My Mobile Home Gourmet Blog
Sunday 2025.5.18
Another Project Done and Dusted
In Wednesday's blog post (and in earlier posts) I wrote about my efforts to save the Only Murders in the Building Season 1 video files to a blank Blu-ray disc. I succeeded on Thursday. I like the shows so much, I wanted to save them to watch again. And with my access to Hulu cut off, it became even more important that I have copies here in my home.
Since Season 1 I have been encoding and testing the other seasons. Season 2 needed some subtitle files. Season 3 needed to be re-encoded in H.264MKV format. I also added subtitles because the ten episodes didn't have them (they can be found online). I did that on Friday. And Season 4 was finally watched and those files are good too. Those were burned to disc yesterday morning.
All four seasons are now stored on disc. I am a happy man. I can put this project to rest and move on to something else.
Feast or Famine
Amazon Vine has been a silent desert lately. At one point a few months ago the number of available items peaked at more than 125,000. During the last few days the number dropped to below 32,000. More than 15,000 disappeared since the beginning of this latest drought.
It isn't critically important. I'm still in the Gold Tier, but I couldn't help wondering if the program was in the midst of a permanent collapse. My wish list is small now. Mostly I want items I use daily, like test strips for my glucose monitor and nitrile gloves I use when cathing.
At the risk of repeating myself too often, the goal is to order a minimum of 80 items during each six-month evaluation period and review at least 90% of them. After paying more than $2,500 in taxes for 2024, my goal is to order the cheapest items I can find, like under $10, unless I see something I really need or want. Refrigerator magnets and straw toppers are cheap.
And then, this morning, the products came flooding in. Too many to consider. 24,000 new items at last count, and more are being added. I ordered some disposable grill grates I can use on my barbecue. I also ordered some marigold seeds because I read those are good partner plants for tomatoes. The strong fragrance confuses potentially invasive insects.
Weight
I suspected this past week was not going to be one to brag about. After the drastic water weight loss of the previous week, my body started adding water again. However, given the increase in weight, I still finished the week above my goal average. With this week's weight loss, I transitioned from obese to overweight.
One thing worth mentioning: I became so consumed with my OMitB project early in the week, I forgot to exercise. I moved my stair stepper to the living room where I could exercise while watching the episodes I was testing on TV.
Wednesday 2025.5.14
Reels of Red Tape
I spent 3½ hours on the phone with the IRS on Monday. I received a letter in the mail saying I needed to verify my identity before my income tax return could be processed. I wasn't due a refund; I paid the tax I owed.
There is an online verification thingy that is tedious and time consuming. After jumping through several hoops, I was taken to a page that said a fraudulent return had been filed. I couldn't do anything from there. That's when I started making phone calls.
By 12:30PM it was finally resolved.
Some Good News
In Sunday's blog I mentioned about the Hulu streaming service series Only Murders in the Building. I also mentioned using HandBrake to convert the video files from MP4 to MKV, which play on my home theater system.
It took a while to figure out which preset works best. There are dozens to choose from, and more than one will work. But which is the best? I settled on H.264 MKV 1080p30, not that it matters to anyone who might be reading this blog.
Having figured that out, I encoded all the Season 4 files, which took about an hour per file, and there are ten of them. So far, so good. I am enjoying watching them on my large flat-panel TV.
I decided to continue the fun with Season 1, which has two soundtracks — German and English. I encoded the files using only the English track. They work fine.
And maybe worth mentioning: I already had most of Season 4. I was missing episodes 3 and 4. My latest download allowed me to complete the season, which, when I finish watching all the videos to make certain they work well, I'll burn the files to a blank Blu-ray disc for safe, permanent storage.
More Good News
I tried inserting a micro SD card into my laptop computer. It went in, all the way in, beyond retrievable. It was an empty card. There was nothing on it I needed. But it is a 256GB card, very usable. I wanted it back.
I watched a video on YouTube (gotta love YT!) on how to remove the bottom case. After removing the cover and moving the battery I was able to get to the card slot. I removed the card easily and reassembled the computer. All is well.
As for that card slot, I won't use it again. I don't need it. I have adapters that let me use a standard USB port. Speaking of which…
I ordered a USB hub from Amazon Vine. My laptop has only one USB port, but sometimes I need to have two things plugged in at the same time. A hub will do the trick.
The Tomato Chronicles
The Early Girl I was rooting from a clipping is now in a larger pot outside. I placed it in a shaded area while the plant is acclimating itself to its new home.
I used the two-cup method to start the plant. On YouTube many gardeners prefer to use red Solo cups. However, I think they're not as good as clear colorless cups because you can't see the root development. I could see a few roots wrapping around the inside of the cup, possibly looking for more soil. It seemed like a good time to move it to a larger pot.
This is still an experiment. I'm hoping it will grow well outdoors. If so, at some point in the future I'll take another clipping and start the process again.
As I've said before, maybe too many times, the plan is to eventually root clippings to grow indoors until it's time to plant them outdoors in the spring.
As for the existing tomato plants, they are continuing to grow tall. The longest stems are about halfway up to the next rung of the tomato cage, currently 40 inches (102cm) in height. The plants were in need of another watering and I gave them a big one this time. As usual, some of the water drained out of the bottom, but the planter is now in a saucer that catches the excess. The extra water isn't lost; it was absorbed back into the planter later.
There are too many little green tomatoes to count. I'm hoping to taste my first home-grown tomato by the end of June. If I get a huge crop, like I did two years ago, I'll skin and seed many of them and freeze them to make Tomato and Basil Soup during the winter.
Meanwhile, I need to bike (or scoot) to Home Depot to buy a small bag of potting mix and some compost. I want to eventually have the experiment pot filled with soil.
Sunday 2025.5.11
Happy Mother's Day
Hopefully, you gave your mom something precious and beautiful today. Or maybe take her out for a special dinner this evening.
At Last!
The license plates for my new car finally arrived this week. I purchased the car on February 10th.
I also saw how much I'll be paying for the registration. My old SUV cost me less than $100 per year. The new car is more than $500 to register. The purchase price of a car is not the only expense to consider. There is the increase in insurance and registration, on a yearly basis.
More At Last!
There was a time when my friends shared with me their login and password for Hulu. I got hooked on the series Only Murders in the Building (OMitB).
Then the Disney corporation bought Hulu and shut down login sharing. I lost access.
I pay $15 per month for good access to the news groups, a sort of alternate internet, also called Usenet. For months I've been searching for the latest season. Late last month someone uploaded all of season four of OMitB. I already have the other three seasons. I was able to successfully download the files on Thursday. They don't play on my home theater system, but they work on my computers (but, see below).
It has long been a wish of mine to see all the seasons released on DVD or Blu-ray. I would gladly buy them. However, movies and TV shows on disc are becoming less popular. People are into streaming instead.
Meanwhile, I finally tried a program I heard about several years ago — HandBrake. It can convert videos into other formats. I used it to convert the MP4 files to MKV. They work perfectly on my home theater system.
I Learned Something New This Week
One of the movies I watch every Christmas season is "It Happened on Fifth Avenue." Mr. O'Connor's wife, Mary, makes something called slumgullion. I never knew what it was. Yesterday I stumbled on a recipe. It's the same as my mother's American Chop Suey, also know as American goulash and other names.
With that in mind, and today being Mother's Day, I chose to feature the recipe this week.
Unhappy Dentist
I think I upset a dentist on Friday. I went in for my annual exam and x-rays. She started talking about crowns. I had a dentist, now retired, several years ago who warned me about dentists making a living selling crowns. They're high-ticket items, very profitable. I told the dentist I would approve the crown if she accepted the insurance payment in full, I owe nothing. My portion would be $475, and that's only an estimate.
I said no. I'll be 74 years old in July. If I can get another five to ten years out my teeth, that might be more than I need. I asked for a copy of the recommended treatment plan because I will go seek a second opinion. I've done it before.
Everyone wants more money. My insurance premiums went up again. My copay increased. And my insurance covers only part of the treatment. My primary care physician dropped me as a patient because the insurance wouldn't pay him enough. What's wrong with earning a living? I did it for many years. But no. That PhD entitles them to be wealthy. So, how do I get more money? I don't. I'm as the bottom of the pile.
Unhappy Me
Yesterday I reached my frustration limit with that fake LEGO museum kit. The taller it got, the more unstable it became. Finally, I broke it all down, with plans to start again with glue. I have plenty of glue. But first, I need to decide whether or not I want to be bothered with it.
I already reviewed the kit on Amazon Vine, before I attempted to build it. Based on other reviews, I assumed it would go well. So, my obligation to Vine is fulfilled. If I choose to build it again, it must be because I believe it will be fun. However, right now there is a lot of frustration associated with it. I need time to recover.
Meanwhile, all the parts are going into one large plastic bag. They're not sorted into numbered envelopes. Another source of frustration might be looking for the correct pieces. Do I want to be bother? I haven't decided.
On the positive side…
Weight
My weight numbers were excellent this past week. The other numbers — blood glucose and blood pressure — were not as great. However, some continue to remain elevated but safe, even though I am no longer taking my meds (other than the antibiotic my urologist prescribed for my bladder infection).
During the seven days my weight dropped by six pounds. It's impossible to lose that much body fat in that brief period. It must be water weight. I was a little concerned about possible dehydration; so, I drank some Pedialyte. One possible side effect of taking an antibiotic is loss of appetite.
That drastic weight loss is one reason I focus on weekly averages rather than daily weights. From day to day the weight can fluctuate up and down. The average is a better indicator of accomplishment. For the week, I lost 3.3 pounds — still a lot, but more realistic than "six pounds."
And maybe worth mentioning: Yesterday evening I was more thirsty than usual. I checked my blood sugar because too high can make a person thirsty. It was a very healthy 113 mg/dL. So, I suspect my body will start packing on water again.
It helps to keep a goal reward in mind. When my weekly average weight drops below 200 pounds, I am going to treat myself to one of Costco's 18-inch pepperoni pizzas.
It's too early to think of long-term goals, but new trousers is definitely a consideration.
Wednesday 2025.5.7
LEGO-ish
I've been working on a Nature and Science Museum kit, 3,373 pieces. It's not genuine LEGO, but the quality is comparable. I've been working very slowly, only one small bag of pieces per day. I'm in no hurry.
The assembly is going well, thanks in part to my changing the order in which the pieces go together. In the book, large sections are assembled and then pressed into place on the main structure. The problem is with the number of studs that need to be attached — 45 all at one time. It's too many.
I've been looking ahead in the book to see where the section will eventually connect. Then I build the section in place on the main structure. Pressing only one brick into place at a time is easier than trying to force a large section into place.
Iced Coffee Time
Summer isn't here yet. The days are not hot. However, I've been experiencing some cravings for iced coffee again. It's easy. I make one cup, pour it into a little stainless steel pitcher, cover it, and place it in the refrigerator to enjoy later in the day. Then I make a second cup to drink during the morning. I love coffee, hot or cold.
That Shirt
You might remember my blogging about another shirt I started working on. The fabric is bamboo viscose, which has similar characteristics to rayon. It's the most difficult cloth I ever worked with. I assembled the collar three times to get it right.
The shirt is another project I'm working on very slowly, one or two pieces at a time. At nearly 74 years of age, I don't have the patience I once had. Part of the problem is my hands. They don't work as accurately as they once did. I don't fumble a lot, but working with bamboo viscose seems to require a lot of precision.
A Little Confusing
On Monday I got the antibiotics (20 tablets) for my bladder infection. The doctor's office called and said to take one per day for ten days and save the remaining ten for when/if the infection happens again. The pharmacist at Costco said No. One per day is not effective. Take two per day, morning and evening. She said she spoke with the urologist over the phone that same morning.
One of the Kentucky friends I play mini golf with is a retired nurse. I told her the story and she said she's with the pharmacist. It was two per day in the past, and that was effective; so, I'm following the pharmacist's orders.
I suspect the doctor gave instructions to his receptionist first, then called the pharmacy to submit the prescription and that's when the instructions changed. Regardless of how or why, I'm doing what it says on the bottle: "Twice daily for 10 days."
The Tomato Chronicles
There isn't much new to report. The tomato plants are still thriving, looking healthy. They continue to grow, flowers bloom, and little green tomatoes develop. I did see a few aphids, but not enough to require spraying for them. A little dish soap in water is supposed to work well.
As for the Early Girl clipping I rooted in water and then placed in a cup of soil: It's showing some new growth. There are even a few flower buds. That plant isn't intended to be for tomatoes. It's an experiment to help me learn what to do when I clone new plants this winter for transplanting outdoors next spring.
Sunday 2025.5.4
Mini Golf
The people at Mighty Coconut Walkabout Mini Golf released their latest course on Thursday, Raptor Cliff's. I blogged about it on Wednesday.
The theme is a dinosaur amusement park located on Highway 1 in California. As soon as I got the course I played through it in Practice Mode. That doesn't keep a score and I can recall my golf ball and attempt a putt again. I like the mode because it gives me time to search around for the lost balls. I found all 18, ten of which is enough to unlock the difficult version of the course. The lost balls were not hard to find.
The dinosaurs are amusing. Some of the holes are very challenging. The scenery is fantastic. And in keeping with the theme of an amusement park, there are refreshment stands, places that sell souvenirs, and plenty of discarded drinks cups littered around the place. There is also a zip line to ride.
One thought I enjoyed was my being able to play the course without hundreds of yelling children and their parents running around. Imagine having Disneyland all to yourself for one day. Maybe Elon Musk can afford that, but I can't.
During the afternoon I played the course with my Kentucky friends. Having unlocked the difficult course, we were able to play that too, doing the Fox Hunt together.
As always, the introduction of a new course opens another door in the hallways below the caddy shack. It took me a while to find the other door (hole 18 in the Sweetopia course). That unlocks the employee door from the inside.
More Spontaneous Stew
I don't know why, but I've been enjoying more soup lately. Maybe it's because it is an easy way to get a healthy portion of vegetables. I keep at least two bags of frozen mixed vegetables in the freezer. I buy the bags at Costco; so, they're large, 5½ pounds (2.49kg) each.
I cooked more beans this past week, with diced ham, and I added a little Better Than Bouillon Ham Base to the liquid. It turned out to be a delicious base for making stew.
I'm hoping I can continue this practice. It's easy, healthy, and it might help me lose more weight. Speaking of which…
Weight
My weight loss wasn't good this week, but it was okay. Any loss is an accomplishment. I would have liked to lose more, but hunger sometimes sabotages my efforts.
On the bright side, I recorded some good blood glucose and blood pressure numbers this week.
In the database I programmed, I included a graph to help me see my progress. It encourages me to keep going.
