Happy New Year 2021

The consensus seems to be good riddance to 2020 and that 2021 will be much better.  It's a nice thought, but I think it will be more of the same until we can get a majority of people vaccinated and work through the details of getting back to some sort of normality.  Going back to the office, dining out, having drinks at the bar and gathering with friends and family will likely not return to any semblance of normal until late in the year, or possibly 2022, I fear.

More important is that there is now actual hope for a vaccinated end to this pandemic.  Hang on to that, encourage it, do your part when called upon and let's work toward that future and it will come to be.  I believe that because I have to.  How about you? 

Happy New Year to you all.  The ones I read, the ones I love, all my friends and all of you who take the time to read me.  Whether you comment or not, I can see you're there.  Thank you.

Snowy Firepit

Yesterday morning Google Photos reminded me that indeed I did have a firepit after Christmas on that date last year, but for some reason I never posted about it.  So I checked the weather and the winds were light and the temperatures moderate (just above freezing) but there was snow that would be starting later in the afternoon.  Never mind the snow, I was going for it and having a fire!

I'm glad I did as it was actually pretty ideal outside for a late season fire.  After a couple hours the snow came, so I let the fire die down as I stood around it, poking at it now and again, sometimes while listening to music.  I had to take my chair inside the garage as the snow was getting it wet.  It was so very peaceful getting snowed on and watching the flames.

The snow was sticking to the ground by the time I went in, and we got about 2 inches over the next few hours to blanket everything once again.  But this is nothing, really.  We already have a Winter Storm Warning for Tuesday/Wednesday that they say to expect 6-8 more inches, but we'll see.

Below is a one minute video from yesterday afternoon, link here for email readers.  Get comfortable, take a deep breath and let it out slowly, then watch the video and maybe you'll feel some of the peace I felt while out there yesterday.  Here's sending some peace your way.

Merry Christmas 2020

Yes, it's been a bad year.  Lockdowns, masks, sickness and death.  But we made it this far and there is hope with the new vaccines, but that doesn't help us yet this holiday season.  A basketball game on TV and a Zoom call with immediate family is pretty much all we have planned today.  My wife will see her dad, but that's not unusual as she's pretty much his full time caretaker these days.  Almost all our snow has melted so it's not even a white Christmas this year.  But we must to try to stay positive, and I do have hope for a vaccinated future.  It will take time and there will be more challenges yet, but we'll get there.

Wherever you are, I hope you're making the best of things today.  Merry Christmas, everyone.

Christmas Fire Video

Have you ever used one of those long, soothing background videos for something to put on your TV or computer monitor?  Like hours of watching fish in an aquarium, or a babbling brook in a woodlands setting?  Around Christmastime a full screen roaring fireplace is popular.  I've seen and used all of the above at one time or another, and now I found one for 2020.  Enjoy.

Solstice Firepit and Holiday Plans

Happy winter solstice, everyone.  Winter officially arrived at 4:02 a.m. this morning, locally.  While there has been some recent melting, including some today with temps in the upper 30's (F), there just hasn't been enough to get me out by the fire for this one.

I was hoping, it just wasn't meant to be, and I'm afraid there will be no more opportunities until spring.  In a couple days here we'll go south of the freezing mark and it looks like that's where we'll stay for the foreseeable forecast.  It was a good ride, and I had more fires this year than I ever imagined I would have in a season, but thanks to covid it was my only escape, my only real pleasurable time outside the 4 walls of the house for almost all of 2020.

I don't know if I mentioned it here, but sometime during the last several fires I noticed several loose bricks, so come spring there will be a little repair work needed.  Last time I used an adhesive specifically made for outdoor fireplace blocks.  It was more expensive, but I wanted it to last - and more than just a few years.  I think in spring I'll use Liquid Nails or similar adhesive and see how long that lasts.

So, dear readers, you won't have to listen to me go on and on about it and post mostly firepit pictures for at least several months.  Let's hope life gets back to normal sooner than later, or I'll end up doing it all over again next year!

*               *               *

Christmas is less than a week away now, and we don't plan on going anywhere or seeing anyone, probably just a Zoom call like we did on Thanksgiving. I've got gifts sent off to the younger niece and nephew, and some cash mailed to the older ones.  We've given mostly great gifts to all of them for many years now, but as they graduate high school and become adults this will end.  I was going to call it a day with their generous lump sum graduation gifts, but I think we'll continue to give token cash at Christmas for a couple more years until they turn 21, then I'm done.  I have a few more years of picking out gifts for the younger ones, teenagers now, but then plan on the same for them.

We don't really get gifts for the adults in the family, just a little something for my Mom, like a relevant puzzle or something fun she wouldn't get for herself.  My mom, of course, gets us all something even though I tell her it's really not necessary, but she enjoys it.  Things are done a little differently on my wife's side of the family, but certainly nothing too extravagant.  As for my wife and I, we didn't do much this year.  She told me what to get her and when I couldn't think of anything I wanted she just got me a little something, I guess.  But she has a January birthday, so I'll have to up my game pretty fast.

What are your holiday plans this year?

Just Weather Again

Welcome to winter.  Forty-eight hours ago we were on our second 50ºF day in a row and I was out enjoying a rare weekday firepit.  And today, well....

A winter wonderland, picture taken just a few minutes ago.

Two days earlier, much more relaxing.

I don't normally have a fire when I have to get up early the next day, but with sunset before 4:30 p.m. and a very mild December day I did just that on Thursday.  I got off work at 2:00, had the fire going about an hour later, stayed out until after 5:00 and was inside in plenty of time for dinner.  Then yesterday morning it started raining until turning over to snow in the early afternoon.  Even then, it wasn't until evening that the snow started sticking.  And it continued overnight and is still going, currently projected to finish in the next hour or so.

My back is still touch-and-go so there's no way I was going to pick up a shovel, but with a support belt and what turned out to be one more warm layer than necessary I was able to push the snow blower through the heavy and wet white stuff to get things cleared while my lovely wife used a shovel for the steps and more.  We'll have to go out again later to clean things up when the snow is finished (and after the Badger game this afternoon) but now it will be much easier.

High temperatures for the next week are projected to be right around the freezing mark so not sure how long the snow will last.  I guess it depends on how many of those days are sunny.  But one of these days it will snow and stay until maybe March.  I hope today is not that day.

Back is Back

 I have two sayings when someone expresses sympathy for my back not being good; it's just part of the joy of being me, and, everyone has something, this is mine.  And I thank them for their expression.

Everyone knows I have a bad back.  I've had one neck surgery, two back surgeries and came close to having another one a couple years back ago.  I've been through this so many times, but this last episode has been a bad one.  Maybe a month or so ago I was having issues on my lower right side.  That lasted about two weeks, then moved to my left side.  I believe my left side was trying to compensate for the right side, which is why it moved over and has gotten worse since.  No sense going to the doctor yet, he would only give me muscle relaxers which I already have, and maybe some pain pills that I don't want and they don't really help the issue by just numbing it.  If I miss another day of work, though, I will have to contact my doctor for a note.

At work I have a stand up desk and a very good chair with good lower back support.  I was reminded of this when I went in on Saturday for a couple hours.  A poor decision on my part as I was so tight I couldn't even straighten my legs all the way, but I managed to get the needed work done in a couple hours.  At home I have two chairs, one with a more upright, adjustable back that I use for work and one with a fixed back that leans back and I have a lumbar roll on it that I use for relaxing.  Once it's more safe to go out and shop, I'll be trying out new chairs that will combine all these features.  No cheapie this time, it will have to be a high end, more expensive chair but it will be well worth it.

What I've been avoiding saying so far is that it's much of my own fault.  I've fallen out of the habit of doing my daily exercises and with the colder weather our neighborhood walks have ground to a halt.  Today I will start trying to change that.  I just made it around the block on a walk, though it was slow and I got slower as I went.  I have an icy/hot patch on my lower back now and will attempt my exercises when there is not a cat napping on the bed.  Exercises are basically planking and holding, and I do them on the bed because it is the most comfortable for me and getting up off the floor just ain't what it used to be.

Back problems are very common, I am not unique, and I know several others with issues and I'm sure you do, too, if you don't have back issues yourself.  Exercise is the true key, keeping those muscles in my lower back in shape while not hurting myself in the process.  Now I just have to do it and keep up with it or this will happen more often.

The picture is from a firepit last Friday afternoon.  (If you look just above the peak of the porch you can see where the branch broke off that blocked the road, from a few posts ago.)  I was trying to be careful then as I already ached, but firepits do usually end in at least a small backache for me.  The forecast does not look good for this weekend, so perhaps the last fire of the year, but not if I can help it.  Now I have to get up and move as I just can't sit here any longer.  Take care of your backs, people, you only have one and it affects everything you do.

New Fence

Yesterday we had our back fence replaced, and wow!  A side by side comparison really shows just how old, rotten and beat up the old fence was.  There were no real issues installing it, thankfully, and we gained a bit of our property back.

Neighbor Jane, on the right in the above picture has her back fence on the property line.  Neighbor Dave, on the left, has told me that his fence is a foot or two this side of the property line because when he installed it he didn't want to put it up a little hill he has at the back.  What they ended up doing is moving the fence line closer to the actual property line by several inches by the compost bin and the other side maybe just an inch or so, basically splitting the difference again.  So, no, it's not perfectly straight across the yard but you can't tell by looking at it.

Also, I wanted it straight across on top and there is a slight dip in the ground in the middle so while it is at ground level on the ends the middle is about 2 inches or so above the ground.  I can easily fill that in come spring, then the hostas will cover it all.  

Overall, I'm very pleased.  And after seeing it without a fence I am so very glad we have it.  It gives us so much more privacy back there and we don't have to look at the neighbor's odd junk behind and alongside their garage. I should have done it last year as the cedar would have been a bit cheaper but the miser in me wanted to get every last bit of use out of the old fence.  Oh well, it is done now and looks pretty good, I think.

If you're interested, pictures of the process will be after the break.

Thanksgiving 2020

 

Snow and Fence Weather

Last year by this time we had gotten about 15 inches of snow, this year only .1 inches so far - until today.  Neither is unusual for us, and today it started snowing before light and continued until around midday.  Currently it is raining, so most of this snow won't make it until tomorrow.  And if it does it will not make it much longer as through the weekend high temperatures in the 40's (ºF, 5-10ºC) are expected.  Which means I should be able to get at least one evening by the fire. 

Speaking of fires, I thought my last firepit of 2019 was between Christmas and New Year but I might have been mistaken.  According to my pictures - and I usually but not always take some pictures - the last fire was on the winter solstice, December 21.  I can only hope to have another for this year's winter solstice, but every fire now could be the last of the season.  

I think I mentioned here that our rotting back fence was going to be replaced.  That was supposed to happen on November 10, but they called that a rain day.  The next day I got a call that they only had the 4 inch boards and wanted to be sure I was okay with that rather than the 5 1/2" I ordered.  No, I was not.  See, there has been a shortage of cedar this year, so they can order all they want but they'll only receive a portion at best.  I only need 40 feet of fence replaced and I want the same as I have but new.  I don't think I'd like the look of 4" boards on the 6' dog-eared back fence.  Yesterday they finally called to reschedule my fence replacement for this Monday, after the holiday weekend.  It's forecast to be cold that day with a high temperature just under freezing, but I'll be out there keeping an eye on them often.  My main concern is that they do not attempt to move the compost bin, they'll have to pre-build that panel before installing.  Cross your fingers they set aside the 90 or so boards needed for me.

I'll put some recent, somewhat interesting pictures after the break.

LLP Bonus - Eskimo Callboy and Skynd

I was going to save this for a later time to space out the music posts, but I just don't have much to say currently.  All is well; eat, sleep, work - you know how it goes.

There are two other acts that have caught my attention this year, Eskimo Callboy and Skynd.  I haven't heard enough of them or know enough about them for them to be worthy of a full LLP post, but I am intrigued and like what I see so far.  Both these artists are very different, but I enjoy lots of different music.

Eskimo Callboy is a German band that has been around for about a decade or so, and I do remember hearing the name before but it was on a local radio station so I probably dismissed it as I really don't pay a whole lot of attention to radio to find my music.  They've been described as a mix of metal, comedy, hardcore and electronic.  I don't care what you call it, this song is very catchy and the video is hilarious in an eighties workout video kind of way.

Eskimo Callboy - Hypa Hypa

Skynd is a little different, to say the least.  Her music is dark and eerie, yet I find it catchy and interesting.  She doesn't have a whole lot of songs out, 7 or 8 from what I can tell, and they all have a serial killer kind of theme.  Literally, her songs are about serial killers and the songs are named after the serial killer she is singing about.  The latest song, though, is a little different as it's just called Columbine.  If you forget, it's the high school in Colorado that two kids shot up back in 1999.

Skynd - Columbine

Latest Listening Pleasure 37 - Code Orange

This year has been terrible for the music industry.  Live shows and tours have been postponed, rescheduled, and now are starting to be postponed yet again.  And with digital music being consumed practically for free, live shows are how most musical artists survive.  Yet time moves ever forward so albums still get released, videos still get made, and many artists have turned to the internet to put food on the table.  Code Orange is one such band, having released their latest album, Underneath, early this year in March, just in time for the rest of their plans for the year to get cancelled.

But this band has moved forward as best they can, and have put some good livestream shows together over the course of the year.  First, in March, they played their first livestream show, Last Ones Left: In Fear of the End, and it was very good.  Later, at the end of July, they had another, but this time it was set up like an old MTV Unplugged show.  Under the Skin got rave reviews from fans and critics alike as their music translated to acoustic better than one would have thought.  Then on Halloween they did it again, back to a full heavy concert feel with Back Inside the Glass (a paid livestream, no link available).  A truly enjoyable show and happily a very different setlist.

Code Orange - Sulfur Surrounding (from Under the Skin)

I was lucky enough to see all those shows, and I look forward to more.  But enough of the acoustic, here is the title song from the album Underneath.  A tune I find very catchy, indeed.

Code Orange - Underneath

Now, I didn't know a whole lot about Code Orange (formerly Code Orange Kids) before this year, but I've been learning.  What I find really interesting is how this young band has evolved over time.  One guitarist used to be the bass player.  The keyboards and electronics guy used to be on guitar.  And the frontman used to be the drummer, might still be for the studio as they list the current drummer as a session musician.

The band does have what I find to be quite a different style and sound, yet I like it and find it refreshing and a bit unpredictable as sometimes it seems hard to catch the rhythm but it always turns up in an interesting way.  Vocals are shared by the female guitarist, frontman and keyboardist, a mix of clean singing and growls.  I never find my next favorite band when I'm looking for it, it just shows up when it wants.  I'm happy Code Orange showed up, and continues to be active in these times.  I also look forward to what this band does next and will be there to support them, whatever that may be.

Previous LLP Posts:
LLP 1 - Pain
LLP 2 - Nightwish
LLP 3 - Die Antwoord
LLP 4 - Pain part 2
LLP 5 - Andrew Bird LIVE
LLP 6 - Nightwish part 2
LLP 7 - Paramore
LLP 8 - Newsted
LLP 9 - U.D.O. LIVE
LLP 10 - Nightwish Imaginaerum Movie
LLP 11 - Kiss
LLP 12 - Rick Springfield
LLP 13 - Hyrax
LLP 14 - In This Moment
LLP 15 - Faster Pussycat LIVE
LLP 16 - Sebastian Bach
LLP 17 - Cradle Of Thorns
LLP 18 - Amaranthe
LLP 19 - Lindemann
LLP 20 - Halestorm
LLP 21 - Garbage LIVE
LLP 22 - Arcade
LLP 23 - Nightwish LIVE
LLP 24 - Ace Frehley
LLP 25 - Darkc3ll
LLP 26 - Dementia
LLP 27 - Rammstein
LLP 28 - Marilyn Manson LIVE
LLP 29 - The Harp Twins LIVE
LLP 30 - Diamante
LLP 31 - Steel Panther LIVE
LLP 32 - Scum Of The Earth

LLP 33 - Marty Friedman LIVE
LLP 34 - Buckethead LIVE
LLP 35 - Alice Cooper LIVE
LLP 36 - Poppy

LLP 37 - Code Orange

2020 Election, Final Thoughts

Well, maybe not my final thoughts but I probably won't post about this again and 'second thoughts' carries a different meaning.  It took several days, but we got there.  I've heard very little from the orange one since the race was called for Biden, just a few flagged tweets and threats of lawsuits, and I find this rather surprising.  Maybe he's being advised to lay low, but he's too impetuous to stay silent for long.  It would be nice if he would just go quietly, but I'm not sure he could if he tried.

Tomorrow will be interesting to see if they follow through and file tons of lawsuits or not. or if he will possibly concede and perhaps even congratulate his opponent (ha!).  This will still take time to play out, but seeing what I have from him for the last four plus years I don't see a peaceful transfer of power happening.  In fact, part of me wants to see the sideshow continue, if only because it has an expiration date now.

All across the world bells were rung, fireworks lit and horns honked in celebration.  I could hear them as soon as I stepped outside yesterday after the call.  Does the rest of the world always pay attention to our elections?  Likely, and likely more so since Sideshow Don arrived on the scene.

To clarify a few things from my last post for those who don't read the comments, Wisconsin has a population of 5.82 million.  Of that, 4.53m are of voting age (18+) and 3.68m are registered voters.  Wisconsinites cast about 3.24m votes, which at about 71% is on the high end of typical voter turnout here for a presidential election.  

Also, my analogy is off as blue leans urban and red leans rural, and not just here - everywhere, so while you look at the map and see Wisconsin as blue, upon closer look it is very red.  Makes it pretty apparent where some of the bigger cities are.  Out of 3.24 million ballots cast in Wisconsin the difference was only 20,000 votes.

Now it's time to forget about colors and move forward.  This time, hopefully, with fewer distractions.

2020 Election, First Thoughts

Aaaaand it begins.  Or has already begun, actually.  Lies, false claims, lawsuits to stop ballots from being counted (really!).  All from Trump, I've not heard much from Biden.  Imagine that.  Election day was yesterday but we're far from done.  This will end up dragging out longer than anyone wants it to, I fear.

And, almost 6 million people total in Wisconsin and (a record) 3.3 million voted.  Still, Trump only lost our state by about 20,000 votes.  I know it was also close last election, the other way, but it still shocks me we're so divided after the antics we've witnessed the last 4 years.

It makes it hard to ever go outside again knowing every other person that I live among has looked around at what's happening in our country and the world and said to themselves "Yup, I like how things are going." 

I've been working all day and only checked the news sporadically, mostly this morning, until very recently.  Time to do something more relaxing.  I'm sure we'll talk more about this very soon.

Halloween 2020

This pretty much sums it up.  I found this sign online, copied and printed, and taped it to the door yesterday.  I was going to get a picture of it from outside but I guess I couldn't be bothered.  We didn't get any trick or treaters, but I don't think there were many out.  I think the families in the neighborhood may have visited other families in their local group, but that's about it.  No sweets, no decorations, and no fun for us this year.  But also no snow.  Last year we had several inches on the ground for the holiday.

On the bright side, while today is cold and blustery with a random snowflake here and there, at least the sun is shining now and the forecast looks like we'll stay above freezing with much more moderate days for the next week or so.  There's not a lot to do outside again until all the leaves are done falling, so a quiet day in today with the Packers starting at noon and newspaper to catch up on.

How was your Halloween?

Yesterday's Fire, Today's Snow

After a bit of yardwork I had a fire last night.  It was cool, 40ºF and falling as I started the fire.  Today is a bit cooler yet and we got our first snow.  It won't last the night, it's just a harbinger of more to come.  But it was a nice night mostly alone by the fire with my thoughts, and music.  And another 'fireside chat' with my mom.

Any night by the fire is a good night.  Halloween is coming, but I bought a ticket for a band's livestream concert that night, so no holiday fire next Saturday.  Also no Halloween celebration for us this year, but more on that later.  Sorry, it's mostly another firepit post again, it's just this 2020.  A couple more pictures from last night are after the break.

Mask Up*

A. Do you wear a mask?  

    Yes, thank you, go to paragraph B.  

    No.  Really?  Go to paragraph G.

B. Do you wear a cloth or paper mask?

    Cloth mask, go to paragraph C.

    Paper mask, go to paragraph D

C. How often do you wash your mask(s)?

    Often, constantly, or similar go to paragraph F.

    Rarely, if ever, go to paragraph G.

D. How much wear before disposing of your mask?

    Constant, multiple days, go to paragraph G.

    Minimal, disposable is disposable after all, go to paragraph F.

F. Thank you.  You are doing well but always strive for better.

G. What the hell is wrong with you?  Clean up and respect your fellow man, for a change.

Okay, you get the idea, but there's more here and elsewhere.  Blue Witch brought up the topic recently on her blog, and she is correct, this should be talked about more and correct protocols discussed.  And I don't think either one of us is above mask-shaming.  Masks are nothing but icky things on your face if not used correctly.  And by correctly I also mean covering both your nose and your mouth.  At the same time!

On the other side of the fence is another blogger who I shall not name, but is in my right column*.  I've followed them for a very, very long time now so while I still check in over there I usually refrain from commenting.  I have a feeling I would be shouted down anyway as I'm not really debate team material. At all.

One of my favorite sayings about masks likens it to pee:  Imagine you're standing in front of someone, facing each other, and you're both naked.  If he pees, you get wet.  If you wear pants and he pees, you still get wet, but not as bad.  If he wears pants and pees he gets himself wet.  We can't help but pee, or in this case breathe.  Respect others and keep yourself contained, for chrissake.

I've not addressed my own mask wearing here yet, but I will now.  I don't wear a mask 98% of the time, but that's because I'm at home 98% of the time now, if not more.  I don't wear a mask outside in my own yard, but I don't run into other people in my own yard.  I don't wear my mask on neighborhood walks, unless we have to get near people, which is a good reason to avoid the bike paths.  I don't wear a mask in my car, I wear a mask when I get to my destination, outside of home.  Anywhere I have to go outside the home, like just regular errands, I wear a mask.

We've had exactly 10 friends over to the house effectively all of this year, and all for firepits.  Social distancing is pretty easy in the back yard as the most at a time we have over is 2 other people.  I have required masks if they need to go into the house, and all have happily complied or not had to go inside.  No large gatherings here, and not likely for the holidays, either.

When this first started I ordered a pack of cloth masks, and used them, and washed them.  But the washing made them shrink so they were tight and uncomfortable, so I bought a box of 50 individually wrapped black paper disposable masks.  Much more comfortable for my big head.  Now, if I only use one for a few minutes then I have been known to throw it in the glove box and use it again,  but keep in mind that one I used for just a few minutes one day may sit for over a week until I use it again.  I'll probably get some grief for that, and it may be deserved.  But at only 40-50 cents a pop I have no qualms about tossing them and using a new one for most things, either.

How is your mask use?   How's mine?

*Update:  I removed this link from my right column on November 18, 2020.  I can no longer support or promote his writing by leaving it there.

Firewood, Fall Chores

Late afternoon yesterday the firewood delivery arrived.  I'd been done with work for hours and was pretty much in relaxation mode, but with my wife's help we got it all neatly stacked.  The small pile on the far left is the leftovers, the other small pile is new wood that wouldn't fit on the rack.  I don't expect either of these small piles to last very long.  Now I know I'll have enough to get through spring, or at least to spring.

Today has been overcast and blustery, with an expected high of 67ºF, and again the news is saying this will be the last 'nice' day as high temperatures will be going back down to about the 50º mark in the extended forecast.  I managed to get some yardwork done yesterday while waiting for the wood, including mowing/mulching the leaves in the back yard, but there is more to be done yet.

I contacted the fencing company yesterday to verify we're still on for replacing our fence about a month from now, and they confirmed.  The exact day may change due to the weather, but it should only take one day to complete.  I wanted to keep the old one as long as possible but it's just gotten so rotten it's starting to fall apart.  I probably should have done it last year and next year it will only be worse, so best to just get it done.  It should look pretty similar, 6' dog-eared, but brand new cedar.  At least it will be one thing crossed off the list, and it will look a lot better, too.

Is cedar the best wood for raised bed gardens?  I'm going to have to figure that out.  I'll not use treated lumber again as I may as well use regular lumber because it obviously won't last more than 9 years or so anyway, and my hope is to not have to rebuild these again, however wishful thinking that may be.

Most fall chores now are just hurry up and wait.  As the plants wilt I'll mulch them up with the string trimmer.  As the black walnut leaves fall I will mow to mulch.  After the maple tree leaves fall I'll rake and mulch them for flowerbeds.  And when all the leaves are done I'll need to clean out the gutters.   All the potted plants will need to be cleaned up and the compost turned.  And before it starts to freeze regularly (still haven't had first frost, but maybe tomorrow morning) I'll have to get the hose put away and the power washer stored in the basement, along with a couple crates of paint, lawn care and other products out of the garage.

So, while it seems like a lot of work it will be spread out for several weeks up to a couple months yet.  I hope for plenty of opportunities to relax by the fire along the way.  

Actually, I hope to be able to go out to eat, hang out at the bar, go see a show or just socialize with friends and family, but I'll take what I can get this year.  Stay safe, all.  And wash your mask.

Showered With Leaves

Tonight as I sat by the fire, I looked up.  It was about 20 minutes after sunset, which is when bats can start being seen flying above and I like to watch for them.  What happened next was a lot of leaves showering down on and around me.  I never did notice any bats while watching the leaves.

It's fall and leaves are changing, but neighbor Dave's three Black Walnut trees are always the first to lose their leaves.  And conveniently, mind you, as they are not good for compost or mulch in the flowerbeds.  They can wash out the color of flowers and we have a lilac under them that proves it.  I usually mulch them into the lawn with the mower and harvest the later leaves, mostly maple, for mulch around the yard.

That's almost it for my firewood until Tuesday, just a small pile left after this weekend.  On Friday I was looking ahead and put in an order to have another face cord of mixed hardwoods delivered.  I still have plenty of time for having fires before winter sets in, after all.  

First face cord took 2 years to burn.  Second face cord, only 3 months.  Thanks, 2020.

Friday Night Fire & More

 It was a dreary and overcast evening yesterday, but at least it was dry.  I went out to sit by the fire and decided to film a little and wound up taping the whole night.  Don't worry, this is only the first half hour.  After that I was on a video call with my mom for some time, then it just got dark.  Pull up a chair and relax by the fire with me.

I've gone through a lot of wood this year.  My previous face cord lasted me two whole years while this one, delivered in July,  has lasted about 3 months so far.  I'll have to get another delivery in the next couple weeks as last year I managed to have one more fire after the winter solstice but before the new year.  It's these pandemic times, I have nothing better to do and no other place to go, may as well do something enjoyable.

It only took the cats a few days to start using the walkway.  I had a brown stripe-y rug in front (see last post) and I had the thought would they rather jump down onto concrete or the rug?  So I moved the rug to the right a little bit two days in a row until I noticed there was very little litter on it anymore but there was more litter going down the walkway to the step.  The were using it!  So that rug has now been removed as it is not needed.  Now when I clean the box every afternoon I was sweeping up the walkway first and I had an idea.  I had bought two new mats for this, a big one and a small one.  The big one is in the drawer, the small one wasn't being used.  So I cut the small one in half, mostly, it's still connected in the middle, which was the open side, and I used two sided tape to hold it in place.  Hopefully this will catch most of the rest of the litter the cats track out of the box.  The mats are two layers connected on three sides, so to clean them you separate the layers and dump.  For the half mats on the walkway it looks like I can just put the walkway in the down position, maybe give it a little jostle, and sweep up the litter.  I'm not sure if I'll be putting the walkway down every day now or just pulling the box toward me in the drawer to clean.  Or if this will even work at all, really, but I'll know soon enough.

So the orange one finally got sick.  No, I'm not celebrating.  I don't like that anyone is getting sick and that some are dying.  What it comes down to is that it was preventable.  They were extremely careless, and they got the Covid.  It was just a matter of time, really.  The timing of his illness and the extent of how ill he'll actually get is very interesting, however.  Stay tuned on this one, folks.

Fall weather has definitely arrived here, and that brings outside chores that will need to be done soon.  I also have to get used to wearing long pants and socks again after several months of barefoot and shorts.  And non slip-on shoes seem like an atrocity now so I have been holding out still, even if that means wearing short socks with sandals, sorry.  But I don't hardly go anywhere or see anyone else but my wife these days anyway, so who cares?

Cat Box Area is Finished!

This afternoon I fastened the walkway to the drawer to finish the cat box area under the stairs.  Pretty much what I envisioned, but it took longer than it should have.  After considering it for years I got a start on it during my spring vacation last year.  It was a lot of trial and error as I cut and recut, screwed and unscrewed, and leveled the unlevel, but I did get to the point of getting the base installed - the base being the sides to attach the 32 inch, 400 pound capacity drawer slides I had already bought for the project.  And then when I thought I had finished, it still wasn't square.

So on my fall vacation last year I got a board cut and painted that would make it square, but as my back was giving me trouble then that's as far as I got and it sat for the winter.   Fast forward to my spring vacation this year, which was canceled as a couple weeks earlier I missed a whole lot of time from work trying to get over this nasty virus that's going around.  Yes, that one.  So the project sat and we and the cats just continued on as normal.  There was nothing wrong with how things were, I just wanted something better.

Pulled out for cleaning.

Recently on my fall vacation this year it was time to get this done.  I replaced the piece I needed to, built, fitted, caulked and painted the drawer, but due to the weather making for long drying times the project did drag on for a week and a half since my vacation now.  Not a big deal as it was mostly done and I was happy to enjoy the last of the work.  I didn't make any more trips to the hardware store for the last part and just used what I had, which is plenty, but the walkway is two pieces fastened together and I used screws that were a bit too long so had to grind down the points on the other side.  One thing I did order from Amazon is the folding brackets so the walkway will fold down.  I was searching Amazon for folding brackets and trying to figure out what I could use when I saw folding table leg brackets.  Odd, I thought, but they looked like they'd work and sure enough, they did.

So now the cats have a new area, including a brand new litter box, scooper and a mat that is supposed to catch the litter that gets dragged out.  There will still be some litter escaping on their paws as it's impossible to teach a cat to wipe its feet, but hopefully most of it will stay contained so I just have to clean the drawer once a week instead of sweeping the whole area every day.  I don't know if they will know to use the walkway or how long it will take them, but if they get tired of jumping up or we get water on the floor I think they'll figure it out.  So, regular readers have heard me mention this project at times for a long time now, what do you think?

A couple more views after the break!

Friday Firepit and Cat Box Update

Last night was the first time I had a chance to have a firepit for two weeks now, and it was very nice to once again sit by the fire and ponder life's meaning.  After the last fire I was on vacation for a week so, of course, every day was wet.  Off work all week and I couldn't even do what I look forward to the most, this year anyway.  Then this past week I was back at work, so I couldn't wait for Friday night.  Oh, I could have a fire during the week but it does put a damper on it knowing I have to get up early the next day.  Tonight, Terry and Becky are coming over to celebrate my and Terry's birthday - postponed from last Saturday.  It will be nice to visit again and catch up around the fire.

The bright dot is the ISS flying left to right across the sky last night.  Below and a bit to the right is the North Star, and on the right side is Cassiopeia with the top left dot of the W obscured by light pollution.  I could still see the Big Dipper over the garage, getting lower in the sky, and later I even saw Orion and his belt hiding behind one of the trees.  The ISS will be flying by again tonight at 8:02, 63 minutes after sunset.

The cat box project is coming along.  I was thinking I started it years ago but it was actually June of 2019, I'd just been thinking of doing this for years now to help contain the mess.  The biggest problem was that nothing under the stairs was square.  I had gotten everything pretty square last year except for one piece that had to be replaced, but I had that piece cut and painted already, just not installed.  With that installed I was able to build the drawer but then it's been pretty much waiting for paint to dry between coats.  The drawer is now installed as of yesterday, and the cat box is moved into it, so it's about 90% done.  All that's left is a walkway so the cats can go from the bottom stair over to the drawer without stepping paw on the floor.  This way I don't have to do anything for them on the occasions a few times a year when water comes in.  I built and started to paint that walkway today, so it shouldn't be long now and I can finally share with you my latest DIY creation.

53

My Mom said I was born about 8:30 at night, if I remember right.  Here's the numbers, screenshot taken from here as close as I could to the time, please forgive the yellow-ness.  What else can I do for my birthday this year, anyway?

As for my next few milestones, 700 months will be about 58.4 years old, 3000 weeks will be about 57.5 years old, but 20,000 days will only be about 54.8 years old.  If I can possibly remember 20,000 days, I'll celebrate.  That seems to be on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, and now that I know I'll have to add it to the calendar.  Save the date!

September This-And-Thats

Barring small mammals and firepits there's not been a lot to write about over here the last several weeks.  One day blurs into the next as we work and rest while barely ever leaving the house.  But life moves ever forward and I needed a vacation from, well, work.  Not working for a few days will be the only difference as I still will barely leave the house.  Good times, eh?  Well, here I go typing again, so onward we go.

• We set a record yesterday with a high temperature of only 57ºF and expect to set another record today with the same high temperature.  Both days have been cold, gloomy and wet, most especially for the date.  I've now worn socks, long pants and long sleeves again for the first time in several months.  Not the best week to take a vacation and try to get things done, but at least I'm not working.
• It doesn't always happen that my birthday falls the same week as Labor Day.  Usually it's the week after so I benefit from a short week in addition to a week off.  This year it is the same week, this week, so while I am using up less time I will miss the extra day off.  And my Mom's birthday is a week and a half later.
• For the holiday weekend I drove down to Dubuque on Sunday to spend some time with my Mom.  We enjoyed talking and relaxing, spending much of the evening sitting by her (gas) firepit.  Yes, we tried to social distance.  I know she's been careful and so have I, but it was nice to talk in person and not on a video call.  I left for home late the next morning, very thankful there was not the usual holiday traffic.  Thanks for having me over, Mom, it was a lot of fun.

• The above is one of my favorite pictures from spring, I used it as my background all year.  On another of our walks recently I got an updated view, below, and now I use that as my background.  If you look all the way down to the end of the street you can just make out the yellow left turn sign, which is right next to the canoe/kayak slide on the creek.

• The rest of Monday was spent being lazy, and looking back I wish I would have done more but the driving is tiring.  Yesterday, being so gloomy, the laziness continued.  And while today is much like yesterday there is no water in the basement so I got to work on the cat box area.  I have the structure of it as square as I can, installed the drawer slides and took all my measurements needed for building the drawer.  Hopefully with a little nicer weather I'll be working in the garage tomorrow.  Cutting and assembling should go quick but the paint may take longer to dry.
• I've been watching the Bucks again since they restarted the season, but I stopped when they were down 3 games to nothing in the playoffs.  Why put myself through the anguish?  I told myself that if they come back and win 4 straight then maybe I'll watch the next series, but, of course, that didn't happen.  And after a short training camp and no preseason games the Packers will play this Sunday.  It will be interesting to see them play in an empty stadium, but I don't think the home viewing part will change much, especially if you've already been watching other sporting events without in-person fans.
• We had another couple over for a fire last Friday, the sixth and seventh people we've had over for essentially all year.  The most we'll have is a couple at a time so social distancing is easy, and masks are required if they need to go into the house.  I do miss seeing other people, socializing and catching up.  This Saturday, Terry and her sister Becky are coming over to celebrate my and Terry's birthdays, just days apart.  Eight and nine, and there are others I still wish to have over this fall at some point.

That's all I can think of at the moment.  I think I'm in a little bit of a pandemic funk, despite being on vacation.  The weather is supposed to get better, so hopefully my mood will, too.  Be smart, stay well and stay safe, everyone.

Jacob Blake

Well, it just keeps happening, doesn't it?  Again, close to home in nearby Kenosha, Wisconsin, a white policeman shoots an unarmed black man.  7 times.  In the back.  If you've not heard of this or the ensuing protests in Kenosha and Madison, among other places, then you've been under a rock.

It wasn't surprising that the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted yesterday afternoon's game.  It also wasn't surprising to see other sports teams and leagues follow suit.  The players felt they had an opportunity to draw attention to this systemic racism and took it.  I don't blame them.  In fact, I wore a Bucks shirt today to show support in my own small way.

We need discussion, education, and change.  But how can you change the darkness in some people's hearts?  They can say all the right things, and even act like they mean it, but when push comes to shove another white cop shoots or kills another black man.  How many will it take? 

Godspeed, Jacob Blake.

Now, Mr Squirrel. The End?

Yesterday evening I noticed that something had been digging in the area of that chipmunk den, but did not dig around the brick I had covering the old hole, and I don't think it got in.  I knew I wouldn't be able to drive a chipmunk to another location until after work, so I waited to set the live trap.  After work I cleaned up the area again and set it with the usual peanut butter.

Maybe an hour later I heard it go off.  Nice to meet you, Mr. Squirrel!  Definitely not who I was after, so after a few pictures I let him go right there.  He scampered straight away to the back of the yard and under the firewood, I believe.

This live trap is just big enough, but not meant for a squirrel.  The damage to the trap that you see in closeups is mostly from last June when a squirrel would not leave the inside eaves of the garage.  I wasn't going to leave my garage open overnight, so I set the trap and closed it up.  The next morning there was a pretty ticked off squirrel.  I'm not sure how long he was in the trap, but a few more hours and he may have broken out.

So, that tells me that's enough of the live trapping of small animals until and unless there becomes another nuisance.  Let's hope that's not anytime soon.

Mr Mouse? And Mr Chipmunk II

 Yesterday I noticed there had been activity at the old chipmunk den, a day after I evicted the occupant.  Was this Mr. Chipmunk back to claim his homestead?  Or another wanting to take over some prime real estate?  Can never know for sure, all the damn critters look too much the same.

I set out the trap again but after several hours got nothing.  I was outside late by the fire so decided it wouldn't be cruel to leave it overnight as long as I check it first think in the morning, which I did.

Well, hello, Mr. Mouse.  I didn't expect to see you.  Just an ordinary mouse got trapped for a time, but he had a feast of peanut butter for his trouble.  It wasn't inside so I really paid it no mind and took it to the compost bin area to let it go.  I had the trap sitting on the bin and when I opened it the little squeaker ran straight forward down the lid of the compost bin and off the edge, his momentum bouncing his little body off the fence.  I'm sure he'll be okay.

After this there was still a little peanut butter in the trap so I set it and put it back.  When I came out later the ants had found it, so I hosed off the whole thing to get it all cleaned up and set it in the sun to dry.  A couple hours later I re-baited it with peanut butter and set it up again.  The second time I went to check on it I saw from inside it had been tripped, but could not see what was in it.  When I went outside it was Mr. Chipmunk.  Probably the same one, but can't be sure. Hello again, Mr. Chipmunk, shall we go for another walk?

This time I took him down to the bike path to the right, crossed the bigger road and kept along the bike path, veered off to the left and across a footbridge that goes across another arm of Starkweather Creek, and then about 50 feet further down a path.  There, I let him go.  This is about twice as far as I took him last time, which I should have went farther.  Starting my walk back, I took a picture from there and you can see it is a very clear area with shelter and water so he could do just fine there.

If you come back, Mr. Chipmunk, you will get a ride in the car.

Mr Chipmunk and Neighbor Dave

 We are entering the dog days of summer here.  We've had 7 days at 90ºF this summer, topping out at 92º about two weeks ago, though recently we've been a few degrees lower so just the afternoons and evenings get a bit uncomfortable without the air conditioning on.  Plants are still flowering but are past their peak and are starting to look a bit ragged.  And the lawn has brown patches, including all of the front lawn.   All in all, August in Wisconsin.

A year ago I'd have been writing about bicycle rides, Atwoodfest, live bands and other summer adventures.  This year, 2020, the year of the pandemic, there just has not been much going on.  We wake up, work at home all day then lay around home all evening.  Oh, we take a walk now and again (and picking up trash as we go has made that a bit more rewarding), run errands only as needed, and my wife still has all her 'dad' work to do all week.

I'd like to say I've gotten more accomplished than I have, but that doesn't seem to have happened.  I have a week vacation in a few week's time so my plan is to knock things off my list then, including the cat box area which has turned into a very long-term project.  I think the last I worked on it was my fall vacation last year.  It will be different as my wife will be working at home all day so I'll have to mind her schedule, too.

But today I have something else I can write about - a chipmunk.   I know I've written about their dens on the side of the house before, I even trapped and relocated one a couple years ago.  Well, that time came again.  I knew I had a little guy living in the corner since Spring.  In the first and second pictures the entrance to his den is on the top right, under the hosta.  My early attempts to capture it did not work, so I let it be for the time being and just kept an eye on the situation.  Today that situation changed.

What I saw today was one heck of a mess in that corner, like Mr. Chipmunk had cleaned house.  There was dirt all over and an abundance of black walnut shells strewn about.  Okay, Mr. Chipmunk, I got no time for your messes so it's time for you to leave.  I started with the hose, since it's right there on that side of the house.  Water kept pouring in, but no chipmunk came out.  Finally I turned off the water.  I know neighbor Dave, 79 tomorrow (see below), has air gaps under his concrete walkway right there so I didn't want to fill that up and possibly give him water in his basement.  Besides, the chipmunk seemed not to be home at the moment.

Next, I got some peanut butter and set my live trap.  I figured I'd check it now and again the rest of the night, and hopefully I could evict Mr. Chipmunk, the squatter.  In actuality, I was in the second bedroom about ten minutes later and heard a noise outside the open window.  Sure enough, Mr. Chipmunk was caught!  Well, that was certainly easier than it was in Spring.  After humiliating the little guy by making him pose for a few pictures, I walked down to the bike path to let him go.  Not only did I walk to the bike path, but followed it for a time to get more distance between home and where I released him so hopefully he will not be back.  Then I cleaned up that mess.

*          *          *

A couple weeks ago, Neighbor Dave told me he was planning on moving.  He was facing an expensive repair to the house and did not want to spend the money.  He told me all about how old all the appliances were, the furnace, and the myriad other things that were wrong with the place.  I didn't like to hear it, but supported his decision and offered my help with anything he needed.

About a week later, he told me he couldn't find a place to move.  He doesn't drive, so wanted to be close to the bus and a library, and rents were expensive and more so because he has a cat.  But mostly there wasn't much of anything available, and that's what I've heard recently that Madison currently has a housing shortage.  He discussed with his kids and they're going to do the necessary repair themselves, so he decided he's going to stay probably for the rest of his days in his house of over 50 years.

Before all this I figured I'd get him a birthday present this year, but now I really wanted to.  I noticed that I had it on a spreadsheet with other people we know, and then I remembered him telling me it a year or two ago and so I put it on there.  I just got him a card and a couple funny fishing t-shirts that I think he'll like.  Hopefully I run into him later tonight or tomorrow, now.


Now, to end, I only have one thing to say.  I really hate Blogger's new dashboard and template.  It's especially hard to strategically place photos within the text.  Much harder that it used to be or should be.  Happy summer everyone.  Maybe a firepit later tonight...

CarPEEt Removal

Before

Well, I can't let Blue Witch have all the home renovation fun this summer. If you remember, last year our cat Basil had all sorts of urinary tract issues and eventually wound up having corrective surgery. But not before he ardently let us know he was having issues by using our only carpeted room as his litter box. Time and time again I would shampoo this carpet, over and over and over again. I even used carpet deodorizor, and thought we had it taken care of - until we got the heat and humidity this year that brought back the smell.

Now, this is in our second bedroom, the one with the computer and otherwise used as an office and a place for much of my stuff. Yes, the room where the brilliance that is this blog is written.  It got a little old going to work every morning in here and smelling it, so the carpet had to go.  Last weekend was the time to do it, so it got done.  And it had to get done in a weekend so I could work on Monday.  We removed the carpet in the living room, hallway and bedroom #1 before we moved in. The carpet in this second bedroom was still in good shape so I decided to keep it at that time. I kind of wish we removed it back then, but I remember being pretty tired of removing carpet at that time, too, so that may have factored into my decision.

This time, just one room was more than enough for me.  My knees still hurt and my wife and I both still ache from the work needed to get this done.  It was a lot of stuff to move out of that room and back, but working on a floor is all down low work.  I don't do well with low work these days.  I remember telling my wife at one point, "The next carpet layer I meet I'm going to punch right in the mouth."  I won't, but they just go overboard with the hammer stapler and nails, it seems.  On the bright side, we have no more carpet to be removed.  At least the floor cleaned up pretty well, but it is noticeably a little rougher than the floors in the rest of the house

After

Not knowing ahead of time the state the floor would be in, we planned ahead.  We had a 7.5 by 9.5 foot rug in the living room that we bought shortly after we moved in and, while we like it, we replaced it with an 8 by 10 foot rug and moved the older rug into the computer room.  I didn't want to put a rolling chair directly on the hardwood, and we have the chair mat for a rug and it just made sense.  It's a little different walking into the room now and expecting a soft floor, but it looks pretty good and we'll easily get used to it.

Two things to end on.  First, I know I have two desk chairs at the moment.  One is for relaxing, the chair I enjoy, the other is for work, the chair that is better for my back sitting up and working.  I plan on looking for a better chair that can be for both, but I may have to spend more than I want.  Second, I took a bunch of pictures (more after the break!) and even a short time lapse video of myself removing the carpet and padding, before the real work began.  You can watch the time lapse video here if you want. I kept it private but I think you should be able to see it if I link it - if not please let me know.  But remember, I don't want to hear any plumber-butt jokes.  That's a warning!

BigFireDipStationFly

Ready.  Set.  Firepit!  As I got ready to start a fire tonight, shortly before sunset.  I was out there over two hours and even had to put one of the logs you see leaning on the side back on the stack.  My firepit has become my solace in these times.  We did have two friends over for a short time to sit by the fire recently - socially distanced, of course.  I had a mandate for facemasks if they had to go into the house but it never came up.

Again, playing with the camera on my new phone.  Here is the Big Dipper, a common sight in our summer night sky, being crossed by the ISS, the brightest dot, of course.  I think this is a pretty good picture, at least probably the best my camera will do.

And just because I like it, here's a picture of a dragonfly that landed immediately in front of me as I was going to get wood for a fire earlier in the week.  We've seen a lot of them this year, which is pretty neat.

Tomorrow I have to go into work for a bit.  This will be the third time since the Covid hit the fan.  I chose to work a few hours on Saturday on a task that cannot be done remotely because there won't be anyone else around.  But I hate it.  In fact, this remoteness is not good for my job satisfaction, not that I want to go back to the office every day, anymore.  We've gone back on mandatory overtime recently and system issues along with poor communication has me a bit frustrated.  Why can't I just be a drone office worker?  I get lots of shit done, but it never seems like that's what they want.  They wanted me because I can think outside the box, but then only want improvements that follow the status quo.  They really just wanted another sheep.  I'm faaaaaaucked!