Testing another word processor

I'm using the word processor that comes with Linux “Open Office” to write the blog, today. I always had trouble with the word processor in Blogger. I hope it works. I was able to transfer something I wrote in this word processor to an e-mail last month so it should work.

I didn't go for a walk today. It was too cloudy and it rained heavily for a while. I'm just hanging out at Java Johns and the Co-op. I'm at the Co-op now, waiting for Jim. We meet here on Fridays and have a cup of coffee together. It's good to socialize a bit.

I bought a camera from Dave W. about a month ago. It has a zoom lens and a flash. I bought a bigger memory card for it. That set me back over $30. Another problem is that it uses double a flashlight batteries. I've already found that the batteries don't last very long. It should be an improvement over the $20 Sakar that I was using. It works with Linux so I can load pictures on any of my computers, not just the Windows one.

I don't know if I mentioned that I have a couple of options on an ETF with the initials XLE. It's an ETF that invest in the energy sector. I expect oil to go through the roof before summer. The options expire in June so maybe I can make some money. The gambler in me wants to sell the Tips and invest everything in those options. I won't do it though.

I'll post another picture of the hoarfrost from a month ago. I don't have any current pictures and those are pretty. Tomorrow I'll take some pictures of the lilies that the flower lady brought to the Co-op.

I'm back

I couldn't get to my blog for a while.  I thought it had been taken down due to lack of readership and my not updating it.  Well, I got back.
I'm still going to school and getting good grades.
I invested the money from the sale of the house into Treasury bonds.  Somehow I still seem to lose money even investing in bonds.  It turned out that the price of bonds fluctuates with the market.   I'm hanging on to them and I hope that the interest I make from them will make up what I've lost.  For what it's worth I  invested in an ETF with the initials of TIP.  That stands for Treasuries Inflation Protected.
Tomorrow I'm going for a ride on my bicycle and I intend to take some pictures.  It still isn't very pretty yet. The trees don't have their leaves and the grass  is still brown but I have to get out. I have a new camera and I need to get some pictures for the blog.
The temperatures are really taking off here. It was over 80 degrees today. I don't have to go back to school until next Tuesday. Sitting around the house and watching television is not only boring but I need some exercise.

I think I'll post a picture that I took about 1or 2 months ago.  The hoarfrost was really pretty, then.

I'm back

I haven't posted anything for months.  I got discouraged by the fact that there are no readers. 
Anyway, a lot has happened.  I started classes at NICC.  I'm taking classes on computers.  A keyboarding class and one on data processing.  I got the house sold and moved into a nice apartment in Calmar.  I used the money from the sale of the house to buy bonds. 
So far, I'm losing on the bonds.  As soon as I bought them they went down in value.  I'm holding on to them because the yield (or interest) that they pay went up as their value went down. 
My psychologist wants me to put my money in a savings account.  I don't see the sense in that.  I can make more money in bonds.
It's cold today.  I'll see if I can post a picture of the hoarfrost that we've been having lately.  I'm at school and I just found out that my memory stick doesn't have those pictures on it.  When I get home I'll post a picture.
Time for class now.  Later

analytics shows me as having a reader.

I just got off of Google Analytics and they show me as having a reader from the United Kingdom.  Site Meter didn't show anything.  I guess that shows that Site Meter may be set up wrong or it just doesn't work. 
I haven't made a post for a couple of weeks, now.  I've been getting discouraged by not having anyone read my posts.  Now, I know that Site Meter is giving me erroneous readings. 
Well I may be going back to school.  If I can get a Pell Grant and work study hours, I'll be taking courses on computer applications.  I have no illusions about getting a job, but at least I can make some money by taking classes, now. 
Kurt at Vocational Rehab told me that he didn't think I could get a Pell Grant since I didn't pay back my student loans.  They were discharged due to my disability.
I don't see any harm in trying.  My psychologist wants me to keep busy with school or work.  He feels that I may be setting myself up for failure by not being busy.  I talk to him about my gambling problem.
I've been going to Iowa City every Monday to talk with my psychologist.  On the way back I stop at Cedar Rapids for a Gambler's Anonymous meeting.  There are only 2 of us, there, but it is a good meeting, anyway. 
I'm concerned about my car holding up.  I had a heating problem with it, last week.  I had the thermostat and hoses replaced.  It's running a lot cooler, now.  In fact it's running a bit too cool.  It's getting hard to keep the interior warm. 
I also had a problem with the lights, one night.  They flickered on and off, in the middle of the night.  I think water got into the electrical contacts.  I'll have to try to fix that, even though it only happened one night. 
Well, my computer is getting unstable.  I'll have to post what I have and try again, later.

I loaded the code for the Google Analytics program.  I hope that it works better than Site Meter, which never showed me as having a reader.  I'm wondering if I should continue with the blog, since apparently, nobody reads it.  I talked with a few of my friends who say that they read it, so maybe the Site Meter program isn't working.
I'm using one of my older laptops at Java Johns and I'm having troubles with the pictures.  I can't preview them before uploading them.  I think it's the Linux program that is the trouble.  Since I can't preview them I don't know which picture I would want to upload.
I also changed the word processor.  The new one seems to work a bit better.  At least the cursor hasn't been bouncing around and it hasn't erased the text that I'm working on.  I'm a bit disappointed that I may no longer be able to load video.  That icon is missing in the tool bar.  I didn't upload many videos, but it's nice to know that I can.
Well, the big move is over and now I have to unload the boxes.  I've cleaned up most of the living room and I made headway in the kitchen.  I just have to keep plugging and get it done.
I wasn't able to sell my house.  I don't know if I mentioned that a law has been changed, making my lot too small to build on.  I applied for a variance but that won't be decided until December.  Until then, I'm broke.  I'll have to sell the computers that I normally give away.  I'll also have to borrow money from friends.  I already did for $250.  I'll need to come up with another $250 to $500 to pay for the move. 
Right now my phone doesn't work.  I added minutes to it on Friday night.  They said that I would have to wait 24 hours for it to take.  I waited the 24 hours and went back to the store, but they were closed.  Now I have to wait until tomorrow.
I'm just glad that the move went well.  It could have been worse.  The only thing left in the old house is the washer and dryer.  I may try to get them out before the house moves.  I'll have a month to get it done.
Tomorrow, I go to Iowa City to talk with my psychologist.  He's helping me with my gambling. 
Later

Setting up Google Analytics

I'm trying to load Google's Analytics to my blog. I wasn't getting any hits on Site Meter so I was wondering if Google will find my readers. I know that some people are going to my blog because they tell me so. They aren't showing up on Site Meter, however. According to Site Meter, I've never had a reader at all.
I loaded a picture of some of the flowers that the "Flower lady" leaves at the Co-op. These will probably be the last for the season.
Blogger, once again, lost my writings. I have to use a word proccessor and transfer it to Blogger. I keep using the word proccesser that comes with Blogger and it loses what I'm working on.
Before the interuption, I was talking about getting a computer back from Darla. She gave me back her Gateway 9300. I'll check it out and sell it to someone. I'm too strapped financially, from the move, to just give them away. I now have 4 computers that I hope to get $50 each for.
The sale of my house fell through. A law had been passed making my place too small to build on. I'm hoping to get a variance in December.
But for now I'm strapped, financially. I'm moved into the apartment, so I have an extra $410 expense each month. I'm going to stick with the apartment in spite of the expense.
Well I've got to make a couple of phone calls and the minutes are out in my phone.
Later.

Made the move

Well, I made the move from Decorah to Calmar. I have everything in boxes so I haven't been able to find my camera cable, yet. Sorry about that.
I didn't sell the house yet. There is a problem about the size of my lot. A recent law change makes my lot too small to build on. That would mess me up to sell to anyone except for one of my neighbours. He wants to build a garage. I think a person could simply replace the old mobile home with a new one as well.
I was in such a panic during the move. I thought that I had to be out by yesterday. I was counting on Gary to help me move stuff with his pick up. I couldn't find him.
Nick helped me get the seats out by using a jack. That and Jim's two wheel cart made all of the difference. I had almost everything hauled by the van before I got a hold of Gary. We only loaded the sofa into his pick up. The move went well.
Now I have to worry about getting the money together for the security deposit and the rent. I'll also have to pay the satellite television company, as well. It'll work out. I have a little extra income from traveling to Iowa City for my counseling with the psychologist. I may have to borrow some money for the move.
I have no hope of getting the house sold until December.
I have to get into the habit of staying at Calmar for my computing needs. I checked out the school for Internet access and they are just fine. I can compute, there, between 7 A.M. and 8 P.M. I've got to stop coming to Decorah so much. It costs too much. But I'll miss all of my friends at Java Johns and Bookends and Beans.
Later