It’s been a while since I sat back back and looked at my geeky 2005 New Years resolutions. It’s kinda funny where the last ten months have taken things. Like John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”…

The USB-linked blood pressure monitor I promised to review way back when? Well, that project got sidetracked because I misplaced the unit. Is there a link (USB or not) between forgetfulness and high blood pressure? I can’t tell you. But I was happy to unearth the little rascal last week. Alas, I was only able to take my blood pressure just once before the batteries wore out. The numbers weren’t completely diabolical, but they didn’t look wonderful, either. I’ll attribute that to the bad batteries (for now).

I’m still planning to have a review posted before year end hopefully with some good numbers, as long as I don’t follow the advice of Rev. Horton Heat to Eat Steak (check out the lyrics that didn’t make the Boston Market commercials).

While I pledged to do my part to help reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, I’ve given up on the idea of converting our oil-fired boiler to natural gas, for obvious reasons. Instead, the programmable thermostat has been dialed down and I’m looking into finding a local source for heating oil blended with biodiesel. Fries with that?

Although a handful of our compact fluorescent bulbs have burned out, I’ve resisted the temptation to replace them with cheap power-hungry conventional bulbs.

The surveillance system? It’s yet to be installed at ranchero indebto, but I’ve decided on Panasonic’s diminutive BL-C30 wireless surveillance camera. With any luck, I’ll have it installed this month.

The scratch-built quiet PC is still on the agenda, too. I’m aiming for quiet and cost over speed and glitz on this one. The Shuttle cases look sweet, but I haven’t made up my mind, just yet…