More On the Seattle Trip

I think I have mentioned before how many times the Alexa functions in my daughter's household have caused problems for me.  This time was no different.

I have a place to be in what would be considered a living room in their house.  Bed, TV, fan, place to put my computer and my nebulizer, as well as a place to put my luggage.  Also a laundry basket to put my dirties in.

Alexa is in voice control of the TV.  The remote has a circle to accept my voice commands.  She and I just need to speak the same language--which we normally do--but I get flummoxed when I think things should work but don't.  One day, the non-vocal remote could turn the TV off/on and would change the volume.  The next day, it wouldn't...and Alexa told me so.  After some consternation, I asked the Master of the House (our Denis) if, perhaps, the remote needed new batteries.  Yup!  That fixed it!  At last, something I could understand!!!

On Christmas Eve, granddaughter Robin was to sing in the Woodinville UU Church choir's candlelight service.  All but grandson attended.  It was nice.  Later in the evening, the family agreed to be up to open presents by 10:00 AM.  (Can you believe that?????)  In any case, I was the first up.  My son-in-law soon followed.  I was out on the porch observing the day when the doorbell told me it was time to come in because everyone had gathered.  Seriously.  The doorbell.  I don't have a doorbell at my house in Indiana, but if I did, it would probably say "ding-dong" instead of "time to come in because everyone has gathered".  Live and learn!

Santa brought me a Kindle Fire tablet.  My daughter had gotten it ahead of time, loaded it with what she thought I needed, and sent it my way.  What a blessing!  The Kindle has an Alexa function.  I noticed one day that when my daughter asked Alexa to announce to the whole household that dinner was ready, it came through my tablet.  Fast forward to Dec. 31st when I am back home in Indiana...and out of nowhere (via Kindle) I hear my daughter's voice announce that Dinner Is Served.  Whoa!!  I have no clue how Alexa can cross 2k miles, but she sure did!

My son-in-law surprised the family with a small Airstream travel trailer.  The adults decided to take it on a shakedown run without violating the fact that it was winterized.  I stayed home with the cat and the kids.  While they were gone, I took it upon myself to FINALLY clean up the kitchen at home.  (We had messed up every big pot, pan, and cookie sheet in the household!  It took THREE loads to get it done, but I managed.)  And then it was time for me to clean the quartz counters.  I grabbed a spray bottle from under the sink and washed away.  The kitchen looked spiffy...but I noticed that the underarm of my right sleeve looked like I had dragged it over chocolate powder.  It only took one look at the spray cleaner bottle to notice that it was cleaner WITH BLEACH.  Yikes!  Lesson learned!

I am a member of a closed Facebook page for Bothell, WA.  They like me there.  It's scary, really.  I will be back in their environs in March, and again in May.  They think I'm special, so I have to perform!  I'm just me.  Help!