Snowing again, little else seems to be on the go.

When and if it stops snowing, I will get out and probably shovel today. It is fun, and less trouble than the snow blower for smaller tasks. And, actually, for an inch or two or less, I think it is faster. It if happens to be more work, it is such light work that it does not cause me to be sore. Plus, it brings back youthful memories… not always happy ones. After enough time, even bad memories can be funny. Especially if they were only bad because of my having been in a cranky mood when the memories were made. Now I know why people picked on me then, it was fun. Moms can be cruel that way, probably the meanest people on earth. Ha

I plan on doing a good deal of homework. The book is a poor choice of reading material according to my friends, instructor, and a few other advisers, a point which I was beginning to note on my own. It does offer many problems, that is the beginning and end of it's usefulness. Since we are only assigned a small fraction of all the problems available, my instructor has taken this course and taught it 2 or 3 times now, and among other reasons, he now has quite a set of problems worked out beyond the set we receive for grades, my options and opportunities with those have been greatly expanded. This next week I will be in to school early enough before class to find out which problems I can do and know that I can check my work. If and when I get this class down, and have it humming like I want, I am hoping to begin a closer examination of statistics. Really, it is coming. I have not heard back from the woman from calc III, so I may just go with what I have. I just thought, because she seemed to like stats and calc beyond just utilitarian practical reasons, she might be an excellent adviser, perhaps mentor. Since the love thing did not seem to fit, this would have been perfect (yes, I can work with women I find attractive, especially well informally actually). I cannot be sure if her mathematical interest beyond the mundane is artistic, philosophical, some mix of those, or something novel like a spiritual or religious. It is and artistic interest, with some lighter mix of the other aspects, for me. I will eventually check around and see if I can find someone with a taste for, and understanding of, statistics to act as a type of informal adviser or mentor. Tea and coffee, rolls and pastries, and perhaps a monthly fine tea/coffee/chocolate house brunch for a lady or steak house night for a gent would be enough to cover their side of it. Hey, bribery works! And, bribery is not always a bad thing. What do you think your pay check is?

Ok, it turns out the snow was quite short lived and light. I could take a broom to it, but a shovel, let alone the snow blower, would do nothing. I did get a few things done though. Things which have been on my mind and not receiving their due.

I got on the horn to find out about my Ruger 22/45 .22. She is in the shop, and I am chomping at the bit to get her out and let her sing. The sight that came with it never quite worked, the adjustment to it was not functional. The replacement was horrid. So, this will be my first actual chance to see what this pistol can do, or more what I can do with her. I have no doubt she is better than I. I was able to speak with the gentleman who’s fine hands are treating my little one to some mechanical ministrations. He was worried that I might be in a hurry and want it back right away. Though technically completed, his hold up is that the weather has been a little rough so that getting her out to the range has not been practical for him. I indicated, quite clearly, that time was not as important as function. I suggested he take his time, and when it works to test it, and those tests are up to his specs, all would be well. Of course, I hope he enjoys plinking and playing too, there no reason a man should not whistle while he works. I assured him that I just wanted to make sure there was not a disconnect, for example if he had finished it but could not reach me, my phone number having been incorrectly written or read. It happens. For sure, I would rather have it done right than to have it right now. And, I respect a man who does things the right way, leaving professionals to do it their way most of the time and within reason is always a good plan. If he does a good job, and I am patient, I will have found a man I can work with in the future. Good gunsmiths are hard to find. (By the way, I found this one in the oddest way. A man I was speaking with, someone I ended up deciding I did not like for reasons I do not know or care, was telling me about this grumpy gunsmith who did things his own way. Haha There are SOME people whose advise is generally exactly what I intend to follow adversely, immediately, and with intent. He may not be a bugger, but he was a curmudgeon, a real one, and wrong almost every time he opened his too often open pie hole. Nothing personal mind you, ha!

Next, I called the cable company. I received a very good offer for cable TV. At $14 a month, for a year at least, I receive basic cable. It used to be $40 dollars. Now, I will not be watching it, unless it has FOX News. I used to watch National Geographic flicks, and really most of the nature, science, and sci-fi stations, but they all went so left and agenda driven that I refuse to watch. However, when my mother visits, she really does need something. At least, until I get another computer. I won’t give her another top end computer, she just lets brats play on it and mess it up, then opts for a $50 piece of junk because no one can fix and maintain the better equipment when she lets kids goof with it. Ack! Drats, I meant to contact the ski rental shop. However, a complication (complications really mess me up, sometimes job ending, in spite of all I am and am capable of being… odd, really, but true) has occurred. I seem to have lost the information. I know how to work around it, I know where to regain that information, I know a potential alternative source for that information, but I do not want that… Weird, some things have to be just so OR I DO NOT DO THEM. Ok, so I am trying to get around that. At least it is out, maybe with the mind puss being released I will be able to get on with it. Blarney and brimstone, lots of things tied up in there about things like this. I wish there was such a thing as an intellectual enema. So long as there was a place it could be deposited out of my sight and away from my knowledge.

I also called my mother. They put her on another medicine, painkiller actually. It sounds like her doctor thinks she is doing well, and probably pushing herself too hard (she always does). The surgery was more complicated than usual, and she needed two pints of blood during the surgery, it was a whole knee replacement surgery. Anyway, she became quite tired all of a sudden, and I let her know I just needed to be brought up to speed since I knew she was visiting her doctor today, and… I need to hear her voice, and know that she is functioning solidly, which I did. Oh, the wounds are healing very well, all looks good, and she is on her way to health. After a life with a bad back and bum knees, I wonder what she will be with both knees and her back finally in decent shape. I, of course, let her get back to sleep and suggested she call me next time, so that I do not become intrusive. Plus, then she can call when she has more energy to talk.

Update:

I actually finished several more tasks. Including paying my neighbor a visit. His youngest is going to be a pro-football player. He is just huge for his age, and active. We talked a bit, got caught up, and made some plans. He seems interested in skiing. When I get that going, I will let him know. I also worked on homework, although with little success. I finally broke down and wrote my instructor an email. I will try and work on some other areas of homework and extra work in the meantime. I also got Rocky some more goldfish. That crawdad has killed and eaten over 10 fish in the last two weeks. Oops, over 11. He is fast. There were some other things I did as well. Not great, but better than it was seeming. Oh, yes, I also tracked down a local U. of Iowa ski club web page, with rental facilities, recommended ski areas, and some other information. I suspect I will be placing a call tomorrow. I tried to email the club, to see if it is university only, but the email was returned. There are some more general numbers listed, but they seem to have office hours. I may try one of those Monday.