.
.
Odd. I haven't received a real letter in nearly a year and I receive two of them on the same day. I don't know about you, but I love real letters. Hand written, mind you. One was on a card, the other on simple paper. Both from people I care about, deeply, if quite differently. I may not have many friends. And my friendships may be contentious, as my lady friend termed it. But I do have good friends.
The first, from my lady friend, suggested she feels really bad about me being so ill. She even has considered moving out. She gave three reasons why she shouldn't. No, no, I won't laugh. I am sure she is almost serious, as far as serious goes. I will contact her soon, probably by phone. What she doesn't understand is... I was ill from this pretty much the whole time she knew me and long before then. Sure, the edema was a little bit of a radical departure. But it was just a few months. Anyway, it is always good to hear from her. And I do like that she has that sentiment. But more, it is good to know she is doing well. Hey, I'm a bit cheesy sometimes, but I would rather know people are doing good than most anything else. The rest just comes down to the notion that it's the thought the counts. Of course, there is more. She wrote more than what I have said but not in essence. And yet, you have to know her, and I do. For it, she "hates me". And I love it. *evil grins*
The other was from my local friend. I had tried to contact him but heard nothing. I simply couldn't get through and I couldn't seem to find him at home. I didn't know if he was avoiding me or... what. It seems he has had the rest of his foot removed. How far up his leg they went I don't know. From the sounds of it, it was quite necessary. On top of that, he has been moved. He is semi-hospitalized (or actually in a nursing facility). He must remain there until he can learn to use the prosthetic. He also seems to have a new phone number. He gave me both the new number and new address. I tried to call this evening but no one answered. I'll keep calling and see if he needs anything when I visit. I am sure visiting hours, and maybe phone times, might be limited. Hmm, I wonder what I could bring? Sausage, the good kind, and some edam cheese? Yep. And anything else he might suggest he needs.
Well, to bed early tonight, I do believe. Another hour of dinking and toodling and I'll be down for the count. Hmm, woke at 3:00, down by 21:00, 18 hours uptime. Yeah, that's good.
awake: 3:00, asleep: 22:45
(yesterday) awake: 3:00, asleep: 15:00
(All times are from when I laid down, not necessarily when I actually fell asleep but do assume significant, single period, sleep. However, in the last... many months and mostly, sleep happens rather quickly, like what you would expect when someone says they went to bed.)
Saturday, August 6, 2011
The two pistols on my list.
.
.
I know, too early to be too hopeful. But one can't help dreaming. The two pistols on my list I could probably get sooner rather than later are topping my list, currently. One for those times when almost no pistol seems possible (think shorts and t-shirt, or swim trunks). The other for more general small carry. I do like revolvers, if they aren't as fun to shoot (as a 14 round .45). They work, every time. I think I am stuck on that S&W Chief Special for the .357 mag. Weight isn't an issue for me, in conceal carry, at least not like it is with most people. Further, the extra weight of a steel gun reduces recoil. I am able to shoot my friend's .357 magnum with full .357 (+P, as he likes to load them hot!) with a single hand (and bounce a can at 35 plus feet). His is even a pug, sub 2" barrel. The Chief has a 3" barrel (the one that I want, there are two types of Chiefs, at least). The other pistol comes highly recommended by a source I trust (though hand size might or might not be an issue). I am not sure I can use it. I will have to see if someone around has one for range rent. It's called a Black Widow, a 22 mag (and I can get a .22 lr cylinder for it as well, I do believe).
Yeah, I still want that shotgun, the KSG. I have heard Kel-Tec is synonymous with poor delivery. They offer possibly cutting edge weapons and either they are fail or they are impossible to get. Then instead of printing them per demand, they just move on to... something else cool and interesting. I can hope they will be better poised to pounce on opportunity, with the economy the way it is. Or I will simply have to wait for the patents to die for someone with an interest in making a buck to come along and copy, and produce in numbers. Plus, it won't be out until the end of the year, so I would have time to reconfigure my savings.
Why three carry pistols? First, I like having a backup. Second, there are different situations that call for different types of carry. Beyond all that? If allowed... How about because I can? If I get my permit I plan to carry at all times (when legal to do so). I see it as a civil duty, no less than voting. I see it as a right that should be exercised (or it will be lost). It is seriously doubtful I will ever have to use it. I do avoid bad parts of cities. I do my work in the day (when possible). I avoid trouble and can almost smell it. Even if someone broke into my home, I have doubts I would actually have to shoot, not here. Probably just someone's problem child and I really wouldn't send them a corpse because they have a stupid kid. I might train my gun on someone like that, then merely call the cops whatever else happened (assuming they froze or ran).
Jazzed by the class I guess. I could have gotten a conceal carry in Iowa, I had a permit to buy handguns for four years. There really shouldn't be an issue. Who knows though, Utah is different from Iowa. However this time I will get to the bottom of any problems, and if it is somehow the V.A., I will get people on that. From what I am seeing with my heart doctors, they realize it was a terrible mistake to have listed me as psychiatric. I think they darn well know my problem has simply been heart related. They know the symptomology. It fits. That my heart was simply not explored as a problem is a shame, and embarrassment, even though I was pretty young when it became an issue. Sure, it wasn't them, but it was their field. Anyway, I will get the permit if I can.
.
I know, too early to be too hopeful. But one can't help dreaming. The two pistols on my list I could probably get sooner rather than later are topping my list, currently. One for those times when almost no pistol seems possible (think shorts and t-shirt, or swim trunks). The other for more general small carry. I do like revolvers, if they aren't as fun to shoot (as a 14 round .45). They work, every time. I think I am stuck on that S&W Chief Special for the .357 mag. Weight isn't an issue for me, in conceal carry, at least not like it is with most people. Further, the extra weight of a steel gun reduces recoil. I am able to shoot my friend's .357 magnum with full .357 (+P, as he likes to load them hot!) with a single hand (and bounce a can at 35 plus feet). His is even a pug, sub 2" barrel. The Chief has a 3" barrel (the one that I want, there are two types of Chiefs, at least). The other pistol comes highly recommended by a source I trust (though hand size might or might not be an issue). I am not sure I can use it. I will have to see if someone around has one for range rent. It's called a Black Widow, a 22 mag (and I can get a .22 lr cylinder for it as well, I do believe).
Yeah, I still want that shotgun, the KSG. I have heard Kel-Tec is synonymous with poor delivery. They offer possibly cutting edge weapons and either they are fail or they are impossible to get. Then instead of printing them per demand, they just move on to... something else cool and interesting. I can hope they will be better poised to pounce on opportunity, with the economy the way it is. Or I will simply have to wait for the patents to die for someone with an interest in making a buck to come along and copy, and produce in numbers. Plus, it won't be out until the end of the year, so I would have time to reconfigure my savings.
Why three carry pistols? First, I like having a backup. Second, there are different situations that call for different types of carry. Beyond all that? If allowed... How about because I can? If I get my permit I plan to carry at all times (when legal to do so). I see it as a civil duty, no less than voting. I see it as a right that should be exercised (or it will be lost). It is seriously doubtful I will ever have to use it. I do avoid bad parts of cities. I do my work in the day (when possible). I avoid trouble and can almost smell it. Even if someone broke into my home, I have doubts I would actually have to shoot, not here. Probably just someone's problem child and I really wouldn't send them a corpse because they have a stupid kid. I might train my gun on someone like that, then merely call the cops whatever else happened (assuming they froze or ran).
Jazzed by the class I guess. I could have gotten a conceal carry in Iowa, I had a permit to buy handguns for four years. There really shouldn't be an issue. Who knows though, Utah is different from Iowa. However this time I will get to the bottom of any problems, and if it is somehow the V.A., I will get people on that. From what I am seeing with my heart doctors, they realize it was a terrible mistake to have listed me as psychiatric. I think they darn well know my problem has simply been heart related. They know the symptomology. It fits. That my heart was simply not explored as a problem is a shame, and embarrassment, even though I was pretty young when it became an issue. Sure, it wasn't them, but it was their field. Anyway, I will get the permit if I can.
I made it.
.
.
On time and actually a bit early. I left early enough to have had breakfast somewhere. And, probably could have had breakfast. However, wanting to look the place over before having to be there, and not sure about how long of a trip it would be, I went by the place first. There wasn't a place to stop and eat, that I saw. I did drive to the next town over. They didn't have a restaurant either. So, back to the shop and a short wait.
The class was mostly for newbies. Which was fine, I sort of expected that. However, there were bits of information that were very important. For one thing, and the most important thing, was what "empty" means regarding sidearms. For an auto, it means a full magazine, in place, just no bullet in the tube. Okay, now this is far different from what empty meant in Iowa. Empty meant no bullets within reasonable reach and no magazine near any bullets or the gun. Yeah. So, you can open carry with a live mag just no bullet chambered. And, yes, I can live with that. For revolvers it means two open chambers, one the hammer rests upon and the next one in the cycle. That was critical, to my way of thinking.
Now, remember, most of these people are civilians. They are non-combatants. They have never fired, nor even been trained to fire, in anything like a real full on combat situation. Further, even if they believe in gun ownership, many are still squeamish about guns, and more importantly about using them. So... I did feel out of place. And, no, I'm not gun happy or gun crazy. No, I wouldn't shoot first and ask questions later. Merely, I am as comfortable with guns as I am with water or driving (more than driving actually) or going to Church (in theory). I would not have a problem killing, either. I would prefer not to, for a number of reasons. But left with little choice and only a moment to choose, I would choose my or another life (of mine) over some stranger or aggressor. And I already know it wouldn't bug me if it went down rightly.
Now, on the other hand, I don't have a passel of kids and a wife to consider. I can be much more cavalier about having a full on loaded pistol anywhere in my house, unlocked and in the open. I don't have people around me who are terrified of guns. My mother, perhaps, but then again I don't toy with my guns around her (or, even when she isn't around). I don't have anything to worry about, including myself. I don't have weird thoughts of suicide or homicide. Such things don't plague me. I am very emotionally stable, and have become even more so through personal gun ownership. A new owner has to make a concentrated effort to figure it all out. The Navy figured it out for me, to a degree, with my allowance of course. And I have figured much out since. Still, it was good to see four women in the group. Though it sounded like none of them would regularly carry (the ones who spoke). Then again, they all seemed nervous about their children (who do like to crawl all over mommy during snuggle time) finding or discharging the gun. I suppose they would save carrying for trips, specific need, etc. Fair enough. And, it's sort of a non-feminine thing.
Anyway, I have the stuff to take in. I believe I have an appointment very soon. I won't, of course, need to take my gun. Couldn't as I can't have my pistol at the V.A. I totally disagree with that. Perhaps with a proper president, and since the psychiatric portion is in a separate building, we might be allowed to have our rights honoered "on federal grounds". Think about that. Just... think about that for a second? Really? We can't have permitted concealed weapons... ON FEDERAL GROUNDS? Really? How insane is that? Never mind.
It is merely by luck that I was able to be awake and there, on time. I seem to make medical appointments, but that edema really caught hold of my attention and the medicines have worked a bit (when I don't tinker or miss out). The rest of life is very difficult to manage. A hook in my nose would work, but then someone would be having to deal with blood rage at some point. A fish net would be of no good use to someone who pulled me in with a fish hook. I am grateful to have made it! Oh, the guy sells guns, sort of. He more or less hooks up those who can legally own guns as a side, nearly profitless, business. So, yeah. I will give him my business if it all works out. I like supporting such types.
.
On time and actually a bit early. I left early enough to have had breakfast somewhere. And, probably could have had breakfast. However, wanting to look the place over before having to be there, and not sure about how long of a trip it would be, I went by the place first. There wasn't a place to stop and eat, that I saw. I did drive to the next town over. They didn't have a restaurant either. So, back to the shop and a short wait.
The class was mostly for newbies. Which was fine, I sort of expected that. However, there were bits of information that were very important. For one thing, and the most important thing, was what "empty" means regarding sidearms. For an auto, it means a full magazine, in place, just no bullet in the tube. Okay, now this is far different from what empty meant in Iowa. Empty meant no bullets within reasonable reach and no magazine near any bullets or the gun. Yeah. So, you can open carry with a live mag just no bullet chambered. And, yes, I can live with that. For revolvers it means two open chambers, one the hammer rests upon and the next one in the cycle. That was critical, to my way of thinking.
Now, remember, most of these people are civilians. They are non-combatants. They have never fired, nor even been trained to fire, in anything like a real full on combat situation. Further, even if they believe in gun ownership, many are still squeamish about guns, and more importantly about using them. So... I did feel out of place. And, no, I'm not gun happy or gun crazy. No, I wouldn't shoot first and ask questions later. Merely, I am as comfortable with guns as I am with water or driving (more than driving actually) or going to Church (in theory). I would not have a problem killing, either. I would prefer not to, for a number of reasons. But left with little choice and only a moment to choose, I would choose my or another life (of mine) over some stranger or aggressor. And I already know it wouldn't bug me if it went down rightly.
Now, on the other hand, I don't have a passel of kids and a wife to consider. I can be much more cavalier about having a full on loaded pistol anywhere in my house, unlocked and in the open. I don't have people around me who are terrified of guns. My mother, perhaps, but then again I don't toy with my guns around her (or, even when she isn't around). I don't have anything to worry about, including myself. I don't have weird thoughts of suicide or homicide. Such things don't plague me. I am very emotionally stable, and have become even more so through personal gun ownership. A new owner has to make a concentrated effort to figure it all out. The Navy figured it out for me, to a degree, with my allowance of course. And I have figured much out since. Still, it was good to see four women in the group. Though it sounded like none of them would regularly carry (the ones who spoke). Then again, they all seemed nervous about their children (who do like to crawl all over mommy during snuggle time) finding or discharging the gun. I suppose they would save carrying for trips, specific need, etc. Fair enough. And, it's sort of a non-feminine thing.
Anyway, I have the stuff to take in. I believe I have an appointment very soon. I won't, of course, need to take my gun. Couldn't as I can't have my pistol at the V.A. I totally disagree with that. Perhaps with a proper president, and since the psychiatric portion is in a separate building, we might be allowed to have our rights honoered "on federal grounds". Think about that. Just... think about that for a second? Really? We can't have permitted concealed weapons... ON FEDERAL GROUNDS? Really? How insane is that? Never mind.
It is merely by luck that I was able to be awake and there, on time. I seem to make medical appointments, but that edema really caught hold of my attention and the medicines have worked a bit (when I don't tinker or miss out). The rest of life is very difficult to manage. A hook in my nose would work, but then someone would be having to deal with blood rage at some point. A fish net would be of no good use to someone who pulled me in with a fish hook. I am grateful to have made it! Oh, the guy sells guns, sort of. He more or less hooks up those who can legally own guns as a side, nearly profitless, business. So, yeah. I will give him my business if it all works out. I like supporting such types.
Exciting!
.
.
I don't know if I will end up with my ccp, but I am about try. A shower, shave, and the breakfast somewhere. A small breakfast so I don't get sleepy. Eating a large meal doesn't always cause it, but it can. It depends on the class a bit too.
I keep reading about guys who, faced with a bad situation, learn and become more proactive. They learn martial arts, lift weights, and buy a pistol and then on to other firearms or even other weapons. For me, I have only known the type of life that they suddenly become aware of. Many of them realize they are fodder, game, prey, but didn't for most of their lives.
I think the difference between me and many others is; I realize this is just the way of life, it has probably been this way since the beginning of man. Cain and Able were just the first we know of.; Getting in shape, arming up, learning combat, practicing with firearms... All of it is nice, and I would propose people do that, just not to the exclusion of all else. It will eat you up. Further, those things are wise, but they are far from a guarantee. The best warriors in the world die every day.; And, probably worse, should you become a true warrior, a powerhouse, a weaponized human... you then face the prospect that you will become a threat. Most people live like you used to live. Telling the sheep, who you could quite accidentally kill, and the wolves who are an actual threat, apart, is a whole other game.
If you choose to live a proper life, not partying, not going out late, not being around drunks and drug users, and you choose to live in small conservative communities, your life just became almost perfectly safe (all else being equal). Sure, if the markets melt down, if the Euro collapses, if the dollar dies, yes, then there is something else. But if you are useful and fit your small community, you are probably in the best place you could be. It amazes me how choosing a specific lifestyle, and location, has changed my whole notion of safety. Sure, my neighbors could become dangerous. That is unlikely. If for no other reason that the known is safer than the unknown, my reputation seems to have proceeded me (the generally good and knowledge of past moral issues), and the understanding that, in hard situations, numbers are important. Especially hard-tack numbers. And of course, the notion that I am not a simple man, I might be more than what I seem, even beyond what they suspect or have heard. And of course, the almost certainty that I wouldn't be an easy target.
I guess, for me, it just amazes me that so many people go through life with no clue. By the time I was ten I realized I was on my own and that life was very hard. I knew there were people, singular or in groups, who could, would, and did hurt me. Hard. I also learned how to survive without giving in or out. I learned how to schedule things, how to arrange the politics of a fight, how to negotiate the aftermath, and how to win. I even learned, when it was right, to run. I went through twelve more years of open contact fighting. No rules, no safety net, just knuckles on flesh. Stopping when I became ill. But I have more combat training and experience than most people you will ever meet. I guess I just don't understand most people. They really can't even defend themselves. They really don't know that they may need to defend themselves. They are the ones who are truly dangerous. You don't know what they can or will do, and selling out, giving up, is all they know.
Well, on to my morning. Good day. I suppose I pray that more people wake up to what the world is, where it is going, and begin changing. That's a hard thing, growing up. Not doing so is far worse. Later.
.
I don't know if I will end up with my ccp, but I am about try. A shower, shave, and the breakfast somewhere. A small breakfast so I don't get sleepy. Eating a large meal doesn't always cause it, but it can. It depends on the class a bit too.
I keep reading about guys who, faced with a bad situation, learn and become more proactive. They learn martial arts, lift weights, and buy a pistol and then on to other firearms or even other weapons. For me, I have only known the type of life that they suddenly become aware of. Many of them realize they are fodder, game, prey, but didn't for most of their lives.
I think the difference between me and many others is; I realize this is just the way of life, it has probably been this way since the beginning of man. Cain and Able were just the first we know of.; Getting in shape, arming up, learning combat, practicing with firearms... All of it is nice, and I would propose people do that, just not to the exclusion of all else. It will eat you up. Further, those things are wise, but they are far from a guarantee. The best warriors in the world die every day.; And, probably worse, should you become a true warrior, a powerhouse, a weaponized human... you then face the prospect that you will become a threat. Most people live like you used to live. Telling the sheep, who you could quite accidentally kill, and the wolves who are an actual threat, apart, is a whole other game.
If you choose to live a proper life, not partying, not going out late, not being around drunks and drug users, and you choose to live in small conservative communities, your life just became almost perfectly safe (all else being equal). Sure, if the markets melt down, if the Euro collapses, if the dollar dies, yes, then there is something else. But if you are useful and fit your small community, you are probably in the best place you could be. It amazes me how choosing a specific lifestyle, and location, has changed my whole notion of safety. Sure, my neighbors could become dangerous. That is unlikely. If for no other reason that the known is safer than the unknown, my reputation seems to have proceeded me (the generally good and knowledge of past moral issues), and the understanding that, in hard situations, numbers are important. Especially hard-tack numbers. And of course, the notion that I am not a simple man, I might be more than what I seem, even beyond what they suspect or have heard. And of course, the almost certainty that I wouldn't be an easy target.
I guess, for me, it just amazes me that so many people go through life with no clue. By the time I was ten I realized I was on my own and that life was very hard. I knew there were people, singular or in groups, who could, would, and did hurt me. Hard. I also learned how to survive without giving in or out. I learned how to schedule things, how to arrange the politics of a fight, how to negotiate the aftermath, and how to win. I even learned, when it was right, to run. I went through twelve more years of open contact fighting. No rules, no safety net, just knuckles on flesh. Stopping when I became ill. But I have more combat training and experience than most people you will ever meet. I guess I just don't understand most people. They really can't even defend themselves. They really don't know that they may need to defend themselves. They are the ones who are truly dangerous. You don't know what they can or will do, and selling out, giving up, is all they know.
Well, on to my morning. Good day. I suppose I pray that more people wake up to what the world is, where it is going, and begin changing. That's a hard thing, growing up. Not doing so is far worse. Later.
Oh well.
.
.
I am up in time to go to the class this morning. It's a four hour class. Nothing fancy, just the facts. I will look over the email. I know I am supposed to bring a pen with black (NOT BLUE) ink. I will need to sign a waiver of some sort, which I have read and agree to in mind. My printer isn't working so I can't print and sign ahead of time. Oh, and I need to have $35 on me. I do, but not in change, so I might replace some of the ones I keep on hand for a twenty, in case they can't make change (many people pay with checks or cards these days).
Not much else is going on. I just haven't been able to push through. When I can't use the computer as a crutch to stay awake, and often far too long, then I sleep. Just keeping on medicine and slipping a bit but trying to stay on the feedbag and liquids, is about the sum of things. I'll get to it, soon. Doldrums, that's about the way of it. As I said before though, I am doing better. This, for years at a time, was the high point. This current low was as good as it got. I have to keep that in mind, not let my grip slip, not quit. This IS good. It just isn't as good as it can and will again get.
I suppose, once the medicine is at therapeutic levels, and there for three months or so, we will then check the heart function. No, I am not at max (therapeutic) levels yet. Going up too fast causes my blood pressure to drop far too low and too quickly. Medicine is sort of like walking a tightwire. That is why that messup cost me so dearly (and why I really have to try not to let it happen again). Getting back on the wire, midpoint, is more than a trick (and that is why I am having such problems right now). It is also why I am biting my tongue and just trying to be patient. I have seen what it can do. It is worth the effort, including a bit of waiting, patience.
.
I am up in time to go to the class this morning. It's a four hour class. Nothing fancy, just the facts. I will look over the email. I know I am supposed to bring a pen with black (NOT BLUE) ink. I will need to sign a waiver of some sort, which I have read and agree to in mind. My printer isn't working so I can't print and sign ahead of time. Oh, and I need to have $35 on me. I do, but not in change, so I might replace some of the ones I keep on hand for a twenty, in case they can't make change (many people pay with checks or cards these days).
Not much else is going on. I just haven't been able to push through. When I can't use the computer as a crutch to stay awake, and often far too long, then I sleep. Just keeping on medicine and slipping a bit but trying to stay on the feedbag and liquids, is about the sum of things. I'll get to it, soon. Doldrums, that's about the way of it. As I said before though, I am doing better. This, for years at a time, was the high point. This current low was as good as it got. I have to keep that in mind, not let my grip slip, not quit. This IS good. It just isn't as good as it can and will again get.
I suppose, once the medicine is at therapeutic levels, and there for three months or so, we will then check the heart function. No, I am not at max (therapeutic) levels yet. Going up too fast causes my blood pressure to drop far too low and too quickly. Medicine is sort of like walking a tightwire. That is why that messup cost me so dearly (and why I really have to try not to let it happen again). Getting back on the wire, midpoint, is more than a trick (and that is why I am having such problems right now). It is also why I am biting my tongue and just trying to be patient. I have seen what it can do. It is worth the effort, including a bit of waiting, patience.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Yeah, well...
.
.
Not much happening today. I just can't seem to get going. Medicine was taken, of course. Cats have been fed and watered. If they keeping goofing, they might get planted too! Then again, I am weening them off the canned cat food, I expected restless natives. Sam just stays gone longer and Sassy varies. Sometimes she goes on the attack, sometimes she just curls up and sleeps more. Both beg pretty hard. A can and a half for Sassy and a half a can for Sam, that's it.
I'm just not able to get going. I have something early tomorrow morning, a class for ccp. I don't know if it will go through but I think it has a chance. If there was an identification problem before, fingerprints will clear that up. There is no shooting part to it, which is too bad. Adding in a shooting requirement would open up a number more states for reciprocity. As is, with a ccp from Utah, I can travel to Iowa (and now be in Iowa) acceptably. And while traveling I really like having a pistol or three right there. It helps with vibrancy. Ah-ha! No one ever expects a .45 when trying to rob!
Hmm, I need the fans going. Maybe that will help. Later.
.
Not much happening today. I just can't seem to get going. Medicine was taken, of course. Cats have been fed and watered. If they keeping goofing, they might get planted too! Then again, I am weening them off the canned cat food, I expected restless natives. Sam just stays gone longer and Sassy varies. Sometimes she goes on the attack, sometimes she just curls up and sleeps more. Both beg pretty hard. A can and a half for Sassy and a half a can for Sam, that's it.
I'm just not able to get going. I have something early tomorrow morning, a class for ccp. I don't know if it will go through but I think it has a chance. If there was an identification problem before, fingerprints will clear that up. There is no shooting part to it, which is too bad. Adding in a shooting requirement would open up a number more states for reciprocity. As is, with a ccp from Utah, I can travel to Iowa (and now be in Iowa) acceptably. And while traveling I really like having a pistol or three right there. It helps with vibrancy. Ah-ha! No one ever expects a .45 when trying to rob!
Hmm, I need the fans going. Maybe that will help. Later.
What a storm!
.
.
What rolled through here was nothing short of one of the finest thunderstorms I have seen. It has to rank in the top 40, and I'm a fanboy of hell, rain, lightening, and thunder. I am not sure how long it went on, but it woke me around 23:00 and I think went on another fifteen minutes to half an hour. I wanted to get up, check the windows, and begin my "day", but the lights were out, power down. I used to keep my flashlight by the bed but it has been moved over time. So I had to blindly search the house for anything. The first thing I was sure of was matches in a cupboard in the kitchen.
Actually, I was quite easily able to find my way in there, find the matches, and get some light. Then I remembered I had taken my favored flashlight into the reloading room. Sorry, but I just wasn't going to take a lit match in there. Had to think a moment. Ah, another flashlight in a kitchen drawer! I got that out and flicked it on. What a hunk of junk. It worked but was terrible. It was from a $70 dollar Snap-On flashlight set. I thought the batteries were dieing. Nope, new batteries, same crappy light, and no way to focus. Oh well. I used it to look for my $12 cheapo Guide Gear flashlight. Dang but I love me some cheapo! That thing is absolute light, it is on spot, focused, and has a large beam. It is more powerful than the 4-D flashlight from the Snap-On kit. It fits my hand perfectly, has a butt-plate switch, glass breaking butt round, and makes me proud to once in a while try the cheap stuff.
Anyway, I finally got it all together, checked the windows (the storm was coming in from the South-West I believe, but the rain was pouring in from the North windows, had to close those. There was some serious wind action going on there. The bummer was, in finding everything, checking windows, and finally getting to a point where I might be able to watch the storm, the excitement had pretty much passed. I could hear the thunder though, while doing all my doings. It sounded like the lightening was fingering out. Oh yeah, I do love that. When you see huge flashes coming right in your window, then five or ten seconds later you hear the sound and can still hear the separate fingerlings, you know you've got a light show going on. Maybe some time I will get to see that. I absolutely love watching that.
Anyway, with nothing on, moving, or doing, I just went back to bed. I woke at 3:00, lights were back on, so I got up. Now, to figure out what to do. I'm still just not up to snuff. Pushing doesn't help. For me, the thing is to stay on my medicines, to eat, to hydrate properly, and to do whatever it is I can do. So, that is what I will do, am doing. Medicines down the hatch, including the oft forgotten potassium, a shower, and maybe the bike today when the sun comes up. The deliveryman hadn't delivered the stove when I went to sleep yesterday (sometime after 15:00, or he snuck in and didn't ring). I was sitting right near the door and didn't hear a thing (and I hear well and am always listening intently). But I have noticed deliverymen have become extremely "efficient" lately. My guess is companies are laying off, the slow(er) first. It is now cutthroat for them? Yeah, probably. Odd thing is, with the storm coming from the South-West... and rain (deluge type) beating in through an overhang on the North side, the boxes on the South side were... dry? Weird as heck.
(Woke at 3:00)
.
What rolled through here was nothing short of one of the finest thunderstorms I have seen. It has to rank in the top 40, and I'm a fanboy of hell, rain, lightening, and thunder. I am not sure how long it went on, but it woke me around 23:00 and I think went on another fifteen minutes to half an hour. I wanted to get up, check the windows, and begin my "day", but the lights were out, power down. I used to keep my flashlight by the bed but it has been moved over time. So I had to blindly search the house for anything. The first thing I was sure of was matches in a cupboard in the kitchen.
Actually, I was quite easily able to find my way in there, find the matches, and get some light. Then I remembered I had taken my favored flashlight into the reloading room. Sorry, but I just wasn't going to take a lit match in there. Had to think a moment. Ah, another flashlight in a kitchen drawer! I got that out and flicked it on. What a hunk of junk. It worked but was terrible. It was from a $70 dollar Snap-On flashlight set. I thought the batteries were dieing. Nope, new batteries, same crappy light, and no way to focus. Oh well. I used it to look for my $12 cheapo Guide Gear flashlight. Dang but I love me some cheapo! That thing is absolute light, it is on spot, focused, and has a large beam. It is more powerful than the 4-D flashlight from the Snap-On kit. It fits my hand perfectly, has a butt-plate switch, glass breaking butt round, and makes me proud to once in a while try the cheap stuff.
Anyway, I finally got it all together, checked the windows (the storm was coming in from the South-West I believe, but the rain was pouring in from the North windows, had to close those. There was some serious wind action going on there. The bummer was, in finding everything, checking windows, and finally getting to a point where I might be able to watch the storm, the excitement had pretty much passed. I could hear the thunder though, while doing all my doings. It sounded like the lightening was fingering out. Oh yeah, I do love that. When you see huge flashes coming right in your window, then five or ten seconds later you hear the sound and can still hear the separate fingerlings, you know you've got a light show going on. Maybe some time I will get to see that. I absolutely love watching that.
Anyway, with nothing on, moving, or doing, I just went back to bed. I woke at 3:00, lights were back on, so I got up. Now, to figure out what to do. I'm still just not up to snuff. Pushing doesn't help. For me, the thing is to stay on my medicines, to eat, to hydrate properly, and to do whatever it is I can do. So, that is what I will do, am doing. Medicines down the hatch, including the oft forgotten potassium, a shower, and maybe the bike today when the sun comes up. The deliveryman hadn't delivered the stove when I went to sleep yesterday (sometime after 15:00, or he snuck in and didn't ring). I was sitting right near the door and didn't hear a thing (and I hear well and am always listening intently). But I have noticed deliverymen have become extremely "efficient" lately. My guess is companies are laying off, the slow(er) first. It is now cutthroat for them? Yeah, probably. Odd thing is, with the storm coming from the South-West... and rain (deluge type) beating in through an overhang on the North side, the boxes on the South side were... dry? Weird as heck.
(Woke at 3:00)
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Long days indeed.
.
.
I knew this would be part of getting back on 'the wagon'. That medicinal malfunction messed things up pretty good, along with the extra fluid retention. It will take, as I said, another week or two to get things back to function. Knowing what the problem is does not make fixing it any faster. What knowing does is keeps me focused on staying on track. Even though I now realize there probably is no getting back to full health. Even if I can get my heart to pump normal amounts, which is improbable, figuring out life after 20 years and change of living a certain way is going to be another thing. And, being 20 years and change older adds to the mix of uncertainty.
Of course I don't really worry. I am used to living on a day to day, do what I can, take it as it comes methodology. There is always some hope that I could find my way through, say to college and a job. Maybe more. For the first time in two decades I at least know what my bogyman is. I have biometric parameters I can check which do line up with lack of function. I do see improvements, if more slowly than what I like, when these things are tended. I have doctors who are earning my trust.
My days are getting very long. The cool weather is probably helping keep the thing under wraps though. A 36 hour day is not unusual. The trick I have to keep in mind is continuing to take my medicines. When your day starts one morning and ends the afternoon of the next day, it becomes a little uncomfortable knowing when to take medicine. More so when that stretch feels normal, easy, typical, somehow. I am not sure how long I am sleeping, I simply have just been going to sleep when needed and waking at some point, usually feeling rested and comfortable. Perhaps now that I am doing better I can begin tracking that. It had been useless to play with it just recently.
I just write stuff here as a distraction, as a hobby, to clear thoughts, set goals, interact, and perhaps keep my writing and logic skills, slim as they are, up to some standards. Even if the internet is proving unreliable as a solid source of easy information, it is proving to be a bit of a lifeline and social forum. I can take that. Thanks Al. Ha!
Have a great day. Maybe I will get to the bike today. No, I didn't get to it. Yes, yes, I said I would. No, I won't... Get... get off my back! :p But have a good day anywhile.
.
I knew this would be part of getting back on 'the wagon'. That medicinal malfunction messed things up pretty good, along with the extra fluid retention. It will take, as I said, another week or two to get things back to function. Knowing what the problem is does not make fixing it any faster. What knowing does is keeps me focused on staying on track. Even though I now realize there probably is no getting back to full health. Even if I can get my heart to pump normal amounts, which is improbable, figuring out life after 20 years and change of living a certain way is going to be another thing. And, being 20 years and change older adds to the mix of uncertainty.
Of course I don't really worry. I am used to living on a day to day, do what I can, take it as it comes methodology. There is always some hope that I could find my way through, say to college and a job. Maybe more. For the first time in two decades I at least know what my bogyman is. I have biometric parameters I can check which do line up with lack of function. I do see improvements, if more slowly than what I like, when these things are tended. I have doctors who are earning my trust.
My days are getting very long. The cool weather is probably helping keep the thing under wraps though. A 36 hour day is not unusual. The trick I have to keep in mind is continuing to take my medicines. When your day starts one morning and ends the afternoon of the next day, it becomes a little uncomfortable knowing when to take medicine. More so when that stretch feels normal, easy, typical, somehow. I am not sure how long I am sleeping, I simply have just been going to sleep when needed and waking at some point, usually feeling rested and comfortable. Perhaps now that I am doing better I can begin tracking that. It had been useless to play with it just recently.
I just write stuff here as a distraction, as a hobby, to clear thoughts, set goals, interact, and perhaps keep my writing and logic skills, slim as they are, up to some standards. Even if the internet is proving unreliable as a solid source of easy information, it is proving to be a bit of a lifeline and social forum. I can take that. Thanks Al. Ha!
Have a great day. Maybe I will get to the bike today. No, I didn't get to it. Yes, yes, I said I would. No, I won't... Get... get off my back! :p But have a good day anywhile.
Odd things, but...
.
.
I keep thinking about the kitchen. What to do, how to get it done, costs. A kitchen is a huge project. If well designed, a kitchen is an amazing place. The heat needed for cooking is kept tamed, the air flow needed to cool or maintain heat is readily available, the floors and walls are safe, there is space for cooking and baking goods and consumables, there is plenty of easy access space for preparing food, and cleanup is simple and easy access. Designed poorly and the place is unsafe, uncomfortable, unsatisfactory, unpleasant, and any or all of those and more. My kitchen, plain and simple, is a nuisance. I have a huge space and yet no place to work at all. Beside making the kitchen useable, improvements would add value to the house as a whole.
Something else I keep looking at, wood fired cooking stoves, and this stove. They seem to indicate these can work as house heaters, too. But I am dubious about that. I love the looks of the second one, but the function of the first one a lot more. Oh, I remember my foster mother tending this to cook and bake when we were in the mountains, at their cabin. We also had a standard fireplace there. She had one like the prettier one, if not quite as fancy. She made it seem simple, but it wasn't. Adding wood at just the right time and adjusting vents to maintain a specific temp. Starting the fire then waiting while it heated. Cleaning out the dust was messy, if she made even that look easy. She had talent, though by the time I knew her she had nearly 20 years of (albeit just summer) practice with the contraption. A family uses 8 to 12 cords of wood a year (in the northern climbs). A cord, in Utah, if I saw correctly, goes for around $125, plus delivery. Or, a permit to collect is $7.50 a cord with a minimum of 4 cords per permit. That, of course, would require the tools to take lumber and the capacity to haul it. Ugh, never ending. There is another downside. You always smell like a smoker. Maybe things have improved, but I am doubting it. My first year up there I still smoked, yes, only a 7th grader, hushit. I could always find cigarettes, just... followed my nose and kept my eyes open, if pilfering was needed. Up there they never could tell I had been smoking.
I don't know, just something on my mind. Actually, if I was to do that, I would also consider a smaller but regular wood heater in the living room. I still haven't investigated the old fireplace here. Even if it isn't up to specs, it would probably still do just fine with an insert. An insert would be a lot more fuel efficient, too. The thing is, until I decide I can even afford to break into the drywall to check about the fireplace, I can't know if an insert will work. It depends on which way the fireplace opening is facing. The thing is, with all that, we are talking about $6k to $10k, just in purchase price. Taxes, delivery, installation, alterations... extra. Yeah. But it is on the backburner for when I win the lottery! Maybe I ought to start playing? Ha, one of the other good things about Utah? No lottery. It's an honest state. (And, no, I would not play the lotto even if it were here, nor should you. Even if you aren't into the whole morality thing, perhaps you should be into the whole math and economic thing? Doh!)
Some things to consider when considering updating my kitchen. Going forward is not always going... well... forward. You can keep your stainless appliances. You can keep your electric. You can keep dainty materials that won't hold up to an ogre chef. But that doesn't mean it will be cheap, either. Trading in flash for good quality means solid materials and workmanship, things that are more at a premium than ever.
Oh, sounds like my outside wood/coal oven and water pasteurizer are here. The delivery company called and asked for my physical address. That disappoints me a bit. The problem ordering, as I came to figure out, was that the address section would not take both of my addresses for my credit card to work. At first, when doing it, it looked like both were required, but only one was really needed. Taking a break from it allowed me to see the missing detail when I returned to try again. So, I took off my physical address. I noticed they had a place for "extra instructions". So, I wrote a brief simple note indicating that, should they not be using USPS (should I have spelled it out?), that they send it to my physical address, which I supplied. Well, no real bother unless I hadn't happened to be awake to receive the call. Remember now, for most of my twenty years of illness, when I happened to be awake, I was almost exclusively awake in the afternoons or even more so at night. Bah!
Hmm, come to think of it, that is quite a change. As recently as two years ago, I was almost always only awake at night. I still sometimes go through that, but it isn't the usual. Just... noticing things I guess. Oh, on the good side with the wood stove consideration... Since I am planning to upgrade the kitchen, I could add in special insulation so that I could have the stove more flush with the walls. Hmm, I keep thinking on it all.
Later.
.
I keep thinking about the kitchen. What to do, how to get it done, costs. A kitchen is a huge project. If well designed, a kitchen is an amazing place. The heat needed for cooking is kept tamed, the air flow needed to cool or maintain heat is readily available, the floors and walls are safe, there is space for cooking and baking goods and consumables, there is plenty of easy access space for preparing food, and cleanup is simple and easy access. Designed poorly and the place is unsafe, uncomfortable, unsatisfactory, unpleasant, and any or all of those and more. My kitchen, plain and simple, is a nuisance. I have a huge space and yet no place to work at all. Beside making the kitchen useable, improvements would add value to the house as a whole.
Something else I keep looking at, wood fired cooking stoves, and this stove. They seem to indicate these can work as house heaters, too. But I am dubious about that. I love the looks of the second one, but the function of the first one a lot more. Oh, I remember my foster mother tending this to cook and bake when we were in the mountains, at their cabin. We also had a standard fireplace there. She had one like the prettier one, if not quite as fancy. She made it seem simple, but it wasn't. Adding wood at just the right time and adjusting vents to maintain a specific temp. Starting the fire then waiting while it heated. Cleaning out the dust was messy, if she made even that look easy. She had talent, though by the time I knew her she had nearly 20 years of (albeit just summer) practice with the contraption. A family uses 8 to 12 cords of wood a year (in the northern climbs). A cord, in Utah, if I saw correctly, goes for around $125, plus delivery. Or, a permit to collect is $7.50 a cord with a minimum of 4 cords per permit. That, of course, would require the tools to take lumber and the capacity to haul it. Ugh, never ending. There is another downside. You always smell like a smoker. Maybe things have improved, but I am doubting it. My first year up there I still smoked, yes, only a 7th grader, hushit. I could always find cigarettes, just... followed my nose and kept my eyes open, if pilfering was needed. Up there they never could tell I had been smoking.
I don't know, just something on my mind. Actually, if I was to do that, I would also consider a smaller but regular wood heater in the living room. I still haven't investigated the old fireplace here. Even if it isn't up to specs, it would probably still do just fine with an insert. An insert would be a lot more fuel efficient, too. The thing is, until I decide I can even afford to break into the drywall to check about the fireplace, I can't know if an insert will work. It depends on which way the fireplace opening is facing. The thing is, with all that, we are talking about $6k to $10k, just in purchase price. Taxes, delivery, installation, alterations... extra. Yeah. But it is on the backburner for when I win the lottery! Maybe I ought to start playing? Ha, one of the other good things about Utah? No lottery. It's an honest state. (And, no, I would not play the lotto even if it were here, nor should you. Even if you aren't into the whole morality thing, perhaps you should be into the whole math and economic thing? Doh!)
Some things to consider when considering updating my kitchen. Going forward is not always going... well... forward. You can keep your stainless appliances. You can keep your electric. You can keep dainty materials that won't hold up to an ogre chef. But that doesn't mean it will be cheap, either. Trading in flash for good quality means solid materials and workmanship, things that are more at a premium than ever.
Oh, sounds like my outside wood/coal oven and water pasteurizer are here. The delivery company called and asked for my physical address. That disappoints me a bit. The problem ordering, as I came to figure out, was that the address section would not take both of my addresses for my credit card to work. At first, when doing it, it looked like both were required, but only one was really needed. Taking a break from it allowed me to see the missing detail when I returned to try again. So, I took off my physical address. I noticed they had a place for "extra instructions". So, I wrote a brief simple note indicating that, should they not be using USPS (should I have spelled it out?), that they send it to my physical address, which I supplied. Well, no real bother unless I hadn't happened to be awake to receive the call. Remember now, for most of my twenty years of illness, when I happened to be awake, I was almost exclusively awake in the afternoons or even more so at night. Bah!
Hmm, come to think of it, that is quite a change. As recently as two years ago, I was almost always only awake at night. I still sometimes go through that, but it isn't the usual. Just... noticing things I guess. Oh, on the good side with the wood stove consideration... Since I am planning to upgrade the kitchen, I could add in special insulation so that I could have the stove more flush with the walls. Hmm, I keep thinking on it all.
Later.
Fear, you have no fear?
.
.
When I hear this I have to laugh. I hear people say that you shouldn't have it, that you are a pussy if you do. Bunk. I fear, deeply, right to my soul. At least in the secular aspects of life. Yes, I fear you. In the ways of war, fear is very good. The only thing slightly better is the ability to overcome and act right through that fear. Fear is a potent gift, only bested by terror, horror, and shame. With these for fuel, you may begin your path of the warrior. Any method that does not include inculcating these things, or worse trying to force one to outright deny these things, are failed methods. More poetry than truth. Probably written by old men who have wet themselves and decided war is for other men. Fear, along with duty, strength of will, and a willingness to live right in hell to get it done, these are the ways. Then again, even the fighting class in America has had such a good life that they don't understand. You can be fearless if death is never a strong possibility. I haven't had that luxury, and gladly.
Even so, I have become an old man, as warriors go. I would rather not fight, though that was always true. I just will not lead the young astray with stories of glory and brotherhood and all that rot. You are as alone in the hell of war as you would be in hell itself. You best know that. All the things you stand for are fiction when you face death. You do it for yourself. Your brothers in arms only get you over that first hump, that first bit of weakness that might show. After that, it's your gig, solo, singular. Don't think there is any glory to it. I think it is more like pride. If you make it out of serious shit, and lots of it, over a long time, you won't think you are special. You will be. But special ain't pretty. And it ain't what you think it is. You will most likely be a feral beast inside. You will have to learn to negotiate with that, and you probably won't always win (or even get a say, until you begin figuring a few things out). Drink a pint of blood and come back to me. If you do this, you will be on your way. One step on a thousand mile journey, a journey you probably won't survive, one way or the other.
Ah, but good hunting. Especially you fearless types. *grins*
.
When I hear this I have to laugh. I hear people say that you shouldn't have it, that you are a pussy if you do. Bunk. I fear, deeply, right to my soul. At least in the secular aspects of life. Yes, I fear you. In the ways of war, fear is very good. The only thing slightly better is the ability to overcome and act right through that fear. Fear is a potent gift, only bested by terror, horror, and shame. With these for fuel, you may begin your path of the warrior. Any method that does not include inculcating these things, or worse trying to force one to outright deny these things, are failed methods. More poetry than truth. Probably written by old men who have wet themselves and decided war is for other men. Fear, along with duty, strength of will, and a willingness to live right in hell to get it done, these are the ways. Then again, even the fighting class in America has had such a good life that they don't understand. You can be fearless if death is never a strong possibility. I haven't had that luxury, and gladly.
Even so, I have become an old man, as warriors go. I would rather not fight, though that was always true. I just will not lead the young astray with stories of glory and brotherhood and all that rot. You are as alone in the hell of war as you would be in hell itself. You best know that. All the things you stand for are fiction when you face death. You do it for yourself. Your brothers in arms only get you over that first hump, that first bit of weakness that might show. After that, it's your gig, solo, singular. Don't think there is any glory to it. I think it is more like pride. If you make it out of serious shit, and lots of it, over a long time, you won't think you are special. You will be. But special ain't pretty. And it ain't what you think it is. You will most likely be a feral beast inside. You will have to learn to negotiate with that, and you probably won't always win (or even get a say, until you begin figuring a few things out). Drink a pint of blood and come back to me. If you do this, you will be on your way. One step on a thousand mile journey, a journey you probably won't survive, one way or the other.
Ah, but good hunting. Especially you fearless types. *grins*
Cats, the feeding and care thereof.
.
.
I am never quite sure when it comes to anything, myself any more than animals. I do try to find the best information. It is out there, sitting in piles of incomplete, obsolete, and incorrect information. I am not sure the internet is any more helpful than common sense, and it can be less helpful even harmful. Adding to that, how would you ever know? You can't go back in time and do it over, another cat or human is different. Perhaps what seemed to help really didn't and it would have been better to have done nothing, the exact opposite, or something else.
In any case, my deal is with Sassy, and to a degree Sam. Sassy isn't stroke ready fat, but she has a few extra ounces, to be sure. Further, with food on tap, and often the ability to whine me into feeding her a can of wet stuff (or cause that just by being cute), she has little incentive to go and hunt, be more active, and such. She has become my little commucat. To create change, I am not feeding her the wet stuff nearly as often. And I don't tolerate bad behavior for it, out the door she will go if she acts like a spoiled rugrat. A can a day, and two half cans (I feed the other half to Sam). I am keeping the dry food readily available, but she doesn't overeat that. To my chagrin, she is merely being less active, rather than going outside. Maybe she is still too young to be tinkering with her food like this? She is a little over a year old.
Sam, on the other hand, is skinny as can be. I have offered her as much food as I can. She loves both the dry and wet cat food, the wet preferred, and eats heartily. No matter how much I offer, and how much she seems to eat, she just goes out and burns it off. She is my capitacat. She uses everything she gets to gain more while keeping trim and slim. I would like to get a bit more weight on her. But barring putting her in a cage and feeding her up, probably permanently, I don't think it will work. Some sisters these two turned out to be.
Ah, but she is such a cute little beggar. If Sam wants back in, I'll feed them a half a can (then let Sam right back out so she can puke, saving it for later I guess). What was that? Oh, right. The problem with socialism is socialism. The problem with capitalism is capitalists. And, yeah, it sort of works. Even when they are cats!
.
I am never quite sure when it comes to anything, myself any more than animals. I do try to find the best information. It is out there, sitting in piles of incomplete, obsolete, and incorrect information. I am not sure the internet is any more helpful than common sense, and it can be less helpful even harmful. Adding to that, how would you ever know? You can't go back in time and do it over, another cat or human is different. Perhaps what seemed to help really didn't and it would have been better to have done nothing, the exact opposite, or something else.
In any case, my deal is with Sassy, and to a degree Sam. Sassy isn't stroke ready fat, but she has a few extra ounces, to be sure. Further, with food on tap, and often the ability to whine me into feeding her a can of wet stuff (or cause that just by being cute), she has little incentive to go and hunt, be more active, and such. She has become my little commucat. To create change, I am not feeding her the wet stuff nearly as often. And I don't tolerate bad behavior for it, out the door she will go if she acts like a spoiled rugrat. A can a day, and two half cans (I feed the other half to Sam). I am keeping the dry food readily available, but she doesn't overeat that. To my chagrin, she is merely being less active, rather than going outside. Maybe she is still too young to be tinkering with her food like this? She is a little over a year old.
Sam, on the other hand, is skinny as can be. I have offered her as much food as I can. She loves both the dry and wet cat food, the wet preferred, and eats heartily. No matter how much I offer, and how much she seems to eat, she just goes out and burns it off. She is my capitacat. She uses everything she gets to gain more while keeping trim and slim. I would like to get a bit more weight on her. But barring putting her in a cage and feeding her up, probably permanently, I don't think it will work. Some sisters these two turned out to be.
Ah, but she is such a cute little beggar. If Sam wants back in, I'll feed them a half a can (then let Sam right back out so she can puke, saving it for later I guess). What was that? Oh, right. The problem with socialism is socialism. The problem with capitalism is capitalists. And, yeah, it sort of works. Even when they are cats!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Dang it, again!
.
.
It is 11:00 and here I sit. Just haven't been able to motivate my sphincter to quit making out with my chair. Well, I'm going to. No promises, that is just the way of it. I am not sure I will make it to town, but I will get the bike prepped. I probably won't ride it though, not this late, this hot. If only I hadn't messed up on the medicine, I think I would still be gliding high and free. Sometimes being stubborn and self-reproaching is not a successful plan. Then again it isn't a plan, those are design features that may well have saved the world. Well, those and ego sometimes, maybe? Piss off. *laughs*
A bit of excitement earlier. Four horses were out on the highway that passes by my home and on through town. A semi had to stop, then honk. For whatever reason, the highway seemed like the place to be. I thought to go out and shoo them, but... I have no tack, I have no idea where they belong, and really, decided that was probably not the best plan. So I called the sheriff. I am sure they have a better plan in place than me running after four full sized horses, chasing them to... nowhere (or the reverse should they have been ornery). No, actually, I wouldn't run from a horse. No use. Just stand and prep for whatever, including a solid punch to the nose, more like it. Oh, you can punch a gnarly horse, even a bear. And, really, having the choice, I would much rather have to punch a horse. They can hurt you but they aren't predators and are rather pain adverse. I suppose bears are pain adverse as well, but by that point they wouldn't even feel a punch like a horse would. Theory, mind you, mostly.
Well, on to... the bike! Later.
.
It is 11:00 and here I sit. Just haven't been able to motivate my sphincter to quit making out with my chair. Well, I'm going to. No promises, that is just the way of it. I am not sure I will make it to town, but I will get the bike prepped. I probably won't ride it though, not this late, this hot. If only I hadn't messed up on the medicine, I think I would still be gliding high and free. Sometimes being stubborn and self-reproaching is not a successful plan. Then again it isn't a plan, those are design features that may well have saved the world. Well, those and ego sometimes, maybe? Piss off. *laughs*
A bit of excitement earlier. Four horses were out on the highway that passes by my home and on through town. A semi had to stop, then honk. For whatever reason, the highway seemed like the place to be. I thought to go out and shoo them, but... I have no tack, I have no idea where they belong, and really, decided that was probably not the best plan. So I called the sheriff. I am sure they have a better plan in place than me running after four full sized horses, chasing them to... nowhere (or the reverse should they have been ornery). No, actually, I wouldn't run from a horse. No use. Just stand and prep for whatever, including a solid punch to the nose, more like it. Oh, you can punch a gnarly horse, even a bear. And, really, having the choice, I would much rather have to punch a horse. They can hurt you but they aren't predators and are rather pain adverse. I suppose bears are pain adverse as well, but by that point they wouldn't even feel a punch like a horse would. Theory, mind you, mostly.
Well, on to... the bike! Later.
The bike.
.
.
I do believe I will get to finishing the bike this morning. None of the tasks remaining are complicated in any way. I don't even believe drilling will be needed as the bike has holes, mostly plugged for now, for any brackets. Other devices simply attach to the handlebars or seat and seat post. If it goes quickly enough, perhaps a test ride in a bit. Not too early. There is a great deal of morning traffic, people going to work, some getting off work. Then again, I'll be staying in town initially. I will get some pictures of the bike when finished, just in case it ends up mashed somehow, on the maiden voyage. Oh trust me, it could happen. I lead a charmed life.
I signed up for a class to attempt to get my conceal carry permit. It will be $35 for the class and then about $70 for state fees. I believe I will take the paperwork in, in person, and pay with cash, the next time I visit the V.A. I have an appointment coming up in a week or so. Hmm, I think I forgot to put that on my smart phone or calendar. Good thing I blog. I don't know if that department is still slow, but I had heard that paying there, in cash, sped things up. That is coming up in days!
If I do get that, I will probably begin looking around and making final plans for a small .357 mag, I'm thinking that Chief's Special, by
S&W will do nicely. But I would like to shoot it and some others, read a bit more, you know... enjoy the process. After that probably a hunting rifle (unless that Kel Tec shotgun comes available and is reasonable to actually obtain). Shotgun before rifle, then a rifle (or two). And, finally, in the more distant future, the goal would be a S&W 500 or 460. I'm still... considering. The 500 is more immediate power, the .460 takes .45 long colt, .454 cassull, as well as the .460, none a bad round (if not truly great, either, save for the .460 as an actual hunting round to a hundred yards, give or take, maybe more with scope, though if more with scope I would be okay out to 150, maybe 200 I think, stock). Then again, since I own a reloader, I could power that 500 right about down to a .45 long colt round (if I really wanted to). The only thing is the cases for the 500 would be the same no matter how I loaded it. Then again, even a .45 long colt case (for loading the bullet, powder, and primer into or in) is pretty darn scary expensive. Though you don't shoot these things like .22's either. Bah...
While the foot felt a lot better with the "donut" off the bottom, I still felt I needed something. While what was left was not exactly an open bleeding wound, it was down to the meat and open. So I put on one of my larger area band-aids, after adding some triple antibiotic cream. Yeah, that felt much better. I am not going to hike on it until it looks much better. I am going into town and will look at inserts too. Something to pad that front food pad for the most part, but fits the rest of my foot well enough. More on the left side, but it used to be both foot pads.
Oh, when I discuss "preppers" doing bogus things, I discuss things like rope bracelets. That is a good way to cut up good 'twine' (550 para cord). While it could be useful if you were dropped literally in the middle of wilderness, that isn't going to happen and it's real usefulness would be extremely limited. You had best also know to and be prepared to drink your own urine. Just saying. I see dozens of guys who have spent an inordinate amount of time making these things, and things like them. Sure, if prepping is trendy and you wish to prove something, go for it. But don't think I will think you are a survivor because you are wearing seven to ten feet of cord! Even making fast rope has limited use. If in a static place, near say a cliff, it might have some real use for escape or even weather specific lodging changes, faster routs, or such. But the sun will eat nylon cord. You did know that, right? And only 36 meters? No, come now. That is a serious waste of resources in time, money, and thought processes. This is what I am talking about when guys are blowing smoke, wasting resources, and such. If you want a good way to carry cord, simply always have a pack with you and do this to your cord. Hmm, then again, rather than heavy duty fast rope, imagine using eight 100 foot lines of 550 para like this (I suppose you would lose 1/4 to half to the length in the process, but might be a good rope?)? It also continues on to show how to splice a loop and whip-stitch the end in following videos. Hmm. Damn, I like that.
Well, that's about it. I should get on with the bike, then on into town. Hmm, brisket, I think, for lunch. Yeah, I like that stuff. Last time it was way too dry though. Then again, last time their place was flooded so they were doing the best they could, continuing to work outside. So, yeah, I will give them a bit of a pass. But they should have it down by now. Hrumph.
.
I do believe I will get to finishing the bike this morning. None of the tasks remaining are complicated in any way. I don't even believe drilling will be needed as the bike has holes, mostly plugged for now, for any brackets. Other devices simply attach to the handlebars or seat and seat post. If it goes quickly enough, perhaps a test ride in a bit. Not too early. There is a great deal of morning traffic, people going to work, some getting off work. Then again, I'll be staying in town initially. I will get some pictures of the bike when finished, just in case it ends up mashed somehow, on the maiden voyage. Oh trust me, it could happen. I lead a charmed life.
I signed up for a class to attempt to get my conceal carry permit. It will be $35 for the class and then about $70 for state fees. I believe I will take the paperwork in, in person, and pay with cash, the next time I visit the V.A. I have an appointment coming up in a week or so. Hmm, I think I forgot to put that on my smart phone or calendar. Good thing I blog. I don't know if that department is still slow, but I had heard that paying there, in cash, sped things up. That is coming up in days!
If I do get that, I will probably begin looking around and making final plans for a small .357 mag, I'm thinking that Chief's Special, by
S&W will do nicely. But I would like to shoot it and some others, read a bit more, you know... enjoy the process. After that probably a hunting rifle (unless that Kel Tec shotgun comes available and is reasonable to actually obtain). Shotgun before rifle, then a rifle (or two). And, finally, in the more distant future, the goal would be a S&W 500 or 460. I'm still... considering. The 500 is more immediate power, the .460 takes .45 long colt, .454 cassull, as well as the .460, none a bad round (if not truly great, either, save for the .460 as an actual hunting round to a hundred yards, give or take, maybe more with scope, though if more with scope I would be okay out to 150, maybe 200 I think, stock). Then again, since I own a reloader, I could power that 500 right about down to a .45 long colt round (if I really wanted to). The only thing is the cases for the 500 would be the same no matter how I loaded it. Then again, even a .45 long colt case (for loading the bullet, powder, and primer into or in) is pretty darn scary expensive. Though you don't shoot these things like .22's either. Bah...
While the foot felt a lot better with the "donut" off the bottom, I still felt I needed something. While what was left was not exactly an open bleeding wound, it was down to the meat and open. So I put on one of my larger area band-aids, after adding some triple antibiotic cream. Yeah, that felt much better. I am not going to hike on it until it looks much better. I am going into town and will look at inserts too. Something to pad that front food pad for the most part, but fits the rest of my foot well enough. More on the left side, but it used to be both foot pads.
Oh, when I discuss "preppers" doing bogus things, I discuss things like rope bracelets. That is a good way to cut up good 'twine' (550 para cord). While it could be useful if you were dropped literally in the middle of wilderness, that isn't going to happen and it's real usefulness would be extremely limited. You had best also know to and be prepared to drink your own urine. Just saying. I see dozens of guys who have spent an inordinate amount of time making these things, and things like them. Sure, if prepping is trendy and you wish to prove something, go for it. But don't think I will think you are a survivor because you are wearing seven to ten feet of cord! Even making fast rope has limited use. If in a static place, near say a cliff, it might have some real use for escape or even weather specific lodging changes, faster routs, or such. But the sun will eat nylon cord. You did know that, right? And only 36 meters? No, come now. That is a serious waste of resources in time, money, and thought processes. This is what I am talking about when guys are blowing smoke, wasting resources, and such. If you want a good way to carry cord, simply always have a pack with you and do this to your cord. Hmm, then again, rather than heavy duty fast rope, imagine using eight 100 foot lines of 550 para like this (I suppose you would lose 1/4 to half to the length in the process, but might be a good rope?)? It also continues on to show how to splice a loop and whip-stitch the end in following videos. Hmm. Damn, I like that.
Well, that's about it. I should get on with the bike, then on into town. Hmm, brisket, I think, for lunch. Yeah, I like that stuff. Last time it was way too dry though. Then again, last time their place was flooded so they were doing the best they could, continuing to work outside. So, yeah, I will give them a bit of a pass. But they should have it down by now. Hrumph.
Waking in the middle of the night.
.
.
I have some hope of getting back to sleep before long. I have more serious doubts though. But what can you really do at midnight? Well, there are the dishes. There is laundry. I didn't get the trash out, but at only a bag a week it isn't a huge issue. Missing trash once in a while, if kept to that, is just fine. No more, as summer heat is a gnarly thing when mixed with all but paper refuse. Still, I'm... thinking.
Doh but I hate dishes. After I get this set cleaned, I may simply go in search of the best disposable dishes and flatware I can afford. Yes, yes, wasteful. I don't care about the excessive waste. At the worst of projections, waste is not a problem over at least the next hundred (thousand if we must be honest) years. And if they haven't figured out to burn it in high efficiency burners by then, let them roll in the refuse (which, all told, in a hundred years, is a very small landmass usage, even if not burned as it should be, if you believe in green, which I don't). Bah! Buggers! And broomstick wielding Dolts!
Grumpy? Yeah, maybe a wee. I must have killed half the world of warriors in my dreams. No matter how strong of a blood lust one has, sating it is never satisfying. I suppose that is why I made changes and no longer seek to fill that hunger. Oh, it's there. It craves 'just a little' though that little would only spur me on to much more. I have finally figured out how to put it in it's place and redirect the urges. If I have something that cripples me, in the mental department, it would be that when I cannot redirect blood lust purposefully I redirect the lust in a paralyzing manner. Better to be frozen stone than to be lively and deadly? Yeah, maybe. I have neither the authority nor heart for what I am good at. Perhaps I never had the heart. I certainly had the way and means otherwise. I simply had no choices, at one time. I have the scars to prove it.
Bah! Still, I do enjoy life. Women or war, friend or family, little and big, good and even bad so I know the difference. This has been an immeasurably huge experience, a wonderful one. I wouldn't have missed it. Even shame, once a bane, now a gift of consciousness I can raise as a gift to the Father, and thank Him both for being able to know shame meaning I know rightness and for His taking it from my wound like some salves extracts poison. I am finally riding that bicycle called life in a balanced manner, if I can still be lead to Grumpville when old wounds are remembered vividly.
On to... something. Never mind me. Just... The flames...
.
I have some hope of getting back to sleep before long. I have more serious doubts though. But what can you really do at midnight? Well, there are the dishes. There is laundry. I didn't get the trash out, but at only a bag a week it isn't a huge issue. Missing trash once in a while, if kept to that, is just fine. No more, as summer heat is a gnarly thing when mixed with all but paper refuse. Still, I'm... thinking.
Doh but I hate dishes. After I get this set cleaned, I may simply go in search of the best disposable dishes and flatware I can afford. Yes, yes, wasteful. I don't care about the excessive waste. At the worst of projections, waste is not a problem over at least the next hundred (thousand if we must be honest) years. And if they haven't figured out to burn it in high efficiency burners by then, let them roll in the refuse (which, all told, in a hundred years, is a very small landmass usage, even if not burned as it should be, if you believe in green, which I don't). Bah! Buggers! And broomstick wielding Dolts!
Grumpy? Yeah, maybe a wee. I must have killed half the world of warriors in my dreams. No matter how strong of a blood lust one has, sating it is never satisfying. I suppose that is why I made changes and no longer seek to fill that hunger. Oh, it's there. It craves 'just a little' though that little would only spur me on to much more. I have finally figured out how to put it in it's place and redirect the urges. If I have something that cripples me, in the mental department, it would be that when I cannot redirect blood lust purposefully I redirect the lust in a paralyzing manner. Better to be frozen stone than to be lively and deadly? Yeah, maybe. I have neither the authority nor heart for what I am good at. Perhaps I never had the heart. I certainly had the way and means otherwise. I simply had no choices, at one time. I have the scars to prove it.
Bah! Still, I do enjoy life. Women or war, friend or family, little and big, good and even bad so I know the difference. This has been an immeasurably huge experience, a wonderful one. I wouldn't have missed it. Even shame, once a bane, now a gift of consciousness I can raise as a gift to the Father, and thank Him both for being able to know shame meaning I know rightness and for His taking it from my wound like some salves extracts poison. I am finally riding that bicycle called life in a balanced manner, if I can still be lead to Grumpville when old wounds are remembered vividly.
On to... something. Never mind me. Just... The flames...
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Busy, busy, busy.
.
.
I made it just in time to have breakfast before going in to podiatry. I got right in, then as is the case, waited a goodly bit (though I really can't and am not complaining), and was seen. The young woman, too young I thought, seemed to be my doc. At first I took her for a nurse. She didn't talk about med school, though I didn't ask, but she said she had completed three years of pediatric school and this was her fourth and final year, on rotation. So I am guessing she is a specialist, having obtained her medical degree first. She was very young looking. She was enjoyable to chat with though, and seemed to take care of my foot quickly and well enough. Not an ageist, mostly, in any case. Not even really a racist, except that I expect to not have to deal with reverse racism and poor quality. I won't tolerate it at all. She offered me some callus donuts, to place over the areas. Though if I want to use them regularly, I would have to buy them in bulk, as a shower pretty much kills them. I'm not sure how much they cost, but that's probably... prohibitive? I'll check before crashing.
After finishing that, I drove to dental to set up an appointment. I knew they would want me to, honestly. I am one of only 10% of all veterans who they can offer full service. I am not sure, precisely, what that means. But they seem impressed by it and please with it, or something. Well, and they like doing the business that they do. They wanted to do it the day my mother arrives. I wasn't so sure about that, then I thought about it. They want to do it in the morning, at 8:00. My mother won't be in until the afternoon (I know, I will be buying the tickets shortly, actually noon would be good). Perfect, clean teeth, as bright a smile as I get, a haircut a few days before she arrives, another 15 pounds off from the last time she saw me, all good. I don't have to worry about them doing anything too serious, either. Being my first time, this will just be an exam and maybe a cleaning. If there is a need for cavities to be filled, or anything else, they will schedule another appointment.
Further still, on the way home, I finally remembered to buy Loktite blue, a couple of bottles of water (just to compare against my tap water, as to D.C.'s suggestion), and an over-glasses pair of sunglasses so that riding and hiking might be a bit easier. Oh, I also remembered to visit my bank. My debit card is out of date and I had not received a new one. They did say they had sent one, but I didn't get it and it wasn't returned. They canceled that one and are reissuing one. Temporarily inconvenient but no big deal.
So much done. Honestly, I am pleased. Sure, I didn't put the tech bling on my bike, and I am not quite in the state of mind to push things in any case, and attempt to go riding. It will happen soon enough. For now, for water, I will simply take my CamelBak. It has plenty of space and I enjoy the drinking tube, which I afix through whatever I am wearing so as to be right near my face. I think a little nap might do me good. Then, this afternoon or evening, getting the bike set up will be the thing.
You know, not bad. Many of these things were not in the plans. They were just on my mind. I was able to take thoughts and proactively function on them. I kept them on my mind in spite of have become quite tired and in spite of the discomfort of my foot, for the moment. She had to carve down pretty deeply to extract the bottom-of-the-foot callus. It is still a bit tender, though I think it will be fine in a day or two. I can ride any time, though, as there isn't enough weight on my feet pedaling, and I can adjust how my foot strikes, if need be as well.
On to checking on those callus donuts and then a nap. Be well.
Hmm, scrap the pads, at least for the bottom of my foot. They aren't too expensive though, not prohibitively expensive. At $18 a month, if they work on the callus on the side of my left big toe, I would consider them. I just took the one off the bottom of my foot. Oh, Lord, though doth favor me sometimes. So much better with the callus gone AND the pad gone. I may still wear one, while awake, for the next few days until that all heals up. But I don't think I could bear to wear them beyond that. I'll... think about the big toe. Bah! G'night, g'day, good riddance! Bah! :p
.
I made it just in time to have breakfast before going in to podiatry. I got right in, then as is the case, waited a goodly bit (though I really can't and am not complaining), and was seen. The young woman, too young I thought, seemed to be my doc. At first I took her for a nurse. She didn't talk about med school, though I didn't ask, but she said she had completed three years of pediatric school and this was her fourth and final year, on rotation. So I am guessing she is a specialist, having obtained her medical degree first. She was very young looking. She was enjoyable to chat with though, and seemed to take care of my foot quickly and well enough. Not an ageist, mostly, in any case. Not even really a racist, except that I expect to not have to deal with reverse racism and poor quality. I won't tolerate it at all. She offered me some callus donuts, to place over the areas. Though if I want to use them regularly, I would have to buy them in bulk, as a shower pretty much kills them. I'm not sure how much they cost, but that's probably... prohibitive? I'll check before crashing.
After finishing that, I drove to dental to set up an appointment. I knew they would want me to, honestly. I am one of only 10% of all veterans who they can offer full service. I am not sure, precisely, what that means. But they seem impressed by it and please with it, or something. Well, and they like doing the business that they do. They wanted to do it the day my mother arrives. I wasn't so sure about that, then I thought about it. They want to do it in the morning, at 8:00. My mother won't be in until the afternoon (I know, I will be buying the tickets shortly, actually noon would be good). Perfect, clean teeth, as bright a smile as I get, a haircut a few days before she arrives, another 15 pounds off from the last time she saw me, all good. I don't have to worry about them doing anything too serious, either. Being my first time, this will just be an exam and maybe a cleaning. If there is a need for cavities to be filled, or anything else, they will schedule another appointment.
Further still, on the way home, I finally remembered to buy Loktite blue, a couple of bottles of water (just to compare against my tap water, as to D.C.'s suggestion), and an over-glasses pair of sunglasses so that riding and hiking might be a bit easier. Oh, I also remembered to visit my bank. My debit card is out of date and I had not received a new one. They did say they had sent one, but I didn't get it and it wasn't returned. They canceled that one and are reissuing one. Temporarily inconvenient but no big deal.
So much done. Honestly, I am pleased. Sure, I didn't put the tech bling on my bike, and I am not quite in the state of mind to push things in any case, and attempt to go riding. It will happen soon enough. For now, for water, I will simply take my CamelBak. It has plenty of space and I enjoy the drinking tube, which I afix through whatever I am wearing so as to be right near my face. I think a little nap might do me good. Then, this afternoon or evening, getting the bike set up will be the thing.
You know, not bad. Many of these things were not in the plans. They were just on my mind. I was able to take thoughts and proactively function on them. I kept them on my mind in spite of have become quite tired and in spite of the discomfort of my foot, for the moment. She had to carve down pretty deeply to extract the bottom-of-the-foot callus. It is still a bit tender, though I think it will be fine in a day or two. I can ride any time, though, as there isn't enough weight on my feet pedaling, and I can adjust how my foot strikes, if need be as well.
On to checking on those callus donuts and then a nap. Be well.
Hmm, scrap the pads, at least for the bottom of my foot. They aren't too expensive though, not prohibitively expensive. At $18 a month, if they work on the callus on the side of my left big toe, I would consider them. I just took the one off the bottom of my foot. Oh, Lord, though doth favor me sometimes. So much better with the callus gone AND the pad gone. I may still wear one, while awake, for the next few days until that all heals up. But I don't think I could bear to wear them beyond that. I'll... think about the big toe. Bah! G'night, g'day, good riddance! Bah! :p
About to get ready.
.
.
I am definitely hoping they will fix my foot today. I would hate to have to go back in but will do so, an happily for it anyway. That thing is a pain to work with. I don't let it slow me down and it hurts a great deal for it. My mother suggests that she has to go in every three to six months for her foot growths. I am hoping I won't need it that often. I will be watching them, seeing what tools they use, how they proceed, any precautions they take. DIY isn't for fearful. Perhaps, though, it is out of my skill level. Still, I would like to watch them at least once, but perhaps several times, and see if using the right tools I might diy this. What was that, intelligence is knowing and wisdom is knowing better, and prayers help discern? Yeah, but it would be nice to not need an appointment to stop severe pain.
I have started working on adding labels to my posts. I made it through 25, then nearly 50, then decided to look at how many posts I had. Surely hundreds. Nope, I have been whining and fantasizing through 1966 (67 now) posts. I have... a little project ahead of me. I do hope to look through them. Perhaps I will see something interesting? Sure, lots of whining:) Well, maybe some progress. Maybe I will get a firmer look at the improvements. I have improved, even before medication (if too only before edema set in).
Yea, I think heading out extra early and getting some food in me before my appointment, and some coffee, would be a kindness. No blood work today so I don't have to fast. That is nice for a change. Medicine, another shower, grooming, driving, and all the rest. It is a cool day, so it should be even better. I really don't mind these trips, now that I am doing better. But they do eat up some serious time. Then again, for the moment, it is time that would most likely otherwise simply be wasted. I just can't get going quite yet. It's coming though, just not right now.
I didn't get to the bike. Ah well, not a surprise if a minor disappointment. I have been trying to place an order for the rocket stove and water pasteurizer, but there seems to be some kind of a problem. I'll try one more time before I head into the shower. If I have problems, sometimes taking a break (six hours in this case, to several days) often yields success somehow. Well, I best get that tried so I can head out.
Good day.
Aha! I finally got the order to go through. Just a minor misreading of what was required regarding their information fields. Fixed, ordered, and just received confirmation with intent to deliver. One less thing on my mind. Oh, if you are curious, the rocket stove, and the the water pasteurizer.
.
I am definitely hoping they will fix my foot today. I would hate to have to go back in but will do so, an happily for it anyway. That thing is a pain to work with. I don't let it slow me down and it hurts a great deal for it. My mother suggests that she has to go in every three to six months for her foot growths. I am hoping I won't need it that often. I will be watching them, seeing what tools they use, how they proceed, any precautions they take. DIY isn't for fearful. Perhaps, though, it is out of my skill level. Still, I would like to watch them at least once, but perhaps several times, and see if using the right tools I might diy this. What was that, intelligence is knowing and wisdom is knowing better, and prayers help discern? Yeah, but it would be nice to not need an appointment to stop severe pain.
I have started working on adding labels to my posts. I made it through 25, then nearly 50, then decided to look at how many posts I had. Surely hundreds. Nope, I have been whining and fantasizing through 1966 (67 now) posts. I have... a little project ahead of me. I do hope to look through them. Perhaps I will see something interesting? Sure, lots of whining:) Well, maybe some progress. Maybe I will get a firmer look at the improvements. I have improved, even before medication (if too only before edema set in).
Yea, I think heading out extra early and getting some food in me before my appointment, and some coffee, would be a kindness. No blood work today so I don't have to fast. That is nice for a change. Medicine, another shower, grooming, driving, and all the rest. It is a cool day, so it should be even better. I really don't mind these trips, now that I am doing better. But they do eat up some serious time. Then again, for the moment, it is time that would most likely otherwise simply be wasted. I just can't get going quite yet. It's coming though, just not right now.
I didn't get to the bike. Ah well, not a surprise if a minor disappointment. I have been trying to place an order for the rocket stove and water pasteurizer, but there seems to be some kind of a problem. I'll try one more time before I head into the shower. If I have problems, sometimes taking a break (six hours in this case, to several days) often yields success somehow. Well, I best get that tried so I can head out.
Good day.
Aha! I finally got the order to go through. Just a minor misreading of what was required regarding their information fields. Fixed, ordered, and just received confirmation with intent to deliver. One less thing on my mind. Oh, if you are curious, the rocket stove, and the the water pasteurizer.
Yeah, did it, sort of.
.
.
I rearranged my meds and am back on "today". Nothing fancy, just took some doses pretty close together and right through a marathon up-time. I've been having those lately, as the 'fix' of the medicines sets in. Which is fine, these are more stated 'ups' than the chaos of that first healing wave. I glutted on health and action then, so I don't feel as much of a need this time. Nor am I quite as swamped in dirty clothes and don't have quite as messy of a home. Oh, to be sure, I slid in this accidental period of poor medicine taking. And I am still climbing out of it. But it isn't like I was down for four or five months, either. Just two weeks to a month.
I had almost forgotten about a hair cut I had scheduled today. I didn't put it on the calendar nor in my smart phone. Doh! I simply thought I remember making an appointment for today. I went through the cards in my wallet, and sure enough. It pretty much was when I was supposed to pick up the bike. And, being a bit slow to get going still, I found out right about the time I was going to head in. I wasn't sure I would be able to do both. As it turns out, showing up a bit early got me out in time to pick up the bike. I have made another appointment for right before my mother arrives. I want her to see it as it is supposed to be.
As I said, I made it in time to pick up my bike. They had the guy on a register, so he just had a women take me to pick it up. I see the problem with the handlebars, but I think it came that way. I think. In any case, the thing is prepped and ready. I would love to take it for a spin, but having just awaken and it being dark, and having not ridden save once in the last 30 to 35 years, I don't think night is the time to start (still might). Hmm, of course I could begin adding my gear, lock, and kit to the thing. I've been looking over panniers, trailers, and hitch carriers for bikes too. Those might be a bit off. Some of them aren't terribly expensive, some are though. I want to research well before plunking even $100 on junk. I would rather spend $300 if that is what is really needed. Wasted money is just that, and an additional cost to the product need. A cheap price for good gear is also worth the effort. Just don't expect cheap to be good, nor expensive, nor any price really, actually. You have to look at the gear through as clear of eyes as possible and read many reviews. Look for the complaint that looks home and compare it to the solid reviews. Work does pay off.
I could go out and arrange lights, cameras, and get ready for action. I still have a bike helmet, from when I tried to use inline skates. I still have those too, actually. Hmm, I didn't get far with those because my feet seemed to get larger after having sized and bought them. Perhaps that was water problems even then (say, I went in on a low water retention day and was usually retaining lots of water, so they wouldn't fit most of the time)? I ought to try them. I might even have the elbow and knee pads. But I would want a flat, probably concrete, skating park to start in. I would bet Logan offers something like that, maybe even purpose built. In any case, if falling off the bike is a problem, I may have that covered.
I have an appointment, tomorrow, early, in SLC. I am not sure I would be up to riding when I return. Truth be told, I am a bit frightened of the notion, now that I am on the cusp of it. What if I can't figure it out? Oh, pedaling is easy. Shifting gears, knowing what gear works best, keeping that all in line while balancing, braking, and such? As I said, I have never owned a 21-speed bike, probably not even a 3-speed. I was still germinating when I last rode! But, if the bike is kitted out for riding, the odds are better that returning in the afternoon would see me risking my neck on the two-wheeled suicide device. Ha!
.
I rearranged my meds and am back on "today". Nothing fancy, just took some doses pretty close together and right through a marathon up-time. I've been having those lately, as the 'fix' of the medicines sets in. Which is fine, these are more stated 'ups' than the chaos of that first healing wave. I glutted on health and action then, so I don't feel as much of a need this time. Nor am I quite as swamped in dirty clothes and don't have quite as messy of a home. Oh, to be sure, I slid in this accidental period of poor medicine taking. And I am still climbing out of it. But it isn't like I was down for four or five months, either. Just two weeks to a month.
I had almost forgotten about a hair cut I had scheduled today. I didn't put it on the calendar nor in my smart phone. Doh! I simply thought I remember making an appointment for today. I went through the cards in my wallet, and sure enough. It pretty much was when I was supposed to pick up the bike. And, being a bit slow to get going still, I found out right about the time I was going to head in. I wasn't sure I would be able to do both. As it turns out, showing up a bit early got me out in time to pick up the bike. I have made another appointment for right before my mother arrives. I want her to see it as it is supposed to be.
As I said, I made it in time to pick up my bike. They had the guy on a register, so he just had a women take me to pick it up. I see the problem with the handlebars, but I think it came that way. I think. In any case, the thing is prepped and ready. I would love to take it for a spin, but having just awaken and it being dark, and having not ridden save once in the last 30 to 35 years, I don't think night is the time to start (still might). Hmm, of course I could begin adding my gear, lock, and kit to the thing. I've been looking over panniers, trailers, and hitch carriers for bikes too. Those might be a bit off. Some of them aren't terribly expensive, some are though. I want to research well before plunking even $100 on junk. I would rather spend $300 if that is what is really needed. Wasted money is just that, and an additional cost to the product need. A cheap price for good gear is also worth the effort. Just don't expect cheap to be good, nor expensive, nor any price really, actually. You have to look at the gear through as clear of eyes as possible and read many reviews. Look for the complaint that looks home and compare it to the solid reviews. Work does pay off.
I could go out and arrange lights, cameras, and get ready for action. I still have a bike helmet, from when I tried to use inline skates. I still have those too, actually. Hmm, I didn't get far with those because my feet seemed to get larger after having sized and bought them. Perhaps that was water problems even then (say, I went in on a low water retention day and was usually retaining lots of water, so they wouldn't fit most of the time)? I ought to try them. I might even have the elbow and knee pads. But I would want a flat, probably concrete, skating park to start in. I would bet Logan offers something like that, maybe even purpose built. In any case, if falling off the bike is a problem, I may have that covered.
I have an appointment, tomorrow, early, in SLC. I am not sure I would be up to riding when I return. Truth be told, I am a bit frightened of the notion, now that I am on the cusp of it. What if I can't figure it out? Oh, pedaling is easy. Shifting gears, knowing what gear works best, keeping that all in line while balancing, braking, and such? As I said, I have never owned a 21-speed bike, probably not even a 3-speed. I was still germinating when I last rode! But, if the bike is kitted out for riding, the odds are better that returning in the afternoon would see me risking my neck on the two-wheeled suicide device. Ha!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Uhrm, so, how do you speak?
.
.
In case you are curious yourself. I was. Click to find out for yourself.
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Yeah, I moved a great deal. Until I bought this home, I moved every three years, probably, on average. Though when growing up we moved yearly, on average.
.
In case you are curious yourself. I was. Click to find out for yourself.
| Which American accent do you have? Neutral You're not Northern, Southern, or Western, you`re just plain -American-. Your national identity is more important than your local identity, because you don`t really have a local identity. You might be from the region in that map, which is defined by this kind of accent, but you could easily not be. Or maybe you just moved around a lot growing up.  |
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Yeah, I moved a great deal. Until I bought this home, I moved every three years, probably, on average. Though when growing up we moved yearly, on average.
It is done.
.
.
The bike is done. Oh, he did have to replace the caliper. He said the spring was shot. Well, at least there was that. Now, he said the handlebars were put on wrong, but I followed the instructions, so... No, I checked. Now, maybe he meant something else, like the front tire. My problem with that was, online I saw it on several different ways and the "manual" that came with the bike didn't really show it. Hmm, coming to think of it, then the picture would be that of it on wrong though. I went by the picture in the advertisement. Well, whatever. I want to talk to him about setting up the bike for my size, and perhaps ask him about changing some ratios. I doubt if I would do that, as the bike isn't rated for serious mountain biking (frame maybe, but not the various parts). I am just curious if he knows about that. I will be in this afternoon to talk with him.
I have been seeking both a bike trailer, a bike rack for my auto so that I can drive to dedicated bike paths for safer pedaling, and shock absorbing seat posts should I find the hard tail a bit hard on the tail. Other things on the list are saddles, perhaps front and back. Along with, or separate from, a trailer, these types of things offer means of carrying camping or other gear. I keep thinking the world is on such a fine tightrope that financial worries are escalating real risks to the way of the world as we know things. I just want some things set up. To that end, if I check my account and find at least my V.A. check in, I will order that cook stove and water pasteurizer today.
Yeah, grab your socks and be prepared for sudden changes. Whether the agreement goes through or not, I am thinking we might as well default, literally (thought that would never be allowed to actually happen). A downgrade is more serious than a default and this agreement being brokered looks to not only force a downgrade because of it's anemic nature but also because it locks in the financial measures for too long of a period. Beyond, the cuts that would be automatic go against the military (which has nearly be halved since 1990) and the servicers (not the recipients) of Medicare. All very bad things. Yeah, it could get bad, fast.
.
The bike is done. Oh, he did have to replace the caliper. He said the spring was shot. Well, at least there was that. Now, he said the handlebars were put on wrong, but I followed the instructions, so... No, I checked. Now, maybe he meant something else, like the front tire. My problem with that was, online I saw it on several different ways and the "manual" that came with the bike didn't really show it. Hmm, coming to think of it, then the picture would be that of it on wrong though. I went by the picture in the advertisement. Well, whatever. I want to talk to him about setting up the bike for my size, and perhaps ask him about changing some ratios. I doubt if I would do that, as the bike isn't rated for serious mountain biking (frame maybe, but not the various parts). I am just curious if he knows about that. I will be in this afternoon to talk with him.
I have been seeking both a bike trailer, a bike rack for my auto so that I can drive to dedicated bike paths for safer pedaling, and shock absorbing seat posts should I find the hard tail a bit hard on the tail. Other things on the list are saddles, perhaps front and back. Along with, or separate from, a trailer, these types of things offer means of carrying camping or other gear. I keep thinking the world is on such a fine tightrope that financial worries are escalating real risks to the way of the world as we know things. I just want some things set up. To that end, if I check my account and find at least my V.A. check in, I will order that cook stove and water pasteurizer today.
Yeah, grab your socks and be prepared for sudden changes. Whether the agreement goes through or not, I am thinking we might as well default, literally (thought that would never be allowed to actually happen). A downgrade is more serious than a default and this agreement being brokered looks to not only force a downgrade because of it's anemic nature but also because it locks in the financial measures for too long of a period. Beyond, the cuts that would be automatic go against the military (which has nearly be halved since 1990) and the servicers (not the recipients) of Medicare. All very bad things. Yeah, it could get bad, fast.
Dang it!
.
.
Somehow I have lost a day in there somewhere. I think, as I begin to slowly get back on my feet (or so I am suspecting, and yeah, it is slow), my days have become longer to the point that within a week of starting medicine I have lost a day. No wonder I go half insane trying to figure out the world. Ah well, it'll work itself out again, I suspect, once everything ramps up and I get a grip on it again. I have no idea how long it will take. If I remember correctly, it took at least two weeks to ramp up that first time AFTER I got my stats in order. So, reasonably, two weeks from today is when I can roughly expect more than odd occasional function.
I am going to call about my bike today. They have had it for quite a number of days and I have heard nothing from them. I know I left my name and number, they required it while taking the bike. Now I might have expected it to take a day or two to get to, but once gotten too I didn't think it would take even a day to fix. Unless, of course, they really did have to replace some parts. That front caliper might well and truly have been shot from the factory. It was that way when I started though, so I will not consider taking responsibility or buying new parts. I will merely return it if they try that hustle. I will know more soon, as I will call in an hour or two.
It is raining, heavily today. I would call the various periods of rain true deluges. Sam was out in one of them, and even in her little hidden place, up on a outside window well which is off the ground a good 4', well back under an otherwise open 6' porch roof, she was hollering about getting wet and came running to get in. Sure enough, she was soaked. A quick toweling left her unhappy about being jostled but somewhat satisfied to be dryer. Crazy kids, but that's why we do what we do, right over what they want and finally to their greater satisfaction.
Well, on with something. Have a good day. If someone is giving you problems, kick em' in the teeth and say that was for me. I'm sort of in the mood for whack. Yeah, yeah, go on.
.
Somehow I have lost a day in there somewhere. I think, as I begin to slowly get back on my feet (or so I am suspecting, and yeah, it is slow), my days have become longer to the point that within a week of starting medicine I have lost a day. No wonder I go half insane trying to figure out the world. Ah well, it'll work itself out again, I suspect, once everything ramps up and I get a grip on it again. I have no idea how long it will take. If I remember correctly, it took at least two weeks to ramp up that first time AFTER I got my stats in order. So, reasonably, two weeks from today is when I can roughly expect more than odd occasional function.
I am going to call about my bike today. They have had it for quite a number of days and I have heard nothing from them. I know I left my name and number, they required it while taking the bike. Now I might have expected it to take a day or two to get to, but once gotten too I didn't think it would take even a day to fix. Unless, of course, they really did have to replace some parts. That front caliper might well and truly have been shot from the factory. It was that way when I started though, so I will not consider taking responsibility or buying new parts. I will merely return it if they try that hustle. I will know more soon, as I will call in an hour or two.
It is raining, heavily today. I would call the various periods of rain true deluges. Sam was out in one of them, and even in her little hidden place, up on a outside window well which is off the ground a good 4', well back under an otherwise open 6' porch roof, she was hollering about getting wet and came running to get in. Sure enough, she was soaked. A quick toweling left her unhappy about being jostled but somewhat satisfied to be dryer. Crazy kids, but that's why we do what we do, right over what they want and finally to their greater satisfaction.
Well, on with something. Have a good day. If someone is giving you problems, kick em' in the teeth and say that was for me. I'm sort of in the mood for whack. Yeah, yeah, go on.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Stats are finally good.
.
.
I stopped checking weight and bp for a few days. No use to do so and it was frustrating. Nothing was changing. Well, weight had come down but blood pressure was remaining way too high. After a few days off, I checked everything today, 124/88, pulse of 76, and down to 368.8. Still a bit heavy, but I was extremely thirsty yesterday and drank... a gallon and a half of milk and... well, on top of the rest of my normal drinkings. Fire on the mind, and no, it's not all about sex. Sometimes, usually, sex was only a way of attesting to the flames or proving I could stay close in spite of them. Something. This is different.
There is nothing like taking a shower, hopping out, putting on skivvies while I dry on a fine cool day while thinking back on life... ending up smelling like I hadn't showered in two or three days again. Crap sandwich, I'll have to take another shower before heading to town. At least my stats aren't all hinky. I feel the extra fluid from yesterday though. I simply had no choice, or didn't think I did. I'll pare that back, I hate having water up to my throat.
It looks like we are going to get more legislation no one knows what is in until after it is passed. It truly might be as good as it gets. That isn't saying much. It is one trillion short on cuts (as a minimum to not be downgraded), those cuts are questionable and due for revision before they are ever enacted, most of those cuts if they cannot be agreed upon will cut the military disproportionately, and there is no real chance of most of those cuts not being turned into paper fodder and written around. I guess you would call it a Hollywood ending for Democrats. And yet they still whine. They definitely represent females. Of course Republicans, mainline Republicans, represent gammas.
.
I stopped checking weight and bp for a few days. No use to do so and it was frustrating. Nothing was changing. Well, weight had come down but blood pressure was remaining way too high. After a few days off, I checked everything today, 124/88, pulse of 76, and down to 368.8. Still a bit heavy, but I was extremely thirsty yesterday and drank... a gallon and a half of milk and... well, on top of the rest of my normal drinkings. Fire on the mind, and no, it's not all about sex. Sometimes, usually, sex was only a way of attesting to the flames or proving I could stay close in spite of them. Something. This is different.
There is nothing like taking a shower, hopping out, putting on skivvies while I dry on a fine cool day while thinking back on life... ending up smelling like I hadn't showered in two or three days again. Crap sandwich, I'll have to take another shower before heading to town. At least my stats aren't all hinky. I feel the extra fluid from yesterday though. I simply had no choice, or didn't think I did. I'll pare that back, I hate having water up to my throat.
It looks like we are going to get more legislation no one knows what is in until after it is passed. It truly might be as good as it gets. That isn't saying much. It is one trillion short on cuts (as a minimum to not be downgraded), those cuts are questionable and due for revision before they are ever enacted, most of those cuts if they cannot be agreed upon will cut the military disproportionately, and there is no real chance of most of those cuts not being turned into paper fodder and written around. I guess you would call it a Hollywood ending for Democrats. And yet they still whine. They definitely represent females. Of course Republicans, mainline Republicans, represent gammas.
They aren't fighting at all.
.
.
The cats, that is. Sassy begs like a champ. I didn't necessarily know why Sam would bash her, but I now think it has to do with what Sam would do to a kitten/cat Sassy's age. She would shove her off. She would have probably done so at a much younger age, and pretty much chased her off. But food isn't as much of a priority so it isn't worth the hassle. Otherwise she would most certainly have run Sassy off, or moved off herself. Actually, with cats, I think mother often is the one who moves... if I heard that correctly. Still, Sam's natural instinct is to bat Sassy when she begs, at this age. For cats to survive they need to be quiet. And a begging kitten, who should be fending for herself, is... bothersome. For my part, I need to stop feeding the habit. It will go away. I just need to make sure she does have enough food and water and then not feed her when she begs. In other words, I am the problem. Working on it.
I worked on those knives and got them to open as they should, quick is lightening. Then I started playing with one of them, it's called The Natural, by CRKT. It's a big knife, for a folder. But I love the heft and the feel of the bone handle. Well, go look at the details. And here is the other knife I fixed. It is not a small knife either. But in my hands they seem almost small, perhaps normal. So, they fit. In any case, while tinkering with it, the hex which holds the thing tightened again. So, I will be buying Loctite blue. It should work quite well. I could use one of the more potent Loctite products, I just don't like permanently fixing something. Almost ever. I have a couple of other knives. I must be honest, I can't say these are truly reliable. They were neat, and when I just started up, I thought they would work. Then again, I honestly can't and probably wouldn't spend $250 or more for a pocket knife. I really doubt they are all that much better? Bah! I have what I have unless I strike oil in my backyard or something.
I had been worried about the ability to carry this knife, either of them, any of them. I looked it up. It seems there isn't a length limit, nor any other real laws. Not only that, Utah has set it up so that the state law (very broad rather unregulated) preempts city laws, so that cities can't try to have their own little exceptions. Some things about Utah are good. If they can break up the one remaining liberal enclave and keep it from having any power, as is fairly and rightly allowed because of the census, I would be most grateful. Give those fuckers an inch and they fuck up wet dreams. Salt Lake City needs to be stripped of power, period. Oh, you can go here (a pdf) to check on your state/city laws regarding knives.
I may head into town. I have a couple of things on my list and want to check on a few things. Later, or more likely good night.
.
The cats, that is. Sassy begs like a champ. I didn't necessarily know why Sam would bash her, but I now think it has to do with what Sam would do to a kitten/cat Sassy's age. She would shove her off. She would have probably done so at a much younger age, and pretty much chased her off. But food isn't as much of a priority so it isn't worth the hassle. Otherwise she would most certainly have run Sassy off, or moved off herself. Actually, with cats, I think mother often is the one who moves... if I heard that correctly. Still, Sam's natural instinct is to bat Sassy when she begs, at this age. For cats to survive they need to be quiet. And a begging kitten, who should be fending for herself, is... bothersome. For my part, I need to stop feeding the habit. It will go away. I just need to make sure she does have enough food and water and then not feed her when she begs. In other words, I am the problem. Working on it.
I worked on those knives and got them to open as they should, quick is lightening. Then I started playing with one of them, it's called The Natural, by CRKT. It's a big knife, for a folder. But I love the heft and the feel of the bone handle. Well, go look at the details. And here is the other knife I fixed. It is not a small knife either. But in my hands they seem almost small, perhaps normal. So, they fit. In any case, while tinkering with it, the hex which holds the thing tightened again. So, I will be buying Loctite blue. It should work quite well. I could use one of the more potent Loctite products, I just don't like permanently fixing something. Almost ever. I have a couple of other knives. I must be honest, I can't say these are truly reliable. They were neat, and when I just started up, I thought they would work. Then again, I honestly can't and probably wouldn't spend $250 or more for a pocket knife. I really doubt they are all that much better? Bah! I have what I have unless I strike oil in my backyard or something.
I had been worried about the ability to carry this knife, either of them, any of them. I looked it up. It seems there isn't a length limit, nor any other real laws. Not only that, Utah has set it up so that the state law (very broad rather unregulated) preempts city laws, so that cities can't try to have their own little exceptions. Some things about Utah are good. If they can break up the one remaining liberal enclave and keep it from having any power, as is fairly and rightly allowed because of the census, I would be most grateful. Give those fuckers an inch and they fuck up wet dreams. Salt Lake City needs to be stripped of power, period. Oh, you can go here (a pdf) to check on your state/city laws regarding knives.
I may head into town. I have a couple of things on my list and want to check on a few things. Later, or more likely good night.
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