Macintosh (computer)
Jul. 30th, 2025 10:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
redbirdI got Cattitude to disconnect my old Windows PC from the peripherals, move it out of the way, and put the MacBook in its place instead.
Moving over is being more annoying than I expected. Some of that is that I don't remember offhand where I left some files. But I also spent a bunch of time wrestling with the Mail app, which decided for no apparent reason that the server was offline. Restarting the machine didn't help, and then the problem went away on its own.
Also, the displays for just about everything have too little contrast, and the text is too small. I thought I'd found a way to change that for everything, but apparently not, so I've only done a few.
I'm probably done for tonight. I have an appointment to get my teeth cleaned early tomorrow afternoon, and I may not work on this further until I get home afterwards.
Moving over is being more annoying than I expected. Some of that is that I don't remember offhand where I left some files. But I also spent a bunch of time wrestling with the Mail app, which decided for no apparent reason that the server was offline. Restarting the machine didn't help, and then the problem went away on its own.
Also, the displays for just about everything have too little contrast, and the text is too small. I thought I'd found a way to change that for everything, but apparently not, so I've only done a few.
I'm probably done for tonight. I have an appointment to get my teeth cleaned early tomorrow afternoon, and I may not work on this further until I get home afterwards.
appointment with Carmen: naproxen, gut, lungs
Jul. 29th, 2025 02:54 pmredbirdThis was the quarterly check-in so she can refill the Ritalin prescription, and cover anything else non-urgent.
I talked about how my gut is doing, and that I'm trying to reduce my use of naproxen (and NSAIDs generally) at the advice of the GI doctor. So far, that has meant waiting a little while before taking a naproxen because something hurts, and not taking it preventively for short walks. Airports, yes.
Carmen said there aren't a lot of good options, and recommended a turmeric supplement that someone she used to work for, who also did Ayurvedic medicine, recommended. I expressed some general skepticism, and specifically how much turmeric people had to eat to benefit. The recommendation is for a supplement that you tuck in next to your gum, so it's absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Carmen said "you can get it on Amazon," and Adrian pointed out after the visit that I should check the inactive ingredients carefully.
She also asked about my breathing, and I told her that recently, I've coughed up less phlegm after using the flutter valve, without having more trouble breathing. Less crap in my lungs is good, of course, and this means I won't worry much about skipping the flutter valve for things like travel and dental work. However, I'm basically sticking to the same twice-a-day schedule at least until the next time I see the lung doctor.
I also told Carmen about the strawberry allergy, and what symptoms I'd noted. I mentioned that I'm also probably allergic to stevia, and she made a note of both allergies.
The next appointment, in about three months, is for a physical exam, so longer and in person. At 1:30, so I can get lunch in Davis Square, weather allowing.
I talked about how my gut is doing, and that I'm trying to reduce my use of naproxen (and NSAIDs generally) at the advice of the GI doctor. So far, that has meant waiting a little while before taking a naproxen because something hurts, and not taking it preventively for short walks. Airports, yes.
Carmen said there aren't a lot of good options, and recommended a turmeric supplement that someone she used to work for, who also did Ayurvedic medicine, recommended. I expressed some general skepticism, and specifically how much turmeric people had to eat to benefit. The recommendation is for a supplement that you tuck in next to your gum, so it's absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Carmen said "you can get it on Amazon," and Adrian pointed out after the visit that I should check the inactive ingredients carefully.
She also asked about my breathing, and I told her that recently, I've coughed up less phlegm after using the flutter valve, without having more trouble breathing. Less crap in my lungs is good, of course, and this means I won't worry much about skipping the flutter valve for things like travel and dental work. However, I'm basically sticking to the same twice-a-day schedule at least until the next time I see the lung doctor.
I also told Carmen about the strawberry allergy, and what symptoms I'd noted. I mentioned that I'm also probably allergic to stevia, and she made a note of both allergies.
The next appointment, in about three months, is for a physical exam, so longer and in person. At 1:30, so I can get lunch in Davis Square, weather allowing.
a productive day
Jul. 28th, 2025 05:13 pmredbirdI just got off the phone with a (genuinely) helpful person at Amalgamated Bank.
I've been talking to them in order to close a joint account in my and my mother's names, and the bank told me in June that the easiest way to do this would be to withdraw all the money and then have them close the account. In order to do that, I had to set up online banking, but only after adding my phone number to the account, which I did in June. Apparently the reason I couldn't log in to the online account after setting it up was that I'd written the password down wrong.
The person at the bank reset my password for me, and then told me how to link this account to an account at another bank. I'm waiting for the test deposits to hit my account, which may take a few days. After than, I can transfer the rest of the money.
Also, I got up in time to go for a walk this morning, to the grocery store and back, before it got too hot. It's a hot day in July, so the six things I bought included ice cream, Italian ices, and fresh blueberries.
I've been talking to them in order to close a joint account in my and my mother's names, and the bank told me in June that the easiest way to do this would be to withdraw all the money and then have them close the account. In order to do that, I had to set up online banking, but only after adding my phone number to the account, which I did in June. Apparently the reason I couldn't log in to the online account after setting it up was that I'd written the password down wrong.
The person at the bank reset my password for me, and then told me how to link this account to an account at another bank. I'm waiting for the test deposits to hit my account, which may take a few days. After than, I can transfer the rest of the money.
Also, I got up in time to go for a walk this morning, to the grocery store and back, before it got too hot. It's a hot day in July, so the six things I bought included ice cream, Italian ices, and fresh blueberries.
Like a door that keeps revolving in a half forgotten dream
Jul. 28th, 2025 09:39 pmludyIn a conversation about internet-ness this morning (specifically the sometimes random amounts of time between A sending an email and B receiving it) I used the phrase “like a wheel within a wheel”. And consequently have had this song stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
(There are umpty different versions but I’m particularly fond on this one by the glorious Alison Moyet)
(There are umpty different versions but I’m particularly fond on this one by the glorious Alison Moyet)
wanted no applause, just another course
Jul. 28th, 2025 01:04 amthe_siobhanHOUSE
Painting is taking longer than normal because the humidity is 5 billion percent. I put spackle on the wall that claimed to dry in 8 hours, tried to sand it 24 hours later and it was still soft. So I've been letting stuff dry for longer than normal between coats.
BUT. The new room in the basement is 100% done with patching & painting.
The old room - the one the contractors weren't supposed to do anything to - needed several coats of heavy primer because they wrote all their measurements all over the walls in marker for some reason. I'm doing the trim in there next weekend and then that room is done. The bathroom is also patched and I'm going to give it one more layer of primer.
Then we wait while the The FinalBossContractor does his work on the steps etc. There are some odds and ends to take care of still - like swapping out fixtures - but that will wait until the contractors are done in the basement.
CAT
ALL of the elderly furball's tests came back with flying colours and I have been told to reduce his steroids down to a fifth of his previous dosage. I found a duck-flavoured hypo-allergenic wet food he will tolerate, and he likes the hypo-allergenic treats. So that's going really well. He now has enough energy to follow me around the house and yell at me non-stop because just like with my human family, I am not doing what I am supposed to be doing.
A thing he has decided that I find absolutely hilarious; we are supposed to eat together. Like a family, dammit. I have been able to get away with eating at my desk because there isn't an easy way for him to sit next to me, but when I'm on the couch I have to set a plate out for him at the same time I have my supper. I think it's hilarious that this is a thing and he probably thinks I am very stupid that it took me this long to figure it out.
ME
Foot seems to be actually improving, in that it's still stiff as hell when I get up in the morning but it really doesn't hurt much any more unless I do something exceptionally stupid, like forget to take my cane on my mandatory in-office day.
Now that the work on the house is getting to the point where it's less urgent I am going to start setting aside time to exercise again because I am a bundle of raw nerve endings. I was dealing with that by doing a lot of walking, but obviously that plan fell right off a cliff. So I'm going to try and get back on the stationary bicycle more regularly and maybe that will stop me from chewing the ends of my fingers off.
One can hope.
Painting is taking longer than normal because the humidity is 5 billion percent. I put spackle on the wall that claimed to dry in 8 hours, tried to sand it 24 hours later and it was still soft. So I've been letting stuff dry for longer than normal between coats.
BUT. The new room in the basement is 100% done with patching & painting.
The old room - the one the contractors weren't supposed to do anything to - needed several coats of heavy primer because they wrote all their measurements all over the walls in marker for some reason. I'm doing the trim in there next weekend and then that room is done. The bathroom is also patched and I'm going to give it one more layer of primer.
Then we wait while the The Final
CAT
ALL of the elderly furball's tests came back with flying colours and I have been told to reduce his steroids down to a fifth of his previous dosage. I found a duck-flavoured hypo-allergenic wet food he will tolerate, and he likes the hypo-allergenic treats. So that's going really well. He now has enough energy to follow me around the house and yell at me non-stop because just like with my human family, I am not doing what I am supposed to be doing.
A thing he has decided that I find absolutely hilarious; we are supposed to eat together. Like a family, dammit. I have been able to get away with eating at my desk because there isn't an easy way for him to sit next to me, but when I'm on the couch I have to set a plate out for him at the same time I have my supper. I think it's hilarious that this is a thing and he probably thinks I am very stupid that it took me this long to figure it out.
ME
Foot seems to be actually improving, in that it's still stiff as hell when I get up in the morning but it really doesn't hurt much any more unless I do something exceptionally stupid, like forget to take my cane on my mandatory in-office day.
Now that the work on the house is getting to the point where it's less urgent I am going to start setting aside time to exercise again because I am a bundle of raw nerve endings. I was dealing with that by doing a lot of walking, but obviously that plan fell right off a cliff. So I'm going to try and get back on the stationary bicycle more regularly and maybe that will stop me from chewing the ends of my fingers off.
One can hope.
There is too much month in the next month
Jul. 28th, 2025 01:26 amkiyaI need to write some shit down so I can sort it all out.
Will add to it as I remember things I need to deal with so I can unload them from my brain.
( Primarily of interest to me. )
Will add to it as I remember things I need to deal with so I can unload them from my brain.
( Primarily of interest to me. )
[ gaming ] It's nice to occasionally have a sequence of morally uncomplicated fights
Jul. 27th, 2025 07:20 pmkiyaThree lunatics and a paladin, once more.
Dramatis Personae:
Viepuck and Izgil, who have complicated magical theory shit going on
Celyn and Robin, who hit things and heal people
When we left off we had retrieved an evil sphere and yelled for help answering what to do with it.
( So we sorted out what to do next. )
Dramatis Personae:
Viepuck and Izgil, who have complicated magical theory shit going on
Celyn and Robin, who hit things and heal people
When we left off we had retrieved an evil sphere and yelled for help answering what to do with it.
( So we sorted out what to do next. )
RIP Tom Lehrer
Jul. 27th, 2025 04:02 pmredbirdTom Lehrer, a satirical songwriter and professor of math and musical theater, has died, age 97. A lot of his songs are satirical, often about then-current events, but most of those songs hold up pretty well, I think.
The Universal Hub post about Lehrer's death links to several videos.
Lehrer placed all his music in the public domain, including performance rights and the right to publish parodies and distortions, in the public domain a few years ago. Everything is available for download, though the website includes a notice that it will be shut down at some date in the not too distant future (relative to 2022.
Oh, and Lehrer also wrote my favorite song from the PBS program The Electric Company, "Silent E."
The Universal Hub post about Lehrer's death links to several videos.
Lehrer placed all his music in the public domain, including performance rights and the right to publish parodies and distortions, in the public domain a few years ago. Everything is available for download, though the website includes a notice that it will be shut down at some date in the not too distant future (relative to 2022.
Oh, and Lehrer also wrote my favorite song from the PBS program The Electric Company, "Silent E."
Feeling better
Jul. 27th, 2025 03:57 pmclawfootTo my great relief, I'm feeling much better. As quickly as it came on, it seems to be retreating just as suddenly. Thank goodness for a strong immune system, I guess. I'm not yet at 100%, but I'm noticeably improved over yesterday. I'll likely work tomorrow (albeit from home, if only out of an overabundance of caution). And I should be good to continue with my long weekend plans.
I do have another at-home rapid COVID test, which I'll take tonight before bed, if only to be EXTRA sure. I'm not looking forward to it. It's unpleasant, sticking the swab as far as I can up my nose. It doesn't hurt, but the inside of my nasal passages feel super-sensitive, and swabbing them continuously for 10 seconds or so is not fun.
I do have another at-home rapid COVID test, which I'll take tonight before bed, if only to be EXTRA sure. I'm not looking forward to it. It's unpleasant, sticking the swab as far as I can up my nose. It doesn't hurt, but the inside of my nasal passages feel super-sensitive, and swabbing them continuously for 10 seconds or so is not fun.
Percy Jackson
Jul. 27th, 2025 04:48 pmailbheI'm partway through book 3 and I just want to note that Hippocampi is a terrible, terrible, terrible pun.
(no subject)
Jul. 26th, 2025 03:52 pmfirecatJust got out of a week intubated in the icu (not outta the woods but on the mend) and had lost my ability to walk I felt proud of being able to walk around as a fat person so I was embarrassed and described myself as ”weak as a newborn kitten” but when I thought about it I realized kittens come out pretty darn weak but they’re designed to develop into killing machines whch they do in short order yeah I got this. No plans to kill any one just, metaphors have power
flu vaccines
Jul. 25th, 2025 01:47 pmredbirdThis is health/health care, specifically vaccines, but it's related to US politics: If you live in the United States and are wondering whether you can get a flu shot this fall, yes they will be available. Whether you have to pay for it depends on what kind of insurance you have. The following applies specifically to the flu vaccine, and not to most other vaccines.
If you have Medicare, the seasonal flu shot is covered at no charge. For adults with private insurance, that's up to the insurer, and Dr. Jeremy Faust thinks most insurance companies will cover it. For children, either their insurance covers the flu vaccine, or they can get it from the "Vaccines for Children" program, but only in certain locations, which do not include the pediatrician's office. I'm linking to Dr. Faust's post, and his description is complicated because it's describing a complicated situation.
https://insidemedicine.substack.com/p/is-rfk-jr-calling-the-shots-who-can
That article says that federal law also has specific rules for three other vaccines--pneumococcus, covid, and hepatitis B--but neither Dr. Faust nor the website he links to say whether the same rules apply to them and to seasonal flu shots.
The information above is as of July 25, 2025.
If you have Medicare, the seasonal flu shot is covered at no charge. For adults with private insurance, that's up to the insurer, and Dr. Jeremy Faust thinks most insurance companies will cover it. For children, either their insurance covers the flu vaccine, or they can get it from the "Vaccines for Children" program, but only in certain locations, which do not include the pediatrician's office. I'm linking to Dr. Faust's post, and his description is complicated because it's describing a complicated situation.
https://insidemedicine.substack.com/p/is-rfk-jr-calling-the-shots-who-can
That article says that federal law also has specific rules for three other vaccines--pneumococcus, covid, and hepatitis B--but neither Dr. Faust nor the website he links to say whether the same rules apply to them and to seasonal flu shots.
The information above is as of July 25, 2025.