What did you do today? - 2020 version

[Ronstar]

Went to the dr to get light headed ness and chills checked out. Feels like I’ve fried some neurons. Ekg ok . Bloodwork drawn. He thinks that I’ve overdone some yard work along with not enough hydration. I’m supposed to drink a lot more, stay in the shade, avoid peak temps and take frequent breaks. Getting old is not for sissies

 

[Souschef]

About a month ago we took a drive along the Pacific Coast toward Santa Barbara. It was totally depressing. There was nobody there and no parking was allowed.
Today we took that same drive and it was wonderful. There were RV's lined up for miles along the beach, and many people on the sand or in the water. Everyone was practicing social distancing.
We stopped at an isolated point, got out our folding chairs, and had lunch while watching the ocean. It was very uplifting to see a sign of normalcy.
DW really misses the ocean, and this sort of rejuvenated her.
To paraphrase Capt Ramius from the Red October,"And the sea will bring each person new hope"

 

[MichaelB]

I took DW’s car in for recall service that was scheduled 5 weeks ago. The service agent looked at her chart, excused herself, went back to the office, came out, and told me it might not be ready today. I pressed for detail, and she said it would be “a couple of days, not including weekend”. After even more pressing, she said 5 days was their recommended window. They did offer a loaner, which we declined. It stunk of cigarette.

She agreed they should have made that clear when I scheduled the service. She also agreed they should have scheduled for a Monday or Tuesday, so it doesn’t just sit idle on their lot for the weekend. As a one time courtesy she offered to “expedite reschedule” The Monday she offered is late July, so I declined. Their online service scheduled had loads of openings, so it looks like they limit the work on recalls.

It’s not really a big deal, the hassle is mostly readjusting the seat and mirrors after DW drives my car. It’s unusual to see such poor service.

 

[REWahoo]

^ That’s a great way for a dealership to lose my business.

 

[O2Bfree]

Took mom to the dentist for the cleaning she missed because of the closures. They found a cavity, so I'll need to take her back in July to get that filled.

Then we went to the restaurant that her and dad sold nine years ago and is right next door to her dentist. The place just re-opened today after nearly three months down. The owner, a heck of a nice guy and also a fine businessman, had stockpiled some cash the past few years and so was able to weather the closure plus make good use of the down time to do some maintenance and kitchen-expansion projects. He said the health department sent him an inch-thick packet of guidelines he'd have to follow if he wanted to open. Fortunately, his brother who is part-owner is a skilled carpenter and was able to make the required plexiglass barriers to install between the booths, so that saved them a big chunk of change. The barriers are wood-framed and blend beautifully with the decor. They kind of detract from the family atmosphere though, so they'll be taken down when the Covid thing is over.

 

[Brat]

NW resourcefulness.

 

[MRG]

Got up with the sun as DW couldn't sleep. I had a blood test this morning at 9am and fasted till then. After the draw I stopped at McDonalds for breakfast to bring home to DW.

Received a text from Tesla wanting to know if I wanted mine in June! I replied and started getting serious about it happening this year while I still get a 4k state tax incentive. Talked to Fidelity and found a place to pull the money from, it wasn't doing much and I'd rather enjoy the ride. Pulled my trucks titles (OMG I have driven pickups my whole adult life, theEarthmay stop spinning) from the bank and figured out where charging will be mounted.

Went to the river and walked a couple miles. It's getting more like summer with strangers. Walked right past a neighbor before we both realized we weren't tourists and talked a bit. Had a cocktail before dinner and had some ribs with macaroni and cheese.

 

[Chuckanut]

I took a walk that led me past my favorite local watering hole that recently reopened with well spaced seating outside. There were several open tables. I threw caution to the wind. I was at a local small business so I ordered a local brew from a nearby craft brewer and enjoyed the beer and people watching while sitting outside. I gambled with my health so as to support a local cafè and a local brewery. Somebody had to do it. (Cue the virtue signaling music.).

 

[Dalmore]

1st day of retirement: Relaxed most of the morning. Got on the treadmill for a bit. Went to Costco. Replaced the water valves going to the washing machine in the garage as they were corroded and starting to leak.

 

[1242Vintage]

My days are usually split between yard work and workouts.

Spent the morning mowing and spraying brush and weed killer along the banks of the creek. This is an annual ongoing battle each Spring to knock the brush down and clean it all up before fire season.

Changed and jumped on my bicycle for an hour and a half workout down to the big river. Workout comes on the climb on the gravel road out of the canyon.

Predict tomorrow will look remarkable like today!

 

[Hermit]

1st day of retirement: Relaxed most of the morning. Got on the treadmill for a bit. Went to Costco. Replaced the water valves going to the washing machine in the garage as they were corroded and starting to leak.

Congrats on the retirement! IMHO it only gets better!

 

[Walt34]

Yesterday I hosed down the basement concrete floor (well, most of it) and then pulled the water, accompanied by much more dirt than I expected, up with the shop vac with the squeegee attachment. I was a bit surprised how quickly the floor dried and the vac/squeegee combination worked much better than I expected. We do run a dehumidifier in the basement and during the summer months it runs pretty much constantly so I'm sure that helped a bunch. I'd never tried this cleaning method before and will be less reluctant to do that in the future. Much less mess than expected and great results!

DW left to go to her nephew's place to see a virtual dance recital by the two grandnieces so I took the opportunity to use the carpet shampooer on the stairs to the basement, then decided to do the family room carpet as well since I already had the machine ready to go. Then mowed the lawn, or what parts of it have not yet gone dormant from the heat and lack of rain. Then had a late lunch and logged in here.

 

[atmsmshr]

ROCKET DAWN – This morning, DW and I watched from our beach a Falcon 9 satellite launch. A bright crescent moon and clear sky guided our walk and beach chair setup. Since blast off was before sunrise, so we could see the red bloom of light on the ground north of us as the engines were set ablaze. The first stage briefly disappeared behind a low cloud cover and then became a bright star in the dawn sky. We could clearly see main engine cutout and then booster ignition. The sound of the liftoff was enough to overcome the noise of the surf. The timing of the launch with the rising sun and atmospheric conditions created a spectacular corona bloom as the ionosphere was pierced. The first stage fell back to earth and we could track the booster engine with a reentry burn in the sky and a horizon level landing retrofire over the sea onto a drone ship. This was the best rocket launch we had ever seen – even including the night time space shuttle launches when we could see the solid rocket boosters start to drop back to earth.

Afterwards, in the dawn we were able to watch the red planet Mercury slowly rising on the horizon as the earth rotated towards the sun. As a bonus, the early morning light showed a set of sea turtle nests marked out a few yards north of us. A short walk south revealed fresh sea turtle tracks of a nest dug just hours before our arrival.

 

[O2Bfree]

ROCKET DAWN – This morning, DW and I watched from our beach a Falcon 9 satellite launch. A bright crescent moon and clear sky guided our walk and beach chair setup. Since blast off was before sunrise, so we could see the red bloom of light on the ground north of us as the engines were set ablaze. The first stage briefly disappeared behind a low cloud cover and then became a bright star in the dawn sky. We could clearly see main engine cutout and then booster ignition. The sound of the liftoff was enough to overcome the noise of the surf. The timing of the launch with the rising sun and atmospheric conditions created a spectacular corona bloom as the ionosphere was pierced. The first stage fell back to earth and we could track the booster engine with a reentry burn in the sky and a horizon level landing retrofire over the sea onto a drone ship. This was the best rocket launch we had ever seen – even including the night time space shuttle launches when we could see the solid rocket boosters start to drop back to earth.

WOW, totally cool!! I suppose seeing it live vs. on TV is like how the ISS crew describes seeing the Earth from the cupola vs. in a photo.

We've rediscovered our interest in space programs since the Crew Dragon Demo 2 launch and have been watching the live interviews with the ISS crew on NASA Live. Next one is Tuesday morning. Go Doug and Bob!

 

[anethum]

I harvested my garlic this morning. It's very easy to grow and doesn't take up much space. In zone 7, I plant individual garlic cloves in September and each clove produces a bulb that I harvest in June. The leaves remains green all winter. I'm set for garlic for the next 12 months. I give away a few bulbs, but I use most of it myself. I'll let the bulbs dry outside for a few days, then I store them uncovered in my basement.

I planted bush bean seeds in the same space immediately after I dug up the garlic. Its crop will be finished in time to plant more garlic in September.

 

[Walt34]

Continued with the basement workshop area cleanup/rearranging stuff. Among other things I got the three larger R/C airplanes up on the ceiling and more out of the way. DW is pleased.

I mentioned that now there is room for more R/C airplanes. DW frowned.

 

[Gumby]

Did the Sunday NYT crossword puzzle, mowed the lawn, made bar soap, watered and sprayed the garden. Time for dinner.

 

[RobbieB]

Teaching myself arc welding with a low end Harbor Freight flux core wire feed;

 

[MRG]

I received a text saying my new Model Y performance is available for pickup this week! I was originally told 4-8 weeks and it's only been one! I still don't have a charging system or anyone to install it but I'm going to Littleton on Thursday to finalize the deal. Should be interesting as I've driven pickups for 30 years and this is an EV crossover.

Contacted Fidelity about withdrawaling the funds to purchase and how to be able to write a check. For a moment I lost the funds and couldn't see how to transfer money. A short call fixed my panic and I'll move money tomorrow.[emoji4]

 

[street]

Teaching myself arc welding with a low end Harbor Freight flux core wire feed;

Looks good!
I have been thinking of getting a low end unit myself. I love to build things and always have to have something spotted or welded by a rancher friend.

The problem I wouldn't use it very much and not sure if I need some more STUFF! lol

 

[street]

I harvested my garlic this morning. It's very easy to grow and doesn't take up much space. In zone 7, I plant individual garlic cloves in September and each clove produces a bulb that I harvest in June. The leaves remains green all winter. I'm set for garlic for the next 12 months. I give away a few bulbs, but I use most of it myself. I'll let the bulbs dry outside for a few days, then I store them uncovered in my basement.

I planted bush bean seeds in the same space immediately after I dug up the garlic. Its crop will be finished in time to plant more garlic in September.

Do you gather seed from existing garlic plants, you let grow for seed, to plant in the fall??

 

[anethum]

You break apart heads of garlic into individual cloves and plant those. No actual seeds are planted. I have planted cloves from my own garlic harvest, as well as cloves from heads of garlic I bought in a supermarket in September. For some reason, the cloves from the garlic I purchase in September tends to grow better than cloves from garlic I harvest in June. BTW, I would never use those little Chinese heads of garlic (often sold in netting bags of 5 or 6 small heads of garlic). I find that garlic to be inferior.

 

[Gumby]

Do you gather seed from existing garlic plants, you let grow for seed, to plant in the fall??

I'm not Anethum, but I'll tell you how I do it.

Get a garlic head from the grocery. Split it into the individual cloves (usually 6 to 8 in a head). In the Fall (around here the first week of November, probably earlier in Montana), plant each individual clove about an inch deep with the root side down. Cover them with about an inch or two of hay. In the Spring, they will grow up through the hay. In addition to leaves, they will form scapes, a central round shoot that will develop into flowers if you let them. Don't let them. Instead, cut them off and use them to make salad dressing and stir fries. Dig the garlic bulbs up in July and let them dry out. Keep a few heads to split into cloves and plant in the Fall for the next year. Eat the rest.

If you want to have better garlic, get the initial head from a mail order seed catalog. They are specially developed to be put in the ground for the next year's crop and they will produce bigger and better heads than the grocery store ones.

 

[Chuckanut]

Get a garlic head from the grocery. Split it into the individual cloves (usually 6 to 8 in a head). In the Fall (around here the first week of November, probably earlier in Montana), plant each individual clove about an inch deep with the root side down. Cover them with about an inch or two of hay. In the Spring, they will grow up through the hay. In addition to leaves, they will form scapes, a central round shoot that will develop into flowers if you let them. Don't let them. Instead, cut them off and use them to make salad dressing and stir fries. Dig the garlic bulbs up in July and let them dry out. Keep a few heads to split into cloves and plant in the Fall for the next year. Eat the rest.

If you want to have better garlic, get the initial head from a mail order seed catalog. They are specially developed to be put in the ground for the next year's crop and they will produce bigger and better heads than the grocery store ones.

Interesting.

Can you grow garlic in pots?

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

I harvested my garlic this morning. It's very easy to grow and doesn't take up much space. In zone 7, I plant individual garlic cloves in September and each clove produces a bulb that I harvest in June. The leaves remains green all winter. I'm set for garlic for the next 12 months. I give away a few bulbs, but I use most of it myself. I'll let the bulbs dry outside for a few days, then I store them uncovered in my basement.

Unfortunately, I harvested my garlic this morning, too. I say "unfortunately" because it was not ready yet (Zone 5), but today is the day that the landscapers came to redo the backyard. (Crosspost to "Blow that dough"? ) So, I had to dig 28 plants up today.

I was really looking forward to having those heads... Oh well. The bulbs are very small, and I am going to treat the plants like ramps or scallions.