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Wednesday, 30 April -

What a rainy and ugly day. I spent the morning on the web, digging deep on the Bundy Ranch situation. After reading an article about a dispute between the militias and the Oath Keepers, I had to know more and started looking for good info sources. It’s amazing how much dis-info is out there. Bottom line for me, though, is I believe it’s time for Bundy to tell the militia and Oath Keeper folks to go home.
That afternoon I hit the gym for my regular ten-minute sessions on the five pieces of gear. In the evening we were on the web well into the evening and only wanted some light entertainment before going to bed. We watched an episode of ‘Royal Pains’ on Netflix Instant. I don’t think we’re going to last on that series. I’m hard-pressed to understand how the writers get paid for that. We had some interest in the backstory but the dialogue, particularly anything the brother says with women around, is so trite it makes me wince.

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Tuesday, 29 April-

This morning we were not supposed to get rain until 1000 or 1100 so I drove on over to our storage unit to finish moving from our old unit to the new one. Of course just as I opened up the back of the car and started loading, the rain started. Fortunately, I only had about a half-hour’s worth of work to do. Since the car has a lift-gate and I was able to park close to the door at both units, the rain was just a minor inconvenience.
After lunch I took Labashi over to see my handiwork and to measure out how to fit the motorcycles in to the unit when cold weather comes in November. I believe this is going to work out very well. In fact, come to think of it, I’ll take the Concours over there when summer gets too hot for it. The Concours engine puts off so much heat as to be uncomfortable in hot weather. I’d rather the motorcycle sit in the shady and relatively cool storage unit than just under its cover in the driveway during the hot weather. When the colder weather comes, I’ll just swap the GS for the Concours.
In the afternoon I went to the gym for my ten-minute sessions and that evening we watched an episode of ‘Rake’ (episode 2:2)

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Monday, 28 April -

Today Labashi and I drove over to the storage unit. I had called up the owner of the complex late last week to see if I could get on his list for a 10 x 20 unit. I happened to call at just the right time. One of his customers had told him earlier this week he was probably going to move out of his unit by the end of the month. At the time it wasn’t quite a sure thing but this morning the owner found the key to the unit in the office mail slot; the guy had moved out.
When the owner called this morning I said I’d be right over to check it out. It turns out to be a great upgrade for us. The unit is 100 per cent larger at only a 40 per cent higher cost and now gives us a drive-in door rather than a half-size door back in the corner of a hallway. The owner also said we didn’t have to pay any additional security fee.
After paying for the new unit, I took Labashi home and helped her get started with her tree-trimming project for the day. Once she had things in control, I drove back to the storage unit and started transferring loads of our stuff between storage units.
Later in the afternoon I decided I had better mow the grass at home before the predicted rains hit tomorrow. I did the lower section and the back yard by supper time and the front yard can go a few more days.
That evening we watched ‘Rake’ 2:1.

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Sunday, 27 April -

I spent the day today rewiring the sailboat trailer’s lights. I had a few minor issues but it was mostly just a matter of sticking with it. I was VERY happy to see the result; the new LED lights are much brighter and the fresh wiring dresses up the trailer.
Late that afternoon I rode the Thruxton down to the East York Starbucks and Lowe’s.
That evening we watched two ‘Rake’ episodes and the first two episodes of ‘Royal Pains’.

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Saturday, 26 April -

I spent today working on the boat.... and it didn’t go well. I thought my task a relatively simple one -- get the trailer lights working. I drove in to Harbor Freight and bought a lighting kit and ran an errand for Labashi. Back home, I decided I’d just replace the trailer’s connector plug with one I had found a few days ago in my electrical spares bin. If that brought the old lights alive, fine, I’d just return the kit to Harbor Freight.
After splicing in the connector, I moved the ATV trailer and backed the van up close enough to plug in. Rats-- the connector is the wrong standard. It’s a four-pin flat plug but the rubber shroud is different.
At that point I opened up the lighting kit and got out the wiring loom from the kit. It’s another four-pin flat plug but it’s yet another design.... one I’ve not seen before. Really?
At that point I drove to the hardware store and bought a trailer-side pigtail to match the plug on the van. While there I noticed they also had a universal pigtail. It just has four bullet connectors. ... that seemed like a perfect solution since I don’t know what plug the buyer is going to show up with.
Back home I tried the universal pigtail but ran into a problem. The bullet connectors fit but all the female bullet connectors each have a plastic shroud. I could get two of the three hot leads into the van’s connector and could get the ground connector in but not the third hot wire. You’ve got to be kidding! I’m going to have to make up my own adapter and I don’t have enough bullet connectors for that.
I then spliced in the flat connector (the one I had bought at the hardware store to match the van) to the old wiring and then tried it.... nothing. Not one light worked. No parking lights, no turn signals, no stop lights. Looks like I’ll have to go ahead and rip out the old Y-loom and put in the new one (from the kit) and replace the tail-lights. I’ll try again tomorrow.
That evening we watched a ‘Rake’ episode.

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Friday, 25 April -

This morning I wrote a long reply to a prospective buyer of our sailboat. If the guy buys it, he’ll have to be able to tow it away so I have some work to do.
I also needed to get MY towing rig squared away so I can ensure the boat trailer’s hitch works properly. After the installation of new rear spring packs back in January, the rear of my van is 4” higher. Earlier this week I bought a replacement ball-mount hitch and installed it today and moved the stainless-steel 2” ball from the old mount to the new one.
I also need to get the boat trailer’s electrical wiring and connectors checked out. I immediately saw I need to replace the flat connector plug at the front of the trailer. Fortunately, I just ran onto one of those connectors among my electrical spares. I started to install it but then changed my mind. I may have to also replace the lights and if I do, I can get a kit with the lights which includes all new wiring for just a few dollars more.
I turned my attention to the bearings. I knocked off the bearing buddies and though the grease looked good, I decided to pull the wheel and repack the bearings with new marine bearing grease.
That evening we watched the Saudi movie ‘Wadjda’. Nice!

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Thursday, 24 April -

I spent much of today developing my Craigslist ad for our sailboat and trailer and getting the photos just right. After posting the ad I went to the gym and again did my ten-minutes-each routine on weights, rowing machine, bike, strider, and elliptical.
That evening we were busy on the web and then watched a Life Below Zero episode.

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Wednesday, 23 April -

Day 26. I think I’m going to stop counting now. My symptoms have subsided enough that I’m cautiously optimistic about it being over. I’m now sleeping most of the night and am able to go to the gym.
I spent the morning writing emails, one to a friend who had been caught up in the AOL spam problem (and was spamming us a dozen times a day).
Labashi asked me to determine whether it’s possible to have an incoming Skype call wake up her Mac like it does her old Windows XP system. That led to research on the Wake-on-Wireless function of the Airport Extreme and Mac. And though it turned out they were set to the recommended values, Skype still did not wake up the client machine. That led to a determination that it could be done be setting the Computer Sleep function to Never to resolve the problem.
I also had a chat with our ISP when I learned they’re now offering 30 and 50 Mbps service in limited areas. It turns out our area is covered. But the service is a bit too much. However, when I learned I could bump up from 10 Mbps to 15 Mbps for only five dollars a month (for a year), I jumped on that offer.
I went to the gym around 1430 and did the same round of ten minutes each on weights, rowing machine, bicycle, strider, and elliptical.
That evening we stepped out to see a pass of the International Space Station with our neighbor. Good one!
We then watched an episode of Rake.

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Tuesday, 22 April -

Day 25.
We were up extra-early today.... at 0600. I’m feeling pretty good today.
The day is supposed to be rainy so I started planning an upcoming trip to northern PA with my brothers and help Labashi work through some problems with Skype on her new machine.
After lunch I finally got around to upgrading the iPad to iOS 7.1.1, jumping from 6.1.
At 1500 I went to the gym. I put in an hour on weights, rowing, spinning, strider, and elliptical.
That evening we watched ‘The Family’ with Robert DeNiro and Michelle Pfeiffer on Netflix Instant.

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Monday, 21 April -

Day 24.
This morning I had to run a few errands. It was time to refresh my gasoline supply and stock up. I needed some Stabil for the gas cans so ran over to Walmart before driving to Hakes for 20 gallons of ethanol-free gas for the mower, motorcycles, ATV, and generator.
That afternoon I went back to the gym for the first time in 25 days. I thought I’d just ride a bike for a short while but felt pretty good and did 10 minutes each of weights, rowing, spinning, strider, and elliptical.
That evening we watched an excellent music special on Muscle Shoals, Alabama on PBS’ Independent Lens.

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Sunday, 20 April -

Day 23
I wasn’t feeling great today and spent the morning patrolling the web. But the day was pretty and the grass needed mowing. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do it all today but the more I walked the better I felt. I’m starting to think I’m coming out of this thing.
That evening we watched a French movie, ‘The Women on the Sixth Floor’ and then an episode of ‘Rake’.

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Saturday, 19 April -

Day 22.

We spent the morning with our guests and then drove down to York for lunch. We ate at Bistro 19 and then spent a few hours walking around the Go Green Earth-Day festival on Beaver Street before our guests had to leave.
Labashi and I headed home but the day was so beautiful I had to take a motorcycle ride. I rode the Thruxton down to Starbucks and took a turn around downtown York.
That evening we watched ‘The Dallas Buyer’s Club’ and then a very, very funny hour of Katt Williams on the Comedy Channel.


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Friday, 18 April -

Day 21.
We did our standard cleaning rounds of the house this morning to prepare for guests later in the day. Labashi left around noon to take Dad to a medical appointment and we had decided we’d meet her at the apartment. Our guests arrived around 1300 and the three of us drove up to Bethany. We had a pleasant afternoon visit and then went out to the What If East, a favorite for all of us.
After dinner we and our guests returned to our house and had a pleasant evening sitting around chatting.

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Thursday, 17 April -

Today is Day 20 of my sinus infection. Today’s the last day of my antibiotics and I don’t think they have kicked this thing. I still have some drainage and therefore a bit of coughing. I feel better physically than yesterday.

This morning I did a bit of dusting in preparation for visitors tomorrow and did another round of cleaning out clothing drawers and shelves in the bedroom. Ahhh-- much better!

I wrote an email to the tool company that made the Torx bit I had trouble with over the weekend and received a quick and thorough reply from the engineering staff. The bevel--- or chamfer-- on the end of the bit is there because of manufacturing requirements and they do fall within the dimensions of the Torx licensing. It’s up to me to find bits without the chamfer if I want them.

I also had problems with access to our local newpaper’s mobile web site and contacted technical staff about it and sent them an email with screen caps and descriptions. I didn’t send it out until near the end of the day so they won’t be able to get to it until tomorrow.

In the early afternoon I rode the F650GS down to the East York Walmart to pick up some Doubleshots and just get out for a bit. I then headed over to Starbucks for news and coffee before returning home.

In the evening we watched a ‘Shameless’ UK episode and a ‘Beyond Survival’ episode about the San people of Namibia.

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