Due to circumstances beyond my comprehension, I was offline for a week. My notebook would shake hands with the local access points — I tried three nearby — but then cut off the data flow. Eventually, I got on for a few hours and Annienygma suggested I restore the computer to factory settings; the website she sent me showed me how, and now I’m back. That worked, and, in the process, took off the traces of the two previous owners, so the computer is most essentially mine. I’m very fond of the previous owners, but it’s nice to see my name on the login in page.
While offline, I stuck pretty close to the diet, generally under the goal until the day before payday, when I started munching on bacon and tortillas. The next day was all cashew chicken — read zucchini and celery punctuated by chicken and an occasional carrot — so I’m satisfied I’ll be down at least the requisite four pounds. I also got a lot more physical activity in, as I attacked the clutter pile despite the heat, sorting and trashing as I went. Some days were more difficult than others; it was hard to stay hydrated in temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and my back needs stretching and flexing before I can bend over a dozen times picking things up from the floor. Even so, I made a lot of progress and dug up another two bushels of paperwork that needs to be scanned and shredded when it’s too hot to do heavier labor, as well as the thumb drive that stores the scanned files. The drive is now on a ribbon, hanging on a nail between my bedroom door and the head of my bed. I did some other organizing as well, but that belongs in its own post.
MacKenzie Drake 