Dr Magid's House
Wednesday, April 6, 2011, 06:00 PM
After the frustration of yesterday we combined sky, water, beach and the trees to make a landscape scene with two trees, a dead one and one with foliage. This went a little better but still was pretty hard. After lunch we went in a caravan to Dr Magid and Gail's house. We enjoyed all the paintings on the wall and everywhere elae. I got the story on his "wife" and Sweety from Gail. First wife died but he calls Gail his wife. She lives with him and also has a house in Atlanta. We toured the outdoor studio which is a screened in porch and also toured the studio over the garage where he cuts mats and has many more paintings covering the walls. The garage studio has a complete bedroom and kitchen. After we were done visiting we went outside and photographed the prof and his fiance before getting in the car to drive back. We stopped at Darien on the way back and walked the historic District, walked along the docks, saw the shrimping fleet and the warehouse tabby ruins. All in all it was a nice afternoon. Tonight was free and it was suggested we could go out somewhere for dinner but we stayed. Several of our classmates also stayed behind. We had dinner with them which was fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Desert was a cherry cobbler. We tried staying out on the marsh front but the bugs were terrible so we abandoned ship and went back to our room.
Tree Painting
Tuesday, April 5, 2011, 06:00 PM
After breakfast at 7 am we went to the classroom for our 8:30 class. We had quite a bit of success yesterday. Today was not so successful. We tried painting a tree which was difficult. I learned a lot despite the frustration. I couldn't get the paint to flow, probably because the paper was dry. I had not gotten the technique of smooshing yet either. It was a frustrating day. We went for lunch and had some kind of pita bread with mushrooms inside as well some black beans, rice beef rollups. After lunch we got on a bus and had an island tour. We went to Fort Fredericka, watched a movie on the history then walked the grounds of the Fort. I loved the big live oaks draped with Spanish moss. We stopped at Christ church and got a little bit of history about the church from Jean, our coordinator. We got back after the 3 hour tour and rested a little before dinner. Went over to the dining hall and had stuffed flounder and veggies for dinner. We're eating very well. Desert was banana cream pie which was very good. In the evening at 7 pm we had a demonstration of watercolor pouring which involves pouring the colors on the paper, swirling and blowing them around, then finding out what it made. It was a full day.
Watercolor
Monday, April 4, 2011, 06:00 PM
Went to an incredible breakfast of eggs, bacon grits and biscuits. Sat with some of the watercolorists we met yesterday. Started our class at 8:30 by gathering around the front desk and watching Majid put down some wash. Next we traced some daisies on our paper and masked them then put the wash over it. This didn't go too bad. Next step was to put lines and splatters over the paper. This was a lot of fun. Went to lunch and had Flounder which was a little much for us for just lunch. It was yummy. After lunch we scraped the masking off the daisies and colored them in with watercolor. Placing a mask over the painting made it look pretty good. I thoroughly enjoyed today. In the afternoon we had a tour of the Tabby cabins and the Epworth gorunds by Jean, our assigned coordinator. What a lovely place. Went back for dinner at 5:30 which was Prime Rib with salad and baked potato. We're eating too much. Walked around the grounds some more after dinner.
St Simon
Sunday, April 3, 2011, 06:00 PM
Had a leisurely breakfast then when it was time to leave at 8:30 I discovered the outlet hose came off the fish pump. Put a clamp on temporarily as a fix then put the pump back and turned it on. Need a better clamp. Our ride down was interesting. There was a lot of cars on I-95 and an accident at MM 176 in SC. We got off at 182 and took some back roads before getting back on at exit 162, Florence. the detour was worth it since the scenery was so beautiful. Got into St Simon at 3 PM. Checked into our room then did a walk around the grounds. It was beautiful, the temp is 78 degrees and the azaleas are all in bloom on this waterfront. We had a buffet dinner of pork loin and all the trimmings. I even had an eclair for desert. After dinner we started our painting class by preparing the paper.
Packing
Saturday, April 2, 2011, 06:00 PM
Did last minute stuff today. Cleaned the pump screen in the Koi pond and refilled the fish feeder. While I listened to the opera which was Rheingold on the Sat broadcast I searched for Jessica's pictures on her list. After the Opera we went to BJ's for garbage bags, ribs and wine. Dinner tonight was the ribs with a bottle of Ravenwswood Zin and broccoli. After dinner I finsihed packing for our trip tomorrow.
First Friday
Friday, April 1, 2011, 06:00 PM
I plastered the holes behind the hood and painted the cabinet sides because they will be exposed below the cabinet. After it all dried I struggled to get the new hood installed. the new lights are much brighter than the old single 60 watt bul in the old hood. The Stainless makes it look high end. In the afternoon Libbie and I climbed onto the greenhouse and pulled the shade cloth on. I almost didn't make it, I was so exhausted. Came home and layed on the bed nude until i was rested enough for a shower. After the shower i finished the book "Best Laid Plans". It was so so. We left at 6 for First Friday. Met Jim Fatata at Visual Arts where he had a sculpture entered. Went to the annex and talked to a glass blower from North of Asheville. Enjoyed walking around Artspace before we walked over to Cafe Luna. The two cute gymnasts were doing their show on the corner. We had an enjoyable Cafe Luna dinner and a glass of wine. They were pretty busy as usual, my favorite was a pretty blonde in plunging neckline of a little black dress. She had a very nice natural breast showing for cleavage. I like this much better than the pushups and plastic ones. Got home at 9:30 and there was an email with picture list from Jessica. There also was another request for board reports by Sue Ramseur for last years report.
Ductwork
Thursday, March 31, 2011, 06:00 PM
I finished up the taxes today but no need to file yet since we have no tax liability. I want to review the BB entries since the accounting system is a mess. I took the old cooktop hood down today as well as the ductwork. The old ducts were a mess so I went to Home Depot and bought new ducts as well as a duct crimping tool that costs $25. I have always lusted after these things but never got one. It works incredibly well converting a femal duct end into a male. It also helps crimp existing males so they insert better which is what i had to do to get the elbow plugged into the ceiling. The AC line had to be rerouted and the holes patched. I bought a metal plaster patch at HD and put it on in anticipation of palster. Dinner was curried chicken with Broccoli. Very yummy. 
Nederlands Dance
Wednesday, March 30, 2011, 06:00 PM
Today was a day of freedom. The cards were mailed last night!!!! When Libbie came home at 2 we went to Home Depot and used my 10% off coupon to order stainless steel hood and cooktop. We brought the hood home but have to get the cooktop delivered. We'll get it the Tuesday after we get back from St Simon island. I started working on our taxes. It's not looking so good this year. We may have to pay money. We left at 6 after a crab cake dinner for Memorial hall in Chapel Hill. We saw a performance of the Nederlands Dance Co which was spectacular. The first piece was called Looking back and started with a doll then a girl talking about herself when she was little. The company then moved into the gray humdrum of everyday life before breaking out in a male - female pas de deux. Just before that there was the innocent flirting of youth. When the piece ended the doll was replaced by a semi nude female dancer in a see through flesh leotard. Spectacular!!!! The second piece after the intermission was a phillip glass music composition whihc fit very well with the movement. They used a video screen with a man walking away in the surf while 2 dancer s stayed behind and went through a lot of emotional dance. The piece and movie screen moved through the woods, through being a little girl, then a man going past a window before opening into the firmanent. This all played in reverse as once again the dancers went through many emotions. All in all it was a superb performance by 30 dancers. I want to see them again. It was raining when we exited and had to do the 10 minute walk to Cobb parking garage. It was a slow wet ride home trying to see the road. Had to stop for a little gas in chapel Hill to be safe.
done
Tuesday, March 29, 2011, 06:00 PM
Worked all day on a short in the card for #4. Removed the buzzer which was the source of the short then the buzzer wasn't loud enough. Found 2 pins on the microprocessor with a solder bridge. Fixed them and all was well. Buttoned upp the 4th card, took it all to the Post Office and sent it on it's way to Maine. Woo Hoo! Dinner was spinach tortelloni.
Coppelia
Monday, March 28, 2011, 06:00 PM
Didn't do too much this morning. Went to Trader joes for some supplies, looked for fence wire in Norther Supply but none. In the afternoon we went to the HD theater in Morrisville and thoroughly enjoyed a performance of Coppellia like we have never seen before. it was the best ballet performance ever live from Paris by the Paris Opera Ballet. Lunch today was a thai salad from Trader joes. Dinner was parmesan tilapia with two buck chuck. We did Fresh Market on the way home from the ballet to get the Tilapia. We also found some Dr Cracker crackers which Libbie likes because it has many seeds and lots of fiber. 
Carmen ballet
Sunday, March 27, 2011, 06:00 PM
I did a little more work on the Kahlo cards cutting the spacers down so they would fit into the case. We had a quick bowl of soup and then went on our way to the ballet. Carmen was fabulous. We had balcony seats which I was thinking while in the balcony that we probably would be better served by being in the orchestra where we would have beter sight lines to the dancers and their wonderful movements. It was incredibly enjoyable although our Carmen was a bit skinny and flat chested to be a Carmen. When we got back Libbie used the lower oven for the first time of the new oven to make our pizza. The crust didn't cook thoroughly which means the stone wasn't hot. We need to investigate further.
Opera, Symphony
Saturday, March 26, 2011, 06:00 PM
I went right to work on Kahlo after Saturday GMA. Three out of 4 of the cards work. I also built the last probe and finished the power supplies. The LCD display is sitting too high so I need to shorten the two spacers under the PCB by the display. Hopefully this will correct the situation.
Sitting on the back porch on this cold day (temp 46) and listening to Queen of Spades by Tchaikovsky live from the Met. Dinner was a Trader Joes Beef Bourginon which we had early because we had to leave for the symphony. Symphony parking was crowded - all three theaters had stuff going on. We found an illegal spot in one of the drives of the lobbyist's parking lot. Symphony was a little different. I didn't care for our seats way in the back in row CC under the balcony. For the second half we moved up several rows into some vacant seats. It was cold and windy going and coming. It's hard to believe it's Spring it's so cold.

Pick up libbie
Friday, March 25, 2011, 06:00 PM
Once again worked on Kahlo. Put one power plug on the power supplies. It went well, now there are 3 more. Also building the rest of the probes. The project is moving along at a glacial pace. Deposited a bunch of checks in the CU that Jennifer gave me this morning. After the CU I went to Lowes and picked up 2 more fence posts for the azalea electric fence wire. I broke the water can on the back porch so went to Walmart and found a substitute watering can. Dinner was salad and a bean burger. i love those things. Heard from Libbie at the airport in Providence. She leaves at 7:30 landing in RDU at 10:30. While on Facebook I had chats with Ann-Marie about population in Apex and Andrea about her upbringing in Kissimmee. I noticed the time and it was 10:30 so I jumped into the car and took I-40 to the airport. got there at 10:50 but Libbie's plane had got there at 10:25. We didn't return on I-40 because they were paving the other direction so it was down to a single lane.
culture
Thursday, March 24, 2011, 06:00 PM
It rained during the night. Sky was blue this morning so I took some dogwood pics and posted to Facebook. Worked on assembling plastic cases to PC Boards. All went together well. I had a bean burger for lunch then went to Home Depot for bark and a water pitcher. I broke the back porch watering can today watering all the plants. The spout broke when I was taking it up from the fish pond and it hit the floor cracking it. Home Depot doesn't have an acceptable replacement. symphony sent a buy one get one coupon today so I ordered tix for Sat. I also found a credit union coupon online for 20% off Carolina Ballet so I bought Carmen ballet tickets. Monday there is a live from paris ballet, so we will have a weekend full of culture.
Wake Forest Rd
Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 06:00 PM
Did some surfing and investment analysis in the morning, drove up to Wake Forest Rd at 3. There is a bunch of hotels across from Trader joes that I never knew about including a Hampton, Studio Plus and Extended stay. Wow. Built some probes which included soldering the ends shut on 4 brass tubes, installing brass plugs that I made from a solid rod. Put connectors on 2 other probes and plugged them into the microwave with a controller attached. They worked!!!! Big step. dinner was Tika Masala, an Indian dish that I never had before. Very flavorful but it wasn't filling. Listened to Luisa Miller on sirius. Very nice.
Kahlo cases
Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 06:00 PM
Did a Trader joes run for thai salad which i enjoyed and pizza which i had for dinner. Walked outside and photographed Spring. It got up to 85 today. Watched a movie, Last Night, which I sort of liked. The people in it are beautiful. Dinner was the previously mentioned pizza. Today I assembled the 4 cases with all their spacers, bezel, etc. The project is moving forward.
greenhouse
Monday, March 21, 2011, 06:00 PM
Raked some pinestraw and took it to the mound at the greenhouse. Spread it around. Jennifer said David Ward was looking for me. I went down to his house and knocked. He let me in where we chatted in his kitchen. What a filthy dump but an interesting person. He is interested in the greenhouse land. I went home and made a list of equipment in the greenhouse. Dinner was bean burger.
ge credit
Sunday, March 20, 2011, 06:00 PM
Worked on the Kahlo stuff a little. All 4 PC boards seem to be working. I also spent some time juggling funds and bought some Double Eagle in the IRA and RGNC in the individual account. Logged in to make a payment to GE Credit for the Havertys furniture. They finally seem to have their act together. I got a statement with account number which means I;m on my way. The brass rods and the power supplies came today. Power supply connector is wrong. Brass rods seem perfect. Need to build a batch for the microwave. Need at least 5. Dinner was a Chile Relano.
Lucia
Saturday, March 19, 2011, 06:00 PM
After breakfast I worked outside on the fence posts around the azalea patch in the backyard. Came back inside, got cleaned up and left at 11:30 for Lucia at North Hills. Loved the performance. The music is the best, the chorus and staging are a treat. Some folks on Opera L don't like Natalie Dessay but I think she's the best. Libbie called afterward. She was listening to it on her computer in RI. Dinner was Krogers fried chicken and an Edwards single serving pie. I'm not very proud of this. Need to get back on track. Maybe a hunger diet is what I need. 
Kahlo
Friday, March 18, 2011, 06:00 PM
My heart and heartburn is remarkably better this morning. I think yesterday was an anomoly self caused by the tablet I should not have taken Wednesday for my trip to Old Wake Forest Rd Raleigh.
Fired up each of the 4 cards for Kahlo. All programmed OK. I appear to have a problem with one LCD and at least one card has a heartbeat problem. I need to add a buzzer test routine somehow to the software to also test that function. There is so much more I would rather do now that it's Spring and nice outside. Dinner was a bean burger on thin sandwich round.

heartburn
Thursday, March 17, 2011, 06:00 PM
I had a rough night. Woke several times with severe heartburn. I'm worried cause I didn't have spicy foods. Thoughts of Mario 10 years ago who had artery blockage. He said the symptom was heartburn. I'll monitor it closely. Dinner and Lunch was the leftover tuna sandwiches from the TAVS meeting. I also had a nice serving of bean salad. 
things
Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 06:00 PM
It turned out to be a nice day. I took a shower after breakfast to wash my hair then went to the CU to deposit the rent check from Prudential and stopped by Krogers to cruise the Great Clips store. They weren't busy so I got a haircut. Pretty nice. Went home and took another shower to hose off the hair clippings then lined up the PCB's and their respective parts for Nicaragua. Took a trip to Wake Forest Rd, there was an accident at the beltline. Took a trip North then turned around at the Homestead parking lot. Didn't even know this facility was there, right next to the Hilton where we had the convention.
Came home and had a leftover eggsalad sandwich, some beans and chips and an orange. I'm feeling tired.

TAVS
Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 06:00 PM
I made the bean salad for the meeting and also made the tuna sandwiches. Libbie made the egg salad sandwiches yesterday. Everybody came around 12:30. We had a well organized meeting making lollipops and covering what we had to do for the show. The meeting was over about 3 PM. We went to the airport at 5 PM. Traffic on the Cary Parkway was heavy in the other direction. Got to the airport at 5:35 for Libbie's 6:30 flight. On the way home I stopped at Krogers for OJ and cereal. I noticed gas was 3.44 with the 10 cent discount. Dinner was leftover sandwiches from this afternoon with a side of beans. Desert was the lemon squares. Earlier in the day I logged into Colts and got the mortgage payment money back that they always take out on the 15th. I give them Libbie's FICA check at the end of the month. I listened to all of Queen of Spades live tonight on Sirius. It was wonderful but didn't end until midnight.
busy
Monday, March 14, 2011, 06:00 PM
This was a busy day. I blew off the driveway, cut up the cardboard box from the oven for the recycling pickup tomorrow. I managed to get it all in the green rolling bucket. Cleaned out the garage with the blower and also the vacuum then changed the oil in the car. The oil change was 800 miles overdue. When Libbie came home she vacuumed the house and mopped floors while I went to the grocery store for rolls and ingredients for tomorrow's violet meeting lunch. All in all it was a busy day. Dinner was Pasta from Trader joes. Libbie made lemon squares in the new oven. It didn't smell as bad this time since all the oils are burned off in the upper oven. We still need to fire up the lower oven to burn off manufacturing oils.
website updates
Sunday, March 13, 2011, 06:00 PM
I did not get a newspaper this morning. I'm still interested in getting the website done this weekend then I have to do taxes and the Nicaragua project. Libbie had some problems with the new oven - mostly user error. She thought she turned the lower oven on but the control was in between broil and highest temp so no heat. Instead we played with the electronice control on the upper oven. The highest it would go was 500. We watched the temp climb. When it got to 500 it beeped. The oven smelled terrible but Libbie cooked the pizza anyway. It was very good but the kitchen did not smell like pizza due to the manufacturing oils coating the oven.
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