, I'm using what is now considered a "Legacy Device": an Apple Watch series 3, with its stock band for my swimming watch. I was given a cousin's old Apple Watch series 6 when they upgraded to something newer, which means the series 6 is now my every day watch, to the point I've purchased some nice Velcro sports bands to go with it. I just need to invest in some more bumpers because I dumbly kept putting them on my series 3 and the pool was ruining them due to my trying to take the bumper off to clean the watch face. I need to replace the bumper on the 6 because it's getting too cloudy and scratched. 

I have an iPhone, an Apple Watch, and I use a Hewlett Packard laptop. The laptop is 13 years old at this point, so it's a little worn (Windows 8.1). I grew up with Microsoft computers, whether that was an IBM machine running DOS or various other name brands running newer systems over the years. It's what I know, but I also am not afraid to admit I've had my hands on Apple computers before. I'm of the generation where we played Oregon Trail on both the Apple II and Commodore 64 in elementary school. I earned my fruit stripes by getting dysentery, thank you very much (The Commodore was rare; I think there was like 2 in the school and we always fought for it)! 

Squirrel brain activated! Got to get back to the topic at hand.

I was trying to bring this up (the use of the watch) because it's interesting how everyone is literally attached to said time keeper, but they're not using it for the exercise apps that may or may not be included within their device's environment. They all seem to be using it to be able to check the time, see if they got a random text, or because they want to have a watch tan line (likely story 😜). 

I can't speak for Android, but Apple has not only the Health app, but they have the Fitness app. Both talk to each other, so if you do some sort of workout in the Fitness app, it tells Health you've completed an activity. With the watch, you can open Fitness, scroll to the workout you want to do, and the timer starts and the app senses what you're doing. It can tell your heart rate, your movement, and will time you while you're involved in that particular exercise. The downfall is you only get credit for an exercise minute if your heart rate goes above a certain number (100 and something). 

The standard goals in Fitness app are:

• 300 active calories (Move)
• 30 minutes (Exercise)
• 12 hours (Stand)

I've actually set my move goal to 500 but have kept everything else because I tend to do several hours in the gym. I go between the treadmill and elliptical, so I know I could achieve the 300 within the first hour I'm working out, should I pay enough attention to what I'm doing. Same goes for when I'm swimming; if I'm not just floating around and working on a pool shoe tan. 

When I said there's a downfall for exercise credit, I meant that in the 30 minutes you're "exercising", if your heart rate falls below 100 and something, the app doesn't register that as exercising. You have to do a serious work out if you want to get full credit. 

Example is, when I'm on the stationary bike, if I'm not pushing myself hard on it, my watch won't register I'm really working out. I can set the app up to show I'm riding for 30 minutes, but if my heart rate stays at (let's say) 95, then I don't get credit. Even though the bike screen says I've pedaled close to 5 miles, there's a definite disconnect somewhere. I've got to pedal hard and fast and start some sweating in order for the watch to know I'm doing something. 

However, if I'm walking on the treadmill at a 3.0 pace and over the course of an hour, I bump it up to 4 so I can run, my watch senses I'm exerting myself a little more, so the effort ends up pushing both my move coal and exercise goal up higher. By the time I finish the hour, I've not only closed the exercise ring, I'm a few pushes away from closing the move ring. Which leads me to use the elliptical for an hour and I've now fully closed the move ring and gone more in the exercise ring. All because I've pushed myself on two machines. 

Swimming is harder because I had to concentrate enough and do my laps. I can't sit there and talk to the people who just want to be there to run their mouth and tip toe walk the pool. When there are so many people in the morning wanting to get their social butterfly on, trying to go up and down the length of the pool is a little tricky because there are no lanes; it's a free for all and you're fighting for space with other swimmers. 

I've squirreled again. Hope you're still with me.

My point in all of this is, the watch can see what you're doing if you're using it to count your exercising. I'm using my watch now, while I swim, and it's been trial and error for me because there are several swim options in the Fitness app. I was doing "open water" which I think is the ocean, and that drained the battery quickly, in the two hours I was in the water. There's the manual "swim" mode that you can trigger if you don't use the watch; you can manually put in what you've done. Then there's "pool swim", which is what I've been using lately. I set it for the stock 25 lap set, and it counts my arm movement as I go back and forth, so for so many yards or laps, I get some sort of credit.

I swear, this isn't an advertisement for Apple products or exercise equipment. But the above screen grabs are from my Fitness app today and what my month has looked like so far (aka the "sessions"). I'm trying to do as much as I can, to get into some sort of routine and be healthy, however sometimes, things don't want to go your way.

At any rate, I've seen people in the pool, just bopping along and doing their thing, and none of them seem to be using their watch to keep track of their exercising. No one taps their watch to start or stop the timer, turn the dial to unlock the water drop thing, or even compare strides as they walk their lap. 

People seem disinterested in using their device for its full features and only have it as a show piece. Something to check the time real quick or if they got a text from a friend. In all the days I've been at the pool and have seen dozens of humans in the chlorinated H2O, I think I'm the only one actively using my watch for what else it can do.

One of the swimmers did ask me about it one day, but it didn't end well. The person is nearing 80, somewhat active (they not only walk the community in the morning.. which ends up being over a mile), they swim for 45 minutes afterwards. They had asked me about my watch and what I do with it, because they saw me dry it off one day when I was done in the water. I explained that I use the Fitness app to track my swim and it goes into my Health app. They said they know somehow their morning walk is in their Health, but they don't know how to use their watch to do any of that, and they're afraid to use the watch in the pool. I had said that I know the feeling about getting it wet, but also know that it's kind of safe to do, since I'm not completely submerging my arm in an ocean and I take care of the thing when I'm done. I'm not in the water for more than 2 hours, which I know is a lot as it is, but I am mindful of keeping track of what my watch looks and feels like. 

As I said, certain things run the battery up quickly, so I am careful I don't abuse it. 

The swimmer was still confused and concerned because she'd love to keep track of her laps, but is afraid of ruining the watch. I did ask the age of it, and she said it's not new; she's had it long enough, but doesn't want to damage it and end up with nothing. I completely understand that concept; if I didn't have the 6, I might be in the same boat as this woman, but also, knowing how the 3 is aged out, I would be due for an upgrade anyway. So I'd probably use it in the pool a little more sparingly than I currently am.

I explained all the reasoning behind it - what she can do with it; how the data can help her when she goes to her doctor, she can tailor the watch and the phone to suit her needs. 

She was just too worried about breaking the watch to really concentrate on what I was saying. Again, I totally understand, and actually hoped someone else who regularly wears their watch everywhere, would have jumped in and said she's fine. There are people in the pool who abuse their watch - they wear it golfing, swimming, out shopping, sleeping... I think the only time it's not on their wrist, is when they're in the shower. 

Overall, my whole thought process and question / reasoning is... if you're wearing a smart watch to use it for everything else, why leave it on while in the pool? What's the method behind this madness? It isn't doing you any favors by staying on your wrist while in the water because you're not keeping track of how you're doing in this "workout", much like you're not doing yourself a favor by leaving it off and by your towel. I can't wrap my head around it.

I mean, I can; I wasn't using my watch in the water for the longest time. I would manually put in the exercise into my Health app when I got home, because I was like that swimmer and afraid to get the thing wet. Now that I've tried it, it works and I still baby it when I'm using it. That's why I know I'm contradicting myself here. 

It's just one of those things that I try to understand and can't. When the swimmers out of the pool and drying off, they're on their phones. So are the manually putting in what they did? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of turning on the Fitness app and having that do everything for you? Yes and no because they're not putting anything into the app. They're checking the email, their texts, the store circulars online. I don't think any effort is made into checking the Health app. 

I could be wrong and I would love to know what everyone else is doing. It's not me being nosy more so it's being inquisitive and asking the obviously wrong questions. 

Until I can figure out how to stop rambling about totally useless things and feel like I'm circling the drain with this, stay healthy and sane, y'all.

Cheers;

And thanks for sticking with me this long.

 

See also

• Apple Watch via Amazon
  
• Google Pixel Watch via Amazon
• Fitbit via Amazon
• Nothing products via Amazon
• 6 Pack Sport Nylon Loop Band Compatible with Apple Watch Band 38mm 40mm 41mm 42mm 44mm 45mm 46mm 49mm  via Amazon. 
• The title was longer, but this is what I'm using and has worked. I don't know how it fits all those sizes; I didn't ask. I know it fits the 40mm which is what the 6 is, but I haven't tried it on the series 3, which is a 38mm. I've too many other bands for that, and didn't want to waste it on it. 
• Apple Watch bumper via Amazon. 
• I've tried the hard plastic ones that just slip over the watch (snaps on), but found they get caught weirdly and end up slipping off my watch if I'm not careful. Since they just pop on, they usually end up popping off. Conversely, there are ones you've got to fiddle with to get it all around the watch (literally cocooning it), that seem to work better. But again, the more you try to take off the bumper and put it back on, the more flimsy the wrap is around where the watch band goes into the watch, so the more that the plastic will wear and snap off. It's a double edge sword, but honestly, I find it works better for my needs. 
• Example of bumpers:
• Hard case snap on bumper
• Soft flexible all around bumper
• You also need to make sure it has a screen protector because some don't and the whole point is to have the entire watch not get beat up. That's also my preference too.. make sure it stays good. I'm clumsy, so I'd rather pay for the whole protection than need to buy a new watch.
•