Home Again, Home Again ... Yes!!

I returned home on last Thursday afternoon from my solo yurt camping trip to Bullards Beach State Park near Bandon, Oregon.  A yurt is round and 16 feet in diameter.  No cooking or no bathroom in a yurt.  

Now, Saturday, I am back to the comforts and pleasures of the nice company of my wife, Karen.  She is an excellent cook, so no more hohum campground foods or eating out at a local cafe in Bandon.  At home, unlike the yurt, there is more space, my interesting books, large padded chairs, a large nice bed, full private bathroom, and a big screen television set (and prerecorded sports and documentaries).  I had not watched television for four days.  

We live in a 50 year old suburban house in a quiet neighborhood of many seniors in Vancouver, Washington.  We live in the northeast part of unincorporated Vancouver, called "The Orchards."  There are four large Douglas firs in our backyard and many around in our neighbor's houses.

Here are some photos of our main living room looking to the north .  Here I enjoy reading and studying, chatting with Karen, and watching TV.  I read in a big green chair.  Karen took these photos on a dark, windy, and rainy day.  Bruno, our dog, hangs around and likes the warm indoors like us.  I can easily do a compact Yang Style Taijiquan in this room by moving a few chairs.  

Each season provides new views looking north into the back yard.
The maple trees are all leafless in January.
Many branches and limbs fell during a 45 mile windstorm.
A great view from our reading chairs.

Looking to the west.  Our fireplace is quite nice and large.
Yes, the Northwest has lots of dark clouds, fog, mist and rain.  
Karen's big black chair.

I 

I converted one small bedroom into my computer room, office, library, meditation room, floor yoga and standing Qigong practice area, and reading room.  The window in this room faces south.  I have a small Taoist altar set up. 

Looking south.

Taoist altar

Taoism

Here is how my former Druid altar (ancient Roman themed) 

looked in our old home in rural Red Bluff.  This room was my
reading room with a huge green chair that I still use. 
We lived and worked in Red Bluff from 1989 to 2017.

One Old Daoist Druids Final Journey

Home For the Holidays

My best wishes to all for a peaceful and pleasant winter holiday season.  May we remember our accomplishments this past year, have few regrets, and hope for good health, peace and prosperity.  May our shared history make us proud.  May the Earth rest and bear the sweetist Wenatachee cherries and gently cradle the mighty Columbia River.

Katelyn, Mike, Karen, Makenna, Beryl

We have our Christmas and New Year Celebrations with family and friends.  This year we did Italian style meals.  Karen and I decorated interiors of our house with typical holiday season art.  We exchanged presents and best wishes.

Today, our children and their families will have lunch together at our home: lasagna, brocholli beef roll, cardoon (Texas Celery, artichoke stalks cooked, breaded, and fried), wine, and ourdourves.  Karen is positive and joyful.  Feasting for Fun!  Good Cheer!

Time for my NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS:
Walk our dog Bruno once each day.
Learn how to effectively use CorelDRAW 2019 and Corel PaintShop Pro 2020 software.
Take a class in drawing.
Practice Tai Chi Chuan in class led by Jill Ross on Friday and Saturday.


Because of my interests and hobbies, and the fact that I am now retired at age 73, I spend a lot of my time indoors in my office, study, mancave, den, reading room, art studio, hang out space, retreat, etc.

The temperatures outdoors are mostly in the 40F's these days, and it gently rains a lot.  There are few gardening chores in December.  My reading and writing ROOM is nice and dry, cozy, and comfortable.  The room is insulated.  I always dress to stay warm.  I use an electrical heater set at 50F.

My STUDY is about 10'x12'x8'.  Bookshelves that we made cover the north and south wall.  A window faces south.  A small closet is on the east side of the room.  In front of the west wall is a large table with computer equipment.  Another small wood table is on the south side is used for art projects, reading, laptop computer, games.  The room is carpeted, but I would prefer a hardwood floor for easier rolling on my large office chair.

The computer equipment in my home OFFICE includes a Dell Inspiron desktop with Windows 10, Epson Workforce WF-3640 Printer, Samsung 21"dia screen, Logitech keyboard, old Toshiba laptop, and an Epson Perfection V600 scanner.  I purchase Internet access, and other services, from XFinity Comcast.  My annual modest earnings from my websites keep me current with computer hardware and software every four or five years.

Here is a photo of my STUDY, looking to the south on a foggy winter day.  There is a large sweet gum tree in our front yard.  I can use the wood table for drawing and art projects, books, laptop computer, digital camera equipment, a game, or a small  electronic keyboard.

My dog, Bruno, thinks my study/office/studio is his DOG CAVE.

Upgrading Our Home Computers

The last time I purchased a desktop computer (HP Pavilion $399) for my home office was in January of 2017.  I upgraded to a Dell Inspiron 3670 ($599) desktop computer (12MB RAM, 1 TB Hard Disk, Intel chip, this week.  I use a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse.  My home "office" is a cozy bedroom (10'x12') with a south facing window converted into an work space with bookshelves, computer equipment, table, cabinet, lighting, heating, and a chair.  

Of course, I am busy with the new computer setup, file backup, copying between two computers, reloading software, reusing the old software.  Thus far ... pretty smooth setup of Google Chrome browser, MacAfee security software, and file maintainence.  My old favorites seemed to load OK in Windows 10 (with new updates), e.g., Front Page, Fireworks, Dreamweaver MX, Cute FTP, Google Chrome.  I need better headphones/microphone unit with driver software.  Completed Phase I on 11/21 at noon.  

I often used Macromedia Fireworks to make concrete poems.  However, I can't get the old software to load properly on this new Windows 10 computer.  Adobe purchased Fireworks and stopped supporting.  You can't register anymore.  So, I am going to try using CorelDRAW home and student suite for $74.00.  Adobe Illustrator is $22.00 a month to suscribe.  

After I finish with my computer, then I will start on Karen's new computer (Dell Pavilion) and the remodel of her small home office.  

I have been a computer enthusiast since my days of working as a Personnel Specialist in the United States Air Force from 1969-1973.  Also, working for the County of Los Angeles Public Library System from 1974 to 1998 gave me many opportunities to learn and use computer systems for public services and managerial purposes.  Even as a retired old man, at home, I now use a Samsung Android cellphone on Sprint; XFinity TV, Phone, and Internet services; CD player, audio MP3 player, Dell Inspiron desktop computer, Samsung Tablet, Kindle Reader, laptop computer, and electronic gadgets galore.  Using computers at home is a hobby of mine.  

Home Improvement Projects

I am now working a home improvement project in the northwest small Blue Room in our home.  This small space (8'x10') is behind and due west of my current home computer workstation.  The Blue Room is, naturally, painted in a dark blue color, has a door, has a window facing west looking into a huge Bay Laurel tree. 

I am busy cleaning up, rearranging, and reshelving books and supplies in this small back office.

In the rearranged Blue Room furniture, shelving, a small desk, chairs, I plan to set up a new Hewlett Packard desktop computer, and a new HD digital monitor.

I will be moving files and programs on to the new HP desktop computer. It runs on the Windows 8 OS.

I will be using Dreamweaver CS5 a lot at home and at work for web programming.  

Using Norton 360 Premier Security Software.

In the Blue Room, we are connected to the Internet via WiFi at 2.4 Ghz over a NETGEAR router.

Objectives:  Need to set up uploading via FTP using Dreamweaver CS5.  Learning about eBook software conversion methods.  

So .... consequently ...  I won't be posting much until various home improvement projects are completed.