A Little Of This, A Little of That

I didn't realize I hadn't posted for so long.  I've been on the computer about "enough" stuff that I kind of forgot about my own ME blog.

Computer problems continue to drive me crazy.  I can't seem to solve them.  I'll try to stay brief, to spare you...

The computer restarts randomly because of (from the error message) incompatible software or hardware.  Wow, that pretty much covers all possibilities.  I've unplugged all non-essential hardware.  I've looked at all the software, trying to figure out exactly what is incompatible.  Maybe turning off nearly all software and bringing them back one at a time will help.

I've scanned the HD for problems.  2/3 is available, so nothing there to fix.  I've used Kaspersky and Bitdefender to search for malware.  Nothing seems wrong.  I increased my RAM from 8GB to 16 GB; didn't help.

Macs can stay in sleep mode without problems, but I restarted it several times and even shut it down a few.  That didn't solve anything.  I even shut down the router overnight and restated it.  No help there.  The problem pre-dates my current O/S (and nothing mentions frequent restarts as a bug in any recent O/S).  The 2018 Mac isn't old enough to be a problem.

ARGGGG!

I can't get the newer printer to print.  It there in the printer list, just "idle and paused?  I've tried it cabled and wireless, and followed the manual instructions in "baby steps".  I've even gone a a Mac Help Forum.  No  luck.

On other stuff...

I ordered a clear acrylic dining tabletop cover in November for "3 week delivery".  And since I was doing that, I ordered covers for my 2 computer tables for easier cleaning.  The computable table covers arrived in perfect condition.  The dining table one had a big chip on one edge.  When I sent the sender pictures, they promised to ship a replacement in 5 business days.  That was January 17.  Time to bother them again.

They don't want the damaged one back, so I am using it in the meantime.  I haven't even peeled off the protective masking.  It does work functionally, but a bright blue tabletop is a bit funny-looking.  When the new one arrives, I'll use that.  Interestingly, I do make things from plastic sometimes.  When I'm positive they can't demand the damaged one back, I'll use it for a few projects.

Not everything is bad.  I ordered flower seedlings.  A native-plant seller of good reputation offers various plant mixes.  One was 38 plants for $149 dollars (free shipping).  You can order 2 kinds (16 of each) or up to 6 different kinds (7-7-6-6-6-6).  Since most are perrenials or self-sowers, I went for the 6 different kinds.  I matched them by water/sunlight needs and spread them by bloom time, so it should give blooms May-Nov.  Most of those are meadow flowers with a couple of ornamental grasses.

I also ordered 3 seed mixes (each covers 500 square feet) for about $22 per bag.  One is deer-resistant (for the front yard - the deer can't get into the backyard), one is for shady areas, and one is for pollinators (some specifically for native solitary bees).  

Plus, I have saved seeds and existing transplantable meadowlike and pollinator-friendly plants.  I'll move those.  That will free up some space for "merely" ornamental flowers.

I'm sure glad I bought a snowblower 5-6 years ago.  Self-propelled, forward/reverse, and electric-starting.  It was most important with the 12" snowfall, but even with 4" it sure makes things easier!  My house faces north, so while the cross-the-street neighbors' snow melts in a day or 2, mine turns to ice if not removed quickly.  And my driveway slopes downhill to a drainage ditch.  I had to pay a guy $50 to shovel my driveway once (18") so I think the snow-blower has paid for itself now.

I'm replacing the refrigerators.  Yes, plural.  I have a really old one in the basement for bulk veggie and seed storage.  It is SO bad, I have to chip ice off the top of the refrigerator section and the freezer section won't go below 10 F (S/B 0 F).  And I bet it is costing a lot just to operate.

The current fridge isn't great at temperature uniformity, but it is sure better than the basement fridge and more energy-efficient.  I looked up newer/better ones at Consumer Reports.  There is a bottom freezer  LG model rated at the top I think I'll buy.  The temperature uniformity, reliability, and owner-satisfaction are all at the top, the price is about the same as lower-rated ones, and it has a top "energy-star" rating.

It has an external ice-maker.  I'm not sure I like that.  They tend to fail.  I make ice cubes manually just fine.  But if it works, "hurray".  Mostly though, you can't find a good refrigerator without one, LOL!

I'll have to clean the basement before I order the new refrigerator though.  It is too cluttered for movers to get around in.   No matter what I want to do, I have to do something else first!  To explain, I have say that my electric co-op will come and take away the oldest refrigerator and credit me $50.  Who doesn't want $50?

But I have to clear a space for the new fridge guys to put the older kitchen one in the regular space and the oldest one "somewhere".  That "somewhere" has stuff in the spot.  So I need to move that stuff.  I'm running out of places to put "stuff".  Which leads to REALLY cleaning the basement before I can buy a new fridge.  It's ALWAYS something...

Back to sad stuff...

Lori went into heat Wednesday night.  It's Monday night and that makes it 5 days.  She HAS to stop tomorrow, right?  Lori hasn't been as bad as Ayla was, but a sudden "calling session" in the middle of the night is hard to sleep through.  I sleep badly enough as it is.  Daytime isn't too bad and she doesn't keep it up for more than an hour.

Unlike Ayla did.  OMC!  She was a yeller.  For those of you who read this but are unfamiliar with "Alya In Heat", she had 2 botched spays by the breeder's vet, went into heat every 3 weeks for 7 days at a time, climbed me desperately with sharp claws, for maybe a year before my regular vet got her fixed.  

Ayla drove me crazy day and night, screaming.  The first circle of Hell is probably filled with Siamese cats in heat...  It was a terrible year.  I still have the calendar marked with Xs for her days in heat.  It seems mostly Xs.  She was seriously messed up.  

Lori isn't "that bad".  She has a quieter voice.  And it will certainly be her-our last experience.  I am a little annoyed at the vets though.  They said they didn't like to operate on a cat in heat so they wanted her to go through it first.  Timing the operation for "in-between", they said.  OK.  But they aren't here listening to the calls.

I am sad that Lori can't get the relief she wants so desperately.  Marley and Laz are neutered and *I* sure can't do anything about.  There should be a chill-pill...

That is sure more than enough for now...

Back, Maybe

 I hate computer problems.  Well, who loves them other that repair-people?  I've solved some of them (I hope).  Email is still bad, but I can read my cavebear address on AOL and the marksmews and yardenman ones on apple (but still can't reply from them).  I got my RAM increased from 8 GB to 16.  Took a onsite tech guy 2 hours and I couldn't have done that myself in any length of time.  It took some really special tools and a steady hand.

I can't swear that the RAM increase helped, but it sure can't hurt.  And I am still fighting to connect a new color toner printer with no success.  But that doesn't prevent me from blogging...

More importantly, it seems I have solved the routine involuntary shutdowns for now.  It was due to outdated apps.  Not that I don't update them when suggested, but some aren't good at telling you that.  And possibly an outdated external hard drive.  I've disconnected it for now.

But, for all practical purposes, I am back.

I didn't waste my "time off".  I got my covid booster shot.  I reorganized my basement planting shelves.  I collected every unused box in the house and stacked them within each other (I had a LOT sitting around).  

I finally received the 3 acrylic tabletop covers I ordered in November.  One for the new dining table to show off the detail work on the top, and 1 each for the 2 computer tables (Easier cleaning).  I have one older computer offline for games and security (I keep my passwords in an Excel file there - "they" can't hack an offline computer).  One came damaged though.  Naturally, for the dining table.  

If it was on a computer table cover, I would have set it to the back and ignored it.  But you can't hide anything on a dining table.  The manufacturer is sending a replacement in a week. 

They don't want the damaged piece back.  I can actually use it.  I do stuff with plastic sometimes, and I can cut it apart for topping some tool stands and such.  And an acrylic cover for my gardening table makes it relatively waterproof.

I spent some time researching flowerbed catalogs.  One specializes in self-sowing annuals.  Another offers both large collections of perennial plants and seed packets for pollinators, deer-resistance, and at good prices.

I've learned that perennials can be difficult to grow to flowering from seeds.  Many take 3-5 years to finally bloom.  Most places want about $6 per plant.  This place offers them $3-4 per plant (In large quantities).  Well, I have 500 sq ft to fill, so large quantities is good.  So, I'm spent time deciding of the individual plants (there are about 4 dozen to choose among).  

I covered more weed-vine areas with box cardboard.  I'll leave it there until they are dead.  It doesn't look great, but the vines have caused problems for years so months or even a year is worth it.  Ive tried digging and I've tried spraying with organic stuff, but it hasn't worked.

I've been researching refrigerators and chest freezers.  My old basement refrigerator (basically a root-cellar and freezer is failing.  It is so old, the value of the food I keep in it is probably less than the cost of running it.  I chipped off 4" of frost in the refrigerator section the other dasy.  

So the upstairs one goes to the basement and I get a new one for upstairs...  And a small basement chest freezer for long-term storage.  I buy large chunks of meats on good sales and then divide them into 4 oz bits for future use.

I got the aquarium renovated!  It was a sad mess.  Fish-shit all over the bottom, algae on the sides, plastic plants looking real dull and old...  That took an hour a day for 2 weeks.  I have a gadget that siphons debris .  Large 2" mouth.  You get the tube siphoning and stick the mouth into the sand.  It sucks up the fish shit.   You lift it and and the heavy sand falls out.  Then move it to the next spot. 

There are a LOT of "spots" in a 30 gallon aquarium; it was tedious.  And the fish-shit moves around as you do it.  So you have to wait for it to settle and do it again.  Took days to get the sand mostly cleaned. It's "OK" now.  "OK" is a lot better than "horrible". 

Had it been Summer, I would have netted all the fish into a smaller older aquarium for a few days, and drained the big one to hose the sand clean, bleach it mildly, and then overfill it several times to eliminate the bleach.  Then  let it stand inside again with water to age a couple days.  I might in Summer.

But for now, I have live plants set into the sand and I need them to grow roots.  And I want the youngest batch of fancy guppies to grow large before I restock it with some larger mid-level community fish (cherry barbs and serpa tetras) so they won't get eaten.  

I have been cutting saved big cardboard boxes into 2" strips.  Those are to cover the paths in my garden in order to smother weeds.  I'm saving the biggest pieces to smother vines in parts of the flowerbeds.  Things kind of got out of control last year..

Got Lori to the vet for rabies and follow-up shots.  I just tell them "whatever shots" they think best.  In 50 years of cats, I've never had one that had a problem with any shots, so "OK".  She is soon to get spayed.  But they want her to go into heat once to establish an in-between time for an easier operation.  THAT is new to me; vets always used to do it just by age.  Well, whatever is "better" is good.  Vets learn better ways through time like every other profession.

I did other routine stuff.  Kept the birdfeeders filled, cooked, cleaned the basement a bit.  Not like I was sitting on my butt watching TV.  Fought with the computer...

Probably some other stuff that escapes me at the moment...

But I think we are pretty much "more functional" again.

A Political Post

This is a political screed,  If you don't want to read one, here are cute kitty pictures...  They are from Duck Duck Go so they seem safe.

President Biden gave one hell of a direct speech today.  I agree with everything he said.  And what he said HAD to finally be said out loud...

The US has 2 effective political parties.  

One favors the right of all citizens to vote; the other does not.  

One favors helping people who struggle for food and shelter; the other does not.  

One  favors making insanely rich people and companies actually pay some taxes; the other does not.

One recognizes science and expertise as a basis of national policy; the other does not.

One  wants to govern rationally for the common good; the other does not.

One favors "uplift"; the other says "give me what I can take from others".

One is Democratic; the other is Republican Trumpist and cowards who fear him about their jobs...

I am not specifically Democratic or party-specific.  I used to vote for Progressive Republicans when there were any.  I'll vote for anyone who wants to help others rather than just seek power for themselves.  Good intent and goals matter to me...

So here's the thing I am concerned about.  Democracy is hard won and easily lost.  Democracy demands agreement to social norms, a collective acceptance of many unwritten rules, and rational discussion of proposed and existing laws.

Perhaps more to the point, Democracy requires the acceptance of fair votes and that the majority generally rules.

US Democracy is under attack both externally and internally.  I am concerned here about the internal.

Politics is not "just" politics as if it was a game to win.  At it's best, it is a judgement of the voters of a direction to go, a means to agreed-upon ends.  We choose between leaders who promise to improve the national infrastructure or the one who promises a better economy.  We can't always get both at the same time.

But lately, there has developed a contest between those who try to do "generally beneficial" things and those who want benefits "just for themselves and friends".  Tghe latter aere self-named "Trumpists".  Trump admires autocrats like Putin because he wants to rule as Putin does.  The Russian State is an autocratic oligarchy and Trumps loves that.

So these next few years in US politics is a struggle between autocratic oligarchies and ruke by citizens,  This struggle for democracy COULD be lost.  It has happened elsewhere in time and place usually with a failure of democracy eventually.  It happens when people become afraid.  It happens when people fear their neighbors.  It happens when we lose a sense of collective purpose of "the people decide"...

We in the US are not particularly "special".  Yeah, we like to think so, but we are not.  On June 21, 1788, the final State ratified The Constitution and it became a governing document.  It was an experiment.  As Benjamin Franklin said "A Republic if you can keep it".  

"Keeping it" is the hard part and the idea is under threat.  There are too many who seek office or influence today just for power.  And a desire for power for it's own sake is a threat to Democracy.  Desire for power can be national or down to school boards.  

Or State election officials. And there's the rub.  Democracy needs dedicated thoughtful caring people, not loud angry fanatics with one issue on their plate.  A successful working Democracy has a variety of participants representing a variety of views, who can discuss them rationally.  

When some people start threatening those who are legitimately doing lawful work like managing legitimate elections and representing rational social norms, it is a problem that has to be faced and contested.

Trumpism has to be eliminated.  It is threat to the foundations of US Democracy.  It is the idea that a false claim can be successful by repetition of suggestion.  It is the Mussolini promise that "the trains will run on time if you just let me control everything else".  It is the Hitler claim that he would restore a fading nation to glory.  Autocrats offer everything to their followers in exchange for their freedom.  

We can't surrender to that easy and false promise of silent loss of freedom in return for "the trains run on time".

I once thought that, if Trump won in 2016, I would leave the US.  That was too hard.  And we didn't really know then the depths to which Trump would sink.

We do now.  

Today, the Congress arranged a meeting to recognize an attack on the US Government.  It has been done before and generally all Members attend.  This time, not a single Republican attended.  That says something.

I became an adult in the late 70s.  Demonstrations were a norm.  And often successful.  It may be time (if Trump is returned to office) to start those again.  Imagine 100,000 old bald fat baby boomers pushing on The White House fences.  LOL!  But it could work...

Here is a scenario to think about.  The Republican gain control of the House in 2022.  They name Trump the Speaker of the House.  The Speaker doesn't HAVE to be a Congressperson...

Then they impeach Biden and Harris.  Guess who is 3rd in line?  Trump.

Struggling

 The old printer just STOPPED.  The new one doesn't want to connect.  Nor does the new wireless keyboard.  It says the battery needs to charge it and trying what it says isn't working.  Ive gone back to the old one.  Same with the mouse.  

I am nearly drowned in cables.  Bought several new ones and adapters.  They work for my older stuff.

But adapters on adapters to connections isn't good.  I really must upgrade the devices to go the newest ports.  Maybe a post-Xmas gift to myself.  

At some point, I suppose a monitor gets too old.  An external hard drive  gets too old (it won't load a CD). No device lasts forever.  Some times there can be be too many adaptors.  Time to visit Amazon...

But I'm annoyed.  Nothing was wrong with the old stuff.  Just connections changed.  

Update.  Got the old printer working.  But can't recall what I was so desperate to print.  Some computer instructions... New printer details...  

Looking Back On 2021

2021 had its ups & downs...

1.  Jan 2nd started the year off badly.  That was the evening when I fell off the top of the extension ladder trying to help Laz out of a tree.  I know, cats will get down.  But it was sunset, it was cold, it was getting ready to rain, and there are large owls in the area.  Laz was crying for help and that would have gotten some attention.

I paid a stiff price for my assistance!  I got Laz loose from the branch he was on and lifted him toward me.  He grabbed the branch again, so I basically pulled myself off the ladder getting him loose again.  When I realized I was too far off-balance, I tossed him to one side, tried to grab the ladder and failed.  I don't like heights, so some vertigo may have been involved too.

I don't recall the fall, and not much about landing.  A vague feeling of falling against a wall...  I think I passed out briefly.  Well, it was darker, but not by much.  But I couldn't move.  I yelled for a while, but who is outside in cold weather in the dark?  

I was able to push myself (on my stomach) slowly toward the house.  I am glad I had left the basement door open (for Laz to run into if he panicked and wriggled free of my grip).  I THINK it took about 15 minutes to get 30' or so into the basement.

I couldn't crawl up the basement stairs, so I spent the night  in my jacket on a pile of brown shipping paper (saved to smother weeds).  In the morning, I crawled up the stairs, managed to get out of the jacket, peed (it was black), and forced myself onto the bed.  

I haven't had worse pain trying to move (I've led a lucky life).  I'll spare you the details, but getting in and out of bed was an adventure.  It was a full day or 2 (can't recall) before I could stand up with help from furniture and walls.  At least that told me I had no broken bones. 

My first goal was "feed the cats".  I store kibble in large jars, so I just dumped one on the floor in a pile.  Drank a lot of water.  Wasn't hungry myself.  I was using a camera tripod for support (broke it).  Eventually, it occurred to me my computer char had wheels so I used it as a wheelchair.

I tend to heal fast and I thought it was just "sore muscles".  But after another day I realized I needed help and called 911.  A hospital transport crew arrived and carried me outside into an ambulance and off we went.  I'm lucky they had a bed available.  

I got x-rayed, cat-scanned, and MRI'd.  Fortunately, I was mentally OK.  Even generally physically better than expected.  I had 4 broken ribs and a dislocated clavicle but otherwise OK.  No internal bleeding, apparent organ damage, or anything like that.  I still couldn't move much.  They brought me home the next morning even though they need to vcarry me up the stairs.

I fully understood that I could easily have died in the fall.  A slightly different angle of landing could have been either fatal or permanently handicapped me.  In a certain way, I now count my years as an extension of the fall.  But even when things go badly, I am lucky.

Then the bruises showed up.  They were spectacular!   I was basically deep purple from my lower back to my upper back thighs to around my hips. 

A day later, I realized I couldn't function without help.  I opened the computer room window and sat in the chair waiting to see anyone outside.  My across-the-street neighbor lady and her (son?) came out and I yelled for help.  They came running right over.  Fortunately, the front door was still unlocked from the ambulance drivers brought me back. 

I explained what had happened and she volunteered immediately.  I knew her and hubby only barely, but she didn't hesitate.  She fed the cats, fed me (I have home-made meals I freeze so she M/W one), cleaned the cat litter boxes, offerred to take me to any Dr appointments, got my mail and newspapers, took out the trash, gave me her phone number for any other help I needed, did some laundry, did some light cleaning of the kitchen and loaded/ran the dishwasher.  

She asked for my front door key, but I suggested she take the garage door opener from the car visor.  Because I would hear that and know she was there.  Besides, my front door is a problem to open.  That garage-opener idea worked wonderfully!

She asked for a grocery and prescription list and went shopping for me.  She brought me to a couple of Dr appointments.  She called daily to see how I was doing.  Her hubby works at a storage company, and they have all sorts of odd abandoned things, so she had him bring me a walker.  WOW did that make a difference!  I was just barely able to move around (holding furniture and walls even 2 weeks after, but that walker sure helped.

I will NEVER forget how much they both helped me.  Some other neighbor who responded to my yell for help might have responded and helped "some".  But no one could have done more.  She considered it a "mission".

After a month, I could drive.  I tested it carefully in the driveway going up and down.  My feet worked fine, my hands worked fine, and my reflexes were normal.  In the grocery store, the cart worked well as a "walker".  I could manage stairs again, so I was cleaning the litterboxes.  I was cooking again.  A lot of me still hurt, but I was basically functional again.  The bruises were gone.  Getting in and out of bed was still a bit awkward, but that faded over time.

The next time my neighbor came over, I handed her a loaf of home-made bread.  Little in return for all the help, but it was a gesture.  And I make REALLY good bread.  When I attend a family dinner and ask what to bring, they say "your bread"!  Well, it's from a bread machine, but I use beer instead of water, and add a lot of garlic and onion powder and oregano.  Sometimes I make rye bread the same way.  

She said that was the best bread they ever had.  It's time to make more.  And I make banana cake sometimes, so they get a loaf of that too.

I went to my primary Dr 2x (for general exam and interpreting the hospital x-rays etc in mid Jan.  He said I had been lucky and that the ribs would heal fine if I didn't do anything strenuous.  "Strenuous?", I could barely walk at the time.  

And a osteo-surgeon 2x (about the separated clavicle).  She took x-rays.  She gave me 2 options.  The first was to have her do an operation to reattach it.  That would mean 8 weeks of a tight sling.  Which had to be removed before each shower and reattached (and that took 2 people) and she didn't recommend it unless I was an athlete throwing or swing stuff around.  The second was to just live with it.  Apparently that isn't really a problem.  In fact, my primary Dr has the same injury and even he didn't bother to have the operation!  So I didn't.

It was around June before I could walk completely normally again.  The ladder is still against the tree to remind me of the event...

2.  And then there was the Jan 6th riot at the US Capital Building.  That was astonishing!  I don't want to get all political about it, but it was a serious event.  I never would have guessed an armed angry mob would have done that.  Nor would I have thought people could do that and not get shot en masse.  I follow the news about that. waiting for an eventual Congressional Report about "who did what where", and the planning of the attempt.

3.  Gardening season started in March with Spring Peas and cole crops and ended dismally.  I ordered some grafted tomatoes to improve my chances of a harvest.  I planted regular heirlooms indoors as well.  I set them all ouside in early May.  Never got a single tomato from any of them.  My dedicated garden area is too shaded now.  And there may be a build-up of fungal and viral tomato diseases there.  This year, I am planting in a whole new spot.  The soil there isn't "as good", but there have been no tomatoes there for 10 years so it should be "disease-free".  

My small crops (carrots, beets, spinach, etc) didn't grow well either.  I need to have the soil tested...

I REALLY want my heirloom tomatoes.  The taste is SO much better.  I used to grow the best hybrid tomatoes available.  Then one year, I tried a couple heirloom ones.  After tasting THOSE, I just pulled up the hybrids.

But really, last year was bad.  I could barely walk to the garden, and bending over to plant them was SO hard.  I need THIS year to be better.  Kneeling down wasn't much better either in Spring.  I can do that this year, though.

4.  I got my covid shots in March and April.  I fully support vaccines.  I trust science and medicines.  I still wear an N95 mask though.  I'm pretty safe anyway, living alone and not leaving the house often  (a pre-covid lifestyle).  Need a booster shot though.  I had one arranged but couldn't find my previous vaccine report so had to cancel.  Have it now, so scheduling the booster ASAP!

5.  May Laz suddenly calmed down around May.  Took a full year.  He used to attack Ayla (dominance issues and remains of previous home trauma - 2 pit bulls and 3 grabby kids).  Suddenly something "clicked" in his mind and he stopped.  He finally realized he was safe, loved, and unattacked).

6.  July - Met my first anti-vaxxer (well, I don't socialize much).  At the Barber shop.  I was wearing my mask.  The previous customer and his elderly dad weren't, so I kept mine on.  But when it was my turn to get my hair cut, they didn't leave.  The barber said he had his shots, but the other younger guy refused to say, so I wanted to keep mine on until after they had been gone a few minutes.

The younger (maskless guy) overheard me and said he was "immunized".  I asked what that meant (I knew but I asked) and he said he had been infected the previous year so he was OK.  I kept my mask on...

He said he was safe.  I said the news said his immunity from having covid a year ago was meaningless.  He said he was in the pharmecutical business, so he knew otherwise.  I asked how to prevent covid ( a leading question).  He said Zinc and Vitamin C (D?).  I knew right then he was an anti-vaxxer.  I kept my mask on until they had left for 5 minutes.  It felt "safer".  And I didn't catch it.

7.  Lorilei Lee arrived on Oct 29.  Ann of Zoolatry drove here for the event ahead of the breeder.  WOW, can she take great pictures.  I took many, and they are posted "sort of recently" and you can find those in the sidebar of dates.

I was worried about how Laz would react to a new cat, given his response to Ayla.  But it was love at first sight for both of them!  They sleep together, play together, and sit around together.  I've mentioned being lucky.  I don't mean at cards or dice (I am horribly unlucky with those).  But with injuries and cats, I must be about the luckiest guy ever.

No cat has ever remained unhappy here for long, and all have become joyful/peaceful/calm here.  Laz was a challenge, but months of talking to him paid off.  And Lori may be the best thing in his life.  And he, hers.  

Tinkerbelle was a problem cat, bitten on the spine by a big dog.  She clawed at my sister and her child.  When she came here, she calmed down.  I knew "just" how to stroke her to avoid the injury spot.

Skeeter and LC became dedicated friends.  They slept together from the first days (Skeeter a year older).  LC was Skeeter's Cat.  I think of it in that way.  LC was HIS, not mine.  Only after Skeeter died in Dec 2008 did she come onto my lap for the first time seeking comfort.

Ayla is truly "mine" these days.  She gets on me in the bedroom (her sanctuary from the OTHERS) and purrs her heart out on me.  Marley loves me and everycat.  

But Laz and Lori together says well for the future...

8.  Dec 15...  I lit the house lights for Christmas.  They had been up all year (after falling from the ladder, I just ignored them, though did have my Good Neighbor unplug them).  It was nice to see them again.  I don't do too much decorating, but some house lights are good.  The neighbors at least notice it.

Some neighbors go WAY overboard.  One has no more room for any or there would be more.  They even have one 6' globe that has internal circulation to make it a shooken snowglobe!  

To each their own.  I like my subtle little strings of blue lights outlining the house.

Well, that was pretty much THIS YEAR.  I hope for a better 2022...

And may 2022 be a good year for you all, my friends...

The hat was a gift.  I was baffled by "Hemingway House" until I counted the kitty toes on the front...

Post-Christmas Thoughts

The Mews were all snuggled asleep on the bed

With visions of toy-mousies in their sweet heads.

Two napped together, one slightly apart.

And one napped aloof, that one darling old tart.

 

When what to my wondering eyes did I spy,

But the clock showing that my own bedtime was nigh.

I slid into bed with the greatest of care,

But the Mews sure did know, like I was a bear.

 

There were mews of complaints,

But we all did adjust.

One curled on the right of me;

Another chose the left.

 

A third lay beside me.

The fourth took a corner

And we slept through the night like

A drugged bunch of turtles.

And if you are noticing

That my poem lost the rhyme,

Just credit it to

That last glass of wine...

 

   ------

 

There are things that leave

My writing skills some agape.

Its the Wrath of Grapes...

 

    .....

 

I joke often, I am serious often.  I think.  I write.  It all blends together.  I suppose that sometimes, I am the only one who knows exactly what I mean in a post.  Jokes can hide serious thoughts and serious thoughts can hide jokes.

Improvements

You try all sorts of things when you have problems with the computer.

I upgraded the RAM.   I THINK that helped.  There are SOME warning messages I no longer get.  

But there were some suggestions of other problems.  So I deleted all caches and most cookies.  That helped, but some I will will have to re-enter.

I bought some new stuff to increase the directness of the ports my peripherals prefer.  That sounds strange but peripherals have options on connections and some are better than others.  I spent a day last week looking at the options.  

A lot of my stuff is old.  It is odd in a way to think of HDMI connections as "old".  Once, they were "best tech".  But things change and I don't always notice.  And problems sneak in gradually.  I have them.

So the RAM-upgrader tech guy explained "thunderbolt" connections, and Bluetooth.  Well, I thought "Bluetooth" was just for wandering around with a mobile laptop.  Was wrong.

He suggested a few cool add-on hardware things.  I checked them out pretty carefully and ordered a couple.  And, granted, this is all Mac stuff...

First was a multiport hub that fits under my Mac-Mini...

It adds many ports and uses only 1 USB plug..  And I needed them all.  And it made it easier to organize my cables.

He also suggested a Mac-dedicated keyboard.  I ordered that too.  It is Mac-dedicated.

It is good.  Macs have dedicated symbolic keys that keyboards that work for Mac and PCs don't have.  You have to figure them out on a combination keyboard and learn to interperate.  That's a pain.

So the Mac-dedicated keyboard is good, too.

My Christmas presents to myself...

Rehabilitating The Computer, Part 2

Oh, it's going to be one of THOSE posts; I made 3 typos tonight in the title alone.  LOL! I'm actually typing this Sat night, but it kinna late to post.  

But the RAM has been upgraded from 8 GB to 16.  It was scheduled for 4-6 PM Thursday, but the technician had some difficult repairs and then rush hour traffic problems made it unreasonable (Washington traffic is among the worst in the US and any accident just brings it to a screaming-mad halt). So we rescheduled to Sat 9-11 AM.  I wasn't exactly "thrilled", but things happen.  

He arrived early in the time-slot, so that was good.  I must say, he had 2 impressive bags of tools.  Well, it's an on-site service, so he has to have everything with him.  And I have to say that he was friendly, experienced, and helpful (even answered some unrelated  questions I had - I always try to learn a little bit during household repairs).

I left him to his work (mostly) but dropped into the room a few times just out of curiosity.   It isn't often I get to see the insides of a computer.  So I learned a few things.  The Mac-Mini has a fan, though I never heard it or noticed an airflow input).  Apparently it is a better fan than Window Companies use ("heavier and more wings".  The hard drive is the size of a Bridge playing card and is "solid state".  

I had my Mac upside down for some reason; probably some thought about how the ON button should be placed.  The circle I had on top is a combination base and Wi-Fi antenna (no harm done, though).  The RAM cards were more familiar-looking; you can see some circuitry.  

I originally bought the RAM upgrade chips months ago, but feared to attempted it.  The online instructions said you need special screwdriver bits and a "IFixIt".  I have some odd driver bits, but I didn't know what an IFixIt was.  And there were dire warnings about static electricity damage.  So I chickened out and finally called for the experts...

And a good thing I did!  It took the guy 2 hours to exchange the RAM chips.  It turns out that IFixIt is a massive case of REALLY weird driver bits that I didn't have a HOPE of having.  I couldn't have done it even WITH the right tools.  And he said the 2018 Mac-Mini (mine) was unusually difficult to work on.  

He had to almost completely disassemble it!  Replacing the RAM chips was the EASY part.  And even then, some very tiny connectors and 2 rubber insulators (and I THINK), a metal MESH heat-disippation cover gave him some trouble.  I'm far-sighted and can't see anything without reading glasses or a magnifier lens up close, so I NEVER could have done it anyway.  

After he was done, we talked for a few minutes (as I said, he was friendly).  First, he liked my (home-made) computer desk.  It's old but sturdy at 5' by 30".  By "old" I mean it even has a 12"x 1" slot cut though the top and a platform below for fanfold paper (remember that stuff?).  

Second, he said the computer was very clean inside.  Considering I smoke (and only while on the computer these days) I was amazed.  He said it looked perfect.  Good for years...

Third, he said he needed to test the computer to make sure every seemed to be working.  That was humerus.  I'm right-handed, but hold the mouse oddly, so I have the mouse buttons reversed.  From my earliest office days to the present, anytime an IT guy had to work on my computer I warned them of that.      I tell them to just reverse the buttons to "normal" (it's SO easy) They always shrug it off saying they'll adjust.  They never do!  And they always keep frustrating themselves.  They just keep pressing the wrong side button (it's muscle-memory).

But we tested out some apps and sites.  The Apple Menu confirmed it was reading 16 GB.  He wanted to test an online site, so I directed him to the Mark's Mews Blog.  He had seen Lori wandering around the room and mentioned he had 2 cats, so that seemed like a good place.  And he took a picture of the blog address to visit later.

He mentioned having to be professionally neutral among Apple/Windows/others.  So to test my files folders, (and because he asked why I preferred Apple, I directed his attention to Finder.  Its like Windows Directory, but better).  That was working fine, too.  But I pointed his attention to the organization of my files/folders.

I am very organized.  Well, there is a reason I was a Federal Agency Project Manager.  He loved how organized I was.  Some people have all their files dumped in "Documents".  I have 6 folders just for categories of pictures and all my spreadsheet and word documents are similarly separated by subject. He loved it.  And it demonstrated to him that my computer was working fine after the "operation".

He loved my keyboard.  That might not seem odd, but I wear the letters off regular keyboard in mere months.  I found one with ingrained keys (daskeyboard) months ago and there isn't the least loss of key symbols since.  He didn't love my motley assembly of adapters.  Said they were slowing things down and making the hard drive work slightly harder.  And it is true.  I have adaptors to adaptors.  I keep old equipment connected until it just doesn't work anymore.  

So he gave so free advice and brought up sites that provided more direct connections.  I mean, even the 2018 Mac Mini has ports I couldn't understand.  So he explained:  Those tiny ones are "thunderbolt ports".  My external multi-port adapters I was using were really slowing things down.  And that I had wireless connections I wasn't using.  There is an Satechi Apple-dedicated keyboard he thinks I might prefer.  There is also a Satechi base that exactly matches the Mac Mini and adds various ports.  Add he says they provide the best adaptors.  I'll be looking at them...

I know about "last mile" cable connections causing slowdowns.  And I know about UPS and FedEx using the USPS to make final divers for cost and speed cost and efficiency reasons.  I DIDN'T know that last inch of adaptors was slowing things down.  Normally, I don't do things that require much speed.  BUT!  It makes a difference when downloading updates to apps or the whole O/S.  And I HATE sitting around for an hour during some major updates.  

I need an update to Firefox.  I'll see if it "feels" like it works faster after this RAM upgrade.  But mostly, I will know if the RAM upgrade helps if I stop getting warnings to "free up some RAM".  And if the computer wakes up from "sleep mode" and doesn't make the monitor go on and off fuzzily several times "sometimes" before coming up normally.

If all this makes sense to you, GREAT.  If not, just read it as details of me learning from a tech guy and relating it to past and present experience.  I know "some stuff" but not much.  Hardware is nearly invisible.  Software is easier, only because the apps guide me through the choices.  And even the software drives me crazy.

I have the RAM upgraded.  Now it is time to tackle the tangle of email apps.  AOL recognizes my cavebear account but not marksmews or yardenman.  Apple email reads marksmews and yardenman, but not cavebear.  And I can't reply FROM marksmews or yardenman, so have to forward those emails to AOL cavebear.  

I have an AOL, gmail and an iCloud email account for cavebear.  It has gotten TOTALLY out of control!    AOL is threatening my account there because of "3rd party" reading issues, gmail (Google) wants to make itself my exclusive provider, and I don't like that Apple iCloud keeps my data "away".  I love my stuff "here on the Mac Mini (safer from data-extraction).  

So that's the work for this week...  

Rehabilitating The Computer

 Trying to some SOME problems, I have gotten the computer nearly beyond use.  I thought I would "fix" it last week, but I didn't.  I think I have too much of "everything".  

This week, I am going to try to recreate the basic functionality.  I don't know if I can.  I am getting stupid.  My smart phone just completely baffles me, and I am losing control over my email accounts.  I seem to have an iCloud email account, a Verizon email account, and a primary AOL email account.  And AOL is becoming increasingly unfriendly because of those others.

I need to go offline for a while.  I have some pre-set posts for the cat blog.  Sometimes, I write ahead of time.  

But mostly, I think I have to backup everything to my external drive, delete nearly everything I currently have, and save back carefully.

That is going to take a while.  I'm not really good or fast at this kind of stuff.  I may even change my ISP just to start fresh (saving emails, blogs, and bookmarks, which are mostly all that matter to me.

But I am going to start deleting a lot of options NOW!

I'll be back when I can...

Update:  First thing to do was get iCloud off my computer.  After several hours, I have downloaded iCloud back onto my hard drive.  That took a few hours.  But it also says it is "finishing".  And the dot on the bar is not moving fast.  Maybe the download is the "fast" part (hours) and the copying is slower.  I should check my internet speed...

Update:  Can't actually get iCloud OFF my Mac, but after downloading the files in it, I disabled it.  Took a while, but I love having companies UNABLED when possible.

Update:  12-14 2:47 AM.  Damn, just discovered my Mac Mini 2018 is NOT "user" RAM upgradable.  Apparently, I can't even buy the tools required to remove and replace them.  Sounds suspicious to me (you can buy anything) and I may check further, but maybe time to visit a computer store.  Macs are not as exclusive to repair stores as they used to be.  The local PC store geeks will do almost anything these days.  And I have the RAM chips to give them if that is an issue.  

But if I'm going through the trouble to have others upgrade it from 8 RAM to 16, I might as well to it to 24 or 32.  Can't be harmful...  Having money is WONDERFUL!  Sometimes overdoing things in the present is good for the future.  From what I'm reading, RAM is underappreciated.

Update:  1:32 pm.  OK, apparently, yes you can overdo RAM.  I found a site that says 64 RAM is the maximum my Mac Mini can handle.  So 32 is good.  I like to stay "just" under the danger limit.  I wish I had known the value of RAM when I bought this Mac Mini.  8 was recommended.  

I should have gone for 16 when I bought it.  But sites said 8 was "sufficient".  "Sufficient" sucks.  In computer world "more is better".  And especially after a few years.

Update:  1:55 pm.  Why am I fighting to do hardware stuff?  Software is hard enough and easier.  I'm going to the hardware guys.  After the hardware is upgraded, the software issues should be manageable.  And there are software geeks around here in case I fail.  Ads all over the place locally.  They are probably all able to solve my hardware issues.  "Incompetent Geek" doesn't even make much sense, LOL!

Update:  2:30 pm.  Wow, best price I could get for a RAM upgrade was $250.  It better be worth it!  On the other hand, they are coming here.  And it is a 2 hour minimum fee which means that I can get leftover time for software evaluation and "fixit".  The tech guy arrives Thursday PM.

Put another way, if there is a difficulty in the RAM upgrade more than 2 hours, they don't charge extra.  Oh the things we do to keep our computers working...  Well, cars aren't free either.  Neither is cable (but that's a future post).

*Sigh*

Holiday Tree

 I always debate (to myself) each December shall it be the big tree fully-decorated or the little one.  Usually the little one.  It's just easier and (placed properly) looks like the top of a big one (from outside).

But it HAS been a few years.  I might to the full decoration of  the big fake tree.  I have some decorations I haven't seen for many years.  

Little one from a couple years ago...

Big one from years past...

Some details of the ornaments...

I had forgotten how festive a house can look at times...

But the big one takes a lot of effort, and no one sees it but me.  Still, sometimes you just want to go full-out.  And I think it seems right this year...

I think I might go full-out this year and do both.  The big one for myself and the small one for the cats.  I went to Petsmart yesterday and found a pack of 10 small mice.  I can attach hooks into them.  I can't really sew worth a damn, but I do have the basic stuff.  I can push a heavy-duty carpet needle through each mouse and attach carpet thread and attach a hook.    

Wouldn't that be a lovely decoration for the little 2' cat tree?  Tiny LEDS lights and mosies hanging from the treem.  Under which to put Secret Paw gifts...

Sometimes, you just feel like decorating.  Just for even yourself.

Garden Projects

The fall off the extension ladder really messed me up for this year.  But I am getting back into yardwork.   The immediate problem is invasive weeds from a previous neighbor.  They planted them, they crept into my back yard, and they spread .  My neighbors had an empty back yard, so they just mowed them down (when they realized they were a a problem) every week until they died.

I was not so lucky.  I have flowerbeds.  The vines got in there.  I can't just mow them to death like my neighbors could.  I have pulled them up, but they have deep roots and return.

And I have a few verigated Euonymus shrubs in the flowerbeds that are growing out of control (label said 5' high and 3' wide).  Right.  10' tall and wide is more like it!  And they went all solid green after a few years, so not even much color interest.  I cut them down; they grew back.

Well, it gets worse.  When I first moved here I planted a row of forsythias along the property line (pre-fence).  They are everywhere now!  Cutting them down to the ground doesn't bother them a bit.  They just grow back.  I am nearly at my wit's end between the vines and forsythia!

So it is time for drastic measures (did I mention the poison ivy?).  

I've cut most of the vines to ground level.  I've cut most of the forsythia to ground level.  I've even removed (temporarily) the cat memorial markers.

Iza's is inbetween those now, but I can't find the picture.

But I have been saving large cardbox boxes for a decade.  REALLY large ones.  Like 5' on a side and doubled unfolded.  The memorial garden will be covered with several to smother the cut shrubs and vines and leave a clear space for the markers.

I bought a large roll of black plastic several year ago.  Time to unroll some and cut it to shape to smother the vines elsewhere.  Some collections of desired flowers grow so vigorously, they aren't invaded, so those will be left uncovered.  I have about half the flowerbed to smother though.  The plastic covers will stay there for a year.

It will be ugly.  But I don't see a way around it.  I can dig up a few individual plants surviving among the vines (a single beloved Brunella Frost for example) to move elsewhere.  The Stokes Asters seen resistent to the vines, so they will stay.

But really, I am nearly starting over for 80% of the flowerbed.  Next Fall (assuming the damn vines are actually dead by then) is going to be a busy time.

But I will take a cheerful view.  It's a chance to better this time with new look.  Self-sowing cottage-garden style plants that grow so thickly that they shade out weeds.  Separated by small patches of perennial like Stokes Aster and Autumn Joy Sedums (I love both).  

I WILL make my flowerbeds good again!

But, as I said, it sure will look ugly for a year...  Sometimes you have to mess things up before they get better again.