WWIII???

 This feels a lot like the early stages of World War III. There are the obvious signs: sabers rattling, countries invaded, allies treated like enemies. Throw in massive riots and protests around the world. Add a pinch of drought and crop failure. Our world system built upon freedom of the seas and open trade is coming apart before our eyes. Just wait until the 2026 recession takes hold. 

While there are parallels, this isn’t the 1930s. Keep an eye on what happens in digital space. The early salvos are not being fired with artillery. This phase involves things like massive data breaches and AI generated deep fakes. Since the modern world relies heavily on computers and the Internet the damage is immense. 

When your cards and payment apps stop working you’ll be just another casualty of the opening stages.

-Sixbears

Pipe Surgery

 After being away we came home to a plugged kitchen sink drain. (and a big pile of unwashed dishes) 

I took a couple stabs at it with no luck. The drain was plugged solid. Normally I'd have really dug into it but since I just had surgery I didn't want to pop a stitch. I still have a 5 pound weight limit from the doctor. 

 With that in mind I did something I almost never do: hired someone. 

 It took the plumber two hours of hard work, swearing in two languages, and some pipe surgery but he got it done. 

 I'm a stubborn guy but he had me beat. I was impressed and gave him a good tip. Well worth hiring a pro this time.

 -Sixbears 

Slice and Dice

Well that was interesting.

The lump on my inner thigh had grown to about the size of a football. No kidding. 

The operation that was impossible in New Hampshire was routine at Mass General. They kept me overnight. Stitches will have to stay in for a month but I'm already much improved. Pain currently can be managed with Tylenol. 

Looks like I'm getting my life back after 10 months of searching for a solution. Only took 5 hospitals and about a dozen doctors. 

The sad thing is that I'll have a nifty foot long scar that I can't show anyone without exposing my dangling unmentionables. Scars are like tattoos but with more interesting stories. 

Family and friends have been a great help.

-Sixbears

Enter the Surgeon

It’s been a minute. I really haven’t been all that much besides seeking medical care.

Back in March there was an issue with my leg that I figured would require surgery. Many months and five hospitals later I found someone willing to do the surgery. Next month I’m going under the knife. Frankly, it’s going to feel like a Christmas gift. Instead of slowly getting worse I’ll be getting better.

A complete recovery is expected.

Part of the long wait was probably due to me living in a remote area. That medical talent pool isn’t deep enough for what I needed done. Apparently big city hospitals do this sort of operation all the time -not so much in rural areas.

-Sixbears

The Coming Winter

 

Fall is officially here. Winter isn’t far behind. I just ordered a couple pallets of pressed sawdust blocks. Normally I’d have a fair bit of firewood laid up. With my current health issue that wasn’t going to happen. Fortunately, my budget is in pretty good shape right now so I’ve been able to buy my way into winter preparation. One nice thing about those fiber blocks is that they burn very hot and clean.

For some reason I feel the need to prep as if we are going to have extended power outages. Short outages are pretty normal but I have a feeling this might be a record winter.

Don’t forget a way to actually light that woodstove. Do I have a bunch of lighters and matches? Sure. In addition I keep some ferro rods handy. They are great as you can pluck them out of a bucket of water and still get them to spark. While that’s nice turning that spark into an actual fire requires some skill. I’ve practiced. Have you?

-Sixbears

Still Alive

Yes, I’m still around. Unfortunately I’m still dealing with my leg issues. The longer this goes on the more mobility I lose. It’s annoying to say the least. I’ve a meeting with a surgeon in Boston so wish me luck with that.

Life is full of lessons. One of the lessons is that I’ve had to work with other people to get things done. One of my projects was to reopen a small water well located next to the house. It was retired decades ago back when my dad owned the place. At the time my dad had his friend and his family camping on our land. The friend had a big family. The little well could not handle 11 people, especially during a drought. We ended up digging another well much further from the house. It works but requires a submersible pump. The long supply line is also more suspect able to freezing.

Rather that reopen the old well by hand I hired a buddy with a mini-excavator. It did the job. Now I have a second source of water that can be pumped with a hand pump located in the house. I also have a cheap shallow well pump that can supply the whole house if necessary.

Live goes on.

-Sixbears

Like a Good Neighbor

 

I don’t have a lot of neighbors. The joke around here is that if you live within 4 – 5 miles you are neighbors. Population density is pretty low. Most of my neighbors are seasonal so there is that. There is a full timer living across the street and I’m glad we get alone.

We aren’t “come over and have coffee” neighbors but that’s fine. We are neighbors who’ll pet your dogs and check in on each other during storms. Frankly, that’s a pretty good level to be at. My neighbor just offered parking space for my boat and trailer. That way it’ll be out of the way when my buddy shows up with his excavator.

Normally I get along pretty good with the neighbors. There was that one guy who was tweaked out on meth and got into huge yelling matches with his wife. I knew he wasn’t right in the head but we still got along well enough. The thing with meth heads is that you can’t trust them. Meth takes over. Well, the cops hauled him away and it’s been pretty quiet ever since. Meth has done some serious damage to rural America.

Funny thing. When the meth head was yelling his chickens would break out of the shoddy coup he built and all come over to my place. Chickens aren’t smart but they are smart enough to know when to get out of Dodge.

As much as I like my solitude it’s good to get along with folk. One winter my car slid off my driveway and into a ditch. The guy who lived down the road stopped when he saw I was in trouble. He apologized for not being able to stay and help as he had to make a doctor’s appointment. Instead he told me to go into his house and get the keys to his big 4X4 truck so I could pull myself out. That’s what I did. It’s nice to get the help and even nicer to be trusted.

-Sixbears