Category Archives: Uncategorized

I needed to go to town yesterday to get some hardware for two stalled cabin chores. While there I would stop at the post office to get some small packages: The post office has been an issue lately because I … Continue reading →

…than Tobie puts into choosing the exactly right spot for his morning poop. It usually goes on for several minutes, requiring multiple locale changes and a lot of minute terrain examination, and is the principal reason for the long morning … Continue reading →

It was a weird winter – perfectly predictable that Spring would get it wrong as well. It’s damn near mid-May and I’m still sleeping in a hoodie with the bedroom heater on but that has to be coming to a … Continue reading →

Week before last when my brothers were visiting we went to the Lowes in the big town about 50 miles away to get cable for a re-wiring job that’s been put off till I can get a second new charge … Continue reading →

I put it on the Arex in mid-January, so about four months ago. And I like it! I was really shy about spending the money, it retails for more than the pistol does, but I’ve found no reason to regret … Continue reading →

I’ve been sitting inside watching rain fall and wind blow, wondering where Spring went but this is supposed to be well over by tomorrow. Or maybe the next day. It certainly isn’t as bad today as it has been – … Continue reading →

Three weeks ago I installed the new MPPT charge controller that Big Brother sent me, and while I can’t say it had a revolutionary effect on my electrical power, I will definitely say that it had a much bigger effect … Continue reading →

“I hate it that you do this!” I have to be careful how I yell at my computer, because… …Tobie’s right there. He’s smart, but not so smart he can always tell when I’m yelling at the ‘pooter and not … Continue reading →

Any time I start messing with water bottles before leaving Tobie goes to his bed and doesn’t give me a problem, because he knows those are never “let’s go for a Jeep ride” Jeep rides. But other times are up … Continue reading →

Long-time blog readers probably know that I like cats. I would have at least one cat but don’t because … I dunno, maybe the Lair just isn’t big enough but they insist on going outdoors, especially at night, and most … Continue reading →

Long ago I grew quite superstitious about the DMV. Back when I was Mr. Suburban Man it appeared impossible for me to get anything DMV-related done in a single try. Turns out it still is. One of the things Big … Continue reading →

Now I just have to research how to install it. Can’t be too hard, I’ve seen these in the yards of people a lot less handy than me. Then I have to scrounge at least one bucket full of gravel.

It’s been a very unusual week. Big Brother has been here four times over the years but I have an older brother that I haven’t seen in something like 30 years and they both came to visit. So I wasn’t … Continue reading →

Okay, I went to the prosthetist office yesterday and got my socket adjusted. It’s not perfect yet but I was right about the problem being a matter of adjustment. I still have the same problem but it’s much moderated. I … Continue reading →

Wow, yesterday was not a nice day. Temps in the mid-20’s, howling wind, bundle up like it’s January. Most days in January aren’t that unpleasant. This morning… Cloudless sky. Frosty at first, of course, because of all that new moisture … Continue reading →

First words out of my mouth this morning… Really shoulda checked the forecast before bed yesterday. Regular readers may have noticed a certain trend in my recent posts, which could best be described as “absent,” and they deserve an explanation. … Continue reading →

There are two kinds of charge controller for solar power systems: Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). The first kind does exactly what its name implies: It modulates the pulse width of the square wave current … Continue reading →

I like where I live. And every now and then a total stranger will remind me why. Regular readers might know that old Uncle Joel likes his knives. In terms of how much use it gets, this right here is … Continue reading →

For the record: Not out here it isn’t.

It snowed till well after dark but the cold didn’t hold on, so at dawn it was already a soggy, muddy mess outside. There’s so much moisture in the air that it’s foggy… …which of course is not a big … Continue reading →