That’s Kind of Backwards: Addendum

The optical drive I had came from an HP desktop and just looking at it it seemed like it would slide right into the spot in the Dell’s case. But I never really tried it, I just assumed. So naturally it didn’t fit. Like I mentioned previously, I can’t remember the last time I used an optical drive, so the only thing I lost was a bit of time and $3.99. Both of which are not a problem.

So right now I have a few different options: 1) Buy an official Dell external drive for $40, 2) buy an external case for the HP drive for around half that or 3) buy a random complete drive off Amazon for around the same price as that chancy case. Right now I’m going to take option four, i.e. don’t anything until I actually need an optical and worry about it then.

The Miata was used the last three days for short around town trips. On Tuesday it was sort of spring-like so I took it, top down, on the 2 mile ice cream run to soothe Donna’s sore mouth after a root canal. On Wednesday I took it to my 6-month follow up with the GP, because it was an early morning appointment the trip there was with the top up, but the way home it was down. Today was a rainy midday appointment with my dentist to get my new crowns, so top up the whole way. All three trips are reflected below.

11.6 miles.
Times Miata Driven since 01/01/22: 21

 

That’s Kind of Backwards

Last month when we got home from Santa Fe the desktop PC was dead, so we bought a new Dell and that was delivered 2 days later by our friendly FedEx man. I was kind of surprised that a signature wasn’t required, maybe it was under a certain price point because I really didn’t spend that much on it.

When it arrived I did the usual hard drive dance of removing the old ones, plugging in the old main drive to copy stuff that I wanted, removing it and then adding the old second drive that holds all our documents to the new machine.

Because we were in a hurry to get it, I picked one that was in stock, so it wasn’t customized in any way. While swapping around hard drives I noticed that there was a spot for an optical drive. It even had what looked like a precut punch out hole in the front if you wanted to add a drive. Although I can’t remember the last time I actually used an optical drive, there is still a stack of writeable DVDs in a desk draw somewhere around here. I did have the drive that was in the non functional desktop, so I thought why don’t I put it in the new Dell.

I went online and found the right part number for the optical drive cover and found out it was a mere $3.99 and that included the FedEx shipping. While searching I found a couple of Dell community forum posts that lamented the Dell didn’t actually sell optical drives for this model desktop. Which is funny because not only is there the cut out on the front panel there is an obvious spot to slide a drive in the case and the cabling to plug it in right there.

I ordered the optical drive face plate and three days later there was the FedEx guy on my porch again. But if I wanted him to hand me the small box containing my order I had to sign for it! Seems kind of backwards doesn’t it? I didn’t have to sign for the $800 dollar computer, but I did have to sign for the $4 bit of plastic…

Sport, Off-Road, Touring

Blue Monday Edition of SORT
As of Monday, May 2, 2022 at 6:00 PM pacific time:

Sport Off-Road Touring
1973 Porsche 914 2019 Ford Ranger XLT 1957 Chevrolet Suburban
If my parents had made a lot of money this car would have been my high school graduation present. If I had made a lot of money this would have been my retirement present to myself. If my godparents had made a lot of money they would have bought this new as a gift for my parents.

Here is what last week’s cars sold for, or bid to (if the reserve was not met):
Sports: 1933 Ford Highboy Roadster Sold for $31,000 on 4/29/22
Off-Road: 1974 International Harvester Scout II Bid to $29,000 on 4/28/22
Touring: 1963 Jaguar MK II Sold for $31,750 on 4/28/22

GCN

While we don’t cycle as much as we used to, we still like to watch the professionals do it. Every July since in the early 90’s we have watched the Tour de France on whatever network has shown it. Probably for the last decade or so we have subscribed to NBC Sports Gold, the most recent home of the Tour de France 3-week grand tour.

Along with the Tour de France NBC Sports Gold showed several other races as well, from a couple of spring classic one day events, to a couple of week long races like the Tour Down Under in Australia and Paris-Nice in France. We have also been able to watch the Vuelta a España, one of the three other 3-week grand tours.

The only 3-week grand tours we have never seen is the Giro d’Italia, well, that changes this year. Turns out that Global Cycling Network, something that started in 2013 as a YouTube channel, now carries the Italian grand tour. We have signed up for the month of May for GCN+ for a mere $9 just so we can see this grand tour. They also carry tons of other races from Europe, so maybe we just might sign up for a whole ($45) so we can get all sorts of commercial free cycling content.

18.5 mile trip to the Running Y for a 3 mile walk.
Times Miata Driven since 01/01/22: 18

 

Sport, Off-Road, Touring

Purple People Eater Edition of SORT
As of Monday, April 25, 2022 at 6:00 PM pacific time:

Sport Off-Road Touring
1933 Ford Highboy Roadster 1974 International Harvester Scout II 1963 Jaguar MK II
I don’t think that I would actually want to own any of these cars, but once I stumbled on to the “Only a Mother Could Love” purple Jag, I just had to do a color themed option.

Here is what last week’s cars sold for, or bid to, if the reserve was not met.
Sports: 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata 10th-Anniversary Edition Sold for $16,750 on 4/23/22
Off-Road: 1979 Ford Bronco Ranger XLT Free Wheeling Sold for $48,250 on 4/19/22
Touring: 1954 Dodge Coronet Suburban Wagon Bid to $13,000 on 4/19/22

Another Weekend Shot To Hell

Almost Literally…

On Friday we walked up to the Sky Lakes Medical Center and got our second booster shot. And like last October’s first booster it knocked me for a loop while only striking a glancing blow on Donna. I spent most of Saturday napping and gobbling Tylenol.

Today I felt pretty good and I’m sure, just like last time, the booster shot will be a distant memory by Monday. We did get out this afternoon and do a little yard work. While Donna mowed, I put the awning up on the front porch, then whippersnipped the edges.

Afterwards we rewarded ourselves with a top down Miata drive and a stop at the neighborhood bodega for an ice cream sandwich.

12.3 miles Sunday Cruise.
Times Miata Driven since 01/01/22: 17

 

45,000 Inactive Covid Cells

Today, for the first time since our return from Santa Fe eleven days ago, or at least it sure seems like it, we got a nice day for a walk. So we took advantage of it and walked up to Sky Lakes Medical Center to get our second Covid booster shot and as a reward stopped in at Brevada Brewhouse to get a nice warm beverage and a cookie.

On a early morning Walmart run the Mini crossed the forty-five thousand mile mark.