Tools? Toys?

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Both.  Although toys which can take an arm or leg, or do very bad things.

I can't sleep more.  I can't quite get to work.  So I am looking over tools.  A tool has become available for potential use, two actually.  I suppose three, if I pushed it.  Other tools are being considered.  Not by me, at the moment.  To be honest, I'm not terribly familiar with all these tools.  So... I went looking.  Power tools, with blades of one sort or another.

Bringing out the boy in the man.

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I watch this guy's videos with some frequency.  He covers swords, to battle axes, to movie reconstructions, to sword inlays of historic natures.  Everything a lad, or man, could imagine in the world of battle weapons of an old to very old European bent.  As well, he has... ideas... such as how to improve on a "Legolas" bow.  Look it up or never mind, but quite a curiosity... with potential for more.

Much later down.

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As with much else yesterday, sleep would not happen.  All I know with certainty is it was after 23:00 before sleep happened, but not past 0:00.  Waking at 6:23, I believe, easily and well surprised me.  I'll take it.  I am hoping this morning will see a start to the work.  I am not sure all the work before calling a plumber can be done in one day.  The realization, suspicion more, shut down efforts yesterday.  Yes, the mind can pout if given a task or set of tasks it doesn't believe can be done on it's schedule.  Not sure if that was it, or all of it, probably some of it.  Oh well, I am here and now.

The morning mix, minus MTC oil, is going down with medicine.  Instead of MTC oil or fatbombs, which because of calories, are being reserved for food hours, I am adding powdered fruits and veggies.  At five calories I am not worried about that tripping ketosis or even diabetes, but it adds something to bolster, mildly as that must be it is something.  Taste isn't an incentive but not a complete wash... tolerable and I can be a food baby.

Yeah, in an hour I am hoping to hit things.  I keep forgetting about the other sink.  I have to figure out if that drain is clogged.  Since none of the others are I doubt it.  If not I will set dishes up out there.  Then begin clearing the hall so that when clearing the floors after the rest of the bathroom is cleaned I can just sweep and mop on through.  I'll stop with planning there.  Ugh.  Maybe, if I push?  There is more than words convey.  But, maybe.

Well?

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Not much.  I did go out for food.  Because.  Actually there was a reason.  I thought food might help but had no ability to cook.  Sometimes, assuming I can get out, a bit of food can start the engine.  No, it didn't work.  Doesn't mean I quit, not even today.  It just means not yet.  I may, if need be, try the same trick, with slightly different variations, in the next few days.  Still fasting, just not using scant available energy to cook.  I'll give it a few more chances.

Hey, I'm not seeing anything, but...  the queen... ...long live the king?  Just something that's been... itching my bean.  Could be dead wrong, early, though they don't always say until fixes and jockeying have settled a bit.  Modern times tG for refrigeration and makeup.  *itch*

While I rest.

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I plot!  My escape is imminent!  Well... escape, imminent, and some other definitions are always... hrmm... debatable.  But the idea is sound.

I have been looking over where to escape.  Or, where to practice my escape?  Or, how to practice living, surviving, when I get to where I am escaping?  Who ever knows.  Practicality based on ideals is a funny thing.  So, that makes me a funny thing.  Funny, too, is a debatable term.  Never to worry, for good or ill, I don't die well.  Even if I disappear, I will be grumbling, mumbling, and stumbling my way through a rather long life.  I need it to be hard, it seems.  It isn't to test things, it is to not be dependent.  Dependency is murder.  Even death is kinder than many forms of "care".  No, wait, death is definitely kinder, than almost all forms of "care", "concern", and such.  I understand, that is what most people know anymore.  All save a very few.

Oh, but waters to begin learning to paddle, load, camp, and such, in the state, have been loaded onto a site, for easy perusal. here.  There are others not listed that I know about, though I would have to check allowances, requirements, and the rest.  I will also need to check whether my craft needs to be registered, on which waters, and how.  Bleh.  I won't go into Colorado, but I might check Idaho and Montana.  I don't think Nevada would have much.  Still...  But Idaho and Montana are much closer, perhaps even Wyoming.  Arizona is too far, and probably wouldn't have much either.  Though I may have to take a trip down that way, sometime, to see a friend.  Might look around before I go, and make a nice mess of the trip.

I am also looking at accessories for my craft.  A sail, of some sort, for example.  There is one that can turn the craft into a true sailing vessel, but at $600, I'd have to become much more serious, or be near a massive body of water, to consider.  But there are much smaller, less expensive, options.  As well, a trolling motor would be good for a number of reasons, in certain places.  Both have their limitations, some might be excluded from some waters, but having both could certainly make solo expeditions much more simple, sure.  If I am going to make it in the boonies, solo, a little insurance is good.  Though, really, I have to plan on, and be able to, make it on my own.

The boat should be in within this next week, as well as the extra seats.  I am hoping to be in shape to head out for my first session pretty quickly.  The hope is to be on the water within a week, the quicker the better, after getting the gear.  I will want a few items with the boat, such as an anchor.  Neoprene waders would be handy as well, though not required immediately.  I do have several wet suits, one full and one a john suit, and neoprene boots.  A bit of a chore in hot weather, but would do well enough.  Then again, a pair of water shoes, shorts, t-shirt, and sunscreen, may be all that is really needed to start things off.

I plan to take just enough to have dry clothes, food and a way to prepare it, water and the water purifier, and just enough else that I would feel right should I have to spend a night out.  The plan would be a simple couple of hours out, then a couple of hours back.  The first few times in the water will be finding out where to pack things, how to pack them, and how to use the boat.  Nothing fancy, no intention of a camping trip (just tending the possibility), no whitewater, not much.  Ah, but... finally...  I believe getting a map and a waterproof(tm) gps system might be the way to go.  There are buoys out there, where I will be starting, but going off those could lead to difficulty finding the way back.  Probably a very good item to have if I am going to Alaska anyway, especially since I will be looking for the tourists and going the other way.  Nothing personal, just not out as a tourist.  Plus, wherever people are?  That is where bureaucracy will rear it's nasty head.  Do this!  Don't do that!  Definitely do not do this, that, or that, or we will have your head!  If a bear attacks, be a sport and just die!  Bleh.  Avoid tourists for your life.

Still sore, still a bit stiff.  Too much driving... or... a lot of driving.  I can only imagine what paddling for six to eight hours a day, against even a mild wind, will be like.  Putting up for a day or two, then hitting it again, will be the only way to get in shape.  But there may well be portages.  Some necessary, some just to split the thing between hiking and paddling for variety.  I don't know, sounds like fun to me.  I really have to get set up for various forms of fishing.  I'll check my regular rods and reals, grease or oil as needed, and get that gear set up... plus get cracking on the fly fishing part of it.  Hopefully, by mid-month, I will have enough of that going, plus the raft, to buy a license and begin learning how to fish.  I'm hungry for fish, and maybe even for fishing.

Later.

Tricky? Of course.

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The sun is mostly out.  There are clouds about, the sun is simply winning.  It makes for a pleasant viewing experience.  I am feeling better, thinking a bit more clearly, and just going about my day.  I haven't been able to get going on much.  I am stuck, a bit, on some prep for Burning Man.

With the outfit I would like to create in mind and view, I had a lot of things to consider.  First, deciding whether to tie the netting myself or to buy it.  Cost, time, and complexity all being factors.  I did find a tutorial regarding creating netting.  I even believe I have enough parachute cord on hand to do such.  The complexity, and size, however...  I may end up tinkering with creating netting, but I am not quite ready to try that, and in a timed event.  I decided to buy netting after a lot of thinking, comparing, pricing.  Next, choosing materials is an ongoing task.  I do think cotton, of some sort, muslin being preferred, would work.  At least as a lasting material, and if thin enough and layered correctly, a cool material.  There are other cool materials, including rayon.  The thing is, whatever fabric I choose, it also has to be malleable.  That is some serious curling of the material going on, probably with the cloth on a serious bias so as to be 'sharp' at the ends.  I suppose it could be roll-ironed, a technique I just made up from looking at the prototype.  And to be honest, I made up the bias cut thing too, if some of it looks to just be attacked stringers.  Hands on the thing would be better, but I don't have that luxury.  And, how exactly do you ask a search engine how to roll cloth so as to produce a ghostly, or ghastly, shredded, smokey appearance?   Well, okay, I know how to ask the software device, I just don't know how to ask so that I get a useful answer.

Something to tinker with.

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Yeah, I know, I am not even doing what I want to be doing, so why go messing with other projects. Why indeed. Because I need to get doing something and maybe finding the right project, one I think won't break my bank or back, one that might be fun and immediately useful, something to give me hope for more success. I may have found it. I keep looking at solar ovens. And while bought pre-built solar ovens are fine, and I have seen one used and to good use (baked a dozen potatoes over the course of the afternoon), I do note that they are small, very expensive, and rather delicate.

So, while I was sitting here today, I started to think. I have quite a bit of wood around. Between what I have brought in and what the previous owner left, odd sizing and all, there is some decent wood stock around to at least begin such a product. I have saws, a hammer or three, nails, screws, and even a sander along with sand paper. But finding a good larger, sturdier, truly functional design... that is another story. Don't make a solar oven out of cardboard and expect to use it much or for long. Don't use newspaper as your insulation. Many do not even know, or at least use, the formula for optimal reflector angle, based on reflector and glass size. *sigh* But, after a bit of looking, I may have found... if not a legitimate design at least the outline for one. Enough of the specs are there, a picture of the final product, and the thing will heat to around 400, in December (if, I do believe, they live in southern Texas which may or may not have an affect).

Oh, right, here is a link to the device. Further, here is a link to their homepage, if you don't see it at the bottom of that page, as I didn't. Don't feel stupid, either. My job. Urhm, you can take that either way! There is some hinky stuff there, for preppers, homesteaders, and those thinking of going off-the-grid. For me, one project at a time.

I am going to look for engineering paper, go over what information they offer, fill in the blanks with common thicknesses, and try to develop a plan. It'll be hockey until I learn through experience. Perhaps I will keep a running update on the plans, and when I complete it, and test it, if it is indeed successful, I will offer the plans to the originators and, if they allow, publish them. How about them apples? Well, I'm off. Hmm, might even soak dishes and wash some later. Dishes are worse than having to wash behind my ears and stuff! *stomps off sobbing* Can I have a cookie? Actually, yes! Hahahaha It's good to be king.

Later.