So, how in the heck am I going to listen to all 6K of my MP3's? I mean without listening to the same ones over and over. I need a system. Oh, Gemini?!! Since I have the back up on the external drive, I got courageous. Gemini wrote me a script for creating folders and then randomly selecting songs to put in them 30 at a time. It's like having 200 30-song playlists. But I had to run the script a biscillion times because some kind of scripting limit. Finally got it all done and now I had duplicate folder names. Oh, Gemini??!!

Yep, got another script that named the folders 1-203. Now, I just copy the folder over to the player and put a 0 in front of its name so I know I've listened to that one. It's a system!! I generally replace the songs every couple of weeks when I charge the thing so I'm really good now til September of 2033 when I'm 84. I think I'm good music swim wize.

The vet, bless them, had broken packs of food so I didn't have to buy a whole case and was about to get 6 cans which will hold me over until Chewy comes through. So now they are eating again. Whew.

And someone turned on the AC outside. The other day when I went out, it was quite pleasant. No jacket needed. So I didn't even look before I left. Not smart. Plus gusty winds. The guy at the vet said that they had had their door opened by guests of wind already a couple of times this morning.

Starting last night, Biggie has been so needy and pestering me all day. No naps. Just could not settle down. It was beginning to look like another instance of eating weird shit. Because of his bladder issues, he's been using the litter box often so I've been getting up and checking it every time. My knees are killing me.

I know he and Julio do not like the new food. And like it less with each meal. Finally this afternoon, Biggie just got up there by his plate and sat. And sat. And sat. I put out some more/fresh food and he just looked at it. Then I added some of the old stuff - the prescription stuff he got last year and they both started gobbling. I even mixed some of the hated stuff in and still gobbling. After they had had their fill, Biggie went in and pooped. It was tiny but it was a poop.

And they both went into the bedroom closet and are fast asleep. I sent a note to the vet hospital asking if the Purina was ok instead of the Royal Camin or Hills, she suggested and they replied quick as a wink, that it was fine. So. Whew. I'd still like to see a very big poop, tho. Just to be very sure.

And in other news... The power company reports as of 10 minutes ago that there are 3 active outages with 4,376 customers impacted and this is the map. I added the ME where my apartment is. I'm happy to report we have juice. Also that I am NOT taking it for granted. I have leftovers from last night for dinner and I think I'll nuke them now rather than wait and chance their being no nuke later.

Several months ago, I decided to have Christian (the designer) help me figure out my closet. I could call the closet designer people but Christian can do that, too, and give them better guidance or not call them and do something else. He said he'd be glad to and I told him then that I was in no hurry. Then I heard nothing.

Then I studied the space and what I want to accomplish and figured out a scheme involving the storage area and my brother and some shelves that I bought from Amazon. To be completed in January when said brother comes to visit.

Then, Christian called last night. We had a good laugh about his guilt at waiting so long and that the only reason he got around to it now is that he has a new Timber Ridge client. So he's going to meet with them on January 2 and then swing by here for lunch and a closet consult.

I didn't mention that I had a plan cause I figure this is the perfect way to vet my ideas and if they suck, then we can talk Plan B. Plus lunch with Christian is always a hoot. So no harm and maybe extra good.

I swim to music. I had a player once that actually allowed me to download from Spotify. But, it was way too fiddly. Now I just use music from my own collection of MP3's. I've bought many of these and ripped the rest off of CD's over the years. Lots of years, as it turns out - some are from 2009. 5954 mp3's to be exact. Not bad for a non-music person, I think.

They were in folders in folders in folders in two massive folders on my Google Drive. Most were there twice some 3 and 4 times. They were organized by ... well, actually, they were not organized at all. It was an unholy mess. Some have the song titles as the file names, some don't. When I say mess, I mean it.

When AI first came to my web page, the first thing I ever asked it to do was organize my mp3 files. No Can Do, says AI. I asked again and again every few months and got the same answer. Then, about a year ago, the answer came back, no, but... AI pointed me to some Windows programs and Mac apps that would do the work for me. Thanks, but...

I persisted and today I was rewarded handsomely. Today I asked Gemini again, how the fuck can I get order out of this chaos and BTW the only operating systems at my disposal are android and ChromeOS. Well... this time, the first answer was a recommendation to look at a web tool called FileRev. It rapidly scans whatever drive you tell it to and reports duplicates, empty files, empty folders and all kinds of cool shit.

The free version lets you see how it works and does some stuff but I quickly bought a month of the top tier version and whoa mama! I deleted a million and a half duplicate files. I deleted 256 empty folders - how the hell did I get so many empty folders???

But then I drilled down on the mp3's. They were so nested into many layers of folders. With jpgs and pdfs of album covers and other junk. I got everything cleaned out and the extra files and empty folders gone but still then had 4,500 + mp3 files that needed to be collected out of their folders and into one big folder. I'm about 75% done.

Then I will copy them all onto an external drive just for safety. I keep about a couple dozen on my player and swap them out for different ones when the player comes in for recharging. Now I have a way bigger, easier to access, pile to pick from. Woot!!

Turns out neither cat is loving the new food. They are eating it but they are not eating it with the relish that they give the cheap stuff. I still have a couple of more choices to try but they have a lot of the meh stuff to get through first. I did get some new treats yesterday and they were a hit. Again, lots of crappy treats left but at least we have some motivational food for Biggie.

He's still peeing which is lovely. They would have to completely upend the definition of lethargic to use it for him. If anything, he's even more active these days than usual. I hope that rock is melting.

I did finally get the car vacuumed yesterday. It was a lot more work than I expected. But it's done. And looks nice for now.

For the first time in I do not know when, I have nothing on order at Amazon and nothing to return. If they are not too busy with Christmas to notice, they will probably send out a hunting party for me.

My four trips down to the center section and the other miscellaneous steps put me way over my average. I'm going to try it again today. It would be lovely to make it a habit. We'll see.

I've really got no plans for today so I think I'll go consider my options while I swim some laps.

I started a chat group for meal reviews. We get new menus every week with different meal choices for lunch and dinner. The new menus start on Mondays. So for dinner and lunch, they will have the same options for a week. (There is a buffet at dinner that is a different menu every night and a cafe that is a different menu every month, so we have lots of options.) Anyway, the idea is if you eat something for lunch or dinner that is particularly good or bad, share it - especially early on in the week. Right now there are only 4 of us but I'm hoping with time, the crowd will grow. Still even with 4, is better than 1.

Last night I had Shoyu Ramen Chasu (pork belly, soupy noodles and a very softly boiled egg). It was fabulous. I will have the rest of it for lunch and have it again for dinner at least once more this week. Martha reported that the grilled ribeye was really thin but tasty. I'll probably give that a go. Oh and all reported the side dishes this week all suck. So I'll get the ribeye to go and have my own sides ready to eat up here.

Biggie is giving in on the treats. This morning, he took one sniff, gave me the WTF side eye and ate them all pretty much right away. He's still peeing and this morning's contribution was a good amount. He has one more antibiotic pill and then it's just up to the Very Expensive food. Julio and Biggie are really going at it this morning. Running, chasing, squealing, hiding. Julio is usually the one who tries to get Biggie to play but today Biggie's leading the charge. They are a pair for sure.

I'm still struggling with how to get some walking, stretching, moving, stamina building, etc, into my life on a regular basis. So far, no scheme I've come up with is sustainable. And, of course, sustainability will be the only way to make it work. My legs are so week and I have no core strength. I can absolutely see the day when I just can no longer move. That alone, should give me what I need to keep up some kind of program but, alas, 76 years of sitting on my ass is a hard habit to break.

My scheme du jour is to walk from here to the lobby at least 4 times a day. I've done one - since the pool is on the other side of the lobby from here, getting there and back counts. It's a hard thing to force myself to do if I don't have a reason to go. But, it's worth a try anyway. I have a package to pick up (that's 2) and dinner to pick up (that's 3) so I'll really only have to invent one other trip.

Plus, shockingly, the car has not yet been vacuumed.

It's house cleaning day. My favorite day of the week.

According to the vet, Biggie should be writhing in pain, not eating, not peeing. Biggie, shockingly, is not following the script. I think he's basically miffed about the lack of Temptations. But, he's also not wild about the new food. He'll eat it but he's kind of like 'where's the good stuff, woman??!!' And he's not writing, just crawling all over me so I'll get up and get him some treats.

I broke my rule and volunteered to go to Safeway and get Joan some bananas. It is the very last time. I am not doing that any more. But my mouth did not get the memo so I went and got the bananas because I told her I would. The last time.

I figured out the wifi repeater issue and my signal is really strong and I think I know how to keep it that way.

Oh and Fitbit told me I'd been over doing it and should consider a rest day - hahahaha Oh Fitbit, your algorithm is not made for old fat people but it's sweet that you try.

Now for an evening of TV and knitting.

I just got a link about our floods that actually does mention Issaquah from my friend Scott in New Zealand. He was quite amazed as am I.

I did pop into the vet and, turns out, they do carry the smaller bags of kibble and they had plenty and they had treats which are not Temptations but Biggie won't turn 'em down. Chewy is really dragging its feet over this order which is very non-Chewy like. But, I have enough for the weekend and I'll just go back on Monday and pick up some cans if I need to. The vet is very quick and easy to get to with very easy parking.

Timber Ridge does this Christmas Gala thing every year which is lovely if that's your cuppa. They open up all the dining rooms and spread out with all kinds of food and drink and it's a big party. If all you want is dinner, you are kind of SOL. I went the first year with a bunch of people and it was fine. Last year I just wanted food and it was a PIA. So this year, I'm just pretending all the dining opportunities are closed. My freezer is packed to the gills and I will not starve.

I noticed this morning that the inside of my car is disgustingly filthy. Well, not quite that bad but still it needs some love. I thought to myself I should be sure and get it cleaned up before my brother comes in a month. Then I thought hmmmmm I could put this on his Todo list!! hahaha nah. We have a very excellent strong vacuum system just around the corner from my parking space. I just need to roll it over there and do the deed. It's a very small car - so a very small job.

Now it is 1 pm and I have not even watched Jeopardy yet. I hate to get behind schedule!