Sun. Jan. 19, 2025 – probably cold. Winter is coming…

By on January 19th, 2025 in culture, decline and fall, lakehouse

Well, it’s gonna be colder today. It was really nice yesterday. I actually was out in the sunny day in just long pants and a long sleeve shirt. The lack of wind certainly helped. Wife and guest even went out in the kayaks. It got cold when the sun went down though. Today I think I’ll probably find some indoor stuff to do…

I woke moderately late, had a nice breakfast, and got some stuff done. It took much longer than I thought to get the plumbing done and get the heater connected in the garage. I needed a fitting I didn’t have, but worked around it. The heater works GREAT. It brought the garage up to 72F from 55F before I turned it down. We did have the oven running in there for a bit too, but it was mostly the Mr Heater “Blue Flame” heater. IDK what the gas consumption rate is, but it puts out a lot of heat. I think it’s the 20K BTU unit.

Now we have a backup heat solution for the garage, and by extension, the house. When I get the living room remodel done, I’ll add a gas nipple in there too. I have the same unit for the Houston house, in a NATGAS version. I’ll do the same as here, plumb in a quick connect, but I’ll take it off the gas log in the fireplace. That will be much more efficient than the log if we need supplemental heating.

The garage heat was on my list, but I only got to it because I couldn’t do the electrical project my wife bumped to the top. I had collected most of what I thought I’d need to add a 50A 240V outlet on the side of the carport. The idea was it would be for any RV parked on the pad, an EV charger, or a welding machine. Turns out the wire I had was undersized and had one too few conductors for the application. I’ll need to buy the correct wire, and a new breaker for the panel. That will be top of the list for next visit. I did have suitable boxes and outlets, along with a box full of adapters and various 30A and 50A receptacles. There have been a surprising number of variations over the years.

Made a nice dinner in the garage oven– lamb roast, potatoes, and roasted brusselsprouts. The house was warm enough that it was nice to not have the heat in the kitchen. Had to tap a bucket to get more flour for the bread… preps, I got ’em.

After movie night, we had the first clear dark sky in months. Got out the big dob to look at Jupiter. It was very cold over the water though, and that was all the stargazing we did.

All in all, a very good day. I’m hoping today will be half as good.

I’ve got plenty on the list. Exhaust fans for kitchen and baths, electrical outlets for towel warmer, server rack; cat5 for cams and network drops… We’ll see what I get to. There is still baseboard to attach in the dockhouse too.

There’s always ways to improve your situation. Always be working, always be stacking!

nick

39 Comments and discussion on "Sun. Jan. 19, 2025 – probably cold. Winter is coming…"

  1. Greg Norton says:

    Movie was “The Birdcage”, Nathan Lane, Robin Williams, Gene Hackman.   I think it’s Robin Williams’ best performance.

    “Dead Again”. The movie rests on a ridiculous premise which Williams sells with a brilliant piece of ad lib.

    Scott Frank went on to write some signficant scripts, the last one being “Logan”, but “Dead Again” was only his second film. The legend is that Sir Kenneth put the camera on Williams, explained some high level details, and let him improv the entire character, including the backstory.

  2. Greg Norton says:

    There is a lot of virtue signaling among dumbrocrats.  Just wait until next week when Trump’s cabinet is up for confirmation.  There will be a lot of virtue on display.

    Next week? The virtue signaling already started.

    Padilla opens with a reminder to the audience about Trump being a convicted felon “by a jury of his peers” and hits out again later with Guiliani’s disbarments.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjXkwL-H258

    Schiff starts by going after Roberts and then quotes The Wise Latina’s dissent in the Supreme Court’s immunity decision before needling Bondi about the possibility of an investigation of Jack Smith.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ01ZA2pJws

    When do the pardons start?

  3. lynn says:

    I just realized that all the phone numbers I used to remember have been replaced in my brain with web addresses and passwords that I need to remember.

    And by “remember” I mean, struggle to remember…

    I tried to remember my wife’s cell number Friday.  I failed.

  4. lynn says:

    31 F and very windy out here in the sticks.  Lily the dog went out, peed, and came right back in for her treat.  Remy the cat did not even go outside.

    I got half of my doits done yesterday.  The warehouse is off water and mostly drained.  The office building and wellhouse are reinsulated.

    Our Wednesday morning forecast is now 17 F.

    I also went in the attic and took pictures of the water heaters.  Two 40 gal 40,000 btu/hr.  I am putting in two Rheem 50 gal 80,000 btu/hr natural gas heaters for $2,250 each Monday.

  5. ITGuy1998 says:

    I just realized that all the phone numbers I used to remember have been replaced in my brain with web addresses and passwords that I need to remember.

    And by “remember” I mean, struggle to remember…

    I can’t remember all of my passwords, there are just too many. For personal use, I’ve used RoboForm for years. I print out a copy yearly and place it in our safe deposit box as a backup. For important sites, I use a generated password. As time goes on, I’m even doing that for non-important sites as well.

  6. EdH says:

    Clear and 19F in the high desert this morning.   The NWS service predicted 24F, they’ve been reliably high this year, but in general we are into our daily 20 – 60 winter weather cycle.

    Walking home from watching the Indians-Lions game at the neighbors last night the stars were just sparkling, a nice half moon rising, Jupiter & Orion blazing overhead.

    After the game we watched “Attack of the Killer Tomato’s” on Svengoolie last night.  First time I have seen it in full since 1978.   I”m good gor another 40 years I think.

    I did think of several tomato related puns during the movie … I may never be invited back.

  7. Greg Norton says:

    “Dead Again”. The movie rests on a ridiculous premise which Williams sells with a brilliant piece of ad lib.

    More ridiculous than the final reel of “Top Gun: Maverick”, which Tom Cruise sells on the basis of being the last movie star standing and you want to see that scenario play out.

  8. Greg Norton says:

    After the game we watched “Attack of the Killer Tomato’s” on Svengoolie last night.  First time I have seen it in full since 1978.   I”m good gor another 40 years I think.

    The second half of the double feature, “Monster Club”, was the better movie even though the ‘B’ team “Sven Squad” did the host segments.

  9. Greg Norton says:

    Our Wednesday morning forecast is now 17 F.

    That’s interesting. Austin’s forecast is 23 and a possibility of snow.

    The media wants something bad to happen since the news week will be slow after Monday.

  10. Ray Thompson says:

    Booked a trip to Germany for late August and September. We will visit four former exchange students then spend 15 days in Munich at another former exchange student, our first exchange student. She has a couple of kids (9 and 5) that are learning English and she wants them to be immersed in conversational English for a couple of weeks. The wife and I agreed and will basically be babysitting for the two weeks. It will be good for us as they are good kids and really liked us that last time we were there.

    I got round-trip tickets for $2,300 each in Delta Premium Select. Based on previous experience on the long trips (8.5 hours going to, 10 hours coming back), the upgrade is worth it. About $600.00 each person. Premium select has more leg room, leg rests, foot rests private arm rests, wider pitch, better recline, more comfortable seats, better meal service, priority check-in and boarding, noise cancelling headphones (I bring my own), two checked bags free, and priority baggage handling. Non-stop from Atlanta to Frankfurt and back. There is only one non-stop flight each way and booking now avoids problems as the flights have always been full.

    since the news week will be slow after Monday

    Surely you jest. The news media will be all over Trump for anything he does. Executive orders will be flying out the door with the resulting lawsuits and crying from congress and their ego-centered committees.

    I was incorrect about Spongey giving up his throne before the inauguration. Apparently, there is a lot of bad blood between Spongey and the Humper. There is a lot of bad blood among many democrats who may be seeing their political career and sponging off the government coming to an end.

  11. EdH says:

    Attack of the killer tomatoes: Life imitating art…

    http://deevybee.blogspot.com/2025/01/tomatoes-roaming-fields-and-canaries-in.html

    OK, the article doesn’t actually have the roaming tomatoes attacking people, but I think that’s just waiting for the follow up paper.

  12. Nick Flandrey says:

    Spent the morning playing games with the kids and our guests.  No work was done.

    It was 30F when I woke at 10am, and has been warming since.   The sunny thermometer says 43F at the moment.  Clear and sunny, blue sky.

    Heater in the garage has been raising the temp 10F/hr.   The garage is drafty and not insulated.  

    Time for some lunch and some work.

    n

    (wrt Robin Williams, the LAST thing I want to see is him in a manic, drug fueled improv.   I like The Birdcage because he has to be restrained and not just spew everywhere and he actually has real emotions.   Admittedly, he’s funny when he does, but it’s just Mork and nanu nanu over and over again…)

  13. Greg Norton says:

    I was incorrect about Spongey giving up his throne before the inauguration. Apparently, there is a lot of bad blood between Spongey and the Humper. There is a lot of bad blood among many democrats who may be seeing their political career and sponging off the government coming to an end.

    There is a lot of bad blood between Biden and various Dems going back to the ’88 election.

    The Dems also put some blame on Biden for Clarence Thomas being on the Court.

  14. Nick Flandrey says:

    Ah, the narrative is starting…  

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14300923/LA-fires-evacuation-shelter-outbreak-norovirus.html 

    The article isn’t even really about 28 people with norovirus, it’s about the “cancer causing toxic chemicals” in the fire debris.

    Los Angeles public health experts have advised the greater Los Angeles public to vacate neighborhoods that are covered in ‘cancer-causing chemicals.’

    Such hazardous chemicals are a result of burned vehicles, solar panels, batteries, building materials and everyday household products.

    “The dangerous contaminants can be easily kicked up when people try to salvage possessions, rummaging through the potentially toxic rubble”

    Look for the lowball offers to start…

    n

  15. Greg Norton says:

    (wrt Robin Williams, the LAST thing I want to see is him in a manic, drug fueled improv.   I like The Birdcage because he has to be restrained and not just spew everywhere and he actually has real emotions.   Admittedly, he’s funny when he does, but it’s just Mork and nanu nanu over and over again…)

    Williams is restrained in “Dead Again”, working with “Sir Kenneth” and sharing his scenes with both Branagh and Emma Thompson.

    The humor is pitch dark, implying his character’s past behavior was related to substance abuse, but Williams does it sober.

    Except for naughty words, many from Williams, and some blood, the film is teenager safe.

  16. drwilliams says:

    The funniest thing would be for Biden to give his final middle finger to all outside the BCF  who are expecting pardons–by not giving them pardons. 

  17. Nick Flandrey says:

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14296287/british-sexual-assault-rape-victim-italy-milan-new-years-eve.html

    British teen’s 30-man rape hell which will horrify every parent: How a young woman’s trip to Italy turned into a fight for survival against mob ‘who grew more excited’ the more terrified she became

    The gang were later revealed by police to be Bangladeshi men.

    Why did I assume they probably weren’t italians?

    Oh right.  Import the third world, become the third world.

    n

  18. Nick Flandrey says:

    From the beginning I thought there would be more to this story.  I still think there will be.

    And something tells me the dad is not a stranger to acting on anonymous info and outside the law…

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14301059/major-update-kidnapping-girl-locked-boat-hero-dads-rescue.html

    n

    (dunno what dad’s into , but either they grabbed his daughter on purpose, or he used contacts outside of “law abiding citizens” to track her.  My opinion.)

  19. Ray Thompson says:

    The gang were later revealed by police to be Bangladeshi men.

    According to the police it is “a known problem.” Why aren’t those disgusting sub-human walking piles of feces being thrown out of the country?

  20. Greg Norton says:

    The funniest thing would be for Biden to give his final middle finger to all outside the BCF  who are expecting pardons–by not giving them pardons. 

    There are Dems who will get stiffed by Biden, starting with Pelosi.

    I don’t think he will take care of Hillary Clinton either.

  21. Greg Norton says:

    Tesla Begins Discounting Cybertuck for 2025

    Kinda tough to move $100k Jesus Trucks right now.

    EV vehicle depreciation is brutal for leasing..

    Plus a rumor that won’t die is that Stellantis is going to give dealers big chunks of money to clear their floor plans, numbers in the 35% range on the six figure RAM trucks and Grand Wagoneers.

  22. Ken Mitchell says:

    Plus a rumor that won’t die is that Stellantis is going to give dealers big chunks of money 

    So Elon Musk is just getting ahead of the power curve on EV discounts?  He’s been ahead of a LOT of major trends lately. 

  23. Nick Flandrey says:

    There are a LOT of cybertrucks in my neighborhood. 

    Broncos too.

    n

  24. Greg Norton says:

    So Elon Musk is just getting ahead of the power curve on EV discounts?  He’s been ahead of a LOT of major trends lately. 

    Musk has all of Stellantis’ money from stocking the dealer floor plans to capacity over the last couple of years.

    The local dealer still has 2023 model year on the lot.

  25. MrAtoz says:

    The DM is reporting one of tRump’s EO’s will declare certain Mexican Cartels as terrorist organizations. I would declare them all as so. Then call the Mexican President and tell her to rein the Cartels in, or, we will.

    200+ EO’s. Suck it plugs!

  26. Lynn says:

    xkcd: Human Altitude

       https://xkcd.com/3039/

    This altitude height chart will be expanded greatly in the decade or two.

    Explained at 

       https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3039:_Human_Altitude

  27. Greg Norton says:

    Blizzard French Toast for dinner tonight!

    Sam’s Club was completely sold out of eggs, with bread and milk nearly picked clean late this afternoon.

    The egg secton at HEB was nearly stripped bare when we walked by tonight.

    I overheard one shopper look at the shelf price tags and comment, “Hopefully this gets fixed after tomorrow.”

    We’re having pork chops.

  28. Lynn says:

    The funniest thing would be for Biden to give his final middle finger to all outside the BCF  who are expecting pardons–by not giving them pardons. 

    What is BCF ?  Best Convicted Friends ?

  29. Gavin says:

    BCF = Biden Crime Family?

  30. Alan says:

    I believe Gavin is correct..

  31. drwilliams says:

    Correct. 

    But upon reflection:

    The funniest thing would be for Biden to give his final middle finger to all outside the BCF  who are expecting pardons–by not giving them pardons. 

    Would be second funniest. 

    First would be is FJB expired in his sleep early tonight. Before signing the “last minute” pardons. Which are dated Jan 20–whoops!

    Would they try to swear the kamal in for a couple hours, if they could find her and get her sober?

    Trump could declare a national holiday and put the flags back up.   

  32. Lynn says:

    The funniest thing would be for Biden to give his final middle finger to all outside the BCF  who are expecting pardons–by not giving them pardons. 

    What is BCF ?  Best Convicted Friends ?

    BCF = Biden Crime Family?

    Those pardons were written a long time ago.  Jill is holding on to them for “safety”.

  33. Nick Flandrey says:

    I’m going to bed.   

    I got the baseboard installed in the dockhouse, so that is pretty much done.   I have to source and install a threshold, and we’ll be back to where we started, 6 months ago.

    I didn’t end up doing any attic work, played board games instead.

    It’s currently down to 24F, so it is getting pretty dang cold here.  The new gas heater was keeping the garage toasty at 72F.   Turning to low kept it 68F, which is a big fuel savings and almost as good.

    We’ll be heading home tomorrow afternoon, hoping to beat the forecast of late night weather, and avoiding driving after dusk when it is sure to be colder.

    I don’t believe any of the predictions, mostly because they keep talking about the models.   They were wrong three days ago, wrong yesterday, and wrong today– as they keep changing them.   Hopefully they will be wrong tomorrow and Tuesday too.

    School has already cancelled Tues and Wed.    I’ve got a Dr appointment Tuesday that I don’t want to miss, so I’d really like this mess to blow thru or clear up.

    I’ll see you all tomorrow.

    n

  34. Nick Flandrey says:

    Dropped another degree while I was writing tomorrow’s post.   It’s gonna get pretty cold, no doubt about that.

    n

  35. Alan says:

    >>Trump could declare a national holiday and put the flags back up.

    Monday is already a federal holiday…need to ask MLK to slide over to Tuesday.

  36. Lynn says:

    HEB was cleaned out of the regular bread and eggs tonight.  No artisan breads.  The cheapest eggs were HCF Farm Fresh dozen for $7.28.  Plenty of milk.

  37. brad says:

    Passwords: I strongly recommend a good password manager. That way, you only have to remember one password, namely, to open the password manager. Personally, I use KeepassXC. It does not have a cloud component, so you don’t depend on someone else’s server. However, there is nothing wrong with putting the password file on your Owncloud/Dropbox/whatever.

    I am of two minds about letting browsers remember passwords. I tend to do it, but mostly for sites where I have a second factor. You are trusting the browser, and if the passwords sync, you are trusting the browser manufacturer’s server.

    The news media will be all over Trump for anything he does. Executive orders will be flying out the door with the resulting lawsuits and crying from congress and their ego-centered committees.

    I need to go buy some popcorn. The next couple of weeks should be entertaining…

    Why aren’t those disgusting sub-human walking piles of feces being thrown out of the country?

    Europe is working on this. It’s a struggle, since the left does not want to give up power, and is fighting the conservatives parties tooth and nail. It is happening slowly…

    The funniest thing would be for Biden to…

    I do wonder what EOs and pardons will crop up at the last minute. Signatures on documents that Biden has no idea that he signed.

  38. JimM says:

    The Vistra batteries use cells supplied by LG Energy Solution while the Elkhorm [sic] batteries are supplied by Tesla.

    The fire marks the fourth, and by far the largest, emergency response incident at Moss Landing in less than four years. Battery packs smoked up and triggered the fire suppression system twice over a five-month period at the Vistra site between 2021 and 2022. In September 2022, a nearby battery facility owned by Tesla and Pacific Gas & Electric caught fire, shutting down Highway 1 and forcing a shelter in place order.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/01/19/fire-at-moss-landing-could-turn-back-the-clock-on-battery-storage-in-california/

    There have been three fires for LG batteries managed by Vistra, one for Tesla batteries managed by PG&E. I didn’t find certainty as to whether the various incidents involved Lion or LiFPo battery types. The statement that ~75% of the facility was destroyed apparently applies only to Vistra’s first of three installations at the site but that is not clearly certain. There is a lot of yammering by pundits and politicians. I think the financial losses are likely to be sufficient motivation for improvements by the energy companies.

Comments are closed.