Author Archives: Joel

What a difference one little foam pad made. Last night the bedroom temp went two degrees lower than the night before and I slept like a veritable rock. Winter has not yet arrived, but we’ll be getting nights in the … Continue reading →

😀

Not especially cold, not even a record for the season. It went two degrees colder one night last month. But I wasn’t on an air mattress downstairs last month. Thanks to Unfamiliar Bed Syndrome I didn’t drop off till probably … Continue reading →

I was hoping to get some hardware in town this morning, but I’m never sure a Saturday trip will happen. So I spent the waiting time putting switch and outlet covers on, then took the opportunity of the trip to … Continue reading →

Found myself humming that song this morning. Little Bear and I took a nice walk looping around toward Landlady’s place to tend chickens, and on the way I got to thinking about drywall anchors for closet and book shelves. Never … Continue reading →

I woke this morning to the knowledge that there was absolutely nowhere I had to be, absolutely nothing I had to do (beyond the standard quotidian chores that keep the wheels on) and absolutely nobody I had to talk to. … Continue reading →

I’ve got materials for a third coat but I don’t think I’m going to do that. There were bits that were still a tiny bit tacky this morning after 24 hours. If this coat dries as slowly as the first … Continue reading →

Mourn with me, brethren and sistren… I’ve probably had these jeans 20 years. Didn’t actually wear them much in summer since moving here, which is why they lasted as long as they did. Started patching them last year but the … Continue reading →

This is my bedroom floor… …on which I laid the first coat of urethane 4 hours ago. And it’s still not dry enough to walk on, even without boots, for a second coat. Plus the smell is killing me. I … Continue reading →

Actually that’s Ian and his mom about a month ago, and LB was hoping they’d let him out and/or give him food. But whatever. I have learned something everybody already knows: When you raise livestock – or are standing in … Continue reading →

I’ve been going up the plateau twice a day since last Wednesday to take care of T&S’s gardens and animals. Noticed that this one property I pass has tracking solar panel racks that actually sort of work. Morning: Noonish: Evening: … Continue reading →

My Jerry cans for gasoline are still all working, but all in all they’ve been a disappointment. I found myself in an auto parts store this morning on an unrelated matter and decided to at least see what plastic jugs … Continue reading →

History is dotted with bizarre revolutionary movements that found brief local success, generally through exploiting a power vacuum. They rule through wild promises and terror, first purging “others” they can demonize as looters and wreckers, then turning on their own … Continue reading →

I can never tell from a paint chip in a hardware store what it’s going to look like on the wall. Then when I start to smear it on the wall it always always looks terrible. I have to force … Continue reading →

Here’s something funny I stole from Claire’s Cabal.

This has not been a great week for Lair construction. In fact it’s just been a bad week. I spent a lot of money on the wrong ceiling paint and so lost five days’ work. By this time I hoped … Continue reading →

Hee… Neighbours ‘thought man was terrorist’ for flying Jack Daniels flag They saw something, they said something. What could possibly go wrong? Y’know what would be funny? If you infiltrated one of those ISIS marches waving a JD flag. It’d … Continue reading →

Feds ban listing ‘love’ as a food ingredient The Food and Drug Administration sent a letter to Massachusetts company Nashoba Brook Bakery on Sept. 22, rebuking them for, amongst other things, including “love” on the ingredient list for the company’s … Continue reading →

“Do you know what stupid is? Stupid is continually telling a large portion of the population that they’re the cause of all social problems, you hate them, they’re Literally Hitler and you wish them dead. And then telling them oh … Continue reading →

First thing in the morning. Before coffee. WAY before breakfast. Before I feed the chickens, even. Ghost has never been my favorite dog – mostly because I’ve never been his favorite human. He was smart, quick, a very useful watchdog, … Continue reading →