Much progress on the “Stealth Project”. The programming is done, and the documentation (for those that read it) is completed. The demonstration page is ready. Next step is to finalize the installation package, plus finish up the web site pages.

Did some work on an OSCommerce web site for a client. A bit difficult, as it’s hard to work around the add-ins put in by the previous web guy. OSCommerce can be a bit convoluted in how it is coded, and how you add features to it. A lot of code modifications, and some add-ins are better organized than others. OSCommerce doesn’t seem to be very well maintained, although their web site seems to indicate a newer version is in progress. So anything that is done with the program is a bit difficult. But I am muddling through it.

Another project is adding e-commerce to a partner site. I’ve decided to go with ZenCart, which seems to be built better, and has more of features that are needed for this application. It also looks a bit easier to modify the look-feel of the store. I think that modifying ZenCart will be much easier than OSCommerce.

And I got some outside work done also, so I don’t turn into a pasty-faced geek (any more than I already am). The lawns got mowed on Monday, and I put another round of fertilizer on. (Although, on retrospect, those two things seem at cross-purposes). I also did some more planting in the garden. Grandson Dane (3) helped me plant some pea seeds. I then put a plastic tent over that garden section, since the weather here is turning a bit cold. The tomato plants seem a bit stressed with the cooler weather; it may be that they were planted a bit too soon. The strawberry plants don’t seem to mind the weather; there are a few blossoms on those plants.

A busy next few days: more on the stealth project, client web sites, some volunteer work, and some support for a church member’s funeral on Saturday. In retirement, I am still keeping busy.

Helped out the oldest daughter today by being the designated driver for children to/from school while she helped out a friend by watching their children. Not a big deal, glad to do it. The children are always excited to see me each morning as I take them to school.

An extra treat this evening, as I was able to attend the 2nd-grader’s little concert. There are a lot of 2nd graders at that school – close to 100, I think. They were all very energetic as they sang some western songs. Then it was cookies for all afterwards.

In between the taxi work, some more web coding for minor enhancements to <a href=”http://www.foodiefeeds.com”>FoodieFeeds</a>, and a bit of work on the “Stealth Project”. As part of that, I successfully performed my first three-way left join of the data tables.

All of that while the weather outside was frightful – short bursts of snow interspersed with a little rain, wind, and sunshine. Typical spring weather around here. Everyone thinks that April means Spring, but I recall going to the cabin in the mountains of California one Memorial Day, and leaving early because of a snow storm.

As I told the pizza guy, if it was nice every day, we’d be in Hawaii – where we could complain about the occasional short rain storm in the afternoon.

Storm being imported from the left coast. Requires excess winds. Will turn colder tomorrow, with a bit of snow in the forecast. Just the usual spring storm, nothing to get all excited about.

Had a problem with a tweaked back nerve yesterday. Ice and heat made it tolerable. So I spent most of the day ‘geek potatoing’: in the recliner, heat pad alternated with ice pack, watching TV, and keeping track of things on the Interwebs.

(Sudden thought: someone needs to invent an electric heating and ice pad. Heat alone is not the best for a muscle ache, and ice packs get warm after a while. So there’s a million-dollar idea for you. I expect to see one on the shopping channels soon.)

The back is a bit better today, so was able to go into the “CellarWeb” basement to work on some web programming. One is the “stealth project”, which is entering the documentation phase. And another project is an enhancement to <a href =”http://www.foodiefeeds.com”>FoodieFeeds</a> to make it a bit more efficient in how it gathers data.

Great weather this weekend, which meant time for some outside chores. Saturday started with a late breakfast, then off to watch the grandkid’s soccer games on a bright sunny day.

Then back home for the first lawnmowing of the season. All that outside activity resulted in some minor skin redness. And some sunburned ears. Along with some happy neighborhood mosquitoes. But the yard looks better, the grass is starting to green up a bit, and the ‘damndelions” are succumbing to the weed killer.

The day was topped off with some grilled burgers with Christine and Jared and the grandkids. Who were also similarily reddish due to the sunshine.

Sunday was quiet. Watched the History Channel’s “America – Story of Us”, which was quite interesting.

Today is another quiet day. Got a minor nerve pinch near the shoulder blades, so treating it with heat and ice.

Much progress on the ‘stealth project’. No progress on the job hunt. But the stealth project and other web site maintenance/enahncements are keeping me busy.

Nice dinner last night at the “Holy Smokes” BBQ place in Clearfield. Had a great tri-tip sandwich. Their sauces are really good. As with all good BBQ places, their meats are served without sauces; you add the sauce of your choice. (Larry – <a href=”http://www.thebbqgrail.com”>the BBQGrail</a> BBQ expert, tells me that good BBQ comes without sauce. Then you can see what you are getting, and the taste is not covered up by the sauce until you decide to add the sauce of your choice.

I had a side of beans, which were also good. And of course, since we are in Utah, a little side of green jello.

Weather today: cloudy, rainy. Should clear up by tomorrow, which means the first day of lawnmowing is on the to-do list.

Nice storm went through here last night and today. About 230am, bright lightning (sudden thought: is there dim lightning?) and loud thunder (ditto) work us up. Got up and watched it a bit, then went back to sleep.

The lightning/thunder returned at about 630am, so got up and watched some more. Then it cleared up for a bit, only to return with a vengence.

This afternoon: winds 25-35mph, rain, hail, lightning, thunder. For about a half hour, the thunder was almost continuous. Stood at the window to watch and listen (with the wind blowing the rain sideways, it was too cold/wet to sit on the covered back patio to watch). Great storm!

Worked on the ‘stealth project’, finished up the last module. Also added a module to a client’s site, although it is not quite perfect yet.

And chuckled at the news of the big “McAfee Virus”. Used to manage that product at the previous employer, until we changed to TrendMicro. Not a fun one, since it required a physical visit to any affected system. Was nice to not worry about that one.

After a quiet Sunday, Monday rolled around. For most people, that means working. For me, not so much.

But I did get a few things accomplished. Since the ‘secondary water’ (used for irrigation) is now available, I ran a sprinkler cycle to make sure all the lawn sprinklers were working properly (and to get the lawn fertilizer watered into the soil). And then sprayed for what my friend John D calls “Damdelions”. Found some weed killer spray on sale at Lowe’s last week. That seems to have worked well on those pretty yellow lawn flowers.

I also cleaned the gunk off of the outdoor gas grill. (My friend Larry, the BBQGrail, says that I can’t call my gas grill a “BBQ”.) I used an environmentally friendly grill cleaner that I got from the local “Wally World”. Worked pretty well.

Also did a bit of work on the ‘stealth project’, and a couple of other web sites. And sat on the back porch doing a bit of reading, enjoying this nice spring weather (70’s, slight breeze, clear skies). The weather dweebs are predicting a spring monsoon tomorrow. That should help perk up the lawn, and get it ready for another feeding this weekend when the weather clears.