Wednesday 5-14-25 Two Dances, Projects & Games

 

 Have a great day

 

We had a great Wednesday. It was another warm day with the high of 86 degrees. 

Back in 2021 Larry built a couple of smart blinds. There were commercial alternatives but they were really expensive so he built his own using pieces from here and there, he also programmed them to work by voice via Alexa. They have worked great and are really convenient. We use them every day. One of the YouTubers he follows tested some new smart blinds from a company called SwitchBot, they are much less expensive than other companies and use a universal sizing. Larry decided to replace the ones he built with them. This morning he installed the blind in the dining room, it didn't take him very long. It looks great. Once it was installed he programmed it to work with our Alexa device. The living room blind is not suppose to ship until next month so that one will have to wait.

 

Smart Blind in the living room

 

New blind in the dining room

 

Yesterday, when we were coming home from Liberty Hill the air conditioner in the Equinox wasn't cooling as well s it should. When we got home Larry was going to add freon but he was tired so he did it this morning. He said the air conditioner now works great.

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 10 participants. Di worked on Spin Chain the Gears, Coordinate and Track Two. I had a great time dancing to Di and Terry and with friends.

 

Plus dance participants

Second was Dave Eno's Weekly C1/A2 dance at 6:00 for an hour and a half. Dave called the whole dance by himself because Karin Rabe and Greg Moore was calling in person. The format was three tips of C1 to 4 participants, three tips of A2 to 8 participants and two trivia questions in between the A2 tips. Dave did a super job of calling the dance. I had fun dancing with friends.

I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: World Tour Mini of 10 games. It took me 41 minutes and 42 seconds, which put me in 25th place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds.

I worked out for a half hour with Synth Riders and a half hour on Bonce Arcade. Today I played one game of Asteroid Outpost and earned a silver trophy. I mined the asteroids three times and was successful once and I played one multiball. I earned one extra ball. I had fun playing on Bounce Arcade.

 

Asteroid Outpost

 

 

Afterwards I moved onto playing six games of pinball. The games were Big Bang Bar, Elvira Party Monsters, Goldeneye, The Godfather, The Big Lebowski and Rambo. I didn't get on th board but I had a good time.

 

 

The Big Lebowski

 

Rambo

 

Goldeneye

 

Elvira Party Monsters

 

Big Bang Bar

 

While I played games Larry worked on a electronic project. We have multiple devices to stream shows on our television. For years we have used the Fire TV device. Today Larry decided to try going back to an older device from Walmart. He found out someone developed a new menu system for it that allows you to customize the menu and remove the ads that play on the menu. He had to update the device and reload the programs we use. He spent the afternoon playing with the device, he had a great time. We can still can ask Alexa to turn the television on and off, we just have to use a different command word.

I worked on my diamond painting in between dancing and playing games.

After Dave's dance we watched a couple of episodes of Elementary. When Larry went to bed I watched The X-Files: I Want to Believe and Frozen from our movies collections. I ended up doing 13,000 steps. 

 

 

Relaxing in front of the television

  

 

 

 

 
 

 

Tuesday 5-13-25 Dance Day, Games & Diamond Painting

 

Hot Day

 

We had a hot day. We got up to 98 degrees in Belton and in Liberty Hill it got to 100 degrees. I think we're going to have another hot summer.

We spent most of the day in Liberty Hill dancing C1 and A2. We left the house at 10:15 and got home at 4:15. Every Tuesday Kay and Bob Kurczewski open their home for dancers to come and dance A2 with John Kephart as the caller. We also do C1 via tapes. This week we danced C1 with Henry and Susan via Johnny Preston. We were very successful in getting through the tape. We danced C1 from 12:00 to 1:00. At 1:00 we danced A2 for two hours. We had enough dancers for two squares and an extra person sitting out. John gave us cards, that told us which square to dance in. John worked on Scoot Chain Thru, Square Chain Thru and other moves we were having problems with. We hadn't danced for eight weeks with this group and everyone was happy to see us. We had a super time dancing with friends.

 

 Dancing with friends

 

Before the dance I worked on my diamond painting.

When we got home from the dance we watched YouTube videos. 

I played my computer games. I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: Tri Peaks Mini of 10 games. It took me 20 minutes and 59 seconds, which put me in 5th place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds.

I played four games of pinball. They were Big Bang Bar, Tales of the Arabian Nights, Dr. No and Transformers. While playing Tales of the Arabian Nights I got all the jewels, which was seven jewels and tried to free the Princess but failed. I was surprise I got that far because my first three balls weren't too good. When I played Transformers I entered my initials as high score #1 and Big Bang Bar I entered my initials as high score #4. I had a good time playing pinball.

 

Big Bang Bar

 

Dr. No

 

Tales of the Arabian Nights

 

Transformers

In the evening we watched a few episodes of Elementary. When Larry went to bed I watched The Little Mermaid II and The X-Files from our movies collection. I ended up doing 13,000 steps.

 

   

Monday 5-12-25 Dancing, Games, Jukebox & Diamond Painting

 

Having fun with friends

We had a warm day with the high of 88 degrees and the low of 60 degrees. 

We started the day out by attending Di Green and Terry McCann's Weekly C1 at 9:00 am for and hour and fifteen minutes. Di called five tips to 12 participants. Terry danced with Di while she was calling, which made it easy to follow the calls. Di also does a super job of cueing the dancers through the moves as she calls. Larry danced four of the tips with me. I'm glad he did because he helped me at times to go the right direction to get in the right place. We had a great time dancing with friends.

 

Dancing with friends

After the dance Larry went back working on the LED lights on the jukebox.

While Larry did this I played my games. I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The even today was Event: Klondike Mini of 10 games. It took me 53 minutes and 55 seconds, which put me in 29th place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds.

After lunch I worked out for a half hour with my Wii Fit and a half hour with Just Dance (10 minutes using 2014 disc and 20 minutes using 2015 disc. Then I played Bounce Arcade. I played one game of Gunpowder Gulch for an hour. I earned a silver trophy and played three multiballs, which were Safe Break, Saloon and Jailhouse Break. I had a super time.

 

Gunpowder Gulch

While I worked out and played Bounce Arcade Larry took a break from the jukebox and played pinball. He played Big Bang Bar, Dark Chaos, Transformers and 60th Anniversary of Jame Bond. He also removed a couple of games, they were Twilight Zone and Family Man. We have a lot of games on the cabinet and Larry likes to manage how many we have. These two games were seldom played. He had a great day playing pinball.

 

Big Bang Bar

 

Mission Impossible

 

Ted' Road Show

 

Tales of the Arabian Nights

 

After I finished working out I played four pinball games. They were Big Bang Bar, Ted's Road Show, Tales of the Arabian Nights and Mission Impossible. I did get on the board on any of the games but I had fun.

I continued working on my diamond painting.

We watched YouTube videos.

In the evening we finished watching the 5th season of Elementary and started the 6th season. When Larry went to bed I watched the fourth episode of the 11th season of The Brokenwood Mysteries. Then I watched The Littlest Mermaid from our movies collection. I ended up doing 13,000 steps. 

   

 

Sunday 5-11-25 Happy Mother's Day, Jukebox Project, Games & More

 

Happy Mother's Day

 

Happy Mother's Day to everyone. We had a warm day with the high of 81 degrees with a little wind. 

Larry had ordered a gift for his mother (Shirley) to be delivered to her house in Tucson. He received a couple of e-mails saying the order was delayed and they didn't know when it was going to be delivered. So Larry went on the internet and ordered flowers to her. It was delivered today. It was a small heart shaped box with seven red roses.  

 

Shirley's mother's day gift

 

In the evening Larry called his mother and wished her a happy Mother's Day. He waited until about 9:00 pm because it was 7:00 pm her time in Tucson. He wanted to catch her at home.

We didn't have anything on our agenda so Larry decided to go back to his jukebox project. He had to refresh his memory on where he was. He remembered that he was working on the LED lights. He had to relearn what he did and reteach his light. 

 

Back to playing with the jukebox

I did the Daily Challenges from yesterday and today in Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: Pyramid Mini of 10 games. It took me 26 minutes and 52 seconds, which put me in 23rd place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds.

Today I started a new pinball weekly challenge. The challenge is Big Bang Bar. Before the challenge started I played last week challenge of Transformers and got a new high score of 42,759,900, which put me in 38th place out of 78 participants. My first high score of Big Bang Bar is 58,276,730, which put me in 8th place so far.

 

Transformers

 

Big Bang Bar

 

I played four other games. They were Cactus Canyon, Fish Tales, Indianapolis 500 and The Big Lebowski. I didn't get on the board but had fun.

 

Cactus Canyon

 

Fish Tales

 

Indianapolis 500

 

The Big Lebowski

The Big Bang Bar has a cool VR room. It's setup in a home with a couch, big screen television and decor with a guitar, skate boards, puzzles and plants.

 

Couch and clock

 

Shelves with a guitar, skate board and plant

 

Big screen television

 

Pinball cabinet with Big Bang Bar on it

 

I worked out for a half hour on my Wii Fit. Then I played Monster Manor on Bounce Arcade three times. I earned two bronze trophies. I had a super time.

 

Monster Manor

 

I worked on my diamond painting.

We watched YouTube videos.

In the evening we watch Red Joan on Acorn. It was based on a real story about a British spy, who was working on building the atomic bomb. It was a good movie starring Judi Dench. When Larry went to bed I finished watched the third season of The Chelsea Detective. I ended up doing 13,000 steps. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday 5-10-25 Projects, Games & Diamond Painting

 

What should we do?

 

We had a busy day doing this and that. We didn't have anything on our agenda but we kept busy all day.

Larry wanted to change the oil in the truck because it was old and we don't use it that often. We started day off by taking it for a drive to warm up the oil. While driving around we stopped by Today's Car Wash. After getting the truck washed we dried it off. Today's Car Wash supplies the towels so it's very convenient to dry your vehicle. 

Afterwards we swung by Taqueria Mexicano Grille because there was a truck meetup. It was called Belton Trucks and Tacos from 8:00 to 11:00. There weren't many trucks but it was something to do to get us out of the house.

On the way home we stopped by Jack 'n' Jill Donuts and bought a few donuts.

When we got home Larry changed the oil in the truck. He was going to change the air filter and found out he didn't need to because the one in the truck looked like new.

Next he fertilized the back of the backyard. When he finished doing this he treated for fire ants. 

 

Fertilizing the backyard

 

While Larry did his projects I started a new diamond painting. It a sunset in the desert. 

Diamond Painting

 

I played seven pinball games. They were The Godfather, Aerosmith, Medieval Madness, Transformers, Dark Chaos, Indianapolis 500 and Three Angels. While we were on our trip we played Indianapolis 500 at Mega Games and had a super time. I've been bugging Larry to download it and install it. Today he did so. It plays super. Once he installed the game in both 2D and VR I played it. The other day Larry installed Three Angels on the mini cabinet. I finally had time to play it. I had a great afternoon playing pinball on both cabinets.

 

Aerosmith

 

Dark Chaos

 

Indianapolis 500

 

Medieval Madness

 

The Godfather

 

Three Angels

 

Transformers

I worked out on my Wii Fit for a half hour. I played Asteroid Outpost on Bounce Arcade. I only played one game and it took me 1 hour and a half to complete it. I earned a gold trophy and a new high score. I mined asteroids 10 times and completed the mining twice. I had an outstanding game.

 

Playing Asteroids Outpost

 

I played the daily event of Solitaire. It was called Event: Spider Mini of 10 games. It took me 1 hour, 41 minutes and 7 seconds, which put me in 22nd place in my group.

In the evening we watched a movie on Amazon called Conclave. It was a good movie about how they choose a new Pope. Then I started the 3rd season of The Chelsea Detective. I ended up doing 13,000 steps.

We had a busy day but fun.

 

 

 

Friday 5-9-25 Movie & Lunch, Dancing, Mowers & More

Wildflowers at the house

 

We had a super day.

We started the day off by going to the movies. The new Avengers started playing at the theaters about a week ago. Last night we watched the trailers on YouTube and thought it looked good. Larry checked the times for the movie and found the movie playing at a Cinemark in Temple at 10:00. The movie was called The New Avengers Thunderbolts. We love watching the Marvel movies in fact we have most of the super heroes movies. This movie wasn't as good as the older super hero movies but it wasn't bad. It was great they brought back the same actors and actresses, who played the character in other super hero movies. The theater wasn't that clean. The people, who made the movie said you need to sit through the credits because there are two add on scenes.

 

Going to the movies

 

After the movie we stopped by Jimmy's Egg in Temple for lunch. Larry has been meaning to check Jimmy's Egg out. The restaurant was clean. The waitress was friendly and nice. The service was a little slow but the food was good. We shared an order of the chicken quesadillas. They separated the order on two different plates, which was a great.

 

Chicken Quesadilla

We got home at 2:00. Larry read his e-mails and I worked out a little. I worked out with the Wii Fit for a half hour. Then I moved onto playing Bounce Arcade. I played Monster Manor once and Gunpowder Gulch three times. While playing Monster Manor I earned a silver trophy and a new high score. The third game of Gunpowder Gulch was a great game. I earned a silver trophy, I played three multiballs (Jailhouse Breakout, Saloon and Crack the Safe). I was successful in completing two of the five events, which were cracking the safe and shootout with the deputies. This was the first time I ever was successful in completing the shootout. I was very excited.

 

Gunpowder Gulch

 

Monster Manor

 

I played the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: Free Cell Mini of 10 games. It took me 1 hour, 13 minutes and 8 seconds, which put me in 20th place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds.

Our mowing company normally mows every other Thursday, they missed last week and didn't mow yesterday. This morning Larry gave them a call, they said due to all the rain they were running behind but they would get to us today. We thought they were going to miss us again today but they showed up at 5:00. They did an excellent job of mowing, edging and blowing off the porches and driveway.

 

Mowing the backyard

We watched our YouTube videos we follow.

In the evening I attended Ett McAtee's Weekly A2 dance at 6:30 for an hour. She called five tips to 7 participants. I had a great time dancing to Ett and with friends. This is the last dance she will call until the middle of June.

 

 

While I danced Larry played with his new fitness watch.

After the dance we finished watching the 14th season of Death In Paradise. When Larry went to bed I finished watching the 2nd season of The Chelsea Detective. I ended up doing 13,000 steps.