Tom's Diary

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty.  Sister Jojo is taking care of my cats this week.

Log

09:00 AM: I’m up.

10:00 AM: Watched KDKA TV’s   Pittsburgh Today Live   variety and local information show with    [Emmy].

11:15 AM: Access to my home computer via the Internet has for some reason been interrupted; I can no longer log into it from here in Pittsburgh.  I expect that it probably blue-screened.  I’ve noticed it doing that recently, and that’s a sure sign that yet another power supply is going bad.  I’ll have to replace it when I return home.  Hopefully I can get sister Jojo to reboot it sometime in the next day or two. 

12:30 PM: Watched KDKA TV’s local news broadcast at noon. 

01:30 PM: Watched today’s episode of   The Young and the Restless, but without the DVR.  No DVR here in Pittsburgh. 

03:00 PM: Walked a few blocks to Centre and Millvale avenues, to get my hair cut. I got a buzz cut this time, with a #2 clipper all over my head.  Haven’t gotten a crew cut like this in 40 years.  So I wonder how Mom will react to seeing it. She hit the roof back then, when I stepped off the train one Friday night as I was returning from WPSBC.  They used to give us students free monthly hair cuts, and the first time they offered one to me, I said, “take it all off.”  Well, Mom was not too happy with that choice. 

04:00 PM: Skipped today’s rerun episode of   Dr. Phil.

07:00 PM: Watched KDKA TV’s local news broadcast with   [Emmy].

10:00 PM: We listened to an hour’s worth of new music on the ipod. 

11:00 PM: Watched tonight’s rerun episode of     Hawaii Five-0. 

12:05 AM: Reviewed the daily traffic stats from yesterday for my blogs.  The monthly keyword hit count is up a little again, and now stands at  1324; up from 1300 yesterday.  The record high is now 1324 key phrases.  Next goal: 1500. 

12:15 AM: Bed time.  More tomorrow.  Good night.

Tom Hesley 

Received Mail and Shipments

• None today

Related Posts and Links

• Today’s Diet: 2011-06-13

Today’s Activities

• Shower. DONE.
• Cat duty. DONE.
• Wash all (2) loads of pending laundry for Mom.  DONE.    54 loads done in the washer now.

Log

06:45 AM: I’m up.

08:00 AM: Heading out shopping with sister Jojo and to visit Mom too.  Back later.

09:15 AM: We finished up at Walmart, then stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts and the bank.  Next, we’re heading over to visit Mom.

10:15 AM: We had a short visit with Mom, as she had to leave for a doctor’s appointment shortly after 10:00 AM.  But she’s doing fine.  Her mood is quite good this week.  However, we noticed some red dots on her face.  So we asked about her blood clotting values (blood thinness).  They say that the readings are good but they’ll keep an eye on the dots, and let us know if any problems develop.  Her left foot seems to be healing well, and she continues to do well in physical therapy.  All in all, this week was on the good side of stable for Mom. 

11:00 AM: I’m back home, and all groceries are put away.

11:45 AM: So, I’ve allowed my iPod Nanos (3rd and 4th gen) to run completely dead a few times now, and most of those incidents subsequently necessitated RESTORING the iPod. That’s a pain because upon restoration, one must recopy all desired music to it, which can take over a half-hour in my case. Moral: Recharge your iPod BEFORE it goes completely dead.  Period. 

12:10 PM: Ran the lamb’s wool duster around all ceilings and walls on the first floor, just to be sure that no cobwebs have formed around here since Mom’s been gone.  So far, so good.  None seen. 

12:15 PM: Leaving now for walk 7 of 100 in 2011.  Back later.

01:35 PM: I’m back.  Cemetery walk again.  Another spectacular clear and sunny day with a bit of late summer haze oddly enough.  A bit cooler than yesterday’s walk, I did not become too overheated in my dark sweatshirt and blue jeans. 

02:50 PM: Watched today’s episode of   The Young and the Restless   via the DVR. 

04:00 PM: Nap time.  Back later.

05:00 PM: I’m awake again. 

07:10 PM: Posted the   Tom’s Views –> Pressure To Mimic Parents’ Success   piece.

10:00 PM: Listened to the 2nd playoff hockey game in the first round between the Penguins and the Bolts.  The Tampa Bay Lightning won however, 40 to 1 this time.  This best-of-five series is tied.

11:00 PM: Watched CNN’s   AC 360   news show.

12:25 AM: Posted the   Fun Fundraising Ideas   piece.

01:00 AM: Read more of the   Book: James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights.

01:05 AM: Bed time.  Enjoy your weekend.  But do come to visit during it, because I’ll be here, writing away.    Good night. 

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

None yet. 

Related Posts

• Book: James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights
• Fun Fundraising Ideas
• Today’s Diet: 2011-04-15

08:00 PM: [Emmy]‘s  4th generation iPod Nana does not sync.  When she plugs it into her computer, iTunes gives a message: “Waiting for iPod.” Then, it does no more.  This message remained on the screen for several hours when [Emmy] first encountered the problem.  To localize the problem, I did the following:

1. Tried syncing her iPod to the iTunes library on my computer using her data cable.  This worked fine and did not hang. 
2. Verified that this problem still happens on her computer.
3. Tried moving the iPod’s data cable around to the various USB ports on [Emmy]‘s computer. The same behavior was noted on at least three of the five ports; I tried both ports on the front and one of the ports on the back. 
4. Then, I tried rebooting the iPod by holding down the touch ring at the 12:00 position along with the center button.  After the iPod came back up, it seemed to sync properly.  No more “Waiting for iPod” messages.
5. Re synced the iPod again, this time on the front panel USB ports where this all began, to verify that it will sync on these ports as well, at full speed.

This problem is solved.

Tom Hesley

Related Posts

• Today’s Business: 2010-02-22

Today’s Activities

• Cat duty.  DONE.
• Dispense Mom’s meds. DONE.
• Shower. DONE.
• Go shopping.  DONE.

Log

08:00 AM: I’m up. My weight is the same as yesterday; 174.0 Lbs.

08:30 AM: Finished tailoring the new WordPress 2.9.2 installations.  For details, click   here.

08:40 AM: Posted the   Disabling Post Revisions: 2010-02-17   piece.

08:45 AM: Posted the   WordPress 2.9.2 Upgrade   piece.

11:30 AM: iPodded for a while, using my 4th generation Nano, and it sounds every bit as good as the iPod with Video, and the iPod Touch.  Fortunately, nowadays, great audio fidelity is not so much determined by the price you pay for the device.  To my ears, even the cheapest iPod Shuffles sound just as good as the most expensive iPod Touches.  Nope, these days, you pay for feature / function; not fidelity. 

01:30 PM: Categorized 277 more posts on the   Tom’s Love Quest   blog throughout this morning.  Now, only 500 posts remain uncategorized. 

05:45 PM: Watched today’s episode of   The Young and the Restless   on the DVR.

06:15 PM: Going out   shopping   this evening with Debbie and Mom.

08:40 PM: We’re home again from our   shopping trip. 

10:30 PM: Talked with   [Emmy].  I picked up four boxes of Kashi Go-Lean Crunch for her; she can’t find the large boxes at the store where she shopps in Pittsburgh.  So I’ll take these to her. 

11:35 PM: Categorized 234 more posts on the   Tom’s Love Quest   blog.  Now, there are just 266 posts left to process.

11:37 PM: Okay, my right wrist is sore from all the mouse moving and clicking today, and I’m quite tired.  So I’m off to bed.  Take care, and I’ll be back out here bright and early to start a new day, fresh.  Good night.

Tom Hesley

Received Mail and Shipments

• Catalog from Interpower corporation.
• Coupon mailer.
• Auto insurance offer, from Mom’s bank.  No thanks.
• Sewage bill.
• Jury duty summons for someone that no longer lives here.
• Offer for a ChaseFreedom card.  No thanks.
• Annual statement from my savings and investments firm.

Related Posts

• Disabling Post Revisions: 2010-02017
• Mom’s Status: 2010-02-17
• Shopping Trip: 2010-02-17
• Today’s Diet: 2010-02-17
• WordPress 2.9.2 Upgrade

Mom drove me to Altoona to get the train to Philadelphia.  It left on time, at 9:49 AM, and arrived at 30th street station in Philly at 2:50 PM.  I just love five-hour train rides.  They used to bore me.  But now, with the iPod, Victor Reader Stream, my cell phone, and naps to keep me occupied, the ride has become quite pleasant in my middle age.  I reached [Jack's] place just off of City Avenue at around 4:15 PM.

We talked about the foot party coming up tomorrow, went to Allegro’s for supper, and then hung out at his place, social networking throughout the evening while drinking pop.

Unlike my last two visits here in May and June, we had no rain during the day, although there were a few isolated thunderstorms overnight.

Tom Hesley

Today we watched the movie:   The Death of the Incredible Hulk.  It surprised me that   [Mentat]   enjoyed it as much as he did, because he used to rib me for being such a big hulk fan back in 1979, when we lived together at McKee Place.  But he said it was a great movie although he didn’t think his girlfriend would like it, since it has a sadder-than-expected ending. 

Then, I showed him the 4th generation iPod Nano and he liked the speech.  He picked up how to use the thing quickly and within less than ten minutes, he knew enough to use it on his own.  The built-in speech helped a great deal there. 

I also showed him my Victor Reader Stream, and he liked that device so much that he’s talking about buying one himself so he can download NLS digital talking books.

Then, in the evening, we watched President Obama’s press conference, and I was glad to see that   [Mentat]   is not today the staunch republican that he was in the 80s.  Yep.  He’s finally coming around. 

03:00 PM: I had my last visit with the “love doctor” therapist.

10:00 PM: Worked   Mentat’s Corrupt Mail File   problem. 

Tom Hesley

Related Posts

• Mentat’s Corrupt Mail File
• Today’s Business: 2010-02-07

I bought  [Emmy]  an iPod 4th generation Nano for Christmas. She was tickled. She likes its ability to announce the songs and items on the menus. It’s the most accessible iPod to date. However, she has lots of questions about how to use it in conjunction with iTunes. So, I think I’ll go and buy one for myself, for learning purposes only you understand.

Tom Hesley