but some things do

              FRIDAY 1/25/19 12:43PM--I'm learning more and more about how to use the Tablet...Like my experience with a laptop, I just tap the screen and see what happens...I used all the change I'd saved up to buy myself an Amazon "gift card"...It was just a piece of paper with a code that I then entered into my account...I started out with nearly $30, so I bought the Kindle version of Roger Daltrey's autobio...I still have about $15.00 left...I might buy a user's manual for the HD8...I just have to decide which one...
           3:47PM--it's starting to look like the midday naps are a thing of the past...in a way, that's ok...the closest thing to a New Year's resolution I made was: do things differently, and/or try different things...like using Amazon or using a tablet to read lyrics from or testing my glucose levels daily...the meter came in the mail today--wasn't expecting it yet...I don't usually but frozen pizzas, but today I bought two personal size pizzas from DiGiorno...cooked one in the microwave--it wasn't bad...might cook the other one in the oven for comparison...or not...
SUNDAY 1/27/19 9:42AM--as I figured I would be, I'm recovering from last night's gig...I need to go to the grocery store, but I don't even feel like it...I'm going to Subway for Lunch...I can afford it, and 2) like I said, I don't feel like going to the grocery store...I don't feel like going to Subway, but I gotta eat Lunch, right?
MONDAY 1/28/19 Noon--I didn't go to Subway after all...I can't quite remember what I DID do though...I was gonna go out tonight, but I'm not so sure now that I will...
TUESDAY 1/29/19 6:23PM--it was supposed to snow this evening...it already did...I think it's done...tomorrow I'm gonna do my 4th Thursday homework...I'm confident that I'll br ready by Thursday night...
WEDNESDAY 1/30/19 6:32PM--didn't  do anything worth mentioning...

some things don't change

                SUNDAY 1/20/19 8PM--had Dinner with the former in-laws...it was OK, a rather tiny steak in my opinion...but I guess it was a good size for elderly folks...dessert was nice...
         The newest drug Dr. Borelli gave me makes me good/different, but one rule remains unchanged...I will not let an inanimate object get the best of me--I will destroy it first...like the belt that I've only worn one or two other times...I had no fucking idea how it UN buckled...I forced my jeans to the floor and CUT the belt off of it...no regrets...
          Considering what I originally bought the tablet for, maybe I shouldn't care about the things it can't do...Before I take it out anywhere, I wanna rehearse reading lyrics off of it...dunno how or when I'm gonna do that...if I go out Monday evening, I won't take it with me...
MONDAY 1/21/19 Noon--going to lunch/the movies shortly...I don't feel like doing much, but it's Dianne's Birthday...should be home by 3:30 or so...dinner tonight should be mac&cheese...I found out this morning that the cleaning ladies are coming on Thursday, so I've got two days to clean up my room...I should be doing laundry, but I don't really feel like it...
7:47PM--got home at about 4PM...finished dinner about 30 minutes ago, expecting to be in bed by 11PM...
TUESDAY 1/22/19 9:37AM--I think I'm finally getting my diabetes equipment some time today...I don't think I have anything else going on today--ooops, except I wanna do the rags and/or laundry...and I might get my coins turned into cash...
12;25PM--expect to be getting the diabetes gear by four o'clock...
THURSDAY 1/24/19 9:48AM--so I didn't get the diabetes stuff--yet...somebody (?) is sending the meter to me thru the mail...it could take up to 10 days...I've put off getting one for a few years, what's another week and a half?
            Not feeling good emotionally...*I* dunno how to fix that...
NOON-- the cleaning ladies are coming at around 2PM, so Maria says...as for going out tonight, neither one of us is...
8:05PM--they came at about 1:30 or so...Dianne and I went out for awhile...we came home and I tried to take a nap, but it didn't happen...
11:17PM--exploring the capabilities of the tablet...printed a test document, mailed myself some stuff..."removed" one of "my favorites" that I had just added...gonna go to bed now

like I said

    FRIDAY 1/18/19 8:30AM--the roomie is going to the movies with a friend...*I* am then gonna work on the Music for WINTERTIME BLUES...I want the Music to be interesting, not just strumming basic chords like I usually do...
          As I predicted, it didn't snow all that much...but even w/o any snow, I didn't quite feel like going out to play Music...so I don't yet regret staying home...
      I intend to clean out the drawers of the table next to the chair I'm currently sitting in...actually nervous about that...
11:50AM--the drawers are as clean as they're gonna get for now...among other things, I found the missing Kindle Fire Dianne gave me...I thought it was dead, but it might not be...in any case, I'm charging it...I won't even expect it to be charged until bedtime, although I'll check it periodically before that...
   I still plan to work on THE WINTERTIME BLUES while Dianne is at the movies...I hope it doesn't take the whole time she's gone...I hope to take a teeny tiny nap at some point...
1:51PM--I didn't exactly work on my new original tune, but I wrote a new instrumental and did my homework...
9:05PM--I may have been improperly charging the Kindle Fire...I think it has to be OFF, and up until a few minutes ago it was ON...so now, after wasting a few hours, it IS off and it MIGHT be charging...working or not, I'm going to bed at Midnight...
SATURDAY 1/19/19 1PM--I kinda feel like going out tonight, but there's no Band that I'm acquainted with that I'm itching to see...and the weather predictions for this evening are not encouraging...I don't think I need a nap,  but after I digest Lunch I might try to take a little one...
4:45PM--didn't get much of a nap, and that's OK...got the tablet cover...gonna charge it up then turn it off until tomorrow morning...then I'll turn it on and leave it on to see how long the battery will last...not sure what I'm gonna DO with it, other than  collect more song lyrics...I feel pretty darn happy...staying in tonight, it's starting to rain...
SUNDAY 1/20/19 9:35AM- so Dianne and I are at the Unique thrift store… I really didn’t plan on buying ANYTHING, except that the jeans I’m wearing have a hole in the knee... and at least one of my longsleeved flannel shirts does not flatter me, if you get my drift…  I bought two short-sleeved almost flannel shirts and a book... it’s a book about Henry Ford his family and the company that bears his name… I have the paperback edition, but it was always hard to read because it’s small-I don’t think I’ll have that problem now… as far as I’m concerned, I’m finished- as long as I don’t keep looking at shirts... I spent $14, which is about four dollars less than my daily budget… I don’t have to buy any groceries, lunch or dinner today… Dianne and I are having brunch with her parents tomorrow; I will offer to pay for my portion, but Alvin usually takes care of it... it’s VERY early, but it’s a good day,..I tried very hard to get a speech to text app for my tablet, but it's gonna happen...but I did get a recording app, if ever I need one...

time wasted?

 
       SUNDAY 1/13/19 4:33PM--it just belatedly occured to me that I don't have to erase any of the colored-in patterns I've drawn before I color them again...I can just color over them...I feel like such an idiot, but nobody knows about this but me...that helps, but only a little...
7:31PM--of course I told Dianne about my Dinnertime screw up--I dumped the packet of powdered cheese INTO the pot of boiling water--miraculously the cheese remained powdered...but I also banged my head on the oven fan/light thing...so I grabbed two Xanax and washed 'em down with soda...I expect to be in bed by 10PM...
MONDAY 1/14/19 10:50AM--we hired a guy to shovel our snow--he uncovered the cars and cleaned off the deck as well...it cost I dunno how much, and I gave him $20 for the tip...the last time I checked, GYY was open and so there will be an open mic tonight, allegedly...
11:55AM--the cleaning ladies are coming later in the week, Thursday to be specific...to me, that's good news...I hope to be upstairs shortly...for how long? I dunno...
TUESDAY 1/15/19 10:05AM--the appointment with Dr. Borelli is in about an hour...The Plan is for Dianne to sit in with us...VERY mixed feelings about that...
7PM-- the visit with Borelli went well enough...she has added to my med list...I think Dianne wanted her to take out the welbutrin and put something else in to treat my depression...what the Doctor DID do was prescribe something for my inability to concentrate...
WEDNESDAY 1/16/19 12:46PM--getting ready to call Amerigroup...I dunno WHY it's such a struggle to make a simple phone call--but it is...no matter what happens, I'll be glad when it's over...
1:24PM--so I called Amerigroup and then Dr. Snow's office...Amerigroup says CVS BRAND meters and test strips are covered--I don't have to pay for the supplies!!!I just need Dr. Snow to write a pair of prescriptions...in other medical news, I think that new medicine I'm taking just might be making a difference already...like it or not, my body doesn't seem to need a nap--yet...I told Dianne I was gonna try to stay up all day...I'm not 100% sure I CAN...I think I'm gonna try for a little one after Dianne gets home ...
        The Plan as of now is to have Wendy's Chicken Strips for Dinner..haven't had those in awhile...as for tomorrow, I dunno yet...
 Geez, I'm so excited about the whole Diabetes supplies Project...that's why I don't feel the need to nap, at least not yet...
3:10PM--still not sleepy or tired...hardly makes much sense to take a nap this late in the afternoon, right? But that could mean that bedtime will be 10PM...
5:31PM--had Wendy's chicken for Dinner, it was just OK in my opinion...I can't EVEN remember the last time I felt this good...maybe it's a coincidence, but I don't think so...
6:03PM--Maria called...actually give us a timeframe--sometime between 11AM and Noon...
THURSDAY 1/17/19 5:07PM--Just waiting for the snow to arrive...I thought I was getting my diabetes gear this afternoon...but it didn't happen...celebrated Dianne's B-Day with a Brunch at iHop...Jeez, the waitress was gorgeous...bought Dinner there and brought it home...

Murphy's Law of Snowfall

       SATURDAY 1/12/19 12:37PM--It's allegedly going to start snowing, about now...As much as I may have wanted to, I didn't go to the SAW Workshop...For one reason, it's supposed to snow, more than a little...I DO hope the weather predictors are wrong about how much snow we're gonna get...and for another reason, I'm thinking that *I* like the song (WISHES) and that's good enough for me...
                  8:21PM--so I've spent most of my time since Dinner doodling...when I first saw the design for the latest one, I thought it was too intricate...but I went ahead and did it...
       I think I will make it to 10PM; I might make it to 11PM--but I doubt it...I guess my only Plan for tomorrow is to shovel snow...not really looking forward to that...but it gives me a chance to use my boots...hopefully it will be the last time I'll need them this season...
SUNDAY 1/13/19 9:27AM--I feel like I'm having a very mild panic attack...I don't like feeling that I'm stuck in the house and can't get out...but I AM stuck in the House and can't (yet) get out...Obviously there won't be an open mic tomorrow...and if there is, *I* probably won't be there...Dianne (and I?) have hired someone to do the shoveling *I* shouldn't do...they're scheduled for tomorrow at 9AM...waiting for confirmation...

maybe I’m not finished

    SATURDAY 1/12/19 10AM- I think I have more non-fiction books in the basement then the Unique Thrift Store  currently has on their shelves…they have one less-I bought one...it’s absolutely supposed to snow today starting just after lunchtime, but the sun is out now...… I really wanted to go to the SAW workshop, but I don’t think it’s gonna happen… The workshop is free, but the parking is not... even though I’m just sitting here, I’m fairly sure I’ll be tired/sleepy by the time we get home...I already am...I think I will be more upset if it doesn’t snow, because if it does I definitely won’t be going to the workshop... and the bad weather would be my reason for not going...

hope I don't forget what I've (almost) learned

            SUNDAY 1/6/19 7PM--as I knew I would, I'm starting to get tired or sleepy after having done a gig earlier today...the "gig" consisted of ONE 30 minute set...I relaxed at least a little, and that was fairly soon after we started...I'm leaving the tablet alone for now, 1) I'm too tired and 2) it needs to be charged up...My plan is to hit the sack at 10PM, after I possibly watch Star Trek at 9PM...
10:40PM--so I'll hit the sack at 11PM...I keep losing sight of WHY I bought the tablet...I DIDN'T buy it to replace my phone; I need to remember that...but maybe I'll take the tablet to the hospital, along with a book...and the charger...and maybe the charger for the phone as well...Not EVEN gonna guess when we'll be back home...
MONDAY 8:15AM-at the hospital, waiting for Dianne’s third operation to be over...we could be home as early as Noon...that works for me...
      Just switched to the tablet...thinking I  should save juice for the phone...
      I probably won't be going to GYY tonight...but I want to;
9:30AM-STILL teaching myself how to use the tablet...I THINK I will be able to use it as a teleprompter IF I need one...
10:50AM-I think we’ll be home by Noon, if not sooner...IF I’m going  to GYY, I dunno what I’m gonna sing...and there’s no point in thinking about it if I’m staying home...
11:30AM- not gonna be home by Noon...maybe 12:30...getting REALLY sleepy now, and *I* have to drive us home...
2:21PM--boy is this a late Lunch...which leads to a late nap...got home from Bethesda about 20 minutes ago...having chicken fingers for lunch...and having Lunch for Dinner...NOT going out tonight, for obvious reasons...hope to go out on Thursday...
6:28PM--my sleep schedule/body clock is really messed up, I don't EVEN know when I'm gonna go to bed tonight...
7:16PM--I wouldn't be surprised if I was up until Midnight...as for tomorrow, I guess I'll be doing some laundry....
8PM- probably the only thing I really don’t like about the tablet is the fact that it is seemingly not capable of speech-to-text, at least not as far as I can tell… but,as I’ve said many times before, I bought it to be a place where I store song lyrics, not write a diary or surf the Internet or see what’s going on on Facebook. although I can do both of those things...
TUESDAY 1/8/19 10:39AM--I think I may have found a coloring app for the laptop, specifically one that uses a mouse...I think ya get two free designs, after which ya have to pay for them...the design I'm working on now just might take a couple of days...
12:45PM--so I finished it pretty quickly after all and after an attempt or two, was able to print it...
5:27PM--I bought the deluxe version of the coloring app from Microsoft...it cost $9.00...I'm OK with that...
7:30PM--feel myself getting hooked on the coloring book--that's not good, is it?
WEDNESDAY 1/9/19 11:12AM--a guy is here building the new microwave cart...I have NO idea how long it will take...I'm hoping he'll be done before 1PM...and if  he's not, I won't be surprised...
1:44PM--the building of the microwave cart will be finished hopefully by 2:30...as for the old one, I have NO IDEA what's gonna happen with that...Dianne has made arrangements for the cleaning ladies to come on some other day--Monday I think...THAT'S good news as well...
10:04PM--the microwave cart is done and has been since about 2:30...So far I'm the only one who knows the doors were installed incorrectly...and *I* don't think there's any way to fix them...I've spent most of the afternoon and evening doodling...as far as I can tell, I save the finished doodles and then go back to the program and "erase" them...that way I can start over...
THURSDAY 1/10/19 6:51PM--getting nervous about tomorrow's visit with Dr. Snow...I can hardly wait until it's over...
11:37PM--the BRAKE warning light is coming on periodically...I think/hope the car is just low on brake fluid...it's hard to see the reservoir this time of the night...so I won't worry yet...
FRIDAY 1/11/19 9AM--getting ready to go to the doctor’s office…but first I have to stop off at the gas station for gas, and information…
12:27PM--stopped off at the gas station, bought a bottle of brake fluid...they poured it in, the BRAKE light went out, at least for the time being...went to the Doctor's, I have to contact Amerigroup (on Monday) to find out if test strips are covered and if so, what brand that is...
6:43PM--I kinda started having a slightly manic episode, but I realized that and watered it down a bunch...I started digging deeper into a certain singer/songwriter's catalog, and that sorta got the ball rolling, at least a little...but *I* put a stop to it kinda quickly...

learning never stops

    SATURDAY 1/5/19 9:15AM--still learning what tablet can do and how to do it...I DON'T think the tablet has a word processor that I like on it--yet...
  11:13AM- well, Best Buy says they can’t put Google on an Amazon tablet… But they do have a longer cable for charging... I guess if I’m going to use Amazon's better office word processor it’s going to cost me $15-I assume that’s a one time charge; it might be worth it…
12:25PM--probably NOT gonna get a word processor app for the HD8...I have a laptop AND an iPhone, as far as I can tell they work just fine...I bought the tablet to take the place of a notebook full of songs...
3:50PM- and I don’t think I’m going to be using it for that after all-I can’t find a lyric/chord site that works...I’m going to watch a tutorial on YouTube for an app called Songbook … I will buy the app ONE more time and install it and then if it doesn’t work I’ve lost 15 bucks...but it could be worse, right ? I AM starting to wonder if I made a mistake in buying the tablet in the first place...
 sitting in front of the theater in Montgomery Mall waiting for Dianne so we can go watch A Star is Born... not quite having as much fun today as I thought I would have…
9:19PM--not at all sure how but I have the lyrics to THREE (so far) songs that I got from Google (?) somehow...
9:46PM--I made a label of the directions explaining how to get lyrics (permanently?) onto my tablet...my concern is that at some point, I might have to delete some of "My Favorites" to make room for more Favorites...
10:22PM--and unfortunately, I have to have a wi-fi connection to see them...BUT, I think I've finally installed a (free?) word processing app...I can read any of MY DOCUMENTS and magnify the view...for now, I think I'll keep the tablet...except that (again) I think I have to have a wi-fi connection before I can cut and paste 'em to a blank piece of paper...but I don't need that connection to read the lyrics at a gig, once the document has been created...at least I don't THINK I do...I guess what I can do is build the lyric library at home then take the tablet to the gig...that is, go online to GET the lyrics then go to My Docs (offline) AT the gig...
11:40PM--and, amazingly enough, I was able to PRINT a (test) document using the tablet--dunno if I need a wi-fi connection for THAT, but I suspect I do...AND I found what I suppose I might call an owner's manual on the tablet itself...

lots and LOTS of tech work

FRIDAY 1/4/19 7AM- as far as I know, the tablet comes with Amazon’s browser…  just about the only browser I’ve ever used was Google… It turns out Bing is also a browser and not just the place I go to write in my diaries...I used Bing to find the lyrics to Hey Jude and then I copied and pasted that into my Google docs,  making whatever corrections I felt were necessary… which mostly involved  changing the pronouns from “him” to “her”...I am hoping that Amazon’s browser (Silk) will work just as well for me as Bing did... I will be optimistic…
       10:35AM--a very late breakfast this morning...I spent a fair amount of time awake last night when I didn't wanna be, thinking about the tablet...for instance, there are several dozen coloring apps to choose from, yikes...there are also a few choices of browsers for a tablet besides Amazon Silk...I DO think I'll be able to load lyrics into the tablet somehow, which is all I wanted it for in the first place...
12:43PM--there doesn't seem to be an agreement among people as to which tablet is the best, which browser is best, which app for [fill in the blank] is best...if the Amazon apps get the job done, that's likely all that matters...the HD 8 apparently can do a LOT more than I might need it to...the one thing I might wanna do--make and take phone calls--it might not do...but I have a phone, right?
    I just saw Google listed as a choice of replacement for the default browser...I have my doubts...
2PM approximately, the tablet arrived...I thought I would get some sleep while waiting for it to fully charge
4:30PM--of course I didn't really get a nap...
5:22PM--I'm listening to Crosby on Spotify--on the tablet! I had asked Alexa to give me some, but (I think) it came from Amazon Music...so I asked Alexa to open Spotify--and she did... and I've sent a document from Google pages (the laptop) into the tablet..
10:31PM--it took time to find an app that worked, but I found one and composed a brief document on the tablet, then printed it...I'm cautiously happy right now...I do wanna go to Best Buy and get a screen protector to keep finger grease off of the actual screen...