I've been absent for a couple of days here because we're on the road. We left Baker Rd. Wednesday at 4 p.m. and drove to the SW side of Portland to stay in a motel. Up the next morning at 2 a.m. so we could make our 5 a.m. flight to Denver, and from there to Grand Rapids, arriving here early afternoon yesterday. Pam's brother and SIL picked us up, we went to her mom's, and from there to Red Lobster - one of their standard eating choices - for an early dinner.
We were in bed by about 6:30 local time, absolutely exhausted from the travel schedule. It's now Friday morning and the activity begins! I'm having b'fast with a VIF and Pam's taking her mom to the hairdresser and then some shopping.
When we left Baker Rd. the burn pile was still smoking, the last wood pile was a bit smaller, AND THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING. You're right, it wasn't running at the time we left, but earlier that morning I fired it up and got good readings at the battery, so my fix solved the problem. I used 10ga. wire and I plan to replace it with 8ga., but that shouldn't take long or be a problem. It will add a measure of at least mental security. 10ga. is rated for 15 amps, the max the alternator can put out, but 8ga. will provide a margin of error.
There are still a few items to be sorted, including locating and fixing a leak somewhere up around the cowl, fixing the emergency brake, and figuring out why the wiper linkage doesn't work. But the tentative plan is to drive it into town and get it registered on the first good weather day after we get back. On the way home from the DMV I'll get a bale of straw for Chevonshir, something I can't do with the Kia.
The flights across country were uneventful. Per dr.s orders I added salt to my diet the 24 hours previous to boarding and drank a lot of liquids. Didn't feel quite right on the first leg, but never went over the edge as has happened in the past. At one point I *think* my pacemaker kicked in because I had the same feeling in my chest that I get when the tech turns it on to check its function. But it's impossible for me to know for sure if that's what it was until I go for my next check when they'll download the data. Either way, no emergency landings or trips to the hospital were involved, so we consider it a successful trip.
We listened to the debate as we drove north to Portland and got to our room in time to see the last few minutes of the exchange. Since then I've read the analysis of outlets from across the media spectrum and compared it to my impressions. Because the audio-only of radio provides a limited picture of the debate I attribute some of the difference between our reactions to that. However, I'm increasingly convinced Hillary is getting a pass from most of the media for both what she says/doesn't say, and how she says it. They also seem to decline to press her (pun intended) on serious questions about some of the things her campaign is accused of doing.
The feeding of planned questions to Hillary before the last debate by Donna Brazille - then a CNN correspondent, but prior to that and now a DNC member - would be called cheating in any classroom in America. The yuge sums of money funneled into the Clinton Foundation from countries "doing business" with the State Department while she was it's Secretary, her inaccurate statements about third trimester abortions and gun violence...none of these are challenged in the way Trump's statements and past dealings are (rightfully) scrutinized. Yes, he makes an easy and inviting target, but the appearance of favoritism discredits the media and does a disservice to the voters. My frustration is not that Donald gets treated too harshly, but that the treatment should be the same. Dig with equal vigor into both candidates.
Pam says she's worried about our visit. She's afraid I'll be bored and get impatient with nothing to do for the next several days except sit and talk. Naw.
I've figured out how I want to run the electric fence around the goat pen.
I'm going to redo the way the openings in the truck's firewall are sealed.
There's another 2-3 cords of wood to be stacked.
The wild blackberry vines are encroaching on my rhubarb and blueberry patches and need to be removed before they take over.
I want to get the pump installed on the irrigation well so Chevonshire will have water inside and I won't have to haul it a bucket at a time.
What should I do with the dozen or so rounds from the school marm that are too rotten to be used for firewood but too big to let sit where they lay, down by the creek? Can I bust them up with my splitting maul?
Hey, I should be fine sitting here for the next week. Good times!
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