Done this month (20150301 Su - 0307 Sa)

[mdlbear]

Really stressed and depressed most of the week; I suspect it's because I was thinking of my father, who I miss terribly. Mom is funding a symposium in his honor at Pittcon, which is why I'm in New Orleans. I've spent most of today walking around the French Quarter and buying CDs from street musicians. Which I'll probably talk more about later this week, or next week.

Yesterday was the travel day. My 24" Travelpro suitcase turns out to be the perfect size for a carry-on; it's probably the biggest that will fit in the overhead bin on a 747 without forcing it. Need a name for that one. I took Max (the sling bag) and a collapsable duffel that's perfect as a second, under-seat bag -- it holds Max plus a stack of magazines plus a snack, with room left over. Wouldn't have worked if I'd decided to take Plink, though. That'll probably require a custom gig bag.

Lots of puttering in the garage and around the house, and I put new batteries in Colleen's power chair. The old ones were practically dead; the new ones were expensive but should last a good while.

... and it looks like CC&S qualifies me for an associate membership in SFWA; at around 7000 words, it falls a little short of the qualification for full memership. Think I should go for it?

Links in the notes, as usual. Bear should go splat.

0301 Su
  * up 7ish; W=211.6; Shower, laundry
  * 15min: garage: puttering.  Found a couple of batteries to be recycled, and another box
    of glassware.  Measured wall around cubhouse, where I intend to put shelves.  12'.
    Hauled up 5 suitable shelf standards; they'll be enough if the studs are 16" apart.
    Have to buy a new damned stud finder; this one can't seem to see through our ancient
    wallboard. 
  * Expedition to SouthCenter for wheelchair batteries (nearly $200 for the pair -- ouch!)
    and a few items at Container Store.  Home Depot for a new stud finder.  Stopped at
    TJ's on the way back for salad, filet mignon and shiitake for dinner, plus a couple of
    minor items for snacks etc.
  * New stud finder doesn't seem to be doing much of a job finding studs (though it found
    one at least), so that's a potential problem.
  ~ New Orleans hotel reservation -> Mom's taking care of it
  * 15min:  working in the closet putting in shelf, horizontal rails.
  @ Fake Olive Oil: What You Need To Know Kirkland Organic, which is what we have, is
    real.  So are Corto Olive, California Olive Ranch, Lucero (Ascolano), McEvoy Ranch
    Organic, and Pompeian

0302 Mo
  * Up 6:15; W=211.0; laundry
  @ How to run Linux and Chrome OS on your Chromebook +Steven Vaughan-Nichols
  : We apparently had the trash-haulers in today -- the back yard looks amazing.
  @ A pole-dancing video so beautiful, my hair stood on end. f(somewhere)

0303 Tu
  * up 6am; W=210.6; laundry
  & Wikipedia dive starting at oricalcum (via Irregular Webcomic! #1046 Rerun) 
    and extending through brass, bronze, and other alloys.
  * With Emmy's help lifting the seat, swapped the batteries on the power chair.
    Discovered that one can actually see the lights on the on-board charger, if one bends
    down far enough.
  * WFH
  * 01:45 Colleen UNW.  She's going to need stents; hasn't been scheduled yet.
  @ ​FREAK: Another day, another serious SSL security hole | ZDNet (quotes Nadia
    Heninger) +Steven Vaughan-Nichols
  @ How to Bond With Your Moody Tween Daughter | Care2 Healthy Living f()

0304 We
  * up 6:20; W=212.2; laundry
  * Power chair batteries charged.
  : Looks like CC+S qualifies me for associate membership in SFWA: $1880 in mechanical
    license fees / about 7000 words, equals about $.26/word.  Not enough for full
    membership (which takes 10K words), but easily enough for associate.
  * Productive day at work - we were finally able to put a stake through a feature that my
    team wanted but the team I'm on loan to didn't.  I hadn't been able before to explain
    how the alternative worked; I can now.  Somewhat grueling, but worth it.
  @ Top Linux distros for computer repair | Opensource.com [LWN]
  @ Living free: recent updates to the DRM-free Living Guide [LWN.net] 
    Guide to DRM-Free Living | Defective by Design
  * humira

0305 Th
  * up 6:15; W=215; laundry
  * PAY BILLS!  mortgage, Amex
  @ mdlbear | Thankful Thursday
  % Stressed?  anxious?  depressed?  all of the above?  Part of it may be pre-travel
    jitters, but still.  Ugh.

0306 Fr
  * up 6:30; W=214.6; laundry, dishes
  ... long day
  * pack

0307 Sa - 10 Tu Pittcon -
  * Up 6am; W=214.6; laundry 
  * 9:30am leave
     New Orleans Marriott 2869-22994-0072-001 - 555 canal st 504-581-1000  
     reservation with pittcon
  * Confirmation #8IMHY9  Trip Total $360.70
  * DEPART MAR 7 SAT 	  12:10 PM	Depart Seattle/Tacoma, WA (SEA) on Southwest
    Stops: San Diego, CA  09:00 PM	Arrive in New Orleans, LA (MSY) Flight #3514
  * Got to the hotel 10ish.  Went on a bit of an explore, which meant that I got to the
    bar after their kitchen closed at 11.  Had dinner at Popeye's, which was
    unsatisfactory but cheap.
  % Luggage notes:  the 24" Travelpro is the perfect size for carry-on; the collapsable
    duffle worked really well as the "personal item", since it easily holds my sling bag,
    magazines, snacks, etc.  Need a name for the Travelpro.

Comments

[tagryn]

Our annual association meetings were at the NO Sheraton @ 2013, which I think is in the same neighborhood. A good place for breakfast/lunch a few blocks to the south is Mother's restaurant: mothersrestaurant.net‎