Techno-Geek

A Motorola Q has come to live with me. It is a PDA "smartphone" and it has lots of features to play with. I have loaded: tunes (it plays stereo) 1001 books ( I tire of looking for something to read when dining, and this has its own light when I am camping), thousands of my pictures AND it has a Windows web browser and can send text messages, picture messages and take pictures, and, yes, it is a cell phone. In a pinch I can connect it via cord or Bluetooth to be a modem for my laptop. It cost me $29.00 after my hard earned rebates and the industry panic over the Apple iPhone. My original Verizon phone had died. (set on high ringer and vibrate it somehow found itself in the dog's water dish!) I got another fancy phone about a year ago- an LG-9800 with stereo, limited web browser, camera, etc. but it is in a "candy bar" form-think "Idaho Spud" which, in my pocket seemed a lump and gave the impression that "I had a rise in my Levis." I did not want to get arrested....for false advertising. I have kept my LG 6100 tri-mode activated, which in this neck of the woods is necessary because it is not entirely digital in this and other desert places I travel. I'm not talking about my Union account. Those phones are old but they work well in western Wyoming and the free bag phone I got years ago is a three-watt gem. The digitals have .6 watts of power. I don't get or make very many calls but at this point in this crazy world, a cell phone is security. The landline went away a year ago. Staying connected Web-wise is important to me.

In Florida, I decided to try to get along with over-the-air television and my Dish Network expired while I was down there. I decided to see if I could survive without it here. I get PBS clearly, ABC somedays, CBS most days, and FOX on "good" days. TV has mostly been "background noise" in my multitasking life. While I miss some aspects of 180 channels, I think I have to conclude that I am happier, healthier, and more active without them. Network News, even PBS, is not always accurate, upsets me, tries to scare me, and is generally toxic. The Internet in its wide scope gives me all the news I need. The TV entertainment programming is, likewise mostly toxic. If I had a friend who brought me down as much as TV does, I wouldn't answer the door. If there is to be a background to my life, PBS is least toxic. Voting with my feet on television.

Sunday Dinner with Sue and Rasty

Sue, bless her heart, must have cooked all day long: two exotic pies; one like a macaroon, one raisin pecan, homemade rolls, saffron rice with veggies and marinated lamb steaks. In their shady secret spot surrounded by flowers, dogs, birds, bunnies, and a few ants, we enjoyed a feast and good gabbing. Wyoming produced a fine warm windless day and if we didn't have a nice time, I don't know what one is. Pried a few stories of the good old days from Rasty. He is willing to tell them if he can access them.

The Volkswagen is now getting 100 miles per gallon. I started out for their house in it but it quit and I pushed it back home. It is blocking the main drive right now. I got a battery for the Ford Ranger and eventually got it installed and found a key. I think I can squeeze it past the Ford van and the VW and then hook the VW up to the tow ball and take it to town to the doctor. I am going to be installing battery tenders for all these vehicles. While I am in Florida the batteries discharge and eventually freeze. No I am not interested in selling them-you can see a fellow in this neck of the woods needs spares and purpose dedicated vehicles: economy, four wheel drive, turnpike cruising, going to the store, hauling the dogs, etc. I think the VW got a bad tummy from a full tank of gas and the fuel line is constipated. I hope that is what it is. I downloaded a VW manual from the Web and found a picture of what the fuel filter looks like but I can't find it. Got a nasty note from Starband about the size of the download. Unlimited use somehow morphed into limited. They may lose me- nothing about the three months I didn't use it at all. I do have options now, though my Florida friend Greg said he got warned by Verizon. Based on his further conversation about a future Filipino wife, I think he may have been downloading something a little racier than a VW manual, though. Bait and Switch wherever you look.

I stayed awake all day long- I am playing a temporary elimination game with meds to see if I can find a culprit.

Sue and Rasty have wonderful dogs-dog's dispositions and owner's dispositions tend to be mirrors. Big pictures of a great evening at the web album. All you have to do is click: