Bright Sun, Clear Skies, and Chilly Hump Day

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 — Orlando, Florida

Hi there.

Central Florida is still in its “pretend winter” phase this morning. It’s 59˚F (15˚C) under bright sunshine—cooler than I’d prefer, but definitely a step up from yesterday’s chill. If the forecast holds, we’ll hit a pleasant 71˚F (22˚C) later today before temperatures dip again tomorrow. February keeps us guessing.

On the tech front, my new Logitech mouse arrived last night. I’m still working from my laptop while I wait for the replacement power supply for my Lenovo Idea Centre all‑in‑one, so having a proper mouse again is a relief. Yes, the laptop’s touchscreen and touchpad work fine, but nothing beats the precision—and comfort—of an actual mouse. My left arm certainly appreciates the break. And, as a bonus, I can finally play Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age and other mouse‑heavy games without feeling like I’m wrestling the controls.

As for the power brick saga, the latest tracking update shows it left a USPS facility in New York yesterday afternoon. With luck, it’ll land here on Thursday or Friday. Until then, I can keep writing blog posts or even start a new story in Word, but my Kindle Create projects—including The Jim Garraty Chronicles omnibus—are on hold. The files aren’t cloud‑synced, so I’m stuck waiting for the all‑in‑one to wake from its enforced slumber.

Before I wrap up, a quick reminder: the Kindle edition of my novel Reunion: Coda is still on sale for $1.99 through February 8. That’s 67% off the regular price. If you’ve been meaning to meet Jim, Marty, Mark, and Maddie—or know someone who might enjoy the story—you can pick it up for less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks.