Category: The DayBook

Yes, I went a picked up a new MacBook today. Not the new 14 inches one with the new improved silicon that I had been waiting on. But last year’s model. With the old M1 silicon. Why? Because I wanted to. But, I also decided that I didn’t need the power of the new one. And, I sure didn’t need the extra weight. I did dearly want the MagSafe. And, I will miss having the new ports.  But, all that new goodness comes at a price of an extra ½ pound and considerable $$$. 

It doesn’t do much yet. I decided to do a clean install. Maybe next computer I will be too old to sort out everything and I will just clone the old machine. But, I am sure the new computer will be happier without 5 years of computer detritus. 

So, if this new computer is physically identical to the old one (except for the SSD which is 1TB vice 512GB), why the new one? 

• • The battery is shot.
  • The USB3 and thunderbolt connections have gotten loose and cables fall out.
  • It gets really hot.

I really didn’t intend to buy I computer today. I had decided that I would be happy with a 13 inch MacBook Pro, however.  I was also considering the MacBook Air. Tricked out with more memory and storage. But, it doesn’t have a fan. And to me that isn’t cool.

When I came back from dinner just now, I was greeted by a fine moon looking in my window. Maybe the highlight of the day.

Spent most of the day wrangling data. Why do civilians think that if data are in System A that the data can just be “downloaded” and then “uploaded” to System B. The corollary to that is “well, I have the data in a spreadsheet.” Oh well, this is why I make the big bucks.

Dinner tonight. Hamburger. Free Wine. Pickle. Coffee. Conversation. Hamburger rare. Wine drinkable. Pickle limp. Coffee hot. Conversation good. An OK congregate living dinner. Nobody complained about spreadsheets. Or data. 

And today’s painful but “adult” decision is to let the Pixel 6Pro wait until I get back from Kona. This one wasn’t so hard since projected delivery dates are into January already. May the Goddess protect Shamu the Phone until then.

So what is this “right” decision? I decided to NOT get a new MacBook before going to Hawai’i. I am pretty sure I could get one delivered next Tuesday. That would give me 3 entire days to get it set up to my satisfaction. But, we all remember what great luck I had with my last technology buy – the bleeding screen Pixel. 

And, I would be taking the brand new MacBook to Kona. Travel is always a risk with electronics.  But, the old MacBook is OK as long as it is plugged in and not asked to render video. It will do fine in Kona. So, the grown-up thing to do is to pass on the new MacBook this afternoon. And get a new one in January. And January will need something to look forward too. 

As I said. I hate doing the “right” thing. Tomorrow Google springs the newest Phones. Yet another chance to make the “right” choice.

The mad decorator has stuck again.

We are also promised “some” new tables and new flatware. What we really need is new food. 

Finished up my left over Chinese food. I was going to pitch the rice but put in the freezer instead. I will be making soup when I return from Hawai’i. Or maybe before I go, so it will be in the freezer waiting for me. I don’t hold out much hope for improved food. 

But, they still make an acceptable simple breakfast. They can poach eggs. Toast bread. And even make waffles. Once upon a time, they made eggs Florentine and breakfast tacos. Glad that I am leaving soon. 

Yesterday was summer. Late this afternoon is changing to autumn. 

Feeling a little frayed around the edges today. So, I gave myself the day off. Only thing that I accomplished was figuring out how to get to the airport before dawn cracks on Halloween. I put myself into a hotel with a shuttle to the airport that starts at 0420. Easy for me to check in the afternoon or night before. And, I really like hotels. And, I am in control. If something happens to the shuttle, I can always hoof it to the airport. The distance is short. However, it is not pedestrian friendly. Still. It’s a plan b. You know me. Gotta have a plan b.

Another activity, earlier today, while it was still summer was to tidy up my garden box for the winter. A bee was still at work. 

We made our way through dinner at the cheap Chinese restaurant yesterday. With leftovers to bring home. The food is dreadful here at The Asylum. We need to eat out more often. 

Of course, after I spend 55 days in Kona – cooking for myself – I might think more kindly about the asylum food. Or the food might get better. That is what I hoped when I went to Alaska for 30 days. (My fortune: It is quality rather than quantity that matter. Do a good job.)

Mother Nature, who is usually a Total Bitch, gave us a lovely bonus summer day. And, I went out several times to show my appreciation. 

As I get closer to my end date, these lovely days are increasingly dear.

While I was pondering my mortality and doing this entry, I noticed a red tail hawk flying by. Quick:

1. 1. 1. Put computer down.
      2. Lumber out of comfy chair.
      3. Grab camera.
      4. Never mind that it was the camera with the macro lens attached.
      5. Turn on, remove lens cap, fire. The camera that I picked up hunts focus with the macro lens – so I only got one shot.
      6. Pretty happy with the result. Washington Monument, plane landing at National, Capital, red tail hawk, and if you look really close – Air Force Memorial. Click on the picture if you want to look for the AF Memorial.

And, that is why I chose this apartment. 

Back to celebrating summer.

Time to head out to dinner. Escaping the Asylum for our local cheap Chinese restaurant. 

If you have an orchid in bloom you always have a picture to take. 

Did very little nothing of any significance today. And that is OK. 

One of my technology-challenged neighbors asked me to make a “recording” of her playing the hammered dulcimer.

It’s only 30 seconds and is rather charming. Amazing what you can do with your telephone these days! 

Strange place, The Asylum.

This afternoon the wheelchair-bound residents were forced to listen to what might be the worst accordion performance ever. Go on play it. One minute and 14 seconds of agony.

Shortly after the accordion concert, the oenophiles retired to a private wine tasting.

I was invited to attend as a substitute. I behaved myself. And can report that one of the wines did have a faint smell of dirty ashtray. And another a whiff of acetone.

And, this evening Alexander Vindman is speaking to the residents.

It’s just weird. If you can get Col Vindman would it be too hard to get a better accordion player to entertain the elders? 

Did a lot of walking getting to/from work today. Heck, I was walking away from the hospital when I got a call to “come back”.  I don’t walk as fast as I once did, so I hadn’t gotten but a couple of blocks. Of course, I didn’t get back all that fast either. Anyhow, I figure I walked enough to get dessert tonight if I so desire. And, I am ½ to my weekly cardio goal for the week. 

Hopefully, the rest of the week will just be normal crazy. A level of crazy that can be processed from the comfort of the Old Bat’s Cave.

 

 

Today was filled with work. And not much else. I did get a 3rd Echo device running this afternoon. Now, that really is 2 too many for a studio apartment. 

Tomorrow promises to be worse. 

But, good news. My travel pants still fit. My bathing suit still fits. I got rid of a couple of suits because I had several stashed in Kona. Well, not anymore. But, I really only need one suit. And it doesn’t have to be fancy. Just cover up the important parts. 

More good news. Grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for dinner. How much more smallkidtime can it get.

The best part of the day: visiting Tiger a  slightly neurotic, very orange cat.

I gave myself a leisure day. I finished up my work. Had a very fine unhealthy breakfast. And then I napped and read newspapers. Went for a small walk and ended up with some happy bee pictures.

I went back to the archive and found the original photo. It’s sharp enough. I remember taking that picture. 

The one that I had posted back in October 2009 was just smaller. 

Spent a long day wrangling data. And, another day tomorrow. That’s OK. But, I made it out for a fast walk around my one-mile circuit.  And made a little time for toad lily photos. 

All things considered, toad lilies are more fun than Covid Vaccination spreadsheets.