Author Archives: Joel

Kept smelling gasoline. Should have checked earlier, because this thing cost me more than half a can of gas. Under heat-induced pressure it has been pissing a very tiny stream of gasoline for a week and a half. No idea … Continue reading →

I have found the heaviest thing in the world. Why did he think he wanted this? What did he plan to do with it? Was it only a practical joke on me, that took its sweet time paying off? Whatever, … Continue reading →

Nylon strapping is useful. When I first set up the chicken yard outside the cabin, I needed some top cover against sun and raptors. First thing that came to mind was this big cargo parachute that T had dragged home … Continue reading →

This is going to be hilarious to watch. Schumer Targets Possible Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett Yeah, this’ll be fun to watch for the memes alone… …and yet, in those few moments when I find myself taking American governance … Continue reading →

Sure hope you’re happy… Shook up this can of water sealer yesterday evening, read the instructions and was dismayed to see the “Don’t walk on it for 48 hours” instruction, which would have given me pause back when LB lived … Continue reading →

Yes, you saw it here first. I have this game I play with expendable commodities. It has a serious enough basis – since I need to keep stocks and can’t just run to the store whenever, I need to know … Continue reading →

It goes against my nature and training to spend any more money on the porch’s temporary floor, but I do have to concede that certain readers are right about one thing… Monsoon Is Coming. And while I do hope to … Continue reading →

I had to break out the Official TUAK Camera for this – which as it turns out I still don’t know how to focus when zooming heavily, so bear with me… Yup, that bird – tentatively identified by a TUAK … Continue reading →

I’m from Michigan. Winter is not new to me, and before I moved here it held no special dread. I knew before I moved here that high desert winters are cold, but I shrugged and said, “I’m from Michigan.” Which … Continue reading →

An actual thing that actually happened… The California Supreme Court says state laws cannot be invalidated on the grounds that complying with them is impossible. The nice thing about California law is it doesn’t require me to come up with … Continue reading →

I keep getting blindsided by reminders that Little Bear doesn’t live here anymore. Finished a peanut butter jar yesterday and I swear I was halfway through turning around to offer it to LB when reality hit.

The Lair’s paint came in a big heavy expensive 5-gallon jug courtesy of Big Brother, so I needed something less cumbersome to work with when I was doing brushwork. Settled, naturally enough, on an empty #10 Mountain House can. When … Continue reading →

Say, I never tried this – or even considered it. I assumed Micarta, like canned vegetables and detective novels, only came from giant factories in China. But M. Silvius is far more adventurous than I.

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To rip off H. L. Mencken, I am impatient with their haunting fear that someone, somewhere, is having a good time. Mostly it’s just funny, but now one of them has gone too far. Here’s someone who literally wants to … Continue reading →

Four years ago Bayou Renaissance Man gifted me a scout scope, to compensate for my post-surgery eyesight which is better than ever at long range and utterly gone at short. I bummed a WASR belonging to Ian that had one … Continue reading →

I’m getting interesting results from having relocated the gamecam to the wide bend in the wash, but the target stands is a lousy location for obvious reasons of the incoming fire variety. Particularly since I’m hoping to sight in a … Continue reading →

I’m still working on building up the numbers, but in terms of prosthesis-supporting textiles I’ve never been happier with my current arrangement. Which doesn’t mean you won’t sometimes rub a big bloody blister in the bottom of your stump when … Continue reading →

Good thing they called me from the feed store. Wax on… Wax off. My back problem enjoys a good ironic joke, it seems – I did my part in getting the hay stacked in the barn at full speed and … Continue reading →