Author: Peg

No matter how grim or unsettled things seem in our dysfunction country/world – things have been worse.

Continuing with revisiting my existing images.

Still thinking about my technology do-over. For a little while I thought about getting a MacMini and running Windows on it… But, that would cost lots more money and I sort of want to keep Windows nasty habits out of my Mac stuff. The Lenovo Q150 – $300 is my current pick.

Of course, I could get the MacMini Server… And, the Q150. Might as well, take money out of the stock market before it dives more.

I decided to stay off the foto-a-day wagon again – and just worked on post processing existing images.

Did I mention that I took a huge hit in the market yesterday? In true Peg fashion, I added to my positions. We’ll see how this works out when the market opens Monday.

Thinking about having a technology do-over. I have Snail Internet. Don’t see any reason (except to make my family happy) to upgrade internet until I get back from Hawaii next spring. I pay less than $20 a month for Snail Internet. Looking at $50 to $70 a month for  blazing fast.

Current “important” stuff:

• The Airness. Which still has a year to go on Apple Care.
• The elderly printer/scanner.  Apple does not recognize the scanner. But, it fits really nicely in the only possible printer location and Carlton can use it to make copies without my help.
• The dinosaur dell in the kitchen. It is ready for the Smithsonian. But, it works and does our taxes. (Ubuntu/XP)
• The tiny Fujitsu. It just sort of takes of space and plays print/scan server. Actually, with the addition of an external drive – the Fujitsu could replace the dino-dell. (Ubuntu)
• External DVD drive, a couple of blue tooth mice, really nice old IBM usb keyboard.
• A strange monitor/TV.

I fell off the new foto everyday wagon. I have been going crazy post processing my photographs from last summer in Japan. My disk drive is overstuffed and I have to move some things off. The Japan photos are slated to go to the backup drive ASAP.

I hate my ISP. DSL = Damn Slow Line. But, I also hate Verizon/Fios and Comcast.

Been doing this photo a day thing for two months. Some days, like today, I am SO not into taking a picture. But, I honestly think that my post processing has vastly improved by the process. So, I am going to keep doing it.

The first month theme was “Black and White”. Second month “Ordinary Things”. Third month “Living Things”.

I am furiously working on my photos from the Japan trip from last summer. I want to have the photos done before a year has gone by.

Didn’t do much today.

Mario’s is about a block away and we can see it from our east facing windows. It is open until the last drunk makes it out the door. Usually about 5AM. When I can not sleep at night, I watch the comings and goings at Mario’s. Their customers are not asleep – so why should I be asleep.

And now, for the dark side – our local crematorium. About three blocks away. We can not see the crematorium. But, at least once a day – I take a little short cut thru their parking lot. And, I have never seen any smoke coming out those smoke stacks. I wonder – do they only crank up the oven after dark?

Before the housing market crashed, a condo was going to be built on the mortuary site – but the mortuary/crematorium was going to stay on the ground floor. Sort of macabre – even for my tastes.

No news today. 100+ temperature. Leftover salmon w/tomato and guacamole for dinner, Not too shabby.

Just lazed around today. Cold chicken, potato salad and zucchini on tap for dinner. Sort of an indoor picnic. Carlton doesn’t like to eat out and that includes outside. Well, that saves money – don’t have to buy table and chairs for the terrace. 

Another money saver. There is a dress I want at JJill. But, to get a new dress I have to give up an existing dress or a blouse and skirt or blouse and pants. (Hey, it is my rule. It doesn’t have to make sense.) But, I decided that I want to keep all of my existing dresses, skirts, pants and blouses. So, no new dress, for now at least.

Peg’s Instant Solution to the Debt Ceiling Problem: Xie Xuren, Chinese Finance Minister, announces that China will not buy any US paper until we get our shit together. In 5 minutes – debt ceiling vanishes. Poof.

Stopped off on my way home from volunteer job to snap off some shots of a sunflower.

I got home before the lunch guests arrived. And, there is leftover salmon and potato salad. Life is good – if I don’t think about the peabrains running our country. I think the Republicans are the result of our current misguided parenting process whereby every kid is “special” and every action results in a hardy round of “good job” followed by a trip to Mickey D’s for a Happy Meal. (Now don’t get me wrong – I have McDonald’s stock – Happy Meals are a good thing.)

So, our Republican congress people are “special”. Fox News tells them they are doing a “good job”. And they all have eyes on the next Happy Meal or election – not the common good.

No joy in today’s photograph. I just shot something because I am having this photo a day thing.

Spent all morning at volunteer job. Spent all afternoon getting food together to feed Carlton’s friends tomorrow noon. I’ll finish up the getting the food ready and the living room tidied up before heading out to volunteering tomorrow morning. This all seems a lot like work. Tuesday afternoon is supposed to be my afternoon “off”. I am tired and crabby.

But, in the fridge there is a nice chuck of baked salmon, a vat of potato salad, a platter of prosciutto and melon. Plus turkey and cheese sandwiches – which will be tonight’s dinner. 

I managed to score tax-free tickets to Kona. October 29, Alaska Air. One way.

If Congress can not get their shit together enough to keep collecting air-fare taxes – what makes us think they’ll solve this debt thing? Wishful thinking? Hope over experience? Well, the NFL got their shit together.

Blazing heat gone. Now, it is just normal hot summer weather.

Trying to get my act together enough to buy tickets to Kona or somewhere. Congress couldn’t even agree on funding the FAA, so federal taxes on plane tickets expired at midnight on Friday. I spend way too much time fussing over plane tickets. I need a Netjet card!