March 29, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: March 29, 2025, 16 movies.
Five years ago today: March 29, 2021, I have outdated peripherals . . .
Nine years ago today: March 29, 2017, a useless sandblaster.
Random years ago today: March 29, 2005, I don’t.

           This morning found me totally refreshed after seven solid hours in the sack, although I do tend to wake up every few hours, almost as if I expect a nurse to come barging in at 3:00AM. I chose a small fan to keep just my sleep area cool and noted the Yeti will power it a full 8 hours. First thing, I hobbled over to the neighbors to find he is still not home. This is serious, I think. I tapped enough extension cord cable off a single outlet from his studio in the early dawn dark.
           This gave me coffee, a fan, and the fridge running again. But I don’t know when the city cut off my power in the past 11 days, so out goes $60 worth of groceries. That reminds me, I stopped at Publix before I drove home y’day and bought a veggie tray, some cookies, and a chocolate milk for the road trip. It reminds me why I don’t shop at Publix. $22.

           This is a Volvo “backup battery”. It was a laugh and a cry for the Robot Club y’day. I believe I have a spare brand new in the box. If I find it, off to Miami it goes next week along sith the Prez’s 5HP pressure washer. That puppy can peel paint and I’m not getting the use out of it. I’m reminding of how the Club has become like the business arrangement between myself and RofR so many years ago. What do all these things cost? Nobody knows, it is a club.
           What is the story on this battery? Well, to sensible people a battery is already a backup device. The club has joked many times that cars should already have two batteries under the hood, but the comment was intended for the dismal quality of today’s batteries. So, is Volvo admitting their choice for one battery is so back, it requires a backup?

Picture of the day.
Near Amarillo.
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           You bet I’m still tired since January 29, but bits of energy are returning and that’s all I need to function. The mostly weightless lithium battery let me fire up the Hyundai, which itself has a totally dead, but relatively new, battery. That whole battery industry is due for a shakeup. I’m old enough to remember when batteries lasted the life of the car, sometimes 15 years. I have not completed the modifications to the Hyundai to make it a great second vehicle, but after learning of recent auto repair bills, I’m glad I invested in this unit just for the security of having it.

           Prices have become so high you can now buy insurance. No, not warranty, but repair insurance, although they love to call it warranty. Makes me with some A.I. type would come up with a machine that enables mechanics to work without the major expense they face—shop rental. That’s correct, my recent $1,000 alternator repair was half shop time at $120 per hour. Imagine if the mechanic could get a portable cab and have servo motors do all the work at lightning speed right under the hood.

           Now some sad news, or at least always sad for me. Dead possum in the yard. I know it is all part of Nature’s design but I don’t like to see anything die, except possibly lazy,stupid, non-contributing humans. You heard me. There she is, I think it’s a she, just pretend she is sleeping. I used to bury the creatures, but that just makes life harder for Florida vultures. It [the carcass] was gone within the hour.

Last Laugh