Saturday morning

I'm getting ready to go to the market, and I thought I would start the blog first.  I'll begin with a couple of photos - the first one is a recent sunset and I thought the colors were exquisite.  The second is my cup of coffee this morning.  I use cream in it, then top with whipped cream (0 carbs, 0 sugar), cinnamon and nutmeg.  I can't tell you how delicious it is!

(Click to enlarge.) 

I'm back from the quick trip to the Market.  It didn't take me long to spend $20, but I have more than enough vegetables to last me a week, plus my grandkids will be glad to know I  bought a big bag of tree-ripened California navel oranges.  Can't wait to try one myself.

It's another cool, beautiful morning here, with sunlight so bright it's sometimes difficult to see even with sunglasses.   I think we will get close to 85 today, and then I will be happy to have temps in the 60's and 70's for at least 2 weeks.  I think the extremely hot weather is over with for this year, but you never know.  I wish we could get some of the rain that is flooding Texas.

I'd like to start a jigsaw puzzle, but once I start it I'll have to leave it up til I'm finished (1000 pieces).  It's no longer easy to do by myself because I'm limited to the time of day the light is just right.

I hope everyone has a good weekend, and if you enjoy Hallowe'en then have a good time.  I never did get into it - when I was a kid I don't remember it being a big deal.  I guess everyone was too poor to buy elaborate costumes and give out candy.  I do recall some women baking cookies and other sweets, and they were safe to eat back then.

Doing my part!

We need rain so desperately and are supposed to get a small amount this evening and again later in the week.  I just came in from washing the outside of my kitchen windows, as well as the porch railings and trim.  I'd be really surprised, with the way my luck runs, if at least some rain doesn't fall.

The pain in my hip has lessened just a little bit, although I wouldn't try to drive to the gym or even to walk around the block.  I'm back to using ice, although that didn't work the last couple of days whereas the heat pad gave me a little bit of relief.  Dr. G. said to use ice so I suppose I should try to follow the dr's recommendations.

I seem to be always hungry although I'm getting enough to eat.   I doubt if I can regain the 6# or so that I lost unless I go over the limit on carbs or sugar.  I thought about writing everything down so as to keep track of what I'm eating, the numbers, etc., but decided against it.  Keeping records of things like that makes me obsess about it, and I'm not going to do it.  Right now, I think I'd sell my body and soul for a couple of danish!

I'll try again

I just finished hanging the 3rd load of wash on the lines (across the street), and all of the sudden it has become overcast.  We're not supposed to get rain until tomorrow.

The plane ride back from NY is what I'm blaming it on, but ever since I have had pain in my sacroiliac.  It's really bad and I often limp when I walk.  I wake up ok in the morning, but sitting exacerbates the pain, and sitting in the car, even driving just a mile to the gym, brings on the worst pain.  

I don't understand how I can feel so good and have such pain when I move.  As for the joy, I don't know where it comes from or how long it will stay, but I love it.  I think my loving family has a lot to do with it.

I went with Donald to Whole Foods yesterday, and found something I haven't seen in years!  Non-homogenized milk!  Remember when it came in glass bottles, and you'd pour off the cream on top to put in coffee.  Unfortunately this is in a carton and I won't be able to see the line where the cream ends and the milk begins, but I hope to be able to tell by looking at what is pouring out.  If I buy any more, I'm going to get it in a glass bottle.

Gotta go check on the laundry.  It has really looked like it was ready to pour rain, but then the sky lightens up a bit.  I'm grabbing a few things now and then that seem to be dry enough to fold and put away.  When I initially took my laundry over to hang on the line, there was quite a crowd and it was mostly men.  A woman would wander in now and then, but the guys owned the place today!  

Writer's Block

That is what I have, folks.  I normally have no problem writing about anything, but I just can't decide on a topic, figure out a starting sentence, and just don't feel like trying.

I just wanted to say I'm okay - feeling great mentally and physically, and actually experience joy.  I don't know why I feel so good, and I don't know why I can't write.

By the way, I'm pretty much over the withdrawal from most carbs and sugar.  There are still some in my diet because you really can't get around it,  and I'm trying to be realistic about it.

I can't help myself!  I can't write but three paragraphs appear on my blog above.

Technology

You can probably tell this will be somewhat of a rant, so it's your choice to read it or not.

Without going into a lot of detail, I'd like to say I am sick and tired of many technological advances.  I don't have a smart phone which prevents me from doing many things others take for granted.  I want to redeem some points I have at my gym for a product they offer, but I need a smart phone to download and send the bar code for the product.

I send emails now and then to family, friends, and acquaintances, but how many of those do you think either go unread, but certainly go unanswered.  People are always looking at their phones so I'm sure they know they have a new email.  If it was a text msg it would probably be read quickly and answered with a quick text.  The same goes for phone calls - no one seems to have much time to punch in some numbers or go to a contact list in order to have voice contact.  I'll be damned if I'm going to join the smart people who own smart phones.  

The same thing goes for Facebook - it's amazing how many comments and likes one can read from 750 of their closest "friends" on FB, but they can't read a simple email.

My complaints just go on from there, but I don't see any sense in boring anyone further - that's assuming you have read this far.

You might not believe it, but I actually feel terrific!  I've done all my exercises  today, and eaten what to me is a fairly good diet.  I'm getting ready to go through my kitchen cabinets and fridge, and purge the stuff I will no longer use.  I hate to throw things out, especially unopened packages, but if I don't think it's healthy for me then I don't think it is healthy for anyone.  What a dilemma.  

If anyone is interested in the rationale behind my change in diet, you might want to read "Grain Brain" by  David Perlmutter, M.D., a noted neurosurgeon.  It's available at libraries, and my daughter checked out one in large print for me.

 

Just touching base

I'm still here and doing well.  Haven't been anywhere except to the gym the past two days, because I spent most of my money earlier in the month.  No sense in walking into any kind of a store.  With two of my kids plus a granddaughter having birthdays in November, I need to hold off on my spending for now!

Joe plans to put a coat of sealant on my roof tomorrow or the next day, plus put the cover back on the swamp cooler.  I may wish I waited a bit longer, but so far the temperatures haven't really required running it and I'd rather be prepared for rain.   Wishful thinking maybe?

No news on the puppy front, and I'm tired of stressing about it.

Did anyone else see the two very bright objects in the southeast sky in the early morning?  As far as I can tell the brightest one is Sirius, but I'm open to correction on that.  I saw them about 3 or 4 am.

So unless something comes along for me to write about, I just can't think of another thing.

Figured it out

Last night I was reading the book on eliminating grains (carbs) from the diet, and it mentions that withdrawal from carbs and sugars can sometimes be experienced.  That is why I have been relatively listless, find it hard to concentrate on anything for very long, and feeling like there is something I want but can't figure out what it is or how to get it.  Then I realized it's the damned sugar & carbs.  I think it's easing a little today, but I'm still not back to normal.  If this is what happens when you stop then I don't want any more sugar or carbs than the minimum.  I've been through withdrawal from tobacco as well as some OTC meds (Benadryl) and I don't want anything like that in control of my life.

I made a quick trip to Costco this morning to buy eggs (I'm going through a lot of them lately), and bought a couple of packs of LED light bulbs.  I only opened one package and will return the other one.  I'll go back to Home Depot and pay slightly more for something that will improve the light and my being able to see well.  I hope I can find the guy who sold me the lamp and bulbs last week - his recommendations were perfect!

I'm totally discouraged about finding the dog I want, so I think I'll just chill out about it for now.  I received a notice of a dog at the Sacramento City Shelter, which is located downtown on Front Street.  There is no way I'm going to drive into Sacramento, ironic because I used to drive to work every day for 6 years.  It's not a difficult city to drive in, but I've made up my mind to avoid cities and traffic whenever I can, and I'm going to stick to that.

Hunkered down!

I woke up early in the morning to the sound of rain, and it was blowing hard and coming down fast.  I guess it rained for about an hour, and then again later in the morning we had another bout of rain but without the wind.

In between the rain I went to the farmers' market, and the guy at one of the stalls thanked me for coming out this morning.  I don't think there is much that would keep me away.

When I got back home and put everything away I just vegetated for the rest of the day.  Don't know what happened to my energy.  As it seemed very chilly to me I was dressed in my warm sweats, and climbed back into bed with my sweats on.  I think I slept for about two hours.

Since then I've been trying to catch up on programs I recorded during the month I was away.  I watch two shows and then a couple more new ones are recorded, so I begin to wonder if I'll ever see all of them.

It is really difficult to deal with cravings for sweets.  Along with bacon and eggs I've been eating grapes and bananas for breakfast  and they contain sugar, but it's pastries I crave!  Also ice cream.  Yesterday I kept track of carbs and sugars just to see where I stand, and my totals for the day were 87g of carbs and 63g of sugar.  I want to keep it somewhere around those numbers for at least a week or two and see if I feel any different.  Maybe I can fall off the wagon a time or two in the future as long as I can maintain the new way of eating.  I do feel great overall (aside from being tired today) but I'm waiting for a dynamite burst of energy.  Like when pigs fly.  I know I'd be more energetic if I wasn't getting up every two hours during the night - that has to take a toll on the restful sleep everyone needs.

No dog as yet.

I finally figured what was wrong with my online application yesterday - I gave my "home" email address where requested, but for work email I entered "Retired".  Once I changed it to my regular email I was able to submit the app. Less than an hour later I got an reply saying that Berkley had already been adopted!

I just now received a query from someone at Adopt-A-Pet asking if I had adopted "Will", a cute little black lab puppy.  There was a link to a page with black puppies, male and female, with different mixes of breeds but mostly lab.  They are all over the state and I don't see how I can get around to checking them out.  I wrote the lady back and explained my situation and asked if she would let me know when a dog meeting my needs came up within a decent driving distance of me.  So we will see.  If the snow falls in the Sierra anytime soon I will just be skiing alone!

RunNRose, I have found that male dogs just like human contact and want to be right next to you.  That's a pretty blanket statement I realize, but it's been my experience with my dogs as well as the dogs owned by my ex husband and kids.  Females seem to be a bit more independent, although Chili, my son's doberman, wouldn't let you stop petting her.  What a sweetheart.  But then she would eventually get off your lap and go somewhere else to lie down.  A male would just stay until you told him to go.

One thing I dislike about looking online at pets, is the fact that they put those silly scarves around their necks.  I want to see a dog who looks like a dog, and dogs rarely wear scarves (well, maybe when they are skiing, but that's a different kind of scarf).  If someone want to dress their pet in whatever, with bows and bow ties and such, that's fine with me.  But when I'm looking at a photo on a screen I want to see the essence and personality of the dog and who they are, and that extra stuff just gets in the way.  It's a "people vision" of what a dog should look like and I think it interferes with some indefinable thing I'm trying to see.  Please don't take this personally if you like to dress up your pet.  I'm referring to pets that are up for adoption.

It's a "cool 86" right now, with one more degree to go.  I should be feeling cooler than yesterday when it was in the 90's, but I just have a fan running in the living room and haven't turned the swamp cooler on.  It uses so little electricity I should just run it whenever I'm warm, but I'm always in a "saving mode".

I need to go start my supper soon because I'm getting tired all of the sudden.  When that happens I often just skip the meal, but I can't stay healthy skipping meals!

Some questions answered

I was asked why I preferred a male dog to a female, since the male spends way too much time marking territory.   I know that's the case, but the male is probably a bit more needy?  My male lab would follow me around the house.  If I sat in the living room, he parked himself near me, if not half in my lap.  If I got up to walk to the bathroom or bedroom, it was a sure thing he would show up within a minute.  Living alone, I kind of like that.  (I'd like it even if I didn't live alone.)

My female shepherd (Lady) was much more independent as well as stubborn at times.  She found herself a comfortable place and stayed until she decided to move elsewhere - it had nothing to do with me being in proximity to her.  And did I mention stubborn?  She was a good dog, easy to be around, not demanding at all.  But when she decided to be, she was really stubborn.  I think the male wants to please to the point that he figures, "Okay, your way is the best way!"

Also, a word about the light bulbs I purchased.  They were bought at Home Depot, the brand name is CREE, and this is on the front of the pkg:  5000K daylight.  LED.  100w; replacement; uses only 18 Watts.
Brightness--1600 lumens; estimated energy cost $2.17 per year.

Do I understand all that verbage?  No, I don't.  But the bulbs are fantastic.  I'm going to hunt up the old guy at Home Depot and have him pick out a few more bulbs - I will put one in the kitchen ceiling fixture, and one in the hallway.  That's for now, and I'll do a couple at a time until I replace them all.  I won't necessarily need the high power bulbs for places like the bathroom or bedrooms, but the light coming from them seems so much more crisp and clear, and are just what I need to be able to function well.

Today I received an order I placed on Costco Online - a pair of black dress pants.  They fit great although I'd rather have the waist a bit higher.  They look and feel like a very expensive pair but were quite reasonable.

I also got a jacket - a waterproof parka which is lined in heavy fleece, and although I didn't realize it when I ordered it, there is an inner removable jacket of very lightweight puffy down-like material.  It's not down because the price was too low for that, but it will be nice on cool days to wear alone, or I can snap it inside the parka for when I go skiing at one of the Lake Tahoe runs!  I'll probably make the newspapers - "Old lady flying down the slopes with her floppy eared labrador retriever keeping up with her!"

A final word about a floppy eared lab, I found one - a 5 yr old chocolate purebred lab named Berkley.  I filled out a lengthy online application, but every time I hit Submit it came back saying I had something incorrect with my email address or phone #.  I checked it several times but it still doesn't work - I'm still waiting for the webmaster, and probably by now Berkley is skiing with someone else.  (I'll take it as a sign to just let it go and find the male black puppy I've had my heart set on.) 

Oh Lordy, is that rain I hear hitting my roof?  Just a few dribbles, but any and all will be welcome.

Let there be light!

I drove straight to Home Depot from the gym this morning and found a decent floor lamp that wasn't too expensive.  I decided I'd rather get a cheaper fixture and spend more on the bulbs, which I did.  I let it sit for a couple of hours thinking about maybe calling one of my handy sons/son-in-law, but reasoned "Marty you have poor vision but you're not stupid.  Assemble the damn thing yourself and don't whine about it."

That is exactly how I happen to have wonderful light by my chair.  One bulb shines toward the ceiling, and another can be directed downward to my book, computer, or whatever.  Wow, the light is really bright.

The salesman told me he was going to be 80 in November, and we had a nice chat.  He suggested that I get the bulbs that don't produce any heat, are low energy users and thus cheaper to operate, and have a long life.  I'm very pleased with the purchase, and if I can buy a better quality lamp in the future I'm hoping the bulbs will still be going strong.

Note to Nancy who commented on yesterday's post that I might try calling lab breeders in the area and see if they have anything that is lower in cost, such as a runt.  I wrote an email to a local breeder and hope I get a reply soon.  I realize I could find many dogs of all sizes, colors, breeds, and age, but I have my heart set on a black male puppy this time.  I know the personality, temperament and characteristics of the lab, and it is exactly what I'm looking for.   I'm willing to go through the puppy stage.

I always worry when I leave home for several weeks that the hummingbirds will get disgusted and find another feeder.  It took them a day or two but I've seen them back at the feeder, although not with the frequency as before.  Sacramento has hummingbirds that don't migrate south in the winter, so I'll be patient and hope they all decide to gather at Gypsy's Place!

Finding my routine

I went to the gym the last two mornings which makes me feel like I'm getting back into the groove.   I really enjoyed just going down to the  basement at my son's house and using the treadmill.  If I had a basement here I think I would buy a treadmill, although I don't mind driving the few blocks to the gym, I'm more likely to put it off if I don't get there in the morning.  

I'm catching up with laundry (but I still have one basket of clothes to put away).  I had planned to drive to Home Depot after the gym but came straight home instead.  I've already spent a lot of money restocking the fridge, and I know I'll find a lot of things at Home Depot that I need.  I do have to get a new floor lamp because with my declining vision I need more and brighter light.  I also want to start replacing windows, and Steve said he would help me do it.  The windows are large and will take more than one person to handle them, although I can't say I know anything about installing windows!

I've been searching the internet all morning trying to find a black lab puppy that won't cost me $1000+.  Of course that is for a purebred, but I can't find a shelter or Animal Control in northern CA that has a black lab.  I think the rescue organizations grab them as soon as they appear, and their cost for a puppy is $400 - often lab with other breeds mixed in.  If I have to pay that much I might as well go another couple of hundred and get one from a reputable breeder.  Maybe I'm not meant to have another dog.  If I wait until my vision declines to a low point, then I'll be eligible for a free dog with training.   I need a companion dog now, but I'll just have to wait until "Mr. Right" shows up!  (That sounds weird - I gave up on finding Mr. Right years ago.  Of course a dog is easier to train than a man, and it will love you no matter what.  You men who read my blog know I'm kidding, don't you?)

Just checking in

Life has been fairly quiet since I've been back, but I thought I'd just pop in and say "Hi".  

I finally got back to my chiropractic treatment today, and already I feel so much better.  He told me that I actually had done pretty well over the last month, and he will do a re-exam next week to determine the next stage of treatment.

I'm keeping up with the lo carb, lo sugar, hi fat diet, although sometimes I really crave dessert or at least something sweet.  I need to get some dark chocolate for when I get those cravings - dark chocolate tastes good and it can actually be very healthy.

I miss my NY family and the grandsons, but am happy to see the CA family and grandchildren.  It's a shame that my kids are separated by a continent.  I haven't returned to "normal" yet, as I'm still tired from the long day of travel plus the 3 hours time change.  So far I like going to bed earlier and getting up earlier in the morning.   I sure do miss the cooler temps in NY though, and wish CA would finally cool down.

My TV and internet are working fine.  The tech who came out to fix the problem and then came inside to push the correct buttons on the box was so nice.  I explained that I couldn't really see the labels on the boxes, and it turned out I was trying to find the power button on the wrong box!  I'm happy to have the internet, but I think TV programming has gotten worse in the month since I last watched it.  All I can say is, "What a waste of time!"   TV watching, that is.  

I'm back

I finally have internet.  No TV and no internet when I arrived home on Wednesday afternoon.  AT&T tried to fix the problem over the phone, but finally sent someone out before Noon today to fix a wire that had become disconnected in a box that sits in back of the properties here.  

You might remember the problems I've had trying to determine how I got onto a BP&Weight monitoring site (Hiji).  I have sent them numerous emails, and told them my son discovered that someone in Georgia was using my email to open an account at their site.  I received this from them today:

"I believe at some point you entered your email address to create an account. It might have been at the Station, online at higi.com, or on our mobile app. I went ahead and deleted this account for you. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns."


I wrote them a blistering letter telling them they owe me an apology for such an insulting email.  They suggested that I was either a liar or senile when I kept repeating I had nothing to do with getting an account on Hiji.  To anyone reading my blog, I would suggest staying away from those machines in pharmacies.  Buy yourself a blood pressure monitor and you won't ever need to rely on a shady operation like this one seems to be.


My plane left White Plains, NY on Wednesday at 7:00 am.  The skies were beautiful, streaked with pink, and it was just before the sun was up and shining.  I had a fairly long layover in Chicago but I didn't mind since I could leisurely walk between terminals, have a beer at one of the pubs, and mostly sit and read my  book along with people-watching.


I took these photos last night when the sun was going down:  I know, same old, same old, but it's new and beautiful to me every time!

(As usual, please click on a photo to enlarge).


I think I may have mentioned that I intend to start eating a hi fat, lo carb diet, and this morning I enjoyed two slices of thick bacon and two eggs.  I was lost without some kind of bread, but looking at a bag of "Texas Toast" croutons, I discovered they are so low in carbs and sugar as to not matter, so I threw a handful of them onto my plate.  It's amazing how a breakfast without sugar products can leave you with so much energy.  (The bacon was Applewood brand, thick sliced, and organic).


There are comments I had intended to make in response to comments left on the blog, but right now my memory fails.  I did order an aluminum case to hold credit card, driver's license, medical insurance cards, etc., so they can't be scanned by others around me.  It should arrive today.

A nice send off

I'm nearing the end of my time in NY, and this morning I had 3 very large does in the back yard to send me off!  I used to see the deer coming and going every day but in the last few years they haven't been using this yard.  Today I watched them and they stopped nibbling grass and watched me back.  I tried mental telepathy with them, but don't know if it worked or not - they stayed longer than usual watching me, so maybe it did.

I was out yesterday and noticed that the trees are definitely getting some color.  Too bad I will miss the best of the show.  I will certainly miss all the green grass and trees when I get back to the desert which Sacramento is becoming.

Speaking of Sacramento, I remember when I lived there in the 1980's I liked to go to the Crocker Art Museum on Saturday mornings, and one painting was my favorite.  It depicted Sacramento before the fortune seekers inundated the area, and it was still inhabited by the native Indians.  It was obviously during the heat of summer and you could see the heat shimmering up from the ground.  The grass was brown everywhere, as the natives didn't use irrigation on the large scale we do today.  Think of the millions of people now using water, industries using water, farms using water, and so on, and it's no wonder we have such a shortage.  If and when the rains finally come, everyone will wish they would stop and the sun would shine for a change.  We humans can only be satisfied when we are wishing for something else.

Blogs

I have noticed several times in the past week or so that when I write a comment and hit Publish, it never shows up.  In one case I wrote my comment and published it twice but it didn't ever appear.  I'm mentioning this because I think others are experiencing similar happenings with Blogger.  

I don't have a clue what is happening, but nothing on my computer is working perfectly lately.  I get strange screens that appear, asking me to enter a "guest code"; I'm having to restart the computer several times a day, and of course, my latest experience of someone using my email address.  

When I look at the Stats on the Blogger page and click on Audience, I see that I am being viewed by people in countries that I question are valid views of my blog.  I don't know of anyone in China, India, Russia, etc., who would be interested in my blog.  

When I get back to California I plan to take my laptop to the Apple store and have them look at it and make sure there is no malware on it, and I guess it's time I get a little more diligent about security.  It takes a lot of the fun out of using a computer, though, when you have to keep so many passwords and deal with tighter security.

Speaking of when I get back, I wonder if I can continue going without TV.  I can't figure out the controls on the TV here so I just don't bother watching it.  One month without TV and I haven't missed it a bit!  The flip side of that is I probably spend more time on the computer.  I need a dog!

A few answers

First, I'd like to thank everyone for their comments and suggestions.  Moonfly, I'm going to order the aluminum card carrier right away.

My son figured out what happened.  Someone in Georgia is using my email to sign up - the Higi account showed it was a 179# female, although I doubt that is the case.  Anyone who wants to can sign up for free, so why hijack another's email account to sign up for it.  The main thing is that my email account was hacked into and evidently the password was figured out.  I reset the password and am going to change to new passwords more frequently from now on.  The one I had been using for gmail was last changed in March of 2014.  

Now I'm concerned at what other mischief they got into.  I'm glad this happened because I would have gone a long time and maybe until something much more serious occurred.  It goes to show that passwords can be figured out more easily than I thought, and I hope we all can get something positive out of what happened to me.  Thanks again for all your support, comments, and suggestions.

And thanks to my wonderful son for following the leads in tracking this problem to the source.

More on the Weirdness!

I contacted the DMV about my license, and they responded that they do NOT put a chip in their licenses.  So it wasn't possible for the blood pressure machine to "read" my personal information from my license.

I have written to Great Call, the company that I'm with for the Jitterbug phone, to see if it is possible that personal info could be read from my phone.  I haven't yet heard back from them, but even considering it could be the culprit I sincerely doubt it is.  For one thing, it can't be used to access the internet as you can with a smart phone.  I don't even have texting on it, so I don't see how my phone could be the source of much personal information, my email address, etc.

I'm pretty much stymied as to what my next step, if any, should be.  I've written to the Hiji Corp to ask them how it's possible that a machine could track me when I didn't enter any personal information at all, but I doubt I'll hear back from them as they don't seem to be interested in responding.   If anyone knows about an organization that helps with problems such as this, please let me know.  In the meantime I could just chalk it up to aliens, the shadow government, bigfoot, or something I haven't even thought of yet.

Am I in the Twilight Zone?

I decided to write about a weird happening because a reader or two might have had the same thing occur.  

I don't know why I did it, but when I went into A&P for a couple of items, I passed the pharmacy on the way to checkout.  On a complete whim I decided to sit down at the blood pressure monitoring station and check my BP.  I put my arm through the cuff, sat still for a few seconds, and then hit the start button.  My results came up (118/78), I got up and left.  

By the time I reached home 10 minutes later, I had an email from a company called "Hiji"

higi Check-in Results Get pumped. You just received blood pressure/weight results from a higi Station. Click the button below and you'll be on your way

What a total shock to me.  I have never signed up for anything of this sort - I can track my BP and weight with a pencil and paper.  But the kicker is that I just sat down, an anomymous person at a BP machine, and hit the Start button.  At no time did I have to enter any personal info.  How in the world did this machine recognize me and know my email address???

I wrote to the company and told them I felt this was an invasion of privacy and a scam, and they responded that I must have signed up for it myself.

So sorry for any trouble. You received our email because you registered for a higi account either online at higi.com or at one of our retail higi Stations (higi.com/locator). higi Stations are kiosks in grocery stores and pharmacies where you can check your health vitals. To learn more about us visit our website at higi.com/about!

I wrote back and said if my name had been entered it was done by someone else as a joke because I never signed up for it.  Then I got to thinking, how in the world does that machine recognize me in the first place without my entering any personal information.  My d-i-l said maybe if my phone was on my person the machine could read it, but I don't have a smart phone of any kind.  Maybe I should write the Jitterbug phone people and ask them.

This is a total mystery to me and I welcome comments and suggestions.  Also, be aware that it could happen to you, and that no information about ourselves is really private or safe anymore.