It's okay, Google

 Besides cutting cable, we have slowly become a smart home. We aren't there one hundred percent, but we're damn close. For the most part, I'm on board. I still find it hilarious when our garage door closes after thirty minutes, especially when the hubby is working outside or a maintenance guy is repairing appliances in my garage. Well, until I discovered the latter lacked a sense of humor.

One of the things the hubby added was a Nest thermostat. For the most part, I have no idea how it works, and I rarely touch it. I don't even jump like I used to do when it lights up as I wander past it. 

The other day as I strode by it, the blue light came on, and I saw the temperature was 81. Now, normally that would cause some anxiety because, in the days of our old a/c, that meant we had an issue. One that required backing the car out of the garage, blowing out a clogged value, and dumping bleach. But, we have a new air conditioner and a new Nest thermostat, and again, as I said in my last post, I'm chill these days.

Plus, I work in my office, where I have a window A/C unit. 

But, eventually, I noticed the dog panting and me sweating more than normal. Apparently, my smart thermostat registers an empty home and turns up the air. Why waste when no one is around to appreciate it? Only, I am here, as is Elliot. What am I supposed to do? Periodically dance in front of the thermostat?

And because I'm supposed to be showing an author presence on social media, I tweeted that. I thought it funny. It's not like I don't know how to adjust the air. I've since figured that out, and when 81 is too much for the dog and me, I turn it down manually. But I tweeted my funny message on both of my accounts, and both times, Google responded. Please, direct message us! They wanted to help me figure out my issue. Aww...

I've ignored them. I mean, what do I say? Our Nest doesn't recognize that I'm in the house? Because seven hours of my day I'm sitting at a desk in a room far, far away? Do I tell them I thought it was a funny tweet? Dancing in front of the Nest, shouting, "Here I am!" So, then because I was curious, I Googled my issue.

It turns out that many Nest owners and reviewers list this issue as a negative of the thermostat. Yikes! No wonder Google is reaching out. I guess I'll respond. No worries, Google. I'm okay with manually demanding Nest know I'm around. Who knows how long this has been happening, and I've never even noticed! So, maybe it's been saving me lots of money! When I'm hot, I'll dance in front of the thermostat. Or, I'll adjust it. Either way, I'm good. 

What I can't stand is my video doorbell not working, my hubby not closing the door when he leaves, and a stranger walking right into my house. But that's another post for another day...

NFL football 2021 is back!

It's odd, but the more the years pass, the less ready I am for starting the football season. Is it me, or do the months fly by faster since COVID? Of course, once NFL Sunday debuts, I'm off and running. But this year, I skipped most of my participation in my NFL norm. I didn't do a fantasy team. I forgot to make my picks in week 1. I'm not blogging about football.

What???

I know. It's weird, and now that week two has been completed, I'm annoyed I didn't do the above. But, I'm not too unhappy because it was very time-consuming. And now that I'm working--writing--I don't have the time. Is that how you forty-hour weekers feel? I get ya, now.

I decorated before Steelers Sunday. I put out the yearly seven flags that fly in our front yard. I hung my Steelers door wreath and covered the dining room table with my Steelers tablecloth. I totally forgot about Thursday opening night, but in my defense, we'd had some fraud shenanigans in our family, and my SIL had arrived in town. Instead of football, we enjoyed a family dinner.

Sunday, I was in my jersey and before the television in time for Terry Bradshaw and crew on Fox. An hour later, I was not a happy camper. We became a streaming family several months ago. I came kicking and screaming, but the husband allowed me to choose our dominant streaming provider. I went with Fubo after much consideration because they had the most sports, including, at that time, the Redzone Channel. But, come Sunday, that was suddenly an extra charge. 

I had a meltdown. Not a full-blown attack. Because since the pandemic, I'm not as quick to erupt--I should state in my opinion. I'm sure my kids will say differently. Still, I was not happy. I tried everything, including logging in with my MIL's provider. Nothing worked. While the Steelers were on local TV, I could not view the rest of the league. Good thing I wasn't blogging football this year!

This Sunday, I whined and muttered under my breath a lot before announcing my unhappiness with our loss of cable. In the time it took me to slip into my Steelers jersey (and can I just tell you I went with a different one than last week because I'm trying not to be superstitious--yeah, that didn't go well), my husband forked over the extra monthly payment, and I had the Redzone Channel! 

He's a prince! 

Plus, he wants me to believe we're saving money by dropping cable television. 

Either way, I can now start paying attention. I'll be ready for Week 3. I can't say the same for the Steelers, but I will be.  

Eight months resolution check

Every two months, I check in to see how I'm doing on my New Year's resolutions. I give myself a score between 1-10 with the hopes that I'm perfect by the end of the year. 

Let's check-in (8 months):

• To be like 2020 Rebel Wilson and make this year a focus on health, Rebel Wilson lost tons of weight on her health journey. Me? Not so much. Well, not at all. But that wasn't my focus. Or was it? No, I was trying to eat better and exercise. I'd like to not be concerned about weight, but that hasn't happened yet. So, these last months I tried intermittent fasting. My cardiologist told me to wait an hour after exercising to eat breakfast, and I figure why not. The problem with that is I don't want lunch and then I want dinner early. I'm still walking and last month added water aerobics to my routine. At least I was better these two months than the last two. So, win??  Score: 7

• To eat breakfast before I drink my morning coffee - This resolution is a done deal. Check. Score: 10

• To think of three positive, happy, uplifting things for every negative thought that runs into my head - This has greatly improved my quality of life where worry and anxiety have ruled. I'm considering this one another check and done. Score: 10

• To edit book one and complete book two in all phases and attempt to publish. - Book two is edited and with beta readers. I'm still editing book one but have made major plot changes. I'm leaning toward self-publishing, and to do so must write the third book before that can happen. Score: 8

• To continue down the path of completing past resolutions - I did work on photos. That counts. Score: 2

• To learn Russian - Slacking on this resolution. Score: 2

Total Score: 39 out of 50 - Ack! Four more months!