Under the column Article Contributions on page 2 there is a box in which it states that “Send in your articles by tape or disk and your inputs to me” that has to be changed. Sometime between this newsletter, Summer ’99 and Fall ’99, I will be down to one computer and that will be a Z88. By then I will have sent all my other computer equipment to Jack Boatwright. I don’t really want to part with my 2068 BUT! wifely pressure and a move is forcing the issue. With that said I will continue with this column
Way back when I bought a Z88 EPROM Eraser that requires an AC voltage of 220 volts. Someone responded with the information that a supplier had a 110 VAC to 220 VAC plug in transformer so I ordered it and it is a cute little thing. But before I got the transformer I had bought a power supply that had the ability to runoff of 110 VAC or 220 VAC. So I had converted it so that it supplied 220 VAC. But that thing was a heavy and big deal. While it is not according to electrical code, I had ran the 220 VAC to a standard type 110 VAC socket and put a standard 110 VAC plug on the line cord of the Z88 EPROM Eraser. Today as I was cleaning and sorting things I came across the EPROM Eraser and I dug out the step up transformer. I stared at the socket on the transformer and I noted that it was for a round U.K. type plug prongs. BUT then I noted that it had also the provision for the flat plugs like on the US 110 VAC line cords. Yep it fits I presume it works since I did not test it.
I thought that a 2068 on the other computer desk had gotten contrary but today while copying a 3.5 720K disk to DSDD 360K disk I discovered that drive 0 (full height 360K) drive must be bad since drive 3 (half height 360K) drive worked all right. That 2068 will be in the next box of TS goodies that I will ship to Jack I have a full box to send out as soon as I seal it up, put the shipping label on and take it to UPS for shipment
Now the ‘news’ we have bought a house in Forsyth, IL. And where is Forsyth IL? I you take I-72 into Decatur, IL and exit going south you are in Decatur but if you exit going north your are in Forsyth. Decatur is not growing and housing is rather limited I think there are new houses but not located where it is easy to get to the shopping. BUT! the only enclosed mall and a lot of the stores for the area are in Forsyth. They are building all over in Forsyth. Our oldest daughter and family live in Decatur and are about 7 miles from where we are buying. There are grandchildren there and the youngest is in 7th grade going into 8th next year. Looking back we have averaged bout 10 years in a house since we started buying houses
We went to Decatur to see the granddaughter in show choir of the intermediate school. It was a long performance since they put on all their competition stuff. We will be going back Memorial day weekend to attend the grandson’s high school graduation party and also to meet with the builder on the 1st of June (our wedding anniversary, 48th) to pick out the flooring and such for the house. We picked out the siding colors and brick work and interior paint on May 4th and the kitchen cabinets May 5th. How did we find the house. Well, we were there the week end of April 23rd and we arrived early so we went driving around Forsyth and spotted this house with workers working on the roof putting on the sheathing. They invited us to take a look at the rough framing of the house and they gave us a set of blue prints. We sort of dallied along till I put the pressure on for my wife to make up her mind. So when I called on May 3rd to talk to the builder we found that the house was quite a few thousand less than we had been quoted as a possible price by the workers.
The builder’s brother was in another city 45 miles away talking to a prospective buyer and since the financing was too iffy for that party we had a verbal agreement to buy the house. After we had gotten the house on the evening of the 4th of May as I was relaxing they showed the tornado damage in Oklahoma. Yes! we will have a basement! I looked on the map and Gil Parrish is not too far east of that area I don’t think he got any damage.
I realize that this is not too much about TSing but it will explain my lack of input and my address change. I have an address but I will hold that off to reconfirm it and find out more about the move with a tentative date of August 1st this year. Right now we are in the throes of getting the house here ready to sell and packing, sorting and disposing of extra stuff or no longer wanted stuff.
It is about 310 miles one way and it seems longer especially with I-74 having a lot of construction west of Indianapolis to the IL border. 0/0