Day Tripping

 Today, rather now, yesterday, was our trip down to Tucson. We arrived just before noon, and had fun talking, visiting and playing with the Daughter and family. Doodad was a bit less energetic (from what the Wife told me of her day trip a couple weeks earlier) but she was still so full of energy. I remember a younger me having more energy than I do now, and still can't imagine having as much energy that Doodad has. I am sure I was just as bad when I was her age.

The Daughter is turning Thursday this week, so we also took down some birthday presents we had gotten for her. And since we had the chance, we took the family and a favorite Niece out to dinner to celebrate her day. Nice place called Guadalajara Mexican, and it seemed to specialize in southern Mexican cuisine. Many dishes I had never heard of, so I got to try a new one.... and it was different! I had a Molcajete Ultimo, which is 4 jumbo shrimp, steak, and chicken breast all packed into a molcajete with bell peppers, onions and queso fresco simmering in a molcajete sauce. In short, it was that all literally boiling in a bowl-shaped lava-looking rock - and I mean boiling! Add a side plate with beans and rice, some flour tortillas - and whew! It was good. Another thing that was cool, is when they do the chips/salsa before your meal, the 'salsa lady' comes around to your table with a cart, and asks if you want salsa, or guacamole, and then prepares it right in front of you. On recommendation from the SIL, we tried a medium salsa, and it was awesome!

Most times we go down, the Daughter and Wife spend much of the time together talking crafts and whatever. This time around the Daughter put me on the spot more, wanting to know more about what is going with me. So was uncomfortable a bit. I usually don't have the kids asking me about my health, or work, or about other things that are bothering me right now. Today she did, and it actually felt good to fill her in, and to let her know that she is not responsible for anything I do/say for my benefit, and she could make her own decisions regarding things.

So was a very good day trip, and we made it home around 11pm. Doodad was sad we had to go home, and said we could sleep there. When asked where we would sleep, Papaw had to sleep on the couch and Mamaw would sleep in her bed with her. I always get the shit end of that deal, I guess. But it was funny. Am looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with them this year, and hope the Boys will be able to within their work schedules.

The Wife was sound asleep within 20 minutes of us getting home, but I find I cannot drop off to slumberland. I am just physically and mentally tired, but things just won't shut down for me tonight. So I am back to trying to bore myself (writing here) and see what happens. May have to watch some dumb videos or something.

PeacE

Trying to Enjoy the Holiday

 Today is Independence Day, July 4th, 2021, and at 7:00am, I wonder how much of the day am I going to enjoy? Yesterday, rain descended upon the Valley (a rare occurrence) and from the time I noticed it (afternoon-ish, as I hadn't been outside, and slept in that morning) it continued on into the later evening hours. A nice half-day rain that we could always use in the desert, but one that will leave today feeling the extra mugginess of humidity. Which may end up putting a damper on some of the outdoorsy stuff going on today, including the later afternoon swim/eat at a friend's house, followed by fireworks after dark. Fat people like me, just don't care for that muggy feeling after the rains, and makes us sweat a lot.

The keyboard that came with the desktop PC I Purchased ... I don't remember how long ago, has finally met its end days. I thought it had, that is. The 'painted' letters on several of the keys, have worn off completely. I am sure if I plucked off a key or two, it would show inches of accumulated dust, dead skin, food debris, etc, that has fallen under the keys over the years. I had been putting off getting a new keyboard as I have adapted to the spacing and layout of this one. Granted, aside from the letters missing off the keys, the support legs broken off the back, the rubber 'feet' that keep it from sliding on the desktop non-existent, I had no desire to keyboard shop, and the possibility of not finding something I liked. But the mouse started acting wonky, as well. Would not left-click at times, scroll wheel not working right, LED reading and putting the mouse all over the screen. Both were USB plug-ins, and I finally decided new ones needed to happen to replace some of the aged/worn out devices.

About a week ago, I found a decent deal through Amazon for a wireless mouse/keyboard combo at a decent price. They keyboard was different in style than what I have, but not terribly so, and the mouse was a tad more basic than the gaming mouse I had been using. So I bought it, with an expected arrival date of  7/7 - the day I leave for North Dakota. Sigh. Surprise!! It came on Saturday, so I was able unhook the existing keyboard/mouse (a chore, since I had to get to the back of the Desktop - a feat not done in a long time) and opened up the box. As I pick up the keyboard, the space bar falls onto the desk. Huh? This is starting to not look good.....

Yup, seems the space bar key had somehow become unattached from the rest of the keyboard, but made it inside the package. I unpacked the rest of the box, and no extra pieces of plastic, or springs, or anything that appeared to be broken pieces, were in the box. I checked the shipping box - it was in good shape, as was the product factory box, sealed with tape like from the factory. I easily re-aligned the space bar key, and pushed it into place. It 'sat' a little crooked, leaning down more on the left, but pushing on it, seemed to work fine. Until, you start typing, theneverything startedtolooklikethis. Discovery was made that the space bar only typed spaces, when you pushed at the exact center of the bar, with harder than usual typing pressure. I sighed. I didn't want to mess with reporting faulty product, or having to return it - do I have to pay for that as well? I've never had to before...

I spent the rest of the day trying to make it work. I played games, I surfed the 'Net, I practice typing stuff in an empty word document. Yeah, this was just not going to do. So this morning, since I am awake at 6am (sigh, alarm was set for 8) I made a quick run to QT for some Coke and a couple jalapeno sausage dogs, and sat down to contact Amazon. Well, I'll be surprised... it was easy to return the item. And free. I just need to re-pack it, tape the box up, and drop it off at the UPS store, which is just up the road a mile. I also requested they send me another one, which is due to arrive the day I return from North Dakota. In the meantime, the old keyboard/mouse are hooked back up, and seem to be working just fine. I hate hanging on to something I don't need, but I may end up keeping the old ones later on as back-ups, you know, just in case.

Well, I am supposed to be making deviled eggs for the party later today. I kind of blew it off yesterday, though we did get the eggs boiled at least. Which means this morning/early afternoon I need to get off my butt and get the shells off, and make the yolk stuff. I boiled up two dozen eggs, so it'll be close to 48 eggs - minus one or three for taste-testing - and I am going to try something a little different with about a third of them. Decided to spice them up a bit, and will place like a sliced jalapeno in each egg's yolk area, then finely dice up jalapenos and add to the yolk mixture, which is then placed on the slice, then maybe add another slice on top. I only picked up a small can of jalapenos, so may end up with the one slice and the rest being added to the mix. Figured it sounded good, and worth a try. I may wait another hour or so before I start on that mess.....

So, that's how my 4th is going so far. May yours be better, and remember why we celebrate today.

PeacE

Last Sane Post ....

This may be the last sane post I am able to get put up here today, as only one of the boys is awake at this hour. Doesn't sound terrible right? Wrong. It is Spring Break this week, and all three boys are out of school. Granted, in some ways it makes things easier, as far as planning where they will be, etc, but the sibling bickering and fighting drives me up the wall. I know, someday I will wish I had all three of them back home again, after their grown and gone out into the world. Well, they say that, but I have not had a chance to believe it yet.

I turned down the job. After thinking about it for a couple days, it felt more and more that it would be cold-calling people, and that is something I just won't do. I suppose if it was the difference between eating or not, or living on the street or not, I would do it, but I still have a bit of time before we are that drastically affected. If I have the chance, I may be picking up some applications this week (if I dare take the boys in public) and have the time to complete them, then return them the next week, asking for face-to-face interviews. I have given up on the 'computer application process' as being a complete waste of my time.

One of the guys I know from the bar I go to, owns a racing horse. An honest to goodness horse that does the races like we see on the OTB televisions, etc. She has raced a few times, losing me money ore often than not. The horse was racing yesterday afternoon, and 5 of us guys each put in $20. So we had a bet for $40 Win, $30 Place, and $30 Show. The horse Won.... we ended up with $407 dollars before splitting it the five ways. My share was $80, so I took the family out to the Chinese buffet for supper. We love this place. It is called Hibachi Grill. Last night I tried the sushi they had. I think they had like six different dishes there, and I tried one piece from two of them. Unfortunately, they do not have the signs saying what every dish is, so no idea what I liked (the first one) and didn't like (the second). But I did see frog legs there (not in the sushi area) and had a couple of them, trying to encourage the kids to try them as well - with no luck. Oh well, their loss.

Anyway, I guess that is all I have today. Maybe more posts later if I survive (and not go to prison for murder).

PeacE