Photos in today’s post are from the post here.
Yesterday was one of those days that reminded me exactly why I respect those with more technical knowledge than I. Over a week ago, with good intentions, I was determined to finally tackle the long-overdue plug-in updates on our site. I’d put this task off for months, fully aware it was going to be time-consuming and nerve-wracking, especially since anything involving “updates” always feels like tempting fate. Still, armed with coffee and resolve, I forged ahead.
Instead of my usual cautious approach, updating one plug-in at a time, checking the site, taking a breath, and then moving on, I followed the advice of a Hostinger representative and tried their automatic updates app. It sounded efficient. Logical. Almost… hopeful. I watched as the updates completed and then, heart pounding just a little, I refreshed the site.
That’s when I freaked out.
Staring back at me was a horrible ad featuring two cartoon-like men with exaggerated pot bellies, enthusiastically promoting some mystery product I would never, under any circumstances, be willing to post on our site. It looked awful. Worse, it looked like something I had chosen to put there. My stomach dropped. I felt embarrassed, panicked, and instantly overwhelmed, all at once.
I immediately contacted Hostinger, which began what felt like hours of back-and-forth as they tried to guide me through bits of “code.” This is where we crossed firmly into territory I neither understand, enjoy, nor have any interest in learning. I can cook a meal from scratch, navigate foreign countries, and manage complex travel logistics, but code? No. That is not my lane. Every line I looked at felt like a foreign language written upside down.
Despite everyone’s best efforts, both mine and Hostinger’s, the ads wouldn’t budge. That’s when they suggested a company they approve of, one staffed with experienced WordPress technicians who could step in for a reasonable hourly fee. At that point, I didn’t hesitate. Pride has its limits, and mine had been reached. Due to time zone differences, the technician I contacted will begin making the necessary changes within the next 24 hours, starting this afternoon. My fingers are firmly crossed that he can finally resolve the issue.
In the meantime, if you happen to visit our site and see these goofy, ever-changing ads, please know they are not there by choice and certainly not by design. They change every few minutes, which somehow makes them even more maddening. We will continue to have ads on the site to help offset maintenance costs, but hopefully they’ll be far less intrusive and, most importantly, not these awful YouTube-style ads that look like personal endorsements. I did not post them. Truly.
Interestingly, if you’re reading our posts on your phone, you most likely won’t see these ads at all. Small mercies.
By the end of this month, all of these updates should be completed, and you’ll no longer see posts from me about this particular ordeal. I promise. I knew going into this that updating the site would be a difficult, time-consuming process, which is exactly why I avoided it for so long, especially while we were on that 47-night cruise that ended on December 13. That was not the time to invite digital chaos into our lives.
I deliberately waited until after the beginning of 2026, thinking it would be calmer. And here we are, muddling through it now, at least during a period when I had more time.
At this point, my days consist of little more than preparing meals, doing basic housekeeping, and handling our usual financial tasks. Everything else has been pushed aside while I wrestle with this digital beast. And yet, even in the middle of all this, I can’t quite believe we managed to book what we did for the itinerary we recently posted here. Somehow, despite the chaos, that part came together beautifully as Tom and I worked on it together. However, this update scenario is something only I can handle.
Thank you, sincerely, for your patience, your understanding, and for sticking with us while I navigate this not-so-glamorous side of maintaining our little corner of the internet. We’re thrilled to see so many of our subscribers are receiving the daily posts once again. We respect your privacy and would never sell or share your email information. The only messages you receive from us are our daily posts, sent directly to your inbox—nothing more.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, January 15, 2016:
