There are no pics this week.

We got a new thermostat this week. BGE was offering to install them for free. It’s pretty easy for me to be at home during the day, so I signed us up. This one is WiFi enabled. We can change our home temperature from anywhere in the world using our phone (there’s an app for that!) or a computer. It displays the indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity on a color screen. It displays the weather forecast. It can change the temperature throughout the day if we wish. In the winter, we keep the house at 68 all the time. They claim that the thermostat can save us money by being aware of the weather.

I also received my new Kindle this week. I got a Kindle Voyage with the Origami cover. It’s a very nice E-reader. This is the first Kindle with a glass screen. (Earlier Kindles have a plastic screen.) It also has a backlight and a high resolution display. The total effect is that the Kindle Voyage is actually easier on the eyes than a paper book. I used to put my old Kindle in the cargo pocket of my pants to have it with me. Somehow, when I took it out, it had turned itself on and done a bunch of page turns; sometimes even changing the displayed book. The Voyage is so small that the Kindle with the cover is actually smaller than my old Kindle was without the cover. The cover keeps the Kindle from turning itself on or pressing pages. The smaller size means it fits in my pockets. It’s a little pricey, but it’s very nice, I use it a lot, and I expect it to last as long as my previous Kindle (which was almost 6 years).

As I mentioned in my previous blog, we ate out a lot last week. Danita’s been having a party at work each month in appreciation for the work her folks do. This week, she had a Chinese lunch and had one of the Chinese faculty talk about Chinese New Year. We had a SOCA party yesterday. We’re having a SOCA Valentine’s concert with dessert tomorrow.

I had to give up riding. We haven’t had very much snow, although it’s snowing as I write this. The streets have never been snowy for more than a day or two so far this winter. But this month, when it’s “warm” (above freezing), it’s threatening rain. When it’s dry, it’s cold (below 20). The low tonight is supposed to be 7. It’s supposed to get down to 2 Sunday night. I’ve been going over to our neighborhood gym. It’s no where as good a workout, but it’s better than nothing.

I hope this finds everybody doing well.