'Cause "pro tip" would be more than a little of an exaggeration. However, I did figure out something about Windows Phone again about $20 late. Although there are few Windows Phone users and nobody I know (as far as I know), this might be useful for other phones. For all I know. (Like I said, I'm an amateur.)
The big problem with the phone was that storage space had filled up. My brilliant and earlier reported observation that this is a Windows Phone and thus the reason I couldn't find any app to manage files on it was because I was supposed to use Windows for that was only so useful. Because a major contributor to the storage space problem was temporary files piling up to the tune of more than a gig. They don't show up in Windows. There's an app on the phone that allows me to dump temporary files, or try, but it never works. Under search settings, there's also a place where you can delete your searches, but that doesn't reduce the quantity of temporary files either.
Last night, as temporary files started getting up towards 2 gigs, the phone started grinding to a halt again. It turns out that one of the default settings for search is to let Microsoft store your searches, search terms, etc. If you uncheck this and then delete your searches, le voila, your temporary files pile suddenly gets markedly smaller. Still large (225 megs, as I recall), but much less. If I'd known this, I wouldn't have really needed the microSD card I just bought. It still helps, of course, especially in the longer run. And again, I'd feel like an idiot except that the pro at T-Mobile (the manager, I'm pretty sure) didn't know it either. So if this helps anybody, good.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Pink lemon and pelican snocones
Because I'm cheap, I use St. Ives body wash, which I'm usually not too enthusiastic about. However, the latest type I bought I like a lot. The scent is called Even & Bright, and it's described as pink lemon and mandarin orange. There's even a picture of a pink lemon, or some damned thing. It looks like a blood orange in a lime rind. Go figure. Unless Monsanto has been working overtime, I'm pretty sure the only pink lemons are the ones to make pink lemonade, which by all reports is made with pink dye. Just odd, I thought. But I can give an unqualified (and unpaid) endorsement to this one consumer product.
Also in the weird stuff department, a new business is popping up in this town. The store will be called Pelican Snocones. Again, maybe I'm pitifully uninformed and perhaps this is a huge, highly profitable corporation, but I've got to assume that somebody just decided to start a water ice business with a strange name. This is one of those times that I'm glad my blog isn't more widely read, since the person behind it is likely somebody who knows me or somebody I know. Since they're unlikely to see this, really... is there a worse business name? Penguin Snocone would at least make sense. Yeah, I know, it's of even less importance than the weird body wash, but I see the place every time I go to pick up or drop off my dad, and it puzzles the hell out of me. Anybody know somebody named Pelican? It's possible.
Edit: It's actually Pelican's Snowballs. I'm not sure that's better or worse, but I should probably be accurate at least.
Also in the weird stuff department, a new business is popping up in this town. The store will be called Pelican Snocones. Again, maybe I'm pitifully uninformed and perhaps this is a huge, highly profitable corporation, but I've got to assume that somebody just decided to start a water ice business with a strange name. This is one of those times that I'm glad my blog isn't more widely read, since the person behind it is likely somebody who knows me or somebody I know. Since they're unlikely to see this, really... is there a worse business name? Penguin Snocone would at least make sense. Yeah, I know, it's of even less importance than the weird body wash, but I see the place every time I go to pick up or drop off my dad, and it puzzles the hell out of me. Anybody know somebody named Pelican? It's possible.
Edit: It's actually Pelican's Snowballs. I'm not sure that's better or worse, but I should probably be accurate at least.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
GI Doc again
We finally succeeded in seeing Dad's gastroenterologist again. His last appointment was canceled by blizzard. The previous one entailed about a four-hour wait to see the doctor, so I was dreading this drastically, but it wasn't too bad. It was still more than an hour wait and two-plus hours all told. And he said he was going to phone in a prescription but didn't, so that sucked another half hour out of my day unnecessarily, but no meals were missed.
Essentially, nothing Dad has tried has helped with his perpetual burping. The doctor still would like Dad to get off his laxative, which the doc says will eventually stop working and also kill the nerve function down there so nothing else will work either. So he prescribed a stronger, hopefully better laxative. He also scheduled a gastric emptying test for next Wednesday, which is just where Dad eats some scrambled eggs and then they image his stomach every 15 minutes for the next two hours. It ought to be as dull as dialysis but not painful or tiring at least. So maybe we'll get some kind of answers after that.
At the drugstore, the pharmacist phoned around to their other locations to see if the doctor had called in the prescription to the wrong one. He wanted me to leave a number and they could call me when it was ready, but I had an idea how unorganized the doctor's operation is and a sense that we would be waiting for Godot in that case. So I asked him to call the doctor's office. He wasn't optimistic since it was already 5, but he did and it worked. So yay. Of course, the doctor could have just printed and signed a prescription and saved everybody a lot of time and trouble, but was I think the victim of his own good intentions. Worked out in the end, though.
Essentially, nothing Dad has tried has helped with his perpetual burping. The doctor still would like Dad to get off his laxative, which the doc says will eventually stop working and also kill the nerve function down there so nothing else will work either. So he prescribed a stronger, hopefully better laxative. He also scheduled a gastric emptying test for next Wednesday, which is just where Dad eats some scrambled eggs and then they image his stomach every 15 minutes for the next two hours. It ought to be as dull as dialysis but not painful or tiring at least. So maybe we'll get some kind of answers after that.
At the drugstore, the pharmacist phoned around to their other locations to see if the doctor had called in the prescription to the wrong one. He wanted me to leave a number and they could call me when it was ready, but I had an idea how unorganized the doctor's operation is and a sense that we would be waiting for Godot in that case. So I asked him to call the doctor's office. He wasn't optimistic since it was already 5, but he did and it worked. So yay. Of course, the doctor could have just printed and signed a prescription and saved everybody a lot of time and trouble, but was I think the victim of his own good intentions. Worked out in the end, though.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
We need to talk about vegan shepherd's pie
Or, I don't feel like writing the recipe yet, but I think I'll squeeze two blog entries out of it anyway.
I've mentioned before only a few thousand times that I like combining lentils and organic yellow grits to make somewhat hamburger-like hushpuppies or fritters. So it occurred to me that it would be a hoot to try making shepherd's pie with this as the "meat." So far, this has been quite true. I've made it twice and while neither time was perfect, both were pretty neat.
A stumbling block is something that I've noticed before, that whatever the directions on the package say, black lentils need more water than red lentils. When I ran out of black, I used red for the second batch, and wound up trying to pan-fry dal. The result would have still been very good except for bad luck. The particular sweet onion that I used that day was hot instead, so while the lentils were fine, the dish wound up tasting a bit like kerosene. (Either that or I put in too much kerosene.)
OK, to call this a recipe would be romancing, but how I make this is roughly as follows. Cut up a large potato (officially extra-large, according to Publix); throw in a large pan with turmeric, salt, pepper, EV olive oil and just enough filtered water to cover. Put on medium heat.
In a small saucepan also on medium heat, bring to boil a cup (for red lentils) or a cup and a half (for black lentils) of filtered water. Wash and strain a half cup of the lentil of your choice; when water is boiling, dump lentils in, along with every spice you can think of, or anyway cloves, cumin, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, allspice and maybe some Tabasco sauce, as well as salt and pepper. The more the merrier; with the vegetables, this thing runs a high risk of ending up bland.
While that was coming to a boil would have been a good time to put a LOT of water in a large pan. (I use filtered water here, too, but then I live somewhere where they think that they haven't purified the water unless they put ALL the chlorine in it) and put it on medium heat as well. In a steamer insert, put in kale, collards or both (or whatever green leafy floats your boat) two cut-up carrots, okra, a cut-up turnip and really whatever occurs to you. Steam 'em until you get bored.
About now, your potatoes are probably boiling pretty joyously. Turn them down such that they keep simmering. I find that enough water to cover is too much to make mashed potatoes, so I tend to leave the lid off for long periods; it's worked well so far. Maybe eventually I'll get around to measuring lengths of time and whatnot.
Oh crap, the lentils! You turned down the lentils, right? Once you have all the spices in, turn down the lentils to medium-low (or 2 on this range) and let them go wild for a half hour. Then add 1/4 cup of organic yellow corn grits. Stir constantly at the same heat for 5 minutes. This is also a good time to turn on the oven at 350 degrees.
Then is the crazy part. Put parchment paper down in a pan; shovel your lentil/grits mixture in. Flatten it a bit and put in the oven for 20 minutes. Your vegetables should be as steamed as anyone ever needs. Your potato should be mashable. Turn off the former and do the latter with a fork. I also slip in a tiny bit of crushed garlic, bought in a jar from Trader Joe's. It's much too strong, but I persevere. (Explains the tiny amount, though.)
While your lentil mess is baking, I guess, cut up a sweet onion. Coat a frying pan or skillet with EV olive oil, put frozen mushrooms of whatever quantity you choose and the onion in the pan which you have already put on medium heat, right? Once you hear cracking and popping, however, turn it all the way to low, cover, and let sautee or simmer for ten minutes.
When your mess comes out of the oven, slash it up into small chunks (size does not matter, just this once, turn your frying pan up to medium and dump the stuff on top of the onions and mushrooms. Cook on one side for four minutes and on the other for three. Meanwhile, jump the oven up to 400 degrees.
Much to my surprise, I got all this stuff into a 7 X 11 baking pan. I dump the lentils, grits, mushrooms and onions in the pan, followed by the steamed vegetables. I mix it all up. A smart person would then taste the mixture, find it bland and dump Crystal hot sauce on it, but I haven't done this as of yet. Then you put your mashed potatoes on top. Bake for 15 minutes and voila: vegan shepherd's pie. And I didn't say "First catch your vegan shepherd" onc-- oh, dammit.
I've mentioned before only a few thousand times that I like combining lentils and organic yellow grits to make somewhat hamburger-like hushpuppies or fritters. So it occurred to me that it would be a hoot to try making shepherd's pie with this as the "meat." So far, this has been quite true. I've made it twice and while neither time was perfect, both were pretty neat.
A stumbling block is something that I've noticed before, that whatever the directions on the package say, black lentils need more water than red lentils. When I ran out of black, I used red for the second batch, and wound up trying to pan-fry dal. The result would have still been very good except for bad luck. The particular sweet onion that I used that day was hot instead, so while the lentils were fine, the dish wound up tasting a bit like kerosene. (Either that or I put in too much kerosene.)
OK, to call this a recipe would be romancing, but how I make this is roughly as follows. Cut up a large potato (officially extra-large, according to Publix); throw in a large pan with turmeric, salt, pepper, EV olive oil and just enough filtered water to cover. Put on medium heat.
In a small saucepan also on medium heat, bring to boil a cup (for red lentils) or a cup and a half (for black lentils) of filtered water. Wash and strain a half cup of the lentil of your choice; when water is boiling, dump lentils in, along with every spice you can think of, or anyway cloves, cumin, ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, allspice and maybe some Tabasco sauce, as well as salt and pepper. The more the merrier; with the vegetables, this thing runs a high risk of ending up bland.
While that was coming to a boil would have been a good time to put a LOT of water in a large pan. (I use filtered water here, too, but then I live somewhere where they think that they haven't purified the water unless they put ALL the chlorine in it) and put it on medium heat as well. In a steamer insert, put in kale, collards or both (or whatever green leafy floats your boat) two cut-up carrots, okra, a cut-up turnip and really whatever occurs to you. Steam 'em until you get bored.
About now, your potatoes are probably boiling pretty joyously. Turn them down such that they keep simmering. I find that enough water to cover is too much to make mashed potatoes, so I tend to leave the lid off for long periods; it's worked well so far. Maybe eventually I'll get around to measuring lengths of time and whatnot.
Oh crap, the lentils! You turned down the lentils, right? Once you have all the spices in, turn down the lentils to medium-low (or 2 on this range) and let them go wild for a half hour. Then add 1/4 cup of organic yellow corn grits. Stir constantly at the same heat for 5 minutes. This is also a good time to turn on the oven at 350 degrees.
Then is the crazy part. Put parchment paper down in a pan; shovel your lentil/grits mixture in. Flatten it a bit and put in the oven for 20 minutes. Your vegetables should be as steamed as anyone ever needs. Your potato should be mashable. Turn off the former and do the latter with a fork. I also slip in a tiny bit of crushed garlic, bought in a jar from Trader Joe's. It's much too strong, but I persevere. (Explains the tiny amount, though.)
While your lentil mess is baking, I guess, cut up a sweet onion. Coat a frying pan or skillet with EV olive oil, put frozen mushrooms of whatever quantity you choose and the onion in the pan which you have already put on medium heat, right? Once you hear cracking and popping, however, turn it all the way to low, cover, and let sautee or simmer for ten minutes.
When your mess comes out of the oven, slash it up into small chunks (size does not matter, just this once, turn your frying pan up to medium and dump the stuff on top of the onions and mushrooms. Cook on one side for four minutes and on the other for three. Meanwhile, jump the oven up to 400 degrees.
Much to my surprise, I got all this stuff into a 7 X 11 baking pan. I dump the lentils, grits, mushrooms and onions in the pan, followed by the steamed vegetables. I mix it all up. A smart person would then taste the mixture, find it bland and dump Crystal hot sauce on it, but I haven't done this as of yet. Then you put your mashed potatoes on top. Bake for 15 minutes and voila: vegan shepherd's pie. And I didn't say "First catch your vegan shepherd" onc-- oh, dammit.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Log stacking
Today I visited Congaree National Park for the first time since the ice storm. They're in some disarray. The elevated boardwalk is closed due to storm damage and the trails I tried (Sims, Lake Weston Loop) were passable but only if you're willing to navigate a good deal of fallen trees and limbs. (Tree limbs, mind you!) It was still pretty and all; I definitely recommend people continue to visit. But it will be better still in a few days by which time they will have been able to make more repairs.
An odd thing I noticed was a tendency on the part of the rangers, I assume, to stack logs neatly by the side of the road or trail. I don't think anyone will be able to carry them like that. Assuming they could get a forklift trailside, it probably wouldn't be able to carry them that way either. There isn't a fireplace handy that I know of. I assume it isn't somebody just being impossibly tidy. My best guess is that stacking them shows that somebody has been here, that this job is done. It just struck me as an odd thing to do when they obviously have a lot of work still to get to. Not a criticism at all; I'm just puzzled. Of course, maybe the beavers like 'em that way! I think I would have gone with a crop circle look, myself.
Since the polar vortex is expected back in another few days, I just want to note that today is about the most gorgeous day possible. I did get buzzed by a fly in the national park, which seems unfair in February, but that's about the height of the complaints. The light was beautiful, but I've finally figured out that all my Congaree photos look about the same, so I'm finally weaning myself from posting them on Facebook. But they were still pretty.
An odd thing I noticed was a tendency on the part of the rangers, I assume, to stack logs neatly by the side of the road or trail. I don't think anyone will be able to carry them like that. Assuming they could get a forklift trailside, it probably wouldn't be able to carry them that way either. There isn't a fireplace handy that I know of. I assume it isn't somebody just being impossibly tidy. My best guess is that stacking them shows that somebody has been here, that this job is done. It just struck me as an odd thing to do when they obviously have a lot of work still to get to. Not a criticism at all; I'm just puzzled. Of course, maybe the beavers like 'em that way! I think I would have gone with a crop circle look, myself.
Since the polar vortex is expected back in another few days, I just want to note that today is about the most gorgeous day possible. I did get buzzed by a fly in the national park, which seems unfair in February, but that's about the height of the complaints. The light was beautiful, but I've finally figured out that all my Congaree photos look about the same, so I'm finally weaning myself from posting them on Facebook. But they were still pretty.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
People should tell me this stuff!
I mean, I'm the famous hiking book auther and everything! Ahem. So I took Paul to see the progress at the new 10,000 Year Park in Cayce and to join me in puzzlement at the signs saying Timmerman Trail. Even though the Timmerman Trail was the only part of the entire park complex with "Trail closed" and "No trespassing" signs, we took our courage in our hands and explored. (Shhhhhh.)
It turns out that the Timmerman Trail was a paved trail passing through Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve, one of my favorite places but one that I can't normally take people because the trail through it is so very, uh, rustic. It's a little insane, because it starts from a parking area on one side of the busy (or at least speedy) 12th St. Extension (the trail passes underneath the road on its own bridge) and winds around to another access on the other side of 12th St. almost down to I-77. There is a brand new building going up right next to the trail (Thanks, SCANA!) and there's the pedestrian bridge linking this trail to those of the 10,000 Year Park. The bridge is in place, but there still working on the parts at either end of the bridge; that's the Trail closed/ no trespassing part. But none of us scofflaws seemed to have any difficulty with the parts under construction.
A guy on a bike lapped us twice, which meant that he had to go a mile or more on 12th St. (speed limit 55, no bike lane), which makes him considerably braver than me. It's a nifty trail, in spite of the closed part, and coupled with the new park will be an absolutely terrific amenity. I just wish I'd known about it before.
I appreciate that this isn't terribly useful information if you live more than 20 miles away, but dang, I'm excited. If anyone living nearer is interested, you can reach the Timmerman Trail by turning on SCANA Parkway from 12th St. Extension (there's only one way to turn at the moment, so it doesn't matter whether you're going north or south; you turn towards the west) and take the first right almost immediately to get to the parking area. If you want to go all slick and park cars at both ends, the other end is past the Lexington County Tennis Center on Saxe-Gotha Drive. I drove past the tennis center and parked where the road is closed, but you could always park at the tennis center.
I can't wait until the new park is completed! But I'm still a little red-faced that I didn't know that the Timmerman Trail was there already. Oh well.
It turns out that the Timmerman Trail was a paved trail passing through Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve, one of my favorite places but one that I can't normally take people because the trail through it is so very, uh, rustic. It's a little insane, because it starts from a parking area on one side of the busy (or at least speedy) 12th St. Extension (the trail passes underneath the road on its own bridge) and winds around to another access on the other side of 12th St. almost down to I-77. There is a brand new building going up right next to the trail (Thanks, SCANA!) and there's the pedestrian bridge linking this trail to those of the 10,000 Year Park. The bridge is in place, but there still working on the parts at either end of the bridge; that's the Trail closed/ no trespassing part. But none of us scofflaws seemed to have any difficulty with the parts under construction.
A guy on a bike lapped us twice, which meant that he had to go a mile or more on 12th St. (speed limit 55, no bike lane), which makes him considerably braver than me. It's a nifty trail, in spite of the closed part, and coupled with the new park will be an absolutely terrific amenity. I just wish I'd known about it before.
I appreciate that this isn't terribly useful information if you live more than 20 miles away, but dang, I'm excited. If anyone living nearer is interested, you can reach the Timmerman Trail by turning on SCANA Parkway from 12th St. Extension (there's only one way to turn at the moment, so it doesn't matter whether you're going north or south; you turn towards the west) and take the first right almost immediately to get to the parking area. If you want to go all slick and park cars at both ends, the other end is past the Lexington County Tennis Center on Saxe-Gotha Drive. I drove past the tennis center and parked where the road is closed, but you could always park at the tennis center.
I can't wait until the new park is completed! But I'm still a little red-faced that I didn't know that the Timmerman Trail was there already. Oh well.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Unmarked pickup
Today I saw somebody pulled over by an unmarked black pickup truck. It even had a big chrome toolbox in the bed just behind the cab for verisimilitude. I've already mentioned that I think that the unmarked-at-the-front cars Columbia Police use (no markings on the hood or front fenders and a lighting rig on top that looks like a luggage rack when seen in a rearview mirror) are unsporting. This seems even less so. It was kind of funny, though.
Margaret's outpatient procedure yesterday turned out to be totally straightforward, as expected. It was a long day for her but only because of the usual "hurry up and wait" approach so prevalent in medical care in this country. She is well and Dad had no problems. I stayed with him for most of the time she was away and helped him a bit with Facebook and email.
Margaret's outpatient procedure yesterday turned out to be totally straightforward, as expected. It was a long day for her but only because of the usual "hurry up and wait" approach so prevalent in medical care in this country. She is well and Dad had no problems. I stayed with him for most of the time she was away and helped him a bit with Facebook and email.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Novel
Yesterday when I got back from buying groceries, I heard an immediate knock on my door. Usually this means that the neighborhood crazy person is asking me about the movements of the people across the street with the idea of asking them if he can mow their lawn. (I tell him I am not my neighbor's keeper, but obviously with limited success.) This time, however, it was not a crazy person but coincidentally somebody from across the street. He turned out to be a novelist who had just finished his novel. He wanted to borrow my wireless so he could put the second half up on Amazon. ("Excuse me, can I borrow a cup of wireless?"
I explained that I was more than willing, but that I ran all my Internet off the phone and that I wasn't sure if the WiFi would extend past the walls. I drew a blank on what my wireless signal was called, but none of the names that he remembered seeing rang any bells. However, since I had been so nice as to offer, he said he would give me a copy of the novel, which he had on a memory stick. His computer is a Mac and mine is Windows, so it took us (well, mostly him) a while to find the files, but eventually he did.
I can't not read anything that's put before me, so I'm reading it. It's going pretty quickly and is quite well-written. Even for scifi, it requires a fairly high level of willed suspension of disbelief, but that's still legal in this country. I think I'll be giving him a very enthusiastic Amazon review within a couple of days. Cool stuff!
I explained that I was more than willing, but that I ran all my Internet off the phone and that I wasn't sure if the WiFi would extend past the walls. I drew a blank on what my wireless signal was called, but none of the names that he remembered seeing rang any bells. However, since I had been so nice as to offer, he said he would give me a copy of the novel, which he had on a memory stick. His computer is a Mac and mine is Windows, so it took us (well, mostly him) a while to find the files, but eventually he did.
I can't not read anything that's put before me, so I'm reading it. It's going pretty quickly and is quite well-written. Even for scifi, it requires a fairly high level of willed suspension of disbelief, but that's still legal in this country. I think I'll be giving him a very enthusiastic Amazon review within a couple of days. Cool stuff!
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Why DO I eat this stuff?
The checker at Publix wanted to know what quinoa flakes are and I was a bit flustered trying to explain. A friend of hers wanted to make them. I noted that they don't taste very good out of the box and she could see already that they're very expensive. I did add that they're basically a breakfast cereal, that they are very high in fiber, and that adding a little honey and peanut butter suddenly takes them from unpalatable to delicious. But it was what I didn't mention that bothers me a little. That is, that if you aren't celiac, there isn't much point eating this stuff as you can just as easily and much more cheaply eat bran flakes. But hey, I only had two items and it isn't the best place for a detailed conversation. And she thanked me for explaining, so that was nice.
After that, I wasn't even mad that they were sold out on Amelia's kitty litter. After all these years, I finally have her happily using a kitty litter I can get at the supermarket. Theoretically. Oh well; there are other supermarkets.
Margaret is having an outpatient procedure tomorrow, the one that was originally scheduled for two weeks ago. It should be straightforward, but of course she's nearly 93, too. So we're just a tiny tad stressed. My brother Malcolm has been down all week for Dad's birthday and is staying an extra day to be with him and to run errands if necessary. This is good of him.
After that, I wasn't even mad that they were sold out on Amelia's kitty litter. After all these years, I finally have her happily using a kitty litter I can get at the supermarket. Theoretically. Oh well; there are other supermarkets.
Margaret is having an outpatient procedure tomorrow, the one that was originally scheduled for two weeks ago. It should be straightforward, but of course she's nearly 93, too. So we're just a tiny tad stressed. My brother Malcolm has been down all week for Dad's birthday and is staying an extra day to be with him and to run errands if necessary. This is good of him.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Oh, it's a WINDOWS Phone!
So I went to the T-Mobile store and bought a micro SD card, giving the phone another 4 gigs of storage space. However, this didn't affect anything particularly. New photos and video will go to the SD card, so things won't get worse, but the operating system is as jammed up as before. One thing I had noticed was that although I could choose to delete my 1.2 G of temporary files, after a minute or so, there they would be again. This is still the case. Either they're all in use or the phone is too full to be able to dispose of that size block of files.
The gent from T-Mobile suggested a free task manager app, which was a pretty good suggestion. He agreed with me that there doesn't seem to be any way on a Windows Phone to manage files or apps. Unfortunately, when I went to the app store later to check out the task managers, free or otherwise, it turned out that they were all just to-do lists. When I tried searching "app manager" or "file manager," all the apps had horrible reviews.
Came the dawn! It's a WINDOWS Phone! I'm supposed to hook it to the laptop and mess with the files using Windows! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Rocket scientist I am! I would be really embarrassed except for the fact that the professional didn't think of it either.
The gent from T-Mobile suggested a free task manager app, which was a pretty good suggestion. He agreed with me that there doesn't seem to be any way on a Windows Phone to manage files or apps. Unfortunately, when I went to the app store later to check out the task managers, free or otherwise, it turned out that they were all just to-do lists. When I tried searching "app manager" or "file manager," all the apps had horrible reviews.
Came the dawn! It's a WINDOWS Phone! I'm supposed to hook it to the laptop and mess with the files using Windows! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Rocket scientist I am! I would be really embarrassed except for the fact that the professional didn't think of it either.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
No gratitude
I don't think I've ever saved anybody with my car horn before. Then again, I don't know if I did this time, and if I did it wasn't much of a rescue. I was in a left turn lane, there was a car ahead of me in the same lane, and a car to that car's right tried to get into the turning lane in spite of there being a car there already. I blew my horn, since yelling wasn't likely to help. Then the car ahead of me blew his horn, too, and the accident was averted.
When we had both made our turn, the car ahead of me got in the right lane so I passed him. Then he tailgated me for the next two miles. I tell you there's no gratitude! (I'm smiling as I type this, I guess I should mention.) Of course, it's possible that he thought I had been honking at him for some reason rather than to prevent him having his door whacked into. Regardless, I thought it was a little funny.
My smart phone, through which I run all Internet applications, including this blog, is almost out of storage space. Operationally, this means that it is slowing down markedly. If I don't get a (micro)SD card, it will grind to a halt altogether, 'though I could upload all my photos to the laptop and delete them from the phone to get a little grace period. But I'll try to get an SD card tomorrow. Still, this is the bimonthly "The blog might end soon" warning. I am sure the world is little shaken.
When we had both made our turn, the car ahead of me got in the right lane so I passed him. Then he tailgated me for the next two miles. I tell you there's no gratitude! (I'm smiling as I type this, I guess I should mention.) Of course, it's possible that he thought I had been honking at him for some reason rather than to prevent him having his door whacked into. Regardless, I thought it was a little funny.
My smart phone, through which I run all Internet applications, including this blog, is almost out of storage space. Operationally, this means that it is slowing down markedly. If I don't get a (micro)SD card, it will grind to a halt altogether, 'though I could upload all my photos to the laptop and delete them from the phone to get a little grace period. But I'll try to get an SD card tomorrow. Still, this is the bimonthly "The blog might end soon" warning. I am sure the world is little shaken.
Monday, February 17, 2014
"We need to talk when we get home."
Today is Dad's 93d birthday. James, Cristina and Mia (his grandson, granddaughter-in-law and great-granddaughter) had to drive back to Charlotte to get a plane back to Boston, so we had to go out to lunch rather than supper. That was at Outback. While the service was abysmal, we still had a very nice time and, eventually, pretty good food. But since it turns out that Dad doesn't like Outback (a news flash; he always seemed to like it before), I guess we won't have to go back there anymore. (Although they have a reasonably extensive gluten-free menu, I always find it to be a trial myself.)
I drove Dad and Margaret there and home. On the way home, Dad said to me, "I need to talk to you when we get home." I'm peeing myself, "I'm not ready!" kind of stuff, expecting it to be something ultra-serious, life-changing, epochal.
It turned out he needed me to run an errand for him to the drugstore. Boy was I relieved!
And the great-granddaughter/ grand-niece (depending on your point of view) is ultra-adorable. Her vocabulary is mainly "Bye!" and her taste in music runs mostly to Barney, but all this is endearing, too.
PS: Dad blew out the candles on his cake and wished to live to be 100. This is also a good sign.
I drove Dad and Margaret there and home. On the way home, Dad said to me, "I need to talk to you when we get home." I'm peeing myself, "I'm not ready!" kind of stuff, expecting it to be something ultra-serious, life-changing, epochal.
It turned out he needed me to run an errand for him to the drugstore. Boy was I relieved!
And the great-granddaughter/ grand-niece (depending on your point of view) is ultra-adorable. Her vocabulary is mainly "Bye!" and her taste in music runs mostly to Barney, but all this is endearing, too.
PS: Dad blew out the candles on his cake and wished to live to be 100. This is also a good sign.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Also there was an earthquake
Yeah, day before yesterday was sort of unusual. After I had dropped my sister at the airport, I went to bed early. Amelia the cat was extra agitated, but then I had been gone for hours and she's usually that way when this is the case. Who knows, though? Maybe she was making like the zoo animals are said to do before earthquakes. Regardless, we're on the bed and the house starts shaking. I remember saying aloud, "I don't know why the house is shaking, sweetheart" (meaning to reassure). It was only later when I saw others (LOTS of others) posting that there had been an earthquake in Edgefield, rather near Augusta where I'd just come from.
Now, if we had eaten in Augusta, we would have probably still been on the interstate when the earthquake hit, but we would have almost made it Columbia airport by then. It would have been alarming but presumably less so than if we'd been in the Augusta area. Then again, I'm not sure how alarming a 4.1 is when you're in your car. As I mentioned, the interstate was already pretty alarming due to fallen trees. One assumes that fallen trees + shaking ground would have been... more so.
Anyway, it was such a minor earthquake that it just becomes an amusing anecdote, my very favorite kind. Meanwhile, the family is still gathering for the celebration of Dad's 93d birthday tomorrow. We're probably going to get together for supper tonight. We will try to avoid any further tectonic events.
Now, if we had eaten in Augusta, we would have probably still been on the interstate when the earthquake hit, but we would have almost made it Columbia airport by then. It would have been alarming but presumably less so than if we'd been in the Augusta area. Then again, I'm not sure how alarming a 4.1 is when you're in your car. As I mentioned, the interstate was already pretty alarming due to fallen trees. One assumes that fallen trees + shaking ground would have been... more so.
Anyway, it was such a minor earthquake that it just becomes an amusing anecdote, my very favorite kind. Meanwhile, the family is still gathering for the celebration of Dad's 93d birthday tomorrow. We're probably going to get together for supper tonight. We will try to avoid any further tectonic events.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Three years?
Tomorrow is the anniversary of starting this blog thing, so I suppose today is the end of three years. Your check or money order will be gratefully accepted.
More interestingly, I hope, was the sudden turn of events yesterday. I had little hope for a romantic Valentine's Day, or even an interesting one, but all at once got the latter at least. Dad's birthday is Monday (#93) and so the family is coming down to celebrate. Sister Anne got a flight to Columbia but due to adverse weather in the Northeast missed her connection. The best the airline could do was to get her to Augusta. So at about 5, Margaret called to ask me to pick up some prescriptions for her. As I was doing that, Anne called asking me to pick her up in Augusta about 2 hours later. It being only about an hour away, I said no problem.
Boy was I glad that I looked up where Augusta's airport is! There were nearly no signs at all for it on the highway and what signs there were just referred to Bush Field. (Full name: Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field.) I got there no problem, in fact just as she was landing. The terminal was similarly sign-free, but we found each other pretty readily. The drive was alarming, especially the drive back since it was darker. The storm had brought down a LOT of trees along the roadside, many of which were leaning out over the breakdown lane almost to the driving lanes. A bit nerve-wracking in the dark.
We could have eaten in Augusta or Columbia, but given that it was still Valentine's, Columbia later seemed smarter than Augusta earlier, especially when we saw the gridlock at the Augusta exit on I-20. We wound up eating from the buffet at Delhi Palace, plus splitting a masala dosa, which turned out to be a brilliant choice. Buffet was smart because Anne still had to go to Columbia airport to pick up her rental car. But as she had until 11, that turned out to be no problem. On the whole, quite a hoot!
More interestingly, I hope, was the sudden turn of events yesterday. I had little hope for a romantic Valentine's Day, or even an interesting one, but all at once got the latter at least. Dad's birthday is Monday (#93) and so the family is coming down to celebrate. Sister Anne got a flight to Columbia but due to adverse weather in the Northeast missed her connection. The best the airline could do was to get her to Augusta. So at about 5, Margaret called to ask me to pick up some prescriptions for her. As I was doing that, Anne called asking me to pick her up in Augusta about 2 hours later. It being only about an hour away, I said no problem.
Boy was I glad that I looked up where Augusta's airport is! There were nearly no signs at all for it on the highway and what signs there were just referred to Bush Field. (Full name: Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field.) I got there no problem, in fact just as she was landing. The terminal was similarly sign-free, but we found each other pretty readily. The drive was alarming, especially the drive back since it was darker. The storm had brought down a LOT of trees along the roadside, many of which were leaning out over the breakdown lane almost to the driving lanes. A bit nerve-wracking in the dark.
We could have eaten in Augusta or Columbia, but given that it was still Valentine's, Columbia later seemed smarter than Augusta earlier, especially when we saw the gridlock at the Augusta exit on I-20. We wound up eating from the buffet at Delhi Palace, plus splitting a masala dosa, which turned out to be a brilliant choice. Buffet was smart because Anne still had to go to Columbia airport to pick up her rental car. But as she had until 11, that turned out to be no problem. On the whole, quite a hoot!
Friday, February 14, 2014
Magic
This can't be a new thing, but I swear I never noticed it before. The current method of playing with the small, mad cat is to alternate between playing with string and with the laser pointer, depending which she's bored with at any given moment. This activity takes place on the bed because its height is well adapted to the length of my arms and the best length of string. The magic part is that when she's in the other room and I move to the foot of the bed (or string/laser playing position) she vanishes and appears at my feet. Now I know that cats are extremely successful hunters and that if stealth weren't a watchword there wouldn't be phrases like "cat burglar." So I'm not surprised by Amelia's magic skills; I'm surprised that I hadn't noticed earlier in our eight years' association. Maybe I wasn't worth sneaking up on until I got laser pointers?
Cat people might want to know that Dollar Tree (where everything is a dollar) sells laser pointer keychains. This is a big improvement over pet stores, where they're closer to $5. Granted, the batteries don't last long (longer if you alternate with playing with string, of course), but they don't do too badly. A couple of weeks to a month, I would estimate, and when they start getting weak the laser doesn't go dark, it just gets harder to see, at least harder for the kitty to see. I'm on my second one, so far.
Snow is busily melting; as freezing weather is done for the moment, things will just get safer and safer. Maybe not better and better; it's supposed to rain later. Just this once, I don't mind. Downtown U's fairly terrible men's basketball team won its second SEC game yesterday. They won their first one after the first blizzard. I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we aren't eager for more snow just so the roundball team can win another.
Cat people might want to know that Dollar Tree (where everything is a dollar) sells laser pointer keychains. This is a big improvement over pet stores, where they're closer to $5. Granted, the batteries don't last long (longer if you alternate with playing with string, of course), but they don't do too badly. A couple of weeks to a month, I would estimate, and when they start getting weak the laser doesn't go dark, it just gets harder to see, at least harder for the kitty to see. I'm on my second one, so far.
Snow is busily melting; as freezing weather is done for the moment, things will just get safer and safer. Maybe not better and better; it's supposed to rain later. Just this once, I don't mind. Downtown U's fairly terrible men's basketball team won its second SEC game yesterday. They won their first one after the first blizzard. I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we aren't eager for more snow just so the roundball team can win another.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
This will be short
"Whew!" probably would have sufficed. Icepocalypse '14 is over, at least in Columbia. Many surrounding areas have had serious (and likely to be protracted) power outages, but here we got mostly sleet and snow and very little freezing rain, so we were lucky. Also, temperatures today got into the 40s, so a lot of the mess melted. However...
It didn't melt fast. So very few staffers made it to the dialysis facility. So even though I went in 3 hours late based on what the person answering the phone there told me yesterday, he still had nearly an hour's wait to be called back. Driving conditions were not at all bad, except that Margaret's driveway is on an incline, so escaping there was tricky. Driving the dialysis facility's parking lot was OK, but walking it was nerve-wracking. This was only my problem since I could drop and pick up Dad at the door.
By the time they let him go again, it was dark. I really thought that him out of the car at Margaret's would be a big problem, but he came through like a champ even in bedroom slippers. She asked me to take her herbie curbie (garbage rollcart) out to the street for her and this proved to be the hardest task since the wheels didn't want to turn and the driveway was slick. But it wasn't too hard. And getting out of the driveway was much more straightforward the second time.
There's a show tonight and I want to go, but I really don't want to go sliding around anymore. I'm really looking forward to this crap melting tomorrow and Saturday, and strongly hoping that Dad's dialysis Saturday is a lot more straightforward. But I'm so relieved today wasn't worse.
It didn't melt fast. So very few staffers made it to the dialysis facility. So even though I went in 3 hours late based on what the person answering the phone there told me yesterday, he still had nearly an hour's wait to be called back. Driving conditions were not at all bad, except that Margaret's driveway is on an incline, so escaping there was tricky. Driving the dialysis facility's parking lot was OK, but walking it was nerve-wracking. This was only my problem since I could drop and pick up Dad at the door.
By the time they let him go again, it was dark. I really thought that him out of the car at Margaret's would be a big problem, but he came through like a champ even in bedroom slippers. She asked me to take her herbie curbie (garbage rollcart) out to the street for her and this proved to be the hardest task since the wheels didn't want to turn and the driveway was slick. But it wasn't too hard. And getting out of the driveway was much more straightforward the second time.
There's a show tonight and I want to go, but I really don't want to go sliding around anymore. I'm really looking forward to this crap melting tomorrow and Saturday, and strongly hoping that Dad's dialysis Saturday is a lot more straightforward. But I'm so relieved today wasn't worse.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
That totally did not happen
And it totally could not have worked. We had snow, sleet and ice all day and all night, but mainly sleet. My car is covered and the doors were frozen shut. I worked at it with a broom, but the doors remained frozen shut. I conceived of this idiot idea. I would put a blanket and two towels in the dryer at high heat for 10 minutes, then spread them on the driver's door. Completely nuts. Couldn't possibly work.
Maybe it didn't. Maybe my earlier worrying of the ice had been more effective than I had thought. However, when I pulled the towels and blanket off, the door opened. After running the car and the heat for a while, all the doors opened. (When I went out to check, two had been opened and not closed too well. As I was pretty sure I hadn't done it, this was a little worrying. But nobody had done anything bad in the car nor driven it away, so I'll just regard it as something I did but forgot about. I'm old enough for senior moments after all.)
Mind you, it isn't all that drivable still. Neither windshield is particularly clear, nor is any window. But in event of emergency, I could drive it very very slowly. Which is probably all that would be called for anyway given the very icy state of the roads. Hopefully, a good part of this melts before anyone asks me to drive. I haven't checked what the dialysis situation is for tomorrow, but I can't imagine them opening before noon. The probability is that Dad will be put off until Friday, and then have to go again on Saturday, too. All of this is annoying, but way better than him trying to get around in snow and ice.
Maybe it didn't. Maybe my earlier worrying of the ice had been more effective than I had thought. However, when I pulled the towels and blanket off, the door opened. After running the car and the heat for a while, all the doors opened. (When I went out to check, two had been opened and not closed too well. As I was pretty sure I hadn't done it, this was a little worrying. But nobody had done anything bad in the car nor driven it away, so I'll just regard it as something I did but forgot about. I'm old enough for senior moments after all.)
Mind you, it isn't all that drivable still. Neither windshield is particularly clear, nor is any window. But in event of emergency, I could drive it very very slowly. Which is probably all that would be called for anyway given the very icy state of the roads. Hopefully, a good part of this melts before anyone asks me to drive. I haven't checked what the dialysis situation is for tomorrow, but I can't imagine them opening before noon. The probability is that Dad will be put off until Friday, and then have to go again on Saturday, too. All of this is annoying, but way better than him trying to get around in snow and ice.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Snowpocalypse 2: Electric Boogaloo
Considering how relaxed the previous snowpocalyse was (locally; I appreciate it wasn't too relaxed in Atlanta or Birmingham), it's weird how keyed up this one is. Especially in that it's only been two weeks; isn't the bread and milk you bought last time still good?
This time around I've been in a bunch of stores, and it does in fact seem like the apocalypse. Aldi had nearly no produce. Publices had long lines at every register. Hell, yesterday at Big Lots, there was an endless line for the only register, though I didn't check whether anybody was buying groceries. Maybe 4 on Monday is just a bad time at Big Lots.
My brush with greatness came when an attractive young woman ahead of me in line at Publix inadvertently stepped on my foot. She was wearing a USC Equestrian jacket; it didn't say USC National Equestrian Champions, but I'm pretty sure they are. I told her that my boots are large and that she doesn't weigh much, which reads back lewd, but I only meant to reassure her that she hadn't hurt me. I'm pretty sure she understood it that way.
This time out, the worry is about freezing rain and consequent power loss. I guess that's always the worry, but fortunately we dodged the bullet two weeks ago. Hopefully we do again, though the forecast is worrying. Also, Dad got another abbreviated dialysis session today, and if they open at all Thursday another one is a near certainty then, too. Which is also worrying. We just cross our fingers that all the forecasts are wrong. That would not exactly be unprecedented.
This time around I've been in a bunch of stores, and it does in fact seem like the apocalypse. Aldi had nearly no produce. Publices had long lines at every register. Hell, yesterday at Big Lots, there was an endless line for the only register, though I didn't check whether anybody was buying groceries. Maybe 4 on Monday is just a bad time at Big Lots.
My brush with greatness came when an attractive young woman ahead of me in line at Publix inadvertently stepped on my foot. She was wearing a USC Equestrian jacket; it didn't say USC National Equestrian Champions, but I'm pretty sure they are. I told her that my boots are large and that she doesn't weigh much, which reads back lewd, but I only meant to reassure her that she hadn't hurt me. I'm pretty sure she understood it that way.
This time out, the worry is about freezing rain and consequent power loss. I guess that's always the worry, but fortunately we dodged the bullet two weeks ago. Hopefully we do again, though the forecast is worrying. Also, Dad got another abbreviated dialysis session today, and if they open at all Thursday another one is a near certainty then, too. Which is also worrying. We just cross our fingers that all the forecasts are wrong. That would not exactly be unprecedented.
Monday, February 10, 2014
No ethnicity is dirty
I throw up in my mouth a little every time I see a major media outlet use the phrase "ethnic cleansing." I would hear it now and again on the network news, when I watched it. Today it was used on Facebook by Smithsonian Magazine, or anyway their social media people, in recounting an event that occurred in Sochi 150 years ago. My position is clear. If you mean forced repatriation, say forced repatriation. If you mean genocide, say genocide. Do not adopt this poor excuse for a euphemism under any circumstances. Language is powerful, and you do not want any part of acquiescing to the concept that any ethnicity could ever be dirty, or could ever need to be cleansed.
On Facebook, there isn't scope for in depth discussion, so I replied to Smithsonian with only, "Using the phrase 'ethnic cleansing' is beneath contempt. You're better than this, Smithsonian." And usually, they are.
On Facebook, there isn't scope for in depth discussion, so I replied to Smithsonian with only, "Using the phrase 'ethnic cleansing' is beneath contempt. You're better than this, Smithsonian." And usually, they are.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Nature abhors a vacuum. Also parks.
I visited the still uncompleted 10,000 Year Park in Cayce again. Progress is noticeable, but uneven. I think the informant who said a month ago that it would be done a month from now was either misinformed or over-optimistic. However, the parts that are done are most excellent. There are truly lovely views of Congaree Creek that will reward a visit even if the visitor has no interest in the historical aspects of the park.
I was interested, or maybe a little tickled, that some of the cement (or is it concrete?; I can never tell 'em apart) path was already recovered by soil, mud or both. Granted, we've had a lot of rain, and that's a highly floodable area, right next to a creek. But I did get the impression that Mother Nature maybe isn't too thrilled with the building of parks. (PS: Re: the subject line, cats abhor vacuums, too. PPS: Re: subject line, that was meant to say Nature also abhors parks, not that Nature has a car and thus parks it.)
Addendum for local peoples who may be as confused as me. I have tried at various times to check in on Facebook while walking Old State Road where this park is located. One check-in possibility has been Timmerman Trail, but I had no idea what this is. On my wanderings today, I finally found a sign for Timmerman Trail, indicating that that was what I was standing on. So apparently the park will be the 10,000 Year Park; the trail will be Timmerman Trail. Who Timmerman might be I don't know; S.C. Electric & Gas executive, one guesses.
I was interested, or maybe a little tickled, that some of the cement (or is it concrete?; I can never tell 'em apart) path was already recovered by soil, mud or both. Granted, we've had a lot of rain, and that's a highly floodable area, right next to a creek. But I did get the impression that Mother Nature maybe isn't too thrilled with the building of parks. (PS: Re: the subject line, cats abhor vacuums, too. PPS: Re: subject line, that was meant to say Nature also abhors parks, not that Nature has a car and thus parks it.)
Addendum for local peoples who may be as confused as me. I have tried at various times to check in on Facebook while walking Old State Road where this park is located. One check-in possibility has been Timmerman Trail, but I had no idea what this is. On my wanderings today, I finally found a sign for Timmerman Trail, indicating that that was what I was standing on. So apparently the park will be the 10,000 Year Park; the trail will be Timmerman Trail. Who Timmerman might be I don't know; S.C. Electric & Gas executive, one guesses.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Some improvement
Sorry, I'm a bit distracted because I just found out about a huge rubber fire in Savannah, one of my favorite cities. It's contained to one warehouse, so nobody is in particular danger of the fire spreading, but the smoke looks apocalyptic. Hopefully they get it put out sooner rather than later.
In more local news, the weather has been glorious today, which helps. My dad still needs to rest after distressingly short walks, but not for as long. In general, he seems to be doing much better. Also, he wears the fleece vest I bought for him to dialysis every time (and possibly the rest of the time); I assume it's helping him feel warmer.
My allergy or chest cold or whatever problems have also improved. I feel pretty nearly back to normal, including only normal levels of desire to trade the small cat (to whom I've always been allergic) to the gypsies. Better weather also has me more cheerful, mostly. Just got to get down to Savannah and put that fire out!
In more local news, the weather has been glorious today, which helps. My dad still needs to rest after distressingly short walks, but not for as long. In general, he seems to be doing much better. Also, he wears the fleece vest I bought for him to dialysis every time (and possibly the rest of the time); I assume it's helping him feel warmer.
My allergy or chest cold or whatever problems have also improved. I feel pretty nearly back to normal, including only normal levels of desire to trade the small cat (to whom I've always been allergic) to the gypsies. Better weather also has me more cheerful, mostly. Just got to get down to Savannah and put that fire out!
Friday, February 7, 2014
50 years
Some 50 year anniversaries are happier than others. Then again, some original events commemorated after 50 years are happier than others. And of course, some of those were happier because the other events were so very tragic. And thus we come to the 50th anniversary of the Beatles arriving on these shores. Had President Kennedy been there to welcome them, maybe their coming would have been just as joyous, I don't know. I was very small at the time; by my mother's account, I would barely make a sound for another some months yet. (I just didn't have anything to say.)
But my guess is that Beatlemania was in part due to the need for joy, brought on by the trauma the nation had just gone through. People a bit older than me always said, "Where were you when you heard about the JFK assassination?" I don't remember anyone saying, "Where were you when you heard that the Beatles had come to America?" Although I guess a good few of them did say that they started a band as soon as they heard (insert Beatle song title here).
I don't know why my brain tries to tell me that "Twist & Shout" was their first record, when more reliable memories suggest that it was "I Wanna Hold Your Hand." (Wikipedia suggests that the latter memory was in fact correct, also that "Love Me Do" was their first UK hit. Neat.) Probably just another aspect of my John Lennon obsession. Or possibly Ferris Bueller.
But my guess is that Beatlemania was in part due to the need for joy, brought on by the trauma the nation had just gone through. People a bit older than me always said, "Where were you when you heard about the JFK assassination?" I don't remember anyone saying, "Where were you when you heard that the Beatles had come to America?" Although I guess a good few of them did say that they started a band as soon as they heard (insert Beatle song title here).
I don't know why my brain tries to tell me that "Twist & Shout" was their first record, when more reliable memories suggest that it was "I Wanna Hold Your Hand." (Wikipedia suggests that the latter memory was in fact correct, also that "Love Me Do" was their first UK hit. Neat.) Probably just another aspect of my John Lennon obsession. Or possibly Ferris Bueller.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Ring ring telephone ring
I really need to assign individual ringtones on my phone. Because most calls are calls from my dad and most of those are some form of bad news, I tend to go into fight or flight mode every time the phone rings. Today, it was two calls from the heating and air people about scheduling the winter service for the HVAC system. (That's paid for by the landlord, by the way, so no particular need for fight or flight.) I'm pretty much adrenalin riddled right now, which is ridiculous.
Other thing I wish about cell phone ring tones at least on the Windows Phone is that there would be some way to lock the volume level. I carry the thing around in my shirt pocket all the time and the volume turns itself down oftener than not. On the other hand, if it hadn't been set at 2/3 the maximum volume a moment ago, I guess I would be even more adrenalin riddled. Then again, if the call hadn't come just as I was going to the bathroom, I suppose I would be considerably less adrenalin riddled. Timing is everything, I suppose.
To be fair to Windows Phone, no doubt there's a very easy way to lock the ringtone volume that I'm just missing due to my longstanding dedication to maintaining my Luddite status. Nope; checked; they're just idiots. There is a very easy way to toggle between ring + vibrate and vibrate, which I didn't know before and which is very nice. Where's that Microsoft suggestion box?
Edit: I'm pretty sure that the song in question didn't have a telephone in it, confining its rings to two-syllable ones (golden, doorbell, and I don't know what else) but I've earwormed myself with it pretty badly nevertheless. In the hope of not doing the same to the reader, I won't give any further clues to what song I'm talking about. (If it's not already stuck in your head, believe me, you're grateful.)
Other thing I wish about cell phone ring tones at least on the Windows Phone is that there would be some way to lock the volume level. I carry the thing around in my shirt pocket all the time and the volume turns itself down oftener than not. On the other hand, if it hadn't been set at 2/3 the maximum volume a moment ago, I guess I would be even more adrenalin riddled. Then again, if the call hadn't come just as I was going to the bathroom, I suppose I would be considerably less adrenalin riddled. Timing is everything, I suppose.
To be fair to Windows Phone, no doubt there's a very easy way to lock the ringtone volume that I'm just missing due to my longstanding dedication to maintaining my Luddite status. Nope; checked; they're just idiots. There is a very easy way to toggle between ring + vibrate and vibrate, which I didn't know before and which is very nice. Where's that Microsoft suggestion box?
Edit: I'm pretty sure that the song in question didn't have a telephone in it, confining its rings to two-syllable ones (golden, doorbell, and I don't know what else) but I've earwormed myself with it pretty badly nevertheless. In the hope of not doing the same to the reader, I won't give any further clues to what song I'm talking about. (If it's not already stuck in your head, believe me, you're grateful.)
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
People in the city room
I don't know what to do with the fact that I can create music that interests me. There's an app on my phone called RockSquare. It lets you compose tiny four-bar loops. Four bars and four parts: guitar, piano, bass and drums. The piano and drums sound pretty representative as does the bass except that you can't hear it over the other parts. The guitar sounds more like a synth and sometimes like another piano; still, it's a reasonably interesting lead voice.
Sometimes, the parts mesh well enough that it sounds like words. Yesterday, I made a piece that seemed to repeat "People in the city room" endlessly. I can see how a reader might assume that this would drive one crazy (or indeed that that train has left the station in my case), but it was surprisingly entertaining.
The fly in the ointment is that you can't strictly speaking save these compositions. Your only option is to share with Facebook. As it's a Windows Phone only app and practically nobody else has Windows Phone (and they would also have to have RockSquare) there's not a lot of point to this. However, what you would be sharing on Facebook is a complicated code (rather like on old Nintendo games before they started putting batteries in the cartridges, only with diacriticals) which you can cut and paste into a note-taking app. Unfortunately, I figured that out right after I found out that if decide not to share with Facebook, your composition gets erased. So "People in the city room" will never be heard. And the world weeps.
However, I have since written one that doesn't suck too badly. If anyone out there has a Windows Phone, I would be more than happy to share. But wait-- there's more! Suddenly, there are Windows Phone apps that don't suck! A new one, called Small Piano, lets you compose. You can either compose on a staff or just push record and noodle on the piano keys, and what you played will be set out on a staff. It's pretty weird, because rather than having whole, half or quarter notes (or whatever), all the notes are displayed as quarter notes and the length of each is determined by the spacing. This makes the app fairly useless as far as being able to copy your work to some other format, but it's still very cool. All I need is something like that for the Casio (only with proper notes and rests) and I'll be going somewhere!
Sometimes, the parts mesh well enough that it sounds like words. Yesterday, I made a piece that seemed to repeat "People in the city room" endlessly. I can see how a reader might assume that this would drive one crazy (or indeed that that train has left the station in my case), but it was surprisingly entertaining.
The fly in the ointment is that you can't strictly speaking save these compositions. Your only option is to share with Facebook. As it's a Windows Phone only app and practically nobody else has Windows Phone (and they would also have to have RockSquare) there's not a lot of point to this. However, what you would be sharing on Facebook is a complicated code (rather like on old Nintendo games before they started putting batteries in the cartridges, only with diacriticals) which you can cut and paste into a note-taking app. Unfortunately, I figured that out right after I found out that if decide not to share with Facebook, your composition gets erased. So "People in the city room" will never be heard. And the world weeps.
However, I have since written one that doesn't suck too badly. If anyone out there has a Windows Phone, I would be more than happy to share. But wait-- there's more! Suddenly, there are Windows Phone apps that don't suck! A new one, called Small Piano, lets you compose. You can either compose on a staff or just push record and noodle on the piano keys, and what you played will be set out on a staff. It's pretty weird, because rather than having whole, half or quarter notes (or whatever), all the notes are displayed as quarter notes and the length of each is determined by the spacing. This makes the app fairly useless as far as being able to copy your work to some other format, but it's still very cool. All I need is something like that for the Casio (only with proper notes and rests) and I'll be going somewhere!
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Allergies again, kitty litter again
And then I thought, I've had the cat for 8 years. Why would my cat allergies suddenly spark up after all this time? On the other hand, though the new kitty litter has been around for months, it's only actually been used for the past few days, and that's when my allergies suddenly became awful.
Hmmmm. Now I might be a complete idiot, but it sort of looks like I might be allergic to the new kitty litter. It's mainly cedar; apparently this is a relatively common allergy. I have a hospital mask, so if I wear that when cleaning the litter box, I should be OK. (Today was the first day I tried it and I've felt much better.)
On the other hand, cedar is also a common allergy for kitties. So far, Amelia's eyes don't seem to be running (particularly compared to the bad old days with clay kitty litter) and her breathing seems to be OK. So long as she's happy with it, I guess I can live with having to wear a mask every time I deal with it. With the cat allergy, long exposure has pretty much whittled the allergy away; with luck, the same should happen with cedar, preferably more quickly. But I must admit to a strong temptation to switch to another kitty litter ASAP. This weekend's allergy symptoms were no fun at all.
Hmmmm. Now I might be a complete idiot, but it sort of looks like I might be allergic to the new kitty litter. It's mainly cedar; apparently this is a relatively common allergy. I have a hospital mask, so if I wear that when cleaning the litter box, I should be OK. (Today was the first day I tried it and I've felt much better.)
On the other hand, cedar is also a common allergy for kitties. So far, Amelia's eyes don't seem to be running (particularly compared to the bad old days with clay kitty litter) and her breathing seems to be OK. So long as she's happy with it, I guess I can live with having to wear a mask every time I deal with it. With the cat allergy, long exposure has pretty much whittled the allergy away; with luck, the same should happen with cedar, preferably more quickly. But I must admit to a strong temptation to switch to another kitty litter ASAP. This weekend's allergy symptoms were no fun at all.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Can't tell my allergy from my head cold
I'm feeling a bit weatherish. For ages, my throat has been scratchy every morning, which I attribute to being allergic to the cat. However, the last couple of days, it hasn't improved as the day wore on, like it normally does. Everything is like allergies, though. Eyes hurt and burn, throat is scratchy, nose is runny. However, I took Benadryl last night, which usually helps with allergies. This time it didn't help much.
Today, I went to get Theraflu, which usually helped when I was feeling fluey. To give an idea how seldom I get sick, I had no idea that Theraflu had been discontinued two years ago. The pharmacist at Publix recommended Alka Seltzer Cold, so that's what I bought. After I bought it, I found that it contains aspartame, which isn't exactly my favorite, and lots of sodium. So I took only a plop fizz instead of plop plop fizz fizz. I'm heading back to bed. Fortunately, the weather is much warmer, though much much more humid. I'll probably take another Benadryl tonight, and I'm going to vacuum the living heck out of the place tonight. Dang kitty.
Today, I went to get Theraflu, which usually helped when I was feeling fluey. To give an idea how seldom I get sick, I had no idea that Theraflu had been discontinued two years ago. The pharmacist at Publix recommended Alka Seltzer Cold, so that's what I bought. After I bought it, I found that it contains aspartame, which isn't exactly my favorite, and lots of sodium. So I took only a plop fizz instead of plop plop fizz fizz. I'm heading back to bed. Fortunately, the weather is much warmer, though much much more humid. I'll probably take another Benadryl tonight, and I'm going to vacuum the living heck out of the place tonight. Dang kitty.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Minor good news still counts
VERY minor good news. But still. Kitty litter related, but I'll try to avoid TMI. Think of it as another writing exercise.
Some time ago, I found a kitty litter made by a major manufacturer that was the same type as the one I've been using, which is to say basically sawdust. This was a good thing, because I had to special-order the litter I'd been using. (Apparently, a kitty litter called P-Pod never really caught on with the public. Imagine!)
Bear with me; this is the writing exercise part. The normal method for persuading a cat to go along with a change in kitty litter is to do it gradually. You fill the litter box with 3/4 of the old (er, the previous brand) kitty litter and 1/4 of the new. The next time you change the box, you make it half and half, then 1/4 and 3/4 and then you're using the new kitty litter, hopefully happily.
Since the new one was pretty similar to the old, I filled a box with it to see if Amelia would try it out, while of course having the regular box with the previous brand nearby on standby. Amelia demonstrated once again that cats are Republicans by ignoring the new totally. So I decided to do the whole gradual changeover described above starting with the next litter change. I bought one last bag of P-Pod; anyway, that's how it turned out. Because a couple of days later, the store where I order it (and the only one that carried it in the first place) called to say that their supplier had quit carrying it, so I wouldn't be able to get anymore. Pressure!
So to make an already long story shorter, we appear to have attained happy endingsville. I only got to the half and half point of litter box changeover, but had maintained the full box of the new brand litter all along. This morning, I found that Amelia had been using the new one. Of course, this could have just been a kitty brainstorm and she may never use it again. But I think it's fair to say that once I'm out of the old brand and this one is the only choice, the fact that she's used it already will make the transition easy. (Also it smells like cedar, a big plus.) So yay. Not a big yay, but yay all the same.
Some time ago, I found a kitty litter made by a major manufacturer that was the same type as the one I've been using, which is to say basically sawdust. This was a good thing, because I had to special-order the litter I'd been using. (Apparently, a kitty litter called P-Pod never really caught on with the public. Imagine!)
Bear with me; this is the writing exercise part. The normal method for persuading a cat to go along with a change in kitty litter is to do it gradually. You fill the litter box with 3/4 of the old (er, the previous brand) kitty litter and 1/4 of the new. The next time you change the box, you make it half and half, then 1/4 and 3/4 and then you're using the new kitty litter, hopefully happily.
Since the new one was pretty similar to the old, I filled a box with it to see if Amelia would try it out, while of course having the regular box with the previous brand nearby on standby. Amelia demonstrated once again that cats are Republicans by ignoring the new totally. So I decided to do the whole gradual changeover described above starting with the next litter change. I bought one last bag of P-Pod; anyway, that's how it turned out. Because a couple of days later, the store where I order it (and the only one that carried it in the first place) called to say that their supplier had quit carrying it, so I wouldn't be able to get anymore. Pressure!
So to make an already long story shorter, we appear to have attained happy endingsville. I only got to the half and half point of litter box changeover, but had maintained the full box of the new brand litter all along. This morning, I found that Amelia had been using the new one. Of course, this could have just been a kitty brainstorm and she may never use it again. But I think it's fair to say that once I'm out of the old brand and this one is the only choice, the fact that she's used it already will make the transition easy. (Also it smells like cedar, a big plus.) So yay. Not a big yay, but yay all the same.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Sun gods
Ever since I heard about Akhnaten, I've been very confused about this whole sun god thing. (Bear with me on spellings. I could look them all up, of course, but since the alphabet hadn't been invented yet, it's hard to take seriously that there's any correct spelling. I could also look up this whole topic, but I'm not sure the differences described below can be all that easily resolved.)
Akhnaten became known as the heretic pharaoh for advocating (well, requiring) the worship of Aten, described as the disc of the sun. Previously and subsequently, the Egyptians had worshiped many gods, but I think the chief was Amun Ra or Re, the sun god. I get that Akhnaten was pushing a monotheistic religion, certainly a momentous change. What I don't get is how the disc of the sun differs from a sun god. Was Amen just a guy living in the sun or pulling a really, really, really bright chariot, whereas Aten was literally the big yellow hole in the sky? Oh ok, I'll go look it up.
Looking it up didn't help a lot. Amun Ra was a guy. Ra was a falcon-headed god of the sun, later united with Amun who was just a really great guy and Amun Ra apparently later united with Horus, making for a dang confusing deity. Aten really was just the disc of the sun, though representing the force creating everything. One surmises that there would be more info on Aten if subsequent pharaohs hadn't been at such pains to eliminate the heretic pharaoh's religion and evidence of it. Anybody with further information is ever so welcome to come forward with it in the form of a comment or email.
Given the weather lately, I could go for a sun god in a big way. Could anybody blame me?
Akhnaten became known as the heretic pharaoh for advocating (well, requiring) the worship of Aten, described as the disc of the sun. Previously and subsequently, the Egyptians had worshiped many gods, but I think the chief was Amun Ra or Re, the sun god. I get that Akhnaten was pushing a monotheistic religion, certainly a momentous change. What I don't get is how the disc of the sun differs from a sun god. Was Amen just a guy living in the sun or pulling a really, really, really bright chariot, whereas Aten was literally the big yellow hole in the sky? Oh ok, I'll go look it up.
Looking it up didn't help a lot. Amun Ra was a guy. Ra was a falcon-headed god of the sun, later united with Amun who was just a really great guy and Amun Ra apparently later united with Horus, making for a dang confusing deity. Aten really was just the disc of the sun, though representing the force creating everything. One surmises that there would be more info on Aten if subsequent pharaohs hadn't been at such pains to eliminate the heretic pharaoh's religion and evidence of it. Anybody with further information is ever so welcome to come forward with it in the form of a comment or email.
Given the weather lately, I could go for a sun god in a big way. Could anybody blame me?
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