Daily musings of a retired digital artist/designer/musician/party goer/etc.

The rest of the tools, except for the rotary kit, are at the local PO. The local PO hasn’t waken up yet. They tend to sleep in on Sundays.

The rotary kit is being shipped by UPS. (Insert loud groan.) Tracking shows Invalid Number, which generally means that the label has been created, but no scan yet..

I plan on writing the shipper about the maple shipment to see if something can be done from the shipper’s end, since they paid for the service. I still want the wood, even though I don’t have a specific project for it yet.

I’m $30 below MMC. I’ll need to figure out what the next remote purchase will be, as it’s inching toward mid-month. I am drawing a blank.

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The local PO received the three packages, and the tracking says delivery on Tuesday. (Tomorrow is Columbus Day.) Well, one says Out for Delivery, one says Preparing for Delivery, and the other says Accepted. They all arrived at the PO at the same time. I swear, tracking s going to drive me bonkers.

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Okay, the two largest packages, with nine items between them, are posted as Out for Delivery. The chisels and coping saw blades still show Accepted. That gives me a little hope that I’ll see them all today. The chisels are Preparing for Delivery. Whew!

Looking at wooden mallets for the chisels. I can use my ice mallet in the meantime. Add Myka’s canned food and I have free shipping.

All packages are Out for Delivery. No waiting an extra 48 hours.

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The three boxes arrived on the porch at 11:30 am. All items were unpacked and stored in the “tool box” under the long table, except for the sandpaper. Everything fits nicely with room for more. The sandpaper was delivered in a plastic zip bag covered wth an excessive amount of high adhesive tape. It was not feasible for it to be stored in it, so I’ll need to find an alternative bag for it.

Now I need to sort through the wrapping and boxes for trash/recycling. The hand warmers are charging. I figured out how to attach the wrist lanyards, not exactly obvious. But I chose not to use them. They’re small enough for a pocket.

Now the only two items to be delivered are in the hands of UPS, and neither will resume service until tomorrow. I need to decide when to order the mallets and cat food, and if I want to add anything.

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I simply used one of the smaller delivery boxes for the sandpaper. It gives more room for digging for the right grit. (8 sheets each of 60, 80, 100, 120, 180, 240, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000.) Not only will it be used in woodworking, but also on the truck painting project.

There isn’t much else happening today. Only two of the Ytube channels posted today. Getting the tools in one place helps the frustration that I was having with UPS. There are a few tools from the truck that need to join the box. I’m not in a huge hurry, since the wood projects aren’t happening that soon. Gathering all the tools I need was the big focus. Now they’ll be there when the need arises.

I am feeling considerably better. There are a few times that the spikes surface, but nothing like they were at peak. Hopefully I’ll be ready to tackle the projects soon. The truck starter and heater core have top priority.

Three packages today, three packages tomorrow, one Thursday (but subject to change). Everything today and tomorrow to be delivered via USPS.

Today: razor saw, handscrew, coping saw, rasps, Myka’s supplement treats (V). Departing Humble for Bryan (or local PO),

Tomorrow: chisels, coping saw blades, sanding block, sandpaper, Japanese saw, clamps, spokeshave, glue, rotary blades, burs, hand warmers (V). Departing from Katy, Richmond, and San Antonio to Humble.

Thursday: rotary tool kit (not yet shipped).

Maple: TBD.

I can’t say that I trust any of it. I’ll believe it when it’s in my hands.

Google maps goes black in Safari.

Today’s chores are all Myka’s, tuna and cabana.

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Dawn, and the packages for today are out for delivery. They went from Humble to the local PO. Bryan was not involved.

Myka was wanting to be fed her tuna. Hudathunket?

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The first wave of packages arrived, razor saw, handscrew, coping saw, and rasps. The box in which the handscrew arrived has become the new toolbox, at least for now. Hopefully all the tools will fit in it. Not too sure about the sandpaper, though. But it fits nicely atop the array of banker boxes. So for now…

I gave Myka 10 of the supplement treats, as directed for her weight, she ate three Now she did eat tuna this morning, so I’ll give a little more time. But she might be a little too picky for the filling.

Smoked turkey/bacon/provolone on sourdough is in front of me for lunch.

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UPS is a total aggravation. Still no movement after 116 hours. I called and basically got nothing in the way of useful information. I was told to file a claim, and the options there are damaged or lost, neither of which is applicable. *grrr*

Chores are done. It’s warmed up into the upper 80s, closing on 90°F. AC is on.

Myka still hasn’t touched the supplemental treats. I’ll write a review noting that. Speaking of reviews, I need to write one for the vacuum.

It’s been over 66 hours since UPS tracking has changed. It says delivery today, but I’m skeptical at this point. I currently fear that I won’t ever see the ambrosia maple.

The tool deliveries start tomorrow. I’ve received 4 of the 6 Vine items. The supplements for Myka are due tomorrow with a tool delivery.

Dawn is cracking. A slow day is expected. Feeding Myka and filling the ice bin are the only chores on the list for today.

It’s in the low 60s with a 60°F dew point. The air is calm, the sky clear. Another day forecast in the low 90s.

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Mesquite digital microscopic images.
(Right click image, open image in new window, to see full size.)

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Myka is fed, the ice bin is full. Annie dropped by for a snack. 9:30 am and I’m done for the day, unless the maple miraculously appears on the porch this afternoon. There will be a smoked turkey/bacon/provolone on sourdough for lunch.

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It’s almost weekend rush hour. I’m about to make a turkey sandwich for dinner, not lunch, which I skipped in favor of light snacking. It’s been around 90°F for the better part of the afternoon, dew point in the upper 50s.

I’ve been online, watching Hurricane Isaias approach Destin, FL, which is as far east as I’ve been on the Gulf coast. It’s a Cat3, probably drop to a Cat2 at landfall, about 4 hours away.

I have been pretty sedentary today. The maple shipment is still somewhere in the tracking void, over 76 hours since the last post. AI chat is worse than useless, no info, nothing but an attempt at placation.

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Well, the week has ended with a dud on the maple. I’m not bothered by the delay, I’m bothered by the lack of factual communication. The maple doesn’t really have a project tied to it. I have two pair of maple bones, though none are ambrosia.

Oh well. The tools start arriving tomorrow. I can’t say that I’m any happier with the way they are going in communicating timely info. It’s all an aggravation. But there’s nothing that I can do but wait it out.

I’m currently $55 below MMC. If I avoid spending this weekend, I’ll be even on Monday. And I’m approaching mid-month, and being below is actually a good thing. It means that I won’t need to take as big a bite before the end stretch. I can’t think of a tool that I might possibly justify. I don’t have room for a full sized table saw, a router table, drill press, etc. I’m getting too old for that level of work.

To be honest, I don’t need more bones, it’s a vanity/legacy project to complete the list of woods used to make my collection. It’s something to eat up time and remain productive and burn mad money on something tangible, There not easy to make, so it’s a challenge. Bones are getting hard to find.

There isn’t much going on tonight, except Myka bugging me. The office door is open, AC is off, and she has been wandering in to hit me up for brushing and treats, seeing what she can score off of me.

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UPS just added a File a Claim button to the tracking page. That does not sit well. I understand that it is automatic for shipments that go blank for a set time. Still, it’s not encouraging. I want the wood, not a refund. *sigh*

As I expected, the big tool order is being broken into many deliveries. It’s now posted in five separate trackings. It’s too early for last night’s order to fragment.

The ambrosia maple looks like it will arrive late. The handheld vacuum is in Bryan and shows delivery tomorrow, but it should arrive today. One of the tool packages tracking can’t figure out if it’s Colorado Springs or Loveland. Tracking is aggravating me, and all I can do is shake my head and sigh.

Things are otherwise going well.

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The handheld vacuum arrived. Myka got to sniff the box. I read the microscopic parts of the instructions about the things that weren’t self-evident. It’s currently charging on the utility USB-C cord. I have no idea for how long, as it’s partially charged. It takes 3 hours for a full charge. (5.2 Ah battery, 2 amp charge rate.) There was no carrying bag included for the accessories, so I used a gallon zipper bag for the many parts. It’s bigger than I expected. I need to figure where to keep it.

The maple is delayed, still in the Chicago suburbs. It’s been there for two days and change.

I need to figure out what I want for dinner. There are plenty of options. It’s time to slow down on the honey wheat, as the second loaf is getting smaller. I don’t want it to mold, but the airtight bread box is good for protecting it.

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Sunset. It’s been a slow day. I had bacon, gouda tacos for dinner. It hit the spot, no effort, no dishes, no bread. I’m about to snooze again.

Nothing on the chore list but to feed Myka and wash a few rinsed forks, and bring in the trash bin after pickup. There will be three deliveries, the mesquite, the ink roller, and the handheld vacuum. It will be a slow day.

I still haven’t thawed the ground chuck for spaghetti sauce. I don’t have any aspirations to cook, despite it being cooler.

The office door is open, AC is off. Dew point is in the upper 50s. Temp outside is 68°F. Myka wanders in as she pleases.

It’s going to be an uneventful day.

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Today is living up to intentions, a big nada. BP is not normal, but nor is it extreme, there is no serious feeling of imbalance.

Myka has been fed, flatware has been washed, and I’m having ramen for brunch (pasta without the hassle).

The mesquite is out for delivery. The ink roller is waiting to go out. I’m not so sure about the handheld vacuum, the last listing is leaving Cleburne at 5:15 am.

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Another nap, and then a burst of activity, wth the AC being turned on. I refilled my drink, brought in the mesquite for a Myka sniff, emptied the old chickie treats into Litta Wan’s container, mixed with Myka’s stale kibbles and then I treated her. Then I filled Myka’s bowl with fresh kibbles and the dispenser with fresh chickie treats from the new tub and treated the singing rascal. Then the ink roller arrived, and Myka sniffed that. I brought in the trash bin from the curb. Then I opened both deliveries, with an inspection. Then Myka hit me up for more treats, meowing at the office door. I made ramen for a late lunch. Now I’m back to lumping.

The mesquite is nicer than I expected. There are a few split knots, but they’e on one half, leaving the other half clean, sufficient for minstrel and flat bones. The musical tone is nice as well. I need to photograph it before I put it away.

The ink roller is nice too, ergonomically comfortable to hold, smooth rolling, 4″ wide, easy to clean. It will be nice for spreading wood glue.

So I have photos of the mesquite to take and Photoshop, and a Vine review to write.

I’m in no big hurry to do anything at this point. There’s two hours of sunlight left, but the only thing I see needing sunlight is digging through the top loader, and I’m not focused on cooking yet. I can eat lasagne to bump the spaghetti a few days if deemed needed.

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Mesquite images. 1X4X18″ Plenty of clear wood for a set of minstrel and flat bones.

I made another order from Amazon, the primary item is a rotary tool (a generic Dremel) with a set of carbide burs. I also got a Japanese wood saw and wood glue.

I went with an off brand kit. My experience with Dremel is that they tend to wear out quickly. So with obsolescence in mind, it will be cheaper by less than half to replace, and I’ll only need the rotary tool, not all the accessories.

I added a cutting disc set to the order. Saw blades, diamond wheels, resin cutters,

That puts me $95 under MMC. It won’t last very long. It gives me a break from the purchase grind. I could use one.

I ordered the 10 woodworking hand tools, $164. There were $21 in discounts (+ $1.60 in sales tax savings). I’m currently $55 below MMC. I can forget about spending money now, at least until Thursday evening. The order is due Sunday, everything ships from Amazon. I’m not expecting everything in a single box on a single day.

Clamps, sanding block, spokeshave, coping saw and blades (48 – 10>32 tpi), chisels, razor saw, handscrew clamp, rasps, 9X11 sandpaper (112 – 60>2000 grit).

Left click on image, open image in new window, to see full size.

I am ready to kick back and relax. Empty my head of specs and costs, take it easy.

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I woke this morning with a minor spike, not that uncommon these days. It’s not my favorite way to start the morning, reminding me all too well what despair feels like. Fortunately, it doesn’t usually last that long.

Today is trash day, no recycling this week. No other chores except for filling the ice bin later in the day and feeding the treat monster. I’ll be glad when the office is opened, I’m getting tired of opening the door for Myka.

I opened the office door. It’s 70°F with dew points in the 50s and 60s. That’s an adequate justification to open the door. But I’m leaving the window shut. I don’t want a draft.

I need to consider the menu. Do I want to start spaghetti, or do I want to stay simple for a few more days? I have ample quick fix, smoked turkey, tamales, boudin, etc.

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Another dream about losing everything I had. This time, the focus was broken guitars (the necks) and more. I’m obviously frustrated by the metoprolol withdrawals.

I need to focus on chores. Feed Myka, fill the ice bin, gather trash to the curb.

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Another nap, a good one. This one had a dream about a digital meltdown that gelled into a super intelligence. Kind of corny, but it’s my subconscious, which is not super intelligent.

I got the ice bin filled and Myka fed. Now for the trash, the last chore of the day.

The mesquite got to Bryan too late for delivery. It’s just as well, it saves me a photo session today.

There has been no decision made about spaghetti sauce yet. I think I’m capable of boiling pasta daily, not to mention making the sauce, but the question is do I want to embark upon it yet. There’s no question of my willingness to consume it.

I haven’t quite reached a point to where I’m ready to start in on the truck yet, though I want to be. It’s getting close, but it’s just still a little too sensitive to spikes to tempt fate.

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Trash is on the curb, a very light bag. Chores are done for the day. I just need to eat.

Temp is close to 90°F, but dew point is in the 50s, feels more like the upper 70s. Office window reads 82°F.

$40 below MMC. It will be above before I decide to spend more, not by discipline, but by demand. I don’t need anything. Bank account is current, all charges are on the balance.

Days are getting notably shorter. Days are losing about 2 minutes of daylight each.

2.5 hours until the window for grocery delivery. I’m $95 above MMC if the order is complete. The scooter mirrors should be in Bryan and out for delivery by Amazon this afternoon.

I need to start delving into the tool order to see what the total will be. I don’t mind going below MMC on that. Sandpaper, sanding block, spokeshave, coping saw and blades, razor saw, rasps, chisels, clamps, wood vise.

Chores are simple today, put away the groceries, feed Myka, wash a couple of rinsed forks. That’s it.

I finished off the first loaf of bread last night with a peanut butter and honey sandwich. I need to think about spaghetti, after I put away the groceries.

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The grocery delivery arrived complete, and it’s been put away (mostly). I need to take a break from the toting before the minor spike becomes major. All the cold stuff has been put away. The remaining items are indoors and will wait.

There isn’t much else going on. I got most of the tools nailed down, a couple more and I can figure how big the dent will be. The sandpaper assortment mega-pack will be the most expensive item.

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The scooter mirrors are out for delivery, and I’m listed as the next stop. But the delivery truck seems to be caught in a vortex of downtown one-way streets (Park, between Main and Alamo), often heading in the wrong direction. Maybe it’s sitting still for 25 minutes and GPS to map is wavering. A big delivery at the courthouse or catching a bite to eat… I’m not fretting it, it’s just weird.

Anyway, I tallied the tool list, having nailed down all the items. The total is $168.57 with tax. I can break that into two or more orders, if I want to avoid a big dent in MMC. Or I can wait a few days and let MMC grow. I just need to figure priorities. None of it is needed now. I have other projects with higher priorities.

The Amazon truck is finally on my street and moving. And it’s still being weird. It’s finally here. *sigh* Myka got a sniff.

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The nut that holds one of the mirror’s screw clamps together vanished and took over 20 minutes to find. *second sigh*

Okay, tracking, inspecting, logistics, chores, all done. Now I need to eat something. I’m thinking boudin, or maybe pollock. The holographic tape came up for review. I’ll wait for the muse to grab me.

Both wood orders got a tracking page (both UPS). The mesquite is expected first, being closer in Whitesboro, TX (north of Dallas).

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UPS says that the mesquite will be here tomorrow. They say that the maple will be here Thursday. Amazon says that the ink roller and handheld vacuum arrive on Wednesday. The ink roller is currently in Katy, and it needs to go to Humble and then Bryan.

I’m pondering when s a good time to order. I could order in the morning and probably see most of it on Saturday. Or I could wait until Sunday, when the MMC is greater than the order and the next grocery order, and get the bulk of the ten items on the following Thursday (Oct 15th). I’m not in a big hurry.

It’s been 32 days since my last dose of metoprolol. That means it’s been 30 days of full withdrawals, an entire month. It seems longer, but at the same time, my mind is not holding onto the period because of the unpleasant repetitiveness, so the memories are shorter. I am past the acute stage, but I’m still in the upregulated (excess)period. 30 days is noted as the outside timeframe for normalization. So I’m in an exceptional class, probably because of my base hypertension. It’s possible that my hypertension meds are not capable yet of getting back to full efficiency, that the failure is there, or a combination of meds and withdrawal. I am doing better, I am more capable of performing tasks, but not the high exertion ones. I’ll give it more time before I complain. I can deal with this level.

I may go ahead and order the tools tonight, get it done. Tomorrow is trash day, no recycling. Again, not a big load.

No delivery today. I’ll make a grocery order tonight for tomorrow morning. There were only two regular Ytube posts this morning, but they were worth watching. But I’m done before 9 am. I have shopping lists to finalize with me $200 above MMC.

Feeding Myka and filling the ice bin are today’s chores. I am considering thawing ground chuck for spaghetti sauce. definitely a lightweight day in Lumpville.

I’m thinking about a sausage pattie/egg/cheddar sandwich for brunch.

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I slept a lot today, which helped. It wasn’t much of a day, ice bin and fed Myka for chores. Myka got fresh Temptations. Sparky smelled them and cried ME TOO!

I spent a lot of my waking time on Ytube, despite that there were only two regulars this morning. It kept me still and distracted, free of spikes. Some were informational about Texas wildlife, some about woodworking, among the random. I steered clear of the news.

I made the grocery order this evening, a moderate list, over $100, whacking down the mad money a chunk. That takes the pressure off of the tool order. There is an empty slot in the freezer for a bag of ice, plus a couple of packages of boudin. There’s room for kolaches in the kitchen freezer. Minis and cake, hotdogs, replacement spaghetti and sauce, bacon, free corn tortillas, etc. I got fresh Friskies party mix for Myka. That should hold me a week.

I made an error on MMC for October. Payday is Friday the 30th, not November 1st. That puts me currently at $175 above MMC. *sigh* I guess that I should start nailing down the tool list. I was planning on letting the Vine grab cool down a bit more. I should get serious about the grocery list too.

There’s not much happening this morning. I’m staying idle, except for the occasional trip to the kitchen. Laundry is the big chore of the day. Maybe thaw ground chuck for spaghetti sauce. Two forks to wash.

One thing about grocery ice is that it’s colder than the kiosk ice, and it doesn’t freeze the bottom into a solid block. That means that Mika’s now empty ice bag is no longer needed. She’ll start getting her ice from the bin. It also means that a chunk of freezer space has opened up. Hmmm. I should finish off the Blue Bell too. A dangerous trend is developing…

So, once again, I’m waiting for sunrise. It’s almost three hours away. I’m thinking about chicken fajitas for lunch.

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I slept after taking a clonidine early. I woke with a headache and a minor spike. Ugh. But it’s receding. I still need to do chores. Feed Myka, sift her cabana, do laundry. It won’t take long, once the ibuprofen kicks in.

The rain is still there on radar and not getting any closer. It’s like an air sandwich, rain along the coast and across hill country, and we’re in the middle with the humidity. My water bottle is sweating up a storm. (Thank goodness for the diatomite coasters.)

I’m starting to feel a little better. I want to get chores out of the way so I can have lunch and be bored again.

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Myka’s been fed, the cabana is clean, and laundry has been started. That leaves me to feed myself a late lunch. I’m still focused on chicken fajitas. I’ll have something on bread for dinner. There isn’t much available in the fridge for that, but I’ll figure out something.

There has been a light rain, as some of the Gulf rain has pressed inland. The heaviest report is 0.03″. That’s barely enough to wet the surface. There might be more.

I’m debating on making a grocery order for tomorrow morning or Monday morning. The big issue is things that use up bread in a hurry.

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More sleep and a bread and gouda dinner. I’m starting to feel better. I still need to fold laundry, which I will shortly. I’ve cleaned the dryer filter, so folding is the next step. There’s three rinsed forks to wash. It’s been a light day because I haven’t been up for more.

I am waiting for a Monday morning grocery delivery. I don’t feel pressed to order tonight. The first loaf of bread has two sandwich holders (4 slices) to consume. I may do a sausage pattie/egg/cheddar sandwich in the morning. I haven’t thawed the ground chuck yet. I wasn’t feeling up to committing to it today.

I’m feeling better tonight. One of the issues was that my naps were too short. But I got in a longer one, and that helped. So I’m hoping that it holds.

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Chores are done. Sink and dryer are empty.

I’ve paid no attention to the tool list. I haven’t thought much about what to add to the grocery list. I’ve got time. The time to be above MMC is early in the month. I’ve got plenty of slop to pick and choose my time to act. Burning up October’s Vine in less than 24 hours took away any sense of urgency.

There’s not much gong on now. I don’t want to encourage the heart rate.

I maxed out both the daily and monthly limit on Vine this morning. I got a car vacuum, mirrors for the scooter, and supplement treats for Myka to help her joints as she ages.

The vacuum is also a blower and an air mattress inflater/deflater. Now I already have an adequate blower, so I’m not that interested in that function. This will be primarily for the office. The mirrors are to replace the set that I broke on the scooter. I was intending on buying replacements, so the grab takes it out of the mad money cycle. It’s odd, as the product lists as no longer available. It’s the second time this has happened in my memory. And the treats are for Myka. She is getting a little hesitant about leaping up, and I’ll see if they help her. With her weight, the suggested dosage may make it a 30 day supply, instead of 100 day as listed, if the picky girl eats them.

These were listed as more expensive items, and the three freebies maxed out my monthly limit, by less than a dollar. So it closes the Vine grabbing activity until November. The six items total took less than 24 hours. But that’s okay, there’s still a full load of mad money to burn, and I’m over $175 above MMC.. That should cover the woodworking tools I plan on ordering. I’m just not in a hurry to get them, as I have plenty of projects already in line with priority. I want to get everything nailed down on the list before I order. There’s a grocery list starting, not huge, but there. Its timing depends more on weather than current supply.

Yesterday’s rain total was 3.05″. At 3:30 am, it’s already at 0.35″. Add the two together, 3.4″ for a 12 hour total, as the rain started yesterday at 3:30 pm. It was much needed. The question now is, how much more will fall? Forecast shows three more days of a chance, mostly today and tomorrow.

Chores today are minimal. Feed Myka. Laundry. Let it rain.

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Correction, I am not done photographing wood. I found a couple of ambrosia maple boards on LCLY Etsy, newly posted, that needed grabbing, 2 – ¾X4¼X36″. And I also ordered a piece of mesquite, 1X4X18″, as planned. The image of the mesquite is generic.

The wood projects will be something physical to keep me busy this winter on my own schedule. I’ll expand my set of bones from 28 pair to 40, fates and vanity willing.

I’m currently $125 above MMC. By the time I order the woodworking tools and groceries, I’ll be about even.

The holographic ribbons are out for delivery by Amazon. They’re not on the tracking map yet. I’m not in any big hurry for them, they’re a novelty.

I have been sleeping a lot. I haven’t fed Myka yet. Nor have I started laundry.

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Correction, I just fed Myka. It’s 81°F outside, so there isn’t a dire need to feed her in the morning. Now I need to feed me. I haven’t thawed the sourdough yet, so it won’t be turkey. Smoked gouda on honey wheat would do. Or a bacon gouda burger, it doesn’t take long to thaw a pattie. Or a pollock sandwich would work, and that is quick fix. Popcorn shrimp, curly fries, and onion rings? How hungry am I? And when am I going to make spaghetti sauce? Details, details.

The chance of rain is diminishing in the forecast. 50% is the max now. There hasn’t been any since this morning. After a 3″ drop, extra is not a necessity. And there will be more. The summer drought is broken. Somerville hasn’t risen much, but the runoff hasn’t really reached the lake yet.

Today had some adrenaline effects, and I have been keeping still most of the time today. I managed to get washed up, but I didn’t start laundry. I’ve been doing things in small steps. I’m getting in trouble primarily at the keyboard.

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The holographic ribbons arrived. They were 20″ long, as shown in the images, not 40″ long as described in the text. No biggie, it is a curiosity Vine item.

I still haven’t eaten. I should get after it.

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I had popcorn shrimp, curly fries, sweet potato fries, and onion rings for dinner. For supper, I munched Goldfish to buffer the meds. Not very efficient, but I wasn’t hungry.

I decided not to order groceries for delivery in the morning. I just don’t need anything that badly tomorrow. Tomorrow night, probably, for Sunday morning. Maybe.

A slow night. More sleep. In a medical rut.

There is heavy rain west of I-35. I expect to see some today. Today is the last day with 90s in the forecast. Dew point is mid 70s. That isn’t going away until next week.

The deposit is in my account. Mad money is back, I barely had a chance to miss it. I’m not in a hurry to spend any of it. I was on Vine last night. I got a pair of USB hand warmers. I also got translucent holographic ribbon, 10 – 1X40″ rolls. Not exactly utile, but I’m curious, and it was under $6 sticker price ($0 for me).

I paid the internet bill. There was a $2 credit for the internet outage when they replaced the cable. That’s the only thing I plan on paying today, and it’s not mad money.

There isn’t much going down today. Laundry, feed Myka tuna. The rest of the day is largely self-entertainment.

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I had a depressing dream, of being on the road and losing everything I had with me. Piece by piece, it all got scattered and lost. Not so much stolen as just lost track and unable to find it all. Anyway, it was just a stupid dream reflecting the way I feel about withdrawals. I will never take beta blockers again.

I still need to feed Myka. I need to fill the ice bin. Also bring in the recycling bin after pickup, which I haven’t checked yet. And I need to change clothes and do laundry. All this happens after I wake up fully.

No sign of rain yet, but it will get here. It’s hugging I-35 now.

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The rain is at the city limits, it’s dark, but no drops are falling yet. I’m waiting for it, but not confidently. Rain has a pesky way of bypassing town. The rumbles are starting.

I got Myka fed and the ice bin is filled. The recycling bin is in off the curb. Let it rain.

I am not in a shopping mood. I might do a grocery shopping order tonight, after seeing what the weather will do. But I am not hurting. I’ve dented the first of two loaves of bread, but I still have an unopened loaf. And there’s plenty of tortillas. And smoked turkey and tamales are unopened. And sketti is coming up. If anything decides it, it will be spuds and desserts. And if I’m making spaghetti, the spuds will wait.

By golly, I see a reflection on the rain board. Yes, it’s raining, and not just a sprinkle. Honest rain. Imagine that. 72°F outside.

…

Almost half an inch thus far. On radar, it looks like more to come.

…
…

There has been 0.85″ of rain thus far. It looks to be letting up for the time being. There is a chance for more, but for now, we’re entering a lull.

I think I’m going to kick back and snooze. I could use a few more hours of shuteye.

…
…

Just before sunset, but it looks like twilight. The rain never came back as heavy as it did at first, but it came back, fairly steady, no thunder. I was head to the screen and didn’t notice it. Currently, we’re at 2″ of rain and increasing.

Just downed the last hotdog in the fridge. Over half of the first loaf of honey wheat is gone. I’m not sure what will be for supper. The last of the German chocolate cake? I have to say, the cake disappears faster than the pies. I have two days of minis left. A Saturday evening delivery? I’m starting off $150 above MMC. Woodworking tools will consume most of that, but as always, the margin never stops growing..

Rain total is up to 2.3″ now. There’s a pause, but the train goes all the way to Brownsville and beyond. It’s a matter of how slowly the train creeps east. Heat does not leave Texas without a fight.

…
…

2.9″ total with an hour to go. Topping 3″ is likely.

I picked up my third Vine item for the day, a rubber ink roller, can be used for spreading water based wood glue as well. The day’s gathering off the Vine.

(Lumpday)

Today is a day with few chores and tasks. Recycling, a few forks to wash, laundry. I took care of the bulk of issues yesterday and paid the price in withdrawals. Finances are finally secured for the month, things are ready for Polo’s rain, including the truck, trash is on the curb, etc. Today is dedicated to keeping adrenaline off my beta receptors.

It’s tuna day for Myka, though she is not aware of that yet. It’s a bread day for me. I may do the hotdogs, since they are a big bread user and low labor. Not sure if Myka will want nibbles with tuna on the menu.

I’ll spend a lot of time staring at the screen today. A sure way to zone out and be einer Klumpen.

…
…

Okay, I finally cracked open Photoshop and got busy. Here they are.
Hickory: 1 – ¾X3X24″ (1), 2 – ½X4X24″ (2 & 3).

Hickory is the second hardest wood in the pile, just a hair’s breadth below purpleheart. I need to put the microscope to it and finish the series.

…
…

I finally got a solid sleep. Myka got fed tuna, and she sang for it, or sang to celebrate it. A change of tune from complaining that she hadn’t been fed. Happy kitty now.

I need to get recycling out to the bin. Trash hasn’t been picked up yet, so no hurry. And I need to finish waking up.

There isn’t much going on at the moment. Mostly lumpin’.

…
…

Dishes are washed and recycling is on the curb. Only thing missing is laundry, and it’s late enough in the day to hold it until tomorrow. I should eat something, dunch, linner, whatever.

Eight hours until payday with full mad money. Check arrived today. Not much interest at this point. The focus is currently not on finances. It’s on lumpin’.

…
…

Microscope images of the hickory. The vertical patterns are caused by the planer dealing with the hardness of the wood. It will be sanded out.

In note, the hickory is solid and hefty wood, obvious when lifting it.

Thus ends the wood photos. I’ve documented everything I’ve received, and I don’t plan on buying more at this point in time. I have everything I currently intend on buying for projects. There may be more later if I see something truly beautiful in range of my budget. But for now, that’s it.

Time to grab some dinner. I may do hotdogs. It’s the easiest to fix and it uses up bread.

I have the old scooter charged. I’ll check tire pressure before I roll. Today is the day to make the attempt to get to the ATM. I’ll need to take the phone in case my bank refuses on security grounds.

The boudin is gone. Lunch will need to be smoked turkey or quick fix. I should thaw some rib eye for tacos. I’ll probably open the tamales this evening. The earliest best by date in the fridge is in November, so nothing is a mandate. I have two full loaves of bread, so I need to orient the menu there.

The hickory is in Bryan, I expect delivery today, but it could still be tomorrow if they don’t get it on the delivery truck. It wouldn’t surprise me at this point if they didn’t.

Trash and recycling is today. Neither is that big of a load. Laundry is also on the list. Hopefully I’ll manage the day without an adrenaline spike.

…
…

Still waiting for sunrise to make the scooter jaunt to the ATM. Sunrise is half an hour away.

The hickory is on the UPS truck for delivery today.

…
…

The scooter is ready, I’m not. I had a spike upon waking from a nap, and airing up the tires didn’t help. Ands Myka wants to be fed.

…
…

It took taking a clonidine an hour early to get my vitals down to a reasonable level for a scooter ride. While slow in places, the only slope where I had to manually assist was in the bank parking lot. I got the funds from the ATM without trouble (other than deciphering unfamiliar and uncertain options and terminology). There was no hesitation by my bank. I am now $23 below the mad money limit for September, with the grocery refund now on the books. I can relax on all fronts. I got the scooter back in the house. The only reading that was elevated beyond what I often see was heart rate, and that fell well within normal aerobic exercise levels.

So now I’m off the hook. Things can once again happen when they happen. With the chance of heavy rain coming. I would like to get the jack stands out from under the truck to prevent any possible rusting. Other than that, I can relax and let things happen.

I still need to get trash to the curb and recycling in the bin. I’ll do that slowly. I have the better part of the day. I’m thinking of having Popeye’s for lunch, so the bones can go to the curb. Myka was fed. I need to get washed up, but laundry is no hurry. I have plenty of clean sets of identical wardrobe on hand.

…
…

The hickory arrived, the last delivery of the month. I’ve photographed it, but I haven’t Photoshopped it yet. I’ll post later when other priorities are out of the way. 1 – ¾X3X24″ for bones, 2 – ½X4X24″.

I had 2 Popeye’s spicy thighs for lunch. I’m going to kick back and get to chores later. I should wind things down for a bit. I’ve been active enough so far today. Nothing is pointing to the clock and screeching yet.

…
…

The nap helped, a little. The chicken too. Vitals are still high. But I’m feeling more stable than I was. Trash needs to be out by morning. Recycling by Thursday morning, and it will keep a couple of weeks if I don’t get it to the curb. None of it will be all that stressful. Plenty of quick fix. A few rinsed forks to wash.

I can get by well enough on minimal effort. The scooter ride was the big challenge, and it went well enough. I got the cash, the critical needs have been met. Payday will come and go smoothly.

Getting the jack stands out for the rain is the big one left. And lifting the truck a couple of inches will be easy enough, a couple of pieces of wood or bricks will boost the height sufficiently and allow removal. It’s brief. The rest is easy.

…

Done. The jack stands are in the truck cab. Whew. 185/100 @109. I can survive that. It will subside while I lump. Let it rain, let it pour, let it rain a whole more…

Trash is no big hurry. Next four or five hours will do. Dragging the cabana is the tough part. Compared to the truck, it’s chicken feed.

…
…

Trash is on the curb. Recycling will happen tomorrow. Chores are done for the day. Everything in the sink is rinsed. Plenty of ice in the bin. I got the dirty chores done, I can wash up and do laundry when I feel up to it. I’m not soiling things with my touch.

Now that the daylight chores are satisfied, I need to turn to Photoshop. I have hickory photos to tame for the net.

I’m beginning to level off a bit. It doesn’t take much to relax back to a balanced state. Not that I can’t trigger it again with a restless urge, but the spikes take less input to settle.

There isn’t much to talk about. Payday is 28 hours (give or take). The big events are behind me. It’s an odd end of the month. Lots of unusual details in the chronology. Life in withdrawal without ready transportation makes for unusual events, through the lens of an involuntary adrenaline sensitivity. I’ll deal with the first of the month when it gets here. I’m in no hurry to think about purchases and budgets yet. I’ve get all I need to get me through the end of the month.

I’ll probably coast through the evening on snacks, then have another piece of cake for supper. The Popeye’s took care of my hunger.

It looks like heavy rain is coming mid-week and lingering into the weekend. With it comes highs in the 80s. I guess that means a scooter ride to the ATM today or tomorrow. Today would probably be better, since trash and recycling chores are tomorrow. I think I can handle taking out the scooter and bringing it in. Needing no trailer efforts will help.

There isn’t much happening today. Feed Myka and fill the ice bin, wash up and do laundry. There’s no indication yet that the grocery refunds are being rescinded. But it’s Monday before business hours. It’s too soon to make a valid assumption. Still no word from UPS on the hickory.

There isn’t much on the agenda. I have too much time on my hands and nowhere to go.

…
…

Well, the rear tire on the scooter won’t hold air. That means I’m stuck at home, unless I get a ride. Working on an attempt to fill the inner tube gave me a mild spike. I laid down and took a nap. I was still feeling it a bit when I woke. It will be awhile before I change the tube.

On the good side, the hickory shipment is in Houston, according to tracking. It could well be here tomorrow.. Could, not a definite will.

I need to get chores done before it gets any warmer. Dew point is back in the 70s.

I made the grocery order, later than I intended. I had to have the delivery 90 minutes later than preferred to avoid the premium delivery fee. Eh… It will still be in the 70s when it arrives. German chocolate and carrot cake squares (2 servings each), minis, chips, bread, macaroni. Fairly small order, most items were multiples.

I have a few dishes to wash. The mini pan, a couple of spatulas, a couple of forks. Myka needs to be fed. Switching to salmon pate. Put the groceries away when they arrive. That’s it. I got the last of the ice in the bin last night, so the slot is open for the bag of ice that I ordered. The extra bag from the last order will remain in reserve.

So, I now have about $90 to burn on woodworking tools. I need to pay attention to delivery dates. The alternative is a scooter ride to an ATM to get cash for utilities. That would ease the load on October’s mad money. Then I’d buy the tools in one load after payday. Do I make the move, assuming that the truck won’t be running soon enough for a run to my bank?

It’s been 40 hours since the last UPS tracking post. The hickory will arrive eventually.

…
…

The grocery delivery was missing one bag, probably the driver’s error. The bag was not in the delivery photo. Minis and cake squares. My sweet tooth is not amused. Everything else was there. I got a refund, which indicates to me that the driver will not be back with the missing items. I am not going to reorder and pay for the delivery again.

Alas. Myka has been fed, the dishes will wait. Back to Ytube.

…
…

The minis and cake showed up on the front porch, Granted, the cake was no longer cold, it was ambient, but that was temporary, as they’re still sealed and in the fridge cooling down. I don’t expect that any serious damage was done, despite not knowing how long it sat on the porch. Now that begs the question of the refund. They’re still showing in my bank account as pending. Hmmm. Does the store take it on the chin for PR sake? Does the driver get docked? Or fired? Or does the delivery service Favor pay for it? Or do they drop the refund? I’ll probably never know the details, only if the store holds the refund or not.

I don’t mind paying for what I got, but the uncertainty in the mad money chain, this close to the end of the month… *sigh* Hopefully I’ll know before the end of the day. If I go to an ATM, it will reduce the overrun on the mad money to minimal. That’s always the target, draw a few dollars over limit. And if I don’t, it means more tools. They haven’t been credited to the account yet, just listed in pending. I don’t like it sloppy. I’ll just have to be patient.

At least my sweet tooth is relieved, there will be desserts until payday and beyond. I need to thaw a bag of rib eye for tacos. Sandwiches as still the rule, though, as I got two loaves with a coupon, a 30% discount. Saves getting the next loaf on a separate order. I just need to eat bread. There is the pack of hotdogs, and I have brats and boudin in the freezer. I think boudin will start the duty.

…
…

I should get the dishes washed. There aren’t many.

Eating supper is delicious, but the cleanup can annoy.
Use your hands and wash the dishes with this little ode to Joy.

Then I can figure out what I want for dinner. There isn’t any thawed sourdough, so no turkey sandwich yet. I guess I’m looking at quick fix

….

Well, the boudin is thawed, the dishes washed, and the horde was treated. So I should open the boudin.

…
…

Dinner was boudin. It went down easily. The other link will finish the old loaf of bread.

Supper was carrot cake. Nothing was wrong with the half I had.

I’m waiting for Myka to finish eating so that can sift the cabana.

I started the day by not sleeping until 7:30 am. Part of that I attribute to the AC being off and the office opened with little breeze going through the house. The office retained too much heat and the fans didn’t do the trick.. And a headache didn’t help matters either.

…
…

Then there was a second nap at noon. Once the AC was back on, it was easy to drop off. And chores were done.

Nothing to do now but eat and wait for USPS to deliver the purpleheart.

…
…

The purpleheart arrived at 3:30 pm. The wood has not yet received enough UV to turn purple. That will happen in due course, once I work with it. I like them, and they ring sweet. Mad money well spent.

Board 1

Board 2

Now I start thinking about groceries, specifically, what to add t the fridge for the rest of the month. I have ample smoked turkey and tamales for the next four days. But I’d like to have enough for the start of October on hand. If I do a thaw, what will be needed for the recipe, if there is one? I’ve gone through my share of sandwiches, with more coming. And I don’t want to burn out on quick fix. Plenty of rib eye that needs using fairly often. And I could stand using a bag (2 lb) of ground chuck. And the burger patties need using, now the weather is turning friendly to cooking.

…
…

I still haven’t decided what to order besides the basics that were listed earlier today. I’m about to finish off the pulled pork for supper. I’ll give it some thought in the next hour or so and make the order.

Myka wants treats.

I’ll start with the laptop’s keyboard. For the first time since I replaced the chipped key covers, I’ve had another pad chip, the R. I’ll reboot in an hour and a half, and I’ll swap it then. It’s not obscuring the letter, it’s in the enclosed area of the R, like a glowing eye. But it’s distracting, and I have the replacement. I’ll check on the procedure to be sure that I remember how.

On shipping, the flashlight is in Bryan, the purpleheart is at North Houston and should be headed to Bryan shortly. Both are USPS tracking, which can be tardy reporting movement, especially in the early morning.

There isn’t much else happening, waiting for Friday’s Ytube vids. Chores are minimal. I decided that it’s not yet time to make a grocery order. Tomorrow night for Sunday morning might be the best time for it. Bread and minis are the timely items, and I have two days on each at a normal pace.

The withdrawals continue to weaken slowly. I’m not getting the same feeling as when it was peaking. I’m still getting them, though, and I’m still taking it easy. I’m not monitoring as often, it gets old after a while. I only do it when I feel the tug on the heart.

…
…

I got the R keycap replaced, duller than the rest of the keys, but no longer staring at me. The hardest part was finding the box of replacements. In the process, I managed to better organize a couple of the banker boxes. There was lifting involved, and I felt no hard spike, definitely a good sign. The heart rate was a bit fast, but in an aerobic manner, well within parameters, nothing I’d consider runaway.

I also removed a couple of COVID tests, almost three years expired.

I’m beginning to suspect that the purpleheart will be delivered tomorrow. I don’t think that it can get to Bryan and then here soon enough to be delivered today. A shame, I wanted to get it under the microscope today.

…
…

The dew point is in the mid 60s this morning, and what an amazing difference it makes. I’d forgotten how it feels.

The hickory shipment went to Hodgkins, IL. It went 700 miles to get 450 miles closer. I’m still waiting for the flashlight, which is out for delivery. The purpleheart left North Houston two and a half hours ago, still saying delivery today…

…
…

The purpleheart arrived at the local PO at 3:30 pm, due tomorrow, as I suspected. Still waiting for the flashlight.

One thing I will note with sitting at home and having deliveries, a lack of paper receipts. And I haven’t worn a mask in months.

…

The flashlight finally arrived. It took 22 days to get here. I have to say, for such a small item, it is very bright. It is brighter than it needs to be for ordinary use, the dimmer settings are better for reducing battery drain. Takes 2 hours for a full charge, according to instructions.

…
…

A late dinner, bacon gouda burger. (Smoked gouda) I felt a strong need for an alternative, and with me feeling better and the dew point near 60°F, it was definitely the thing to do.

…
…

The office door and window are open. Myka is astonished. Frankly, so am I. Dew point is 58°F. Tonight’s low is forecast for the 60s.

The spikes are easing up, but they’re still there.

Myka will go back on regular canned food this morning.

…
…

I am still left wondering after all this time, if you have a meal at 3:30 pm, is it dunch or linner? AI says either is acceptable, though late lunch is the preferred, with linner being second. Whatever, the penne is gone. I’m left with pulled pork, and smoked turkey, bacon, provolone, with quick fix as the alternative. (And of course, kolaches.) Tamales are left in waiting. There are currently no fridge desserts. I’m thinking maybe a square of cake in the next delivery, German chocolate or carrot cake, maybe both.

Myka adapted to the chicken pate well. There was no tuna pout. I think she’ll survive.

The purpleheart and mini USB flashlight are due tomorrow, USPS. Still a slow day.

I need my fix! Myka has been bugging me, pathetically, constantly, wanting, needing her precious tuna. I placate her with treats sometimes. She will have a hard time going back to regular canned food.

Aspects for the day is a lumper. Bring in the trash bin after pickup. No orders or deliveries. No chores besides feeding Myka and myself.

…
…

Myka was fed the third serving of tuna, the last of the can. Last I saw, she was scarfing. The next six days will tell the tale.

I had a frustrating dream, I was at a party, looking at a new digital device that was much like a large plastic cutting board, though in seamless modular pieces. And the room I was in suddenly became a room where everyone who entered had a large flat cardboard box full of decorations and other stuff, and the room filled very quickly, and the pieces of the devise got buried, and I started hunting, then started moving boxes and stuff out of the way. It was a dream of being overwhelmed. I woke fearing a spike from the emotions, but I think I was okay. I didn’t want to check.

Anyway, Myka is fed. I need to grab a package of sourdough from the freezer and eat the slab. It’s going to be a slow day.

…
…

Triple digits on the back porch.

As predicted, a slow day. I had the slab of sourdough w/melted butter for a late lunch. So dinner will be the last of the chicken salad on sourdough. Smoked turkey, bacon, provolone on sourdough will take its place, but I’m not in a big hurry. There’s still penne and pulled pork to finish, they have top priority. Once they’re gone, quick fix, along with tamales, will be the alternatives. I need to dwindle the freezers.

I brought in the trash bin. I picked salad for Myka. It’s mostly dry and withered, but there’s still a few scattered spots that are still viable. I got nailed by a few mosquitoes.

I’m $5 above MMC. I didn’t expect the final remote order of the month to keep it down for long. It’s a week to payday The hickory has shipped. Due date is next Wednesday. The purpleheart and flashlight are still due on Friday.

(Out of many, ow!.)

I woke this morning with another spike, not as bad as many of them, but still, a spike. All those extra beta receptors, created while the metoprolol suppressed the existing ones I had, makes it a real pain.

Today is trash day. No recycling. Pretty simple. Only detail is that I didn’t scoop the cabana on Saturday. Being distressed distracted me. Now the cabana is a big one and can handle it. But still… The litter is scheduled to be here this afternoon.

I’m $25 below MMC. I’ll be even again tomorrow noon. But I’m not too worried about spending it locally until Monday. I only know one specific item to order at this point.

…
…

Trash is on the curb. I have forks to wash, and then I’m done, until the litter arrives.

I need to wash the forks, so that I can shred the pulled pork for lunch.

…
…

More sleep, and when I woke, the litter had been sitting on the porch for half an hour. I was rightfully confident that no one was going to run off with it. 37 lb is not something one runs with. It’s in place now, a smaller box than what I’m used to getting. I usually get a 22 lb box, these two are 18.5 lb each. That’s 3.5 lb less per box, the price is 5¢/lb more expensive, $0.93/$1.10 more per box, depending on which box. Not that big of a deal, as it deals with the amount of cardboard per lb of litter.

I still need to wash forks and make a pulled pork sandwich. But I am letting the BP and heart rate subside a bit. It’s elevated, but not a full fledged spike. And it’s on the warm side, 98°F outside, 87°F in the kitchen.

I failed to mention earlier that Myka went through her second round of tuna, though not quite as thoroughly as the first time. It will disappear by morning, I am reasonably sure. She and Sparky had afternoon treats.

The purpleheart has shipped, due Friday. The hickory has a label created, due Saturday or Monday, more likely the latter. The Vine flashlight is due Friday. That gives me two days off.

…
…

I had a pulled pork sandwich for dinner. It hit the spot, and there are at least three more sandwiches left. Sourdough is thawing for supper, chicken salad.

I got invited to a small and familiar birthday party that I can’t attend. The truck doesn’t run and I’m still in withdrawals. I would have enjoyed it, though.

Sun is starting to lean low, less than 2 hours to equinox. Not much else to do today. The forks are washed. Enough ice in the bin for the night. Trash is on the curb. I’ll give Myka treats a time or two, that is it.

…
…

I just took my evening meds after a chicken salad sandwich. One of the packages of sourdough had a slab in it. It will be eaten in the morning with butter and honey. I guess I’ll thaw the two slice pack tomorrow to finish the chicken salad. That will leave me with eight slices for turkey, bacon, and provolone, thin on the turkey.

I had a spike this evening, measured after meds, but before they too effect. I’ll check again when they kick in. It didn’t feel like the spike was that big. On the phone today, a medical helper at my friend’s place suggested coughing to lower the adrenaline levels. I’m trying it out. Hmmm, the BP dropped, but not the heart rate. But that wasn’t the big one.

Oh well, summer is gone. It’s autumn. Time for the weather to behave itself.

Myka got tuna this morning, and the bowl was almost clean. It looks like I won’t need to eat it after all. Needless to say, she was totally beside herself waiting for it.

A morning filled with sleep. Having fed Myka, washing a few dishes is the only chore of the day. And that’s a good thing, as the dew point is 78°F. The only activity in the kitchen will be food and drink from the fridge.

Myka’s kibbles are due today. The delivery originated in Humble. The litter is due tomorrow. I’ll have 2.5 boxes of it. The rest of the deliveries, mostly hickory and purpleheart, are due early next week.

$40 below MMC. That’s not much of a reprieve. But it’s not likely that I’ll be spending much this week. I’ll be waiting for next week to finish off the mad money locally.

…
…

After a sold afternoon nap, I woke to find the kibble delivery about to happen. And then it happened. Myka heard the familiar crinkle of the bags as I put them in place, and she immediately came running to inspect.

I’m about to make a chicken salad on sourdough for a late lunch. I’m just giving myself a chance to better wake up before munching. The store ice is tubular, so it’s a little harder to scoop and load in the water bottle. And it doesn’t last quite as long since it doesn’t pack as densely as the chipped ice from the kiosk. But it goes farther, more refills from the bin.

The wind is out of the east, so the dew point is in the mid-60s. It makes it a lot easier to bear, even in the upper 90s.

…
…

Napped in the evening, woke with an elevated blood pressure. Heart rate was only slightly above normal. It’s been slowly coming down, and I have taken the evening meds, but they haven’t had time yet to become active.

I had a couple of cookies for supper. I wasn’t especially worried about not eating tonight. I was more concerned about taking the hypertensives. I wasn’t particularly hungry, having has a bowl of penne for a late dinner. The pulled pork will be lunch.

My readings are a little high, not a serious spike by any standard. But still on the high side. I’m taking it easy.

I wrote five reviews tonight. One was for Vine, four were for hardwood. Everything went smoothly, except I used the black walnut detail image for the walnut review, It wasn’t ugly or degrading, quite the opposite, just not exactly what I was describing. Then again, I doubt that anyone will notice the difference.

There will hopefully be 32 lb of ice here when dawn arrives, or shortly thereafter. And it gave me a chace to order vitamins. The bottle here is getting pretty low. And I got mad money near even. I need t make any remote orders soon, with quick shipping.

The good news is that the dew point is forecasted to drop this week, an end to the mid and upper 70s, moving toward steady 60s. Finally, at last.

…
…

I can tell this morning upon waking that I made the right choice to let the ice be delivered. I am not in any condition to go after ice. Vitals are not all that bad, but I can tell that they could be triggered to go much higher without a lot of effort.

…
…

Well, the order arrived. And just putting the ice in the freezer and the cans in the cabinet gave me a heavy spike. 189/106 @99. I dread thinking about what going for ice on the scooter would have been like.

But I survived and I have two bags of ice. That should last me until I’m past the brunt of the withdrawals. Now to lie down. A few acupressure and breathing exercises, down to 137/88 @70. I’m getting good at this. Still, I need to lie down, wind it out.

…
…

I went down for a solid afternoon nap after a bowl of penne for lunch. I’m feeling considerably better.

The diatomite flower coaster pairs arrived, everything intact. I already had the first of the one on the left, I got the second today. The other two pairs are new. The gray set of 20 diatomite coasters are the day to day work horses. These are the showy ones.

Also in the shipment were the sink screens and sewing needles. Two more deliveries are due, the mini USB flashlight and the three hickory boards.

I’m $24 above MMC. If I’m shopping remotely for the rest of this month, it better be done by tomorrow. Myka needs new bags of kibbles. There’s also woodworking tools for free shipping, if they ship quickly enough, but those can be locally ordered as well. I’m thinking about purpleheart boards.

…

Okay, that took me to $55 below MMC. Two bags of kibbles, two boxes of litter (Tuesday), and two ¾X4X18″ purpleheart boards (a week tomorrow). I’m still not out of the woods yet, but I can make another grocery order early next week and order tools to finish the balance. I think I’m good for the month. Next month will be more challenging, maybe. There won’t be any drain, if I can get the truck running soon enough to cash a check.

Myka got treats and ice water. I’ll pick her some crabgrass in a bit. That will make up for no wet food today. She has ample kibbles. The tuna test run will be in the morning. And there will be nibbles.

I need to eat more. I’ll finish the ham (egg, and cheddar sandwich) for dinner, then make a chicken salad sandwich for supper. I need to get started on the chicken salad, it’s labeled sell by tomorrow. Pulled pork will be consumed tomorrow, with penne and chicken salad on sourdough. Smoked turkey is in the waiting, and tuna, if Myka doesn’t eat it. She loves the packing water, but the flesh is iffy for her.

I need to fill the ice bin (w/store ice) when the sun sinks a little lower into the trees. Last chore of the day, besides eating. The screens are in the kitchen sink.

…

Myka had her salad. I’m about to make the ham, egg, and cheddar sandwich.

Three more days with dew points in the mid 70s, and relatively briefly in the morning.

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Closing down the weekend. I had a chicken salad on sourdough. Quick and easy and satisfying. For now, it’s saying goodbye to the last weekend of summer. Tuesday, just before sunset, is equinox.

I look forward to getting the truck running. again. Hopefully my body and the weather will give me a break.

I just had probably the worst spike in the metoprolol withdrawal. It’s been 11 days since the final dose. I took my normal medication dosage and lay down. After a bit, as I reach an hour after dosage, I felt pressure on the heart, so I got up. Lying flat seemed to aggravate the feeling. The vertical orientation didn’t seem to help much, so I took my BP reading, 195/124 @104.

I took an extra lisinopril, as it’s the hypertensive not at maximum dose. I performed the grip exercise, pressed Heart7 in acupressure, and accelerated breathing. They helped, to a degree. I’m waiting for the second lisinopril to kick in before I panic. I’m starting to feel a little relief. 152/101 @98. Let me say that I have survived considerably worse. Let me also say that I’m not dismissing the seriousness of the spike.

The spikes had been growing weaker after I hit peak about five days ago. So this was a bit of a surprise. My biggest worry is what triggered it. Where did the adrenaline spike originate? Never again will I take beta blockers. This isn’t worth it.

If I settle down, as I seem to be doing with the second lisinopril, then I’ll be extra careful. I probably won’t be making an ice run in six hours. Maybe tomorrow morning if it levels out.

The BP monitor needs fresh batteries. This is the second time this week that I’ve needed to replace them.

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BP is still elevated, but heart rate is down to 80 bpm. Needless to say, an ice run this morning is out of the question. But I am feeling marginally better.

I have been chatting with an AI bot over the effects, and while alarming over the maximum readings, the general pattern is noted as within typical withdrawal patterns. It suggested several non-medical adrenaline suppressing techniques, mostly designed to activate the vagus nerve. Singing is one of them. Deep breathing is another. Add acupressure and sleep, and it should help.

Another week or so should see the spikes reduced considerably. I’ll probably need a ride to get ice one more time.

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Late afternoon, time for dinner. I’m sleeping as much as I can, keeping motion suppressed. It’s working. 137/85 @60. I’m about to heat up some of the penne.

I’m feeling better. I think that I’ll order a couple of 16 lb bags of ice from the grocery if get another spike tonight. I need to come up with something else to order. I got everything I needed yesterday morning. I’ll need to get creative to make the order worth it.

There isn’t much else happening, intentionally. I’ll Photoshop down the detailed photos of the wood for reviews and here.

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Detail images of the last four boards. Some show planing patterns that will get sanded smooth. And the textures will pop when coated with tung oil.

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I made a grocery order with two 16 lb bags of ice. I’ll see how that goes in the morning, 7-8 am. Also vitamins, tuna, and snickerdoodles. And I’m $10 above MMC. As usual, the tuna is more for Myka than for me. I’ll try one of the 5 oz cans in the 8 pack on Myka to see if she’ll eat it as canned food.

Pulled pork sandwich for supper. Myka had nibbles.

Bread basket case might be a little closer to the truth. I had a dream that triggered a withdrawal response. There was a swirling rope ride that I was supposed to grab and hold on for dear life. I’m left wth the question, did the dream trigger the response or did the response trigger the dream? I’ll be glad when this is over.

I have decided to wait until the first of the month to get the woodworking tools. First, I’m not in condition wo be using manual tools. Second, October is a full mad money month, free of insurance bills. Third, I have other projects demanding priority. Truck (starter, heater core, paint), laundry shelves, and plenty more.

Four hours until the delivery window opens, and I’m not going to sleep through it again. There’s chicken salad in it this round.

Summer is getting old. Super El Niño is keeping it going too long this year.

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The groceries arrived. I can go back to sleep after I feed Myka. There is plenty of bread for sandwiches this weekend. Lunch will be pulled pork. Ham and egg, turkey, chicken salad, sammies aplenty. And TLC penne alfredo.

The black walnut dowels left North Houston USPS. Too late for delivery today, I expect them tomorrow. The coasters say Monday, but with SF International, it’s a crap shoot.

Three chores, feed Myka, fill the ice tray, and wash the first penne tub. I’m not up for an ice run this late in the morning. Tomorrow morning is soon enough.

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I had a solid nap, which helped. I have one more chore, fill the ice bin and Myka’s bag with the bottom of the ice bag. Not looking forward to it, but it needs to happen. I also need to have lunch, a pulled pork sandwich. Myka will no doubt want nibbles.

It’s partly cloudy, keeping the temp down. No complaints there.

The black walnut dowels are in Bryan, USPS. I expect delivery tomorrow, though there is no estimation posted. The coasters are heading this way, they werre passing through De Kalb, IL yesterday.

I got the ice broken up, the ice bin is full, as is Myka’s bag. In the process, I found two bags of sourdough in the kitchen freezer, tucked away in the back. A loaf and a half on hand. Have mercy…

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I haven’t eaten lunch yet. I’m getting into a habit of snacking lightly during the day. I need to make an effort to break that habit as we move into cooler weather.

I made a composite of the trivet/cutting board (I’ll decide eventually which it is, so that I know how to coat it) from the ½” hickory boards. Two 4″ boards glued and doweled together. 8X12″.

I have reviews to write today, or tomorrow. I just haven’t been waxing poetic as of late. I am improving slowly. Emphasis on slowly…

90 minutes of non-stop catchup, with hours more to go. I’m going to need sleep.

Digital microscope images of the cherry and walnut that arrived today. The things I do when there’s no internet and finish when there is internet..

An email and then I’ll flop. I’ll pick it up when I’m awake.

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It’s been a tough morning as far as withdrawals. It doesn’t take much to trigger BP and heart rate spikes that I definitely feel. Taking a few light things to the recycling bin, feeding Myka, etc, all taking me off my game, feeling stressed.

Fortunately, I didn’t have many chores to do, and they’re done, except to bring in the recycling bin from the curb.

I had penne for an early lunch. I didn’t have a kolache this morning, so it’s not surprising. I’m usually skipping lunch. And I had a ham and egg sandwich for supper. Seeing how I only cat nap these days, the schedule is arbitrary anyway, named for the time of day. Supper is the only constant time, for the evening meds “take with a meal”.

I’m $100 above MMC. I think it’s time for woodworking tools. Or maybe a grocery order and get tools this weekend.

I need to write a Vine review when I feel inspired. I’m not at the moment. I’d be better served sleeping.

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I woke from my nap feeling a little better, partially from sleep, partially from the clonidine, and partially from the penne. However, it’s not difficult to trigger a spike.

I found one more wood at LCLY that would make good bones that I don’t have, hickory. I got two of them. They’re ½” thick, which is a little thin for minstrels, but no problem for flats. I have other ideas for the kitchen as well.

I am taking it easy today. $80 above MMC and growing.

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I ordered another piece of hickory from the same batch, 3/4 X 3 X 24″. This one will make minstrel bones without problems, capable of two tone with the sapwood.

I’m currently $65 above MMC.

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I made a grocery order, $62. Bread, minis, kolaches, Reese’s Pieces, chicken salad. That brings me down to $8 above MMC. So much for wood tools. Bump it to the first of October, the month’s big initial purchase. It will still be summer then.

I found the home for the wood, in the cabinet shelf next to the desk, the one that was left empty for Myka. There’s still plenty of room for her. She hasn’t been using it recently. I’ll cover it with plastic if she starts using it again.

Feeling better this evening. I wish that I could say that my BP reflected that. It’s not that long until meds. At least the heart rate isn’t very high.