Up at noon thirty.

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No complaints about that, really.  I went to be late and for half of the night just couldn't get to sleep.  Thankfully it wasn't a rough night at all.  It was relaxing.  And when I got to sleep, it was revivifying.  Just that when sleep is late, waking being late isn't a problem.  I am feeling better in a general way.  Perhaps giving the music haunting me top billing after hiding it from others finally just turned the key.  It's been tagging me for quite a while now, mind you, in one form, then a slightly different form.  Oh, I don't think that is necessarily quite done yet though.  Merely it is not bugging me right this morning as it has most mornings since it's progenitor's inception, and before that really, a bit.   The other thing that has been troubling me is a 'heavy chest', the feel that I have liquid in my longs, which are, mostly, the same thing, I think.  Now, my nose is dried to the point that the snotters that collect in there, until I can figure out how to get them out, are shriveld from dehydration almost to the point of giving me a headache.  I have no swelling of anything (save maybe the abdomen, though that may be an artifact from my mother's visit and cooking).  But I have cotton coughs that don't clear anything, a dry throat that seems to suggest I have no phlegm if it only seems scratchy and not truly dry, and a slight difficulty breathing.

I don't know if I pushed it too much and my system isn't clearing without solid rest, if I have something like a chest cold, or if some other problem has filtered in.  What I do know is the more I try to push through, by degrees, the worse it gets.  I haven't tried a complete stop.  Well, literal work stop, some things just have to be done.  I always have to feed and water the girls, and more myself as I can, then on to the lawn and garden and dishes.  When I have thought about it either I or my mother always devised some new mechanical torture which you know as work.  And, I never really stopped since she left.  Reminds me, I did wash the table but I didn't bring it in.  Then again, that is a little thing so I will do that.  And I will do other little things.  Could it simply be that I'm not used to being outdoors as often as I have been?

I'll figure it out or it will pass.  And I have been going out to be with Sam, and just be outdoors, several times a day since my mother left.  She loves it, I need to acclimate, and I keep a better eye on what needs to be done and what could be done, plus lets Sam know someone loves her.  Well, and she is kept better in fresh water than ever before.

Well, on to... something.  Later.

If the NSA wasn't paying attention they are now.

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I tried to hint around about airplane mode and eavesdropping and such, to no good results (on DuckDuckGo).  Finally, I just asked if airplane mode shut down NSA cracking, or something like that.  I got booted to a clear (DuckDuckGo) homepage.  Something about some kind of error.  Sure, right.  As I said, if they weren't looking before, they certainly are now.  I'm still going to dig around.  Now, I am pretty sure that will stop the phone from sending anything out (pretty sure, they might be able to hack that).  But what I don't know if they can have the phone listen and record. 

Some might suggest that testing for memory might be one way.  If I had to guess, I would say that the manufacturers built in memory that I can't use, which is called static to the phone, but which they can use.  I am sure it is filled with *blank*, then fills up to a point, and is sent on, recorded over if it can't send until it has key bits it wants, then put back to *blank* after it is finally able to send.  Text takes very little data storage, and I am pretty sure they have a very small voice-to-text system.  Now, the NSA isn't going to let manufacturers and Google have a toy they want... or at least they don't get priority.  All animals are equal, some pigs are more equal.  Even some pigs are more equal than other pigs.  I guess I don't know if they are doing that, from proof.  From a tech and dubiousness standpoint, I have zero doubts.  If too, I doubt if anyone who does know, exactly, is willing to step forward at this point.  Even all the conservative talking heads I have seen are bashing Snowden.  I can tell, they are owned.  Sad, really.  It's the litmus test.  Most fail.  I wonder how many of them even had to be pressured?  Traitors, the lot of them.  Anywho...

Good night.

Not perfect, perhaps, but not bad.

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Swimming, as I suggested, was out of the realm of possibles.  I am tired in some odd way.  I don't know if this is physical, health issues, or age/mental.  It's real, I just can't see what is causing it or quite yet figure my way around it.  I'll keep trying.  My friend seems a little zapped as well.

I did get in with plenty of time to go plinking.  With bullets and reloading kit becoming rarefied so that even if you can find even the lowly .22 ammunition, it is almost expensive out of means.  My friend has a friend in the business who said they had nearly 1,000 400-500 round packs come in and they were gone in five hours.  I still haven't heard how many buyers are presumed government straw buyers, using up left-overs from the many failed stimulus runs.  Guns are starting to gather dust, so I suppose they are sticking with ammunition and reloading supplies as money dries up, people start realizing what is going on and asking too many questions, or oversight is kicking in elsewhere.  Cheaper and is more useful to cutting down on private stocks or target practice.  Both, I presume, they see as a threat to their intentions.  They might even have just handed this over to liberal groups as a thing to do.  Hard to tell with these types.

Just a bit of plinking.  He shot his two .22 pistols, I had my .22 pistol and rifle.  Next time I'm taking the targets and stand so he can sight his pistol in.  One of them seems to be rather dead to rights.  The other, he suggests, shoots a bit to the left.  Not a bad place to shoot if you must be off-target I suppose.  Still, best to be right on.  We will work on that.  He heard that it will be very hot from now on.  I have heard that the weekend will jump, but that we will get another mild week before the real heat sets in.  I'm hoping I heard right, it's a beast to shoot when it is pushing 100.  We will get out, I am hoping, once a week.  I would like to get swimming in on that day as well, and hiking/biking on some of the other days.  Gotta get to that! 

No sun screen today and no problem.  I had it with, just in case.  I'm going to be wearing shorts much more often now, trying to get arms, face, and legs prepped for whatever, and to a degree.  At some times I will definitely have to slather up.  Atmospherics will greatly affect when I have to wear lotion and when I don't.  When I can even handle the burn out there, too, at all.  The desert, even this one, is a bit tricky.  It works on the mind as much as the body.  I didn't get tired nearly as quickly this time out.  But then I had the canteen of water.  It does have a plastic/rubber taste to it, but not too horribly.  And drinking every 15-25 minutes sure kept me in shape, whether I felt thirsty or not.  As I said, I may keep that with me from now on, even here at home.  The goal is to empty that two, three, maybe even four times a day.  I know I don't drink enough.  In spite of it I am doing better out here in Utah.  Perhaps if I take care of dehydration I will have even more room to play?

Oh, while we were out shooting, I found an excellent place to hike.  It is up in the mountains a bit.  It isn't more than a few miles of a hike, but it is a solid hike.  The slope is downward, ending at the river.  Could do some fishing there for a breather.  The hike up, though, is a booger.  And it is on a ridge that drops into the river, a hundred and fifty feet at the beginning/end.  Losing your footing in there could be catastrophic.  it isn't a sheer cliff, just close enough, perhaps worse as you would be bounding down, hitting every dozen to two feet.  Yeah... I'd be taking my time on that one.  Trout sashimi sounds good though.

Hmm... Not much tonight.  Something is just putting a work stop on everything.  I'll... get to it soon.  Later.

Just awake.

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I don't have what it takes to do as much as I had hoped as quickly as I had thought.  I didn't go hiking/biking and I probably won't go swimming.  Shooting I will do, I promised.  Up quite late, and feeling a bit rough still.  Not sure why or what is up.  I have been taking my medications on time, so that isn't it.  I will keep up on the little things, push for a bit more, and do what I can when I can.  I just won't be getting to as much as fast as I had thought, hoped.

My back aches, shoulders a bit.  I am tired but not grumpy.  I will get to transplanting some of the plants before I head out, instead of swimming.  Perhaps do some dishes, or at least set them to a hot soak.  I prewashed everything I used yesterday, and put it in the sink, so that won't be much of a mess.  It's just a rough day.  But it was nice and cool this morning.  I'm not sure what my problem is.  There is a decent breeze going, and it isn't hot.  Should be a good day for shooting.

Tomorrow is reserved for taking care of some business.  The V.A. hasn't called to reschedule with the heart clinic so I best add that to my list.  And the one thing I couldn't find was the paperwork for getting my eye appointment scheduled locally.  I think they might even be able to set it up for contact prescriptions as an add, so that I can just order those.  Just a few months of daily wear disposables, for BMan and to practice a bit for the run up to it.  Those things are going to dry out fast without a lot of eye juice.

Hmm.  On to my "morning".  Later.

Just couldn't get to much more.

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I'm probably trying to do too much.  I don't believe I will be getting to the bathroom tonight, probably not even tomorrow, depending on how long of a day it turns out to be.  I would like to get swimming in, then some target practice.  It should be decent, not too hot, tomorrow.  There might be a breeze as well.  If, when I return, I can rest and catch a second wind, I will hit the bathroom.  It seems like such an easy thing.  Just some soldering, and waiting, and doing this and that here and there, then hooking everything up.  That would allow for cold water flow, which would then allow for the toilet to be changed out.  All of it is, technically, easy.  It does take a little to a lot of time, even assuming the soldering holds.  And so far my soldering seems to be doing well.  Still, that it might not... is a concern that weighs on the consideration.  Bleh.

The casserole was good.  Dinner did show up.  There seems to have been a family situation.  They should give the number out so that if someone is running long, late, or with problems, they can just call and let me know?  I don't mind, at all, if someone has a life malfunction, just calling is good.  I hate to be an imposition, or more of one?  Eh, well...  Two meals today.  Which works.

I think I may be simply going to bed a little earlier tonight.  I will be setting the alarm.  The hope is to make it up in time to water the back and side lawn, take a shower and get dressed and prepped for swimming and shooting, relax and air dry, perhaps make a portion of my breakfast from the chocolate tapioca, then reset the sprinklers for the garden and part of the front lawn, then make it to town for swimming.  After that picking up my friend and deciding where to unload our pistols the loud way.  I think I'll check my swim bag before I go to bed.  And decide what to take to shoot.  I never have ANYTHING to shoot!  Maybe that little black ditty?  It's easier to sleep with the little things managed.  I hate looking for trunks or swim ipod or particular ammunition or whatever at the last minute.

Good night.

Yeah? No.

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Alright, so I couldn't quite push on through.  I got a bit heated cooking the stuff... which really came out fairly well.  The portions were off, and something was put in too early, I think.  The instructions were poor to be honest.  I had a portion of the tapioca pudding hot.  The rest of it I was chocolate-o'-fied.  It is cooling.  When it hits room temp, I'll cover it and chill it.  It's not quite good enough to share out.  Maybe next time.  Dinner didn't arrive so I am heating a casserole my mother made.  The meat is already cookd, only the tator tots need cooked.  I just couldn't cool down quickly enough to do too much more.

Well, I did get my pack opened, separated out, and refilled.  From warm clothes, to water wear, to a minor first aid kit, plus a shovel and signal mirror and other little gadgets and bits.  It's more than I possibly need, for a trip to the reservoir.  But it is about what I want to carry around at BMan.  Just in case I get caught out, or find something(s) really neat that mean I can't get back in time to change for the cold.  I may add a few things, and I'll have a larger modular pack to monkey with regarding room.  The thing is I have to get used to walking/biking with a pack of any sort.  So...  Well, maybe not today, or tomorrow.  I am hoping to hit it Friday.  I may rinse out the canteen and fill it, then begin keeping that with me, sipping from it once in a while...  I wish my watch would put an alarm on every other hour.  Something to help me get used to sipping on some kind of timer.  It has an hourly alarm though.  Then again, I almost never hear it.  I'll... figure it out.

I haven't hit the bathroom either.  After dinner, and a cool down, I am hoping to hit that.  At least the water.  But I am *cough* dying *cough* to do some work on the electrical.  I also did find the paperwork I need to get going on the business efforts I have in mind.  We will see.  But I am pleased with today, so far.  I am doing things but I'm not killing myself.  Little bits of this and that are going forward.  It isn't as much as I had planned, or hoped, but reality is what it is.  Some things take longer, sometimes I just can't push through always, and time is a tricky little thing.  I'll take it.  I even went out and accompanied Sam a few times...  Might do it again, and wash the table off and bring that back in before the day is done.

Later.

Not a bad start to the day.

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

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

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

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

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

Midnight to noon.

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Okay, so I'm sleeping a little long.  But I am still active.  I guess I will take that trade, for now.  I would definitely rather sleep a little long and be able to get to some things than sleep 7-8 hours but not be able to stand.

Today?  Well, cardboard and metal, as soon as I shower and dress.  While I am doing that I will see if the store has a gallon of milk.  I soaked tapioca beads last night.  The making of it is rather complex, for my recent cooking skill use, but I used to do much more complex food.  Double boiler, separating eggs, hot mixing items that are delicate... Yum!  Medicines have gone down the gullet.  *gulp*  The girls have been fed, Sam out on the patio to begin enjoying her outdoor romp with a little breakfast.  I cleaned a hairball but I need to do more with it (ended up being two, plus three little blotches).  I got the chunk, but a little 'stomach rust' remains, and it's on the carpet this time, so some of that spray stuff.  If all goes well I may end up gearing up, getting the bike out, and taking a rolling stride toward the reservoir.  Dunno, but it is possible.  Also possible, with or without that, is working on the bathroom.  If i get the water going, and that works, I may stop with the water heater and just install the toilet so that I can use that part and wash in there.  Even if, God forbid, I have to remove the water heater after, with new shutoff valves that won't be a problem.  It's been soooo long since I could use the toilet in my own bathroom!  If not, I will do one of those tomorrow.  We will see.

For now I will take my backpack water skin and a rubberish collapsible canteen, to see how the water tastes out of that.  I think it tastes ok out of the Camelbac, or whatever it's official name.  I'm not sure about the collapsible canteen.  I do prefer metal canteens but they are harder to find.  A metal canteen with 'carpet' sides... if kept slightly damp, used to work wonders at keeping the water a bit cooler, longer.  Or, that is how I remember it.  Not sure if they even make any such now.  I found one, but it was "not for consumptive use"!  Huh?  Why even make a canteen that isn't safe to use?  Unless they made it with gnarly contaminated Chinese metals, thinking to sell it as is, but got clocked?  Still, they shouldn't even sell something like that unless it is rendered useless in several ways.  I have seen metal ones, some stainless some aluminum.  I just don't trust aluminum, mostly.  Blathering...

Well, a shower, a trip to my own up-town, then to figure some other things out.  Hmm, ought to call mom and see how she is.  Probably pretty good.  And she had a puppy waiting for her upon her return...  A little white rag, is all I know.  Good day.

To pick one poem from the rest.

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I have to steel myself for this part of hosting.  Each poem has it's points.  Trying to keep personalities and friendships out and yet maintaining my natural preferences and prejudices while still being open to the novel is a bit of  a balancing act.  With technical skills accounted for, and if the rules are abided, then it simply defaults to what I like.  Unfortunately or not I usually like them all, so even that doesn't make it easy.  Often there are more poems I really like than possible positions in the winners circles.  This time four will be chosen, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th... which will be a huge tie.

Haiku Monday - The Little Things

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Picking a topic can be a difficult thing.  Sometimes something in recent moments has been dying for greater exploration.  Sometimes a notion just seems to fit.  Today it just so happened that the mundane collided with complexity while thinking on recent endeavors.  Just a few little things to be done, and they were simple things, as crows fly black.  But that they were simple did not equate to them being easy.  So the topic is on those easy little, or big, or medium, tasks that consume all of your wit, charm, patience, effort, energy.  The little things, indeed.

Not a bad day at all.

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No, I didn't get to the bathroom.  I just didn't have it in me to muck around with that today.  I did do the dishes, I took care of the cat problems and the cats both feeding and cleaning the litter pans, some laundry was put away, lots of things in various ways were watered, a good dinner arrived so I had to finish that.  It was a bit warm but I managed that well enough.  I just won't complain.  I didn't get everything on my list.  I just kept some things as primary and did what I could where and when I could without stressing myself either.  A nice leisurely work day, really.

Tomorrow?  It depends on how I feel.  What I am, roughly, planning, is to finish the bathroom, to get the cardboard and metal to the depositories here in town, and to check the mail.  Some things, like tending the girls, go without saying.  Perhaps Wednesday but perhaps as late as Friday I am hoping to have a bit of kit together to begin pedal-hiking to the reservoir.  I don't know how far I will make it.  But I think the combination will see me further, faster.  As well I have a impromptu cart if the pack gets a bit heavy.  I will probably just wear shorts and a t-shirt, but slather on the sun screen and take that with.  Every two hours.  I don't mind browning I just don't want to mess with burning.  I am also hoping my friend is feeling better.  A trip to town to swim, then take him out shooting if all goes well, sometime in a similar time frame.  I have some business I need to attend to as well.  I can't forget it, it's vital for a number of plans... if I can find the damned paperwork now!  Ugh.  I love the clean but I hate the... loss of some stuff...

I did look at tricycles, for adults.  I think the biggest tires I could find were 26", which might work.  The thing is it costs nearly $400.  I'll see how the bike works out.  Even so I might consider it if I have the money.  Simply having the cart that goes with it is a distinct advantage.  D.C. or I could use it.  It would be a value-added item, if the money works out.  I really need to take care of that business I've mentioned, maybe two pieces of it.  Could be a minor windfall or two.  Not sure if the data is correct or not though.  I swear, I love eating myself up with doubts and procrastination!  Yum!  Oh, but I wonder if there are tires that would be better for this or the 28" bike I have?  I'll check on that too.  I've not worked with bikes or tires in so long that I honestly don't know what I am doing.  BMan suggests bubble tires, or some such...  My mountain bike, cheapy that it is, might have those stock though?  I'll look.

Next week?  Two charges on the reservoir, one trip to town if just a visit or maybe a shopping trip on top of a swim.  Watering, the girls, and keeping up on the place so D.C. doesn't get grossed out when he arrives, and... tinkering with whatever is at hand.  I could change out the various water cutoff valves.  I need to keep up on things, including medicine... for now.  At least I didn't need to crash after this visit, if I didn't mind.  Then again, I am not restarting medicine this time either, which... played a largish roll in crashing I think... Or the want of it.  Not sure I crashed all that bad, and not really until spring?  Something.

Good night.

Up a bit late and a bit rough.

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I'll get to judging before long, probably.  It might be tomorrow.  Just hold on.  Uhrm, feel free to add poems at your leisure.

I am putting the judging page together.  The last tricks are finding some music and making final placements.  I just want to be more fully awake for that.  I hope you understand.  I take it seriously.  Something I should add?  While I discuss that I judge based on my preferences, it isn't completely conscious.  Sometimes what even I want to win isn't what wins.  I don't know the algorithms completely, but it isn't just "what I want".  There is some kind of a filter system that includes conscious and subconscious.  I do not deviate, and I let that run until the formula is complete.  Oh, if I have to, I just do.  But mostly I like letting that machine run through.  Annoying, at times, like waiting for someone else to do something before you can do your job.  Only it is you yourself you are waiting upon.

Just trying to adjust to being solo.  But I don't want to just drop the ball either.  I have things to do but no one to suggest that I do them.  *grins*  Dishes, the spare bathroom, watering though I missed the morning run for that.  The alarm woke me but I couldn't get up.  Well, and I am tired.  I do need to catch my breath a bit.  I will rest a bit just not at a complete stop.  I almost forgot my medicine yesterday, which probably didn't help.  I remembered it late, very late, and just took it all.  Yeah, yeah, just not two days at a time.  I do that, actually, fairly often... one day loads all at once.  Usually in the morning though.  And, yeah, it does lead to a slower day... and it seems now a harder sleep and difficulty waking.  I won't have to do that today though, took morning doses already.

Sassy and Sam where crazy yesterday.  My mom spoils them something awful.  I don't mind.  Everybody deserves a grandma I suppose.  Or at least a grandpa, as in my case.  

So...  Today?  Dishes, of which there are few...  Tending a few places where Sam vomited.  I think she is acting up since no one is going out with her on the patio, giving her as much attention, and not getting treats instantly upon request.  Oh yes, cats are very much like children.  Sassy actually bit (very light, no blood or even broken skin) the back of my lower leg yesterday.  I didn't tie it to treats until I gave them their (to me) usual afternoon treats and she chilled.  Nutfurball!  If she had kept it up she would have gone outside... it fixes her wagon.  But she calmed when she saw popo beating his chest, howling and growling, and playing the angry gorilla at her.  Brat!  Still, I have some empathy too.

Okay, dishes...  Ah, cardboard and metal to the piles... watering the plants in here and on the patio... perhaps some work on the w.heater... a bit of tinkering in my bedroom... setting up the hoses for watering tonight, more checking though I think they are pretty much ready, looking for water timers that have hours AND days, and just other light things.  Just nothing heavy.  Hmm... a shower would be good, sometime today.  Maybe a bath?  A cool one.  A soak does sound good.

Urhm... just a bit o' music first.  *tinkers with bean*

Later.

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Not too bad.  Dishes are soaking, more to let the water cool.  Yeah, I can handle hot water but a) I don't always prefer to do so and b) on a hot day I have a negative incentive.  Well, not extremely hot.  It is 85 and will probably climb to 88.  Well into the warm region and not of my preferred temps.  It's much cooler in the cave, of course.  But I did go out to set up for watering this evening.  The garden and back yard will be hit first, then the front yard for a bit.  I don't know if I will quite have to time for the side yard, but it doesn't need all that much.  It's been watered both of the last two times and there isn't a lot of grass there in part due to trees, in part due to the hydrant going in last year.  I need seed for that, but before seeding I need to level it a bit.  I am thinking maybe tomorrow.  I watered the plants on the patio and the plants here by me in the cave.  I've been tinkering, just a bit here and there, all morning, on little things.  Including cleaning Sam's two messes and looking for more.  No other was found but it can be easily missed.

Dishes, perhaps some clothes in the washer, and watering this evening.  As well, looking over the haiku, letting it soak in.  I almost hate when my mind is nearly set to judge and I still tangle with the notions.  Okay, I love to hate that part.  It is an angsty pleasure.  What I actually don't like, however, is when the winner isn't who my conscious mind thought it would be, and to a lesser degree getting the rest of the order in line.  I'm almost certain it could reasonably go several ways, but my personal psychic judge has a very particular notion of things and I abide, usually. 

Hrummph?  I don't know, I'm just a pup!  Later.

Just some night rumblings.

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Don't know where it always comes from, don't always care.  All I know is there is no cure I have found and none I would take.  Some poison makes me feel good, as it should.  The price is hellacious, perhaps.  Some contrition I can do.  That's all I'm saying.

She's off!

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I always miss her when she goes.  Sometimes it takes a day or two... or three.  *grins*  She always cries, or about... no, she always starts to cry before I can get away.  I'm a bastard that way though, so I'm okay with it.  But I do try to leave quickly, for her sake.  When I get going she doesn't break down completely.  Moms, it's just who and what they are.

Up early enough, roughly.  I was pushing it, but she was ready.  We didn't have time to deal with the cardboard or metal, but I will get that out tomorrow.  Today is just a day of rest.  No worries about being called, or forgetting something, or this or that.  I can't find my phone though.  I'll check to see if I put it in the X'ter. 

Oh, I still have much to do.  I need to finish the bathroom, do some acrobatic/climbing tree trimming, keep everything watered, transplant some of the peppers that are still in the house, keep up on the cats and the cave, and some business things.  Ugh.  It never seems to end.  At least this summer I think some of it will be done, probably most of it.  And I will be going on vacation.  The tickets for BMan showed up today.  I had to go in and sign for them.  Fair enough.

No watering again until tomorrow.  This time everything will be watered.  I may go ahead and do the back and side yard early, if I am up, as they are shaded longer.  That way I am not so crimped for time when I water the garden and front lawn later in the eventing.  It's a bit of a trick to get it all going, and straight.  But this year is looking mighty darned good.  Just getting those seedlings to sprout, then keeping them alive, was... a bit of a novel ability.  Everything else is nearly miraculous.  I would like to get a swim in, Church twice, then walking/biking a few times a week and a swim in the middle of that if I can get that far.  I don't have full days,  I have moments where I can.  It's just a matter of keeping it all going without overdoing.  Of course, there is always the fear of falling down, forgetting something vital, or such.  *shrug*  I'll do what I can and what will happen will happen.  C'est la vie, innit?

Good day and later.  Time for some undeserved relaxation... to hear my mother tell.  *laughs*

Well, a bit more done.

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As I said, no chain saws were involved with any of the work done today.  And the work was mostly light.  I know I did some things earlier, can't remember now.  She wanted to get the garden going now, now, now?  No, not until shadow covers the work area, says I.  What about watering?  Now, now, now?  No, about an hour before the shadows fall I will begin watering the front lawn, then we plant, then I will water the garden and part of the back yard.  Fine, and so it was.  And, really, she was happy with it, since it did get done, and as I had said it would.  I didn't get to water the whole back yard though.  Part of it I had to skip, with an early rise tomorrow and the proximity of time between a shadowed work area and all else.

The corn, two rows, have been planted.  A half row of turnips, a half row of kohlrabi, and a row of rutabaga were planted.  Of course, she wasn't satisfied with just mentoring, but did 'allow' me to do most of it.  I am not terribly worried about the back yard and watering it though.  The next time I do this, Tuesday, I won't have the work time cutting into watering time, I won't have to worry about staying up a bit later, and some other things.  Within three hours I should have the lawn and garden watered, and without too much worry about burning the lawn or vegetables.  No, I won't water while the sun is still in full bloom.  And I don't like watering early, I personally think that is less efficacious in that the water will simply evaporate AND burn the plants in the process.  No.  My way.  Won't negotiate unless scheduling leaves me little choice and the plants or grass or both are truly in great need.

A 5:00 rise, and I get the shower right away.  I will set out the clothes I will be wearing, with wallet, keys, and such for quick donning and assembly.  I am charging my phone as we speak.  I will need to get gasoline on the way, perhaps, just a bit... maybe not a complete fill.  Oh, and she wants to take some metal bits and cardboard to local receptacles on our way... just a few minutes so I will... acquiesce to her wants...  she will feel better and I won't have a frosty drive.  Teh womanz nuts.  But, okies.

All good.  I won't complain about her visit.  We got a lot done.  I won't listen to a word about working too much because I tried to be an anchor to slow that down to almost no good use.  I even told her to take a couple of days off.  Mostly she ignored me as I ignored her.  Which... we both enjoy doing from time to time.  Hey, it's fun, mostly.  I should be able to keep up, and do some of the bits remaining rather quickly, I think.  And, we did have some fun and good times.  I'll certainly miss her when she is gone... but not a second before!  *grins*  How can I miss her if she isn't gone?  Hopefully she is a bit more secure with my new life out here.  She got to see my friend, and a local she likes, but didn't get to see a few others.  We just... ran out of time.  Ah well, she did pretty good.

Hmm... just a bit more music, then to check to see about Sam, then to bed.  An early longish day tomorrow.  Good night.

Had to laugh.

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My mother loves the show Two and a Half Men.  I just don't care for television to top it off.  But while finishing breakfast I was watching the last bit of one of them.  The mother on the show, of Charley, was talking to him, saying he didn't share with her, that he wouldn't open up to her.  He suggested he wouldn't open up because when he bought a car, she said he was buying a Nazi phallic symbol.  When he met a new girl she asked if he was paying by the hour or something else.  He told her to stop worrying, that he was doing well, great really.  That he was doing the best he could.  The mother then said something about being so sorry and sad.  Heh.  Oh, I chuckled, clucked, and enjoyed that little scene immensely.  My mother saw absolutely no humor in it.  Still on the couch pouting, I think.  Nose just a touch out of trim.  *laughing*  Oh yes I am.  Okay, so there are some lines...

Today is pretty much a day off.  I will call my friend in an hour or two, just to check on him.  I don't  want to disturb a nap or call him too early... as my mother wanted me to do.  *shakes head*  Then again I know my friend a bit better.  Not before noon, eleven at the very earliest if it is important.  Oh, he gets up earlier.  He just doesn't like to be disturbed by life too much before then.  I like a principled man like that.  We really weren't made to work arbitrary hours whether work exists or not.  That, really, is a woman thing and for those men who really mean to get ahead, and have the means.  For the ill, lazy, and crazy... noon.  Which of course, is why I push for early regular days... just in case I ever make it to the health that allows me to work.  But when I was sure I was stuck, it was noon for me too.  Principled in our prisons?  Something.

Yeah, corn and root vegetables, today, later... when the shadow is long enough that I am not working in the sun.  That is all else I plan to do.  Later.

Sleep was just a tad bumpy.

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I don't know if I slept extra hard or what, but I am waking just a bit sore.  Nothing major, just proof that sleep isn't as easy as it seems?  I crawled in around 2:00 and woke at around 10:00, which is just fine.  I am going to have to be careful today.  My mother gets all ester-ogen-ononi as she prepares to head out.  She doesn't like parting so she will look for reasons to take her with me... as ashes if need be.  *grins*  *ducks*  Taking it easier on the smarm, which I generally try to go soft on anyway... mostly, and moving and talking more slowly and without too much inflection helps.  I'm NOT going to chop down limbs... and before you suggest she wouldn't ask me to do that her last day here, she already asked yesterday.  NO!  I do want to get the corn planted, with her acting simply as instructor.  I need to learn this crap.  Well, corn, turnips, and kohlrabi, several rows of each.  There might be a thing or two more, but that is it.

Oh, sure, I'll miss her.  She is lonely, there, and fearful a bit, living on her own.  But I know she has many friends in town, she is extremely social, and she would hate to actually live with anyone.  Take care of them (a bit, extremely part time), cook a meal or two or three a week especially if they bring the goodies or otherwise split out the thing, and such, but I don't think she would enjoy living with another human forever.  If she did move out here, she would probably just stay here long enough to find her own home.  And I wouldn't let her take over my home.  Nope.  Anyway...  What do they say about missing people?  Ah, right, can't miss them if they are still here.

I am feeling more rested.  But a long trip Monday is going to wear me out again, especially getting up at 5:00.  Still, a restful rest of the day Monday and I am hoping to hit the w.h. Tuesday.  If I don't hear from the heart clinic by noon tomorrow, I will call them.  And... I think the tickets are in.  I will be checking tomorrow.  I won't get excited until I have them in my hot big hands, and they are safely home.

Later.

She might not know all...

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But she knows I am different.  She isn't sure how, why, or what all forms it takes, but mom knows I am peculiar.  She has always tried to keep it a secret.  Not from, or just from, me... but most importantly from herself.  She fears it, whatever it is or might be.  She doesn't want to know, she doesn't want me to know, she doesn't want to acknowledge.  I think she knew from when I was quite small.  Something very different.  Something potentially very dark.  She is afraid that looking, talking about it, exploring the nature, or even just facing the fact... might somehow be... a sin?  She is afraid.  Oh, I knew this long ago.  My brother is just a man, who was a boy, who has grown up and married and now has children.  He has issues with health, and little quirks, and such.  But... he is a man.  On so many fronts, most she knows, I have been different.  I think even she fears I am not what I might seem.  I thought she would be over it by now, in our lives.  She seems even more... intent on keeping it quiet.  For her that is pure instinct.  I don't know what it is based on and she refuses to look.

Paranoid much?  Yes, but... that isn't the thing.  When I have shown her some things I can do, the odd things, boiling water hand dips and such, she doesn't want to discuss it.  Sometimes she will find a way to forget what I showed her.  I wish I could access her data banks, her hidden ones.  What did she see, what does she believe, what does she fear?  As I said, I don't think she knows, literally, anything.  I do believe she suspects something or some things.  Won't tell, won't even discuss the possibility that she has these feelings.  I see them, fear... not of me... for me?  about me?  Well, at my age, at least she can be pretty sure I'm not an ax killer, the slayer of mothers, a cannibal, or even the anti-Christ.  :p  But she does know something isn't as it seems.  Why the fear?  Never mind, just... puzzling things. 

Supper was good.  My friend came over.  He was having trouble finding .22 bullets so wanted to know if I had some he could buy.  Hmm, some are... gone.  I still had two bricks, one of 400, one of 500.  I wouldn't do this for anyone (okay, almost (D.C.)) else.  But I wouldn't sell him even a bullet.  Happy late birthday, pal.  Not much, but what price do you put on what can't be found to be bought?  I know when bullets come into a decent price range, I am stocking, and locking, them up.

Steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe, with berry cobbler and ice cream for dessert.  He wasn't feeling well so we gave him half of his steak, some potatoes and gravy, and a slice of cobbler to go.  He was having trouble breathing.  I will call tomorrow to check on him.  And his sister is coming by in the next few days to take him shopping.  As well he is hoping to see his doctor somewhere at the beginning of the week.  I'll check on him mid-week.  If nothing else I will do a run in and just say hello.  He just got blood, but they used a weird new technique.  Never a good thing if you ask me.  Try to cut too many corners and things go very badly.

My plants, indoors and out, are doing very well.  I still love, while giving them some water in here, smelling them.  Green green growy things, all long lanky and lush.  If they were women I'd marry a couple of them.  A tomato plant for teh blush, a jalapeno for a little heat, and a habanero to blow my socks off.  :p  I wouldn't, as some suspect, have to become muslim, traditional Judaism, or even (I strongly suspect) early Christianity.  The Jews of the day allowed for multiple marriages, and do remember the disciples did argue whether an adherent had to become Jewish first, to include the ding dong sheering.  *snip*  Besides... this is a completely fictional notion, based on plants becoming women!  So... hush your piehole!  *goofy grins*

Good night.  

Sleep was wonderful.

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I'm starting to catch my breath.  Okay, not catch my breath, more let my heart... something.  I don't know if it needs rest itself or just had a little downturn.  I do know it was getting tight.  Sleep and time off helps.  I had to set some guidelines at times, but I'm a big boy, I can and did, do that.  It got really cool last night.  It was down to 56 before the sun was down!  I don't know what it got down to, and weather isn't something I've found a way to check after it has passed?  I guess, even more so than regular news to a degree, they hide their mistakes much more directly.  Imagine if you couldn't check their stories a week, month, year later.  They do stealth edits and things, but... they can't change print and they can't alter archives others create.  Sleep, hard, long, well.

My mother woke me, but I told her to, at her leisure.  She slept late, for her, as well.  She called around 10:00, just perfect since I went to bed at about 2:00.  I thought, with dinner planned, and how messed up allergy medicine can make her and that she took a bit last night, that today would be another mostly resting day.  Nope!  She had me start the mower for her.  And I know she has two or three jobs on her mind that include me.  Da-da-dang woman type!  Ah, but I am ready today, so I'm mostly just teasing.  I'll do my best to get two or three things done so that she is happy.  But I want her to rest up tomorrow, for her trip.  I'll do a few tasks for her, solo, tomorrow, too.  Just no chainsaws or climbing.  I'm not quite up to that much.

Ah, best water all the plants and flowers.  I personally think she was watering, or having me water, the flowers a bit too much.  The dirt in them isn't dry, and has been moist, maybe too moist.  They are doing well though.  Hmm... I'll just water everything right off.  Before she tells me (if it might be too soon still).  Never mind... I'll figure out watering on my own when she leaves.  At least twice a week, maybe three times a week if it gets completely dry and really hot for a while.

I best get to it.  Later!

Out, away, back, then...

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A nice calm day was had by all.  She wanted some things from town, and some business was requested.  Fine.  A nice leisurely pace, with no time requirements and a cooler day in which to work, so stress was low.  She wanted pizza, she was thinking storebought.  I truly despise any pizza I have ever eaten that is store bought, so I talked her into Dominos.  Say what you will, and to a degree it depends on the store you go to, but this Dominos is good.  Very good if I had to be honest.  So, we ordered after some banking business, and set the pickup as close as we could to being fresh.  On to the store for tomorrows dinner prep.

Steaks, of course.  Ribeye, no less.  Thicker cut, but boneless.  Brussels sprouts, a bit of this, a bit of that, and all good.  A few odds and ends as well.  She wanted tea.  As did I after a thought.  We looked high and low.  Sweetened, diet, green, no simply unsweetened black tea!  Just, almost by accident, I saw it in a last sweep.  Maybe a dozen bottles, two wide, quart volume but slimmer and taller, much easier to miss.  Neither of us knew the brand, so a pot shot.  I let my thirst drag me in.  I went to get four.  She, using prudence, suggested two, I went with three so neither of us got our way.  :p  Glad I did, ended up being fantastic tea.  Tajava, I think is the name.  And it came in glass bottles, which helps a bunch.  Oh, yeah, summer sun tea and all, but that would require finding gallon glass jars, remember which bag tea was best through trial and stupid error.  I can't remember if it is Lipton or one of the others.  One I like, one is -meh-, one is hated beyond reason.  I hate this part...  Yeah, so bottled...

Wonderfully restful day.

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Oh, well, yes.  I probably did need a break.  And letting my mother know last night was the right way to go about it.  Sure, I didn't want to breach the topic.  Doing it last night did two things.  It prepared both of us for today and took care of a potentially unpleasant thing so that I could relax and sleep with nothing on my mind.  Now, if Sam hadn't been such a dinker-do I wouldn't have been stressing about her until bedtime, which was stretched for concern.  Usually, if she is in, she comes by and lets me know through the night.  She must have been extra tired?  Odd though, because she was a nutball all night.  Sassy has been a little playing girl all night and morning too. 

I may, literally, do nothing today.  I don't think it is wear and tear so much as just my heart acting up a bit.  It does that from time.  If I take a day off, right when it starts, I think it does help.  When I can't, it takes a bit longer to recover.  I am doing better all the time though, and more aware.  Much more aware.  My awareness, as well, is more accumulative.  I don't lose all gains to knowledge and strength and stamina as fast as I used to seem to do.  The cycle, if I had to say, is broken.  Health and mind are coming back.  That doesn't mean I am healthy, hale, and full volume.  I am still quite ill.  It is just a much better regulated thing, one that can be managed.  I won't be doing wind sprints any time soon.  I won't be be benching 500 pounds by summer's end.  I might still not get out of my home all that often.  But I am setting goals, doing real work, mostly making appointments, and figuring out some physical activity.  I am even throwing in some things that will require daily, or nearly daily, efforts.  If this and next year goes well with the garden, the following year will see me into buying chickens.  If that goes well for a year or two, perhaps a she milk goat and a meat kid to eventually go with her.

My home is clean.  I have replaced some things by myself.  I think I can keep up on things much better.  Then again, there will be times where I fall.  I still have no way to... fill for that.  And catching up after is... very difficult.  I don't know.  I'll... figure it out.  I would say to get busy, but you can get busy relaxing too, if you have the time.  It's not always a bad thing.  Later.

Friday, is it.

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I didn't get to sleep until a bit after 1:30.  I wasn't being ornery, mind you.  I had been hoping for Sam to come in.  I was sure she was outside.  I had started calling since 23:00 or so.  I went out about 0:30, only to find a big tom near the door.  He ran off, but... that made me nervous.  I called for some time, going around the house a bit, she just wouldn't come in.  Finally I gave up, went to my room, turned on the light... Sam!  Right there on my bed.  I don't know if my mother had let her in at some point, if I had but had forgotten, or... what.  I'm pretty sure I didn't forget, but it has happened.  Never mind, I was just glad to see her.  I let the girls sleep with me.  They were all over me last night.  Not sure what it was about, but popo doesn't mind.  Mom Sassy has been a nut-ball all morning to boot.  All good.  I like it when the girls are happy and show it.

I didn't wake until 10:00, I think.  I hadn't meant to sleep so late though.  Even when I stay up, I am trying to be up by 8:00 at the latest.  I am still feeling a bit tight today, so it will be a slower day.  I am still hoping, this afternoon, after a trip to town, to then get to the w.h.  If I get that done, then on to the toilet.  If those two things go well, then I might get the ac insulated.  That will be it, and I won't swear to that. 

My mother was having sinus problems, asked for a hot pack.  I should get a reusable one, but for now I have some of those I bought for medical.  I think last year she needed one or two of the cold packs.  They have come in handy, and she thought they were good enough.  Oh but she would have howled if she had known that I bought them initially, of course.  While, perhaps, a microwavable/freezable one might be better for standard home use.  I sure don't want to use all these up for home use, either.  I'll be looking for a good dual use one for home. Of course, it's not like I have ever used one, or even wanted to use one.  But today she is down.  She took sinus meds and they are wiping her out.  I can't quite see... the advantage but if she is happy with it, that is fine too.

I can't believe how big my "spare" plants, the ones indoor, have become.  I really need to get some of them transplanted.  Like I have had the time though.  My mother has pushed everywhere she could, leaving me nothing to spare.  And, as usual, my interests are not her interests, if she then asks why I haven't done what I said I was going to do.  Huh?  Seriously?  Never mind.

While tight, I am doing fine and should have a fine day.  I don't know what will happen tomorrow, other than having my friend over for a steak dinner.  I don't know if I will be able to push much, or stay on track tomorrow though either.  It's just not there.  With my mother set to leave Monday, I can... figure things back out next week.  I definitely want to get my room cleaned when she goes, but I'm not in a huge hurry.  Thursday is when I am, tentatively, setting the start date on that.  And I want it done by Sunday.  All give or take.  Oh, and I should call about a missed appointment, one I did not receive a notification about to be fair to me.  No problems, it happens, but I do need to reschedule in a timely fashion.  At least I feel like I am dealing with doctors who are helpful, and mean to be, at this point.  I am results oriented and I am seeing results.  As a friend recently reminded me, about the term, but it applies here... fair dinkum.  Later.

Well... Another day.

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Hmm, oh right, not much today.  I put my foot down.  My mother thinks we will get to more tomorrow.  Oh, I suppose.  After another good night of sleep.  But my focus is going to be on the bathroom.  When she tries to ramble on about a dozen other projects, that's just not going to happen.  If she can do them solo, I suppose they will get done.  Otherwise she will probably just get mad, take a nap, and feel better later?  Don't know, don't care, not going to get sucked into doing too much.  No chainsaw juggling in mid-air, and I won't even work on that unless she promises to stay inside and just check on me every fifteen minutes.  Can't have her jangling my nerves while I do certain work.  If I need her help, I'll get her.  I don't foresee that.  If it doesn't get done, which I don't think it will as I'm just probably not up to it and I won't be pushed, plus I have other things, I will simply ask my friend over for an afternoon, and have him watch.  He won't by trying to tell me which branch to cut or how.  Gah!

We made it into town for some final shopping and then took my friend for a haircut, did some of his shopping while he was getting his ears trimmed, and then went for dinner.  Both of them like Golden Corral.  While it isn't bad, it isn't my preferred.  Actually I only ever go because my friend, or mom, wants to go.  There are worse places, but I won't even allow others to talk me into going there.  And, I suppose, they have their niche.  It just isn't my niche.  Not even for the price, which isn't all that inexpensive, $41 for two seniors and a "junior", as my friend called me?  Ah well, they were happy with it.

I've mostly rested today.  My body needs it.  While I don't have pains, I do feel heart-weak.  I've been pushing for too long, too hard, and too much stop and go work with my mother.  Whatever she wants, I'm listening to my body tomorrow.  If I am still zapped, another down day will happen.  Actually I will speak to her now about that.  I don't want to deal with more stress, female trauma, or fuss tomorrow.  Settle this tonight... Now.  Done.  There was a, oh, a little disappointment, anger.  But it would have been a terror with her rested up.  Catch her when she is tired, saves some hassle.

But I have tossed in a bone about having another day off.  There is a little place she likes to stop, to shop, look around.  She has pulled some neat things out of there.  So, I will take her there in the afternoon.  I still plan on getting up early enough, 7:00 or 8:00.  And I might tinker with the w.heater.  Probably finish it if I do.  And I might get the ac insulated up to her specs.  But if I go about things this way, usually it keeps her from... putting way too much on the plate.  I can't take more full days of this, that, the other thing, and whatever else she might pull out of a hat on top of what I am trying to do.  Yeah, my heart really is feeling stressed.  Probably just the normal thing I run through?  No, a little tighter.  I have been pushing.

All good though.  A bit of a break, but just a few days, after she heads out... but keeping up on the lawn, garden, and planter watering.  Trying to keep my home up.  But not much else.  Just the barebone basics.  Until I feel right again.  No biggy, mostly.  Good night.

Oh my.

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I did stay up until... 21:00?  Something.  I can't remember, exactly.  Not even roughly.  I didn't want to go to bed too early.  I didn't want to zone into another overnight either.  I am pretty sure I landed it just right.  Sleep?  Like a stone.  My mother woke me at midnight.  Huh?  I was not happy.  Alarms kept going and vehicles were zooming around town.  And, being an Iowegian, she was terrified that there was a tornado.  I just told her we "ain't in Kansas" anymore, huffed, puffed, and went back to sleep.  :p  Not happy, but more just sleep deprived grumpy.  I told her I was sorry this morning, if I don't remember how grumpy I was, only that I wasn't the happiest of critters.  She seems to have understood though.  I don't know what it was all about, yet.  Sometimes the most local news is the hardest to get, in small towns.

She wanted the refrigerator evened.  Fine.  She wanted to do it her way... which was both beyond our combined strength and a non-starter as to success as well.  I have the strength to do any part of the job the way she wanted it, but not all the parts of it at once.  She couldn't even it hold it tipped, once I tipped it.  So, I took over, did it my way (and the right way), and that was that.  But no, then she wanted me to put everything back up.  Which she can't really do either.  She had meant to leave everything on top!  Bah!  I ignored her and took everything off, thankfully.  Then she decided it was time to fix up the ac.  That's a one man job for me.  Almost none of the jobs she wants done are one man for her, but I can do solo, save the fridge.  I told her to take a break today, in no uncertain terms.  If you can't, don't.  If I am needed, it won't be done.  I am done, today.  Yesterday cooked my goose, I've been pushing on top of that and she has been adding even more, I am done.  She just likes to play boss when she has a worker.  Thankfully she ran out of money for the neighbor boy.  When I made it clear that if she wanted him to work for her, she had to pay, that ended that.  I like what she does, I don't mind helping when I can, but I am done.  Oh... she'll tinker until she goes.  I'll finish some of the tasks she suggested when she is gone.  But I am done piddling around.  If I do anything, it will be to finish the bathroom.  If...  Here and she said she was so unhappy with all the work, and I have to tell her to take a break?  Gah!  *grins*

It's good here though.  Just fussing for fussings sake.  She is trying to set her baby up, if it kills him.  Still, just like my last, and as I suspected, if you give a woman her way she will work you to death.  I've just had to put limits where I need them.  And I have.  How much do they know they are pushing?  Probably a bit, and sometimes more than others.  I just know my limits and keep to them.  Actually, I've gone well over them... which I needed help doing.  But there is a point beyond that, when I reach it I know.  And I knew a day ago but had to make it to the doctors so... pushed a lot further on top of it all.  All good.  But this is the spot where I stop, and I stop until I stop twitching.  I'll be ready for more soon enough.  Hikes as close to the reservoir as I can make it to start things, keeping up on watering all the green growy things, whatever needs to be done with the bathroom until that is done, putting in the new water shutoff valves, some trimming of branches which will mean some climbing, and... whatever else comes up.  I think I can, I think I can, I just have to take breaks when I need them.

This is still shaping up to be an excellent summer of work.  I won't get the water lines connected, front to back, softened water housewide, but I will get much else done.  There really is next summer, finally, after decades of just being happy to get my next breath.  If I happened to die now?  I would be dying actually doing something.  Little things, personal things really, but... yeah.  Oh, no fear of that, just saying.

Later.

Odd?

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Okay, now, who did that?  I have been looking at SiteMeter, Blogger's stats, and Google Analytics lately.  I'm just trying to see what, generally, people read and how often people visit.  But, well?  Not one of them is even close to the other.  Yesterday, for example, I am told by Blogger that I had 65 page visits, G.A. says I had 26 visitors but a ton of page visits, and S.M. suggests I had 110 visits with very few additional page views.  Huh?  Blogger and G.A. may, perhaps, be most closely aligned.  Then again G.A. doesn't seem to count foreign, only US.  Blogger suggests, for the week, about a third of my visits originated foreign countries, in Russia, the U.K., and seven other nations.  Though S.M. doesn't seem to be showing foreign visits... let me check again, perhaps I'm looking at the wrong map...  Nope, world map and location isn't showing any foreign visits.  Of course, redirection... You never really know.

All I am saying is that not one of them matches the others all that well.  For today, Blogger says 41 pageviews, S.M. says 30 visits with no extra pageviews per visit, and G.A. suggests 26 visitors with some extra views per visitor.  Gah!  Oh, and no, as I have said, I don't even try to trace viewer location with who, save if you tell me.  Hmm, it seems what used to be Log. Ut. viewers have... all moved to Ogden.  *grins*  It's fun to watch folk switch things a bit.  I don't know and I won't bother to snoop.  I just look at the numbers.  No, won't change what I write, or try to add extra stuff...  If people like reading dreams, rants, and doings of a bug stuck to the to a board with a pin or three, they get what they get.  Mostly. 

I do try to put more music on now, rather than just find it, listen, and forget.  Or find music to theme, and share.  But... I ended up really enjoying that for myself, anyway.  It's fun and I have found some music I simply would not have heard, and liked, some of it enough to buy.  I have to wonder if I haven't introduced others to new music, music they had forgotten, and new ideas.  Music, for me, when I can be awake enough to enjoy, is a true joy.  Even the hard stuff...  It helps, somehow.

Shizzles and giggles.

Hey! How’s it going? I’m all right.

My job is so shitty I wish I could overthrow my boss. It’s like this oppressive regime where only true believers in his management techniques will stay around. I work marathon-length hours and he’s made all these changes that have made it the worst architecture firm to work at in Manhattan. Like he moved the office to the Financial District and fired my assistant. She was the only one who knew where the blueprints were! I need access to those blueprints to complete my job!

F my life, right? And he keeps trying to start all these new initiatives to boost revenue, but seriously we just need to stick to what we do best. There’s only one true profit center. I seriously feel ready to go on strike at any second. I just read this article about how these free radical particles can cause the downfall of good health and accelerate aging. These could actually cause death to millions of Americans. If these particles are flying around undetected everywhere, does that mean we’re all radicalized?
Have you seen the second season of Breaking Bad? I just finished it. I couldn’t believe that episode where they poison the guy with ricin! That was the bomb! I won’t say any more because I don’t want to reveal the earth-shattering events to come.
Oh! So I’ve been planning a big trip for the summer. I’m thinking of visiting all of the most famous suspension bridges in the United States. So probably like the Golden Gate Bridge, The Brooklyn Bridge, and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. I’m gonna bring my younger brother and I know he’ll want to go to bars, so I’m thinking of getting him a fake drivers license, but I hope that doesn’t blow up in my face.
Okay, I gotta run! I’m late for flight school. I missed the last class where we learn how to land, so I really can’t miss another one. Talk to you later!

Okay.

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By the way, I have added the label "haiku" to my submission pages, contests hosted, and judgements... mostly.  I hope I got them all.  I may even have added just some generic topic posts.  I dunno... it's the one thing that really holds to labels, and holds together well.  When you are on a haiku page, just click the "haiku" label, and it will put all haiku there for easy access.  I didn't just write this for you to search my haiku.  Actually, I didn't write this for you to read my stuff at all.  *hint wink hint*   Hurry up already!

Mother seemed to settle down.  Seeing someone sleep for six hours after having gotten up after a solid sleep, and realizing I will be going back to bed, early enough, again tonight... I think she just forgets my limits because sometimes they don't exist.  Until they slam down like a hammer again.  She forgets I'm almost dead is all.  No real fuss.  I go through everything she goes through, and more.  Anyone who had read here a bit gets a bigger or more in the last few years a smaller taste of that poison.  Frustration, to be sure.  We have figured out how to manager her wants in the tomorrow.  Should work out well enough.  And I'll make it to my appointment as well.  Probably.

Yeah, no work on the bathroom, of course.  If she wasn't here I would be hitting it tonight, maybe, a bit anyway.  I am pretty nose down, physically.  At least I know I have all the parts.  And if needed, enough to even tear down the whole build and rebuild.  That allows me some comfort.  My body, though, is tired.  Well... I can't say that.  Physically it is fit, ready.  But it hurts a bit from pushing and the heart not repairing.  And from not having what I need from the heart.  It's slightly different than pure physical exhaustion.  I'm figuring this out more as I heal a bit.  I can see what is what, I am more awake.  I wear my body at times, and can compare the various sorts of exhaustion I go through.  Knowing changes-fixes nothing, but it does allow me... comfort, understanding, a modicum of patience I haven't always shown to my physical form and it's failures.  Perhaps though, I find in dealing with things, a wiser, more sure way, to what I want to do.  Not always, but tending rather than shoving has yielded more bounty on the work front.  It's still slow, frustrating...  But it is indeed getting done.

A haiku win!  I honestly don't see myself as poetic.  I'm a rock, damn it!  But I enjoy satisfying a judge.  A judge who became so by pleasing another in a field of competition.  Is it just the competitive nature?  Not so much I think.  It's finding some worth in an arena I had never ventured but had always slightly been curious about.  Of course, my favored haiku will probably never win, too... stout.  Misunderstood, finally, or officially?  Still, that there is some touch that reaches a judge is enough.  I hope it leads others to look at the... deeper, harder, more personal, private pieces.  They aren't meant for horror... or are a representation of the terror I am, or was, or a touch of bastardized both.  But that psychic trauma isn't meant to hurt the reader, or frighten them, only lead them, as sheep, to lay with the lion that is me?  Something.  But it is difficult to put into right words, poetry or prose.  Some sheep, until assurances are concrete, can never trust the lion.  I do understand.  And it is not unwise council.  Those who can will understand, however, something ahead of their time and place.  Well... that's... another angle to my story.  Ah, so which won?

In This Order

Blisters of lightning,

stars, quiet, serenity.

When the shades come down.

I'll be thinking about the contest, and try to have something up soon.  Thursday, Friday sometime at the latest.  Mostly.  Mom is here, but... I think she is coming around to this poetry stuff, sort of.  She is seeing something in it, to it, that might not have been apparent before.  It's something she can't quite touch.  Then again that is where I was when I first invaded the gig at Aunty's.  Actually long ago, when I watched them go up.  I think I tried my hand at it long ago, a time or two.  She might be a bit understanding, as long as I am busy in the bathroom and just do it on breaks.  :p  I'm hoping she is done working.  She just can't, or won't, stay down though.  Always always fussing.  It's her art.

Later.

Can't do it.

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I helped a bit this morning.  Not much, just a bit.  I have been going too long.  She wants to go shopping at several stores, take recycling back here and in town, and... do more.  I have another trip tomorrow.  Last I heard she was staying here.  I can't do it.  I need a nap.  It is too hot.  I am too tired, in every way.  I'm not sure this is physical exhaustion, from wearing myself out though.  It seems more like simply a bad heart day.  I'm beginning to see the difference.  Although, I can't always be sure.  I was hoping to negotiate, cut some things back.  But no, all or nothing.  She didn't even want to talk about it.  I'm not going to worry about it.  If I can't, I can't.  And I can't.  I don't have the extra energy to calm her down, figure out what can be done later, and get to just a pared down thing. 

I think, now that it is done, I will simply go in and take a nap.  She can fuss and sputter if that is her choice.  Actually, she was planning on a day off today, and while I was in town tomorrow she had thought she would clean in here.  She made her choices, bumped it, and there is a price.  Not my problem.

Later.

Yeah, well...

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Just too tired, it's simply too hot, my mother is using me, so I have not gotten to the bathroom yet.  To be honest, if she wasn't here, I would be working nights.  A bang on pipes, or cursing at 2:00 would not go over well.  She'd be up from midnight to 6:00, every few hours, asking if I am going to bed yet.  I know these things.  I'll let her sleep.  Trust me, it works better for all.  Her room is right through the wall, her bedhead is right up against the wall I am working on/in.  No...

The computer room is clean.  Pretty much the whole cave, save my cave cave, is clean.  I am hoping, actually, to get my bedroom cleaned, this time, after she goes.  I will simply move my furniture into the spare room, with enough space to get in to sleep and change close, then rip my room apart, remove everything, dry vac everything from cobwebs to carpet to shelving.  Then steam vac everything possible.  A little wood treatment on what is needed, including the dresser, then put everything back in when it is dry.  Yes, I think I have the juice for it this time.  The thing is to hit it hard and hit it fast and to not stop until it is done... as I was doing with the other stuff.  I'll wash the curtains at night, dry them a bit in the dryer, then let them hand dry the remaining bit.

What I wish I had been able to do was put new flooring into the bathroom, before installing the w.h. and toilet.  At least I have it set for an easy move if I ever do decide to do that.  I just didn't have the money/time/energy to mess with it.  Sure, I'll lose a wax ring, but that is the only expense.  I may still put in some sort of floor drain, yet.  I can do that any time.  And while I would prefer it to be hooked up to the plumbing drain, it honestly doesn't have to be.  It is a dirt crawlspace under there.  Fifty gallons is a lot of water, but... not enough to be an issue, so long as I notice it and turn the water off quickly.  A water limiter switch valve wouldn't be back to install... but... I know nothing of such things, or how to set it... just a thought... To make sure after a refill, if there is a leak, that it doesn't keep dumping...  I'm not the most aware always.  Best to have minor mechanical backups.  It sucks being sick.

Another trip to town, so I hear.  My mother loves to run, always has.  Doesn't like to drive, so much, if she can duck it, or anymore.  But she loves to shop, look, be out, shop, look, talk, shop...  :p  Teh women(tm)... it's their thing.  Even the ones I knew who said they hated to shop sure shopped a mighty lot for hating to shop.  Bleh...  I'll find me a bench and just try to... keep from thinking about all the shopping.  Later.

To town, twice.

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Oh, running slow, and late, I did get to town.  I found the parts I wanted.  Several new ball valves as well, and extra bits to get those in.  Some I bought were mip x mip, some where s x solder.  I'm just going to see which are the easiest to put in, then if those last any longer.  This experiment will take a while, perhaps.  I bought enough pieces to complete the bathroom, and then some, as well.  A bit of extra pipe over what I have, more elbows, and I never used the t's so didn't get more of those.  I should be able to finish, and test, the plumbing tomorrow.

Life has slowed down.  While I am getting to things as fast as I can, it isn't quite as fast as I had hoped.  Most of what was planted should make it.  One pepper, a Serrano, is almost sure to die.  Another is right on the line, and one tomato plant just...  Well?  There isn't much there.  Still, I'll give it a chance.  I need to finish the bathroom.  If I get the water going, I can do the toilet at least.  The electrical work after that, which will close up the task started long ago.  It will be very nice to have my own private bathroom again.  Oh, yes, it will.  And I will, mostly, know how things work, what to do if there is a problem, and so on.  Oh, but I can't find the extra valve to replace the plastic drain valve... maybe I put it on already?  Nope.  When my mother cleans, sometimes what I set right 'chere tain't right 'chere no more.  Ah, but a small thing.  I may ask.  She might know.  But...  I would gladly trade three of those for a spiffy home though.  Just can't complain, if I will look.  She won't have thrown it, but she might have lost it.

Good night.

Gah! I'm on it.

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Bits and pieces cut, some connections made, two pieces have been soldered, the pieces still needed... just one piece actually... has been identified.  Best get several.  I will need them soon enough and if one doesn't work I can just take it back in.  Oh, and another valve has been found, a ball valve with solder x mip.  Okay, I probably should be a bit neater in there.  Then again, I want more ball valves.  As long as I know which ones I have, then I can make sure to have the connection fittings needed, if necessary.  then again, if you are cutting out one valve you will need fittings, even if it is just a double pipe female connector... or two.  Gah!  As for the work?  This is what I have been wanting to do, for a long time.  It's a puzzle, it's sometimes hard work... try putting two pieces together that don't want to fit... and yet when I am done I actually feel, and can see, and can prove, that I did something.  It isn't pretty, it may not be how a plumber would have done it, but it will be done, it will work, and I will see it every day.  If it wasn't so expensive.  Even just soldering, the bits and pieces add up very quickly.  At least I am taking pieces back, finally, for refunds or exchanges.

Hmm, a sip of something cool, then back to it.  Ugh.  Later.

Haiku - Monday -

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Michael is up, at foaming.  It seems foam is doing the kindly thing and helping teh Michael, by offering a hosting platform.  These artisty types, always colluding and sich.  Never the mind.

Ah, the topic is what you see when you close your eyes at night.  Now, I could be cute and say, in the right circumstances, what you see at night, when you close your eyes, is no different from what you see when they are open, but... I'll just take a clue and shut my pie hole.  Mostly.

Yes, yes.  In spite of my morning... roughhousing... I am already up.  More may come, and I might do something visual... but for now... there are these.  Okay, while I was at it, not being sure what I can put in later, I added some visuals.  I could say more about pie hole, quietude, and getting busy, but I won't.  Not even regarding YOU.  If the notion sounds fun... from here.

Hehehe Hahahaha Hehehehe

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My mother just called out.  Are you still in bed, Doom?  No.  Me, are you still in bed (she "napping" on the couch).  Her, no, I've been up since 6:00.  Me?  The title.  She has been snoring since I woke at 8:00-9:00.  It was her snoring that woke me.  Up since 6:00?  Okay.  Title again.

Hmm, laughter causes hunger and it is nearing lunchtime.  Later.

Oh, by the way, don't take anything I write seriously.  Unless I say to.  Then really, seriously, don't.  What will get you, if you ever learn all, will be what didn't get you but which is right there.  Don't even believe that.  Trust but verify... which... I wouldn't want to even try to do, if I were you.  Not even if I were me.  Teh bother(tm).

Yeah, well...

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Running out of steam, and I don't think I am alone.  And yet I want to push some things through, on my side.  I don't mind if my mom takes it really easy.  Oh, she can't fool me, she works like this at home.  What she didn't like, admittedly, was the a few instances of cat chunk-ups.  She really, really, truly, and deeply despises that stuff.  Okay, I get that.  And yet, I know I couldn't keep up on that AND get water and the other needed stuff going.  She would have been much more put out with a nonfunctional sink, more so with no hot water.  And, while it failed, having her own bathroom would have been a fine thing, but I know she is absolutely loving the new toilet in there.  I'm glad she doesn't have it set to take anything but carry-on... my toilet might disappear!

Today I am going to hope to get the water heater in.  There might still, somehow, be another part I need.  I hate it, but it's true.  I won't need to solder the ball valve, this time, which means what I have to do should be easy to do.  Two parts, make it two parts.  I was so focused just on getting the stupid facet set that I didn't think one more step, let alone on each side.  Oh, this job is making me feel like an idiot.  Then again, I think soldering in a system will do that.  There are so many steps.  Though a well thought through system which fails, then revising the plan, several times, leaves huge holes for error.  It wasn't a complete lack of forethought, either.  A plumber simply usually stocks his supplies from the excessive charges he bills so that, at some point, he doesn't have to run to the store... for failed parts, for parts he didn't think to add in the first place, during his design process.  After his second year, he has a heck of a system of supplies on hand, and from experience almost never has to go to the store for almost any job.  It's in there, in his van/truck.  Plus, he does things in such a way that he takes back a month's worth of failures at once and just trades them for good.  It's a system.  Most of us can't be that... geared and ready and efficient.  I will be having extra parts and pieces after this job though.  Not enough for much, but maybe enough for a minor fix.  Maybe.

Next summer, if nothing major pops, I may be replacing all my turn off valves with ball valves, now that I am sure I can sweat copper and know where the whole house and various of the minor water turn offs are, and how to change things without much difficulty.  I might even do it yet this summer, depending on how deep in debt I turn out to be when a few things are done.  Bleh.  I truly enjoy working on these things.  I just wish I could trust shark bites.  I would keep some around for minor leaks as temporary repairs.  Water is a rather ruinous fluid, and quickly.

But... a bit to wake up.  She is napping, listening to Rachel Ray or something as well.  With the idiot Larry King on...  Oh, right, time to turn music on.  Time to ruminate about... once very good old friends.  Ah, I might not be on their side of things, but it's hard to hate.  I just won't join them in hell.  People scare me, not these.  These know and choose, but honestly, good or evil, if they might be tricky about it.  Humans seem to fool themselves into believing what they do is... just fine.  Do your sin folk, we of flesh will.  Just don't try to get me to believe your, or my, bad actions are other than sin.  I won't go to hell with you, either.  Yep, confession this coming Saturday, and Eucharist will start back up.  None sin so well, or full of denial, as those who have a clear path to give up the price of it though.  Odd.

Later.

Okay, didn't get to the bathroom.

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Planting was done, and a leisurely day was had.  I figured out watering this evening, as well.  Shortly before that, mother decided it was time for a haircut.  I like to spike it, sometimes.  But I wanted it as long as possible.  Sometimes I can spike it rather long, but I haven't been doing so for a long time.  I guess my hair lost it's training, or something.  All I know is, while I begged her to save as much hair as possible, much of it had to be cut.  Even now, it the length is pushing my ability to spike it.  *shrug*  I'll see what I can do with it this week.  I might have to ask her to cut it just a bit more.

I may just figure out watering both the lawn and the garden myself.  I should have watered the lawn tonight but that just didn't get done.  I will be buying another multi-hose adapter.  I had one once, but it is gone.  As well, I will be buying (another) spray nozzle for the hose.  Don't know where they went, need them.  That way, with the splitter, I could have watered the garden while I was watering the lawn.  Along with those things my mother suggests buying a fertilizer attachment, and rubbers for the hoses... leaky she says.  That should work well enough.

Tomorrow is dedicated to the water heater, and toilet if I get that far.  She says this, the computer room, is what she will be hitting.  Okies, dokies.  Midnight?  Weird.  Good night.

Can't nap, can't work.

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No huge worries.  Sleep just isn't possible.  I have tried to cool down for it.  I then turned the ac on for a bit.  Temp isn't the problem.  And yet I can't get to work, either.  I just don't have enough going.  I am sure, by this evening, I will be able to help with the garden.  One last grouping of peppers to go in.  I don't really agree with how things were put in, but I'll know more after this summer.  I will know if it works, or at least have real experience upon which to base my future plans.  As is, I am doing a bit to guide the thing.  I don't want the peppers to crosspollinate.  She simply doesn't get that, usually only growing one type of pepper at a time herself.

Some of the plants, I can tell, won't make it.  I do have backups, and I will give those some time to get even stronger and bigger than what went in today.  I can't believe how much the plants, indoors, have shot up just in the last day or two.  They seem to do that for no good reason, from time to time.  Some of them are bigger, now, than what was put out.  What was put out were in a box, overnight, so didn't get direct sun this morning.  And they didn't have as much access to water, so didn't seem to grow.  Well, and the nights are cooler out there.  Crazy.  Oh, but next year I will probably plant my tomatoes a lot earlier and my peppers a bit earlier.  February might really be the time to try, for the tomatoes.  I am thinking mid-March, for sure, on the peppers.  But I will need two more light fixtures.  Start them with full spectrum, then when they top out get heat lights on them... Not hot, just... some warmth, something the full spectrum 'bulbs' don't offer.  Oh, I'll get this figured and nailed in another year or two, taking what I can for fruit and seed along the way.

One thing irritating about my mother is that she lives on the television.  When she is on the computer she still wants the tv on.  All the time.  I can, and do, turn everything off and go do stuff, noiselessly, and often.  Further, I hate the tube.  Television is made for idiots.  It makes people stupider.  You could read a whole hour program in minutes, max, without the annoyance of commercials.  Even then you wouldn't learn enough to make the read worth the time.  Most of the crime stuff my mother watches is based on stupid criminals who are easy to catch.  She prefers "love murderers".  Stuff people shouldn't stick their noses into.  Bleh.  Did I mention that I truly hate television?  I will be shutting cable off until she returns.  A waste of money and time.

A couple hours of ac seems to, along with the stone, keep the cave cool.  Not cold, just cool enough to survive, or really thrive, and comfortably.  I notice my mother, today, didn't open the living room curtain.  She'll learn.  The light is not worth the heat.  Further, the light makes the television hard to see.  I didn't bother telling her.  With her, telling her won't make sense until she is too hot and her eyes are red/neck sore - from trying to deal with an open curtain making the television difficult to see.  Not that she won't do it in the future, but like I said, some things you just can't tell her.  She will be here for about another week, then I can go back to normal cave trim, and quiet! 

Oh, I listen to my music, but on the lower settings, and just, maybe, for a few hours a day.  Still listening to "Veteran of Psychic Wars", "Bullet Proof", and the thing on War...  Yeah, something is going on.  People are dying and preparing to kill and die.  I should check my popcorn supplies... for now.  Well, and bone up a bit on some things.  Don't negotiate, you will just be dead with no comfort of having given them a second thought the next guy they try to jack... and probably leaving no evidence that you were wiped...  don't... not even a bit.  Win, lose, draw, do it right.  We have a rogue, full out, criminal, federal government.  Of course, liberals are pleased that Holder is right on that case.

Cooked!

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Okay, that... of course... took longer than I thought it would.  We got twelve peppers and ten tomato plants in, plus I chopped down four or five huge thistle 'trees'.  I wore gloves, long pants and sleeves, and put sun screen on underneath, plus on all showing skin.  My mother, finally, knew when I had enough.  She did talk me into the chopping, but since I am trying to push anyway, a bit, it was no biggy on my side.  I think she finally understands something.  My pseudonym has more reason than just size similarity.  When I mentioned it, her eyes flickered with recognition.  Red indeed.  It'll pass, in time.  It isn't a sun burn or such.  It's just... something.  It's been that way since I was a kid though, if perhaps more potent with the heart and bp?  Dunno, exactly.  Oh, and I did help with the huge planter I have by the patio area, a bit.  She did most of the planting there, arranging this and that.  Water it, she said.  Fine.  But I'm still going to see if any of it is... edible.

Not a bad day, so far.  Two hours of work in, most of the garden planted.  I still have to wait a bit for the habanero to get a bit bigger, and to separate those and the jalapeno...  The last dozen or so peppers will go in tonight, when it cools, as the sun is going down.  And, if I can get to it, more work on the water heater.  The ac is running.  A couple hours from noon to 14:00 should get me back in shape.  If need be, a nap too.  Lunch is on the way.  Leftovers, but goulash, so I can live with that.  Cooked, for the moment, myself.

She put out the preen, told me what I need to add fertilizer and we put that on the list,  and things are coming together for a decent garden.  I'll be doing some of the planting myself, probably in the evening though.  I'm not quite up to blazing sun.  Then again, it wouldn't be a bad thing to... push on that, in prep for BMan.  It is probably more humid here, and now at least.  That won't be there.  Oh, water.  I really need to get a metal canteen and get going on finding what I can use to hydrate.  A teaspoon per gallon, or quart, or Gatorade or other flavoring... but just enough for a slight flavoring.  Mostly just water, if I can get to it.

Later.

Up, at a resonable hour.

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Oh, strawberry and fresh rhubarb pie, from my patch!  The rhubarb anyway.  Yeah, diabetes... shut up.  Like I eat much sugar my whole existence otherwise.  Blood sugar, after the pie, was 222.  It sounds like my doctor is set to preach the sermon on that when I go it.  It seemed I would be talking to the nurse, but that got changed.  My A1C must be high, or something.  I suppose I'll have to come clean that I had to cut metfornan, or whatever.  I couldn't handle both med-additions, wasn't sure which was the problem, so cut the 'met' since hbp/heart is the main, primary, most serious concern.  Triage, baby.  And that did work.  I was able to kick a leg out and get to my feet after that and a bit of time.  I won't risk going back on it with so much still on my plate.  Once the bathroom is set, the trees are trimmed, and my mother is safely on her way, I may give that another go.  It's as good as I can do.  I simply, being alone, cannot afford to go down.

By the way, this work with my mother, once I put my foot down on some things, isn't busting my chops.  I shouldn't even need a break when she goes.  I will keep going on other projects hereabouts.  There will be enough to do to keep me busy for a while.  Tossing in hikes to the reservoir should empty the batteries, to top things off.  Things that don't cost money, because I just don't have that much money.  But I do have a chainsaw, sawsall, drills, other tools, some supplies, bits and pieces, some ideas, and such.  Something odd about my water delivery system.  The sink is soft water, so my mother says, but the shower isn't?  I've been adding hardness levels to the programming, but that hasn't seemed to help.  Just stepping it up though.  Not sure, perhaps hands are more sensitive to soft water?  And I'll like to get the sink to a full flow again.  It's not terrible, it just isn't tops/normal.

This morning, starting out in the garden then moving to the water heater when done.  I'll get the hose(s) out there, plants, but first I'll put on something to keep me from crisping.  That sun will just cook me without full cover clothing and/or sunscreen.  I'll get to try that new stuff I bought.  I best get going before she has another tantrum.  "You don't love me, and you hate me, and you use me, and...".  It was two minutes, mom.  Hehehehe  She can be seriously melodramatic.  Later.