.
.
I was watching the time, to try and make sure to be to bed to get a few hours of shuteye. It was getting a bit late, so I decided to close up shop and get ready to settle in for a bit of sleep. I happened to look at my wristwatch. No can do. I forgot to reset the computer clock to real time. I have to be on the road in two hours. On the good side I am feeling great, or at least good enough. Which, for me, is feeling great, come to think of it.
I may just shave, jump into the shower, brush my teeth, put on something clean, and head out early so I can have breakfast first. Well, since I will be seeing the dentist, and having breakfast, I will take along my toothbrush and such. It's just common courtesy. I've always felt a little bit bad about being a chewer, and going in. So I have always at least tried to take that out and rinse my mouth out a couple of times before walking in, and brush. Oh, it isn't in order to hide the fact, they can tell. It is merely so someone else doesn't have to deal with one of my flaws.
But where to eat? Hmm, there is a decent restaurant just down the hill, on the way in. It is nothing fancy, though it can be quite expensive with just a side order or two. I think it ended up being nigh on to $20 last time. I'm still not sure how it ended up that high with tea to drink, a main entree, and a side of sausage or bacon? That was before tip. I must admit that I didn't look at the prices, but usually in chains the breakfast entrees are $8 or $9 less? Perhaps I missed the price spike, that is happening everywhere. I could try another restaurant, a home cooking type joint. I had lunch there for far less than the $20. I'm not sure when they open though. Hmm, I wonder if they are online? It's a mom and... well just mom I think... joint. It has been on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, which makes it famous. The jury, for me, is still out on how good it really is. I guess though, as a minor fan of the show, I sort of would like to see the place be good. Either for breakfast or lunch, I think I will eat there. Hmm, maybe both. I have a reason to be in SLC up into the afternoon, so... And I do need to eat. I'll think on it.
Have a good one.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Internet problems.
.
.
I am not sure what the problem is specifically. But I am getting only moments of connectivity, then being jammed. I have heard that it might be a FireFox update that is killing things. Though I wonder about government and even foreign interventions, including everything from our government doing hacking poorly to finding out what they can shut down, where, and practicing it. With foreign governments and entities, I would more suspect a mass denial of service attack on the web or a botched (or successful?) large scale hack. I don't know, I just know that I have just enough time to visit a blog and read it. I rarely have enough connecting time in order to comment.
It has been this way, off and on, for the last week. It is getting worse.
.
I am not sure what the problem is specifically. But I am getting only moments of connectivity, then being jammed. I have heard that it might be a FireFox update that is killing things. Though I wonder about government and even foreign interventions, including everything from our government doing hacking poorly to finding out what they can shut down, where, and practicing it. With foreign governments and entities, I would more suspect a mass denial of service attack on the web or a botched (or successful?) large scale hack. I don't know, I just know that I have just enough time to visit a blog and read it. I rarely have enough connecting time in order to comment.
It has been this way, off and on, for the last week. It is getting worse.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Spam.
.
.
Not the canned version, depending on how loosely you understand canned and spam, actually. Something about boycotting American women. His option, through his site, was mail-order brides from India. What he and many others absolutely fail to understand is that women would do anything to get to America, and then do anything to be free of any obligation that got them here. American women are, for the most part, wretched. Women who haven't known the wealth and freedom we know in America, who suddenly find themselves living in it (I remind you, our poorest people are richer than some local elders (foreign rich people)). It drives foreigners insane, unless they have a very strong faith system, and that would be foreign to any American man. Well, that and I am not into interracial kink. I'm not even into inter-religious marriage, though mostly for the sake of the marriage and the children.
No, going foreign, unless you plan on living there, and make sure she understands that should she divorce, that you will leave them all and return to America, you would have a worse time with a foreign bride than even an American women. If I was going to suggest a boycott, I would suggest men stop marrying any woman. Let them know that until justice is corrected and the family is made more vital than a woman finding herself or whatever, that marriage is too unsafe for men, and for our potential children, to venture. I guarantee the right politicians WOULD get elected, probably in some middle term election. But most men, as we know, are almost as weak as women. As for my part, I doubt if there is a woman, American or not, who is worth marrying. Fucking, sure, if she is doped up, and we are both slathered in latex these days. But I am done with that. While I look, I am almost certain there is no hope. Even most of the women I have counted on for guidance, my mothers, aunts, older sister types... even they advise against marriage. They have very little good to say about modern women.
I still think it is the wealth we know that will kill us off. While many believe the middle class and the poor suffer greatly, that isn't true at all. Actually, I have seen food kitchens in which the poor are fed better than I eat, at least regularly. Oh, but that is one meal a day, you say? And? I often go without food because I have no means of preparing it, no way to keep the place clean from the cooking, or simply no way to physically get up and cook, throw in shopping requirements and... Yeah. You can literally live off nothing but begging in America. I have heard the average day of begging brings in $100 to $150, and it's tax free. We are far from poverty, even our poorest. The only people who have trouble feeding their children have a problem with feeding a habit as their first priority as the problem, not any access to money or food.
Gold is wonderful, I am sure. Unless you are barely keeping your head above moral water and you keep grabbing more of it from wherever you can get it. Whether a loadstone is made of lead or gold, it works just the same. And while I regret our nation working toward bankrupting itself and our citizens, I do see a silver line without a single pun intended. While I think there is a better way, it will work too. If a woman realized that if she left, with the kids or without, that she would get nothing for it but being alone and broker, would she really do it? If she knew that her husband could not offer enough (or anything) to provide for his and their sustenance, and she knew that the government would not help at all, would she still divorce? Probably not, or at least most wouldn't take the kids, the few that are unfit as wives and mothers and would abandon all for themselves. Would that make the world perfect? No, but it would make it better.
I am not sure I would honestly want a wife to be considered property, but I certainly don't think her emotions should be the guide for family law to the exclusion of all else, as it is now. Anyway, no Indian, or probably any other kind of, wife for me. I keep looking, I suppose it was planted in us by God to look. I've test driven a... few... different varietals and, pretty much, in that way, there isn't that much difference. Further, with a little work, a few chats, a little play-acting, you can get one woman to be quite like another or as you like. What you can't do is trust her and the courts. As I said, I wouldn't want to own one. I'm not quite that good, don't want to be quite that responsible for a barely domesticated creature, and don't think it would work. I would, however, love to live with one, in surety.
I got into town, took my friend a meal, and that was that. I will be going in again Friday, taking him a meal. A Jimmy John sandwich I do believe. Though we might go out and get his shopping out of the way rather than me just stopping in. I think I have a dental appointment tomorrow very early. I called to check on it tonight. They don't have it on file, but they don't have any dental appointment in their record and since I set it up myself, I know one was coming up. I think it was the first because that is when I thought my mother was going to be arriving. And I went ahead with it because it was early enough that I would still have time to pick her up and it would pay for gas for the trip. A long day, but I figured it would tie it all together. So, instead, I will be putting in my conceal carry application afterwards. I simply hope to get a bit more sleep tonight.
A warm wind is blowing. The wind is keeping it from cooling, actually. It is not really hot, 77 F according to one sign as I was leaving Logan. It doesn't feel like it has cooled at all since, though and either. Oh well. I suppose it is better than 80 plus.
Good night.
.
Not the canned version, depending on how loosely you understand canned and spam, actually. Something about boycotting American women. His option, through his site, was mail-order brides from India. What he and many others absolutely fail to understand is that women would do anything to get to America, and then do anything to be free of any obligation that got them here. American women are, for the most part, wretched. Women who haven't known the wealth and freedom we know in America, who suddenly find themselves living in it (I remind you, our poorest people are richer than some local elders (foreign rich people)). It drives foreigners insane, unless they have a very strong faith system, and that would be foreign to any American man. Well, that and I am not into interracial kink. I'm not even into inter-religious marriage, though mostly for the sake of the marriage and the children.
No, going foreign, unless you plan on living there, and make sure she understands that should she divorce, that you will leave them all and return to America, you would have a worse time with a foreign bride than even an American women. If I was going to suggest a boycott, I would suggest men stop marrying any woman. Let them know that until justice is corrected and the family is made more vital than a woman finding herself or whatever, that marriage is too unsafe for men, and for our potential children, to venture. I guarantee the right politicians WOULD get elected, probably in some middle term election. But most men, as we know, are almost as weak as women. As for my part, I doubt if there is a woman, American or not, who is worth marrying. Fucking, sure, if she is doped up, and we are both slathered in latex these days. But I am done with that. While I look, I am almost certain there is no hope. Even most of the women I have counted on for guidance, my mothers, aunts, older sister types... even they advise against marriage. They have very little good to say about modern women.
I still think it is the wealth we know that will kill us off. While many believe the middle class and the poor suffer greatly, that isn't true at all. Actually, I have seen food kitchens in which the poor are fed better than I eat, at least regularly. Oh, but that is one meal a day, you say? And? I often go without food because I have no means of preparing it, no way to keep the place clean from the cooking, or simply no way to physically get up and cook, throw in shopping requirements and... Yeah. You can literally live off nothing but begging in America. I have heard the average day of begging brings in $100 to $150, and it's tax free. We are far from poverty, even our poorest. The only people who have trouble feeding their children have a problem with feeding a habit as their first priority as the problem, not any access to money or food.
Gold is wonderful, I am sure. Unless you are barely keeping your head above moral water and you keep grabbing more of it from wherever you can get it. Whether a loadstone is made of lead or gold, it works just the same. And while I regret our nation working toward bankrupting itself and our citizens, I do see a silver line without a single pun intended. While I think there is a better way, it will work too. If a woman realized that if she left, with the kids or without, that she would get nothing for it but being alone and broker, would she really do it? If she knew that her husband could not offer enough (or anything) to provide for his and their sustenance, and she knew that the government would not help at all, would she still divorce? Probably not, or at least most wouldn't take the kids, the few that are unfit as wives and mothers and would abandon all for themselves. Would that make the world perfect? No, but it would make it better.
I am not sure I would honestly want a wife to be considered property, but I certainly don't think her emotions should be the guide for family law to the exclusion of all else, as it is now. Anyway, no Indian, or probably any other kind of, wife for me. I keep looking, I suppose it was planted in us by God to look. I've test driven a... few... different varietals and, pretty much, in that way, there isn't that much difference. Further, with a little work, a few chats, a little play-acting, you can get one woman to be quite like another or as you like. What you can't do is trust her and the courts. As I said, I wouldn't want to own one. I'm not quite that good, don't want to be quite that responsible for a barely domesticated creature, and don't think it would work. I would, however, love to live with one, in surety.
I got into town, took my friend a meal, and that was that. I will be going in again Friday, taking him a meal. A Jimmy John sandwich I do believe. Though we might go out and get his shopping out of the way rather than me just stopping in. I think I have a dental appointment tomorrow very early. I called to check on it tonight. They don't have it on file, but they don't have any dental appointment in their record and since I set it up myself, I know one was coming up. I think it was the first because that is when I thought my mother was going to be arriving. And I went ahead with it because it was early enough that I would still have time to pick her up and it would pay for gas for the trip. A long day, but I figured it would tie it all together. So, instead, I will be putting in my conceal carry application afterwards. I simply hope to get a bit more sleep tonight.
A warm wind is blowing. The wind is keeping it from cooling, actually. It is not really hot, 77 F according to one sign as I was leaving Logan. It doesn't feel like it has cooled at all since, though and either. Oh well. I suppose it is better than 80 plus.
Good night.
Absolutely beat to death.
.
.
I had trouble sleeping last night. Then, about what should have bedtime I got a hankering to do some cleaning. I picked some things up, rearranged this and that, started in, but couldn't really get more than a bit done. And that little bit took a long time. So, I didn't get to bed until... 10:00? I had people coming by for a visit at 14:00, so... I did make it up, just in time to take a shower and get dressed. Further, I promised my friend dinner at around 18:00. So, no nap.
I get stretched in these odd moments. I have this, that, and the other thing, I can't sleep, I am trying to work (whenever I see the opportunity), and... it gets a bit much. But I have to do what I can when I can or even the little that I do will not get done. In some ways, the little life I lead is brutal. I either do, and can do, little or nothing for long stretches, and then I have to try to jump and run because it all comes down hard and fast.
I just got out of the shower when I received a call. It appears the V.A. did not pay for a bill from the hospital. Why? Because the hospital did not bill the V.A. The door rings, I'm still toweling off talking to this collection agency, and trying to then get dressed. Okay, I get dressed, let my guests in, we sit and I try to finish the call. This woman tells me that I need to contact the V.A. and see what they will do, if they will do anything. I assure her I let the hospital know, it was on them to act on the information I gave them. I had been to that hospital before, the E.R., and they had billed the V.A. They had to know. She again insisted that I contact the V.A. I told her it was not me wanting the money, I suggested she contact the V.A., let them know that the hospital slipped in it's billing of them, that they had been sending information to an incorrect address (and it hadn't been getting to me, so I didn't know), and to make sure she sent along the medical information so they know what the bill was for. She kept insisting that I do her job, so I hung up and that is that. If they want their money, there is only one place they will get it. I have explained how, done.
Anyway, a bit more work, possibly, at some point today. Cleaning, of course. It is not that my house is filthy, it is merely cluttered again. Well, save for the dishes. They aren't filthy either. I washed them once, let them set to be washed again. And, well, they have sat since. It has simply been too darned hot to do anything and I haven't been doing well. Ah, I best get my medicines down. That will probably be as much as I can get done until after I see my friend.
Such is the life of a guy without a proverbial leg to stand on. But hey, it ain't all bad. I just wish I was able to do more so as to provide a meaning for the food I eat and the air I breath. Life, however, isn't a secular thing. If I please the Lord, even in this state, and that is my goal if there seems little I can do about it in any case, then so be it.
Good day.
.
I had trouble sleeping last night. Then, about what should have bedtime I got a hankering to do some cleaning. I picked some things up, rearranged this and that, started in, but couldn't really get more than a bit done. And that little bit took a long time. So, I didn't get to bed until... 10:00? I had people coming by for a visit at 14:00, so... I did make it up, just in time to take a shower and get dressed. Further, I promised my friend dinner at around 18:00. So, no nap.
I get stretched in these odd moments. I have this, that, and the other thing, I can't sleep, I am trying to work (whenever I see the opportunity), and... it gets a bit much. But I have to do what I can when I can or even the little that I do will not get done. In some ways, the little life I lead is brutal. I either do, and can do, little or nothing for long stretches, and then I have to try to jump and run because it all comes down hard and fast.
I just got out of the shower when I received a call. It appears the V.A. did not pay for a bill from the hospital. Why? Because the hospital did not bill the V.A. The door rings, I'm still toweling off talking to this collection agency, and trying to then get dressed. Okay, I get dressed, let my guests in, we sit and I try to finish the call. This woman tells me that I need to contact the V.A. and see what they will do, if they will do anything. I assure her I let the hospital know, it was on them to act on the information I gave them. I had been to that hospital before, the E.R., and they had billed the V.A. They had to know. She again insisted that I contact the V.A. I told her it was not me wanting the money, I suggested she contact the V.A., let them know that the hospital slipped in it's billing of them, that they had been sending information to an incorrect address (and it hadn't been getting to me, so I didn't know), and to make sure she sent along the medical information so they know what the bill was for. She kept insisting that I do her job, so I hung up and that is that. If they want their money, there is only one place they will get it. I have explained how, done.
Anyway, a bit more work, possibly, at some point today. Cleaning, of course. It is not that my house is filthy, it is merely cluttered again. Well, save for the dishes. They aren't filthy either. I washed them once, let them set to be washed again. And, well, they have sat since. It has simply been too darned hot to do anything and I haven't been doing well. Ah, I best get my medicines down. That will probably be as much as I can get done until after I see my friend.
Such is the life of a guy without a proverbial leg to stand on. But hey, it ain't all bad. I just wish I was able to do more so as to provide a meaning for the food I eat and the air I breath. Life, however, isn't a secular thing. If I please the Lord, even in this state, and that is my goal if there seems little I can do about it in any case, then so be it.
Good day.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Just some things that made me chuckle.
.
.
This first one requires some knowledge of Monty Python's the Life of Brian. It is an old movie, some of us thought a funny movie. I won't bother to explain. Of course, it stands on it's own, too, though.
This one is about as scientific a rebuttal of the 'truthers' as I actually need. No, no, there is plenty of science that absolutely rebuts, well, along with everything that isn't scientific. Anyway...
Both shamelessly, and I do mean shamelessly, from The Jawa Report.
.
This first one requires some knowledge of Monty Python's the Life of Brian. It is an old movie, some of us thought a funny movie. I won't bother to explain. Of course, it stands on it's own, too, though.
This one is about as scientific a rebuttal of the 'truthers' as I actually need. No, no, there is plenty of science that absolutely rebuts, well, along with everything that isn't scientific. Anyway...
Both shamelessly, and I do mean shamelessly, from The Jawa Report.
Seven or eight police cars?
.
.
I'm not sure what is going on but in the last few minutes I have had at least seven police cars go by, heading out into nowhereland. With lights and sirens. I am not sure if there was an abulance in the first group or not, though usually they sound enough different that they are easy to separate. Then again, the first sounds were pretty distant, probably coming from a different route and coming through the far side of town. I don't know if there was a firetruck(s) either. Out here I suspect... a fire or a bad accident. I just opened my front window curtain a bit (I've been keeping curtains closed due to the heat, of course). It looked, as I just barely looked in time, like a red fire SUV but sounded exactly like a police car. Now I can't be sure how many of what may have passed by.
It just reminded me of when I lived in Iowa City-Coralville. Only it was always police, and several times a month somewhere between six and eight, or more, squad cars surrounded the apartment complex next door and went in with swat gear. Yes, the same town where when I called to report a drug deal I was told they would have someone get right back to me, and three days later some secretary called to ask what I had called about. I just told her to never mind, it was just a drug deal, nothing for her to worry about, then hung up. I knew, then and there, it was time to leave. Here? It means if I can, it is time to consider offering to volunteer at the fire department. Even if all I can reliably be counted on is to occasionally go over and do some minor tasks, sweep, help sort gear, whatever, and when I can.
It's a different world out here. And I like it that way. Oh, since there really isn't a local paper, other than perhaps in Logan, I sure wish I could be more social. I would like to know more about what is happening here. The only way to find out would be to know people who know people, I think. There is a little store in the middle of town. I think they have a little spot for resting one's bones and eating. Though not really a restaurant at all, or even really a coffee spot, I think it might be what passes for that. I might have to... be adventurous and risk planting my feet there. Hmm, I don't know though. I am so opinionated that it might not work.
.
I'm not sure what is going on but in the last few minutes I have had at least seven police cars go by, heading out into nowhereland. With lights and sirens. I am not sure if there was an abulance in the first group or not, though usually they sound enough different that they are easy to separate. Then again, the first sounds were pretty distant, probably coming from a different route and coming through the far side of town. I don't know if there was a firetruck(s) either. Out here I suspect... a fire or a bad accident. I just opened my front window curtain a bit (I've been keeping curtains closed due to the heat, of course). It looked, as I just barely looked in time, like a red fire SUV but sounded exactly like a police car. Now I can't be sure how many of what may have passed by.
It just reminded me of when I lived in Iowa City-Coralville. Only it was always police, and several times a month somewhere between six and eight, or more, squad cars surrounded the apartment complex next door and went in with swat gear. Yes, the same town where when I called to report a drug deal I was told they would have someone get right back to me, and three days later some secretary called to ask what I had called about. I just told her to never mind, it was just a drug deal, nothing for her to worry about, then hung up. I knew, then and there, it was time to leave. Here? It means if I can, it is time to consider offering to volunteer at the fire department. Even if all I can reliably be counted on is to occasionally go over and do some minor tasks, sweep, help sort gear, whatever, and when I can.
It's a different world out here. And I like it that way. Oh, since there really isn't a local paper, other than perhaps in Logan, I sure wish I could be more social. I would like to know more about what is happening here. The only way to find out would be to know people who know people, I think. There is a little store in the middle of town. I think they have a little spot for resting one's bones and eating. Though not really a restaurant at all, or even really a coffee spot, I think it might be what passes for that. I might have to... be adventurous and risk planting my feet there. Hmm, I don't know though. I am so opinionated that it might not work.
Until 15:00.
.
.
Cool, again. Very cool. Fantastically cool. I still couldn't cool off and then get to sleep until 5:00 or 7:00 or something like that because of being active yesterday or something. But I slept well and long. Being as late as it was, I didn't want to risk sleeping past time to close things down so I did that preemptively, before going to bed. All save the windows in my bedroom. I then closed my bedroom door, too. That worked well and actually kept my bedroom cooler, somehow, as the heat of the day increased. I woke to a pleasant temp and yet I have to think it is at least in the lower to mid 90's again. Something to do with having part of one wall of my bedroom being rock, and keeping the other side of it cool, is my guess.
Today is a day for work, if I can get to it. This room I compute in, a general trash and recyclable collection, and if I still have some juice, a few dishes and some laundry. It'll be an hour or two before I can get my lump going. So be it. My engine simply doesn't turn over very quickly, beside not generally being high revving. I am hoping, having ice available and so drinking more standard water and Gatroade, the world will become easier too. I have been hitting the soda way to hard. Beside probably jacking my sugar levels it has probably been cutting my fluid levels. Neither is good, I seem to have just defaulted to 'coolest mouth feel' and gotten stuck on stupid. It happens.
Have a great day!
.
Cool, again. Very cool. Fantastically cool. I still couldn't cool off and then get to sleep until 5:00 or 7:00 or something like that because of being active yesterday or something. But I slept well and long. Being as late as it was, I didn't want to risk sleeping past time to close things down so I did that preemptively, before going to bed. All save the windows in my bedroom. I then closed my bedroom door, too. That worked well and actually kept my bedroom cooler, somehow, as the heat of the day increased. I woke to a pleasant temp and yet I have to think it is at least in the lower to mid 90's again. Something to do with having part of one wall of my bedroom being rock, and keeping the other side of it cool, is my guess.
Today is a day for work, if I can get to it. This room I compute in, a general trash and recyclable collection, and if I still have some juice, a few dishes and some laundry. It'll be an hour or two before I can get my lump going. So be it. My engine simply doesn't turn over very quickly, beside not generally being high revving. I am hoping, having ice available and so drinking more standard water and Gatroade, the world will become easier too. I have been hitting the soda way to hard. Beside probably jacking my sugar levels it has probably been cutting my fluid levels. Neither is good, I seem to have just defaulted to 'coolest mouth feel' and gotten stuck on stupid. It happens.
Have a great day!
Okay, nice system.
.
.
I just noticed this at SurvivalBlog. This guy seems to have a plan. Actually, this is his plan. No, seriously, that is a well laid out plan, allowing for a good deal of what is needed and some of what would be very wanted in a grid down situation, and for a rather lengthy period of time. I am not exactly sure how long the propane would last him, but if he used that just for ac in the summer, I am guessing it would last for years.
But I noticed nothing about money, cost, or such. My guess? $30k to $60k, when you add in panels, connections, generator, batteries, and all the rest, and not including installation. If he did it himself, while technically free any diy'er knows it is not free. The price is serious time, effort, and an temporary abrogation to many other aspects of life.
Worthwhile? Only if it is ever needed as designed. While a solid possibility, and not just for a complete grid down situation (imagine if Obama gets even part of his way in shutting down coal fired electric plants, and just that alone, prices will soar!). And, it doesn't even have to be an international or even national collapse. A hurricane, tornado, massive electrical storm, regional grid failure, or a thousand other things could do that. I guess it would be worth it even if nothing happened, simply through peace of mind. And, of course, you would be saving some money on utilities as a standing functional system, making some of your money back. Given that this man's bills were $240 in the winter and $400 in the summer (though, it sounds like he lives... rather well), he would of course never regain his expenditures (like I said, with the exception that the grid goes down).
I honestly wish people would include costs. While it is nice to hear that someone has found his way to doing this, it is impossible to consider the feasibility factor without some kind of pricing. He indicates he has an engineering degree and a Ph. D. from one of the Ivy League schools, or top ten as he puts it. Well, okay, but he still has to look at the price tags, doesn't he?
Anyway, that looks like a solid system. I think the only think I would do differently, money not being an issue, is get a much larger propane tank. I think they go to 2k, rather than 300 gallons. You can hook up your stove, a clothes dryer, and a few other things, as well as make sure (as he seems to do?) have a tap so you can fill smaller tanks. A home would never use 2k. That would last as long as a single homeowner would live, almost, and offer some minor barter as well. It may not be legal, where he lives however, to have such a large quantity of propane. I am wondering if that was his situation, since he seems pretty able to do pretty much what he wants financially.
He even takes care of most maintenance issues by using the better batteries. I have always wondered if, after creating a battery panel, if you could purchase back-up batteries and store them? That seems to me to be an excellent idea, assuming batteries have a shelf life significantly longer than battery use life. Something I will be investigating (though too, I know those batteries are a significant expense). I know, if money was available and I had such as system, if nothing else and I saw the SH'ingTF, I would try to get a second round of batteries as a last thing. The card(s) get maxed? And?
Just... thinking.
.
I just noticed this at SurvivalBlog. This guy seems to have a plan. Actually, this is his plan. No, seriously, that is a well laid out plan, allowing for a good deal of what is needed and some of what would be very wanted in a grid down situation, and for a rather lengthy period of time. I am not exactly sure how long the propane would last him, but if he used that just for ac in the summer, I am guessing it would last for years.
But I noticed nothing about money, cost, or such. My guess? $30k to $60k, when you add in panels, connections, generator, batteries, and all the rest, and not including installation. If he did it himself, while technically free any diy'er knows it is not free. The price is serious time, effort, and an temporary abrogation to many other aspects of life.
Worthwhile? Only if it is ever needed as designed. While a solid possibility, and not just for a complete grid down situation (imagine if Obama gets even part of his way in shutting down coal fired electric plants, and just that alone, prices will soar!). And, it doesn't even have to be an international or even national collapse. A hurricane, tornado, massive electrical storm, regional grid failure, or a thousand other things could do that. I guess it would be worth it even if nothing happened, simply through peace of mind. And, of course, you would be saving some money on utilities as a standing functional system, making some of your money back. Given that this man's bills were $240 in the winter and $400 in the summer (though, it sounds like he lives... rather well), he would of course never regain his expenditures (like I said, with the exception that the grid goes down).
I honestly wish people would include costs. While it is nice to hear that someone has found his way to doing this, it is impossible to consider the feasibility factor without some kind of pricing. He indicates he has an engineering degree and a Ph. D. from one of the Ivy League schools, or top ten as he puts it. Well, okay, but he still has to look at the price tags, doesn't he?
Anyway, that looks like a solid system. I think the only think I would do differently, money not being an issue, is get a much larger propane tank. I think they go to 2k, rather than 300 gallons. You can hook up your stove, a clothes dryer, and a few other things, as well as make sure (as he seems to do?) have a tap so you can fill smaller tanks. A home would never use 2k. That would last as long as a single homeowner would live, almost, and offer some minor barter as well. It may not be legal, where he lives however, to have such a large quantity of propane. I am wondering if that was his situation, since he seems pretty able to do pretty much what he wants financially.
He even takes care of most maintenance issues by using the better batteries. I have always wondered if, after creating a battery panel, if you could purchase back-up batteries and store them? That seems to me to be an excellent idea, assuming batteries have a shelf life significantly longer than battery use life. Something I will be investigating (though too, I know those batteries are a significant expense). I know, if money was available and I had such as system, if nothing else and I saw the SH'ingTF, I would try to get a second round of batteries as a last thing. The card(s) get maxed? And?
Just... thinking.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Into town again.
.
.
Nothing fancy. I did have a rough time waking up from my "nap". A few hours turned into barely making it to town to get my haircut and get my friend out for shopping and dinner. On the good side, beside getting him to the grocery store I was able to let him do a bit of gun shopping. No, he didn't buy a gun. There were several he wanted to look at. One of the things he does is reads gun magazines and sees what's new that he might like. He enjoys his pocket-pistols. He just got rid of one, a .32. I would have bought it but that was the one that bit me so harshly. If I had thought he would ever want it back, I would have bought it though, greased it, and put it away for him. I just didn't think he really liked it.
While I was there I examined the XD and XDM in the 9 mm, in the subcompact and the 4" barrel config. The guy at the counter seemed to think the subcompact will accept a 19 round mag. I have heard that it accepts the 19 and that the largest capacity mag it accepts is the 16. I simply don't know. Perhaps some years were different, or the XD and XDM models allow for different things. In any case, I could happily buy the subcompact or the compact. But I would prefer to be able to use a 19 round magazine. Why? Because. While, after shooting the 9 mm my friend owns I and having read up on ballistics and stopping power given the newer ammunition types, I am more sure of the caliber, I am still just a bit shy when using less than a .45 or .357 magnum. It's probably ingrained in my psyche.
Nothing fancy for dinner. Roast beef sandwiches. He has asked me to bring him something to eat Wednesday, a McDonald double cheese meal. Well, I can do that. I did get my hair cut, but this time I had her keep it longer on top. I just wanted it cut so as to create as much of a flattop as possible, trim the sides back up, and that was that. My friend thinks I should have had her take more off but that's why I ignore friends sometimes! The problem with my hair is that I have a serious natural curl to it. I can train it, shorter or longer, but every time it gets cut more than just a smidgen it goes absolutely wild again. I hate retraining it after every cut. Plus, I liked the longer spike looking flattop better than the shorter one. It looks like I just saw a ghost, too. I like that. I did. Well, I might fib from time to time.
I don't care if it is cooler, 90 F plus, while running around in it, is murder. Dry heat just doesn't matter. It is probably better that we didn't go shooting this last weekend. Next weekend it should be in the 80's. And more, as we go up into the mountains there is a temp drop the higher you go. I really wish he would figure out how to get out on a weekday (not Friday) to go shooting. On the weekends people are just thick up there. Bikers, of both kinds, atv'ers, horse riders, campers, 4x4's, you name it, everyone uses their off time to try and get away (to where everyone else is going). Fair enough, and more so. Guys who work for a living deserve it more than we do, so I would like to go when they can't go and give them just a little more space.
The books arrived. I have put them in order of how I am planning to read them. Perhaps something might change, though I doubt it. The first book up is a basic introduction to economics. While I do understand economics on a limited scale, talking about it or understand what all the phrases means, is not something I have. And economists, as with all specialists, tend to take perfectly good words and phrases with a long and solid history and crapping on tradition and just using those however they please so that no one really knows what the heck they are talking about even if they know exactly what they should have meant. It's the old insider versus layman thing, just a way to keep it in the family (and not be questioned as easily on their bullshit notions). I will hurry up with Chesterton. Though I still think, if you are into conservativism or libertarianism, his "What is Wrong with the World" would not be a bad read. He explains, a hundred years ago, what was happening to get us to where we are. Same shit, different year, but Britain then seems to be about where we are now. Interesting.
Not much going on. I am still cooking from the mean hot streets. I'll... figure out how to cool off. And, if tonight is another cool one, I'll enjoy the process. Just for giggles, I may take another ride into town and pick up some more food while I set the house to cooling. It says it is only 76, which is quite nice. I must still just be really hot from the afternoon. Have a good one, later, or something.
.
Nothing fancy. I did have a rough time waking up from my "nap". A few hours turned into barely making it to town to get my haircut and get my friend out for shopping and dinner. On the good side, beside getting him to the grocery store I was able to let him do a bit of gun shopping. No, he didn't buy a gun. There were several he wanted to look at. One of the things he does is reads gun magazines and sees what's new that he might like. He enjoys his pocket-pistols. He just got rid of one, a .32. I would have bought it but that was the one that bit me so harshly. If I had thought he would ever want it back, I would have bought it though, greased it, and put it away for him. I just didn't think he really liked it.
While I was there I examined the XD and XDM in the 9 mm, in the subcompact and the 4" barrel config. The guy at the counter seemed to think the subcompact will accept a 19 round mag. I have heard that it accepts the 19 and that the largest capacity mag it accepts is the 16. I simply don't know. Perhaps some years were different, or the XD and XDM models allow for different things. In any case, I could happily buy the subcompact or the compact. But I would prefer to be able to use a 19 round magazine. Why? Because. While, after shooting the 9 mm my friend owns I and having read up on ballistics and stopping power given the newer ammunition types, I am more sure of the caliber, I am still just a bit shy when using less than a .45 or .357 magnum. It's probably ingrained in my psyche.
Nothing fancy for dinner. Roast beef sandwiches. He has asked me to bring him something to eat Wednesday, a McDonald double cheese meal. Well, I can do that. I did get my hair cut, but this time I had her keep it longer on top. I just wanted it cut so as to create as much of a flattop as possible, trim the sides back up, and that was that. My friend thinks I should have had her take more off but that's why I ignore friends sometimes! The problem with my hair is that I have a serious natural curl to it. I can train it, shorter or longer, but every time it gets cut more than just a smidgen it goes absolutely wild again. I hate retraining it after every cut. Plus, I liked the longer spike looking flattop better than the shorter one. It looks like I just saw a ghost, too. I like that. I did. Well, I might fib from time to time.
I don't care if it is cooler, 90 F plus, while running around in it, is murder. Dry heat just doesn't matter. It is probably better that we didn't go shooting this last weekend. Next weekend it should be in the 80's. And more, as we go up into the mountains there is a temp drop the higher you go. I really wish he would figure out how to get out on a weekday (not Friday) to go shooting. On the weekends people are just thick up there. Bikers, of both kinds, atv'ers, horse riders, campers, 4x4's, you name it, everyone uses their off time to try and get away (to where everyone else is going). Fair enough, and more so. Guys who work for a living deserve it more than we do, so I would like to go when they can't go and give them just a little more space.
The books arrived. I have put them in order of how I am planning to read them. Perhaps something might change, though I doubt it. The first book up is a basic introduction to economics. While I do understand economics on a limited scale, talking about it or understand what all the phrases means, is not something I have. And economists, as with all specialists, tend to take perfectly good words and phrases with a long and solid history and crapping on tradition and just using those however they please so that no one really knows what the heck they are talking about even if they know exactly what they should have meant. It's the old insider versus layman thing, just a way to keep it in the family (and not be questioned as easily on their bullshit notions). I will hurry up with Chesterton. Though I still think, if you are into conservativism or libertarianism, his "What is Wrong with the World" would not be a bad read. He explains, a hundred years ago, what was happening to get us to where we are. Same shit, different year, but Britain then seems to be about where we are now. Interesting.
Not much going on. I am still cooking from the mean hot streets. I'll... figure out how to cool off. And, if tonight is another cool one, I'll enjoy the process. Just for giggles, I may take another ride into town and pick up some more food while I set the house to cooling. It says it is only 76, which is quite nice. I must still just be really hot from the afternoon. Have a good one, later, or something.
Well?
.
.
I think I need a bit more sleep. My rocket lit, rose from the surface, headed for orbit, then petered out. I think the parachutes are working as intended. A soft crash landing along with a little disappointment is the worst of it. Then again, I like soft crash landings! Later.
.
I think I need a bit more sleep. My rocket lit, rose from the surface, headed for orbit, then petered out. I think the parachutes are working as intended. A soft crash landing along with a little disappointment is the worst of it. Then again, I like soft crash landings! Later.
Hmm, what an odd sleep.
.
.
A very cool and comfortable night last night, one I thought would lead to a good long sleep. I guess I over slept enough yesterday night that I simply couldn't sleep last night. No matter. After four or five hours, I woke with no complaints and feeling rested. The cats were grumbling, but they always grumble and I am usually able to ignore them, and quite happily. No, I was just finished sleeping.
I am not moving fast or well yet. I got on the scale, a daily routine. I took my first doses of medicine. I turned on the computer, and went through the ritual to get this dieing loaner to boot, then watched television. I like checking the local news, from time to time, FOX news (when it isn't all ________ (fill in the blank, flooding and hurricane for now), and the one occasionally very good channel, the Catholic Channel. It was this last channel where I caught one of my favorites discussing a book with another gentleman.
Too asleep, still, to catch much of the detail, something did filter through. Just a notion. My favored speaker, at least a monk and perhaps a priest (they can be both), who also happens to be a clinical psychologist or some such (which, in this case, I don't hold against him too much) was discussing something about liberalism, conservativism, and his notions, personally. One thing that was interesting was his idea that, while not liberal by any means, he, as a psychologist (I am surprised he didn't say priest, perhaps he is just a monk) has to have some liberal notion about people who he deals with. Yes, I think I can handle that.
Actually, I like to think I share that notion. I suppose most liberals I know have shown me none of that liberal spirit that they proclaim, instead leading mean little lives in which the only thing they have is a bunch of constantly changing rules, rules changed by their decided overlords for whim or personal profit. Think of Gore, Clinton, Steinem, or the various authors and speakers. The peasants constantly try to align themselves with their obviously bloated, grotesque, careless, thoughtless, greedy 'heroes' while being brutally evil to any who do not follow in their footsteps. Even to worshiping people like Lenin, Stalin, and even Pol Pot and Guevara. They have murdered the spirit of what they profess to follow the rules regarding through the dogma of the rules, whatever those rules are on any given day of the week. Soulless and dead, just waiting for their last breath, not knowing how dreadful they seem to any who know them. Sure, you can love them, but it doesn't mean anything to them. They just want you to become like them. Yes, that is it. It reminds me of some criminals and drug users I have met.
Now, mind you, when I suggest a feature, skill, virtue or such that I claim, I don't claim to own it. I mostly claim to see it as a positive and make efforts to attain some part of it. My efforts, commonly, will fall flat. I will fail. It doesn't always come out the way I intended. If not an abject failure, or a complete cripple, I am certainly not Christ. The worst of it is when He suggests that we know not what we do... I do and I still fail. I knocked and belittled Peter for losing faith and falling in the water, until I finally understood. I AM Peter! A thousand times over. So, just for the record, you have it from the horse's mouth.
I have already closed up the house. My bedroom reads 76, the kitchen reads 70 F, even with my door, the windows open (until I just recently closed them), and the fans going. I just kick out a lot of heat. A low and slow morning, maybe a bit of work here and there. But I have a couple of things to do this afternoon and I am almost starting over from scratch again. At least it isn't from illness this time. All good, I can do this. I will get there. There will be set-backs. I will stumble. And yet I have and will move forward more than I slide back. Maybe never in an Olympic speed record style, but those are sort of phony anyway. Not that everybody could do it, but obviously people willing to put excessive amounts of time and effort into running 100 meters really fast can do quite well, assuming someone will pay them to do it nearly to exclusion of, you know, working, somehow, some way. A fruity world we live in, when it comes right down to it.
I suppose I am just trying to hold up progress. Then again, I don't seem to be completely alone!
Ah well, later.
.
A very cool and comfortable night last night, one I thought would lead to a good long sleep. I guess I over slept enough yesterday night that I simply couldn't sleep last night. No matter. After four or five hours, I woke with no complaints and feeling rested. The cats were grumbling, but they always grumble and I am usually able to ignore them, and quite happily. No, I was just finished sleeping.
I am not moving fast or well yet. I got on the scale, a daily routine. I took my first doses of medicine. I turned on the computer, and went through the ritual to get this dieing loaner to boot, then watched television. I like checking the local news, from time to time, FOX news (when it isn't all ________ (fill in the blank, flooding and hurricane for now), and the one occasionally very good channel, the Catholic Channel. It was this last channel where I caught one of my favorites discussing a book with another gentleman.
Too asleep, still, to catch much of the detail, something did filter through. Just a notion. My favored speaker, at least a monk and perhaps a priest (they can be both), who also happens to be a clinical psychologist or some such (which, in this case, I don't hold against him too much) was discussing something about liberalism, conservativism, and his notions, personally. One thing that was interesting was his idea that, while not liberal by any means, he, as a psychologist (I am surprised he didn't say priest, perhaps he is just a monk) has to have some liberal notion about people who he deals with. Yes, I think I can handle that.
Actually, I like to think I share that notion. I suppose most liberals I know have shown me none of that liberal spirit that they proclaim, instead leading mean little lives in which the only thing they have is a bunch of constantly changing rules, rules changed by their decided overlords for whim or personal profit. Think of Gore, Clinton, Steinem, or the various authors and speakers. The peasants constantly try to align themselves with their obviously bloated, grotesque, careless, thoughtless, greedy 'heroes' while being brutally evil to any who do not follow in their footsteps. Even to worshiping people like Lenin, Stalin, and even Pol Pot and Guevara. They have murdered the spirit of what they profess to follow the rules regarding through the dogma of the rules, whatever those rules are on any given day of the week. Soulless and dead, just waiting for their last breath, not knowing how dreadful they seem to any who know them. Sure, you can love them, but it doesn't mean anything to them. They just want you to become like them. Yes, that is it. It reminds me of some criminals and drug users I have met.
Now, mind you, when I suggest a feature, skill, virtue or such that I claim, I don't claim to own it. I mostly claim to see it as a positive and make efforts to attain some part of it. My efforts, commonly, will fall flat. I will fail. It doesn't always come out the way I intended. If not an abject failure, or a complete cripple, I am certainly not Christ. The worst of it is when He suggests that we know not what we do... I do and I still fail. I knocked and belittled Peter for losing faith and falling in the water, until I finally understood. I AM Peter! A thousand times over. So, just for the record, you have it from the horse's mouth.
I have already closed up the house. My bedroom reads 76, the kitchen reads 70 F, even with my door, the windows open (until I just recently closed them), and the fans going. I just kick out a lot of heat. A low and slow morning, maybe a bit of work here and there. But I have a couple of things to do this afternoon and I am almost starting over from scratch again. At least it isn't from illness this time. All good, I can do this. I will get there. There will be set-backs. I will stumble. And yet I have and will move forward more than I slide back. Maybe never in an Olympic speed record style, but those are sort of phony anyway. Not that everybody could do it, but obviously people willing to put excessive amounts of time and effort into running 100 meters really fast can do quite well, assuming someone will pay them to do it nearly to exclusion of, you know, working, somehow, some way. A fruity world we live in, when it comes right down to it.
I suppose I am just trying to hold up progress. Then again, I don't seem to be completely alone!
Ah well, later.
Wonderful!
.
.
It was a fine ride into town. It seems to be somewhere in the upper 60's tonight. The wind picks up to pretty hefty gusts from time to time, but plenty of gentle air movement all the time as well. I had hoped to be to bed earlier, but once I get used to a bedtime, it is sort of difficult to change. Oh, I'll still be to bed probably two to six hours earlier. I had just hoped to be to bed four to eight hours earlier.
I have tried to discuss feminism with some women. But if they are feminist, there is no talking. Many of the ones I know are about at the end of their working days. My mother among them. She thinks she has been in charge of her life. She doesn't understand that she has been married the whole time. When it wasn't to a particular man, it was to a boss or the government. She has no idea what it would be like to actually be in charge of her life, and responsible for obtaining food, building a house, or any such real thing that men not only do, but continue to do if more as specializations for the most part. A drastic change in the economy, where specialization isn't as lucrative, might very well change that. Men will handle it just fine, women will learn that they are not equal, or emancipated, or any of that.
Just because a woman isn't considered property by a husband doesn't mean she is free. Currently, industry and the state are vying for ownership rights. But should either, or both, decided women aren't worth owning, they will be left to their own ways. And we will be full circle to why Queen Elizabeth created much of the law and norms regarding women that SHE instituted. Yes, these norms and laws were created For women BY a woman. Make no mistake, women are not equal and would be squashed like a bug in the real marketplace, without much of what passes for tradition. All it takes is men no longer respecting women or children, even their own, and the tide will change. If you want a visceral example, watch a man and women get into a real no-bars-held fist fight. That, my friends, is what is about to occur. After he wins, he does what he wants with her and leaves her to her own devices. Men are fed up and politics is changing. The glue that has kept man in check, religion, is dieing. No, I am not saying "God is dead. Nietzsche", I am saying "Nietzsche is dead. "God"". But not all dead men are in the dirt.
It is impossible to debate someone whose history goes back, at best, 100 years, and then only includes the viewpoint of a gender that, well, isn't prone to solid history score-keeping, let alone broader understanding. Women, as a whole, are socialists. It works in their world view, so long as they have no real power outside of the home. And while I can see why they believe this would work elsewhere, I also realize they don't even understand how benevolent men are to them. No modern American woman has not known this, despite what she might think. That time is ending. Not my affair.
Personally, before that time comes in full, I hope to be wormfood. While I might, in the darkest of my thoughts, enjoy watching some of it. I think it is going to happen so hard and so fast there isn't going to be a prevue or warning. It won't be the only thing to happen, of course. Christians should also realize they will be the direct social and political targets. When young men rule as gangs, truly. And old hippies who have become atheist businessmen and military leaders who use them to their advantage and truly hold the keys of power, life will become hard for all. And, no, that doesn't mean the end. It only means a return to the normal ways of world business until the next revolution.
I think Chesterton has it right. Feminism is a surrender of women to the ways of men. Through this they are trying to become like men, join in our fighting, jostling, competing, and such. But they want that all to be "fair" (set in such a way in which they can compete). But that is not how men play or how the world works. Men have played along for quite some time, as this "fairness" has made even their jobs easier. But that has created a whole bunch of men who can't defend themselves from their true betters. One way or another this will change. Women may not love the home, but they will find it a whole lot safer. If that is, they are even allowed back into it. We might have to wait for the next feminist revolutionary who happens to be luckily in line for the power of the king of the most powerful nation of her time, and the bloodlust to keep it and change things back so that women are allowed... anything.
Ah, just happened to see where feminism has taken women. Check it out, from a modern feminist herself.
Not being owned is not necessarily being free. It, quite often, just means you are a target of those who can and will take what you can't defend.
.
It was a fine ride into town. It seems to be somewhere in the upper 60's tonight. The wind picks up to pretty hefty gusts from time to time, but plenty of gentle air movement all the time as well. I had hoped to be to bed earlier, but once I get used to a bedtime, it is sort of difficult to change. Oh, I'll still be to bed probably two to six hours earlier. I had just hoped to be to bed four to eight hours earlier.
I have tried to discuss feminism with some women. But if they are feminist, there is no talking. Many of the ones I know are about at the end of their working days. My mother among them. She thinks she has been in charge of her life. She doesn't understand that she has been married the whole time. When it wasn't to a particular man, it was to a boss or the government. She has no idea what it would be like to actually be in charge of her life, and responsible for obtaining food, building a house, or any such real thing that men not only do, but continue to do if more as specializations for the most part. A drastic change in the economy, where specialization isn't as lucrative, might very well change that. Men will handle it just fine, women will learn that they are not equal, or emancipated, or any of that.
Just because a woman isn't considered property by a husband doesn't mean she is free. Currently, industry and the state are vying for ownership rights. But should either, or both, decided women aren't worth owning, they will be left to their own ways. And we will be full circle to why Queen Elizabeth created much of the law and norms regarding women that SHE instituted. Yes, these norms and laws were created For women BY a woman. Make no mistake, women are not equal and would be squashed like a bug in the real marketplace, without much of what passes for tradition. All it takes is men no longer respecting women or children, even their own, and the tide will change. If you want a visceral example, watch a man and women get into a real no-bars-held fist fight. That, my friends, is what is about to occur. After he wins, he does what he wants with her and leaves her to her own devices. Men are fed up and politics is changing. The glue that has kept man in check, religion, is dieing. No, I am not saying "God is dead. Nietzsche", I am saying "Nietzsche is dead. "God"". But not all dead men are in the dirt.
It is impossible to debate someone whose history goes back, at best, 100 years, and then only includes the viewpoint of a gender that, well, isn't prone to solid history score-keeping, let alone broader understanding. Women, as a whole, are socialists. It works in their world view, so long as they have no real power outside of the home. And while I can see why they believe this would work elsewhere, I also realize they don't even understand how benevolent men are to them. No modern American woman has not known this, despite what she might think. That time is ending. Not my affair.
Personally, before that time comes in full, I hope to be wormfood. While I might, in the darkest of my thoughts, enjoy watching some of it. I think it is going to happen so hard and so fast there isn't going to be a prevue or warning. It won't be the only thing to happen, of course. Christians should also realize they will be the direct social and political targets. When young men rule as gangs, truly. And old hippies who have become atheist businessmen and military leaders who use them to their advantage and truly hold the keys of power, life will become hard for all. And, no, that doesn't mean the end. It only means a return to the normal ways of world business until the next revolution.
I think Chesterton has it right. Feminism is a surrender of women to the ways of men. Through this they are trying to become like men, join in our fighting, jostling, competing, and such. But they want that all to be "fair" (set in such a way in which they can compete). But that is not how men play or how the world works. Men have played along for quite some time, as this "fairness" has made even their jobs easier. But that has created a whole bunch of men who can't defend themselves from their true betters. One way or another this will change. Women may not love the home, but they will find it a whole lot safer. If that is, they are even allowed back into it. We might have to wait for the next feminist revolutionary who happens to be luckily in line for the power of the king of the most powerful nation of her time, and the bloodlust to keep it and change things back so that women are allowed... anything.
Ah, just happened to see where feminism has taken women. Check it out, from a modern feminist herself.
Not being owned is not necessarily being free. It, quite often, just means you are a target of those who can and will take what you can't defend.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Avoidance.
.
.
Not being able to get in gear and go to town quickly enough to take my friend out, I was feeling very guilty. No doubt, I needed that sleep. Absolutely, the cool night was an absolute joy, and I don't regret finally getting more than a few hours of sleep, and having seriously deep delicious sleep, either. I just didn't like that someone else had to pay a penalty. I kept expecting him to call. Finally the call came in. Well, he understood. And, yes, he could see that. I asked if I could bring him in a sandwich or something tomorrow, or Wednesday. No, but I could get him out of there for a bit, to eat a meal and do some shopping. Hmm, I suspect he is out of cigarettes. I hate being a party to that at all, but my choice would be to stop seeing him and leave him locked up in the psychical rehab/nursing home. I wouldn't do that to my worst enemy. He needs to hurry up and learn to use his new foot though! :P
From what he is saying, he has only even seen the prosthetic once so far. They have him training with something else. My guess is he has the brace and weights, though his telling or my understanding could be way off. They have him try to extend his leg, and do this or that sort of thing with it. He tells me they think he is doing very well. I suspect he is. Not that he has a great health underneath it all, it is mostly that he just doesn't know how to stay down. He won't fight you, he'll just keep trying to get up, because... that is what he does, or something.
My home is cooler tonight. It might just feel like it, I haven't checked the thermometers, but I'd bet your left leg on it (not for mine, just whether we take your leg... that's... how I bet, so don't bet me). I can see storms off in the distance. The air is moving. Nothing heavy, windwise, just a good solid occasional movement, and perhaps at times even a steady mild flow. Tonight will be another great night for sleep. Perhaps, with these conditions and the quicker cooling, I might be able to get to sleep much earlier.
If this cooling does come, and lasts, I should be ready to get back into prepping my home for my mother. I would like to spend a day on each room, which should take about a week. Then spend a few days just covering any fine details that become apparent with each room done. Then sleep for three days straight so when the whirlwindwoman arrives I might survive. heh Just watching her work exhausts me and she is nearly 70, has had two major back surgeries, has had at least one hip I think and one or both knees replaced, has had several surgeries on her feet, smokes, and is a bit overweight to boot! Don't ask. She doesn't know. She just does. I suppose being raised in poverty on a farm was better for her than her memories of it might indicate.
I would like to figure out the wood for the solar oven, but right now I am having to watch pennies. While in town tomorrow I might price sheets, again, anyway. I thought they were in the $30-$40 range, but if there is a delivery fee, it will be around $80 so I don't want to buy just a few things, I want to get it all and some extra. I would like to get a number of things in that shipment, including several extra sheets of 3/4" plywood (3 or 4), several sheets of several other sizes, a bunch of 2x4's, and a couple of 4x4's (for the wheels). If I have to pay a ton for delivery I don't want to have to pay it often.
I might make another run into town, just for more food. Now that I am about ready to become more active I need to have something more than some grapes and a few ounces of salami in me. I do try to feed up when getting ready for heavy work. And it does help. Then again, when the heat is high, food doesn't look all that interesting either. Go light on the lazy days, whatever the cause, then beef up for the heavy or hard work. Uhm, just writing about it has the system hungering. Yeah, it's time to pull up to the feed wagon.
Good night, I do believe. I'll be getting to bed right after my trip. Oh, but trash and recycling first... Bleh!
.
Not being able to get in gear and go to town quickly enough to take my friend out, I was feeling very guilty. No doubt, I needed that sleep. Absolutely, the cool night was an absolute joy, and I don't regret finally getting more than a few hours of sleep, and having seriously deep delicious sleep, either. I just didn't like that someone else had to pay a penalty. I kept expecting him to call. Finally the call came in. Well, he understood. And, yes, he could see that. I asked if I could bring him in a sandwich or something tomorrow, or Wednesday. No, but I could get him out of there for a bit, to eat a meal and do some shopping. Hmm, I suspect he is out of cigarettes. I hate being a party to that at all, but my choice would be to stop seeing him and leave him locked up in the psychical rehab/nursing home. I wouldn't do that to my worst enemy. He needs to hurry up and learn to use his new foot though! :P
From what he is saying, he has only even seen the prosthetic once so far. They have him training with something else. My guess is he has the brace and weights, though his telling or my understanding could be way off. They have him try to extend his leg, and do this or that sort of thing with it. He tells me they think he is doing very well. I suspect he is. Not that he has a great health underneath it all, it is mostly that he just doesn't know how to stay down. He won't fight you, he'll just keep trying to get up, because... that is what he does, or something.
My home is cooler tonight. It might just feel like it, I haven't checked the thermometers, but I'd bet your left leg on it (not for mine, just whether we take your leg... that's... how I bet, so don't bet me). I can see storms off in the distance. The air is moving. Nothing heavy, windwise, just a good solid occasional movement, and perhaps at times even a steady mild flow. Tonight will be another great night for sleep. Perhaps, with these conditions and the quicker cooling, I might be able to get to sleep much earlier.
If this cooling does come, and lasts, I should be ready to get back into prepping my home for my mother. I would like to spend a day on each room, which should take about a week. Then spend a few days just covering any fine details that become apparent with each room done. Then sleep for three days straight so when the whirlwindwoman arrives I might survive. heh Just watching her work exhausts me and she is nearly 70, has had two major back surgeries, has had at least one hip I think and one or both knees replaced, has had several surgeries on her feet, smokes, and is a bit overweight to boot! Don't ask. She doesn't know. She just does. I suppose being raised in poverty on a farm was better for her than her memories of it might indicate.
I would like to figure out the wood for the solar oven, but right now I am having to watch pennies. While in town tomorrow I might price sheets, again, anyway. I thought they were in the $30-$40 range, but if there is a delivery fee, it will be around $80 so I don't want to buy just a few things, I want to get it all and some extra. I would like to get a number of things in that shipment, including several extra sheets of 3/4" plywood (3 or 4), several sheets of several other sizes, a bunch of 2x4's, and a couple of 4x4's (for the wheels). If I have to pay a ton for delivery I don't want to have to pay it often.
I might make another run into town, just for more food. Now that I am about ready to become more active I need to have something more than some grapes and a few ounces of salami in me. I do try to feed up when getting ready for heavy work. And it does help. Then again, when the heat is high, food doesn't look all that interesting either. Go light on the lazy days, whatever the cause, then beef up for the heavy or hard work. Uhm, just writing about it has the system hungering. Yeah, it's time to pull up to the feed wagon.
Good night, I do believe. I'll be getting to bed right after my trip. Oh, but trash and recycling first... Bleh!
Oh the bother!
.
.
But it is funny too.
Not quite being up to much lately, I have been trying to do more than play a stupid game, watch television, or even just sit and read. Those things have limits to how much time they can effectively eat, in any case. While I am physically capable of sitting and reading all day, my mind likes to take large breaks in which to sort through the exposure. Television is saved for when my brain and body are wanting sleep hard but cannot come by it. And the one game I have gotten to work on this old loaner is... getting quite old (Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project *dance for me baby*).
Today I am looking over the prospect of building my own cabinets. I am quite sure that if not absolutely needed, a table saw would be exceptionally handy. It is something I have checked into but without much in the way of returns. There are the 'big box' table saws, little devices that, if hedged, with additions, and if carefully scrutinized, might do in a pinch. I haven't see any real options though. Perhaps the larger more professional ones are so high priced that if you have to ask, you should have known better? Then again, I am not really seeing those offered anywhere, either. I have seen old ones, being offered online at sites like Craigslist. Nice, but... most of them remind me of buying a model-t, that has sat for a decade or four. Hmm, no. No, I think not.
In any case, I think I have most other tools. I might consider a plane or three. I would probably want a router. While a saw would be fine for, say, just a single solar oven double box construction, I don't think I would really want to work through a dozen cabinets, bases, and drawers, using a hand saw. Just saying. But for the most part, I have a decent grouping to tools. I have a very basic understanding of how to use those tools. I even have safety gear, though I think a triple tap outdoor GFCI adapter might be a great addition.
So, other than everything needed, I still wanted to look at advice regarding construction of cabinets. To be honest I think it would be relatively easy work. The reason most people don't do it is that it takes a lot of time. Now, I am not saying I could just swing and hit, I am saying that I could swing and stumble through the process relatively painlessly, so long as I don't rip the old ones out first and then be pressed by time to get the new ones in (not a chance). I think the other reason people buy prebuilt is that, if far from cheaper, it is easier to get a loan for pre-built installed units than it is to get a loan (or buy over time) the tools and supplies needed. Of course, that is part of the problem with modernism. It has created a specialized status that makes earning or gaining access to debt much preferable to doing things personally. Time has indeed become money, and an engineer or accountant would do far better to do a little overtime or take on an extra account or three than to gather the money, then the tools and skills, and finally build their own cabinets. It is actually, in many areas, seen as... geekish, or "fundamentalist" (on secular grounds, but nonetheless), or foolish. "Let the peasants do that sort of work, George. Your place is up here in the clouds with the rest of us know-everything-do-nothings"!
Yes, I think I could do the work, given the tools. Oh, and there would be mistakes. But, you didn't think those pre-builts were perfect, did you? Beyond, what are built with? Will that "wood" handle getting wet? Really? Will they even handle being installed, or will the installer just do whatever it takes to get it in and... not bother letting you know how fail it is? Honestly, you don't and won't know unless you do it yourself. And it isn't as hard as all that, regardless of what some try to make you think. Or, at least, how about this. It can be complicated, but it isn't hard.
One thing that bothers me is that, on every diy'er site, it seems the notion of using solid hard woods is considered passe. The cheaper types of wood, it is suggested, are used on everything save a few commonly viewed small pieces. Plywood, I am sure, is just fine. But does it really last? What about the other types of wood product? Has hard wood become too expensive to even consider? I hope not, but that may be the truth of it. Of course, I am sure we have saved the spotted owls though, right?
I still have more questions than answers. But I am nearing a place to jump off, if a few more things come together (tools, a little experience with the solar oven construction, and the money for materials and tools). When I first moved here, I didn't have a quarter of the tools I now have, and no power tools save that lame 12 or 14 volt drill. Things are moving along. Even if it feels like at a tortoise's pace. I'll get there, if I live long enough.
.
But it is funny too.
Not quite being up to much lately, I have been trying to do more than play a stupid game, watch television, or even just sit and read. Those things have limits to how much time they can effectively eat, in any case. While I am physically capable of sitting and reading all day, my mind likes to take large breaks in which to sort through the exposure. Television is saved for when my brain and body are wanting sleep hard but cannot come by it. And the one game I have gotten to work on this old loaner is... getting quite old (Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project *dance for me baby*).
Today I am looking over the prospect of building my own cabinets. I am quite sure that if not absolutely needed, a table saw would be exceptionally handy. It is something I have checked into but without much in the way of returns. There are the 'big box' table saws, little devices that, if hedged, with additions, and if carefully scrutinized, might do in a pinch. I haven't see any real options though. Perhaps the larger more professional ones are so high priced that if you have to ask, you should have known better? Then again, I am not really seeing those offered anywhere, either. I have seen old ones, being offered online at sites like Craigslist. Nice, but... most of them remind me of buying a model-t, that has sat for a decade or four. Hmm, no. No, I think not.
In any case, I think I have most other tools. I might consider a plane or three. I would probably want a router. While a saw would be fine for, say, just a single solar oven double box construction, I don't think I would really want to work through a dozen cabinets, bases, and drawers, using a hand saw. Just saying. But for the most part, I have a decent grouping to tools. I have a very basic understanding of how to use those tools. I even have safety gear, though I think a triple tap outdoor GFCI adapter might be a great addition.
So, other than everything needed, I still wanted to look at advice regarding construction of cabinets. To be honest I think it would be relatively easy work. The reason most people don't do it is that it takes a lot of time. Now, I am not saying I could just swing and hit, I am saying that I could swing and stumble through the process relatively painlessly, so long as I don't rip the old ones out first and then be pressed by time to get the new ones in (not a chance). I think the other reason people buy prebuilt is that, if far from cheaper, it is easier to get a loan for pre-built installed units than it is to get a loan (or buy over time) the tools and supplies needed. Of course, that is part of the problem with modernism. It has created a specialized status that makes earning or gaining access to debt much preferable to doing things personally. Time has indeed become money, and an engineer or accountant would do far better to do a little overtime or take on an extra account or three than to gather the money, then the tools and skills, and finally build their own cabinets. It is actually, in many areas, seen as... geekish, or "fundamentalist" (on secular grounds, but nonetheless), or foolish. "Let the peasants do that sort of work, George. Your place is up here in the clouds with the rest of us know-everything-do-nothings"!
Yes, I think I could do the work, given the tools. Oh, and there would be mistakes. But, you didn't think those pre-builts were perfect, did you? Beyond, what are built with? Will that "wood" handle getting wet? Really? Will they even handle being installed, or will the installer just do whatever it takes to get it in and... not bother letting you know how fail it is? Honestly, you don't and won't know unless you do it yourself. And it isn't as hard as all that, regardless of what some try to make you think. Or, at least, how about this. It can be complicated, but it isn't hard.
One thing that bothers me is that, on every diy'er site, it seems the notion of using solid hard woods is considered passe. The cheaper types of wood, it is suggested, are used on everything save a few commonly viewed small pieces. Plywood, I am sure, is just fine. But does it really last? What about the other types of wood product? Has hard wood become too expensive to even consider? I hope not, but that may be the truth of it. Of course, I am sure we have saved the spotted owls though, right?
I still have more questions than answers. But I am nearing a place to jump off, if a few more things come together (tools, a little experience with the solar oven construction, and the money for materials and tools). When I first moved here, I didn't have a quarter of the tools I now have, and no power tools save that lame 12 or 14 volt drill. Things are moving along. Even if it feels like at a tortoise's pace. I'll get there, if I live long enough.
Back and forth regarding cooling.
.
.
With just a little more cooling capacity, my home would be just about perfect. The stone main of the home is exceptionally good at keeping things pleasant. But when cooling at night gets to a certain point, there is nothing cooling that mass. This year the length of time that I was uncomfortable was excessive, to my mind. So I am seriously considering getting in some kind of cooling system.
I have heard, from several people, both long-timers, people more or less passing through, and people who also just recently moved in, that central air conditioning is the way to go. And, for the most part, that is what I have been considering. I keep hearing about swamp coolers though too. Some people swear by them. I know my brother and his wife, when they lived in Vegas (Air Force related), used a swamp cooler. But then I have been to Vegas. In high heat, nothing really works, save Casino type systems, which, if I had to guess, use both types and allow (force) each system to feed off the other. Not a bad plan if you don't mind massive electric bills and extreme water use, plus can afford the upkeep. While my brother's home was, comparatively, comfortable, it isn't what I would have called pleasant. Then again, Las Vegas wasn't exactly a pleasant place. It is insanely hot there and it never really cools, not in high summer. And to my mind, not even really in their "winter". Heh
What I would love to do is find someone locally who owns a swamp cooler and experience how well it cools. I have had people say this or that is lovely. But for my tastes it really isn't. Swamp coolers can cool from -15 to -40 F degrees, from my sources (whole house, not room or window units). I think my question is, would that be with or without the stone of my home? Would those things work together, or be separate or even contrary. My common sense says that the stone would gather the cool, storing it. But common sense can and does bite me in the worst of places when I just assume common sense is the way of it.
I do have ducts already because of my forced air heating. These need reworked a bit as they are not set the most efficiently. I heard that from several people who looked over the system when I purchased the home. Thankfully, most think the work would be rather inexpensive to re-work. So, at least I have that going for me. The options for non-ducted houses is quite expensive.
Central air has some advantages, and it is used more locally (from my small sampling). It does work, and well, from what I have seen and experienced. It is also more expensive and less efficient, from what I have heard. Swamp coolers have several things in it's favor. It is less expensive, it moisturizes (though I seem well acclimated to the dryness, already, skin and all... perhaps due to the water softener?), and you actually keep the windows open with it, which I very much like, I think? The part about the swamp cooler that I don't know is how much work the monthly upkeep is (and it's required), how well it works after, say, a rain with humidity running up to 50% (haven't seen it much higher, but I have seen it that high), and how much I would actually like it once installed. And with both, longevity and maintenance in the larger scale are a concern.
I guess I need to speak to a pro, or three. I will need to get my house in order to begin having people in to look things over, offer advice, get estimates, and begin figuring things out. Now, one thing I do consider, is that having a solid working cooling system in the house might be an expense, it will bring value to the home. I will lose money to it, no doubt. But I will also raise the number of people who would seriously look at buying the place, raise the price just a bit, as well as live more comfortably while I live here. Yep, I best get onto some things.
Oh, by the way, when I had people in, when I was buying the house and trying to get a new furnace and central air package, the price was running right at $5k to $7k, I do believe (for both a new and high efficiency furnace and central air, with installation). So a swamp cooler might really cut into that (then again, maybe not, if plumbing the thing is an issue). I would love to do something like what D.C. is doing. But if I could do that I would be in college again, first. :p
.
With just a little more cooling capacity, my home would be just about perfect. The stone main of the home is exceptionally good at keeping things pleasant. But when cooling at night gets to a certain point, there is nothing cooling that mass. This year the length of time that I was uncomfortable was excessive, to my mind. So I am seriously considering getting in some kind of cooling system.
I have heard, from several people, both long-timers, people more or less passing through, and people who also just recently moved in, that central air conditioning is the way to go. And, for the most part, that is what I have been considering. I keep hearing about swamp coolers though too. Some people swear by them. I know my brother and his wife, when they lived in Vegas (Air Force related), used a swamp cooler. But then I have been to Vegas. In high heat, nothing really works, save Casino type systems, which, if I had to guess, use both types and allow (force) each system to feed off the other. Not a bad plan if you don't mind massive electric bills and extreme water use, plus can afford the upkeep. While my brother's home was, comparatively, comfortable, it isn't what I would have called pleasant. Then again, Las Vegas wasn't exactly a pleasant place. It is insanely hot there and it never really cools, not in high summer. And to my mind, not even really in their "winter". Heh
What I would love to do is find someone locally who owns a swamp cooler and experience how well it cools. I have had people say this or that is lovely. But for my tastes it really isn't. Swamp coolers can cool from -15 to -40 F degrees, from my sources (whole house, not room or window units). I think my question is, would that be with or without the stone of my home? Would those things work together, or be separate or even contrary. My common sense says that the stone would gather the cool, storing it. But common sense can and does bite me in the worst of places when I just assume common sense is the way of it.
I do have ducts already because of my forced air heating. These need reworked a bit as they are not set the most efficiently. I heard that from several people who looked over the system when I purchased the home. Thankfully, most think the work would be rather inexpensive to re-work. So, at least I have that going for me. The options for non-ducted houses is quite expensive.
Central air has some advantages, and it is used more locally (from my small sampling). It does work, and well, from what I have seen and experienced. It is also more expensive and less efficient, from what I have heard. Swamp coolers have several things in it's favor. It is less expensive, it moisturizes (though I seem well acclimated to the dryness, already, skin and all... perhaps due to the water softener?), and you actually keep the windows open with it, which I very much like, I think? The part about the swamp cooler that I don't know is how much work the monthly upkeep is (and it's required), how well it works after, say, a rain with humidity running up to 50% (haven't seen it much higher, but I have seen it that high), and how much I would actually like it once installed. And with both, longevity and maintenance in the larger scale are a concern.
I guess I need to speak to a pro, or three. I will need to get my house in order to begin having people in to look things over, offer advice, get estimates, and begin figuring things out. Now, one thing I do consider, is that having a solid working cooling system in the house might be an expense, it will bring value to the home. I will lose money to it, no doubt. But I will also raise the number of people who would seriously look at buying the place, raise the price just a bit, as well as live more comfortably while I live here. Yep, I best get onto some things.
Oh, by the way, when I had people in, when I was buying the house and trying to get a new furnace and central air package, the price was running right at $5k to $7k, I do believe (for both a new and high efficiency furnace and central air, with installation). So a swamp cooler might really cut into that (then again, maybe not, if plumbing the thing is an issue). I would love to do something like what D.C. is doing. But if I could do that I would be in college again, first. :p
Cool!
.
.
Or, at least, cool enough. I still can't remember when I was finally able to crawl into bed and sleep. It was after 3:00, at least closer to 4:00 and maybe later. With heat pushing me to stay awake my day is both hard and seemingly too long. And, since heat wakes me up I haven't been sleeping much or deeply. Today I slept until right around 14:00. Of course, without shutting the house up until then, it was rather warm. The stone does keep the cool though, so after I closed things back up, some of the cool returned to my home. It isn't perfect but it does work out to some degree.
It is too late to go shooting today. There was no help for it. As well, I am bushed. This long haul through the heat has been brutal. One night of good, deep, sound, long sleep will not fix all the woes, if it is a start. I have it that tonight might also be a cool night. And there is the possibility of storms coming through, which might help as well. I sure hope so, I have things to do and no capacity to really get to things without a reprieve. I go on being relatively happy, enjoying my little life as I may, right through it though. Health is still being good even with the minimalist sleep and extra fluid intake, so far.
Hmm, what to do today? Not much, it has gotten hot again. This too shall pass.
Later.
.
Or, at least, cool enough. I still can't remember when I was finally able to crawl into bed and sleep. It was after 3:00, at least closer to 4:00 and maybe later. With heat pushing me to stay awake my day is both hard and seemingly too long. And, since heat wakes me up I haven't been sleeping much or deeply. Today I slept until right around 14:00. Of course, without shutting the house up until then, it was rather warm. The stone does keep the cool though, so after I closed things back up, some of the cool returned to my home. It isn't perfect but it does work out to some degree.
It is too late to go shooting today. There was no help for it. As well, I am bushed. This long haul through the heat has been brutal. One night of good, deep, sound, long sleep will not fix all the woes, if it is a start. I have it that tonight might also be a cool night. And there is the possibility of storms coming through, which might help as well. I sure hope so, I have things to do and no capacity to really get to things without a reprieve. I go on being relatively happy, enjoying my little life as I may, right through it though. Health is still being good even with the minimalist sleep and extra fluid intake, so far.
Hmm, what to do today? Not much, it has gotten hot again. This too shall pass.
Later.
Cooling in the future?
.
.
It looks like it. This week is supposed to drop to the low 90's until the 1st, then into the mid to low 80's F from then on. Tonight it is supposed to dip into the 50's. I have my doubts, sitting here at 1:45 and still sweating. Then again, I have seen it actually dip into the 50's but for such a short time that it didn't really matter. Oh I am sure hoping for even a bit of cooling. Further, with a high centered a bit south and east of us, storms are being pulled through. While I have seen things farther off, nothing has come in to help cool things very close by. I'm not sure that the humidity would be worth the cooling though. Who knows.
A shower, a trip to town, cat food and manfood was all that was purchased. The cats are, mostly, happy. Sam now really likes her wet food but she can mostly tolerate all dry if that is the way it is swinging. Sassy, not so much. Meow, beg, beg, meow... light, very light, claw, maybe a nip, beg, meowl. Ceaseless that beast is! Of course, I don't really mind. And I will break her of begging. I refuse to feed her when she begs, well, the good stuff. She has dry available all the time. I think in the heat she was getting to me. My mind slipped in the heat and I fed her more than I had intended though. It's sort of like driving on a road you know, when it is particularly hot, and just missing the turn that you would normally take without even thinking. Brat. But I will give her points for effort. And she is the cutest little beasty. :)
After reading and thinking about main battle rifles, I may have changed my mind. While a 20 round magazine sounds great, and is, especially in a heavy firefight and compared to a 10 round magazine, given the caliber, I am thinking longer range accuracy trumps a double the capacity round dump. And with the .308, you aren't able to shoot extremely quickly while maintaining accuracy in any case. A 7.62 x 51, as a machine gun, at least IIRC and at least in my day, was a two man operation, same as with the .50. Now, absolutely technically, the two rounds aren't the same. You can shoot the 7.62 x 51 in the .308, but not necessarily the reverse. Something to do with pressures in the chamber, the .308 bullet puts out more and rifles for them, then, can handle more pressure. Never mind. So, I am probably thinking more like this kind of rifle. If it is the one I have seen online, I have seen it for as low as $1,445, give or take. Yes, a bit on the pricey side, but... all decent things are. As I said, I will simply have to save a little extra here and there. I would love to buy magazines for it, and other items, but until you have a rifle that is stock right out risky.
I am feeling better. Perhaps just thinking that the heat is passing, or might be passing, is adding to optimism. Perhaps it is slightly cooler and I am feeling it. The thermometer out my door read 64 F, or so, but it's still pretty hot in here. With windows open and fans blowing, I'm not sure what the problem is. It just is not cooling (if too, it does remain 20 F degrees cooler than the outside temp, or more, at high heat). Yeah, yeah, but I want more.
Tomorrow is shooting day. My friend did not call, so I will try to be up a bit earlier tomorrow to call him. If the storms move through we might have to settle on a bit of a drive up some canyon, over to some towns, and back around. Getting out for a meal and maybe a bit of shopping. We will just have to see what the world offers, as usual.
Good night, for your part. I've got a couple more hours until the heat dissipates enough for sleep. Blah.
.
It looks like it. This week is supposed to drop to the low 90's until the 1st, then into the mid to low 80's F from then on. Tonight it is supposed to dip into the 50's. I have my doubts, sitting here at 1:45 and still sweating. Then again, I have seen it actually dip into the 50's but for such a short time that it didn't really matter. Oh I am sure hoping for even a bit of cooling. Further, with a high centered a bit south and east of us, storms are being pulled through. While I have seen things farther off, nothing has come in to help cool things very close by. I'm not sure that the humidity would be worth the cooling though. Who knows.
A shower, a trip to town, cat food and manfood was all that was purchased. The cats are, mostly, happy. Sam now really likes her wet food but she can mostly tolerate all dry if that is the way it is swinging. Sassy, not so much. Meow, beg, beg, meow... light, very light, claw, maybe a nip, beg, meowl. Ceaseless that beast is! Of course, I don't really mind. And I will break her of begging. I refuse to feed her when she begs, well, the good stuff. She has dry available all the time. I think in the heat she was getting to me. My mind slipped in the heat and I fed her more than I had intended though. It's sort of like driving on a road you know, when it is particularly hot, and just missing the turn that you would normally take without even thinking. Brat. But I will give her points for effort. And she is the cutest little beasty. :)
After reading and thinking about main battle rifles, I may have changed my mind. While a 20 round magazine sounds great, and is, especially in a heavy firefight and compared to a 10 round magazine, given the caliber, I am thinking longer range accuracy trumps a double the capacity round dump. And with the .308, you aren't able to shoot extremely quickly while maintaining accuracy in any case. A 7.62 x 51, as a machine gun, at least IIRC and at least in my day, was a two man operation, same as with the .50. Now, absolutely technically, the two rounds aren't the same. You can shoot the 7.62 x 51 in the .308, but not necessarily the reverse. Something to do with pressures in the chamber, the .308 bullet puts out more and rifles for them, then, can handle more pressure. Never mind. So, I am probably thinking more like this kind of rifle. If it is the one I have seen online, I have seen it for as low as $1,445, give or take. Yes, a bit on the pricey side, but... all decent things are. As I said, I will simply have to save a little extra here and there. I would love to buy magazines for it, and other items, but until you have a rifle that is stock right out risky.
I am feeling better. Perhaps just thinking that the heat is passing, or might be passing, is adding to optimism. Perhaps it is slightly cooler and I am feeling it. The thermometer out my door read 64 F, or so, but it's still pretty hot in here. With windows open and fans blowing, I'm not sure what the problem is. It just is not cooling (if too, it does remain 20 F degrees cooler than the outside temp, or more, at high heat). Yeah, yeah, but I want more.
Tomorrow is shooting day. My friend did not call, so I will try to be up a bit earlier tomorrow to call him. If the storms move through we might have to settle on a bit of a drive up some canyon, over to some towns, and back around. Getting out for a meal and maybe a bit of shopping. We will just have to see what the world offers, as usual.
Good night, for your part. I've got a couple more hours until the heat dissipates enough for sleep. Blah.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
On second thought.
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While I sit here doing as little possible, sweating anyway, and actually still enjoying life even if incapacitated by the heat, I realize something. This is how life has been for the eons before air conditioning. Until mechanization and air conditioning and eight to twelve hour work days, when the world warmed, work stopped or at least slowed down a great deal. I have heard that summer is the best time for putting in fencing but I argue that it is only the best time to put in some kinds of fencing, the kind that was brought about by mechanization. Stone fencing was better put in during the spring or fall, and it was kept to a minimum. You only fenced small areas if you fenced at all.
Washington D.C. was closed down during the summer. If you really wanted to see your representative, you went to his house. Some of that may have been farm related, though I have some doubts that most people wealthy enough to be representatives didn't do much if any of their own labor. Sure, they might lay a hand to something if they were feeling their oats, or particularly particular about a specific part of the work, but it was choice not requirement. Still, most, I would guess, did closely monitor their financial and business affairs, and few of our forefathers had no farming interests. But the business of government was a fall, winter, and spring affair. That really isn't a bad idea.
While I would like to get some air conditioning, as it would make life somewhat easier and make it less difficult to live what has become a more normal life, I would much rather see the world change directions and decide that summer heat is not conducive to work. It might indeed cut into industry. It surely might slow down progress. It might do a lot of things. To be absolutely honest, I am positive those would be good things. I should also say, that what has become known as the American way would be forced to retreat back to what it originally was, not what it is today. Unfortunately too many people are vested in "making it" to even consider a downgrade. I don't see this happening unless electricity becomes vastly more expensive than it currently is.
On the other hand, our government is busily making energy prices rise, along with food prices and even unemployment. Regardless of what they say or what you think, merely looking at the results is enough to know the truth. And, I disagree with this form of manipulation. I notice, beyond the problems with social engineering already know, that when modifications are made the weakest suffer the most. The elderly die in droves in Europe when it gets too hot or too cold. Their economy simply isn't fit to see to the needs of all but the healthiest. The next in line are children. While some believe trimming the numbers to be a good thing, if we have any social obligation it truly cannot be to supporting young adults in squalor while allowing the truly needy to simply parish. The proof is always in the pudding and socialism always proves the same thing, that it no more cares for those in need than it has an functional economic plan.
How do you convince people to back off without forcing them to back off? I really don't know. Actually though, I don't think teaching is the key at all. People can learn things, but they can only learn what is taught (at best). My guess would be to arrange so that they can experience the proposition and choose for themselves. Most, however, are too used to air conditioned living, long hours (the successful), and getting ahead, that there really will not be a change. So be it. My post is merely a "what if".
.
While I sit here doing as little possible, sweating anyway, and actually still enjoying life even if incapacitated by the heat, I realize something. This is how life has been for the eons before air conditioning. Until mechanization and air conditioning and eight to twelve hour work days, when the world warmed, work stopped or at least slowed down a great deal. I have heard that summer is the best time for putting in fencing but I argue that it is only the best time to put in some kinds of fencing, the kind that was brought about by mechanization. Stone fencing was better put in during the spring or fall, and it was kept to a minimum. You only fenced small areas if you fenced at all.
Washington D.C. was closed down during the summer. If you really wanted to see your representative, you went to his house. Some of that may have been farm related, though I have some doubts that most people wealthy enough to be representatives didn't do much if any of their own labor. Sure, they might lay a hand to something if they were feeling their oats, or particularly particular about a specific part of the work, but it was choice not requirement. Still, most, I would guess, did closely monitor their financial and business affairs, and few of our forefathers had no farming interests. But the business of government was a fall, winter, and spring affair. That really isn't a bad idea.
While I would like to get some air conditioning, as it would make life somewhat easier and make it less difficult to live what has become a more normal life, I would much rather see the world change directions and decide that summer heat is not conducive to work. It might indeed cut into industry. It surely might slow down progress. It might do a lot of things. To be absolutely honest, I am positive those would be good things. I should also say, that what has become known as the American way would be forced to retreat back to what it originally was, not what it is today. Unfortunately too many people are vested in "making it" to even consider a downgrade. I don't see this happening unless electricity becomes vastly more expensive than it currently is.
On the other hand, our government is busily making energy prices rise, along with food prices and even unemployment. Regardless of what they say or what you think, merely looking at the results is enough to know the truth. And, I disagree with this form of manipulation. I notice, beyond the problems with social engineering already know, that when modifications are made the weakest suffer the most. The elderly die in droves in Europe when it gets too hot or too cold. Their economy simply isn't fit to see to the needs of all but the healthiest. The next in line are children. While some believe trimming the numbers to be a good thing, if we have any social obligation it truly cannot be to supporting young adults in squalor while allowing the truly needy to simply parish. The proof is always in the pudding and socialism always proves the same thing, that it no more cares for those in need than it has an functional economic plan.
How do you convince people to back off without forcing them to back off? I really don't know. Actually though, I don't think teaching is the key at all. People can learn things, but they can only learn what is taught (at best). My guess would be to arrange so that they can experience the proposition and choose for themselves. Most, however, are too used to air conditioned living, long hours (the successful), and getting ahead, that there really will not be a change. So be it. My post is merely a "what if".
Sleep was rather lame.
.
.
I did finally slide into bed, at some point. I simply become worn down enough to collapse and the world becomes just cool enough to allow sleep. It is no finer than that. I woke at some point, when the heat became unbearable for sleep, rose, and headed out into the main of my home. It is still too hot to do much. I step outside, from time to time, to heat up enough that coming back into my home makes it seem cool for a bit. I do need to get to town. I am out of a few things, including wet cat food. Oh the girls howl, whine, and beg, then finally drift off when they realize nothing is in the offing, other than dry catfoot.
I prefer to give them more wet cat food than not, too. It's not just a preference. They get much better meat protein and fat from the canned stuff then they do from the dry. They are decidedly not vegetarians. But the only way for the biscuits to keep their shape is to add lots of grain. Actually, not only aren't cats vegetarians, it has been strongly suggested that what little protein exists in dry cat food from the grains and vegetables is indigestible for cats. As a nearly solid meat eater myself, by needs and wants I think, I do understand. Lucky cats. I have heard of vegetarians having their cats removed because they were being starved to death on vegetarian "cat food". Fucking idiots. My cats are lucky, mostly. If I were richer they would be even more lucky. If I were only slightly more eccentric and much wealthier I would feed them the vegetarians who starved their 'siblings'! :)
Dreams have been common lately. I have been remembering them, but only for a short while after waking at best. Mostly fun dreams, then again I like scary dreams as much as I like wildly inventive ones. I haven't been bothering to change my dreams as they have been good enough. All I know about the last one is that it was exceptionally funny, in a wry way. I can't remember anything about it, just grinning in my sleep so much that laughing broke out until I became too close to wakefulness to maintain my dream state.
Hmm, on to burning daylight, as I can do little else at the moment. Good day.
.
I did finally slide into bed, at some point. I simply become worn down enough to collapse and the world becomes just cool enough to allow sleep. It is no finer than that. I woke at some point, when the heat became unbearable for sleep, rose, and headed out into the main of my home. It is still too hot to do much. I step outside, from time to time, to heat up enough that coming back into my home makes it seem cool for a bit. I do need to get to town. I am out of a few things, including wet cat food. Oh the girls howl, whine, and beg, then finally drift off when they realize nothing is in the offing, other than dry catfoot.
I prefer to give them more wet cat food than not, too. It's not just a preference. They get much better meat protein and fat from the canned stuff then they do from the dry. They are decidedly not vegetarians. But the only way for the biscuits to keep their shape is to add lots of grain. Actually, not only aren't cats vegetarians, it has been strongly suggested that what little protein exists in dry cat food from the grains and vegetables is indigestible for cats. As a nearly solid meat eater myself, by needs and wants I think, I do understand. Lucky cats. I have heard of vegetarians having their cats removed because they were being starved to death on vegetarian "cat food". Fucking idiots. My cats are lucky, mostly. If I were richer they would be even more lucky. If I were only slightly more eccentric and much wealthier I would feed them the vegetarians who starved their 'siblings'! :)
Dreams have been common lately. I have been remembering them, but only for a short while after waking at best. Mostly fun dreams, then again I like scary dreams as much as I like wildly inventive ones. I haven't been bothering to change my dreams as they have been good enough. All I know about the last one is that it was exceptionally funny, in a wry way. I can't remember anything about it, just grinning in my sleep so much that laughing broke out until I became too close to wakefulness to maintain my dream state.
Hmm, on to burning daylight, as I can do little else at the moment. Good day.
A bit more thinking, and phone call?
.
.
I have seen some windows for as low as $94 dollars. I don't think those would be at all energy efficient however. And I have looked at Anderson windows, which run $400 plus, which come with an energy saver rebate thing. While I like Anderson, I think they are probably over-priced. You are paying as much for the name as for the quality. The trick would be to find a window that has a similar quality without the pricetag. Even if I have someone install the window, I will want to know a great deal about the window they are offering. One group offered lifetime warranty, the problem is they don't have glass in them. Plexiglass or something. I'm not sure, but I think that would be a terrible thing to use for windows unless they have improved. Durable, sure, but why not just put up steel slats? I am still looking.
One of the things that worries me is that the type of window I will be removing is not the same type that I will be installing. Which means a frame might need to be constructed. I am not sure what is holding that old horizontal slat metal framed window in. Is there wood in there? Is it right up against the stone of the house, using mortar? I simply don't know and testing would be rather destructive. I suppose I could just start pulling things apart and looking, but there would go what passes for an already questionable water tight fit. Bleh...
There it was, nearly 1:00, and the phone rang. I have never gotten a call late at night that was an emergency and I don't get wrong numbers. There were only two options, and one of them is in a nursing type home recovering. He is surrounded by hens and they would not allow him such a luxury as a late night call, I think. The other lives in Iowa. It surprised me so, though, that I almost couldn't clear my thoughts regarding it and then get off my butt fast enough to answer it. Just in time. It was my lady friend.
She has been canoeing for the last four weekends. She gave up helping in the organic garden because she felt unwanted, which is killing her. She loves the loam, it seems. But she is sick tonight, and just called to chat. Sort of like she used to call me to bring her soup, or yogurt, or ice cream, or whatever crossed her mind when she was ill and I lived nearby. Sometimes I swore she was pregnant, not ill. I ended up ordering a couple of Russel Crowe movies for her, using a gift card she had, through Amazon. It saved her a trip to the library, to order using their computers. We had an interesting conversation. I still don't get her contentious nature. I have made it clear that she is the only one with a problem. That just boggles her mind. And makes me chuckle on the inside, later right out loud. I just hate giving up my little joys, my personal ones.
Hmm, still no sleep. And I am still cooking hot! I am not sure why. Though it hasn't cooled all that much yet. Windows open, fans going, the sun has been down for hours, and sweat still trickles down my sides. A shower doesn't even do it, though I probably will take one before long. Taking one an half hour before trying to sleep gives me enough time to be fully dry. Later. Actually... good night. I'll be up at least three or four more hours but I should stop boring my readers.
.
I have seen some windows for as low as $94 dollars. I don't think those would be at all energy efficient however. And I have looked at Anderson windows, which run $400 plus, which come with an energy saver rebate thing. While I like Anderson, I think they are probably over-priced. You are paying as much for the name as for the quality. The trick would be to find a window that has a similar quality without the pricetag. Even if I have someone install the window, I will want to know a great deal about the window they are offering. One group offered lifetime warranty, the problem is they don't have glass in them. Plexiglass or something. I'm not sure, but I think that would be a terrible thing to use for windows unless they have improved. Durable, sure, but why not just put up steel slats? I am still looking.
One of the things that worries me is that the type of window I will be removing is not the same type that I will be installing. Which means a frame might need to be constructed. I am not sure what is holding that old horizontal slat metal framed window in. Is there wood in there? Is it right up against the stone of the house, using mortar? I simply don't know and testing would be rather destructive. I suppose I could just start pulling things apart and looking, but there would go what passes for an already questionable water tight fit. Bleh...
There it was, nearly 1:00, and the phone rang. I have never gotten a call late at night that was an emergency and I don't get wrong numbers. There were only two options, and one of them is in a nursing type home recovering. He is surrounded by hens and they would not allow him such a luxury as a late night call, I think. The other lives in Iowa. It surprised me so, though, that I almost couldn't clear my thoughts regarding it and then get off my butt fast enough to answer it. Just in time. It was my lady friend.
She has been canoeing for the last four weekends. She gave up helping in the organic garden because she felt unwanted, which is killing her. She loves the loam, it seems. But she is sick tonight, and just called to chat. Sort of like she used to call me to bring her soup, or yogurt, or ice cream, or whatever crossed her mind when she was ill and I lived nearby. Sometimes I swore she was pregnant, not ill. I ended up ordering a couple of Russel Crowe movies for her, using a gift card she had, through Amazon. It saved her a trip to the library, to order using their computers. We had an interesting conversation. I still don't get her contentious nature. I have made it clear that she is the only one with a problem. That just boggles her mind. And makes me chuckle on the inside, later right out loud. I just hate giving up my little joys, my personal ones.
Hmm, still no sleep. And I am still cooking hot! I am not sure why. Though it hasn't cooled all that much yet. Windows open, fans going, the sun has been down for hours, and sweat still trickles down my sides. A shower doesn't even do it, though I probably will take one before long. Taking one an half hour before trying to sleep gives me enough time to be fully dry. Later. Actually... good night. I'll be up at least three or four more hours but I should stop boring my readers.
Friday, August 26, 2011
At 23:40 it is still 80 F in my home.
.
.
Simply put, I could no more sleep then I could climb a mountain. I have the windows open, the fans going, it simply doesn't matter. I could lay down for a bit. And with the fan on me enjoy a bit of cooler quiet. But sleep will not happen at this temperature. My body sleeps when it can, in the coolest parts of the day. Sometime in early morning and then until the heat wakes it in the day. I have little choice in the matter. Oddly though, the heat isn't uncomfortable, as it was in Iowa or at times when I am sick. I honestly don't know how people do it AND go to work on a daily basis. I am assuming they figure out a way to get an air conditioner in. Especially those who have heavy manual labor work.
I had hoped to get to some work, but the heat pretty much saps my will. Any amount of work will see me soaked, if I had the energy left for it. I am not sure if it helps or hurts my underlying condition, but once medicine was settled or I became used to the heat, life has otherwise been quite good. I had a beer tonight, just because. My goal to have a beer or glass of wine a night has been sidetracked by my finances. And probably will remain sidetracked until after my mother returns to her home. While I do have money here or there, and some spending money, this visit in particular is going to be expensive. I am going to begin looking for a window installation service and pricing that service and good. I am guessing it will be $250 to $400. That has what I have seen previously. Then again, that may be a price offered only for some set number of windows. I just can't remember.
Ah well, a piece at a time. Like I said, my mother thought that we might do the project. But in pricing decent windows, from what I have seen, they start at about $200 to $250. If she actually knew what to do, I would be able to be the muscle. But I am quite sure she has no clue about installing a window. No, I think having it installed is the way to go. Anything, by the way, will beat what is in there now. An RV or school or industrial slat window that neither quite closes or opens without jerry rigging the thing.
On to a bit of study. I will be reviewing window prices and the installation process as well, again. Just to get the notion clear in my mind and decide if we really might be able to do it. I know I have the muscle. I am not sure I have the tools or skills or patience. As well, if I end up having it installed, I will be watching them. Plumb, check, window opens without a problem, check, water-tight, check, no damage to surrounds, check... Check, check, check. I will watch (and learn). I have a sawsall, but this might even require a chainsaw? Hmm, I just don't know.
.
Simply put, I could no more sleep then I could climb a mountain. I have the windows open, the fans going, it simply doesn't matter. I could lay down for a bit. And with the fan on me enjoy a bit of cooler quiet. But sleep will not happen at this temperature. My body sleeps when it can, in the coolest parts of the day. Sometime in early morning and then until the heat wakes it in the day. I have little choice in the matter. Oddly though, the heat isn't uncomfortable, as it was in Iowa or at times when I am sick. I honestly don't know how people do it AND go to work on a daily basis. I am assuming they figure out a way to get an air conditioner in. Especially those who have heavy manual labor work.
I had hoped to get to some work, but the heat pretty much saps my will. Any amount of work will see me soaked, if I had the energy left for it. I am not sure if it helps or hurts my underlying condition, but once medicine was settled or I became used to the heat, life has otherwise been quite good. I had a beer tonight, just because. My goal to have a beer or glass of wine a night has been sidetracked by my finances. And probably will remain sidetracked until after my mother returns to her home. While I do have money here or there, and some spending money, this visit in particular is going to be expensive. I am going to begin looking for a window installation service and pricing that service and good. I am guessing it will be $250 to $400. That has what I have seen previously. Then again, that may be a price offered only for some set number of windows. I just can't remember.
Ah well, a piece at a time. Like I said, my mother thought that we might do the project. But in pricing decent windows, from what I have seen, they start at about $200 to $250. If she actually knew what to do, I would be able to be the muscle. But I am quite sure she has no clue about installing a window. No, I think having it installed is the way to go. Anything, by the way, will beat what is in there now. An RV or school or industrial slat window that neither quite closes or opens without jerry rigging the thing.
On to a bit of study. I will be reviewing window prices and the installation process as well, again. Just to get the notion clear in my mind and decide if we really might be able to do it. I know I have the muscle. I am not sure I have the tools or skills or patience. As well, if I end up having it installed, I will be watching them. Plumb, check, window opens without a problem, check, water-tight, check, no damage to surrounds, check... Check, check, check. I will watch (and learn). I have a sawsall, but this might even require a chainsaw? Hmm, I just don't know.
Prisoners, jailers, and the institutions they inhabit.
.
.
As the time approaches for me to begin picking up the cross that has been laid before me, I begin to formulate, consider, and investigate the matters involved. I am not sure why I am called, other than that I sense that this is the way for me. I haven't consciously thought much about it, because to this point such a notion was far off and possibly never even going to be explored. My health is feeble, I wasn't even sure I would live to this point. Now as the time is arriving I begin thinking.
I understand some things about prisoners and law. I have known others who visited prisoners. I have known some prisoners after incarceration. Some I have known quite well. I have heard that many proclaim innocence. Some try to blame others for their actions. I simply disallow such notions. Inside a prison, to people who may have no chance at getting out or even surviving their stay, I am guessing such conversations might have to be tempered. I won't modify my answers if I might avoid such lines of questioning. As while it might seem that a freed criminal might be more dangerous, the truth is they now have a reason to fear prison while someone behind bars and without hope of being free has no such fear.
As for guilt or innocence, I do believe the absolute vast majority of criminals behind bars are there for very good reasons. Even should I accept that they are not in prison for the crime which they stand accused, I do suppose they should be there for a thousand other crimes. But that is not the point, neither to me personally or to my understanding of crime and punishment. Personally, I am not visiting about their guilt or innocence. I am visiting them as I would Christ, who was absolutely innocent, and even went on to die. So, personally, their guilt or innocence is not my issue. Further, I don't believe any judicial system is or can be perfect. The best we can hope for is as fair a system as is reasonable and that such a system make vitally clear what is acceptable and what is not. As for our judicial system? It is among, if not (and probably) the fairest system in this world. Nothing this side of Christ's proclamation of worth is closer to right. And, actually, if our system errs, it errs on the side of the criminal. No sympathy is to be had from my quarters.
But it isn't just about guilt or innocents that these people can try to get under your skin. They want what they can get. Some of them would happily kill you for even a short bit of seeming freedom. I think, even further, they want to make you guilty of something, anything, so that they can lessen their load, or not to feel alone in sin, or... for whatever reasons. I have seen this, know this. It isn't just prisoners though. People who use drugs try to pull you in. People who have strange sexual desires try to hook you up. I would guess that the desire becomes much more pervasive in prison.
I still have much to learn. There are real threats, there are rules, their are norms, and their are things to be gained from doing this type of work. I am neither thinking on this for the pleasures or pains. I'm not in this for me. I simply feel called to tend to those who wish company. And I don't even mind putting a nickel in a prisoners larder (legally, through the commissary, should that be allowed, mind you). If they have been without, abandoned by family and friends, or simply alone in the world and unable to earn just a bit for whatever reason. I would do this for my brother, from time to time, as money goes for me. I wouldn't mind getting them books that might not be available or might be in bad condition, as I could only imagine finding a great book, beginning it, only to find pages gone, worse still the last page. But only within the rules, norms, and my own safety and resource allowances. I do the same for my ill friend, currently. And even with him, I do so only within certain bounds (like not buying him cigarettes).
I don't think that I will be preaching though. I'm not really the preachy type, at least if not pushed. And then I would say I am more direct than preachy. No, I am just going so that some men know that others care, without any hope of gain, about other men. I guess I hope they see something, or learn something, or find something in the visit that might cause them to reconsider what they may know. I almost wish I could say I do it more for Christ, in remembrance. But that isn't true either. I do it for those men, wicked, hard, uncaring, dangerous, as they may be.
Actually, given that I could easily have ended up in prison, should I have slipped or pushed, I am only slightly more interested in visiting such an institution than I am in visiting hospitals. I knew a lot of guys who should have been, or possibly now are, there. I just don't have sympathy. I decided (or got a bit lucky) not to cross that line, or often enough and deeply enough, to be unquestionably invited into that club. No, I don't really want to go, I am simply called. When you let God in, you never know where you might end up. Who would have thought that by loving and obeying God I might end up going to prison! Well, or trying to? Yeah, now that is funny. At least in this case.
.
As the time approaches for me to begin picking up the cross that has been laid before me, I begin to formulate, consider, and investigate the matters involved. I am not sure why I am called, other than that I sense that this is the way for me. I haven't consciously thought much about it, because to this point such a notion was far off and possibly never even going to be explored. My health is feeble, I wasn't even sure I would live to this point. Now as the time is arriving I begin thinking.
I understand some things about prisoners and law. I have known others who visited prisoners. I have known some prisoners after incarceration. Some I have known quite well. I have heard that many proclaim innocence. Some try to blame others for their actions. I simply disallow such notions. Inside a prison, to people who may have no chance at getting out or even surviving their stay, I am guessing such conversations might have to be tempered. I won't modify my answers if I might avoid such lines of questioning. As while it might seem that a freed criminal might be more dangerous, the truth is they now have a reason to fear prison while someone behind bars and without hope of being free has no such fear.
As for guilt or innocence, I do believe the absolute vast majority of criminals behind bars are there for very good reasons. Even should I accept that they are not in prison for the crime which they stand accused, I do suppose they should be there for a thousand other crimes. But that is not the point, neither to me personally or to my understanding of crime and punishment. Personally, I am not visiting about their guilt or innocence. I am visiting them as I would Christ, who was absolutely innocent, and even went on to die. So, personally, their guilt or innocence is not my issue. Further, I don't believe any judicial system is or can be perfect. The best we can hope for is as fair a system as is reasonable and that such a system make vitally clear what is acceptable and what is not. As for our judicial system? It is among, if not (and probably) the fairest system in this world. Nothing this side of Christ's proclamation of worth is closer to right. And, actually, if our system errs, it errs on the side of the criminal. No sympathy is to be had from my quarters.
But it isn't just about guilt or innocents that these people can try to get under your skin. They want what they can get. Some of them would happily kill you for even a short bit of seeming freedom. I think, even further, they want to make you guilty of something, anything, so that they can lessen their load, or not to feel alone in sin, or... for whatever reasons. I have seen this, know this. It isn't just prisoners though. People who use drugs try to pull you in. People who have strange sexual desires try to hook you up. I would guess that the desire becomes much more pervasive in prison.
I still have much to learn. There are real threats, there are rules, their are norms, and their are things to be gained from doing this type of work. I am neither thinking on this for the pleasures or pains. I'm not in this for me. I simply feel called to tend to those who wish company. And I don't even mind putting a nickel in a prisoners larder (legally, through the commissary, should that be allowed, mind you). If they have been without, abandoned by family and friends, or simply alone in the world and unable to earn just a bit for whatever reason. I would do this for my brother, from time to time, as money goes for me. I wouldn't mind getting them books that might not be available or might be in bad condition, as I could only imagine finding a great book, beginning it, only to find pages gone, worse still the last page. But only within the rules, norms, and my own safety and resource allowances. I do the same for my ill friend, currently. And even with him, I do so only within certain bounds (like not buying him cigarettes).
I don't think that I will be preaching though. I'm not really the preachy type, at least if not pushed. And then I would say I am more direct than preachy. No, I am just going so that some men know that others care, without any hope of gain, about other men. I guess I hope they see something, or learn something, or find something in the visit that might cause them to reconsider what they may know. I almost wish I could say I do it more for Christ, in remembrance. But that isn't true either. I do it for those men, wicked, hard, uncaring, dangerous, as they may be.
Actually, given that I could easily have ended up in prison, should I have slipped or pushed, I am only slightly more interested in visiting such an institution than I am in visiting hospitals. I knew a lot of guys who should have been, or possibly now are, there. I just don't have sympathy. I decided (or got a bit lucky) not to cross that line, or often enough and deeply enough, to be unquestionably invited into that club. No, I don't really want to go, I am simply called. When you let God in, you never know where you might end up. Who would have thought that by loving and obeying God I might end up going to prison! Well, or trying to? Yeah, now that is funny. At least in this case.
What a wuss?
.
.
No sleep until sometime this morning. And I never really could sleep deeply. The heat isn't cloying and choking, bitter and blistering. It is simply 'there'. I am, oddly, finally relatively comfortable in it, if too I cannot really sleep when I want. Then again, and as well, when I do sleep it is refreshing rather than restive. I only complain about not being able to fall asleep on my schedule and needing cat naps more often either because of the sleep disruption or the sapping of strength the heat causes. Yeah, a wuss perhaps. But never mind, suffering isn't all that bad of a thing to be honest, and this is suffering of the cream puff varietal.
I received a call today, and almost didn't answer it. I was still in my near sleep state. The phone usually wakes me, if my sleep is solid and has been on schedule. Otherwise, like now, the ringing of the phone can seem unreal or distant and sometimes it simply can't be heard. I have an appointment next Friday with one of the Fathers. It only took two years. I guess that beats the ten years it took me to drag my carcass into the Church in the first place. He likes mornings so I opted for a solid morning slot. I will just be there, like I am to the doctor. I would far rather save my soul than my flesh, I'll tell you that right now. Doing both might be a bit better. Well, you can't really save your flesh. You can only tend it and only within reason. You, too, can't save your soul. Someone has already done that, all you have to do is figure out what accepting that salvation means. Never mind.
Something I just saw being argued struck a particular cord. The notion that suffering is not just a curse that accompanies salvation, a thing to bear or gift to God as one's perhaps only tithe, or some other simpler notions. While those are quite good, in their own rights, and to degrees, I think the speaker quite well put another, perhaps THE real reason, for suffering. Suffering, as he saw it, was a means of knowing pain, so that when we see it in others we react to it. It is a call to do God's work, right here, in our lives, in our times. Beautiful. Yes.
The next time someone asks me how God can allow such suffering, I will merely, before going on to explain more, ask how God could NOT allow such suffering. Why would God put an end to such things, while also suggesting that it isn't God who creates it, He merely allows us to choose it. Oh yes, I think that was a missing piece in my puzzle. I know great suffering, of many kinds. And I think, now that I see it, that pain has been a calling. If too I am having to stumble over it to get to what it calls me toward. It's almost funny, when seen that way. Again, never mind. I certainly have my own weird little way of seeing things and a darker humor than many.
Well, on to something. It is, again, a bit warm for jumping and shouting. As things cool, and since I am doing better, if I have any strength remaining from the heat I hope to use today to get to some cleaning. My mother will be here in a few weeks and I want her trip to be more pleasant than full, for both of our sakes. I would like to take her on a short day trip or two, into the mountains. A picnic or two. I will do the potato salad if she will do the chicken. I will pay for the gas if she sets up the basket. It should be cool enough when she arrives to enjoy the world hereabouts. And I don't want her working so hard that she is too tired to want to go. And she likes to work hard. It will be a bit of a trick.
Have a great day. Say a little prayer for those who are too into their suffering to enjoy life (not me, by the way), for those who think they are too strong to need prayer, and for your enemies.
.
No sleep until sometime this morning. And I never really could sleep deeply. The heat isn't cloying and choking, bitter and blistering. It is simply 'there'. I am, oddly, finally relatively comfortable in it, if too I cannot really sleep when I want. Then again, and as well, when I do sleep it is refreshing rather than restive. I only complain about not being able to fall asleep on my schedule and needing cat naps more often either because of the sleep disruption or the sapping of strength the heat causes. Yeah, a wuss perhaps. But never mind, suffering isn't all that bad of a thing to be honest, and this is suffering of the cream puff varietal.
I received a call today, and almost didn't answer it. I was still in my near sleep state. The phone usually wakes me, if my sleep is solid and has been on schedule. Otherwise, like now, the ringing of the phone can seem unreal or distant and sometimes it simply can't be heard. I have an appointment next Friday with one of the Fathers. It only took two years. I guess that beats the ten years it took me to drag my carcass into the Church in the first place. He likes mornings so I opted for a solid morning slot. I will just be there, like I am to the doctor. I would far rather save my soul than my flesh, I'll tell you that right now. Doing both might be a bit better. Well, you can't really save your flesh. You can only tend it and only within reason. You, too, can't save your soul. Someone has already done that, all you have to do is figure out what accepting that salvation means. Never mind.
Something I just saw being argued struck a particular cord. The notion that suffering is not just a curse that accompanies salvation, a thing to bear or gift to God as one's perhaps only tithe, or some other simpler notions. While those are quite good, in their own rights, and to degrees, I think the speaker quite well put another, perhaps THE real reason, for suffering. Suffering, as he saw it, was a means of knowing pain, so that when we see it in others we react to it. It is a call to do God's work, right here, in our lives, in our times. Beautiful. Yes.
The next time someone asks me how God can allow such suffering, I will merely, before going on to explain more, ask how God could NOT allow such suffering. Why would God put an end to such things, while also suggesting that it isn't God who creates it, He merely allows us to choose it. Oh yes, I think that was a missing piece in my puzzle. I know great suffering, of many kinds. And I think, now that I see it, that pain has been a calling. If too I am having to stumble over it to get to what it calls me toward. It's almost funny, when seen that way. Again, never mind. I certainly have my own weird little way of seeing things and a darker humor than many.
Well, on to something. It is, again, a bit warm for jumping and shouting. As things cool, and since I am doing better, if I have any strength remaining from the heat I hope to use today to get to some cleaning. My mother will be here in a few weeks and I want her trip to be more pleasant than full, for both of our sakes. I would like to take her on a short day trip or two, into the mountains. A picnic or two. I will do the potato salad if she will do the chicken. I will pay for the gas if she sets up the basket. It should be cool enough when she arrives to enjoy the world hereabouts. And I don't want her working so hard that she is too tired to want to go. And she likes to work hard. It will be a bit of a trick.
Have a great day. Say a little prayer for those who are too into their suffering to enjoy life (not me, by the way), for those who think they are too strong to need prayer, and for your enemies.
Boehner?
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.
I've got to admit to have my ups and downs regarding the Speaker. While I am patently disappointed in the results of many negotiations, my pragmatism leads me to believe that what happened probably was as good as it could get. Not simply because of the Senate and prez, but also because most Republicans are still status quo type of politicians. Move little, move slowly, do little, seems to be the main thing for which they strive. And, there is something to be said for that. Though that is also how we get robbed and bankrupted. Still, it is and almost always has been the Republican way. Perhaps Civil War guilt (and rightly)?
However, as the Speaker, he has been a fantastic speaker. He has encouraged the young guns. He has let them have their say. He hasn't threatened, shoved, or more than sought agreements. Unlike the last dictatorship type Speaker, he is running an open, honest, aboveboard, clean show. Is it just a show? Honestly I don't think so. He could easily do exactly what Pelosi did, turn down even the allowance of votes on some things or amendments, or even debate. Even when my side is in power, that is not how I like to see things done.
I think the guy is getting a bad rap. If we want to throw him out, we best make sure we have a libertarian conservative to replace him. Both in his state seat and in the speakership. I don't mind if someone like Rand became the speaker, so long as he played fair with the whole conservative caucus. And, I am not a Libertarian. I am merely, now, more like a conservative libertarian. I think we could do a lot worse than Speaker Boehner. And I doubt if we could have done better in the negotiations. The other option was to not negotiate an inch and not to have a budget, creating even greater uncertainty. Politically, economically perhaps, that would have been suicide.
We are on a perilous path. But demanding we simply jump blindly, or simply end spending somehow, is not rational either. Without hope and faith there can be no charity. We have been hoping, for sanity, for a long time. But now we have to hope for a bit more time to get people in power who can make the correct calls. We don't have to like it but the options really would have been worse.
That's all I am saying. Be careful what you wish for. I think some of the naysayers simply want to see total destruction. I think some of those who despise what passes for the legislative process seem more autocratic than those they oppose. Believe what you wish, but believing does not make it true. So, here is the Speaker Boehner. But... cut the tears. That is terribly unbecoming. Then again, when you reach certain levers of power, perhaps it is your party and you really can cry if you want to? Bah!
.
I've got to admit to have my ups and downs regarding the Speaker. While I am patently disappointed in the results of many negotiations, my pragmatism leads me to believe that what happened probably was as good as it could get. Not simply because of the Senate and prez, but also because most Republicans are still status quo type of politicians. Move little, move slowly, do little, seems to be the main thing for which they strive. And, there is something to be said for that. Though that is also how we get robbed and bankrupted. Still, it is and almost always has been the Republican way. Perhaps Civil War guilt (and rightly)?
However, as the Speaker, he has been a fantastic speaker. He has encouraged the young guns. He has let them have their say. He hasn't threatened, shoved, or more than sought agreements. Unlike the last dictatorship type Speaker, he is running an open, honest, aboveboard, clean show. Is it just a show? Honestly I don't think so. He could easily do exactly what Pelosi did, turn down even the allowance of votes on some things or amendments, or even debate. Even when my side is in power, that is not how I like to see things done.
I think the guy is getting a bad rap. If we want to throw him out, we best make sure we have a libertarian conservative to replace him. Both in his state seat and in the speakership. I don't mind if someone like Rand became the speaker, so long as he played fair with the whole conservative caucus. And, I am not a Libertarian. I am merely, now, more like a conservative libertarian. I think we could do a lot worse than Speaker Boehner. And I doubt if we could have done better in the negotiations. The other option was to not negotiate an inch and not to have a budget, creating even greater uncertainty. Politically, economically perhaps, that would have been suicide.
We are on a perilous path. But demanding we simply jump blindly, or simply end spending somehow, is not rational either. Without hope and faith there can be no charity. We have been hoping, for sanity, for a long time. But now we have to hope for a bit more time to get people in power who can make the correct calls. We don't have to like it but the options really would have been worse.
That's all I am saying. Be careful what you wish for. I think some of the naysayers simply want to see total destruction. I think some of those who despise what passes for the legislative process seem more autocratic than those they oppose. Believe what you wish, but believing does not make it true. So, here is the Speaker Boehner. But... cut the tears. That is terribly unbecoming. Then again, when you reach certain levers of power, perhaps it is your party and you really can cry if you want to? Bah!
Bah!
.
.
I tried to sleep. I gave it a good hour or so. No sleep was to be had. While getting out of bed I decided to check the thermometers. As I suspected, I heated the rest of the house to 80 F. That thermometer reads to 82 F, the one in my bedroom only reads to 80. The one in my bedroom not only shows that it is 80, but well over 80. Yes, I heat my home quite a bit. On the good side, the fans seem to be working just fine. They, like me, just needed a little break.
While frustrating, at least I am feeling good and am otherwise content of mind and spirit. I have much to do, or try to do, before my mother arrives. I have other things I need to do or am in the middle of planning for seemingly a dozen other causes. And I can't sleep nor afford a window air conditioner, let alone central air. One thing at a time and sticking to doing what I can when I can and how I can is the thing.
I continue reading Chesterton. The thing that is baffling is, how such a widely read author saw the horrors of the potential of liberalism (it had already become a monstrous parody of what liberalism was ever supposed to be) that the march into what we have today continued, unabated. They saw it coming, they knew it was coming, they knew they could defeat it if they tried, and they knew how. Yet, here we are. Liberals, to be absolutely honest, are not the cleverest of people. I have to think they have been granted some measure of power, much like women, merely to ensure that they have no power. Now, of course, the planes of flesh are under Satan's dominion at this point. But, who are the intermediaries? Who are the ones, unlike Christ, who chose to rule? It certainly isn't presidents and prime ministers. They have no real power. Nor does congress or the senate. It isn't exactly the rich, or more super rich. It obviously is not the poor. I might have, at one time, actually guessed that it was what is left, the middle class. I simply cannot be sure. What bothers me is, if they knew then what we live now, and could not stop it or even really slow it, what chance do we have currently? I might have to wonder that the financial instability is a thing designed to do what no other technique will, to bankrupt modern liberalism. As I recall, that is what happened to the U.S.S.R.
Just... thinking. Later or good night.
.
I tried to sleep. I gave it a good hour or so. No sleep was to be had. While getting out of bed I decided to check the thermometers. As I suspected, I heated the rest of the house to 80 F. That thermometer reads to 82 F, the one in my bedroom only reads to 80. The one in my bedroom not only shows that it is 80, but well over 80. Yes, I heat my home quite a bit. On the good side, the fans seem to be working just fine. They, like me, just needed a little break.
While frustrating, at least I am feeling good and am otherwise content of mind and spirit. I have much to do, or try to do, before my mother arrives. I have other things I need to do or am in the middle of planning for seemingly a dozen other causes. And I can't sleep nor afford a window air conditioner, let alone central air. One thing at a time and sticking to doing what I can when I can and how I can is the thing.
I continue reading Chesterton. The thing that is baffling is, how such a widely read author saw the horrors of the potential of liberalism (it had already become a monstrous parody of what liberalism was ever supposed to be) that the march into what we have today continued, unabated. They saw it coming, they knew it was coming, they knew they could defeat it if they tried, and they knew how. Yet, here we are. Liberals, to be absolutely honest, are not the cleverest of people. I have to think they have been granted some measure of power, much like women, merely to ensure that they have no power. Now, of course, the planes of flesh are under Satan's dominion at this point. But, who are the intermediaries? Who are the ones, unlike Christ, who chose to rule? It certainly isn't presidents and prime ministers. They have no real power. Nor does congress or the senate. It isn't exactly the rich, or more super rich. It obviously is not the poor. I might have, at one time, actually guessed that it was what is left, the middle class. I simply cannot be sure. What bothers me is, if they knew then what we live now, and could not stop it or even really slow it, what chance do we have currently? I might have to wonder that the financial instability is a thing designed to do what no other technique will, to bankrupt modern liberalism. As I recall, that is what happened to the U.S.S.R.
Just... thinking. Later or good night.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
It's still warm.
.
.
There just isn't a way to get away from the heat. Something I need to do to create a sleep pattern. Still, a bit of effort might go into it. I had to turn my fans off yesterday, as something smelled like heated plastic or electric. I will be opening the windows and turning on the fans shortly, hoping they still work and I don't smell that smell. Sure, I could buy more fans, but money is a bit pinched, my mother is coming in before long, so it simply isn't a good time for failure. I may purchase one more fan, assuming the other two do work, so that I can alternate fans a bit. They have been running nearly non-stop the last few weeks, with only a few days off when I had travel plans.
I am hoping to get back into town tomorrow. I prefer to be into town earlier, while it is still cooler. A bit of bank business, a bit of tax business, and maybe some ice. It's the little things, like an occasional iced drink, that helps. I could make ice, but I don't seem to track well enough to keep that much on hand. Yeah, cry me a river and all. But I really can't stay on top of what I have to do, so adding wants in either fails or ends up replacing a need.
A bit more goofing while the fans do their job, then some sleep. Good night.
.
There just isn't a way to get away from the heat. Something I need to do to create a sleep pattern. Still, a bit of effort might go into it. I had to turn my fans off yesterday, as something smelled like heated plastic or electric. I will be opening the windows and turning on the fans shortly, hoping they still work and I don't smell that smell. Sure, I could buy more fans, but money is a bit pinched, my mother is coming in before long, so it simply isn't a good time for failure. I may purchase one more fan, assuming the other two do work, so that I can alternate fans a bit. They have been running nearly non-stop the last few weeks, with only a few days off when I had travel plans.
I am hoping to get back into town tomorrow. I prefer to be into town earlier, while it is still cooler. A bit of bank business, a bit of tax business, and maybe some ice. It's the little things, like an occasional iced drink, that helps. I could make ice, but I don't seem to track well enough to keep that much on hand. Yeah, cry me a river and all. But I really can't stay on top of what I have to do, so adding wants in either fails or ends up replacing a need.
A bit more goofing while the fans do their job, then some sleep. Good night.
After lunch.
.
.
Well, after lunch, I decided to finally find the Church and begin getting something going. Father was not in, but the secretary suggested someone would be in tomorrow to arrange an office visit. I asked, too, about becoming a help to whoever pastors to the prisoners. She suggested that there was quite a review process by which the state decides if I am worthy of such trust. Given how difficult I have found purchasing a gun to be, this might be a bit of work. And yet, I am called to either work in the hospitals or the prisons, but I have seen the inside of hospitals, and still do, so that I don't want to do that. And I don't want to do that really BAD! In any case, perhaps something will be on track regarding that.
I did suggest that I might well be dieing. That making contact was vital. That being on time, for Mass and for the Sacrament of Reconciliation has proven difficult. Remember, I am usually a half our to three hours late even when visiting my friend. Things I want to do are not always possible, and I have other... difficulties here. But I do need this. Once you have tasted of the Flesh of Christ, you will never question it. That's... all I am saying. And I am starving for it. Some might say it is akin to the Borg. If so, think about who the Chief Borg, in this case, is. Would you not wish to be so escalated as to be in such close communion with Him? I do. I do. Even if I have to forgo my ego and bow. I do.
I then called my friend. I thought he must have called the other night. I don't know if I was napping or the phone was in another room so that I didn't hear it. And I wasn't sure it was him anyway. It turns out it was. He had hoped I would drive in, at 22:00 and bring him a meal. I think I need to discuss things with him, anyway. I will do so, but it needs to be arranged. I probably won't, possibly can't, just get up and go at any time I wish. Not even for myself do I have this kind of will. But, if he wants me to come in Wednesday nights, for example, at 20:00 to 22:00, with a meal, I can do that. That is about as good as it gets. And, I can plan shopping around it. But I can't just make a special trip with no other purpose, if for gas money alone but that isn't even the main problem.
I then filled the tank and washed the bugs off. Yeck! Nasty things this time of year, anyway. But all in all, I think I did quite well. The temp said 102, but I think that was lowballing it. When I got home I checked the thermometers inside. The one in the bedroom (south facing side of the house) read over 80 F (80 is as high as it goes). The one in the kitchen read 76 F. Not bad, really. At a minimum, the main of the house remains at least 26 F cooler than the outside. Not bad, but still not all that good. I also noticed, when I come out of the oven and into the house, I raise the temp in the house a great deal. I R a Cookstove, summer or winter. I will probably bring the kitchen therm up to 80 F.
Well, on to something or... just as likely... nothing. Later.
.
Well, after lunch, I decided to finally find the Church and begin getting something going. Father was not in, but the secretary suggested someone would be in tomorrow to arrange an office visit. I asked, too, about becoming a help to whoever pastors to the prisoners. She suggested that there was quite a review process by which the state decides if I am worthy of such trust. Given how difficult I have found purchasing a gun to be, this might be a bit of work. And yet, I am called to either work in the hospitals or the prisons, but I have seen the inside of hospitals, and still do, so that I don't want to do that. And I don't want to do that really BAD! In any case, perhaps something will be on track regarding that.
I did suggest that I might well be dieing. That making contact was vital. That being on time, for Mass and for the Sacrament of Reconciliation has proven difficult. Remember, I am usually a half our to three hours late even when visiting my friend. Things I want to do are not always possible, and I have other... difficulties here. But I do need this. Once you have tasted of the Flesh of Christ, you will never question it. That's... all I am saying. And I am starving for it. Some might say it is akin to the Borg. If so, think about who the Chief Borg, in this case, is. Would you not wish to be so escalated as to be in such close communion with Him? I do. I do. Even if I have to forgo my ego and bow. I do.
I then called my friend. I thought he must have called the other night. I don't know if I was napping or the phone was in another room so that I didn't hear it. And I wasn't sure it was him anyway. It turns out it was. He had hoped I would drive in, at 22:00 and bring him a meal. I think I need to discuss things with him, anyway. I will do so, but it needs to be arranged. I probably won't, possibly can't, just get up and go at any time I wish. Not even for myself do I have this kind of will. But, if he wants me to come in Wednesday nights, for example, at 20:00 to 22:00, with a meal, I can do that. That is about as good as it gets. And, I can plan shopping around it. But I can't just make a special trip with no other purpose, if for gas money alone but that isn't even the main problem.
I then filled the tank and washed the bugs off. Yeck! Nasty things this time of year, anyway. But all in all, I think I did quite well. The temp said 102, but I think that was lowballing it. When I got home I checked the thermometers inside. The one in the bedroom (south facing side of the house) read over 80 F (80 is as high as it goes). The one in the kitchen read 76 F. Not bad, really. At a minimum, the main of the house remains at least 26 F cooler than the outside. Not bad, but still not all that good. I also noticed, when I come out of the oven and into the house, I raise the temp in the house a great deal. I R a Cookstove, summer or winter. I will probably bring the kitchen therm up to 80 F.
Well, on to something or... just as likely... nothing. Later.
Okay, a few things actually done.
.
.
I made it to lunch, if just barely. Being rather warm all through the night, and for whatever reason never quite cooling overnight, I didn't get back to bed until 7:30. I have been napping and sleeping a good deal though, so with a little effort I was able to push through the grim veil and hard grip of the death slumber. I couldn't get a shave in, but I did shower and otherwise appoint myself properly for public access.
Pizza was good. At $34, before tip, $42 after, I think it came out well. We even each had our own meals, not a shared pizza as I had first thought. And, we talked. This time without our various bibles or books, for the most part. While I am not quite an apologist, I know more than your average barn animal, and quite often more than your average weekly Church-goer. Many of which seem to think going to Church negates their need to know anything about it. Albeit, I have time. Many people, honestly, have little time and less energy when the world is through having them earn their keep and feed. Rich or poor, the world drags what it can out of you. In my case, it merely took it out of me like a lump sum tax for life or something.
We talked about many issues. One of the young men asked me point blank what my problem with the Mormon faith is. And the three which stick in my craw the most, if not the strongest for the case by some standards I suppose, is the meeting of God and Jesus by their originator. While my near death experience might really have been mere oxygen deprivation, I don't personally believe that (given to that I also don't put a lot of weight in personal beliefs, not even mine). Everything is 'on balance'. On balance, I do believe I was there, possibly purgatory, perhaps just a place for souls who have prematurely left the body, perhaps awaiting judgment. What I do know is that the next thing that was going to happen, soon or late, was that I was going to see God. I also knew that when that happened, even as a bodiless soul, I was never going to be the same. Just being there changed me. I absolutely believe that to look upon the face of God would destroy unperfected flesh. One might as well wander into the sun. I might even say a human has a better chance of dancing on the face of the sun naked than seeing the face of God and living, by infinite orders of magnitudes of ease.
Another thing was that no non-Mormon ever saw the golden tablets. Hitler sent people after the arc, the spear of destiny, and other artifacts. He never sent, nor even considered looking for, the golden tablets. I simply cannot believe that such relics would be lost. And, while I have heard of people being taken up to be with God, I have never heard of him ever taking physical objects to heaven. He has no need of such things. As well, though I didn't mention this, I know some of the witnesses have recanted, re-witnessed, and went back and forth on the issue. I did not see this with the disciples, save when Christ prophesied. Or did He make it happen? No, no, He didn't. God won't lead us to sin, and I have to think denying your Lord and Savior would be a sin. I think He merely forgave them, in advance, so that they would not then lead a life of shame and be bound by the sin He knew they would commit. Yes, something like that.
The final problem I discussed was the fact that I could not believe that God would build the Church and then let it disappear for two thousand years. Christ went into Sheol (or Hades) to bring out the souls of those prophets and holy people who had died waiting for Christ. He did not go into Gehenna, however, to bring out the souls of the damned. When Christ did that, he did it once and for all. When he comes again, He will not die again to bring even more out of Sheol. Sheol is no more. He, when Jesus comes again, will come as the conqueror. Or at least not all in formal hell were brought out, of course. (Though I tend to think these were different places, for why would the holy suffer with the unrepentant while awaiting the prophesied Christ?
They had asked me about prophecy, and I told them that we (and I) believe Christ was the last prophet, as well as sacrifice, to come. They asked how I believed God could leave the Church to find it's own way. I suggested that the Holy Spirit remains. Though too, if I forgot to mention it as such conversations only have just so much room, and move so fluidly, the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity of Christ in the Eucharist also remains, and actually enters us and lives through us, aside from His own real presence at the Eucharist. My question to them was, if God saw the need for a prophet to yet lead, why would He let His Church disappear for two thousand years? Or even a few hundred, or whatever the number they give?
It was an interesting conversation. I do have, and will have more, questions. As do they. They, much like me, seem to be looking. They know their way, and to a degree, I know mine. It isn't contentious, to my knowledge or for my part. I was happy to know what bits I do and compare apples. Could I be wrong? Sure. Actually, I am positive I am wrong. On what I cannot be certain. We simply don't know it all, none of us. And, happily, heaven isn't based on academic understandings of exact passages and dogmas. It isn't based on the memorization of passages. These might be works, if carried out in a holy and faithful way, but they are not the keys.
What I look for in my search, my understandings, my reading, is the origins of the word dogma. It seems, through spirit, The Holy Spirit, logic, and such... to be right. That is as good as I can do for that part. Then to follow through with my faith. I AM a little man. I AM mortal. I AM wrong. Too, I am beloved and forgiven. Christ suggested, to love your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Others have suggested so much as that one IS the other for all intents and purposes. I'm... working on it. But He also suggested through Him, to the Father, and thus heaven. No other way is there.
.
I made it to lunch, if just barely. Being rather warm all through the night, and for whatever reason never quite cooling overnight, I didn't get back to bed until 7:30. I have been napping and sleeping a good deal though, so with a little effort I was able to push through the grim veil and hard grip of the death slumber. I couldn't get a shave in, but I did shower and otherwise appoint myself properly for public access.
Pizza was good. At $34, before tip, $42 after, I think it came out well. We even each had our own meals, not a shared pizza as I had first thought. And, we talked. This time without our various bibles or books, for the most part. While I am not quite an apologist, I know more than your average barn animal, and quite often more than your average weekly Church-goer. Many of which seem to think going to Church negates their need to know anything about it. Albeit, I have time. Many people, honestly, have little time and less energy when the world is through having them earn their keep and feed. Rich or poor, the world drags what it can out of you. In my case, it merely took it out of me like a lump sum tax for life or something.
We talked about many issues. One of the young men asked me point blank what my problem with the Mormon faith is. And the three which stick in my craw the most, if not the strongest for the case by some standards I suppose, is the meeting of God and Jesus by their originator. While my near death experience might really have been mere oxygen deprivation, I don't personally believe that (given to that I also don't put a lot of weight in personal beliefs, not even mine). Everything is 'on balance'. On balance, I do believe I was there, possibly purgatory, perhaps just a place for souls who have prematurely left the body, perhaps awaiting judgment. What I do know is that the next thing that was going to happen, soon or late, was that I was going to see God. I also knew that when that happened, even as a bodiless soul, I was never going to be the same. Just being there changed me. I absolutely believe that to look upon the face of God would destroy unperfected flesh. One might as well wander into the sun. I might even say a human has a better chance of dancing on the face of the sun naked than seeing the face of God and living, by infinite orders of magnitudes of ease.
Another thing was that no non-Mormon ever saw the golden tablets. Hitler sent people after the arc, the spear of destiny, and other artifacts. He never sent, nor even considered looking for, the golden tablets. I simply cannot believe that such relics would be lost. And, while I have heard of people being taken up to be with God, I have never heard of him ever taking physical objects to heaven. He has no need of such things. As well, though I didn't mention this, I know some of the witnesses have recanted, re-witnessed, and went back and forth on the issue. I did not see this with the disciples, save when Christ prophesied. Or did He make it happen? No, no, He didn't. God won't lead us to sin, and I have to think denying your Lord and Savior would be a sin. I think He merely forgave them, in advance, so that they would not then lead a life of shame and be bound by the sin He knew they would commit. Yes, something like that.
The final problem I discussed was the fact that I could not believe that God would build the Church and then let it disappear for two thousand years. Christ went into Sheol (or Hades) to bring out the souls of those prophets and holy people who had died waiting for Christ. He did not go into Gehenna, however, to bring out the souls of the damned. When Christ did that, he did it once and for all. When he comes again, He will not die again to bring even more out of Sheol. Sheol is no more. He, when Jesus comes again, will come as the conqueror. Or at least not all in formal hell were brought out, of course. (Though I tend to think these were different places, for why would the holy suffer with the unrepentant while awaiting the prophesied Christ?
They had asked me about prophecy, and I told them that we (and I) believe Christ was the last prophet, as well as sacrifice, to come. They asked how I believed God could leave the Church to find it's own way. I suggested that the Holy Spirit remains. Though too, if I forgot to mention it as such conversations only have just so much room, and move so fluidly, the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity of Christ in the Eucharist also remains, and actually enters us and lives through us, aside from His own real presence at the Eucharist. My question to them was, if God saw the need for a prophet to yet lead, why would He let His Church disappear for two thousand years? Or even a few hundred, or whatever the number they give?
It was an interesting conversation. I do have, and will have more, questions. As do they. They, much like me, seem to be looking. They know their way, and to a degree, I know mine. It isn't contentious, to my knowledge or for my part. I was happy to know what bits I do and compare apples. Could I be wrong? Sure. Actually, I am positive I am wrong. On what I cannot be certain. We simply don't know it all, none of us. And, happily, heaven isn't based on academic understandings of exact passages and dogmas. It isn't based on the memorization of passages. These might be works, if carried out in a holy and faithful way, but they are not the keys.
What I look for in my search, my understandings, my reading, is the origins of the word dogma. It seems, through spirit, The Holy Spirit, logic, and such... to be right. That is as good as I can do for that part. Then to follow through with my faith. I AM a little man. I AM mortal. I AM wrong. Too, I am beloved and forgiven. Christ suggested, to love your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Others have suggested so much as that one IS the other for all intents and purposes. I'm... working on it. But He also suggested through Him, to the Father, and thus heaven. No other way is there.
It really is the little things.
.
.
The trip to town was a success. As simple as that seems, for the last few days, driving, and then getting out of my vehicle, walking through a store, then putting groceries away once I returned home would have been more than I could take. Dizziness, weakness, feverishness, and other things came and went. It seems like such a little thing, until you can't do it. Not only am I feeling good, doing those little things never once gave me a hiccup. Driving, walking, decision making, loading the vehicle, unloading, not even putting it all away. And I tossed a meal in there as well. I just put the milk and other cold needing items in the fridge or freezer fast, then ate before putting the rest of it away. That is a trick I have rarely been able to do in the past, something about once I was seated, getting up and going again wasn't possible. Life is getting better.
On the way home, long after the sun set, on the flashing signs, I did notice that it was still 81 F. I am seriously suspicious that heat played somewhat of a large role in my incapacity. The days should be shortening and it is cooling much more at night, if not until later. And, for whatever reason, I seem to be tolerating the heat better. If there is any way I can get central air, I think I will go for it. It is cheaper than window units, which would be even more ridiculous in this home due to how it is set up. And, actually, I am suspicious that it might actually be cheaper than fans running 24 hours a day, big fans, all day.
Tomorrow I have a lunch with the Mormon elders who visit. Pizza it is. Usually I prefer to make a steak and potato dinner, tossing in a salad if that has usually only been used as decoration. When I serve steak, it is at least a pound and comes with a big potato, butter, sour cream, and whole milk. Vegetables of any sort seem... sickly... beside such a feast. There is a time for vegetables, but if I have the option it wouldn't be meal time. :p But since I haven't been able to keep my home up, I decided to take them out. Actually, pizza might be cheaper, if that isn't truly the idea, or even something I thought about until just now. Steak is anywhere from $5 to $10 a pound. On average, three steaks would be $22.50, then potatoes and cream, add in a half gallon of milk (or more), and the salad greens (even if just for decoration) and you are looking at $30 to $40 (which isn't bad for a three steak meal, truly good potatoes, and a proper mixed green salad, mind you). My favored steak restaurants run that for one meal, or more, and often before tax, tip, or gas to get there. I prefer offering home cooking, I just am not up to it currently.
Ah well. Hmm, those books should be in. I've been dragging out the book I am reading until they arrive. The great thing is I can more study the book than feel like I am being rushed through it. I look things up, from people he discusses, businesses of his day, words and phrases that aren't exactly in common usage today, and I try to angle what he is saying rather than just reading words. Then again, I may continue this method of reading. It slows things down terribly, as after I have an understanding of something(s), I want to reread the passage so as to get the full picture of what I think he is or is really trying to say. His writing is dense with notions, allusions, characterizations, and such and I realize that missing a drop of it is like leaving a little bit of gold in a gold mine just sitting around. Both are worth the bother of a little more work.
Good night.
.
The trip to town was a success. As simple as that seems, for the last few days, driving, and then getting out of my vehicle, walking through a store, then putting groceries away once I returned home would have been more than I could take. Dizziness, weakness, feverishness, and other things came and went. It seems like such a little thing, until you can't do it. Not only am I feeling good, doing those little things never once gave me a hiccup. Driving, walking, decision making, loading the vehicle, unloading, not even putting it all away. And I tossed a meal in there as well. I just put the milk and other cold needing items in the fridge or freezer fast, then ate before putting the rest of it away. That is a trick I have rarely been able to do in the past, something about once I was seated, getting up and going again wasn't possible. Life is getting better.
On the way home, long after the sun set, on the flashing signs, I did notice that it was still 81 F. I am seriously suspicious that heat played somewhat of a large role in my incapacity. The days should be shortening and it is cooling much more at night, if not until later. And, for whatever reason, I seem to be tolerating the heat better. If there is any way I can get central air, I think I will go for it. It is cheaper than window units, which would be even more ridiculous in this home due to how it is set up. And, actually, I am suspicious that it might actually be cheaper than fans running 24 hours a day, big fans, all day.
Tomorrow I have a lunch with the Mormon elders who visit. Pizza it is. Usually I prefer to make a steak and potato dinner, tossing in a salad if that has usually only been used as decoration. When I serve steak, it is at least a pound and comes with a big potato, butter, sour cream, and whole milk. Vegetables of any sort seem... sickly... beside such a feast. There is a time for vegetables, but if I have the option it wouldn't be meal time. :p But since I haven't been able to keep my home up, I decided to take them out. Actually, pizza might be cheaper, if that isn't truly the idea, or even something I thought about until just now. Steak is anywhere from $5 to $10 a pound. On average, three steaks would be $22.50, then potatoes and cream, add in a half gallon of milk (or more), and the salad greens (even if just for decoration) and you are looking at $30 to $40 (which isn't bad for a three steak meal, truly good potatoes, and a proper mixed green salad, mind you). My favored steak restaurants run that for one meal, or more, and often before tax, tip, or gas to get there. I prefer offering home cooking, I just am not up to it currently.
Ah well. Hmm, those books should be in. I've been dragging out the book I am reading until they arrive. The great thing is I can more study the book than feel like I am being rushed through it. I look things up, from people he discusses, businesses of his day, words and phrases that aren't exactly in common usage today, and I try to angle what he is saying rather than just reading words. Then again, I may continue this method of reading. It slows things down terribly, as after I have an understanding of something(s), I want to reread the passage so as to get the full picture of what I think he is or is really trying to say. His writing is dense with notions, allusions, characterizations, and such and I realize that missing a drop of it is like leaving a little bit of gold in a gold mine just sitting around. Both are worth the bother of a little more work.
Good night.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Ah ha!
.
.
I was still having problems with the bank site. After tinkering around trying to figure out whether it was No-Script, FireFox, or Microsoft (or some combination) that was making it so the long-in window was inaccessible, I finally found a workaround. The problem is, the page saying the site was untrusted was shoved into a tiny window and I had no means of resizing to tell the machine to unblock it! ARGHHHhhhhH! Finally, after tinkering with the mouse buttons as if in a first person shooter, I noticed one of the lines suggest something about opening the window in a new tab. Hmm, couldn't hurt, right? Probably. Who knew? So, *click* and... there she was... permission rights. I granted those and on into my bank account I went.
Well, it does look like I just spent a lot this month. I looked over things and, yep, there was that. Oh, and this. And... my! I spent like a drunk sailor this month. But too, plane tickets were on there. I suspect, with my mother showing up next month, I will be broke and more again. If I thought I was bad, throw a woman into the mix and I might end up down $10k somehow. Yeah, women know how to do that, then they look at us like we are stupid or something. hehehe Got to admit, that is classic.
I then went to my other account, put just enough for groceries on the debit side. I have enough in coin and small bills to smooth over my mother's visit. It's going to be a squeaker though. One of the things I am hoping to do while she is here is replace the ground floor spare bedroom window (and I might try to do that before she gets here, if I can figure it all out) and then there is the two day stop in SLC. Rooms close enough start at around $180 for two nights. So, money money money and she isn't even here yet! But that's okay. I actually wish I had a little more, and some to send her home with. Hmm, she knows that will be her room should she ever decide to split time between my brother and my house, at least until she could find a little place of her own. She has thought about us two working on the thing, changing the window out that is. But I am not seeing that. Buying windows as a non-contractor cost almost as much as simply having a window installed. *sigh*
I may run into town and do some shopping. I am not only hungry, I am darned hungry. Plus a bit of food on the way back. So be it. Oh, if you think you are into logic, social understanding, finances, and are more or less on the traditional or conservative or libertarian side of things, I cannot suggest enough that you read "What's Wrong With the World" by G.H. Chesterton. He'll clobber you when you don't even see it coming and open up whole new vistas through which to watch the world burn. And don't think you will get off light, if he is rather gentle about his psychic punishments.
I best get going if I want to get good groceries. Good night, or... later most likely. Those naps are throwing things off a bit. Bleh.
.
I was still having problems with the bank site. After tinkering around trying to figure out whether it was No-Script, FireFox, or Microsoft (or some combination) that was making it so the long-in window was inaccessible, I finally found a workaround. The problem is, the page saying the site was untrusted was shoved into a tiny window and I had no means of resizing to tell the machine to unblock it! ARGHHHhhhhH! Finally, after tinkering with the mouse buttons as if in a first person shooter, I noticed one of the lines suggest something about opening the window in a new tab. Hmm, couldn't hurt, right? Probably. Who knew? So, *click* and... there she was... permission rights. I granted those and on into my bank account I went.
Well, it does look like I just spent a lot this month. I looked over things and, yep, there was that. Oh, and this. And... my! I spent like a drunk sailor this month. But too, plane tickets were on there. I suspect, with my mother showing up next month, I will be broke and more again. If I thought I was bad, throw a woman into the mix and I might end up down $10k somehow. Yeah, women know how to do that, then they look at us like we are stupid or something. hehehe Got to admit, that is classic.
I then went to my other account, put just enough for groceries on the debit side. I have enough in coin and small bills to smooth over my mother's visit. It's going to be a squeaker though. One of the things I am hoping to do while she is here is replace the ground floor spare bedroom window (and I might try to do that before she gets here, if I can figure it all out) and then there is the two day stop in SLC. Rooms close enough start at around $180 for two nights. So, money money money and she isn't even here yet! But that's okay. I actually wish I had a little more, and some to send her home with. Hmm, she knows that will be her room should she ever decide to split time between my brother and my house, at least until she could find a little place of her own. She has thought about us two working on the thing, changing the window out that is. But I am not seeing that. Buying windows as a non-contractor cost almost as much as simply having a window installed. *sigh*
I may run into town and do some shopping. I am not only hungry, I am darned hungry. Plus a bit of food on the way back. So be it. Oh, if you think you are into logic, social understanding, finances, and are more or less on the traditional or conservative or libertarian side of things, I cannot suggest enough that you read "What's Wrong With the World" by G.H. Chesterton. He'll clobber you when you don't even see it coming and open up whole new vistas through which to watch the world burn. And don't think you will get off light, if he is rather gentle about his psychic punishments.
I best get going if I want to get good groceries. Good night, or... later most likely. Those naps are throwing things off a bit. Bleh.
Nap time?
.
.
Yes, always. Lots of naps. On the good side I am feeling much better. Whether my problem was doing too much too fast, the medicine change, heat, or some combination of all of those, I seem to be over the physical discomfort part of it. Now to get back on the 'bike and ride', literally and figuratively. Well, or hike. Hiking was my goal this week, or put in Doom terms, in my next exercise cycle. I will probably begin next week. Two or three hikes, with the pack and a hat. I will take one jug of water but I will also be taking my water purifier and testing it on river water. Oh, trust me, I will know if it is working. I had a goulash gullet from drinking unfiltered river water when I fell in while white water rafting for several weeks. Never did get diarrhea or any of that other stuff though, just a sore throat, as if it had been burned.
It doesn't help to be very broke, though, either. I am not sure how I lost track of finances so quickly. There was the gas to SLC, the books, some tools, but I can't remember anything excessive. These would be normal play money things. Without access to online banking, which I need to remember to check shortly and see if it works now, it is difficult to know where I am tossing money down what holes. Of course, any time my bank seems to make it difficult for me to check my account, I wonder what they might be up to. No, I don't trust banks. Beside the number of little bankers who would steal if they got half a chance are the big bankers who would manipulate accounts. They have gambled fortunes away. They are in trouble, both as individuals and as institutions. Trust not the seemingly wealthy beggar. He'll kill you a lot faster than the obviously poor one will.
Chesterton does have some quite interesting notions regarding feminism, suffrage as he usually terms it. But never you mind, he also notes men's failings as well. And, yes, it's still a gas. Neither of the sex is terribly admirable, either in his or my eyes. However, there is a reason for tradition. There is a reason things are the way they are. And he explains, quite well, why men are on the losing end of this war. Something I don't think he realizes is that men are now fighting a two pronged war. The traditional battle against apron strings and the call of women's whiles and the surrendered women, who finally agree that men were right all along so much so that they wish to join us. On any occasion, a man can never know which of those two anarchists he is presented with, or whether both are present. Women speak so mildly as to not even be able to give up 'their hand' as it were, even while being unable to maintain a poker face or attitude. Bah! Not that I don't love the game in any case.
Hmm, more reading, another nap, some checking on finances, a longer sleep, then maybe something tomorrow. Oh, wait, I have promised pizza to 'the boys' tomorrow. Oh, I have a few dollars and this and that floating around. I can do that, and probably get a bit of groceries purchased, plus another tank of gas and the haircut. But it is just... so tight. I hate months like this. Later.
.
Yes, always. Lots of naps. On the good side I am feeling much better. Whether my problem was doing too much too fast, the medicine change, heat, or some combination of all of those, I seem to be over the physical discomfort part of it. Now to get back on the 'bike and ride', literally and figuratively. Well, or hike. Hiking was my goal this week, or put in Doom terms, in my next exercise cycle. I will probably begin next week. Two or three hikes, with the pack and a hat. I will take one jug of water but I will also be taking my water purifier and testing it on river water. Oh, trust me, I will know if it is working. I had a goulash gullet from drinking unfiltered river water when I fell in while white water rafting for several weeks. Never did get diarrhea or any of that other stuff though, just a sore throat, as if it had been burned.
It doesn't help to be very broke, though, either. I am not sure how I lost track of finances so quickly. There was the gas to SLC, the books, some tools, but I can't remember anything excessive. These would be normal play money things. Without access to online banking, which I need to remember to check shortly and see if it works now, it is difficult to know where I am tossing money down what holes. Of course, any time my bank seems to make it difficult for me to check my account, I wonder what they might be up to. No, I don't trust banks. Beside the number of little bankers who would steal if they got half a chance are the big bankers who would manipulate accounts. They have gambled fortunes away. They are in trouble, both as individuals and as institutions. Trust not the seemingly wealthy beggar. He'll kill you a lot faster than the obviously poor one will.
Chesterton does have some quite interesting notions regarding feminism, suffrage as he usually terms it. But never you mind, he also notes men's failings as well. And, yes, it's still a gas. Neither of the sex is terribly admirable, either in his or my eyes. However, there is a reason for tradition. There is a reason things are the way they are. And he explains, quite well, why men are on the losing end of this war. Something I don't think he realizes is that men are now fighting a two pronged war. The traditional battle against apron strings and the call of women's whiles and the surrendered women, who finally agree that men were right all along so much so that they wish to join us. On any occasion, a man can never know which of those two anarchists he is presented with, or whether both are present. Women speak so mildly as to not even be able to give up 'their hand' as it were, even while being unable to maintain a poker face or attitude. Bah! Not that I don't love the game in any case.
Hmm, more reading, another nap, some checking on finances, a longer sleep, then maybe something tomorrow. Oh, wait, I have promised pizza to 'the boys' tomorrow. Oh, I have a few dollars and this and that floating around. I can do that, and probably get a bit of groceries purchased, plus another tank of gas and the haircut. But it is just... so tight. I hate months like this. Later.
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