Hey There! It's 8:04 AM EDT, 62°F, Humidity 82%, W 8 mph W, sunny
Yesterday was as pleasant as Monday was unpleasant. I did not have a project meeting yesterday, and the day off was welcome indeed. Everything, including the weather, worked out well.
I started off the day with my morning routine, which on Tuesdays includes taking out the garbage. I was psychologically prepared for the reality that the dead animal carcass I had placed in the garbage might smell or have maggots, and both were true as I went to take the garbage to the curb. I had put on a pair of gloves, so I wiped the maggots off the top of the bag as best I could onto the back lawn, and took the bag to the curb, along with a second bag. I was quite relieved when the garbage collectors came and threw it in the truck no problem. That was the nastiest part of the day, and I was glad to be done with the situation entirely. Later on in the day I washed out the garbage can itself and let it dry in the sun.
I did not take a walk again yesterday, feeling the need just to chill and relax. I made some breakfast for myself - ham and eggs with toast - and then went upstairs to wash up. DW was expecting company, so once I was cleaned up I stayed upstairs to work. I spent some time looking for deals on Prime Day, and watching a few videos listing what deals were available. I almost pulled the trigger on a refurbished Mac Mini, but at the last second decided that I really did not need it. I have a number of computers as it is, and my current Macbook Air M2 is fine. But computer prices are starting to skyrocket, and I felt I might have to future-proof myself against rising costs. But I think I truly have all the computing power I need for the next 5 years if need be, so I decided not to spend the money on something I don't need. I ended up toying a bit with the Mac Mini I do have - a 2015 model - and powering up the keyboard and mouse.
This is a thing with me, by the way - buying things I don't need on the promise or hope that I will need them one day. Often that day never comes, or it comes once or twice a year. Getting a grip on the daily reality of what I do and resisting the "hope" or desire that I will do something else requiring THAT THING is a personal tendency I am fighting more and more, and winning more and more as I get older.
In the afternoon I actually spent a little time just sitting on the back porch. The weather has been much better than forecasted, and sitting on the porch was pleasant. DW and I did a little bookkeeping out there. I watered her veggie pod for her, but it looks like her tomatoes are losing it. She does not regularly water them, as going up and down the porch steps is a burden for her. I suppose in the future we will have to bring the pod on the porch so she doesn't need to use the stairs. We also sorted all the stuff that came out of the Venza for its cleaning, and once we had it all sorted I put it all back in the car. As noted, I also washed out the garbage can. I was going to put up a flexible solar panel on the side of the shed, but I found I was missing a charge adapter, so I left it for another day.
I resisted taking a nap, choosing instead to watch a few more videos out on the porch. I grilled some steak for dinner, and DW made a large sweet potato and salad. I had a beer with dinner as a celebration.
After dinner I turned on the ball game and had it going while I did some more YouTube surfing. I am still trying to assure myself that the EV I bought was the right call, and it is, but I continue to look for videos that support that. It's something I need to stop doing. There are so many other things about solar energy that I want to investigate and implement, but I have come to the conclusion that I won't be in this house long enough to reap the benefits nor get back the investment, so it really is sort of a waste of time. Balcony solar is the only way I will go in the future once my state permits it, which I believe will be soon.
After the game I began thinking about taking a trip to some bluegrass festivals in August and September. Those trips will have to wait until DW's cardioversion is done and we see if it holds. Whether she goes with me is another story. She doesn't like bluegrass music, but she loves tagging along on trips. I did a little preliminary research, and there are enough options to have a little fun an stay fairly close to home. Bedtime was 11:30 PM after kitchen cleanup.
'Til We Meet Again!