Hmm...

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I might be able to kick out the primary boots, for hiking.  I did smoke the pork, again.  This time I tried peas and peaches, canned, with a bit of butter.  Nothing tasted all that smoked, to be honest.  And this time, I had the smoker set to a very cool smoke, and smoked the roast, again, for an hour.  The peas and peaches got about 25 minutes.  I'm not sure what's up with that.  Heavy smoke.  Now, the meal was very good.  Don't get me wrong.  No complaints.  I suppose, for serious smoke flavor, it is going to take four hours?  Oh, and soaking the chips is said to give off a heavier smoke.  I suppose I could do that, with a second batch soaking in case the smoke weakens in a longer smoking.  It was delicious, just not all that smoke flavored.  I wonder if altitude can affect that... the air is less dense, so smoke doesn't penetrate meat as well?  I'll have to do a bit of research, see what forum folk suggest, and such.  Well, it is something to tinker with.

I didn't do much else.  And kicking out the boots will... be a test.  But I want that done.  A good long sleep, since yesterday "night" was abbreviated.  And probably another day of rest, with maybe a trip to town for parts.  I'm sort of holding off on parts, as I am afraid as soon as I get those I will sink my life into getting them in.  I want a few other things settled, and to get some (considering) well needed rest in.  Then I will feel more comfortable digging back into everything as if I knew what I was doing.  Oh, and before I go, I want to get that list of tools I am looking at, for fixing valves.  A stem and handle puller, packing, plumber's wax, a box of replacement gaskets, and... something else.  Something for removing what the gasket rides against.  I'm not sure if the stores carry a variety pack of those, and not sure that would be a wise purchase either.   After polishing boots I'll revisit my post on that and get the list typed up.  Well, and while in town, I might as well go to the grocery store.

I'm trying folks.  I think I am actually getting somewhere too.  A few years ago, and after installing the r.o., if the rest of the system had fallen apart like that, I would have had to just go without for six months until I was up to it again, or called a plumber.  I suppose, if my time was included, a plumber would be much cheaper.  But with time, for me, being an excess good, it has limited value.  Good, solid, time that can be used for work is very limited, but that is why I am disabled and not an engineer.  Even then I would try to do it myself.  Why learn to be an engineer and not use it, even in a side area?  Engineers tinker, it's not just a job.  Actually, much of the job is limited against hands on.  Need for speed, and to tinker.

Ah, right, boots.  Then maybe putting that list together.  Good night.

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Yeah, I got both the boots and the list.  The boots... well...  I must have been faster, though I am out of practice true enough.  Three polishings, with good strength and plenty of goo.  The first is a spit shine.  Then a dry polish.  And finally a layer of mink oil.  All polishes get buffed, but the last two get a serious shine buff.  It's just how I do it.  I'm not sure that is how they taught me in the Navy.  I took what they taught me, practiced, and found my own way.  Mink oil is new(er) to the lineup.  But back then, I did three waxes instead of the mink oil.  We didn't really get our feet wet.  That is... one of the mottoes of the Navy?  Summit like that.  Wet feet = bad.  Yeah, two hours?  Right about there.  Then, getting the list together...  I had almost everything in the blog, save the one thing that was really difficult to track even a name down regarding...  A seat removal wrench, is what it turned out to be.  I'll at least look at that.  But if it won't fit smaller seats, there is no need to buy it.  Well, and a grouping of washers, and perhaps replacement seats if they offer such a thing.

A bit of gaming to close out the day.  I am currently playing a past minor joy, Bioshock, the first game.  I played it on Computer, long ago.  I had thought it lost to gaming.  As it turns out, on the newest version of the PS3 game, they through the original in as a bonus.  Since I enjoyed the newest version as well, it truly was appreciated.  Doing little favors like that will win loyalty.  While I finished the game, I didn't get the trophies.  I think I was interrupted by health issues and that project languished and then was lost, forgotten in the haze of time and illness.  Well, I'll... get it now, in my downtime and on my breaks.

Oh, and yes... another day of rest.  All that bending for laundry, standing while folding some things and hanging shirts...  It got to me.  I just didn't notice it right away.  It looks like I missed most of the pain somehow, but I have the stiffness now.  All good, worth the price.  Another day down, probably no store trip, maybe minor cleaning and emptying the last basket of clean, mostly already paired socks, and a few odds and ends.  But, still...  Breath the fresh air!  It was getting so rough in here that I was feeling like a dog would when it gets ticks.  No ticks in here, mind you, just the feeling.  *shivers and scratches*

Now, for sure, good night.