More Than Words

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Daguerretype GTI

That is a photo of the GTI parked while I squeezed in a couple-mile walk before the day devolved into the random chaos of brief moments of sunshine surrounded and outnumbered by rain, sometimes quite heavy. While killing time until the Red Sox game at 4pm, I caught up on my car-related channels on YouTube. From there I wandered, looking for music to listen to at night to sleep by. I tried white noise and rainfall stuff, but couldn’t adjust to it, so I’ve a playlist of quiet ambient stuff that works.

This led to me finding a segment that I didn’t know existed: “First Reaction to Insert Song” by individual rappers, music teachers, or opera singers. Sometimes there’ll be a couple people doing it together. The first one I listened to was a woman’s reaction to Phil Collins’s “In The Air Tonight.” It was a live version of the song that is 7-1/2 minutes long with that famous drum bit at about 5-1/2 minutes in. She did a little research on the backstory of the song (he was going through a divorce); she would also explain the technical musicy stuff, and seemed to really enjoy what she was listening to. And not gonna lie, she was also attractive to look at.

This led me to her channel, The Charismatic Voice, where I found the one that is the title of this post, “More Than Words” by Extreme. I know this song because I bought their CD just based on hearing this song. I wouldn’t say it was the only song out of the thirteen that is good; there are a couple more worth the listen, but they really were more hard rock than I liked at that time.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 35.1%

 

I’ve Been Finkled

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One of the ladies that I usually chat with at the CCC 1 invited me out to dinner with her, and we went out for Mongolian BBQ a couple weeks ago. She treated me to dinner, so I told her next time it would be my treat.

She has a favorite hangout called Finkels that is a bar that has karaoke, she likes to go there and sing. I, on the other hand, like to listen. That is where we went tonight. I drove the last time, so this time she did the driving. I ordered a burger and a beer to have as my dinner, and she opted for an app because she had already had dinner. Because she was driving, Trish only had the one beer. I ordered a second one.

Remember about a month ago when I went out with my neighbor and danced in spite of my usual reluctance because I had 2.5 beers? Well, tonight I found out that after a couple of pints of beer I almost might have tried karaoke. Almost. Maybe 2.5 beers would have been enough; who knows. I did have a good time, so maybe we’ll go again in a couple weeks.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 34.3%

 

I Blame Steven Colbert

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It’s all his fault I’m buying a FlightWall.

Like most of my impulse buying of nifty gadgets and items of clothing recently, it started because of an ad on Instagram. This photo shows what the entrance to the kitchen from the living room looks like. And I always wanted to add something in between the cutout above the entryway and the ceiling but never found anything that I liked. Until the FlightWall popped up. For $175 I could put one of those up there. I am literally right under the landing path to PDX!

The Mini for $175 is 12.6 inches long x 6.3 inches high. That is roughly the same area as a sheet of paper and would look kind of silly in that spot. But they also sell a Wiidescreen model that is 50.4 inches long x 12.6 inches high. So how big is that opening? It is 52″ x 15″ tall on the shorter end and 20″ on the taller end. It’s like they were thinking of me when they offered that size.

I have had a shortcut to FlightWall on my phone’s home screen for about three weeks. Every other day or so I’d look at it and think I should buy it, then think the Widescreen is too expensive, at lmost three times more than the Mini, and not follow through. Tuesday, I deleted the shortcut off the phone.

On Tuesday’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he had the other four members of the Strike Force Five (insert thunder crash sound effect here) as the only guests. At the end they teased a final 13th episode of their pandemic-created podcast. So yesterday I watched/listened to it on YouTube, and near the end, they had the wives answer the question, “What does he want for his birthday?” Steven says he’s been dropping hints about a nice leather desk organizer. This is the answer his wife gave:

So maybe in reality it is not Steven’s fault I bought the Widescreen FlightWall this afternoon; it is his wife Evie McGee’s.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 37.4%

 

Haven’t Forgotten About LOST

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It dawned cool, cloudy, and drizzly, so I immediately thought, I have no place I need to go, so after my 45-minute spin around Bavaria on the exercise bike, I changed into my loungewear and have been dressed that way ever since.

I farted around on YouTube, finished a jigsaw puzzle, and watched two episodes of LOST, then watched the Red Sox, much to my surprise, win a baseball game. After this I may go watch a movie, or read some more of the book I have going, or just zone out listening to Radio Paradise while watching their slideshow.

I’m three-quarters of the way through season two, watching 2 episodes a day. If you thought the first season was jam-packed, so far in the first 18 episodes of season two, the reveals and new stuff have been more of an avalanche. I have to admit that I almost pulled the plug at episode ten. Never been a fan of any of the Charlie episodes, but this one is the worst, IMHO. But I shouldered on.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 35.3%

 

Yard Stuff

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Patio Clean-up

I’d like to blame my neighbor the witch. This is her first spring here, and she is apparently a gardener extraordinaire. She has been busy making outdoor seating areas, and garden paths with mulch (which she calls ‘bark dust’) lined with random broken flagstone stepping stones. Then there are the plantings…

I wish I’d taken a before photo. This area was overrun with really nice green weeds. There were three small things that didn’t match the weeds, so I asked her if I should keep them. She said they were worth saving if I could successfully transplant them. They are in three separate pots scattered about, but I don’t know if they are going to make it. I’m lightly watering them every day, so fingers crossed.

But this is really on me; I’ve gotten tired of paying someone to do the weed picking and pine straw laying. Each time they showed up, the price would jump significantly. With the weed killer, mulch, weed blocker, garden shovel, three pots, and a couple of hanging flower baskets. All told, it has cost me under $150, which is less than the cost of the yard guy’s first visit, and a couple weeks of sweat equity one hour at a time.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 36.9%

 

Track, Daily, Crush

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Track Daily Crush
Factory Five Mk3 Roadster 1995 BMW M3 “Touring” Mazda T2000 Dump Truck
Keep it on the track, not going for an early Sunday morning drive around the neighborhood. This is the perfect car. It’s a BMW, it’s an M3, it’s an estate/wagon and it’s the right age. With great power comes great responsibility, so use it for good, not evil, nor frivality.

Here is what last week’s cars sold for or were bid to (if the reserve was not met):
Track: 2022 Ford Shelby GT500 Sold for USD $121,000 05/07/2026
Daily: 2006 Honda S2000 Sold for USD $41,000 05/07/2026
Crush: 2024 GMC Hummer EV Sold for USD $72,000 05/07/2026

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 37.9%

 

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

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Had a nice early-morning walk with a latte:

1) This Easter Bunny pet has got some serious survival skills. 2) Flowery things. 3) Getting some serious Andy Griffith Show vibes. 4) Someone is unhappy with our current administration.

Afterward, the rest of the morning was spent finishing off the Great Yard Cleanup of 2026. By me tacking down weed-blocking fabric in the patio area, I hope it will make it easier next year. There are a couple small things to finish up still; I have a couple of empty hanging baskets that need filling (probably with fake flowers) and cleaning up the pine straw in the garden that is next to the carport.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 40.7%