It had to happen.

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I've been pushing for three, four, maybe five weeks now.  Yesterday I hit a block.  A storm system came in though too.  That isn't helping, in one sense, but it isn't the problem.  I used batteries I didn't know existed for a month, drained every bit of everything I had, and this is what happens.  I'm not even worried about it though.  If you drive a vehicle, you have to stop for gas and do maintenance and oil changes.  Thems the rules.  I have driven my body-auto, literally and figuratively, on an extended trip.  All good, all the way around.  I haven't done something like this since I was healthy.  Further, I am not done, just done for a few days.

It isn't the sore muscles, the stiffness from using joints and burdening bones in ways I haven't for decades.  It isn't even, really, from being out of energy.  It isn't a will thing.  My body simply stopped.  Like when you get the flu, and it literally takes your legs out from under you.  No symptoms.  No greater or worse pains.  I am simply tired.  Actually, I needed some rest in all ways, so it works to my benefit.  The weather, being cool and wet out there, actually helps me rest.  I don't know how long this will last.  Until it does, I am down.

The areas to be mopped will stay open until I get to them.  Before I mop, I hope to get the kitchen sorted out first, when next I can work.  That way I can mop out there, pretty much, all in one go.  It's a bit more complicated than being able to do one major single shot mopping, due to furniture, the floor rug, and such, but I can make it all as close as possible.  I will be grilling food as the way to keep the kitchen clean for a while.  I may try to get the dishes done yet tonight, and tumble the clothes I washed and get those out, plus get a shower and go to town for some shopping.  Shopping has priority, thus the shower as well.

The boat arrived today.  I won't be messing with it while it is raining, or threatening to rain.  But soon.  I need to make sure they didn't send me an old version of the boat.  It is heavier and doesn't have some superior features.  Yeah, they try to dump out-of-date stock on suckers.  I can't wait to tear into it, then get it on the water.  I have wanted a boat for a long time, but didn't really trust inflatables until a more recent review.  Yeah, sure, I've been on inflatables... through my time... but those were always owned and maintained by others, usually pretty much brand new, and not on my nickle.  I just didn't trust them for the longhaul, until recently... after a ton of investigating.

I'll pick up and go, again, when I am ready, when I can... perhaps before.  Weights, paddling, hiking, camping, cleaning and sorting here at home.  Some things will have to give.  As I suggested, cooking a couple of various meals, once a week on Saturdays maybe Fridays, that last the week.  That and boiling eggs for the week.  Easy, cheap, fast but good food.  I'll keep enough extra on hand to do a special meal once in a while.  Besides eggs, I remember the academics I stayed with... the Mister... made a mash of whole grains and legumes for breakfast.  Split peas, probably whole grain rice, lentil... give or take.  He'd cook enough for about a week, put them in a pyrex cake pan, then have those for breakfast every day.  Sort of bland as he didn't use salt, but a touch of salt and pepper and that was pretty good.  I figure, if I added quinoa, that could be a serious add or option to boiled eggs.  Or, mix and match.  He did it for literal health reasons, and taking care the best he could.  I'd just be doing it as a solid nutritional thing.  If I'm going back to being a working dog, I need the right chow.

Blessed, though.  To be this stiff and sore, and this low from work, is an absolute joy.  I am hoping I can build through, and on, this.  Eventually, perhaps, I can stretch the runs for months, maybe a year.  I have to be fit before turning back out into the world, especially where I am planning to go and what I am planning to do there.  There will be time for downtime.  But uptime will not always be a choice.  Gotta do what you gotta do out there, and mother nature is as forgiving as an ax murderer on a spree.  You do, you win, or you become the next meal for something(s).  The first few years, setting up a cabin, figuring out water, perhaps creating indoor plumbing, is the beast.  But, out there, you can never ignore your environment, flora, or fauna.  Then again, probably beyond most folk, I am almost always ready... in some senses.  I couldn't imagine depending on civil nature, politics, the police, and military for my ultimate or immediate security.  Most people live like that without a thought.  Amazing, to me, and frightening.  I know, and they should, that when trouble comes calling, they are it.  That fast.  This I know, and tend, to this day.  Blessed.  In many ways.

My muscles are tightening.  I won't say I've built anything.  I doubt if I will, not all that much.  Truth be told, I never wanted to increase muscle bulk, save if it lead directly to valuable strength.  See those muscleheads (I call it manorexia)?  Besides shooting or downing drugs that aren't good, there is the risk of injury just from the kind of lifting they do.  Even the organics are terribly at risk.  Further, much of that muscle is pretty much useless.  It isn't functional muscle, so it is a waste of calorie intake to maintain.  As well, it degrades flexibility, speed, agility.  I suppose I ought to be honest.  I have always honed for strength and in order to maintain raw speed.  It just works out that this is excellent for minimizing calorie intake requirements.  Purpose built and maintained, at one time.  While muscle is what burns fat, I am not certain that artificial and useless muscle does that all that well.  Never seen a study, just a suspicion.  It might even bog the body down, beyond not burning the calories off that it takes to maintain?  Not sure, suspicious, as usual.  Better to be powerful, wiry, and quick.  At least for my applications.

Hmm... I might hit the dishes first, so as to shower with a clear conscience... then shower, put the dishes in for a final rinse, and head to town.  Yeah, I suggested I didn't need to wash the dishes again, but... they have been sitting long enough that... I just think it's better.  Later.