Project Teardown

I guess it was about twenty or so years ago when I bought a storage shed. It seems we never have enough storage space in the house. I was still working at the time, and it seems I remember spending at least four weekends putting it together.

It would not have taken so long, but I found the instructions confusing. Several times, I had to undo things before doing them right. Some aspects I found irritating.

Nonetheless, I did finish the little 10-by-12 steel building, and I must say it did turn out well. However, I only had the use of it for a little over a year and a half.

During an ice storm, I heard a horrible sound. When I went to check the cause, I saw two large branches from a pine tree had fallen. They did not flatten the building, but they did render it unusable.

Ever since, the disassembly of the building has been on the to-do list. The problem, of course, is that other things keep coming up with other higher-priority projects.

Besides, I need somewhere to move the contents. I have thought about renting a storage unit, but I have no idea about the cost.

Then again, if I actually decided to make the right decision, I would sell the house and anything else I can. Then I would buy a 35-foot motor home and concentrate on getting away from Memphis, going a long way away.

It has been some time since I have accessed my storage shed and attic. While I may need to repurchase a few items, I have found myself in a position where my possessions have become a burden rather than an asset. A more streamlined approach to managing my belongings may be beneficial.

Furthermore, I would not have to address the task of dismantling the shed. I am reaching an age where such physical labor is becoming increasingly challenging.

Does anyone know of a good motor home for sale?

Daily writing prompt
Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done.

Portable Oxygen Concentrators

I’m sure many will disagree, but I’m thankful for the invention of those little things, even though they don’t directly affect my existence.

Allowing patients to carry oxygen bottles was a significant advancement. Now, concentrators have made bottles seem outdated.

The concentrators are smaller, lighter, and safer, making them a convenient option. Without them, some people might be constrained to their home.

It will be nice to have something like that for heart patients. Alternatively, maybe they will come up with something that will make both unnecessary.

Daily writing prompt
The most important invention in your lifetime is…

What do I Like to Cook

Oddly, I have some expertise on this one. I actually cooked for a living for a short time. Well, I couldn’t call myself a chef. However, in my brief history at the grill, I did cook a bunch of hamburgers. It was very enjoyable, which might surprise a few. Sometimes I wasn’t so perfect, though. One night a young man came running up and yelled that there was no meat on the his hamburger. It might be where Wendy’s came up with their slogan, “Where’s the meat?”

Well the guy was understanding and even had a good laugh about it. Don’t ask how I pulled that bonehead mistake. As they like to say nowadays, it’s complicated.

A question does come to mind though. Does the prompt only mean what I like to cook or what I like to eat after it’s cooked. I’ll try to answer both.

With just the four of us in the family, it was a little wasteful to buy a big bird, though we did a few years. Oddly, though neither my wife or I ever cooked a turkey before, it must have turned out good. The boys and their friends picked the bones clean in the next two days. Incidentally, on the days following Thanksgiving, they did have friends.

Nonetheless, we found a new way to cook turkey for the four of us. We found one pound turkey roasts in the frozen food section. Far easier to cook. Better tasting. Juicier. Just the right size for the four of us and it came with good gravy.

My wife’s grandma sure learned to like them. She kept 4 or 5 of them in the her big freezer all the time.

Nowadays, it’s just the two of us. No reason to even cook the roast. We just find a restaurant. Easier, faster. And no cleanup after.

Oh yes. That reminds me. When I cooked for a living, I loved it. It’s the cleanup I don’t like. And so it is to this day. It is the primary reason we normally eat out. No pots or pans to clean.

How-some-ever, turkey is still about my favorite meat. It just is, most restaurants only serve it on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite thing to cook?

Vic-20

That was decades ago. It had a whole 5K of RAM expandable to 32K. You might find this difficult to believe, but I did write a few useful programs with it. Oddly, however, where I found it most useful was as a super calculator.

It had what they called an immediate mode. I could type print 4+5 and press enter and the computer would display 9. In that day, scientific calculators were very expensive and the little Vic-20 could not only handle the most complex calculations, it was simpler and faster.

My first “PC compatible” type of computer was a little better. It had a 16 MHz 80286 processor, one MB memory and forty MB harddisk. I originally ran MS DOS 4.1, eventually 6.2. The system barely ran Windows 3.1 so I mostly ran stayed in DOS.

Truth is, the little 286 ran about as fast as the new machines, the way they have the new machines all loaded down with all that new stuff. They’ve put a lot of new stuff on them to make them easier and more powerful.

As for me, I would just as soon have a 486 with Windows 3.1 with but one more thing, USB interface. It’s one thing they did right. The rest is far more difficult and complex. It was intended you know. It takes the control out of our hands. Something goes wrong and a phone won’t suffice for help. It could get expensive in a hurry. I speak from experience.

Oh, and by the way, things are far more apt to go wrong. I’m guessing in my case it’ll cost me a couple hundred.

Hint, keep all your data files on external storage. You can keep copies on the main disk but, if you’re smart, you’ll keep the working files separate from the system.

Daily writing prompt
Write about your first computer.

Festinating Question

Never before given it any thought. Blue is my favorite color, especially royal blue. That would go good with silver, if possible. Yellow might not be the best color but it is bright, eye catching. It does kind of make a statement. But what to pair it with? With white it wouldn’t show up well. Not too keen on looking liking like a bunch of bees in black and yellow.

As for mascot, I would like the regal eagle but that has already been taken. How about raging wolves? I think I like that and I don’t think anyone has yet chosen it, though I might be wrong,.

Do you suppose they would let me get away with black and white stripes? Maybe not? Still I wonder if there is a rule against it.

Well, it is my dream world, right? I want Regal Eagles and red, white and blue. If anyone complains, too bad.

Daily writing prompt
If you started a sports team, what would the colors and mascot be?

I Don’t Guess I Can Say

Maybe this isn’t a proper reply. I guess I am pretty well traveled. I have been about all over southern California, including much of Camp Pendleton, mostly while afoot and and running.

I have been almost totally from one end of I-40 to the other. I have also been along much of Route 66 before I-40 was half done. Speaking of visiting cities, there must have been at least 30 cities along 66 just in California alone. Seemed every time we got up to speed, we had to slow for another town.

I have flown most of the various aircraft, including, C-117, & C-130. And I have flown into & out of Los Angeles, Dallas, Sydney, Da Nang, Ft. Smith…. You get the idea.

Getting back to the question, my thought is a little different. I’d sort of like to see all the US cities… with an RV… about 30 feet. I’d visit the northern ones in the summer and the southern ones in the winter. It has been a life long dream.

Now, I know. That’s not going to happen. I have a wife and 2 sons instead.

Daily writing prompt
What cities do you want to visit?

Involuntary Walking

As I mentioned, my wife has been in the hospital for the last few weeks. I have been visiting her daily. Naturally, the only parking spaces are a mile from the hospital. Naturally, I have to walk another half a mile inside the hospital to get to her room. Altogether, that is a 3 miles a day.

At 78, you would think I could park in a handicap parking space but unfortunately, old age is not listed as a handicap in Mississippi. Not yet anyway. Maybe after my funeral.

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?

Odd Timing

Just last night, I saw a doe and buck just off the road grazing. They hardly moved as I drove by.

When I first moved down here (about 4 decades ago), we used to see them regular and in groups. Not so much these days. I guess the population is beginning to drive them away. It is a shame. I enjoy watching them, especially when they have one or two young ones with them.

There are still enough of them we need to keep an eye out for them, although I do believe the deer are becoming wise to the autos.

On the other hand, if you want to count the squirls, I see them about every day. I have to be ready to hit the brake. The things get out in the middle of the street. Then when they see me coming, they stop and can’t figure out which way to go whilst I wait for them to make up their minds.

Obviously, we do see birds now and then. I have even seen the squirls chase the birds or visa versa.

Regardless, I would like to be able to watch the deer now and then. Unfortunately, there was nowhere for me to pull the car over. Besides, I think if I had stopped, it would have scared them off.

Daily writing prompt
Do you ever see wild animals?

Doesn’t Everyone?

At least I thought so.

Thanksgiving: turkey and dressing

Christmas: Ham, sometimes turkey and dressing or both

Forth of July : Fried chicken

Whatever the meat, it must include mashed potatoes and gravy. In the case of 4th of July, a good potato salad will also work especially if a picnic.

no bout a doubt it. Those are the absolute rules. No excuses

Daily writing prompt
Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?