SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com

prayers for the deceased and loved ones living on

comfort and console you

in the epicenter of all you're feeling

God's love remind you

 inside and all around you

love grieves a path toward healing

   -reaching out with prayer, love, condolences    -God's strength as you process and navigate through this very difficult experience.   amen & amen

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 9:28 AM 0 comments

LOVE, love, love collaging on an empty canvas (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 2:06 PM 0 comments

Dear Sam Altman, from (me!) sandra mickanen, writeousmom

although i am retired, not seeking employment or to 'start up' a business, 

i have been reading here and there about AI, and do want to gain a layperson's understanding.  

   -it is a world my adult children, and my grandchildren, are currently navigating, and future grandchildren, will be navigating..

i have had ONE direct experience with chatgpt, and was very impressed!   i am a writer, a poet, and no longer in school or work where i might have been inspired to employ chatgpt to greater degrees..

i love to write..    i love to write in the same way people love to play golf, or scuba dive, 

i want to do it myself; learn by doing..  grow by doing, improve through practice; trial and error, all of it is a joy for me, so i do not use chatgpt

but i do not like solving large complicated math problems   -this is a joy and challenge for some, but i would lean toward a chatgpt/math version to short-cut the process; just give me the answer...

which brings me to AI..

poking around TED talks..  youtube..   i have heard the 'digital species' analogy

   /metaphor?

wait.  let me look up the diff..

look!  an AI Overview    [which, one day became the default (1st/top) answer format for any question i ask my phone, and therefore made me want to learn more]

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 12:20 PM 0 comments

if i could execute an order... (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom

 i've read this article a couple times now, and will no doubt, re-read..  it is fascinating to say the least..    37 actions.

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 10:22 AM 0 comments

SUPER BOWL LIX BLISS feb 2025 yard art & poetry by (sexy! & topps!) AKA: the micks

 

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 12:06 PM 0 comments

Lets get back to #FASHION FUN Sleeves Please from (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom

  dont you know, with valentines coming up, i practically ran across the store when i saw this dress!  positively LOVED the light red, dark red contrast, the pretty draped flowy neckline, the fitted dress, the length (how cute with boots!) and the mesh long sleeves!

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 10:08 AM 0 comments

Vellum Days in progress...

  

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 9:57 AM 0 comments

UPSHOT from recent garbage police visit #recycle

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 9:56 AM 0 comments

public "Thank You!" for this movie.. from (us!) the micks

 super funny

 tons of action

 stellar cast

what a treat to watch!!     hallelujah & amen

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 9:18 AM 0 comments

doing the write thing; attitude adjustment in slow progress for (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom #recycle

i was told i was doing it wrong

when i thought i corrected my errors

wrong still, it turns out.

****

my final wave of the white flag     -and i mean, not of surrender, but of no longer give a SH*%

happened AFTER (and during) an HOUR CLASS on the importance of recycling, how the lid of this goes there, but the bottom half here

if food touches this; it goes there

but, if you clean this first (and how much WATER to do this....);

you can put it here..    i could feel my own eyes glaze over... 

and they placed a large poster with pictures for what goes where..

and they shared a numeric formula of branding on products to supposedly help us..

the short of the long of it is this:

I STOPPED CARING.   it gave birth to such a deep indifference... apathy.

like, i am not going to spend several minutes standing in front of garbage cans trying to figure this out..

to the garbage it goes.

anyway, 

for the past many several years, i, and actually, we, my husband and i, we have exercised a rather loose carefree policy when it comes to recycling, we do have two trash cans, 1 for garbage, the landfill, 

where people are made to feel, that

    despite drug dealers, meth addicts, murderers, launderers, thieves, bullies, gangs, vandals and degenerates of a wide variety

despite all that, 

people who place anything in the garbage destine for the landfill, are made to feel responsible for the destruction of the world      -not world wars, nuclear bombs, genocides..

the real criminals use the wrong bin to throw trash away.

    -and i briefly remember here, 'earth day' when my children were in elementary school..

and i so specifically remember thinking..    these children are still learning how to be responsible for keeping their rooms clean..    now they are responsible for the world?

anyway..

where was i?   yes..  we've had a rather loose, care-free, 2 can choices program in our home

garbage.  recycle.    pick one or the other.

i've noticed at public venues.. they sometimes have 3 or even 4 choices..

and i have NEVER placed my trash in any of the cans with confidence.   it literally always feels a bit like a best guess..

and i hope no one is watching.

and i was happy with our loose carefree 2 cans life; we both were..

we were doing something..     making an effort, allbeit, a non aggressive one, to save our planet from destruction for posterity

not sure we'd get a 100% or A+'s, but..   we did use both cans.

and then..

and then  -the garbage police came by!

we just happen to be glancing out our window to adore the cute variety of birds at our feeder and what!?!

who is that?!?   -what the heck...

some guy in one of those arent you so official neon yellow vests..   he lifted the lids on both our cans..

took a brief a look and..

did we just get a ticket?  

and we looked back and forth at each other...   you've gotta be sh&*(ting me, my husband said..

"go ask him what he just did!!...."  i said in a panic..

and my husband looked at me, like I should...

and i looked at him, glanced at my current inappropriate in public pajama outfit, and was then without need to repeat, 

and, so he went ahead and braved the question directly to the neon yellow vested garbage police man

while i listened through a crack in the door.

    -couldnt ask for a more polite, respectful garbage police officer.

not a ticket or a fine, he assured us, just a courtesy note..

and he went on to focus on the positive..   thank you, because, you got it correct, shredded paper can go in a bag, but the rest of your recycling needs to remain loose, don't bag it up..   that's all.  just informing..   not fining..

we were so grateful not to get a fine or get hand-cuffed..

and we looked curiously at the pamphlet left behind..

i would show you a picture here of it, but i was pretty upset when i saw a frown face on it..

and so i shredded that thing immediately   -knowing the shredded paper can remain in a larger bag.

   -knowing; not guessing..

both my husband and i, we are good people.  God-fearing, God-loving, on the narrow path type people..

so, there isnt anything we are going to consciously do that is illegal, immoral, or just plain wrong..

but that doesnt mean we have to be bullied or threatened into recycling properly

when the rules keep changing

"i have no respect for this stupid system!"  i said a few times..

but guess what...

ever since that garbage police man came by, and gave us a 'warning'

we have literally checked everything; every. single. thing. we are about to throw away..

we check it first for any potential instructions..

any clue, anywhere on the packaging or container, that might allow us to 

know; not guess..

which of now THREE! containers we are supposed to place our trash in

     1.  does it go in the regular garbage..  ?  therefore leading to the utter destruction of our earth so that there is no posterity to inherit anything

     2.  does it go in the recycle bin?   and literally shape-shift into materials used to make new containers, clothes, furniture, packaging that we re-struggle to figure out where it goes next?   

               -are we to rinse it clean?  how clean?   -using a vital, limited resource, water...

     3. or, does it now go in the "STORE DROP OFF" container, where..

                    -of our own free-will, with zero incentive save altruistic values, we use our own transportation, time, energy, etc. to physically deliver STORE DROP OFF stuff to a store-you-can-drop-stuff-off-at

not mentioning here, what WE PAY for garbage service..   how they include that fee, which has only increased, in property taxes

and wont mention either, how, even the recycling we do with cans, bottles, that supposedly has 

WAIT

we have THREE in-door choices:  GARBAGE; RECYCLE; STORE DROP OFF

but we have SEVERAL MORE! outdoor recycling cans and we have been, and will continue to organize and bring in for recycle:

      ALUMININUM cans, 

     GLASS by color, clear glass, brown glass, green glass,    /and then the rules change, and then they change back..  by color, not by color..    IRRITATING!!

     AND PLASTIC bottles..

we do a fair amount of hosting through-out the year, so it does accumulate..

anyway..

the incentive was initially two-fold  -first and foremost, you organize and recycle using your own transportation, time and energy to bring it to the recycling place, even though you PAY FOR garbage pick-up, this is separate, and you do it because 

1) you do not want to contribute to the destruction of the world

2) you will receive back any CRV, you INITIALLY PAID when you PURCHASED;

         CRV by the way has only increased also..   .2 cents, .5 cents, .10cents..

but not just increased in price; it increases in scope:  just aluminum cans, sodas, beer, to now, any beverage, adding on more recently, alcohol and wine...

and you PAY per item; but when you return for recycling..  you are compensated by weight.   /guess which way the scales lean... 

   -Californians are experiencing a growing taxation without representation problem.. 

and i need to interrupt here, with when i nearly lost my mind..

here we are, doing the write thing..

separating and organizing our aluminum, glass, even by color, and plastic bottles..

doing our part by driving them to a recycling place..

and then having a portion of the plastic bottles we took the time and energy and effort to drive to the recycling place, 

having some of our pre-squished, hand-compacted plastic bottles DENIED

    -apparently if the plastic bottle does not have the paper wrap label in-full-tact..

unacceptable.   [tame tongue...   help...]    -arent we supposed to be separating paper & plastic..

****

i can't even write anymore on the topic, it is so blatantly....

 but guess what, 

****

even as i have these resentful, irritated, rebellious, no-respect thoughts

we still continue to read the labels on any and every single thing we are about to throw away..

****

what i said to my husband,   -is at least, its true, 80% of what we buy and use is repeat stuff..

mouth wash  /which i need write now for more than one reason..

groceries.. many repeats..

   and look, these granola bar wrappers..  i never even paid attention before

i always put them in the recycle bin, not the garbage..

turns out once again i was 

WRONG!

      frown face.

those go in BRING IT YOURSELF TO A STORE DROP OFF LOCATION with zero compensation or incentive and even though you PAY FOR GARBAGE PICK UP

and do that, FOR FREE..  because it is the write thing to do.

****

i was just about to close with a brief note, a love letter, if you will, to future generations..

to posterity; to seek their understanding and forgiveness

but, 

if the recycling program continues on the path its currently on...   no one is going to give a SH*&% anymore anyway

****

hallelujah, selah & amen!

***

you know how i never like to highlight a problem without offering a genius solution,  -write.

COLOR-CODING

write now i have to go get my readers on to even read and make-out what the recycle criteria is on any given package..

landfill = brown dot

recycle = blue dot

store drop off = green dot

with matching color-coded containers.

less guessing.

widely recyclable?   -IN WHAT BIN? ..     check locally?   honest to God..

WHAT BIN?  JUST TELL US WHAT BIN!

 -garbage.

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 11:45 AM 0 comments

with love, respect, gratitude for former president, Jimmy Carter -from (me!) sandra

    -path of the righteous grows brighter and brighter

hallelujah! selah! amen! 

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 9:38 AM 0 comments

We LOVE amazon.com (us!) sandra & robert mickanen

exclusively as a customer.

and in all my life  -having worked in retail the majority of it; having tried to start my own business; having been a customer my entire life at a variety of stores, malls, restaurants..  

there is no where i have ever shopped that has delivered such consistent, high quality, exceptional service.    -we were reluctant initially, 

but based on our experience as customers, our purchases via amazon.com increase ever year; the percentage of online shopping vs. brick n mortar shopping

i really believe they are demonstrating the most magical, wonderful formula for success [ and realize they have been at it, for decades! not years...]

it is convenient.  -of course, and we know, equal with being 'creatures of habit'  us humans, we are 'creatures of convenience'

i don't have to drive anywhere..   i just walk to my computer..

amazon.com is easily the most user-friendly, intuitive, website we have ever, and do ever use.

the prices are generally fair; with a range in line with quality, quantities.

the turn around time..   often overnight/next day; or clearly communicated when it's not [i.e., will arrive on ____  or 'expected to arrive by']

there is pro-active, clear communication via text and email when packages arrive  -we love this!

on the occasions we cross paths with an amazon delivery driver, they are consistently kind, respectful, professional.

on the occasions we need to return a product for one reason or another; they have made that process convenient, seamless, easy   -again, with a very user-friendly website set-up.

when we reconcile our bills   -also, very convenient     ** our only slow-down in this area, is when we have returned items, and are 'credited' the amount;  we have to search/find/balance out, do a little math to determine why a subsequent item is not listed for original price  

i.e,  returned a thingamajig, and was credited $20.   the next item we purchase, might retail for $40, but we are charged $20, and the $20 is credited, which throws off our books a little...

purchasing gifts for others -The Best! all the same user-friendliness; shipping to a different address, all the same pro-active, clear communication regarding when a package has arrived

AND! when family members send us a 'gift list' from the amazon.com registry..  we can choose from the list  -that item is removed, so there are not duplicate items purchased by other family members.. we love this!

Amazon.com GIFT CARDS   -exceptional.  The ease of use, convenience of putting gift card # in and having amount immediately and directly credited to our account    [and gift cards for other retail stores have been a nightmare for one reason or another..   namely, there seems to be a trend of 'crime & corruption'  where gift cards are purchased, but then are unable to be used at given store by recipient..   'already activated/used'   and/or, when you scratch off to reveal the pin, the pin itself is scratched off, and no one wants to be accountable, or help, or reimburse..]

i could go on, but these things rise to the surface..   i am just blown away by the consistency, the ease, the convenience, the clear communication-to-customer,  from purchase, to delivery, to returns, to gift giving and gift-receiving, -how quickly..  how accurately..   how professionally..

from a customer   -from this customers point of view, based on years of experience now:  A++++++

*****

now, 

if this company, Amazon.com,  -is as exceptional to its employees    -is as exceptional to its vendors

if they properly treat, compensate, recognize, reward, incentivize, appreciate..   value.

if they go 'above & beyond' to all the people/employees/vendors who are contributing to their success

-that would really be somethin'  wouldn't it.

****

selah! hallelujah & amen

****

also, i do like to submit compliments..    and for a long time, i didn't click on 'above & beyond'  -nor could i find justification for it..

like, if you deliver it, on time, follow instructions..   /which they all do!

that's the expected..

what justifies 'above & beyond?'

     -certainly driving at night, in rain storms...    

but then, in broad day light, on a clear and beautiful day, i watched an amazon driver have to negotiate his way around 3 reckless, selfish, idiot drivers..

and i decided they go above & beyond every day just having to share the road with so many idiots. 

****

selah! hallelujah & amen.

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 9:54 AM 0 comments

i heart canva! a love affair of the creative kind... for (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom #canva

give me any occasion, any excuse..   my portfolio is long!

and, although i was never hired as...  /or paid for...

almost every place i've ever worked from my first job, to my last,   -which was alden lane nursery

i have always, naturally navigated to, offered to, and did create marketing materials.   i remember now at alden lane..

i implemented the idea of creating marketing pieces for the classes being taught at the nursery by the various horticulturists; and for the craft classes..   and for the owner, Jackie's TV show..

so, if i was not being a cashier in the kiosk, i was in the office upstairs, creating pieces for the literature rack, posters for the bulletin boards, advertising/drawing on the chalk board wall inside the gift store..

it remains my great JOY! my great PLEASURE!   on my short list, over the years, i have created/designed birthday invitations, graduation invitations, -promotion pieces for workshops, classes, upcoming events..  Christmas cards..   on and on..

and, i have always used whatever tools were available at the given time.    -want to give an example here, create an analogy..   with movie makers,  -look at movies made 30 years ago..

vs. movies made today.   we've always had movie-makers, story-tellers; they use the tools available at the time; and help those tools evolve based on the desire to accomplish a given effect

so.. i'm going to skip ahead here and just say...  WHAT A DREAM!  "I was born for such a time as this!"

CANVA.

obviously i only use it for personal use, i am not 'employed'   -but, in our day to day lives, with the amount of birthdays, get-togethers, special occasions, seasonal parties, etc.    -there is still great need and opportunity

i confess here, as an artist and creative, i initially avoided canva..   wanting to do the 'creating' myself

but i would not turn back now..   i love it so much!  what it has done, is change me from the 'creator' to a 'designer'

that is, i pull from a variety of pre-made creations, be it, background, font, colors, composition, etc.

and i create my own 'arrangement' and design from a variety of canva sources [design, text, elements, frames...]

plus, i can upload and use, my own pictures, icons, logos, etc. and incorporate those inside; so, much of what i create/design is a hybrid of sorts...

and, is it necessary, mandatory.. that i create a poster for our driveway happy hours?  -of course not, we could just use word-of-mouth, or text 'come on over...'

but I LOVE MAKING THESE POSTERS!  it is my JOY to sit and come up with a general idea..   look through the pre-made designs, pull a background from this one, a font from that one..  add a personal pix..  tweak this, embellish that..

and, of course i could just use the same poster, and just change the date..    but because I LOVE MAKING THESE POSTERS! unless there is some pressing time issue, i WANT to make a brand new poster, with the same basic information

SUPER BOWL PARTY invites are a great example..   i've tried to create a new one every year, and pre-canva, i used stickers, actual 3-D stickers, designed the invite, went to the local Staples store, had color copies made..

but, "Thank You!" to canva.. and "Thank You!" to phone cameras, text..   now i design an invitation, print out, "Thank You!" to parents for colored printer, 

now, we print one out, take a picture of it.. and text to our guest list individually.   [we do not use the popular social media sources of our day to mass send an invite]

anyway,   i've also used canva to create a seating chart, to make simple labels, to just upload and print colored pictures of awkward sizes..

and, if i was working today, in a creative industry..   i'd sure love to learn more about everything this canva can do!   i use it in quite a limited/restricted way..   i've only 'felt my through'   -entirely self-taught, so to speak..     /although, got help learning, download/print pathway.. 

i stick to tried and true:   poster (landscape or portrait), go from there...  everything i do will ultimately be printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper

but, example,  -i used it for -a long time-  without knowing about the 'group' feature/benefit.   So, when i wanted to change, alter a design, i was moving each unit independently, 

and picky as i am, that could take a good long time..   re-aligning several things to all match up again, but a couple inches to the left.. or down, or up

my daughter showed me how to highlight/group, and  -i've mentioned it before, yes?  that one lesson, that took under 30 seconds to be shown and learn

saved me HOURS!

*****

and i've mentioned before, yes?  there needs to be a marriage between avery labels and canva!

anyway, 

we use it to print out the current NFL Super Bowl logo, with a grid on top, to aid us in creating our yard art..

and, used it to create our invite to our annual Super Bowl Party..   and to 're-create' a design of 'my favorite f words' poem, where i only change the last 1 or 2 lines to match with the Super Bowl Number,  /fifty nine & sublime; they rhyme..

all of this, every time i sit down, and go to canva.com

it is because I WANT TO...      not once, because ' i had to'

most grateful!   every design is a "Thank You!" prayer..    #canva

hallelujah & amen

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 10:29 AM 0 comments

my go to scripture in time of crisis; facing trauma (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom

they are doing all that the crisis demands..   many with training and experience; expertise

 but as are, individuals, families.. everyday laypeople, with no training or experience; who can only 'react' by instinct..  function through shock..    -they are doing what the crisis demands, and this becomes their training and life experience..  

we have family packed, ready to evacuate

we pray for protection, God's careful watch

we pray for containment, we pray in advance for healing, restoration, resurrection

we pray to learn from and improve and prevent..

we pray with hope, faith and internal love

in Jesus name,  amen & amen & amen...   

    -sharing my go to scripture in time of crisis, in the face of natural disasters, in response to unexpected traumas; in response to wickedness, evil of any kind

*****

valuable reading! a treasure to me in the archives of this blog:  GERMANE

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 8:14 AM 0 comments

The Heart Seen in santa cruz by (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom #theheartseen

#theheartseen  #santacruz

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 3:13 PM 0 comments

The (almost) PERFECT DRESS for (me!) sandra mickanen, topps, writeousmom #fashion #macys

 

  

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 11:19 AM 0 comments