Author Archives: Joel

They’re on their way this morning. ETA Tuesday evening, I think more likely Wednesday morning. The neighborhood is putting out the welcome mat: There have been three offers of lodging including Landlady’s house which is what we’re going to do. … Continue reading →

While I was in the big town 50 miles away the other day to visit the (shudder) DMV, I also bought a real new dog bed. Yeah, with a tear in my eye, too. What that thing cost, if Laddie … Continue reading →

I just put this thing up! And I’ve already had to repair it twice. You think there may be something wrong with my construction plan? One thing’s for sure – the flash flood overwhelmed that whole area. Probably due to … Continue reading →

So yesterday morning I told Landlady’s sad tale of trying to visit her desert place at the height of Monsoon. It’s an old tired joke that she always brings bad weather with her, but I must admit this was a … Continue reading →

Okay, look: You could almost say the Department of Motor Vehicles is what drove me to become a hermit in the desert. It’s not literally true, but the DMV symbolizes everything I find intolerable about life in “civilization.” Sweartagod I … Continue reading →

Yesterday was a perfectly pleasant day, aside from being hot, right up to virtually the moment Landlady arrived. It hasn’t rained at all in almost a week but yesterday I sat out on the porch in the late afternoon and … Continue reading →

This morning’s main task was shortening what used to be the Fortress of Attitude into Li’l Gitmo. …you may recall that was the morning’s main task day before yesterday, too. And it will be Sunday’s morning main task. Tomorrow and … Continue reading →

Last fall a neighbor asked me to haul off a perfectly good propane barbecue. Beginning this Spring I started learning how to use the thing to grill meat, something I was never quite enough of a suburbanite to gain any … Continue reading →

Didn’t mean to leave it a week before returning. It’s the busy season, brush trimming isn’t part of the routine yet and I’m fitting it in among other jobs. This time I upped the power level a bit… With the … Continue reading →

If you were a state governor and found yourself with the power to arbitrarily outlaw any little thing you wanted, what would you choose? Apparently this is the situation New York Governor Andrew Cuomo finds himself in. I don’t know … Continue reading →

Today’s project was supposed to be converting the Lair’s chicken yard into a more practical dog kennel. Seemed simple enough. Finish cleaning out the deep litter. Take the top off the coop, take the coop off those tall pedestals, turn … Continue reading →

…not a lot going on right now. I do have a new project planned, that will take a few hours and substantially change the yard’s profile. If I can get off my ass, finish breakfast and put some pants on. … Continue reading →

…and your main path to and from your cabin as well, I suppose… is that, in the very nature of it being a riverbed, it isn’t always dry. Just kind of marking the event. Last night the wash ran for … Continue reading →

Because otherwise they’ll make wrong choices. Like use plastic straws. Yeah. Somebody who makes up laws for a living really said that. In Santa Barbara, California. About using plastic straws.

Two dead and one still alive – and more durable than the others. From the beak I’m guessing it’s some sort of finch? Sigh – I really need a better chimney cap. I go through this every Spring, but for … Continue reading →

And it only took till August! I finished installing and caulking the trim around that front bedroom window a couple of days ago, and with a quiet sunny day before me there was no reason not to finish painting it … Continue reading →

Well – not precisely dry. Got full marks on liquid refreshment… That’s all the propane bottles I’ve emptied since sometime in late March, I think. Though the one currently feeding the cookstove might be getting a little low. But I … Continue reading →

Via Claire, so far it’s only in Illinois. So far. Elementary schools will need a new curriculum plan to teach kids how this blessed new commemoration can best be celebrated. But I’m sure they won’t find that difficult. They’ve been … Continue reading →

I’m thinking Shakespeare needs a re-write. How about “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the professors.” Prof says ‘wealth redistribution’ key to ‘sexual fulfillment’ Northeastern Illinois University philosophy professor Tyler Zimmer claims that “wealth redistribution” could boost “sexual … Continue reading →

The Gulch is getting a new Official Dog. This is Laddie. He’s a 7-year-old Corgi, formerly belonged to Mama Liberty, has only ever been the only dog in the household and sees no need to change. He’s good with people … Continue reading →