Rosa 'Gabriel Oak' - 12 August 2026

 

All I could find out about the expression “on the fritz” is that it appeared in use in the US in 1902.

This morning when I turned on my Windows 10 computer to my shock the image on my screen (an early photograph of Rosemary and me) had shifted five inches to the left. The power off button was one of the many things I could not see. I had to turn off the computer at the computer itself.

Thankfully the Chris at EJ Cell PHone Repair, a mere three blocks from my house, repaired it in under three minutes. But fritz kept at it. When I connected all the wires there was nothing on my monitor screen. I called Chris who told me to check on the graphics connection and make sure it was at the bottom and not on the top. Success!

I depend on my computer for three very important actions of my day. I scan my plants, negatives, photographs, and write my blog.

Besides those three activities I feed my cat Niña; feed myself, make my bed, ride my bike and shop at Safeway. All I can say is that is a perfectly monotonous, but pleasant daily routine. I do a lot of thinking. I think about death and I think all the time of my Rosemary.

I have written before how On Language columnist of the NY Times, William Safire told me (I Interviewed him in Seattle) of the concept he called “resistentialism”. He defined it as inanimate objects proving to humans that they too have free will.

Once my system was in good working order I was able to scan my Rosa ‘Gabriel Oak’. If I were 35 years old and needed the money I think I could sell my scanograph prints for good money in local hotels and abroad.

It is just fun to scan. It is part of my routine until fritz intervenes again.