Wednesday Retired

Today was the go-live for the big project I am no longer a part of since 20 April 2024, and I wish my friends the best. I have spent many July 4 holidays working for many companies. It seemed to be a favorite day to upgrade systems, even when I was working on the East Coast.

I slept until past 8 this Wednesday morning as I woke tired and had trouble rising. I had woken twice for proof of hydration and had only five hours of sleep at sunrise at 6. I then tried to make up the loss for two more hours. I prefer to wake up earlier, but I read a book until late and did not sleep until after midnight.

I made poached eggs on toast for breakfast before starting the blog. I had this with coffee. I wrote the blog for the morning. I also updated Quicken and checked my accounts. I printed out statements and other documents that are becoming available for June. It took all morning to cook, write, and do various other tasks.

The Howard stories at DriveThruFiction have sold 35 copies, with one brave person paying $4 once. I am not looking to get paid; I just want to share them. I am so happy that somebody read them. They are here if you want to get one. You need an account, and then they are pay-what-you-want (including zero) priced PDFs. I would recommend Howard’s Lockdown. Again, feel free to take a free copy.

After finishing the blog and a few chores, I decided to head out to Reedville Creek Park for another walk. I forgot my hat, but it started as a cool day, and the hot sun was just beginning to heat up the air. The walk on the circle track of asphalt was still comfortable. I walked fast but without risk or pain and easily made the first round. I was starting to feel it on the second round, and following PT’s advice, I stopped when it hurt. I do not want to lose my balance when tired. I was disappointed stopping at 2,500 steps (I would add another thousand to complete the day with just short of 3,500 steps), but it is best to respect my limits. I returned in Air Volvo to the Volvo Cave, and Corwin was there taking more of his stuff and loading it into his truck. Corwin was unhappy as the diagnosis of his truck’s engine was going to need an expensive repair. Corwin left, and I headed out, having to return to get my phone (I had forgotten a lot of things today). I took Air Volvo to the car wash and then used the provided vacuums to clean the floors. I decided that I was retired, and it would be better if I cleaned the car instead of paying for detailing at the dealership. It was another low-impact workout for me, too.

Next, I tried Big River Coffee, which is next to the carwash. It is a pleasant coffee house with stairs to reach the second floor. The tables are wooden with hard chairs. There are some comfy chairs, but they are not combined with a table or desk for laptops. There, enjoying an americano with caramel, I used my phone to connect to the Internet (and their connection I tested, but I prefer a secure connection I provide) and looked into how to control motors and servo motors with an Arduino. I was looking for basic control for motors, not an H-bridge complete control, which will not likely work in low voltages and tiny motors I planned to use. I wanted a transistor control and found what I was looking for. I thought I had an old-fashioned transistor, TIP120. I also ordered continuous miniature servos this morning that were delivered late in the afternoon (priced at $5 each in a pack of five).

While daydreaming, I looked at the cost of two weeks in a furnished apartment in Chicago and New Orleans. I am thinking of spending a few weeks in some US cities, not in a hotel but in a furnished apartment. I think it would be a better experience in the city. I can use public transit or Uber to get around. If a few weeks work, then I might do a month somewhere else for a year. Six months traveling in the US and six months home in the Volvo Cave. It is one of my retirement ideas. Travel forever.

I returned to the house after I finished my $6 coffee.  I searched my parts and found a TIP120 still in a RadioShack bag I must have bought years ago when looking into motor control years ago–I always buy two! Excellent. I can build the basic motor control circuit.

I read more of Orange is the New Black until it was time to head to First United Methodist Church in Beaverton, next to the fountain, the park, and the library. I arrived early (even starting late), and when Dondrea and Z arrived, I suggested we consider the fountain. However, Dondrea reminded me that she plays an electric bass, and water is a poor match for that (zap!).

Z and I played our new favorite, Wyrmspan, and pushed our limits, with the last action deciding the winner. Z was one point ahead, putting in a last dragon as her last action and holding one coin for points (literally being the winning point) that sealed the last goal for her. I thought I had her until that last dragon as I had tied her in the last goal until then. Good move, Z! The final score was 75 to 74; that coin (unused coins count as a point each) was the win!

Z and I had a few minutes before the praise band practice ended. I got Concordia from the cargo hold of Air Volvo, and we went over the Roma map, which is a new addition with significant rule changes. We are looking forward to trying it.

We said goodbye, and I headed to East Harbor Restaurant for some dinner. I got their excellent wonton soup, cheese crab wontons, and sauteed lotus root with rice to go. It was soon ready, and I enjoyed it at the Volvo Cave. I had a few bowls of soup and a small amount of the lotus root. I will have this for a few days. I ate too many cheese crab wontons (I should not have ordered them, but they are soooo good).

I did some more reading on motor control, then did the dishes and started on the blog as time was running out. I wrote the blog. It is now late, almost midnight. I plan to be up early walking as it will be hot in the afternoon, and thus, I need to write the blog tonight.

The bleeding has stopped. Today, I did not use a bandage. Better!

Thanks for reading!