A Dream.

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All night I struggled.  Contest after contest.  Always underwater, always a bit behind the competition.  But, on I went, knowing I could not win by the halfway mark.  Brutal.  Some did not live to see the end.  Others were broken in the events.  Too dumb to know I was hurt, at times, too mean to always care.  I suspected I didn't belong in the final courses on some events, as earlier exceptions probably discounted my later participation.  I could plainly see I did not win every event.  I just assumed that the judges simply didn't have the brass to debate the thing so just let me continue, enjoying my suffering, losses, and humiliations.  As pathetic men always say, if you can't beat em', fuck em'.

All night.  Pounding my head against the proverbial wall.  I knew, finally, even through that thick skull I use for these sorts of efforts, that I could not win.  Didn't confront me none, as long as I got to that finish line, lifted that last weight, threw the javelin past the last line, slayed that final beast.  And I was there, made it, every time.  Finally, the contest was over.  We were given a week to clean up, and relearn to walk straight.  Those of us who remained.  A feast was thrown.  Even those who had been maimed were there, for there is honor in that.

The feast was grand.  Meats of all sorts, wine of very fine quality all throughout, dancing girls filled the place, and favored daughters were dressed to kill and be... noticed.  Before total mayhem could befall, but well after the feasting and sipping was underway, the presentation of winners was announced.  I knew, by score, I did not place.  I wasn't, absolutely, sure, however, who did win or even place.  There were many measures being used.

They called up so-and-so, a representation of a new/old friend.  It was Thorn/Vox.  They had him stand on the top stand, but did not indicate his place.  Then another new/old friend, Butte/Desert Cat.  They had him stand on the second tier, but again, did not name his place.  Then they stalled a bit.  Some kind of a hubbub ensued.  It looked like fists were about to fly among the judges.  Finally, several judges were shoved out of the circle and left in a huff.  Doom!  I looked around, to see if they were... joking.  My name, again.  Slowly I rose, limping just a bit with that twinge that remained.  I pulled out of that as best I could and strode up, still a bit weary that my name was in jest.  Up, I was lead, to the third position.

Then they announced the places.  Thorn/Vox received the Perseus award, not a first place, but the highest count.  Butte/Desert Cat received the Aristaeus award, not the second most points but the most... inventive solutions were his.  And I received the Heracles award.  After the calling, and cheers and accolades, and a time to enjoy the glory, I felt called to discuss this with the judges.  So, after a time, and much of the usual required... mingling and receiving of honors, I slipped over to the judges area.

What, pray tell, would have allowed you to choose me, I asked.  Blunt, as usual.  I could not have gotten the numbers.  I was not in the circle by any means I could tell.  Ah, that, the lead judge intoned.  No, you did not come in third, or fourth... I think, by count, you were nearly twelfth.  Thirteenth, the call was corrected by some judge in the back of the group.  Scratching my head to showcase my puzzlement, the judges just enjoying my suffering.  A moment of silence as the judges who remained grinned and pleasured themselves at my growing impatience.  You were chosen because you were not only not supposed to win, some of the *cough* judges had arranged that you would not even survive the events.  They, of course, have been... sent on their ignominious ways.  They will be marked by their treachery for all of their days and live without peace or honor.

Having been beset, as you were, that you finished every contest, completed every task, and did not die or even encounter a wound that is lasting, you have received the right honor.  Now, go, enjoy the feasting.  With our gratitude for such a well fought contest.  Heal up quickly.  We have use for you and the others, or will soon.  This contest was not mere folly or frolicking, lad.  The time is coming when heroes are needed again.

Some dream.  Whatever.  I just want some more of that roasted beef!  Well... and t'em flowers weren't all that bad either.  But beef first, flowers later.  All I'm saying.  Ha!

Stages of pain.

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Once the natural pain killers start tapering and healing has taken place, but before the last flames of the thing have faded, my mind seizes on what else has hurt.  I am not sure if the mind is trying to suggest I have had worse, or saying that I can get past this too, or if there is simply a connection in the brain, in memory, that all pain shares.  Perhaps, as the box that this memory goes in is opened, more is seen.  I simply do not know.  I do know that this pain was sufficient to allow... a brief passage on that stream, a brief view of things past and perhaps future.

So many different types of things can hurt.  Understandings, the pain or loss of others, physical damage given or taken, spiritual, emotional.  I can't say one is worse than another.  I do believe enough emotional damage can kill.  Some say only indirectly, through a decay of the body.  But I say a broken heart can kill you.  Not just that of lost love, or the type of love most associate with a broken heart.  Pain is... a many splendored thing.

When I put up music, from such, understand... the mind, when it goes far enough into some things, is not always... completely... perhaps even partially... rational.  No matter the training, experience.  Not matter the strength of faith, or even lack of it.  What happens in some hell is... doesn't translate well.  It is felt, slightly understood perhaps, at least my own and by me... and I have seen into the heart of other people's darkness where they cannot.  But most can't see well into mine.  Just... take it with the grain of salt that is horrific damage.

Drats, the pain is fading.

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Well... sort of.  Pain does things to me.  It's like working out, all by itself.  It causes me to tighten and improves posture... or something.  I love to dread it and dread to love it.  But, as this eases a bit, I can now tell what it was.  Either a muscle or a nerve got entangled on, and around, my left shoulder blade, inside my torso.  It twisted well and good.  That muscle, nerve, or both, then followed my ribcage around to the polar opposite front of my chest.  However... somehow that pain short-circuited right through my chest, on that axis.  Basically causing some concern that it was the heart.  Odd, and a bit... unnerving, no pun intended... as I generally don't have heart pains, even when I stress physically or elsewise.  The pain has lessened, and backed to the source (which is how I know).  Now it just feels like someone cut around the inside of the shoulder blade somehow.  Still has some good burn to it, but not enough to prevent me from... creating new pains!  *grin*  Shut up.

Tonight I am going to go through my pack.  I want it to be ready, so if I get everything going and see an opportunity, I can get out and go for a hike.  This time I would like to make it up to the yurt, on the trail I was following before.  I want to make sure I have what I need to take a nap, and if it gets too late to simply camp over.  A bite to eat for several meals, enough water, something to sleep in and something to put over my sleeping area, and the willingness to do it.  I don't think I will be staying overnight, I just want to have that capacity at the ready.  It will happen, before long.  Perhaps a longer hike after that.  The goal is to have more food and water than I will need, just in case.  Yeah, it's... coming.

Sleep has been good, but a bit off due to the pain.  Which is fine.  That stuff fixes itself.  I may try to get to a few things here in the cave today.  The laundry which is just waiting, the few dishes that are being soaked, and a bit of tidying up.  I have a lot of boxes to break down and those could go in as well.  Hmm, I should save a few of the better ones.  I think I used all the old ones I had saved.  A half dozen stronger boxes, stacked and ready, don't take much space, and can be indispensable in a pinch.  In the next few days, I want to begin looking over my bathroom.  I may just rip the old sink counter out, remove the old toilet, bring the (new) hot water heater out, begin removing the various levels of flooring down to the last layer of 'whatever (probably plywood, though could be *ugh* particle board), and begin... pondering.  With the workshop being set up in the garage, I now have a place to plot my takeover of the universe!  Urhm, I mean, plot the revitalization of the cave...  *cough*  Sorry... get... carried away.  *smile*

Later.

Pain? Indeed.

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At least I know it is just muscular, at this point.  It feels like a knife was stuck in my chest and is being slowly rotated.  Ah.  But you know it makes me feel, or at least know that, I am alive.  Well, at first, sort of, and once I realized it was just muscular.  I must have picked a 100 pounder up a bit quickly, or let it down too fast, or twisted... just... right... at some point.  *kink*  Youch!  Yum.  Hey, what can I say.  I decided, finally, to take some anacin.  It works well enough without killing it all.

I am beginning to do research regarding installing a subpanel in the garage.  There is some good information, and a lot of fubar dope out there.  Gotta be careful.  Though even the books, such as the NEC, are vague at best.  As for code?  Too many codes on too many things.  My guess is even electricians just do their best and hope the inspector will play along.  Essentially code has just become a way of keeping those who don't pay the state from doing what the state is trying to keep open only to professionals.  It's a money thing.  Safety might be involved, but that is loose.  Very loose.  It is more about education money changing, license fees, taxes, and such.  Safety comes in dead last in all other considerations, from what I can see.  So, for me, I will be looking with more of an eye to safety.  My own, first, then the more general system safety.

The NEC costs about $90, and a second that has a good rep, Ugly's I think, runs another $20.  I think I have a home electrical manual around someh where, those run about $20 as well.  I did a minor check on having it professionally installed, and that... seemed prohibitive.  Now, some large part of the cost is components.  If it's half, what I am looking at, even so, will be $300 to $600.  I won't be doing that this year, depending on some other possible eventualities, but I will be studying, maybe buying the books, perhaps buying some components I am more sure of such as feeder cable and maybe the subbox and "main" breaker connection for it, as well as grounding rods et. al.  A bit here, a bit there, after I have done a bit more study and am sure of my plan.

Urhm, before I get to that plan, however, I have to review the wiring in my home.  I'm... not sure about that.  The main breaker panel IS newer, within specs.  After that, in the walls, in the attics, I don't know.  This might end up being way over my head to even consider, depending on what is found a little deeper in.  Oh, I'm sweating it.  A whole house electrical would be both a nightmare and an expensive one.  Which, in part, is what has kept me away until now.  No book(s), no help, could get me to redoing a whole home's electrical while trying to live here.  Way too much.  Then again...  If conduit is good...  Gah!

I did put the peg board pieces in.  No tools have gone up, save my hammer drill, since it was handy.  I just arranged pieces to see what they looked like, and according to their forms, so when I go to add tools or such, I will be able to grab as needed, experiment, and such.  It is starting to look like a real workshop.  My friend wanted to get rid of his small drill press, so I may get that from him at the first of the month.  The chainsaw is rightly stored on the bottom shelf.  And, before long, I'll get the gas additive for that stored on the upper lip shelf, along with some other supplies along those lines.  I'll slowly begin setting that up.  Slowly, until I heal.  Then slowly just because I am slow!  :p

Hmm... Maybe a run to town for a bite?  Nah, I'll just have a pot pie or two.  It takes an hour and an half, between cooking and cooling enough to eat, but a trip to town would take just about as long, burn gas, and cost money.  Yeah, pot pies.  Later.

Pushing the margins.

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Yesterday, whatever else, was a local minimum.  If hands had not shown up, nothing would have been done.  I actually pushed past the limit, already, the day before.  Past the limit or to the limit?  Not sure.  All I know is that I had spent my allowance.  But with folk here, there is something about not wasting and doubling down.  For them the "work" was probably more of a relaxing pace.  Well, other than those weights.  Those things are beastly to move, at least at the end of the day and only as an aside to the main tasks.  It's like moving 13 100 pound bags of grain, and that's just to get to the work area.  I thought we were going to be doing house cleaning, so I hadn't done this.  I had asked that they give me a couple of days notice, as I had meant to do that.  Then again... that's maybe WHY they didn't give me the notice?  Anyway...

Even with all hands on deck, being a local minimum, and having used up my resources for a few days the day before, yesterday... got to me.  I was sore in an odd way, and was actually just a little... afraid.  I don't, as I may have mentioned, suffer heart pains, at least that I am consciously aware of.  I don't consciously suffer from third degree, and maybe worse, localized burns, either, so...  But, I was feeling pain, sort of located slightly to the left of my chest and radiating outward.  Now, it was possible that the pain was just muscle strain from moving the weights.  Lifting up, carrying, and slowly lowering weights... I thought... might stress literal muscle.  I just didn't know.  I didn't have a racing heart, I didn't fill ill or blurry headed other than being a bit worn, or anything else.  Still... I was a bit nervous about going to sleep, and sleeping was a little difficult.

All worked out.  When I did sleep, I slept like a baby.  Waking was tough.  I had to ask the girls to help.  They took turns.  They have learned, if I put my hand out, to pet themselves with it.  I need tactile engagement to bring me out of some sleep.  They would take turns.  It isn't always, or immediately, successful.  They know, in these cases, if they can help me wake, that they will get fed right away.  Hours of trying, off and on, before rising.  Yes... I pushed.  Chest is still a bit sore, but I am sure it was just muscle strain from doing high pace at low tide.

Today?  And tomorrow.  Rest.  Though I might get to setting up the peg board with the wire tool holders, and maybe placing some tools, and a stool.  As well, I may see what I might be able to plug in, where, and take a shorter, but stouter, extension cord so as to station a general plug near the bench.  I'll want to keep that unplugged from the wall, and things unplugged from it, as a general rule, for now.  But, just having it there will give me access to the bench grinder, and my electric tools, right there.  Plus, as I said, a stool out there would be good.  I may, though, actually look for one of those taller swivel shop stools through the month.  Nothing fancy.  Maybe two.  Never know.  When you are making noise, running tools, and your garage door is open...  That's like a shark dinner bell for other men.  Or can be.  Even as non-mechanical as I have been most of my life, it always at least piqued my interest.

Rest, though, mostly.  A slower pace.  Little things, perhaps, going forward.  But nothing big, or fast, or hard.  Tired and sore but it sure felt good.  There is that.  Later.

Not today, perhaps.

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Ah, help arrived.

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I was a bit confused about the doings for today, but no worries.  And, the task was more along the lines of... well... I felt more comfortable with what was done.  We set up the work bench in the garage and did some outside straightening.  The bench can be made to order, mostly.  It can be up to 8' x 4'.  I didn't want that much depth.  I think 2' to 2 1/2' was chosen.  Those kits make putting a bench together quite easy.  And, this time, I had a help.  When I put that first one together solo, and in tight confines, it took me a week or two to recover.  The guys also had a notion to build 2"x4" supports under the top shelf, so as to allow more torque with fewer structural problems, on the bench, using the vice.  As well, we put up the pegborard behind the bench.

The hardest part was moving the weights out of the way, actually.  The hundred pounders, no matter your shape, are a bear to move.  Though the 45 pounders aren't chump change.  I think, last I counted, I have 1320, or close to that, in iron.  Oh, and those olympic bars.  Yeah...  Still, with many hands... it's still heavy.  :p  Built, put in, pegboard and striping board to space that from the wall.  All good.  I did... need a rest after we finished.  My electrical out there is... spotty, to be generous.  I'm not sure it will handle the bench grinder.  Even if so, I probably won't keep it plugged in.  In a day or two, after I catch my breath, I'll get out there, with the pegboard attachments, and... monkey around.  I might do some straightening up and finish a few things while I am at it. 

You know, people don't understand much about the heart... levels of illness.  But when you indicate that you could be on the heart transplant list by medical condition, then it makes sense.  I'm not your average heart transplant nominee, either, though.  I'm like the anti-nominee.  The Energizer Nominee?  :p  Moving those weights was... nice.  Yeah, it was hard, but... it brought back certain hungers.  I want to get foam/rubber floor panels, those big jigsaw type, for under the bench.  I just don't want to chip up the floor.  But, yeah, moving those...  Yum!  Double Yum!  However, first... nap time?  Nah, but a good long sit.  It seems my body won't let me work hard enough to kill myself.  At least not quite yet.  That's not the goal, just good to know.  If I get to that point I will have to... proceed with some caution, however.  These medicines don't allow my heart rate to increase, per demand, to a greater extent.  So I need to use more caution than the last time I started weight training.  Then again, I was taking ritalin as a boost, so... I'm not sure it matters.  If that didn't kill me, this probably won't.  Bleh.

Later.

Slept well.

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I am sort of surprised.  First, that I was able to sleep at all.  Sometimes I can't, not when I want or need to sleep.  And, being that I pushed (even if it didn't feel like it) last night, often I can't sleep for a while afterward... usually a long while.  I did finish those last tasks, if I was a bit light on picking up.  I took a handful of Anacin before... actually after having gone to bed, thus having to get back up.  My lower back was just a bit tight.  I worried, I think there is caffeine in there.  But feeling as I did, I knew sleep was not otherwise in the cards, and I was pretty sure I could sleep if it stopped hurting.  I was right.

I set the alarm for 13:00.  I sort of doubted that number, as it was between 8:00 and 9:00 when I was going down, later with rolling and tossing before deciding to take the pain pills.  Still, that was the goal.  I actually woke at noon, but didn't want to push it.  I just lay in bed, in and out of sleep, until I was thoroughly awake, about a quarter to one.  Hey, I beat the alarm and it was a gentle wakening.  Feeling pretty good, for having just awaken.  It does take a bit, though, to... really know how the day will go.

Medication, a shower in an hour or so, and maybe a bit more cleaning or picking up.  Later.

That nap might have done the trick.

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The Xterra is unpacked, save for my b.o.b.  That will, eventually, come in.  I want to check what all is in there, locate anything I took out and replace it, and maybe rearrange.  But for now it is fine where it is.  I'll wait until I am ready to do that, otherwise I will simply be short the supplies if I do happen to need something from there between now and then.  I filled the water jugs back up.  Well, most of them.  I have seven filled, and one or two more around somewhere.  While I haven't torn through the clothing, it is back in the washroom.

I think I have enough juice left to at least unpack the one container that is lightly packed, then take the big big the gear is currently in and get it running with hot water and soap to at least soak the dishes.  As well, I'll get the rest of the laundry around the house together and get that back into the laundry room.  And, finally, I'll do just a bit of straightening and trash removal while I am ending the day.  I am hoping that a few hours will see me done.  Then another nap.

Ah, I found my electric razor and took my goat beard down to stubble.  The ladies seem more pleased when I... spiffy up.  Well, as good as I can spiffy up.  Even the straight razor, should I ever master it, can't fix ugly.  Then again, as ugly as men are, I don't think beauty is exactly on the minds of women looking for a husband.  Pretty boys don't work out.  I've been one of those, too.  Best to be ugly and... tolerable than pretty and looking for the quickest exit.  Reality is what it is.

Never mind.  A bit of a rest then on to a few more tasks.  Then to bed when I can hit it.  Later or good night.

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Just about to start with the last bits.  I'm feeling really good.  I have no idea why, just that it will make the last parts of my work for the day easier.  I have to be up before long as well, so I best get to it so that I can go down for a bit as well.  The work that I have done was easy.  Not sure if there is much left in the reservoir.  While it wasn't all that much work, less than that has taken me down lately.  Crazy.

Oh, but the sun is up again today.  I would bathe in it, but that might make it so that I can't sleep.  The sun is an odd thing that way.  Ugh!  Now, if it stays out for even a few days, perhaps I will be able to shove my schedule around before next week.  Yeah, I best get to it so that I can get a bit of a nap in.  Good night.

Dropped.

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For a few hours, for no good reason, I simply fell.  A bit of a... disturbed sleep.  It's like some aspect of me wasn't ready for sleep and another part of it had to have it.  Boiling water and hot oil.  I couldn't sleep very long, or as noted well.  It seemed to... do whatever it was supposed to do. 

Hmm.  It's quite late.  I still have some, many, things to do.  Perhaps I can get to some of it.  Certainly not all of it, at this point.  I did take another shower today.  Just because.

First things first.  Unpacking.  Tent type kit, table and chairs will go upstairs.  The rest of it needs a bit of sorting.  And, while I am unpacking the water jugs, I might as well fill those and put them on the back porch.  It's a bit of water if all else fails.  And I will be ready if I go carcamping.  I really ought to consider more water containers.  Twenty five gallons is nice, for a very short water outage, but won't work for long.  As well, with a larger containment capacity, water gathering could be a monthly, rather than weekly, event.  Assuming availability is as it seems it would be, here and now.  In practical terms, given the heat here in the summer, and cold in the winter, I'm guessing two gallons a day would about average, if bathing was kept to every other day at most, and minimal at that.  Maybe a splurge once a week, and actual bath.  Though I am thinking a swim, at least when it isn't frozen, might be the best way to tend that want. 

A few more items and projects, then I start figuring out how to get solar electric.  I could buy pieces of kit, up front, and just store them for when I have all the pieces.  This way bothers me.  It's why I haven't built a computer yet.  When buying component wise, testing them isn't always easy.  By the time I would get the first steps together, and constructed it, some or all of it might well be out of warrantee.  So... I will have to save, in a special account.  Of course, the other problem is that prices are moving targets.  They seem to be going lower, but that isn't a guarantee.  And, really, I haven't done the homework on systems to even know where to begin.

The goal?  Enough juice to run a light in each room, and maybe a small freezer/fridge, with a bit more for rechargeable batteries, including a possible battery powered power tool set.  That set up would be created to be modular and expandable as it stands.  The next step would be to build a second system, a sister system, simply doubling capacity.  Finally, as money and time allow, I would then like to fill out both sides of the system, perhaps once again doubling the capacity.  Batteries and panels, I think, will be the heaviest cost factors.  The wiring will be the complexity factor.  Though setting the system up, once it is operational, and maintenance, are both complexity issues.  Science ain't a science.  And engineering is trial by error while attempting to reduce error up front.  If either were absolute, or easy, they wouldn't be rarefied fields.  Why do you think they are so cloistered and uncommunicative?  Beside the personality types that usually go into those fields, it's because they don't want you to realize... the truth.  Your lives depend on faith, because they often don't have a clue.  Toss in doctors and, there you go.  Stick with prayers and church.  At least they realize it's a mystery.  Or... should.  *cough*

Well... on to... something.  Oh, right, unpacking.  I'll see after that.  Hmm?  One or two more songs first.

Little things.

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A bit more cleaning.  The tools I had been using on the toilet needed cleaned.  Messy.  Lots of hot water and cleaning solution.  The last time I went to the store for that, I bought two jugs.  Now, when one gets low, I'll add it to the list.  Yes, normal stuff.  I am just learning how to be normal.  I'm not always quite awake enough to live that way, but I am hedging my way there, one little thing at a time.  Anyway, other than sweeping, a light cleaning of the sink, and taking the laundry to the washroom, the bathroom is pretty much done.  I washed the tub while I was doing other stuff.

After that, a shower.  Something about working with toilets and their tools lends itself to taking a shower as soon as possible.  Definitely before doing anything else.  As I rest from the various events, I am making other plans.  The first thing is to collect all dirty laundry.  It is lightly soiled, mostly from sitting around the house.  And there is little of it, having done all laundry before I went on vacation.  I won't start that, unless I have a good solid load of darks, until I get my camping gear in and separate the clothes from that.  We'll see.  After getting the laundry to the room, the next job will be to unpack the Xterra.  I will air out the sleeping bag and sleeping mat, but not the tent.  The tent simply doesn't need it.  I will leave the big pack out, after I empty it, to air, for a bit as well, if that might just be being fussy.  Still, it's my bag, I'll... cry if I want to? 

I am hoping to get everything unpacked, in here, after unloading.  Enough that my washing bin, which I used as a carryall for a few odds and ends, can be deployed back to it's dishwashing duties, and I can get that started, possibly finished, yet tonight.  I'd love to do more but I'm not going to push it.  Incidentals will occur in those processes.  That's how it always happens and why such chores always "take longer" than they really take.  That's just how it works.

The hope is, through this week, if I can get going, to get the cave in shape, and myself while doing so.  The hope is to pump the tires, start the engine and maybe burn some of the fouling out, and be ready for hiking and shooting next week.  The goal is to be out three times.  I would like to get my friend out on at least one of those days, and hike or bike two other days.  But if I can only get out twice, or even once, it's a start.  I'll know soon enough.

A little music while I dry off.  Then on to other things... probably.  Later.

Cool and sunny.

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See, for me, that is about as perfect as a day can get.  I'm rolling into waking in the afternoons.  Not much I can do about it, less so when it is dark all day.  Medicines are, mostly, on track.  I still miss a dose here and there, every third day or so.  As with sleep, in the condition I am in, that is probably kept to that level only through as much vigilance as I can muster.  So it goes.  All I know is that it is good to see the sun.

While I didn't unpack, or straighten the cave up a bit, I did spend a lot of time cleaning the bathroom.  I am not done in there, but I am extremely pleased with the first shots.  The mop was used, again and again.  Plus it was cleaned well after use, rinsed until the water ran clear, and put up to dry.  A nasty mop is one of those things...  After the last dead mop, I have decided to put a lot more effort into keeping it clean.  The honest truth, though, is that mops never seem to be clean.  I have worked this one every time I have used it, and I suspect it still has a slight mildew to it.  Bleh.

Today?  I am hoping to get going on a bit more cleaning and straightening, and all of the unpacking.  I'll have to put my shoulder into it.  It might not happen.  But that is the goal.  Midweek and I am still not able to push through to much.  I'll just keep trying.  Oh, but the sun!  I was missing that, as allergic to it as I seem to be.  But, that is whyfor windows.  *shakes head*  And sun screen, when I remember to use it.  Later.

Only just so far.

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I can write, say, show, tell.  But I can't change... some things.  I am not sure some things can be changed.  Fate?  God's design?  Some things, including these, are beyond my ken.  Don't say you didn't know.  Or that I didn't try.

Feeling good, lately.

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With everything back on track, the toilet fixed, a few spots of sun lately, and a bit of rest, I am feeling nearly spot on.  Not moving fast, mind you.  Just moving a bit and more genially.  More awake.

Tomorrow I am hoping to hit unpacking, and do a general bit of work around the house.  I would love to risk a hike but I have some things to do, right here, first.  And I am not sure I am quite up to a hike quite yet.  I am getting close.  I need to push a bit this week, to try to be ready for next week, maybe.  It takes as long as it takes.  I am getting excited, as I think it's all beginning to line up again.  I can't be sure how much I can get out of the sensation.  I'll know Friday.

Some sounds coming down...  Some from memory, some of a sort of theme, some just because?  Enjoy, or not.  For my part, YUM!  Good night.

A trip to town.

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Nothing fancy.  I just wanted to pick up cream.  An extra gallon of milk and some pot pies for easy meals went into the cart while I was at it.  As rainy and cool as it has been, those go down well.  Sure, I'd like to make them myself, but... that's beyond my abilities even in good times, without a kitchen partner.  A shopper, "help" with cleanup, and a hungry chirping mouth have seen me make meals chefs wouldn't mind presenting.  Yeah, pot pies, if done exactly correctly, could easily end up on a fine diners plate. 

On the way back I stopped for an even faster and easier meal.  Yes, supper came, and it was good, but one meal a day sometimes cuts it a bit shy.  So...

Well, and really, I just wanted to get out.  I've been sort of stuck at home for a while.  On the way out I checked the 'spare' toilet.  It was clean, I just cleared even the empty bags.  Tomorrow, I am hoping, I will clear the Xterra.  That and do a bit of unpacking, and maybe some dishes and laundry.  That is the goal.  Something about having the bathroom fixed opened up other possibilities.  I was stuck, on that, and not just mechanically.

I'm also going to try to get to bed a bit earlier.  That is only a distant hope.  I'm probably going to have to work my schedule back and forth, until it, like the toilet, clears.  Ugh...  Later.

I have exercised the toilet.

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Unlike what I had thought I had seen, the blockage was actually caused by a smaller, salad, fork, not a large spoon.  In afterthought, I don't think I needed to tear the hanger apart, but no matter.  A small, meaningless, loss.  Really, the trick was just keeping the balloon pressurized, hard enough, long enough, to bring the fork toward the throat of the device in order to grab it.  It did take some huffing and puffing, because no matter how tightly, or how much, duct tape I put on the connection, there was always a leak.  Never mind, done.


In celebration, I cleaned the toilet good and well, and will do it again shortly, then took a shower.  The shower just... felt right.  Working in muddy water is not a psychologically fun thing to do.  Washing, completely, several times, in good, hot, very hot, water... balances the psychological equation?  Yeah, that would be it.

My mother called.  Of course while I was in the shower.  The phone said I had several calls, but I only heard one.  Odd.  I've been awake all day, I've had my phone right here.  Then again, my mother suggested that all the rain they have had has made cellphones a bit funny out there.  We have had every bit of rain they have, I would guess.  So... that might be part of it.  A Mother's Day wish was sent, and I found out about her day.  She... worked... on Mother's Day.  *sigh*  Then again, she works when she wants, for who she likes, and such.  She helped a woman who has severe health issues, did her shopping, got her caught up on laundry, and visited... then stayed the night with her since she would otherwise have been alone, this other woman.  Can't get too upset about such shenanigans. 

As a final gift, the skies cleared and the sun it out.  There isn't much time but I will take what I can.  I had closed the curtains, because dreary was getting old.  I opened them back up for the last hour of sunlight.

Later.

Where are the signs?

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I woke right at 14:00.  It looks like I woke just in time for the sun to... almost... probably as close, from the looks of it, as it has or will get today, to shining.  I growled and hissed at the girls.  Being an ogre through the cave, letting them know I was not interested in feeding them right away.  "Argh!  Oogh!  Boo!", repeat as necessary.  My girls know that means leave me alone until after coffee and... something.  If I don't do that, they use me as a claw junglegym.  Even now I have to, sort of, watch my back.  Sam was not wanting to play at all, so asked to go outside.  Since it looks dry, and sunny, I let her go.  Then again, I don't think that was registering at the time?  Meh, I probably considered it.  And she would have too.  Sassy just kept out of the way.  She's the one that will really rip into me.  Even, sometimes, like yesterday, if I have fed her twice with the wet food.  Not sure what gets into her.  But she gets to the head of my short list, and might even get set outside if she persists.  She is spoiled, and shows it sometimes.

As to sign posts.  Okay, here is my deal.  I am barely waking up lately.  Medications are all back on schedule, and well.  But the sun, pretty much, has been under for... well... most of the week or two before heading out and since I returned.  Yes, I know, your dear soul can pump past a little weather.  How nice for you.  That, however, has nothing to do with me, especially after a minor major push.  So, I am thinking, if someone could put some signs up in my home.  Go here, do this, turn right?  Meh, wouldn't work.  It would just add clutter.  But... something...  I don't know how to get the engine started.  That's all.

I'll try to hit the bathroom again today.  A wire coat hanger, strapped to the hose, more tape to hold the balloon on, and keep it air tight, plus a bit extra to keep the bare metal of the hanger from damaging the toilet.  And, again, I am hoping to unload the vehicle.  Yeah, no, that hasn't happened.  I went for a little hooch in my coffee last night, but one was more than enough.  Sometimes that can kick things over, but I couldn't feel it.  The spirit of spirits was not with me.  Still, it did help shake off the cold for just a bit.  And I don't mind a sip or two a week, be it beer or spirits cut to mild sipping strength. 

Dreams though.  Crazy women, crazy cats, flying at the speed of light, figuring some calculus problem that was fun but... not what you'd call a day project, and building a cold cellar.  Don't ask me, just stuff my mind wanted to do.  No, I have, pretty much, a cold cellar.  I guess I've just always sort of liked the idea of those old circular, deep, dirt ones.  One of my great aunts, or great aunts in law, had one.  She wasn't, ever, a pretty woman.  But she was handy, helpful, and knew how to keep a home in stores.  She had become a very strange old bird by the time I knew her.  And I was just a child then, which doesn't help in making assessments.  But I already wasn't just a child, and could see around corners most children didn't even know existed.  I had some compassion for her, and respect, if just a touch of fear.  I knew I confounded her.  She knew I was... different... too.  When you can see into a soul, some of them can look back.

Whatever!  Now, where are those signs!  *grin*  Gotta wake up.  Not sure I would even notice them at this time, or for the next few hours.  Waking up, as the song goes, is hard to do.  Breaking up, you say?  Shut up.  Later.

Oh. Trust me.

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Doom awakes powerfully.

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Well, the lead sounded good.  And, really, it tain't bad.  I doubt if it will unfold into much, as most lion roars are just... checking, clearing teh throat(tm), announcing, and only rarely calling a charge.  I took a shower first thing.  I'm getting spoiled with showers ever few days.  But I'll take it when I can get it.  My arms started peeling a few days ago, finally.  It looks terrible but it is a fine new hobby!  I think realizing I was missing an important part of my medicinal regimen and adding that back in has helped.  Still a gloomy day out there, but not minding it so much.  Well, it is truly gorgeous though.  I am a storm giant, among other things, after all.

Today?  I don't know.  I have been working on clearing the toilet.  I gave it a good half hour to hour last night.  I'll probably try to add something to the line for stiffness, a wire coat hanger or some such, but wrap it so as to not harm the porcelain.  And, I have some minor hope of finishing the unpacking.  And unpack what is brought in.  Other than that, and a call to my mother, not much else.  Ah, but first, I need to wake up.  I found my tylenol, which may help in strained moments.  I think my body does hurt, I am just not capable enough to... have that register.  So, from time to time a small dose of that stuff might be going in.  Odd, my touch sensitivity, even on the finger I fried, is incredibly acute.  I don't understand all things, mind you.  I just know... I am different.

Well... on to some music with which to wake.  Good day.

Hmm, working on it.

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Time is so odd, as is flesh.  I'm simply not, haven't quite, it's...  Oh, well, I am working on a few things.  Not all that successfully, but something is better than nothing.  Time and space and me just aren't quite fitting into the box called reality in an orderly fashion.  It's not a bad thing, really.  It just isn't working out to some goals, most goals.

Sort of an ugly day.

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I couldn't sleep until quite late, and woke even later.  Yesterday I realized I was missing one part of my medicinal regimen, and fixed that.  It could be worse, but maybe this will make it better.  I don't know if the sun was out earlier, though I doubt it.  But, as luck would have it, when I woke the sun was out for a bit.  The curtains were opened and I ate what I could of the light.  It slowly started clouding back over.  A taste, however, of sun, does help.

I still don't have enough going to try to figure out if I am missing some points or if it is the world that has gone off track.  I keep working with the toilet, to try to get it clean for messing with.  I just... yeah... I prefer things a certain way before I have to deal with them.  At least I have options and techniques that allow me to bide my time with this project.

I am hoping, today, to do that project, unload completely, and unpack.  I don't think I'll have a problem doing it all, pretty much, in one step.  Between packing much lighter, already having unloaded a bit, and that my health is relatively good, only energy and focus being a minor temporary probably from pushing, I think it won't be much of a problem.

I really would like to figure out how to begin... sorting and storing... everything... in a much better way around here.  I have many tools, a good deal of various pieces of equipment, firearms and maintenance tools and consumables, and a fairly interesting set up for life.  But... I often don't have things arranged well.  Some of it is good.  Some of it simply needs attention.  It's a difficult task for most men, I think.  Though most people.  I have known a few people who do it very well, I seem to... find them.  Opposites attract?  Something about people who can focus on putting things in order is that, from what I have seen, they lack the ability to think ahead as to what they might need, depending on handling it all when they get to it.  And there is a place for that, but it fails for bigger jobs.  As well, they aren't as imaginative as to fixing problems.  They would rather pay someone else to do any work, or live without.  At least, that has been my experience.

Mixing the two types is a very good thing.  It adds to... difficulties, as a couple.  But each helps define, and limit, the talents of the other.  "She" has kept me from just buying, I have bought enough so that when "she" wants something fixed, changed, upgraded, altered to her wants or needs, up to a point, I can do that.  Women might be crazy, but men drive them there.  If I still think it's usually a very short trip.  :)  Honk, honk.  Yeah!

Later.

Quiet as a church mouse?

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Mostly.  A number of things, several, varied, and on too many fronts, have been disturbing my tranquility.  At first I was taking it personally.  Then, after a bit of rethinking, I decided not to do that.  It's a bit tricky to realize some things, but, whatever all may be wrong with me, at least at this stage of health, and when I was healthier for sure, I could and now can again do this.  Something is amiss, though.  It isn't my thinking, in here, in me.  However, my ability to interact with the world, to understand, to interact, may be shorted.  Either that or the world has gone a bit haywire.  I don't know.  Until I do... I believe I will resign myself to enjoying what is around me and what I can do.  Some of you, the "old timers" from around here, may still get comments.  If they happen to not make sense, just be patient.  Or better, help me to understand what I am missing.  Really, while sometimes sounding like a child, I do have my big-boy pants on most of the time.  But others...  Most of you...  Not so much.  Do not take it personally.  Until I can sort things out...  It saves me some angst, and possibly you too.  At least, that is what feedback, or the lack of it, seems to be indicating.

I am doing well, mostly.  Tired.  Very tired.  I am staying on medication as well as I can, but that has been just a wee less regular than I prefer.  No sun, and the event, sort of took it out of me.  But, then, I knew the burn would do that.  The sun being hidden is just an additional factor, adding to the problem.  I thought I was focusing well enough.  I thought I was understanding, basically, what others were writing or saying.  But it seems not.  Rather than step on toes, or blather like an idiot, I'll just hush for a bit.  Well, and try to get a few things done.  When I can, as I am able, yada yada.

It's about bedtime.  I took a nap not long ago, but couldn't sleep too long, so...  Back to it.  Never worry, this is a mild repercussion for an extended effort.  At least, to this point, other than frustration with not getting to things (if finding work-arounds) and misunderstandings(?), I am mostly enjoying coasting until I can get my feet back under me.  So there!  :p  :)

Good night. 

Only 11:00?

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I grumbled and rumbled last night.  No, I wasn't terribly angry.  Just disagreeable about something I don't quite understand.  Being told you don't understand something that you have read several times to make clear is... annoying.  Albeit, I have to admit, I can easily be an half turn out of alignment, or more, at times.  And, if I am out of alignment, it takes a goodly lot of feedback or several examples of trying to do things as I believe them to do and having them fail.  Still, I don't think I'm off kilter, so I'm... confused.  Aye, that would be it.  I think, think I say, think, I refrained from posting deeper in the cup.  Now, I didn't go all that far in, but while still in recovery it doesn't take much.  Basically a couple of double shot, if tall, drinks, and then I tried a few beers.  Beer just didn't taste good, mostly because it is cool.  That's a summer thing, and occasional cold-weather mood thing.

Never mind.  Just a sip.  Coffee, kahlua, rye, and cream, two talls.  I don't like the rye neat, so it's a mixer.  But it is a fine mixer.  Much better than bar brands, by far, as such.  Though I think I can spend much less on just as good of mixers.  It was an experiment.

Skin is still itchy.  I'm not sure if my aloe vera stuff isn't as good or if, simply through time, the itch would have to surface.  There is only minor peeling, and only where my skin was otherwise opened, by a scrape or blemish/hair follicle unfolding.  Yep, just dirt brown.  But... that's fine.  Nose, chin, and hands got the worst of it, from what I can tell.  The hands still look almost as bruised as burned.  The nose has a dry patch on the tip, as with the high point on the chin, that has dried and remains pretty scaly despite my best efforts to hydrate.  Swelling, however, in my hands on on the ear lobes, is gone, finally, mostly, I believe.  I'll... have to be more careful in the future.  But since it didn't kill me, or even interfere with the rest of the week or the return home, or recovery really, I'm not too worried.

Storming, outside, again today.  I am pretty sure, though, that every drop of rain is a good thing.  The last I heard, the dam was at 50%, a little under.  But that was from before I left.  We have had a lot of rain since.  And, I hope it continues for a bit.  It is far better to hike in the overcast, or even rain, for me, starting out.  That reduces heat stresses caused by being out of shape, allows for faster cool downs when I sit, and I have rain gear that is more than sufficient to keep my dry of the environment.  Monday?  I hope so.  That is the target.

I woke this morning, late I assumed.  Very late.  For whatever reason, I was waking all during the morning and afternoon.  I thought it was around 16:00, late into that hour, when I woke.  I must not have been very awake, because all the clocks 'seemed' to confirm this.  It wasn't until I got on the computer, and the real time is sitting right there in the corner, that I realized it was only just at 11:00 when I woke.  Crazy, but good sleep will trick you, and not let you go for a bit.  Still, that is enjoyable since I don't have anything scheduled and didn't set or reset expectations from the seeming poor waking performance.  As is, it was more like a practical joke by my body to my mind.  Fun.

Later.

No Comment

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Still struggling just a wee bit.

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The sun has come out twice, now, today.  Just a hint of it, now, really.  I'll take what I can get.  Whatever else I can or can't get done, I do plan to get out hiking twice next week, and visit my friend as well.  Though the dark of cloud is sort of keeping me down, I am hoping it stays, or comes back, for next week.  It is much easier for me to try to push when it is cool than in blazing sun.  But... what will happen will happen.  At least I know the sun screen does an excellent job.  And with twice daily treatments with aloe vera and then adding moisturizer in, my skin should be about ready Monday.

The lad that mows came by to do just that today.  I noticed he had mowed recently.  I paid him for feeding and scooping for the girls.  Before he got to that, he wanted to try out the water mine I have.  It's a CO2 operated sprayer.  We tinkered with it, carefully until we figured it out.  He was the, well, volunteer.  It works.  After a bit of tinkering with how to get it to spray best, we have it down.  And, we know how to fill it and set it up safely.  It's not, technically, dangerous.  It's more a matter of not wasting cartridges and not getting wet unexpectedly.  Oh, yes, this thing is going to be a little joy to play with.  In the heat of summer it will be perfect.  Not all of what Doom does is about death.  Sometimes it's about creating squeals of various sorts.  Hmm...  Mom?  Water mine?  Probably not so much.  Probably.  *evil grins*

I have, what I am hoping, is a little project that arrived today.  A new water filter for my drinking water.  The old one, technically, still works.  But the faucet for it broke from the piece that kept it held to the sink.  The three replacement parts, perhaps more were needed, cost more than a new system.  Wasteful.  I'll not buy Sears products again.  I simply used the system until it was pretty much ready for replacement filters, to get what of my money out of that system I could, but was looking the whole time.  Without the need for electrical connections, I should be able to get this in fairly easily.  Hopefully the old system, as I am taking it out, will prep me for putting in the new one.  The new one was purchased after a lot of reviewing reverse osmosis systems, reading the good and the bad, and doing my own calculations.  Simplicity of use and maintenance, longevity, and function were the starring roles, followed by cost, replacement part costs, and a few other things.  The problem with Sears equipment is that it often seems to be proprietary.  You have to buy from them, you can't just go to any old hardware store and pick up whole or partial bits.  With this, if the faucet goes, or just the connection actually, I can pick up a whole new faucet, with connections, for under $20.  Gah!

Oh, my books on edible plants arrived as well.  Now that I have my gear for drawing, and these, I think I am going to try to combine the two.  I figure, but looking for plants that are more likely to be in my a.o., and drawing those, perhaps making notes on the drawings, I will have a better chance at spying them in the wild.  As I suggested, I won't be eating anything out there.  Essentially, wild plants are considered toxic, at least by me.  Having some of the lore down would merely be as... a curiosity... unless greater need required some risk taking.  I still remember the story of a man who had been eating as such for decades, so much so that he taught others.  He ended up accidentally killing himself, and over a dozen others, with a mistake.  I think it was wild onions, or they look like onions.  If they don't smell of garlic they are extremely dangerous, but the two types can grow side by side.  Yeah... curiosity.  For now.  Well, and a reason to get into sketching and more impetus to hike.

A bit more sitting, after all that play time /snark and I will probably get in and try to remove the spoon this evening.  I have been tinkering, to try to clean out the mess, in the meantime.  It does drain, albeit very slowly.  Cleaning solution goes in after each flush, and I have some hope that the thing will, mostly, be cleaned before I tinker with it more seriously.  Another flush/cleaning or two and...  While I'm thinking about it, I ought to see if it can handle another flush and maybe a bit of brush cleaning and more Pine Sol.  It's dirty work.  Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor... Joe shit the ragman.  Later.

It just takes time.

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As I become rested, and manage some of the little problems, life begins to improve.  I woke two hours earlier today.  I will try to back my day into the earlier morning, though that effort has a sorted history.  Then again, staying on track with any schedule is still, probably, out of my hands for more than a few weeks to months.  Leave me to my delusions, though, thank you.  And... it gives me something to work at, probably for the rest of my life.  It's not like it is hurting my career.  :p  I am feeling better though, and more likely to get to this and that.  Still slowly, weakly, but much improved over my last return.  I do note that I missed an appointment.  Not sure how, to be fair to me.  I had an alarm set for five, three, and one day before but, for some stupid reason, none of them went off until... 15 minutes before the appointment, which is a two hour drive away.  My phone was off, batteries dead, for a while.  I guess you just can't trust phones.

I keep tinkering in the bathroom.  Mostly trying to clear the toilet, then clean it a bit eventually, though the balloon experiment can happen whenever I next feel up to tinkering more heavily.  Sleep was good.  I let the girls in and they appreciated it.  When I am pretty sure I can sleep normally I usually let them in.  If it's going to be a night of rolling, or if I need to sleep hard, and sometimes just because, I close the door.  Both hate that, though, and will bang on the door.  Sam, I'm pretty sure it is here, will sing the songs of her people from time to time, being sure that I have abandoned her to die.  :)  I sing along with the songs of MY people.  "Shut the *cough* up!"  Which she usually does, realizing I haven't died.  Gah!  If they are too persistent, I do an ogre stomp hunt, meaning to NOT catch them, the return to bed.  Grawl howl *stomp* grumble...  *pointing* "YOU!  And YOU!", back to bed.  They play 'run, run away fast', chuckling the whole time.  I was a kid once, I know this game.

The sun came out for just a moment, today, nearly for the first time since I have been home.  That little bit helped.  Yes, even as sun intolerant as I am, I need to see that thing once in a while.  Then again, I know I will be seeing it all summer long, and little else if this year is like last, so I am trying to enjoy the shade while it lasts.  When that sun hits, it's murder hot and hard.

Later.

A simple trip.

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I was able to find everything I needed or wanted, if not always exactly what I was seeking.  Balloons, enough for my attempt at clearing the trap and to practice shaving, when I can get to that.  No mixing and matching, mind you.  Milk and cream.  Milk can end up being a liquid meal, cream means I get enough caffeine to walk, or at least wake up.  Aloe vera stuff was found, and went on as soon as I came home.  As well, I bought a couple of packs of sole cushioning for my b.o.b.  If you have ever had to walk ten or twenty miles, especially when you really aren't feeling up to it, you might know how those could help.  More so if you have to walk more than that, and for several days, by needs.  I have had to do so, but I was younger and in better shape.  Still, I am quite sure I would have appreciated these.  Not sure they were allowed, or even really existed, back then.  Can't remember.

I also bought a meal while in town.  Look, that just saves me the trouble.  And, just making it to town was about what I could do.  I did unpack some things from the vehicle, finally.  The rest of it will be gotten to when I get to it.  That's that for that.

As to using the purchases for the toilet?  As I mentioned, I am done.  I have set up a temporary toilet.  It's nothing special.  And I will have to take some care in it's usage due to various factors.  But it will give me something else to use as I slowly clean out the toilet for an easier and more sanitary work area.  And, if I get it clean enough, I may be more willing to try to reach down in there, if all else fails.  Further, if reaching down in there doesn't get it, I will have to empty the water, undo the bolts, and pull the dang thing.  What a mess.  Yes, I am hoping the balloon works.  It will get several tries, starting with simple and then going on to trying to figure out other methods.  Vaseline, for example, if the balloon and tube can't otherwise get past the blockage... if that fails, taping a straightened metal coathanger onto the rest to give it some rigidity.  Ugh...  Hoping for simple, but...  Part of the reason I can't get to it, beside physical exhaustion, is the idea that it will fail, and fail, and fail, and...  When I am tired, it is difficult to... try.

Well, I am as geared for the attempt as I can be.  And I have a rough toilet on the side.  Life isn't always perfect, but it is doable with a little thought, care, and adaptation.  Later, or... good night, actually.

Haiku Monday - Endings and Beginnings

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It seems Haiku Monday will be changing.  No longer a contest, perhaps just a rotational, slower paced, haiku fest.  Some things will remain, some things will change.  I am sure it is not what haiku originated as, but traditionalists can go too far, as can non-conformists.  I'm not even sure I am either, or even both, or neither.  All or none of that is possible.  Oh, right, Karl has the post, his considerations, and the contest, up here.

For my part, I would be happy to see volunteers take the contest, and host a theme for a week or two.  No judging required, not even a post beyond the original page would be required.  As I suggested, however, I may continue some aspect of that.  Rather than choosing a winner, I would merely choose my favored from each poet and either do a song and dance about it or explain why it connected to my way of thinking.  If I have the time and energy.  I have no difficulty, mostly, judging.  Some do.  Okay, fair enough.  Well, and losing can be difficult for some.  True.  I am fifty-fifty on that last.  Can't win for losing or lose for winning with that attitude.  :)  Taking turns hosting may allow others the time to dabble without fear, until they can... take the reigns.  We will see.

So, I put up a few.  I may put up more.  But I'm in a bit of a hurry to get to some things right now.  Still... I didn't want to desert the crew(tm).

today, tomorrow

yesterday ~ before it starts it

is already over

for all good and bad

things ~ there is a first and last ~

so it starts and ends

every ending

is just the beginning of?

of a new end - is

Yeah, getting repetitive.  I just had to toy with the notion.  Won't put this one up, but will seek other threads of the theme.  It... worked for me!  Next! 

Stupid spoon isn't magnetic!

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So much for that.  It would have worked well, I think.  If one magnet didn't work, several would have.  But... no.  So a bit more looking and...

What if i took a plastic hose, fixed a balloon on the end of it, shoved it down the toilet past the toothbrush, inflated the balloon, then pulled out the toothbrush and inflated balloon.   My first attempt was with a rubber band to hold the balloon on...didn't work. Second try we fixed the balloon on with duct tape...pushed it down as far as we could, inflated the balloon (inflating a balloon in a toilet is hard, but possible) and started pulling it out. To my amazement, it pulled out the first balloon that we lost, as well as the toothbrush!  So there you have it...plastic tube, balloon, and tape.

 Now, will that really work?  I don't know.  I do know I recently purchased tubes, if more for slingshots and maybe, hopefully, to use with a charcoal filter I ordered, as an add to my wilderness water filter.  Yeah, rivers can have some serious fishy taste to them.  I think I have enough length, it isn't that deep in there, at most I would guess a foot, though through some curves and such.  Oh, but I never did end up buying any balloons.  I need to get to town anyway.  Milk, cream, tobacco, and just to get my butt off the chair.  Hmm... a shower, a trim, some unpacking, then out?  Yeah, maybe.

Later.

Still resting, but happily.

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It's not like I collapsed when I got home this time.  It will just take a bit of rest to get me back on my feet.  I am enjoying the time off, rather than fighting for a breath.  Sleep has been good.  The girls are great company, if their humble and reasonable demands are a bit of a push.  I sort of need that push to make sure I don't just fold up into thin air.  Well, they help, is what I am saying.  Not that it is all that close, just that it might otherwise be more possible.  A bit of grounding... with claws...  Laugh if you will.  I certainly do.  Until those claws get just a tad too close.

I still haven't gotten the spoon out.  I've tried this, and that, to open up the toilet.  Then, just this morning, as I checked on those... muddy waters... a thought came to me.  I have a package of earth metal magnets.  I am not sure if that particular silverware is magnetic, though I suspect it is.  I simply have to find the big one, with the hole in it.  Tie it to a string, very very well, or coated wire, and send it in where men would rather not.  I am sure hoping that works.  I don't think the spoon could be all that stuck, really.  It is merely it's mass and gravity, plus the flow of water and... other... that keeps it trapped.  The hole is too small for me to reach through, even should I wish it.  I'm not even sure a child could reach in far enough.  Such a simple problem.  If it were a fork, it wouldn't be near this problem, or even one of the smaller headed spoons.  But this thing, at that angle, completely chokes off flow.  Live and learn.  I just wish I had remembered. 

If I am stopping, but not commenting, you'll just have to wait.  I am in recovery mode.  To add to it, the sun has been hidden since I arrived home.  It has been raining, and cool.  That sort of takes me down a notch or three all by itself.  So, if I am not commenting, just... wait longer. 

Best get some food into these girls' bowls.  Those claws are starting to be sharpened, the back of my chair is being occupied, and I am being told... "or else".  A chore I cannot refuse.  So...  Later.

Oh, my.

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Don't let a bit of sentimentality... allow you to think I have gone soft.

In time.

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Yeah, a bit zapped.

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Yesterday didn't see much done.  Fair enough.  Today, however, I am hoping to figure out a bit more.  I knew I wouldn't be sprinting toward a new finish line when I returned.  I did think I would try to be more active.  And yesterday wasn't a complete toss.  A few projects were, if they remain, in the works.  A bit here, a bit there.  But when I hit the vehicle, I will unpack at least half of it, if not all of it, and relatively quickly is my guess.

Now that the girls are happy I am home, they are wanting me to be up and feed them.  On their schedule.  I'll have to train them, a bit, again.  Still, fair is fair.  I'll need to go to town before too long as well.  Milk and cream, for coffee.  Perhaps some soda for an occasional cold sip.  Nothing fancy, not a large supply needed from the store.  Hmm, and when I am going, I'll see if my friend wants to do some of his own shopping.  Oh, and aloe vera goop.  I think my skin is past the major peeling problem, but it could dry out if I don't keep tending it.  And, after using that, I am impressed with how well it works.

Oh, I suppose.  The girls are whining about food and it is about time.  Then just a bit o' music and on to... something.  Later.

Ah ha.

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I remember, now, why the toilet would be blocked.  The day I was leaving I was dumping wash water from a tub.  I thought it to be empty.  It was, all save a spoon.  And that spoon shot right into the trap, beyond sight.  It was a big spoon, tablespoon sized, plus.  Solid metal, a bit oversized even for it's intended uses.  So... that is what the problem is.  Before I remembered I tried the snake.  Now, the snake does open a channel which allows enough flow to vacate the stool but it doesn't seem able to catch the spoon and bring it back.  I'll keep tinkering... if I can stop needing to use the facilities.  Oh, I'll... get it sorted before long.  At least I can use the toilet, in a bit of a limited capacity.  And now that I know what the problem is I might be able to figure out a better solution.  I am wondering about fishing hooks, though...  I'm just not sure.  A spoon is going to be a little tricky, especially being as heavy as it is and with a trap that allows it to simply slide out of sight.  Looking at the trap, patterned into the ceramic, it doesn't seem like it should even be able to do that.  So much for looks.

I really thought the plumber snake would catch, or would sort of get tangled on it, and pull.  But nope.  Oh well, live and learn.  At least I don't have a wife and a dozen kids wanting in there.  Now if I could just tame my own needs.  Something about getting home...  Do we have to mark our territories, even if we don't think of it that way?  Don't know.  It is definitely incentive to get going on my en suite bathroom.  Two of everything, even in a home, really eases maintenance and other problems.

Later.

I thought so.

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I am doing really good.  My toilet, somehow, is clogged.  It wasn't when I left, and was on the first flush.  Hmm...  I'll try to plunge it again, again.  If that fails, the snake.  If all else fails, a plumber.  Now sure how that could have happened.  I just hope it isn't something like roots.  Don't see how it could be though.  Never mind, just something to figure out, but much sooner than later.  It's the only toilet I have at the moment.

I'll be working on that and getting unpacked today.  I am a bit tired, but it was a long drive for an old guy, and that after packing up camp earlier on top of it.  I have figured out, with breaking camping, doing a bit here, a bit there, and just taking my time... it is quite doable and even mildly relaxing.  I figure unpacking will be done similarly.

My burned skin has, mostly, healed.  Ear lobes are peeling just a bit.  I think there might be another very small area of peel happening, but nothing major, oddly.  I burned, I mean hard.  My skin was getting that purplish hue in places from it.  While I can't resist, or handle, the sun all that well, burns are another thing entirely.  I'm curious to see what sort of coloration will result from it.  I used to burn then turn golden, in my teens.  But as an adult I never allowed burns, and usually just turned... hmm... dirt brown.  :p  At least I know that sun screen I bought really works.  I didn't burn even a touch more after that first day.  I need to remember to buy aloe vera stuff when in town next, that stuff is a little miracle.  I used it, thankfully the Cat family brought it, twice a day.  It made it so I could handle the pain of the burn by cooling it, and kept my skin from just blistering off in places, I think.  Loverly stuff.

Yeah...  I have a few things to do.  And I do need a little time off.  The sun is behind thicker clouds so I get a little break from that too.  All good.  I'll figure things out and be ready, I am hoping, to get out shooting and hiking, and figuring out places to camp, starting next week.  I don't want to let this boost go to waste.  I may try to make it to Burning Man this year, somehow.  It depends.  Desert Cat might not be able to make it, doesn't know because of work this year.  In either case, I want to begin hiking and camping so, eventually, at one of these burn events, I can actually partake much more strongly.  I enjoy people.  And you don't really meet people in very many places who sort of treat you as kin, or who are unafraid to give you a hug or chat with or at you.  I'm not the hugging type, but... that's a weakness if it does have it's place and time, as well, mind you.

Oh, and I'm loving the girls!  They missed me too.  I had to sleep alone partly last night, but woke later and let them in.  I knew I would be rolling and needed some hard sleep right away.  They came in later and flopped, walked on, and otherwise made sure it was me, that I was still alive, and are letting me know that breakfast is needed.  So... 

But, yes, I am doing quite well.  A little groggy from the week and drive.  But the will and health are good.  And I'll be hitting medicines perfectly for a bit.  I did take them okay there, but... not perfectly.  It's tough, while camping, to keep that on track.  I figure partial is much better than none.  But... I really am in good shape, considering... though in part because the trip was a boost not a drain.  Yeah, the combo of medicines and being out is a very good thing.  I'll be doing things a bit slower this week, but not stopping, and with my goals set on getting out a few times a week, at least, the rest of the summer.  Oh, and snowshoeing to explore for winter camping this winter!  Gotta get, and stay, plugged in.

Later.

Back.

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Just.  I left the camp at noon, give or take.  Traffic was slow getting down the dirt roads to the highway.  But once to the highway, dispersion and whatever else cleared the road easily.  I left Snowflake at right at 14:00, it was right at 2:00 when I arrived home.  I went the speed limit plus five, and while I did stop for one very fast meal, it took an hour longer than the online map suggested.  Yeah, I was fast with gas fills too, so that wasn't it.  Actually I only went into one.  The rest were, pretty much, drivethroughs.  Ah well.  I made it, and alive, and on track.

The burn was fun.  It was good to see Desert Cat, and meet Daisy Cat.  An entertaining lot if I ever saw one.  I shouldn't have grinned and giggled so much but they WERE entertaining, according to my book.  She didn't kill me outright.  And she didn't end up being all that fearful.  And I never pulled any punches.  I don't cut corners or fib, as best as I am able, in real life or on my blog.  It works out better that way, in my opinion.

I cooked, burned hard, the first day.  After that, I learned to wear my sun proof solution and clothing and stayed in the shade for the most part.  I did get out several times, day and night.  I simply wasn't in very good shape.  A good month after seven or eight months knocking on death's door simply wasn't enough to liven me.  No matter, I enjoyed getting out, the company, and what activity I could do.

I am zapped.  So I won't unload tonight.  But I will unload, part or whole, tomorrow.  Further, I do believe I will tend things as I unpack them.  The tent won't need airing out.  But the sleeping bag will.  I'll want to go through my b.o.b. and rearrange and ensure I have what I want to keep in there.  I used some of the bits, here and there.  Clothing will all go into the washroom, and be sorted.  It might take a few days to get it all out, but it will be done this time, and quickly.

I best get to bed.  Good night.

Groused about for a post.

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Went looking for something to get me going, grease the gears, help shove off, wake up.  Couldn't find it, or think.  Then I noticed a post someone else had recently viewed and...  I'm just copying and pasting.  It's all I've got and I need something to... stir the pot.  Yeah, just a copy and past job.  Needed some music and offering a notion of... things... roughly.  Uhrm, two of the songs had been copyright blocked, so... I found two that hadn't been.  :)  Bleh.  Fixed the original post as well.  Were there is an internet, there is a way.
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I'll just enjoy for a bit.  I had thought to see if I could use it.  No need.  I think it will tend to that itself.  A good day is just that, a frisky one is better.  Invigorated, and mischievous, with a bloom of energy and imagination running rampant.  I have things to do.

Awake.

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Oh, that waking thing, that can be crazy.  You think it's one time, or another, and a cycle or two of the snooze bar plus some dreaming, and I was thinking it was after 3:00.  No fuss, just... *sigh*  I do try, and I have been pushing it, and I am pushing it on this specific thing.  I couldn't get everything packed and stowed before hitting it.  My mind had turned to mush and while my body was still good, save for a cranky back (but I've always had that! *grins* ), my body knew that I didn't have the whip of will or a very good means of guiding it anyway, so it slipped out the back and went "fishing". 

I did get the bulk of what I am taking in.  Water jugs were filled and loaded, tent and such went in, table, hibachi, all of the big stuff.  What I have left is the little irritating stuff, like toiletries, food, and such.  Oh, and I found a pan I had set aside.  Oh my.  Yeah, well, while I was cleaning out the soda cooler I went ahead and set the pan to soak.  Oh yuck was that a nasty one.  But stainless is good for it, same with cast, if you... urhm... goof.  I really have been pushing it.  Not just for me, but for any man, if only for a few days.

I went to hop on the machine and was told XP was dead unless I do something.  Doubting there would be a fix, but needing some wake-up time with coffee anyway, I pressed "do it now, on the phone".  Okay.  That ended up being a LOT less of a problem then I had anticipated.  I thought I would be fighting for my 'allowance' to use their software.  Nope, just had to enter eight sets of six numbers, then they spit out a new set of same for me to put in.  Easy enough.  Though my phone, right in the middle of it, decided, for some stupid reason, to ask me, while I needed to use the numerical keypad, if I wanted to add this number to my contacts!  I didn't know how to get that off, and by the time I figured that out, the system had booted me over to a talker (live contact).  I had to do it all over again, by voice, but that went fine.  Other than stumbles from being mostly still asleep, I am now, again, allowed to use "my" computer.  Gah!

So... of course... I wanted to do a post, check email, and see if any points east have been nuked yet.  Don't laugh, and it isn't just foreigners.  This admin is almost stupid enough to go to war with Russia and China rather than use right diplomacy and other tools, and certainly has no interest in allowing the loss of control in a city.  Burning San Diego as an example is not below them, nothing is.  It's... in their thought processes.  A wire loose, a need for control and power they don't legitimately have or even have the wealth of wisdom in order to possess.  Hate, they do, for their base iniquities. 

Cheery lot when I wake.  Ah, but it... gets much better.  When fully awake, I see more, more deeply, and more surely.  Cheers!  :P

Oh, right... the trip though.  Food needs to be packed, and soda et. al.  Toiletries and a few such odds and ends.  I have it pretty much set up, the final cooler is clean, the other is all set, though I need to get some gloves for the readjustment of dry ice and putting food in that.  I put the whole thing in the freezer, after... a few adjustments in there.  Hmm... yeah...  Oh, I best give the girls a meal, my last, and more a gift than a feeding...  Oh, and a shower.  Too much.  Overload.  I'm hoping to have that all done and loaded, an hour after I start, but... urhm... first I have to wake, and then...  That's pretty tight time.  Gah!

Have a good week.

Some things, it seems.

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When I set out to do something, if time is tight, I try to get my mind wrapped around the resources involved.  Time is extremely precious, so it is counted and weighed, and tables are created.  As many of you know, a job, or set of tasks, often, or almost always takes more time than anticipated.  Well, usually.  I expected, with traffic, the stores being busy, construction, and just chance, to require two hours for the trip to town and shopping at the two stores required.  It turned out to take just an hour and an half.  Maybe even a little less, actually.

A tarp was found, 9'x9', which I will need to fold under.  That is fine.  I didn't want to try an exactly size.  That seems to almost never work well unless it was made for the tent.  Even then, sometimes, that doesn't work well.  Charcoal was also found, and hand sanitizer.  Then on to the grocery store.  The dry ice, into the cooler with the cardboard to protect the sides and ice to help keep the dry ice in better shape.  As well, soda, potatoes, and three more small bags of ice.  Then home, just in time for dinner to arrive.  Timing, luck, or observations, I never can be sure.  Oh, not on my part.  I have no sense of such things, not in the mechanical, or physical way, and little regard for it due to an inability.  If that isn't the only... reason possible.

Now, to fill the water, load everything in, and get some rest before taking off tonight.  The gates open at noon.  And I am guessing a large portion of those who are coming will be there.  Right at noon.  So I am not terribly concerned about being there exactly at noon.  Still, within a few hours is good.  And if I happen to be there then, that is fine.  But no absolute hard-tack push is in play.  So, when I end up laying down, I will give myself eight hours for the alarm.  I will have clothes set out to wear, and take a shower, the last for a while, potentially.  Then finish what of the coffee I have made, while making a pot to be put into go cups.  Finally, some pets, and razzes for the girls before heading out.

Just getting out of the house with what I need and want is half of the adventure, and all of the work.  Driving is cake, camping is the easy life for someone like me, and grousing around for an ear to lean into is pleasant child's play.  I offer myself as a minor distraction for the costs.  Oh, and maybe a story or three that can't be refused, just not believed.  If you can believe it.  I need to let dinner settle just a wee before packing.  Most of my list is completed.  Oh, I'll forget something or other.  That is how it goes.  But I have more than I need so...

Hmm... a bit o' music would be good.  Nothing new to offer you, too busy lately, so I will just listen to some of my old stuff.  It does speed along the digestion.  I suppose this is good night.  Perhaps one last post right before I head out, for no good reason.

One thing, then another.

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Keep breathing, keep moving until you can't, then take a break.  Rinse and repeat.

Dishes are done, the cooler has been sorted out but now I need to figure out protection for it, from the dry ice.  I don't know if I said, but laundry has been done.  The last few loads haven't been folded or otherwise dealt with, but they are clean.  Medicine has been tended, one medset stored, the other will just go with me, out in the open for the most part.  Bits of this and that but never quite... there.  I still need to figure out food more fully.  I am about to go to town for dry ice and charcoal, and potatoes.  Might as well grab another bag or two of ice, just to be sure, and soda.  Bleh.

I haven't tried to contact anyone about windows trying to shut off, but I haven't had the time or I was busy or needing a break and couldn't think about that, it's getting late, so...  Oh well.  It is about time to head to town if I am going to be back in time for supper.  Yeah, I know, but...  Take it where you can get it when nothing else is working or everything else is being used elsewise.  It is too much.  But it can't be done, much of it, much earlier than I have done it.  I knew where everything was, and it was pretty much ready.  But that final bit has to be done right about at that time or it is under foot, could end up scattered, and might be needed for something else.

Never mind.  In to town before that is too late.  Oh, but I have to fit the cooler with cardboard first.  That "shouldn't take too long".  Bleh.  Later.

Too much.

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Gah!  Every time I turn around there is another detail or task.  Laundry is done, dishes still need to be finished but I refreshed the soak.  The table, hibachi, and b.o.b., plus the pack with the clothes which I had to and did pack, along with the tent and such, are near the door.  I've lined up four containers for water, two with spigots.  The directions were scrawled out by hand earlier.  I still have to get medicine ready.  I still have to think about food.  Four cans of veggies, four cans of fruit, a couple MREs, and of course meats.  But the cooler was in bad shape.  I went to start fitting it with cardboard, to protect from the dry ice.  I had thought it had been cleaned, but... no.  Not too bad, there wasn't anything in it that could seriously rot.  And it was dry.  It's just... mildewy smelling.  So, that is soaking with soap and a touch of bleach.  Medicine has to be set up, twice, and the medsets stored where they won't both go bad if there is a problem.  Another cooler, I hope it is in the basement, for soda, beer, and ice.

From what I am seeing, it should all fit in the back, and back seat, without me having to lay the back seat down.  I prefer not to do that.  Sometimes, though, there isn't an option.  Weight shouldn't even be close to a problem, even running with full water jugs this time.  Last time, my rig was filled to overflowing, plus had a rack carry bag.  Bleh.  Not even close this time.  I should have room for that gorgeous hitchhiker I know I will see.  He boyfriend will have to walk.  No funny business in my vehicle... unless it involves me.  And I'm celibate, so.

Every time I do something I have to think what else I have to do while trying not to stumble over what I have done.  I did make a list, but to make a complete list would... be crazy.  The best I can do is write something like "food", and just know that means assorted cans, some MREs, coffee, French press, frozen and figuring that out, the hibachi and charcoal (which I still have to get when I go to town for dry ice, after the cooler has soaked and is ready to clean and dry, and then is fitted with cardboard so as to be safe from the dry ice), and... whatever else food might involve.  See what I mean.  A general, skeletonized, list, is all that is possible.  The rest just has to be known.  Which, is tight quarters for a cripple who usually only has to figure out how to put coffee in his face and not do a nose dive into the keyboard.  Tricky as those things are, this is just a wee more than that.  Still, I think I'm doing alright.

Always waiting on something, or needing a little breather though.  Some people can straight shoot stuff.  I'm not one of those people.  I can straight shoot: a slip down a slope or the fall off a high object; digging political and social holes around other people; drinking more than an elephant on it's 21st birthday; failing miserably; and sometimes, just sometimes, pulling off the impossible.  Right now I'm in the middle of the latter, considering the one before it, looking forward to the one before that, and hoping not to experience the first.  *grin*  How'd you like them apples.  That oughta  stop some of your bitching.  Oh, don't think that hard, I didn't write that hard.  :p

The girls know something is up.  They are somewhere between excited with me and pissed.  If you can't have a woman, get a cat.  Same same, in some areas.  They'll give you grief, love, and hate you, all while hoping you actually return.  Just on the social side, mind you.  Consider them sisters or mother types, and there you go.  They know I'm going.  Don't know where, or care, so long as they get fed in the meantime, and that I return eventually.  Don't want to go.  It's not their thing.  Not even camping.  Underfoot as often as they can be in my efforts though.  But... t'sokay.  I just give them a little extra attention, or a razzleberry, which is at least as good in their eyes.  At least they don't literally cry when I head out, though... Should I?  Yeah...  I have always enjoyed a woman crying.  I know she'll quit as soon as I'm out of the driveway, and find something to do that I wouldn't approve.  Sweats, icecream, and television.  Bleh.  You'd think I would stir them to more but... that's it.

Blathering as I cool down so as to do more.  Later.

Alright, by hand then.

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I hate it when the instructions suggest this, that, and the other thing, when all they really mean is keep on a certain road, highway, interstate, or such.  It's, really, too much data.  I pared it down a lot.  The 15 steps to I-15 was completely cut, the rest of it was summarized.  They are suggesting it will an 11 hour trip just to Snowflake, but that can't be right.  On pretty much the same roads, it only took me 11 hours to get to Eloy, not far from Tuscon.  While I do, usually, go five mph fast, that's it.  So, don't even think I was playing fast and loose with the speed limit to do that.  Hmm, maybe my memory is a bit soft, that path, they say, takes 13 hours.  I just can't remember.  That wasn't a rough ride, even after having loaded the vehicle first, and with no nap in there between the loading and driving.  I spent... at least ten hours loading and packing, I think.  Ugh...  This will be quite a bit easier.

Well, with that done, a cup of joe, then on to the last of the packing and filling the water jugs.  When that is done, medicines.  After that, a run to town to pick up charcoal and dry ice, then a nap.  I'd like to do that later, but I want a nap before heading out.  Dry ice will simply last as long and well as it does.  My guess is, each trip will get smoother, more streamlined.  If I could find a printer that works...  The last three have been duds.  And with moving, and my general organizational skills, I've not been able to get warrantee protections...  Landfill material.  HP, Canon, and another.  Junk.  Oh, and don't think I have expended great time and effort trying to get them to work, in forums, calls to the manufacturer's tech lines, and such.  Junk.  I even reviewed them.  Lemons?  That many in a row?  Bleh.

On a side note, it looks like I'll hit 2k pageviews for the month.  It isn't significant, just a record.  That's 66.6~ pageviews a day.  I just wanted to put that into perspective so I understand it a bit better.  No idea why almost any reads, but... there it is.  Can't be entertaining.  Odd.  I'll think about it when I have more time.

Yeah, I best get to the last of it.  Later.

So many little things to do.

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Yeah, it's... pretty much all ready to go.  But ice in the coolers, stuff arranged, double bagged, and such.  This and that.  Oh, a set of clothes for the trip home, bagged just in case.  Not bagging all of my clothes this time.  Never did get a tarp, perhaps on the way out of town.  I need more charcoal, the real stuff, anyway.  I'm messing with the printer now, trying to get the instructions.  The instructions lead to a googlemap link, but you can't input your location to get complete instructions.  Poor coordination, as I see things.  Us a map that works!  Then again, not sure my printer will work, the ink might be dried out.  Still...

Of course, some last minute arrangements are always part of it.  Water bottles to be filled.  Everything loaded.  Always... something.  Ah... medicine.  I'll have to load up both medsets, and figure out the insulin.  It really is all ready to go, it just has to be... well... put together then loaded.  Or... something.  This is usually a job for the mrs. or misses.  It just is.  Oh, men can do it, but... not well.  They do the packing, we do the navigating, that's usually how it works.  My last wanted to change things up.  Every time we tried it, we ended up lost for great periods of time and showing up very late, and... missing stuff.  Still, I don't care.  She did, not me.  I just laughed.  That's... also part of our job.  Bah, I'll get there.  Sometime, with some stuff.

I did get someone to feed the girls, set the food out, wet food, on the counter.  Just use one stack, then the next.  I have sorted them for variety already.  I hope they remember where the dry food is.  I don't dare set that out.  It's in the cupboard outside of the bathroom.  In case you forgot.  It's the one that is open.  Says cat food on it.  :p  Oh, check the water and clean their litter box at least every other day, and stir it up so the pee doesn't soak in.  Just... trying to be helpful.

So many nitpicking little details.  I did what I could with the time I had, and then some, I should like to think.  Should have been more on top of it, but health doesn't always permit.  I get windows, I use windows.  If I don't have windows, I obviously can't use them.  And I have been out of sorts, no doubts there.  I'm actually surprised I got this window and did what I did, without having to simply stack everything I hoped I would need, as I could, and go.  That has, and can, happen.  And, actually, I am, so far, rather well on top of things.  Even to cleaning my house, a bit, before I go.  All laundry is done, and dishes will be too.  Trash is out, if there remain many boxes to eventually be dealt with, that is livable.

I figure I will need a nap, after loading, then will head out pretty late tonight.  Thankfully, the first part of the drive is well known.  And most of it will have some familiarity to it.  The last part, however, is a really doozy of paying attention, watching for tiny signs or maybe even watching the odometer?  It looks like a claustrophobic run if I have ever seen one.  Then again, I did find Desert Cat's secret hideaway without too much fuss.  I was rested though, but that doesn't always make too much difference for me.  Not when I'm on duty.  And... while driving to a strange place in a strange world, I'm on duty.

I love being back on active duty.  :)  Now... to see if the printer is running.  I just wish it didn't take so long to put the drivers and software on, just to even find out if the printer will even work!  Bleh.  Later.

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Crap, looks like the ink is dead.  I'll... tinker with it just a bit more, do some machine and hand stuff, to see if I can get the ink to flow, but...

That was weird...  My monitor just moved.  Cats aren't near it.  Like something ran into my home?  One sec. - Nope, just a ghost.  Weird.

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It's not the ink flow.  Lousy printer.  Now it's suggestion some kind of error, no matter what I do.  Found a fix for the error!  And it still, of course, doesn't work.  Well, hand notes, again.

Oh, that was good.

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Falling to sleep before dinner arrived, I kept my phone ready.  Wasn't sure I would hear it.  I did, and got up and was ready.  The girls are covered, dinner was quite welcome, and sleep was had immediately after.

My initial and second fall into sleep was easy.  No pain.  I thought to set that alarm for 5:00, an eight hour sleep, but that just didn't happen.  I was torn between sleeping as needed and pushing.  I didn't want to do either.  In the end, I just lost consciousness before I could decide.  No problem, as it turns out.  I woke at about 4:00.  Good enough.  I woke easily and without pain.  I'm just sort of waking, answering some last minute queries, and thinking else I need to do.

I merely need to pack what I have collected, fill the water, and put everything in the vehicle.  A lot less this time.  No bike to take, so I won't even be messing with that.  I may try to get XP fixed so it doesn't die while I am gone, if that is possible.  But first, just to wake up.  A bit of coffee right away.  Hmm, one more load of laundry, and to finish the dishes.  I have reset the rinse for the dishes.  The water has to be hot or dishes are a pain to dry.  When I set the coffee up, I'll put the last load of laundry through.  I've set the cat food out, for easy use.  I have one more load of trash to go out.  Should have taken it out yesterday, but, yeah... I was busy and did what I could, and then some.  And I have to get dry ice on the way out of town. 

Ugh, so much to do!  And, yet, not really.  It's all in place, like dominoes.  Just have to remember which ones to push to make it more orderly, and bulldoze when that fails.  I best check on the path and get that set, as well.  It's, mostly, the same path I took last time, just not as long of a drive as even the first leg of my last trip.  All good.  Later.