>January 01, 2000
--------------------------------------
New Years day we had nice weather. Picked up the paper from the driveway and read it. Next we ripped up the flooded
dining room carpet and started ripping up the water damaged sub floor. Got most of it ripped up before knocking off and
having Andre champagne with our New Years ham.
>January 02, 2000
--------------------------------------
Last day of vacation - work tomorrow. We had no Y2K calls on my pager over the weekend. Worked outside on replacing
the two vents for the dryer and the bathroom. Also replaced the backyard spotlight holder which was cracked open. Closed
up the hole the squirrels were using to get into the attic. A very productive day. Dinner was ham sandwiches.
>January 03, 2000
--------------------------------------
Work today after a long break since Dec 23.
>January 06, 2000
--------------------------------------
This evening we went to Home Depot and picked up the new plywood subflooring. Will install it this weekend.
>January 07, 2000
--------------------------------------
Moved the remaining furniture out of the dining room and then ripped up the last piece of particle board subflooring.
Dinner tonight was informal ham sandwiches.
>January 08, 2000
--------------------------------------
Still debating this morning about whether to put carpeting in the dining room or hardwood flooring. Stymied!!! Put down
some felt paper and carried in a few sheets of plywood.
>January 09, 2000
--------------------------------------
Spent most of the day cutting plywood subfloorig for the dining room. Late in the day started putting down nails. Jumped
in the hot tub and then had Lib's pizza for dinner. Ran over to the Post Office and got Mom stamps for her birthday.
Mailed them today as well.
>January 10, 2000
--------------------------------------
The market is coming back today. Disney and IBM are up.
>January 11, 2000
--------------------------------------
Called Mom for her 79th birthday. Everyone was coming to her house for cake.
>January 13, 2000
--------------------------------------
It was windy tonight. We went to Home Depot to get two more sheets of plywood and then across the street in
Crossroads to Lowes for the Hardwood. They didn't have any natural left so we went to West Raleigh on 70 to get the
Hardwood floor and a 4 gal pail of glue. Total was $900.
>January 14, 2000
--------------------------------------
Watched Aida tonight on RAI. Didn't work on the flooring.
>January 15, 2000
--------------------------------------
Ripped up the last two sheets of particle board in the dining room and replaced them with 3/4 inch plywood. Laid out the
first strips of hardwood flooring but didn't glue anything down. Dinner tonight was a 1.5 liter bottle of Mondavi Cabernet
Sauvignon and Red Hot and Blue ribs for two.
>January 16, 2000
--------------------------------------
Started gluing down the first row of hardwood down the center of the room. What a job alone. Requested Lib's help when
she got home. Together we did a little over half the room. Stopped about 2 feet from the walls on each side of the room.
We got glue on everything! Dinner was pizza and then bed. Very sore and tired.
>January 17, 2000
--------------------------------------
Finished one side of the room after work tonight. Made it to the garage wall. Expecting snow tonight. At lunch time went
to Lowes to get the base trim and another 4 gallon pail of glue.
>January 18, 2000
--------------------------------------
No work today - we got about 2 1/2 inches of snow. Stayed home and worked the floor. Started when Lib came home
from the greenhouse and continued until done. The last strip went down next to the foyer. Lib also painted the trim
molding today.
>January 19, 2000
--------------------------------------
Back to work today. Came home and started putting down base trim. Will do the other side of the room with 3/4 shoe
instead of 1/2 inch. Expecting more snow tonight.
>January 20, 2000
--------------------------------------
It snowed an inch but the roads are clear. Went in an hour late and then did Lowes at lunch time.
>January 21, 2000
--------------------------------------
Lunch time trip to Lowes to get two more pieces of 3/4 inch shoe mold. Lib painted them this evening.
>January 22, 2000
--------------------------------------
Put the finishing touches on the dining room. Finished up the trim and then put in the kitchen to dining room door
threshold. At noon went to the greenhouse - drained the old generator gas, tested the battery. Had to go to WalMart to
get a new battery while Cav and Pag were on the Met Texaco broadcast. After installing the battery we went to Sears to
get a new vacuum cleaner filter and a blanket. Stopped at Western Auto to get a new battery terminal and then to Fresh
Market for crab stuffed salmon. Dinner was Fetzer Chardonnay and the salmon. Desert was cheesecake for me and key
lime tart for Lib.
>January 23, 2000
--------------------------------------
Another snow day - stayed inside and put together the bed frame and messed around with taxes.
>January 24, 2000
--------------------------------------
Mary and George arrived with Sue at about 3:30 this afternoon. Winter storm was supposed to happen all day today but it
missed. We expect some more tonight. Had a nice tuna noodle casserole with carrots and bread from the breadmaker.
>January 25, 2000
--------------------------------------
We had an incredible amount of snow last night - 20.3 inches. Lib and I tried to go to the greenhouse at 8 AM but quickly
got nowhere - the snow was unbelievably deep and the car just plowed snow over the hood. We have a minor worry - the
propane was just 25% yesterday. We had our neighbor turn the heating on for house 4 to help melt some of the snow to
avert collapse.
>January 26, 2000
--------------------------------------
Slept until 8 am today!! Went outside and shoveled a little more. The greenhouse is doing OK - we turned off the inflation
so that some of the solar gain would escape through the roof and melt snow. After lunch we walked through the snow to
Krogers. The place was stripped and lines were long but the adventure was great. Dinner was spaghetti and salad with
Fetzer Merlot. Afterwards I made Irish Creme coffee to have with the sugar free lemon cookies. Lib and gang will probably
leave tomorrow. Put a life of Verdi tape into the VCR but it was too loud for me - went upstairs and did some reading
instead.
>January 27, 2000
--------------------------------------
Another clear but cold day: 11 degrees last night. Predictions are for another winter storm this weekend, possibly an ice
storm. Lib left for Florida at 11 AM this morning. Getting going was an ordeal - her parents are not very easy going at
getting ready and heading out under less than ideal conditions. I made it to the greenhouse this faternoon - everything
looked OK. I watered and shoveled the sidewalk. Lib stopped overnight in Gainesville.
>January 28, 2000
--------------------------------------
Tried to go to work this morning at noon but after almost losing control going up the hill on Old Raleigh Rd I turned into
Foodlion, picked up some supplies and came home. We got mail today!!
>January 29, 2000
--------------------------------------
Lib called this morning with heat problems. They screwed up the breakers and couldn't get the A/C started. Raymond called and
said he was going to shovel the driveway with his backhoe. I went out and got more gas for the generator just in case and topped
off the Kerosene can. Couldn't get the minivan started - it's over at the greenhouse with a dead battery. Worked today on an AVR
based temperature monitor. This is step 1 towards getting a Linux based monitoring system.
>January 30, 2000
--------------------------------------
Woke up today and was pleasantly surprised there was no ice. Communicated with Lib via eMail.
There was no paper outside in the early morning - it came around noon. The rains started in mid
morning and the temperature held all day at 32.7 - we had a very thin coating of ice. I stayed put
and didn't go out. Did not watch the super bowl but instead worked on the AVR node 0 project. The
rain stopped at 5 PM.
>January 31, 2000
--------------------------------------
Work was delayed today - it's my first day back since last Monday. I had to leave at 1:15 to meet
Libs 2PM flight from Tampa. Stopped at the Credit Union on 54 beforehand - the lines were long. It
was the first day after the storms. Lib's plane was early, the airport was cleared well but the
parking lot was a little icy. Dropped Lib at the greenhouse after setting up the battery charger on
the minivan. It was there for the past week throughout the snowstorm and had a dead battery.
>February 01, 2000
--------------------------------------
There was no delayed start today but I went in later anyway. Took 751 and then 40 because 55 was
backed up past 64 in Apex. Didn't want to negotiate the back roads so went all the way to 40 which
was creeping and crawling.
>February 02, 2000
--------------------------------------
Spoke with Jim Cleary about his company. He was a little stand offish about what his company did.
I think linking up with him would be ideal but there are lots of unknowns.
>February 03, 2000
--------------------------------------
Crappy day at work - got chewed out by my idiot boss because he thought I was delaying a phone
call to Korea when in fact the team set the time based on time zone differences. Started looking
for real at alternate job opportunities. Larry left today - I get the Cardbus stuff which is not in
great shape.
>February 04, 2000
--------------------------------------
Spent a lot of today at work working on my resume using some online tools at Monster.com
Used the AVR simulator and debugged the temperature routines at work for the 1820 hanging off an
1820. Opera tonight on RAI is LaGiocanda. Don't think I've ever seen a performance of it.
After a dinner of chicken and hashed brown potatoes and onions we watched Giocanda by the
Vienna State Opera with Eva Marton and Placido Domingo. it was a 1986 production.
>February 05, 2000
--------------------------------------
Spoke with Jim Clary about the NC entrepreneur center. I'm not sure where all this fits into the
scheme of things - I like designing things and get satisfaction from seeing them work but am not
sure I'm ready for the world of venture capital. Listened to a great Traviata with Thomas Hampson
from the Met. Lib is making Chili for dinner tonight.


TomG tomg2000.MDB February 05, 2000
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TomG tomg2000.MDB February 06, 2000
--------------------------------------
Read the paper and watched Shostokovich on A&E. Worked on the AVR temp sensor then went to
Sams to stock up after the big storm. There still are piles of snow everywhere. Went online to
read about the NC entrepreneurial council. The Clary's took the courses from there and got
venture capital money.Slowly throughout the day I made progress on reading the 1820 device.
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 08, 2000
--------------------------------------
Phone call with Korea this evening for Korea EMC testing.
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 09, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went to the Fast Trac information lunch at NC CED this afternoon. Work is pretty busy - EMC,
transient problems, cables, etc
Installing the GCC AVR compiler this evening. Going to write the temp sensor stuff in C.
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 11, 2000
--------------------------------------
Busy day at work - the WOL card has a problem which needs fixing before we can ship. Dinner
tonight was a Jersey Mikes sub. After dinner I tried the GNU C compiler for AVR and did some
sucessful compiles.
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 12, 2000
--------------------------------------
Built a programming cable this morning. Outside was a cold nasty rain with thunder and
lightening. Temperature is 35 degrees. The program cable lets me write C code, compile and
download for instant debug feedback. Very good. This evening Lib brought back the flaming
brandy steak and mushrooms. We had it with baked potato, sour cream and Fetzer Merlot. Nice
dinner. Afterwards watched Meatloaf concert on Direct TV.
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 13, 2000
--------------------------------------
Watched Shostokovich on A&E after reading the paper then worked on the temp sensor. Finally
was able to read temperature!! Dinner was a great pizza with pepper and onions. I took Lib to
Foodlion to get a pepper for the pizza. Earlier in the day we had a shopping trip to Krogers - got
some very nice Oranges - tangelos with a thick skin.
Worked on the W-2 and W-3 for the greenhouse. Afterwards we drove this stuff to the Post
Office.
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 15, 2000
--------------------------------------
Crummy day at work - nothing is working anymore on my cards. Memorys speed is bad, probs with
new PC, etc. Took the Taurus this evening to the Ford dealer to fix transmission problems.
Talked to Hertz - they don't support Crossroads. Recommend Capitol which is 40 miles away.
We'll get it fixed at Crossroads and take our chances.
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 16, 2000
--------------------------------------
Called in sick today and went to a job fair at the RTP Sheraton - my first one. Passed out a few
resumes but no one is beating a path to my door. Pretty depressed all day.
Ford dealer confirmed transmission needs rebuilding, they estimate about $1750.
Finished up the 1065 taxes for Carolina Rhode. We get about an $18K deduction.
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 17, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went to work today - had a design review in the AM. Stayed until 7:30 PM - Joel drove me to
Crossroads where I picked up the Taurus. $2140 to rebuild the transmission!! Good thing we
bought the Hertz extended warranty.
Lib bought Microsoft today at 97.5. Let's see if it does anything.
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 18, 2000
--------------------------------------
Fixed some of the problems at work. Lib said the control system battery is overheating. Dinner
tonight was Ravioli. Afterwards watched Merry Widow on RAI in Italian. The market really went
down today to 10,200.
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 19, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went to WalMart and traded in my old battery. They gave me a $10 adjustment on the new one.
Bought some girl scout cookies on the way out of WalMart. After the battery, went home and
listened to Mefistofle by Boito on the Met radio with Sam Ramey. Pretty nice!! Bryan called - he's
at work and needed a problem description. Dinner tonight was chicken and white wine
(Chardonnay).
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 20, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on a Project Management resume on Monster today. Dinner was our standard pizza with a
nice pepper and onion. Talked for 40 minutes with Mom today. She's worried about a heart
operation.
TomG tomg2000.MDB February 25, 2000
--------------------------------------
Full day. Found that our Dish system has been getting ECM'd. IBM stock way down to 104. Lib's
Microsoft is down to 91. She bought at 97
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 02, 2000
--------------------------------------
We got up our normal time and had coffee and breakfast.We left at 7:13 AM. Had
to do a U-turn while still in the development to get Lib's sunglasses. We also
stopped in the greenhouse to pick up an Oxalysis to bring with us. Took 1010 to
I-40 which was good because we went opposite the rush hour flow. Had to do a
bathroom and coffee stop somewhere a little South of Lumberton. Made it all the
way to Millies in Savannah for gas. Gas was 1.32, also got two barbecue
sandwiches to go. Lib took over and drove us all the way to a little South of
Daytona. Stopped at a gas station for bathroom break but gas was 1.62 so we kept
going. I took over and got us to Vero at 5:30. After checking into the Hampton
on 60 we walked the outlet mall. Picked up two pairs of Reeboks for $40 and then
a block of knives from the Chicago Cutlery store for $85. (15% off the sale
price of $99). Chicago cutlery is closing for good. We then walked over to the
Cracker Barrel for dinner. I had two grilled pork chops with salad and baked
potato for 8.99 and Lib had grilled chicken with sweet potato casserole and
rice. The total meal was $16.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 03, 2000
--------------------------------------
Got up our normal time again and had the Hampton breakfast - I had a bagel and then shared a
danish with Lib. Left at 8:45 and got some gas on 60 before
getting onto I-95. The price was 1.54 per gallon. We drove all the way down I-95 but missed the
Coconut Grove turnoff from Rte 1. Had to do a U-turn in South Miami but still got to the
convention center at 11:15. Once inside we made the rounds of the vendors - bought flasks at
Rubens, 2 phals at Soroa, compots at Carmella and paph flasks at World of Orchids. Lib bought
me a slipper at Alberts and Merkel. RF had a waterfalls that I liked so took many pictures of this.
Drove down the street at 1 for lunch on 27th st at the Pizza place we always go to. I had
Pepperoni and Lib had basil slices. Total was 8.52 for two slices and two drinks. Got good parking
in the shade near the marina. Parking earlier in the morning was non - existant - we circled for
quite a while looking for convention center parking.
We attended the HR Dendrobium lecture at 3 PM. Afterwards we picked up our
purchases from the vendors and left the convention center at 5 PM. Traffic was very heavy. Went
up 27th to Rte 1, under the metro and straight up, following the signs to the airpot where we
picked up the East-West expressway. Creeped along at 10 mph to the turnpike. The Turnpike was
also creepy for two exits. Lost all the traffic when we made the turn to Alligator Alley. Saw a
nice sunset as we crossed the everglades. Missed the Naples Cracker Barrel. Tried Fort Meyers
but it was very crowded. Got gas for 1.54 and continued. Finally had a nice Cracker Barrel dinner
at Port Charlotte. Lib had the Broccoli soup and salad and one of the pork chops from my pork
chop dinner. My dinner came with baked potato and salad. Also got a fudge cake for Stephs
birthday in the gift shop. Arrived at the condo at 10 PM.
Our list:
2 catteleya flasks - ports of paradise and a red
2 paph flashs
2 phal flasks
2 Oncidium flasks
2 phal compots
1 lady slipper orchid
1 Kaleidoscope phal
1 yellow gift phal
1 red spotted phal
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 04, 2000
--------------------------------------
We got up at 7 and walked after breakfast. Had a sandwich for lunch and then
left at 4:30 for Bobs Boathouse dinner. I had the chargrilled salmon. We had
prompt service and a fast dinner. Had lots of time before the performance.
Arrived at the opera house at 6:45 - this was even after some time at the Bay
front park. Pearl Fishers was a very nice opera - lots of choruses and good
singers, attractive sets. It was opening night so everyone was dressed except me because I left
my sportsjacket at home. We got back at 11:20.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 05, 2000
--------------------------------------
Slept in today - I got up at 7:15. Had some cereal and then we went to the
Shriners pancake breakfast. For $4 they have eggs, pancakes, sausages, juice and
coffee. We went to Sears and picked up a new vacuum for the condo and also a 900
mhz ATT cordless phone for $39. Took the extended warranty option. Lib and I
bought $40 worth of stuff in Publix - chicken and wine for dinner, carrot
cake dessert. Walked to the docks after our wine and grilled chicken.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 06, 2000
--------------------------------------
While Lib did aerobics in the pool I went to Davidsons and got the wrapping and
card for Stephs present. When she was done we had lunch and went out for a
shopping trip. Picked up an Orange cone at Albrittons and then had a 1:30
appointment with Elliott our rental agent.After that we went to Best Buy and got
a 19" TV then Publix for Glen Ellen Chardonnay and cooked shrimp which we had
for dinner with rice and broccoli. There was an afternoon open house in 402A -
Karen was showing a very beautifully decorated unit for $389K Lib myself and
George walked through checking it out at closing. After dinner we walked out to
the docks again and sat on the bench watching the fish jump.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 07, 2000
--------------------------------------
Left at 7:13 AM. I drove to 40 miles before Ocala. A beautiful sunny day! Lib took it from there up
to Savannah. We ordered some barbecue sandwiches at Millies and paid 1.42 for gas. I drove from
there to home. We got in at 6:45 PM and then did a Winn Dixie shopping trip for dinner and fixins.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 08, 2000
--------------------------------------
Back to work today. It was hard getting into the groove. I need to retire or at least do something
else for a while. Dinner tonight was a Jersey Mikes sub.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 11, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went to the greenhouse this morning and worked on House 2 fan belt. The capacitor is blown -
need a new one. Got the fan belt adjuster installed and worked on chopping sections out of a belt
to get a new size. The old belt is at the adjustment limit. Listened to the opera in the PM -
Cenerentola. Couldn't record it because reception was noisy. It was windy outside - a possible
factor?? Dinner was steak and cabernet sauvignon (Beringer) with apple turnovers for desert.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 12, 2000
--------------------------------------
Looked in the paper this morning and discovered that Cosi Fan Tutte is this afternoon at 3 PM.
Finished the paper and then went out to the greenhouse and did another fan. Also found that the
relay was bad for Fan 4 - it was stuck in the on position. We left for Cosi at 2 PM without tickets.
They gave us two extra tickets at the door. Very nice performance - good singing. Afterwards
met Meg and her mother on the way out. We did a Patroni's takeout for dinner - 18" pizza with a
$2 off coupon.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 13, 2000
--------------------------------------
Another abusive morning at the status meeting. I initiated the retirement process today. The
insurance lump sum and variable pay came today. We'll put this into a savings acct to handle the mortgage pmts.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 14, 2000
--------------------------------------
Lib and I joined the Triangle Orchid Society tonight. They had a plant show and sale. Watched
some slides of someone's trip to Belize to collect orchids.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 16, 2000
--------------------------------------
A completely do nothing day at work. Worked on my Linksys device driver. Put the Linksys
adapter into a PCI machine at work and read out the vendor and subsystem ID. It's a rainy day out
- spent the evening learning about the Tulip PCI driver and reading the PCI config space.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 17, 2000
--------------------------------------
After a day at work where I worked on my Linksys - PCI software interface at home we had steak
and spinach salad. I liked the Hellmans Citrus splash dressing we bought in Florida. Watched an
oepra on RAI - Don Pasquale from La Scala. Very nice.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 18, 2000
--------------------------------------
There were no bagels this morning so we went to Brueggers at quarter to 6!!!!! After reading the
paper, went out to the greenhouse and finished the fans. Replaced the bad relay in house 4,
starting cap in house 2 and put in a fan adjusting plate and new fan belt in house 3. The opera
this afternoon was Lady Macbeth. At the break we went to Ace and got a new barbecue grate for
our grill and some felt cabinet door bumpers. Went to Fresh Market and got marinated salmon
and stuffed mushrooms. Watched Runaway Bride on PPV afterwards.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 19, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on programming in the morning and then we went to Sams at noon. Came home and had the Utz chips we got in Sam's with Turkey sandwiches. Called Arlene to find how she's doing.
Cleaned the garage and then did more programming while Lib made our traditional pizza - onions and peppers this time.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 20, 2000
--------------------------------------
Wasted day at work. Surfed the news groups. Came home in the rain. Ran out before dinner to
get some Turkey cold cuts. It's raining pretty hard tonight but the satellite dish is still working
(no rain fade).
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 21, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on the violet database today at work. At home sat down with Lib who wanted a few
things added.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 22, 2000
--------------------------------------
DTV hit our box today - call ext. 745!!! Tried a few things to reset the receiver. Nothing seems to
work. Only 47 days after today till retirement.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 24, 2000
--------------------------------------
This afternoon I left work early and drove to bldg 051 to get my other set of retirement forms.
Stopped by the credit union at 4 PM and got the direct deposit form notarized then we browsed
furniture in Workbench and shopped for dinner for tonight and tomorrow in Harris Teeter. Dinner
was boiled shrimp, baked potato and Turning Leaf Chardonnay. 45 business days after today til
retirement!
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 25, 2000
--------------------------------------
Our anniversary! Did some reading online of the call 745 error on DTV. Listened to Rheingold on
the Met in the afternoon. Dinner was Pork Spare Ribs with Ravenwood Zinfandel.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 26, 2000
--------------------------------------
This morning I write protected the DTV EEPROM and also changed the blocker code to stop the
104 error. Can't try the DTV fix until I get another card to clear the EEPROM or plug in an
emulator. Lib made a nice pizza tonight - I had to run out before dinner to get cheese. Bought the
stuff with mozzarella mixed with Parmesan.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 27, 2000
--------------------------------------
Lib came home late tonight after loading ferns for the Science museum. Dinner was a Jersey
Mikes sub.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 28, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on the eeprom reader - keep getting a timeout on writing the address to the eeprom.
Dinner tonight was hamburger with white onion on buns. Ran some scenarios through my
spreadsheet tonight to play a little "what if".
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 29, 2000
--------------------------------------
After some beef stir fry, Lib and I went to Lowes to get a sheet of plywood for the top of the fans
and 4 bags of bark mulch (2.49 each at Home Depot). Came home this afternoon at lunch time and
worked on the eeprom read program. It seems to read but the data doesn't make sense. Mailed
the retirement forms today!!!! It's real and it's going to happen. 42 more business days after
today!
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 30, 2000
--------------------------------------
Dinner tonight was spaghetti and meatballs. Found out what was wrong with the read program -
it needed a dummy write cycle to put the address into the chip. Started looking into wireless
technology for IP circuits.
TomG tomg2000.MDB March 31, 2000
--------------------------------------
Came home an hour early today - the company is certainly not getting their moneys worth from
me this week. 40 days till retirement. Called about getting free plane tickets from the credit
card. They will send a brochure. Dinner was leftovers - spaghetti and meatballs and a spare rib.
Watched Tosca on RAI tonight. Pretty neat show following - Tosca Divine. Wish I knew what they were saying.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 01, 2000
--------------------------------------
This morning spread the bark mulch around and did further research on wireless. Listened to
Walkure on the Met Radio this afternoon from 12:30 til 5:30. Afterwards we went out to Red Hot
and Blue to get rib dinner.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 02, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on the violet program this morning and then we picked up some groceries at 10:30 from
Kroger. Made a quick turkey sandwich which we had in the car on the way to Winston Salem. Left
at 11:07 for the opera, Tales of Hoffman. Had to get gas on the way - it was a crummy drizzly
day, slightly chilly. Arrived there in plenty of time - we even did the pre opera lecture. The opera
was one of the best we have ever heard - high tech too! Left there at 5:30, stopped by Petrones
Pizza on the way home and also Hanaford for Oranges and fixins. Arrived home at 7:15 with our
groceries and pizza.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 03, 2000
--------------------------------------
Bills check and access card arrived today. Tried it out and we can get Direct TV with his card.
Tried his card on some of the programmers to read his password and get the CAM ID. Without the
password, I can't look at anything above a PG-13 rating.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 04, 2000
--------------------------------------
Wall St was a roller coaster ride as the MS decision was announced and stocks took a tumbler.
TDSP is down to $275 from the high last week of $289.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 05, 2000
--------------------------------------
George and Mary arrived today. Lib grilled chicken which we had with beets.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 06, 2000
--------------------------------------
I stopped in at Hanaford Food on the way home and bought hamburger, salad and baked beans for
dinner. Lib went to Richmond this afternoon and I was home with George and Mary. I cooked
dinner. They watched Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat on PBS while I programmed but the volume was too loud for me. At a Dept meeting this afternoon they announced I was leaving at
the end of May.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 07, 2000
--------------------------------------
George and Mary were going to leave at 8:30 this morning. I left for work at 7:30, Lib got back
from Richmond around 5:30 PM. I cooked hamburgers on the grill which we had with baked beans
and salad. Did nothing in the evening - a night off! During the day at work I did a little bit on the
Great Violets program, getting it to output a table.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 08, 2000
--------------------------------------
Scanned in opera programs - Don Pasquale and Pearl Fishers. Doing some catchup. Listened to Dawn Upshaw on the Met this afternoon in Peleas and Melisande. We tried to go to Fresh Market
for groceries at 4:30 but severe thunderstorm sent us back home. Finally went out at 5:30 when
the opera ended and bought Salmon and Napoleans. After dinner we called Vicki because it was
her 50th birthday. Watched Wall St week for some insight into the market freefall.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 09, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went to the RARSfest this morning. They did not have a good vendor turnout - only about 60%
filled. Didn't buy anything - looked at a 2 meter beam and some walkie talkies but passed it all by.
In the PM worked on the Great Violets program, then went to Hanaford for Oranges and groceries.
Mineola Oranges were on sale 3 for $1, also bought some ham for lunches this week. Dinner was
our usual pizza - 60 Minutes did a piece on being addicted to Orchids.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 10, 2000
--------------------------------------
The LAN at work was not doing well today. Left home early to get Bagels for the status meeting.
Spent some time at work on the Violet program but was handicapped because of the network
situation. They installed new phones over the weekend and I think that had something to do with
it.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 11, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on the violet database program at work. Came home at 4:30 and spent some time with
taxes before having supper. We had spaghetti with Alfredo mushroom sauce. Went to the Orchid
show at 7:00. Lib brought an Orchid for show and tell that the speaker couldn't identify.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 12, 2000
--------------------------------------
Bad day for our Microsoft stock. Spent the day at work working on the violet program. Also
visited the snack room at work - got some drinks and a candy bar. Lib came home late after
mowing the lawn. We had a Jersey Mikes sub for dinner. Worked on the taxes - Bluebird and the
dividends/interest income. Lib entered some of the violets for the list.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 13, 2000
--------------------------------------
Lib discovered a bug in the violet program. It wasn't saving changes to existing records and
worse, it was wiping out the name field. Lots of plants with no names now in the database. Fixed
this at work. The free snacks and drinks at work is going to be the death of me - I had too many
candy bars and junk. Dinner tonight was spaghetti. Rainy dreary day outside - dark and high of
only 50. 31 more days to go till retirement!!!!
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 14, 2000
--------------------------------------
Disastrous day in the markets - everything was in free fall. In the evening went to Radio Shack
and bought a new local antenna for the attic. Dinner was s Jersey Mikes sub.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 15, 2000
--------------------------------------
Not a nice day today. Spent some time on the Internet in the morning then hooked up the antenna
in the attic for local channels. This afternoon listened to Sigfried, then went to Red Hot and Blue
for take out ribs. Before hand did some shopping in Harris Teeter.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 16, 2000
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The paper this morning was in the ditch - went to Krogers and got a new N&O and the NY Times.
After reading the paper somewhat I went upstairs and finished the taxes. We owe the state
almost $700. Did a Sam's trip at noon and then came home to work on the violet program. Left at 10 to 5 for the Tully birthday party for Joan's mother's 80th. Very nice. Party talk was retirement.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 17, 2000
--------------------------------------
Tonight cloned RJ's card onto Bills. It seems to take care of the 745 problem. Did all this while
Lib was quilting. This morning at work went to the cardio vascular clinic. My blood pressure and
cholesterol are bad - need to diet and eat differently. Blood pressure - 150/90. Cholesterol - 214
which is higher than the 200 max.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 18, 2000
--------------------------------------
Spent the day downloading some pictures and working on the violet program. In the evening
listened to MP3 music while programming.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 19, 2000
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Another great day at work - I downlaoded MP3 files and worked on the Great Violet program. Also
bought 100 shares of Caliper today at 33 dollars per share.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 20, 2000
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Came home at lunchtime to set up the snappy. Sold 200 shares of IBM today and reduced IBM
holdings in TDSP on earnings fears. Also bought 100 shares of Lucent. At home we took pictures
of the new violets using the Olympus digital camera instead of the Snappy. It seems to be more
convenient and faster.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 21, 2000
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Spent the day at work downloading MP3's. Left an hour early - today is Good Friday. Mailed Bills'
card to him this morning. Markets are closed. In the evening we had lasagna and pasta with
mushroom sauce. Very tasty. Helped Lib pack the car for her violet show tomorrow.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 22, 2000
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Lib had to leave early for the Violet show. I worked on synching the PC's and then set up the tape
to cath Gotterdamerung from the Met this afternoon. We had our Easter dinner tonight - Spiral
Honey ham from Hanaford with apple sauce, sweet potato and turning Leaf Chardonnay. Desert
was a lemon meringue pie.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 23, 2000
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This morning called mom for Easter. Barb called to announce she was engaged. Talked with Rob a
little then called Lib at the greenhouse to let her know. This afternoon we walked around the flea
market and the art museum. Looked at the Rodin sculptures outside. Dinner was ham and sweet
potato.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 24, 2000
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Worked on alphabetizing so that when prev or next in the database is pressed you get the next
record alphabetically. We had a quick ham sandwich and salad for dinner. Today was raise day at
work - I don't know if I was in line for one with only one month (24 days) to go.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 25, 2000
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Downloaded a lot of Elvis stuff at work. Sent Joe the beta copy of the web page. Dinner tonight
was a nice salad covered with ham and hard boiled eggs.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 26, 2000
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Got the car inspected today, also my sale of Disney was triggered at 42. I put it in two days ago
when the price was 40. I think it's overpriced but will buy it back in the thirties if the chance
presents itself.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 28, 2000
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Not a good day at work - we had the GA lunch at the Sheraton for WOL and Cardbus which had
their announcement today. Not too happy with my boss - very glad I'm getting out in 20 days.
Pretty depressing day - plus it's raining outside which doesn't help. Dinner tonight was spaghetti
and salad. We didn't walk all the way around because it was threatening rain - actually it was
misty and dark. Walked to the front entrance and back to the Buckingham Way cul de sac.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 29, 2000
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Worked on Great Violets this morning. While upstairs, Mom called to say that Rich's Father
passed away last night. Went over to the greenhouse to photograph violets at 11 - the pictures
didn't work out - it was too bright. After lunch we went to Tony Avents open house loking for
more shade loving perrenials for our garden out front. Finished up the Great Violets program
after Tony's. Dinner was barbecue chicken with succotash, baked potato and salad with Turning
Leaf Chardonnay. Afterwards we watched "Sixth Sense" on Pay per view. Very good movie.
TomG tomg2000.MDB April 30, 2000
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Read the paper then went outside to do some roto-tilling. The tiller rope broke so we went to Ace
to get a new rope and some lime. Finished the job and planted Mondo Grass and Ferns as an
addition to our garden. Dinner was pizza and sixty minutes after we watched Sixth Sense a second
time. The TV went out twice thanks to DTV.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 01, 2000
--------------------------------------
Found out I need to go to Austin next week at the status meeting. Very busy today but
downloaded some more MP3's.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 02, 2000
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Went to Scotts and got 6 big and 6 small azaleas. The big were 3 for $10 and the small were $.99
each. Dinner was hamburger and beans. After dinner we did more violet photography.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 04, 2000
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Went to Home Depot tonight to get bark mulch. Stopped at Nancy's on the way home to look at
her gardens - very nice!! Everything is flowering nicely. Dinner was tuna on fresh Winn Dixie
Italian bread.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 05, 2000
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Left work an hour early. Didn't do much at home - Dish has shut down the blocker on the JVC 3500
box. Dinner was hamburgers.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 06, 2000
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Did a stack of birthday cards this morning but haven't mailed the stuff yet. Apex is having peak
days today but I didn't go - burned some CD's instead to free up hard disk space. Worked on some
HTML for Joe - the mapquest page now works. Had some Hot Dogs for lunch - after a little nap,
dinner was steak and Merlot with baked potato. Didn't like hte steak. Lazy evening.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 07, 2000
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Hooked up the waterers today on the new perennials. Need one more but ran out of tubing.
Changed the oil and filter on the Caravan.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 08, 2000
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HAd a practice meeting this morning at 10, then left for the airport at 11:30. Flight left at 1 for
Atlanta, then on to Austin. Everything smooth - flew with a high school choir from Alabama who
all had red shirts on. Had some trouble finding the Marriott suites - the road was disconnected in
spots. Dinner was at Chuys - a tex-mex place. I had a Margarita and a beer and the Elvis memorial special.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 09, 2000
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The review at Dell went OK - we left at 2:30 and arrived at the airport on time but the flight was
cancelled. Arranged for alternate flight through Houston which went OK. Hade a Schlotsky
sandwich at the airport. The Continental flight served chicken sandwiches. Arrived home at 11
AM.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 10, 2000
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It rained tonight briefly but not enough to make a difference.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 11, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went to Home Depot tonight and got the extra drip waterer.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 12, 2000
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Lib went to Richmond this afternoon. I left work early - hooked up the extra dripper and ran the
water for one hour. Dinner was Voila (chicken stir fry). 10 more business days to retirement!!!
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 13, 2000
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This morning I flushed the radiator, then changed the spark plugs. Lib came back this afternoon a
little early. In the evening we had Red Hot and Blue ribs with Fetzer Merlot.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 14, 2000
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This morning worked on the hot tub controller - the pressure switch was causing it not to come
on. Adjusted the switch, it seemed to fix the problem. In the afternoon we planted some of the
azaleas and then tried out the hot tub.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 15, 2000
--------------------------------------
Watered the azaleas tonight then worked on the PCI interface for my embedded ethernet.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 16, 2000
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We planted the rest of the azaleas tonight. Everythings' in the ground now. Dinner was veggie
burgers and beans. I liked them, Lib didn't. We found out the second mortgage closing will be this
Thursday at 4.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 18, 2000
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Left work early to close on our second mortgage. We're getting a 50k$ line of credit at 8.20%
variable rate. In the evening we had take out from China Chef next to Krogers. I ordered Sweet
and Sour chicken.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 19, 2000
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Home at the normal time tonight. Dinner was the leftover chinese dinner from last night. I had
some of Lib's Wonderful chicken from last night and my Sweet and Sour Chicken.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 20, 2000
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This morning went over to the greenhouse and trimmed the bushes in front of the door and some
of the brush in the back. Took down a dead pine in our front yard then went to WalMart for oil
and to look at A/C wall units. Dinner was Gallo Sonoma Chardonnay with Salmon and white rice
and salad. Watched a Kevin Kostner movie on pay per view - "Love of the Game".
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 21, 2000
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We had a little rain today after 3 weeks of dryness. Changed the oil in the Taurus then did some
violet and gesneriad photography. Traditional pizza with vidalia onion and peppers for dinner. It
rained through the night tonight.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 22, 2000
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Pretty tired tonight - woke up several time throughout the night to loud claps of thunder. Dinner
was Voila - after dinner took a nap and pretty much slept throughout the evening.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 23, 2000
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Came home at lunch time and dug up a patch for tomatoes at the greenhouse. Came home after
work and brought the roto-tiller to the greenhouse and finished the tomato planting job. Dinner
was Veggie burger and vidalia onion with baked beans.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 25, 2000
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Went to work late today then out to lunch at 11:45 Joel drove to the Radisson next door where we had a nice going away lunch for me. Bryan said to go home after the lunch - stayed a little to decommission my PC's.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 26, 2000
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Retirement day. Went in to work at a leisureley 8:30. Had to do a check points meeting with Stevens and Botjer at 9:30. Afterwards Bryan did the exit interview. I was out the door and on the way home to the music of "Entry of the gods into Valhalla". Called Lib from the rocking chair on the front porch and told her I was done. She came home around 12:30 and we went to Logans to deliver Orchids. Had a delicious crab sandwich with shrimp macaroni salad. Afterwards we went to bloomin orchids. At home we reviewed the pictures I took today then packed up the car for the trip to Sarasota.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 27, 2000
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Left at 6:30 for Sarasota. Stopped about 9 in Florence for bathroom, coffee and danish. Stopped around noon in Brunswick for gas at $1.49 per gallon ($20.10 total to fill up). Also paid $5 for a bag of peaches. Around 2 we stopped at a Wendy's in Starke for lunch. I had the deluxe salad for $1.99 with water. Made it to the BP in Sarasota at 5:20 PM then went to Publix for steak, wine, cereal and bagels. Pulled into Island Reef at 6:30 PM. Poured a nice glass of Chardonnay and watched the sunset at 8:15 Dinner was steak, salad and Cabernet Sauvignon. We drank too much wine this evening but it was a celebration. I told Lib that maybe this was a dream and that I would probably wake up in the morning at work.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 28, 2000
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Had to drive to Crescent Market this morning because we didn't get coffee. Had my bagels and
coffee then took a walk to the end of the island. Came home, changed out of my sweaty shirt and
went for Sunday Brunch at Turtles - I had a Mimosa and Blueberry pancakes. Came home and
hooked up the PC to download eMail. Dinner time we tried to go to Siesta Key drumming at 6:30
but there was no parking available. Came home and had a peanut butter sandwich for dinner and
watched Sleepless in Seattle on Network TV. Went to bed around 11 PM.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 29, 2000
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Woke up during the night to the sonic boom of the Space Shuttle Atlantis coming in for a night
landing. After breakfast this morning we walked down to the 7-11 and back, a ninety minute
walk. Very nice day for doing this. Later we went to Selby and joined for $50. This gets us in for
free for a year. Walked all around outside of Selby, sat in the butterfly garden for a while then
visited the Orchid house.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 30, 2000
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Did another 4 mile walk to the 7-11 and back this morning. Afterwards we went to Selby to walk
the orchid house again. One of the workers told us we should visit Hans W at the Gesneriad
Research Foundation. Saw the vanilla in bloom and also some vanilla seed pods. Dinner was corn
and Publix chicken.
TomG tomg2000.MDB May 31, 2000
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This morning Lib did the pool exercises while I took apart the broken shutter. Afterwards we
went to the Gesneriad Research Foundation place. We met an unusual character - Dr Hans Wilhein
who has a demo rain forest in his yard and a beat up old greenhouse that houses the Gesneriad
collection. We bought $42 worth of Gesneriads and cuttings from him. He also sold us his
research journal, Gesneria a book which we probably don't understand. Went home late and had a
peanut butter sandwich. Cleaned up the Lanai and then the leftover chicken and wine for dinner.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 01, 2000
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Woke up at 5 AM to take Lib to the airport. Left at 5:28 and arrived at the airport at 5:50. Her
plane was at 6:30 and took off on time. Stopped by WalGreens for shampoo then McDonalds on
Tamiami for Hot Cakes and coffee. Packed the shutter and some stuff around and headed for
Jacks. Took the 275 Skyway to St Petersburg and got my shutter worked on by "shutter haus".
They disassembled and oiled the springs and rollers. Took the 275 around Tampa to I-4 and got
off exit 23 to Hwy 532 as a shortcut to Orchid World. There was no admission charge, the place
was pretty run down. Took some pictures then had a Big Mac at a McDonalds on 192. Headed out
on I-4 at around 2:30 PM and arrived in Lake Mary around 3:30. Street Atlas 7 had Serenity Place
at the wrong location. For dinner we went out to the mall food court to a Chinese place - Bourbon
chicken was 4.37 including salad and a drink.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 02, 2000
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Woke up around 7:30 and had coffee and bagels at Einstein Bagels near Jacks place. Afterwards
we went to Recoton where I bought some wireless headphones. Al, an ex AT&T guy joined us for
lunch at a Mexican buffet. I had some unknown Mexican food and a Mexican beer. In the afternoon
we went to Skycraft, an Orlando surplus dealer. Stopped by Albertsons and picked up an Orange
for dinner.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 03, 2000
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Went to Einsteins for bagels again. In the morning visited John Conway and had the shutter
drilled on his drill press. He built a very nice paradise with ponds, waterfalls, streams and
gardens. We visited Jacks old house in Apopka, did a one mile walk around a lake in Altamonte
Springs then had a Wendys single, fries and drink.Visited the neighbors for a while then we went
out for a Pepperoni Pizza - $3 each. Took it home.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 04, 2000
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This morning went over to Denny's and met the over the hill gang. Had a grand slam breakfast
which was a lot of breakfast. Skipped lunch then left for Sarasota around 1 PM. Arrived in late
afternoon, did a Publix trip on the way in - $18 worth of groceries. Dinner was a Publix sub, some
lemon ice and shortbread cookies.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 05, 2000
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Started this morning working on the Lanai shutter. After drilling some basic holes went to Sears
to look at tires then bought some screws at Ace. Got a tire estimate at Firestone then home.
Worked the rest of the afternoon on the shutter. Had an Orange for lunch and a bagel for dinner.
After sunset, cleaned the inside of the car and then took a walk on the docks.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 06, 2000
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Finished the two bolts on the storm shutter - had to get a ratchet wrench and self tapping screws
to finish up. Went to Tire Kingdom by the Sarasota Mall and got two new tires then stopped in
Wendy's for a single, french fries and coke. Called Lib in the evening and decided not to travel
tomorrow - will go Thursday instead. Dinner was an orange and a bagel.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 07, 2000
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This morning after coffee and a bagel I went to Selby and walked around the grounds. Stopped in
Albrittons and got an orange ice cream cone and two oranges which were dry and terrible.
Dinner was a Publix half sub - Italian. Very good, also 3 chocolate topped sugar cookies. Cleaned
the condo and started reading the Orchid Thief, packed the computer and suitcase for takeoff
tomorrow.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 08, 2000
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Awoke at 5:30 and started packing the car. Had a glass of OJ and took off at 6:17 AM. Stopped at
BP on Clarke Rd for gas at 1.47 per gallon. Didn't feel like stopping for breakfast in Ocala so kept
going. Had breakfast at 9:28 AM in Waldo. The new tires are very smooth and vibration free. The
trip home was calm - another gas stop in Savannah at Exit 90 - Millies. Got gas only, no food.
Arrived home at 4:55 PM. Lib was at exercise class. For dinner we had barbecue chicken and
Chardonnay. Spent the evening catching up and talking about the past week. While cooking the
chicken we ran out of propane - had to make a quick run to Krogers to get another tank.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 09, 2000
--------------------------------------
First day at home retired!!!! (Officially I retired May 31, last day of work May 26 but today is the
first day home.) Took the car to BP in MacGregor Park and got gas (1.49) and a car wash to clean
the bugs and salt off the car after the Florida trip. Afterwards went to the greenhouse to meet
Lib. We delivered to logans and had a Crabcake sandwich for lunch there (11.77 for two). Came
back to the greenhouse to get my car and a delivery truck was waiting with 12 bags, 2 cu ft each,
of orchid bark. Helped unload and went home while Lib delivered to the Garden Hut.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 10, 2000
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Went to Niche Gardens in the afternoon. It was a 40 mile trip - we got lost, turned off 1005 and
ended up several miles away. A mailman set us back on course. Toured the gardens then bought
some pineapple lilies, mint and a blue-green Hosta. A quick trip to the greenhouse to get potting
soil and we planted everything, including hooking up drip waterers. Dinner was steak, Merlot and
onion with baked potato.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 11, 2000
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Read the paper outside on the porch this morning then did some more online research on DSS
wireless. Dinner was a PBnJ sandwich. Left at 6:50 for ADF - Ann Carlson at Reynolds. The
performance was quite different - lots of talking along with music, poetry and songs. Afterwards
we had a Goodberry's ice cream.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 12, 2000
--------------------------------------
Had a terrible bagel for breakfast - threw half of it away - I forgot to toast it. Started wiring the
downstairs phone and LAN at 10 AM. Still working at 5 PM and not done. Dinner tonight was
Ravioli which we had too many of.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 13, 2000
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Finished wiring up the telephones today, now on to the LAN connectors. Went online to get a
wiring guide for standard LAN connectors and cabling. There is a color code standard for 8 wire
LAN to RJ45 connections. Wired up the ports except for the MyChair one. Fished the wire to that
one. Dinner was tuna salad sandwiches. We went to the Triangle Orchid meeting, heard a talk
from a grower in Vermont. Lib bought an Orchid with spotted leaves.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 14, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went to Home Depot and Radio Shack after finding the MyChair jack didn't fit into the wall box.
Came home and wired up the MyChair one. Worked upstairs a little scanning in the Ann Carlson
program. Lunch was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. For dinner we had barbecue chicken with
Chardonnay, rice and salad.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 15, 2000
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This morning worked on Heather and RJ's DSS card. Got it out to the mailman in front of our
house. Weeded the garden a little then tried testing the LAN. The Love seat ports work but the
MyChair port won't work. Had some leftover Ravioli for lunch. Started on the CD rack in the audio
room - cut the plywood and painted it to mount the plastic CD holders.
Found the MyChair port problem - the crimp on connector was shorting several of the wires
together. Replaced the connector and now everything works OK on the network. Next step is to
build a Linux machine.
Dinner was takeout from China Chef next to Krogers. We split "Wonderful Chicken" and two
eggrolls. Afterwards we sat on the back porch and read until it was too dark to see.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 16, 2000
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Worked on putting up the CD shelves. Went over to the greenhouse to accompany Lib to Logans -
we had lunch there. They were out of crabcake so we had a Veggie Sunflower sandwich. Cheese
and veggies on sunflower bread.
Looked at some stone there as well. A hundred pound rock was 19 cents a pound. Dinner was a
garden salad with chicken on it. Very tasty. Left at 6:45 for Pilobolus at Page. Great performance
as follows:
Apolexy was not my favorite. It featured gunshots where each dancer jumped and fell to the
ground. Then two males engaged in chest bumping and conflict in general.
Duet was my favorite. Set to Hindu or Indain music, Josey started in a red floor length gown. Matt
made hand motions and sensuous gestures towards her in a discovery phase. Josey dropped the
skirt leaving a short red slip dress. The couple embraced and enterwined. After some foreplay,
the slip was gone leaving pink bra and panties. The couple entertwined and performed some
explicit oral and other love making motions on a raised ramp to the point where she was totally
engulfed by Matt and it was hard to tell who was who. It ended with Josey biting Matts neck and
him dying.
Sweet dreams was an acrobatic dream sequence in which Rebecca is laying on the backs of three
males as a mattress. With eery smoke and a suspended asteroid over the stage the dancers
moved is athletic slow motion performing incredible feats. For instance with Rebecca upside
down with legs outstretched she was supported by the feet of a dancer lying down. This dancer
then arose into a shoulder stand all the while supporting the girl on his upraised feet by her
thighs with her upside down.
The last number was great - Second Day. Midway through intermission the sounds of rain and
thunder and lightning filled the auditorium. The lights went down while the rain sounds continued
the entire dance troupe emerged - all bare chested including the two females. Josey has almost
no breasts, only small hard nipples, while Rebecca has very nice small firm breasts with hard
nipples. The girls was tossed and rotated in air. One sequence has a black rubber like ground
rising to a brighteneing sky. In an instant up pops the entire topless dance troupe- Lib remarked
it was the Orchids popping out of the ground. The curtain calls were interesting as well - the cast
slid across stage on water and splashed in it. They break danced in spins on the wet plastic and
took their standing bows many times (still topless). The girls donned robes only at the very end
when Josey took a microphone to appeal for Aids for dancers money.
After the performance Lib and I stopped at Hanaford and got some Light Yogurt and fruit.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 17, 2000
--------------------------------------
Read the paper on the back porch then went outside and cut the wood for a tape cabinet in the
audio closet. In the PM I went to Hanaford for Salmon while Lib was at the greenhouse - got
caught in a thunderstorm on the way home. While the fish was grilling, Jack called about DSS
stuff. Dinner was Salmon, rice, salad and Turning Leaf Chardonnay.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 18, 2000
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After the paper I nailed the tape cabinet together. Ran out to Lowes to get 2 pieces of screen
bead and check out a modem in Circuit City. Got caught in another pretty strong thunder storm.
Lib had taken in my cabinet and wood before I got home, than goodness. Didn't buy the Viking
modem in Circuit City because I wasn't sure it would handle Linux. Checked their web site and
found out it does. Dinner was our traditional Sunday night pizza. Saw a very energetic conductor
on 60 minutes - he was great with conveying the emotions of classical music. Joe called this
morning for Fathers Day. We talked about his robot and our California trip which we haven't
booked yet.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 19, 2000
--------------------------------------
This morning I painted the tape cabinet and read a little about Linux. Going to install Linux on a
homemade system as soon as I mount the motherboard and paraphernalia into a cabinet.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 20, 2000
--------------------------------------
Mounted the VHS tape cabinet in the audio closet then worked on a Linux server the rest of the
day. Purchased a Linux configuration book at Borders this afternoon but the second CD was not
there.
In the evening after dinner of grilled salmon and salad we went to Eiko and Koma at Reynolds.
The stage was dark as Eiko slowly moved across the stage in a white robe - the spotlight
flickered so some time you saw her and other times you didn't. A grass covered nest or cave or
logs or swamp - pick your favorite - was dimly lit at stage right rear. This set slowly moved to
stage forward and slowly rotated to reveal different dimensions in the red and white lighting.
Eiko and Koma slowly slithered and crawled the set in white (Eiko) and red (Koma) robes. Eiko
then disappeared while the activity focused on Koma. Next we see Eiko in lower right topless. As
the set rotates and a gospel choir hums we see a nude Koma soon joined by totally nude Eiko. Eiko
makes her way towards Koma, twisting, turning and slowly reaching out curling her naked body
over a tree root so she ends up arched over the root, head facing the audience and breasts and
pelvis up high, legs down low. We stayed for the discussion after the performance - there were a
lot of young people (very pretty college girls) at this performance.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 21, 2000
--------------------------------------
Spent this morning getting a machine working for a Linux server. Finally got my homebrew
Pentium II working - it needed different memory. Started to install the software but it seems to
be beyond me. Made the Hampton reservations for Cookeville, TN today. Dinner was a garden
salad with chicken sprinkled on it. Very hungry tonight.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 22, 2000
--------------------------------------
We left for the Smokies at 6:39 this morning. Had our usual bagels and coffee then hit the road -
took 4/421 to Greensboro. Stopped in Greensboro McDonalds for potty and coffee then stopped in
Asheville - went to the Farmers Market and also bought a Turkey sandwich at Ingles
Supermarket. We took the foothills parkway to the Blue Ridge to the Oconnuftee visitors center
by the Cherokee entrance. It had rained a little making some of the views hazy. Bought a
waterfall map and went to Mago Falls where we hiked a few tenths of a mile to the Falls then had
lunch by a mountain stream. Took another journey to Laurel Falls on the other side of the park,
hit the Sugarland visitor center then left for Cookeville where we had a Hampton Inn reservation.
Arrived in Cookeville at 7:45. Dinner was Cracker Barrel prok chop dinner.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 23, 2000
--------------------------------------
Woke up at 5:30 because we were in mountain time. Had a 6 AM Hampton breakfast then was on
the road at 6:35 AM. Waited 20 minutes for highway paving at Memphis but still arrived at
Graceland at 11:30 where we met Vicki and Bob in the parking lot. Toured everything then drove
to Beale Street where we walked around, rode the Trolley and listened to some Blues bands. Had
dinner at Alfreds - ribs. Total bill for 4 was $48 - not bad. Home by 10 PM.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 24, 2000
--------------------------------------
This morning we drove over to Mud Island. I can't find the PCMCIA card for my camera. We walked
over to Mud Island at 10 when it opened and did the Mississippi model. Next the steamboat
museum and lunch at the deli - Lib and I split a chicken salad sandwich. Back to the hotel for a
nap. Got cleaned up to go on the dinner cruise - boarding time was 7. Got stuck in traffic and
went over the Mississippi bridge into Arkansas. Arrived at the boat in plenty of time anyway. The
cruise was fun, the "prime rib" certainly wasn't prime rib. Home by 10.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 25, 2000
--------------------------------------
Woke at 5:45 - went to the lobby for breakfast and met Vicki and Bob. They left about 15 minutes
before us. We got going at 6:21 AM Central time. Had some car pinging problems but a tank of
high test gas solved that problem in Knoxville. Traffic in North Carolina was bad and it was
raining. We had several delays because of accidents and construction. Beat a big storm out going
down 421 from Greensboro. Lunch was Ingles in Ashevilee again. Arrived home at 6:30 PM
Eastern time. Total driving time was about 11 1/2 hours. Dinner was a Patronis pepperoni pizza.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 26, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on the Linux Xwindows today. Talked to Bryan Stevens at IBM - my retirement vase had
come in. Watched "American Beauty" on PPV tonight while Lib was quilting.
TomG tomg2000.MDB June 27, 2000
--------------------------------------
On the way to the mall we picked up the Crystal vase at Bryans place. Lib bought her swimsuit at Belks while I walked the mall.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 02, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on the Linux box today then we had a Sams trip to get supplies.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 03, 2000
--------------------------------------
Re-installed Linux this morning. Did some more mechanical wok on the generator AVR board. In
the evening we went to Jane Comfort dance performance. Our road at Duke was closed - but we
found our normal Reynolds parking lot. The performance was great - Asphalt was about a burned
out tenament building and a cast of singers and dancers lamenting the residents and fate of the
building. Next was Underground River which was about an unconscious girl - Kara and the story
within and the reality on the outside. Afterwards we stopped by Hanaford and picked up some
Breyers Lite Yogurt - 2 for $1. Dinner before the performance tonight was rice and spare ribs.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 04, 2000
--------------------------------------
Downloaded a new version of Samba and finally got this thing working. Wired up the generator
AVR some more - only 14 wires left to add. For lunch we had a traditional hot dog barbecue with
watermelon for desert. Dinner tonight was the Jimmy Dean barbecue we bought at Sams Sunday.
In the evening we watched the NY and Boston fireworks.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 05, 2000
--------------------------------------
Working on diald today. It wants a login script with my ISP but attglobal doesn't do it that way.
Downloaded some help that I'll digest. Finished the avr generator controller and the visual basic
stimulator. Had a nice rain shower this afternoon - just before it rained I trimmed the bushes up
front. Dinner tonight was Jimmy Dean barbecue. After dinner we watched the Capitol Fourth of
July celebration which PBS was carrying on a 1 day delay.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 07, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on the Linux box today then went with Lib to Logans to deliver plants and have lunch
there - we had the crab cake sandwiches. Drove through downtown Raleigh to the Farmers
Market where I bought a black Liriope, some corn and peaches. We didn't get a watermelon
bcause I still had watermelon leftover from Krogers. Talked to a guy on 1010 about disposing of
our lawn tractor - he came over at 8:30 and paid us $50 for the tractor and $25 for the trailer. Lib
got a flat tire at the greenhouse - I took the tire off and brought it down to Western Auto to get
a replacement mounted. Picked up the tire and remounted it on the mini van. Dinner was the corn
we bought today and grilled chicken.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 08, 2000
--------------------------------------
Talked to Jack for an hour today about the Linux stuff. He sent me some scripts to get me going
and walked me through some of the setup. Dinner tonight was grilled chicken, corn and white
wine.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 10, 2000
--------------------------------------
Purchased 8 inch ducts fronm Home Depot today, then went over to Lowes to get 1/2 poly pipe
because Home Depot didn't have any. Worked out front trimming bushes and hauling the trimming
off to the creek bank.
This evening we had fresh corn for dinner and then did a Home Depot trip to return the 8 inch
ducts I purchased and bought 6 inch instead.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 11, 2000
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Spent the morning in the attic installing the new duct in the playroom. I lost 4 pounds doing this.
Spoke to Joe in the evening about our Calif trip - he wants us to pay for his San Francisco hotel
room. I don't think so. Dinner was corn, veggie burgers and blueberry pie.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 12, 2000
--------------------------------------
Wasn't going to do the second playroom duct today but around 10 AM I decided to get the job done
anyway. Finished up around noon, had a peanut butter sandwich then went to the credit union to
deposit the 15,000 dollar check from the money we loaned George and Mary.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 14, 2000
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Went out this morning in search of RedHat Linux 6.2. Circuit City and Sams didn't have it but Best
Buy had it for 29.95 with a $10 rebate making it $19.95
Installed it this afternoon - hopefully it will work better. Dinner was barbecued chicken with
Turning Leaf Chardonnay.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 15, 2000
--------------------------------------
Downloaded update 32 this morning then updated RJ's card. Worked a little on Linux stuff and
spent some time on the web. Dinner was Red Hot and Blue ribs with Fetzer Merlot.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 16, 2000
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Updated Bill's card this morning. Spent the whole afternoon trying to line up hotel rooms for our
Calif trip. Talked to Joe today about our plans - we'll skip spending the first week with him and
instead spend the second weekend with him. We had chicken salad for lunch and then traditional
pizza for dinner.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 17, 2000
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Worked outside this morning trimming bushes and trees in the front yard. We got another .8
inches of rain last night after 1.2 inches 2 days ago. Took a nap in the PM which made me vey
groggy. Went to sleep at 3:30 PM and woke up at 6PM! Dinner was Ravioli and cucumber salad.
Worked on balancing the checkbook and savings accounts on quicken and online. eTrade and TDSP
is looking pretty good. Up 299% to about $125,000 in eTrade and $284,000 in TDSP.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 18, 2000
--------------------------------------
We left for the International Choreographers at 6:50 PM. Duke had a few
more of our roads closed - we're getting good at navigating the campus.
The first dance was by Chinese choreographer Shu Wien. It was a
surrealistic painting light in white and blue. The dancers (9 female, 2
male) were topless. One female dancer slowly danced nude from stage
right to left on top of a set of stairs- risers. I think she was there
all the time with her back to the audience on the back, down side of the
risers, visible only from the waist up. The number started with a dark
haired girl slowly walking in the center of the stage towards the
audience. She had large breasts, very firm and standing straight out. to
her right on the floor was a dancer with smaller breasts and very short
cropped hair. On the floor to her left was a pretty girl with short
blonde hair and very nice small breasts. All the way stage left towards
the front with her back to the audience knelt a black girl with average
breasts. All dancers breasts were very firm and standing up and
protruding out. Ocassionally, one pretty blonde with a white light on
her larger than average breasts would quickly move in an arc almost to
mid stage and exit. The light on her body was a very intense white or
else she had white body makeup. Her firm protruding breasts were
remarkable in how white they were - she also was very pretty. All the
dancers wore flowing white veils on their lower body. My favorite was a
flat chested girl with long blonde hair that covered her breasts. She
danced upright and ocassionally crawled along the floor. The side view
of her small breasts as she crawled was delicious. Another favorite was
stage left rear on the riser. A blonde lay still diagonally across the
risers. Later on she stood up and with her arms over her head she
slightly twisted her nude body. It was like watching a venus di milo
statue. She was very curvy, especially in this stretched position.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 19, 2000
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We awoke at 6 AM, Nancy arrived just before 6:30. We made it to the
airport OK - no traffic, even on Davis Drive. The check in line was
long but went quickly. Our flight was smooth and timely. We were served
a muffin and banana. In Dallas Lib and I found the McDonalds and had a
danish and coffee. On the flight to LA we had a ham and cheese
croissant which was a little salty but not bad. Our flight was on time,
the lines at the Hertz counter were long. We got a new Taurus with 600
miles on it and a Hertz NeverLost system (Magellan GPS). We checked into
the hotel at 2:00 but our room wasn't ready so we went to Daisy's.
Arrived there at 2:45. Joe joined us later at around 3:30. Left Daisy's
around 4 and took the PCH to Joes place. Lib rode with Joe and I drove
alone in the Taurus. Jesse wasn't home from work yet. LAter we all went
out to a Polynesian restaurant. I had vegetable stir fry and a
Heineken. Everyone else had fish Tacos.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 20, 2000
--------------------------------------
We woke early and had breakfast in the hotel at 7. Went across the
street to get sunglasses for Lib who broke hers. Also tried calling the
Getty but had no luck - I was 30 in the queue but we were on a pay
phone. Drove to Anaheim and found Fry's - bought my RJ45 wall plates
then hit the freeway for LA. It was stop and go all the way. First stop
was the Farmers market for lunch then we went to the LA Music center.
Toured the Dorothy Chandler - it's a very plush theater. My camera
batteries ran out as well as the parking meter. Ran back to feed the
meter while Lib stayed on the plaza. Afterward we went to the La Brea
Tar pits - very interesting. They were excavating in the tar. The LA
Art museum also had a very nice collection of Rodin pieces outside
which we studied and photographed. Drove in stop and go freeway traffic
which was mostly stopped. We rode the hov which wasn't too much better.
Arrived at Joe's at around 6. The neighbors are very youthful - watched
Joe and his neighbor play darts in the living room.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 21, 2000
--------------------------------------
I awoke at 5:30 which was 8:30 Eastern time. Had breakfast around 7:15.
Drove up Beach to Anaheim in search of Fry's. Found a very large
electronics store that had my RJ45 wall plates. On today's journey our
next stop was the UCLA sculpture garden. Enjoyed the water sculpture at
the front of the garden the most. My second favorite was two female
nude dancers on top of poles. The poles were sculptures in themselves
with embossed dancers in the metal. We next went to the Santa Monica
pier and walked over the Pacific Coast Highway and along a bike path.
The pier itself was alive with amusements and people. We had fish
burgers at a little seafood place at the beginning of the pier. Our
reservation for the Getty was at 12:30 but we didn't leave Santa Monica
until 1:04. (Our sandwich order came at 12:40). We made it to the Getty
at 1:29 with the fuel light on in the car. Enjoyed the gardens and
sitting on a bench in the sun in view of the waterfall. Toured a
stained glass exhibit then went to the European paintings. Fell in love
with a Renoir. Took many pictures of the Renoir including closeups of
brush strokes. We started back at 3:30 and finally pulled out of the
parking garage at 4:00. Took 105 Alt for a few miles to get gas. It
took almost 1/2 hour to go the 2 miles. When we finally got on the
freeway it was a 2 1/2 hour ride to Joe's to go the 41 miles. We got
off around Seal Beach North of Huntington to avoid the rest of the stop
and go freeway, Had some very nice pizza at Joe's followed by a
cheesecake birthday cake with candles. Lib and I had Bud Light with the
pizza.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 22, 2000
--------------------------------------
We got up late today and walked across the street for bagels and coffee
at Noahs instead of the Comfort Inn breakfast because I didn't like
their instant coffee. Stopped by and picked Jesse up and drove the
Pacific Coast Highway to Wind River in Irvine. Joe has a very nice work
environment - large modern offices with food and drinks and games. We
left there about 10:30 and started up the coast. Drove along Malibu and
then up and over on Mulolland which was a spectacular drive through the
canyons. Decided to do Ronald Reagan in Simi Valley so we didn't have
to go back there again. Because we finished the library at 2:30 we
chose to take I-5 to CA-46 to save time instead of traveling the coast,
Arrived at the El Rey at 7 PM. Had dinner at the restaurant there - we
both had Salmon and a bottle of Emerald Bay Chardonnay. The dinner came
with chowder and a baked potato. Our room was very nice - large with an
ocean view.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 23, 2000
--------------------------------------
Started with breakfast on the pool patio around a gas fire. It was very
nice. Afterwards we took a walk on the beach then headed 3 miles up the
road to Hearst Castle. Took the number 1 tour which did some of the
downstairs and outside pools and gardens. Looked for gas because we
only had a 1/4 tank. Bought some in Cambria about 8 miles south of San
Simeon at 1.99 per gallon then headed up the coast. The trip up was
very spectacular. Stopped numerous times for views - we started looking
for lunch around 2 PM and ate in Nepanthe at the Cafe Kevah. We had
Quesadilla's which were very good at $14 for two. when we got to Big
Sur it was very foggy and windy. Couldn't stop at the Bixby bridge
because of construction - it was too foggy to see anything anyway.
Arrived in Carmel at 4 PM. Checked into our bed and breakfast then
walked the town. Made reservations next to the shopping center at Le
Patissirie. Walked the shopping center, bought postcards at the
bookstore then went back to clean up for dinner. Went to dinner at 7. I
had the halibut and salmon special, Lib had the Coquiel, We had a
bottle of Mountain View Chardonnay with dinner and a very nice coffee
after.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 24, 2000
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Very late breakfast at
briarwood - it didn't start until 8. We walked to the Ocean after
breakfast and bought some postcards. Stopped into a gallery to examine
glass sculptures. Walked past Clints restaurant and checked out to go
home. Paid admission to the 17 mile drive and enjoyed the scenery.
Picked up a very nice lunch at the pebble beach deli and had it on the
beach on the 17 mile drive. On the way up Rte 1 bought gas at 1.79. The
light was on and we were a little desperate. Encountered heavy traffic
on 880 through Oakland but made it in good time to the Holiday Inn. The
HI had just opened and was very nice. In the evening we drove to the
top of Berkeley's campus to see the sights but they were fogged in.
Went to dinner at a very nice pizza restaurant which was mostly college
age folks. Had a pepperoni pizza and beer. Picked up a Rodin book at
the used bookstore next door.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 25, 2000
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Wonderful breakfast at the Holiday Inn - big bakery style
pastrys. Left at 9:30 for SFO. The Bay Bridge toll plaza was incredibly
crowded. We drove straight to Golden Gate Park conservatory and enjoyed
the spectacular Dahlia gardens. Next stop was the Japanese Tea Gardens
which cost 7.50. Took a walk around the arboretum across the street and
saw a Yoga group in a circle on the grass. Next stop was the California
Cable car line at Van Ness. On the way there drove past postcard row on
Alamo Square. Had a frustrating time looking for parking or a parking
garage around California so we went down towards Fishermans Wharf and
lucked out finding a parking spot on the SF municipal pier at North
Point. No cost, no time limits, good deal! Took the 42 bus back up to
California then rode a cable car to ChinaTown. Wandered Chinatown and
luckily found our restaurant of last time - Sam Li's. I had the Kung
Pao Chicken which was nice and spicy. Lib ahd the Lemon Chicken which
was fried chicken covered with lemon sauce. We took a cable car to Nobb
Hill and tried to get on the Powell line to Fishermans wharf but it was
too crowded so took the California again to Van Ness and caught the 42
to Ghiradelli. HAd an ice cream sundae at Ghiradelli and listened to a
band on the square for a while. Walked next to Fishermans wharf and
also pier 39 where we watched the sea lions. At around 9 PM we went up
and waited for the 42 again and took it to our car. Back to the hotel
around 10.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 26, 2000
--------------------------------------
After Holiday Inn breakfast we bought 1.75 gas on University
and drove to the Napa visitors center. Picked up some maps and
brochures and drove to Domaine Chandon. Had the $8 tasting and the free
tour. IT's a veyr scenic winery with gardens and water. There is also a
four star french restaurant there which we didn't do. Next stop was
Louis Martini for the complementary tasting then to the Satui picnic
grounds. Had a nice ham and cheese sandwich. Drove to Beringer and took
the $5 tour and tasting. Very nice grounds and buildings. Drove to
Santa Rosa and checked into the Holiday. Went downtown for dinner and
found a street fair for several blocks. Found out this happens every
Wednesday night during the summer. Ate at the Cantina - a Mexican
restaurant with a wait staff that provided lots of eye candy.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 27, 2000
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Started out today at 10. The destination is Fetzer but did
Korbel on the way. We missed the 11:00 tour by 15 minutes but we jumped
onto this tour anyway. Toured the wine museum, saw aa Korbel movie then
went to a nice tasting. We tasted Korbel Natural, Extra Dry, Sparkling
Chardonnay and Sparkling Merlot. After the tour we went to the tasting
room and tasted two more - Blanche de Noir which is their dryest wine
and sparkling Cabernet which we purchased. I never had a sparkling
Cabernt Sauvignon before. Our next job was to get to Hopland 40 miles
away. Took the back way across some winding vineyard roads before
meeting up with 101. Once there we had a very nice turkey and cheese
sandwich with water and then the tasting. We tasted many many wines in
the tasting room then we went into the Reserve room and tasted some
fine select Cabernets and Merlots. Finished it up with a $24 Port
whicch was great - I didn't think I would like this. Afterwards we
toured the gardens and watched hummingbirds. We had the place to
ourselves until a tour bus arrived with bed and breakfast guests. Got
back to the hotel in under an hour where we sorted ourwines for
shipping into a styrofoam ocntainer we purchased in Korbel for $5.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 28, 2000
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Friday Set the alarm to
wake at 6:00. Had the Holiday Inn bagels and coffee then left Santa
Rosa at 7:16 AM. Wound our way over back roads to 29 in Napa and also
found gas at 1.74 where we filled up. Made good time getting down to
680 then 580 around San Francisco. Only one jam up where 680 exited to
580. Luckily we missed this exit and stopped at a McDonalds next exit
and got right onto 580 with no traffic jam. Made it to I-5 and enjoyed
hundreds of windmills covering the hillside in gangs of 5 and 10 as we
drove through the mountain pass. I-5 was not too crowded - we managed
to do speeds of around 85 until our McDonalds gas stop in Bakersfield.
Filled up for 1.73 per gallon. Made it into the hotel around 4:30 and
had a problem with our reservation - it was for a smoking room. We
visited it but rejected it because it reeked. Paid $8 more to get a non-
smoker with balcony - room 333 which wasn't bad but it was only
available for one night. Went across the street with our case of wine
and just made the UPS man pick up.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 29, 2000
--------------------------------------
Had Noahs bagels across from Comfort Inn then went to Joe's at 8:30. Drove to Huntington which
opened at 10:30. Did the gardens and the two museums.
Joe and Jesse didn't seem interested in the galleries and barely did
the gardens. We spent some extra time in the Rose garden and also
admired some of gallery paintings but would like to have spent more
time. Afterwards stopped for lunch at a pretty good sub shop for
sandwiches. Back at the hotel we swapped rooms to a Jacuzzi room for
$29 more. It wasn't worth it. Took a nap and did some reading, then
went out to the HB pier for dinner. I had a barbecue turkey burger and
onion rings. The burger was pretty filling. It was also a chilly night.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 30, 2000
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We went to Joe's at 8:00 for breakfast downtown at the sugar shack. I
had the Raisin French Toast. Joe and Jesse had 5.50 burritos each.
Breakfast ended up costing $29. Afterwards we drove to Pasadena.
Because Norton Simon doesn't open until 12:00 we walked around the
Gamble house first at 11:00. Walked all around Norton Simon admiring
the Rodin's before the doors opened at 12:00. Had an apple and bottle
of water in the sculpture garden around 2:00 then did the special
Picasso exhibit they had downstairs. Left Pasadena at 4:00 and arrived
at Joes at 5:30. The outbound traffic on I-605 from the beaches was
pretty heavy but fortunateley we were going towards the beaches. Joe
made stir fry chicken and we had Sauvignon Blanc with dinner. Left
there around 9:00 for the airport. Bought gas on Century Blvd by the
airport for 1.61 before letting the Hertz Neverlost GPS guide us to the
rental car return. Had a very aggressive bus driver on the Hertz bus.
Our plane got into the gate late and of course left 15 minute late from
LAX. We thought we were going to miss the Raleigh flight in Chicago but they held it because 15
people were making the connection. It was supposed to
leave at 6:15 but left at 6:45 which was good news for us.
TomG tomg2000.MDB July 31, 2000
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Nancy met us at the airport at 9:37 which was our new arrival time. It
was sprinkling a little in Raleigh, but not raining as hard as it was
in Chicago. We got home pretty tired but we got into the car and
bought bagels at Brueggers for breakfast. I waited in line at the post
office to get our mail. At home we had Krogers roasted chicken and
bagged salad for dinner.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 01, 2000
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Did some catching up on mail and also the accounting. Had a pile of
rebate and refund checks to deposit at the credit union as well as the
first rent check from Elliott in Sarasota. We had the rest of the
kroger chicken for dinner.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 02, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on the mortgage balance then sold 75 shares of IBM to cover. Talked to Anupe Singh
about my mortgage balance. Dinner tonight was Ravioli and a salad.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 03, 2000
--------------------------------------
This morning did some Internet surfing then went outside and cleared the waterline path in the
front woods. Did some grocery shopping before a 3:30 appointment at Rex Family practice for a
physical. Concerned about getting a prostrate check and a colonoscopy - made appointments for
both. The PSA blood test in one week and a colonoscopy consultation in 2 weeks. Dinner tonight
was Italian suasage with peppers and onions.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 04, 2000
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Went to the credit union and paid the mortgage off with money in savings. Also deposited the
Amica check for $149. Went to Home Depot and ordered the new sklights for the back porch. Soon
the fun will begin. Our wine shipment form Calif arrived via UPS in perfect shape. It cost $55 to
ship plus we bought a $5 shipping carton. We had a mortgage burning celebration for dinner -
Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noir with Bourbon salmon, rice and beans. After dinner watched the
red Hot Chili Peppers on PPV at 9.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 05, 2000
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Started ripping up the skylights after a Lowes trip to get 2x4's. The 2x4's will be used for
stepping boards and misc temp support. Lowered one glass panel to the ground today. Covered
the opening with the tarp. Dinner was a Strip steak with Martini Cabernet Sauvignon.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 06, 2000
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Read the newspaper in the morning then watched Breakfast with the Arts - they were doing a
Russian ballet dancer. Afterwards Lib gave me the black table cloths which I put up on the roof
on every other window to simulate every other window missing. We're only going to replace half
the skylights - the other half will be solid roofing. In the PM read about Rodin and listened to a Met
tape of Tristan. Dinner was a very good onion and pepper pizza.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 07, 2000
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Took the remaining two glass panels down from the roof. It's very hot today - the roof is too hot
to touch and any tools left in the sun get burning hot. Took the glass panels and flashing scraps
to the dump - filled up Lib's van on the way there at 1.37 per gallon. Dinner tonight was
Quasadella we purchased in Sams. Watched PBS piano program after dinner.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 08, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on cutting plywood for the fan housing this morning - also flashed on one side of the
garage door with copper. Dinner tonight was salad and spaghetti. After dinner we went to the
Triangle Orchid meeting where Lib brought some plants to sell. I took some meeting pictures.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 09, 2000
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This morning spent some time on the Internet then painted the plywood panels in the garage. In
the PM worked on adding freon to the upstairs A/C. Dinner was salad, rice and lemon broiled
chicken on the grill.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 10, 2000
--------------------------------------
No breakfast this morning - went over to Rex to get a blood test at 8:30 then came home and had
a bagel and coffee. Worked on windows non MFC programming this morning. Around noon the
Home Depot estimator came - the roof will be $6400.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 11, 2000
--------------------------------------
Started seriously tackling the windows this morning. Lib got some Tuna Steak for dinner tonight
which we had with Chardonnay. Really worked hard until 2:30 - totally exhausted.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 12, 2000
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Worked on the roof right after the paper and breakfast on the porch. Lib and I got bagels from
Brueggers in Cary this morning. In the late afternooon around 6 we went to Lowes to get more
2x6's. Dinner tonight was pork chops which were on sale in Winn Dixie. Watched the Green Mile
on PPV this evening. In the afternoon we watched Liberty Heights on PPV.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 13, 2000
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Paper didn't come this morning until 7:30. Read paper on back porch and had coffee and bagel
until 9 AM then went onto the roof. Removed the fourth window. In the afternoon around 2 it
started pouring rain and came into the back porch. The rest of the day was a washout.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 14, 2000
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Went to Lowes to get bolts and joist hangers in the morning then went home to resume framing.
Removed the plywood around space 4. The fifth space really looks rotted. Dinner tonight was
Jimmy Dean barbecue.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 15, 2000
--------------------------------------
Messed around on the Internet until 9 then went onto the roof to finish framing the second
window. Finished at 1:30 then went inside to make myself a PBnJ sandwich.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 16, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on hoisting plywood onto the roof. Tried to get our windows in Home Depot but they were
buried on the truck. Bought more plywood instead and raced back for a 2 PM doctors visit
concerning scheduling a colonoscopy. My blood pressure was 120 over 70. Great news. Dinner was
Quasadellia's.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 17, 2000
--------------------------------------
The Home Depot truck delivered shingles this morning. Finished the plywood then spent most of
the day putting down tar paper. Made a quick trip to Ace hardware for roofing nails. Worked until
after 5 PM non stop. For dinner we had grilled chicken, rice and salad.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 18, 2000
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Picked up some bagels in Brueggers today for breakfast. Started putting down roofing shingles.
Went to Home Depot in the afternoon and picked up the windows and flashing. Also bought some
more lag screws because they were twice the price in Ace yesterday. Dinner was Tuna steak with
two bottles of Chardonnay. The power was out for 2 1/2 hours starting at 6 because of a fierce
thunderstorm that flooded our porch. The plastic over the opening didn't hold. We had an inch of
rain in 20 minutes. We ate the Tuna by the light of the Coleman lantern. We cooked it outside on
the gas grill.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 19, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on shingles in the AM while Lib came home early from the greenhouse and painted
window frames. We put the first one up today and also removed 3 old panels of glass on the roof.
Dinner was steak and potato with salad and Fetzer Cabernet Sauvignon. Watched "wonderland" in
the evening which was about Levittown, NY.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 20, 2000
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This morning had bagels and coffee on the porch amidst the construction junk. After reading the
paper, went onto the roof and flashed the first skylight. It's totally done. Did no more
construction today. Programmed RJ's card with update 33 then went onto the internet and
downloaded some LAG girls. In the PM we went to the farmers market and got another black
liriope, some peaches, watermelon and squash. Dinner was Libs pizza with peppers and onions.
For lunch we had our traditional weekend Nathans hot dogs.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 21, 2000
--------------------------------------
Downloaded some LAG files this morning then went outside to demolish the next window
sections. It was a little chilly outside early but warmed up slightly when the sun cleared the trees
around 11 AM. Tore off another sheet of plywood and the shingles between 3 windows. In the PM
we took the scrap wood and shingles to the dump. Dinner was barbecue sandwiches.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 22, 2000
--------------------------------------
Framed up two more windows then started putting up more plywood. Went to Sams in the
evening after dinner to get wine and food things. We used our last $15 coupon plus Lib got $15 off
her membership with another coupon. Dinner was barbecue sandwiches with Pasta salad - very
good.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 23, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked all day until 6:30 on the roof - put in two skylights and some of the roofing around them.
Dinner was marinated chicken with leftover pasta salad.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 24, 2000
--------------------------------------
Flashed the two new skylights this morning. When Lib came home we went to Lowes food and got
our yogurt, plums, a chicken and wine. Dinner was the chicken with Italian bread, salad,
Newmans Italian dressing and Mondavi Chardonnay. Before dinner went back on the roof and
added two rows of tarpaper where there was none on the new plywood.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 25, 2000
--------------------------------------
It was lightly raining this morning so didn't go on the roof. Went to the new Cary Best Buy and
bought a cordless phone, Italian language tutor and blank CDR's. Also checked out Lowes for our
ceiling wood. Dinner was chicken with white wine.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 26, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on shingles this morning until 12:30. After a BLT lunch, we went to the farmers market,
Best Buy, 84 lumber and Goldstones. Dinner was Red Hot and Blue ribs with Ravenwood Zinfindel.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 27, 2000
--------------------------------------
It looked rainy today and I was tired so didn't work on the roof at all. Researched high speed
access and also some stock picks. Bill called with computer problems - his sony needed the CMOS
batteries charged. Dinner was homemade pizza with onions and peppers.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 28, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went to Brueggers for bagels this morning. Very leisurely day - went to the Post Office and then
to Plunkett Webster at 9 to look at siding for the porch ceiling - it was the right stuff. Arranged
for a purchase order through Goldstones then went home. Removed the last two sheets of glass
and the plywood and shingles in a light rain. The porch flooded overnight from the rain - it was
still raining off and on through the morning. When Lib arrived at 1:30 we picked up the siding and
unloaded it onto the back porch. Next the shingles and tarpaper needed loading for a dump trip. I
finished the cleanup while Lib had lunch. We did the dump trip together. Dinner was stir fried
veggies on the grill - squash, carrots, peppers, onions with Teriyaki sauce and rice. Very tasty!!
I'm very tired from the busy day. Watched a very nice Traviata on PBS. Tried to catch it again at
4 AM but they had a different great performance program showing.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 29, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked all day into the afternoon trying to get the last 3 windows framed. Had to go out to Home
Depot at 3 for more 2x6's and also some insulation. Finishe dthe inside framing but still need to
do the overhand. The colonoscopy instruction sheet says no aspirin for 3 days before the
procedure but I had a baby aspirin this morning. Will stop that. Dinner tonight was Quasadellia
with homemade salasa. Very good. Desert was watermelon. Watched The Talented Mr ripley
tonight which I didn't care for. Had a yogurt at the end of the movie.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 30, 2000
--------------------------------------
Framed the overhang but it started raining after I got one sheet of plywood up. Stretched the
plastic tightly over everything. We're supposed to get tropical moisture all day today. It rained
most of the day on and off. Dinner was spaghetti and a cucumber salad.
TomG tomg2000.MDB August 31, 2000
--------------------------------------
Was downloading October Playboy when Lib called from the greenhouse looking for her glasses.
Delivered them at 8:30 then swung by McDonalds and got a sausage biscuit and coffee - my last
solid meal until after the colonoscopy tomorrow. Put up the plywood I had and had to cover up
once for rain. When Lib came home we went to Home Depot and bought another sheet of plywood.
Finished the plywood part of the roofing and put one strip of felt paper down when it started
thundering and raining pretty good. Covered everything up but not perfectly. For lunch at 3 PM
today I had Apricot Jello. At 6 started taking the Fleet phosphate to clean out my intestines. I got
very bloated as if I had eaten too much like a Turkey dinner. The second glass of stuff I mixed
with Orange Juice which tasted much better. Dumped the contents of my bowels by 10 PM.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 01, 2000
--------------------------------------
Woke this morning very dry - took a sip of water. Went on the roof to fasten the tarp better. At
quarter to 10 the hospital called wanting me early. Met Bill Smith in the hospital lobby - he was in
town getting surgery for his wife. Bill retired from IBM last Fall. Got checked in and prepped. At
11:15 I was wheeled into the OR. Woke once during the procedure to extreme pain - but quickly
went back under. My intestine was clear - they removed two polyps at the beginning of the large
intestine. I woke up around 12:15 and left the hospital around 1 PM. Came home and had some
Apricot Jello which I threw up at 3. A good lesson! Had some tuna noodle casserole at 6 and some
more at 6:30 which seemed to stay down. Finished with a Lime yogurt at 8. Spent a lot of the
afternoon dozing on and off - tried to remain awake in the evening but still dozed.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 02, 2000
--------------------------------------
A wet morning to start the labor day weekend. Spent some time on the computer in the AM
printing some Bluebird licenses but the printer seems to have problems. Tried a peanut butter
sandwich for lunch - it's still raining. The mail brought another check from Siesta Realty for
October. Ended up changing the Epson black cartdidge and things improved. Dinner tonight was
marinated chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy. I couldn't finish the chicken.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 03, 2000
--------------------------------------
Rain again. Didn't have bagels and coffee on the porch because everything was wet inside the
porch. About 10 went outside and put two skylights up and the felt paper around them. Covered
up for the day. Afterwards went to Sams for groceries - Lib got some parmesan from Sams which
we had on our traditional pizza.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 04, 2000
--------------------------------------
Another rainy morning. Watched the morning shows on TV and downloaded Quicken 2001 from
Warez. Had my first normal dump this morning after the colonoscopy. We had suddenly salad for
lunch - this is a mixture of noodles, veggies and ranch dressing. Very tasty. Afternoon was also
very rainy. No work on the roof at all today. Our Labor day celebration was a pork roast with
mashed potatoes and Chandon Blanc de Noir champagne. My intestines are OK for alcohol and
solid food. No aspirin however until this Friday (7 days from the colonoscopy).
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 05, 2000
--------------------------------------
It was raining a little this morning and in general was a dark dreary day but I got shingles running
up one side of skylight 4. The tar paper on the roof is pretty wet. Made a Lowes Food run and got
yogurt and a pie. Dinner was mushroom flavored veggie burgers.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 06, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went outside at 9 to finish the shingling. Finished up around 2 with only a few roofing nails left.
Still need one or two courses above the skylights. Went to Ace to get more roofing nails while Lib
made a food run at Foodlion at 4 PM. Talked to Mom about her heart operation Friday. She leaves
tomorrow to go to a NYC hotel overnight to check into the hospital early Friday morning.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 07, 2000
--------------------------------------
While walking on the roof found some rotted plywood above the upstairs bathroom. Was pretty
depressed - it seems we are replacing the whole roof one piece of plywood at a time. Went with
Lib in the PM to Home Depot and got 6 sheets of plywood to make repairs. I thought I was almost
done. Dinner was the pork loin on hamburger buns with Libs homemade barbecue sauce. Tonight
Mom is going to her NYC hotel across from the hospital - traffic is supposed to be grid lock
because of the Millenium summit at the UN and the MTV awards show. Watched the MTV show on
TV from 8 to 11. Pretty interesting.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 08, 2000
--------------------------------------
Put in a long long day until 5 PM replacing bad plywood. Lib came home from Meredith at 5 and
helped clean up the backyard which was a mess. For dinner we had "Wonderful Chicken" from
China Express next to Krogers and a bottle of Mondavi Chardonnay.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 09, 2000
--------------------------------------
This morning I went to Jordan Gas for $6 propane at their open house then went on the roof and
finished the last two rows of shingles. Put the last sheet of replacement plywood down and called
it quits for the day. I'm sore all over. Dinner was Tuna Steak with rice and Turning Leaf Chard.
Talked to Vicki a long time this evening - she spent the day at the hospital. Mom seems to be
recovering nicely and is off the respirator. She's a little groggy and unaware that she had the
operation but has been upgraded to "critical".
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 10, 2000
--------------------------------------
This morning cut a piece of plywood for the rear dormer wall. Nice fit - hopefully it is substantial
enough to keep out squirrels. Lib brought donuts and OJ around noon - it was a nice break. We
then proceeded to clean up the yard and get ready for the roofers tomorrow. I downloaded the
PNIC II spec this morning for the Linksys card - it will be helpful for programming this card.
Finished flashing the dormer, removed one satellite dish and disconnected the attic fan. At 6 PM
after talking to Vicki about Mom we watched the Emmy pre show with Joan Rivers.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 11, 2000
--------------------------------------
The roofers didn't show up today. Bought some bagels at Brueggers and mailed a get well card to
Mom. In the afternoon I finished shingling the two cornices over the garage doors then went to
Krogers with Lib. Dinner was barbecue chicken (Libs homemade sauce) with rice and salad.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 12, 2000
--------------------------------------
Ripped down a few 1x10's today to start framing the windows. Had to start out by getting a new
10 inch saw blade at Lowes. Finished trimming 2 windows. Dinner was Quasadellia with
homemade Salsa.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 13, 2000
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The roofers came this morning a little after 8. I picked up our trash pile and loaded the dumpster
they brought. They worked a long day finishing up the main roof around 7 PM. We had vegetable
lasagna for dinner. I made a run to Krogers to get french bread to have with dinner. While the
roofers were working I ripped the 1x10 trim boards for the skylights.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 14, 2000
--------------------------------------
Put the car out in the street early - the garbage was already picked up. Wheeled the trash can
back and waited for the roofers. They arrived a little after 8 to do the garage roof and front
porch roof. I worked a very little bit on the back porch window trim. They finished up the job at 5
PM after a brief rain shower at 3. They also ran out of shingles - they went to get 6 more bundles.
For dinner we went out to get a Jersey Mikes Sub after going to Ace for nails.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 15, 2000
--------------------------------------
Put the satellite dish back up this morning. While updating the card to 35 the Home Depot guy
came for his money. In the late aftternoon I did serious demolition to the porch ceiling - removed
half the ceiling. Also did a grocery run this morning before noon to get Salmon and Chardonnay for
dinner tonight.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 16, 2000
--------------------------------------
This morning I put tar paper on where the new siding will be and also cut a new corner board.
Took the rest of the ceiling down while Lib painted ceiling boards with Killz. When I was done I
started a fire in the back woods and burned the ceiling boards. Dinner tonight was the last of the
Tuna steak which we had with Bin 65 Chardonnay, a top rated chard by Consumer Reports.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 17, 2000
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Finished ripping down the ceiling boards. Watched tropical storm Gordon on the Florida local
stations. This afternoon we went to the Cary Mall where I bought a new filter for the shop vac
and a Weedeater Power Blower in Ace Cary. Cleaned off the driveway and sidewalks with the
thing - it's quite noisy but powerful. Dinner was Lib's pizza.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 18, 2000
--------------------------------------
The tropical storm (Gordon) is supposed to arrive here this morning. Before the rain I ripped
down some 2x4's to fir out the back porch joists. It started raining about 10:30 - I spent the rest
of the day putting up firring strips - a few every hour or two. It's pretty hard physically
hammering 16 penny nails overhead. Dinner was leftover veggie lasagna with french bread and
homemade banana cream pie.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 19, 2000
--------------------------------------
Did the worst job of the season - insulated the back porch. I wore a face mask, long sleeve shirt
and gloves. Boy was it hot and sweaty! Finished up at noon and took a shower - I still feel a little
itchy but I guess it could have been worse. Heard from Vicki - Mom may get out next Monday the
25th which means I'll travel that day. With luck the porch will have a ceiling by then. Dinner was
Ravioli with French bread and salad. Very filling. In the afternoon I went to Winn Dixie which
looks like a disaster area - they're remodeling.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 20, 2000
--------------------------------------
Started the cedar on the ceiling. Boy was I dripping wet doing this job. Finished installing cedar
between two windows. Finished up at 12:30 (just after lunch) not working too hard. Dinner was
chicken salad sandwiches.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 21, 2000
--------------------------------------
Did two and a half more windows today with cedar. I wanted to finish the last window but was
too tired so stopped at half. It's a rainy day outside so I'm doing my cutting indoors on the porch.
Now I need to run the boards along the window bottoms for the length of the porch. Will finish
the last window tomorrow then start along the window bottom. We may run out of cedar siding
before the end of the job. Called Mom - she's walked 7 steps in rehab but has a sore throat today.
Had Chow Mein for dinner - China Express with our own chicken added.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 22, 2000
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Put up a few boards on the porch then went to Lowes for trim pieces. On the way back stopped in Lowes Foods to get the shrimp which is on sale. As I was unloading the car and eating one of the very good Macintosh apples Lib arrived. I accompanied her to Logans where we had very nice crab cake sandwiches for lunch. It was raining pretty hard on the way back. another tropical storm -
 Helene is making it's way North. When we got back I started the bread machine for dinner. Italian
Herb bread is what I'm making. Dinner was Mondavi Chardonnay with shrimp and rice. Lib baked a
pie with the Rome apples I bought this afternoon.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 23, 2000
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Put up some more boards - it was a rainy day with tropical storm Helene making it up from the
South. Lib helped me put up some boards then we went to Lowes Food for apples and Winn Dixie
for pork chops, then Ace Hardware for more nails. Dinner was pork chops with homemade apple
pie - MacIntosh this time.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 24, 2000
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Read the paper on the porch with coffee and bagels then slowly started spackling the ceiling. Lib
painted the window trim boards with Killz as a primer. Ran out of spackle before finishing the
ceiling. Dinner was Libs pizza plain this time.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 25, 2000
--------------------------------------
Running around this morning. Started out going to Goldstones to order cedar siding (64 more
feet) for pickup at Plunket Webster. Next ordered the masonite siding at Carolina Builders. It'll
be here on Wednesday afternoon. Stopped by the Credit Union to deposit the modem rebate check and Amica Insurance refund ($595.93). This check was a nice surprise and is a rate agreement
with the NC Insurance commissioner for 1995-1996. Next stop was Lowes for ceiling paint then to
Home Depot to get Glidden paint swatches. Got home at noon and balanced the checkbook and
talked to Lib about going to Plunket this afternoon. After the Plunket trip, Arlene called. Mom is
getting out tomorrow so it looks like I'll be going to NJ tomorrow. Finished priming the windows -
it's raining pretty good outside. In between rain Lib and I went to the mailbox with bills, Krogers
for bread for dinner and the gas station in Krogers parking lot so I could start out with a full
tank.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 26, 2000
--------------------------------------
Got up at 6 and had normal bagel breakfast then left for NJ at 7 AM. It started raining in
Richmond and stayed with me all the way. The NJ turnpike was a white out at times with the
spray from the trucks - I was also concerned about hydroplaning when it got breezy. Did one gas
stop in Fredrick - $1.39 a gallon for regular. Gas in NJ seems to be around 1.53 which is similar
to NC. Arrived around 3 PM - Mom was home already and Arlene was there. Aunt Helen fixed
chicken with carrots and broccoli for dinner at 5.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 27, 2000
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Got up this morning at 6:30 - made Rye toast for breakfast. Watched a little Weather and Good
Morning America before heading out to NYC at 9. Moms car is making a pounding sound at
highway speeds. Traffic in the other direction on 287 was stopped. The TPK was stopped at the
Lincoln Tunnel exit and was creep and crawl from there. Made it to the hospital at 11:00 - used
the valet parking. We drove down 28th street which was the flower district. Going home was a
breeze with no delays - we eeked across the city then clear sailing through the tunnels and
TPK/287. Nancy was waiting here when we got back. Looked under the car after it cooled - the
pounding seems to be the engine pipe hitting the frame.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 28, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went shopping for mostly paper products today in Acme after a walk to the bagel store for bagels
and cream cheese. In the afternoon tied up all the branches into bundles for pickup by the Public
Works next Wednesday. Nancy came over for lunch with her subway sub, talked to Lib later in the
afternoon (after 5 PM dinner). Lib was given the wrong width siding by Carolina Builders today -
they'll pickup next Wednesday and bring the correct size. In the evening I went to ShopRite to get
chicken and milk. Mom is very ornery about exercise - she refuses to do it.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 29, 2000
--------------------------------------
Did the bagel run this morning. In the afternoon finished bundling the pine tree branches for
Public Works pickup. Fixed the chair leg on the Lazy Boy and got Arlenes serial port working for
her digital camera. Nancy came over with her McDonalds salad for lunch. In the evening Barb,
Nancy, Vicki, Bob, Steffie, Rich and Arlene and Rich came over. Earlier Helena also stopped in.
It'll be great to get back tomorrow. The TV is very loud and the hours are too early for me.
TomG tomg2000.MDB September 30, 2000
--------------------------------------
Left NJ at 8 after a walk to the bagel shop. Stopped in Philly for the 'Rodin museum but they don't
open until 10 and it was 9:30. Went via the NJ TPk to exit 7 then 295 to 686 across the Ben
Franklin ($3) to Philly. 686 goes right through center city past the museums on 22nd street.
Parked behind the Rodin museum in a tiny little lot. Left there around 11 and arrived in Apex at
5:30 PM. It was a nice day for a drive down 95 - clear skies and light traffic. For dinner we had
Red Hot & Blue ribs with Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvignon. Lib thought the ribs were tough - I was OK
with them.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 01, 2000
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Made a trip to Brueggers for bagels but they didn't open until 8 on Sunday so drove to Manhattan
Bagel in Waverly. Got Egg bagels which I don't like and Cinnamon Raisin. After the paper and
bagels put up the remaining ceiling boards and spackled the nail holes. Afterwards we went to
Home Depot for a different shade of paint and bought a floor stand fan on sale. Dinner was Lib's
homemade pizza with Brothers Sauce - nice.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 02, 2000
--------------------------------------
This morning started sanding and painting the ceiling. By 1:30 had gotten about 3/4 of the new
wood painted. Remaining is the older section up high. Dinner tonight was pork chops with rice.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 03, 2000
--------------------------------------
Sanded and then painted the rest of the new ceiling wood then did all of the old ceiling - worked
until 5 PM painting. Dinner tonight was a krogers barbecue chicken with potato salad.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 04, 2000
--------------------------------------
Listless day today - started putting up the window trim. Trimmed one window, also downloaded
November Playboy. Jim Clary called - he's looking for BlueTooth help, am going to go over there
tomorrow at noon to take a look. Dinner tonight was the rest of the Kroger chicken with the rest
of the potato salad. Spoke with Mom tonight - public works picked up the branches and all the
logs too.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 05, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on trimming skylights in the morning then got cleaned up and went over to Mico. Arrived
just before noon - talked about their needs then went to dinner at a Chinese place. Talked some
more, discussed fees and a consulting contract. Got back about 2:30 and felt like doing nothing.
Carolina Builders exchanged the siding for the correct stuff while I was gone. In the evening
received the proposed contract via eMail. Dinner tonight was tomato rice soup.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 06, 2000
--------------------------------------
Read over the bluetooth stuff this morning then worked a little on the back porch. Downloaded a
lot of stuff from the net about scenix chips and also finally got hold of Time Warner about
RoadRunner installation. They will be here Monday afternoon. Dinner was wonderful chicken from
China Chef.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 07, 2000
--------------------------------------
Faxed the consulting agreement to Mico this morning. Today I read up on Bluetooth. Put up the
last trim boards on the board. In the evening DTV blessed us with update 53 during Emeril.
Everything went blank. Dinner was crab dip and wine as an apetizer then salmon and baked
potato for dinner with a second bottle of white wine. Went to bed early.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 08, 2000
--------------------------------------
It's a cold day today. Didn't feel like painting so I worked on BlueTooth - got the sample app
working over the air. Tom Herner came over to talk about a new furnace - he will get us an
estimate in the next day or so. Went to Sams and then spent some time doing a bluetooth
schematic.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 09, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on the home LAN this morning - converted to Ethernet from Token Ring and installed the
SMC router in the stereo closet. Went to Home Depot and got a new monitor and also Walmart to
get oil for the car and a garbage can for upstairs. Ran the coax to the audio closet for the cable
modem. The roadrunner guy gave me the cable modem which I hooked up, he then put a new
connector on under the house and determined there was no signal. Went to the street and hooked
up our coax - roadrunner came alive on my laptop. Fooled around with mail and netscape then
downloaded Windows ME from Warez. Found out later the Ethernet card I got was for an apple
only. Will resolve in the morning. Dinner was Salmon salad on toast sandwiches from the leftover
Salmon of Saturday.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 10, 2000
--------------------------------------
It was unbelievably cold over night. The furnace isn't working so good upstairs. The downstairs
needs replacing also. Tried to exchange the Apple ethernet card but Time Warner sent me to the
billing office and they don't do that. Finally the tech came out and swapped cards with me. Dinner
was spaghetti.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 11, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went into RTP this morning for a 9:00 meeting. Hwy 55 was backed up badly. Dinner was Jimmy
Dean barbecue. Downloaded ver 9 of Orcad from Warez - stayed up til 2 am downloading and
installing. It works OK.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 12, 2000
--------------------------------------
Fooled around on the net this morning then started to put my shop together. Want to get the
roadrunner connection on the upstairs LAN - having trouble getting connectivity. The dow
dropped 369 today - not good but I took the money out of TDSP last week. Received some eMail
from Mico with programs attached - they want to get a 900 mhz link running.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 13, 2000
--------------------------------------
COuldn't get connectivity to the back shop. Went to Office Depot and picked up an 8 foot table.
Re-arranged the shop with the 8 foot table in the office holding the workshop computers. Still no
connectivity - it appears to be a PC problem.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 14, 2000
--------------------------------------
This morning the greenhouse tops are being replaced. I'm at home messing with Bluetooth.
Bought a steak and potatoes for dinner tonight to have with BV Cabernet Sauvignon.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 15, 2000
--------------------------------------
Went to the greenhouse at 10 today and worked until 5:30 stapling and fixing the furnace
chimmneys which are rusted through. Dinner was Quasadillia because we got home tired and late.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 16, 2000
--------------------------------------
Worked on Bluetooth this morning then went to Lowes to get furnace pipes. Arrived at the
greenhouse at 12:30 and started stapling. Ran out of strip tape which Lib went to get at Wyatt
Quarles. Continued on hooking up the inflation. Dinner was left over steak with onions on a
sandwich.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 17, 2000
--------------------------------------
Got the BT Explorer communicating with the module this morning. Worked at the greenhouse
stapling the endwall facing Raymond of house 4, hooking up house 4 inflation then put a new
chimmney on house 1. We got home tired and ordered out - Wonderful Chicken for dinner.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 18, 2000
--------------------------------------
Left home at 8:20 for a meeting with a consultant at MiCo. The meeting was still going on when I
left at 10:15. We finally got going after the meeting - Lib waited in the lobby during the meeting.
The drive North was uneventful - got gas in Fredricksburg at 1.41 and had apples and peanut
butter sandwiches in the car. We got lost when 295 ran straight into route 1 in Princeton which
we didn't want to take. Backtracked through some pretty towns and picked up the Turnpike.
Arrived around 6:15 PM. Had turkey sandwiches and Chardonnay for dinner.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 19, 2000
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Woke this morning at 7 and got bagels and cream cheese on the corner. Had a nice turkey
sandwich for lunc then headed to the Doctors office at 12. The roads and tunnel were clear. We
ran the toll gate at the Lincoln tunnel because no one was there to collect. Arrived at the doctors
office at 1:15. Did the valet parking and also bought a pretzel on the sidewalk ($1.25) The doctor
had an emergenc and didn't see us till 5:15. The ride home wasn't too bad, about a 20 minute
tunnel merge then very heavy bus traffic on the horseshoe on the other side. Got home at 7:15.
Aunt Helen had a turkey dinner ready for us.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 20, 2000
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Left NJ this morning at 8:45 after a leisureley bagel breakfast. Bought gas at Racetrack Gas on
Stelton road for $1.46 Took 287 all the up to Tappan Zee then 287 across Westchester to I-95. I-
95 was very heavy through Southern Connecticut. Arrived at George and Mary's at 1:15. Had a
Taco Bell lunch in Newport before arriving. Dinner was Roast Beef and mashed potatoes with
carrots. Early to bed - about 10 PM.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 21, 2000
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We got up late this morning - 7:30 - then had a very slow cereal breakfast before heading out on
a Fall foliage tour. Stopped at Little Compton and took pictures, visited the general store then
drove to a lunch deli - Provender. I had a nice Garbanzo sandwich on 7 grain bread for 3.25. The
main ingredient was Orange Hummus with peanuts. We payed for lunch - $18.55. While the gang
went to agrocery store I stayed home and did the Bluetooth explorer on the computer.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 22, 2000
--------------------------------------
This morning I took a shower while everyone was having breakfast. Afterwards we read the
paper and I worked on BlueTooth then left at 10:50 for Bill's brunch. Got gas before going to Bills
- 1.59 which was the highest of the trip. Bill had a nice brunch - the Shearmans were there and
Corrie and Kate. Had Egg McMuffin and coffe cake. Got going at 3:15 - the ride was pretty nice
until we got to the last 59 miles of I-95 in CT. Traffic was stopped, then creeping all the way. We
estimate we lost an hour. Once we got to 287 the traffic was better - made it to Moms house at
8:30. Ordered a Dominicks pizza (medium) which was our dinner. Mom looks pretty good - she's
getting around. The therapist sent her nice flowers while her dentist sent a basket of fruit.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 23, 2000
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Woke up at 6 in NJ and went down to get some bagels on the corner. We left at 7 - had to fill up
at Raceway on the way out at 1.47 Took the TPk but the signs warned of major delays on exit 1
so we bailed out in Mt Holly exit 5 onto 295. The traffic was very heavy and stopped with the 676
interchange - morning commuters. We finally cleared all this and had light traffic the rest of the
way. Stopped just before the Delaware bridge for a McDonalds coffee and Danish then stopped
again South of Petersburg on I-85 and Rt e 1 for gas and lunch. Unfortunateley chose a big mac
and fries - more food than I'm used to for lunch. We arrived home at 3:30 PM. The battery on Lib's
car was dead - it had no water and discharged over the period we were gone. Dinner was
spaghetti.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 24, 2000
--------------------------------------
Did my eMail at 7 and Jim had a message to call him. Ended up calling Ireland about DigiAnswer
development kits. Stopped in at Mi-Co in the afternoon and heard about their need for a protocol
to communicate between the two deices. Went home to start writing something up. Finished it at
10 - my first draft.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 25, 2000
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Reviewed the protocol today at Mi-Co at 1 PM. Took home the suggested changes and revised the
document until 11 PM. Emailed the new spec to one and all late at night.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 26, 2000
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Stayed home and worked on C code for MiCo all day using the C2C compiler.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 27, 2000
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Went to Mico today at 1 PM to get hardware. Brian ordered another development board for me
FedEx. Should be here Monday.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 28, 2000
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Tom Herner came over this morning at 8:15 to change out the furnace. I'm converting my c code
for the packet interface to assembler because the compiler code won't work. Writing in C was
good because it gave order to the code. I wasn't happy with the furnace vent - it came through
the foundation vent instead of the foundation. Lib had ballet tickets but I skipped out - she went
with Eleanor instead. I worked on code til midnight. Dinner tonight was tuna steak with no
alcoholic beverages. Forgot to read the newspaper today.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 29, 2000
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Read the paper in the morning, fixed the clocks for Eastern time and then worked on code all day.
Talked with Jim this morning about the code for the interface - told him my opinion of progress.
Lib made the pizza 1 hour early because she used the porch clock which was still on DST. Bill
called and I walked him through programming his smart card. He sent an eMail later that it was a
success. Watched some of the Bourbon street festivities on the internet.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 30, 2000
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Went to Brueggers this morning for bagels because we were out. Worked on code until midnight
this evening Dinner was Voila. In the morning Tom Herner came by and fixed the furnace vent
pipe to go through the foundation wall. I paid him then went to Krogers for groceries. Bought a
nice salad for lunch.
TomG tomg2000.MDB October 31, 2000
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Worked on nothing but code all day today until midnight. The furnace inspector came about 3 - we
failed. Halloween - we had chow mein and bought candy for the door but nobody came.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 01, 2000
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Spent all day on code. Lib made a very nice turkey dinner with the Turkey breast I bought in
Krogers.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 02, 2000
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Worked all day on the packet code until midnight.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 03, 2000
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Spent the morning working on the 900 mhz packet code. At 1
pm went to Mico to test this stuff on the hardware. Unfortunately the hardware wasn't ready so I
wasted the afternoon. Talked with Jim afterwards so I didn't get out early and ended up in the
RTP traffic at 5:15. He approved my invoice for $11,000 worth of hours. Dinner was turkey on
open faced bread with gravy.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 04, 2000
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Roadrunner was dead this morning. Worked on the RF buffer handling code all day. Tom Herner
came over to fix the inspection violations on the furnace.
Worked all day on Mico code. Dinner was Salmon with Mondavi Chardonnay. I tried making bread
today but it didn't rise - it was a very heavy country french bread.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 05, 2000
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Roadrunner is still dead this morning. Read the paper then went back to code. Going to try
hooking up two processors back to back to simulate pad transmissions. Worked in the morning
until 11:30 then got dressed and headed for the opera in Greensboro. Verdi's Masked Ball at 2 PM
was very very good - the singing was excellent. We sat next to the parents of Oscar the page, a
fiesty soprano married in real life to the baritone.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 06, 2000
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My birthday. Spent the whole day writing code. This evening we had a small birthday dinner and a
few cards. Aunt Helen sent a "Tommy" elf, Mom and George and Mary sent money. Dinner was
Lib's ribs with baked potato.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 07, 2000
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Spent the whole day trying to get packets generated from 232 input. Had to go to Mico at 2 to
pick up a debugger. Talked briefly with Jim - he's expecting code Thursday. Dinner tonight was
leftover ribs from my birthday. The election today was turmoil - a very close race. I went to St
Andrews to vote for Bush at 3 PM.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 08, 2000
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While working on the packet stuff all day I was checking on the CNN wensite for Florida recount
results.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 12, 2000
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Worked busily on the packet stuff then Lib came home about 5. We ordered a pizza then took her
rental van to the greenhouse to unload and pick up the pizza on the way home.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 13, 2000
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Spent the whole day working on the Mico 900 mhz packet program. My check came today for
$10,000. This will help pay for the roof and furnace. Dinner was Quesadilia with homemade salsa.
At 9 got a call from Brian at Mico - their stuff stopped working. Went over there and found the
batteries were weak. Stayed till 10:15 then went home and put the emulator cards together.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 15, 2000
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In the morning went to Radio Shack and got more RS232 cables. Went to Mico this afternoon to
return the xmitter cards because they needed the crystals. Brought home two wireless
development boards to hook up. Dinner tonight was spaghetti.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 16, 2000
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Worked on soldering the RF module to a Scenix development board today. Version 2.3 of the
emulator software came out today - downloaded but didn't install. The PC is sitting on the
fireplace doing emulation. Want to get my packet code working on the wireless interface.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 17, 2000
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Working today on the 900 mhz wireless. Not making much progress. I have the Scenix and the 900
mhz sucessfully glued together. Now I need some software.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 18, 2000
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Worked on 900 mhz today. In the afternoon went ot put a new fuse in the greenhouse power
supply andofund the generator ignition coil is burned out and the monitor is dead as well as the
generator controller. It doesn't get any worse than this. Dinner was pork chops and sweet
potatoes.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 19, 2000
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A gloomy, gloomy day. Snow started early and continued. We went ot the grocery store this
afternoon in the snow and on the way home it started sticking to the roads. Went ot check on the
greenhouse - everything is OK but we don't have any monitoring or generator. Cancelled our
Williamsburg trip this morning.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 20, 2000
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While working on schematics for the greenhouse controller this morning Joel called. He's coming
at 2 PM.. Ran around looking for the Onan coil - no luck. Enjoyed the afternoon with Joel. Dinner
was spaghetti.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 21, 2000
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Called around this morning and found that College Park RV in Raleigh had an Onan ignition coil.
Picked up Lib and we bought it for $74. Installed it and everything worked. Had to fashion a
bracket and get a longer ignition wire to make it work. Dinner was chicken, sweet potato and
peas and onions. In the evening worked on the 900 mhz packet program - there doesn't seem to
be enough time to packetize a data stream running at 19.2 with 5 byte chunks arriving at 133
chunks per second.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 23, 2000
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Thanksgiving day. Lib cooked a turkey which we had at 4:30 with stuffing, potatoes and cranberry
sauce. Uncorked a Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noir for the dinner.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 25, 2000
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Spent a lot of the day trying to talk to the 900 mhz receiver. Verified that wiring and logic is
correct. Went to Sams today - the place was surprisingly empty.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 26, 2000
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Spent the day working on trying to get the receiver working on the 900 mhz stuff. Not much luck.
Early in the evening I made a flow chart of the working 232 routines and the Manchester coding.
Lib made a burned pizza for dinner - she's not feeling well because she tripped over her shoe
laces going into the garage yesterday.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 27, 2000
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Worked on 900 Mhz in the morning then on the Bluebird monitor in the afternoon until RJ's
receiver arrived. Added the cable then Lib and I stood in the Post Office line to send the receiver
back. Dinner was turkey on open faced white bread with gravy.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 28, 2000
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Started taking the PAd program I got from Brian last night and making a tx only program for my
tester. The idea is a tester that sends a single packet when you press the button then I can work
on the packet receive and decode routine in the second unit.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 29, 2000
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Worked on converting pad send/rcv into my packet program in the morning. At noon did some
grocery shopping then went to the greenhouse to check house 1 heater - the heat exchanger is
shot. It's been less than a year. Ordered 4 ASH modules for 900 mhz communication with the
greenhouse from insight distributors. Watched the Rockfeller tree lighting ceremony on NY
channel 4 and also got my program to receive and decode a packet a little later. Dinner tonight
was Turkey chowder.
TomG tomg2000.MDB November 30, 2000
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Spent the day working onwireless. Also spent some time wiring up the new greenhouse monitor.
Dinner was the a voila clone by Stouffers.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 01, 2000
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Receive is working on 900 mhz. Time to fix transmit. Went over to Mico at 11 for a meeting with
everyone about schedule and tasks. Bill Hinthorn is now onboard. The antenna and RF Monolithic
modules came today as well. Unfortunately I don't have time to mess around because of Bluetooth
conference next week. Dinner tonight was chicken and mashed potatoes - very good.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 02, 2000
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Didn't sleep well last night. Worried over the greenhouse furnace which is not working. Forecasts
call for up to 10 inches of snow tomorrow. Went out to Auto Parts store and bought "Inferno"
patching compound for the furnace. We'll see how it works. Lib is at Northgate all day today for a
violet show.
Snowfall forecasts are now for 12-15 inches. For dinner we had left over chicken then went out to
Krogers to get bread and paper products in preparation for being snowed in at the greenhouse
tomorrow.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 03, 2000
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There was no snow this morning but they still claim that it's coming. Went to the greenhouse to
test the epoxied heater - it worked pretty good. Put the duct on in case we need to use it. By late
PM it was clear that the snow missed us. Lib made pizza tonight and I started packing for San
Jose because the trip looks like it's for real.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 04, 2000
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We awoke at 5:20 and left home at 6. Got to the airport at 6:20 - plenty of time for a 7:25 flight.
The lfight was smooth - it took a while to get a car at Hertz then the car in my parking spot was
the wrong one. I wasn't impressed with Hertz customer service. Ate lunch at McDonalds then
found Fry's and browsed then checked into the hotel where I took a nap. In the PM headed
downtown and registered and attended the cockktail and hors doeuvre party. I had white wine
and ran into an old Token Ring guy - Adam Wong.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 05, 2000
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Headed out at 7:30 for McDonalds. The Radisson wants $10 for juice coffee and a bagel.
McDonalds breakfast was $4. Got to the convention center at 8:15. The keynote started at 8:30.
Attended a Bluetoth technology survey and Ad-Hoc networking then switched over to a panel
discussion of one chip solutions.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 07, 2000
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Got up early and packed my stuff and checked out of the Radisson using their voice mail
checkout. Went straight to convention for breakfast - they didn't have bagels, only danish and
coffee. During the session breaks did eMail from the public facility they provided - conversed with
Jim about the CSR chipset. Things were over at 3:15 so I went to see the Chihuly exhibit at the
San Jose Fine Art Museum. Afterwards did the mall for a chinese dinner - chow mein and choice of
two entries for 4.79. Browsed the bookstore and Brookstones then headed out to the airport.
Turning in the car was uneventful - arrived at the Midway counter at 7:30. Had to check my carry
on because I had three carry-ons - the computer, my suitcase and the Bluetooth backpack. The
plane took off 15 minutes late but arrived 5 minutes early in Raleigh.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 08, 2000
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Lib picked me up at 6:30 AM. We stopped by Bruegers for bagels on the way home. At home I
started unpacking and wading through the mail. Joined Jennicam this morning
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 09, 2000
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We went out to the greenhouse this morning and took down the house 1 heater and replaced the
heat exchanger. Will hang it tomorrow. Dinner tonight was homemade chili with Joe's red
Beoujolais wine.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 10, 2000
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We took the morning off and spent it at home reading, doing computer, etc. Around noon we
went to Best Buy and Home Depot and bought a new dishwasher in Home Depot - it will be here
Tues or Wed. In the afternoon we raised the furnace and started the hookup. Got it working but
still need to hook up the ducts and chimmney better.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 11, 2000
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Called MiCo this morning about Bluetooth plans. Can't get dirty working on the greenhouse heater
because eye doctor at 11. In the evening we went to HOme Depot to pick up our new dishwasher
which came in. Dinner was creamed tuna with peas on toast.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 12, 2000
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Went out to Mico in the morning to drop off the receipts and to pick up the Bluetooth PCMCIA
card. In the afternoon went to the greenhouse and finished up the furnace by installing the
chimmney. When I came home I found that Time Warner had cut the phone cable while installing a
new drop to the house. Lib got a xmas tree at the farmers market - everybody else was sold out.
Put the tree up in the evening and while Lib decorated I went to Home Depot to get fittings for
the new dishwasher. Dinner tonight was wonderful chicken from China Chef.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 13, 2000
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The phone guy came this morning to repair the underground cable. He ended up laying a new
cable on the ground. Finished installing the new dishwasher by noon. In the evening Lib and I
drove to Burlington to meet John Benziger. We went out to dinner at Saffrons on Chiurch St. I had
Salmon with a passion fruit and jalapeno glaze and Shooting Star Chardonnay. Lib and John had
scallops with pasta. We left at 9 and listened to the Al Gore concession speech. Arrived home at
10 to hear the Bush victory speech.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 14, 2000
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Spent most of the day onlne reading about Bluetooth. In the PM Lib and I went to BArnes an
Nobles and did all our Christmas shopping. While we had cappucino and hot cocoa in the coffee
shop, they wrapped all our presents. Dinner was Tuna steak with chardonnay, rice and carrots.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 15, 2000
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Did pretty much nothing today. Made a Cd for the Lanners of the Memphis pictures and Elvis
songs. In the afternoon we went to Walmart to get Jesse printing paper and film. Also stopped
into the CU to deposit my Mico check ($21,000). Picked up a chicken and Key Lime pie at Harris
Teeter for dinner. Lib made her barbecue chicken wiht baked potato which we had with a bottle
of Chardonnay. The trenching guy came today and buried our phone line.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 16, 2000
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Wet day outside. We went to Garden Supply looking for Banzai bamboo planters. They were
having a xmas party with pony rides, etc. We had hot dogs and bought some pansies for out front.
Lib made a turkey dinner which we had with Chardonnay.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 17, 2000
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A very windy night last night. Lib slept downsatirs. In addition to the wind and rain we had some
thunder and lightening over night. The sun came out today and it was still warm - in the fifties.
Made it to Sams at lunch time. Dinner was leftoer turkey from yesterday.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 18, 2000
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Worked on greenhouse programming today. Drilled some more holes for the steel box to put it in.
In the evening went to the Mico xmas party at Simpsons Steakhouse on Creedmore Rd. Very
elegant - I had grilled Salmon. White wine was $17 for two glasses! We were home at 10 PM (left
the house at 6).
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 19, 2000
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Spent the day working on the Bluebird monitor. Achieved power up, looked at oscillators -
everything OK. Power connector was wired wrong. Went to Best Buy and bought a label maker
and cordless phone for the shop. Dinner tonight was leftover turkey dinner. It was supposed to
snow today but we just had rain with a temp of 44 ending at 7 PM.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 25, 2000
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We slept in a little this morning. About 8:30 we opened our presents - Lib made a nice fruuitcake
for me for Christmas. It was very cold outside, Lib didn't go to the greenhouse to check it out
until 3 in the afternoon. Dinner was a spiral ham, baked potato and Mondavi Chardonnay.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 26, 2000
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I spent the day working on the greenhouse monitor program. Dinner was leftover ham with Groth
Chardonnay. Checked out flight info to France as well as some package tour info.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 27, 2000
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Joe arrived from the mountains this afternoon. We had a dinner with them in the dining room -
ham and yams. Later we exchanged xmas presents. Joe got me an optical mouse.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 28, 2000
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Worked on the greenhouse controller some more. Got the power sensing working - also added
generator sensing. The Met was on the satellite tonight - Don Giovanni but Joe and friends came
over so we aborted. Dinner was stuffed shells baked in a caserole.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 29, 2000
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There is snow predicted for tomorrow in NY so we delayed our trip North. Joe was delighted and
left for Wilmington to see Trever. Spent the day getting the DTMF chip to dial out. Had to boost
the output with an op amp to get it to work. Now I need to get the temperature working. This
afternoon we went to the credit union, Walmart and Harris Teeter. Dinner was barbecue chicken
with Merlot.
TomG tomg2000.MDB December 31, 2000
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New Years Eve. Joe came back from Wilmington and announced we were having a New "Years
party tonight. He fixed steak and baked potato which we had with Merlot. Brandon, Darren, Jesse
and Joe had a bonfire in the back yard. We went to baed about 11:30 and missed the ball drop. I
got most of the bluebird monitor program working today.
TomG tomg2000.MDB January 01, 2001
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Slept in till 7:30 AM today.