Stopped at Da’s on way home (with dedkow for mama, so couldn’t stay long).   Had a little convo with him and

lets just say, I am glad as heck its getting warm out again.  His bees and fishing are gonna alleviate the issue I ‘heard’.   It wasn’t just the things he was saying, it was the fear underlying his voice.   The things going on in the world, and he is finally woke to them, and: he’s scared.    He feels that someone/group is pushing HARD for the next World War (and I can’t refute that) and that old “Cold War” angst is coming back on him.   He’s in his twilight years, afeared of what shouldn’t even be a thing anymore.

And I get it.   Hell, I’m scared of what moves and tantrums are taking place in the Eurasian theater.   Not as much whats going on the ME, but even that has potential to overboil its pot and make things world wide go sideways.

And ain’t a damned thing people like us can do to change shit.   The people of Europe need to start doing some housekeeping, but from all I can see, they are just as much a part of the problem as the powergrubbing Poly-tickians doing the boat rockin’.   I know there were signs in France that the people were uprising, a couple years back, but we don’t hear too much about that these days.  I know that Germany has been getting uppity in the political arena, and there are signs of grassroots movements in the UK. 

The People of Europe SHOULD be pissed off in a rightous anger, but we don’t hear about it.   All eyes are on the turmoils of our country (as it should be, honestly) but we don’t get enough information about the world stage to elicit any hope that maybe, just maybe, all this saber-rattling will get tamped down and Saner heads prevail.   So far the only reason we haven’t tipped over into Canned Sunshine Exchanges is, IMO, Putin is the saner head so far.    Thats a scary thought, No?

(NOTE; there may be that whole unknown unknown factor involved.   Fact is, We don’t really know if our Nukes are operational, let alone those of Russia.    We may get ‘thumbs ups’ from DOD that ours are good to go, but, Are they?   And until that day when they may need used, we can’t know.   We have to take it on faith that those in charge of that shit are on the up and up.   I have lots of faith, but not when it comes to human honesty.  That one needs EARNED, and current events are not helping that faith any.)

My personal observations, and I am repeating myself here: They, the powers current in the world scheme, are going to implode the world finance market, or they are going to explode world wide war,

and as Da stated, ‘only because they want to reduce the population to near zero’

Some people just want to see the world burn.

And that scares the ever lovin’ shit out of me.

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Muhnday wrap up.   Slow day, shop day (for the most part) and a full day at that (for me.  Crews only got 6.5)    Wanna keep that trend online and on the up and up for the next couple months.   Gotz some catchin’ up to do.    Maybe things will hold together a bit longer.    Fingers crossed.  (and if they don’t, Heinlein rules apply: When the ship lifts, all bills are settled.)

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Went for a small paddle sesh yesterday, no milage worth noting, more floatin’, getting the feel of the water/weather/WORLD around me.    Still not much in the way of bloomin’ plant-life to brighen things up, SO FAR.  That won’t take long now as I am seeing some here, there, everywhere: its just patchy, currently.  

Water was damned cold too!   Brudda B will tell you; if’n I think the water is cold, its KOLD.    Didn’t really feel up to getting too far out as the wind was up, the water was murky (lots of rain recently and it hasn’t settled down yet) and that chill factor,,,, Yah,,, I kept it close to the put in, preferably leeward sides to keep windburn down (still picked up a set of chapped lips ) and just enjoyed floatin’,,,,

and thinkin’.

Semi-retired.   That has been my stance ever since I quit doing the audio stuff.   Bounce around J.O.B.s as I see fit,    Never gonna see the SSI thing: you know damned well that I am right on that.  If you are on it, SOAK IT FOR ALL YOU CAN GET WHILE YOU CAN GET IT.   Its gonna go’way soon enough, and that has nothing to do with Trumped and DOGE.  It was never meant to be what it has become and CAN NOT be maintained.    I fully expect that years before I am eligible, its gonna fade into history or the ‘goal line’ will be moved even further out.   Much like when I was growing up and the drinking age kept getting moved down the road just about the time I was there.   My understanding now, is that the retirement age (full bennies) is now 67; was 65.    thats still 10ish years down the road for this curmudgeon.   Wanna bet it goes to 70 or 75 before then (and fails completely shortly thereafter.)?

Don’t care.    Never wanted a dime from the gooberment anyways.   Don’t like the idea of ‘Take the kings shilling, you must do the kings bidding.”

I’m way more cat than Dawg in my spiritual inclinations.    I LIKE being independent and dangerous.   Not that anyone who knows me will tell you I am a danger: just don’t piss me off to the point where I smile,,,,   Or as I explained to a friend, about my family and our ‘short fuses’: our fuses are very short, but very difficult to get lit.   Once lit though, you can’t put them out.  Shit has to run its course.

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Lunch (I WISH! LOL)

and Mama-kat thoroughly distracted me, and the thought process went ‘poof!‘

please stand by as signal is regained

I’m probably gonna be one of those ‘retirees’ that wanders the world.  I could easily see me backpacking the AT or PT and working my way along.   Need food? trap rabbits or squirrel along the way, offer to help for a day for some cash or supplies. etc etc.    Wanderlust is strong in my family, and especially in me and Sis.  We’ve lived the gypsy life a time or three. (and what made my Audio days so much fun.  travel AND pay!!!)

Or (because the knees ain’t what they were) do the kayaky thing (more comforts as well) with fishing and trapping to supplement the food stocks, working at places as needed for the extras.  Marinas tend to be cash pools for extra hands,,,

Doesn’t sound like much of a plan, does it?

But it would work for me until I hit the ‘too damned old’ stage, at which point, ‘paddling into the sunset’ wouldn’t seem so final, but a doorway to the next adventure.

Dark thoughts?   Not at all, not to me anyways,,,  We all see things from different perspectives: what one person calls trash may be ‘gold’ to another.    We are NOT the same, no matter how much alike we think about most stuff.

We Are Not The Same.     That is the lesson that cannot be taught to those brainwashed in Equity and Inclusion.   They got that ‘diversity’ down pat, but can’t get it in their heads that the other two are mere pipe dreams from an Opium den 160 years ago.

No love of state, no love of theocracy, no love of monarchy, Democracy be hanged (it usually accomplishes this fact by itself)

Three simple rules, taught to yung’uns in most western cultures before they ever hit ‘education’ levels.    Don’t hurt people.  Don’t take their stuff.   Help others where and how you can.

ALL STATE IS BASED ON VIOLENCE.   “At the bottom of every stack of Government paperwork, is a loaded .45- Billy Beck”   The only difference between a mugger and government is, The mugger doesn’t think he has the RIGHT to steal your shit, he just does it.  Those in power either were never taught the ‘three rules’ or are loose enough in their own ethics to ignore them.

or both

Yet more reason why I would take the hike/float route when things go too far; not just the age thing.

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It’s back to the grindstones tomorrow.   Feeling good about things, even if this post seems ‘off’.   Soon enough, my paddle days will get longer, closer together and with the occasional overnight on some remote beach/shore to further clear the mind and soul of the clutter of a modern world gone haywire.

Y’all take care.

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just one of those day, woke up, and the urge to hear something (other than the ringing in my ears) was strong.   

Moved the ‘speakers’ around a little bit. one on one side of the house, the other in opposite corner; sub dead middle between near wall.

I’m sitting here wakin’ the neigborhood up.  I turned my house into one big set of headphones and cranked the shit out of stuff I haven’t heard in awhile.  CLARITY!!!

The ears ain’t what they used ta be, and volume makes up for the loss.   AND, I needed this.  Apologies to any that may have been rudely awakened by it: you’ll live and get over it.

Boston, Hitchin a ride    Tears in my eyes as my soul went back in time 40+years,,,,   JOY LOSS PAIN LOVE

you get it, I’m sure.   Your tune may be something different, but the feelings are there, deep inside, locked up to pull out and examine when the time is right.

That time for me was this AM

and now, its time to get a boat wet and feel the REAL WORLD around me, not this Kabuki theater crap that has been all over the place and nowhere at the same time.     T’ain’t wool that is getting pulled over eyes, but the deth-throes of a machine that should have been dismantled before it was ever built, back in 2001. (talking about the growth that came to be after the Patriot act version 1)     I dunno if we will see the end of it or if it is going to be like a cancer surgery gone wrong: where the cancer comes back with a vengeance and overtakes the host.      

The ONLY good thing coming about: the masks are fully off and the crazy is on full display.    I can only hope more wake up to the nightmare that has been and demand a FIX.  

I am not belittling Trumped 2.0 nor Musk and DOGE,,, BUT, without scouring the regulations with a scraper and bleach, none of thier efforts will last longer than the headlines, never making it into history.  

And there are the carrots they keep playing with: Epstein lists and JFK records,,,,        JUST RELEASE THE DAMNED THINGS AND LET THE PUBLIC DECIDE.    All of this reminds me that INTEL and STATE are the real powers behind the curtain, NOT the ELECTED, the supposed voice of the people.   And the Judiciary is showing a certain amount of extra-constitutional power, really fuggin’ up the mix.

fu’this,,, gotta get a boat wet.  Gonna destroy the good vibes I started this day with if I keep at it.

y’all take care this day and I’ll see you on domestics Sonday.

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Whu’can’I say,,, I’za lazy bastich come winters,,,,  Let that hair flow,,,,     Last hair cut is usually late September, early October, and I let the ‘curls fly’ until the last cold snap of March.

That was last night according to the weather liars.  

Now that I have a fresh head shave, I’ma bettin’ that mama-nature is gonna have a snow storm as a party favor.   Irony can be her forte,,,

I’s freeday, with workin’ hours behind me.   Puttin’ out fires day was on my schedule.   I kinda like those days, other than the driving side of things.   But I get to pick the order and route so’s I can minimize the drive time.    Times long passed, I used to love driving.   Then I got a CDL and grew to dislike it.    Can still drive long distance as needed, safely, without droopin’ eyelids.   Does not mean I enjoy it; at least not like I did when younger and dumber.    A couple Cincy to the left coast runs (and back) and you’ll figure out what I mean.    (OH, and DO NOT take 10 from the right coast to the left coast, unless you are a TOTAL glutton for punishment: AMHIK,,,,)

Tomorrow is looking up for a paddle day.   No plans on kayakamping this round (still waiting on a package from the Zon to complete my plans for such.) but just getting out and paddling for a spell to warm up the soul and stretch out the back and core muscles after a winter hiatus (the first since I started this adventure.  SHOCK!!!)(no excuses either, all in my efforts, or lack of; I have the gear for it, this year was the first where I didn’t have the inclination.  Mehbe its just age, but I doubt it.  There are other kayakers, much older than I, that still get out year round.)   This was also the first year I did not paddle the equinox or solstice days.  

me thinks its time to get back to church and spend time in conversation with the higher powers.

Will still need dry/wet gear but not the full dry suit: the waters are still chilled.  

Time to settle down to the weekend routine, get my mind in order, and convince my body “its ok to relax for a minute now”   No need to rush into a thing at this point.

more later as I find something worth writing about.  

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Where’d the week go?

Spring springin’ out all over,,, buds in the trees can been seen from distance now.   FEELS GOOD!!

‘ceptin’ tonight is back down into the basement for a one night ‘welcome back’ tour.    Was seeing flakes in the air at the jobsite as we were wrappin’ up for the day.  Temps had been falling from the word go and it was getting a might chilly, to say the least.

Spring,,,    Longer days.   More jobs for the J.O.B. which means more hours for your’s truly, which does make me happy (less stress on the finances means more happy me)   AND 

Kayakin’ is getting ‘freindlier’ to the skin and bod.  Less gear needed ‘just to paddle’, and my mental state will improve accordingly.

With the improved mental state, improved work levels, better financial states; the weeks FLY BY and the weekends are never long enough (even when I was doing the ‘Four on, three off’, they weren’t long enough,,, wanted more, (but there is a balance where income loss overrides frivolity.)

As an aside,,, to fill in the imagry of cold weather making a short comeback tour.  When I came home today, EVERY FOUR FOOT was happily in the house and in full hibernate mode.  All three of the puddie-tats and the stinky dawg; in the livin’room and sprawled.  (I knew it was gonna get cold and left the space heater running to maintain the house temps.)   Usually Mama and LB are waiting at the porch for ‘fresh ded kow’, but not today.   ‘Kold out there, Da! feedz us in here!’

Four Foots fed, Hot shower later, and my eyes are droopin’,,,    That was when it hit me, “its thurzday, one more then weekendz, OORAH!!!” 

Like the saying ‘rather look at it than for it’ is a truth, there is also the idea of, ‘Busy days make for short weeks’: and this’un has BLOWN by.   (and it may help some that I am no longer playing chauffer to Burnout,,,,)

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Saw more of the Kabuki theater while visitin’ Da today.    Seems no one can get the story straight about anything now.   The usual leftard media is running amok with their hair on fire, the voices that were feeding them are either silent or no longer have the reins in hand, and the kraykray is in full swing.   Told dad that, IMO, the only way the DNC can make a comeback from this in 2026 is for a complete WORLD WIDE financial meltdown, and even with that, they are going to be climbing UP A CLIFF.   The masks are off and people are waking up to the insanity ENMASS.    There are still the dedicated brainwashed that listen, and those are the ones burning Tesla’s and what not (or are still getting paid to play the latest thing,,,)  but more and more are looking and asking things like, ” How can they be mad that we want waste spending cut to the bone?  “, and when those questions start, the next one is the usual “Cui Bono?” ‘who benefits?’.   I can only hope that line of questioning leads to more and more masks being ripped off and

well, maybe some people getting held accountable,,,,,

Ain’t gonna hold my breath for it though.    As long as the waste gets cut, the fat trimmed, and the actual size of the gooberment cut (A LOT, MORE NEEDED IMO) I’ll be satisfied with this go-round.    More is going to be needed, but with the age of the grift, 4 years ain’t gonna be enough to clean that swamp.

more later, getting the yawnies,,,

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really do not like making the calls I made today.    Mostly because I DESPISE talking  to robots,,,,    Anywhoooz,,, Called UPS about the shipment that has been in question.    Run-around with Robotic voice that says “shipment was delayed for reschedule by (garbled) and will arrive on the new agreed upon date.   Does this answer your question?”

Um, NO!! What was the new agreed upon date? 

Start the whole process over but this time, every question is answered with “I wanna talk to a person”.  ONLY took 6 questions for the robot to give in and re-direct my call.

And amazingly, an NATIVE english speaker!!!   If not born in Good Ol’ U, S, of A, at least spent enough time here or with GOOD tutors to fake it.

Lots of apologies and sorries and well’s  but the end result being “we don’t rightly KNOW where your package is: you will need to start an investigation through your shipper,,,,”    IE, Driver saw what it was, liked it enough to risk job and took it home,,,,   At least that MY opinion.    (FYI, the item in question is camping gear,,,,)

SO,,,, Now armed with a reference number courtesy of UPS, I call the Zon and start another robotic tap and dance, but this time, I go straight for proper body temperature and cognizence, telling ol Robbie the Robot, ‘piss off and let me talk to your programmer”

Robbie the robot offers “if you want to wait on hold the wait is 7 minutes, or we can call you back at (this) number,,,,  Do you want to wait for our call?”

What the hell, I have had to deal with this once before with The Zon and they do have GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, (which finding out that UPS is rather archaic and stone-agey, was a shock) “call me back”

Five minutes later, I am on phone with a HUMAN BEING, and while not native speaker of the ol’Amurikan, not bad and I only had to ask him to repeat himself ONCE,,,,

New item on its way, (within three days) no charge to my card and I got a $20 rebate applied as well ‘for your inconvenience’. AND, this time around, in a plain brown box so prying eyes don’t know whats being delivered.   I swear that is what happened (though obviously, I don’t know for certain: I can only extrapolate.  BUT, current location and the fact that ‘rural’ ‘outdoorsman types’ and oppurtunity,,,,,  )  When I mentioned this, the operator/CSR didn’t outright say he agreed, but his tone was ‘ya, you’re probably right, and not the first time I have heard THIS story,,,,’.

So, while not satisfied YET, I have rectified the situation to some extent.   When the item arrives, THEN, I will fill out the questionaire asking how it went.   (email from CSR after the fact)

Today at J.O.B. was uneventful, still on the grumpy side but mostly because Ol’ Arthur came to visit last night and ALL OF THE OLD WOUNDS in my right arm were out in full force.  Even the old hairline fracture of my ulna felt fresh and alive.   I slept very little, and a handful of OTC’s, some topical stuff and a compression bandage on the wrist/thumb area,,, I was ‘mostly functional’.   My biggest asset is between my ears, so I was still able to do my job, even if not physically able to handle things (much,,, I still did, but my right hand grip was near non-existent.)

Shit still hurts, but at least I can control my hand again.   I wasn’t even able to move the first two fingers or my thumb until around noon.     Fingertips to shoulderblade, one big mess of pains.

This gettin’ old shit SUCKS,,,,

Little story from Brudda B.   Seems he has been bouncing around a pair of alternate realities lately.     Working at his shop, work, cleanups, work cleanups,  wash rinse repeat, over the last two weeks: he found one of these

Then today, in the same spot, after a full cleaning of house, FOUND ANOTHER.

Funny thing is, I have one myself.  I know where mine came from, and it wasn’t dropped in my path by goofy gremlins with a sick sense of humor.  (I will tell that one at some point, just not now.)

Seriously, serendipity or syncrhonicity?   You decide.  

Or maybe it was the Nazi scientists playing with a remote time viewer and left him a gift,,,,   WTFK, right?

SO, without going into all the Kabuki theater taking place, (who wants to talk wars and shit.  WATCH, yes,  Talk about it,,,, Nottasomuch,,,,) I leave you with some thinks,,,,,

CYA on the morrow

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A day much like any other day, but Muhndaze are unique,,,

If it could, it likely did, and this day was no exception.    Good and Bad ‘coulds’ all around.  

Burnout is no longer being chauffered by your faithful blogger and curmudgeonly character called Diogenes.   He moved into the trailer across the street from the J.O.B. and my obligations (self acquired, admittedly) are OVER.   I wish him well and Godspeed in his efforts to re-enter the human race as a (somewhat) respectable Citizen.

That was one of the goods.

A package that is already overdue by five days is now showing ‘re-scheduled for future date: we’ll let you know ASAP when to expect it.’,,,,    Umkay,,,,   The UPS guy has been by the shop every day since it arrived to the distrbution center, but no love,,,,    ’bout ready to call the distro center and request I COME GET IT,,,, its only 45 minutes away,,,,,

That was the ‘actually sort of expected this’ bad.

and thats just a taste of one of Dio’s muhndaze,,,   

At least I got in a full 8 today.  Froze my nads off with the windchill factor (wasn’t dressed for being atop a hill, exposed to freezing winds out of the north.  

BUT, I survived (obviously) and continue the good fight…

That cold wears a man down with an intensity, and my years caught up to me.  Not one person on the crew didn’t feel the lash of the tongue,,,   I was sarcastic and more than a little ornery in my lead today.   At least the last couple of hours I was able to turn things over to Burnout to handle and I went off and did Dio stuff by my lonesome.   I swear, you could hear the sigh of relief from the rest of the crew, from 100 yards away.

Hatez mundaze!!!!

Hatez the Kold,,,,

Most definitely don’t like the body failing me as time goes by, either.   Gettin’ old ain’t for wimps, as Brutha Rusty usedta say,,,,  (paraphrased as his was less family oriented,,,,)

Gonna warm up in the shower and call it a night.  y’all take care, Kay?

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