!

It helps when you can make yourself laugh.
I’ve never been one to play online games. It gives me pause when an app says it wants to access my address book, or friends list. Seems a bit nosey to me.

I do occasionally play a computer version of Scrabble, although I much prefer the real life version. I love the smooth wooden tiles — reminiscent of those smooth wooden card catalogs at libraries of old — and the quiet click of letters against the rack.

Recently I considered playing Words with Friends. (Oh yes, I keep up with the latest trends!) 

Ever cautious, I Googled the game, to find out how it works  — and what I’d have to relinquish in online privacy in order to play.

As I typed in the search bar, my thumb inadvertently hit an “s” before the “w.”

Hmm. “Swords with friends.”

Now that’s a different game entirely.

My autumn passenger

Some leaves get a bit clingy this time of year.
It can't be easy to fall.

Apropos of nothing in particular ...

"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."

That bit of wisdom is attributed to Confucius, and it came to me yesterday courtesy of an Honest Tea bottle cap.

Cheers! ... sort of.

Food for thought lies underneath.

Feline disdain

"Well, I was sleeping until you put that phone in front of my face."

Forgive me, April. I couldn't resist.

Dial "S" for scam.

Clearly government cutbacks have reached the Department of Grammar and Syntax. 

You didn’t know such a department existed? 

Well … actually it doesn’t, just like the bogus tax office that’s supposedly poised to arrest me. I learned about my imminent incarceration from a voicemail message today, and the wording was so weird, I just have to share.

The robotic female voice literally said:

        “We have just received a notification regarding your tax filings, from the headquarters which will get expired in next 24 working hours. And once it get expired after that you will be taken under custody by the local cops, as there are four serious allegations pressed on your name at this moment.

"We would request you to get back to us, so we can discuss about this case before taking any legal action against you."

Of course it’s a scam, but maybe those “local cops” could explain what the heck is expiring: Headquarters? My filings? That notification? 

It might be interesting to “discuss about this case,” but I know better than to call the robot back.

I wonder if anyone does. Maybe, if those allegations press too hard on their name.

Ouch.

Seen at work. Even computers may need to ease into the day.

I appreciate computer programmers who have a sense of humor. 
Especially since January.

View from the sand up:
Rooted rock and boundless sky

I never get tired of the shore.
Around these parts, we go "down the shore," as in "We went down the shore last weekend."
Once we get there, we go to the beach.
I understand that in other parts of the country, people go "to the beach" (when they really mean they're going down the shore).
Go figure.
However you get there, there's nothing quite like reaching the edge of land and taking in the enormity of the sea.
I took the photo above on a recent trip to Ocean City, N.J., one of our favorite shore towns. During low tide, the stone jetty offered me a different perspective.
Just beyond, the ocean continued its eternal dance.
And these lucky boulders have front-row seats.