So this is 2025. Not too bad so far but we’re less than a percentage of the way through and I’m not inherently an optimist. So I got a notice yesterday (and today) from FedEx that there is a package on the way. If I’m guessing right this is the laptop from the new client I’ll be working for. It’s supposed to be a 9 month contract but we’ll see how it shakes out. Should be something I can completely shine at but I still need to hone my Linux, python and docker skills and work on my physique.

Also a lot of home repair and upgrade that needs to be done. Sometimes it feels overwhelming but it’s all a labor of love. I didn’t get much done in the garage today. I’d like to rant about the frigging mouse putting the NCAA BCS on ESPN instead of ABC. I mean I’m sure I could have paid for a month of ESPN streaming but it’s the point of it, I really don’t care to support them. You want to put it on the air, I’ll watch it. I’m not paying you to show me commercials or I’m doing that as little as possible.

So tomorrow is Thursday and I have to let part time job we need to wrap up the current project in prep for the next project. I hate this part but I’ll be damned if I’m running any more than one project at a time. Work Life Balance Dammit!!!

Started off the day by taking the better half to the hospital to get the nose looked at. The doctor had us in and out in the matter of 15 minutes it seems. No bad news, everything was good except the patient was a little light headed as we left so I’m glad I did the driving.

Slightly more progress in the garage. Got the pegboard that was moved to make room for the TV on in the east bay moved to the back wall in the west bay where the truck will be hangered. That should be good storage for hanging stuff and some tools that just don’t belong in the rolling kit. (e.g. pipe wrenches, various saw blades/saws, and all types of tape). Won’t be done in time for this year but sets up an easy win early into the next one. I’m imagining that we’ll need all of those we can get.

Sandy and I decided to stay close to the house and opted to walk up to Pulido’s now that it’s reopened. Katelyn was our waitress, we had a devil of a time we here name as we renamed her Lauren as soon as she left to get our waters. There’s my resolution, pay friggin attention when someone tells you their name, have no idea why that’s so stinking hard for me.

With that I’ll sign off on this last post of the old year. While I hold little optimism for the upcoming year (or four), I’m going to make the best of it for me. My world is going to get better, I’m going to get better. I’m going to rededicate myself to my art of computer geekiness and learn new things and collect certifications. I’ve got another 15 or so years of work and I’m going to spend it doing what I enjoy.

Happy New Year’s Everyone!!!

You know I only paid $50 bucks for it but I liked that fridge. I called around and made inquiries but it seems you couldn’t give it away. That’s fine. Mom hooked me up. All I had to do was load it and go pick up mom and head to the dump. In Fort Worth they have these drop stations that are pretty amazing, if it’s household debris then you just back up to a stall and throw it on down into the dumpsters waiting below. They have shredding. They also have big item drop off like refrigerators. Now you’d think that they would have a place for said refrigerators so they can purge the Freon out of it but it really didn’t look like anyone was going to do that. I was able to undo the dolly that I used to get it into the truck and with a big push, dropped it off the back and into the pile. It was good to see it go.

This means we’re that much further to putting the garage project to bed. I also used what turned out to be an almost hot (80 degree) day to good use and reordered the shed so we can get some of the garage overflow out there. Also married up the project I was working with and it seems to be great, we’ll see what the response is after it’s reviewed. Regardless I should be able to tweak it too whatever they need.

So as we’re coming up to a new year there are things that I’d like to get done and habits to start. One of those things is preparing to die. I mean it’s going to happen. There is nothing I can be more certain of than the fact that I will die.
While I’ve always known this fact, it’s getting closer, I’m at the age that there isn’t really a possibility that I’m going to live more years that I’ve already lived. I’m on the short end of the stick…

This fact has been playing on my mind and one of the things that I can do to help myself is to prepare for this inevitable event. Those that have to clean up after I’ve gone deserve ease in saying goodbye. I need to make sure that the things I’ve created and someone would want are right there, not having to be searched for. It’s the last gift I can leave, here is my life’s work, keep what makes you happy, the rest can fade with my memory.

So here’s the start of the list:

• Pictures – All of them, in a directory, on two devices. This is on a hard drive, a pair of them mirrored. Remember, all of them in a central repository.
• Accounts and Passwords – All accounts (bank, social media, local accounts, et al) need to be documented and be in a format they can be accessed.
• Semblance of organization – Keep things that may be wanted together and in place. Keep things that can be disposed of separate. I have a lot of things, tools and computers mostly. Keep those things that had sentimental value together and stuff that can be put at the curb ready to do so and documented.

Enough of that for now.

The day went well, got the garage further along, it was great to watch the Cowboys loose on the big screen in the garage. I’m happy about the transition to having tools based in the toolbox instead of on the wall. It makes sense to do this, the countless trips back and forth to the tool wall creates an interruption of the job at hand. I can have about 90% of the tools in my old rolling Craftsman tool kit.

Tomorrow I’m going to pick up mom and we’re getting rid of the refrigerator. It won’t be long and that piece of the renovation will be done.

The day didn’t get off to a fast start but I got moving around 11 and made good progress throughout the day. Did some time at the gym and then back to working on the garage. We proved that the truck will fit in the garage and we had to get rid of the extra refrigerator. I managed to get it into the back of the truck and we’ll get it over to a disposal center on Monday or Tuesday with moms help. So we’re really close on the garage and that should be done by the end of the year. Hopefully anyways. Then just need to wrap up the back room and we’re on to the next project time permitting. We have to do something with the bathrooms. They’re falling apart at an alarming rate and something has to be done fairly soon. Ah the joys of home ownership. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’d flounder if I had to live in an apartment again. I guess it wasn’t that bad but just not my cup of tea.

The other keen thing that happened today is that I got Burning Shores to work for Zero Dawn Forbidden West. It’s been two years since I completed the game and never could get the DLC to launch, finally did some digging and it really helps if you actually install the extra content so it can launch. Lesson learned…

I do like me some Friday’s. Got a project at work knocked out in short order and enjoyed the day. Mom stopped over to visit. Brought us cookies. I went for a 7 mile bike ride to enjoy the weather and when I got back Sandy and I took a walk. I’m trying to give away the garage refrigerator but it doesn’t look like anyone wants one. I actually hate to get rid of it but we have another one. When you look at it, I’ve got 5 refrigerators for 2 people. I mean one is for the RV but still.

We get so few rainy days that the ones we get are special. Normally I’d like to just sit at home or lay in bed listening to it. Today, I had to go out in it. For some reason the safety features such as anti-slip aren’t working. I replaced the battery and usually it takes about 50 miles to reset the sensors and get everything back up and running but it’s been about 75 miles now and still no slip control.

It’s that day of the year. Sandy and I are sitting around the house after opening presents watching A Christmas Story and admiring our gifts. We replaced pot cookware with a stainless ensemble including a 2 quart enameled cast iron number. A couple of whisks and some smaller tongs were left by the big guy too. I also got my sweatshirt collection refreshed. Sandy got a vacuum cleaner… I know I know, but that’s what she wanted. It’s a Dyson so it’s pretty upper end. I’m hoping the gift will help us clean better. We’re not filthy but when we do run pull out and plug in and run the vacuum we have, it’s got lots of pet glitter (AKA hair). With the cordless convenience it should make it a snap to get things cleaned up.

It’s going to be a nice quite day. Sandy and I may go downtown to take our picture in front of the tree or we may wait and do that on NYE which is less than a week away. Christmas is always a little sad because it’s over. Admittedly we’re on the bridge and nothing gets done until next year but that starts a long stretch. The miles to go before I sleep I guess.

Also got the front and back yard fertilized. Writing it here so I remember when I last did it.

I’ve got things on my mind and things I want to get done but I’m not going to worry about them today. I’ll do what I feel like today and tomorrow will take care of itself if the great spirit sees fit to leave me here another day. Merry Christmas to all!!!

So yesterday I was perusing my email and came across a little 6 shot single action .22lr revolver for $124.99 at Academy and couldn’t say no. Heck I think it even has a $25 mail in rebate. So I bought it online and picked it up at 7:30am this morning.

So I’ve got another gun that will get shot once ever 5 or so years. While I currently don’t have any place to shoot it, I do aspire to owning a piece of land where I can take some cans out and plink them with a 22.

Aside from that trip, not much happened today. It rained a lot, that was nice to have the rain and thunder, I do so enjoy it. I also cooked up 3 pounds of bacon. And went for a 4 mile bike ride before the rain. And took an amazing nap with the cats. I love it how they are happy when I nap with them.

Life is good today. Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

So for the second time in two months I find myself at the hospital. Although this time it’s Sandy who’s under the knife and I’m doing the waiting. This is a really nice hospital, it’s UT Southwestern University Hospital and makes the one I was at look like a clinic. We got here in record time but then again we were getting here at 4:45am so there wasn’t a bunch of traffic and considering we’re 2 days away from Christmas, there probably wouldn’t have been normal traffic anyways.

We’re here so Sandy can have surgery to fix her nose that got broken and healed wrong when we went camping at Dinosaur Valley State Park. So the $1k bike leads to a $15k surgery. At least she’s cover by her military benefits.

As I get older, I’m beginning to lament the path not taken more and more. Don’t get me wrong, I traveled the road that I was supposed to and came out at this end of it extremely blessed in all that I have. But what if I would have started earlier? What if I hadn’t smoked for 20 years? Where would I have been had the military took me?
It hits me when I meet professionals that are so much younger than I am. The doctors that are working on Sandy don’t look over 30 even though they surely are. I wonder what it’s like to have your life on track and things in order 20 years before I did age wise.

I can’t complain too much. I’m not sure what higher power is looking out for me but they’re doing a great job!