Want Not Need: 12 Recent Purchases

Source:  bluediamondgallery.com

Like most middle-class and above citizens of the world today, I've succumbed to the ease of shopping at that most ubiquitous of virtual stores, Amazon.  How can I resist?  Endless selection, plenty of comparisons, product reviews, reasonable prices, and shipped to my door!  I can't and don't resist.

Here are 12 recent purchases and their back stories:

 1.  Bluetooth Speaker:  My Favorite Purchase!

As mentioned here previously, I've been involved in a violin performance initiative I'm calling Tiny Deck Concerts, whereupon I step out on the tiny deck of my loft and play a tiny violin concert of one or two pieces to the world at large.  I've long been enamored of an iconic piece by Leonard Cohen called "Hallelujah".  It's been covered endlessly, and I found a very nice violin cover with piano accompaniment on YouTube.  I'd already been playing along with it using my desk top computer and was pleased with the result.  I decided to play with the YouTube version for a Tiny Deck Concert.  In my generationally slow way, I puzzled over how to get the YouTube version outside.  I finally realized I could play it on my smart phone-easily taken outside.  Duh!  Well and good, but I wasn't so sure about volume.  I'd been mulling that over for awhile when during a hike & chat, Sue made a throw-away comment about a blue tooth speaker she had.  Never having heard of such a thing, I made mental note of it and did some research when I got home. To my excitement found it was the perfect solution to the "Hallelujah" performance.  Amazon satisfied with this speaker.  Oh, my!  It connects with the blue tooth on my phone, and puts out more than adequate volume with a very nice quality sound.  I played the "Hallelujah" concert last week, and was absolutely thrilled!

I've also been performing pieces from the Suzuki books I use for lessons.  Those come with piano accompaniment CDs, which have been burned to Media Player for a long time.  During this process, I had a further realization that I could copy the Suzuki CD to my phone and play the Suzuki pieces accompanied through the speaker as well!  Holy flash of insight!  That process is still pending, but it's called "simple" when I look on-line to see how to do it.  SOON!

2.  Camera/Phone Mount for Tripod or Selfie Stick

The camera tripod I have is a very nice one, but old.  The selfie stick isn't old, but my technology has changed.  I found that I wanted to have the option to take both horizontal and vertical pictures with both my camera and my phone.  Amazon satisfied with this mount that swivels to allow both.  Easy peasy.

3, 4 & 5:   Bike Gear

Gloves

Rear view mirror and odometer/speedometer

Gloves need to be replaced very so often, and I wanted a new pair for the Sprint Tri.  In the interest of safety, I once tried a rear view mirror that mounted to the handle bar of my bike.  HAHAHAH!  Yeah, about the first bump in the road it was misaligned, and stayed that way!   I found this one that mounts to the helmet and is not supposed to be subject to the bumpiness.  It's described as having a bit of a learning curve to use it, so I didn't try it for the Sprint Tri and haven't ridden since.  A ride planned for tomorrow, though,  and I'll be mounting it this afternoon.  The O/S I currently have on my bike is the victim of gross neglect.  My bike is mostly stored on the deck, covered by a roof but not protected from all elements.  It was probably the winters that got to its electronics.  It's easily removable; I just didn't do it.  Ron's going to mount this new one for me this afternoon.  Amazon satisfied on all of these products.

6&7.  Kitchen Gear

Fine mesh strainer; kitchen scale  

The fine mesh strainer I have has so many holes food just runs through!  The kitchen scale I have is so analog it's even too old for me!  Amazon satisfied.

 8&9.  Cooking School Gear

Knife sharpener and OFFICIAL CHEF KNIFE!

Though I've managed to get things cut up adequately in my kitchen these many years, I have no technique and I have a long history of cutting my fingers.  I'm the classic "keep the knives dull so the cuts aren't so bad" kitchen cook.  However, knives and knife skills are considered elementary tools and techniques for Cooking School, so I decided to bow to the inevitable.  Amazon satisfied.  Except I'm scared of the knife!  That little cardboard below the knife says "Beware of the Sharp Knife!"!  Brother Scott, long time dry wall hanger and user of various big construction tools, recently and coincidentally said, "Always fear your tools."!  When you're careless or too comfortable or unpracticed, they'll bite-hard!  So I'm not using the knife yet.  I have used the sharpener on my familiar knives.  I'm sharpening them a little at a time so I can get used to it.  I'm paying attention.  I'll get on YouTube for more specific knife skills.  Then I'll think about trying the Sharp Knife

10.  CD

Sometimes when I'm listening to AccuRadio, a song will catch my fancy and I'll look for the song title and artist.  I was recently charmed by this flautist and Amazon satisfied with her CD. 

11.  New music for Uncle Dwane

Uncle Dwane and I had another most satisfactory musical interlude during our recent trip to NE.  I asked him if he was interested in any different music, and he said he'd sung from all of this series by Homer Rodeheaver.  I said I'd take a look-see, and Amazon satisfied.  I bought us each a copy of books No. 4 and No 5.   I'll mail him his copy, then we'll get together on the phone and he can tell me which ones he wants to sing next year.  I'll learn 'em up.  Our repertoire will grow!

12.  Heavenly Hounds

You have to love a business opportunity.  We were in NE this year over the 4th of July, and discovered that not only do fireworks stands sell fireworks, they also sell these valerian-loaded treats that calm dogs who are afraid of fireworks!  Both Scott and his son Sean tried them for their dogs and they seemed to have a calming effect.  With monsoon season upon us, I decided to try some for Gypsy, who has a visceral terror of thunderstorms.  Amazon satisfied with this sampler pack.  Monsoons have been a little sparse so far; I've had three opportunities to try them.  There is a timing issue; before the scare is best.  The first trial, it appeared to work extremely well.  The thunder was relatively mild, but Gypsy usually reacts to any thunder, and she was out on the deck instead of under a desk.  The second time I missed the timing and gave it to her after the first crack.  It did still seem to help after it took effect.  The third time I gave it to her well ahead of time, then both of us were out of the house.  When we got home, one of the two dogs had regurgitated but we had no way of knowing which one.  However, if they're making Gypsy sick, that will be a no-go.  By the time the monsoon actually came 5 hours after the treat was given, there was no calming effect for whatever the reason might have been.  We have monsoons predicted starting today for the rest of the week, so I'll be able to get more trials. 

Backward and Forward

Backward:  A Recap:

It's been a busy few months!  Lots of things I wanted to get done did get done. 

Most recently was our annual trip to Nebraska.  We chose a longer time frame this year.  We were accompanied by great-nephew Angel, who has visited Nebraska twice with his Grandfather.  He likes Nebraska a lot, and at 14 is looking at a post-high school graduation move to Nebraska, where he could learn the drywall business from brother Scott and his son Sean.  I decided to jump-start his plan by bringing him with Ron and I this year and having him work with Sean, getting his feet wet (or dry!).  He worked a total of 25 hours over 6 days, and earned a paycheck that pleased him mightily!  Besides the work opportunity, he also flew for the first time.  He was a champ at that, and overall a pleasure to have along. 

Our list of activities included the following:

•   The bi-annual family reunion for my Dad's side of the family.
•   The Sumner 4th of July.
•   Two rehearsals and a noon-time concert of hymns with my Uncle Dwane.
•   A visit to MONA for the usual outstanding exhibits. 
•   A drive through spectacular rolling hill country to a couple of fading small towns to look at a   couple of interesting historic storefronts and the last one-room school to close. 
•  Visits to a couple of cemeteries to take flowers to various family members.  

It was hot, humid, and GREEN!

Our morning walk.

 Other projects and activities that have gotten accomplished are:

•  Easter Family & Friends visit to Tucson
• Our ONP trip
• The One-Woman Sprint Tri
• House plant replacements
• Practicing saute for cooking school.  
• Personal challenges of practicing yoga and meditation, keeping to a sleep schedule, and controlling my post-dinner eating are....works in progress, shall I say.  
• Jasmine and I have started her Agility classes with trainer Rebecca. 

 Forward:  A look ahead:

• Change the violin strings!
• Do my bi-annual seasonal clothes swap.  The spring was cool enough that it's just now time.
• Cooking school:  After those comments about my bread loaves splitting, I've diverted cooking school to address that.  So far, I've tried letting the loaves proof longer and adding cuts just before putting them in the oven.  That has been successful.  Next I'm going to try adding some grains/seeds to the tops of the loaves before baking for an interesting, still rustic, appearance.  There's a trick to getting them to stay on!  
• Great-nephew Jonathan, brother of Angel, is coming to Flagstaff a week from today to go to the NAU Running Camp.  Like Angel and the drywall, he indicated an interest in running, and plans to try out for cross-country at Tucson High when he starts 9th grade in the fall. This will be a jump start for him.  The NAU Running Camp is top-notch, coached by the same coaches who have given NAU a #1 ranking in their cross-country and track and field program.  
• Ron and I need to do a big review of our financial investments to see if they're still where we want them in the proper proportion.  We also both want to make changes to our wills.
• Gain consistency in those personal challenges mentioned above.
• Both violin and piano practices need revamping.  Violin because I've starting learning some new quite difficult technique/mental concepts.  Piano because I've been focused on a recital (which didn't happen) and the hymn set for Dwane.  
• My quarterly Book & Music Order.  I'll replace the books I've read the past quarter.  I like the used book site Better World Books, but I think I'll start out with a sweep of the local thrift stores and see what catches my eye.  I'll also look at CD's to see if there's anything interesting musically. With those results in hand, I'll go to the WWW as necessary.  
• Continue Agility classes with Jasmine as they are offered, and practice what we're learning regularly.  We've been introduced to another piece of equipment Ron can easily make, and one that I have needs to be modified for more advanced work.  Some of what we're learning needs more space than the deck provides, so I'm looking at occasional trips to Raymond Park at the front of the Village.  That's a different time commitment.  
• Enjoy summer outdoors in Flagstaff!  Regular hiking, biking, and running.