Kevin's Ramblings…

On Friday, I decided that I would do a factory reset on my phone. I use a Pixel 7 Pro. I’ve done this before, it seems to speed things up, perhaps it doesn’t, but it seems to. So, I did a factory reset and started to set the phone back up.

First issue… I couldn’t sign into my Google account. I knew the password, knew the phone number associated with it, but I couldn’t get past the annoying multifactor authentication. It wanted me to verify using my Pixel 7 Pro, that’s what I’m trying to log in on.

I know that Pixel phones offer amazing technical support from Google, but, because I wasn’t signed in, I couldn’t open a support case. I was able to log in with another Google account I have. Phew.

Google support was amazing. They gave me instructions on how to disable multifactor authentication, I didn’t know I could do that so after that was done, I was logged into my main account without any issues. I thought I was going to have annoying issues, but it was a pretty simple fix, luckily.

I go to start working yesterday morning and the client I support uses multifactor authentication and although I reinstalled the app, I couldn’t configure it because it was already configured. Sigh.

It was a Sunday so of course no one was around. Since I was not able to authenticate, I decided to take the day off. It’s Monday, 715am and we are trying to figure out how to get me logged in. What fun.

So, the best time I think of doing a factory reset, I need to consider all of the possible complications and then I need to decide NOT to do the reset.

Some days I really love technology… Wish me some luck.

Yesterday was a very relaxing day. I woke up early which I’ve been doing lately, very early actually, it was around 3:30am. If history is an indicator, I’m moving into an insomnia phase.

It was a gorgeous day, got to about 12C but I didn’t spend a lot of time outside other than a walk with the dogs. I didn’t drive anywhere, I didn’t go anywhere and I didn’t really do much.

I think I was recovering from last week which was an insanely busy week with the move and unpacking. I guess you need a day like I had yesterday every once in a while.

Back to work this morning at 6. I’ve been awake since 3 and got up at 330. Sundays are typically very quiet at work so I’ll have to work to make the day go by.

Next week most of us in North America lose an hour with daylight savings beginning. I really wish the collective governments would scrap it, either keep us on standard time or daylight savings, I don’t care which, just stop with the twice a year clock changes. I suppose they have more important things on their agendas, finding more ways to waste our money. I digress.

Have a great Sunday.

I sort of considered it “found money”. I moved out of my previous house a week ago and yesterday was officially my last day there, although I did the move out inspection on Monday.

As there was no damage and the house was perfectly clean (thanks to my amazing cleaning lady), I received my full security deposit back.

Well, I’ve helped the economy with that security deposit. It’s nice to be able to spend money and not run up a credit card. I purchased some stuff for the house including a 65″ smart 4K TV. It was all stuff that I just wanted, nothing that I really needed. I don’t normally spend money so easily, I’ve been quite good lately, I guess I fell off the wagon.

It’s now the last day of February. This month has absolutely zoomed by, for me anyway, whereas January seemed like it was about 120 days long. Now, for Southern Alberta, it was very cold for most of the month of January, we had, I would guess, at least 30 days in a row where the temperatures were below zero and 10 days where the daytime highs didn’t get above about -18C. Does cold make a month seem longer? Perhaps.

I think part of the reason that February zoomed by is that I was excited about moving.  Not the actual act of moving, no one likes doing that, but getting into a new and fresh place. Probably everyone likes doing that.

February was otherwise a pretty smooth month I guess. My move couldn’t have gone any smoother than it did. I have a fair amount of practice I guess.

The dogs and I are settled and back into familiar routines. I have to admit that I’m surprised that I’m all unpacked and organized already. In some places, it takes ages. The last time I lived in Ranchlands, I never really did get all unpacked, I was never really comfortable in that place and I was glad to leave. I felt comfortable here right away.

Here’s to a good month of February and cheers to March.

It’s been a week since we’ve (my dogs and I, of course) moved into the new place. Time definitely flies.

I’m definitely liking it. Not having a neighbour living either above you or below you is awesome. I haven’t had up or down neighbours in most of the places I’ve lived in and now I know why. Unless the suites are built properly, you hear everything. I haven’t heard anything here, although I’m not entirely sure if there are people living on either side of me. Don’t particularly care, either.

The house is all setup and organized. I actually feel pretty accomplished. It typically takes me weeks if not months to get where I am now. I did it, likely, because my awesome cleaning lady didn’t think I would. Gotta prove her wrong, naturally.

The dogs have settled and it was a bit quicker this time around and I think that’s due to bringing them over several times before we actually moved in.

So, all in all, moving back to the northwest community of Ranchlands has been a good decision. Let’s see if I can stay a while now.

My new place, a 3 bedroom townhouse in the community of Ranchlands is now 95% unpacked and organized. I have a few boxes left in the living room that I need to find places for, and that’s it. I’m feeling fairly accomplished.

I’m going to like it here. The area is great for walking the dogs, there are 3 dog parks within walking distance as well. With the recent warm weather (it’s been around 10C the last few days) the parks are a bit wet to use as yet, but the area is still great for getting around.

I did the move out inspection at my old place last night. Thanks to the efforts of my wonderful cleaning lady, it was in tip top shape and I got my entire security deposit back which was nice. I guess that’s a closure on the Airdrie chapter of my life, at least for now.

It’ll be great once all of the boxes are unpacked and taken care of, that’ll be done today. It’s nice being organized so quickly. My office is a great space to work in, it was the first room I finished.

I do have some pictures to hang, that’ll be next on the organizing agenda. Maybe I don’t hate moving, would explain why I do it so often.

If I was to say that I hate moving, many would likely disagree with me as I have moved a LOT since moving out of my childhood home when I was 24.

I do hate moving though. That process is not a lot of fun. Packing everything, moving it from one location to another and then the unpacking.

I am in the unpacking stage here at my new place. I am making good progress and will be done by the end of the day today, thankfully.

I lived in the Ranchlands neighbourhood back in 2015 I guess it was. I rented a 6-story townhouse. In hindsight, I would never rent such a tower again, the stairs were quite insane. On the good side though, it was my introduction to the North-West part of Calgary and I really liked it here and now I am back.

I will be much closer to the baseball diamonds that I umpire at in the spring, summer and fall and the area has everything that is needed. I will miss Airdrie, it is an awesome city but the house that I was in just wasn’t working for me.

So, I am here for a bit – how long, who knows but hopefully a while anyway. Getting settled in is good, I will feel more at home and so will the dogs.

I bought my first car when I was 24 I think it was. It was a 1983 Nissan Pulsar. I bought it in about 1995 and it got me back and forth to school for 2 years. It was held together with duct tape and hope, but hey, I was a student and didn’t have a ton of money, it did the trick.

I’ve had a few new vehicles and several used vehicles between then and now, almost 30 years of driving.

In 2021, I purchased a 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 and I have absolutely loved it. I put a cover on the back of it which essentially turned a pretty nice vehicle with the largest trunk going.

In my history of car ownership, I’ve always gotten rid of my vehicle when it reaches about 100,000km. The warranty has expired and I’ll have to start putting money into maintaining it. I’ve had a car payment steady since my first new car, a 1998 Hyundai Elantra, so 27 years now, half my life.

So, a payment is nothing new, I’m totally used to it. My truck is at 106,000 km and I decided to replace it. I didn’t get new this time, I got used, but it’s an upgrade, a 2023 Dodge Ram 1500 with 26,000 km and plenty of warranty left.

It was sad to see my Hydro Blue truck go, but I’m welcoming my new (to me) truck.

If you’re in the Calgary area, Murray Okotoks was a pleasure to deal with.

I have not posted in ages. It’s been almost a year since my last post. I guess I have not been in the blogging mood at all.  Most social media has been driving me nuts lately.  Anyway, I digress.

I’ve moved back to Calgary. I loved living in Airdrie. It’s a great size city with all the conveniences right at your fingertips. The place I was in was decent, but, someone in their infinite wisdom decided to make the south wall all windows. The sun shines through and heats up the place like a greenhouse, even with the blinds and curtains closed.

The last 10 days or so have been cold, in the -20s but with bright sunshine beaming down, the living room and kitchen heated to 24C, a tad warm for my tastes. As it gets warmer, the house will be getting warmer and it was the catalyst to make me move, that and also that I think I’ve got Gypsy blood in my veins.

I started looking at Facebook Marketplace for rent ads in December and took a look at a few properties. I’ve lived in a lot of places so I can pick up on issues just about immediately. I looked at a basement suite in the Ogden neighbourhood. It was decent, overpriced I think and not a great layout, so I passed on that one.

I looked at another place way in the south end of Calgary. It was the main floor with a tenant in the basement and the owners living in the modified garage. It was on a cul-de-sac with no driveway and the parking situation wasn’t ideal. The backyard was a postage stamp as well so I passed on that one.

A month ago (or so) I looked at a townhouse in the Ranchlands neighbourhood. I previously lived in Ranchlands when I first moved to the north west about 10 years ago. I loved the area, didn’t love the place I was in (it was a 6 story townhouse) but this place seemed great. No neighbours in the basement, or above me either, just people on either side. It was furnished and everything included. The landlord and I got along right away and I signed a lease.

I got the keys right away as it was empty but didn’t move until yesterday. I’ve brought a few loads over here over the last few weeks and the dogs have started getting used to the place.

Yesterday, I was awake at 4am to finish my packing. Three friends helped me move, we loaded the trailer, drove to the new location and unloaded all in under 3 hours. Now the unpacking process begins.

I’m happy to be back in Calgary. I’ll be closer for umpiring this spring and summer, 15 minutes to the park. I think that’ll work out well.

So, a new chapter begins. I’m looking forward to it and perhaps a few more blog entries, more than once a year anyway.

I was booked for a trip to Ontario last October and was looking forward to it. A week before I was set to go, I got a sinus infection. My doctor suggested not flying and gave me some good reasons, so, reluctantly, I cancelled the trip. I had a good staycation at home.

I’ve been figuring out when I could return, had thought about June but that didn’t work out and then thought that I’d go for 4 days around my birthday.

On Wednesday, I booked a flight and would be in Ontario from August 8 and return on August 12.

On Thursday, the airline that I booked with declared bankruptcy and will cease operations effective tomorrow, Sunday.

I am not an overly superstitious person, but I’m feeling like something is not wanting me to visit Ontario. I’ve mentioned this to a few people, people that I wouldn’t say are overly superstitious either, but they agree.

So, for now anyway, I am not rebooking with another airline and am not thinking of visiting this year.

I called the bank and after waiting on hold for just over 2 hours, I found that yes, indeed, I’ll get a refund on the flight. The agent I spoke to was apologetic about the wait, they had never seen call volume that high. It’ll take up to a few weeks to get my refund, but that’s ok.

So, now I need to find another time to take some time off. Doubt I’ll go anywhere, a staycation sounds good to me.