Author: alohawild

With Air Volvo with a check engine light, I decided to keep my local travels short, and I felt I was pushing it a bit more than I should. Thursday became a go-slow day, and while I feel like I am wasting my life by not doing two impossible things by noon every day, it felt good to just veg out.

I rose stupidly early, writing the blog and having liberal coffee before 7AM. Again, I hate to sleep in, as I feel like the day just disappears, and I want all the days I can get. I am greedy for living. Dad told me, a few years before he got ill, that he rises early every day to see the sunrise: “There are so many left for me, and I want to see them all.”

I got the last hard-boiled egg and a cup of canned peaches to go with the liberal coffee and later added some toast with jam. I carefully consumed this bounty of leftovers, not wanting to surface the choking issue from the Bell’s palsy, while writing and listening to music, my collection of often-forgotten great tunes. Here is Pink (who I met at a Nike event), and this music will get you moving: Get This Party Started! I tried not to rush and to use the forbidden words of Mr. Dryer: very, rather, really, quite, in fact, just, so, pretty, of course, and never use “actually” again.

And if you find that Pink was not enough to kick you into weekend mode (this was written on Friday), there was this dancing piece: Neutron Dance.

I drove Air Volvo with the check engine light to TV Highway Automotive, and they ran a diagnosis for me. The fuel mixture is too light. I hope for the cheapest fix: I think the fuel filter is the issue. The Volvo dealership can’t help until September. TV Highway Automotive will get me in on Monday morning. They also said it is safe to use Air Volvo.

Thanks, everyone, for offering to help.

With the blog done, I put on my hat, remembered everything, and headed to Reedville Creek Park. I managed to walk four loops, but it was harder than the day before. The weather was excellent, with a light breeze and a sun that did not strike. I watched a volleyball team assemble after the mower aligned the grass to the same height. When I walked my fourth loop, the net and lines were placed, and they were playing. It was a comfortable day for volleyball. With 4,000 steps, I headed back to the Volvo Cave with Air Volvo showing its check engine light.

For lunch, I got out the cold steak and made a steak salad. The steak was good the second time, and I was attentive to my eating; I did not choke. Somewhere in the morning, I cleaned up and dressed. I also did the dishes.

Corwin arrived and assembled the spare bedroom for me. Since I could not lift heavy items, he dragged/carried the mattress back to the room from the garage. With the exception of his motorcycle, the garage is now my stuff. The bedroom appears to be mostly my stuff now. Dusting, vacuuming, and other usual items are now on my list. Excellent!

I rested some and returned to some SciFi as I was not ready to return to serious things like Homer, Dryer’s writing suggestions/demands, and things that require attention. I nodded off but soon rose again. I will not have the day disappear!

I returned to my miniature Arduino project: an aquarium-sized diving bell and submarine. The XIAO is ESP-based hardware ported to Arduino, and a new update to Servo software for Arduino caused the compiles to fail. This hardware is not supported and is now flagged as excluded. I found a replacement library for ESP in my selection of libraries. While not a base library, it looked well-supported, and I loaded it and its examples.

The example used pin 17, but my pins were D and A numbers. I was confused. The examples were for other Sparkfun ESP devices and not Seen-produced miniature stuff. Puke! I attached the servo, having soldered pins on it yesterday to use it with a breadboard, and nothing worked. I went back to reading and resting.

I rose again and went back to Seeed’s website on XIAO ESP32S3 Sense boards. The code I found for servos used numbered pins (again, these pins are D or A pins on XIAO). I checked the code I am copying for controlling a Hot Wheel car and found that, too, it was using numbers. Nothing on the website matched this. I was missing something.

The pin-out diagram did not have numbers on it. I have a printed color copy for reference. The XIAO board does not have the pins’ names on the top. The bottom has the names but is currently facing the breadboard; it’s not helpful. I saw a mystery Excel file in the download list next to the schematics and Eagle files (to make a PC board). This is a list of pins using numbers in English and Chinese. It maps everything to the physical pins and D and A numbered connections. Hmmm.

My reaction was I had enough for today. I saw a post on Facebook referring to the 2025 transition plan that Trump and his allies (The Heritage Foundation) cooked up. I read and scanned the section on the Veterans Administration and agreed that the plan included cutting benefits as stated in the post. I like to verify claims, and I downloaded a free copy of the Heritage Foundation 2025 plan when it became available. The document, with its determination to remove civil service protections and many services (including abortion) from all government agencies and change the government to answer to only one man, is quite scary; it reads like something from the 1930s.

With the darkness from the 2025 plan, I decided to make a simple dinner. I got out a frozen Steak and Stout Pie from Trader Joe’s. I baked it for just over an hour. It is a high-quality beer-based pot pie. I enjoyed the flaky crust, and the contents were very flavorful, with carrots, potatoes, and bits of beef. It is recommended if baked.

At 7, Theology Pub was still on Zoom. As the number of COVID-19 infections is increasing, we have never stopped using Zoom. One person was still in isolation after being tested and discovered that the annoying summer cold was COVID-19. On Zoom, we discussed the choice of posting the Ten Commandments instead of the Sermon on the Mount in public classrooms in some states. Why would Christian leaders pick this to represent their values? Further, the law in Louisiana required a specific wording, which was only found on a stone carving that the Supreme Court agreed to allow in a courtroom. It matches no published translation.

Some of us thought the Louisiana law, while bizarre, was not worth worrying about. Others were concerned that the government was mandating religious symbols in classrooms. Many could not understand the selection of this Ten Commandments wording, an informal, at best, translation of the Hebrew. We all agreed that if you want to teach children, it is easy to get them to recite or know ten things, but the cultural and social message of The Sermon on the Mount was a far better and certainly Christian message, Jesus Christ’s own words as recorded in the Gospel. We thought that saying that the meek and poor in spirit are blessed is a good place to start.

After that, I read some more and went to bed early. I kept it a quiet day. Thanks for reading.

A series of events defined my Wednesday, and I will forgo my usual format and describe these incidents instead.

I managed to walk the circle track at Reedville Creek Park and make four loops. I scored over 3,000 steps, but I was not expecting that to be the end of my walking as I usually can combine that with a few trips shopping to be over 5,000 steps in a day, but not today. I was up after 7 and had canned peaches for breakfast and liberal coffee made in my French Press. I had written the blog on Tuesday evening, so I was less rushed.

(Even the light posts in the Pacific Northwest have moss!)

However, I had a 9:30 appointment at Big River Coffee to discuss jobs and work with Mackenzie, which limited my walking time. I headed to the coffee place after 9:15, as it was only a few minutes away. Soon, I was discussing work experience with Mackenzie. Layoffs had caught up with Mackenzie (a shared experience), and we discussed our work experiences. We tried not to focus on our disappointments with employers, but we both feel that corporation people management is out of alignment with corporate long-term goals. I tried to share memories that could help with Mackenzie buying our coffees. One strong suggestion was to align the vocabulary in Mackenzie’s resume and interview with Data Cleansing and Data Science. Yes, the words used when discussing Artificial Intelligence are the hottest new thing. I think my advice and thoughts were at least worth the price of a cup of coffee (a medium-sized Amercano with a shot of caramel syrup). We said our goodbyes.

I returned to the Volvo Cave to notice that the check engine light was on. I could not find any code or cause. I turned off Air Volvo and restarted it. It returns. F**k. I headed into the Cave and chatted with some folks, and, after thirty minutes, tried again. The check engine light is still on. F**k. I called the local Volvo dealership and soon was talking to scheduling and discovered that their next repair opening was in September. WTF–it is a check engine light, not scheduled maintenance (I was polite on the phone, but I am sure they heard the WTF in my mind), September. I found a local place that can run the diagnosis on Wednesday morning and tell me what they think. Maybe it is just annoying Volvo’s demand for service. The accented voice whistled when I said 2015 Volvo–not sure if they work on the new ones (or that was related to the cost of the usual repairs; neither interpretation is reassuring). I will be there before noon on Wednesday. F**k.

Grounded now, the next event kept me in the house and watching Star Wars movies while I waited for updates. Mom Wild is in the ER with low labs and general fatigue. Linda (my sister) and her husband, Jesse, are with Mom, and generally, their job is to keep Mom Wild calm enough to stay. Mom often just walks out of ERs and hospitals. I called and helped explain that Mom would be admitted and that she needed to do this. Using my “the good son” powers to help her understand and accept. As usual, I started laundry and dishes and prepared for the next flight to Michigan (red-eye through Chicago for about $800 one-way at 11PM, arriving before noon in Lansing). I look at hotels as I do not have the time to plan an extended stay. Mom Wild stays in the hospital, and Linda and Jesse are there until 2ish, and then they go home to sleep. Been there.

Corwin comes over and collects more of his stuff. I even saved him a box. He collects his stuff and will clean up the house on Wednesday or Thursday now that temperatures are more normal (days are in the low eighties, 27C, and nights a cool high fifties, 14C). Corwin needs some knives, and I gave away my Chicago Cutlery, which we got when Dad Wild added it to our registry for our wedding in 1990. I send the block and all I have. It is time to have less stuff. Corwin will use them well. He gets the matching knive block, too. I find duplicates and items I have not used, but I am sure he could use them in the pantry, put those in the bag, and send them on, too. I went to Amazon, found a magnetic board (the new hot way to order knives in the modern kitchen), and ordered a plain, unbranded one for $39. It was delivered today. It needs to be assembled and comes even with a screwdriver and an extra screw: Done!

Before the events messed up my day, I was soldering a tiny linear servo to pins. I am still working on using a breadboard to build my prototype. The wires are tiny, and it took some care not to break or burn them up while soldering (I set my Hakko iron to 380F/190C). I have various colors of pins. I have a bag of these in the garage, along with various other parts; I have RadioShack in my garage. I match the pins to the wire colors. I can use the pins to insert into the breadboard or to attach female jumpers.

With that done and the servo now plugged into the breadboard, I needed to code a test program/sketch to run it. In my design, this servo will control the rudder for the service boat that will lower the diving bell with the video in it. I plan to build a tiny boat for an aquarium controlled by Wi-Fi. Once this works, I will go with the submarine. And the XIAO is not supported by the Servo code provided by Arduino; the compile fails. It appears that the servo libraries have been updated to check the hardware and fail if attempting to compile it over unsupported hardware.

While thinking about what to do, I broke for lunch, cut up the pork chop that I defrosted yesterday, stir-fried it with some frozen peppers, chopped onions, ginger (also frozen), and curry powder, and reheated some Trader Joe’s naan to go with it. The curry powder left a graininess in the food that I didn’t like, but the flavor worked. Next time, I will just add some spices like ground cumin.

I continue to follow along with events in Michigan. Mom Wild is seriously ill, not cooperative (the usual), and put up with it for now. Linda and Jesse update me when they can. I stay home with a coding Volvo and possibly need to get to PDX soon. I wash clothing and get dishes ready. No need for me to fly tonight.

I had defrosted a ribeye steak, and I cooked that on the grill. I cut it into slices. Covered a potato with sliced steak and had some peaches with it. The rest of the steak and another potato is in the frig as leftovers for another day. The calory count for Wednesday was 1,400. Better.

I managed two Star Wars movies and finished one I started. I really like the first and third movies in the last bunch. Other folks decry their failures to follow the logic and the established canon. I think the first and last find some comedy and tell an interesting story, with the last one threatening to tip to horror and even Lovecraftian creations but pulls back as it approaches that abyss. I like that. The failing emperor’s word “unnatural” says it all.

That was the last event of Wednesday, and I headed to bed a bit late. I did hear what I assumed was the temperature difference, making the house make noise. I was up with all the lights on and checking. I went outside and saw nobody. After that, I put on “sleep” on my Echo Dot. I slept well.

Thanks for reading. My weight stabilized and went down to 238. Better.

 

 

I rose after 7 and did not leave the house until after 8. The dreams kept me out of focus for half an hour and made me want to enjoy the covers for a bit longer. Even when I finally rose, there were regrets. Coffee, Equal Exchange, was located and assembled. There were no bananas, and I did not want any food until after my walk. I had a cup of coffee, cleaned up, dressed, and headed out to Reedville Creek Park. I remembered everything I needed this time.

The walk felt better. My mind was ready to daydream, and I found the walking painless and filled with thoughts. It was the same walking before in Casablanca and in my neighborhood–I could do this without risk and enjoy it. I did five loops, and if it had been cooler instead of heating up every minute, I could have done more. My walking is back.

I have to be careful after the surgery; when I am tired, I tend to lean back. I am aware of it and stop myself. So far, there have been no falls or events that approached falling. I am better today and did over 5,000 steps today. I feel like myself, and my focus is better.

My lawn service came and cleaned up a few items, but I had not watered the lawn, and there was no need to mow today. I may water it later in the week when it is cooler (and thus, the water won’t evaporate fast from the higher temperatures and low humidity). I usually water an inch a week (water is expensive in Oregon, with only West Virginia charging more, according to sources on the Internet), and my roses get a separate watering.

I returned and began on the blog. I had half a can of peaches for breakfast. I am trying to reverse the weight gain reported by my last visits to the scale, which is a harbinger of disaster if I do not reverse the trend.

I am reading Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style and trying to clean up my style by removing useless words: very, rather, really, quite, in fact, just, so, pretty, of course, and never use “actually” again. The result of this effort was that the writing and editing of Monday’s blog took more time and effort. I was not rushed, and the clock soon entered the afternoon while I was still developing the blog’s story and wording. I defrosted lunch while I wrote by placing a frozen item in the sun. The forecast is for 100+.

The writing, editing, and reworking were finally done, and I started on lunch. I discovered it was a steak and not a pork chop I had started to defrost. F**k. I put the steak in the frig and put a pair of chops in water to defrost and then used the microwave to get the chops at least not frozen solid.

I cooked a pork chop in butter with salt and pepper; the other one will be cut up and used in a stir fry on Wednesday. I added my newly purchased herbes de Provence from a brand I had not used before. Compared to my previous experience, the spice is lighter, finer chopped, and missing fennel seeds. I poured it on, and it buried the chop. Yikes! I had to take the chop to the sink and brush off the extra. I will have to sprinkle it next time. I was able to recover and cook the chop in the non-stick frying pan (thanks, Steve) and finished it in less than half an hour. I had some green beans that were at the end of their usability. I washed them, picked them over, broke off stems, and removed bits that had moved on from being food. I steamed the salvaged beans. I then wilted them in the same pan as I cooked the pork chop. I added almond slices. I found the rest of the bread from The 649, buttered it, and sprinkled some salt on the butter. I use unsalted butter, but I like a bit of salt on my buttered bread.

Lunch was delicious, but I slightly overcooked the chop, but it was still good. The beans were good and did not need garlic, which I often add to wilted beans. The butter, herbs, salt, and flavors from the browned pork chop were enough to flavor the beans. The bread was a good addition, and there were only a few pieces. The carbohydrate count would not be too high.

I watched the last Star Wars movie (2019), The Rise of Skywalker, while cooking and later for the clean-up. I bought the last three, but I only really enjoyed the last one. I watched about half and then saw it was near 5. Time to turn off the AC to honor PGE’s request: 5-8 reduced electrical usage. I saw that Despicable Me 4 was showing at the local theater at 4:45 and headed out in 104F (40C) temperatures with little humidity (40%) to make it worse. I did not invite anyone as I feared having someone risking travel in these temperatures.

I loved the movie, but I also liked all the previous Despicable Me movies. Somehow, for me, these movies are the right mix of ridiculousness, cartoon violence, satire, and family values, plus a light dose of irony and fantasy. Each movie stands alone and never feels like a transition movie (a goal I wished Star Wars had reached). If you enjoyed the previous movies, this one is recommended.

Air Volvo was hot but cooled off with max’d AC. The sun seemed to strike less, but the air was wickedly hot (104F/40C).  I was soon home, finished the Star Wars movie, turned back on the AC, did the dishes, and read more of Dryer’s book. I decided to write the blog tonight.

And that takes me to now. Thanks for reading.

Preface: Last night, I read the first pages of Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style and found the first demand there. No longer use these words and fragments: very, rather, really, quite, in fact, just, so, pretty, of course, and never use “actually” again. I will resist these words and fragments in my writing. Of course, I look forward to quite enjoying another of Dryer’s demands, so please enjoy my revised text. I have kept my revisions visible.

I tried to rise early on Monday, but I am retired, and I think there is a law (a cosmic law) that requires retired people to sleep in on Monday. I got started before 7, winking at the law as I wanted to walk before it got hot. But, I still have not reached that place where the walking does not impact me; my legs and feet were unsure and tight. I made liberal coffee and ate the last banana (when the temperature forecast is below 99, I will shop again–I do not want an unplanned version of Bananas Foster in the Air Volvo cargo hold!

I tried to write the blog the night before but, instead, decided to sleep and finish it in the morning. So, I rushed to finish the final paragraphs. Typing in WordPress’s editor while drinking coffee, I rushed to finish the completing paragraphs. I added a few photos from my iPhone. I try to remember to record a photo or two to better remember the day. I posted the URL to the newest blog entry on Facebook and then sent an email to a list of folks who get a separate update. WordPress allows folks to subscribe to get alerts when I update the blog, but that requires creating a free account; not everyone feels safe doing that.

With that done, I boarded Air Volvo, remembering my phone, summer hat, eye drops, emergency inhaler, and eye protection. I also brought coffee in an insulated Yeti-brand cup as the morning was still clawing my mind. I have not been able to reach my usual sharpness since the surgery (I found the clarity on Tuesday, so I am back; I am restored). I struggled in the hot sun and still had leg and back pain, but I made four loops at Reedville Creek Park. I returned to the Volvo Cave via Air Volvo, looking at the tennis players at the Park, who never appeared to be impacted by the sun or temperature, in pure awe. I might have to learn that sport to become immune to the sun and temperatures! Wow!

Back at the house, I received an update from Portland General Electric (PGE) requesting that I reduce my electricity use by a measurable amount from my usual usage. PGE asked folks to volunteer to do this on peak days. Monday, 5-8, was such a day. I plan to turn off the AC and get dinner out, leaving the house with minimal power usage for the Internet connection and a few clocks. I get a small credit for achieving these results. PGE can then avoid having to buy expensive power or burn natural gas (Oregon has no coal-based power plants) to make up for the shortfall.

It was time to learn. I am not an expert on Wi-Fi (it is “Wi-Fi” according to Microsoft’s Style Guide—yes, they have one) and certainly know little about connecting an Arduino to the local Wi-Fi. More Google searches, and I find an excellent source with examples, a step-by-step through the code (Oh yes, teach me), and progressively more and more complex examples: deepbluembedded.com. With this and other examples provided by ESP updates to the Arduino IDE, I began to understand.

F**k (certainly better than “Of course”), nothing worked. I downloaded programs and could get the Wi-Fi scanning code to see my network, but nothing would connect. Not being an expert, I should have been warned by the scanning program that something basic was wrong. My super-powerful home network was rated at 80, which is a very bad connection, weak signal; I did not know that high numbers are bad.

I added LEDs with appropriate resistors–220Ω–(all old-style through-hole and bought in bulk) to my breadboard to control via a cool web server app reached by an IP address once I get the connection to work. I copied this program from Deep Blue Embedded. My copied programs did not connect to my local network and get an IP number assigned. I removed the wires to the LEDs, worried I broke or shorted something, and there was still no connection. No change.

I set the network credentials to trash values and got the same results. That means something more fundamental was failing. Years of f**king up computer systems and unf**king them had me follow my usual “We are f**k’d” process. I created a new program. I carefully harvest parts of programs that worked and create my own version of the code (My C is not as good as my Python; I now carefully indent C, and I am very happy that brackets are supplied by the IDE, and I forget my semicolons). I know what this code is supposed to do. It does not work; it never connects. But the scanning program does, which means the includes and setup is correct in my code/sketch (“sketch” is what an Arduino C program is called in the IDE). You know you are missing something obvious when you are telling a computer, “Why can’t you see it?”.

I take a break, nap a little, and read a little. I am optimistic that the break will change my thinking and help me find what I am missing; a change of focus has worked before. I know the fix will be easy. I return. I started a search on Google, and there is a comment that a broken Wi-Fi module can cause this failure. The Arduino part of the microcontroller continues to work, but Wi-Fi never works. That fits–something was wrong with the Wi-Fi. I am looking for the other XIAO and am thinking about running my test program on it. I noticed the antenna was connected to it. The antenna is still in the bag for my test XIAO. F**k, it was that easy. This is not the first time a computer issue was caused by a missing or poorly attached cable (a certain shoe company once had a main system failing for a week until the cables were re-plugged in).

With the antenna attached, the XIAO connects, and my test program works with an average connect time of ten seconds, f**k. I load the cool web server app, and soon, I can control the LEDs from my Apple by connecting to the XIAO’s IP address. It’s so fun to turn the LED on and off and the other to change the brightness. This same control will work for my project. I will be harvesting the program details from deepbluembedded.com and giving them credit in my code. It all works.

You can see the screen generated by the tiny webserver on the Apple. The LEDs are lighted. The black square, larger than the XIAO, is the antenna.

It is now hot and likely higher than the 99F (37C) forecast, with the cement and asphalt radiating back the hot into the air. Pleased to have solved my issue and so learned much by trying so many things (and missing the basic computer problem of plugging in the cable–something that has plagued computer software developers since the beginning), I decide, as it is approaching 5, to head to the local Mexican place for a celebratory margarita and plate including a chicken tamale, my fav. My weight went up to 241, f**k; that is likely the last margarita for some time!

Air Volvo became burning hot inside in the hour while I enjoyed dinner in a weak but under 90 AC at the local Mexican place. Returning to the Volvo Cave, the Cave is now 82, having increased 10 degrees, and climbs to 86 before 8 when the peak usage reduction time ends. I am relieved to put on the AC just after 8. I rested and read in the heat. I was not ready for the discomfort; the air in the house was becalmed as I turned off the fan. I turned on one reading light and some music on my Amazon device, hoping the power usage would be low. PGE will send me an update in a few days if I am able to help and get my little credit.

I made popcorn in the microwave and spent only $5.99 to buy on Apple the 1980s terrible movie The Sword and the Sorcerer. I saw a review of it on YouTube and said it was one of the best of the worst movies. If you need a dose of 1980s-style sword-swinging violence and topless women, this is the movie. I am a former teen and still find it to be a terrible movie, but so bad somehow, it is good, and my inner teen loved it. The plot is so bad has gone missing for most of the movie, but it does surprise you. There is even a running gag about folks getting locked up. Can’t recommend it sober.

It is now late, and it has cooled off. I showered and was extra careful. I managed to read something that was not Homer, Dryer, and decided to try his challenge, as I mentioned. I slept and woke later to prove I had drunk all that water.

Thanks for reading. Hope the corrections were not distracting.

I rose before 7; it was not easy. It was more of a debate of various disciplines and needs: sleep versus exercising. I finally rose, started the hot water, cleaned up, dressed, and made coffee. I skipped food and boarded Air Volvo before it got later. The forecast was 99F (37C), and the sun was already heating up everything.

I arrived at Reedville Creek Park before 8, and the tennis courts were full. Young folks were getting tennis lessons. Familiar walkers were on the track. I tipped my hat to them, but soon, I was struggling with my walking. My body was still looking for cheeseburgers and not walking. I just walked, and the struggle faded, but I decided to stop at three loops.

Air Volvo took me back to the house. I finished getting ready. My new pride tie was on the hook, ready to use (I actually wore out my first one). I got my eye protection (my Bell’s palsy requires protecting the left eye from dust) and summer hat and boarded Air Volvo again. I did eat a banana with liberal coffee to have something in my stomach.

Mister Lincoln flowered in the burning heat! I took a picture of that.

I was not too early for church. Pastor Ken had a family issue and arrived just as the service started. He had little sleep. As this was the service after July 4th, we sang America and America the Beautiful. As it was already 80+, we only sang some of the verses. Church, as I imagine all un-air conditioned churches, had light attendance. I did get some hot coffee to help me wake up in the heat. Yes, I must be fully indoctrinated in the Pacific West cult of coffee to be drinking it on a 99F day!

Pastor Ken addressed the wisdom passages in the New Testament in James’ letter. The pastor reminded us that James was known as The Just and was Jesus’s brother. James explains that Wisdom is real when it contains no trace of partiality or hypocrisy (from the New Revised Standard Version) in James 3. Pastor Ken suggested that justice is the goal (Justice: the way the world ought to be), and wisdom shows us the path to this goal.

Aside: I checked the translation and read some of the passages in Greek (with a lot of help from the Internet); I like the NRSV wording.

Pastor Ken, using words from C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, said the deep magic is that helping people makes folks happy while serving selfish interests seems to always lead to dissatisfaction. The world seems, like Narnia’s deep magic, created this way. Wisdom, when pure, helps us find justice; this process makes us better people, the world gets better, and we live better. According to Ken, this is just how God made the world. As my friends in other faiths would tell you, this is not just a Christian teaching.

I had more coffee after the service. I took Air Volvo to the Volvo Cave, picked up my laptop, and headed to The 649. There, I had Crystal and Tyler as bartenders. I had a red ale and the fondo with brats (taking some of the bread home) for lunch. I spent much of the afternoon searching for flights, a house to rent, and car rentals in East Lansing. Linda, my sister, is on vacation in mid-July, and I might need to keep Barb Wild company and help with any needs. Mom fell today, recovered, and we are concerned. No plans are set, but I may be in Michigan starting the 18th and beyond the 26th.

After I finished my lunch, I had Amaretto coffee to relax. I worked on my Dungeons and Dragons writing for a while. Next, I paid my bill and headed back. Air Volvo was very hot. I took a drink of water from a bottle and actually burned my mouth. It was so hot. Yikes!

At the Volvo Cave, I read more Homer and reached the actual poem. After reading more than 70 pages about Homer, Greek history, the structure of the Odyssey, and the translator’s notes, I was happy to read Book 1 and the famous beginning. I found Emily Wilson’s transition easy to read and liked it. Excellent.

I took the rest of the leftover taco stuff, broke up the taco shells, heated the meat, chopped carrots and celery, and made a salad. A drop of sour cream finished it. I ate this while watching YouTube videos. A piece of taco shell choked me. I managed to cough it out, and I will (again!) be more careful. Yikes!

I also reached 240 pounds today, a setback on weight loss (a gain of ten pounds, f**k!), and obviously related to the holidays and too many cheeseburgers. I will resist cookies and cheeseburgers and holiday foods. A disappointment.

Next, I returned to my electronic project. I connected everything to a breadboard; this is the prototype, which uses a breadboard and large wires. I broke the power connection to the XAIO Sense and had to solder it again. This time, I made a stronger connection on the tiny pad. My finesse with a soldering iron has returned.

I cut open the old RadioShack package (a purchase from years ago for a related project), got out an old-style transistor, and plugged that into the breadboard. I then got out a few screenshots of a circuit to control a motor I found on the Internet and then tried to make the same circuit. It looks backward to me, but I reproduced it in hookup wires, and I found a diode from my collection and placed the component to match the diagram. I buy sets of all the usual diodes, capacitors, resistors, and so on. They are cheap. I tell people I have a RadiShack in my garage now.

I looked up an Arduino example on the Internet with a Google search, copied the code, and revised it to my pin-out. I selected D9, which is usually capable of pulse width modulation (PWM) in Arduino. It is impossible to generate a signal that is not 0, 1 (O being about 0V and 1 being about 3.3V) in this hardware. Instead, a pulse can be created, which is a square wave with variable width. Thus, to send out a 50% signal, the width of the signal is 50% 0 and 50% 1.

I turned it on, and the motor spun! I changed the code to vary the setting over time, and the motor stopped, got faster, and then stopped. It is alive! The first effort is a success. It was getting late, so I stopped there.

I did order surface mount versions on Amazon. These are tiny versions of the usual components that are soldered to the surface of a PC using various processes, including baking (yes, baking). It is very hard to do this with a soldering iron. I will expand my wizardry with a soldering iron and see if I can build a tiny circuit to replace the large one on the breadboard.

I did not see the reverse voltage issue, but I think the diode is taking care of that. Folks with electric vehicles and hybrids do see regenerative braking. The braking of an electric motor generates a reverse current as the coil passes through a magnetic field, and this current is harvested and saved. This happens in these PWM-control builds. The PWM turns the transistor on and off at high speed (following the square wave signal from the Arduino), and this causes the motor to spin, but actually, it is being powered and not powered. At a 50% setting, the motor produces a current for about a bit less than 1/2 the time.  Diodes are often used to route this away from the microcontrollers. I have not seen this very low voltage create anything that is a problem. I usually put an LED in reverse to see the reverse voltage. It can be quite weird to see this.

I took a shower and soon was in bed near midnight and asleep before midnight. The choking incident had caused violent coughing, and I took some painkillers as it was hard to sleep. I was out before 1 with plans to raise early again.