What A Hoot! 6 Random Things To Tell You On A Tuesday Morning In February

/ Ally Bean

I am reminded. Many, many years ago around Valentine’s Day I learned about a simple Spanish cocktail called a Kalimotxo. It’s Red Wine & Coke, a take on the Cuba Libre cocktail of Rum & Coke. It’s not my favorite drink, but I won’t disparage it either. I remember it at this time of year because it was deemed the perfect Valentine’s Day cocktail. Think whimsically and look at how it is spelled: KalimotXO. Kisses and hugs automatically included with each drink.

I am grateful. Colette, a former blogger who is now HERE on IG, has a relaxed idea about how to embrace thankfulness. I am doing it. Instead of a daily gratitude journal, each week you decide what’s your one favorite gratitude experience from the week. Then you write it on a small piece of paper, fold the paper into a square, putting the square into a jar designated: Good Things. After a year you’ll have your bestest gratitude moments in a pile of notes in front of you.

I am irked. WordPress’s current commenting system is an exasperating multi-step process— if you can even get your words to show up in the comment box. I contacted WordPress yesterday and asked why I was unable to comment on WP blogs. The Happiness Engineer gave me the link to WP problem updates +  had many suggestions of various possible solutions. The one that worked for me was to change browsers, so now instead of Safari I’m using Chrome for iMac when I visit bloggy friends and want to leave a comment.

I am delighted. I’m a fan of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series of cozy mysteries that feature octogenarian sleuths. Thus I’m looking forward to the movie version with its perfect cast: Helen Mirren [Elizabeth], Ben Kingsley [Ibrahim], Pierce Brosnan [Ron], and Celia Imrie [Joyce]. The movie is set to release in 2025 and it well could be the best thing to happen this year.

I am underwhelmed. If you enjoy NYT’s Connections word game and would like to create your own, go HERE and have at it. However, a truth bomb: I put together a couple of these games and discovered that my results were weaksauce, not even worth saving. But you might be better at making one than I was.

I am nerdy. According to the Jock-Nerd/Prep-Goth Test I’m a Nerd who’s slouching toward Goth. To wit: “Nerds are sometimes seen as being more interested in academics, technology, or other ‘nerdy’ pursuits than in popular culture or mainstream social activities.” Hell yes, NAILED IT! A joiner I am not.

~ • ~

Questions of the Day

Do you have a particular drink that you think of around Valentine’s Day?

If you have a gratitude practice, what is it?

Are you finding it increasingly more difficult to leave comments on WordPress blogs? And how does that make you feel?

Do you read mysteries? Do you do the NYT’s Connections game?

And finally, if you took the Jock-Nerd/Prep-Goth Test, who is ‘ya? Spill the beans

~ ~ 🩷 ~ ~

277 thoughts on “What A Hoot! 6 Random Things To Tell You On A Tuesday Morning In February”

    • Nancy, I had to give up even trying to comment yesterday. I was bummed, so I contacted WP to see if it was just me or everyone. It’s going on everywhere, they claim. Doesn’t make me happy to know this, but there you go. 😒

      Like

  3. What a great cast of characters for a Thursday Murder Club movie.

    I’ve been using a gratitude jar this year . . . gifted to us (and the rest of her family) by my niece on Christmas Day. I’ve been dropping papers in left and right, instead of one a week, so the jar has seemed too small for the task. I like the idea of picking one BIG gratitude moment per week.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Nancy, I know! I’m psyched about the Thursday Murder Club cast. It’s gonna be entertaining.

      Colette’s idea of picking one truly significant gratitude experience per week resonated with me. I’ve labelled a mason jar with *Good Things 2025* and have it sitting on my desk to remind me to be on the lookout this week’s best gratitude experience.

      Like

  5. I blog exclusively from my iPhone and never experience the nightmares others do… which will now change because I’ve probably cursed my good luck by saying that.
    I love Connections! Didn’t realize you could make your own, hmmm…
    As for the test I’m a boring normie.

    You are 19.1% Goth, 28.2% Nerd, placing you in the Normie category.

    Ho hum.
    🥴

    Liked by 1 person

    • River, I have bad eyesight and shaky hands so using a cell phone is hell for me. However I am intrigued to know that you’re able to avoid these tedious WP problems.

      Try making your own Connections. In theory it is fun, but I don’t have what it takes to make anything hunky-dory. But I have faith in you, my Normie friend.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Here I am with an actual, honest-to-god, from the developers’ mouths update on the WP commenting mess. Since I decided to pay for one of their personal plans, I have access to the gurus, and for a week I’ve been working with them on the issue: trying this, trying that, letting them do this and that with my blog from their end.

    On the weekend, I started keeping a list of every blog I couldn’t comment on, and a pattern showed up. If a blog had a custom domain (e.g. thespectacledbean.com) it wouldn’t accept a comment the first time. However, on blogs with wordpress.com domains (e.g. shoreacres.wordpress.com) I could comment. It was such a clear pattern I could use it to predict whether the copy-and-paste business would be necessary to leave a comment; I’d just look at the URL.

    When I passed that information on, suggesting that the issue might involve custom domains, I not only got thanks, I also got a link to the GitHub page where the gurus are at work. You can see it here: https://github.com/Automattic/wp-calypso/issues/99436#issuecomment-2641281553. In the midst of the back and forth, there’s this:

    “I think this is likely a bug surfacing from a bug we fixed. In the past our check for the nonce was not failing properly AND was not actually checking the nonce. Last week we fixed this and this is the error we are seeing.

    We have battled nonce issues in the past with comments and it is usually caused by a mismatch between logged-out and logged-in. Meaning somewhere a logged-in user nonce is being used and the other place a logged-out nonce is being used.”

    Overnight I found differences in what I could and couldn’t do re: commenting, so they’re clearly working on it. It’s a frustrating situation, but it’s been really interesting to get the ‘behind the scenes’ look at the process of addressing a bug.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda, I’m fascinated by what you’ve discovered and the inside glimpse into the workings behind WP. I spoke with an AI *robot* [person? device?] and you see what I got. I’ll now keep my eye out to see if I’m commenting on a custom domain versus a WordPress.com domain, then proceed accordingly.

      Frustrating, yes! Not thrilled with how WP consistently makes everything more difficult, and this recent commenting situation is an example.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Be careful. Whatever changes they tried overnight have left me unable to comment on any wordpress.com blogs, but custom domains are fine. In time that will get resolved — I’ve already sent a message about it — but patience will be required.

        Liked by 1 person

      • I’ve never used the Reader. I only went there to see if I could get a comment through. I suspect there are going to be multiple changes until they get this resolved, but at least they’re working on it. When I think about how many operating systems and browsers they have to contend with, I become a little more kindly disposed toward them. I don’t know coding, but I do know the frustration of not being able to solve a problem in my work!

        Liked by 1 person

        • I’m taking the long view on this non-commenting commenting situation. WP has resolved problems in the past, maybe a little slowly, but overall eventually they get it fixed. I wished my robot fellow the best and decided to just go on as if nothing is wrong here. I’m magnanimous like that.

          Liked by 1 person

  8. I fortunately haven’t had problems yet at leaving comments, but I know many that do. Frustrating, I am sure!

    Thanks for mentioning the gratitude jar. I have been wanting to start something like that for the year, and you reminded me!

    I saw a special drink that I want to try and make for Valentine’s Day. Its called Northern Lights and not only sounds yummy but looks so pretty. Did you know there was such a thing as edible glitter?? LOL! That’s in the drink.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Last week I “accidentally” drank a coke C. had reserved for himself. It became an emergency because we rarely have soda drinks in the house. So, guess what he gets in his Valentine bag.

    On another note, I keep a gratitude book but sometimes a few rants sneak in.
    Another good one, Ally Bean! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    • Marian, I rarely drink any sodas so IF I was to want to serve a kalimotxo I’d have to go buy some Coke. Red wine we have on hand. I like the sound of how C’s Valentine’s bag is shaping up.

      A Gratitude Book! I’ve never thought about doing that although in college a kept a Bitch Book. Conceptually the same idea, just with a different premise. 🙄

      Liked by 2 people

  10. So sorry to hear that you’re experiencing the WP comment plague. I haven’t had any issues but I know of several people who have/are. Very frustrating.

    Not much nerdiness here but definitely there are tendencies. I used to be something of a wild child and still have flashes of that even now, but age is gradually grinding that down!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Lynette, the whole commenting situation is a fiasco in one sense, but just another irritating pebble in my shoe at this point. I enjoy visiting and commenting on bloggy friends’ blog post, BUT if the system is stacked against me… 🤷‍♀️

      I can believe you were a wild child! It’s good to know yourself even if you’re less wild, less child now. Thanks for sharing that here.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I play Connections every morning, along with Wordle and Spelling Bee to get my brain started. I like the way Connections makes me think.

    I’ve done the Good Things Jar a few times, but I write stuff down and toss it in there anytime. Then, I open it up on New Year’s Eve and read all of them aloud, loving the memories and reminding myself that it was a pretty good year after all. (I think I did a blogpost about it a couple of years back.)

    Liked by 1 person

    • nance, I play Wordiply, hen Connections, then Keyword, then Blossom, then finally Strands. My brain needs a lot of time to get going in the morning.

      I’ve never tried to keep a Good Things jar and it’s fun, forces me to be discerning. I’m being strict with myself and only adding one memory per week. I like your NYE idea. Will follow suit.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. My answers in order of your questions:
    No.

    No true practice or rule I just try to remind myself of happy/fun/interesting/joyful moments each day.

    No comment issues- at least that I know of.

    Typically no to mysteries, although I am enjoying watching the Knives Out movie series, which surprises me.

    Stopped playing the NYT games like Wordle, etc. I just got bored with them.

    Test results: 46% Goth, 28% Nerd. A bit more goth than I expected, while the nerd was lower than expected. I definitely knew I wouldn’t register much in the other two categories.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Deb, I ask myself each night: what have I learned today? That’s kind of along the lines of your “happy/fun/interesting/joyful moments” idea.

      I saw the Knives Out movies and liked them.

      You’re more Goth than Nerd! I like knowing that, makes you seem like a kindred-ish spirit. Like you I knew no way would I be Jock or Prep. 🤓

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Just a quick comment: I try to comment while on the WP Reader. 9/10 times, it works smoothly. LIke now. And then when I want to comment on a site I’m not subscribed to, I’ll automatically copy my comment to repaste each time it takes for me to send&resend. Now that is more of a 9/10 times it doesn’t work at all. 😦
    I’ll keep in mind the differences shoreacres mentioned, too. Makes sense because most sites without ‘wordpress.com’ in them (like mine) means we are WP.org and own our site independent of WP.
    Anywho. I always liked the rum&coke back in the day, but the very idea of redwine&coke makes my stomach wince.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. I’m looking forward to the Murder Club movie, although Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia scared me for life. Hopefully, he will keep his shirt on for this one. I have no particular gratitude ritual, and feel grateful for the life I have every day. Sounds corny, but true. WP is driving everyone crazy right now. I copy my comments before hitting send. Hopefully, they will work that one out soon. Cosmo is my Valentine’s Day drink – pink deliciousness. Busy day, so I will have to revisit the Nerd test at a better time.

    Like

  15. Commenting for me (I use Chrome) is a 3 step process but not on every blog. I don’t know why some blogs are different (and yes they are on WP). I liked the good old days when you clicked on comment and typed away! It may have to do with the block editor. Boooo!

    Like

  17. Ally, TBH, wine and coke sounds horrible to me, but to each their own. Probably not for me because I dislike anything but the driest of wines.

    I tested just a few squares on the diagram away from you, but was classified as a normie on the edge of nerd. I’ve always considered myself a nerd at heart who could pass as a normie with a little effort!

    Fun entry.

    Liked by 1 person

    • deepesthappily, yes, a Kalimotxo is a sweet drink. I’m not into any sweet drink, so I’m not going to be ordering one of these any time soon even if the XO bit is clever.

      So you’re Normie slouching into Nerd. It fits. I get it. To thine own self be true.

      Like

  18. Periodically, I have trouble leaving comments and I no longer try to figure it out; guess, the Universe thinks I should keep my trap shut.
    I love reading and watching mysteries, but usually am disappointed with the latter with the exception of Vera and Shetland, and Vera is done.
    My granddaughter and I both do Wordle, Connections, Strands, and the mini which we save for last because we love the happy music it plays when we get it solved. Connections is my least favorite because sometimes I think the connection is a bit of a stretch…

    Liked by 1 person

  19. The Thursday Murder Club series is one of my favorites. The cast for the film looks good, although I can’t really see Pierce Brosnan as working class Ron. Elizabeth’s husband, sure. But maybe he’ll surprise me. I am somewhere between nerd and goth, trapped in LARP, which I don’t do at all. I wound up with many neutral answers because the questions were so black and white that I had a hard time agreeing fully with anything. But fun to try anyway!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Autumn, I wondered about Brosnan as Ron, too. But I’d guess he’s playing against type and will do a good job. If nothing else this movie is something agreeable to look forward to.

      It sounds like your test results were similar to mine. I got that LARP detail, too. I don’t do that at all, but felt the Nerd part I could own. Like you said, it’s all for fun.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Well there is a lot to digest here but I will keep it brief.

    I can’t digest Coke or any other fizzy drinks including champagne so I will always stick to my red wine.

    I am grateful for many things and angry about others but I am too lazy to bottle them so they stick around in my system a bit longer.

    My Mac is so old that I can’t even get into WordPress. I have to use the JetPack app on my iPad or phone. Commenting isn’t always consistent with it.

    I am also looking forward to the Thursday’s Murder Club movie. With those actors, I expect it to be brilliant.

    Didn’t take the test. I already know that I am an antisocial nerd.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Jenn, I can have issues with carbonation too, and red wine is just fine as is, thank you very much.

      Good point about keeping anger bottled up and how it sticks around. in college I had a Bitch Book where I wrote all the things that ticked me off. Might be time to bring that back.

      I didn’t know a Mac could age out of WP. Mine is old, wonder how much longer she has left.

      Yes, yes, to the movie. Brilliant, I want that too.

      Happy to meet you, you antisocial Nerd! You’re right, you don’t always need to take a test to know who you are. Thanks for stopping by to comment.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. I’ve been having issue leaving comments for weeks. I finally found if I leave a comment via the “Reader” on WP I can leave a comment without problems. It’s a pain jumping from my email my preferred place to read blogs to the reader but, it works. To make it easier on myself I keep my reader open all the time these days. I’m going to check out the Thursday Murder Club series. Thanks for the recommendation!

    Liked by 2 people

  22. I personally haven’t had any issues as far as I know to leave comments. I leave 99% of them through the reader and I’ve never gotten an error. However, a few blogs that I’ve left comments on go unanswered from the author of that blog, so I might have had that issue without knowing it.

    Also, I heard yesterday that a reader of mine was unable to comment, so this is a pretty common thing it seems. You’re not alone. Thanks for sharing and I love the photos as well.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Fedora Pancakes, you raise a good point about how if you don’t get a reply to your comment, one that you think has gone through, it is possible the blogger hasn’t gotten it. Hold off on sending shade toward that person until you know for certain that they’re intentionally ignoring you.

      I’ve seen people on Bluesky mention how they can’t get WP to accept their comments. It’s an epidemic— and one that makes me snarl. Clearly you know what I’m talking about.

      Like

  23. This is my score on the quiz: “You are 19.1% Goth, 50.9% Nerd, placing you in the True Nerd category.”

    I do have problems with comments on WP. I think my problems are partly due to how bloggers have their WP site set up. Some blogs I can read and comment on through Reader; others I have to click through and then jump through a couple of hoops before I can leave a comment. I don’t know why WP doesn’t automatically recognize me if I start off in Reader. Some bloggers moderate their comments, but not all of those require me to “sign in” first. So … maybe it’s my browser (I use Safari) but I really don’t want to use Chrome. I don’t trust Google. I suppose I shouldn’t trust Apple either but I sense that my privacy is a bit more respected by Apple than it is by Google.

    We don’t acknowledge Valentine’s Day. My husband calls it a Hallmark holiday.

    I like Colette’s gratitude idea. I don’t have one, but hers appeals to me. For a writer, putting notes in a jar over a period of time and then reviewing them can spark ideas. In a online poetry class I took a zillion years ago, one of the poets featured said that she would jot down lines, quotes, phrases that just came to her or that she overheard or read, and she would put these jottings in a jar. Every so often she’d pull out a note or two and draft a poem based on them. I thought it sounded like a cool thing to do.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Marie, hello fellow Nerd! We is what we is.

      I don’t use Reader but a few other commenters have mentioned the same sort of ‘hoops’ using it. I don’t understand why WP doesn’t recognize you/me when we’re clearly part of the family— with public blogs on their platform. Another unknowable mystery of life.

      Good point about privacy issues regarding Google versus Apple. There’s never a clear solution, is there?

      I like the poet’s idea for keeping her potential catalysts in one place like a jar. That has a charm to it. I’m grooving on my Good Things jar. It’s a positive balance to the sucky times in which we live.

      Liked by 1 person

      • And, you know, your Good Things jar can be a source of inspiration when you feel stuck for a blogging topic. I do like your “random things” posts. Your perspective on life is always interesting and entertaining.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Thanks, Marie. I enjoy putting together posts like this one. In truth when I started blogging in 2004 I thought I’d only write posts like this one. I couldn’t imagine that anyone cared about my daily life. Great idea about using the Good Things jar notes as blogging prompts.

          Liked by 1 person

            • Same experience for me. I keep a list of ideas to put on a post like this one, then eventually put it together. In fact, a couple people have suggested that if I ever get tired of writing about my daily life, I could do a monthly list like this one and let the blog morph into a place of lists. 🤷‍♀️

              Liked by 1 person

              • That would be interesting. By the way, I forget to mention that I’m listening to a series—a police procedural—that takes place in Venice. Donna Leon is the author. I think there’s 33 novels altogether … I’m currently on number 24. I go through them pretty quickly. I’m enjoying “hearing” about Venice, there’s enough crime to carry the novels through but also a lot of character development, and I’m learning that citizens living under a corrupt government can find ways to survive. It gives me a bit of hope.

                Liked by 1 person

  24. I read a Thursday Murder Club book for book club a few years ago, and I didn’t realize there were more books in that series. I really enjoyed for first one, and I’m excited to read another one. I hope the movie is as good as the book.

    I do not keep a gratitude journal or anything, but lately I’ve been participating in Elisabeth’s FIG (finding joy in gratitude) practice and it’s been fun. I’m typically a half glass full type of person, but I admit that off and on the last week I’ve experienced a few glum days. No explanation, but I’m feeling sort of stuck and uninspired with the same old, same old. More laundry. No matter how much clutter I clear, there’s more. Groceries – again? Didn’t I just make dinner. I think once the weather improves and I can get outside with my young charges, things will feel lighter and more possible. Maybe I should be a bit more devoted to a gratitude practice. I like the idea of the little jar.

    I am regularly annoyed that wordpress offers to save my name, etc. on this device for the next time I comment – but for some blogs that works and for others I have to put my info in again every dang time.

    I do not play wordle games. My brain would maybe benefit, but I haven’t carved out time for that at this point. I don’t have a Valentine’s drink.

    Liked by 1 person

    • ernie, there are 5 books in the Thursday Murder Mystery series. I’ve read 4, waiting for the latest one to go to paperback. I’ve enjoyed each book, the characters are a hoot.

      I saw that Elisabeth was promoting a daily gratitude practice, but that’s too much for me. I’m grateful every day, remind myself of it, so I’m onboard with the idea in theory. However making myself pick one particular good thing each week seems like an excellent way to remember the modest highlights in my life during a year. Plus I like seeing the mason jar I’m using to hold the notes on my desk.

      I never even try to get WP to save my name when I leave comments. I accept the fact that I’ll have to input my deets every stinking time. If there’s a way to make simple things more difficult, just look to WP.

      I start my day with word games, keeps my brain kicking— or maybe it’s the large mug of coffee I drink while doing the games. 😜

      Like

  25. I took the test and received this score: You are 19.1% Prep, tied between Jock and Nerd, placing you in the Normie category.
    I don’t quite understand why.
    I do the Connections every day with my sister-in-law and niece. We complain about them. But looking at making my own gives me an appreciation for the team that makes the Connections every day.
    Great cast for The Thursday Murder Club.

    Like

  27. I love Osman’s series and look forward to the film. What a great cast! Several times, I’ve made a comment on a WP blog, clicked on the blue comment button and been told that it couldn’t be posted. Of course, it’s been for a long, detailed comment! On a couple of blogger blogs, I have to switch to Chrome to comment but only sometimes. It works one day, not the next. It’s frustrating indeed. That drink does sound nasty; I’m not a fan of wine or coke.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Margaret, I’m looking forward to the Thursday Murder club movie. That cast looks spot on.

      I get that can’t be posted thing on WP too, more often than not. Then I have to go back to my comment, copy it, refresh the page, at which time I’ll be allowed to paste my comment back to where it was… and the comment goes through ezpz. It’s nuts.

      The kalimotxo isn’t my first choice of a drink. I’ve had a few, but much prefer just a glass of red wine straight up. Still the ‘XO’ spelling at the end is cute.

      Like

  31. I was unable to leave a comment on a friend’s blog yesterday, and I can see that for some reason, WP is now wanting me to sign in again, which means I do not know if you will see this comment because that process never goes smoothly or easily. On the one I couldn’t comment yesterday, I always have to write my comment in a google doc and then paste it into the comment box, because certain letters are always left out (s, d, some others), and this is true of another WP blog I follow regularly. This used to be true of yours, too, but then it changed and worked again. I do not know if this has anything to do with, apparently, being a “true goth.” Which is ridiculous because a goth I am not. I mean, I was a cheerleader in high school. I was kind of a dark, misfit cheerleader, but still–a cheerleader I was.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Rita, I’ve run into the same commenting difficulties you mention. I’m baffled about how anything related to commenting on personal blogs has become a BIG MESSED UP DEAL. We’ve been at this blog game forever and I don’t remember another time like this, do you? And, of course, you think you’ve left a comment but aren’t sure if it’s been received because the recipient hasn’t replied to it. [Or are they ignoring you?]

      So you’re a cheerleader who has turned Goth in your later years! I’m laughing about this. Don’t know how to process that, but like knowing it.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Beth, hello fellow Nerd! There seem to be a bunch of us around here. Go figure. I look forward to hearing about your experiences making your own Connections. I tried, but it might not be my strong suit. I like playing the game, though.

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Comment issues at times, also have problems looking pingbacks on other sites unless I am already subscribed to that person. I also can’t stand the new posting layout…i often they just stop constantly tweaking unecessarily.

    Liked by 1 person

  35. It’s mind-boggling how a product like WordPress can’t get the commenting consistent after years of being in business. It’s a frustrating adventure every time I seek to “like” or “reply”. The NYT puzzles get the fog out of my brain every morning: Strands, followed by Wordle, followed by Connections. I’d love to meet the Connections editor sometime. She is equal parts evil and brilliant.

    Like

    • Here’s a link to an Atlantic interview with the Connections editor: The Most Controversial Game on the Internet [I don’t know if you can read it without a subscription so sorry if you can’t.] The gist is Wyna Liu is a brilliant and clever and organized— and occasionally referred to as, like you say, evil.

      As for WordPress and comments, I don’t get it either. I started here in 2011 and one of the main reasons was the comment sections were vibrant and engaging. Now leaving a comment is a slow slog, which doesn’t bode well for this platform.

      Like

    • Linda, another Nerd. Welcome, although I’m happy to have anyone reading and commenting here regardless of who the test says you are. Mysteries aren’t for everyone, I get that. We read what makes us happy.

      Liked by 1 person

  38. LOL well, according to the Jock/Nerd test I’m a “normie.” I guess there are worse things than being normal. Yes, play Connections, Wordle and Strands with my daughter and a couple of her friends. Interestingly, they named it the “Nerd Word Club” in the group chat. The Thursday Murder Club sounds like a great movie. I’ll have to look into the books to prepare! Happy Tuesday friend Ally. Thanks for giving me something else to think about.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janet, I’m glad you can embrace your Normie self and move on with your life, your head held high. I love the “Nerd Word Club” and feel like it nails the essence of what all these word games are about. I hope you enjoy the Thursday Murder Club books, they’ve been a hit in this household.

      Liked by 1 person

  40. Hi. Luckily, I haven’t had any problems leaving comments. Generally, I access articles in the WP Reader. And at the end of each article there’s a box that says something like “leave comments here.” I write comments in those boxes, and they always seem to get posted.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Neil, I don’t use Reader but a few other commenters have mentioned it. If worse comes to worst I’ll give it a try, but considering it is part of WordPress, and WordPress is causing the commenting woes, I am leery of it. Still, never say never…

      Liked by 1 person

  41. Gratitude for what we have is always a good thing. I really like mysteries and saw this online and will look forward to its release. I tied on the test so I was placed in the ‘Normie’ category. 🙂 WordPress comments are annoying as all heck. I sent them an email this morning with a copy of the dreaded ‘error’ message. I have been copying every comment I make for when that pops up, and I have to go out and then come back in and try again.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Judy, Yes, yes, about gratitude. You’re a Normie, got it. Duly noted… for what reason I’m not sure, but I noted it.

      I’m doing the same thing as you. I write the comment, copy the comment, hit send, wait to be told *NO* then go back, start over again, and paste my comment back into the box. On the second try it goes through. So. much. bother.

      Liked by 1 person

  42. I contacted the Happiness Engineers, and I sent them screen shots of: Having a comment be rejected even though I’m logged in, Being accused of posting a duplicate comment when I couldn’t get the first comment to post, and having comments accepted but show twice on a person’s blog. They say they’ve heard from others about this happening but have no solution at this time. Good to meet one of the others.

    I don’t think I need to take the test – full on nerd.

    Like

  43. I contacted the Happiness Engineers, and I sent them screen shots of: Having a comment be rejected even though I’m logged in, Being accused of posting a duplicate comment when I couldn’t get the first comment to post, and having comments accepted but show twice on a person’s blog. They say they’ve heard from others about this happening but have no solution at this time. Good to meet one of the others.

    I don’t think I need to take the test – full on nerd.

    Liked by 1 person

  44. 1. Do you have a particular drink that you think of around Valentine’s Day? Red wine, because of its possible heart-health benefits.

    2. If you have a gratitude practice, what is it? I jot down three good things that happened at the end of each day.

    3. Are you finding it increasingly more difficult to leave comments on WordPress blogs? And how does that make you feel? I haven’t noticed this, but I also regularly use Chrome.

    4. Do you read mysteries? Do you do the NYT’s Connections game? I do occasionally read mysteries, and I do the Connections game every morning.

    Like

    • Christie, good answer about the red wine. Hadn’t thought of it like that, just know I like a glass of it occasionally.

      I used to do the 3 good things daily approach, but like how this practice makes me choose one thing. Get to the point, it says to me.

      I’m doing better with Chrome now that I have it.

      I like Connections, too— but was not good at making one myself. I just don’t have that gift.

      Like

  45. I haven’t had any problem commenting on wordpress blogs recently, but I don’t use explorer. Mostly chrome. I have a heck of a time commenting on blogger blogs when I use my ipad. Annoying.

    Red wine and coke? Sounds gross, but maybe not any weirder than rum and coke. I don’t think of one drink really for Valentine’s Day, maybe red wine?

    I love connections and strands, haven’t tried doing one myself though…hmmm.

    Liked by 1 person

    • J, I’ve given up on using my iPad for blogging, I never could get it to consistently jive with any blogging platform. Right now I’m a desktop computer blogger who is finding Chrome works better than Safari. I’ll enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

      I’ve had a Kalimotxo and while not my favorite it was better than I thought it’d be. The history of the drink is interesting though. I’ll just drink my red wine by itself.

      If you try to make your own Connections I wish you luck. I made them but they were trite.

      Like

    • Jan, I’d forgotten about Shirley Temples and you’re right. A perfect Valentine’s Day drink, with or without the booze.

      Commenting should be fun and easy. It used to be but something has changed here at ye olde WordPress. It is tiring to think about it.

      So you’re a Normie. I like knowing that about you. Be the best one you can be! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  47. 1. I don’t think about Valentine’s Day at all…
    2. The word gratitude puts my back up – connotation is everything.
    3. Nope, no problems commenting but I have to log in every time even from my own dashboard.
    4. I love mysteries didn’t care for Richard Osman’s books – the first was a DNF for me. I do the NYT xword, not other games.
    5. I am a ‘normie’ I thumbs downed on anything to do with sci-fi, on-line communities, competition and such.
    6. All of a sudden I’m grumpy as all hell.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Grace, I don’t think much about Valentine’s Day either. Mostly I’m aware of it because I put together a gift of silly stuff for my MIL who lives in a nursing home. We won’t be having Kalimotxos on Friday.

      I’m glad you aren’t having troubles commenting. Count yourself lucky.

      You didn’t like the Thursday murder Club mysteries, eh? I consider them inspirational: I hope to be as spunky and spry as those oldsters when I hit my 80s.

      Another Normie! Seems like many people fall into that category, more than I expected. Of course I’m over here in the Nerd quadrant, drilling down on things that interest me!

      Like

    • Rhonda, thanks for the compliment. You said it, wine in one glass, Coke in another— this makes sense to me, too. But you have to admit that the kisses and hugs in the name of the drink is clever marketing. I’ve remembered it all these years.

      Liked by 1 person

  50. According to Dr. Seligman, he discovered a gratitude practice that he said is just as effective or more so than medication to treat depression. He writes about it in his book “Flourish.” It’s called the Three Blessings. Each evening you’re supposed to write three things that happened in the day that you are grateful for. Then you are supposed to write WHY they happened. I do say “supposed” because I can’t seem to stick with it.

    Liked by 1 person

    • E.A. Wickham, I know about the idea of writing down your three daily gratitudes, but not about taking the time to explain why you are grateful about them. I’d guess that after a few months of doing that you’d have a good reflection of who you are. I’ve never done the daily writing approach.

      This once a week Good Things jar seems to be working for me. It encourages me to be discerning about my choice which seems like a positive thing.

      Like

  51. I have never heard of red wine and coke that’s weird, I have heard of the notes in a jar thing, Valentines Day is just another day for me, I don’t have any kind of gratitude practice too forgetful and thankfully no problems with comment as yet, and I do like mysteries

    Liked by 1 person

    • Joanne, the red wine and Coke drink has a long history. I’ve tried it, but not a fan of it. We don’t do much for Valentine’s Day either. I’m smiling about your reason for a lack of a gratitude practice. Comment woes are annoying, it’s good that you haven’t encountered them.

      Like

  52. Champagne is my go-to holiday drink. Put a raspberry in it for VD! I was equal parts prep and nerd, which sounds about right. I’ve also had trouble commenting on WordPress blogs the past week. I get a pop up after commenting that says, “sorry, your comment cannot post” and then I’ve lost it. Very frustrating.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bijoux, I like your style! I’m going to do exactly what you suggest. 🥂 You may be the first Nerd/Prep here, so congratulations.

      I get that sorry screen too. I’ve taken to copying my comment before I hit send, then when I’m thwarted by the system I can paste the comment back to where it should be. After that, usually on round 2, my comment publishes. Many hoops, much irritation.

      Like

  53. I am very much looking forward to the Thursday Murder Club movie. I loved the books so much! I am a little disappointed, though, that they aren’t making it into a series. I’d love to get, say, six 1-hour episodes of their escapades rather than a 2-hour movie. Do you know if they are just covering the first book (and maybe the subsequent books will have their own movie)? Fingers crossed!

    I find it hard to comment on some blogs too. I wish I could figure out why certain blogs are an issue, while others are not. Sometimes I remember to copy my comment before sending it off, just in case it disappears. I no longer even bother leaving comments on a couple of blogs because I know that it won’t go through (yet I see others commenting without a problem).

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janis, from what I’ve read the movie will be based on Book 1. Like you I hope that means there will be subsequent movies, assuming the first one is a success.

      Just about everyone seems to be having some kind of difficulty with commenting. It used to be that spammers and trolls were our biggest problem, but now the problem is trying to get the darned WP commenting system to work in our favor. It’s frustrating. I see the same thing as you, I can’t comment but other people can no problem. Why?

      Like

  54. No no, no mixing wine with anything except smiles. Doing so would put you in wine jail. 🤣 And no, haven’t experienced any commenting issues. That would require commenting and I’ve only done that a couple of times this week.
    As for the fun little test you shared, let’s just say my taste for all things lux got me in trouble. 🤣 Thanks Ally!

    Liked by 1 person

  55. So many things to discuss.
    First, this post came at the perfect time because I spent 20 minutes this morning trying to figure out why a few (yes, they were WordPress!) blogs wouldn’t take comments. Only 2, though, which seemed strange?! The box was there, but if I clicked to get my flashing cursor…nothing happened. I tried different browsers, clearing my cache – and I thought it was something I had done wrong on my end. Misery loves company, right?
    Second, YES I have several gratitude practices. The first is my weekly blog rundown I call Happy Things Friday. This has literally changed my outlook on life. I make a note in my planner whenever something crosses my path that makes me happy. Some weeks I have lots, some weeks just a few.
    This February I’ve been doing a little bloggy gratitude practice called Finding Joy in Gratitude. We are a small but mighty group of bloggers trying to find at least ONE good thing from each day – we call them FIGs. I’ve been loving the exercise and given the freezing weather, chaotic poopstorm that is global politics, and general winter malaise, it has helped me stay more optimistic.
    Bleck. I despise the taste of wine. I’ve tried enough to know it’s unlikely to ever turn a corner to enjoyment so why bother trying anymore? Think of all the money I’ll save!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Elisabeth, your experience trying to leave a comment is exactly what I’ve been going through. It makes no sense considering some WP blogs accept my comment ezpz while other ones won’t even let me type a word. Supposedly this situation will be corrected soon. In the meantime I comment when I can, nothing more I can do about it.

      I saw you were hosting a daily gratitude practice. That is kind of you to put the idea out there, especially during February when life in the Northern Hemisphere can be dreary, gray, bleak, et cetera, et cetera. I’m enjoying my weekly Good Things jar. Whatever keeps you sane is fine by me.

      You definitely have saved money by not liking wine. I didn’t like it when I was younger but as I’ve matured, and am willing to spend a little more on a bottle, I’ve come to enjoy some kinds of it. That being said I won’t be putting any Coke in my wine on Friday— or ever.

      Like

  56. Hi Ally! I’ve had the same issues with WP blogs, and found that using the reader works better. I hope they get it resolved soon.
    The quiz put me in the Normie category, which actually didn’t surprise me. I had to laugh that some people found it insulting to be in that category!
    😂 I love your gratitude practice, and won’t it be nice to have a jar full of good things! I do love the name of that drink! Do you know what kind of wine? I mean, call me crazy, but the Coke would add sweetness and bubbles, so depending on the wine…maybe it would be good?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Michelle G., a few commenters have mentioned that using Reader works for them. I know it’s an option but so far *fingers crossed* switching to Chrome has solved my problem.

      It is funny that some people find Normie to be an insult. I don’t know that I think of that way but I’m a kindhearted Nerd so what do I know!

      I’ve had a few Kalimotxos and the wine, I think, was nothing special, kind of dry. I didn’t taste wine really, it had more of a Coke flavor. It was served on the rocks, more cocktail than a glass of wine.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Michelle I received an email from you talking about your recent social media decisions. When I hit the link to go to your Substack blog to leave a comment, I was thwarted by the system. The link goes nowhere. It could be me, it could be Substack, far be it from me to say which it is. Just thought you should know. 🤔

      Liked by 1 person

  57. Hi, Ally. Thank you for bringing up the issue of increased difficulties in commenting on WP blogs. I thought it was just me. I am already on Chrome, so I don’t know if switching from that will help. What’s been happening for me is two things. 1) When writing a comment, and then using the backspace to edit, the whole dang comment tends to delete itself. 2) When I comment (with no profanity or any other bad things), I often receive a response from WP that my comment could not be published….and yup, the entire comment has disappeared in the process.. Very frustrating. 😦

    Liked by 2 people

    • Donna, I’ve not had your #1 happen, but have had your #2 happen. I now write my comment, copy it before hitting send, then see what happens. I enjoy commenting but don’t think it should be such a hassle. Thanks for leaving a comment here, glad that WP allowed you to do that. 🙄

      Liked by 2 people

    • Wynne, yes I met Colette through blogging. Her blog was WriterInSoul. I miss reading what she had to say, but I also understand the need to move on to other things.

      The Good Things jar is proving to be fun and focusing and rather cute sitting on my desk.

      Liked by 1 person

  59. Yes, commenting was buggy yesterday. I went back to the WordPress Reader and left my comments on the affected blog there. That does not solve the issue, however, of having to log in with the W logo so that your comment isn’t attributed to Anonymous. Strange, since I can leave a ‘Like’ on the strength of already being logged into my own blog.
    I think that every time WordPress fixes one thing, they break another.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Margy, your experiences attempting to leave a comment ring true with me. I, too, don’t understand why I sometimes have to log in again when I’m clearly within the system AND why some blogs will accept a “like” but not a comment or vice versa. It gets tedious trying to comment when the system is playing mind games with you.

      Liked by 1 person

  60. I was just writing about gratitude for Elisabeth’s blog! I do and don’t have a gratitude practice. It kind of comes with the every day, you know? Usually while I’m walking or doing yoga/ meditating, but sometimes I will be overwhelmed with gratitude for things like electricity or running water. I mean, aren’t showers and toilets pretty amazing, when you think of everything that goes into it? Life can be grim but it can also be a goddamn miracle if you think about it.
    I wouldn’t enjoy that drink as I don’t like coke, so maybe I’d have it, hold the coke? I do love my red wine. I served rose at my Galentine’s event and that was pretty fun, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
    I don’t really read mysteries – except the occasional one if Suzanne has recommended it for me specifically – and I don’t do any of the connections, I have had trouble with commenting on a couple of blogs lately (Suz’s was the latest!) and I didn’t do the quiz but if I do I will let you know. I did wear a lot of babydoll dresses with army boots in high school, so do with that information what you will!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Nicole, yes:Life can be grim but it can also be a goddamn miracle if you think about it. I have moments like this, too. I’ll suddenly realize that some of the most mundane things in my life fill me with immense gratitude, so I take note. And bless them.

      I’m not fond of Coke either. I’ve had a couple Kalimotxos along the way, they were okay, but I kept thinking a glass of 🍷 alone would be lovely.

      The inconsistency around commenting is peeving everyone from what I can tell. From your description of your high school self I’d say you were in a category of your own making. 😜

      Like

  61. My current beef with WP is the new Jetpack app for my phone. Gah!!! Also blogs with new pop-up video ads that appear even if you don’t touch them.

    As for the gratitude idea, we did something similar when going through rocky phases in our marriage. I made a “Good Time of [year]” jar that we would jot notes about a great time we had together and read the notes at the end of the year. It’s something we should revive, now that you mention it.

    I love playing Connections each morning. Not interested in creating my own, but cool that’s available.

    We don’t do holidays, especially things like Valentines. Red wine is my go to drink, sans Coke, please!!!

    I think that movie sounds excellent. I don’t read many mysteries these days, but used to. I like them, just don’t find the time.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Eilene, I took WP off my phone years ago, my eyesight is weak and my hands shake so trying to blog on a phone is a NO WAY for me. However I’m not surprised you’re having a problem with WP.

      I like your Good Times jar. That’s a smart way to share memories.

      I like Connections, too. I thought I’d be able to make a snappy personal connections but it’s more tricky to make one than I realized.

      I’m with you about red wine only. I hope the movie will be as entertaining as the books. Truthfully the characters in the book are an inspiration for me, I want to be that fearless and sassy in my 80s as they are.

      Liked by 1 person

  62. VDay = champagne, through I haven’t had a valentine since around 1990 and don’t do anything to acknowledge the holiday.

    Gratitude = blogging and completing my Question A Day book.

    I haven’t noticed any trouble commenting, but I use the built-in Reader.

    The test Qs annoyed me, plus I know I’m zero % jock!!

    Liked by 1 person

    • LeendaDLL, another commenter mentioned champagne for Valentine’s Day and now that y’all have put the idea into my head I’m going to get some. A small bottle.

      Doing a Question A Day book sounds ambitious to me. I love the idea, but know myself well enough to know I’d never follow through on something like that. One blog post here a week is my writing limit.

      Ha! Yep, the questions were annoying, probably the point. I, too, am zero % Jock. Not a Prep either.

      Liked by 1 person

  63. I don’t drink cocktails that often, but I like a rum and coke together. I had never heard of a Kalimotxo, but I’ll give it a try.

    Historically, I haven’t had that many problems with Word Press over the years, but this last year has been the worst. The latest irritant is that on 20% of blogs I get some message that tells me my comment was unable to be accepted. Then I retype the whole thing again, and it always goes through. Twice the work for the same result.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Pete, I rarely drink cocktails, too. I don’t really like soda, but I have had a few Kalimotxos and they were… okay.

      Same about how my comments will sometimes go through on the second try. I’ve taken to writing a comment, copying it, then seeing if it goes through on round one OR if I have to paste and try again. Just a few more little hoops to make my days interesting.🙄

      Liked by 1 person

  64. Kalimotxo—hmmm. I would of course try it, but it doesn’t sound appealing. I’d have to have a sip, at least.
    Your octogenarian sleuth book/movie sounds amazing. I love that stuff. I hope you’ll mention it again when it comes out to remind us!
    Ugh, WP. Sometimes the worst. I’m glad a new browser fixed it.
    To your nerdy thing: there’s that word, mainstream–you’re “favorite”! I think of you every time I come across it. (You know, that and Heineken.)
    Okay, taking the test…

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ilsa Rey, I’ve had Kalimotxos a few times. Once it was delicious, but the other times not so great. But I tried them at least.

      The humor in the Thursday Murder Club series is my kind of humor. I grew up around older people so the way the author knows how these oldsters behave is spot on. Makes me laugh.

      I’m pleased to know that you associate certain words with me and that the words aren’t negative. 🍻

      Liked by 1 person

  65. Red wine should be good for Valentine’s Day. Make it Argentine Malbec.

    Before I fall asleep, I think of how the day has gone and give thanks.

    I do read mysteries. I just finished one by Laura Lippman, In a Strange City. It had a cameo appearance by long dead Edgar Allan Poe. Her books are usually set in Baltimore. I feel as though I know the city.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Nicki, ooh, I haven’t had a Malbec in a long time. I used to groove on that stuff. Great idea. 🍷

      Your gratitude practice is similar to mine, remembering gratitude before sleeping is empowering.

      I’m not familiar with Laura Lippman, but will look for her books. I like mysteries, not all the time but as palate cleansers between more serious or popular books.

      Like

  68. Hi – I enjoyed your post here and I will be on the lookout for the movie version of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series…. looking forward to it.
    The gratitude practice of saving a weekly note sounds like a good idea. For me, I go in spurts with gratitude activities. For example, once ona trip, I had a yellow legal pad and so I just started writing things that I was grateful for. We were coming back from a funeral and I had a list of more than 100 things (many small things, but that was the point – just grateful for life and breath and all that).

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yvette, I like your idea of writing your current gratitudes on a legal pad, list them down, do a brain dump of joy. I could see me doing that sporadically too. I’m not good with writing three each night, I feel I’m repetitive, BUT once in a blue moon would work for me. Thanks.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Hi Ally Bean. I like how you called it a “brain dump of joy” and it sure was a nice reflective day for me.
        Also, your reply about the “writing three each night” reminded me about one article I read about it (with positive psychology tenets). And I think it worked for people who were in the rat race and had little experience with shifting outlook and were maybe even just naturally pessimistic. And so for some people, where gratitude is brand new and they have done very little growth work etc – well the three a night can be powerful – but I think that would be like kinder work for you when you are on post-raduate stuff – ha!

        Like

        • Your explanation about why the three gratitudes a night idea works for some people and not others makes sense. I know that a few commenters are doing that and I believe they get value from the exercise. It’s interesting to learn how people do things, same goal [be grateful], different process [night, week, whenever].

          Like

  69. You had me at Helen Mirren. Love her!
    I haven’t had trouble commenting on WordPress, but maybe that’s because I use Chrome. (But even THAT is a fraught decision these days because of the whole Gulf of Mexico controversy. Does Donald Trump have to spoil everything?)
    I journal daily for other reasons, but gratitude is often part of that practice. One thing is for sure. I am grateful for you.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Arlene, yes! I thought the same thing when I saw that Helen Mirren was going to star in the movie. She IS Elizabeth, no doubt.

      Now that I have Chrome I’m able to comment but you’re right, of course. There are negatives associated with it— and as for your question about The Donald: yes he has to spoil everything. That’s his modus operandi, even if he probably doesn’t know what that phrase means. 🤨

      I like how you incorporate gratitude into your daily journal. That makes sense to me and had never thought about it before. Thanks for the compliment. I am grateful for kind commenters such as you.

      Like

  70. Greetings from a Wednesday morning. I think red wine is apropos (and delicious) at Valentine’s Day. I just think gratitude thoughts in my head or say them aloud to the Husband. No problem leaving comments, but my computer wouldn’t allow me to click the “like” button (star). Turns out it wasn’t WP. My computer needed to do an update. Not a mystery reader, but we did enjoy binge watching Only Murders in the Building (season 1) on New Year’s Day.

    Liked by 1 person

    • The Travel Architect, I agree that red wine and Valentine’s Day seem like a good match. I think many gratitude thoughts to myself, too. The Good Things jar is in addition to that. I sometimes can “like” something but cannot leave a message. I recently updated my iMac… and that’s when the commenting problems began. Be forewarned. We adore Only Murders in the Building. Season 1-3 were a hoot, Season 4 less so.

      Like

  71. I took the quiz and turns out I’m a LARP (Live Action Role Playing)! 69% Goth and 69% Nerd—I’m very pleased.

    Lately, I’ve noticed I have to re-log in to comment on any WordPress blogs, which is a pain because it doesn’t remember me on my computer. I feel like they should make it easier for us to engage, not harder.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Kari, I like knowing how Goth-y you are. I tried to get there but found myself in Nerdland.

      Yes, yes, agree about how ridiculous it is that WP makes commenting more difficult instead of easier. To what end, I say!

      Liked by 1 person

  72. I’ve tried a Kalimotxo (would never have guessed that’s the spelling) and was not a fan. Apparently, they’re popular in the Basque culture, which has a large population in and around Elko, Nevada. Tara’s cousin used to drink them all the time.

    I was having issues leaving comments a few days ago, but the problem magically resolved itself. No new browser needed.

    Mysteries are not a genre I gravitate toward, but I recently read “The Guest List” (Lucy Foley) and thought it was pretty good!

    I love Connections. It’s far more challenging than Wordle!

    Like

    • Mark, I’ve had a few Kalimotxos and while I appreciate the history behind them, they’re not for me if something else is available.

      I’m glad your commenting troubles righted themselves. I’m doing better now with my new browser, but why must WP make things more difficult rather than easier? [rhetorical question]

      I’ve not heard of Lucy Foley so another author for me to check out. I agree about Connections, Wordle bores me, but Connections makes me think… and mutter… yet I always go back the next day.

      Like

  73. I practise daily gratitude as I lay in bed at night. I always find 3 things. It is getting harder on a global and national level but in my own personal life it is quite easy. And yes WP has been doing some glitchy comment thing off and on but it is sporadic. I should pay attention to what device I am on when it happens. I love reading and I think that soon to be movie book sounds interesting and up my alley.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bernie, I often do what you do, I remember three grateful things as I fall asleep. I suppose than I’m picking one of them for my jar— but hadn’t put that together before this.

      WP and the word ‘glitchy’ are becoming synonymous. Does not make me happy. The Thursday Murder Mystery books make me happy. The characters are a hoot.

      Like

  74. I hate that we have to keep changing browsers in order to keep up with WordPress! I used to use Firefox, and then switched to Safari, because that worked better. So now Safari isn’t working, and it sounds as if I may have to switch to Chrome! What the heck? Do you get the thing where it makes you sign in (again) each time you want to comment? Or when it lets you type your comment, and you hit post, and then you get notified “unable to post comment?” Or something else entirely? Just curious!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ann, I get all of what you mentioned PLUS sometimes the system won’t even let me type in a letter let alone a word. Just. stops. me. cold. So far Chrome is working okay, but this is today and who knows what it’ll do tomorrow. 🤨

      Liked by 1 person

  75. I thought I was the only one having issues with commenting on blogs. I usually use safari but I seem to remember that going back to my chrome days also. I can always leave comments if I use the reader. If I want to pull up a blog on its own, it’s 50/50 chance of happening.
    I would say my Valentine’s Day drink of choice is hemlock. And Coke of course.
    The only gratitude practice I’m consistent with is thanking God every morning when I get up, and at noon that I made it that far.
    I suppose I could take a nerd test but I’m pretty sure it would rate me at super-nerd.
    Have a good day!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Micheal, no the commenting problem is system-wide, seemingly with a randomness that is infuriating and unpredictable. I enjoyed my chat with the AI Happiness Engineer, did as suggested, but also learned they’re “working on it.” I don’t use Reader but I suppose if it comes to it, I will.

      Hemlock and Coke, now there’s a drink. I suppose it’s called a Socrates‽ I like your gratitude practice, very pragmatic. But I’d expect nothing less from a super Nerd.

      Liked by 1 person

  77. Ally, I have never tasted that drink and do not have a favorite Valentine’s Day drink, but I like the idea of XO. It’s been many years since I have thought about the letters “XO” or even signed a greeting card with “XO” but for a brief moment it took me back to being a kid and signing greeting cards by printing so carefully and tacking on an “XO” at the end. Thank you for the lovely flashback.

    As to commenting on posts, today was the first time in a while that my comment was rejected as “unable to comment” so I moved the first sentence to the end of the paragraph and that worked. My big issue with WP is how the Comments section revamp introduced about a month ago has nowhere to “like” a comment. So now I go to Reader to reply to comments where I can indeed see the blue “like” work. If someone comments on an older post, then I return to the actual post to “like” only. Sure, it’s a bit time-consuming. If I do this in the Notifications Area, the “like” does not always stay “liked”.

    I always did Wordle, then Spelling Bee, then Connections. It was a great day if I could get my Spelling Bee words to go over the top, plus Wordle and Connections correct too. But it doesn’t, or didn’t, happen very often and I’m abysmal at Connections so I finally gave up awhile ago. Part of the reason was some pop culture stuff, especially movies, I had no clue what they were. Call. Me. Old.

    I am also a nerd in the test. I have never played a video game and probably the only person who can say has never watched a sci-fi movie/TV show. It’s nice to want to do well, but I’m not into being competitive.

    Like

    • Linda, now that you mention it I put XO on cards and letters, too. Hadn’t thought of that in years.

      I’ve had the “like” not staying “liked” experience too. It adds a different level of frustration to the fun that should be commenting on blog posts. I don’t use Reader but a few commenters have mentioned that it works for them. Something for me to consider.

      You’re right about some of the pop culture [or sports team] references in Connections. I don’t know them either and even after I see the solution I’m clueless.

      Another Nerd! Welcome. You’ve never seen any sci-fi movies or TV series‽ That is surprising, but think of it this way: IF you ever decide to watch something in that genre and you like what you see, there’ll be a whole new world of entertainment for you.

      Liked by 1 person

      • I’m glad it was a fun lookback at XO for you too Ally.

        If you use Reader to comment on posts, the “like” will stay put and not fly off the screen.

        Sports equipment and teams references – I was clueless for most. Connections is a good brain game.

        Years ago I mentioned at work I’d never seen the movie “ET” and a coworker brought in the movie (tape) the next day. I have new genres to explore, maybe in my old(er) age.

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  78. My comment was so long already, but I forgot something … my friend Ann Marie (whom I mention sometimes in my blog and who is a former nun) made and gave me a “Blessings Jar” a few years ago. It is a mason jar with a lid and she put gingham fabric around the bottle and glued the word “Blessings” on the front. Inside is a packet of the smallest-size Post-it Notes and a small pencil. She told me to write down everything I was thankful for, fold it up and put it in the jar and take the folded-up notes out and look at them occasionally.

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  79. Okay, I’m glad you mentioned the WordPress commenting issue because I’m having the SAME PROBLEM. For a while, it was just eating all of my comments, which was VERY frustrating, and then it just wouldn’t let me comment at all. Now things seeeeeem to be okay, but I’m still making sure to copy all of my comments before I press “comment” because I don’t trust the WP commenting system anymore, haha.

    I tested as a Normie, haha. I was 28% Nerd, though, so closing in on being more nerd than normie but not quite there.

    Connections drives me CRAZY but still… every day I play it!

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    • Stephany, your bad experiences while commenting on WP blogs are EXACTLY what was happening for me, too. I usually let WP problems ride, but on Monday I was so fed up that I contacted a Happiness Engineer to make a complaint. Things are working better now… but for how long? That’s what is nagging at me.

      Hello my Normie almost Nerd friend! Like you I play Connections every day even though I have moments when I wonder about the connections.

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  80. I’m a Normie, which I was a little bit uncertain about truth be told – but was saved by the final bit of the description: “it can also be used in a neutral or positive way to describe someone who is well-adjusted and has a healthy sense of what is considered normal and acceptable in society.”

    I’ve enjoyed the Richard Osman books and love the cast of oldies, and found his depiction of Alzheimers to be both accurate and loving. I am much looking forward to the films too. A highlight of 2025 for sure.

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    • Deb, I didn’t know the full definition for Normie, so thanks for sharing it here. It’s sounds admirable to me… although as a Nerd I think of myself as well-adjusted but maybe I’m fooling myself. 😉

      I agree about his considerate depiction of what it’s like to have Alzheimer’s and what it’s like to live with someone who has it. I don’t know who’ll be in the role of Elizabeth’s husband. Another reason to look forward to the movie to find out who it is.

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  81. Do you have a particular drink that you think of around Valentine’s Day?
    NO. My drink is a brandy old fashioned with muddled cherries and orange. I will probably have one on the 15th and the 16th to make up for skipping Valentine’s Day.

    If you have a gratitude practice, what is it?
    I have kept a gratitude journal since early 2019. I no longer write in it daily, but rather when the spirit moves me…or I remember that it’s been sitting there for a week without my input.

    Are you finding it increasingly more difficult to leave comments on WordPress blogs? And how does that make you feel?
    I use Google Chrome, so no issues other than when they changed how I submit comments. If I’m on my iPhone and I don’t follow the steps, my comments come up as “Anonymous,” even though I’m logged into WP. That one thing is irritating.

    Do you read mysteries? Do you do the NYT’s Connections game?
    I don’t participate in the connections game, but I do read mysteries, thrillers, novels with cops and detectives and FBI type people as my main genre. Anything that keeps me turning pages.

    And finally, if you took the Jock-Nerd/Prep-Goth Test, who is ‘ya? Spill the beans
    Did not take the test, but I can tell you that I am a sci-fi/fantasy/mystery nerd. With a nerdy/dry sense of humor. And a little weird.

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    • Mary, I like that you know exactly which drink is YOUR drink. It sounds good.

      An actual gratitude journal! That would be interesting to peruse to see what was floating your thankfulness boat— and when it was.

      I understand what you’re saying about liking any book that keeps you turning the page. That’s how I got hooked on cozy mysteries. I read something more serious, then one of them, then something serious and so on.

      Yep you seem like the Nerd type, along with me and many other commenters. I’d bet you’re slouching into Goth like I am. We definitely have the same sense of humor— and outrage over what is happening in our country right now. But I digress…

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  82. Hi Ally Bean! Long time no see. I am smiling reading your blog again. A Valentine’s drink, you ask? I guess I think of red wine, red roses, red hearts. And, yes, I practice gratitude regularly! Nothing disciplined, just feeling grateful in my red heart with so many blessings in life.

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    • Kathy, great to see you! HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? I like your *red* approach to Valentine’s Day— keep it simple, eh? This Good Things jar is the most disciplined I’ve ever been about keeping track of my gratitude. I am grateful, just not organized about it.

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      • I have been fine & dandy mostly I guess. In between challenges, which I suspect is always the case with us humans. I have always loved the Good Things jar approach. It must be so nurturing to read later about the outpouring of thankfulness that happened during the year. 🙂

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  84. I am late to the party, but I will say with vigor: YES, I am having trouble commenting on WordPress blogs. Which is STUPID, as I have a WordPress blog. And yet, even if I am signed into my own WP blog, in Chrome, I still have to re-sign in each time I want to comment on another WP blog. Maybe I need to RESIGN from WordPress. (I won’t; I am not good with change, and I would never desert my fellow WP bloggers.)

    Valentine’s Day drinks??? Hmm. I don’t really have a go-to, but I did make margaritas for myself and my husband last night. I added a little grapefruit soda to each drink which turned them pink (and helped dilute them; they were QUITE strengthy).

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    • Suzanne, same thing here. I’m forever re-entering my information when I want to leave a comment on a WP blog even though I have a WordPress blog that I pay for. Shouldn’t I/we automatically be in the system? Apparently not. 🤨

      I was thinking about a margarita last night! Funny you’d mention one. I don’t know the last time I had one, but YUM! I’m glad yours were strong. I feel they should be.

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  86. Oh the comment nightmare. It seems easier for me to comment on my pc than on my phone. But yes, so frustrating. I use firefox as a browser on the pc.
    I make all sorts of mistakes on the phone keyboard. ( just typed phobe instead of phone!) Fingers must be too fat.
    A gratitude jar sounds like a fun idea for generating more positivity in a crazed world. Thinking gratefully can make a difference to one’s mindset.

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    • Amanda, I don’t use my phone for anything having to do with blogging, so at least that’s one variable I don’t have to deal with. I’ll keep Firefox in mind IF this Chrome fix falls through. It’s always something when it comes to commenting. 🫤

      I agree about thinking gratefully in our chaotically stupid world. I like my Good Things jar, both because of what it contains and because it looks cute sitting on my desk.

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  87. I need to find a good mystery to read. Any suggestions? I love/hate NYT Connections, depending on whether I crack the code, and whether the topics make sense to me or not. Sometimes they really stretch it too far, I think. Now that I no longer help kids make valentine hearts & decorations, I completely ignore Valentines Day (sorry hubby), so I don’t recognize any special drinks surrounding it. I’ve had a few run-ins with WP comments, which leave me completely stumped, because I don’t know how to do anything in WP, lol. But, stuff seems to fix itself and I’ve been able to comment without too many issues. Yeah, that’s all I got.

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    • Gwen, I’m with you about cracking the Connections code. Sometimes it beats me how the four words go together, even after I learn what the category is. There’s creative rationalization going on with that game, me thinks.

      We don’t do much for Valentine’s Day. The drink I mentioned I only associate with the holiday because of the article I read years ago.

      WP comments have become a dynamic topic for bloggers— and not for good reasons. Everyone, sooner or later, seems to have issues with them.

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  88. I love the Connections game, but goodness, I could never come up with one on my own–that sounds like work!
    When I think of Valentine’s day, I think of roses and chocolate, not a cocktail. But maybe that’s just me?
    I do love the gratitude a week idea, and I should instill this in my life!

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    • Suz, I tried to make a Connections and it was more difficult than I imagined it’d be. There’s a knack to it and I don’t have that knack.

      When I think of Valentine’s Day I think of chocolate, roses, and champagne, none of which I had on Friday btw. The Kalimotxo drink is one I read about but wouldn’t want to drink this time of year.

      The weekly Good Things jar is fun and not like doing nightly homework which is how I think of a Gratitude Journal.

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  89. Ally, You find the most fascinating quizzes. Well, I’m a true Prep… which when reading the description is kinda accurate. Sigh. Well-mannered, strong work ethic, traditional. Can I be any more boring?

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  91. All great questions for great discussions. I do Connections every morning, before I drink my tea. That’s my excuse for not always getting them right. Have you played the new Strands game? I’m getting better, but still terrible. As for comments, I thought it was just me. I have had a lot of problems. At least WP had a couple encouraging words and a suggestion, unlike my phone carrier, who sold me a plan and then changed the terms…

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    • Barbara, smiling about your excuse for not getting Connections. No doubt you’re right it’s your lack of tea that slows you down. I’ve tried Strands but don’t play it regularly like Connections.

      For me the WP comment situation has been rectified for the moment. The Happiness Engineer I spoke with had pertinent suggestions so YAY! Sorry about your phone carrier, they are sneaky.

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        • I do Wordiply from The Guardian. It’s a good brain teaser and doesn’t frustrate me like the NYT’s word games sometimes do. Just in case you decide you can spend your whole morning doing puzzles! 😜

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