the new keyboard

The new keyboard: Microsoft 4000 keyboard. On sale at Office Depot. Gumby said not to get a plain 'ol keyboard, so this is it.

keyboard died

I have a Microsoft keyboard. It's approximately 5 yrs old if memory serves me correctly. It died today. Well, not the whole keyboard: just the "g" key. The "g" key was on the blink for the past day or two. Today it's dead. So the keyboard will go out with the next call for electronic recycling collection. Right now I'm using an old PS/2 keyboard, which I keep around in the event that the BIOS is not set to recognize USB.

arrrrgh

I have an LG Phoenix P505 cell phone. Supposedly there is an update for it, available since November of last year. Today I am trying to do that update. I have spent at least tow hours fooling around with it to no avail. I'm dying of thirst and bursting with frustration. I'm fairly technically inclined, but this is impossible. I don't expect it to be as easy as for the iPhone, but I surely didn't expect it to be impossible.

LG support sucks. I can't even find the P505 in their knowledge base. I can't find basic information about the update, like the version number and how much free disk space it needs. Right now I'm constantly getting the "not enough free disk space" message. Well, how much do you need?!!! I've uninstalled almost all of the apps I had. Whether I get the update or not, I'm going to have to go back in and recover whatever apps I value ... another several hours. No consumer device should EVER be this difficult to update. ARRRRGGHHHH!!!!! I need a drink.

just another day

I had a hundred bucks. Not anymore. Grocery store for a few items: $50. Fertilizer for our trees: $20. Treats for the dog: $5. Breakfast: $5. So I have $20 remaining ... it will probably be gone tomorrow. I am fairly certain that Gumby needs a few more items from the grocery store.

Very nice weather today. I fertilized our young trees up front. Then I put the dog outside for a while so that I clean his crate. He didn't like being outside by himself. After cleaning his crate, I turned my attention towards curbing his demanding barking. He learned a few new things about me today, though I don't think one session was enough to curb his barking.

I ate lunch then went outside again to wash my car. I call it washing but it's basically just an attempt to knock off some of the dirt. Maybe one day I'll clean out the inside. My car is over ten years old and still faithfully taking me back and forth from work.

The job is good. The commute is further than I like but it is what it is. We're scraping by financially so far. I'm earning significantly less than what I did before and it's difficult to afford "extra" expenses -- those that are not the usual monthly bills. Property tax on the other property, home owner association fees, costs associated with maintaining our house or car, and new clothes come to mind. But God provides and in general, we have enough to meet our needs so far.

Tomorrow I'll do my usual church gig. Then have lunch, then attend evening mass and generally take it easy as we begin another week.

wishing everyone well

Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year!
Wishing everyone a safe and healthy Christmas season and new year. May we all grow closer to Christ, love God more and grow in holiness.

one of those days

It's one of those days. Normally Christmas decorating the outside takes just a few minutes. I just throw the mesh lights over the shrubs, garland around the door, plug them in and I'm done. Last year the green mesh lights were on the blink. One set was used as the sacrificial set, giving up its good bulbs.

This year I tested them first (maybe not unusual for you, but it is for me). I got two sets going. Then the dog threw up and I had to stop and take care of that. I gave the dog hydrogen peroxide to help him throw up (he was frantically running around the yard trying to find stuff to eat that would help him vomit). After throwing up three times, he calmed down. Then I cleaned out his crate and hosed off his dog bed.

Then back to the mesh lights. On the third set I finally got everything except the middle section working. After testing every single bulb in the middle section and replacing what was found to be dead, it still wouldn't work. hmm. Last ditch effort: transfer all the bulbs to the sacrificial set. No luck. They wouldn't light at all. Not one. hmm. Transfer them all back and throw away the wiring from the sacrificial set. They still wouldn't light at all. Not a single one. Pack up the green mesh lights and put them back in the attic. Two sets are not enough for the large shrubs up front.

So I put up the garland around the front door, a wreath, and the red mesh sets on the two smaller shrubs and that's it for outdoors.

I started working on our mini Christmas tree inside. But I had left the attic ladder down. That allowed the cat to disappear into the attic. Stop work on the tree and go retrieve the cat. With my luck today I must be careful not to step off the rafters and poke a hole into the ceiling. Of course the cat doesn't come when called. But thank goodness she hadn't gotten too far. I did have to crawl under ducting, avoid wiring, and balance on rafters to go get her. First with a flash light in one hand, then with the flashlight and a cat on the way back. but it went without incident. I finally got the mini tree done. I just have the window garlands to put up now. The dog is fine, the cat is fine, no catastrophe has befallen, but my fingers are sore from tugging on the bulbs on the mesh lights and it's been a long day.

have some humanity, please

Regarding the issue of illegal immigration, I don't think "securing the border" is the answer. If people are fleeing from a burning building, locking the doors to keep them in is not the answer. The majority of these illegal immigrants come under very dire circumstances. History indicates that USA was founded by people who came over under very dire circumstances as well. If USA claims to be "home of the free" and land of the brave, why are we brave people afraid to bring on the immigrants? Are we not resourceful enough to make something positive of the situation, to bring in the people and have them help make us a stronger nation? If we can't put out the fire burning building, at least let the people escape from the building.

It's been a lovely, lazy, relaxing Saturday. The weather was pleasant. It was a little blustery today, partly cloudy with pleasant temperatures. Not too hot or cold. I finally trimmed our shrubs up front today. I called myself washing my car; but I didn't do a fantastic job. At least some of the dust not knocked off.

I was searching for a song on Amazon for someone else. They heard it on the radio but didn't know the exact artist. The search was unsuccessful.

Here's an oldie that I did run across (just a sample clip at the link below): I Give You Praise by Richard Smallwood. Try listening to it on a quiet night when you're doing some soul-searching.
http://www.amazon.com/Praise-Momorable-Moments-Album-Version/dp/B000TEEDX2/ref=sr_1_38?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1321164320&sr=1-38

***
On a different note... Kudos to whomever invented the nail clipper. Whatever did they do prior to its invention?

that's different

The Magic Clerk is pretty funny. Here's one episode
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/hl-40020151/the_tonight_show_with_jay_leno_magic_clerk_season_19/

traffic congestion

It seems to me that we wouldn't have traffic congestion if we could live close to work, or work close to home.

fun on the internet

draw your own stick man ... you'll be surprised
http://www.drawastickman.com/

via http://www.bookofjoe.com/

just doing chores

Here in Texas we are in drought conditions. We did get some rain last weekend and what a welcome that was!

Today I've been busy vacuuming and mopping. I didn't do the whole house, but what I did do was plenty enough work for me. I also gave the dog a bath ... outside, of course. I'm also trying to wet the earth around the house to avoid FURTHER foundation problems. Not sure that I was able to get water 4-5 feet into the ground. Right now I have to go do some social thing. I'm not a social animal and I often do not look forward to these things. At least I don't have to dress up for this one. Anyhow, see ya next time.

9/11

ho hum

Saw the movie "Contagion" today. It was ho-hum.

jumpstart battery

We bought one of these from Autozone recently. Not bad. Jumpstart your car anywhere without needing another car. Around $60 USD after taxes. We'll be taking it with us on road trips for sure.

There are other models available. If you're not comfortable opening the car hood and hooking up to the car battery, there are models that allow you to jumpstart through the cigarette lighter. Not sure how well that works but I know they do make them. I'm sure your local automotive shop can help you pick out the right one for you.

In any case, read the manual or have the shop show you how it works--especially if you have a unusual car battery.

washing hands after using the toilet

If our hands were truly dirty after using the toilet, wouldn't we have wiped it all over our clothes (since we have to finish getting dressed) by the time we get to the sink to wash our hands?

breaking vows

I happened upon the news of Fr. Corapi yesterday. I don't know the man, but I have heard several of his presentations back when we had Catholic radio in the area. The guy is brilliant and he can really deliver an engaging message that sticks. I think one of his presentations is entitled "The End Game" where he himself said the devil's strategy is to "strike the shepherd and scatter the sheep." Indeed Fr. Corapi as a shepherd has been struck. I do believe he has broken all three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. I suppose if you break the vow of obedience, the rest is sure to go.

story here http://soltnews.blogspot.com/2011/07/press-release-concerning-fr-john-corapi.html

Happy 4th of July to all

Happy Independence Day! We like our freedom!

The following is a tribute to our troops.

teapot

see it here: https://www.therainforestsite.com/store/item.do?itemId=37170&siteId=221&sourceId=221&sourceClass=ArtisanItem&index=1

beggars

There seems to be a lot more beggars these days. Young man with sign that says he needs money to support his little brother and bury his father. Woman with sign that says she's a homeless mother of some number of children. Guys out there with crutches and back brace and such. Guy who obviously is missing limbs, sitting in a wheelchair with sign saying he's a veteran. I never know who's for real. One thing I can always give: prayer.

Sorry, we're scrounging for resources ourselves. Please get with the police and they'll point you to the agencies where you might can find assistance.