Technology, Old and New: Rokono via bluetooth and an old 3.5" disk drive

Today I opened two packages from Amazon. They came last week and I never opened them before because I've been feeling overwhelmed by technology... you know, the learning curve?

First came the GoPro Hero 7 Black, which I'm still trying to figure out. I talked to my son about it today since he has the same camera, and he said he'd be making a video soon about how he uses it.

Along with that came the Amazon Kindle Fire 10, which I am getting along with just fine.

Next, I got a new scanner which I like very much, thank you! Just what I needed to put next to my desk and use to put all my papers and photos into digital format. It will even do slides and negatives.

Then, the Fitbit, which is being used daily, though I still don't understand it all. My goal is 4000 steps daily, at this time.

Next, these other two things.

1. The Rokono is a little round speaker using a line in, or bluetooth.

2. The old style 3.5" USB floppy drive. More about that in a minute.

First I want to talk about the Rokono. It is a little round speaker, and by the time I got it, I forgot why I wanted it. I opened it this morning and set up the bluetooth to pair with my Kindle Fire 10, and remembered - this is for listening to audiobooks while I'm riding my exercise bike. The speaker connects via bluetooth and has a much better sound than the Kindle itself. It will work with my new cellphone when I get it (hopefully soon.)

The new 3.5" disk reader, well, that's a throwback to the days before CDs. I bought it because I have a box full of old 3.5" disks and 5" floppy disks, and the only reason I'm keeping them is to find one special file from back in the days of bulletin board systems (BBS). I used to own such a BBS, and want to find that file before I toss out all the rest of these old disks. It is a file about healing, by a healer who lived near Lake Tahoe, and I believe it is worth preserving though I can't find it anywhere on the internet. So, the search is on.

Gratitudes:

1. I'm grateful that cows live across the street. Now, I never get to see them in winter and so, they're not in their pasture now. There's snow there now. I don't know where the cows go in winter, but I love watching them out my window in warmer months. Every year they change, in that there were 3 brown cows and 1 black one year, and the next, 2 brown cows, 1 black. Another year 2 black cows, one brown. I don't know what's going on over there but . . . well, this is sounding ominous and I'm not grateful for that. I just like watching them, when they're there.

2. I'm grateful I got things done yesterday - two things that were on my to-do list for a while now, concerning phone contacts with other people.

3. I'm grateful for my new GoPro camera - though it is really hard for me to learn to use, I'm making progress and finally have all the pieces I need to start using it. A good challenge will keep my mind young.

Plan for the day:

1. Phone part D medicare insurer to talk about next year's coverage.

2. Package two returns; one to Amazon and one to Roamans.

3. Work on getting my daughter's package ready to mail.

Currently reading:

1. To Live is Christ, by Beth Moore - I've been listening to the audiobook version - currently in chapter six. It is about the life of the Apostle Paul.

2. The Nightingale - continuing this novel about the French resistance during World War II.

Computer Monitor Repair Needed

Today my daughter's monitor stopped working. It seems to have a bad switch because when she plugs it in it just keeps making a loud clicking sound, and the little green light goes on and off. I've never repaired a monitor before.

What should I do? Leave me a message if you know the answer. Meanwhile she's using her brother's monitor which he doesn't mind too much as he hasn't used it in months.

Aaron Learns How To Repair His Playstation 2

More on Playstation 2 repair...

It lasted a few days then needed to be cleaned again. This time Aaron took it apart and watched as I cleaned the laser lens. Then he put it back together and it works great again.

He's really happy now that he knows how to fix it himself. As he said, now he doesn't have to be unhappy if it quits reading the disks again. It is such a frustrating and helpless feeling not to know how to fix it.

There's so much dust in our countryside environment.. I'm sure this is a skill he'll use again and again.

I should probably be writing about this in our homeschooling weblog.

Playstation 2 Repairs

Yesterday morning I fixed the Playstation 2! I fixed the disk read error problem and the disk tray, which was totally stuck. Well, Aaron enjoyed playing with it for an hour or two, then the disk read error began again. How frustrating! Now I'll have to open the box and try again.

Playstation 2 Repair Guide

Missed Communications, Shopping and a Broken Playstation

Yesterday was Mother's Day. My oldest daughter, Simoné, called me from Georgia. Unfortunately I wasn't there to get the call and she just left a message. Then I called my mom and left a message. Then I called Simoné back and left a message. Yay for message machines, but I kind of miss the old days when we used to really connect with one another more often.

I drove to Grants Pass with my son in the afternoon - to buy him shoes. That was my primary purpose for going there. I like buying the kids' shoes at Big 5 Sporting Goods because the sales on brand-name athletic shoes are enticing. Aaron got a pair of Spaulding court shoes... they look great.

Then we went to Walmart and bought paint for his bedroom and the livingroom. He chose blue and yellow paint - to be applied with a roller that will make it looked textured, like stucco. The roller cost nearly as much as the paint! I got everything we need to complete the project. My livingroom will be white with green trim.

I also got all the supplies we need to fix his Playstation 2. I found a cool repair guide online so now all I need is nerves of steel and brains... to get this thing fixed. It is the second Playstation 2 he's owned. They seem to break down a lot. Right now we're dealing with disk-read errors and a CD tray that won't open.

Digital Camera Binocular, With Night Vision

I'm putting this link here to remind myself to buy one of these when we can afford it.

Digital Camera Binocular - Night Vision

Why would I need this?

Well, I'm looking for visual proof of strange beasts who dwell in the night.

I imagine myself hearing bumps in the night while sleeping in a van in the forest, then grabbing my night vision binoculars to look out the window, to see --

Well, I won't see a thing without the night vision.