Done Since 2020-12-20

[mdlbear]

Last Sunday was good -- singing with N and m (the other 2/3 of Kaleidofolk) -- until it was time for them to go home. It wasn't really a long enough in-person visit, but even during the two weeks they were in quarantine it was nice knowing they were just across the deck, and being able to bring them goodies.

The rest of the week was a blur of customer service calls, home health calls (with two catheter changes -- ugh), and other frustrations. But I did make a recipe post (apple pancakes for Newton's Birthday) and a Songs for Saturday post (Uncle Ernie's for Babbage's Birthday). So there's that.

There were two main customer-service kerfuffles: on Monday I started looking at H&R Block's tax software for 2020, and Tuesday I tried to add (Chevy Bolt)Molly's built-in WiFi access point to my AT&T mobile account.

Apparently Block's tax software, which I've been using since 1992 when it was called TaxCut, won't run on my 2009 Mac Mini. Or at least isn't supported; it ran okay last year but I don't recall what the system requirements were. And it's not clear whether their online version will produce a file I can download. Or even work at all -- I had trouble getting it to accept an update to my contact info. So I got on the phone to ask some questions, and got disconnected after spending an hour on hold. Details on Monday.

Trying to add Molly's access point to my account gave me an error message, but apparently worked anyway. Adding an internet-only device, like a tablet, to my account is supposed to cost $10/month. Thursday I got an email detailing changes to my bill that amounted to $90/month. WTF? After several calls (apparently they don't handle customer service calls after hours or on holidays), I got through to a rep who told me that nothing has changed or will change on my bill. I'll believe it when I see the next bill in February.

In links, check out Monday for more about the Solarwinds hack, and some DIY cat toys.

Notes & links:

1220Su  Longest night  * litter boxen
  & Awake 4:40; ;
  / 800ml in bag at 7:20am
  & back to bed ~8am.  Some time without mask, I think.
  * Up 9ish; S=5:02; shower
  * Singing: Bigger on the Inside, Lord of the Buffalo, When I Go (workshopped);
    Bells of Norwich, Lock Keeper, The Mary Ellen Carter
  * ~5pm G picks up N and kids
  * looked into H+R Block tax software.  Need Premium.  Online version is cheaper, BUT:
    - does my version of MacOS support the offline version?  NO, but it could on starlight
      it Wants Mac 10.13/Win 8.1; have Yosemite, version 10.10.5.  Starlight is Win8.1
  / 800ml in bag; still leaking
  % 11pm meloxicam, heat
    
1221Mo  Solstice (2:02am)
  & awake briefly sometime around 1am
  * up 6:50; S=7:04, BP=115/71, P=59;
  * (V) replace Colleen's statlock  900ml in bag
  * Colleen needs a follow-up appointment with Dr. Dixon ASAP -> called 14:50
  * questions re: H+R Block online tax software.  Need Premium edition for sched. C
    -x does my version of MacOS support the offline version?  NO, but starlight could.
      it Wants Mac 10.13/Win 8.1; have Yosemite, version 10.10.5.  Starlight is Win8.1
    -> took me four tries to find the right set of answers to get to a human.
    -> their on-hold "music" is a disgustingly cheerful whistled tune (with all of 2 short
       phrases) and a disgustingly chirpy woman reading "fun tax facts" at random (the
       sequence started repeating at ~25min)  "Your call will be answered in
       approximately... 50 minutes" for the last 10 minutes.  No way to ask for a
       callback.  -> call dropped after 1:01:34 "out of service area"
    -> and now (1:45) they aren't answering calls at all.  House line had static.
    -> ... and it isn't taking my email address when updating my contact info.  Weird.
       -> can enter it once.  Not clear whether it took.  Popup stays up.
    -* can I upload a T19 file _to_ the online version? YES - that's how you start
  * (mostly) cleaned out the box room fridge - cream cheese, lox, whole milk, eggs.
  : It's snowing.  Or it was, around 6ish.
  @ Hackers used SolarWinds' dominance against it in sprawling spy campaign | Reuters
    " Security researcher Vinoth Kumar told Reuters that, last year, he alerted the
      company that anyone could access SolarWinds’ update server by using the password
      “solarwinds123” "  *facepalm*
    VMware Flaw a Vector in SolarWinds Breach? — Krebs on Security
    EXPLAINER: How bad is the hack that targeted US agencies? 
  @ 20 fun DIY cat toys that kitties can’t resist - Care.com (dialecticdreamer)
  & guitar: trying to figure out Bm/A (Lock Keeper) and Fsus2 (When I Go)
  / 300ml in bag, very dark and cloudy; not emptied.  Looked much better this morning.

1222Tu
  * Up 5ish; S=5:35, BP=111/69, P=62; cat cuddle(Desti)
  @ freeyourstuff.cc: Welcome Quora etc. backup
  & try to add molly to AT+T plan    -> Your account type isn’t supported.
    -> Please contact AT&T Customer Care at 855.602.2378. (EAPB530103)
    -> OTOH it may have been added: -> apparently so:  tested working
  / Dr. Hecker's nurse called to see if tests had been done -> yes
  * 15min: I think I've gotten all of the perishables out of the box room
  / 1000ml in bag.  cloudy.  still leaking.  major cleanup.  liquid
  / catheter popped out.  22Fr.  it only had a 10ml balloon
  @ Why Capable People Are Reluctant to Lead
    " the most common perceived risks that are associated with leadership: the risk to
      your interpersonal relationships, the risk to your image, and the risk of being
      blamed for failure. " None of which have anything to do with _my_ reasons.
  @ Bucket Brigade Singing -> gwillen/solstice-audio-test
  * put air in Molly's tires.  All marginally low.  sticker on driver's side door.  38psi
  * order catfood incl. kibble
  / 3ish (HH nurse)Shirley to change catheter.  (next change 1/12)  119/76 64
  * 7pm video call with kids - Discord
  / 9ish major++ cleanup; liquid; catheter popped out.  AGAIN.  Couldn't shower.
    used all the washcloths again, will have to wash my clothes as well.
  % back pain -> heat, meloxicam -> wiped out, discouraged
    ! annoyed at Colleen for not keeping up her exercises.  Yelled at her.  :(
  : apparently Whitewood can't talk BT to the new Lenovo keyboard.

1223We
  & awake 2am; S=1.?;
  / semi-major cleanup; shower
  % back pain -> heat, 2 acetaminophen (1g) (2:12am) next after 8:12am
  % calm but despairing
  * order desitin
  * up 7:30; S=6:58, BP=125/74, P=58;
  : frost on the ground
  @ Dominion worker sues Trump campaign and conservative media huge
    " An election systems worker driven into hiding by death threats has filed a
      defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s campaign, two of its lawyers
      and some conservative media figures and outlets. "
  * call Home Health (main) -> (nurse) Shirley coming between 11:15-11:30
  * k-cups for chaos,  * cheese plate for E, * goat for N  * coffee for me $A, Mukilteo
  : Cards from (my cousin)Alice, (Colleen's aunt)Gisela
  % how the fsck does it get to be almost Christmas -- didn't we just have Thanksgiving?
  / 1800ml in bag.  No cleanup required, apparently.

1224Th
  & awake 4am; S=4:57;
  * Up 8an; S=7:26, BP=113/67, P=61;
  : frost
  @ Bye 2020 GIF - GIPHY (Inkygirl)
  / 11:30 500ml in bag, leaking, not emptied
  * check in with Express Scripts to order drugs
  : okay to re-enter box room (48h after L' took out the trash)
  * make a pass through the box room.  collect laundry (except for N's box: next time)
    -> only the packaged fruit pies (exp. Feb) and some dishes needed taking in now.
  & V came by and dropped off a plate of brownies and a present:
    The Essential Knuth by Donald Knuth and Edgar Daylight
    -> I reciprocated with Banners Without Words by Jill Knuth
    I love the way our interests intersect.
  / 1800ml in bag; apparently no leakage
  : why did I get a change order from AT&T that adds $90 to my bill?
  % didn't go to bed until 12:30ish.  :P
  : we didn't decorate this year -- that was probably a mistake

1225Fr Newtonmas/Christmas
  % meloxicam 1:30ish
  & Awake 1:30 -- actually, gave up trying to get to sleep
    -> 2:30ish Colleen crying because Christmas. -> cuddle
  * up 5:52; S=4:17, back pain=3.5ish?;
    -> tried going back to bed 7:10, couldn't sleep
    -> heat for back pain
  @ How To Be At Home (siderea)
    How To Be Alone - YouTube
  @ Milkless Pancakes from Scratch - Recipe | Cooks.com
    Pancakes without Milk (Easy) | Recipe Binder -> replace the water with apple
    juice, add 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and throw in 1/2 an apple, peeled and chopped,
    just before ladling the batter onto the pan.  Use olive oil in the batter, and peanut
    oil on the pan.
  & set up Xmas garland and lights; bring in apple juice from box room.
  / 800ml in bag 12:00 (not emptied)
  : N's presents for me and colleen arrived:  a SpiderCapo for me, and
    a stuffed dragon for her.
  * Made apple pancakes. 
  @ Rolling Homes That Make an R.V. Look Palatial - The New York Times 
  / 2000ml in bag

1226Sa Babbage's Birthday/Boxing Day
  & awake 4ish; S=4:33;
  * up 8:30ish; S=6:07, BP=112/70, P=59; interrupted exercise session to grump at Desti
  / 800ml in bag
  * s4s Uncle Ernie's -> mdlbear | Songs for Saturday: Today is Babbage's birthday
  * call AT&T and ask why adding Molly, supposedly $10, added $90 to my bill.
    -> apparently the email was bogus, and there will be no change to my bill.
       (agent's name:  Shay.  There are also no service changes at all.)
    -> re-verify hotspot: may not have disabled 4G while testing -> works on Blackbird
  @ The faulty science, doomism, and flawed conclusions of Deep Adaptation 
    cf mdlbear | Climate Tragedy
  * Singing:  Uncle Ernie's -- S hadn't heard it
  & major mop-up -- the bag's clamp wasn't fastened, and it leaked all over the LR floor.
    probably my fault:  most likely happened when I emptied it this morning.  Used bedpads
    to mop up, because they're absorbant and disposable.

Comments

[madfilkentist]

Keep us posted if you learn more about why Block's software won't run. I have a 2014 Mac Mini, and the software worked last year, but who knows? What OS version do you have?

A couple of years ago I used TurboTax and found it would run only under an admin account. It crashed without explanation when I ran it from the user account that I do nearly almost all my work from, and I had to shuttle spreadsheets between the accounts. Not touching TurboTax again.

[jesse_the_k]

Speaking of dairy-free cookery: I've been expermenting with Oatly oat milk and it's freaking delicious, doesn't separate, sweeter than cow's milk (due to oats' nature, not sugar-added).

Software requirements

[mdlbear]

Yours should work without problems, I think; they want MacOS 10.13 or higher. My mini is from 2009, running MacOS 10.10.5.

I have a copy of Windows 8.1 that would work, but that would mean using Windows.