Tuesday Tinkering…

Wiwohka7 Comments

Norbert is in a timeout!

I’m already having to do his job, so it’s best he be in timeout, rather than scrapping the whole project out of frustration. At this point in the game, the ai simply cannot comprehend how to create an image with more than one subject character.

Without paying to upgrade both characters, or paying to rebuild two entirely different characters with the new upgraded features, I’m still left with an editing board to copy, cut, paste, and/or delete any given image.

If nothing else, I’m stubborn, so there’s that!

I refuse to allow Tilly, nor any of my other characters, to be swapped out for differing other ai generated pictures… I’ll not stand for it!

Let me show you what the (now in timeout) ai sought to produce for my requests, and that way you cans see why I refuse to compromise with Norbert.

This is what Henry should look like,

… see what I mean? Now, this is our Henry!

And, this is our Tilly,

In my opinion, she is unmistakable, with her soft doe-like eyes, those adorable ears, and the gentleness that always shows on her face, as well as the way she carries herself. Tilly is just Tilly, ya know? I can’t think of any other way to explain it.

Now, watch what happened when I prompted Norbert to put them in the same image:

As adorable as this young couple may be, while exchanging their vows… they aren’t anything like Henry or Tilly. The ai recognizes the two characters as themselves in any given individual query I ask of it. But the moment that I ask it to combine the two, Norbert goes on some random field trip to two entirely different characters, of which I do not recognize in any fashion!

The new upgraded video creation, is still far off from being any good, unless I simply allow the ai to take over… and that AIN’T gonna happen!

Until further notice, all my tinkering will be strictly my tweaks and adjustments… NOT Norbert’s!

It may take me more effort, along with extra time at the editing board, but I’ll do whatever I must to honor each individual character’s true self, that is their visual integrity…

It’s still far from perfect, but it’s workable. We’ll get there…

(2024)I’m Still On The Road…

Wiwohka1 Comment
Bloganuary writing prompt
Think back on your most memorable road trip.
View all responses

I can hardly believe that it’s been two years since I wrote this! Though we’re no longer in that beat up old R.V., this road trip is far from over. With that in mind, it seemed appropriate to re-use this old prompt response… hugs.

I don’t have to think back too far, as we are still living in an RV, living like nomads wherever we go, and for however long we stay. We don’t really have any home left, here on actual earth, so we rumble along on this road trip, taking safe harbor wherever it can be found. 

If you think about it, everyone is on a road trip of sorts, and I would imagine that we all feel like it’s quite memorable. I appreciate the prompts use of the word most, while referring to the road trip, as they could have used best, worst, happiest or saddest… but they chose most memorable. Life IS most memorable, wouldn’t you say?! 

Don’t we always say things like, it’s a wild ride, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride, it’s a crazy ride, or Baby, what a ride? So I don’t need to think hard on why my thoughts drifted this way, once I began reading the prompt question.

Life is most definitely a journey, or road trip if you will!

It would take us all a very long time, to write down all of what we’ve seen, felt and experienced, along each of our personal highways… oh wait… that’s what I’ve already been doing, right here on WordPress… you’re welcome!

Here, have a cookie…

Copy that, or do I pass…

Wiwohka8 Comments

A word caught my eye this morning, as I was reading. When I first saw the word duplicity, my word rolodex spun up, and then shuddered to a stop.

Whenever I read a word that makes me pause, I find it’s a good idea to look it up, just in case I’ve misunderstood a thing. It happens to everyone, I’m sure, what with the English language having so many words, meanings, innuendos, and side rules for certain words and letters. Why they had to make things so darn hard, I’ll never understand.

But, I didn’t make the rules, so there’s no point in griping about them, right?!

Well, when I thought on what was bothering me about the word, it’s meaning fit in the context of the sentence I was reading, but I kept wanting to read it as duplicate, even though that word isn’t necessarily a negative one.

So, yes, I googled it!

First things first, I looked up the actual definition for duplicity…

Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more

du·plic·i·ty /do͞oˈplisədē/ noun: duplicity

  1. 1. deceitfulness; double-dealing.”he was accused of duplicity and branded a traitor”. Opposite: honesty

archaic doubleness.

So, in the light of what I was reading, duplicity certainly fit, but why did my mind go to duplicate? Look just above this sentence, at the bottom of the definition. I guess my mind was triggered by the old form, which apparently was called doubleness. What does doubleness mean? Well, I checked…

doubleness /ˈdəb(ə)lnəs/ noun: doubleness

  1. the quality or state of having two parts; duality.”the focus is on puns that reveal the doubleness of the poet’s meaning”

I get what doubleness means, and in a negative light such as duplicity reflects, I agree with the words usage.

Why then, did I get stuck on that silly word, duplicate, when I knew it was not the right word? Most likely, it was simply the similar spelling of both words. I deduced that part in the first five minutes, but went down a tiny rabbit hole, provided by none other than Google.

If I’m to share the definitions for duplicity, as well as, doubleness, we have to look at duplicate… just to be fair.

du·pli·cate adjective: duplicate /ˈdo͞opləkət/

  1. 1. exactly like something else, especially through having been copied.”a duplicate license is issued to replace a valid license which has been lost” Opposite: different

noun: duplicate; plural noun: duplicates /ˈdo͞opləkət/

  1. 1. one of two or more identical things.”books may be disposed of if they are duplicates”
    • a copy of an original. “locksmiths can make duplicates of most keys” Opposite: original

verb: duplicate; 3rd person present: duplicates; past tense: duplicated; past participle: duplicated; gerund or present participle: duplicating

Did you know that duplicate is considered an adjective, a noun, AND a verb, depending on it’s usage? Call me crazy, but I didn’t realize this, til I looked it up this morning. I also discovered that I’m not the only one who has come upon this little conundrum. It’s true! There’s already an explanation out there for the difference between duplicity and duplicate… go figure!

Check this out, and then I’ll leave you alone.

The word duplicate is derived from the Latin word duplicare, which means to double. Duplicity means deceitfulness, treacherousness, underhandedness, fraud or dishonesty. Duplicity is a noun, a related word is duplicitous.

This made more sense than all three of the other definitions. I wish I had have read this at the beginning of my research… sheesh!

Fair food, of course…

Wiwohka4 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What snack would you eat right now?
View all responses

If I could eat anything I wanted, without any penalties, it would definitely be something from the fair!

While I could regale you with all of my favorite snacks, I think that Templeton should take over from here…

I couldn’t have said it better, myself!

Now that I’ve probably gone and made you hungry, I thought it prudent to offer up some worthy fair food substitutes. And what would be worthy, you ask?

Well, I knew that you knew that I would know to offer you cookies…

Funny, isn’t it?

Saturday Sweet Talk…

Wiwohka3 Comments

Though I’m somewhat at a disadvantage when it comes to baking, what with only using ingredients that won’t hurt my stomach, I refuse to let it stop me from doing what I love.

Fortunately for me (and Squagon), one of the few things my stomach agrees with, are nuts. Did you know that nuts are classified as a fruit? Who knew? Not all, but most nuts have been a life saver to me, as they’re a great source of protein, as well as, healthy fats. My two favorites are almonds and peanuts, though I’ll not be able to pass up a handful of cashews, here and there.

Back in my early baking days, I created a recipe for Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies that were to die for, so to speak. I’ve never given the recipe out, only because it made the cookies more valuable, lol.

Unfortunately, I currently have a severe aversion to anything chocolate. I miss baking cookies, and my husband’s been starved of his favorite treats, so where does it leave me?

This is where our Squagon comes in handy, as this little guy knows peanuts like no other! Between the two of us, we’ll soon come up with an all new secret cookie recipe… it’ll just be healthy, that’s all.

So far, I’ve found that Reese’s Pieces work for a good replacement for the chocolate morsels. I don’t want to attempt any chocolate alternatives, at least until I’ve mastered the rest of the ingredients. The cookies need to have the right consistency, first.

I will be attempting a re-write of my original cookie recipe, only replacing or removing what might offend my stomach. I’ve been able to bake with eggs, though only as a small ingredient, but that should be alright. I already know that the flour is the 1:1 gluten free flour from Red Mills. They say that you can simply swap it with the normal flour, without any problems. I tested this by baking those muffins, remember? It worked then, so I’m willing to trust it in this case.

What could be the problem, you ask? The liquids are the problem. Specifically, the milk and butter. The butter can be experimented with, what with finding one that browns the cookies to my liking. The milk, however, has had both successes and failures. I’m fairly certain that it has something to do with being too watery, or too creamy. My suspicions tell me that it has more to do with adjusting my dry ingredients, rather than changing up the Oat Milk, which is one that my stomach can tolerate.

If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them, as it’s always good to troubleshoot a thing, when you have help. My goal is to have ingredients in hand next Saturday, along with a group effort sort of recipe, and I’ll post my step-by-step experiment, as I bake.

Who knows, we might get lucky, right?!

Hugs

(2024)Things of the Past…

Wiwohka3 Comments

As a girl of only eleven, I’d already discovered the item I was most fond of… my survival, or my physical life, if I’m to label it as an actual thing. No, it’s probably not what one might call an item, but sure felt like it. 

Daily writing prompt
Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?
View all responses

Sometimes, life has a way of getting reduced into nothing more than a thing… an item to be played with, bartered, or thrown out when it’s usefulness has been expended.

For some souls, it can take an entire lifetime to figure this out. They don’t feel the harsh bite of reality pop up, for a good long while. Who knows, maybe everyone begins to take notice of being less valuable to society, once the body begins to slow, and they lose the ability to carry on at the pace they once held.

Then there’s souls like mine. We discovered, early on, how little value we held, how we weren’t valuable enough protect, to care about… never worthy enough to be saved! This was my dark alleyway of existence, wandering through the night until I found a place to sleep… doing whatever I had to do to secure food, warmth, and sleep… never safety… just sleep! This life was not much but it was mine, and I valued it above everything else!

I’m 55 now and nearing the age when most are preparing for retirement and their golden years… not this runaway!

I strive to prepare and strengthen myself for something bigger, better and still yet to come.

 It has taken some considerably long years to get my life to this moment, and I couldn’t have done it without God. And, I didn’t care for the item I was so attached to, nor cherish it, as I did when I was a child. None the less, I’m grateful to say that it’s still in tact, for the most part.

If you’ve any curiosity about what has become of the item I was so attached to as a youth, you need only read the letters I have written over the years, here on WordPress. 

As this site is really all I have to show for explaining things, it will have to suffice as my best answer! 

I don’t know about all you, but I need a cookie…

Gimme a smile…

Wiwohka9 Comments

Smiles are magical, I think. And, they’re contagious, too…

When someone smiles at you, don’t you just automatically want to smile back?

A smile can soften a heart, lift a person’s spirit, and/or trigger some actual good will toward our fellow man.

Take a baby’s smile, for instance. Don’t we get all mushy inside, and feel the sudden urge to speak babyeese… was dat a smile, awwww, you widdle fuzzy wuzzy bundle of bootiful awesomesauceness… hey, don’t judge me! I can’t help it!

The world is filled with all differing types of magical smiles, babies obviously being the best and most effective in brightening ones day. But, one must appreciate the value and magic of all the other differing smiles out there, as well…

Smiles are actually pretty important, as studies have shown how smiling affects ones health, and state of mind. It’s a real scientific thingie, I swear. I even googled it, to make sure that I did not mislead you in any way.

I typed in “what is the science behind a smile”, and this was googles reply:

The science behind smiling involves a positive feedback loop between facial muscles and brain chemistry, where contracting muscles (like the zygomatic major for mouth corners and orbicularis oculi for eye crinkles) trigger the release of mood-boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, reducing stress and enhancing happiness. This “fake it ’til you make it” effect means even a forced smile can make you feel better, while genuine smiles (Duchenne smiles) signal authentic joy and foster connection, improving well-being and perceived attractiveness.  

How it works: The Muscle-Brain Connection

  • Sensory Input: Emotional data from experiences (seeing a friend, hearing good news) travels to the brain. 

Muscle Activation: Specific facial muscles contract: the zygomatic major pulls lips up, and the orbicularis oculi creates crow’s feet around the eyes. 

Brain Response: These muscle contractions send signals back to the brain, activating the reward system. 

Neurotransmitter Release: The brain releases feel-good chemicals:

  • Dopamine: Boosts pleasure and motivation. 

Endorphins: Act as natural pain relievers and mood elevators. Serotonin: Functions as a natural antidepressant, lifting mood. 

Types of Smiles

  • Social Smile: Involves only the mouth muscles (zygomatic major) and is used for politeness or social cues.
  • Genuine Smile (Duchenne Smile): Involves both mouth muscles and the orbicularis oculi, creating eye crinkles, signaling authentic happiness. 

Benefits of Smiling

Increases Attractiveness & Trust: Smiling people are often seen as more reliable, sincere, and attractive, enhancing social interactions. 

I challenge you to count your smiles this weekend. It’s merely an exercise, meant to show how many times you do smile, as well as, how many opportunities you’re given to intentionally smile at someone… remember, this is only an experiment. You don’t even have to tell anyone you’re doing it. Call it an exercise for health and wellness.

Whatever you do this weekend, remember how loved you are… that should help with the smile thing.

Shine…

WiwohkaLeave a comment

Daily writing prompt
What is your mission?
View all responses

I pray that my words, my life, and my purpose will always reflect a light that is not mine, but that of the Almighty! There is no greater calling, or mission, if you will.

Mine is a testimony of redemption, cleansing, healing and unfathomable grace, from the One who created the very foundations of this world.

It was simple, really. All I had to do was believe in Him, and trust fully in the words spoken by His only son, Jesus Christ. The mission given me was, and is, the same one given all those ages ago, while Jesus walked this earth…

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

When you accept one of my silly virtual cookies, they are stuffed with as much love and light that I can muster. And, then I pray that you will be covered with a myriad of little healing cookie crumbs… blessed crumbs, even. I know they aren’t real, but I guess it’s sort of symbolic, in hopes that you’ll see how valuable and precious you are to me, and more importantly, how much you’re worth to God. He loves you, whether you believe it or not, and He will never stop loving you… ever!

Why do I do it? Because, I’ve been called to do so. Not only that, but it fills me with such peace and happiness, knowing that everything I do for others is to be for His glory, not mine…

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Cookie?

Sail on…

Wiwohka3 Comments

Even when you cannot see your destination, sail on

When the winds threaten, sail on

And, when the waves hit you from every side, sail on…

Trust your compass, trust your ship

Lean not on your own understanding

And, do not fear the wind that threatens…

Take each wave as it comes

Keep your course straight and true

And, trust the map you’ve been given…

As I was writing this, Proverbs 3:5, 6 came to mind. I googled part of the verse, because I couldn’t remember the scripture reference, and this is what popped up…

“Lean not on your own understanding” comes from Proverbs 3:5-6 in the Bible, meaning to trust God’s guidance over your own limited perspective, especially in decisions, acknowledging that divine wisdom is greater than human intellect, and that while using your mind is good, ultimate reliance should be on God, who promises to guide you if you submit your ways to Him. It encourages faith over purely rational, incomplete human reasoning, especially in uncertain times. 

Key Meanings

  • Trust God Fully: Place complete faith in the Lord with all your heart, not just in big decisions but in every aspect of life. 

Limited Human Wisdom:

Recognize that human understanding is finite and can be flawed or incomplete, even with intellect. 

Seek Divine Guidance:

Acknowledge God in all your ways (actions, plans, thoughts) for Him to direct your paths. 

Not Irrationality:

It doesn’t mean abandoning your intellect, but rather not relying solely on it, especially when it conflicts with faith or leads to confusion. 

Practical Application

  • In Uncertainty: When faced with dilemmas, pray and seek God’s will rather than trying to figure everything out alone, which can cause stress. 

Surrender Plans: Give your plans to God, trusting His bigger picture and better plan. Be Wise in His Eyes: Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil as a result of trusting Him. 

I know that was the long winded version to accompany my tiny poem, but thought it worth the share.

Have a beautiful day, my sweet friends…

Hugs

My thoughts?

Wiwohka2 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?
View all responses

Are we really saying that living a long life is a mere concept? I guess it could be, but it just sounds weird. First of all, it wouldn’t be considered a mere concept, if you were born with a disease or disability.

I looked up the definition of concept, but it only made things worse. But, as I’ve committed to answering these prompts without being flippant, I’ll give it my best shot.

Since the prompt is only asking what my thoughts are about this whole concept thing, ummmm… living a long life is a great concept, I guess. In truth, only God knows the length of my life, and nothing I do or don’t do will change that outcome.

I suppose the concept of being a decent human being is also good, if you’re a decent person. But, what good is that concept if you’re an arse, by nature?

I can honestly say that I am unable to really come up with any life altering thoughts, regarding long life being a mere concept. I will be making every effort to live a long life, but it’s not really in my hands, is it? We can do everything right, but still accidentally get hit by a bus. Concept just flew out the window.

Life, itself, cannot be placed in a box, given boundaries, and/or assigned any wonderful concepts… it doesn’t work like that. There are no guarantees, precautions, or conceptual guidelines that keep reality at bay.

Besides, I can’t personally think beyond the day in front of me, let alone focus on what my earthly old age might look like. Rather than thinking on the concept of a long life, how bout we just do the best with what we have, and leave the rest of it to God.

Now eat your cookie…