What I Want to See

 A new year is about to begin, and what I want to see is the beginning of a feeding frenzy on those that pushed the jab, harmed others, refused treatments due to politics, and are liable for what anyone else would call genocide. Attorneys have all they need to take millions to court, the money pockets are deep, and regardless of how the manufacturers are insulated, their minions don't have that protection. 

I don't do resolutions, but if I did, it would be to laugh every time someone that participated in the Covid madness is ridiculed, made to pay, prosecuted, or died. They deserve nothing more, and the world is better when they have no power, and will never again.

Too Soon, but Not Forgotten

I was sitting on the porch this morning, and my thoughts were soon filled with Christmas. I've had a few, and no matter what, every Christmas has some moments of trepidation. That's from decades in the past, when family members suffered from various problems, and they carried into the Christmas season. It's a gut reaction, and to be truthful, a few Christmas days were not really worth remembering. 

Other than a sister, who I'm not close to, I'm nearly all that's left of my family.  Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, some cousins, and three brothers are gone. Time took its toll, but sometimes time is much faster than anticipated, and the surprise of a loss takes a long time to find closure. It's what it is, and takes some remembering to go back through the chapters, and understand the entire story. The book goes on, and always, a new chapter is opened. 

If I really think long, and hard, I can probably think of maybe a dozen Christmas gifts I received over the years. Those I remember were really not fancy, or expensive, but had a value beyond what money can buy. That's the part of Christmas that is really not that important in the end. Things are things, but remembering a smile has no monetary value. That, the feeling of a warm home, with a good meal cooking, laughter, and family are the treasures to keep. They last forever, and are priceless. 

So, to everyone that comes to read, Merry Christmas, and may your blessings of family make you realize the real reason of celebrating can't be held, kept, or changed. It can only be shared with love, and that's what Christ is all about.

A Plethora of Species

 I was standing on the porch, enjoying the low forties temperature, and watching the steam on the pond, when a calling red shoulder hawk caught may attention as it flew over. I glanced over to the bird feeder, and started examining the number of birds either at the feeder, on the adjacent tree, or on the power line. I was a little amazed. 

A single common grackle was in the feeder. Cardinals were waiting in the tree, along with pine buntings, and Inca doves. Blue jays soon came to chase away the grackle and feed. On the power line was a kingfisher, a starling, and a few bluebirds. Crows were out near the road, and the call of a red belly woodpecker told me it would soon be at the feeder. A few wading birds flew over, and although it wasn't there, the cormorant that feeds in the pond will probably arrive this afternoon.

We have a lot of species that gather in the yard during the colder months. It won't be real long before the cedar wax wings will arrive, along with the blue buntings. Carolina chickadees, and titmice will occasionally come to feed, along with a number of smaller brown species like wrens and sparrows. Meadowlarks come and go in the yard. In breeding season, they will make ground nests in the yard, which may yield a few fledglings that look like cotton balls on soda straws. 

Watching the birds is an enjoyment that's hard to describe. All are interesting, and have a purpose. Being where I can observe is a blessing.

Four Weeks

 I had the cyst removed from my wrist on Monday. Everything went well, and much better than any surgery I've had before. The anesthesiologist gets the attaboy for her better than good skills. Whatever she did didn't lead to hours of loopy behavior, and from a conversation before the surgery, she was sharper than many I've dealt with before. 

So, four weeks with a wrist brace, some super glue instead of stitches, and what appears to be a very healthy wound will lead to a return to normalcy. That's a good thing, because typing is a little awkward at this time.

Quick Deluge and Temperature Change

 This morning, it was mostly cloudy, light wind, and a temperature in the upper seventies. A quick trip to the nearest big town for errands was shortened due to spotty rain, and a look at the radar. After a stop on the way home, we ran into the leading edge of the front, and were soon twenty miles below the speed limit in poor visibility. This lasted all the way home, and road ditches were overflowing. 

The wind must have been ferocious for a short period of time, when the front first arrived. Pine straw, small branches, and leaves covered our road, and the water was running over in the usual spots. Arriving home showed the porch furniture had blown over, and the yard was flooded. 

After going in, checking everything out, and returning to the porch, I looked at the rain gauge. It was around four inches, and the rain was still much more than a sprinkle. Over the next hour, it tapered off; leaving a steady light rain, and a temperature around 60 degrees. 

There's still a steady rain, and the radar shows we'll have this over the next few hours. With the rain gauge now only about an inch from the top, I'm wondering if we'll end up with six inches before it's over.

Matters of Conscience and Logic

I read what I can. In my reading, I've found many articles about the inoculations currently being pushed for a virus that is widely accepted as being created in a laboratory. That, and how the inoculations have many undesirable side effects that can lead to death in some. There's tons of information on both sides of the push for inoculations, but the elephant in the room is how there's no legal consequences for those manufacturing the serums used for Covid 19, and all the variants. Regardless of the final outcome, those that may have, or not, reacted to the possibility of riches, or reacted to the threat of losing their employment, have a free pass to do just about anything without any punishment. This leads to a dead-end for compensation, or justice, unless you take it to the limits of what either mean. The courts of law are now closed to those harmed, and what will be the reaction when enough finally realize they only have themselves to find justice?

Medications usually take years of research, experiments, and trials before being accepted for human use. There are many reasons for the time required, but the most important is to determine the long term effects of introducing something into the human body. One of the most important effects to be studied is the effect on pregnancy, and the subsequent children born to the parents given the medication. If the medication causes defects, miscarriages, or sterility, the ultimate effect may be a substantial loss of humans due to attrition. If enough are treated, millions will be affected. 

I'm not a doctor, so I can't speak for the medical profession, but as a layman, with the material I can find for information, I don't see how a doctor could recommend - and much less prescribe - a medication that hasn't been tested enough to make a logical determination of the effectiveness, or of the long term undesirable side-effects. This takes years, and the current push for inoculations borders on madness, if not a willingness to exterminate millions for a reason incomprehensible to healthy thought. Those that were so quick to push the inoculations are now the focus of those harmed. Without the societal buffer of legal remedies, those that promoted what could possibly be near genocide become the focus of those wanting redress. 

So, we have some in society that want to disregard logic, and their conscience (if they have one), for whatever reason. Detractors to the narrative are ostracized, research that contradicts what is being presented as fact is ignored, or hidden, and the economies of the entire world are being destroyed by the efforts.

Time will eventually determine how this all ends. One thing is for sure: Liberty should never be traded for temporary safety, or removed because of the whims of those that can't be trusted. Most of all, making an effort to prevent this from happening again should be paramount in importance.  

Mild Days and Nights

 I was sitting on the front porch, listening to the sounds of the night, and thinking about the blessing of our current weather. Some are probably disappointed, and others not really noticing, but it's rare. 

Right now, at midnight, it's 72 degrees, with a pleasant wind out of the south. It's cloudy, but it's the thin stratus, which can turn into a heavy fog near daybreak. According to the wizards, we'll see this for the next three days, with breaks in the clouds and daytime temperatures around 80 for the highs. 

We've had a number of days with this type of weather, with cold fronts only breaking the cycle with a few days of colder weather. We haven't had a frost, and nothing even close to a freeze. I know might find it doesn't remind them much of the Christmas season, but digging into my past memories, this isn't a first for me, and we had a few, where the air condition was running to keep the kitchen from being too hot on Christmas day. 

I'll take this. It allows running around in shorts during the day, and pleasant evenings on the front porch without insects, and the beating sun. Sooner, or later, we'll receive a strong front, have days of blustery cold weather, and have the opportunity to complain about the cold. Until then, I'll enjoy the best our weather can offer, and sip my coffee on the front porch in a thin bathrobe. 

More Surgery

 Wednesday, I had a tumor removed from above my right eye. It's more than likely a lipoma, but was sent in for testing to verify the diagnosis. It was an interesting experience, and not what I envisioned. 

I guess I've watched too many television programs where the doctor removes a lipoma with the patient sitting up, smiling, having a conversation with the doctor, and family members in the room watching. That's how I thought it would be, since the surgeon told me he would sedate me, but not put me out. He, also, told me it was a short, simple procedure. 

I arrived early to complete some papers, and then waited for over thirty minutes for them to call me to the back. When there, I was told to remove my clothes and put on a gown. That surprised me, but I determined it was a guarantee no blood would be on my clothes. The soon put in an IV, after checking my vitals. My wife was allowed to be in the room, so she took my the contents of my pockets, and my clothes were put in a plastic bag. 

They came for me, grabbed my clothes, and left my wife in the examination room. Soon in the operating room, they told me they were injecting the anesthetic, and I felt  a burning sensation in my arm. I notified the nurses, who explained it was normal, and I had no need to worry. I was out in seconds. 

I awoke sitting in a wheelchair facing the discharge door. How I got dressed is beyond me, but I was dressed, and waiting for my wife to pull under the awning. I don't remember being loaded in the car, any conversation, or the trip home, except for eating a sausage and biscuit sandwich during the drive. 

At home, I have a foggy memory of making a cup of coffee, using an ice pack, and being very tired. I don't remember climbing in bed, but do remember dreaming of being with my wife at a strange house, with a big friendly dog that was jumping up and playing. I was concerned the dog would jump, hit my head, and accentuate the terrible headache I had. Awakening, I realized the headache was not a dream. If I had to describe it, I would describe the pain after being struck in the head with a claw hammer. I took a tramadol, went to the kitchen, and started making some coffee. 

My sister-in-law knocked on the door. She was upset because someone hacked phone number, social media account, and email. I had a short conversation with her, but the pain wasn't lessening, and I had to break off the conversation to go take another tramadol. I took another one, laid down in the bed, and was finally rewarded with enough relief to fall asleep. 

I woke during the early morning hours with a headache. Looking in the mirror revealed the start of what can only be described as a shiner. I took my antibiotic,  pain medication, and started my day of resting. I'd sleep, on and off, and used an ice pack between naps. The day was somewhat of a blur, but the naps helped. 

I woke during the night. The swelling was worse, with my eye half-closed. After some coffee, and television, I finally was sleepy again, so I went back to sleep. 

Yesterday morning, the swelling was still there. Since it was time, my wife removed the bandage to reveal the incision. It's about two inches long, and in a crease in my forehead. Scarring will be minimal, and the stitches will dissolve over time.

This morning, the swelling is still there. I'm guessing sleeping has something to do with that. I have no pain, so that's a good thing.

Next week, I do bloodwork for my surgery to remove a ganglion cyst that is growing. Pain is intermittent, but will only disappear by surgery, with removal and suturing the root of the cyst. The surgery takes place Monday week, and will result in a wrist brace for a month. Hopefully, this will end surgeries forever. 

It's Been 80 Years

 I wasn't alive during the attack on Pearl Harbor. My parents, grandparents, and most adults were, when I was younger. They remembered the initial shock, and horror. They had to deal with the following years and losses of vast numbers of young folks that fought in places that were once exotic vacation locations. It all happened 80 years ago, and it's apparent many today have no idea of the significance of today's date. The call "Remember Pearl Harbor" has faded away into the past, and those that endured are mostly gone. 

May we never forget how the world can be an evil place, run by evil people, and never be unprepared.

I have to add a local man's remains were finally identified, and they laid him to rest today. He was killed on the Oklahoma, and only modern technology finally allowed positive identification. He was given the burial of a hero, which is a fitting sendoff for a soul lost 80 years ago.

They Don't Realize

Too many politicians, too much of the media, too much of academia, and too many of those that inhabit the largest cities don't realize they're completely out of touch. They never think of the hard labor that leads to their meals, how many hours were spent in brutal weather to keep their infrastructure intact, how many truckers spent long hours hauling goods, how their electricity is made, or that they've managed to alienate those that have complete control over their existence. It's folly on their part, and maybe dangerous.

Hard to Watch

 During my career, I was responsible for thousands of cubic yards of what is usually called "dirt". In construction, the material is called "embankment", and comes in many varieties. Quantities are usually determined by surveying the location, and using calculations to find the amount needed. With enough measuring, and a proposed elevation, quantities can be accurate.,

I was blessed to work with some of the finest engineers, operators, and old supervisors over the years. They taught me much, and the knowledge they passed on allowed me to be able to complete projects as anticipated. That's why I'm writing this post.

A neighbor is having embankment delivered to raise the low spots on his acreage. It's needed, since his property can pond water, which leads to tall grass. The tall grass keeps him from having a neat yard, and is hard on the mower. The problem is who he has doing the work. 

Since I've been watching the process, I know nobody ever cross-sectioned the property, so quantities are completely subjective. That leads to paying for loads as they are dumped, which can be good, but only if there's a competent operator spreading the fill ahead of the material. This avoids having to move material over long distances, since it's dumped close to the machine, and the operator can spot dump loads of material where needed. Failing to follow this process can lead to irregular dumping, too much material, and overspending by the property owner.  That is now what has happened. Loads were dumped in various spots, quantities needed are not near some areas, and too much is in others. This increases time for the operated dozer, and can lead to disputes over the time needed to place the material.

Before placing fill, the existing top three inches of soil, and vegetation need to be stripped, unless the area to fill is extremely deep, and the material can be compacted in lifts to prevent unwanted settlement. The stripped material, which is usually part of the quantities calculations as the last three inches of material to be placed, needs to be stockpiled on site, or hauled to a temporary area to prevent conflicts with moving material on the site. Failing to do this can lead to an area that is only a material that won't support vegetation. Where placing topsoil allows new growth within days, Inert fill can take years to establish any vegetation, since there's no nutrition to provide growth. Sod can help, but with large areas, cost prohibitive. Seeding is what's needed for this process, and necessary, but without topsoil, wasted money. This hasn't happened at the neighbor's so the results are yet to be seen. I have no idea if the new material will support vegetation, but knowing the local soil, many areas will remain bare, until years of unwanted vegetation finally supplies some topsoil for growth. Grass won't be established unless the areas is seeded, and that might only lead to patches of dead growth that will remain in that state for years. 

Embankment should never be placed in standing water. Two things happen when this is done. One is the embankment becomes so saturated, uneven areas with a clay subgrade can lead to ponding under the embankment, and only hot sun over a long period of time will dry this area for manipulation. That, and the super wet material can't be manipulated. If the machinery doesn't sink in this area, grading is impossible, since only ruts are the final result of trying to grade the area. This leads to more equipment time, and wasted money. This hasn't happened at the neighbor's, and the problems I described have developed. 

Regardless of final grade, all soil has to drain. This is accomplished with sloping to natural outfalls, or digging swales. This hasn't happened at the neighbor's. Areas are not draining, so the soil is too wet to work successfully due to recent rains. 

Embankment should never be placed on top of an existing road, or drive. Manipulating the embankment will damage the road. If the road is crushed stone, the layers will be mixed with the material, and the thickness of material reduced. Soft spots, and total failures, can develop, making vehicle traffic impossible. The neighbor's driveway has basically disappeared, and he barely made it up his drive after a small rain shower this afternoon. His trip out will probably lead to being stuck in his own drive. I have the feeling he's in contact with his contractor over this problem. 

The entire project has been a mess from the beginning. From conversations with people that know this neighbor, he was warned about the contractor, but decided to use them anyway. To me, that's foolish. Even if there is a contract (which I doubt there is) final satisfaction will only be arrived at in a courtroom. Even then, a judgement won't guarantee a solution, since a bankruptcy filing will make that disappear. 

To add insult to the debacle, the contractor is destroying the edge of the pavement as he hauls in and out. That created a different critter, since getting the county to take care of such things is damn near impossible. With the contractor's reputation, I'm just about sure he'll try to skate on repairing the road, and we'll be left with paving problems. Time will tell, but all the rest of the neighbors are like me, and not happy about this situation. I don't know how we'll handle this, but the contractor has some nice equipment that will fetch a fair price at auction. That should cover repair costs. 

Bravo

I read where Baldwin had an interview with the Clinton bitch boy, and claimed he didn't pull the trigger of the single action revolver that killed his coworker. He even cried, which is what he's paid well to do. He cries during many of his performances, and it even looks convincing. 

So, Bravo Mr. Baldwin. While you may have not pulled the trigger, how do you explain how the hammer of a single action revolver was cocked? We're waiting, and wondering when the local prosecutor will stop trying to shovel through the bullshit and charge you for the crime you committed. The scene is complete, they've called cut, and now you have to face the real world.

Some Might Call it Sedition

 A Dem Senator thinks that if Roe Vs. Wade is tossed by what science now reveals, a "revolution" will follow.  Is that a warning? Or, is it she is just running her mouth with the hope her words are followed? Either way, she needs to be censored by the Senate, and her constituents need to think about how it is folly to elect such a reprobate. 

The link doesn't work...same old crap.....the link is:  https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dem-senator-revolution-roe-wade-overturned

What an Arrogant Ass

 Fauci thinks he represents science. That, and all detractors are nothing but noise. If this doesn't get him kicked to the curb, with numerous boot prints on the seat of his pants, nothing will. He has to go, and he has to go with the assurance he never has the ability to influence public policy in the future. He's dangerous, and a criminal.

As Life Goes On

The last two trips to the dermatologist led to some more treatments with liquid nitrogen, and some biopsies. All but one of the biopsies were clear, but the one, which was on a small area that felt like it had a metal shaving in it, revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Fortunately, the biopsy removed all of the cancer, so the next phase is to keep an eye on the area, and let the doctor know if something doesn't seem right. 

The doctor prescribed a topical medication (Flourouracil) for the areas of keratosis the sun caused over the years of exposure. So far, it seems to be working, and over time, will remove the areas of damage. That's a good thing, because I was finding parts of my lower arms as ugly as homemade soap. 

So, it continues. I pay for the foolishness of my youth, but have been lucky by not having dreaded Melanoma. Time will tell if I avoid this forever, but since I keep a close eye on my skin, even if I do, the chances of it becoming dangerous will be greatly reduced if caught early. 

A Brutal Reality

From what I understand, viruses are tenacious survivors. When they destroy their host, survivors mutate to cause less severe conditions, which allows them to survive, without killing the new hosts. This creates an environment where only some die from the virus, but the rest continue to mutate to allow another host. For those that are infected, a natural immunity from exposure to the virus remains after infection. Mutations of the same virus may cause some symptoms, but not so severe as to cause death.

Created viruses are different. With molecular changes, they can jump species, attack their new hosts, and without a natural immunity, a pandemic can be created; whether by accident or intent. How the new hosts reacts is not known, until the virus is studied, and a possible vaccine can be created. If the virus is like Ebola, or some strains of Influenza, the result can be disastrous. Millions can die, before a natural immunity is developed. Efforts to develop a vaccine may be fruitless, since the virus can spread to a sufficient number of hosts in a short period of time. Only natural immunity allows survival.

We are at the point where a mutated virus has traveled through all developed nations, and the result is not of a species actually wishing for survival of all. Politics, intentional attempt of tyranny, and mass hysteria have removed all efforts to seek the truth. This prevents a solution, and allow the most to survive. 

Do people have a natural immunity to Covid 19? From uncensored reports, they do. Also, it's not known if those with natural immunity from other viruses are protected. There hasn't been enough time to determine this. In fact, there's no set time when exposure started, or how far it was transmitted before it was discovered. It is known that many determined to have been infected showed mild, or no symptoms, which to logical thinking, means extreme measures are not required, and the small number of individuals with severe reactions are not dangerous to most of the population. 

The reaction, in my opinion, was fabricated to cause chaos, and the removal of liberty. Initial statistics showed it was no more dangerous than Influenza, and the huge money drain for a cure lead to political advantage, huge profits for pharmaceutical manufacturers, and a terrible effect on the world economy. To make things worse, the supposed vaccine has not only shown to be ineffective, the biological changes it creates leads to a higher incident of Covid infections by those given the serum. Multiple injections are now demanded, and variants may be so aggressive, those that had the injection may find they not only are in danger from the reaction to the injection, the variant may insure their demise. 

The brutal reality is ( regardless of why) those injected with the vaccines sold by pharmaceutical manufacturers have an uncertain future. Some believe there will be a mass die-off in the coming years, and others believe the effects of reproduction, and damage to children, will lead to a gradual reduction in the population. Either is horrible to contemplate, and considering those involved in preventing vaccine producers from liability, with Constitutional violations that demand prosecution, an atrocity that rivals the Holocaust, and the Cultural Revolution.

Nobody Cares

I've read a few reports about people that have all types of reasons to make Thanksgiving something it's not. The reasons vary, but they range from abstaining by some Native Americans, to animal rights activists condemning consuming turkey. I guess they hope they can make everyone's Thanksgiving miserable.

What they don't realize is that nobody cares. Millions had their traditional family gathering, thanked God for the blessings they have, enjoyed their meal and never for a single moment contemplated the whining, moaning, bitching and naval gazing by the few that are so wrapped up in their selfish thoughts, they can't realize Thanksgiving has nothing to do with their opinions. Thanksgiving is about being grateful for what you have, whether a lot, or little. That's a good thing to do, and those that think otherwise should go soak their heads.

The Big Feast

 I've been thinking about the past for the last few days. Many things popped into my head, and most were of the things that will never happen again. That, and how life leads to places never considered in the past, and the blessings bestowed. 

Every Thanksgiving has been a blessing. All were shared with family, and all had a meal that guaranteed I wouldn't be hungry on that day. That alone is enough, but with loved ones around to share the event, it was a glorious day to contemplate the good things, have a laugh, and lounge with a full stomach.

Happy Thanksgiving to all that visit, and my you have one of the best days of your life.

Things Change

The Salvation Army has been a low overhead charity for years. This allowed more money to be used for those in need. Unfortunately, they've become woke, which translates to whores for the Communists. I have a feeling the bell ringers will find some unpleasant things in their buckets this year.

Thinking About Things

According to reports,  the Biden administration is doing the following:

- Stopped U.S. oil production to where the oil reserves are being tapped. 

- Gutted the military, and continuing the removal of service members by discharging them for not being jabbed. 

- Screwed up the off-base living payments to Navy personnel.

- Has known ties to Communist China

- Gives aid to foreign nations known to be enemies of the United States.

- Doesn't prosecute known criminals that promote its narrative, but harasses mothers for protesting school board mandates they find are contradictory to their morals. 

- Condemns those that defend themselves with firearms, and ignores those that destroy property, kill innocent citizens, and the judges that continue to allow them to go free. 

- Ignores election fraud, and allows illegal campaign donors to corrupt elections unimpeded. 

- Allows invaders to cross our borders with impunity.

There are many other things, but the most concerning to me is the removal of security at the borders, the degrading of the armed forces, and influence by Communist China. China can never conquer the United States if the United States has a strong, well equipped military that doesn't allow Generals to fritter away money on useless arms only because they're receiving special favors by manufacturers. A better informed citizenry would observe the current situation, make strong efforts to stop the efforts of the Biden Administration, and many would be prosecuted for treason.

Career Suicide

 After watching pieces of the Rittenhouse trial, and the debacle of the Kenosha prosecutor's office, it looks like Thomas Binger might have reached the end of his career. What happens will be seen, but there are things that will sure be problems in his future. 

I doubt the District Attorney will keep him. Politically, they have no choice, since Binger is now an albatross. If they do, they won't be re-elected. If they don't, people will still wonder about the competence of a prosecutor that allowed such a public display of incompetence; if no outright corruption. Firing Binger will be the lesser of two evils, but the citizens will definitely not have a good opinion of the office. 

Binger is liable for prosecutorial irregularities. Whether intentional, or on purpose, they reflect on his license, and disbarment is a possibility. Without a license, his options in the legal profession are not nearly as lofty as they are at this point. Whether the bar acts, or not, many citizens will, and I'm sure the complaints are already being delivered. 

If I had to guess, and I'm guessing by observing other areas of the United States, Binger is part of the Soros backed seditionists being placed in office by huge amounts of election money. If so, he probably doesn't need the money from working. If not, there will be plenty of others to help him in the future. He's television material, and a book deal may be in his future. 

What Was Presented

In rural areas, Rittenhouse's actions are the norm. Law enforcement, at best, is fifteen minutes away, and at worst, may not arrive until they finish what they're doing. Only a handful of deputies patrol at night, and they might be covering hundreds of square miles. The protection of property, and self-defense, are not subjective opinions of the media, or woefully ignorant minions of the politicians. Action, when required, is instant, and those willing to become criminally violent are handled with extreme prejudice. 

Regardless of how the media is promoting the ignorance, city governments either become more observant of the laws that protect the citizens, or they'll find they can't find enough law enforcement officers willing to lose their morals and allow mayhem to flourish. Rittenhouse was only doing what he felt was what a responsible citizen should do, and he was right. Unrepentant thugs were roaming the streets of Kenosha, the city ignored their responsibility, and without the help of a long rifle, Rittenhouse would have become another murder statistic. 

Rittenhouse now has every right, if not the responsibility, to take the offensive and sue those that tarnished his reputation, promoted lies, and used their power of office in the attempt to remove his rights. Those so willing to sacrifice individuals for personal gain are as evil as the criminals Rittenhouse was confronted with. They should be punished, and the preferred punishment would be criminal charges for many, instead of monetary judgements, that may never be paid.

Now We Watch

Kyle Rittenhouse is vindicated. The Democrat traitors are angry, so are the Hollywood traitors, and they've become vocal with their displeasure. Unfortunately, those not happy with the verdict don't quite understand the rules of law, which they haven't followed for decades (if not longer), are in place. Including in the rules is the Second Amendment, which allows individuals to protect themselves from mobs, criminals, and anyone acting outside the confines of the Constitution. 

Now we watch. How will the citizens of Wisconsin  react to the angry thugs gathering in the streets? Will they allow them to destroy their cities? Or, will they react with equal, and more forceful, violence against those so willing to riot? 

Personally, I wouldn't be upset if the violent mobs found bullets as a reaction to their bricks. They deserve no less, and it will save money for prosecutions of violent rioters. 

If You're Awake, Go Outside and See the Eclipse

 I've seen a few lunar eclipse. The eclipse tonight is spectacular in my location, since the sky is exceptionally clear, the moon is near the head of the constellation Taurus, and with it almost overhead at 3:00 am, the moon looks tiny against the night sky. 

Times like these makes me want to add some astronomy gadgets to my wish list. With rare occasions, and near perfect conditions, once in a lifetime events can be captured forever.

What a Pinhead

 Joy Reid, who anyone with some intelligence would describe as a pinhead, thinks Americans should be grateful to the Biden thugs for the $2000 check they received.

Really? How about the long periods of time with insufficient income that the check didn't even begin to cover? How about the fact the check is only a small part of the income stolen with confiscatory taxes that every working American loses? How about the double digit cost of living increases that are crippling the budgets of all Americans, and especially affecting those surviving on low income paying jobs? Are we supposed to be grateful for these things? What about the effort to remove the rights of people by forcing a vaccine that may eventually kill a substantial number of the citizens? 

Joy Reid needs to go. That, and the alphabet network that pays her that is the propaganda media outlet for traitors. 

**Spit**

On The Ghost Road

 I took a short day trip with my wife last weekend. We didn't have any planned route, but decided to not venture too far, so she could photograph some Fall foliage. 

As we drove, I thought of Ghost Road, which is all that remains of was once a railroad years ago. It has a history of unexplained lights, which is the reason for the name. I've never been through at night, but have friends that have, and told stories of seeing a light that hovered, disappeared, and reappeared behind them. There are many theoretical explanations, but regardless, it's an eerie experience to those that see the light. 

We stopped to photograph a beautiful tree, when she noticed something more photogenic growing on the side of the road. I don't know what it is, but it's remarkable. The tiny seed pod looks like a small leather bundle. 

I was amazed, and have never seen anything like it. If someone knows what it is, post a comment.

A Look at Section 242

 Federal law is specific on the crime of willfully denying a person their rights under color of law.

TITLE 18, U.S.C., SECTION 242

Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.

So, how is it that federal, and state officials, can deny a person their right to work? Why haven't federal law enforcement officials presented evidence to grand juries for possible prosecutions? The questions are rhetorical, since it's obvious they don't feel the laws apply to them, and too, are in violation of the laws. It's tyranny, and they know it. To make things worse, too many brain numb people sit on their hands and let it happen.

Old Airplane

 I was out in the yard, and heard the sound I haven't heard much in years. It was an old radial engine air transport lumbering through the sky above ten thousand feet. The progress was slow, and reminded me of the early sixties.

I have no idea what it was, but know it wasn't a DC-3. It only had two engines, but I haven't found what it is on the internet. It brought back some good memories.

Another One to Ignore

 From past observations, I felt Gene Simmons was a logical thinker. I was wrong. Oh well, another opinion to ignore. He needs to retire. After his comments, I'm thinking he may have no choice.

The Madness of WW1and Veteran's Day

A little research reveals something I was either never taught, or didn't realize at the time. They called it World War One, but in reality, it was the great massacre. Million died fighting for a few yards of real estate, while the most modern of military technology smashed, hacked, gassed, and crushed those unfortunate enough to be fighting along the long lines of trenches. The scars of the long struggle are still visible, and even now, the fields are distorted by huge craters surrounding long furrows that were once deep trenches; like the thrashings of a drunk giant. 

This was repeated in WW2. Millions died, while half-mad rulers dictated their demise with impunity. They never suffered the horrors of battle, but those they sent to the carnage did. It continued in Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East, and continues today in places that the majority of supposedly educated people couldn't find on a map, if their life depended on it. 

Hopefully, those that served will never be forgotten, even though today doesn't have any meaning to most that take for granted those that served their country. We call them veterans, and they have a day for us to remember their sacrifices. Honor them, and never forget they have dreams, families, careers, and all must be pushed to the side while they serve. It may seem an insignificant thing, but to our veterans, it gives them some satisfaction for their sacrifices. While the day was created mark the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month that was the official end of WW1, it continues to remember all the wars, and peace time efforts, of those that served.

Examining the Ninth

 In my opinion, all the demands by government officials, and private employers, to remove the right of autonomy by not only not allowing a person their labor, but to fine them for not complying, doesn't prevent them from civil remedies. That, and those harmed by the injection, too, have the right for civil relief, regardless of any official mandate.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Regardless of all case law, former opinions, current opinions, or legislation that addresses the unique circumstances of the supposed pandemic, removing the ability to seek a redress for grievances can only be considered tyranny, and unacceptable. So, where are the brave attorneys willing to file a suit in spite of the government mandates, and supposed protection, for those that willingly subjugated citizens to arrest and harm?

The Search for the Truth

I've been working on this post for a few hours. I had some profound thoughts about journalism, current events, and the search for accurate information. After a few cups of coffee, a cat nap, and watching late night television, I realized how hard the truth may be to find. 

Did you know there's an Alaskan Triangle? I heard about it in the past, but now I've been educated about the constant visits by aliens, the prehistoric critters than roam freely, and a mountain that is filled with government officials, working with aliens on unknown tasks. In a way, it seems to me I might not want to visit there. While some events might be fascinating to observe, having to deal with some large prehistoric beast turning over the trash can doesn't seem exciting. I have enough problems with possums; and while they're somewhat prehistoric, they're small, and act like they're dead when really harassed. 

There are shows of strange events that have "experts" that analyze the footage to give their opinion. One event that really caught my attention was an "object" that moved across the sky with what was surmised to be purpose. It was interesting, but my expert opinion said it was a large cluster of balloons, which were probably released at a wedding. I had to change the channel, so I wouldn't wake my wife by shouting at the screen. That led to haunted places. 

While some of the haunted places shows are impressive, they all can be faked. I know this might sound harsh, but you can't make money with things that you can't record, and fabricating supernatural events is easy money; especially if you have some good video skills, with the software to boot. The fear looks real, but in a really creepy place, with a group of people, the sound of a building creaking due to thermal changes can leave all of them running for an exit screaming like little girls. They do have gadgets that record electromagnet events. They go off to warn of these events, which are supposed to be spirits arriving. It looks impressive, but wouldn't a call on a cell phone do the same? After all, unless spirits have their own FCC band of frequencies, such gadgets would have to register a broad band of frequencies, and face it, we're constantly bombarded with electromagnetic radiation. Even our car fobs are creating electromagnetic radiation.

I watched part of an infomercial for a small space heater that costs over forty dollars, is worth about twenty dollars, and can fit in a large purse. Fit in a large purse? Is that a hint for how to obtain one without money at Walmart? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the infomercial?

The worst thing was the news. That's where pundits, and other supposed experts, expound personal opinions as though they're facts. Meanwhile, the actual facts are crushed into indecipherable statistics created by corrupt data, and compiled by nefarious individuals without names. To make things worse, it all is dumped into the cesspool of social media, where it's corrupted to the point even an imbecile should be suspicious. Unfortunately, this isn't the situation, and apparently, imbeciles are one step above the normal viewer of many news channels.

So, my profundity was corrupted by too much coffee, time, and television. I did keep my title, and first chapter. Here it is:

The best of journalists demand accuracy, their good ability to present their investigation into clear script, and unimpeachable information.  We still have some good journalists,  but it's getting tougher to decide who they are. The truth, however, is out there. 

Twenty Six Ignorant Wastes of Oxygen

 When it comes to the U.S. Constitution, rights are for citizens only. These Democrats  fail to understand this, don't want to understand this, or are just outright seditionists wasting taxpayer money on ridiculous efforts. May they lose their next election, and we have new congress critters with more awareness than garden vegetables. 

Going on the Offense

 I think Virginia should do a careful audit of the election. Call it "going on the offense". Why? Virginia was easily won by Biden for the national election, and I doubt there are that many wishy-washy dumbasses in Virginia. My experience with the state showed the opposite, and if Biden won so easily, someone cheated, and were probably cheating during the governor election. Ferret them out, and punish them severely. Take money from the districts were the fraud is found, and use it to pay the cost for the audit.

No Trust

I don't trust any politicians, public entity, the media, and many in the medical profession. Why? Politicians lie, public entities are filled with culls from the private sector, the media fails to report facts, and too many in the medical profession are either incompetent, have financial gain for peddling unsafe medications, or have woefully incompetent staff.  I have a feeling the majority of people in the U.S. feel the same, and the pot is starting to boil.

Bipartisan Corruption

Bipartisan is used to describe an imaginary cooperation of political opponents. They aren't opponents, most of them have the same questionable investments in companies that use money to corrupt politics, and they all laugh on their way to the bank. The peons have no clue, because they allowed the corruption of education through political leveraging. 

The Lack of Force

I haven't found any reports of anyone being forced to take the jab. Coercion, duress, ridicule, and the other mind game methods of attempting to make someone do something are used, but not force. That's where the strength of the United States is most evident. If someone used force, the backlash would be so terrible, few involved would live to see another day. 

The Supreme Court refused to block a vax mandate for health workers in Maine. The reason by those that refused the injunction is best explained as procedural problems. Otherwise, if it isn't wrapped up in all the glitter, bows, and fancy paper, a basic right guaranteed by the Constitution is ignored until the present is what they like to see. This leaves many workers two options: take the jab, or lose your job. In a perfect world, all those taking the jab would stand for the rights of others and, too, refuse to work for a tyrannical employer. This would remove the need to seek relief at the Supreme Court. Maine's health system would shut down, and the mandate would be rescinded. 

It's all coming down to which states are best to live in. Those that embrace the Constitution will be the best, and those that don't, will find they only attract those willing to live in poverty, and seek security through public assistance. Otherwise, a parasitic society will become entrenched, only the most incompetent will become the most important, and citizens will be at the mercy of what the dregs of society can provide. Those that don't will have the best society can offer. Liberty allows many things, and the best thing is autonomy without tyranny. They will flourish, while the other states will fail. 

Reality shows the majority of U.S. citizens want liberty. Reality, also, shows there is a huge scourge of ignorance eroding at what was envisioned by the founders, and what keeps the nation healthy. Blame can be found, but solutions are many times ignored. In the situation of vax mandates, the solution is not allowing the mandates, the demand those involved with the apparent subterfuge be exposed, and a strong effort by all citizens to prevent this from happening again. Will this happen? That's to be seen, but when entire states have citizens willing to bow to a few politician's whims, it's not looking very promising.

Gnarly Weather

Yesterday morning, a front passed through; bringing near hurricane force winds, at least one tornado, and about three inches of rain in a short period of time. One local video of a tornado passing across IH 10 made the national news. Damage was relatively light, but enough to severely change a few people's lives. No injuries, which is good. 

Right before the worst of the storms hit, power went out. A call, and some reports, revealed a power pole snapped and put over 600 customers out of service. That's when it became interesting.

My electricity is from a local co-op. Instead of a huge corporate money pit sucking up the revenue, the money is used to guarantee good service, which includes line clearing and necessary upgrades. Responses for problems are quick, and repairs fast. The bad part: they don't generate electricity, so they have to wait for the large electrical generating corporation to repair their equipment before they can restore our power. 

It took twelve hours for power to be restored. Up until dark, the pole laid on the side of the highway, with a cone marking the spot. At dark, and realizing power might not be restored until late tomorrow, I uncovered the generator, fired it up, and brought the refrigerator back down. Nothing had thawed, but I wasn't taking a chance. 

With power, I soon had the pot brewing and coffee to share. My sister-in-law came over for a cup, and we visited wile enjoying the coffee. As we were discussing, the power came back on, which relieved everyone. I turned off the generator and went back to line power. 

Plugging in the refrigerator demanded pulling it away from the wall. This revealed dust, and dirt. This morning, my wife and I cleaned behind it, I cleaned the coils, we pushed in back to the wall, and then tackled the stove. After all, if you pull the refrigerator out to clean, you might as well do the same behind the stove. 

So, the power outage was inconvenient, but inspired us to do some necessary cleaning. That's a good thing. Now, we'll spend the afternoon doing little, and listen to the wind roar outside. It came through with a vengeance this morning, and hasn't let up since.

What Fate Brings

 I've been reading the multiple reports, and opinions, on the incident where Alec Baldwin accidently fired a shot from a loaded revolver on a movie set. The final result was the death of the director of photography, and an injury to the director. The response is across the board, and opinions sometime unbridled demands for retribution. 

It all boils down to what the law directs for this incident. Does the law address all the evidence? Does the evidence demand prosecution for the act? Is it the prosecutors responsibility to bring all the evidence to a grand jury? Regardless of opinion, that's what a good legal system will examine, and charges brought if necessary. 

If I had to guess how this will turn out, Baldwin, and others, will be charged with involuntary manslaughter, they will appear before a judge, they will be released after pleading guilty, and the final punishments will be very mild. In the end, the civil liabilities will be the biggest punishment.  None of these things will be nearly as severe a punishment as knowing their negligence killed someone only doing their job. A person with a conscience will spend the rest of their life wondering what they could have done differently, and agonizing over their mistake.

The circus is now in town, tort attorneys will have millions in free publicity, and the circus will last for years.

No Mercy

Genocide is the best way to describe the Covid pandemic, and attempt to kill more with an untested inoculation. The death toll would eliminate the population of large cities. The gain of function research is the work of sadistic rulers and their scientists. The response of public officials, such as the nursing home deaths in New York, is as evil. 

Capital punishment is the best way to punish those involved. Start with Fauci, then all the public officials that used their power to isolate helpless people in an environment that guaranteed exposure and death. It's the only method that guarantees those involved can never prey on helpless people again.

Something We Need to Address

After the Alec Baldwin fiasco on a movie set, it's apparent you can't let liberals have firearms, and more important: Never allow them to run any form of government. 

The Dream of Home Ownership

My wife showed me a comment on one of her young relative's social media page. The commenter stated they wish the housing bust would happen soon, so they can afford a home. It made me think. 

I know some people that are comfortable paying rent for the rest of their lives, and avoiding the demands of owning a home. I understand their opinion, but my experience says they are in the minority. The majority of people want their own home, and with today's market, it's out of reach for the young, and not looking too promising in the near future. That's what led to the comment. 

In my opinion, and it's probably shared by many, the high cost of a home purchase is not sustainable. The prices are inflated for many reasons, but regardless, the lack of young home buyers will lead to innovation, if not the opportunities afforded by a severe drop in real estate prices due to a lack of buyers. To make things worse, those paying the inflated price will find they're underwater, and with monetary inflation, find their risk is more than they can pay.  Will lenders take a loss? Can lending institutions handle the loss of income, while waiting to complete foreclosures?

One thing I've noticed is the demand for larger homes. I've seen it with people I know, and on the remodeling shows. That, and the demand each child has their own bedroom, with another room for their play, or study. It's as though the outdoors is something to be avoided. Like a zoo, the "enclosure" needs to have everything, which comes at a cost. Although it's nice to have such things, how many stop to think of the later years, when stairs are insurmountable, the large areas can't be cleaned as necessary, and the cost to condition the large unused spaces become burdensome?  What about the tremendous amount of income used to pay the interest for the mortgage? With a smaller home, and the realization it will be more than comfortable after the children have grown, wouldn't the money be better spent on retirement?

It's a mess, and unrealistic expectations led to the mess. How it ends up is to be seen, but it sure appears it will be as bad as the financial crises of sub-prime mortgages.

The Answer is "No"

This administration, as much as they're trying to push their agenda, is finding the answer "no" becoming common. While some states, cities, and basically brain dead supporters of the madness have the media to push their propaganda, enough are realizing the subterfuge, unwilling to take part, and showing their displeasure. 

This is an inspiring article. In a polite way, a member of the House told Biden, and his minions, what impolite stadium fans already chant. It's a good thing, and shows there is no middle ground between liberty an tyranny. 

The Sinking Ship

 The current administration has what can best be described as nitwits in high positions. While some may ignore the fact, the fact is the administration is a sinking ship, and when the rats start leaving, the problem will be obvious.

Things Change

Back in the late fifties, and early sixties, my early years were accented with days that went on forever, and were filled with exploration. They're mostly lost, but moments are preserved forever. 

We were barefoot during the warmer months. Our feet were as tough as leather. Walking across a shell parking lot, or hot asphalt, was only a minor inconvenience. Stone bruises were the same, and a cut was forgotten, until a blade of grass found its way into area that no bandage could secure. 

In the evening, when supper was over, the light had finally faded, and we knew to go in, unless we had permission to wander with flashlights to find frogs, we'd take our bath to wash away the sweat beads. Although washed, our calloused feet were still deep brown; like permanent moccasins; a testament to long days of exploring.

In the late Summer, with the grass high, we'd lay in the yard, watch the clouds pass over, and listen to the drones of high flying airplanes. Jets were few, and the deep rumble of large rotary engines was comforting; almost mesmerizing. A few moments of in activity would have led to a nap, but there was so much to be done, so we'd be off to take advantage of every moment available. School was soon to start, and the next real time of being free was the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving was arriving at my grandparent, turning their doorbell ringer, and walking in to a house almost too warm. The small space heaters would be on low, the kitchen almost unbearably hot, and the glorious aroma of the soon to be enjoyed feast was intoxicating. We'd say our hellos, scamper through the den, where my grandfather would be watching football, and head out the back door; my grandfather's pipe smoke following us as we left.

Outside rewarded us with a brisk breeze, the light smell of burning leaves, and an azure sky that almost hurt our eyes. We only had a little time before the meal, so our wanderings were close. We'd look at the garden, now full of winter vegetables, and go look at the burning barrel; now almost empty, with only a few wisps of the smoke of leaves. We'd look, but not venture, down the alley. The neighbors had two territorial Siamese cats that wouldn't hesitate to attack. It only took one event to determine a cat was as dangerous as any dog. 

We'd be called for dinner. The turkey was surrounded with dishes of mashed potatoes, Kentucky wonder beans, sweet potatoes casserole covered with marshmallows, cornbread stuffing, hot rolls, cranberry jelly,  and a gravy bowl filled with a deep brown gravy swimming with giblets. There was always homemade preserves for the rolls. My grandmother would announce: "Save some room for desert", and we'd ignore the advice to insure our afternoon would have moments of being so full, we'd have to slow down for a few minutes to avoid discomfort. 

Desert was apple, pecan, and pumpkin pie. That, a blueberry cheesecake, homemade cookies, and fresh brownies. Whip cream was in a bowl in the middle to for those that wanted the extra touch. How we managed to eat more is unknown, but we did. We'd finish, be shooed from the kitchen, and outside we'd go again.

The afternoon was lazy. The ancient swing my grandfather built in the thirties was still well used, and if that didn't satisfy our play, we'd drag out the stilts he built for my mother and her sisters. The short ones were soon an easy task. The taller ones were only for those willing to take a chance. The afternoon would end, when he were called for supper. We'd eat again, containers were filled with tomorrow's meal, and we'd soon be leaving in the twilight; the deep orange in the west a brilliant announcement of the approaching night.

They're all gone, except for my sister. Age took my grandparents, and mother. My father, and brothers, all passed away too soon. The hole they left is partially filled by my wife's family, who honor me with their acceptance, but the memories tug at me, almost like scars that lead to an ache as they pull. Things change, and leave only memories. I cherish mine, and pray I never forget. 

Off To South America

Last week, the hummingbirds crowded four feeders, which led to me filling them twice a day. I had the feeling some were only passing through, had been feeding at other feeders, and after replenishing their energy, were off with their migration.

Early this week, I noticed they were lasting more than a day, so I removed one, and only filled the others halfway.  The feeders lasted through the day, and yesterday, I noticed they weren't completely empty at sunset.

This morning, I removed another one, and filled the other two, with one only a small feeder about the size of a jar of baby food. I haven't seen any hummingbirds this morning, so it's obvious most have gone toward South America, where they spend our winter. 

It's a beautiful morning. Azure skies, with wispy cirrus to the east. Our first strong cold front passed through during the night, and the high temperature will only be in the low seventies. This will really start the leaves to turning, and it won't be long before most are on the ground; swirling in a stiff north wind.

 I'll leave one feeder up. There may be stragglers, and a warm winter may bring some species that are native to the Mexico border area. I hope they come. I like hummingbirds. They brighten up a day.

Military Justice?

According to this report, the Navy will discharge anyone refusing the jab. According to many of the comments at the bottom of the article, this is an acceptable practice, and those serving should suffer the  consequences. This makes me think of where the line is drawn for unconscionable, dangerous, or mission failure decisions by a senior officer. What are the recourses for those that disobey for any of the reasons above? Is there any real military justice? Is there any method for junior officers, or enlisted troops, to relieve those endangering lives, demanding unconscionable actions, or placing the mission of defending the United States at risk? 

If someone knows, the comments are open.

Ignorance and Incompetence

If you look at the abysmal people in the capitol, think of their actions, and listen to what they say, they're ignorant and incompetent. They are the epitome of EEO madness, university indoctrination, and isolation from the rest of the United States. To add insult to injury, the President is a doddering old man, unqualified to run a lemonade stand, and only is in office because of deception, with criminal activity. When you add the treasonous activities of some of the top military officials, it doesn't take much logic to realize the United States is under attack by it's own officials. 

The rest of the world are not our friends, although too many in the capitol want us to believe they are. At best, they're friendly business partners, but when it comes right down to it, they'll pick through the bones of the United States, when the opportunity arises. Regardless of their appearances, most foreign nations only want the wealth of the United States, and how they achieve some of this isn't stopped by integrity. The simmering war of aggression is always right below the radar, and when the opportunity arises, they're ready to strike, and cause damage.

From my perspective, the influx of foreign money, influence, and corruption of our education system led to most of the problems we now face. Our founders suffered the same things, established the Constitution to throttle the government, and never envisioned the corruption the United States now faces. Time will tell how this all works out, but if you dig through the daily media garbage, you find the majority of citizens have had enough.

Bad Commerce

Commerce requires money to stay in the local economy. That's the impetus for investment, growth, and the ability to increase income by increasing the demand for the location. That's not what is happening in my home town. The majority of new citizens have no intention of investing in the community, much of the income they make goes back to their country, and they save for retiring in their home country. They don't want to assimilate. They want all the free things they can find, and abuse the resources they basically steal.

The result of this activity? The city is dying. Home values are dropping, tax revenue is falling, businesses are closing, and there is very little to attract U.S. citizens. Without the local petrochemical industry, the city would have never survived the initial development, and now the only thing that keeps the city afloat is what little of the service industries are still willing to stay in the city limits. There are taxes to be collected from the petrochemical facilities, but they fight what are sometimes unreasonable assessments, and have won huge amounts of money in court. Still, it's not enough, and the incompetent local government is far from being fiscally responsible. 

In the grand scheme of things, my hometown is expendable. Those that really cared moved away years ago. The best of property was reduced to crap real estate by the Obama mandates to put Section Eight housing in the only real areas that could attract those willing invest in the city. Those that can't move will probably live out their lives where they are, but their children will have no desire to stay. This type of environment attracts crime, and those willing to survive on public assistance. Neither have a dog in the hunt, and accept what a healthy neighborhood would never allow. Large sections of homes have already been purchased, and razed, by the large petrochemical facilities. This prevents law suits, and provides a buffer. 

How will this end? If I had to guess, I'd guess the city will eventually go bankrupt, a larger adjacent city will annex it for additional tax revenue, and the area will continue the downward plunge. Industry will take in large sections for its purpose, and the homes left will be inhabited by low income families. History will be the only reference to what was, and the heritage will cease to exist. 

It Takes Getting Used To

Retirement, or age, sure changed my sleep habits. I stay up all day, feel like I could sleep for days, go to bed early, and snap awake in the middle of the night. Rolling over doesn't work, so I get up, go pee, and make a cup of coffee. That's when I go on the porch to observe the night. 

I've worked nights for extended periods of time. Night is when you see what hides during the day. That, and the people that probably only go out at night. While some fear the dark, I know it's usually just neutral. Something that can startle me will probably startle the something just as much. 

Working on the interstate at night was probably most interesting. The drunks start wandering through around midnight, and this would continue to about an hour after closing time. Some would hit a barrel, which usually only was an inconvenience, unless you were in the path of the flying barrel. That hurt, and would leave a bruise.  I'd watch the traffic more closely, so I could warn the crew if the oncoming car was having a hard time staying in its lane.

One night, a group of college girls stopped, flashed their boobs, and sped away laughing like hyenas. the crew took about a half hour to settle down, but considering how mundane the work could be, the memory for them probably lasted as long as mine. Such "Did you see that?" moments aren't forgotten. 

Cats were interesting to watch. The feral ones were easy to spot. Where a domestic cat would saunter through a parking lot, smell everything to be smelled, and poke at a dying bug, a feral cat darted with purpose, and used the shadows, while it paused to survey the surroundings. Considering the shape of some I saw, such behavior was probably the only reason they weren't laying bloated to be the meal of scavengers.

Working at night led to an entirely different mindset. Flashlights were demanded, and a headlamp was a necessity. The little things you set aside while working are now carefully placed in a set location, or conveniently placed in a container. One wrong move, and something necessary could become lost by rolling only a few feet. Light towers would help, but even then, the light only shined on what wasn't in the shadows. Some tasks were nearly completely by feel, since trying to see with a headlamp led to positions that were uncomfortable. 

Given my proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, the nocturnal thunderstorms would put on a light show. They'd start out with an occasional flash, grow larger, and the lightning soon to come would turn the clouds into bulbous, angry masses of constant bright flashes. Bolts would streak from the clouds, spread, and the mesh of lightning would be dazzling. Morning light would reveal the remainders of these storms; anvil heads of cirrus on a column of virga.

What I most remember is the humidity. Regardless of the temperature, there was no relief. Sweat would pour from my hard hat, and run into my eyes. With the temperature not dropping below the upper seventies, and humidity near 100 percent, the work at night was as draining as working during the day. The only difference was there was no bright sun to burn your skin, but the mosquitos would fill in with their misery.

It's time for another cup of coffee. I think I'll go outside, sit on the porch, and try to determine why the neighbor's dogs are barking. That, and to relish the quiet of the night.

Highway Construction Woes

The local section of interstate is under construction for dozens of miles. It's necessary, since what is being replaced was built in the late fifties and early sixties. It's a mess, and with what we call the walls of death, with the lack of a service road for miles, a fender-bender can shut it down for hours. 

A local news report told of the frustration of  those taking a busy exit, the huge number of tire-busting potholes, and made me think of my experiences in the past. It, also, made me wonder who's watching the contractor and insuring safe travel. 

In Texas, highway projects have a bid item for detours. There are also force accounts, or change orders,  that are used to take care of unforeseen problems. All only require a little extra paper work, and the dreaded demand for more money by the contractor. 

Before I retired, my experience with TxDot wasn't that good. There were a few inspectors, and engineers, that were what I considered qualified, but not enough. With the invasive micro-management so rampant, the loss of good people by attrition, and budget concerns due to plans sometimes assembled without good review, too many problems that had easy solutions could shut a project down, while waiting for a change order. Where in the past, many change orders only required a handshake on the project, now the unwillingness to pay for the work leads to additional costs, and claims, until an official piece of paper finally makes it through the bureaucracy. 

As for the pothole problem? I have a feeling there is a demand to fix the potholes, and the paperwork is in the works. That, or the contractor, and inspector, really don't care. Either way, the problem could be fixed by a crew with a backhoe, and a few tons of cold mix asphalt. The project is so large, the cost to do this is inconsequential to the final total cost. How it reached this point is beyond my comprehension, but that's how it is, and one of the reasons I retired. 

Back to Bailing

A neighbor is having a pond dug. It's, from what I know about how it works locally, is free. The contractor digging the pond sells the dirt to cover expenses and profit. This can take some time, unless there is a high demand for the dirt. Eventually, my neighbor will have much less grass to cut, have a large deep pond to enjoy, and can enhance their property value, which the county will tax accordingly. 

About a week ago, we had ten inches of rain over a three day period. The pond, which was about half excavated, completely filled with water. Since the contractor appears to know their craft, they were excavating, and shaping, their way to a single point. This allows the better material a deeper depth to be excavated. This material, which is rich in clay, is the best material for structural strength, and can lead to firmly compacted soil only requiring a spread footing for a building. The problem is the amount of water that can accumulate in the pond during a rain event. 

After years of construction, and watching the contractor, I was a little amazed at their method of bailing out the water. My experience told me a 4 inch pump was the minimum amount required to pump the water in an economical time period. A six inch pump would be even better, but the cost of the pump can make the prospect too expensive for a small contractor only excavating small ponds. 

The contractor, a little to my dismay, only had a 2 inch pump, which would take days to remove the water. He supplemented the pump with his half yard excavator, which he ran all day bailing. He'd dip, swing, and dump the water to where it would drain. He did this for over a day, and made me wonder if he really understood costs. His time, which has to be worth something, and the cost of fuel for the excavator were much higher than the cost of a larger pump; even if he rented one. 

So, with the three inches of rain this morning, he'll have a full pond again. This, if he follows his past method, will give him over two days of down time with expenses, and long hours to haul dirt to make up the loss of revenue...if there is a customer for the material.

It's looking like the wetter season is here, rain will fall at least once a week, and some might be heavy, with large accumulations of water. My neighbor, who hasn't had to cut nearly as much grass, will probably have the rumble of machinery and trucks for most of the next six months. In my opinion, it's a win for him, unless the contractor runs out of money, or just gives up. Time will tell, and I'll sit on the porch to watch the show.

Hard Way; Easy Way

The easy way to tyrannize a nation is to create emergencies, take away firearms, force the people to do things against their conscience, and eventually create complete control. The hard way is to do all of the above, except not succeeding in convincing them to give up their firearms. 

It's a Bizarre World

 Apparently, Pfizer uses aborted fetal tissue in making their potion for the jab.  Otherwise, they have to kill unborn babies to peddle their potion, furnish the money to pay off politicians, increase their profits, have no legal liability, and laugh all the way to the bank. 

A less polite society would have heads on staffs at the town gates.

Owls in the Night

I went to bed early. My sinuses have been affected by the dryer weather, which led to some lethargy and a demand to rest. It's a good thing, but sometimes - like tonight - I awake, and a cup of coffee calls for me to go sit on the porch. 

It's quiet. The early Fall air doesn't have even the slightest stir of a breeze, all the air conditioner units are not running, and the chilled air is invigorating. Looking at the heavens bring the reward of a dark sky filled with stars that hang like jewels on black canvas.  

The owls are busy. A hoot owl calls. Another call brings the answer of a female. Their conversation is interrupted by the trill of a screech owl. Another answers in the distant, and the night becomes a haunting cacophony of owl songs. To those unfamiliar, their hair would stand up on the back of their necks, as the sounds used to add fear to a scary movie become real in the night.

These are the moments that could last forever. That's probably why I like this time of the year best. The heat of Summer is broken, the night insects leave, frogs become dormant, and the only sounds - if there are sounds - are those of the night birds and maybe: the low stirring of a light wind in the pines.

A Lot of Plastic

Our car developed a rattle on Sunday. Inspection revealed a cooling fan with a wobbling blade. A little research of costs, lack of availability of the part from the parts house, and how a dealer waits for such opportunities, led me to taking on the task of replacement.

I found the fan on the internet, but was suspicious of buying from the sources. Two things crossed my mind:

    One was knowing the third party manufacturer could unload what they know as substandard parts onto the market at a reduced price.

    The other was the time for delivery and how the wrong part could lead to a long time of an inoperable vehicle.

I disassembled with a little help from a online video. I wasn't complete, but insured my effort to do the job myself prevented a huge cost from a mechanic. The factory recommended replacement called for evacuating the AC system, and the additional costs to replace a dryer, with the refrigerant. One bolt that required a little ingenuity to reach was the reason for the extra step.

After finally removing the fan, I inspected the blade. The bearing in the motor was completely worn, or the housing for the bearing failed enough to prevent keeping the bearing in place. Regardless, removing the blade, and replacing the motor, was out of the question. It's all plastic, the blade is pressed on, and any attempt to remove either would probably destroy the housing, if parts were available. 

A call to the dealer for the part led to a few moments of trepidation. The first words from the counter man was: "It's been on backorder. Let me see if it's available." After a few moments, he continued: "I have four, and can have it here tomorrow." He told me he would send me a text with a link for payment, and he would order the part as soon as I completed the transaction." 

I paid for the part ($448) and called to confirm the order. After confirmation, I went on to other tasks and hoped the man at the counter wasn't telling me a fib to sell a part. 

Tuesday morning, I called the dealer to ask about the status of the part. He told me he was about to text to tell me the part was in. A 20 mile trip to the dealer, a little over an hour of my time, and I was ready to put the car back together. 

I was slow with my replacement to guarantee not forgetting the order of reassembly. After completion of the task, starting the vehicle, a short test drive, and some relief, the car was back in service. All in all, it took about five hours of my time, but with skill and knowledge, a good mechanic could do it in less than two hours. 

I was a little amazed at how much of the vehicle was plastic and held together by push clips. It seems flimsy, and I wonder if the plastic will age as badly as plastic parts in the past. It is what it is, and the demand for lighter vehicles had led to where we are. 

So, another major/minor problem is handled. Onward I go through retirement, and thank God for the ability to do some of the things that can bankrupt those on a fixed income. It's my blessing and gives me peace.

Ignoring the Petitioners

The first amendment of the Constitution guarantees the right to petition the government for redress of grievances. Unfortunately, all petitions are basically ignored, since there is no meat to any petition, unless there is a government required amount of signatures, which is then suspected of being fraudulent, until all signatures are verified. To make things worse, the petitions are used to gather the names of dissenters, become public record, and the dissenters can become harassed by the same government that is the reason for their petition. It was a good thought, but was easily subverted by the profession that's least restricted by the Constitution.

An individual can petition the government, but in reality, it's a futile effort. The supreme rights of the individual are basically gone, since individual liberty is in the same position. It's a sad thing, but what everyone now faces. Regardless of how much someone is wronged by the government, they have no recourse for an equitable solution, unless they can afford to pay for what can be a futile effort to sue in court. 

There is a moral responsibility for any government employee, whether elected of hired, to correct any wrong, make a diligent effort to keep public costs to the minimum, and understand they are subservient to those that pay their wages. Unfortunately, moral responsibility is something that can't be legislated. Government officials realize this, and over time abandon any effort to be responsible for insuring every individuals has the rights of the most powerful of government official. It's always been this way, but if integrity is demanded, and practiced, the opportunities for corruption, or incompetence, are reduced.

Social Confusion

Facebook was down, it appears the DNS was the problem, and the best description is all servers "forgot" on how to find Facebook. Whether it was malicious, or just an error will probably never be known. What is known is that millions couldn't get their fix. 

Oh the horror!

Adding to the Network

I've had a blog for around 10 years. I started it when someone with a blog told me I should have a blog. I followed their advice, and after time, people would start visiting and commenting. At first, the lack of visitors was disconcerting. I would check, and the lack of traffic was making me wonder if I was wasting my time. Eventually, after someone with a lot of daily visitors linked me in a post, I was rewarded with a huge amount of visitors in one day. The result was somewhat astonishing, and added many more daily visitors. 

I'm writing this post to give a new blog what little head start I can add. They might not have as much time as they'd like, and having a network of people to share their thoughts is more than necessary. They blogged in the past, quit for awhile, and now want to accomplish a goal they've had for 30 years. Go visit. You might like what you find.

Writing With Cancer

They Won't Cover This Up Forever

 According to witnesses, Capitol Police bludgeoned Roseann Boyland continuously until the damage was terminal. To make matters worse, some of the witnesses have been held without bond since their arrest. That, to me, is a clear sign the police state is out of control, and those allowing it to continue, or deliberately not making an effort to report this,  are traitors. A curse on those involved, and may they burn in Hell.

A Reason To Stay Away

 A few decades ago, Austin was a place to go. Plenty of good restaurants, live bands by more than talented musicians, and surrounding sights wonderful to see. Things are different today. The police have decided to not respond to non-emergency calls.  That means most crimes that an officer doesn't feel involves the threat of immediate harm will not be answered. When you really think about this, shoplifting, petty theft, muggings, burglaries...etc., become mostly just paperwork shuffling, and those affected are left to deal with it themselves. 

I've avoided Austin for years. The decline has been notable, and from my perspective, the lack of judgement by the local officials, and citizens, only reinforced my belief the most dangerous places to be are where politicians gather. There are too many people scrambling for the fat, and there's a tendency of local politics to be infiltrated by outsiders looking for power, with mostly ill gotten fortunes. To add insult to injury, the economy is corrupted by people that really don't produce anything. When multiple generations of these people are too much of the citizenry, the fact they exist only by the will of those that produce is ignored. They feel their tasks of producing legislation, and bureaucracy, are more important than producing the goods that keep their sorry lives intact. 

It is what it is, but the surrounding communities of Austin are inhabited by hard-working folks that are not the same as those that waste their resources. They will be more prepared for their visits to the city, well armed, and many arrogant criminal will find their crime has a capital punishment. 

On Their Way

 

We put up four hummingbird feeders last week. After watching them at the in-laws, we decided to hang ours up for the little critters. It's been interesting.

We had one that decided one of the feeders was hers. She wouldn't venture far, perch on the top, and chase off any that decided to stop. She did this for days, and finally left. Her perching was only interrupted by feeding, and leaving for the night. 

Another one was on the chubby side. The small feeder on the porch was her favorite. Between sitting on the fence, or on the hanger bracket, she did little except feed. She left, and I'm assuming she was an older bird, knew about the trip south, and getting ready. 

The birds come and go all day long. At times, none are to be found. At others, there are dozens flitting around for a chance to feed at the full feeders. All, from what I've seen, are ruby-throated hummingbirds, and of all ages. Whether they're mostly the same birds all day is hard to tell. Some, seem to be in known groups that will chases away a straggler. Others seem to like to feed alone and chase away any coming to the feeder they're on. 

I've heard two sides of when to remove the feeders. One advice is to remove them in October to allow them to leave the area. Another is to leave it up until the really cold days. This allows the stragglers a meal, or the old to survive until Winter finally ends their days. 

All, in all, they're fun to watch. Their loud buzzing is pleasant to hear while enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning. It adds to the peaceful experience, and clears my mind from anything but watching their antics. 

Some Thoughts

 The U.S. has more jobs than workers, those that want to work are having dealing with jab mandates, government officials are demanding unreasonable restrictions, and hundreds of thousands of illegals are flooding across the border. To exacerbate these conditions, these same illegals are free from any Covid mandates.  What does logic dictate about this? My logic says there's a strong effort to change the U.S. to less educated workers that will be more easily controlled and willing to accept servitude for supposed safety. A less polite society would be hanging traitors daily.

Late One Evening.

I hadn't reached 20 years of age, was working offshore, and could help my brother get to work at the shipyard on my days off. My schedule was in the day mode, and in a few days, I would switch back to nights on the offshore platform His car was in the shop, and would soon be out. He was working the three to eleven shift, which was better in the cold months. In the summer, the heat became oppressive at 3:00 pm and was only bearable at 11:00 pm. His work as a welder was to fill in his college schedule, which he never finished, but his later successful career in electronics pretty well showed it was wasted money. It's strange how thing never turned out as planned.

It was cold. Not the cold of up North, but the cold we get. The temperature was in the low forties, and the damp chill was almost overbearing. My '63 pickup was modified, since I had to retrofit a radiator to fit the frame. The added cooling, and lack of thermostat, pretty well insured any heat was minimal. 

I parked in the parking lot, sat, and waited for the shift whistle to blow. Out in the shipyard the push was to complete the drilling rigs scheduled for drilling in the near future. Huge sections were visible. The quiet was broken by the loud crackling of arc-gougers and the banging of ship fitting. 

Soon, the whistle blew, and the workers started to come through the gate. Over time, my brother appeared, found my truck, and I asked if he felt like driving. I was tired, and would rather be a passenger, so I could nap. 

I sat,  watched my brother shift through the three-on-the-column gears, felt satisfied, and leaned back in the seat. I knew I could catch a short nap on the thirty minute trip home, but was soon faced with a predicament. 

It was cold. The hole in the floorboard on the passenger side was allowing a huge amount of air to blow through the floorboard. What little heat from the heater wasn't nearly sufficient to break the chill, and I was soon shivering. 

I realized the driver side was a much better place to be, how uncomfortable the passenger side was, and was regretting my decision to let my brother drive. I soon had a "fix".

There was a small piece of cardboard from a brake shoe package on the floorboard, which I placed over the hole, and place my foot on to keep it from being displaced. It helped, but it was still cold. The heater was nearly useless, and my ignorance didn't allow me the sure fix of placing a new thermostat. I endured, although it was far from comfortable.

We got him home, I switched to the driver seat, and was soon home. A hot bath broke the chill, and I was rewarded with a good night's sleep. 

Time reveals many memories, and sitting on the porch brought back a cold evening over forty years ago. I guess that's our destiny. We shuttle the current moments away, when the rich memories of the past appear. 

All In

 Bluffing, and going all in, is risky, but the reward is great...unless you're called, and your hand is a low pair. That's where the seditionists are at this point. They think their bluff is working, since it worked in the past. Unfortunately, the past is only a reference, and reality is they've pissed off the majority of those unwilling to trade their liberty for supposed safety. To make their predicament worse, all their efforts to remove self-defense from citizens failed, and if they weren't so desperate, they'd know the upsurge in self-defense sales are not only to prevent a petty crime.

Too much of the media is complicit in the sedition, but considering those that are involved, the years of corrupt colleges created their irrational perspective. They think they're doing the right thing, while never considering a tyrannical government doesn't need many of their kind; and if they become unruly, they'll be the first to be removed. After all, they can't produce anything but truth, or propaganda. Neither is important to those willing to sacrifice millions for their power. 

People are pushing back. It's starting by refusing illegal mandates, and relocation. How it ends is yet be seen, but the signs of the government beginning to crack are appearing. Some things that aren't being hid any longer:

- Russia Gate was a setup, and rogue government officials were involved.

- Voting is not sacred, and the fraud is not only apparent, those involved are open with their crimes.

- The judicial system is in terrible disarray, and the solution is harsher penalties for criminals. 

- Immigration needs to be stopped until it can be placed under control. 

- The Covid scare was an effort to subjugate, and destroy the U.S. economy. To make things worse, the supposed vaccination is not only killing people, millions will be dependent on injections sold by manufacturers that have no liability.

- The military higher brass is filled with traitors. 

- The President is not only unable to lead, he's a puppet, and terribly demented. 

There's more, but it doesn't take much effort to find the things too much of the media is trying to hide. People are pushing back, and those who are called "common folks" are realizing they have the winning hand. The bluff will probably not work, and if those in charge are wise, they'll start doing what's right.

Watching the Start of Fall

Over that last few weeks, early morning revealed Orion higher in the sky. It started as right above the horizon, to where it is now: about 40 degrees above the horizon. Sirius, which was only visible right at sunrise, is now high above the horizon. Regardless of how hot it's been, Fall is arriving. 

The hummingbirds are thick. The feeders stay full, and the constant buzz of those waiting to feed fills the air. The sultry uncomfortable evenings are almost gone, and sitting on the porch allows the wafting of cooler air that drifts from the surrounding woods. While most of the trees haven't turned, it won't be long until the leaves accumulate, and will be found swirling in the darkened shadows of late evening. 

The weather wizards are forecasting what we call  the "first real front" on Wednesday. There's not a high forecast of rain, but the mid-fifties at the end of the week may demand turning on the heater for a few minutes too break the morning chill. 

This is my favorite time of year. While those that may soon deal with the ravages of Winter have a different opinion, to me, it's the first relief from our brutal Summer. The hot, humid 80 degree sunrises are replaced by temperatures below what the air conditioner can provide, and evenings will yield a chilled breeze full of the aroma of burning leaves. 

The bacon is ready, coffee is brewed, and the porch is calling me to greet the sunrise. I'll sit until the early light chases away the deep shadows.

Joe's at the Beach

 Biden is at the beach. Meanwhile, Milley is still a traitor, we are being invaded, and Pfizer is pulling its vaccine due to a cancer risk. When you add the fact the feckless military leaders bombed a civilian, instead of terrorists, it doesn't take any keen thought to know the United States is a ship without a rudder on a stormy sea. 

The protest over the political prisoners held by the jackboots of the Biden Gestapo is not showing many protesters. Why? Those that know the government is trying to complete tyranny, and will round up dissenters to destroy their lives. The absence of people is a clear sign to the government thugs they're on the losing side, and if they're smart, they'll abandon their masters and do what's right.

What Would They Have to Say?

My only exposure to members of the military was through mostly former enlisted personnel, and lower ranking officers. My brother served for over twenty years, and his good commanding officers wouldn't get in his way, since they had enough sense to know all the spit and polish wouldn't get things done. Sometimes it's best to leave someone alone; especially when your career is on the line when that person allows you to do something really stupid.

I haven't seen anything from former military folks under the command of Mark Milley. How did they perceive his command abilities? Was he liked, or was he a yes man with the ability to feather his cap and advance through ass kissing? Was he an officer that was promoted to avoid having to fill out a huge amount of paperwork explaining why he should be demoted to private? It would be interesting to find out, since it appears he's the pivot man in a circle jerk that needs to be court martialed. 

All Are Different

 I've endured a few hurricanes, and tropical storms. Bonnie was my first. The storm developed rapidly, came ashore overnight, and tracked to the north during the day. By that evening, the winds were over, and I had to tarp my roof. 

Another storm, which I don't remember the name, went ashore to the near west, brought a lot of wind, but little rain. The aftermath was a short period of time without electricity, and a plethora of the huge mosquitoes that live in the saltwater marshes to the south. While priming my well, after the electricity was returned, I literally had to rake them off my arms and face to finish my project. 

The many tropical storms were usually periods of high wind, torrential rains, maybe a brief time without electricity, and only some leaf raking. Flooding was usually the lower areas, and soon drained. 

Rita was the first major hurricane. I ran from that one. I ended up in Northeast Texas in a small motel. It was agonizing to deal with, but the storm traveled rapidly to the north, and I went home within two days. The damage was terrible, since my area hadn't had a major hurricane in decades. People forget, the older building codes didn't cover many of the structures, trees were allowed to grow near power lines, and hurricane force winds piled the entire mess up. I was on the west side of the storm, so the surge didn't affect my area. Other than a few missing roof shingles, and a large broken branch, the only damage was my health, since the intense heat, and long work hours, were exhausting. 

Ike was the next major hurricane. I stayed for that one, and soon found out my plan B to leave if the storm seemed too intense was not a working plan. You can't venture out in hurricane force winds, and watching horizontal winds send large debris whipping across what little was visible in the night without electricity guaranteed I wouldn't make that mistake. The deep train engine rumble of passing tornadoes was something to hear. If I hadn't known better, I could have assumed I lived near a railroad track. Since I was on the east side of the storm, the surge damage was something to behold. Ditches 30 miles from the coast were polluted with salt water. The majority of the nearby Bolivar Peninsula was reduced to a large expanse of mostly empty sand. Structures that had been there for decades were piled across Galveston Bay among the large trees denuded by the wind. 

We soon had Humberto, which formed quickly, and came ashore in the early morning. I was on the fringe, but was reminded of the power of even a small storm, when first rain band reached my house. It was as though something large slapped the side of the house, which startled me. The storm moved quickly, so the next round of storms passed to the east. I had no damage, but there was plenty only about five miles to the east. 

Harvey was officially a tropical storm, when the worst of the rains fell, which lasted for days. A strong hurricane at landfall, and without any steering currents, it slowly worked up the coast and inundated all of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.  I had 42 inches of rain, and in a nearby city, the total was at 60 inches. Most roads were impassable for days, and even anticipating electricity was a waste of thought. It took days for the water to drain, and some never recovered. I had no damage, but was trapped by flood waters for four days.

Imelda followed the next year and the torrential rains inundated many of the areas harmed by Harvey. I had moved, but a former neighbor told me the water was 18 inches higher than Harvey.  The road where I live flooded, but the worst of the rain bands never made it to my house. That was luck. If they had, some of the locals would have had to deal with flood damaged homes like after Harvey.

Last year's storm Laura was one I watched closely. I would have left, if the track had bobbled. I had tropical force wind, but nothing near hurricane force. About 40 miles to the east was a different story. At the edge of the worst of winds, the town of the home of office of the company I worked for lost some roofs on the storage areas. We spent time cleaning up that mess, and those of our customers. The work at that time reinforced my plan to retire. I'd cleaned up enough of the damage of others, and the thought of doing it again wasn't pleasant. The sodden, stinking piles of moldering debris is bad enough, without adding heat and humidity. I would have seriously considered retiring even earlier if we had faced the same damage of those eighty miles to the east.

Nicholas has been a different critter. The spaghetti models were accurate to landfall, but from then they don't seem to have any consensus. The center of circulation has slowly worked up the coast, and from my perspective, the current trajectory doesn't match the current anticipated trajectory. From what I'm seeing, the storm isn't moving north at all, and is slowly working its way down the coast. Since it's so near the Gulf, I wouldn't be surprised if it move offshore, and gets stronger again. 

Right now, satellite shows the surface circulation has decoupled from the upper atmosphere. There are no strong bands of convection, and the only rain is light, but easily shown as light green on the radar. Still the wind is steady around 20 mph where I live, and nearer the center, it's reported at 40 mph.

I've only been catnapping over the last 36 hours, and will probably do so, until I'm 100% sure this storm won't do something unexpected. They all can, and will. Letting down your guard might have unexpected consequences.