This a different kind of post and really nothing more than letting you know I have a pulse. The hounds and dog continue their normal routine although most of the days this past week they were dodging standing water when they went outside. The large rug inside the patio door is doing its job, thus the hound and dog paw prints are at a minimum on the floor when they run back inside.
The calendar tells me it's been a week from my last post and I can't say much has gone on. As you see hardly any photos were taken. The weekend was spent watching the NFL Playoff games and an IU basketball game. Friday night my friends and I went to their favorite Chinese Restaurant and I must say it was as good if not better than advertised. I brought home a box of leftovers from my order and had almost two meals worth of food.
There was the day I fell off my eating plan and paid for it dearly like I aways do. It was an indigestion nightmare while trying to sleep that night.
I haven't gone out much. If it wasn't raining or too wet from overnight rain, it has been too cold with high temps getting up to 32°. I guess the most exciting news is, my electric bill for the last of December and the first half of January when it's been the coldest. The bill was emailed to me today.
Compared to last January my electric was around $10 cheaper and my gas heat was only $8 and change more than last year. I was expecting to pay a lot more with all the threats in the paper about higher utility bills. So I will leave the thermostat where it is and count the days until warmer weather.
I got an electronic email from the salesman that sold me the FJ at the end of July 2022. I guess I have had the FJ now for 6 whole months. Some of my readers will consider that an all-time high for car/truck ownership. Ha Ha ... and my old Z4 that I bought for a second time has been in my garage now since November 2021. As you can tell I am pretty well set on my two favorite vehicles.
Anymore it seems Apple updates are nothing more than screwing up what works on my computers or phone before the update. Currently I can no longer send photos from my phone to my iMac via wireless AirDrop. After a lot of reading and a lot of settings adjustments it still does not work as of a few minutes ago.
For some reason, when I change the settings to what they should be, they change back to what doesn't work. In basic terms the iPhone no longer recognizes my iMac as being one it can work with. It did before the latests iOS and MacOS updates that I did this past week. Luckily I can go back to the old way of transferring photos from the phone to the computer ... plug the phone into the cable that has a USB connection on one end.
I am to the point of no longer trying to fix it and see if Apple will fix it on their own. (doubtful anymore).
So that is about it from "the tropics" of Southern Indiana ... sorry for the lack of hound and dog pics.
Good your gas and electric are staying about the same from last year. Our budget plan jumped
ReplyDeletea $107. more a month. We live in Michigan and it feels like they are putting the squeeze on all of us but I am sure other states are getting the squeeze too.
My biggest problem is with groceries. I'm sure since you live a lot of miles north of me, it's a lot colder and more expensive. There were a few days in that billing cycle I actually turned off my heater.
DeleteWe live in southern end San Joaquin Valley California and our gas bill for December was $325.00 with thermostat at 70 degrees. Just a few years ago cost was less than $100! Our wonderful government is helping us out!!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe that 2° difference in what I set my thermostat compared to yours makes that much difference? Our utility company, which is a company in Houston Texas, said rates would increase 17% this year. My gas bill was $173.47, in a house with 1,750 square feet. My thermostat is set at 65 while I sleep, 68 when I first get up and 67 through the day.
DeleteOf course here I don't have anyone else that might like/dislike those temps. :)
Insulation differences can be very significant on the heating cooling bills.
ReplyDeleteI made some covers for my vents into the crawlspace. So far in windy weather they have stayed on but makes really no difference in my back two rooms. Almost half of the house is the additions a previous owner added around 2011 if I am guessing right. But yes ... insulation is a key factor. This house stays consistent in temps even with no curtains over the windows or patio door. That is where I lose any heat, I'm sure.
DeleteWell here in the SoCal mountains it has been very cold - 30's during the day, etc. In fact the two inches of snow that fell almost two weeks ago is still frozen on the ground. SoCal Gas sent us all a letter telling us of a rate hike. My bill for December into the first part of January was $542 and change. Living here 38 years have never had a bill this high. Heat is turned off at night, during the day it is 65, basement level set at 55, upstairs has vents closed off and the house is well insulated. Not sure what else can be done. The "delightful" gas company has stated that the next bill will be higher yet. Missed seeing photos of the gang but good to know you are all well.
ReplyDeleteWOW ... unbelievable. Reading what you do to limit the bill, I'm not sure there is much more you can do. I hope to get some new photos today. It's 25° this morning but suppose to increase to 48° ... now sure how that is going to happed without a hot sun.
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