cheerfulmonk.com

September 5, 2024

September 6, 2025

No complaints about rain here. We love the moisture — we’re still experiencing extreme drought.

But when the sun comes out it is nice to take a walk.

Moderately Confused

What about you?

September 7, 2025

Here are pictures of Andy changing a light bulb last March.

Needless to say, I didn’t feel comfortable about him doing it. I think he changed one more since then, but Wednesday night when one bulb went out in our kitchen, even he decided we should get help. We had some possible helpers lined up, but he went over the manager’s office and asked if we could pay someone to do it for us. The woman said no problem, no charge, she would send someone right over.

Sure enough two guys came over, and one was very tall. I gave him the new light bulb and said we had a ladder. He said he didn’t need one, and proceeded to take the cover off and change the bulb. The other bulb was dimmer than the new one and he asked if I wanted that one changed too. Yes please! So he changed it, replaced the cover, and they left.

How easy was that?! We’ve lived in this apartment for about 50 years now — it’s not fancy but we love it. And we’re grateful that so far we can get the help we need to continue living here.

Andy is still laughing that the fellow didn’t even need a ladder. He said, “That puts me in my place.”

September 6, 2025

pexels.com

A fellow came into a restaurant with an ostrich and they sat down. The waitress took his order and the ostrich said he would have the same thing. When it came time to pay the fellow added 20% for the tip and pulled the exact amount out of his pocket.

The same thing happened the following night, and for the next few days. The ostrich always ordered exactly what the fellow did. Finally the waitress asked him how he always managed to have the exact amount of money in his pocket even though he had been ordering different things. The fellow explained that a genie had granted him a wish and he didn’t want to be bothered with a lot of money or things, so he asked that he would always have the right amount to pay any bill.

The waitress was impressed by his wise choice, then asked about the ostrich. The fellow looked a bit embarrassed and said the genie had given him another wish. He had asked for “a tall chick with long legs who always agreed with him.” He added, “I should have been more specific.”

September 5, 2025

Ben

September 4, 2025

When I was writing Monday’s post I decided I wanted a picture but couldn’t find one that I had permission to use. I didn’t want to spend much time on it, so I turned to ChatGPT and asked for a “happy autumn picture.” It gave me this one:

I said I wanted a more whimsical one and it obliged:

Not bad except for all the orange, so I changed the colors in GraphicConverter, my Mac photo editor.

Not quite what I wanted, but it was good enough. And it hadn’t taken much time. I may try it again if I get stuck sometime — it’s nice to have an assortment of tools at your fingertips.

September 3, 2025

AccuWeather’s forecast for this month:

Is there any wonder why I love September?

September 2, 2025

ChatGPT and Graphic Converter

Yes, I go by the meteorological calendar, and I also think of September as the start of a new year. That no doubt goes back to school days, and I’ve never lost that feeling of excitement. I’m guessing I’m not the only one, given the number of people celebrating the start of the “ber” months.

I’m doing much better in summer now than I used to, but I do sleep better when the temperature in my bedroom gets down to 70°F or lower at night. What about you?

September 1, 2025

Kaitlin sent this picture taken when they were visiting Torben’s mother.

This reminds me of Thursday’s cartoon in the New Yorker calendar. Two dogs and two humans are sitting watching TV. The dogs are on the couch, the humans on the floor. One human asks,

When, exactly, did the balance of power shift?

Some of you may remember that years ago Tempi was not allowed on the couch there except when there was a loophole like the little pink blanket.

Notice the pillows are the same but now the couch is dog friendly.

August 31, 2025

This one cracks me up.

I like my manual NordicTrack treadmill. No danger of going too fast, and it’s good exercise.

August 30, 2025

August 29, 2025