The weather today already appears better than yesterday. I'm sure it was mostly gastric but I felt like garbage all day yesterday, no energy at all. Never got anything else done besides the haircut and shopping.
That's okay. I can get much of those things done today and/or during the week. Hoping I can find a tire shop that can replace the valve stems after 5 PM during the week. It was somewhat pointless yesterday, since it was too cold, windy and possibly wet to take a ride and actually enjoy it.
Most of my goals for today have to do with the back yard. The garden fence, shredding wood, cutting back the remaining trees and treating them to keep them from growing more.
I have enough supplies to finish at least two 8 ft sections of fence. Maybe three but think I need more slats for a third section.
Several reasons I am building the fence by hand instead of pre-made panels. Most importantly the fact that the materials will fit in my car (a little at a time). However, the cost winds up being lower and the way I am doing this is less environmentally destructive. Maybe not a lot but somewhat. To use pre-made panels would mean I would have to install 4x4 posts. For each post, that's double the wood and adds about $9 to each section, above the cost of the panel. Basically, I am building each section for less than $30 for each 8 ft section. Pre-made panels would cost more than $50 for all materials for each 8 ft section. Besides, I am also leaving space between slats. It's a garden fence, not a privacy fence. The spaces reduce wind drag and increase sunlight near the fence, aside from increased visibility. I can also plant climbing plants next to the fence and they will wrap around the fence. Most wood fences here seem to be set directly in soil, which reduces their lifespan. I'm setting the posts in concrete.
Some down sides. More labor, obviously, which means more time. The 2x4's are not pressure treated. Though that does make them less toxic. But I don't mind the work and there are worse things I could be doing with my time. A good up side is that I don't have to buy all the supplies at once, as I would if I rented a truck and bought all the supplies at once. An unexpected down side is that the wood slats are very wet, so I have to leave them in the sun for a day or two to dry out before installing them. Learned the hard way because some of the first sections have slats which must be reset or replaced because of warping and even breakage. I can salvage those slats for other uses.
So, right now I'm waiting for the temperature to rise. Having my coffee. Think I'll try sticking to water and avoid coffee most of the day and see if that helps my energy level. Though I realized late in the day yesterday one reason for my lack of energy was sore muscles. I went all out on my last workout and paid the price for it, especially my calves.
Made the decision last night that I am taking a break from some forms of activism. My whole life I have been battling the forces of hate. I am losing that battle. That doesn't mean I am giving up but there are times I get tired. I am also removing people from my circle who are deeply set in their hate and absolutely no amount of reasoning, writing, talking or anything else will deter them.
That upcoming US civil war I predicted gets closer and closer. Recent events have included gay marriage reaching the Supreme Court. Looks like they will decide in favor of gay marriage. However, for Conservative extremists that will not be the end. Riots in various cities, especially Baltimore because of racism in the last few weeks. Two Muslims attacked a cartoon contest (which ran a contest for the best cartoon depicting Mohammed, which is completely against Muslim beliefs). They attacked with guns, managed to shoot one security officer who then shot both of them to death. So, what? They could not have gathered people with picket signs?! Mexicans more and more aggressive about their "right" to speak Spanish in school and on the job...
I admit the 1960's had more turbulence and more social protests than today. However, people were different. Way too many radicals stuck in their own warped minds and willing to engage in violence instead of social organization. How the hell does that happen, when it is so much easier for people to coordinate and organize a group now? There are lots of anti-bullying movements but only at childhood levels. In adulthood bullying is accepted as a norm and even often rewarded! WTF?!
The civil war I predicted is coming and it is going to be really ugly.
That's okay. I can get much of those things done today and/or during the week. Hoping I can find a tire shop that can replace the valve stems after 5 PM during the week. It was somewhat pointless yesterday, since it was too cold, windy and possibly wet to take a ride and actually enjoy it.
Most of my goals for today have to do with the back yard. The garden fence, shredding wood, cutting back the remaining trees and treating them to keep them from growing more.
I have enough supplies to finish at least two 8 ft sections of fence. Maybe three but think I need more slats for a third section.
Several reasons I am building the fence by hand instead of pre-made panels. Most importantly the fact that the materials will fit in my car (a little at a time). However, the cost winds up being lower and the way I am doing this is less environmentally destructive. Maybe not a lot but somewhat. To use pre-made panels would mean I would have to install 4x4 posts. For each post, that's double the wood and adds about $9 to each section, above the cost of the panel. Basically, I am building each section for less than $30 for each 8 ft section. Pre-made panels would cost more than $50 for all materials for each 8 ft section. Besides, I am also leaving space between slats. It's a garden fence, not a privacy fence. The spaces reduce wind drag and increase sunlight near the fence, aside from increased visibility. I can also plant climbing plants next to the fence and they will wrap around the fence. Most wood fences here seem to be set directly in soil, which reduces their lifespan. I'm setting the posts in concrete.
Some down sides. More labor, obviously, which means more time. The 2x4's are not pressure treated. Though that does make them less toxic. But I don't mind the work and there are worse things I could be doing with my time. A good up side is that I don't have to buy all the supplies at once, as I would if I rented a truck and bought all the supplies at once. An unexpected down side is that the wood slats are very wet, so I have to leave them in the sun for a day or two to dry out before installing them. Learned the hard way because some of the first sections have slats which must be reset or replaced because of warping and even breakage. I can salvage those slats for other uses.
So, right now I'm waiting for the temperature to rise. Having my coffee. Think I'll try sticking to water and avoid coffee most of the day and see if that helps my energy level. Though I realized late in the day yesterday one reason for my lack of energy was sore muscles. I went all out on my last workout and paid the price for it, especially my calves.
Made the decision last night that I am taking a break from some forms of activism. My whole life I have been battling the forces of hate. I am losing that battle. That doesn't mean I am giving up but there are times I get tired. I am also removing people from my circle who are deeply set in their hate and absolutely no amount of reasoning, writing, talking or anything else will deter them.
That upcoming US civil war I predicted gets closer and closer. Recent events have included gay marriage reaching the Supreme Court. Looks like they will decide in favor of gay marriage. However, for Conservative extremists that will not be the end. Riots in various cities, especially Baltimore because of racism in the last few weeks. Two Muslims attacked a cartoon contest (which ran a contest for the best cartoon depicting Mohammed, which is completely against Muslim beliefs). They attacked with guns, managed to shoot one security officer who then shot both of them to death. So, what? They could not have gathered people with picket signs?! Mexicans more and more aggressive about their "right" to speak Spanish in school and on the job...
I admit the 1960's had more turbulence and more social protests than today. However, people were different. Way too many radicals stuck in their own warped minds and willing to engage in violence instead of social organization. How the hell does that happen, when it is so much easier for people to coordinate and organize a group now? There are lots of anti-bullying movements but only at childhood levels. In adulthood bullying is accepted as a norm and even often rewarded! WTF?!
The civil war I predicted is coming and it is going to be really ugly.
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