TheCapeBlog

After breakfast I picked up yesterday’s mail and emptied the big pail of defrosted ice, thus freeing up the set tub.

Ron and I changed the sheets.

Ron baked some nice rolls from a premade package and heated broccoli and cheddar soup for lunch.

I’d missed emails from Nicole and Sara, a Greylock closing team member. Caught up with them and in the process, got a tip from Homesite about how to find my most current Homeowners policy which was already updated with current Mortgage information.

Luckily, I was able to make a database rather than a code change to accommodate Nicole’s request.

I received calls yesterday from McCann and a new program Wealth Rewards. Also received an email from McCann with more info about what to expect next week.

Ron reloaded the mousetraps from the basement floor. I vacuumed the living room a bit.

Sent photos of meds and breakfast to Wealth Rewards for cash.

Pretty morning.

Continuing to plow through The Known World.

We are better today but still not great.

Ron insisted on going to Walmart. He’s beside himself with rumors of crazy prices for coffee and eggs less than 8 days into Trump 2.

Impossible to get a solid eight hours of rest. We are hurting and suffering, Ron especially. All I wanted to do yesterday, Sunday, was sleep and watch tv.

We’re snacking on simple foods instead of regular meals: fruit salad, broth, homemade squash soup, whole wheat toast.

I haven’t been out. Ron made a short, futile trip to the drugstore for Dristan.

Ron and I are sick.

He’s been snuffling for days but this morning it got worse.

I was okay until yesterday when whatever this is hit me like a freight train.

I’ve spent too much time on political news and YouTube videos, but did cook today.

Made two kids of muffins this morning, blueberry and chocolate chip, and a vegetarian lasagna for late lunch/early supper.

I’m very pleased with the lasagna. Briefly sauteed spinach and peppers and added those to ricotta, parmesan and mushrooms for the filling. Ran out of oven-ready lasagna noodles so used angel hair pasta for the top layer, and it turned out fine.

Challenged Ron to bake a wheat flour spice cake from scratch tomorrow.

Got an email announcing that I’ve been accepted to the Advanced Manufacturing Technology program starting next month at McCann.

Still waiting to hear when Greylock plans to close my loan.

Ron cleared the entire driveway with the snow blower and was done by 10. I vacuumed upstairs, on the stairs and downstairs, more work than it sounds and I slept extremely well last night.

Relieved and pleased to read that in the final hours of his presidency, Biden pardoned Leonard Peltier.

I rescheduled a medical appointment in Pittsfield to next Tuesday.

We spent a good part of the day watching Inauguration activities, news and commentary from Bulwark and other pundits. The Bulwark group were pretty good, others were petty, making, for example, childish cracks about Melania’s hat which we thought was fetching and appropriate.

Leftovers for lunch and stir fry for supper.

Bloody cold this morning, zero Fahrenheit or even a little below. French toast for breakfast.

We talked about it but ended up not going out even though the temperature wasn’t that bad today, twenties.

We made a nice breakfast for ourselves: potatoes and veg sausage, scrambled eggs with cheese.

I made enchiladas and brown rice for supper. Used up leftover shredded cheddar, refried beans and pasta sauce. Heated up frozen spinach, peppers and onions. Not bad today, probably will be better tomorrow.

I continued work on Andi’s application. Found a free popular library for generating barcodes.

Looked into using Access as a data source but ran into a brick wall with licensing.

So, decided to try MySQL. Installed the database engine and administrative interface, MySQL Workbench.

Set up the “remedyhall” database, added the first table, patrons. Using a modified version of the schema I copied yesterday from a third party.

Created a desktop app in Visual Studio. Trying to figure out how to add a MySQL datasource. Did find code for creating a data connection programatically.

I reattached the right side of the mailbox door with a long screw. Seems to work for now.

Preite delivered 100 gallons, which should take care of us for at least another month.

Quit both writing groups.

Paid the property taxes with a credit card yesterday. Cost a small fortune in late and processing fees. It was necessary to pry the paperwork out of the state so Greylock could grant the loan. More delays because the only person who can sign off is out of the office and the Registry will be closed on Monday for MLK day.

Same old, same old.

Went to Remedy yesterday. Did an inventory of the library adjunct room. Volunteered to write a barcode app to keep track of items given to patrons. Researching apps.

Difficulty logging in to my email account at GoDaddy today.

Brought the Corolla to K-M and had lunch at the Food Project afterwards.

Attended the writing group meeting at the Senior Center. I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable with this group. If I’m accepted for CTI Advanced Manufacturing Training at McCann, I would need to drop it for the Spring anyway.

Made a heavy soup from a packet that I picked up at the Food Project. Also brought home cinnamon bread and lettuce for a salad.

Watched part of the nomination hearings and the last chapter of American Primeval. Loved Betty Gilpin’s Sarah, will miss her.

Wrote to Senator Rand Paul about the Russell Vought nomination. Won’t matter he’s already issued a statement of support, but got a nice canned email response.

Spent the afternoon in North Adams.

Met with a representative from MassHire to fill out paperwork and show my credentials to establish eligibility for the program. This includes an income requirement which for this program I actually qualify.

He seems to think that there are plenty of jobs in the Pittsfield area. The training is a commitment: 4 afternoon/evenings a week for 3 months, February to May. It would certainly be worth it to get skills and employment.

Afterwards I barged in on the Tunnel City writing group.