Why Alexa And I Won't Be Friends Soon

"Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men."  ...Proverbs 22:29

"You can't finish if you didn't start."   ... Chris Brady


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Now, no one go getting your panties all in a twist, okay?  This is my blog and my opinion so I think this is allowed.  ツ

But really, me and Alexa the virtual assistant? Uh, no. Not yet.

Why not? Because my poor ol' brain needs challenges. Exercise. Yanking. Already I step down to the basement and think, "Now, why did I come down here?"--and seriously--do I want to become more forgetful, sooner, because I let someone else think for me?

Uh, no. Firmly I believe in, "Don't use it? You'll lose it."

Like with that husband God gave me.

After the honeymoon, I read those Christian marriage books, you know, the ones which pretty much say, "Your husband is the king. You, Missy, are just the servant and aren't you blessed?"

And good gracious. For decades I did everything for Tom except go to his job with him, care for the car or cut his hair. 

But then 30 years into this I looked at what I'd created--and it was not good. Man, if I'd have passed away back then? Tom woulda died soon after due to pure helplessness and the ability only to make toast. (No really, we joke about this.) 

But uh-oh! The big lay-off of 2010 showed the glaring discrepancies. Oh, Tom mowed parts of the huge lawn, yes, but otherwise you knew where on the farm to find him--in his recliner. With the computer, the tv, a cat or a meal and a glass of water (that I'd brought to him) on his lap.

Debra, though--she could be anywhere. Cleaning, vacuuming, gardening, cooking, dusting, laundering, ironing, mowing, shopping, painting, feeding cats, washing windows, making beds ----

Honey, something was wrong with that picture. 

Slowly I woke up, slowly I insisted upon some changes and slowly Tom has become  a more competent, self-reliant, happy guy for it. 

Now? He makes pancakes on weekends and can cook steaks and burgers and stir fry vegetables. He does all the upkeep of his room, sometimes cleans the bathroom, feeds Daniel the Cat on weekends (and other instances), carries his dishes to the dishwasher and puts away his slacks when I iron them.

And oh, we both feel better about these changes.

I like challenging myself to do better than I did yesterday. To take pleasure in daily rituals rather than resent the myriad little details one must do in Life or around the house. To stretch my brain by doing my own research, learning and memorization.

I'm hoping to keep this ol' brain going with only God's help for years to come.

But if it begins to majorly falter? Well, then I'll consider becoming friends with Alexa. After I need her help. 

But today? I'm fine. I'll keep using my own fingers and my brain to remember to turn off the lights, lock the doors, turn up the music, read my own books or zoom myself around the Net in search of answers.

Thanks, anyway, Alexa. See ya around later. Maybe.

"My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."   ... Psalm 121:2


There's serving our husbands as God would want, then there's doing for them what they should be doing for themselves.


Really, every once in awhile I believe we should pause and ask ourselves, "What am I creating here? Is it something I'll be pleased with 10 years from now?"


May I do what makes my mind stronger, not weaker, in the years to come.



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The Importance of Brain Exercise



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And for others who enjoy thinking outside the box? I found a fun show at Netflix, one called How to Live Mortgage Free with Sarah Beeny. 

Tons of wonderful, creative ideas there of how to own/build/pay-off your home in less than the usual 30 (or so) years.

Really, the colorful creative building ideas were my favorite, but of course.


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Oh! Did you hear the price of postage stamps is going to make a huge hike soon?

Eegads.

Oh well. Yesterday I went to the post office online and bought some really pretty stamps. Saved about 4 whole future dollars, but hey! I'll take it.


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