Home Automation Update 28Nov18

I perused the smart doorbell offers and couldn't pull the trigger on the Google/Nest offer despite the great reviews - just too expensive. Since we have a Logitech/Arlo security/camera setup, I went with Arlo Doorbell and Arlo Chime. They are now installed at the Nest and work great ~ although latency is an issue with all these systems. I didn't have existing doorbell wiring so the pure wireless was a boon. Both items are fully integrated now... I know motion at the front door and record video on the event and I know a doorbell press, which rings the indoor chime, and can answer in person, or rings a call on my phone and I have a conversation with the visitor, or just allow the visitor to leave a message - without any intervention. Pretty cool. We'll see about battery life.

I now have the biggest config for Arlo which is still free. Five security cameras, including one added to cover the front door and one looking out back at the weather and wildlife, and a doorbell & chime (shown above). I've set up all appropriate rules and modes and it all works pretty well. I still get some false positive alerts though when I open the iPhone app and view a camera live - something is cross-wired in Arlo's cloud service. Too, the latency to the doorbell speaker, when answering on the iPhone as a phone call, is too long. Both of these issues are not show stoppers and the monthly fee of $0 is just right.

Regrettes @ Marquis Theater 27Nov18

Bob Riefstahl, Yoho and I enjoyed a good concert at the Marquis. We dined first on gr8 pizzas at Marco's Coal Fired and then walked over to the Marquis. We saw all three bands Ricky James, Welles and the Regrettes - though I was definitely there to see the (now headliner) Regrettes. Ricky James was energetic like Mick Jagger (he even did Helter Skelter after I noted the similarity) and somewhat like the Black Crowes a bit - I liked them... really bad image below. Welles was decent but a southern hard rocker sound I did not prefer - Jim liked them OK. Regrettes were good and fun SoCal girl punk as hoped. Production was better for them than at Summit early this year but I'd have to say that the sound at the Marquis is over-driven for such a small venue. It was a good, but not great, concert. I've included a movie of an unreleased song (PW: GR8F1sh)!

Regrettes @ Marquis - Unreleased New Song

Happy Birthday To Me 27Nov18

Kala scored me a cool ARB fridge/freezer for the Crusher for my birthday. No more chiller packs or ice chests, just continuously cold refrigeration. Its super efficient, 50 quart, and hooks into vehicle 12V circuit and house 110V, prioritizing 110V when both are connected. There's an adjustable voltage trigger that assures you can't drain the battery. I am still debating on whether to add a secondary battery to the Crusher so I'll assure cold beverages (and even ice cream!) and also assure a full battery. I did have to rearrange the back and remove the last row seat onto which I was oddly clinging. So cool.

[07Dec18 Update] The fridge install is complete. I ran a separate, fused, 8 gauge pair from the battery, through the firewall (not for the faint of heart), under the driver side door kick panels, behind the rear inside panel, and anchored out to a special positive screw-on terminal built for 12/24v line ARB purpose. Now there is sufficient full time power to the fridge to assure cooling - even when I am not jacked into 110V. It took ~3 hours and copious use of my "snake" but went better than I'd anticipated. As mentioned in a later post, I don't have a dual battery setup so will carry a mobile jump-starter just in case.

So far it's working well and holds ~35° steady... I have not tried to freeze stuff yet - nor has it been 95° out recently.

Snowshoe The Arapahoe 25Nov18

Kala & I were able to get out into the Arapahoe Forest today on a bright but cold day after a couple of feet of snow. We broke new trail and followed some others. Awesome.

Happy Thanksgiving 22Nov18-24Nov18

I have many things for which to be thankful. Kala & I are having fun in Silverthorne; I made it another year around the nearest fusion warmth; Matt & Alexa joined for Thanksgiving dinner; Summit Co received >20" of new snow on TGiving WE - and I was able to ski it! Sure we had to shovel 12", then 8" and then another 5" off the deck to reach the spa, but wow what gr8 early season precip. We enjoyed TGiving in Summit with Kala preparing an awesome and largely vegetarian dinner (we did have turkey) with M&A in attendance. They skied turkey day but had blackouts on Fri & Sat. I skied many fresh tracks Fri with an early arrival (5th in line), unexpectedly sparse slopes and plenty of new snow - awesome - best early conditions we've had since in CO. I skied all the mtns on the mid-fats and was excited to get 16K without a knee blowout.

Build & Measure 19Nov18

With the flows on the PT excruciatingly low I took to the vise and not only filled the boxes but overbuilt for further fall action and for pending spring '19 action... thus far, at least regarding most mayflies I use. I will move on to goto weighted flies and goto midges. Normally I need to take some days off in the spring to replenish flies but I'm hoping some time now spent building an inventory of RS2s, Jimi's Axes (Dave's FoD), Merc Bead FBPTs and more in the coming days will keep me on the water come 2019.

Too, I need to relate a simple technique to measure fish sizes. I used to guess size based upon the known first hash mark on my rods. This was likely inaccurate; for 2018 and on I've "Sharpied" my rods with 16", 18", 20" and 22" marks. These are proving valuable and did help me assert a 2018 multi-day spring string of big fish (>20") days. It's easy and it works.

Strong & Even On The PT 16Nov18

It was a decent weather-wise day so I headed down to the PT. I caught several fish but I was hoping for 100 cfs and partook of much less - it was declining while I was there - it's now ~13cfs! Horrible. I caught an 18"er (release pic) and two 16"ers and some fry; they are all strong... black midges worked best but so did the blood midge and the black ice. Dark/purple worked better despite just 18" of viz - my "silver in the murk" policy failed me. I don't know if ya'll know but there was a fire in the state park area which came down from the ridge housing and across the road to the river... kind of messy.