I think it's working

I've had no luck staying connected with the "new" aircard, plus other troubles with the computer have popped up. I thought it might be that I have a slightly different aircard than I should have. I could connect from time to time but lost it before I could do much more than read an email or two, so late this afternoon I opened the little flap on the side of the card, and carefully inserted the antenna. I decided that I will leave the antenna attached - no in and out this time, and no moving the computer. I have the laptop sitting on the dining table but once in a while I like to sprawl on the couch and use it from there. That was my first problem I think - I kept dropping the equipment.

I drove to AAA today and ordered a Triptik for my travels west. I just hope I don't have to make any detours off the plan due to weather. The lady at AAA kept trying to route me through/around Dallas, while I kept patiently explaining to her that through or around is the same thing and it's spelled: t-r-a-f-f-i-c! Gypsy doesn't do Dallas! I just want to get up to I-40 the easiest and quickest way possible, but she has me routed over some state or US highway to Sherman, TX before turning north. I will just do my own thing if I want to, but the triptik pages are very nice to follow, especially on a long trip. I should be receiving it by the end of next week.

I started wrapping the kitchen glassware in towels, and the kids' pictures that are spread across the vanity in the bedroom. I wrapped them in bubble wrap and towels and put them away - the vanity looks so bare now.

Here are some of the photos I took when visiting Mikve Israel Synagogue earlier this week. The Gothic architecture was the prominent style when it was built, and at first you think it looks more like a Christian church or cathedral, but it's not.






You may have wondered what the mounds are for that show up on pictures of the Fort and moat. After taking over the Fort from the Confederates, the Union built these mounds across from the gorge wall, and stored the gunpowder there. It is very substantial inside - as you can see from the pictures. There are several exits, as aerial shots would show. The pics came out to be in reverse order of how I wanted them, but I'm not messing with it to try to fix it.






Lastly, and I don't think I've covered this before, you may wonder what the structure is that is sitting just behind the cannon, and which can be seen when coming across the moat and into the sally port. It is the original cupola from the Cockspur Island lighthouse. It was replaced with one that was more weatherproof, and the old one was placed inside the fort.

Dial-up might be faster

I received the air card and replaced the sim card that was in it with the one in my old air card. I think I have to use the old one since it has the billing, phone # a and all that info on it, right? The air card without antenna is slow as molasses!

I am really sick of this weather. Yesterday ended up being sunny and in the 60's; it got to below freezing overnight and today has been extremely windy, with winds up to the neighborhood of 30 mph! And it hasn't reached 50F yet. That seems to be the pattern - one decent day followed by several horrible days, then gradually getting back to another single decent day. I know it has been bad all over the country, but this is the worst winter I've experienced in many years. And it comes at a time when I am bothered by the cold weather.

I took this picture about a week ago when we had heavy rain all day. I think that was the same day that the road to Tybee Island was closed and some people couldn't get to the Fort to work.



I lost the connection while trying to upload this picture, so I went back to the MiFi and completed it. I will do another post this evening if I can get the air card to stay connected. Otherwise, ???

No air card yet!

I just checked the tracking number which tells me the package has been delivered to my zipcode. I went over to the Cottage to look in my mailbox at about 3:50 this afternoon (the Cottage closes at 4 pm) and it wasn't in as yet. I'm off tomorrow and will be over there doing my laundry, so I will be eager to see if it arrives.

Carol and I went out this morning with two alternatives in mind: Fort McAllister, or a tour of Mikveh Israel, the oldest synagogue in Georgia, third oldest congregation in the U.S., and dating back to colonial times. It was founded in 1733 by 42 Jewish colonists, mostly of Spanish-Portuguese origin. The synagogue has the oldest Torah in the United States on view as well as a very old one printed on deerskin. All of the Torahs are very beautiful, and our guide let us have an up-close view of the Ark containing the scrolls. One guide showed us the sanctuary and explained various features, while another guide took us on a tour of the museum.

Ever since I saw the synagogue last week on our driving tour of the squares I wanted to take the tour and learn more about its history. Since there was a threat of rain today, Carol left it up to me to decide and generously agreed to forego Ft. McAllister today. I wore my old gym shoes with the thought I might be slogging around in the wet ground of the Fort, and at least once saw our guide glance down at my feet. A few years back I would have felt mortified, but the new and revised (and less up-tight) gypsy decided to laugh it off.

I took several pictures inside the sanctuary of the synagogue and will post a number of photos when I'm operating on my own mobile device and air time. If I can't get connected with it I just don't know what I will do. Can any geeks out there tell me if I just have to switch the SIM card from the old to the new air card, or do I have to do something in the way of initializing it as well.

It is a relief to be on a three-day holiday from work, although I really enjoyed working the past four days. I'm anxious now to get going on my way to California. My middle son and I spoke at length on the phone yesterday about the possibilities of selling my 5th wheel and getting something smaller for part-time travel, as well as various locations I might like for renting a small house. I'd like to stay within a 50 mile radius of Sacramento if possible, and definitely the eastern side towards the higher and cooler elevations. I also want a more countrified area than the city of Sacramento or its large bedroom communities. So I will just have to wait and see how it goes. I'll be down but not out! I think it will be the best of both life-styles for me.

I also have to reiterate that I am trying to read all the blogs in my list, although commenting on any of them is a problem due to the slow loading and processing of the comment form. I just don't want to take a chance on using another person's bandwidth to excess. Mary has been so kind as to make sure it is turned on and available for me to use, so I don't want to abuse that kindness in any way.

As a sweatshirt for sale in the synagogue's gift shop proclaims: Shalom, y'all

A weekend without air card

It looks like my air card won't arrive until early next week. I can't do much on the internet in the meantime because I know Mary is operating with the 5GB limit, and I don't want to jeopardize that, so I will limit my connection to checking email once in a while and writing my blog.

Her MiFi seems to work very well, although sometimes it is faster than others, just like the air card. I think I might look into MiFi when my air card contract is up, unless I am settled down someplace where I can get broadband cable again. That was the best connection I ever had although you can't carry it with you away from home.

The wind was so intense yesterday evening that I pulled in the slides and went to bed early. I was hearing noises of "things" sliding across the concrete pad, and this morning I found the glass top to my patio table blasted to smithereens! I felt kind of bad about that - I bought the simple white wrought iron base with circular frosted glass top for my balcony back about 1991 when I bought my condo in Falls Church, VA. I have transported that thing all over the country and will miss it. It was perfect for outside, or brought indoors made a nice table in front of the sofa. I swept up the glass and threw the entire thing away this morning - then was told I could get another glass top. Too late now unless I want to go dumpster diving!

I'd like to hear some feedback on the MiFi connection - negative as well as positive.

Replacement air card

I have ordered a replacement air card from eBay and it should arrive within a couple of days. It is a used one, and I hope I can get it to work simply by transferring the SIM card from the old one. The cost from eBay is $59, whereas I would have had to pay approx $115 to cancel my contract with AT&T.

So I should be back online soon, using my new/used air card. My neighbor has generously allowed me to use her mi fi to research and order the replacement card.

More woes

I can't believe I am actually online at a McDonald's! If there is one fast food place I avoid it is McD's. I just figured I would have lunch here because I was of the opinion they had added some healthy items to the menu. Wrong! I got a small order of chicken nuggets and a senior coffee - not bad, but I won't be returning often as I think the library parking lot is actually healthier than this place.

I fiddled with the air card and the prong that came off, and it actually connected last night, if only briefly, but it crapped out before I had a chance to do anything.

You may wonder what I'm doing at a McD's during the lunch hour when I've already had two days off. Well, it looks like I'm getting 4 days off instead! Right, just when I could stay up late there is nothing to do except play solitaire. For some reason the Park folks are insisting I only work 32 hrs a week, and I think the 4th day off (tomorrow) will be for the extra day I worked last week. I feel sorry for Patty, who really needs someone who knows what they are doing as Thomas is still off with elevated blood sugar levels (over 300).

This just isn't the place to fool with posting pictures, so I may go to the library tomorrow and sit comfortably inside and do it. At least they won't have this horrible loud music playing and I can maybe think straight! Is it just me or do others hate the loud music that is playing in every store or place of business. I would prefer "elevator music" to this garbage.

No connection

I'm posting this from the parking lot of the library because my aircard seems to be out of commission. I think the antenna broke off the delicate little prong that it connects to. This is ludicrous - after all, we are talking about a mobile device, not one that sits unobstructed on a desk and not subject to being jostled around. If I replace the air card I will no doubt have to pay full price for it. The only other option, and the one I might prefer, is to opt out of the contract altogether but pay a penalty for early termination. Meanwhile, I'm not going to be able to get online very often.

A volunteer couple and I toured the squares downtown and saw many fascinating and lovely houses, monuments, churches, etc. I took lots of pictures but they will be posted later. The weather was drizzly for most of the time, but traffic wasn't too bad and I really enjoyed the trip.

So, I will be back when I can.