.
.
The weather looks a little rocky, so all I will do is check on wasps outside. Inside, however, is a different story. Dishes to laundry, straightening to sweeping, I have much to do. I have created a reason to do so. My friend is going in for surgery Tuesday. I would like to get the place put together so we can go shooting and then stop back here for a bit of grilling and other food. Potato salad sounds good, and probably some vegetable. Hamburgers and brots for meat would work well. Beside wanting the place to be at least bachelor visitor worthy, I need pots, pans, and dishes clean and ready to do some cooking and then have even that cleaned up.
As usual, if I just do a load of laundry, a load or two of dishes, and then take a break, it eventually gets done. I have been going without food lately, I just could not keep up. Sardines and canned meats, at least the kind I had on hand, get old very fast. As well, I will need to replace those next time I make it to the store. Beans, rice, and grains are missed. Then again, I could have grilled but did not even get to that.
Something I am trying to figure out, in a different area, is honey. It is pushed everywhere and always by preppers, from the LDS guidelines to the trapper type who have lived the life to the clones. I cannot say I do not like honey, I think it is more like I despise it. There is something in it that bugs everything from my tastebuds to my stomach. I do not think I have an actual allergy either. Then again, honey is actually an excellent medical kit addition, if not that much would be needed.
Well, off to do some things after a little research. Good day.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Brutal.
.
.
A bit. Yes, I can be harsh. Usually it comes in the form of bluntly saying something. My women have not always liked how I do or say things. Sometimes I do so with purpose. I have little time, interest, or belief that tickling the right conclusion or an admission or understanding is possible. Like a surgeon, I look over the proposed topical field, I asses my vocabulary and logic, and I assert it. I am usually this way with men. For men, even if the debate gets hot, it is how we operate. We are not delicate, at least in the areas of ideas, save if we might have a huge pony in that race. Even then, with men, it is best to put on shield, armor, and helm, grab the sword, axe, and javelin, and go out and hit it. Well, save for those metrosexuals, reporters, educators, and such who have never been exposed to real debate, or even a fist fight. Though they, like the most recalcitrant of women, are not worth any efforts and I have written those types off.
I like to take my time with women. Many of them do not think... directly. Their ideas of fairness and softness really are a part of who they are. If those can be kneaded and coaxed, if their emotions can be dealt with to allow logic, and if a little time to allow them to grasp something new in the hardness of life, women do fine, perhaps even better than some men who simply think they are right, who do not have the capacity, for whatever reason, to turn that corner. Sometimes, however, time and patience are at a premium. And, again, sometimes I am simply not cognizant of the dissonance between us. (Women build up passive-aggressive tendencies in this phase like static electricity on carpets... luckily, I enjoy a surprise tingle once in a while... *zap* "Do it again, mommy!")
Though I believe in the law, I do not believe in it absolutely. That is a fools errand. I do believe more in the spirit of the law, both as a citizen and as a Christian. First their were prophets, then their was the word written for us, then there was the Living Word who excoriated those who worshiped the false idol of the absolute written word of law and ignored what that law meant. He killed that false religion by proving He was beyond it. He is an example, not an exception. Beyond, He proved we have nothing to fear. Nothing.
Have I no heart? Of course I have heart. I feel, bleed from it, and suffer for it. But I do not allow it to tempt my feet from the path I know to be true either. Just as with logic, a fine tool, but merely a tool. Do not get lost in that, or law, or pure justice, or anything. Choose wisdom and use these other tools on the path of wisdom. That should suffice my bit for the moment. Just... clearing the baffles.
.
A bit. Yes, I can be harsh. Usually it comes in the form of bluntly saying something. My women have not always liked how I do or say things. Sometimes I do so with purpose. I have little time, interest, or belief that tickling the right conclusion or an admission or understanding is possible. Like a surgeon, I look over the proposed topical field, I asses my vocabulary and logic, and I assert it. I am usually this way with men. For men, even if the debate gets hot, it is how we operate. We are not delicate, at least in the areas of ideas, save if we might have a huge pony in that race. Even then, with men, it is best to put on shield, armor, and helm, grab the sword, axe, and javelin, and go out and hit it. Well, save for those metrosexuals, reporters, educators, and such who have never been exposed to real debate, or even a fist fight. Though they, like the most recalcitrant of women, are not worth any efforts and I have written those types off.
I like to take my time with women. Many of them do not think... directly. Their ideas of fairness and softness really are a part of who they are. If those can be kneaded and coaxed, if their emotions can be dealt with to allow logic, and if a little time to allow them to grasp something new in the hardness of life, women do fine, perhaps even better than some men who simply think they are right, who do not have the capacity, for whatever reason, to turn that corner. Sometimes, however, time and patience are at a premium. And, again, sometimes I am simply not cognizant of the dissonance between us. (Women build up passive-aggressive tendencies in this phase like static electricity on carpets... luckily, I enjoy a surprise tingle once in a while... *zap* "Do it again, mommy!")
Though I believe in the law, I do not believe in it absolutely. That is a fools errand. I do believe more in the spirit of the law, both as a citizen and as a Christian. First their were prophets, then their was the word written for us, then there was the Living Word who excoriated those who worshiped the false idol of the absolute written word of law and ignored what that law meant. He killed that false religion by proving He was beyond it. He is an example, not an exception. Beyond, He proved we have nothing to fear. Nothing.
Have I no heart? Of course I have heart. I feel, bleed from it, and suffer for it. But I do not allow it to tempt my feet from the path I know to be true either. Just as with logic, a fine tool, but merely a tool. Do not get lost in that, or law, or pure justice, or anything. Choose wisdom and use these other tools on the path of wisdom. That should suffice my bit for the moment. Just... clearing the baffles.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Some things managed.
.
.
Two cookbooks have been put in my sights. The first, Household Discoveries & Mrs. Curtis’s Cook Book, is out of print. After a bit of looking I did find it, and ordered it. Simply put, I cannot afford to hope it will be available at some other time. The other, The Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition, re-edited (many times) from it's original publishing (self published!) in 1931, is in my "cart" (heh!) at Amazon. I will try to keep that book list fresh and buy those next month. I could have bought it this month but I believe a cash reserve is more important. Well, one of them is on the way, probably the more essential one as this was before modern cooking methods, even electricity. As well, it is half cook book, have domestic principle book (to include cooking methods, home care, and even soap making). I suspect it is not a book for the squeamish.
Looking over my water softener pellets, I realize there is no special use for that. It is, however, a purified salt. Hmm, how useful is salt? Doh! From drying, or other methods of storing meats, to table use, to... well. Salt is a good thing. While this may be an imperfect salt, in hard times one uses what one has. Let me see, 17 bags at 40 pounds each... 680 pounds of... well... salt. Yeah, that could come in handy. And at $4 to $6 a bag, it is basement bargain salt. Yeah, okay. Soft water to preserved meats, and beyond. I guess that is not so bad a deal. I had thought, sadly, that perhaps water softening expenses were purely a loss.
The more one learns, the further one goes. This rabbit hole is either a path to insanity, which at some points it seems destined to be, or it is (and most likely) simply the path of life, real life. The cost, of course, of this life, is heavy in modern terms. But modern terms, I think even modernists agree, are true insanity. A beamer... really? That is a goal? Sex with women who if you knew their history you would not touch, regardless of how perfect you have been taught to think they look? Really, seriously? Drugs, vacuous beliefs, and a disdain for any kind of reason or objective truth in life? That is merely suicide on a slower pace. So, yes, this is the way. The insanity one finds on this path is not because of the path but because of our own misunderstandings and the incorrect notions we have been indoctrinated with so that we help modernism by becoming a vacuous cog.
Modernism, when it was young and to a degree even now, provides wonders. All wonders, however, are double edged swords. For example, the medical field. It seems when advances there allow people to live longer, they turn their collective backs on reproduction of their own kind. Many women I see today are 30 to 50 and just figuring out... they probably never will have a husband, let alone children. They, what, forgot? Wow. And yet things like chlorine, DDT, gasoline, motors and engines, microscopes and glasses, have revolutionized our life, our ability to survive, and our ability to understand and view things never before known. It seems, however, that our technological house of babel is about to be felled by the successes it has made. How... interesting. Still, as I enter the rabbit hole and begin setting up a warren of sorts, I cannot but stop and give some thanks to having been some part of that in order that I might be ready for the end of it. Odd, but while ultimately gratifying, it is sad too.
Well, I have things to do. I doubt if I will get to much today. If my sleep cycles are coming around, my capacity to do much with my days is not. I have dishes, checking the hen house, filling the gas tank, and some minor shopping on my list in spite of my doubts. Oh, and a bill to be paid. Things to do, as I may.
Good day.
Update: A recipe for butter was found. It looks practical. From what I have read, salted butter lasts longer. And, from D.C. and others, clarifying the butter might make it last even longer. I cannot remember what it is called, but when/if I remember, I will do research on that specifically. Hmmm, geet? ghee? I will look. Little bits and pieces of information are coming together so that I may figure out my next steps, additional foods to add, and such. My hope is to buy wheat for a year, or close to it, next month or the following. Depending on how high prices go, of course, and how soon they hit the market. If prices go too high too fast, I may simply wait. The shop I bought the cookbook from has confirmed and then offered a tracking number. Yes, I am excited. That was fast, courteous, and simple.
So much of what is sold can much more easily, cheaply, and with better end products, be made at home. I would even guess that drying and maybe freeze drying, at some cost and with some significant research, time, effort, and some possibly scary costs, could pay themselves off in less time than one might think. For a one man band, however, I am left sort of scraping by. My money does not allow getting ahead until I am in a position to advance. But it is on my mind and I hope it is on every preppers mind. The old axiom, 'Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish, feed him for a lifetime.' is more true than ever. When there is no one to teach, no internet to access, and little available, it will be skills and tools on hand that will make what you have feed, cloth, warm, and hydrate you. Buggers but that is a lot of stuff! Yeah, yeah, I will get back to it. Hush.
I keep hearing how conservative FOX News is. It is not conservative. It is pro-business. It is softly to the right of center more of the time then not. But it is as conservative as Olympia Snowe. It tracks more with the Republican party, at perhaps a 60% to 40% ratio (just a guess, but). Further, it is conservative purely in economics, ignoring social and cultural issues. Those people, even then, at last reported political giving by employees quote I have gave to Dems 70% to 30%. It is in no way conservative. I am still waiting for a fox to FOX as FOX was to CNN.
Update the Second: Rendering beef tallow and tanning rabbit hides now have rudimentary exploration. I need to start printing some of that. I would guess that the beef tallow would be similar to producing lard, or using many other animal type fats as oils. Further, I would suggest that much of what works for rabbit hides would transfer to goat, calf, or possibly deer and elk hides. If nothing else, in a pinch, it would be worth a shot and some experimentation. One note, I do not think any fats on wild game, barring organs, would be worth using, and that for direct cooking and eating, not rendering. I hope to remember to check on that at some point.
Yes... a research day. Urhm, by the way, if you want something researched, or even have a list of things... let me know... for a dolla. Seriously, and no dollar needed.
.
Two cookbooks have been put in my sights. The first, Household Discoveries & Mrs. Curtis’s Cook Book, is out of print. After a bit of looking I did find it, and ordered it. Simply put, I cannot afford to hope it will be available at some other time. The other, The Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition, re-edited (many times) from it's original publishing (self published!) in 1931, is in my "cart" (heh!) at Amazon. I will try to keep that book list fresh and buy those next month. I could have bought it this month but I believe a cash reserve is more important. Well, one of them is on the way, probably the more essential one as this was before modern cooking methods, even electricity. As well, it is half cook book, have domestic principle book (to include cooking methods, home care, and even soap making). I suspect it is not a book for the squeamish.
Looking over my water softener pellets, I realize there is no special use for that. It is, however, a purified salt. Hmm, how useful is salt? Doh! From drying, or other methods of storing meats, to table use, to... well. Salt is a good thing. While this may be an imperfect salt, in hard times one uses what one has. Let me see, 17 bags at 40 pounds each... 680 pounds of... well... salt. Yeah, that could come in handy. And at $4 to $6 a bag, it is basement bargain salt. Yeah, okay. Soft water to preserved meats, and beyond. I guess that is not so bad a deal. I had thought, sadly, that perhaps water softening expenses were purely a loss.
The more one learns, the further one goes. This rabbit hole is either a path to insanity, which at some points it seems destined to be, or it is (and most likely) simply the path of life, real life. The cost, of course, of this life, is heavy in modern terms. But modern terms, I think even modernists agree, are true insanity. A beamer... really? That is a goal? Sex with women who if you knew their history you would not touch, regardless of how perfect you have been taught to think they look? Really, seriously? Drugs, vacuous beliefs, and a disdain for any kind of reason or objective truth in life? That is merely suicide on a slower pace. So, yes, this is the way. The insanity one finds on this path is not because of the path but because of our own misunderstandings and the incorrect notions we have been indoctrinated with so that we help modernism by becoming a vacuous cog.
Modernism, when it was young and to a degree even now, provides wonders. All wonders, however, are double edged swords. For example, the medical field. It seems when advances there allow people to live longer, they turn their collective backs on reproduction of their own kind. Many women I see today are 30 to 50 and just figuring out... they probably never will have a husband, let alone children. They, what, forgot? Wow. And yet things like chlorine, DDT, gasoline, motors and engines, microscopes and glasses, have revolutionized our life, our ability to survive, and our ability to understand and view things never before known. It seems, however, that our technological house of babel is about to be felled by the successes it has made. How... interesting. Still, as I enter the rabbit hole and begin setting up a warren of sorts, I cannot but stop and give some thanks to having been some part of that in order that I might be ready for the end of it. Odd, but while ultimately gratifying, it is sad too.
Well, I have things to do. I doubt if I will get to much today. If my sleep cycles are coming around, my capacity to do much with my days is not. I have dishes, checking the hen house, filling the gas tank, and some minor shopping on my list in spite of my doubts. Oh, and a bill to be paid. Things to do, as I may.
Good day.
Update: A recipe for butter was found. It looks practical. From what I have read, salted butter lasts longer. And, from D.C. and others, clarifying the butter might make it last even longer. I cannot remember what it is called, but when/if I remember, I will do research on that specifically. Hmmm, geet? ghee? I will look. Little bits and pieces of information are coming together so that I may figure out my next steps, additional foods to add, and such. My hope is to buy wheat for a year, or close to it, next month or the following. Depending on how high prices go, of course, and how soon they hit the market. If prices go too high too fast, I may simply wait. The shop I bought the cookbook from has confirmed and then offered a tracking number. Yes, I am excited. That was fast, courteous, and simple.
So much of what is sold can much more easily, cheaply, and with better end products, be made at home. I would even guess that drying and maybe freeze drying, at some cost and with some significant research, time, effort, and some possibly scary costs, could pay themselves off in less time than one might think. For a one man band, however, I am left sort of scraping by. My money does not allow getting ahead until I am in a position to advance. But it is on my mind and I hope it is on every preppers mind. The old axiom, 'Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish, feed him for a lifetime.' is more true than ever. When there is no one to teach, no internet to access, and little available, it will be skills and tools on hand that will make what you have feed, cloth, warm, and hydrate you. Buggers but that is a lot of stuff! Yeah, yeah, I will get back to it. Hush.
I keep hearing how conservative FOX News is. It is not conservative. It is pro-business. It is softly to the right of center more of the time then not. But it is as conservative as Olympia Snowe. It tracks more with the Republican party, at perhaps a 60% to 40% ratio (just a guess, but). Further, it is conservative purely in economics, ignoring social and cultural issues. Those people, even then, at last reported political giving by employees quote I have gave to Dems 70% to 30%. It is in no way conservative. I am still waiting for a fox to FOX as FOX was to CNN.
Update the Second: Rendering beef tallow and tanning rabbit hides now have rudimentary exploration. I need to start printing some of that. I would guess that the beef tallow would be similar to producing lard, or using many other animal type fats as oils. Further, I would suggest that much of what works for rabbit hides would transfer to goat, calf, or possibly deer and elk hides. If nothing else, in a pinch, it would be worth a shot and some experimentation. One note, I do not think any fats on wild game, barring organs, would be worth using, and that for direct cooking and eating, not rendering. I hope to remember to check on that at some point.
Yes... a research day. Urhm, by the way, if you want something researched, or even have a list of things... let me know... for a dolla. Seriously, and no dollar needed.
Up and again.
.
.
Having gone to bed to late, say well after 21:00 but before 22:00 (I think), I set the alarm as a precaution, for 6:00. As usual, hours of rolling ensued before my eyelids worked. Dreams again! This is the second time in my life I dreamed I was a woman... an elite lady of the Victorian era I was, in India I think, chasing after a young and coming up lady to protect her from a bad "gentleman", who was also on her tail. (ZOMG!) Worry and fuss but not too much. Corsets, by the way, suck when they are a "must". Ha! I did wake up at around 2:00 (the times may have been changed to protect a near sleep walker). A visit to the powder room, a scary thought, and back to bed as Sam was not interested in strolling the cold night. Heck, she was under a blanket! Weird cat. More dreams, though this time a bit more... erotic? I cannot remember them, just that I (nearly) woke a few times at full mast with a cat eating grin on my face. At 6:00 it was a little tough getting up, but I had it going so did just that. Hmm, I need to take a shower shortly after from now on just to make sure if I want or need, I can leave the house. And should the doorbell ring I could answer it with a clear conscience. Yes, I feel the need to be presentable even if I am only going to the hen house to check wasps. Every other day of showering would be fine though, with the baseball cap I purchased. Yeah, yeah, whatever.
I am surprised that I only use 5 gallons a day here. Most of that is flushing. The sad thing is, with a properly (high volume) toilette, I would actually use less. More government involvement which needs to end. Enough about that after all the razzing and laughter that ensued from the 'results' of my fiber rich diet that last time. ANYWAY. I suppose having 17 x 40 pound bags of salt after being here 4 or 5 months means... no salt needed for a very long time. I wonder what else softener salt can be used for, in a pinch. I will be looking that up today.
Rain will be setting in tomorrow or the day after, but with a fairly long stretch of clear days after that if the weather forecasts can be believed. For the most part though, forecasts have worked. Although if it, like it currently does, says there is a 20% chance of rain, that means we will get rain. More scattered, not as heavy, but almost certain. If anything with rain, they miss that it is even possible. Though that is more in the monsoon season. I will get that roof taken off and the new one on, darn it. I hope.
Sassy is still, well, what her name implies. She is calming some. But climbing curtains seems to be something she still loves to do. Though I was sure I would put her out if she was bad, I have found that she simply is not ready. Rather than doing that as a punishment, I do it occasionally for very short periods to try and 'get her out to play'. Just like a kid. She is fattening, so I may have to put up food while Sam is out. Sam stays slim, trim, and tops, all on her own. Infuriating as she can be, Sassy is just too charming to really stay mad at for long. I just turn into a Troll, holler and point, and then she looks all sad or confused and finds a good place to take a time out. I think she is climbing because she sees a fly or some such. I need to get her onto mice. She has all the skills and natural tendencies but will not hunt while out. Maybe a feeder mouse would get her going on that? Maybe they just are not that plentiful at the moment? Then again, Sassy hates teh texturs on teh paus, teh colt, and all teh bizzr things out cher. Sissy maybe more than Sassy?
Oh, forgot to gas up the car and wanted to pick up a replacement gallon of milk and some soda. No great sales on soda this week, but I have some and might just go slim until the next flier comes out. Coffee... That's the next on my list, and it would stretch the soda. A couple of pounds of the stuff would work well. But a pot. I have been looking at one at Amazon, a bit fancier but not too much beyond a typical pot and about spot on for a more functional pot, but further, useful should alternative fuels become necessary, assuming a cook top of some sort (my cast iron griddle would work fine for that, with some height adjustment capacity). Being glass, it is a bit of a worry. But... If all else fails, coffee could be made by simply boiling water and pouring that over cotton holding the grounds, or even simply adding the grounds to the pot of water and filtering (or not). Original coffee was merely rough ground, boiled, with sugar and or milk/cream added. Grainy, but? Then again, how available will coffee be? I am not sure I can afford stocking coffee too, or if it even would store for very long at all.
Later.
.
Having gone to bed to late, say well after 21:00 but before 22:00 (I think), I set the alarm as a precaution, for 6:00. As usual, hours of rolling ensued before my eyelids worked. Dreams again! This is the second time in my life I dreamed I was a woman... an elite lady of the Victorian era I was, in India I think, chasing after a young and coming up lady to protect her from a bad "gentleman", who was also on her tail. (ZOMG!) Worry and fuss but not too much. Corsets, by the way, suck when they are a "must". Ha! I did wake up at around 2:00 (the times may have been changed to protect a near sleep walker). A visit to the powder room, a scary thought, and back to bed as Sam was not interested in strolling the cold night. Heck, she was under a blanket! Weird cat. More dreams, though this time a bit more... erotic? I cannot remember them, just that I (nearly) woke a few times at full mast with a cat eating grin on my face. At 6:00 it was a little tough getting up, but I had it going so did just that. Hmm, I need to take a shower shortly after from now on just to make sure if I want or need, I can leave the house. And should the doorbell ring I could answer it with a clear conscience. Yes, I feel the need to be presentable even if I am only going to the hen house to check wasps. Every other day of showering would be fine though, with the baseball cap I purchased. Yeah, yeah, whatever.
I am surprised that I only use 5 gallons a day here. Most of that is flushing. The sad thing is, with a properly (high volume) toilette, I would actually use less. More government involvement which needs to end. Enough about that after all the razzing and laughter that ensued from the 'results' of my fiber rich diet that last time. ANYWAY. I suppose having 17 x 40 pound bags of salt after being here 4 or 5 months means... no salt needed for a very long time. I wonder what else softener salt can be used for, in a pinch. I will be looking that up today.
Rain will be setting in tomorrow or the day after, but with a fairly long stretch of clear days after that if the weather forecasts can be believed. For the most part though, forecasts have worked. Although if it, like it currently does, says there is a 20% chance of rain, that means we will get rain. More scattered, not as heavy, but almost certain. If anything with rain, they miss that it is even possible. Though that is more in the monsoon season. I will get that roof taken off and the new one on, darn it. I hope.
Sassy is still, well, what her name implies. She is calming some. But climbing curtains seems to be something she still loves to do. Though I was sure I would put her out if she was bad, I have found that she simply is not ready. Rather than doing that as a punishment, I do it occasionally for very short periods to try and 'get her out to play'. Just like a kid. She is fattening, so I may have to put up food while Sam is out. Sam stays slim, trim, and tops, all on her own. Infuriating as she can be, Sassy is just too charming to really stay mad at for long. I just turn into a Troll, holler and point, and then she looks all sad or confused and finds a good place to take a time out. I think she is climbing because she sees a fly or some such. I need to get her onto mice. She has all the skills and natural tendencies but will not hunt while out. Maybe a feeder mouse would get her going on that? Maybe they just are not that plentiful at the moment? Then again, Sassy hates teh texturs on teh paus, teh colt, and all teh bizzr things out cher. Sissy maybe more than Sassy?
Oh, forgot to gas up the car and wanted to pick up a replacement gallon of milk and some soda. No great sales on soda this week, but I have some and might just go slim until the next flier comes out. Coffee... That's the next on my list, and it would stretch the soda. A couple of pounds of the stuff would work well. But a pot. I have been looking at one at Amazon, a bit fancier but not too much beyond a typical pot and about spot on for a more functional pot, but further, useful should alternative fuels become necessary, assuming a cook top of some sort (my cast iron griddle would work fine for that, with some height adjustment capacity). Being glass, it is a bit of a worry. But... If all else fails, coffee could be made by simply boiling water and pouring that over cotton holding the grounds, or even simply adding the grounds to the pot of water and filtering (or not). Original coffee was merely rough ground, boiled, with sugar and or milk/cream added. Grainy, but? Then again, how available will coffee be? I am not sure I can afford stocking coffee too, or if it even would store for very long at all.
Later.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Out and about.
.
.
Sure, not that it is all that much, but it is the most I have done in quite some time. I drove in to town and stopped at my bank. I pulled out a bit from each account and have enough to do anything I might need to do should a bank holiday fall on my month, whichever one it might fall on. I will just keep the money in with my collected coins and call it a rainy day fund. I will add a bit to it over the months, more like every other month, and if all works out with no needs, I may convert it to junk silver. Of course silver is creeping up. Just as gold is. Just as food is.
I then grabbed a couple boxes of .45 ammo. Oddly, ammo is not creeping up. Then I called and picked up my shooting pal and headed for the range... free range... one of them. With my lever action and .22 pistol, I slung small lead through small bores until I had finished off 150 rounds. My pistol was beginning to balk and the rifle had gotten heavy, so I just watched as my friend polished off the last of his 9 mm ammunition. You know, for a guy with cataracts and in his mid 60's... Let us just say you would not want to become a threat to him. I am far better with the rifle than I am the .22 pistol, though I am quite good with the .45 considering the limitations of that pistol. The .22 pistol though just beats me up. The .45 has a natural feel and aim. I am as one with it as you can get for a standard stock pistol. I just cannot get that with the Ruger .22. I think the barrel is a bit end heavy, the grip is a bit slim, and it feels more like a dowsing device than a pistol. I might have to consider figuring out how to bulk up the grip, though giving it a natural and solid grip too.
After the shooting we stopped at Wal-Mart. I grabbed milk, some specialty Italian dried meats (small pack, a rare and wonderful treat), brots and more brots and one more (great mixer with beans and rice), and salt. Lots and lots of salt. I bought 3 or 4 regular table salt tubes, a kosher and pickling box of salts, and called it good. That covers my short term salt needs. Pickling salt you ask? Well, you do not need to can to produce refrigerator pickled items, and it is good for a number of odd recipes. I do have 2 x 5 pounds of sugar in stock, if that is rarely used. In a SHTF scenario, and in spite of diabetes (or because of it, if you know my so-called diabetes as I do), sugar will be a good thing since other treats may simply not be available.
I then went to dinner. That Mexican restaurant I have spoken of received another visit. I love that place. For $8 to $12 you can get a large meal, add a bit for tea, tax, and tip, and you are out little other than a full belly. Which, actually, I still have. I need to eat out once in a while. Treats are not always sweet. Then, back to one more store. I was sure, by now, my water softener would be low on salt, so I grabbed 8 bags. I had 7 at home, but figured I would be using 2 to 4 when I checked. They just happened to be on sale (I do buy Mortinson, not being snobbish, just it is better). It was cheaper than the cheapo anyway, at $3.49 or so per bag, versus $4.89 or so. I also grabbed some milk, three gallons. One shifted wrong in the back seat and fell out. The little fur sisters and me have been consuming the half of it I did save. Bah!
It is bed time, probably a little beyond. Anyway, just an update. Good night Glen and Bessie Hyde, Jim Thompson, and William Morgan.
.
Sure, not that it is all that much, but it is the most I have done in quite some time. I drove in to town and stopped at my bank. I pulled out a bit from each account and have enough to do anything I might need to do should a bank holiday fall on my month, whichever one it might fall on. I will just keep the money in with my collected coins and call it a rainy day fund. I will add a bit to it over the months, more like every other month, and if all works out with no needs, I may convert it to junk silver. Of course silver is creeping up. Just as gold is. Just as food is.
I then grabbed a couple boxes of .45 ammo. Oddly, ammo is not creeping up. Then I called and picked up my shooting pal and headed for the range... free range... one of them. With my lever action and .22 pistol, I slung small lead through small bores until I had finished off 150 rounds. My pistol was beginning to balk and the rifle had gotten heavy, so I just watched as my friend polished off the last of his 9 mm ammunition. You know, for a guy with cataracts and in his mid 60's... Let us just say you would not want to become a threat to him. I am far better with the rifle than I am the .22 pistol, though I am quite good with the .45 considering the limitations of that pistol. The .22 pistol though just beats me up. The .45 has a natural feel and aim. I am as one with it as you can get for a standard stock pistol. I just cannot get that with the Ruger .22. I think the barrel is a bit end heavy, the grip is a bit slim, and it feels more like a dowsing device than a pistol. I might have to consider figuring out how to bulk up the grip, though giving it a natural and solid grip too.
After the shooting we stopped at Wal-Mart. I grabbed milk, some specialty Italian dried meats (small pack, a rare and wonderful treat), brots and more brots and one more (great mixer with beans and rice), and salt. Lots and lots of salt. I bought 3 or 4 regular table salt tubes, a kosher and pickling box of salts, and called it good. That covers my short term salt needs. Pickling salt you ask? Well, you do not need to can to produce refrigerator pickled items, and it is good for a number of odd recipes. I do have 2 x 5 pounds of sugar in stock, if that is rarely used. In a SHTF scenario, and in spite of diabetes (or because of it, if you know my so-called diabetes as I do), sugar will be a good thing since other treats may simply not be available.
I then went to dinner. That Mexican restaurant I have spoken of received another visit. I love that place. For $8 to $12 you can get a large meal, add a bit for tea, tax, and tip, and you are out little other than a full belly. Which, actually, I still have. I need to eat out once in a while. Treats are not always sweet. Then, back to one more store. I was sure, by now, my water softener would be low on salt, so I grabbed 8 bags. I had 7 at home, but figured I would be using 2 to 4 when I checked. They just happened to be on sale (I do buy Mortinson, not being snobbish, just it is better). It was cheaper than the cheapo anyway, at $3.49 or so per bag, versus $4.89 or so. I also grabbed some milk, three gallons. One shifted wrong in the back seat and fell out. The little fur sisters and me have been consuming the half of it I did save. Bah!
It is bed time, probably a little beyond. Anyway, just an update. Good night Glen and Bessie Hyde, Jim Thompson, and William Morgan.
By the way...
.
.
I am pleased with how I handled my first encounter with a single woman. I keep pondering my assessment process, her answers, my toying and hers, and the results. Though I should come clean about something, as I figured it out more fully.
About 90% of what was said, perceived, and repeated to check... was waste material, if necessary. To get to the meat of the matter, both of us tried to shift, push, pull, and hold the keys. I thought she was rather easy to control, and I handed her the keys just to see which doors she would unlock. Her age, in truth, has nothing to do with my rejection. A 25 year old woman would do quite well. What I was looking for was her capacity and interest in being domestic, having children, and what kind of a partner she would be.
Admittedly, what she said though somewhat connected to how she said it and some of what she said, was pretty much struck out. I listen very little to what a woman says so much as how she stands, what her hands are doing, and whether I sense she is telling the truth. She came out well on the truth score, though I can tell she is a heavy fibber (a bad trait native to women, but exacerbated with her last guy, she dated/lived with for 6 years). I do believe she is not interested in children, she wants to play. She is not really into the domestic scene, she wants to have fun. And she is not so interested in more than flirting or modern dating. Of course, all of these things can be changed, but my final assessment is that this would be too much work.
If she had expressed disinterest, but two or three of these had been positive toward my ends, I would have attempted to negotiate. If I see the right woman and she verbally says the wrong things, that is simply... a lure. Or is that the hook? Never listen to an available women who naysays the notion of a closer relationship solely based on what she verbally says. Same with accepting a woman based on a verbal assessment. I give myself a decent grade on this. If I am wrong, I am on the right track and will improve.
.
I am pleased with how I handled my first encounter with a single woman. I keep pondering my assessment process, her answers, my toying and hers, and the results. Though I should come clean about something, as I figured it out more fully.
About 90% of what was said, perceived, and repeated to check... was waste material, if necessary. To get to the meat of the matter, both of us tried to shift, push, pull, and hold the keys. I thought she was rather easy to control, and I handed her the keys just to see which doors she would unlock. Her age, in truth, has nothing to do with my rejection. A 25 year old woman would do quite well. What I was looking for was her capacity and interest in being domestic, having children, and what kind of a partner she would be.
Admittedly, what she said though somewhat connected to how she said it and some of what she said, was pretty much struck out. I listen very little to what a woman says so much as how she stands, what her hands are doing, and whether I sense she is telling the truth. She came out well on the truth score, though I can tell she is a heavy fibber (a bad trait native to women, but exacerbated with her last guy, she dated/lived with for 6 years). I do believe she is not interested in children, she wants to play. She is not really into the domestic scene, she wants to have fun. And she is not so interested in more than flirting or modern dating. Of course, all of these things can be changed, but my final assessment is that this would be too much work.
If she had expressed disinterest, but two or three of these had been positive toward my ends, I would have attempted to negotiate. If I see the right woman and she verbally says the wrong things, that is simply... a lure. Or is that the hook? Never listen to an available women who naysays the notion of a closer relationship solely based on what she verbally says. Same with accepting a woman based on a verbal assessment. I give myself a decent grade on this. If I am wrong, I am on the right track and will improve.
Up and at it.
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.
I tossed and turned for hours before finally sleeping last night. Though I went to bed somewhere in the neighborhood of 17:00 or 18:00, I doubt if I actually slept until 20:00, give or take. I woke at about 2:00, let Sam out and headed back to bed. I then slept well until 6:00. It has been a bit of a push to get to sleep and stay asleep, but I am finding that getting a decent extra dose of sleep is helping. I am still not all that active, but getting there perhaps.
Today I will be heading into town to go shooting with my friend. I will also do a bit of shopping, pick up a few more bullets, have a dinner somewhere, and grab some cash for to stash. I need to get a shower and maybe finish dishes. They stack up fast! I ought to check on the wasp situation, if I can get ready to be outside and think of it too. I never did get back out there. Then again, that might not be bad. I have a tendency to push things.
I have my furnace set to 70 F at 6:00, 66 at 8:30, 68 at 17:00, and then 62 at 20:30. I am not sure if this is perfect, but I think it is helping. Too cold and I shut down, if without suffering, too hot and I get uncomfortable but more active. Finding the right middle ground is tricky. Since i cannot really feel what is too cold, I just end up shutting down, it takes a bit of experimenting. I cannot go by what I went by in Iowa as the humidity there made a huge difference and nothing really helped there, with evil all around.
Not much else going on. I hope you find a way to keep on track yourself.
Bon enjoyee. That's Bugs French for have a great day.
.
I tossed and turned for hours before finally sleeping last night. Though I went to bed somewhere in the neighborhood of 17:00 or 18:00, I doubt if I actually slept until 20:00, give or take. I woke at about 2:00, let Sam out and headed back to bed. I then slept well until 6:00. It has been a bit of a push to get to sleep and stay asleep, but I am finding that getting a decent extra dose of sleep is helping. I am still not all that active, but getting there perhaps.
Today I will be heading into town to go shooting with my friend. I will also do a bit of shopping, pick up a few more bullets, have a dinner somewhere, and grab some cash for to stash. I need to get a shower and maybe finish dishes. They stack up fast! I ought to check on the wasp situation, if I can get ready to be outside and think of it too. I never did get back out there. Then again, that might not be bad. I have a tendency to push things.
I have my furnace set to 70 F at 6:00, 66 at 8:30, 68 at 17:00, and then 62 at 20:30. I am not sure if this is perfect, but I think it is helping. Too cold and I shut down, if without suffering, too hot and I get uncomfortable but more active. Finding the right middle ground is tricky. Since i cannot really feel what is too cold, I just end up shutting down, it takes a bit of experimenting. I cannot go by what I went by in Iowa as the humidity there made a huge difference and nothing really helped there, with evil all around.
Not much else going on. I hope you find a way to keep on track yourself.
Bon enjoyee. That's Bugs French for have a great day.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Why do I always harp on family matters?
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.
Family is the crux of civilization. As goes the family, so goes any nation. She gets it, and says it better than I. She has been at it a bit longer, and has successfully, and humbly, worked on these issues, as a good woman, wife, and mother, for decades now. Yeah, okay, there are some pretty good women out there. Then again, my lady readers are pretty top notch, as I have it.
Well, it is bed time again. I have been getting up between 4:00 and 6:00. If I am going to sleep early, like... about now... I am able to get back to sleep if I wake earlier. And... I need to catch up on that sleep. A month and a half of 4 to 6 hours or less a night has not been good. Maybe I am phasing through to a better schedule. Time will tell.
Good night.
.
Family is the crux of civilization. As goes the family, so goes any nation. She gets it, and says it better than I. She has been at it a bit longer, and has successfully, and humbly, worked on these issues, as a good woman, wife, and mother, for decades now. Yeah, okay, there are some pretty good women out there. Then again, my lady readers are pretty top notch, as I have it.
Well, it is bed time again. I have been getting up between 4:00 and 6:00. If I am going to sleep early, like... about now... I am able to get back to sleep if I wake earlier. And... I need to catch up on that sleep. A month and a half of 4 to 6 hours or less a night has not been good. Maybe I am phasing through to a better schedule. Time will tell.
Good night.
Bank holiday?
.
.
I get this as a possibility from someone I think is, if a bit goofy *poke poke*, is working hard at getting it right. This could be a mistake, a false alarm. But the cost of prepping for it is minimal. So, I decided to put out the alarm myself. Not always do I or will I do this. It is simply that, at this time, I think he may have a serious point. Why would the banks take a holiday?
I am not an economist. Then again, I do not think most economists are. Most are political yes men, maleducated wannabes, or various forms of bureaucratic cogs. What I do know is that, in our current economic situation, putting a stop to bank foreclosures is something akin, medically, to using a tourniquet... on three or four limbs. It is really bad news. Add in that 49 states have loosed their attorney generals on the banks. Right.
Credit, which is how our economy works, functions much like blood. What foreclosure stoppage does is sort of a wild card. To what degree and what the government might try to introduce as a stopgap is merely speculation (and somewhat frightening itself). What I am sure about is that this will cause a mess in the financial industry. In the state of the economy we are facing, even a hiccup could be devastating. The advice advanced, and what I will forward, is simple.
Pull out enough cash, in smaller bills, to see you through real expenses for the next two weeks, as you are able. Enough for gas in the vehicle or whatever travel expenses might be needed, enough for food if you have nothing stocked (and even if you do), enough for bills showing up in the next couple of weeks. He does not suggest money for debt payments, which I am unsure about. Perhaps with banks down, that would be useless anyway? I know, if I can get going today but certainly tomorrow, I will be pulling out enough for two weeks, gassing up the X, buying groceries of the more perishable sort at least, and pulling out an additional small wad of funny money. It is not exactly like I am making any money on the money I have in the bank, so...
Thankfully, this month is not so lean as last. I have enough of a deep pocket to put a few ducks in a more accessible place. Cash, the dollar, may be dying. But it probably will not become worthless with this particular incident, if it occurs. Probably being the operative word. Hey, if it all falls flat and someone figures out how to use more fiction and keep the train on the tracks for a while longer... are you really out anything?
.
I get this as a possibility from someone I think is, if a bit goofy *poke poke*, is working hard at getting it right. This could be a mistake, a false alarm. But the cost of prepping for it is minimal. So, I decided to put out the alarm myself. Not always do I or will I do this. It is simply that, at this time, I think he may have a serious point. Why would the banks take a holiday?
I am not an economist. Then again, I do not think most economists are. Most are political yes men, maleducated wannabes, or various forms of bureaucratic cogs. What I do know is that, in our current economic situation, putting a stop to bank foreclosures is something akin, medically, to using a tourniquet... on three or four limbs. It is really bad news. Add in that 49 states have loosed their attorney generals on the banks. Right.
Credit, which is how our economy works, functions much like blood. What foreclosure stoppage does is sort of a wild card. To what degree and what the government might try to introduce as a stopgap is merely speculation (and somewhat frightening itself). What I am sure about is that this will cause a mess in the financial industry. In the state of the economy we are facing, even a hiccup could be devastating. The advice advanced, and what I will forward, is simple.
Pull out enough cash, in smaller bills, to see you through real expenses for the next two weeks, as you are able. Enough for gas in the vehicle or whatever travel expenses might be needed, enough for food if you have nothing stocked (and even if you do), enough for bills showing up in the next couple of weeks. He does not suggest money for debt payments, which I am unsure about. Perhaps with banks down, that would be useless anyway? I know, if I can get going today but certainly tomorrow, I will be pulling out enough for two weeks, gassing up the X, buying groceries of the more perishable sort at least, and pulling out an additional small wad of funny money. It is not exactly like I am making any money on the money I have in the bank, so...
Thankfully, this month is not so lean as last. I have enough of a deep pocket to put a few ducks in a more accessible place. Cash, the dollar, may be dying. But it probably will not become worthless with this particular incident, if it occurs. Probably being the operative word. Hey, if it all falls flat and someone figures out how to use more fiction and keep the train on the tracks for a while longer... are you really out anything?
Pitchforks.
.
.
There is little new under the sun when looking over pitchforks. I had hoped to find something new, something neat but old, or... anything. No, nothing much in the official channels. I did happen upon this one outside of the normal barn and farm implement outlets. Well, you do know about the pitchfork(tm) parties forming around the country, perhaps even around the world, right? Well, get on board, where have you been? Anyway, here it is.
So, what do you think?
Now to find a sheep skull lantern.
.
There is little new under the sun when looking over pitchforks. I had hoped to find something new, something neat but old, or... anything. No, nothing much in the official channels. I did happen upon this one outside of the normal barn and farm implement outlets. Well, you do know about the pitchfork(tm) parties forming around the country, perhaps even around the world, right? Well, get on board, where have you been? Anyway, here it is.
So, what do you think?
Now to find a sheep skull lantern.
What I have been saying about the U.S.?
.
.
While doing my daily reading, I happened upon a link that lead me to a notice of Japan and the problems they are having. The author seems to think this all through well enough, however he suggests Japan will be an example for us (presumably America, and maybe Europe) to not follow. Huh?
If you follow what is written, you will see that Japan is dying. They are in the midst of a population implosion. The young are not having children and the old cannot and did not when it was their turn. Some large part of the financial concerns, if the author is to be believed and I read it right, are based on the fact that many "modern" nations are economically based on government socialism, which is being exposed as a ponzi scheme through the reduction in population. Fair enough, it is something I cannot help but to have noted myself, albeit about the U.S. and Europe.
The thing he absolutely misses is, Europe is toppling over from that, the U.S. is not far behind. Russia is probably well in advance of Japan, actually, on all those scores. Why he does not note it, I cannot be sure. My guess is that nations like the U.S. and many of the European countries are importing baby producers, workers, and other population enhancers which smooth over the demographic implosions occurring in all "modern" nations. By missing this, he misses that Japan may be in better shape. Though, I will not swear to that as Japan has started to bring in foreign workers and will be having the same problem the rest of "us" are having sooner or later.
The demographics are changing so drastically in so many nations that it is impossible to guess how long it will be before a societal collapse will occur. With native populations not having children and foreign workers and breeders being brought in to fill the work load, for political purposes (cannot have the left without ignorant voters!), and such, it is only a matter of time before these nations are completely broken by the load. There really is not a happy ending coming our way.
He suggested that it takes a long time to change the wave. I suggest it would take no longer than a few weeks of legislative process. End absolutist civil equality laws, remove the expenses of bringing women to work (such as birth vacations with guaranteed rehire, corporate day care, day care reimbursements, flexible work schedules), and make working less rewarding for women who should be mothers. Men cannot do it. Further, the price of bringing women into the workplace using super equality laws and regulations has hindered the capacity of the average man to afford being the head of a household in a practical manner and lessened the interest of women to go that rout in the first place. Oh, pain will be felt by all and for a long time should this come to pass.
None of the changes needed to put America, Europe, or the world sum total, back on track are easy, quick, or painless. Actually, there is no other choice. The only choice now is whether we do it and try to survive, or if we die as a nation and by the nation of those who take over it is simply the way of things. Harsh? Life IS harsh. At this point there is no choice. Grab on, this will hurt quickly and be done relatively shortly, or we will slowly decay into a ghost of what we were and simply end up being a Mexican state. I suppose it beats becoming a muslim enclave, not by much though.
.
While doing my daily reading, I happened upon a link that lead me to a notice of Japan and the problems they are having. The author seems to think this all through well enough, however he suggests Japan will be an example for us (presumably America, and maybe Europe) to not follow. Huh?
If you follow what is written, you will see that Japan is dying. They are in the midst of a population implosion. The young are not having children and the old cannot and did not when it was their turn. Some large part of the financial concerns, if the author is to be believed and I read it right, are based on the fact that many "modern" nations are economically based on government socialism, which is being exposed as a ponzi scheme through the reduction in population. Fair enough, it is something I cannot help but to have noted myself, albeit about the U.S. and Europe.
The thing he absolutely misses is, Europe is toppling over from that, the U.S. is not far behind. Russia is probably well in advance of Japan, actually, on all those scores. Why he does not note it, I cannot be sure. My guess is that nations like the U.S. and many of the European countries are importing baby producers, workers, and other population enhancers which smooth over the demographic implosions occurring in all "modern" nations. By missing this, he misses that Japan may be in better shape. Though, I will not swear to that as Japan has started to bring in foreign workers and will be having the same problem the rest of "us" are having sooner or later.
The demographics are changing so drastically in so many nations that it is impossible to guess how long it will be before a societal collapse will occur. With native populations not having children and foreign workers and breeders being brought in to fill the work load, for political purposes (cannot have the left without ignorant voters!), and such, it is only a matter of time before these nations are completely broken by the load. There really is not a happy ending coming our way.
He suggested that it takes a long time to change the wave. I suggest it would take no longer than a few weeks of legislative process. End absolutist civil equality laws, remove the expenses of bringing women to work (such as birth vacations with guaranteed rehire, corporate day care, day care reimbursements, flexible work schedules), and make working less rewarding for women who should be mothers. Men cannot do it. Further, the price of bringing women into the workplace using super equality laws and regulations has hindered the capacity of the average man to afford being the head of a household in a practical manner and lessened the interest of women to go that rout in the first place. Oh, pain will be felt by all and for a long time should this come to pass.
None of the changes needed to put America, Europe, or the world sum total, back on track are easy, quick, or painless. Actually, there is no other choice. The only choice now is whether we do it and try to survive, or if we die as a nation and by the nation of those who take over it is simply the way of things. Harsh? Life IS harsh. At this point there is no choice. Grab on, this will hurt quickly and be done relatively shortly, or we will slowly decay into a ghost of what we were and simply end up being a Mexican state. I suppose it beats becoming a muslim enclave, not by much though.
So much happening all at once.
.
.
In the political arena, Republicans and conservatives seem to be gaining if one is to believe the official and unofficial pundits. (Dubious here, but then I am a sour puss and infamous doubting Thomas.) If what I am reading has any truth, the House will be taken and possibly with an historic number of seats taken. The Senate is looking more likely to be brought to 50/50 or more. I really think that most of the hype is, well, hype. I suspect, if strongly, the House will be taken. I doubt if the Senate will be won. We will see.
Something which infuriates me is the court ruling stopping "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Of course, that policy itself infuriated me. If anything, I am hoping that if this somehow goes through that the new congress will come back, remove both the ban and the policy, and once again outlaw homosexuality in the military. Perhaps even going the extra mile and telling judges they have no rights to intervene in that policy. I doubt it though, Repugnants are just as f'ing queer loving as Demonrats these days. One can hope, however. And I do.
Grain prices are soaring. They are absolutely sky-rocketing. Trouble? You betcha. With a freeze on Social Security cost of living coming at a time when food prices are getting way out of hand, the obvious disconnect between what inflation is and what the government thieves call it has become absolutely impossible to miss. Pitchforks were being readied for a dozen other reasons, this will hurt. I can honestly almost see real politicians being found and strung up by angry mobs all around the country. The police and Secret Service will have one of three choices: stay and attempt to protect, in which case they will join the politicians; join the crowd and bring the politicians out to receive their fate; or run like hell. I know most people think that such a thing, in a modern nation, especially in America, is impossible. It is not.
The next area is the housing market. Many underwater or bankrupt homeowners think the wave of fury at the handling of mortgages is a favorable thing to them. It is not. It has nothing to do with them. Actually, they are (the less credible ones who took loans they had no right reason to accept) one of the targets of ire. The outrage regarding this problem deals with theft through "social justice" by many politicians, illegal loans (by any real metric), financial repackaging of those loans, foreclosure practices, and other issues. Everything involved here is a large part of the pitchfork parties being prepared for bankers, lawyers, and politicians. Ugly, I say. And it will not get prettier as the mess mires the economy more than what we have already been through. What else are 80 million unemployed, unemployable, people to do for weekend relaxation. Plus, they could steal union buses for even more distant get-aways.
Then there is the medical malpractice laws which have been shoved down our throats. Where even to begin on this. Other than it being the most socialist (thus corrupt) insider deal to businesses and people who this administration and congress support at the huge cost to both actual medical practice and the health of the American people, it is a financial, social, and legal nightmare in areas which should have nothing to do with seeing a doctor. From the 1099 forms (which require reporting a transaction of $600 or more to the IRS), to taxes imposed on artificial limbs (which service members who lost limbs in action must pay!), to areas which have not even been discovered yet or are not receiving as much attention at this point because of the number of problems.
Pitchforks, tar, feathers, and a visit to your local incumbent and supporters thereof? Could happen. It really might. Oh, I suppose judges should be thrown in as targets. They will not slink off, not even with their black robes and resonant voices providing cover. I am, actually, somewhat surprised it has not already started. Who, me? No, too old to enjoy what may happen. I would probably over sleep any planned action anyway, or just be sitting here doing nothing, unable to quite get off my butt. My sentiments will go with those who decide to act, sort of. If I could feel anything, I am sure I might be more inclined to at least attend. I hope they keep it clean though, just taking out the targets and not going totally mad and, well, going too far. But steam, once built up, cannot always be controlled.
I do have one little irritating problem. No popcorn. I will go to the store today. I ran out last month or the one before it. I keep looking over bags of this and that. I like Orville, but it is so darned expensive. Hmm, while I am up and thinking about it, I might go do some reviews on commonly available popcorn. Do I research everything? Well, yes. If I have the internet available, if I have the time, if I think about it when both of those last are covered, I spend my time looking. I may need 20 pounds of popcorn for what is about to happen. Then again, some more would not be all that bad, for long term storage. A ten pound bag put in with with several of my other storage buckets. Really really.
.
In the political arena, Republicans and conservatives seem to be gaining if one is to believe the official and unofficial pundits. (Dubious here, but then I am a sour puss and infamous doubting Thomas.) If what I am reading has any truth, the House will be taken and possibly with an historic number of seats taken. The Senate is looking more likely to be brought to 50/50 or more. I really think that most of the hype is, well, hype. I suspect, if strongly, the House will be taken. I doubt if the Senate will be won. We will see.
Something which infuriates me is the court ruling stopping "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Of course, that policy itself infuriated me. If anything, I am hoping that if this somehow goes through that the new congress will come back, remove both the ban and the policy, and once again outlaw homosexuality in the military. Perhaps even going the extra mile and telling judges they have no rights to intervene in that policy. I doubt it though, Repugnants are just as f'ing queer loving as Demonrats these days. One can hope, however. And I do.
Grain prices are soaring. They are absolutely sky-rocketing. Trouble? You betcha. With a freeze on Social Security cost of living coming at a time when food prices are getting way out of hand, the obvious disconnect between what inflation is and what the government thieves call it has become absolutely impossible to miss. Pitchforks were being readied for a dozen other reasons, this will hurt. I can honestly almost see real politicians being found and strung up by angry mobs all around the country. The police and Secret Service will have one of three choices: stay and attempt to protect, in which case they will join the politicians; join the crowd and bring the politicians out to receive their fate; or run like hell. I know most people think that such a thing, in a modern nation, especially in America, is impossible. It is not.
The next area is the housing market. Many underwater or bankrupt homeowners think the wave of fury at the handling of mortgages is a favorable thing to them. It is not. It has nothing to do with them. Actually, they are (the less credible ones who took loans they had no right reason to accept) one of the targets of ire. The outrage regarding this problem deals with theft through "social justice" by many politicians, illegal loans (by any real metric), financial repackaging of those loans, foreclosure practices, and other issues. Everything involved here is a large part of the pitchfork parties being prepared for bankers, lawyers, and politicians. Ugly, I say. And it will not get prettier as the mess mires the economy more than what we have already been through. What else are 80 million unemployed, unemployable, people to do for weekend relaxation. Plus, they could steal union buses for even more distant get-aways.
Then there is the medical malpractice laws which have been shoved down our throats. Where even to begin on this. Other than it being the most socialist (thus corrupt) insider deal to businesses and people who this administration and congress support at the huge cost to both actual medical practice and the health of the American people, it is a financial, social, and legal nightmare in areas which should have nothing to do with seeing a doctor. From the 1099 forms (which require reporting a transaction of $600 or more to the IRS), to taxes imposed on artificial limbs (which service members who lost limbs in action must pay!), to areas which have not even been discovered yet or are not receiving as much attention at this point because of the number of problems.
Pitchforks, tar, feathers, and a visit to your local incumbent and supporters thereof? Could happen. It really might. Oh, I suppose judges should be thrown in as targets. They will not slink off, not even with their black robes and resonant voices providing cover. I am, actually, somewhat surprised it has not already started. Who, me? No, too old to enjoy what may happen. I would probably over sleep any planned action anyway, or just be sitting here doing nothing, unable to quite get off my butt. My sentiments will go with those who decide to act, sort of. If I could feel anything, I am sure I might be more inclined to at least attend. I hope they keep it clean though, just taking out the targets and not going totally mad and, well, going too far. But steam, once built up, cannot always be controlled.
I do have one little irritating problem. No popcorn. I will go to the store today. I ran out last month or the one before it. I keep looking over bags of this and that. I like Orville, but it is so darned expensive. Hmm, while I am up and thinking about it, I might go do some reviews on commonly available popcorn. Do I research everything? Well, yes. If I have the internet available, if I have the time, if I think about it when both of those last are covered, I spend my time looking. I may need 20 pounds of popcorn for what is about to happen. Then again, some more would not be all that bad, for long term storage. A ten pound bag put in with with several of my other storage buckets. Really really.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Wasps!
.
.
Many wasps. As I was checking out the roof I lifted a sheet of the old roofing. To my horror, the thing is covered in wasps. I gently returned the sheet, slipped off the roof, and entered the hen house. I did this because the wasps seemed rather lethargic, probably due to the cooler weather, so I deemed this as safe. I have been checking all summer for wasps. I saw only empty nests and never saw a live wasp. I must have missed something or they have colonized in this last month or two. This time there was a large wasp nest, quite active, and quite spooky. Because of the number of seemingly inactive nests, I have wasp spray on hand. Grabbing that, I read the instructions. The only way I could spray was the way the instructions directed me not to spray. Did I mention I am allergic to stings? I will look in an hour or two, though the instructions suggest waiting a full day. I will not necessarily spray that nest, but I will look for other active nests.
Nothing is as easy as just doing whatever you are doing. This time it was unnerving. A single sting, but definitely two or three, would very possibly have found me calling 911 and hoping. A dozen and I might not have made it to the house? It looked like, from the top area and the nest, that there are several hundred there or around. Why is it that every job becomes complicated to the point of continual stoppage. Adding to my typical troubles, life becomes quite problematic. One of the things on my mind is what to do with the shingles. The wood I can store, but I am not sure about the shingles. Depending on how much I pull off, I might be able to simply throw it in the trash. No guarantee though, and there is a risk of a fine. Same with yard debris from raking and the pruning materials. None of it can be burned, it will not fit in special bags, so... what?
Did I mention I was wearing a long sleeved yellow shirt? It is the only long sleeve work shirt I have. I am not sure if that would incense the wasps, but if yellow does, this would, in spades. When I work, I wear long sleaves, gloves, and thick work pants. But is that really enough, are wasps smartly aggressive or mindless attackers? Bah! I am doing research on wasps now.
Update:
Paper wasps. All sorts of sites indicate how good these wasps are for the environment. Nice, but uhm, perhaps they would be willing to collect them? I did not think so. The good news is my chosen method is the one that they recommend. The problem is the hive is only a few feet from the entrance, so a 20 foot distance between the comb and me was impossible. I used the doorway way as a means of shielding myself. There is room for them to see out and come out of the side of the roof, but there was no other way to spray. It worked, I guess. I hope there is only one nest in there. With that many wasps, I sort of expect that to be the case.
.
Many wasps. As I was checking out the roof I lifted a sheet of the old roofing. To my horror, the thing is covered in wasps. I gently returned the sheet, slipped off the roof, and entered the hen house. I did this because the wasps seemed rather lethargic, probably due to the cooler weather, so I deemed this as safe. I have been checking all summer for wasps. I saw only empty nests and never saw a live wasp. I must have missed something or they have colonized in this last month or two. This time there was a large wasp nest, quite active, and quite spooky. Because of the number of seemingly inactive nests, I have wasp spray on hand. Grabbing that, I read the instructions. The only way I could spray was the way the instructions directed me not to spray. Did I mention I am allergic to stings? I will look in an hour or two, though the instructions suggest waiting a full day. I will not necessarily spray that nest, but I will look for other active nests.
Nothing is as easy as just doing whatever you are doing. This time it was unnerving. A single sting, but definitely two or three, would very possibly have found me calling 911 and hoping. A dozen and I might not have made it to the house? It looked like, from the top area and the nest, that there are several hundred there or around. Why is it that every job becomes complicated to the point of continual stoppage. Adding to my typical troubles, life becomes quite problematic. One of the things on my mind is what to do with the shingles. The wood I can store, but I am not sure about the shingles. Depending on how much I pull off, I might be able to simply throw it in the trash. No guarantee though, and there is a risk of a fine. Same with yard debris from raking and the pruning materials. None of it can be burned, it will not fit in special bags, so... what?
Did I mention I was wearing a long sleeved yellow shirt? It is the only long sleeve work shirt I have. I am not sure if that would incense the wasps, but if yellow does, this would, in spades. When I work, I wear long sleaves, gloves, and thick work pants. But is that really enough, are wasps smartly aggressive or mindless attackers? Bah! I am doing research on wasps now.
Update:
Paper wasps. All sorts of sites indicate how good these wasps are for the environment. Nice, but uhm, perhaps they would be willing to collect them? I did not think so. The good news is my chosen method is the one that they recommend. The problem is the hive is only a few feet from the entrance, so a 20 foot distance between the comb and me was impossible. I used the doorway way as a means of shielding myself. There is room for them to see out and come out of the side of the roof, but there was no other way to spray. It worked, I guess. I hope there is only one nest in there. With that many wasps, I sort of expect that to be the case.
Up at 4:00.
.
.
Give or take, yes. I actually woke at 24:00, then at 2:00, but made it back to sleep. Sassy let me know that it was play time. Chasing her tail a little to close to me reminded me, again, that she has VERY sharp claws. She has, mostly, learned to play nice with me. Wow, sharp all right. As well, I was having a dream. I was driving the X up a switchback old logging road. I hit a place where going forward was going to have to include a drive over a few exposed smaller rounded boulders which, to my mind, might make the already steep climb too much but more included a bit of an trim (side to side) angle on top of all. I drove a bit up. Realized there might be a problem and backed up just a bit, got out and looked at the situation on foot, then got back in and was deciding what to do. Going back was... at least as troubling as going forward. Nearly a single lane, the cliff to my left was nearly sheer and a LONG way down. I was just considering what to do when... *SHARP* made the consideration to be left for another day. I was not sure whether to be grumpy with her or not. Still, who can hate a kitteh? They were meant to do just such things. Even when she pisses me off, I cannot help grinning. I know my own.
I did make it to the appointment. For whatever reason, I thought the thing was at 13:30 or 13:45. The young lady called and asked if I would be in at 12:30, just a bit before. I told her I thought the thing was at that later time. No problem, so we set it up for then. She had a new type of dye, one made for men. My beard and a trim. Hmm, I thought, as she started to... dye my hair. Oh, she said, when I suggested it was just to be the beard. Free, besides she needed to experiment with the dye, so I was a guinea pig. Well, it does look good. I haven't been silver free since I was 17 though, so it is... weird. I will think on it. Oh, she is only 25, if still single and not really dating. Yeah, no. Too young. But I am thinking and taking opportunities as they present. She said this, that, and the other thing about why she would not want to date me. Which does not really matter (trust me). But for me, 25 and her nature... No. Some fish you just have to toss back. She is quite available, somewhat interested, yet not quite ready.
On my way in, I saw my friend. Being plenty early for an appointment I was technically late for, I saw my friend crossing the highway. So I turned around and pulled in near him. Until he saw who I was, he thought I was going to kill him. I honestly wonder what all he has been involved with. I saw it when I first pulled up. He thought he was about to be dead and was rather calm with it. Yeah, I am in my right company, if we came to be similar in very different ways. Anyway, I went along with him while he did some shopping. More reloader ammunition boxes is what he needed and got. I had to go to my appointment, so I simply gave him a ride to his place so he did not have to take the bus and told him I would be back later to goof a bit. Then to the appointment I went. After the appointment, we went to lunch, took a drive to a damn a bit south, got out for a smoke at the dam, and then headed back. I set up an appointment to go shooting this Thursday though.
At home, I was done. I stayed up until 18:00 and then slept until 4:00. It was a lot more sleep, all at once, then I have gotten in weeks, maybe even a month or two. Lord was it good! It is the first dream I can remember having for so very long, too. I hope not to sleep that long as a usual, but I hope I can sleep a little longer than the 4 to 6 hours naps of the last month or two. And deep. Very nice. Today looks like it might be clear, and it might be clear for a while now. So, if I check the weather again today, and that seems to be right, I will begin on the roof. You know, I could have started work on the bench to be used for reloading, but I just did not think of it yesterday. Just the way it goes.
Later.
.
Give or take, yes. I actually woke at 24:00, then at 2:00, but made it back to sleep. Sassy let me know that it was play time. Chasing her tail a little to close to me reminded me, again, that she has VERY sharp claws. She has, mostly, learned to play nice with me. Wow, sharp all right. As well, I was having a dream. I was driving the X up a switchback old logging road. I hit a place where going forward was going to have to include a drive over a few exposed smaller rounded boulders which, to my mind, might make the already steep climb too much but more included a bit of an trim (side to side) angle on top of all. I drove a bit up. Realized there might be a problem and backed up just a bit, got out and looked at the situation on foot, then got back in and was deciding what to do. Going back was... at least as troubling as going forward. Nearly a single lane, the cliff to my left was nearly sheer and a LONG way down. I was just considering what to do when... *SHARP* made the consideration to be left for another day. I was not sure whether to be grumpy with her or not. Still, who can hate a kitteh? They were meant to do just such things. Even when she pisses me off, I cannot help grinning. I know my own.
I did make it to the appointment. For whatever reason, I thought the thing was at 13:30 or 13:45. The young lady called and asked if I would be in at 12:30, just a bit before. I told her I thought the thing was at that later time. No problem, so we set it up for then. She had a new type of dye, one made for men. My beard and a trim. Hmm, I thought, as she started to... dye my hair. Oh, she said, when I suggested it was just to be the beard. Free, besides she needed to experiment with the dye, so I was a guinea pig. Well, it does look good. I haven't been silver free since I was 17 though, so it is... weird. I will think on it. Oh, she is only 25, if still single and not really dating. Yeah, no. Too young. But I am thinking and taking opportunities as they present. She said this, that, and the other thing about why she would not want to date me. Which does not really matter (trust me). But for me, 25 and her nature... No. Some fish you just have to toss back. She is quite available, somewhat interested, yet not quite ready.
On my way in, I saw my friend. Being plenty early for an appointment I was technically late for, I saw my friend crossing the highway. So I turned around and pulled in near him. Until he saw who I was, he thought I was going to kill him. I honestly wonder what all he has been involved with. I saw it when I first pulled up. He thought he was about to be dead and was rather calm with it. Yeah, I am in my right company, if we came to be similar in very different ways. Anyway, I went along with him while he did some shopping. More reloader ammunition boxes is what he needed and got. I had to go to my appointment, so I simply gave him a ride to his place so he did not have to take the bus and told him I would be back later to goof a bit. Then to the appointment I went. After the appointment, we went to lunch, took a drive to a damn a bit south, got out for a smoke at the dam, and then headed back. I set up an appointment to go shooting this Thursday though.
At home, I was done. I stayed up until 18:00 and then slept until 4:00. It was a lot more sleep, all at once, then I have gotten in weeks, maybe even a month or two. Lord was it good! It is the first dream I can remember having for so very long, too. I hope not to sleep that long as a usual, but I hope I can sleep a little longer than the 4 to 6 hours naps of the last month or two. And deep. Very nice. Today looks like it might be clear, and it might be clear for a while now. So, if I check the weather again today, and that seems to be right, I will begin on the roof. You know, I could have started work on the bench to be used for reloading, but I just did not think of it yesterday. Just the way it goes.
Later.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Raining or about to or could.
.
.
No work can go forward on the hen house roof. Not today. Some dishes are done, a bit more to go on that. I did get the chance to call my mother today and that is always good. I did wake her up, which I actually feel bad about. In spite of my feelings, she actually enjoys even those calls. While having little else I can get to, I started digging into inserts, the rocket stove, and used wood stoves. The good news is all of those have serious potential to be installed or bought in little time. I have some doubts about an iron cook stove, simply due to... how to set it up, the condition many are in, and some other things. Still, if a few years are to be had, one might be considered if I do not think a somewhat enclosed cooking system is in my financial or other capacity.
While looking at the rocket stove sight I preferred, I noticed they offer a communal sized device ($500 versus $69 for a little one). The thing that worries me about the little one is whether it would have the capacity to handle an 8 quart (or larger) pressure cooker (of whatever sort). I know a pressure cooker is limited to (at maximum) half of it's volume in water. Still, that is a pretty hefty item. The problem, as I see it, with the big one, is that there is no real capacity to have it act as a bakery which is the only reason I would consider something larger and costlier. I still think the little rocket engine as a stopgap between when I buy it and when I construct an efficiency outdoor multi-format cooking system is the way to go.
The inserts for a fireplace give me huge hope. My major concern with the fireplace, assuming it is still in tact at all, is whether the chimney was in order. Even if it has been filled in, I have some hope that with a little advice and elbow grease, plus a few more tools, I might be able to clear such a blockage myself well enough to make an insert work. And, some of the inserts have enough of a ledge to provide a cooking space, while cooking inside the insert using cast iron cookware is also a function of seemingly all of them. I do worry about opening up the wall and finding more troubles than solutions though. The people who lived here last, it seems to me, would have considered such a thing themselves. Since they renovated the living spaces in which the fireplace opening would have been, they had to have had access to consider that option. The house is rather weatherproof, though. Perhaps they saw no need for that at that time, or wanted (needed) to put their money elsewhere. Until I know, the whole notion will simply be a swirl of concern. I could just take my contractor's war hammer to wall and figure it out... And that will have to be what will be done at some point, but I want to have the finances ready to either finish that out or wall it back up. I am not there.
While in town today, I will be checking out large zip lock type bags so that I might finally get my first 3 or 4 buckets loaded up. The nice thing about living in this area is people often know exactly what might work. Even if they do not do it themselves, they are around others who do and have considered the notion. By direct knowledge or osmosis, they have gained knowledge. Further, they do not look askance at the asker of such such questions! I believe I will clean my water storage containers before I leave and have them ready for filling. I have 4 x 5 gallon containers for water, but filling them using the reverse osmosis will take time. I think it only has a three gallon capacity and I try to drink at least a half of a gallon a day if I often fall short. The system begins refilling immediately after use, though I am not sure how fast that goes. If i can fill one 5 gallon bucket a day, that would see me set with water as I see things for 20 days on a minimalist schedule. Given my actual water use, I could see that lasting more like 10 days though. I think a "bath" once or twice a week is enough at perhaps 3 to 4 gallons of water per and a half gallon of water a day, assuming low activity, is enough. And, well, I AM home and hopefully will have food and water enough to function well. By this spring I am hoping to have a larger water container, say a 55 gallon type. I also hope to have another 4 x 5 gallon containers filled by then as well. I think 95 gallons would be enough for about 30 days. If I somehow create a cistern next summer, at 2500 gallons, I would be in much better shape.
It still all feels like a pipedream, regardless of the ebb and flow of my certainty that times are about to become harsh. As I may have mentioned, there are other reasons to live this way other than a crash. When it is going, it will offer a simpler life. As well, should I want to save significantly, I might be able to live nearly scot free for an extended time. But more than any of that is that this type of living is the opposite of hands-free automated living that so many choose to employ, or are nearly forced to in the automated world of many cities. I have to think about my foods, I have to prepare and cook it, and hopefully grow them with all that entails. Everything becomes a chore, but systematic ones. I will not say this will make me more alive so much as more involved in my life and much more functional in a crunch.
Mumble, mumble, grumble, and think. Rinse, repeat, but one step closer to independence. And I like it.
.
No work can go forward on the hen house roof. Not today. Some dishes are done, a bit more to go on that. I did get the chance to call my mother today and that is always good. I did wake her up, which I actually feel bad about. In spite of my feelings, she actually enjoys even those calls. While having little else I can get to, I started digging into inserts, the rocket stove, and used wood stoves. The good news is all of those have serious potential to be installed or bought in little time. I have some doubts about an iron cook stove, simply due to... how to set it up, the condition many are in, and some other things. Still, if a few years are to be had, one might be considered if I do not think a somewhat enclosed cooking system is in my financial or other capacity.
While looking at the rocket stove sight I preferred, I noticed they offer a communal sized device ($500 versus $69 for a little one). The thing that worries me about the little one is whether it would have the capacity to handle an 8 quart (or larger) pressure cooker (of whatever sort). I know a pressure cooker is limited to (at maximum) half of it's volume in water. Still, that is a pretty hefty item. The problem, as I see it, with the big one, is that there is no real capacity to have it act as a bakery which is the only reason I would consider something larger and costlier. I still think the little rocket engine as a stopgap between when I buy it and when I construct an efficiency outdoor multi-format cooking system is the way to go.
The inserts for a fireplace give me huge hope. My major concern with the fireplace, assuming it is still in tact at all, is whether the chimney was in order. Even if it has been filled in, I have some hope that with a little advice and elbow grease, plus a few more tools, I might be able to clear such a blockage myself well enough to make an insert work. And, some of the inserts have enough of a ledge to provide a cooking space, while cooking inside the insert using cast iron cookware is also a function of seemingly all of them. I do worry about opening up the wall and finding more troubles than solutions though. The people who lived here last, it seems to me, would have considered such a thing themselves. Since they renovated the living spaces in which the fireplace opening would have been, they had to have had access to consider that option. The house is rather weatherproof, though. Perhaps they saw no need for that at that time, or wanted (needed) to put their money elsewhere. Until I know, the whole notion will simply be a swirl of concern. I could just take my contractor's war hammer to wall and figure it out... And that will have to be what will be done at some point, but I want to have the finances ready to either finish that out or wall it back up. I am not there.
While in town today, I will be checking out large zip lock type bags so that I might finally get my first 3 or 4 buckets loaded up. The nice thing about living in this area is people often know exactly what might work. Even if they do not do it themselves, they are around others who do and have considered the notion. By direct knowledge or osmosis, they have gained knowledge. Further, they do not look askance at the asker of such such questions! I believe I will clean my water storage containers before I leave and have them ready for filling. I have 4 x 5 gallon containers for water, but filling them using the reverse osmosis will take time. I think it only has a three gallon capacity and I try to drink at least a half of a gallon a day if I often fall short. The system begins refilling immediately after use, though I am not sure how fast that goes. If i can fill one 5 gallon bucket a day, that would see me set with water as I see things for 20 days on a minimalist schedule. Given my actual water use, I could see that lasting more like 10 days though. I think a "bath" once or twice a week is enough at perhaps 3 to 4 gallons of water per and a half gallon of water a day, assuming low activity, is enough. And, well, I AM home and hopefully will have food and water enough to function well. By this spring I am hoping to have a larger water container, say a 55 gallon type. I also hope to have another 4 x 5 gallon containers filled by then as well. I think 95 gallons would be enough for about 30 days. If I somehow create a cistern next summer, at 2500 gallons, I would be in much better shape.
It still all feels like a pipedream, regardless of the ebb and flow of my certainty that times are about to become harsh. As I may have mentioned, there are other reasons to live this way other than a crash. When it is going, it will offer a simpler life. As well, should I want to save significantly, I might be able to live nearly scot free for an extended time. But more than any of that is that this type of living is the opposite of hands-free automated living that so many choose to employ, or are nearly forced to in the automated world of many cities. I have to think about my foods, I have to prepare and cook it, and hopefully grow them with all that entails. Everything becomes a chore, but systematic ones. I will not say this will make me more alive so much as more involved in my life and much more functional in a crunch.
Mumble, mumble, grumble, and think. Rinse, repeat, but one step closer to independence. And I like it.
Up by 6:30?
.
.
A few days ago I suggested that I had finally arranged my thermostat, setting it up, toying with the features, and getting that task finished. Well, it seems it works. I have the thing set to warm the house to 70 F at 6:00. Most likely, that is what woke me. With two short sleep cycles yesterday, I did have enough sleep with that second and this last 4 hour nap. So, I am awake, the house is warm enough to begin waking, get in a shower, and figure out what I will be doing today.
If it is not raining, and forecasts look good, I might get to tearing the roof down this morning and still have time to make it to my appointment with the lady barber this afternoon. Taking a shower and doing the remaining dishes while I dry, then dressing for work if that looks possible, then another shower, a bit of a beard trim, and to town after that. If it looks likely, I will also call my friend and let him know to be ready to go shooting. That has been a while. I might even grab a box of .45 acp (for storage) and another box of .22. At $20 per though, maybe not...
Today, again, is merely an opportunity. Can I get to it, can I walk outside, can I do some work and have some fun? Meh, we will see. Sure, I stack it on when I can. I sort of have to do so. Well, later.
.
A few days ago I suggested that I had finally arranged my thermostat, setting it up, toying with the features, and getting that task finished. Well, it seems it works. I have the thing set to warm the house to 70 F at 6:00. Most likely, that is what woke me. With two short sleep cycles yesterday, I did have enough sleep with that second and this last 4 hour nap. So, I am awake, the house is warm enough to begin waking, get in a shower, and figure out what I will be doing today.
If it is not raining, and forecasts look good, I might get to tearing the roof down this morning and still have time to make it to my appointment with the lady barber this afternoon. Taking a shower and doing the remaining dishes while I dry, then dressing for work if that looks possible, then another shower, a bit of a beard trim, and to town after that. If it looks likely, I will also call my friend and let him know to be ready to go shooting. That has been a while. I might even grab a box of .45 acp (for storage) and another box of .22. At $20 per though, maybe not...
Today, again, is merely an opportunity. Can I get to it, can I walk outside, can I do some work and have some fun? Meh, we will see. Sure, I stack it on when I can. I sort of have to do so. Well, later.
More than yesterday.
.
.
Most of the dishes have been done. They stacked longer than usual recently. It was ugly but it is mostly done. I suppose they have stacked longer and deeper because instead of just slacking completely I have been trying to eat two or three meals a day. Which, actually, is more than I have historically eaten. It was a goal to do this, eating 2 to 3 times a day, but that is not my reason. I am hoping that eating more often will provide the strength when opportunities present themselves.
I went simple tonight, home made macaroni and cheese. Milk butter and shredded cheese, along with macaroni is simple and yet quite good. A few spice mixes adds some heat like tonight, or can make the meal more aromatic. Tuna added protein tonight, though other meats do quite well also. And, I used a can of spinach as a totally different thing and to begin incorporating my short term foods into my diet. Though I have been doing that already, I have mostly been adding sardines and foods I would usually eat. This is a newer item, and yeah, that is tough for me. Worked well enough, though.
Some things I saw I thought were interesting out there I wanted to discuss and share are next on the menu. The first, the thing about food spiking. I honestly think this is the last, best, next, area to be attacked by the bubble maniacs. They realize food is a very limited product, is vital to everybody, and could lead to political power if that market is cornered and dominated. My guess, if too partly a hope, is that not only will this bubble crash before too many people die, that both governments and people will step in to crush speculation in this area. This, more than housing (at least in a land with other reasonable options) is something that is more than immoral to manipulate. If Soros and Gates do not take their fingers out of that pie, and soon, they may draw back bloody stumps. After reading about billionaires buying gold by the ton, followed by a mini-jump and then decline, I realized something had to be next. A few days later, foodstuffs go up. Yeah. It also shows me that, with the way information flows now, speculation has become problematic and bubbles are becoming much more difficult to create and sustain, putting aside a few economic realities beside information flow and attention span increases. Bless their dark little hearts for trying though.
The next one is the partial reality of living with various pets. Though I have cats, I would dearly love to have a dog too. I know though that a dog takes so much care, attendance, and training. I know they need lots of care, much more so than cats, and are a lot more expensive. Still, this little post is something I honestly think could be closer to the truth than not and why I love each type. Enjoy!
Oh, some things I bought the last time I was at the store were two pumpkins. It is my hope they will last until a few days before Halloween, at which time I will carve them. I would like to make a nice impression my first year here. Hmm, I best get my front room neatened and buy a new bulb for the front door light too. To that end, I have been looking through sites for patterns, methods of preserving the jack-o-lanterns, and trying to figure out lighting sources. I saw one idea which showed a pumpkin in a large clear bucket of water! I am not sure I have, or would be interested in obtaining such an item, but I am considering the notion. Snap lights for light, in some configuration or other, would give it a glow. I am not sure what types of faces or designs I will go with. This will be only the second time I have done this in my life, and the only time I have done this alone. Should be interesting.
Wow, at 2:20 or so, it is bed time. My hair cut and beard appointment is tomorrow. I need to be out of here by 12:30 or so. I hope I can make it. I am ready for bed so I just might. Good night, Pretty Woman, or whoever you are. Still praying for you whether you like it or not.
.
Most of the dishes have been done. They stacked longer than usual recently. It was ugly but it is mostly done. I suppose they have stacked longer and deeper because instead of just slacking completely I have been trying to eat two or three meals a day. Which, actually, is more than I have historically eaten. It was a goal to do this, eating 2 to 3 times a day, but that is not my reason. I am hoping that eating more often will provide the strength when opportunities present themselves.
I went simple tonight, home made macaroni and cheese. Milk butter and shredded cheese, along with macaroni is simple and yet quite good. A few spice mixes adds some heat like tonight, or can make the meal more aromatic. Tuna added protein tonight, though other meats do quite well also. And, I used a can of spinach as a totally different thing and to begin incorporating my short term foods into my diet. Though I have been doing that already, I have mostly been adding sardines and foods I would usually eat. This is a newer item, and yeah, that is tough for me. Worked well enough, though.
Some things I saw I thought were interesting out there I wanted to discuss and share are next on the menu. The first, the thing about food spiking. I honestly think this is the last, best, next, area to be attacked by the bubble maniacs. They realize food is a very limited product, is vital to everybody, and could lead to political power if that market is cornered and dominated. My guess, if too partly a hope, is that not only will this bubble crash before too many people die, that both governments and people will step in to crush speculation in this area. This, more than housing (at least in a land with other reasonable options) is something that is more than immoral to manipulate. If Soros and Gates do not take their fingers out of that pie, and soon, they may draw back bloody stumps. After reading about billionaires buying gold by the ton, followed by a mini-jump and then decline, I realized something had to be next. A few days later, foodstuffs go up. Yeah. It also shows me that, with the way information flows now, speculation has become problematic and bubbles are becoming much more difficult to create and sustain, putting aside a few economic realities beside information flow and attention span increases. Bless their dark little hearts for trying though.
The next one is the partial reality of living with various pets. Though I have cats, I would dearly love to have a dog too. I know though that a dog takes so much care, attendance, and training. I know they need lots of care, much more so than cats, and are a lot more expensive. Still, this little post is something I honestly think could be closer to the truth than not and why I love each type. Enjoy!
Oh, some things I bought the last time I was at the store were two pumpkins. It is my hope they will last until a few days before Halloween, at which time I will carve them. I would like to make a nice impression my first year here. Hmm, I best get my front room neatened and buy a new bulb for the front door light too. To that end, I have been looking through sites for patterns, methods of preserving the jack-o-lanterns, and trying to figure out lighting sources. I saw one idea which showed a pumpkin in a large clear bucket of water! I am not sure I have, or would be interested in obtaining such an item, but I am considering the notion. Snap lights for light, in some configuration or other, would give it a glow. I am not sure what types of faces or designs I will go with. This will be only the second time I have done this in my life, and the only time I have done this alone. Should be interesting.
Wow, at 2:20 or so, it is bed time. My hair cut and beard appointment is tomorrow. I need to be out of here by 12:30 or so. I hope I can make it. I am ready for bed so I just might. Good night, Pretty Woman, or whoever you are. Still praying for you whether you like it or not.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Books? Books.
.
.
My latest research efforts were in regard to... you know. You did read the title did you not? Anyway, to the search monster and Amazon I went. I started with a handful of titles and topics. Reading the reviews, starting at the bottom, and working my way through. Often, if the looks of the reviews were ugly or even a bit off, I would find another suggested title and author. I might add that book to my cart, just so I could find it easily enough in order to review the reviews. Hush, I am not an English major or such. I ended up with a well thought out pile of books in the cart, along with a sleep aid which has been suggested. And, for now, there they will sit. However, I thought I would share what is in my cart and what else I found, from the reviews, for free. I likes my freerange books.
Reader's Digest Back to Basics, Joy of Gardening by Dick Raymond, Backyard Livestock by Steven Thomas, Ultimate Guide to Wilderness Living by John McPherson sit in my cart. I did look at that bible one, and some others, but came away with these. From reviews, checking outside Amazon, and just going on gut instincts, these topped the list. There were some topics I failed to find top slots regarding, including a cookbook for stored foods. In that example, I did find a book but the reviews killed the deal. Even the top reviews suggested that the recipes may not have been tested, that some of the instructions even when clear were simply false, and that there were many errors, incomplete recipes, and wrong proportions. Being a decent cook, I could overcome some of that, but not all of it. Also precluded was a book on grain growing. By the reviews, I simply could not find one that worked. The one D.C. has had on his site, from the reviews, was more for people with at least a small tractor? There were other flaws, though I am hoping he might comment on that.
Ah, to the freerange materials. This, if nothing else, I really wanted to share. While looking at purchasing "Where There Is No Doctor", I ran into a review which suggested these are outdated and referring anyone reading the review to go to Hesperian Foundation and download the updated manual for free. Oddly in a not so odd, or funny, of a way, that review disapeared when I went back later in search of it. To find the name of the link which lead me to the downloads. Amazon would not scrub a review for taking away business would it? My wonder is how they connected my looking elsewhere to the review and so quickly? Yeah, the bastards know more than they let on. Further, I also found a free download regarding dentistry, women's health, and a midwife guide. They are all as updated as possible, more so than the offerings on Amazon. If you wish you may purchase the books or books and cds, rather than just doing the free download(s). I have all of them on the machine, at the moment.
Wow, stayed awake until after 14:00! Anyway, I am thinking on those books. I think I have enough money to cover them, and would like to explore the topics, but I sort of want to wait a bit, into the middle of the month, before spending anything. I do not want to go through last month's personal monetary meltdown. It is a bad place for me, more so than most. Sam says "MeoHIw", Sassy says, "Huh? No... Well, maybe if you like me... *burrrh* Urhm, no... bye!". Or, something like that.
Have a great day.
.
My latest research efforts were in regard to... you know. You did read the title did you not? Anyway, to the search monster and Amazon I went. I started with a handful of titles and topics. Reading the reviews, starting at the bottom, and working my way through. Often, if the looks of the reviews were ugly or even a bit off, I would find another suggested title and author. I might add that book to my cart, just so I could find it easily enough in order to review the reviews. Hush, I am not an English major or such. I ended up with a well thought out pile of books in the cart, along with a sleep aid which has been suggested. And, for now, there they will sit. However, I thought I would share what is in my cart and what else I found, from the reviews, for free. I likes my freerange books.
Reader's Digest Back to Basics, Joy of Gardening by Dick Raymond, Backyard Livestock by Steven Thomas, Ultimate Guide to Wilderness Living by John McPherson sit in my cart. I did look at that bible one, and some others, but came away with these. From reviews, checking outside Amazon, and just going on gut instincts, these topped the list. There were some topics I failed to find top slots regarding, including a cookbook for stored foods. In that example, I did find a book but the reviews killed the deal. Even the top reviews suggested that the recipes may not have been tested, that some of the instructions even when clear were simply false, and that there were many errors, incomplete recipes, and wrong proportions. Being a decent cook, I could overcome some of that, but not all of it. Also precluded was a book on grain growing. By the reviews, I simply could not find one that worked. The one D.C. has had on his site, from the reviews, was more for people with at least a small tractor? There were other flaws, though I am hoping he might comment on that.
Ah, to the freerange materials. This, if nothing else, I really wanted to share. While looking at purchasing "Where There Is No Doctor", I ran into a review which suggested these are outdated and referring anyone reading the review to go to Hesperian Foundation and download the updated manual for free. Oddly in a not so odd, or funny, of a way, that review disapeared when I went back later in search of it. To find the name of the link which lead me to the downloads. Amazon would not scrub a review for taking away business would it? My wonder is how they connected my looking elsewhere to the review and so quickly? Yeah, the bastards know more than they let on. Further, I also found a free download regarding dentistry, women's health, and a midwife guide. They are all as updated as possible, more so than the offerings on Amazon. If you wish you may purchase the books or books and cds, rather than just doing the free download(s). I have all of them on the machine, at the moment.
Wow, stayed awake until after 14:00! Anyway, I am thinking on those books. I think I have enough money to cover them, and would like to explore the topics, but I sort of want to wait a bit, into the middle of the month, before spending anything. I do not want to go through last month's personal monetary meltdown. It is a bad place for me, more so than most. Sam says "MeoHIw", Sassy says, "Huh? No... Well, maybe if you like me... *burrrh* Urhm, no... bye!". Or, something like that.
Have a great day.
Oh really?
.
.
One of the many things I am researching is a wheat grinder. I have reviewed many devices, considered complaints and compliments, considered the price ranges, and... As usual it comes down to price. If you do not mind a glorified paperweight, buy that $20 device. If you are the king, buy the $$$ one. If you are like me, you just add it to a wish list too big to reasonably seemingly ever fill. Advertising almost ought to be banned. At least require advertisers to be held to some standards, and include them in the warranty responsibility process. If there are laws on the books, they are not being well enforced. No new laws, that only favors the big companies while sparing neither quality or price. There are two or three I am looking at. They start at about $180 and go up. The favored one, not really by price, happens to be the $180 device. For another couple hundred, I could add an electric base as well, for current convenience. As well, it has attachments that work with both the manual and electric bases which allow for everything from slicing vegetables to grinding meats to almost anything such a device would be good for. The whole package, including both bases, comes in at about $500.
The list grows, the budget is the same, and that is that. I am currently trying to order purchases and needs versus wants and luxury. Understand, though, that some luxury is a need. Take a week long hike somewhere. Put a Snickers in your pack. Remember it on your fourth day out. Then you will understand. Then again, carrying nothing but Snickers probably would not be good. As food is being gathered and stored, water is about to be handled, and a home has been secured, heat, cooking, and food processing are coming into their own. Livestock and gardening are... well, under consideration if a bit further off than what I had hoped. Prepping the house itself is... in the distance but on the mind too. Still, I need to find what is most crucial, should the world stop tomorrow, and get on that first. But a cheap fix is often no fix, just a money loss and later larger expenditure or going without something crucial.
The good news about heat and cooking is that there are more options out there than what I would have guessed. I am not sure of pricing, longevity is always an issue, but combined heating and cooking devices using several energy sources offers some relief. It does get complicated, when considering shelf life of the fuels, whether the source can be used indoors safely or not or within what parameters, and how expensive any of this is. The food processing, at this point, is a matter of obtaining a mill and a pressure cooker, perhaps then a canner and the needed pieces for that. Oh, and livestock. That will just have to wait until... well... I am hoping, as I meet locals, I might speak with others who already raise chickens, rabbits, goats, and horses. Have you seen the price of new tackle for a horse? Wow! It is coming along though. Like climbing a mountain in a precarious manner, do not look down. Actually, do not look up either. Just... climb.
I have decided to discuss whether a drug has come out that acts like an opium blocker the next time I see my doctor. The article suggested that there is one but it loses it's efficacy quickly. This doctor is rather hostile to the notion that I might have my unofficial diagnosis. Then again, she is hostile period. I am not sure I could work with her on anything. I am almost guessing, that if one could block that self-made material for a period of time, say a year or two, that the body might recover from the production and addiction in that time. I am pretty sure it will hurt, hard. I have not felt things, to include most physical pain, in decades. Oh yes, it would hurt. I think it would offer my life back though.
.
One of the many things I am researching is a wheat grinder. I have reviewed many devices, considered complaints and compliments, considered the price ranges, and... As usual it comes down to price. If you do not mind a glorified paperweight, buy that $20 device. If you are the king, buy the $$$ one. If you are like me, you just add it to a wish list too big to reasonably seemingly ever fill. Advertising almost ought to be banned. At least require advertisers to be held to some standards, and include them in the warranty responsibility process. If there are laws on the books, they are not being well enforced. No new laws, that only favors the big companies while sparing neither quality or price. There are two or three I am looking at. They start at about $180 and go up. The favored one, not really by price, happens to be the $180 device. For another couple hundred, I could add an electric base as well, for current convenience. As well, it has attachments that work with both the manual and electric bases which allow for everything from slicing vegetables to grinding meats to almost anything such a device would be good for. The whole package, including both bases, comes in at about $500.
The list grows, the budget is the same, and that is that. I am currently trying to order purchases and needs versus wants and luxury. Understand, though, that some luxury is a need. Take a week long hike somewhere. Put a Snickers in your pack. Remember it on your fourth day out. Then you will understand. Then again, carrying nothing but Snickers probably would not be good. As food is being gathered and stored, water is about to be handled, and a home has been secured, heat, cooking, and food processing are coming into their own. Livestock and gardening are... well, under consideration if a bit further off than what I had hoped. Prepping the house itself is... in the distance but on the mind too. Still, I need to find what is most crucial, should the world stop tomorrow, and get on that first. But a cheap fix is often no fix, just a money loss and later larger expenditure or going without something crucial.
The good news about heat and cooking is that there are more options out there than what I would have guessed. I am not sure of pricing, longevity is always an issue, but combined heating and cooking devices using several energy sources offers some relief. It does get complicated, when considering shelf life of the fuels, whether the source can be used indoors safely or not or within what parameters, and how expensive any of this is. The food processing, at this point, is a matter of obtaining a mill and a pressure cooker, perhaps then a canner and the needed pieces for that. Oh, and livestock. That will just have to wait until... well... I am hoping, as I meet locals, I might speak with others who already raise chickens, rabbits, goats, and horses. Have you seen the price of new tackle for a horse? Wow! It is coming along though. Like climbing a mountain in a precarious manner, do not look down. Actually, do not look up either. Just... climb.
I have decided to discuss whether a drug has come out that acts like an opium blocker the next time I see my doctor. The article suggested that there is one but it loses it's efficacy quickly. This doctor is rather hostile to the notion that I might have my unofficial diagnosis. Then again, she is hostile period. I am not sure I could work with her on anything. I am almost guessing, that if one could block that self-made material for a period of time, say a year or two, that the body might recover from the production and addiction in that time. I am pretty sure it will hurt, hard. I have not felt things, to include most physical pain, in decades. Oh yes, it would hurt. I think it would offer my life back though.
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