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Showing posts from May, 2009

Wyoming and Idaho

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We are back from a quick vacation. I managed to score three (actually several more) bucket list items in 4 days. 1.) Long Snowmobile Trip. 2.) Yellowstone Park and 3.) Wyoming. I reached my 50th State --Wyoming! And we took a 90 mile snowmobile trip in Yellowstone National Park. We went to the "Craters of the Moon--National Monument and Preserve" in Idaho and also stopped at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) where I got to see (with my own eyes) the very cool nuclear powered twin turbojet engine. It was a successful experiment in the 1950s and 1960s. https://whatisnuclear.com/safety-minutes/htre-3-meltdown.html Of course, I had my Radiacode scintillation detector with me and yes, the apparatus is "Hot". The screenshot of the readings from my three walk-arounds the artifact. I swear you could smell the radiation. There was a very un-natural burnt smell something reminiscent of burned bakelite. Although, I am quite certain the emitted radition was not the source...
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Progress. I have some trim to finish inside and out. In the course of this project I had to monkey with the following connections through the wall: Main Power, 200 Amp Main phone line Outside electrical outlet Satellite TV connection Outside water spigot Numerous low voltage connections to barn 110 VAC line to road (2) main ground connections
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Saturday I went spent some time with Douglas and his new horse. I can't say I would jump to get a horse. But, I always think new experiences are a good idea. His horse is really nice and he has a great financial and care taking plan for it.
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Progress?
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I had an MRI of my foot. The achilles tendon is torn. I am getting around, but I have to be very careful. I am using the crutches a lot. If I am not careful I can rupture it then it has to be connected surgically. I expect to be in a splint boot for a number of weeks. With the boot I can safely apply pressure to the leg. I got the back field mowed. Every time it gets better. We will take hay off it this year. The Holder tractor mows about 4 acres an hour. It takes me a bit over 4 hours to get the field done. I seem to have run over a skunk with it or something. The smell is pretty well dissipated now, however. The project is to rebuild the basement wall this Memorial day weekend. I have two new swinging patio doors. They were not cheap. They set me back about 4200.00 bucks and took two months to arrive. It is in preparation for getting the decks done and the house finished.
"Courage is about seeing, feeling and knowing fear; taking steps forward only because it is the right thing to do." Charles Dowdell I have had a relapse with my Achilles tendon. I am on crutches again. This is a most curious injury. When I sleep it gets worse not better.
Here is a link (hopefully) of the Webcam of the Greene Airport where I take my flying instruction. About 3/4 of the way through the video you catch a glimpse of me turning the plane around for another take off and landing. I will be soloing soon. It has been a long time coming. Like most things it is a matter of sticking with something, living thru the ups and downs and just plain keep coming back. Video of Greene Airport
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The North Pole.
My Achilles tendon is much better. I was weaning myself off the crutches Friday. Today I am sore, but so much better. I still have the ankle brace on; the cripple part is gone. The emotional part of the injury was much worse than the physical part. It was the first time I had ever used crutches even though I had had some bad sprains over the years. With the sprains it was a matter of moving slower and deliberately. With the Achilles injury it has been a matter of getting around at all or not and a dependence on crutches. It was about 10 days. I heal fast, but I need to remember better.
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The recent news of the Swine Flu is a bit suspicious. I think there is a possibility that the news outbreak is a means to refocus attention of the Americans away from the recovering economy. I mean, it is especially suspect when I hear a public service message from the CDC recommending that you keep extra food and supplies on hand in case of a wider outbreak. Give me a break. A couple weeks worth of food will only stimulate the economy. It will not help you out in the event of a pandemic. If you think the Federal Govt. does not manipulate the news think again. I suspect more people in the US were killed by Lightning in the last couple of months rather than the Swine Flu. Don't believe everything you hear. All the world's a stage.