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Month: November 2025

Sun. Nov. 30, 2025 – Ah, merriment and fantasy tropes ahead

Cool but not cold, but certainly damp. Then cold later in the day. It never really did rain yesterday, although several times moisture from the sky convinced me it was coming. I hope today will be dry as I’ll be mostly outdoors.

Didn’t get as much done yesterday as I’d hoped. Felt a bit out of sorts from the meds until they flushed out completely. And it is our vacation/holiday so I’m not super motivated to bust @ss. I did do some stuff with my dashcam for the Ranger, although I didn’t finish. Cleaned and moved stuff in the house too. Ate some leftovers.

Today youngest is headed to the Texas Renaissance Festival with friends in the morning, and I will attend with lovely wife later in the day. I want to see the Christmas decor and lights after dark. Kid is less interested. So we’ll overlap for a bit, then some will stay with us and some will leave early. It’s the last day, so I’m also hoping there might be some bargains to be had. The TxRenFair is a big deal, been going and growing for 51 years and it’s big, physically big. I enjoyed it last time I went and while I’m not looking forward to going today because of weather and work, I am glad to be going this year.

Oh, I don’t dress up. I will take a leather bag, and my pipe, and probably wear a hat, and if I had a leather duster, I’d wear it, but since I don’t… I try not to be obnoxiously modern. There is a lot going on besides trad Renfair stuff, lots of fantasy fandoms get incorporated. A ranger type with a quarterstaff wouldn’t be out of place. My staff is at the lake though.

I’m mainly interested in craft demos and handmade stuff. There is some of it, and some of good quality if you look past the cheap tourist stuff. And my past career in event production is always looking at something like this with a critical and interested eye. Of course, the ribeye steak on a stick, or as a sandwich, is REALLY good.

I’ll be stacking up some good memories and some time with W and D2. Stack what you can.

nick

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Sat. Nov. 29, 2025 – no rest for the weary, or the wicked

Cool to start, maybe getting nicer, maybe getting stormier… Supposedly some big storming is possible. It was certainly windy yesterday and cool. I don’t think it got above mid 70sF.

Yesterday was mostly calm, and uneventful with a little bit of work getting done, mostly trips to my shop with stuff from the house. I did do one pickup and a trash run. Oh, and there was the accident I got in on my way home. It’s in the comments yesterday. I’m fine, and the truck looks fine, but both will probably have at least some hidden damage. We’ll see over the next couple of days.

Today, if I’m feeling ok, I’ve got some work to do on the truck. Item the first is installing a new dashcam, since the one I have in there failed miserably. You had ONE JOB… And if I’m in the truck working, I’ll see about installing a stereo and maybe running some wire for the ham radio too.

I’d like to maybe get some lights or other decoration started on the house too. Sounds pretty ambitious for me lately.

Oh, and refilling some of the 1 pound propane bottles for the MrHeaters. I’ve gotten in the habit of sitting out by the pond for a while and I like it. It’s not as good as the lake but it does take the edge off.

Some quiet time is pretty important for most people, but men especially. Stack some if you can.

nick

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Fri. Nov. 28, 2025 – a pause that refreshes?

Cold. Yeah, seriously, 50F is cold here. I’ll have to run the heat if it doesn’t warm up. Cold morning, nice day. Like Thanksgiving Day.

Well, we did the traditional feast yesterday. Kids contributed with pies and a casserole. I just ate. And while they were cooking I did some sorting and disposal of canned food, some work on my cameras, and a couple of other small things. I took it easy, but didn’t want to lose all my momentum.

Today I’ve got a couple of auction pickups to do. One for resale, one for Christmas presents. I’ve got some people covered, or more than covered, and some that are currently present-less. And I haven’t found good White Elephant gifts for my non-prepping hobby get together. That means I’m on the prowl for good/appropriate gifts.

I also have stuff to do on my truck, like headlight replacement, radio install, stereo install, cleaning… and stuff to do around the house. Many of my neighbors started their Christmas decorating already, so I might do some of that today too. Who knows? If I make plans the universe is bound to screw them up somehow, so better to just see what I get done.

The first pass through my stored canned food tells me I need to do some more culling and cleanup. Add that to the list. Buying food and stacking it is a solid prep though.

I’m always gonna tell you to stack something, even if it’s just good experiences. They can keep you warm and sane when the going gets tough.

We can all use a little help when that happens.

nick

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Thur. Nov. 27, 2025 – Thanksgiving day, US

Cold. By Texas standards anyway. It was in the 50sF last night and damp, so it felt even cooler. Probably it will be cold, then cool, then warm today with sun and clear skies. Nice.

I spent yesterday doing small things on the list. I got several done, and kept moving forward. Baby steps are still steps, right?? For an unhurried day, there was a lot going on. We even had some carnivore drama in the back yard to deal with.

D1 had a date, and the guy seems nice. She had a good night and was beaming. Her previous dates have been pretty lackluster, so I’m happy for her, but I’m still a dad with my little girl going out with boys. Kid is tall, in good shape and confident. Nice change from the emo simps.

Between D1, D2, and their friends, I’m coming to think that their emotional maturity is a couple of years behind where I’d expect it to be. Certainly it’s behind where my generation was. There are a couple of reasons that could be, 2 years of pandemic and social media are the obvious possibilities. And of course, we’re mostly talking about middle and upper middle class white kids. The hispanic kids have a different experience and point of view from what I can see.

It will be interesting to watch how this generation grows up.

But, that’s all for later. Today we take the time to pause and give thanks. There are always things to be thankful for, even at our darkest hours, and Thanksgiving Day gives an opportunity to stop, take stock, and find those things.

I’m thankful for Bob giving me this opportunity, and for Barbara’s faith and trust. I’m thankful for all of you who stop by and share your lives and thoughts with me and the rest of this community. I’m thankful for the world we live in, for the beauty of the natural world and everything in it. I’m thankful for the opportunity to love and be loved, and for my family and the support they give. I’m thankful to be alive. When I was young, I never thought I’d see 26 years of age, and here I am 33 years past that point.

There have been good times and bad during those years, but they made me who I am and I’m ok with that. They have all been a gift; one I’m glad to share with the people in my life. I look forward to many more, no matter the challenges and heartbreak that may be ahead of us.

Thank you all,

nick

(stack something good)

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Wed. Nov. 26, 2025 – cooking today

A bit cooler, and clear today. It got chilly last night. I still expect it to be high 80sF or even into the 90sF like yesterday by late afternoon though.

I was less productive than I’d hoped on Tuesday. I did get the grocery shopping done. That’s a good thing.

Today should be more small tasks and cooking pies, as well as getting prepped for tomorrow’s feast. We are cutting back on sides for Thanksgiving dinner, but there will still be some french meat pie, and several dessert pies. And a 12 pound bird.

And while I feel like a slacker that we didn’t go to the BOL, this is a much more relaxing plan.

I feel the need to adjust to the kids’ plans and to encourage the desire to work that D1 seems to have found. Building good kids is sort of the ultimate prep, so I’m trying to be flexible. We have much to be thankful for, and where we celebrate that thankfulness isn’t as important as taking the time to do so. Besides, if you are smart, you take your joy where you find it.

Build. Improve. Stack. Live.

nick

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Tues. Nov. 25, 2025 – 112525 – plans, I’ve got ’em

Cooler, wetter, darker? We’ll see. It did rain yesterday. And lightning. And sun. So we had all the weather. Might get the same today.

Yeah, it was a bit of a dog’s breakfast yesterday weatherwise, and that got me in a weird headspace which meant not a lot got done. I needed good weather to move out of my storage unit. Didn’t get it. I had enough to do some cleanup in the driveway though. And I did some cleanup indoors moving stuff into the attic. I’ve been taking stuff out of the attic too. There’s a bit of a sorting and shuffling and re-stacking going on.

Today we’ll see what happens with the weather. If it’s good, then I’ll get at least a load moved. I won’t be loading up for a trip to the BOL. W and I decided that the kids have too much going on this week. So instead of a nice week off, we’d have a non-stop tight schedule of moving from here to there. It sucks. I really needed to get 4-5 days of work at the BOL with some cushion if things went badly. No way I could get that if they were leaving Friday morning. I’m unhappy about how this week is shaping up, but it will be more relaxing and a lot less hectic if we do the holiday here.

One of the activities scheduled was going to the Renfair on Sunday. I would like to go this year, and that meant coming home on Saturday anyway. Get there late, leave early, nah. Not this time. Like I said, it sucks. Stuff changes though and you have to deal with reality.

Dealing with things as they are rather than as they “should be” is a skill that can be practiced and learned. It’s vital to success if you are not a chosen one with a smoothed path. But it is a pain in the fundament.

Keep working. Keep stacking. Don’t lose heart.
nick

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Mon. Nov. 24, 2025 – 112425 -close but no cigar

Forecast says “possible thunderstorms” for the whole SE of Texas, and we had overcast yesterday. Cool weather too. I expect today to be similar, and maybe tomorrow too. I’m hoping that it is dry though, since my intent is outdoor tasks.

Since I got nothing done yesterday. I woke with really severe lower back pain and stiffness. It was bad enough to make me nauseous. But it improved throughout the day to the point where I almost felt back to normal but was still moving cautiously.

Today, if I’m feeling ok, I’ll mess it all up again by moving more stuff out of my storage unit. That is my main goal. Where and how we spend this week and the holiday is still a bit fluid and up for grabs, but W and the kids will be home today and tomorrow for D1 to work her new job. IDK if I’ll head up tomorrow during the day, or wait for later. It will depend on if I can load the truck without getting wet.

I had plans for this week at the BOL, mostly involving electrical and networking in the attic, but now with less time there, and possible pain, we’ll have to just play it by ear. I really need to get stuff done up there, and it’s stuff that takes more than a day at a time.

Owning any property puts extra stress on you and your resources. Owning a remote property increases both. Owning multiple properties, and being older and beat up makes it even more difficult and painful. Something to keep in mind when looking for BOL property, or even a retirement property.

On the other hand, it’s kinda hard to complain about owning multiple properties. It’s a fortunate position to be in, and one we actively pursued. It does have challenges though, and that is simple truth.

Do what you can, where you are, with what you have. And stack.
n

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Sun. Nov. 23, 2025 – bring on the Thanksgiving pie

Warm again, and moist. Hopefully not raining, although the grass needed the rain. It would be nice to get back to mild Fall days, after the warmth and humidity.

I didn’t get anything done yesterday. Nerves in my back were pinched and I couldn’t get them to release so I mostly just laid in bed. Usually some stretching and hip rotation and whatever is misaligned will get fixed, at least to baseline for me. Not happening yesterday though.

Today we’ll see if it’s improved any, and then I’ll beat myself up moving out of my storage unit! Cuz I’m so snart. Stuff needs doing, and I’m the only one to do it, so whatever it takes…

That’s kinda the story of my life. I should be used to it by now.

Stack if that’s all you can do.

nick

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Sat. Nov. 22, 2025 – not at the BOL

Warm and wet. It was still in the upper 70sF when I had my little fire last night. And it got into the 90sF during the day. At least this afternoon there was a bit of a breeze. That stopped after dusk, except for when the lightning came. Didn’t ever actually rain though.

I did get some small things done. Another load to the shop… but it did look kinda threatening later in the day so no load from storage.

We decided to stay in Houston this weekend, and we still haven’t worked out exactly when and for how long we’ll head to the BOL. D1 has her new job on Tuesday, and then Friday. That really doesn’t work for family Thanksgiving at the lake. Dang kid couldn’t wait to apply another week? I don’t think anyone is going to enjoy Black Friday being her second day on the job.

Today I’ll start moving stuff out of storage in earnest, weather permitting. If not, then I’ll do some stuff here. Either way, there will be work. Can’t waste the days if I’m not going to work at the BOL.

Then list is long, and time is short, although motivation is at ebb tide levels.

I’m just going to plod forward. Stacking and working to improve.

nick

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Fri. Nov. 21, 2025 – I don’t know what I don’t know but I know there are things I don’t know

Milder today, I hope. Yesterday turned out to be not so bad. It wasn’t as humid as Wednesday, nor as hot. And there was a bit more sunlight. Up north it would be an Indian Summer. Here it’s just Houston weather.

I didn’t get much done in the morning yesterday. The meds hadn’t completely flushed out, and I was feeling weird. Took more of a nap than usual, but felt good when I woke. I am stiff and sore, but I don’t feel like there are any skeletal issues. Just avoiding neck problems is a blessing.

In the afternoon I got my pickups done, mostly stuff for the BOL, and even moved a load out of storage. Plenty more loads still to move, but I’m chipping away at it.

It’s getting past time to figure out what we’re doing for Thanksgiving. We want to be at the lake, which means buying the meal and fixin’s, which means a bit of planning. There is also the complication of the kids’ activities this week and D1’s new job. Her second day working will be Black Friday. That should be bad for SO MANY people…

Technically I have a pickup or two north of here today. Both are on the way to the BOL, so I could grab them on my way past– if I go. But I’ll be up there during the week and for Thanksgiving, so I should probably keep moving here… Choices need to be made, and I’m just not feeling it.

Some things will happen, and some stuff will get done. It just might not be me doing them. Or at least, not PLANNING to do them.

I’m planning to continue working my list, and adding to the stacks.

That’s enough for now.

nick

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