Many things…

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to update this blog…okay, that’s a lie. I’ve had plenty of chance, just haven’t done it. Let’s see…
My hip is still very problematic. On some days I can tell how much the PT has helped, on other days I’m half crippled when it comes to walking. Still, through it all, I’ve been able to ride my bicycle. I think I really need to up the PT stuff. I’m trying and I’ve been doing far more often than I’ve been submitting updates here…but hey, who couldn’t improve things.
I’ve also been wanting to save a few bucks as my expenses have gone up since last the spring. To that end I took a look at how much I really watched cable TV. It turns out I don’t watch it much. At least not enough to justify the $135 a month I was spending on digital cable and internet access. So…
Yep, I gave ’em a call and canceled everything. Whew. Boy did that feel good. No more digital cable (but then again, I don’t have an HD-TV) to taunt me with all the great…um…good…um…shows that are on. Yes, there are a couple I miss, Dr. Who among them, but I can pay for that if I choose and still save a ton.
Of course this left me without internet at home. I’d already canceled the Mobi hele broadband I was getting for my mom so that was out as a solution…what to do? As it turns out I could get Hawaiian Telcom DSL at my place, without even a visit from the phone guy…super. In addition with the sale they had on I’m getting their slightly upgraded (think up to 10Mbps) speed for under $30 a month (before taxes and fees). Since the cable folks would want about $50 for a similar connection it was no brainer.
The upshot is that I’m saving $100 a month and my connection is as fast, and sometimes slightly faster, than it used to be with the ‘other guys.’ My TV is now connected to my Roku box and all is well. I did add Hulu+ to the mix in addition to the Netflix streaming account I already have, so I can still watch quite a bit of stuff and still save money.
Of course my brain now wants a new TV. That will kill any savings so I’m fighting the urge. 🙂
I did pick up a new Kindle Fire HD 7″ which I love. It fixes a number of things that I didn’t like about the original Kindle Fire (though it isn’t really a full Android pad). Okay, it cut into the money I’m saving a bit, but after all one deserve a treat from time to time.
Their are two big improvements that make it worthwhile for me, both more or less having to do with sound. The speakers are much, much better. Oddly I do have the opportunity to use them while watching movies and such, especially in one location that’s kind of noisy and where I can’t wear a headset. Good stuff.
The second big deal is the addition of A2DP to the bluetooth setup. Now I can use my stereo bluetooth headset at those times I can’t just listen. It’s all even smart enough to let me both my phone and listen to content. Sweet.
Finally, as I mentioned, I can still bike and do. Th Rivendell Hunqapillar I ordered hasn’t arrived yet. It was supposed to be here in July but because of a number of delays which are completely understandable it’s been put off a couple of times. Well the time has finally arrived…
Rivendell Bicycle Works is a great company and they have gone above and beyond is trying to get this bike to me. It seems the problem had to do with the forks coming from Taiwan being held up and then not being quite right for the Waterford made frame. As it seemed likely that I’d have to wait even longer, another couple of months perhaps (and this is late September), I’ve been told I’m now getting a frame they were going to build up as a shop demo model. I don’t want to get into the economics of this, but it seems likely they’ll not a make a profit on this one, though I hope they do. Let’s just say mine will be an upgraded model (likely a different front fork set-up, though I’m not sure). There was nothing wrong with what I ordered and I would have been very happy, but I can’t help but feel I’m going to be even a wee bit happier than that.
In any case I know that my bike was being built yesterday and I suspect it’ll shipped in a day or two , which will get it here (ground) in a week or two.
That’s about it for now…more later as it unfolds…
Aloha!