It is shocking to count the years since I gave Brenda her first Apple Watch for Christmas in 2015 — NINE … shocker! I would like to be able to say that it actually lasted that long, but not all that long after she started wearing it, the battery “bloated” in the charger and failed. It was replaced, but did leave a bad taste in my mouth for small devices without replaceable batteries. (Hm, can I make this a Throwback Thursday #TBT post?)
Fast forward to her using it everyday for more tech things than I ever expected (she tends not to be all that techy) … and has been complaining that the battery would no longer last a full day. So for our anniversary earlier this month, I decided it was time for an upgrade with the primary goal to be something she could wear in the water … or at least get wet. She loves the new Apple Watch SE v2 which is rare when I give her a technology based gift like a notebook computer, phone or watch. 😉
Great from Eastwood‘s “Mark’s Garage” in using a 4-fluke end mill in a cordless drill to remove “weld through” primer’s and coatings when making plug welds. Also appreciated the budget minded 3/16″ drill bit advice from a follower:
“You don’t need to buy an end mill. Grind a drill bit flat on the end and you have the same thing. Learned that tip off of Garage Journal years ago.”
The map below might not be up-to-date map (2021), but it looks like most states have there share of stressful traffic. Personally speaking … after driving to and from SW Ohio to NW Ohio for the better part of 20 years, I can attest that winter driving(snow and ice) and constant road construction on I-71 was far more stressful than passing through Columbus at rush-hour (morning traffic on my way north if running late and almost always returning home and hitting afternoon/evening).
The map did get me thinking … I’m glad I’m not commuting in big cities and densely populated states everyday! Check out the Fleetlogging website for the full article.
Taylor and Megan for Birthday golfing at Beckett Ridge (he worked there when he was in college)
The weather was cooler than normal for a June birthday get-together for a few of our 35 year old sons’ friends, their spouses and now young families. It wasn’t a formal party per se, but it was a chance to remember backyard pool parties of the past. They sure did enjoyed warming up in front of the fireplace after getting out of the warm pool — no rain, so glad that worked out. Happy Birthday …tomorrow … Taylor (6/10).
It is interesting for us as boomer-parents to notice the generational differences between when our children and their friends are getting married and start to have families (later) and our generation. Most of his friends are in their 30s and starting families … where we were in our 20s. Perhaps it was the same for previous generations who married out of high school and started families, when we were just finishing college and starting to work.
In any case, Brenda and I have failed by not taking any photos(shame on us, but I’m leaving space at top hoping Taylor has one) … but we did enjoy being “papa and grandma” to the little ones; Brenda held babies and I enjoyed cute 3 year old girl on the playlet and playing kitchen with sticks.
Last week a slender fox appeared on our security Wyze Cam and instead of just passing by as usual, opted to lounge for a few moments ‘midday’ in the front yard. Very strange behavior for the coyotes and foxes that we usually see in our neighborhood. Perhaps it is a younger fox?
I’ve been using Twitter, which is now X.comafter Elon Musk purchase $TWTR and renamed it, since the early days of the 240 character social network. Shockingly, it has now been over 17 years since I joined in February of 2007 … and I decided it was finally time to eliminate the ads and gain the “verified” Blue Check and pay for the only social media service I use nowadays — it is also my go-to newsfeed and automotive group chat messaging hub.
This past weekend I cleaned it up a bit and added a homemade light strip with a roll of LEDs taped(as with the bookshelves) to my late father-in-law’s unused 4 foot aluminum level (DadH) that needed a storage solution (half joking). But the primary purpose was to create a work/play-station for my granddaughters in my workshop. While cleaning out the draws and tightening them up, I found a bunch of childhood memories, and to make this a ThrowBack Thursday #TBT post … here are two of the many treasures:
My first fish cleaning knife (who knows how many Yellow Perch heads this knife has severed?)
Extra 1974 Capri steering wheel inserts – my true first car (click photo for larger)
While reading paper or digital versions of magazines, I’m prone to clipping tips that I might find useful. Here’s one on soaking “just the bristles” of a varnish or polyurethane paint brush in solvent without the tips of the brush getting gunked up on the bottom. I have several wood handled brushes that I tried to keep clean, or parked overnight before another coat of finish, and this “hole in the handle” tip much just work?
but not all that long after she started wearing it, the battery “bloated” in the charger and failed. It was replaced, but did leave a bad taste in my mouth for small devices without replaceable batteries. (Hm, can I make this a Throwback Thursday #TBT post?)
