Didn’t Really Think About That New Stove Did You? And Now You Pay …

Actually, I did but it did come as a bit of a surprise when I started going through my kitchen cabinets and seeing what a magnet would stick to. So these:

won’t work with the new stove. We’ll move them to the FILA with the old stove until when/if her Dad moves out and brings his own. Luckily, most of these I really haven’t used in months or longer, so, no biggie. And I’ve been slowly gathering cast iron skillets and pots and those do work.

SWMBO had her first session on the new stove this evening for “reconstitute Monday” dinner. She did pretty good.

Called last night to refill my Rx for the blood thinner I’m now taking. Showed up at the Pharmacy in town and got my meds and headed home. Just now, 7 hours later, I realize they refilled one of the “other” meds I’m taking that was due to refill. So, day 2 without the Xarelto; which you’re not supposed to just stop taking. I will be there at the pharmacy at 1000 sharp.

Which I did today. So I’m medicated to specs. Should be good for another 24 hours.

Not a lot going on. Mowed all but the front-lower (or lower-front) yard yesterday. Did the weed-whacking around the house and yards today. I’ll get the trail around the property later. Way later.

Maters are starting to come in. Have one (1) green bell pepper that looks kinda sorta like it wants to grow. We’ll see how that goes.

Freeze dried some apples, nectarines, and burger. Next up: green beans and riced cauliflower.

Painting with colors finally getting started in the FILA today. Light purple in the master bed room. Light green in the “office.” Woodchuck (I think) in the bathroom. (Might be Upchuck for all I know.) All the ceilings are white. FILA is really starting to look like something. Hell, if SWMBO’s Dad doesn’t move in, and I don’t wind up living down there, we could get about $1700/mo rent on the place. IF we were of a mind to rent again. (Both the last Renters turned out to be $ thousands expensive fixing the place back up. Never renting again.)


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Oh My God! Another Post! Whatever Shall We Do? (Now, Get An AI To Fix That Headline!)

Last Monday SWMBO’s friends from North Bend drove over and spent the night in our RV. Nice having a near 4000 square foot house with NO “guest” bedroom. One could say, though, that since they (SWMBO’s friends) actually live in an RV over in North Bend, that we’re only doing what we can to make them really feel at home. (But, all kidding aside; they are welcome anytime.)

Tuesday, Independence Day, they (SWMBO’s friends) went to see the Kitsap Steamers (Railroad club) in Bremerton and drug, er, took SWMBO Me & Connie Mae Howard 1971along. I stayed at home cause I don’t really do crowds well. Especially on days where folks participate, encourage, & condone sudden explosions. I think Desert Storm did that to me.

Wednesday was a lazy day. Hot Wx wise so the Dog and I took off all our clothes and spent most of the day outside “doing stuff.” Had to find my sheep skin thingie for the tractor seat! Thing got HOT. I am NOT going to have a vitamin D insufficiency again this year!

Thursday was COSTCO & Burger King day. SWMBO found a couple of sinks & faucets she likes but we didn’t get them then. Next week.

Thursday the Contractor and his helper started painting the ceiling in the FILA but had an emergency at his home about an hour in and left. Suddenly. Suddenly enough to leave a tray almost full of paint in the middle of the floor. Then he called Friday to say that he’d woken up with a fever and wouldn’t be back until Monday. (We found the tray of paint yesterday. Way too late to save it.)

Also had to pull the Old Stove out and disconnect it. Not as much a mess behind the thing as I would have thought and did imagine. Some clean up but not bad. Delivery of the new stove should be between 08-1200 tomorrow.

Friday was Date Day! Was going to put it on hold but my New Stove got here at the crack of 0800. I had no sooner than moved SWMBO’s car than the Really Big Truck backed down the driveway and two strong young guys unloaded the stove and brought it into the house.

So, of course, I HAD to take the 4 connect wire off the old stove and put it on the new stove and plug it in (good thing I already had an electric stove on a 50 amp circuit or we’d have had to put one in!) and push the new stove into the opening for it. And, of course, while I was testing all the “burners” to see if they worked I might as well cook some breakfast since I was running the “burners” anyway. Iron skillet got hot even through the “burner” sized silicone pads I got to protect the surface. Nice.

Stove worked fine! I like it. Did find myself falling into the old (habit?Method?) of moving the hot skillet to a cool burner when I finished cooking. Don’t Have To Do That Now. When you turn the “burner” off it’s the pan that’s still hot and not the surface of the stove. Cool!

Then I took SWMBO to Denny’s for some of their famous Bourbon Chicken. Made stops at WinCo & the Chefs Store (or whatever they call it now) before heading home. Real exciting, I know!

Got a new film/slide scanner delivered Thursday for a project SWMBO has for me. My old one is just too old tech to work well. Like the new scanner. You can continuous feed film strips or slides through it and the actual scan takes only a second or two. Sometimes the leading edge of the film strip or slide catches though and it to be taken apart and moved a bit; but that’s the price one pays for doing it oneself.

I’ve already scanned about 1200 slides and am making headway through all my old film (126, 135, and 110) in order to thoroughly “test” this scanner. Cause I’m anal that way. Still, I’m finally scanning pictures that I haven’t seen in 50 years or more. Connie (above) was a girlfriend whose Dad hated me so much he wrote my Commanding Officer on the USS Dixie (AD-14) to ask, no, order him to order me to NEVER come around his daughter again. That didn’t work as well as sheer distance since I was stationed in San Diego and she lived outside Yuma.

Kinda wonder what all those “girls” in the 1987 Miss Nude Universe contest at Naked City look like now? (But I don’t wonder much.)

Picked up some apples and nectarines to freeze dry. Soon (like September) we’ll make a trip to Leavenworth to buy a couple of cases of those (and more) to freeze dry. Yes, the nectarines are an experiment. Hope it works.


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Well, that was expensive. But, Hopefully, Worth It.

For my birthday this year, SWMBO let me orderĀ  the Samsung 30 in. 6.3 cu. ft. Slide-In Induction Range with Self-Cleaning Oven in Stainless Steel from Home Depot. Only $1038 with tax. Free delivery July 7th. All the video’s on YouTube about it were positive and I couldn’t find any negative reviews except for one guy that gave the stove 1 star because he didn’t get a manual. Dipshidiot. Not a high end $5500 stove but I think it’ll be fine for the cooking I do.

So; going induction. Good thing I have plenty of cast iron pots and pans. (Must be genetic, or southern, cause I think everything cooked in iron tastes better.)

That means “Date Day” next Friday will be bring home pizza so we’ll be here for delivery. As directed.

Not a lot going on. Took SWMBO to Sherry’s for breakfast today as a prelude to taking her to Home Depot to look at materials for a “cat-e-o.” Don’t go there. I had an appointment at the Pulmonary folks office at 1230 so they could check out my new CPAP so it was a combined trip. Took the long way through Seabeck on the way home. Nice ride.

I never get tired of being out with her.

Tape & paste guy finished his work yesterday (Late!) and we thought the texture guy was coming today but got a message that he’ll be here Saturday. Contractor is picking up our new cabinets tomorrow in Tacoma and will keep them at his shop until Monday. Looks like they’re painting the ceilings and walls before installing the cabinets. Makes sense to me.

If anyone is interested in seeing our pics from the reno of the FILA: Click Here. I post new pics there when I take them.

AND all the above was from the other day cause I forgot, again, to post. So, not much changed with turning 71.

Playing with ChatGPT: Analyze the writing style of the text below then please give me a 200 word piece on the joys of summer. (then I cut and pasted the text from the previous post:) And the answer was:

The text you provided has a casual and conversational tone, with a mix of personal reflections, daily activities, and health updates. The writer shares their experiences of turning 71, discussing a phone call with a friend, cooking with a new Ninja Air Fryer, dealing with health issues, and work-related matters. The writing style is informal, with a few abbreviations and colloquial expressions used to convey the writer’s thoughts and emotions.


The Joys of Summer

Summer, the season of sun-kissed days and carefree moments, brings with it a symphony of delights that awaken the child within us. As the world blooms in vibrant colors and the days stretch lazily, we find ourselves immersed in a tapestry of happiness.

The warmth of the sun becomes a gentle caress, coaxing us outdoors to embrace nature’s bounty. We indulge in leisurely strolls along sandy shores, our toes delighting in the cool waves that tickle our feet. The shimmering waters invite us to dip in, offering respite from the balmy embrace of the season.

Ah, the taste of summer! Juicy watermelons, succulent strawberries, and freshly squeezed lemonades grace our palates, making our taste buds dance with joy. And let’s not forget the delightful picnics under the shade of swaying trees, where laughter and camaraderie weave memories to be cherished forever.

Longer days grant us precious moments to explore new passions. We pick up books that transport us to far-off lands, pursue creative endeavors that stir our souls, and savor the simple pleasures of life that often go unnoticed in the hustle of everyday existence.

Summer nights bring a celestial spectacle, as stars sprinkle the inky canvas above. Bonfires crackle and spark, gathering friends and family around their warm glow. We share stories, dreams, and perhaps a few marshmallows, relishing the camaraderie that only summer nights can foster.

But amidst the joys, summer also reminds us of the importance of self-care. We listen to the rhythm of our bodies, staying hydrated and seeking shade during the sweltering hours. And when the day’s adventures leave us weary, we retreat to the comfort of a well-ventilated space, letting the gentle hum of a fan lull us into peaceful slumber.

In the embrace of summer, life’s simple pleasures become our refuge. The beauty of this season lies not only in its breathtaking landscapes but in the precious moments shared with loved ones and the gift of being present in each passing second. So, let us raise our glasses to summer’s joys, for they infuse our lives with a radiant glow that lingers long after the last rays of the sun have bid us farewell.

END. Hmm. Not one mention of taking all one’s clothes off and going for a walk in the woods. Or cold beers. Inhuman.

Think I ought to post this and go to bed. Get off my lawn!


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Happy Birthday To Me. Happy Birthday To Me. Happy Birthday To Meeeeeee. Happy Birthday To Me.

Seventy-One! Who’da thunk I’da made it this far. Damn. A good friend/adopted sister called at 0630 this morning to wish me happy birthday and we talked for over 2 hours. Man I had to pee!

Didn’t do anything special. Made butterfly coconut shrimp and fries for dinner. That new Ninja Air Fryer we bought last Friday sure works good at making “fries.” And bacon. Made bacon in it this morning and it turned out damn near perfect.

Anywho, SWMBO had an old friend drop by and bring her husband so I got to keep him entertained. Nice guy. I could look forward to them visiting again. I think I sold another Harvest right freeze dryer though. He really liked the astronaut ice cream.

Not a whole lot else going on. Heart is still playing games. Doc put me back on the pee pills. I regained almost 10 of the 17 lbs I lost because I retain a LOT of fluids. We’ll see how it goes. Still staying on my “diet” which ain’t a diet but a eating habits change. Not having as much progress quitting sugar as I’d like. Slow and steady wins the day though. I didn’t quit smoking the first 50 times I tried either.

The left side of my head aches and I’m thinking it’s because of all the excitement today. I mean, there had to be some excitement somewhere in the world, right? I really think I’m missing some setting on my new CPAP and not getting the full effects of the treatment and been waking with a low grade headache. Have an appointment with the pulmonary folks tomorrow and we’ll get it all worked out.

Tape & Paste buy still isn’t through with the FILA. Heck, he doesn’t even show up for work until 1100-1200 and leaves anywhere between 1630 & 2100. Mostly he does get in 6 hours of work. He’s having trouble getting the paste to dry out as fast as he’d like so he can go on to the texturing part so tonight we’re leaving all the doors and windows open. I kinda sorta blocked the lower part of the doors so no big animals can wander inside and try to take up residence. Or cause more damage.

Joy.

Logged in an “played” with both ChatGPT and Bard over the past couple of days. Can’t see where either would be of much use to me. Both seem pretty knowledgeable and quick to respond. Both gave pretty much the same answers to the same questions. Both admonished me to continue to see my Doctor.

Sure will be glad when the FILA is finished and I can go somewhere and get out from under all these trees for awhile!


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