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Category: march to war

Wed. May 20, 2026 – kid has a birthday this week

Raining and cooler, but still wet. Probably. I hope not, because I have a pickup to do, but them’s the breaks. It was rainy to start yesterday, then cleared into a nice day, before turning rainy again late. We had all the weather yesterday. And we might get it all again today.

I started my day with office stuff, then pickups. Did a quick pass through the bins, then home for batteries for my tools, then to the shop to break down the two new lappy carts, and some wheeled bases I thought I might reuse. Decided I’d rather have the money so I added them to the scrap run. I did pull the casters for reuse or sale.

While I was breaking down the carts, it rained from a clear blue sky. For a little while anyway. Weird but not unknown here.

Got the truck loaded for scrap, trash, and loaded the drywall cart for my first pickup today. I won an 86″ monitor for $30. It looks like it’s cracked, but upon closer examination, I’m pretty sure only the touchscreen is cracked. I’ll pull that off and be sure. If there isn’t anything to protect the real screen, I might order a sheet of “anti glare” film and install that into the touch panel frame. I’m hoping the TP is just installed in front of the normal screen surface.

An 86″ commercial display is heavy and very awkward to handle. A drywall cart makes it doable for one person to move it around. I’ll roll it on my ramp to get it in the truck. I have a folding wheelchair ramp that is 6ft long and perfect for getting stuff into and out of the pickup truck. No pickup if it’s raining though.

D1 is still feeling poorly so she’s home from school. D2 “exempted” out of her final tests in all classes today (grades high enough) so she’s home too. I do have to get her to a Dr appointment for a new school physical for ‘sports’. Stay at home dad duties today as well as pickups.

Anything else I do will depend on the weather. I’m sure I’ll do something. Even if it’s just stacking.

nick

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Tues. May 19, 2026 – yeah, more of the same

Warm and wet. We’re in the “t-storm and rain” zone today and tomorrow, so we’ll probably get wet at some point. Yesterday ended up being fairly nice. There was a bit of misty drizzle after dark, but only in isolated areas.

Well, after a long nap, I really didn’t get anything much done yesterday outside of auction stuff. I am feeling the beginning of something coming on, and want to short circuit it. D1 is suffering from cough, head and body aches, and general not feeling well. I don’t want that.

Anyway, today will include auction pickups that can’t be put off, and might include more domestic bliss, or office cleanup. Or I might go to the shop and make room for the last of the stuff in the storage unit. I really thought I’d have the room cleared by taking a bunch of stuff to auction by now. And I thought I’d have the last of the stuff sold that I shared with my buddy. Nope.

I’ll get done what I can. That’s the best you can hope for some days.

Stack. It’s easy!

nick

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Mon. May 18, 2026 – back to school, for a couple more weeks

Warm and moist, possibly actually wet. It did end up with a little misty drizzle yesterday. The day was overcast (although my neck still got burned) until evening when it cleared for a bit. Then is got cloudy again. For the next couple of days the national forecast has us in the ‘rain and t-storms’ zone. We could use a little.

I didn’t get much done beyond yard work yesterday. String trimming, debris blowing, some tree pruning… Set up a fuel tank for the boat with a dispenser just like the gas station has. If the gas station’s was 3/4 size and plastic. Managed to get sunburned through the overcast. Kids played pool, swam, and messed around in the water. A good weekend.

Today I’ll start with some office work, maybe some auction stuff. I might do a pickup depending on weather. If we’re supposed to get rain for a couple of days, and it’s clear, I’ll do the pickup that needs the truck bed. The others will fit in the cab. Oh, and I need to get both trucks smogged and registered this week. And maybe reschedule the jury duty I missed.

Not an awe inspiring day, but they can’t all be.

Stack something.

nick

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Sun. May 17, 2026 – some work will get done, probably

Cool to start, and windy, but warming throughout the day. The strong, gusty breeze helps keep the ‘felt’ temperature down. It’s definitely feeling like Summer is getting started.

It took me a fair bit of time to get my truck loaded, make a stop at Academy for boat stuff, make a stop for an auction pickup, and make a fuel stop to fill 5 cans for the boat and gennie up here. I made it in time to mow the grass though.

In theory, I’ll work on the list today. In practice, other than using the string trimmer and maybe doing some tree pruning (so branches aren’t in my face while mowing), I’ll probably be doing boat stuff with W and the kids. No time for a big project like organizing the storage shed, or finishing the electrical work, but maybe I’ll find something small and quick to knock out. We’ll see. Dad and husband duties might just take priority…

I’ve already added to the stacks this trip, so there is that.

Keep stacking while you can, and while our fiat currency is still worth something.

nick

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Sat. May 16, 2026 – headed to the BOL to do some stuff

Cool and clear, but warming significantly later. Supposed to be nice. It was mid 70sF when I went to bed. Forecast looks good for a nice weekend.

I spent Friday doing stuff. A few things got done around the house, then I started my errands and they kept me busy until almost 8pm. It’s a great life, if you don’t weaken.

Today I’m headed to the BOL where a huge list awaits my attention. HUGE. But I will get at least a few things done. Well, probably just started, not finished, but we’ll see.

Sometimes the list gets re-ordered, and sometimes it gets ignored. Sometimes things get the attention they need. We’ll see if this is one of those times.

One thing that always gets some attention is stacking. I’ve got stuff and fuel to stack on this trip. And relationships to strengthen. The relationships are probably the part most people skip when they’re prepping. Don’t. They will be critical to success or failure.

n

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Fri. May 15, 2026 – so it’s Friday again. That’s nice.

Cool and clear, but humid, and then warmer and clear, but humid. Clear is good. The sun is crazy hot though, burning my skin. A can of soda left in the truck will explode it gets so hot. And it’s not even summer yet.

I spent yesterday doing stuff. Meetings, pickups, a bust of an estate sale, breaking down scrap, and then watching the kid and her friends do stuff. Busy busy.

Today will be less active, but still should be full of stuff. I’ve got at least one pickup to do. A scrap run and a trash run. A truck to load, and plans to make. Oh, and I need to buy some marine oil for the boat too, and maybe a couple of marine rated fire extinguishers.

Flags in Texas will be at half staff today for Peace Officer Memorial Day. My pole isn’t rigged for half staff, but I’ll add the ‘Thin Blue Line’ flag to my display. Call it protective camouflage or a sincere hope that some of those honored deserve it.

So I’ll be busy getting stuff to stack, and improving my stacks today. You should be too.

nick

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Thur. May 14, 2026 – errands to run today. Lots of driving…

Probably starting the day in the mid 70sF and getting well into the 80s and maybe the 90sF in the sun. And there should be sun as the national forecast has us in the ‘clear’ area for a couple of days at least. It was nice in the shade yesterday, but really hot in the sun. Not quite Summer, but I know it’s coming.

Spent the morning doing stuff. Did a load of domestic bliss, but didn’t fold it yet. Did some hobby stuff, still hoping to get a new venue closer to me. I’m selfish that way. At least I’d like the membership to decide which part of town is most convenient for the most people. Herding cats would be easier.

Then I did pickups.

Today I’ve got a round of pickups, a meeting with the potential venue and Board members, and if time works out, an estate sale to check out. The sale has 4 vintage McIntosh speakers visible in pictures but they haven’t mentioned them or highlighted them in any way. They’re just sitting in the room with other crep piled on them. It’s worth trying to steal them as they sell for about $500 each… and where there are good speakers, there is usually and amp, and turntable, although none were pictured. I’m taking cash with me.

Sometimes, you have to strike while the iron is hot, and the payoff would be worth it.

Other than that, I’ll be stacking auction stuff and getting ready to head to the BOL for the weekend. Lots of work up there just waiting for me……..

Stack what you can.

nick

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Wed. May, 13, 2026 – moar stuff! Get all the things!

Cool to start, but clear and warming later. The sun was like a laser and a phase conjugate mirror aiming system, and my arm was like a giant jiffy pop popcorn… It was HOT in the sun yesterday. Should be again today, and tomorrow.

Spent the morning getting ready for my afternoon. Most of my pickups don’t even open until 10am, and yesterday I had one at 11am and one at 2pm… that’s opening time. So not only am I trying to combine trips geographically, but in time as well. Anyhow, I did my pickups. Emptied the truck after and now I’ve got today’s pickups.

Today I’m on the other side of town picking up. I’ll also be dropping in on my auctioneer to see if he’s really sure he can’t fit some of my stuff in. If not, I’m going to go to a new guy. I need to get this stuff selling…

So I can buy some other stuff. Like a new boat lift at the BOL, or a deck, or replacement for the rotted dock posts, or all the other things… like a shed for the mower and mower stuff. Retaining walls. Tree felling. Mower deck. And the list goes on.

It’s a great life, if you don’t weaken…

Stack. Don’t weaken.

nick

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Tues. May 12, 2026 – busy today, more than usual

Cool then warming, and should be clear. Yesterday ended up clear and with a bit of a cool breeze. Really nice, once again. Moar plz!

Spent the morning doing auction stuff, then did my scrap and trash run. $207 in aluminum scrap, 6 lappy carts. Took the plastic to my secondary location where I have access to a dumpster. Then home. Several minor wrecks on the way home keeping traffic slow. I haven’t seen that many, and sorta ‘clustered,’ in a while.

Dinner was the Mothers Day picana roast (cap off the sirloin roast). Roasted small heirloom potatoes and a steamed broccoli head with a loaf of shelf stable bread rounded out the meal. Easy and delicious. Roasts are generally easy to do, and the cuts of meat can be very economical. They have a reputation as ‘Sunday dinner” but are great for anytime. This roast went to freezer camp two years ago. Delicious.

Today I’m busy with pickups. They’re a bit scattered so I’ll be doing more driving than lately too. Somehow I bought a bunch of small cheap stuff that all needs to be picked up today or tomorrow.

Hopefully I’ll get it all done and added to the stacks.

Because stacking is good.

Do some.

n

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Mon. May 11, 2026 – school year is winding down..

Cool? Maybe if the front comes through, but otherwise, the forecast calls for clear. I’m betting on warmish too. And moist? Oh we’ll probably get moist. It was pretty dang hot yesterday but in the shade and with a breeze it was comfortable to just sit.

Spent the day not doing much. After making breakfast at 2pm, my day was pretty shot. So I read for a bit, did auction stuff, called my mom (who seems to be doing well), and didn’t cook a big dinner. Maybe tonight.

Today I’ve got a scrap and trash run to do, some pickups, one of which needs to happen today, and a couple of which I will grab if they are on the way, and the list. Always stuff on the list.

The kids are busy with end of year testing, and their activities are winding down, but there is an increase in parties and get togethers to counter that. Social stuff. Hopefully good memories for them. It’ll be very important if things get anywhere near as sh!tty as I think they might that the kids have some good memories. That sounds dramatic, but I feel like it’s the 1930s and bad times are headed this way, followed by war and disruption. It’s the pattern of mankind, so why should this time really be much different?

I’m doing what I can to prepare. Stacking up the good stuff should help.

nick

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