Back in October of 2015, I was helping Taylor look for a “used” new car (he bought a BMW 528i) … and for me, the “wanting a dieselagain bug” bit again, so I bought a 2010 BMW X5 35d that needed a little TLC (ie. a good deal).
So started a long process in getting it just the way I wanted it. Many modifications later and now well into the high odometer mileage life of a car (lots of road trips), it is still a beautiful SUV to me. It has definitely become a favorite do everything vehicle.
It is about time that our questionable Cincinnati Bell router is being updated by the aquiring company AltaFiber to an Eero device (similar to at the condo). It will hopefully improve and keep our home Internet connections a bit more stable. I’ve really never complained much since adding the Mesh system to the “cheap” Zytel in 2019 … but can tell by the number of hardware restarts on our TVs that something wasn’t right. A little complaining after yet another price increase has at least resulted in a new Eero Pro 6E router.
Since it doesn’t make sense to continue with our older “cheaper” mesh router system, I’m replacing the 4 clustered pod with a single Eero Extender and used the existing Echo Hub in the exercise room in the center of our basement (it was in my office).
So far, so good as these three access point gives me about the same coverage as before … but with more stability (fingers crossed).
Next to Eero Pro 6E in office (left) and at Eero Extender in rear of PoolHouse (right)
I’ve done my own foundation barrier and yard insect and weed spraying by using the 1 and 2 gallon pump up and pull behind yard sprayers for my entire life. Really they have worked fine and with a little cleaning have been an easy way to control bugs and weeds … but tools are tools and the temptation for me is too much. 😊
I’ve contemplated replacing the older and larger of the two pump up sprayers I use with a backpack sprayer that uses the 18 volt rechargeable batteries after buying some insecticide and vegetation killer from DoMyOwn.com.
So earlier this month I purchased the Ridgid Sprayer(hanging on wall photo) and so far it is working incredibly well for spraying the insect barrier. Next will probably be to control the inch worms that are showing up; I’ll hit hit a few areas of sod with Permethrin SFR to since I’m seeing some white moths fluttering around when I’m mowing the backyard. Stay tuned.
Noticed that the Ridgid batteries are getting larger too (see tomorrow’s post) … unfortunately they aren’t getting much cheaper.
With my granddaughters coming this weekend to help celebrate Brenda’s birthday(it is an excuse to get together), one of our granddaughter had a request: “Could Bompa make a Fairy Door for me to paint in his workshop?”
How could a request like that be passed up? So Katelyn sent a photo of what the girls were talking about … since I was clueless. It looked like a fun project … so I’m starting to get it ready and even requested that Brenda check her odds and ends for craft paints (she is going to buy some new paint). 😊
Fairy doors are miniature doors, typically set into the base of a tree or a structure, which serve as a gateway to a magical world. They can be found in various forms, from commercial products to public art installations and even DIY creations.
First … Happy Birthday Brenda. We’ll celebrate with KDAE over the weekend in a few days.
Where is the Midwest in the United States? Someone posted a map from the WSJ that mentioned it is geographically not where most people think it is — or where they call themselves Midwesterners.
I outlined in yellow where “I think” the midwest is — I’m pretty much with the majority, although geographically off.
As for a Music Monday song, here’s one that I heard last week by Mark Lindsay from Paul Revere and the Raiders(see YouTube video below) and his 1970 solo hit, “Arizona” written by Kenny Young. I haven’t heard it for a while and although Arizona is NOT in the Midwest, it is a memorable song from my early music listening years in the 1970s.
Investors who bought US Treasury iBonds when inflation was raging may see the lower May 2024 rate reduction as no longer attractive; the rate is currently 4.28% (it adjusts every 6 months).
The interest rate has steadily fallen as month to month inflation has eased from its high and investors may be able to find a better use for their dollars (inflation may have “eased from its high,” but property taxes, insurance and nearly all household expenditures have NOT eased).
Beware though, selling iBonds before the 5 year holding period does come with a penalty, that is losing the 3 last months of interest and facing Federal taxes on the gains in the year they are sold.
Also for those making them a part of your long term saving, there are limits to what you can invest each year.
A point to keep in mind is also when to sell, whether you have held iBonds for 5 years (no loss of interest) or are planning to sell them before 5 years (give up the last 3 months of interest) … would be to do it early in the month (see below).
Not that I’m contemplating “doomsday” or ultra-paranoid, but the new book by Annie Jacobsen called “Nuclear War: A Scenario” is indeed frightening and does make me realize just how quickly the President of the United States must make nuclear decisions — 6 minutes.
Our military interactions over the past 100+ years have all been quick-strike or longer term slugfests using conventional weapons, but if the ICBM war would ever start, the nightmare would be unfathomable. If there was one thing that would prevent me from “even wanting” to be president, it would be the weight of making that kind of decision.
Check out this “long” interview with Lex Fridman on his YouTube channel… or get a copy of the 2024 book.
Proud Prophet: “No matter how nuclear war starts, it ends with everyone dead.”
It is always interesting to stumble across tidbits from the past that trigger memories … this one of a high school rival … and at the time, the nearest mall (I actually worked evening at the Sear store there in the spring of 1981 while also substitute teaching at my old high school in Sidney and then again at Sears in Cleveland in my first year of marriage— a long story).
I almost forgot where I was going with this: I retweeted a politically charged tweet or “X” regarding the choice 2024 presidential Democrat nominee Kamala Harris picked for her running mate — Minnesota’s governor Tim Walz. It is disturbing to see how much control the socialist leaning far left has taken the Democratic Party.
Where are the common sense, patriotic American citizens who love our country, our founding principles and traditional values? Those who prefer respected borders, safety, law and order and an economy that lifts up all who work hard while keeping our military respected and feared so as prevent war? There’s no way they could possibly support and vote for this:
If the old adage that ‘A’ picture is worth a thousand words .. what are TWO pictures worth? 🧐 https://t.co/dDY7CnytvR
so I bought a 2010 BMW X5 35d that needed a little TLC (ie. a good deal).
taken the