I touched the rains down in Florida.....

Okay, so I'm not Toto singing about Africa. 

But with rain in Florida, comes froggies. 

Sometimes little baby (translucent, even) frogs. 

Case in point:

Twice this week we had randomly unexpected rain in the mornings. Normally in the summer months, you can set a watch by the 4pm showers. Someone, somewhere, decided to do us dirty and bring blanketed rain across the area by 8am. 

So what happens? All the little bugs, insects, amphibians, puddle dwellers... come out to play earlier than normal.

Therefore, while I was doing my rounds at work, I got to pass a wall of windows at one point in my travels and counted up to 8 little tiny frogs clinging to the glass. 

Which I made use of, with my fruit phone. I wish I had my Canon, but as per usual, I can't bring it to work. So out comes the 11 and try as I might to focus, WYSIWYG with the photos. 

All I did for editing was add my name.

It's been weird to see so many of these small jumpers, especially when they are so far from the main level of the building. The area I found them in, was the second floor / roof top cut through to another building. 

The way our commons area is set up, is there is a lobby area. From that level, you go straight to two restaurant options, or, go left or right to the end of a hallway. A set of elevators on each end takes you either down a flight to the first floor parking garage or up to the resident floors. You can also take a mini elevator in the lobby to the second floor of the commons, which houses a couple offices and some event rooms. From this second floor access area, you can go down one of two hallways and cut across a roof top. Open the door to the next building and you're on what they call the "first floor" of that apartment complex. 

So... I took the frog pictures on my way to this roof access area. 

If that all makes sense.

One thing that doesn't make sense .. in a way... is I'm back to my deodorant problem.

I finished the Native sticks I had, and am now using Tom's. I wrote several months ago that I bought Tom's of Maine Unscented Deodorant and I was going to give it a try when I finished whatever brand I was using. Well, 2 or 3 sticks later, I finally gave it a whirl. 

I don't know if it's partially due to the new recent spike in humidity here (it's been 100-110 every day for over a month) or my trying the more oil infused pit stick, but the unscented stick didn't really help. I think it's the added lemongrass oil that is making my arm pits react funny to the humidity, as when I put it on, my arms are dry. The stick slides on as if it's wet and through out the day, I don't feel as dry as I did when I toweled off. Yes, the 108 degree humidity isn't helping, nor is wearing a white undershirt under my work shirt, but I thought the premise of these things were to make you keep feeling (and smelling) clean? 

So I gave up on the unscented stick. I actually spent a few days just using the Walmart version of Gold Bond Medicated Talc-Free Extra Strength Body Powder 10 oz, Cooling, Absorbing & Itch Relief. Let everything air out and heal. Made me a little self conscious because you know when you sweat a lot from working out or sweat a lot in general because of the heat... you start smelling not so fresh. Even though one of my co-workers said she doesn't think I smell, I can smell me. It's not pretty. 

Well, the last couple days I started using the Tom's of Maine Natural Strength Fresh Coconut Deodorant. Yes, even after a while of not using it and starting over, I smell like a patchouli farm. I even had my mother smell the stick. I said "smell this" and put the open Tom's by her nose. First thing she says was "it smells like patchouli... I love patchouli". I said "wrong. It's labeled "fresh coconut". This is the same smell I got the last time when I said I smell like a hippy". I had her smell my pits. She said I smell like patchouli. I guess I'm a dirty hippy. 

But hey, if it works, I'd rather be lumped in the "alls fair in love not war" mantra of giving peace a chance group than fighting for my right to bear arms. 

Yes, guns are necessary but not in the way society is going. But that's another topic for another day.

Therefore, I'll give the coconutted patchouli another go, and wonder what the sage will smell like when I start it. Hopefully the humidity goes away soon and I don't have to worry about my arm pits having heat rash mixed with essential oils reactions for a few more months. 

Until then... maybe I should think about taking one of those allergy tests to show what really is my problem and how to avoid it. 

Cheers! 

Dang.. didn't work.

 So this morning when I wrote I was able to disable the charms from the right hand side of the screen, I was only able to disable it when the mouse hits the upper right hand corner of the the screen.

Moving the mouse anywhere else on the right hand side, makes the charms pop up.

Crap. All searches lead to #MSFail. 

I was excited to have found a way to disable the troublemaker, but even other webpages state there's some underlying weirdness going on with the charms and all registry edits can't fix it, unless you download and run some third party app killer. 

Which I don't want to do. 

I guess I'll just live with it.

Totally not cool... just because one nerd likes it, doesn't mean everyone will appreciate it. 

If anyone knows another trick, let me know!

Cheers;

May the power of internet research help you!

 Yeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhh buddy!

For weeks, I've been battling the Windows 8 "charms" on my HP laptop. I'm totally not used to having to struggle with my mouse / trackpad and have everything get jumbled up and inoperable. 

Those who jumped from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and don't know what I'm talking about (I'm guessing Windows 10 doesn't have this... I could be wrong), Windows 8 has something called "charms". They are on the right hand side of the screen and only appears when you place your mouse in that area. It's typically translucent shortcuts that allow you do do various things - go to the Start menu, Share, Search, Devices and Settings. It's just one of the added features Microsoft thought users could need when they upgraded devices. 

I don't think they thought this through.

Like I said, hovering in the right hand side of the screen, especially when you're in the middle of doing work, a taskbar shows up. They are light enough that you really don't notice them until you start clicking on an area of the program you are in, and your mouse and keys start dragging. At least that's what has been happening with me. 

The best I can explain it is that my mouse catches on a piece of the transparency and won't unclick. No matter how I move the mouse or touch any keys. It's like the mouse is trying to drag something across the screen. Things end up getting bogged down / slow. 

It is one of the worst ideas Microsoft has ever had.

As I didn't know how to disable it, thinking there wasn't any way, I've been dealing with what feels like a broken computer, every time I hover in that area. 

So I've finally had enough. After using this laptop for the past couple months (and it collecting dust for a couple years... that is why I am using Windows 8 instead of 10), I went online and found a way to finally get rid of those damn icons once and for all.

Or at least until I want them back or someone is on my computer and wants to mess with me.

All it took was right clicking the main taskbar. Going to "Properties", "Navigation", and then unselect "When I point to the upper-right hand corner, show the charms". Press "Okay" and be done with the suckers. 

Now they aren't there and I don't have to feel like I'm working on a machine that wants to anger me into the depths of not wanting it anymore. 

Maybe technology can be saved after all??

Cheers;

Corruption… that’s all we need

Before I start this post… I have to say I’m on my Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, as I am currently at work.

I received the Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter yesterday in the mail. Testing it today at work, it’s a little funky. 

(Photos taken on iPhone 11, name added via editing mode). 

First thing that happened when I put the lightning end into the phone (with USB stick in the adapter end, along with a power source… you must use a power source with this), I received a message to update the firmware within Apple. It was the Apple pop up message, not a “gentle warming” (warning) message that you get with some of the third party (foreign / loosely translated text) adapters. This seemed like a legit Apple pop up. 

I updated the adapter file because I don’t think you can go further unless you agree / confirm its use. It seems like it needs to do it’s thing in order to install the necessary operating files that the Apple’s stock “Files” app needs, in order read whatever you are hooking up to the phone. In my case, the thumb drive shows up as “NO NAME” with a drop down menu to see what’s on the drive. 

You must have Files app installed on the phone to do any transferring. 

Second thing that happened, once everything was properly installed, was the fact I could see everything I’ve saved to my thumb drive and was able to read it. We are talking PowerPoint presentations, PDF files, but as there are no image files on my drive, I can’t attest to those showing up. I’m sure they do. 

Maneuvering things around to be able to send a file to someone is pretty easy. It’s quite the same steps as what you would normally do to share or save files on the phone and spider out to whatever the need is.

The challenge becomes taking that thumb drive and using it in a computer. 

Which brings me to the third thing that happened.

Every time you use the drive with the adapter, a cache system gets put on the drive. Folders get created because whatever the original update to the phone was, it creates a temporary file so that you’re able to use / see the files everywhere. 

Which then becomes problematic if you’re not careful.

If you don’t wait until things copy or save on the thumb drive via the adapter, it creates a disk error on the computer. You have to give it at least a minute after you are done, in order to “eject” the drive and adapter from your phone. As there is no “eject device” option, this is why waiting a minute is important. 

Plugging the thumb drive for the first time into a computer (after saving a file on the phone), I got the “There is a problem with the drive. Scan now to repair” message. 

First time I didn’t scan the drive because I just wanted to open a file and print it. But… opening the PDF on the computer, created half a dozen error messages on the screen. Literally, pop up after pop up. All saying the file is corrupted. It wasn’t a virus pop up - trust me; I know what those look like. I’ve dealt with enough “file corrupt” messages to know something is fruity with how it was created or saved. 

So… eject media. 

Plug back in. 

Repair drive. 

Try again.

All but one file repaired itself, so I ended up having to go back to my phone and resave the file to the drive, plug it into the computer, et voilà! File fixed, printed.

Now I need to check another laptop to make sure a PowerPoint presentation saved correctly on it. Otherwise I need to resave the presentation from the work computer and re-transfer it. 

It really is a matter of watching what you are doing and being careful because not following directions and just jumping into it, can cause a little more stress and damage than you think. 

Had I not seen a lot of the messages before or just ignored it all, I wouldn’t be able to use anything I attach to my phone. I think it is a matter of taking your time on it and go “through the motions” of following directions because I want to be able to save files quickly to my thumb drive, transfer it to my phone and be able to text it to someone. 

If the future of technology is that we don’t have clunky desktop computers anymore, then we have to know how to adapt to smaller items. Especially when you have two environments that don’t usually like to talk to each other. Trying to find that happy medium to make things work, is key. 

I’m going to need to continue to play with this adapter and see if any other trouble happens… not that I want it, because the adapter isn’t cheap. But if I get another failure / repair / etc. option, I want to be prepared. 

I’ll update this topic when I can, with subsequent posts.

Until then, happy saving!

Cheers;

"We'll build a glass asylum"

 With just a hint of mayhem

David Bowie

Big Brother

Diamond Dogs

1974

I opened the refrigerator this morning to make my smoothie and took the yogurt out. Behind the yogurt was a "crisp apple" flavored bottle of Hint water that my mother had bought. The first thing that came blaring in my head was the "JUST A HINT OF MAYHEM..." from the above referenced db song. I don't know why it popped in my head when I saw the word "hint", but it did. I can't be responsible for things that happen before I've had my breakfast. 

Conversely, I have been milling over a couple things to buy on Amazon for the better part of a month. 

In my cart, I had "saved" Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter because I've been trying to research options of hot to transfer files from a thumb drive to my iPhone without having to use iCloud, email myself or by using any other software. There have been multiple reviews saying people are using this camera adapter for things other than photo transferring. They're plugging in other electronic devices (musical / recording instruments) and quite a few have mentioned USB sticks. I want to try that. I'm tired of being in places where I have access to saving a PDF and have to either email it to myself from a different computer or save it to my little 8gb thumb drive, in order to text the information to someone. If I can carry this adapter with me, it can save me some time. 

I know, I know... I could have bought a thumb drive for iPhone, but the couple ones I looked at (the brand names I trust) looked odd in the travel department. I didn't see how it could hook to my keys in order to carry it around. Yes, it's harder to carry this adapter with me, but I'm really only intending to use it in one place at the moment, and it can stay in my backpack with my phone charger. Plus, I spend some time talking on Skype with a few friends. Maybe I'll try using a USB hub in this and plug in an external microphone and speaker... see how far I can push the limit on a phone I originally only wanted as a phone...

The other thing I had in my cart, only for about a week, has been the UGREEN Micro USB 2.0 OTG Cable. The Kindle Fire 7 that I have, doesn't have a micro SD slot to be able to move things to an external card (if needed) and over the weekend I got the "Low on storage" message. I want to see if I can save the books I'm syncing to an external thumb drive from this Kindle and free up space. Then I can plug in the drive any time I want and pull it up. 

Hopefully.

As I haven't started reading any of the books I've downloaded (all free books, by the way. It's a matter of subscribing to book sites and getting email blasts every week, saying what's new / refreshed / on sale / free. I go and get the freebies, and sometimes, if I'm lucky, I get a whole series that has been put on Amazon for a grand total of $0.00. With over 5,000 free titles, the e-reader is pretty full. 

Have I started reading any of those, in order to delete them? Sadly, no. I'm filling the Fire for when the day comes and I empty my shelves of my physical books. I'm a book prepper, in a way. I'm preparing my Kindle Fire 7" (2nd Generation) for the future of my reading. 

Go on, call me crazy. Tell me I'm being weird for "hoarding" and not reading everything. 

I have too many physical books to read at the moment... I'm thinking of myself and my library of stuff in years to come. 

Meanwhile, it's time to go. I've got to get ready for work.

Happy teching.

Cheers;

All right, I take it back..

 Whatever proprietary chemical compounds are in that Vega mix, I totally can not have.

After trying (twice... no less) the Vega Protein & Energy, Cold Brew Coffee, Plant Based Coffee Protein Powder and getting sick, I thought it was just too much coffee in the mix or at the very least, it was the added MCT Oil. I had researched it after the fact and saw other people were having similar side effects - cramping, bloating, the runs... It has to be whatever is in that tub, making people have problems. 

Don't get me wrong, the taste was there - it was smooth and cold and had just the right coffee kick in taste, you didn't end up getting coffee breath afterwards. But in both trials of using it, seven to ten days into drinking it, I wasn't feeling so hot. I chopped it up to it being a normal part of the routine. You've got to go through weirdness to get your body on the right track. 

Well, I was wrong. Especially since it happened in multiple instances and to other people... those who have been on protein diets for years. Me being new and using it as a breakfast substitute is piddly change compared to those who live their life around clean eating. 

When I dumbly bought the Vega One All-In-One Nutritional Shake (Chocolate) last week, I thought it would be different. Like I said, maybe it was the combination of extra caffeine and the MCT Oil that did me in. 

Guess what... yesterday I got the same reaction as I did with the Cold Brew. After seven days of consuming this (my normal routine of coconut water, powder, yogurt, ice. Blender), I spent part of my day yesterday watching the paint dry in my bathroom. 

And my bathroom was painted six months ago. 

I wish I knew what exactly was in this, that keeps making me have reactions to it. I mean, I've been taking other protein drinks and not having problems. 

Hell, I even had someone go out and try the Orgain Organic Plant Based Protein + Superfoods Powder, Vanilla Bean because her husband needs to take extra powder because he recently had surgery and his doctor recommended other protein drinks. I swear... after buying two bottles and having no ill effects, I'm going to be buying it again. Even though it tastes like apple pie and not vanilla bean.

I've also had Nature's Bounty Complete Protein & Vitamin Shake Mix - no problems, and I buy this every time CVS has it as BOGO. Which means there can be up to 4 tubs in my cabinet at a time, every month. 

I've had Amazing Grass Green Superfood once. Only once because I wasn't keen on the flavor profile. I had to force myself to finish the tub.

Another powder I wasn't inspired by, was Purely Inspired Organic Protein Powder. It fell so far off my radar, I've forgotten I've taken it.

I have been to a bulk superstore near Sarasota and they sell pea protein and other powders by the pound. Not having nutritional information for those, let alone a brand name, all I can say is the little baby scoops I took (way under a pound... since the total cost of each bag was under $1 instead of the $6+ lb), I had no problems with those either. 

So again, it proves "do your research" and "don't be a moron" and buy a product continually knowing it's going to make you sick. 

For those looking to invest in meal replacements, cleaner living, or trying something new: Vega is one brand I can personally say "don't buy it".

Stay hydrated.

Cheers;

There's a big bird outside the kitchen window!!

Well.. my mother got her first taste of seeing a red shoulder hawk this morning. 

I had just gotten out of the shower and had opened my bathroom door to get something out of my room, when my mother came down the hall to say "there's a big bird outside the kitchen window". I said "what?" and she repeated "there's a bird outside the back window". 

So I finished getting dressed (had to put on my pants, after all, since I had my shirt and underwear on) and I went into the kitchen to see what she was gawking at. 

Lo and behold, there's a rather medium sized bird sitting on the wall, just chillin'. 

I told her it's a red shoulder hawk and to watch it some more. I'm gonna get my camera. 

Get in my room, grab my Canon EOS Rebel T7i camera plus the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens, and off I went to take photos of the bird.

WYSIWYG because I wasn't about to fuss with a tripod or any specific setting. I didn't know how long the hawk was going to be sitting around. So I took a few photos with the "flash off" setting and a few on "auto". Mixed and matched with Auto Focus and Manual Focus. Threw the photos in Photoshop, did a slight auto correction for color and sharpness, added my name and now they are here online. I know a few came out pretty bad (dark), but I'm now working an an 8 year old HP laptop and still not a dedicated graphical design computer. It is what it is. 

Plus... I wasn't about to go outside and ask for a more private photo shoot. I had to deal with the sun in areas and my dark kitchen. Meh. Least I got something...

I bought Vega One All-In-One Nutritional Shake - Chocolate last week at Ollie's, as evident by the price sticker (seeing how Amazon has it for $29.55). 

I have been using it this week with either a cup of frozen blueberries or one frozen banana as my ice source (plus half a cup of ice) with the Kirkland Organic Coconut Water as the liquid. Also have been putting some plain yogurt in it to smooth things over. 

I'm so far not noticing any major side effects to speak of, with the exception that it's not overly chocolate in the flavor department. Maybe because I am putting either fruit in the base or I'm using plain yogurt and it's masking the powder profile, but it's not horrendous. 

This and a cup of coffee in the morning, is my breakfast. 

I did notice, however, something weird. First time I've ever noticed a warning on any of the powders I've consumed... saying there's a silica gel packet in the tub and do not eat it.

Honest truth. 

I've consumed enough powder this year, that I've never seen the gel packages in any product, nor have I ever noticed that warning. 

I don't know if I should be worried about accidently blending it, or relieved there's a non ingestible material within this mix to retain freshness... but if it's there, should I be concerned what the actual ingredient list means?

Hmm...

Until I find out more... 

Stay healthy. 

Cheers;

The stickiness of the cleanliness

 I started using the Native Body Wash - Charcoal last week. Fortunately, but unfortunately, it's listed on Amazon as a 2 pack for $19.48 by third party sellers. 

The reason why it's unfortunately fortunate, is because I like it. It's unscented, it's not turning anything colors, it's leaving me smooth and clean. However, I'm finding it's also leaving my hands slightly sticky, even when using a wash cloth. 

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon used straight / raw aloe on a cut or a burn, and your hands felt a little gross after? The stickiness that makes you really want to wash your digits because you can't wait for them to dry and don't want to feel that texture? 

Yea, this body wash makes my hands feel that way. Even if I dry them good after my shower.. they still feel slightly gross. I don't want to keep saying "gross". Maybe "odd" or "slightly slimy". I don't know... I mean, my skin looks and feels hydrated as well as when I shaved, my legs really were smoother than when I used some name brand shaving creams. 

I just don't like the feeling of having to immediately wash my hands with other soaps after I get out of the shower. 

Overall, 3.5 stars out of 5.

Stay clean;

Cheers

See also (aka the lyric crossed out): 

* Colors of the Wind (From "Pocahontas" / Soundtrack Version)