Erik is a veritable god.

Erik and I sang together in the South Coast Chorale (out of Long Beach, CA) in the 90s. I haven't seen or communicated with him since then. We've reconnected recently on FB.

On March 23rd, I went to the concert of the Orange County Women's Chorus. Their performance was devastating. The theme was Arms - firearms and their unconscionable use in the US. It broke my heart for two reasons.

First, this highly trained and professional-sounding chorus gave heart and soul to their performance. Second: not just the skill and emotion with which they sang, but the words, oh, god . . . . The shortest lyric of all their songs was this:

Mom, they are shooting up the school . . . I'm hiding in a closet . . . I love you, Mom*

Ok, TL;DR. Sorry. To the point.

I'd been hoping for about a year to audition for them. The farthest I've gone is to fill out their audition application. After experiencing this concert, though, I realized that I'd never pass the audition. I don't have a trained voice; I don't read music well; my range has shrunk by at least half an octave, since I haven't sung for about 15 years.

Erik read my paean to the OCWC and sent me a PM. He exhorted me not to give up. He said that I should audition. Further, he offered to work with me on my voice.

Last night I asked him what he charges for voice lessons. This was his response:

"No charge for you sweetie .. I just really want you to do it [to audition]. No need to wait. Find out what is expected for the audition so we can focus. I'm excited."

HE'S excited?!

I. Will. Audition.

So I guess this was TL;DR. If you made it all through, I commend you.

*The young girl who sent this text survived.

How do I know if I'm an alcoholic?

All I have to go on are these:

1. I usually have a drink at any opportunity: out to dinner, offered a beer at a friend's house, having a shot if there's any vodka in the house . . .

2. I try to keep vodka in the house. My roommate drinks it, too

3. Sometimes, when I'm buying a bottle at BevMo, I'll get a couple of those tiny bottles - and drink them on the way home. Yes, while driving home

I know I can live without it. I don't crave it; I don't get drunk - I don't even get tipsy. My roommate can buy her own.

But being able to quit (as I know I am) doesn't equal quitting. These are my questions for the ether: am I an alcoholic? Do I need to quit?

Please offer your opinions.

A1C and knee surgery

I've been informed today that my A1C has to be under 7.0 or my surgeon won't replace my right knee. (It sounds like it's full of dry corn flakes, and I can't describe how it feels but to say ouch.) Last time my A1C was tested, about eight months ago, it was 6.4.

My surgery is scheduled for July, so I have plenty of time to keep it under control. But it has been so long since I paid attention or even tested regularly that I don't really remember how to keep my blood sugar under control. I feel like a dolt.

Do you have any advice, links, books or other materials I can look up - anything you think might help me get back to where I should be with this disease? Think of me as a beginner. And think A1C below 7.0.

I'd be so very grateful.

Retrospective/Memories: Drive-In Movies

Do you have any memories about drive-in movies? Do post them, please.

If you don't know about drive-ins, ask about them. Someone will be sure to oblige with an answer.

In the summer of 1980, my hopes of going to Los Angeles Baptist College in the fall of 1981 were dashed by their financial assistance office. That summer, I went one night to the Fountain Valley Drive-In to console myself with Superman II. It worked a treat. That summer, in my screaming yellow Toyota Corona, I saw the film 22 times. My disappointment was numbed. (Why save money? I wasn't going to college. But in early 1981 I received a Pell Grant and my dream came true. (If only I'd known.))

A few years before this, they'd replaced all the heavy, clunky, metal sound boxes with little yellow clips that one attached to the car's aerial. The sound would then come through the car radio. It was said that one could pick up the sound without the yellow clip, and it proved true.

My favorite trip ever to the Fountain Valley Drive-In didn't involve paying at the kiosk or driving across the hilly rows to just the right spot. In 1977, in her very yellow Plymouth Arrow, my sister drove the two of us to the top of a hill just behind the drive-in. We could see the screen perfectly. She tuned the radio and we heard the sounds of the previews. I jumped when I heard the first notes of the Star Wars overture. (Who didn't?) That night with my sister is one of my best memories. It didn't matter that we'd cheated to see the movie. I was with my sister.

The Fountain Valley Drive-In opened in 1967 (with Snow White and Tammy and the Millionaire). It was demolished in 1984. I cried when I heard. In its place now sits the MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center. (If I have an emergency, I go about eight miles down PCH to Hoag Hospital ER. It would take a lot for me to go half a mile down the street to MemorialCare.)

Tell us your drive-in memories.

How to post a photo

I just wrote a post that requires a photo but I don't know how to post it. Help, please. Thank you.

My beloved wife.

Kathy is 72 years old. Five or six years ago, she was diagnosed with collagenous colitis. I'm not sure that's what the problem is today (but I'm not a medical professional).

I will be a discreet as possible in describing what she experiences.

It's been two or three months since she's had the kind of uncontrollable mess-the-bed, several failed bathroom trips per night and into the morning experiences. These months were a gift to her, a blessing - a very welcome, very rare blessing.

But this afternoon, it all fell apart. The first episode was so bad that she had to take a shower - and then she didn't have the strength to stand up (from the shower chair) and get out. I had to call the paramedics (fourth time this month) to help her out of the shower. They were kind enough to wait, to let me get her dried and dressed, and then, one on each side, they got her into bed.

Her strength has somewhat returned this evening. She's had to return to the bathroom three times more tonight, but neither trip has been nearly as bad as what she experienced this afternoon.

I have an Ativan prescription, and that helped me through much of the worst of the afternoon. The anxiety of this situation, these episodes, her weakness, confusion, inability to speak without forgetting words - all of this causes me great anxiety.

But then, I'm not the one who is debilitated by such a difficult illness.

Anything you want to say (unless it's unkind towards my wife) is welcome.

QUICK QUESTION: May I post here about someone else who is ill - not me? n/t

best free/low-cost budgeting app - not stressing credit

Mint is dying, and they shifted their business to Credit Karma. Last night, I made the mistake of getting busy setting up Credit Karma, without realizing (without paying attention, actually) that it's got nothing to do with budgeting. It's all about getting you roped into getting more credit cards and otherwise getting more into debt. I'm mad, but it's my own fault.

I'm looking at Quicken Simplifi. Not free, but so far it looks like the best option. But I don't know.

Any recommendations? Thanks.

How did you uniquely get your most prized possession?

How did you "uniquely get" your prized possession, I mean what odd or strange or weird things happened that resulted in you acquiring your item?

And if nothing odd happened, tell us about your prized possession anyway.

I learned a new description last night.

I believe the man who came up with this had been in CBT at some time in his life. This would be some pretty clever reframing.

"I don't say 'I struggle with anxiety' anymore. I say, "My mind sparkles with imaginary danger."

I LMAO'd. Seriously.

Comedian DeAnne Smith, on -Hannah Gadsby's Gender Agenda- (now playing on Netflix)