Jerry CGI+

Today, I discovered just what a series of loops it is to deliver a sample to the hospital lab. Having to check in after waiting 15 minutes, just for a drop off. The good news is that the sample was negative, no unruly polyps.

I’m almost over the urinary tract issue. It’s gone from being abject misery to a mild annoyance.

Windows are open. Myka wore herself out with a sensory extravaganza. I’m rather enjoying it too. The rest of the week through Sunday should see open windows.

Tonight is payday. I’m looking at a new 4T external drive, a vet visit, but little else. Trying to build reserves after last month.

Still working on the spaghetti and tamales. Jambalaya coming up.

Been dealing with a prostate issue, seemingly brought on by a toxic party slush (jalapeño, etc) in my digestive tract, a case of chemical burn. Can’t leave the house for long, as I need to stay near the bathroom. It doesn’t take much fluid to trigger the need. It’s rather uncomfortable, but improving a bit now that most of the slush is out of my system. It’s putting a strain on my whole body, headache, fatigue, etc. Been sleeping a lot.

It rained all day yesterday, a Pacific jet dumping continuous rain for over 12 hours. It wasn’t heavy, no lightning, but it kept falling. It was in the 40s all day and night. A warming trend starts on Monday.

I managed to get in store runs Friday and Saturday mornings. They weren’t big, but they filled in the gaps. So I’m good for a while. I made spaghetti sauce on Friday, so I’m doing well in feeding the digestive tract some bland bulk. I got the replacement latch for the hood of the truck. I may replace it today, if I feel up to it.

Things are otherwise going well.

Got my flu shot today. And after drinking plenty of water, I got a retest of my blood work. Everything that was askew is now within proper limits. My doctor is happy, the prescriptions flow. That closes the door on the busy week prior.

Now I get to be lazy for a while and munch at my leisure. Tonight is gold potato/pork loin/cheddar/avocado. Tomorrow is smoked turkey/bacon/provolone sandwich. After that, sketti. (Ground chuck is in the sink thawing.) Chores are currently done. I can rest and get through the flu shot side effects and fully recover from the party. No hoops this weekend to require my jumping. Only the bread going bad before the turkey sandwich would require a store run.

Windows were just shut, and they won’t reopen for a while. A wet front is blowing through tonight, gusty winds, 1.3″ of rain forecasted. So it’s a case of serendipity that it all shuts down at once. It’s welcome, I need the rest, snuggle up and stay warm. I met the deadlines, and they’re gone. My time is my own for the rest of the month. Next month (a week away), I can pick up the effort and see the dentist and vet, get the rest of all that behind me.

I have enough gathered to keep me busy, occupied, distracted, and otherwise capable of passing time.

Landed 28 hours ago, unloaded. Almost finished unpacking. Just about caught up digitally. Almost caught up on sleep.

The good news, I got home with a fully charged battery on the truck. Brakes need a little bleeding, but no leaks.

The party was a good one. I got to play on Friday and Sunday, and I sang harmonies with Alicia on the PA on Saturday. It was a good musical event for me. The percussion went over well, music I knew, not too loud, added a dimension, it was appreciated. Cabasa, bones, spoons, wood block, tambourine, and clapper. I played the Egee too, and sang with full voice. It was good musically. I came home witha foghorn voice.

Lots of notable in their absences, those whom I wish I could have seen. But the crowd had plenty of catching up, more than enough to tire out my laugh lines.

The location worked well. Ample room for camping, the barn was a good focus, and everything needed was there. Only thing missing was wifi. A good location.

And now I’m back home and glad to have the LZB2. Doctor appointment Wednesday. I didn’t overdo anything, so I think I’ll recover enough for a blood draw.

Store run tomorrow morning, I think. Not much, script, flautas, and a hood latch for the truck are the big items.

I ran a number of diagnostics on the electrical system, and I have just about solidly confirmed that the issue is the dash voltage gauge. When cold, it reads normally, but after a few seconds, it starts dropping a few degrees. So my speculation is that something in the circuit is increasing resistance as it warms up from current flow. No matter what the gauge reads, the VOM reads a solid 15V with the engine running. $10 – $20 for a new gauge.

So the fluids have been checked, the tires topped off at 34 psi, fuel cleaner in the gas tank, batteries charged, it’s ready to roll. TRD, here I come!

Bath, laundry, pack, partially load the truck, eat, and prep the house for Myka are today’s chores. Finish loading the truck tomorrow morning, grab ice, and boogie. Easy list for 20 hours to departure. And the process has begun.

The calm before the tempest.

Swapped out the alternator, after purchasing a new one to shortcut getting transportation. When I took the core back for testing, it tested good. So no refund. I checked everything electrical with a VOM, and it looked good. So I’m surmising that the dash voltage gauge is faulty, misreading due to old age. There are behavioral clues that this may be the case. But to hedge my bet, I went and got a new 1 year battery, to be on the safe side. If the battery dies on the way somewhere, I have two replacements, which should either get me there or get me back home, depending on how far the first one got me.

So I feel safe heading to TRD. Hopefully, I’ll make it there instead of turning around and heading back home. Warrenton is half way. Friday will tell the future. I may even make it the whole way, if my suspicions about the gauge hold true. THE VOM showed 12V across the battery terminals, right where it belongs. I may need to get a new voltage gauge, easy one to install. Digital would be nice.

So while it was an expensive day ($250), it didn’t break the bank, and I will be heading toward TRD without further shopping. All I need to do is gather, load the truck, grab ice, and boogie. I have a day and a half to do so.

And if and when the new alternator goes out, I will have one to swap out, and they both have lifetime warranties. No more issues with getting a ride. Same with the battery.

Today got up to 80°F. Tomorrow’s high is forecast at 66°F, same as Friday. Saturday shows 77°F and Sunday, 81°F. I shut the house early to retain the warmth. Friday night will be in the 40s, but in the low 60s Saturday night. I’ll have plenty of alpaca with me.

Washed the sheets and pillowcases in the truck. I’ll be comfy in bed, at least, and warm with the alpaca blanket.

I’ll be packing Egee, the black guitar accessory bag, the bodhran, beater bag, and a big toy bag. (Clapper, bones, spoons, cabasa, bunch of stuff.) Even if my finger tips give out, I’ll be able to bang stuff together.

4 bags of ice (16 lb), $6 for a 48 hour stay. Only boudin needs staying cool, and it’s well sealed and cold going in. The rest is for drinking and sharing. I won’t be leaving much in the fridge.

Packing light. Clothes, bedding, music, food, meds, furniture, and the standard truck package. Pretty basic, very flexible. Knock on wood.

One way or another.

This is the week of TRD prep. At least in theory. So far, it’s all been mental prep, logistics. I am packing light, minimal luggage. Boudin and Piroulines. Drinks and ice. Change of clothes. Bedding. Music. Not a big mass to gather. But I need to get the truck fit for the road.

I’m not too worried, but there are distractions and energy is low.

Finished the risotto and tuna mac. Bread and spuds are the main base now. I might thaw a pork loin section. I have plenty to last until the party, no big shopping until next week.

Myka has taken to the oat grass with more enthusiasm than I expected.

Had a blood draw this morning, after an 8 hour fast. The fast is always worse than the jab, because it lasts so much longer. The non-HDL cholesterol was 124 mg/dL, which is in the optimal range. Waiting for the other results. Scheduled an appointmment for the day before Thanksgiving. I should be recovered from TRD enough for that.

It was a warm day, sunny, windows open, easy breeze through the house. A delightful day. Got another bag of ice for the freezer. I need to get more ones or more quarters. Go hit up the bill changer at the car wash, if my supply starts running low.

Well, I ended up with rice (risotto) and pasta (tuna mac) in the fridge, so jambalaya and sketti are out for next in line. No idea what will follow, but I have time. I had fajita chicken tacos for dinner. Only perishable items are in the crisper.

There isn’t much in the works for the immediate future, but the next week and a half will be busy, leading up to TRD. Building steam for the task ahead. I have been managing. Chores are getting done, projects are a little slower.

It’s been 24 hours since the US shifted from DST to ST. I am one of those who feel that the sun should be at zenith during the noon hour, all the time.

I live by the sun, a child of UTC, not by the clock, so theoretically, a change in time zone shouldn’t be that big of a thing for me. But it is. Not in the classic way, by all those who live by the clock, but it warps the data stream. All UTC internet clock servers have changed time for standard events.

I discovered that my microwave lost six buttons on the control panel, and the clock set is one of the dead ones. While I dislike looking at DST being out of sync, I dread a power loss that will send me into flashing clock syndrome. Will this detail force me into buying a new microwave? Plots and schemes have flowed like wine.

I’m already considering buying a couple of 4T external drives. (75 mbps fiop is brutal.) And Myka is due a vet visit. And TRD happens in two weeks.

Blood draw and alternator swap are planned projects this week. Need to start getting ready for TRD. Long range forecast shows nights in the 40s.

Working on a menu for the week. It’s down to either risotto and spaghetti, or roasted garlic mashed potatoes and jambalaya. I don’t want to do successive rice dishes, and the milk needs to be used. Had spud/marinated pork tenderloin/cheddar/avocado for an early dinner yesterday, followed by a brief coma. Second one today. Finishing the pulled pork tonight.

Myka’s oat grass is just now sprouting, first tips emerging from the soil. The crabgrass is all but gone.

My bath pillow got placed on the wrong truck, and it made a 15 minute drive in 5 hours and 15 minutes. Hence, it won’t be a day early as posted. It’s 7 inches wider than the current one, which will become a head rest on the wall. I’m tired of cold shoulders.

I got Myka’s oat grass planted, now sitting on the window sill. It’s just in time to miss the approaching rain. Also got another bag of ice for the top loader. Trash is on the curb. The kitchen is in order, everything put away. Plenty to eat in the fridge. No need for a store run. Time to kick back and relax.

I have burned quite a bit of energy since I got over the Moderna booster side effects, catching up on things. Well, I’m caught up. The todo list is down to truck and medical, nothing else. Well, maybe a little light sweeping.

Weather is cooling, a front coming in from the west. A train of storms is nearing from the west, extending into Mexico. Forecast calls for 1.5″ over the next 24 hours. Ready for it.

I need to do digital house cleaning. That is the one area where I am lagging badly. Living all those years with obsolete computers spoiled me for a lack of version maintenance. Then again, it’s the price of owning a state of the art beast. My problem is that what I’ve got installed works well enough, no real need to stay current. I have gotten most of the issues with OS 12 battened down. Default Folder, Cookie, Safari extensions, etc.

I still need to get audio processing organized. I’m still learning the hardware, but when I get done, I will probably start installing some of the library. So the need is drawing nigh.

Start. Rub: brown sugar, sage, marjoram, basil, paprika, garlic, cayenne. Sweet yellow onion. Chicken broth, apple cider vinegar.
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6 hours in, flipped.
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11 hours in, boneless, flipped again.
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Looks smaller than it is.

Cooked on a Tuesday, trash on the curb tomorrow. To my dismay, turkeys go on sale tomorrow. *sigh*

I think I have finally gotten through the side effects from the Moderna booster.