had ta share,,

more laters

(fyi: thats Zoomie, my alphatomkat. Head like a prime Florida Grapefruit, 18# and no fat anywhere, and about as laid back as a kat can get without being a corpse.)

All last week, “omgomg the worldzgonnaend!!!”

And it just got rilly KOLD,,,

But this weekend,,, reports from all over

25degrees in north Floriduh from Spud

an inch of snow on my Sis’s porch in SC near Charleston

Another fresh dusting on my porch this am after all day dusting yesterday.

and my reaction,,,

MEH! Its winter-time,,,

HERE, as in this area, I can’t say for others, this is ‘About normal’ for this time of year. I scanned back a couple of years in the blog and this stuff pops up with regularity here, right about the same time. Depth of cold, level of weather flucuates, but same same pattern. Things should start a slow crawl towards warmer now, with one or two deep cold snaps between here and the end of march, then I start seeing little tendrils of green here in the hills. And by late April, BOOM,,, Green explosions everywhere and tis SPRING, SPRING, SPRING!!!

My biggest concern is the lack of work from the J.O.B. lately,,, thats sort of on a new level. BUT, Not completely unexpected either,,, think about it…I started the process of ‘escape parachute’ in Bloo before all of this weather crap came down on us. (with many a spring steel surprise in that chocolate.) (sorry, MontyPython reference for the older crowd.) And that parachute has started some deployment,,, still early in the jump so better than expected to be honest.

Other than the depth this weather reached in locations (as far south as Floriduh), It certainly wasn’t the steroid fueled monster that the weather liars were trying to predict. (or should that be ‘pre-Dicked’ ) Fear mongering? Or something of a more egalitarian approach? I guess that depends on whom you ask, doesn’t it? Ask the weather liars and they’ll say they are attempting to keep people safe. Ask the people after the fact and its ‘fear mongering’ to drive us crazy.

nothing new under the sun. Except I haven’t SEEN any sun in days. It tried to break out a little yesterday, but was quickly re-confined by thick cloud cover. My battery bank isn’t hurting like it would be had I not moved over to the LiFepo types. its low, but it ain’t DOWN.

on that subject matter,,, I’m thinkin’bout undoing the whole wind genny thing. It does me no good up here. the few times it sees any production, are so short and underpowered,,, Its a liability out there, more of a lightning attraction than a power generator (and NO, I have no idea how to capture that much juice, all at once, like a lighting strike delivers. ) that may be one of my spring mid summer projects. I wanna wait for the ground to firm up a bit, not this slick-willy goop under the grass we currently have. There’s nothing wrong with the individual parts: will hang on to those. Will turn around and add a couple more panels as finances permit. As it stands though, what I have works for me; could use a little more ‘wiggle room’ in the size of the bank and production, but not hurtin’ either, just that tower thing is not workin’

gotta slide down the hill to Da’s today. I did go off the hill yesterday and Bloo did good getting back up it, despite the fact that she is a simple 2×4. Found that when she starts to spinning, ease off the throttle, she’ll find her footing again, and creep up to the next spot to spin; wash rinse repeat. She made it home, and Cozzie got a fun ride up the hill. (no B, I didn’t get that pizza,,, thought about it though,,,)

On the firewood scene. I’ve burned all of my redoak this year. Into the beech, which burns hot and fast, unlike the oak that burns steady hot and slower. Putting more wood into the stove sooner is what I am saying. I probably have a full months worth at this pace. If the temps start an upward trend, I can ease off the wood and into the propane (wood gets the house TOO hot if the outside temps go 30+ and stay there. ) Keepin’ my digs warm won’t be the problem. Re-filling my shed won’t be either. I have two big reds and a white ready to fall near my place, and they will do a good job of restocking it for next year. Wood warms ya thrice: Cutting/splitting, Stackin’, burnin’. (side note: that white oak that died, ready to fell and split: it was also my biggest solar shade cutting back on my power collection. I’ll miss it because I like trees, but its being gone is gonna be double blessing. )

Anywhoos,,, not much to talk about in the great wide world. Still thinking (much like Spud) that we are on the verge of financial funs, and there are prognosticators out there saying things too. Head on Swivel, get it in your hands, not on paper, and the third ‘S’ is always in play (shut up).

Keep on keeping on

LIVE

Learn

Laugh

LOVE

LOAD!!!

Not time for Lock yet,,,

Y’all’s are gonna get some of this, and I send you this with the warmest thought of “Could be worse”

Its 14F in that pic, even the fur-footed ones are stayin’ close to the digs, only goin’ out for nature calls and only after hard considerations,,, LOL They hatez the box,,,

AIn’t gonna be a much goin’ on today, keep the fires burnin, stay warm and dry, and read/write,,, tha’s’bout it. No Twucks, No Side gigs, No runnin’round chasin’ down things, NO FOODIES RUN FOR MAMAKAT,,, She can deal with the crunchies just like the boys for a day or two.

Truth be told, I have NO DESIRE to tackle that hill until some of this melts off. (and Bad cuz breaks trail a couple of times,,, let him get stuck LOL )

Sp there ya have it ya spoiled warmanistas in Floriduh: get your sweaters out bcuz it’s comin your way.

LLLLL! (, ‘)

ROFLMAO From BCE

Love ya Bro!!!!

gotta call this mornin’,,, actually, not a call so much as a knock,,, guy showed on my stoop asking if I could look at his truck,, something killin’ a brand new battery. He lives in the hollar so everyone here knows I work on things, and about Bloo and my tools,,,

“Sure,,, Be down shortly”, seeing how he was takin’ his mum to the docs first, this was not a problem.

I showed up, started looking, no draw shown (not enough. .03mA thats keep alive on the computer.) so I started asking questions. Hard start, sometimes no start, just click. will kick over with jumper cables. I have him try to start: “klik-klik” I grab a jumper wire and ‘force’ the selenoid over. Vrrroooommm!!! Dying starter.

I sort of ate this’un. Pulled the starter so he didn’t have to cough up for a corecharge. Waited while he ran to get his own, (in his mamma’s truck) and only charged $25 for the whole thing. Colder than a witches Teat and it started snowing while he was running, but droppin’ a starter on a GMC isn’t all that hard (unless you don’t have tools,,,)

even helped him replace a high beam bulb after installing the new starter.

It ain’t always about the money,,,, Sometimes reputation is based on things NOT monetary. And he already wants me working on his Honda now. THAT sort of thing is how I can grow this thing. He will say good things, likely even spread my number to others, and WORD OF MOUTH is a damned good advertiser, (and killer if you fuck up,,,)

So, ‘No work today’ at the J.O.B. didn’t hurt me as bad as it could have. And while no, I didn’t match what could have been made, I didn’t go in the red either. (any income is a plus at this stage.)

like I said to Brudda B “maybe I should have jumped sooner,,,”

Live

Learn

Laugh

LOVE

LOAD!!!

and the flow can mess ya up!

Thats a point of advice from kayakin’

and I ignored it at my peril this week.

Sorta,,, Fact is, I ‘flash read’ the txt from Son of Bossman yesterday and made assumptions

No work today, he told me the eve before yesterday, I didn’t ‘see it’. So,,, I was the only one to show up today (even Son of Bossman was gone) and walkin’round, opening doors, turning on heaters,,, thought “is awfully quiet, better check that message again” Sho’nuff,,, it stated ‘tomorrow or friday, stay warm’,,,, Back track, shut it all down, turn off lights, close gates, lock locks,,, laugh at self,,,,,

And go pay the bills. Phone bill paid, Car insurance paid, three more to go for the month, but SHOULD (fingers crossed) have more work on tap. Either J.O.B. or self oriented, don’t matter,,, so long as the flow continues. Much appreciated for the assist from those that have jumped in, it didn’t “pay” the bills but made paying them much easier to swallow (squeeze through, without losing copious amounts of skin). Thats an assist I can’t thank y’all enough for. That Tap is still there if any others wanna help out,,, I ain’t gonna give ya the side-eye if’n ya did. This time of year, EVERYTHING slows down, except the writing,,, (that happens in the summer when I am gills deep in ‘life’,,,)

So, yah,, another ‘Did it to meself’ moment,,, And I was laughing at me the whole way to the Car insurance place,,, (yes, I pay in person there. I did the auto pay thing once before and ‘things happened’ and I no longer trust that medium)

Its cold out,,, snow predicted to hit any moment, and carry through the night. Tomorrows temps are slated to single digits in the AM,,,

ITs winter,,, iswhut’tis,,, And February tends to be our worstest month of the year. the freeze your ass off month, and towards the end “swim to work” month due to flashflooding of the river. Too many Febs where we have been off work because the shop was 6′ under water.

but I have “options” now. FWIW, I made some cash yesterday, on the side, and thats what made this morning DO-Able,,, Not that the ‘tips’ didn’t assist that; they did, but I was also able to fill Bloos tank, and put a little aside for the rest of the week ‘just in case’. And I have another job lined up in the wrenching side. Waiting on clearer weather for that though, as No Cover where the beast lay currently. (I WILL be getting a 10×10 shelter for this very reason.) Customer concurs on that reason. (good, ’cause I wasn’t being optional on that note.) Note: I said ‘clearer’ not warmer. Not all that concerned about the coldness, so long as its nearer the freeze mark: single digits, not so much, negative digits, NOPES. Cold tools are a pain, but I figured a way to warm the box and keep things a little more toasty than ICE,,,, (the solution requires an extension cord though,,, Small space heater behind the tool box, only works when parked (for now,, workin’ on it) but keeps the tools nearer the 50 mark, which is a blessing when ambient is 30sumpin.

is kold, is a lazy dawg n sleepin’ katz kinda day. And I’m good with that right now. My phone is on, the calls can come but likely not many just yet, (cards aren’t printed so not in circulation yet.) that I have had one with another lined up is purely ‘word of mouth’,,,, But that gives me a fuzzy feeling I can’t put into words.

More laters,,, Is a snow day, so you know my mind is awhirl,,,,

LLLLL!!!! (, ‘)

”

Lots of little things goin’ on,

nothing privy to talk about (not my medical issues to share,,, Sorry guys, ya gotta guess this time around.)

Some side work lined up. Had an epiphany of sorts too, while out with Da.

We stopped at Wafflehouse for lunch after the MRI. And I thought, ” I used to cook for these guys once, way backawhen,,, I could do a third shift again for a spell if needed,,,” Didn’t investigate at this time, but “it ain’t off the table”.

Full day out n aboot,,, Feeling good about current decisions, getting GREAT feedback from y’all: in comments and emails, Thanks again for the donations/tips/whatever you wanna call ’em. Things are gonna get paid this week, thats all I was concerned about, My status is moot, I have back ups to the back ups in ‘getting through’, its the bills that are cutting me this round.

and thats about all I have for ya today. Maybe later I can spill beans on things not said here. Maybe later, I can give deets on sidework. Side work that will help build my rep outside of the “Welder” status.

L,L,L,L,L!!! (, ‘)

Little things, nothing spent YET, but heres the idea for the card.

Of course things will change dimensions a bit seein’ how Business cards are a specific size and all. Font will change, Graphic sent in, request made and I will be sent proofs in email to approve before printng commences. Things may change yet. Alternate image is this’un

As for the ‘doin’ business’ side: I have payment options established, from online, to direct payment via card, to my much prefered type, CASH. Gotta be flexible in this day and age, but cash is still king. (silver is doable to, but I don’t make change in that medium)

I’ll be getting graphics cut for Bloo this weekend or next, depending on finances,,, likely next. I have, kinda sorta, the means to do my own, except the machine doesn’t like talking to the Mac, and if I can’t get them to communicate, nothing gets cut. Cheaper to have someone else do this than get a new machine or new computer. Thats just one aspect of a business someone could do from home that is in demand. That ain’t my pidgin though.

As for the rest, Got my mop chopped this afternoon too. I kept meaning to get this done, and things and other things kept getting in the way. I was looking quite the scruff monster. Dad even made comment I looked like I was a homeless type. No, not the look I want when trying to kick off something with potential profit involved. Others may get away with it, but it would always be in my hindbrain “ya look like a bum!” (gee, wonder where that sort of thinkin’ comes from?)

And I just got the word that we won’t be working tomorrow either. No big deal as I already had to take it off to get Da to an MRI appointment. Still, there are several others at the J.O.B. that are likely already looking elsewhere or already somewhere else because of this week of “no work today”

Am I ready for this? Thats a loaded question, ain’t it? No, Will I ever be ready? Again, one of those loaded questions. If I ask myself that often enough, I wouldn’t ever move forward with it. Sometimes you just have to step over the precipace and except fate. If I fall, I fall. Or the wind will get under my wings and I fly.

Or never try,,,

Those are the choices,,, and in someways, I have to thank Son of Bossman for his moves this week. I’ve been waffling on this, even though BlooTwuck is a legit thing now. And its not just wrenching. I can make this whatever works/pays. I can make a rack in short order so that she can haul 4’x’8 sheeting (or longer) one that bolts to the boxes and extends up and over the cab. I’d need that for plywood and board if I pushed the carpentry thing. Or just the occasional handyman thing. She has the ability to haul a literal ton of material: she is a One Ton truck after all. My limitations are in my head (and some physics of course,,,)

She’s a work truck, make her work!!!

Again, if any out there are feeling Generous, a little assist over the next couple of weeks would be greatly appreciated. HUGE thanks goes out to Greg M, and Mike in FLA for thier contributions this week. Ain’t much, but it makes the squeeze much more tolerable. So, if you find value, or even just entertainment value in my words here, drop a dime in the kitty. Thanks in advance, and after,,,

LIVE

LOVE

LAUGH

LEARN

LOAD!!!