Been awhile folks.

[duncang]

Last edited Mon May 27, 2024, 06:09 AM - Edit history (1)

It’s been too long since I’ve been here. Just getting older. While I’ve been gone my wife of 47 years passed away last year. So this last year has been rough. One of my daughter’s family has moved in with me. I have a largish house. So that’s okay. My Buddy cat died after 22 years. He thought he was a dog and followed me around where ever I went inside and outside. Even laid at my feet. Freya my Great Dane died at 12 years old. But have a two new cats and another Great Dane.

Never thought I’d get tv’s or round things I’d talk to. I do like to listen to music, turn on/off lights, and have weather alerts. I still have some privacy concerns, but for the most part gotten over it. I don’t care anymore. What are they going to get. A old man’s stupidity because it doesn’t understand me? The one thing I don’t care for is I don’t want to have a conversation with them. I don’t want them to tell me repeatedly that I can set a timer on the lights. I don’t want recommendations. I don’t want recommendations on things to buy on the show. Again music, time, lights, and weather alerts.

Anyways plan on doing posts again just to keep myself busy when it’s quiet time around here. Also when it’s to hot outside. Can’t handle the heat anymore and we are in that time of the year.

We haven’t had any of the really bad weather here. No tornadoes, no power outages, etc. I live north of Houston and watched as that stuff went through. Have family and friends down there. They made it through without problems.

Oh and also I decided to learn another language. Yes, I’m old and doubt I’ll get the chance to return but decided to learn Swedish then later Spanish. I’m 98% Swedish 2% Norwegian and remember hearing at my grandparents houses. Just something I’ve wanted to do. I can’t find it again but saw the link on cnn, HuffPost, nbc, cbs, or whatever that listed Memorial Day sales for Babbel on the substack site. Lifetime and access to any language for $139. Three days only. Was kind of leary but since it was on a reputable website linking to it went for it. The code did work. I did open a separate page to search for Babbel t enter the code so I felt better knowing it wasn’t a scam. It shows it does expire though. Well it expires in 2124. So I guess that’s okay.

[femmedem]

1. Welcome back.

And I'm so sorry for your string of losses. I hope the DU community helps, and I look forward to reading your posts again.

[kozar]

2. WB

NT

Koz

[brer cat]

3. Welcome back, duncang.

I'm very sorry for your losses. It is so tough losing those close to us.

[70sEraVet]

4. Glad you're back, duncang.

Hope you find comfort, amusement, inspiration and some friendly voices on DU.

[niyad]

5. Welcome back. So very sorry for all of your losses. May you find some

peace and comfort here wuth your DU family.

Learning new languages is an excellent way to keep the little grey cells working.

[AllyCat]

6. Welcome back!

Sorry you have lost your wife and animals this past year. Hugs to you. Hope to see you around!

[dameatball]

7. WTG on learning a new language. Excellent thing to do.

[Hope22]

8. I'm glad that you have a family member with you.

I’m so sorry to hear about your wife and pets. That was a lot to work through and having support is really important. The company of your new pet family sounds great. I hope you enjoy them all! Great Danes are a breed of their own. Is this a puppy? Sending you love and the best wishes to you and yours. 💗🙏🏼💐

[duncang]

12. She turned 2 early this year.

Such a happy dog. While off the leash she dances on her hind legs walking by me.

[Hope22]

13. She sounds wonderful!

Still a baby!😁💗

[DFW]

9. Swedish is a good choice, actually

I found it the easiest of all languages to learn for a native speaker of English (and I have learned 8 others!). The grammar is simple, and many of the words are very similar. I met some students from Sweden on a boat in 1969, and visited them in Sweden in 1970. The language came across to me as total gibberish, but they assured me it really wasn't very complicated. I entered college that fall, and started learning Swedish. The professor, who was from Uppsala, spoke nothing but Swedish from day one. But she was also a brilliant instructor, and she took care at first to use only Swedish words that were similar to their English meanings. When you learn that "bok" means "book," "kom tilbaks i morgon" means "come back tomorrow," and "vi skall se" means "we shall see" etc. you figure out real quick that this is not like trying to learn Hungarian or Mandarin. When you want to conjugate a verb, it is the same form for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person, both singular and plural. No exceptions! I go, you go, he goes, we go, they go, it's all "går" (pronounced like gore as in Al Gore). "I'm going home now" is "jag går hem nu." It's really easy to get used to!

After my first year of college, I went back to Sweden, and blew my Swedish friends away by showing them that I needed no more translation help at all. There aren't many languages that are THAT easy to learn, but Swedish is the easiest--at least that was my experience.

[duncang]

11. It was funny while in Sweden

With my wife. We were amazed at a shop owner there. The owner spoke at least 4 different languages. Swedish, Farsi, Spanish, English I wouldn’t doubt he knew more.

I’ve heard learning a new language helps with cognitive decline. I figure this might also be fun. Get this old and you start thinking about your past. I had fun introducing my kids and grandkids to lutefisk a few months ago. There were mixed reviews on it.

[DFW]

14. I might have introduced them more gently

Köttbullar, for example.

[duncang]

15. When we were in Sweden

I asked around about a place to eat Swedish food and no one knew.

They actually liked the taste with the off Swedish seasoning and things I suggested. It was the texture.

[AllaN01Bear]

10. "" welcome back.

[Laurelin]

16. Hej, welcome back

I don't speak Swedish. I'm so sorry for your losses.

If you're learning a new language you might look at duolingo. It's a free app and a place to start.

Your new pup sounds lovely. Take care of yourself and study hard.

[3catwoman3]

17. Such a lot to cope with. Wishing you continued strength.

It sounds like you have a healthy outlook.

A nursing school classmate of mine (class of 1973) moved to Sweden after she married a man from there, and learned enough Swedish to pass her nursing boards in that language. I found that very impressive.

I hope you'll let us now how it goes.