Where's Hazel? Pet Hazel. Scratch Hazel behind her
ears.
20 August
For the trip (80miles) to Socorro I got to drive a Mercedes
Diesel hatchback something or other. Fancy fly-by-wire
vehicle. The windscreen wipers turn themselves on and off at
need and a very cooperative thunderstorm was on hand to demo
the various stages of functionality. Quite fun. Made me
laugh even.
Once upon a time, in a circus wagon on a dusty desert, there
were thirteen clocks that wouldn’t go... So I set out to
count and see, were there really? In the bunk room cum TV
lounge library, wrapped around the reading light is found a
wrist watch left behind from a long ago visiting grandson; I
use that one mostly to find the date for entries in my
journal. The display of the Satellite Receiver has a clock I
can see when I wake from sleeping on my left side; on the
bulkhead, above the thermostat, is a clock for when I wake
on my right side. Then there is the clock in the telly. Four
so far.
In the galley, my wind-up microwave does NOT have a clock,
and just as well since the power is off most of the time so
a clock there would never be correct. Or always require
setting. However the First Class Dining Area makes up for
that. On the bulkhead above the captain's seat is a 24-hour
clock set to GMT; on the table, behind The
Boy With Thorn, is an 8-day-wind aircraft clock, set
to local breakfast time, that is almost always fast (except
when it is slow); above that is a shortwave radio that is
usually set to receive WWV from Boulder Colorado.
Hanging from the window frame is a fine wind-up Timex with a
sterling silver and turquoise wrist band. That's four more.
Moving further forward: In the Ham Shack is another radio
that can receive time signals; a Nikon camera and a laptop
(RTTY), both with clocks. Across to the starboard side is
the MikeMachine and the BettyBox—two more computers with
clocks. Under the table is a scale with a clock and a day
pack containing a watch and a GPS. Ei8ht more clocks.
On the bridge: There is a Heathkit Aircraft Clock comprising
one timebase but three clocks: GMT, AZT, NMT. Then there is
a watch hanging on the Low Air Alarum Flag set to Central
Time; the broadcast radio with its clock set to Eastern
Time; another GPS and three cell phones each displaying
Local Time; and the navigation computer with the last clock.
Ten more? Oh, wait, there is also the GPS connected to the
APRS reporter. So, eleven. [7th Jan...Mike wrote to remind
me there are clocks in the two thermometer remote readouts.
So, 11+2=13. Thanks Mike]
Twenty-nine clocks in the length of 36 feet. And that's not
counting four more clocks in TinyTruck. Yet with all those
clocks I seem to have never enough time. Somebody check my
math?
The Pains of September
 This road grader is a huge machine. Ever been
up close to one? There is a step (1) welded to the frame
between the two five-foot drive tyres. Above the step is a
handle (2) welded to the aft end of the engine housing.
About at that level is a bracket (3) or hinge of some sort
on the cab. One usually puts a left foot on the step, a left
hand on the handle, lurches upward to gain a foothold for
the right foot on the great knobby tread of the forward
drive tyre and thus gaining the cab door if on the way one
has not crashed a hardhat covered head into that bracket. I
was not wearing a hardhat.
Bloody mess! Damn! that hurt. But I held on and Bill jumped
in below me tho i didn't fall. Took a few moments to
accommodate the initial shock and climb down. Head wounds
really like to bleed. I held a paper towel on the wound
until the bleeding stopped and set the rest of that project
aside until next Summer.
But I felt well and so went on to help Bill with his well
pump problem.
Eventually headed back to town I stopped to see Teri, who is
a nurse of some renown. She cleaned away the crusted blood
and separated my hair from the gore and suggested that
perhaps maybe if the nearest clinic weren't 80 miles away I
should have a couple of stitches. I went next to the
firehouse looking for an EMT on the ambulance. Nobody home
there. The VFD is out of town. Next, on to the Community
Center where Nita and company are making pies that I will be
helping them bake a week from now. Three pie ladies clucked
and cooed and Nita—a mid wife—directed me to head for the
house and wash my hair. But wait, she said, have you had
lunch yet? There is some really great lasagna we just put in
the fridge.
So I had lunch and then headed down the hill to her house
whilst she disentangled herself from apron and clean-up. By
the time I was out of the shower she had arrived.
First we tried
using my hair. She'd read somewhere about
tying tresses together over just such a wound, to
stand in for stitches. After several attempts we gave up.
Bloody hair is too slippery and the knot couldn't be pulled
tight enough without causing further trauma. Then we both
said together: This looks like a job for Super
Glue!
That
works. Even after gooping up the wound with antibiotic
cream the Krazy Glue stuck the edges together. So now I
don't need to sniff glue, the stuff is taking a shortcut in
through this hole in my head.
Next week when I go shopping in Socorro I'll check with a
clinic.
Pie Town Pie Fest
Happened under mostly clear sky this time but a bit too
breezy for the Unbelievable Bubble Machine. Not like last
year when the air was calm and the bubbles huge [last year's
picture]. This year, before I had the paraphernalia laid out
the boy from last year, the star bubble maker, ran up to me:
Are you the Bubble Man? Yes. I recognised him: Are you the
Bubble Boy? YES! And we set too to make bubbles.
Aside from that great beginning I did not feel so much a
part of the action and did not take so many pictures. The
affair was crowded and noisy, more than I remember, but at
least the weather held good.
Welcome to Autumn + One
A new variety of bluebirds was observed at dawn today:
Pecking through the ice on the bird bath for their morning
plunge. What to name them: Polar Birds perhaps? 25f was my
low. The ground was frosty. I needed my New Hampsha Ice
Scraper to clear the rime from the hot tub cover.
The Autumnal Equinox was either 23rd by
Sol rising through The Teeth or 24th according
to Betty's Calendar. That movie was of an Autumnal Equinox
from a few years ago when Betty's Calendar and The Teeth
agreed on the date.
I've picked the crust of Krazy Glue from the scar of my
scalp wound. Healed nicely. Thank you Nita for your deft
application of midwifery techniques.
Presidential Debate?
Who would you rather have as leader of "the most powerful
country" [tho not of the most intelligent nor of the best
infant mortality rate]: a three wived (tho not necessarily
at the same time) macho male rude egomaniac, or a mother who
knew full well of her husbands peccadilloes and yet stood by
him and defended him and lied no more than any other
politician. [A moot point now of course, but relevant at the
time of writing.]
October Fools Day
What do you call an aloe on steroids? OR: What do a bison
and a big aloe plant have in common?
10/6 Do You Know What Day This Is?
To some of you I may have already written this once (or
more) in a personal letter. But perhaps you will not
remember any more/better than me and so will have to
struggle and search for the answer anew. Do you
know what day this is? Why is a raven like a writing
desk? That second question is a clew to the answer of
the first. Get all three correct and you can look here
for your prise.
Mostly I am ok. Physically anyhow. Stable? Mentally,
deranged. My pisser still works, my head has healed, my
heels are headed, south. We've had a few frozen birdbath
mornings so the time is nigh to roll up my awning and flee
to warmer places.
How about you? How are you?
On The Road Again...
On and off again. Lots of adventures yesterday and not least
was apparent failure of the solar charge controller remote
readout. Playing the On The Road Again music as The Cat
finally Drag's away. The short first leg from Nita's
Cabin to post office ended with smoke drifting up from the
engine room—thanks to Clay for helping with that. He found
my dipstick rag had fallen away from its place and onto the
hot muffler. Then there was the usual
thing-I'd-forgotten-to-secure falling and sliding and making
strange noises in the next few miles. Finally about sixty
miles of treacherous road, hwy 12 from Datil to Reserve,
twisty turney narrow no shoulder steep down hill sharp
curves... Phew. Now here at Faywood Hot Spring for
a nice soak and a few days to sit still and clean up after.
10-10 Summer is Over
Working at Faywood for a week. Usually I stay here a month
or so but this time, since I left Tonopah early I sort of
want to return early. Not too early mind you; when I cross
the Time Zone then Summer will still be in effect in
AridZona.
The Solar Charge Controller Remote failure turned out to be
a bad connector for the RJ-11 wire between the Charge
Controller and the remote readout. Not something I can fix
easily however there are two of these controllers in the
system—master and slave—so I was able to redefine them to
each other's role. Back in normal operation. Perhaps I can
do a proper repair later.
In addition to
hot water Faywood has a herd
of bovines, a circus of pavonine, a brood of galline
(and their clutch for sale by the dozen), and a clowder of
grey feral felines. (Good thing Hurricane Hazel has a kink
in her tail.)
Also found here from time to time are a few pigs and asses
which describe
certain other animals. But I won't go into that
here.
Wear Something Gaudy Day
New idea for breky: French Toast made with English Muffins.
Syrup from Nancy & Jack (Thank you very much) Bacon from
food bank. The muffins were from the food bank also. Eggs:
one each from Joan-S & Tony, and Karen (we bus people
have to stick together). Now I'm going to don my Gaudy Hat
(from Burma Jeff) and go shopping. insert gaudy hat image
Palomas Mexico for lunch with JB. There was some question
about returning with an Escapees Tote Bag laden with things
and stuff when I produced my Ross Island, New Zealand
Antarctic passport but that problem was resolved when I told
the guard I'd sic Hurricane Hazel-Rah on him.
I Shoulda Kept Notes...
But that is hard to do when one is practicing to be a
mountain goat. Do big-horned sheep wear bells? Last week,
Deming and The Pink Store; this week Tucson and dinner with
Virginia and Cliff; now at Train Spotter Hill. The road
getting in here is a bit washed out but The...Inn
made it Ok. So I'm parked in the same place as last year and
the year(s) before. Hurrican Hazel is feeling right at home.
Today I went for a little walk. To get in shape for flower
hikes with Paul. To practice being a mountain goat. But no
bells gussied up with ribbons. Mine was a bare bell. Hunting
for geocaches and bench marks, picking up trash—not much of
that this time—writing letters were the things that kept me
occupied. Sky was dark, stars bright. No moon. But the
afternoons were hot. May be that I left Pie Town too early.
Dump-Fill-Scale at Gila Bend.
This event has become an annual tradition that Betty started
me on. Each year I refine the process and keep better notes.
Whether or not I am aboard can make a difference of 146
pounds; I need to keep track of that. Dumping should include
cleaning Hurricane Hazel's litter box and emptying the
trash, and getting rid of all the icky leftovers in the
fridge.
Home Again to Tonopah
One of my Pen Friends asked if I knew about Toxoplasma
gondii. “T. gondii has been shown to alter the
behavior of infected rodents in ways thought to increase the
rodents' chances of being preyed upon by cats. Support for
this "manipulation hypothesis" stems from studies showing T.
gondii-infected rats have a decreased aversion to cat urine.
“A number of studies have suggested that subtle behavioral
or personality changes may occur in infected humans, and
infection with the parasite has recently been associated
with a number of neurological disorders...” Such as hoarding
cats?
Is It Just Me...?
“Kid needs permission slip to read 'Fahrenheit 451, his
dad's response is brilliant...”
Vertigo Attacks 4th Nov
 Friday evening the vertigo commenced. At times
bad enough to sit down/lie down and wait for it to pass so I
went to bed. Saturday morning was rather bad. First time
with such a malady so I don't have any prior experience to
compare with. The walls were spinning; driving was out of
the question; worst when I tilted my head back to look up,
so bad then I had to sit to avoid nausea. I did manage a
little breky before it got so bad and then I went back to
bed for a while. Later, not so bad, I took my BP (119/80
P65, and a few minutes later 115/73 P56 ) and temperature
(98.0) I was able to call my doctor's office number and
ended up with a Triage Nurse who, after a half an hour or so
of Q&A, said I should not wait for an appointment but
needed to see at least an Urgent Care clinic within 24
hours.
By this time—around 13 o'clock—I was feeling fair and the
walls were not moving and the road was flat but with Mikey
to drive I went to IMS Urgent Care in Buckeye. Took a while
to fill out all the admissions/new patient paper—which of my
relatives died of what, my present complaint and medical
history—and when complete I remarked to the admissions clerk
that I felt somewhat better just getting that paperwork out
of the way. PA-C Matthew saw me around 14 o'clock. His
assessment was "Viral labyrinthitis (H83.09)" and prescribed
Meclizine and Prednisone as well as abstinence from caffeine
and alcohol for a fortnight and to stay in bed for two days.
Side effects of Prednisone include among others: increase in
appetite, weight gain, and a redistribution of body fat.
Un/Fortunately I didn't read all this plan until just now
this morning. I can prob'ly stay in bed for two days but
I'll likely end up calling back with withdrawal symptoms for
lack of my morning coffee and afternoon tea. Four days later
I've gained four pounds. You wouldn't recognise me now. Not
good.
11.11.10:14
Strange what memories certain holidays evoke. Once upon a
long ago, Sara(h) at her annual vet checkup on a certain
November 11th, weighed in at 11 pounds 11 ounces. All this
chatter about weight gain and dates for appointments got me
thinking about that. Next week I have two appointments with
doctors, my usual wenzday at the food bank, and a hike with
FoSM. Not
hardly sufficient time remaining to wash the dishes. All the
weight I gained last week must have been a scale error; I'm
back to weighing the same as before the vertigo.
Remembering DOS 6.2...and Windows 3.1
Command Line much? This week I am experimenting with a
grid-tie inverter to store surplus solar (when the house
battery is fully charged) in the power line when I am
sitting still with shore power available. And with a bit of
help from Michael I have brought back to life a DOS
6.2/Windows 3.1 operating system for a bit of retro
computing.
Thanks For Giving
Thanksgiving dinner here was a First Class Debauchery with
six dogs, three other Humans, two football games, and a big
male cat vying for attention.
Cyber Munday
Being a good Cyber Sunday Shopper yesterday. Bought a new
TV. You'd think this crap would be better than equipment of
the old days. Well, it is in some ways. More pixels mean
sharper pictures but there are too many options and choices
to be made before you can see the picture and the defaults
always assume the lowest commonality. Blaring and glaring
the set comes on. Six hours of frigging around with menus to
restore some semblance of sanity and I end up compromising
the sharper images by using my old analogue to digital
converter/tuner rather than that which is part of this fancy
new abortion. Bah! Humbug!
Tuesday I spent most of the day looking for nothing to do.
Couldn't find any. Looked over, under, around, into,
behind... Nowhere there was nothing to do. I should have
just gone for a walk, that would have been more productive;
at least I would have returned with a bag of roadside trash.
A Tortoise In The Trash
Out with FoSM and some kids from the Tonopah High School
Ambassador Club to pick up a pile of trash on Saddle
Mountain. After all these years of cleaning up this crap I
still don't understand the mentality of the People who drive
so far into the back country, off the road, over rocks,
through gullies, and back out again, when they could easily
stay on the pavement and take their stuff to a proper land
fill or transfer station. Of course I suppose I should be
thankful for their slovenly shit in their own bed habits
since cleaning up after them gives me something to complain
about.
The Ides of December
 TinyTruck
has blown a head gasket. Serious debilitating problem.
Researching all the options include at one extreme buying a
new truck and at the other, do nothing and continue driving
on the remaining two working cylinders. Somewhere in the
middle is repair or replace the head. There are some days
that I would like to replace my own head. New head for the
truck is 500$ plus gaskets and labour. Time for a Beg-A-Thon? If I can
raise ten dollars from each of an hundred readers I can get
this truck on the road again.
A seasonal card depicting the Wilton NH RR station arrived
from my quintessential ferroequinologist friend. Christmas
Dinner with friends and dogs—I made a mince pie—was followed
by the post office being closed on Boxing Day. When did
Boxing Day become a National Holiday in America? Without a
truck to haul it away my sacks of trash are piling up. Maybe
I'll start a landfill in the back yard.
In closing: if you think you have a good understanding of
life and reality, you might check out this
50 minute video about reality being a simulation.
Scientists at Excreta Labs in Turdbury, England, today
announced the commercial release of an application that
senses the proximity of a diaper that needs changing and
sends a signal to your smart phone. It's called a Nappy You
Hear. (Thanks for that tip Dennis)
|
2017 January [posted now, but really for
last year] — Greetings Virtual Travellers: 
I do not know what I may appear
to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a
boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and
then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than
ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered
before me. 