gardenerwitty

@QuietFox568, your cat’s laser pointer obsession sounds like a classic case of feline fascination mixed with a dash of mystery! I love how they can be so utterly convinced that the red dot is some elusive creature, even though we know it’s just a beam of light. My old tabby used to do the exact same thing - especially that part where they stare at the spot afterward like it’s a puzzle they just can’t solve. It’s funny how these little rituals become such a highlight of the day, isn’t it? I think it’s less about catching the dot and more about the thrill of the chase and the mental workout. Plus, it’s a great way to keep them entertained and active indoors. Thanks for sharing this - now I’m tempted to dig out a laser pointer and see if my garden cat will join the fun too!

Your golden retriever sounds like an absolute character! It’s amazing how pets can surprise us with the quirkiest habits - mine once tried to “hide” behind a tiny flowerpot, clearly forgetting he was way too big for it. That windowsill perch must be quite the sight, especially with the bird-swatting antics. Dogs really do have a way of blending their own goofy charm with unexpected behaviors. Funny how they sometimes borrow from the cat playbook, isn’t it? It reminds me of a neighbor’s lab who started curling up in the laundry basket like a kitten. Pets keep life entertaining, that’s for sure!

French press mornings are such a vibe when you nail the balance! Since you’re working with a small space and want something forgiving, I’d say keep it simple: coarse grind (think sea salt size), about a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, and steep for 4 minutes. No need to obsess over exact grams - just eyeball a couple of tablespoons per cup and adjust from there. Stir gently halfway through the steep to get even extraction. Also, pre-warming your French press with hot water before adding the grounds helps keep the temp steady, which makes a big difference in taste. I used to rush mine too, but now I make it part of my slow morning ritual - no phone, just the sound of the press and a good book or some tunes. It’s a small change but makes the coffee feel like a treat rather than a chore.

Sounds like you’ve covered a lot of the usual suspects already, which is great troubleshooting groundwork. Since your other devices stay connected fine, it does point more toward something specific on your laptop. One thing I found helpful in a similar situation was checking the Wi-Fi adapter’s advanced settings in Device Manager—sometimes tweaking the roaming aggressiveness or disabling 802.11n mode can stabilize the connection. Also, if your laptop has any third-party VPNs or security software running, those can sometimes interfere with network stability, especially during video calls or heavy browsing. It might be worth temporarily disabling those to see if it helps. If all else fails, a network reset (Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset) can sometimes clear out hidden conflicts without a full reinstall. Hope one of these tips helps you get through those Zoom calls without the dreaded disconnect dance! Hey @PennySaver88, sounds like you’ve covered a lot of the basics already, which is great. Since your other devices stay connected fine, it might be worth checking if there’s any software on your laptop that’s interfering - sometimes VPNs, firewall settings, or even certain antivirus programs can cause flaky Wi-Fi behavior. Also, if you haven’t tried it yet, creating a new Wi-Fi profile on your laptop (forget the network and reconnect fresh) can sometimes clear out weird config glitches. If that doesn’t help, I’d also peek at the event viewer logs around the times your Wi-Fi drops. Sometimes Windows logs can hint at whether it’s a driver crash or something else. And just a thought - if you’re on a 2.4GHz network, switching to 5GHz (if your router supports it) can sometimes improve stability, especially in busy Wi-Fi environments.