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my journal: various subjects, opinionating, CW at times

slowdecline48 June 24th, 2022

The title explains itself.

If you're interested in the ramblings of a middle-aged man with chronic conditions who, at times, sees things a little too clearly for his own good, then read on.

Sometimes I get political, but it won't be all the time.

I don't mind comments in general but if you're going to differ with what I write, that's fine--as long as you can explain your position clearly & reasonably. Rants, shouting & general incoherence will be ignored or flagged, depending on the situation. Try to remember that not everyone else in this world holds your beliefs.

Every so often I may post art or snapshots of projects I'm working on.

If you're still interested after reading all the above, great. (I do wonder at how much time you have on your hands, though)

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slowdecline48 OP September 19th

Today I was gonna do a bit more to the cane project, & did...early this morning. Am not doing any more to it today because the peones are running around the property with leaf blowers. I don't need to deal with that s***.

The laundry can wait til tonight too, for the same reason.

1 reply
slowdecline48 OP September 19th

Edit: eventually I fell into a headache nap & woke up after 5. No more loud noise...good. I stuck on some more of the hemp braid with epoxy; propped up the cane outside to let the epoxy cure & set.

Pics when it's finally done, if I can remember to post them here.

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slowdecline48 OP September 20th

Food vs Sleep

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slowdecline48 OP September 20th

Also - If you're following this journal, you're cool with me... By now, there are certain other people in the Cups community that I don't go for. I won't list their names here because that would cause unnecessary drama.

mytwistedsoul September 23rd

@slowdecline48 Sleep and maybe dream about food lol

1 reply
slowdecline48 OP September 23rd

@mytwistedsoul After a mostly sleepless night, I finally nodded out...& had a dream with a lot of falling in it. Great. 😒 Oh well...have come up with worse ones...

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slowdecline48 OP September 21st

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WOO-HOOOOOOO


...I love alternative investments.

1 reply
slowdecline48 OP September 21st
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The green numbers at the top are the change in value in dollars & percentage of total, as of yesterday. (They're always up there regardless of the timescales) The change in a year's time is in fact +36.28%! Notice how in late September 2023 it was a bit over $1,900/oz?
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slowdecline48 OP September 23rd

A hurricane is expected to pass by a bit west of here, sometime on Thursday or Friday. I have some supplies but definitely need more canned foods, & potable H2O. Things to do this week.

I'll be back when I'm back. Wish me luck, folks.

1 reply
mytwistedsoul September 23rd

@slowdecline48 Good luck! Stay safe! 

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slowdecline48 OP September 25th

Made it back here tonight, because of nocturnal tendencies & boredom.

I have some canned goods now. Two of my bigger glass bottles are drying upside down right now...in the morning I'll fill 'em up & plug the mouths. Replacing the filter can wait until next month, I suppose... Still got everything else. If the power goes down for a day or three, I should be fine. So far it's never occurred since I moved here (knock on wood)

Other than the above, nothing else to report. 😴

One Hour Mama - Lavay Smith & her Red Hot Skillet Lickers

7 replies
mytwistedsoul September 25th

@slowdecline48 Red hot skillet lickers. The name had me rolling 😅  I saw this storm could become a cat 3. This has got to be so frustrating for you Slow. Between the flare-ups and headaches and weather - it would be hard to get things done 

Got flashlights? Candles? Phone charged? 

6 replies
slowdecline48 OP September 25th

For sure, Twisty. I'm probably better prepped than most if not all other residents in the apartment anthill.

Got several emergency candles, most of which I made intermittently over the last three years...yes, really. (I make 'em with fat wicks--braided cotton)

I do wish I had some more canned goods, but I have most of a crate-ful now so it's okay. Gonna soak some beans & start a batch of stew later tonight. Assuming the power doesn't go out, it will cook for at least 10 hours & probably longer.

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mytwistedsoul September 26th

@slowdecline48 Hey that's pretty cool that you make your own emergency candles tbh. Hopefully you can get you stew done. I just heard earlier that they're saying cat 4 now 😬 

I did lol at it being your downstairs neighbors problem though 😅 

Has it ever gotten that bad since you've lived there? 

4 replies
slowdecline48 OP September 26th

The worst I ever saw was in 2017...that was Irma's year. I didn't see any damage to buildings except for one or two homes by the St. John, but that's the risk you run with riverfront property (maybe that's one reason why it's so expensive? The insurance!)... Saw quite a few branches & tree limbs scattered around the neighborhood, with a couple residential streets temporarily blocked by larger ones. I did not see any large trees down anywhere; a few only lost some limbs. The winds were fierce, though!...I never saw sheets of water move like that before. That was a new experience.

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mytwistedsoul September 26th

@slowdecline48 Omg yeah flood insurance is pretty expensive from what I've heard. Probably even more now considering the price of materials. Where I live I don't need it because if it floods up here - it's a flood of biblical proportions lol


The trees would be a bigger issue - especially with the winds. I lost two trees this summer because of storms. Of course they always seem to be where the lane is and they fall over it - of course 😬

Hey stay safe. You'll definitely be in my thoughts. Drop a line when you can just to let me know you're ok - please? 
2 replies
slowdecline48 OP September 26th

@mytwistedsoul That's so Mr. Belvedere, thank you... But seriously, I'll probably log in here while Helene is passing through. Once you've prepared for a storm, you're cooped up inside with nothing to do. A Florida tradition is "hurricane parties"...probably they do it in all the gulf states. It consists of inviting friends over & watching the wind & rain through your windows while getting loaded. 🙄😏

1 reply
mytwistedsoul September 26th

@slowdecline48 😂 I had to google that one


Guess if you've been there long enough you get used to it. Like up north with snow. No big deal lol
I've heard about hurricane parties. Hey if it passes the time why not? 
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slowdecline48 OP September 25th

The storm has lowered barometric pressure everywhere, which is why I've been f***ed up all afternoon. Good thing I did the important stuff yesterday & early this morning.

A delightful piece of info from my weather app:

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Am right on the edge of it, but I'm not worried. If water starts to rise on the pavement, that will be my downstairs neighbors' problem.

6 replies
slowdecline48 OP September 26th
@jesusredeemedme2425 -
Saw this & thought of you.
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jesusredeemedme2425 September 27th

Awww :)


You know what’s funny? It’s got rave reviews… but the pic is missing a TON of rhinestones XD

4 replies
slowdecline48 OP September 28th

@jesusredeemedme2425 You could buy it & after the buckle is shipped to your place, add some...or maybe zircons. 😁

slowdecline48 OP September 28th

@jesusredeemedme2425 Are you the rhinestone cowgirl? 😃

2 replies
jesusredeemedme2425 September 28th

Uhhhh i guess? Hehe. Idk what that means. I vaguely remember a reference to a rhinestone cowboy…

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slowdecline48 OP September 28th

It was a song in the mid-70's.

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slowdecline48 OP September 26th

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Current status: lying on the pile of unwashed laundry in the hallway. Meniére's is flaring right now....I ain't doin' s**t.

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slowdecline48 OP September 27th

At about 0400 hrs the electricity came back on.

(Helene knocked it out in the apartment anthill at 0045. No big deal but I was wondering if I'd have to leave the fridge closed until next evening, then haul out my grill & cook everything in the freezer)

Still intermittently windy outside, but the storm is Georgia's & Tennessee's problem now...not to mention SC. Hope they get through it all right.

In all the debates & discussions about religion since 9-11, more than once it has been said that everyone has to believe in something. Right now, I believe I'll have a glass of wine.

slowdecline48 OP September 28th

Me: "The stew is done! Not quite as flavorful as I'd hoped but a bit more seasoning should fix it... Those two bowlfuls hit the spot. Time to get some shut-eye."

My GI tract: Phuck no, you worthless sod...I'm gonna wake you up after midnight. We will blat out sulfur dioxide & methane until dawn, & you will sit on the john for at least a half-hour before the sun comes up.

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slowdecline48 OP September 29th
Note to self: when making future batches of weekend stew (whether on the weekend or not), always put in plenty of vegetables. If beans make up the bulk of the stew with < 40% other ingredients to lighten it up, you will pay for such foolishness later no matter how it tastes during initial consumption.
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slowdecline48 OP September 29th

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