Wednesday 6-4-25 Two Virtual Dances, Jukebox, Music & More

 

Smile and be happy

 

We had an outstanding day of doing this and that.

Larry started the day out by submitting our grocery order from Walmart. It was delivered at 11:30.

 

Grocery shopping

 

Larry worked on his jukebox project most of the day. He assembled it. While he was at it he made a couple of small changes and organized the wiring. It looks great. 

 

Rowe Jukebox

I attended two virtual square dances. First was Di Green and Terry McCann's Weekly Plus at 10:00 for an hour. Di and Terry took turns calling five tips to 13 participants. The theme today was songs with walking in it. A couple from Germany (Pam and Russ) had a pillow with a smiley face on it. So Di got her balloon with a smiley face, Dawn had a coffee cup with a smiley face, Shirley had a cute figurine with a smiley face and I got my pen with a smiley face on it. Di took a picture of the dancer showing off their smiley face. I had a fun time dancing plus to Di and Terry and with friends. 

 

Di and Terry Plus dance

 

 My smiley face pen

 

The second was Dave Eno's Weekly C1/A2 at 6:00 for an hour and a half. Karin Rabe and Greg Moore helped Dave call the dance. The format was three tips of C1 with 10 participants, three tips of A2 with 9 participants and two trivia questions in between the A2 tips. I had a very nice evening dancing to Dave, Karin and Greg and with friends.

I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: Two Game Tango of 20 games (10 Free Cell and 10 Tri Peaks). It took me 2 hours, 32 minutes and 50 seconds to complete, which put me in 19th place in my group. I played Angry Birds.

In between the dances I worked out for a half hour with the Wii Fit, a half hour with Gold's Gym and a half hour with the Synth Riders.

 

Working out

I played two games of Gunpowder Gulch on Bounce Arcade. I didn't play too well I only earned a bronze trophy in both games. The second game was the best of the two. I played a couple of multiballs, which were the safe crack one and the wooden post one. I played the barrel event and failed but was successful cracking the safe. Even though I didn't play too well I still had fun.

 

Gunpowder Gulch

I played four games of pinball, which were Goldeneye, Cirqus Voltaire, Guardians of the Galaxy and World Cup Soccer. While playing Goldeneye I entered my initials as high score #2 and Cirqus Voltaire I entered my initials as high score #3. I had a great day of pinball.

 

Cirqus Voltaire

 

 

James Bond Goldeneye

 

Guardians of the Galaxy

 

World Cup Soccer

While I danced Larry did some research on updating our router. Our router is old and hasn't been updated for a long time and the software has been updated a few times. He wanted to review the update process. He also worked on downloading more music.  

After Dave's dance we watched a movie on Amazon called Oblivion starring Tom Cruise. It was science fiction movie and we had seen it before. We didn't remember most of it. It was a good movie. After Larry went to bed I watched Top Gun. I ended up doing 13,500 steps.  

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 6-3-25 Liberty Hill Dance, New Stuff & Games

 

 

Have a terrific Tuesday

 

We had a super day.

Last week we had a smart switch fail in the living room and today another one failed in the dining room. When you turned on the light it would keep flashing on and off. Not sure why two of switches would fail in the same exact way so close to each other but Larry replaced it and it is back working.  

I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: World Tour Mini of 10 games. It took me 35 minutes and 11 seconds, which put me in 16th place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds. 

We left the house at 10:20 to go to Liberty Hill to dance C1/A2 at the Sky's house. Today we had a pot luck to celebrate the A class getting through A1. I made Ghirardelli Brownie Cookies for the pot luck. We had a lot of food, Kay and Bob made sloppy joes for the main course. One of the dancers, Tom brought vegetarian meatloaf. We had a lot of sides such as salads, rice, beans and more. The desserts were mini banana nut muffins, brownies, cheese and Ritz crackers and my dessert. 

Larry and I danced C1 with Susan and Henry via Ross Howell two couple tapes for an hour (12:00 to 1:00). At 1:00 we danced A1/A2 called by John Kephart. He called one tip of A1 and one tip of A2 and rotated the tips back and forth. We danced for two hours. There were enough people for two squares plus a couple of people sitting out. We had a super time dancing. At 3:00 we had our pot luck.

 

Dancing with friends

We got home at 4:30. We relaxed the rest of the day. We watched our YouTube videos.

In the evening we started watching the second season of Genius: Pablo Picasso on Amazon. We watched a couple of episodes. 

I played four games of pinball, which were World Cup Soccer, Monster Bash, Willy Wonka and The Addams Family. While playing World Cup Soccer I did a new high score, which put me in 23rd place out of 38 participants. When playing Monster Bash I came in as high score #2 and the Addams Family I came in as Family Member #3, which is the high score. I had a great hour of playing pinball.

 

The Addams Family

 

Monster Bash

 

Willy Wonka

 

World Cup Soccer

When Larry went to bed I watched Wonder Woman 1984 from our movies collection. I worked on my diamond painting. I ended up doing 13,500 steps.

While we were dancing we received a few packages: two packages from Orthofeet and one from Zazzle Inc. The package from Zazzle was new hats for us to wear for the convention in San Francisco, the theme is Hitchhike Across the Galaxy. The other two packages were new shoes from Orthofeet. During their Memorial Day sale Larry ordered a pair of new tennis shoes for me and two pairs for himself.

 

New hats

 

My new shoes

 

    

      

         

 

Monday 6-2-25 Dancing with Di, Paper Crafting, Ceiling Fan & More

 

Have a great day friends

 

We had a beautiful day with the high of 95 degrees.

We started the day out by going to town for my lab appointment at 7:30 am. We got there a little early at 7:20. Larry checked me in last night so all I had to do was tell the ladies at the desk I was here and answered a few questions. The questions were about how I was feeling. When the nurse in the lab took my blood it took a couple of times. The first time the blood just trickled into the tube so she tried another time it was a little better. Now I just have to wait until next Monday to see what the doctor has to say about my lab results.

On the way home we stopped by Jack 'n' Jill Donuts and bought donuts for our breakfast.

When we got home we had an hour to relax before Di Green and Terry McCann's Weekly C1 dance at 9:00 am. Di called five tips to 13 participants. Larry danced four of the tips. We had a great time dancing with friends. The last break during the dance they were talking about the 42nd IAGSDC Convention, which is taking place in San Francisco. Di and Terry are going to attend this event. I told her we would also be attending the convention. Larry told her we decided to go because she and Terry were going to be there and we wanted to meet them. We had never met them or many others from Zoom, who we have been virtually dancing with for over five years. Di was very excited and so were the other dancers, who were going to be at the convention.

 

Having fun during Di's C1 dance

After the dance Larry again worked on the ceiling fan in the master bedroom. He modified the blades so they won't rattle when in use. 

I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: Klondike Adventure of 20 games. It took me 1 hour, 29 minutes and 57 seconds, which put me in 26th place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds.

In the afternoon Larry did another paper project for the 4th of July, which was another Eagle. He was going to give up on it because there was a lot of weeding to do. So I weeded the piece that had the most weeding to be done. Larry thanked me. He was motivated to finish the project. The eagle came out outstanding.

 

Fourth of July Eagle

After the paper project was finished Larry played some pinball. He played the Creature From the Black Lagoon and Indianapolis 500. He had a great day of playing pinball.

I played a little pinball. I played three different games, which were World Cup Soccer, Creature From the Black Lagoon and Indianapolis 500. I did great on the board in the games but had a great time trying. 

 

Creature From the Black Lagoon

 

Indianapolis 500

 

World Cup Soccer

In the evening we watched YouTube videos. We watched the movie Battleship. I watched it the other night but Larry hadn't. When Larry went to bed I watched Wonder Woman from our movies collection. I ended up doing 12,000 steps.

While watching television I worked on my diamond painting. 

 

 

     

 

Sunday 6-1-25 Dancing with Loren and Gary, Paper Project & New Pinball Challenge

Happy June

 

 We had a super day. The high was 95 degrees. 

Larry started the day by doing another Fourth of July paper project for Kay, it was an eagle. It came out very cute and colorful. He made two of them.

 

 

4th of July eagles

 

I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: Medium Mayhem Mini of 5 games. It took me 9 minutes and 37 seconds, which put me in 11th place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds.

At 1:00 we attended a virtual square dance. It was Ett McAtee's Weekly C Series Dance. This week she was still out of town so Loren Smith from Canada filled in for her. He called five tips of C1 to 6 participants. Larry danced the whole dance with me. Loren called some moves we don't dance that often virtually. He worked on Hourglass formations such as cut the hourglass and squeeze the hourglass and Galaxy formations such as squeeze the galaxy. When we squeezed the hourglass you form a galaxy and when you squeeze the galaxy you form a hourglass. I had a great time dancing with Larry. Loren did a super job in calling the dance. 

 

We love square dancing

 

After the dance Larry continued working on the caster. Now it works and looks like the old caster. Thank you, honey.

Today is the beginning of the week so I have a new weekly pinball challenge. This week the challenge is World Cup Soccer. Before last week challenge (Star Trek the Next Generation) was over I played it and was unsuccessful in getting a new high score but I still came in 51st place out of 82 participants. When the new challenge started I played it and my first high score in World Cup Soccer was 1,494,575,880, which put me in 7th place so far. I also played Transformers and came in as high score #3. 

 

Star Trek the Next Generation

 

Transformers

 

World Cup Soccer

After playing pinball I played two games of Pirate's Plunger on the Bounce Arcade. First game I earned a bronze trophy and the second I earned a silver trophy. I defeated my enemies twice and tried another time. I earned an extra ball, got two Jolly Rogers and Skeleton event. I had a great second game.

 

Pirate's Plunder

 

In the evening we went to Sun City and danced with the Sundancers Plus dancers. Gary Bible called the dance for an hour and forty-five minutes. We had three squares and one extra dancer. While we were dancing some of the ladies saw a fawn right outside the door. They were all excited and ran out and took a picture. Larry and I had a great time dancing to Gary and with friends.

 

Get a partner and dance

When we got home it was 8:45 so we watched YouTube videos. Larry signed me in for my lab appointment in the morning. When Larry went to bed I watched The Legend of Bagger Vance from our movies collection. I ended up doing 13,500 steps.

In the afternoon while we were relaxing Larry saw a doe in the backyard, I looked out the window and saw she had a young fawn. We watched the fawn nursing while mom was eating the grass and cleaning the fawn. When we got home from the dance the doe and fawn returned. When Larry went to bed he looked at the security camera and said they were gone. While I was do this blog I looked up in the camera and saw that the fawn was bedded down under the tree. Mom came back about midnight to get the fawn. They both walked away. We always enjoy watching the deer in the backyard just eating or bedded down for a bit before moving on. 

 

The doe and fawn in the backyard 
 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Saturday 5-31-25 Home Projects, Car Shows & Onn Project

 

Happy Saturday

 

We had a fun day doing this and that.

Yesterday, when Larry woke and asked Alexa to turn on morning lights. The device turned on all the lights that were programmed except the one for the desk. He tried a number of things to get the switch to work but finally was convinced the switch had gone bad. He had a spare so he replaced it, that fixed the problem. 

When he ordered a replacement via Amazon there was a new option. He was able to choose a time for delivery. He could have it delivered the next day between 4:00 am and 8:00 am, 8:00 am and 12:00 pm, or later in the day. He chose 4:00 am and 8:00 am. The switch was delivered this morning at 7:00 am.

 

Amazon delivery

  

Larry started the day off by doing home projects. He fertilized the yards, sprayed for weeds in the gravel area, cleaned the cobwebs off the eaves and weedeated around the sprinkler control boxes. 

Next he took the motorcycle for a ride. 

Then he worked on the sidewalls of the VR version of World Cup Soccer, the game looks great. Next he worked on Creature From the Black Lagoon, he upgraded the game in 2D yesterday. Today he installed the new VR version. The new VR room looks great. The creature actually swims around the pinball machine while you play.

 

The creature swimming on the left of the pinball cabinet

The water of the lagoon the creature swam in

 

The creature swimming on the right of the pinball cabinet

 

We attended two different car shows. First car show was at the Belton High School, it was Belton Tiger Orchestra Car Show. The entry fee and raffle ticket money went to the orchestra. It was a small show but it had a lot of nice cars.

 

Belton High School Orchestra

 

Thunderbird

 

A Volkswagen Bug

 

 

A beautiful coupe in the show

Second was the Mist Texas Corvette Club Memorial Day Open Car Show in Killeen at Bubba's 33 restaurant. They had a lot of cars, they took up most of the parking lot. We parked on the street by the U-Haul place. We saw a lot of gorgeous cars and motorcycles. Some of the cars we saw in other shows but it was nice to see them again.

 

Bubba's 33

 

Chevy SS and it's helper

 

The Queen in the trunk had a crown in it

 

A gorgeous corvette in my favorite color

 

 

Orange Volkswagen Bug 1960

 

After walking around we went inside and had lunch. We shared a pork tenderloin sandwich and fries. We really ordered the sandwich with tater tots but they gave us fries instead. We told the waiter it was ok but he went back into the kitchen and got us an order of tater tots. The food was delicious. We didn't finish the fries or tater tots because it was too much food for us.

 

Pork tenderloin sandwich with fries and a pickle spear

 

On the way home we stopped and got gas in the truck. We don't drive the truck much so we only filled it halfway. 

When we got home I took a nap for a couple of hours. While I was napping Larry installed the new ONN streaming device. He worked on getting it to work like the other caster device. He wants to customize the main menu to look like the old one. He loves doing this kind of thing.

 

ONN streaming device

I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The two day event of Solitaire World Tour of 30 games I came in 9th place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds.

I played seven different games of pinball. I played both version of Creature From the Black Lagoon, Star Trek the Next Generation, World Cup Soccer, Mission Impossible, Playboy and Fun House. While playing Fun House I became Grand Champion. When playing Playboy I got all 12 playmates but failed to do the Mansion Mania. I had a great time playing pinball.

 

New version of Creature From The Black Lagoon

 

Old version of Creature From The Black Lagoon

 

Fun House

 

Mission Impossible

 

Playboy

 

Star Trek the Next Generation

 

World Cup Soccer

In the evening we watched R.I.P.D. from our movies collection. Larry had just added this movie to our collection. I watched it the other day but Larry hadn't. I still enjoyed it the second time. When Larry went to bed I watched Forrest Gump on Amazon. It's an old movie but I still enjoyed watching it. I ended up doing 13,500 steps.