Fri. Sept. 26, 2025 – who am I kidding?

By on September 26th, 2025 in culture, decline and fall, march to war

Same as yesterday, with less rain cloud? National forecast shows clear for Houston, so yeah, cool in the morning, warm later, hot to end the day. Same same.

So, did I get anything done? Well, yes I did. I got my pickups done. I got some stuff out of storage for a project my wife wants to do. I stopped by my auctioneer to see if I could get in line anytime soon (not yet.) I came home and we had leftovers for dinner. And the kid taxi stuff got done too.

Today I’ll be taking a load of stuff to the shop. I’m still on the fence about going to the BOL solo on Sat/Sun so IDK if I’ll load the truck for the trip or not. I have one pickup in my neighborhood. If it’s not too hot, I may spend some time organizing at the shop. I would like to get out of my last storage unit this weekend, if I don’t go to the BOL.

I don’t think I’ll have time to turn money into noise and smoke today. There is kid stuff to get ready for too, as D2 has a football game tonight and would like to see some parental support…
which is one reason I might not head out of town.

Time management has not been my strong suit this past few months.

And time keeps on slipping into the future.

Well, I’ll keep plugging away, and keep stacking too. That’s all I can do.

nick

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Thur. Sept. 25, 2025 – 092525 – who was that masked man?

By on September 25th, 2025 in open thread

Yeah, it’s gonna be around 76F this morning, and as humid as the swamp gets. Probably. And later it will get hot, and some parts of Houston will get rained on. Like yesterday. I’m glad it’s boring, and not hurricanes lined up, but it does make this opening segment kinda lame.

Like yesterday. Kinda lame. I did move some stuff around and do some more sorting and cleaning. I also feel like I’m getting the beginning of a scratchy throat, so I’m not ready to push hard. It’s so humid that even though it’s low 90sF, it’s draining to do any physical work. And it has been pretty much the same for months. That is a bit unusual and it’s certainly tedious.

Let’s see if I can go a paragraph without using ‘it’s’… or an ellipsis. FAIL! It’s so hard..

Kidding! I kid. Apparently the kids think the ellipsis is a boomer thing. So is capitalization and spelling, as far as I can tell, or at least it’s not their thing.

This interweb thing is changing us. Like MTV and the quick edit/jump cut, short form content is altering our brains. The “internet arguing style” is showing up in real life too. It’s not an improvement.

Today I hope to do more of the same– cleaning and organizing and moving stuff around. Also, I’ll do a couple of pickups. If I get all that out of the way, I might have time tomorrow for some noisy fun.

Staying current with all the tools is an important prep. So is stacking- both the tools and the time using them. Get some noisy fun time in before the month is over.

nick

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Wed. Sept. 24, 2025 – usually the title doesn’t mean anything

By on September 24th, 2025 in open thread

Somewhat cool? It was warmer yesterday morning, so it might be warm again today. And it will get warmer throughout the day. It did rain in various parts of town yesterday, although not much, and not for long. Lots of ugly clouds in the sky. Today should be the same.

I did a couple of pickups after doing some office work in the morning. Then I took some stuff to the shop, and moved stuff around at the house. I’m making slow progress cleaning up and getting stuff out of here. It just piles up elsewhere for now, but the goal is to get rid of it.

I did decide to move the laser engraver and all of the stuff for it to the shop. It would be convenient to have it set up here, but for safety issues, and noxious fume issues, not to mention the lack of somewhere to put it issues, it has to go somewhere else. The printers are still here for now. I am still holding out hope that one kid or the other will get interested in using them, or some of my other ‘maker’ stuff. So far it hasn’t happened. And it may be generational, as this generation seems to be content to do this much and no more.

It could be that they haven’t found that thing they would dive into yet, but we had all had a dozen hobbies and interests by now. I’d already built models, a model railroad layout, had slot cars, built a heathkit clock, torn apart a pile of electronics, tried to take my bike apart to make it go faster, and bought my first computer (TRS-80.)

When a buddy introduced me to the music of Led Zeppelin I had to hear all of it, same thing when I heard Jimi Hendrix, or later Kate Bush, or Rush. My kids, and the kids I see at school, are content to hear what they hear, and not pursue more. Their extreme risk aversion extends to learning new things or doing new things.

And that isn’t good.

———–
So I’ll keep doing what I can. Stacking what needs stacking, and learning what needs learning. Maybe teaching what needs to be taught…

nick

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Tues. Sept. 23, 2025 – daylight come and me want go home

By on September 23rd, 2025 in culture, decline and fall, march to war

Same same. More clouds today than yesterday and yesterday there were clouds. Some moisture from the sky even, depending on what part of town you were in. East side had a massive storm cell parked over it in the afternoon, and north of Houston had dark clouds with a spattering of rain. So, did it rain in Houston yesterday? Well, there was none at my house.

Picked up my solar panel, another 200w panel. $13 for this one, new in box. The round trip added some cost. Then I came home and went shopping. Soda is finally on sale again. Meat still is not. It’s been a really long time since pasta was on sale too now that I think about it. Got the kinder some ice cream but I’ve been abstaining for the last month. My gut feels better without it.

Store was completely out of Gold Bond Medicated Powder, original recipe. There was a spot for it, but no product in any size. Grr. I’m down to my last sprinkle and I’ll have to try the drugstore today. Normally I’d go to the OTC drug cabinet, but I must have raided that, or taken it to the BOL and not replaced it. Prepper fail.

Having to make a special trip takes time and effort. Might be easier to order from Amazon… and it would be if I wanted to wait several days. I’ll stop at CVS.

Today I need to do some pickups. I am limiting my buys and which auctions I’m buying from. I shouldn’t need to do a pickup every day. That’s where all my time was going.

And of course I’ll be working the list. At least with D1 driving, she’s doing most of the kid taxi stuff on Tuesday and Thursday. I don’t get to see the kids much though and that’s beginning to bug me. It’s the natural order of things, but still a bit sad.

I’m sure there is prepping to do, stuff to stack…so I better get busy.

nick

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Mon. Sept. 22, 2025 – yes, we have no bananas

By on September 22nd, 2025 in culture, decline and fall, march to war

Cool-ish, warming to hot. Because Houston. It got to 96F yesterday, and started warmer than the past several days. Then it rained and that cooled everything off a bit. Still was saturated though.

I got up far too early, dunno why, cooked my wife breakfast. Apparently there is this thing called “birthday week” where the birthday girl gets special treatment for the week, not just on the day. Who knew? I made an omelette. Saturday was a frittata. Of course there was bacon too.

Then I moved some stuff around and did some small jobs before deciding to finish the pressure washing and install my new 20ft flagpole. The rain came just as I was finishing that up. I poked at a few more small things after that. Dinner was a take and make meal from Costco. Those sou vide meals are cheaper than Burger King and a whole lot better, and they are very convenient. I usually freeze them until needed.

Today I’ll be working the list. I’ve got more stuff to move out of the house as part of the wife’s push to move stuff around. And I’ve got to do some ebay listing. Time to generate some cash, or at least start the process. I’ve got some outstanding invoices and other monies due me that I need to get on top of too.

And I’d like to take a load to auction. The scrap yard needs a visit too.

I’ve got prepping to do, mainly generator stuff, and I need to make some room to do it, and make some time. All while whittling away at the list.

Always be working. Always be stacking.

nick

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Sun. Sept. 21, 2025 – more stuff to do.

By on September 21st, 2025 in culture, decline and fall, march to war

Cool, then warm, then hot. And even into the night, still pretty warm. It was in the 80sF at 11pm yesterday. I didn’t even want to sit out with a tiny little fire and a book.

I did spend Saturday doing the stuff my wife wanted me to do. I made two trips to the shop to move stuff out of the house. It was pretty hot in the shop, and I didn’t have the time or motivation to move much around there. The A/C did start up, and all the ice was melted off of it, but something isn’t right with it.

The compressor runs, even if the control panel is set to ‘off’, and none of the controls actually work, except on/off/and temperature. Good thing I have A/C units to spare. And good thing it’s getting cooler.

I did make a nice dinner for W1 and the kids. It wasn’t cheap, but it was cheaper than going out.

Today she’ll be working D2, and I’ll just continue on the stuff I have on the list. With additions, because OF COURSE stuff got added. D1 has some plastic hanging off the bottom of the car that needs to be zip tied up or removed so it doesn’t drag and catch. And I’m sure there will be some other new thing that needs urgent attention…

But that’s all just normal. Do what you can with what you have, and the time you’ve got. And stack.

nick

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Sat. Sept. 20, 2025 – what’s up homies?

By on September 20th, 2025 in open thread

Cool morning. Warm day. Hot afternoon. With clouds, but we’re not supposed to get rain. Like yesterday. The sun is still laser hot.

Spent yesterday mostly doing pickups. More stuff for the BOL. More stuff for the house. Prices are generally low so bargains are available. What’s coming through the auctions right now? Portable and window A/C units. Mr Heater propane heaters and clones. Small chest freezers. Shelf units (although they are a staple of auctions they are a bit cheaper than usual). Coolers. Vac sealers, even Foodsaver.

Some of the stuff is just seasonal, some is just the weird ebb and flow.

Today I’m doing stuff around the house. W is giving direction, and we’re to be her minions. I’m scared.

Keep working, keep stacking.

nick

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Fri. Sept. 19, 2025 – “… people say we monkee around…”

Cool then hot. When you’re hot you’re hot, so cool you’re hot… I feel like singing today. No idea why. Anyway, yesterday was as expected and today will probably be too. Unless the forecast squeezes just a little rain out on us.

I did get a bunch of things done yesterday, but they were all little, and at home. I put off pickups until I had my pickup back, and just stayed home and chipped away at stuff.

I broke down the brisket, and cooked some. 3 pounds in the crock pot with salt, pepper, garlic salt, and four onions sliced thin. 6 hours later, it was filling the house with good smells. Unfortunately, the beef fat I was rendering on the stove didn’t smell so nice. I did get 2 cups of tallow at the end of the day, and I’d have just thrown that fat out. There was almost a cup in the crock pot too, but I didn’t render that.

As a side I made a recipe for dinner rolls from a magazine put out by our local electrical co-op at the BOL. Every month they feature other co-op members’ recipes. They were quick and easy, even from scratch. Unfortunately, the gamma seal lid on my bucket of flour failed, and the bucket went wet and rotten. I had a backup, so I opened that and made the rolls. That’s the second bucket of flour to turn into stinky glue.

My storage conditions sux teh bunnies, so I’m glad I don’t have even more breakage, but gamma lids are supposed to be good. They aren’t fool proof, and I’m the fool to prove it. Use a real lid for long term, and gammas only for the bucket you are working out of.

Moisture is my biggest problem with long term storage of anything, followed by sunlight. I’m the opposite of a cool dark place, and it shows.

Still, nice to know I can make light fluffy rolls with simple ingredients and only a little time. I think we’re most likely to be eating flat bread during any prolonged event, just because you don’t have the time for rising dough, or the energy for long baking. Just look at what poor people around the world eat, and it’s mostly flat bread.

I may try them with bacon fat instead of ‘solid vegetable shortening’ next time, just because I’ve got more bacon fat, but I try to make a new recipe as closely as possible the first time.

Late in the day I got my truck back. I’m $1500 lighter, but the A/C works again, and the oil got changed. There is a list of things that need attention, but most of it isn’t critical or in the budget for this year. In a couple more years it will be an antique and then maybe I’ll do a half arsed ‘restoration’ for D2. I can’t replace it for $100/ month, and that’s about what I’ve been spending on it. Plus, it’s a simple and reliable design, without all the tracking, ads, and “driver assistance” that I don’t want.

Today I’ll be doing those delayed pickups. And more stuff around the house. I have two specific missions for W as birthday requests, so I need to get them done.

Of course there are all the usual things on the list too, and stacking. Busy busy me…

nick

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Thur. Sept. 18, 2025 – yep, it costs more and takes longer, every time.

By on September 18th, 2025 in culture, decline and fall, march to war

Weather is the same today as yesterday. And the day before. And before. And next. Cool to start, hot at the end, humid all along.

So, did I get anything done yesterday? Why no, not really. I did one pickup. Went by my shop. Authorized my mechanic to fix my Ranger, mostly. Did some other stuff, but nothing on the list. Kid 2 came home from school not feeling well. I did make dinner, and it was good.

Today though, today I’m doing stuff. Or maybe not. I don’t have my pickup truck so there are things I’d like to do that will be harder, or that I really can’t do, like moving out of another storage unit, or taking some shelves from one place to my shop. Even going to the Lowes and picking up 10 gallons of kerosene is harder without the Ranger. Wahhh wahhhh wahhh. I’ll figure something out.

It’s just not what I want to do, or thought I’d be doing.

But that’s life. Just gotta keep plugging away.

Gotta keep working and learning and stacking.

nick

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Wed. Sept. 17, 2025 – this time for sure…

By on September 17th, 2025 in computing, culture, decline and fall, march to war

Cool again, but then warm again, and then HOT again. We almost got some rain around 6pm, which cooled things down as the front moved by, but it was 92F before that. And pretty humid too. Time for Fall to get here.

I did some things in the morning, doing some small things in my bedroom and closet that I’d been thinking about for a while. Just rearranging stuff really. There’s more to do, but I broke the logjam by finally starting. I hope. Then I fell down a rabbit hole with some network stuff.

I did get one ubiquiti access point configured. I have another that shouldn’t take but a minute, and then I’ve got to install them in the attic. The one that took some skull sweat wasn’t resetting, or configurable, or upgrading properly, so when that got resolved (by using a different ubiquiti tool) I was pretty happy. It’s a $400 access point I picked up at the goodwill bins for about $3. Yeah, getting that to work for me kinda rocked. The other came from my client’s house during one of the upgrade rounds, and it configured no problem.

What I can’t do yet is get them off my normal network, and I can’t get them to use an alternative DNS server. ATT doesn’t allow you to configure their router to use anyone but them, as they mine that and sell it. I’ve got several devices I want to stop seeing ads on, but can’t configure manually, so I need the wifi or the main router to assign an alternate DNS, whether that’s a pihole or 9.9.9.9 or some other ad blocking service.

I have been looking at used ubiquiti gateways and they’re pretty cheap on ebay, so I may just do that. Then I’ll have control over it at a whole ‘nother level. The added advantage is that I’ve already spent time and energy learning to use the ubiquiti stuff at my client’s house, so I can save some effort. The other choice is to change the way the APs are configured, and set them up as a portal (like in a coffee shop or business lobby) and connect the devices to them. There are additional issues there though, and I’d have to learn more about that functionality.

I’m bummed because I thought I’d just be able to config the APs to give out a different DNS server… and I just had another idea about how to do that which I’ll have to explore today… See, talking through a problem can help. The normal setup and use just passes the routers DHCP and DNS to wifi clients too.

In the afternoon I did my pickups, got stuff at the grocery store, and dropped the Ranger off at the mechanic shop. Then I walked home. D1 picked up D2 and took her to her Tues/Thur activity. Sometimes having minions helps.

Today I’ll do a bit more cleanup in the bedroom and closet, a bit more networking, and maybe a bit of other stuff. I do have a pickup locally, and I can take some stuff over to the shop using the Expy when I do that pickup. Even if it’s raining, the Expy will keep the stuff dry. Tiny little steps, but all stuff that needs to be done.

I’ve got a brisket to portion and freeze, so that will be adding to the stacks. It’ll also probably end up being dinner too.

Stack while you can. If assassinations aren’t enough to kick off the next stage, something else will.

nick

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