Got A Notice In The E-Mail That Made Me Feel 'Dated'

Damn! That's a long ass time ago. Along with SWMBO's comment the other day "You're almost 74 years old.' really makes me feel dated.

I haven't posted because it's Winter, I haven't been really *doing* anything, all my Doc appointments have been uneventful (thank goodness), and SWMBO and I still haven't come to blows (40+ years and counting). So, life is good.

I still sleep with one eye open though.

 Spending WAY too much time with Gemini 'learnin' shit and asking stupid questions. A lot of time cooking 'new' stuff. (Made a roasted whole chicken the other day using a 'Superstone La Cloche' that I've had sitting on the pantry shelf (the La Cloche not the chicken; nevermind) these past 10-15 years. Turned out really well!)

We're finally starting to go through the house and get rid of 'stuff' we've collected and just do not use. SWMBO is motivated after spending a month at her Dad's in Ohio getting him ready to move out here. He's got a house full of 'stuff' he's collected over the past 60 years he's had to pare down for the move. So, kinda lit a fire under her ass as it were. Which is getting me off my ass with my 'stuff.'

And that's pretty much it. Stuck inside a lot. Spending way too much time using ComfyUI and not enough time on the radio. Getting rid of shit and trying to 'de-clutter' my life. Planning out the new garden beds and need to get off my ass and get all that started. Growing season will be upon us before we know it.

Later!

Welcome To A Windows 11-les 2026! Freedom At Last!

I've been using Linux Mint for about the last 8-9 years and really like it in all it's versions. I bought a $2k gaming laptop specifically for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004(?). That was $110 plus the planes I've bought over the past couple of years.

Then, I bought a spendy gaming desktop to run ComfyUI; and it runs Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane rather excellently. Even on my TV/Monitors the graphics are fantastic.

But, both laptop and desktop required Windows to fly. Both came with Windows 11.

Then I got to watching (many) YouTube video's about Microsoft and Windows 11 and the privacy and tracking things going on. Which is one of the reasons I switched to Linux in the first place.

So, 30 Dec I wiped the laptop and installed Linux Mint. It is actually working better. Faster. Like I rebooted the Six Million Dollar Man.

On the desktop, I had installed a separate 1tb nvme drive that I installed Linux Mint on for a dual boot. So, all I had to do was use 'Disks' and wipe the Windows partitions (being SURE not to wipe the boot partition) and the rebuild partition. Ran the GRUB updater thingie. Rebooted. Formatted the 'new' 2tb drive to ext4 and I'm up an running. Didn't have to reinstall anything! Cool!

Does it bother me to walk away from the bucks I've spent on Microsoft Flight Sim? Not really. Money spent. Will I miss Windows? A bit. Windows itself is a great OS. It's Microsoft I dislike. I don't like being tracked. I do like being in control of MY computer. Microsoft reinstalling shit I've gotten rid of, and sometimes wiping out dual boot with Linux, well, I've had enough.

So, X-Plane works just fine. I may try to see if I can at least download the planes I bought just in case I decide to go the Steam route with MSFS. But that'd be another $100 or more. We'll see.

New Years Eve was okay; what with SWMBO being in Ohio and all. Someone up hill shot off a BIG BORE cannon or something. Loud and rattled the windows in my office. I went to bed at 2300 but was woken up at midnight by the fools shooting into the air anyway. And probably fireworks at the High School.

One good thing about the phones we have is that we can do video calls. I still get to see her beautiful face every evening.

Been watching a butt-ton of video's on YouTube about being fat. Weighed myself the other day and I'm at 265 lbs! Past time to get off my ass and *do* something about that. So, I made the mistake of starting to read labels. Then I read the label on the Dr. Pepper I was drinking. Haven't had a soda since. Going on a week. Which is a real accomplishment for me. I'm a sipper.

And I've cut my sugar intake in half (or more).  I am drinking more coffee or tea. But not adding as much sugar. It should help. Some. Unfortunately I'm as addicted to sugar as you can get and not eat it straight out of the bag.

Had a Doc appointment the other day. My Potassium is still too low. Barely normal. So he took me off one diuretic and put me on one that's supposed to NOT fook with Potassium as much. Get my blood retested in 3 weeks and see him again in 4. Cool.

Spent the first day of 2026 getting more straightening up done in the garage than I've gotten done in the past 3 years or so. I can at least walk a straight line from the kitchen door to the garage door now. Filled the back of SWMBO's car with stuff she's collected and is going to take to Faith In Action *someday.* Well, that day will be within 2 weeks of her getting back from Ohio the 15th; or I will put it in the dump trailer for a dump run.

She's helping her Dad get ready to move out here next March or April. They've hired a company that does "everything' for them; including selling the house. I may get to fly out and drive his Bronco back; but I wouldn't mind that.

Things to finish in the FILA before he moves in. Not a lot, fortunately, but enough.

Hope y'all have a great 2026!

Merry Christmas. Hope Y'all Had A Good One!

SWMBO is In Ohio Until Mid January...

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Yeah, It's Only Monday

Had to get up and leave the house by 0200 this morning to get SWMBO to SEATAC Airport by 0400. There's NO traffic at that time of the morning. We made it to the airport by 0310. I was home by 0415. Slept until 0830 so really late start to my day.

It rained so hard in Port Orchard coming back that I had to slow to 20 mph for a few. I've not seen it come down so hard around here.

She's off to Ohio for a month to get her Dad off his ass about moving out here. So, it's me, the Dog, and the Cat. For a month. Whatever shall we do?

Otherwise, SSDD around here. Stuck inside because of the rain. We lost another tree across the front of the driveway but that was pretty easy to take care of. Tractor sure came in handy.

I did a total Senior Moment last Saturday evening. SWMBO and I walked the mall in Silverdale for part of Date Day last Friday and she saw this Serape(?) she really liked, and I hadn't gotten her a Christmas present yet, so I got it for her. She's totally worth the $76.

So, Saturday evening I'm playing on my computer (which is all I ever do on my computer) and I get a text that I spent $76 in Jefferson, Oregon that day. Not me! I've never even been to Jefferson, Oregon. So I did all the 'report a fraud' things one is supposed to do. The bank killed my card and I don't know what they do from there.

Then I was putting my coat away and checking the pockets like I usually do, when, shit, I found a receipt for $76 at a small store in the Silverdale Mall that had the same company name as the company in Oregon.

Hmmm.... *Maybe* I fooked up.

So today I get to go to the bank and replace my card. I'm thinking of driving out to the Mall to apologize to the people at that store.

The fun never stops.