Please, Ottawa: leave my CBC Radio alone. From where I sit, the variety fills that quiet space in my life. News, culture, so much more. New music! I’m listening to a cellist, Cris Derksen, in the living space of my life, and I’m content. Don’t mess with my content, OK?
posted in food, sports | Comments Off on Send more grapes | 253 words
When it comes to identifying the various clients of our seed dispensers, I’m a recognition rookie. Turns out that the robins don’t care for my fare, and when the usual (blue jays) give space, all kinds of new and interesting faces show up. Like this one.
posted in environment, pets, Wx | Comments Off on Grounded by the breezes | 254 words
Ever play “frozen tag” when you were a kid? This afternoon, when a front passed through, my local temperature fell from 26C to 8C in just over three hours (mid afternoon). Now, there are no kids in statue poses around the yard, but that’s probably due to the lack of kids. Just kidding, almost.
posted in pets, politics | Comments Off on When the business acumen is lacking | 258 words
This afternoon, running on a dose of solar energy, I got things done. In one case, for the first time, ever. Never underestimate the sunshine effect.
posted in environment | Comments Off on Running on solar power | 283 words
Today, a first hummingbird buzzed the feeder. As well, a fox traversed between the bird feeders out front, just before suppertime. Although I cannot take personal responsibility for either incident, I’ll accept that something went well today. Oh, and the lawn is cut. Again, no thanks to me.
posted in politics, technology | Comments Off on A fox AND a hummingbird about the place | 268 words
This was a meeting evening. Community service, with a chance to practice my penmanship. In a perfect world, I’d bring along a laptop and do my official recording direct to file; this is not a perfect anything. By scribbling, I extend my workload (decrypting, in large part), but it saves having to volunteer as the go-to IT guy at a time of the day when I would prefer to kick back. I don’t have to prepare the agenda, which is a blessing in so many ways. Just pay attention and take notes, like the good old days in one of those classes in university.
posted in computing, education | Comments Off on Bumping the camera along | 257 words
Had to happen, eventually. After watching the evening news, where the waters are rising, I finally dreamed about my own water hazard. As in, going downstairs and wading in the pool. Sleep gave way to the need to see. Happily, my feet were dry… it was all just a fantastic nightmare. To be fair, I’m getting used to the sump pump.
posted in technology | Comments Off on Just a dream, thankfully | 255 words
The budget rules, in this house, have a single rule. If you are replacing something that you already own, the cost doesn’t count as a splurge. You’re just maintaining the status quo. Making a mad dash on a sunny day, to pick up something in the city is OK. And it requires a household to do things like that. Otherwise, the dog might miss out on most roadtrips. Yes, the Apple count here is up, but that’s only for the moment.
posted in education | Comments Off on Don’t forget the fada, eh? | 251 words
In one of those “it ain’t over ’til it’s over” moments, I have just applied a patch to my (virtualized) Windows XP system. For those of you who don’t have a longstanding history with Microsoft, that’s the system that ended, in support terms, just over three years ago. An eternity, in OS terms. But, due to a particularly virulent malware that is playing the “give us all your Bitcoin” game with the world, the powers that be decided that even the obsolete systems should get a patch, now. I don’t go on the ‘net with the machine, except for emergencies like this.
posted in environment | Comments Off on A clamber up the tower | 259 words
We live a long way from town. I was unsure, but townies have told me, so it must be so. Anyhow, if word comes that a delivery will be made, I set the mental clock to “in late afternoon”. The principle hasn’t failed me yet. Our awaited deck furniture came in a big truck, just before suppertime. Familiar driver; he’s “been up here” before. And now, even if the winds pick up, we have a table and chairs that will stay in place. If I announce that the winds took them away, look for a tornado report in the previous paragraph.
posted in technology | Comments Off on Solid deck chairs, at last | 278 words
