TubaOrNotTuba

This morning, we turned our home into a tiny laboratory, to perform some applied science experiments. The new “juice box”, received yesterday, needed to be tested for its intended purposes. For example, could we use it to evaporate excess water from scalp hair? Yes. How about, extract essential oils from crushed seeds, to prepare an essential beverage (brewing coffee)? Again, yes. And finally, would we be able to prepare simple menu items, such as grilled cheese sandwiches? On all tests, success. Two thumbs up. Now we just need the green light for some camping/glamping. I will delay any other tests, such as recharging the “juice box” using solar panels until we actually acquire some.

Yes, I’m almost two years late on this particular task. No, I have no excuse. We now have a complete set of maps for where we spent our evenings, almost two years ago. Next time, I’ll get it done before I (once again) reaffirm just how whispy memories can be. You see, I have all the tools required. Technology, to the max. And yet, in looking over some of the places, I recall nothing. Was CT really that boring? I couldn’t leave my story hanging in the badlands of MT, but I’m happy to put this puzzle back in the box. Seven weeks in the life of a family, with a minimum of travel experience.

Thanks to an acquaintance living in Florida, I’ve finally seen a news story about the new “Madeleine boat”. I don’t read everything, although I should, because this story contains some actual news. The ship was sailed over from her previous home, and will now undergo the required certification trials before sailing past my window, next month. The predecessor is already out of service, and might be “broken” just down the road. I can’t see why, but the story fits in with local gossip.

Awhile back (precisely 687 days, BC) we set off to see the world. Or a portion thereof. We did. Crossed the continent, twice. Learned that you don’t need to face down a gunning crazy at every corner. Learned to read road maps, again. A lot, in the two months less a bit that we were out there. Do we miss the excitement? Certainly. That’s why I decided it was time to actually create a trip log.

Lately, I’ve been following the exploits of a man that travels on a “shoestring” budget. That is, he has figured out that the rails go pretty much everywhere, and most of them still have trains. Freight, mind you. The comfort level is below par, for anyone that thinks that the Orient Express was the way to go.

Maybe I should fly more. The whole industry has been off my radar for a long time, and learning that the government is about to offer a seven billion dollar bailout is wrong, on so many levels.

One super skill that I would like to develop? Easy. I want to be able to remember those  moments (call them dreams, if you will) that occur when I nap.

The fervents of winter can rejoice; we have new snow on the ground. Not enough to impede the mails (I hope), but I can now tell which path our foxy neighbours are employing on their way to somewhere else. The forecasters have been all over the map on this one, and the actual flurries didn’t begin until late afternoon. Well after the walking period, to the relief of some in the house.

My ongoing game of lifesize Sudoku made progress, today. The basement, for a LONG time, has been under construction. Unlike a new, empty home, we live here 24/7/365. And, in keeping with one of those laws of thermodynamics (I’m guessing here), stuff keeps coming in. Good stuff, but the floor space seems to shrink in consequence. Anyhow…

Some things just take longer than expected. The car has arrived, after its voyage on a fancy carrier truck, and the time from here to there was only twenty-five days. Similar to travel by bicycle, back when my knees had less to protest about. Oh well. Scratch that job off the list. The extra keys will go out in the morning mail, and it shouldn’t take much longer (despite the pandemy and the holiday rush). If someone asks for my opinion, I’ll break it down in terms of dollars per hour.