MY YOSEMITE EXPERIENCE

  For weeks I have been struggling with updating my Macbook to Yosemite. I read how some bloggers had a terrible transition and ended up taking their crashed machine to the shop for help. I was scared. but today I decided to take the plunge after watching the video of what Apple has planned in months to come.
  The first thing I did was play with my photo library. I have a passport drive back up but I still worried about my collection. I played with faces for a couple of hours and then when I no longer felt threatened by the idea of loosing stuff I went to the app store to the updates. All was updated except for the latest IOS  X10.10. I clicked on it. It requested my ID and then wanted an update of payment info for iTunes before it was ready to proceed. There was an option of no payment info. Good.
After making my selection and giving my permission to proceed it moved forward. The download began.
   Calmly I went to my iPad to read some blog posts as I waited and watched the download progress. It was very slow so I plugged in the ethernet cable. It is a faster service than wifi. It took about 45 minutes for the download. I had checked the hard drive earlier to make sure there was lots of room. I was hopeful for a smooth install. And with my admin permission it began.
   The install took a fair bit of time. After some auto reboots the sign in screen came up. It was followed by a screen asking me to type in my ID again and then asked me what things I would like to store on the cloud. I made my selection. My photo library is quite large so I opted for more cloud storage to accommodate it. It also wanted me to set up the keychain to store important stuff but I was not ready to trust that area of my data online yet. 
   I am happy to report that as of right now the transition has been seamless. I have selected my new display page that works best for my vision and I have checked the new photo icon that matches the one on my mobile devices. My 9200+ pics are all there. I am delighted. Now all I need is lessons for the many new features. Important to me is the new Siri function. I need Siri to become my friend so that I can use the latest voice tech and less texts. I learned that more advanced Siri features are due to arrive in September and I want to be ready.
   I have one dislike. It is the new music app that used to be iTunes. It wants $14.99 from me so that I can use all of it's features like R1, the radio and Connect to go chat with my fav musicians. Seems we are being asked not only to buy music but pay to listen if we opt for that app's full features. So far the cloud cost is the only one I have opted for.
The Yosemite update itself is free. 
   So far I like the interface and changes. I wonder if all will still be there in the morning and working smoothly? 
  
PS I had no trouble creating or posting this blog after the install.

INSIGHT

   It's obvious that my posts are dwindling as are my comments. Ever since I was a toddler I've struggled to see. I was born with severe myopia and astigmatism but my parents didn't recognize the shortfall in my vision until the grade one teacher made it very clear that I needed spectacles. There was even a time when it was thought children should not have them because their vision would worsen! 
   Parents finally decided I should be seen by an optometrist during that school year. I still recall a part of the visit which took place in the heart of the city of Bremen where my Dad was busy with his creation as the founder of a language newspaper. The World and Press, which you can get online now in several languages is and was put out by the firm, Carl Schünnemann Verlag, and that it was located nearby helped me to recall it. My Dad would bring me along to his workplace sometimes and it felt very special. It was just in front of the Wesser River and not far from the gorgeous alleyway known as Böttcherstrasse famous for the Glockenspiel and the town square with the big ROLAND statue as well as the nearby famous bronze of the Bremen Town Musicians created from a children's tale. I loved that part of the town.
   The eye appointment was the typical dilating drops, then bright lights glaring into the eyes and finally lenses being held to the face in front of the eyes until the chart images appeared focused. I had never known focus until that day.
   As we left the office of this professional I overheard him tell my mother I had inherited very bad eyes and would likely go blind at an early age. Those words stayed with me. Though I am fairly elderly now with really poor vision facing me more and more, daily I have to thank my doctors for continuing to fine tune whatever vision is left. 
   Yesterday was one of those moments where after some dilating drops a laser was beamed into my left eye over and over. I felt the little sharp zaps. Then my eye pressure was taken and I was sent home but asked to return next month. So far this year I've been at the hospital clinic four times for my eyes.
   Insight suggests to me now that I have avoided blogging more and more because of my sight but I tell myself I can use voice overs and audio programs to assist me. I just need to learn how. The time is here. I shall make the time to learn. I must. 
   Still deep down I pray that the stem cells for retinas will be available sooner. I could benefit a lot from a better working macula and new retinas!

A GREAT VALENTINE GALA

    Once a year there's a Great Valentine Gala, a fundraiser for the physically challenged and we've been involved with it since it's inception 31 years ago. Hubby was one of the co-founders in in '84.
    This year it took place at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel on 
February 7th. My daughter joined us and hubby invited her partner and  put us all up at the hotel for an over night treat. 
   The three of us arrived by 3:30 despite the snowy road conditions and checkin was smooth. We were able to arrange for two rooms close by. I needed daughter to help me with a bit of make up to look extra special for this event. She arrived around 5. By 6:30 all of us were all dressed up in our new outfits. With a bit of eye shadow , blush and lipstick I felt glam. We were ready for the pre dinner reception next to the Grand Ballroom. At these functions I spend more time with Buddy while hubby mixes with former friends and his invited clients. 
   Buddy and our daughter were especially excited since she had not joined us for a number of years. They were looking forward to this fun time together. At 7 promptly we were ushered from the reception area to the Grand Ballroom to our tables. Hubby had bought a whole table because he also invited clients we'd known for years. Now we were all gathered together in on spot. Time for laughter  and fun.
   As soon as grace was offered the tambola balloons began circulating. I recalled how in past years we had to but together prizes to be offered in the balloons but now we could just sit and enjoy the fun as a new crew did all that work. Buddy, daughter and clients all bought their $60 balloon and then the popping began to reveal the prize number. A booklet at each place setting had all the corresponding prizes listed. Buddy won a threesome of elegant dripless candles. Daughter won a gift certificate for goodies from a party store. A client won a gift basket withe goodies from an LCBO shop. Prizes had to be picked up from the reception room by 11:30. 
   At 7:30 dinner was begun. During the dessert the speeches and recognition of award winners took place. This fund raisers plays a huge role in supporting the local Paralympic athletes and that was one of its founding missions, to recognize the hard work they do and to put them into the mainstream media. They have succeeded at that! We feel honoured to have played a small role in that over the 31 years.
   There is always a guest artist for entertainment and this year it was Matt Dusk who sang jazz songs while asking listers to get up and dance at the dance floor. Buddy and daughter did just that. As his show ended a DJ came along and more fun dance time followed. We all enjoyed our time together. Buddy sure had fun dancing with one clients' wife. Both were really into the spirit of the eve. Fun, fun, fun!

      Buddy chose a new red shirt and tie to go with his new grey slim pant suit.

He helped me find this lovely shiny, beaded black dress.

Here is Buddy's dance partner.. Behind her are the tambola balloons.

                       Daughter and her partner both decked out in their new outfits.

        Hubby introduces client to the founder of the Gala, Vim Kochhar (right).

ST.NICK"S DAY

 December 6th is St. Nick's Day.

 In my childhood years this day was a very special one because it was one of the rare days that we were given gifts of hard to get sweets like ginger bread and chocolate. There was often a mandarin orange added to our individual treat plates that were especially made for this yearly

event. It is still a festive time for children in parts of Europe but it seems that the modern Santa Claus coming at Christmas time has spread globally making today a more minor festivity in those areas. 

When I was a young mom I could find European delis selling the plates and goodies readily. Not any more. The delis hare almost all gone. Now our local super grocery store has a new version, a cellophane bag filled with a foil covered St. Nick chocolate along with some small tree ornaments in the Christmas goodies' section. What is unusual is that it comes from China not Europe. And I tend to not trust the ingredient list as I once did. Times have really changed. 

But my memories of this festive time in my youth remains in tact.

Happy St. Nick's Day to anyone who likes a reason to have some fun  a and who enjoys chocolates and assorted sweets. Perhaps a cocoa liqueur might be what you crave or a spiced red wine?

HUMBLING AND EXHILARATING

  On the 6th of October my sister, a born Canadian, joined me on a journey to my birth country. We decided that it was time to visit our elderly aunt once again. My daughter chose this time as a great opportunity to fly over from the UK to join us. It turned out to be a very busy ten days.

   Since the flight into another time zone is a challenge I opted to upgrade to a higher class for the flight over there. The larger seat space did make the trip a bit more comfortable. There was no direct flight so we chose to land in Amsterdam and then take a train to Hannover. By the time we arrived at our Aunt's it was already 10:30 pm on October 7th. She greeted us in the lobby and after just a quick hello we parted. Her place of residence has guest rooms with kitchenette's. We settled into our room for a good sleep ready to meet Aunt for breakfast in her place. It felt all so familiar. We have done this several times over the past 4 years. It felt good.

   Aunt is our mother's sister and has reached the age of 93. She goes swimming 6 days a week. She still walks to he local grocery shop to pick up what she needs. She enjoys bowling every two weeks and joins in the events of her residence as she sees fit. She's been there for 25 years now. During that time her husband passed away. She found a new companion and he too recently passed away at the age of 101.
   The residence has kept up with the times and we were able to get wifi from the lobby. She finds it amazing that we can store photos on tablets and phones. She cannot grasp how they are so easily accessed. Her photo past is all on slides! UGH!! Nor can she grasp texting though she sees it being done all around her even by the newest 87 year old friend she's managed to find for herself. What a lady! And he carries a title of nobility. We had to meet him for tea time on the first day with her.

   On the 8th late at night daughter arrived and joined us in our room. An extra bed was added making it cosy. Sis and I had already been to the local Rewe shop for some groceries because we wanted to relax and eat breakfast in our room since Aunt was up too early for us. On the 9th we all met up for lunch at 11:30 followed by coffee and cake at 3 with more family visitors. 
   I'm always fascinated at what new tidbits one learns about one's family on these occasions. Hans and Ruth joined us. They are siblings. Both are widowed and are grandparents. Hans is 90 and still drives. Ruth at 87 is very fit. Both are very alert with great memories. Good to know that there are family members with a gene that can survive well for a few extra years.

 Aunt is to the very left, then Ruth , Sis and daughter.  Below is one with me.

The siblings are aunt and uncle to my aunt. Their father was my aunt"s father's brother. Their father had his children late. He was 72 when Ruth was born.

This dates back to the 1930"s. Ruth and Hans with parents.

Once again this was an event stretching four generations and it is humbling.