Thursday 6-13-24 Jukebox, Irrigation, Games & Puzzle

 

We had a wonderful day of doing this and that. 

Larry spent a good part of the day working on his jukebox project. The new jukebox has a small LCD screen that can't be used with his conversion, he and Frank talked about what they could do with that space. Larry designed a sticker using a couple of music images and a 57 Chevrolet to put on top of the LCD. He made a couple of them and sent a picture to Frank for his opinion, Frank was thrilled, he said as a younger man he actually owned a 57 of the same color. 

Sticker to Cover LCD

 

Larry thought he was done with the design but he came up with a new idea. Currently the power button you see above will shut down the jukebox but to turn it back on you have to reach around to the side of the machine and flip a power button on and off. On Larry's other machines he has more buttons on the front and is able to use one of them to turn the machine on, however, that is a bit confusing, use one button to turn it off, another to turn it on. This has always been a limitation between the computer that runs the jukebox and the software. Larry had an idea how he might be able to get around this. 

He was thrilled when he got the one button to do both on his old jukebox but he could not get it to work on the new jukebox. At one point he even thought he had ruined the computer but eventually he got it to turn back on. After lots of experimenting he finally figured out the keyboard encoder he used in the new jukebox was the problem, he uses a different one in the older jukebox. 

Now he has a decision to make. He used a different encoder in the new machine for a number of reasons, first he didn't need to control as many buttons, the newer encoder was smaller and easily obtainable via Amazon, the other encoders have to be ordered from overseas, there are also multiple manufactures of the ones on Amazon so if one disappears you could change to another, the new encoder is also a bit less expensive. 

So, does he leave the design as it is or does he change to a encoder that is only available via one vendor in China. For his personal machine he is happy to use the one he can only get from the one vendor but the new machine he designed with the idea of them turning it into a commercial product. A bit risky to use a part that might disappear and not be easily replaced.

Two days ago one of Jason's sprinklers was broken off and water was spraying everywhere. Larry chased down some parts and repaired it, since it is not our system he didn't have a way to turn it on to make sure it was working correctly. When the system did come on he discovered there was a leak. After digging it back up he found a crack in one of the pieces he didn't replace. He has now repaired that and will need for the system to run again to see if it works correctly or needs some adjustment. He didn't cover it back up this time.

While Larry worked on his projects I played games and worked on my jigsaw puzzle. I played the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong before going to bed last night. Today I did the event, which was Event: Free Cell Adventure of 20 games. It took me 2 hours, 35 minutes and 40 seconds, which put me in 11th place in my group. Then I played some Angry Birds.

In the afternoon we played pinball. Larry played Attack From Mars and got as far as trying to destroying Mars. I played Attack From Mars, Big Buck Hunter Pro and White Water. When I played Attack From Mars I didn't get as far into the game as Larry but I only had one more country to left to destroy Mars. When I played White Water I got a new high score of 87,505,920, which moved me up to 39th place out of 52 participants. We both had a great day of playing pinball.

 

Attack From Mars

Big Buck Hunter Pro

 

White Water

 

I worked out with the Synth Riders for an hour.

In the evening we watched an Amazon Original movie called Air. It was about how Nike was saved by introducing Air Jordon. It starred Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. It was a good movie. Afterwards I watched the last Star Wars movie in the series called Star Wars Return of the Jedi. I ended up doing 17,500 steps, which put me in 2nd place in my group.

 

Wednesday 6-12-24 Projects, Pinball, Dancing & Having Fun

 

View of Lake Belton from back porch

We had a rainy morning. In the afternoon the rain went away, it got to a of 85 degrees. It rained steady and at times hard. We were on flood watch in the area because of the amount of rain we got. The creek at the back of our yard was flowing.

Playing in the rain

While it was raining Jason was watering his new house so Larry went outside to adjust the sprinkler he had replaced. He adjusted it too far so tomorrow he'll adjust it once more.

Afterwards Larry did a couple of projects. Two of the small exciter speakers in the pinball machine had come loose, they are held in via a double sided tape. The purpose of them is to not only put out sound but to vibrate that sound through the cabinet so you can feel the ball hitting the bumpers at the top of the machine. For this to work they must be physically attached to the sides. To do the repair he took the pinball machine into his workroom. Those speakers are in the very back corners of the machine, to get access to them he had to remove the playfield monitor. He was able to reattach them using screws. It didn't take too long and now they work as designed.

 

Pinball cabinet project

 

Second he rebuilt a shelf in his workroom where he has been placing two of his jukeboxes. The shelf was warped and wasn't level. Using a piece of square aluminum bar he was able to get the warp out of the board, for the level issue he had to remove all of that stuff from the other shelves so he could remove the shelf support and remount it at the correct height. 

Next was straightening up and organizing a few things (not the shelves).

Shelf in Larry's workroom

While Larry worked on his projects I played games. I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: Klondike Mini of 5 games. It took me 13 minutes and 23 seconds, which put me in 30th place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds.

I attended two virtual square dances. First was Ett McAtee's Weekly C1 at 1:00 for an hour. Ett called four tips to 20 participants. She worked on four couple moves and worked shopped Linear Action both right/left. I had fun dancing with friends.

Second was Dave Eno's Weekly C1/A2 at 6:00 for an hour and a half. Karin Rabe helped Dave call the dance. This week Greg was in Italy so she called the tips by herself. The format was three tips of C1 to 7 participants and three tips of A2 to 9 participants. Karin danced with another dancer during the C1 tips and two dancers during the A2 tips. In between the A2 tips we did Trivia. I had a super time dancing to Dave and Karin and with friends.

Larry and I both played some pinball, we had a super time playing the games. I played White Water, Medieval Madness, Twister and The Sopranos. I got a new high score in White Water, now I'm in 35th place out of 44 participants. 

Medieval Madness

The Sopranos

Twister

White Water

After Ett's dance I worked out with the Synth Riders for an hour. I also worked on my puzzle.

 

The puzzle so far

 

After Dave's dance we watched a couple of episodes of Northern Exposure. When Larry went to bed I watched the V episode of Star Wars The Empire  Strikes Back and The Littlest Mermaid Return to the Sea. I ended up doing 18,000 steps, which put me in 4th place in my group.

Tuesday 9-11-24 No Dancing, Irrigation, Pinball Cabinet & Games

 

Disappointed

Disappointed we had no dancing today because there weren't enough people for the dance in Corsicana. People were busy traveling or doing other commitments. Di Green and Terry McCann are still in Sweden and their dance was cancelled. We were disappointed but this gave us another day to do little projects.

Larry worked on our irrigation system. The other day we had bought some head extension kits for the front sprinklers at The Home Depot, we had three sprinklers that needed to be raised, he installed the kits today. This is the first time he used the extension kit and he liked how easy the extensions were to install. He only had to dig up the top of the sprinkler and pop on the outside piece, then screw on the popup extension and reinstall the head. Larry said it was a lot easier because he didn't have to dig up the whole sprinkler. Once he installed the extensions he made sure the sprinklers sprayed the right way and the right place. While he was walking around he noticed one of Jason's sprinkler heads wasn't working correctly. He checked it out and found another one was broken off. He texted Jason and asked if would be OK if he repaired it. Jason said yes. He dug the sprinkler out and found where it was broken. We didn't have the parts to fix it so we went to The Home Depot to get the parts. On the way there Larry took me to What A Burger for lunch. We shared a hamburger, medium fries and medium drink.

At The Home Depot we found the parts we needed to fix the sprinkler. While there we picked up three bags of dirt, we had some low spots and Larry needed dirt for Jason's sprinkler.

When we got home Larry fixed Jason's sprinklers and put down the dirt. Larry liked the top soil we got, it didn't have any large sticks in it. The top soil covered very well, he has one bag left he plans to use on a low spot on the edge of Jason's yard.

While Larry worked on his project I played games. I played the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event today was Event: Tri Peaks Adventure of 20 games. It took me 2 hours, 48 minutes and 34 seconds, which put me in 22nd place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds.

I played four games of pinball. They were White Water, Medieval Madness, Tales of the Arabian Nights and Monster Bash. I got myself a new high score in White Water but didn't enter into the challenge because I didn't move up and didn't get the flippers in the picture. I had a great time playing pinball.  

Medieval Madness

Monster Bash

Tales of the Arabian Nights

White Water

I continued working on my jigsaw puzzle. It's going to take some time because the colors blend in with each other. The picture on the front of the box is not what the puzzle looks like. The picture on the back of the box is what the puzzle looks like.

 

 The puzzle so far

In the evening we watched a movie on Tubi called Snow Piercer. It was a science fiction movie. It wasn't that good. Then I watched Star Wars Episode IV, which is the very first one made in 1977. It was called Star Wars and The Little Mermaid. I ended up doing 18,000 steps, which put me in 2nd place in my group.

 

Relaxing in front of the television

 

Monday 6-10-24 Shopping, Mowing, Games & Having Fun

 

Having fun 

We had a very nice day. It got up to 95 degrees.

We started the day out going to town. First stop was at the UPS Store to check our mail. Then we went to Walmart. We did our weekly grocery shopping. Next stop was Dollar Tree. A couple of our caller friends are in the hospital for medical problems. We wanted to send them get well cards.

 

 

Grocery shopping

 

By the time we got home it was almost time for lunch. 

Larry has essentially completed the design and documentation for the jukebox he did for Frank and Eric. This morning he received a terrific note from Eric, Frank called on the phone, he is also thrilled with the design. 

Larry has offered to build one for them or send them a set of the prototype pieces he made and they could assemble one. Eric wants Larry to send the pieces to Frank, Frank wants to send Larry a machine and have him build it. Too funny. Either way Larry has had a great time.

Frank says they feel terrible Larry won't accept any money, Larry explained again it is a hobby for him and he enjoys doing it. He did mention that he would love to have another machine for himself, he wants to build a more complex machine for himself while keeping the first one as he originally built it so that if the need arises he can use it to support them with any problems or changes. Frank was excited and said he would love to send an additional machine. 

Larry looks forward to calls from Frank. They really get along and have similar interests.

After lunch I mowed the frontyard, it was getting a bit long. After mowing I blew off the driveway.

 

Mowing the yard

 

I played the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: Pyramid Mini of 5 games. It took me 11 minutes and 42 seconds, which put me in 11th place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds.

I played pinball. The games I played was White Water, Attack From Mars and Creature From The Black Lagoon. 

Larry asked me to play Medieval Madness because after installing the latest software to allow playing last weeks game some people were having problems with it. Sure enough it did not work correctly. This is the second of our games the new software messed up. Larry was able to make changes to the code on both games and get them back working. He follows lots of groups related to virtual pinball, without that he would have no idea there was a problem or how to fix them. Who knows, someone may discover another game the new software breaks. There are more than 1000 games and we only have 50.

 

Attack From Mars

 

Creature From The Black Lagoon

White Water

 

Medieval Madness

I worked out with the Synth Riders for an hour.

In the evening we watched a movie called Independence Day: Resurgence on Tubi. It was a science fiction action movie. It was good. Then I watched the 6th episode of the 3rd season of Harry Wilder. Afterwards I watched Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. I ended up doing 17,500 steps, which put me in 6th place in my group.

 

 

 

 

Sunday 6-9-24 New Pinball Challenge, Games & Having Fun

 

Happy Sunday

We had a very laid back day. The high temperature was 95 degrees.

I made Belgium waffles for breakfast. Then I went back to bed. While I was napping Larry finished working on the documentation of the jukebox. Before he went to bed he wrote Frank and Eric to tell him where the project is. 

I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event today was Event: The Hard Road of 16 games. It took me 2 hours, 25 minutes and 9 seconds, which put me in 19th place in my group. Then I played Angry Birds 2 and Angry Birds and Friends.

Today was the beginning of a new week so I have a new weekly pinball challenge, which is White Water. We already have the game installed so Larry just had to change the game from 5 balls to 3. Before I played the new challenge I did last weeks challenge Lethal Weapon 3. I got a new high score of 86,197,670, which put me in 60th place out of 70 participants. My first high score on White Water was 61,800,970, which put me 4th place out of 4. It's just the beginning of the week so I have a ways to go.

 

Lethal Weapon 3

 

White Water

I also played Apollo 13, Who Dunnit and The Flintstones. Before playing Apollo 13Larry loaded the virtual reality version of it. I had a great time playing pinball.

 

Apollo 13

 

The Flintstones

 

Who Dunnit

 

I spent most of the day working on the jigsaw puzzle.

In the evening we watched a movie called Professor Marston & The Wonder Woman. It was based on the true story of Professor Marston and his creation of Wonder Woman. It was a good movie. We had a choice on which service to watch it on, all of them had ads. We chose Freevee because we thought there would be less ads. We were wrong Tubi has less adds and shorter ones. But this was ok because it was free. Afterwards I watched Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. I ended up doing 17,000 steps, which put me in 5th place in my group for the week with the total of 123,682 steps.

     

Saturday 6-8-24 New Stuff, Games, Puzzle & Having Fun

 

Happy Saturday

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

I started the day out by making mini waffles for breakfast. After breakfast we went to Harbor Freight. Larry has a couple of old tools (sander and floor jack) which are over 25 years old. The floor jack no longer works correctly and he never really liked the sander. Both tools were on sale at Harbor Freight. We hadn't been there in a long time. 

Before leaving the house Larry printed out the items he wanted.We drove the truck, it needed to go for a spin and it would be easier to load the jack, it is quite heavy . When we walked in the door of Harbor Freight we were greeted by a gentleman and he asked if we needed any help. Larry asked where the floor jack was located. We got where it was suppose to be but the spot was empty. Larry asked an employee, who happen to be the store manager. He said they were in the front. He put one on a dolly and took it to the front desk. Then Larry asked about the sander and he took us where it was located and loaded it in a shopping cart. While we were there we picked up some blue disposable gloves, they were also on sale. We had a super experience at Harbor Freight and the employees were very helpful.

On the way home we stopped at The Home Depot to pick up a sprinkler head extension kit. In the past when Larry needed to set a sprinkler head higher he had to dig up the entire head. With this new kit he should only have to clear out around the top of the sprinkler, snap an extension on the body and screw an extension on to the head. Should be much easier. Once again we had a good experience.    

When we got home Larry unboxed the sander and put it on the self. Then he unboxed the jack and made sure all the parts were there. Then he took it a part to put the oil in the jack. He used one of his small bottles for his Cameo to fill it. Then he bled the jack. Once the jack had the oil in it he put it back together. He put it on the garage floor and jacked up the car to make sure it works. He's going to keep the jack under the car for a day or two to see what happens.  

 

Old sander

New Bauer belt sander

 

The car being jacked up to test the jack

Pittsburgh 3 Ton Jack

 

Larry took the motorcycle out for a short ride. He said that it ran perfect.

I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: Easy Street Mini of 15 games. It took me 46 minutes and 22 seconds, which put me in 28th place in my group. I played some Angry Birds.

In the afternoon I worked out with the Synth Riders for an hour.

 

Working out

 

Afterward I played four different pinball games. They were Lethal Weapon 3, Metallica, The Sopranos and Star Wars.

Lethal Weapon 3

Metallica

Star Wars

The Sopranos

I worked on my jigsaw puzzle.

In the evening we watched I, Robot on Tubi. It was a 2004 movie starring Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan and Bruce Greenwood. It was a good movie. Then I started to watch the Star Wars series out of our movies collection. I watched Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace. I ended up doing 17,000 steps, which put me in 4th place in my group.

Friday 6-7-24 Ett's Dance, Jukebox Project & More

 

Happy Friday

Happy Friday. It was another hot day with the high in the mid 90's. 

Larry sent the day working on the documentation for the jukebox. 

I did the Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: World Solitaire Mini of 10 games. It took me 32 minutes and 50 seconds, which put me in 14th place in my group. I played some Angry Birds.

I played a few games of pinball. They were Dr. No, James Bond 60th Anniversary, Cirqus Voltaire and Lethal Weapon 3. 

 

Cirqus Voltaire

Dr. No

 

James Bond 60th Anniversary

 

Lethal Weapon 3

 

In the evening I attended Ett McAtee's Weekly A2 dance at 6:30 for an hour. She called four tips to 13 participants. I had fun dancing to Ett and with friends.

Get a partner and dance

After the dance we watched a movie on Pluto called Ford vs Ferrari. It was a good movie based on the American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles and how they worked together to build a Ford car to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. It starred Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale as Ken Miles. Then I watched The Dark Knight Returns from our movies collection. I ended up doing 18,000 steps, which put me in 5th place in my group.

We had a relaxing day.

 

  Relaxing day