Power came back on around 4:15 or so. The TV woke us and now I can’t fall asleep. Dammit.
At least the air is working again.
Up because I couldn’t sleep, dammit. FCD rolled over or was dreaming or something and jostled me enough to wake me and that was that. So the critters have been tended, I made some toast, I reset the clocks in the kitchen (stove, microwave, toaster oven) and now I’m caffeinatng. When I let Higgs out, I heard someone’s generator still running - guess it’s not one of them automatic ones. Anyway, all told, power was out about 10 hours. According to the electric co-op’s website, over 17K customers were affected across 3 counties - mostly due to trees. We had quite a violent storm come thru last night…
It’s weird how DARK it is when the power goes and there’s no moon or lights from the neighborhood. I walked into walls and furniture when I had to pee overnight - we’ve lived here 19 years and the furniture has always been where it is, but I couldn’t navigate blind. I will be shopping for some emergency lights. We used to have some, but over the years, they’ve died and haven’t been replaced. Now they will be.
As for today, we’ll start in the shop making some panels to mount switches and WiFi hotspots. Then we’ll install them and wire up as many as we can before we’re exhausted. I’ll only be able to help FCD in the morning tomorrow because our pellet stove is finally being cleaned in the afternoon. But it’s looking like the network and PA system will be ready when students report. Then we can get back to fixing the boat stuff that we’ve been neglecting all summer.
Happy Sunday!!
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 75 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 97 with a heat advisory in effect and possible rain late afternoon. We shall see. The big item on today’s agenda is deheathenization and dealin’ with the Canon. She’s really a nice person and has been uber helpful with our search for a new Priest, so it’s not that I dislike her, I’m just a little upset that she did not do her due diligence and check with the Bishop. Anywho, we shall get through that and then return to da cave for an afternoon of sloth, nappage and general overall uselessness. Any need to feed will be via forage or we’ll heat up leftovers from yestiddy. I’m all for foragin’ today and eatin’ the leftovers tomorrow. Except for the cheesecake. There are two slices left and they shall get et today. We will have to cause otherwise it’ll just set in the fridge and taunt us.
Thanks again for all the bday wishes. They almost made a grumpy old man a little less grumpy.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, purtification for deheathenization must commence.
Happy Sunday Y’all!
You haven’t seen DARK until you’ve been inside a submarine with the hatches shut and a loss of shore power.
Morning everyone. Up and working through my cups 'o coffee. It was 87 last time I checked, and my weather app says we’re headed for 107. We’re trying to limit our load on the electrical grid, and have accustomed ourselves to 79-80F indoors, with fans to make it bearable. Maybe it’s pointless, but maybe it’ll help. I’m never sure.
Thank you! We’re excited for him as well! I think he and SO took the time off to visit Oshkosh this week. Can’t wait to hear about that as well. (Note to those unfamiliar: AirVenture at Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the largest airshow on earth. Roughly 10,000 airplanes attend)
Yesterday I spent the morning getting the boat’s trailer ready for use next week. Since it’s been stored in the back of the yard with its wheels removed, this isn’t a small task. Got wheels reinstalled (they’re truck-sized, so this was an exercise in levers and lifts), checked the bearings, and opened the rarely-used gates to that area to get it out and on the road. It passed all tests, lights, brakes, etc. I put about 10 miles on it to check the bearings for heating and listen for undesirable noises back there (drove with windows down). Attempts to finagle a spot for it in the storage lot nearby were fruitless, so had to go through the whole process of fitting it back into the yard again. I debated leaving it on the street, but don’t really enjoy visits from our HOA, so behind the fence it went.
I finished about 3pm, and most of this was in spurts, spending half of each hour in the A/C to avoid heat stroke. But for some reason I was sick the rest of the day. I guess you can get heat exhaustion from cumulative exposure, even if you go inside to cool off regularly. Or maybe I’m too old for this. Feeling a lot better this morning though. Took the rest of the day off and got a good night’s sleep.
Today will be resting and enough chillage and slothfulness to make mumper-folk proud. My only exertions will be lifting remotes (and the odd glass of iced tea).
Update from pullinDaughter: She’s managed an exhausting combination of walking, buses, cabs, and ferries and is back in western Europe. The Dept. of State had begun issuing travel warnings for her region, and although a few hundred miles away, the statements about terrorists and Americans being detained kinda worried us. Now she’s in a safer place and only a few airplanes from home. All her souvenirs and scuba gear made it OK too. Except the dive-knife. She says it’s too much hassle to get those through various airport security/customs, and just buys one when she arrives at the destination. Then gives it away before traveling home.
I need to “move out” of her car now (hey, it’s nicer than mine, so I used it this summer 
).
Happy belated birthday to Swampy.
Sorry to hear about Pixel Silenus.
Apologies to everyone I’ve missed. I’ll do better next week! (Right, he always says that).
So onward to the day… I mean “couch”.
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off today. I’ve been up for a bit, since it’s hard to sleep when someone is licking your earlobe.
I am jealous.
“Christ is risen, but we’re still waiting on the dough.”
doggio, you are so going to the bad place! 
I meant to mention that when the power went out, I was in my recliner with the footrest raised. It’s an electric recliner. There is no graceful or dignified way to get out of a recliner with the footrest up. You all missed quite a show.
Who? Who was it?
I snortle-laughed so abruptly that I farted.
“round up the usual suspects…”
My work here is done.
Now that’s funny! As long as only soft parts of you hit the floor it’s all good.
I’ve never had a recliner w integral footrest. Mine have always been the more Euro / Scandinavian design w a separate ottoman. I’ve certainly slept in any number of cheap-ass barcalounger knockoffs at irk. Which of course have the big lever on the side to change the recline & footrest. I never thought about getting stuck in one that can’t / won’t de-recline & stow the foot rest. That would be … gymnastic.
I used to have a very simple plug-in night light that wasn’t really a night light. It was a power-failure light. So off (and self-charging) all the time until the power quit, then it came on bright enough to disturb you if it was in your bedroom. Exactly what I wanted. Real handy and real cheap. This was long enough ago that it was incandescent, not LED.
I just spent a few minutes searching on Amazon & HD for similar. Seems like everything I could find was a dim every-night night light that was also a bright flashlight when you fiddled with it. I’d hoped to find an example for your reference. Nope. Everything I could find were also motion-sensing nightlights AND power failure lights. Some of which didn’t even turn on automatically with a power failure; they were nightlights you could unplug then use as a flashlight.
[Rant]
I really wish Amazon, HD, etc., would make it mandatory for sellers to upload a copy of the product’s instruction manual or package insert if there is one. Once something is complicated enough to need even a smidgen of explanation on how to use it, I want to read that in detail before I buy. Often the only way to figure what wanted (and more importantly unwanted) features it has is to read the directions. The classic table of specs & features is uselessly vague for this. Gaah!
Anyhow, you’re on your own for cheap power failure lights. Sorry; I tried.
Do you think you’ll be able to use the boat before it’s too cold? Or will you spend the entire summer working on getting it ready to use, followed immediately by getting it ready to store for the upcoming winter? 
I know plenty of boat owners who end up in that predicament. When I had a (small) boat in a cold climate I was darn glad the semi-annual pickle or de-pickle process took about 3 hours, not 3 months.
At one time there was a shut-down underground coal mine in southern Illinios that was operated as a museum. So with a retired miner as docent / safety guard you would ride the elevator down a few hundred feet, wander through some tunnels and see the various static machinery poised for action, etc. And experience the reality that little chunks of the rock ceiling were continuously spalling off and falling on your hard hat or shoulders or floor. Due to the tremendous weight of a few hundred feet of unsupported rock above your soft little head & body. That took some getting used to.
Anyhow, at one point they gather everyone in a group and switch off the lights. Like your experience, it’s a whole 'nuther dimension of darkness. 2 minutes later you still could not pick out the slightest hint of your hand in front of your face. Zero light really is zero light. Strangely oppressive. And a stark reminder of how the world appears to the truly blind.
It’s always excellent to set a goal for yourself. Me? I aspire to be a bad example. I’m darn good at it too.
Now that is a sullen and unrepentant suspect if ever I’ve seen one. It’s amazing how defiant sullenness conveys guilt just as effectively as that conscience-ridden hang-dog look. The difference is whether the suspect cares that they’re guilty. 
As to me, I accomplished exactly zero yesterday. Total couch potatohood; easy breakfast, snacked on the wrong things for lunch, and reheated leftover veal rib chop & grilled veg for too-late dinner. And some cheap-ass Sangria Her Ladyship had bought a jug of for a party she attended while I was at work.
Now, balconatin’ & caffinatin’ in the gathering warm (87/31) becomes hot (94/35), more of the same beckons today. At least the air is nice and full of that luxurious tropical humidity. Large storms are forming a few miles offshore and extend maybe 50 miles along the coast. It appears they’ll come on shore around noon. Should be fun.
Her Ladyship and I each need to go to the groc store. There is sometimes politics about whether that means two trips or one. We shall see.
And that’s it for Casa LSL on a Sunday. New MMP tomorrow.
First cuppa joe down, and it’s not even 06:30 yet!
vroooom, while I dislike moving, I never minded unpacking that much. You got a cool shower curtain.
I’m glad you enjoyed the dopefest J-bat and lily!
Moooooom, then next time that you are left in the dark, consider using the flashlight feature on your phone. I do that when I’m in a strange place and it’s dark. I was under the assumption that those electric recliners had a back-up battery or a manual override. It doesn’t sound quite safe without one or the other.
Up, caffeinating, breakfasted, been to the dog park, harvested herbs and have Sunday dinner in the crock. I’ll get up shortly and do breakfast / lunch prep for the irkweek, then KP. After that, Nelson needs a bath (the dog park was wet this morning from last night’s T-boomers, so he smells like a wet doggy). Then it’s chilling in the studio and hopefully finishing up the wedding album.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
I did manage to maneuver my feet to the floor, but it was an awkward and decidedly unladylike effort to stand. But no bruises, so I count it as a win!
I just ordered a couple - one will go in the hallway and maybe the other in the living room. Plus I ordered a flashlight/lantern thingy, thereby ensuring we’ll never have a power outage again, at least until the batteries die.
The question is whether it will get cold this winter. But we have gone boating in December on the Bay, and even moved one of our boats from Baltimore to Solomons in January - ice on the rails and everything! That was an adventure not to be repeated.
I keep forgetting about that feature! FCD did find a small flashlight, mostly so he could find the OFF button on the UPS. I was able to use it to find my way to the bedroom, but yeah, I need to remember the phone flashlight,. DUH!
We’re about to head out to the shop - getting a late start today, but we’ll pre-assemble a lot here, then just take it to the school to install. Onward!
Morning all. Looks like another hot and dry day here. There is a sale at Dick’s Sporting Goods, I have the coupon and a $20 gift card, so probably will stop by there after Sunday Dinner. Outside of that I have no major plans, did my swimming and sauna yesterday so today may be a day of rest from the gym routine.
To those who asked, the same phone charger that apparently works now is the one that wouldn’t charge on Tuesday, nor would the car charger or the one the Verizon clerk tried. It is a puzzlement. Haven’t turned the phone back on since I got it up to 100%, may do that this morning and see if it’s holding, and if I still have the pictures I took from my trip.
Pilot, Herald, they do the ‘lights out’ that on a lot of cave trips I’ve been on, but seldom for more than 30 seconds or so, because people do get nervous when it’s like that.
Here in Ali-bama, I don’t have a food-related one, but the ever-popular “If the Lord God returns to Earth, He’s going to have to change planes in Atlanta” is always popular down here.
I think she’s indicating that British time is 5-6 hours ahead of us, so while it’s 9am my time and 10am shoe time, it’s be 3-4pm in England, so they’re in the ‘future’. Or something like that…
Yanker, sounds like the kids had/are having fun. And that sounds like a lot of work on the boat, take it easy on the aches and pains today.
FCM, that school will benefit greatly from you and FCD’s work. But yeah, we need to get back to the boat saga… Glad the power is back on.
JtC, the squirrel is just like us, tends to eat too much and you have to take time out to let it digest. Only thing your guilty of is adding to the population of obese squirrels… And keep having all the good days with Mom that you can.
J-bats, sounds like you had a good meetup.
swampy, trust that Church will go well and the Canon will not fire off any more comments.
OK, need to finish the morning You tubin’ and get ready for dinner. Take care all.
Good morning!
It’s 56 degrees with a few clouds in the sky. The expected high is 77F with mostly sunny skies from around 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and then it’s back to partly cloudy.
I don’t mind, because I have to buy and move more pavers around today and that was hot, exhausting work yesterday.
I was getting ready to leave the house and head to the vet’s office to pick up Polar’s prescriptions when my husband asked me to wait fifteen minutes so he could go with me. He had an errand to run too, so I told him that was fine, as long as he obliged me by going to the big orange store.
We took care of his errands, picked up Polar’s meds, and then went to Home Depot. The wonder of wonders, they had the pavers I was looking for, but only one size. We picked up eight of them. But, after my husband was done loading the pavers, he was wiped and just rushed me through the store. I did not like that because I envisioned buying some planters and plants.
Anyway, I should have known better. When it’s something I want or need to do, he rushes through it, and I end up pissed off or disappointed. He doesn’t know it yet, but I plan to drive up the mountain and explore independently. Every time I try to do that with him, he doesn’t want to get going until noon at the earliest, and then it’s rush, rush, rush. I’m not up for that. I want to park, explore some trails, and take my time.
After the pavers were unloaded at home, I spent several hours leveling the area I wanted them in and then laying some of the pavers. Those pavers way around 60 pounds a piece and are awkward and heavy to move around, but I did it. It’s already made a difference, and I can’t wait to complete this project.
It’s back to Home Depot, so I can pick up some more gravel, along with square pavers (yesterday’s were large and rectangular), planters, and dirt. I have a vision and I intend to see it through.
I’m glad you enjoyed the mini-dopefest J-Bat and Lily. My sister was born in Eugene, and I lived in Springfield while my Dad was in Vietnam. I still have a cousin and an aunt who live in the Eugene area. Some day, I’ll get down there to visit with them. I haven’t seen my aunt since my Dad died.
Swampy, I’m glad you enjoyed your b-day festivities, but sorry it was interrupted by having to deal with the stress.
FCM, you know you can use your cell phone as a flashlight in an emergency, right?
Polar is…not right this morning. He’s restless and keeps going outside. He usually lies by my side and hangs out with me, but I can’t get him to settle down. Need to check into that too.
Alrighty, on with the day.
You mean Baltimore Maryland USA on the Atlantic to the Solomon Islands in the Southwest Pacific near Indonesia? Yeah, that sounds like one heck of an adventure. If you ever wrote a thread about it I’d appreciate a cite. The good news is once leaving Baltimore you’d only need to get a day or two’s voyage south to be in non-icy weather. Of course you have to survive those first two days’ voyage. Shipboard icing is not funny.
Her Ladyship and I have discovered something similar about one another.
It’s an effort of will for each of us not to be a (usually mild) obstacle to the other’s errands. We both try, but there is some controversy about who tries more successfully more often. And for activities we both enjoy, the way in which we enjoy them is also pretty different. But a lowest common denominator approach to those joint activities is unsatisfying to both. Tis a conundrum.
Darn good thing she’s cute. I wonder what she sees in me?
Good morning! Packing today so will keep this short, but have read all.
Taters, IME, few couples can shop together. One tends to be all “Stick to the list!” and hustles through stores like the roof is about to cave in, and the other tends to poke around and check out bargains.
Doggio, you’re way too funny, and Spot looks like s/he has no sense of humor at all. Hey, I got a UPS package delivered at 5:45 a.m… I had no idea drivers worked that early.
Um, no, Solomon’s MD. We keep our boat at Spring Cove marina.
If you zoom out far enough, you can see the distance from Baltimore.
I just sustained an ugly owie. I was cutting 2X2 squares of plywood on the table saw, and one of them got away from me. The blade flang it back (yes, I said flang) and it smacked me just below the right shoulder. I was more ticked because it bled, but I got the blood out (I hope.) I expect it’ll be gloriously purple before the day is out. I thought about sharing a pic, but nobody wants to see that.
Apart from self-harm, I sanded and drilled about 20 blocks for mounting the wi-fi hot spot units. Then after cutting up all the plywood squares, I had to cut them into triangles and round the corners on the belt sander - they’ll be spacers behind the mounting boards so the switches and hot spots have sufficient air flow around them. FCD is messing with a program on the router to cut the mounting boards, then we’ll assemble them and build the jumper cables that will go from the switch to the hot spot. I don’t think they’ll be installed today, tho.
It’s close to lunch time - wonder when I can get him to take a break??
I just looked at a lot of really fun pics, thank you. I’m sure this is what squirrel was doing, everyone has been telling me about the record breaking heat. It is warm, but it is the humidity that’s killing me and I’m the only one who seems to be noticing it.
Absolutely. I don’t think there are many days left to be seized, so I better enjoy it while I can.
Mom has stopped stitching. She’s not sure why, she just doesn’t feel like it anymore 
that is a very cute shower curtain, you deserve to be a little excited about a fun thing.
Thank you. And you are right, Mom was the best mother she could be and she is a very good person.
What a good boy! Sounds like a fun meet-up, I’m glad everyone had fun.
Yeah, its the not cooling down at night part that’s killers. I’m losing established plants and trees because of the heat and they are native plants. It really sucks.
A fancypants honeydew. The color is lighter and the taste not as strong, but it’s basically a thick skinned muskmelon. I probably won’t buy another one, but now I know what they are.
He sure seemed happy when he found the jackpot. It surprised me that he was the only one who ate the peanuts, I thought squirrels were social critters. I wonder if he is a squirrel outcast who was banished to the barren parking lot trees for some horrible squirrel transgression.
I am really surprised that you of all people lack such a basic tool. I hope you rectify the issue soon!
There is a very good reason Hubs is home with the cats. I’m tired of rushing through trips and such. I have really been enjoying being able to stop where and when I want just because something looks interesting or I want to look at a rock formation instead of whizzing by at 80 mph.
Fingers crossed that it’s just the weather.
We used to have some, but time and grandkids killed them all. I’ll have some next week tho - Da Jungle to the rescue!!