Random 5 for January 5, 2025 – Organ donation, deer, social media, changing seasons, iPhone success

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His cousin dented my car! Source: Siusanne Nichols

Best present of all time – A dear friend of ours received a kidney transplant on New Year’s Eve. He’s been on the list for a while and was exhausting possible live donors when a match came up from a deceased donor. We could not have asked for a better gift to start the year. It’s so important to donate organs!

Oh deer – I drive (very slowly) through a wooded area on my run to Starbucks. Last Thursday a deer ran into my car. It sprinted up a hill on the left and bonked my driver’s door. I never saw it. At all! Not even when it hit my door. I thought a big tree branch fell on my roof, but the damage was on my driver’s door. Looking in my rearview mirror, I saw the car behind me stopped to let a deer pass. The deer wasn’t limping and took off. In the meantime, I have two dents in my car, and we had to do some work so my car door can open. I need an alternative route. That road has so many deer that even with driving very slowly, it’s hard to avoid them. Hurting a deer would ruin my year. I hope the deer felt badly about the dents in my car. Looking for alternatives. Either a different route (which will be twice as long) or maybe go to the OTHER shop. I will miss my friends if I change stores.

Instagram – My skin doc has a birthday month giveaway (it’s my birthday month). It used to be posted on Facebook, and you entered through Facebook. They switched to Instagram. I don’t have an account there. The prize is a free facial, so I attempted to set up an account. I did all the things asked. Then I got an email telling me there was a problem. They didn’t say what the problem was, but it appears they don’t believe I’m a real person. Seriously? I used my real name. These things are more trouble than it’s worth. I will complain to the doc that the contest (which I have never won) should also include a Facebook entry. (Yeah, I know. First world problems!)

And just like that, it’s over – This weekend we took down the Christmas decorations. My beloved husband did the outdoor stuff first as we may get a snowstorm on Monday. It’s much easier when it’s not bitter cold and nothing is frozen to the ground. I’ll be glad to go back to normal. I’m tired of Christmas specials, Christmas movies and Christmas crowds and Christmas food (I’m yearning for fresh fruit and salads! That’s a change!). Spring must be around the corner (hopefully).

Another good ending – The beloved husband bought an iPhone. He’s not technically savvy so it was a painful transition punctuated with calls to the carrier, loud swearing and ultimately getting our tech guy to do the transfer. He seems to be doing well now although he needs a little help occasionally. I think his fingers are too fat or maybe not agile enough. He can do facetime with his kids and pull up his military discounts, so all is good. Maybe I’ll get one too!

So how was your week?

 

71 thoughts on “Random 5 for January 5, 2025 – Organ donation, deer, social media, changing seasons, iPhone success”

    • So much here. Happy for your friend. Can’t imagine what it was like waiting. Humbled to hear about it.

    Instagram…I have an account. If you successfully create one, let me know. Mine’s private so I’d have to follow you first. Why private? Keep out the riff faff. It’s why I left Facebook. Creeps coming out of the woodwork.

    Your deer mishap. Just glad you didn’t have a dent. And if the deer was hurt you have felt terrible. Oh yes…they’re like big cats, with antlers.

    I have an iPhone. Need it for my hearing App. You and Anne can learn anything. You’re two of the brightest women I know, and I know this all cyberly. I will say, learning is a pain in the ass since Apple is so demanding. Makes WordPress seem friendly.

    Your husband will be the next Steve Job once he gets the hang of it.. You’ll see. 🙂

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  4. So happy your friend received the gift of life! Sending loads of healing thoughts for good health in 2025 and beyond.

    Accidents with deer are heartbreaking. Glad you weren’t hurt. When I owned a MG Midget, it was my greatest fear that one would hit me whenever I traveled to see my family at the holidays. I’d have been squished for sure. Having been hit in a sturdy SUV heading to Texas for Thanksgiving a few years ago, I know the sound is crazy loud and can scare the bejesus out of a person like nothing else.

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  5. I’m happy for your friend! I recently looked into donating a kidney but after a medical test, got disqualified. But I found out I have a bunch of aneurysms I have to keep an eye on now, though. And sorry about your door! I’ve seen a deer hit a man’s car door before and just step back and trot off and he was left just standing there looking at the smashed door in disbelief. They are sooo strong. He probably feels a little bad about it. Sounds like a busy week.

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    • Watching my friend and family go through the qualifying process, I was amazed. His son’s kidney is in an odd spot and not fully functioning. He didn’t know that. The protocols for live donors is very high. It’s a shame that kidneys don’t regrow like livers do. Aneurisms are not good but I expect we all have weird health things we don’t know about. Deer must be strong. we had to rebend the door edge so I could open and close the door and it wasn’t easy.

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  6. Wonderful news about your friend getting a kidney transplant! I hope all goes well for him!

    Sorry about the deer. It is scary. Really glad you didn’t get hurt.

    GL to your hubby with the new phone. Our kids keep telling us that me and my husband should get iphones but we are happy with our smart phones. 🙂

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    • He facephoned (is that the right word?) with his daughter and that kind of made it worthwhile. We do the zoom but the doing it on an iPhone is easier. If your kids live nearby, it’s not as important.

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      • It’s facetimed, but I knew what you meant. LOL!
        I’m glad he could do that. That is one wonderful thing about technology when living far apart. Our children are very close. I just need to walk into the kitchen or living room. 😂 and if they are out of their bedrooms, I can see them.Now, within the next year or two, that all could change, but we will see.

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  7. I decided to sign up to be an organ donor in 2011 – it is a good cause. Years ago, I had a bus buddy, who at the time was in her 30s and trying to get pregnant and saw her primary physician for a physical – he told her she had a serious heart defect (due to an infection in the pericardium, which surrounds the heart) and she needed a heart transplant soon. She was so upset, as all she went to see him for was the physical and hoping to secure a referral to a fertility specialist. She never worked again, didn’t have any children and we lost touch. But about 10 years ago I saw she was a “friend of a friend on Facebook” and I could peek on her profile (FB doesn’t allow that now) and I saw she was very friendly with the donor’s family and wrote about their get-togethers.

    You just got your car back from the brake issue – your poor new car and poor you, but the deer survived and that it was not limping is good. I try to stay away from Lake Erie Metropark throughout November, rutting season, because there are often deer running out of the park and right onto the road on a conquest. A friend of my boss was driving back from up north awhile back and a huge buck ran into their SUV from the front. The buck’s antlers crashed through the windshield and his head smashed into the console. He did a lot of front-end damage and the car was totaled – luckily Sam/wife were shaken but uninjured because it rammed between them and Sam didn’t hit any other vehicle.

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      • Yes, I have to tell you that I’m not sure I’d ever drive again if that happened to me. Imagine a big buck’s head with antlers (I forgot what point the antlers were) dead on the console between the two of you. They were lucky there were no cars nor trees that the vehicle would have crashed into. Michiganders always hear the PSAs every Fall “don’t veer for deer” so he did just that and kept the SUV straight and just held on to the steering wheel.

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  8. Glad your friend got a kidney. We leave our stuff up until Epiphany and usually longer. It is my hubby’s b’day month too. His is tomorrow. Deer can be a hazard.

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    • Usually we keep our stuff up longer too. We keep the lights in the windows up until the end of February but my husband was anxious to get it all done. Happy birthday to your hubby! January birthdays are the worst. No one wants to celebrate.

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  9. During house hunting in PA (years ago), we saw 3 dead deer during a relatively short drive. I abandoned plans to move to that area (maybe Honesdale PA?) b/c I did not want to SEE dead deer every day NOR did I want to be run into by a deer causing its demise.

    So, instead of the mountains, we headed to the Chesapeake Bay.

    Stay safe AND warm during this winter storm!

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    • Wise decision. We are 4 miles from where we used to live and rarely saw dead deer. This is disturbing. I hate driving at night because of it (and I can’t see that well or react fast enough and damn I’m old!). I will not drive on that road again at dawn or dusk. I’ll reroute or go to a different SB. Too upsetting. Looks like the bulk of the storm will be south of us. We may get 1 to 3 inches of snow. The problem is that it is really cold so it won’t melt. It doesn’t go above freezing even during the day.

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  10. Glad that you and the deer weren’t hurt. Too bad you have to decide on a different shop or longer drive. I like seeing the deer in my area, but haven’t come across any on the road while driving. That is great news about your friend’s kidney transplant.

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  11. Good to hear your friend received a new kidney. We have a friend in need of one. Sorry about the deer, and I hope the repair is not too costly. Did I just say that, of course, it will be costly. We’ve had iPhones for several years after having Samsung. We’re happy with our and currently debating an upgrade, but I look at the cost and think we can wait a little more. Decorations are down here too, and I’d be thrilled if all Christmas movies disappeared too. They started in July, and it’s been a long season.

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  12. Yikes, or should I say oh deer!! Glad no one was hurt. The nice thing about Apple products is that if your next phone after the Apple is also an Apple, the transfer from device to device is so seamless and stress-free. The phone does all the work for you.

    Deb

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  13. Best wishes to your friend with the new kidney.

    You have quite a dilemma: change routes or change coffee shops. Someone told me once that, statistically, the most dangerous animal in the US is the deer.

    I’ve had an I-phone for a long time, and I use it a lot, but only for certain tasks I’m familiar with. When I’m away from home and try to use it for things I do on my computer, I run into trouble. It doesn’t seem to be worth the effort to figure it all out.

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    • All phones are like that. I just recently go my grocery store app with all the discounts to display on my phone. It was more complicated than you’d think.

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  15. My family in NH have similar deer issues. One is now trying a “deer whistle.” You attach it to your can and supposedly it serves as a warning and reduces the likelihood of hitting a deer. The other relatives think it’s stupid and refuse to try it. I’ll let you know if accidents are reduced on the whistle car.

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  17. Kate, didn’t you just get your car out of the body shop? I’m glad you weren’t hurt and hopefully the deer did just have a headache. Very good news for your friend. A true gift! I always take a deep breath of fresh air after Christmas. I never did get in the Christmas mood this year. But I’m listening to Christmas music now???? I am glad your husband is enjoying his phone. He purchased it with ios 18.2 I am thinking and it had and still has me befuddled. The photo app is a challenge. I wish they would have left it alone. I ignore the AI stuff for now. Our week was busy with worker dudes and I am glad they are gone!

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  21. I really am in the “not crazy about changes” part of my life – iPhones, etc. are not on my list of things I want or need. My husband and I don’t even use the cell phones we have. They’re in our cars for emergencies. Period. We can more easily do this than most people we know because we have no family around – are totally retired – our friends are “homebodies” like we are and we are basically a very boring couple. 🙂 🙂 We USED to have a high deer population around here but now we rarely see them. I miss seeing them though. Sorry you had a “too close encounter” with one – they really can do a lot of damage to a car for sure!

    Hugs, Pam

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    • I’m hoping the deer was ok. Maybe just a headache. We are a boring couple too. The iPhone is nice for my husband to keep connected to his (adult) kids. Hopefully he’ll get to see more of his grandkids too. We have interstate highway construction going and it’s displacing some of the herds. Unfortunately, they are enjoying the closed golf course now.

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  22. So sorry about the deer and your door! We have areas that are full of deer as well, and it always worries me, especially at dawn and dusk when they are more active. We’ve taken so many living places away from the deer. What are they to do? And the switch to iphone took me a bit as well, but well worth it!

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