What did you do today? - 2020 version

[jcfradio]

Since it is 2020, we decided to do our family Christmas get together a little different this year. Cases are rising in our area, so an indoor gathering was out of the question.

So this year, we had a small outdoor gathering. Fortunately the weather today was good - 0 degrees C and a light wind - hey it's December in Canada! The FIL/MIL, DD's and spouses and us met for an outdoor, socially distanced Christmas. We had a fire pit set up, ate chili, mulled wine and cookies while outdoors. We wore masks, except while eating and had lots of room to stay 2 metres apart. It wasn't much of an inconvenience at all, and felt more like being at an outdoor Christmas market minus the crowds. Plus we got a chance to see the immediate family for a couple of hours

At the end of the day, the consensus was that this approach worked well for us this year and was consistent with my motto for 2020 "When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Limoncello!" Happy Holidays!

 

[MRG]

Went to get breakfast at McDonalds it was 6° when we left. I took our one little dog with me, he's on his last days and he always likes to ride along. He was peppy after coming back.

DW and I went downtown and walked around. We walked by this guy I saw him when I turned to point out some ducks to DW. We both about jumped into the river.. On the way back it had moved, DW saw it, took me forever as his color is the same as the rocks.

 

[MBAustin]

After online church I prepped the front guest room for one of the kids (they haven't told me yet who gets the room with the comfy mattress and who gets the room with the futon and the TV). Then watched a YouTube lessons & carols service compiled from several years of our annual program which has been done each year since 2000. The music director did a great job - some pieces had 'live' video from last year (the only year we have any decent quality video from) and others had audio with either a selection of still photos from recent years or appropriate artwork. He also compiled a list of every singer (nearly 300) from over the years as well as all the orchestra musicians and others. It brought back a lot of wonderful memories and makes me realize how much I enjoy choral singing. It will probably be next fall before we are fully back to singing in large groups again.

Now I'm giving little doggie a break from his crate prison on my lap while I catch up here and wait for my sourdough to rise. Making pressure cooker beef and farro soup for dinner, so some warm sourdough should go very nicely with it.

 

[Venturer]

My best friend called yesterday morning and ask if we might like to meet up for a late lunch. We met them and ate outside. It was great to get to talk/be together for the 1st time since May. That day we met them and 4 other couples near Tellico plains Tn. on our motorcycles and then rode over the Cherohalla Skyway, had a picnic lunch at one of the pulloffs and then went our separate ways in Robbinsville NC. We really hope 2021 will allow us to be together with friends and family again.

 

[Walt34]

Installed an altimeter/variometer in one of the R/C airplanes and this reports back to the transmitter via telemetry so in addition to things like battery voltages and electric motor power draw I can now know with some measure of certainty what the airplane's altitude is. The claimed resolution is +/- one foot and that does seem to be accurate - it measured the drop in altitude from the workbench to floor, and the increase in altitude from me carrying it upstairs from the basement.

Aside from just the "cool factor" this is useful because the R/C field that the club flies from is only three miles from a full-size airport (yes they know about the R/C field) in Winchester, VA and so the 400 foot altitude restriction for R/C airplanes is closely adhered to as much as is possible.

But I know from experience that just "eyeballing" altitude is very inaccurate. Decades ago I found a cheap wristwatch that had a recording altimeter in it and strapped that to an R/C powered glider and took it up until I could just barely see it. When it came back down I was astonished to read that it had gone up to 1,500 feet! So now I can set an alarm on the radio just as there is for low battery voltage, only this one for altitude over 400 feet.

 

[ls99]

Was at the favorite mechanic. He replaced front wheel hubs of 2012 CTS4 Caddillac, 60K miles, with bad magnetic rings. They had a rough time getting out the old ones. The almost bad and the bad and ugly.
The design engineeers should be shot, along with all those who approved it for production, or sentenced to ten years of doing nothing but replacing these every day eight hours a day. After which they would probably do themselves in.

 

[Gumby]

Yesterday, I put together little bags of Taza chocolate discs and a card for each of our neighbors and then walked up and down the street hanging them on the door knobs. Then I dragged out my 6" refractor telescope for the first time in years and went out to look at the Great Conjunction, along with what seemed to be everyone else in town. (Actually, "and" is the great conjunction.) Today, I'm smoking a brisket.

 

[pacergal]

(actually yesterday evening), had garage door company come out and do maintenance on the door and opener and had a surge protector added. It was starting to make quite a bit of noise and not open as well, thought we might need a new opener. Now it works as good as new for less than $100.
Also, thanks to information from members of the forum, have an electrician coming out to place a whole house surge protector.

 

[RobbieB]

Tool shed deck done!

150 sq-ft of wasted space now functional -

 

[Souschef]

Today was DW's birthday. Our granddaughter snuck over early and decorated the front of our porch. She also left a beautiful grandmother necklace that had 3 little hearts, each engraved with the first letter of our grandchildren's name.
I snuck a small piece of carrot cake in and put 4 candles on it for her.
I also had a card and present for her.
She was so overwhelmed she just sat shaking her head.

 

[MichaelB]

Today was DW's birthday. Our granddaughter snuck over early and decorated the front of our porch. She also left a beautiful grandmother necklace that had 3 little hearts, each engraved with the first letter of our grandchildren's name.
I snuck a small piece of carrot cake in and put 4 candles on it for her.
I also had a card and present for her.
She was so overwhelmed she just sat shaking her head.

That’s really nice.

 

[street]

RobbieB>>> that looks great!

Souschef>>> You really did have a great day! Life is good.

 

[Music Lover]

Grouted basement bathroom tiles, cut and painted baseboards and casing, went to the big box store for shut-offs and feed lines, and ran to a friend's place to borrow his PEX crimper.

 

[EastWest Gal]

Yesterday I did caroling. A flute trio, with no rehearsal. Playing flute with breath guards on our flutes, socially distanced, outside. We froze. But it was nice. We visited homes of a couple of 80 year-olds. One, a fellow musician, she and her husband retired music professors, obviously socially distancing, she cried unexpectedly (she did not expect to cry...). The next, another 80 year old, with out of state children visiting. They invited us in but we said no. (YIKES!) Then a bunch of younger folks, with 2-5 year old children. We stayed outside, played in streets and sidewalks, in the wind and with snow on the ground. We were given cookies and candy, which we graciously received then discarded out of sight.

Good fun all around.

I would do it again. It was fun.

 

[Walt34]

Drove down to the R/C flying site to try and fly some airplanes before the cold front moves in. No such luck, it's waterlogged from melting snow. I kind of expected that but not knowing the site very well I was hoping that drainage was not an issue. Now I know. Sigh.

 

[aja8888]

Went to Costco for gasoline and a few last minute goodies. I've never seen the store so crowded. Had to park in the hinterlands of the lot. All checkouts had big lines. I'm done for the day!

 

[Poopycat]

I just finished my last day of work for the year...26 weeks down, 78 to go...

And I just mixed up some pumpkin bread batter and placed it in the oven. Starting to smell it now. Sitting on the sofa, listening to the rain, cat sitting next to me while I wait for my baked goodies to be done...not a bad afternoon

 

[KCGeezer]

I hadn’t seen the annual posting of the flash mob symphony but I did find a good 2020 version. Merry Christmas everybody.

 

[aja8888]

I hadn’t seen the annual posting of the flash mob symphony but I did find a good 2020 version. Merry Christmas everybody.

Wow! Thanks for posting!

 

[W2R]

What did you do today? - 2020 version

Yesterday we got our hair cut for the second time this year (the last time was in June!). It was a little nerve-wracking to go into Supercuts but everyone was masked and social distancing. Anyway, I had about 4" cut off and I am much happier with my hair now.

Last night from 1-4 AM, we had a very loud storm with high winds, rains, and thunder! It's gone now but our daytime temperatures went from the 70's yesterday to the 40's today. BRRR And the winds are still pretty strong so the 40's feel colder than that. Stupid me, I wasn't thinking and wore sandals.

Today we went to a slightly fancier-than-usual restaurant for lunch. I cast my wiser eating habits aside and ordered their chicken parmesan which was utterly divine as always and probably a billion and a half calories. We went to this restaurant more before we retired; that same year they moved the restaurant a mile or two farther away, also. They still remember us by name, though, like Cheers . We wished Mr. Tony (the chef/owner) and the rest of the family a very Merry Christmas.

Then I came home to find my Christmas present-from-me-to-me on the porch waiting for me.... 36 Animal Crossing amiibo cards. Pretty cool. Another fast and perfect delivery from Target. They are winning me over.

Frank is doing his laundry over here right now.

So anyway, I guess if I was to summarize what I did today, I'd say I did nothing but it adds up to a fairly long post.

 

[aja8888]

1. ROMEO meeting (daily) at BK - 7:00 am. Give BK counter/kitchen workers gift cards, cash, etc.
2. One ROMEO brought in goodies (banana bread, lemon cake, cookies...YES!!)
3. Walked dog @ 9:00 AM
4. Walmart for last minute stuff.
5. Walked dog @ noon!
6. Chrome Book time (here).

Screwing off the rest of the day!

(Oh, walk dog at 5:00 pm.)

 

[Walt34]

I hadn’t seen the annual posting of the flash mob symphony ...

Someone else usually posts it but I did bookmark it:

 

[Sue J]

Someone else usually posts it but I did bookmark it:

Thanks for posting that. I’ve seen it before and always appreciated the musicians. This time I watched it and appreciated seeing the people gathered around, standing closely, and seeing their smiles!

Oh, how I miss the way things used to be!

 

[W2R]

Thanks for posting that. I’ve seen it before and always appreciated the musicians. This time I watched it and appreciated seeing the people gathered around, standing closely, and seeing their smiles!

Oh, how I miss the way things used to be!

Those were the days, huh? I miss seeing lots of smiling people and smiling back at them. Some day we'll see that again, or at least that is my hope.

 

[Nemo2]

Those were the days, huh? I miss seeing lots of smiling people and smiling back at them. Some day we'll see that again, or at least that is my hope.

Here's a start: