August 31, 2022

Yesteryear
One year ago today: August 31, 2021, but none made money . . . .
Five years ago today: August 31, 2017, early plumbing experiece.
Nine years ago today: August 31, 2013, on dieting.
Random years ago today: August 31, 2006, beaches & stuff.

           Here’s Mrs. Downey, finally staying still long enough to get some footage. Her call is suprisingly close to the cardinals so it’s likely I’ve missed opportunities before. When I hear something, I have to turn around if I’m at the desk and the movement is enough to scatter all the larger birds. We have a small flock of the titmouse-sized birds. However, my memory for birds is as bad as my memory for faces. I’ve read lots of guides in my time, yet when I see a bird I don’t notice a bunch of identifying markings. Never have.

           I’ve got something. I doubt it’s the virus since I have not been near anybody since Saturday, well past the incubation period. Let’s hope this passes quickly, if only because neither of us wants to blog about it. Too much to do and I have not gone shopping in ten days. Fortunately, my supply of coffee is normally three times that. Blog rules I must document any such conditions, as I’m nearly the last of my species. I’m wary of two symptoms above others, sniffles without fever, and upset tummy. Today, I have both.

           So, it seems I may have put in a bid on a property in the Dakotas and forgot. I recall one item where if I was successful, I would make $1,800 so I hope that is it. This morning I left a message. That would be nice. Think an ounce of gold. I measured out more plumbing and got myself a list, I’m driving to Winter Haven via Mulberry and Bartow just after noon. I’ll keep the van radio on, this is pure joy hearing dozens of insiders are coming forward to testify against government agencies. Whistleblowers, but in particular, whistleblowers who see the writing on the wall.
           Talk about brazen abuse, the Attorney General has threatened any staff who approach Congress, although we don’t know the nature of the threat. If so, the country’s top lawyer has just broken the law. It seems transgender children quickly return to normal when removed from their parents, that’s singular as in single-parent, as in welfare mothers. The Vatican is moving its cash out of state banks. According to Biden, storms are worse when the rain falls on colored people.            I read a quip this morning I’d like to share. “America works fine for the people it was designed to work for.”

           Took pictures and got over to the plumbing supply for parts. There is a Sharkbite™ connector for the purpose, but I had to buy an adapter which doubled the price. This tiny shopping trip took half the day, so I’ll have no funning faucets in the bathroom until at least Thursday. Nor do any local shops have the correct flange, yet it is a fairly ordinary item. I’ve seem them used to secure deck railings so it’s off to a marine supply. I guess I could build one out of wood. What do you think?
           In other news, Alaska has a Democrat elected to Congress, the first in 50 years. It was made possible by mail-in ballots and a contorted system of “ranked choice” voting. I don’t understand it precisely. If you have a bunch of people running, instead of voting for one, you “rank” your choices. If nobody had over 50%, they eliminate the candidate with the fewest first candidate votes and assign those to the second choice or something. It’s a scenario custom-made for Democrat election-rigging. Trump won Alaska in 2020 by a healthy margin. Now they have a female Eskimo in charge and Alaska is slated to become the next California for sheer corruption and crooked politics.

Picture of the day.
Hurricane Michael survivor, 2018.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.

           Craftsman 3400 Table Saw. I now have one with a metal stand, a box of blades, and attached wings for a router and a jig saw. It was $348 in brand new condition, so I paid a fair price. It’s a shop model so my guess is the saw by itself retails for around $300. It came with 8 new carbide blades. We can guess it has been used less than a couple of hours. Odd that I manage to choose items that are difficult to price, even on eBay. The spare blades are unused, there is a dust collector attachment, and the matching steel base has storage shelves, probably another $200 in value.

           On the return trip, I finally stopped at a club on the lakeshore I’ve never been before. Six years I’ve driven past it, but I’ve only played or partied on the south side of that road. I like it, another Texas-style watering hole. The staff, all women in their 30s or more are a humorless lot. The sign said Karaoke tonight but I’m not staying. By late afternoon my sniffles have become worse, throw in chest congestion. I don’t need this just now.
           This is the best picture I can manage, the saw is lying on its side in the van. It is too heavy for me to lift out by myself.

           Home for the duration, I read a small booklet. It’s a nifty short story of a man who has six dreams about defending a shallow river crossing with 50 soldiers. “The Defense of Duffer’s Drift”, I’ve read it five or six times simply out of interest. Then, I picked up my copy of “The Yellow Admiral”, which I think I’ll try again. For me, difficult reading, not only because of all the names, but the style of writing will often use pronouns, forcing me to remember who’s the cousin or the minister. I’ve mentioned this book before. Yellow does not mean cowardly, but England produced more admirals than they had fleets. It is an Admiral with a desk job because of seniority, but he commands no ships.
           Check back tomorrow.
           Later, I’ve got something but so far quite mild. Remind myself to mark the big calendar.

Last Laugh