Category Archives: General BS

How I’m feeling. What I’m doing. Whether my Ex- has kicked the bucket yet.

Feb 05

Cancelled Contract For My Self Hosted Blog & Now Can’t Post Here

Posted on by
Without logging on. So … This site will cease to exist this coming July. It’s just gotten too expensive for what I do. (Blog.) So … I’ll keep my wordpress and blogger blog going and HOPE I don’t offend the Powers That Be and get kicked off either.
We’ll see…
I’ve been a client of Ionos since they were 1and1 (2007?) and it getting more expensive is the only complaint I’ve had. Excellent products and excellent service.
Y’all have fun! See ya on the flip side.
Aug 28

So, Are Freeze Dried Grapes Just Weird Raisins? Asking For A Friend …

Posted on by

Thought I’d rested my back enough to get out today and take down a couple of small trees (with the tractor mostly) and dig a trench (again with the tractor mostly) in the back 40 for winter drainage (we like to be able to walk the path even after it’s rained a lot). So I did. Both.

I should have reconsidered my plans for the day. ‘Nuff said. Where’s the Advil?

Date Day last Friday and I took SWMBO to Red Robin where we paid $13 for her Mushroom burger, and $13 for my regular cheeseburger. $5 for her foo-foo tea and $4 for my Dr. Pepper. And don’t forget the tip! She’s worth it, for sure, but sometimes … Turns out the breakfast I make for us at home is a $28 breakfast at FPH.

(denotes the passage of time…)

You know, I started this about a week ago, got busy, and totally forgot about it and posting. Sorry about that. Having too much fun during the day on the new tractor while the good Wx lasts and not getting enough sleep at night because of the back ache and Left knee pain when I lay down. But that’s my problem and not yours. Hopefully. One would think I wouldn’t have much to do on only 3.2 acres. Seems though, since I turned 70, every job takes almost twice as long to do and I need more mechanical help. Maybe I should consider downsizing … (Can’t stand neighbors too close though!)

Got an interesting e-mail:

Hi,  spam=@=stanking.org
We are here to inform you that today's the last date to renew your subscription!
Don't worry! we care for our existing valued customers, we have once again restored the services for you.
Your network protection and PC shield security services has been successfully renewed and upgraded as per your request.
*Geek Squad* has processed the annual fee charge of $ 419.85 which will be debited directly from your bank account within 24 hours.
This   transaction is being completed using the updated payment methöd on file ,   the charge will appear on your accôunt statement within few höurs.
If   you don't want to get charged again for our computer services kindly   unsubscribe, cancel or void the charges and stop the autò debit   recurring payments.
Service Renewal & Cancellation Team ##  +1 888 278 7566  (Dial Tollfree)
Thanks .!! Ricardo Paul Geek Squad Team
That’s the way it was formatted. Where do these idiots learn their written english? Does anyone still fall for these scams? But it is making me want to set up a raspberry Pi to autodial their number about a zillion times a day.
Anywho, thought I’d post that I’m still alive in case there were any family, friends, associates, or debtors wondering. I think I’ll get back to more regular, and hopefully more interesting, posts once the Wx goes to crap and I can’t get outside as much.
Which should be soon. “They” set up the fish counter trailer at the river coming out of Belfair and from the time it gets taken down to the onset of crappy weather is, usually, only a matter of weeks. Like two.
Jul 10

Just Had To Have

Posted on by

Biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Sure, I had “biscuits and gravy” at FHP the other day, but, their gravy was the most “bland enough for the masses guaranteed not to offend anyone” gravy I’ve ever had. So I felt like a real, proper, gravy with lots of pepper and sausage crumbles (since I don’t have any “real” sausage available today). Topped off with an egg, over easy.

I went back for a 2nd biscuit.

I grew up on this stuff. Biscuits and gravy. Fried Chicken. (Us kids got only the thighs and legs (and backs and necks)). Collard/Turnip greens. Beans and cornbread. Chili and cornbread. Cornbread and milk. And all the sun-perch or catfish and crawdads you could catch. What folks used to call “soul food” back in the 70’s (do they still call it that?) we called “Eat it or go hungry” when I was a kid. Kids today need to learn that shit.

Sometimes my upbringing catches up with me.

Which is why I’m patriotic as fuck sometimes. Ok, well. All the time. In the beginning it was part of what I was taught growing up. Turned into something I learned and understood in my adult life. Serving during two wars didn’t change my mind either. So, yeah, saluting the flag and biscuits and gravy go together.

SWMBO and I got new phones yesterday. She got a Galaxy S21 (I believe. I don’t pay attention sometimes) and I got the Galaxy A42. Seems nice. Great graphics. Fun playing with the 4 (Four!) cameras. Spent about 2 hours getting it set up with the programs (apps) I’ve used forever and trying out a couple of new apps. This thing actually let me uninstall some of the bloatware crap that comes with all phones. Of course, even though I’m “buying” this phone it still doesn’t belong to me and Android, Google, and Samsung can do what they please with it without letting me know. Which sucks.

Then I spent a couple of hours setting SWMBO’s phone up and making sure she can get to what she’s been used to using. Had to change a couple of her passwords so I finally set up a section of keepassx with just her passwords and stuff in it. I can’t remember all these passwords and logins. Keep losing the paper I write it down on.

And this phone is physically larger than the last. The case I got for it does stick to the magnet on my dash, but doesn’t have a belt clip thingie. Ah, I keep breaking those anyway.

Out working on my mounts for the solar panels. Need more bolts. Lots more bolts.

Jul 07

Almost SSDD Around Here. Still.

Posted on by
My phone battery finally went TU, or mostly TU, and keeps shutting down after only a couple of hours up time. So we went to COSTCO to get a new one. (Phone. Not battery.) They didn’t have the Galaxy A42 though so we wound up back at the local Verizon store and put one on order.
SWMBO also got a sim card for her tablet so she can use it while we’re on the road without having to make a hot spot out of our phones or whatever. AND she got herself a new phone “just because.” (Well, I don’t know about the “just because” part. But the decision was real quick. Or so it seemed.)
So, we walked out owing *only* $50/mo more than when we walked in. Good thing we’re on that “55+” program! Still, I hear $150/mo for unlimited data for two phones and two tablets ain’t bad. And they’re (the phones) are 5g with 4g over 5g. Whatever the hell that means. So everything should be faster. Supposedly. (Oh, sorry. Supposably.)
This Droid Maxx2 lasted about 5 years. Not bad. If the battery had been replaceable it’d be lasting another 5 years. Or until it just wouldn’t take any more updates; which happened to my last phone. Unable to apply Updates. What a crock.
Got out and built the solar panel brackets and attached my solar panel to it. Ordered another from Amazon. Solar panel. Not bracket. Nevermind.
Anywho, I’m thinking of making some much better directions for putting this thing together. The directions that came with it SUCK. Lot of trial and error but finally got it done. Will “test mount” the new solar panel to be sure it works then disassemble most of it to get it into place. Hardest part will be working up off the ground by myself. Now to pick up the supplies to make my own brackets to mount my old solar panels back by my neighbors from hell. Then run a long wire or two.
If I’m remembering right: hook them up serial to get more volts. Parallel for more amps. And I need the amps to cover the 200 ft distance. But I’ll try different things to get the best results.
The spendy parts will be the batteries. Even lead-acid batteries aren’t cheap. LifePo4 cost more but last longer. More cycles. And 6 volt batteries cost more than 12v probably because they are more efficient. Well, let me get the panels set up and we’ll go from there.
About to buy my friends Yaesu 991. Not the 991a I want but pretty good for $500. My 857d needs to go to the shop and get refurb’d and tuned up. Her finals checked. Been going strong, at home and in the field, for 11 years now. She needs a rest before I mount her in the RV.
I see Biden threatened to send his goons door-to-door to get people vaccinated. Pity the poor fool that knocks on my door and asks personal confidential information. I’ve got over 3 acres and know where to rent a digger.