.
.
Very maybe. I just woke. Temps look good. I didn't finish resetting my pack but I don't really care. I will add a bit more food if I go. When I get to the trailhead, or maybe just in to town, I'll call my mom, leave a message if she doesn't answer. Just so someone knows. If she doesn't hear from me by Friday, I'll have her have a local check. If that fails, then they can send someone out. I will have enough supplies, and cover, for a good solid week. If I realize I am not getting anywhere, I'll begin looking for an easy to spot place and setting up camp... staying put. Someplace easy to see from above and below. I don't expect it, highly doubt it. With enough food and having be dropped in nowhere before, I've done pretty well. The world, as I have suggested, if you listen closely, will tell you where you are and where to go to get roughly where you are going. Not great for geo-caching, mind you, but better than most devices in the hands of most people.
It seems youtube had devolved. It started that, just on my blog, I couldn't get the vids to enlarge without crashing, but I could see them. Other blogs and youtube were just fine. Then other blogs became problematic, I couldn't enlarge there, either. But I could at youtube. Then I couldn't watch them on my blog at all. Then I couldn't watch them on other people's blogs. And now I can't watch them on youtube. I have reloaded flash several times, emptied caches, checked my browser for updates... nothing is working. Looks like until whoever is causing the problem, or possibly whatever updates are failing to work well with others, music videos are done. I'm not a true tech. I can do a few things, check a few things, but there are limits. I am pretty much at the limit.
If I get out, or not, I plan on a bit of shopping before heading home. I probably need to slow up on the kefir, but it is pretty good. I often over-consume something new. Homemade really is much better than storebought. Why? Perhaps they treat it with stuff to keep it in a specific state. Perhaps they pasteurize it. Maybe they add stuff that isn't the real stuff as filler or just because or because the states require it, or... I don't know. Homemade is simply better. I still like milk though too. The only way for me to have milk, though, is to slow down on the kefir. I'll have to use willpower to make it just eight ounces, twice a day. Yeah, I can. If I can quit tobacco, and watch people smoke in the movies, I can cut the kefir.
Yes, I'm probably into the third, nearing fourth, week of quitting. I am keeping with the 21mg patches for now. I have changed the patch late, gone two days with the same patch (I sometimes get that way with medicine, even food, some sort of... resistance grump), and even went a day without the patch for the same reason as the last. I'm still a bit off my game. It is more noticeable at times. Slower at sudoku, for example. A bit of a depressed memory. A bit of extra lethargy. Not horribly so, just a 20% trim of the recent expected norms. I'll be good to go in a couple of months.
Oh, and... if it all works, I may stop in at the ranger station and talk them up. I would like to hear what they have to say, any advice, warnings, and maybe hear if there is anything they need or would appreciate out there. You never know. I best get a cup of coffee, then maybe a bite to eat as I wake and get ready. Later.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Monday, July 13, 2015
Looks like youtube is toast.
.
.
Something has been off since I emailed Amazon to let them know I wouldn't be doing business with them. I told them why. I received a typical automated response. Since then, I have heard nothing. So I am beginning to reorder who I work through. Since then, as mentioned, I have been unable to watch videos on my blog. More, as of... yesterday... I have no longer been able to enlarge youtube videos. When SJW types attack this way, it means you hit the target. I will begin figuring out what they jacked on the machine, see if it is something I can fix. Or if they simply contacted their friends in youtube and the others, and pretty much eliminated my ability to use their service. Their aren't many of them. They do work together, and in the shadows. Evil always has worked this way.
Not really important. I haven't been visiting there often anyway lately. My guess is, if their actually bosses figure out what they have done, even if they don't like my type, they will cook off a couple of employees. Right now is not the time to be... directly evil to customers. Especially customers who have some affect on numbers. We'll see. As for the bosses? They know who the usual suspects are, and will know if they, or which of them, are lying. Perhaps not as technical, but bosses aren't bossed to necessarily be techs. They are bosses because they know how to handle people. With margins as thin as they are, I suspect they best start handling the little rainbow brownshirts who work for them. There are a lot of foreigners who would just love a cushy little job, and would know not to get involved with giants.
We'll see. My guess is, half the reasons companies are trying for foreign workers is because their is such a snooty leftist bent to US millennials. Companies simply can't handle the losses this group is incurring. So... they do what they have to do. Go ahead, mess with my machine. Eventually that will see you out of a job, one way or another. And, then, very likely, in prison. Like the boomers, you just don't know when to quit. You also don't realize that everything you are burning through "because you are right", isn't yours, never was. It's what little is left from what the boomers burned through, which was a gift from their parents and before. Best get in line or prepared to be set aside.
.
Something has been off since I emailed Amazon to let them know I wouldn't be doing business with them. I told them why. I received a typical automated response. Since then, I have heard nothing. So I am beginning to reorder who I work through. Since then, as mentioned, I have been unable to watch videos on my blog. More, as of... yesterday... I have no longer been able to enlarge youtube videos. When SJW types attack this way, it means you hit the target. I will begin figuring out what they jacked on the machine, see if it is something I can fix. Or if they simply contacted their friends in youtube and the others, and pretty much eliminated my ability to use their service. Their aren't many of them. They do work together, and in the shadows. Evil always has worked this way.
Not really important. I haven't been visiting there often anyway lately. My guess is, if their actually bosses figure out what they have done, even if they don't like my type, they will cook off a couple of employees. Right now is not the time to be... directly evil to customers. Especially customers who have some affect on numbers. We'll see. As for the bosses? They know who the usual suspects are, and will know if they, or which of them, are lying. Perhaps not as technical, but bosses aren't bossed to necessarily be techs. They are bosses because they know how to handle people. With margins as thin as they are, I suspect they best start handling the little rainbow brownshirts who work for them. There are a lot of foreigners who would just love a cushy little job, and would know not to get involved with giants.
We'll see. My guess is, half the reasons companies are trying for foreign workers is because their is such a snooty leftist bent to US millennials. Companies simply can't handle the losses this group is incurring. So... they do what they have to do. Go ahead, mess with my machine. Eventually that will see you out of a job, one way or another. And, then, very likely, in prison. Like the boomers, you just don't know when to quit. You also don't realize that everything you are burning through "because you are right", isn't yours, never was. It's what little is left from what the boomers burned through, which was a gift from their parents and before. Best get in line or prepared to be set aside.
Another day in the summer life of an ogre.
.
.
Not getting much going. Little things, here and there. I did get a large part of the fruit leather going. I was limited by the number of a certain type of tray liner. Though, even if not limited, I that way, I would have worked about with what I had. The dehydrator manufacturer suggests 10, or 12, trays may be used at once. And I am absolutely sure of it. Actually, if you wanted, you could probably use as many as you could stack. Now, it wouldn't work well, at all, but you COULD do that. Yeah, don't use more than, say, eight. Even that seemed a bit much. I'll try it with some other stuff, and maybe in the winter. But I haven't seen good results when stacked too high. It may depend on what you are drying. fruit leathers seemed like one of the heavier things to dry, so I kept it shorter. I best check them. I actually turned it off for the night, and will just run the thing in the day... while I am awake that is.
Hiking, today, is off. I will be going tomorrow, if I go. There is a reason, but never you mind. Still, I am feeling good, it is a new week, I don't want to just sit, so I will get busy today. Trash has to go, some dishes have stacked up from this and that, the kitchen and... the rest... could happily be afforded spit and shine. What all I will get to today is a whole other issue. The idea is to take off as much top layer as possible, and then to hit some area really hard. The kitchen, maybe bathroom, would be the priority, for a major hit. As well, I didn't get going on my pack. There are new things that need to be washed before being put in, and I got hung up with fruit leathers, kefir, and some other things, so never got to dishes. I often overload my list though, and underestimate how long things will take, and how long on any give day, throughout any week, how much I can do. Better to have too much on the list than too little though, imho.
Coffee, breakfast, then trash, setting up dishes. All of the dishes have been washed once. So all I really need to do is wash them again, see if that is actually enough, give them a hot rinse and dry when they get cool enough. After I wash them, again, this first time, I'll get a shower in. Then chill until I figure out what to do next. As for the new camping gear, I don't think new stuff needs more than a single wash, so... easy enough. After finishing that, and air drying my own self, I'll hit the pack. I definitely want that full ready for whenever I do go. Ugh.
Well, that is the theory. I may take a nap before high noon, as well. I'll just have to see. If I get half of this done, but most certainly all of it, I'll deserve a nap. The strange thing is, on days I can do a lot of work, I often don't end up feeling the need for a nap. Effort doesn't equal outcome, either. Some days, just not sleeping is more effort that a major amount of work on another day. Fair? Maybe not, but it is what it is. And, from I have read, there is no implicit or explicit claim that life will be fair, by the power of dark or light. One suggests that we take what we think is fair, the other suggests we live rightly under the burden, keeping faith for the One who suffered so that we would not know our just deserts. Neither suggests a fairness here and now. Hmm, actually, the light does suggest that we chose this unfairness. Anyway, I'm not going to worry about fairness. I'm simply going to do what I can and when I can. God will sort the rest out.
Later.
.
Not getting much going. Little things, here and there. I did get a large part of the fruit leather going. I was limited by the number of a certain type of tray liner. Though, even if not limited, I that way, I would have worked about with what I had. The dehydrator manufacturer suggests 10, or 12, trays may be used at once. And I am absolutely sure of it. Actually, if you wanted, you could probably use as many as you could stack. Now, it wouldn't work well, at all, but you COULD do that. Yeah, don't use more than, say, eight. Even that seemed a bit much. I'll try it with some other stuff, and maybe in the winter. But I haven't seen good results when stacked too high. It may depend on what you are drying. fruit leathers seemed like one of the heavier things to dry, so I kept it shorter. I best check them. I actually turned it off for the night, and will just run the thing in the day... while I am awake that is.
Hiking, today, is off. I will be going tomorrow, if I go. There is a reason, but never you mind. Still, I am feeling good, it is a new week, I don't want to just sit, so I will get busy today. Trash has to go, some dishes have stacked up from this and that, the kitchen and... the rest... could happily be afforded spit and shine. What all I will get to today is a whole other issue. The idea is to take off as much top layer as possible, and then to hit some area really hard. The kitchen, maybe bathroom, would be the priority, for a major hit. As well, I didn't get going on my pack. There are new things that need to be washed before being put in, and I got hung up with fruit leathers, kefir, and some other things, so never got to dishes. I often overload my list though, and underestimate how long things will take, and how long on any give day, throughout any week, how much I can do. Better to have too much on the list than too little though, imho.
Coffee, breakfast, then trash, setting up dishes. All of the dishes have been washed once. So all I really need to do is wash them again, see if that is actually enough, give them a hot rinse and dry when they get cool enough. After I wash them, again, this first time, I'll get a shower in. Then chill until I figure out what to do next. As for the new camping gear, I don't think new stuff needs more than a single wash, so... easy enough. After finishing that, and air drying my own self, I'll hit the pack. I definitely want that full ready for whenever I do go. Ugh.
Well, that is the theory. I may take a nap before high noon, as well. I'll just have to see. If I get half of this done, but most certainly all of it, I'll deserve a nap. The strange thing is, on days I can do a lot of work, I often don't end up feeling the need for a nap. Effort doesn't equal outcome, either. Some days, just not sleeping is more effort that a major amount of work on another day. Fair? Maybe not, but it is what it is. And, from I have read, there is no implicit or explicit claim that life will be fair, by the power of dark or light. One suggests that we take what we think is fair, the other suggests we live rightly under the burden, keeping faith for the One who suffered so that we would not know our just deserts. Neither suggests a fairness here and now. Hmm, actually, the light does suggest that we chose this unfairness. Anyway, I'm not going to worry about fairness. I'm simply going to do what I can and when I can. God will sort the rest out.
Later.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
A very good summer.
.
.
I asked, and received, it seems. Sure, I've been blowing it, sort of. What have I been squandering, you ask? Ah... cool weather. Whether it lasts or not, I do believe it has helped. And I am almost certain I will get at least one use out of it, beside all of the in house stuff I have also pushed through. I have definitely been enjoying it.
I ended up having a great deal of trouble seeding one of the berry mixes. I kept at it, let it set, tried a few things. Next time? Heat. Yeah, yeah, but it's easy, on a first try, to miss even the obvious. Yes, just blend, put int a small pot, and heat gently. A good place to add sugar or other sweetener as well. Then strain. I have several type of strainers that are easily fine enough for even raspberry seed. Okay, well, after pounding my head on that wall all day, if I did a few other things, I can now move a little more quickly on the other fruits. My guess is strawberries are best strained too. Not sure what other berries I have. When blending, best to add a bit of apple sauce. Just a little something the prime the process. Adding water will cut it, though lemon juice might be okay, or even orange juice. Hmm... I'll use what I have. My blended worked quite well. Learning something, seemingly, every day lately. Even if I don't seem to be doing all that much. Oh... a tip... can't remember where I got it but... if you microwave your canning jar, it can no longer be used for canning. It will shatter. Thankfully I didn't learn that one too late.
The trays should be ready. I'll do more puree, or compote? No, puree I do believe. Compotes add some of the sauce fruit in whole. Give or take? That's how I remember it anyway. With the addition of heat, I should be able to process the purees much more quickly and get some leathers going. I completely changed my mind regarding sugar. I simply won't add any. If I really can't handle it straight, next time I will add a bit. As well, I want to go through my kit, wash some of the new stuff, and put everything where it really, ideally to my mind, should go... and how it should go in. I really am well rigged for several nights out there. I will add more food as well. I want enough to last in case I really go stupid. It happens. Total confusion about where you are isn't too terrible if you remember a few things. The world, if you stop and calm yourself... for some of us... will tell us where we are if we but listen. I know that from experience. From child onward, people have been leaving me where I wasn't and telling me to go where I couldn't. I learned long ago to just go home, and how to do so.
Well... breakfast first. I've been up since 3:00 or early probably, by a bit. Coffee would be good as well. Perhaps a show as I wake better. While setting those things up, I'll pull out the rest of the fruits to be pureed and set up the dehydrator. It's been a good life lately. Now to expand it just a bit more. Later.
.
I asked, and received, it seems. Sure, I've been blowing it, sort of. What have I been squandering, you ask? Ah... cool weather. Whether it lasts or not, I do believe it has helped. And I am almost certain I will get at least one use out of it, beside all of the in house stuff I have also pushed through. I have definitely been enjoying it.
I ended up having a great deal of trouble seeding one of the berry mixes. I kept at it, let it set, tried a few things. Next time? Heat. Yeah, yeah, but it's easy, on a first try, to miss even the obvious. Yes, just blend, put int a small pot, and heat gently. A good place to add sugar or other sweetener as well. Then strain. I have several type of strainers that are easily fine enough for even raspberry seed. Okay, well, after pounding my head on that wall all day, if I did a few other things, I can now move a little more quickly on the other fruits. My guess is strawberries are best strained too. Not sure what other berries I have. When blending, best to add a bit of apple sauce. Just a little something the prime the process. Adding water will cut it, though lemon juice might be okay, or even orange juice. Hmm... I'll use what I have. My blended worked quite well. Learning something, seemingly, every day lately. Even if I don't seem to be doing all that much. Oh... a tip... can't remember where I got it but... if you microwave your canning jar, it can no longer be used for canning. It will shatter. Thankfully I didn't learn that one too late.
The trays should be ready. I'll do more puree, or compote? No, puree I do believe. Compotes add some of the sauce fruit in whole. Give or take? That's how I remember it anyway. With the addition of heat, I should be able to process the purees much more quickly and get some leathers going. I completely changed my mind regarding sugar. I simply won't add any. If I really can't handle it straight, next time I will add a bit. As well, I want to go through my kit, wash some of the new stuff, and put everything where it really, ideally to my mind, should go... and how it should go in. I really am well rigged for several nights out there. I will add more food as well. I want enough to last in case I really go stupid. It happens. Total confusion about where you are isn't too terrible if you remember a few things. The world, if you stop and calm yourself... for some of us... will tell us where we are if we but listen. I know that from experience. From child onward, people have been leaving me where I wasn't and telling me to go where I couldn't. I learned long ago to just go home, and how to do so.
Well... breakfast first. I've been up since 3:00 or early probably, by a bit. Coffee would be good as well. Perhaps a show as I wake better. While setting those things up, I'll pull out the rest of the fruits to be pureed and set up the dehydrator. It's been a good life lately. Now to expand it just a bit more. Later.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Working on this and that.
.
.
I've been pushing, getting lost in little things, but too many of them. I have things to do today as well, but I am consciously pacing. Coffee, food efforts, medicine, setting up kit to begin working on fruit leathers while washing the dehydrator trays. Those have gotten a first wash. In two hours, I will finish their second wash, rinse them, and let them air dry. Hmm... could do laundry? Well, not enough to wash, but I haven't been folding lately. Yeah, I could get to that. Blogging, thinking, reading, have been filling in spots of time. I am trying to get to some things. I simply can't do too much or I'll bog down.
I am hoping to hit the backpack this evening and get it well and truly sorted. Most of it is done, about a quarter of it needs to be changed or rearranged. I want that done, dead to rights, before Monday. The next time I plan on heading out, I will have everything done and I won't... fuss... with anything. Blogging, maybe watch a show, reading... nothing that could throw me off. Then I will get out very early. Just trying to avoid any potential for a crowd, even at the zone. There may well be fishermen out, but not many there, or at any single spot.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday... when it happens it happens. Where it happens, as well. Tomorrow, if I clear the world up, I may head out to look for a couple of other trail heads. No serious work, no heavy strain. I just want to have four or five places I could begin, so as to have... ambiguity. I will let my mother know of the places, then indicate which I will be at in such a way that it isn't easy for others to see. Yeah... The one thing about blogging is visibility. There are ways to add confusion. Has to be pretty mild, unless a woman has been brought in on it, perhaps trained a bit, and is agreeable to it, code is very difficult for them. If on board, and all other criteria is met, they are superb at it. In this case, it will be a system that just works for her, leaving out most requirements.
It is a good day. I should get most of this stuff done, and maybe have fruit leathers by tomorrow. Mostly sugared, but some will be dosed with honey, some with splenda. I am basically looking for a mild sweetness out of the blender. That will hydrate to a more potent sweetness when dehydrated. Hmm... might try just three trays of stuff, with each sweetener, first. And I might look over other recipes, and attempt to find some specific types of recipes. Some can just tough through terrible taste. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't. Yeah.
Whenever I finish my hike, as soon as I can, my next priority is the kayak. I know, promises promises. But... give the givens I am doing fairly well and moving along. A little tentative. Even I expected that. Like the eagle just about ready to spread his wings and fly for the first time, there is and will be trepidation until the deed is done. But that is only the start of the danger. The end of the beginning, the beginning of the beginning, the beginning of the end. Yes, yes, yes, and, to all, no? None can say, though all can speculate. Without it being their neck in the noose, it is often very easy for them to suggest just doing it, now! Yeah! Shut up. :p I am getting there. Nice thing is, when it happens, and if I survive? It'll get easier each time thereafter.
Later.
.
I've been pushing, getting lost in little things, but too many of them. I have things to do today as well, but I am consciously pacing. Coffee, food efforts, medicine, setting up kit to begin working on fruit leathers while washing the dehydrator trays. Those have gotten a first wash. In two hours, I will finish their second wash, rinse them, and let them air dry. Hmm... could do laundry? Well, not enough to wash, but I haven't been folding lately. Yeah, I could get to that. Blogging, thinking, reading, have been filling in spots of time. I am trying to get to some things. I simply can't do too much or I'll bog down.
I am hoping to hit the backpack this evening and get it well and truly sorted. Most of it is done, about a quarter of it needs to be changed or rearranged. I want that done, dead to rights, before Monday. The next time I plan on heading out, I will have everything done and I won't... fuss... with anything. Blogging, maybe watch a show, reading... nothing that could throw me off. Then I will get out very early. Just trying to avoid any potential for a crowd, even at the zone. There may well be fishermen out, but not many there, or at any single spot.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday... when it happens it happens. Where it happens, as well. Tomorrow, if I clear the world up, I may head out to look for a couple of other trail heads. No serious work, no heavy strain. I just want to have four or five places I could begin, so as to have... ambiguity. I will let my mother know of the places, then indicate which I will be at in such a way that it isn't easy for others to see. Yeah... The one thing about blogging is visibility. There are ways to add confusion. Has to be pretty mild, unless a woman has been brought in on it, perhaps trained a bit, and is agreeable to it, code is very difficult for them. If on board, and all other criteria is met, they are superb at it. In this case, it will be a system that just works for her, leaving out most requirements.
It is a good day. I should get most of this stuff done, and maybe have fruit leathers by tomorrow. Mostly sugared, but some will be dosed with honey, some with splenda. I am basically looking for a mild sweetness out of the blender. That will hydrate to a more potent sweetness when dehydrated. Hmm... might try just three trays of stuff, with each sweetener, first. And I might look over other recipes, and attempt to find some specific types of recipes. Some can just tough through terrible taste. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't. Yeah.
Whenever I finish my hike, as soon as I can, my next priority is the kayak. I know, promises promises. But... give the givens I am doing fairly well and moving along. A little tentative. Even I expected that. Like the eagle just about ready to spread his wings and fly for the first time, there is and will be trepidation until the deed is done. But that is only the start of the danger. The end of the beginning, the beginning of the beginning, the beginning of the end. Yes, yes, yes, and, to all, no? None can say, though all can speculate. Without it being their neck in the noose, it is often very easy for them to suggest just doing it, now! Yeah! Shut up. :p I am getting there. Nice thing is, when it happens, and if I survive? It'll get easier each time thereafter.
Later.
No, I didn't.
.
.
I got to fiddling around with too many things, then all of a sudden it was simply too late. Now, it was nearly a full set, save for heading out. Everything, but time, was green. I just knew, as things sat, that I would get there and find a horde. Wrong day, wrong time, and I had worn myself a bit too much doing a bunch of little things. A raincheck has been issued. Yes, I even called my mother. I was certain I would get there, and wanted one person to know where I was, or at least where I started. I had thought to blow that off. But no. Each time I go, I will let someone know, and give them location, a local number so they can have someone physically check in case it's just an odd miscommunication, and such. And, yes, I called her back and let her know I wasn't heading out yet. Being a weekend, I am not even going to consider trying to get out. Friday wasn't the best day, it was just, sort of, the end of the line for the week. And, if I had made it out earlier, there might have been a chance.
So... I'll try to finish off some of those chores and things this weekend. Not all the heavies, just some little things that seem to be naggingly getting in the way. With the vegetables done, I will be blending fruits, and fruit and apple sauce, to begin producing fruit leathers. The trays are soaking, but that will be fast and easy enough. One wash, for those, and one rinse, will be enough for my mind to be happy. I also, with the last of my kit to actually arrive, need to tear into my pack and reschedule the contents. I did that to some degree, with what I did have. Adding the extra (alcohol) stove and fuel for that, changing out the stuff sack (the one I got is rather too large, but that makes it a lot easier to pack and still works, especially in the tight space where it goes).
I am getting there. Technically, a run today, even if caught out for a few days, would have been fine. But it isn't just exactly perfect. I do believe, with what has arrived today, I have a complete gearing and to my liking. Now I just need to set it up. The only things I hope to add are nylon, zip shorts/pants, cargo pants, and maybe a few more shirts... long and short sleeve... of various materials. I have enough of that sort of stuff in socks, underwear, and outergear otherwise. Well, and I need to extend from the medium I generally have to a lighter and heavier base layer in shirts. I have various long underwear for layering already, as well as socks. Yeah... I really have been gearing this way for a while, if I had thought more for entertainment purposes only. Now it's more for keeps. All good. I really did fairly well, considering I was mostly in a coma. :p
Oh. Why didn't I post that I didn't go earlier? Shame. Well, and I was pouting. Damn big lip, stuck so far out I couldn't see to type over it. While I don't type 'with my eyes', that wasn't the point! Gah! Yes, I was hot, and a lot guilty. When I realized it was 10:00 already, and the sun was back in the sky, and it was Friday... I knew the gig was up. I didn't even call my mom back until early afternoon. So... that's why. Yes, yes, I can have emotional reactions too, you know. But I'll make it up with a pointless story I dreamed. :p
---------
Dreams. The one I remember was being an old billionaire. I had a really young wife, at least for my age. Married her even younger, we had teen children. They weren't even spawns of hell, I think we had done as well as any parents can hope. Seriously, I loved my children and they loved me, but as a proper parent to child and child to parent relationship. We weren't "pals", "friends", or such. There were times, exceptions. Easier, I suppose, but until they are out of the nest, flying on their own wings, that just doesn't work. So I thought in the dream, and as I wake.
Didn't live like billionaires. Certainly not in the classical sense. Big house, but not a true mansion as they are counted today. Extra bedrooms, about a dozen, but more for businessmen when deals were being crafted and a few other requirements of being the caretaker for a fortune. As God, to a degree, picks politicians (though that is a double edged sword), he picks the wealthy to a degree. In part with gifts of the Holy Spirit, in part through a form of His will. That, choosing, too, without massive care, is a double edged sword as well. Still, it was my burden. Believe or not. And I tended it as wisely as I was able. Some nice things, but not a true luxury life.
If I spent in excess, it was on materials, equipment, chemicals, and education to learn how things worked and improve processes and techniques. Below the home, and for the more risky things in a complex out back, I had several mad scientist man-caves. All areas of science and engineering had their place, even a small dorm for those of theory to come, take a sabbatical with others in their areas... to either just take some time off, meet and greet, work with others of their station and caliber in and out of their specialty, or even compare apples to oranges with the applied sections. I was quite open to processing procedure requests and allowing tinkering directly or otherwise.
Mechanical, chemical, electronic, to sound and visual labs, and many more. Perhaps a modern Bell Laboratory. More intimate than most modern complexes, a bit more laid back, almost as much to get greats minds from the various field to become familiar with each other and ping off one another as anything else. And, it worked. When I said "billionaire", I was being modest. But then, it was so far beyond no longer about the money. Now... all that is just the background. When I dream, I like to figure out where in the maze I am starting, who I am, who is who in the game/maze/dream/alternate life, what the problems are, and THEN beginning living the thing. I don't always get my way, but when I do, there you go. Not sure if that makes me loved or hated by the Sandman. "Oh!? Not a visit to Doom again! He is so damned demanding!" :p
Anyway, in the hectic crazy life I was leading, there were always those who had questions, or ideas. I kept late night calls to a minimum. I did not deny them. A good idea might only be fresh for a short time, but not all ideas where good. I had a set of people between me and the thinkers. Good people who had enough knowledge to see good from puppy chow. The night lab superintendent, and my own night science officer... in case I had a midnight serendipity. Though he had other duties, I found that having a night officer to help me sort dream from real was quite beneficial. Plus I had family, and I took that seriously. A wife is a servant, but one who must be served to be refreshed. She serves her way, I served mine. No matter rich or poor or between, that truth just is the way of it. Children are as demanding of affection, attention, discipline, and praise, as they are food. As with programming, garbage in, garbage out. So feed them well and true. No, you don't deserve the privilege, but you took the merit by playing a part in their existence so eat crow and get to it. Better to be a bad involved father than no father at all. Money doesn't cut it. Are you an extremist, logical, cold, calculator? Yeah, well, the wife is a neurotic, emotional, twit. Hopefully between the two of you... Never mind. Busy, I tell you. Never much time for much unless you take it. For the bigs, wife and children, I did take it. Kept promises, in majority... and made them.
Okay, after that booted, I went on to the actionable aspects of the dream.
---------
As it turns out, a man and his young wife, in an archaic beat-up Cadillac drove up onto my property. The entrance is gated. However, with delivery trucks, guests, and family coming and going, tagging in isn't impossible. I watched from my office, overlooking the entry drive, as this happened. I had a feeling about this event, something different. So I pulled out my bino's and took a look.
A poor couple. Had they been living in their car, or were they moving? He looked old and rough, though I went gentle with that having looked in the mirror only moments ago. She was younger, as was my wife. Rougher around the edges but all that framed a sort of beauty that had merely not been able to be tended for a bit. He looked to be distressed. Security were approaching. Security can be a bit... dogmatic. It's their job, and their job can be quite tight at times, don't think I don't understand. Good men, a dangerous world, sometimes no time to react in any other way. Sometimes they will call me, sometimes they just gently persuade and let me know after. I sensed this one before it happened, and... So I called down to them. Render assistance if they are safe. I told them I would be coming down shortly, personally.
When I got down and out to the car, I could see that the man was in some sort of rough disorder. Not quite ill, but something was wrong. Having a troubling heart myself, at times, I suspect from the signs that he was having just a bit of difficulty in that area. From the look on his face, I don't think he knew that was the problem. I also didn't think that it was, at least yet, life threatening. His car was still running, roughly. His woman (wife?) was worried, and trying to be caring, but the man wasn't, completely, cooperating. The driver door was open, one foot out. "Water?", he asked. I told him to shut the motor off and come in and sit for a bit. Grudgingly, it seems, he acquiesced. I told security to take his vehicle to auto and get it tuned if they could, order whatever was needed. Then I helped the man out and toward my home. He was a bit much, so someone else helped from the other side. Something terribly familiar about this man, and if not woman at least their relationship. I know I didn't know them, not in a purely mechanical, worldly way, but I knew them well somehow. I couldn't access what I knew about them. I was dying to figure it all out.
Into the home, then to one of the sitting rooms right off the entryway. Water was ordered immediately, and a small but well varied meal was ordered as well. A large suite was ordered to be set up for the guests. It always amazed me how efficient and orderly things ran. I had striven to make it so, I had selected staff, chosen methods, listened to their advice when I thought it suitable and denied when I disagreed. In the end, though, it was in their hands and they were true professionals. Water helped. Food was useful, and it was obvious they were hungry, but it wasn't as useful. My wife had heard and had arrived, but was staying out of this. She was a dear, but was a bit... station-centric. Hmm... a snob. Don't even go there, we all lift our noses a bit, at times, to those richer, or poorer, (over)educated, or under, or any of a number of things that make us different. True, that. Still, she was there. Curiosity, a little passive us-time, a bit of a charitable nature (just preferred it in her way and settings), but she was there.
After a small amount of social, and to allow him to settle and ease off... which helped his condition, it was decided that they would stay there, at least for the night, and certainly until he was better or it was decided that a hospital visit was required. My doctor had been called and would be stopping through in the afternoon. Their travel packs had been brought in. After they had gone through things, some of their laundry had gone to cleaning. They had showered and were resting, with plans to join us for a more private dinner.
I kept trying to figure out how I knew them, more him, but she played some part. Almost like a brother, or business partner, one I got to know quite well, but who had simply vanished from my life what seems like lifetimes ago. In another sense, almost a lost twin, of the identical nature. I knew before I even saw him, some things. But they were tired, he was ill, and I was questioning my sanity on the issue. None of those things were true, in a strictly literal sense. They needed rest, and privacy, as I am quite sure they didn't expect all of this, yet sorely needed it. Several days went by. He became healthier, mostly, but it was still spotty. The doctor had done his work and offered medication that might help until the man was more fit for a full diagnostic.
The man and myself got on like brothers. My wealth, intellectual, and other resources meant little to him... in one sense. A respect, but no cowing. Actually, that is what I looked for in friends. I would push it to see if they would bow or simply not allow themselves to be broken. When told that such was not going to work for them, and they grabbed their marbles to go, I would... find a way to keep them in the game. Don't like yes-men. Would rather have a man who hated me, but who was honest, to work with than a man who would agree to anything because 'money', or 'power'. My business and research wasn't about me, but application, actual theory, for economic and social reasons. I had to keep it clean. So, yes, I like him... as well as any man can like a brother. Wanted to punch him in the nose from time to time. I am quite sure that was mutual. Still...
Then, on the evening of, say, the third day, his wife came to find me... or anyone but it was me she had found. Wow. A few days of rest, right food, and being settled had really knocked the worn edges from her. She really dolled up well, and she wasn't dolled up. No, hush. I was as honest with my wife as my business. It's just that I'm not blind. Anyway, her husband was having trouble. Breathing, discomfort, maybe a bit of confusion... So I went with her to him, calling for anyone, any man, who was free, to meet us there.
He was just as she had described him. Sitting in a chair, shirt partially unbuttoned in an attempt to feel less restricted for breathing, panting from time to time, leaning over to one side then alternating by leaning over his legs. Mildly panicked I would say, but not totally out of it either. Until someone showed to help, and to decide what to do in any case, I began speaking with him. He wanted help but he didn't want help. He wanted to go to the hospital, but he didn't want to go. He knew something was wrong but he thought he might be fine. Not a true confusion, from my estimation, more of an uncertainty, and a distaste with the choices he saw. Staying, or resting, didn't seem like a solution to his mind. But the thought of having to go to the hospital seemed like too much work, and a danger. Yeah, been in those shoes. Maybe, for him, even a fear of costs.
I had just decided that he had to go in when the first of several men showed. My middle boy. Just a teen, really, but strong enough and... stable of mind and will enough... to be useful. Between us, we were able to get him going. Down to auto. Lots of fuss between the wives, him, getting things arranged, figuring out which car to take, him being fussy, and all the rest. Not a major drama, just a typical, occasional, human sort of one. Finally it was decided we would take his car... which had been completely upgraded, updated, and fixed. The shop boys love a challenge and complete rebuild. And I have a car close enough that most parts were on hand. Fuss, talk, wait, go, grab, think, talk... finally on the way. I swear women are trying to kill us. Eventually you just shut the door and drive. With the women being basket cases and pinging off each other making it worse, I told them to follow us, in another car, making the excuse that we would want to leave a car at the hospital for him. Women can be so gullible and pliable when you use the right set of voice, tenor, eye contact, and the rest!
I never did find out who this man was in some alternate way. He ended up having his auto rebuilt, his clothing and stores reset, his wife refreshed, his health tended and a way forward with that, some new friends, and a beginning to life. In time he ended up being employed in the chem lab. We rarely spoke after that, just remaining distant friends. But our children went on to becoming great friends, two sets of them marrying. It, all through the dream, and even now, bugs me to know why I knew him. You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well you might find, you get what you need.
---------
Later.
.
I got to fiddling around with too many things, then all of a sudden it was simply too late. Now, it was nearly a full set, save for heading out. Everything, but time, was green. I just knew, as things sat, that I would get there and find a horde. Wrong day, wrong time, and I had worn myself a bit too much doing a bunch of little things. A raincheck has been issued. Yes, I even called my mother. I was certain I would get there, and wanted one person to know where I was, or at least where I started. I had thought to blow that off. But no. Each time I go, I will let someone know, and give them location, a local number so they can have someone physically check in case it's just an odd miscommunication, and such. And, yes, I called her back and let her know I wasn't heading out yet. Being a weekend, I am not even going to consider trying to get out. Friday wasn't the best day, it was just, sort of, the end of the line for the week. And, if I had made it out earlier, there might have been a chance.
So... I'll try to finish off some of those chores and things this weekend. Not all the heavies, just some little things that seem to be naggingly getting in the way. With the vegetables done, I will be blending fruits, and fruit and apple sauce, to begin producing fruit leathers. The trays are soaking, but that will be fast and easy enough. One wash, for those, and one rinse, will be enough for my mind to be happy. I also, with the last of my kit to actually arrive, need to tear into my pack and reschedule the contents. I did that to some degree, with what I did have. Adding the extra (alcohol) stove and fuel for that, changing out the stuff sack (the one I got is rather too large, but that makes it a lot easier to pack and still works, especially in the tight space where it goes).
I am getting there. Technically, a run today, even if caught out for a few days, would have been fine. But it isn't just exactly perfect. I do believe, with what has arrived today, I have a complete gearing and to my liking. Now I just need to set it up. The only things I hope to add are nylon, zip shorts/pants, cargo pants, and maybe a few more shirts... long and short sleeve... of various materials. I have enough of that sort of stuff in socks, underwear, and outergear otherwise. Well, and I need to extend from the medium I generally have to a lighter and heavier base layer in shirts. I have various long underwear for layering already, as well as socks. Yeah... I really have been gearing this way for a while, if I had thought more for entertainment purposes only. Now it's more for keeps. All good. I really did fairly well, considering I was mostly in a coma. :p
Oh. Why didn't I post that I didn't go earlier? Shame. Well, and I was pouting. Damn big lip, stuck so far out I couldn't see to type over it. While I don't type 'with my eyes', that wasn't the point! Gah! Yes, I was hot, and a lot guilty. When I realized it was 10:00 already, and the sun was back in the sky, and it was Friday... I knew the gig was up. I didn't even call my mom back until early afternoon. So... that's why. Yes, yes, I can have emotional reactions too, you know. But I'll make it up with a pointless story I dreamed. :p
---------
Dreams. The one I remember was being an old billionaire. I had a really young wife, at least for my age. Married her even younger, we had teen children. They weren't even spawns of hell, I think we had done as well as any parents can hope. Seriously, I loved my children and they loved me, but as a proper parent to child and child to parent relationship. We weren't "pals", "friends", or such. There were times, exceptions. Easier, I suppose, but until they are out of the nest, flying on their own wings, that just doesn't work. So I thought in the dream, and as I wake.
Didn't live like billionaires. Certainly not in the classical sense. Big house, but not a true mansion as they are counted today. Extra bedrooms, about a dozen, but more for businessmen when deals were being crafted and a few other requirements of being the caretaker for a fortune. As God, to a degree, picks politicians (though that is a double edged sword), he picks the wealthy to a degree. In part with gifts of the Holy Spirit, in part through a form of His will. That, choosing, too, without massive care, is a double edged sword as well. Still, it was my burden. Believe or not. And I tended it as wisely as I was able. Some nice things, but not a true luxury life.
If I spent in excess, it was on materials, equipment, chemicals, and education to learn how things worked and improve processes and techniques. Below the home, and for the more risky things in a complex out back, I had several mad scientist man-caves. All areas of science and engineering had their place, even a small dorm for those of theory to come, take a sabbatical with others in their areas... to either just take some time off, meet and greet, work with others of their station and caliber in and out of their specialty, or even compare apples to oranges with the applied sections. I was quite open to processing procedure requests and allowing tinkering directly or otherwise.
Mechanical, chemical, electronic, to sound and visual labs, and many more. Perhaps a modern Bell Laboratory. More intimate than most modern complexes, a bit more laid back, almost as much to get greats minds from the various field to become familiar with each other and ping off one another as anything else. And, it worked. When I said "billionaire", I was being modest. But then, it was so far beyond no longer about the money. Now... all that is just the background. When I dream, I like to figure out where in the maze I am starting, who I am, who is who in the game/maze/dream/alternate life, what the problems are, and THEN beginning living the thing. I don't always get my way, but when I do, there you go. Not sure if that makes me loved or hated by the Sandman. "Oh!? Not a visit to Doom again! He is so damned demanding!" :p
Anyway, in the hectic crazy life I was leading, there were always those who had questions, or ideas. I kept late night calls to a minimum. I did not deny them. A good idea might only be fresh for a short time, but not all ideas where good. I had a set of people between me and the thinkers. Good people who had enough knowledge to see good from puppy chow. The night lab superintendent, and my own night science officer... in case I had a midnight serendipity. Though he had other duties, I found that having a night officer to help me sort dream from real was quite beneficial. Plus I had family, and I took that seriously. A wife is a servant, but one who must be served to be refreshed. She serves her way, I served mine. No matter rich or poor or between, that truth just is the way of it. Children are as demanding of affection, attention, discipline, and praise, as they are food. As with programming, garbage in, garbage out. So feed them well and true. No, you don't deserve the privilege, but you took the merit by playing a part in their existence so eat crow and get to it. Better to be a bad involved father than no father at all. Money doesn't cut it. Are you an extremist, logical, cold, calculator? Yeah, well, the wife is a neurotic, emotional, twit. Hopefully between the two of you... Never mind. Busy, I tell you. Never much time for much unless you take it. For the bigs, wife and children, I did take it. Kept promises, in majority... and made them.
Okay, after that booted, I went on to the actionable aspects of the dream.
---------
As it turns out, a man and his young wife, in an archaic beat-up Cadillac drove up onto my property. The entrance is gated. However, with delivery trucks, guests, and family coming and going, tagging in isn't impossible. I watched from my office, overlooking the entry drive, as this happened. I had a feeling about this event, something different. So I pulled out my bino's and took a look.
A poor couple. Had they been living in their car, or were they moving? He looked old and rough, though I went gentle with that having looked in the mirror only moments ago. She was younger, as was my wife. Rougher around the edges but all that framed a sort of beauty that had merely not been able to be tended for a bit. He looked to be distressed. Security were approaching. Security can be a bit... dogmatic. It's their job, and their job can be quite tight at times, don't think I don't understand. Good men, a dangerous world, sometimes no time to react in any other way. Sometimes they will call me, sometimes they just gently persuade and let me know after. I sensed this one before it happened, and... So I called down to them. Render assistance if they are safe. I told them I would be coming down shortly, personally.
When I got down and out to the car, I could see that the man was in some sort of rough disorder. Not quite ill, but something was wrong. Having a troubling heart myself, at times, I suspect from the signs that he was having just a bit of difficulty in that area. From the look on his face, I don't think he knew that was the problem. I also didn't think that it was, at least yet, life threatening. His car was still running, roughly. His woman (wife?) was worried, and trying to be caring, but the man wasn't, completely, cooperating. The driver door was open, one foot out. "Water?", he asked. I told him to shut the motor off and come in and sit for a bit. Grudgingly, it seems, he acquiesced. I told security to take his vehicle to auto and get it tuned if they could, order whatever was needed. Then I helped the man out and toward my home. He was a bit much, so someone else helped from the other side. Something terribly familiar about this man, and if not woman at least their relationship. I know I didn't know them, not in a purely mechanical, worldly way, but I knew them well somehow. I couldn't access what I knew about them. I was dying to figure it all out.
Into the home, then to one of the sitting rooms right off the entryway. Water was ordered immediately, and a small but well varied meal was ordered as well. A large suite was ordered to be set up for the guests. It always amazed me how efficient and orderly things ran. I had striven to make it so, I had selected staff, chosen methods, listened to their advice when I thought it suitable and denied when I disagreed. In the end, though, it was in their hands and they were true professionals. Water helped. Food was useful, and it was obvious they were hungry, but it wasn't as useful. My wife had heard and had arrived, but was staying out of this. She was a dear, but was a bit... station-centric. Hmm... a snob. Don't even go there, we all lift our noses a bit, at times, to those richer, or poorer, (over)educated, or under, or any of a number of things that make us different. True, that. Still, she was there. Curiosity, a little passive us-time, a bit of a charitable nature (just preferred it in her way and settings), but she was there.
After a small amount of social, and to allow him to settle and ease off... which helped his condition, it was decided that they would stay there, at least for the night, and certainly until he was better or it was decided that a hospital visit was required. My doctor had been called and would be stopping through in the afternoon. Their travel packs had been brought in. After they had gone through things, some of their laundry had gone to cleaning. They had showered and were resting, with plans to join us for a more private dinner.
I kept trying to figure out how I knew them, more him, but she played some part. Almost like a brother, or business partner, one I got to know quite well, but who had simply vanished from my life what seems like lifetimes ago. In another sense, almost a lost twin, of the identical nature. I knew before I even saw him, some things. But they were tired, he was ill, and I was questioning my sanity on the issue. None of those things were true, in a strictly literal sense. They needed rest, and privacy, as I am quite sure they didn't expect all of this, yet sorely needed it. Several days went by. He became healthier, mostly, but it was still spotty. The doctor had done his work and offered medication that might help until the man was more fit for a full diagnostic.
The man and myself got on like brothers. My wealth, intellectual, and other resources meant little to him... in one sense. A respect, but no cowing. Actually, that is what I looked for in friends. I would push it to see if they would bow or simply not allow themselves to be broken. When told that such was not going to work for them, and they grabbed their marbles to go, I would... find a way to keep them in the game. Don't like yes-men. Would rather have a man who hated me, but who was honest, to work with than a man who would agree to anything because 'money', or 'power'. My business and research wasn't about me, but application, actual theory, for economic and social reasons. I had to keep it clean. So, yes, I like him... as well as any man can like a brother. Wanted to punch him in the nose from time to time. I am quite sure that was mutual. Still...
Then, on the evening of, say, the third day, his wife came to find me... or anyone but it was me she had found. Wow. A few days of rest, right food, and being settled had really knocked the worn edges from her. She really dolled up well, and she wasn't dolled up. No, hush. I was as honest with my wife as my business. It's just that I'm not blind. Anyway, her husband was having trouble. Breathing, discomfort, maybe a bit of confusion... So I went with her to him, calling for anyone, any man, who was free, to meet us there.
He was just as she had described him. Sitting in a chair, shirt partially unbuttoned in an attempt to feel less restricted for breathing, panting from time to time, leaning over to one side then alternating by leaning over his legs. Mildly panicked I would say, but not totally out of it either. Until someone showed to help, and to decide what to do in any case, I began speaking with him. He wanted help but he didn't want help. He wanted to go to the hospital, but he didn't want to go. He knew something was wrong but he thought he might be fine. Not a true confusion, from my estimation, more of an uncertainty, and a distaste with the choices he saw. Staying, or resting, didn't seem like a solution to his mind. But the thought of having to go to the hospital seemed like too much work, and a danger. Yeah, been in those shoes. Maybe, for him, even a fear of costs.
I had just decided that he had to go in when the first of several men showed. My middle boy. Just a teen, really, but strong enough and... stable of mind and will enough... to be useful. Between us, we were able to get him going. Down to auto. Lots of fuss between the wives, him, getting things arranged, figuring out which car to take, him being fussy, and all the rest. Not a major drama, just a typical, occasional, human sort of one. Finally it was decided we would take his car... which had been completely upgraded, updated, and fixed. The shop boys love a challenge and complete rebuild. And I have a car close enough that most parts were on hand. Fuss, talk, wait, go, grab, think, talk... finally on the way. I swear women are trying to kill us. Eventually you just shut the door and drive. With the women being basket cases and pinging off each other making it worse, I told them to follow us, in another car, making the excuse that we would want to leave a car at the hospital for him. Women can be so gullible and pliable when you use the right set of voice, tenor, eye contact, and the rest!
I never did find out who this man was in some alternate way. He ended up having his auto rebuilt, his clothing and stores reset, his wife refreshed, his health tended and a way forward with that, some new friends, and a beginning to life. In time he ended up being employed in the chem lab. We rarely spoke after that, just remaining distant friends. But our children went on to becoming great friends, two sets of them marrying. It, all through the dream, and even now, bugs me to know why I knew him. You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well you might find, you get what you need.
---------
Later.
Friday, July 10, 2015
A bit slow.
.
.
Oh, I'm getting there. It's just that things take a little more time, sometimes. Well, and, the flesh just move at the speed of thought yet. Now, at the current going rate on reality, fuel costs through food, and some other things, thank God for that last. The kefir has been made and the dehydrated vegetables have been checked, removed, and stored. Amazing. One of the bags was 3 pounds, 12 ounces, and after cutting and drying fit fairly easily in a sandwich bag. I doubt if it weighs 4~6 ounces. All told, I believe, about seven pounds of vegetables have been reduced to... what... 9 ounces? I'll have to check sometime. Next, I'll wash the machine and prep for fruit roll-ups. I have the meat thawing for jerky. After I put the last of the veggies in, I could see that this process was moving forward.
Now I'll be tinkering with the pack. It is overcast, and raining from time to time perhaps, so it should remain good until I get things arranged. Just a bit more packing. An exchange of compression sacks, the addition of some titanium flatware, an alcohol stove and fuel, and that should be good. Oh, and setting up the map in the carrier and fitting that in. Other than that, and then a shower, I will be ready to head out in an hour or less? Something like that. I am trying to call my mother, to let her know. If she doesn't hear from me by Monday, there is a local she can call and tell where I am, or even check with first. If all else fails, they will know where I headed out, at least. I will take my phone, but it will be off, battery removed.
Hmm... more kefir? Maybe. Yeah, it could be a good day. Might even end up a great day. I could fall and die. Or it could be a terrible day and I fall and break something. Canteens and water bladders are expensive, as are poles. Nah, I don't break that easy, don't worry about me. And I'm not lucky enough to die, so... *wink* I really best get going. Good day.
.
Oh, I'm getting there. It's just that things take a little more time, sometimes. Well, and, the flesh just move at the speed of thought yet. Now, at the current going rate on reality, fuel costs through food, and some other things, thank God for that last. The kefir has been made and the dehydrated vegetables have been checked, removed, and stored. Amazing. One of the bags was 3 pounds, 12 ounces, and after cutting and drying fit fairly easily in a sandwich bag. I doubt if it weighs 4~6 ounces. All told, I believe, about seven pounds of vegetables have been reduced to... what... 9 ounces? I'll have to check sometime. Next, I'll wash the machine and prep for fruit roll-ups. I have the meat thawing for jerky. After I put the last of the veggies in, I could see that this process was moving forward.
Now I'll be tinkering with the pack. It is overcast, and raining from time to time perhaps, so it should remain good until I get things arranged. Just a bit more packing. An exchange of compression sacks, the addition of some titanium flatware, an alcohol stove and fuel, and that should be good. Oh, and setting up the map in the carrier and fitting that in. Other than that, and then a shower, I will be ready to head out in an hour or less? Something like that. I am trying to call my mother, to let her know. If she doesn't hear from me by Monday, there is a local she can call and tell where I am, or even check with first. If all else fails, they will know where I headed out, at least. I will take my phone, but it will be off, battery removed.
Hmm... more kefir? Maybe. Yeah, it could be a good day. Might even end up a great day. I could fall and die. Or it could be a terrible day and I fall and break something. Canteens and water bladders are expensive, as are poles. Nah, I don't break that easy, don't worry about me. And I'm not lucky enough to die, so... *wink* I really best get going. Good day.
More?
.
.
I think I'm addicted to kefir. I've downed... a lot. Actually, before the morning is through, I will be setting up another half gallon. Yeah... I could probably drink an half gallon a day. Other than the milk expense, that might not even be all bad. And even the expense wouldn't be horrible. However, I will also add something to my other doings.
I watched a show that wasn't too bad. The horror wasn't too grotesque. The worst elements were left to the mind. I can see where that is what others see, or believe, with me. Slightly different reasons, and over a longer period of time, and with a literal failed heart to add an extra heaping helping of confusion, on my side of things, to the batter. But, yes. Oh, the name of it? Ah, The None of Your Business. I really do have to figure out how to rate the movies.
On the good side of Netflix, the rating system is a lot more genuine. I felt that with Amazon, their movie ratings, for the most part, where written by about six to eight people. Hmm, the ADD middling who couldn't sit through the first five minutes (probably of anything). The elder woman who just loved the visuals but obviously had no idea they were somehow connected to a movie... clueless. The middle class guy who really thought it was okay but could be better. Some who absolutely loved it (who I believe were in, or worked on, the movie). And a few other types. The reviews seemed extremely canned, especially on the C and below flicks. A LOT of Amazons films were C or below. No biggy. I'd still be watching if they hadn't decided to throw a celebration for queeriosity. Boo! Hiss! *throws rotten fruit and moves to other sources*Now, I don't always agree with NF reviews, but they seem genuine.
I haven't heard a thing back from Amazon. Probably because I am one of the few who even noticed, or bothered to complain. Sheep. They have you. You either don't believe you have a choice or are too lazy and simple to find those choices. Keep drinking the cool-aid, and following Alice down the rabbit hole. I'll... be moving on, I do believe. Can't say they didn't give turning me into one of a borg a hell of a shot. Thing is, I am already with the real Borg. The man-made stuff doesn't cut it. I have been on the dark side better than their feeble, lazy, half-baked attempts. And I am now on the good side. Their efforts don't even rate for more than a minor put down. For some of us. For most people, grazed on teh stupid, it is enough. The electric fence doesn't even have to be turned on anymore. *moo!* Crazy baby. I'm telling you, if I had criminal intent, I'd be living like a king. Or would be one, if that seemed entertaining.
Yes, today, I do believe I will be getting out. I had thought to watch another show, perhaps Werewolf, Iron Sky, or one of the other lesser rated movies on my list. But, no, I decided to do a few things. The next thing will be to check on the dehydrator. If everything seems dry enough, I'll deal with that. I may need to do some parting, splitting out what is dry and turning the machine on for a bit longer. After that I'll set up another batch of kefir. I sure hope I get over my hunger for that soon. Raw, too, no fruit, sweetener, or other. It's got that twinge, like carbonated water, but... like a tomato carbonated drink, only white... Yeah, another half gallon. Then I will do a few things with my pack. Finally, a shower and then out. It may be raining today, but that is just fine. I don't know how far I will make it, I just... would like to finally get out.
Later.
.
I think I'm addicted to kefir. I've downed... a lot. Actually, before the morning is through, I will be setting up another half gallon. Yeah... I could probably drink an half gallon a day. Other than the milk expense, that might not even be all bad. And even the expense wouldn't be horrible. However, I will also add something to my other doings.
I watched a show that wasn't too bad. The horror wasn't too grotesque. The worst elements were left to the mind. I can see where that is what others see, or believe, with me. Slightly different reasons, and over a longer period of time, and with a literal failed heart to add an extra heaping helping of confusion, on my side of things, to the batter. But, yes. Oh, the name of it? Ah, The None of Your Business. I really do have to figure out how to rate the movies.
On the good side of Netflix, the rating system is a lot more genuine. I felt that with Amazon, their movie ratings, for the most part, where written by about six to eight people. Hmm, the ADD middling who couldn't sit through the first five minutes (probably of anything). The elder woman who just loved the visuals but obviously had no idea they were somehow connected to a movie... clueless. The middle class guy who really thought it was okay but could be better. Some who absolutely loved it (who I believe were in, or worked on, the movie). And a few other types. The reviews seemed extremely canned, especially on the C and below flicks. A LOT of Amazons films were C or below. No biggy. I'd still be watching if they hadn't decided to throw a celebration for queeriosity. Boo! Hiss! *throws rotten fruit and moves to other sources*Now, I don't always agree with NF reviews, but they seem genuine.
I haven't heard a thing back from Amazon. Probably because I am one of the few who even noticed, or bothered to complain. Sheep. They have you. You either don't believe you have a choice or are too lazy and simple to find those choices. Keep drinking the cool-aid, and following Alice down the rabbit hole. I'll... be moving on, I do believe. Can't say they didn't give turning me into one of a borg a hell of a shot. Thing is, I am already with the real Borg. The man-made stuff doesn't cut it. I have been on the dark side better than their feeble, lazy, half-baked attempts. And I am now on the good side. Their efforts don't even rate for more than a minor put down. For some of us. For most people, grazed on teh stupid, it is enough. The electric fence doesn't even have to be turned on anymore. *moo!* Crazy baby. I'm telling you, if I had criminal intent, I'd be living like a king. Or would be one, if that seemed entertaining.
Yes, today, I do believe I will be getting out. I had thought to watch another show, perhaps Werewolf, Iron Sky, or one of the other lesser rated movies on my list. But, no, I decided to do a few things. The next thing will be to check on the dehydrator. If everything seems dry enough, I'll deal with that. I may need to do some parting, splitting out what is dry and turning the machine on for a bit longer. After that I'll set up another batch of kefir. I sure hope I get over my hunger for that soon. Raw, too, no fruit, sweetener, or other. It's got that twinge, like carbonated water, but... like a tomato carbonated drink, only white... Yeah, another half gallon. Then I will do a few things with my pack. Finally, a shower and then out. It may be raining today, but that is just fine. I don't know how far I will make it, I just... would like to finally get out.
Later.
Not a bad morning.
.
.
I've kicked a double stout brew of kefir over, and am about to push through a regular brew. I probably won't set up another jar of the stuff, as that will give me about a gallon of go-to fermented moo-juice. Which is why I went to the half gallon jars. I've actually made three in the last two days. I had to make up a bit, after going without for a while. Which I have, pretty much, done. Now I can go to regular usage.
A few eggs for breakfast. Coffee is brewing... or actually should be done. The vegetables look to be, probably, ready. I turned off the dehydrator and am letting that cool. I want to check through the bits when at room temperature to make sure they really are dry. I doubt if anything with a bit of moisture would take more than a few more hours to finish. Still, if they do, I have... all day! *smile*
Bits and pieces of life are going forward. I am feeling pretty good. Sleep was fine. I dreamed of... a charity sort of social call from the dread ilk and lead family. I was a bit embarrassed. I tell folk I'm ugly, that my house is a mess, and that I am a cripple (if an oddly potent one at times), but facing that in real life is different. They seemed okay with it. Still not sure why they visited. Dreams, who can know. After they left, I got busy with a bunch of busty waitresses at some ski lodge resort area. Don't ask me, but it's like having a wholesome dinner followed by decadent desserts. And I ordered three to be sure. I was right, they were all tasty. We all have our favorites, but no reason to be prejudiced. Women have been killing me in dreams lately. Not, perhaps, as many women would want, just how they need, I think. Never mind.
Today? Let me tell you about today. Oh, chin up. Ventilators have come a long way. *wink* But, seriously, today? I think it will be a good day. I'll watch some show this morning, while taking in some coffee, after that a late breakfast of grain hash and butter. Then a shower and perhaps some fussing with the pack. And then none of your biz-wax. For now. Writing can sometimes unstop the bottle of life, but lately seems to be stoppering it. So... when I know, you'll know. Maybe.
Now go, do. I've got coffee and waking to tend. Shoo! I like you, but not that much. Scoot. Later.
.
I've kicked a double stout brew of kefir over, and am about to push through a regular brew. I probably won't set up another jar of the stuff, as that will give me about a gallon of go-to fermented moo-juice. Which is why I went to the half gallon jars. I've actually made three in the last two days. I had to make up a bit, after going without for a while. Which I have, pretty much, done. Now I can go to regular usage.
A few eggs for breakfast. Coffee is brewing... or actually should be done. The vegetables look to be, probably, ready. I turned off the dehydrator and am letting that cool. I want to check through the bits when at room temperature to make sure they really are dry. I doubt if anything with a bit of moisture would take more than a few more hours to finish. Still, if they do, I have... all day! *smile*
Bits and pieces of life are going forward. I am feeling pretty good. Sleep was fine. I dreamed of... a charity sort of social call from the dread ilk and lead family. I was a bit embarrassed. I tell folk I'm ugly, that my house is a mess, and that I am a cripple (if an oddly potent one at times), but facing that in real life is different. They seemed okay with it. Still not sure why they visited. Dreams, who can know. After they left, I got busy with a bunch of busty waitresses at some ski lodge resort area. Don't ask me, but it's like having a wholesome dinner followed by decadent desserts. And I ordered three to be sure. I was right, they were all tasty. We all have our favorites, but no reason to be prejudiced. Women have been killing me in dreams lately. Not, perhaps, as many women would want, just how they need, I think. Never mind.
Today? Let me tell you about today. Oh, chin up. Ventilators have come a long way. *wink* But, seriously, today? I think it will be a good day. I'll watch some show this morning, while taking in some coffee, after that a late breakfast of grain hash and butter. Then a shower and perhaps some fussing with the pack. And then none of your biz-wax. For now. Writing can sometimes unstop the bottle of life, but lately seems to be stoppering it. So... when I know, you'll know. Maybe.
Now go, do. I've got coffee and waking to tend. Shoo! I like you, but not that much. Scoot. Later.
Amazon employees?
.
.
Since I complained to Amazon, I haven't been able to watch vids on my blog. Seems they really like their fags. Is that illegal to say yet? Anyway, while I can watch videos on other sites, and on youtube, just not on my own blog, I figure it's just a little irritant from those people of the positive negative. Making me more certain that dumping Amazon is the way to go. I did get one of the stupid form emails, almost immediately, telling me they would pass on my complaint. Haven't heard a thing since. Although, I don't think they are taking it all that seriously.
Hmm... may have to see if quitting my premium membership allows me money back on the year. If so, that would at least let them know where I am going with it. I haven't found a good single source for purchases, but that may be best. Seems that as soon as a company gets really big, it thinks it can make us gargle whatever crap it wants to shoot our way. I have found another source for movies. As to books, I'll probably have to go old school and just buy them or order them as books. I'm dumping my ebook reading device anyway. Oh, yeah, I need to check on that too. Thanks for reminding me, Amazon!
Anything else I wish to purchase will have to be local, through the manufacturer, or online via another vender. Some things will be a bit harder to find, and more expensive. Though Amazon had surrendered the price edge some time back and was just playing roulette. Some things were much cheaper, somethings grossly more (too) expensive. Convenience they had. Should have shut up about their queer love.
Oh, but if it is their cute little hacking complaints department, I would suggest Amazon corp get on top of that before that comes back and bites them even harder than exiting customers. I might not be able to track that back, tech isn't my thing. I can sense it, but not track it. However, dragons always have friends. Some of those friends are tech. Some of them might even know your bosses. Or be them. Undo your witching or prepare to never get a .corp job again, perhaps even once you leave prison. Oh, or even computer access. *wink*
.
Since I complained to Amazon, I haven't been able to watch vids on my blog. Seems they really like their fags. Is that illegal to say yet? Anyway, while I can watch videos on other sites, and on youtube, just not on my own blog, I figure it's just a little irritant from those people of the positive negative. Making me more certain that dumping Amazon is the way to go. I did get one of the stupid form emails, almost immediately, telling me they would pass on my complaint. Haven't heard a thing since. Although, I don't think they are taking it all that seriously.
Hmm... may have to see if quitting my premium membership allows me money back on the year. If so, that would at least let them know where I am going with it. I haven't found a good single source for purchases, but that may be best. Seems that as soon as a company gets really big, it thinks it can make us gargle whatever crap it wants to shoot our way. I have found another source for movies. As to books, I'll probably have to go old school and just buy them or order them as books. I'm dumping my ebook reading device anyway. Oh, yeah, I need to check on that too. Thanks for reminding me, Amazon!
Anything else I wish to purchase will have to be local, through the manufacturer, or online via another vender. Some things will be a bit harder to find, and more expensive. Though Amazon had surrendered the price edge some time back and was just playing roulette. Some things were much cheaper, somethings grossly more (too) expensive. Convenience they had. Should have shut up about their queer love.
Oh, but if it is their cute little hacking complaints department, I would suggest Amazon corp get on top of that before that comes back and bites them even harder than exiting customers. I might not be able to track that back, tech isn't my thing. I can sense it, but not track it. However, dragons always have friends. Some of those friends are tech. Some of them might even know your bosses. Or be them. Undo your witching or prepare to never get a .corp job again, perhaps even once you leave prison. Oh, or even computer access. *wink*
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Not today.
.
.
I simply overdid the last few days. Like it, don't like it, doesn't matter. I made every attempt to simply forge on ahead. It just wouldn't happen.
I did minor work through the morning. Two of the bags of veggies I purchased, I decided, would be dehydrated. Problem is, many of the parts were simply too big. Which means two very large bags of cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots had to be cut. They started frozen, and that simply doesn't cut well. I thought they would thaw well enough left out, but not so much. Between this, that, and time, I finally got everything cut fine enough to begin the process. Easy work, just something to do while trying to energize up for the hike.
I'll take it a bit easier today. I may even go in an nap. I don't regret yesterday. When I can work, and have things to do, I really enjoy pushing on through. Besides, I shouldn't cap work if I can do it. I never know when I might be able to get back to it. I have a lot more to do. Always it seems. Still, I have worked enough. If I can re-energize, and go hiking, that will be a reward, and incentive. Too tired. I'll... get back to it. I am planning on a hike tomorrow morning. And, failing that, Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday... until I do get out. I will work on the kayak this weekend. Yeah, I know.
Later.
.
I simply overdid the last few days. Like it, don't like it, doesn't matter. I made every attempt to simply forge on ahead. It just wouldn't happen.
I did minor work through the morning. Two of the bags of veggies I purchased, I decided, would be dehydrated. Problem is, many of the parts were simply too big. Which means two very large bags of cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots had to be cut. They started frozen, and that simply doesn't cut well. I thought they would thaw well enough left out, but not so much. Between this, that, and time, I finally got everything cut fine enough to begin the process. Easy work, just something to do while trying to energize up for the hike.
I'll take it a bit easier today. I may even go in an nap. I don't regret yesterday. When I can work, and have things to do, I really enjoy pushing on through. Besides, I shouldn't cap work if I can do it. I never know when I might be able to get back to it. I have a lot more to do. Always it seems. Still, I have worked enough. If I can re-energize, and go hiking, that will be a reward, and incentive. Too tired. I'll... get back to it. I am planning on a hike tomorrow morning. And, failing that, Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday... until I do get out. I will work on the kayak this weekend. Yeah, I know.
Later.
Ah, right, the markets.
.
.
I can hear it from here, the disturbance in the force. Where is my crack... urhm... valuation! Here, there, up, down. They did this, we did that, they were going after them. I suggested, long ago, that the economic war had gone hot. Several years now? Longer. Shortly after the end of the cold war economy became the new cool tool. In a digital age, the speed of that war is blistering. Allies and enemies can change sides, hedge their bets, push their plays, or go dormant, with a few clicks and clacks, a final tap, the speed of light, some limits due to switching and a few other things, then, then, then... Not like the old wars, when troops and gear had to be mustered, trained, produced, transported. Just a friendly game, of course.
What is being butchered, so far, isn't blood, but gold. Of course, what gold is even real is another question. Much has been created from nothing. Much seems to be nothing but is everything. Where anything is, in reality, isn't possible to know. Legions of hackers, counter hackers, transport of this and that, and the rest, means no one, and I mean no one, knows even a huge portions of the truth. Gleaned bits and pieces. Where, who, what, and how to attack, defend against... it's all a blur, at nearly light speed. Silver, for example? A cartel. There are massive amounts of it not being registered in the markets in order to maintain such a high price. Same with most precious metals and much else. A set of currencies used as standards, inflated to make sense of much of the rest of the fictional markets. If you call a US dollar a dime, something has to support it. Without anything else, higher silver and gold prices can be used. Assuming reserves. How much of anything is real? Not much.
China, Russia, the EU, the US, even a few major (seemingly) human and corporate players, are all vying for the prize, and survival. No one can honestly trust anyone. Not even national governments can trust parts of their own. Moles, voles, sellouts, fools, incompetents. Russia has pretty much been crushed back to having to threaten with sticks and stones. So 21st century. But when you lose so many of your poker chips it's all you have, whatever. China thought they could join with what is left of Russia and open up a new game in town in a bid to become the only game in town. Russia as muscle, China as the brains. I think they drew a royal flush alright, but not one to bet on. They depended on some things, people, governments, and processes in the naivete that comes from being indoctrinated. Doesn't matte what the indoctrination is based upon, it is a major failing when working within the world of reals... or... the variabilities inherent in reality. They can't all be accounted, the variables. Not ever, not even mostly, and certainly not when playing a game one already can't win. Like addicts, they went in for the crack on the floor. They saw it drop, knew, just knew, it was there. When it wasn't there, and all the dealers had packed up and split, China took the war extremely hot.
There are so many hotspots now that, keeping track and seeing where things will go is not possible. The models always sucked, the gurus were only one trick ponies who lost their way as soon as they stepped off the one train that ran on the one track that they understood. Oh? You mean there are other tracks, and trains? Yes, Johnny, there are. It isn't, actually, uncharted territory, in one sense. This is the way things were before everyone sort of agreed to rig all the systems. Or, their is a chance the dam they built is breaking. It's the flow of the river before the dam was built. More, this is the flood water removing the feeble efforts of men to control. If nature can't always get the job done, mens' failings will certainly see to the return of nature.
Beautiful, really. Everybody went to Vegas and bet it all. And, somehow, not even the house can win. Everyone is still betting. How many Greeks are still trying to get their pensions? How many Americans believe their pension will be their, or even their savings? How many Chinese are planning their future based on stocks? How many who bet everything on the stocks, or bonds, or cash, or gold, or land... everything being based on nothing... who plan to keep it at all costs? There never was, in these times, and never will be ever, enough to paper over the greed and lust of wanting what isn't real, isn't earned. It really isn't going to affect the average as much as some think, unless they panic... or live in a city. And that at worst. It is crowned heads who sleep uneasily. It is princes of industry who fret. It is governments who were just grabbing control who are feeling it. Don't become a part of their misery. But do duck and keep out of the line of sight. Keep your eyes open.
Curious times. And the war could turn mechanical. Wars and rumors of wars. Not the first time it went economic, just the first time that was digitized. All the same, then or now.
.
I can hear it from here, the disturbance in the force. Where is my crack... urhm... valuation! Here, there, up, down. They did this, we did that, they were going after them. I suggested, long ago, that the economic war had gone hot. Several years now? Longer. Shortly after the end of the cold war economy became the new cool tool. In a digital age, the speed of that war is blistering. Allies and enemies can change sides, hedge their bets, push their plays, or go dormant, with a few clicks and clacks, a final tap, the speed of light, some limits due to switching and a few other things, then, then, then... Not like the old wars, when troops and gear had to be mustered, trained, produced, transported. Just a friendly game, of course.
What is being butchered, so far, isn't blood, but gold. Of course, what gold is even real is another question. Much has been created from nothing. Much seems to be nothing but is everything. Where anything is, in reality, isn't possible to know. Legions of hackers, counter hackers, transport of this and that, and the rest, means no one, and I mean no one, knows even a huge portions of the truth. Gleaned bits and pieces. Where, who, what, and how to attack, defend against... it's all a blur, at nearly light speed. Silver, for example? A cartel. There are massive amounts of it not being registered in the markets in order to maintain such a high price. Same with most precious metals and much else. A set of currencies used as standards, inflated to make sense of much of the rest of the fictional markets. If you call a US dollar a dime, something has to support it. Without anything else, higher silver and gold prices can be used. Assuming reserves. How much of anything is real? Not much.
China, Russia, the EU, the US, even a few major (seemingly) human and corporate players, are all vying for the prize, and survival. No one can honestly trust anyone. Not even national governments can trust parts of their own. Moles, voles, sellouts, fools, incompetents. Russia has pretty much been crushed back to having to threaten with sticks and stones. So 21st century. But when you lose so many of your poker chips it's all you have, whatever. China thought they could join with what is left of Russia and open up a new game in town in a bid to become the only game in town. Russia as muscle, China as the brains. I think they drew a royal flush alright, but not one to bet on. They depended on some things, people, governments, and processes in the naivete that comes from being indoctrinated. Doesn't matte what the indoctrination is based upon, it is a major failing when working within the world of reals... or... the variabilities inherent in reality. They can't all be accounted, the variables. Not ever, not even mostly, and certainly not when playing a game one already can't win. Like addicts, they went in for the crack on the floor. They saw it drop, knew, just knew, it was there. When it wasn't there, and all the dealers had packed up and split, China took the war extremely hot.
There are so many hotspots now that, keeping track and seeing where things will go is not possible. The models always sucked, the gurus were only one trick ponies who lost their way as soon as they stepped off the one train that ran on the one track that they understood. Oh? You mean there are other tracks, and trains? Yes, Johnny, there are. It isn't, actually, uncharted territory, in one sense. This is the way things were before everyone sort of agreed to rig all the systems. Or, their is a chance the dam they built is breaking. It's the flow of the river before the dam was built. More, this is the flood water removing the feeble efforts of men to control. If nature can't always get the job done, mens' failings will certainly see to the return of nature.
Beautiful, really. Everybody went to Vegas and bet it all. And, somehow, not even the house can win. Everyone is still betting. How many Greeks are still trying to get their pensions? How many Americans believe their pension will be their, or even their savings? How many Chinese are planning their future based on stocks? How many who bet everything on the stocks, or bonds, or cash, or gold, or land... everything being based on nothing... who plan to keep it at all costs? There never was, in these times, and never will be ever, enough to paper over the greed and lust of wanting what isn't real, isn't earned. It really isn't going to affect the average as much as some think, unless they panic... or live in a city. And that at worst. It is crowned heads who sleep uneasily. It is princes of industry who fret. It is governments who were just grabbing control who are feeling it. Don't become a part of their misery. But do duck and keep out of the line of sight. Keep your eyes open.
Curious times. And the war could turn mechanical. Wars and rumors of wars. Not the first time it went economic, just the first time that was digitized. All the same, then or now.
Harshing on my mellow.
.
.
A headache. A strong one. Not a migraine, thankfully. It simply feels like my spinal column, every few inches, is about a quart turn out of phase all along it's distance. No, have had much worse. Yeah, I overdid a bit the last few days, I do believe. No, I'm not done. If I can toss the flag further into enemy territory, then I will charge their ranks heedlessly to retrieve it. Not entirely sure that is possible, but it is the plan. I took some anacin and am enjoying coffee. It almost sounds like it might have rained again, and is still spitting down from time to time. Maybe.
Rain isn't a real problem in one sense. Probably in most ways. In spring, when it has been raining a great deal, everything, I suppose, can turn to mud. Between melt and rain I would guess it can get pretty messy up there. But after a month of heat, a lot of water would have to fall before it got too messy. Some streams and rivers will swell. Not a major issue so long as you watch where you are walking and setting up camp. Anything that might come through won't be permanent, or even rise for all that long. Pocket canyons would be extremely dangerous. This isn't those.
I did get the kefir going. Beyond the two half gallons, I set up two pints as kefir grain (snot) incubation jars. I just like having emergency stores of the stuff, in case I do something really dumb. Yeah, it's been known to happen. I keep the dose pretty small, add milk, then let it ferment in the fridge. At cool temps, it takes a very long time for the kefir to consume the lactose. As it goes, I will change out one of those every other week, resetting and maintaining to spare cultures, beside the ongoing kefir for consumption, which is also a sort of prime culture source. I really do like kefir. Then again I am a bit odd. I like better plain yogurt too. Though most yogurt has been pasteurized... or something... down to... I don't know... boiled milk pudding? I would like to do yogurt too, but the stuff you use for that has to be kept on order. It is a consumable. And kefir is continuing, simpler, drinkable, and probably very close in flavor. So... gotta go with what is easy enough. Both are safe, one just doesn't need a constant supply line.
Beyond setting up the kefir and back-up cultures, I did go ahead and pull the vegetables. I didn't vacuum seal, merely storing them in ziplocks. I bought more vegetables, as I mentioned, so I may just run those through while I am at it. Technically you can use the dried corn to make corn meal. I have seen people use rocks to grind the thing. Not going to happen. Perhaps here at home, if I get that better mill, sure. But I'm not humping a mill sufficient to that task, nor am I going to spend half a day grinding dried corn! Crazy what some people will do for "civilized" notions. There is nothing I would need corn meal on the trail enough to do that. If I want it, I'll take a small bag of it with. Gah! People!
After the veggies, I will be hitting fruits. Some of it will be for roll-ups, some of it will be simply dried fruit. Anything that is too seedy will be pureed and strained. I have unsweetened apple sauce on hand, plenty for my needs. Some of it will make pure apple rolls, some will be for a mix. I don't really think I have enough fruit for, say, pure strawberry rolls. Though I'll know more as I get into it. While I would like to go without sugar, I don't think that is possible. There are some options, such as honey, or splenda (don't like the other artificial sweeteners... stevia is okay, but has a licorice aftertaste imho, so wouldn't work for this, again imho). I do have honey, and splenda, though if I have enough fruit to do much experimentation with is another thing. I do fear that honey might make the roll-ups a bit too sticky. A little oil of some sort on the platter would bring them up, possibly, easily enough. But they would be sticky in the hands. Still... will try various things to rein in ugly sorts of carbs and yet make the stuff edible. Fine lines everywhere, and I'm a bull elephant. So... Still have my teeth and haven't died yet, there is that. Not, necessarily, by choice though either, in all past times. If I take it, humbly, happily, mostly, now. Alone for life, but... alive in a new way so never really alone.
I doubt if I will shower again today. Two showers in two days, even when oiled, is a bit much. Plus, it's energy use and I will need all I can muster, if I can get out. I would like to tinker with the pack, have a small meal, maybe two... grain type goop, a few eggs, and maybe later a little something else. The kefir won't be done in time. I can't remember what else is readily available. More coffee to be sure, and medicine a little further along into the day. Oh, and it was sprinkling. But that turned into a full rain. It's going back and forth between full auto, burst, and semi-auto. :p Relaxing, anyway. Later.
.
A headache. A strong one. Not a migraine, thankfully. It simply feels like my spinal column, every few inches, is about a quart turn out of phase all along it's distance. No, have had much worse. Yeah, I overdid a bit the last few days, I do believe. No, I'm not done. If I can toss the flag further into enemy territory, then I will charge their ranks heedlessly to retrieve it. Not entirely sure that is possible, but it is the plan. I took some anacin and am enjoying coffee. It almost sounds like it might have rained again, and is still spitting down from time to time. Maybe.
Rain isn't a real problem in one sense. Probably in most ways. In spring, when it has been raining a great deal, everything, I suppose, can turn to mud. Between melt and rain I would guess it can get pretty messy up there. But after a month of heat, a lot of water would have to fall before it got too messy. Some streams and rivers will swell. Not a major issue so long as you watch where you are walking and setting up camp. Anything that might come through won't be permanent, or even rise for all that long. Pocket canyons would be extremely dangerous. This isn't those.
I did get the kefir going. Beyond the two half gallons, I set up two pints as kefir grain (snot) incubation jars. I just like having emergency stores of the stuff, in case I do something really dumb. Yeah, it's been known to happen. I keep the dose pretty small, add milk, then let it ferment in the fridge. At cool temps, it takes a very long time for the kefir to consume the lactose. As it goes, I will change out one of those every other week, resetting and maintaining to spare cultures, beside the ongoing kefir for consumption, which is also a sort of prime culture source. I really do like kefir. Then again I am a bit odd. I like better plain yogurt too. Though most yogurt has been pasteurized... or something... down to... I don't know... boiled milk pudding? I would like to do yogurt too, but the stuff you use for that has to be kept on order. It is a consumable. And kefir is continuing, simpler, drinkable, and probably very close in flavor. So... gotta go with what is easy enough. Both are safe, one just doesn't need a constant supply line.
Beyond setting up the kefir and back-up cultures, I did go ahead and pull the vegetables. I didn't vacuum seal, merely storing them in ziplocks. I bought more vegetables, as I mentioned, so I may just run those through while I am at it. Technically you can use the dried corn to make corn meal. I have seen people use rocks to grind the thing. Not going to happen. Perhaps here at home, if I get that better mill, sure. But I'm not humping a mill sufficient to that task, nor am I going to spend half a day grinding dried corn! Crazy what some people will do for "civilized" notions. There is nothing I would need corn meal on the trail enough to do that. If I want it, I'll take a small bag of it with. Gah! People!
After the veggies, I will be hitting fruits. Some of it will be for roll-ups, some of it will be simply dried fruit. Anything that is too seedy will be pureed and strained. I have unsweetened apple sauce on hand, plenty for my needs. Some of it will make pure apple rolls, some will be for a mix. I don't really think I have enough fruit for, say, pure strawberry rolls. Though I'll know more as I get into it. While I would like to go without sugar, I don't think that is possible. There are some options, such as honey, or splenda (don't like the other artificial sweeteners... stevia is okay, but has a licorice aftertaste imho, so wouldn't work for this, again imho). I do have honey, and splenda, though if I have enough fruit to do much experimentation with is another thing. I do fear that honey might make the roll-ups a bit too sticky. A little oil of some sort on the platter would bring them up, possibly, easily enough. But they would be sticky in the hands. Still... will try various things to rein in ugly sorts of carbs and yet make the stuff edible. Fine lines everywhere, and I'm a bull elephant. So... Still have my teeth and haven't died yet, there is that. Not, necessarily, by choice though either, in all past times. If I take it, humbly, happily, mostly, now. Alone for life, but... alive in a new way so never really alone.
I doubt if I will shower again today. Two showers in two days, even when oiled, is a bit much. Plus, it's energy use and I will need all I can muster, if I can get out. I would like to tinker with the pack, have a small meal, maybe two... grain type goop, a few eggs, and maybe later a little something else. The kefir won't be done in time. I can't remember what else is readily available. More coffee to be sure, and medicine a little further along into the day. Oh, and it was sprinkling. But that turned into a full rain. It's going back and forth between full auto, burst, and semi-auto. :p Relaxing, anyway. Later.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
That was a crazy lot of stuff.
.
.
I did get to town. My friend ended up not wanting to go. And I was able to get, pretty much, everything I needed at one store. I did stop for lunch. I really almost didn't go. It was getting late, a form of gravity was starting to drag me down. Each minute made the likelihood shrink. I just didn't want to have to go shopping tomorrow. I am hoping to hike, though... who knows. I need to check on the vegetables that have been drying. They should be done. I washed a couple of half gallon canning jars, so I should be able to begin making kefir on the more lasting side of things. I figure an half gallon of the stuff will last anywhere for four to six days. In rotation I won't have to be struggling with volume. Yeah, I'll get that going too, before going to bed. Other than that, I am done for the day.
It's cool, 71F outside, only 74F inside, last I checked. But running around town, and pushing all day, has me a bit cooked though mostly from work. All good. I hope to sleep well and be ready to go before sunup. Unless I just pushed too hard these last few days. All good, even so. I'll just keep trying. Good night.
.
I did get to town. My friend ended up not wanting to go. And I was able to get, pretty much, everything I needed at one store. I did stop for lunch. I really almost didn't go. It was getting late, a form of gravity was starting to drag me down. Each minute made the likelihood shrink. I just didn't want to have to go shopping tomorrow. I am hoping to hike, though... who knows. I need to check on the vegetables that have been drying. They should be done. I washed a couple of half gallon canning jars, so I should be able to begin making kefir on the more lasting side of things. I figure an half gallon of the stuff will last anywhere for four to six days. In rotation I won't have to be struggling with volume. Yeah, I'll get that going too, before going to bed. Other than that, I am done for the day.
It's cool, 71F outside, only 74F inside, last I checked. But running around town, and pushing all day, has me a bit cooked though mostly from work. All good. I hope to sleep well and be ready to go before sunup. Unless I just pushed too hard these last few days. All good, even so. I'll just keep trying. Good night.
Doing very well!
.
.
I did finish the dishes. Not just to the strainer. Up, up, and away. Save for some plastics I'll just let drip dry. I kept finding dishes, after doing a set, and a set, and... finally I think I have them all. I just wanted, for once, to be dead even. In between sets I remembered the vegetables. Corn, peas, and spinach. Yeah, you can do spinach. I'll need to work with that a bit after it thaws. They say peas don't dehydrate well. I'll test these. If not the best, I'll try thawing them first next time, or looking for split peas. The skin, if I had to guess, though perhaps the botanical structure, might be the problems. Corn has a thick skin too, but it seems to have easier fluid flow, more singular directional? If I had to guess. I may look for more vegetables at the store, but maybe Sam's Club for bigger buys? Depending on if my club fees are due. Hmm... I'll check the accounts, see how badly I've been butchering things. Might get to Sam's either way. Which means I ought to take a cooler. I need ice as well as the regular milk type run. And more eggs already. Though I emptied one jar of pickled eggs, so I can reset that one.
Yeah, I am finally fully caught up on dishes, I have dehydrated one thing, hitting on the next, and planning for fruit and then jerky. I've christened the vacuum sealer. And I might take my first heavy hike today. I just don't know about that last. I know I WANT to. I just don't know if I have already burned the candle a little long. Yes, I could push. But... that really isn't always wise when I am just rising from the open air bier after a bit of down time. Especially as I heal up. I feel like I can, and can actually, do more. But like those guys I used to fight who were in fighting order but just normals... I can get ko'ed on my feet. Possibly do some damage. Especially throwing shopping in.
Hmm... how about this... I will reset my pack a bit yet this morning, while waiting for stores. I'll then shower, shave, and hit town. Oh right, best check my accounts first, innit. Groceries, vegetables, and maybe take my friend out for lunch. I can't shoot today, just too much more... much like hiking. Then, when I finish, I return home... perhaps set a few more trays of various veggies to drying, relax until I sleep, and then zap out until I wake... When I wake, chill until tomorrow morning and head for the hills before the sun is up. I'll be relaxed, fed, maybe get another shower or bath in, and I won't be taxed as I am now. Yeah... that sounds like the plan.
I know, I still have the kayak to do. And I really haven't hit the kitchen as much as I'd like. Or even touched the living room. But... I think I was scheduling far too much in, even with the cool. Even if it feels more comfortable, running at 80F is pretty tough. And I am still in recovery mode. Never fully recovered from the migraines before the heat double-tapped me. I'm just now, perhaps. beginning to lift up again, but in some solid heat. I'll get there, don't you worry. Later.
.
I did finish the dishes. Not just to the strainer. Up, up, and away. Save for some plastics I'll just let drip dry. I kept finding dishes, after doing a set, and a set, and... finally I think I have them all. I just wanted, for once, to be dead even. In between sets I remembered the vegetables. Corn, peas, and spinach. Yeah, you can do spinach. I'll need to work with that a bit after it thaws. They say peas don't dehydrate well. I'll test these. If not the best, I'll try thawing them first next time, or looking for split peas. The skin, if I had to guess, though perhaps the botanical structure, might be the problems. Corn has a thick skin too, but it seems to have easier fluid flow, more singular directional? If I had to guess. I may look for more vegetables at the store, but maybe Sam's Club for bigger buys? Depending on if my club fees are due. Hmm... I'll check the accounts, see how badly I've been butchering things. Might get to Sam's either way. Which means I ought to take a cooler. I need ice as well as the regular milk type run. And more eggs already. Though I emptied one jar of pickled eggs, so I can reset that one.
Yeah, I am finally fully caught up on dishes, I have dehydrated one thing, hitting on the next, and planning for fruit and then jerky. I've christened the vacuum sealer. And I might take my first heavy hike today. I just don't know about that last. I know I WANT to. I just don't know if I have already burned the candle a little long. Yes, I could push. But... that really isn't always wise when I am just rising from the open air bier after a bit of down time. Especially as I heal up. I feel like I can, and can actually, do more. But like those guys I used to fight who were in fighting order but just normals... I can get ko'ed on my feet. Possibly do some damage. Especially throwing shopping in.
Hmm... how about this... I will reset my pack a bit yet this morning, while waiting for stores. I'll then shower, shave, and hit town. Oh right, best check my accounts first, innit. Groceries, vegetables, and maybe take my friend out for lunch. I can't shoot today, just too much more... much like hiking. Then, when I finish, I return home... perhaps set a few more trays of various veggies to drying, relax until I sleep, and then zap out until I wake... When I wake, chill until tomorrow morning and head for the hills before the sun is up. I'll be relaxed, fed, maybe get another shower or bath in, and I won't be taxed as I am now. Yeah... that sounds like the plan.
I know, I still have the kayak to do. And I really haven't hit the kitchen as much as I'd like. Or even touched the living room. But... I think I was scheduling far too much in, even with the cool. Even if it feels more comfortable, running at 80F is pretty tough. And I am still in recovery mode. Never fully recovered from the migraines before the heat double-tapped me. I'm just now, perhaps. beginning to lift up again, but in some solid heat. I'll get there, don't you worry. Later.
Learning.
.
.
Some things go so terribly wrong when I try to learn something new that the whole prospect is a little tainted. More, even when learning is simple, using that new information may be prohibitively painful, expensive, or too heavy, high, or tight in some other way. So I do approach education in a similar vein to the way I approach a snake or a woman. Can't tell, always, if it's poisonous or if she is insane... or... incurably insane. Marriage brings men and women to sanity, but many of each are no longer capable of that. Not for long term, some not even for short term. Can't tell.
This time it was easy and functional. I almost read some of the instructions, too. Though... that can be as foolish as not reading them, depending on who wrote them, if they are actually for the device sent, etc. I put a roll into the machine, cut my first bag. A little long, so I thought, so I trimmed that (almost too much). Still, between this and that, I ended up with a bag that worked. I filled it with the dried grain, all of it save of course what was eaten, and sealed it. I didn't add O2 eaters, since this was both just a training exercise and short term function. As I figure some other things out, and dehydrate vegetables, I'll be adding the burger to some packs of this, and vegetables to all meal sized packs. Though, even then, I won't be adding O2 absorbers. Only items that are packed for longer terms, mostly in larger amounts.
While I do like freezedried, it isn't economical (from what I have seen) to do at home. Further, either the packs are a bit too much for one person, even my size, or too small (and the smaller the more expensive by volume). Bleh. With the dehydrator, I am hoping to figure out how to store just enough of several types of vegetable for myself for a week. I can't use up three to five pounds (rehydrate) anything, in a week. Don't necessarily trust it beyond that. But the equivalent of a big can isn't enough either. I can play with it so that I have just enough, and no worries if by the next week (or month if I lose track) I feel the need or want to toss some partially unused portion. And, vacuum packs stack in the freezer much more easily than #10 or #2 1/2 cans. Live and learn.
I may consider beginning a vegetable dehydration thing tonight. I'll look at what I have. If I get that going, and finish the dishes, I will pull out the meat to thaw to begin jerky in a few days. I'll let it thaw in the refrigerator to buy a bit more time. After that, I'll begin poking around in my big pack, and getting ready for a potential run this morning. Just a half mile, mile, three mile run. Who knows. Gah! Forgot to make a little pack of the stuff for the trail. Ah well. I have mre's in there. I can work with one of those. I do have heat packs for those, but can just heat water in the cup/pot and warm it that way instead.
Oh, but I'll want a shower first. Just... prefer a shower before going live. If I have enough energy on the way back into town, I will stop through to see if I can find where they have the non-organic farmers market, and then do some grocery shopping. I am out of kefir. Technically I have some, but that is actually a couple of jars for storage of the grains. I thought I would need to throw more of that, but kept two as security. Though, if I go to half gallons of the stuff, as I am planning, I may need every bit of that grain for that large of a fermenting gig. Which means, two gallons of milk for my usual, and another two to keep me in kefir for a couple weeks, all give or take. The stuff grows on you, especially if you already liked store-bought. Even raw, if you have the complex taste buds it sort of requires.
I best get to it before I run out of time. It really might be a perfect, within the givens though in ways beyond reason, day. Later.
.
Some things go so terribly wrong when I try to learn something new that the whole prospect is a little tainted. More, even when learning is simple, using that new information may be prohibitively painful, expensive, or too heavy, high, or tight in some other way. So I do approach education in a similar vein to the way I approach a snake or a woman. Can't tell, always, if it's poisonous or if she is insane... or... incurably insane. Marriage brings men and women to sanity, but many of each are no longer capable of that. Not for long term, some not even for short term. Can't tell.
This time it was easy and functional. I almost read some of the instructions, too. Though... that can be as foolish as not reading them, depending on who wrote them, if they are actually for the device sent, etc. I put a roll into the machine, cut my first bag. A little long, so I thought, so I trimmed that (almost too much). Still, between this and that, I ended up with a bag that worked. I filled it with the dried grain, all of it save of course what was eaten, and sealed it. I didn't add O2 eaters, since this was both just a training exercise and short term function. As I figure some other things out, and dehydrate vegetables, I'll be adding the burger to some packs of this, and vegetables to all meal sized packs. Though, even then, I won't be adding O2 absorbers. Only items that are packed for longer terms, mostly in larger amounts.
While I do like freezedried, it isn't economical (from what I have seen) to do at home. Further, either the packs are a bit too much for one person, even my size, or too small (and the smaller the more expensive by volume). Bleh. With the dehydrator, I am hoping to figure out how to store just enough of several types of vegetable for myself for a week. I can't use up three to five pounds (rehydrate) anything, in a week. Don't necessarily trust it beyond that. But the equivalent of a big can isn't enough either. I can play with it so that I have just enough, and no worries if by the next week (or month if I lose track) I feel the need or want to toss some partially unused portion. And, vacuum packs stack in the freezer much more easily than #10 or #2 1/2 cans. Live and learn.
I may consider beginning a vegetable dehydration thing tonight. I'll look at what I have. If I get that going, and finish the dishes, I will pull out the meat to thaw to begin jerky in a few days. I'll let it thaw in the refrigerator to buy a bit more time. After that, I'll begin poking around in my big pack, and getting ready for a potential run this morning. Just a half mile, mile, three mile run. Who knows. Gah! Forgot to make a little pack of the stuff for the trail. Ah well. I have mre's in there. I can work with one of those. I do have heat packs for those, but can just heat water in the cup/pot and warm it that way instead.
Oh, but I'll want a shower first. Just... prefer a shower before going live. If I have enough energy on the way back into town, I will stop through to see if I can find where they have the non-organic farmers market, and then do some grocery shopping. I am out of kefir. Technically I have some, but that is actually a couple of jars for storage of the grains. I thought I would need to throw more of that, but kept two as security. Though, if I go to half gallons of the stuff, as I am planning, I may need every bit of that grain for that large of a fermenting gig. Which means, two gallons of milk for my usual, and another two to keep me in kefir for a couple weeks, all give or take. The stuff grows on you, especially if you already liked store-bought. Even raw, if you have the complex taste buds it sort of requires.
I best get to it before I run out of time. It really might be a perfect, within the givens though in ways beyond reason, day. Later.
At it and a visitor.
.
.
I've washed and set the dishes to a soak. The grains were fully dehydrated. They did need a little crushing-separation. Easy enough with nearing 200 lb/in^2 grip, or surpassing really. When in dry form, what I started with for various grain/seed was about six cups. After partially cooking then dehydrating, I ended up with more like five cups. Besides the slight reduction in volume and weight, plus being ready to cook (sort of a poor man's instant food), the food will last longer at environmental temperatures. It's a little work to empty the trays. You have to a bit careful. It's more time and nerve consuming than energy demanding. Or, as any boy would suggest... bo ring! Still, done. I have that sitting in a bowl as I prepare to finish dishes, then begin figuring out the vacuum sealer.
While the dehydrated hamburger "jerky" didn't work out so well, I won't waste it. If possible. To try to figure out the packet volumes, I took a third of a cup of the grain mix, and perhaps a quarter cup of the dehydrated burger, and set that in about a cup of water. I gave it 20~30 minutes to soak, which just finished, and have put that in a small pan to cook. I am trying to get a volume idea down. I usually have anywhere from a cup to two cups of the mash, then maybe the equivalent of a brot of meat, sometimes with two to three eggs. I doubt if the third cup will do. Probably more like an half cup, maybe a whole cup, plus two thirds of a cup of meat. Not exactly sure, but from what I am seeing, and given that trail eating will need to be more than home eating. Now, this isn't going to be gourmet. But it may well be trail gourmet. And, with a few spices, or dried fruit, or better jerky, enough work and hunger? Yeah... this should do. Plus, I'm not spending near as much. I may take a small bag with me, if I go hiking, and see just how long it takes to cook and all.
I remembered to check the sprinkler tonight. I know, for sure, this time, that I set it correctly. I am pretty sure it was set correctly last time, too. In any case, when I checked, the sprinkler was not going. We are getting a little bit of rain, but it is very weak. It is not enough for my lawn. Especially as distressed as it has become. So... I went out and fixed that, and will keep an eye on it to make sure it isn't turned off again. And, whoever did that, it seems, went to the basement. They always forget to turn the light off down there. It's how I know. Don't know if they took anything, or what they did. I just know they were there. I am going to have to watch things carefully. Perhaps, now, as I improve, I might just be able to catch them. Yeah, I have some notions of who. Though it really doesn't matter.
I do believe that the way I have some things arranged, it keeps some, if not all, out. I changed that today while doing other things. It seems that did not pass unnoticed. I will fix that shortly. Best get some food first. It smells okay. Probably going to be at least a bit grainy. But it'll do, both for a snack and part of an ongoing experiment. Later.
.
I've washed and set the dishes to a soak. The grains were fully dehydrated. They did need a little crushing-separation. Easy enough with nearing 200 lb/in^2 grip, or surpassing really. When in dry form, what I started with for various grain/seed was about six cups. After partially cooking then dehydrating, I ended up with more like five cups. Besides the slight reduction in volume and weight, plus being ready to cook (sort of a poor man's instant food), the food will last longer at environmental temperatures. It's a little work to empty the trays. You have to a bit careful. It's more time and nerve consuming than energy demanding. Or, as any boy would suggest... bo ring! Still, done. I have that sitting in a bowl as I prepare to finish dishes, then begin figuring out the vacuum sealer.
While the dehydrated hamburger "jerky" didn't work out so well, I won't waste it. If possible. To try to figure out the packet volumes, I took a third of a cup of the grain mix, and perhaps a quarter cup of the dehydrated burger, and set that in about a cup of water. I gave it 20~30 minutes to soak, which just finished, and have put that in a small pan to cook. I am trying to get a volume idea down. I usually have anywhere from a cup to two cups of the mash, then maybe the equivalent of a brot of meat, sometimes with two to three eggs. I doubt if the third cup will do. Probably more like an half cup, maybe a whole cup, plus two thirds of a cup of meat. Not exactly sure, but from what I am seeing, and given that trail eating will need to be more than home eating. Now, this isn't going to be gourmet. But it may well be trail gourmet. And, with a few spices, or dried fruit, or better jerky, enough work and hunger? Yeah... this should do. Plus, I'm not spending near as much. I may take a small bag with me, if I go hiking, and see just how long it takes to cook and all.
I remembered to check the sprinkler tonight. I know, for sure, this time, that I set it correctly. I am pretty sure it was set correctly last time, too. In any case, when I checked, the sprinkler was not going. We are getting a little bit of rain, but it is very weak. It is not enough for my lawn. Especially as distressed as it has become. So... I went out and fixed that, and will keep an eye on it to make sure it isn't turned off again. And, whoever did that, it seems, went to the basement. They always forget to turn the light off down there. It's how I know. Don't know if they took anything, or what they did. I just know they were there. I am going to have to watch things carefully. Perhaps, now, as I improve, I might just be able to catch them. Yeah, I have some notions of who. Though it really doesn't matter.
I do believe that the way I have some things arranged, it keeps some, if not all, out. I changed that today while doing other things. It seems that did not pass unnoticed. I will fix that shortly. Best get some food first. It smells okay. Probably going to be at least a bit grainy. But it'll do, both for a snack and part of an ongoing experiment. Later.
Awesome.
.
.
Cool. It has been right around the 80's, for highs, the last few days. I guess I had more recouping to do than I thought. I am getting to things, but not as quickly as I had hoped. Still, I am definitely enjoying a break in the weather. I'll enjoy it for as long as I can, and push through as well as I am able, though store a little bit of it up for the rest of the summer. Hard to believe that 80 really has become, for me, like the new 60? 70F? Something.
I have the grain mash in the dehydrator. I'll check it after posting this. Then hit the dishes. Dishes will just need a hot rinse. I could fold dishes while letting those soak. I have created a little work space in the kitchen. I can only have the dehydrator or the vacuum sealer in play, at a time, there. But... And yet, I created the space without tearing much into the kitchen. I really want to get that a bit more organized and clean. If I can do a bit of work tonight, and remain functional until morning, I might hit the trail. Either way, I am >.< this close to getting out. I may alter a few things in my pack, and do a final weighing, whether I end up going or not. As the last of my camping gear arrives, I will fiddle to have new, or preferred, items in the pack in various gearsets. And, with a stuff sack just for the hammock set I'd like to get the old sleeping bag in it's original stuff sack. Just... feels right somehow. I don't like mismatching unless the items are completely out of play. Oh, the old sleeping bag was too small, and still is, a bit. But in looking it over, I realized I ordered a zip in extender that makes it (more) viable. So I may well keep it for a day pack item. As expensive as it was, I am pleased with it. Part of a kit I can't trust to buy, but it'll work for summer overnighters on the lighter side of things.
Whether I hike or not, I need to get into town. More milk for kefir and consumption. Really, as I drink it, I could probably rotate a couple of half gallon jars through. Even quarts are tight, only offering about three Doom-sized servings per. I like to have a small 8 ouncer morning and night, at least. Told you, I'm a heavy drinker! No matter the libation. I just like the stuff, and as a treat a few times week with fruit. Drinking it almost makes me feel ye olde or something, too. Even if I have, and do, smirk a bit at the notion. Like calling the oldest man on earth but a babe in arms. And yet, in it's own way, very true. If he is headed to the Lord for sure. No matter how old, go to Him as a child.
Oh... well... some coffee, then some dishes... after checking on the dehydrator. Later.
.
Cool. It has been right around the 80's, for highs, the last few days. I guess I had more recouping to do than I thought. I am getting to things, but not as quickly as I had hoped. Still, I am definitely enjoying a break in the weather. I'll enjoy it for as long as I can, and push through as well as I am able, though store a little bit of it up for the rest of the summer. Hard to believe that 80 really has become, for me, like the new 60? 70F? Something.
I have the grain mash in the dehydrator. I'll check it after posting this. Then hit the dishes. Dishes will just need a hot rinse. I could fold dishes while letting those soak. I have created a little work space in the kitchen. I can only have the dehydrator or the vacuum sealer in play, at a time, there. But... And yet, I created the space without tearing much into the kitchen. I really want to get that a bit more organized and clean. If I can do a bit of work tonight, and remain functional until morning, I might hit the trail. Either way, I am >.< this close to getting out. I may alter a few things in my pack, and do a final weighing, whether I end up going or not. As the last of my camping gear arrives, I will fiddle to have new, or preferred, items in the pack in various gearsets. And, with a stuff sack just for the hammock set I'd like to get the old sleeping bag in it's original stuff sack. Just... feels right somehow. I don't like mismatching unless the items are completely out of play. Oh, the old sleeping bag was too small, and still is, a bit. But in looking it over, I realized I ordered a zip in extender that makes it (more) viable. So I may well keep it for a day pack item. As expensive as it was, I am pleased with it. Part of a kit I can't trust to buy, but it'll work for summer overnighters on the lighter side of things.
Whether I hike or not, I need to get into town. More milk for kefir and consumption. Really, as I drink it, I could probably rotate a couple of half gallon jars through. Even quarts are tight, only offering about three Doom-sized servings per. I like to have a small 8 ouncer morning and night, at least. Told you, I'm a heavy drinker! No matter the libation. I just like the stuff, and as a treat a few times week with fruit. Drinking it almost makes me feel ye olde or something, too. Even if I have, and do, smirk a bit at the notion. Like calling the oldest man on earth but a babe in arms. And yet, in it's own way, very true. If he is headed to the Lord for sure. No matter how old, go to Him as a child.
Oh... well... some coffee, then some dishes... after checking on the dehydrator. Later.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Always takes longer.
.
.
I finished one batch of goo, working on the second. After they cool, I'll begin dehydrating it. I think it will all fit. Then I remembered watering. I went out to check. Nope. So, being still enough predawn, I hit it for a bit, through the manual setting. I'll tinker with it later. I suspect I just didn't have everything set just right. I'm having to go short with it today. Watering in the sun is worse than skipping even several more days. Sometime today I am hoping to move the lines, and have the auto feature set up for tonight. I'll have to hit it a little extra, until I get some green back, then cut the pace.
It is, again, a cool morning. I think I can still squeeze constructing the shade. Perhaps even tethering it. Then a bath and probably to bed a bit earlier. Or should I push for later? I really am hoping, with as cool as it has been, to perhaps get out hiking before too long. Thursday, maybe Friday, when my chores are done and I am a bit more caught up on things. I'm not sure about dehydration times, so that is difficult to time. After the grains, I'll be hitting vegetables, then fruit of various sorts, and finally, as I see how timing goes, I'll thaw the last of the beef for jerky. Next month I'll be buying another big chunk, say twenty pounds this time. Ten pounds of raw yields, say, five to six pounds, depending on how dry you make it. I'll be making it much drier from now on. It lasts longer, and it is much easier to powder for pemmican.
The rest of this week will be about getting the kitchen, bathroom, and living room back up to that peak, beyond the food. Then, next week, to begin on my bedroom. The only outings I am definitely going to plan on is kayaking. If I see just the right weather, at just the right time for me, and am up at the right hour, I will hit hiking. Weight lifting will just have to wait until fall. At least as things look now. All good. Really. Damned good, actually. Life is really truly improving. Even if I am an idiot, a fool, a simpleton, or a hack, I think I've found the formula for not worrying about that and taking care of the real, important, or honestly notable, things in life. Don't care, get to it. As I can, that is.
A couple of boiled eggs, some grain mash, and a cup of kefir for breakfast. You know what? That just isn't too bad. Boring? All food gets boring, is boring no matter what else at times. But, for me, with my limitations, it works. I'm feeling so 19th century. The cave's creation in that time just... adds ambiance to the notion. I love it when people can see me as having come from that time. So fresh. Like when people tell you that you look half your age. Only, seriously, not even close to half your age, but actually mean it. Makes me wonder if they just want something. I'll admit it, flattery might get you places. *wink*
Later.
.
I finished one batch of goo, working on the second. After they cool, I'll begin dehydrating it. I think it will all fit. Then I remembered watering. I went out to check. Nope. So, being still enough predawn, I hit it for a bit, through the manual setting. I'll tinker with it later. I suspect I just didn't have everything set just right. I'm having to go short with it today. Watering in the sun is worse than skipping even several more days. Sometime today I am hoping to move the lines, and have the auto feature set up for tonight. I'll have to hit it a little extra, until I get some green back, then cut the pace.
It is, again, a cool morning. I think I can still squeeze constructing the shade. Perhaps even tethering it. Then a bath and probably to bed a bit earlier. Or should I push for later? I really am hoping, with as cool as it has been, to perhaps get out hiking before too long. Thursday, maybe Friday, when my chores are done and I am a bit more caught up on things. I'm not sure about dehydration times, so that is difficult to time. After the grains, I'll be hitting vegetables, then fruit of various sorts, and finally, as I see how timing goes, I'll thaw the last of the beef for jerky. Next month I'll be buying another big chunk, say twenty pounds this time. Ten pounds of raw yields, say, five to six pounds, depending on how dry you make it. I'll be making it much drier from now on. It lasts longer, and it is much easier to powder for pemmican.
The rest of this week will be about getting the kitchen, bathroom, and living room back up to that peak, beyond the food. Then, next week, to begin on my bedroom. The only outings I am definitely going to plan on is kayaking. If I see just the right weather, at just the right time for me, and am up at the right hour, I will hit hiking. Weight lifting will just have to wait until fall. At least as things look now. All good. Really. Damned good, actually. Life is really truly improving. Even if I am an idiot, a fool, a simpleton, or a hack, I think I've found the formula for not worrying about that and taking care of the real, important, or honestly notable, things in life. Don't care, get to it. As I can, that is.
A couple of boiled eggs, some grain mash, and a cup of kefir for breakfast. You know what? That just isn't too bad. Boring? All food gets boring, is boring no matter what else at times. But, for me, with my limitations, it works. I'm feeling so 19th century. The cave's creation in that time just... adds ambiance to the notion. I love it when people can see me as having come from that time. So fresh. Like when people tell you that you look half your age. Only, seriously, not even close to half your age, but actually mean it. Makes me wonder if they just want something. I'll admit it, flattery might get you places. *wink*
Later.
I just gave Amazon a black eye.
.
.
I noticed, visiting their site, what seemed to me to be a gay-pride support type of sale going on. They weren't, completely, out. But the rainbow color setting was suggestive enough. Mistake. I spent the time going through the various lists of places and options in order to figure out how to contact them. Then went through the bother of figuring out which were the best boxes and choices to click to make an attempt to get the message to the correct eyes. With some companies, like Microsoft and Apple, it doesn't matter. They don't care and there isn't much of a choice. With some companies, it really does.
I merely suggested that they should not have gotten involved. I understand that the government might support their homophile ways, and their lawyers I should have added. Plus, there seems to be (but really isn't) a majority public support for gay "marriage". Too late, I suggested. They really should have kept their nose out of it. As a result, I would be looking for other, non immorality supporting businesses with which to do business. There really, as I see it, isn't a way for them to back out of that support. I suggest that they get the government, and that large "majority" who support that, to take my place on their ordering line. I highly doubt if I will get a response. I have a few items on the way, not sure if they will mess with those. I'll just return or cancel, printing proof and prepping for a legal and civil fight just in case, if they try to jack me around on this. If they square the deals, cool, but not another. Other than that, Amazon will no longer get my business. Easy doesn't have to be sleazy, and as I see it, the two are incompatible.
Note to venders, watch yourselves. Because we are. And we really aren't going to be putting up with it anymore. Do you really have the margins to try to emulate aristocrats? I'll bet you don't. And I'll bet no one is going to save you, or even be able to save you if they wanted to do so. Pick your sides carefully. Though, as I suggested, don't pick sides. Just do your simple, damned, humble job. You have been put on notice.
.
I noticed, visiting their site, what seemed to me to be a gay-pride support type of sale going on. They weren't, completely, out. But the rainbow color setting was suggestive enough. Mistake. I spent the time going through the various lists of places and options in order to figure out how to contact them. Then went through the bother of figuring out which were the best boxes and choices to click to make an attempt to get the message to the correct eyes. With some companies, like Microsoft and Apple, it doesn't matter. They don't care and there isn't much of a choice. With some companies, it really does.
I merely suggested that they should not have gotten involved. I understand that the government might support their homophile ways, and their lawyers I should have added. Plus, there seems to be (but really isn't) a majority public support for gay "marriage". Too late, I suggested. They really should have kept their nose out of it. As a result, I would be looking for other, non immorality supporting businesses with which to do business. There really, as I see it, isn't a way for them to back out of that support. I suggest that they get the government, and that large "majority" who support that, to take my place on their ordering line. I highly doubt if I will get a response. I have a few items on the way, not sure if they will mess with those. I'll just return or cancel, printing proof and prepping for a legal and civil fight just in case, if they try to jack me around on this. If they square the deals, cool, but not another. Other than that, Amazon will no longer get my business. Easy doesn't have to be sleazy, and as I see it, the two are incompatible.
Note to venders, watch yourselves. Because we are. And we really aren't going to be putting up with it anymore. Do you really have the margins to try to emulate aristocrats? I'll bet you don't. And I'll bet no one is going to save you, or even be able to save you if they wanted to do so. Pick your sides carefully. Though, as I suggested, don't pick sides. Just do your simple, damned, humble job. You have been put on notice.
Today already?
.
.
Hehe. When you are sleeping as need be, regardless of what the sun is doing, the notion of today, tomorrow, morning, afternoon... all go away. There is only various notions of the past, now, and various levels of consideration of the future. Near, medium, distant, futures, for example. More, when time isn't progressing as I think many suggest time progresses for them, even those notions are a bit odd. While not immortal of flesh, I can see, through these oddities or maladies of my flesh or nature, a very small beginning of the understanding of true immortality. That doesn't work in this world, which is within a notion of time. If you were merely born to immortality, you would have gone mad. All who are have gone through that, many remain insane. Beside all the other reason for a soul to be sent through flesh, life, suffering, joy, and death, this is no small part of that. In computer/console games, this is the training area. Just... thinking.
Anyway, yes, regardless of all else, for me, it is already "today". I went to bed at about 13:00, plus some change. I woke for supper, if I can't say when that was. Delicious, by the way. Often when I wake for dinner I can't eat, or much. In part because I can't taste, and what of flavors I can taste seem to be the ones I don't like. Not tonight. I blindly consumed with relish. It wasn't just hunger either. I went right back to bed. I wondered how long it would take me to fall back to sleep with a full... zzz. Next thing I knew, it was "today". Today started at about 23:30, give or take some change.
I am working on another post. Another dream. Not sure I will post it. If you want it, I might send it via email. I merely ask that you not pass it on. I have my reasons. My dreams seem to be... hmm... Just, I don't... always see the need to post everything. Nor do I have a want to do so. Oh, and I'll pass on the double dream post of passions from a while back, if you want that. Email me or go without. I don't care. I'll just copy, paste, send... adding no comment. Feedback is fine. I'm not touchy about any of it, just... not feeling like sharing with potential strangers, antagonists, or children.
I haven't finished the other post. Dang but the dreams have been involved lately. Or more, I am writing more detail really, as there is more involved. I'll do that later. I decided to write a daily-daily journal entry, then figure out what to start on today. Someone kindly remembered an old post with knots in it. Some of those might work, some not so much. The last knot, the backhand hitch, might serve some things. But not all. The others... not for rigging the structure to the raft. I don't think. I'll... look them over, with that specifically in mind, before finally deciding. I remind, I am just, sort of, in the waking process. Coffee! I need coffee.
I do hope to cook several batches of grains, only two thirds to completion, then dehydrate those. While I am cooking that, I need to complete more of the kitchen, finish the last of the dishes, and make space for the vacuum sealer. While it may well take a day to dry the grains, I want the sealer ready immediately. And I would like to practice just a bit, perhaps setting up a couple of smaller bags from the roll(s). I haven't looked at what came with it, but I think an 8" bag roll for sure, maybe an 11", and some various sized premade sample bags. I just want to make sure it works. Why cook, even partially, then dehydrate grains, you ask? Fair question. First, doing so shortens the cooking time. On the trail, if no fires can be used, all fuel is humped in. Besides being a bit risky (in my mind), it is a limited consumable. Figuring out how to conserve it is vital. So, precooking, partially, cuts the cook time down by a lot. Further, pack size is always an issue, as is weight. Water is a large part of weight and volume. Remove those, and you shrink both weight and volume hugely. Precooking, again, helps here. It opens the dry food to moisture, allow more of what is already in it to escape, collapsing the volume and weight more than it already was. Fair question, that's my understanding.
If I get the kitchen in pretty good shape, dishes done, and food ready for dehydration as quickly as I am hoping, I then want to hit the kayak. Hopefully to have that, pretty much, put together before it starts heating up. Yesterday ended up being a rather cool day, despite the sun. It looks like it only got into the 80's. Hiking sounds good, but not while I'm digging in as I am. It's not reasonable. However, if the weather holds, and I get these chunks of things done, and can hold on a bit, I might truly be able to begin keeping that window open for opportunity. I may have to drop other minor things I am doing, or planning. I may pay a price. I might... this, that, the other thing. But... if I can keep up, and get these other (to me) big issues solved, I might yet end up out and on my way, and maybe even in the heat.
So, that's the deal. Hmm... I'll go get the first load of grain going, then hit and reset the dishes. Oh, but first set the coffee so that when I finish the first bits of work, I can have breakfast. A couple eggs, a bit of the hash, and some coffee. It's not sexy food, but it darn well works. Those eggs are tripling my efforts at becoming stronger. Gotta feed muscle. Grains might be helping too, but are good for me, I can tell, whatever else. Get em' going, neph-boy... moonlights burning. Kee-yah! :p
.
Hehe. When you are sleeping as need be, regardless of what the sun is doing, the notion of today, tomorrow, morning, afternoon... all go away. There is only various notions of the past, now, and various levels of consideration of the future. Near, medium, distant, futures, for example. More, when time isn't progressing as I think many suggest time progresses for them, even those notions are a bit odd. While not immortal of flesh, I can see, through these oddities or maladies of my flesh or nature, a very small beginning of the understanding of true immortality. That doesn't work in this world, which is within a notion of time. If you were merely born to immortality, you would have gone mad. All who are have gone through that, many remain insane. Beside all the other reason for a soul to be sent through flesh, life, suffering, joy, and death, this is no small part of that. In computer/console games, this is the training area. Just... thinking.
Anyway, yes, regardless of all else, for me, it is already "today". I went to bed at about 13:00, plus some change. I woke for supper, if I can't say when that was. Delicious, by the way. Often when I wake for dinner I can't eat, or much. In part because I can't taste, and what of flavors I can taste seem to be the ones I don't like. Not tonight. I blindly consumed with relish. It wasn't just hunger either. I went right back to bed. I wondered how long it would take me to fall back to sleep with a full... zzz. Next thing I knew, it was "today". Today started at about 23:30, give or take some change.
I am working on another post. Another dream. Not sure I will post it. If you want it, I might send it via email. I merely ask that you not pass it on. I have my reasons. My dreams seem to be... hmm... Just, I don't... always see the need to post everything. Nor do I have a want to do so. Oh, and I'll pass on the double dream post of passions from a while back, if you want that. Email me or go without. I don't care. I'll just copy, paste, send... adding no comment. Feedback is fine. I'm not touchy about any of it, just... not feeling like sharing with potential strangers, antagonists, or children.
I haven't finished the other post. Dang but the dreams have been involved lately. Or more, I am writing more detail really, as there is more involved. I'll do that later. I decided to write a daily-daily journal entry, then figure out what to start on today. Someone kindly remembered an old post with knots in it. Some of those might work, some not so much. The last knot, the backhand hitch, might serve some things. But not all. The others... not for rigging the structure to the raft. I don't think. I'll... look them over, with that specifically in mind, before finally deciding. I remind, I am just, sort of, in the waking process. Coffee! I need coffee.
I do hope to cook several batches of grains, only two thirds to completion, then dehydrate those. While I am cooking that, I need to complete more of the kitchen, finish the last of the dishes, and make space for the vacuum sealer. While it may well take a day to dry the grains, I want the sealer ready immediately. And I would like to practice just a bit, perhaps setting up a couple of smaller bags from the roll(s). I haven't looked at what came with it, but I think an 8" bag roll for sure, maybe an 11", and some various sized premade sample bags. I just want to make sure it works. Why cook, even partially, then dehydrate grains, you ask? Fair question. First, doing so shortens the cooking time. On the trail, if no fires can be used, all fuel is humped in. Besides being a bit risky (in my mind), it is a limited consumable. Figuring out how to conserve it is vital. So, precooking, partially, cuts the cook time down by a lot. Further, pack size is always an issue, as is weight. Water is a large part of weight and volume. Remove those, and you shrink both weight and volume hugely. Precooking, again, helps here. It opens the dry food to moisture, allow more of what is already in it to escape, collapsing the volume and weight more than it already was. Fair question, that's my understanding.
If I get the kitchen in pretty good shape, dishes done, and food ready for dehydration as quickly as I am hoping, I then want to hit the kayak. Hopefully to have that, pretty much, put together before it starts heating up. Yesterday ended up being a rather cool day, despite the sun. It looks like it only got into the 80's. Hiking sounds good, but not while I'm digging in as I am. It's not reasonable. However, if the weather holds, and I get these chunks of things done, and can hold on a bit, I might truly be able to begin keeping that window open for opportunity. I may have to drop other minor things I am doing, or planning. I may pay a price. I might... this, that, the other thing. But... if I can keep up, and get these other (to me) big issues solved, I might yet end up out and on my way, and maybe even in the heat.
So, that's the deal. Hmm... I'll go get the first load of grain going, then hit and reset the dishes. Oh, but first set the coffee so that when I finish the first bits of work, I can have breakfast. A couple eggs, a bit of the hash, and some coffee. It's not sexy food, but it darn well works. Those eggs are tripling my efforts at becoming stronger. Gotta feed muscle. Grains might be helping too, but are good for me, I can tell, whatever else. Get em' going, neph-boy... moonlights burning. Kee-yah! :p
Monday, July 6, 2015
A flash from the past.
.
.
The more things change? Dreams and thoughts and happenings coalescing into... stories. Odd how the more the story is told... What was, is, and will be. Some paths only lead to singular places, no matter how many times that has failed to lead to the right destination. Everything has to be just right for that time to be now. But it will happen, this time, next time, some time. Every time there is some wonder on my part. I have my marks, she has the spirit. Will it work this time?
.
The more things change? Dreams and thoughts and happenings coalescing into... stories. Odd how the more the story is told... What was, is, and will be. Some paths only lead to singular places, no matter how many times that has failed to lead to the right destination. Everything has to be just right for that time to be now. But it will happen, this time, next time, some time. Every time there is some wonder on my part. I have my marks, she has the spirit. Will it work this time?
Doing quite well.
.
.
A shower, laundry moved to the dryer, a bit more than a dozen and an half eggs cooked and peeled... at least until I ate three of them, my first batch of mush... all done for the week... just cooling. Hmm... Trash and recycling out too. And the hoses are set up for watering tonight. I will check on that. And, actually, when it gets dark, I'll go out and adjust them just a bit.
It is only 74F outside, or so it said a bit ago. But the sun is up in full blazing glory. It's going to get hot again today. All good. I think the cool might have been enough. And I am caught up on a lot of things, and ready to go even now. I may have *cough* planned too much though. Not sure I can get to everything in the time I had hoped. I am impressed with what I have done, and I do believe I will be able to carry on for a few days.
For today, other than putting the cooked grains up, I am about to call it a day. Tonight I'll do the dishes I'll set to a soak... so... that too. Then I'll do a couple of batches of grains and begin dehydrating those. Plus clearing out more in the kitchen, making specific room for the vacuum sealer as well. If I get most of the kitchen, the dishes, and a space for the sealer, then I'll try to get out and work on the kayak. I think I can get that done tonight. As for what to glue, what to pin, what to leave alone, yeah... I'm just not sure. Oh, and I will have to figure out how to lash it to the kayak. Which means drilling holes and working with line and knots. Not sure I'll mess with that without more research. Figuring out from other people's experience, and exploring knots and other binding systems will be my cool-down for the night.
When I can, I do. When I can't, I don't. This isn't brain surgery. Hmm... might actually look for an air conditioner as I cool off and prepare for sleep. I'll see if they have the one I ordered before still available. I am not sure that will work in the other windows I have available, but it will give me something I can use as a spot check. I need more cool. Soon. And, really, another ac would be cheaper than a couple of vacations a month for the next three months. Even four nights a month, by three months, just in lodging, would be more than an ac. Toss in food and gas, and... It would keep me cool until I can figure out central air. I'd like to get a new furnace while I am at it. Last quote I had put that total kit system right at $5.5k. A new ac would be around $400~$600. Yeah... Hate to spend when it's going to be going, but... Yeah.
Good night.
.
A shower, laundry moved to the dryer, a bit more than a dozen and an half eggs cooked and peeled... at least until I ate three of them, my first batch of mush... all done for the week... just cooling. Hmm... Trash and recycling out too. And the hoses are set up for watering tonight. I will check on that. And, actually, when it gets dark, I'll go out and adjust them just a bit.
It is only 74F outside, or so it said a bit ago. But the sun is up in full blazing glory. It's going to get hot again today. All good. I think the cool might have been enough. And I am caught up on a lot of things, and ready to go even now. I may have *cough* planned too much though. Not sure I can get to everything in the time I had hoped. I am impressed with what I have done, and I do believe I will be able to carry on for a few days.
For today, other than putting the cooked grains up, I am about to call it a day. Tonight I'll do the dishes I'll set to a soak... so... that too. Then I'll do a couple of batches of grains and begin dehydrating those. Plus clearing out more in the kitchen, making specific room for the vacuum sealer as well. If I get most of the kitchen, the dishes, and a space for the sealer, then I'll try to get out and work on the kayak. I think I can get that done tonight. As for what to glue, what to pin, what to leave alone, yeah... I'm just not sure. Oh, and I will have to figure out how to lash it to the kayak. Which means drilling holes and working with line and knots. Not sure I'll mess with that without more research. Figuring out from other people's experience, and exploring knots and other binding systems will be my cool-down for the night.
When I can, I do. When I can't, I don't. This isn't brain surgery. Hmm... might actually look for an air conditioner as I cool off and prepare for sleep. I'll see if they have the one I ordered before still available. I am not sure that will work in the other windows I have available, but it will give me something I can use as a spot check. I need more cool. Soon. And, really, another ac would be cheaper than a couple of vacations a month for the next three months. Even four nights a month, by three months, just in lodging, would be more than an ac. Toss in food and gas, and... It would keep me cool until I can figure out central air. I'd like to get a new furnace while I am at it. Last quote I had put that total kit system right at $5.5k. A new ac would be around $400~$600. Yeah... Hate to spend when it's going to be going, but... Yeah.
Good night.
Not bad.
.
.
Pretty much all of the dishes are done. A load of laundry is going, a big one so it won't be done for a while. I've hit the bathroom a bit more. I'll take a shower when I move the laundry to the dryer, then finish the bathroom after my shower. I'll see how things are then. It's a nice cool morning. I can't really tell how the day is going to start. And that won't really say how the day will go either. One more cool day and I'll do what it takes to go hiking tomorrow morning. Further, I should be able to get the kayak ready for a Wednesday christening, rain or shine. Both sorts of tarps are ready, once the frame is built and attached. I may even, when I have the thing sort of set up, mark the parts. I wish I had the tools or skills to make the parts exactly equal. And maybe I do. I may check on that. In any case, marking the various parts, some of which have to be different, and making a directions page, might not be a bad idea. I figure I can use the waterproof canopy as the carrying bag as well. The sun tarp allows air flow, so just wouldn't do well.
After this post I do believe I am going to boil eggs for the week and make several batches of grain mash. Then dehydrate two of the batches. I need to figure out just how much dehydrated will end up giving me a cup and an half of goop when rehydrated. Then I'll do some of the veggies I bought. Then the fruit rollups I've been curious to do, and finally the last half of the jerky. This time I'll be drying it all very dry. I'll put some of that in with some of the dehydrated mash, but I'll also be making pemmican. I could wait for cheap cranberries, or cherries and dry those, but I have enough frozen fruit to dry that alone and add that to the jerky and tallow. Yeah, that's sort of my food stuff for the next few weeks.
I am hoping, as I perhaps regain some footing from this mini-cool spell, that I might begin hitting the cave again. Kitchen, living room, and bathroom, back up to snuff, and being kept up while I mess with food. Then finish the living room shelving and get the electronics back together. And, maybe before the month is out, begin tearing into my bedroom. It'll be a slower go. The heat really is tough. I am getting a bit better with it though. Still, slower.
Further, I am hoping to get out once or twice a week. Hiking, kayaking, or even just out to the bench. It looks like I am going to have to start over with the bench. Oh well. This might be pushing things, but it might just open up again. If it is cool enough in the mountains, perhaps I can figure out how to do even more, here and there. Well, that's the plan.
It's in the lower 60's, but the cave won't drop below 73~75. I'm wondering if soil temp is at about the limit of the cave, so that's just as low as it will go. I did a little research, which suggested that soil temps are around 65~70. I don't know much about soil temps, or where exactly that reading was taken. Might do a little research. That might be a, or part of the, limiting factor? Hmm... Never can be exactly sure. Though, perhaps, I can test my own soil temp if that isn't taken too deep. Still, 73ish isn't bad. Best get to the eggs and gruel. Later.
.
Pretty much all of the dishes are done. A load of laundry is going, a big one so it won't be done for a while. I've hit the bathroom a bit more. I'll take a shower when I move the laundry to the dryer, then finish the bathroom after my shower. I'll see how things are then. It's a nice cool morning. I can't really tell how the day is going to start. And that won't really say how the day will go either. One more cool day and I'll do what it takes to go hiking tomorrow morning. Further, I should be able to get the kayak ready for a Wednesday christening, rain or shine. Both sorts of tarps are ready, once the frame is built and attached. I may even, when I have the thing sort of set up, mark the parts. I wish I had the tools or skills to make the parts exactly equal. And maybe I do. I may check on that. In any case, marking the various parts, some of which have to be different, and making a directions page, might not be a bad idea. I figure I can use the waterproof canopy as the carrying bag as well. The sun tarp allows air flow, so just wouldn't do well.
After this post I do believe I am going to boil eggs for the week and make several batches of grain mash. Then dehydrate two of the batches. I need to figure out just how much dehydrated will end up giving me a cup and an half of goop when rehydrated. Then I'll do some of the veggies I bought. Then the fruit rollups I've been curious to do, and finally the last half of the jerky. This time I'll be drying it all very dry. I'll put some of that in with some of the dehydrated mash, but I'll also be making pemmican. I could wait for cheap cranberries, or cherries and dry those, but I have enough frozen fruit to dry that alone and add that to the jerky and tallow. Yeah, that's sort of my food stuff for the next few weeks.
I am hoping, as I perhaps regain some footing from this mini-cool spell, that I might begin hitting the cave again. Kitchen, living room, and bathroom, back up to snuff, and being kept up while I mess with food. Then finish the living room shelving and get the electronics back together. And, maybe before the month is out, begin tearing into my bedroom. It'll be a slower go. The heat really is tough. I am getting a bit better with it though. Still, slower.
Further, I am hoping to get out once or twice a week. Hiking, kayaking, or even just out to the bench. It looks like I am going to have to start over with the bench. Oh well. This might be pushing things, but it might just open up again. If it is cool enough in the mountains, perhaps I can figure out how to do even more, here and there. Well, that's the plan.
It's in the lower 60's, but the cave won't drop below 73~75. I'm wondering if soil temp is at about the limit of the cave, so that's just as low as it will go. I did a little research, which suggested that soil temps are around 65~70. I don't know much about soil temps, or where exactly that reading was taken. Might do a little research. That might be a, or part of the, limiting factor? Hmm... Never can be exactly sure. Though, perhaps, I can test my own soil temp if that isn't taken too deep. Still, 73ish isn't bad. Best get to the eggs and gruel. Later.
Back to the start.
.
.
I have cooled off well enough. Rested though, is another question. I think so. After sitting and stewing for a couple of weeks and change, I'm pretty much mush. And I don't want to brutalize myself if tomorrow is going to be back to the heat mines. Still, I am doing well enough to get going on some things.
I will get the trash collected and out. Something in there has been in there too long. I didn't get the trash out last week, doesn't help. I have been doing dishes, slowly, in bits. I am hoping, tonight, to finish all of them. A bit of a push. I want them done so I can really hit the kitchen today or tomorrow. I want to do more dehydrating, and open up space to work with the vacuum sealer. Nothing fancy, just a few meals, getting jerky going to be packed and to form into pemmican, and then to stay up on that and the kitchen. I'd like to get a week's worth of food ready for the train, and get that done by the end of the week. Then begin looking at what I could buy next month to enhance my collection. Cooking my own stews, mixes, and such takes a bit more work. But it is cheaper. If I start from raw ingredients I know everything that is in there. And if I do large batches, It works for both the trail and right here at home! Summer ISN'T the best time to do this, but... I want it done, want to ensure the devices work, and want to be at least partially ready to go when the weather cools enough to get out. I want to be out before weather turns, to get in shape before I have to try to do that with snowshoes instead just starting with hiking boots. And, I think I can. A little suffering here and now will save me down the road. And it'll keep me off my butt, as much as possible.
So, dishes, the kitchen, a bit more in the bathroom, a load or two of laundry, and maybe the kayak shelter form. We'll see. It is possible. Oh, and a shower. The neighbor is sending the boys over to help rig my water lines tomorrow. The little rain we got is not enough, and the grass is dying. It's not that the work is extremely heavy, just on top of what else I will be doing I thought it might be a bit much. With four extra hands, it should go quickly. After that, probably bedtime. Unless it is still cool. I need to get to the grocery store pretty soon. Milk, cream, butter, fruit. Life is getting pretty good, regular, and fairly advanced compared to how I have known it. This is as close to high level living as I have known since the Navy. Regular food, regular medicine, at least some work, even just handling the heat is pretty good.
Toss in gearing up, food prep, learning to use these tools and techs solo, and pushing even when it hurts or is too environmentally stressful. Not always successfully. Sometimes it really is just in knowing and resisting. Not in winning, or figuring it out, first or even tenth shot. It's about know it isn't working, considering options, and living with failure... for now. Hopefully there will be time, in time, to solve some of these little things, even big things, and find one's way to a more successful life. I'm not just sitting there and cooking, at least without keeping some tabs on how much time I can take that, what my options are at overload, and maybe some longer term fixes. It's good.
Yeah, I best get the dishes checked. Most are ready to just rinse, but I will wash them again anyway. Then put them in a hot rinse. Then get some or all of the trash out, or what is easily ready to go. Hmm, then gather laundry and put a load in. I'm sure hoping tomorrow was like today. I can definitely have the kayak ready and the kitchen done, and be ready for a hike Tuesday morning. Rain or shine if it stays cool enough today. Yeah, my pack is ready. Later.
.
I have cooled off well enough. Rested though, is another question. I think so. After sitting and stewing for a couple of weeks and change, I'm pretty much mush. And I don't want to brutalize myself if tomorrow is going to be back to the heat mines. Still, I am doing well enough to get going on some things.
I will get the trash collected and out. Something in there has been in there too long. I didn't get the trash out last week, doesn't help. I have been doing dishes, slowly, in bits. I am hoping, tonight, to finish all of them. A bit of a push. I want them done so I can really hit the kitchen today or tomorrow. I want to do more dehydrating, and open up space to work with the vacuum sealer. Nothing fancy, just a few meals, getting jerky going to be packed and to form into pemmican, and then to stay up on that and the kitchen. I'd like to get a week's worth of food ready for the train, and get that done by the end of the week. Then begin looking at what I could buy next month to enhance my collection. Cooking my own stews, mixes, and such takes a bit more work. But it is cheaper. If I start from raw ingredients I know everything that is in there. And if I do large batches, It works for both the trail and right here at home! Summer ISN'T the best time to do this, but... I want it done, want to ensure the devices work, and want to be at least partially ready to go when the weather cools enough to get out. I want to be out before weather turns, to get in shape before I have to try to do that with snowshoes instead just starting with hiking boots. And, I think I can. A little suffering here and now will save me down the road. And it'll keep me off my butt, as much as possible.
So, dishes, the kitchen, a bit more in the bathroom, a load or two of laundry, and maybe the kayak shelter form. We'll see. It is possible. Oh, and a shower. The neighbor is sending the boys over to help rig my water lines tomorrow. The little rain we got is not enough, and the grass is dying. It's not that the work is extremely heavy, just on top of what else I will be doing I thought it might be a bit much. With four extra hands, it should go quickly. After that, probably bedtime. Unless it is still cool. I need to get to the grocery store pretty soon. Milk, cream, butter, fruit. Life is getting pretty good, regular, and fairly advanced compared to how I have known it. This is as close to high level living as I have known since the Navy. Regular food, regular medicine, at least some work, even just handling the heat is pretty good.
Toss in gearing up, food prep, learning to use these tools and techs solo, and pushing even when it hurts or is too environmentally stressful. Not always successfully. Sometimes it really is just in knowing and resisting. Not in winning, or figuring it out, first or even tenth shot. It's about know it isn't working, considering options, and living with failure... for now. Hopefully there will be time, in time, to solve some of these little things, even big things, and find one's way to a more successful life. I'm not just sitting there and cooking, at least without keeping some tabs on how much time I can take that, what my options are at overload, and maybe some longer term fixes. It's good.
Yeah, I best get the dishes checked. Most are ready to just rinse, but I will wash them again anyway. Then put them in a hot rinse. Then get some or all of the trash out, or what is easily ready to go. Hmm, then gather laundry and put a load in. I'm sure hoping tomorrow was like today. I can definitely have the kayak ready and the kitchen done, and be ready for a hike Tuesday morning. Rain or shine if it stays cool enough today. Yeah, my pack is ready. Later.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
So close.
.
.
At sunup this morning, it was about 66F out there. It might have gotten down to 64. Can't be sure. The highest it got today seems to have been about 80F. Not cool, unless matched against typical high 90's low 100's. Being partly cloudy, raining here and there, off and on, added various elements that kept and extended the cool. No full sun meant no head buildup. The rain added moisture. Nice, really nice.
I was tempted to get out. Then I realized it was the weekend. After I stewed about that this morning, I decided to ignore my own advice on that, then realized it wasn't just a weekend, but was also the 4th. I wasn't going to touch that with a ten foot pole. Don't get me wrong, I think we should, perhaps more than ever, celebrate the 4th. Hell, we need to steal it back from them. Just not in venues where you are disarmed, disabled, held in contempt guarded very possibly to your death without any protection or allowance for self-defense. Yeah, pick where you celebrate. It's just that there would be gobs of people out, especially with the cool. Every postage stamp of a free space would have more people in it than seems possible. While I do enjoy company I don't enjoy crowds, less so crowds of complete strangers.
Still, I am truly hoping the cool stays just a bit longer. I am trying to enjoy, soak up, the cool. I just can't believe that 80 can actually feel cold. Yeah, it does. The outdoors have dropped to 74, last I looked, and the cave is dropping much more quickly than usual, tracking the outside by the half hour, not two or three hours behind. Moisture and no sun. I'm still suffering from the heat. But a couple of days might bring me back. I can't make it out this month, to somewhere cool. But I might skimp on other things and make financial room for a trip in August. Just a couple days, high up, where it is cool, and where ac would completely fill my living space, turning even my delicates blue, shriveled, and happily chilled. If some butcher shop would put up a bunk and allow me to sleep in the real icebox, I'd pay a goodly sum. I'd keep that one on tap.
I really do keep my windows cracked in the winter. I would keep them fully open, but I have some fear of frozen pipes. Now it only usually gets to, say, -20 regularly at all. Not down into the more serious cold. Though that is right at where I start calling things cold, it's just at the top of it. When -20 is the high for several days in a row, to a week, then... yeah, you have a chill going. Otherwise it's just a thing. Right now I am dreaming of it. If that will, or can, take me down too. Just, that is more enjoyable.
If I can catch my breath, if it stays cool, I may get more going on and in life. I just haven't been able to keep chugging through. Even at 80F, even if that feels cool, I know it's not. And yet, another day of it, to rest in the truly cool of the ac'ed bedroom, and catch my breath from the mid 90's and up, I might be able to take a jab at hiking. I think I might be able, with a sun cover, to kayak in heat. But hiking will require cooler weather. Yeah, one more day of this, then I could get out and hike. A little, a lot? Probably just a little, but that would be fine. If it was even cooler up there, I might even push, go even higher, and camp over night.
Ugh... Gimme shelter! Later.
.
At sunup this morning, it was about 66F out there. It might have gotten down to 64. Can't be sure. The highest it got today seems to have been about 80F. Not cool, unless matched against typical high 90's low 100's. Being partly cloudy, raining here and there, off and on, added various elements that kept and extended the cool. No full sun meant no head buildup. The rain added moisture. Nice, really nice.
I was tempted to get out. Then I realized it was the weekend. After I stewed about that this morning, I decided to ignore my own advice on that, then realized it wasn't just a weekend, but was also the 4th. I wasn't going to touch that with a ten foot pole. Don't get me wrong, I think we should, perhaps more than ever, celebrate the 4th. Hell, we need to steal it back from them. Just not in venues where you are disarmed, disabled, held in contempt guarded very possibly to your death without any protection or allowance for self-defense. Yeah, pick where you celebrate. It's just that there would be gobs of people out, especially with the cool. Every postage stamp of a free space would have more people in it than seems possible. While I do enjoy company I don't enjoy crowds, less so crowds of complete strangers.
Still, I am truly hoping the cool stays just a bit longer. I am trying to enjoy, soak up, the cool. I just can't believe that 80 can actually feel cold. Yeah, it does. The outdoors have dropped to 74, last I looked, and the cave is dropping much more quickly than usual, tracking the outside by the half hour, not two or three hours behind. Moisture and no sun. I'm still suffering from the heat. But a couple of days might bring me back. I can't make it out this month, to somewhere cool. But I might skimp on other things and make financial room for a trip in August. Just a couple days, high up, where it is cool, and where ac would completely fill my living space, turning even my delicates blue, shriveled, and happily chilled. If some butcher shop would put up a bunk and allow me to sleep in the real icebox, I'd pay a goodly sum. I'd keep that one on tap.
I really do keep my windows cracked in the winter. I would keep them fully open, but I have some fear of frozen pipes. Now it only usually gets to, say, -20 regularly at all. Not down into the more serious cold. Though that is right at where I start calling things cold, it's just at the top of it. When -20 is the high for several days in a row, to a week, then... yeah, you have a chill going. Otherwise it's just a thing. Right now I am dreaming of it. If that will, or can, take me down too. Just, that is more enjoyable.
If I can catch my breath, if it stays cool, I may get more going on and in life. I just haven't been able to keep chugging through. Even at 80F, even if that feels cool, I know it's not. And yet, another day of it, to rest in the truly cool of the ac'ed bedroom, and catch my breath from the mid 90's and up, I might be able to take a jab at hiking. I think I might be able, with a sun cover, to kayak in heat. But hiking will require cooler weather. Yeah, one more day of this, then I could get out and hike. A little, a lot? Probably just a little, but that would be fine. If it was even cooler up there, I might even push, go even higher, and camp over night.
Ugh... Gimme shelter! Later.
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