Author Archives: Joel

…and were stuck with analog thermometers. Now it’s the future. I’m an old burnout who hasn’t turned a wrench for money in 30 years. The twelve people on the continent who still wear wristwatches use analog, but the humblest kitchen … Continue reading →

Had a fairly productive morning, finished the sheathing around the bedroom door and put up some stop material. I forgot how hard it is to figure out how to correctly make 45o cuts in quarter-round, but I did get it … Continue reading →

An employed suburbanite, an unemployed suburbanite, and a desert hermit. They each order a beer and have a seat. A housefly falls into the beer stein of the employed suburbanite. He grimaces at the waste and orders another beer. A … Continue reading →

I forgot all about this! Could maybe have used it a couple of days ago, but it’s never too late… Yes, the classic Redneck AC Unit has arrived at the Lair. Landlady made this last weekend and left it at … Continue reading →

To anybody trying to email me and not getting replies: Check your spam folder or something. I’m hearing you but you’re not hearing me.

Re-attached the damaged bedroom addition corner to the Lair’s frame with timber bolts – borrowed a long drill bit from Neighbor D to make it so. The bolts pulled the door’s hinge plate back into square. Then I installed the … Continue reading →

Goods are more valuable than green. I got paid Thursday for all the back-and-forth of the previous six days. I had a list of stuff I hoped to spend it on. The pile of money actually helped a lot with … Continue reading →

Memes for dogs

It hasn’t rained in several days, in fact yesterday was hot and dry though some afternoon thunderheads did rise in the south. When the weather gets unsettled we can get some scary tornado-class dust devils come roaring up the wash. … Continue reading →

Of course, this being the place where the ultimate answer to kings (and progressive gasbags) is a belly laugh, the belly laugh arrived first. Regular reader (and longtime TCF buddy) mutti sent this: Advance team of journalists left literally shaking … Continue reading →

It’s July, which means I’m up to my ass in ground squirrels, each and every verminous one plotting with all its heart and soul to break into my powershed and make a big mess of my pantry. I’ll put up … Continue reading →

I woke up yesterday with a list of things that needed doing and no ambition whatsoever to do any of them. I was scheduled to get together with my neighbor to get paid for the past six days’ caretaking and … Continue reading →

Recently the NRA’s new spokesbabe finally said something about the legal murder of Philando Castile – Dana Loesch plugged NRA Carry Guard. Which was…just about the most tone-deaf thing she could have said. And as Balko points out in this … Continue reading →

I’m stuck between things I really need to do, because I’m waiting for a phone call and know that the moment I commit to one of those things the phone will ring and I’ll have to drop it and rush … Continue reading →

I took a week or so off after the framing party to let my stump and joints heal – the older I get, the less completely I seem to have recovered from getting torn up in ’72 – but last … Continue reading →

Went up there yesterday afternoon without Little Bear – which he resented – because I needed one more marathon plant-watering session and that’s too long for him to stay in the Jeep when it’s hot. LB wishes to place it … Continue reading →

Personally I identify as an obscenely rich recluse with a private floaty island of my own. But it never seems to bring me any advantage at all. Maybe I’m playing the wrong game. H/T to BB.

This is a spot just downstream from where “my” wash joins up with another that originates in high country south of here. The – none of these have names, I just call it the south wash – runs more often … Continue reading →

…and so I hereby make the following full and public acknowledgement: On or about October 2016 I mumbled the word “Trump” while wishing for the failure of the Hillary Clinton campaign, in a room which contained a bottle of vodka. … Continue reading →

The person who’s been paying for my internet access almost continuously since 2008 made a revolutionary announcement a while ago… The Lair’s wifi hotspot is going on a new Verizon account with increased bandwidth, and I’m also acquiring a secondhand … Continue reading →