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i started to suspect there was something wrong with my pixel 7 a few days ago, after i got the pixel 6. out of curiosity, i was trying to see if i could tell the difference in photos between the two phones even though they have the the exact same cameras. to my surprise, there was a difference: in the pixel 7 there's a bright glare in the center of the photos, that's not present in pixel 6 photos. i took a bunch of photos out my living room window this morning and the difference was very obvious. i even tried taking a pair of RAW photos with the two photos, and i can see the glare in the pixel 7 raw image. i also applied the pixel 7 camera screen protector, hoping that a darker background would fix the background, but there was still glare.

i immediately wanted to go onto the google store customer service website to either repair the phone or replace it outright. but i decided to hold off until i can do some more tests. worst case scenario, i return the pixel 7 and use the pixel 6 instead, which is just as good, and save myself $70 in the process. still, if i can get a working pixel 7, that'd be ideal, since it is the newer phone.

i went down to the cafe in the late morning for my wednesday shift. i decided to walk because it was raining, but it wasn't raining at the time, and i briefly thought about taking the bike, but i checked the forecast and it said there'd be more rain later today, so safer just to walk instead of having to ride in the pouring rain.

the first shipment of temu items arrived last night. it included a bunch of panda keychains, a wok strainer, folding drain rack (for sink), and a skein of wool yarn for my mother. we got another shipment arriving next week, and a bunch of stuff in a shopping cart ready for purchase. i also got a chance to check out the new 8" glass pot lid. my mother said it wasn't the right size, but it fits well enough, and now i can keep my boiled water warm.

i also saw the allbirds shoes my mother got me. they fit well enough, but i already have my pairs of winter shoes (merrell waterproof hiking shoes or rubber boots). i asked her to take them back to belmont, i'm not sure if i want to keep them, especially not after finding out how much my mother paid per pair. to make matters worse, she's been recommending these shoes to just about everyone, from my 2nd aunt to my godmother to my sister's godmother. what's so great about wool shoes?

my aunt is still testing positive for covid (though that second positive line takes longer to appear) so matthew once again came to pick up their catered food order. if it wasn't for the catered food, there wouldn't have been much business today, about the same as yesterday, which wasn't a lot. nevertheless, we managed to sell 6 vegetable buns, 6 bento boxes, 2 pad thai, and 7 beef noodle soup, which has gained in popularity now that the weather is starting to turn cold.

i finally left the cafe today by 6:15pm. there was no rain (it hadn't been raining for a few hours at least although the streets were still wet) and i regret not taking the bike. it took me 22 minutes to walk home. i kept my eyes open for photo opps. at night you can't tell there's a glare issue with the pixel 7 camera. i got back a little bit after 6:30pm. paul had placed a christmas wreath on my door. i allow him to do that even though i could care less, and given the choice, i rather not have one since it blocks the door window in my entrance foyer and makes it completely dark.

i didn't eat dinner until almost 9pm. i'd brought home some leftover rice with pork meatballs my sister had made, as well as another box of leftover rice noodles. i saved the rice noodles for tomorrow, and microwaved the rice dish. after i finished eating, i finished watching nope, that weird western scifi horror from jordan peele. i don't know if i'd recommend it, but it wasn't bad, and the alien was definitely unexpected and interesting in a very alien way.