Exactly off time and... that other thing doesn't make sense either!

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Off time?  I mean I started at 15:00, exactly as I had wished not to start.  This and that, then 13:00 sped by, 14:00 flew by, and 15:00 almost scampered through.  Coattails, skin of my teeth, name the nature of my catching of 15:00 whatever you wish, so long as it seems impossibly thin one way or another.

I dressed the part, grabbed my kit, and got out to it.  Sort, chop, crunch, chop, pile, sort... So it went.  It's cooler today.  No sun.  I am wearing less, as I don't have the chainsaw helm on.  I worked a shorter shift, just about 40 minutes.  Yet today I am sweating.  I didn't sweat a noticeable drop yesterday.  Perhaps I had to work the sweat up, then double down, to get the moth balled body out of retirement?  Maybe just that system?  I did get red.  Red as a beat.  Yesterday.  I suspect I am red as a beat already, though I can never tell.  Sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes for emotion, sometimes for work, sometimes I just don't get red.  Huh?  Dunno.

The work I am doing today is, to my mind, a lot easier.  It is as fun as work gets.  Which, actually, is pretty fun.  While God cursed men and those like them to live from the sweat of the brow, He added something that, if seen humbly, makes the effort a pleasure.  Sometimes my body just isn't capable of... getting there... or even if it does, it can't seem to interpret the pleasure.  Then again, when muscles are screaming for blood while organs are already on the edge of expiry... the pleasure simply cannot overcome the pain.  So what has changed?  I'm not sure anything has.  I just know I can work, and I can enjoy it.  Even with my internals doing flip-flops.  My insides have hurt for months now.  Just not enough to keep me down.  Then again, I have things to do.  I can change some things, not others.  More?  I'm not sure I would change certain things.  I can live or die without this or that and have it not concern me a spot.  *wink*  The devil you say!  Not so much.  A past time, though even then that wasn't quite right either.

Iced tea, a seat, some time, then back to it.  I am not worried if I get it all today.  I will simply work for a while, rest, and repeat until, soon or late, it is all done.  Suckers, weeds, wood sorting...  I am putting the green in one pile.  Not good for much unless someone wishes to strip that and dry the mains.  The very small twigs are being collected in my main work area.  Yes, those are just as necessary as bigger pieces.  Next, a pile of longer medium twigs, then heavier mains.  I am using my axe or gloved hand to take off the smaller stuff... whichever seems most functional.  It is good work.  Honest work.  It might even mean something.

I can't believe I sweating so quickly today.  Then again, I almost can't believe I am working.  I really wasn't sure that would happen.  If this keeps up, I could get a lot down around, and then in, my cave.  In July, I believe, I will order a commercial dumpster and begin taking things out.  I can probably have a lot of it down, set in a easy access spot, ready to go.  When clear, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, steam cleaning, and washing walls will begin.  I'll shut off each area as it is completed, sealing it as much as possible.  Time can happen quickly, on this side anyway.  I have little of it to get ready.  Even then I may have to... hmm... fudge?  Yeah.  One way or another.  I have so much to do, in and out, first.

Well... back to resting.  Later.

Be careful with wishes.

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Breakfast, in this case.  I did get to it rather swiftly, as intended.  It was smaller than that from yesterday, I even ate less on top of it being a smaller meal.  I did dice shallots this time, some for the meal, some in a small container... probably for meatballs when I get to those.  Full, still, somehow.  Too full.  I don't quite get that.  Which means, however, that a 13:00 start for work isn't going to happen.  I am hoping for 14:00, but 15:00 might be the actual time, again.  How could such a small meal bowl me over?  Oh well.

I am looking forward to the work.  There is nothing like chopping branches from limbs, piling like with like, logs with logs and pine branches with their same.  The work is pleasant, the organization isn't just paper, it has heft and real world meaning... not man made word or time-stamp meaning.  No sheaves of paper, no silly allowances, trifles, or vagaries having to do with thoughts.  Real work, real design, muscle and mind combined to develop a means to an end... that of handling discard material, if discard with use itself.  Discard with weight and measure.  Cutting weeds, if many think it a man-made silliness, is much less that than it is a reasonable thing in a fallen world.  Beside giving the serpent no perch from which to strike, flame and other enemies too are defeated from a stealthy approach.

More than just that, these efforts allow my mortal seeming engine to hum.  It taxes the body and mind, it draws forth strength and design... often on the fly, it commands things which can't be realized until the effort is in full swing.  I will, again, review those limbs which have proven difficult.  Like the apple just a bit too high, the buck just a bit out of range, the water just a bit too deep... how to get that one thing.  It's a hunger, though this of a different kind.  I will, sooner or later, get those limbs.  Oh, yes.

And more.  As I am out, I see other things to do.  I never did repaint those plum colored outer window treatments.  Must be done.  I might give them all a bit of paint while I am at it.  If need be, perhaps I could scrape the old, worn, paint.  There are old wasp hives to be removed.  There might be others hiding here or there.  I haven't seen any activity, but that doesn't mean much.  It has been cold.  Oh, and bug bombing the chicken coop.  I have the material for a new roof.  I just haven't been able to get rid of the wasps.  Every time I thought I had, I ended up finding more.  And, while my allergy seems to have diminished... so that I handled a wasp sting without out too much fuss... instead of getting really bad at the point of poison, the poison was swept through my body and showed signs at various places for nearly a week I believe... a group of stings might be a serious threat, or at least a serious downer.

Yeah... I'll get to work.  I'll do what I can.  I think I'll be much more involved out there this summer, until it gets too hot, or I fall again.  My actual goal is to do three hours of solid work three to four days a week.  The others days can be rest days, or light work days, as is required, available, or such.  The question is, will hiking, canoeing, or such be work or light?  Perhaps it depends on how able I become and then how much I put into it beyond my fitness level at any given point.

Later.

Extra sore.

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I ended up staying up a bit late.  I went down around 1:30.  When I work like that, sometimes it takes a while to come done.  Waking at 10:30, at first, seemed excessive.  While an hour or two long from my usual, given the late night and work, nine hours is reasonable.  And it is cooler and dark this morning.  All good though, I've had sun for several days now, so those particular batteries are recharged... or something.  The sun really does help, until it hurts.  I could have waken earlier, but to be honest, I felt terribly sore.  I didn't want to face that.  Funny thing is, now that I am up, while I am just a bit sore, tight, and such?  I'm actually not all that sore.

As I laid in bed, and would drift toward consciousness, I wasn't sure I would be able to do more work today.  I was lamenting.  The work wasn't going to be as difficult as yesterday, but it would involve heavy, steady, effort.  Using the axe, piling smaller limbs, stacking small to medium five foot logs, and trimming the side growths around trees and up their trunks perhaps.  Then, perhaps, using the weedwhip.   Still, it's mostly physical of some sort.  I was so frustrated.  Now?  I actually think I will get to some or all of it.  Might even get the ladder back out and bring the Christmas lights down.  Who knows.  Sore, sure, just not that sore, too sore.

I hope to get to work just a bit earlier today, if possible.  I want to have breakfast a little quicker than yesterday.  I'm not sure, with the late start, if I will get out any earlier.  It might just be earlier compared to the time I woke?  If I want it, I best begin breakfast right now, so I best do that right away.  About the best goal I have is a 13:00 start.  I'll work on the limbs first, then the weeding, saving the ladder work for last.  I hope you have something to do?  I'm sure you do.  Maybe that I get to it will help you go after it?  Later.

Very good.

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The chainsaw kicked over, if it did take just a bit.  Why?  I have no idea.  Too hot?  Did I flood it after filling it earlier?  Maybe I didn't have it quite set up right.  It did finally kick in.  I ended up doing four limbs.  I wanted to do a fifth, but it was nearly as complicated to cut as the other.  It may be easier to get at, but it still would have required some squirrel climbing... going up into the tree, then going around on branches... plus climbing up off the ladder.  And I couldn't quite see a straight shot to it from down below.  So I called that off.  I then chopped up the limbs into reasonable lengths for hauling.  Finally I put everything away for the night.

It was too late and I was too tired to hit the suckers around another tree.  I am hoping to hit that tomorrow.  As well as cutting branches from the main limbs, stacking and sorting the various bits, and perhaps taking a look at the remaining problems to see if I will keep them on my list or just call it good for the year.  And, if I get this and that and those, and have some energy, I might even get the weedeater going and hit the far side of my driveway.  No promises that I'll get it all, though I suspect so, unless the machine heat chokes.  There are a lot of weeds, and they are tall.  As well, if I can, I may get up and pull the Christmas lights down.  Yeah, I know.  So be it.

I'll probably take Friday off.  Though I may start planning for other things next week.  A religious social call, along with some business.  More work.  Setting up the backpacks and the hammock out back.  Learning how to put it up, take it down, work in, out, and near it... perhaps learning how the bivy works, and... just tinkering... getting ready to head out.  I've done some very good work today, this last week really.  There are some things I would like to do from long ago, a few new things, and I'll probably find more along the way.

Tired?  I sure hope so.  Not done yet though.  I will probably have the chainsaw at the ready.  I am hoping to use the forest axe to limb.  The chainsaw will just be to take down lengths that are still too long, or which I missed.  Then I'll need to figure out how to get rid of this and that.  Some can stay, some can't.  As well, the old water heater has to go.  It's sure nice to have that out of the way down there.  Not bad for a dead guy?  :p  Good night.

All save three.

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Three branches... limbs really.  Don't even proffer sass.  Beyond having cut most of them already, on that tree, I was also parting them out.  every second or third limb down I would slice the wholes into three or four bits.  While I was choking for a rest, I kept going.  The chainsaw forced a time out.  It choked.  After trying to get her relit, and failing after several hits, I checked the gas.  Yep.  Plumb empty.  So, I topped her off, got her back to the killing fields, and?  Nothing.  I tried and tried, and did this, then that.  I gave it a bit, then hit it again, and again, and once more.  Call me lazy, though I think that's wrong.  Anyway... just what I had done, and then the crazy attempts to burn the gasoline, I... about had it.  I do hope, after an half hour or so, she will light up again.  If not I am done for the day.  Still, nice little bit of work.  Sad thing is, unless you were here this week... minus the limbs on the ground... you wouldn't even know.

However.  I do believe, however it works out, that I am not going to cook.  Fast food, not McDonalds, they are off my list.  Don't know why they decided to go so wrong, so fast, on everything from food to service.  I guess they finally got that anti-American, anti-US corp meme?  Whatever.  Unless they really turn things around, and advert it and well enough that an ad killing machine such as myself can get it, they are done.  Make it clear.  Make it conscise.  No mealy-mouthed multi-culti stuff.  No more of the same.  You want to do that where they live?  Cool.  Oh, and cut CNN and other leftist faux news sources.  Just cut news, it's all propaganda now.  I promise you, if you go where you are headed, you will end up out of business.  And you should be if you continue that way.  Trump isn't winning because he is great.  He has one, maybe two, jobs.  And they are counter to your business future.  *wink*  Anyway... yeah... something to eat.  Fast, easy, tasty I hope.

That was some serious work.  As I suggested, there may be more if the machine roars again.  Three more limbs and I will be quite good.  I will begin reviewing... I think they are called gator saws?  They have extended arms, used to cut down those weird or out of reach limbs.  I'm not sure though.  This limb might be too big, with a 3"-5" diameter.  I'll continue to think on it.  If that doesn't work, I may have to getting the sewing machine going and stitch up a couple half dozen, of various length, safety snatches.  A couple for me, one for the chainsaw, one for the ladder... or two.  I don't mind doing things upside down and thirty or forty feet up if the blood rush doesn't undo me.  I'm good with giving it ago, just so long as I am secure enough and have something to press off so as to create leverage.  Gotta admit, it's sort of fun.  The work sounded fun, the gymnastics not so much.  I'm changing my tune on that latter.  *wee!*

Well... one more shot.  If I write again, it will just be to let you know, fly or no fly.  I'm pretty done.  I do hope to get a shower in before I crash, but no promises there.  Cooked, boys and girls, and might not yet be done.  Later or good night.

Just isn't going to happen.

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Well, not that one or three branches.  I tried to shimmy this way, climb that, figure what could be cut... not much... or gone around.  I wrestled the ladder to the other side of the tree.  Great access.  Problem?  The tree was leaning into the ladder.  I made a makeshift harness, tied in, and started breaking little branches.  I am amazed at how well I did up there, sometimes backwards, always off balance or so very close to it.  Always on the edge.  I did what I could, broke through the crown of smaller dead branches, untied then wrestled the chainsaw from the other side of the tree, from the wrong side, below, and off balance.  Cool.  I got it over and... the @%$#@% wouldn't start!  I tried this way, that way, the other.  Still not sure if it was a lack of balance meaning a lack of torque, or if I was doing something wrong, or...

Enough.  I did what I could.  Couldn't cut other branches, or they'd take out a power line.  Couldn't climb up, or around... too much dead, wrong angle, or just nothing to climb on.  Quite a little workout though.  Finally, realizing I simply have the wrong tools, I slipped on down the ladder... with the chainsaw in one hand.  I just didn't have it in me to try to tie it and lower it.  *shrug*  I think I'll have to get one of those extend-o'-saws.  They have mechanical, electric, and gas.  I think I'll go with mechanical.  Bleh.

No major worries.  I did a good little bit of work, and have an idea of what I need to do next, and how to do it.  Plus, I am not done.  I took the ladder to the last tree, set it up, gathered all gear to it, and then came in for a break.  I actually worked as long this time as I did the first time.  I burned at least as many calories.  Not bad.  Now to finish the branches on this tree.  Should go well.  These are all just, maybe, three steps up on the 'v' form of the ladder.  I can put the safety on, start the saw, and just step up.  No need to tie in.  The drops aren't convoluted by other branches, wiring, a roof, or anything.  Still, while the cutting will be easy, these are 50' to 60' trees.  If they aren't the broadest of evergreens, they are still big.  Thus so are their branches.  Which means cutting them to size, then pulling them to stack, will be a bit of work.  I probably won't hit it until 18:00.  Too warm.

Perhaps during the break, if I feel a spark but still want to chill, I might put the meatballs together, then put them in to cook.  One suggestion was to broil them.  But broiling, if memory serves, has always been a nasty dirty way to cook.  Messy.  Sure, my oven has a self-cleaning thing.  But you still have to figure out how to use it, then use it.  Better to do on a cool night.  Hmm... you know... it probably needs cleaned anyway.  Might as well, then see how well that works?  Yeah.  Later.

Well, that's something.

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I may not be working fast, but that was accounted.  It will take longer than I thought.  First though, there were many branches at the bast of the primary project tree... the one in which I am going to have to... do a lot more cutting than anticipated, and that is just to get in there.  So I did about an half hour of cutting and restacking.  And still there will be more to do.  No problem, just noting things.  While the stacking after cutting doesn't seem much, it is.  All good.  After clearing the base fairly well, I hit the punks, or suckers, or... the little branches attempting to grow out of where big branches had been cut.  I cleared that, mostly as a breather from the heavier work.  Then I got the ladder over, arranged it, went up to see how that would work.  It's a bit skinny going up that high alone.  I did it though, and then roped the saw up, tying it in for now.

I realized I hadn't messed with the waist rope harness or tube safety straps.  I had found them recently, and they were right were I remembered them.  The problem, however, is that I had never worked the tube safety lines.  They need to be cut to length and stitched together.  Bleh.  I have several ropes I could use, they simply won't be as convenient.  And I want something on the chainsaw.  I'd like to secure the ladder too.  One step, on the top, coming onto it, and it would be a 15 to 20 foot drop.  I've done such before, and came out fine.  Not a bet I'd prefer to assume, then or now.  Past performance is no guarantee of...  blah, bleh, snap.  I'm not sure what I have available though.

So, I pretty much cleared, trimmed, set up the ladder.  Now for the hard and dangerous work.  I needed a bit of a break though.  Taking it.  Then I'll gather what I can, secure as I may, and take my best shot.  Probably another break after that.  Even if the work goes much quicker than I suspect... and it might... the nerves are what are giving me some sweat.  Not so worried about what others consider a risk, more worried about pride.  A bit of a build up.  I'd hate to do something stupid and not be able to do what I said.  Yeah, yeah, pride, fall.  Still, it's good if a man can be measured by his word.  Every time you think you have it all figured out you realize you don't, can't.

On the good side, all that is left is quite a bit easier.  It is all at the nominal height of the ladder in a v config, not full length height, or closer to that.  More stable, the branches are all, more or less, in line around the tree at that milder height, and I don't have to potentially cut through to climb, to squirrel around, cut, and maybe climb some more, to get to anything.  In theory it is the difference between working on a Maserati versus working on the engine of a 4x4 monster truck.

Still, I think I can get it done.  I'll do music until 16:15, by this computer, so 14 minutes out, then get back to it.  Wish me luck.  I sure hope it all works out.  I want spaghetti and meat balls tonight.  I think I can if I don't break or cut something.  Oh, hey?  If you are going to do this type of work, wear gloves.  Thick, heavy, gloves.  Old dogs, new tricks?  Hmm, not so much.  Just old dogs and old memories.  Later.

Slow.

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Not impossibly slow, merely a bit frustratingly slow.  I finally worked a breakfast.  A few scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, and a glass of milk.  I wanted to chop onions or some such.  I would have had to sweat those a bit first.  I was already adding the eggs before I remembered.  Some other day.  Hmm... might have to keep a small container of chopped onions, shallots, perhaps other items from time to time.  Anyway... breakfast was calling before wakefulness was strong enough for the very slight precision needed.  Still, it worked well.  I turned the heat up just a bit a while ago, hoping that might help.  Not so much, though maybe slightly better.

Now just to bide my time until the food finds ease and I wake more fully.  I will be working today, and well.  I think I can get all the cutting for sure, barring a major problem.  Even being tired and sore?  In spite of it?  I am thinking... because of those conditions.  It's a cause, today.  Which is causing me to rethink some things.  Holding back for health is good, at times, but not always right.  I don't think I was so wrong in the past as that things have changed.  Gathering the gumption to push, however, is a whole other thing.  Today will be the first real chance this year, and at this level for a while.

I did look at a number of meatball recipes.  And, really?  It looks like they are require bread crumbs.  Which, of course, I don't have.  I do, however, have panco (or some such) crumbs.  They might could work.  Most recipes also call for two kinds of ground meat, beef usually, but also either pork or veal.  I haven't seen veal... ever... I think.  And I am not really keen on pork, not half and half.  I may give in another shot, but at 2 beef to 1 part pork sausage.  Veal might be a 'by request' thing, or... just in some shops.  I liked the way they were cooked, though that would be messier than baking.  Still, I might or might not give that a go.

I'm feeling it.  It is exciting to get out and do some work.  Whether you like it or not, if you set yourself up for something like this, it is best to own it, choose it, go for it with as much cheer as possible.  In my case, I'm not having to push for that.  I really do enjoy working.  Working with a chainsaw, on a ladder, or strapped to a tree, is actually a boyhood adventure come to life.  I may never be a true logger so this may be as close as I get.  Plus the yard will look better, be more functional, and allow for more adventures as a back yard camping area is created... developed... produced?  Something.  It might not be until 14:00, even 15:00.  But it will get done today.  I had to have something to eat, and I have to let that settle.  Later.

Sore, bruised, tired.

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It's still cool, or maybe being tired enhances the effect?  I have been on the cusp of waking since 6:30-7:00.  Just made it up (regardless of time-stamp, it was about 10:00 when I woke).  Dreams... dream after dream, on and on.  A lot of... figuring past through over under problems, enemies, lovers and a few other women types, a few combat sort of enemies if outside of war tactics.  It was more the mental part of dealing with the darker, more competitive parts of life.  I did well, if I had to suffer to succeed.  That is the way.  More so with two types.  Friends, family, enemies, and women... the most dangerous of all of those, in just about any context, is when you know them extremely well or you don't know them at all.  Further, the times they are most dangerous is when they think they have all the aces and feel free to play them.  That, my lad, is when you really have to be on your toes.  Even if you have to lose, you can mitigate.  Oh yes you can.  Funny thing is, people like to lord, and haggle, and between those two... *wink*

In spite of how rough I feel, I will be getting out before long.  Probably, I hope, around 13:00, maybe noon.  We will see.  I should make a bite to eat first.  Eggs and bacon, nothing fancy.  I thawed bacon from the hog I brought home the other day.  I'd like to try beef and pork sausage... take the plain pork, add some beef, then work up a spice and herb mix I like.  I'm not sure how well that will work.  Pork is rich and beef is rather bland, so they might work.  I have heard ground lamb would do well with pork... but rich and rich?  Different types of rich?  Or was it lamb and beef?  Bleh.  Morning memory can be less than wonderful.  Anyway, bacon and eggs.

Something I am hoping to do today is to look up how to make simple meatballs.  I don't know about any fillers, but I'll look.  Egg?  I don't know that.  Sauces or spices?  Maybe.  I just want to take a look at a dozen or so ideas, then pick one and go, mix and match, or just get a general idea and run with my own thing all but whole hog.  I am hoping for something that can be backed on cookie sheets, perhaps done in some bulk, throw half of them in a bag when cool, then into the freezer and use the rest for spaghetti and meatballs.  I had that last night and it just... well...  I have meat sauce and spaghetti from time to time.  But I have always thought the notion of meatballs to be nifty.  Not sure I will do as well, I just want to try.  Uhrm, that will be after the trimming.

As to trimming?  After I complete the high work, assuming nothing on me is broken or cut off, I would then like to cut suckers or such from the trunks of a number of trees.  That would make for a good cool-down session.  I suspect I have a good hour of pruning those, if I go slowly enough.  :p  At least one of my mothers told me that she sometimes had to line me up with the corner of a building to see if I was actually moving.  I just asked if she wasn't, finally, proud of me for something.  Oh, she tried to get wicked mad but... found a little joy in her heart and just couldn't.  ...makes everything look better.  We cried, we laughed.

Well... on to waking.  Be well, work hard, move slowly, cry, laugh, and point fingers.  Good day, sir or madame.

Yeah, not much.

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Just under the numbers.  I couldn't quite pull off more effort.  It could have gone either way.  Though it might have thrown tomorrow off.  To bed early in hopes of waking well to get ready.  I figure, without a rest, it would take two hours to ladder, then climb further, plus use some safety gear in the one tree, then to cut and pile the limbs.  I'm only really using the safety gear, mostly, for practice.  Though I may end up doing some seriously odd angle stretches, twenty to thirty feet up, with a chainsaw.  A little precaution isn't completely unwarranted.  However, I may well get tuckered after each tree.  And, maybe, on one tree, before I finish.  Why rush.  Especially if I am sure I will do it.  I don't mind taking a break.  Though I have found, when the work is difficult, to put a timer on the break to push things along.  It just helps somehow.  An artificial boss?  Maybe.

I am feeling better.  Not fully recovered from several days of effort.  Not all that much, most of it.  But, for me, coming off the back bench of the back bench, it was a good effort.  A day off, and another in there, help.  I suspect tomorrow will take me down a bit.  Which is fine.  If I think, after doing that, I can get going, I will attempt to make an arrangement for later in the week... to tend a bit of private faith business.  Yeah, it takes time.  I live a precarious life.  One slip here, or a fall there, and I might go down for quite some time.  And yet, when I can, I get back to it.  It's not a duty, not anymore.  Doing what I can I do with gratitude.

Good night.

He who moweth.

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That time again.  Needed to know about the branches.  Well?  Mow around.  After he finished, we looked at the work that had been done.  Spiffy.  Not his exact words.  Not having to duck, and still get raked, by the branches, however, was good enough.  Plus he thinks the yard looks better from the street.  While here, I chatted about what he thought could be done.  Letting the lad gain he breath before sprinting on to do his own lawn, a touch of gab, if not overweening, can be a gift indeed.  He outlined what he would do.  It aligned well with my general thoughts.  More, the thing I noted about the second tree to be worked on is that all of the branches are lower.  No climbing will be needed.  For some reason I hadn't noticed that to point.  For his good deeds, I sent him on his way with enough for something cool to drink, or two, or one and a snack.  At least I don't have to wear food around my neck to just get wolves to visit.  :p  I would, but no wolves and they aren't tasty.

A nap was taken, by the way.  Which means I did do a spot of tidying in the bathroom.  Mirror, sweeping, a bit of washing and wiping.  As I am doing things, the bathroom is staying extremely clean.  Five minutes a week, if I stay on top of my end of things, might be enough to last a month or two.  I am learning what it takes to do things.  And it isn't how I like to do things.  As I have mentioned, in the recent past, I am also learning that doing things is primary to how you feel about doing things.  So it goes.  Do I want to add time to the process, add bulk to the wash, spending extra time sorting this and that, or... do I want to "recycle/reuse"?  Definitely the latter.  Before I had been holding out for my way, but getting nowhere.  Now I am getting somewhere.  Sure, I caved on my principles.  But I have, and can keep, that area clean.  Bleh.  Idealism, like a plan, is great until implementation.

I'll attempt to hit the kitchen a bit tonight.  No water stone work.  Not tonight.  If I can clear an area tonight, and clean up.  Plus do the counters, I might well be ready for some sharpening tomorrow.  After some heavier work, some fine work forces the body to come down... or it does for me... if I can manage it.  Sharpening blades to a fine edge is very fine work.  And cutting and moving limbs is definitely in my classification heavy work.

Drinking tea has really helped something or other.  Coffee, while I enjoy it, was getting far too heavy.  I might still have some, from time to time.  Just not as often, not daily.  It might work better in winter, when it is more seriously cold?  Well, not this winter, I don't think?  Who knows, memory is a little spotty on the topic at the moment.  Was learning to live off medicine, then I had the cold so bad for so long.  I'll know more next year.  Still, as summer approaches, iced coffee with whole cream will still be a nice treat from time to time.  Mostly tea though.  I remember lemons from the store, those can really cut tea, which can be a bit tight on the first brewing.  Oh, right, I also got mint.  That really can pick up tea, especially in it's later brews, though hugely on a first pass.  Hmm... more tea, as I review the kitchen challenge.  Later.

A slow day.

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No, I haven't hit the bathroom yet.  Oh, I'll get to it.  No worries.  It's very light work, won't take long.  The bathroom is quite clean other than just a bit of dust.  Sweeping, maybe a bit of washing, and laundry to the back room.  Hmm, I'll wash the mirror while I am at it.  It won't take five minutes.

I found an ad in my email, to Duluth Trader.  Being that they really do have the best belts I have ever owned or found, at any price, I decided to visit.  Problem?  I can't view their products without having to allow access to third party systems that aren't showing up as trusted or not.  It isn't just them, today it just happens to be them.  Sometimes I can get through without facing that, sometimes I can't.  If I can't get a bead on what they are trying to install, or pass through, my computer, I simply won't shop there.  They all seem to like to steal data.  I don't know if this is where the hack phone calls, if allowed, come from.  Or if they get the data anyway, somehow, and sell it.  Is it the companies, or their software partners who are the criminals?  I'll check over the next week or two.  If I can't get through, I'll skip the belt.  Sometimes, with these companies, they realize it isn't working and they back that off.  Other times it can be a long time before I can get through.  I think, with Eddy Bauers, it was nearly two years at one time, before they changed.  And, yeah, I let them know that unless they fixed that I wouldn't be shopping with them.  I guess they are either zombie companies and their handlers want the lesser info more than they want actual company sales, or they get more money from the sale of information, or... something.  There is, actually, one more way I may attempt to access their site.  A direct link rather than through their ad.

I can still get some things, beyond the bathroom, done today.  Tired and sore is meaning more than I thought initially.  All good, even if I get nothing done.  I have really gotten into things this last week.  If I can just, when I can, keep it rolling I will be fine.  Hmm... may take a nap if I can get the bathroom sorted quickly.  Later.

Given all, quite a good morning.

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Even so, a day of rest.  I am achy, I am sore, I am a bit scratched from the pine and bark mauling I took the other day.  A bit tired from this shopping and picking up and sorting hog meat yesterday.  All very good though.  It's a mild suffering, and a good one.  I love the things that say I have been fruitfully employed.  As a fact, though today will be restful, I will do a few things through the day.  Sweeping the bathroom, just to keep one step ahead.  Clearing a few spaces in the kitchen... counters and the table top.  Maybe at least sorting out what remains of the floor clutter in the kitchen so I know what is what.  And, if I get enough table top space opened, I may soak the water stones and start in on a few knives.  Some of them will need a great deal of work, some not so much.  Perhaps the practice will make me ready for the straight razors.

The sun is up.  It is still cool though, perhaps in the 50's or 60's as a high?  I could check the news, I just don't have much interest in trust.  I'd druther guesstimate and call it good than bring advertising money to quacks.  Voting at the ballot box isn't the only, or always even the best way.  What I am saying, though, is, for me, this weather is just about perfect.  I wish I had more done, and more going, so I could be out in it.  Maybe next week.  Though, as I said, after I do a bit of work with branches, I will be setting up a minor camping arrangement to be out in it a bit.  It's a start.

I've been thinking of what to make for breakfast.  Something better, but not too messy... or... full of effort.

A busy day.

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Not until after supper did I get out.  To town, this time, shopping and picking up an item.  Retrieving an item took a lot longer than I thought it might.  I had a feeling if I didn't do something, soon, I would lose the item.  What else I suspected was also true.  I think someone thought they were going to put one over on me.  Not even a bit.  But that is now done.  I then got on to the store, purchased most of what I need.  I just didn't have the energy to hit every place I wished.  I was able to buy more items at one store than I had intended.  While some items are not optimal, they will do.  Yeah, being single and preferring home cooked foods allows for a lot of pickiness.

I would like to get in to town tomorrow, but no chance.  I really need to rest.  Wednesday is out.  Either I will still be resting, if trying to pull up, or I will be up in the trees taking a few limbs down.  I do not know if I will get all that I want done, Wednesday or Thursday.  I just know that I will push for it.  That'll mean three trees and anywhere from five to seven limbs or various bits and parts.  No limb is right next to the other, aside from being in various trees they are in very different spots even when on the same tree.  It'll be some effort.  Well, that and working a chainsaw, keeping balance, after getting up in there to start.  Still?  I am looking forward to it.

I attempted landscape photographs with my 90 mm.  It just... yeah... no.  The 50 mm is okay, a lot sharper, better generally.  But there has to be better than this.  I would like to get a few pictures to remember the valley by.  I have never done that before.  Good people, good place, wish I could stay.  Too old to fuss with fusses.  Need to get in shape.  Finding vantages, by hiking, might help.  Camping while traveling by foot should work.  I need to learn, while I gain my feet, as I do other things yet.  A year, two...  Yeah, sometimes it takes me longer.  I just wouldn't count on it.  Though which way not to count on it... that's for you to decide.

Some reading, music, then sleep.  I'll be ready for it.  Good night.

That was a lot of pig.

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I was sort of rooting around to get going.  I did call, it was ready, I made a general note that I'd be in this afternoon or tomorrow.  Couldn't focus, wasn't sure.  As it turns out, a shower, this, that, and I ended up there today.  I have bought a hog twice.  This one, for some reason, seems twice the other pigs?  No complaints, just a bit of a surprise.  I thought, since they were going to butcher early, that they might be smaller.  Especially since it was much less expensive this year.  The price has come down, a lot, I am told.  All good.  Wow, though.  Thankfully I will be sending some out the back door.  Beef next month?  Tight.  But it's a sort of tight I can live with.  Might have to get another, smaller, drop-in, or see if they or another shop, does freeze storage.  I, this time, asked about lamb.  Yep!  Later this summer, around August.  Oh yeah.  The trifecta.  They asked about chicken but I'm... not so much on chicken.  Still... you know... if I am going to buy chicken...  I'll see what they have.  I'll buy local, especially non-organic.  Hutch or free-range isn't so much of a deal, so long as the price is right.  A dozen chickens in the freezer, per year, isn't bad.  Rabbits?  If they offered those, I'd do half and half, at least as an experiment.

I never did call my friend.  While I am a bit tuckered with the driving, sorting, lifting, hauling, arranging... it actually is a bit of work... especially whole hogging it...  I do believe I will make it to town for groceries later.  Just a quick trip, nothing fancy.  A minor haul.  Meat is now tended for the next year, or that is in the works.  Milk, eggs, corn starch, and a few minor such.  I'll make an attempt to contact him in a few minutes.  A couple of various packages of the various cuts, so as to see if he likes what is offered locally.  He knows of the place, simply hasn't quite gotten around to shopping there.  Though they do have a small shop where they retail some of their meats just down the way.  I'm not sure I have seen pork in there, if I wasn't looking all that closely.

Definitely a good day, if I finish as I am proposing.  With groceries and such, tomorrow will be a down day, for rest.  That in the hopes I can be ready to climb several trees, cutting this and that, and maybe setting some things up out there.  Not too much work, but it'll wind me.  Wednesday or Thursday, whenever it is that my wind returns.  Like a boomerang, you can only use your breath when it is back in hand after a use.  Later.

Curious things.

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Recently, a neighbor asked after my health.  Good, given the givens and then some, I bellowed.  Could be better, but that's been true since the day I was born.  I didn't mention that.  Something about having an air of fitness or vigor or... something.  I kept tossing words.  They seemed close, but not quite right.  Or maybe I did get the word.  Long days wear a man with many duties, so not always does he deal with such to it's finality.  As well, I've been noticing that my shorts keep falling off.  I kept thinking... 'wear a belt'!  When I would finally focus enough to go get a belt on, I would come to the realization...  'I AM wearing a belt'!  Cinch it, I would suggest!  No more holes.  I could punch more holes, probably two more, but then the belt tongue would be longer than to the middle of my back.  Hmm?

I looked at my feet.  I'm carrying a goodly bit of water.  While not elephantine, they are pretty thick, on up past the ankle.  So I expected stepping on the scale wouldn't show much.  Usually, when I carry this much water, I am in the 290's, even 300 range (I usually run 280, when clean).  I was a bit surprised, topping off at 271 and small change.  And, yes, my pants, too, are falling off.  I need new belts... 38's, a pair of them... the strong kind.  Duluth Trader makes excellent belts.  They cost a small fortune per each, but I have never had one fail.  Or I could go buy several on the cheap.  But as tight as I need to wear them, with how things configure and the weight of my clothes, I've had Walmart specials break on the first cinching.  *le sigh*  I'll just buck up and order the good ones.  Problem is, I know I will, if this keeps up and I think it will, end up shifting down in sizes at a very fast pace.  Hmm...  I'll just order one at a time until... until I hit 34.  If I get back down to 31?  I won't wear a belt, baby.  When you conquer Rome, they do as you do.  *wink*

The pig is in.  I have a list for the store, several places actually.  I am considering which way to go.  I am thinking, picking up the hog first.  After that is done and arranged in the freezer, I'll see where I am at.  If I've go mojo, or think I will before the day is done, I'll either sprint shop to town, or go later.  I'll take some chops in for my friend, if I go later.  Yeah... I'll just plan on later, might call him soon in an attempt to arrange a visit.  He has been terribly difficult to reach, so...  I don't want to take pork in if he won't be there.  Even with the ice chest, an hour in mid 60's/70's, in a vehicle, with a semi-serious sun raining down, and that meat would not do well on a round trip.  In is fine, if I drop it right away.

I went out to look up in the trees again.  Sneaky snaking branches.  Just a few.  Maybe just one, on the one tree.  There are others that could come down, in either of the other evergreens.  Maybe a few branches in the faux chinese elms, if I can do that.  I am thinking, hoping, to be ready for that Wednesday.  I have my climbing harness located, and I believe the safety loops, and some static climbing rope along with some other rope for... finagling.  I won't be doing miracles or playing with fire, just... tug, secure, cut, and using caution.

Fit?  Full of vigor?  Not quite yet.  Better than a bit ago, not even close to tomorrow.  Later.

Little things to begin all else.

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Trash, collected, and out then on to the curb.  Such a simple task.  Such a nuisance.  Still, done.  I also found the source of a sour odor.  I used to use those mechanically self-wringing mops.  They really are made for women.  I kept going through them, not knowing or discovering why.  As it turns out, when I wring those, after about... a score or two wrings, the mechanism dies.  I just learned this as I decided to use up what I have in inventory.  I think I have a few more mop heads, if it wasn't the mop heads that gave way... but the mechanism on the mop handles, then I am done.  If the handle mechanisms are still good, I will use the mop heads up.  A waste either way.  Sure, light and easy to use.  But if they can't take a wring...  Well... the head on one of those had been removed, but I hadn't wrung it out... because of the failure (of some sort).  So... it got sour.  It smelled a lot like a diaper, to be honest.  Luckily, it was in the trash already.  The odd thing?  While I could smell it, I couldn't actually find it.  It seemed to be elsewhere.  But it was right where it should have been.

Trash, prepping for some dishes, little bits of this and that going on.  A spot of tea going.  Planning on a shower, after a bit.  I just wanted to get the trash out before I missed the pickup.  Well, and doing a few things sort of primes the pump.  I would like to fix a few eggs, perhaps with cheese thrown in, and onion as well?  Or I'll just skip for not.  I really need to remember to add kefir water to a cup of grains for breakfast.  That's good stuff, easy, fast to make, and actually pretty cheap.  You just have to be willing to spend more than a few seconds getting it from a package to a microwave, or such.

Funny?  I've spent the last thirty years trying to regain focus.  I used to be able to do incredible feats of focus.  Sudoku may be showing that I have little bits of that returning, though perhaps at depths I might not have had before.  While I am coming back to focus, over a rather damaged body, I see most... even the young... trying to find their way to what I have been trying to escape.  They don't want to think, or act, or be able to function.  They want to be oblivious.  I'll warn you once, coming back from that is... well... hell.  Don't go there.  I didn't have a lot of choice.  You do.  My guess is it is even harder to come back if you chose to go there.

Well... a bit of a rest, then I'll call the butcher shop, see where that process is.  Later.

Sleep was good.

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I have had better, and several layers of better.  And yet, for decades, all I had was worse, and by many layers on to the very worst... no sleep, or a type of waking sleep.  This was near the top and I wasn't exactly expecting it.  When I work until I hurt, and keep it up, and for several days, sometimes good sleep can't be had.  Gratitude is in play this morning.  Well, and shortly a handful of painkillers.  I didn't take any the last day or two, I don't think?  Not yesterday anyway.  On the good side, or not(?), I can feel the pain today.  And yet I feel good, too.

Lots of dreams last night.  I only remember one.  Some woman and I were... debating.  If you have ever known a woman with whom you should not have an interest, of a romantic nature, but do in truth... and you both keep things civil... but underneath there is a want?  Well, this was that.  It might well have been directly from a memory.  Oh, in spite of my past nature, I was actually pretty good about this sort of thing.  And, yet, playing with just a touch of fire...  What seems even worse, to my way of thinking, is that we were debating something I was rather keen about.  And I couldn't seem to really hit all that hard.  Bleh.  Still, the bitter sweet portions of life, especially when maintained in innocence over bodily contradictions, are very fond memories.  I can't remember exactly who it was, but from the hints I suspect only a handful of women with whom I had such feelings in mutuality.  Several of them are still very alive.

Today?  I honestly suspect a shower will go forth.  Trash will most likely go out and probably on time.  A bit of a sit after those, and before them as I wake.  And, very possibly, a call to the butcher.  If the hog is ready, I'll do that.  If not, I will go on to the store, shopping.  Just groceries.  I forgot, when they smoke some of the hog meat, that is on a bit of a waiting list.  Only so much so quickly?  Or is it more that it takes time?  In any case, the hog may or may not be ready.  I will get out today, though.

I may do just a bit of work in the kitchen and bathroom though.  Sweeping the bathroom to keep ahead, clearing some of the countertops and tabletop... or more... and the floor a bit more.  Nothing big, not too much, just a bit.  Later.

Naps are sometimes necessities.

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And so it was today.  About 15:00?  Somewhere in there.  I have a watch that is an half hour off.  As I was going to sleep I can't remember if that was the time piece I used.  Anyway, sometime in that range I went down.  Didn't sleep all that well, good enough though I think.  I keep checking under the kitchen sink.  It looks like my plumb job has worked, well enough for now.  I just hated having to fuss under there every time I had a spot of tea.  Too tired to be fussing like that.

I am well and truly sore and tired.  It isn't debilitating, or too much more than usual.  Just a healthy feeling that I did some work.  A twenty foot, four inch diameter, full of smaller branches, very alive with pines, branch weighs a goodly lot.  While that was probably the biggest, there were a goodly sum of various sized branches near enough to that.  Some I cut while balancing on a ladder, most I shuffled over to a pile for further breakdown, both were some small but noticeable amounts of effort.  All told, they added up heavily, for me anyway.

I did look, again, this afternoon.  While I could take a limb or two off each tree, and may, any more is not needed.  Rather than set up my hammock between two pines, I should be able to set it up between an evergreen and the chinese elm (?).  Though I might wish to do just a bit of work in the c. elm.  In some ways working it will be easier, in other ways it will be a bit trickier.  Every tree has it's ways.

Hmm?  I don't know.  Today is pretty much done.  Rest was enjoyed.  Tomorrow will mostly be a day of rest, though if I can do some minor shopping, and maybe pick up the hog on the way home, I'll be good.  The rest of the day will be for resting... other than just keeping up on trim around what is clean or targeted, on top of the noted projects, and mostly resting.  The sun helped a bit today.  The work recently, while bruising is also going toward health more than not.  Still, the work tomorrow is a hope, not a surety.

I did call my mother.  She was busy cleaning her floors, wet vacuuming I think she said.  All good.  She says she is losing ground in her home, more as time goes on.  Housecleaning isn't, completely, something on which you can ever completely, or statically, manage.  Here and there, this and then, now and over there.  On a rare moon, perhaps all seems done, or done enough, but for a moment.  And, as age happens, or if children reign...  Patience.  Though some are far more Sargent Mom than others.  It's just... how it goes.  Oh, and men are simply not capable of being in that league unless they have... other issues?  Issues I definitely don't have.  *zzz*

Later.  Maybe good night.

Actually, a few things right off.

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I did go look.  The trees are 99.9 percent, really.  Maybe one to three branches left.  But those will be tricky.  Not bad, a good minor work day.  No where near the last two to three days.  More brain than back work, though with some risk.  I may well grab some of the safety snatches and the climbing rig.  Just... at those angles, with the saw, in a tree, branch to tight branch and through the brush...  Not just a chore, an adventure!

After that, I checked the plumbing under the sink.  Leaking, I might have mentioned.  I got a little huffy.  Not enough energy to tinker long, but a need to simply the process of using the r.o.  So... I grabbed the rubber mallet, a bit of righteous anger, and a thinking cap.  Those last two don't always fit together.  If placed correctly on the board, however, they can be a spiffy combo.  As today, it turns out.  I took the thing off only to find a plug in there.  It... looks like wax.  Later on, after a nap and some thinking, music, and such, I may go do I vivisection or biopsy... of sorts.  For now, removing it should allow flow.  How could a plug get in there when I'm not using that sink, thus drain, except for reverse osmosis dumping?  Anyway... I removed that, then began attempting to fit the pipes together.  They just did not want to go, and should have fit.  No normal screwing loose or tightening seemed to have any effect, so...  *bam, bam, bam, BAM*  I did get it all back together, as a unit.  Then I had to fit it into the down and out drain pipes.  *bam, bam, BAM*  Oh, but it was, again, still leaking.  Hmm?  *knee to the joint*  Ah... peace at last.  That seems to have worked.  No, it won't last, but it will allow me to get water without flooding the floor, for a while... Hopefully long enough for me to rest a bit, get that cleaned out under there, then call a plumber to put it all together in a more permanent fashion.  Bleh.

Now, if nothing causes a major fuss, perhaps the rest of the day can be a bit restful.  Timer just went off to feed the girls.  Tea should be ready.  Then back to music, perhaps some gaming after that, maybe a nap or lunch, or lunch then nap, and... rest.  I do hurt.  Bones, chest, muscle, lungs...  No energy, less now.  But all good.  Later.

Quite right.

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Awake, and relatively early.  I didn't get to bed until right around midnight.  That's just how it works if I work later, or hard.  I pushed everything doing what I did.  Arms, chest, legs just a bit, and internals... the lungs and heart were stressed diligently.  No, not to a bad place, just to the end of capacity, then several more times.  But in, I think, the right way.  Now, that means today will be a day of very little.  Maybe burritos, perhaps some tinkering with the camera, and maybe a very little bit of work about the cave.  That will be it.  Same, very possibly, with Monday.  It's not so much a will thing as a reality combining health and physical fitness levels.  I have found that even getting over the latter leaves the former, and even medication wasn't fixing the former.  So... it is what it is.

Even so, I plan to review the project, the cutting.  If I think a bit more can be done, later this week, I will get to it.  Now, If I do that, it will be just a limb or two, maybe three.  I did more than that myself, my neighbor did double what I did.  And, even when I wasn't cutting, I was shifting limbs and logs (some limbs were dead, with no branches, but rather thick and long) out of the way.  It was pretty hefty work.  On the lucky side, for me, he really likes that chainsaw.  :)  I do too.  I bought a pro-level, and just a bit bigger, of a saw.  I really had hoped I would be able to get the major trees, or at least down to the trunks.  Five to six foot trunks take more of a saw than I would even want!  And, I may yet get to some of that.  I don't mind paying for the high, overarching, branches.  But the others I might be able to begin felling a bit at a time.

Funny how just a bit of that real work tightens my body up though.  It wouldn't take much to build fast either.  Remember, the last time I was able to work out, if with a helper, I went from just being able to do the bar to benching 350 in three months... along with swimming just five laps, in that same time, to swimming a mile a day three days a week.  If I can, I do, and do very well.  I don't know if I can push on through, without anything, but...  Well... we'll see.  I best be able to get to some level of function before I hit the road.

That reminds me...  I need to get my camping gear and packs in, figure out, again, what is what.  Repackaging all that so as to begin a backyard excursion into prepping for the real outdoors and camping.  I am excited for this.  Both packs will probably be a major hurdle initially.  But, I think, in time, even the big one will be doable.  The small one gets to about 40 pounds, the big one, if packed lightly, starts at 60, but can probably stow an 100 and much change, perhaps 150.  Starting with 35-40, though, is the way.  Ugh.  Thinking of humping and it isn't even Wednesday.  :p

Good morning and good day.

Awesome.

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A call and a deal.  A neighbor visited, to see about the saw.  I wasn't sure what all needed to happen.  Cleaning, oil... what kind, where, or such.  Yeah, well, not that hard at all.  What I thought would need lab and lab coat work just needed a minor bit of rag work.  Showed me this and that, worked this over, and... bam.  She lit like a 4th sparkler, without the sparkles thankfully.  Then I asked if he would watch as I cut limbs... just in case.  I cut, cut, cut some more, moved the ladder, cut, cut, moved...  I got a lot down, but not close to what I needed.  So, he asked if I wished that he help?  Well, yes.  And so he did.  It is good enough, absolutely for sure.  I may look it over in a day or two, and I might go back up if I think so.  But, really, quite good.  I should be able to walk under the branches without ducking.  I will see about setting up a camp under there.  Though I am not sure about the hammock.

After which I visited.  Then, talked as his wife and their new little one were set to arrive shortly.  I was so tired I might have seemed a bit dull.  Even what I had done with the tree and chainsaw had quite tuckered me out.  Anyway, it was a marvel to see such a young one again.  And the Mrs. really looks good.  She has done well after delivery.  It sounds as if she learned some things and is still learning.  I still think it's wonderful, and as she said, a miracle.  These things, in some odd way, are in God's hands.  We have made choices that set us apart a bit, and so can and do fall prey.  But when it works, even when it doesn't exactly, often there is another chance.  Such tiny noses, feet, and hands.

So, it does end up a major victory today, on many fronts.  I am pretty done in for it.  Well worth it.  Though, tomorrow, I... I have no idea.  I was invited to a ceremony for their girl, and would love to have gone.  While I said maybe, my back, energy, head, neck, and legs were... I think they were openly threatening me.  Not with extra pain, just with making a fool, again, out of me.  It took many years to learn to say no, or even maybe.  But as unfair as it is to me, in what I have missed, it is more unfair to those I give my word and do not keep it.  Better a distant friend than a bitter one.  I can't keep some words, so I no longer give them.

All good.  Just a touch of music then on to bed.  Good night.

Not much, not very successful.

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I did get the camera going, using the 50 mm lens.  I figured out how to switch from RAW to jpeg, and did so.  I took a number of photos.  While I was out, I remembered that I wanted to cut branches on one of my evergreens, the lower ones, so as to have an easy to walk under canopy.  I did some on the other everygreen, though I think the last owners had hit that first, a bit.  The ladder was still out, so I moved that into place and set it up.   A crosscut saw had been out there, with other tools.  I found the other tools in the shed, but not the crosscut.  I grabbed another saw, to give it a shot.  Not so much.  It just wasn't built for cutting branches.  And while I have a very good woodsman's axe, that just isn't functional on a ladder.  My chainsaw would be best, if not an easy task.  It needs... well...  I'll try to remember to get that to the shop Monday.  Hmm... though I might call to see if someone might give it a quick thrift work.  All it needs is a reconfig, really.  I know someone, if he has the time.  He wouldn't want money for it, but I would have to insist.  It would be cheaper, and likely better, than the shop, if he has time.  Money is good, if time is to be had.  If I get those branches down I can set up my hammock, perhaps goof with the bivy system, and practice camping, in place, safely.

I brought the camera in and just goofed on the machine for a bit.  Today simply isn't a working day.  I'm not moving fast.  I am not pushing.  I goofed for long enough, to my mind.  Finally deciding to pull the card and see what I could do.  Nothing, it seems, to be done.  The machine simply indicated that it couldn't or wouldn't open the pictures.  There are both RAW and jpeg on it, is probably the problem.  Though who knows.  Everything on this machine is very old.  I could try the laptop, but I would have to bust MS's attempt to hack Win 8, 8.1, or 10 onto it first, by rebooting back to a saved image.  And, then, again, try to shut down the attempt by that machine to hook to the internet, where MS would again attempt to hack on one of their useless twisted junk OS's.  Bleh.  I'm not going to hassle with that today.  So... just no success.  I do have pictures, in a usable format, just no way to access them atm.  This is why I haven't rushed into figuring this out.  It's a mess, and they mean it to be unless you comply.  I do not comply.

I may make burritos in a bit... or not.  Back to... drifting.  Later.

Well?

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Okay, I can be a little... out of the loop.  The bread was not green, had no other sorts of growth... natural or not.  It looked like it might do as a base for an odd food experiment.  A little hard, perhaps... but, you know how ends can be.  So I grabbed the bread knife, set it far enough away from the previously cut end, and... cut through stone.  It isn't an otherwise dense bread.  The crust, of course, should crunch.  It just didn't stop there.  The crumbs looked and felt more like gravel.  So much for a sandwich, experimental or not.  Bacon and eggs it is.  Scrambled eggs, with cheese, this time.  And salsa.

I don't know if I will do all that much today.  I'm not in bad shape, in pain, or too tired.  I simply do not wish to push my luck.  No, no shopping either.  I will do little things, here and there.  I might find a small section of the kitchen counter to clear and clean.  I may work on the table top.  I might do little things other than those, perhaps sharpen some of my kitchen knives and make an attempt at working one of my straight razors to a truly fine sharpness.  I have something with which to compare it, so as to get a better idea, now.  Kitchen knives don't have to be so sharp, mind you.  They are only used on the dead, the unfeeling.  Though a truer degree of sharpness makes them safer for the feeling, living. to use on the products.

I am finding, by the way, a much greater success with my cast and high carbon pans through the use of wooden and bamboo utensils.  As such I am moving to those.  I ordered several sets of wooden tongs, and wooden and/or bamboo spoons, spatulas, and such.  I have a small collection.  But, when cooking several days, I tend to go through them quickly.  Some reuse is okay, there are simply limits.  Now that I have utensils down, I may check the seasoning on my pans and dutch oven, to see if they can, or should, be redone.  I think most will need it.  On the good side?  Even without reseasoning, as is most likely wise, just using the wood and bamboo has almost proved enough itself.  With new seasoning and the wood and bamboo?  I think it'll be snazzy.  I was actually able to cook scrambled eggs in my newish high carbon skillet without having scrambled the eggs in a bowl first.  I did it right in the pan.  Not a problem, no stick.  And yet I want it that tiny, or maybe even large, bit better.

Beside going wooden, I am trying to add kitchen towels that work.  Some flour sack, some tea.  Flour sack are good, not just for glass, but for wrapping tortillas, pancakes, and such to keep warm when more than a few are wanted... or even just a few.  They go cold so fast, especially in the higher, low humidity, area hereabouts.  I had tea towels, mostly old and worn, but I never did invest in flour sack... just wasn't sure, had other demands, this and that.  Well... as I push cooking and backing, taking things to a new level, I need certain items.  These are included.

I am hoping to take a few photographs today.  Just with the 50mm.  I may also review my camera, then look for specific instructions about how to use a non-auto focus lens on this camera.  That whole thing may have been a busted load of bs by someone who didn't know what he was talking about, or is so complex that it isn't worth the effort to do unless you are a complete camera nerd with zero life and zero interest in more.  I'm just not seeing it working at all.  Though, if there is a trick that will just let me set, use, override an error message, and click, I'd be quite pleased.  I don't need to take pictures, landscapes, quickly.  I just need to take them in a general time window, when the light, cloud, look, or feel... to me... is right.  Or even just when I wish to do so.  I am praying.  Otherwise, for auto-focus of this quality of lenses, I am looking at, starting, around $800.  I'm not into the serious zooms, for wildlife.  And some prime lenses, while quite limited, are much cheaper and, for what they are good for, are the best solution within those limits.  Zooming with feet, or wheels, is fine if not helpful for a serendipitous fleeting moment.  Huh?  Oh, I mean I have no clue.  I'll try to get a few shots, make a jab and putting them up, research a few other notions?  Yeah.

Rest, today.  Rest tomorrow.  I am getting closer to having clothes in order.  I may look for shoes, too.  While I found some, they aren't good for my feet.  Hurting and pinching aren't good for diabetics, even if I am only a look-alike one... from what I can tell.  I need some larger, boxier, oxfords.  The spiffy, classic, torpedo just doesn't work.  But finding the right ones for proper slacks?  Oh, and I need new button down oxford shirts.  Nothing fancy, but I need to try them, or be prepared to return them if they don't fit.  Oh, ties too, and undershirts.  I have dress slacks and cords and a few of the others, if dated a bit.  Bleh.  I'll... keep working on it.

Later.

Up and almost shiny.

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Like a shiny coin, the only one happy might be the owner... if they like shiny things.  Huh?  Well, a shiny coin is shiny because it has just freshly been torn from it's bed, boiled, pressed with massive power, then drop-shipped into circulation.  Probably not a fun process, even for a metal.  First, I did say almost.  Second, I think, even for it, I am pretty good this morning.  I didn't get to sleep until about 0:30 (half past midnight).  I woke right about 9:30... that is alarm time, which is half past fast.  Which doesn't matter in one sense, as it is as wrong on one end as the other.  So, nine hours down.  Not bad for what I did yesterday.

I've been through the kitchen at least twice this morning.  I didn't have my wits about me, not enough to review things on the ground, literally and virtually, out there.  I know I was a bit miffed that getting everything down to the basement hadn't seemed to really make a dent on the bulk taking up floor space in the kitchen.  I do need to re-evaluate.  You know how that last thoughts of the night can be of a inordinately disappointing nature?  Something about being tired, the mind beginning to shut down for the night, and other such, which just don't allow cheery, or even sometimes fair, thoughts.  Yeah.  Still, it might hold.  I just won't be as disappointed about it, at the least.

Probably just a few boxes, and packing material, that should be easy to manage.  Maybe a box of stuff that should have gone down but wasn't seen clearly as such in the waning of the day.  Nothing as bad as it seems when one expects the North West Passage and only finds a bay with a short river run.  And yet that short river run might be better for setting up a starter colony, though certainly a good place to know, so as to shelter a small fleet should a terrible storm draw near.  Oh, right... Never mind.

Breakfast, though, first thing.  At least first thing after I can do first things.  Then, perhaps, that shower.  When going to bed, priorities are what they are.  Sleeping on things rearranges those.  Not absolutely, or always.  Just... food for a hungry morning ogre means more than it did to a full evening ogre.  Eggs and liverwurst...  If the bread is still good.  I was thinking of toasting the bread though, so it can be a wee dry.  An odd mix, but mayhap a good one.  And certainly good for you.  Liver is a wonderfood all itself... in proper portions.  Now, processed liver?  I'll stick with the Germans on this one.  Hmm... onion on it would be good too.  Plus, no modern will ask for a bite of your sandwich.  :)

Later.

That water heater was a Hillary.

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At least it tried to be, if probably no better than she does, a ballbuster.  The replacement was supposed to be about 100 pounds.  So I assumed the old one was about the same.  Even with the packing, the new one was much lighter.  Getting that chunk of junk up, even with the cart, was a bear.  I actually needed two hours to recover.  I can handle moving my 100 pound plates easily, or more easily.  A long cylinder shouldn't be a problem.  It definitely was.  Might just be getting old though, older... well, and out of shape.  After the break I did get the other boxes, goods, and sundry down.  There was more than I thought and yet it opened up less space than I had hoped!  How that works I won't even guess.

I don't know if I can work tomorrow.  Perhaps just nibbling around the edges of the work area, stacking and sorting.  Or maybe just a day of rest, some cooking and gaming, maybe a spot of photography, which I didn't get going today.  The only other thing I didn't do, on my list, was shopping.  Monday.  Or... Tuesday.  Maybe Thursday.  We'll see how much these days of thunder have cost me.  Never can tell.  Sometimes it kills the system, sometimes it lights the coal and gets a head of steam set to charge the machine.

A shower, first thing.  There is little so luxurious as a shower in a freshly cleaned bathroom.  I have even added bits that allow me to clean the shower when I am done.  Of course, those only work if the water is draining.  Which it is again.  Funny how we find clean things, even with good intent, and mess them up?  It's our job.  It's the cycle.  Dance or die, the only choices.  And some of us don't even get both of those.  Well, as easily or well as others.

I forgot to mention it.  This morning?  My new second best sudoku solve time is now... wait for it... six seconds.  Just one second faster than my fastest time!  Now, to finish a puzzle in four, or even three seconds.  Yes, yes, crack my phone and look.  Oh, but the six second, 8 second, 9 second, and others won't show.  But the five second speed shows up on several counters in the app.  Again, while I can't stop you, I can bless you.  With what?  Something honest folk don't mind so much... an inability to be believed in a lie.  Go ahead kids, kick the kit and see if it stings.  You have been warned.  Though, if you do it, and find my words true?  In time I do believe you will thank me.  A truthful life is much easier and more satisfying to live.  The gig will sort of make you a putz.  But I make much effort to be a putz.  A putz in this world is an honest man in a true world.  Eventually you will lose your faith, for you will not need it... in heaven or hell.  You will know.

Later.  Or, urhm, good night.

Who knew?

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I had a water heater to bring up.  And old, rusted out one, which had opened and flooded my basement.  I got the replacement down just fine.  Removing the old one has proven too much, until now.  I tried several ways, with ropes and just wrestling it, all to no avail.  Skinned elbows, knees, and other patches... bruises, cuts, abrasions, and pinch cuts... until now that was the only payment for my efforts.  I purchased a dolly, hand cart, or some other names, depending from whence you hail.  It was supposed to be able to handle eight to twelve times what the water heater weighs, plus was supposed to be able to manage stairs.  It did help me complete the job, but it was only enough better to get the job done, not enough to call it a really good tool.  Then again, unlike my last one, it didn't twist in the effort... becoming useless.  I purchased much more carefully this time.  Urhm, which means beside extra homework, I spent more.  Yes, boys and girls, that is how it works.

About busted my left... nuts, I forgot to... never mind, I'll do that later.  What?  Ah, right, ask me later.  I'm taking a break just from that.  I still have some hope to get the other boxes down.  Some of food stuffs, some of just empty but well packed half gallon jars for future use.  Plus... this and that?  I can't remember what all has to go down.  I really want it done tonight.  If I catch my breath in the next hour, enough to get to it, I will.  And, then, I will sleep like a babe, twice blessed in fresh nappies.  Only an ogle worthy food source could possibly enhance sleep beyond.  Could dream?

Back to music.  Nothing in the news, so far.  Though, who knows.  Odd how being spotted can make even the most perverse change course.  Sometimes the look of a child can change a crooks plans.  *blink blink*  Later.  Actually?  Good night.  I think I am done for tonight.  If I finish up, I'll relate and regale your eyes with the fruits of my labor in the morning.  Sleep well.

Pushing.

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I didn't make or eat a breakfast or lunch.  I was moving as quickly as possible cleaning and such.  I simply didn't have the time and energy.  Which was fine until after a shower.  I though, perhaps, I would take a shower, then kick a few chores out, then go get something, maybe do shopping, or even go shopping then cook.  Yeah, no.  When you are using yourself up, there just isn't more to give at some point.  Food had to happen.  Right after the shower.  Just fast food, and drive-through.  Not the best but I had no way to cook, no energy to go into a restaurant, zip.  And food was needed.  That down, I now need a bit of down time.

I am still hoping to bring the water heater up and get everything down and sorted.  I think, however, that will be that... if I can do even that.  I sure have high hopes.  It would mean the next time I have full batteries I can really rip into the kitchen.  That won't be a one day project, hasn't been.  I have done a good deal of work out there already.  Two, maybe three days, like today, of work and it will be as good as the bathroom.  The only things in the bathroom, wrong, are mechanical.  Some of that I can do, some I can't.  I figure, in time, I can knock out the dripping faucets and crossover, rehab some of the drywall that got wet when the original toilet was leaking.  Didn't notice, got behind the trim.  Bleh!  The rest, the slow sink drain, a look at the tub drain, and some kitchen faucet problem and drain, as well, I will probably be calling a plumber in to consult and offer a quote.  Maybe several plumbers?  I've never worked with professionals before.  I'm not sure how one is supposed to go about that.  If it was a single task, I might just ask around.  But this might end up being bigger or smaller than how it looks.  Best to have several opinions, I think?

Don't know what is up with the... sight.  Just... bugging me, off and on, during breaks.  I didn't check the news the first time.  After the second, last, one I did go look.  Something about protesters, but I didn't get any real sense of urgency.  I sure did in my daydreams.  Though, as I might have suggested, I couldn't... their were more than one targets one the board, and more reasoning and thinking.  But more as if those things had been thought through, and implementation was on track... maybe even reaching the point for a call and a word.  That word is just, if a positive, bigger than they have any imaginings.  Moths to a flame.

Well, back to some music.  Perhaps something more fun, distracting.  Though if I can make anything look better, why not do so, innit?  Later.

Warned em', I did. Vibes... VIBES.

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Wow.  Just wow.  Killing zero won't kennedize the next president.  Murdering Trump will just make us peons really angry.  Remember, cops and .mil are mostly... well... peons.  The grand houses will fall if you play one of these cards.  This isn't the 60's.

Taking a bit longer, but then when is that a surprise.

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The bathroom is sparkling.  Tub to toilet, floor to shower curtains, clean and clean smelling.  I had it really clean not too long ago.  And it stayed that way for a rather longish time.  Actually, while a bit scruffy, it really wasn't too bad.  One thing to note, ladies may avert eyes, is that even a sprinkle on carpet or off to the side, and it smells like an old folks' home.  So it had to be strip cleaned.  Which is exactly what happened.  The floor was scrubbed, then again, rinsed, and again.  If it isn't tacky to the touch, when it dries, I am done.  Otherwise one more shot.  I hate sticky floors... for any reason.  It has simply taken longer to dry, being a bit cooler today.

No worries.  I will keep at it.  Now it doesn't look like even a bathroom in even a three star motel, not a new one anyway.  But she will do for a daily decor driver.  Though I might see about the flooring, and whether it could or needs to be treated.  A sealant or such.  I think the owners purchased extra tiles, and know where they are.  I think it says on the box what they are as well.  That might make mopping easier, or more productive?

When the floor dries, I'll quickly set the room back... extra tp rolls holder, standard tp use pillar... changing chair (which doubles as kitchen/home (very solid) step stool... laundry chute with a laundry bag...  Yeah... maybe not fully classy but much closer to more functional... and some of it with just a touch of elegance.  Who knew?  Ah, then a shower.  I think I can still get in to town.  If not, at least get clean.

If to town, then just simple shopping.  Either way, I will get the larder and storage stuffs to the basement.  Oh, and probably the old water heater up first.  Yeah.  That will sure clear some space down there.  I think I will get a good lot done.  More?  Well... if, on one of my breaks, I can pull it off, remember, and make it happen, I'll put my 50mm on my camera and take some snappies... then attempt to pull them over.  Might have to go .jpg, as I don't think my connected machine has a translater.  Bleh.  Still...  Even darker, she is a pretty world outside my windows.  Hmm... might even open up, even without any sun of which to speak... write.

A bit more music.  Later.

A nice bite out of the list.

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The bath tub needed serious cleaning.  You know how slow drains can muddy up a tub.  Then doing a bunch of dishes there because the kitchen faucet is tagged out.  Bleh.  Scrub, clean, brush, wipe, rinse, repeat.  It's the stooping.  Though elbow grease raises a sweat, more if cohabited with stooping.  The inside (plastic, clear) shower curtain had also become pretty nasty... dish grease and all.  So it got scrubbed, on both sides, twice, as well.  The work I did on the drain has helped a great deal.  It's still not a straight shot, but a full tub, up to four to six inches is gone, now, within thirty seconds.  It had been taking hours.  Bleh.  So, a shower can be had before too long.

Next I hit the toilet.  I didn't just do the bowl down.  I moved everything off, out, took off the seat assembly and washed that, took off the plastic floor bolt nubs and scrubbed those, then went to work on the main attraction.  Tickling this nook, scratching that corner.  Between dust and fur... though why the cats are involved I can't be sure :p, she needed a cleaning spanking, and got it.  After this, that, and the other thing, I even cleaned up my cleaning equipment.  I cleaned the plunger and holder when I was working on the drain yesterday, so that is good.  Now a rest.

Next I will hit the floor.  I may go in and towel off the floor, to let it dry, before trying to sweep.  Who knows how much water went everywhere in my doom's day cleaning mania!?!  I always have bath mats, those will do and will just be put in the wash while I am at it.  Then, when the floor is dry, I'll hit it with the broom, then mop.  I will then declare it done and begin thinking about lunch.  I would like to make lunch, but if I want to hit the store, that might not be wise.  And I do.  I don't know if I can though.

The plans are to either have lunch then go to the store, or vice versa.  After unpacking, I may need to nap.  If so, all good.  Then on to the kitchen.  I am hoping to take all that is packed and ready to go down to the basement.  It's not that much and yet it is.  Oh, but before that, bring the old water heater up.  Yeah.  When that is done, the goal is to clear the floor space in the kitchen and side room.  It isn't that much, but, again, it is.  If I can do that, and still have juice, I will hit the counters.  This time I will be trying to figure out how to keep those clear when not in timely use.  I see women who do that.  I have always liked that.  I have never been good at it.  Each time I improve, or even catch up, I try to change one thing before going through the flood of reality to the next time.  Clean counters and kitchen tabletop are the changes for this time.  And, yeah... it actually does add up.  The improvements, mostly, stay.  Especially if they are actually useful.  You can't imagine how much I have changed in the last five to six years, and my life.  Might not look like it to the casual observer.  To others it is a world of change.

Later.

Watch for it.

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A minor daydream, I suppose.  Of self, but also a warning.

Awake, with a plan.

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The bathroom is the plan.  Well, the first installment.  I am hoping to nail that before much else.  Beside, I want a shower!  When you are running on batteries that don't always charge up well or quickly, hold a charge, or put out energy evenly, you sort of have to figure that if you want this, and you have to do this and that to do what you want, it may take a while.  You do learn patience.  Your body can crush you, or die, if you push it.  Mine seems to take, and give, a joke.  "Ha, ha, ha...", *zzzz (for days, a week, more) *.  I'm telling you.  Now, my body and myself have come to some understandings.  If I am kindly, it will try.  If it needs rest, and the need isn't vital one way or another, or exciting, or it is, then we will negotiate what we can.  Anyway, we are working on these things.

I do think I can get the bathroom and a shower knocked out before noon.  Friday is it?  Good.  I may attempt to sneak to a store.  I have a non-laundry laundry list of items.  Minor things, but major in some sense.  Eggs to milk to cheese to flour...  Plus just the pleasant addition to life of getting out of the house, to a market, and having some single-serve interactions... if often with people I have at least seen, but more likely met, and with whom I have spoken.  Having basics stored is a good feeling too.  When I buy things like corn starch, I like to buy one or two extra, for down in the pantry.  Which means, yeah, I have to check the pantry before shopping.  Hmm... should work up a list.  A computer and printer are great for that... even keeping it alphabetized, neat, even, with room for the count as well.  There aren't that many staples, to be honest.  Even tossing in honey, maple syrup, baking soda, olives,  and things, I'll bet there isn't an hundred, maybe two hundred at most if you are a serious home cook, items on the list.  (As to whether to use isn't or aren't in the list?  I think, since even a multiple number is actually the noun, sort of, it is a singular of a plural... just so you know I actually consider such.  Well, that's what I think anyway.  I happen to be in a mood to consider such, and share it.)  *blink*

Breakfast before anything?  Maybe.  But a bit of blogging and music first.  Of course, today being what it is, food is on the mind right off.  Incentive, if I don't push it too far.  Liverwurst and egg sandwich?  Just maybe.  Not for the faint of heart.  Even if it seems I am dying of a faint heart, I am most likely not dying from it, and it ain't half so faint as that of the most daring of angels.  Which... is probably why they are angels and I only have attempted to play the part for damsels in distress, or datdress, or... not.  A long story from long ago.  Braggadocios.  Not always a bug, certainly not always a feature.  Either way, whether you can bona fide your tongue is a whole other thing.  Anyway, liverwurst and egg sandwich?  I have both, never tried them together, might do it now that I think on it.

Oh, right!  Yesterday I did get my camera out.  I tried to set some things up, get some snappies.  It's been too long, and I am attempting to use a manual focus lens.  I just didn't have to mojo.  I might check around this area, see if there is a photographer or shop or teacher who might be willing to offer a few lessons.  I don't have much... a few ducks, maybe a meal, and gas to get both of use somewhere to shoot... or a class.  Meh... Can't afford that right quite yet, though maybe a class, or online course.  A private tutor is so much better, truly, at least to get over the learning curve.  These things are, now, essential rubik's computers, sort of.  I may fit the 50 and make another jab at it today, in both dx and extended.  I was just too... after making the attempt and fail and fail, I just put it up.  Knowing when you are licked, especially at the end of your day, is a good thing.

Good day, and later.

Not a bad day at all.

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Oh, sure, I didn't get it all done.  I didn't even get much done.  Dishes, and a secondary load, catching me up... mostly I think.  I did tinker with the plumbing.  And it does seem as though the effort has provided dividends.  The tub drain is moving more swiftly.  Maybe, again, it really was just clogged.  I'll do baking powder and vinegar treatments for a while, and begin cleaning the tub, and bathroom in general.  I hope.  While I didn't take a shower, I did sneak in for fast food.  I wanted to shop as well, I just didn't have the energy for a shower, so a shopping trip would have been out in any case.  Oh, and I did open up and enjoyed the sun for a goodly bit, which helped induce me to go out for a drive in it.  A bit of caution though, I may burn even in this weak sun... if I go out for too long or when it is high in the sky.  I did a few other minor tinkering things as well.  Sure, as I wrote, not all... enough.  I'll keep at it.

Sun!

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I've been... drifting.  Reading here, writing there, mostly staying out of trouble?  Mostly.  An "old" friend, I found, has married.  Didn't surprise me, but I did miss the event.  Still, congratulations were in order.  Oh, and cooking is happening there.  Though more there than here, the ideas are merging.  Always been, started out as, a cook's sight.  Morphed, grew, became lots of things, richer.  I just... haven't been around for a while.  Anyway, when I became aware of the flesh I noticed the sun is out!

Okay, I have to do something before opening the windows.  Shorts, at least.  I have sheers coming in, and some new curtains.  When Sass was younger, before I figured out how to keep box elder bugs away and before she learned they really didn't taste good, she... made the ones in place holy!  I simply refused to replace them until I had that situation under control.  I think it is done.  Anyway, until the sheers and new curtains arrive, opening the windows is and expose in being exposed.  I'll put these on the back window.  If, indeed, Sassy is done murdering the curtains I'll buy new replacements... if I am here next year.  If not, if I see too much trouble right away, I'll switch them out and keep figuring... or just learn to live with Sassy's special ways.

I did do most of the remaining dishes.  The last are in a soft soak.  They are clean but I double sudsed them anyway.  I'll just wash them, run a rinse, and probably push through them quickly.  Few and easy.  And I want a shower.  So much rain though, lately, that the drain is slow.  Yeah, too much water, or too cold, and the drain simply slows to an absolute crawl.  Though, perhaps, I need to fidget with the tub faucets and shower switch.  They seem to be in need of new gaskets or some such.  That'll be a first time project.  I'll have to shut off the house water.  Though if I do that, I might as well see if the water softener is messed up, blocked, or something, while I am at it.  Bleh.  Soon, I hope.

I did check on something.  Several sites indicate, if you aren't a darned fool about it, hiking in Alaska is possibly better than most of the lower 48.  Winter has it's problems (rare travelers).  Though if you are prepped, you might be able to handle that.  Summer has it's own problems (bears).  Though a little knowledge and some technique will at least modify that threat.  Yes, if need be, that'll be the way it is.  Easier since I should be able to rig a base station somewhere in one of the cities, and I'll have some finances to help here and there.

Anyway... I best get something on so I can enjoy whatever taste of a bit of sun that I can.  Need that v. D.  Milk might offer some, but nothing beats the sun.  Oh, but you know?  I am up days!  So ill, and slow moving, and then the quiet pain... I just didn't see that sneak up on me.  Hmm... if I can do dishes, get some sun, and wake a bit, I might run for something for dinner rather than cook... or starve.  Later.

Update:  Dishes were done, so I could, in good conscience, bask in some daylight.  The sun is past, but shining well enough.  I can't handle full sun anyway, certainly not yet.  After doing the dishes, I decided to plunge and otherwise treat the tub drain.  Not sure it helped, but I feel better for trying.  I hope to clear and clean the tub, not as fun as a rifle or pistol in any sense, then shower.  There is a lot of evening left for my to sneak out.  All good if it could be just a bit better.  Hungry.

Taking a knee and a breath.

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I checked my account today.  Both of them, while I was at it.  The other accounts are low but unmolested.  No one has seen fit to take, at least inordinately large amounts, of the money without reason or rightness.  The returned sum, plus what I cashed in from the other account, makes the bankrupted account look splendid.  Almost rich, for a poor man.  And, after adding what is in all, what is coming, and what will be going out this month, even with the hog, I am back to fiscally copacetic.  After working for years to keep my accounts clean, for moral and mental reasons... life is just better if one isn't choking on pennies, overdrafts, and such... that to have a bad spell that was rigged, and worse, is troubling.  With phone calls from thieves, this sort of thing, and the V.A., I am beginning to suspect these sorts of things have very little to do with money.  I think they are trying to murder the ill through harassment.  I really do.  I doubt if I am the only one suspecting that, at this point.  Proof is in the pudding.

Anyway, after checking, I called to see if the bank would, as it suggested, remove the fees and fines.  I'm getting the feeling that they aren't going to do that.  We'll see.  Still, it was good to see black ink, or the electronic form of that.

I haven't been able to do all that much.  I reset the dishes in a fresh soak earlier.  I have fed the girls, and let Sam out at least once.  The dish water became too cool, so I just reset that.  I would love to get out for groceries, or a meal.  Won't happen.  I simply can't, or not yet.  The sun teased earlier, but then, as suggested, never showed.  It is so close, and seems to pop out, but for just a bit.  I might try to push through to get out, I just don't know when... or even if.  Dishes first.

What is needed?  Milk, butter, more cheese along with corn starch, whole whipping cream but just a few cartons since I don't use it in coffee, a bag of ice, fruit, maybe a few veggies to mix in things... spinach with the beef and beans actually sounds good for example.  I only have a few meals a week, I can thus afford better meals.  Though anyone who homecooks probably does even better.  Some I know for sure do.  Oh, flour too.  For now.  When the hog and beef are paid, I'll order replacement wheat so I can in good conscience begin grinding my own wheat.  I want a year supply, plus anything open.  It's just how I do.  Actually I'd like to add another year of supplies.  That can go with me should Alaska become my new home.

I really am enjoying various cooking projects, some new some old.  Menudo would be wonderful, might have to check on tripe, hog's feet, hominy and such... now that I found my pressure cooker.  I'd sure like to get in to town.  Not sure today, tomorrow, or even until some day next week will see me there.  Rough and exhausted.  I just remembered to take the pain killers, though I did remember to turn on the furnace.  Caught in a web of toils troubles and other such.  I'll keep at it.  Later.

Update:  I was wrong.  While I eat some crow, I will thank my bank.  I didn't name them but they know who they are.  It was a small thing.  And yet it very much was not a requirement that they do anything.  They did that out of good ethics.  No, that isn't even true.  They really did it out of an abundance of good will.  Ethically, legally, they had no reason to return anything.  Remember that when you think about dealing with a company.  I have... made some effort.  Though, if it is obvious that they cheated me... then names will be tossed about quite frankly... most surely.  Gah!  I better go before I do more word and name goo fun.  I am terrible at it, but... you know I have a hank for it.  Gah!