Man, it was 77 yesterday and 99% humid. Ran the road, fixed the issue, and returned home to this!!
There it is!!!
After I got under the roll cloud, the wind shifted to the starboard quarter and it was wild!! HEAVY rain, and gusty. I was driving a parachute at that point....
In four mile the temp dropped 20 degrees, from 72 to 52... And the rain was HARD. I grew up in the panhandle, I've seen it hot and dry in the morning, and then a blue norther blow in, thunderstorms drop rain and hail, and be freezing on the bus home from school as snow starts falling... all in a matter of hours.
I live in south Texas now, and this was amazing. That front blew in STRONG.
The Fun Part
My head is a barometer now. There was a strong south wind, blowing humidity from the coast up towards the front. It was coming, and I could feel it coming two days out. That is not a feature, it's a bug.
Tuesday night, I was tossing and rolling like a gator with a carcass. I tore the bed up, looked like a malaria patient's bed. Thankfully I don't hallucinate!! I have to keep on top of the weather now, or I'll be caught unprepared for the effort it takes to function. And I can trace it to a certain day in April. Life changes, no matter what. Not mad or upset about this, just have to be aware and ready for it.
Okay, another question: Is there a Canadian thunderstorm? About 0600 this morning, there was lightning but only soft thunder. It just kind of rumbled, but it was sort of like, "I'm sorry, sorry, don't wake up, I have to do this, but sorry! Eh?" It was the most polite thunderstorm I can remember. Maybe because it came from a blue norther?
So, I have been doing some work in the shop. Here is a bit of fun stuff. Everyone likes pictures, yes?
FORD:
If I can find who owns this, I will make an offer...
Oh baby.
Here is the manufacturers plate
Part Duece
I need to finish these out. The wheel order got canceled, then reordered, then, dang it....
chuck trees
Number 3
The shafting for a project got south Texas rusty. Just finished polishing them on the Logan. It is 74 and still looks young. Works a treat for this.
first 7 out of 14
half way done
polished up nicely with red Scotchbrite
Lets not go thru that again
Four
Buddy had a vise that was missing a..... nut. So, I made two, and then had to source carriage bolts to fit, because metric isn't the same as 5/8 x 11.... oh well. Live and learn.
original on left, new ones center and right
installed
I picked up some 3/8 mild rod yesterday to make the cross pins. Not even started on them yet. But that is on the list for tomorrow. Till then, a 5/16 bolt works.
Weather
It has been windy down here. Cold front will move through, maybe strongly, then back up as a warm front, strongly, then here comes the cold again. That has played merry hob with my noggin. But knowing why I start to fold up has forced me to mind the weather a LOT closer than I have before.
The prismatic colors of the ice clouds was subtle and beautiful
More to follow as I get stuff done and, hopefully, unfold my head space.
I had planned to be a lot more diligent on the blog this year. But that has slipped on me.
I took on a job that was too big for the tools I have. I couldn't get the mill to chew this without trying to jump and run out the door. Nothing like jumping in the deep end, then having to bow out. Ah, enforced humility. Tasty.
I'm working another job that I was leery of at first, but after some thought, is gonna be a good first step into the world of self-employment. Maybe.
The shop is getting cleaner. And that is really nice. I have to be able to move from machine to machine easily. That hasn't happened in a while. I have a bit of Phil-itus, or he has some STxAR-ness....
Working on a couple lathe chuck trees. Christmas presents...shhhhh.....
All in all, it's been interesting!
So it's Happy Christmas time again. Here are a couple of my favorite Christmas songs.
Mom was pretty sure we were Cherokee, as a progenitor was married to a Cherokee maid. Alas, it doesn't appear to be the case. I still have a soft spot in my heart for the civilized tribes.
This one reminds me of a few Christmas' in the past.
Some people's kids, eh?
One other song that reminds me of brown Christmas' with the folks when I was a much younger man. The smell of dust, the blue northers that screamed out of Kansas to visit... The weight of a quilt to keep warm in the night, the smell of snow and spit boiling off a gas heater, the moron that peed on the campfire (no, not me)... Chopping water at the barn so the stock can drink, hauling it in two five gallon buckets... three times a day, and I don't know how many trips from the pump house to the barn.... soaking up the sun out of the wind on the south side of the barn. Cold wind in your face that made the snot run across your cheek and into your ears... a living snow globe, watching it fall in the circle of bright the yard light put out... the soft quiet of a snowy night... man, the memories keep coming....
Update:
Unplanned events just kept coming: Family member hospitalized a few times early in the year; head injury; a family member's separation became a divorce; another family separation; an attempted coup at work; continuing fun from the injury (I have to be aware of weather changes, they can knock me down pretty hard now).... My favorite Aunt just went home this morning.
But that's life, right?
Not sure what to make out of the political scenery. I've talked to a few about that, one guy in particular reminds me: "There is none so blind as he who will not see."
High points included: getting a family member sorted with the .gov medical care for the most part; surviving a head injury; and finding out what is different, better, worse after the injury; getting my dream sheet at work; finding out who my team mates are at work. I am here to tell you, there were folks that I considered passing acquaintances at work that were really GOOD friends. I am indebted to them for caring for me when I was down hard. And my family that helped me through and are continuing to give aid and comfort.
I got a LOT of clarity this year.
Back in the days of maps, you had to know where you were to figure out where you were going. Orientation of the map was pretty important. I know where I am right now more clearly than I have in the past. The way usually presents itself if you know where you are.
Happy Christmas, thanks for coming over to visit. I really means a lot to me.
