I can't believe a month has past and I haven't update what I have been doing... Which is not much except for working on the Tool(ing) Tracker application.
I have 140 registered users but 8 have never logged in once!; gonna have to followup with them.
There are about 20 users who are really working on it with various users having created 14 Tool Types, 46 Tool Categories,  and 320 Tool Items.

And so far I have added the ability to import/parse PDF invoices to automatically create Tool items.
I have also created a website crawler to crawl the PotterUSA website to get the SKU, Name and Image of current products for a Product Image Gallery; which I finished yesterday. The crawler has already gleaned 1000+ records

I am currently working on a User Image Gallery where the users can have lots of images of the their Tool Item and even images of finished products. 

From there I add the ability of a user to attach a picture from the Product Gallery or from their Image Gallery to their Tool Item. 

On Thursday, August 18, 2022 I announced in the Potter People FB group that it was "ALIVE" and along with a link to the website I let my potential users register for an account. 

Yes, I pushed the code to "PROD" as we like to say in the coding world. The Tooling Tracker was published to the server and I felt it was time for the (possible) users to have at it.

I was done with most of basic features and I figure I would go the Microsoft route and let the users find if there were bugs I had not found, and fixed.  So far only ONE bug has been found by a user and I found 3 others all of which have fixed.

As of today I have 91 registered users and they and I are slowly adding the info to their accounts. 

As I was adding my items I came across a few things that I felt should be changed: Increase the field size for the SKU, Name, and Description on the Tool Item record; set the default page size to 10, it was 5; add the Order # to the listing page; have the quantity field default to 1.

And for an enhancement for bundles, kits, and boxes have a check box that say's the item (with purchase price, etc) is a parent item. Then allow for other (child) Tool Items to be created and tied to the parent.  I am working on this now and hope to have it released in the next few days. 

Along the way I have also made some enhancements for the Webmaster (me!) to help manage the users.

As I said in the prior post, I decided to make this dontation-ware and a few people have donated which is nice. I don't know how big this get and the database could be very big given the number of people who use PotterUSA tooling which might require subscription to cover costs but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. 

Time for me to get back to coding!

Last time, I wrote about working on "a thing"; well it's almost ready for the world. 
BUT WHAT IS IT ???!!! you ask
Sit back with a cuppa and get ready for a long tale.

Several months, even before the BIG WALK, I started pondering a database where I could track the tools, I own, for the hydraulic press I have trust me; there is a never ending list of things to purchase. Yes, it's for metal geeky stuff. Some items come with a part number on them but some things, like the rolling mill texture plates and the impression dies do NOT or it's written in marker that eventually wears off. 

To solve my dilemma I started a MS Access database what would have the information I wanted and I could put pictures of the various items in the record. I won't list the fields I settle on but let's just say it's the basic info about what was bought.

After I returned from my month long vacation, somehow in the PotterUSA Facebook group (a.k.a PotterPeople) a discussion began on how do everyone keeps track of  their stuff because many people have bought things two or three times!  Some use Excel, others Word or other text document and of course the question arose about pictures to identity dies that don't have numbers or the number wore off.  I eventually chimed in with my little database application which raised many questions as most members (9.5K+) don't know me or that I write software for fun; crazy eh??  

Some people asked if I would give them "my app" but when I questioned if they knew how to use MS Access (or if they used a Windows PC) I got crickets!

Over the next week I thought about it and I realized that there was a need for an application so others could keep track of their stuff too. I put several polls in the group regarding what devices (desktop, laptop, phone, tablet) and operating system (Winx, Mac OS, Linus, iOS, Android) and oh the confusion that resulted was amazing.  I decided that this application would have to be web-based otherwise I would be spending most of my time providing installation support; upgrades would be a nightmare.

Since I work mostly with Microsoft technology the tech stack I chose is MS SQL Server 2019 with MS SQL Server Management Studio, Visual Studio 2022 as the IDE for coding with the following: .net (Core) 6; ASP.NET with Razor Pages; Entity Framework (for db operations); Bootstrap for the styling; jQuery/javaScript for front end stuff; and various other packages for all sorts of functionality. 

It took about 2 weeks to all this out and then I sat down and created a clean Virtual Machine (VM) on my  development laptop so I could then begin installing all the software I would need. 

To cut a very, very, long story down to just a long story; I resurrected a framework I built 2 years about and upgraded the various backend software to be the most recent. Then I started the real building of the database tables, configuring the UI with a menu, logo and other static pages; then on to the pages where all the user interaction would take place as well as pages for me, the admin/webmaster would manage the site. I also had to make it so a user would only see their stuff - including adding, editing, deleting, viewing and printing. 

This week, the majority of the code was complete so I bought a domain and setup an account with a hosting provider; configured the email system; setup PayPal, Buy Me a Coffee, and Stripe for donations. Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that the application is DonationWare - I am hoping to cover operating costs. I also have it so sample data is seeding into each user account so a user can see how it would work. 

It's now been 3.5 weeks, I have been working on it EVERY DAY of the week, since I started and I just pushed the Alpha version to the remote server and I have been working on/with it to find things that need to fixed. 

During this time I have posted pictures of what the app will look like, in the Facebook group and I have some very excited people looking forward to it. I have a long list of things yet to do to make some parts of administration easier but that can be worked on after I do the first release which I hope will be next week. 

No, really this time it's real.
What you didn't know I retired??
Well back in February I hit full retirement age (FRA) as I prepared to retire, 6 contract to hire job (out of Houston) popped up that 100% remote and had flex time so I left the job at the Air Force and started the new one.  During the interview/hiring process I told them about the BIG WALK and that I would be gone for the month of May; they agreed to it.

While walking and relaxing during my time in Scotland I realized that I really wanted to do what I want to do and that I would probably not hire on, full time, when the contract was over - IF they offered it. I was going to propose possible part time contracting work.

​Then during my COVID recovery time, after I got home,  an idea came into my head about a web application (this is "the thing" ) and I realized I really wanted to work on this more than the "day job". I spoke to the parties involved and the decision was made to do it.  

I gave notice and July 22 was my last day. 

I have started the development process with days of looking into if it should be a desk top, phone/tablet, or web application; asking people for input on functionality; what new tech to use; finding libraries to use for the functionality; should it be subscription, shareware, or donation-ware; and so many other things that needed to answered. 

I started, changed, and started over again for the first few days or so as I tried things and then I finally set my ideas down and got to coding. 

So what's the thing?? Well... I am not saying yet but a few people know so IF you know, please don't say anything in the comments, if you comment.

Now, 2 months after having contracted COVID, I think/believe/hope it is over for me. 

Two weeks ago I was very tired all the time but it seemed, at times not as deep and the thinking issues were intermittent during the day but I certainly had focus issues in the evening. The phantom smells(s) - mostly of smoke were still intermittent but I noticed they happened at night, usually after dinner.

Last week I started to feel normal in the sense of not having the fuzzy brained with lack of concentration issue every day. The sudden wave of tiredness come over me, also during the day, every day and certainly at night was lessening.  

This week, it now being Friday, and I can say I feel "normal" as the majority of the symptoms are gone! I have been doing some coding and my concentration is amazing to the point that I worked until 8pm one night and had no issues the next day.  

I shall still take it easy for the next few weeks to ensure that it's really really over. 

Here is yesterdays Texas counts showing our 2+ years of the pandemic. 

It's now a month+ since I tested positive for COVID.
I am still tired, brain fogged, confused, having phantom smells, the occasional fever and some feelings of depression. 

​Having done more reading I found an article about how "they" are seeing that people who take longer to recover (i.e. long COVID) are those who continued to work and did not rest enough. Some people have told me it has taken 2-3 months for them to feel fully recovered.

With this information, I shall be resting for another month and at that time if I am still showing symptoms I will contact one of the Long COVID Clinics in the area to see what else could be done.

​And for something else, here's a temari I just finished. I started this one back in 2021 and stopped due to the tendonitis in my right thumb. I was planning on finishing it after I returned from The Big Walk. I started to work on it but as we all know, now, I got COVID and then realized I was making too many mistakes that had to be undone so I only worked on it when I felt good. It is a C8 and comes from one of the Japanese temari books but I can't find which one at the moment. 

It's now 3 weeks since I came down with the plague and 2 weeks since I finished the anti-virals. 
This week I have been feeling a bit better but my brain focus and concentration has been crap and still come 8 or 9 pm I am dead tired. 

I was hoping to go for a short walk and see how my hip was doing but it never happed until yesterday. I actually woke up in the morning not feeling physically tired and rather clear headed. The day job got rather busy but at 6 pm I was still feeling good so out I went. It was warm (96 F) but not horribly humid; I headed down toward the lake which is just under a half mile to see how I felt and I was doing good but I did think my breathing was a bit shallow and I made an effort to take deep breaths - no chest issues or coughing I just didn't think I was getting as deep a breath as I should. The good news is/was that my hip never pained me! All told I did 1.6 miles and worked up a mild sweat. 

Tomorrow I will take another COVID test to see if I am now negative; 4 more arrived in the mail, thank you U.S. Goverment my taxes are at work!

As I said in the prior post, I caught COVID and was prescribed the antiviral Molnupiravir and I was to take 4 pills, twice a day, for 5 days. Which I did but for the first few days I still felt like crap and was having horrible sweats at night so I was taking very hot showers every morning to clean up and to ease the aches and pains I was still experiencing. Then there was the brain fog and mystery smells; some loose their sense of taste and smell but no, I kept smelling bacon and smoke. Additionally I was tired most nights by 8 - 9 pm and would go to bed and zonk out within a few seconds!

This past week was all about recovery since I was done with the antivirals.
On Sunday I felt good enough to go grocery shopping with Erich and yes, we wore masks!
Then on Monday I did "go back to work" - I am working 100% remote so I did start a coding task but it was slow and confusing at times as to how I would go about working up the solution. I did make progress and towards the end of the week my head was clear enough that I went back through what I had done and refactored it all to be cleaner and more efficient. 

I did NOT go for any walks or do a weight workout during the workweek but yesterday I went for an easy Pilates workout which went. Afterwards I did a quick trip to the grocery store since I was near it and again I was surprised at the prices of things. Later, inn the afternoon I realized was falling asleep while reading a book (exhausted) and so I took a 2 hour nap; I am not a napper as I usually either can't fall asleep for said nap or if I do I then can't fall asleep at bedtime.  Come 10 pm, last night I was tired again and had no problems sleeping.

While I was on The Big Walk, I kept my eyes on the Texas COVID reporting and it was slowly going up. While shopping yesterday I did wear my mask, again, but I am quite surprised that the majority of people are NOT wearing masks! Yes, the Texas numbers are still below 5K but if you look at this chart, it is going up! 

...And to be safe, Erich got his second booster.
​

FRACK!
I woke up over the weekend feeling like crap - sore throat, plugged ears, light sensitivity, runny nose, slight fever plus I had a crappy night's sleep and I thought "this feels like I had another booster" then it's OH SHIT, I bet I have COVID.

Having carried some of the home tests around with me all around Scotland, I pulled on out and took it. Sure enough it was positive.

I told the shop elf to stay away and to get me tea and a box of tissues. I settled myself into the family room and said I would go stay there all day and I would sleep in the extra bedroom to keep distance from him because IF he got it we would both really suffer.  

First thing I did today was call the doctor for a Telemedicine appointment. I showed him the test results, said I was vaccinated and twice boosted and went over what symptoms I had including the 103 fever and my blood oxygen level was down to 94 which isn't bad but I am normally around 98. He said to keep monitoring it and if I was having issues breathing to call back or get to an emergency room.  Then we discussed taking an antiviral and he was going to call one in to the pharmacy next and I was to isolate for 5 days!!!

The pharmacy called an hour later and the shop elf picked it up. The medication is Molnupiravir and I take 4 pills, twice a day, for 5 days.

SO that's what I have been doing for the past 4 days and this morning I woke up almost feeling human; no cough, ears clear, no fever, blood oxygen up to 98 and I slept through the night.

Looking back I have to wonder where/when I picked it up but thankfully I did not test positive when I took the test prior to coming home as I would still be there! When walking around Edinburgh I wore my mask in buildings and when near crowd; I sat alone in restaurants and away from other diners. I wore my mask when I was in the airport(s) and plane(s) except when I ate food. This article discusses how people who are fully vaccinated and boosted seem to have a fast reaction when exposed.

Again I was up at 0600 and I had a in-room coffee, put my final items in the carryon bag and hauled everything down to the lobby by 0630 where the desk called for the taxi which arrived at 0700. The driver loaded my bags in the back and off we went to the airport. It turns out the airport is small - it only has one runway and one terminal; San Antonio Airport is larger. But because it is smaller it is crowded! I got in line to check in and I waited almost an hour to get to the desk; I was glad I arrived early as the line was only getting longer!

Finally done with checking in and giving them my big bag, I headed up to departures and to go through security. It was another long wait to get everything scanned, put back in the bags and my shoes back on.

Once in the departure hall, I had time to grab a coffee and ate a protein bar and FRACK I get a text saying my flight time is being delayed from 1045 to 1145. A little while later another text comes through saying that the flight was delayed until 1245; thankfully my connecting flight from Washington D.C. to San Antonio had a long layover so that flight would not be missed. 

Eventually we did board and I was on my way. After lunch I took a nap and then read my book until I landed in DC. From there it was through immigration and customs and then I settled into the United lounge until it was time to catch the connecting flight - which was also delayed! 

The shop elf was waiting for me at the luggage carousel - YIPPEE . We headed home and I was asleep at midnight. What a day!!