tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66670262375450131742024-02-06T19:47:55.879-06:00The Voices In My HeadSome random thoughts from a simple man with too much time on his hands and too many voices in his head...Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.comBlogger1893125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-49764093152081151562022-01-14T12:15:00.001-06:002022-01-14T12:15:05.996-06:00StevenI just wanted to let everyone know that Steve (Xenolith) passed away on January 8th, 2022.
He got Covid and it affected his COPD and after everything he had gone through with his illnesse, his poor lungs couldn't handle it. So I made the decision to let him go. He will be missed so much.Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-71464613584258539572021-11-25T09:06:00.001-06:002021-11-25T09:06:16.734-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfylfowX2cBu_HzqEZkDUZM-Sda7otmebNzQmF5HhMksEvMPg5iLk9fVBogxB0_7g57KK1mcHRxW2VRU0ycTYfSPzCfPnVA4ps0lM75XUKl8YVfjYwK-xd5NSUFTv96P5LjUvZh2kGi-8/s720/Screenshot_20211122-181305_%25281%2529.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="711" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfylfowX2cBu_HzqEZkDUZM-Sda7otmebNzQmF5HhMksEvMPg5iLk9fVBogxB0_7g57KK1mcHRxW2VRU0ycTYfSPzCfPnVA4ps0lM75XUKl8YVfjYwK-xd5NSUFTv96P5LjUvZh2kGi-8/s400/Screenshot_20211122-181305_%25281%2529.png"/></a></div>Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-81344785721986643792021-11-05T15:06:00.007-05:002021-11-05T15:13:46.901-05:00Millie 2.0 and finalMade it through the night again. Ate a little and drank beet juice the first hour. Got weaker as the day went on until she lipped up food, but it just dribbled out....
Did the humane thing.
I'll miss her a lot.
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Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-69008553871383133782021-11-03T15:28:00.001-05:002021-11-03T15:28:25.279-05:00MillieI don't know how old my nanny goat Millie was when I bought her in 2019. She had just weaned twins when I got her and HATED anyone touching her udders for milking. I had to build a stantion with restraints. Once she'd gotten used to it, she'd jump right up and let me put the leg ties and neck clamp on, and I'd get almost a quart a day from her.
Bought a billy goat to breed her. 100 bucks and the rankest animal I've ever owned. And worse, the damn thing loved attention and always tried rubbing up on me. Couldn't get within 10 feet of him without a clothespin.
Once Millie gave birth to triplets, I sold Stinky for the same $100 I originally paid for him. Incidentally, the guy that bough him (as a gift for his girlfriend who "always wanted a goat") picked him up with another guy in a two door sporty little car and put Stinky in the back seat. For a TWO HOUR drive home. The bed of the TRUCK I picked him up in smelled for two weeks, and he was only in THAT for 20 minutes!
The first born of her triplets, born in March, died about two months ago. Went out to feed them, and he was laying out barely breathing. Got progressively worse and breathing shallower with each breath, so I eventually had to put him our of his misery. I'm guessing he ate something that poisoned him, but I've watched goats eat hemlock and go back for seconds...
And two days ago, Millie was out in the middle of the field, entire rear covered in diarrhea, and couldn't stand up. I got her on her feet, gave her diarrhea meds, and she seemed better. Yesterday, same thing. Obviously weaker too.
Today I couldn't get her on her feet. I put her in the barn and covered her. Got some antibiotics in her. She's covered and I'm checking her hourly. But she's stopped taking water, so I'm not too hopeful at this point.
I know she was sold because she was getting old in the first place, but if I lose her both myself and Rose will miss her terribly. She is the only goat I ever had who went on walks with us. And would bleat terribly if we walked by without taking her with.
I know these things happen. But that don't make it hurt less.
I'll let y'all know if anything changes...
Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-71627683411706170402021-10-20T13:42:00.001-05:002021-10-20T13:42:10.478-05:00That's what loving husbands Do...My wife, Rose, loves birds. As of this morning she has five seed feeders and one suet feeder hanging in various locations in front of our living room/front porch. One of her favorite birds is the flamingo. Which is why we have a line of flamingo lights on our front porch, TWO flamingo themed wind chimes, a fluffy toy flamingo on a porch post, and two tacky plastic pink flamingo yard statues. Yes, THOSE tacky pink yard statues...oh, and a flamingo scrubber holder on the counter and a Christmas flamingo ornament in a Santa hat sitting on a shelf year round!
She also enjoys decorating for the holidays. SO FAR, we have pumpkins, a ghost, and a unicorn skeleton out and about lurking in the area.
So, as a loving husband, what can I do to combine these two things she loves with my own talents?
This: <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfaY-7W7gi-yoUBnjPD6SzM8wskOZPELCJDidgSdbqPPvMILSohhsxnNDg1mufEQ_lik80bzmjTgvoREYrQ4RmK6fwyTyB9SXuZyzb06mxm8CG6LvZf2-1mCG49ufi5XiHP8WW0HBca0/s2508/20211020_141808.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfaY-7W7gi-yoUBnjPD6SzM8wskOZPELCJDidgSdbqPPvMILSohhsxnNDg1mufEQ_lik80bzmjTgvoREYrQ4RmK6fwyTyB9SXuZyzb06mxm8CG6LvZf2-1mCG49ufi5XiHP8WW0HBca0/s320/20211020_141808.jpg"/></a></div> HAPPY HALLOWEEN Y'All!!!Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-17921451964855277962021-10-13T12:31:00.002-05:002021-10-13T12:31:37.736-05:00Cancer freeJust an FYI to anyone that gives a shit. As of last month, and my final of six months of treatment, I no longer have Splenic, Marginal-zone, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
A new monoclonal antibody treatment administered over six months of intravenous, nauseating, high fever inducing, day long ordeals has done the trick... It sucked. But it was overall worth it.
The cancer itself didn't bother me as much as the treatments, but would have gotten worse if I'd done nothing, so I ain't complaining. Too much.
Also, my spleen was the size of a baby, so it made it hard to breathe, and I couldn't eat much.... Now breathing is better, I can walk across the yard without being out of breath, and I've gained 36 freaking pounds.Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-45290613918291055762021-10-11T13:01:00.001-05:002021-10-12T09:28:26.607-05:00Sitrep AmericaI was in line at the pharmacy in Walmart, waiting patiently with my wife to
purchase our monthly doctor-ordered power pills that if we fail to ingest on a
regular schedule will cause us to spontaneously decay into a steaming puddle of
human based goo, and as a customer in front of us managed to get a loan approved
from his bank over the phone to enable him to purchase his own power pills, the
little old lady next in front of us and I exchanged a ‘look’ and I commented on
the price of meds these days. One thing led to another and we were discussing
inflation overall lately and she brought up the fact that it was getting hard to
even buy food anymore with its through-the-roof prices. I made a simple little
remark: If it gets any worse, I’m gonna hafta start putting democrats on my
table just for something to eat. She immediately became somewhat cold shouldered
to me and asked if I was a “trumper”. Hmmm…… I DO play a lot of Spades when I
can… And I am rather an aggressive player, so I answered her in the only way I
could. “No, I’m a Constitutionalist” I’m neither a republican, nor a democrat. I
have little or no use for either. I have some respect for Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and a few
others that actually are smart enough to bounce enough brain cells together to
form a thought, but not because they are republican. I’m even starting to like
Sinema and that other guy. And they’re democrats. I just appreciate a politician
that is willing to stand up for ‘we the little people’ who make up the majority
of this spineless nation. No, I’m not a “trumper”. I did like having Trump in
office. He’s an arrogant, rich, self-centered, egomaniacal asshole, but he KNOWS
he’s an arrogant, rich, self-centered, egomaniacal asshole. And he’s willing to
stand up to the rest of those just like him to defend his right to be that way,
and our own (unadmitted) right to strive to be just like him. We don’t need
democrats or republicans. We don’t need career politicians who just happen to be
VERY lucky in their stock dealings, (I’m looking at YOU Pelosi!), making
millions off the backs of their political clout. We don’t need politicians whose
family name is used to sell out our country. We don’t need a green new deal. Go
plant a fucking tree if you’re that concerned about it. Fuck you, Thunberg!
Every time I exhale, a plant says thank you! You want a greenhouse? Keep
breathing. Plants love it! We don’t need a two party system. We needed the
TeaParty. But the two party system that keeps us separated and at each others
throat couldn’t allow that to happen. Americans would have been sitting around a
campfire, roasting marshmallows for s’mores, and singing Kumbaya if they let
that happen. So who hears about the TeaParty anymore? Nope. Not a good idea.
Wouldn’t be prudent, at this juncture. The democrats NEEDED to hate Trump. Left
to his own devices, he might have been able to unite these United States. Here’s
a Xenolith Challenge. And I DARE TicToc to copy me: If you’re a republican, go
hug a democrat. If you’re a democrat, say something nice to a republican. I DARE
ya. Maybe we can come together before its too late. And if ANYONE knows why
paragraphs are inserted in the draft and disappear in the actual posting, PLEASE
PLEASE PLEASE tell me how to fix this FUCKING SHIT!
Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com010488 Smith Rd, Gaines, MI 48436, USA42.85598 -83.88593842.852833952497875 -83.890229534423824 42.85912604750213 -83.881646465576168tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-46869919580593296452021-10-10T12:13:00.003-05:002021-10-10T12:13:58.607-05:00an apology (of sorts...)I started blogging not completely out of boredom. Not out of a need to be heard because my thoughts were deep and world changing. I started it out of frustration with my own personal place in the world.
I was newly crippled (NOT handicapped!) and was being treated by society as no longer worthy of contributing. I was frustrated. No longer able to support my family physically, and with no “paper” proof of my learning, I was cast aside and treated as a drain on the material reserves of humanity.
I found myself with ample time to read, and fell into reading the thoughts of others. I started following blogs. Not just ANY blog. No. I read the thoughts of some of the greats: Wirecutter, The Lonely Libertarian, and my all time favorite BustedNuckles of the Vulgar Curmudgeon and now BustedNuckles.com. Not to mention the various others out there who I follow. (Insert plug for some good ones I follow on the front page of my blog here…heheh)
As I read these scions of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, I would occasionally find a chord struck within my own breast, yearning to be free. (Or at least heard) And I would respond.
Eventually, some of these thoughts would resonate with these blog authors, and they would pass on my nuggets of knowledge. Or made up bullshit, whichever I had felt compelled to share on that particular instance.
And I was encouraged to start a blog. So I did. This one.
Originally, I set out to create the best blog out there. One that would have to be read by millions to learn at the feet of a master and unlock the mysteries of the universe.
And as I had nothing else to do, recuperating from a gun shot wound, I dedicated a great deal of my time to it. It grew. And I became moderately successful as a blogger.
Then Life interfered. I became more able to work around my pain and find ways to do more. I quit blogging so much.
Now, looking back, I remember how angry I was. With my personal situation. With how unfair it was my life changed in seconds from an ‘up and comer’ to a cripple. And with our government. I was getting older and paying attention to how our country was run and finding myself disgusted with the elites.
I wanted to change the world. I wanted to join the community of bloggers and ‘resistance fighters’ out there who were also dissolutioned by our government for ‘the people’ being governments for themselves.
But then My Life started improving. I became more intested in building my own life, and slowly and inevitably, my blogging disappeared.
Gone was the intensity of my angst. Anger no longer fueled by my worthlessness disolving in the desire to overcome all odds and perservere.
I became complacent.
The end of part one.
Begin part two.
I am ashamed. So many have helped me in my time(s) of need. I took the aid and the help of generous others and overcame all adversity. Knowing full well that having to surmount these obstacles alone I would have succumbed to the challenges. And then promptly ignored all those who aided me.
So I humbly ask for your forgiveness. I am no less arrogant and prideful as ever, but do fervently wish to acknowledge the many who have let me make it this far. I would do so individually, but there are too many to list. Some no longer have contact with me, nor I them, and some have, sadly and to my great regret, shuffled off this mortal coil and are no longer among us.
One way to show my appreciation would be to blog more often for those who find my words of some passing interest and worth the few minutes it takes to read them.
But I wonder? What was it that made me want to blog in the first place? Certainly not my incapacities. Typing at that stage was a chore in and of itself. Boredom? Certainly A reason, but not THE reason. A good book to this day will take my mind off reality into any realm I care to choose. Why be a bored, pained cripple when I can sail the seas with Captain Kidd or run the forests as a beastman on the hunt?
I am comfortable in my life now. I live on a small farm, had a good if not great harvest from my small garden, am warm, well fed, and have a loving wife who makes my coffee and cooks wonderful meals.
My dogs like me, and I even have a rooster that follows me around and takes treats from my hand. Why would I stop to blog?
ESPECIALLY since I STILL can't get this damn thing to format and put new paragraphs in!!!!
Because of YOU. Yes, you. Even now, after so long not blogging enough to make up a paragraph a week, someone will comment on one of my blog posts. Or drop a note saying they miss me. It is the fellowship of the ring, modern style. It is we few who in a small way make a difference. I feel empowered by those of you who CARE. In a world where its every politician for himself, where fame is counted more worthy than compassion, where a common criminal can be a hero for dying due to his own lawlessness and not for doing good deeds, it is those of us who are willing to share our hearts, our souls, and our meager thoughts, that can make the difference.
Without bloggers like those who inspired me when my life was more draining than fulfilling, those I mentioned above and those many I didn’t, that gave me back my own life. Literally. And if my ramblings and rationalizations have helped one person out there, made even an insignificant overall difference in a person’s life that to them seems meaningful, I have a reason.
So let’s hope I’m not full of shit. Let us now gather in harmony, peace, love, and other words of platitude and puissance, and gracefully go about our day looking forward to another blog post from that all time great; Xenolith!
Please stand by….Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-58596505410653911542021-09-11T19:14:00.000-05:002021-09-11T19:14:12.180-05:00Interesting shitOr maybe not. Catchy title though, huh?
I know I haven't posted a lot for quite some time. Seems like not a lot had happened by my way of viewing it. Just little shit like moving to the east side of Michigan, Moop dying, goats having babies, getting rid of cancer... just a lot of stupid little shit that hardly seems to me even worth mentioning....
And blogger even seems against me. Things have changed around in this program and I can't seem to get it to even start new paragraphs...
Like this one.
Or here.
I swear I put in a pagebreak on BOTH those last sentences, but does it show up? Not even in the preview. Much less the final result.
Maybe I'll figure it out. Or maybe I'll just continue on with one long, run on paragraph...
Tomorrow maybe I'll send a blurb about my car trip too the west side today. Nothing too thrilling though, so we'll have to see.
Xeno outXenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-78027920562839781012021-08-23T18:12:00.002-05:002021-08-23T18:21:35.262-05:00TrappedFor at least the last three days, the mosquitos have been HORRENDOUS! They were bad before that, but you literally cannot look at any space in the air two foot by two foot that doesn't contain ten or more of the flying bastards.
And when you walk through them, every one attacks. Plus the hundreds more hiding in the grass along with them. The hum from their tiny wings in your ears is the only sound you can hear, and you have to continuously fan in front of your face to avoid inhaling them or breathing them into your nose. Meanwhile you can feel them biting on you're hands, neck, and any other exposed flesh.
I've never looked forward to winter IN MY LIFE, but will gladly cut wood to burn to try to stay warm beginning tomorrow if it means I can have surcease from their torture! And forget about trying to cut wood NOW. Going into the woods is a thousand times worse than just walking across the field to water the goats or close up the chickens for the night!
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Trapped in my own house by BUGS. Its like Covid with sucking mouth parts...Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-71047504206568259062021-08-19T16:35:00.003-05:002021-08-19T16:35:55.960-05:00Dear AnonymousSo, I'm sitting here minding my own business, and all of a sudden, I get an
email telling me I haven't posted anything here in awhile from someone named
Anonymous. And I look back and see that the last thing I posted was back in
November last year. And THAT was a political puff piece.... Well, thanks to
Anonymous, I realize that there are some lost souls out there still wondering if
I'm alive or not, so here's an update. This little farm Rose and I live on has
been GREAT! I have two male and two female rabbits, Flemish Giant/New Zealand
mixed from last years babies, and the two females are both due any day now. I'll
keep two and two and either sell the adults along with any extra babies, or put
them in my freezer. Probably sell them as even though I have no problem eating
farm animals, I'd rather not if I have other options. I'm on my second set of
chickens. Just got rid of the last bunch because they were eating eggs almost as
fast as they were laying them. Started fresh with 7 leghorns and 20 black
Austrolorps. Thanks to hawks around here, I'm down to 4 leghorns and 12
Austro's, but they are big enough now that the hawks have been leaving them
alone.
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My garden did better than I expected, though not as well as I'd hoped. So far
I've gotten about 4 quarts of tomatoes, Roma and San Marzano sauce types, which
Rose has made into some FANTASTIC spaghetti sauce! Going to put some pints up
tomorrow if I get my butt going... Only one beefsteak tomato ripened so far, but
a LOT more green ones getting big.
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The first pic is my 16x8' garden and the second pic is my wife's white pumpkin.
Yes, white pumpkin. I know, but she likes them, so I grew one... I also put a
greenhouse up to get an early start on the years gardens, and to keep my
tropical herbs; ginger, turmeric, pineapple plant, and kiwi alive over the
winter.
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Corn kinda fell over during some MASSIVE storms we had here. My
landlord/neighbor had his three cars parked in front of his house and a tree
there broke in the storm and totalled his truck and electric car, and dented in
the top of his wife's car while shoving a branch through the sun roof. Good
times!
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Next to the greenhouse is my herb garden. Lots of different mints, Spearmint,
Peppermint, Catnip, Chocolate mint, Mojito mint. That's dill hanging over on the
right side. I have borage, sage, oregano, celery, lemon balm, lemon basil,
purple basil, thyme, marjoram, stevia, and yarrow growing well there. A few
weeds and grass, too. But with my cancer, I just haven't been able to keep it up
as well as I'd have liked, nor a garden as big as I wanted.
Speaking of which, I
don't know if I mentioned my cancer ever before on this blog. But if I haven't,
I HAD splenic marginal zone Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Long name to say my white
blood cells never grew up and my spleen was the approximate size of Newark. Been
getting a MonoClonal Antibody treatment. Not quite chemo, but feel just as
shitty afterward. Six monthly treatments and the first few had my temp up to 103
and pure misery. But I'm feeling MUCH better NOW.... Seems the treatment did
what treatment is supposed to do, and I'm getting back to myself. Cancer free
for the first time in over ten years. Still no real energy, but my spleen is
spleen sized now, and I can breathe without feeling like my lungs are mouse
sized from being cramped anymore. Which means I can walk more than ten feet
without being winded so much. And on a side note: Ever noticed how all the
medication commercials on TV, if you look at the product name, instead of the
marketing name, half of them end in MAB now? That stands for MonoClonal
Antibody. The biggest breakthrough since penicillin. Soon everyone will want
one...
My dog Moop is gone. Internal problems. Pooped out his intestines. Not
pretty. I'm still looking for another medium pal since he's been gone, but
figure the right one will show up when its time. Scooter is still kicking. And
still think he owns the place...
I lost a sister to Covid after my brother... I
wish we had been closer, but she was a lot older than me and we never bonded as
much as my siblings closer to my age.
Well, Anonymous, I just heard the oven alarm go off, which means my chocolate cake Rose is
making me is done. I have to go bug her to get it frosted. (and yes I know it has to cool off,
but its more fun to bug her...) Take care of yourselves, those of you who are reading this.
Life is too short to spend it eating broccoli when there's cake involved...
Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-16829060641466870042020-11-04T16:08:00.002-06:002020-11-04T16:08:19.339-06:00Blue Michigan?<p> Just can't fathom it.</p><p>According to my unofficial count, purely by counting signs, the vote should have gone</p><p>1. Donald Trump</p><p>2. Yard Sale</p><p>Distant 3. Kamala Harris (defaulted)...</p>Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-36876326565392772562020-08-28T08:31:00.000-05:002020-08-28T08:31:04.485-05:002020<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOD9L7RNs8sTbf88Qz-U91Mqyn75Ohxok49JcVgm01UL6BhHpkJp9vxP8rm9_Z_8dCNbHTMUPRrt4bOrsHbTjKlgCMO-jFxW0GXlRu4cm4jncxWqXaJh96TDdQ2q8JXfhsYsM8u9oyUuI/s1080/1598621113043%25281%2529%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOD9L7RNs8sTbf88Qz-U91Mqyn75Ohxok49JcVgm01UL6BhHpkJp9vxP8rm9_Z_8dCNbHTMUPRrt4bOrsHbTjKlgCMO-jFxW0GXlRu4cm4jncxWqXaJh96TDdQ2q8JXfhsYsM8u9oyUuI/s640/1598621113043%25281%2529%257E2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-47445888274762404142020-08-14T15:16:00.001-05:002020-08-14T15:16:31.375-05:00...and I immediately thought of Bustednuckles<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWf-rkowu8fa0bIliiN9mytmwfRo8nI6B0vu3B-NmjbfGerTXb7btMMeQT7AQJPcUDAO-CDXjp-6heUsZO3L3wRxwG_rKy2iz8a68WvmI7FVS8UvCA_VTBwE0Ba6XlQkhYuRq_3msaDI/s1557/1597435916654%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1557" data-original-width="1070" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWf-rkowu8fa0bIliiN9mytmwfRo8nI6B0vu3B-NmjbfGerTXb7btMMeQT7AQJPcUDAO-CDXjp-6heUsZO3L3wRxwG_rKy2iz8a68WvmI7FVS8UvCA_VTBwE0Ba6XlQkhYuRq_3msaDI/s640/1597435916654%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-14531602222406077522020-08-06T19:53:00.003-05:002020-08-06T19:55:00.810-05:00My big brother died todayI know a lot of folks have lost family thanks too this fucking virus. And my condolences. But give me a moment to be pissed of for my loss today.<div>When my wife and I wound up homeless from hurricanes in Florida, my big brother gave us a place in his home to get back on our feet.</div><div>When I got out of the Navy after my first wife left me 28 years ago, my big brother took me into his home until I got my head together.</div><div>I won't be making the funeral. Oklahoma's too far, my car won't make the trip, and I'm sure he'd understand. But I'll miss him. And I'll think of him. And I'll wonder how this fucking virus could take out one of the strongest men I know.</div><div>My big brother.</div><div>Flights of angels and all that shit..... Sleep well, Mark.</div>Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-26390575874945725112020-07-09T17:30:00.000-05:002020-07-09T17:30:43.297-05:00THIS is what's FUCKING wrong with our FUCKING, FUCKED UP, country<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We have the right to peaceably assemble. We have the right to address wrongs. We have the right to face our accusers and we have the right to address those who have harmed us.</blockquote>
We do NOT, however, have the ABILITY.<br />
<br />
Try to talk to a government representative. Go ahead. I'll wait.<br />
<br />
NOT.<br />
<br />
Try to talk to a store manager. I'll wait here in aisle 3.<br />
<br />
NOT.<br />
<br />
Order something from Amazon. It doesn't matter if one of 6 parts are broken, and the one or two you actually NEED are fine, but the pieces you don't are broken when they arrive. Try to get JUST ONE of the pieces replaced. <br />
<br />
NOPE.<br />
<br />
Send the whole delivery back, and get credit. Do NOT use the parts you need. Do NOT return just the broken pieces.<br />
<br />
Its ALL or NOTHING.<br />
<br />
Same thing with our government, or any other fucking self-absorbed, self-serving son of a bitch out there.<br />
<br />
We as a populace no longer RATE a voice. We are relegated to the pool of disenfranchised voices that stand in the place of our individual identities.<br />
<br />
Here in Michigan recently, a fairly STUPID Macy's store employee called some fucking black hood-monkey a nigger. Can't prove he said it, and doesn't justify the response, but he got his ass fucking handed to him on a store aisle platter.<br />
<br />
And personally, I've been beaten by a cop for 'assault' for touching his arm passing around him.<br />
I've been charged with 'obstructing an investigation' for walking down the street I live on because I refused to give my name to an overbearing cop.<br />
<br />
I'm actually fucking SICK AND TIRED of having no recourse, no voice, no OPTION, but to sit and take it because our fucking government, Amazon, and god-damned Macy's fucking clerks think their better than me and I don't matter.<br />
<br />
I'm nowhere near the point of grabbing an AR and going "postal". But I can definitely empathize with those who have. <br />
Those who have been CONSTANTLY battered with beurocratic bullshit; Three floors up, talk to this clerk. Two floors down, talk to THAT clerk. Did you try the clerk on the next floor down? That's probably where you should start....<br />
<br />
We no longer have recourse to address our issues. We no longer have representatives in ANY aspects of our FUCKING EXISTENCE we can question.<br />
<br />
Do. Do Not. Wait. Hurry.<br />
<br />
I hereby no longer accept my sheeply master's demands.<br />
<br />
I stand before you a sovereign man. Able to care for myself. I will not bow, nor will I break.<br />
<br />
My only problem? There is NO ONE who I can tell this to. Nor do those who COULD make a difference care....Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-77608020170734108562020-07-02T16:42:00.000-05:002020-07-02T16:42:05.013-05:00Stole this from my cousin's Facebook...Just my opinion...Leave it alone...<br />
If you are offended by something then leave it alone. Cracker Barrel offends you, then eat somewhere else, but I like it so leave it alone. A statue offends you, then don’t go see it, but I like to see them as my history, so leave them alone. Don’t like meat, then eat vegetables but let me eat what I want to. Don’t like Gone With The Wind, then don’t watch it or read the book, but I like them, so leave them alone. I like worshipping God, but you are offended, so don’t go to church, but let me go. I read the Bible, but you are an atheist and want Bibles banned. So don’t read it, but don’t say I can’t. Leave it alone. You don’t like the names of military bases, but I do, so leave them alone and stay away from them. You don’t like the police force, then don’t call them when you are in trouble, but leave them alone so I feel safer having them.<br />
Why are the things you want so much more important than what I want? Are your demands greater than my likes? Is it because you use intimidation, blackmail and force to get your way- that you do? Let’s make a deal. I will leave what you like alone and you leave what I like alone and the world will be a better place for everyone.<br />
Don't like what I post, scroll on by and leave it alone as I do when I disagree with yours. 😊<br />
By the way my Facebook is not public. It is set for "Friends" and friends don't intimidate each other and demand I change my opinion to match yours.<br />
Copied and pasted because it’s exactly how I feel!!!!!<br />
<br />
(Thanks Andy G.!)Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-1482897264794161562020-06-04T07:58:00.001-05:002020-06-04T07:58:59.669-05:00Big Brother alive and well during Covid-19<h1 class="entry-title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://freedomwire.com/escape-from-new-york/?utm_source=FRW-Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Daily-Article-Traffic&bsft_eid=8cac1bcc-c90d-a5e1-514f-9829cdfca0ab&utm_content=060420_frw_am&bsft_clkid=e1029ad9-3446-4405-b8a3-ec9bc94eb907&bsft_uid=1dd42f80-e783-40eb-a1f3-64c78cbb6c00&bsft_mid=3286250d-f14e-4aec-9483-18cde951ae04&bsft_utid=1dd42f80-e783-40eb-a1f3-64c78cbb6c00-FWIRE&bsft_link_id=230&bsft_ek=2020-06-04T12%3A01%3A42Z&bsft_mime_type=html" target="_blank">The Real-Life Escape From New York</a> </h1>
<div>
Per the story linked to above, (highlights provided by yours truly):</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"According to a New York Times report published May 15</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">, about 5% of the population—which is about 420,000 people—left New York City between March 15</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> and May 1</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">st</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> as lockdown measures tightened. <b>The data was procured by using residents’ phone locations</b>."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Nothing to see here folks, move along. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...</span></div>
Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-180339044005492212020-06-01T15:18:00.000-05:002020-06-01T15:18:16.257-05:00Not that we really need a reasonApparently Americans don't need much reason to riot. One more black guy killed by one more white cop (even though statistically more whites are killed by police country wide every year) and the whole fucking world apparently goes batshit crazy. "Hurry UP, dear. We have to hit the riot at Target before all the good shit is took!"<br />
And how in the fuck is destroying private property, often owned by a black man, teaching Whitey a lesson?<br />
<br />
Any way. For those just tuning in, here are two interesting reasons if you REALLY can't find any other to go out and riot:<br />
<br />
1. Keep your distance, <a href="https://www.activistpost.com/2020/05/dps-quietly-covers-for-minneapolis-pd-national-guard-after-they-shoot-paint-rounds-at-women-on-their-porch.html?utm_source=Activist+Post+Subscribers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=d2fb761c8f-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_term=0_b0c7fb76bd-d2fb761c8f-388095613" target="_blank">but suck this!</a><br />
This link is to a gay "member's club", that you can purchase a one night "membership" too, that has a maze with conveniently placed glory holes included.<br />
Not sure what a gloryhole is? Google it, I'll wait...<br />
That's right! And it's right here in Whitmer's Michigan. You know, where you couldn't leave home to head for your secluded lake cabin. Or visit your aging parents. But if you want your dick sucked during these trying times, well, okay then....<br />
(I'm surprised that story didn't get more alternative media attention....)<br />
<br />
And 2. Apparently, standing on your own front porch is considered breaking curfew, and <a href="https://www.activistpost.com/2020/05/dps-quietly-covers-for-minneapolis-pd-national-guard-after-they-shoot-paint-rounds-at-women-on-their-porch.html?utm_source=Activist+Post+Subscribers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=d2fb761c8f-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_term=0_b0c7fb76bd-d2fb761c8f-388095613" target="_blank">you will be shot</a>.<br />
<br />
In the first we have an out of control governor who turns a blind eye to the moral perversion rampant in our fucked up society, while lording her "authority" offer the masses, and in the second case, being shot by "authority" for standing on your own property when they tell you not to.<br />
<br />
And not a peep from the mainstream media newsmakers about it. But then, THEN we might have a reason to riot. Against TYRANTS.<br />
<br />Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-36110349934124430302020-05-16T19:30:00.000-05:002020-05-16T19:30:55.337-05:00Ready to lose it?<br />
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Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-78834560168066719832020-03-26T10:05:00.000-05:002020-03-26T16:06:36.624-05:00Almost ashamed to call myself a MichiganderI've seen it bandied about in some news media sites that Michigan governor Whitmer may be pegged as a running mate for the Democrat contender.<br />
Normally, this would surprise me, as Michigan never seemed to me to be an overly political state. Maybe because I grew up far from the lights of the big city and never really gave a fuck for the bigger picture during my formative (read that juvenile delinquent) years.<br />
But the arrival of the corona virus to the shores of this lake-locked state has opened my eyes. Since the cesspit of Detroit has become the epicenter of our part in this pandemic and it's slowly spreading outward to encompass the surrounding counties and towns, Whitmer has been making her updates on the networks to the annoyance of we, her constituents.<br />
And I can understand her being pegged as the darling of the democrats.<br />
Rather than offer condolences to those suffering, or support to the folks of her state by presenting words of hope and assurances, she spends her on-air time blaming the federal government for not supplying enough medical aid to our under stocked hospitals and health workers.<br />
She takes NO responsibility for the inadequacies of HER readiness. Admits to NO fault in our lack of facility in handling this crisis.<br />
Where the fuck is the independent streak of the people of Michigan that formed my own belief in responsibility and self sufficiency? The folks I ran across up to the self imposed exile I now find myself in didn't appear to me to be cowering in fear. They were doing what needed to be done in order to overcome this situation.<br />
The farms and towns of this state will get through this. There will be pain. There will be loss. There will be hardship.<br />
What there WON'T be will be accusations against others for our own shortcomings and lack of resources that WE failed to accumulate beforehand.<br />
And as I'm typing this, Whitmer just came back on to give her "latest breaking news".<br />
Interesting how she IMMEDIATELY starts out saying how unprepared we as a state are. And how it's the federal government's fault.<br />
I REALLY hate this bitch. How in the HELL dare she try to represent TRUE MICHIGANDERS?Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-43342004131378312662020-03-07T09:29:00.000-06:002020-03-07T09:29:37.383-06:00Y'all know I'm a prepper, right?Prepping for shit to happen just makes sense to me. I got enough toilet paper to last a couple of months before I run out. Just sayin'.<br />
I just moved, and one of the first things I procured for my new home was chickens. A steady supply of protein rich eggs are always good, and baked chicken ain't so bad either. The rabbits I brought with me, and it's just about the time of year to start breeding them to sell and restock my breeders, then sit down to a nice dinner with the older ones... I always know it's breeding time about when I'm getting my garden itch and thinking about homegrown vegetables.....<br />
There is also abundant wildlife here, and just last night I caught the raccoon eating my feed corn in a live trap. I released him this time with a stern warning, but if he catches again, I'm making chili.<br />
Don't get this all wrong though. I'm not huddled in a cement bunker waiting for the fires of hell to rain down on mankind. I got an electric Mr. Coffee I make my morning magic in, then sit on my sofa by the living room garage-door-sized window (which is <i>actually</i> a glass paned garage door...) And read my emails on my phone. Which is more complicated than most computers I've ever owned...<br />
I read one this morning about testing your 72 hour kit. You know the one; keeps you alive and as comfortable as possible for the supposed three days it'll take you to walk to your redoubt when society is collapsing all around you. Don't laugh. There are a LOT of folks that think if society falls, they can walk somewhere in three days where they'll be nice and safe. God bless 'em!<br />
<br />
I actually do have a bag. A Get-Home-Bag. It's got everything I think I need if my car dies (EMP anyone?) and I have to walk home. And most of that shit is my everyday-carry of gear and doodads in my pockets anyway. I almost had to test this theory not long ago as I got a flat and realized an old neighbor of mine had not only NOT put my jack back after using it, but the jack handle he replaced in the trunk was the WRONG ONE for my tire lug nuts... Freezing cold Michigan winter's day... Wife only wore her tennis shoes... Did I ever mention how great my neighbor/landlord/new best buddy is? He rates a post of his own here, trust me!<br />
<br />
Oops. I got sidetracked again... Anyway, back to my story: It struck me funny when I read an old comment from the aforementioned article about one person's thoughts. I ALWAYS read the comments of articles online. Half the time they have better info than the original author. But this one was great:<br />
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<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-96 photo lazyloaded" data-lazy-src="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/854d00a36a27b28db9bdba6f6a57ad7e?s=96&d=identicon&r=g" data-lazy-srcset="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/854d00a36a27b28db9bdba6f6a57ad7e?s=192&d=identicon&r=g 2x" data-was-processed="true" height="96" src="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/854d00a36a27b28db9bdba6f6a57ad7e?s=96&d=identicon&r=g" srcset="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/854d00a36a27b28db9bdba6f6a57ad7e?s=192&d=identicon&r=g 2x" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 54px;" width="96" /></div>
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Dave Anderson</div>
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October 5, 2018</div>
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I think that you bring up a good point about testing a preparedness plan and making sure we will have everything. I don’t think in a disaster that we will have time to go over a checklist of things that we have or need. I would love to purchase a survival kit and then test it out to make sure my plan is foolproof.<br />
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<li class="comment clearfix" id="comment-938913" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Can someone puh-lease tell me why jackrods like this even waste time on prepper articles? There is NO survival kit available to buy that is proof against fools like this. Better bet will be for this guy to sit in place and wait for the government to come. Should be there soon... Uh... Anytime now..... </li>
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<li class="comment clearfix" id="comment-938913" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And a final note: my wife's boots, which I KNOW she doesn't like wearing, are now part of my Get-home-gear in the trunk...</li>
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Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-28586627284330751102020-02-06T20:25:00.002-06:002020-02-06T20:25:55.816-06:00It just occurred to meEven with being shot, having COPD, 56 years of hard living, and married to Rose for the last 26 of em...<br />
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I'm STILL in better shape than most men twice my age!Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667026237545013174.post-5450329848941064662020-02-04T10:18:00.000-06:002020-02-04T10:18:08.032-06:00The meaning of life... And you thought I didn't have all the answers!I read an article in my email this morning about the need for meaning in people's lives.<br />
Americans used to have a lot of things that actually <i>meant</i> something while this country was growing up.<br />
God. Patriotism. Family.<br />
And any one of those, or any combination in any order, could give the individual meaning.<br />
And this article got me thinking about the existential question we all need to answer about what gives <i>our</i> life meaning.<br />
We as humans, as the article pointed out, share our basic needs with other animals on this planet. Food, shelter, interaction with others. What we have above them is our need for meaning.<br />
God, in one of the many forms he's taken over the centuries, has given meaning to mankind to start wars, end wars, persecute others, raise others up. In other words: meaning. A <i>WHY</i> for the question of being here. Some of the greatest feats of mankind, and some of the most heinous acts of cruelty, have been enacted in the name of God. Giving those who perpetrate these acts meaning.<br />
Not so much for me.<br />
As a kid, I looked for meaning in God in the Protestant, Methodist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, and Seventh Day Adventist religions. None of them held the answers I had been taught at home have meaning in life. Sure, they all adhere to the Golden Rule, believed in the ten commandments, wanted money, and the leaders all seemed to require a certain amount of adoration and adulation, but none of them worked for <i>me</i>.<br />
My family eventually went from non-religious to Mormon. (Don't get me started on <i>them</i>). And that became the end of my search for enlightenment. Did I believe in God? Probably. Maybe? I don't know. But I do believe that mankind had twisted His Name into the battle cry to perform all sorts of atrocities on our own, and I have my own excuses for the wrongs I've done. I don't feel the need to blame Him (Her?).<br />
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So. Let's move on to Patriotism. Am I a patriot? I think so. I served in the Navy. Proud while I was active, and proud to say I did. But I joined because I needed a job. Not to serve my country, but to get a paycheck. I developed a sense of something greater than myself being a sailor. I learned from seeing other lands first hand how great our country was (is??) in comparison. But I also learned about an America more than my home town and county. I saw the dirty side of our cities and realized an uglier America than I had known growing up. Am I a patriot? <i>Yes</i>! Do I believe in America? I <i>did</i>. Her current direction of immorality and decay scares the shit out of me. I love my country. I just don't recognize her anymore.<br />
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And now family.<br />
I don't know. I'm not even sure I understand what family is. Growing up, mine was dysfunctional. Grown up, mine fell apart. Now it's just Rose and myself. Our children (separate families, we had no kids together) are spread across the country. They don't depend on us, nor we them. And that works for us, though we wish it were different.<br />
I never liked being dependant on anyone for as long as I can recall. I do like <i>taking care</i> of others. I need to ensure Rose has the things she requires to feel safe and secure. I even like to see my pets and livestock content. I find some meaning in being needed, even if its just making sure the chickens have food and water. They don't show any appreciation. But knowing they are cared for is enough.<br />
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And I guess that's what gives meaning to my life. Being needed. Taking care of things. Whether it's as little as taking care of my chickens, the love in my wife's eye, or being proud to be a part of the <i>idea</i> of America.<br />
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Oh, <a href="https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/02/04/dennis-prager-the-question-that-explains-almost-everything-882779?utm_campaign=bizpac&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_source=Get+Response&utm_term=EMAIL" target="_blank">here's the article</a> that started this rant. It's pretty good. It's about politics, but as I agree whole heartedly, thought I'd pass it along.<br />
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<br />Xenolithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16564452262934014420noreply@blogger.com0