.
.
Oh, I woke. Eventually. I just let time pass and consciousness arrive at it's leisure, mostly. A glance at the time every once in a while to keep things going. No other focus other than, initially, waking. Then I realized the day was slipping away and started to push. Headache! Oh, yes boys and girls. When I started to push I got a headache. The harder I pushed, the worse it got. Today is, decidedly, not a work day. From my body's side of things. So... I started slowly. I finally dried the dishes that have been soaking for... a while... and put them all away. I can sit to do that so it was an easy starter task. That task wasn't really on my list for today. But, as I said, I needed something easy to start off the show. The headache remained, but... and?
After that, a shower. I really needed one before heading to town. I wasn't sure what I could accomplish. Energy drained, with a headache, and little focus. The goal was to find what I needed at the hardware store, stop at the grocery store, and get a meal on the way home. Which is exactly what I did. Oh, but first... I had to turn off the water to the cave, remove the valves (and find the piece that had broken, not my garbage), gather up everything I was taking back, and find the receipts if I could. I'm getting good, and fast, at undoing things. Still, I have to remember, just because you turned off the water doesn't mean there isn't still water pressure in the lines. *hu-hiss swish!* Two showers in a day is quite enough. Never mind. At least I didn't take all of it. I clamped that valve back down, went to the bathtub and drained the pressure off properly, and then quickly got back to work. Putting the valves back in their boxes, checking what to return and finding the one receipt, I headed out. I went to water the flowers on my way out the door but, yeah... no water. Go figure. *sigh*
At the hardware store, the guy "helping me" either didn't know what he was doing or was actively sabotaging me. So, I grabbed the known components I knew had to fit, from their shelves, and started going through things on my own. The area he had led me to look for components... nothing fit anything by the sizes stated. So, I started testing, checking, and such, on my own. He eventually (rather quickly) drifted off. The 1/2" fittings didn't fit the 1/2" water fittings for the flexhoses or the valves. The 5/8" fittings sort of did, but the threading was wrong. As I was checking another aisle, I saw him and asked about other materials that might have 1/2" or 5/8", he knew of none. I kept looking anyway. I knew he was wrong. I found 1/2" galvanized that worked, and got them. Thanks, but no thanks, I'll do it myself from now on. Yeah, brass and galvanized... but and? Actually brass couples with galvanized in my home anyway, as the water pipes are galvanized and any type of valve I choose will be brass/copper. So, I got almost everything. Between a long return line for returning items, and having to find my own components by hunt, peck, and check, I forgot to get a couple of new ceramic discs. Tomorrow, if they are open.
After that I did make it to the store. Two gallons of milk, three quarts of whole whipping cream, more chicken... hindquarters and drums, and I finally found a couple of "butt" pork roasts, which they are now calling shoulder roasts? Whatever. I bought two. They are much smaller than I remember. They are really cutting portions down. Then grabbed a meal, as all that made me hungry as a bear. I got everything in, most things arranged, the cold stuff put away in the fridge or freezer, the grill lit and dampered down for a low and slow cook, then set one of the roasts to... well... roast... or grill anyway.
I am hoping, yet this night, to put on the new valves, at least, and make sure they hold. Then see if the other valves I purchased, for in-cave water shut-off, will fit. And maybe try to get those installed and checked. That headache is a pain, and not really welcome right at this moment. So... a touch of whiskey in the remainder of the soda I got with the meal, a handful of anicin, and some hope that will get me through most of what I have yet to do on a non-functional day. Oh, I'm going to bulldoze through, a bit, if the hardware store is open tomorrow. Two more ceramic valves. If neither of those work, I'm not sure what else to do. For now I will simply, if those both fail, shut the valves, set the faucet aside, and not worry about it for some time. Maybe tinker with the rest of the faucet, to see if something is lodged further up, and tinker with the last "new" failed faucet (it was a more standard type). But... I've been doing without a kitchen faucet for a while now, I suppose I can continue. At least when I go to do something about that I will have all the prep work done, and have valves that work, that won't fail after six cycles, and maybe be able to turn the water off in the basement with the flick of the wrist. Bleh.
But, first... A little butt in seat time. A little rest period to digest dinner and let the medicines work on that knot in my neck and head. Oh, and, yeah... my gluts are still hella sore. Lots of up and down yesterday. Add today in and... Yeah, when I finally slow down and stop for a bit? This is going to HURT! Oh yeah. Yum! Probably double yum! Oh, but that Tullamore Dew is some fine whiskey. Irish whiskey. And, for my money, better than any other I have sampled. I guess some people like terrible tasting traditional stuff because they think sneezing it through their nose is the way to go, or that terrible taste will limit their sip. Terrible taste just makes me inebriated faster, somehow. And I sip less if I sip satisfied. All I'm saying the further on that.
Later.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Awake and in pretty good shape.
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.
I think. I'm not completely awake yet. Still, it seems that soreness and stiffness are mostly gone. Just little bits left to keep me interested. :p Energy isn't back, but I am going to have to do something. The cold water valve is still on. With the handle broke I can't turn it off inside. So, I am going to have to turn off the water, go outside, and shut off the water to the cave. Now, I don't want to go without water for long. Therefore, I am going to have to either cap those water pipes or put on new valves. What is the problem? The faucet is still connected to the water lines, and it is now leaking. It is in a pot, and so far that is holding the water, but... I suppose I could just drain the pot, but then I'd want another, so I would need two pots just to tend this. Yeah, sloppy, so I will turn off the water, cap or add a valve where possible. I think I only have one more in-line copper/brass ball valve on hand, with fittings anyway, so that is that until I get into town.
Not sure if I can do this AND get to town, but there is hope. I have a bunch of valves to take back... one used, one broken, and two unused. Too fragile. Although, since I am not on a timer today, I will also look for bigger inline valves for downstairs, so I can turn water off right her in the house. A couple of those valves have... an odd knob on them. I want to investigate those. If I ever get the rest of this system to work and then get a breather, I will... check those out. They are brass valves, so perhaps they can be fixed... maybe new gaskets is all that will be needed. I just don't want to depend on that and will simply, for now, replace with new (though I will buy, or look for, valve fix-it packets, or the parts for such). The guys at the hardware store, if you get the right ones, usually know what for on such things. And, I am learning.
Everybody starts out as a putz on new large areas of understanding. Improvements are slow, learning is hard, and it costs time, money, and energy. Still, if you consider how much one would pay to learn the standard way, on-the job learning, on one's own, is far cheaper, much more efficient to the project, and will eventually yield good stuff for far less on every front. Most of what you learn in school starts with the very simple then goes into the very complex, often skipping over the areas that are really needed. I don't need to learn how to mentally know righty-tighty from lefty-loosey on paper, for a test, I need to know that just by feel. That is muscle memory. And I don't care why the thermodynamic properties of brass make it more, or less, efficient, than some other material. I just need to know that it is good enough for my project, and it is. What I really would like to know is what is wrong with my faucet, and they wouldn't even touch on that. My guess is most plumbers wouldn't know or care... they would just replace this and that until it works, or not, then just choose to replace the whole thing. They aren't efficient minded. Heck, it's... your money. Bleh.
Anyway, so, while I am not in shape quite yet, my mind has been focused by need... a drip that will overflow if I don't tend it, and then keep it tended. I don't like slow leaks... it's a submariner thing. :) That and... well... literal fires. Though that... respect of fire makes wild fires all that more interesting. Love lighting that grill. Paraffin, egg carton base, and lint combine to make a fantastic firestarter by the way. I used too much paraffin per 'shell', so I can't quarter them. Next time I will use a lot less, make a lot more fire starters, and will be able to quarter them. Yeah, that'll be all I need, I believe. Wet, dry, doesn't matter.
Hmm... I'm going to need another hour, and some music, before I can try and push those battered energy reserves. Bleh. I really did need another day of rest. This WILL cost me... a few days, maybe a week, down. I know this. I do. It's, just... drip, drip, drip... Gah! Oh, best buy some more cream, and milk, when in town. Yeah, this is going to cost a lot. Might as well make sure I am ready for some down time.
Later.
.
I think. I'm not completely awake yet. Still, it seems that soreness and stiffness are mostly gone. Just little bits left to keep me interested. :p Energy isn't back, but I am going to have to do something. The cold water valve is still on. With the handle broke I can't turn it off inside. So, I am going to have to turn off the water, go outside, and shut off the water to the cave. Now, I don't want to go without water for long. Therefore, I am going to have to either cap those water pipes or put on new valves. What is the problem? The faucet is still connected to the water lines, and it is now leaking. It is in a pot, and so far that is holding the water, but... I suppose I could just drain the pot, but then I'd want another, so I would need two pots just to tend this. Yeah, sloppy, so I will turn off the water, cap or add a valve where possible. I think I only have one more in-line copper/brass ball valve on hand, with fittings anyway, so that is that until I get into town.
Not sure if I can do this AND get to town, but there is hope. I have a bunch of valves to take back... one used, one broken, and two unused. Too fragile. Although, since I am not on a timer today, I will also look for bigger inline valves for downstairs, so I can turn water off right her in the house. A couple of those valves have... an odd knob on them. I want to investigate those. If I ever get the rest of this system to work and then get a breather, I will... check those out. They are brass valves, so perhaps they can be fixed... maybe new gaskets is all that will be needed. I just don't want to depend on that and will simply, for now, replace with new (though I will buy, or look for, valve fix-it packets, or the parts for such). The guys at the hardware store, if you get the right ones, usually know what for on such things. And, I am learning.
Everybody starts out as a putz on new large areas of understanding. Improvements are slow, learning is hard, and it costs time, money, and energy. Still, if you consider how much one would pay to learn the standard way, on-the job learning, on one's own, is far cheaper, much more efficient to the project, and will eventually yield good stuff for far less on every front. Most of what you learn in school starts with the very simple then goes into the very complex, often skipping over the areas that are really needed. I don't need to learn how to mentally know righty-tighty from lefty-loosey on paper, for a test, I need to know that just by feel. That is muscle memory. And I don't care why the thermodynamic properties of brass make it more, or less, efficient, than some other material. I just need to know that it is good enough for my project, and it is. What I really would like to know is what is wrong with my faucet, and they wouldn't even touch on that. My guess is most plumbers wouldn't know or care... they would just replace this and that until it works, or not, then just choose to replace the whole thing. They aren't efficient minded. Heck, it's... your money. Bleh.
Anyway, so, while I am not in shape quite yet, my mind has been focused by need... a drip that will overflow if I don't tend it, and then keep it tended. I don't like slow leaks... it's a submariner thing. :) That and... well... literal fires. Though that... respect of fire makes wild fires all that more interesting. Love lighting that grill. Paraffin, egg carton base, and lint combine to make a fantastic firestarter by the way. I used too much paraffin per 'shell', so I can't quarter them. Next time I will use a lot less, make a lot more fire starters, and will be able to quarter them. Yeah, that'll be all I need, I believe. Wet, dry, doesn't matter.
Hmm... I'm going to need another hour, and some music, before I can try and push those battered energy reserves. Bleh. I really did need another day of rest. This WILL cost me... a few days, maybe a week, down. I know this. I do. It's, just... drip, drip, drip... Gah! Oh, best buy some more cream, and milk, when in town. Yeah, this is going to cost a lot. Might as well make sure I am ready for some down time.
Later.
Friday, June 6, 2014
A bit of music, mostly thoughts.
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.
In the last week or so, I have stumbled upon this and that, which I found entertaining, thoughtful. I simply didn't have the time to, as with haiku until recently, tend the want. Yes, boys and girls, even blogging can be a bit of work. Pulling the right words, or words I think should work, and well, and then arranging and editing. Well... when I do edit. But focusing ideas, media, and everything else, in such a manner that is not just pleasing to my eye, but says something I want said.... that is a bit of work. It is work I love, but then I love work of all sorts. I don't get what I love, always. Rarely, truth be told. Which is... better... than having what I thought I wanted, but without love. Yes indeed.
.
In the last week or so, I have stumbled upon this and that, which I found entertaining, thoughtful. I simply didn't have the time to, as with haiku until recently, tend the want. Yes, boys and girls, even blogging can be a bit of work. Pulling the right words, or words I think should work, and well, and then arranging and editing. Well... when I do edit. But focusing ideas, media, and everything else, in such a manner that is not just pleasing to my eye, but says something I want said.... that is a bit of work. It is work I love, but then I love work of all sorts. I don't get what I love, always. Rarely, truth be told. Which is... better... than having what I thought I wanted, but without love. Yes indeed.
Haiku Event - Hands
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It looks like foam is hosting the event. No longer a contest, not necessarily on a regular schedule. Just a freelance bit of writing, open to any and all. Except YOU! :p Well, okay, you too. Go over and play, or read, as you will. I hadn't been posting, if more because other things were taking up all of my concentration. I do enjoy posting, though, so will begin doing that again.
.
It looks like foam is hosting the event. No longer a contest, not necessarily on a regular schedule. Just a freelance bit of writing, open to any and all. Except YOU! :p Well, okay, you too. Go over and play, or read, as you will. I hadn't been posting, if more because other things were taking up all of my concentration. I do enjoy posting, though, so will begin doing that again.
to hold, fold, give
gift themselves, not a burden
decade of helpers
given in love or
offered in deceit - no way
to know - only in time
piano, person
to tickle requires a
will and surely - way
Not By Me
named for their deeds
named for their deeds
as death and dismemberment
right and left to noobs
Yeah, it was mostly physical.
.
.
The old body is simply grumpy. I really must have twisted and pulled and pushed yesterday. Plumbing is a younger man's job, or at least a man hardened to it. I guess that just means I have to do more of it or get used to having a grumpy body. As I have waken, and done a few things, I realize that the trouble with sleep last night was because there was no way to get comfortable. I was, and remain, sore, in many places. Yum! It makes me feel better about yesterday. Even if I wasn't successful, I did get a bit of a thrubbing and workout. Oh, yes, Doom works for that. Never command what you yourself won't endure. And, when in command, those under my command will know Doom is in charge. *grin* Oddly, I never have trouble getting men to go the distance. Didn't care if they liked me, but for some reason, they did anyway. Mostly.
It isn't the sore body that is keeping me down. For me, this is exactly when to double down. I simply don't have the energy to focus or work. Yeah, I do try to break through that. Sometimes I can, mostly I can't, and there is always a price. If I double down, or push on to triple or more down, then, at some point, my body quits. I can end up sitting idly for a month and more, like when I went camping. I am hoping that shorter drives when car camping, I won't have as much of a difficulty. And, maybe, can expand from there.
I'm not sure what my limits are. The condition of my heart does put some serious constraints on things. Being out of shape doesn't help, but not be a thing that can be changed. Still strong enough to rip the handle of a new valve, even trying to go easy on it. I break things, I have mentioned that. Further, as I stay on medication, I am not sure if capacity is a moving target or is relatively static. Maybe as heart function improves, perhaps capacity tiers, but at certain levels, plateauing at the 5%, or 10%, improvement marks? I simply don't know. And I don't think they know. No clue. At least, at this time, I can't push past my health. Whether my body and subconscious mind have presets they have learned over time, but outside of my conscious purview, or whether my body is simply more limited than my health, I don't know. I only know that my body begins to tell me I've gone to far, and if I ignore it, it closes up shop and puts me on light duty. If I then try to push it, my mind will go blind blank on me. The old "hereafter" curse?
Oh, the "hereafter" curse? Ah... That is when you walk into a work zone, pick up a tool, go to use it, and realize you don't know what you were "hereafter". :) Can't even remember HOW to use the tool, let alone what I was going to use it on. If you want an example of how serious it is... if you aren't used to doing it, hand upside down for a few minutes. I don't get the dizziness or other odd things, just the confusion. I end up, sitting, looking at the computer, until the world makes sense again. Lord knows you have probably read some of the oddest things I have written in that state.
Still, I will enjoy my day, perhaps get to some research, maybe start up the grill for another meal this evening, and just enjoy what I can. I might be able to get to the dishes, and put those bolts in. Those are light enough, and mostly quick enough, and can be done seated. So my 'other side' might allow those to go forward. Or not. Sometimes it is as if my butt is glued to the seat. I worked the quads, gluts, and triceps, which are all a bit tender, along with a slightly sore lower back. Delicious!
On to... whatever. Later.
.
The old body is simply grumpy. I really must have twisted and pulled and pushed yesterday. Plumbing is a younger man's job, or at least a man hardened to it. I guess that just means I have to do more of it or get used to having a grumpy body. As I have waken, and done a few things, I realize that the trouble with sleep last night was because there was no way to get comfortable. I was, and remain, sore, in many places. Yum! It makes me feel better about yesterday. Even if I wasn't successful, I did get a bit of a thrubbing and workout. Oh, yes, Doom works for that. Never command what you yourself won't endure. And, when in command, those under my command will know Doom is in charge. *grin* Oddly, I never have trouble getting men to go the distance. Didn't care if they liked me, but for some reason, they did anyway. Mostly.
It isn't the sore body that is keeping me down. For me, this is exactly when to double down. I simply don't have the energy to focus or work. Yeah, I do try to break through that. Sometimes I can, mostly I can't, and there is always a price. If I double down, or push on to triple or more down, then, at some point, my body quits. I can end up sitting idly for a month and more, like when I went camping. I am hoping that shorter drives when car camping, I won't have as much of a difficulty. And, maybe, can expand from there.
I'm not sure what my limits are. The condition of my heart does put some serious constraints on things. Being out of shape doesn't help, but not be a thing that can be changed. Still strong enough to rip the handle of a new valve, even trying to go easy on it. I break things, I have mentioned that. Further, as I stay on medication, I am not sure if capacity is a moving target or is relatively static. Maybe as heart function improves, perhaps capacity tiers, but at certain levels, plateauing at the 5%, or 10%, improvement marks? I simply don't know. And I don't think they know. No clue. At least, at this time, I can't push past my health. Whether my body and subconscious mind have presets they have learned over time, but outside of my conscious purview, or whether my body is simply more limited than my health, I don't know. I only know that my body begins to tell me I've gone to far, and if I ignore it, it closes up shop and puts me on light duty. If I then try to push it, my mind will go blind blank on me. The old "hereafter" curse?
Oh, the "hereafter" curse? Ah... That is when you walk into a work zone, pick up a tool, go to use it, and realize you don't know what you were "hereafter". :) Can't even remember HOW to use the tool, let alone what I was going to use it on. If you want an example of how serious it is... if you aren't used to doing it, hand upside down for a few minutes. I don't get the dizziness or other odd things, just the confusion. I end up, sitting, looking at the computer, until the world makes sense again. Lord knows you have probably read some of the oddest things I have written in that state.
Still, I will enjoy my day, perhaps get to some research, maybe start up the grill for another meal this evening, and just enjoy what I can. I might be able to get to the dishes, and put those bolts in. Those are light enough, and mostly quick enough, and can be done seated. So my 'other side' might allow those to go forward. Or not. Sometimes it is as if my butt is glued to the seat. I worked the quads, gluts, and triceps, which are all a bit tender, along with a slightly sore lower back. Delicious!
On to... whatever. Later.
I only got partial plates.
.
.
Last night and upon waking are tough. Dreams, all night long. The ghosts of women past haunted my steps. I'm almost thinking it was all of them. Some chose another way, others chose not my way, and some I chose against, and some... a few... no one had a choice. Many opportunities, if I still suggest none of them were right. None where choice remained anyway. That doesn't mean that they won't kick me in the head. And they did. Well, okay, the dreams weren't so much about them badgering me as reminding me that I do miss feminine company. Sort of, mostly. Even the most submissive woman is rather demanding, comes with her own set of rules and demands and care and feeding instructions, at least some of which need to be abided, mostly, truth be told.
A few, who found out that my heart was bad, in real life, as the reason for my... laziness... had a very guilty reaction. Some just didn't care. And I don't think, until you are dead, that they truly would change. And even then they will be angry at you, on top of deserting them you aren't doing anything. :) I swear it is true. Two of my mothers are widows, I get the scoop. Even when I put out moderate work and decent money, it was never enough. I learned quickly to hit the "ignore" button and do at my pace, and figured out how. Oh, no problems, I know it is in their nature. I also learned how to use that push to my advantage, when I could. Think of it as an always running motor. Just because it is always running, doesn't mean you always have to engage the transmission. Some men never understand, and become hen-pecked. Yes, I do miss having a woman around. Mostly.
I also slept badly, wrong, off. I couldn't stay asleep, I couldn't get comfortable, like a fish on land all night. I am a bit sore this morning for no other reason than having slept wrong. It is a mild thing, and if history tracks with the level of pain on waking, it will burn off like fog before a few hours have passed. Nothing terrible, just a minor price for a rough sleep. Everyone has these. Most, in their hurry to get on with their day, will be over this sort of thing an half hour into shoving their day into gear. Nothing fancy, this one. The combination of dreams and hard sleep, probably unrelated, is what makes this one a little unusual. Aye, but I won't let this get me down. I did get enough rest in there, and I know what I know about the women and our parting ways, at least the ones where their were choices available, and the pains will be gone shortly.
Hmm... on the home front... The valves need to be taken back and replaced, but probably not today. Not much today. Perhaps some of those little chores, and some cleaning. I don't have much going. A day of rest, most likely. But if I see a path to more, you know damn well I will take it. I hate sitting. And though I do end up stopping some days, sometimes at a full halt even, I have also been working rather well, all else considered. Usually a little every day, sometimes more, sometimes much more. I am no longer in full down exhaustion. I just, now, have too many things to do and only so much functional time in which to do it. A bit overwhelmed, and with problems that don't seem to have solutions no matter how deeply I dig. That faucet, and those valves, are proving to be horrors. There is no seeming logical reason why they shouldn't be working. None. No blockages, no failure to open and close, no grit in there, nothing. Frustrating. Should have been a few days of work, and only failed when I installed the r.o. Doesn't make sense. Every job I tend seems to end up like this lately.
Oh well. I'll keep going until I find the solution, I suppose. More research today, it is something I can do. If I find a possible solution, that might... get me going on it. Actually, I might wait until I have several possible solutions, or one that seems highly probable. Dunno. Might not be able to get to it anyway. If not, I will store it, or them, away, like a squirrel stores it's food. At least memory works these days, too, and fairly well. Midterm memory still needs... a spark. Long term memory, of some times, is more like a Salvador Dalí painting in which I have to try to interpret. But I do have my childhood as good or better than others, and much of my later adult life is in pretty good tact. When my heart was going bad, memory got just as shredded as the heart. Short term memory, I think, is what went wrong, which then affected all other forms of memory. Toss in the pains of dying, and confusion that causes, and it became a real mess. Short term, I can honestly say, is back to almost normal, maybe better. Haiku, soduku, medicine, regular feedings, and my effort to push through with enough things in play to do so. All of it had to be in play, I think.
Oh, okay. Maybe those pains aren't just from sleeping wrong. I was tinkering under that sink for a long time yesterday. Down, in, under, around. Just those ugly angles, and upside down on the back, and this and that. But, still, minor. I just let Sam out, and, yeah, some of it is skelo-musculur. As I said, minor, and a combination with the sleep issues. And that is the type of pain I work to earn. Maybe not every single day, but it's a good thing, to my mind, to have some of that every week, perhaps every other day, more like four or five days a week if I have the energy to earn it. It means I am doing something new, or a bit more. And I like doing something new and/or more.
Well... on to waking. Good day.
.
Last night and upon waking are tough. Dreams, all night long. The ghosts of women past haunted my steps. I'm almost thinking it was all of them. Some chose another way, others chose not my way, and some I chose against, and some... a few... no one had a choice. Many opportunities, if I still suggest none of them were right. None where choice remained anyway. That doesn't mean that they won't kick me in the head. And they did. Well, okay, the dreams weren't so much about them badgering me as reminding me that I do miss feminine company. Sort of, mostly. Even the most submissive woman is rather demanding, comes with her own set of rules and demands and care and feeding instructions, at least some of which need to be abided, mostly, truth be told.
A few, who found out that my heart was bad, in real life, as the reason for my... laziness... had a very guilty reaction. Some just didn't care. And I don't think, until you are dead, that they truly would change. And even then they will be angry at you, on top of deserting them you aren't doing anything. :) I swear it is true. Two of my mothers are widows, I get the scoop. Even when I put out moderate work and decent money, it was never enough. I learned quickly to hit the "ignore" button and do at my pace, and figured out how. Oh, no problems, I know it is in their nature. I also learned how to use that push to my advantage, when I could. Think of it as an always running motor. Just because it is always running, doesn't mean you always have to engage the transmission. Some men never understand, and become hen-pecked. Yes, I do miss having a woman around. Mostly.
I also slept badly, wrong, off. I couldn't stay asleep, I couldn't get comfortable, like a fish on land all night. I am a bit sore this morning for no other reason than having slept wrong. It is a mild thing, and if history tracks with the level of pain on waking, it will burn off like fog before a few hours have passed. Nothing terrible, just a minor price for a rough sleep. Everyone has these. Most, in their hurry to get on with their day, will be over this sort of thing an half hour into shoving their day into gear. Nothing fancy, this one. The combination of dreams and hard sleep, probably unrelated, is what makes this one a little unusual. Aye, but I won't let this get me down. I did get enough rest in there, and I know what I know about the women and our parting ways, at least the ones where their were choices available, and the pains will be gone shortly.
Hmm... on the home front... The valves need to be taken back and replaced, but probably not today. Not much today. Perhaps some of those little chores, and some cleaning. I don't have much going. A day of rest, most likely. But if I see a path to more, you know damn well I will take it. I hate sitting. And though I do end up stopping some days, sometimes at a full halt even, I have also been working rather well, all else considered. Usually a little every day, sometimes more, sometimes much more. I am no longer in full down exhaustion. I just, now, have too many things to do and only so much functional time in which to do it. A bit overwhelmed, and with problems that don't seem to have solutions no matter how deeply I dig. That faucet, and those valves, are proving to be horrors. There is no seeming logical reason why they shouldn't be working. None. No blockages, no failure to open and close, no grit in there, nothing. Frustrating. Should have been a few days of work, and only failed when I installed the r.o. Doesn't make sense. Every job I tend seems to end up like this lately.
Oh well. I'll keep going until I find the solution, I suppose. More research today, it is something I can do. If I find a possible solution, that might... get me going on it. Actually, I might wait until I have several possible solutions, or one that seems highly probable. Dunno. Might not be able to get to it anyway. If not, I will store it, or them, away, like a squirrel stores it's food. At least memory works these days, too, and fairly well. Midterm memory still needs... a spark. Long term memory, of some times, is more like a Salvador Dalí painting in which I have to try to interpret. But I do have my childhood as good or better than others, and much of my later adult life is in pretty good tact. When my heart was going bad, memory got just as shredded as the heart. Short term memory, I think, is what went wrong, which then affected all other forms of memory. Toss in the pains of dying, and confusion that causes, and it became a real mess. Short term, I can honestly say, is back to almost normal, maybe better. Haiku, soduku, medicine, regular feedings, and my effort to push through with enough things in play to do so. All of it had to be in play, I think.
Oh, okay. Maybe those pains aren't just from sleeping wrong. I was tinkering under that sink for a long time yesterday. Down, in, under, around. Just those ugly angles, and upside down on the back, and this and that. But, still, minor. I just let Sam out, and, yeah, some of it is skelo-musculur. As I said, minor, and a combination with the sleep issues. And that is the type of pain I work to earn. Maybe not every single day, but it's a good thing, to my mind, to have some of that every week, perhaps every other day, more like four or five days a week if I have the energy to earn it. It means I am doing something new, or a bit more. And I like doing something new and/or more.
Well... on to waking. Good day.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Those grills sure get hot.
.
.
I set the grill up and got it going. I was sort of doing two or three things at once, time being what it is, and focus being what it is. I washed the potatoes, after lighting up, and fussed with the steak... salting an hour before cooking really does work. Then I went back to the grill. It has a base cast iron grill and a stainless steel top swivel grate. Well, for some reason, I wanted to take the stainless grill out. Being that it had just been a second ago that I lit it up, I figured it was probably not hot yet. Urhm, nope! Beside it probably having been ten minutes or more since the fire was lit, and the coals were doing quite nicely if I had thought to look, the fire from my starter had been right under, and up to, that higher tiered stainless grate. Yeah, well, I didn't just throw it, and it didn't quite stick to my fingers or sear, and I didn't just drop it. I did lower it Very Quickly and let go before it had quite settled. YoUcH! Well, doesn't look like I burned anything. No marks, blisters, or such. Yeah... Doesn't hurt anymore either.
I love me some dumb moves, and have all the native instincts for them. Luckily I can generally take anything I can dish out. Whatever. Steak, potatoes, and maybe a piece of chicken as well, somewhere between an half hour and hour from now. All good. Oh, and I did get a call to my mother tonight. Just right at the time I have been aiming, and missing, and it fit in just right with her schedule. A bit jealous, she was just out picking rhubarb and asparagus. She had a large load of each. Asparagus is fantastic to grill, by the way. A little olive oil or butter pasted on, a bit of kosher or sea salt, and a piece of meat of almost any kind. I didn't look through the garden section well enough last time. When I get tomato plants I'll look for that, and horse radish... My mother suggests horse radish will be a one-time thing. It is hard to work with, in every way. She won't touch the stuff, or work it, for love nor money. Buy a good brand, she suggests. So automatic. She just can't get past the notion that... there may be no "brand" at some point. And, where she is in life? I won't push the notion, not with her.
Now to check the potatoes, and, depending on that, perhaps put the steak and chicken to grill. Yum. Later.
.
I set the grill up and got it going. I was sort of doing two or three things at once, time being what it is, and focus being what it is. I washed the potatoes, after lighting up, and fussed with the steak... salting an hour before cooking really does work. Then I went back to the grill. It has a base cast iron grill and a stainless steel top swivel grate. Well, for some reason, I wanted to take the stainless grill out. Being that it had just been a second ago that I lit it up, I figured it was probably not hot yet. Urhm, nope! Beside it probably having been ten minutes or more since the fire was lit, and the coals were doing quite nicely if I had thought to look, the fire from my starter had been right under, and up to, that higher tiered stainless grate. Yeah, well, I didn't just throw it, and it didn't quite stick to my fingers or sear, and I didn't just drop it. I did lower it Very Quickly and let go before it had quite settled. YoUcH! Well, doesn't look like I burned anything. No marks, blisters, or such. Yeah... Doesn't hurt anymore either.
I love me some dumb moves, and have all the native instincts for them. Luckily I can generally take anything I can dish out. Whatever. Steak, potatoes, and maybe a piece of chicken as well, somewhere between an half hour and hour from now. All good. Oh, and I did get a call to my mother tonight. Just right at the time I have been aiming, and missing, and it fit in just right with her schedule. A bit jealous, she was just out picking rhubarb and asparagus. She had a large load of each. Asparagus is fantastic to grill, by the way. A little olive oil or butter pasted on, a bit of kosher or sea salt, and a piece of meat of almost any kind. I didn't look through the garden section well enough last time. When I get tomato plants I'll look for that, and horse radish... My mother suggests horse radish will be a one-time thing. It is hard to work with, in every way. She won't touch the stuff, or work it, for love nor money. Buy a good brand, she suggests. So automatic. She just can't get past the notion that... there may be no "brand" at some point. And, where she is in life? I won't push the notion, not with her.
Now to check the potatoes, and, depending on that, perhaps put the steak and chicken to grill. Yum. Later.
Well, there is that!
.
.
No, still haven't found the problem with the ceramic disc. While turn the water on and off, however, the stem to the cold water valve broke off. Great. So they craft a valve that functions well and then put a stem on the handle that breaks after a mere half dozen turns? Seriously. It's going back, as with all of those valves. I don't have time to babysit things that should just work. I'll put in solid brass ball valves. I know those work. Extra fittings be damned, I need valves that don't fail or fall apart! I told you I broke things, but this is ridiculous. The way it broke, I am not sure if the valve is closed or open. Assume open.
Before that, however, I did find a video about how to take these discs apart. It wasn't exactly like mine, but the idea was there. So I did just that. I took the original one apart. Some of the plumber's pipe seal muck was in there, just a tiny bit and back on a few plastic pieces, like comb teeth, which have nothing to do with flow, probably used to aerate the water on the way through if I had to guess, or even catch debris, and I cleaned that out. And there was some black stuff in there, if that looked like it had been put on by the manufacturer. Just trust me, too patterened to be random or such. Still, I cleaned off the ceramic discs and added a fresh coat of vaseline. Everything seemed okay though. There didn't seem to be a problem with the plates seating, the twisting, or any other movement... or anything else. I reinstalled it, got one last turn on the cold water valve, and... nothing from the faucet. The cold water valve broke after that so my day with tinkering is pretty much done. Tomorrow I'll shut off the house water, take that valve, and the other, plus the unused ones, and return them, pick up inline brass valves and fittings, and... tomorrow, or the next day I can work, will be about replacing the valves, again, again.
Hmm... I think I do have one brass inline valve and fittings. I should just check to see if those go together as intended. This set is a little different. The first one I did actually install has a line out to the r.o., which is different than what will go to the water lines, the ones into the faucet. Perhaps a 1/4" coupling for the r.o. and a 3/8" for actual water lines? Something like that, if the numbers are a bit off. Yeah, I'll make sure they fit, then actually take those in, if so, to make sure I get the right pieces.
While I am still a bit peeved, I might find the bolts and such, and while taking the cotter pins to their new home, fit the vice and grinder to the bench. I might put my various adjustable stools out there, so I have a place to sit if I need to do a bit of work at the bench any time soon. Better to have that ready than to have to look for seating before even starting work. And, I suppose, I could reheat the dishes while I am doing all that and letting the grill get hot. First, though, a bit more coffee and a little time to let the stew juices drain. *stewing*
Hmm... but meat is thawed. I'll cook up what I have out for chicken, and a steak while I am at it. I'm going to need some food to get through my woes(tm)! Heh. I am digging in. Might lose, we'll see. You can't say I am not giving it a go. Later.
.
No, still haven't found the problem with the ceramic disc. While turn the water on and off, however, the stem to the cold water valve broke off. Great. So they craft a valve that functions well and then put a stem on the handle that breaks after a mere half dozen turns? Seriously. It's going back, as with all of those valves. I don't have time to babysit things that should just work. I'll put in solid brass ball valves. I know those work. Extra fittings be damned, I need valves that don't fail or fall apart! I told you I broke things, but this is ridiculous. The way it broke, I am not sure if the valve is closed or open. Assume open.
Before that, however, I did find a video about how to take these discs apart. It wasn't exactly like mine, but the idea was there. So I did just that. I took the original one apart. Some of the plumber's pipe seal muck was in there, just a tiny bit and back on a few plastic pieces, like comb teeth, which have nothing to do with flow, probably used to aerate the water on the way through if I had to guess, or even catch debris, and I cleaned that out. And there was some black stuff in there, if that looked like it had been put on by the manufacturer. Just trust me, too patterened to be random or such. Still, I cleaned off the ceramic discs and added a fresh coat of vaseline. Everything seemed okay though. There didn't seem to be a problem with the plates seating, the twisting, or any other movement... or anything else. I reinstalled it, got one last turn on the cold water valve, and... nothing from the faucet. The cold water valve broke after that so my day with tinkering is pretty much done. Tomorrow I'll shut off the house water, take that valve, and the other, plus the unused ones, and return them, pick up inline brass valves and fittings, and... tomorrow, or the next day I can work, will be about replacing the valves, again, again.
Hmm... I think I do have one brass inline valve and fittings. I should just check to see if those go together as intended. This set is a little different. The first one I did actually install has a line out to the r.o., which is different than what will go to the water lines, the ones into the faucet. Perhaps a 1/4" coupling for the r.o. and a 3/8" for actual water lines? Something like that, if the numbers are a bit off. Yeah, I'll make sure they fit, then actually take those in, if so, to make sure I get the right pieces.
While I am still a bit peeved, I might find the bolts and such, and while taking the cotter pins to their new home, fit the vice and grinder to the bench. I might put my various adjustable stools out there, so I have a place to sit if I need to do a bit of work at the bench any time soon. Better to have that ready than to have to look for seating before even starting work. And, I suppose, I could reheat the dishes while I am doing all that and letting the grill get hot. First, though, a bit more coffee and a little time to let the stew juices drain. *stewing*
Hmm... but meat is thawed. I'll cook up what I have out for chicken, and a steak while I am at it. I'm going to need some food to get through my woes(tm)! Heh. I am digging in. Might lose, we'll see. You can't say I am not giving it a go. Later.
Ongoing...
.
.
I did get it all hooked back up, and got a pot in which to catch any water flow. I started with the original ceramic... valve, really. Turned on the water, no leaks, so I tried the valve. Nothing. I tried the sprayer, it is supposed to work regardless if the tap is turned on. No go there, either. So, I shut it all down, drained the water in the faucet into the pot, and installed the new ceramic valve, set it all back up, twisted the lever and... nothing. Again, nothing through the sprayer, either. Again, I turned everything off and drained the system. This time I wanted to see, without the ceramic valve, if water came through just the metalworks of the faucet. It does. And, yes, I used the pot to catch all... uhrm... most of it. You can't ever catch all of it. Water is what it is.
*deep breath*
I am not exactly sure what to do at this point. Ah, first thing, take a break.
There is only one way the ceramic valve goes into the system. There are two knobs on the device, and two divots in the faucet body into which they fit. I have tightened the brass keeper, the one I thought I needed a special tool to remove, as tight as I am willing to tighten it, and jiggled the faucet while doing so to make sure the valve was well seated and not loose in the body so as to prevent a seal. The ceramic valve seats up against the main faucet body, with small o-rings to complete the seal flush with the body and against the holes for the various waterways. I suppose I could daub vaseline on those, to try to ensure the seal. Not a bad plan anyway, for the life of the o-rings... Not sure that will help though. Who knows.
What bugs me is that the faucet worked, if rather weakly, until I put in the r.o. system. While the old water valves weren't good, they did limit some water flow... Though, that may just have increased pressure? Yeah, but for how far up the long flexhoses? At some point pressure without volume... never mind, just... I guess you would have to do the math, then check that. Could high pressure have reached the valve? Possible. But it wouldn't affect the brass. At most it might lodge something into the ceramic valve. But the way the valve is, as it seems to me, something lodged in it is the only way to really hurt it, which would stop it from twisting. And that isn't the case. Bleh... I wonder... if I ran a wire, a strong enough wire, with something covering the point... a bit of duct tape perhaps, through the waterways in the ceramic valve... Hmm, but why would the replacement valve also be failing? No... I would only get a bit of duct tape stuck in the valve. Gah! I'll... take a break, maybe do a bit of research, and try to figure it all out before too much time elapses. On the job training sort of stinks when you are the trainer, the learner, and the worker, and sort of on a schedule, innit?
Oh, okay. The proper terms for the ceramic valve is ceramic disc. I'm off to find troubleshooting that type of system, now that I have the correct terms. Uhrm, after a cup of coffee. S... l... o... w... But getting there.
Later.
.
I did get it all hooked back up, and got a pot in which to catch any water flow. I started with the original ceramic... valve, really. Turned on the water, no leaks, so I tried the valve. Nothing. I tried the sprayer, it is supposed to work regardless if the tap is turned on. No go there, either. So, I shut it all down, drained the water in the faucet into the pot, and installed the new ceramic valve, set it all back up, twisted the lever and... nothing. Again, nothing through the sprayer, either. Again, I turned everything off and drained the system. This time I wanted to see, without the ceramic valve, if water came through just the metalworks of the faucet. It does. And, yes, I used the pot to catch all... uhrm... most of it. You can't ever catch all of it. Water is what it is.
*deep breath*
I am not exactly sure what to do at this point. Ah, first thing, take a break.
There is only one way the ceramic valve goes into the system. There are two knobs on the device, and two divots in the faucet body into which they fit. I have tightened the brass keeper, the one I thought I needed a special tool to remove, as tight as I am willing to tighten it, and jiggled the faucet while doing so to make sure the valve was well seated and not loose in the body so as to prevent a seal. The ceramic valve seats up against the main faucet body, with small o-rings to complete the seal flush with the body and against the holes for the various waterways. I suppose I could daub vaseline on those, to try to ensure the seal. Not a bad plan anyway, for the life of the o-rings... Not sure that will help though. Who knows.
What bugs me is that the faucet worked, if rather weakly, until I put in the r.o. system. While the old water valves weren't good, they did limit some water flow... Though, that may just have increased pressure? Yeah, but for how far up the long flexhoses? At some point pressure without volume... never mind, just... I guess you would have to do the math, then check that. Could high pressure have reached the valve? Possible. But it wouldn't affect the brass. At most it might lodge something into the ceramic valve. But the way the valve is, as it seems to me, something lodged in it is the only way to really hurt it, which would stop it from twisting. And that isn't the case. Bleh... I wonder... if I ran a wire, a strong enough wire, with something covering the point... a bit of duct tape perhaps, through the waterways in the ceramic valve... Hmm, but why would the replacement valve also be failing? No... I would only get a bit of duct tape stuck in the valve. Gah! I'll... take a break, maybe do a bit of research, and try to figure it all out before too much time elapses. On the job training sort of stinks when you are the trainer, the learner, and the worker, and sort of on a schedule, innit?
Oh, okay. The proper terms for the ceramic valve is ceramic disc. I'm off to find troubleshooting that type of system, now that I have the correct terms. Uhrm, after a cup of coffee. S... l... o... w... But getting there.
Later.
Fighting for sleep.
.
.
Getting to bed was a bear, then staying asleep became a trick all on it's own. Then, of course, waking up became nearly a fool's errand. *grin* Yeah, it gives me something to go for. And I did all three. A slight headache but that's fine. I'm almost out of other pain. Never mind. Just know that I'm, mostly, chuckling about it all. When I did sleep, I slept well. Won't knock it altogether.
As to what I will be doing today? I've got my list. But first I have to wake. Not sure what I will actually get done, if anything, but the intent is there. I have my orders splayed in front of me. All my tools are at the ready. Hmm, I will be firing the grill before too long as well. I'll be experimenting with grilling potatoes today, while I am at it. Keeps the heat of cooking outdoors as well. It's cool in here, for now, but that won't last so I want to enjoy the cool as long as it does last. Sure hoping for a cooler summer this year. Last year was all hot, and dry, all summer. No reprieves worth mentioning. Oh, I think it got down to 85 a day or two if it then made up for it with even more days above what was already above average as an average.
I dreamed of having a shop and all the tools and equipment I could even imagine, plus all the supplies, motors, valves, and such that I could want. I tinkered up a storm, a one man Santa's shop. Building off-roaders, a couple of various trailers including one that I could switch out the platform as a flatbed, box, or camper trailer. Welding, bolting, mechanical, motor, electrical... wood, metal, engineered, solid. In at 6:00 out at 20:00, only a few lost tools, bits, and foul words per week. Welding hots can loose the tongue faster than almost anything else. Especially when you thought you were well covered. *@%#$#* (In layman's terms)
I'm hoping to get that faucet tested then back in, then on to the bathroom. After those, I have to straighten the cave! I'm an ogre, but even I have standards. And I am well outside those lines. Toss, and break down, and sort, and arrange. I will probably need a week just to get some order back to my dwelling. But, when I am through with valves and plumbing, and on to cleaning, I will be able to relax and get into town. I told my friend I would get him down to Ogden, I believe, for a birthday dinner. Late is that hour. But crippled is crippled, and focused on a job through it is just what it is.
The next bigger tool on my list is a good wet/dry shop vac. Not sure if they are all junk, or if they make decent ones yet. Sometimes, because QC is nearly gone, it behooves one to go bottom dollar cheap and just replace them when they die. Spending more doesn't always mean better, and middling is just more money for the same as cheap. I'll... ask around, look at reviews, and such. Beside keeping the shop clean, and other household and automobile uses, I can hook it up to my sander, router, and bench grinder, and there are some other tools it will eventually work with, such as a table saw and miter saw. Yeah, ambitious. But... you should see what I have and where I started. I've come a third of the way, and starting from, essentially, nothing.
You can have what you wish. You just can't have it all today. Nor, perhaps, would you want it. Overload, in many ways. Get a tool, as you need it. Learn it. Then, as your collection expands your capacity, fill that capacity with the next line of tools, learn those and fill those needs, on to the next set, and so on. The first, simpler, tools were had in about two years. It's not a perfect set, but it is a start. I've pushed, slowly, into the next set of tools, filling out the first set more fully as well, and doubling down on some pieces. The next set will be very slow, due to expense, electrical demand and the need to fix that, and size. As I mentioned, a welder, table saw, maybe a router table that just uses my hand router, miter saw of some sort, and maybe even a planer. Who knows. But that is where I am going. And... getting there, a tool, a bit of work, and this and that, at a time. Ugh. I don't have a tool I haven't used at least a half dozen times, and don't have projects in mind to use for in the future. Who knows, I might even learn to measure twice, cut once and integrate lefty loosey, righty tighty. No promises, but those are on the list. :)
Well, I ought to get back to waking and then figure out if today is a do day or a mostly sit day. I was thinking though... You know... I might be a bit grumpy about off days. Well, no "might be" about it. But... I am sleeping and waking on a pretty regular basis. I am keeping days and nights fairly straight, if that will probably always go out of alignment once in a while, it looks like I sleep on a pretty regular basis. It is my awake time that, more than not, shifts. Not sure I can do much about that, quite yet. Yes, life has improved. I even remember into the bad times, and can carry ideas forward from in there. Life is much better. I'm almost becoming human, adult, whatever. May never quite reach full health, but every step closer is... just that.
Good day.
.
Getting to bed was a bear, then staying asleep became a trick all on it's own. Then, of course, waking up became nearly a fool's errand. *grin* Yeah, it gives me something to go for. And I did all three. A slight headache but that's fine. I'm almost out of other pain. Never mind. Just know that I'm, mostly, chuckling about it all. When I did sleep, I slept well. Won't knock it altogether.
As to what I will be doing today? I've got my list. But first I have to wake. Not sure what I will actually get done, if anything, but the intent is there. I have my orders splayed in front of me. All my tools are at the ready. Hmm, I will be firing the grill before too long as well. I'll be experimenting with grilling potatoes today, while I am at it. Keeps the heat of cooking outdoors as well. It's cool in here, for now, but that won't last so I want to enjoy the cool as long as it does last. Sure hoping for a cooler summer this year. Last year was all hot, and dry, all summer. No reprieves worth mentioning. Oh, I think it got down to 85 a day or two if it then made up for it with even more days above what was already above average as an average.
I dreamed of having a shop and all the tools and equipment I could even imagine, plus all the supplies, motors, valves, and such that I could want. I tinkered up a storm, a one man Santa's shop. Building off-roaders, a couple of various trailers including one that I could switch out the platform as a flatbed, box, or camper trailer. Welding, bolting, mechanical, motor, electrical... wood, metal, engineered, solid. In at 6:00 out at 20:00, only a few lost tools, bits, and foul words per week. Welding hots can loose the tongue faster than almost anything else. Especially when you thought you were well covered. *@%#$#* (In layman's terms)
I'm hoping to get that faucet tested then back in, then on to the bathroom. After those, I have to straighten the cave! I'm an ogre, but even I have standards. And I am well outside those lines. Toss, and break down, and sort, and arrange. I will probably need a week just to get some order back to my dwelling. But, when I am through with valves and plumbing, and on to cleaning, I will be able to relax and get into town. I told my friend I would get him down to Ogden, I believe, for a birthday dinner. Late is that hour. But crippled is crippled, and focused on a job through it is just what it is.
The next bigger tool on my list is a good wet/dry shop vac. Not sure if they are all junk, or if they make decent ones yet. Sometimes, because QC is nearly gone, it behooves one to go bottom dollar cheap and just replace them when they die. Spending more doesn't always mean better, and middling is just more money for the same as cheap. I'll... ask around, look at reviews, and such. Beside keeping the shop clean, and other household and automobile uses, I can hook it up to my sander, router, and bench grinder, and there are some other tools it will eventually work with, such as a table saw and miter saw. Yeah, ambitious. But... you should see what I have and where I started. I've come a third of the way, and starting from, essentially, nothing.
You can have what you wish. You just can't have it all today. Nor, perhaps, would you want it. Overload, in many ways. Get a tool, as you need it. Learn it. Then, as your collection expands your capacity, fill that capacity with the next line of tools, learn those and fill those needs, on to the next set, and so on. The first, simpler, tools were had in about two years. It's not a perfect set, but it is a start. I've pushed, slowly, into the next set of tools, filling out the first set more fully as well, and doubling down on some pieces. The next set will be very slow, due to expense, electrical demand and the need to fix that, and size. As I mentioned, a welder, table saw, maybe a router table that just uses my hand router, miter saw of some sort, and maybe even a planer. Who knows. But that is where I am going. And... getting there, a tool, a bit of work, and this and that, at a time. Ugh. I don't have a tool I haven't used at least a half dozen times, and don't have projects in mind to use for in the future. Who knows, I might even learn to measure twice, cut once and integrate lefty loosey, righty tighty. No promises, but those are on the list. :)
Well, I ought to get back to waking and then figure out if today is a do day or a mostly sit day. I was thinking though... You know... I might be a bit grumpy about off days. Well, no "might be" about it. But... I am sleeping and waking on a pretty regular basis. I am keeping days and nights fairly straight, if that will probably always go out of alignment once in a while, it looks like I sleep on a pretty regular basis. It is my awake time that, more than not, shifts. Not sure I can do much about that, quite yet. Yes, life has improved. I even remember into the bad times, and can carry ideas forward from in there. Life is much better. I'm almost becoming human, adult, whatever. May never quite reach full health, but every step closer is... just that.
Good day.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Sleep calls.
.
.
While I got to not one other thing, given that today was what it was, I am happy enough. I am ready for bed as well. I put Sassy out because she was getting sick, and... yeah... she spooked. I have to remember, when I set her out, I need to stay out with her. Silly girl. Now I get to worry about her for the next three days to week until she decides to come home. She doesn't lose any weight when she disappears, so there is that. She is wickedly afraid of everything and anything, and will run away from all but mice, and will scratch that absolute living snuff out of anything that presses her. She's a wild one. And while she is the tamest, most gentle, of my girls, even I am careful not to sneak up on her or otherwise frighten her. *K-Scratch!* Still, I worry.
Tomorrow? I simply don't know. The hope is that I will be back in the game. If so, I will work on that faucet, get it connected "in the wild" (before hooking it up), and test some things. If I can get it to run right, I will then hook it in. If I don't need the spare ceramic cartridge, I have decided to keep it anyway, and just set it aside for now. If I do end up needing it, I will get an extra the next time I am in the store. Further, I am hoping to start on laundry and kick the dishes out. Add in bolting the tools to the bench, and finding a place for the cotter pins and screwdriver set. I think I have enough pegboard holders, but maybe not. I'll have to figure some other things out while tinkering out there.
Medicine, brushing, a quick check at the door. Hmm... might sit out there for a spell. She tends to return at night, maybe me being out there will bring her in tonight. Good night.
---------
The twerp returned home, on her own, without any effort on my part. I thought I heard something at the door. Sure enough. She isn't very good at letting me know she wants in yet, but if focused, I can hear her brushing against the door. Even if Sam tears up my screen door, over time, I'd still teach Sassy to do the same, if I could. And I don't begrudge Sam's actions, mostly. Hmm... I wonder if they would use a doorbell if I placed one lower? Hey, crazier things have been known to have happened.
.
While I got to not one other thing, given that today was what it was, I am happy enough. I am ready for bed as well. I put Sassy out because she was getting sick, and... yeah... she spooked. I have to remember, when I set her out, I need to stay out with her. Silly girl. Now I get to worry about her for the next three days to week until she decides to come home. She doesn't lose any weight when she disappears, so there is that. She is wickedly afraid of everything and anything, and will run away from all but mice, and will scratch that absolute living snuff out of anything that presses her. She's a wild one. And while she is the tamest, most gentle, of my girls, even I am careful not to sneak up on her or otherwise frighten her. *K-Scratch!* Still, I worry.
Tomorrow? I simply don't know. The hope is that I will be back in the game. If so, I will work on that faucet, get it connected "in the wild" (before hooking it up), and test some things. If I can get it to run right, I will then hook it in. If I don't need the spare ceramic cartridge, I have decided to keep it anyway, and just set it aside for now. If I do end up needing it, I will get an extra the next time I am in the store. Further, I am hoping to start on laundry and kick the dishes out. Add in bolting the tools to the bench, and finding a place for the cotter pins and screwdriver set. I think I have enough pegboard holders, but maybe not. I'll have to figure some other things out while tinkering out there.
Medicine, brushing, a quick check at the door. Hmm... might sit out there for a spell. She tends to return at night, maybe me being out there will bring her in tonight. Good night.
---------
The twerp returned home, on her own, without any effort on my part. I thought I heard something at the door. Sure enough. She isn't very good at letting me know she wants in yet, but if focused, I can hear her brushing against the door. Even if Sam tears up my screen door, over time, I'd still teach Sassy to do the same, if I could. And I don't begrudge Sam's actions, mostly. Hmm... I wonder if they would use a doorbell if I placed one lower? Hey, crazier things have been known to have happened.
Let me... count the ways.
.
.
I did make a pot of coffee. I brought the package in, met the delivery man at the door so he didn't have to stoop to leave. It's sort of a favor, minor perhaps, and coincidental. I checked what came. Teeth were brushed, girls were fed, and medicine sets were refilled to what I have in stock and reordered. I did reset the dishes to, another, fresh rinse soak, again, again. Hmm... I thought I saw a sale on magazines, but not so much so I skipped it. I hate it when companies say they are having a 25% off sale only to find no sale at all. I have a long and short list of things to buy. If, on the long list, a significant sale is to be had, I'll short that item or items. Oh, and I set meats out to thaw. I really should have done that yesterday. Oh well. Which means I might have to take a quick trip to the closer of towns and grab a meal. Normally I can go without food for a while, not sure about today. Then again, not being able to get in gear, I may be stuck without... wait... I might have something. Look. MREs aren't top cuisine, but they do put something into the stomach. I might also have something I like even better, freeze dried stroganoff. I know I have fresh sour cream, to add real richness to it.
Not much. More than I thought would happen. And, I may still get the laundry back and those dishes dried and put up. It could happen. I am not pushing, can't. But, when a little window pops open, I take the opportunity. I'm learning how to do that, if some days there simply are no opportunities. Hmm... might even get the cotter pins out to the garage and bolt the grinder and vice down. Who knows on such a wildly... slow but odd day. I like being a cat, when I have to be. *meow*
I would have liked to have called my mother. She is working, three days a week, now. It is income that won't mess with her retirement, isn't heavy work, is along the lines of work she likes, and keeps her going. So I can't just call her whenever anymore, and then she sleeps earlier. I have to hit a certain window... and hope she isn't on the phone with someone else! Ah well, there is tomorrow, and the other days I suppose. Crazy bird.
One last note. I am completely healed from pulling my back out. I can't remember how long it has been, but it is now in perfect condition. When I tend the night cramps with the added vitamins, I will have to seek out a new source of pain. Hiking! I'll go on the long walk, up to the yurt. That ought to do it! If not, I'll go shooting a day or two later. If that still doesn't pull a plug, twist a cord, or unhinge a gasket, I'll go for a bike ride to the dam! Oh, yes, boys and girls. No pain... I'm doing something wrong. *chuckles* But it's true!
Later.
.
I did make a pot of coffee. I brought the package in, met the delivery man at the door so he didn't have to stoop to leave. It's sort of a favor, minor perhaps, and coincidental. I checked what came. Teeth were brushed, girls were fed, and medicine sets were refilled to what I have in stock and reordered. I did reset the dishes to, another, fresh rinse soak, again, again. Hmm... I thought I saw a sale on magazines, but not so much so I skipped it. I hate it when companies say they are having a 25% off sale only to find no sale at all. I have a long and short list of things to buy. If, on the long list, a significant sale is to be had, I'll short that item or items. Oh, and I set meats out to thaw. I really should have done that yesterday. Oh well. Which means I might have to take a quick trip to the closer of towns and grab a meal. Normally I can go without food for a while, not sure about today. Then again, not being able to get in gear, I may be stuck without... wait... I might have something. Look. MREs aren't top cuisine, but they do put something into the stomach. I might also have something I like even better, freeze dried stroganoff. I know I have fresh sour cream, to add real richness to it.
Not much. More than I thought would happen. And, I may still get the laundry back and those dishes dried and put up. It could happen. I am not pushing, can't. But, when a little window pops open, I take the opportunity. I'm learning how to do that, if some days there simply are no opportunities. Hmm... might even get the cotter pins out to the garage and bolt the grinder and vice down. Who knows on such a wildly... slow but odd day. I like being a cat, when I have to be. *meow*
I would have liked to have called my mother. She is working, three days a week, now. It is income that won't mess with her retirement, isn't heavy work, is along the lines of work she likes, and keeps her going. So I can't just call her whenever anymore, and then she sleeps earlier. I have to hit a certain window... and hope she isn't on the phone with someone else! Ah well, there is tomorrow, and the other days I suppose. Crazy bird.
One last note. I am completely healed from pulling my back out. I can't remember how long it has been, but it is now in perfect condition. When I tend the night cramps with the added vitamins, I will have to seek out a new source of pain. Hiking! I'll go on the long walk, up to the yurt. That ought to do it! If not, I'll go shooting a day or two later. If that still doesn't pull a plug, twist a cord, or unhinge a gasket, I'll go for a bike ride to the dam! Oh, yes, boys and girls. No pain... I'm doing something wrong. *chuckles* But it's true!
Later.
Perhaps slow, but doing what I can.
.
.
The package arrived shortly after that last post. I have looked over the tools and I am pleased. The torque socket wrench is quite heavy, solid. And, as tools go, actually rather attractive. The bits look every bit as solid and well groomed as I had hoped. The standard bits are hollow ground, and have the right sort of bite for working with exacting screw heads that typically accouter firearms. They seem to use heavy, exacting pieces of firearms, and for several reasons. Further, I should have enough regular cotter pins to last a lifetime, and very possibly enough hairpin cotter pins, if there are fewer of those. When I relocate those to the garage, I will take the bolts out and attache my tools to the bench while I am at it. Not saying that will happen soon, mind you. I love my growing collection of tools, toys, and what they might foretell. *tinkering mind twirling*
Oh, but I did remember to refill my medicine. I just need a cup of coffee to take the medicines with. Yes, yes, I got a pot going not long ago. I'll... get to that... shortly. Even the things I love, on slow days... just... take... time. While trying to fill my medicine sets, I realized they definitely shorted me on the losartan. I only have a week left of that! Shorted me by a month. I did check the bottle, but it indicates there are supposed to be 90 pills in there. I'm thinking 60, give or take. No real problems, I'll just have to watch more closely. I could be mistaken, but my other medicines, ordered at pretty much the same time, still have at least a month of supply, so I don't think so. And, actually, if I forget a medicine, it is losartin, as one of the night meds. I crash too fast, sometimes, at night, to remember to take them. I ordered everything, and syringes. Lots of stuff, needed it all, actually.
I had stopped using the extra supplements... calcium, vitamin B complex, magnesium, and zinc... to see if the simple daily vitamin would actually be enough. It isn't, not quite. Leg cramps at night tell me they are still needed. The cramps haven't been terrible. Perhaps the daily was enough. Then again, my leg cramps started when I started the water pill. They did start out mildly, but progressively intensified until I was having screaming horrors at night, often twice a night, sometimes barely sleeping because the cramps were always right near the surface... as if I fell asleep they would pounce... and often did. No, that, no, not again. So I started back up on those. I just take the extras three times a week, and it seems to manage the cramping wonderfully. Well, you never know. I like to check my flanks from time to time, cut where and when I can, keep going with whatever when still required. The only way, however, to hear... is to listen.
It's still a wonderful slow day. Sam seems to think poppo is the best thing ever today. I've tried to send her off. She simply returns. I've sent her off only to have her bound around to my other side and leap up. You know, that trick actually works? Our brains and reactions aren't quite as universal as they would seem, and I am focused in this way. Blindsiding is more than out of sight, it can just as well be something coming from the 'wrong side'. Odd, but I think quite true. After a bit of fussing I finally am just letting her come and go as she pleases. Not sure what is up with the crazy meat squirrel, but I can't say it's all bad. Even ogres enjoy attention from time to time, even of the clingy sort. Crazy cat!
Hmm... Coffee... Then... I'll think on the day, goals, music, and the rest. Keep at it, or get started. Do it for yourself, but if that fails, do it for me. I'd do it for you if I could. Urhm, probably. *grins* Later.
.
The package arrived shortly after that last post. I have looked over the tools and I am pleased. The torque socket wrench is quite heavy, solid. And, as tools go, actually rather attractive. The bits look every bit as solid and well groomed as I had hoped. The standard bits are hollow ground, and have the right sort of bite for working with exacting screw heads that typically accouter firearms. They seem to use heavy, exacting pieces of firearms, and for several reasons. Further, I should have enough regular cotter pins to last a lifetime, and very possibly enough hairpin cotter pins, if there are fewer of those. When I relocate those to the garage, I will take the bolts out and attache my tools to the bench while I am at it. Not saying that will happen soon, mind you. I love my growing collection of tools, toys, and what they might foretell. *tinkering mind twirling*
Oh, but I did remember to refill my medicine. I just need a cup of coffee to take the medicines with. Yes, yes, I got a pot going not long ago. I'll... get to that... shortly. Even the things I love, on slow days... just... take... time. While trying to fill my medicine sets, I realized they definitely shorted me on the losartan. I only have a week left of that! Shorted me by a month. I did check the bottle, but it indicates there are supposed to be 90 pills in there. I'm thinking 60, give or take. No real problems, I'll just have to watch more closely. I could be mistaken, but my other medicines, ordered at pretty much the same time, still have at least a month of supply, so I don't think so. And, actually, if I forget a medicine, it is losartin, as one of the night meds. I crash too fast, sometimes, at night, to remember to take them. I ordered everything, and syringes. Lots of stuff, needed it all, actually.
I had stopped using the extra supplements... calcium, vitamin B complex, magnesium, and zinc... to see if the simple daily vitamin would actually be enough. It isn't, not quite. Leg cramps at night tell me they are still needed. The cramps haven't been terrible. Perhaps the daily was enough. Then again, my leg cramps started when I started the water pill. They did start out mildly, but progressively intensified until I was having screaming horrors at night, often twice a night, sometimes barely sleeping because the cramps were always right near the surface... as if I fell asleep they would pounce... and often did. No, that, no, not again. So I started back up on those. I just take the extras three times a week, and it seems to manage the cramping wonderfully. Well, you never know. I like to check my flanks from time to time, cut where and when I can, keep going with whatever when still required. The only way, however, to hear... is to listen.
It's still a wonderful slow day. Sam seems to think poppo is the best thing ever today. I've tried to send her off. She simply returns. I've sent her off only to have her bound around to my other side and leap up. You know, that trick actually works? Our brains and reactions aren't quite as universal as they would seem, and I am focused in this way. Blindsiding is more than out of sight, it can just as well be something coming from the 'wrong side'. Odd, but I think quite true. After a bit of fussing I finally am just letting her come and go as she pleases. Not sure what is up with the crazy meat squirrel, but I can't say it's all bad. Even ogres enjoy attention from time to time, even of the clingy sort. Crazy cat!
Hmm... Coffee... Then... I'll think on the day, goals, music, and the rest. Keep at it, or get started. Do it for yourself, but if that fails, do it for me. I'd do it for you if I could. Urhm, probably. *grins* Later.
Late to bed, late to rise. I think it's a rule.
.
.
At least for some. For those with the allowance. For others it's called a headache, bad day, rough day, as they still have to get up and go. I have empathy, for what it is worth. I remember, when young and healthy, shooting myself in the foot by burning the candle at both ends, and often. Whether chasing human felines, or reading some book I just "had to finish", or tinkering on some project or kit and losing track, or just as often, working longer and harder than the next guy, trying to get it right... for my ego and want, for advancement, for... whatever. Push. Lots of it. I still have the push, just no means of implementing it.
.
At least for some. For those with the allowance. For others it's called a headache, bad day, rough day, as they still have to get up and go. I have empathy, for what it is worth. I remember, when young and healthy, shooting myself in the foot by burning the candle at both ends, and often. Whether chasing human felines, or reading some book I just "had to finish", or tinkering on some project or kit and losing track, or just as often, working longer and harder than the next guy, trying to get it right... for my ego and want, for advancement, for... whatever. Push. Lots of it. I still have the push, just no means of implementing it.
Fireman? Indeed. A story explained.
.
.
Always explained in riddles. By far the easiest way. You may not understand. You are not required to believe. As with eating a steak, one bite at a time. All bites collected, on a plate, they would not make sense of the original piece, less of what even that came from. Yet that is how we consume. And so it is with stories.
.
Always explained in riddles. By far the easiest way. You may not understand. You are not required to believe. As with eating a steak, one bite at a time. All bites collected, on a plate, they would not make sense of the original piece, less of what even that came from. Yet that is how we consume. And so it is with stories.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Ah, well, that works too.
.
.
I went to the hardware store, asked a worker where such and so of a tool might be. He took me back to where... some sorts of tools like that were, but it wasn't his area. The fellow whose area it was had customers he was dealing with. So, I looked through the various tools. I checked this kit, that wrench, this rig... yeah... nothing. When the fellow was free, he stopped to check. He went through everything I had just gone through, and to the same conclusion. So this fellow went to a computer counter and started looking online. He found less than I found. As we were discussing it, however, a younger man, another employee, either overheard or was asked by the older employee about the thing.
Now, the young guy looked the faucet part over, and seemed to... see something. I think he sort of tried to explain. But neither of us saw what he was talking about, at first. Just a regular wrench, he seemed to say, as he headed off to get something. Or was he busy with some other project, I wasn't clear about that initially. A regular wrench, I wondered, as I tried to figure it all out. And, that is exactly what he brought back. A very large wrench. Oh, I twitched. I did. This brass is so fragile, this faucet so expensive, and who knows about parts! Still, the young man seemed intent, and cautiously confident. So I let him do his thing and just watched. A minor tightening of the wrench on the brass, I'm sure he noticed me squirm. But I held my tongue along with my breath. I am, after all, a curious sort. Twist.
No special tool needed at all. Afterwards, I looked at the brass fitting. Ah... it has flattened areas. They are difficult to see, and just at some angles. The younger man did sort of mention it, but... wasn't the best at just spitting it out, and wasn't absolutely sure himself. It was his intent and such, plus my curiosity, that allowed me to just let him go. Plus, often enough, with the right sort of folk, that has paid off. Plus, I learned a little something. Sure, one might call it a wasted trip to town, but a bit of an education is even better than a new tool. Reminds me, I should listen even a bit more often than I do. Though... bulling through things, sometimes, has to happen as well. Testosteroni... That and a bit of a mood, innit.
With the piece removed, I got to see what was underneath. The older guy (my age or younger, just comparative to the younger employee, mind you) knew what the piece inside was, and they have those. A ceramic filter. I bought one, just in case that is the problem. I do wonder, though, with as little use as the faucet has had, if that could have been the problem, or if it was simply not aligned. It has to be in there just so, or there is no water path. The faucet did run okay, but not great, to start with. If the keeper was loose, and water pressure moved it out of alignment, that would cause it not to run. Maybe, too, if it is fragile in there, it broke during shipping. I'll know before too long. What I will be doing is hooking up the hoses and using a bucket to test the thing. If that doesn't work, I'll try the new ceramic filter... or whatever it is.
A lot of work, and fuss, over time. I'm just hoping it was well worth the effort and expense. A well running faucet, that is very securely snugged, will be worth all the effort. I might even get to some or all of it yet tonight. Gotta admit, after the two hours unscrewing the damned nuts on the hoses and the faceplate and tinkering with the drain and the rest, the actual work on the faucet has been entertaining. The gun was pure fun, if a bit stinky with the chemicals (did that outside, using the newly created patio area, mind you). A good day, especially if I can get the thing to run. If... even so... there is the re-installation remaining. Bleh. The good with the bad.
Later.
.
I went to the hardware store, asked a worker where such and so of a tool might be. He took me back to where... some sorts of tools like that were, but it wasn't his area. The fellow whose area it was had customers he was dealing with. So, I looked through the various tools. I checked this kit, that wrench, this rig... yeah... nothing. When the fellow was free, he stopped to check. He went through everything I had just gone through, and to the same conclusion. So this fellow went to a computer counter and started looking online. He found less than I found. As we were discussing it, however, a younger man, another employee, either overheard or was asked by the older employee about the thing.
Now, the young guy looked the faucet part over, and seemed to... see something. I think he sort of tried to explain. But neither of us saw what he was talking about, at first. Just a regular wrench, he seemed to say, as he headed off to get something. Or was he busy with some other project, I wasn't clear about that initially. A regular wrench, I wondered, as I tried to figure it all out. And, that is exactly what he brought back. A very large wrench. Oh, I twitched. I did. This brass is so fragile, this faucet so expensive, and who knows about parts! Still, the young man seemed intent, and cautiously confident. So I let him do his thing and just watched. A minor tightening of the wrench on the brass, I'm sure he noticed me squirm. But I held my tongue along with my breath. I am, after all, a curious sort. Twist.
No special tool needed at all. Afterwards, I looked at the brass fitting. Ah... it has flattened areas. They are difficult to see, and just at some angles. The younger man did sort of mention it, but... wasn't the best at just spitting it out, and wasn't absolutely sure himself. It was his intent and such, plus my curiosity, that allowed me to just let him go. Plus, often enough, with the right sort of folk, that has paid off. Plus, I learned a little something. Sure, one might call it a wasted trip to town, but a bit of an education is even better than a new tool. Reminds me, I should listen even a bit more often than I do. Though... bulling through things, sometimes, has to happen as well. Testosteroni... That and a bit of a mood, innit.
With the piece removed, I got to see what was underneath. The older guy (my age or younger, just comparative to the younger employee, mind you) knew what the piece inside was, and they have those. A ceramic filter. I bought one, just in case that is the problem. I do wonder, though, with as little use as the faucet has had, if that could have been the problem, or if it was simply not aligned. It has to be in there just so, or there is no water path. The faucet did run okay, but not great, to start with. If the keeper was loose, and water pressure moved it out of alignment, that would cause it not to run. Maybe, too, if it is fragile in there, it broke during shipping. I'll know before too long. What I will be doing is hooking up the hoses and using a bucket to test the thing. If that doesn't work, I'll try the new ceramic filter... or whatever it is.
A lot of work, and fuss, over time. I'm just hoping it was well worth the effort and expense. A well running faucet, that is very securely snugged, will be worth all the effort. I might even get to some or all of it yet tonight. Gotta admit, after the two hours unscrewing the damned nuts on the hoses and the faceplate and tinkering with the drain and the rest, the actual work on the faucet has been entertaining. The gun was pure fun, if a bit stinky with the chemicals (did that outside, using the newly created patio area, mind you). A good day, especially if I can get the thing to run. If... even so... there is the re-installation remaining. Bleh. The good with the bad.
Later.
Well, that wasn't so bad.
.
.
The nut I had to get off just... It's a five inch threaded pipe, with very, very, fine threads, and at the very edge of "hand tight". Actually, I don't think most folk would be able to unscrew it, not by hand. Yeah, I'll have hand cramps from this, sooner or later. I could, and did, finally, finish getting it off. Every once in a while, in spite of being detached from any water source, and being unattached for a day or three(?), having drained through the nozzles what would go, water still managed to end up on that bolt, to top things off. A shop rag fixed that problem, mostly. Of course, then the shop rag would get tangled from time to time. Lesser of two evils I suppose. When the nut was wet, it was... much more difficult to turn.
That went better, and a bit faster, than I thought it would. Once off, I detached the water lines, cleaned the faucet just a bit, then brought it in to my temporary work station to see if I could disassemble it by hand. I have the vice, if I still need to bolt that down, but that is a resource of last hope, at least on this project. Hmm, now that the vice is up, I ought to measure and look for rubber "teeth" for it, for working on polished metals that I wish to keep nice. Sure, shop rags. But those are stopgap, and have some flaws.
I was able to take most of the faucet apart. I took off the top swivel arm, and further took that apart, to inspect. No problems in there. Then I got the upper part removed, just because really. Perhaps it would allow me more access or better visuals. Nope, but it did separate easily enough. Then to the base. I was able to get the handle off, but am stopped cold, right there, for now. I suspect I will need a special tool. (YEAH! I love new tools!) The part that I won't be able to get off with what I need is a brass tube, with threading in and out of the faucet, with four cuts in the brass. It looks like it will take one of those odd pipe wrenches. I don't know how specialized this tool will be. I always hope for a generic tool, that will work on various sizes, whether it is adjustable or has several rings of teeth doesn't matter, as long as it seems solid.
Hmm... 16:00? I would need to shower, for sure, today, before going in. And, I would have to drain the tub that the dishes are "rinsing" in. Yeah, yeah, I know. Those will... get tended next. Yes, even before I begin the bathroom faucet tear-down. Fine. Oh, and I will have to stop blogging. :p But, I am on break, so... Okay, fine, I'll try to shove through at get a shower and to town before long. Anything else I need? Milk, cream, but not going to go for any of that. I need to schedule a day for detailing my vehicle. Urhm, not today though, and not until later in the month if all else works. Yeah, just a pipe tool, or such. At least it is all... comping apart without too many issues, so far.
Later.
.
The nut I had to get off just... It's a five inch threaded pipe, with very, very, fine threads, and at the very edge of "hand tight". Actually, I don't think most folk would be able to unscrew it, not by hand. Yeah, I'll have hand cramps from this, sooner or later. I could, and did, finally, finish getting it off. Every once in a while, in spite of being detached from any water source, and being unattached for a day or three(?), having drained through the nozzles what would go, water still managed to end up on that bolt, to top things off. A shop rag fixed that problem, mostly. Of course, then the shop rag would get tangled from time to time. Lesser of two evils I suppose. When the nut was wet, it was... much more difficult to turn.
That went better, and a bit faster, than I thought it would. Once off, I detached the water lines, cleaned the faucet just a bit, then brought it in to my temporary work station to see if I could disassemble it by hand. I have the vice, if I still need to bolt that down, but that is a resource of last hope, at least on this project. Hmm, now that the vice is up, I ought to measure and look for rubber "teeth" for it, for working on polished metals that I wish to keep nice. Sure, shop rags. But those are stopgap, and have some flaws.
I was able to take most of the faucet apart. I took off the top swivel arm, and further took that apart, to inspect. No problems in there. Then I got the upper part removed, just because really. Perhaps it would allow me more access or better visuals. Nope, but it did separate easily enough. Then to the base. I was able to get the handle off, but am stopped cold, right there, for now. I suspect I will need a special tool. (YEAH! I love new tools!) The part that I won't be able to get off with what I need is a brass tube, with threading in and out of the faucet, with four cuts in the brass. It looks like it will take one of those odd pipe wrenches. I don't know how specialized this tool will be. I always hope for a generic tool, that will work on various sizes, whether it is adjustable or has several rings of teeth doesn't matter, as long as it seems solid.
Hmm... 16:00? I would need to shower, for sure, today, before going in. And, I would have to drain the tub that the dishes are "rinsing" in. Yeah, yeah, I know. Those will... get tended next. Yes, even before I begin the bathroom faucet tear-down. Fine. Oh, and I will have to stop blogging. :p But, I am on break, so... Okay, fine, I'll try to shove through at get a shower and to town before long. Anything else I need? Milk, cream, but not going to go for any of that. I need to schedule a day for detailing my vehicle. Urhm, not today though, and not until later in the month if all else works. Yeah, just a pipe tool, or such. At least it is all... comping apart without too many issues, so far.
Later.
Chores are moving forward.
.
.
First thing was to work on that rifle. She was pretty dirty. Carbon build up here and there. Not all of it would come off. I do need a copper or brass brush, no steel. Just won't use steel on steel, or at least not that randomly. I did use a steel pick and an old toothbrush, several sprays and dowsings of gun cleaner, my finger or thumbnail, whichever would fit, and whatever combinations of those I thought might work. It is cleaner. That is true. I got a good bit of the carbon, but not all of it. Then one more blast of carbcleaner, air blasting that off, then a light coat of oil and a wipedown. She works. Okay, that was just fun.
Now to get in and get the faucet off, then... take it down. I haven't found any instructions on that, so... The love putting springs in things which are impossible to know where they came from, or how best to put them back in. And they love being clever with the design, even discounting springs. Novel, but... no one beside the makers understands the novelty. Still, that's my job for the rest of the day, unless it goes smooth as unbroken glass.
First, a little breather. It's not that rifle was hard, at all. It's just that fine detail work, over a period of time, makes me twitch just a bit. I really need to get the weights set up. When working out, it takes a lot more to make me twitch, or very fine, low muscle, work. No way around it when it is extremely fine detail. A cup of coffee, a little music, and on to the sink. I actually can't wait to get it out, more so that I can see if there is a problem I can fix. I'm hoping I might have a faucet that runs, and is secured more solidly to the sink, when I am done. And, maybe, I'll figure something out in general. Practical education is priceless.
Later.
.
First thing was to work on that rifle. She was pretty dirty. Carbon build up here and there. Not all of it would come off. I do need a copper or brass brush, no steel. Just won't use steel on steel, or at least not that randomly. I did use a steel pick and an old toothbrush, several sprays and dowsings of gun cleaner, my finger or thumbnail, whichever would fit, and whatever combinations of those I thought might work. It is cleaner. That is true. I got a good bit of the carbon, but not all of it. Then one more blast of carbcleaner, air blasting that off, then a light coat of oil and a wipedown. She works. Okay, that was just fun.
Now to get in and get the faucet off, then... take it down. I haven't found any instructions on that, so... The love putting springs in things which are impossible to know where they came from, or how best to put them back in. And they love being clever with the design, even discounting springs. Novel, but... no one beside the makers understands the novelty. Still, that's my job for the rest of the day, unless it goes smooth as unbroken glass.
First, a little breather. It's not that rifle was hard, at all. It's just that fine detail work, over a period of time, makes me twitch just a bit. I really need to get the weights set up. When working out, it takes a lot more to make me twitch, or very fine, low muscle, work. No way around it when it is extremely fine detail. A cup of coffee, a little music, and on to the sink. I actually can't wait to get it out, more so that I can see if there is a problem I can fix. I'm hoping I might have a faucet that runs, and is secured more solidly to the sink, when I am done. And, maybe, I'll figure something out in general. Practical education is priceless.
Later.
Hard sleep, hard rise, but getting better quickly.
.
.
I got to bed around 23:00 again. Wanted to go in earlier, it just didn't happen. I had to fight for sleep, and kept surfacing hard. I almost gave up. I did get back to sleep, but had to fight for, twice that I remember. Oh, nothing too rough, just a bit of a struggle. Not sure what that was all about. Whatever, I'll push for keeping my schedule. Waking, when that finally arrived, was rough. I almost woke at 7:00, which would have been fine, but then skipped to 8:30, then 9:30 or 10:00, at which time I finally was able to wake. I do believe, close enough anyway. And it was just a bit rough right at first, but got better, and continues to improve. The weather might have something to do with it, changing highs and lows, cold or heat coming in. Hard to tell. No problems, at least last night and yesterday, mostly. At least, so far, I am keeping days and nights in their proper alignment, so far.
I worked on a jammed rifle last night. I got it taken down, roughly cleaned, and back together. It is working. But I want to find my cleaning kit and give it a solid cleaning, then lubricate it. It was just really dirty. No problems otherwise. Not my rifle, so I had to do some research. I'll find my cleaning kit before too long and really go at it. Oil it, and hopefully have it ready yet today. And I hope to get that faucet out and begin tinkering with it. Oh... I think I can, I think I can...
If I get those two things done, then I will at least change the valves for the bathroom sink and see if the aerator is the problem with that faucet. And, that might happen. Those are a lot easier to get to and work with than the kitchen faucet and valves. Outside water will have to be turned off. But that is easy enough. Hmm... Actually... before hooking the hoses to the sink faucet, I will be running water through those, after turning the water on and off, to make sure the flexhoses are clear and that anything that might come through from the process will run through into a bucket... Just... an abundance of caution... An abundance of caution seems to win the day.
Ambitious, I suppose. Possible. Only time will tell. Later.
.
I got to bed around 23:00 again. Wanted to go in earlier, it just didn't happen. I had to fight for sleep, and kept surfacing hard. I almost gave up. I did get back to sleep, but had to fight for, twice that I remember. Oh, nothing too rough, just a bit of a struggle. Not sure what that was all about. Whatever, I'll push for keeping my schedule. Waking, when that finally arrived, was rough. I almost woke at 7:00, which would have been fine, but then skipped to 8:30, then 9:30 or 10:00, at which time I finally was able to wake. I do believe, close enough anyway. And it was just a bit rough right at first, but got better, and continues to improve. The weather might have something to do with it, changing highs and lows, cold or heat coming in. Hard to tell. No problems, at least last night and yesterday, mostly. At least, so far, I am keeping days and nights in their proper alignment, so far.
I worked on a jammed rifle last night. I got it taken down, roughly cleaned, and back together. It is working. But I want to find my cleaning kit and give it a solid cleaning, then lubricate it. It was just really dirty. No problems otherwise. Not my rifle, so I had to do some research. I'll find my cleaning kit before too long and really go at it. Oil it, and hopefully have it ready yet today. And I hope to get that faucet out and begin tinkering with it. Oh... I think I can, I think I can...
If I get those two things done, then I will at least change the valves for the bathroom sink and see if the aerator is the problem with that faucet. And, that might happen. Those are a lot easier to get to and work with than the kitchen faucet and valves. Outside water will have to be turned off. But that is easy enough. Hmm... Actually... before hooking the hoses to the sink faucet, I will be running water through those, after turning the water on and off, to make sure the flexhoses are clear and that anything that might come through from the process will run through into a bucket... Just... an abundance of caution... An abundance of caution seems to win the day.
Ambitious, I suppose. Possible. Only time will tell. Later.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Every month, mostly.
.
.
At the first of each month I generally order a number of items. Tools, equipment... pickled pigs feet. Whatever I need or really want. Wants are a bit of a rarity. I just can't really afford many of them. This month I went with a quality smaller torque wrench, gun smithing heads in a set that will also fit the torque wrench, a few odds and ends, and cotter and hair cotter pin sets. I went a little light on purchases, hoping that later in the month, if finances remain good, I can get my vehicle detailed. I would love to do it but have, at this point, neither the right tools for it, nor the energy per time. With a half doze little chores sitting around that need to be done for the running of an orderly cave, and hygiene chores stacking up in the meantime, with no way to do more in the time I have, some things simply have to be outsourced. I have been on two long trips, in dusty terrain, without cleaning, or getting her cleaned out. Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you. Inside and out, top to bottom. Plus, even though they can't use the 'new car' scent anymore, my vehicle is used so little that, when properly cleaned, it still gets that smell. Yeah, I do like that.
I'm not moving fast, haven't done a thing. Hmm, no, I did make coffee, I have taken my medicine, and I will get my teeth brushed shortly. Morning and night on that last, using that special stuff they sent. I haven't started flossing yet, because I messed up with brushing in the middle of last week. I want my gums good and massaged, and prepped, strengthened, before I hit them with floss. I've been working hard to be regular, and, again, plan to start flossing this weekend. I'm not certain it actually helps all that much. It is about time to set up a dental appointment... three months in advance, give or take, is how it works best, or so I am told. So... I suppose, in three to six months I will know if my efforts have paid off. Still, no cavities in 15 years without brushing, I am not sure how much improvement you can get. Oh, and cleaning only took one session, so it's not even as if they were harsh. Still... something to aim for, if it sure seems like a waste of time. No, no I actually don't have bad breath. The teeth are a bit stained, but from tobacco and coffee, and not worse than a typical man my age, even if he brushes. Go figure.
While I was making the coffee, the drain pipes fell. I wedged something in, to hold that up while the r.o. does it's thing, for now. It looks like I need to do some work in there. It wasn't set up very well. Not by myself, or the guy who installed the first r.o. system. A little research, this time, might see me to a better result. Oh, it didn't leak. It was just, always... problematic. You can't perma-fix them in, in case you need to take them out for this or that. But not doing so seems to not give the drain much strength. There has to be a better way. And, while I am down there, tinkering anyway, I might as well see what can be done. One thing leads to another, none of them are simple as easy as they seem on paper. At least I sort of like tinkering, mostly. I just wish I was half good at it. Practice makes... more problems. :) I suspect I will get to some of the work today. At least the faucet out and torn down for an inspection. There was something said about it having... ceramic... parts... filters... something... in there. That is what I suspect is clogged if I don't have a good idea what is what quite yet.
Later.
.
At the first of each month I generally order a number of items. Tools, equipment... pickled pigs feet. Whatever I need or really want. Wants are a bit of a rarity. I just can't really afford many of them. This month I went with a quality smaller torque wrench, gun smithing heads in a set that will also fit the torque wrench, a few odds and ends, and cotter and hair cotter pin sets. I went a little light on purchases, hoping that later in the month, if finances remain good, I can get my vehicle detailed. I would love to do it but have, at this point, neither the right tools for it, nor the energy per time. With a half doze little chores sitting around that need to be done for the running of an orderly cave, and hygiene chores stacking up in the meantime, with no way to do more in the time I have, some things simply have to be outsourced. I have been on two long trips, in dusty terrain, without cleaning, or getting her cleaned out. Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you. Inside and out, top to bottom. Plus, even though they can't use the 'new car' scent anymore, my vehicle is used so little that, when properly cleaned, it still gets that smell. Yeah, I do like that.
I'm not moving fast, haven't done a thing. Hmm, no, I did make coffee, I have taken my medicine, and I will get my teeth brushed shortly. Morning and night on that last, using that special stuff they sent. I haven't started flossing yet, because I messed up with brushing in the middle of last week. I want my gums good and massaged, and prepped, strengthened, before I hit them with floss. I've been working hard to be regular, and, again, plan to start flossing this weekend. I'm not certain it actually helps all that much. It is about time to set up a dental appointment... three months in advance, give or take, is how it works best, or so I am told. So... I suppose, in three to six months I will know if my efforts have paid off. Still, no cavities in 15 years without brushing, I am not sure how much improvement you can get. Oh, and cleaning only took one session, so it's not even as if they were harsh. Still... something to aim for, if it sure seems like a waste of time. No, no I actually don't have bad breath. The teeth are a bit stained, but from tobacco and coffee, and not worse than a typical man my age, even if he brushes. Go figure.
While I was making the coffee, the drain pipes fell. I wedged something in, to hold that up while the r.o. does it's thing, for now. It looks like I need to do some work in there. It wasn't set up very well. Not by myself, or the guy who installed the first r.o. system. A little research, this time, might see me to a better result. Oh, it didn't leak. It was just, always... problematic. You can't perma-fix them in, in case you need to take them out for this or that. But not doing so seems to not give the drain much strength. There has to be a better way. And, while I am down there, tinkering anyway, I might as well see what can be done. One thing leads to another, none of them are simple as easy as they seem on paper. At least I sort of like tinkering, mostly. I just wish I was half good at it. Practice makes... more problems. :) I suspect I will get to some of the work today. At least the faucet out and torn down for an inspection. There was something said about it having... ceramic... parts... filters... something... in there. That is what I suspect is clogged if I don't have a good idea what is what quite yet.
Later.
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