.
.
After dinking around, I finally got to it. The price was higher than I would have guessed, though I suppose I had not really received enough information to really get the prices well. I was given prices according to size, and went by those. However, no one seemed to be able to figure out the price sum total. Right at $350 with screws, undersheeting, along with two sheets of plywood, plus delivery. I found tarpaper in the outbuilding, it looks good, so I will use it. I suspect that is precisely what it was meant to be used for in any case. It always hurts a little when the price is in the hundreds and is a surprise. I get grumpy for a short bit, then get over it. I am over it. The goods will all be delivered at once, unless they do something foolish on their end (and I will not pay for two deliveries, period, not for the charges they price). I have 10 days before delivery, time to remove the old and be ready for the new.
I forgot the old grill tank, but I had been meaning to buy new anyway. So, I simply purchased a new full tank and will take the old one in for exchange soon. I bought another 100 .45 bullets and 500 more .22 ammunition as well. Money, money, money, it all costs. I have not been tracking my money well, though I have been keeping it between the lines and mostly in the black. I finally set up my banking accounts in Iowa and Utah so that I can check them online. Between changes in banking, moving, moving, moving, losing one computer, then the other, then having to wipe the first computer to get it to work... Well, losing track on online access, or maintaining it, has been a chore. A chore I could not do. Beyond that, if one does not check into these systems often enough, now, apparently they simply close out the online access which requires a refresh and a restart, using data that can be difficult to find. Anyway, this month is the month to begin getting that all straight. I think?
We did go shooting. Even for back in the hills were we go to shoot, because of the holiday and being a weekend there were large numbers of people up there. Two guys in two different trucks stopped at the same time to give us some jazz about the fact that somebody supposedly started a fire, three years ago, which caused these guys to lose 35 acres of private land which is over the ridge into the next valley. I just listened but honestly, I doubted their story, I did not have a great interest in what they were saying, nor did I like the notion of being harassed. With as many atvs, smokers, campers with campfires, and other shooters, I wonder if they stop and bother every other person in the valley. I doubt if that is why they stopped. I have great doubts that a ricochet which happened to hit a rock would start a blaze. However, I simply listened then promptly returned to shooting the plastic bottles. Sorry, but that is how it goes. What they were doing, really, however, is anyone's guess.
The rest of my shopping for this month is on hold. Until I wrap $350 into my budget and figure out where it stands, no more money will go out. Which is fine, I can begin working on some other things. I need to straighten out the garage, figure some things out in the house, and as this week comes to a close, begin the teardown of the old roof. This will be my first work like this, probably ever. I could use a mask, though a dampened bandanna will have to do. Buckets, water storage, and more tools, pieces, and parts are all on hold until I know more.
I sometimes wonder if what I am doing is folly. Often I know some things are folly, but some folly will be had. It is the price of flesh. How much is too much folly? The building, for example, is in very good shape. It is worth maintaining. Will I ever get to chickens though? If I save a building, even a good one, but never use it, what have I actually done? Is it, in a way, like physics which requires some distance to have been traveled for work to have been done (which excludes round trips) in that if I save something I do not use I have saved nothing? Oh well, the deed is all but done. And yet questions linger.
Well, I may get the tanks changed out, cook the roast I meant to cook yesterday, and do some other work. Or I may hit the calculus tutorials. Or I may just pine about the wonders, worries, and foolishness of life to Sassy. I am just sure she knows the answers. Besides... I LIKE CAKE!
Addendum:
Calculus it was. I went through half of the material on derivatives. The bad, it will always be somewhat complicated to solve these problems. The good, much of the material is still on hand to my mind or only needed a slight nudge to get me off and running. As per MK's suggestion, I may read tonight if all else fails. I will read something interesting, such as my engineering I book. If that is too heavy, or really as soon as I can find it, I will begin on Vox's recent treatise on the subject of economics. It is not that reading texts which require work is a problem, I will be trying to get through that book but when I am and want to be more awake so that I may solve the problems. I could use Vox's fare as such, but probably not at this point. I would have to read it and then do independent studies in a number of fields, statistics and economy at least, and then come back to it as more than just a reader.
Anyway, that is how tonight goes down. I am so HUNGRY though. If I was not so sleepy, I would drive in for another drive through. Well, not all that sleepy, just geared down, I should say.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Left to their own devices...
.
.
Things sometimes work out on their own. I have surrendered, for the weekend, to whatever sleep or wakefulness I may have. Sleep was not to be had until 4:00. Still, I was hoping to be up by noon. I set the alarm for 10:00. When it went off, I reset it for noon. Between Sam wanting out, and once I let her out the kitten deciding I was a prime playground, prone and slowed by sleep so an easy target, I never made it to the noon alarm. Surrendering to the feline attacks, I surrendered to wakefulness as well at a little after 11:00.
In my slow waking cycle, I am nearly to readiness an hour after the hatch opened. My friend called, as we had discussed, and I will be showered, dressed, and in town in an hour or less. At which point we are going to invade the second hand shops, several hardware stores, some unarmed mountainside, and an eatery or two, at least. I am no longer shaving, my winter beard is being raised. Though I think I will find a trimmer. I bought a cheapo last year. While it worked, to a degree, it was not exactly the best device I have ever owned. Having suggested this, my friend thinks he will, too, go unshaven. There is nothing like being a trend setter. Small fishbowl, small influence, take what you can? Yes.
As well, I think it is time for me to begin attending church. Not this week, perhaps, maybe not even next week. But the time is fast approaching. After finding my shoes, I never did get them polished. At this point, I have both the shoes and the polish kit within reasonable grasp along with a minimum of searching. I believe my shirts are clean, my slacks and proper pants are ready, my belts and ties are available, though there are a few other minor details which must be ironed out. A few weeks should give me the time to do these things. Although, even if I am not quite prepared for Church next week, I might consider confession. All of this is well past time. Further, it might be a good time to begin looking into serving those on death row. It would be nice to have that on tap and scheduled, be trained and functioning in that, before school starts this spring. A visit once a week or every other week, to a number of inmates or simply to be available to talk to one or pray with one, I am not sure how such a thing would work, would be good. Though I think they might have some sort of program system which I would simply have to fit into rather than have at my discretion? Probably...
Oh, I know, I promise lots of things and often they fall through... in the short run. However, I usually pick and choose but eventually get to my just deserts. Remember how long I had promised to move, then move to Utah, then buy a home, then even get to the hen house? Well, those things are all done save the last. And the last is being tended today (or Monday if they are not available today) in the purchase of the construction materials needed. Same with food storage, prep items, yard work, and the rest. Bit by bit, it is all being tended, in time. So, do not worry when I say tomorrow. If it is important, and Church and serving are, they will be tended as I may.
Well, pick up your socks and bind your back flap, it is time to get to work boys and girls. I have... things to do... Be wary, be wise, be loving, be kind, but understand the price and pay it. Ciao, Adios, Aloha, and... good day.
.
Things sometimes work out on their own. I have surrendered, for the weekend, to whatever sleep or wakefulness I may have. Sleep was not to be had until 4:00. Still, I was hoping to be up by noon. I set the alarm for 10:00. When it went off, I reset it for noon. Between Sam wanting out, and once I let her out the kitten deciding I was a prime playground, prone and slowed by sleep so an easy target, I never made it to the noon alarm. Surrendering to the feline attacks, I surrendered to wakefulness as well at a little after 11:00.
In my slow waking cycle, I am nearly to readiness an hour after the hatch opened. My friend called, as we had discussed, and I will be showered, dressed, and in town in an hour or less. At which point we are going to invade the second hand shops, several hardware stores, some unarmed mountainside, and an eatery or two, at least. I am no longer shaving, my winter beard is being raised. Though I think I will find a trimmer. I bought a cheapo last year. While it worked, to a degree, it was not exactly the best device I have ever owned. Having suggested this, my friend thinks he will, too, go unshaven. There is nothing like being a trend setter. Small fishbowl, small influence, take what you can? Yes.
As well, I think it is time for me to begin attending church. Not this week, perhaps, maybe not even next week. But the time is fast approaching. After finding my shoes, I never did get them polished. At this point, I have both the shoes and the polish kit within reasonable grasp along with a minimum of searching. I believe my shirts are clean, my slacks and proper pants are ready, my belts and ties are available, though there are a few other minor details which must be ironed out. A few weeks should give me the time to do these things. Although, even if I am not quite prepared for Church next week, I might consider confession. All of this is well past time. Further, it might be a good time to begin looking into serving those on death row. It would be nice to have that on tap and scheduled, be trained and functioning in that, before school starts this spring. A visit once a week or every other week, to a number of inmates or simply to be available to talk to one or pray with one, I am not sure how such a thing would work, would be good. Though I think they might have some sort of program system which I would simply have to fit into rather than have at my discretion? Probably...
Oh, I know, I promise lots of things and often they fall through... in the short run. However, I usually pick and choose but eventually get to my just deserts. Remember how long I had promised to move, then move to Utah, then buy a home, then even get to the hen house? Well, those things are all done save the last. And the last is being tended today (or Monday if they are not available today) in the purchase of the construction materials needed. Same with food storage, prep items, yard work, and the rest. Bit by bit, it is all being tended, in time. So, do not worry when I say tomorrow. If it is important, and Church and serving are, they will be tended as I may.
Well, pick up your socks and bind your back flap, it is time to get to work boys and girls. I have... things to do... Be wary, be wise, be loving, be kind, but understand the price and pay it. Ciao, Adios, Aloha, and... good day.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Plans.
.
.
My local friend called and asked what I was doing. Actually I was doing something. I started the math review. The word problem area was too simple, so I am moving on. I will skip the matrix (linear) algebra review for now and simply dig into calculus. In that process I will hit algebra, geometry, and trig without any doubt. I have quite a load there. The first set covers simple calculus and caculus 2, then I have an in depth calculus 2, and then calculus 3 materials. Along with books on all of the subjects, sometimes two books per subject.
Anyway, I suggested we do something tomorrow. I need to see if I can order the roofing materials and plywood, pick up some buckets and lids, and do some shopping. Shooting in the afternoon would also be fun. I think I will take the .45 and the .22 pistol. I am crack, more or less, with the .22 rifle. I need a lot more practice with the pistols though. Oh, I am good. I need to be much better. At some point I am going to begin tactical training. That will take a bit more work, including providing moving targets, obstacles, various shooting positions, and other variables to be integrated into the process. I have much of the tactical as tightly in my head as I could want, more than I want sometimes. Corners are good, ricochets can be useful, and knowing the full capacity of my firearms is good. Of course, knowing a child throwing a rock can kill keeps everything in line. I am rusty though, very rusty. I need to begin working this up. I do not need to work up to breaching or forward close quarter full on combat ops, but I do need basic situational awareness to become more focused. To be ready for those first two would mean being in excellent physical fitness, anyway. My age alone, actually, precludes that to a degree. Just some thoughts.
I will also take my friend to look for some furniture. I am hoping to find used chairs he will be comfortable with, barring that we might have to look for new. If necessary, I will pitch in some. I do not have a lot, but a handful of dollars would probably be enough along with what he puts in. After that, somewhere to eat. I love the brisket, though the Mexican place is calling my name again. Their entrees are generally $12 or less. Either that or we will come back to my place with some meat and grill. For 30 bucks, what with drinks, tax, and tip, we could probably not only eat high on the hog, we might be able to get a whole one on the grill... give or take. Right though, I had better remember the tank. I ran out of fuel already. I am a bit surprised the grill used the fuel as fast as it did. I have been cooking on it for 2 months, doing almost all my meats (if not close to daily) on it, and perhaps I heat the thing up to much. Still, I was a bit surprised. I think I need both a refill and an extra tank. I am thinking, even in the winter sometimes, I will cook on it. It is a lot less messy, if cleaning once every two months is a bit much. Once every few weeks should make that more manageable.
I was thinking, watching the hurricane threaten the East Coast, about how I used to sort of enjoy disasters. The roofs ripping off, buildings collapsing, you know, chaos. As a homeowner, things have changed. It is humbling to switch off from punk to suit, in a way. Oh, I understand logically, if that does not change the feelings or sentiments regarding my previous understandings. Now, seeing such a devastating weather system move through anywhere is akin to seeing a man take a serious hit to his private parts. On another topic, I thought, while training Sassy (the kitten) to play nice and to be calm and pleasant (by being so myself), that women are similar. If, as a guy, I play hard or rough, a woman will... get that. We both know I can win. Heck, a woman would pick me because of that to a degree. What we do not know is can I still play nice and even lose? Much of what a woman I might marry would become has to do with how I deal with her. I could simply swamp Sassy, never letting her win or even have fun. She would either never play or play very hard and mean. I think the same goes for a woman. They, like kittens, certainly have teeth and claws, physical and verbal and virtual. They also seem to have more energy, more "on time", and more interest in being social. As a leader, it really is up to me to be right with her and set the tone of our relationship... Of course, that does not mean I cannot pounce once in a while and remind her who is king, either. Sassy needs reminding too, and gets it. Heh... Brat.
Oh well, I think I am going to a fast food joint for dinner. I could run for fuel but I am simply not that ambitious. I am going to make a run for ambition Monday. A new week, new work on the docket along with some old, and math on the brain. Food, though... and soon. RoAr!
.
My local friend called and asked what I was doing. Actually I was doing something. I started the math review. The word problem area was too simple, so I am moving on. I will skip the matrix (linear) algebra review for now and simply dig into calculus. In that process I will hit algebra, geometry, and trig without any doubt. I have quite a load there. The first set covers simple calculus and caculus 2, then I have an in depth calculus 2, and then calculus 3 materials. Along with books on all of the subjects, sometimes two books per subject.
Anyway, I suggested we do something tomorrow. I need to see if I can order the roofing materials and plywood, pick up some buckets and lids, and do some shopping. Shooting in the afternoon would also be fun. I think I will take the .45 and the .22 pistol. I am crack, more or less, with the .22 rifle. I need a lot more practice with the pistols though. Oh, I am good. I need to be much better. At some point I am going to begin tactical training. That will take a bit more work, including providing moving targets, obstacles, various shooting positions, and other variables to be integrated into the process. I have much of the tactical as tightly in my head as I could want, more than I want sometimes. Corners are good, ricochets can be useful, and knowing the full capacity of my firearms is good. Of course, knowing a child throwing a rock can kill keeps everything in line. I am rusty though, very rusty. I need to begin working this up. I do not need to work up to breaching or forward close quarter full on combat ops, but I do need basic situational awareness to become more focused. To be ready for those first two would mean being in excellent physical fitness, anyway. My age alone, actually, precludes that to a degree. Just some thoughts.
I will also take my friend to look for some furniture. I am hoping to find used chairs he will be comfortable with, barring that we might have to look for new. If necessary, I will pitch in some. I do not have a lot, but a handful of dollars would probably be enough along with what he puts in. After that, somewhere to eat. I love the brisket, though the Mexican place is calling my name again. Their entrees are generally $12 or less. Either that or we will come back to my place with some meat and grill. For 30 bucks, what with drinks, tax, and tip, we could probably not only eat high on the hog, we might be able to get a whole one on the grill... give or take. Right though, I had better remember the tank. I ran out of fuel already. I am a bit surprised the grill used the fuel as fast as it did. I have been cooking on it for 2 months, doing almost all my meats (if not close to daily) on it, and perhaps I heat the thing up to much. Still, I was a bit surprised. I think I need both a refill and an extra tank. I am thinking, even in the winter sometimes, I will cook on it. It is a lot less messy, if cleaning once every two months is a bit much. Once every few weeks should make that more manageable.
I was thinking, watching the hurricane threaten the East Coast, about how I used to sort of enjoy disasters. The roofs ripping off, buildings collapsing, you know, chaos. As a homeowner, things have changed. It is humbling to switch off from punk to suit, in a way. Oh, I understand logically, if that does not change the feelings or sentiments regarding my previous understandings. Now, seeing such a devastating weather system move through anywhere is akin to seeing a man take a serious hit to his private parts. On another topic, I thought, while training Sassy (the kitten) to play nice and to be calm and pleasant (by being so myself), that women are similar. If, as a guy, I play hard or rough, a woman will... get that. We both know I can win. Heck, a woman would pick me because of that to a degree. What we do not know is can I still play nice and even lose? Much of what a woman I might marry would become has to do with how I deal with her. I could simply swamp Sassy, never letting her win or even have fun. She would either never play or play very hard and mean. I think the same goes for a woman. They, like kittens, certainly have teeth and claws, physical and verbal and virtual. They also seem to have more energy, more "on time", and more interest in being social. As a leader, it really is up to me to be right with her and set the tone of our relationship... Of course, that does not mean I cannot pounce once in a while and remind her who is king, either. Sassy needs reminding too, and gets it. Heh... Brat.
Oh well, I think I am going to a fast food joint for dinner. I could run for fuel but I am simply not that ambitious. I am going to make a run for ambition Monday. A new week, new work on the docket along with some old, and math on the brain. Food, though... and soon. RoAr!
Some days I am not sure why I bother.
.
.
I slept well, I think. I was neither too cool or warm. I did not have a headache or even general aches and pains. Nothing is troubling my mind. In other words, I am in good condition within every parameter I use to gauge my health. I went to bed at 3:00 or so. I simply would not have slept going to be earlier. I set my alarm for 10:00. I am not sure what all went on this morning, I could not become conscious, not enough to more than have blurry images of the doings. I know I let Sam out at some point. I am pretty sure I reset the alarms. I think, at about 13:00 I gave up and just turned the alarm off. I am not even sure what time I did get up, perhaps a half hour ago? It is almost 14:30. On the good side, I think I can get to some work. On the bad side, I have lost control of my sleep for no apparent reason. I suppose there is tomorrow. I will keep trying.
Later.
.
I slept well, I think. I was neither too cool or warm. I did not have a headache or even general aches and pains. Nothing is troubling my mind. In other words, I am in good condition within every parameter I use to gauge my health. I went to bed at 3:00 or so. I simply would not have slept going to be earlier. I set my alarm for 10:00. I am not sure what all went on this morning, I could not become conscious, not enough to more than have blurry images of the doings. I know I let Sam out at some point. I am pretty sure I reset the alarms. I think, at about 13:00 I gave up and just turned the alarm off. I am not even sure what time I did get up, perhaps a half hour ago? It is almost 14:30. On the good side, I think I can get to some work. On the bad side, I have lost control of my sleep for no apparent reason. I suppose there is tomorrow. I will keep trying.
Later.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
On the good side I must not be whicked.
.
.
I made it a bit longer than my last post. Having had breakfast and more caffeine, I went into the bedroom, sat on the bed, and contemplated my plan. A shower was next. It never happened. What did happen I will probably never know. I do not remember reclining. Waking at about 15:00, though, I knew today was blown. I missed three things. The early meeting, ordering the building supplies, and my appointment. Nothing irreparable.
As for after 15:00, let us just say I am still a zombie. I have not been able to shake sleep. Sassy has been enjoying her own personal traveling jungle gym though. She has been sleeping most of the time, thankfully. She is learning not to scratch. It takes a long time. Sam knows not to use her claws with me, and is quite gentle, except when Sassy is too close and her fangs come out, and talons. Sassy has been improving in these things. The rate of damage is decreasing and the old cuts are fading with fewer and fewer replacements. I am trying, and successfully, to ween her off playing with hands, legs, and feet. Triple anti-biotic cream has been a blessing while she learns. Not every scratch becomes infected, but the ones which do burn and hurt a bit.
Hmm, I have some meat thawed and I do believe that, along with some corn on the cob I will grill in the husk, plus dishes after that, will be my day. If I can get to the math review though, I will add that in. I received the oxygen absorbers today. The desiccants and mylar bags should be showing up soon. I should, while at Lowe's or wherever, check on buckets. I had thought to buy 25 but I think I will go with 10 for now. Or maybe it was 10 I had thought to buy. Whatever. With the kits assembled, I will then simply need to buy the foods. One question though... Should I mix the beans and rice to the percentage I want when opened, or keep them "pure"? I am almost betting that they should all be stored separately, or at least divided by baggies or something if in the same container. Just... curious. That is a month or two off, perhaps. Still, I want to be prepared, kit and mind.
Later.
.
I made it a bit longer than my last post. Having had breakfast and more caffeine, I went into the bedroom, sat on the bed, and contemplated my plan. A shower was next. It never happened. What did happen I will probably never know. I do not remember reclining. Waking at about 15:00, though, I knew today was blown. I missed three things. The early meeting, ordering the building supplies, and my appointment. Nothing irreparable.
As for after 15:00, let us just say I am still a zombie. I have not been able to shake sleep. Sassy has been enjoying her own personal traveling jungle gym though. She has been sleeping most of the time, thankfully. She is learning not to scratch. It takes a long time. Sam knows not to use her claws with me, and is quite gentle, except when Sassy is too close and her fangs come out, and talons. Sassy has been improving in these things. The rate of damage is decreasing and the old cuts are fading with fewer and fewer replacements. I am trying, and successfully, to ween her off playing with hands, legs, and feet. Triple anti-biotic cream has been a blessing while she learns. Not every scratch becomes infected, but the ones which do burn and hurt a bit.
Hmm, I have some meat thawed and I do believe that, along with some corn on the cob I will grill in the husk, plus dishes after that, will be my day. If I can get to the math review though, I will add that in. I received the oxygen absorbers today. The desiccants and mylar bags should be showing up soon. I should, while at Lowe's or wherever, check on buckets. I had thought to buy 25 but I think I will go with 10 for now. Or maybe it was 10 I had thought to buy. Whatever. With the kits assembled, I will then simply need to buy the foods. One question though... Should I mix the beans and rice to the percentage I want when opened, or keep them "pure"? I am almost betting that they should all be stored separately, or at least divided by baggies or something if in the same container. Just... curious. That is a month or two off, perhaps. Still, I want to be prepared, kit and mind.
Later.
No rest for the wicked.
.
.
Or me. I knew I would not be able to rise at 7:00 or even 7:30, so I decided to try and stay awake. So far so good. It is right at 5:00 my time. I have merely been tinkering, but I think I will begin preparing for today. Beside the visit with the veteran reps, I need to do more shopping (for the plywood, steel roofing, and the delivery of the materials), do some shopping just for short term foods this time, and I have an appointment at 14:00. Before I do that all, however, I may get busy and write a letter to fax to the V.A. They may be able to provide me with proof of disability, if the hospital itself has that on file, through a request of information. Everything I am doing with the V.A. seems problematic. I know, finances are weird, down, and there is a large influx of deserving vets. As well, I know I am not the easiest critter to handle. Then again, if they would stop trying to handle me and try to work with me within my disability, and with some trust, life would probably be a lot easier all around. *grump*
I think the washer is working well. Actually, now, I think I need to turn the cold water down a bit in order for the warm setting to produce more than a cool water fill. No problems. That may slow the machine down when I attempt a cold water wash, so I will have to remember to cycle that up when I do that and back down the rest of the time. We will see, memory can fail at any moment. Still, it is nice to do something and have it seemingly work. I think, before anything, I will run another water slug load through.
I should start making some lists and getting any potential paperwork ready to go. They may need my DD-214, or not. I do not think I need anything else, but who knows.
I did receive my voters' registration card, though it is weird here. Every other year I contact either county or local election officials to find out where I am to go to vote. Even years is county contact, I think. I am sure that is because of the layered nature of voting, local, state, and federal. However, in a town of 700 or less there should be one singular place, like city hall, where voting occurs. Still, I will get busy and find out what I can well before election night. I do want to join that party. I may no longer be "liberal" enough to be a Republican but that is all that can be done at this point. Well, that and figure out who is who in the election other than the main candidates. I would like to find out everyone who is on the ticket, from judges to treasurer to sheriff and vote rightly. I am home, now, so I best start getting that part of my act together.
Well, a laundry load, a letter, a fax, a shower, getting some paperwork collected, and maybe breakfast before I go. Mixed grains make an excellent breakfast. Much better with a little milk though, yesterday I had to use a nearly-too-old can of condensed (unsweetened) or the other type left over in the refrigerator from when my Mom was here for my cereal fix. It worked, but... This will be a long day and I am going to try to stay up at least to 20:00, maybe even 22:00 if I can. I will need some food to work with.
Have a good day.
.
Or me. I knew I would not be able to rise at 7:00 or even 7:30, so I decided to try and stay awake. So far so good. It is right at 5:00 my time. I have merely been tinkering, but I think I will begin preparing for today. Beside the visit with the veteran reps, I need to do more shopping (for the plywood, steel roofing, and the delivery of the materials), do some shopping just for short term foods this time, and I have an appointment at 14:00. Before I do that all, however, I may get busy and write a letter to fax to the V.A. They may be able to provide me with proof of disability, if the hospital itself has that on file, through a request of information. Everything I am doing with the V.A. seems problematic. I know, finances are weird, down, and there is a large influx of deserving vets. As well, I know I am not the easiest critter to handle. Then again, if they would stop trying to handle me and try to work with me within my disability, and with some trust, life would probably be a lot easier all around. *grump*
I think the washer is working well. Actually, now, I think I need to turn the cold water down a bit in order for the warm setting to produce more than a cool water fill. No problems. That may slow the machine down when I attempt a cold water wash, so I will have to remember to cycle that up when I do that and back down the rest of the time. We will see, memory can fail at any moment. Still, it is nice to do something and have it seemingly work. I think, before anything, I will run another water slug load through.
I should start making some lists and getting any potential paperwork ready to go. They may need my DD-214, or not. I do not think I need anything else, but who knows.
I did receive my voters' registration card, though it is weird here. Every other year I contact either county or local election officials to find out where I am to go to vote. Even years is county contact, I think. I am sure that is because of the layered nature of voting, local, state, and federal. However, in a town of 700 or less there should be one singular place, like city hall, where voting occurs. Still, I will get busy and find out what I can well before election night. I do want to join that party. I may no longer be "liberal" enough to be a Republican but that is all that can be done at this point. Well, that and figure out who is who in the election other than the main candidates. I would like to find out everyone who is on the ticket, from judges to treasurer to sheriff and vote rightly. I am home, now, so I best start getting that part of my act together.
Well, a laundry load, a letter, a fax, a shower, getting some paperwork collected, and maybe breakfast before I go. Mixed grains make an excellent breakfast. Much better with a little milk though, yesterday I had to use a nearly-too-old can of condensed (unsweetened) or the other type left over in the refrigerator from when my Mom was here for my cereal fix. It worked, but... This will be a long day and I am going to try to stay up at least to 20:00, maybe even 22:00 if I can. I will need some food to work with.
Have a good day.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Shopping can be fun.
.
.
I did get in to town. I stopped at the store with the best price. I needed some other things, so I looked around a bit. Instead of a feed shovel, I purchased a steal contractor shovel. It was cheaper and I knew the aluminum head on the feed shovel would not work, or at least would be rather abused, by what needs to be cleaned out. A few other items on my list were found, including two saw horses. I finally decided to speak with someone. Sure enough, they have what I want. I can either take what they have and cut it or special order the size I want. I discuss that, I am told, with the people who work the delivery and special order desk. Those people, of course, quit at 17:00 or 18:00... he was not quite sure. So, another reason to get to town tomorrow.
Now, I had said I was going to buy a circular saw. So I looked around at the above chosen store. What they had was not to my liking. Either cheap and cheaply made or expensive, with lasers, geiger-counters, buttons, switches, and knobs of what use I have no clue. So, I went to where I went last time. There were two brands I had looked at. The one I had preferred was not in stock, so I went with the other. I did not go cheap or expensive, choosing a 15 amp corded. I also bought a finish blade, a steel blade, and another type I forget at the moment.
After that, dinner out. There is a Mexican eatery, owned and run by white people. It is superior to most. Last time I had fajitas. This time I went with a combination platter. It was good, again. It was light enough, and I ordered wisely, so I had room after it was all said and done. I thought either a beer or a desert sounded good. They have a heiffel weis on tap. They also had a chocolate magma cake. Decisions, decisions! I have been very good about avoiding sugar and I rarely drink beer, so I decided I could bite one or the other. The warm, fudge, chocolate cake, with a dollop of vanilla ice cream won out. On top of being delicious, it was handsomely plated. I love it when a great thing goes one step further.
On the way home I did do some grocery shopping. Several apples and pears, a couple of gallons of milk, and a few odds and ends. Oh, I decided to pick up some romaine lettuce, cut and bagged thank you. I have been missing veggies, I suppose. And fruits. They are so difficult to keep on hand, fresh, to full use. We will see though. After the meal, however, my brain was not "on". So, I merely got what was on my mental list. I completely forgot about adding to my short term larder. It will be done, it will, no, really, soon, yes it... bah!
Well, that is all I can do for the day. I need to try and sleep and wake up by 7:00. I am going to set all three alarms, starting at about 6:30 and going to 7:30. I will try to remember to use the snooze, rather than resetting them. This will be an all out effort. Perhaps this will break me into waking earlier, or it will merely make for a miserable day, or it will work but bust me. I am hoping for the first, then the latter. I have been doing well enough in my projects, goals, and such, that the middle option is less likely.
Oh, I kept meaning to do laundry. And, regardless of meaning to, every time I got to it, I realized the problem with that. Then I would promptly forget the problem, and once again plan to do laundry. I may have said that I was having problems with the washing machine not providing cold water as it should? Well, if I want a mid-temperature wash, I end up with a very hot one. That, my friends, is not good. A few days ago I purchased lime, calcium, and other sediment buildup remover. I simply never quite got to the point where I used that in the hose and in the machine itself, in hopes of breaking the cold water open. Tonight was the night. As soon as I returned and put things away, I grabbed the channel locks, the solution, and went to work. The first load will take a bit, I should know in 15 minutes whether it worked. I need to run another load or two, empty, to clean out the machine anyway. If it does not work, I may have to just throttle back the hot water to match the cold water output until I can figure that out more seriously. *fRuG* Well, I am getting to things, in there time, at my pace, as I know how.
The stuff I bought was supposed to be environmentally friendly. I bought it by accident, actually. I usually avoid that stuff like I avoid organic food. However, it was here and it was my mistake, so. I read the instructions. So much for the label. It is about as environmentally friendly as the Gulf oil spill. What a lark. And hard on hands. Boyeah. Wouch. That is all I am saying. Organo-enviro idiots... Then again, what was it W.C. Fields said, something about a moral imperative to separate a fool from his money, more so women and children. Heh. I did not get snookered, I just bought in a hurry... *Sucker* <------ Ha!
Good night.
.
I did get in to town. I stopped at the store with the best price. I needed some other things, so I looked around a bit. Instead of a feed shovel, I purchased a steal contractor shovel. It was cheaper and I knew the aluminum head on the feed shovel would not work, or at least would be rather abused, by what needs to be cleaned out. A few other items on my list were found, including two saw horses. I finally decided to speak with someone. Sure enough, they have what I want. I can either take what they have and cut it or special order the size I want. I discuss that, I am told, with the people who work the delivery and special order desk. Those people, of course, quit at 17:00 or 18:00... he was not quite sure. So, another reason to get to town tomorrow.
Now, I had said I was going to buy a circular saw. So I looked around at the above chosen store. What they had was not to my liking. Either cheap and cheaply made or expensive, with lasers, geiger-counters, buttons, switches, and knobs of what use I have no clue. So, I went to where I went last time. There were two brands I had looked at. The one I had preferred was not in stock, so I went with the other. I did not go cheap or expensive, choosing a 15 amp corded. I also bought a finish blade, a steel blade, and another type I forget at the moment.
After that, dinner out. There is a Mexican eatery, owned and run by white people. It is superior to most. Last time I had fajitas. This time I went with a combination platter. It was good, again. It was light enough, and I ordered wisely, so I had room after it was all said and done. I thought either a beer or a desert sounded good. They have a heiffel weis on tap. They also had a chocolate magma cake. Decisions, decisions! I have been very good about avoiding sugar and I rarely drink beer, so I decided I could bite one or the other. The warm, fudge, chocolate cake, with a dollop of vanilla ice cream won out. On top of being delicious, it was handsomely plated. I love it when a great thing goes one step further.
On the way home I did do some grocery shopping. Several apples and pears, a couple of gallons of milk, and a few odds and ends. Oh, I decided to pick up some romaine lettuce, cut and bagged thank you. I have been missing veggies, I suppose. And fruits. They are so difficult to keep on hand, fresh, to full use. We will see though. After the meal, however, my brain was not "on". So, I merely got what was on my mental list. I completely forgot about adding to my short term larder. It will be done, it will, no, really, soon, yes it... bah!
Well, that is all I can do for the day. I need to try and sleep and wake up by 7:00. I am going to set all three alarms, starting at about 6:30 and going to 7:30. I will try to remember to use the snooze, rather than resetting them. This will be an all out effort. Perhaps this will break me into waking earlier, or it will merely make for a miserable day, or it will work but bust me. I am hoping for the first, then the latter. I have been doing well enough in my projects, goals, and such, that the middle option is less likely.
Oh, I kept meaning to do laundry. And, regardless of meaning to, every time I got to it, I realized the problem with that. Then I would promptly forget the problem, and once again plan to do laundry. I may have said that I was having problems with the washing machine not providing cold water as it should? Well, if I want a mid-temperature wash, I end up with a very hot one. That, my friends, is not good. A few days ago I purchased lime, calcium, and other sediment buildup remover. I simply never quite got to the point where I used that in the hose and in the machine itself, in hopes of breaking the cold water open. Tonight was the night. As soon as I returned and put things away, I grabbed the channel locks, the solution, and went to work. The first load will take a bit, I should know in 15 minutes whether it worked. I need to run another load or two, empty, to clean out the machine anyway. If it does not work, I may have to just throttle back the hot water to match the cold water output until I can figure that out more seriously. *fRuG* Well, I am getting to things, in there time, at my pace, as I know how.
The stuff I bought was supposed to be environmentally friendly. I bought it by accident, actually. I usually avoid that stuff like I avoid organic food. However, it was here and it was my mistake, so. I read the instructions. So much for the label. It is about as environmentally friendly as the Gulf oil spill. What a lark. And hard on hands. Boyeah. Wouch. That is all I am saying. Organo-enviro idiots... Then again, what was it W.C. Fields said, something about a moral imperative to separate a fool from his money, more so women and children. Heh. I did not get snookered, I just bought in a hurry... *Sucker* <------ Ha!
Good night.
Taking stock.
.
.
I called the one number I have, the only one which seems to be answered, regarding a better number for the V.A. I was told that a group who works with veterans will be in town tomorrow, between 9:00 and 10:00. That would mean a 7:30 wakeup and a bit of hustle. I am doubtful, but I will try. I am not sure why it would be so difficult to reach anybody who could discuss these things. I guess I am on permanent hold. I have doubts the people who will be there tomorrow will be able to help either, to be honest. They are volunteers and I think their goal is signing more veterans up for benefits, not slogging through the bureaucracy in order to serve a vet. I may or may not find out.
I put on my boots and decided to check out the outbuildings. They are in excellent shape. I took a hammer to gauge strength of the wood and the structures themselves. These buildings only look tough, they are in very good condition. I had not looked at both sides of the hen house. One side already has a steel roof. The side that needs it measures 12 x 20 feet. I am not sure what size the steel panels are stock. I had thought to make a run into town tonight and check prices with delivery, along with 3 or 4 panels of plywood. Then I realized today would not be a good day to shop as payday will allow me a bit more latitude. Wait, is today already the first? Okies, in I go. Hmm, maybe I should call several places first. Which place I shop makes no difference, at this point, as 20 miles or 20.5 miles really does not matter. A $40 dollar price difference, however, would make a difference. I will include the more local hardware store as well.
I have noticed that as I get more time, do things more often, and begin expanding into some areas, my ability to focus, plan, and then carry out tasks increases much more than a bit. Initially, when everything was over my head and I was swamped, planning was really a matter of going to the first place that had what I needed and paying whatever was asked. The same goes for tasks, I would simply do them as fast and easily as possible. That is all fine if one has more money than time. For me, that is not the case. Slowly but eventually I am improving. I am even beginning to try and note when to buy things by season or sale. Who knows, I might even eventually become familiar with odd things like holidays, the seasons, and other data I have... forgotten. I think Christmas is the 23rd or 25th. The rest... *sigh* I have been gone a long time.
Hmm, after some calls, a trip, and maybe some purchases, I think I will find a decent place to eat tonight. Nothing fancy, nothing too expensive, but not a fast food joint either. I have been hitting grains and legumes, along with some meat, but whole meals have not been on the menu. It would be pleasant to have a real whole meal. After that, I need to do a bit of shopping. I have regular items and I think I will be looking for a few more items for my short term food pantry. Rather than seeing that as a complex issue I cannot seem to resolve, I see it more as game now. Hunt and peck, check and look, find and be thrilled. If too I had best watch going overboard. Once I have decent stock, and some certainty of replacing it as I use it, I will begin adding in those things. I suppose I should simply be using it now, the Lord knows I could use some spinach even if canned currently. Anyway...
After that, I am hoping to have enough gumption to do a couple hours of math studies. Along with some DVDs, I have algebra, geometry, and trigonometry books. The DVDs will set me up to begin doing loads of math problems from the books, reading areas that seem to trip me up. Algebra first, it really is primary. I wish I could get my hands on professor versions, so that I could have access to more of the answers. I would like such books for those three topics, a unified calculus tome or two, and several physics texts. I want to be heavy before school starts, if I can get it to start. Oh, right, it has been suggested that I enroll first, then apply for V.A. assistance. Something I must consider. Which means, if I am able to rise early tomorrow (or not), I ought to see if I can make an appointment with the engineering department. I would like to discuss some things with the professors there as well as, of course, admissions.
As for physical work, I think I have found my next bonanza. Cleaning out those sheds should keep me honest for a while. I was correct in suggesting a grain shovel might come in handy. Well, since I am going to one of the stores, I might as well add that to my list, along with a circular saw. Well, we will see when I get the totals. Next on the list, a multi-use ladder and maybe a chainsaw? When did simple living become so darned complicated and need so many things, and I do not even have livestock yet! Ah well, I think it actually has been very good for my health.
To your health. Cheers!
.
I called the one number I have, the only one which seems to be answered, regarding a better number for the V.A. I was told that a group who works with veterans will be in town tomorrow, between 9:00 and 10:00. That would mean a 7:30 wakeup and a bit of hustle. I am doubtful, but I will try. I am not sure why it would be so difficult to reach anybody who could discuss these things. I guess I am on permanent hold. I have doubts the people who will be there tomorrow will be able to help either, to be honest. They are volunteers and I think their goal is signing more veterans up for benefits, not slogging through the bureaucracy in order to serve a vet. I may or may not find out.
I put on my boots and decided to check out the outbuildings. They are in excellent shape. I took a hammer to gauge strength of the wood and the structures themselves. These buildings only look tough, they are in very good condition. I had not looked at both sides of the hen house. One side already has a steel roof. The side that needs it measures 12 x 20 feet. I am not sure what size the steel panels are stock. I had thought to make a run into town tonight and check prices with delivery, along with 3 or 4 panels of plywood. Then I realized today would not be a good day to shop as payday will allow me a bit more latitude. Wait, is today already the first? Okies, in I go. Hmm, maybe I should call several places first. Which place I shop makes no difference, at this point, as 20 miles or 20.5 miles really does not matter. A $40 dollar price difference, however, would make a difference. I will include the more local hardware store as well.
I have noticed that as I get more time, do things more often, and begin expanding into some areas, my ability to focus, plan, and then carry out tasks increases much more than a bit. Initially, when everything was over my head and I was swamped, planning was really a matter of going to the first place that had what I needed and paying whatever was asked. The same goes for tasks, I would simply do them as fast and easily as possible. That is all fine if one has more money than time. For me, that is not the case. Slowly but eventually I am improving. I am even beginning to try and note when to buy things by season or sale. Who knows, I might even eventually become familiar with odd things like holidays, the seasons, and other data I have... forgotten. I think Christmas is the 23rd or 25th. The rest... *sigh* I have been gone a long time.
Hmm, after some calls, a trip, and maybe some purchases, I think I will find a decent place to eat tonight. Nothing fancy, nothing too expensive, but not a fast food joint either. I have been hitting grains and legumes, along with some meat, but whole meals have not been on the menu. It would be pleasant to have a real whole meal. After that, I need to do a bit of shopping. I have regular items and I think I will be looking for a few more items for my short term food pantry. Rather than seeing that as a complex issue I cannot seem to resolve, I see it more as game now. Hunt and peck, check and look, find and be thrilled. If too I had best watch going overboard. Once I have decent stock, and some certainty of replacing it as I use it, I will begin adding in those things. I suppose I should simply be using it now, the Lord knows I could use some spinach even if canned currently. Anyway...
After that, I am hoping to have enough gumption to do a couple hours of math studies. Along with some DVDs, I have algebra, geometry, and trigonometry books. The DVDs will set me up to begin doing loads of math problems from the books, reading areas that seem to trip me up. Algebra first, it really is primary. I wish I could get my hands on professor versions, so that I could have access to more of the answers. I would like such books for those three topics, a unified calculus tome or two, and several physics texts. I want to be heavy before school starts, if I can get it to start. Oh, right, it has been suggested that I enroll first, then apply for V.A. assistance. Something I must consider. Which means, if I am able to rise early tomorrow (or not), I ought to see if I can make an appointment with the engineering department. I would like to discuss some things with the professors there as well as, of course, admissions.
As for physical work, I think I have found my next bonanza. Cleaning out those sheds should keep me honest for a while. I was correct in suggesting a grain shovel might come in handy. Well, since I am going to one of the stores, I might as well add that to my list, along with a circular saw. Well, we will see when I get the totals. Next on the list, a multi-use ladder and maybe a chainsaw? When did simple living become so darned complicated and need so many things, and I do not even have livestock yet! Ah well, I think it actually has been very good for my health.
To your health. Cheers!
It can be the little things.
.
.
I could not wake at 10:00. I pushed for it, I did try, but the wires simply would not cross to light off ignition. When the alarm went off at 11:00, I pushed, hard, again. I had to fake it for a bit and was worried about a relapse. It looks like I made it. A little bit of time was given just to let the engine idle. Then I started on breakfast. Next I will be taking a shower. I will get some business completed today, maybe laundry, and I will most likely get out to the hen house.
I know this all has to seem... stupid, foolish, simple... to you. Working hard at doing what everyone else does almost every day of their lives. I sometimes wonder if I am not merely playing games with myself, with my capacity. I have wondered if it is psychological or physical, or just make believe. I do believe it is real, but that is only a belief as psychologists either through incompetence or giving up simply end up parroting whatever clients claim... if they hold their real and medical (often quite different) opinions in secret. Medical doctors are much the same. If neither can objectively know, in any case, which they seemingly cannot (assuming they have been honest with me... ugh, but it gets deep), then they are of little use. Unless, of course, they could provide a cure or even a functional treatment plan. Neither has been forthcoming. So, I am left with mere belief, and my belief is that I have a physical problem. Even if it is in my head, however, it is just as real.
I realize that if I were a machine I would have been considered hopelessly dysfunctional. I would have been scrapped or simply destroyed, being found not worth further evaluation, testing, or attempts at repairing. The Navy did so. I have done so. The V.A. has done so. And yet I cannot, again, attempt to end it. What I am left with is... stupid little things like finding success in waking at 11:00 instead of 13:00 or 15:00, doing simple chores and eating regularly and correctly, even grooming regularly and rightly. Anything else is nearly over the top, even now. That is my life. And, yes, I do feel guilt about it. I do feel shame.
Anyway, I hope to find time in there to begin my math study. I will be looking over material which covers general problem solving methods. Yes, algebra and trig word problems are deliciously frustrating. They are what all other application maths, in my opinion, are about. Real problems, offered in a logical manner, using specific terms and phrases, describing a problem that needs to be solved using numbers and associated symbols. The English of solution more vital to understand than simple math processes. Once that is understood, then both solving and designing problems which might need to be solved becomes the next piece. Beyond the English of math allowing one to read or design a solution set it also allows simpler communication and therefore a group solving function. Which allows several minds to be together in solving a problem or the breaking up of a problem to be solved by various individuals or groups. So, that is where I will start. Plus, a bit of a review of algebra, geometry, and maybe trig would be good before jumping into calculus studies again. Someday I might even be good at math. Then again, what is "good at math"?
Later.
.
I could not wake at 10:00. I pushed for it, I did try, but the wires simply would not cross to light off ignition. When the alarm went off at 11:00, I pushed, hard, again. I had to fake it for a bit and was worried about a relapse. It looks like I made it. A little bit of time was given just to let the engine idle. Then I started on breakfast. Next I will be taking a shower. I will get some business completed today, maybe laundry, and I will most likely get out to the hen house.
I know this all has to seem... stupid, foolish, simple... to you. Working hard at doing what everyone else does almost every day of their lives. I sometimes wonder if I am not merely playing games with myself, with my capacity. I have wondered if it is psychological or physical, or just make believe. I do believe it is real, but that is only a belief as psychologists either through incompetence or giving up simply end up parroting whatever clients claim... if they hold their real and medical (often quite different) opinions in secret. Medical doctors are much the same. If neither can objectively know, in any case, which they seemingly cannot (assuming they have been honest with me... ugh, but it gets deep), then they are of little use. Unless, of course, they could provide a cure or even a functional treatment plan. Neither has been forthcoming. So, I am left with mere belief, and my belief is that I have a physical problem. Even if it is in my head, however, it is just as real.
I realize that if I were a machine I would have been considered hopelessly dysfunctional. I would have been scrapped or simply destroyed, being found not worth further evaluation, testing, or attempts at repairing. The Navy did so. I have done so. The V.A. has done so. And yet I cannot, again, attempt to end it. What I am left with is... stupid little things like finding success in waking at 11:00 instead of 13:00 or 15:00, doing simple chores and eating regularly and correctly, even grooming regularly and rightly. Anything else is nearly over the top, even now. That is my life. And, yes, I do feel guilt about it. I do feel shame.
Anyway, I hope to find time in there to begin my math study. I will be looking over material which covers general problem solving methods. Yes, algebra and trig word problems are deliciously frustrating. They are what all other application maths, in my opinion, are about. Real problems, offered in a logical manner, using specific terms and phrases, describing a problem that needs to be solved using numbers and associated symbols. The English of solution more vital to understand than simple math processes. Once that is understood, then both solving and designing problems which might need to be solved becomes the next piece. Beyond the English of math allowing one to read or design a solution set it also allows simpler communication and therefore a group solving function. Which allows several minds to be together in solving a problem or the breaking up of a problem to be solved by various individuals or groups. So, that is where I will start. Plus, a bit of a review of algebra, geometry, and maybe trig would be good before jumping into calculus studies again. Someday I might even be good at math. Then again, what is "good at math"?
Later.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Slogging through some of it.
.
.
Laundry did not get done. The shoveling and weed whipping an area I really wanted to hit did get done though. I weed whipped into the two out buildings within the fenced area. It looks like the previous residents were composting, goat manure if my taste buds are on top of their game. (jk) Though I really do suspect it is goat dung. Of course, without knowing, I do not think it wise to spread the stuff. I am not sure how long a pile of dung would be good in any case. That is, if that is what the fenced in pile of mush is. The work felt good.
Tomorrow I am hoping to get out and inspect the chicken coop. Even if it is good, I will need to clean up and clear out the inside. The same with all of the out buildings. There is not a lot to do, or a great deal all in one place, but the sum total of cleaning and clearing will be a large chore. Beyond that, there are pieces of motors, building materials (some of which might still be useful), and left over "hay" or other feed which will have to be cleared out. Honestly, I have never done that type of work before. I am guessing I will need even another type of shovel, a feed shovel, to clear the floors.
I did roast the meats, but they did not come out well. Beyond my overcooking, the roasts came in the meat package. They were not the best of roasts. My unfamiliarity with extra lean cuts does not help. I simply do not like meats that need to be babysat to cook well, or tricks, or whatever those take. I probably will not buy packages of meats from now on. There is too much waste. What I do need to do, however, is make a list of roasts, steaks, and such which I do use, know how to cook, and enjoy and see if the butcher will make a package in that vein. If not I will simply stick with occasional purchases. I suppose I could expand my cooking repertoire but at this time, that is not my thing. I only learned what I did of cooking to feed my then fiancee. She did not appreciate it but it has paid off, for me, in the end. I also need to learn my grill better. It cooks so much faster. Lean meats should never find their way to it though. That is one of my first few lessons.
The headache has stayed with me. I have been avoiding taking anything for it since it is not severe. It seems to be worsening, so I will take Tylenol tonight. The aches and pains have gone over time at least. I would love to go to bed now, actually a while ago, but... there is no purpose to it. I will merely toss and turn and then have to be awake later and for longer. I am not sure what to do. I guess I will just have to roll with this problem until I figure it out. I will no longer set the alarm for 8:00, probably opting to set it for 10:00 as a temporary goal. Cool nights might be playing their part in the thing. Who knows. I just know all my efforts, to point, have been fruitless. Working on it though.
Good night, if I will not be in bed for a couple of hours. Da bother!
.
Laundry did not get done. The shoveling and weed whipping an area I really wanted to hit did get done though. I weed whipped into the two out buildings within the fenced area. It looks like the previous residents were composting, goat manure if my taste buds are on top of their game. (jk) Though I really do suspect it is goat dung. Of course, without knowing, I do not think it wise to spread the stuff. I am not sure how long a pile of dung would be good in any case. That is, if that is what the fenced in pile of mush is. The work felt good.
Tomorrow I am hoping to get out and inspect the chicken coop. Even if it is good, I will need to clean up and clear out the inside. The same with all of the out buildings. There is not a lot to do, or a great deal all in one place, but the sum total of cleaning and clearing will be a large chore. Beyond that, there are pieces of motors, building materials (some of which might still be useful), and left over "hay" or other feed which will have to be cleared out. Honestly, I have never done that type of work before. I am guessing I will need even another type of shovel, a feed shovel, to clear the floors.
I did roast the meats, but they did not come out well. Beyond my overcooking, the roasts came in the meat package. They were not the best of roasts. My unfamiliarity with extra lean cuts does not help. I simply do not like meats that need to be babysat to cook well, or tricks, or whatever those take. I probably will not buy packages of meats from now on. There is too much waste. What I do need to do, however, is make a list of roasts, steaks, and such which I do use, know how to cook, and enjoy and see if the butcher will make a package in that vein. If not I will simply stick with occasional purchases. I suppose I could expand my cooking repertoire but at this time, that is not my thing. I only learned what I did of cooking to feed my then fiancee. She did not appreciate it but it has paid off, for me, in the end. I also need to learn my grill better. It cooks so much faster. Lean meats should never find their way to it though. That is one of my first few lessons.
The headache has stayed with me. I have been avoiding taking anything for it since it is not severe. It seems to be worsening, so I will take Tylenol tonight. The aches and pains have gone over time at least. I would love to go to bed now, actually a while ago, but... there is no purpose to it. I will merely toss and turn and then have to be awake later and for longer. I am not sure what to do. I guess I will just have to roll with this problem until I figure it out. I will no longer set the alarm for 8:00, probably opting to set it for 10:00 as a temporary goal. Cool nights might be playing their part in the thing. Who knows. I just know all my efforts, to point, have been fruitless. Working on it though.
Good night, if I will not be in bed for a couple of hours. Da bother!
Not a chance.
.
.
I could not sleep, in spite of doing most things right leading up to it. Until 3:30, no sleep was to be had. The alarm this morning was simply annoying. I did not wake until... noon, 13:00? I could not get a thing done either. I think that last was, in large part, due to trying to wake at 8:00, then 9:00, then 10:00 before finally shutting the @#$#@$ thing off. I am simply not sure how to get this thing going again. It is at times like these when I suspect there is something physical. No depression, the weather is good, I have been on the feed bag within reason, many of my worries are tended, and yet I cannot function.
I will get to some physical work today. That is the one thing I did not do yesterday. Shoveling the last half of that last pile of dirt and doing some weed whipping might do the trick. I am planning to do laundry, which did not get done yesterday as had been planned. Finally, I have found several math review sets and will be going over those tonight with whatever time I have. I want to do the physical work right after starting laundry, checking the laundry on my breaks. I will save the mental stuff for this evening. I need a long time to cool down from physical work before sleep can be had. I am going to work on getting to sleep and waking up until I get it down.
I am suffering from aches, pains, and a headache today. I think this is caused by too much sleep. Perhaps I am not turning well, so sleeping too deeply along with that. I cannot be sure. It is not to a level, yet, where that alone will interfere with my function. If I let it go, though, it will become a problem all by itself.
One foot at a time, one task done, on goal created and worked out. I honestly do not understand how people get up every day at the same time. I am not lazy, I do push hard, I do have some smarts, some strength, and a powerful will when I can focus. Then again, I doubt if I would be sitting at 100% disability without having some sort of serious problem. Even if they named it incorrectly, they probably gave it whatever name worked as much as or more than offering a functional diagnosis. It is a mixed blessing. But the disability itself, within function, is merely a curse.
I ordered shirts and pants recently. I ordered large tall shirts, which may be a bit tight still. Which is odd, because extra large hang on me like a nightshirt. I ordered a 40 waist jeans, which seem too loose by a good bit. I hate ordering clothes, it always seems like none if it every quite fits just right... or even close enough for my engineering sort of mind. I need to buy a couple of belts too. I am on the last notches and at the pace that is going, I will truly need a new belt within a month or two. My chest is still 52 inches, it is the gut area that is going (not gone, mind you), perhaps that is the problem with the shirts. But I hate, I mean hate, having so much extra material that my shirts are like mini-dresses and the thing just shrouds me. *shrug*
On to some work... Right, laundry first. Uhrm, and a shower? Nah, I have a baseball cap for middling days now. Baseball hats, or any head covering, is a new thing to me. They aren't all bad, actually... as long as you do not have to remove them in public. Later.
.
I could not sleep, in spite of doing most things right leading up to it. Until 3:30, no sleep was to be had. The alarm this morning was simply annoying. I did not wake until... noon, 13:00? I could not get a thing done either. I think that last was, in large part, due to trying to wake at 8:00, then 9:00, then 10:00 before finally shutting the @#$#@$ thing off. I am simply not sure how to get this thing going again. It is at times like these when I suspect there is something physical. No depression, the weather is good, I have been on the feed bag within reason, many of my worries are tended, and yet I cannot function.
I will get to some physical work today. That is the one thing I did not do yesterday. Shoveling the last half of that last pile of dirt and doing some weed whipping might do the trick. I am planning to do laundry, which did not get done yesterday as had been planned. Finally, I have found several math review sets and will be going over those tonight with whatever time I have. I want to do the physical work right after starting laundry, checking the laundry on my breaks. I will save the mental stuff for this evening. I need a long time to cool down from physical work before sleep can be had. I am going to work on getting to sleep and waking up until I get it down.
I am suffering from aches, pains, and a headache today. I think this is caused by too much sleep. Perhaps I am not turning well, so sleeping too deeply along with that. I cannot be sure. It is not to a level, yet, where that alone will interfere with my function. If I let it go, though, it will become a problem all by itself.
One foot at a time, one task done, on goal created and worked out. I honestly do not understand how people get up every day at the same time. I am not lazy, I do push hard, I do have some smarts, some strength, and a powerful will when I can focus. Then again, I doubt if I would be sitting at 100% disability without having some sort of serious problem. Even if they named it incorrectly, they probably gave it whatever name worked as much as or more than offering a functional diagnosis. It is a mixed blessing. But the disability itself, within function, is merely a curse.
I ordered shirts and pants recently. I ordered large tall shirts, which may be a bit tight still. Which is odd, because extra large hang on me like a nightshirt. I ordered a 40 waist jeans, which seem too loose by a good bit. I hate ordering clothes, it always seems like none if it every quite fits just right... or even close enough for my engineering sort of mind. I need to buy a couple of belts too. I am on the last notches and at the pace that is going, I will truly need a new belt within a month or two. My chest is still 52 inches, it is the gut area that is going (not gone, mind you), perhaps that is the problem with the shirts. But I hate, I mean hate, having so much extra material that my shirts are like mini-dresses and the thing just shrouds me. *shrug*
On to some work... Right, laundry first. Uhrm, and a shower? Nah, I have a baseball cap for middling days now. Baseball hats, or any head covering, is a new thing to me. They aren't all bad, actually... as long as you do not have to remove them in public. Later.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Bed time, maybe.
.
.
I am going to try and get to sleep early tonight. The goal is to be in bed by between 22:30 and 23:00. The next goal is to be awake, functionally, by 10:00 if not earlier. I will be setting my alarm to wake me at 8:00. And again, I will try to wake then, barring that I will reset the device for a bit later. Darn it, I will figure this out. The next time I am in town I will be looking for an electrical timed fitting. I know as fall approaches and as the nights cool I may need that "daylamp". Having it turn on as I wake up without muss or fuss is the only way some things get done regularly. Hmm, if they could dose food with medicine, I could probably take it more easily too. If I were ever so inclined as to again take their stupid stuff... which I am not.
After the appointment, I was late to it as time flew while I was waking, I returned and finished all dishes and sorted cat litter boxes. I am using old shopping bags when doing that now. Cat poop stinks, though the urine is not great smelling either. It has to go out immediately after being sifted. I will make a bit of supper. I am thawing some meat to try on the grill tomorrow. Other than that, nada.
Tomorrow is an open book. I still have business to sort through, work to be done, and a list of things to buy that is far longer than my wallet can reach. I will probably stick to doing a bit of work and trying to finalize those last pieces of business. I have no idea how much will get done. Further, I am not even sure what all I need to do, let alone how to do it. I guess, like the last time I was confronted with confusion and the feeling of being overwhelmed, I will simply take one task, begin it, and see where things go from there. Keeping a pen and pad nearby helps, as while I am working, I often remember what else I meant to do.
Time for dinner, a little stupid tube channel flicking, and then bed time I hope. Good night. Prayers on the way.
.
I am going to try and get to sleep early tonight. The goal is to be in bed by between 22:30 and 23:00. The next goal is to be awake, functionally, by 10:00 if not earlier. I will be setting my alarm to wake me at 8:00. And again, I will try to wake then, barring that I will reset the device for a bit later. Darn it, I will figure this out. The next time I am in town I will be looking for an electrical timed fitting. I know as fall approaches and as the nights cool I may need that "daylamp". Having it turn on as I wake up without muss or fuss is the only way some things get done regularly. Hmm, if they could dose food with medicine, I could probably take it more easily too. If I were ever so inclined as to again take their stupid stuff... which I am not.
After the appointment, I was late to it as time flew while I was waking, I returned and finished all dishes and sorted cat litter boxes. I am using old shopping bags when doing that now. Cat poop stinks, though the urine is not great smelling either. It has to go out immediately after being sifted. I will make a bit of supper. I am thawing some meat to try on the grill tomorrow. Other than that, nada.
Tomorrow is an open book. I still have business to sort through, work to be done, and a list of things to buy that is far longer than my wallet can reach. I will probably stick to doing a bit of work and trying to finalize those last pieces of business. I have no idea how much will get done. Further, I am not even sure what all I need to do, let alone how to do it. I guess, like the last time I was confronted with confusion and the feeling of being overwhelmed, I will simply take one task, begin it, and see where things go from there. Keeping a pen and pad nearby helps, as while I am working, I often remember what else I meant to do.
Time for dinner, a little stupid tube channel flicking, and then bed time I hope. Good night. Prayers on the way.
My bet.
.
.
I hear about the economic situation. Most of my fellow bloggers at least touch on it, some of them (you) are focused almost exclusively on it. Why prep if not for, pretty much, that... at this point anyway. Anyway, I do have some things I feel need to be said.
Do I believe we are in an economic free-fall and potential TEOTWAWKI situation? Yes. Absolutely, we are there, further, "we" are speeding up the fall. The US dollar, among many others, are problematic more so overseas but coming to a city near you. The dollar, essentially, is not trusted. It should not be, but then it never should have been. Any currency, really, is a means of ramping production, creating a means of survival, or other such business. To vest one's purpose or sole means of survival in the flow of a piece of paper, or rock, or bits of metal... is suicide. You cannot eat paper. THAT is the problem, as much in America as anywhere.
As well, when people gain access to control through a cultural vestment in an absurd object, the games will begin. Does any one group or man control anything? Yes and no. There are loose groups, governments, organizations, and individuals who hold great sway... over the worlds "paper" (money). Like when dealing with a bank, you cannot beat the house. Banks are better at making money, in the long run, than even gambling. Actually, gambling is a means of banking, just faster. And, banks are better at it. However, these groups can only claim power over paper, they do not control individuals or other such. Here is were politics steps in.
Politics, in this scenario, makes it so that an individual cannot create a means or product by which to amass wealth. It is not complete or absolute, yet, in America, but it is getting there. By requiring permits, inspections, legal hoops to jump, and other manner of prevention, only people with the "paper" to fly a kite can get into the action. This limits entrepreneurship. Corruption does not help. The next time you meet a real inventor, ask them about the risks of losing their work through the system, one way or the other. This is politics, though it goes beyond this.
The stimulus is a part of the problem currently. I should say stimuli. These monstrosities, if thought up by incompetent economists, in part, was also adopted by the fifth column. This was a means of socializing everything from the banking to the auto industry, and much further abroad. This part, however, seems to have been mostly rejected by businesses and citizens. How much has been socialized, though, we will not know for a long time. This might just be the seed. Once on the tit, often industries can not recover. We will see.
My bet? My bet is simple. I bet that, with a deregulation and defunding boom the American economy not only can but will recover in record time. Paper is irrelevant. It means exactly what it is, paper. People not only can but will figure out a way in which to cause wealth to flow so that production, technology, and services may go forward with or without a national currency. Putting it another way, those who live their lives based on currency are no more wrong then people who are betting currency as we know it is needed to create wealth. That, my friends, is a big bad hard mistake.
The question is, will the freshmen do their job or just knuckle-shuffle another poor play which requires yet another bunt to the socialists? I guess that depends on something big. Is America, now and if so forever, a socialist state run by corrupt politicians and big players and groups? I do not know that answer. But I would bet my home on my suggestion. I simply hope we get the chance to see the bet played out.
Even a nuclear warhead can be predetonated or otherwise destroyed on the way to the mark. Why would an economic Armageddon be any different? TEOTWAWKI is here, but for good? We will see.
.
I hear about the economic situation. Most of my fellow bloggers at least touch on it, some of them (you) are focused almost exclusively on it. Why prep if not for, pretty much, that... at this point anyway. Anyway, I do have some things I feel need to be said.
Do I believe we are in an economic free-fall and potential TEOTWAWKI situation? Yes. Absolutely, we are there, further, "we" are speeding up the fall. The US dollar, among many others, are problematic more so overseas but coming to a city near you. The dollar, essentially, is not trusted. It should not be, but then it never should have been. Any currency, really, is a means of ramping production, creating a means of survival, or other such business. To vest one's purpose or sole means of survival in the flow of a piece of paper, or rock, or bits of metal... is suicide. You cannot eat paper. THAT is the problem, as much in America as anywhere.
As well, when people gain access to control through a cultural vestment in an absurd object, the games will begin. Does any one group or man control anything? Yes and no. There are loose groups, governments, organizations, and individuals who hold great sway... over the worlds "paper" (money). Like when dealing with a bank, you cannot beat the house. Banks are better at making money, in the long run, than even gambling. Actually, gambling is a means of banking, just faster. And, banks are better at it. However, these groups can only claim power over paper, they do not control individuals or other such. Here is were politics steps in.
Politics, in this scenario, makes it so that an individual cannot create a means or product by which to amass wealth. It is not complete or absolute, yet, in America, but it is getting there. By requiring permits, inspections, legal hoops to jump, and other manner of prevention, only people with the "paper" to fly a kite can get into the action. This limits entrepreneurship. Corruption does not help. The next time you meet a real inventor, ask them about the risks of losing their work through the system, one way or the other. This is politics, though it goes beyond this.
The stimulus is a part of the problem currently. I should say stimuli. These monstrosities, if thought up by incompetent economists, in part, was also adopted by the fifth column. This was a means of socializing everything from the banking to the auto industry, and much further abroad. This part, however, seems to have been mostly rejected by businesses and citizens. How much has been socialized, though, we will not know for a long time. This might just be the seed. Once on the tit, often industries can not recover. We will see.
My bet? My bet is simple. I bet that, with a deregulation and defunding boom the American economy not only can but will recover in record time. Paper is irrelevant. It means exactly what it is, paper. People not only can but will figure out a way in which to cause wealth to flow so that production, technology, and services may go forward with or without a national currency. Putting it another way, those who live their lives based on currency are no more wrong then people who are betting currency as we know it is needed to create wealth. That, my friends, is a big bad hard mistake.
The question is, will the freshmen do their job or just knuckle-shuffle another poor play which requires yet another bunt to the socialists? I guess that depends on something big. Is America, now and if so forever, a socialist state run by corrupt politicians and big players and groups? I do not know that answer. But I would bet my home on my suggestion. I simply hope we get the chance to see the bet played out.
Even a nuclear warhead can be predetonated or otherwise destroyed on the way to the mark. Why would an economic Armageddon be any different? TEOTWAWKI is here, but for good? We will see.
Why trust doctors?
.
.
No reason I can summon, that is why I do not trust doctors. Among the many things they try to foist on patients, is the notion that drinking, at any level, is bad. I have heard this from almost every doctor I have seen, the ones who did not say so only omitted doing so because they were actually far too busy doing something that they actually do know something about (or think they do?). Here is one indication of how wrong doctors are. My guess is this also works with other things. Smoking tobacco, I might agree with the general findings. However, I will not stand by that absolutely. As for chewing tobacco, I doubt the prevailing medical opinion absolutely if without concrete evidence. What I have found though, is there has been NO RESEARCH into health benefits of chewing tobacco. Why? It is political in nature. Tobacco gives to Republicans, and despite what any particular doctor eventually smartens up to believe (if he gets beyond his indoctrination), the system which indoctrinated him from professor to dean to member of the AMA is so leftist it is scary. Researchers to physicians, this group cannot be relied on to use the science they claim as their cover. Anything regarding diet, health practices, to... almost anything they suggest, is at least questionable.
If doctors knew what they were talking about, there would be a lot less drug use in their ranks, they would be healthier and happier people, and they would honestly be able to help people with serious complicated health issues. Here is another example, how many overweight people have been helped by modern doctors? How many people do they functionally cure, from any disease, illness, or imbalance? These are not doctors who heal. These are pseudo scientists who use humans as guinea pigs. If I had a way to do it, I would make sure my doctor could not sell my file (even stripped of "personal information") to researchers. That, I think, is as much about what they do as anything. Do you honestly trust researchers? Bah!
.
No reason I can summon, that is why I do not trust doctors. Among the many things they try to foist on patients, is the notion that drinking, at any level, is bad. I have heard this from almost every doctor I have seen, the ones who did not say so only omitted doing so because they were actually far too busy doing something that they actually do know something about (or think they do?). Here is one indication of how wrong doctors are. My guess is this also works with other things. Smoking tobacco, I might agree with the general findings. However, I will not stand by that absolutely. As for chewing tobacco, I doubt the prevailing medical opinion absolutely if without concrete evidence. What I have found though, is there has been NO RESEARCH into health benefits of chewing tobacco. Why? It is political in nature. Tobacco gives to Republicans, and despite what any particular doctor eventually smartens up to believe (if he gets beyond his indoctrination), the system which indoctrinated him from professor to dean to member of the AMA is so leftist it is scary. Researchers to physicians, this group cannot be relied on to use the science they claim as their cover. Anything regarding diet, health practices, to... almost anything they suggest, is at least questionable.
If doctors knew what they were talking about, there would be a lot less drug use in their ranks, they would be healthier and happier people, and they would honestly be able to help people with serious complicated health issues. Here is another example, how many overweight people have been helped by modern doctors? How many people do they functionally cure, from any disease, illness, or imbalance? These are not doctors who heal. These are pseudo scientists who use humans as guinea pigs. If I had a way to do it, I would make sure my doctor could not sell my file (even stripped of "personal information") to researchers. That, I think, is as much about what they do as anything. Do you honestly trust researchers? Bah!
Look what the cat dragged out of bed.
.
.
I went to bed very late, again. A 3:30 bedtime is not conducive to an 8:00 wake and makes it tight for a 10:00 wake up. I did set the alarm for 8:00, and tried to put it in my mind to wake up and then reset the alarm for 9:00. I woke, but not until 8:30. Sam helped. When the alarm goes off, she knows she has my permission to pounce, purr, tickle my face with her whiskers, and otherwise pester me to rise. Not that I am too bothered if she does so otherwise, it is that her attempts then are less likely to succeed and she knows I try to rise with the alarm, and she can help me with that. She can be a persistent pest. She wants let out.
The alarm did not wake me until 8:30, so instead of resetting it for 9:00, I reset it for 10:00. Again, the alarm did not wake me immediately. Beyond, I am moving slowly. I did make some breakfast immediately and started my manual caffeine drip. At least I do not have a headache or anything else with which to contend. I need to see if today is a holiday or not. I am always lost on those things.
I looked over my list from yesterday. Hmm, someone was full of himself. Further, it is raining, has rained anyway, and is threatening rain again. I am not sure how much will really be done. The appointment will be made, unless today is a holiday. I might go in anyway to see if doc is still going to be in. He was gone all last week, in the corner of one of those new mixed martial arts fighter's corner. He really is good at what he does, the doc anyway.
I do not follow the fighters, so I am not sure who this one is. For me, fighting is not a sport. I think beat them down, kill them if necessary, take a walk to cool down, and take a shower, assuming you are not dead, and that is fighting. Since now I would have to discuss things with policemen, I would rather avoid altercations. Well, it is more than that. I never really did like fighting, it was simply necessary at some points in my life. Anything else is a game, and I do not play games. So, I really do not care to watch. And lest you think I have not faced serious opponents, I have fought against 7 opponents at once, martial artists, and a golden gloves winner. Meh, wrestlers make me the most nervous, tricky bastards.
Well, I best get to figuring out what is going on today. Have a good one.
.
I went to bed very late, again. A 3:30 bedtime is not conducive to an 8:00 wake and makes it tight for a 10:00 wake up. I did set the alarm for 8:00, and tried to put it in my mind to wake up and then reset the alarm for 9:00. I woke, but not until 8:30. Sam helped. When the alarm goes off, she knows she has my permission to pounce, purr, tickle my face with her whiskers, and otherwise pester me to rise. Not that I am too bothered if she does so otherwise, it is that her attempts then are less likely to succeed and she knows I try to rise with the alarm, and she can help me with that. She can be a persistent pest. She wants let out.
The alarm did not wake me until 8:30, so instead of resetting it for 9:00, I reset it for 10:00. Again, the alarm did not wake me immediately. Beyond, I am moving slowly. I did make some breakfast immediately and started my manual caffeine drip. At least I do not have a headache or anything else with which to contend. I need to see if today is a holiday or not. I am always lost on those things.
I looked over my list from yesterday. Hmm, someone was full of himself. Further, it is raining, has rained anyway, and is threatening rain again. I am not sure how much will really be done. The appointment will be made, unless today is a holiday. I might go in anyway to see if doc is still going to be in. He was gone all last week, in the corner of one of those new mixed martial arts fighter's corner. He really is good at what he does, the doc anyway.
I do not follow the fighters, so I am not sure who this one is. For me, fighting is not a sport. I think beat them down, kill them if necessary, take a walk to cool down, and take a shower, assuming you are not dead, and that is fighting. Since now I would have to discuss things with policemen, I would rather avoid altercations. Well, it is more than that. I never really did like fighting, it was simply necessary at some points in my life. Anything else is a game, and I do not play games. So, I really do not care to watch. And lest you think I have not faced serious opponents, I have fought against 7 opponents at once, martial artists, and a golden gloves winner. Meh, wrestlers make me the most nervous, tricky bastards.
Well, I best get to figuring out what is going on today. Have a good one.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Blimy, I have to figure this out.
.
.
My sleep patterns that is. I have not been able to sleep until very late and thus I have not been able to wake up until 15:00 for the last two days. This will not work. I am going to have to call on all the willpower I can muster and fix this. Oh, I do not mind it. I am not sleeping long hours, actually quite the reverse, I am staying up longer and longer. I do not mind it in one sense, and yet I need to maintain both regular sleep patterns and be functional during the day. I have many reasons to do that and I like the notion. So, though these last few days have not hurt me, that is not the point. Tomorrow I am going to try and be awake by 10:00. Same goes with the rest of this week. That is the goal, though if I can wake up a little earlier, say 8:00, I will. I really have a goal of getting up at 6:00. That would be an excellent time to take a stroll to the dam and see if I am still coldproof, dipping into the waters and seeing how far I can go for about an hour.
I am somewhat surprised how quickly prepping goes when in the correct environment. No doubt, I could technically have been doing more before now. Practically, however, I have had my hands more than full. Even the down times I have had were needed, and they were slight. What I have done here, already, is nothing short of miraculous, perhaps even for a normal guy. At this point though, I am finding that I have large holes of time that are being wasted. Some of that is needed, some of it is due to overload, some of that is due to my existing condition. My improvement regarding wasted time, however, has been huge. How does one measure going from zero to 25 mph, perhaps up to 45 mph, and maybe eventually highway speed? There is not a chart or a math formula which functions with that well. Inertia has changed, but I am fighting both it and all the other factors which tend to get and then keep that zero quality and quantity.
Some short term food storage, more bullets, extra gear, matches, and hopefully some gardening set up. Actually, despite these last two days and occasional slips, even my schedule has been altered. To survive, daylight living is a must. Then again, without television, the computer, and with only work and reading perhaps, a regular schedule would be much easier to maintain. Especially since lights out would mean sundown. There are so many things yet to do, so many things I could and should buy, contacts to make, and livestock in which to invest.
Something that does concern me, about livestock, is husbandry. Unless I have neighbors who have similar stock for crossbreeding, those lines would be rather limited. Oh, I am sure three breeder rabbits and chickens and a buck and rooster would produce for years. Then what? How much inter-breeding is tolerable? Same for two or three she-goats and a billy. Horses are long-lived, but are also prone to disease, injury, and could bolt. Unless I have people within a 30 mile radius, the closer the better, raising similar stock, I would be in trouble. I am probably in better company for that here in Utah, but that is not a guarantee. Further, foodstock for those would be easy enough here, mostly. But water would be an issue, quickly. I suppose this township would figure something out swiftly, but a full water system as we know it? Lots of things to think about.
You know, if I won the lottery (a hypothetical, as I do not play), I would definitely have a well here. Then again, I am not sure that is possible. I still have not been able to track down whether a well is allowed within a certain distance from city water. Some states outlaw that, but I have not found that out for this state. A well would cost, roughly, between $10k and $20k, with no guarantee that water would be available. Now, that is after swimming through the water rights freakshow to even purchase the necessary water rights, which cost $3.5k to $4k. I just looked over my finances and they laughed, you heard that, laughed at me. I thought about laughing back, but my feelings were hurt. Ha!
Tomorrow. I will simply take one foot, put it before the other, and march on. So it is tomorrow I will consider. Actually, today. I will finish the dishes. I did none of them last night. I will also do what laundry I have and the bedding this time. Tomorrow I have an appointment. Though, is tomorrow Labor Day? Anyway, if I have an appointment tomorrow, fine. I also plan on doing two sessions of weed whipping, testing the vinegar concoction (just vinegar at various strengths and a spray bottle, but concoction sounds... more erudite!), finishing the shoveling, and then cooking something on my recently cleaned grill. I will also send a request of information to the V.A. and see if they will send me proof of disability to use for tax purposes. If I do get that, I will attempt to get my auto and home taxes arranged Tuesday. If they cannot send proof, I will try to figure out the next step in that process and go on from there. Assuming tomorrow is not a holiday. That is that, other than making every effort to be awake and moving by 10:00 or earlier. That is going to be the tough part.
Well, later. I am done rambling for a bit.
.
My sleep patterns that is. I have not been able to sleep until very late and thus I have not been able to wake up until 15:00 for the last two days. This will not work. I am going to have to call on all the willpower I can muster and fix this. Oh, I do not mind it. I am not sleeping long hours, actually quite the reverse, I am staying up longer and longer. I do not mind it in one sense, and yet I need to maintain both regular sleep patterns and be functional during the day. I have many reasons to do that and I like the notion. So, though these last few days have not hurt me, that is not the point. Tomorrow I am going to try and be awake by 10:00. Same goes with the rest of this week. That is the goal, though if I can wake up a little earlier, say 8:00, I will. I really have a goal of getting up at 6:00. That would be an excellent time to take a stroll to the dam and see if I am still coldproof, dipping into the waters and seeing how far I can go for about an hour.
I am somewhat surprised how quickly prepping goes when in the correct environment. No doubt, I could technically have been doing more before now. Practically, however, I have had my hands more than full. Even the down times I have had were needed, and they were slight. What I have done here, already, is nothing short of miraculous, perhaps even for a normal guy. At this point though, I am finding that I have large holes of time that are being wasted. Some of that is needed, some of it is due to overload, some of that is due to my existing condition. My improvement regarding wasted time, however, has been huge. How does one measure going from zero to 25 mph, perhaps up to 45 mph, and maybe eventually highway speed? There is not a chart or a math formula which functions with that well. Inertia has changed, but I am fighting both it and all the other factors which tend to get and then keep that zero quality and quantity.
Some short term food storage, more bullets, extra gear, matches, and hopefully some gardening set up. Actually, despite these last two days and occasional slips, even my schedule has been altered. To survive, daylight living is a must. Then again, without television, the computer, and with only work and reading perhaps, a regular schedule would be much easier to maintain. Especially since lights out would mean sundown. There are so many things yet to do, so many things I could and should buy, contacts to make, and livestock in which to invest.
Something that does concern me, about livestock, is husbandry. Unless I have neighbors who have similar stock for crossbreeding, those lines would be rather limited. Oh, I am sure three breeder rabbits and chickens and a buck and rooster would produce for years. Then what? How much inter-breeding is tolerable? Same for two or three she-goats and a billy. Horses are long-lived, but are also prone to disease, injury, and could bolt. Unless I have people within a 30 mile radius, the closer the better, raising similar stock, I would be in trouble. I am probably in better company for that here in Utah, but that is not a guarantee. Further, foodstock for those would be easy enough here, mostly. But water would be an issue, quickly. I suppose this township would figure something out swiftly, but a full water system as we know it? Lots of things to think about.
You know, if I won the lottery (a hypothetical, as I do not play), I would definitely have a well here. Then again, I am not sure that is possible. I still have not been able to track down whether a well is allowed within a certain distance from city water. Some states outlaw that, but I have not found that out for this state. A well would cost, roughly, between $10k and $20k, with no guarantee that water would be available. Now, that is after swimming through the water rights freakshow to even purchase the necessary water rights, which cost $3.5k to $4k. I just looked over my finances and they laughed, you heard that, laughed at me. I thought about laughing back, but my feelings were hurt. Ha!
Tomorrow. I will simply take one foot, put it before the other, and march on. So it is tomorrow I will consider. Actually, today. I will finish the dishes. I did none of them last night. I will also do what laundry I have and the bedding this time. Tomorrow I have an appointment. Though, is tomorrow Labor Day? Anyway, if I have an appointment tomorrow, fine. I also plan on doing two sessions of weed whipping, testing the vinegar concoction (just vinegar at various strengths and a spray bottle, but concoction sounds... more erudite!), finishing the shoveling, and then cooking something on my recently cleaned grill. I will also send a request of information to the V.A. and see if they will send me proof of disability to use for tax purposes. If I do get that, I will attempt to get my auto and home taxes arranged Tuesday. If they cannot send proof, I will try to figure out the next step in that process and go on from there. Assuming tomorrow is not a holiday. That is that, other than making every effort to be awake and moving by 10:00 or earlier. That is going to be the tough part.
Well, later. I am done rambling for a bit.
It could be worse.
.
.
I kid you not. Though I have some serious problems dealing with life, I have avoided death (sort of), drugs, hoarding, obesity (technically still obese, but that does not make sense in my case, really), or other problems. No, I cannot make decisions well, or quickly, but I do make them. And, if all else fails, I begin chucking things. I have some sort of limit. I did dance on my grave with alcohol. But I beat it, finally. I never really tried drugs seriously. They are expensive and I worried about control. Not as in control of my life in the broader picture, more about control of my limbs, balance, and cognitive function. And, for being very unhealthy, I am very healthy. I have set up an appointment for the 15th, a general checkup. I have not checked my blood pressure in a bit. The last time I did it was much lower than what it had been. I am curious about my diabetes too. My urine does not cause foam in the toilet, so I am guessing it has improved as well.
Though I do have some underlying problem, in a way, this is compounded by having no need to work. They play on each other. When one fails to hold me down, the other may kick in. I am, honestly, amazed I am out here, in a home, and have done what I have done. I had a lot of help. But I had to ask for help and direct it or let that help do what it did. I am, slowly, too slowly, trying to work my way out. It reminds me of a particular type of problem in calculus. In those problem types, two functions (linear formulas for example) are both going to zero. If the problem leads to a real solution, the one in the numerator goes to zero first. Otherwise the problem will not produce a useful answer. This has real world implications. In my case, the math cannot actually help, the problem merely outlines what I see. There are no formulas I can use to check and see, as well I have no means of changing the numerator or denominator. However, outside influences can impact those formulas, somehow. Anything from trauma, which could bring me back more quickly or sink me, to economic situations, to perhaps simply figuring something major out, and there is always the potential that the medical field will seriously re-evaluate my health, find the real problem, and actually have a method of treating it that works.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring. There will be changes. There will be good things. And there will be bad things. None of these are actually important. What is important, for me and others, is not what happens but how we deal with whatever happens. Within certain constraints, I do well. Outside of those constraints... I know I have dealt with very harsh things. I know I can do so. I guess I simply do not like the notion.
Bed time. I need to cut off caffeine earlier. I am staying up way later than I like, if too I still wake in 8 hours (unless I really push my up time, and the vast majority of the time otherwise). Anyway, good night.
.
I kid you not. Though I have some serious problems dealing with life, I have avoided death (sort of), drugs, hoarding, obesity (technically still obese, but that does not make sense in my case, really), or other problems. No, I cannot make decisions well, or quickly, but I do make them. And, if all else fails, I begin chucking things. I have some sort of limit. I did dance on my grave with alcohol. But I beat it, finally. I never really tried drugs seriously. They are expensive and I worried about control. Not as in control of my life in the broader picture, more about control of my limbs, balance, and cognitive function. And, for being very unhealthy, I am very healthy. I have set up an appointment for the 15th, a general checkup. I have not checked my blood pressure in a bit. The last time I did it was much lower than what it had been. I am curious about my diabetes too. My urine does not cause foam in the toilet, so I am guessing it has improved as well.
Though I do have some underlying problem, in a way, this is compounded by having no need to work. They play on each other. When one fails to hold me down, the other may kick in. I am, honestly, amazed I am out here, in a home, and have done what I have done. I had a lot of help. But I had to ask for help and direct it or let that help do what it did. I am, slowly, too slowly, trying to work my way out. It reminds me of a particular type of problem in calculus. In those problem types, two functions (linear formulas for example) are both going to zero. If the problem leads to a real solution, the one in the numerator goes to zero first. Otherwise the problem will not produce a useful answer. This has real world implications. In my case, the math cannot actually help, the problem merely outlines what I see. There are no formulas I can use to check and see, as well I have no means of changing the numerator or denominator. However, outside influences can impact those formulas, somehow. Anything from trauma, which could bring me back more quickly or sink me, to economic situations, to perhaps simply figuring something major out, and there is always the potential that the medical field will seriously re-evaluate my health, find the real problem, and actually have a method of treating it that works.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring. There will be changes. There will be good things. And there will be bad things. None of these are actually important. What is important, for me and others, is not what happens but how we deal with whatever happens. Within certain constraints, I do well. Outside of those constraints... I know I have dealt with very harsh things. I know I can do so. I guess I simply do not like the notion.
Bed time. I need to cut off caffeine earlier. I am staying up way later than I like, if too I still wake in 8 hours (unless I really push my up time, and the vast majority of the time otherwise). Anyway, good night.
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