Month: February 2019

56F and wet, again. Like the world, the weather is mostly the same but slightly worse from day to day.

If you haven’t met anyone new in the last month, get out of the house and DO something. We’re all busy, but I’m beginning to see the importance of moving around, and meeting new people. Not just chatting with a server at the restaurant, but meeting people to have an ongoing relationship with.

Check out your local ham group, see who meets at your local range, go have coffee with the folks down at the diner, meet with some people who share one of your hobbies, or take a class in something. Go to your town hall meeting, local school board, PTA, or your local cop-citizen ‘airing of the grievances’.

It’s gonna be important who knows you and who you know.

n

Possibly 62F this am, and still raining. Probably colder than that.

I had my first class in the new Citizen’s Police Academy that I’m doing last night. It’s definitely going to be different than the other class. We start right in next week with the EVOC, or fast driving. Lot more women in this class too. Should be fun.

This, on the other hand, is NOT fun.

“”This Is Unprecedented Territory” – Pakistan Shoots Down 2 Indian Fighter Jets In Dramatic Border Conflict Escalation”

“One day after Indian fighter jets crossed into Pakistani territory to destroy a training camp purportedly belonging to the militant group that carried out one of the deadliest terror attacks in the 30-year history of the Kashmiri insurgency (Pakistan offered a different version of events), two Indian fighter jets have been shot down over Pakistani territory in what analysts described as the biggest escalation in tensions between the feuding neighbors since the end of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war (which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh).”

The whole world is going through a realignment. The last couple of times this happened, 100 million died through war, famine, or pestilence.

Stock up.

n

added– it’s already escalating:

“The brink of war: India claims it has shot down Pakistani warplane after Pakistan downed two of theirs, paraded captured pilot and warned ‘we will escalate if we have to’ as fears grow of conflict between nuclear-armed rivals”

Cold and wet this am. Still no fresh batteries….

This —
“India Bombs Pakistan, Targeting Terrorist Camps In Cross-Border Air Raids; Pakistan Vows Retaliation

Tue, 02/26/2019 – 06:39

With most of the world distracted by President Trump’s second summit meeting with Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, tensions between two nuclear-armed powers flared roughly 2,000 miles West in the contested border region of Kashmir.”

–Could get out of hand very quickly.

n

Cold and damp out. I didn’t get the batteries replaced, and they seem to have finally died. No illusion of control for me today.

Time to play some catch up and get a bunch of new stuff listed on ebay. It can’t sell if it’s not listed…

And some house and yard work if the weather holds.

I sure hope this week doesn’t hold any surprises.

n

Well, feels like mid 60s and sunny with blue sky. Maybe I’ll get the batteries changed in the weather station….

Kids let me sleep in, then I had to supervise the 7yo who decided that she’d make waffles ‘all by herself’ for the family. “No physical help daddy!” Not even reaching stuff on the tall shelves… Then my craigslist buyer showed up. One thing moved from the driveway, hooray!

Plan for the day is work around the house, then softball practice in the afternoon.

It’s a beautiful day.

n

74F and wet. Yuck.

It’s Girl Scout Cookie time. Watch for cookie booths where you shop. The cookie sales are their major fundraiser and they use the money in their local troops. GS cookies last a long time in their unopened packaging, some flavors 2 years or more without refrigeration. Good preps!

I’ll be running around all day, working my list and theirs.

n

50Fand wet. Again. I guess I should be happy it’s not 100F and 90%RH. Yet.

Given the signs o the times, what did you do to prep this week?

We met with a window replacement guy. And we’ll be meeting with another company. I want hurricane and impact rated windows. They are a security measure as well as a hurricane prep.

I bought some more radios. Hamfest is coming up in March, and I need stuff to sell. Or I’ll keep them for myself…

Did the first meeting with a auction company about selling some stuff with them. I need both the money and the space back.

Bought some bulk rice, additional cans, and some pasta. Seriously, it’s cheap insurance. I’m replacing and adding to my food storage.

Bought some accessories to some toys. Time to buy supplies to feed them too. I stopped after the election. That was dumb.

Got number one daughter tested and into additional programs at school. Both are now spending even less time with the rest of their class. I’m keeping a close eye on the school and will continue to make adjustments. Pulling them for private school or home school isn’t an option at this time, but might be. Our district does a pretty good job of providing enrichment and some personalized learning at this grade level.

I was accepted for the city version of the citizens police academy program that I did with our Constables. I expect to learn even more about our local policing and policies. I expect I will not be pleased, given recent high profile F ups. But hey, MEATSPACE.

I urge you to go to local .gov meetings. Connect with your local services. Become known in a positive way to them. Get out of the house and meet people and learn a skill. Get ready for NOT Business as usual.

n

Station says 54F but I’ll bet it’s colder based on the heat running….[huh, it is right around 54F]

I’ve got some maintenance and upgrades to do for one of my clients today. That will take me out of the house a bit later. Some money coming in will be nice as my sales are still flat.

Kids are supposed to be at school early this week to get ready for a show and tell about reading. Since they’re still in bed that seems unlikely.

It occurred to me the other day that because they don’t have homework, and because they don’t bring books home, I have no way to review or monitor what they are being taught. I bet this is by design….

I spent some time yesterday doing a bit of a dive into local crime and crime reporting. I need to spend some time on this, but what I see initially using online tools doesn’t match first hand accounts. This is bad.

But for now, kids and wife need to eat….

n

45F and damp. Chilly Willy!

Had a nice time with the kids yesterday. The Geology section is more talking than the others, because we just do a sorting and identifying exercise. Our normal presenter didn’t show for the last two classes so I did it. Fun. They want me to be a regular presenter next year. I’ve been reluctant, but maybe I should. I prefer the support role and sitting at the table helping the kids do the labs.

Our local economy is starting to (or continuing to) slow down. I see more empty commercial property and more for lease signs every day. There are several big housing developments in my neighborhood currently being built out, and I suspect they’ll take a while to occupy. Nothing like having development suddenly add over a thousand homes to your neighborhood, converting several hundred acres of open space to high density housing. Wife’s work situation is suddenly unstable/changing, or I think she’d be more seriously looking to move house. It is comforting to have no debt and money in the bank.

I’m thinking about writing a post about my workspace with pictures. Anyone interested?

n

Cool, damp, and windy is my prediction for today…

I’m putting this up early as today is my science teaching volunteer day at the daughter’s school. Rocks and geology this month. hmmmm. I thought it was going to be electricity. Bummer.

I’ll check in later, but you guys are on your own this am….

n