I'm sorry for all the turmoil, askye. It is hard, and a lot.

I am actually not a good typist anymore, especially not on the phone.

Askye- that sounds so stressful.

I took typing for two years in high school as well as Shorthand! I was the only guy in the Shorthand class.

My dad encouraged me to take typing because he had learned how to type on a manual typewriter in HS in the 40s. He really loved his typing teacher.

After he lost a few fingers in a construction accident at age 16, he was going to quit, but she would have none of it. She made him come after school and meet the typewriter repairman for the district, who was a guy who had lost seven of his fingers (whole and partial) and he could type 90wpm on a manual. So my dad had no excuses.

My high school was brand new so we had gorgeous, brand new IBM Selectric typewriters to learn on. Loved those font-balls! (I'm fascinated by people who collect them. I appreciate the niche.)

I was the only guy in the Shorthand class.

To this day, my mom will write notes to herself in shorthand. I was fascinated by it as a kid.

When she was paying bills, sometimes, my mom would write swears in shorthand in the memo field of her checks — usually to the insurance company, bank, or electric company.

When she was paying bills, sometimes, my mom would write swears in shorthand in the memo field of her checks — usually to the insurance company, bank, or electric company.

Ha!

I remember a children's book that hinged on solving a mystery, which was solved by reading Shorthand which had been stitched into a quilt.

I wonder what the book was. I always wish I'd learned shorthand.

My first auto insurance policy was through a company that called itself [Name] Assurance Company.

I used to address the envelopes to [Name] Ass. Co. It made me feel better.

Timelies all!

Busy morning for me. Got up early(or rather, didn't go back to bed after getting up to medicate the cat) and got my car's emission inspection done. It was originally supposed to be done by April of last year, but because of the pandemic they extended the deadline to April 21 2021. Went home for a bit, then went to the supermarket for the weekly grocery run.

Took typing in junior high for half a year. Not a particularly fast typist.

I wonder what the book was.

Me too!

It had my bulletproof kidlit premise: Cousins getting together at an old vacation house by the shore discover historical mystery which - if they can solve it will save the [fill in the blank]. cf., Gone Away Lake et al.

Spring has definitely sprung, in the KC area.

The red maples have are well into leafing out, the redbuds have blossomed, the oaks are flowering.

And a female cardinal pursued by two male cardinals just made a brief stop on my deck. The two males fought over dominance while the female observed. All three were vocalizing.

I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of the males, but here is a picture of the female: [link]

Soon it will be time to set out the hummingbird feeder.