Not a bad start to the day.

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I did get the cardboard and metals corralled, put in the X and taken to where they needed to go.  I also checked the mail.  I received parts and pieces, but no new medicine as I was expecting.  Oh, and I remembered to cut a couple of roses off.  They weren't the finest looking, none of them.  I took two of the best.  Someone ought to enjoy them.  I'll have to look at other blooms when I go into town, or check my mail, to give to the various ladies.  I just water the things, not my gig, so someone ought to enjoy them.  They had milk at the store, so I am starting on that.  Double boilering milk to 'just warm'.  I see I already did something wrong.  I thought the package was the dose.  Nope.  I am hoping that doubling up on everything else will sort of make it right, but I don't think it works like that.  So... I will... make it up as I go along and hope for the best?  Yeah.  I do play by ear, even a tin one, from time to time.  It's sometimes all I have.  Actually, there is more wrong with it than that, but... It's just been too long since I actually tried my hand at something technical and involved.  Still, I suppose I'll just see it through and decide if it is edible.

I need to cool off though.  Between the shower and even the little bit of running I did, I'm hot.  I turned the air on for a couple of hours.  Of course, a double boiler won't help, and cooking over it even less.  Fine, fine.  After the tapioca experiment, and a bit of cooling, I will look over my gear.  I brought my ready pack in from the X'ter and will be pairing that down for a short road trip.  I think one of my collapsible canteens is in there, so I will fill it.  I'll skip the Camelbac for now though.  I am not sure I will actually even make it out of town.  Who knows.  Oh... before I go I should put on the new kickstand.  The old one failed.  China can fail like no one else it seems.  A kickstand failure?  Really?  On maybe 10 uses?  Really?  They will cut their own economic throat if they don't raise that bar.  As I remember, the bike was broken when delivered.  No matter my efforts, I had to take it back to the store.  The mechanic told me several parts were defective and had to be replaced.  Wasn't my fault.  I remember what a pain it was to put that thing together, on top of it.  But I do have a better idea if something goes wrong, and that was why I decided to do the work myself.

My friend called.  I was almost certain he wanted to go shooting today.  I've got too much going, so I preempted his query and suggested we go tomorrow.  It sounded good enough to him.  He is doing better, they found the problem.  It is minor and they are fixing it.  One worry dodged.  He thinks he has enough ammunition, so... tomorrow it is.  I will go swimming before picking him up.  Yeah, I know, pushing it.  But then I have the weekend pretty much off.  This means, too, that I might try to push through work on the bathroom today.  I was pretty sure I could get the water running and toilet in.  But then I need to do the electrical, or at least give it a stab.  Like I said, I will have the weekend, and if need be, I will take it much more down.  If doing good I might start clearing my bedroom for a major clean.  That is still on the menu.

I did call my mother.  She is good.  She sounds fantastic.  She did get her puppy.  I had thought it was a girl, but it's a boy.  So I did know a bit more than I had written.  Forgetfulness, or just too busy?  She was pleased to hear that I am still staying on things.  Sure, it's only a few days.  But a few days creates a pattern.  She is already quite busy herself, urhm, of course.  This, that, the other thing, and such.  But better, it is finally warming in Iowa.  They have had cool and rain right until her return.  She loved it out here, even on the hotter days.  She's a summer girl, all the way.  Actually, you might call her visit a winter escape!  

Sam has been in and out all day.  I ought to go out and sit with her for a bit, while the cooking is happening.  She misses having my mom's company out there.  And... I like being with her in her native, preferred, environment...  I figure, as I am getting more active, I can share some of my time out there with her.  She is definitely a cat, more so out there.  :)  Later.