Is WordPress hangry?

September 14, 2018 Rivergirl 18 Comments

And if not…. why does it keep eating my comments?

So I’m happily cruising blogs, leaving killer comments, thinking…

“Ya, I really slayed that one.”

Only to go back a while later ~~wondering why no one has complimented me on my razor sharp wit~~ , ~~cursing the blog owner for ignoring me~~ , to read other comments and find that mine has disappeared.

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So, I leave the same killer comment again.

Making sure it stuck this time…

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Sorry, my mind went there.

And if I check a third time? Yeah… the comment is still A.W.O.L.

There are only 3 possible explanations.

The blog owner doesn’t think I’m clever and deleted it. (No, that can’t be it. I’m delightful, damn it!)
I was dreaming and/or ghost typing in my sleep. (Possible, but not likely. Although I did sleep walk as a child and apparently watched an entire Vincent Price movie without waking up… which is really the only way to enjoy The Tingler.)

Yes, that’s a real movie.

Don’t believe me?

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You can thank me for the nightmares later.

And finally, reason #3. WordPress is hangry…. or just plain screwing with the newbie.

Which is the reason I’m leaning toward because… every once in a while? My comment will post 4 times making me look desperate for attention. (Which I’m not, really…. no matter how many times I hang out my window and yell, “Hey sailor!”)

So, WordPress?

Cut it out.

The newbie is not amused.

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I’m not a happy camper.

September 14, 2018 Rivergirl 23 Comments

(Okay, technically I’m never a happy camper… my idea of roughing it is 200 thread count sheets and no mint on my pillow. )

But this morning….. I really wasn’t happy.

You see yesterday, the chimney repair guy came and finished the replacement job.

I can’t say I’m in love with the way it looks…

But as long as the leaking stops and my ceiling doesn’t look like a leopard print throw rug again, I can live with it.

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So imagine how pleased I was to wake up this morning to the sound of rain….

And this :

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A big old stain spreading across our ceiling.

And water pissing down the chimney.

Mind you, we’ve already paid this guy $850 towards the total bill.

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Yes. The $850 was to start….

He told us he wanted to wait for the first rain shower to make sure everything was okay before we paid him the rest.

Well, it’s definitely not okay.

And I’ve calmly left 3 messages on his answering machine in a polite and business like manner.

To be continued….

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If I should disappear without notice…..

September 13, 2018 Rivergirl 28 Comments

This is a general heads up to my friends and followers –

In case I fall off the grid without warning.

It seems I’m a wanted woman, and may have to go on the lamb very soon.

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(That’s me trying to figure out how to kick the silly creature into gear)

The reason?

I’ve been receiving some strange phone calls and may have to plan accordingly.

I have no idea what grievous crime I’ve committed….

Do the mattress people know I removed their tag?

Did the grocery store manager see me eat a grape?

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But clearly things are about to get real.

And if the message wasn’t bad enough…. this call came in yesterday.

Time may be running out.

(For you youngins… Attica prison?

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The riot in 1971?

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It was awful, 43 people died. Read your history!)

So please, if you’re questioned… don’t tell them I ate the grape.

And wish me luck as I make my escape.

I’ve never been much of a runner.

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You’re never too old to learn…. Ukulele

September 12, 2018 Rivergirl 38 Comments

It’s that time again.

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This week’s class:

Ukulele Extravaganza, Beginner

For many years the happy instrument so closely associated with Hawaii has been experiencing a huge revival around the world. Here is your chance to take part in the ukulele revolution. Folks of all adult ages will enjoy playing this very cool but accessible instrument. In this class students will learn to read music and play songs by picking and strumming. No prior musical experience is necessary. The instructor taught instrumental music at the Middle School from 1986-2017 and after taking a leave of absence to study music therapy at Arizona State University in 2008, she fell in love with playing the ukulele! She studies ukulele with master luthier/performer/teacher, Joel Eckhaus in South Portland, the Hawaiian masters at the Aloha Music Camp in Hawaii, and at the Ukulele Summit in Bethesda, Maryland.

Again… this is a real part of the curriculum.

And yes, you too can learn to play the Ukulele and be the envy of all your friends.

So let’s break this down:

How have I missed the huge Ukulele revival?

What have I been doing….

Okay, sure.

But the Ukulele revolution?

I wasn’t that busy…

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Well, maybe.

Although calling the Ukulele a cool instrument may be stretching the truth a bit.

But if you want to ~~drive your immediate social circle to drink and get yourself crossed off every guest list from now on~~ be a hit at parties, give Maine continuing education a try.

Classes start Mon, Sept 17, 6-7 PM, for 9 weeks

$59 non refundable.

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Best or worse? You decide…

September 11, 2018 Rivergirl 35 Comments

So a product caught my eye the other day, and it was screaming “Blog me!”

Suc It.

( No, I’m not yelling at the neighborhood kids again…. that’s the product name.)

It’s a silly little suction gadget you put on your cell phone to help take better selfies, though for the life of me I don’t see how. But what I’m here to ask is….

Best ad campaign? Or worst?

Let’s examine:

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My first thought was sex toy, but then my mind ran with how great that website address is.

Suc-It.com. Priceless!

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Apparently you can Suc It anywhere you go…. how handy is that?

And for the procrastinators among us –

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You can even Suc It next week. Perfect for the busy working mom.

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These golfers are clearly clueless how to Suc It, but that can’t be surprising. They wear plaid pants and white shoes on a regular basis.

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Hell, even the family dog can Suc It!

Of course the campaign can go off the rails at times….

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I don’t know about you…. but these kids give me the creeps. They look hungry for human flesh and not what I need to see crawling out of my glove box at 85mph on I-95.

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And yeah.

Capturing precious moments by Suc-ing It just doesn’t fly with me.

So I doubt I’ll be buying one anytime soon.

But maybe….

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A t shirt to wear for special occasions?

Now that has tons of practical uses.

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Random photo drivel.

September 10, 2018 Rivergirl 20 Comments

(Otherwise known as I need to clean out my files and none of these shots warranted their own blog.)

Is it wrong that every time I see our organic vegetable farming neighbor’s migrant workers heading out to the fields I hum “Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off To Work I Go?”

(It is, isn’t it?

Damn. I’m not sure I can stop.)

*Note to self – do not search Giphy for Hi Ho Hi Ho, you will not get the 7 dwarfs*

In other neighborhood news, a nice young couple down the road got married in their backyard last month and wanted to include their dog in the ceremony.

Now, how cute is that?

You’re welcome.

In garden news, I’m quite enjoying these funky pink flowers I didn’t plant.

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I love it when random drive by bird pooping results in something pretty.

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I mean look at these little guys….

They could be planning next year’s perennial bed right now.

Or… they’re an evil sparrow cabal plotting revenge for my decision to switch bird seed brands.

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Tough call.

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Men, decorating… and a bucket.

September 9, 2018 Rivergirl 20 Comments

Summer in Maine is short, so you have to rush to get all your outdoor projects done before the weather turns.

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So aside from the barn walls and garage makeover we’re doing ourselves, we had to break down and hire a professional to replace part of our chimney and stop the roof from leaking. Our house has a central fireplace and was built in the Brady Bunch era so the insert is metal instead of masonry. Don’t ask.

When it came off the roof it looked like this:

It had been rusted for a while and unbeknownst to me, the husband had snuck up there and tried to pretty one side of it up.

Yes, I married the Martha Stewart design school reject who thought a can of fire engine red spray paint was a decorating improvement.

I truly have no idea how long this monstrosity was up there looking like this…. or why none of the neighbors weren’t driving by and snickering. I know I would have.

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So we hired a chimney guy who came highly recommended (read $$$) and he got to work. After 3 days he told us he’d done all he could for now and was waiting on a metal fabricator to make the top piece, which would take about 2 weeks.

So now?

We have a tarp and a bucket.

Improvement?

Not so much.

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Ode to a Cheeto.

September 8, 2018 Rivergirl 23 Comments

You can’t improve upon perfection, so why do they try?

Witness the Cheeto.

The guilty pleasure snack everyone loves, but no one will admit to eating. With the texture of fine styrofoam and that glorious radioactive neon orange dust… how can you resist?

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And yes, I confess.

I have been known to squirrel away my bag in the back of the coat closet so no one else can eat them.

So why?

Why would my girlfriend offer this pale excuse of a substitute and think I would approve?

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Yes, she’s the same one who put kale chips with the french onion dip at her party.

And we all know how I feel about kale. So what’s up with Kale… and why does everyone want me to eat it?

But… Cheetos, made out of beans?

That’s just wrong.

(And trust me… beans are not better. These things tasted like crunchy industrial sewage.)

Leave me and my Cheetos alone!

And bury my dust covered corpse accordingly.

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You’re never to old to learn…. Potatoes.

September 6, 2018 Rivergirl 32 Comments

In my continuing effort to enlighten…

Let’s dive a little deeper into continuing education.

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Last week’s spoon bending was a hit, You’re never too old to learn…. Spoons.

And while this week’s class may be a little Maine-centric…. isn’t that half the fun?

So grab your taters and let’s go to school.

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Spud Night – I’ve Got My Eyes on You!

If you are a Mainer (or from away) who is stuck in a potato rut, you will want to join us! We will learn how to choose the correct potato variety for use, see and taste many grown varieties and taste Roasted Fingerling potatoes. The class will make Swiss Rosti Potatoes, warm German Potato salad and Sweet Potato Puree with Smoked Paprika. The evening will be both demonstration and hands on. Bring a peeler and sealed tubs to take home leftovers (if there are any!)

$10 material fee included. No discounts

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Again, yes. This is real.

There is actually a course on potatoes.

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