Tom's Diary

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.  Cat duty involves cleaning the litter boxes, bagging the excess, feeding, and house cleaning cat dirt of all types.

Log

08:15 AM: I’m up.

08:30 AM: Facebooked for perhaps fifteen minutes. Friend count: 625 (unchanged). Fan count: 114 (unchanged).

12:30 PM: Balanced all five checking accounts under my management.

01:15 PM Vacuumed the first floor.

02:00 PM: Watched today’s episode of   The Young and the Restless   via the DVR.

03:00 PM: Requested a disbursement from the    WPSBC Alumni Association’s   investment account.  Their checking account is getting low, and we must assure that we have sufficient funds on hand for the upcoming alumni convention this summer.  The amount I requested should not only stop those low-balance monthly service fees that the bank who hosts our checking account charges us, but should also provide enough liquid capital for all alumni business for 2012 and beyond.

04:15 PM: Watched today’s episode of   Dr. Phil   via the DVR, called   Starving To Death.

06:30 PM: Next long-running project: Phase out all cloth-insulated, two-wire fifteen-amp circuits here at my home; upgrading those still needed to three-wire twenty-amp circuits that employ state-of-the-art insulation.  This house really shows its age when you see its deteriorating original cloth-covered wiring.  I’m working on the first circuit now.  I don’t need a new box yet, as it was last replaced in 1997 with a 200-amp service.  I would however, love a 400-amp service, on MY OWN transformer !

07:30 PM: Watched tonight’s episode of   The CBS Evening News.

08:00 PM: Watched tonight’s edition of    NBC’s Nightly News   via the DVR.

10:00 PM: Listened to my iPod while watching tonight’s Florida Republican debate.  I’ll watch this again over the weekend via the DVR; this time, without the iPod, so I can pay full attention.

11:00 PM: Talked with   [Emmy].

12:30 AM: I inadvertently cut out the supply line for the first circuit I’m upgrading before realizing that that wire fed the overhead lights in the kitchen as well as those on the south porch.  See   [Emmy]?   I do indeed make mistakes.  So I spent some time upstairs in the crawlspace, looking for a new place to get power for those lights.  I found one.  I must say that I was surprised to find that clipping the old wires inside an outlet box in the living room, deprived power to lights so far away (in the kitchen).  But 65 years ago, they did not run as many circuits as they do now in houses.  I believe that before our service upgrade in 1997, this place only had six or eight circuits.  Now, we have roughly thirty-four.

12:55 AM: Listened to my iPod and facebooked for a couple hours, and fiddled around a bit more with the wiring upgrade project.

01:05 PM: I’m heading to bed.  Good night and do stop back tomorrow for more content.     Good night.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

None today.

Related Posts and Links

• Today’s Diet: 2012-01-26

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.
• Wash (3) loads of pending laundry.  DONE.  166 loads done in the washer now.

Log

08:30 AM: I’m up.  Looks like a completely sunny day outside. Temperatures right now is in the mid 40s.

08:40 AM: Facebooked for a bit. Friend count: 592 (up two). Fan count: 112 (unchanged).

09:00 AM: Balanced Mom’s checking account.

09:10 AM: Verified with Mom’s bank that they’re no longer transferring money each month from her checking to savings, and that taxes are no longer being withheld from her railroad retirement pension.

10:00 AM: Located all papers associated with the dental work (five teeth pulled) that Mom had done during August of 2010.  We received a bill for this that we’ll have some difficulty paying, as Mom now only gets $45 per month in discretionary money.

10:05 AM: Scheduled a van trip to visit Mom for later this week.

11:00 AM: Called Mom’s dentists in Pittsburgh to ask about the above-mentioned bill.  Their billing specialist advised me to pay $50 on the bill, and include a letter asking for a hardship waiver.  She thinks we might be granted this waiver, since Mom has so little means now to pay.

11:15 AM: Scheduled an eye exam for myself.  It’s been just over two years since my last one, and I do need some new glasses.

11:30 AM: Scheduled a free in-home estimate to replace the 65 year-old windows in the bedroom, and the 40 year-old windows in the kitchen.  That will happen in early November.

11:45 AM Balanced my checking account.

12:30 PM: Wrote a letter to Mom’s dentists in Pittsburgh, pleading the case for the above-mentioned hardship waiver.

02:50 PM: Leaving now with brother in law Richard to pick up the new interior glass for the three windows here in my office.  I’m hoping that this will sufficient cut the road noise that comes in these windows.  Back later.

05:30 PM: I’m back home.

06:00 PM: I placed the new glass in the window frames where it will ultimately reside, just to see how well it attenuates the noise.  There is definite improvement.  This room is significantly quieter; the higher frequency noises outside are most effectively squelched.  However, significant unwanted sound remains; particularly when motorcycles pass by.  So I’m going to look into 1/2 inch thick glass instead of the 1/4 inch thick stuff I bought today.

07:20 PM: Mom called to chat for a minute.  She’s still not feeling very well; her stomach hurts.  She’s to see the doctor tomorrow about it.

08:00 PM: Watched today’s episode of   The Young and the Restless   via the DVR.

08:20 PM: Watched tonight’s episode of   NBC’s Nightly News   via the DVR.

11:00 PM: Talked with   [Emmy].  Tonight we watched the all new episode of   Hawaii Five-0.

12:00 PM: Watched the   Star Trek    episode   The Ultimate Computer,   from the original series via Netflix.  They offer digitally remastered versions of all the episodes in this series, and some of the new effects are stunning.  I’m amazed that the pictures look as clear and noise-free as they do.

12:05 AM: The daily traffic stats from yesterday for my blogs.  The monthly keyword hit count rose this time, and currently stands at 1013; up from 1011 at last check.  The record high for this dimension remains at 1788.  The next goal: 2000.

12:40 PM: Headed for bed.  More tomorrow.  Good night.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

• Misc. bank papers.
• Hospital bill co-payment bill for Mom.
• Registration sticker for Mom’s car.
• Personal savings account offer from American Express.  No thanks.

Related Posts and Links

• Today’s Diet: 2011-10-17

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.
• Wash (4) loads of pending laundry.  DONE.  154 loads done in the washer now.
• Pay (3) pending bills.  DONE.

Log

07:50 AM: I’m up.  It’s, dreary again outside this morning.

07:55 AM: But in spite of the drizzle, the hauler guy returned just now to clear the rest of the junk out of the junk pile, remove that pile of shingles I accrued when I replaced the yellow shed roof in 2009, and to salvage some wood laying around here.

08:15 AM: Facebooked a bit.  Friend count: 582 (up one).  Fan count: 111.

09:55 AM: The hauler guy has finished loading up his truck and is leaving.  He says that he’ll call me with the total cost later today.

11:20 AM: Worked on the bills and started the laundry.

11:30 AM: I thought I was going to Lowe’s today to shop around for storm windows.  However for some reason, my ride had no record of a scheduled pick-up for me today.  Hmmmm.  I thought I scheduled that a few days ago.  Oh well, I guess I’ll not be “window shopping” today, as they refuse to schedule same-day pickups.

03:00 PM: Watched today’s episode of   The Young and the Restless   via the DVR, for the first time in high definition.  Yep, the upgraded TV was indeed worth the price.

05:00 PM: Heard from the hauler guy.  Today’s hauling bill is $90.  Sending that to him in tomorrow’s mail.

05:05 PM: Nap time.  Back later.

06:20 PM: I’m awake again.

11:00 PM: Talked with   [Emmy].

11:45 PM: Played with some of the apps on the new TV, and watched a bit more of the modern-day version of Alice in Wonderland that I grew too tired to finish last night.

12:00 PM: Bed time.  More tomorrow.  Good night.

12:05 AM: The daily traffic stats from yesterday for my blogs.  The monthly keyword hit count rose this time, and currently stands at 1043; up from 1035 at last check.  The record high for this dimension remains at 1788.  The next goal: 2000.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

• Garbage pickup bill for the fourth quarter of 2011.
• One of Mom’s retirement pension pay-stubs.
• Periodic newspaper style coupon mailer.
• Mom’s monthly prescription drug summary from her medical insurance provider.
• Senior Scope newsletter.
• 1 credit card offer from my personal checking account bank.  No thanks.

Related Posts and Links

• Today’s Diet: 2011-09-29

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.  Sister Jojo is performing this task for me while I’m vacationing in Pittsburgh.

Log

09:30 AM: I’m up.

10:15 AM: Facebooked a bit.  Friend count: 583 (up two).  Fan count: 111 (unchanged).

11:00 AM: Spackled a small hole on the door wall in [Emmy's] bathroom.  I made this hole a year or two ago, when I put up a hand towel hanger ring for her.  We discovered that we could not use this hole, as the electrical box on the other side of this wall prevented sufficient penetration for a strong mount.

11:50 AM: Heading out to lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant.  Back later.

01:15 PM: Walked   [Emmy]   back to her apartment.  Now, heading to WPSBC to meet [Tad].  We have some banking business to take care of today for the   WPSBC Alumni Association.

01:45 PM: [Tad] and I are leaving the school for the bank.  We’re walking.

02:00 PM: The meeting with the banker begins…

03:15 PM: As [Tad] is the current president of the   WPSBC Alumni Association,   he must be authorized to sign checks and conduct any other necessary business with the alumni association’s checking account.  However, due to missing information and inconsistent data that the bank had on file pertaining to our current checking account, the banker suggested that we start up a new business checking account.  We initiated that process today, and [Tad] has been fully authorized as a signer on the new account.

04:00 PM: [Tad] and I then walked to Dunkin’ Donuts for some coffee, to sort of, unwind and get out of business banking mode.  Then, with the rain beginning to fall, his wife came along in her car and graciously offered me a ride back to [Emmy's].  I indeed took her up on it.  I bade [Tad] and his wife [Morra] farewell.  I’ll see them tomorrow at the alumni fun day.

04:10 PM: Arrived at   [Emmy's].

06:00 PM: [Emmy] and I walked to CVS Pharmacy to pick up some WD-40 spray lubricant.  She’s got a kitchen faucet that squeaks obtrusively when actuated, and I hope that spraying the WD-40 underneath its coverings and into the inner mechanism will quiet it.

07:00 PM: We also stopped in at SuperCuts, where I purchased my monthly haircut for $10.

07:30 PM: We’re back at [Emmy's] apartment, preparing for   [Mentat's]   arrival in a couple hours.

09:00 PM: We made up   [Mentat's]   bed as we waited for him.

08:50 PM: [Mentat]   arrived as   [Emmy]   watched a new prime time show on CBS: A Gifted Man.

11:00 PM: We spent the rest of the evening catching up and syncing hard disk drives.  But we’re all tired though excited about the social at the school tomorrow.  So we’re heading to bed.  Good night.

12:05 AM: The daily traffic stats from yesterday for my blogs.  The monthly keyword hit count fell this time, and currently stands at 1070; down from 1081 at last check.  The record high for this dimension remains at 1788.  The next goal: 2000.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

None today.

Related Posts and Links

• Today’s Diet: 2011-09-22
• WPSBC Alumni Association

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.
• Wash (3) loads of pending laundry.  DONE.  147 loads done in the washer now.
• Balance the WPSBC Alumni Association’s checking account, in preps for the fun day social coming up later this week.  DONE.

Log

09:00 AM: I’m up.

09:15 AM: Facebooked a bit.  Friend count: 579 (unchanged).  Fan count: 111 (unchanged).

12:00 PM: Posted the   WPSBC Alumni Association –> Robert Longmore Passed Away   piece.

12:10 PM: Posted the   WPSBC Alumni Association –> Helen Callahan Passed Away    piece.

03:00 PM: Watched today’s episode of   The Young and the Restless   via the DVR.

04:00 PM: Browsed around on the web for information about obtaining and installing new storm windows (we have none except for the windows in Mom’s bedroom currently).  This would not only lower our utility bills but also cut down on the traffic noise which, as of late, has become quite the irritant.  Looks like Lowe’s and Home Depot sell them.  I also watched a few videos on installing them.  Doesn’t seem too complicated.

05:45 PM: Leaving now for walk 79 of 100 for 2011, again, to the south cemetery.  Back in an hour.

06:45 PM: I’m back.    The temperature was 73 degrees, mostly cloudy, little wind, and mostly dry with a bit of spritzing here and there.

10:00 PM: [Emmy] and I listened to the first pre season Penguins hockey game of the 2011-2012 season.  The Pens beat Detroit, 3 to 2.

11:00 PM: Talked with   [Emmy].

11:30 PM: Watched tonight’s episode of   NBC’s Nightly News   via the DVR.

12:05 AM: Reviewed the daily traffic stats from yesterday for my blogs.  The monthly keyword hit count rose this time, and currently stands at 1091; up from 1080 at last check.  The record high for this dimension remains at 1788.  The next goal: 2000.

12:10 AM: Bed time.  More tomorrow.  Good night.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

• Newspaper style coupon mailer.

Related Posts and Links

• Today’s Diet: 2011-09-21
• WPSBC Alumni Association –> Helen Callahan Passed Away
• WPSBC Alumni Association –> Robert Longmore Passed Away

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.
• Wash (1) load of pending laundry.  DONE.  144 loads done in the washer now.

Log

08:15 AM: I’m up.

08:45 AM: Facebooked a bit.  Friend count: 578 (down one).  Fan count: 111 (unchanged).

09:30 AM: Moved my working set of clothes from my upstairs bedroom to the one downstairs.  I’m getting ready for winter, and to save energy, I hope to vacate the upstairs so as to avoid the extra costs of heating those rooms.

10:45 AM: Balanced all checking accounts.

11:00 AM: Sister Mary Ann arrived to continue the process of organizing and cleaning out Mom’s possessions.  We’ll likely be busy with this for most of today.

12:00 PM: Sisters Christine and Jojo came as well, to help with the effort.

05:00 PM: Well, the red jelly cabinet (that was in the first floor office) has been claimed by Mary Ann, and sister Jojo took the buffet cabinet in the kitchen.  We went through the remaining small items on the first floor, organized the kitchen, found places for all my kitchen appliances, and wiped down all the first floor windows.

05:30 Nap time.  Back later.

06:45 PM: I’m awake again.  No walk today, as I slept too long.  I’ll get it in tomorrow.

09:30 PM: Watched all pending episodes of   NBC’s Nightly News    via the DVR.

11:00 PM: Talked with   [Emmy].

12:05 AM: Reviewed the daily traffic stats from yesterday for my blogs.  The monthly keyword hit count fell this time, and currently stands at 1074; down from 1087 at last check.  The record high for this dimension remains at 1788.  The next goal: 2000.

12:10 AM: Bed time.  More tomorrow.  Good night.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

No mail on Sunday.

Related Posts and Links

• Today’s Diet: 2011-09-18

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.
• Reschedule colonoscopy consultation appointment for sometime in October.  DONE.
• Take proof of income tax witholding on Mom’s pension to the nursing home.  DONE.

Log

07:30 AM: I’m up.

08:00 AM: Facebooked a bit.  Friend count: 577 (unchanged).  Fan count: 111 (unchanged).

08:45 AM: Talked with Mom’s nursing home regarding the over-billing issue.  They agree that there is a problem and are still investigating.

09:30 AM Cleaned bathroom (tub, sink, toilet, medicine cabinet).

09:40 AM: Talked with Mom’s bank to stop the monthly money transfers from her checking to savings accounts.  They informed me that this cannot be done over the phone.  So they’re sendiung me the necessary forms to sign.

10:00 AM: My lab results from the doctor’s appointment a couple days ago are back.  Total cholesterol: 203.  HDL: 38.  LDL: 115.  Triglycerides: 248.  Not terrible readings, but not good either.  I’m hoping that adding routine exercise on a treadmill will lower the triglycerides, raise the HDL, and lower the LDL and total cholesterol numbers.  Stay tuned.

12:45 PM: Leaving now for a short visit with Mom, to replenish her laundry supply, and to resolve the apparent over-billing issue with the nursing home.  Back later.

02:00 PM: I’m back home. Now, sisters Diane and Mary Ann, along with me, are going through Mom’s things and moving what is to be distributed into the east sitting room.

05:30 PM: Leaving now for supper at Austin’s Texas Hot Dogs, across from DelGrosso amusement park.  Back later.

06:45 PM: Sister Mary Ann will drop me off at the cemetery to get my walk in.  She’s coming up again this week to further sort out which of Mom’s belongings are to stay, and which are to go.

06:45 PM: Leaving now for walk 75 of 100 for 2011, again, to the south cemetery.  Back in an hour.

07:45 PM: I’m back.    The temperature was 55 degrees, mostly sunny, calm winds, and quite dry.  A nice and crisp walk it was.  I even noticed the first scents of burning fall leaves in the air.

09:00 PM: Watched today’s episode of   The Young and the Restless   via the DVR.

11:00 PM: Talked with   [Emmy].

12:00 AM: Watched tonight’s episode of   NBC’s Nightly News   via the DVR.

12:05 AM: Reviewed the daily traffic stats from yesterday for my blogs.  The monthly keyword hit count fell this time, and currently stands at ????; down from 1166 at last check.  The record high for this dimension remains at 1788.  The next goal: 2000.

12:10 AM: Bed time.  More tomorrow.  Good night.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

• 2 Belkin Isolator surge protectors.

Related Posts and Links

• Today’s Diet: 2011-09-15

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.

Log

08:00 AM: I’m up.

08:35 AM: Facebooked a bit.  Friend count: 575.  Fan count: 111.

10:40 AM: Completed the weekly system backups of my blogs.

10:45 AM: Posted the   Weekly Backups: 2011-08-06   piece.

10:50 AM: Posted the   Weekly Backups: 2011-09-10   piece.

02:30 PM: Watched WJAC TV’s coverage of the dedication of the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA.

03:20 PM: Nap time.  Back later.

04:30 PM: I’m awake again.

05:15 PM: Watched the 2011-09-08 episode of   Dr. Phil   via the DVR, called   Fast Food Overload.

06:00 PM: Watched the 2011-09-09 episode of   Dr. Phil   via the DVR, called   Daughters Out Of Control.

06:30 PM: Leaving now for walk 73 of 100 for 2011, again, to the south cemetery.  Back in an hour.

07:30 PM: I’m back.    The temperature was 71 degrees.

11:00 PM: Talked with   [Emmy].

11:30 PM: Watched tonight’s episode of   NBC’s Nightly News   via the DVR.

12:05 AM: Reviewed the daily traffic stats from yesterday for my blogs.  The monthly keyword hit count fell this time, and currently stands at 1166; off from 1191 at last check.  The record high for this dimension remains at 1788.  The next goal: 2000.

12:10 AM: Weather summary:

12:10 AM: Bed time.  More tomorrow.  Good night.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

• Mom’s latest bill from her nursing home.
• Misc. bank papers.
• Wedding invitation from friends at camp.

Related Posts and Links

• Today’s Diet: 2011-09-10
• Weekly Backups: 2011-08-06
• Weekly Backups: 2011-09-10

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.
• Pay (4) pending bills.  DONE.

Log

08:00 AM: I’m up.

08:30 AM: Facebooked a bit.  Friend count: 574.  Fan count: 111.

11:00 AM: Leaving now to visit Mom and donate blood.  Back later.

03:00 PM: I’m back home.  They told me today at the blood drive that my blood pressure is somewhat elevated.  It’s 120 / 94.  Gotta get this weight down.  Gotta get that treadmill.

04:00 PM: Watched today’s episode of  The Young and the Restless.

04:45 PM: Nap time.  Back later.

06:00 PM: I’m awake again.

05:30 PM: Skimmed today’s rerun episode of   Dr. Phil   via the DVR,  called   Am I Killing My Kid With Food?

10:00 PM: Downloaded today’s offering from the Promo Only music service; 100 songs roughly.

11:00 PM: Talked with   [Emmy].

11:30 PM: Watched tonight’s episode of   NBC’s Nightly News   via the DVR.

12:05 AM: Reviewed the daily traffic stats from yesterday for my blogs.  The monthly keyword hit count fell this time, and currently stands at 1199; off from 1221 at last check.  The record high for this dimension remains at 1788.  The next goal: 2000.

12:10 AM: Weather summary: Light rain, most of this day.

12:10 AM: Bed time.  More tomorrow.  Good night.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

None today.

Related Posts and Links

• Today’s Diet: 2011-09-08

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty.  DONE.
• Wash (3) loads of pending laundry.  DONE.  132 loads done in the washer now.

Log

08:15 AM: I’m up.  It’s sunny this morning with temps in the low to mid 50s.

10:00 AM: Facebooked for an hour and got caught up on my blogs.

10:35 AM: Balanced all checking accounts in my purview.

10:45 AM: Leaving now for lunch at Olive Garden with [Emmy].  She has a $25 gift certificate to spend, and if all goes well today, we’ll definitely spend it.

11:20 AM: Arrived at Olive Garden.

12:30 PM: We each got the salad, bread sticks, and unlimited pasta bowl.  However, neither of us could eat more than one bowl.  So they gave us some boxes for the leftover whole wheat pasta and sauce.

01:00 PM: For dessert, we each had a piece of chocolate moose cheesecake.  Yum!

02:10 PM: Then, we took a walk across the parking lot to Everything Natural food store, where I finally found more buckwheat pancake mix.  So I bought six bags at $5 apiece.  Yea, I know.  I’m an obsessed whole grain pancake fan.

03:30 PM: We’re home and in dire need of a nap.  All that pasta and dessert make great sleep inducers; at least, during the day time anyhow.  So, we’re off to dreamland.  Back later.

05:00 PM: We’re awake again.

06:30 PM: Prepared my treasurer’s report for the   WPSBC Alumni Association    board meeting, to be held tonight.  Bumped into a small but scary problem in that I could not locate the treasurer’s report files.  I have recently migrated my data to a new computer (this Dell XPS 8300), but forgot where on this machine, I put those files.  It turned out that they weren’t on this machine at all, but on my external hard drives.  Grrrrrr.  Well, they ARE here now. 

06:40 PM: No time for a walk this evening, with the board meeting occurring during my usual constitutional time.  I’ll make up for it in the next several days.  Besides, the weather appears rather unsettled.  So I probably wouldn’t have walked anyway, even without the board meeting getting in the way.

07:00 PM:   The WPSBC Alumni Association    board meeting starts now.

07:45 PM: The board meeting has ended, and final plans are being executed for our fun day social in September.  It’s going to be a couple hours longer this year, and unlike in previous get-togethers, we’ll provide doughnuts and coffee this time.  Nice.

08:45 PM: Watched today’s episode of   The Young and the Restless   via the DVR.

10:00 PM: Watched tonight’s episode of   NBC’s Nightly News   via the DVR.

11:00 PM: Watched this week’s episodes of KDKA TV’s   Pittsburgh Today Live   variety show with [Emmy] during our free moments today.

11:55 PM: Facebooked at various times throughout today.  Friend count: 558.  Fan count: 111.

12:05 AM: Reviewed the daily traffic stats from yesterday for my blogs.  The monthly keyword hit count dropped again, and currently stands at 1418; down from 1421 the last time I checked.  The record high for this dimension remains at 1788.  The next goal: 2000.

12:10 AM: Bed time.  More tomorrow.  Good night.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

• Approximately weekly coupon mailer.
• Wolf Furniture ad.  Don’t need any furniture at this time, thanks.

Related Posts and Links

• Today’s Diet: 2011-08-24