my journal: various subjects, opinionating, CW at times
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)
Didn't fell any trees today at all...not so much from my aches & pains (though they were indeed a motherf***er this morning), but because my right hip kept me up most of the night & then, after 10 a.m., it started raining off & on. "Raining", not drizzling. Can't do any woods work in the rain. It's dangerous enough in perfect weather; rain just makes it more of a gamble.
This project will take some time to do, for sure. I will have to be patient...am not good at that. Phuck.
On the plus side, there's enough open ground to park on my property after all. Right by the mailbox (which needs to be replaced). So I'm in the rental van now...bedded down in the cargo area. Good thing I brought a comforter & scavenged blanket along for cushioning. They don't do much of that but they're better than nothing. The van itself turned out to be a better choice for camping overnight...a pickup truck has no shelter over the cab. Would have to sleep in the driver's seat otherwise.
If I can sleep enough tonight & the weather holds, I'll cut some trees tomorrow & drag out at least a couple small logs.
...No sleeping out in the open, period--the mosquitoes will eat ya alive! 🦟🦟🦟
"If I can sleep enough tonight"
...yeah, if.
@slowdecline48 It's hard to sleep when everything hurts. An air mattress or a mat could help cushion that floor. Wally world sells them pretty cheap :)
@mytwistedsoul I had the same idea while I was lying there...an air mattress would be nice to have. Even if I sleep on a cot, an air cushion would make it comfortable. Finally got some sleep, though...
Being nocturnal is definitely a disadvantage in tree work. 😒 You gotta be up & running when the sun is in the sky.
I'm mostly back "home" now, btw.
@slowdecline48 Glad you were able to get some sleep eventually. Yeah I'm an early riser myself. I'm not happy about it, but I'm up before the sun. Next time you go out you'll be better prepared. I bet your bed felt pretty damn good when you crashed!
The first time I "crashed" it was in the cargo space in the rental van later on Monday morning! 😆 ...I woke up later all sweaty, but I didn't care...ended up going home a bit early in any case because of a phone malfunction. Can't work in the woods if my phone is incapable of summoning emergency help, so I drove back home. Got the d**n thing fixed today...as if I didn't have enough expenses already.
@slowdecline48 It doesn't take long for costs to start adding up, that's for sure. 😕 That's good thinking though with the phone. Because you never know, you know? It's a lifeline, just in case.
Be careful out there and stay safe … and stay warm. Take your time …. It will take time and recover as you go …. Where are you going to put the logs??
some folks here will help clear land to keep the trees 🌲… Tinywhisper has a great idea re cabin in the woods !!
cheri
@SunShineAlwaysGrateful Thanks. I'm back in town now...the town where my 1BR unit & the anthill it's in is located, that is. The trip wasn't exactly a failure--I learned a few things--but it wasn't a roaring success, either.
On the other hand, my head is still attached to my neck & all my limbs are still on. So there's that.
Almost forgot to tell you: when I finally get some logs back up here, they will initially be stacked on my patio. Once they've lost some of their moisture, I'll debark them at least (maybe mill them into boards, if my old portable table saw can handle it); then they'll be moved to my living room, where they will sit & dry out.
"The CCP bases its economic strategy on a careful study of prevailing trends, but the underlying assumption is that the party can & must use plans & policies to disproportionately benefit the PRC. An example of this outlook in practice is the doctrine of 'two markets, two resources,' which party officials propounded in the late 1970's & early 80's as they were pursuing increased interaction with the outside world, & which continues to be frequently invoked....by Mao's death in 1976, the ravages of his Great Leap Forward & Cultural Revolution had left China poorer than it had been at 'liberation,' when the Chinese Civil War ended on 1949. Mao's successors embraced increased engagement with Japan & the West out of desperation, not admiration, as they sometimes let their foreign interlocutors believe, & in their internal discussions used language that was [clear] about their intentions. Whereas Americans interpreted Beijing's turn to 'reform & opening' under Deng Xiaoping to mean 'gradual liberalization,' senior cadres spoke at home of 'learning to swim without being drowned,' i.e., 'using all foreign factors that can be used for our purposes & taking advantage of the world' while 'sticking to the principles of socialism & the direction of communism.'"
- Jacqueline Deal
...a new short poem.