Glad as hell things worked out as well as they did with Lyssa: was much cheaper than driving 5 hours through a Hurricane to get a ‘new to me boat’ and find out I might not like it.   FAR CHEAPER and in a sense, I did get a new to me boat out of the deal, but one I am already comfortable with.  (just needs more cargo space,,,,   more on that later.)

Getting Elbee fattened up right now.  Little monster has become the Energizer Bunny Incarnate.   He zooms more than Zoomie zooms.  (probably just as much as Zooms did at this age, and how he earned that moniker.)   Zooms is being the quintessential BigBrother to Elbee.   Taking the abuse ‘up to a point’ then planting that big ol’ murder mitten right on Elbees head and holding him down, sayin’ “Had about enough of your shit little’un”

Usually kats don’t have very expressive faces: that ‘resting bitch face’ is permenantly in place.    But last night, Zooms was in my lap and Elbee was assaulting ‘tail’;  the look on Zooms face was, ‘Dad!, HELP!!!!’    I lost it,,,     Kats act so serious, all the time, but can be the most clownish of the four feets.

As much as I like and get along with dawgs, katz are my prefered pets because we are so much alike.   You can’t leave a dawg alone for days without causing distress, but you can leave a kat and they are good with that (so long as the foodie bowl doesn’t go empty,,,,)   Much the same as me: I can go days withotu seeing another face and I’m completely fine with that (and oft-times prefer that).  Guess thats why I am ‘alright’ with solo paddling.

Solo paddling,,,   kayaking is a solo sport by its very nature.   ( We call the tandem kayaks ‘Divorce boats’ because its takes a well established team to handle those long ass boats, and usually married types aren’t that flexible in ‘whos in charge’. )  Paddling in group? You’re still solo in your boat.  You may even be solo in a recovery incident if you are tail-end Charlie.   Add in ‘hard of hearing’ and solo is about the only comfortable way I can paddle; don’t have to worry about conversation (other than with Mama nature and IS, and I don’t need ears to hear them)

Since things went so well with gel-coating Lyssa, she’s my keeper for awhile.   Thought long and hard about ‘WHY’ I was wanting that longer boat, and the more I thought about it, the less attraction it held.   That I would like to carry more gear for camping is a given, but that ability would add a temptation of ‘running away’ doing some not so smart move and going on an expedition type cruise.   I still have my kids and Da still needs me about (more so as time goes by): I can’t be highing off and playing “ADVENTURER ” leaving others to pick up my  responsibilities.   That ain’t cool.   

So I keep the ‘shorter’ (by a whole 12″ ) boat.  They call them touring boats, good for a couple three days, but not for ‘weeks’.  And that is about all I need for the nonce.    I’ll keep mine eye’s open for that “Deal from beyond” on a P&H Cetus MV or LV, but I am not actively pursuing it. (though I am putting small amounts of cash aside on the regular ‘just in case’) 

One thought on things outside of my little world.   No matter what happens in the next couple of weeks, MONTHS, in a year, the issues we are stressed over today are going to seem meaningless.    Change is never permanent, but CHANGE is.   In another year, I may not have the responsiblities ‘for whatever reason’ and that escape pod may be my only source of sanity.    No one knows.   We can’t predict the future, we can only guesstimate it, and plan accordingly.    Could I make Lyssa work in that situation?   No,,no where near enough cargo space and not able to add more: but Blue Jean could,,,   and thats good enough.   Will that situation become a reality,,, that depends on which direction things fall over the next few months leading into Jan’25.    Some really like the idea of maintaining the DEEP STATE; ie, using Que-mala to keep on the path we are on.   Other (self) like the idea of wiping that slate clean, and, seemingly, the best option there AT THIS POINT, Is Trumped and Crew (RFKjr, Musk, Etc etc),,, Why do we want them in?   Because the other option is bloody, painful and risky as all get out…   Not saying its off the table, but conservatives know the other path is spiritual suicide.  We flip that switch inside us, we don’t come back, we are forever changed, and not neccesarily for the better.   Many may become the BEAST; like the one I have locked in the darker corners of my mind.  Once unleashed this time, very likely becomes the norm, wearing my face.   You won’t like that ‘me’.

I don’t like that “me”,,,, 

Live

learn

laugh

LOAD,,,,

Lyssa is at least 1/2mph faster than she has been the last year (since I put that epoxy finish on her hull)   The slow decline of that finish was not noticed, until, I started comparing logs from the past.   It was as steady decline in performance,,,,

And its not just a speed thing,,,,

She handles ‘differently’,, but in a damned good way.   Before, when putting her on edge (to get her to turn) she would need an assist with a sweep stroke, to get started.   Today, I put her on edge and she was sweeping into turns: more edge, sharper turn, no paddle needed unless I wanted a sharper turn.  And the bow rudder move was just flat amazing in responsiveness.   Skeg up, her weather cocking is more noticable, drop the skeg and she acts right.   But even in slight winds, that back end was slick enough to skootch around and point upwind.

NO MORE EPOXY FINISHES.

LESSON LEARNED!!!

———————————___________—————-

On a different note, sigh, the leaves are changing FAST

Another couple of weeks and this is all gonna be bare trees and blah vibes as everything green goes to sleep for the winter.   I noted the other day (in the view from my porch post) that the deer are all going that grey-ish ‘dissappear in plain sight’ color in prep for the seasonal shift.   Even Mama-kat is losing her ‘red’ tints.

Time to wind down a bit?

Not me,,, now that Lyssa is flying again, (and blinding in the sun when she is on Buffalo), gear is in place for winter type paddling, and I keep’a’goin’.    Krazy Nut I is, and I get all sorts of statements to that order,,,,

Better krazy and alive, than boring and (may as well be) dead.

LIVE

Laugh

Learn

LOAD.

Yeah, snarkalufilous in that there title.

Some of y’uns might be in the know, might not, but I was OTH’ed by the Corps over that very thing called Posse Commitatus.   It was back in the days of the LA Riots and my unit was ordered to assist in suppressing the riots. (which I refused and was summarily courts martialed for.)

This was also about the time when the GOV was asking questions of Marines at 29 Stumps (twenty nine palms ) about willingness to use lethal force against civilians.   I know this because I was one that was asked,,, and the questionaire was LOADED as fuck.   If you had a working knowledge of 6000 english words or less, you would happily answer yes to a question that should have been stricken as “bordering on unlawful orders” . 

Me, being that insatiable reader since first grade, having a fourth year, third quarter COLLEGE reading level when I was age 12,,,, Yeah, much more than that 6000 word vocabulary resource.  (though y’all may not have figured that out by the way I write my blog,,,, LOL)

This whole ‘just before the selection cycle, authorizing lethal force to the DOTMIL,’,

They are planning on a shitfestivus of fun cuz they know the DON has it in the bag ( because even kneepads Harris can’t blow THAT many, in that short a time to sway the voat) 

The mental breakdown of the left is going to be epic, and the TANTRUM they throw,,,, Dude, I have no words, and honestly, can’t imagine the horrors that are being set to be released if the STEAL doesn’t happen the way they want it.

We have about three weeks to that date.   The waffling of ‘the count may take weeks to sort out’ bullshit is starting to wear thin, and even some courts are calling BS on it.   (and I still think we need to go back to paper ballots, IN PERSON, Purple finger, voting., but I digress.)

Anywhoos, I have shit to do, need to get a propane tank refilled (has two 100#ers) as the colds is on us, and gonna pick up some more ammo at the same place (gotta love the ol’timey country store where you can buy bulk propane, ammo and chicken feed, ONE STOP,!   F! wally-world!)   

And of course there is the kayaky side of things.    Still workin’ on gettin’ Lyssa ‘shiney and new’, and not that much to finish.  May have her done today in time to catch the warm period of the day, if not, there is always tomorrow.   Has some stuff to do on Da’s truck tomorrow while down there doing the laundry stuffs and what not,

typical bizzy weekender, before the storm of chaos is unleashed.

I’m gonna say it outloud, but I am sure there are some that are thinking it as well:   I almost wish they would kick this shit off, because I am getting a might pissed off with how they rub THEIR shit in our faces with the ‘whatchagonnado’bout it?’ vibe.

NOT THAT I DESIRE IT.

Just sick of the game

LIVE

LEARN

LAUGH

LOAD

Day started with a dead battery in Buffalo.

It DID improve, but man, the mad rush to get a jumpstart from my Unk in near zero dark hours,,,

Gonna spend the lucre to get a jump box, for future use.   Like the saying goes; “rather be lookin’ at it, than lookin’ for it.”  and today was a ‘lookin’ for it’ kinda mornin’.

anywhoos, once the Buff was running, she was just fine, and I did need to jump her again at the end of work.  Went to the battery supplier straight away and bought and installed new, and NOT a wallyworld Chinesium question mark.  

Install went well today.   Actually REALLY well, and I had Burnout with me.   Gave him something of an education on installing powered gates, even had him doing some hands on stuff, not just the backbreaking labor side of things (which is what he was there for; trenching for underground lines, etc.)   If he could keep his attention span a little more focused, I would be more tempted to train him to do my job so I can have some respite now and again.

I mean, Just like Buffalo’s battery dying because ‘cold snap’; this time of year tends to be when I start getting texts on the daily from powered gate clients with issues and gripes.   If there were another body with my skills, I wouldn’t likely get so backlogged on things.

Nopes, won’t be holding my breath about that though.   Burnout has been making strides towards being more reliable, but he is also dependent upon me for some of that (I am his ride in, in the mornings,,,,)      Like I told him this morning when he was eyeballing a high dollar sports car and saying he ‘would love to own that’,,,  “Dood, get your priorities straight and get your damned license back before you go dreaming beyond your means”

but I digress,,,, Tired, a little grumpy, and its cold,,, Gotta get some heat in the house tonight.   

Live

learn

laugh

LOAD

Took some experimentin’ to come up with a system that works.  Never used a DA as a wetsander before, but while using the 2000 grit, it seemed like it ‘needed’ the wet.  It kept gumming up and making swirlies.   SO’sssss, I put on a new pad, grabbed a sponge and a bucket of water and BAM!, suddenly things started FLYING along.    Concentrating on the middle right now as the bow and stern are probably going to be hand sanded.  Lots of compound curves and odd tight arches that the DA can dig into.

Elbee is being the dream kitten.  Lets me work on Lyssa without being a pest: he’s out there chasing newly fallen leaves and catching bugs and having the time of his life.   When he taps my leg, I know he’s gettin’ hungry.   Not climbing me, but definitely hugging my ankle and looking up at me.  

Last night was interesting: I got to see Zoomies making like a daddy cat.   Laying there comatose, tail hanging down like a plumb line, and Elbee found it.   “NEW TOY!!!”    Zooms never flinched, but that tail started playing ‘catch me if you can’, and Elbee played there for near an hour before getting bored and finding something different to do.   Later on, Elbee climbed up on top of Zooms and passed out and Zoomie didn’t get upset about it.   In fact, when he started getting to warm, it looked like he was trying his best to NOT wake up the little’un.

If only Mama were so ‘cool’ with the new addition.    She isn’t hostile, but she is still doing the growlies on occasion.    I figure soon enough, she’ll warm up.   At least she isn’t in protest mode and hiding in the woods for days on end.

Big nasty cold front on us right now.   Didn’t have a frost this morning as predicted, but we were only a degree or two away from it.   Supposedly starting to warm up for a short spell; just in time for the weekend and me getting Lyssa and her gleaming new hull to the lake.  May be Satyrday, maybe Sonday, but we will make it out.  (I wants to see if gleaming glass is faster than the 400grit finish she had.)

alright, front feet are warmed back up, back at it while I have an hour of daylight left.

Live

Learn

Laugh

LOAD

Little Bastard just ran me $180   BUT, not near as bad as I was expecting.    Thought for sure that he was gonna be diag’ed with feline herpes and some other evil shit that seems to run the Feline circles in this part of the world.

Nopes,,, Little’un had a run in with some beaver or something.

Giardia.  

and a common ‘headcold’.   

no wormies, no herpes, no FIV, or Feline Leukemia.  

He did get the vax’s for those though.  

And he blasted a fart from the depths of hell on the Doc,,,,  So we were given a regimen of Probiotics to help with the gassy’s.    Poor doc,,, that little toot brought tears to my eyes and she was at ground zero.

Now little dood is passed out cold: had a bizzy bizzy day!  He rode 45 miles one way on Daddies shoulder, watching the world whiz by,,, No muss about it, just the occasional ‘mew’ asking ‘Are we there yet?’.   Same on the return trip without the mews,,,, I think he knew we were headed home.   (and those vaccines may have started having an effect,,, he was curled up in the crook of my neck by the time I hit the bottom of the hill.)

And despite the fart in the face, he won over both the doc and the nurse.   Especially when he jumped into the arms of the nurse,,,   She said ‘thats a first!’.   It’s almost like he knew the routine in advance and was saying, ‘lets get this show on the road so I can go home and play!’

so a week or so of antibiotics to combat any infections in the chest and head, while he battles off the cold virus, and another week’s worth of stuff to fight the Giardia, and I have to make sure that he uses the litterbox and NO OTHERS do.   Not really a problem unless we start getting mad rain.   The big Kats prefer the outside box (the woods), and only use the inside box when the hydraulic pressures reach critical, and the outside option is off the table.

And of course, I didn’t get to do a damned thing to Lyssa tonight.   Sun was fading fast when we came back, and Mama and Zooms were waiting for their turn at attentions (FEED US!!!) so, by the time I had a minute, the light was gone,,,   seeing how I don’t want to sand off all the gel I just put on (only want to get the high spots down to baby butt smooth), no sanding under LED’s  (bad lighting for body work, trust me).

It can wait, It’s only Muhnday,,,

Live

Learn

Laugh

LOAD

Good float today. 

Wet deck from roll practice.

She’s a roller!!!   Moderate primary stability, wall solid secondary up to capsize point then full on toss you over.   That capsize point is almost 90° to surface. 

No speed demon,  but I knew that from racing her the once.  4mph solid, all day long,  but requires enormous inputs to exceed that.

And even swamped,  she floats.

Had to clean her out some more: had a stinkbug fly in my face when I pulled the skirt so figured “drown the bastards!!!”   The fingerlings at shore were more than happy for them.

Now, what sucked?

Lyssa.

Epoxy finish.

I now know why they say to not use epoxy and gelcoat.  

Came home and noted some areas that didnt seem like they had cured. 

They hadnt

And around them. I could see the build up from the gelcoat.

Sigh,,,   wipe those areas with degreaser. Use a sharpie to tag them, out comes the sander,   again!!!

Not too many but enough, and all along the gunnel, none on the lower hull.  I wasnt as detailed as I thought. 

I was much more meticulous this round. Sand,  wipe down, observe water ‘stain’, sand some more, repeat,,, 

The last of the gelcoat is now on, and I walked around her three times looking, HARD, for any signs of gelcreep (what Im calling those bare patches I found)

No more epoxy for boats unless I build it as an epoxy boat; no gelcoat.

Gonna let gurl cure over night, and I has a Vet appt for Elbee tomorrow evening. (prononced as letters, L B .   Stands for lucky bastard.  Or little bit,  both work.) As well as a FULL day of powered gate fun.   One install,  two diags.   Might carry over into Twosday.

And I’ll get to the sanding and polishing as soon as I can.  Sanding should be a breeze: she is already smooth,  just knock down the high spots and swirlies from the DA.   I want her done by Friday, PERIOD!!!   She’s been drydocked for three weeks and I miss paddling her.  Paddling Selkie was fun,  but she aint Lyssa.