I feel that I grew up in the greatest musical period of all time,,,  The wisdoms that were passed on, (and still accessible),,,,,

For those that think DIE is a good thing.

I grew up in a time when the Unions were losing strength, and this song relates my feelings towards unions still.   Not a fan, do not reccomend the things.   Didn’t buy into them when I was working the sound gigs, don’t buy into them now.  Think a large part of our problems and the divisiveness we experiance are in no small part driven by unions.   I can illustrate how unions have driven corporate interests overseas, and while some would say thats because of greed; well, the same could be said of those union members wanting ungodly amounts of money and absolute protection from termination, without offering much in return.     Meritocracy!!!    Not Seniority,,,

Verse 1]
Days grow shorter and the nights are getting long
Feels like we’re running out of time
Every day it seems much harder tellin’ right from wrong
You got to read between the lines
Don’t get discouraged, don’t be afraid
We can make it through another day
Make it worth the price we pay

[Verse 2]
The Good Book says it’s better to give than to receive
I do my best to do my part
Nothin’ in my pockets, I got nothin’ up my sleeve
I keep my magic in my heart
Keep up your spirit, keep up your faith, baby
I am counting on you
You know what you’ve got to do
[Chorus]
Fight the good fight every moment
Every minute, every day
Fight the good fight every moment
It’s your only way

[Verse 3]
All your life you’ve been waiting for your chance
Where you’ll fit into the plan
But you’re the master of your own destiny
So give and take the best that you can

[Verse 4]
You think that a little more money can buy your soul some rest
You better think something else instead
You’re so afraid of being honest with yourself
You’d better take a look inside your head
Nothing is easy, nothing good is free, but I
I can tell you where to start
Take a look inside your heart
There’s an answer in your heart

[Chorus]
Fight the good fight every moment
Every minute, every day
Fight the good fight every moment
Make it worth the price we pay
Every moment of your lifetime
Every minute and every day
Fight the good fight every moment
Make it worth the price we pay

Doesn’t verse 1 sound like what we are dealing with these days?   Some things never change,,,,,

This is what I grew up on,,, Any one wonder why I am so damned introspective?   

Can’t go home, it ain’t there: but the music I grew up with carries forward in my head heart and soul, and I can still pull it up for strength when I need it.

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and maybe dance a little while you are  going about your days,

one whole weekend without paddling something/somewhere.

and My shoulders are BITCHING, HARD!!!

Sounds counter-intuitive, no?

My paddling is my R&R for my shoulders; its why I use a Greenland paddle over the Euroblades.  The paddling ‘pattern’ is different and a whole lot less strain on shoulders, getting most of its power from the core muscles,  even using hips and legs to add power to the boat while ‘hooking’ into the water.

A week of punching holes followed by a $h!tty job on the ‘stead, and today, domestic duties, to include (hopefully) the last battle against the weeds.  Had to mulch up all those damned leaves that are littering the place.

Next week, I expect the trees to be barren of leaves.   They are coming down fast now.

the Kold is starting to be felt, I may be channeling the polar explorer before long,,,,

At least this year, I have the gear for it.

clocks ticking out there.

My bodies clock is too.   “Gettin’ old ain’t for pussies” Rusty Smith.  

Fact!   A paddling guru of a sort, Ken Whiting, just posted that he is in Kayak-y Hiatus INDEFINITELY,,,

Reason: Blown out shoulder joints.   Ken is prior WW competitive kayaker, and probably puts as many miles on boats as I do my truck on the weekly (if not more)

I don’t want to be there, but I have a feeling that at some point, I will need some reconstructive surgery on the starboard appendage.   Port side seems fine (could be masked by the ugh I feel in the starboard side.)

And it ain’t from kayaking,,,   Its from swingin’ hammers after doing something stoopid at the gym many years back.    Got so bad I had no grip at all for two weeks: couldn’t lift a 22oz framing hammer, let alone the 3# hammer my job at the time required.  

As I said, the kayaking thing seems to help, but the rest of my working conditions don’t.   And I would say that given the right conditions (rough and tumble) kayaking would/could tip me into the same state that Ken is at.  Sadly, the rough and tumble is where the joy is at: more the open water rough, but getting to where I sorta like the WW stuff too, UP TO A POINT.   Its the whole chasing flows thing that drives me batshit,,,  Lake waves can be found with wind (and boats), not flow rates.

I ain’t no spring chicken,,,   and the milage is adding up.  sigh

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Posted up Friday about a sh!tty job I needed to do.   That job started yesterday as soon as I finished my first cuppa.

The argument to live rurally is a strong one, when one prefers their own company and thoughts.   It sucks ass when you find yourself in need of things.

In this case, subflooring to replace the rottted out stuff I found.    Closest place that had it was 15 miles away, and they close at noon on Satyrdays.  That meant, the closest place to get it for me was over 40miles away, ONE WAY.    There is very little ‘conveinence’ living rurally.  (Amazon has been a boon to the rural living market, but it really puts a dink into the local vendors as there is ZERO chance they can carry that much inventory.   Local markets compensate by carrying local only items as touristy attactions.IMO)

short version: You’d better know EVERYTHING you need to get, first run.

I ran out of tile last night,,,

No running to grab it at the last minute, like I could when I lived in Sin-cin-nasty. (and no, I’ve visited since I left, and its gone downhill even further.  No ‘going home’: it ain’t there.) 

There is a reason I have extra fittings and hardware stacked will-he-nil-he about my shed and storage areas.   There is always that need at the odd minute and no other options.   A body gets pretty good at make-do, MacGuyvering when the other option is long drives or waiting on Zon/UPS to come through.

Tile on the other hand,,,, not so much.   LOL   As much as I hate the saying “is what it is”, there are times where that is to be.  This is one.    And while I won’t be making that run today to pick up more tile, I will eventually make it out there (like when I am returning from kayaking next weekend: I drive right by the place I bought the original tile from.)  What I have will have to do until then. (and I covered the un-done parts to keep kitteh paws away.)

Solid arguments for rural living.  I like my own company: if you have issues with your own thoughts, rural living may not be for you.    If you MUST have the latest and greatest, rural iving may not be for you. (off-grid will be torture to those that like techy toys.) 

I believe I have said it here before.  My biggest gripe with living where I do is the drive to get a decent burger (not the Micky D’s CRAP)  Luckily, I prefer to make my own and I DO have access to grassfed beef that I know isn’t some mRNA Injected, growth hormone laden simularcum of “meat”.  (can you say the same about what is served at Burger King or MickyD’z?)  

I deal with the inconviencence of long drives or waits for delivery.  The cushion of distance from Kray-Kray is a comfort. With the caveat; we have our own form of kray-kray here in the pillheads and meth junkies.  They tend to a short half-life; easily dealt with if RoL goes buh-bye.

LIve

Learn

LAUGH (at yourself, A LOT)

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An afterthought: a huge thankyou to my Da; he insisted I use treated lumber for my floor joists.  Subflooring rotted out,  but the joists looked pristine.

And I’m only gonna show ya the cleaner side of this’un.   Things were way worse than I thought.

Carpentry,  plumbing, possible tile work,,, (debating doing away with tile and going vinyl,,, con to that: I have the tile,  just dont like it)

Cutting in HARD to my weekend,,, supposed to be at a party with Brudda B n the Kayaky-krew,  but this takes priority.  Been trying to get to a point where I can “slam, bam’ thankee ma’m”, and still have facilities available; Wonky as those are.

Anywhoosits, I has werktado,,,

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With the patience of Job,,, 

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Learn

LAUGH

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And thats about ALL I have to say about the world at large.  

Finding that I’m not wanting to talk about much anymore.   Not even the kayaks, or kittehs.    FYI, Elbee is doing phenomenally.   Growing like a weed, eating like a horse, and the buggies(internal and external) he brought with him are no longer.   Mama is finally starting to show him the ropes, but only when we go walkies with Voo.   The rest of the time she ‘purt much ignores him.   He and Zoomie on the other hand: Brothers re-united, even sharing from the same bowl.    Play time is low-key on Zooms part: he knows the little one can’t take a full on BAT to the head like another Tomkat could,  and it shows in how he plays.

work is work, finances are steady, life goes on,

and Thirteen days from right now, we will know more about the future, or lack of, about this country and its peoples.

Only time will tell.

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With all the chaos that hit recently, and in some ways, was a blessing of God, in the case that the masks came fully off and the beast has shown itself.  but I digress

One of the biggest problems I had with all the ensuing mess in the aftermath of Helene was “WATER” H2O, Agua,,,,

Seems like no one had any clean water, and thats going to be a norm in times of catastrophe.   The Tap water we have grown accustomed to, treated, filtered, treated some more, (maybe even to the point its becomes harmful,,,) won’t be at our beck and call.    Even in my situation, one good change in the environment and my source could become contaminated, or even dry up completely.   By change in the environment, I am talking ‘strip mining’ changes to the mountainside I live on, disrupting water flows on said mountain side.

I was talking to a ghost recently about it and we both realized that water, that one thing that you can’t go for very long without (Air being the first, water, then food: Rule of threes; three minutes, three days, three weeks.)  and yet so many neglect that particular prep, other than having some bottled stuff or ‘jerry cans’ set aside with treated water in them.

Thats a recipe for failure IMO

Being a weekender kayaker, water is pretty important to me,   Not only is it my escape method, but its my source of liquid refreshment,

and I don’t carry a single ounce with me when I go.   I have alternatives.

and those alternatives are what you should be prepping.

everything (with one exception) are items I own, use, have used, will use again as need arises.   I stand behind them and highly suggest getting AT LEAST ONE.   And always have an alternative to your alternative is a thought to keep in mind.   One is none, right?

First up.

MSR Guardian water filter.  it is really useful for refilling ‘Camelbak’ type hydration bags, but can be used as a stand alone if you have some way of collecting its output.   Easy to use, but tiresome as you have to pump.

second.Lifestraw Hanging filter system   I like this one because you can use it anywhere, takes no effort to get clean water out of it.  Cons: it takes a little longer as it is using gravity,,,,

On the go options.Lifestraw Go bottle, and Sawyer filtered water bottle.   You will sometimes see the later on the deck of my Kayak in pictures: its a constant companion when paddling.  The first rides herd on my bedstand or in my truck if the weather is hot.   I prefer the Sawyer version, but both work very well.(and I believe there was a guy on Utoob that was testing these, and both worked well, but one worked better than the other, and I don’t recall which was which,,, apologies.)

Then there is the EDC types.  Stuff that you should keep in a bag or jacket pocket, for those JUST IN CASE moments.   II can promise you, if everyone in NC and TN in the path of Helene had had one of these, there would have been little to no need to truck in masses of bottled water.    Sawyer Mini, Sawyer Fullsize, Lifestraw hiker

Now the one I don’t have, but thinking more about it, like for those in the coastal areas, where salt becomes more of a problem, I suggest getting a portable reverse osmosis system.    I have one of two in my sights as a backup to the backups listed above, mostly for when/if I ever get to start paddling on salt water.

This one and it seems to be much better contructed

And this one.

I have no experience with either so, in this instance: caveat emptor.

(full disclosure, all links are through my Zon associates links,,, I will get a cut if you buy through that link.  Help support your faithful blogger. 🙂   )

Now, there was one thing that blew me away more than lack of fitration systems.   That area is KNOWN for ‘Shine, and not one person was able to set up a still and start purifying water?   Really?!?!?   With all the downed trees and debris, there would have been plenty to burn, water of any state was NOT an issue, (snark) so why was no one cleaning that shit up and helping keep others healthy with clean water.   

Dunno, maybe there were a few, especially further up in the hills when things got cut off hard for longer, dunno,,, Seriously though, all it takes is a big pot with a cover, some tubing and and a little (VERY Little) McGuyvering.   Use a nail to pop a hole in the lid, wallow it out to accept the tubing, fill with water and set to simmer mode or over a low fire and collect what condenses on the other side of the tube.   (always ditch the first few ounces as that is gonna have gunk in it from the tube and what not.)   Maximize the output by playing with how hot the fire is, how long the tube is and how said tube is bent (highly suggest coiled and slanting downhill.)

Anyways, that’s my two cents to getting a little further prepped, if you haven’t been (and if not, WHY NOT?,,,,)  Stay hydrated, it keeps the mind working better so you can focus on the other shit trying to kill you.

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Addendum: meant to mention, NEVER drink the water UNTREATED,,, That means filtration, purifying in some fashion; distillation or boiling, or chemically treatments.   If in truly hazardous conditions, double up, filter that water into your camelbak, AND chemically treat it, BEFORE you consume.    

Anything less is just asking to spraypaint the version of toilet you are using and that would be the lighter side of things that could/would go wrong for you.   Giardia is no laughing matter and is common in ALL fresh water system in the upper Northern American Continent.   E-coli is becoming pretty common downstream of anywhere there are cattle. (so make sure you cook your fish WELL, and wash your paws (with soap!)frequently.)

And that only names TWO of the nasties that you might encounter drinking tainted waters.    TREAT IT/FILTER IT.    end of PSA.