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Stream of brain
Jan. 9th, 2019 07:49 amI keep meaning to post. But some days I just feel like I lack the motivation to throw together just a small update.. I forget that it ultimately doesn't matter.. I don't need to collect a lot of things to make it a "better post". This is here for me to do with it as I will. And I should will better things for myself.
That said, lots of little things, since I've been remiss in posting them as they come to me.
Home automation progresses. I use OpenHAB running on a Raspberry Pi with a Zwave controller, and I'm able to control a lot of the lighting in our personal areas via an internal web interface. Never been big on the completely-remote-cloud idea of having that kind of control, but I figure I can VPN into the house and do that sort of thing if I like. I just finally got my overhead light working in my bedroom. It is a silly thing, but there is something to be said for being able to turn off your light without getting out of bed. I've also been working on some All-Off macros that allow us to turn off all the area lights with one button. That is kinda nice when you're running out the door. I'm getting ready to venture into IoT, but I need to build out the routing and firewall exceptions to allow those things to work on our guest network without running the risk of data leaking into or from our private network. More stuff to do.
Along the lines of our network, I finally did get a guest network built working on an independent and segregated VLAN allowing us to offer internet access to visitors as needed. It is where all the IoT crap will live as well. And I recently expanded yet again our 5ghz footprint by installing another access point in the basement. Ubiquity really makes it easy, and the locally run controller makes it fun to monitor and manage. Feels good to have rock-solid throughput all throughout the house, and to be able to have segregated access. I am happy with the products and really thrilled with the ease to set up.
I, my two sweeties, and lots of other friends and folks have joined a musical accountability group on Facebook where we have committed to practicing our craft for a given time allotment per day. It has helped me with motivation, and given me a way to focus my needs, musically. I've decided it's time to finally learn another Gershwin Prelude (Number 1), and I have some other things I'm working on as well on piano. I've also been working more on bass, and as soon as space allows, there will be a drum set to contend with. :-)
Epiphany has passed.. And the tree and decorations are still up. I suspect they will remain that way until closer to my birthday. I've really enjoyed having it up, and I'm going to miss it significantly. I may consider making alternate holiday-relevant decorating arrangements as we go throughout the year.
Along with the timing, I think some of the next big house plans will be to appropriately trim and deal with the yard. The poor roses have gone without care, and the poor rhodie next to the house has turned into an unhappy tree. We also discovered some leaks on the deck that we need to address, and it would be good to get things better organized out there.
Still plenty to do inside. I've been making efforts to chip away at the remaining box piles. We've mostly entered the phase where most of the day-to-day stuff is unpacked and in use, but still finding the not-often-used things still squirreled away, and trying to figure out where we left them. I think we're on the cusp of a major kitchen initiative as well to both consolidate and review our combined bounty and decide if we're storing or purging. And there are still lots of boxes scattered about that we have to make decisions about. The entry room that leads to our bedrooms is still rather cluttered, and we're going to be working towards making that a better place to hang out and to have some space to exist. And then there is the art room.... and the basement....
Speaking of the basement, my previous budgeting efforts have netted us a tidy sum with which to replace our old couches that have found their way into our second family room in the basement. The plan will be to replace two with a sectional. I'm looking forward to having the space be more friendly to guests, and have plans for movie nights! Stay tuned!
Lessee.... Music accountability group aside, I'm still mostly viewing Facebook from a distance.. I am occasionally participating on friend's posts, but generally only posting content here, on Twitter, and on Instagram. I've had some additional tugs towards MeWe recently, but I think some of what I'm avoiding is the overall format of how Facebook does social media, and MeWe is a good clone, which makes MeWe unappealing in that way. I may post this post on Facebook in effort to remind folks to come on over to the dark side here.
Health wise, things seem mostly ok. I finally got my insurance settled out from the new job, and got a physical squared away. I still need to finish up some of the routing labwork, but things seem to be mostly ok. Winter weather has dried me out again, and my hands are on their unending peel. Lotion is helping some. I'm also using that liquid skin product to make sure I keep cuts and splits handled. My usual callouses and splits get much worse in winter, and I'm hoping to make it better this time around. Still dealing with lots of sniffles and congestion on a somewhat regular basis. I'm reasonably convinced that I've finally lost my immunity to the local vegetation and my body seems rather content to ride the wave of irritation on it. Still happy that my sinus headaches are few and mild in general. I've also been considering a food sensitivity fast in efforts to see if I'm finding issues with anything. My body has been less than fond of something lately, and I'm hoping to narrow down what it might be. Also hoping to make some efforts to stretch and tone my bod. I'm reminded daily of how poorly I take care of that part of myself, and I'm hoping that some efforts towards that will yield tangible results.
Overall, lots of stress from work. Hoping to make some adjustments to make that easier. Other holiday related stresses that hopefully will dissipate now that we're coming out of it. Also trying to find ways to relax and be present in the world. And to meditate or at least to step outside the usual grind long enough to find some peace.
Coming up on 47 next month. Chugging along. :-)
How are things for you?
That said, lots of little things, since I've been remiss in posting them as they come to me.
Home automation progresses. I use OpenHAB running on a Raspberry Pi with a Zwave controller, and I'm able to control a lot of the lighting in our personal areas via an internal web interface. Never been big on the completely-remote-cloud idea of having that kind of control, but I figure I can VPN into the house and do that sort of thing if I like. I just finally got my overhead light working in my bedroom. It is a silly thing, but there is something to be said for being able to turn off your light without getting out of bed. I've also been working on some All-Off macros that allow us to turn off all the area lights with one button. That is kinda nice when you're running out the door. I'm getting ready to venture into IoT, but I need to build out the routing and firewall exceptions to allow those things to work on our guest network without running the risk of data leaking into or from our private network. More stuff to do.
Along the lines of our network, I finally did get a guest network built working on an independent and segregated VLAN allowing us to offer internet access to visitors as needed. It is where all the IoT crap will live as well. And I recently expanded yet again our 5ghz footprint by installing another access point in the basement. Ubiquity really makes it easy, and the locally run controller makes it fun to monitor and manage. Feels good to have rock-solid throughput all throughout the house, and to be able to have segregated access. I am happy with the products and really thrilled with the ease to set up.
I, my two sweeties, and lots of other friends and folks have joined a musical accountability group on Facebook where we have committed to practicing our craft for a given time allotment per day. It has helped me with motivation, and given me a way to focus my needs, musically. I've decided it's time to finally learn another Gershwin Prelude (Number 1), and I have some other things I'm working on as well on piano. I've also been working more on bass, and as soon as space allows, there will be a drum set to contend with. :-)
Epiphany has passed.. And the tree and decorations are still up. I suspect they will remain that way until closer to my birthday. I've really enjoyed having it up, and I'm going to miss it significantly. I may consider making alternate holiday-relevant decorating arrangements as we go throughout the year.
Along with the timing, I think some of the next big house plans will be to appropriately trim and deal with the yard. The poor roses have gone without care, and the poor rhodie next to the house has turned into an unhappy tree. We also discovered some leaks on the deck that we need to address, and it would be good to get things better organized out there.
Still plenty to do inside. I've been making efforts to chip away at the remaining box piles. We've mostly entered the phase where most of the day-to-day stuff is unpacked and in use, but still finding the not-often-used things still squirreled away, and trying to figure out where we left them. I think we're on the cusp of a major kitchen initiative as well to both consolidate and review our combined bounty and decide if we're storing or purging. And there are still lots of boxes scattered about that we have to make decisions about. The entry room that leads to our bedrooms is still rather cluttered, and we're going to be working towards making that a better place to hang out and to have some space to exist. And then there is the art room.... and the basement....
Speaking of the basement, my previous budgeting efforts have netted us a tidy sum with which to replace our old couches that have found their way into our second family room in the basement. The plan will be to replace two with a sectional. I'm looking forward to having the space be more friendly to guests, and have plans for movie nights! Stay tuned!
Lessee.... Music accountability group aside, I'm still mostly viewing Facebook from a distance.. I am occasionally participating on friend's posts, but generally only posting content here, on Twitter, and on Instagram. I've had some additional tugs towards MeWe recently, but I think some of what I'm avoiding is the overall format of how Facebook does social media, and MeWe is a good clone, which makes MeWe unappealing in that way. I may post this post on Facebook in effort to remind folks to come on over to the dark side here.
Health wise, things seem mostly ok. I finally got my insurance settled out from the new job, and got a physical squared away. I still need to finish up some of the routing labwork, but things seem to be mostly ok. Winter weather has dried me out again, and my hands are on their unending peel. Lotion is helping some. I'm also using that liquid skin product to make sure I keep cuts and splits handled. My usual callouses and splits get much worse in winter, and I'm hoping to make it better this time around. Still dealing with lots of sniffles and congestion on a somewhat regular basis. I'm reasonably convinced that I've finally lost my immunity to the local vegetation and my body seems rather content to ride the wave of irritation on it. Still happy that my sinus headaches are few and mild in general. I've also been considering a food sensitivity fast in efforts to see if I'm finding issues with anything. My body has been less than fond of something lately, and I'm hoping to narrow down what it might be. Also hoping to make some efforts to stretch and tone my bod. I'm reminded daily of how poorly I take care of that part of myself, and I'm hoping that some efforts towards that will yield tangible results.
Overall, lots of stress from work. Hoping to make some adjustments to make that easier. Other holiday related stresses that hopefully will dissipate now that we're coming out of it. Also trying to find ways to relax and be present in the world. And to meditate or at least to step outside the usual grind long enough to find some peace.
Coming up on 47 next month. Chugging along. :-)
How are things for you?
