Broken Stuff

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It seems like the last couple weeks is about broken stuff. Angie was rear ended on her way to work. The car is broken. The refrigerator also decided to croak. Trying to catch up, gain back lost ground. We have a new car, very similar to the rudely smashed up car. I had it shipped from Texas. Also have a new a new fridge and backup freezer and fridge. Spring is very sprung. The pollen seems worse that usual this year. In Atlanta we complain about the traffic and the pollen, neither one is really as bad as we say.
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Here is a picture I took on February 19th when I was snowshoeing on the farm just after getting back from Antarctica. There is so much life in this picture. It was pretty amazing to me to see that Winter in Upstate NY is teeming with life compared to Antarctica. It was (is) like a dense jungle in comparison. One of the biggest misconceptions about Antarctica is that there is all this wildlife. Outside of the sea there is no life, wild or not. The sea harbors life very nicely because the sea ice seems to protect a lot of species from predators for at least part of the year. But outside of the sea it is incredibly lifeless. It is hard to describe how lifeless, because I have nothing to compare it to. There are no aromas.

I have been in touch with my friends I made on the ice. It is interesting to see who is going back this year and all the other related stories. I have several projects still going on related to the ice.

This weekend I have been doing farm work including skidding, cutting, and splitting logs for firewood. My Holder tractor has a new seat and has been lubed and washed.

I went and looked at new trucks yesterday. I will be buying a new truck this week (almost for sure). I am looking at Toyotas and Chevys. I realized I have been driving Chevy trucks for 24 years. I miss the Diesel already.

I am looking forward to my flying lesson this week. I feel most of it is now a matter of practice. It will be a great thrill when I solo. It will be a great personal achivement. I have to buy a few more aviation books today.

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