... off to get the shoulder fixed. Be in a sling for a couple of weeks, able to lift a five-pound weight in three months and back to full use within a year.
Wah. Poor me.
Back in a few weeks.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
A Boy of Very Little Brain
It's Winnie-the-Pooh Day!
(Actually, it's A.A. Milne's birthday ... but you get the idea.)
In honor of the occasion, a few favorite quotes:
"Pooh," said Rabbit kindly, "you haven't any brain."
"I know," said Pooh humbly.
"My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling, but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places."
"We can't all, and some of us don't. That's all there is."
Eeyore was saying to himself, "This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated, if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it."
It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?"
Snow day for the kids. Lots of ice on the road this morning. They were slightly bummed, since it looks as though they'll be going to school in July now. I mean, really, people.
I'm all in favor of some New Rules: Kids can't start school before September or end school after June. There will be a minimum two-week break every year, with Christmas falling in the middle of it. Teenagers shall not be required to wake up before 630a to catch their ride to school, even if they live in the sticks.
If I were king of the education world, anyway.
Dropped off nine dozen eggs at the market early this morning -- it's good when store employees are buying your product. Got a good report from one of the cashiers, who said they were as fresh as any she's been able to get at the market.
Did a small bit of work, then off to meet with the physical terrorist. Got a couple of appointments set up. "That's all I'll need, right?" I asked. Um, not so much. I'm looking at a whole lot of visits, apparently. The most physical therapy I've ever had was three months, back around 2001, for elbow tendonitis.
I gather this might take longer.
Ran by the library on the way home and picked up more reading material. We have a nice little library, just up the road from our house. Added quite a few items to the stack to keep me from completely vegetating over the next couple of weeks:
The Bourne Identity (need at least one trashy novel)
The Northern Forest
Legacy of Ashes
The Lobster Chronicles
The Complete Guide to Beekeeping
Also got a CD version of Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. It'll give me something to listen to while walking or biking since it's 27 hours (!), unabridged.
I'm all in favor of some New Rules: Kids can't start school before September or end school after June. There will be a minimum two-week break every year, with Christmas falling in the middle of it. Teenagers shall not be required to wake up before 630a to catch their ride to school, even if they live in the sticks.
If I were king of the education world, anyway.
Dropped off nine dozen eggs at the market early this morning -- it's good when store employees are buying your product. Got a good report from one of the cashiers, who said they were as fresh as any she's been able to get at the market.
Did a small bit of work, then off to meet with the physical terrorist. Got a couple of appointments set up. "That's all I'll need, right?" I asked. Um, not so much. I'm looking at a whole lot of visits, apparently. The most physical therapy I've ever had was three months, back around 2001, for elbow tendonitis.
I gather this might take longer.
Ran by the library on the way home and picked up more reading material. We have a nice little library, just up the road from our house. Added quite a few items to the stack to keep me from completely vegetating over the next couple of weeks:
The Bourne Identity (need at least one trashy novel)
The Northern Forest
Legacy of Ashes
The Lobster Chronicles
The Complete Guide to Beekeeping
Also got a CD version of Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. It'll give me something to listen to while walking or biking since it's 27 hours (!), unabridged.
Truly, I don't even want to think about how much all that would've run me on Amazon or elsewhere.
Worked late tonight. Tried to get some supervisory guidance, but no luck. Ever get the feeling that your absence isn't just slightly unlamented, but perhaps eagerly awaited?
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Is It Going To Be Cold? Oh, Yeah. Will I Care? Hell, No.
Got the gas and wood just in the nick of time. Supposed to get cold early next week; current forecast is -25 wind chill early Monday morning. It probably won't be quite that cold; the weather folks always tend to predict the worst until the last minute.
.
But, hey, like I'll care? I won't be awake for a good chunk of the holiday, and I'll be drugged to the gills for the rest. I'm thinking I'm not going to worry so much about it. At least the gas and wood are stocked up. And Lisa made me another pair of handspun, handknitted, very warm bootsocks. I'm set.
.
Worked like a Roman orchard slave today on the day job. It's possible that there's a hidden benefit to the shoulder surgery -- I won't have to deal with a substantial amount of crap that's been driving me nuts, at least not for a few weeks, anyway. Maybe I can use the time off for professional detox.
.
Going to try to make it to the Massachusetts NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) winter conference on Saturday. Not sure if it'll happen or not -- Will needs to be in Brattleboro for a school fund-raiser at a pretty inconvenient time. Anyway, hoping to make it. Ordered 25 more Aruacana chicks that'll be here in mid-February. As soon as they're out of the brooder in early April, I'll order the meat broilers.
.
Taking eggs to market tomorrow morning and going to set up physical therapy appointments. Also will try to stop by the local library and pick up a card, as well as a few books. I'm buying too many books; time to borrow some, for a change. I'll need quite a few to keep from going crazy over the next few weeks. Loaded up the iPod tonight, too -- got about 25 podcasts to vegetate over.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Not Much in the Second-Thoughts Department
So I was bummed about the rehab, advanced directive, all those good things last night. Worked until 11p or so, then went straight to sleep. Shoulder was still throbbing from the fall, but I'm off any pain medication (ibuprofen included) until after surgery. I was so tired, I slept until ... about 1a, when the rotator cuff alarm went off.
Probably didn't get much more than 15 minutes of sleep at a stretch. I'm beat. And still lots to do before Monday. Tons of things need doing on the day job front, a lot of work around the house, a few errands ... just hoping I can get it all done so I can the surgery done and sleep for about a month.
Wah. Poor me.
I need to quit whining and become more like my new hero:
1. Chuck Norris’ tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.
2. Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
3. Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
4. The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.
5. Chuck Norris defines love as the reluctance to murder. If you’re still alive, it’s because Chuck Norris loves you.
6. Chuck Norris isn’t hung like a horse. Horses are hung like Chuck Norris.
7. If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can’t see Chuck Norris you may be only seconds away from death.
8. Rather than being birthed like a normal child, Chuck Norris instead decided to punch his way out of his mother’s womb.
9. There are no disabled people. Only people who have met Chuck Norris.
10. Chuck Norris can win a game of Monopoly without owning any property.
11. There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Chuck Norris allows to live.
12. In fine print on the last page of the Guinness Book of World Records it notes that all world records are held by Chuck Norris, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone has ever gotten.
13. Chuck Norris invented cancer because he was tired of killing people
14. In an average living room there are 1,242 objects Chuck Norris could use to kill you, including the room itself.
15. Chuck Norris is the only man to ever defeat a brick wall in a game of tennis.
16. Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
17. When Chuck Norris goes to donate blood, he declines the syringe, and instead requests a hand gun and a bucket.
18. Chuck Norris has two speeds: walk and kill.
19.When Chuck Norris jumps into a body of water, he doesn’t get wet. The water gets Chuck Norris instead.
20. Chuck Norris can divide by zero.
21. Chuck Norris can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.
22. When Chuck Norris runs with scissors, other people get hurt.
Bonus: The propane truck showed up this morning. They are not happy with us since we started using wood for heat. We haven't needed a delivery since June. The tank was down to 48 gallons this morning, so they put 202 gallons (at $3.11 per gallon) into it.
Which sounds grim. Almost $600 worth of propane. But at our current levels, that's likely to last us well into the summer. Between February and June of last year, I had 675 gallons delivered. At this year's rates, that'd be about $2,100. So even after paying $190/month to get a cord of wood delivered (and we'll probably need about three more this year), we might save just a bit.
I think a chainsaw is in my future, but probably not until July or so.
Probably didn't get much more than 15 minutes of sleep at a stretch. I'm beat. And still lots to do before Monday. Tons of things need doing on the day job front, a lot of work around the house, a few errands ... just hoping I can get it all done so I can the surgery done and sleep for about a month.
Wah. Poor me.
I need to quit whining and become more like my new hero:
1. Chuck Norris’ tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.
2. Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
3. Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
4. The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.
5. Chuck Norris defines love as the reluctance to murder. If you’re still alive, it’s because Chuck Norris loves you.
6. Chuck Norris isn’t hung like a horse. Horses are hung like Chuck Norris.
7. If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can’t see Chuck Norris you may be only seconds away from death.
8. Rather than being birthed like a normal child, Chuck Norris instead decided to punch his way out of his mother’s womb.
9. There are no disabled people. Only people who have met Chuck Norris.
10. Chuck Norris can win a game of Monopoly without owning any property.
11. There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Chuck Norris allows to live.
12. In fine print on the last page of the Guinness Book of World Records it notes that all world records are held by Chuck Norris, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone has ever gotten.
13. Chuck Norris invented cancer because he was tired of killing people
14. In an average living room there are 1,242 objects Chuck Norris could use to kill you, including the room itself.
15. Chuck Norris is the only man to ever defeat a brick wall in a game of tennis.
16. Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
17. When Chuck Norris goes to donate blood, he declines the syringe, and instead requests a hand gun and a bucket.
18. Chuck Norris has two speeds: walk and kill.
19.When Chuck Norris jumps into a body of water, he doesn’t get wet. The water gets Chuck Norris instead.
20. Chuck Norris can divide by zero.
21. Chuck Norris can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.
22. When Chuck Norris runs with scissors, other people get hurt.
Bonus: The propane truck showed up this morning. They are not happy with us since we started using wood for heat. We haven't needed a delivery since June. The tank was down to 48 gallons this morning, so they put 202 gallons (at $3.11 per gallon) into it.
Which sounds grim. Almost $600 worth of propane. But at our current levels, that's likely to last us well into the summer. Between February and June of last year, I had 675 gallons delivered. At this year's rates, that'd be about $2,100. So even after paying $190/month to get a cord of wood delivered (and we'll probably need about three more this year), we might save just a bit.
I think a chainsaw is in my future, but probably not until July or so.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Sigh.
I was hating all over my life this morning.
The car was parked at the end of the driveway since most of the snow had turned to ice. I got the boys up, and we hustled down it to get to the bus stop. At least, we did until Will made a move that was remarkably similar to one I made on Monday and went ass-over-teakettle. I came down really hard on the back of my head (enough to knock my hat flying, see stars and have a stiff neck all day), and he came down on his side, enough to bruise badly. I got him in the car and jumped in ...
Except I'd left my keys in the house. So it was back up the driveway, and whoops! Another flying family member! Talk about Family Circus. Came down on my right shoulder. Ouch. I yelled two or three Very Bad Words that kids shouldn't hear me say, and just about bit their heads off for no good reason other than the fact that their father can be an asshole when he's in pain.
Drove the boys to school, except Will decided he couldn't walk so well. So I drove him home, got my shower, and wound up being only 20 minutes late for my doctor's appointment. No magic there, either: I was hoping it was all a big mistake, no surgery needed, so sorry for the scare, here's a super pill to make the shoulder owie go away.
I get a handout like this:
What is the recovery like?
The recovery occurs in a series of phases. The initial phase is immobilization, where patients wear a sling for three to four weeks to allow the tendon to start to heal on its own. At that time, a physical therapist is working with the patient to achieve restoration of range-of-motion. A physical therapist lifts the arm for the patient to avoid actively firing the muscle.
Patients are not allowed to lift their arm on their own for the first 4-6 weeks following surgery because that would compromise the integrity of the repair. By 4-6 weeks following surgery the repair gains strength and the patient can begin to lift the arm and initiate some strengthening exercises. By 3 months following surgery most patients can lift between 5-10 pounds overhead. Strengthening exercises continue.
By 6 months post-operatively most patients have regained approximately 80 percent of strength. It is important to continue with strengthening exercises after this time. Studies show that gains in strength continue over a two-year time period following surgery.
And a prescription for oxycodone, and a prescription for physical therapy, and a couple of odds and ends, like the surgery will be done under general anesthesia. I've helped put people under for surgery, and I ... really ... don't ... like ... it. Maybe some of you were alive when you used to stick a metal spout in an oil can? That's what goes down your throat. And the worst part of it is, you're not asleep. Oh, no. General anesthesia is a combination painkiller/amnesiac. So basically, you are effin' awake the whole time -- you just don't feel a funnel being shoved down your throat, and you don't feel yourself being cauterized, etc.
I also need to put together an advanced directive in case something goes wrong. And just for kicks and grins, there's a 5 percent chance that the orthopaedist will have to do "some tune-up work" within the year. But the good news is, he'll have about six to eight holes already drilled if he has to go back into the shoulder.
Also, I'll have a few more restrictions. No keyboard use for two to three weeks (this would basically mean, no work for two to three weeks) and no travel for three to six months.
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
Shit.
I may never set an Ironman world record, but I'm going to shoot for a rehab record.
The day did get a little bit better in the afternoon. Stopped by the grocery and got the boys some taquitos to make amends. The plow guy showed up -- with a cord of wood, bonus! -- so our propane delivery should actually occur on Thursday. With all the wood, we're not using much gas, but I'd rather have it and not need than need it and not have it. Next big storm is supposed to come through Friday night. I broke out the Yaktrax for the next time we go down the driveway.
The chickens laid 20 eggs. I lost an Aruacana, but it wasn't disease. Silly hen was sitting under a roost, and a bunch of chickens crowded up to keep warm. Snapped her neck on the roost.
And Will is doing fine.
Site du jour: Wisebread, for people trying to be frugal.
The car was parked at the end of the driveway since most of the snow had turned to ice. I got the boys up, and we hustled down it to get to the bus stop. At least, we did until Will made a move that was remarkably similar to one I made on Monday and went ass-over-teakettle. I came down really hard on the back of my head (enough to knock my hat flying, see stars and have a stiff neck all day), and he came down on his side, enough to bruise badly. I got him in the car and jumped in ...
Except I'd left my keys in the house. So it was back up the driveway, and whoops! Another flying family member! Talk about Family Circus. Came down on my right shoulder. Ouch. I yelled two or three Very Bad Words that kids shouldn't hear me say, and just about bit their heads off for no good reason other than the fact that their father can be an asshole when he's in pain.
Drove the boys to school, except Will decided he couldn't walk so well. So I drove him home, got my shower, and wound up being only 20 minutes late for my doctor's appointment. No magic there, either: I was hoping it was all a big mistake, no surgery needed, so sorry for the scare, here's a super pill to make the shoulder owie go away.
I get a handout like this:
What is the recovery like?
The recovery occurs in a series of phases. The initial phase is immobilization, where patients wear a sling for three to four weeks to allow the tendon to start to heal on its own. At that time, a physical therapist is working with the patient to achieve restoration of range-of-motion. A physical therapist lifts the arm for the patient to avoid actively firing the muscle.
Patients are not allowed to lift their arm on their own for the first 4-6 weeks following surgery because that would compromise the integrity of the repair. By 4-6 weeks following surgery the repair gains strength and the patient can begin to lift the arm and initiate some strengthening exercises. By 3 months following surgery most patients can lift between 5-10 pounds overhead. Strengthening exercises continue.
By 6 months post-operatively most patients have regained approximately 80 percent of strength. It is important to continue with strengthening exercises after this time. Studies show that gains in strength continue over a two-year time period following surgery.
And a prescription for oxycodone, and a prescription for physical therapy, and a couple of odds and ends, like the surgery will be done under general anesthesia. I've helped put people under for surgery, and I ... really ... don't ... like ... it. Maybe some of you were alive when you used to stick a metal spout in an oil can? That's what goes down your throat. And the worst part of it is, you're not asleep. Oh, no. General anesthesia is a combination painkiller/amnesiac. So basically, you are effin' awake the whole time -- you just don't feel a funnel being shoved down your throat, and you don't feel yourself being cauterized, etc.
I also need to put together an advanced directive in case something goes wrong. And just for kicks and grins, there's a 5 percent chance that the orthopaedist will have to do "some tune-up work" within the year. But the good news is, he'll have about six to eight holes already drilled if he has to go back into the shoulder.
Also, I'll have a few more restrictions. No keyboard use for two to three weeks (this would basically mean, no work for two to three weeks) and no travel for three to six months.
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
Shit.
I may never set an Ironman world record, but I'm going to shoot for a rehab record.
The day did get a little bit better in the afternoon. Stopped by the grocery and got the boys some taquitos to make amends. The plow guy showed up -- with a cord of wood, bonus! -- so our propane delivery should actually occur on Thursday. With all the wood, we're not using much gas, but I'd rather have it and not need than need it and not have it. Next big storm is supposed to come through Friday night. I broke out the Yaktrax for the next time we go down the driveway.
The chickens laid 20 eggs. I lost an Aruacana, but it wasn't disease. Silly hen was sitting under a roost, and a bunch of chickens crowded up to keep warm. Snapped her neck on the roost.
And Will is doing fine.
Site du jour: Wisebread, for people trying to be frugal.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Quiet Weekend
A close one. Had my first (and hopefully, only) ice-slip of the year on the way to feed and water the chickens. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the phenomenon, it happens when you step on a patch of ice that sends your feet one way, and your head the other. And it hurts when you land.
Happily, I came down on my left side, rather than my right side. Probably saved me a few thousand in extra orthopaedic expenses. And no permanent harm done -- hell, I wasn't even carrying a basket of eggs when it happened, which would've been par for the course.
I'm getting two or three eggs from the small Aruacanas these days. Of course, I didn't get any today. They better get busy -- I've got just enough room in my freezer for a couple dozen birds.
We tried making homemade cheese last night, but it was more ricotta than mozarella. Gorelick must pasteurize their milk a little beyond the basic pasteurization. I'll have to go down to Massachusetts and score some raw milk. On the plus side, Lisa baked a new batch of bread, and was both annoyed and gratified to discover the boys had eaten an entire loaf before it officially came out of the oven.
Spent a ton of time last week and part of this weekend rebuilding a laptop. That's about it on the day job front.
Got a few more books to read during the whole convalescent thing -- one on spending money carefully that, Lord knows, I could certainly use, and another on building with stone. Not sure about the latter. Had a conversation with our local independent bookseller on how the Nearings built with stone up near Jamaica. I can't imagine I'll be any good at it, but I might try starting a rock pile this summer.
Supposed to get nasty in the morning -- another foot of snow. The plow guy, of course, never showed up. I'm starting to get really pissed.
Happily, I came down on my left side, rather than my right side. Probably saved me a few thousand in extra orthopaedic expenses. And no permanent harm done -- hell, I wasn't even carrying a basket of eggs when it happened, which would've been par for the course.
I'm getting two or three eggs from the small Aruacanas these days. Of course, I didn't get any today. They better get busy -- I've got just enough room in my freezer for a couple dozen birds.
We tried making homemade cheese last night, but it was more ricotta than mozarella. Gorelick must pasteurize their milk a little beyond the basic pasteurization. I'll have to go down to Massachusetts and score some raw milk. On the plus side, Lisa baked a new batch of bread, and was both annoyed and gratified to discover the boys had eaten an entire loaf before it officially came out of the oven.
Spent a ton of time last week and part of this weekend rebuilding a laptop. That's about it on the day job front.
Got a few more books to read during the whole convalescent thing -- one on spending money carefully that, Lord knows, I could certainly use, and another on building with stone. Not sure about the latter. Had a conversation with our local independent bookseller on how the Nearings built with stone up near Jamaica. I can't imagine I'll be any good at it, but I might try starting a rock pile this summer.
Supposed to get nasty in the morning -- another foot of snow. The plow guy, of course, never showed up. I'm starting to get really pissed.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Damn, This is Strange
Orthopaedist's appointment was cancelled this morning (naturally, after I'd gotten there). Sigh. I'll go back next week and get more details on the surgery. I'm just sooooooo ready for this to be over.
Speaking of things that are over ... winter? It was in the low 60s this morning. Winter sports classes cancelled at the kids' school. Lots and lots of very long faces around the Valley, people watching snow (and tourists) disappear. I don't have any doubt that it'll be back soon, though.
Not much going on with the day job. Few ideas percolating, some really good, others maybe, eh.
Speaking of things that are over ... winter? It was in the low 60s this morning. Winter sports classes cancelled at the kids' school. Lots and lots of very long faces around the Valley, people watching snow (and tourists) disappear. I don't have any doubt that it'll be back soon, though.
Not much going on with the day job. Few ideas percolating, some really good, others maybe, eh.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Take to the Streets and Arm Yourselves!
So the small Aruacanas have started laying, apparently. Had one very small green egg Sunday afternoon. About time -- my green egg-to-brown egg ratio was about 1:3, which ain't all that great. I'll hope all the small hens got the memo: Time to start laying.
It's thawing out like a banshee here. I woke up this morning and thought it was raining very hard. Nope, just snow melting off the roof. The south-facing side of the roof is almost bare, and the north side has lost about a foot. The plow guy didn't show up -- shocker, that -- but in another couple of days, I don't think it'll matter.
Didn't get home from the airport until 130a last night, but still had an extremely productive time of it on the day job front. I'm rather pleased with myself. I'll be semi-golden if I can just finish the bulk of it before surgery.
Anyway, prepare for major social unrest.
It's thawing out like a banshee here. I woke up this morning and thought it was raining very hard. Nope, just snow melting off the roof. The south-facing side of the roof is almost bare, and the north side has lost about a foot. The plow guy didn't show up -- shocker, that -- but in another couple of days, I don't think it'll matter.
Didn't get home from the airport until 130a last night, but still had an extremely productive time of it on the day job front. I'm rather pleased with myself. I'll be semi-golden if I can just finish the bulk of it before surgery.
Anyway, prepare for major social unrest.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Doing The Happy, Happy Border Collie Dance
Busy weekend.
Had seven dozen eggs for Gordon's market on Friday. One of his cashiers told me that the green eggs are lasting a little longer -- they don't sell out now until the middle of Friday, rather than by lunch Friday. One nut job keeps coming in and asking people when I'm going to get the chickens to lay more so she can buy six dozen at a time.
Worked, worked, worked on the day job. Took a break at lunch to run to the post office, where my Lehman's cheese press had arrived. Reminded me to sign up for Ricki Carroll's intro to cheesemaking class in late April. Here's the cool thing: The class is in Ashfield. There's a whole milk diary exactly halfway between Dover and Ashfield. So I think there's some sort of cosmic sign that I need to take this one.
Grabbed John late in the day and ran to the school to pick up Will from his play rehearsals. We went by the Agway in Brattleboro to get chicken feed, corn and hay, then motored into Keene so they could spend Christmas money from Grandpa.
While the boys made jihad upon the Gamestop, I went to a shoe store and got a new pair of shoes for Will. I'll have to take pictures of his old ones; to say they were battered is a bit of an understatement. Full of holes and embarassing is, I think, a far better description. He was mightily annoyed, but I told him when he was old enough to be as poor as his dad, he could wear duct-taped shoes all he wants. I also grabbed some reading material for the early rehab days from the discount shelf:
The United States of Arugula
Five Acres and Independence
The Good Good Pig
Deep Survival
That'll go with my other books on order:
Pastured Poultry Profits
You Can Farm
Gardening When It Counts
Barnyard in Your Backyard
Seed to Seed
In Defense of Food
Should be enough to keep me busy for a week, anyway. I saw a magnetic bike trainer that I just lust after at the sporting goods store, but it was $200, and I'm thinking I've spent just about enough on books. Besides, I'm going to need another brooder if I'm ordering 75 chickens (25 more Aruacanas, and 50 broilers). Believe I'm just going to have to suck it up and spend time on the stationary at the gym.
Woke up at a reasonable hour this morning and sighed. I haven't been able to catch up with my plow guy this week, and I really need the driveway cleared -- big -- before I can get a propane refill. We're using damn little, since we're heating (and drying, and doing a bit of cooking) with the woodstove. Alas, the woodstove ain't that great for hot showers.
I just knew I wouldn't be able to track him down. I called, got his wife. Sigh. Looked like I was going to have to get outside with two boys and shovel another 650 feet, except much wider, for the truck. My left elbow is killing me. Tendonitis is really settling in, since I'm having to become left-handed for the next six months or so. His wife gave me his cell phone. I called, got his voice mail. Damn. I was heading out the door when he called and swore he'd be here on Monday, which resulted in ... the Happy, Happy Border Collie Dance.
The dogs weren't too sure what the hell it was about, but they seemed to enjoy it, anyway.
The lucky break gave me enough courage to do several jobs that I've been putting off for, oh, a few months now. Cleaned out the woodstove really, really good. Vacuumed dog hair off the stairs. Moving up in difficulty, I cleaned three bathrooms and finally shoveled out the chicken coop, which was an extremely vile task. I've just been piling hay layers up in the coop, one on top of the next. I believe I peeled off about five layers this afternoon. Even the fact that it's going to be superb compost (if somewhat nasty to make) didn't take away from the foulness of the job. Had to take a second shower after I was through.
We're in the midst of a thaw. Listened to a VPR podcast while mucking out the coop and got some startling news. Thought about it, and it's not unusual -- just never expected. Every January in Vermont, we thaw for a couple of weeks, according to the good people at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury. Anyway, it's supposed to get up to 50 later this week.
Should probably get to sleep. It's late, and I'm going to be up all hours tomorrow night since Lisa's flight gets in late.
Had seven dozen eggs for Gordon's market on Friday. One of his cashiers told me that the green eggs are lasting a little longer -- they don't sell out now until the middle of Friday, rather than by lunch Friday. One nut job keeps coming in and asking people when I'm going to get the chickens to lay more so she can buy six dozen at a time.
Worked, worked, worked on the day job. Took a break at lunch to run to the post office, where my Lehman's cheese press had arrived. Reminded me to sign up for Ricki Carroll's intro to cheesemaking class in late April. Here's the cool thing: The class is in Ashfield. There's a whole milk diary exactly halfway between Dover and Ashfield. So I think there's some sort of cosmic sign that I need to take this one.
Grabbed John late in the day and ran to the school to pick up Will from his play rehearsals. We went by the Agway in Brattleboro to get chicken feed, corn and hay, then motored into Keene so they could spend Christmas money from Grandpa.
While the boys made jihad upon the Gamestop, I went to a shoe store and got a new pair of shoes for Will. I'll have to take pictures of his old ones; to say they were battered is a bit of an understatement. Full of holes and embarassing is, I think, a far better description. He was mightily annoyed, but I told him when he was old enough to be as poor as his dad, he could wear duct-taped shoes all he wants. I also grabbed some reading material for the early rehab days from the discount shelf:
The United States of Arugula
Five Acres and Independence
The Good Good Pig
Deep Survival
That'll go with my other books on order:
Pastured Poultry Profits
You Can Farm
Gardening When It Counts
Barnyard in Your Backyard
Seed to Seed
In Defense of Food
Should be enough to keep me busy for a week, anyway. I saw a magnetic bike trainer that I just lust after at the sporting goods store, but it was $200, and I'm thinking I've spent just about enough on books. Besides, I'm going to need another brooder if I'm ordering 75 chickens (25 more Aruacanas, and 50 broilers). Believe I'm just going to have to suck it up and spend time on the stationary at the gym.
Woke up at a reasonable hour this morning and sighed. I haven't been able to catch up with my plow guy this week, and I really need the driveway cleared -- big -- before I can get a propane refill. We're using damn little, since we're heating (and drying, and doing a bit of cooking) with the woodstove. Alas, the woodstove ain't that great for hot showers.
I just knew I wouldn't be able to track him down. I called, got his wife. Sigh. Looked like I was going to have to get outside with two boys and shovel another 650 feet, except much wider, for the truck. My left elbow is killing me. Tendonitis is really settling in, since I'm having to become left-handed for the next six months or so. His wife gave me his cell phone. I called, got his voice mail. Damn. I was heading out the door when he called and swore he'd be here on Monday, which resulted in ... the Happy, Happy Border Collie Dance.
The dogs weren't too sure what the hell it was about, but they seemed to enjoy it, anyway.
The lucky break gave me enough courage to do several jobs that I've been putting off for, oh, a few months now. Cleaned out the woodstove really, really good. Vacuumed dog hair off the stairs. Moving up in difficulty, I cleaned three bathrooms and finally shoveled out the chicken coop, which was an extremely vile task. I've just been piling hay layers up in the coop, one on top of the next. I believe I peeled off about five layers this afternoon. Even the fact that it's going to be superb compost (if somewhat nasty to make) didn't take away from the foulness of the job. Had to take a second shower after I was through.
We're in the midst of a thaw. Listened to a VPR podcast while mucking out the coop and got some startling news. Thought about it, and it's not unusual -- just never expected. Every January in Vermont, we thaw for a couple of weeks, according to the good people at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury. Anyway, it's supposed to get up to 50 later this week.
Should probably get to sleep. It's late, and I'm going to be up all hours tomorrow night since Lisa's flight gets in late.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
200, 100, -15
In no particular order:
It's my 200th post.
Oil hit $100 per barrel today.
And it's supposed to get down to 15 below zero tonight.
I geek myself out sometimes, I really do.
Quiet day. Took the kids to school, ran home and showered. Ran into Brattleboro to drop off cans at the recycling center, picked up rabbit and chicken feed. Stopped by the post office to get egg cartons. Listened to NHPR most of the way (VPR signal is kinda faint in the mountains). It occurs to me that next week's primary is like living next to a halfway house that's closing. You just hope the parolees won't decide to wander over and see if they can stay with you for a few years.
All that, and at my desk working by 10a.
Strange experience last night. Went out for my late afternoon walk around 415p. Got about a mile down the road and noticed ... no color whatsoever. It was getting dark, so the only colors were white, gray and black. Very strange in a monochromatic sort of way.
Kids home at the usual time. John poking around, asking about animistic religions. Will arguing that he doesn't need new shoes (he's got duct tape holding together his current ones; it's a bit embarassing). We decided we'd go into Keene Friday night and spend some of their Christmas money, browse at the bookstore and eat pizza.
Again, very quiet day. Quiet is good. We like quiet.
It's my 200th post.
Oil hit $100 per barrel today.
And it's supposed to get down to 15 below zero tonight.
I geek myself out sometimes, I really do.
Quiet day. Took the kids to school, ran home and showered. Ran into Brattleboro to drop off cans at the recycling center, picked up rabbit and chicken feed. Stopped by the post office to get egg cartons. Listened to NHPR most of the way (VPR signal is kinda faint in the mountains). It occurs to me that next week's primary is like living next to a halfway house that's closing. You just hope the parolees won't decide to wander over and see if they can stay with you for a few years.
All that, and at my desk working by 10a.
Strange experience last night. Went out for my late afternoon walk around 415p. Got about a mile down the road and noticed ... no color whatsoever. It was getting dark, so the only colors were white, gray and black. Very strange in a monochromatic sort of way.
Kids home at the usual time. John poking around, asking about animistic religions. Will arguing that he doesn't need new shoes (he's got duct tape holding together his current ones; it's a bit embarassing). We decided we'd go into Keene Friday night and spend some of their Christmas money, browse at the bookstore and eat pizza.
Again, very quiet day. Quiet is good. We like quiet.
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