What a difference a day makes. Yesterday 50+ degrees and not bad for a day late in December.  Today totally crap.  Snow and 45 to 60 MPH wind.  I was out in it and the force just was like being sand blasted.  Cold, I mean cold tonight.  Winter  is upon us and it isn't supposed to start till tomorrow.
At precisely 6:00 PM I heard thunder snow.  Snowing like the devil and then a very loud clap of thunder.  We had thunder last night when a front went through that lasted for about 2 hours. I know I didn't sleep nearly enough.
Tonight diphenylhydramine-HCl 25 mg.  I'll sleep tonight.

Just a quick catch up for now.  It snowed yesterday and Mason says it was snowding.  He is a happy boy.
I have had a good fall. I am waiting for the family to gather over the holidays. The days move on and I go from one to the other. I have to look at the pill case to see what day it is.  NOT bad.  Had the surgery on my hand and now I can go back to the gym and do lots of other stuff again.
All for now.  I am going to have to have Molly show me how to include pictures in this blog. It should make it more interesting.

OK. Enough is enough.  The weather forecast is hot, humid, and no rain.  This has gone on for months. Yesterday 101. Today 102. Nothing below the high nineties for the last 4 or 5 weeks.  All the grass is brown.  Towns around here have put in mandatory water restrictions, and the crops are failing. Got some sweet corn the other day and it was $.40 an ear and the kernels were not filled in and very shallow.  Tasted like cardboard. Oh well butter and salt helped.

The lake is dropping like a stone.  They are even talking about lake II again.  That has only been on the drawing board since the 50's.  I remember the drought of the 50's when the lake dropped so low that there was one spot where you could walk from one side to the other.  The lake had divided into two ponds. There were lots of dead trees on the bottom that had not rotted from when the blasted them to build the lake in the '30s.

Oh well all things pass.  Climate is what you expect and weather is what you get.

We have been staying in and moving from one A/C to another.  Can't wait for the power bill.

Well the heat wave finally broke.  The heat has just been brutal.  Saturday 104 and we saw the temp in the car at 122. Now I don't believe the 122 number but it was just awful. Step out of the AC and the sweat just popped out and you dripped. I remember my Grandmother telling me of a summer in the 1930's where they just went outside and slept in the grass.  I believe her.  If the AC went out we would have been in real misery. I feel sorry for the folks on the east coast with the power out. 
It has been too too too hot to do anything.  We have been going out as little as possible.  I go to the gym MWF but go early and take it easy.  Just not much fun.
Now the heat is much less, say 15 degrees, and we will try to have more outside fun.  The summer seems to be flying by.  Every day there is something to do.  I wonder how I got anything done when I had to go to work.
I am going to try to go to the range this week.  I'll let you know how I did.

OK. Another really hot hot hot day with really silly humidity raitings.  They keep saying that it will rain but the drought is in full force.  I am beginning to consider bringing back the "let's save water and shower together" ideas from the 60's.  Too hot to go to the range. Too hot to do anything but sweat.  I am going to get up tomorrow and try to do something before the temperature goes over 85.  The forecast is just 95 to 100 as far as the eye can see.  Sometimes there is rain in the forecast but whatever area it is raining in it isn't my area. Can't wait to see the water bill to keep the garden going.
More when the muse attacks me.

It's been about a month since I retired and actually it still feels like a real long vacation.  I think my hypertension has improved, I sure know I feel better than when I was working.  I get to the gym 3 times a week for a relativly decent workout, I think I eat less as I am down to 2 and 1/2 meals a day.  That is Breakfast and dinner, sometimes I skip lunch or eat a very light one. It may be the heat but just not as hungry as when working. Really don't miss the stress.  I wonder how I ever had time to actually go to work as I am busy busy busy.  Get up, go to the gym or light treatment, get Sara up and going then I have the afternoon off. Watch her and read or there is always TV.  It has been too hot for the range but I am ready to go at the drop of a hat. Really all in  all I am having a really good time.  When it cools off I am going to fix some small stuff around the house, nothing major but irritating. That should be good for a week's project.  I have some lathe projects in mind and that should really help during the winter.  All for now. Next time the muse bestirs me I'll write again.

Well it's Memorial day and all the flags are flying and everyone is doing what they usually do on Memorial Day.
I have started to go to the gym on a regular basis and did my usual set this morning.  Came home and found Colleen had come to visit.  Since she was already here she  volunteered to help me get the old ceiling lights down and the new panels in.  What a big help.  I could have done it by myself but it was 1/4 the job with her help.
I am going to try to make the gym 3 times a week.  I will shoot for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday but you know the best laid plans of .........  Oh well, I will try.
Sounds like next week I get to go to Ohio.  Looking forward to that. I need to get the van serviced and my hair cut but since I am no longer interrupted by that nasty old job.  I bet I can get lots of stuff done.  I am going to try to make a turned box this week.  Let's see how that goes.

Went to the range yesterday and Colleen went with me.  What a glorious day.  We took the 308 and had a really nice time.  The gun is starting to shoot really well. Most of the shots came within 1-2 inches of the aim point at 100 yards.  It was a double whammy as the club meeting was yesterday and Colleen got to see how reverent and meaningful one of those is.  They only take 15 or 20 minutes but we get a lot done.
Mom has been supper.  She is considering May my birthday and is treating me like a King.  ONLY 3 weeks till the big R.  It really is coming. The only fly in the ointment now is that the legislature is considering an expo facto bill to take away our health insurance.  This is a big deal as we have been promised that if we work there 20 years they will cover us for health insurance.  I can get supplemental medicare for ~ $3 a day but it is the principle of the thing.  These folks have NO shame nor HONOR.

Down to 5 weeks, more or less.  What I really don't like about the job at this point is getting up.  Once I am there all is OK.  I still am griped off by the inane and sometimes rude way we are treated by the great unwashed. They call and expect instant service for what ever it is that is important to them. If you say, you can't have that right now or I am really busy can you call back later, they get really huffy. Oh well, just a few more days and they can call and annoy someone else.
I had a good weekend with a trap shoot on Saturday.  Colleen went with me and we had a really good time.  Mom goes to stamp club tonight and so Sarah and I will be able to watch my stuff on the TV.  She really doesn't care. I think.
Off to the mines.  If you read this have a good day.

Visit from the children for Easter

The Children came to visit.  We had a blast.  Henry is such a nice boy/young man. I can see him changing.  He can both read and whistle.  Tons of talent. Bridget is kind and caring and totally wonderful.  This one will the the driving force.  Emmett is the best of children.  Helpful and very smart.  I am very impressed by his vocabulary. I got to spend some quality time with Ben as we went to the range for a couple of hours.  Usually he gets short changed as he is pulled to and fro by the requirements of his family but he is my family now and I really had a good time with him.  I almost have the rounds reloaded that we shot. It's raining here today and I think I will finish doing that.  I worry that Molly isn't getting enough rest.  I remember how tired mom and I were when our kids were little and feel for Molly.  Sure wish there was some way that we could help her more.
I have to figure how to put photos on the blog.  I think I will investigate that as soon as I figure how to get photos off my phone and into the computer.

MILESTONE DAY

Today is a double whammy day.  It is Ash Wednesday the start of Lent.  I know it isn't a big day but if it is Lent then Spring is just up the road. In addition it 100 days till my retirement.  I may be able to fudge the actual last day of work but I will reserve that for a later blog if I can work out the details.
Not much else here but I do have 10-15 Crocusses (i know that is the wrong spelling but beats me, I hit the spell checker and all I get is a highlight.  Dumb software.) up.  Might be too early but they signal hope for warmer weather.  I know in July I will be bitching about how hot it is but if I am retired then I can sit in a tub of cool water and think about things.

Update

Nothing much new going on.  You know, just the usual winter stuff.  I get up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, make a few beads and then bed.  Kinda monotonous. Oh well Spring is just around the corner.  I will say that this Winter has been very very mild.  Not complaining, just commenting.  Under 120 calendar days to retirement and I have a countdown running. There is a lady in the office who says she is going at the same time so I tell her the countdown numbers.  This seems to please her.
Oh well.  I went to the gym today so my back would stop hurting and did my usual 150,000 pounds.  I hate to go but always feel better once I have gone. I am making it once a week but need to increase that to 1+ times a week.  Don't think I can get in 2 times till June but the desire is there. What I lack is the time.  Seems like I only go on Saturdays now.
Thanks for reading and I hope you have a really nice day.

Bad-Bad Yesterday

I tell you. Yesterday almost advanced my retirement date. The Lab has an analytical instrument that will work fine for days and days at a time and then without a moments warning just bang, in the crapper.  I worked all day yesterday to find a small (read near microscopic) blockage at a control valve. I swear I had done just about everything to that ( read religion challenging) machine when I found the block.  Not really a block, just an intermittent interference, which made diagnosis of the problem really really hard.
Oh well, I have today off and even though it is to cold to go out and play. I am going to have a better attitude and clean on the basement.
Thanks for letting me unload.

Martin Luther King Day

Today is an off day for me, so no worries. Sarah gets up soon so my day with her will begin. I only have to work 3 days this week as I get Friday off on my 9 day rotation.  I really like this schedule. The  snow from last week is melting as it should reach 46 today.  I think I will make jewelry today. The muse is on me and I want to burn up the last of the O2 so I can get a new tank on Friday.  I will try to post some of the beads if any come out nice enough.  I am still working out the bracelet concept with a leather base, but the closures at the ends elude me.  The ones I have tried so far just look clunky.  I'll figure it out eventually.  By the way my bullet lube problems seem to be solved as I made a support that just holds the very nose of the bullet upright so that the molten lube can surround the base and lube groove gets filled. After cooling I push them out with a dowl and my drill press.  Lots of support and good mechanicial advantage.  Then it is just off to the sizer and ta-da I'm done.

After the range

Had a real good day at the range.  Tuned in the 308 a little more.  Got it down to 2 inch groups at 100 yards.  I am going to try to do some photos tomorrow and see how that goes. Every day is closer to retirement and I think that I can do this.  I've been working since I was 16 and I was worried about how I would fill my days.  Now I wonder if I will have enough time for all  the stuff I want to do. I'll see you tomorrow.

A Warm Friday in January

Today I am off. (9 day schedule).  I am planning to go out to unload some 308's at the gun club. The weather is supposed to be near 60 today as it was yesterday. I am looking forward to it. Yesterday was a much better day at the lab as I got the instrument back up and re-tweaked for calculations and print out so I am happy about that. Got to see Molly's new blog entry. Can't believe how really cute the children are. I think Molly & Ben are doing a great job with them.
My next task is to learn how to put up pictures into this blog. I may play around with the backgrounds etc.  I think that the idea is to have fun.  If my calculations are correct I have 144 more days till retirement.

Day two at Black Rock

This was day two back at work after vacation.  All was great till the power failed just after noon and wiped out the operating system for my analyzer.  We got it reloaded but it still needs a lot of tweeking. I guess I'll never catch a break.

Back to work or off to purgatory

Well I went back to work today.  Not much fun left.  I counted earlier and I think there are 147 days left. It is less than 5 months.  Seems like a long time but one day at a time.  Oh well could be worse.  I had Monday off for the Holiday and Friday is my scheduled day off so in reality I only have to work 2 more days this week.  I think that on Friday since it is supposed to be over 50 degrees and I can't count on that much this time of year. I will go to the range and send some lead into the berms.  I have some handloads that I want to unload and the best way is through the rifle.  I'll let you know how that works out.

The Children Come To Visit

The children were here after Christmas and until New Years Eve.  We had a really good time. Caught up on all the little details that aren't conducive to email or quick phone calls. I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with Ben.  When Molly calls he is usually at work but this time I got to spend some quality time with him.
As a fun thing to do one afternoon I went with Ben and Henry to the Military Museum up at the National Guard camp.  Henry is mad for tanks and they have a few.  He runs everywhere. I don't know how much is sinking in but he has a really good time.  We stopped over at Lincoln's tomb but I don't know how much of that imprinted on Henry. I wanted to give him a topic if his friends asked what he did over vacation.  I bet he will respond with "I went to see Nana and Poppy", which really isn't bad.  Oh well I can honestly say that I really miss them all. Having Molly and Ben here is really great, and I would welcome them anytime but the real bonus is the children.  Each of them is developing into individuals.  I am fascinated by the process.  Emmett is much more facile with his speech.  He used to  hesitate prior to getting a word out and now they just flow.  What an amazing process. Then there is Henry who has enough energy to solve any shortage that may occur.  He never seems to tire.  I get tired just watching him bound from one thing to another. These two act a bookends for Bridget who is so much like her mother it is scary.  I see Molly in Bridget all the time. There is Molly in Emmett and Henry but I think it is modified by the "y" chromosome.  I would have loved to see Ben as a child.  I think that Emmett got most of Ben.  Henry sometimes reminds me of me.  As to Bridget, what can I say.  She is just so special.  One evening near the end of the visit she had a blanket and came up to me, threw the blanket on my lap and announced, "snuggle time", climbed up and proceeded to do just that.
Bridget thinks Poppy is here to A) brush her hair B) provide candy and C) fulfill any wishes for cartoons on TV. Not a bad job as jobs come.
I hope that they get to come back in warmer weather.  We can have tons of fun outside.
I think that things will get a lot looser when I retire at the end of May and don't have to schedule around work. We will see how that develops.