Inside The Perimeter

In an effort to encourage “more reading, less streaming”, I have balked at NordVPN’s price increase to $180/year. On Sunday I cancelled my account, with a bit of piss and vinegar when I was told that I’d lose VPN access immediately, and not on my annual plan’s renewal date next month. I used a VPN any time I logged into public internet access points, and without one I will no longer log into public WiFi, relying on 5G cellular instead. Since my iPad doesn’t have cellular I can either use my iPhone as a hotspot, or, use the iPad as a reading device instead of a streaming device when I travel.

I wanted to go for a bike ride today, and in essence I am. The M6 is due for an oil change and tire rotation, and in n effort to ween myself off the Mazda dealer in Morrow I’m taking it to a new-to-me mechanic recommended by my buddy Chip. Located on Piedmont near the I-85 overpass, I was instructed that I would have to plan to leave my car there all day. So, I’ve driven my car with my “mountain” bike, heretofore known as “Old Faithful”, on its back. I intend to, or am currently, out riding either the northern part of the Beltline, Path400, one of the other non-connected trails in that area, or home. My decision will be determined by how long I want to ride, and how long I believe the shop will be holding my car hostage. You know, everyone shits on dealerships for service, but I am not saving any money for this service, I’m simply trying something different.

Wordle: five, my starter was CLAIM

I may have massively failed at making English Muffins yesterday, but I succeeded in cooking dinner in a crockpot. I made “Chicken Cacciatore for Two” from a cookbook called “The Mediterranean Slow Cooker Cookbook for Seniors” by Marilyn Luis that I downloaded free from Amazon last week.

On the week when I could be using it to make three commutes via bicycle — dropping my car off for maintenance, Trees Atlanta, and Oakhurst Porchfest — I am driving the bike I’ve acquired for that purpose to Marietta today for maintenance. I guess that I will have to return to riding my once-trusty “mountain” bike.

Wordle: four, my starter was AFOUL

In July I was the leader, and only volunteer, for that month’s UFO workday. On Saturday I was one of three volunteers. Given the number of plots which seem to be ignored, and the few people coming out to volunteer, if I am not given the opportunity to take on more land next year I am going to leave UFO.

A funny thing happened on the Gators march toward greatness, as I feared, they had their asses handed to them by Missouri on Saturday. And thus ends what little interest I had in college football this season.

Wordle: three, my starter was LOTUS

Many thanks to ITP-Reader Jenka. As of yesterday I am using the LibraryThing app to catalog my books and have cataloged 66 books so far. Now, if I could figure out the best way, or at least a way, to shelve all of my books in order to get them off the floor.

Wordle: five, my starter was FREON

It’s Fucktober, baby! Unfortunately, for me this Fucktober will most likely play out like too many Fucktobers of my past. As this opening was written prior to the dead bird incident, I considered taking it out. But I haven’t! All joking aside, this month will be an insanely busy one; all weekends have at least one activity scheduled, as do many of my midweeks.

I spent some daytime hours yesterday choring outside working in Wee Little Farm, mostly moving wood chips.

I also spent some time deciding what will be important for me to accomplish during the final quarter of 2026.

And finally for the past couple of days I’ve been battling an irritated, and irritating, left eyelid. I’ve come to realize that it is my lot in life to battle bodily annoyances/deficiencies which rarely bother any other modern-day human.

Wordle: three, my starter was YODEL

I think it might be time for me to get back into the app writing business, well, hobby. Over the past two weeks I have accidentally purchased two books that I already own. I’d like to have an app which I can use to scan a UPC, or ISBN, and inventory my book collection. The same concept could be used for CDs and DVDs/Blu-Rays. I know such apps already exist, but in proper to use them I’d have to sign up for a subscription, or pay a good amount of money for them.

Wordle: five, my starter was HAVEN

Hello from Athens, GA. I drove over yesterday to attend The Beths concert at Georgia Theatre. By the time you are reading this, I may be on my way back ITP. I was going to hang out for awhile, but I think I will shower and hit the road.

Wordle: three, my starter was INSET

Last Friday I mentioned reading, and finishing, more of the books I have. Along those lines I have decided to allow myself to abandon books which just aren’t working for me. One such book was “Crying in H Mart”. I read more than half of this book and realized that I just didn’t care that much about the author’s life, so it has been abandoned.

EAV Strut was fun. I saw the parade, ate some boiled peanuts, drank some beer, listened to a band, and then helped break down booths. The only benefit of working the breakdown shift was driving a golf cart around to pick up the tables and tents.

Between wood chips, Trees Atlanta, and EAV Strut I have worked harder during the past four days than I have in a long time.

Wordle: five, my starter was USAGE

Happy EAV Strut Eve! Or, as most of you know it, Friday. That’s right, this weekend is the annual EAV Strut, a day consisting of a parade, walking the closed streets of East Atlanta Village, listening to some live music, and day drinking. After twenty-seven years of being a bum, I have signed up to volunteer, appropriately for me as one of the cleanup crew.

With the beautiful weather predicted I will be spending a lot of time outdoors, away from screens. I’m trying to implement Project Time Out” a concept in which I spend at least two hours (preferably outside) working/exercising/frolicking before allowing myself to sit on my ass for any length of time. And, for the time that I am sitting, I am going to try to force myself to start reading, and finish reading, the plethora of books that I own.

This week’s lost item is the headlamp that I brought with me to GA Wild Foods Weekend last weekend. I thought I scanned my sleeping area well to ensure I packed everything, but I cannot located the headlamp now.

Wordle: four, my starter was HAVEN

For the foreseeable future I will be moving wood chips into WLF, and also making some mushroom beds in the front yard. Work on this will resume when I return from my Trees Atlanta shift today. Since the Barcycle is still in an impaired state, and I may want to conserve a little energy for my manual laboring, I will drive once again.

Wordle: three, my starter was TRAMP