August in Review

Let's see now, where to begin ...

In August we discontinued our cable internet and switched to a new high-speed DSL service, for 2/3 the cost of the cable. So far, so good.

The following week, our entire septic system was replaced (new tank, new drainfield). During this process, our DSL 'net began performing, or rather not performing, at widely varying speeds.

After testing the Wi-fi speed (speeds all over the map) vs. wired speed (steady at speed well above the quoted minimum), I turned to checking the various connected devices. I was about ready to contact Amazon for a new Firestick, but then realized the phones, tablets, and printers were having issues.

So off to Big Yellow Box store for a new router, and voila! she works again. All is well.

Lastly, Younger Daughter decided that she needed a new car, so I gave her my 2006 truck for a trade-in. We took her existing car and refinanced it in our name. She got a new car, I inherited my wife's 2014 SUV, wife took Younger Daughter's 2015 SUV, and all is well.

This was a good thing. My old Explorer had a slipping transmission, and had to be babied a lot on uphill stretches. It had gotten bad enough that I didn't want to drive it out of town. So now I have a vehicle which is 8 years newer, with only half as many miles. Win, win, win.

And one other thing: it rained Friday night and into Saturday morning. That's the first rain in two months or so, and was badly needed to combat our "extreme drought" condition. Also, because of the drought, all the leaves had turned gold a couple of weeks ago, and are now falling in abundance. That's about a month early.