Category: march to war

Cool and clear, probably mid 70s by afternoon. Like Friday. And Thursday. Which is good. I like having some Fall to enjoy.

I did my pickups. Got the stuff in the back of the truck, and would normally be running to the BOL this weekend to deliver it. That’s not happening though, so it will either sit there, or I’ll have to clear a space for it somewhere…

Had kid driving duties in the middle of the afternoon, so that cut my day short. I cleaned up around the house instead, putting away a lot of the decor I got out. Also managed to sort some stuff for auction.

Had to get D2 to and from her last night of theater performance which ate my evening too.

Today I’ve got one more pickup, down in Dickenson, which is a heck of a drive. I like to include it on a big loop with some other pickups but the timing didn’t work out this time. The savings were significant so I’m still good after making a special trip, but it’s getting closer and the time has to count for something.

D1 has a Homecoming Dance tonight, so that should fill the air with angst and beauty products. And maybe a few extra kids as they get ready. I’m going to be in my office.

As normal as possible, until it isn’t. That’s the goal.

Meanwhile, I’ll stack.

nick

Cold, then warming, but sunny and clear- if we can believe the weather liars. I guess that describes yesterday pretty well, so since today is usually like yesterday, I’m going with that prediction.

I got most of my decor down and put away. I did leave some up, just because it’s easy to take down, near the house, and pretty festive and colorful. I’ll give it another day or two.

Today I need to pick up a couple of things, do some grocery shopping (D1 decided she wanted sandwich fixings) and maybe swing by my auctioneer. I don’t have anything for him this late in the week (he’s doing fulfillment on Friday and Saturday) but maybe I can get a check… Or maybe I’ll go by my storage unit and do some sorting for next week. We’ll see what the day ends up being.

I think I might try to pick up some bang bang for the pew pew too. Academy showed some in stock at the same price as everyone else. I’m getting a bit nervous as the middle east heats up. This is a period of great change and realignment in the world. That usually happens with blood and fury accompanying… so what will be the nominal catalyst? Bay of Tonkin? Some asshat riding in a car through the wrong country? Sneaky bast@rds who think they can surprise someone? Or will the mullahs finally put Netanyahu to the test? IDK but it will be something and the history books will make it seem logical and unavoidable.

I can’t imagine our personal security situation getting better if the whole world is upset. Oh, and a massive bolus of stinking humanity is headed right for me. Nevermind that we’re full up on violent third world traffickers and slavers, someone is driving the herd right toward the homestead. Pressure is building from every direction.

I don’t think people are taking the situation seriously enough. I’m having trouble with crisis fatigue and this is pretty much my full time job! Or maybe that’s the problem. Still, there was plenty of warning for WWII and most people just muddled through. Some were well positioned, and much better off than others. If you are marginal now, you’ll be really hurting soon. Get your stuff straightened out NOW.

And stack. Food security. Physical security. Friends. In whatever order you need the most work.

nick

Cold and damp, still. We had misty drizzle off and on all day yesterday, but we are supposed to be dry today. I hope so. I’ve got stuff to do. The cold and damp hurts in many places…

Despite the drizzle I did a series of pickups yesterday. Made a big loop and returned in time to get D1 from school, only about 40 minutes late. She says she’s fine waiting at school, just does her homework.

One of the pickups was a new seller, and when I went in I was surprised to see one of the old sellers… he’d sold his auction company to a guy who is continuing to run the business, and now he’s consulting for this new seller. The new seller has capital and an interesting idea to expand, it will be something to watch for the next few months. There’s a bunch of change in the online reseller marketplace at the moment and I expect more. I think the next logical step will be for the big money to start buying up mom and pop businesses and expanding to take advantage of economies of scale. It happens in most industries, so why not reselling? I’ll be looking for it, not looking forward to it.

Today I’ve got one pickup I’d like to make and one I should make as long as I’m out. The first has some stuff I’d like to use in my display. The second has some stuff for the stacks…

Then if it isn’t raining, I’ll be doing a blitz to get my main display ready. It’s always a bit of a rush but that’s part of the fun. If it continues raining, I’ll just add some more traditional stuff and save my idea/art project for next year. We usually have about 120-150 kids come by, and I have a great time doing it. Meatspace! Plus, CANDY!!

Connect with some people, preferably local. Chat with your neighbors. Take a walk around and see who has decorated… Call it local area intel…

And stack, if you DARE !11!!! /vincent price voice

nick

Cool to start but warming later. Some possibility of rain for the next two days. It didn’t rain Saturday, but there were plenty of low ugly clouds in various parts of the city.

I was driving all over the west side to get some errands done. Had to do a pickup of some stuff for the BOL, then do a maintenance issue at the rent house. Spent some time fixing the rollers on the garage door, then lubed it all up and ran it a bunch of times. No idea how the roller came out of the track but it’s back and fixed now.

Hit a couple of thrifts on my way back home. Still looking for some last minute additions to my display. I could do some sewing, but if I could find the right clothing items it would save time. I found a couple of pieces I think will work. While I was hitting a couple that I don’t normally hit, I was shocked by how much development and new building has been happening even in just the last couple of months. Crazy amounts of mixed use and large multi-family buildings, right up against the street, inside the Loop.

If demographics is destiny then we’re F’d. Too much, too many, too fast. It’s almost like the herd has been driven here to eat up our pasture and then move on. Even if they aren’t of the locust class, the end result is the same. I’m reminded of a story, that one of the Kings of France, one of the Louis’ maybe, if he heard you were plotting against him, or a challenger to the throne, he’d come to visit, doing you the great honor of spending some time with you. He and his entourage would descend on you and stay until all your money was spent on hosting the King and the Court. Then he’d move on. Problem solved as you now can’t raise the funds to rebel and all your money is spent. I see some parallels… maybe we shouldn’t be so vocal about being a thriving economy or freedom loving…

And maybe I need to stack some more. You probably do to, somewhere the locusts can’t find it.

nick

Warmer, and wetter than yesterday, maybe. It was certainly warm and wet on Thursday. I saw 85F in the afternoon, in between rain showers. It’s been starting around 73F and warming pretty gradually til about 3pm. Pretty standard, for Fall. Likely that today is similar.

After cutting my hair, I did some small stuff around the house yesterday. Every time I got ready to do outdoor stuff, it rained again. Had to run some errands, and pick up the kid, which ate my afternoon. Got that done, did some meat shopping, and spent the rest of the afternoon cooking dinner and packing up the meat.

Today will be more of the same, trying to get some decor up, trying to get some auction stuff together, trying to do some domestic bliss. In other words, plugging away.

Yesterday I read this passage, and it struck me enough that I marked it for later…

“But my stars, boy, nobody can be alive and never have any trouble! Being alive is just meeting troubles every day and overcoming them. Just to stand up straight against the pull of gravity is a fight, isn’t it?” — Dr. Tresselt in Danny Dunn and the Fossil Cave.

Sums it up doesn’t it? And I’ve not seen anything as direct in modern young adult fiction… which might be part of the problem.

Stand up straight and fight.

nick

(and stack, which IS fighting.)

Cool and wet. Rained overnight, might rain today. Rained in the afternoon yesterday too, depending on where you were… Some people got light sprinkles, some people got a downpour that didn’t last long. I got both when I was driving around.

Did some auction stuff, and some small stuff around the house, then had to pick up D1 from school and do some other stuff. Not much actual work got done.

I’m just not feeling it lately. Don’t know why, but motivation is not there. I can grind away, but I’ve got to get started to do it. Getting started is the problem.

Which brings me to today, which by some strange effect is Thursday, meaning the week is mostly gone. Ay carumba. Not enough work got done this week for it to already be Thursday.

At least I don’t feel particularly productive. I don’t think today will be much better if it’s drizzling all day. Plenty to do indoors, but I’d rather do some outdoor stuff too. Oh well, we’ll see. Because I can’t change the weather- yet.

Stack all the things. Seriously, stack them. And it’s time to be practicing with them too. Make a meal from your stacks. Use another backup cooking method. Wear something you don’t normally wear. You might not want to wear your normal tactical pants, cover shirt, and boots when you go do that thing. Do you have some stuff that still fits? Do you have some clothes you could just ditch if they got something unappealing on them? Do you have something to wear to the swapmeet or bodega that won’t make you a target?

Practice paying attention to your environment as you go through your day. Popo was running surveillance on someone yesterday on the scanner. He lost them. They are not yet panopticon. At least not until afterwards. If you don’t have a polite plan to kill everyone you meet, at least have a plan to leave in a hurry and know where the doors are… things continue to get weirder, and more dangerous.

Stack up your options. That is what it is really all about.

nick