iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 08/10/2026

Reddit: Answering life's most important questions since 2005.

Screenshot from Reddit r/AskReddit: How do grandmas get that "grandma smell"?

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 07/10/2026

Officemate and lap-warmer... A remarkable amount of snoring for such a little dog too. 🧑‍💻🐾💤 #WFH #chihuahua

Small brindle chihuahua stretched out asleep on a desk-worker's lap. The dog is wearing a grey and white striped chenille sweater, laying face-down on a brown fleece blanket.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 22/09/2026

Folks who write documentation for a living, how the heck do you do it? My brain is wired for logic problems, not wordsmithing. I need a monkey thought translator or something. 🐵 + 💭 + 🤖 = ...Steve!

Still from the movie "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" where Clint (wearing a white lab coat) introduces his monkey thought translator as worn by Steve (the monkey).

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 07/09/2026

About 6 dozen oatmeal cookies on deck courtesy of the last of the garden zucchini. (...thank dog!) I swear, I'm not planting zucchini next year--I'm sick of the stuff. 🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒😵‍💫🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🤢

Stainless steel mixing bowl halfway full of a wet cookie dough: zucchini + oatmeal.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 04/09/2026

Dialect Map quiz making its rounds this morning, so what the heck... Unsurprisingly, northeast is where I landed. mydialect.us/quiz-standar... ~~ Now, if we could just convince the devs to extend it from US to Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, etc. for a comprehensive global comparison. 🤔

Screenshot of my results from the 60-question Dialect Map quiz with northeast and northwest/central-west states matching most closely, and southeast most dissimilar: "You talk most like someone from Vermont — about 50% of your answers match a typical resident."

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 31/08/2026

Pulled out the spent zucchini and cucumber plants. Waiting on tomatoes to ripen. Sunflowers were late, but they're blooming. My poor mini-melons though... They're still green and the vine is drying out. 🧑‍🌾🍈😿 Anyone got a recipe for underripe cantaloupe?

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 29/08/2026

Wait... What? Ewww! -- Courtesy of a local farm market, behold their weekend special: A melted butter sundae. 🧈🧂🍨🤢

Screenshot from Facebook. Posted by Stirling Farm Market.

Text reads: "Say hello to this weekend's featured sundae: melted butter & sea salt. [M]elted butter drizzled over vanilla soft serve to create a shell, and topped with flaky sea salt."

Photo shows a twisted mound of vanilla soft-serve in a clear plastic dish. Covering the ice cream is an off-yellow substance that pools at the bottom.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 22/08/2026

I don't know about these... Zucchini fail pending? 🤔

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 21/08/2026

Backyard garden is just beginning to wind down. Peas and beans are long done, zucchini are slowing down (thank dog!), Halloween pumpkin is well on its way (10" and growing), and then there's these little guys -- snack size cantaloupe; just a smidge bigger than a baseball.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 18/08/2026

The pups' archnemesis was following behind us, so we hopped off the road and finished our walk on the neighbourhood trail. Lucky that we did... Discovered scads of wild blackberry bushes within easy reach (ergo, minimal tick risk). Guess it'll be me and a bucket in the woods after work today!

Trail-side wild blackberry bush laden with fruit in various stages of ripeness.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 17/08/2026

Mostly against “Oscar”, but no matter…

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 08/08/2026

Storms beginning to pop off in the valley all of a sudden.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 05/08/2026

Hey platies. Stop having sex, damnit! 🐟🐟🫦👶👶👶👶👶👶👶👶

Cropped three panel collage of several Platy fish in an aquarium. The fish have orange bodies with black tails and fins. Among the fish pictured, there are a couple young, recently born platies which appear more translucent than their adult counterparts.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 04/07/2026

Thinking about walking your dogs? For pups' safety, you've got an hour left, tops. Was ~22C when I left the house twenty minutes ago; now 24.4C + 73% humidity = 31 humidex. (Climbing fast. I figure we'll be 40+ before noon.) #NSwx near #Kentville

Two leashes chihuahuas walking side by side near the shoulder of a roadway on a warm, sunny morning. Photo taken from the perspective of the dog-walker.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 30/06/2026

Today's fresh ketchup and mustard coloured garden horror discovery: Goldenrod Crab Spiders.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 25/06/2026

Today's mystery (courtesy of the fabric on my dogs' bed): What is #PaddingtonBear eating? A tin can, two jars, and a pizza...?! 🥫🫙🐻🍕🫙🤷 Those aren't ingredients for a marmalade sandwich. 🥪🙅

Light blue "Paddington Bear" fabric with several rounded white boxes, within each is a black-line, rough doodle-style illustration of Paddington Bear in various settings. This photo is cropped and centered on one particular illustration that shows Paddington (face-on view) at a table with an open tin can, a jar, a pizza box, and another jar in a semi-circle around him from left to right.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 24/06/2026

Nothing nerdy about it. 🌡️🤓 After Googling the humidex conversion for the umpteenth time many, many summers ago, I threw together a basic calculator: Give it temperature and relative humidity; spits out humidex, heat index, and wet bulb. github.com/vgrovestine/... (Single HTML file; runs anywhere.)

Screenshot of a simple web page calculator that accepts temperature (either Celsius or Fahrenheit) and relative humidity as inputs and calculates web bulb, humidex, and heat index values that are color coded from green to red on a severity scale.

This sample uses a temperature of 34C/93F and relative humidity of 52% to output wet bulb of 26C/79F (yellow), humidex of 44 (dark orange), and heat index of 39C/102F (light orange).

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 11/06/2026

7:40pm and it is still deceptively warm out there: 27.8C, 53% RH, 33 humidex, mainly sunny, calm wind, lots of mosquitoes looking for a meal, and a pissed off red squirrel who felt I shouldn't be mulling about in my own yard. #NSwx near #Kentville

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 10/06/2026

For times when you can't decide between fruit and old fashioned sponge toffee, there's dehydrated mango. (So very wrong... Tastes and textures that were NOT meant to go together.)

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 09/06/2026

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. ~~ "Candy sticks." Pfft. Even without the dab of red on one end, they'll never not be candy cigarettes to GenX me. Hard, chalky, sugar goodness.

Close up of a tall, slim, red "Popeye Candy Sticks" package with cartoon icon Popeye the sailor illustration.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 04/06/2026

It's a certain chihuahua's 9-year gotcha'versary this week. 🐾

Dark brown brindle chihuahua with a greying muzzle laying down in the grass on a bright, sunny day. She's facing the camera with eyes mostly closed, a toothy mouth slightly open, and an awkward expression on her face.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 03/06/2026

Not a fan of Marvel (nor superhero stuff), hate the premise of non-fantasy commercial IP-themed sets, and haven't played Magic Arena in a couple years; however, "The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl" might drag me back because squirrels...a whole damn lot of squirrels! mythicspoiler.com/msh/cards/th...

Magic: the Gathering card from an upcoming set release -- Set: Marvel Super Heroes. Name: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. Color: Green. CMC: 1GGG. Type: Legendary Creature; Squirrel Human Hero. Power/Toughness: 4/4.

Rule text: "Do You Like Squirrels? -- Whenever The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl enters or attacks, create a a 1/1 green Squirrel creature token. I LOVE Squirrels! -- 1GGG: Create X 1/1 green Squirrel creature tokens, where X is the number of Squirrels you control."

Flavor text: "We're here to eat nuts and kick butts!"

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 03/06/2026

This morning's neighbourhood singers... 🎶🐦🐦🐦🐦‍⬛ ~~ 9.0C, 87% humidity, mainly sunny, calm/gentle breeze, 24hr precip: 2.2mm. #NSwx near #Kentville

Screenshot (1 of 2) from 8am Jun 3/26 Merlin bird sound ID recorded near Kentville, Nova Scotia: American Robin, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Red-eyed Vireo.

Screenshot (2 of 2) from 8am Jun 3/26 Merlin bird sound ID recorded near Kentville, Nova Scotia: Common Yellowthroat, Black and White Warbler, Northern Parula, Black-throated Green Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Veery, Red-winged Blackbird.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 27/05/2026

Spotted the (Dukes of Hazzard) General Lee parked at Tim's this evening. Imagine the disappointment of school-age me when the driver opened the door to get in, rather than climbing through the window. (Mind you, he did have a rather robust waistline.) At least the horn whistled Dixie, as it should.

Replica of the 1969 Dodge Charger dubbed "General Lee" from TV's "The Dukes of Hazzard". Stationary on a sunny evening in a largely empty Tim Hortons parking lot with a few grey-haired gents and motorcycles nearby.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 23/05/2026

A rare moment of focus during our walk this morning; the day after trash pickup. So many smells (and spills to contemplate rolling in)... 🐾🐾

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 23/05/2026

Granted, I'm not a dog, but who seriously thought: Lamb, mackerel, kelp... Mmmm, tasty! 🐾😋🤷

Open foil packet of dog food topper; lamb, mackerel and kelp flavour.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 22/05/2026

Thought to myself: I wonder how the birds change throughout the morning, so I propped my phone up in the window to listen. Wait...Canada Goose...?! No, that was the sound of a sleeping chihuahua being jolted awake by her sibling. 🪿🐕🙉

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 22/05/2026

The birds of trash-day morning. (Also, because I've seen other locals do it this week and I felt left out.) 🐦🐦‍⬛🐧🤷👂

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 21/05/2026

I don't need a new toy. I don't need a new toy. I don't need a new toy...

Screenshot from GreatHobbies.com that shows three color variations of the Arrma Typhon 665 1/8th scale radio control buggy on sale for $199.99, reduced from $379.99.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 20/05/2026

And here we go... Active, spreading wildfire in East Port L'Hebert (approx halfway between Liverpool and Shelburne).

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 20/05/2026

Hot, dry, breezy...approaching "crossover"...in mid-May?! 🌲🔥🙈 #NSwx near #Kentville

Close up of a La Crosse home weather station indicating an outdoor temperature of 32.2C, relative humidity of 35%, "feels like" temperature of 31.7C, wind speed of 7.9kph, and peak gust of 21.0kph within the last hour. Photo taken at 3:45pm May 20/26.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 15/05/2026

r/Idiocracy post re 48 fl oz (1.4L) buckets of iced coffee www.reddit.com/r/idiocracy/... fed my curiosity because Dunkin' Donuts plans a Canadian expansion. Wish I hadn't looked further. Behold the "Dunkin' Dirty Soda": a stomach-turning combination of crappy coffee, Pepsi, and sweetened cold foam.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 14/05/2026

A truly international #InternationalChihuahuaAppreciationDay: Charlie's dad is Portuguese. Moxie is...well...Moxie.

Two chihuahuas standing in the grass. On the left, a sable and white long-coat with wind-swept hair; standing head-on to the camera, looking toward the other chihuahua. On the right, a dark brindle short-coat with a frosted white muzzle; standing quarter-turned toward the camera, with tail erect, ready to spring into action, and giving the other chihuahua side-eye.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 09/05/2026

Finch! Is its name Miles? And is it an angry elf in disguise? I don't speak bird, so I'll never know.

Upward looking photo of a goldfinch perched in a cluster of birch tree branches.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 09/05/2026

If you've been indoors all day, go outside. ~~ mainly sunny, 15.9C, 33% RH, wind approx 10kph gusty. #NSwx near #Kentville

Two leashed chihuahuas walking together on a paved surface. Photo taken from the perspective of the dog walker.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 09/05/2026

11 years ago today, this ugly duckling of a Japanese Chin, sat in the sun, let his tongue hang out, and didn't give a damn except to be content in that moment. Al spent his first decade as a neglected puppy mill stud. He spent his next two years with us--little, old and broken, but still good. 🐾

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 28/04/2026

It's been said that senior dogs can't keep up and have no zest. This photo of an 11 yr old running chihuahua's bum would suggest otherwise.

Imprecise action photo of a dark brown chihuahua running out of frame with only the blur of her hind legs and tail visible.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 22/04/2026

"Days are long and the years are short." 💭 ~~ Of all places, apparently /r/AskReddit is where you can find deep midlife philosophy today: "What's the most unwritten rule of adult life that nobody warns you about?" 🤔 www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/...

Screenshot of replies to an r/AskReddit post by PracticeHistorical82 titled "What's the most unwritten rule of adult life that nobody warns you about?"

SoraVey said: "Nobody warns you that half of adulting is just quietly mourning the version of life you thought you'd have by now"

Capital-Froyo-4359 said: "Nobody actually has their shit together. We all feel like we're still teenagers just pretending we have any clue what we're actually doing."

Flimsy-Theme-8759 said: "you must either do things proactively and be miserable, or put them off and be even more miserable. That is the choice."

Ziograffiato said: "Days are long and the years are short."

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 26/03/2026

Who says you can't make mincemeat tarts in March? Mind you, elegance isn't my strong suit. 🥧🌲🤷

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 18/03/2026

Quality Reddit content here c/o r/Chihuahuas: "I think my dogs misunderstood how to use a teddy bear". www.reddit.com/r/Chihuahua/...

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 05/03/2026

Tonight, they graduate to Level 3. 🐾🐾🧩

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 04/03/2026

Dang! 8x8 solved: Make outer laps until the path cuts inward, turn sharp, make laps to fill remaining outer spaces, then fill in what's left of the middle which is basically a 4x4. Why was that so easy when I struggle with the 6x6 and 7x7? (c/o knightstourchallenge.com/play)

Screenshot of an 8x8 Knight's Tour solution.

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 03/03/2026

It has apologized again, but told me that it understands the rules this time. Surprise! It does not. We were good until move 16, and now it's gone off the rails again--outside the 6x6 board. No computations. It's poorly pattern matching a known 8x8 solution. Nothing "intelligent" about it. 🤷🤬🤖

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Vincent Grovestine @vincent.grovestine.com · 02/03/2026

👷🚧 Done. Lego City excavator; kit 60420, 633 pieces. (82 pieces in the tracks alone.)

Close up of the operator carriage of a Lego excavator with a female minifig at the controls. A construction worker minifig with a jackhammer and site supervisor minifig with blueprints are standing to the right of the excavator.

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