May 17, 2012 by Soma.

Oak (Rat) Snake in front yard?

Tallahassee, Florida

Thursday, May 17, 2012

When I came home from my evening errand around 7:30 PM and try to park my car in the driveway, I noticed a long (3 1/2 feet, ~1 meter long) thin light brown (wheat colored) snake crawling across the garage door. It moved slowly and stopped. There was enough light as my house faces North and the Sun from the Western sky was falling right on my drive way.

I  went inside the house and grabbed two sticks and my camera and took some pictures and recorded a short video. I wanted to find out whether it was poisonous snake but no local snake experts were around. So I tried to grab it using the long stick. The snake quickly turned around and put out its tongue and didn’t strike or open its mouth. I then chased it around the house.

My friends said it is a Oak snake or rat snake. What do you think?

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April 30, 2012 by Soma.

Add white bricks to the yard

Monday, April 30, 2012

Tallahassee, FL 32317

As I wrote about a week ago about cleaning the yard. This week we decided to complete that task and add white bricks to separate the mulched area and grass area. Yesterday we went to Lowes and bought 18 white straight bricks and 4 curved white bricks and 4 square red tiles.

This morning with a help from a garden hand we were able to get our yard cleaning and mulching completed. He then laid the bricks between the black mulched area and the grass. The stubborn grass were rooted out and all the old pine straws were removed. We then put black colored tree mulch. We added 4 more bags of 2 cubic feet of mulch.

Now the yard looks better than last week and much better than two weeks earlier. We also added two rose plants.

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April 23, 2012 by Soma.

Get the yard cleaned

Monday, April 23, 2012

Tallahassee, FL 32317

This morning with a help from a gardener we were able to get our yard cleaned. The stubborn grass were rooted out and all the old pine straws were removed. We then put black colored tree mulch. We used about 8 bags of 2 cubic feet of mulch but we may need four more bags.

That is for another day.

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November 23, 2011 by Soma.

Used 2003 Lexus GS 300

Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011

4:30 PM | Leon County

We bought an used 2003 Lexus GS 300 this afternoon from a single owner. We needed an used car since my old trusted Toyota Avalon XLS has been showing its age. The engine and acceleation are good but the platic and rubber parts were wearing thin.

The couple drove the car to and fro for  short distances for several years and therefore the total mileage was very low. Since it was a single owner car we were happy to see that it was well kept (dealer maintained and repaired).

Since it was a private sale the price we paid was a good deal both for us and the seller. Since it was day before the Thanksgiving Holidays, only the TJMaxx complex Leon County Tax Office was open. So it took at least 45 minutes to process the paper work.

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October 31, 2011 by Soma.

Halloween Evening

Monday, October 31, 2011

Tallahassee, FL

Like last year, this time I put on the same mask that we had bought last year at Party City for $5 (New Orleans type mask) and like last year I borrowed VTS’ special coat that he had custom made in India (Akatsuki’s robe). The mask and the custom robe gave really goulish set-up for the Halloween. I also added a black hat this year and wore a black shirt.

It was a fun evening. VTS and MrPKB along with GBS went out for trick or treating in the neighborhood. I stayed home like last year and handed out candies. Since this year the Halloween came on the school and working day people started coming to my house around 6 PM and by 7:45 PM most of have finished their rounds including MrVTS.

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September 23, 2011 by Soma.

Work-out using Treadmill

Precor 966i @ FSU Rec.

Friday, September 23, 2011

As part of my daily work-out, I have been carrying out a rotating schedule of various techniques and various equipments for my 20-25 minute session. Today, for the first time, I used the Precor 966i Treadmill machine that is available at our Recreation Center. This treadmill gives me exercise mostly for the lower torso and legs.

Since the treadmill has simple options, I set it in normal (default) mode. I used treadmill for 15 minutes work-outs with 5 minutes cooling off. I also can follow the Calories burned, distance climbed, steps/minute and other details in the display that is available on the monitor in front of me. This way, I can monitor my workout for lower body. Today I climbed for about 16 minutes and burned close to 80 Calories and walked for about 3 minutes to cool-off.

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September 16, 2011 by Soma.

Work-out using Stepmill

Stairmaster Stepmill SM 916 @ FSU Rec.

Friday, September 16, 2011

As part of my daily work-out, I have been carrying out a rotating schedule of various techniques and various equipments for my 20-25 minute session. Today, like many other days, I used the Stairmaster Stepmill SM 916 step-climbing machine that is available at our Recreation Center. This stair cliber gives me exercise mostly for the lower toros and legs.

Since the climber has simple options, I set it in normal (default) mode. I usually use the climber between 15-20 minutes work-outs with 3 minutes walking to cool off. I also can follow the Calories burned, distance climbed, steps/minute and other details in the display that is available on the monitor in front of me. This way, I can monitor my workout for lower body. Today I climbed for about 16 minutes and burned close to 115 Calories and walked for about 3 minutes to cool-off.

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September 6, 2011 by Soma.

Repair the dry-wall

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

This morining one the local drywall repair/installer stopped by our house. We had called him earlier to fix a broken drywall at our place and he had scheduled the visit this morning. He surveyed the damages and told one needs simple patch work and other needs a replacement drywall piece.

We asked him to begin his work. He then proceeded to cut out a bigger rectangular area on the room where the damage was big. He then placed a rectangular new drywall smoothed out the corners and put on a gauze-type tape over it. For the second room he simply used the gauze-type tape all over the damaged area. Then he put on quick dry white cement on the top of both the areas and allowed to dry for about 15 minutes.

After it had dried he mixed some material that was white and resembled the dry masonary on our walls. He generously applied that white cover coat and used the mason’s trowel to smooth the area to match rest of the wall surface.

The job was completed about 1 1/2 hour and we were happy with the finished job. We paid him with a personal check.

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September 1, 2011 by Soma.

Work-out using Stationary Bike

LifeFitness CLSC Bike @ FSU Rec.

Thursday, September 01, 2011

As part of my daily work-out, I have been carrying out a rotating schedule of various techniques and various equipments for my 20-25 minute session. Today, like many other days, I used the Life Fitness Club Series Stationary Bike machine that is available at our Recreation Center. This indoor bike gives me exercise mostly for the lower toros and legs.

Since the bikehas simple options, I set it either in interval or random mode. I usually bike between 10-12 minutes work-outs with 3 minutes walking to cool off. I also can follow the heart rate, Calories burned, distance biked at the display that is available on the monitor in front of me. This way, I can monitor my workout for lower body. Today I biked for about 14 minutes and burned close to 90 Calories and walked for about 3 minutes to cool-off.

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August 25, 2011 by Soma.

Work-out using Indoor Rower

Concept2 Model D Rower @ FSU Rec.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

As part of my daily work-out, I have been carrying out a rotating schedule of various techniques and various equipments for my 20-25 minute session. Today, like many other days, I used the Indoor Rowing machine that is available at our Recreation Center. This indoor rower gives me exercise mostly for the upper torso, lower toros, and legs.

Since the rower has simple options, I set it at medium resistance of 6. I usually row between 10-12 minutes work-outs with 5 minutes walking to cool off.  I also can follow the  force curve display that is available on the PM3 monitor in front of me. This way, I can monitor my workout for my upper and lower body. Today I rowed for about 11 minutes and burned close to 90 Calories and walked for about 5 minutes to cool-off.

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