A Time That Does Not Exist

If you ask me to meet you on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2:30 am, I would have to tell you that time does not exist.  Ask me to meet you on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 1:30 am, I would have to ask you, "Which one?'  Of course, I'm talking about the effect of starting and ending Daylight Saving Time.  But time itself doesn't leap forward or fall back; it's just the way we humans want to label time.  Because of that and a few other factors, like the Earth's rotation continuing to slow down, keeping track of time is difficult, particularly for computers, where it's really important.

For those non-techies, you can stop reading now.

The programming language of the Internet is JavaScript, and it was modeled on Java.  Java had a flawed "Date" function, and in the haste to get JavaScript completed, those flaws got included.  That's been (finally) fixed with the introduction of a new JavaScript time function called Temporal, which provides a more reliable and feature-rich way to handle dates and times compared to the legacy Date object. It includes support for time zones, calendars, and immutable date-time representations, making date management simpler and less error-prone.  More details can be found at the following link.

https://dev.to/pritampatil/introducing-the-temporal-object-a-game-changer-for-javascript-date-handling-3n1b

Using AI To Colorize Photos

The first picture below is an original photo of Gourmet Chef Elaine (with the ribbon in her hair) and her siblings.  I asked the Google Gemini chatbot to colorize the photo, and you see that in the second picture.  

Along with the picture, Gemini responded, "I have colorized and enhanced your photo, focusing on bringing natural skin tones and fabric colors to life. I also restored the details and texture to the clothing, such as the boy's plaid blazer and the various ties, and removed the gold studio signature for a cleaner finish."

Gemini made up all the colors, including Elaine's red hair (which it's not), and it's nowhere near what they actually wore, but it's kinda cool to see what it could have looked like.

https://gemini.google.com

Pepperoni Roll

We went to Jimmy's Italian Kitchen on our once-a-month, eat-lunch-out dates.  I had the yummy Pepperoni Roll, which you see below, one of six New York Rolls on the menu.  They have quite the menu, including pizza, salad, calzone, ravioli, ziti, lasagna, and luxurious desserts.  You can check out the menu at the link below.

https://jimmysitaliancuisine.com

Flavortown Sauces

We watch Guy Fieri (pronounced guy fee-ED-ee) 's competition cooking shows all the time, and when he began marketing sauces, rubs, and wing sauces, we had to give them a try.  The Smokin' Hickory BBQ sauce, on the left below, is great and rivals the best ones on the market.  The other one is his unique Donkey Sauce, featuring a combination of lots of garlic, EV olive oil, salt, pepper, mayonnaise, yellow mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.  You'll notice the top of the lid is different than other bottles, and it's a great feature that allows you to open the top using one hand.  Pretty clever!

https://www.flavortownsauces.com

Cat Houses

It looks like a high-density feline metropolis has sprouted right in front of the picture window.

I often wonder what people are thinking, and that certainly applies to the front porch you see below, which, unfortunately, is at the west end of the street we live on.  Is the purpose of all the cat houses and platforms to provide a home for stray cats, or perhaps they think this is decorating at its finest?  At the top, you'll see their Christmas lights are still strung, and the sign to the right of the picture window says "Home Sweet Haunted Home."  Sigh...

Cordless Electric Scissors

It wasn't until the electric scissors you see below went on sale for about $25 that I decided to buy.  While you can use it to cut wrapping paper, fabric, and many other things, there are two things that I'll use it for the most.  First, cardboard boxes.  I recently used a carpet knife to cut down the boxes our new nightstands came in.  Pulling that razor blade towards me over and over to make small enough pieces to fit into the recycle can was both dangerous and exhausting.  Second, plastic clamshell packaging.  Our heavy-duty kitchen scissors can barely cut the stuff, and ripping it apart leads to enough injuries that OSHA releases an annual clamshell packaging injury report.  I haven't tested cutting really heavy-duty plastic yet, but I believe it should work.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GD7MF41Z

Using AI To Diagram A Sentence

There seems to be no end to what Chatbots can do, and this example might take you back to the horror (or happiness) of grade-school English class.  Diagramming teaches the logic of language.  It forces you to categorize every word and sharpens your ability to write with more clarity and precision.  I asked a few chatbots to "Diagram the first sentence of the Gettysburg Address," and ChatGPT gave the nicest result, shown below.  I didn't know English could be this complex.

https://chatgpt.com

How the structure works

Main clause

• Subject: our fathers

• Verb: brought forth

• Direct object: a new nation

Verb modifiers

• Four score and seven years ago (time)

• on this continent (place)

Modifiers of “nation”

• conceived in Liberty (participial phrase)

• dedicated to the proposition… (participial phrase)

Object of “to”

• proposition

Clause modifying “proposition”

• that all men are created equal

Beef Barley Soup With Prime Rib

Put leftover prime rib to a delicious use by making a big pot of Beef Barley soup.  Butter, celery, carrots, garlic, and onion are cooked until almost brown.  Add beef broth, prime rib, apple cider vinegar, ground thyme, and barley, and cook over medium heat until the barley is tender.  The recipe at the link below also calls for "broth", but only beef broth was used.

It's more of a cold winter day meal, but it's so good I would never turn a bowl down.  Gourmet Chef Elaine hits another one out of the park.  Lucky me.

https://www.delishscript.com/beef-barley-soup-with-prime-rib-recipe

MyChart End-of-Life Planning

As I blogged a few weeks ago, we updated our end-of-planning documents.  Our lawyer's recommendation was to make a copy for our family doctors so they could scan it into their system.  But I found that the MyChart app, part of the Epic system that all our local health providers use, allows you upload documents in their "End-of-Life Planning" section, including our Living Wills and Health Care Power of Attorney.  We now have access to those documents via our smartphone's MyChart app if they are ever needed.  I think this is a good idea for everyone.  If you have a MyChart account, you can use the following link to find the right section.

https://www.mychart.org/Features

Jar Lifter

The worst part of canning is lifting the jars out of the pot of boiling water.  I've used a variety of methods, including, most recently, a pair of channel lock pliers.  That scared the geebers out of my friend who was watching, and I didn't think much of it either.  The easy-to-grip handles are designed for minimal force and maximum jar security, and its springed hinge pops open for effortless jar placement and removal.

A big shout-out to Dan and Kim for this perfect gift!

https://www.amazon.com/Ball-Secure-Grip-Jar-Lifter/dp/B0107Z5B4C

Weather Apps

I've used The Weather Channel app for many years, and it always had pop-up advertisements, but recently those have become more frequent, full-screen, non-closable videos that roll on up to thirty seconds.  It was time to look for a new app, and for my Pixel 7 phone, I found that Google has its own app, with zero ads.  For our iPads, I found Apple has its own app, again with no ads, and that's what you see in the image below.  To top that, Apple includes that app as part of my Mac.  While I find The Weather Channel to be a notch better, those ads were driving me crazy.

The link to the Apple Weather app for iPhones and iPads is at the link below.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/weather/id1069513131

Mandolin Glove

I watch a fair number of cooking shows, and it drives me crazy to watch a chef use an uber-dangerous mandolin barehanded.  Not us.  We use the NoCry Cut-Resistant Glove, which you see in the picture below, for vegetables too small to use the guard that came with the mandolin.  I use this when I slice jalapeno peppers for Cowboy Candy, and it has saved my index finger a time or two.  A link to the glove is provided below.

https://www.amazon.com/NoCry-Cut-Resistant-Gloves-Performance/dp/B00MXUHHGK

Hallaca With Chicken Potato Salad

The outside of the large dumpling you see below is folded plantain leaves wrapped around a stew of meats and vegetables.  It's a popular Venezuelan dish known by many Latin American names, such as ayaca, hayaca, guanimo, tamal, and guanime.  It's accompanied by a mound of chicken potato salad and avocado slices.  I'm really taking a liking to Venezuelan food and might have to try out Latin Arepas in Springboro, but Jorrge's will also be my go-to.

https://www.facebook.com/jorrgescantina

Bite-Sized Cucumbers

I like sliced cucumbers in my salad, but I loathe buying a large cucumber and slicing it into bite-sized pieces.  I also end up throwing most of it away.  Recently, at our local Meijer store, I saw packages of tiny cucumbers like the ones below.  I just grab a couple, slice them into tiny rounds, and add them to my salad.  You can also munch on one as a snack or include them in a lunch bag.  I never thought to look for small cucumbers, even though they make pickles the same size.  Duh...

https://www.sunsetgrown.com/sunset-unveils-pop-its-snack-sized-cucumbers

All-Clad Pot Holders

We've had all sorts of pot holders over the years, but we have never had ones that we really liked.  They were either too flimsy, too bulky, too small, or would stain easily.  But after taking a cooking class at Dorothy Lane Market, we spent a few moments going through their cool set of kitchen gadgets and found the perfect pot holders that you see below.  The 100% cotton heavyweight twill is treated with silicone, which makes for a firm grip and can handle temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.  You can find them in an array of colors at the link below.

https://www.amazon.com/All-Clad-Premium-Heating-Resistant-Barbeque/dp/B00UABQU08

2025 Coin Findings

When I walk outside, I'm constantly looking for money lying on the streets and sidewalks, and in the ponds at the Fraze Pavilion after they drain it for the winter.  I found a total of $7.80 in 2025, and for the first time, kept track of how many coins of each denomination.  I picked up 14 quarters, 27 dimes, 6 nickels, and 130 pennies.  I'm only surprised that I found more quarters than nickels, since they are larger and worth more.  

New for 2026, I'm keeping track of the number of mini-Fireball bottles and rubberbands I find.  My contribution to a cleaner neighborhood.

Using AI To Find Volunteer Opportunities

Internet search engines certainly made finding things much easier, but AI takes that to a new level.  I used this question: "List five volunteer opportunities that are primarily outdoors in montgomery county ohio."  A regular search will return thousands of results that you would have to dig through, hopefully finding something interesting before you give up.  I used five criteria ("five", "volunteer", "outdoors", "montgomery county ohio") to focus the chatbot's answer on things that matched my high-level requirements.  I could easily change that question to add more focus or move it in a different direction.  

https://gemini.google.com

Gemini said

1. Habitat Healers (Aullwood Audubon)

Located on the north side of Dayton, Aullwood’s "Habitat Healers" are the boots-on-the-ground team for land conservation. You’ll work directly in the sanctuary’s 200+ acres of prairies, forests, and marshes.

• What you’ll do: Eradicate invasive plant species, plant native trees and flowers, and maintain over 6 miles of hiking trails.

• Best for: People who enjoy physical work and want to learn about local ecology.

2. Conservation & Trail Work (Five Rivers MetroParks)

Five Rivers MetroParks manages over 16,000 acres of land across Montgomery County. Their outdoor volunteer needs are constant and vary by season.

• What you’ll do: Options include reforestation efforts (planting trees), invasive species removal, and "Trail Work Days" where you help repair and clear paths at parks like Germantown or Sugarcreek MetroPark.

• Best for: Flexible volunteers who want to explore different parks throughout the county.

3. Build Site Volunteer (Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton)

If you prefer construction over conservation, Habitat for Humanity offers a very literal way to build the community.

• What you’ll do: Assist in building safe, affordable housing. Tasks include framing, roofing, siding, and landscaping. No prior construction experience is required, as site leaders provide on-the-spot training.

• Best for: Those who want to learn DIY home repair skills while helping local families.

4. Heritage Gardening & Farm Support (Carriage Hill MetroPark)

For those interested in history and horticulture, Carriage Hill provides a unique outdoor environment focused on 1880s farm life.

• What you’ll do: Assist with heirloom gardening, maintaining the "historic" landscape, or helping with the farm's livestock. They also look for volunteers to help with outdoor public programs and demonstrations.

• Best for: History buffs and people who enjoy working with animals or traditional gardening.

5. SunWatch Indian Village & Archaeological Park

Operated by the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, SunWatch is a reconstructed Native American village and a National Historic Landmark.

• What you’ll do: Outdoor opportunities include site maintenance, assisting with educational "Ancient Studies" programs, and helping maintain the prairie and garden areas that surround the village.

• Best for: Volunteers interested in archaeology, education, and cultural history.

Hamburger Steaks With Onion And Mushroon Gravy

These hamburger "steaks" are pretty good, but the onion-and-mushroom gravy is the star of the show.  You can smother anything (e.g., noodles, mashed potatoes, or French fries) in this flavor bomb of beef broth, baby bella mushrooms, thyme, butter, onion, garlic, flour, and Worcestershire sauce, and serve up a memorable meal.  The gravy takes 20-25 minutes to make, but that's time well spent.  All the recipe details are at the link below.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/hamburger-steaks-with-onion-and-mushroom-gravy-9586467

Lunazul Primero Añejo Cristalino

Lunazul tequila is both very good and moderately priced, and we keep a bottle on hand at all times.  I thought it just came in Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo varieties, but I was recently served a shot of the Lunazul Primero Añejo Cristalino you see below.  It's an añejo tequila that's been aged in American white-oak barrels for 18 months and filtered eight times to achieve a crystal clear color.  "Cristalino" essentially means "Añejo in disguise."  It has the soul and age of a dark tequila but the look of a clear one.  You'll smell sweet vanilla, honey, and white flowersand taste flavors of caramel, toasted oak, and citrus, with surprising fruity notes like green apple or pear.  

https://lunazultequila.com

Two Dogs And Two Cats

Gourmet Chef Elaine refers to me as "the dog whisperer" for my ability to quickly make friends with animals.  But the three stories that I wrote about at the link below are the ones I remember most fondly, as they really shocked their owners.  The last story stars the cute puppy you see in the picture below.

https://lifeexperiences.paulishing.com/2026/02/two-dogs-and-two-cats.html

Power Of Attorney

We've recently updated our Will, Living Will, and General Durable Power of Attorney, and Health Care Power of Attorney, and it got me thinking, why do they call it a Power of Attorney (POA)?  The Power makes sense: you're giving someone else the legal authority, in other words, you are giving them the "power" to be you in the eyes of the law.  To understand "Attorney", you need to travel back in time.

In the past, an "attorney" wasn't just a lawyer. The word comes from the Old French atourné, which simply means "one who is turned to" or "one who is appointed."  Essentially, an attorney is anyone appointed to act in the place of another.  This is who you appoint to represent you in private business or personal matters (the person you name in a POA).

A deeper dive into what a Power of Attorney is can be read at the link below.

https://www.ncoa.org/article/what-is-power-of-attorney

Using AI To Summarize The Weather

The last part of this past January was brutally cold, and it felt like it had been forever since we last had seasonally normal temperatures.  Pulling up my favorite Gemini chatbot, I asked it, "Using the daily high temperatures for January 2026 at the Dayton International Airport, calculate the average high temperature and list each day's high temperature."  

The average was 31.7°F, significantly colder than the mid-30s average.  The table below shows all the highs, and I was surprised that the highest was 61°F on the 13th.  Without the frigid temperatures over the last five days, it would have been a normal January.

I ran the same question a few times, and the Gemini chatbot demonstrated one of AI's big problems: making things up.  It returned totally wrong temperatures that were, fortunately, easy to spot.  I told it the numbers were not correct; it rechecked, told me I was right, then produced the correct numbers.  Computers are good, but never take them as perfect.

https://gemini.google.com/app