Sunday New Projects

I woke with the sunrise and enjoyed two proofs of hydration, too. I managed to roll over and sleep until 6:30, knowing I had to rise early and write the blog to make church this morning. I finally ordered a replacement for my pride tie, which had worn out—something to be proud of, I think. It was a less bright print but a better-made and likely longer-lasting tie. I planned to wear the new one today.

I finished the blog around 9ish, and breakfast was also assembled (a banana, some cheese, and liberal coffee). I replaced my bandage and took my meds, which included antibiotics. The incision is less angry but still weeping. As I said yesterday, heal, damn it! I took a shower and started my laundry. I also did the laundry, which I mis-timed, and I had to rewash the totally wrinkled shirts and pants (stripping the bed in the afternoon to make the load worth running) when I returned in the afternoon.

I discovered I reached my next weight number, 230 pounds, and am slowly heading to 220, my next goal. I would not suggest recovering from grief and brain surgery as a weight loss strategy. I intend to keep the weight off and try to build up some muscles once I feel better. I still tire easily.

With the chores done, I headed to Beaverton’s First United Methodist Church. Michael was preaching today on James 3:1-12. This passage is not often quoted by pastors, and it talks about how the tongue can create a firestorm and the same mouth that prays reverently to God curses others. Pastors can find it uncomfortable for them and their listeners. Which is the James’ point. Michael’s message was that when God scattered people in the story of Bable and then returned a single language in Jesus’s message. According to James, the tongue, while small, can do great evil. Michael suggests that if we follow the teachings in the New Testament (I am thinking of the Sermon on the Mount), this is the new language to unite people, a new language for us all to learn. His sermon reminded me of the law in Louisiana that puts the Ten Commandments in every classroom (launching a thousand memes and court filings) when other words I think it would be more comforting and useful to children. The Golden Rule and “And every tear will be wiped away” comes to my mind. We do, as Michael suggests, still suffer from a form of Bable instead of hearing the clear language of kindness and responsibility that Christians are called to. It was an excellent sermon and had me thinking.

After church, I headed to The 649 in Air Volvo for lunch and a beer. I had my laptop with me. Kyle opened today, and I mistook her for her sister, Avery, at first. Kyle was my bartender before the pandemic. She told me she cares for her daughter now and does not work that often. It took me a moment to realize I had the wrong name, as Avery is taller, and Kyle has colorful body ink with her sisters on her arms. Kyle was kind when I corrected it and asked her for her name, as I could not recall it. I am never shy about asking folks their names.

I wrote for more than two hours while eating a hummus platter and drinking a Red Zepplin beer. I was editing and fixing my newest Dungeons and Dragons adventure. I plan to publish it soon. I felt off, almost nauseated. Likely the result of the antibiotics, and I finished with coffee. Kyle was happy to see me in my church outfit (and pride tie); she said my Methodist was showing. Excellent.

I returned in Air Volvo to the Volvo Cave and rested, trying to keep the hummus, beer, and other things inside. Within an hour, I was feeling recovered enough to return to my laptop. Soon, my newly purchased Seeed XIAO ESP32 Sense arrived from Amazon. I spent the afternoon updating my Arduino software and following directions (mostly) to be able to program and run software on my new devices. This is a tiny device and camera used in the project to make an RC and video experience from a normal-sized Hot Wheel car. With a price of $13, I got two! I assembled the first device (which can connect to WIFI and Bluetooth) and attached the little camera.

It took me all afternoon to get Blink (which just blinks a light) to run on the device. I also discovered that the supplied Blink for the ESP32 device was miscoded, and my corrected version worked. Hmmm. Yes, this is going to be a challenge. I managed to crash the device and worked out how to recover it. It is my idea of fun and exciting.

I took a break and made dinner. I took one of the Trader Joe’s frozen meals, Butter Chicken, and heated it in the top oven. In the last seven minutes, I heated a piece of garlic naan, also frozen and from Trader Joe’s. Dinner was great.

Next, I watched the end of the new Doctor Who season, which saw the completion of a two-episode adventure for the newest Doctor and his companion, Ruby. It was a good finish and links to Tom Baker, the Fourth Doctor, in a favorite group of episodes. While I thought the singing goblins were just too much in the first episode of the season, I did like much of this season. Even the totally bizarre babies in space which left me shocked that this was good idea for a show. It does feel this time like an update of the old series and less the crazy we have seen over the years.

After watching Doctor Who, I returned to my work on the Seeed XIAO ESP32 Sense and managed to get more to work. I managed to get the camera to take a photo, but I have no reader that mounts the mini-SDHC on my Apple to view it. Puke! I ordered two different types that will be delivered on Monday. Hopefully, one will work. It took me hours to discover that the code was broken and I was not having a library or access issue. I added a header file I copied from an example project, and the code ran! I no longer believe the code examples work out of the box.

I finally stopped coding at 9:30 and started this blog. I might get distracted by code tomorrow, so I thought it would be best to write tonight. I’m getting more parts for my version of the Hot Wheels project—a submarine for an aquarium.

Thanks for reading!