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Earlier this week I got Covid, flu, and shingles vaccinations.
Left arm got shingles and then flu. The Shingrex vaccine is a mixed vaccine, in that there are two vials per dose, each vial mixed together to get the injectable vaccine. The left arm was really sore and muscle hurty starting a while after the injections, but was mostly okay the next day.
Covid Novavax injection in the right arm which didn't really hurt at all.
Now I need to figure out when to go back for Shingrex2 and a tetanus shot.
Left arm got shingles and then flu. The Shingrex vaccine is a mixed vaccine, in that there are two vials per dose, each vial mixed together to get the injectable vaccine. The left arm was really sore and muscle hurty starting a while after the injections, but was mostly okay the next day.
Covid Novavax injection in the right arm which didn't really hurt at all.
Now I need to figure out when to go back for Shingrex2 and a tetanus shot.
Range Hood
Jun. 25th, 2023 12:18 amUgh.
It is impossible to find a nice range hood in black stainless steel at a reasonable price. (I can find a Samsung one at $1K. Hah. No.)
So I think I'll get something in black and wait a while and get a black stainless steel one later on.
On the other hand, I saw a medium blue counter surface at a store today that looks lovely and is probably super expensive... but I might get that anyways....
It is impossible to find a nice range hood in black stainless steel at a reasonable price. (I can find a Samsung one at $1K. Hah. No.)
So I think I'll get something in black and wait a while and get a black stainless steel one later on.
On the other hand, I saw a medium blue counter surface at a store today that looks lovely and is probably super expensive... but I might get that anyways....
HOA Board Member
Jun. 10th, 2023 10:03 pmSo... my condo's Home Owners Association board member election is coming up soon and I decided to nominate myself. And so I did. There are 3 open positions and there were 4 nominated people, but then one person chose to withdraw their nomination. So... three positions, three candidates, and I will now be an HOA board member starting in August.
It's a pretty laid back board, with either quarterly or every other month meetings, so not a major amount of time.
I'm still wondering what I've done to myself this time, though...
It's a pretty laid back board, with either quarterly or every other month meetings, so not a major amount of time.
I'm still wondering what I've done to myself this time, though...
My iPhone Trolled Me
May. 9th, 2023 10:18 pmThis weekend I learned my iPhone is a troll of truly epic abilities...
The main event this week was us renting a U-haul truck and taking my sister's stuff from the storage unit near mom's house to her to place down here in Rohnert Park.
The truck had a radio that could connect via bluetooth to a cellphone.
As I was driving the truck, I paired it with my phone and started off, after finding that it would also accept the bluetooth connection for the audio input for the radio. So I was happily going along listening to my streamed library.
It hits some song in my library, and then somehow starts playing sequentially by song title, instead of all songs shuffle play which is my usual mode of listening in the car.
So then that goes on for a few songs, and then I start noticing a pattern. A disturbing pattern.
All of the songs had the word "Blue" as the first word in their title. At first, I thought the title line of the radio also included the word "Blue" to indicate that bluetooth was the input, but no, the input line was the top line, that said, I think, BT for bluetooth input.
So I listend to 140 miles worth of songs whose titles started with the word "Blue" whilst connected to the bluetooth connection on the truck radio.
That is an epically subtle troll, for a phone.
The main event this week was us renting a U-haul truck and taking my sister's stuff from the storage unit near mom's house to her to place down here in Rohnert Park.
The truck had a radio that could connect via bluetooth to a cellphone.
As I was driving the truck, I paired it with my phone and started off, after finding that it would also accept the bluetooth connection for the audio input for the radio. So I was happily going along listening to my streamed library.
It hits some song in my library, and then somehow starts playing sequentially by song title, instead of all songs shuffle play which is my usual mode of listening in the car.
So then that goes on for a few songs, and then I start noticing a pattern. A disturbing pattern.
All of the songs had the word "Blue" as the first word in their title. At first, I thought the title line of the radio also included the word "Blue" to indicate that bluetooth was the input, but no, the input line was the top line, that said, I think, BT for bluetooth input.
So I listend to 140 miles worth of songs whose titles started with the word "Blue" whilst connected to the bluetooth connection on the truck radio.
That is an epically subtle troll, for a phone.
April Fools?
Apr. 1st, 2023 08:01 pmI was looking through my home purchase documents today, hoping to find a property tax bill, which I didn't. (Can get it online, no big deal, yay!)
But amongst the papers was a small refund check from the title company, dated November 2, 2022. The check says on it, "Void after 150 days"
Both Siri and Excel claim that 150 days from November 2, 2022, is April 1, 2023.
Not sure if this is a joke or not, but I'll do a phone deposit with it tonight, just in case.
But amongst the papers was a small refund check from the title company, dated November 2, 2022. The check says on it, "Void after 150 days"
Both Siri and Excel claim that 150 days from November 2, 2022, is April 1, 2023.
Not sure if this is a joke or not, but I'll do a phone deposit with it tonight, just in case.
Super Bowl Sunday Traditions
Feb. 12th, 2023 09:58 pmDad was a big football fan.
This is the first Super Bowl Sunday at my folks house where there has not been smelt bacon-fat-cooked popcorn, or hearing his "whooahhh!" cheer (I think a Texas A&M generated sound) when his team scored, or my mom getting a touchdown kiss in over 60 years.
(I wasn't there, given my mother's memory issues, I hope she didn't realize today was Super Bowl Sunday.)
But I miss my dad.
This is the first Super Bowl Sunday at my folks house where there has not been smelt bacon-fat-cooked popcorn, or hearing his "whooahhh!" cheer (I think a Texas A&M generated sound) when his team scored, or my mom getting a touchdown kiss in over 60 years.
(I wasn't there, given my mother's memory issues, I hope she didn't realize today was Super Bowl Sunday.)
But I miss my dad.
After the death of Sam Wood in August of last year, the trust that I did my "Thursday financial gig" for no longer had a trustee. Which meant all the financial accounts closed down and it had no money and no one to sign anything. The trust document specified a few potential trustees, but they all declined taking over, including the bank which has a trust management group. (No one wanted to touch it because of the contaminated property the trust owns.)
In late August or early September I asked Sam's daughter, the trustee of his and her mother's trust why Sam didn't ask me and she said he didn't think I'd want to do it. Well, he was right. I don't want to do it, but I said to her, "well, I know everything about it, I'm really the logical choice, let's see if we can work this out."
The court in Sonoma ruled on last Friday that I would be permanently assigned as successor trustee for the trust. (They made a ruling of an ex parte petition that I be assigned as special, temporary, trustee until the actual hearing occurred. I've been working on getting the financial accounts placed into my name as the trustee amongst other things since then.)
So I now work for myself, kinda sorta?
I started working for Babe, Sam's father in 1992. I've been with the family for 31 years now... Sheesh.
In late August or early September I asked Sam's daughter, the trustee of his and her mother's trust why Sam didn't ask me and she said he didn't think I'd want to do it. Well, he was right. I don't want to do it, but I said to her, "well, I know everything about it, I'm really the logical choice, let's see if we can work this out."
The court in Sonoma ruled on last Friday that I would be permanently assigned as successor trustee for the trust. (They made a ruling of an ex parte petition that I be assigned as special, temporary, trustee until the actual hearing occurred. I've been working on getting the financial accounts placed into my name as the trustee amongst other things since then.)
So I now work for myself, kinda sorta?
I started working for Babe, Sam's father in 1992. I've been with the family for 31 years now... Sheesh.
Kitchen Faucet Replaced
Jan. 20th, 2023 12:46 amFinally started testing negative for Covid, so had the plumber in today to replace the kitchen faucet and the three corroding supply valves under the sink. (Sink, and dishwasher valves.)
I had tried replacing the kitchen faucet earlier, and had gotten everything disassembled, but could not get the stupid Kohler giant washer that they felt was a nut to turn, and so could not get the faucet off the sink. Put everything back together and proceeded to use the single most annoying faucet ever for at least two weeks. The thing would no longer turn, and was set so it was one inch away from the center sink divide, and the height of the sink divide and the faucet spout was only about two inches. Absurdly, and almost hilariously, hard to use. Also, I couldn't use cold water, because that did not come out of the faucet spout, but only out around the shaft of the faucet.
It ended up taking two plumbers and a Sawzall to get the old faucet off, so I totally do not feel bad for not being able to remove it myself.
On the down side, one of the new valves (sink hot water) has a very slight leak, so I need to get them back in to fix that. I don't touch pipes coming out of walls, I've had absurd bad luck with those in the past, and I just don't risk it.
On the other down side, at some point in the near future I am getting all the cabinets and the counters replaced with IKEA ones, and that will necessate a sink replacement and plumbing redo. But I couldn't use the faucet the way it was, so, ugh.
I had tried replacing the kitchen faucet earlier, and had gotten everything disassembled, but could not get the stupid Kohler giant washer that they felt was a nut to turn, and so could not get the faucet off the sink. Put everything back together and proceeded to use the single most annoying faucet ever for at least two weeks. The thing would no longer turn, and was set so it was one inch away from the center sink divide, and the height of the sink divide and the faucet spout was only about two inches. Absurdly, and almost hilariously, hard to use. Also, I couldn't use cold water, because that did not come out of the faucet spout, but only out around the shaft of the faucet.
It ended up taking two plumbers and a Sawzall to get the old faucet off, so I totally do not feel bad for not being able to remove it myself.
On the down side, one of the new valves (sink hot water) has a very slight leak, so I need to get them back in to fix that. I don't touch pipes coming out of walls, I've had absurd bad luck with those in the past, and I just don't risk it.
On the other down side, at some point in the near future I am getting all the cabinets and the counters replaced with IKEA ones, and that will necessate a sink replacement and plumbing redo. But I couldn't use the faucet the way it was, so, ugh.
My sister came back from Montreal with the gift that just keeps giving, and infected both my mother and myself with Covid.
So far, symptoms are mild for everyone, but I am, of course, concerned over long covid, and I rather hope the foul taste I've had in my mouth is from the paxlovid and not a permanent addition to my condition.
This is severely hampered my dealing with things and actually moving in. I'm losing so many days and days of useful time because I don't have useful energy most of the time. And I know that all the exertion I put in last Sunday I had Covid, so that was particularly un-wise, but, what else was there to do?
Furious at my sister, and mad at myself, because if either of us had our heads on straight, her infecting us could have been prevented.
Ah well.
So far, symptoms are mild for everyone, but I am, of course, concerned over long covid, and I rather hope the foul taste I've had in my mouth is from the paxlovid and not a permanent addition to my condition.
This is severely hampered my dealing with things and actually moving in. I'm losing so many days and days of useful time because I don't have useful energy most of the time. And I know that all the exertion I put in last Sunday I had Covid, so that was particularly un-wise, but, what else was there to do?
Furious at my sister, and mad at myself, because if either of us had our heads on straight, her infecting us could have been prevented.
Ah well.
First Christmas Dinner
Dec. 28th, 2022 11:01 pmThis past Christmas, I cooked Christmas dinner largely by myself for the first time. (Usually, I am just helping.)
I made ham, mashed potatoes, sweet and sour carrots, and green beans. My brother helped out a lot, and made the garlic bread.
Dinner was at Mom's house, and it was her, my brother, and myself.
( Christmas dinner pic here... )
I made ham, mashed potatoes, sweet and sour carrots, and green beans. My brother helped out a lot, and made the garlic bread.
Dinner was at Mom's house, and it was her, my brother, and myself.
( Christmas dinner pic here... )
Garage Halfway Done
Dec. 1st, 2022 11:04 pmOn Tuesday the first step of coating my garage floor happened.
(There is a backstory to why I was able to do the garage, but I'll get to that later.)
It came about that I was able to afford getting my new garage floor epoxy coated, and so I chose to do so. The first step happened on Tuesday, when the contractor degreased, ground, and then laid down the base color coat, flung bucketsful of very thin plastic color flakes down and let that cure for a day or two.
( Picture of this step behind the cut... )
They came back today and did the clear coat on top of it, but I haven't seen it yet. So there should be shinier pictures later.
There are other pictures here: Garage Floor Pictures
(There is a backstory to why I was able to do the garage, but I'll get to that later.)
It came about that I was able to afford getting my new garage floor epoxy coated, and so I chose to do so. The first step happened on Tuesday, when the contractor degreased, ground, and then laid down the base color coat, flung bucketsful of very thin plastic color flakes down and let that cure for a day or two.
( Picture of this step behind the cut... )
They came back today and did the clear coat on top of it, but I haven't seen it yet. So there should be shinier pictures later.
There are other pictures here: Garage Floor Pictures
Today I bought:
26 wall switches (I want t go from old toggle to newer flat rocker)
21 switch plates
46 outlet plates
5 cable plates
2 toilet seats
1 taller step stool
1 garbage disposal
They had no telephone jack wall plates, I need 5.
Local hardware store had a 15% off sale for everything in stock. Yay?
26 wall switches (I want t go from old toggle to newer flat rocker)
21 switch plates
46 outlet plates
5 cable plates
2 toilet seats
1 taller step stool
1 garbage disposal
They had no telephone jack wall plates, I need 5.
Local hardware store had a 15% off sale for everything in stock. Yay?
Landed Gentry
Oct. 27th, 2022 07:34 pmSo...
Today I signed for a house and made the money transfer arrangements and supposedly I get the keys on the second of November. I appear to have bought a house.
So I guess I'm now landed gentry?
Anyways, it's a three bedroom, two bath condo with a fairly large bonus room on the ground floor, as well as a two car garage.
I copied the real estate ad pictures to here and will add more as time goes on.
I am replacing the carpet in the bedrooms, bonus room, and staircases (there are two, it's a three-story), and replace the kitchen and not-so-great-but-not-bad room floor with wood. I also want to put down an epoxy floor in the garage to make the cars happier.
I also want to replace the kitchen cabinets with IKEA ones, and need to replace some appliances.
All of this has yet to sink in, this is my first home purchase.
But I'm looking forward to having a lot more space.
Today I signed for a house and made the money transfer arrangements and supposedly I get the keys on the second of November. I appear to have bought a house.
So I guess I'm now landed gentry?
Anyways, it's a three bedroom, two bath condo with a fairly large bonus room on the ground floor, as well as a two car garage.
I copied the real estate ad pictures to here and will add more as time goes on.
I am replacing the carpet in the bedrooms, bonus room, and staircases (there are two, it's a three-story), and replace the kitchen and not-so-great-but-not-bad room floor with wood. I also want to put down an epoxy floor in the garage to make the cars happier.
I also want to replace the kitchen cabinets with IKEA ones, and need to replace some appliances.
All of this has yet to sink in, this is my first home purchase.
But I'm looking forward to having a lot more space.
Never Gets Old
Jul. 17th, 2022 12:12 amOne of the best things ever is licking butter off the wrapper it came in.
RIP EB McGowan
May. 14th, 2022 10:33 amMy father, Edward Browne McGowan II, passed away Thursday, May 5, 2022.
He was surrounded by our family, and a cousin of my mother's who has always been very special to both mom and dad. His actual passing was easy and pain free for him, we believe. He died of respiratory failure, his lungs ability to provide oxygen to his system has been declining over the past several years, but they took a nose-dive when he took my mom to see Bryce Canyon and other areas in Utah they both loved. We think he just couldn't handle the higher elevation.
I'm doing okay for the most part as are my brother and sister. Until Mid-June I'll be living with my mother full-time, and my brother will also mostly be here, but just to the end of May. In mid-June, my sister retires from her teaching position and will be moving in with my mom full-time. This had already been planned before my father passed, as he was having a hard time managing both my mother with her short-term memory loss issues, and his slowly failing health issues.
Dad was a good and excellent man, and everyone we have spoken with who knew him have all said how kind and interested he was.
We'll miss him, but he and mom have provided us with the tools and upbringing to where we will be able to handle what needs to be. handled and grow as a family.
He was surrounded by our family, and a cousin of my mother's who has always been very special to both mom and dad. His actual passing was easy and pain free for him, we believe. He died of respiratory failure, his lungs ability to provide oxygen to his system has been declining over the past several years, but they took a nose-dive when he took my mom to see Bryce Canyon and other areas in Utah they both loved. We think he just couldn't handle the higher elevation.
I'm doing okay for the most part as are my brother and sister. Until Mid-June I'll be living with my mother full-time, and my brother will also mostly be here, but just to the end of May. In mid-June, my sister retires from her teaching position and will be moving in with my mom full-time. This had already been planned before my father passed, as he was having a hard time managing both my mother with her short-term memory loss issues, and his slowly failing health issues.
Dad was a good and excellent man, and everyone we have spoken with who knew him have all said how kind and interested he was.
We'll miss him, but he and mom have provided us with the tools and upbringing to where we will be able to handle what needs to be. handled and grow as a family.
News From LiveJournal
Mar. 15th, 2022 05:53 pmWhile it is true that LiveJournal is having problems with cross-posting from Dreamwidth and other journaling hosts, because they blackball sites where too many unsuccessful account authorization attempts occur, they are still operating.
My account was up for renewal, and I never got around to cancelling the pro subscription. On the other hand, I also chose not to, because LiveJournal never did anything that caused me to stop wanting to use them. I know they got bought by a Russian company, but that's not the Russian government, and I never saw evidence of any change in LiveJournal's content policies.
Anyways, my account was up for renewal, and for whatever reason, they could not process my payment. (Note that this is them being hurt by the Russian government's current war on Ukraine and the sanctions resulting from that) LiveJournal sent out an email stating that due to the processing problem (they did not say what the problem source was) they would grant three months of free pro account subscription.
That decision is one reason I chose not to end my subscription.
My account was up for renewal, and I never got around to cancelling the pro subscription. On the other hand, I also chose not to, because LiveJournal never did anything that caused me to stop wanting to use them. I know they got bought by a Russian company, but that's not the Russian government, and I never saw evidence of any change in LiveJournal's content policies.
Anyways, my account was up for renewal, and for whatever reason, they could not process my payment. (Note that this is them being hurt by the Russian government's current war on Ukraine and the sanctions resulting from that) LiveJournal sent out an email stating that due to the processing problem (they did not say what the problem source was) they would grant three months of free pro account subscription.
That decision is one reason I chose not to end my subscription.
This Bugs Me
Dec. 28th, 2021 10:14 pmSeveral times over the past three or four weeks in the evening I will look down at my laptop sitting on my dining room table (as I have been using it) and will see a random ant on it, or right next to it on the table.
There are no other ants on the table, and none on the floor nearby. It's just one ant on or near my laptop, once an evening. It's happened at least three nights in a row a few times.
This really bugs me.
There are no other ants on the table, and none on the floor nearby. It's just one ant on or near my laptop, once an evening. It's happened at least three nights in a row a few times.
This really bugs me.
New Fact Just Learned
Dec. 13th, 2021 12:01 amToday, I learned that reindeer eyes turn from brown to blue in the winter in order to see better.
That's just ultra-bizarre.
Reindeer Eyes Turn Blue In Winter
That's just ultra-bizarre.
Reindeer Eyes Turn Blue In Winter
