I spent much of the day with family at my 3 yo nephew's birthday party. It was really nice. Did a bunch of swimming and playing.

Also, I set up an encrypted volume on my desktop computer where I can keep all my secret stuff, mostly taxes, anything with a SSN number, and the plans for my robot army. I've been concerned that I had too much easily read information on my computer if it was ever physically stolen. The NAS already has a special encrypted volume (named 'Snowden') and my laptop is encrypted. Maybe I'm paranoid, but it also isn't a lot of effort.

During my basement cleaning I'm again confronted by the two perfectly good desktop computers that aren't doing anything. I've tried to give them away a few times, but nobody seems to want desktop computers. It doesn't help that they don't have monitors or operating systems. (One had a retail version of Windows that got transferred to another computer, the other has only run a Xen Hypervisor and Linux). We're talking four core processors (Core 2 Quad and Phenom II) and 8GB of RAM in each with 1TB drives.

Friend-Landlord called me up this afternoon, wanting to talk about moving schedules and what's up with the house etc. He suggested we talk over dinner, because meals have always been the primary social occasions in my world. So we're sitting and talking and eating, and I think "This is oddly date-like." I'm 98% sure that there was nothing date-like on his mind, but . . .

I've been friends with the man for over twenty years, we've needed to have a sit-down to go over the house hand-off, but I still felt the potential for misconstrual. I have no relationship interest in him, and I sincerely hope his mind doesn't tick over into "what if".

It was very nice to go out and socialize over a meal, though. Knowing the move is going to be pretty uncomplicated, plus knowing there are people who want to make an effort to spend time with me made it a pleasant evening.

The idea of starting a relationship with anyone gives me the willies, though. Cooties, euw.

During my basement cleaning I'm again confronted by the two perfectly good desktop computers

This is a big issue for me. Both electronic stuff and other stuff. Tossing perfectly good stuff just can't happen when I was raised by a depression era mom. One day I need to get one of my young friends to go through stuff with me and Craig's List / eBay / whatever all my excess stuff. Free is fine if I know it will be appreciated. Like I gave away a couple boxes full of sheet music to a young pianist and he was weepy. I don't play, but I couldn't throw it away. Finding the right person is easier said than done though.

Oh Connie, I know that discomfort. I hope your 98% hunch is correct. That little wave of not knowing for sure is not fun. My determinedly single sister works in the logging industry and travels a lot. Almost all her business friends are men and she naturally goes out to eat with them on a one on one basis all the time. Every once and a while she will feel that momentary vibe and it will piss her off because she likes socialization without any possibility of dating relationship. She is great at laughing it off and remaining friends, probably because she has lots of practice.

Heard over the cubicle wall, here on a holiday Monday: "I can't decide if the cat is a criminal mastermind or a complete moron."

I've been prepping for a yard sale we're having next weekend. We've agreed that nothing is coming back in the house after -- sell it, then trash or Goodwill.

Speaking of which, I have my father's old camera from the 80s. Is there any way to know if it's worth anything? Tom Scola or anyone else?

....I realized the answer is the internet! I found someone selling a similar-looking bundle on eBay for $140, so maybe I'll do that.

Probably not much. What is the make and model?