We're going to have two more successive cold fronts with winter temperatures one more time. Good. Anything except freezing to death is better than sweltering.

Thanks for the information! I texted him today and told him I want to keep in touch. I can ask him. I also spoke with my attorney. I felt good after getting my questions answered. It's being in the dark about the process that causes me stress. One good thing about the fee his firm charged the estate (after I agreed to it) is although it's a lot money, it's a flat fee. He told me to make another appointment at any time. I don't know but my guess is the probate attorney bills the same way. I know when my roommate threatened to sue me for partition (forced sale), I called an attorney specializing in partition lawsuits. His firm asked for a flat fee of $4,000. I didn't say it but I thought that's a lot of amount of money for the job. I said, "No, thank you." In my day, you paid a retainer and got billed for work hours. I haven't heard of that recently. Anyway, I had four questions, took notes, and have to re-write them in a legible, organized, presentable way. It's a nice rainy evening. I'm going to procrastinate and do it this weekend. Thanks, again!

@chas I'm glad. I think there's truth in Jodi's and Bob's comments. I won't watch anything in the horror genre. I can imagine the subject matter without being reminded of it and I don't watching movies and shows about it. It's the news I have to be more careful about how much I watch. I'm interested in it but binging on it is stressful. My favorite PCP, an internist I saw for the last seven years I lived in Lahaina, helped me when Trump was elected the first time. I told her my thoughts about it, and she said, "Yes, but life goes on." Later, when following news (with my phone) was stressful, she said, "Turn it off. Just turn it off." I might have to breakdown and buy a television again, though. There are many good movies, dramas, comedies, and documentaries. I'd like to be able to do more than watch clips.

I’m really sorry to hear this @dolmansaxlil I hope you get some clarity soon and a good treatment plan!!

OK, I took a dry leaf out of the jar and just bit a piece off directly, and chewed it a little. Definitely a camphor flavor. And bitter. FWIW, it is from Penzey’s, and they claim it is of high quality.

So, I guessed 3/3 for acrylic vs. watercolor (wasn't hard) and guessed 1/3 prices. Thanks for the guessing game, Andy.

That’s what happened when I tried planting grocery store green pepper seeds The plants I got were very small with only one or two tiny peppers.

I apologize for my tangent. The topic is obviously the cabinet. I think there's "nobody home" in this government. The knowledgeable, capable people are in the Pentagon and intelligence. They have been ignored. Both houses of Congress are corrupt and useless. This isn't the Supreme Court's finest hour, either. I'd like to think that this administration is aberrant and there will be a return to some kind of normalcy but I don't know.

American media is censored. Link to video

@AndyD Beautiful things!

Oh no. I’m sorry to hear this. Pulling for speedy and quick recovery.

Trying again. Link to video

I heard about the tornadoes and monster hailstones on the morning news today. The band of storms have reached us today but so far just occasional heavy rain and some thunder, without the severity your area has experienced. I hope our luck holds. Big Al

Remember that I'm thinking about the back side of the pedal - which makes a lever idea possible because we want to push UP the back side to lift the dampers. That way it will be pushing between the floor (support) and the underside of the back of the pedal. Getting the mechanical linkage to wrap around behind could be an interesting challenge, which is why I like the idea of a solenoid (like in a player piano system) connected to a pedal or knee switch to activate. It would be "all or nothing" which is simpler than a servo that would allow for half pedal and more sensitive movement. Again, because it is a grand piano, there is access to the back of the pedal to apply lift between that and the floor.

Works great. Never have to pay to sharpen, which I do regularly.