Praying mantis: I don't see any significant differences.

Close-up shot of a praying mantis on our porch. I don't see any significant differences between this one and the ones in California. Should be about the same good luck, I hope.

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The view from my breakfast spot

Here's the view from one of my occasional breakfast spots.

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Retirement mistake: Do NOT get rid of your filing system.

For those yet to retire, I have a tip. Do NOT get rid of your filing system. You will not be able to live without it. You will end up purchasing another filing cabinet. You will end up purchasing new hanging folders. This stuff is not cheap. 

Do not imagine that you will be the one who can successfully ditch your filing system. The retirement-age human brain cannot handle such a change. Respect the lifelong programming you have done to your brain.

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The Trifecta

I keep seeing more and more indications that I am retired. If so, I cannot complain about the coffee situation in retirement. It is good.

Note for UCC (Ueshima Coffee Company): I am available to test new products. 

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I live in chaos: Thank you, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Google, Brother employees.

I live on a planet of chaos. It is good and bad. When I need a break from it, I keep my Dell XPS 17 9700 (Windows 11) and Toshiba Qosmio (Windows 8.1) and my US$150 Dell 2-in-1 Chromebook and my Google Pixel 1, Pixel 2, Pixel 4a 5G phones and my Brother DCP-L2550DW laser printer all up to date.

Thank you, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Google, Brother employees for your technical accuracy. Thank you for your testing. Thank you for following the software development life cycle. On a planet of chaos, we do not have such things, and it is good to take a break in your world. It is good that all my electronic equipment works properly. On a planet of chaos, it is very satisfying indeed.

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One U.S. dollar for a can of pure

UCC strikes again. On some of the hottest and stickiest days, you just can't deal with hot coffee. That's when a can of the pure comes into play. If anybody wants to claim that coffee (caffeine) is not a drug, I beg to differ. 

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Deep into the country

Went way deep into the countryside. This is where the fruit and vegetables come from. Catfish, too, if you're prepped for fishing.

Warning: I am not even aware of all the dangers. I took one fierce ant bite to the toe, but there are plenty of known and unknown critters here. I'm most worried about land leeches. Who knew that leech socks were a real thing?

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Nice skies of late

It appears that the rainy season has begun. It also appears that some very nice skies are part of the deal.

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The "E" button: Now that's a bridge too far!!!

I am guilty as charged of singing the praises of bidet sprayers. But all things in moderation, my friends. All things in moderation.

There is no need for the "E" button shown in the photo below. How to disable it in order to prevent accidental activation? That is the question. I will be nervous every time I hold this controller in my hand.

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Top box fitted: SHAD SH40 Cargo

As planned, I purchased and installed a SHAD SH40 Cargo top box on the toy motorcycle. 

Pros:

• *** Storage for rain gear / set of dry clothes. Crucial during soon-to-arrive rainy season.
  
  
• Storage for expensive helmet, emergency roadside kit, small purchases
  
  
• Safer feeling for passenger if I ever have one (haven't yet)
  
  
• Makes me look even more like a Grab food delivery rider (positive anonymity)

Cons:

• Slightly harder to get on and off bike (but not significantly so)
  
  
• Harder to lane split. Top box is high enough and wide enough that it will hit mirrors.
  
  
• Probable negative effect on aerodynamics/performance. (Haven't rode with it on yet.)
  
  

I recognize that there is plenty of anti-top box sentiment in the motorcycling community. I am one of those who, having had a top box before, will always have a top box. Sorry about the look. It's function over form for me.

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