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Category: culture

Sat. Mar. 2, 2024 – at the Greater Houston Hamfest today…

Weather should be sunny and clear with a high of 80F. I’m hoping so, but with some breeze to keep it cooler. I did throw a popup canopy in the truck, but dunno if I’ll have time to set it up. I usually don’t.

Did all my running around and dropping off yesterday. Loaded a small trailer and the truck. Truck is a bit less loaded than past years. And as I’m writing this, I’m remembering something I didn’t load. I’ll get it first thing in the morning.

The Hamfest is a good time, and I never even get inside. If there is one in your area, I definitely encourage you to check it out. And if you are in Houston, or technically Rosenburg, see if you can find me in the parking lot swap meet.

It’s pretty unlikely I’ll check the site or update until I’m home, so y’all behave!

Today I’m stacking money and real life connections. Give it a try!

nick

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Fri. Mar. 1, 2024 – I have a birthday this month, among other things…

Cool, damp or even wet, and windy today. We did get a bit of rain late in the day yesterday, but it really depended on where you were in town. I got some at the secondary, but not at home.

I was still sore, and stiff, and it’s surprisingly hard to be productive under those conditions. I did get a pickup done, a visit to the chiropractor, and my kid chauffeur duties taken care of. I feel like that was very little, but it was something and got me out of the house. Obviously my plan for the week went to heII early on.

Getting old, 3 of 5 stars, cannot recommend.

It’s been a while since I was this busted up for this long and I don’t like it. No sir, I don’t. I guess I’ll have to start actively fighting the entropy instead of thinking normal life activities are enough. Like I need more to do…

Speaking of which, we’ll see what I get done today, but tomorrow’s hamfest might be less than I had hoped. If I move some of this stuff it’ll be a win, but I’ll still feel like I could have done more. Can’t do everything, and sometimes real life gets in the way of hobbies. And it is a hobby, not life or death.

Speaking of hobbies, I’m fumbling my way around wordpress, and I have more admiration for Rick than ever. F-me, I really don’t like feeling this new and out of my depth. Meatspace. Obligations. Volunteering for my fellow enthusiasts. Joy. I thank a merciful deity that Rick is here to do the ‘under the hood’ stuff. Yapping is easy. Keeping the lights on is harder. Thank you Rick. And also thanks to Barbara, who continues to see value in it.

I’m out in the world today and tomorrow, and doing battle on more than one front. Both of which are HOBBIES. Need to remind myself of that. Valuable nonetheless, but still secondary to family and self.

Stretch out some mental or actual muscles. You might regret it, but you will learn some things.

(and stack, the world isn’t getting any less crazy.)

nick

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Thur. Feb. 29, 2024 – whoo hooo!!! Extra day!! Get to work!

Cold and windy, and damp. Temp started to drop yesterday afternoon, and it was pretty chilly by nightfall. Windy all day too. I’m expecting today to be the same, without the warmer middle.

I got a couple of things done yesterday. One pickup. Kid stuff. Tried not to re-tweak my back. Visited the chiropractor and got some relief. Taking the day off really helped. IDK if I’m going to be able to do all the physical stuff I need to do to get ready for the hamfest though.

I’ve got dozens of bins to move, load, and rearrange, as well as having to move a bunch of stuff first so I can clear a path. I’m debating just taking what I can fit on the truck, mostly higher dollar stuff and the stuff I specifically picked up this past year. People seem to like digging through the bins and boxes though, and I’ve got stuff that is traditional “hamfest” stuff, like boxes of parts and projects. That kind of stuff usually gets a good reaction and I sell a ton of smalls… I was kinda hoping the weather forecast would be dismal, but it is currently showing sunny on the day. That isn’t going to help me make my decision.

I’ve got all the slippage from the last two days to get through today, and I’m not making good progress. Might be time for some quitter talk, and realignment of my goals. I’m still not even back to 50% pain and movement wise… and I really don’t want to mess up the progress I’ve made so far. I hate not feeling strong and capable.

I also hate making excuses though.

I guess I’ll play it by ear, and see how much I can do to get ready.

The rest of you can still stack though!

nick

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Wed. Feb. 28, 2024 – Hoping to feel better today, as the list gets longer…

Warm and moist. Bit of chill to the wind but still warm overall. Mainly because that was yesterday. It got even a bit warmer than strictly comfortable by late afternoon, but cooled at night. Spring is sprung. The redbud trees are blooming, as is my lime.

I didn’t get much done yesterday. My freaking back was killing me. Stretching out as I squatted over the mower deck, and lifting heavy things really did a number on me. Every so often, I exceed what I can effectively manage by myself and need to get some chiropractic help. And sometimes some chemical help besides. Which is one reason I didn’t get much done, I called it quits after just a few tentative hours moving around.

I did get one pickup- some security window film, and did my auctioneer drop off of several bins of sale items. That was it though.

Today, I’m hoping I feel better. I’ll hit the chiropractor again, then see about collecting some of the stuff for the hamfest. Two pickups to do too. If I am feeling better, I don’t want to overdo it and move backward. Too much to do in the next couple of days, and too much of it is physical.

There is always more to do than there is time lately. I might have to make some better choices with my time, or figure out how to make better use of the time I currently spend waiting for kids…

It’s a work in progress.

Keep working to improve your situation. And stack.

nick

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Tues. Feb. 27, 2024 – crazy busy week, and I’m slacking off…

Warm and moist. Part sun. Part cloud. Or maybe something different, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Yesterday was a mixed bag, weatherwise,but it did get nice in the late afternoon and evening. Nice sunset. A bit too humid all day, but it is Houston after all.

I didn’t get much of my list done yesterday. My back was really hurting, far more than usual, and didn’t respond to my normal tricks. I even went back to bed for an hour. I clearly overexerted myself at the BOL and triggered something. I did get one pickup done, that had to be done Monday. It was items for the BOL. I got some other small things done around the house too, but that doesn’t give me much of a feeling of accomplishment.

This week I have to do something to advance my hobby club website. I might just set up the hosting account, with a ‘work in progress’ page, and get the domain transfer going. I really don’t want to re-up with the existing host, even for one more month. Although if that’s an option it would take the pressure off. My main focus for the rest of the week should be getting stuff together for the hamfest. I also need to do my afternoon kid wrangling, normal pickups (although I’m buying a lot less stuff, and it’s more focused) and drop off stuff with my auctioneer. I don’t have anything in this week’s auction, so something glitched. I thought I had stuff at his place waiting for listing.

And I’m certain that the normal sort of unexpected stuff will pop up. So I’m expecting the unexpected. As long as it’s not the Spanish Inquisition…

Oh, and I’ve got to do early voting too, in our local races, because I’m not available on the actual day.

Still, busy is better than bored, right? Right?

Get out in the world. Learn a new skill or get some training. Upgrade your ham license or try a new mode. Plan and plant your garden. Time is FLYING by.

Stack.

nick

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Mon. Feb. 26, 2024 – yes, we have no bananas, we have no bananas today…

Cool and damp in Houston, with clouds and overcast… my best guess for conditions 6 hours from when I’m writing this. Based on current conditions anyway. We’ll see how the day progresses.

It was certainly nice at the BOL, even with the howling wind. It was warm enough that the wind felt nice rather than raw.

I got most of my list for the weekend done. Stuff got transported to the BOL, I did the things I hoped to do. Got seeds in the ground, which is more than I’ve done here at home, or in my own patch up there. It’s that time for us, soon it’ll be too late for some things. Check with your local ag extension service, and get some gardening happening. The learning curve is steep. Start climbing it.

And if you have a black thumb like me, instead of a green one, stack more food!

Today I’ve got auction stuff, drop offs and maybe pickups. I’ve got to finish the tub repair too. And any other thing that pops up. It’s sure to be a normal day, which will provide all the challenges I need… PLUS now I’m counting down to the Hamfest. I’ll be making lists, digging in bins, looking in the garage, patio, attic, storage units, and secondary location to find the stuff I put aside for the swapmeet and then forgot about, and I swear, I WILL do some price research this time, at least for the test gear and some of the radios… and reserve a trailer. I just realized it will be the first weekend of the month, and trailer rentals might be scarce.

There is always something more to do. Just gotta do it. Get to stacking. And doing whatever it is YOU need to do.

nick

Louis Prima

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Sun. Feb. 25th, 2024 – still got plenty to do…

Cool but not cold, but probably pretty damp, and warming later. Yesterday was about as perfect a day as it gets, weather-wise.

And we now have seeds in the soil. Beans, radishes, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and even some strawberries. Next step is irrigation but hopefully we’ve got some time before the heat of summer kicks in. One year I was wearing my cool vest at the rodeo, so it’s possible it could skip Spring and jump right to ” hot town, summer in the city, back of my neck feeling hot and gritty…”

Plan for the day is mower maintenance, weed mowing (with a bit of grass cutting too), clean up and put away, and then at some point head home. Oh, and pack up most of my pex fittings and tools. Because I feel like I’m gonna need them at home. Which would be unfortunate. Still, better to be prepared, no?

Moved a couple of things up here this trip. Stacking it deeper. Please consider following my example…

nick

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Sat. Feb. 24, 2024 – 02242024 – cool here at the BOL…

Thermometer battery died, so I’m not sure how chilly, but chilly. Otherwise supposed to be clear today. We’re on the edge of a planting zone here, so not quite the same as Houston.

On Friday I did my pickups. No drop off at my auctioneer, but I did drop off some stuff I fixed for another auctioneer. He had a couple of estate pipes I cleaned up that turned out real nice. He was happy. He’s a cigar smoker but is trying to switch to a pipe, mainly because it’s a lot cheaper if you like to smoke all day long. A LOT cheaper. And if one was thinking about ‘after the fall’, pipe tobacco will store a long time, much longer than cigarettes and longer than cigars without special storage (other than airtight.)

I loaded the truck and headed to the BOL. Got here long after dark but still had time to have a small fire and tune around the bands a bit. Several neighbors are up this weekend too, so hopefully I’ll get a chance to check in with them today.

I’ve got to get the truck unloaded, then do the normal site maintenance. Before I can cut the grass, I’ve got to do some mower work. I mean, before I cut the clover. Not much grass, lots of weeds.

There is always something that needs to be done. And something that needs to be done before that, and after that too. It’s worth it though.

If you can swing it, having a place outside the city is going to be pretty important. If you can’t, start thinking about where you can go if you have to go. And maybe store some stuff there, or on the way. If you are going to be a guest, be a welcome guest, not a burden.

Stack what you need, make sure you can get to it and take it with you.

nick

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Fri. Feb. 23, 2024 – Friday the 13th happened 10 days ago this month…

Warmish, and clear. Yesterday started with a lot of overcast, and very wet, but turned into another beautiful day. Today is forecast to be the same. It’s definitely time to get the garden going.

Bit of a mixed bag yesterday as far as getting stuff done. I was able to get the plumbing parts I need, and should be able to get the tub back together today. They even had the transition fitting to attach to the lead pipe sewer connection. Good thing the HD managers are allowed to pick some items to stock for their local market. We have lead sewer pipes coming up through our slabs, and it’s been long enough that they are falling. Probably not something you needed to stock 20 years ago.

I also got the Ranger smogged and inspected, so I can remedy my registration issues. Expy too. Maybe I’ll do both at the same time. I have some maintenance due on the Ranger too, that I’ll have to find time for. Won’t be this week or next.

I wasn’t able to do my auction drop off, so that gets pushed to today. I have one pickup on the south side of town, and one near me that I forgot to do last week. Then I’m loading for my trip to the BOL. Still not sure if I’m going up today or tomorrow, but today would be better. Turns out I need to cut the grass there, which means doing some service work on the mower first… and pitching in on my neighbor’s garden plot. I might try to get something planted in my own plot too. Then the irrigation needs to be sorted out, with the broken line fixed, and the sprinklers re-installed…

It’s fractal. The closer you look at a task, the more tasks there are to do.

And when I get back, I’ll spend the next week getting ready for the Hamfest, and getting my hobby website up. Whoohooo. Fun times.

Better to be busy than bored I guess. Meatspace. It takes more work than a hermit’s life, but it’s worth it.

Stack some facetime with people. Start on your garden.

n

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Thur. Feb. 22, 2024 – 02222024 – and just like that, half the week is gone…

Cool but not cold, forecast says mid 60s F. And clear. Warming later. Sometimes we’d call this nearly perfect weather. Yesterday was certainly nice. More driving around with the windows down…

And I did drive around. Pickups all over the south side of town, and beyond. Got some good stuff though, so even with mileage and tolls it still saves money. Went to Lowes for the plumbing parts I need and came up empty. I’ll have to hit HomeDepot today.

Doing another pickup today, a chest freezer. It’s the season for them again I guess. The retail prices have come down from the wuflu peak, and so they are even better in the auctions, if you don’t mind a dent or a scratch. I’ve mentioned before that I prefer several smaller freezers to one big one. Better chance of not losing everything if you have a failure. Plus they fit into the space better, being only 24″ deep.

After the pickup, I should be doing a drop off too. More stuff to the auctioneer.

I’ll be loading the truck for a run to the BOL too. Wife and kids are doing Girl Scouts, so I’ll head out for the weekend. I’ll have the dog with me, and I’m sure I’ll find stuff to do beyond just dropping off a load of stuff. I’m bringing the huge ladder, the meat saw, a 40 gallon water tank on wheels, a patio heater, and whatever else I can fit in the truck. Maybe I’ll be taking a freezer up with me too. Just brought one home, but then bought another. It’d be a sickness if it wasn’t so useful. Dunno when I’ll leave, probably Friday, but maybe Saturday. Depends on if I have to do any pickups on the way. I’m bidding on more solar panels and another generator. Don’t really expect to get the gennie, but the panel would be a nice addition.

Time to start cobbling something together with the solar, so I can find out what I don’t have and don’t know.

There’s always something that needs doing. I don’t understand how someone retired can have “free time”…

Stack up some more stuff. It’s getting sporty out there.
nick

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