Screen Time

Last week I talked about device usage in public and the stress that it causes me. Today, I want to discuss screen time. If you have an iPhone you probably get the Screen Time pop up notification once a week. If you go into your settings and select Screen Time it will break down the time you spend on your phone and will break it down by app. It is very interesting data to see what you spend your time on. I will admit that my screen time has increased during these colder and darker winter months. I pick up my phone often to check texts, emails, facebook, news and the random Google searches to find out answers to the latest question that pops into my mind. Looking at yesterday's screen time shows a total of 2h 24m with 54m on Social, 33m on Information and Reading and 20m on Productivity & Finance. My most used breakdown is Facebook 36m, News 23m, Messages 18m, Safari 16m, Checkbook 11m, Mail 4m and other smaller usage on various apps. I can't imagine what the screen time would be for those who are on Instagram, TikTok and other social sites. It doesn't feel like I spent 2+ hours on my phone, but I guess every little pickup of the phone adds up.  

Since our phone holds so much power and info at our fingertips, I wonder how much screen time is too much? I do necessary things on my phone such as check news and balance my checkbook and other daily things. I just added to my screen time by searching the average adult screen time. Wow, I am shocked with the answer of 7 hours with US adults often exceeding 8-9 hours. Here is the breakdown by age:

Age 16-24 around 7.5 hours

Age 24-44 is 7+ hours

Age 55-64 is 5-6 hours

The search also broke down by Smartphone, TV and Computers with 2.5 hours on phone and 4.5 TV streaming. That breakdown would explain the 7 hour average above when you combine phone and TV, although many use the phone to stream. Another article says you spend 17 years of your adult life online. I've seen estimates before about how much of our lives are spent waiting in lines or in traffic. I think the online years far outpace the waiting years!

If your read my last post, you know my wife and I enjoy streaming on our TV. I would guess we watch 2-3 hours per night unless we watch a longer movie and then it may jump to a 4 hour night. We catch the evening news for about 30m to an hour and then watch a couple of episodes of various shows. 

In the summer I listen to music on Spotify or Amazon Music. I wonder if that counts as screen time? That doesn't seem to qualify as screen time to me as I'm not utilizing the screen and simply just listening, just as I would a radio. I'm sure there are other apps, such as those used for driving navigating, that should not count as screen time in my opinion. 

What do you spend screen time on? Are you on social media a lot? Do you spend time on emails, text and news? What time do you consider necessary and what time do you consider entertainment? How much screen time do you average a day on your phone? How much time watching streaming services or TV programming? Does your screen time and TV decrease in the Spring and Summer when the weather is nicer, or do you maintain a pretty even usage? If retired, do you think your phone screen time has increased as a form of entertainment that you didn't have time for when working?

When spending time on screen time just remember one thing, use those earbuds and headphone when in public! 

Device Usage in Public

Pet peeve of the year..........People on their phones, tablets and computers with the speaker on!!  Nothing annoys me more than having to listen to a small child's cartoon program while waiting in a medical waiting room, in a restaurant, in an airport waiting area or any other public area. People of all ages are so inconsiderate of those around them. I have seen families at a restaurant with three kids, each with their own tablet propped up on the dining table listening, without headphones, to their program or game. I have seen teenagers and adult scrolling video after video or streaming music with no head phones on. I have seen adults watching how-to videos or talking to someone on speakerphone in a hospital waiting room full of cancer patients. It all infuriates me to no end! I wish I had a jammer that I could flip on in these situations and shut them all down. I mean really, who needs to hold their phone conversation on their speakerphone while sitting among 30 other patients in a waiting room!

On the last flight I took we had plenty of open seating. I was on an aisle and the row across had only one woman in a window seat. She began watching video after video with the volume up enough that I could clearly hear it. I finally got her attention and asked if she had headphones. She looked at me stupidly and said "sorry...sorry" and muted the volume. This was after the flight attendants had clearly stated that any device usage requires headphones! I've gotten to where I carry noise cancelling headphones on planes or even into waiting areas just to try to tune out the idiots with their devices on speaker. 

How about phones at the movies? We recently took our granddaughters to see Zootopia 2. I understand people doing last minute texts or emails during the commercials that they now have before the movies. I don't like them to continue to be on their phones during the previews. At this movie, I could see about 5-10 phone screens lit up through the whole movie. I wanted to stand up and proclaim "Turn off your phones!" but I did not. I tried to focus on the movie screen and tune out the phones but it was impossible. Why can't these young parents of young children not be fully engaged in watching the movie with their kids? I just don't get it. I paid $15 per person to see this movie and I expect to be able to watch it without distractions. 

Oh, and what about restrooms! I have seen many a man talking or watching videos on their phones while standing at the urinals. I've heard phone conversations from people in a stall. Is there no place that is off limits anymore?

I'm all for freedom in this country but that freedom has a limits if it impedes on the freedom of another. The use of phones and devices is fine until it infringes on the rights of others. 

Does this device usage, I listed above, get you agitated as it does me? What example of annoyance have you seen? Am I over reacting to this issue? As I write this, my wife has her phone on speaker while talking with her mother. I have no problem at all with this as it does not disturb the general public and is in the privacy of our own home. I often have our son or daughter on speaker while I continue to do whatever task I'm in the middle of. But, you will never see me on speakerphone in public or listening to videos or movies without headphones in public. Maybe I can suggest an Executive Order to prohibit this annoying behavior! An idea is born!

What Are You Watching?

This is the time of the year when my wife and I watch our most television. With it being colder weather and less daylight, we tend to catch up on streaming shows and start new shows. We have watched these various streaming series and completed them:  The Man on the Inside, The Beast In Me, Nobody Wants This, The Morning Show, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King and one of our favorites Ted Lasso. We are still watching Shrinking, The Neighborhood and another favorite Landman. I am also in the late Season 2 of Silo and find it an interesting watch. 

As you can see we subscribe to multiple streaming sites and have our favorite shows for each one. We watch Hulu, Netflix, Prime, Paramount and recently added Apple TV. We also have access to HBO Max and Peacock but watch very little so far on those sites. We quit our main cable tv service months ago and went with Hulu Live for our primary service for local channels. 

We are very much looking forward to The Pitt coming out next week. We really enjoyed the first season and are ready to see the new season. Just yesterday, I watched CBS Sunday Morning do a story on Noah Wyle in which I discovered he was on the ER show in 1994-2000. I remember watching the show but never connected him from The Pitt to the older show.    

On a regular basis, we watch local news and NBC Nightly News and then usually start watching "our shows" on the various streaming services. 

We are always looking for new shows we might enjoy so if you have one you really like, please list it in the comments and we will check it out. You would think with a billion streaming options we would have enough lined up for a lifetime, but sometimes the many options are a little overwhelming to sort through.

What are you watching? Any favorites that really stand out? Do you have a favorite streaming service? One thing I avoid is dubbed movies or shows that were originally in a different language. I just can't get past the fact the words don't match the facial motions. Can you handle dubbing or does it bother you too? How many streaming service do you subscribe to? Do you start and stop the services to watch a particular series?

Whatever you watch, I hope it helps you get through the bleary winter months like it helps us. I personally get burned out after watching 2-3 hours and have to turn it off and read a book. I already look forward to warmer weather and more sunshine ahead.

Happy New Year!

Uggaa Buggaa!

UGGAA BUGGAA!

I mentioned my three granddaughters a few weeks ago and they continue to give me blog post ideas just by being around them. One post was "alone time". This week's post is about grandkids and our interaction with them. My three live just a few miles away so we get to see them very often and my wife and I love it! They seem to think Nana and Pawpaw's house is the place for snacking and they are not wrong. They come in the door, greet us, and then are instantly hungry. I beginning to think they don't get fed at home! They enjoy looking in the candy jar we have placed on the middle of our kitchen island. They climb up onto two bar stools at the island and begin digging for something to eat. Then they want popcorn, then ice cream, then a jolly rancher. When mom and dad are here, I refer questions on being able to have something to them. At least one, if not two, are candy sneaks and will creep into the kitchen when no one is watching them to grab an extra piece of candy.  

The grandkids enjoy playing at our house. They play with playdough, color with crayons or markers and play with baby dolls. One thing they love to play is Uggaa Buggaa! I made it up, so I'm sure that is the correct spelling. One day while they were here they wanted to play monsters and have me chase them. I began stomping around and uttering "Uggaa Buggaa" while chasing them and then hiding from them as they creep through the house to find me. Now when they come over they want to play Uggaa Buggaa every time. They will sometimes come over to me like they are telling me a secret and whisper in my ear "Can you be Uggaa Buggaa?". Of course, Pawpaw as the UB, will oblige and off we go. I love to hear their screams and giggles as I chase them back into their room and into their closet to hide from me. It is a great joy to hear their laughter and their efforts to fight and then hide from Uggaa Buggaa. I will admit it ramps up the volume in our house but it is well worth it. I have to calm them down sometimes. Recently, they each grabbed a plastic toy golf club to come at Uggaa Buggaa with their "whackers" as they called them. The oldest said "the more scared I get the more I whack!" 

A big part of my enjoyment in retirement is the interaction with the grandkids. I'm fortunate to have them all just a few miles down the road. I know a lot of grandparents only get to see their grandkids every so often due to them living hours or even days away. However often you see them, make the best memories that you can, while you can!

Do you have a special something that you do with your grandkids to connect with them? It doesn't have to be as active as Uggaa Buggaa. It could be baking with them, drawing with chalk outdoors, reading with, or to them and any other special activity. To me, it is a special time that will pass way too soon as they grow into teens and adults. I try to be Uggaa Buggaa every chance I get to get as many screams and laughter as I can. 

Tell me what you do to get the smiles, giggles, screams, hugs and kisses. I'm always up for trying something else with them.

When I googled Uggaa Buggaa I discovered their is a casino slot machine with that name. Who knew?

Uggaa Buggaa out.

Christmas Cards

 

Christmas card exchange during the Christmas season has been a pastime for many centuries. The first known Christmas card was given in 1611. The first commercial card was designed in 1843 in London to make the postal service more popular. The modern format of the folded card with an envelope was an innovation in 1915 by the Hall Brothers company, later known as Hallmark. The White House began a tradition of an official White House Christmas card with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. Cards became enormously popular in the 1930's-1950's.  I began my government career as a mail carrier in 1986 and carried the mail for about 5 years. I remember December being real busy with Christmas cards. My mail case would be full of red, white and green Christmas card envelopes. They were so noticeable because they were so much bigger than the average letter or bill at the time. I imagine the mail case for each route is much less festive these days.

I remember our family receiving Christmas cards when I was young in the 70's and 80's. My mother would tape them to a large double door frame along the edges. We would get so many cards the door frame would be covered up each side and across the top with cards left over and stacked in a basket. That was a time when we received many cards from relatives that have now passed away.

We sent out about 25 cards this year, but have only received 12 to date. I believe our generation will be one of the last to exchange cards through the mail. These days, people either post a greeting on their social media or send a greeting or letter via email. It is just not the same. I enjoy getting the cards in the mail. I enjoy getting the newer version where the sender puts photos of the family consisting of a family photo or multiple photos of the year's activities. This card exchange pastime is on the decline and I fear will soon be a victim of technology and social media.

Do you still send and receive Christmas cards? If so, have you seen a decline in participants over the past years? My wife is a card giver. She still sends cards for birthdays, anniversaries, Halloween, Thanksgiving and other major holidays. She loves getting cards as well. It is a small gesture that means so much. It is much like receiving a Thank You note, which is also a lost art.

                                                     

 Merry Christmas to everyone!

May your packages remain safe from porch pirates!

Me Time

 

We recently had our three granddaughters over for a sleepover. They consist of 3 year old twins and a 6 year old. They play really well together until they don't. They were all playing well in their bedroom/playroom they have at our home until I began to hear the fussing. The 6 year old comes out and into the living room with her twin sisters right on her heels. She declares that she needs her "alone time" and they won't give it to her. She was very upset that her sisters wouldn't leave her alone for a minute for her "alone time". 

She reminded me a lot of myself, although I'm not as dramatic in demanding my "me time" as I like to call it. I would consider myself an introvert and a trait of introvert is that I recharge my batteries by spending quiet time alone. My "me time" is usually in the morning, when the house is quiet, and my wife is still sleeping. I enjoy my coffee, a little news and then read in a book. Sometimes I just lay in the recliner and listen to the grandfather clock ticking away. My wife is more of an extrovert who recharges by being around people. I enjoy being around people but rather than recharge at that time I expend energy and later need the "me time" to recuperate. 

My 6 year old granddaughter has spent the last several summers at our home during the day while her sisters attend day care school. Those summers have been special for her to have Nana and Pawpaw alone to herself. This year she will be joined by her twin sisters and her "alone time" will be severely cut back at our house.

Do you recharge around people or by being alone? Whichever you prefer, what is your favorite activity to recharge your energy levels? Do you recharge in silence or at a busy party? Do you recharge by getting out in nature or getting deep into a hobby? If you take "me time" do you have a normal time, like my mornings, in which you get that time? 

I did notice while the girls were here that there was a time where the twins were playing together in another play room (our dining room turned toy room) while 6 year old sister was no where to be found. I was sure she was in their bedroom on the bed and reading a book. She got her "alone time" after all. Way to go big sister!

However you recharge your energy, make sure you take the time to do it. We all need that energy renewal on a daily basis and certainly during the busy holiday season!

Mistakes

The photo above highlights a mistake I recently made. Apparently, I didn't pay close attention to the directions! I was so excited to make a photo book of our recent trip to Egypt. I loaded about 80 photos into the program and couldn't wait to see the finished product. I received it in the mail, opened the box and just laughed at the title to my new book. I have since created a new title with a label maker and kinda put a fix on it. This is just the latest example of mistakes I make when I get in a hurry.

There was no real reason for me to be in a hurry on this book project. I'm retired and have plenty of time. At the time I sat down to do the project I had absolutely nothing planned. I have no idea what causes me to get in such a hurry sometimes. When I sat down to do the book something in me said do it as quick as possible and be done with it. You see the result.

This mistake made me think of numerous mistakes I have made in the past and all are probably related to rushing through whatever I was doing. Years ago when I was still working, I made the mistake a few times of putting on one blue and one black dress sock. Surely, everyone out there has done that. I always put the 10% ethanol gas in my cars, but I have made the mistake at least once of grabbing the premium gas nozzle and pumping away. When doing home improvement projects, I often cut the same wrong angle or wrong length twice in a row until I take my time to really look at what I'm doing. Another recent mistake I made was at Thanksgiving. My wife was making some fudge and asked me to get some of the ingredients for her including Vanilla Extract. I pulled out a bottle that looks like Vanilla but once she poured it in the mixture she turned it around to see I had given her Orange Extract! All of these mistakes could have been avoided if I wasn't in such a hurry.

I try my best not to hurry in life so I can enjoy a nice slow retirement vibe. Sometimes, I just can't do it and it gets me into trouble. Not serious trouble, but a little stupid trouble. I laugh at most of these mistakes and get on with my life so it's not too big of a deal.

I think mistakes just show we are human. I will laugh at my Egypt photo book for the rest of my life. I'm sure my wife and I will talk about our Orange Extract chocolate fudge every Thanksgiving. I laid new tile in the bathroom of our last home. In the very middle I had one tile that was just a little crooked. Most people would never notice, but I noticed it every time I went in there and I would smile about my handiwork. When I think about these mistakes they give me a little memory dividend that I mentioned in my last post. Without the mistakes, those particular things would have no acknowledgement in my brain.

How many times have you made silly mistakes?  What are the most memorable ones? Surely you have a unique story to share that still makes you smile today. How many times have you been in a hurry to get dressed and as you button up the shirt realize you have an extra button at the bottom on one side? You look in the mirror and realize your collar is also up a little on one side as you have buttoned the shirt all wonky.

Embrace your mistakes, learn and carry on. I will double check my work on the next photo book and I will always read the label on the Extract the next go around!