UPDATE:  Samsung Repair Assistant fixes my Galaxy S5 — and my karma

Just did a factory reset of my Samsung Galaxy S5. After a year, I had to replace it because it kept dropping Wi-Fi. They sent me a refurbished one so I have no idea how old it is but the voice to text on it is very poor. Whether it is in email or in messaging or in Facebook posts, it will capitalize random words and it will get many words wrong. I’ve used my voice professionally for years so I know how to dictate clearly.  It also won’t let me post directly from the video to Facebook, the videos are all pixelly looking. Although the photos are not large, it has to reconfigure them every time I want to email one. I spoke to several Verizon techs and no one knew the fix.  One tech, Candace whom I could never reach again, was able to walk me through all the settings to make sure they were correct.  No one else did that and it fixed a couple of problems.  I’m looking forward to May 2017 so I can replace this phone with one that can handle heavy voice to text since my phone has to be a work horse. I thought spending this much on a phone would be a real upgrade and it has not been. Great camera though. I’d like something larger format because it is less important for me to have a phone small enough for a pocket than it is for me to have easy access to a screen I can read clearly and respond back right away. I’d likely get the insurance as well since if I had the insurance this time I could have replaced it with a new phone rather than a refurbished one. The refurbished phone they sent me had more problems than my original phone which only dropped Wi-Fi. If you have voice to text on your phone and are happy with its performance, let me know what kind of phone you have.

UPDATE:  Samsung Repair Assistant fixes my Galaxy S5 — and my karma

I was listening to Bible stories on the radio in the car this morning. Some of this is some real fKdUpSh*t, generating needless fear. It made me think of the people who are comforted by tales of a vengeful God smiting sinful folks. Their life is so narrow and so limited and so painful that this is a comfort to them. Anger and revenge is an upgrade to the desperate hopelessness they feel. I have compassion that they have so little life experience they believe this is true and that this is the only type of life they are entitled to live — and that you only get one life.

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A Friend and I Talk About Dying and Easy Transitions
Why pretend loved ones aren’t going to die? Let’s get over the fear

Seth has said something powerful here. This is one of those “secrets to enlightenment” everyone asks for but few hear and understand.
Seth: “When you do not know what to do, relax and tell yourself that other portions of yourself do know; they will take over. Give yourself some rest.”
That means say to yourself “I know there are other parts of me that understand what I do not. I ask that these parts help me understand, help me become aware of what I need to know to overcome this situation/ have a new experience/ or just be the best I can be.” Then practice relaxing into the knowing that you have set something in motion that you will soon see evidence of. Relax into the knowing that these other “parts” of you can be thought of (if it makes it easier to accept) as guardian angels or spirit guides here to help you with whatever you ask help for. You “activate” them by talking to them and asking them for help. If it makes it easier to accept, these other parts of you can be thought of as God whom you are asking in prayer. You might do this twice a day during meditation.

I included these pics with my reviews

I just posted reviews on Yelp for Pho Viet and Pho Cali.  I was bummed  Pho Viet changed their broth recipe.  it’s still good, it’s just no longer so intense and delicious that I crave it.  I gave both restaurants 4 stars. I wrote: “The staff at Pho Viet were formerly at Pho Cali on Wickham Road, where I dined weekly 2008 – 2015. When Pho Viet opened, I saw my favorite pho and tom yum soups were made by the same cook. I knew and liked the staff, so Pho Viet became my new favorite place.

Pho Viet is back to their original dark flavorful broth so they’re back to being the fave!

In March 2016 I noticed the broth recipe changed. It went from a deep brown color and intensely flavored spicy, beefy broth to a light and mild flavor. I asked about it each time, thinking it was a lighter chicken broth in error. It wasn’t, diners had complained about the sodium, I was told. I returned to Pho Cali today and their pho broth and tom yum soup were both as intensely flavored as ever. Their prices are comparable, their stir fry, rice and noodle dishes comparable, but I go for the pho and tom yum. And for them, it has to be Pho Cali. For anything else, Pho Viet is my choice because it’s good food at a fair price and I know everyone there.”

UPDATE 6-8-16: Pho Viet is back to their original dark flavorful broth so they’re back to being the fave! 

Andrea D’s reviews on Yelp
My Yelp review for Pho Bolsa in Palm Bay, FL 
Andreahug’s reviews on TripAdvisor.com

A Facebook friend wrote on the Palm Bay Crime Watch page that a young woman knocked on her door, said she was a neighbor’s daughter locked out and asked for a ride to her mom’s work to get the key.  Mom of course not “at work,” she caught on that she might be being set up for a robbery. She dropped the woman off and returned home. So, how do you know when to help a stranger and when to keep a distance? There’s always a fine line, isn’t there, between wanting to do the right thing and be a good samaritan, yet stay safe and leave people to the consequences of the choices they made before they knocked on your door. You have to ask yourself, “Why does this person have no one but a random stranger to ask for help? Where are their friends, or anyone else who knows them?” Sure, maybe it’s “Jesus in disguise” (isn’t everyone?) but who knows what lesson this particular “Jesus” may have in store for you today?  What determines how you will respond? These are good soul searching questions to ask yourself while keeping your doors locked.   Continue reading →