what did you do today? (2008-2015) (closed)

[Dreamer]

Meadbh,

I hope that the fire was put out and your area is back to normal now.

Rodi,

Your driveway is beautiful. I love it!

Walt34,

I hope that everything turns out okay with you. I would take it easy until you know what is going on also. I felt fine and was healthy, until cardiologist told me that I was at a 5 times greater risk of having a stroke than a normal person. I am now on 2 types of medication and it seems like every time I turn around, I am getting more medical bills. Hope it is some type of allergy.

REWahoo,
Glad you did not get a close-up selfie with a tornado!

 

[Meadbh]

Meadbh,

I hope that the fire was put out and your area is back to normal now.

Thank you for your support, Dreamer. Not quite back to normal. The fire expanded to 400 hectares but has now been fought back to 250 hectares, 20% contained. Water bombing and ground firefighting continues (with crews from as far away as Nova Scotia). We are still at risk of a power outage and have been told to prepare for up to 72 hours without power if that happens. This is hilly forested territory and an aggressive fire. Trees affected by pine beetle infestation are highly flammable. The weather forecast includes showers (good) and high winds (bad). In summary, things have improved overnight but this could go sour at any time. We will not rest easy until it's 100% contained. I'm predicting that will take another 48 hours at least.

 

[Meadbh]

Nice paving job, Rodi!

 

[Buckeye]

We bought a new TV because the old one was failing. The old one (VIZIO, 46") was 3.5 years old and was purchased at Costco along with a Square Trade warranty (5 years).

The TV started buzzing so I called Square Trade to make a claim. While we were on the phone, some faint stripes also appeared so I snapped and emailed a picture. They reviewed the email while we were on the phone and determined our power supply was failing. He said it would cost $400 to repair (part and repairman to the apartment). I told him I didn't want to mess with all that and then have a repaired TV so he said he would send me a check for $399.99.

Our Costco bucks had just arrived so we headed to Costco to purchase a new TV which will also double as DH's 65th birthday present. We had been talking about getting an updated TV so the timing was perfect. Between Square Trade payoff and Costco bucks and $80 off, we got a new Samsung 50" Smart TV and another Square Trade warranty for $150!

 

[Walt34]

Please post back when you hear something from your test.

Oh, I will. I'm rather curious about it myself.

The casual way the doc referred to it was by itself a bit reassuring in that if he thought it was anything critical he'd have said "stop going to the gym" or "don't do anything that makes you short of breath" or anything like that. But he didn't.

He did say that he doubted that it was anything heart-related although angina sometimes presents itself that way. But I realize that at this point he's just making an educated guess without hard data to go on.

 

[splitwdw]

Walt, It's hard when you don't know someone but it sounds like you have a great attitude. I'm good about waiting for tests or having surgery but know that others panic. When I was diagnosed with cancer my family doctor was more upset than I was.

 

[Ronstar]

Walt - hope everything goes ok with your tests. Take it easy until your dr appt and heed his recommendations - there must be some photo framing that you need to do instead of working out or cutting the grass.

 

[ls99]

Walt, Maybe it will be diagnosed as seniority.

Spent most of the last four days adding another source of electrical power to the mancave. A windmill. Mounted it on top of a 30 foot power pole which was conveniently located about 25 feet from the cave. Ran cable to the cave than, more wiring inside, to hook up a switch which dead shorts the generator output, they call it a brake. Then the charge controller which converts 3 phase into regulated 12 VDC.

Around four today the job was complete, the blades standing perfectly still. Dead calm. Some other time, will see if it actually generates power.

 

[Meadbh]

Thank you for your support, Dreamer. Not quite back to normal. The fire expanded to 400 hectares but has now been fought back to 250 hectares, 20% contained. Water bombing and ground firefighting continues (with crews from as far away as Nova Scotia). We are still at risk of a power outage and have been told to prepare for up to 72 hours without power if that happens. This is hilly forested territory and an aggressive fire. Trees affected by pine beetle infestation are highly flammable. The weather forecast includes showers (good) and high winds (bad). In summary, things have improved overnight but this could go sour at any time. We will not rest easy until it's 100% contained. I'm predicting that will take another 48 hours at least.

Good news! The fire is 50% contained and most of the evacuees are being allowed to return home, albeit on alert. Firefighters will continue to work at extinguishing this fire completely, which we have been told may take weeks. This has been very well managed and I can't speak highly enough of our emergency services.

 

[Moemg]

Good news! The fire is 50% contained and most of the evacuees are being allowed to return home, albeit on alert. Firefighters will continue to work at extinguishing this fire completely, which we have been told may take weeks. This has been very well managed and I can't speak highly enough of our emergency services.

That is great news !

 

[Walt34]

Walt, It's hard when you don't know someone but it sounds like you have a great attitude. I'm good about waiting for tests or having surgery but know that others panic.

Thanks all, for the positive comments.

I did briefly (~5 minutes) go to the nih.gov site to look up some causes. The takeaway for me was that while some are deadly serious, others are more of an annoyance and are easily treated. So lacking any further information I'll hope for the latter.

Work trained me well for this. I've fallen into a bucket of poop and come out smelling like a rose lots of times.

 

[MichaelB]

DW and I took an architectural river tour of Chicago this afternoon. We enjoyed it enough to make it part of our "must do visitor's itinerary". Then we walked a bit and had lunch.

 

[steelyman]

DW and I took an architectural river tour of Chicago this afternoon. We enjoyed it enough to make it part of our "must do visitor's itinerary". Then we walked a bit and had lunch.

That's a GREAT tour. You can also head to the architectural museum afterward (or before) on foot. You know why they sing "My Kind Of Town".

 

[Meadbh]

That's a GREAT tour. You can also head to the architectural museum afterward (or before) on foot. You know why they sing "My Kind Of Town".

+1

 

[Ronstar]

On an organizational kick. Day 2 of my garage storage project - 2 little closets with shelving, and a base cabinet to be in the middle.

 

[rodi]

Ronstar - nice garage!

I spent the morning sorting through stuff we Imoved out of granny flatStuff we'll probably use someday - but not soon. Finding storage for this stuff is a PITA. (Big things of paper plates and plastic flatware for example. We use them, sometimes, for informal barbeques, but prefer to use real plates and wash them, as . the greener alternative.) We had to clean it out since our new tenants moved in this weekend.... so it was cluttering up my dining room table.

Around 11am the big boxes from Amazon arrived - including all the various components for my 13 year old's dream gaming computer. I spent the afternoon and early evening alternately helping and cursing.... Why are cables never the right length. This PC is now assembled and he's busy downloading all his steam games. The PC case has 2 fans, the CPU has a giant fan, and the graphics card has TWO fans. I think we're going to have to start charging him a portion of the electric bill. But the thing is snappy and fast - and from what he showed me - the graphics is fast too.

 

[Walt34]

Got admitted to the hospital. Sunday I had to stop mowing the lawn three or four times to catch my breath and I didn't have that issue the last time I mowed. Called the doc's office Monday morning and he called back later in the day and decided to admit me this afternoon "out of an abundance of caution" since this is a rapid change.

To my astonishment the hospital has WiFi and cell phone use is okay. I just brought the laptop because I thought I might be able to use it to edit some photos in airplane mode.

Contrary to stereotype the food is actually pretty good. Okay, it's not the Bavarian Inn but I don't expect that. One tech said I looked "too healthy" to be here. Lots of needle sticks about every four hours as they monitor changes in some enzyme levels to see if I have had a heart attack. This is the first time since 1950 that I've spent the night in a hospital so I didn't really know what to expect. Stress test is at 6:30 AM tomorrow. Right now I feel fine, no issues whatsoever.

 

[Meadbh]

Got admitted to the hospital.

Wishing you all the best, Walt.

 

[harley]

Love the Bavarian Inn. Wonderful Sauerbraten and Schweinebraten! I haven't eaten there in years, though. Now that you've reminded me I'll have to make a pilgrimage out to Shepherdstown.

Hope the hospital gig turns out to be much ado about nothing, Walt. But better safe then sorry.

 

[Cassie]

Wishing you well Walt, glad there's wifi!

 

[freebird5825]

Cueing Imelda May....
Imelda May - It's Good To Be Alive - YouTube

I never saw that video. What a hoot!

 

[freebird5825]

Today I listened to the daybreak birdie symphony while sipping my decaf. I woke up just before 5 AM and decided to get up instead of being a bed slug.
My plan for today is to empty out my compost tumbler into a garbage can and start the composting gig all over again. My container garden is starting to produce small amounts of cucumbers, beans, peas, and tomatoes. Just enough to have a taste without having to process large amounts for the freezer. My pole bean climbers are taking over the free world. I'm having fun getting creative with twine for vertical gardening.

I made a batch of homemade yogurt yesterday. It should be just about ready after 13 hours of incubation in my Yogourmet yogurt maker.
Half of the yogurt will go towards tzatziki, the other half will be hung in cheesecloth for yogurt cheese with snipped green onion tops added.

Tzatziki recipe...if you have never had this, beware...it can be addicting!
It is important to strain the yogurt before mixing, or simply buy the thicker Greek style yogurt.
Tzatziki Sauce- Greek Cucumber Yogurt Sauce Recipe - Greek.Food.com
I skip adding the dill and mint. My Greek cookbook (purchased in Athens) does not have either ingredient. There are regional variations on the recipe. I use 1.5 times the recommended garlic because I like it that way.

 

[simple girl]

Got admitted to the hospital.
....

To my astonishment the hospital has WiFi and cell phone use is okay. I just brought the laptop because I thought I might be able to use it to edit some photos in airplane mode.

..........
Stress test is at 6:30 AM tomorrow. Right now I feel fine, no issues whatsoever.

So sorry for the hospital admit, hope everything checks out, and they give you the "all clear". I hear you on the wifi - that was quite a surprise to me. Really helped me pass the time during my several admissions!

 

[Meadbh]

I never saw that video. What a hoot!

Imelda May is one of my favourite artists. She is a Dubliner from the Liberties who specializes in rockabilly. Her musical and fashion style is very distinctive and she has a sense of humour! She is touring in North America this summer.

 

[freebird5825]

Imelda May is one of my favourite artists. She is a Dubliner from the Liberties who specializes in rockabilly. Her musical and fashion style is very distinctive and she has a sense of humour! She is touring in North America this summer.

I just put 3 of her CDs on my Amazon wish list. Next time I need to reach the $35 free shipping level, I'll order one. She sounds like fun!

My tzatziki is made, refrigerator dill pickles (from homegrown cukes) are started, my kitchen is clean, time to get showered and dressed and go to the bank, and then off to the VFW at 3 PM for a few cold ones and some laughs with the guys.