Friday, May 09, 2025
I have been preparing for Mother's Day, late spring house maintenance, and researching my new cameras and video editing software.
The photographs below show recent additions to my camera bag. I have been
researching information about my new DJI Osmo
Pocket 3 and Action 4 cameras. I am very pleased with these additions to my
camera bag, however, taking my time about producing videos using the new
equipment.
I had an emergency this morning. I thought I saw a fat little mouse near the back door. I texted my brother asking if he could help and he was here within an hour. I am very grateful he was able to do this. Sometimes I think I can deal with anything.
A mouse, I am not going to deal with.
Friday, May 02, 2025
I am rather angry about all of this. Lets first start with my 3 Amazon orders for the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo bundle.
Those of you who have researched this product insofar as pricing, know that even in late February when I placed my first order, I found several great deals.
Also keep in mind, on April 18, 2025 the price for any of the bundles shown, was double what I originally paid.
At the time of my first order, I had in my Costco online cart the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Capture More Combo which does not come with the DJI Mic 2 Transmitter, wide angle lens, nor the carrying case. However it did come with a 64GB SD card all for $499.00. About what I paid for the other bundles which did include the DJI Mic 2 Transmitter, etc.
I really wanted the price with the mic included so I waited for the original Amazon order I placed. On February 27, 2025 Amazon refunded the original order explaining they were concerned about the shipment.
On March 1, 2025 (graphic illustration below shows March 3, 2025 as the entry date) I again found a great deal with Amazon, however it too was refunded on March 15, 2025 with the same explanation.
On March 19, 2025, I again ordered the same bundle from Amazon however though informing me on April 22, 2025 the order was not coming, did not automatically refund to my credit card company. The other problem, I paid off the credit card on April 18, 2025 to avoid interest charges.
When I first started discussing with Amazon what I could do about the issue
of a refund and why I was unhappy, they agreed I had been through too much and
issued a gift card on April 23, 2025 in the amount of $100.
They also indicated that since I had paid off my Amazon Signature Visa card they understood why I wanted a bank check or direct deposit issued to my business checking account. I am an Amazon Affiliate and they have my business bank information on file.
They promised the check was on the way via the USPS. This was on April 23, 2025 or so. Every day I have checked and no mail from Amazon, so this morning around 3:00 AM I started a chat to find out why no check. They indicated because it had not been processed. I was surprised by this. During the chat the Amazon associate issued a refund to my credit card company. Chase issues the Amazon Signature Visa I hold. I was upset by this because it meant, though I placed a $175 order from Amazon on April 19, 2025 that was not yet paid for, I did not want to carry $300 plus on the card for any amount of time.
That said, once the rep informed me of what she had done, I did not want it undone in case it led to more problems. I have the transcripts of the chat to show I did not ask her to refund to the credit card company.
Meanwhile on April 9, 2025 I picked up the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Capture More Combo from Costco. Part of the $175 order from Amazon on April 14, 2025 was for the DJI Mic 2 Transmitter (Shadow Black) which was on sale for $84.00.
Okay, I did get my new camera and if you add it up you will find I paid about the same with the gift card. Why did I get the Costco deal before they informed me it was not coming? To be on the safe side since I had failed to get the Amazon orders twice.
What else am I doing about erasing the amount Chase is holding on the card? Paying some of my upcoming domain renewals with my Amazon Signature. I am also temporally changing my Verizon cell auto pay- payment method to the Amazon card. I may also take some of the real estate courses early I need to renew my license next year.
Why would they tell me the check was on the way, if it was not true? I feel since late February, I have been waiting on one thing or another and it has made me unhappy.
Did you want to ask how much the DJI carry bag and wide angle lens cost? I am a business owner and was able to purchase both items for about $34, total. Yes, this is not cry for me. It is more, why was this so hard?
Sometimes I have to get things off my chest. I will move on now.
Sunday, April 27, 2025
In a February 2023 post I discuss some of the equipment in my camera bag as related to video editing. Below, some of the camera equipment I owned at the time.
In early 2025, after further research of the DJI OSMO product offerings and because I thought after holiday sales would be inline with what I could afford, I decided to purchase the OSMO Pocket 3 and the Action 4 Camera with the accessories I thought I would need.
How is that going? To date, the image (photo taken: 4/27/25) below shows the new equipment I have
added to my camera bag.
The journey to this point, has quite frankly brought me to tears. I am not
going to go through the details in this post, however, I want to provide some
idea of the issues involved using the graphic on the right.
Why post now? I have had in my possession the OSMO Pocket 3 bundle shown in the photo, still in its cellophane wrap for about 3 weeks now. The DJI Mic 2 still unopened, since Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Most of the accessories, i.e., Pocket 3 Magnet stand, carrying case, and LED light since February 2025.
I cannot bring myself, just yet- to open the equipment and start experimenting. I am not sure why. It maybe that I am still waiting on items, the money involved (yes many apologies and gift cards and coupons provided), or that I was so excited about finally doing this and loved watching others via Youtube express their own excitement, that my experiences have left me tired and rather annoyed.
I am pretty sure all of this will work out, maybe I should not have been so excited about the new additions to my camera bag.
Meanwhile, I continue with my Davinci Resolve software experimentation to coincide with the use of my new camera equipment and hopefully the enhanced videos I want to produce.
Also note, my purchases were made before new tariff regulations were put in place. The prices on this popular brand have doubled over the last 2 weeks because of its popularity and new regulations.
I am still a bit confounded by my experiences with all of this.
Saturday, March 15, 2025
One of the things I have tried to work on, my appearance in photos, virtual meetings, and videos. Photos are an issue, however not as much as the videos and virtual meetings.
One of the major issues, no matter good, bad, or ugly I have to be able to identify as me. I am concerned with mistaken identity as it relates to legal issues. This the reason I have not attempted to doctor or repaint my photos and videos with some of the new software editing technology.
One of the ways I try to filter my appearance is by using a low resolution video camera for videos and virtual meetings. I discuss my Zoom setup in this post.
Most of my photos are taken with my Canon EOS M50 and I am still trying to figure out how to downplay my big head in the full body shots.
The two photos shown below were taken Thursday evening (March 13, 2025) using my Canon EOS
M50, the first- as I was about to
set my hair. I had a good night's rest
the previous night and tried on my new sandals with different outfits for most
of the day (see last post). I did not have the haggard look I have noticed more often than I
want since mid
January 2025. The second photo, after I finished setting my hair.
This past week, I scheduled a virtual meeting with a business resource and
I was concerned I would have to use my Android Moto phone for the meeting. On
March 7, 2025 (see time stamps in the illustrations below), I ran some tests.
I was not happy, however was very tired and it showed.
I was rather surprised by how much the video editing software on the Android phone could change my appearance. I have never used Botox nor had any type of facial surgery. When I can afford to look better than I do, I am going to invest in good video editing software.
Saturday, March 08, 2025
This week, I did not leave the house. I did accomplish somethings I wanted to get out of the way, however, not everything turned out as planned.
- Business and personal taxes filed
- Refreshed my hair color
- Setup a business meeting (next week) for a new resource
- Researched ongoing issues with retiring API resources
As I lose more weight, I continue to investigate new ways to wear my old clothes. Below an old dress (late 80s) that I tried on with an old suit jacket and newer light weight sweaters.
Also shown a pair of Nine West slingbacks in a style I love. See this link for more information.
Thinking about having some of the length cut off my hair, however experience suggests, I am not going to be happy. What is the problem? I have to wear headbands to keep my hair in place as I prefer a more layered style. I would like to discontinue this practice.
Saturday, March 01, 2025
Today, while searching through my old large jewelry case (a gift from my father when I was in college), I found my old silver mood ring. The ring was a gift from my parents when we first arrived in Maryland.
I will explain more about the ring, however first let me explain why I was looking through my old jewelry case in the first place.
I wanted a pair of old fashioned flat black button earrings to pair with the outfit shown in one of the following photos.
The photos below show my ring. I forgot I had it. My sister and I got the same ring as Christmas presents, I think the first year we moved to Maryland. It was very popular at the time.
Surprised it fits? Yes, I would have been about eleven when I received the ring as a gift. I think that is why I did not wear it often, I thought it was too big.
Today, when I first took it out of the draw, the stone appeared dark gray and I did not think it would work. I am not sure when it changed to the aqua blue after I put it on, however when I noticed the change, I was happy it still worked.
Monday, February 03, 2025
January 2025 was one of the coldest January's I ever remember. There was snow on the ground almost every day of the month, and only because it was that cold and not because it snowed on a regular basis.
I was warm and happy I did not have to leave the house, however, for some reason did not get as much done as I wanted.
I had a surprise expense associated with my real estate activities. I am a referral agent and up until this year only had to worry about license renewal fees and the fees for courses I needed to stay up to date with new or updated Maryland real estate laws.
Now I have an annual referral agent fee. It is under a $100 and allows me to keep my real estate license active, so I will pay the new annual fee. I studied for that license and I want to keep it.
In January, I also ordered a new sweater. Most of the items I order these days are related to research insofar as products I want to offer through my shop. I love the new sweater and think it will pair nicely with pencil skirts or high waisted baggy dress pants.
Since Christmas, I feel I have been looking older and more tired. I think
part of the problem is related to my diet. I maybe trying to lose weight to
quickly. Below photos I took yesterday, February 2, 2025.
How is my diet going? I am not losing a lot now, however I am also not gaining it back. When I was younger I used to fast so I know my appearance can sometimes appear too gaunt because of quick weight loss. My older age is not helping. I do not use botox, nor have I had any type of cosmetic surgery.
Another concern of late? Ensuring I have all of the tax information I need to complete the tax returns I am responsible for. Not sure why this year I ran into problems.
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
A Certificate of Deposit (CD) I opened in August 2023 for a term of 16 months at 5.25% APY is maturing this month. When I opened the account, I only had $5500 on hand, however, felt the rate was so good I could not pass on the opportunity.
I normally use a 60 month term when I set up my CDs (I handle some financial
matters for others), however, at the time- wanted the 5.25% APY being offered
for the 16 month term. I currently have 4 other CDs, opened with a term of 60
months.
In preparation for the renewal of the maturing CD, on December 5, 2024 I transferred $3300 from
my personal checking account to the money market account I maintain with the
financial institution where I maintain my CDs.
The transfer to my money market account was due to complete, today,
December 10, 2024.
This morning after ensuring the transferred funds had posted
to the money market account, I set up the new terms for the renewal of the
maturing CD.
I have several banks and savings accounts. I currently have a little over a hundred grand in some type of savings account earning between $276-$286 a month. Most of the accounts that are not CDs are high yield savings accounts. This does not include my business & personal checking and savings accounts.
Based on my research, stock investors with the same amount ($100,000) invested in their portfolios, these days, are not earning the same returns. Theirs are less. I have been researching these numbers for the last 2 years or so and have found these numbers to be consistent.
I get a lot of communications suggesting I should invest the money in other ways. I research a lot. My numbers today show I am doing okay, in fact better than others who are investing the same amount in other ways. I will continue to track this, however, at this time see no reason to invest the money in my savings accounts in riskier areas.
I always liked a sure thing. Even when I had corporate matching funds at my disposal.
My other assets? I normally post the financial data related to only my savings accounts.
Sunday, October 06, 2024
I started my weekend on Friday, with the Real Estate Coffee House Zoom meeting. Yes, I am still a Maryland licensed real estate salesperson, see resume.
Maryland laws which affect areas associated with real estate recently went into effect and I wanted to sit in and listen to some of the local experts.
After the meeting, since I did my hair and makeup, I started to try on things I recently pulled from the back of my closets. Though the charcoal sweater with the detachable fur collar is something I wear normally in the Fall and Winter months, I never wear the collar.
I purchased the sweater because of the collar, however for whatever reason
I could never find a look I liked using the collar. So Friday, I looked into
one or two things I could do to use the collar with the sweater.
Today, I pulled out more of the pencil skirts I purchased as separate pieces for the corporate workplace. Some of those skirts (black & charcoal gray wool skirts) are shown above.
Other pencil skirts I purchased like the leather and lined linen skirts shown below, were worn on weekends or on other outings. The style worked with my body type and I always liked a more conservative look for most outings. I played with color a bit more, outside of the workplace. Most of the skirts are size 6 and lined.
I am still going through my closets to see what I can wear again- because of weight loss.
Other things I took care of this weekend included updating the renewal
terms for a CD that will mature later this month, some work in the
garden, and I added to the clothes donation pile.
Some of the movies, videos, and sports events I watched over the weekend.
- Silent Witness w/Dermot Mulroney
- Hypnotic w/Ben Affleck
- Madeline Argy recent vlog
- Baltimore Ravens win over the Cincinnati Bengals
My days are pretty active, and because of this I have been able to lose more weight than normal over the last year. The activities discussed in this post are in addition to my normal routine.
Sunday, September 15, 2024
I had a nice weekend, mainly because things I wanted to accomplish, were realities by the end of the day on Saturday.
After the Tuesday, September 10, 2024 appointment to have the new dishwasher installed failed, I was worried the Saturday appointment would have the same result. Happy to report the old dishwasher was replaced with the new one by 1:00 pm on Saturday.
I was so pleased with this turn of events that I decided to update my hair color later Saturday evening.
This too, went off without a hitch, so all in all- I feel I had a great weekend. I combed out my hair and put makeup on around noon today, while I tested for the first time the dishwasher (yes the guys tested it before they left, however it was not a full cycle). Also liked the way some of the new items worked with my hair update. Below photos of the before and after of the hair update.
Why so happy these things (dishwasher install/hair color) worked? Lately, I have been feeling, if something could go wrong- it would.
I am very happy with recent additions to my wardrobe, but mostly, lately things have been a challenge. The reason? The number of things in disrepair. Hopefully things are looking up.
Hope you had a nice weekend.
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Today, at long last the new dishwasher was to be installed. I spent most of Monday, moving things around so the installer would have easy access to everything.
About 25 minutes before the installer was to arrive, he called to request the power to the dishwasher be turned off. I had to make about four trips to the basement before finding the correct switch. For some reason the switches are labelled rather ambiguously.
When the installation company called to set up the appointment I explained I had measured the width of the dishwasher as suggested by Costco and was assured because it was standard the height was not a factor.
The first thing the installer did after unloading the new dishwasher was to measure the height and said the dishwasher would not fit because he needed 33.5 inches insofar as clearance and I only had 33 and 3/8 inches.
It did not matter that I explained the hardwood flooring was not underneath the dishwasher and that he was measuring an inch of flooring that should not have been included.
I also explained that both the old and new dishwashers were the same size so I did not understand why he could not install the new one.
Included in my discussion, the hardwood flooring was in place when the old dishwasher was installed. Nothing worked. Though the guy had a very large head he spoke broken English and did not seem to understand what I was saying. Have you ever noticed the size of my head in comparison to the rest of my body? (See the last post).
I had to set up another appointment for a second opinion.
I am upset by all of this. This should have been an easy replacement and I had prepared carefully for everything.
I took some photos today, so I had on something other than my usual outfit. I will provide the other photos in the next post.
Why is this tagged FBI? Just something off about the whole thing. Most know there are sometimes the wrong issues involved in things like this and I do not like hassles for the wrong reasons. FBI, I said no.
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Over the last three months it seems an inordinate number of household appliances have gone into disrepair.
- Dishwasher
- Dehumidifier
- Freezer (Garage)
- Kitchen Sink Leak
- Iron
In addition, replacement batteries or recharging has been required for the following:
- Camera Batteries (enlarged with overcharging)
- Car Battery
- Smoke Detector
Coupled with the replacements and repairs to things I use, these days it seems that all I do is try to maintain the status quo.
Recent or pending Amazon purchases for replacements or repairs...
Will be getting a new dishwasher next week and purchased a new dehumidifier several years ago in case something like this happened. Repaired the kitchen sink leak and learned to use the new tool.
Miscellaneous replacements include two plants I had in the den. A lot of
traffic in the house last summer proved fatal for two of my favorite plants
and I am just now getting around to replacing them. See here and here for
the earlier versions of the plants.
The following illustration shows some of my recent Amazon purchases.
I think there was a problem with the surge protector used in the guest
bedroom/sewing room where the iron is kept. I have another iron, so this is
not a high priority, however I am not happy with the loss of the old Rowenta
iron.
I have also been taking inventory with other issues in my closets and found I need to implement several fixes or repairs before the cooler seasons arrive. One of the issues shown below.
This is just for information. The six pack of undies I purchased to go with my new white and tan slacks were on sale for $7.99. I think I got a good deal, and they are not uncomfortable, however I will not be using those undies for every day use. Here is the link if you want to try them for yourself.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention several of the organizations that provide the API resources I use to develop some of my tools, have sent notifications about updates to their services. I have some major software rewrites/repairs coming up.
Areas affected include the government representatives application on the WiredPages Government page and some of the CareerOne applications on the Employment page.
Sunday, June 30, 2024
It has been so hot in my area, I hate having to think about going out.
That said, on Thursday, June 27, 2024 I did have to go out and my worst fears were realized, when the van I wanted to use would not start.
A brand new battery was installed about a year ago, however, the van is used less than once a month and I think the combination of hot weather and disuse drained the battery.
The good news, the van started right away with the amp charger I reference in this post.
I am seldom jealous of anyone with a pool. Allow me to explain. About the time I was completing my sophomore year in college (1979) and my sister was graduating from high school (always think of it as her graduation present), my parents had a pool installed.
Though I was never home (college, work, other interests), I perhaps used the pool less than 5 times before my parents sold the house in 1984. I thought when the pool was open (May-October), it was a lot of maintenance. And then there was the bunny that could not swim. I was simply never interested in that pool.
Several years ago, one of the neighbors had a pool installed. See below, the view from my office window. I have never wished I could just jump into that pool- that is, until this year.
Maybe it is because I have been working in my office more this year and the room seems hotter than other areas of the house, but I have wanted to dive into the neighbor's pool. That said, I do not want my very own pool.
Though, the next topic is not heat related, I was hot under the collar when the issue first came to my attention.
Facebook decided my business verification was no longer valid in 2022. I mention this issue in this post. I was baffled by this, however, let it go. At the time, I was a developer using Facebook APIs, however, there seemed to be no impact to my Facebook applications (see here and here), so I did not worry about it.
On Thursday, June 27, 2024, after notification earlier in the week related to the state's renewal of my business entity, I resubmitted the business information (state & business bank documents) to Facebook.
As noted from the graphic below, Facebook verified my business and also verified that my business is a tech provider for their services- mainly dealing with their API resources.
Glad most of my heat related issues worked out. I am currently working a number of business related projects and planning for the holiday.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
I shop Costco at least every other week. This may be surprising to some, in that it would suggest there are more people in my household than there are. Costco is known for the bulk items on its shelves.
That said, the products I normally purchase from Costco are paper products and other
staples on sale which last. So let us start with the everyday items I try to
get on sale.
Next are foods and drinks. I love bakery items like danish, croissants,
rolls, etc. Sometimes I purchase danish and a variety of their cupcakes
however, I have to freeze most of the items in each package. I also purchase in
bulk the King's Hawaiian Sweet Rolls and freeze each package (comes with 2 in
a pack) until needed.
The King's Hawaiian Sweet Rolls have 32 rolls in a pack and last about
2½ weeks. Here are some of the ways I use them with my meals.
I shop local food stores for most other staples. Is the Costco membership fee worth the savings I look for- on the products I purchase? Yes.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Lately, I have been trying to update my look, however, I have been distracted with a number of issues related to my software applications and sites.
Thursday evening, I noticed a problem with the FCC application I developed for the WiredPages Media page. I think I have a solution, however I am not happy about the number of recent problems with my applications. In most cases, the API, XML, or RSS feed I am using has changed or was retired.
In addition, hosting-q.com, the site I use to host most of my software applications has gone down too many times in the last week. When it rains it pours.
Now, why am I working on my personal appearance? Earlier this year, I noticed I had lost quite a bit of weight (due to physical exertion), so I made a determined effort to lose more.
This has not exactly worked out as planned, in that I am not losing at the same rate. A bit slower.
A week ago, I was pleased with how my hair turned out- so yesterday, I thought I would look through my makeup bag and try somethings in hopes of reigniting my efforts insofar as my diet.
I am not sure if that red lipstick is going to do the trick, and I am really not sure why I would want a darker lipstick as we approach summer.
Maybe I should smile more, however right now I am rather annoyed with each new problem.
Friday, April 12, 2024
Yesterday, finally did something about my hair.
I am not happy with these photos, however, pleased with how my hair turned out.
When out, I receive a lot of comments about my hair. Now that my hair is mostly one color, it may look like a messy wig. It is not.
Why now? Wednesday, I was taking a selfie video for a ID I needed, and while sitting in the afternoon sunlight, noticed all the gray. I went out later that day and purchased the Garnier Nutrisse hair color I prefer.
Wednesday, March 06, 2024
It's Personal, this blog has been featured by Feedspot as one of Maryland's Top 30 Blogs.
I am delighted to have my personal blog featured by this organization.
Friday, November 03, 2023
I have been working various projects recently, however took the time to notice how beautiful the fall color turned out.
This fall, I have also tried new food items or prepared a lot of my old favorites.
I love fall and preparing for the holidays. Though I have no big plans, I
try to ensure that if I have an event, I have options. Last night, before
preparing for bed, I played around with a holiday look...
Hope to get to my hair in the coming weeks.
Monday, September 18, 2023
On Friday, September 15, 2023, I noticed for the first time that the New York Times Hardcover Bestsellers lists on the WiredPages Libraries page were out of sync.
For some reason, I thought the New York Times updated their hardcover bestsellers list late Saturdays to be ready for the Sunday edition. It turns out the new bestsellers are released each week on Wednesdays at 5:00 PM.
Why, had I never looked this up before last Friday? Because I am a programmer who relied solely on API feeds for the real time dynamic information used on most areas of the WiredPages News Service.
Why can I no longer rely on those real time API feeds? Though I can rely on the New York Times API (the list in the sidebar without the book cover images), Amazon's Associate resources for programmers have undergone many changes- restricting a lot of the access programmers using those resources once had.
So why did I update my Amazon Affiliate Links Database for the NY Times Bestsellers a moment ago and provide the updated information here (updated again on Jan. 14, 2024)...
For the week of: 1/10/2024
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
... in this blog post and not the WiredPages Libraries page? Because over the weekend, I decided I was not happy about my site visitation numbers in a number of areas and thought I would stop thinking about it and watch movies instead (also watched a little football, cooked, etc.).
I thought these movies (all new to me) great for the weekend distraction I wanted.
- Deadfall
- Headhunters (I loved the subtitles for this Norwegian thriller).
- Eastern Promises
Okay, where was I? My last post touches on some of the issues that seem to be at odds with my visitation data and I am frustrated. Visitation data impacts my access to the Amazon Product Advertising API (real time Amazon Products data) and the ads I run.
I cannot explain why the numbers are not syncing up. I would love for DOJ to respond.
P.S. I will update the WiredPages Libraries page on Wedenesday, after 5:00 PM and each Wednesday after that, with the new release of bestsellers- until my access to the Amazon Product Advertising API is restored.
Friday, August 11, 2023
Often, while researching offerings provided by content creators- I notice many provide their morning coffee ritual. I too, have a morning drink- my espresso.
What my espresso does not have:
- Shot of espresso
- Shot of vanilla
- Shot of caramel
- Oat milk
- Green powder
- Ice cubes
What it does have:
- Freshly ground coffee beans (blend Starbucks & Peets)
- Pure cane sugar
- Heavy whipping cream (okay, its like a shot of caramel with all of the cream and sugar)
- Bottled water
- Canned whipped cream if available
When I could not figure out why the half & half I used for years tasted as if too much preservative (fish oil) was being added, I switched to the heavy whipping cream purchased in a carton.
Recently, I purchased a carton of half & half (because the heavy cream was unavailable) and noticed the odd taste was absent, however I have now become used to the richer taste of heavy whipping cream.
I have no intention of moving into this century on this...
