Fri May 1 = A scary, weird thing happened to me this morning. When I got up this morning, I went to us the bathroom, as usual. I could not read the Kindle I keep on the back of the toilet tank. I could see the words but they made no sense. I typically read out loud, but could not. I could speak normally and looking in the mirror. My smile was symmetrical and both arms worked normally. Just to make sure I wasn't losing my edge, I started going through a comedy routine; haltingly at first, but then OK. The whole incident lasted about a half hour.
- Making and filling my grocery shopping list was this afternoon's main activity.
- Before bedtime I did a slow, heavy but short arms workout. Got to bed at 10:10 :)
Sat May 2 = This morning I bought tickets for the early release of Peter Pan with Katie, my granddaughter in it. It was done by The Polymath Place with 100% social distancing (COVID-16 you know) with all the cast members doing their parts individually in their homes and popping up on the screen as appropriate for interactions. They even handed each other things.
- I spent about 1.5 hours working out a plywood trial sun screen storage pocket for my van to go behind where I hang my clothes. It didn't work out. I'm not sure what to do with those things. The sun screens, not the clothes.
- This evening about ten of us Ham radio operators got together on the Internet with Zoom for our weekly Hamfeast. Technically, I tried two new things and found that 1) my headset electret mic does not give as clear of sound as my
XPS
Dell XPS-13 laptop computer with 13.3" touch screen, 60WHr Integrated Battery, Windows 10, Intel 7th Generation Core i7 CPU, 16gb memory and 1TB SSD
's
native speaker and 2) that my Cyberlink screen recorder does NOT capture MY audio.
- To bed at 10:36 with no gym.
Sun May 3 = This morning I had some fun impulsing by adding microphone types to my Definitions web page, along with three images. After 2 fast minutes on my exercycle, breakfast, along with a short run and slow, heavy short torso workout, took the rest of the morning. I ran, which included a warm-up and cool-down .23 miles in 3:22.27 minutes with a cadence of 127spm and a pace of 14.40. Gotta start easy, ya know.
- I spent most of this afternoon going through my full-length comedy show... out loud. My ICD recorder A, recording the show and ICD recorder B, taking voice notes about the run-through. I always find lots of ways to tweak and, hopefully, improve the show.
- This evening I was part of the roast battle by comedians across the country for the Sunday We All Bond Over Bombs comedy show. I did not participate in the roast because I had missed seeing JD's query on FaceBook Messenger earlier in the week.
- Got to bed at 10:43 :(
Mon May 4 = I ran about a quarter of a mile, but before I got half way I started experiencing pain on the inside of my right knee, so I ended up walking, gingerly, the rest of the way. Maybe I should have done more warm up than I did.
- I did the monthly blog rollover on my website and, in my van, set up my drawers and counter system. Next step will be to tether them.
- I starched and ironed the tail, which is stitched but not hemmed, of the comedy string tank top I made. I'm tired of having the tail roll up in the gym when I'm trying to impress the girls.
- The AARP Bulletin came in the mail today, a special pandemic issue. I read the whole thing (well mostly read it) learning about changes in the immune system etc. as one ages.
This evening I ordered my 8x10 head shots from Walmart again, hoping they will do them right this time. I am getting them delivered site to store, figuring, if necessary, the store can get them fixed, which was not possible when they delivered the botched up order to my house.
- To bed at 10:37 :(
Tue May 5 = The main thing I did today was go to my dentist so Marissa Valasquez could do a peridontal scaling and root PI. In terms that I understand, that means checking the pockets in the gums at the base of the teeth from which germs can attack your gums and the roots of your teeth. Back in August the dentist discovered, for the first time, that the pockets on two of my upper left molars were 5mm - too deep. They had me water flossing, which I did every day, to see if the pockets would get smaller. Well, they were about the same size today, so Marissa did a special pocket deep cleaning using ultrasound. I'll continue brushing, flossing and water flossing and see if things improve on my next exam. Different people have different ideas about the ideal order. At the doctor's suggestion I will change my order from A) string floss/water floss/brush to B) string floss/brush/water floss.
- On the way home I stopped by an Ace Hardware to get a couple short screws for tethering my van's refrigerator and by a Dollar Tree for a new spray bottle and white flipflops. My old spray bottle pretty much quit spraying. I figure my clean carpeting here at home will stay clean longer if I don't walk on it with dark-colored shoe soles... or barefoot, of course.
- About 1:30pm, after my trip I lay out in the sun for 20 minutes on each of two sides.
- I had ten ounces of a little 3-pound watermelon for supper. That may have made me pee a little more tonight.
- This evening I engineered a tether system for my van's drawers and counter system. Velcro is a wonderful tool. I used a couple of heavy-duty self-adhesive strips on the van's passenger-side pillar C. I'll let them cure for 24 hours before I attach anything to them.
- To bed at 10:17
Harbinger Balance Trainer
Wed May 6 = I have been spending a few minutes each day on my balance trainer. I find that I don't have as good of balance as I would like. Never have. Sometimes the last few months I have to take an extra step to catch myself. I think it is just due to inattention and having other things on my mind... as long as it does not become more pronounced.
- This morning I ordered franks and dry milk for store pickup at a nearby Fry's. Marketplace between 5 & 6pm. They were supposed to send me an email or text, but didn't. Finally, by my phone call, I found nether item was available, so I re-ordered them for pick up in a week. Hopefully that will give them time to get them in stock.
- Also, in the ordering department, I ordered new casters for my office chair because the old ones do not swivel well. Also ordered an Oura Ring (one size smaller) to replace for the one I lost. Citibank initially denied the charge due to suspected fraud (their 11th time). This after they let through 15 fraudulent charges totaling over $6,000 about a month ago. I believe their policy is, How can we inconvenience our customers, sound like we care but do a really crappy job of preventing fraud? - Tonight I did a short, slow heavy legs workout, took a hot bath and got to bed at 10:07 :)
Thu May 7 = This morning I had a virtual appointment with, my PCP, Dr Louis Hagler, about my scary incident Friday morning (May 1st). He suggested I go on 81mg ASA and atorvastatin (generic of Lipitor) and i's going to send me to a neurologist.
- This afternoon I did a slow, short heavy arms workout. Later I vacuumed the house.
- This evening I did three small but important things for my
van project
converting my 2020 Kia Sedona minivan to a mini-motorhome where I will live during my road tours
:
attached the refrigerator anchor Velcro
used rubber cement to fasten down a counter-anchor Velcro that that was pealing up
made little key holes on the left inside of the van's wall for a small bungee to store my sunshields. We'll see how this works
- Sunday there will be a Roast Battle at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84675932685, and I'll be part of it :) This evening I typed up the notes from my last full show run through and watched, I Walked On The Moon by famous young comedian, Brian Regan.
- To bed at 10:44 :(
Fri May 8 = Today's big project was custom making a little computer bag shelf for my
van project
converting my 2020 Kia Sedona minivan to a mini-motorhome where I will live during my road tours
.
It got pretty technical and involved a lot of shaping to get it to fit right, allowing for brackets, braces and the shape of my van's right panel. The only disadvantage over the box I used in my old van, is that the bag will be visible when the right sliding door is open.
- After that big project, I had supper, did a short, slow, heavy torso workout and rewarded myself with a little ice cream sandwich... since this is my treat night.
- For about a month I've been trying to be more consistent with my sleep by getting to bed by 10:00 (never meeting that goal, but getting close) and setting my alarms for ten hours, frequently getting up the next morning after a little over nine hours.
- Always trying to get better sleep, starting tonight, I have everything set for 8:00 each morning:
SleepBot on my phone
Alexa's alarm
Alexa's timer, so when I get up to pee I'll know how much time is left without doing any figuring
Sangean ATS-909 radio to automatically start the 8:00 news
- Got to bed at 10:17.
Sat May 9 = This morning I watched Frank Abagnale, the subject of the movie and stage play, Catch Me If You Can, talking about his story for Talks at Google. I have heard about the movie, but never saw it. Now I won't have to, which is a good thing since I don't typically have time for movies.
- Five new casters arrived this afternoon. Now my office chair goes mostly where I want it to instead of having a mind of its own.
- This evening, for my
van project
converting my 2020 Kia Sedona minivan to a mini-motorhome where I will live during my road tours
,
I got the fire extinguisher installed and bungee stowage for my wind cage. I use the cage when recording in windy conditions.
- Got to bed at 10:07pm :)
Sun May 10 = Before breakfast this morning and after my exercycle, I went through my full show sequence triggers in 10 minutes.
- After breakfast I projected my budget through the month of July.
- This afternoon I was ready to send off a bunch of emails, rescheduling comedy shows as before, for July in Ohio... until I read Governor Mike DeWine's Responsible RestartOhio for Restaurants and Bars. Although it did not say how long it would be in effect, this is mandatory:
The open congregate areas in restaurants and bars
that are not necessary for the preparation and service of
food or beverages (billiards, card playing, pinball
games, video games, arcade games, dancing,
entertainment) shall remain closed
- I filled and labeled 14 more of my 16gb Show Flash drives so they'll be ready for my tour, whenever it may happen, this year or next year. Not noticing a dialog window hiding under some other windows, I turned one of the drives into a demonstration dummy non-functioning one by removing it from the USB port before the copying was complete.
- Got to bed at 10:28 with alarms set for 8:00.
- It was fun on the Internet: We Bond over Bombs comedy show. Due to some of the participants not getting online, the Roast Battle did not happen. Instead I did 6-minutes of my OBX/Yoga set while sitting in front of my computer. I got quite a few laughs.
Mon May 11 = This morning I added pictures of different sizes of HDMI cable plugs to my Definitions web page, plus a link from my Technology Index, because I never seem to remember where the information is located.
- This afternoon I saw neurologist, Dr Jeffrey Gitt on referral from my PCP. He scheduled me for an EEG tomorrow just to check things out.
- In the latest AARP Magazine, Dr Sanjay Gupta, neurosurgeon, had some interesting ideas about brains in old people, whose mental capabilities do not have to deteriorate if they:
Socialize (which I do quite a lot)
Make decisions without undue delay (I need to work on)
Practice showing gratitude (which I do)
Have a positive attitude (I do most of the time)
Get plenty of sleep (I keep working on)
- To bed at 10:17
Tue May 12 = A good day today... except for FedEx. This morning I had an EEG. Julie helped make it a very positive experience. It was interesting looking at my brain waves when it was over. Here's a head shot with 23 electrical probes stuck to my head. Next is an absurd-looking sandwich, since I decided to start eating kale.
- Speaking of head shots, the 8x10's arrived at my nearest Walmart (five miles). It took three people to locate them. They were done right this time.
- On the same trip I mailed a thank you note for Julie, bought some clear packaging tape at Home Depot and a custom-sized cardboard box ($20, ouch) from The UPS Store.
- I got the box for the T-Shirts I'll be selling on my road tour, but the box should be just right for holding the shirts and all the rest of my merchandise: T-shirts, Flash drives, Head shots and Stickers - just like the big boys! All remaining is to have fun, be funny and actually get on the road.
- That will mean for the shows I'll need to load up my folding cart with only two things: 1) My box with video stuff (camcorders, camera, tripods, show clipboard w notes etc.) 2) My merch box. Depending on the venue, I may also have to add a bag with my PA system and/or my stage lights and extension cords.
- Hurray for not throwing things away! I found two output cables from my old cassette tape-based Canon that work with my current Canon Vixia HF R800 camcorder: a mini HDMI cable and a component video cable. Good news is that, unlike my Panasonic camcorder, the Canon will record while it is outputing.
- FedEx says they delivered my ($300 USB video capture dongle) package this afternoon. It is no where to be found. Even before COVID-19, they typically have not delivered packages as instructed, to my back door where they will be more secure.
- To bed after a light, fast full-body workout at 10:14 :)
Wed May 13 = It took over an hour on the phone, mostly on hold, with FedEx to have them investigate my lost package, time sensitive and containing a $400 USB video capture dongle. By afternoon I had received and tested the dongle. All OK. Yesterday the driver tried to do a good job by leaving it at the back door as instructed... but the wrong back door, one street north.
- Yesterday I had decided that there wasn't enough space in my little minivan for me, my living quarters, my comedy stuff and also my kiteboarding gear. This afternoon I reorganized the kite gear in my van, leaving out my biggest (15.7m Epic Renegade) so all the ancillary equipment fits with the remaining three kites (6m, 8m & 12m) in my kite stowage area down into which the third row seats used to fold.
- Poking around my website, I fixed a broken link to music by The Bottle Boys, followed by a most interesting interview of Annie Duke.
- This evening I backed up my computer, located 10' HDMI extension cables and ordered one from Walmart. This cable will allow me to hook my Canon Vixia HF R800 camcorder, on my home stage, while it's recording, to my
XPS
Dell XPS-13 laptop computer with 13.3" touch screen, 60WHr Integrated Battery, Windows 10, Intel 7th Generation Core i7 CPU, 16gb memory and 1TB SSD
as a second web cam without rearranging things.
- Got to bed at 10:15.
Thu May 14 = This morning I updated my Nexus 6P smart phone to Android Version 8.1.0.
- I also ordered a Wyze Scale that, if you stand on it barefoot using their smart phone app, supposedly gives you your:
Weight in pounds or kilograms
Body Fat %
Heart Rate
Lean Body Mass
BMI
Muscle Mass
Visceral Fat
Basal Metabolic Rate
Bone Mass
Metabolic Age
Protein Level
Body Water %
- At noon I lay in the sun for 20 minutes.
- For my
van project
converting my 2020 Kia Sedona minivan to a mini-motorhome where I will live during my road tours
,
I figured an arrangement for the transportation and best access for all the comedy show stuff I'll be taking on tour.
- It was not quite time for supper and I did not want to strain my brain with anything challenging, so I vacuumed the house after installing one of the new brush belts that had just arrived from Amazon for my Eureka.
- This evening I wrote a letter to Ohio about possibly doing my comedy tour there in July if COVID-19 settles down. Also, on my
XPS
Dell XPS-13 laptop computer with 13.3" touch screen, 60WHr Integrated Battery, Windows 10, Intel 7th Generation Core i7 CPU, 16gb memory and 1TB SSD
,
I installed the software for my old GrabBee USB/component video capture device, but never got it to work... not a big deal, since the new USB/HDMI adapter works just fine with my Canon camcorder, which outputs clean video.
- To bed at 10:08 after a short, slow heavy arms workout :)
Fri May 15 = This morning I sent an email and mailed a letter to The Honorable Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio about doing my July comedy shows this year - just a blind shot that no one will read probably.
- My big
van project
converting my 2020 Kia Sedona minivan to a mini-motorhome where I will live during my road tours
,
today was populating its glove box with purged stuff from my old van's glove box. I also mounted my talking watch on the van's ceiling within easy reach when I am sleeping. Although the display no longer works, it is very convenient when if I wake up at night and want to know the time without opening my eyes. Don't even have to turn on a light
- I did a short slow heavy torso workout after exercycling to workout while my pulse was still elevated.
- My online backup came in handy after I made and saved three mistakes while resolving my checking account. I also archived the 2019 portion of the spreadsheet. Figuring all that out was a good brain exercise.
- The USPS delivered my Oura Ring sizing kit (I wanted Oura Ring to send me the actual ring :( ), an RFID shielding pouch from Walmart and mini USB adapter pigtail from Best Buy.
- This afternoon, I did my semi-monthly grocery shopping... all at Winco.
- Got to bed at 10:17
Sat May 16 = My mail box was good to me today. The ten foot Top Dog HDMI cable was delivered from Walmart.
- Driving my
van
converting my 2020 Kia Sedona minivan to a mini-motorhome where I will live during my road tours
,
around today with my comedy equipment, I found that the speaker stand tended to fall over when I would break, I fixed a bungee retainer for it. I also made a tethered hook for my computer bag so it will be more secure since it is near the right sliding door.
- For the online Zoom hamfeast this evening I used some of my recently purchased stuff to switch between my computer camera and Canon Vixia HF R800 camcorder, which I had in front of the screen in the middle so when I looked at the screen I was mostly looking at the camera.
- Got to bed at10:14
Sun May 17 = Today I moved in an expensive monster. No it was not a BBW. After more research and a lot of dead ends, right here in Phoenix, I finally found a used power tower that includes dip stand, abs leg raises, abs crunch and a lats/biceps pull-up handles, so immediately cleared out my van of everything but the bed, which is now a semi-permanent fixture and drove down to buy the monster. We had to remove the lat/biceps pull-up handles to get the monster in my van. It is heavy duty overkill - not just a piece of exercise equipment, but a piece of commercial gym equipment - but the only one available. It is so heavy that just the lats/biceps pull-up handles and back pad weigh more than my whole articulating workout bench. I met my new neighbor to the east, Bobby, who helped me carry the monster in.
- For tonight's Online Comedy Show by J.D.Kavanaugh, there was no real show or roast. We just visited around for about two hours. I did use my new video stuff and was able to switch between cameras. To eliminate the distracting background I took my shuttle picture down and then balanced the lighting with one of my LUNSY DJ Par Lights, 36LEDs Stage Lights in the kitchen aimed at me in the office.
- Got to bed at 10:31
Mon May 18 = My home gym is not perfect, but it will do for now and keep me a little active. Here's a panoramic shot taken by and automatically stitched with my Nexus 6P Android phone. If I were a perfectionist (fortunately I'm getting away from that), I would take the picture again, rotating the camera around the lens's no-parallax point (sometimes incorrectly called nodal point), holding the camera exactly level to avoid the stitching seams, put covers over the reflecting chrome handle caps on the dip station and reduce the file size so the image loads faster.
- At 12:30, solar noon, I spent 20 minutes laying out in the sun.
- This afternoon I sent out individual emails to 10 veterans posts in Ohio about doing shows there in July, THIS YEAR. It took me an average of 3.8 minutes each :) Toward the end, I was a LOT faster.
- I got my merch box packed up with all but the 13 T-shirts in the little suitcase I take to open mics. The merch box weights 50 pounds. The little suitcase, 12 pounds.
- Just before supper I had a relaxing hour reminiscing with my old archived 2017 December Blog, Alcatel computer and my trip to Trinidad and Tobago. I got a warm feeling, looking at the places I went kiteboarding and doing comedy there and remembering the lovely people.
- To bed at 10:28pm. I spent a record 7:13 without having to pee, mostly sleeping. Sure wish I had my Oura Ring to see my sleep stages.
Tue May 19 = This morning's big project was responding to some booking emails for Ohio in July and sending other emails to confirm that my five shows are still on for Alaska this August.
- After lunch I took a short nap, did a short, light full-body workout, then drove to the Happy Valley Towne Center where Walmart had a spare Square credit card reader waiting for me. It was the nearest one, nine miles away.
- This afternoon I did my first official workout (light full-body) since completing my home gym with the dip stand.
- I figured that this Friday is the earliest I can book a flight to Alaska and still dispute the charge if it is necessary to cancel the flight. The best flights might be full by then, but at least I'll be protected.
- So it will fit the alloted space in my van, I shortened the height of the paper case box that I'll be using for my comedy show video and show stuff. Then, while listening to the Leo Lporte podcast (one of my favorites), I reinforced the seams of the box with clear packaging tape.
- Got to bed at 10:11, but had to get up to pee three times :(
Wed May 20 = This morning I made a couple of booking phone calls.
- My Wyze scale arrived - good service from CA. I installed its batteries, did a heavy legs workout and then rewarded myself by setting the scale up and linking it to the Wyze App, which I had to update, on my cell phone (right image).
Wyze Scale with a smart phone - must use barefoot
My figures on May 20, 2020
The scale gives:
Weight
Body Fat%
Heart Rate
Lean body mass
BMI
Muscle mass
Visceral fat
Basal metabolic rate
Bone mass
Metabolic age
Protein Level
Body Water%
- Things went like clockwork, doing a short, heavy slow legs workout, my
poster trim
weekly trimming of my beard, eye brows and little quiff so I match my poster photos
a bath, stopping by Dollar Tree for a graduation card and balloon and driving to Mesa where I joined joined all the Self clan there to celebrate the high school graduation of Jacob,
Shane
My nephew, George's son who is an engineer for a high-tech company
's
oldest, and his girlfriend. We had the graduation ceremony in a nearby park for the two graduates because, of course with COVID-19, there was no graduation at the high school. Kristen had things well organized. The celebration continued at Shane and Kristen's house with a cup cake for me, swimming for the kids and a lot of good visiting.
- Got to bed at 10:30 being in bed, mostly sleeping, for seven hours until I couldn't hold out against mother nature.
Thu May 21 = A consistent-reading scale is good for tracking your weight progress. My no-name Goodwill digital glass scale gives very consistent readings. Not so with my new Wyze Scale. Its weight readings vary between .1 and 1.2 lb higher. That's a 1.1 pound variance :(
- This morning I got the last three day's mail from my mailbox and found my first pair of Men's Columbia Brownsmead II Cargo Shorts that I had ordered. They are not perfect, but will be OK after I shorten them a little. With these, at least my cell phone won't hit my knee when I am walking, like it does with the Wrangler shorts I have. From another supplier , Fashionmer.com I managed to find more of the rare Columbia Brownsmead II shorts at half the price of the first pair, so ordered two additional pair.
- In my
van
converting my 2020 Kia Sedona minivan to a mini-motorhome where I will live during my road tours
there will not be enough room for the rear under-bed storage tub with all my comedy merch, so I rearranged things to take only the most important stuff and put it all in the front tub.
- Did a slow heavy short arms workout (the workout was slow, not the arms).
- Got to bed at 10:18, but didn't stay there...
Fri May 22 = At midnight I got up and booked Delta flights to Anchorage Alaska :) :) :)
- This afternoon is probably the first time that I have taken a nap using a CPAP machine (Respironics). I had over an hour of sleep to make up from last night. I had a good, long nap.
- My new, smaller, Oura Ring arrived today. It fits my finger so much better than the one I lost. It contains a lot of stuff:
an infrared sensor that measures your pulse
a 3-D accelerometer to detect movement
a gyroscope to detect the direction of the movement
a body temperature sensor
a battery (of course) that will last up to a week
a micro controller
a Bluetooth transmitter and antenna
Outside is a titanium and diamond-like carbon coating (DLC)
Inside is a non-allergenic, non-metallic, seamless molding with the sensors
- At noon I lay in the sun for 20 minutes.
- Got to bed at 10:31. My first night with the new ring.
Sat May 23 = This morning I ordered two pair of blue blocker clip-ons. I'll try wearing them in the evenings to see if I sleep better. I don't think it will make much difference because I typically do not find it difficult to fall to sleep.
- I went through the entire set up and video sequence for my comedy shows using my little
Alcatel Plus 10
The little 10" Windows 10 computer I bought to get me by in Tobago after my Dell XPS died. It's tight, with only 2gb RAM and a 32gb SSD hard drive, but the 128gb micro SD card I have in it helps a little.
without the keyboard as a notebook computer.
- This evening I did a short light fast legs workout.
- With the help of the ham radio guys on Zoom this evening, I found that using HDMI through a USB adapter completely bypasses the computer's microphone and input settings without letting you know. Fixing the problem improved the audio on my Zoom Stage here at home.
- After the Hamfeast on Zoom, I created a new Past Posters web page and left only the current posters on my Comedy Home page.
I didn't get around to doing my exercycle until 9:08 this evening. Got to bed at 10:25 (without my CPAP as I do every Saturday night).
Sun May 24 = I reorganize the emergency road kit for my
van
converting my 2020 Kia Sedona minivan to a mini-motorhome where I will live during my road tours
- made it smaller and more compact. Now to find a place to stow it. Part of the project was sewing my broken automobile tow strap. It is the first time I used a size 18 needle and button thread with my new electronic Sewing Machine (Singer Featherweight C240). It did some stop/chattering like it does when it is overloaded, but did a good job. I hope I did not ruin the machine, using it on double thickness nylon webbing which amounted to 3/16" altogether.
- Guess I didn't ruin the sewing machine. Later this afternoon I customized my new Columbia Brownsmead II cargo shorts with it. Now the shorts are pretty much what I want: 2.5" shorter and pocket compartments for my cell phone, 4-color pen and Sony ICD digital recorder. The job took a little extra time because I had to hand sew the hem at the bottom of the cell phone pocket because the pocket now goes to the bottom.
- I watched a few videos and learned some new things about using my sewing machine and that their needles have a scarf that the bobbin hook goes past to engage the top thread.
- I did my Arizona Lou routine twice for tonight's online comedy show. The first time I forgot to switch cameras and audio from my computer to my stage camera, so they essentially heard nothing. The second time I did the set I forgot to start my stage camcorder recording. The set went well, but I got no recording.
- Got to bed at 10:39 :(
Non May 25 = This morning I can't believe I accidentally found my old size 10 (too large for me) Oura Ring . It had fallen into a drawer in my master bedroom where I keep my blow drier, vibrator etc. I was using the latter on an area of my upper right back that needed some relaxing. Now I have a, like new, except for a small scratch, ring to sell at half price, complete with charger, instructions and original packaging (polished silver Heritage). $149.98. I intentionally put the scratch on the top of the ring so I could wear it the same direction each time. It took watching five unboxing videos for me to figure out the ring was packed from the factory.
- While researching it all I found I tracked my sleep with an Oura ring - here's what I learned, where the author discusses her Oura Ring results with her sleep doctor.
- Here's the Listing I just put up on Craig's List.
- This afternoon for my
van
converting my 2020 Kia Sedona minivan to a mini-motorhome where I will live during my road tours
I figured where to stow my roadside emergency reflectors and tow strap... on the floor behind of my toolbox. In the process I had to reload all my comedy stuff.
- Did a light fast arms workout here at home and got to bed at 10:29pm
Tue May 26 = I try to avoid supplements so about 1pm I worked on my vitamin D as well as a little tan by laying in the sun for 20 minutes. I found some interesting information about getting appropriate sun.
- I went round and round with Cox Cable for about an hour on hold etc., trying to figure why my Internet went down about 8:10 this morning. The Cox tech lady concluded culprit was my equipment. Then I found out from Best Buy that there is no way they can test the modem I bought from them about 1.5 years ago.
- The problem was not with me or my equipment. It was Cox Cable. Their service resumed, after being off all day, at 10:31 tonight. I found this out because my Wyze Smart Scale, Alexa and my voice-controlled house started working. Here I was planning to buy a new modem etc. Thanks, Cox Cable, for wasting a lot of time and energy due to your poor Internet service and, apparently, incompetent service tech.
- After looking all over the house and not finding one, before supper I spent some time trying to engineer an AC adapter for my Panasonic HC-V770 camcorder. After finding the right sized power plug, the camcorder did not draw current from my power supply like I expected so I ended up ordering a new power adapter from ebay. It should arrive by USPS by Wed June 3th. I hope they're right about the delivery date, due to my leaving on what's left of my road tour shortly thereafter.
- I got a reconfirmation for this year's tour for Sat Jul 11, 2020; 7:00pm;
AMVETS Post#148; 11495 Lower Valley Pike in Medway, OH 45341 :)
- Got to bed at 10:35 for one of my best night's so far... statistically. Including some slight restless legs, I slept for 6:39 hours before my first and only trip to the bathroom.
Wed May 27 = I spent this morning phoning Kittyhawk Kites and then sending them an email of my proposal: To have four merch signings the last part of June at their Waves and Avon, NC stores. The signings will, hopefully, increase their store traffic and get more people to my comedy shows.
- Citibank is at it again. They let a sixteenth fraudulent charge through in PA for over $500. I decided to check my unbilled charges before I mailed them a letter of dispute, as required to protect my rights. Their statements
are not clear as to where to send disputes, so I took a shot in the dark in mailing the letter. When I phoned their fraud department and reported the first 15 fraudulent charges, they said they would mail me documentation that would include the address for the letter. They never did, which seems to be typical of the way Citybank does things.
- Around noon I had a social distancing phone call to
George & Cindy
my younger brother and his wife sold their house in Mesa, Arizona and are now in Christopher Creek.
.
It was interesting learning about Cindy's challenging childhood and early adulthood.
- Cox Internet went down about 4:30pm for the rest of the day and the night.
- Live comedy, the first in 2.5 months, at
El Charro Hipster; in west Phoenix. It was good to see about 30 of my comedian friends, even with social distancing and using tissues as microphone diapers.
- On the way I stopped by Moon Valley LA Fitness, which recently reopened, for a
poster trim
weekly trimming of my beard, eye brows and little quiff so I match my poster photos
and shower and had one of my protein frosties. Back home after the show, I did a short slow heavy legs workout and popped in bed at 10:40.
Thu May 28 = There was no Internet for Alexa so she could not hear anything I said to her. She still sounded the daily 7:59am alarm I have set :) However, since it didn't do any good to tell her to shut up, I had to physically press one of her buttons.
- Using my new, used, heavy duty guillotine-type ClasicCut paper cutter, I made about 300 trip tabs from my stash of 4x6" tractor-feed cards because I am running low on the tabs. They are little 1 x 3.5" perforated tabs on which I write all my stops for an outing and what I want to get or do at each stop. I arrange the tabs geographically on my kitchen counter, and collect them up in the order of my stops. Saves time, I tend not to forget stuff and it makes me feel good to be so efficient. Today's trip was a eight-stop shopping spree. Among other things, I bought 30' of speaker wire with which I made a light-weight extension cord to power my camcorders on my tour.
- Today's arms workout started here at home doing inverted shrugs on my dip stand etc. and ended up at Anytime Fitness, which is now open, on their thigh adduction/abduction machine, which machine I do not have. They don't have a dip stand.
- This evening, it took some time for me to get my new Kia van's paperwork and computer files organized. I even found my original certificate of title, registration and license plate tab... in the paper folder where I keep all my auto information. This is, of course after I had paid a fee to get duplicates. You can see that I really need to be a little more observant. The thing that took the most time was adding the Kia to my Tire Wear spreadsheet. With it, I will track the air pressure, location on the vehicle and performance of each of the tires.
- Got to bed at 10:49 :(
Fri May 29 = This year's trip is official! I didn't need their approval, but I did get the blessing of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore of the U.S. National Park Service for doing my
Comedy-n-Sunset; shows the last two Tuesdays in June on Hatteras Island at the Haulover Day Use Area, 1.6 mi S of Avon, NC - Cox Cable's Field Services tech, Aaron Esslinger, came out around noon and spent about an hour working on my Internet. It appears that when someone was working on the fiber optics at the post, they messed up the signal to the five houses that are fed by the post. After almost two hours and a lot of testing he decided that the post had issues which a Cox specialist would have solve. By 2:30 Darrin Domm, Field Service Supervisor, had everything working. I did not have to replace my modem or redo my house wiring as some were suggesting. Thank goodness.
- One of the things I bought yesterday was a four-outlet cigarette lighter adapter. It was fancy with a remote control panel that controls each socket with a relay and a blue LED indicator light. Today I checked it out. Just sitting idle with all the outlets turned on, takes 220ma. That is 2.64W of coolness that I can't spare, so I took the thing apart, cut off the cord to the remote control panel and soldered shunts to bypass the relays. Now I have what I wanted in the first place... almost. I wanted five sockets, but 80% will have to do.
- I did a short heavy slow torso workout at LA Fitness because I don't have a torso rotation machine here at home.
- To toughen up for my kiteboarding I started hanging by my kite harness, using the special lag screw I installed in my master bedroom ceiling, and working my feet in the foot straps of my twintip board.
- With some spare minutes I made more of my pink emil slips on which people request to be put on my email list. I'll start my tour with about 1,000 of the slips.
- To bed at 10:22.
Sat May 30 =
While looking for the date I sent my passport in for renewal (April 4th), I ran across this awesome video on my Blog - Archive 2019 Oct web page. Inspiring! I hope you watch and enjoy these seven-minutes by Travis Mills.
- For my
van project
converting my 2020 Kia Sedona minivan to a mini-motorhome where I will live during my road tours
,
before my garage heated up too much, with a drill and a pop rivet I fixed a Velcro tether so my
can stand on its end without falling over as I drive.
- For my comedy show, I timed from my Fit bit to the end of the show. It contains most of my adult material and took 20 minutes. This information will help me decide what parts of the show to cut out in order to stay within an hour show.
- Got to bed at 10:33
Sun May 31 = Thanks to something that Clark Howard mentioned on his show, I impulsed and explored, on the Internet of course, Gustavus and Hoonah, Alaska. These are little island towns with populations of around 500 that are not accessible by any road.
- How high would my little battery operated portable water pick shoot a stream of water. I took it out into the back yard and tried it: about 25 feet
- I found my lost 3/8" ratchet, socket and socket extension where I put it, about 500 miles ago... on a little ledge in the side of my Kia's engine compartment.
- I have a number of things (first picture) to support my Home Comedy Stage during COVID-19. Of course the tripods and a speaker stand could not interfere while hovering over my LGB train set. So tonight I arranged the nine legs so the trains can operate on all the tracks (second picture). You can see a train on the far track going at full throttle.
- This evening I revised my Show Slips to include my five shows in Alaska in August.
- Got to bed at 10:24
