Month: January 2020

Warm and wet.

Despite the dire predictions, yesterday was warm and windy, with overcast skies all day. A light drizzle started around 10:30pm and the wind died down. Wind and rain picked back up around 11:45, but it didn’t sound crazy. A bit of lightning, some increased wind noise, a bit harder rain… [unless something happened after I went to bed] Looks like we missed the worst of the storm.

I’ve got my non-prepping hobby meeting this morning so that will keep me out for a few hours.

While I’m out, if you carry, watch this copcam video of an officer involved shooting.

http://ninetymilesfromtyranny.blogspot.com/2020/01/body-cam-shows-fatal-officer-involved.html

Ask yourself what you might have done in a similar situation. Consider the number of shots fired, that looked like they were effective, and how much longer the guy continued to be a threat. Carry a reload and have access to bleeding control. And I have a package of clorox bleach wipes in the truck too, for cleanup afterward. They work fine on dirty hands after changing a tire or checking the oil too…

Speaking of truck stuff, when’s the last time you checked your road flares? You do have road flares right? If not, they are cheap, last forever, and have other uses. I can’t help but think that James Kim might be alive today if he had a road flare to set his spare tire on fire… and people, STAY WITH THE VEHICLE.

n

Much warmer than yesterday morning. It was 41F at the window, with frost on house roofs.

My replacement phone arrived late yesterday. It was in a plain white box but still had the protective film on the front and back. It appears to be new as promised in the listing. It was certainly reset to factory…

I did get most of my stuff backed up and installed automagically, but didn’t move the sim card or microSD yet. I’ll do that today when I have time to recover from any issues. The display is gorgeous, huge, and bright even though the phone itself is the same size as my S7. The UI is noticeably snappier- things open and close without a pause.

I need to order a case though, my old one won’t fit. I should have ordered one with the phone, but didn’t think about it. Doh.

I better get started on my day. Nothing different from yesterday, with added nonsense piled on top. And it’s already Thursday. Jeez.

n

Cool and damp, but hopefully no rain. [41F and light frost on some roofs]

Yesterday started at 56F and ended for me at 56F last night. Cold enough that my joints all hurt. With the dampness, it cuts right through me.

I got my pickups done. One disappointment, the EOTech red dot I scored for $135 was counterfeit. They had a dozen, mixed in with a lot of legit brands of tactical accessories and some poser brand knock off shite. The auction caught the bad pennies, and there was no charge or fuss. I had a feeling something didn’t look right. I think the packaging tickled my subconscious. I was not surprised when the auctioneer told me they were junk.

In the worldwide mess, I hope we settle with Iran pretty quickly. I can’t take much more of the NPR commentary and speculation. Twice in an hour different people on the show mentioned the japanese internment during WWII, in regards to iranians in the US. No mention that it was a Democrat that started that…

More work for me today, starting closer to home. Girl Scout cookie sales are only a couple of weeks away, which puts a hard limit on when I have to have some of my “inventory” out of the entry hall (and preferably sold.) Swim team director sent out a “heads up” email too. January is barely started and they’re skipping ahead…

Better get nose to grindstone,

n

Cool but no rain in the forecast for a couple of days. Maybe we’ll finally dry out. I’ve had standing water in the driveway for 3 days, which is why I’ve said it’s “damp”. Stuff doesn’t dry out because the humidity is so high.

Beautiful day yesterday. I got the Christmas decor mostly down. I cleaned up the dog mess in the back yard. TWO full bags (plastic grocery type) and I’m not sure I got it all. I’ve been slack. I’m sure the dog thinks of me as “The Poop Thief”.

Got to the chiropractor, and am back in normal condition. I’ll probably try for one more visit on Sunday, when the doc I like is in my local store. He recommended some stretching… so I guess I’d better.

I’ve got some auction pickups today, and a bunch of stuff to prep for sale. I need to either move some of my stuff from Craigslist to another selling app, or set up a facecrook account just for FB marketplace. I haven’t gotten ANY hits on my craigslist stuff. I expected the flammables cabinet would sell in a week, but it hasn’t. (It’s a small one Lynn, or I’d offer it to you.) I’ll keep it rather than send it to auction and sell it for nothing. If I’m gonna keep it, I need to get it out of my driveway.

Finally got a break with my wife and the bathroom/saferoom remodel. By moving the safe, I think we have a plan to move forward with a floorplan I can work from. It solves a couple of issues at the same time to move it, and moving forward is good. Now I just need to fit that work in with all the rest of my stuff. Time to crank up the effort, and get any work done before it starts getting warm again. It was already warm in the attic today putting the Christmas stuff away.

Time is flying already, with #2 daughter starting basketball soon, and piano lessons moving to a weeknight. I’m going to be doing more kid shuffling than last year. Jeez, I’ve got stuff I need to get DONE and off my plate… swim team will be starting before I know it.

And with that, I SPRING into action………….

n

Cool and damp.

Beautiful day yesterday. Sunny and cool, with blue skies. Damp of course, but about as nice as it gets this time of year.

I’ve got the kids home for one more day. I guess we’ll find something to do, I know I’ve got plenty. The list keeps getting longer too as household items are added.

I do finally feel almost my old self again, so that’s good. One more visit to the back cracker should put me as good as it gets. I’ll start stretching again after that. A few exploratory moves have me astonished that I’ve lost so much flexibility in my hips and lower body. I’ve always been fairly stiff, but man, my hips are locked tight.

I ordered the refurb Samsung S10e. Hopefully, all I’ll have to report is that it does in fact look and work like new. Wife ordered me the wireless charger dock to use on my old phone until the new one arrives. It will work with the new one as well. That should save some wear and tear on the usb port, and maybe the new one won’t burn…

I haven’t been paying attention to the fires in Australia. That was wrong. They are a major disaster. I sincerely hope none of our visitors are affected. If you are and anyone here can help in any way, please let us know in a comment.

No one wants to die in a fire. Don’t mess around. When it’s time to go, go.

Which is good advice in general too.

n

Cool and wet.

Yesterday turned into a fine, if somewhat cool day. Nice clear sky and sunshine.

I skipped the chiropractor yesterday but will try to get in to see him today. Both my pain and range of motion are almost back to normal.

I wasn’t going to buy more stuff at auction, but I really couldn’t help myself with this one. 3000 lots of camping, outdoors, and tactical stuff, including gub parts and accessories, armor, fishing gear, and Mr Heaters… I might have overspent a bit. It just means I’ll have to sell some to cover the rest. Why does something like this auction come up when I’m in the mood I’m in, with the world the way it is? Fate. That’s my answer and I’m sticking to it.

I really do need to inventory and sort. I’ve been on a tear lately and need to pause and catch up. Can’t just ‘buy all the things!11!!1’ I also have some high value items purchased specifically for resale that need to be resold. Hard to let go of useful things, but I really need to. They won’t get sold if they don’t get listed.

I really don’t need the distraction of replacing my phone. But, some of you will remember, I got plenty of warning, and should have acted all those weeks ago when I first thought of it. Let that be a lesson, I guess. Maybe one of my old one’s will work for a couple of days with my current sim.. add trying that out to the pile of stuff to do.

Wife will want Christmas decor to be taken down and put away too. I put that off as long as possible as I find it to be quite melancholy… but it has to be done too. Kids will be back in school this coming week which has both pluses and minuses…

Fun times ahead! [and only partly sarcastic]

It’s a great life if you don’t falter, right?

n

Cold and damp. Of course.

Yesterday started nice out, but then in the afternoon, some ugly clouds and high winds brought the cold. It got chilly. My shorts were def not advised.

Stopped by my friend the merchant of death’s place. Ended up with 5 boxes of 9mm. No idea what to do with them, as all my gubs failed to float after the accident….. guess I’ll keep them for barter 😉

I’ve got a couple of auction pickups today both power related. I got a nice West Marine battery charger in one auction, and the previously mentioned battery charger/ 2000w inverter in another. That will push my solar project along… I’ve heard that I can get reconditioned forklift batteries from a local scrap yard/ battery reseller. I’ve heard that they also have deep cycle marine batteries. I suppose I can bite the bullet and buy new, but for a secondary system I’ll probably never need, that’s a big bite.

I’m still sore and feeling under the weather, so I’m still taking it easy. Which sucks as there is so much to do.

I’m taking my own advice and that kindly offered by others here and starting to stretch in an organized fashion. I’ll be doing most of a regimen that previously had me able to kick over my head, and do some really deep squats. I don’t know if I can find a class to help refresh me, but I can get started on the basics from memory. Some Chi Gong exercises are also included in the progression. I have some small regrets that I didn’t continue my martial arts studies for the last 15 – 20 years. I’d be in a different place physically, that’s for certain. OFD’s tale has me looking over my shoulder metaphorically at every twinge and pain.

Well, I better get started on something before I lose the whole morning.

n

Cold and wet.

Rained off and on most of yesterday.

I mostly laid around, and fought the nausea from the pain in my neck and shoulders.

Finally got the chiropractor. Got instant relief, but it doesn’t last. I’ll be going back today and tomorrow at least.

Grabbed dinner for the family at Five Guys Burgers. Yeah, it’s a tasty burger but $50 for me and the kids? Crazy. I can get 5 pounds of decent steak for that.

Won a couple of things at auction yesterday too. 2000w inverter for an RV for $200. That’s 1/3 of ebay for the same model. And it’s 2000w continuous. Won a couple of parts gubs. Brand no one wants, so I got them cheap enough to simply part out. Parts sell well on gunbroker though, which is a bit odd.

I got a couple of ebay listings done and turned my store back on. Sitting at the pc and typing aggravates my shoulder pain so I’m trying to avoid it.

Wife’s working again today so I’ve got taggalong kids whatever I do… their marathon Harry Plopper binge should be over later today.

And if that’s not a dog’s breakfast of a post I don’t know what is, go and sin no more.

n

Cold and wet. Probably.

Yesterday was lost to productivity due to back and neck pain. I don’t lose many days in a year to pain, but yesterday was one. Today isn’t looking good either but the chiropractic office should be open, and that should help.

I don’t do formal resolutions anymore, but I do pick something to emphasize during the coming year. Last year it was stretching and exercise, and neither happened. The year went by so fast, I never got to it.

This year, it’s getting rid of my inventory, so that I can do more of the work and hobbies I enjoy. Stretching will have to happen or I’ll be backsliding. Can’t afford to lose any more strength or flexibility. Some sort of self-defense training will have to happen too. I’ve been super slack getting to the range. That has to change.

Other than that, more of the same. MOAR!!!111!!!! More skills, more stacking, more meatspace.

If any of y’all have any resolutions you’d like to share, feel free. Maybe we can encourage each other to keep them.

n