Monday 23- I did my stretches, lifted weights, and rode my bike.
Today’s Weather was: Temps of around 43 and 65 degrees, winds NNW at 4 to 8, humidity around 25 percent, clear skies.
According to the National Weather Service: “Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North northwest wind around 9 mph. Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind around 9 mph.”
Ginger called me up at 8:30am to tell me of a house fire. I went outside and saw the smoke coming from the northwest down Lucile Road around Saturn Street over by where the Marine Base property starts. She said that it was a house that was being renovated by weekenders. By the time the fire department arrived there was only a concrete slab left. No one was hurt!
My friend Joel called to say he had to go to the hospital because of a pain in his chest; I hope he’ll be okay!
I spent the day putting sealant on the grout in part of the living room, but got the bedroom and the bathroom completed! I started moving my stuff into those rooms. Tomorrow I’ll finish the living room. I still have work to do in the computer room but that can wait for a spell.
Judy Ruggles called and we yapped for almost an hour about music and other stuff. She’s trying to help me get my nerve up to go down and play my guitar at the Joshua Tree Saloon. I might just record some of the songs I have written and give the recordings to her friend who wants original songs to play on her internet radio show; lots to think about.
I went over to Stoney’s for dinner. His son-in-law Denny is barbecuing pork steaks, yum! Marcie Hines was there visiting Stoney and left shortly after I arrived. Judy and Dustin went to see that new Vampire movie and said it was great; I’m not into vampire movies. We ate as soon as they arrived home. Denny also cooked up some potato gratin that was really something special!
I got home just in time to watch “My Name is Earl”, and then read a few more chapters of “Golden Buddha” before “Castle” came on ABC. I did my stretches; practiced my guitar; wrote my column for the newspaper and sent it in; wrote to my journal, posted it to the web, and called it a night.

Current Mood: cheerful

Sunday 22- I did my stretches and ran two miles.
Today’s Weather was: Temps of around 41 and 64 degrees, winds NW at 4 to 12, humidity around 27 percent, clear skies.
According to the National Weather Service: “Monday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North northwest wind around 7 mph. Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Northwest wind around 7 mph.”
I called a few Friends and Family during the day.
I put sealant on the tiles in the kitchen and it stunk up the whole house. I had all the windows open but the smell lingered throughout the day and into the night. I’m going to hate it when it comes time to put the sealant on the tiles in my bedroom. I mopped the floors over and over trying to get the rest of the leftover grout and it looks like I’ll be doing it a few more times before I get it all.
I worked on my 12” Dobsonian Telescope. I had to cut grooves into the new bolts so that I can turn them with a screwdriver and then cut a metal spring that goes on the bolts that holds the primary mirror onto the mount. With that done I remounted the whole assembly back onto the telescope tube and tried to align it as best as I could. It was daytime and I’ll have to wait until night fall to find out if the repairs worked by testing it out on a bright star to see if there is any aberrations. At least the view finder is lining up correctly where it didn’t before when I first purchased the scope.
Patty came over with her sister Debbie to pick up her computer. Debbie said that she has another computer that Patty can have but it needs to be fixed. I told her to bring it over and I’d have a look-see.
I watched “60 Minutes” about: Health Care for the terminally ill; a Newsweek reporter’s story of being held in an Iranian prison; James Cameron’s new film Avatar; and Andy Rooney talking about Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims.
Then I went outside to test the telescope. Ah, so much better! The stars are dots instead of looking like comets! A vast improvement over what it was. I still need to tweak the primary mirror into better alignment and clean the mirror, too. But I’m happy that it’s working much better! A cold wind started to blow and I collected everything together and went back inside; my body isn’t acclimated to the cold yet this year.
I read a few chapters in “Golden Buddha” until late, then I did my stretches; practiced my guitar; wrote to my journal, posted it to the web, and called it a night.

Tags: dobsonian telescope
Current Mood: accomplished

Saturday 21- I did my stretches. I went to bed around 1am (early for me) last night and slept till 11am; I must have been really tired from all that grouting of the floors yesterday.
Today’s Weather was: Temps of around 43 and 63 degrees, winds slight breeze, humidity around 23 percent, clear skies.
According to the National Weather Service: “Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. West wind between 3 and 6 mph.”
I drove down to Home Depot to get the grout that I ran out of yesterday when I had a few more tiles to get done; I only needed a cup full! I even bought me a sponge mop so I won’t have to stoop down to clean the tiles. When I got back home I went over the tiles with the mop and it was really easy to clean that way, duh! Before, I would get down on my hands and knees and use a sponge. The floor looks really nice and I am glad that I did it, but if I’d known how much work it was going to take beforehand I’d have just painted the dang thing and been done with it!
I was invited over to Stoney’s to eat dinner with his daughter Judy and her family Denny and Dustin. Denny cooked up something called a heartburn casserole that consisted of corn tortillas, hamburger, corn, onions, cheese, and other ingredients that was mighty filling and tasty. Stoney is looking okay after his operation and says that he is now getting circulation in his feet and the pain in his chest has gone away. He said the operation was all done through an artery in his leg, was awake the whole time while the stents were being put into place, and didn’t feel a thing. Dustin, Stoney’s fourteen year old great grandson has really grown since I last saw him a year ago this Thanksgiving and is playing football at his high school. It was great seeing them all again!
I got back home to do a little webwork and then read a few chapters in “Golden Buddha”; did my stretches; practiced my guitar; wrote to my journal, posted it to the web, and called it a night.

Current Mood: cheerful

Friday 20- I did my stretches and ran a mile.
Today’s Weather was: Temps of around 45 and 65 degrees, winds SE-SW at 8 to 16 MPH, humidity around 27 percent, clear skies.
According to the National Weather Service: “Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North northwest wind between 8 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. West northwest wind around 9 mph.”
I was hoping to finish the grouting of the house today and worked on it straight through without a break from 11am to 4pm. I got the bathroom and living room done, but I was just about to finish the computer room when I ran out of grout; I only had a few feet to go, dang! Now I’ll have to go down to Home Depot and get some more. My body is burned out and I think I’ll take a few days to rest up.
I went for my evening walk to work out some of the pain in my muscles.
Denny called to tell me that Stoney is out of surgery and is doing fine. He had two stents put in arteries to his heart that were blocked. He will stay at the hospital overnight for observation. He’s been a grouch lately and I hope this changes his attitude to a more cheerful disposition. I just glad everything went alright!
I read “Golden Buddha” until “Numb3rs” came on CBS. Then I did my stretches; practiced my guitar; updated the Copper Mountain Mesa Website and sent out the Newsletter; wrote to my journal, posted it to the web, and called it a night.

Current Mood: tired

Thursday 19- I did my stretches and ran a mile.
Today’s Weather was: Temps of around 44 and 65 degrees, slight breeze, humidity around 23 percent, clear skies.
According to the National Weather Service: “Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72. West wind 6 to 11 mph becoming southeast. Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. West southwest wind between 7 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.”
Well today I did more grouting of the floors. I did part of the living room and bedroom. I only do part of each because I have to move things around to make room; it’s best to do this in an empty house! Let me tell you that this is a lot of work and if I wasn’t exercising and doing stretches all these years I wouldn’t be able to do this. My body still hurts when the day is done.
I went for a nice evening walk and then settled down to read “Golden Buddha” and got a few chapters done when the phone rang, it was Ginger saying that she forgot to buy oil to put in her new generator and would like me to come over and give the other generator a yank to get it started. I got there in ten minutes and she offered me a smore. “What is a smore?” I asked. “You never heard of smore before?” “Nope” I said. “Smores are graham crackers with chocolate and marshmallows in the middle, you never had them when you went camping?” “Nope, but it sounds good.” Her daughter cooked me up one over the flames in their fireplace and it was mighty good; I ate two of them!
Back home again I watched “My Name is Earl”. It looks like the series is getting to an end; these are reruns and I watch two a night and I think it will wrap up soon and I can go on to other things of great importance. I read a little bit more until “Fastforward” came on ABC, and then watched “Fringe” on Fox.
I did my stretches; practiced my guitar, I’ve been practicing longer now; wrote to my journal, posted it to the web, and called it a night.

Tags: smores
Current Mood: cheerful

Wednesday 18- I did my stretches, lifted weights, and rode my bike.
Today’s Weather was: Temps of around 42 and 65 degrees, slight breeze, humidity around 29 percent, clear skies.
According to the National Weather Service: “Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 67. North northwest wind between 6 and 11 mph. Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.”
I started putting the grout on the kitchen floor today. I only wanted to do a little bit at first to see how it will come out. I had to clean the floor very good and after mixing up the grout I just laid it on thick at first and trowel it into the groves at a forty degree angle. I will have to wait for three days before I can apply the sealant and then move my freezer in which is taking up much space in the living room. Everything looks great!
I went over to Stoney’s to do my laundry and did a little preventive maintenance on it. Then I got on home just in time for my evening walk. Ginger called to have me come down to start her generator. She has a replacement for the electric starter one that failed. I helped her get it off her truck, and now she won’t need me coming down to rope pull the generator anymore.
I watched “My Name is Earl” and then read a few chapters of “Golden Buddha” and did a little webwork until late. Then I did my stretches; practiced my guitar; wrote to my journal, posted it to the web, and called it a night.

Current Mood: busy

Tuesday 17- Last night at 1am I braved the cold to watch the Leonid Meteor Shower. Mars was rising in the east and it was a beautiful night. Saw a few meteors and stayed outside for a little while until the cold crept into my bones. Then I went to the warm comforts of my bed and went to sleep.
I did my stretches.
Today’s Weather was: Temps of around 42 and 62 degrees, slight breeze, humidity around 21 percent, clear skies.
According to the National Weather Service: “Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 67. West northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm. Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 42. West northwest wind between 6 and 8 mph.”
I spent all day until sunset finishing the cutting and laying down of the tiles. I wanted to get it done so I can grout the floors and be done with this so I can move on to other stuff I have to do. My whole body aches!!!
I went for my evening walk and then over to Ginger’s to start up her generator. She fed me some hotdogs and I played with her dogs for a spell.
I watched “My Name is Earl” then “California Gold” where we were shown how to make soap; I always wondered about that. “NCIS” came on CBS about thieves who broke into a server farm and brought down the electrical system to Washington DC.
Then I read “Golden Buddha” until it got late. I did my stretches and went for a very cold night run, burr; wrote my column for the newspaper and sent it in; practiced my guitar; wrote to my journal. Posted it to the web, and called it a night.

Current Mood: content

Monday16- I did my stretches and ran two miles.
Today’s Weather was: Temps of around 38 and 62 degrees, slight breeze, humidity around 23 percent, clear skies.
According to the National Weather Service: “Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Light and variable wind. Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.”
I decided to jump in the Gross Polluter and head on to town to get another box of tiles. Then I went to the post office and picked up a book I ordered from Amazon.com called “Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Path” by Michelle Feynman that she wrote about her father Richard Feynman. Then over to the Health Food Store to get two pounds of yeast that I use in my oatmeal for breakfast. My last stop was to the library to look through their books they are selling and found “Golden Buddha” by Clive Cussler and paid 75 cents for it; such a deal!
I went over to Stoney’s to pick up my groceries from the USDA food distribution that he gets for me every month. We sat and yapped at him for a spell. He has to go to the hospital this Friday for a test and his daughter is coming down from up north to make sure things go alright.
I got home just before sunset to go on my evening walk. I read “Golden Buddha” until “My Name is Earl” came on and then continued to read a few chapters more when I stopped to watch “Castle” on ABC.
I did my stretches; practiced my guitar; wrote to my journal, posted it to the web, and called it a night. Tomorrow I’ll be outside in the cold watching the Leonid Meteor Shower! It should be a good one and dark with the Moon being new.

Current Mood: chipper

Sunday15- I did my stretches.
Today’s Weather was: Temps of around 39 and 60 degrees, winds out of the NW at 4 to 12 MPH, humidity around 29 percent, clear skies.
According to the National Weather Service: “Monday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Light north northwest wind. Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Light and variable wind.”
I called and talked to Friends and Family for a long spell this afternoon and then I spent the rest of the day cutting floor tiles. It looks like I’m going to be a little short of tiles; I thought there were ten in a box but there are only eight. You think that after opening all these boxes of tiles I would have known how many there actually were inside! So now I’ll have to go down to home depot to pick some more of them up. I think one more box should do the trick and I’ll have a few left over
I went for my evening walk and was about to eat dinner when Ginger call to say she needed my help getting her generator started. The new generator that she bought has an electric start but it quit working so she barrowed another one that has a pull starter that takes a lot of muscle to get it started. She is going to replace her generator but until she does I’ll come on by to her house at around sunset and give it a pull to get it started for her. When she dropped me back off I showed her how bright my LED lights are inside my home; she’s thinking of going solar too.
I watched “60 Minutes” on CBS about: a bomb hunting unit in Afghanistan, dinosaur hunter Jack Horner, the wetlands in southern Iraq and its recovery after Saddam Hussein destroyed it by rerouting the rivers that fed it to get rid of rebels hiding there after the Gulf War in 1991.
Then I watched a DVD I had of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (2008). I’ve seen it before but it was worth another watch!
I did my stretches; practiced my guitar; wrote to my journal, posted it to the web, and called it a night.

Current Mood: calm

Tags: copper mountain mesa annual general memb
Current Mood: accomplished