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(Source) |
Friday, August 12, 2022
Another Debacle
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Follow Up to This Morning's Very Quick Post ...
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Wednesday, August 10, 2022
The Road to Piraeus
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Cruiser Tank Mk.II broken down in Greece (Source) |
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
North of Athens
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Cruiser Tank Mk.II¹ (Source) |
Commander, Sergeant Theodore O'ConnellGunner, Corporal Fred McTavishDriver, Private James FitzhughLoader, Private William O'SheaBow MG Gunner, Private Herbert Walsh
Monday, August 8, 2022
I've seen Fire and I've seen Rain (NOT!)
Little Juvat's Daughter (LJD), is doing well. 1.5 Lbs and, as of last Monday, 12". They've removed most of the things sticking in her and, best of all, she seems to be becoming aware of her surroundings and interacting somewhat. The nurse put her on her side, and she rolled back over onto her back, a couple of times, before staying on her side. I'm told that's actually a good thing, although preventing bed sores was the reason for shifting her.
What do I know? I'm not a Doctor nor have I played one on TV.
Thanks for all y'alls prayers. They're definitely working.
Other happenings, of somewhat lesser import, happening around the 'Burg.
Earlier this week, Mrs. J was working on a major project (subject of a future post) and called me into her office for my opinion. (Yes, Beans, that happens....occasionally.) So, I go offer my opinion and she starts typing it into her computer. Her desk does not face the window, so, as I had not yet been dismissed, walked over and looked out. My intent was to take a peaceful, relaxing view of Rancho Juvat. However, something caught my eye.
That got my attention! We've been under a Burn Ban for forever, or so it seems, to prevent this sort of thing from occurring. Since we've had little to no rain in months, there's also little chance this was caused by lightning. What follows is second hand from a guy who's got several friends in the local VFD, so...grain of salt.
It seems that because of the Burn Ban, cleared brush can't be burned. Duh! However, the owners of a large ranch about 8 miles from us hired some local itinerants to run the brush through a wood chipper. Which sounds like a good choice. But, you have to use one carefully and under the procedures outlined in the manual. For instance, don't let the machine get too hot.
You know what's going to happen now, right? Oh, did I mention that the wind was blowing pretty steady at about 20 knots? So things started burning. The itinerants didn't have cell phones, so drove into town to alert the Fire Department. In the time to do that and have them respond, the fire had burned 20 acres. As of Friday, the Fire Department said the fire was 80% contained but had burned 1459 acres.
7 fixed wing airplanes, to include a DC-10, and 2 helicopters were involved in trying to control it.
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We're not that far away from that picture. 6 or 7 miles. So...Thank you Lord!
In another aspect of this week, while Little J and LJW were in San Antonio doing the Parent thing, I decided most of my other projects were done, on hold or abandoned, so I no longer had an excuse. So, I started finishing the inside of the workshop.
Over the course of several hours, I managed to get 2 sheets of 1/4" plywood hung.
Pitiful progress, I know. However, it wasn't the hanging it that was the issue, it was getting it into position. First I had to move it into position to mark where the wall sockets were. Unfortunately, it's fairly flexible and it kept trying to fall away. Once marked, it had to be hoisted onto the table for cutting. Finally figured out to take it by the short end to the short end of the table, then drag it, slowly, into position on the table.
Did learn something else new. I didn't know that interior plywood has a front and back side. And if you mark the position of something with the back side facing out, chances are really good it won't fit when you turn it around. Like really, really good.
So, called it a day and came back the next day, with Little J in tow. Amazing how much easier hanging it is with two people.
The cutout for the window took a little bit more effort.
But that's the opposite corner from the first picture. I also bought some knock together shelving to start some organizing. And so I can walk around and not trip over things.
Somewhat.
Work should resume while you're reading this. Hope to have the bottom half done at that point. I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to finish the top. Some pegboard of course, but I don't think I want it all to be. Probably some combination of pegboard, shelves and French Cleat, but, I'm very open to suggestions at this point.
On a different note, Mrs. J, Little J, LJW and I had a little Flappy Hour last Saturday night. (Flappy Hour being Mrs. J's name for sitting out front of the house with an adult recreational beverage, watching birds and telling stories. It's only done when the Temp is below 100o. So, hasn't happened a lot lately). We're watching, with excitement, a large cumulonimbus heading our way with something coming out the bottom of it.
Huzzah! We're going to get some...
Not so fast, juvat!
That was the direction the thunderstorm was coming from not 20 minutes before. No, we didn't get any rain. It just disappeared.
Lastly, one evening this week as I was entering the barn to feed the horses, I noticed this.
The ridge to its right is about an inch wide. |
Everything's bigger in Texas!
And just for a little relevant yet mellow music
Peace out, y'all!
Sunday, August 7, 2022
Poor Sarah Elizabeth ...
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The attacks have been dwindling over the past 24 hours, but at one point I was getting ten of these a day.
Saturday, August 6, 2022
Train Hard, Fight Easy
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Panzerkampfwagen III Ausführung H¹ (Source) |
Friday, August 5, 2022
The Calm Before the Storm
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Bundesarchiv |
Thursday, August 4, 2022
Uh, Wait, What?
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(Source) |
Unteroffizier Willi Hoffmeister (commander/gunner)Gefreiter Fritz Weber (driver)Panzerschütze Horst Krebs (loader)Panzerschütze Ulrich Neuhäuser (bow gunner/radioman)Georg Hansel, the tank's loader (1944)
If there are five guys in 1944, what are the odds that it would be the same five guys from 1941?
Well, so much for my heavily armed garden gnomes.¹
Author's Note - The guy in the opening photo, the wing walker, yeah, that's me realizing that I'd forgotten something. Like where the cockpit is?
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Glimpse of a Stark Future
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