December 17 - 18, 2024 - Porch Light Repainted - Motion Sensor for Shed - Music in the Park - Decals on Buster

MY BLOG REFLECTION

What I know for sure is that every sunrise is like a new page.

Oprah Winfrey

December 17, 2024

The first item on my agenda today was to take down the white and rusted front porch light, clean it up, and paint it black. Two coats of black spray paint and sitting in the sun all day to dry well.

Yesterday the new motion sensor came for the inside shed. Time to install it. This install required running a new power wire to the sensor. I was able to get power from the octagonal box over the door. When we bought the place this box had a single bulb in it to illuminate the entire shed. It was worse than terrible. I'm old. I need a lot of light. Last winter I installed two four-foot LED fixtures. What a difference. 

When I opened the octagonal electric box to make my electrical connection I couldn't believe what I found. The box was packed full of mud dabber nests. These weren't the red clay mud dabber nests like we have at home they were made with the black sand dirt that we have here. I don't know how they hold together but they do. This electrical box is inside the inside shed. It has no exposure to the outside. I can't imagine how the mud dabbers got in there and why they picked this location to nest.

I wanted the motion sensor installed in the middle of the shed so it would pick up all movement while in there, not just upon entering. For this install I had to re-mount one of the lights. I then cut a block of wood for the sensor to attach to so that it hung lower than the lights, thus picking up motion upon the door opening. I also had to run a new power wire to the sensor. I'm very happy with the result. I go in and out of this shed multiple times daily and often with a handful of tools, laundry, etc. The automatic light is a godsend.

At 2:30 p.m. I went up to the clubhouse parking lot and played bags (Cornhole). Three sets are set up and once again I lost all three games. Fortunately, these folks aren't serious players so it is all good fun, even for a poor player like me. 

I then picked up Kelly and we headed to Bonnie's carport for some live music provided by Jim Stanley on the guitar, Bonnie singing, and Richard on the drums. It was the first such "Music in the Park" event. There was a nice turnout. They are hoping to host it once per month. Most folks sat in chairs nearby but many sat in their golf carts in the street and listened.

Here's a selfie as proof we were there. LOL  The weather was beautiful and the shade was appreciated. How do you like my cool sunglasses?

After supper we attended a "Nuggets Club" meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the clubhouse. (Golden Gate Park, Nuggets Club, get it?) The club is open to the entire community. The club sponsors dances, potlucks, etc. Only about eight people showed up in addition to the officers. Part of the reason for the low turnout is some people go home for Christmas and some do not come down to Florida until after Christmas. They are seeking someone to volunteer to host the February and March potlucks. We may volunteer to take one on. It is a lot of work. It takes all day to put the potluck on with the major tasks being setting up the tables and chairs, decorating, cooking all the meat, and cleaning up afterwards. It takes a lot of help to get all this done. Kelly is worried about help. Everyone here pitches in so I don't think it will be a problem. The meat provided in February is pork and the meat in March is corned beef. Kelly, being the 1/2 Irishman that she is, wants to do the corned beef.

December 18, 2024

The porch light is back up and looking nice. The black color is more contemporary.

Once the porch light was back up I turned to the project of putting red decals on Buster. His "golf course cream" color is too boring for me. I purchased a set of decals for a car with the intention of cutting them down to fit Buster. I had a choice of black or red. I chose red. There is too much black on Buster already. He needs a little pizzazz. 

Due to the large size of the decals they were a little challenging to install but I got it done. We think he looks great. Buster will now proudly run around the park strutting his stuff. The decals will make him appear to go faster than he does.

After the decals were installed we decided to add a little more spice by painting the steering wheel spokes red as well. It came out nice and was much cheaper than buying a new modern steering wheel.

All my projects on Buster are completed. He has come a long way from day of purchase with dead batteries, ugly brown indoor-outdoor carpeting on the floor and trunk area, a crunched front fender, and broken shocks. He should give us years of service.

I just learned that my medical insurance company reversed their decision and will now cover my sinus surgery. The doctor's office received this notice and called today to schedule. They first suggested surgery on the 30th. I declined because I'm told that I will be out of action for several days and we have tickets to the New Years Ever Party here at the park on the 31st. Upon further studying the surgery schedule they said the surgery could be done tomorrow afternoon. I was fine with that. Since I may be out of commission for a couple of days I'll end this blog here.