FEBRUARY 2026
Wednesday 2026.2.25
Yet another project:
Something New
I learned something new this week. It's a bit complicated, and I'm not sure I understand it myself, but I learned enough to get what I wanted.
Back when I built my computers in 2015 I ordered an extra pair of solid state drives, SSDs. I don't remember why. However, there must have been a reason that seemed logical at the time. Those SSDs have been sitting unused in a box all these past years. They are small by today's standards — only 480GB each. It is common to see 2TB SSDs today.
Also more than a decade ago, I ordered some "USB3.0 to SATA Adapter" cables. They also remained unused in their original packaging. You probably know what a USB cable is. You have at least one USB port somewhere on your computer. On the back of internal hard disk drives (HDDs) there is a connection that the computer uses. So, the adapter cable is like a bridge between the back of an HDD and a USB port. Are you with me so far? Okay.
I decided to try formatting one of those unused SSDs as a simple drive, formatted as NTFS (which is a file system thingy developed by Microsoft for Windows computers). That gave me some portable storage space, like one of those portable external drives sold on Amazon.
I then copied some video files to the SSD and plugged it into the front of my Blu-ray player. My player reads the disk fine. No problems.
There was one last test to perform. My flash drives, A.K.A. thumb drives, can only store files up to 4GB in size. I copied an 8GB movie file onto the SSD and it played fine in my Blu-ray player.
The average lifespan of an SSD is typically 5 to 10 years, which is a little better than an HDD (3 to 7 years).
So, the upshot of all this technological wizardry is that I can easily store movies on my SSDs to watch on my TV. In fact, I can copy all my favorite Christmas and Halloween movies on one SSD, with room to spare for a Thanksgiving movie or two. This is a better alternative to flash drives. Ultimately, the SSD with the adapter cable is really just one large portable flash drive.
I'll still archive my favorite films to blank Blu-ray discs because those are known to last 10 to 20 years. Some manufactures claim 100 to 150 years under optimal conditions. I'm nearly 75 years old. The stuff I have will probably outlast me. I'm good.
State of the Union Address
I tried to watch the president's State of the Union Address yesterday evening. I heard maybe half of it before I turned away and worked on a shirt. I finished a sleeve I was working on, then I copied season two of Only Murders in the Building to my SSD and watched the first few episodes. Thankfully, I have alternatives.
Vine
Amazon Vine continues to decline, with fewer and fewer items available to request. I'm waiting to see the inventory drop below 10,000. It's getting close. As I've said several times in the past, there once was a time when there were more than 125,000 items to choose from.
This week I might fall behind my quota, unless I request some really cheap things to discard when they arrive. Thankfully, gaskets and o-rings cost less than $10, some less than $5. I requested a little credit card wallet that was $3.99.
The trick, as I've blogged about before, is to grab something quickly. If I take the time to read the product description, someone else will grab it. Most items sit on Vine for weeks. No one wants a mechanical window opener for a 2020 Ford Bronco. But some items are gone in seconds.
And speaking of vines…
The Tomato Chronicles
I added a note to my March calendar page — "Buy tomato plants." Later this week or next week I'll run a shopping errand to Costco. I'll stop at Home Depot, which is in the same shopping center, to look for tomato plants.
Sunday 2026.2.22
Another Project
Life isn't long enough for me to complete all the projects I can find to do.
Many years ago someone expressed their concern because I wasn't enthused by any projects. I answered, "I'm merely between whims."
Here's the thing: I have a lot of movies, mostly in MKV format (I won't try to explain that), on old hard disc drives (HDDs) that were once used in former computers I had built. They still work, but for how long? Many of them are well beyond the estimated life span of an HDD.
My latest project is to burn the movies onto blank Blu-ray discs. Each disc can hold three to five movie files. The discs will play in my Yamaha Blu-ray player, even though they're data discs, not true Blu-ray movie discs. And that brings up another issue (which might be too complicated to explain).
I don't know a lot about it, but movies are encoded to digital files using something called a codec. It's a compression thing. There is more than one type. The ones that use H.264 (AVC) work on my player. Movies with the newer H.265 (HEVC) codec do not. I learned a lot about those codecs when I tried to store Only Murders in the Building (OMitB) episodes on discs. How do I know which codec each film uses? I found a free utility that tells me. And so, in the database I use to log my movie titles, I added a new data field for Codec. And, even better, I have another program, HandBrake, that will re-encode a movie file from one format to the other. I used that a lot when I was working with the OMitB shows.
I started with my Christmas movies, because those are the ones I treasure most. They filled 12 blank discs. Then I did Halloween films and those with a Thanksgiving theme. Next, I'll need to find another way to categorize the remaining films — maybe keepers, like Harvey, vs. rejects like The Fifth Element (because I now have it on Blu-ray), and maybe ranked by how well they are rated on the IMDb web site.
There is another issue, which is solved by using discs. If a movie file is under 4 gigabytes, I can use a flash drive (thumb drive). Larger files require a flash drive formatted a different way, but my player doesn't recognize that format. I can watch the movies on my computer, but I have a large 65" TV. The discs eliminate the format problem.
What About the Blu-ray Disc Burner?
My Blu-ray burner might have a lifespan shorter than 10 years. As I was trying to burn some Halloween movies to a blank disc, the burner failed. Heat can cause a disk to warp ever so slightly and that can put the laser beam out of focus with the recording medium. It doesn't take much. After allowing the burner to cool overnight, I tried it again this morning. It failed.
And, this is why I build identical computers in pairs. With one burner down, I am able to continue my archiving project on the other computer.
At $250 for an internal drive, they're too expensive. Tariffs? A CD burner is only about $50. I went out to the shed and looked in my bin of computer hardware, hoping I might have a spare. No luck. I put an external burner, only about $64, on my Amazon wish list. I'll order it later this week. It will give me another advantage. It's portable. I can move it to my laptop computer.
Weight
The week started poorly. It must have been water retention because during the latter half of the week my weight came back down again. Therefore, my overall loss for the week was negligible. I'll try to do better this week.
Wednesday 2026.2.18
Another Observance
It's on my calendar. On this date in 2018 I purchased my Haier compact washing machine. I still use it to do my laundry. It is stored in a closet when not in use; otherwise, I roll it into the bathroom where I hook up the water hose and put the drain hose in the bathtub. When my laundry is done, it goes into a compact dryer in another room. I love not needing to use the park's laundry room. The dryer, by the way, was requested from Amazon Vine, back in the good ol' days.
Vine
I haven't blogged much about Amazon Vine lately. Not much has changed. The number of available items continues to decline, but I'm not complaining, much. I'm still on track to satisfy my quota by the end of the current evaluation period, which ends on May 1st. Most items I request are around $10 or less, to keep my tax obligation as low as possible.
I picked up a six-piece set of silicone KitchenAid kitchen utensils. Mostly, I wanted the spoon.
If Vine is still around when Trump leaves office, vendors might feel more inclined to offer items on Vine without needing to deal with tariffs. Or, maybe sooner, if the Democrats take control of Congress next year and curb some of Trump's tariff tendencies.
Another Done and Dusted
Yesterday I complete the latest shirt I was tailoring. I looked at my remaining supply of 100% cotton fabrics. There are two dark grays and some unbleached muslin. I'll probably use the muslin next. And, I'll probably design a more casual shirt for that fabric.
This latest shirt taught me something. I've known that men's shirt buttons come in two common sizes — 11mm and 8 or 9mm. The larger buttons are for the front and sleeve cuffs. The smaller ones are for a button-down collar and for the sleeve plackets. If I don't have the smaller size, I make a collar with stays. However, I need to remember to also make the sleeve placket shorter.
For the shirt I finished yesterday, I made the sleeve plackets too large. So, I cheated a little and used a larger button on the plackets. It's not an obvious trick, but I like things to be done correctly when I tailor shirts.
Weather
As I've been blogging about, we are getting more rain. Late yesterday evening a line of thunderstorms passed through the area. I enjoy a little thunder. The storm was brief, but I did light an oil lamp just in case the electricity was knocked out. Thankfully, it wasn't.
The next storm arrives tomorrow, then sunshine until the weekend. More rain early next week.
Sunday 2026.2.15
You Win a Few, You Lose a Few
Wednesday was not a good day. Thankfully, bad days don't happen often for me.
Three items arrived from Amazon. One was a set of casters I ordered for my Haier compact washing machine. The existing casters are okay, but for some odd reason they sometimes lock when I am moving the machine into the bathroom to do my laundry. I knew I could do better.
Of the three sizes available, I thought I had ordered the right size, but the ones that arrived had a threaded shaft that was too thin. I couldn't use the casters. I did measure carefully. I knew what I needed. But something went wrong. They were from Vine; so, I didn't pay full retail. Vine items cannot be returned. They'll go into the recycling bin. Oh well.
The second item was the automatic bobbin winder I mentioned in Wednesday's blog post. One piece was missing — the metal post that holds the spool of thread. The missing part doesn't render the appliance useless, but I spent about two hours making a part that was good enough for testing. Let's call it a prototype. It told me what I needed to know. On Thursday I properly fabricated the piece from a stainless steel straw and cemented it into place with epoxy glue. It works beautifully.
One thing for which I am thankful: I'll be 75 years old in July, but I can still think. I'm not brain dead yet. Also, I did this fix without stabbing my hand again with a screwdriver. I think I once blogged about accidentally driving a Phillips screwdriver all the way through my left hand a few years ago, without severing any nerves or tendons.
Considering how often I will likely use that bobbin winder in the future (not at all likely), the fix is fine, maybe even better than the original.
Oddly, the user's manual says to contact the company if there is any problem. However, no contact information was provided. That's the risk we take ordering made-in-China POS items. Oh well again.
The third item was the Epson salt I also mentioned in my last blog post. It is what I wanted for my future tomato plants. Although I'm not ready to plant tomatoes yet, I'm happy that I now have all the ingredients I need to set up a proper potting mix in which to start my plants. I'm feeling a little excited about the prospects. And speaking of being happy…
Eggs
I've been trying to find the best way to fry an egg without it sticking to the pan. I have cast iron skillets, carbon steel pans, non-stick coated pans, and that new frying pan that resembles a HexClad hybrid. I mentioned it last month. The fake HexClad works the best. Eggs slide around the pan with almost no sticking.
It's a new pan and the new ones always work perfectly. After a while, they lose their nonstick properties and food sticks. I'll probably toss two or three older pans into the recycling bin this week. Between my wok and my fake HexClad, I really have all I need for most of my cooking. I'm hoping the hybrid will last.
Taxes
It's hardly worth blogging about. On Thursday I went online to get the last of the 1099s I need to file my taxes. I'll probably file this month. Meanwhile, I did the forms in pencil. I'll do that another two times to make certain I don't make any mistakes.
Something odd happened last year. The IRS said I made a mistake and sent me a check for more than $2,000! I deposited it without looking any further.
Weather
It's supposed to start raining again today. This storm is projected to deliver more rainfall and continue all week. I have my shirt project to keep me busy indoors. Speaking of which…
I was lying in bed late at night thinking about the collar. Making a collar with channels for stays has always confused me. It seems too complicated. However, after thinking about it, I realized it isn't difficult at all. Instead, it's really simple. To confirm my conclusion, yesterday I watched a YouTube video that explains the process. Yep, it's easy. I'll make the collar later today.
Weight
It was a good week for weight loss. I dieted with determination. I am still enjoying my stir fried dinners, which are mostly vegetables and a small amount (about 5 ounces) of meat. I set a more realistic goal this year, 0.6 pound lost each week. I feel like I'm back on track, losing more than half a pound this week. My long-range goal is to weigh 165 pounds by the end of the year. It's only February. I have a long way to go, but I have plenty of time.
Wednesday 2026.2.11
First, an Observance
Yesterday was an occasion to observe. It's on my calendar. One year ago, on February 10th, I bought my 2025 Nissan Rogue SUV. I drove it yesterday to run an errand (see below) and my car now has 251 miles on it. And it still has more than a quarter of a tank of gasoline. In fact, this week I looked at the owner's manual to learn how to open the gas cap cover. Surprisingly, it doesn't lock. Just a push on the cover unlatches it.
During the next few weeks I will fill the gas tank for the first time.
Weather
It started raining late yesterday afternoon. We don't need it, but I find it pleasant to stay home, warm and dry, while it rains outside. Most of the rain fell overnight. Only about half an inch fell where I live, but the county did well overall. All the reservoirs are still full. This was storm number 9 for the season. The next storm, which is projected to be stronger, arrives during the weekend.
Another Shirt
This was the errand I mentioned above. I drove to a local arts and crafts store to get the thread I need to assemble the shirt I mentioned in Sunday's blog. The cutting is done. I'll start the assembly today. I wanted a tailoring project to occupy me while it rains outside.
And speaking of tailoring, an automatic bobbin winder / thread stand will arrive later today. It wasn't on Amazon Vine. I bought it on regular Amazon. Two other orders are in the shipment — four casters that I hope will fit my compact washing machine. The plastic ones currently on the machine lock too easily when I roll it into the bathroom to do my laundry. Also in the shipment is a pack of Epsom salt for my future tomato plants.
I wanted the bobbin winder more as a thread stand than a winder; although, it will come in handy when I need to wind a second bobbin (it usually requires two to complete a shirt). My Janome machine doesn't hold a spool of thread in a way I like. It holds one, but it's a bit of a nuisance to use. A thread stand is better. I have a cheap one, but it's also a nuisance.
So, here's the thing: I can put a spool holder on the bobbin winder post and that works well, just like older sewing machines with a spool peg on top. Or, I can mount the spool on the winder I bought and use that instead. I'll experiment to see which setup I like better.
And that leads to a question. Why do I need an automatic bobbin winder / thread stand when I plan to make no more shirts after I use up the fabric I have? Well, you never know. I might see an irresistible offer of 100% cotton sheets on Amazon Vine.
Some Politics
As I write this, there is a DOJ Oversight Hearing being broadcast on CNN. I turned off the sound because of the yelling. However, it's an amusing clown show. I look forward to the commentaries MSNOW (formerly MSNBC) will broadcast later today.
As for Trump, he is sinking deeper in the swamp he once promised to drain from Washington. Most critics claim the GOP will suffer badly in the upcoming midterm elections. The Republicans might lose control of both chambers of Congress. Therefore, the Trump administration is preparing the groundwork to steal the vote after the election. It will be interesting.
The Tomato Chronicles
I haven't bought tomato plants yet, but I'm thinking a lot about them. The Epsom salt I ordered will provide some magnesium (necessary for photosynthesis) and sulfur (contributes to the flavor of tomatoes). That was the last piece I wanted. I now have everything I need to prepare the planter for my next crop.
I'll probably wait until after this next storm passes. Then I'll start working on the soil.
Sunday 2026.2.8
Hotter
As expected, Wednesday was even hotter. Thursday was supposed to be another scorcher, but then the clouds rolled in. By noon the temperature dropped to a more seasonable norm. One friend asked me if I used my portable air conditioners. I didn't, because hooking the exhaust hoses up to the windows seemed like too much work for just two days of high heat.
"Winter" weather returns this week. During the latter half of the week we might see rain again.
Done and Dusted
The shirt I started, for which I made the embroidered locker loop, was finished on Friday. It looks good. I'm satisfied. It's hanging in the closet. And, by the way, I counted my shirts — both my ordinary shirts for daily wear and those I made for videos. The total is 85. How many guys need 85 shirts? I won't order any more 100% cotton bed sheets, even if I see them for free-ish on Amazon Vine.
Meanwhile, I still have a few sheets left — maybe enough for three shirts, maybe four. I started the next one, preparing the fabric — pre-shrinking and pressing. That one is a weird color, sort of like a dusty plum color. So, I'll need to go shopping to find some thread to match.
Mini Golf
Yesterday was a fun day. It wasn't our regular golfing day, which is Tuesday. However, we happened to meet online and played a couple courses.
In previous blog posts I mentioned the hallways and rooms beneath the caddy shack. I completed the internship to open the additional room. My friends hadn't; so, we worked through the last of the puzzles for one of them to unlock the new room. That added more fun to our day.
I wish I could interest my twin brother and his wife in VR headsets and Walkabout Mini Golf. But, so far, no progress. They are avid golfers; so, mini golf is probably too far beneath them. We're not getting any younger (74 now) and Dean has some difficulties with his legs. So, maybe they might think differently in a year or two.
Weight
Weight loss was a disaster this past week. I know why. I ate too much. My average for the week increased by 1.7 pounds. Note to self: Don't cheat.
Wednesday 2026.2.4
SoCal Warming
SoCal is warm this week. On Monday it was 83°F! It seemed too difficult to believe — this is February! Yesterday was even warmer.
While a large portion of the nation is still enduring freezing temperatures, waiting for the snow to melt, it was warm enough here to leave the doors and windows open and run a fan. Weather like this is the reason I moved from Connecticut to California.
The weather makes me want to barbecue again. I thawed some cubed pork to skewer and grill. However, I opened the plastic bucket where I keep my briquettes and there was water inside. I set out about half the bag on an outdoor table to dry. Maybe they'll be okay.
For the remainder of the bag, I set up a small table fan to dry the briquettes. According to the internet, they should be okay when dry. Then, if usable, I'll store the bucket in the shed.
Umami
A bottle of mirin arrived this week, another gift from Duke. Thank you again. He doesn't send me the cheap stuff; he buys the quality product. It's such a good mirin, I wanted to make certain I was using is correctly. So, I did some research.
Mirin adds a little sweetness and some umami to Asian cooking. One recommendation is to mix it with some soy sauce for flavoring meat like pork or beef. I was sprinkling some on my vegetables as I stir fry them.
And, yes, I'm still using my Yosukata wok to stir-fry my dinners. It's an excellent way to get a generous portion of vegetables into my diet each day as I try to lose more weight. I wish a plate full of cooked vegetables was as satisfying as a bowl of Fritos corn chips and dip, but alas, I am still hoping my brain will adapt to this better way of eating. I crave chips in the evening.
More Vine
Yesterday Amazon Vine listed Soba Buckwheat Noodles With Buckwheat available for request on my Recommended For You page. I ordered them. Although not low-carb, they're better than regular wheat noodles. And, they're a good source of fiber. The plan is to cook some and work them into my stir fries. If all goes well, I might make a video.
And as for writing reviews, I am now generating a ChatGPT review immediately after ordering a product. I save it until Amazon indicates it is waiting for a review.
Something New
I learned something new this week. What is a good snack to eat late in the evening before going to bed? One web site recommends cottage cheese with fruit and nuts. That gives me all kinds of ideas. Crisp fried prosciutto on top would be good. I bought some cottage cheese on my last Costco shopping errand. So far, it appears to be working. I'm falling asleep easily and I am not seeing any negative impact on my weight.
Sunday 2026.2.1
I Learned Something New This Week
A fan of the website, Duke, started using ChatGPT to write better product reviews. He does something I hadn't thought of — he asks the application to include certain key words in the review, such as size, cleaning, heat, and cooking. That's an excellent idea. Amazon looks for words like that in reviews.
Perplexed
Is life more difficult now? Or is it just me?
I sent email to the Jose's Gourmet Coffee company, saying I knew their Road Show would be here at the local Costco store this week. I asked if they would have Columbian Supremo with them. The Jose's rep asked what I wanted and how much, promising the show would hold it for me. I went to Costco on Thursday, the first day of the show, and there was no Columbian Supremo. They didn't know anything about some being held for me.
Is it because of Donald Trump? ICE? Or just plain decline in customer service?
I sent a follow-up email to Jose's, politely expressing my disappointment. They didn't respond.
However, Some Good News
I can order the coffee from the Costco website. So, no loss. I might pay a few dollars more, but the coffee is worth it. Maybe someday the local Costco store will carry it again.
More Good News
Amazon is ending its long-running relationship with the U.S. Postal System. USPS used to deliver Amazon packages. That was mostly good, but the carrier would sometimes put the parcel in the wrong mailbox or leave it at the wrong door.
So far, UPS is the more common carrier and I like them. They always deliver to the door, not a mailbox, and they usually get the delivery right. I've had complaints in the past. No one is perfect. But they've been better than the USPS.
Embroidery Again
I like having my last name on the locker loop on the back of my shirts. I rarely ever attempt it because it's a lot of work. However, I remembered that my Janome machine can embroider text. I decided to try it. It works.
Setup takes time, and I needed to print the user's manual pages to follow all the steps. But, the finished product was good enough to stitch into my latest shirt.
If you're not familiar with a locker loop, it's that small loop on the back of a shirt that was originally included to allow a person to hang their shirt on a hook in a locker when they went to a gym.
Coming Soon
It's almost time to start the Tomato Chronicles again. On Thursday morning I ordered a large 40-pound bag of odorless manure and compost mix to be used as a soil enhancer. It was delivered the following day by FedEx.
Last year's soil is still in the planter. One person said to mix the old soil with the enhancer in equal amounts. The product's reviews on Amazon were good.
It's only the beginning of February. Although SoCal is not known for winter frost, it's best to wait until early March to plant tomatoes outdoors.
I ran errands on Thursday, including a stop at Home Depot, and looked at tomato plants. The selection wasn't great. As I said, it's barely February. There were no Early Girl plants. However, with the soil enhancer here already, I can work on the pot. I'll wait until I have plants. There is no point giving weeds a nice new bed of fresh soil in which to grow. Meanwhile, I prepared the shed by doing a little more downsizing and organizing.
As usual, I learned from previous mistakes. Last year, I didn't snip off many of the suckers. One gardener said not to. They add new vines and grow fruit. The problem, however, was that my plants grew outward rather than upward. The previous year my plants grew to over six feet in height. Back then, I removed the suckers. This year, I'll aim for height again.
If experience is the best teacher, in 2024 I had so many tomatoes, I was peeling, seeding, and chopping them to bag and store in the freezer to use later for soups. And I gave some to neighbors. This past year was a disappointment. I had some fruit, but the yield was small. One neighbor asked, but there was nothing to share.
One question that I haven't answered yet: How many plants should I buy? Supposedly, it's best not to crowd the pot. However, that crop two years ago came from three plants in one planter. And this brings up another point.
What happened to the clippings I tried to root indoors to plant outdoors in the spring? None of them survived. And what about the roots already in the planter? They are not showing any signs of new growth. It's probably best to remove them anyway and start with new plants. I'll know what the old root system looks like when I dig out the old soil.
As usual, I'll take photographs and try to include them in my blog. Meanwhile, I'm getting excited about growing tomato plants again. Watch this space.
Weight
I did well this week, losing nearly 2 pounds. Yesterday's weight was a little above average because of water retention caused by consuming too much salt. Otherwise, I'm pleased. My other numbers were mostly good this week too.