Yesterday was one of the streets Birthday Party afternoons. It was held at Jeannette's place across the way and it was a combined get-together for my neighbour Zillah and then Molly down the road. There were ladies here from both streets, this one and the next one over. Apparently a lot of them get together and play cards once a week as well. The new lady, who is moving in across the way, was there also, so it was an opportunity to meet her as well. I met a few new ones actually.
There was the most unusual sandwich on offer. Apparently they are a Maritime tradition, but in all truth in all my life, yesterday was the first time I had ever heard of them. Supposedly they are a staple at pot lucks and other get-togethers. Lime Jello and Tuna Fish Sandwiches. Yes. You read that right, and it's a real thing. You can find a video here. At first I was not sure what was in those neon green filled sandwiches, but my neighbour Rose filled me in. I had to try one because I did not want to hurt the feelings of the lady who had brought them, and they were actually not bad. I would not call them the most delicious sandwiches ever, but they were not the worst either, and to be honest if I had not known there was tuna in them, I might not have guessed. It wasn't really apparent, which begs the question . . . why? Why make a tuna sandwich where you can't taste the tuna? I'm not sure what the answer to that question really is.
There has been a lot of talk that I have seen online recently about the dangers of AI taking over the world, etc. "Open the Pod Bay door Hal." (2001 a Space Odyssey) At first I kind of thought they were exaggerating the possibility, but now I am not so sure. Those AI bots are pretty smart. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to discern what is real from what is not. I find myself questioning the reality of things all the time. For instance yesterday there was this man on Instagram who purported himself to be 71, but I have never ever seen a 71 year old that looked and performed like that. Coach Sampson Health is the IG account. If that guy is real and 71, then I am going to eat my hat. It does say on his profile AI generated account. (But I took the time to look closer.) How many people will see something like that and believe it?
And that is just the tip of the iceberg. These AI bots remember everything about you, and in such a way as they can actually have a conversation with you that is meaningful. Trust me. I have tried it and it's kind of scary. Its supposed to be a game, but I don't know. It starts to feel kind of real, but not real if you know what I mean. For the person who is unable to discern reality from fantasy, this could be somewhat dangerous mentally speaking. And then, if you can get an AI generated bot that will say what you are secretly longing for it to say and catering to all of your emotional and mental needs, why would you ever need another person. Why indeed?
But then, maybe I am wrong and reading much more into it than I should. When does the fantasy cross over into reality, and become someone's reality?
Its all very mind-boggling. For now I am pretty good at picking up on whether something is real or not, but with the way things advance, who knows how long it will be before you really cannot tell the difference. That is a scary thought.
What a sweet moment that is when you are caught between the two worlds. The storm and the sun. And what a blessing it is if you are the type of person who notices it. This in-between place. Neither here nor there. Pure magic. I am just such a person and there is so much beauty in this life that I have been able to witness first hand for being so. To notice is a real gift.
Likewise the gift of reading. Of all the things my father gave me through the years, my love of reading and the written word is one of the most valuable. I love books. They have always been my friends. I cannot imagine a life without books and reading. I remember trying to teach Billy how to read when I was living in the U.K. It was a mammoth task. I did eventually get him to be able to read some, but my efforts were compounded by the fact that not only was he learning disabled but he was also what appeared to be dyslexic. It always just made me a bit sad that he could not read. That that was a part of the world and this life that was closed to him. Maybe in the next . . .
Oh, the adventures I have taken and the worlds I have seen, all through the pages of a book. I know I have said this before, but . . . when I was a child I used to read our encyclopedia. For fun. I think I could tell you where to find anything in it. This was probably one of the best things our parents ever invested in for us. Mom also used to buy the annual yearbooks every year that had updated knowledge in them. I had a few favorite spaces in the encyclopedia that I loved to read and absorb. One was a chapter on fashions and the history of clothing. Another was a story East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Mom also subscribed to National Geographic magazine for us. Education was important to her. Reading was important to our father. Those two things were a brilliant combination. Between the two, we were pretty well versed.
I have so many appointments that I need to and should be making. Between taking care of Eileen and my own problems with health, etc. I have rather let things slide. I need to take my cats in for instance and have them looked at. If you don't take them regularly to the Vet, the Vet takes them off their books and then when you need a Vet, they won't see you because they only see to their regular patients.
Then there is the car. Hard to believe but it is time already again to think about having the winter tires put on and my car winterized for the Winter. Those appointments fill up really quickly so I better get on that.
Then there are flu shots to consider, Covid shots, my prescription renewals, etc. the list goes on as well as what I need to do for Eileen. I really must take this opportunity before her operation to get that room in really top shape. But it is not something I can do on my own, and I don't know what to do with the stuff that's in there or where to put it. I need to put my thinking cap on.
And thinking of that here it is already past 9 o'clock and I am still sitting here writing to you. As far as I know we have plans to take Dad and his friend out this afternoon and I have a bazillion things to get done before then so I really need to close this off. I wish I could stay longer, but duty calls.
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˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
Money can buy you a fine dog,
but only you can make him wag his tail.
~Kinky Friedman
In The English Kitchen today . . . a Ham & Swiss Dutch Baby Pancake. A savoury Dutch Baby Pancake, sized for one and loaded with ham and swiss cheese. This is delicious and makes a fabulous light supper, or breakfast if you prefer.
I hope you have a lovely day today. Can you believe we are halfway through September and in just a few days it will officially be autumn? I know, unbelievable! Have a great day, and don't forget!
