Today’s forecast says high in the 70s, but the window thermometer says 42°F, airport 32°F. I understand that many are having it much worse, like the snow storm on the east coast. But I’m tired of feeling like I need another layer of clothing. This is Texas, where heat calls home. Spring had better hurry up.
The chili is thawed, in the fridge, waiting for some action. A chili cheese spud will kick off the menu for lunch.
I am planning on rearranging the auto crates and take them back out on the porch today. Myka will miss them with the mover’s blanket as a bed.
There isn’t much else on the todo list. Open the house and lump is the big event of the day.
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After I fed Myka her wet food (which she hasn’t eaten yet), I started the chili cycle with a pair of chili cheese dogs. The spud will be for dinner.
And when I finished, I opened up the house. 71°F, partly cloudy, moderate southerly breeze. Aaaaaahhhh.
Window says 31°, back porch 28°, airport 22°. Coolest water in the pipes showed 47°F. It’s the last freeze in the forecast. Wind is calm and turning from the south. There’s lots of 70s in the afternoons ahead. It was a good skeeter killer, can’t complain.
I expect the chicken salad and stadium brats to be exhausted today. That means a brisket chili thaw, with cheese, spuds, and dogs. Then maybe I’ll cook something.
Slow Sunday start on Ytube, but they’re starting to come around. The remainder are all snow related, so I’m not exactly eager to watch.
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The ice kiosk is out of order. Tomorrow will be soon enough.
… …
I followed my intuition, sniffed the wind, and went back for ice. The manager was there, just having fixed the problem. There’s a fresh bag of ice in the freezer.
All the monthly expected bills (except storage, mid-month) have been paid. Insurance, Apple, internet. Plus I ordered 3 qt of Pennzoil SAE 30 (free delivery). I was thinking six, a change plus an extra quart, but I decided to purchase the oil for a change when it happens to reduce storage space needs. Three will cover everything that might happen.
That means that I go into February tomorrow free of financial concerns, everything behind me. Gasoline and food will be my primary focus. And I’m well stocked with food. And I don’t have any road plans next month.
A slow morning getting started. Mid 30s in the window, barely freezing in the countryside. Alpaca sweater on. Tomorrow morning is the cold one, hopefully the last cold one.
I got the hot water thermostat set as it should be, 120°F. Hot enough to melt grease, not hot enough to scald quickly. Quick rinsing of hands is practical, a good hand warmer on cold days.
Laundry, sift, wash a few things. Probably get a bag of ice. Not atypical for a Saturday between freezes. Chicken salad and stadium brats. Can’t complain.
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The oil arrived before noon. Myka is occupying the blanket that is sitting atop the crates, so putting two of them away will wait. One goes in the truck.
I had a chicken salad sandwich for lunch. It’s time to start in on the chores. It won’t take long.
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I finished the chores for the day, didn’t take long. I have decided to wear the long johns one more night. So laundry will be tomorrow, at the earliest. There isn’t much else happening.
I have found a metal file kit for under $30 that would add to my tools, one of the few areas where I’m understocked. That might be the only extraneous purchase this coming month. While limited by insurance, the budget will still probably be needing a purchase or two in that range.
I don’t see needing that much food for February. I am well stocked and need to whittle down a few of the freezer items that are getting old. I don’t want to see anything burn. The cupboards are loaded.
The backside of the winter storm is approaching, mostly 60s and 70s for highs, 40s and 50s for lows. Maybe I can start getting things done on the truck.
The water is back on, thanks to me and my deductive reasoning, backed by physics and plumbing standards. The person (who remains unnamed) who turned the water back on didn’t actually turn it back on. There are three positions, on, off, lock. It was moved from lock to off. I opened the valve/meter cover and turned it back on. Fortunately, I don’t detect any leaks. Knock on polyvinyl chloride.
The tub is emptying, the last of the containers to be drained. No small effort to send all 12 containers’ stored water down the drain. The water heater is fired up and heating water. I’m back in business, though I need to wash the pots and dry the collapsable jugs before the effort is 100% behind me.
And there is two loads of laundry to do, the collection I was wearing before the freeze and the set I’ve been wearing since. I wish that I had known yesterday, when I could have taken a comfortable bath in the 70s. I’ll wash up with warm water from the tap when the water heater gets there. I’ll need to measure the water temp to make sure I have the water heater thermostat set correctly.
It’s 44°F in the office window, 42°F on the back porch. I could make that store run to finish out the shopping list, but I don’t need to at this moment. I haven’t decided on the next entrees after the chili fest (maybe cajun black beans and rice, maybe chicken rotini soup). And odds are, I have the ingredients for it, whatever it is. I still have half a 6″ cheesecake in the fridge. And I have cookies, candy, minis, and more for desserts. I will not starve if I wait until next week for the run. I’m in good shape.
So… Sunday morning is the next hard freeze, forecast low 20s, add 4-6°F to that for here. After that, we should be in the clear. (Should…)
Life is now back to normal. Shame on my patience, for not checking sooner. I knew there was something wrong, it didn’t make sense, I didn’t investigate. Oh well, I was surviving by pot and ladle, not hurting for it, just a little inconvenienced. But now I’m back to full utility. Wash up and dry the containers, put this behind me, where it best belongs.
It’s the weekend. Kick back, take it easy, enjoy the chicken salad sandwiches.
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I served Myka her wet food, and the point where I rinse the fork under the faucet and drop it in the sink to clatter has been missing for a week. Myka heard it today and got very excited. I’m not the only one who has missed running water.
It has been some time since I set the water heater. I first set it on low and got 78°F. That’s not the 120°F that I wanted. That jogged my memory a bit, I think I have it where it needs to be now. Give it a few more minutes, and then laundry begins.
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The water is on the warm side by 15°. That’s hot enough to deep scald within 15 seconds exposure. It’s good enough for laundry and diluted, but not straight. So I’m dialing it down.
The first load of laundry is in the dryer. I’m still wearing the second load. And it’s a bit late to start a second load. I’m not in a hurry anyway. But I still plan on getting into fresh duds today.
I had a chicken salad sandwich for lunch. I haven’t been very hungry, and the sandwich and a couple of minis were clearly sufficient for the day. There isn’t that much need, despite the efforts of the last two days.
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I just paid the truck insurance. Though it was way in advance, by a full two months, that headache is now out of the way. And the registration sticker is on its way. The truck is well tended, case closed.
I have a few chores to handle, like rinse pots, test water temp, fold laundry when it finishes drying. I’m in slow mode from the past week. I’m not highly inspired to do things. Besides, it’s the weekend. Get past Sunday morning’s freeze and I’m in the clear. And auto-drippers are installed for that. Easy task.
The water is still not flowing faster than a drip every six seconds (6-9) from the drain faucet. 58°F in the window and rising. I’m getting tired of eventually. It’s been 48 hours since pressure was restored, and no visible progress to be had. I look forward to washing my hands often, as needed. It’s been six days now.
Payday is tonight, 12 -16 hours from now. It means that I can spend money online, but as far as restocking the fridge, that waits for running water. No sense in stocking up when it’s this difficult to wash dishes wholesale. I could get a loaf of bread and sandwich stuff, but I have boudin and brats with over half a loaf, and lots of freezer quick fix. Snacks are filling a larger portion of my diet than usual. I haven’t OD’ed yet, but I’m about ready to cook.
The weather is quite pleasant. Sunny, blue skies, southerly breeze, 60% humidity. No complaints there. I’m tempted to go scooter riding, but I doubt that I will. I’d take the truck if I get restless. For now, I’m willing to hang at the house.
I need to feed Myka. She didn’t eat much of the Meow Mix yesterday.
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I got the two coolers emptied into the tub, which is now full again, and got them back in their proper places. I also put up the hammer and staple gun and three flashlights back in the truck. And the flashlight for the back porch is on the side of the top loader. Except for the two auto crates and catch pan that sit on the front porch, everything that goes outside is there. I also nailed down the protruding nails on the front porch to make things easier to slide. That will make things easier to revert when the water runs again. This is what happens when it hits 70°F.
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Sunset is at 6 pm today for the first time since October 10th. (Daylight savings was 7pm). 3.5 months with a 5:xx pm sunset.
6 hours to payday (±2). Uneventful one, truck insurance month.
Fridge looks dreadfully empty. Makes me want to go shopping. I’m thawing a pack of stadium brats. As good a time to burn one as any. I’ll find a way to hold out until tomorrow.
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I made a store run this evening. Bread, tamales, chicken salad, hotdogs, and the last package of smoked boudin on the shelf. I hope they have more in the back. So now the fridge doesn’t look so desolate, and the items won’t need a lot of dishwashing.
I’ve decided to thaw the last pint of brisket chili (after the chicken salad is gone). Chili cheese spuds and chili cheese dogs will be the main entrees. I can get a couple more quarts for the freezer this month, after the water is running.
I am set for the weekend. Payday was at 10 pm. Mad money is more limited this month, truck insurance eating a bite of the budget. But I’m not needing anything to speak of. Paper plates, motor oil, food is well in stock.
The drain faucet has been dripping water at the rate of one drip every eight seconds. That hasn’t changed since the water was turned back on. The temperature didn’t get below 32°F here, though some readings in the area were as low as 25°F.
So I sit and wait for the pipes to thaw. How long is purely a guessing game. Fortunately, I have ample supplies of water.
I made a store run yesterday afternoon, getting cheddar and snacks, totaling $35, plus $100 cash back, ending the mad money focus for the month. I’ll probably make a store run today to get minis and potatoes. I can’t think of anything else that I need.
Not much else is happening.
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There is a crew in the back yard, hacking away at the cherry laurel limb that broke. The saws are electric, battery run by the sound of it.
I’m about to head to the store for a few items. It’s in the low 50s, warm enough to venture out into the world without a heater core.
… …
I got minis and gold potatoes (big ones in the bag for a change) on the store run. I could have padded the fridge, but I’m waiting for the water to start running again. I can sit still for the rest of the week, no hurry (36 hours to payday). There is plenty of quick fix in the freezer.
Now it’s sitting around and waiting, unless I want to go grab a burger or something.
… …
No real change in the drip rate of the drain faucet. Another night without running water. It leveled out around 60°F this afternoon. It will thaw eventually.
I tried the jalapeño boudin, and as I thought, a little too green. It doesn’t come close to matching the smoked boudin. It was on the warm side, which didn’t bother me, but it too peño. I guess there will be a case shipped when I find the freezer space for it. No, wait! Hold the presses! The store has it back in stock (according to the website). YAHOO!!!! ET TOI!!! BONNE JOURNÉE!!!!
Not a whole lot to do. I’ve done it. Just wait for payday to come around, don’t make a mess that needs running water. I’m ready for it. I have diced rib eye to go with a cheese spud. I thought about an avocado at the store, but decided against it (too messy). Maybe after payday and running water, when I do a stock up for the fridge.
The thermometer in the office window reads 35°F. The back porch shows 31°F. The coldest I saw last night was 26°F, though the airport reported 17°F. Thank goodness for sheltered locations.
Three hours or so before water pressure returns. If pipes are frozen, it might not make a difference, and a busted pipe might not be immediately apparent. I won’t have long to find out if I can dump all this water that I’m holding at any time soon.
I think I’ll have lasagna for lunch. I’ve been eating from the fridge and snack bin, easy fare, easy clean. I haven’t had any of the fancier fares from the freezer. And I haven’t even begun to think about what comes next Classic shortsightedness. Not that I’m worried about it. Options I possess in plenty.
I expect to see the remnants of sleet and freezing rain vanish from 90% of the landscape today. Go away, ugly stuff.
Myka is on her aerie in the front room, greeting the morning sun.
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I started the truck, let it idle to warm, then took it around the block. Everything was hunky dory. I’ll have no problem making a store run when time comes. For now, I’m still waiting for the water to be turned back on. That takes priority.
11:30, 48°F in the window, 46°F on the back porch. Wind is light out of the south. It’s blue skies, sunny. The sleet and ice are vanishing steadily. Icicles drip and get smaller, the little ones on the trees drop like rain.
…
Well, the water is back on, but nothing is flowing. The pipes froze. Don’t know if they burst yet. It’s a waiting game now.
The ERCOT forecast of electrical supply vs demand is approaching its closest point in the arctic storm. Committed supply has increased slightly, making the margin 7 GW for the grid, an improvement from the previous 5 GW forecast. They are trying their best.
The thermometer in the window is showing 28°F. The back porch is showing 26°F. Airport shows 22°F. So we are showing at least 4°F variance, which is consistent. If it holds, we’ll stay out of the teens.
The boredom is the big issue, as it usually is during hard cold. That and the internal temperature fluctuation, going from 65°F to 78°F, and it is dry. That doesn’t help in trying to keep fluid intake down while wearing long johns. Sitting at the desk next to the window, with the barrier between heat and cold sitting atop the rear of the desk. I have held off using the external hard drives for the thermal gradient, a variable best avoided. As for me, the heating pad in my lap helps accommodate.
And it’s Monday morning. The usual void only amplifies the presence of the sleet still hanging around outside.. I’m left to my own devices to deal with the nags and glooms the season brings, especially at my age…
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10:30 am, and we are climbing out of the freeze. The frozen rain blanketing the roof is melting, dripping frigid water from the icicles on the eaves. The neighboring stations are showing primarily 24/25°F. Were it not for the profusion of dripping water, I might question the readings here. Window says 32°F. Deep shade of the back porch shows 30°F. It won’t be long before the trees and lower reaches begin thawing. I am happy that it is receding.
The cherry laurel at the back porch broke a major limb, blocking the stairs. Glad to see it give way, as it was intrusive enough as it was before it broke. There was a squirrel sitting in the disarray, trying its best to endure the ice, in no hurry to flee my presence. I’ll be glad to see it cleaned up and gone.
One more night before it’s done, despite the reprieve, though there will be a number of freezes in the nights ahead. They won’t be of this scale, but it won’t be balmy either. Well, we got our skeeter killer. I can live with that.
… …
I am being held captive by freezing drip. Not that I’m going anywhere.
Thermometer in the office window says 39°F, back porch says 38°F.
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I used a broom to break up the ice (with the handle tip as a spike) and sweep it off. I am capable of escape. However, the truck needs to open the hood, and I didn’t bother trying. I got the wipers cleaned of ice and let it go at that. I don’t need anything in the next 24 hours.
I will need to spend $128 of mad money on Wednesday or Thursday. $100 cash back would solve a chunk of that. I’ll think of something. I need cheddar and Reese’s Pieces, I can think of a few things else with a little whim.
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11:30 pm, last plunge of the storm. 31°F at the window, 29°F on the porch. Elsewhere, 24°F. With that edge, we hopefully won’t see teens tonight. Hopefully.
There is sloshy ice on the front porch steps, where the water is dripping off the roof. The temperature dipped into the upper 20s, now back into the low 30s. Most of the rain has moved to the east, so it won’t be that long before it dries up. I don’t see anything that indicates power problems. Most of the freezing is on brick and concrete, not in the trees or on power lines.
Other than that, a Sunday morning, waiting for Ytube to upload.
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The rain ended, moving east, and the cold air followed, now in the upper 20s here at the house, lower 20s elsewhere in town. It didn’t leave without dusting the landscape with a layer of sleet. Not melting on the street, dangerous driving. Nasty stuff.
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Not going anywhere until it thaws. Frozen rain on the windshield, sleet on the hood. A heater core would have helped.
The temperature has been holding pretty steady at 29°F. Everywhere around here (up on poles) is at 23°F. From the forecast, 4°F to drop by morning. Not much to do but nap and hope for the best.
Nighttime has fallen. The freeze begins in about two hours by the forecast. However, the temperature here at the house is about 4°F warmer than the readings online, 38°F compared to 34°F. The forecast doesn’t show 20s until after midnight. In a 60 hour period below freezing, a few hours are moot.
Today I finished the prep that started well before dark yesterday. I finished covering the skirt, on the south side. I had to wait until it quit raining. It rained an inch this morning, the bulk of it before dawn, but it left things wet and messy.
After I finished the tasks of making ready, I washed up with a shallow pot of water warmed on the stove and then I got into fresh clothes, complete with thermals, a walking cocoon. Alpaca is ready at hand for added layering.
I’ve been 26 hours without running water now. I have ample water supplies for the event.
So, I am prepared for the plunge. May it not break any pipes and postpone the water inconvenience further.
ERCOT forecast looks optimistic, the closest margin between supply and demand is 5 GW (8 am Monday, lack of solar and depleted batteries, coldest temp), most of the time 15 – 40 GW. It doesn’t look like rolling blackouts this time. The digitals all stay plugged in for full charge. I have the Jackery for powering the modem. I have a dozen flashlights, two of them work lights with serious lumen output.
The pressure washer nozzles arrived today. I checked that they fit the wand’s nozzle socket. I couldn’t test them with the water off, but they looked proper when compared to the ones that came with the unit.
I finished off the tater bits for a late lunch today. I’ll probably have a rib eye taco for dinner. The menu is vast, all designed to keep dish washing to an absolute minimum. One fork or one paring knife, if anything.
I am prepared for the water being turned off. A full tub, two ice chests full of water in the bathroom. I used a personal lube to seal the stopper in the tub. It seems to be holding. In the kitchen, the washer full of water (max load), two 16 qt stock pots, one 6 qt pot, one 2 qt pitcher, and two half gallon milk jugs (washed), and two 5 gal collapsable spouted jugs.. The pitcher, two pots, and two jugs are potable (16 gal, more than ample).
I got the skirt cover on the north side. The south side will go up tomorrow. The automotive crates are inside to prevent freezing ruptures of the contents. I got a fresh bag of ice. Everything is ready for the loss of water pressure.
I diced the rib eye, so no further dish washing, other than forks and paring knives with the quick fix meals ahead. I will be depending on the microwave and paper plates for the next four days (knock on plumbing).
Forecast: 32 hours until the 20s, 54 hours to the teens, 70 hours back to the 30s, 78 hours back to the teens, 91 total hours until it’s over. (60 hour duration.) A couple of brief light freezes on the nights following.
I will probably just sit tight. No need to go anywhere. Stay warm and hope for the best.
Today will be the day that I skirt the house for this weekend. The forecast is for the two days and three nights of hard freeze, starting Saturday evening and ending Tuesday morning. Saturday night has a strong chance of wintery mix (freezing rain, sleet, snow), heavy on the freezing rain, light on the snow. That it comes early in the freeze means that it won’t persist on the roads, mostly above the ground.
I will make a store run tonight or tomorrow morning to grab what I need for the event. I got minis last night, as I was about to run out. I know I need cheddar, not sure what else. I will take inventory.
I finished the eggs ackley this morning. It was closing in on the eat by date, though still good. I spiked it with the remaining pork tenderloin. I am currently full as sunrise arrives. I have the shrimp to finish today, and the rib eye hasn’t been diced yet. The tater bits are half gone. I have a full bag of kolaches for breakfast. Half the cheesecake remains. And of course, there’s quick fix.
There isn’t much happening this morning. I’m about to bribe Myka from the LZB so I can coax this belly into relief.
… …
I snoozed hard this morning, giving the temp a chance to reach the 60s. Nothing has changed from above, other than reaching the mad money curve, provided that the Piroulines are shipped this month. If not, I’m a day and a quarter over limit. The sale was $14 off, so I’m loath to cancel, even if they don’t get here until next month.
The headache that was nagging me is gone, meaning it was a waking at the wrong time variety, toxins from the sleep flush incompletely flushed. I feel a little creaky though, especially in the shoulder blades. It won’t speed me up to get after the skirt on the house. Ibuprofen will help. I’ll probably measure first, since the new plastic is shorter than the old set that I was keeping as a template.
I won’t be getting hungry any time soon, until dinner. Breakfast was a big plateful. But Myka is ready for her wet food.
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Not seeing eye to eye with the neighbor about the plumbing.
I opened the bag of shrimp this afternoon. Half is gone, half is in the fridge for tomorrow. Myka declined any, she’s been disinterested for a while. My guess is that she had a stomach problem from something else when she had some from a previous bag, and it soured her to it. She’ll eat it if it’s been cooked in something, but not straight from a boil. It didn’t stop me, though.
It’s been a fairly lazy day, light rain here and there this morning putting a damper on things outside. I filled the ice bin, and the bag of ice went in and out of the slot as designed, no problems. I fed Myka and gave her ice water. But most of my time has been spent horizontal. I’m back into a video game from which I’d taken a sabbatical. No lag from the absence. Swapped the bins on the curb. Not much else.
It’s been hovering around 70°F for the afternoon. Overcast, rain has moved east. I kept the house closed to avoid the humidity, keeping it well below 50%.. I don’t need anything from the store. No need to leave the house. Stay home and wait for the mad money curve to catch me tomorrow.
Texas has an online registration, and with the court house under renovation, I think I’ll avoid the county clerk and cash transaction this year. February will be insurance, March will be registration. Or I could do it this month, if I can’t think of anyplace else to put mad money.
I have an Amazon order, vanilla Piroulines, that has been out of stock and back ordered for a week. It was mostly for free shipping. That’s $27 that might land back in my lap if I don’t cancel it or get delivery before payday. And I’d still get the free shipping.
Debating whether to have the rib eye or the jalapeño boudin for dinner. Dusk arrives.
I sat down and dug into the insurance documents that I downloaded from the insurance website and got everything squared away, except for the reason for the rate increase. And I had seen recently in a news article online that pretty much all insurance rates were going up this year. I went online and electronically signed the required document needed to allow the account to process the necessary changes.
Still no change in the delivery tracking of the fuses. Since today is the first day for them to deal with the problem, I’ll wait until tomorrow to head down to the local PO, if nothing has changed.
It’s in the low 50s. It was at 40°F for a low. Hazy and partly cloudy. Gentle breeze out of the north.
Since the sketti is history, I think I’ll dig up a rib eye and a bag of shrimp and rearrange the deep well of the top loader. It’s also trash and recycling day. Minimal dishes. No other big chores today.
… …
Fingers are cold from doing dishes. Trash is on the curb, recycling is in the bin. Chores are done except for freezer diving, and I need warm fingers to begin that one. I expect to open the jalapeño boudin, the thaw comes later.
The fuses arrived. As expected, there was nothing wrong with the address. Local sorting issue, wrong route.
It’s in the 60s. Overcast, not much wind. Not cold, but not inspiring. A blah day.
… …
The freezer was modified to hold a bag of ice vertically. I hope the structure will sustain its slot with usage. I have a rib eye half and a pound of shrimp thawing in the sink. I have 5 lb of shrimp left in the freezer, with 1 lb of bay scallops, and 2 lb of crawdad tails. I am also thinking about pulling a package of stadium brats (5 in the freezer).
I will probably hit the tater bits for a late lunch, maybe with popcorn shrimp.. I’m thinking Popeye’s for dinner. Maybe boudin in there somewhere.
My morning schedule has been lagging by about 4 hours. A prolonged sleep got me off the clock. But alas, that is what retirement is about, nothing happens at the wrong time. And I’m thankful for the cocooned sleep, and my faithful foot warmer.
Brunch was at 10 am.
It got down to 35°F this morning. It’s mid 50s now, the window warm spot showing 60°F. 73°F at the desk. Myka is on her aerie in the front room, soaking up sun.
Still no change on the fuses. Local USPS has to wake up to get on the case verifying. It’s not out the next day for delivery, as stated. Give me an excuse to claim a refund.
… …
It reach the 70s today. A breeze off the Gulf is helping out. The doors are open, but I wasn’t going to bother with the office window for a couple of hours max, until Myka came in and stared at the window. She didn’t stay long.
No mail today, It seems that USPS is celebrating MLK Day despite Trump’s EO. I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to resolve the issue on the fuses.
I have issues to discuss with the insurance agent. I’m not quite sure what I’m being asked to sign about rejecting coverage, and why my 6 month premium is going up $33, and more. It will keep for a day or two.
I emptied the ice trays, the cubes were half gone from frostless evaporation. So they’re on a cabinet shelf and now I have room for freezer adjustment, though not nearly enough. Still, I’ll take what I can get.
Getting close to the last plate of spaghetti. I’m not thawing anything yet. I still have pork tenderloin (tacos), jalapeño boudin, tater bits, shrimp, pot pies, lasagna, pizza, etc. There isn’t much steering me to cook an entree yet. I am thinking cajun, though. Crawdad étouffée, gumbo, black beans and rice, dirty rice, etc. I’m not very picky as long as it’s cajun.
… …
The spaghetti sauce is gone, the last sketti belly of 1/26. A slow night.
The forecast for next weekend has been drastically altered, a minor polar vortex coming this way with lows on Saturday and Sunday nights in the low 20s. A definite skeeter killer.
The thermometers on the back porch read 33°F and 31°F, the one in the office window reads 35°F. The auto-drippers are keeping the water in the pipes at 40°F minimum. I flushed the pipes anyway, just to be sure.
The temps will probably kill mosquitoes, but I doubt it will do them all in. There will be pockets of air warm enough to keep some of them alive.
I haven’t been hungry enough to make a breakfast taco yet. I will, without a doubt, when my appetite comes around.
… …
In the 50s at 11 am. Sunny, blue skies, dew point is 17°F.
Waiting for the iice cream scoops to be delivered, USPS.
Ytube was on the sparse side this morning. Most of the outdoor vlogs are no doubt dealing with heavy snow.
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The ice cream scoops arrived. The old ones are from the 70s and/or 80s. They still work just fine, despite the cosmetics. The liquid in the handles keeps the spade from sticking to the ice cream, and the coating requires only water to rinse clean. Shiny.
It reached the 60s today. Blue sky, sunny, dew point in the teens. I almost opted for a scooter ride. Maybe later this week.
I need to trim my bread, it’s starting to curl. I think Tuesday would be a good day, weather-wise. It’s starting a streak of lows in the 50s.
… …
There’s three more days before the mad money curve catches up to me. I don’t have any need to shop. I’m stocked. I figure that I need to thaw some of the cooked rib eye, make tacos. And I’m due shrimp cocktail. And the jalapeño boudin. I have one more serving of spaghetti, so I need to visualize the transition, including alternatives.
The Sunday evening to Monday morning section of the week is the deadest, when the weekend crumbles and the week has to build momentum. Nothing is happening, the 18 hour void before the rage. Boor-riing. Nothing is being released. The world has gone numb, the weekly 42 hour phenomenon.. The test of self-reliance.
I fell asleep last night rather than having dinner. I had a breakfast taco and a couple of snacks. Having full plates of spaghetti three days in a row might have something to do with it. Being tired so much is also a consideration in the cause. I could sprinkle a few other minor excuses in there. It didn’t stop me from having eggs ackley this morning.
Needless to say, no tater bits yet, but I am focused on this morning for making them. The high is forecast in the mid 50s, so there isn’t any time constraint on use of the oven today.
Fuses are due today, ice cream spades due tomorrow. That will leave only the protracted delivery items, Piroulines (out of stock)and spray nozzles (China).
The primary chore for this weekend is staying warm. And arranging the top loader with the new rib eyes and pork tenderloins, which is contrary to the primary chore.
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Cold hands from freezer diving and ice busting. The rib eyes and pork tenderloins are in their big bags. The ice bin went from empty to full, and the fresh bag of ice is a third gone, helping capacity. The freezing of the new protein next to the bag of ice made for more solid ice and took a little extra pounding with the mallet to break up the clumps. Both freezers are filled to full capacity.
I am considering shifting the right side of the top loader. The seafood bag is not as full as it was, so it might serve to make it vertical and have the ice fit vertically, instead of at a slant. It would make the seafood easier to access. The draw back is having a partial bag and a full bag together. I’d have to hold off getting a new bag of ice until the partial bag is fully gone. It would help if I emptied the ice trays to make room for the store bags (sweet potato fries, curly fries, onion rings, chicken fajita) in zip bags. But not today.
I sifted Myka’s cabana and added extra litter. It was getting to the minimum level, so I added a little over half of the new box. I can tell when she starts shifting the entrance litter to the rear, leaving too little to absorb the moisture properly in front, that it’s time to add.
So that leaves me with roasting the spuds as the final chore. (Not counting spaghetti.) I have 2.5 hours of sunlight left, 60°F outside, 15% humidity (dew point at 15°F).
No sign of the fuses yet. I’m not particularly worried, it’s the weekend, not the weekday carrier’s schedule. I am not desperate to receive them. Of good note, the Jackery is still at 100%. It doesn’t seem to leak charge very quickly.
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The fuses got given to the wrong carrier this morning. They don’t have an error code for that, so they have to pick another excuse for not delivering. This time, it was incomplete address, needs verification.
I got the tater bits made. Whew! The bag of spuds all got used. The last five were used in this batch. Olive oil, Slap Ya Mama (a light sprinkle). 425°F oven temp. Yummy.
The shown pile is now in the fridge. Spaghetti pasta is on the stovetop boiling. I decided to go with the pasta tonight, to avoid missing sketti twice in a row.. I can freeze the tater bits for down the road. They won’t go to waste and no spuds were lost. With the potential for a freeze tonight, the spaghetti is the obvious choice.
Hard to say if we’re getting a freeze tonight, much less a skeeter killer. Forecasts vary from 27°F to 33°F. Have to wait and see.
The sun is up, and the pork tenderloins are still marinating. *sigh* I just can not get myself in the kitchen cooking. I am having a general problem doing things, though it’s probably best to say that I’m having a problem getting myself geared up for doing things when the time dictates it, rather than when I get everything aligned for doing it. My windows for being productive are getting rarer.
Some of it is my broken sleep schedule. I can’t get my body into an active mode between periods of sleep that are close together. It’s a prolonged period of fatigue, an inability to physically reach a state of full wakefulness. I feel like part of the problem is medication, specifically the hypertensives. I’m awake, but I can’t get the metabolism into active mode because of a chemical suppression. And eating anything above a snack will knock me out.
I am inclined to say that it’s age catching up with me. But I can tell that it’s more than that. Meds and sleep cycle add to it, but I also feel there’s something else in the mix that is keeping me from reaching a truly active state when time dictates. Something is chemically lacking in my energy level, something that my body is not generating in sufficient quantity. It’s not a vitamin deficiency, I take a multivitamin daily. Something is missing.
I can say that I’m getting tired of this sluggish state of being.
I need to get in the kitchen and roast some pork.
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10:45 am, the pork went in the oven at 350°F. My fingers are cold and smell of marinade. Myka had to inspect thoroughly, nose and tongue. She likes the stuff, especially after it’s been cooked.
I managed, but it didn’t come easy. I still need to bag and freeze it when it comes out of the oven and cools down.
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24 hour marinated pork tenderloin.
Now to halve, bag, and freeze.
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Pork’s in the freezer. The house is open. Both are much to Myka’s delight. Myka had nibbles, a small taste test for us both. It passed. Dishes are washed. I haven’t big bagged the rib eyes yet. I’ll do both batches at once, avoid freezer diving twice. It may mean that I need to pinch some ice from Myka’s bag. Or use the ice cubes in the kitchen freezer, free up the much needed space.
Well, the chores are done, except for feeding Myka her wet food, making another batch of sketti, and closing up the house. And I bought a little time for Myka with the nibbles.
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I made a Friday 5 pm store run for non-stick aluminum foil (2 rolls), plus a roll of heavy duty aluminum foil, and 8 cans of wet food for Myka. I only needed a single roll of non-stick for roasted tater bits, but the rest will be needed in the near future, and while I was there…
I’m not sure if I’ll make the tater bits tonight or tomorrow, but the wind has shifted from the south to the north, and it’s picking up intensely (16 mph/G 27) and the temp is dropping sharply, going from mid 70s to the 60s now, down to 40°F tonight and 27°F tomorrow night. I was much more inclined to face a moderate crowd and face the traffic, before the rush that’s starting in the stores about now. And I’m free to dice and roast spuds at my whim without them sticking to the foil.
Nothing is on the shopping list, so I’m good for the time being, at least until it warms back up next week. Sunday morning may be the only skeeter killer this winter. But I don’t see needing much of anything. The mad money curve is spent until next Thursday, 6 days ahead of time. And insurance in February will keep the need to spend down. So a rare break in the life of mandatory consumerism.
So I am settled down for the cool weekend. Plenty of sketti for carbs. No big chores, maybe I’ll pay attention to my neglected toys, fire up the projector, configure the drone, turn on the guitar amp, play the Casio keyboard, etc.
Again I failed to marinate the pork tenderloins, and the steaks are also still in the store packages. I burned out last night and slept, and lumped, and slept and slept. I hit the wall rather early, from lack of sustenance as much as anything, and the spaghetti put me down early. And the sketti belly kept me down. My intentions are to resume my efforts when it warms a bit.
It’s in the low 40s in the window, in the upper 30s in the general area. Not exactly the temperature I want for getting my hands wet. So I’m a little slow this morning at resuming my efforts. I will get the laundry folded.
I am grateful that I have eggs ackley to greet me on a cold morning.
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Late in the morning, finally reaching low 50s, 55°F in the window. That’s getting into kitchen sink range. I folded the laundry, gave Myka treats and a brushing, not much more. I’ve been waiting for it to warm up. Breakfast was an eggs ackley taco. Quite enjoyable.
I’ll be in the kitchen shortly, busy bagging and freezing the rib eyes, marinating the pork tenderloins, washing forks, feeding Myka. Forecasts seem to be generally on the low side, some saying we won’t see 60s. I expect low to mid 60s this afternoon.
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My hands are cold, but the steaks are in the freezer and the pork tenderloin is marinating. I still need to do dishes and feed Myka in the short run. Tonight there will be roasting, bagging, and freezing the pork and making a batch of spaghetti, in that order. No sketti belly until the pork is bagged and in the fridge. Maybe a batch of spuds this afternoon.
I got two reviews written, the scoop and the tire tape. Three are outstanding, one soon, the nozzles will take a while to get here. I’m done ordering for the month.
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I fed Myka one of the Meow Mix cups for dinner, which she loved, and I got the few dishes washed. So I’m off the hook until the marinating is complete. I think I’ll have a serving of the spuds for lunch. I should be able to digest it by dinnertime.
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Another case of snoozing instead of eating. I may have to resort to roasted spicy tater bits. At least the spuds are still firm. Rib eyes have not fully frozen yet, being stacked together. That puts off bagging them with the rest of the steaks until tomorrow. Less than an hour of sunlight left.
About 60° and dropping. Low forecasted for mid-40s. Good roasting weather.
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I fell asleep after eating spaghetti, before roasting the pork tenderloins. It was late enough when I woke and decided that I needed minis for the weekend. So I made a store run, tonight instead of tomorrow morning when the dew point reaches temp and fogs windows. So I am set for the weekend.
I will be roasting the pork tonight. And the spuds in the morning, maybe.
I was going to marinate the pork tenderloins last night and roast them this morning. They’re still in the original store bags in the fridge. I was late starting laundry today, something I intended for yesterday. Fortunately, I’m not making any messes, though the kitchen floor could use a light mopping (after I roast the tenderloins). I’d rather be sleeping. At least I brought in the trash bin from the street.
Sunny, in the 60s, gusty breezes (18 mph/G 23) from the north. Dew point in the upper 30s.
There isn’t much ambition this morning. I’m back to $30 above the mad money curve. Tomorrow is mid-month, it will be time to order online or give up the option. I may just get $100 cash next store run, take the pressure off. Rib eyes are back on sale this week, not sure what the occasion. That’s an option as well. I could go from 3 to 6 uncooked steaks in the freezer (two cooked as well).
The Egee is tuned.
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I threw $43 at Amazon, a 6 pack of vanilla Piroulines and a couple of Norpro ice cream scoops, a cosmetic upgrade for my old pair. That will bring me back to the curve at midnight. The rib eyes and libations will trim off another chunk, I suspect at tomorrow evening or Friday morning. That will eat up another couple of days (to Fri/Sat midnight). I’m running out of ideas.
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I looked at Google maps, it showed the store being less crowded than it actually was, but I said to myself, what the heck. So I got 4 rib eyes, roughly 22 oz each. They were cut a little on the thin side, compared to ones I’d gotten before. They were the same cut size, just 8 oz thinner, roughly 1″ compared to 1.5″ thick. Everything totaled, $61 with $40 cash back.
Put the two purchases together, I shaved a week off the total. So basically five days ahead, Tuesday morning, the 20th. Now the Piroulines are in holding, so $26 hasn’t reached the account yet, a ghost charge.
I had to pull the last piece of the chocolate cream pie from the fridge to get the rib eyes to fit. I’m not complaining, even though it’s a temporary issue. It needed finishing anyway, past due. And it gives me time to delay spaghetti dinner. It doesn’t help the spuds, though.
So, finish unloading the truck, feed Myka, get her a drink, marinate the pork tenderloins, bag the rib eyes and freeze, fill the ice bin, and put the laundry in the dryer, then fold. Then make sketti. I have two hours of daylight left. Making up for the slow morning.
Tomorrow morning, roast the pork tenderloin, bag, and freeze. (All told, I get to write 1/26 with a marker twelve times.)
I made a store run about 9:30 am, temp in the 50s, moderate crowd at the store. Pork tenderloins, bread, tortillas, sketti and sauce, hotdogs, eggs, butter, lasagna, and kibbles for Myka. $42, shaved off the mad money excess within half a day. It would have been even at midnight this morning. Tick tock. Nothing left on the shopping list.
I had an eggs ackley taco this morning, first indulgence of yesterday’s efforts. Spaghetti will be later in the day, or tonight. Not sure yet. I want to whittle down the spuds and diced pork tenderloin. Myka will help on the pork.
Trash is the main chore, and it’s minimal. I’ve already trimmed down the obvious, just the cabana and office bag to go. I may marinate the tenderloins this afternoon, roast and bag them tomorrow.. Ice bin. Wash the pasta pot, etc. Low maintenance.
Cloudy day, on and off sprinkle. 50s. It’s a pretty typical winter day here.
The street got patched this morning where they dug the hole to reconnect to the water main, so the street work is done. No more whining and pounding machinery for the nonce.
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I filled the ice bin and got a fresh bag of ice. That leaves trash, feeding Myka, and feeding me. I had a refreshing 90 minute nap. So now I’m ready to work. Well, after a break from the ice run. It’s about 60°F in the window, other thermometers say 55°F.
The battery on the truck is getting sluggish and is recharging after every start. It had a 1 year warranty, back in 2019 when I bought it. The replacement I got in 2021, and it’s never been hooked up to the truck, other than with jumper cables. It might be heading there soon.
The tire liner tape arrived today. 2 X 92.5″ X 2.38″. That’s enough for 4 X 14″ tires or 2 scooters. Not sure when I might install it. I’m not inclined to break down tires off the frame without a blown inner tube. I have to say, it is tough stuff.
Well, Myka says it’s chow time. I better obey.
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Myka has been fed, trash is on the curb, and making a dose of sketti with lots of parmesan is the only required effort left for today (if I want to eat spaghetti, which I do). I also want to finish off the spuds before they turn, and there is the jalapeño boudin. But today doesn’t feel like an added alternative meal day, at least yet. The spaghetti will be more than adequate.
For now, I’m satisfied to sit still and lump. Myka is doing the same after getting her dinner, hogging the LZB, sawing zzzzzs. It feels good to have the day’s chores behind me.
The ground chuck has thawed, so I’m ready for making spaghetti and eggs ackley, as far as ingredients go. I just need to cram a little oompah down my pants. They both use the same skillet, so there will need to be a dual washing of dishes. It’s in the 30s now, so it will have to wait for afternoon.
I had a Popeye’s spicy breast for dinner last night. Myka helped me devour it with total dedication. I have one more breast from the old batch to go before starting on the new. But it’s time to move on from quick fix.
I’m feeling some tenderness in the area of the bottom my right lung. My first thought was pleurisy, but it might be a gall stone. There were some showing up on CT scans. I’m hoping that it passes quickly and doesn’t interfere with cooking.
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I got the pork loin diced this morning. 2 pm now, after a nap, I’m about to start on the rest of the eggs ackley prep (veggies) and then cook. Spaghetti sauce should follow, hopefully before dark.
The stainless scoop arrived. It’s been washed and is now in the freezer with the ice bin. It’s a little smaller than the plastic scoop, and a little shallower of an edge angle, but it digs into the ice easily, so the same number of scoops per glassful. The welds are a lot cleaner than was shown online. Next time that I fill the glass, I’ll discover how cold the handle is from sitting in the freezer, if it sticks to my hand if wet. So far, I like it.
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There has been water main feed work in the street, second house uphill. Back hoe had a big pit in the street, traffic fully blocked. I haven’t lost water here, to my knowledge. I am getting a new meter installed in the near future, contractor was here prepping connections for it. I ran the water to flush any contaminants that might have gotten into the plumbing.
So the plumbers are all gone, the pan is on the stove, I’m ready to nuke the spud and get chopping onion, bell pepper, tomato… Eggs ho!
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Eggs ackley. Plenty of tortillas and cheddar. No avocado.
Five small potatoes left (3 + 2) with ample pork tenderloin. (Myka will want her cut.)
Time to unload the pan and get started on spaghetti sauce. I’ve got an hour of daylight left, plus half an hour of dusk. Get it done and dishes washed. The ackley was the more labor intensive, the sauce’s prep done with the ackley’s for the shared ingredients. It’s mostly browning the ground chuck.
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And back around to the title. Sketti sauce. No pasta yet. Twilight is fading and it’s still in the pan. Eh, it got made, plenty of pasta and parmesan on hand. I’m not grumbling.
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I have finished the day at 7:50 pm, CST. Dishes are washed, sauce is in the fridge, next to the eggs ackley. I had a sketti sandwich (mopped the sauce pan with bread). I had scraped most of the sauce into the tub, there wasn’t much left to sop with the second piece of bread. Done for the day.
Two chores for tomorrow, trash and store run when the truck windows won’t fog up.. Cook pasta for dinner.
I put the horde inside last night, and turned them loose again after morning chow. All in all, an easy one, everybody went by the routine, no resistance to the sequence.
I made it through Sunday morning Ytube, about half there, as is becoming the norm. At least it’s the better half. Done before 9 am. Not much going on otherwise. There will be eggs ackley later. Hotdogs are gone, Popeye’s spicy and jalapeño boudin are the last of the menu before spaghetti, tomorrow or Tuesday. The fridge is finally starting to look sparse again. Can’t say the same for the freezers.
Myka has taken to the aerie in the front room, as close to the ceiling as she can get, with a dose of morning sun.
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I spent more time sleeping today than I anticipated. Hence, I haven’t gotten around to cooking anything. Or eating anything beyond a few snacks. I managed to get the ice bin filled. But I did not move close to eggs ackley or spaghetti today.
I have jalapeño boudin and Popeye’s on the menu, but the boudin is still sealed and well in date, and the Popeye’s spicy is frozen. I don’t need to consume either, though there is purpose and desire to eat both. But they could wait. I could thaw the ground chuck and start on the sauce. I’m just not enthused about working in the kitchen. Or anywhere else.
I’m back on track for mad money, a few dollars over at this point. I need to think about cash back, as I don’t have anything in the price range on the wishlist. And the shopping list is empty. Not yet, probably next week, in the second half of the month.
I did the bare essentials today, the stuff that was unquestioned. I haven’t volunteered myself to anything optional. It’s easier to sit still and lump.
Myka slept on a pile of my socks today. They had altitude and a view.
My, was the Egee sharp. Some of the strings were a quarter of a note off. My, was the difference harsh. Ah, the tribulations of winter. And the house is not all that dry yet. The humidity is about 45%. It has been sitting at 20% after the central heat runs for a few days.
It’s 45°F, with a dew point at 38°F. Wait until the exterior dew point hits in the teens. Winds are NNW @ 17 mph/G 27. Skies are partly cloudy, clearing off from yesterday’s rains.
So, it’s winter again. Not severe, nothing out of the ordinary. Denim sleeves, knit cap, no alpaca yet.
Basic Saturday chores. Cabana, ice bin, feed Myka, the bare basics. I am planning on making eggs ackley today. I’m in no hurry, I need to thaw pork tenderloin first. I may also thaw a piece of Popeye’s spicy for lunch. I’ll finish the chili cheese dogs today.
I am sitting the horde tonight, tomorrow morning.
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I’ve been fed (chili cheese dogs), Myka has been fed, the cabana was sifted, the ice bin is full. That’s it for chores. I spent time cocooning, with Myka volunteering as my foot warmer, as usual. I haven’t gotten around to making eggs ackley, even though the pork tenderloin is thawed, I suspect tomorrow will be the day. I was just too intimidated by the first day of acclimation to the cooler weather and blustery north winds. I moved the kolaches to a zip bag, moving them to the kitchen freezer, so I’d have breakfast tomorrow morning.
I ordered a new product from Amazon Vine, tire liner tape for the electric scooter. It’s puncture resistant, fits between the tire and the tube, and makes the inner tubes less likely to blow. It’s more for mountain biking, but hey, the streets have their own hazards. The rolls are around 90″ long, long enough for a 29″ tire (πD). That means each roll will do two 14″ tires. Due Tuesday.
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I am considering getting a 750W/1200W peak scooter. I enjoy the 384W/500W peak, but it doesn’t have much velocity on the uphill run. I could definitely use more for safety sake. Maybe in March or April, after the truck insurance is paid. It would be close to $400, but I wouldn’t need any of the accessories, since I already have them. And I could possibly sell the one I have now to help cover the cost. Or give it away, I don’t need both. Two rolls would cover both scooters.
I have spuds, two hot dogs, two Popeye’s spicy breasts, and two links of jalapeño boudin to finish off before I launch the sketti campaign. A pot pie, pizza, chicken fajita, or lasagna could be in the mix. After the holidays, I’m pretty indifferent to what I place in my mouth. Well, as long as it tastes good. The lack of washing cutting boards has something to do with it. Quick fix sits well with me after two months of holiday cuisine effort. ♫ I’ve got no expectations to pass through here again.
It’s dusk. Chores are done. Myka has the LZB (with her blanket). It’s still blustery outside and getting colder. Mid 30s tonight.
Light rain with heavier rain skirting the east side of town. In the low 70s, with not much sign of warming. Dew point is the same as the temp, 100% humidity. It will stay that way until dark. It’s freezing in the very tip of the panhandle, with a gradient extending this way, that is slowly giving way to the front. Winds here will flip about 3 pm. While warm for the season, it’s not a day to be out working. The house is closed to limit the humidity inside.
It is probably the last day for short sleeves. Forecast shows 30s for lows this weekend, 60°F for highs. Myka will be my foot warmer again. It was nice to have the reprieve. But now is the time to bundle up again.
Not very hungry today. All the chili cheese spuds are doing in my appetite.
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Almost reaching 80°F, but the dew point is still too high to open the house. The last of the southerly breeze is passing through now. It’s about to flip around to the north, but we won’t get blustery winds until after midnight. They’ll hang around for at least a day, and the temp and dew point will steadily drop with them.
It’s easier to just snooze away the day and not bother eating. The only chore for today is washing a few dishes. Quick and easy. Get them done before the winds turn. I expect to make eggs ackley tomorrow.
