Author Archives: Joel

I polished off that box of fifty Wolf rounds and then (sob) mag-dumped almost a whole box of the good stuff as fast as I could – and the Arex worked just fine. So there’s just something about most 115-grain … Continue reading →

I got an email yesterday from Regular Reader Kentucky saying he tried to leave a comment and only got an error message. Can’t help noticing that the newest comment on the blog is two days old and I was expecting … Continue reading →

I just now thought of something that should have gone into the post below. There’s been a sea change in the way people spec solar panels since I first got involved with the issue. They used to be basically the … Continue reading →

I’m extremely lucky to have a neighbor who both a) installs solar power systems for fun and profit, and b) is actually good at it. Also, the social security thing could have happened at a worse time because I’ve spent … Continue reading →

Nothing unusual about Tobie going nuts at something outside his window in the middle of the night… …but it’s been a long time since his nocturnal visitor left a calling card. I was even able to easily track the coyote … Continue reading →

When you live on scrounge, and also do labor gigs for neighbors, and also live deep in the desert where neighbors can be kind of transitory because they move here thinking it’s a good idea and then move away when … Continue reading →

This is my Arex Delta Gen 2, which I acquired late April – and which I want to like a lot more than I do… In specs it’s exactly what I wanted: a very modern plastic striker gun with a … Continue reading →

Still, calm, bright, hot… After all the moisture of the past several days, the forecast called for Monsoon to take a break for a while. Today, at least, the forecast has proven dead right. It’s just after noon and we’re … Continue reading →

Just got back from Senior Day at the Palace of Food, AKA the Safeway in the biggish town about 35 miles away. And while it’s usually pretty busy, today it was packed with people either sauntering the wrong way or … Continue reading →

This is the strongest, though hardly a flood. Around 4 this afternoon, after the rain. And then here’s the wash a few minutes ago, when I went back for an evening cool-off shower. You can’t ever tell till it’s over … Continue reading →

Not too hot, no thunder. Send picture of no thunder.

Finally finished repainting the Lair’s porch, except for the roof over the stairs, which requires pulling the stairs away. I’ll do that bit when I set up the ladder to paint the wall over the bedroom addition. I’ve been working … Continue reading →

There’s quite a lot of comments as well as a couple of direct emails from people trying to help me with my bedroom heater situation, and I haven’t been very responsive. I’m not ignoring you, I’m just sort of up … Continue reading →

Get a red dot, they said. It’ll fix your problems, they said… And it does. Really. You have to learn how to use a pistol all over again… …and there are obvious issues, none that aren’t worth the price of … Continue reading →

So I installed that new thermopile in the bedroom heater, right? And it fixed nothing. I didn’t even know what it did: Thought I did but I was not right about that. So it’s supposed to produce current and … … Continue reading →

Yesterday was water day so I didn’t get any painting done. Today I hit it early before it got hot with the front and side window and door trim… Phoebe has finished up her baby-raising duties and gone off to … Continue reading →

The topic may have come up from time to time. And I came by my attitude quite honestly. If you spend 45-50 hours a week working, plus a frustrating 2 hour/day commute, would you rather be handed a beer when … Continue reading →

I’m supposed to be painting right now. I’m working on the porch, starting from the bottom and this morning is/was scheduled for removing [what passes for] the gingerbread and painstakingly painting the middle section. Unfortunately… …right now the weather isn’t … Continue reading →

June in the high desert is often – not always – the hottest month, depending on what Monsoon does. It can get hotter in July and August but if Monsoon is doing its thing the heat in those months is … Continue reading →

It’s water day. All the empties are already in the Jeep, and all I need to do is get some quarters and deal with this bottle here… …which has a little less than a gallon left. I hate when the … Continue reading →