April 15, 2026

Yesteryear
One year ago today: April 15, 2025, contemptuously feeble.
Five years ago today: April 15, 2021, eggs, my way.
Nine years ago today: April 15, 2017, research yes, progress no.
Random years ago today: April 15, xxxx, WIP

           Happy Tax Day from an unusually silent IRS who are not doubt aware the current president wants to disband them and reduce the tax form to "the size of a postcard". Let’s begin today by looking at what the world considers news. The Brits are investigating law firms that were fabricating asylum claims for queer applicants. Pope Bob has allocated Vatican space for Muslims. That’s it, the rest of social media is people flinging insults. Here is a can of beans . A brand I never heard of, the Ser!ous Bean Company. Says here the 23 flavors of Dr. Pepper, of which I know only one. So, I’ve decided to do a theoretical star sighting. April 15, 2014 at 10:00AM exactly, and choosing the star Gacrux, which I never heard of until now.

           The geographic position of the star was W165° 10’W at a declination of S57°12’. (For those curious, that is an Aries GHA of 353° 30’ and Gacrux SHA pf 171° 40’.) Converted to Google, that is 165.1600° by -57.1920°. We are in the ocean almost directly south of New Zealand, where we’ve been before. I see an island, let me zoom in. Both McQuarrie Island and Campbell Island seem familiar, so skip to the next nearest, which is Aukland Island. It’s the biggest in some volcanic outcrops. Uninhabited, cold, no natural harbors. Some Polynesians were there around 1300 but wisely got in their outriggers and paddled right back.

           Sorry, another morning of doldrums that cannot be shaken. Here is the transparent tube earmarked for the seismometer. It is clouded because of morning dew. I may just rig something up for now to see how sensitive it is.

           I have news from Tennessee. The Reb’s best friend is gone after many weeks of struggle. Soon I will have to make a trip and it is easy to imagine the strain this puts on everything except what little time we’ll have to visit. There is also the matter of Caltier, who is not responding. There is no worry about any absconding, as not only are they regulated, the sixteen properties in the portfolio (four have been sold) list us as part owners, I made sure of that. But that is part of the trouble. I remind you I invested in two components, that is, the ownership of the properties, and the profits from the rentals. It has been 11 months, and although I have seen income, it is sporadic and lacking details I need to make informed decisions.
           The Reb is great at housekeeping, but not so much at bookkeeping. My last trip was middle of 2025 and I’m barely back on my feet financially and physically. Be prepared for anything in the next ten days, even if it is only a decision to not do anything. Y’know, while in the hospital I developed a new liking for ginger ale and sprung for a carton (12) last day. Good move. I consider the work these days a substitute for the therapy. I could not explain why ginger ale, but I still blame many small changes on after effects of that anesthesia.

Picture of the day.
Latest Brazilian Cascavel
(Rattlesnake)
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           I’m tempted to post a youTube video on building my box. Why? Because there is too much bull donkey about boxes. You don’t have to see many videos before you spot the nonsense. The box is either too fancy at one extreme or useless at the other. Hundreds of “simple” boxes except for the mitered or dovetailed joints, hinges, and stained finishes. Simple, my eye. How about a truly simple box that is strong enough for workshop or closet storage. Why, my Z-box, of course.

           Here is the small box I got half done today and tuckered out. I cut and build a small shelving frame and cleared most of the space for the table saw. I worked two shifts, before 2:00PM, and after, for a total of 3 hours and 40 minutes. Excellent performance Grab a coffee and meet me back here. Nearby should be pics of my two air compressor tanks.
           The tanks are coupled together, running only off the new compressor. Even the older, bigger compressor could be bled by putting more than five staples in a row. But both tanks provide a positive punch that buries as many staples as you want. Brads are not a challenge. The pneumatic guns even sound better. The pic shows how I dragged the old unit to the doorway. For a more permanent setup, check back in a month or two. Those tanks are far to heavy for now.

           Being more than careful, I went to work in the yard. No strain, no lifting, yet I was able to get a few hours in. The hardest was removing that warped fence picket and repairing the other pieces. A close examination showed they, too, would warp just perceptibly. I cleared space and tidied up a bit, my real goal today is to make a small caddy for my mini-socket set. It’s 2:00PM and I’m planning to skip siesta. Howie helped me reset the birdbath and the cardinals are having a happy day. I detect the mildest increase in strength around my torso and shoulders, the first faint perception of it after 80 days. Many of those days were, never mind, I’d rather move on.
           I took a break and a few dozen potshots at the squirrels. My aim is way off. I caught only shadows on the game camera so that did not prove helpful this time. Mostly, the baffles swaying in the wind, but I see that somehow the two Chinese hat baffles got mixed up. Probably as I was filling the feeders. One is slightly larger and irks the squirrels, so I started the day by putting them back in order. Then, it an amazing display of athletic prowess, I changed the batteries in all the clocks.

           Then a look at my tired old yard. After ten years I cannot find anything that grows here. Smack in the middle of Florida, surrounded by orchards and tree farms, nothing lasts here except the weeds and scrubs. It is green, that much is okay. No good housekeeping awards, I looked at it from the window, then took a nap, from 6 until 2 in the morning. You’ll get your turn.

ADDENDUM
           Here’s the ingredients in my tin of “Sweet & a bit Sassy” baked beans: prepared navy beans, water, brown sugar, sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, and fructose. Hints of sea salt, black pepper, dehydrated garlic, chili pepper, spcies, salt, molasses, citric acid. Also maltodextrin and “natural flavors”. That’s 630 calories per can. From Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Population 35,000. It’s north of Sheboygan, they say. No ads for musicians, house prices are insane, and I think there is more night life on Auckland Island.
           Later, the flavor is a treat, but it is still artificial, and an hour after most other foods and my ginger ale had a lingering Dr. Pepper tinge. What did they put in there?

Last Laugh