Jerry CGI+

My bbq tongs finally arrived today. They’re a little heavier than I imagined, being stainless and thicker gauge than I visualized. But I like them, and now I just ordered two grill plates, one is two piece, a slotted dome (can be inverted) with catch pan, the other a shallow wok. Both have a 10″ diameter cooking surface. They can be used on the stovetop or over a portable propane burner. They are designed for a meal size load, meat cut into bite sized pieces, beside vegetables, tended and eaten with the tongs. Fortunately, I’m in no hurry for them to arrive.

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The ICM socket tool arrived today, the bike helmet and inner tubes didn’t. They’re stuck down in Houston. The joys of ordering around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Still waiting on the last script to be refilled, the others are waiting at the pharmacy. Just as well, the truck wouldn’t start again today. It’s still too wet. Hopefully I can get it started tomorrow. Hopefully it won’t rain again until Saturday. I could use a few groceries too. I’ve had the charger on the truck battery to make up for the drain trying to start it.

I finally pulled the tub of beef stew from the freezer. I’ve been thinking about it long enough. And I had a personal pizza (supreme, extra cheese) for dinner. I haven’t decided on an alternative for the stew. Baby back rib tacos?

It rained 0.35″ today. And like clockwork, the truck wouldn’t start. And the scooter isn’t waterproof. I can always request a ride when needed. Tomorrow is partly cloud by forecast. Maybe then.

It wasn’t needed today. I’ve been working on getting the prescriptions all renewed at once. Seven of the eight are waiting to be picked up. The laggard was out of stock, should be there tomorrow. I have a four day margin. And I need to grab a few things for the weekend.

Tomorrow is a big delivery day. Helmet and inner tubes, ICM socket tool, and the Korean bbq tongs. That should wipe the list clean.

One more serving of tamales and brisket. I’ll be thawing the beef stew soon. I need to think of something else to thaw. And looking ahead, a TLC penne alfredo is probably an option. And crawdad étouffée. And of course chicken, pork tenderloin, shrimp, and scallop jambalaya for Christmas.

As a disclaimer, we haven’t seen freezing yet this season. So when I say cold, I don’t mean Lake Erie lake effect snowing cold. I mean coastal Texas cold, 30s and 40s (°F). Personally, my temperature definitions are: Hot – visibly perspiring while sitting still in deep shade. Cold – exhaled breath is visibly condensing. And yes, these are not temperature specific, depending also on humidity, wind, personal metabolism, etc. Hot and cold are notations of sensations, not physical conditions. Environmental conditions have numeric value, and they influence the sensations. But they bear no description until sensations are involved. That the sensations may be hypothetical and/or vicarious, they are still in the category of sensations and reported sensations.

That out of the way, it was cold this morning, enough to keep me seated in the house, not out riding the scooter or under the hood of the truck. Work day starts around noon, ends at 5 pm.

Myka has a very strong focus on the oat grass. I think it’s time to export them to the porch. They have sprouted enough to no longer attract the squirrels. These have also sprouted enough for me to wait for round two’s sowing.

So, it’s largely a slow day today. I got the brisket sliced for sandwiches, dishes washed, chores tied down. Today is trash to the curb, only thing on the list of chores. Projects is another story, but what’s new? At least I policed the rear section of the truck. I need to find a temporary station for the truck upgrade stuff. Hey, the tail gate opens and nothing falls out.

Hot tamales, hot hot tamales, hot tamales, hot hot.

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A slow morning. Yesterday burned a lot of excitement. The scooter was parked late yesterday afternoon and hasn’t been touched since. I obtained what feel for the scooter that I need to drive it. The urge to ride it for the sake of riding it isn’t that strong. I imagine I will from time to time when I want cheap stimulation, but my focus is elsewhere. The scooter is just another of an abundance of tools vying for my time and involvement. A victim of an excess of mad money.

I’m about to tackle the rearrangement of the back of the truck, now that it’s in the 60s. It was in the 30s this morning, a big part of the pokey pace. But part because I burned a lot of intensity yesterday after being caught by surprise. I was expecting the scooter today. So it’s been retooling the schedule. Weather looks to turn wet on Wednesday, and into the weekend, so today and tomorrow are outdoor project days, as far as I can muster.

Anyway, except for retopoligizing the rear section of the pickup bed, this will be a slow day.

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The truck has been sorted. I can open the tailgate and nothing falls out. A number of items have been brought inside, primarily those involved with the upgrade. Much is the same in the final result, but a lot was shifted in detail. For example, all the trailer hitch pins and clips are now in one place. For example, I had two bottles of antifreeze that were half full. One now has a full gallon. And a new one is unopened. I’m down to one gallon of water for emergencies.

And best of all, the truck is capable of holding the scooter with easy loading and unloading. Let her rip, pack it up, and head to the country.

So as sunset approaches, all my chores and projects are inside the house. I got the packing cardboard for the scooter on the back porch, to be used as a ground pad for working under the truck. Except for the charger and a few pieces of packing foam that I plan to bag and keep, there is no trace of the scooter inside.

I need to slice brisket. And think about thawing and cooking. The tamales are not going to last forever. I need to make a run to the store, now that the extended weekend of buying frenzy is over. Now I just have to endure the bad quality holiday music.

The oat grass is sprouting better, good enough for Myka to get a couple of daily servings. I may need to sow a couple more pans. But that was the plan anyway.

The electric scooter arrived today. It was assembled today. It went around the block today.

One does not forget how to ride a bike. A little slow up hills, but it maxes downhill. Rear brake first. It will get me around. Now to forget it until I need it. I have other things to do, like the truck.

Yesterday, I ordered the Caroma P4 in black. Total $357, counting shipping and tax. It is the lowest price model in the line, smallest battery, shortest range, 15 miles flat road. That’s more than I’ll need. Some assembly is required, but not excessively so. I’ve also ordered flex mirrors and a cable lock. It should suffice. I shouldn’t need a helmet, as I don’t plan on running full speed (20 mph max). It doesn’t need registration, ID, or insurance, since it’s essentially a bicycle by legal standards, both street and sidewalk legal. And I know the local streets well enough to stay out of heavy traffic.

It’s light enough for me to lift it into the bed of the truck, so it can be transported and used elsewhere. One use will be to take my truck in for repair, ride it home and back when repaired to pick it up. Also to go to the auto parts store for parts on my own schedule. It’s a proper means of emergency transportation when the truck is down.

I also ordered a hitch step and pins for the truck, to make it easier to get in and out of the back of the truck. And I got the white waterproof tape (4″) for the tub, to cover the insulating foam, once I get it trimmed back. And I’m still waiting for the 4 Korean bbq tongs. They’re taking forever to get out of China. I have one more item to buy, a sheet of aluminum to keep cans (spray, cleansers, fluids, additives, etc) from spilling out when I open the tailgate (cash payment at the store).

I had jumbo shrimp yesterday, Myka joining for Thanksgiving. She had a full spread, kibbles, salmon pate, treats, shrimp, and pork loin nibbles. She was not hungry at the end of the day. I didn’t have a big spread, but I ate repeatedly. I was just plain hungry and kept needing more. I’ll finish the shrimp today. I’m thawing out a chunk of brisket for sandwiches. I have a lot of bread to eat.

The oat grass isn’t doing as well as I had hoped, one better than the other, but neither what I’d call lush yet. I may need to plant another pair of pans. I can always get more seed and soil. I have ample pans and water. And I’m not writing them off yet.

I haven’t tried to have a go at the spark plugs yet. I’m waiting for the worst of the cool weather to pass. The plugs are working for the interim, though I haven’t tried cranking it up since Wednesday. I’m not going anywhere on Black Friday.

The first three cylinders in the truck engine did not let go of their spark plugs. I didn’t try #5 or #6, too far to reach without the step stool. And #4 has been out a couple of times. So I gave up, and started to charge the battery. Before I hooked it up, I tried starting the engine (on a whim), and it started. *sigh* And while I was sitting there letting it idle, the penetrating oil was delivered. I packed it up, left the battery connected to keep the ECM alive.

Just before 9 pm, I headed to the store for dinner rolls, minis, bread, chips, and gumbo mix. It was a little crowded, as I expected, but I got in and out fairly quickly. I probably won’t be back until Saturday or Sunday, if that. Friday morning is payday, but Black Friday is a day I stay home.

I’ll probably order an electric scooter (~$350) Friday. I’ve only gone $90 into the base this month, nothing short of a miracle, so I can afford it. It has higher priority under current circumstances. The pressure washer, IR thermometer, and Klein needle nose can wait until 2025. Also, I have spotted a modestly priced trailer hitch step that I’ll grab for the truck, make getting in and out easier. Won’t need it for a while, but a nice addition for party camping, a place to leave the sliders when I’m in the back.

Shrimp are in the fridge. I let them thaw a bit in the sink to half frozen, then put them in the fridge to finish thawing slowly. Myka and I will have our Thanksgiving shrimp together. She had to skip her wet food today for tomorrow’s munch down. No idea what comes afterward. I have bread, so maybe brisket. There’s still pork chops and pork fried rice, but it’s getting low.

The oat grass is starting to put up the tips of a few sprouts. I expect the rising in the next couple of days. Myka got crabgrass today, maybe for the last time this year. It’s not getting enough daylight to grow leaves longer than 2.5″.

Not much happening, another holiday hanging loose. I’ll probably apply penetrating oil tomorrow.

Mechanical advantage is a wonderful thing. The come along arrived today, and after introducing Myka to the shipping box, I unpacked it and promptly moved the truck away from the street, with just me as the power source. I used a light nylon boat line to secure the hand winch to the fence post, and hooked the cable to one of the trailer hitch’s safety chain rings and moved the truck, inch by inch, back into the niche where it habitually sits, self chocking. Then I broke it all down and found a good spot for it in the back.

Now I can climb under the hood without standing in the street. I am pleased to have the come along. I’ve been over a decade without one. Granted that I don’t wrestle vehicles as often as I used to, but when needed, they’re very handy. I appreciate having one handy.

Chores got done late in the day, it was cooler than I wanted to face in the morning, but once it eased up, the chores fell quickly to the side. Trash on the curb, recycling in the bin, dishes washed, etc. A fairly busy day, all told. But I still found ample time to lump with Myka as a symbiotic foot warmer. When not snuggling with my calves, she’s hogging the LZB.

The penetrating oil should arrive tomorrow, and I’ll check to see which plugs have seized and need soaking. No swapping yet, just loosen and tighten, get them ready for a swap. It will be a nice day for it, probably the last day for a while to see 70s. We’re about to dive into the cool side.

The lasagna is gone. Still a couple of servings of fried rice and a couple of pork chops. Tamales, brats, and lots of quick fix to fill any gaps. I’ll start thawing the shrimp for Thanksgiving tomorrow morning.

I don’t mind missing the flu shot today.  I’m still not 100% over the covid side effects.  Not bad, but still not total closure in the way my body was taxed.  I didn’t quite build up the fortitude yet for the next round.  And it’s not like I spend a lot of time in public (especially with the truck down), I still wear a mask, and I wash my hands when I get home.  I don’t catch these things (except in hospitals).

The domain was down today for a fair portion of the day. Emergency maintenance was the title given it. HTTP, FTP, email, the whole schmear. But it’s back. Still a chance of issues, but not definitely. I got through it.

Pay check showed up on the bank account ahead of time, as is customary. It didn’t do that for the last two times. Welcome to see it again.

The spark plug on the #1 cylinder is seized, I can’t move it cold. So I’ll probably need to heat up the engine to break it free. I’m not in the mood at the moment for working on a hot engine, so I called it quits without going on to other plugs. I’m going to use penetrating oil on all plugs and let it sit for a while. However, in an attempt to go get a supply of penetrating oil, other than the freeze penetrating spray, the truck wouldn’t start. Charger is on the battery.

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I tried one more time after the battery charged a bit, and the truck still wouldn’t turn over. So I gave up, put things away, and cancelled tomorrow’s doctor appointment. I’ll reschedule sometime in the near future when the truck is sound again. The wind had turned, and the temperature was dropping, quickly getting too cold for a soak.

I ordered 2 cans of spray penetrating oil and a come along (to back the truck away from the street). It’s been decades since I had one, and it will definitely come in handy. It’s due tomorrow, and the penetrating oil is due Wednesday.

I have been looking at lists of the sensors and valves that interact with the ECM. I’ve also been looking at electric scooters (mopeds), for times when the truck isn’t running. There are several in the $350 range (counting shipping and taxes). They’re the under 20 mph type and are considered bicycles under Texas law. I could street ride without registration or special driver license or insurance. But none of that until December. It’s a little late in the season for pressure washers.

Forecast says mid 40s tonight. It’s 50°F now, so not far to go. No rain noted this week.

I think I’ll thaw a package of jumbo shrimp for Thanksgiving.

Well, so much for the idea of default setting in the ECM. It’s in the mid 50s, I decided to head to the store for a handful of junk items. I went out early to fire up the engine with starting fluid, and I cranked it to make sure that it needed starting fluid. I didn’t. It started right up. So it’s not the default setting, it’s the temp and humidity affecting something. I ended up having 10 minutes to kill, sitting idly in the truck.

One thing I noticed is the oil pressure being a little on the low side. I don’t want to waste a quart of oil when I’m about to get an oil change. So I’m keeping an eye on it.

Myka has adopted the LZB as her docking area again, and she’s willing to defend her right to it. Rascal.

The left arm is improving, I can barely feel it, and the covid side effects are subsiding. But I’m still going to be lazy another day. It’s Sunday, and I’m starting the morning with my customary Ytube view.

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I topped off the truck with gas. It took a bit over 5 gallons. No problems with it starting or running. I’m still not quite ready yet to climb back under the hood. The weather is perfect for it, upper 70s, sunny, nice breeze, dew point in the 50s.

The world can get noisy. It was pretty loud at four corners.

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I played some music today. I should say “a little”. My fingers got sore on the third song. I would have been a washout if I had attended. I need to practice, get my full voice back, build up my pads.

I have been massaging, exercising, and resting the left arm, and it’s considerably better, though still there as a reminder. The covid is starting to take center stage, well, not center, more like all the surrounding stages. Appendix tender, headache, chafed breathing, and briefly, stuffy sinuses.

Myka would always zip out of the room when I reached for tissue. Afterward, she’d be right back with something to say.

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Well, the covid vax side effects, with a few added distractions, kept me from moping over missing TRD. I took ibuprofen at 42 hours in. It helped me sleep and cleared up a few of the episodes. None have been severe, they’re annoying, if anything. Some are hard to ignore, but I’ve managed.

The silicone melting bulb arrived today. I washed it, but I haven’t tried it yet. I expect it to be useful.

I potted two trays of oat grass. I went a little sparser on the seeds, to extend the life and not waste nutrients on ones I’ll never trim. I still have ample trays, soil, and seed. I can sprout magnitudes. Myka knew what they are at first glance. She had to inspect.

I cooked the lasagna, it was closer to what we’d have at TRD. Five servings left. And I’m thawing an old pork loin section (one more left in the freezer). I’ll be cutting pork chops (I have plenty of eggs) and using it in making fried rice.

I’m sitting the horde tonight. I put them to bed about an hour ago.

I have a question on the truck that begs an answer. The default state on the ECM is there each time it has started cold, because the battery has been disconnected for hours, draining the buffers. Each ensuing start is in the adapted state, with data from the sensor system recorded. So the test is to fire it up, leave the battery connected while the engine goes back to cold. It takes four days to drain the battery, and cold state is just a few hours. An easy test.

We are in a warming trend. Afternoons in the 80s, until Thanksgiving day.

The rsv jab is making it painful to raise my left arm. It didn’t just start nasty, it’s a total honker. I am so glad that I got it in the left arm.

I have attended to chores, and I don’t expect to attend to any or other physically demanding feats today, or at least until my ability to lift my left arm improves. There is also a mild tickle in the throat from the covid shot, along with a general, mild, fuzzy ache all over.

I will be sleeping this off as much as I can.

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Doing better in the evening. Massage and exercise through the pain has helped the left arm. The covid is pretty mild and still hit and miss, here and there, not bad, but not contributing to ambition. Eating hot dogs, the simplest way to keep the stomach from rebelling. It’s cooling down, in the low 50s and dropping, heading to the low 40s. I can tell that Myka will be my foot warmer again tonight.

Brrrr. It’s too cold to do dishes. I had a short nap after the second photo op, then divided, bagged, and refrigerated the pork loin. Then I konked out until 6 am. I woke with Myka warming my feet. It was too cold last night, and continues to be this morning, to put both batches in the freezer. They’ll keep in the fridge until I get ready to add them to the top loader. So will the dishes keep.

My focus now is to get myself ready for the vax appointment. Freshen up. Start the truck and warm it up. It will be a cool ride getting there, but at least not the cold it is now. (35°F at the airport. 41°F in the neighborhood. 44°F in the window.) Getting light outside, waiting for the sun to rise to warm things up.

At the moment, I’m in my leisuring alpaca poncho. I need to be in my thermal socks as well. And I will be shortly.

Not much going on at the moment, just getting myself into gear as the world brightens. Two things for today’s agenda, get jabbed and clean up the minor mess I made. Whatever else happens is gravy.

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I got my vaccinations this morning. The covid wasn’t bad, but the rsv was big needle, big dose, and I definitely felt that one. It even required a bandaid.

I needed sleep afterwards, a three hour nap helped, but it robbed me of precious daylight. But it eventually gave me the energy to put the pork in the top loader and wash the dishes. So the kitchen is back to SOP. So I’m back in between TLT, truck, chaos, and lumpin’, and not necessarily in that order.

I finished the spudamole. Potatoes, pork tenderloin, and guacamole all depleted at once, as did the open bag of cheddar (there’s a replacement). So, is it beef stew or lasagna that’s the next main entree? I may thaw one (of two) of the old pork loin sections.

It’s been a rough week, for a lot of reasons. And I’m trying to wind down, when proclivity tells me to wind up. It’s not easy missing the party, though I will be taking it easy. I want to get the truck handed over to a shop for oil, lube, antifreeze, but not until payday. I don’t want to spend money until December. I want to catch up. If I’m missing the party, which would have dented the bank account, I’m going to get back to financial balance in return for the sacrifice. I’ve been behind the curve since August, nothing painful, but still…

It’s back in the 40s. If it reaches the 30s tonight, it will be barely. Not like last night’s chill. A warming spell through the first part of the week, then a bit cooler for Thanksgiving.

The pork is still marinating in the fridge at 10 am. I had every intention of roasting it last night, but my brain had different ideas, like sleeping. I’m still not firing on all cylinders. But since it’s supposed to stay in the 60s all afternoon, I can deal with the oven working on the project. I will gear up for it. I don’t want to fall asleep while it’s in the oven. And extended marinating is not a problem. They’re big enough cuts to take whatever time I give them.

The trash bin had a distinct aroma of pineapple when I brought it in from the curb.

I’m still a little on the recovery side, low energy. Part of it is missing the party. Part of it is the work I’ve done on the truck and still have to do. Part of it is adapting to the lessening sunlight per day. Part of it is the coming vaccines, starting tomorrow morning. It’s a lot of things. Aches and pains, less than the usual ambition. But I’m on my own schedule now. Care for animals, my only imperative that’s not already covered.

Myka will get fresh nibbles today. Photos to be posted below.

(Of note, I authored this entry in standard mode, not needing a private page. Something got resolved, and it doesn’t appear to be client side.)

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A late start on the pork. Tenderloins first. Myka very much approved.

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Finished cooking before midnight, but dividing, bagging, and refrigerating won’t make it under the wire. It will take longer to cool enough. But the bags are dated and waiting. Myka approved as well.

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I still need to wash dishes too.

I have two kitchen projects for the next 48 hours, both involving a deviation in timing trash to the curb. I’ll have a 9 lb pork loin and four pork tenderloins to marinate and roast, then divide, bag, and freeze. I also have two fresh pineapples to husk (with a spiral cut extractor) and puree and freeze.

Then, at a later date yet to be determined, I have a bird to TLT, broth boil, and make dressing. It will sit in the top loader until then. I have enough to keep me busy in the meantime.

I need to focus on the guacamole. I missed delving into it yesterday. I’ll be working on it today. It can be difficult eating a plate of spuds two days in a row, especially when fully loaded.

Blue skies in the forecast, and a drop in temp. No rain in sight until the end of the month, so the truck will get attention late in the week and weekend, as it warms back up. I had to use starting fluid to get the truck to start yesterday, after the rain. Something doesn’t like moisture. But I’ll be cooking first.

I don’t need to make store runs for some time to come. I am fully stocked. I even got a frozen lasagna for some future cold spell, when carbs are a must. Chalk that up as a return to oven weather impulse. So I don’t expect to be leaving the property for a while. I have enough to do here.

I am pretty much relieved not to have to do party prep. I have too much demanding my resources to give more. Once upon a time, when I had a younger body, it wouldn’t have been a problem. This year, it is. Between demands, circumstances, and limited physical resolve, it’s just not possible. I’m just not a party couch sleeper any more.

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The puree is in the kitchen freezer. The pork is marinating in the fridge. The oven will be fired up sooner or later tonight. The temp is dropping in the house. Pretty simple, foil a jelly roll pan, set the oven at 350°F, don’t rinse the pork, and let er rip until it gets warm enough on the remote probe. The loin will take longer than the tenderloin.

I’m sitting the horde this weekend.

I made an appointment for Thursday morning to get covid and rsv vaccinations. Then the following Tuesday, the flu shot, when the vampires get me again on a routine followup.

Getting ready for the cool down. In the 30s tomorrow night.

The pressure is all off now, and what a difference. No party prep, no truck fixing deadlines, no eye on the weather, bank balance ignored… Yes, I’ll miss the party. But I’m not in voice, and it will be on the cool side. And I’ve been going through some physical things, nothing alarming, but draining. A recipe for misfortune, without doubt. But it’s a mountain I no longer have to climb. I can rest at will. Wheeeew! It’s the correct choice, but not the happiest.

I’ll be having spudamole for lunch, first venture into the mix. Not sure what’s for dinner yet. Been through the usual Sunday Ytube vid dump. I have plenty to watch to keep me distracted in the meantime. It’s just a slow day.

Overcast, but no rain yet. Upper 70s this morning, not the usual for this time of year, but not unheard of either. Gulf water is still near 80°F. Dew point at 72°F. Windows were opened early today.

Simple Sunday, nothing complicated.

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I ordered a set of four Korean bbq tongs. Lazy man’s chopsticks. I think I’m watching too many glamping vids.

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I made the store run for pork loin and tenderloin, plus bread, tortillas, minis, chips and a chocolate creme pie. There was no chocolate creme pie, so I got a coconut cream pie. And they were out of pork tenderloin, so I got a 17 lb turkey (88¢/lb). I’ll go back for the tenderloin Tuesday.

The pork will get cooked, bagged, and frozen before the turkey is thawed. The turkey requires a lot of fridge space, more than the pork would allow to coincide. I’m not out of any of the three, so timing is more a matter of convenience and weather compatibility with the oven.

It was a slow day, despite the blue skies, temps in the mid 70s, and a mild breeze and low dew point. I should have been under the hood of the truck this afternoon, but I wasn’t. I was lumpin’

I have to admit, my left kidney has been nagging me a bit. Nothing serious, just enough to make me take it easy. Likely toxins being removed from the bloodstream. I finished off the chicken and rice, but I haven’t touched the guacamole yet. Too much effort in the assembly. Slow; if it ain’t necessary, it ain’t.

Today, I bowed out of TRD this year, my inability of getting the truck back up to party spec is the big reason. I wouldn’t last without my bed and traveling amenities. Second year in a row. So I passed word on. I will miss it. But I will be back in the neighborhood when the truck is back in full fettle. I’ll get to see some, and I’ll be ready for the Fling.

Rain is in the forecast for the next two days. Don’t need anything from the store. I’ll do a typical lumpin’ Sunday and slow recovery Monday. Won’t miss a beat, with party prep off the schedule. I might even get a pork loin and tenderloin this week, start marinating.

And I’ll be eyeballing bird. Another TLT. I may go for a midrange bird this year. The 12 pounder wasn’t quite enough. 16-18 lb is my target this year. That will spread the TLT distribution better throughout the year. Tis the season.

It has been a spiral since getting the tuck running, letting go and letting it flow away. It will take a wind up to get back on the truck, but I’m just not in a big hurry yet. I need to let it fully wind down first, let my body catch up.

I managed to get the guacamole made, a little over half a liter. Actually, that’s about the correct amount for this time. I still need to dice the pork tenderloin for buttered spuds/cheddar as a base for the guacamole. Spudamole. I’ll be back in the kitchen as soon as my back permits and the phosphene activity settles down.

All the deliveries arrived today. The bags are too big, 10L rather than 4L, I’ll need to get more. And the Arctic Silver is smaller than expected, but it should suffice. It doesn’t take more than a film. At least the cookies are good (white chocolate macadamia). No weekend store run. It was too cold this morning to head to the store without a heater in the truck.

It was a cold night last night, upper 30s. Myka volunteered as my foot warmer last night and this morning. Mid 70s now, bluebird skies, mild breeze. Nice day, house open. Can’t complain.

I may try to get the spark plugs swapped out tomorrow. Time will tell.

Yesterday morning, I made a store run, dielectric grease, antifreeze and flush, oil filter, and cheddar. I got home, ordered 6 qt of Pennzoil 30HD online (due today). After that, I was a lump. Okay, I ran laundry that I haven’t folded yet, and made a savory chicken/broccoli/rice last night (Myka approved). But most of the day, I was inert. I needed it. And it has carried over into this morning. I have been of very little use.

At least this morning, I managed to do some downloading. One snarlsworth event was updating WordPress and having the editor not show up in Safari, a programming error in javascript. I’m having to create this entry in Firefox. I’m loosing my custom spell check and the left arrow goes to end of line, but at least it’s doable. Hopefully an update will appear soon and save me from having to fuss.

I will probably be making guacamole today, though I haven’t checked the avocados in hours. It could be tomorrow. I finished the eggs ackley yesterday morning, topped with the avocado that was considerably riper than the rest. I have the chicken/rice and more than enough alternatives to cover the lack of guacamole, if it’s delayed. I need to dice the pork tenderloin for the spuds.

Tonight is too cool for singing outdoors. So no jam. I can’t risk it. I have a hard enough time keeping voice at room temperature.

That’s about it. Not very inspiring, intentionally. Lump.

The truck runs like new. It hasn’t run this well in a loooong time. No revving when cold, just a proper low gas start from a stop. No hesitation, no rich mix when cold, it’s perfect. The truck definitely appreciates the upgrade. So do I. And I appreciate the cost, far less than a shop would have charged.

And I better understand the truck. I did a lot of research on the ignition system. And I corrected decades or wear and tear and “as long as it’s running” neglect. It’s probably the last vehicle that I’ll have to learn, because newer vehicles are owner repair resistant. No computer, no repair.

The store run was routine. In and out, point to point, product to product, no pondering how long before I’d be back, no impulse shopping. It was seven items, on the list, at checkout. I got 5 small avocados (on sale) and pico de gallo, and I’ll be making guacamole to celebrate. Pork loin goes on sale tomorrow. And it’s getting to be turkey time.

I thawed two chicken quarters. I’ll need a bag soon, as I have one left in the freezer (non TLC). Today is trash and recycling routine, so it was the time for prep. I’m thinking a broccoli and rice dish. The pulled pork got finished a few hours ago. So it will be the new entree, with tamales as the alternative.

I have a lot to do before TRD, ten days away. I’m not going to be able to attend the jam Thursday, it just takes too much effort to prep, effort that needs to go toward the party. I have a lot of catching up to do.

I got the delivery last night, and I divided things up to where they belong, mostly in the truck. The work light I charged to full before putting it in the rear of the truck. I was going to have a problem with two tool boxes, but I ended up getting the a larger box than first planned, so all the tools got transferred over to the new box, with room to spare. And I can undo the clasps without dropping the gate, with the shuffle. I moved the brush, squeegee, and trash bags over to the middle. So everything works now, and I will use the metal box for something else, taming the chaos.

So next is to swap out the air sensor. Fairly simple, a flathead screwdriver to pry loose the connector and a crescent wrench. (No 1″ wrench or socket in the tool boxes.) I have a feeling that this is what has been causing the check engine light to light up. And it may solve the engine problem as well. And I may replace the condenser, I’ll know after the new sensor is in. That leaves the ICM, and that waits on the Arctic Silver 5 delivery (this coming weekend), and a new set of spark plugs. It’s getting close to the end of the upgrade.

I could make a store run today, if the sensor swap brings the truck back to optimal performance. Keeping the virtual fingers crossed.

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Well… The crescent wrench didn’t loosen it, even with penetrating oil. So I ordered a 1″ deep well socket for 1/2″ drive, and I ordered a new propane torch, because something is partially clogging the one I’ve had for ages. This new torch has a piezoelectric lighter built in. So now I wait for a second delivery, due today before 8 pm. At least this delivery is free.

Now I think that I’ll foam the rim of the bathtub. Get that over with.

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The 1″ socket arrived, I swapped out the sensor without further issue, it started on its own, but rough. I disconnected the battery and let the ECM buffers drop the data from the old sensor, fired it up, flawless. A perfect run around the block. The truck is now in maintenance mode, repair mode has concluded. Condenser, ICM, buy spark plugs, radiator flush and install heater core, oil change. But hey, I have my truck back.

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So, I’m looking at a store run tonight. Avocados and pico, guacamole week! No more deliveries. Besides spark plugs, everything on this month’s shopping list is food. And there’s not that much on it. Everything else was delivered.

The foam sealer was a pain to get off the hands, worse than super glue, but it’s sealed. I need to tidy up when it fully sets, maybe cover it up with some waterproof trim tape. No hurry. There is no longer an exterior breeze around the rim.

Trash and recycling is tomorrow, so I think I’ll thaw a couple of chicken quarters, for rice or pasta. Maybe a bag of shrimp too. I need to spend a little time in the kitchen. There is some catching up to do around the house. And chaos to tame. The effort doesn’t end when the truck starts running again.

They should call it Overcastday. SSEC on GOES-East in true RGB color shows that the cloud mass is moving east, and that we’re on the western edge. That means that it will be Sunday in the very near future (10 am, which is 2 hours from now). And it will be in the mid 70s around then. Good time to start working on the truck. A little humidity (~ 80%), but it will be dropping as the dew point drops and temp rises. A mild breeze from the north.

The plan is for starting to replace distributor cap, rotor, and spark plug wires. It shouldn’t take too long. Hardest part will be matching wires and plugging them onto the right posts of the new cap. Logic 101. With a little luck, I’ll be able to drive it to get stuff I need to finish the upgrade (mostly chemicals for cleaning). If not, I may need to get a ride.

I have been doing research, and the max additional parts I’d need to order to get it running is five, three of those being relays that reside in the main fuse box. Total is less than $50 (plus tax and shipping). And I’m doubtful that they’re the problem. Just in case I’ve missed the mark. I’ve been pretty thorough.

The usual Sunday Ytube morning, fresh off the upload.

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I replaced the rotor, distributor cap, and spark plug wires this morning, and with a little help from starting fluid, I got it up and running. But it’s rough, not very good for tooling around town. I made it around the block without stalling, but it was rather iffy in places. I suspect the air charge/temperature sensor will handle most of that. I could have replaced it today, but after doing more research, I decided to wait until tomorrow. Maybe the condenser too. The ICM will need heat transfer paste to post it to the heat sink. It’s been ordered, sometime around next weekend. So far, there have been no wasted parts ordered, except maybe the fuel filter (maybe), and it was cheap. All that were installed have made a difference.

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I made a delivery order, should be on the porch in a few hours (2-4). A little over $110. Stuff for working under the hood, tool box and work light for the truck, foam crack filler, Dawn, and more. It saves taking a chance with a drive to the store and stalling out in traffic.

I plan on tackling some of the chaos tonight. I rearranged the desk drawer yesterday, and it inspired me. I didn’t realize that I had 21 pair of reading glasses, or 6 old watches with broken bands. It’s a lot more organized now. Looking for that to spread, now that the truck is at least running, however imperfectly. It inspires hope.

I changed the wire from the coil to the distributor. Didn’t help. I stopped there because of light rain. So here I am, waiting on the weather to move on to the distributor.

Not in a particularly good mood, sitting around the house. Eggs ackley, pulled pork, and brats are the entrees.

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Over half an inch of rain today, and more forecast for tonight. Good for the vegetation, not so good for truck repair. But the rain stops tomorrow and the coming week looks dry.

The next course is to replace the distributor, rotor, and spark plug wires. If that doesn’t do it, then the condenser, ICM, and air flow sensor will be replaced. For that, I need a few items from the store for cleaning. If that doesn’t do it, then there are a couple of options to purchase. I am optimistic, because the truck was running flawlessly before Monday’s rain. It can’t be that big of a problem.

Since I’m not thawing the stew yet, I think I’ll have a chicken pot pie tonight. It’s about as close to a surrogate without delivery as I can get. The pulled pork can wait.

I ran a spark test on the #1 plug, easiest to see from the cab, and there was none indicated. So it’s not the fuel feed, and probably not the sensor. It’s the spark train or controller. My bet is on the distributor or feed wire to it. And I have most of that. What I don’t have totals under $30. I need to test the spark at the coil, to make sure it’s firing. If not, it’s probably the ICM (I need a wire brush to clean the heat sink). I doubt that it’s the coil, being brand new with a 5 year warranty.

Had an eggs ackley taco for breakfast, and I snoozed from it. I had to toss the butt of the sourdough from mold starting to form. I carefully carved out a final section of the core, dumping the crust. At least I ate most of it. I think I’ll wait on the beef stew, as the forecast has warmed up. Plenty else to eat. I still have bread and potatoes for a base, so I need to think on those options.

I found a new group of Korean glampers on Ytube. It’s amazing how formulated they are. Same clothes, similar white SUVs, same tents, same routine. There are some differences, some narrate the experience first person, some are tacit with only CC story lines and aahs and grunts, some are expressed in asides. A couple don’t show their faces often, always looking over the shoulder, leaving out the expressed emotions, mechanics only. Production levels have a bottom line, but some are clearly superior, self-directed with a production company mentality and a true photographic eye for natural beauty. Others are trying.

A pokey afternoon. Digesting the sourdough and shifting motor concepts around with online catalog references. Mid 80s, dew point 70°F. Slow progress, but progress nonetheless. If I were feeling better, I’d be out after it. But it’s still a mystery and I’m looking for clues. At least most of the chores are done. Myka has wet food, she had ice water, maybe I can find a little crab grass re-sprouting after the drought. She’s not being neglected unless it’s her preference. She has taken to the couch lately.

I’m leaving the house closed to keep the temp down. It’s a good 8°F difference.

Eggs ackley is sitting on the stovetop resting. I wanted to use the pork loin before it turned funky. So it’s done and ready for a few days of breakfasts.

Still having issues with the truck, it’s trying to start, but not making it. Maybe another day or two to dry out, maybe I need to continue upgrading. The one difference now is that the fuel is rich, I can smell it coming from the tailpipe. So it’s not exactly the same issue as before.

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