The Great Hack on Netflix

Who has seen “The Great Hack” on Netflix? Was I not talking about this with Common Core in 2015? Certainly the data collection with common core in our schools is on a smaller scale, but the sale of personal data be it adults or children should come with full consent and permission. 

Currently, we do not have rights to our personal data unless one has never been online. If you have purchased something or participated on any social media platform, your data has been collected, if even on a minimal level. If you’ve seen the documentary, I’d love to hear your thoughts and discuss. It"s difficult to wrap my head around. Part of me wants to get off social media altogether (if even just on principle alone) while the other part thinks, the damage is already done, what does it matter? I think it does matter, but I’m not sure a handful of us boycotting social media will change anything. Too many people are addicted to their phones and social media, in fact, I’m seeing that even my kid has more “virtual” friends than friends IRL (in real life for those of you who do not speak text-hand). I just read a quote that said, “The cost of doing nothing is greater than the cost of doing something and failing.” It stopped me in my tracks not only in the context of voting or boycotting something but in investments, planning for retirement, teaching our children to speak and do for themselves, the list goes on. 

Something will happen that will force our hands. Far too many of our daily processes and payments are online so I don’t see us going back to a time without this technology, even American currency is being considered cumbersome and obsolete by some businesses, but maybe? Then the question was posed, can we truly be manipulated or do the majority not care if their data is made public? One may not care if their data is public domain, but the fact remains, we can and are being manipulated, even many who are highly educated. The human psyche is far too complex to be funneled down into simple A or B categories. If you have not seen this film, check it out, the more we know the easier it may be to take action. 

More Lake! More Summer! More Friends!

Remember my post about not being ready for summer to end? Well, I meant it! LOL! I'm still soaking up the sunshine (lots of sunscreen!) and love the time when our friends come out on the boat with us. Of course, lots of people say they want to join us but can never seem to make it work when we put the invite out to them. It's okay, the people who really want to come, make it work. It's interesting that some people would never imagine asking us if they can come while others will text us regularly asking what the boat schedule is for the week.

Dave has a hard time telling people they can't come, but I don't. It's just that there are times we have plans to be on the boat with a specific group of people and they expect that they will have time with us without the company of someone they don't know. I just let those people know, we already have plans with others but we'll be sure to make it happen another time. I think I'm just too old to play games and have to worry about keeping quiet or being careful that someone who wanted go didn't get to, and then they see that we were out with someone else and might be upset that we told them not this time. It makes me laugh, it's our boat, we do not need to be emotionally wrangled by an acquaintance. In any case, it's 100% true that 95% of the people who say they really want to go, don't really want to go. They like the idea of going more than actually doing it. For those who actually come with us, it's so super fun! We might bust out the big floaties, or a tube or one who wants to wakeboard or wake surf can partake in those as well. For me, I prefer to just float and bob! I know we have another month or two but schedules get busy so we end up spending less time on the boat and lake.

This & That

There were a couple of other things that were special last weekend while we were in Southern California, one of them was that Dave participated in a salsa making contest at the OC Fair and took second place! It was live on stage and he made us proud! LOL! Okay, it's not some epic thing, but I love that he participated. What was especially funny is how many people thought I meant a Salsa Dancing contest! 



The other thing that was great was that Mason and I took another photo on the beach being "Open" to all the universe has to offer. This one is being compared to last year so the difference is subtle, but you can see that Mason has officially passed me and is absolutely taller than I am. It's okay, I knew it was coming but in the 10 years that we've been doing this, it's super cool to see 2009 compared to 2019. 





This week was busy, I had lots of adventures in real estate. I am working with a family who has an uncanny knack of wanting to see properties that go beyond the north 40! We have been through national forest land, off-road for more than 5 miles, and one property was not only off-road, but it was way up a hill. I could swear I heard banjos when we looked at the last one! Sunday was a l-o-n-g day! We looked at a property that was what felt like at the end of the earth, and then 4 more not so "far out!" I got home in time to get Dave to work as we are currently sharing one vehicle and then to put this lovely little “SOLD” sign on my property closing this week. Next, I got groceries, and then home to grab Mason to go with me back to where Dave is working so he could walk home with me since it was then after dark. The bonus was that we walked the dogs tonight. Work is still not done but I’m tired so, sweet dreams!

Southern California With Family

 I am so overwhelmed with incredible good emotions. When karma serves us a blow we know it’s for some sort of thing we’ve done as a consequence (bad). What is it when karma serves us up a plate of, “This is incredible!”? It must be that thing when you’re getting a pay back for the good you’ve done. Friday meeting Michael and Sari for lunch was a quick stop, but a great meal with lots of smiles. Then Saturday we spent the day at the OC Fair and as usual, it was so well done, the grounds were clean and manicured, and the exhibits are top-notch! Mason only had one cooking demo and we all got to meet Sari’s parents, they are just the sweetest, most sincere people. Patty and Robert love Michael like their own son and you can see it in the way they talk to and even look at him. The day was absolutely off the charts awesome. So much love, so much joy, so much gratitude. How did I get so lucky to get to have all of this come my way? And ultimately to look at my marriage, Dave is somebody who welcomes all of this, and Mason as an incredible kid... I just don’t know. It’s almost beyond my realm of comprehension that I could be so lucky. I’m grateful and appreciative, and whatever the other words are to express my joy are, I’m them, too. 

Sunday Dave, Mason and I all went to Los Angeles where we each had something we wanted to do. Dave wanted to visit the Drumm Barracks, a Civil War site, Mason wanted to go to the Rip N Dip and Supreme flagship stores, and my stop was to have lunch at the Original Farmer’s Market. Dave and I did not shop with Mason but I think shopping was the hi-light of Mason’s trip. Back to the Drumm Barracks, did you all know about the Camel Experiment during the Civil War? I didn’t and it was the most interesting part of the tour! I’m not going to write a whole bunch about it, but if you are interested in what I think are some little known facts about the Civil War, look up the Camel Experiment. 

Early this morning Mason got up and met Michael and they headed to the beach to go surfing. Dave, Sari and I met them late morning and it looked like they had a great time. It was fun to see both of them surfing, hanging out, laughing, it was just good. We wrapped up at the beach and had lunch before heading back up to Glendale. We had dinner in China Town and it was just good family time. I hope it’s time together that is the first of many adventures. If you know me, you know that I find so much joy in the every day, the normal, the mundane, I believe that the memories that we will look back on and enjoy the most are the everyday interactions.

The weekend was really good, in fact, it was better than good. 

It’s just all so much, so much to comprehend and process. I’m happy, complete and content, and more happy.