GOOGLE CHROME

       By  now you will be tired of my whining about computer problems. You will be saying, "Red , go out and buy a new computer." That is in the works.

      But I'm going to tell you my story with Google Chrome.

     Four or five days ago google chrome disappeared on me. I tried a few amateurish methods to get it back. Nothing happened.

    So then I'm off to my "go to guy", my son. He told me to install chrome again but, look and see if chrome is still on my computer. I couldn't find google chrome on my machine so I installed. It didn't work. So I've cussed and swore for a few days.  

    So this morning I said I'm going to fix google chrome or bust. I looked at how to uninstall and sure enough google chrome was there . So I uninstalled google chrome and then installed google chrome. 

    There are a few wrinkles to iron out such as sound and camera.

    It improves life a great deal once you get your computer back in business.

CHILDREN

     I listened to a talk show the other day about people who have children and don't want them. It's a topic that touches me greatly.

     Having spent my career working with children, I've seen it all. There are many reasons why people may not want the children they have. Parents may try to keep that issue private but kids know what's going on. 

    It is very cruel to kids when they are not wanted. Rejection influences every part of a kid's life. I've seen kids struggle in school performance, behavior and socialization.

    My children were adopted. I often think of the procedure we had to go through. 

    We had to have a serious discussion with each other if we really wanted children. My view was that I could have a happy satisfying life with children or without. We chose to adopt. 

    Now we had just moved to a new area so we thought we'd get an application in. 

   First of all, there was an extensive application form. We had to get number of references. Then, there was a two hour interview. We were really made to think about things. 

   We were told that there could be a two year wait so the clock started ticking. A placement was made in three months and it took us completely by surprise. We did not have any baby clothes or  furniture. We had to ask for extra time to buy things.

    They show you the baby and then they ask a number of times if we want the child. That was hard. I wondered what they were doing. 

    So what I'm thinking is that if all people had to go through this procedure that there might be fewer problems of parents not wanting the children they've got.  

    It's a much different world than when women stayed in the home. Now both parents are out of the home and care is shared by other organizations. 

   And yes, both my kids will be reading this post and they will make comments to Dad. 

A VISIT TO THE OPTOMETRIST

      Today was my yearly visit with the optometrist. Here, seniors get one appointment with an optometrist each year. 

      My optometrist is a former student Dr. D so that is a pleasure to be with someone I'm familiar with. I also taught his two brothers and a sister. Dr. d was an all round good influence in the school.  And he was a very able and competitive basket ball player. Smooth!

    But I'm getting off my topic. 

    I joked with Dr. D about one test and the possibility of cheating! However, my real concern about that test is that I do it correctly so that the measurement is correct. It's a peripheral vision test. You are told to look at a little black square in the center of the diagram and notify them when you see any movement in the diagram. I find it hard to concentrate on the little black square. My eyes wander around the square. However, they are satisfied with the test results. 

    However, after the examination , I was told that my prescription had changed very little and that I didn't need new glasses. I was told that I had two very healthy eyes. I had cataracts done on both eyes two years ago. I only need reading glasses. I realize that I am a very fortunate senior to not have visual challenges. 

    I also enjoyed the little visit where we talk about old teachers and students.

    

BIRTH STORIES

       Births are spine tingling events. I told you about my birth in a post. It's too bad that often the person's birth story is not shared with them. I heard my birth story from my Dad but not because he was telling it to me. He was telling others and I happened to be listening. 

     My two youngest brothers have stories. I was 15 when my youngest brother was born so was part of the story. 

    My third brother was born in the old wooden shack we lived in. He was born in February which is a brutal winter month. Roads were poor at the time and there was no snow removal so all winter travel was by horses. Somebody brought the doctor out and the wondrous event began. The event ended  with a bit of an emergency. The baby was not breathing. My Mom had some problems that had to be dealt with. When my Mom was stabilized the Doctor put his attention on the infant. The Doctor gave my brother artificial respiration. One puff and my brother began breathing and crying. The Doctor was almost a chain smoker so my Dad always joked that the tobacco breath was what started my brother breathing. 

     My youngest brother doesn't know this but he was almost born in the car on the highway.

    We were  taking Mom to the small town with an eight bed hospital. This was well before her due date. Again it was mid February. Open roads at that time were still not reliable. The roads could be blocked with snow for a week or ten days. Roads were gravel. On our way   the old Studebaker made a 360 in the middle of the road and continued down the road as if nothing had happened. However, the passengers in the car were pretty stressed. So it's easy to say that this stress could have brought on the birth right there out on the highway. However, about two weeks later Mom came home with our new baby brother. 

    Later on my brother became the director of nursing in the little hospital he was born in. And he looked up the records on his birth. 

    

A SECOND GO AROUND WITH MONITORS

     I recently wrote about the challenges of buying a computer monitor. The monitor I bought sometimes had green lines across the screen for a few minutes. I tried  another cord with blue ends and there were not green lines. Well, I was OK with that. 

     However, the micro manager wanted the proper cord that came with the monitor. The store said they couldn't give just a cord from another monitor. The whole monitor would have to be exchanged. So finally, we decided to exchange the first monitor so that we could get the proper cord that would work. 

     Sounds simple? Not quite to fast.

     They didn't have the same monitor for the exchange! They could get the same monitor in seven days but that means I would be without  a computer for seven days. So we decided to take a different model. So there I was setting up another monitor. Physically setting up the monitor was easy but it didn't come on. I knew that there had to be an on switch somewhere , but I couldn't see anything. There was a diagram showing a number of switches but I could not find them on the monitor.

    I finally found the switches. The switch indicators were very faint on the lower right front side. The actual switches were underneath the monitor, How dumb! The switches were black on a black background and very small. They are about 3 mm by 5 mm which is very small. Just imagine old fingers fumbling around to find these switches?

     So at least the cords work for this monitor. I hope it's the last monitor I'll ever need. 

REMEMBERING DOREEN

       My only sister, Doreen, passed away on this day in 1953. 

      Her death from illness was not expected and saddened the family greatly. 

     Seventy two years later there are very few people left who remember her in person. 

CANADA FLAG DAY

      February 15 is Canada's national flag day. The flag design was adopted by parliament and the flag raised officially on Feb. 15, 1964. So the flag is officially 60 years old. 

      Canada has had variations of flags since we were a colony. Gradually, we gained independence little by little until we were able to have our own distinctive flag. 

      Through the late 50's and early 60's there was a hot debate in parliament about what flag we should have. Many politicians and people wanted to keep the old red ensign. However , after many designs were submitted the red maple leaf with 2 red bars down each side was accepted. 

     The official flag raising was on Feb. 15 ,  1964. 

     To me this was a day in your life that is special and you remember it until the end of your life.

     In 1964 I was teaching in the Sir Alexander Mackenzie School in Inuvik. About 1000 kids were enrolled in the school at that time. We all went out to the front of the school where the flag pole was and a large brass monument of three rings representing three groups of people.  It was a clear day that was bitterly cold. 

     We had a very active cadet group and they proudly stood on guard while short speeches were made and then the flag was raised. All through this time I was watching the poor cadets as their ears gradually froze. I was hoping things would end so the kids could get back in the school.

     As Canadians we have been somewhat laid back about patriotic issues. Lately, Pres. Trump had put a fire under us with his comments and we are becoming much more patriotic. 

    However, I still look back to the day when I was present at the flag rising.