Here are some subjects that I started writing about but never finished:
The French train and transit strikes are still a news item. Le président Macron refused to back down from his position on retirement reforms when he gave his traditional New Year's Day speech to the French people. Train and metro traffic has increased but is still not up to normal levels.
Our neighbor C. has not yet sold her house, as far as I know. I haven't seen any activity over there, but I also haven't talked to her in more than a week.
I also still have not installed inside my computer one of those three video cards I received over the holidays, after ordering just one in early December. Maybe today. Maybe tomorrow. I dread taking the computer apart, but I really need to do it just to vacuum the dust out of it. I keep thinking I need a new computer, but despite a good amount of internet shopping I haven't found one yet that fits the bill.
I'm still enjoying the Sony RX100 camera but I haven't been taking a lot of photos, having been laid low by that gastroenteritis attack and because of the dark days we are living through, weatherwise. I give you a few photos I took out in the vineyard four days ago, when the sun actually did shine for a few hours. The slideshow runs for about 1½ minutes and includes photos of Walt's 2020 galette de Rois, some dried artichokes in the back yard, kale growing in the winter garden, our house and a woodpile, along with a lot of photos of rows of grapevines.
What have I forgotten? Oh, it's still raining and the ground is still mucky mushy. The good news is that the roof is not leaking. We're waiting for a bill from the roofing contractor who sent out a couple of men before Christmas to repair the chimney mortar where water was getting in. Meanwhile, we're not having any significantly cold weather. We'd love to see the sun just a little more often. And I'd like some snow.
"I keep thinking I need a new computer, but despite a good amount of internet shopping I haven't found one yet that fits the bill."
ReplyDeleteHow about one of the IT Buffs re-furbished ones.... you might end up with three!
I shall now go and hide in a corner until you put the baseball bat down.
I'm not violent man, Le Pré. And your idea is appealing!
DeleteOr none at all!
DeleteLast year, I bought a lighter refurbished Apple laptop for traveling. I don't like it, not because it is refurbished, but it is the model I don't like. You can't have everything! Otherwise, it works fine.
DeleteHaa haaa, chm!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome to any snow we might have - a few flakes yesterday and this morning a whiteness to the grass and roof tops but it is still too warm to be serious. That will change in the coming week. Around here - the Seattle area - people are freaking out with thoughts of another snowmegedon like last year.
ReplyDeleteHere in Northern Virginia, we had a dusting of snow two days ago and it's now gone, fortunately. I hate snow!
ReplyDeleteNow, completely of topic. I'm wondering if "entity" and "outfit" can be used interchangeably. Any idea?
To me, "outfit" describing a company, enterprise, or business sounds pejorative, as if there's something suspicious about the organization. "Entity" sounds more official — an organization with a legal or administrative basis.
DeleteI see what you mean and I thank you for the explanation. Native versus non-native, USIA!
DeleteAgree with Ken's outfit description...it's a little on the slang or casual side of speech. Here are some alternatives to entity: firm, enterprise, concern, organization.
DeleteKen I'm afraid I'm in the new computer camp as well. Made the mistake of getting a Lenovo tower with an i3 processor. Not good...I think the baseline is i5.
Thank you, David.
DeleteHooray for roof repairs that keep you dry.
ReplyDeleteWestern NC is much warmer than it should be, with forecasts for the coming week into the 60s or more. Things are showing in the garden that shouldn't be visible for another month or more.
I got talked into an upgraded modem from my internet provider, which of course necessitated a new wifi router, as the old one was incompatible. The good news is that those now are much easier to install than they used to be.