Daily musings of a retired digital artist/designer/musician/party goer/etc.

I haven’t had breakfast this morning, attributable to last night’s plate of spaghetti, AKA sketti belly. There isn’t much happening this morning as well. There is a definite lack of appetite and ambition.

Rain is in the forecast, only 20% chance today, and none currently on radar, chance rising with the temp as the sun evaporates the ambient moisture (dew point is 76°F). However, from tomorrow afternoon until Tuesday, the chance runs from 70% to 90%.

I need to fill the ice bin, do laundry, and sift the cabana. Those are today’s chores. An easy one. I have no intentions otherwise, even with the coming days of rain. A store run before late Tuesday night to burn mad money is all that’s on the horizon. And boiling pasta.

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It’s late afternoon, and I still don’t have much of an appetite. I’ll find enough to eat a light dinner. I haven’t done laundry, I’m still wearing it, but I have done the other chores. I have slept a lot, much of it in the afternoon.

Spaghetti will be supper, again. A late night meal, once things cool down. Summer rules, eat when it’s cool, sleep when it hot.

The peeler review was accepted. So was the tiles review. That leaves the charger, and it was later being written, as I tested it on the scooter. None have been rated yet.

There is rain nearby, and moving in this general direction, but I think that it will bypass town to the west. 90°F, dew point 72°F, moderate breeze off the Gulf.

Myka got ice water and treats. I’ll pick her some salad. She’s on an every other day routine.

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About to head to the kitchen to make a batch of spaghetti.

The dew point is at 78°F. It looks like it will be one of those summers, not too hot, but humid. The water temp along the coast is at 81°F, and it will climb as summer progresses. Another puddle summer, where in the morning hours, the humidity dews against the store windows and puddles on the concrete beneath.

I have Myka in the office, and she wants spaghetti nibbles immediately. Hell hath no stark impatience like a hungry kitty.

Friday morning, no store run, too well stocked to need anything Waiting for the brats to leave Bryan for delivery. Otherwise, a lazy day, like most weekend days. No plans for any runs over the weekend, unless it’s on the scooter this morning.

Myka’s been fed. I need to put up the dishes. I need to test the new charger on the P5 scooter. I rebagged the hash brown sticks after finishing off the zip bag in the kitchen freezer. Now there’s room for the new brats and freeze packs. The latter will go under the seafood, so it’s a major freezer unload and reload. I’ll grab some shrimp while I’m at it.

80°F, dew point 78°F. Breeze off the Gulf. It doesn’t encourage activity.

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What chores can be done are done. The new charger is plugged into the scooter and is charging. It works. Dishes are put up. Things are good until the next time that I make a mess.

I’m $30 above the mad money curve. No sign of the shelf brackets yet. It will be above $80 above on Monday if I don’t order something.

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The scooter was already charged and hadn’t bled much, so the charge was quick. That allowed me to get the review written and out of the way, the last one for the month. I might go for a ride this morning, before the streets pick up for the weekend. There’s nothing else on the schedule. Do it now or forget it.

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Out and about on the local streets, within the major thoroughfares. 2.5 miles in 12 minutes. That sufficed.

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After a nap, still no package from Johnsonville. The last time that I ordered them was in December. It wasn’t nearly as warm as it is this afternoon (93°F). I’ll find out how good their packaging is at keeping the brats cold.

There is no response from Vine on the review for the peelers. I am curious how the panning will be received.

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Well, no sooner did I write the entry above than the email about their delivery arrival showed up. The four gel packs were partially thawed, but the brats were still sufficiently cool. I got the contents in the freezer, and I extracted a bag of jumbo shrimp. The lid managed to close properly.

There are two bags of jumbo shrimp and one of large shrimp remaining, with two bags of crawfish tails and one of bay scallops. Jumbos are currently $11.50 and large are $8 (on sale, $10 normally).

I miss the sales that used to be on the jumbos, but I can afford to restock when I run out. The large will more than suffice. Jumbos are an affordable luxury, but only when on sale. I will stock up on the large while I have the mad money for it. I’ll keep an eye out for the jumbo while they’re in season. I need to quit depending on the circular for the price.

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Sketti belly.

To show how much that I haven’t been paying attention to 3D in the face of AI image generation, I just discovered that modo was discontinued by Foundry in November 2024. Version 17.1 was the final release, my latest version was 14.1. And Foundry released a 10 year end of life free license, making it downloadable freeware. I now have 17.1 installed. And yes, I remember how to use it.

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The years of absence made me a little hesitant, and I had to shake off a fair amount of dust in the first few minutes. But it came back. It is no small interface, and I skipped three versions. But the skills are still there, modeling, shading, lighting, rendering, and more. I’ve got 8.5 years to play with it.

Speaking of obsolete, my Intel MacBook Pro is about to become obsolete with the release of MacOS 27. The new system will not have an Intel version. If I start seeing problems with browsing the internet, I may get a 14″ Mac Neo A18 to be my new internet machine. I can get a bare bones model w/ touch ID for $750. The MacBook Pro will remain my production workhorse and video screen. But that is for when my Intel starts running into problems online that I can’t ignore, like shopping, Vine, or banking. I’m not worried about it now.

The iPad 9th generation (A16) will support iPadOS 27, but not Apple Intelligence. No built-in keyboard, no tears.

Okay, now for the non-obsolete. I intend to cook spaghetti sauce this morning, then wash the subsequent dishes. Otherwise, my schedule is clear until tonight. Weekend store run. Maybe tomorrow morning. There isn’t a whole lot on the shopping list (spaghetti, sauce, drinks). To be honest, it could keep until Monday.

Myka has been fed and ice watered. She has ample kibbles. She’ll let me know if she needs something.

There isn’t much else to consider today. I’ll probably play in modo for nostalgia sake, to see how much I’ve forgotten, what is new. One of the truths of the digital life, nothing is forever. Spend two decades mastering a skill, and it will become obsolete in far less time. Eh, I’m retired. No tears to shed. It was fun, though.

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The spaghetti sauce is resting on the stove, Myka is demanding some of the action. She loves spaghetti beef, the sauce is the magic.

I went from 10.8 lb of ground beef in the fridge to none. ~1.7 lb will return (minus the drained fat). There isn’t a lot of work left to do. When the sauce is cooled and in a tub, there will be swabbing the pan with bread. Pan, lid, spatula to wash afterwards. Boiling pasta, a serving at a time, comes when the urge hits. Add shredded parmesan.

For now, I get to kick back and lump while the sauce cools.

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A nap gave the sauce an unhurried cool down to the proper temperature for placing in the fridge. I sopped up the sauce left in the pan with bread, and Myka got a condiment bowl of the saucy chuck. She enjoyed it. I still need to wash the dishes, but it’s minimal, pan, lid, spatula, and ladle, all of which have been wiped down with bread.

After that, I’m not hungry. And it’s 90°F in the window, 92°F elsewhere in town. There’s still tamales and brats if I get hungry when it’s warm. If I’m hungry tonight, after it cools a bit, I’ll boil a serving of pasta.

I don’t see doing much other than dishes today. I’m in a lazy mood. I’ve dealt with enough details for one day.

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I was thinking about boiling pasta, but 11 pm snuck up on me, so I had tamales in less than 2 minutes. Well, three, Myka found me in the kitchen. Meds were a few minutes late.

I’m in no big hurry for sketti. It’s there in 15 minutes when I want it. Pasta, sauce, parmesan. I can live with that.

I got the peeler review written and submitted. It was not kind. The tiles review was much kinder. Only the charger remains, and I want it on the scooter before I write it.

I did not make a store run tonight. I can wait until Monday. I’ll call yesterday morning’s store run the weekend stocker. The fridge looks a little on the empty side, but looks can be deceiving. The weekend has begun.

I ordered six 6 packs of stadium brats. I still have 3 in the freezer, but I’ll thaw one today. And I’m about to head to the store to get 8 lb of ground chuck, along with minis and bread. I can’t think of anything else at the moment. But it will put a big enough dent in the mad money to bring me under the curve. (~$20 under, which will vanish quickly enough.)

I had originally considered 6 lb (2 lb X 3), but the packages are around 4 lb each. Two of those will give me four 2 lb bags of ground chuck in the freezer. It will put me in good stock for spaghetti sauces and other recipes in the months ahead. And the 12 – 1/3 lb burger patties. Well stocked on beef, with the brisket and rib eyes.

Three deliveries today. The charger (scooter), decor squares, and cymbal felts.

Otherwise it will be a rather dull day. I need to feed Myka.

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Back from the store run. I’m now $20 under the mad money curve. 8.8 lb of ground chuck, 4 bags of 2.2 lb. I can’t think of any recipe that uses 0.8 lb of chuck. I have plenty of burger patties, so no go that way. An extra 3 oz on a 2 lb recipe is moot. I’ll bag it today, get it into the freezer.

So anyhoo, I’m ready to call it a day. Myka got the other half of the Sheba, and it’s gone. I have another double, salmon pate, which she also loves. But there is plenty of the regular. Three rinsed forks are in the sink, that’s it for dishes. Make spaghetti sauce and bag the chuck, thaw brats, swap the bins on the curb, unpack deliveries is all that waits for my labor. Easy day.

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I thought I had three or four packs of stadium brats in the top loader, I actually had two, and now one. So it’s a good time to reorder.

It could be an ice day, using up the bag and getting another. But that is not a certainty. It could be tomorrow. Myka’s bag is almost empty, so that gives some margin on the measure. The ice bin is not that low.

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The 8 lb 12 oz bag of ground chuck is in the fridge, (4 X 2 lb 3 oz dated bags). They’re sitting beside the 2 lb bag that was thawed, topping 10 lb total. When they drop back down to 32°F, they’ll go in the top loader atop the ice. Once set at 0°F, they’ll sit atop the patties, rib eyes, and brisket, forming the beef trilogy in the back of the freezer. Poultry is up front, pork in the middle. Store bags and seafood on the right, behind the ice.

I have spaghetti sauce to make, subsequent dishes to wash, and maybe an ice cycle after the ground chuck freezes. And the deliveries will need tending.

It’s raining. Popcorn shower, sun is shining, 0.05″.

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The new ground chuck is in the top loader, sitting atop the ice. It will take a few hours to reach 0°F.

The cymbal felts arrived. Myka got her sniff. They’ve been stored with the cymbal.

The brats are due Friday.

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The Vine deliveries arrived. So I’m no longer watching tracking, except for the brats. Everything has been put away.

I haven’t made the spaghetti sauce yet, I will when the sun goes down. The ground chuck in the freezer has been moved to the beef section, freeing the ice for a refill of the ice bin and Myka’s bag, and maybe an ice run. I have tamales and stadium brats as my current menu, which will hold me, no problem. I’m not particularly hungry, which is reason enough not to rush into the sauce. Myka and Sparky had treats.

I had a nice nap, missing the warmest part of the day. All in all, I have to rate it an easy day, and a fairly productive one too.

The rain dried up, blue skies. Total rain for the day, 0.3″.

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9 pm, 80°F, just made the ice run for a fresh bag. Ice bin and Myka’s ice bag are full. That leaves the sauce and subsequent dishes. And I’m not in a hurry to sop the pan with bread. If I don’t get to it tonight, there’s tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow will be a slow day. Bring in the recycling bin. Tend to Myka. Eat. There’s nothing else happening. There will be a weekend stock run tomorrow night or Friday morning. Not much on the list.

There isn’t a lot to worry about. I’m pulling up to an even mad money curve at midnight. I’m stocked to the gills. I’m feeling pretty good. No complaints.

It’s trash and recycling day. There are a few dishes to be washed. I think it’s sketti time, I need to thaw ground chuck, after dishes are done (mostly forks). Myka has been fed.

No deliveries are expected today. The last Vine items for June will be here tomorrow. Not sure about the cymbal felts, but I’m not in a hurry. I just wrote the review on the cymbal.

Not planning much today. I may get out on the scooter, see if getting outside helps my metabolism any. My eye is doing well, I feel the aftermath, but nothing untoward. The phosphenes are faint. I’m hoping motion will help.

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Trash is on the curb, recycling is in the bin. That leaves the few dishes and thawing the ground chuck for spaghetti sauce. A light duty day.

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The felts are being delivered via USPS, and they’re in North Houston Distribution. They’ll be here tomorrow, like the Vine items.

I had a solid nap, so I still need to wash dishes and thaw the ground chuck.

I’m $90 above the mad money curve. I still have no idea on what to spend it.

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Dishes washed, ground chuck out to thaw. Chores are done. There isn’t anything on the schedule. Either tamales or quick fix for dinner. Last night’s chili cheese spuds killed any appetite that I may have generated today.

I found Jackery’s power bank, 80Ah, twice the Cuktech that I got, and cheaper (on sale). But I don’t see getting one. I have two already, plus the power station, a total of 80Ah. I’ll keep looking for a mad money target.

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The ground chuck has thawed and is in the fridge, ready for making sauce tomorrow. I’m thinking about getting ground chuck for the freezer, since this is the last bag in the freezer (not including the 12 – 1/3 lb patties). It’ll be on sale tomorrow for $5/lb, which is $30 for 6 lb. Outrageous, but nothing better. And not as outrageous as the brisket I got recently.

But hey, I need to spend the mad money somewhere.

I had tamales for dinner. I’ll have a pizza for supper. I’m starting to get a bit of an appetite back. I need to work on the quick fix more. So the sketti won’t have an alternative entree. Tamales, lasagna, Popeye’s, pot pie, boudin, popcorn shrimp, fish fillets, chicken fajitas, etc. No shortage. It’s summer, tis the season.

The pair of peelers are due today. They’re currently in Humble. Whether they’re as bad as the existing reviews indicate is yet to be seen.

Another listless Monday. Today is the book signing I was considering attending, but today, I’m glad I’m not making the trip. It’s complex and relates to my time writing.

I had the last slabs of sourdough with butter and honey. Tomorrow I’ll thaw the 2 lb chunk of ground chuck. Spaghetti week is coming. There is still Popeye’s and shrimp cocktail before I start boiling pasta, but getting started on the sauce is always a good thing.

I need to get food for Myka, while it’s cool enough for her to eat.

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I’m having another bout of a swollen eye this morning, though the pain is not nearly as bad as the first time. But the phosphenes are raging strong. I went straight for ibuprofen and diphenhydramine.

The peelers are in the hands of the local PO, and they’re out for delivery. I expect them somewhere around noon.

Dew point at 78°F. Temp is 80°F, so it’s not fully saturated. It’s still miserable out there.

I am $55 above of the mad money curve at this point. I only need $30 for the shelves (when the brackets become available), so I need to start thinking about what will whittle it down, now that I’m not getting the compressor. Will this be a cash month?

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The peelers arrived, and they are junk. It takes at least five times as long to peel a potato as my usual. The blades had serious burs that I had to remove to use. The blade edge was uneven. I haven’t tested the shredder yet. It’s an item that I wish I hadn’t selected, and those are very rare, with the way I select. Items will sit in storage and never been used, but I keep them in case I do want to use them. I can’t get rid of them for 6 months by agreement which was formed after I became a member. These may be one of my very rare skips. If you can’t say something nice… And others have done the trashing for me.

Golden hour. Thinking about a pizza, but I may go ahead with a chili cheese spud. I have had snacks today but no meal. The dose and a nap took care of the symptoms of the histamine attack. But my appetite hasn’t rebounded enough to spur me into the kitchen. Myka got treats and ice water, but she was spurred, and she let me know.

I am feeling better, not 100%, but definitely better. I would have been in trouble if I had tried to make an Austin run. I’m better off at home, musing over failed kitchen gadgets.

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I had chili cheese spuds for dinner. (Three spuds, the remainder of the chili.) It was definite a solid belly patter. So much for a lack of appetite. My empty stomach had ample room.

I signed up for a notification for the shelf brackets, as to when they returned to being in stock. I’m tired of checking.

The cymbal is due to be delivered today. I have a couple of ideas on how to mount it without a stack, using materials that I have on hand.

Still a little woozy from the histamines, but I am functional, capable of performing daily chores. But the swelling is still a trace there. Eyes, ears, temple, sinuses. It’s all a tad puffy. There are still peripheral phosphenes. At least I’m not taking meds for it.

The trip west was a long shot that wouldn’t have panned out anyway. I’m just not up to it. And there is a chance of rain in the area. It’s just not in the cards. It will be easier staying home and lumping, playing my cymbal.

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I finished the Ytube lineup before 9 am. Not a particularly heavy lineup, only three of the regulars uploaded. There were a couple of extra curiosity items thrown in. But it was entertaining enough.

I don’t have much planned for the day. The cymbal hasn’t departed Bryan yet, so it will be late in the afternoon. I’m just going to be lazy.

It will be a phone day. A spammer sent me a text that tripped the day’s usage when it was deleted. Grrr. Oh well, I haven’t been very chatty lately, and I’m recharging the account in a couple of weeks.

There are rain spots on the rainboard, just a light shower, small blips on radar, the proverbial popcorn showers.

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The cymbal arrived, and I was a little surprised at how light it was. It weighs 6 ounces. Most 10″ cymbals weigh 8 to 10 ounces. So it’s definitely a lightweight, a very subtle instrument. It has good sustain, though, just not across the room.

It’s a good thing that the chores are minimal today. While I am capable of them, I’m not in the mood for them.

I haven’t been on the phone today. I just haven’t felt chatty. The only thing I’ve gotten out of the daily charge so far is clearing voice mail.

Everything from Vine has shipped. Tomorrow and Wednesday are delivery days.

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I went to top off the truck before the prices go up again. Only needed 3 gallons for the local runs, but still. I didn’t need anything at the stores. I may need a loaf of bread in the next few days, and minis, but not now. Tuesday, maybe.

There isn’t much else to do tonight. The dogs are all gone, so I’m switching to spuds for the chili, which is half gone..

The headache was histamines. The diphenhydramine was the cure, along with three hours of sleep it permitted me. There is some residual, but nothing anywhere close to what I was feeling. The brain is a little puffy, as is the eye, but it’s a dull thing, feeling as much a side effect from the diphenhydramine as it is from the histamines. The right cheek sinus is feeling a little sore. A little in the throat. And a general fatigue when I’m on my feet.

No idea where it came from. Possibly the store run. No telling. Anyhoo, I can cope with it now. Not a celebration, but it feels so good when it stops.

.I need to feed Myka, when I feel a little better. I gave her treats to hold her over. Fortunately there aren’t many chores today, feed Myka, cabana, fold laundry, and ice bin.

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Feeling better after more sleep, but the sinuses are stuffed, breathing nasally is difficult. But I am much improved this morning.

Total rain for yesterday was 0.4″. 76°F outside, dew point is the same. Another saturated morning.

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7:30 am, I’m about to face the 100% humidity and get busy with chores. I think I’m up to it now. And I have time later in the morning if I’m not.

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9 am, chores are done. Time to be a lump.

Myka got a side of Sheba chicken flakes in gravy, and the bowl is clean down to the very molecule. One whiff and she was talking to me. Happy kitty.

I have put the compressor and kit on hold for the time being. I decided to first try a hand blower instead. It might serve the purpose at a much lower price(Δ $140) and consume much less space and be far easier to power. This $20 cash investment won’t totally rule out a compressor in future months, but it might serve the purpose at hand for the time being.

That means $30 online and $50 locally, the latter being cash and including the planned store run. ($20 + $20 + $10) That will make it much easier on the mad money, and if I end up with excess at the end of the month, I’ll get cash at the store to balance it and replenish what I spend.

The only problem is that the shelf brackets are out of stock. I could order the 2X12 and install one shelf, but I’d rather do both at the same time. I’ll wait.

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The best intentions of mice. Instead of spending cash as intended, there was something that stopped me at each store. Hence, $55 mad money instead of greenbacks. I’ll make up for it at another time. Not going to cry over it.

The blower is charging. It seemed to be dead when unpacked, so it should take about 4 hours, though I have it on a 60W charger, so it might charge more quickly. Time will tell, there’s no charge gauge, just red and blue leds

Anyway, I’m set for the weekend. I’m in no hurry to do anything. I’ll start laundry this morning. I’ll make chili cheese something, probably spuds, for lunch. It will be a lazy day.

There was a sprinkle on the store run, light enough to walk through. There is a chance of rain, though nothing of any consequence early this morning.

Still waiting to see if the stud finder and mouse pads make it here today or tomorrow. It says it was processing the package in Bryan two hours ago. Will it go out for delivery today? Or will they hold it for tomorrow?

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The stud finder and mouse pads are out for delivery. It was noted at 11:46 am. Small wonder that it was up in the air all morning.

Laundry is in progress.

The keyboard blower finished charging while I napped, so I’ll assume that it took the full 4 hour cycle to charge. It blows quite well. I think it will meet my needs.

I finished the cheese danish for lunch. I’ll get to the chili later.

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I got a replacement charger for the new scooter from Vine. There’s nothing wrong with the one that came with the scooter, but I have a replacement if anything does go wrong with it. 54.6V 2A output, exact match. That puts me within $14 of the monthly limit for June.

The kitchen got mopped. Laundry is in the dryer. Chores are done for the day.

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I have to say the Amazon’s street tracking map is rather informing, like when you’re the next delivery and the driver takes a 30 minute break (I would assume union mandated, 5 – 5:30 pm). The stud finder is here and has been tested. The mouse pads are put away for future access.

The shelf brackets are still out of stock, so next week is my guess.

My first Vine review slot popped up, the USB-C 2.0 cables. Something to do this weekend.

Waiting until I’m hungry enough before I dive into the chili, with spuds. They’re starting to grow eyes.

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Speaking of eyes, my right eye swelled up, creating one heck of a headache on the right side. A little like a sinus headache, but worse, and on the outside of the eye. The worst pain was at the temple. There were phosphenes from the eye swelling. Ibuprofen took a while to kick in, and even that didn’t cure it, just eased it some. Heat has proven to be the best treatment, first hot water, then the heating pad. I’m a little on the chilled side, but no sign of fever. No way that I can sleep this off now. I’ve never had anything quite like it. Nothing online looks like it.

I’ll survive it, the heat seems to be helping, as is the ibuprofen. I just took diphenhydramine in case histamines are involved in the swelling.

It’s threatening to rain, storms moving north, to the west, grazing town by a smidgen. We’ve had 0.28″ of rain today, but this isn’t likely to add any.

Not sure if I’m going to eat anything before midnight. This eye thing, while suppressed by medication, hasn’t done anything for my appetite. I may try to grab a few winks while the pain is muted.

I requested an item from Amazon Vine, then canceled the request, for a second time this month. (Cabinet knobs was the first.) I requested a 100′ roll of ½” PET braided wire sleeving. I was under first impression that it was heat shrinking, came to be that it required heat shrink to close off the end. So after further review, I decided that it was useless to me. I canceled the request, and it was granted. Empty creel for the night, catch and release. Four grabs, two keepers so far for the month.

I think that I will thaw a tub of brisket chili to get after the remaining spuds. The dogs too. Chili cheese weekend. I’ll have the remaining fried rice for lunch.

Myka’s been fed. Ice bin is full. Only chore is dishes. Easy enough. Spot mop the floor.

Not much happening today. I’m not going to stir things up. Maybe a quick store run tonight.

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Dishes are washed, Myka and the horde have been treated. I still need to spot mop the kitchen floor (a 2 minute job, including wetting the sponge mop). A tub of brisket chili is in the sink to thaw. I still need to eat up the chicken fried rice.

Nothing attracting me on Vine, but at this time of day, they’re picked over all too well.

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I found something on Vine that attracted me, a mini blower, but the item was never really available. It would have made the compressor moot. But it never made full connection, so it failed repeatedly until it finally turned up as not available. *sigh* Nothing else caught my eye. Until now…

I just requested a 10″ high hat cymbal for the percussion collection. It’s due Sunday.

I think the stud finder and mouse pads will be here tomorrow, though it still says Saturday.

I missed the store run tonight, so it will be tomorrow morning. No big deal. I just got wrapped up in things, like finishing off the chicken fried rice. The chili has thawed.

Sunday got to 92°F, Monday to 95°F, and yesterday to 97°F. Dew points reached 78°F. I think we can call it summer. I’m not traveling unless it’s necessary.

Myka was fed this morning. I’m feeding her near the coolest point of the day to keep any leftovers relatively safe. She’ll finish it before it heats up. And she always has kibbles for the rest of the day.

I got an unnecessary item from Vine, a 12 pack of self-adhesive PVC squares. They’re 1 square foot each, water and oil proof. I like the illusion when ganged.

I plan on making the chicken fried rice this morning. I have one more chicken salad sandwich to go. There are hotdogs and tamales to open. I could thaw a tub of chili for the dogs and a the few spuds I have left. And there is Popeye’s and shrimp cocktail that have been waiting in the wings for a while. Lots of options, to put it mildly.

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Another case of leapfrog rain, from the ESE. It dissipates around Chappell Hill and reforms around Burton. Go figure. At least it cools things down. Dew point got up to 78°F, temp up to 90°F.

I got the chicken fried rice made and had a bowl. The rest is in the fridge. I need to wash dishes, as soon as I get in gear from the nap it induced.

The 10′ USB-C cables arrived. It’s the first thing Amazon ever delivered directly to the door. It looks like this will be the standard operation from now on, from what I’m seeing.

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A fresh bag of ice in the top loader at sunset. Again, the old bag overflowed into my drink refill, Myka’s water, and a quart freezer bag. There was room, thanks to the now gone TLT cornbread dressing.

There will be a chicken salad sandwich for dinner, the last. And the fried rice will be gone tomorrow, so I need to figure out what’s next. There are hotdogs, tamales, and a few spuds that need using. And I’ve been thinking of Popeye’s and shrimp cocktail, and now pizza has joined the list. That will get me into the weekend without cooking an entree. I have a loaf of bread and sourdough as a base. Next week may be a spaghetti week, or it might be a brisket chili week (followed by a sketti week).

Over all, it’s been a pretty slow day. I am starting to shift to sleeping in the afternoon, since running the Vine lists at night when the lists are fed the bulk of new items.

The monthly burst will cost $244, $38 cash, $206 from the bank. Just about what I was guesstimating. $159 on the compressor, $67 on shelves and tools, and $18 on mouse pads.

Apple charged the bank account last night. Sigh. It hasn’t made the balance yet. Amazon hasn’t charged yet, they will when it ships.

I have about 9 hours to prep the chicken quarter. It’s trash day (no recycling). Myka’s been fed, dishes washed. An easy one. Forecast for low 90s this afternoon. 30% chance of storms. An early one.

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Amazon has shipped the mouse pads and stud finder. It made the bank account, which is now current. Vine was a lump, nothing moving, nothing worth seeing. Not sure when I’ll order the compressor. For now, I’m happy to sit here and lump.

The sun is up, it’s overcast. I’ll get on the chicken prep shortly. I want the trash out early. 75°F outside, dew point 75°F, humidity 100%. In other words, muggy misery. It will dry in the coming hours.

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77°F outside, dew point, 77°F. The dew point is glued to the temperature. It’s staying at 100% humidity as the temperature rises. The weather has no mercy.

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Well, the temp and dew point finally parted just before noon and the dew point dropped back to 74°F, while the temp rose to the upper-80s (& 90s).

I got the chicken skinned and deboned. Myka had nibbles, the fridge got the meat, the trash got the skin and bone. Trash is ready for the curb, just close the bag and walk it out. Dishes are washed. Chores are all but done.

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Trash is on the curb. Chores are done. I’m not getting very eager.

Myka got salad. Crabgrass is moderately available. As long as it stays wet…

Rain is leapfrogging town, from the NE. It’s an unusual pattern, storms dissipating before reaching Navasota, reforming just SW of town. Storms remain intact to the SE. Not complaining, it cooled things into the 70s, taking the dew point down with it.

It’s June. Sun is up, but it’s overcast.

I got started on Vine, one item, a pair of 10″ USB-C cables. That was all that interested me. There was a charger for USB-C, but I didn’t need it, I am well stocked with chargers, I don’t need another, and it was only 60W. The rest didn’t attract me, other than curiosity.

I replaced one of the old mouse pads last night. I have five on the desk, two for mice, two for laptops, and one for the writing extension and my elbow. It was the latter that was experiencing a meltdown. I used up a box cutter blade scraping the extension of the melting plastic and general crust of deposited skin cells. I gave one of the mice a new pad and shifted its pad to the extension. I have three new ones left, but I’ll probably get a new pack of 10 this month, a good free shipping item.

I am debating a trip west next week (8th >). But I’m not sold on it yet. I want to go digging in storage, get rid of the first scooter, and attend a book signing. But my body is not eager for it. Dew point is 75°F, no AC in the truck. As much as I wanted to see friends after missing Spring Fling, I fear I’ll be sitting at home. And it could be wet.

I haven’t ordered the compressor yet. I’m waiting to decide the trip first. I’d want to know the cost of a run west before I order it. There no dire hurry for it. I have three weeks, at least.

I thawed a chicken quarter for fried rice. I’ll get to prep it today or tomorrow morning before trash. I have chicken salad for a few days, so I’ll be birding to start the week. And there is sourdough slabs and thins.

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I just had a bowl of lasagna with extra mozzarella and parmesan. It was definitely a pat the tummy meal. I still need to prep the chicken, it’s been a little on the warm side in the kitchen. It’s cooling off.

Well, I couldn’t get through the first of the month without spending money. A stud finder and a 10 pack of mouse pads. (See above.) $39. The stud finder is going to get the shelf in the kitchen installed. I’ll order the wood (2X12X8′) with the compressor. I’ll get a hand saw when I get the compressor accessory kit, and make two 4′ shelves. I’ll need to get a couple more brackets with the wood for the second shelf. I’m focusing on the first shelf now, above the washer and dryer, but they’ll probably be installed together. That is the mad money agenda. In the range of $250, but the local will probably be cash. Closer to $200, which fits the month.

I think this is putting the final nail in the coffin on the trip. It’s just not time to go for too many reasons. I’ll just swallow my expectations as nice thoughts.

Last day of May, a farewell to spring.

There isn’t much to say in closing. Not excited about things, largely because there aren’t things which inspire getting excited.

Vine has a new slate tomorrow. Eh. All it does is take up storage space.

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A slow day. Mostly sitting around, waiting for it to be June. I finished the pork loin with a frambled egg and cheddar on tortillas. Chicken salad sandwich is next. Tonight, I’ll finish the cornbread dressing. I need to find an alternative to the chicken salad. Hmmm. Chicken fried rice sounds good.

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Still waiting for it to be June… *sigh* Two hours to go. Not particularly eager for June, just waiting for the approaching chronological transition to be behind me, remove the scheduling dichotomy. May’s financial pace was a quirky one, quite contrary to habit..

It’s been a slow day, a slow evening. Ytube was a bit sparse, but ultimately rewarding.

Payday came early, and I got caught over by $34. Ugh. Oh well, the world doesn’t end. Grrr, Apple.

I guess I make a store run this morning. Saturday. Ugh.

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I made the store run, not too bad this early in the day. I spent $55, which was $21 over the gap. Kolaches, chicken salad, danish, Goldfish, libations.

I can now order the compressor any time I please. But not today. There is no hurry.

I need to feed Myka her wet food.

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I got Myka fed, the cabana sifted, the truck emptied. I’m off for the rest of the rest of the day, except for washing a few forks that have been rinsed.

Lunch will be chicken salad, dinner will be cornbread dressing. I have pork loin and a boiled egg to eat, probably tomorrow. The two slabs of sourdough with pork loin and Jarlsberg filled me last night.

Highs are forecast for the weekend and into next week as a string of 90°F. Lows will be in the 70s. It’s summer.

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Afternoon nap didn’t stretch over the heat of the day, but it’s only 85°F at 3:30 pm. So it’s not a big issue. I had a chicken salad sandwich for a late lunch. It’s a slow Saturday.

Mad money still haunts me, even after having spent all of it. If Apple doesn’t send the charge to the bank by Saturday, I’ll be shopping Sunday. I decided to split the $34 balance (above $1006) between an air compressor accessory kit and chicken salad and bakery goods.

I plan on getting a 1 gallon air compressor for the office. It will be used for general cleaning, digital screens, hats, etc. I have canned air for photography, but it wouldn’t last very long for the general purposes for which the compressor would meet. Yes, it would take a lot of cans to match the cost of the compressor. But it would be plain air. The compressor doesn’t have an oil pump, so it would be clean air.

The tire pump for the truck wouldn’t perform the same function, as it doesn’t have a tank to normalize pressure. The two would not cross tasks. I could order it today, but I’ll wait until payday. There is no hurry, and there are none in stock locally. I don’t plan on repeating May’s performance and spending it all early. I may make it a cash month. The compressor and phone recharge are the only big expenses I have planned for June.

I also don’t plan on starting early on Vine. And I’ll be picky.

Laundry is the big chore today. Nothing else needs the attention.

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Laundry is in the dryer, waiting to be folded.

Close to 90°F in the window, showing 91°F at various stations around town.

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The ice bin and my drink have been refilled. I gave up before I got to folding laundry. Then again, I can fold any time day or night. Ice is best done in daylight.

I took out one bag of sourdough slabs (2) to thaw. I’ll have it with Jarlsberg and diced pork loin. Shake up the menu.

I made the second store run this morning to finish the run I started last night. That is the last use of the truck for the weekend. Chores are wash a few forks, run laundry, spot mop the kitchen floor this afternoon, bring in recycling bin after pickup. The headlight knob on the truck needs a tiny allen wrench to reattach. Pretty simple day. No need to get wound up.

Foggy morning, 100% humidity. 62°F. 76°F ambient in the office. 70% humidity. Myka is off the floor.

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Myka got salad (crabgrass), gleeful to get it. I brought in the recycling bin, so that duty is done for the week. I got the headlight switch knob reattached on the truck. Simple turn of the correct sized allen wrench.

No laundry today, I slept, no biggie. I need to wash dishes, three forks and a spoon. Since the store run, it’s been rather sedentary, getting settled in for the final weekend of the month.

I had a case of hiccups that peanut butter didn’t cure. After a few other failed efforts using various known cures, I ended up using left ear acupressure to cure it. It took me awhile to remember the spot, I haven’t had to use it in ages. They went away immediately.

Again, not much of an appetite. There is plenty to eat, not an issue, just no urge.

As usual, I’m waiting for Apple to post a charge to the bank account. I may need to go spend $34 at a box store if it doesn’t show by Sunday. Tool? Hmmm.

A midnight soak and shampoo. Not that I can’t bathe at night, I just prefer warm sunshine coming in the window. So I’m clean for the morning’s appointment.

I set up the altimeter app on the phone to check the vertical translation from the parking lot to the clinic entrance. That way I have data for the discussion.

The line of thunderstorms is at Ledbetter, just reaching Carmine. At the rate it’s moving, it will be raining here in about fifteen minutes. So my timing is not that bad.

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We’ve had about 1.5″ of rain this morning, the first inch in the main train, which took about 45 minutes, the rest in the broad aftermath behind it. It’s moving east and should be gone. There is a second train between Laredo and San Antonio, which could swing this way, hard to say at this point.

Myka has been fed. I had a kolache. I’m ready for a nap, better now than later. I don’t want to sleep through the appointment.

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The log of BP reading pleased my physician, even made him a little jealous. So I’m off the hook for 6 months. Whew! Well, there is an appointment with my cardiologist in August. Standard followup visit.

Only three chores today, swap bins on the curb, refill the ice bin, laundry. Easy day. Maybe a store run tonight.

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I was playing around with an AI anime avatar generator, and here is one of the results, fine tuned with Photoshop.

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Ice is cycled, a fresh bag in the top loader. I needed a quart freezer bag to hold the overflow of Myka’s bag. And the bins on the curb have been swapped. I am going to hold laundry until tomorrow. Critters have been treated.

I will make a store run tonight. I need to figure out what I want. There isn’t much, only two items at each of two stores on the list. I have no idea what I might add to the list. There isn’t anything on my mind at this point. I’ve got three hours to ponder and cogitate.

The rain is east of I-45, gone and out of the forecast.

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It’s moving toward sunset, the golden hour. I haven’t eaten anything but snacks today. It’s not that I haven’t considered eating, but I just didn’t fix anything. It’s the end of a busy spell, relatively speaking, and it’s time to gel. No plans other than a store run in an hour or so.

It’s in the low 70s, the rain is gone, things will be drying up. There’s a dry week ahead. Lake Somerville topped at 0.1′ above plane (1.2″). It’s finally officially full again, and Yegua Creek will be flowing.

There isn’t anything on my calendar now. Summer will be here soon enough. Temps will be touching the 90s, and it’s up from there.

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I made it to one of the two stops I had planned, but my digestive track started fussing. There was no way I was going to cross a box for three items, none of which are out of stock here. Tomorrow or Friday morning will do. Myka knew that I had gone shopping for her wet food, and was chirping gleefully as I shelved it.

Mad money for May has been spent. $3 under the mark. It will be at $677 on Monday morning. The annual phone bill is what is reducing it at the start, even though it’s not due for over 3 weeks. I still need to pay the internet bill when it comes due.

Late afternoon of a lazy day, trash is on the curb (a few bulky items from the long table), recycling in the bin. Dishes washed, not many. Myka just had salad. I’ll be having a soak this evening. Light snacking, no full meal yet. I haven’t been that hungry.

I haven’t been finding incentive to be busy. I could have made a store run this morning, but there wasn’t that much on the list, and none of it needed now. Minis, butter, cat food, all stocked but getting low. Two day margin, at least.

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Dusk. I put off the soak until dark. I haven’t been hungry either, I had a slice of the danish for lunch. I’ll have TLT dressing in a bit. Not much of a Tuesday.

The lethargy is tied in part to only $10 of mad money being left for the month. 5 days to go. A quick grab at the store will do that in. But the desire to stay away from the stores is driving it the homebody impulse. I’m ignoring cash. The freezer sustains any urge, if I ever get hungry. In no hurry.

Followup appointment at 9:40 am tomorrow. I’m tired of the constant BP monitoring. I need to get ready for it. Won’t take much beyond the soak and shampoo, fresh clothes.

There is a line of thunderstorms west of I-35, Laredo to Waco, moving in this direction. I expect it will have passed by the appointment time. But I shouldn’t delay the soak.

Staying in, hanging loose, snoozing and lumpin’ in true extended weekend style. Breakfast was the traditional kolache, followed by a slice of danish. Lunch will be TLT cornbread dressing, the first serving of the thaw. It’s made with the last of the TLT 2.0 broth. *sigh* But there is room in the freezer now.

If I get up a head of steam, I will tackle the long table this afternoon. Otherwise, there isn’t much expected to happen. Probably a soak late in the day.

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The symbolic first step of the refresher, hanging up the winter attire, denim shirts, sweater, poncho. The rest is not that big of an effort. Taking things off and putting them back on in a little more functional state. It’s summer, it’s not going to generate that much activity, outside of the daily stack, and just the top half at that.

I had the first bowl of dressing. It thawed quite well.

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80%+ there on the long table. Just the misc, catch-all stuff left to go. I woke up from the dressing nap and dove in. It didn’t take long, mostly moving, stuffing stuff away to the proper container, and moving back to a better arrangement.

There isn’t much else to do today.

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Done. I found the current hidden catchall box, put in everything that could be forgotten, and tucked away everything that couldn’t be conveniently forgotten. I have a little trash to dump for tomorrow’s take out, a single trip to the can.

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Dusk, about to put together dinner. I’m thinking pork loin tacos instead of spud. The dressing filled me up enough to take the lighter option. And there are other options to consider. Trying to decide which one.

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Lake Somerville reached full pool today from the runoff of recent rains.

The flood watch has been pulled, the chances of rain revised to slim and none. That means people will be partying and that store runs will wait until Monday night at earliest. If I need anything…

It’s a Sunday morning with most of Ytube channels already posted and watched. There should be at least three this morning, but no guarantee. It’s too early to know yet.

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Ytube got me to 4:30 pm, and I cut a couple of them short. There were a couple of spinoffs to make up for all the Saturday uploads.

I fried up the last of the pork chops, but there is still ample diced pork loin left for spuds. And there will be TLT cornbread dressing, thawing this afternoon. It will be nice to have the space in the kitchen freezer. Tamales are on the horizon, along with quick fix. I haven’t thought beyond the dressing yet. Spaghetti has been on my mind, but I’m not definite about it yet. Shrimp cocktail is more likely to be sooner.

There is no rain in the area, a little outside the triangle. Wednesday and Thursday are the next rain days in the forecast. There are a few clouds, but the sunshine is fairly persistent. Mid 80s outside the office.

There isn’t anything on the schedule. Chores are done, except for the ice bin, which would probably last the night. But I’ll fill it anyway.

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I divided the danish and had the first piece, hot buttered. I’ll fix a cheddar pork spud for dinner. The ice bin is full. TLT dressing is thawing. The few dishes are washed. A quiet Sunday night, the usual. Watching Roger Corman’s The Day Mars Invaded Earth. (Attack of the doppelgängers…)

Trying to figure out who was lazier today, me or Myka.

I dumped $40 online to Apple. That leaves me with $10 mad money to burn over the next 9 days. $40 if I delay internet payment. I think that I can manage. There isn’t much to buy, mostly things like minis. Cash will cover that.

More rain forming west of I-35, slowly moving this way.

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I managed to get all the kitchen chores done except dishes, and that’s because I just finished eating the egg and pork chop (Myka nibbled), and I need to wash the knife and fork. No sense washing twice. There aren’t that many others, three forks and the cheese slicer. They’ll get washed.

The cabana has been sifted, the horde treated, Myka was treated. I cooked a late lunch. That’s the list, except the long table. It will happen when it’s the proper time. There was a long lump this morning, with ample sleep.

There was just a peal of thunder. A few drops are showing on the rainboard. Almost leopard spots and growing. There is rain growing to the west, getting heavy about Carmine.

There isn’t much happening now, other than waiting for the rain. It reached leopard spots.

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Ytube had four of its shows today, so I watched them as the sun went down. It’s currently dusk. I washed the few dishes, gave Annie extra treats (she’d missed so many days). A slow Saturday.

There was 0.12″ of rain today, not as much as previous rains, but more than a sprinkle. It cooled things off to 70°F.

Myka is still camping by the door on her new scratch pad. She seems as attached to it as she was avoiding it before I cranked up the AC.

If I’m lucky and radar stays clear, I might go for a scooter ride this morning. I’m in the mood for getting outside for no good reason.

I may get after the long table tomorrow. I’m not really in the mood today. I woke up with a bit of a headache, BP on the high side.

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The application for this blog was just updated to a fresh new version, 7.0. It doesn’t look any different from the outside.

I haven’t done much this morning, just watched the close of The Tonight Show on Ytube.

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I took the scooter out for a 3 mile cruise around the neighborhood after the sun was up in the sky. It felt good. And it is an extended weekend, so staying put made it helpful.

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I had another pork chop and over easy egg for brunch. Myka definitely enjoyed the nibbles.

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Nearest rain today is Houston and Waco, and both are sparse popcorn. Going into the extended weekend that still promises to be wet. Trying to settle into the flow, but I keep wanting to do something, but not really. Thinking about finishing the sourdough pastrami sandwiches for dinner, then get back to spuds, so I can thaw the TLT cornbread dressing.

83°F, dew point 70°F. Moderate south breeze. Partly cloudy.

There’s 9 days to the end of the month. $50 mad money. A long end of the month wind down. Now I don’t mind getting Vine and the expenditures done early, giving me a long vacation from shopping. I have plenty of cash, not a worry locally, I am glad that the pressure to spend is off. It’s just a rather drastic change, to go from a big purchase to the void in a single package. A big shift in orientation.

It has shifted to running out of chores (except the long table, tomorrow). I’ve already started thinking about a quiet 1 gallon air compressor for dusting as one of next month’s purchases. It’s hard to shake the impulses once they get rolling.

I’m loaded with munchies, distractions, and a few chores to get me through the wet week. Another rain mass is heading this way. The brunt of the storm is in south Texas, but it extends well north of Austin. It will get here.

I have been taking care of chores pretty much as soon as they arise. I am feeling better, over all. I have more stamina, more energy. I seem to have gotten through the sapping BP and metabolism spell that was dragging me down. Go figure, just as it starts raining. This is not to say that I’m climbing the walls. But I can get up to get after a chore any time I decide to do it. My lumpiness is pretty much my call now.

I will be making a pork chop for breakfast. I got the sourdough sandwich behind me, it’s no longer controlling the menu. However, there is still pastrami and Jarlsberg to be eaten. But I also have over a loaf of honey wheat. Sourdough is an option, not a mandate. And there will be spuds tonight. Plenty of pork loin to consume. And there is still TLT cornbread dressing waiting to be thawed, tamales, and quick fix in general for variety. And I haven’t had shrimp cocktail in a while.

Things are ready to hang tight, safe from the elements.

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I got the crates stacked and the shipping boxes broken down and in the recycling bin. That leaves the long table to summerize, plus a few dishes to wash.

I had the pork chop and egg for a late breakfast. Myka enjoyed the egg coated nibbles. Lunch will no doubt be dinner.

There was only 0.03″ of rain today, around noon. It doesn’t look like much, if any, for the rest of the day.

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More rain approaching from the west. The worst of it passed to the north and is hitting Bryan now. The part south of that dissipated right before it hit here (not the first time this has happened). The rest of the mass is at Burton, stretching north, and southwest into light rain. It’s possible that we won’t get much, if any, from this one.

I had another pastrami/Jarlsberg on sourdough for dinner. The sourdough wasn’t all that solid in the freezer and thawed in the microwave. Perfection.

There wasn’t much going on this evening, I slept for a big chunk of it.

Dawn, and I can barely make out a reflection on the rainboard. There is a very light and steady rain, nothing like what we had at midnight, 2.2″ in 45 minutes. The lightning and thunder put Myka under the long table to hide it out.

Tracking stated that the package left the Humble facility 90 minutes ago, so it should be at the local PO within the hour. Somewhere around noon should see it here. Then I can slice the sourdough I got last night and can make a pastrami/Jarlsberg sandwich. It will be quite an unpacking day.

The only standard chores today will be filling the ice bin and Myka’s ice bag and acquiring a fresh bag of ice for the top loader and bringing in the trash bin from the curb. So the big focus of the day is putting away the delivery of nine items and cutting sourdough bread.

Otherwise it’s a day of rest. Pork chop/over easy egg for breakfast. Myka will be interested. (She’s still making use of birthday scratchpad as her bed by the office door.) Cheddar pork spud for dinner. Otherwise, keeping myself occupied and sleeping. It’s a rainy day, so a highlighted lumper.

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The local PO is prepping the package for delivery. It looks like it’s about to clear up, the rain moving east.

I’m about to fry a pork chop and egg.

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I fell asleep before I made the pork chop and egg. And the package arrived while I was asleep. It has been unpacked, assembled where needed, and put away, except for the slicer. I haven’t figured out where to put it yet. I still need to break down the boxes for recycling.

The batteries required that I break down the packaging of the other AA and AAA batteries, essentially bag them and dispose of the plastic display packs. I got the USB-C hub connected to the laptop, and the extra USB-A hub connected to that. The charger is plugged in and sitting next to the power banks. Adaptors are in the desk drawer, for quick access. The desk is getting crowded for Myka to park herself.

When I carried the bags of kibbles to the kitchen, Myka got excited and started chirping. Not sure if it was visual or aromatic that tipped her off. Neither bag was opened, but she got treats to distract her.

I still need to go get ice, when I get around to breaking up the bottom of the existing bag. That will be the last chore of the day. I’ll get around to the pork chop eventually. I have a pastrami sandwich to make first. And cheddar pork spud.

Minis are back in stock today. I’ll eat the danish before I head back, Friday morning, probably.

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Okay, I made a spot for the slicer, a little high profile, next to the toaster, but adequate. I put a bag around it to keep it clean. I still haven’t cleaned the blade or used it yet. I filled the ice bin and Myka’s ice bag, and I’m going after a fresh bag of ice as soon as I catch a bit of wind in my sails. Myka got ice water and I got a refill.

Once the ice run is done, I’ll clean the slicer blade and slice the loaf of sourdough in various widths (thin, sandwich, slabs), bag, and freeze. Then I’ll make a celebratory sandwich.

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I am happy with the bread slicer. I won’t use it every day, obviously, but I am glad to have it standing ready in the kitchen for whole loaf breads. The thin will be for toast, sandwich for artisan sandwiches, and slabs for butter and honey, pizza, etc. I like the ability to combo cut, make the loaves for a multitude of purposes. Except for the sandwich shown, the loaf is bagged and in the freezer. The sandwich is fondly history.

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The fresh bag of ice was in the freezer before I sliced the sourdough. I forgot to mention that. I just got back from a store run for minis and Goldfish. I saw the clock at 10:30 pm and told myself, go or forget it. I went. Now the shopping list is empty. I shouldn’t need to go anywhere until next week. So let it rain.

I have three chores to do, stack crates, get the shipping boxes out to the recycling bin, and rearrange the long table for summer. None are particularly time sensitive.

I am using the new USB charger (40W USB-C channel) with a short USB-C cord and a lightning adaptor to charge the phone. There’s a lot more options these days.

There isn’t much grabbing my attention now. Except Myka.