Setting Up the PHP Interpreter for PHPStorm

 In setting up the interpreter you will need to ensure that you have the file php.exe in your system.  When setting up PHPStorm you will discover that there is no such file.  The only exe file that  is similar is phpstorm64.exe.  When you try to use that as an interpreter file it doesn't work.  It is looking for php.exe.  Go to www.PHP.net.  

There you find the downloadable version of PHP.  I selected php-8.0.10-Win32-vs16-x64.zip.  

After that you will need to add a php.ini file to the file location of the php.exe file.  However, the php.ini file doesn't exist.  Create the file in the following manner.  

Look for the file called php-ini.production in the php.exe folder.  Copy this file and paste it in the same location.  Now rename this file php.ini.

Afterwards add the php interpreter following the directions in the following location: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/phpstorm/configuring-local-interpreter.html

Reference for installing PHP  

Reference for INI files

 Link to modifying the image when you roll over a taskbar item

https://winaero.com/change-taskbar-thumbnail-size-windows-10/

Email Client C# Code

After a little help from youtube I was able to figure out the code for your own personal email client using the Gmail smtp client.  The code below is in C# using Visual Studio 2017.  I created a form in windows form or wpf with the appropriate elements (labels, boxes and buttons).  The code is executed when clicking on the Send button on the form.  Hope this helps someone.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Net;
using System.Net.Mail;

namespace Email_App_WinForms
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void sendButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                SmtpClient client = new SmtpClient("smtp.gmail.com", 587);
                client.EnableSsl = true;
                client.DeliveryMethod = SmtpDeliveryMethod.Network;
                client.UseDefaultCredentials = false;
                client.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("youremail@gmail.com", "*******");
                //capture the email info.
                MailMessage msg = new MailMessage(
                msg.From = new MailAddress(fromTextBox.Text);
                msg.To.Add(toTextBox.Text);
                msg.Subject = subjectTextBox.Text;
                msg.Body = msgTextBox.Text;
                client.Send(msg);

                MessageBox.Show("Message has been sent");

                Close();
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Unable to send message because of:  " + ex.Message);
            }

        }

Sony WIC300 Bluetooth Connection to Windows 10

Having purchased a Sony blue tooth headset I found that I was unable to connect my Windows 10 laptop to the headset.  After doing much searching I found this link on the Sony website about resetting it back to factory settings.  Initializing the headset to restore factory settings. This enabled Windows 10 to then connect to the headset.  I then made sure that I had connections to my other devices: phone, tablet, etc. after creating the connection to Windows 10.

Instructions from website:

Disconnect the micro-USB cable, turn off the headset, then press and hold the  button and the - button simultaneously for more than 7 seconds.

The indicator (blue) flashes 4 times (   ), and the settings such as the volume adjustment are reset to the factory settings. This operation resets volume settings, etc., and deletes all pairing information. In this case, delete the pairing information of the headset from the Bluetooth device, and then pair them again.

If the headset does not operate correctly even after initializing, consult your nearest Sony dealer.

Pain, Pain, Pain

I'm tired of living in pain.

I have been dealing with back pain for over two years since I had a fusion surgery on my L4-L5 vertebrae.  Because I have osteoporosis in the lumbar region the fusion has since failed.  I deal with regular pressure on my sciatic nerve which sends pain down my left leg into my foot.  As it stands right now I am unable to have any revision surgery until I can get my bones strengthened.

On top of that I had recently been diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis in my left shoulder, which now is a candidate for replacement.  It is starting to prevent me from sleeping at night, which was one of the questions that the doctor asked me that leads to the decision to have it replaced.  I have had three shoulder surgeries, two on my right and one on my left. This has left me with much indecision about having a replacement.  Once the bone is cut and disposed of there is no turning back.

I have been viewing many YouTube videos about the surgery and the recovery to help me to make my decision about having the procedure done.  I am on a steady diet of Tramadol and Gabapentin.  When the pain gets too much to stand I take Percocet.   That helps the shoulder pain but not the sciatic nerve pain.  The Gabapentin helps to reduce some of the nerve pain, but not all of it.

I am unable to stand for more than about 10 minutes at a time as this starts my back pain which leads to the sciatic nerve pain.

I hoped writing about what I am experiencing would help me to cope with it, at least get these thoughts out of my head.

My wife has been wonderful in helping me to cope with this, even though she herself is dealing with some pain issues of her own.

Update:
In February 2019 I started having chest pains and went to the hospital.  An additional two stents were placed in my circumflex artery on my heart.  Doing much better.  Still dealing with back pain as initially described.

11/8/18
On a steady diet of Percocet, Gabapentin and Baclofen due to constant back pain and muscle spasms.  I use an ice pack when necessary to deal with muscle spasms.

On 4/24/18 went to the hospital due to shortness of breath and some chest pain.  Discovered that I was having a heart attack due to blocked arteries that need stent placement.  There were 4 stents that were finally installed.  Doing better now.  Had 3 months of cardio therapy that helped me get my heart back into shape.

Making Bread

I have always had a fascination with breads.   Most likely because of being in various places around the world such as Iran, Venezuela and Europe and because of the influence of my mother who loved to cook and bake.  She was not afraid to try various types of breads when baking.  

I have experimented with various types of bread such as Italian bread, French bread, no-knead bread and others.  Below are some various links that I have used in the past to both learn and to get recipes from.

Italian Bread

My version of No Knead Bread

This is where I got the recipe from.

Adventures with Mia

This is an introduction to my son's dog named Mia.  It is a sheba enu breed.  She is a crazy dog who acts much like a cat.  Mia has an independent disposition which makes it a challenge to get her to listen or be trained.  She will just about do anything for food, including reaching up on kitchen counters to pull food off of it.  Here she is trying to finish off  what is in a soup cup.  For some reason since she was a puppy she loves tearing up boxes.