Author Archives: Joel

I’m intermittently getting drips from the front of the Jeep’s engine, even after replacing the thermostat housing and gasket. So Monday I brought home a gasket and a new tube of sealant, and we’re trying it again… And if this … Continue reading →

I have to chuckle at myself over how much bitching I’ve done in the past few months. On most earlier years a winter as harsh as this one has been would have driven me right out, if I could have … Continue reading →

…that would drive those gun grabbers who make their bones demonizing the AR-15 into convulsions… The older ones are C&R eligible. 😀 No background check, no waiting period, delivery right to your door – if you have a C&R license, … Continue reading →

We haven’t had a lot of wind for the past few days, so tracks in the wash haven’t been automatically wiped out… Looks like I’ve been taking a chihuahua for a morning walkie the last few days. Maybe a pomeranian. … Continue reading →

That’s right! I…failed to complete digging out the drainage trench behind the cabin. But I did make progress, and one more good session should finish it. Then I need to do something a little more elaborate about … the bridge … Continue reading →

…trying to get through a high school algebra test. But he appears to be having more fun. “What’s the point of this, exactly? Oh, this tunnel thing is cozy, think I’ll stay here for a…what does she want now…I wonder … Continue reading →

It hit sixty degrees today! And no wind, light cloud cover … time to dig out the back ditch. The drainage ditch from the gully behind the cabin had filled up with silt again thanks to those two big ash … Continue reading →

Yeah, another post about the weather. Sorry – we’re sort of betwixt and between here and nothing of any real interest is going on. Not great for blogging. But we’re getting out of the crappy weather brought on last weekend … Continue reading →

I keep forgetting the sink works. Went to boil some water for dish washing this morning, and reached for the water bottle. It’s been less than a week, and prior to that I went over two months without running water … Continue reading →

We’re still up to our collective ass in mud, but if you get out soon enough it’s just nice crunchy ice under your boots. So I got a nice walkie this morning, for the first time all week. Haven’t decided … Continue reading →

It’s another coldish, cloudy day – though without all the snow and wind that made yesterday such a perfect day to stay indoors with the curtains shut and the woodstove roaring. Too much mud to consider wanting to go for … Continue reading →

“If I live through this, it’s gonna make a helluva story.” No, I have no idea what’s going on here. Just thought it was funny.

Looks like I might not be off the hook on paying to get the Jeep fixed… When I fixed the really major thermostat housing leak on Sunday I filled the cooling system and ran the engine for half an hour … Continue reading →

So I guess there’s this big scandal about the rich/n/famous bribing the dumb-as-rocks kids they bought at Versace (or wherever those people get their kids so as not to ruin their figures) into ivy league schools? Even CNN and MSNBC … Continue reading →

I hate everything. Started raining at 5:30 yesterday. Rained all night. Not raining at present, but that’s clearly up for revision at any moment. It’s basically supposed to rain and/or snow for the next 2/3 days. I just went for … Continue reading →

I found some pipe insulation at the hardware this morning that changed my plans… This works so well I’m inclined to believe I’m actually using it just the way it was designed to be used. I intended to get some … Continue reading →

I’m an idiot. I broke the first rule of automotive diagnosis. I was a vocational teacher! I must have intoned a hundred times the key to profitable diagnosis: “Always check the easiest thing first.” I didn’t do that. I didn’t … Continue reading →

I can’t keep the rules straight. It’s so confusing. Or maybe since I’m a straight white male I don’t get any victim points for ageism or ableism, which would simplify things a lot. Anyway I’m going to go ahead and … Continue reading →

I love TUAK readers. I complained about blowing out a finger in my favorite work gloves … and found myself with the new first-world problem of where to store all these *&^% work gloves. Other than that it was mostly … Continue reading →