After scores of volumes, Genius Scan is now telling me, “Failed to export Journal 58.pdf. Error: failed to connect to (my Dropbox account address). I have an urgent request in to the developers to let me know what to do to fix it. It may require only that I uninstall and reinstall the program, but I want to know for sure before I do that because if I do that, I will lose the journal that is still in the program’s memory.
Update: Monday, January 6, 2025 at 3:57 p.m.
The Genius Scan folks are trying to help me, but I can’t find the report they need to see at a (nonexistent, apparently) location they pointed me to within the app, so the issue remains unresolved at this hour. GRRR! I’m sure it will all work out, but this puts me a day behind in my preservation schedule. Not a biggy — since I’ve moved the move date to Costa Rica to September and I think I’m almost halfway through the project already — but when I set a schedule, it drives me a little batty not to be able to stick to it.
In Other News:
My Spanish language book and its accompanying 30+ CDs follow-along arrived in the mail today, and I’m already on page 13 and through the first lesson.
So far, I’m doing very well. My Spanish lessons from high school fifty years ago, along with my infrequent use of DuoLingo over the past few years, have prepared me for this. I’ve only forgotten a few of the terms I’ve learned and retained over the years, so I have a serious leg up on the material. I remember after learning the language 50 years ago I began to dream about speaking in Spanish to various individuals.I want to get back to that place again.
The good news is that I bought a handheld translator and whenever I think of saying something in Spanish (or if I can’t remember a word in Spanish), I can talk into the translator and get what I need to carry on. That’ll be my backup plan in CR. I’ll keep it handy! But hopefully, I won’t need it much at all by the time I get through this book and audio series!
I love the audio follow along discs that accompany the lessons. They allow time to repeat the words, and there are frequent quizzes along the way that help me retain what I’m learning. The fact that I’m reading, speaking and writing as the lessons go along really helps cement the information inside my cranium. I plan to do one lesson per day. There are 30 basic lessons and 30 advanced lessons. The book is massive. It’s going to be a total immersion experience so I can hit the ground running when I arrive in Costa Rica. I’m an eager, motivated learner, for sure! As a wordsmith, I don’t want to be at a loss for words when I meet ticos at farmer’s markets and grocery stores, that’s for sure!
The Garage Sale
The garage sale was successful on Saturday (craigslist ads really do work for garage sales!) — so successful that I spent over an hour on Sunday replenishing the empty spaces that opened up on my side of the garage, so that next week’s garage sale will have an equal number of goodies. After that, I cleaned the aquarium; it looks crystal clear today.
Bought Charli her harness/leash today
I drove to PetSmart today to get Charli a travel harness and leash so when we fly she will be manageable (even if freaked) when I let her out of her carry on at airports so she can use the collapsible potty box I got for her for the long trip to CR in the fall.
When I put the harness on her, she didn’t seem in the least weirded out by it. I did it very slowly, after inviting her onto my lap for a snuggle. She’s still so small that a kitten size harness fit her (comfortably but just barely). I know she won’t be able to slip out of it if she gets panicked at any time. And as you already know, she loves her carrier. She adopted it as soon as I opened it and settled it onto the floor.
Lisa Came Over Today
Lisa and I try to shop for groceries together at least once a week. She came over today and we hit a thrift store and Valley Liquidators on Pacific Avenue, where we get our fruit and produce for amazingly low prices. Tomorrow or the next day we’re going to Winco. I need milk for Patches, frozen corn for the chickens, and a few items for myself.
That’s about all the news that’s fit to print for today!
