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

I have about an hour and a half to get ready for a run to Bryan, with a bank stop in Navasota. I was thinking of packing the Egee, but I had a dream that it got smashed. Now I’m not the type to see anything omniscient in dreams, no omens, just a sub-conscious trying to equal the conscious mind. But I decided to leave it here. The main reason is that I have been ask for computer help, and that usually eats all my time there.

There is plenty to do, change clothes, feed Myka, feed me, gather what I’m taking with me, etc. There is nothing the truck needs. Gas prices keep rising it seems hourly. $3.20/gal is the cheapest, average is $3,60. So I’ll be out the door shortly before 11 am.

The scooter is charged and ready for a prolonged ride his afternoon. Looking at possible routes for an extended ride.

Otherwise a slow day. Chores are done. I’ll probably cook the chicken/broccoli/rice dish, it doesn’t take long. There isn’t much else going on.

Upper 40s this morning at dawn. I’m not pressing to get started on anything. Neither is Myka, snuggling on the couch.

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Store run, a single store. I am waiting fr more items from the second box to get canned cat food. Most of the stuff today went in the snack drawer. Only one item went in the kitchen. I am too well stocked in the kitchen.

I think I decided what to make next as an entree, TLT cornbread dressing. It will use the TLT broth and make room in the freezer. But the chicken dish today.

I got about half way through the first Derian book.

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I confirmed the trip to Bryan tomorrow, with a bank stop half way, leaving around 11 am or slightly before. I should get there about noon.

I finished off the gumbo for lunch. I’m waiting for the lunch hour to end so I can start the scooter ride. Phone is at 100% charge for GPS. Temp is mid 70s, sunny, perfect weather for it. Waiting for traffic to die down.

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That was a 5 mile run, with a few bumpy streets. There was no drop in performance. I only dropped the bar one notch. And after resting the scooter a few minutes, it went back to full. By math, that would indicate a 20% to 30% drain. I would estimate at least 20 miles on a charge, probably more with rest breaks.

I saw a couple of other electric scooters, not the sit down type though. Still, I’m not the only battery powered rider in town. Nice to know that there are others.

Myka is asking to be fed, and I need to cook the chicken/rice. I’ve recovered from the ride sufficiently to get busy in the kitchen. The gumbo is gone, after all.

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I made chicken stir fried rice instead of the chicken/broccoli/rice. It suited my mood better. Dishes are done, except for the pot.

The thermometer hit the low point of the low day of the latest arctic vortex, 39°F in the window, 37°F on the back porch. The neighborhood stations range from 33°F to 35°F. It’s not at or below the freezing point, as a number of forecasts predicted. Still, cold enough for a loyal foot warmer to take her place. I stayed cocooned for as long as I could take it this morning. It was nice, but alpaca makes rising bearable.

And it’s the last time. The ides of March has long been the money spot for the last frost of the season. It’s time to put seed in the ground. The odds financially support it. This is my favorite time of year, farewell to winter.

Today is trash day. The recycling was done yesterday, when I sorted the shipping box for the scooter. No sense leaving that and other shipping stuff to sit around the house. Minimal dishes to wash, half of it Myka’s. Not much else, feed Myka, ice bin, prep a chicken quarter. A light duty day.

The high temp will be 64°F (NWS). Tomorrow to be in the 70s, a good day for a scooter ride. Thursday a good day for a bank run.

I decided to ignore the Pirouline order. It’s been two months since I made the order, and I see no move to restock. It was a low price, and that is probably why it hasn’t restocked. To cancel it would cost me a shipping charge, something Amazon never did before. So I’ll just leave it on back order, but I’m taking it off the financial records. I also dumped the link to tracking. If it shows, I’ll pay it. If not, it’s not there.

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The chicken quarter has been skinned and deboned, and the trash is on the curb. So, wash dishes and feed Myka remains. The easy stuff… I could cook chicken, broccoli, rice at any time, no rush for today. I have ample to eat today.

I am more than ready for a snooze now, though I don’t need any sleep at the moment. I just need to figure out what to do with my free time.

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Myka was fed, dishes were washed. No new chores emerged. I’m charging the new scooter, getting the charge to max for tomorrow’s jaunt. Making up my mind about dinner. I could cook the chicken, but I’m not really in the mood. I’ll probably make a sandwich, pâté or boudin are the most likely. And tater bits may also be in there somewhere.

The sun has set, civil twilight just ended. I am wondering what to do tonight. Maybe a movie. I’m not committed. Maybe browse the new books. There are many options.

Mid 40s outside, with a north wind at 20 mph/G 32.

I woke with a digestive issue, a slight sore throat, and a mild headache. Nothing is intense enough to make me writhe in a fetal ball, but it sure does slow down the morning. Not that this morning is inducive to activity to begin with. Fortunately, today is a light weight, except for the scooter shipping box.

I keep looking at the John Derian portfolios on the shelf and keep feeling a sense of shock at their size. They don’t look like books, more like monoliths. They are tomes of the truest sense. I am no stranger to the 11X14 format. But I seldom stacked them more than 20 high, much less 184 double sided, times two.

I am waiting for sunlight, and the extra hour of darkness is not welcome. If not for my med schedule staying with the clock, it probably wouldn’t be an issue. But the long dark wait for sunrise is not endearing.

I discovered that a week after I ordered the scooter, right about the day it arrived, the price dropped to $300, my target price. Oh well, mad money is truly mad. It’s getting closer to the proper daily curve. I can see why the price dropped down, with the shock of the jump in gas prices. Never mind that it’s a solution, a cheap ride.

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It finally reached the 50s, shortly before noon. I haven’t gotten anything done today except sleep. I thought about getting things done, but I haven’t. I had a dream about hunting for keys for old vehicles while on foot, walking many a mile, looking in many old dilapidated houses. Metoprolol is a dream monster.

I am thinking about lunch, namely gumbo. I should get the scooter tasks done today.

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I got the mirrors on the new scooter. Now I need to feed Myka and sort the scooter box.

Mid 50s outside, the wind is about the same as it was this morning. It’s not a day to be outside unless necessary. Not much going on inside either.

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Myka has been fed, the scooter shipping box has been torn down and sorted. Recycling is in the bin. Work for the day is done. Whew!

The temp is dropping as the sky goes overcast. The north wind persists, but it should start letting up in the next few hours.

There isn’t much to do tonight. I may start browsing through the Derian books.

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Popcorn shrimp and tater bits for dinner. There will be coconut cream pie for dessert later on.

The John Derian books arrived, and I have to say, I underestimated their size and weight. Each is hardcover, 11X14X1.5 inches, weighs 6.2 lb, with 368 pages. Massive. I need to find a place for them. They won’t fit the shelves with the rest of the library. I seriously underestimated their size and mass. The art is very impressive, paper quality top notch.

My left kidney has been complaining last night and today, though not nearly as badly this afternoon. I haven’t tried to address the scooter tasks (shipping box and mirrors) today. I’ve been sedentary and quiet, watching Ytube and snoozing most of the time. That it’s improving with sleep and ibuprofen makes me think it’s sleep toxin related, waking from a nap at the wrong time.

Sunny day, low 80s thus far. A nice day to be lazy. I’m enjoying it while it lasts. The wind is forecast to pick up and turn around from the north in about 4 hours. The temp will drop about 40°F over a 12 hour period. It will be a howler for about 24 hours. Serious layers for 48 hours.

I have a good array of items for the menu. Gumbo, boudin, tater bits, pâté, tamales, and more in the fridge, and plenty of quality quick fix in the freezer. I am thinking of a bacon gouda burger for a late lunch, now that I’m feeling better.

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A storm is approaching from the west as it forms the southern tip of the train that leads all the way to Canada, via Little Rock, St. Louis, and Chicago. Rain just started falling, hard. Temperature fell into the 60s as soon as the rain hit. Fortunately, I had closed the house before it arrived, interior ambient at 84°F. A quarter inch of rain fell in 10 minutes.

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I made a bacon gouda burger and finished it just before the storm arrive. It will be a while before I have the gumbo.

I found a place on the shelf for the Derian books. I had to pull Myka’s new scratch pads and move them to under the long table. I haven’t gone through the books yet. I have ample time.

The north wind just arrived. Airport says 32 mph/G 42. It’s rather variable, at moments, quite calm, then screaming away, downdrafts making the difference. It will level out, once the storm train’s influence fully passes.

The burger is making me want to get horizontal.

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A burger nap consumed what sunset there was. It’s still breezy and the temp outside is at 64°F. The interior ambient is down to 79°F. I’ll need to don layers in a few hours, but not yet. Bare arms are still adequate for now.

There isn’t much that I want to do now. My digestion is a little wonky, and my throat is tiny bit sore. It’s not anything to shut me down, it just takes away the ambition.

Not too many chores today. Make gumbo, wash tubs from the fridge (eggs ackley, gravy) and the gumbo pot, sift Myka’s cabana, feed Myka, refill the ice bin and Myka’s ice bag, get a fresh bag of ice, and the big one, break down the shipping box for the scooter.

In the 50s this morning, so I won’t be getting too early a start. The high should be around 80°F, a sunny day. So plenty of time today for activity. I’m not in a big hurry this morning to get started.

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11 am and I still haven’t faced chores for the day, other than opening up the house. I am generally losing steam as I age. I am still independent, just not as swiftly so. I want to make gumbo sooner than later. Myka and ice pretty much schedule themselves. The shipping box is variable, but it needs doing.

The John Derian books have shipped from Baton Rouge over six hours ago (a four hour drive to Houston), and are due here tomorrow.

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The gumbo boiled over while simmering, losing some of the broth, but not any of the rice or shrimp. Grrr. It wouldn’t have bubbled up if I hadn’t covered it while simmering. I should have checked earlier. It’s edible, but alas, the lost flavor. Quite a clean up, once the stove cools. At least it stayed on the stove top and didn’t drip into the interior. So that is the major chore to handle now.

I got the previous dishes washed. I got the new bag of ice after filling the bin and Myka’s bag. Myka’s cabana has been sifted. And she has been fed. I still need to sort the scooter’s shipping box and move the mirrors. Those can be done tonight or tomorrow.

In the low 80s. Sleeves are off. Still two and a half hours before twilight.

The books are in Humble and will arrive at the local PO tonight.

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The stovetop is clean again, and the gumbo pot is soaking in the sink. The gumbo, minus a bowl, is cooling so that it can go in the fridge. This evening will be a quick fix with tater bits.

The mirrors and box may wait. The loss of the gumbo broth took some of the steam out of today’s ambition. Time will tell how long it takes for me to get over it. At least there is gumbo to eat, just not as much. It’s a little more like jambalaya than gumbo, with the rice swelling up.

So now I need to think about the next entree. I’ll probably make a bacon gouda burger to fill the void. Follow it with boudin (in the sink to thaw) to make up for the cajun taste lost… The sad part is that I would have had seconds on the gumbo. Alas. There is ample quick fix in the fridge, tamales, pâté, hotdogs, tater bits. And the coconut cream pie. And I won’t mention the overloaded freezers.

If a non-leap year February has a Friday 13th, then March has one too.

I slept hard this morning.

Spicy tater bits are in the oven. The spuds were large enough to where four filled the pan. That means that I have the largest one left for the last of the sausage gravy. Prep dishes are washed, leaving only the jelly roll pan, which is lined with non-stick aluminum foil and olive oil. An easy wash.

10:30 am, low 60s. Not as cool as I had hoped for the oven, but it will do. By the time it’s done, the doors will be opened to air out any excess heat. In the meantime, central heat is still stirring the air around. So it still works out.

Laundry has started. That’s it for chores. I can’t think of anything else that needs doing. Ice bin is full. Myka has been fed. I need to eat an eggs ackley taco, not really a chore, but the tub will need washing when the tater bit pan is washed.

I am thinking about a scooter excursion today, early afternoon, before traffic flares. I want to get out and see how it handles down into the battery draw. I’m not thinking range test yet, just see how it handles the general terrain.

This pm, after the last spud and gravy is gone, I’ll make gumbo. The shrimp in the fridge is almost thawed, and a few minutes in the sink will finish it. Or tomorrow morning will do. I won’t be eating it today, so I’m not in a big hurry.

Tater bits are bubbling the olive oil, but not browned yet. Another ten minutes, at least.

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The tater bits are done, the largest cubes cooked through, the tiny pieces crispy. The oil is cooling. It’s about 2°F from the house being opened. Kitchen isn’t all that warm, so it worked out well.

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When they cool, they’ll get bagged and placed in the fridge. I need to finish the eggs ackley, or I’d tear into them now. They’ll be just as good tomorrow as they are today. And for any concerned about the oily sheen, that’s olive oil.

Time to move the laundry to the dryer and open the house.

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Laundry is in the dryer. I dozed off before moving them over, which is actually good, because they lost water weight sitting, reducing dryer wear and tear time.

I dozed after finishing off the eggs ackley, and I woke at the time I wanted to head out on the scooter. And I made a couple of loops, once to downtown, once just shy, taking different routes each time, a total of about 2 miles. The battery indicator was still on the full marker when I got home. That told me what I wanted to know. I didn’t carry my phone for GPS, but that is fine. The only thing I missed was noting downhill speed. I managed to cross the railroad tracks without putting feet on the ground, one of the key tests.

I still haven’t transferred the mirrors over, but I used my ears, which served me just as well. I could tell when there were vehicles behind me and behaved accordingly. All in all, a nice sunny afternoon’s ride. I saw a few bluebonnets on the ride. I won’t take it out again, since it’s the weekend, the last slot of sane traffic until Monday. Myka was sniffing the tires when I parked it.

Tater bits are in the fridge. So, now the only tasks ahead of me are washing dishes (jelly roll pan, spatula, and ackley tub), folding laundry, making a spud under gravy (final of both), making gumbo, and washing dishes from the last two. The ice bin is full, it will keep until tomorrow, when I’ll get another bag of ice.

The weekend will be back up in the 80s again, then another front on Mon/Tue that could produce 30s. It will be back in the 80s by Thursday. I expect to be making a bank run next week. I might make a run to Bryan at the same time.

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I got the laundry folded and the tater bit dishes washed. The eggs ackley tub is soaking. I opened a fresh bag of kibbles for Myka. The horde has been treated. That leaves making spud under gravy and gumbo and washing related dishes.

I will start on the scooter’s shipping box and packing tomorrow. Some will go to trash and recycling, some will be saved. I’ll be getting a fresh bag of ice. I still need to transfer the scooter’s mirrors. But I won’t be riding the scooter for four days, weekend and weather, so no hurry there.

I watched The Illusionist today, marvelous animation. A moderately sad story, but very well presented.

In the 40s this morning. I can’t say that I’m thrilled. At least I’ll be able to light the oven and roast some spicy tater bits.

I got off to a slow start this morning and haven’t had breakfast yet. It’s probably just as well, as I plan on eating a plate of eggs ackley. It’s time to make it disappear before it spoils.

I have been having a problem with texting, deleting a message activates the daily charge. There doesn’t seem to be a solution, so I won’t delete texts unless I plan to talk that day. I called customer support, and they didn’t refund the charge. Grrr.

I woke this morning with a musical “Dipsy doo” on my mind, unable to pin point it. I managed to keep it on my mind, and managed to place it from the animated movie The Triplets of Belleville (2003). I looked at a vid that discussed it, and found that the same animators made a second film called The Illusionist (2010), not to be confused with The Illusionist (2006) or the TV series (2011). I managed to find a copy.

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Mid-afternoon, up from a long nap that was eggs ackley induced. I finished the tub, except for one taco’s worth, tomorrow’s breakfast. It was a full plate, quite filling.

Myka is still going through TJ withdrawals, to the point of biting my right wrist. Felis non grata… She understands, but she doesn’t want to believe it. It more like a minor scrape, no blood, but a red line. She still gets toothy when she gets cranky. It’s usually after not getting through to me, in her perception, frustration from a failure to communicate. “Pay attention!”

I found two more items directed by Sylvain Chomet, a short animation that predates The Triplets of Belleville, called The Old Lady And The Pigeons, and the film Attila Marcel, a story of a pianist who lives in Paris with his two aristocratic aunts (French with English subtitles).

The sun is shining, mid-60s. Time for outdoor chores.

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There are a lot of birds flying over the property, drawn by the cherry laurel berries. The shadows streak over the ground in clusters. It’s dangerous to spend time outside now. (Splat) I look forward to the berries being gone.

I haven’t cooked. But there is still time in this cool spell. I’m just sedentary now. It hurts less to sit still. There are plenty of distractions.

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I wrote the last Vine review for the month (#12), for the square hanging hooks. I have plenty of things that I could review, but I paid for them in the store proper, so I’m under no implied obligation to review them. So far, I’ve received 44 items. Two reviews have not cleared, two were not approved, and two were not rated excellent. That means that 38 out of 42 were approved and rated excellent, with two recent ones yet to be determined. Nobody is perfect, especially when judged by others.

I’ve been trying my best recently to request items that I’ll use. I’m past the novelty stage, and I learned the best times to search and grab. So it’s not as tiring and futile as it used to be. But it still doesn’t reach the level of mad money. Any way, no grabbing until April.

I’m hoping to build a bit of steam to roast the tater bits.

Myka is back in graces. I laid out some Temptations for her. Wet food will follow.

I have two things to do, move the mirrors from the old scooter to the new, and tear down the shipping box and stuff. Everything else is done. I could take it out for a midnight ride. But nah. Getting it squared away, charged, ready to roll, is enough.

I got it finished right before midnight. And it took a couple of minutes to put away the tools, etc. So the mirrors are thumb screws, and I can get them moved in three or four minutes. There is a shim needed to tighten the brackets on the handlebars. They were made for a slightly heftier bike. So it takes slightly longer to move them to where they hold. And I don’t see setting the angles indoors, so it can wait until I’m sitting on the street.

I got the chores done today, so I’ll have time tomorrow to break down the shipping box. Like the first one, I’m keeping the box as a ground pad for climbing under the truck.. It will be stored behind the top loader on the back porch. So rain won’t be a problem.

I have someone in mind for the old scooter, perfect weight for it.

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Rain in the area, storms galore, but nary a drop here.

Oops, wrote too soon, there it is. Not heavy, but nonetheless, rainfall. I’m not going to fuss, we need as much as we can get.

A late start this morning, slept a couple hours later after last night’s effort. I was a little late settling down, so it’s not too surprising. I need to have breakfast and then clean myself up. It’s another hour to sunrise.

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I took the scooter out on the damp street, dodging the puddles deftly. All I can say is YES! I’m not sure if the GPS app is working properly. It’s been reading slow of what is expected on both scooters, never reaching 20 mph. But the slowest uphill climb showed 13 mph. That is much better than 3 mph. Any way, I am quite pleased with the scooter’s power performance. It’s what a scooter should do.

So now I can sit here and wait for the storm train to get here. It’s currently at Carmine, 20 miles out to the west. I can sit back and digest the eggs ackley breakfast taco.

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Nap time helped, and I woke just as the storm train reached here. And it’s raining. And the temp is dropping.

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A nice sunny afternoon, and I’m worthless. I fed Myka and me (spud/gravy)and that’s it. Wednesday is Lumpday. Since the rain passed through, I have been tempted to take a ride and test a few things, like battery draw. But nah. I’m worthless.

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The north wind has kicked in, driving the temperature down. The 70s will be 40s by morning. I washed up and got in fresh duds, ready to layer up.

Tomorrow will be an ideal day for firing up the oven and making spicy tater bits. And another entree is in order, yet to be decided, since I have one serving of gravy left. I’m wondering if I should make a weekend store run tonight. I don’t need that much now.

I would rather do nothing, but…

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I did, paid cash. Shrimp (small for gumbo), minis, pâté, sweet potato fries, vitamins. I decided that gumbo was the next entree. I’ll go with just shrimp to keep it simple. I don’t want to deal with prepping chicken.

So now I’m hunkered down for the evening.

The scooter is on its way, having left the Bryan FedEx facility about 25 minutes ago. There is no set rule that says that I have to have it on the road today. (Rain is forecasted for tomorrow. Slight chance for today.) I’d like to road test it today, but if I don’t get to it, eh… There are other things to do today.

And the last Vine delivery of the month, a pack of 16 clipped hanging hooks, is about to leave the UPS facility in Bryan.

It’s also trash day (no recycling this week). Dishes (mostly forks) need washing.

Spring Fling is April 10-12. The Saturday band schedule is packed, most shows getting 30 minutes, counting set up. I, as usual, am not one of them.

Check arrived in the mail yesterday. That will help counter gas prices.

I slept a lot yesterday, took it easy. Things were a little busy, but in a very passive way. In other words, things were busy, I wasn’t.

I’m trying to make a dent in the kitchen freezer, use up items for which I have replacements in the top loader. The intent is to create space in the top loader. I had a spud under gravy for lunch yesterday, one of the reasons I caught up on sleep when the scooter didn’t show up on time.

On top of things, today is a phone day. I was looking at SMS messages, and I got charged for a day. I have insurance bugging me, and BS&W keeps calling me. I guess today is the day that I chat with them. And a couple of social calls too.

The hanging hooks departed for delivery three minutes ago. FedEx should be getting close to town now.

Myka is sleeping through all this.

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The scooter is here, arrived at noon. The box is still closed. I need to handle chores first, then gather box opening tools.

I called the insurance agent. As I expected, they want to sell me more insurance (annual policy review). I told them that I was too busy right now.

I don’t see any rain threatening this afternoon. There were a few scattered drops on the rain board this morning, very few. Not enough to measure.

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The hooks arrived, the last delivery for a while, and the last Vine item this month. If there are any more this month, they’ll be purchased with mad money. And there will be three weeks on $300 mad money.

Nothing happened except a nap since I dragged the scooter box inside. I still need to feed Myka, wash dishes, fill the ice bin, scoop Myka’s cabana, and get trash to the curb before I start on assembly of the scooter. And it wouldn’t hurt to have lunch and refill my drink as well. 4.5 hours to sunset. I think I can get all that done, but I don’t anticipate a ride on the new scooter today. Even if I get it assembled before sunset, which I don’t anticipate, traffic is likely to be active.

Late lunch will be a spud under gravy. Well, I better get busy and shake off the sleep. I have chores to complete.

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I fed Myka, treated the horde, and filled the ice bin (completely empty, almost half a bag). And I refilled my drink and iced Myka’s water. That leaves dishes, cabana, trash to curb.

And there are phone calls to make before starting on assembly of the scooter. At least I won’t need to be outside again as skeeter bait.

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Okay, chores are done. Trash is on the curb, dishes are done. Now I can tackle scooter assembly at my own prerogative. I want something to eat first, spud under gravy. But first a break. After this spud, it will probably be bread as a base. I’ll use the rest of the spuds for spicy tater bits.

Light rain in the area, but it keeps avoiding the city limits. There are storm trains on the Edwards Plateau, moving this way. Sometime tonight most likely.

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Okay, the box is open, but only parts have temporarily left its confines for inspection. It’s complete and undamaged, as far as I can tell thus far. The frame still remains nestled. Next step is removing the frame assembly and detaching the rest of the packing. It’s the proper stopping point. I’m taking a break. I need to eat.

One thing I can tell visually, the charger has a larger casing than the less powerful scooter’s charger casing, no mixing up the voltages. They do have the same power cord, though. They can share, less clutter.

I may have it put together tonight, I might not. Depends on my stamina. Not pressing it.

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I had gravy on 2 slices of shredded bread, saving energy. Adequate.

I got the frame out of the box, on its kick stand. There is still a bit of packing left, single sheet foam wrapped around parts of the frame. The handlebars are in place but not secured. Still needs the seat, basket, tail light, reflectors installed. And the accessories transferred over from the first one. It’s still a ways to go, the nuts and bolts assembly. I’m currently charging the battery array, a good thing to do while taking a break.

The scooter won’t be here until tomorrow. It’s in Houston, not Bryan. It’s a logistic problem, not dealing with the package promptly. It took 26 hours for the package to be registered on a 7 hour leg. That’s at least 18 hours of sitting on the warehouse floor with nothing happening. Not amused, FedEx..

Had a breakfast taco this morning. Not much going on, but that is typical for Monday morning. I think I’ll snooze awhile.

We are now in daylight saving time. The official title has no s on the end of saving, but it is a common habit to add it, especially if the word time is not added. I updated my wrist watch, but not the wall clock yet. Those are the only two for me that need changing. Everything else is automatic.

I had a breakfast taco this morning. Lunch will be spud and sausage gravy. I’m not sure about dinner yet.

I fed Myka this morning, after midnight. She was a bit indignant that I had neglected feeding her, so I went ahead. The entire bowl’s content vanished before I got up this morning.

I’m down to three Vine items that still need reviews. I got seven of them written this last week. Two more will be added sometime after delivery (bead chain is out for delivery now, hanger hooks are due on Tuesday). Then I’ll ignore Vine for the rest of the month.

The scooter was in Dryden, TX at 1:54 am (CST, 6 minutes before the change). I’m not sure what it was doing on US 90 instead of I-10, but as long as it gets here intact, I’ll just accept it. It could be weather related. It’s due here tomorrow, 11:30 am – 3:30 pm. Then it will cease being just a financial hole and become an assembly project. I’ve had practice, so I’m not intimidated. I’m not sure if the rain will be gone by then. The forecast currently says that it’s pretty much gone, though it’s heavily overcast at the moment, and there is heavy rain south of I-10. Alas, I can’t predict the schedule for its maiden voyage.

It’s currently in the mid 50s, though the central heat hasn’t been running. It’s 72°F ambient inside. High today is about 70°F, tomorrow back in the 80s. I’d guess that we have seen our last frost of the season. We had 0.4″ of rain yesterday.

Going through Ytube channels this morning. Most of them are there, though one didn’t get a full upload and ended early.

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I decided to cocoon for a couple of hours and convinced Myka to join me as a foot warmer. We got up when it started raining. I wanted to make sure that today’s package wasn’t getting wet. Since it hasn’t arrived yet, it’s not getting wet, to my knowledge.

So I guess that it’s time for lunch. Bread or spud with gravy? I have both that need eating. It comes to mind that spicy roasted tater bits would be a good thing to make while it’s in the 50s outside. That would tip the scales to bread.

We just had a third of an inch of rain, with more possible. That brings the two day total thus far to 0.77′”. Still no puddling, everything is soaking in.

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The bead chain arrived, dry. It’s a fine gauge, not gossamer, but delicate, smaller than the diameter of the bead chain commonly found in the lighting section of hardware stores, for use on ceiling fans. It’s the same size as dog tag chains issued in the military, thin but sturdy. I have several ideas for it, such as a bathtub stopper chain. It’s stainless steel, so no problem with rusting. And it’s 66 feet long, no need to be stingy.

I haven’t eaten yet, a snack staving off the hunger. It’s about 60°F outside, the closest it has gotten to the forecasted 70s. Timing the high temp of the day is one of the differences with DST, having an extra clock hour before sunset. The habit will change eventually.

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Among other things messing with the tater bits was an email from Google about a 403 error on the Bottomland Blooms gallery. It took me 90 minutes to track down the problem, being that the folder had its permissions changed from 0755 to 0750. The gallery is php based, and visitors need to run executables, and the system slaps visitors with a 403 (forbidden access) if they can’t because of denied permissions.

I finally managed to find where the permissions could be modified. I had to hunt because the servers had been migrated just recently, and it modified the cPanel a bit. And I suspect that the change happened with the migration, switched to protect and not switched back.

So no tater bits tonight. Now Wed/Thu has another cool spell, so all is not lost. I’ll have the scooter assembled and parked. No more wrasslin’ the mass. It will be tested and parked,

Myka is being a brat. It’s the TJ withdrawal talking.

Every eggs ackley taco that I make for breakfast comes with a free cat. Myka has acquired a taste for frambled eggs, and she still loves pork tenderloin. So every time that I make a breakfast taco, she is there beside me, cued by her nose.

Nothing but the usual on the chore list. Ice bin will need more ice. Forks will need washing. Myka will need feeding, cabana sifted. That’s about it.

There’s not much chance of rain this morning, but there is a storm train forming just west of a line from Fort Worth down to Brownwood to Ozona. The line extends to the Great Lakes, no small system. That line will bring about 24 hours of heavy rain, forecast says over half an inch total.

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I still need to feed Myka, though I refreshed her kibbles and left treats, none of which she touched. So I’m in no hurry to feed her wet food, considering she’s wanting more TJ, which she finished off yesterday. The rest of the chores are done. They took about ten minutes to complete.

I’m watching light hearted, slightly comic movies. I’m tired of all the bad news.

The rain band is approaching Austin, rather slow moving. It’s on and off sunny here, partly cloudy skies. Upper 70s, gusty winds off the Gulf, 13 mph/G 28.

I’m looking at a spudacado for lunch, as soon as I get hungry.

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I nodded off after the spudacado. I lost about an eight of an inch of the avocado off the top, the rest was good, and I used all of the remaining. on the spudacado.

One result of my deep nap was that Myka hasn’t gotten her wet food today. It’s also TJ cold turkey withdrawal day. I’m debating whether to feed her the wet food, or let her ride the deprivation. She got a chicken purrrree, but ignored it. It’s always a rough time for her when the TJ runs dry.

Still a slow day, now in nautical twilight. I may have gravy on bread tonight. Too many potatoes in a row is tough on the digestion. I have about a pint of milk left, I could mash some spuds. Or make a cheese sauce. I’ll think about it.

It’s the weekend, by my standards. Friday is not a day to initiate, it’s a day to conclude. As a rule, I’m already battened down to hunker and stay out of the way of those who work a 40 hour dayshift schedule. I’ve inevitably done my shopping, time to kick back and relax.

I have a few dishes to wash. Myka needs tending, as always. Sausage gravy is on the roster this morning. The ice bin will probably need filling late today. Over all, light duty.

It’s overcast, the sun peeks through every now and then. Rain chance is slight today, it starts tomorrow in earnest, and carries through Tuesday. It looks like a wet weekend, which we need. We’ve been under a burn ban for three weeks. The wildflowers need it.

Gas prices went up another 20¢/gal. That makes it 70¢/gallon increase. There is no gas shortage here, just greed readily taking advantage of market circumstances on the other side of the globe.

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Dishes are done The sausage gravy is made, resting on the stovetop. Myka is bugging me for her wet food. Add putting the gravy in the fridge, washing dishes for the gravy, and filling the ice bin for the remaining chores to be achieved this afternoon. The biggest effort is behind me.

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I fed Myka, washed dishes, and put the gravy in the fridge. The ice bin doesn’t need ice yet. Today’s delivery has been put in place. I can be lazy now. I should write a few reviews. I have three that need reviews, and two more coming soon for what I received today.

I have had anything to eat today but a breakfast taco and a couple of light snacks. I should fx a potato and start on the gravy. I still haven’t touched the avocados yet. Maybe a spudacado now and the gravy tonight.

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I broke into the gravy over a gold potato for dinner. Simple, quick, filling. Too full for a spudacado tonight. I hope that I don’t end up throwing the avocados out. The lime juice works, but not forever. Oh well, they were 50¢ each, not a major disaster.

I hope that tomorrow is brighter and wetter. There is light rain in the area, and I’m closng the house, not for temperature, but for moisture.

Well, I can quit fussing over whether to buy the scooter. I have other things to fuss about. There’s finding a new primary physician. There will be a bunch of reviews to write, three now, eight more later. There’s making sausage gravy. There’s working on the truck. It looks like rain, starting tomorrow night.

The scooter is back in stock. No more Only 4 Left. That could be coincidence, that the supplier delivered a new batch, just before they ran out. And 5% discount is not that big a discount. I am not regretting getting it. I am dreading the tight budget this month. $300 mad money. It’s not all I have, by any means. But it does indicate a low budget month, the third in a row.

There isn’t much that I need to do today in the way of chores. Feed Myka, as usual. I could make a weekend store run. I could make the gravy. Maybe get a bag of ice. There’s just not a lot hollering for attention as far as physical work.

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I made the store run, $50 alternative funds. I’m good for the weekend. They have the main entrance to the parking lot blocked off for street modification. That is going to be a real headache.

Myka keeps bugging me for TJ, even after I’ve given her a serving. What a junkie. She has one more serving, then I’m really in trouble.

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I topped off the ice bin and Myka’s bag and put a fresh bag of ice in the top loader. So except for making sausage gravy and washing the subsequent dishes, today’s chores are done. I need to focus on the avocados, eggs ackley being the easiest base. That will be lunch, the last of the tuna mac being dinner.

So let it rain this weekend. I’m ready for it.

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Amazon is having serious problems with its site, making it impossible to review anything they’ve sent me. About the only thing that works properly is tracking. Nothing is due today. Oh well, I can review later when they get their act together.

I had a needed nap, waking up just before recycling pickup came by. So the bins are back in their niche, the last physical chore for today besides cooking and feeding Myka. And like I just was, Myka is snoozing.

So the afternoon is mine. I’m not quite ready to cook. It’s 82°F, a superb lumpin’ temp.

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The scooter has shipped via FedEx, though it’s only the label being printed.

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I’m feeling a little bummed out tonight. Part of it is spending that much money when it wasn’t truly necessary, the inevitable backlash. Part of it is the list of things I need to achieve, find a physician, fix the truck, and more. The return of the mosquitoes. Then there’s rising prices, gas (up another 20¢/gal), libations, etc. State of the nation overall. The state of my general health, lack of energy and stamina, the aches. It’s an avalanche of things rolled into one.

I know that things are not that bad for me. It’s spring, the windows are open tonight, I’m not broke, I’m eating well, the truck is running. It’s not that bad, at least here. I am resilient. I could be at the jam at the Pioneer tonight, but I’m not up for it.

I’ll get through it, albeit slower than I used to get through it. I’m not in the mood to make gravy tonight. Maybe tomorrow.

Gas prices have jumped 40¢ to 50¢/gallon overnight. Thankfully, I topped off the truck a few days ago.

Today is a day for cooking eggs ackley. Chores are few, so I should be able to get it made. I’ve been looking forward to having tacos for breakfast, instead of kolaches. Fortunately, I already diced the pork tenderloin, a major simplification in prep.

I ordered a couple of shelf brackets and mounting screws, to be delivered today. I’m looking at a shelf over the washer and dryer. Four Vine items are due today, currently listed as preparing for delivery at the local PO.

Windows stayed open all night. 69°F was the low temp. 76°F in the office.

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Everything due in today was delivered. Window film, two usb ports, headphone adaptor, shelf brackets and screws. I’ll let Myka mess with the box before it goes to recycling on the curb.

Now Myka demands to be fed.

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Eggs ackley is in the fridge. I haven’t eaten any yet, but I will, using avocado as a topping. I saved enough pork tenderloin for a small spudacado as well. All dishes except the pan and lid are washed. It won’t take long. That leaves sausage gravy to cook, which is less labor, possibly tomorrow.

I’ve got three Vine reviews to write. That’s the last of the chores for the day.

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I ordered the scooter. There was a 5% discount, and I jumped. Due Mon/Tue. There were only 5 in black left in stock. Mad money dropped to $300 for the rest of the month.

I was going to write reviews for Vine items, but the train of thought is shot.

I didn’t make spudacado last night. I snacked instead. There just wasn’t much hunger to satisfy. 70°F outside, 77°F in the office.

Trash and recycling today. There’s dishes from yesterday’s kitty celebration. There’s not a whole lot more outside the usual. Cooking eggs ackley is the big effort. Mopping the kitchen floor would help, not bad, but it’s starting to be needed.

A couple more items from Vine this morning, 16 hanging hooks and a tortoise pick guard square. I don’t plan on mounting it, using it rather as a coaster type protector.

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Myka pestered me until she got her TJ. Why do I do this to myself?

I slept a portion of the morning, and it helped. I’m about to wash dishes, fill the ice bin, gather trash, and mop the kitchen, get the chores behind me. Hopefully the breaks won’t be too long.

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Dishes and ice bin are done. Trash and recycling is next. No hurry on the mopping, a quick once over. There isn’t anything else on the list for today. 11 am and it’s already in the 80s.

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Trash and recycling are out in their bins, trash on the curb. That is the last of the mandatory chores, besides feeding Myka her wet food. She is hogging the LZB, so I don’t feel hurried. Mopping and eggs ackley may have to wait.

83°F, fan on. A slow afternoon. I’ll probably make spudacado for dinner, if I don’t make eggs ackley. Did I say that I’m not in a hurry?

The kibbles for Myka are not here yet. They reached the store five hours ago, still no delivery. I’m not in a big hurry for them, there’s at least a week’s worth left in the dispenser. And there’s a couple of weeks of the past flavor left.

The four Vine items are in Humble, they should reach the local PO before sunrise. My guess is that they flew from Cincinnati to HIA. It’s a little far for a 2 hour drive.

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The cat food arrived and the kitchen floor got mopped. It’s possible that I might get the eggs ackley done tonight. Maybe tomorrow.

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I got another cigarette lighter socket plug-in USB/USB-C adapter, on Vine. That makes one for each socket, lighter and utility. And it maxes me out for the month on Vine.

I haven’t cooked tonight. It looks like I’ll wait until tomorrow.

Another massive Vine dump, 25 pages. Two items selected, ball chain and window film. Neither a necessity, but what the heck. I like the art work on the window film. And the chain, while the smallest size, could have uses. The blue balloons, brass tubes, and guitar cord are out for delivery.

Tuna mac is on the list for today. Eggs ackley too, if I get the ambition. I need to start my analysis of available doctors today, so that may be a deterrent.

A humid morning, mid 60s.

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I just opened the windows as the temp reaches 72°F at 9 am. I’m about ready for a snooze.

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I am convinced that the sound of a can opener, regardless of its design, in the act of opening a can, is embedded firmly in the genes of felis catus. A cat will automatically come investigate. And a whiff of the packing water from a can of tuna (TJ, tuna juice) will cause a cat to involuntarily go manic. I hadn’t gotten the can half opened before Myka was in the kitchen, and it has been quite some time since I opened a can of tuna. She got to lick the can clean and then had a bowl (three serving spoon limit) of TJ. She is definitely a contented kitty.

Tuna mac is in the tub is about to go in the fridge, a few more degrees to go. TJ is in the fridge. So I got one entree made today., Myka’s choice. I’m not complaining, the cheese sauce is proper.

Myka also got fresh treats from a tub that was just unsealed. Another kitty joy. The word “fresh” is another immediate attention getter, instant mania. That was followed by her wet food with extra gravy. Then came the TJ.

The fan is on, pointed at the desk, less than a foot away. Myka has set herself in her slot, in the path of the air flow, sharing it with me. Ooooo, what a lucky cat she was.

It’s too late to start on other entrees today. But I got a start, and the ingredients for the other two will keep. There s a chance of spudacado tonight, if I dice the pork tenderloin.

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I diced the pork tenderloin with the setting sun streaming in the kitchen door. Ideal cutting light, timing was perfect. So making spudacado is simply a matter of assembly and heat.

Rabbits rabbits rabbits…

Going through the Ytube channels, all but one posted this week, most of them today. An impressive showing indeed. It will take a while to get through them.

And I’m going to need to get some sleep, having missed a bunch of the usual hours this morning. ↓

I applied myself to Vine this morning, starting shortly after midnight. It was a big dump, but I only came out with two items. I was being picky. I got a 1/8″ to 1/4″ stereo adapter (primarily for headphones on pro gear) and a volt meter/USB charger port that replaces a cigarette lighter unit (truck). I was hoping to get one that just plugs in to the lighter unit, but I got beat to it. From the description, I thought that I was getting one that plugged in, but alas, it was deceptive. With Vine, there is just not enough time to nitpick the details, even in the dead of night. Read and you lose. I’ll have to think about it, as the battery is getting old, and it would be helpful to see voltage rather than just the current gauge..

Deliveries due today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. Six items, all Vine. Closing February and opening March.

I’m planning on getting eggs ackley made today. I’m not in the mood for sausage gravy today. As much as I like it, it’s just not sparking a desire this morning. It will keep.

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Add one more Vine item, a double USB 3.0 port module for the truck. That brings it to 7 items on tracking watch. That one was the result of a search.

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I applied the registration sticker on the truck windshield and put the insurance card in the glove box. So I’m legally covered in appearance.

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The holographic garland arrived. They dazzle in sunlight.

I haven’t cooked today, and the sun is getting low. But never fear, I’ll get there. I just spent the day sleeping, catching up on what I missed before sunrise. I won’t starve.

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I spent money, twice. One, an online order for Myka’s kibbles, with other stuff that I could have gotten locally, for free shipping. Tomorrow is the delivery of the rest (a plug-in USB charger, heat shrink, and purrree for Myka.) For me, locally, I got macaroni, hotdogs, and Goldfish. So add two more deliveries. That makes it two deliveries tomorrow, one Tuesday, and somewhere between one and three (inclusive) on Wednesday. I won’t be spending money for a while, unless the price on the scooter drops. Maybe a loaf of bread.

Sick of watching the news.

Today is a day for cooking. Temp at sunrise was 55°F, high is forecast at 85°F. Dew point is at 50°F, I’m not sure where the dry air went. Standard Saturday chores, nothing extraneous outside of creating entrees and cleaning up after myself.

I fed and released the horde this morning, so I am now off the clock, barring an emergency. I now have only Myka and myself to tend. And I’m not in a big hurry. Neither is Myka. I may snooze first.

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I snoozed awhile. I woke with a slight headache and sore lymph nodes. I’m waiting for the ibuprofen to kick in before I get busy.

Sunny, 80°F. Moderate breeze off the Gulf.

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I got set up for making tuna mac, the water was starting to boil, and I found the mac was infested. Oh well, I can get more pasta, just not today. Tuna rotini? A momentum killer, to say the least. What to do with boiling water?

Not much else happening. I guess I’ll figure out a quick fix. No shortage there, spudacado is an option if I dice the pork tenderloin. Hmmm.

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With my ambitions dashed, I ate a couple of hotdogs. That’s called going low. But it was easy and gave my stomach something to do. Myka had nibbles too, kitty’s revenge (cat eats dog).

Windows were closed at 8 pm. Central heat isn’t on, though, indoor ambient is adequate for short sleeves at 76°F.

The holographic garland is due tomorrow. It’s in Humble, Tx and will be at the local PO in the morning for Sunday delivery. The other three items, blue and gold balloons, 10′ guitar cord, and 1′ X10″ brass tubes (2), will be here Monday or Tuesday. I hit it big yesterday on Vine by being there after a late night dump, before the feeding frenzy arrived. The brass tubes will used as pipas for the bodhran. Amazon is having in-house tracking issues on their site. A weekend thing, waiting for the coders to get back to work to fix it.

Farewell to February. Not the most typical month, but by no means the toughest.

Mad money returns, and the big question is the scooter. I’m not jumping on it yet. Nor on anything else. Temptations for Myka is the only thing on the shopping list. Minis and tamales for the weekend, maybe. They could wait until Monday, as far as that goes. I’m not in any big hurry to spend money.

No internet bill yet. February has a way of throwing things off.

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Well, I went to the store anyway. Temptations, minis, tamales. The light fog was condensing on the windshield, the wipers saw use. So I’m home for the weekend.

I have horde sitting duties tonight, tomorrow morning.

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Sun has set, civilian twilight. Mid 70s now, down from 88°F. I got the avocados peeled, mashed, and in the fridge under lime juice. No hurry on the spudacado. I will need to cook tomorrow, at least one entree, if not two.

I also got the ice bin filled. I need to wash forks, I’ve run out of the preferred set. That is all that’s left to do here. Put up the horde in a couple hours. Pretty lazy day today.

The library is smiling. I now have the collective works of the primary five cartoonists in the National Lampoon Comics. Mary K. Brown, B. Kliban, Vaughn Bode, Edward Gorey, and Jeffery Jones. Such delightfully warped visions. Such fond memories. The measure of how they changed my life is incalculable. I have them all now to enjoy at my beck and call.

Myka is stirring mischief this morning. Then again, I was playing music. I may have to bear the burden of blame for that. I gave her pulled pork as a seditive.

The month looks to end with highs in the mid-80s. The house will be open. Definitely springtime. *sigh*

The carpet seam tape that I ordered from Vine is at the local PO. It should be here today. It will go in the office supplies box with the rest of the tape.

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12 hours to payday, tick tock. *yawn* The only thing on the shopping list is Temptations for Myka. I could probably add a few things, minis, tamales, etc. But I was pretty thorough whittling down the mad money. No internet bill yet, no Piroulines from Amazon.

Waiting for the carpet seam tape to show at the front door. And lo and behold, there it is. That didn’t take long waiting. Myka took her time sniffing the package. It must have been interesting. And now it’s a stored away, still sealed. There’s nothing else to be delivered at this point in time..

There isn’t much planned for the afternoon, except maybe tuna mac, getting Myka her TJ.

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Nothing happened for the afternoon. I watched a rather long movie, and a couple of Ytube channels. I had a chicken salad sandwich. Slept. Didn’t think about money, except the movie money in the movie.

Not a whole lot to talk about as the sun sets. Not a whole lot of energy to form complicated thoughts worth discussing. It’s much more the simple moment of the present, a blank slate. Relaxed. No cooking, but Myka was fed.

Apple finally charged me for a purchase that I made two weeks ago. So mad money ends up at $3.36. I can handle that.

The Idyl – I’m Age book is in town, but the PO hasn’t registered it yet, too early. It will show up within a couple of hours. The book should be delivered in about 7 hours.

Not much planned today, maybe get a fresh bag of ice. Make sandwiches. Lump day.

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The house was opened at 9 am. Myka has been sitting at the doors and office window soaking up the fresh air, taking in the sounds. Breeze is out of the SSW at 19 mph/G 27. There’s no clouds in the sky, a little hazy. Dew point is in the 50s. A nice morning.

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$5 worth of gas and a bag of ice. A quick run took care of the last of the errands of the month. The truck only needed 2 gallons to top off from local errands this month. It was a close fit on the ice bin and Myka’s bag and water container, but I managed to empty the bag. So the run took care of the end of the month neatly. I’m $1.64 under the limit. It seldom gets that close.

So now I’m set through tomorrow. On Friday, it starts all over again. The price on the scooter is steady, no dip yet. I’m in no hurry to jump at it.

The book should be here within two hours. I’ll not be fooled by rubber chickens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-fluUQApO8

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No sooner did I save the above than I heard a blunk from the front door. It’s here.

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I could not get through the whole book, despite it being under 100 pages. Too much visual information per page. But alas, the joy. A perfect addition to the library.

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It hit 83°F earlier, it’s down to 78°F now. Enjoying it.

I finished off the previous batch of pulled pork. Then I napped. The day is winding down now, and I have 2 forks to wash. Myka has grabbed the LZB, I need to refill my drink. Typical lump day.

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Trying to figure out what I want for dinner. The ready options in the lead are chicken salad, lasagna bowl, or chicken fajitas. That I can’t decide says something about how hungry I’m not. I’ll probably wait until something stands out from the possibilities.

I managed to finish Idyl – I’m Age. Now I’m considering getting the collection A Life in Art. I’d have to settle for a used copy, as it doesn’t seem to be in print any longer. It contains many of the book covers that I’ve owned, Fritz Leiber and others. There is also The Art of Jeffery Jones, also used only. Idyl was the important one, and it alone would suffice. Options for the future to keep in mind.

This small area of the Texas countryside has a 20°F temperature gradient, from 45°F here in a small area of town (happy to say that) to 25°F out in the countryside. Airport shows 32°F. This is all inside a 6 mile long area.

Myka, dishes, laundry, freezer, trash. Those are today’s chores. None are happening until it warms up a bit. Tomorrow morning’s low is around 60°F. High today is in the mid-70s, tomorrow, the 80s. Waiting for the coolness to depart. Especially for rearranging the top loader for the pulled pork…

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Using every trick in the topology textbook and micromanaging, I got the pulled pork in the top loader with zero push on the lid. It was very micro… And the trash is gathered, it just needs to go to the curb. Laundry just needs detergent and a push. Myka and dishes are grumpy about being ignored. But it just turned noon, so I’m not worried.

I’m making out a shopping list. Produce, chicken salad, bread, penne noodles, alfredo sauce, pan sausage, and milk is it so far. Roughly $35. I’m planning sausage gravy, and I’m thinking tuna mac (primarily for Myka to get TJ, it’s been awhile). I’ll probably go again Thursday, when I have a better idea of what Apple is going to do. So I’m not aiming high yet. After today, it will be about $0 or $32 mad money, which is ideal. Maybe I’ll think of something else that doesn’t need freezing.

The house is open. Wind is out of the south.

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I made the store run. I expected to spend around $37, it totaled $33. So there is $4 left on mad money, $36 if Apple dawdles. I’ll make a run on Thursday if need be.

So everything is put away. Groceries, dishes, laundry, et al. I have a fork and a paring knife (pulled pork) to wash. The dust kitties are starting to pile up as Myka starts shedding her winter coat. I need to do a little vacuuming in the daylight. Things are pretty much behind me at the moment. I’m not counting projects, there’ll always be projects.

Can’t complain..

The roast was flipped at 5 am. The bone has started detaching, but it is still clinging in the core. Halfway there, another seven or eight hours to go.

Slept well. Woke to Myka bathing between my calves. The thermometer in the window reads 42°F, the airport says 38°F. I can’t say that I blame her for finding the warmest spot in the house, next to the slow cooker, to get wet.

My beard is starting to get too curly. I will have to trim it back, but not today or tomorrow. I’ll wait for it to wam up a bit.

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The bone was pulled at 8:30 am. It came loose clean, but it was not easy to pull from the T shaped cross-section, separating part of the roast. From here on, it’s tenderizing. It will separate now, but it will be easier to chew with a few more hours. I’m in no hurry to tackle the separation and bagging.

It’s reached 51°F in the window. Forecast high is 62°F. Except for the roast, it’s a lazy day. And the roast hasn’t gotten all that busy this morning, a few easy minutes here or there. Myka approved of the nibbles.

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The Idyl – I’m Age book has shipped from Omaha, expected Wednesday.

I tested the pork, and I could pull it now. Myka definitely approved, devouring the whole sample put before her. But I’m going to leave it in a a few hours longer.

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The heat was turned off and the surface skimmed at 1:10 pm. Total cook time, 14.5 hours plus coasting. It will take time in the large crock pot to cool down to a safe handling temperature. I will begin draining the broth with a ladle in a bit to hurry it along.

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4 pm, about half way through the processing. The lard has been separated from the big chunk and bagged. I haven’t bagged and weighed the meat yet. Taking a break for my back. About a third remains in the crock. So about half way there. The messiest part is behind me, but not all the mess. No guess yet as to how much of the 11 lb roast is final product. Bone, fat, and liquid all add up. I have about 2.5 qt of broth, with 1 qt of chicken broth as a starter. That’s a 3 lb loss there. Maybe 6 lb of pulled pork. Maybe 5 lb.

Well, back to it. I want to be done before dark.

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5 lb 2 oz. 5 bags. A bag every 2 months, 3 to 4 sandwiches each. Heavy in the summer. 18 sandwiches, $23.50. $1.30/sandwich for a $12 sandwich at a bbq joint. The batch, $18.50 meat only, would have cost $100. Worth the labor. No photos of this batch. Now for the dishes…

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…

My back gave out before I got to the dishes. But I got the ice bin filled, I finished the pate, and the pulled pork and broth are now in the fridge. All the dishes are consolidated and compressed into a small area of counter space that won’t make it difficult to use the kitchen. It can wait awhile.

It’s civil twilight for a few more minutes. 60°F. And I’m ready to relax before it cools down, no need to cocoon.. My body gave a good effort, I got everything needed in the fridge, all the trash tossed. I’m ready for trash tomorrow, no recycling this week. Laundry to wash the new Ts, plus dish towel for today’s duties and hand towel. The usual for Myka. Get the pulled pork in the freezer, somehow. That’s about it for tomorrow. Wednesday will be getting a new bag of ice.

Not sure what I’m watching tonight. I’m kind of in the mood for something stupid.