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Another trip between Georgia and the New York farm

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Its unusual that I make the trip this late in the year. Although it is highly unlikely it would snow (and bring the road salt and all the other bad stuff). It is often rainy. I had excellent weather. The main objective was to bring the brush hog up and mow trails. The trails have been disapearing and there are a number of bush islands appearing everywhere a small finish mower can't do the job. The tractor worked well. Back up over a multiflora rose bush with the brush hog up and drop it down and take care of business --at least for another couple of year or so. I spent many hours years ago yanking these things out of the ground with tractor and chain which yields a more satisfactory long term outcome. I will be doing the same with the largest ones for sure. I understand that these bushes were originally planted as a natural fence. Animals and humans alike don't like the thorns. They are invasive.
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Well, I didn't get the car I was bidding on. I was out at a party when it ended so I was short by 100 bucks. There will be others. I did make the connections to borrow a trailer to get the car when I finally do find one. The base model Geo Tracker 1992 vintage with a manual transmission would be perfect. The body has to be good. The engine can be rough. I took some great pics of sundogs at sunrise on the way into work. It was 0 degrees on the farm this morning. The llamas are locked in and comfy. We have a sick chicken though.
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Al Russell came down on Saturday. It has been quite a while. There was a lot to catch up on. We went out back with the jeep and I got another flat. We walked back and I went back Sunday with the weenie spare and the tractor. I used the 3 point hydraulics to jack up the jeep in 5 inches of new snow to change the tire and get the machines out of the woods. Although it was a nusence. It was fun being out in the woods in the cold and snow. In addition to my anniversary at my job. This weekend marks our 18th wedding anniversary. Where does all the time go? It got down to about 6 degrees last night with lots of wind. It was just plain nasty out. Listening to the scanner last night with the reports of car wrecks, personal tragedies and what not it seemed like the end of the world. The beavers are back down at the beaver dam and they are as destructive as ever. I am bidding on a Geo Tracker tonight for electric conversion.
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Hard to believe I have been working at my current job for 7 years as of Saturday. I have been sitting at the same desk with the same monitor, same chair, same everything (almost) for 7 years (except for 4 months in Antarctica). It is a year longer than I have stayed at any other job. Usually, I pack up and leave just to get into new more interesting problems or opportunities. They have said they were sorry to see me go at every job. I am pretty tired of that song and dance. I have held two jobs previously for 6 years, and of course a few others for lesser time. Everything is relative. This is a pic of Ultima I took a few months back. She looks happy under her fruit tree.
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Today is Thanksgiving and I am emailing folks in Antarctica to wish them the best. My friend Dave is stuck about 5 hours (LC-130 Aircraft) away from McMurdo at a god forsaken place known as "WAIS Divide". WAIS is an acronym for "West Antarctica Ice Sheet". There has been a seasonal science camp out there for years taking ice core samples. Dave has been out there 3 years in a row. We use a an old C-band satellite dish to get Internet through an old NOAA satellite through the University of Miami. I think he gets 5 hours of visibility at 56 kbps. Good for email for the scientists. At least they have a regular camp cook out there. I am looking for a new controller for my electric car. I have been doing a lot of research and planning. It won't be cheap. I want to do it right. I know if I don't it will be a mess and give electrics a bad name. I am diligently looking for what the the EV folks call a "Donor Car". I have reduced my goal to a 40 mile range...
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It is a normal weekend I suppose. We went to a Toastmaster event in Ithaca last night. Jason and Claudia both competed in the district contests. This was the contest that culminates 2000 toastmasters from across the state. Unfortunately, neither won, but to compete at this level is certainly an achievement. The Columbian guy who won the Humorous contest was a real hoot. I have been patrolling the woods out back with the jeep looking for hunters and getting firewood. There were no signs of hunters on opening day which was great with me. I take my camera and my note pads to capture back tags. Anyone I catch will get a ticket from the DEC. I have a bunch of firewood to process. I should have enough for this year, but you really can't have too much. Worst thing is that I will use it next year. As long as I can get out back (snow not too deep) I might as well bring it forth. It is a great excuse to spend time in the woods. Even though it was in the 20s I was down to a t-shirt working ...
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While we are fighting a physical battle in the middle east the Chinese are fighting a battle at the real front. Malware/Trogans/Virus and any other executables to compromise our computer securities are being purchased by us I bet. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/11/11/2003387202
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It is the weekend again. We had our first snow this morning and I was out back with the Jeep early. I dressed for the cold and it triggered a nerve or two. First of all it wasn't really cold and that it was so humid even though it was sort of cold. Hypothermia is much more likely when things are damp. In fact, most cases of hypothermia involve moisture, not cold, as the primary constituent. It is great to have robust internet (actually working) and the varied electronic devices accessed of late. I mounted the flat screen tv on the wall and I triaged the Fisher amp that gave me a smoke genie last Saturday morning, weird. Don't know what caused it besides me flicking a switch or two. DC coupled amps can be problematic. I may have to upgrade to a pair of McIntosh 275s to go with the "unsmoked" McIntosh Preamp I still have in the array. I had the strangest dream last night. I was in a novel about a wierd evacuation from a polar research station. Coincidentally, Mc...
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