Slightly Off KIlter

Normal is overrated

  • Tech Support

    Me, to Alexa tech support: "I'm trying to configure (FEATURE) as described on your web page, but there's an error. The link you reference isn't on the page as stated."   I then go about my business, subsequently finding the link two pages further in. I get the feature configured and tested.   Then I… Continue reading

  • Speaking of Cats

      We buy Friskies Party Mix crunchy kitty treats for the cats. We buy the 20-oz plastic canisters with screw-on lids. Sometimes, the lids aren't tight. This is OK because there's a foil paper seal on the canister under the lid.   We had run out (poor kitties!), so I ordered half a dozen from… Continue reading

  • I don’t have my phone with me

    Aw… the customer service people at the Verizon store are adorable. They just naturally believe that everyone they talk to has a running cell phone within reach, because, well, Verizon store.   We went down to activate Rich's new phone and get the old number swapped (he dropped his phone last week as he was… Continue reading

  • Is it just me?   I find video learning to be exponentially more difficult when the presenter has an accent or a poor presentation style. I'm trying to learn a new concept. The need to also place many brain cells on the problem of understanding their _words_ plus get past the hems and haws and… Continue reading

  • On Friday, I subbed for three periods of 6th grade English Language Arts. Their assignment was to write a "Reading Autobiography" on pp 17, 18 of their composition books — at least 3 paragraphs of 5 sentences each. The assignment included about two dozen prompts in the form of questions to get them started.  … Continue reading

  • Spider in the Bath

    I did a Catch & Release last night on a Very Large spider** in the bathroom. ** Where by "very large" I mean a typical Yahoo! Sunnyvale-sized orb weaver. Body as long as my little finger joint. Legs would have landed outside a 50-cent piece (a what?   I'm sorry, spider. You are very handsome… Continue reading

  • Computers? In Biology??

    A long time ago in a university far, far away (Maryland, USA)…   I was a Microbiology grad student who wanted to do a thesis project that used computer applications to biology. I was told that computer applications to biology weren't "here yet". To this I replied, "They are in California… and England." I was… Continue reading

  • Mediterranean Broccoli

    There is no such vegetable commonly referred to as Mediterranean broccoli (commonly served with avgolemono sauce.)** I spent a large portion of dream 1 last night stressing over my inability to remember the proper name of this vegetable, looking in vain through large restaurant menus.   In dream 2, I realized that there was no… Continue reading

  • No Vet, No (part 2)

    Annual vet exam day for the rest of the clowder.   Dandy saw the kitty bags, feared the worst, and went to ground (not again!)   Myffi read Dandy's thought balloon and hid even deeper (way back under the bed by the wall) where it took 20 minutes to find her.   Raven mooed loudly… Continue reading

  • No Vet, No

    Today was the annual well-kitty exam for Dandy & Truffle. Both are now home   Truffle is studiously pretending Nothing Happened.   Dandy is slinking around the house, mooing loudly.   sigh. Continue reading