Month: April 2022

Outside step

This week I tackled the step outside. In our backyard, there had been an inground pool. There is a path with pavers and two steps to the still existing pool deck on the ground. However, the step was incredibly narrow. This made it dangerous to walk with anything in your hands. I had to figure out how to square up the step and then elongate the step. Turns out the two steps were poured in place and heavy.

Fortunately, I was able to get the steps in place. I then added pavers as supports and used the pavers to create a step that is 16 additional inches wide.

Break

This last week was break week. I didn’t do hardly any work at all. Rather, I did get some things done around the house. Rm was off to Michigan for a shower for a friend.

I had to make a threshold for the living room to dining room transition as that is an unusual length. I got the steps done (see above). I also painted the curtain holder (we have a window that goes all the wall to a wall, so we had to be creative with installing the curtain rod) and patched and painted where I had installed a screw for a picture.

I’ve started working on building a cabinet for the kitchen. This is turning out to be a learning experience.

Running

After over a year away from running, for a variety of reasons, I’m trying to re-establish the running habit. Turns out that hills make things that much harder. It’s a slow start, but I’m working on building up my endurance again.

Hazel – Ninja Dog

I was doing some work outside and had Hazel outside with me. I just saw her on the bench, as usual, a spot she likes. I went back to working. A couple minutes later, I went to check on her. Not on the bench. Not on the stairs. Not running around. I checked the garage, not there.

Panic ensues. I start calling her and looking for her. The gates are still closed. I check the cemetery, figuring that is where she usually goes for a walk. No Hazel. Now I’m really panicking. I look around where we usually walk her. I’m stuck as I’m afraid to look too far in case she comes home (I’m the only one home). Yet, I also know that time is of the essence. The longer she is gone, the further she could go.

In looking, I see a police officer (alright, the police officer). He says that he will look for her.

I call Rm to let her know. As soon as I make that call and start explaining, who comes running up the street? That’s right – Hazel. Thankfully safe and sound.

The rest of the day is spent purchasing some additional fencing, checking all areas of the fencing where she could’ve gotten out, and installing said purchased fencing so that she can’t go under gaps.

Pimorini Keybow2040

A great gift from my daughter, the pimorni keybow2040 is essentially a wonderful keyboard extension. It is completely programmable.

I’m still researching exactly how I want to use this. It is a fun, wonderful addition though.

French Braid

Anne Tyler released a new book: French Braid. It is wonderful! I think that this is one of her best books of late, and that’s saying something. Anne Tyler writes about interesting characters. French Braid is more so about a family. This book has all the wonderful characters and imagery that one comes to expect from Anne Tyler. The reader is drawn into their world. It was especially easy for me to relate the Garrett family. Across the generations, the idea of family and how that plays out is fascinating. I can’t recommend this one highly enough. Go read it now.

Easter

The kids weren’t able to join us, but we had a wonderful dinner.

Live Update

Maine is doing a live stream of a bridge construction project. This impacts my drive to work (and from work). It’s pretty cool that the project is being streamed. Essentially, they have built a replacement bridge and will be moving it into place over a few days. This replaces months of closures and construction.

Podcast

Shawn and I had a terrific podcast this week. One of the things I was interested in was the Florida Department of Education’s latest Press Release Florida Rejects Publisher’s Attempts to Indoctrinate Students. This doesn’t sound like a Department of Education Press Release, but a listicle. With a title like that, it isn’t about education, but political positioning. We also talked about citizen science, schedules, and much more.

I’ve also been wondering about advertising. On one hand, it would be nice to mitigate some of the costs of running the podcast, but we don’t have a huge following either (maybe you could help out with that).

Barn 8

I’ve finished Barn 8. I can’t say that this one had me absolutely enthralled, but I did find it interesting. This is not a mystery. The plot of the story is pretty well explained and laid out. The story is dependent upon the character of Janey. Janey is a teenager who finds out that her father is actually alive. She goes to visit him and her mother is killed in an accident prior to returning home. Janey then becomes a chicken auditor and develops a plan to save a million chickens.

The story then introduces a couple of different characters who make up the story. I would’ve like a bit more focus and development of these characters. They feel fundamental but underdevelope.

ClipMenu

I’ve been using ClipMenu as my clipboard manager for years and years. It has been discontinued. The download link doesn’t resolve anywhere. However, since I have the application, I’ve been able to move it from computer to computer. It works. Except that it works slightly different on one computer than the other. Using the keyboard shortcut of Command | Shift | V, I get a menu pop up allowing me to pick from recently copied items. On one computer, my selection automatically pastes (this is the desired effect). On the other, that item is moved to the top of the list, but nothing is actually pasted. So, I have to hit Command | V again. Not a big deal, but a bit annoying.

So, I went to see if there was an update. Nope. However, I did find Clipy (this is a Japanese website) (Github version) which is based upon ClipMenu. When I say based, it is almost an exact replica. This is one of the beauties of open source. Since ClipMenu was open source, Clipy is allowed to exist.

So far, I’m grooving on Clipy. It is exactly what ClipMenu was but updated.

MOOSE

My MOOSE partner and I have met and begun the work on our middle school computer science project. It is very early, but we have at least begun the process.

Anne Tyler

Yea! Anne Tyler has released a new book: French Braid. This one has arrived and has been bumped up to “NEXT”.

Taxes

Taxes were tough this year. Selling stock meant a “pay” instead of refund. However, taxes are done and submitted.

D&D

Last weekend I had the chance for my first D&D experience. This was arranged and run by my daughter. It was an interesting and fun activity.

Hazel

Hazel’s been a bit under the weather lately. She’s been on some medication (pink eye and probably a virus). Just like a toddler, send her to “school” and she comes home with the crud.
She’s also working on walking without being afraid of noises and activities. Rm is doing a terrific job with her.

Beers with(out) Beards

Saturday was a chance to experience Beers With(out) Beards via an invitation from my eldest daughter and a friend of hers. This was a neat experience revolving around, well, Beers. Essentially, this is an event that celebrates Women in Beer. There were a wide variety of Beers to sample. There were breweries from around the country in attendance.

Being the driver meant prudence with the number of beers sampled. However, I was able to try quite a few. It was the first real event that I’ve attended without a mask in a while. I had a wonderful time and would surely go again.

Sea Dogs

Rm and I also went to our first Portland Sea Dogs game on Sunday. Although it was not a winning day for the home team, the weather was beautiful. The stadium is interesting (as are most AA stadiums). We’ll definitely be going back (and hope that the team learns to catch pop-ups).

Podcast

No show this week as I was off with my daughter.