Author Archives: Joel

Never thought I’d live this long, to be honest. I’m curious: Those of you who actually have to live in the world – have you formed the habit of facing each new year with at least mild dread? Because I’m … Continue reading →

Yeah, I’ve been hiding inside despite a spell of not at all unpleasant weather. For some reason the same thing happened to me as happened this time last year: I got blisters on the end of my stump that progressed … Continue reading →

We’re three days past the solstice and it has barely mattered, with heavy overcast and lots of rain. Overnight the sky cleared… …and now everything outdoors is frozen solid. But it’s nice to see the sky again. What with what … Continue reading →

It’s the solstice! Shortest, darkest day of the winter. I’ve been going to bed early and staying in bed late… …and Tobie has been letting me do it. Guess he figures, same as me, if it’s dark out it must … Continue reading →

I’ve had nothing but trouble with Ian’s new batteries, and for no good reason I could see. No matter how charged I thought they were by afternoon, the next morning the system had shut down with a “low voltage” error. … Continue reading →

I don’t really do gun forums anymore but I’m happy to hear that the same old arguments are going on in the same old way, over the same old trivialities. 😀 Hell, I’m old enough to remember people arguing endlessly … Continue reading →

Looking like he lost 80 pounds and maybe six inches in the bargain, but he’s back. He’s mobile-ish with a walker but in good spirits.

This newish game camera takes lousy night pics. Also, this coyote has become so bold as to leave me piles practically next to the cabin. Never used to happen, don’t have any idea how to deal with it since it’s … Continue reading →

D&L are not having a good time. D is still in the medical center in the biggish town about 35 miles away and he’s not improving. His ribs and collarbone are doing okay under the circumstances but his hip isn’t … Continue reading →

Heading into mid-December it hasn’t been very cold at all. Dipped barely into the teens a couple of times, briefly, that’s all. This morning it got proper frosty, though… Seriously I haven’t even been burning a morning fire most of … Continue reading →

I am rubbish at this electrical stuff. And local vendors are rubbish at selling me stuff. An abridged version of the whole trying episode… Last month Ian’s batteries finally died. And they died all together, too, as though stuck there … Continue reading →

Yup: On December 7, 2008 I began my scribbling, more or less as a way to get myself through a cold dark winter with very little human contact. Didn’t expect to keep doing it, or that people would want to … Continue reading →

Tobie made out like a burglar today: Three Jeep rides! And he got to see the nice lady! Three times! 8:30 on Sunday morning. I didn’t have very much planned: Needed to go take some voltage measurements at Ian’s but … Continue reading →

I’ve spent the past week or two learning the limits of a good-quality portable generator. Never used it for anything but power tools before, and never more than one at a time. Turns out when it comes to running household … Continue reading →

Yesterday was gloomy all day. Overnight rain, a little morning rain but the clouds never went away. I spent most of the day in the sittin’ and readin’ chair and Tobie… …after several attempts to get me up and throwing … Continue reading →

First propane purchase. It’s down almost fifty cents a gallon from last winter, making it only too much rather than far too much. Guess I can save the difference to buy holiday ammo for good girls and boys…

Took a long truck ride for nothing. Nobody there, nobody answering the phone. Try again next week sometime. I did get to help Neighbor S load drywall, but that’s the only useful thing I’ve accomplished so far today and a … Continue reading →

Sometimes I think I take this ‘hermit’ thing too far. If I’m remembering correctly it has literally been years since I last visited the big town about 50 miles away. But today’s the day. I’m so excited my stomach is … Continue reading →

The vital coffee-brewing portion of the waking-up procedure was unimpeded this morning.

Somebody in the previous post suggested that there was probably water in the kitchen regulator, freezing overnight. I had already come to the same conclusion and so was not surprised when… …I removed it and water poured out. Somehow it … Continue reading →