Jerry CGI+

Engine Control Module, aka brain.

I am beginning to suspect the ECM on the truck. Electronics, 32 years old, what could go wrong? Actually, it’s the symptoms that it displayed before it stopped starting, that point me in that direction. Kind of a slow decay. I was thinking of a tune-up. It makes a lot of sense. However, sense is not always correct. (Yasiin Bey’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy quote, “His hunches are good.”)

Not sure if I’m ready this morning to pull the fender guard loose to extract the ECM. But logic tells me, not yet. It’s an expensive suspicion. Do the rest of the diagnostics first. May take an extra day or two, or four, but I can borrow transportation.

No mad money expenditures at this point. The items are still on the list, they just lost a little priority. There is still plenty of October left.

I’m in no big hurry this morning. I’m still tail dragging a bit. Let my body dictate the pace. I need to prep the thaw this morning, fold laundry, get trash out… There are chores beckoning.

I am finally starting to feel human again, without the aid of ibuprofen. But I’m still a stationary human. I’ve been sleeping a lot, which is healing the soreness. I can say that I didn’t overdo it, but I did do it. And now I’m paying for doing it, albeit not as intensely as I was. If I sit still, I can forget that I pushed myself to my physical limit. But stretching or moving belies that impression.

I still don’t feel like tackling the truck today. I know that it’s not going to fix itself. I definitely want the wheels to spin, but at my age, I need to obey my body first. And if that means delays, I’ll need to bum a ride to buy a few items. But that won’t be today. I’m still stocked and self-sufficient.

And I still don’t know what to thaw. Part of that is not wanting to tackle cooking. Quick fix and snacks are sustaining me, but not fully satisfying me. Like before, I can not conceive of the taste of anything. The memory chain has been interrupted. I know what the entrees taste like, but the physical memory is missing. I look at the freezers and I see food. I don’t taste shrimp gumbo, chicken penne alfredo, sausage pattie/egg/cheddar sandwich in my mouth. All I taste is my mouth. And it’s hard to decide without it, because the taste connects to the body’s nutritional needs, a resonance. The food tastes good when I put it in my mouth, but there is no anticipation. My body has been kicked out of the mode.

So the plan for today is to get myself back in gear so I can get my truck back in gear. I will be researching. Myka has been fed. The ice bin needs filling when the sun rises. A couple more days before I revert to homemade ice cubes. Laundry is the only chore for today, a small load. Maybe cook something…

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I made one more verification, the fuel pump powers up energetically for 2.5 seconds when the key is turned on. I will not have to pull the (full) fuel tank. (Whew!) I also added a can of relabeled Sea Foam to the gas tank. The next thing to do is to pressure up the fuel line with loosen clamps where it connects to the injectors. Since it’s high pressure, it will be tricky.

Myka rediscovered her fluffy throw on the rearranged long table and is spending serious time on it. Like a fond reunion…

I’m still aching. Not as intensely, and now lower focused, in my thighs. But I’m off the ibuprofen, so it may be considerably less achey, but I’m just noticing it now. Shoulders are easing, but still complaining. I will survive. It improves with sleep, and I’m still sawing logs on the heavy side.

I had a brief pain in my throat, nodes swollen. But it faded pretty quickly, a flash in the pan. So I’m not worried. As stressed as my body is, I’m not surprised that it’s acting up. As long as it doesn’t hang around or cause a fever, I’ll tolerate it.

I still haven’t thawed anything. I keep waffling on what entrees to make. I’m more concerned that I’m down to one bag of ice, and it’s no longer full. Will I have to break out the ice trays? If the ice bags are no longer eating up top loader space, I can make lots of room in the kitchen freezer for ice production. Move all the seafood over, plus the stew and strawberry puree, long term storage items. Bag it and move the lot, set up ice cube production.

I plan on checking a spark plug this morning. It is the first key diagnostic, now that it refuses to start. And I will be reading the repair manual, both trouble shooting and replacement sections. It would be nice if I had a diagnostic computer on hand. My focus will be on the truck now.

I keep fantasizing that the truck will start this morning. Not that I expect it, but the encouragement helps. Hope springs eternal in the human breast. Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man: Epistle I, 1733. This morning marks the eight day where it first refused to crank. It’s been four days without a start, but two of those were involved with cleaning, fiber optic, and sleeping it off. Hopefully it won’t take much longer. I don’t want to be stranded. At least I’m not spending money, yet.

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I ran the starter for about 20 seconds and pulled a plug – DRY. So the electrical is likely good. So, 1) fuel pump, not likely from past symptoms. Worst possibility. 2) fuel filter – a definite possibility, a clog that is pressure/flow sensitive. 3) injectors – I hope not, and I doubt it from symptoms. Most expensive possibility. 4) idle sensor – possible, but that is more air flow. 5) EMC – possible, but again, not likely from the symptoms. I need to read the repair manual. Battery is on the charger. I won’t likely be back under the hood today. It will be warm before I have a plan.

I feel a little better, as the fuel is messier, but easier to test. Loosen connectors and see if it leaks, for the most part. It might just need some fuel cleaner (Sea Foam). Or a fuel filter, even cheaper. At least I know where to start delving.

Okay, time to think about what to thaw. Get myself ready for action tomorrow morning.

I am now fully on fiber optics in the connection, all the way to the new modem. 100Mbps up and down. The download is the same, upload is five times faster. So I guess it was worth it. I don’t upload that much. Not complaining.

Myka is still a bit leery of the changes, especially the piled chaos in the front room. She was freaked yesterday during the installation and hid in the bathtub until I bribed her out. She’ll find the courage to investigate, eventually. I’ll get the ambition to tackle the chaos, eventually. Yesterday was a serious effort to extract chaos from and clean the office. This morning was an ibuprofen and sleep in morning.

That means two days away from my efforts at diagnosing the truck. That’s not what I wanted there. Net result was quite good for resuming the cleaning project, the timing was terrible. I am sore, pretty much all over, but especially in the shoulders. But I survived.

I still have no idea what to thaw. I’m not ready to fire up the oven for a rib eye, the dew point has risen again to near 70°F, which means evenings and mornings are not quite cool enough for oven use. It’s not from a lack of options that I can’t choose, it’s that I’m in muscle mode (albeit sore muscle mode). I am having a hard time getting through to my appetite, my ability to judge what the body wants to digest. I can tell it’s hungry and there is food to feed it, but the sensors are numb in making the connection.

I’m not going to be much good today. Myka is tended. I’m off the clock.

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I woke at 4 pm. I’m definitely better off with having the sleep. I pushed it yesterday, and now I’m paying for it. Now I need to eat something. I think I’ll be opening the brats for starters. Or perhaps a fish sandwich. It’s a little too warm to set fire to anything.

AT&T will send out an installer this afternoon to switch from copper wire to fiber optic, perhaps all the way to the modem. It’s possible that there will be a new modem. I’m a little shy on exactly what is to be done. It could be a simple to the exterior and then a restart of the modem to the new system, or it could be a total remake. I’ll know this afternoon when it happens.

It is an incentive to tame some of the chaos in the office. If nothing else, exporting it to the front room temporarily as a staging area. Personally, I’d rather be focusing on the truck. But… I’m waiting for sunrise to get started, so that I have ample light to see what I’m doing. Hopefully, I’ll find the stamina to get it done. Some of it will be simple enough, straightforward, pick it up and move it. Other things will be more involved, packing and boxing stuff, cleaning the dust in piles.

The spaghetti is gone, and there is nothing to replace it, at least yet. I have plenty in the fridge to open to tide me over for this frenzy. Boudin, brats, tamales, etc. An entree will take back seat until tomorrow at earliest.

Fortunately, there aren’t many chores for today. Dishes from the spaghetti finale is the biggest.

Not the air filter or the fuel feed. I pulled the air filter and did a direct feed of the starting fluid into the intake tubes, nada. So, it’s either the injectors (which I doubt because of the starting fluid not firing), the spark, or the brain (EMC). It’s warming up, and I need to consult the manual and research online. And the battery is getting another charge. This one won’t take as long as the last one. I don’t see the problem costing more than $200 in parts, if I can fix it. And I have funds. Hopefully I can borrow a timing light.

Anyhoo, I’m not hurting for supplies. I’m well stocked all around. I hear the stores are running short of toilet paper because of the longshoreman strike. Local stores online showing a 75% depletion. Bozos don’t realize that the vast majority of our supply is native made. They never heard of the Koch brothers. I have a dozen 4X rolls on hand. I am not panicking.

One more serving of spaghetti. I need to think about the next entrees. I think cheese risotto is on the list, to use up the milk. I’m thinking shrimp something, maybe gumbo.

I’m getting a fiber optic upgrade on the internet service (hub to house) tomorrow afternoon (2 – 4 pm). I don’t feel like I need it, but AT&T insists. At least it’s in the afternoon. I won’t be dealing with the truck.

The truck refused to start again this morning. The local auto parts store has fuel filters for it, so once it starts rolling, that is where I start. Under $15 for a Duralast. I’m going to check the air filter ($20) as well before heading over. I may get both, if the air filter looks dirty. The air filter will be easy to test, once the housing is open. Also, I’ll add some gas additive (Sea Foam). I’ll get it figured out.

So another early morning store run quashed by circumstances beyond my immediate control. Oh well, nothing on the list that is needed today, besides truck parts, maybe. It would be nice to get the shopping behind me, but it will wait. I have the patience and the rest of the month.

Myka is really gravitating toward the LZB lately. Part of it is cool weather makes the chair bearable. Part is the open office door assuring unassisted exit. Part of it is love of cush. And she is aggressive in defending it, part of the game.

Low temp was mid-60s, dew point is 60°F. Mildly hazy, but clear skies, it will burn off.

Chores are done, nothing demanding attention at this point in time. So until I feel like messing with the truck, my time is my own.

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It was a day of gathering steam. I looked under the hood, re-establishing the visual details of the work required, but no tools were extracted or employed, not even the new Swiss Army Knife. I know where to start. The first thing is to inspect analytically, add/adjust, and then start the motor, as I need to drive for parts, if needed.

I slept a lot today. I needed it to shrug off the delay and disappointment, which are trivial. The IR thermometer would have been the only active toy. The rest are tools that are used as needed, not every day items. They’ll wait. I got myself settled and rested today. Fortunately, I am well stocked, I can handle a few stationary days.

Spaghetti will be after dark, which it already is. Getting more dark as the days progress. It is autumn.

The monthly deposit didn’t reach my account until after 7 am, which wrecked my schedule. So no store run, no pressure washer, et al. But that’s okay, the need was not pressing. I’ll make the run tomorrow morning, if I’m up for it.

I got the last of the Popeye’s eaten, with bones in the trash, before the trash went to the curb. Myka enjoyed it with me. I’ll miss it, but it’s just gotten too expensive. I’d rather eat shrimp at that price, or rib eye. Three servings of spaghetti down, three to go. Another of Myka’s favorites. Had flautas for breakfast. They’ve been sitting in the freezer long enough.

It was a rather slow day, considering that it was trash day. Things happened later than usual. There was a lot of procrastination, mostly to get the schedule shifted accordingly. But alas, I am still ahead of the game. No cause for complaint.

Window is open at night, dew point in the 50s.

I put on water to boil for the first pasta, and then found the spaghetti was infested with tiny pasta eating beetles. Ugh. So I had to make a store run to get two bags of spaghetti and a jar of sauce (for this batch and the next). At least the truck gave me no trouble. But that is the third case of spoiled food in a week’s time, spuds, sourdough, and spaghetti. It happens at times, though I try my very best to avoid it. Of note, it happens in the cabinets more often than in the fridge, and more often in warm weather. I should go through the cabinets and do a cleansing for fall and winter, checking for expiration dates, now that cooking will pick up again.

But alas, I had the long awaited first serving of spaghetti last night, with lots of shredded parmesan. It was throughly enjoyed. The next anticipation is a 28 oz rib eye (six of them in the freezer), with the oven coming back into service with cooler weather. The alternatives for spaghetti so far are quick fix, fish fillet sandwiches, chicken fajita, pizza, Popeye’s, etc. I can get by on that.

I have to say that I am happy with the dew point being in the 50s and 60s. I was getting a little tired of it in the upper 70s, AC running full time, life in a closet. Myka likes the open door policy too. She hangs with me more often, knowing that she can come and go unassisted.

I added a small tool box for my wrenches to the shopping list. The old tool box needs space, so the tray gets transplanted. Separate metric and English drawers. Logical move, design shift. Tomorrow.

Last day of the month. Not the smoothest, not the roughest. Another one on the belt.

The truck refused to start yesterday, to go get a bag of ice. It may have been flooded, as it tried to start at first. Starter fluid didn’t help. I had to put the charger on the battery, and it was still charging after 9 hours. After another 6 hours, it was fully charged. I’ll do further diagnostics and attempt to start it after sunrise, when the neighbors are awake.

It got down to 60°F at the airport this morning, 65°F at the neighborhood station. I had the office window open, but shut it. The office door remains open. Ambient is 75°F. Denim shirt suffices. Afternoons are still in the 90s, but that won’t last forever (a couple more weeks).

I have added a couple of items to the mad money list, an IR thermometer (laser focusing), and a pair of Klein needle nose pliers, like the ones I’ve had since the 80s that lost their plastic handle sleeves. The Cobalts are nice, but not the same. Pay day is 45 hours away. I am holding tight on waiting for a full recovery from the truck insurance slump.

I had a kolache for breakfast. I finished the eggs ackley yesterday, second morning of a plateful, as tacos weren’t using it quickly enough. The gravy is also gone, as of Friday. I had chicken fajitas for dinner yesterday. The spaghetti sauce was made last night, but no pasta yet. I mopped up the dregs from the pan with a couple of pieces of bread.

I broke up a couple of bottom bricks of ice for Myka, Insuring ample room in the freezer for a new bag of ice. A tight fit in the kitchen freezer, but it all works. Now if I can get the truck started to go get a new bag.

I have been on the sluggish side the last couple of days. A lot of being planted in the office chair or the LZB (when Myka isn’t hogging it). I just haven’t had much energy, part of it getting old, part of it meds, part something else just not clicking. I haven’t started on office rearrangement yet. I seem to forever be putting that off. But I will get to it, a bit at a time.

Myka woke up and is scootchin’ about the house. The cool weather has revved her engine.

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Well, the sun came up, I tried again, no go. One shot of starting fluid, vroooom. So the problem was a lack of fuel to the injectors. Could be the pump, could be the fuel filter, could be several other things with decreasing probability. I went and got a bag of ice. Truck started in the parking lot as usual.

This isn’t the first time it’s done this. So it is something that will need attention. I’ll peruse the repair manual and put on my truck repair thinking cap. In the meantime, I’m not going to worry it too much, other than to get a new can of starter fluid. I think I have a full can in the bed of the truck, but one more won’t hurt. At least it’s not the electrical.

The temp this morning is in the mid 60s at the airport, upper 60s in town. The office is open, door and window, the AC off. Myka was thrilled. It will get closed up around noon, but it will be opened again as the sun sets. A mild north breeze is drying things out. Dew point is in the lower 60s and will be in the 50s in a few hours.

There was a thunderstorm that hit town on Tuesday, dropping 1.6″ of rain. The lightning was intense. Myka came in the office to shelter with me, but as it neared, she got a little antsy. So I let her out just as the six bolts in succession hit close to the house. She didn’t take much coaxing to go back in the office and climb into her safe niche.

I made a weekend store run this morning. Canned cat food, ibuprofen, bread, minis, chips, tamales, boudin. Not big by weekend standards. But spaghetti will be on the menu. I’ll be thawing a block of ground chuck this morning.

The sausage gravy has one more serving. Eggs ackley has plenty to go, and I’ll need to do a plate before long, as it won’t last too many more days. I have definitely enjoyed the breakfast tacos.

I think I will be starting in on the office, resuming the rearranging. I don’t plan an all out assault, but bit by bit, I will get it done. I was inspired by a search of the medicine storage, looking for ibuprofen that I thought as there but couldn’t find. It needs to be divided into meds and first aid.

Five days until payday. I’m holding off on mad money advances as much as possible. I’m down $135 on the base, which isn’t bad. Most of that was groceries, gas, and the firewall upgrade. Not bad for an insurance month.

It’s mostly a slow week. There is sporadic activity, but not heavy. Enough to keep the house in order, or what passes for it. Not much above and beyond, but it has been on the warm and muggy side. I expect it to pick up a bit. Not by magnitudes, I am an old fart, after all. But a bit.

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The AC has stayed off this afternoon. It’s about 85°F, but the dew point is 54°F, which makes it much easier to tolerate (than the 78°F dew points). I zonked out for four hours, and I woke to the day’s high temp, and saw no need to close up the office. A fan is sufficient when it feels warm.

The ground chuck has thawed and is in the fridge, waiting for the gravy to disappear, so that there will be room in the fridge for the tub that holds the sauce. It is hours away.

I haven’t gotten started on the office yet. But I’m not in a big hurry. It will get done as it cools. I got dat mojo workin’.

It’s Monday rush hour, and I still haven’t touched the gravy I made Saturday night. I managed a bit of a Sunday indulgence, eggs ackley, finished the packs of boudin and tamales, and sourdough. Everything but the gravy. I tend to blame sleeping instead of eating, but the menu ambition was known to be a little on the excess. Also dealing with hot spuds has its windows in the cool part of the day. And I don’t want to start with bread. Today, I’ve had a breakfast taco. I’ve snacked lightly, but very lightly. I won’t mention the neglected chocolate creme pie.

In regard to the taco, I made a store run for tortillas last night, also getting eggs, which had been wiped out in the eggs ackley. The old tortillas were sticking, and the first breakfast taco was a shorty. This morning’s was a regular. I’m waiting for the temp to drop to go get another bag of ice. I emptied the ice bin’s bottom frost into Myka’s bag and filled the bin fresh. The bag bottom brick was thin enough to compensate for the ice taken from the full bag. I will need to see that Myka gets lots of ice water in the next couple of days.

I haven’t purchased the pressure washer yet. I have been reading manuals, reviews, specs, etc. I have the schedule about buying extras pretty well planned out. I’m not planning on washing the truck tomorrow, no big hurry. In a way, I want to wait for October, after payday, do mad money properly. It’s not a problem getting ahead of the cycle, but it’s better to stay in it for the sake of structure. Keep the game steady, end on an even keel, avoid the end of the month doldrums. On the other hand, it’s not getting any warmer.

As usual, Monday is an extension of Sunday. It takes me until evening to get into the swing. Making the clock run. Not complaining, staying distracted.

I’ve been sleeping a lot, finishing up the cleansing that my body has been doing. I slept hard last night, after scarfing down a link of boudin. Hence my cooking fell short of my plans last night. I managed a pan of eggs ackley this morning, the more labor intensive (but not as messy) of the two entrees I had planned. Sausage gravy is the other, to eat up the spuds (and some bread), which gets made tonight. The kitchen is ready for the effort, dishes washed, all chores done.

I didn’t do much of anything yesterday. Thursday after the store run and yesterday were lumpin’ days, catching up on sleep, not doing much of anything. Myka nipped me from behind, just above the right elbow on Thursday, about sundown. She was catus non grata for 24 hours, and I stayed in the office most of the time to avoid her. She didn’t draw blood that flowed, just a small dot, so no cage time. I’m not sure what it was that prompted her actions, so I let it slide, no extra punishment beyond not existing for a day. She was most pleased to back in the graces again yesterday. She got treats, wet food, ice water, and pork tenderloin nibbles when I diced the thaw for eggs ackley.

I haven’t been very hungry the last couple of days. I didn’t get the sourdough sliced until this morning, when I had a couple of slabs with butter and honey. I still have a link of boudin and a serving of tamales left, which should vanish this evening. I’m still not ravished, though I am a bit more hungry than I was. It will pick up when the gravy is made.

I have decided to throw some mad money at a portable pressure washer. I can pick up one for $100, and it’s portable enough to carry in the truck, along with the tire pump and battery charger. Water hose and 110V extension cord to run. So one of my extravagances for the month. It will save me quarters for the car wash, no hurry to get the job done, I can take breaks, I can touch it up after it dries. And I have all the items for washing, squeegee, mops, soaps, finishing fluids, wax, ladder, etc. So it will be a good purchase, even if I’m getting it in the fall instead of spring.

I am enjoying the knife block, having my proper choice of blades for whatever deed calls for one. Slicing is such an ease, precise and smooth, with a blade or two designed for the job. Example, a paring knife to core a bell pepper before dicing it with a Santoku. All right at the cutting board. I am quite pleased with the collection.

Temps are on a slow decrease, and if the forecast is to be believed, no 90s after this coming week, though there might be some in the following week. But more important, down into the 60s starting Wednesday night. Winds will be from the north, and there will be almost no chance of rain in the foreseeable future. Not cold, but not hot either, and not wet. Tomorrow morning is equinox, 7:43 am.

I made the weekend stock, double store run this morning. I was thinking of putting it off until this evening or tomorrow morning, but I decided to go ahead and get ready and out the door. I am feeling better than I was yesterday, after sleeping most of the night. It was a foggy morning, but not too bad.

I got cheddar, my main item, along with bread, minis, and milk, which were on the list. In the store, I decided on another loaf of sourdough after looking over the options in the bakery, plus a tube of pan sausage for sausage gravy. This changed the milk usage, though it was still targeted at the spuds. I will probably make cheese risotto as well, with some of the remaining milk. So I’m covered for the weekend. Tamales, boudin, sausage gravy (spuds, bread), sourdough (butter, honey). I may make a batch of eggs ackley, as I have everything I need, and it will use the pork tenderloin that I thawed. That is pretty much covering the weekend (through Monday).

Chores are mostly done. Ice, dishes, Myka, groceries, all tended. There is a small batch of laundry to do, at my discretion. A little bit of shuffling in the kitchen. Trash bins after recycling is picked up. Light duty, so I’m pretty much done for the day, unless I cook. Time will tell if I get any ambition.

It was foggy this morning, and on the way home from the stores, I passed an accident. Being foggy, all I could tell at first was the bubblegum machine on the police car. As I neared, I could make out that it was pulled in the parking lot behind another car, its lights being out. It was still pretty hard to make out details, because the flashing lights lit more fog than anything else. It wasn’t until I got too close to stop that I saw debris in the street. All I could do was swerve away from the biggest of it. I’ll check to see if I got a slow leak in the tires. The tires have plenty of tread, so I rather doubt it. But I have road hazard coverage on the warranty if there is a leak. I don’t have plans for going anywhere for a couple of days (until I need ice), so not a major problem.

The fog has burned off. It’s hazy, but sunny now. Dew point is upper 70s, only a few degrees under temp at the moment. But it’s warming up, so it’s drying out a bit. This weekend should be the last of the mid 90s for the season. Nights will be seeing 60s, highs will be low 90s/high 80s, starting next week. The slow drop begins for good. It will be sketti weather soon.

Yesterday was an off day. Headache was the main issue, and it seemed worst after taking the evening meds. So I have a feeling that it was relating to the meds and my metabolism. Ibuprofen handled the worst of it, but I didn’t have much ambition. My head and eyes were puffy, I had phosphene spells, I wanted to sleep most of the time. I was able to do what was needed, but I had no urge to do more. Sleep last night helped. A little residual today, but not much, not enough to get in the way without ibuprofen.

Well, I now have five active Apple hardware products, and none share a common OS. MacOS 15.0, MacOS 10.11.6, iOS 18.0, iPadOS 18.0, iPadOS 17.7

Today was upgrade day, and jPad left jPad1 behind as a system twin. So now they’re all unique. And another item in my sizable hardware family tree turns obsolete (unsupported). At least I still have the trio, laptop, tablet, and phone, that are supported. And I don’t mind unsupported that is still useful. Low maintenance.

Today is trash and recycling day. Not a whole lot else happening. No cooking, no dishes. Been sleeping pretty hard the last few days. I don’t mind it, it’s cleansing.

Myka got fed this morning. There was a gap in her wet food, partly because of my sleep cycle. And she got salad, and that doesn’t mix with canned well. So she was thrilled to get it. She has been less than interested in her kibbles lately, so she was demonstrably hungry.

Nothing in the circular that caught my eye, so no hurry for a store run. Nothing on the shopping list for the next few days. Probably a Thursday run, for the weekend.

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One thing I didn’t need, a forced upgrade for Little Snitch, even with a 33% prior license discount. A chunk of mad money… *sigh* One thing that I am noticing in the new OS is the new AI auto word completion in a grayed out text, activate with a return. It doesn’t work for every word, but it shows up often enough.

The beans and rice are gone. So it’s pulled pork and tamales as entrees, with plenty of quick fix alternatives. Trash is on the curb, so chicken is limited for the rest of the week to the boneless. A few forks with the beans and rice tub, soaking in the sink. I’ll need to get a fresh bag of ice after I refill the ice bin, as the sun sets. All in all, a light chore day. I need to think about a new filler entree between now and sketti. Something with spuds would be useful.

Not much ambition today. I already spent my hard time on digital systems and waste management.

Had a Popeye’s spicy breast for a late lunch, two to go before it’s an extinct item in the freezer. They’ve priced themselves out of the menu. I haven’t had much of an appetite today. I ate well yesterday, and I’m not that hungry yet. And I’ve slept pretty well today. And it’s another warm day in Texas. Same ol’ same ol’.

I’ve gotten into a pattern of Monday being Sunday 2.0. The stores are open, people are working, but it hasn’t caught up to full cycle until the evening, then it’s back in the week. And I don’t usually need things on Monday, I’m more curious about next week’s loss leaders. With the freezers full, it’s not an issue, reinforcing the Sunday atmosphere. (The Greek word atmós means vapor, smoke. So the division would be atmós-phere, phonetically; atmós-fear, a phobia of vapors.)

Sunday 2.0. Closest thing to lumpin’ thus far this week. Myka isn’t appreciating it. But I managed ice water and fresh kibbles. I should get her some salad.

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The cajun black beans and rice w/ham was made this morning at dawn. Then I took a long nap while it cooled enough to go in the fridge. Then there was a bowl heated in late afternoon, quite tasty. That leaves a pulled pork sandwich this evening.

I need to wash dishes when it cools down, but no hurry. Everything has been rinsed. It’s 96°F outside, likely the peak temp of the day. Pretty much a typical summer Sunday, nothing much happening. Watching the usual Sunday dump Ytube channels. The usual, same ol’ same ol’…

I got storage paid today, as usual. I like texting more than voice mail for several reasons. There are cues as to when it’s received and read. It doesn’t cost anything, going through Apple.

I still have mad money to spend, under $100, but not by much. And I don’t need a whole lot, the kitchen is quite well stocked. Gas tank on the truck is full. I’ll probably dip into the base by the end of the month, but not by much, October will be the typical search for something new to buy (knock on keyboard).

Forecast is a carbon copy of today, all week long. So no sketti. I am not worried, I have ample quick fix. I’m a native, I can take another week. So can Myka. This is pretty much what I expect from September.

Another bag of shrimp bites the bottom of the trash can. Myka and I chowed down. I finished mine, but Myka was handicapped, from eating her wet food about two hours prior. She will finish it, if it doesn’t dry up first.

If I get hungry, there is pulled pork and lots of quick fix in the fridge and freezer. Tonight, I’ll make a batch of cajun black beans and rice w/ham. That will probably be the last entree until spaghetti, when the weather cools back down.

Chores were done early. There weren’t many, the usual suspects. Hanging out, snoozing, taking it easy. Not complaining.

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The flea collar came off Myka. She is happy about that. She got a full brushing and loved it.

I’m waiting for the temp to drop on the back porch. I emptied the frosty bottom of the ice bin into Myka’s near empty ice bag. She likes the fine flake in her water. I need to bust up a few bag bottom bricks soon, they’re stacking up in the freezer, a challenge when both bags are full. If worse comes to worst, I can always break them up and let them melt in the sink or tub. There’s 15¢ worth of ice in each, at most.

Vacuumed the office this afternoon, it needed it. It didn’t take long. Got the battery on charge. I may do a bit more of the house in the morning, a couple of small areas.

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For Myka, it meant a bout with the flea collar. But then there is shrimp and fresh treats to compensate.

For me, there is shrimp to compensate. I’m holding off on the sketti until it cools a bit. Forecast says a week of summer temps to go. I may thaw some pulled pork or brisket, go with sandwiches. And there are still spuds to do in, all on the small side. Boudin is another bread option. Mexican rice and refried black bean tacos a pollo. Something cajun… There are options under consideration, none nailed down yet.

Only outing today is for a bag of ice, maybe get gas while I’m out.

It’s the weekend, for me, at least. I realize that it’s 9 hours away for most, but for me, that logistically falls under close enough. Time to get out of their way.

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I removed a bag of pulled pork from the top loader for sandwiches, and a bag of ham for cajun black beans and rice. That will hold me for a few days, along with quick fix, until the worst of the summer rebound has passed.

The shrimp will be disappearing soon. It has cooled most of the way there. It got up to 99°F this afternoon. Fortunately, I slept through a big portion of the afternoon. I have not been at the top of my game today, probably sleep toxins. It hasn’t been debilitating, but it has sure sapped my stamina and ambition. Bend over headache, digestive issues… It’s not major, but enough to slow any plans that I had for today.

Well, the surprise September cool down is coming to an end. Daily highs will be back in the 90s tomorrow, and high 90s this weekend. At least the dew point will be 70°F and lower, into the 60s, not dripping wet. But the AC is back on and is likely to stay on for a while. I’m seeing 90s for over a week. It was a nice respite while it lasted.

With the political atmosphere of today, 9/11 is not the day of remembrance it once was.

There’s not much going on today. It’s been a fairly busy week. Sort of. It was busy enough to make me want to lump awhile today. I filled the ice bin, but I didn’t wash the few dishes in the sink. (They’re rinsed.) A couple of spots could use a vacuum touchup. Nothing big.

I finished off the pork loin for lunch (minus a few nibbles that Myka will demolish). And the chili is gone. Only the heel of the sourdough loaf is left from this fridge cycle. The shrimp is still frozen, so tamales will fill the gap. Not a problem, as I’m in the mood for them. Looking forward to sketti, despite the approaching warmth.

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The sourdough, buttered and honeyed, bit the dust. Whew, it was quite a loaf. A perfect test for the new bread knife. I’m not sure how soon I’ll get another loaf, maybe an italian loaf to make garlic bread for the sketti. Maybe.

So that closes the menu cycle. The shrimp is still frozen, but starting to flex a little. It will be ready by tomorrow. I have pizza, chicken fajita, burger, sausage pattie, boudin, fish fillets, popcorn shrimp, curly fries, onion rings, etc, in the freezer for a quick fix. And there’s a package of tamales and a package of brats to open in the fridge. That is what stands between me and sketti, though not all of it, by any means. Looking to get into next week without a store run. I can easily make it for five days without shopping. Minis would be the only real weak point in temptation.

I am still not in a project frame of mind, especially with a return of summer weather looming. I got important stuff done during the interlude. I will wait on the office rearrangement until the window is open. Maybe some box shifting.

Chores are done for the day. Time to lump.

I finished off the second avocado (the one that was green) this morning, an early lunch. I used the diced pork loin, with enough left for a taco and nibbles for Myka. So, a cup of chili (on spud), a couple of thin pork chops (with an egg), and a few nibbles (taco) left to do in, as well as a third of a loaf of sourdough (butter and honey). Add steamed veggies.

After that, thaw a package of jumbo shrimp cocktail, then spaghetti. I’m not in a big hurry to get to these. There will probably be tamales mixed in with the shrimp.

The sharpening steel arrived today, as predicted. What wasn’t predicted was the merry-go-round between North Houston Distribution, Bryan, and Brenham, each receiving delivery at least twice. The tracking had 27 entries. I’m grateful that it was a minor purchase, otherwise I would have been all over the PO. As it was, I call it amusing. I basically got this steel for the Becker D2 folder, since it has embedded diamonds. It went in the cabinet, not in the knife block, as there is no slot available, and it was a fraction of an inch too long for the drawer.

I made the pharmacy run this morning, five of the scripts ready for pickup. Nothing else was purchased, as I didn’t need anything else. But that was fine, as I have no compulsion to spend money.

Today was a phone day, albeit a useless one. I got calls about appointments over the last week or two. I was particularly lazy about checking voice mail. They resorted to calling my neighbor. As it turned out, my return calls found no one to discuss matters. Bleh. I wrote an online message. Subsequent calls to friends turned up nothing as well. At least my voicemail is empty now.

It was 60°F this morning, and the office door and window stayed open all night. Ambient inside stayed around 70°F, so all I needed was a denim shirt. Myka enjoyed it, though she settled on the bathroom mat, where there were no drafts.

I didn’t get a lot done yesterday, as I had a minor dizzy spell that lasted around 12 hours. I didn’t fall, as it wasn’t that intense. I did a couple of dance steps, that was about it as far as balance went. But I spent a lot of time horizontal, not to lessen the effect, but to be stable. Fortunately, I managed to sleep through much of it.

Today has been on the lazy side, not a lumper, but definitely energy economic.

The avocados are ripe, and I just finished the last of the chili cheese dogs. So it’s chili spudacado tonight. Tomorrow is pork loin spudacado. I’ll figure something to do with the last of the chili, like eat it straight w/cheddar. Or on sourdough. I just need to eat, as I have the chili and pork loin to finish. Get the nom noms crankin’. I’m looking forward to spaghetti.

I got chores done this morning, mostly while it was still in the upper 60s. There were five, the big one being ice. A new bag, a full bin, and two bottom bricks in Myka’s bag, with the overflow filling her drinking tub. I folded laundry, sifted Myka’s cabana, straightened the kitchen, and fed Myka. I didn’t feed myself much this morning, I’m falling behind on the menu. At least I’m losing weight, which is not a bad thing.

I finished the Mucha gallery. I went back into ImageFX and cranked out another 80 renderings, and from that, I fleshed out the gallery to a total of 50 images. I love the quality of Google’s image generating AI, and it is showing distinct signs of improvement. The vast majority of what I rendered did not need retouching in Photoshop. And while most were good, some were truly outstanding. So, this brings closure to the medically interrupted project. It didn’t end up as I originally previsualized a year and a half ago, but I’m not complaining.

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If I have one complaint about Google’s ImageFX, it is a lack of range in arrangement when trying to refine in a given artistic style. Most of the renderings using the prompt “a la Mucha” were figures from the sternum up or thighs up. I got very few full height renderings despite every attempt to achieve it. There was also quite often a circle framing the background. Hence, most of the images, while quite nice in their own right, were a little redundant in style when viewed as a whole.

I aired out the office this morning, temp in the upper 60s. The AC was off, window and door open for the first time since early May, airing out the space. Myka thoroughly enjoyed it, once she realized the window was open. It took some explaining to get through the chronological memory gap. She got to listen to the north side of the house for the first time in months. After I shut the window, she was dreadfully disappointed. (WHAT!!??!! It was open…) It will get opened part time tomorrow and a few days following, while the lows are in the 60s. Northerly breeze blowing us some dry air. Dew point down to 48°F. It’s been many months since it’s been that low.

Busy day, lazy evening. Getting close to chili spudacado time.

I made a store run this morning solely for a bottle of honey. And it was after the store had been open for over an hour and there was already the start of the day’s crowd. But it did taste good on the sourdough. I can’t remember another weekend store run where I got only one item. But the menu cycle is complete, spudacados, dogs, pork chops, and sourdough. More than ample for my appetite.

The sharpening steel made it to the local PO, albeit a bit too late to make delivery today. All too typical, with Bryan in the delivery loop. But I’m not in a hurry, the smooth steel is the honing rod. The diamond steel is for fine touching harder metals, like D2, after sharpening with the carbide stone.

I’m planning on more Photoshopping this afternoon, adding to the Mucha AI gallery. It doesn’t mean I will, but the desire to lay the project to rest is there. I have a few chores to handle this afternoon. I’ve been rather slow after store run, with a nap in there.

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I did get two new files in the Mucha AI gallery online. Photoshopping today was not extensive but intense enough. But it inspired me to go to Google’s ImageFX and generate a few dozen more. One was something of a standout. Only one change to come, get rid of the stalk at the top of her hair. Lower the flowers, less lofty. It will join the gallery soon, with nine others.

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The bread knife and smooth honing steel arrived this morning, between feeding Myka and getting ready to cook a pork chop and over easy egg. I unwrapped the delivery, got two items washed and in the knife block, and the boxes and paper in the recycling bin. Then I cooked and ate the chop and egg with one of the new paring knives.

I had concerns about the bread knife fitting in the block, but the slots are opened at the bottom, and the bottom of the back row is over two inches above the counter. So the bread knife extends out the bottom, but it stays well about the counter surface. And the tip of the knife is rounded, so it’s not a hazard. And the slot is wide enough with margin to hold the hump in the blade near the handle. So the block is now full. Now there are four knives that aren’t part of the new collection, and they can be replaced by knives that are not too deep (like the second Matsato). But the collection is complete by the standards of my needs, except a flexible filleting knife, which I have in storage.

I made the store run last night during the closing hour, as I slept through the opening hour yesterday. I got an unsliced loaf of sourdough from the bakery to test the bread knife. It has a cross slit top, which will make for a proper test for the knife. I have 2 lb of butter, honey, and artisan jellies for the test.

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I also got gold potatoes, avocados, minis, chips, and a fresh loaf of bread on the store run. So there will be spudacados (pork loin) and chili spudacados, along with the pork chops (3 more), chili cheese dogs, and the sourdough. I need to thaw a tub of chili. I had chicken fajita tacos yesterday for a late lunch. If I decide on the off chance that I want more variety, there will be burgers and tamales available.

I also stocked up for Myka, kibbles, canned food, and Temptations (surf mix). She was thrilled to see it all line up for her inspection. I got litter not that long ago, so she is set for the time being.

I finally got a start on the gallery album of AI in the art nouveau style of Alphonse Mucha. Five images from Google’s ImageFX engine were the first images that I Photoshopped, uploaded, and configured. I have nine more from NightCafe to follow the process. I was building toward this project when they found the tumor on my kidney, and it went on the back burner. There was so much else draining my energies that it took a year and a half to get back on track with it.
http://gallery.fringewood.com/thumbnails.php?album=6

In thawing a tub of chili, I’ll be down to one pint in the freezer. This compels me to want to inquire about the jams. If they are no longer being held, I can buy a couple of quarts. I have enough of the pint tubs to hold more than a gallon, so a couple of quarts would not be a problem, except finding room in the freezer. A quart is considerably cheaper than 2 pints, so that would be the way to go for a stock.

A lot of napping during the days. Not on a vampire schedule, but it’s leaning that way.

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I got to test the bread knife, and it was all it was hyped up to be and more. I was genuinely impressed with how easily it slices bread perfectly. Razor sharp crust without crumbs. It is hands down the best I’ve ever used.

Unfortunately, the honey needs replacing, unrefined and unfiltered, that sped its demise. Dark. Oh well, there is straight butter, jellies, peanut butter, cheese… I won’t have trouble making the loaf disappear. The avocados are not ready yet, so it’s chili cheese dogs tonight. Spudacados will follow on the avocados’ schedule.

I’m thinking about spaghetti when the chili and pork loin are gone. It should be cool enough for daily pasta boils. Then something Zatarain’s. But I have a bag of spuds to do in first. I should not get carried away.

I got two more of the Mucha renderings in the gallery. The NightCafe renderings need more and more difficult retouching, taking longer and demanding more, so the progress will be slower than at first. But at least the project has come to some fruition. It got dropped back when I discovered the kidney tumor. So, getting it online is a bit of a benchmark for me. Now I’m going to deny that there was a lot of laziness in there. Lumpin’ too. But that I got the focus together and felt comfortable jumping in is encouraging. It’s also a reminder of why I’m retired. My skillset is still there. I haven’t lost anything except my stamina.

Waiting for the dryer to finish, so I can fold laundry.

The knife block showed. And it’s loaded. Yes, it lacks the catalog wonder of a cohesive set with a uniform style of handle. But it’s what isn’t showing, the steel, that makes it a thing of beauty. I thought it would have held the two Matsato boning knives, but it only held one. It could have held two, but the Henckels 8″ chef knife took precedence. There were four small empty slots when I got done, so I picked out four of the old set (including an Old Hickory) to go along with the two old ones that were a part of the prime set (Chicago Cutlery, Ka-Bar, bottom corners).

The bread knife and smooth honing steel haven’t arrived, but they’re having slots in the top row reserved for them. Three are decent knives, but not prime like the rest, and they will be used in “rough territory” where a blade edge might receive more abuse than normal. Sacrificial lambs, so to speak. A couple need the blades refreshed, but they’re all sharp. If more quality knives are acquired, they’ll get swapped. But I’m not planning on it. And as with the drawer, all edges face the left (or down, in the steak/paring knife row).

Anyway, it may not be a showcase presentation, but I am most pleased with the collection where it counts most, the blade edges. Ultra-sharp quality steel, offering ease and precision. A good place for mad money to go.

I’ll be finishing up the penne alfredo and the TLT today. Tomorrow morning, I’ll make the store run. I already have the pork loin sliced (4 slices for chops) and diced (1 cup for spudacados), roughly half and half. Myka was thrilled to get nibbles, as she loves my pork marinade. I expect a burger, fajita chicken, chili cheese dogs, and tamales as the alternatives. I still need to thaw a tub of chili.

Labor day was pretty much a yawner, lots of naps, lots of lumping, storing up energy. That was good, as I have trash and recycling to get to the curb today, something I didn’t do this morning. So I’ll do it this afternoon. Still in the 80s, though we might see low 90s before the day is over.