Thoughts of the day,,,,
Been cruising around the webz, looking at commoner threads, MSM threads, Independent Journalist (not the J-urinalist type 1 mod0 of the MSM’s)
along with some other intel reports that have been handed down. Some I have linked here in the past: like that one where they point out that we have not had an honest election since JFK, but meticulously manicured ‘choices’ that fit the agenda of the Globalists.
Is this year any different?
I have to question some things about it. For starters,,, Trumped,,, Talks a good hardline, has backed himself with other hardliners like RFKjr, who wants to hammer the FDA DEA and a couple of other agencies.
BUT WILL HE?
Look at his last term,,, backed up by Swamp Critters, stonewalled by both parties, and did some damage as well (bumpstock bans, Operation Warpspeed that is STILL bearing rotted fruit.) Yeah, he did some good too. Lack of new wars, de-escalation of the one we were already in (and the Dems are cursing him for ‘not giving them a good exit plan,,,’)
What I want to see: Get back independent energy. We can’t rebuild without juice, Readily available juice at low prices. Food doesn’t just grow itself, at least not in the quanitities we need,,, Nor does it get from farm to market on its own. Thats just the start of the supply chain operations,,, without readily sourced ‘juice’ to run things, everything else ramps up in cost,,,,
Second: Get the border under control and start getting those that won’t assimilate into AMERICAN CULTURE, OUT!!! I have no problem with people wanting to come here, but like any GOOD relationship, what do you bring to the table? If its looking for a free-ride, keep looking,,,, It should NOT be on our backs that you ride. I have known several ‘Illegals’ from my time in Tejas, and I can tell you, they were more American in mindset than some of the Yahooz I see these days. They would even patrol the local bus stations and make sure those coming through were on the up and up, and not freeloaders or gangbangers. That was in 2012,,, I have no idea what its like down there now.
back to the energy thing for a minute: If you want better electric power, STOP SUBSIDIZING GREEN DEALS. Instead start investing in STORAGE SOLUTIONS: aka Battery technologies. We have ample research into e-motors, and collection methods (and have proven world wide, most all large scale collection is hugely wasteful, dangerous on several levels, and just flat out criminal in how it operates (it reeks of money laundering schemes.) IMO, the only LARGE SCALE Green energy that makes any sense is Hydro-electric, and that is getting to a point in our world where NO ONE knows how to rebuild what is already in place. We certainly do not have the manufacturing means that we did when those things were put in place. What we need are ways of storing large quanities of electrons SAFELY and in a form that can be transfered about in PHYSICAL FORM unlike our current ‘charging station’ debacle. If you are Heinlein fan, think Shipstones!
BUT, the biggest change this country is in need of.
EDUCATION REFORM. We need to stop glorifying all the “Ivy League” indoctrination alumni, and start demanding MERIT based standards. Don’t wanna know who you know, who you blew, or what Daddy paid to get your degree,,, I wanna see what YOU HAVE DONE WITH IT. Primarily, we need to gut the primary schools of all the dead weight, Why a highschool with a graduating class size of 300 needs FOUR PRINCIPLES and all the attendent vice and sect’y’s, assistant to this assistant’s assistant hierarchy,,,, Must be a good gig with hella benefits to swallow that much cum and not lose your mind. Education has become a business, and the product such is releasing into the wilds of the world is seriously lacking these days. GUT the Department of Education. Let the states take back control, or even better, push it all the way back to the county level. Don’t wanna see certification from some school, but wanna see teachers that actually can perform. Wanna teach english, SPEAK ENGLISH, etc etc. When I was in school, our Shop teachers were not certified as teachers,,, they WERE successful businessmen who wanted to show others how to do what they did, and our school let them, providing them a classroom to do so. That program was tossed only a few years after I left school, and not because it wasn’t popular, but because it didn’t ‘fit, or bring up the national test scores.’: it was drummed out by Federal demands IE the Department of Education.
Bring back Mental Institutions. And we can start by filling them with the current psychiatrists that think ‘better living through chemistry’ is the foundation of mental health. Oh, and there is a current list of 535 I wouldn’t mind seeing in padded restraints*,,,, just sayin’.
Downsize the government as a whole. I still can not see how The Executive Branch is so ham-strung that they can’t fire SES employees,,, Something just ain’t right there, and that needs addressed in a big way. There needs to be a return to the Constitutional Controls and all of these Federal Register entries need to be revoked/repealed/erased/something. Simpler Vernacular needs to be the MAIN, just as it was in our original documents; ‘Shall not be infringed’ reads only one way,,, That needs to be the norm, not the exception.
I could go on and on and on about all of this, but what I ‘SEE’, tells me that nothing is going to change, at least not radically, and in another four years, its back to the same old same old. Further falling down the rabbit hole into Turd world status and some other Country (Argentina?) will take the stage as the “shining beacon on the hill”,,, Hell, right now, from all I have been hearing, Russia is already where we were in the 80’s for freedoms,,,, talk about a turning of the tables,,,,
To be honest, I really have no desire to find out what young groundhog tastes like. I was talking to Da about his childhood in this area following the Great Depression, and I can so easily see us falling that low if things don’t start to make a turn-around here soon. I will do what I have to do to survive, make no mistakes: that does not mean I relish the idea(s),,, I’m not exactly a young man, and I prefer certain creature comforts in my waning years. AND, I know if things were to get realy rough, really fast, the die-off would be astounding. Far too many have no clue about basic things. We have become a country of convienence and disposible everything,,, that won’t fly in the face of adversity and limited resources.
THIS is not the world I went into the Marines to defend for my child and grandchildren. Whats (likely) coming, is not the world I wished for them. And I just do not see a way I/ME/MYSELF can make a change for the better for them: the problem is so much bigger than local local local. I do what I can, here, locally, but small pockets scattered an isolated will quickly fail, and I do not see how we can make it a network while the insanity of the world at large continues to grow like a cancer, while the foundations of it are imploding.
Downer post, apologies.
Live
Learn
(try to) LAUGH
LOAD!!!!
*or stretched necks, but I leave that to my more angst ridden days,,,,
No water under keel today
I went to church, but the vestibule was loaded down with hooligans and loud noizy things,,, Bunches of people with camps set up everywhere and Dirtbikes and fourwheelers cluttering the ramp. Ramp looked like a slime pit with all the mud they had been washing off the toys,,,
and the damned beatbox music thumping,,,,
at 9 am!!!
sigh,,,,
I didn’t even put Buff into park,,,, just stopped, listened for a minute, observed the carnage, then put her in reverse,,,,
And then the rumblies started up,,, T-storms blowing through. Not raging windy howler fests,,, just the occasional flashy-flashy, boom-rumble and scattered showers. Makes for a relaxing day,,, Sleep weather as I tend to think of it.
Only sleep is quite elusive,,, brainium awhirl as usual.
Klingy putty-tats too. They don’t like growly skies, and want assurances that all is good. (or they are complaining about my weather control skills,,,) Yah,,, that doesn’t help when you are just sitting there, starting to doze, and WHUMP! Kat in lap, mreowr, blurt, purr,,,,
or the flatulant dawgums,,,, Da gave Voo a hunk of chedder cheese that had started to go all moldy. Dawg ate it and is now stinkin’ the porch up with gaseous emissions,,, T’anks Dad! LOL
Just a long and quite boring day. I prolly coulda done a river run, but, Lyssa, Fiberglass hull,,, low water levels,,,, Rocks,,,,,
PASS. And I am being lazy,,, I could have came home and picked up Rio with little effort,,, Instead, I just came home,,,
Impatiently being patient, biding my time to this coming Friday when I will load up for a run to the coast for a four day mini-kaytion (totally a word) fresh and hopefully some salt water under keels, new boat, new lake,,,,
CHANGE, and change I can appreciate. Break the routine for a spell and clear the ruts out. I NEED THIS,,, even if that boat deal falls through, I need the change in pattern/scenery.
more later as the week goes along.
LLLL
Is a kayak-y cO-NONE-Drum
While out today, piddlin’round on Laurel lake, I gotz ta thinking about the very boat I was in, what I am planning on picking up next weekend, and formulating plans, or possibles, or something like that (Shush Brudda B, I know, “ya need to stop thinkin’ so much!”)
I had sorta made tentative plans to put Lyssa up for sale after purchasing the Yella-Nanner-Boat (that is what I am calling her right now,,, as distinction between ‘this kayak, that kayak, etc’) I haven’t made that purchase yet, so there is still room to wiggle out if I decide such is in order. Not that its a money issue: I have that in hand. It could be used in other areas just as easily (and probably in better ways, but,,,,)
I keep thinking,,, Yah, thats my problem, the brainium never shuts down: there is always a running dialogue between me, myself, the characters in my head, and IS,,, IS is the quiet one most days, but has the greater ‘vote’,,, And Lyssa has been one hell of a great boat, still is; just a little tired, not quite up to my needs in some ways,
and HEAVY.
I’m getting to that point in age, where loading/unloading her can be intimidating, and yes, there have been sessions where I decided to NOT go paddling because of the ‘gotta get her down to the water AND BACK AGAIN,,,,’ The old gurl weighs nearly 70#, empty!!! The Yella-Nanner-boat is a full 12# lighter and is more than a foot longer. Even with a trolley, Lyssa wears me out movin’ over ground.
Still, she is the ONLY kayak I have owned that has not put me in the drink,,, Intentional rolling sessions, yes!, Accidental capsize: not once!!! And thats even with getting squirelly with the GP blades: they will slice and dice you into a capsize if you aren’t ready. (which is what usually puts me in the drink,,, )
if only I could find that Alabaster Unicorn: the Wildy Tempest 180pro,,,, Rarer than hens teeth, and always list as if new, because the owners KNOW what they have,,,,, That or the P&H Cetus MV,,,, the hull designs are so close, I am surprised that P&H hasn’t been hit with a copyright lawsuit. (American company vs British company.,,, Yeah, no lawsuit in that future, eh?) Still,,, $$$$$$ that Dio ain’t got (yup, bad grammer,,, get over it!)
(actually, there IS a Wildy 170pro on the market right now: even in my price range. The problem is location,,, Upstate NY near Canada: 12 hour drive one way and dude wants cash,,,, No e-pay. If he would take e-pay, I would find a way to get it to me,,,, There are groups of kayak lovers that are always on the move and willing to haul a boat on the cheap ‘if they are going that way,,,,’. and right now, there are WW festivals all over this section of country where someone might be willing to pick up and deliver somewhere much closer to me.)
Anywhoos,,,, Lyssa isn’t leaving my fleet anytime soon. She is too solid of a boat, forgiving where she needs, demanding enough to teach ya something new,
just one heavy bitch,,,,
maybe I need to find a hull-a-vator for Buffalo,,,,,
I have seven days to make up my mind about the Yella-Nanner-boat,,, I won’t be picking it up until Sat or Sun of the coming weekend (still not set in stone with seller yet) And who knows, maybe some Golden Unicorn of a boat will pop up ‘along the way’ and all of this post is moot,,,,
I don’t think I am that lucky,,,,,
Live, keep on livin’, laugh at the ‘tards in DC, learn something new about yourself and the world around you, and KEEP LOADING THOSE MAGS AND SHELVES,,,, we aint’ out of the storm yet. (hell, it hasn’t really started yet,,,,)
ADDENDUM: got home, still daylight,,, thought to self, “We’re keepin’ Lyssa, how can I improve on what’s there?” This isn’t the first round of this thinking either,,,, been lots of eyeballin’, thinking, and judging of ‘costs’: not neccesarily financial ones, but depreciation of value costs. Any changes I make to a boat are going to reduce it’s overall value, no matter if its makes the boat better,,, It’s no longer factory,,,,
Long story short, I cut the rear bulkhead out of the poor gurl. There are two rear bulkheads,, the one at the back of the cockpit, and the one between the day hatch and the rear compartment. I had once flooded both compartments and siphoned them out into a bucket to measure thier REAL volume. Much easier than doing a ton of math. Both were right around 6 1/2 gallons. Thats a LOT of displacement back there, and only half of it accessible with a large hatch. That compartment also holds the skeg box, which cuts the back half of the compartment, neatly, in two with little to no usable space. Small items like tent poles and such slide back there and don’t get lost, but there isn’t much else that will and definitely nothing in a dry bag. So, I cut that bulkhead between the day hatch out (which I have always felt were as useful as teats on a boar-hog: accessible to Yoga masters that have tight rope walker balance, but normal peeps need to beach or raft up to get in those dinky hatches with VOLUMES of space that swallow anything small.) (the last boat I had, that had a day hatch, I swapped the VCP cover out with a hard access cover that operated with flip latch, and a cat-bag inside. Much easier to access.) Busted out the sander (and a vacuum cleaner to suck the atmo out as I did: fiberglass dust gets ugly,,,) to smooth out the rough edges remaining. Wiped it all down with Windex and a micro fiber towel. And grabbed two of my drybags with gear to see if I had made an improvement. EUREKA!!!! I am seriously considering, as a winter project, sealing up that day hatch opening. One big hatch that can leak is bad enough, two could get ugly. For now though,,,
Well, I have yet to put her to a feild test, and thats going to be at least two weeks out, but so far, I’m confident she just gained some usablility that I have been grumping she lacks(ed). And I still have the full bulkhead that can be ‘glued’ back in, if I ever decide to change my mind.
In the lee
Dead calm
Frog ripples for waves
Mostly cloudy skies
And I’m just sittin’ here,,,,(haven’t broken straps securing Lyssa yet.)
Guess it doesn’t matter if I go further out ‘for peace’ since its quiet as a tomb where I am now. Even the few boats I have seen are moving slow and sedate like,,, small wakes, low noise, just enjoying being here, same as me,,,,
Then around noon, a 10kn wind blew in, blew off the overcast, and the yachties came out to play. Still not as playful as I would like, but Lyssa is getting wet,
And that makes me happy
Still TOO calm IMO
Just a silly post about nuthin
Been sitting here this morn, already loaded gear to get out and about with Lyssa,,, Next weekend is the run to saltwater,,, feelin’ antsy and wanna go NEOW!!!! Guess the katz have been influencing me some,,,,
But gotz ta t’inkin’bout gear,,,, One of my biggest gripes about the gear we kayakers use, is with the Drysuits,,, specifically, drysuits in expedition scenarios,,, See, A dry suit is fragile,,, one little hole and it no longer qualifies as “DRY”,,, and when we are out kampin’n’stuf,, well, sparkies from a fire can burn a hole right through a triple layered suit. You don’t even need to be wearing it: just hanging from tree dripping off the excess and sparkie blows over and RIGHT THROUGH that suit like nuthin’.
And its not like these things are inexpensive or anything,,,, My Cheapy Alibaba suit was roughly $300 after shipping and all that,,, Thats a hefty chunk out of some paychecks. The ‘Good’ suits start around $800 and range to $OMFG purty quick
Anywhoos,,,, I know that there are situations where a drysuit (and what you wear under it) are the ONLY solution to being able to kayak (reasonably) safe. Cold water can kill and wetsuits can only go so far down the thermometer before they start becoming dangerous to the wearer. (I started getting Hypothermia after 2 hours in 70 degree water wearing a full wetsuit,,, Yes, they protect, but there are limits to everything. )
dunno what I’m rambling on about,,, every peice of gear has a niche, and none will ‘fill them all’ adequately; That reason is why I have more than one kayak,,, Same goes for wearable gear. Fit the gear to the situation with some cushion for variables, then roll those dice. Mitigate the risk: you can never eliminate it (and still play that is.)
and keep the Drysuit as far from the campfire as you can,,,, (like tucked in the cockpit of the boat, out of the way,,,)
Turn of a corner here, same street of “Drysuit” : If you have never worn one, they are ‘different’. the first time I wore mine, I was shocked at how, when standing/floating in the water, just how much different the sensation of “pressure” was. Wetsuit/bare skin, the pressure is the same, and you barely notice it,,, but when the skin is dry and the pressure is applied to the suit then to you, it feels much more intense. Its still the same pressure, the sensation is oddly different and you really find out just how much pressure the water is applying to push you back up.
Ok,,, I’ve flapped my jaws enough this morning,,,, time to get out there and see what I see, feel the world as it really is, and get the vibes back on course,
live
learn
laugh
LOAD
Rules for thee, but not for me (or my toadies)
Little background here: some of y’all might recall the incident where I was shot at during a road-rage incident. Ever since then, I have been ‘on a list’,,, not because I was the shooter, but because my name is attached to a court incident of Armed Assault,,, I may have been the victim in this case, but because my name is on that court record, I haven’t been able to purchase a new firearm. Its been three years. I always get put on ‘Hold’ and there is never any follow-up.
IF what this woman is describing is completely legit, then there is movement within a certain Three Letter Agency, to arm one group, and handicap another group.
Fact is, I would like to pick up a new “big Ugly” .45ACP, but I have not been granted permission by a certain agency that handles these things,,,
YET, people with false ID’s, out of country ID’s, probably have a hella time speaking the language, are being granted access to firearms,,,,
Prepare accordingly,,,
Been seeing other things that are making me feel quite suspicious about the immediate future of our country,,,, Many unmarked busses, some even with barred windows, traversing the back highways. The Prison transports are usually marked: the ones I have seen lately, are not. And I am seeing at least one a day the last month. I don’t know if they are being driven from manufacture point to final destination, or what, but,,,,, I can say, I don’t think that to be the case…. some have been bluebird style busses, some have been Prevost types, but they are all blacked out windows, but 60 passenger style busses, not RV/Tour bus styles.
Makes me wonder if THIS isn’t part of the game plan,,, minus the Soviet influence,,, (maybe),,,
Live
Learn
Laugh
Seriously, Get Loading!!!
That awkward moment
when the 70’s and 80’s existed simultaneously,,,, LOVE that comment!!!!
My anthem for the day,,,,
rain out,,, Had a short project needed finished, but was the only peep about and temps were dropping,,, Finished and went home,,,
Dusted off the Erg for the season. Probably going to need it soon, ’cause I know there are going to be times where getting out just ain’t gonna happen. Not that I won’t go, but that whole solo thing still mitigates me taking unneccesary risks. Gear can only do so much, and unlike on coastal locations, We don’t have the ‘luxury’ of being able to jump on the VHF and call for help. (Lake Cumberland has areas where that is doable, my usual digs do not)
Trying to be patient with things right now. Feeling antsy to get to SC and pick up a boat and have a mini-vakay,,, Torn as to which is pulling harder on the impatience,,,, Feel like a 6yo at the beginning of December,,, counting the days, hours, minutes,,, Get on the Erg and paddle for 15 minutes, practice edge control, trying to push my self ‘over’ more and maintain control. (not 100% simulation, but damned close to how Lyssa responds) Paddle some more,,, look at clock and sigh,,,,
Too much time on my hands,,,,,
idle hands make for long days.
Pull the campgear out and re-organize for winter roles.
too much time on my hands,,,,
SO I pulled the Food Dryer project out, drew some lines on the tank, even cut a couple of slots (where the hinges will go BEFORE I cut the rest of the door out. Cleaner that way.) But I didn’t want to drag it to the welder and get that far into it today. Mostly just some idea plays getting out.
One reason I dislike winter months (and ya, I know we aren’t in winter YET,,,) is the dying daylight thing. Shorter days, but I am not wired to sleep THAT MUCH,,,, And its still too early in the season for binge reading,,, I do read a lot, year round, but that list of things ‘to be read’ gets pummeled into submission in the winter months. ( I have a stack of books next to the desk that I have started, but not really dug into because SUMMER,,,,) You could ask my Sis,,, I’ll sit down after breakfast with a book and have it done before the end of the day, and may start back in on it, if I think I ‘missed something’. Most books get read several times, not always back to back, but over years,,, Until I can recall the scenes at whim, without needing to open the book.
too much time on my hands,,,,
This is why I know I will never “Retire”,,, I may not be as involved in physical work, but the mind will not rest, even when the weather dictates idleness. That is the one thing I have been striving for with the meditation thing,,, calming the mind, getting it to exit the gears and just idle,,,, Seems like I ‘get it’ one week, and rebound the next,,,,
too much time on my hands,,,,, t-t-t-ticking away,,,, I don’t know what to do,,,,
ROLFMAO,,,,
Live
Learn
Laugh
LOAD!!!
Dio's Workshop 