Another cool morning followed by hot afternoon, and cool evening. Definitely Fall north of Houston.
Started yesterday about an hour earlier than planned, but on the other hand, they didn’t need me to move most of the stuff I was planning to move. The holes confirm that the old foundation repair was doomed to fail from the beginning. No soil to bear on under the down hill side of the house. Sand, and silt. Good thing these helical piles don’t care… They are due back here today at 7am and hope to finish the digging today.
Lake was down even more. This would be a good time to work on the rotten support pilings for the dock as most of them are out of the water now. Too bad I’ve got other fish to fry.
Skeeters are out in force. They don’t usually bite me, and if they do it doesn’t raise a welt, but the buzzing in my ear drives me mad, and I can feel them on my skin. This is the first visit where they were really noticeable and for some reason the house is full of them.
Asked one of the neighbors that’s been up here a long time what fruit trees he thought would be hardy and would grow well, he suggested peach and plum. Said that apples didn’t do well. I already have a persimmon tree. Can’t remember if I’d mentioned that. Fruit is delicious and sweet. Big seed though. I can’t recall ever eating a persimmon before.
Didn’t see any animals last night, but there were lots of raccoon and deer tracks in the mud along the shoreline. DID see a big snake in the water as I was packing up my radio… since he was under the water and still, I’m guessing ‘Plain-bellied Water Snake’ based on color. Hard to tell at a distance though. I do not care for snakes, especially ones that lurk. It’s country out here.
Stacking up good will and ties to the community this week. Knowledge too. Stack something good.
nick
What did Saint Patrick say as he was driving the snakes out of Ireland?
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“Are ye alright in the back there, lads?”
TSLA numbers disappointed and, say, where IS that Jesus Truck?
The vehicle so miraculous it walks on water.
https://www.foxnews.com/auto/elons-floating-cybertruck-tweet-torpedoed-government
The robot and the tweet about The Crimea are distractions from Tony’s problems.
The Russians are not going to give up The Crimea. I remember Dr. Pournelle pointing out several times that the ethnic cleansing since WWII was effective enough that even an honest referendum about annexation would go in Putin’s favor.
@alan, so far the biggest pain in the ask has been tools. I really need to just put together a whole set of tools for up here. I’ve been leaving my 20v dewalt set but then I’ve got nothing at home when I need it. Has only been an inconvenience so far, but def could be an issue.
I should have just put together a ‘house’ computer for up here too. We don’t do much on one up here without internet, so it’s been enough to bring my lappy. My wife’s old lappy is the DVD player… so the issue is mainly me, and really only if I’m up here during the week.
Self defense tools need to be up here too, but they need to be secure and that was not top of the list. It’s getting up the list though.
I’ve moved enough clothes and shoes that I really don’t need to bring any with me, and now that we can do laundry I shouldn’t need to rotate any. The girls need to do the same though.
I’ve been working hard to get all the ‘bits and pieces’ stuff you accumulate in the garage or workshop to fix stuff. I’ve been buying bins and boxes of “garage supplies” from estate sales. Stuff like random screws, nuts, bolts, nails, hardware, ‘coffee can’ stuff, so I don’t have to go to the hardware store. Random plumbing fittings, electrical parts, outlets, lamp parts, that sort of thing. Otherwise, I have to make a list and bring it on the next trip.
One of the handiest things was bringing a large number of batteries, all sizes. I’m a bit amazed how many AAA, AA, and 9v batteries we’ve used. EVERYTHING takes a battery. THe kitchen trash can has a motion lid that takes D cells…. clocks, garage door opener, smoke detectors, FLASHLIGHTS, I’m in the batteries every visit…
n
61F this morning. Beautiful sunrise, which I’d rather sleep thru..
78%RH so damp and chilly.
Guys are back at it digging holes and breaking concrete. Found a mystery pipe, looks like 4 inch drain pipe, under the patio, to within a couple of inches of the house, but not connected to anything, and not aimed at a part of the house with plumbing. Nor is it a part of the house where a downspout makes sense.
We are finding some of the old repairs. They are bearing on cr@p soil in almost every case. Even if the hill wasn’t moving, they would have failed. This helical system avoids that entirely by going thru the fill and into undisturbed soil below. REALLY glad the other guys bailed and I found these guys.
n
After the Flood, Noah released all the animals from the ark. All seemed well, until two snakes came to Noah with a request.
“Would you chop down a couple of trees for us?” they asked.
“ I can do that,” said Noah. “But why?”
“Because we’re adders. We need logs to multiply.”
I had my tools at home. I had a set of tools I used at work. I had a set of tools I used at the church. When I left work, I brought the tools with me causing some duplication. When I left the church, I just left the tools. One of the tools is a very specialized tool for working with BNC connectors in cramped spaces. I also left the BNC crimper and the coax tester. I don’t think I will ever use those again.
Can one ever have enough tools? My wife says yes while she piles huge amounts of scrap wood, some pieces dating back 32 years. I think her mindset comes from her youth when her family was not financially on solid ground. Lot of scrimping, saving, collecting, etc. Still in her mindset.
What ticks me off is that anytime she starts another project, she buys more wood and keeps the scraps. She never uses the scraps she has accumulated over the years. I fail to see the rational.
“Loretta Lynn, coal miner’s daughter and country queen, dies” https://apnews.com/article/loretta-lynn-dies-5f1545e60e37e482faa42cbb25ae61e8
Lived a long good life.
My favorite Loretta song with Ernest Tubb, although at the time, it was billed as Ernest Tubb with Loretta Lynn.
Firewood.
I have been successfully fighting my pack rat tendencies for several years. Since moving to a much smaller house, this becomes even more important.
In the end, while I do occasionally think “if only I had kept that”, it is surprisingly rare. Next big object to go: I haven’t ridden my bicycle since moving here, and see no need to do so. Either things are in walking distance, or they are driving distance. So I’ll be giving it away in the next week or two.
The struggle of a pack rat is real. That is my natural tendency, but as I get older I am getting much better. I am becoming neater and more organized as I get older too.
I still save scraps of wood, but I also purge every so often as well. I also actually use scraps regularly. Either something big or good enough to use in a project, or just as something to beat on or use as a backing for drilling or cutting something else.
When we were at the Ryman Auditorium this Summer and saw the Loretta Lynn display case, my wife asked if Lynn was still alive. I had to use my phone to verify that she was.
The Ryman is an interesting place, regardless of your musical tastes.
Firewood.
Wait, didn’t they outlaw fire in Europe ?
I passed all three of my heart tests today. I get to take another trip around good old Sol before I have to see my heart doc again. I had a calcification test, an echocardiogram, and a nuclear stress test. My heart volume ejection fraction is back up to 57%. After my first heart attack in 2009, my volume ejection fraction was down to 48%. It recovered to 52% in a year but then I got atrial fibrillation in 2011 ? and that was that. My EKG is still abnormal but, that is life. My valves are good, barely any detectable leakage.
Well, tire burning is not outlawed in the Gaza Strip near the border with Israel.
Arlo and Janis: Jupiter is Real Close Now
https://www.gocomics.com/arloandjanis/2022/10/04
Only 365 million miles away from us !
TSLA numbers disappointed and, say, where IS that Jesus Truck?
The vehicle so miraculous it walks on water.
https://www.foxnews.com/auto/elons-floating-cybertruck-tweet-torpedoed-government
The robot and the tweet about The Crimea are distractions from Tony’s problems.
“Elon Musk reverses course, offers to buy Twitter for original share price”
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/elon-musk-twitter-purchase-17486536.php
“A Bloomberg report published Tuesday alleges the Austin, TX-based billionaire penned a letter to Twitter reviving his offer to purchase the social media platform.”
Huh.
“Supreme Court considers jurisdiction of Clean Water Act”
https://www.ogj.com/general-interest/government/article/14283691/supreme-court-considers-jurisdiction-of-clean-water-act
“SCOTUS heard arguments over whether the determination of Clean Water Act jurisdiction should be revised—a case that could have consequences for determining whether an oil and gas project falls inside the reach of federal water regulators.”
I hope that SCOTUS goes to town on this and puts a statement like there must be constant running water on the property before the feddies can show up and regulate you to death.
When I was a “Second Louie” at Fort Riley, KS, she came as the headliner for a concert. The Army hosted it at a public park so all could attend. I got to walk around in uniform to show the colors. That’s what newbies get: “shitty little details”. My girlfriend at the time came with me. We had a picnic basket and I would walk around every half hour.
I receive fundraising spam from Charlie Crist today.
Really, Charlie? My last act as a Florida voter was to do my part to make sure you never made it past the Republican primary for Senate in 2010.
Retire. Work on your tan.
“Linux 6.0 arrives as Linus Torvalds promises ‘core new things’ ahead”
https://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-6-0-arrives-as-linus-torvalds-promises-core-new-things-ahead/
“Linux 6.0 is a major new kernel number, but doesn’t represent fundamental changes. That’s coming in Linux 6.1.”
I only own about a dozen Linux devices but I doubt half of them will be upgraded to it.
https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-analyst-fell-asleep-watching-lotr-show-rings-of-power-2022-9
“Google prototypes, open sources an extra-long keyboard with one row of keys”
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/10/google-shows-us-how-to-make-a-5-foot-long-keyboard/
And that is a fail.
But failed the most important one: Do you have a heart? (Answer No if you have ever voted for a Republican.)
See also: The “Do you have a brain?” test and special instructions for Democrats.
I keep trying to imagine the Jeff and MacKenzie saga to another tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZtroXOw91s
But I doubt Warren would have approved. It’s a shame he passed.
(look for#dovydas on the playlist)
>> One of the handiest things was bringing a large number of batteries, all sizes. I’m a bit amazed how many AAA, AA, and 9v batteries we’ve used. EVERYTHING takes a battery. THe kitchen trash can has a motion lid that takes D cells…. clocks, garage door opener, smoke detectors, FLASHLIGHTS, I’m in the batteries every visit…
Motorized trash can lid batteries? Definitely a first world problem.
Regarding batteries, I’ve managed (I’m pretty sure) to eliminate anything that doesn’t use AA or AAA batteries. Iirc, many non-hardwired smoke detectors these days have non-replaceable lithium batteries, just replace the whole unit every ten(?) years or so. I’ve got a decent supply of Kirkland (made by Duracell last I heard) AAs and AAAs and use them LIFO. Last time I needed a 9v for something I picked up a no-name ni-cad one at the dollar and a quarter store.
And MacKenzie drove the Bronco …
(Notch that Bingo card)
I don’t have a particular tune in mind when I post the unfinished “The Legend of Jeff – Family Guy, Drives A Honda, Wears The Same Shirt To Work Every Day … But Relax, He Has A Closet Full”.
Too bad Mojo Nixon retired.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPCiEXOG-o4
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons: FDA Misled the Public About Ivermectin
https://legalinsurrection.com/2022/10/association-of-american-physicians-and-surgeons-fda-misled-the-public-about-ivermectin/
Pussies. Where were they two years ago?
Even a year ago, the message from the doctors was, “Pipe down, Skippy, and takes yer medicine. This will get us back to ‘normal’.”
unexpectedly…
https://redstate.com/jenvanlaar/2022/10/04/breaking-la-county-election-worker-data-was-stored-on-servers-in-china-software-exec-arrested-n637612
DeKalb County, Georgia signed a contract with Konnech, despite warnings:
That’s not just egg on face, it’s a million chickens dropping eggs from low-Earth ordit.
Definitely a first world problem.
– yes, but that is where we live…. and for some reason, my wife was more excited about that than any recent gift.
Used the metal detector to find buried pipes, TWO nine volt batteries.
Used the Fox and Hound to trace circuits, two more nine volt batteries.
Portable LED lanterns, C cells. Flashlight and fan, D cells. I’d even forgotten to bring C cells the first time, but I’ve got plenty in stock so I fixed that.
Battery back up in clock radio, another 9v….
Countless AA and AAA batteries went into everything from headlamps to my night vision scope.
Crazy how many we used.
n
Well waddaya know, I did bring my lappy psu after all.
I guess I should “open my eyes” when looking for stuff.
n
(can’t tell you how many times I heard that growing up..)
Motorized trash can lid batteries? Definitely a first world problem.
Very helpful with my mother’s wheelchair since she cannot stand on the foot lever to open the lid.
Accessibility issues really suck.
At the risk of notching another space on the Bingo card tonight, Georgia Republicans did it to themselves. The numbers were there to overcome whatever fraud happened in Fulton County, but they chose to stay home for the runoff election in January 2021 to wait for the Revolution.
“U.S. National Debt Tops $31 Trillion for First Time”
https://dnyuz.com/2022/10/04/u-s-national-debt-tops-31-trillion-for-first-time/
We are living in the calm before the storm.
And yes, these are “The Good Old Days”. Kinda like 1928 before 1931.
“Gene Roddenberry, in an early draft for The Questor Tapes, wrote a scene in which the android Questor employs Maupassant’s theory that, “the human female will open her mind to a man to whom she has opened other channels of communications.” In the script Questor copulates with a woman to obtain information that she is reluctant to impart. Due to complaints from NBC executives, this part of the script was never filmed.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_de_Maupassant
I believe Lwaxana Troi used a similar technique on her Ferengi captor.
My favorite Loretta song with Ernest Tubb, although at the time, it was billed as Ernest Tubb with Loretta Lynn.
“One’s On The Way” is a great song about real life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YDj97txkFE
If that ain’t country, well, David Allen Coe said it best.
A close second is “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’(With Lovin’ On Your Mind)”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbi-IbSQLRA
I hope she and Patsy are back together.
And then a very close third is “You Ain’t Woman Enough”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvxwMYPynnI
Nice night on the water. Chilly when the fire died down. 69F and damp. If it gets cooler, I’ll have to bump the gas line for the furnace up the list.
Bands were open. 40M sounded good but super crowded. 80M was good too, and not so crowded. Lot of spanish speaking amateurs tonight. Panama was coming in well too.
Early bedtime tonight. I hope I’ve killed most of the mosquitos so I can sleep.
n