Bogieblog

Busy Black Friday 2019

Started out early Friday morning scraping the old caulk out of the tub and surround. For some reason the plumber had used a clear caulk that yellowed badly. I was finally tired of looking at the dinginess and decided since I didn't have to make it to work for a couple more days, then I could sponge bath on a couple of them to complete this project. Didn't take a shower that morning so it was dry to start with. Scraped, and scraped, then doused with alcohol (rubbing - not drinking), scraped, doused, scraped. Then finally I got out my pet dryer, which is designed to blow water off a pet's coat instead of just use heat to dry. The drier does put out some warmth, so got some more gunk softened and taken off and rubbed down with alcohol again. After 2.5 hours, I had it as good as it was going to get. Used the dryer on it some more then set an oscillating fan to blow on it while I did other things.

Moved the snow blower out of the way and moved the bike in position for the dealer to pick it up that morning. Read while I was eating a mid morning snack of chocolate cream pie (my Thanksgiving hosts had sent a piece home with me) then hand washed some dedicates and hung them on the drying rack downstairs. Then I went outside and took down the windmill in the driveway garden before the snow Sunday since it is in line with the snow dump from the roof - plus I blow the snow in that direction. Instead of ensconcing the windmill in the metal shed as I did last year, I attached the base of it on the stump of the willow tree at the other side of the house.

I had just gotten inside when I thought I heard a car door. Looked out the window and sure enough the dealership van was in the driveway. Opened up the garage door and watched him get the bike in the van. The garage always seems so much bigger when the bike is out of it (today I moved the other snow blower in there, but it still has more room than when the bike is in there).

My Black Friday shopping consisted of going to Tractor Supply (<5 miles from me) and getting cat litter which was on sale for about $5 off a pail. Wandered around looking at stuff and got a pair of Carhartt gloves to go with the Carhartt jacket I was wearing. Stopped and got AA batteries to replace those in the electronic door locks (don't want those quitting on the pet sitter) and D batteries to rejuvenate the motion activated light in the stove room. Last stop was Aubuchon's to get caulk for the tub (10 year antimicrobial - in white).

After about 4.5 hours of futzing around (including installing the batteries I had obtained), I finally decided it was time to caulk. Proof that I did something.

It is supposed to take 24 hours to dry, but this morning it was still tacky (okay, so that was about 15 hours). I put the fan in the bathroom doorway, pointing out, to get warmer air to move in better and help it set up. I'll find out if it is good tomorrow morning when I take my shower before going to my HOG meeting.

And to end this post, here are cute pictures of Rainey in the trash can beside the desk. I heard rustling and couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Usually it means one of the cats is playing with computer cords, or a toy that is entangled in said cords. Finally Rainey popped her head up.

Computer set up

Cop Car had a post about her new computer and the mouse/keyboard that came with it. In the comments we had a short discussion about wireless versions for said peripheries (she likes wired versions). So, instead of trying to explain why I like wireless versions at home, I took it as an opportunity to create a post of my own.

Here is my home desktop set up. Note that there is only one cat on the desk at this time, Rita. Rainey is on the chair (out of picture) and Spot chose not to be in the room at the time the picture was taken.

Below the main desktop is a slide for the keyboard. I have had this desk since the late '90s, so I used corded for years. Even with a hole in the side for wires to get the computer bay, when the slide is out, the length of the keyboard cord can be on the tight side. Additionally, if the slide isn't out, the cord droops enough to get tangled up with my feet. Cats also find the dangling cords very inviting and there were many times that I found that either they, or my feet, had managed to dislodge the connection to the CPU.  I also tend to like my keyboard in the center of the slide, which doesn't leave much room for the mouse so I like my mouse on the desk top itself. I had to use extension cords for the mouse to reach the CPU.

When wireless versions of keyboards and mice became fairly mainstream and cheap, I tried out several sizes and configurations to find the ones I really liked. At the time Staples had a big section where you could try the fit before buying - I don't know if they still have something like that available. These wireless peripheries are so old, they don't run off a sensor plugged into a USB port. If you look closely, you can see a green light to the left of the monitor. Thant is the sensor corded into the regular mouse and keyboard jacks in the back of the CPU (yes, it has 2 cords to the computer). Those cords are long enough to allow for some movement of the sensor or CPU, but short enough not to attract kitty attention.

Now, here is my work computer set up, which as you can see is on top of what is supposed to be a printer stand (and was used for that purpose since I got it in 2003). In back I have placed a spare shelf over the gap between the stand and the wall to allow the base of the monitor to be jammed right up to the wall. As an aside, Spot regularly chooses to sleep on top of the computer case that is on top of the printer :)

There is little room to accommodate peripheries. I will admit, that when I first set up the station, when I started my present job in Jan 209, I had corded varieties of the mouse and keyboard (using spares from old computers - because I don't throw anything away :O ). Without much room, I use the mouse on my desk , so the cord stretching over there was a PITA - and the keyboard was larger than that shown and the edge hung over the front of the stand. When I got my new home computer this past summer, I deliberately chose one with cordless peripheries. I did not like either the mouse (too large for my hand) or the keyboard (too small) so I re-used my existing input devices for my home desktop set up. However, the keyboard is perfectly sized to sit in front of the work laptop and the mouse is adequate for occasional use, so I was happy to use them for that purpose. And, when the work computer is not in use, the keyboard is moved to sit on top of the laptop and my coffee can sit there where it is not in danger of being knocked over by me or the kitties.

Cop Car had mentioned she didn't like the hassle of replacing batteries and then recycling them. I find that batteries last about a year for my home desktop. I would expect them to last longer for the work set up (my personal laptop, which is rarely used, has a mouse that I can't remember the last time I changed the battery). As far as battery disposal, our transfer station has a recycle area. The battery table is right in front, which I have to pass while taking my other recyclables further into the building, so it's no hassle for me. Even if it were, I could just take them into work where there is a container right in the break room for recycle collection.

However, I'm not an all-wireless gal. My work station set up at my place of employment has a wired mouse and keyboard plugged into the docking station which I am perfectly happy with. I could get wireless versions, but see no need. So I'm not ragging on what anyone chooses to use, just explaining what works for me in my circumstances.

Thanksgiving 2019

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. Please take a moment to think about all the blessings in your life and then eat your favorite seasonal foods until you are nigh unto bursting :)

Saturday 11/23/19 Doings

Yesterday morning  I looked out the kitchen window and had to go out onto the ramp and take a picture of this contrail. The sunrise lit it up nicely. Unfortunately, I am not a great picture taker, or picture manipulator, so the colors are washed out since the phone was compensating for the low light.

Later I got both snow blowers started because4 they hadn't been run for a month, did some running around in town, then moved some pellets into the basement from the garage.

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Another Loss

Our Chapter Director, Michelle, who is also a personal friend lost her granddaughter today. Her daughter wasn't home, and found that she had lost both her baby and her husband. The daughter lives in the apartments catty-corner from my house.

New Story

My heart breaks for both Michelle and her daughter.

 

Final Goodbye

Friday evening I went to Eileen's Calling Hours. Although the calling hours were spread over 4 hours, there were at least 100 people when I got there (about 1 hour into the event). As I was walking from where I had to park the truck, I saw loads more leaving. She obviously touched a lot of lives. I learned that she was very involved in the community thru different societies (Daughters of the American Revolution as well as groups supporting women, children and homeless families as a couple examples). She obviously touched a lot of lives. I know her partner, Jim (who works at the dealership) so I exchanged a hug and some words with him.

Yesterday, after dropping off the truck to have the tires changed over to winters, I caught a ride homr from one of the dealr's salesmen, and waited for HOG/LOH member, Darlene, who had recently moved to Hillsboro, to arrive at my place. We took my car to meet the HOG Chapter at the dealership to convoy to the Catholic services. Many Chapter members rode their bikes, but I am too much of a wimp to ride in temps of the mid 20's.

The Mass was lovely and had some moving tributes to Eileen. Then it was the procession, led by the motorcycles, to the cemetery.

After that it was to the Harley dealership for a Celebration of Life. Unfortunately I did not get to stay very long as where my truck was being serviced closed at 3, so I collected Darlene and we headed back to Hillsboro. We dropped off my car, picked up her car, and she delivered me to the Ford dealership to pick up the truck.

I got home and realized I needed to get to the dump (which I normally do Saturday mornings), so I gathered everything up real quick and managed to get there before they closed. When I got home I raked up the leaves from under the ramp to the back door, but decided to leave them piled up - that will be a project for today.

Old Phone Woes

When I made my travel arrangements back to Kansas to see family later this year, the service sent me a website so I could download details onto my phone. I always like to be prepared and have several copies of the itinerary and boarding passes on me, so that was something I went for. Unfortunately the website balked because my phone, a Samsung Galaxy S5, is too old (probably the OS was too old and I was to the latest that my phone could handle).

I bought the S5 as a refurb from eb*y several years ago and it has been a good phone for me. On the other hand, I have lusted after the enhanced camera capabilities of the new phones, so started looking around at what I could get without paying an arm and a leg. I started looking at refurb S10's, the latest version, but even the refurbs were higher than the price I was wiling to pay. I started looking at S9's (so last years model :) ), but even those refurbs were beyond my price-point to value ratio.

I started looking again on eb*ay last weekend, to see if refub prices had dropped, when I stumbled upon a seller that had NEW S9 Plus** phones for less than the refurbs were going for. He even had some that were for my carrier (US Cellular), and I had my choice of purple, blue, and black. After some hemming and hawing, I ordered a blue one and it was guaranteed to be here by Friday.

It came in Thursday's mail and Friday afternoon I went to one of my carrier's store and had them swap the account over to the new phone. After a call into the service center that night from a minor snafu, all was good and I have the First Wrold Problem of adjusting on differences between my old phone and new phone.

Stock photo from the seller I got the phone from

** I hear the world asking what the difference between the S9 and S9+ is. The S9+ has a larger screen at 6.2" (versus 5.8"), the battery is more powerful at 3,500mAh (versus 3,000), it has 6GB of RAM (versus 4GB). And, best of all the S9+ has the duel lens camera versus a single lens. In the words of Samsung's website, "This special camera offers dual optical image stabilization and 2X optical zoom."

Sad News Received Today

The owner of my favorite Harley-Davidson dealer died today. I have no details at all, except for the sad news. May learn more at the HOG meeting coming up this Sunday, or maybe not. Will find out funeral arrangements later.

Rest in peace Eileen.