The Slide

I Got a new metal roof a few years back. Water was just pouring down the inside walls of my house when the ice would melt to some degree. Now, again when it gets warmer, I can hear these sudden crashes as ice and snow cascade down my new slide. Makes me wonder why I waited so long.

Transfer Case

In the mid '70's and early 80's, Bobby Bare put out some incredible long playing records. When the musical world went digital, I did too. This left these great records gathering dust. Unlike many record companies, his didn't transfer the music unto CDs so they could be played in that format.

Over an inordinate amount of time, with a convoluted process, using retro analogue equipment, I was able to accomplish that task. Musically, the world is now a richer place.

Stay of Execution

The last chipmunk that gained entry to the Outpost had a very peculiar habit. I didn't discover it until this winter. His game was taking mouse poison and hoarding it in my boot. Not much future in that exercise.

A Little Insight

     Ben, about two and a half years old, was moving around the table and somehow tripped himself up and fell on the carpet. His grandmother queried in a concerned tone, "What happened, Ben?" Picking his head off the floor and looking in both directions, he responded in a tone fit for a teenager under review, "It happened". 

Overnight Success

For the last two days, I have been having difficulty getting this fire started. First day, two failed attempts, second day, one failure, one success. Wet wood and not enough kindling 
were the main difficulties. I had to take a sledge hammer to my pile of wood to break some kindling loose after I dug it out from under two snowstorms.

This morning though I see a spark of hope as I arrive at the Outpost. My fire has lasted overnight- Wha Hoom Boy, let him out of the gate. What you see is what I got!

parsimony

Brother Mike and I were talking about how sometimes we hoard our medicine. Don’t really use it as much as we could.  When we talked about this aberration we agreed it was foolish but still did it.

After brother Paul and I visited Mike in the hospital on Christmas Day we got into an odd conversation of sorts too.  I was telling Paul that he could use his phone to help him do the accounting for his painting business and the conversation quickly moved into budgeting in general.

Paul lives to some degree on the financial edge and isn’t inclined to budget much whereas I tend to the extreme opposite. An example of this would be me trying to pay my house off at all costs after I retired.

Then Paul made the statement that is a paradox but true in an odd sort of way, “Ten dollars means more to you than it does me.”

"Mere parsimony is not economy. Expense, and great expense, may be an essential part in true economy."     Edmund Burke

Week 2

Another week of the new year brought another snow storm. Pretty much a duplicate of the one last week except to say there wasn't near as much tension that preceded this storm.

Last week, the forecasters were calling in a combination of  ice coupled with a snow which would have meant a lot of folks without power. We lucked out as it got colder before the snow started which allowed us to miss the ice section. "All the people can't be alright all of the time".

Exceeding the Load Limit

Digging out after a snowstorm, I experienced a mobile equipment failure. The handle on the left side simply broke.

Well, there you have it. Busted in the middle of a big job. After twenty-five years of faithful service, kaput.

Big Bank-Little Bank

     Tiffany taught me a game when she was in high school. Strangest game I ever played, but apparently one of her friends made it up and they played it all the time. Anyway- the game works this way. Whoever has the most money when the game starts takes the other person's money.
     I haven't played the game for years, fifteen in fact. Last Friday, unannounced I was thrown into this roulette again. When I got my statement, I realized my big bank in town paid me one penny in interest and at the same time charged me five dollars because I only had fifty dollars in the account. Talk about diminishing returns!
     Years ago, I started with a little bank that was gobbled up in succession by larger and larger banks. Apparently, big bank-little bank plays out in the world of macro economics too. 

Used Car Conversation

Saturn not pictured.
     I called today looking for a used car. The recorded conversation went as follows-

Machine: This call is being recorded.

Salesman: What are you looking for...

TQ: A Saturn Sun, two seater that Saturn made up to about 2008.

Salesman: I've never heard of that (their dealership is listed as the only place authorized to repair them in the North) We don't have any, but I can put a search out for you. How much do you want to pay?

TQ: depends on the condition, mileage, etc. I wouldn't know until I actually looked at it.

Salesman: Well, I have your phone number here. Do you have an alternative number?

TQ: No, in fact I rarely even carry my cell phone with me.

Salesman: Oh, I hear you there! Have you ever been on the internet, or gotten an email?