A bulge in the wrong place

I thought I had posted about this.  But in chatting with our neighbour, I didn't.  This is something that I think would fit a blog worthy post.  I noticed that my MacBook Pro was not sitting flat on my desk.  I wasn't sure what was wrong.  Then I noticed the case had a slight bulge on the underside.  I knew what it as after I saw that.  The battery on our 2015 MBP was needing to be replaced.  The last MBP I had had the same problem after a few years.  The trackpad couldn't be depressed and it was due to the battery having expanded so much it was interfering with other hardware components.  It was also giving off a lot of heat.  Those are typical symptoms of a battery that is end of it's lifespan.

This was March 2020.  Start of COVID-19 lockdown.  All the malls were closed so all the Apple Stores were now shut down.  I couldn't get it serviced unless I brought it to a 3rd party.  And I needed to schedule an appointment.

How hard could it be?  The last one was easy.  But the battery had it's own door and could be replaced easily without any tools.  Now with all the slim design stuff.  This laptop is more like an iPhone. It makes replacement of a battery a science project on it's own.

First thing I did was google replacing a battery for a MacBook Pro.  There are several YouTube videos on how to do this.  Google it yourself if you are having this very problem.

There is one that uses solvent to dissolve the adhesive holding the battery in the laptop.   It does have 2 screws but to keep it from moving around adhesive is used.  And it enables a more slim design.  

There's another video that uses a plastic scraper tool to separate the battery from the case.  This is the video that I followed.   That's because the video using the solvent says to limit the solvent's use as it can damage the other components.  So I decided to avoid it altogether.

There's other tricky bits with the ribbon that connect the components to the mainboard.  They are thin and fragile.  Also to get to the battery you need to remove the speakers and the HD and disconnect the trackpad.  Then  you can remove the battery.  The battery replacement kit I got off Amazon came with the 2 screwdrivers you need to remove the case cover along with the battery.  However it doesn't come with a tool to actually remove the battery.  You need either solvent or a pry tool (preferable not metal, sharp and pointy that it could damage the laptop main board).

Without the solvent you need to use a plastic tool (I have nylon wedges and pry bars I use for the car interior) to break the adhesive.   Be patient and careful, working it bit by bit.  It'll eventually get free. Then it's a matter of putting it all back together.   The screws for the bottom case cover have different sizes so make sure you note which position they came out of.

We have had this battery in now for over 45 days now and it's working great again!

There's a new Normal these days

There's a new way of celebrating a Bastille COVID19 B'day in TO.  And it's about being cautious and protective and preventative.  It is what it is.  It's a new way of normal.  I just hope businesses flourish in this new way of life.

Those clinging to the way it was and trying to fight the microscopic tidal wave are in for nasty dose of reality.  It all depends on what symptoms they end up getting.  But that is like playing Russian roulette and many that have played their youth card have been taken out of the game.  No one is invincible.  But what they are is irresponsible and inexperienced.

In any case, glad to be Canadian in Canada.  Keep those borders closed.

We hadn't really been out to a restaurant in many months.  Even before COVID19 lockdown.  So this was a treat.  We weren't sure what to expect, but outdoor seating only and masks and arrows everywhere.   Cleaning and disinfecting was the parallel theme to an otherwise dining out birthday experience.

It was Rosie's birthday.  That's today.  So it was an early get together, but it worked out well as the weather was perfect.  It had been well into the 90's deg F (above 30 deg C) all week and it was sticky with 50% humidity.  It had just rained after lunch so we weren't sure how things would be. 

But Mother Nature was smiling on TO.  She gave us a break.

As there were no menus, everything was online on your phone, to make it simple and less confusing we opted for the tasting menu (vegetarian and regular COVID).  It was no fuss no worry.  And it was perfect.   In these new times, getting out to enjoy the company of the people in your bubble is what it's about.  It is really teaching us as a society that simple is best.  And appreciate the effort that people are putting out to provide a service that is safe and so that you can appreciate living your life.

I've never had Coronitas before.  They are so neat!

Thanks R&J, and S&A for a fun evening.

This is what Stage 2 in TO looks like....

Happy Birthdays!

It's EZ being Me @ 51

Post storm obstacle course

It's been a hot July so far.  We have a heat wave going on.  And it's been really hard to keep cool.  I'm not complaining about the heat.  I am glad it's here.  Since it usually also includes longer days.   It makes for amazing pre 6am rides.  I really enjoy heading home in the early morning sun rise.

I do miss pre-COVID San Remo convenience when you could walk in and order a coffee and a fritter, but hey...who needs those extra calories anyways?

Tresa's decorations and burritos

It's been a challenge self-isolating and navigating these uncharted waters.  But what can you do?  It is what it is.   It's not about our right to do whatever we want to do.  It's about keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe.  Respecting others.  Having each other's back, not trying to backstab one another to get ahead of the queue.

It was quite a week and TGIF.  An intense mid-week isolated storm and trying to stay cool with freezees, ice cream and cold water showers 4x a day.  I'd had enough of rough sleepless nights.  Being hot at night is not the same as being in heat.  Man it's a rough time getting up in the mornings.

Eugene

I kept checking the AC unit, the fan, the Nest thermostat.  Did that thing stop learning to cool the house or what?  After checking all the return and supply ducts, cleaning them out.  Installing a brand new furnace filter after only 43 days, and cleaning out the furnace to boot.  Then cleaning the coils on the AC outdoor compressor unit at 6am.   I wished I had taken a before pic, cuz it was covered like a fur coat.  They tell you to go out and buy a Simple Green cleaner, but all you need is vinegar, water and
soap solution in a spray bottle and hose it from the inside out. 

Even after all this, the house temp was still not going below 28 deg C on the main floor.  Google and YouTube basically said it was probably my refrigerant levels.  I'd had it.  I could not take it any more.  I needed to call in help to resolve the cooling problems.  Plus i saw that technician calls almost double on weekend and stat holidays.  So for my birthday I was getting COOLNESS. 

All you need to be cool

I wanted to be cool and have a good night's sleep for my birthday.   All the ice cream, popsicles, ice water and cold showers just weren't cutting it.  I called 2 guys.  Thank God the service repair guy I trust is still around and working and can do it.  And he showed me how to do it too.

I said once he retires, he needs to teach me how to do this.  He said it's quite easy and proceeded to show me.  All you need is the refrigerant bottle and gauges.  The gauges are ez to get he said.  Any appliance repair place will have it.  The R410A bottle I'll have to figure out.

The valves on the AC compressor are like a bike valve.  Once you disconnect it, it will close the valve.  Do a google search for R410A pressure readings and it's 150psi for low side and 340psi for high.  You only ever fill on the low side.  Never the high side.  The left gauge is for low side readings and filling.  That's what you connect to the AC to recharge or top up.  You can connect the right side gauge to the high side just to check if the compressor is working properly.

Get your own cake!

After a few checks, like the refrigerant pipes sweating in the humidity.  It wasn't sweating as much as next doors, but I did confirm later that it was in fact working.  The temps finally dropped this morning to 24 deg C.  And we finally got our wish and got a comfortable good night's sleep.

I still got my own DQ ice cream log cake.  They wouldn't put happy birthday like they did before, but they did give me a happy birthday sign.  No line up when I went.  Cuz I DO IT!

Don't forget your masks.  It's mandatory now in TO for indoor spaces!  And it's no big deal.  Just wear the friggin things.

Motivational Mug

Not this sign, but i do use this mug.  It is my motivation every day to get crack-a-lacking on our renovations.  I have about 5 shots of espresso in it.  So that helps.

All in all it turned out to be a great birthday.
i'm alive, healthy and well.

I am surrounded with a great family and friends.

No...I have a TREE-MEN-DUS family.  (As in Trump tremendous).
(And glad I'm not living in the USA.)

I am blessed.

EZ to be me

I got my decorations, card, beer and cake.  I got my own cake and i ate it too.  Even made my own sign.

Wishes do come true!

Happy Birthday to MOI.
JibJab

Stage 2 Birthday

It was my brother's 60th birthday.
We, in the GTA, are in Stage 2 lockdown.  So up to 10 people can meet.  Ones without any symptoms.

It was a nice hot day.  Typical of South Carolina Hilton Head weather.
But not this year.
It's a bit a blessing in disguise.
We are getting to things that we have been putting off and once this pandemic is behind us, we'll be free!

But until then, it's the slow and patient tortoise that wins the race.  Not the rabbit that goes and does things without thinking of the consequences.
It's not about your constitutional rights here.  It's about yours and everyone else's health.  But hey, this is Darwinism in it's latest iteration.

We went to visit and give him his card and a small gift.  This card is like practice for Telustrations!  I only drew it, but the colouring is all Kieran.  It looks GREAT!
We didn't take any pics cuz we didn't want to be implicated in any way during these COVID times.

Happy Birthday Pat!