Kathy's Journey, vol 2

[Sephirah]

Here's some more vernacular that is generically Canadian, rather than Nova Scotian:

double-double: A Tim Horton's coffee with two creams and two sugars.
Tim Horton's: A nationwide coffee shop chain.
Elbows Up: Originally a hockey saying meaning that we aren't going to take any guff from the opposing team.  Since 2025, it means we aren't going to take any annexation guff from the USA.

I have seen videos of people going to international franchises of Tim Horton's. The result is not positive. The only thing they do right is the doughnuts, apparently. Don't ever go into one of the few English franchises of Tim Horton's. It will shatter your dreams.

Some things should be left in the place that made them. Don't try to branch out if you don't have the same quality.

That could be said about most fast food places in the UK though. If you have more than two tastebuds, don't do fast food. It is never as good as you think it should be.

[Sephirah]

I'm not going to start quoting the Geordie dialect people will think I'm from another planet never mind a different language ha ha! I'm sure you will concur!

I love the Geordie accent, Sarah.

I don't think, from what you've told me, you are full Kevin Keegan. It's all very complex. Kind of like Brummies, or Scousers. There are extremes, but I don't think that's you. And... I mean... Why-Eye!

Dialects are a very complex, beautiful thing. Especially in the UK. Where you have so many people crammed into a small space.

One day, I would love to talk to you, Sarah. I fear I might go a little bit gooey, though. I do with most different dialects and accents.

[Stottie Girl]

I love the Geordie accent, Sarah.

I don't think, from what you've told me, you are full Kevin Keegan. It's all very complex. Kind of like Brummies, or Scousers. There are extremes, but I don't think that's you. And... I mean... Why-Eye!

Dialects are a very complex, beautiful thing. Especially in the UK. Where you have so many people crammed into a small space.

One day, I would love to talk to you, Sarah. I fear I might go a little bit gooey, though. I do with most different dialects and accents.

Yeah you're right I don't have a strong accent, at least ah diven't think ah dee like. lol!

I'm like you, really I have been gentrified from being born in Hexham and working around lords, dukes, barons, etc for 6 years it kind of rubs off on you. i also spend a lot of my younger days growing up around the theatre and actors. I can switch accents depending on which class I am talking too ha ha! I had a customer who was a former model from the 60's who ran an elocution school for girls and she couldn't understand how this geordie plumber turned up at her door speaking in RP!

[Sephirah]

Yeah you're right I don't have a strong accent, at least ah diven't think ah dee like. lol!

I'm like you, really I have been gentrified from being born in Hexham and working around lords, dukes, barons, etc for 6 years it kind of rubs off on you. i also spend a lot of my younger days growing up around the theatre and actors. I can switch accents depending on which class I am talking too ha ha! I had a customer who was a former model from the 60's who ran an elocution school for girls and she couldn't understand how this geordie plumber turned up at her door speaking in RP!

I always misread that as "Electrocution School"

Girls had way too much pressure put on them. I think it's kind of abhorrent how some people have so much more societal pressure thrust on them than other people, just to be normal. It makes no sense.

[davina61]

We had a local family that spoke proper south Worcestershire, I am local but almost needed an interpreter to understand them. All past away now and that accent is lost due to to many "outsiders" moving into the area. 

[KathyLauren]

Yikes, what a day!  I spent all morning and part of the afternoon in various voicemail hells, sorting out my wife's pension and then mine.  Learned how to put the phone on speaker as I listened to the same 2-minute musical selection several hundred times. 

Then got a call from a hacker/spammer, obviously triggered by the pension calls, wanting my banking info.  I told him what to do with himself before he got my password, but then I had to spend more time in different voicemail hells while I reported the attempt to the pension people (who clearly have an email leak) and my bank.  And the Anti-Fraud Centre.

All done, finally.  The hackers didn't get any new access, but they have my personal info from the leaked email.  @#$%!!

Some good news, though.  We called a bluff from some potential buyers who tried to lowball us on a counter-offer on our house.  They waited until minutes before the deadline, but then they caved and accepted our counter-offer.  So we have our house conditionally sold!  Yippee!!

[Dawn Kellie]

Sounds like a good and bad day. I have found that besides being able to hear better, I can use my phone through them

[KathyLauren]

We watched Project Hail Mary last night.  Good science fiction story, good script, good acting, but horrible soundtrack!  Shrieking choral music, too loud, over top of almost all the action and dialogue.  I was constantly turning my hearing aids down for the music, and back up to try to hear the dialogue.  Like I said, though, a good movie otherwise.

[Stottie Girl]

We watched Project Hail Mary last night.  Good science fiction story, good script, good acting, but horrible soundtrack!  Shrieking choral music, too loud, over top of almost all the action and dialogue.  I was constantly turning my hearing aids down for the music, and back up to try to hear the dialogue.  Like I said, though, a good movie otherwise.

Sounds like every Christopher Nolan film then. The difference in sound quality for dialogue between old and new films is stark. I want to hear what people are saying. The old silver screen movies are excellent for that.

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

Some good news, though.  We called a bluff from some potential buyers who tried to lowball us on a counter-offer on our house.  They waited until minutes before the deadline, but then they caved and accepted our counter-offer.  So we have our house conditionally sold!  Yippee!!

Yay! I hope the sale goes through. The initial offer on our old house fell through, so it took a few extra months to get it sold. Good luck!

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[davina61]

I have to set the sound system on my tv to full treble and low base with volume up to clearly hear talking on a lot of films, finger on the volume control for action scenes and adverts!! I have no problem with normal programs and have the volume low.
 Good luck with the property sale, D where I have my workshop has had his parents farm sale fall through twice as the buyer had the chain collapse.

[Emma1017]

Kathy, good luck with the sale.  Selling or buying a house is the most stressful financial transaction!  I hope it goes well for you both.

We also saw Project Hail Mary in the theatre, and I agree, the soundtrack was painful.  It reminded me of Oppenheimer.  Thankfully, I had read the book, so the story flow made sense.  I am a big fan of Andy Weir.  I love The Martian, both the book and the movie.

[KathyLauren]

We won't know until next week if the house sale goes through.  The buyers have to do their "due diligence" inspections.  At least we don't have to keep the place clean for showings any more.  😄

It may be 50 years after the fact, but Kathy finally graduated from university!  My reprinted diploma arrived in the mail today.  Once we move, I'll be able to hang it on my "brag wall" again.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Congrats, Kathy!

You must be aging in reverse. You just graduated from college. What's next? High school?

🤣

[Stottie Girl]

Congrats, Kathy!

You must be aging in reverse. You just graduated from college. What's next? High school?

🤣

Betty Button?.....I'll get me coat!

[KathyLauren]

Congrats, Kathy!

You must be aging in reverse. You just graduated from college. What's next? High school?

🤣

Nope, nope, nopity-nope!  Not going back there again.  Though I suppose going back as the new me might not be so bad.  Or maybe it would. 

I think I'll stick with going forward, thank you.

[Dawn Kellie]

You couldn't pay enough to go back to high school as Kellie or the former me. Those kids are crazy and I don't have the patience for it.

[KathyLauren]

I had a visit to the cardiologist today.  For years, I have been getting sporadic tachycardia (rapid heart rate), pretty much at random.  Usually only a few seconds at a time, but occasionally lasting half an hour or more.  And it has been happening more frequently.

I have a pocket-size electronic heart monitor that is pretty slick, but it takes 15 seconds to boot it up, so I can't record the common short spells.  But I have gotten some good recordings of the longer events, and I showed the printouts to the doctor on my first visit, a month ago.

I got the full workup: imaging a couple of weeks ago, a holter monitor (wearable ECG) overnight last night, and then a treadmill stress test today.  The recordings from the monitor and the stress test showed isolated out-of sync beats that confirmed his diagnosis: reentry supraventricular tachycardia.  Which is totally minor and not life-threatening.  Whew!

It's not fun, because the longer events leave me quite weak while they are happening, and tired afterwards, but otherwise it is not a big deal.  I already made one lifestyle change quite some time ago: when this first started happening, I was a volunteer firefighter.  I took myself off interior attack duty, because I certainly did not want to be inside a burning building when it happened!

My wife and I can both relax, now, knowing that, while it is alarming, it is not serious.

The electrodes for the monitor and the treadmill ECG use cheap, nasty adhesive.  I am allergic to it, same as I am to the cheap, nasty adhesive on generic estradiol patches.  So now, my chest looks like I lost a fight with an octopus.  It is covered with bright red, round welts!  Oh, well, it was for a good cause.

[Lori Dee ✅]

So glad it is not a serious matter. I think it would freak me out until I knew what it was!

Is this something that can be controlled with medication or a pacemaker?

I have much respect for firefighters.

When everyone is screaming and running away, they run INTO the building!

Bless them all. Present and retired.

[KathyLauren]

Is this something that can be controlled with medication or a pacemaker?

He has given me a prescription for medication that should control it.  Unfortunately, it will likely also lower my blood pressure, which tends to run low anyway.  If it makes me lightheaded, I will discontinue it.

I suppose a pacemaker could be in my future if the tachycardia spells happen more frequently.  But no one is talking about that at this point.