Labels in the new Blogger interface is horrible!

I am still trying to get used to the new Blogger interface. On the whole, I like it. However, what I dislike is the horrible usability of labels. Sometimes, it works when I reuse existing labels. When I introduce new labels and select existing ones, I get an error message and can't save my post.

My workaround is to go back to the old interface and add labels like a normal human being. It works well.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who is frustrated over this feature. I found this support post, which recommends a workaround where you don't select the labels when you are writing a new post. Rather, you save your post, go to the Posts section, click the tag icon for the post that you want, and select existing or add new labels there.

Do I like this feature in the new interface? No. It seems ridiculous to offer adding labels while authoring the post and it doesn't work. Why does it need to be an afterthought by going to a different screen?

I like change, but not when it makes the usability worse than it was.

Somebody, Feed Phil makes me happy

I haven't been using Netflix as often as I should be during this pandemic. It has taken a show that I truly love for me to get back into using my Netflix account.

I love Somebody, Feed Phil. Phil Rosenthal loves food. I enjoy how delighted he is eating new foods and travelling around the world. He's a nice person who genuinely appreciates eating yummy food.

It's nice to enjoy such a cheerful series in light of what's happening in the world.

Having video on a work call should not be mandatory

I have a love-hate relationship with my manager. Ever since we have all been working from home, he has been on my case to have my laptop's video camera on when we have meetings.

First, my Internet connection was horribly slow for the last two months. It wasn't until I called my Internet Service Provider and got a new modem that I have seen a huge improvement with my connection.

Second, I don't care much for having video on. A colleague thought that I was shy. I'm not. I choose not to. I am comfortable that way. Always have been. Always will be.

This conversation has surfaced from my manager at least four times. Every time, I have made it clear that I prefer not to have video on. I hate that I have to go through it every time and that he has poor listening skills.

His manager insists that his team have video on. If she were my manager, I would say the same thing. It is not mandatory to have video on all calls. It is a choice. My manager said in a sentence that we "have to." I shot that down immediately.

I have a feeling that he misses seeing me, but can't express it. Well, the more you pressure me to turn my video camera on, the more I will resist. It should not be a forced option.

I feel like he has no respect for me. Is he that slow or thick that he doesn't get it?

It has been a long week. I want the weekend to start now.

One year later, being on my own, and being okay at home for months

Yesterday was exactly a year when my ex called it quits with me. I was aware of this date towards the end of a long workday.

During our text chat in April, he didn't once ask me how I was doing. Rather, he said that he missed me and wanted everything we once had, minus travelling together. It was odd. It was all he wanted. So typical.

I am better off being on my own right now. I don't have any inclination to meet someone special, especially when we are all self-isolating at home.

My manager asked our team whether we wanted to go back to the office during the first phase of this so-called plan. I let him know that I need to know what safety precautions will be in place at our office before I can make an informative decision on whether I want to return. It seemed to be a premature question, especially when we are all working from home till mid-June right now. This date continues to get extended.

I don't mind working from and being at home. I'm a homebody who likes to see the world now and again. Going out a couple of times a week is a good balance.

Happy with simplicity

My Mac mini is acting up again. I'm currently drafting this post on my phone.

I have been contemplating getting a replacement Mac mini for a while. Despite it being down once a month, I don't feel the need to splurge.

Today, Winners, a chain of fashion and food stores, is reopening. I don't feel the excitement. I don't have any need to be there.

I'm perfectly content getting groceries and dropping by the drugstore a couple of times a week. I only get what I need. It's good to keep things simple. It keeps me content and sane.

Manicure, shaved legs, exercise, and benefits

During this pandemic, there are some things that I have let go doing. It's not horrible, but they are worth noting.

I still give myself a manicure every Sunday. These days, I use clear shellac. It's a throwback to what I used to do before meeting my ex, who liked when I put colour on my nails. I have been working from home for over two months now. I have used coloured polish on my nails twice.

Last night, I shaved my legs for the first time in over two months. Luckily, I don't have a ton of leg hair. It wasn't like I was mowing the lawn.

I haven't gained weight since staying at home. I thank getting out to fetch groceries and essentials twice a week, along with exercising at home.

I do sleep more. I cook more. I do improvements around the house. I have also saved a ton of money because I'm not shopping as much.

It's an interesting time.

Rest, heatwave, and panties

I haven't done a whole lot this weekend. Working so much last week required a break from doing a bunch of stuff.

We have a heatwave happening. It's supposed to be 29°C as the high temperature today. I am not ready for it. I have most of my summer clothes packed away.

My bi-monthly shipment of new panties is coming in the mail soon. I am looking forward to them. I like my collection of panties.

Grocery shopping, cart return, and car compliment

On Saturday, I went grocery shopping. Every couple of week, I drive into Toronto to hit one particular grocery store that has specific items that I can't get in my neighbourhood. I like this store a lot.

I had a small cart. After I had paid for my groceries, I rolled a small cart with my items over to my car, unloaded them into my car's trunk, and proceeded to put my cart away. There was a nice man who spotted me returning my cart.

"I can take that," he said cheerfully.
"Thanks," I said, leaving the cart a few feet from him so he could sanitize it.
"That's a beautiful car," he said, looking at my blue Corolla hatchback.
"Oh, thanks so much!"

I have to agree with him. It i a good-looking car.

Credit cards - a decade ago versus now

I just placed an online order with a store that I have not shopped with for a decade. My account still works, which is great.

The funny thing? Almost all credit cards on file have not been active for years. To me, it was nice to see. I have worked so hard to reduce the number of credit cards that I had. I'm down to two personal credit cards. One of them is an American Express that stays at home.

It's supposed to feel like summer this weekend. I need to haul out my summer clothes. I'm not ready for a heatwave!

Gift cards and crocheting

Over the last couple of months, I have amassed a number of Amazon gift cards. I'm at a stage now where I don't have anything to buy, other than items at the grocery or drug store.

Well, it's time for me to learn a new skill. I have selected crocheting. 

Years ago, a colleague-turned-friend tried to teach me how to crochet. It didn't work. I got all confused.

It's funny. I can do cork (spool) knitting. I can do finger knitting. I can weave. I can't crochet.

I have also tried knitting. I did pretty well, except that I didn't know how to bind off. That's another skill that I need to resurrect.

Anyway, I used some of my gift card balance to get crochet needles. They arrive on Monday. I'm looking so forward to trying out crocheting. I watched a decent YouTube video on crocheting for beginners. I understood it!

See, there is hope for me.

Working quietly and not liking instant messaging interruptions

I have a ton of content to put together for work. It's not difficult work. It's volume. I need to have my work done in over a week's time. I simply like to work quietly without any distractions.

I have a love-hate relationship with instant messaging. Getting messages from folks while I am doing a ton of work throws me off.

At work, we have two messaging apps. We use Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams. I am only on the former because my boss does tabs on when people log on and off. It's sad, but it's a virtual punch card machine.

I work enough hours that I don't really care. I get messaged often, which I don't enjoy. I am the longest-serving employee within our group, so I have a ton of knowledge. Everybody thinks that their work is important. Meanwhile, they don't realize that they may be interrupting work that I am doing that is important to me.

I only log on to Microsoft Teams when I have meetings. I haven't figured out a way to block people I don't enjoy working with yet.

Anyway, there is one project manager who has rubbed me the wrong way for at least two years. I have told her countless times that I prefer e-mails than instant messages. The former gives me time to think. I also write back with details.

She can't absorb e-mails. She wants everything quickly and continues to communicate with me through instant messages. I hate all of that.

I let her know that I am super busy. I copied two of her colleagues who know just how swamped I am with work. They also happen to be my past and present project managers on my team. I let her know calmly that I have shared everything with her and don't have an answer on how she should communicate to folks asking about software delivery. I am simply the person who put the contents of a document together. Delivery of this document is out of my scope once it is published.

Meanwhile, she makes it such a big deal to call and instant message me. If my status says that I am offline and she can't reach me, it's because I'm offline. I don't know what is so unclear about that. If telling her three times that I prefer e-mails doesn't sink in, that's her problem.

Sleep, work, and time

I didn't sleep well last night. I woke up a few times during the night, so I felt tired by the time that I needed to get up.

I've received about 67% of content delivered to me at work. They are essentially three large chunks of information. I got the first one done yesterday. I suspect that the other two chunks will be larger, but it's hard to gauge.

My workplace is closed till June 1 know. I have a feeling that this deadline will be extended for a while.

There are some positives to staying at home. I don't spend as much. I also enjoy cooking meals and having more time to myself.

Here's hoping that I sleep better tonight.

Long weekend is over and I am relaxed

This long weekend went by quickly. I frankly didn't do a whole lot. I played it by ear. It was nice to simply relax.

I enjoyed cooking over the weekend. I also attended a photography session online on Monday night.

Sadly, the next two weeks at work will be busy. We'll see how things unfold.

Have a great week ahead!

Lazy Sunday mornings and workouts

I like lazy Sunday mornings. I slept in till 10:40 am. I made corned beef hash, sauteed mushrooms, and an omelette with corned beef hash inside. Good eats.

For the last two weeks at least, I have been working out again. I alternate between cardio, weights, and pushups.

I am still not at cardio levels that I used to be at. I exercise for 15 minutes on a glider these days. I used to easily hit 35 minutes.

Baby steps.

What I didn't do back then was pushups. I can easily do twenty now. Two weeks ago, five of them was a challenge to do.

It's a good thing that I have exercise equipment to keep me going these days. I feel good.

Donuts and the wait

Last night, I slept like a rock. It was great.

It's a long weekend. I have been craving donuts for a couple of months. I went a bit crazy on Saturday. I ordered six donuts from Tim Hortons and a dozen from Krispy Kreme.

I waited for nearly three hours to go through the Krispy Kreme drive-thru to place my order. Yes, these donuts are that good.

I don't consume donuts often. This pandemic has made me want some badly.

The wait truly didn't feel that long. Mind you, I am pretty patient to begin with. However, I ended up reading, listening to music, and writing. It certainly made the time pass by faster than I had anticipated.

I am pleased with my donut haul. I will be pacing myself!

Long weekend and sleep

It's the weekend. A long weekend. Thank goodness!

I didn't sleep well last night. It has been the first time in nearly two months since I have had foot pain. I put so much stress on it trying to set up my new modem that my foot didn't like it and let me know about around 6 am.

I'm hoping to sleep better tonight. Enjoy your weekend!

Lack of a delivery notification, but my modem works wonders!

Contactless delivery is interesting. Amazon does it right. If you are a Prime member, it delivers your package by placing it on your porch or front step, snapping a photo of your package and where it is, and the app lets you know that it has arrived.

Yesterday, I was expecting my modem to be delivered. It was 5 pm and I hadn't received it. I sent an e-mail to my Internet service provider for the tracking number.

I did get the tracking number about an hour later. It said that it was delivered at 2:14 pm. I was home eating lunch at that time. I didn't hear a door bell, knock, or cell phone ring.

Sure enough, I opened the door and it was sitting on the door step, in the rain. Thankfully, it was wrapped in a plastic bag.

Canpar, you need to be better at notifying customers. My cell phone number was on the front of the package. You could have texted or called me. It only takes a few seconds. I wasn't aware that you had delivered my package that stayed outside for four hours.

My package could have been stolen if we weren't going through a pandemic. If the package wasn't so carefully packaged, the rain could have damaged my modem.

On a happier note, my modem works well. I use the faster wifi band for work and videos. The slower band is for tablets and slower devices.

It's like night and day so far. I am looking forward to trying it out when I'm working from home in a few hours and doing meetings over my wifi connection.

Transparency on shipping and the toll on the Internet when many are working from home

It appears that my modem will be delivered later on today. I just got a bill for the courier service. Interesting.

I'm not upset about paying $11.30 for shipping. It would have been nice if someone at my ISP had said, "Since you have been with us for eight years, we're giving you a new modem. However, we will be billing you for shipping." Transparency would have been nice.

Again, it's not a huge deal. The modem-router is probably worth $150 and I am hopeful that it will improve the quality of my Internet connection.

Yesterday, my colleague and friend had a chat with me about work. My connection had cut out briefly. She had the same issue with hers earlier in the day when she was in a meeting.

I have a feeling that since a lot of us are online, data connections will go through some hiccups these days.

Early start and a new modem to come

Yesterday, my workday started before 7 am. It's nice wrapping up work early. In my case, I ended up working a bit more because only one person was in a spreadsheet that I needed to update. It's much easier to update dropdown menus when there aren't a ton of users in the same shared file.

I do have an update on my Internet issues. Naturally, a test was done before 6 am and the signal was fine according to my Internet service provider. Of course, it was! I had rebooted my modem before I went to bed and I expect the signal to be strong when I'm not fully using my wifi!

Anyway, I am getting a new modem shipped to me this week for free. That's good news. This modem has two wifi bands. We'll see how things work out. I'm optimistic.

Sluggish Internet connection

I find that my DSL Internet connection at home get sluggish as the day progresses. I reboot my modem-router combo weekly, which helps initially, but gets worse over the next week or so.

I'm wondering whether I need a new router-modem. I've had my current and only one since I became a customer with my Internet service provider eight years ago. Maybe a technology update would be helpful.

I'm not sure whether upgrading my Internet service plan would be worth it. Anyway, I've asked support to look into my sluggish connection and see what suggestions I get.

Mother's Day and sharing multimedia with family twelve hours away

Just like that, the weekend is over.

Yesterday, I wished my mom a happy Mother's Day over the phone. I shared a photo of her from years ago on a social media account, which sparked a nice conversation with my cousin. She lives in Hong Kong. I'm in the suburbs of Toronto. She is the youngest cousin on my mom's side. I'm the oldest.

We have never met in person. Yet, our conversations over the years make us both feel like we truly know each other well.

She showed my photo to my aunt and uncle, which made them happy. Both my uncle (my mom's baby brother) and my mom have suffered strokes. They saw each other last summer when he and my aunt came to Toronto for a visit.

My cousin and I decided to try and get video and audio snippets of our parents now and again. I started off my sharing a video of some snow (yes, that's not a typo and it's the month of May) that came down on Saturday afternoon.

Technology does have its perks, especially when you are separated from family halfway across the world.

My childhood friend has COVID-19

Two days ago, I found out that a friend whom I've known since we were both four years old, has COVID-19. Ugh!

She works as a manager at a liquor store, which remains open through this pandemic. She lost her sense of taste and smell last Monday. She got a test done and it came back positive.

She describes having it as if I truck had run over her. She is at home, resting and self-isolating. Her daughter is a newly minted nurse. It must be highly stressful for both of them.

My friend is upbeat under the circumstances. She is achy and tired, though. She also doesn't wish this virus on her worst enemy.

It's scary that certain provinces here want to relax certain policies. On Saturday, Ontario was allowed to have nurseries and garden centres open. All I saw were lineups of folks. As much as I am all for having a distraction and a gardening hobby, I simply hope that there are measures in place at these centres as there are at grocery stores. The last thing we want is another spike in the number of Canadians with COVID-19.

Stay safe and healthy, everyone. This virus is scary.

Three pairs of the same headphones

Here's to the weekend!

I have spent the last two hours rearranging items on a shelf. I'm now uploading music to my Mac mini.

Decluttering has been good. I realized that I have three pairs of Beats headphones. Two are wireless and one is wired. I have no idea what possessed me to buy them three times. One will be a nice gift for a friend, as I haven't used them.

Virtual meeting with real drinks

Last night, I attended a virtual meeting where we got to drink beverages and chat from the comfort of our own home. There was a nice woman who showed us how to make two cocktails. I loved it all.

On Wednesday, I went to the bar that this woman owns and got my cocktail mix that was pre-made. I haven't had pineapple juice and coconut cream in a drink in ages! It was recommended to add some rum, which I love. However, it tasted so go the way it was that I didn't even bother with the booze.

I have an ice cube tray where I made ice shaped as pineapples. It was incredibly fitting.

It was a fun hour chatting with new people. Now, I'm dreaming of this drink.

Meetings and time

Some people are having a difficult time adjusting to working from home every day. For me, it wasn't a huge stretch. I was working from home once or twice a week before the pandemic.

I truly prefer working from home. When I was in the office, many folks approached me to discuss various topics. I felt like I couldn't concentrate on my work with so many interruptions throughout the day. I have fewer distractions at home.

I tend to have meetings with my manager practically daily. I am doing work that requires my talking to him often. It's okay, except that I'd like to have fewer meetings.

Anyway, he came to my meeting on Wednesday morning and said the following:

"I am so glad to be in your meeting. Everyone else calls meetings that are pointless," he said.

That's a pretty good compliment to get. I went through my content and he approved it. It was a one-hour meeting that ended on time.

I wish that more meetings that I am a part of and are not run by me were that efficient.

Blogger's user interface continues to change - part 2, cocktails, and tea

Okay, I have logged on and the editor looks completely minimalistic. It's weird. It'll take getting used to.

When I say weird, I mean that my left margin is right up against the left side of the browser window. Talk about using the entire browser window!

Later on today, I'm heading into Toronto to pick up some cocktail supplies for a virtual meeting. It's weird that I'm cutting out of working from home for a bit. The place is open between 2 and 4 pm. Sure, it's a limited period to be open. I'm glad that I have some flexibility in my schedule. I typically have lunch at 2 pm. I have already worked and additional 1.5 hours to make up for this time.

Decluttering continues. I spent some time organizing my tea. I had a couple of empty boxes. I'm not sure why I kept them. 

I also have the most amazing pancake tea. It smells like breakfast, especially the maple syrup. I can't wait to have it again.

Where's the new post button?

Blogger has been slowly changing its user interface for several months. It has finally changed the Post user interface. It has a clean, minimalistic look.

For someone like me who has been blogging for over a decade here, I'm so used to certain buttons being in particular spots. Yes, the user interface hasn't changed much still I've been here.

It took me ten seconds to figure out where the button was to create a new post was. It has been reduced to an orange, round button with a plus sign in white that's at the bottom right corner of the screen.

Ah, change! It's fun.

Painting my nails with colour and throwing away empty product boxes

My Sunday was quiet. I finally got around to painting my nails a nice berry colour.

Ever since I have been working from home every day, I decided to go with a clear shellac on my nails. I dropped changing up my colour for almost two months. It was nice giving my nails a breather. 

I missed having a pop of colour on my nails, so I went for it. It's nice.

My decluttering activity continues. I have kept many boxes that used to contain products. I suppose I saved them in case I wanted to sell them down the road. The thing is that I have kept and continue to use these products. I don't have any inclination to sell them.

It has been interesting figuring out why I have kept so many items. I feel so differently years later about them.

Lovetaps and an orgasm to start the weekend

Ever since I have been tidying up and reorganizing stuff at home, which started with my panties, I am pleased with the collection that I have. From comfortable to sexy, I have a decent assortment.

Last night, I decided to hand-spank myself, but not to the point where they were hard, you've-been-a-bad-girl type of smacks. I did well cleaning up around the place all week that they were more lovetaps. It was equally as arousing to smack the exposed skin that my panties could not cover. I then slid them down and continued to lightly smack each bare buttock.

I ended up being so wet and aroused that I played with myself, eventually reaching orgasm.

The weekend has been great so far.

Leafing through magazines and memories

Last night, I found stacks of magazines as far back as 2005. It has been therapeutic throwing them out.

I end up leafing through the magazines before I chuck them out. It's nice to have a snapshot of what things were like years ago.

Some goodies include the following:

• A flyer from Zellers. The final two Zellers stores that remained in Canada closed a couple of months ago.
• A billing statement from Columbia House Canada. Yes, I loved subscribing to that service and getting CDs
• A rather heavy December copy of the Mpls St. Paul Magazine. I also managed to get a paper cut from it.
• A few credit card statements that served as bookmarks. I'm happy to say that all those accounts have been paid off and closed.

Good times on a Friday night. Have a great weekend!

Finding items to use at home and making tons of iced tea

One more workday before the weekend. I am looking forward to it.

My doing spring cleaning and reorganizing various parts of my home has made me find items that I should use more often. I am using a heart-shaped bar soap, liquid soap, and a bath sponge in a gift box that I had never opened until now. They are all nice.

I am a tea drinker. Being at home, I drink a lot of iced tea these days. When I was in the office, it was always hot tea.

I love my tea collection. I bought a ton of tea when I went to London, UK and Istanbul, Turkey several years ago. I also have various tea varieties that I have bought locally.

There are some positives working and staying at home. Naturally, I miss people and being able to move around without distancing myself from others.