What did you do today?

[havasu]

At least you weren't checking out the dad!

 

[Flyover]

OK this is a day late, but yesterday I finished my screened in porch! I also carved out the top piece of the parallelogram door frame a little so the door actually fits into it and will close all the way.

The best part of the day was climbing up into my tree to saw off the branches hanging over my house. Afterwards while I was sawing up the maple logs to season them for firewood, I was seriously trying to come up with ways I could make a career out of free-climbing trees without having to take a salary cut. All day at work today I was just looking out the windows thinking about being back up in the trees.

I think that's it guys, I think I'm done!

 

[zannej]

OK this is a day late, but yesterday I finished my screened in porch! I also carved out the top piece of the parallelogram door frame a little so the door actually fits into it and will close all the way.

The best part of the day was climbing up into my tree to saw off the branches hanging over my house. Afterwards while I was sawing up the maple logs to season them for firewood, I was seriously trying to come up with ways I could make a career out of free-climbing trees without having to take a salary cut. All day at work today I was just looking out the windows thinking about being back up in the trees.

I think that's it guys, I think I'm done!

Arborist work pays very well-- but if you are freelance, you'd need to get licensed and bonded for it, I think. My brother-in-law's business used to be tree climbing/cutting. His father (who originally owned the business) had multiple vacation properties, bought a couple Mercedes, and generally made a killing. But, that was years ago and it was in New Jersey where customers could afford to pay a lot. I think my brother-in-law would get along with some folks here. He likes to collect and shoot guns and doesn't suffer fools gladly.

My mother actually drove today-- my license expired Saturday so I didn't want to chance any bad luck. She took me to the DMV and I got the one nice lady at the place. No late fees because my birthday fell on the weekend and it was within 10 days. Got it renewed-- picture looks pretty bad though. LOL. My mother looked at it and said "Your face doesn't look that fat!" They no longer even show neck or shoulders-- just zoom in on the face. Not flattering. LOL. Anyways, I kept hinting that I wanted to drive after I got my license renewed-- because my mother's driving is terrible. She was weaving a bit, nearly going in ditches, went up on a curb, etc. At one point she missed the ditch by half an inch and my brother started complaining (he sat in the back). The little dog, Fippy came along too. My brother took him for a nice walk around the DMV.

The lady at the DMV noticed my thumb and commented that it looked painful. It actually looks worse than it feels. I thwacked it on something Thursday or Friday.

My sister called on my birthday and my uncle called the next day. He lives in an assisted living community/condo in Virginia now. He said my aunt spent some time in ICU recently, but she pulled through. I wish I could go visit them. My cousin apparently had to get some work done on his nose (deviated septum, bone spurs, and some sort of nodules that needed to be removed from the inside). My other cousin managed to make it through the hurricanes in Houston unscathed. Her new house didn't flood but her old house in her old neighborhood apparently got 8ft of water.

My new kittens are starting to crawl around and explore. We've named them all: black one is Yasuke (after the first black samurai), Sir Hammington (because my brother wanted to call him Hammy since he's so fat), Hatshepsut (first known female Pharoah), and Biscus (because my brother thinks it would be funny to say "Hi, Biscus").

Here's the daddy of the kittens. His name is Fry and he did not like the flash on my camera.

Yasuke and Sir Hammington

Biscus, Hatshepsut, and Yasuke

Biscus has some weird deformity-- her chest is flat and there is a hole or indentation in the center. I don't know if it is a birth defect or if something happened when she was under the recliner.

 

[Flyover]

I don't really know, but my educated guess is that more than half of the work an arborist does is from behind a desk, and of the remaining fraction, most of the time is not spent climbing trees. And when they do climb trees, it's never a free climb (no ropes or other gear to assist the climb), mainly for insurance reasons. I'd further guess the percentage of time spent behind a desk goes up as you grow your arborism business, hire people on, etc. So, arborist got knocked off the list pretty early.

Mainly I was joking--there probably isn't a profession that could reliably provide me with a comparable income and promise of future income to what I've got now, while allowing me to spend most of my time free-climbing trees. If I eliminate the "reliably" requirement, I could go be a filmmaker who makes movies about free-climbing and maybe gets popular enough to earn sponsorships. But we all know I have a better chance of joining the starting lineup of an NBA team.

Instead I'll just have to wait for the apocalypse, then I can "bug out" or "hunker down"--whichever affords me the best chance of climbing trees for sustenance reasons!

 

[zannej]

I don't really know, but my educated guess is that more than half of the work an arborist does is from behind a desk, and of the remaining fraction, most of the time is not spent climbing trees. And when they do climb trees, it's never a free climb (no ropes or other gear to assist the climb), mainly for insurance reasons. I'd further guess the percentage of time spent behind a desk goes up as you grow your arborism business, hire people on, etc. So, arborist got knocked off the list pretty early.

Mainly I was joking--there probably isn't a profession that could reliably provide me with a comparable income and promise of future income to what I've got now, while allowing me to spend most of my time free-climbing trees. If I eliminate the "reliably" requirement, I could go be a filmmaker who makes movies about free-climbing and maybe gets popular enough to earn sponsorships. But we all know I have a better chance of joining the starting lineup of an NBA team.

Instead I'll just have to wait for the apocalypse, then I can "bug out" or "hunker down"--whichever affords me the best chance of climbing trees for sustenance reasons!

Or you could see if there are any tree climbing clubs in your area. LOL.

Also, an amendment, I said Mercedes but I was having a brain fart-- it was Corvettes.

I used to love climbing trees when I was younger. No longer have the confidence or coordination now. For one of my school group class photos in Singapore, I'm up in the tree.

Glad you got your porch all fixed up. Any photos?

Save​

 

[Flyover]

Yeah, I should post pictures. I've been talking about the damn thing long enough...Mainly it's just not that much to look at. It just looks better than it did. Shoulda taken before and afters.

 

[zannej]

Poked that thumb with a needle and pus came gushing out. Had to squeeze it and spend awhile draining it. Green stuff was the last to come out before the clear fluid started. I've drained it a couple times now and it's on the mend. Itches though.

My friend in town had a disgruntled neighbor who reported him to the city for having his yard as an "eyesore" with "limbs all over the yard"-- someone came by and took the limbs he'd piled up neatly for the city to pick up and threw them all over his yard (probably the person who filed the complaint). They threatened him with fines AND jailtime if he didn't get it cleaned up. But his yard looks nicer than all of the yards around. They also complained about the couch on his porch (it's for people to sit on). Other houses in the neighborhood have couches and chairs on them but the city isn't sending them notices. He has a couple of suspects for whoever reported it, which brings me to the next part:
He went to the city to get the information on the size, location, and borders of his property and discovered that it extends back 200ft (and a city road actually intersects it at 190ft). But, the more important thing is that the trailers on the lot behind his house are on his property-- and the jerk who yelled at his girlfriend about them starting to cut down the bamboo (threatening her and saying that they better not cut down anymore of the bamboo or else) is a tenant. Or so he thought. He went and spoke to the guy and the guy said in lieu of money he pays his "landlord" by cutting lawns and doing yardwork. My friend then explained that he actually owns the property and the "landlord" has zero control or rights to it. So, he thinks the complainant was either the tenant or the "landlord". Oh, and he had his friend take a chainsaw and cut the rest of the bamboo down. He told the tenant he can stay so long as he doesn't cause problems and said he clearly doesn't need to do any work for the "landlord" anymore. He may end up having to go to court with the landlord if there was ever actually any money being collected within statute of limitations.

 

[frodo]

Friday the 13th started off with a bang.
About 2AM. A coyote got after Biscuit, Chased her under the house, where a helluva fight ensued
I ran out with a shotgun wearing only tidy whitys. looking under the house as they broke a water line
&^$#$%^*^$$.
Biscuit is OK
coyote got away
I have no water today

Flyover, Did you find your bumping pipe?

Zanne
Texas law is Different than louisania
In texas, if someone is on your property for 10 years and you do not contest their presense
the land is then there's by some law.
You might want to have your friend research a similar law in your state
if not, he could lose his land
ask a realest agent, they are pretty much up on land laws

 

[havasu]

Frodo, I cannot erase that picture in my head!

 

[zannej]

Friday the 13th started off with a bang.
About 2AM. A coyote got after Biscuit, Chased her under the house, where a helluva fight ensued
I ran out with a shotgun wearing only tidy whitys. looking under the house as they broke a water line
&^$#$%^*^$$.
Biscuit is OK
coyote got away
I have no water today

Flyover, Did you find your bumping pipe?

Zanne
Texas law is Different than louisania
In texas, if someone is on your property for 10 years and you do not contest their presense
the land is then there's by some law.
You might want to have your friend research a similar law in your state
if not, he could lose his land
ask a realest agent, they are pretty much up on land laws

Poor Biscuit! I'm glad he's ok though. Glad there aren't any coyotes around here. I just have to worry about hunting dogs that people let loose in the woods.

IIRC, it's involving squatters rights and generally works if the property has been abandoned and property taxes are not being paid. If the person claiming to be the landlord was living there without permission and against the wishes of the real owner and the owner does not take action, then it could be squatters. If the property owner at any time ever gave the person living there permission to stay, they can NOT claim squatters rights (at least under Louisiana law). Since there is a person who has some sort of landlord/tenant agreement and he has not lived there for 10 years yet, he can't claim squatters rights. A person using another person's property without their knowledge/permission (like renting it out) does not count here, at least from what I read. The tax payments are up-to-date as far as I know. (I looked up the laws awhile back-- and suspect my former deadbeat tenants had been trying to get squatters rights to our house and property).
I believe the original intent of the law was so that someone who agreed to pay back taxes owed on an abandoned property could take ownership. But the laws have been twisted and used to allow people to stay in places that are being paid for.

 

[zannej]

Had to deal with my mother acting like a toddler. She asked me to bring her food in bed, but she couldn't find her spoon. I had to do something and said I would be right back. Was gone less than 3 minutes, came back and she'd thrown her bowl on the floor in a tantrum. I scolded her while cleaning it up. I asked her if she wanted me to bring her a spoon, but suddenly she decided not to talk to me. Folded her arms, put on her angry toddler face, turned her head away, closed her eyes and wouldn't speak. So, I took the bowl out and left her for a couple hours. Later went back to check on her and she was still being nasty to me-- griped about not being able to find things (not my fault she keeps her bed and nightstand cluttered). I found her spoon for her, but she was still being stubborn-- so I distracted her by telling her about a video of a cat smelling a durian and gagging. That got her laughing and then she agreed to eat a jello fruit cup followed by a banana.

Played with the kittens for awhile. I set up a cat tree for them and they have been climbing in it. One of my adult cats, Predicate, got jealous of all the time I've been spending with other kitties, so as soon as I walked back in the room he jumped on me and wanted to be held.

 

[Flyover]

@Frodo:

I've been out presenting at a conference for two days and haven't had a chance to do anything with the house. I'm gonna ease back into housework, but I'm not starting today.

 

[zannej]

@Frodo:

I've been out presenting at a conference for two days and haven't had a chance to do anything with the house. I'm gonna ease back into housework, but I'm not starting today.

That's what I tell myself pretty much every day. I need to stop the procrastinating. LOL.

Sometimes I'll be all "Time to start on this!" and then within a couple minutes I get winded/tired and am like "I'll just take a small break" that ends up turning in to a 12-hour nap. Chronic fatigue blows, but I really need to start working on getting my energy up and improving my cardio.

 

[MrMiz]

building a loft in the shop. I got the ledger, post, support beam and 1 joist in. I too am fighting off a cold. I was miserable by the end of the day. Came inside and fell asleep almost instantly and now I can't got back to sleep.

 

[frodo]

That's what I tell myself pretty much every day. I need to stop the procrastinating. LOL.

Sometimes I'll be all "Time to start on this!" and then within a couple minutes I get winded/tired and am like "I'll just take a small break" that ends up turning in to a 12-hour nap. Chronic fatigue blows, but I really need to start working on getting my energy up and improving my cardio.

have yourself checked for lime tick disease

I had a severe case of dongivafuks last year, it lasted about 30 days

 

[zannej]

have yourself checked for lime tick disease

I had a severe case of dongivafuks last year, it lasted about 30 days

For me, it's not even that I don't care about things or don't want to do things, it's that I don't have the energy to do things. Lime/tick has never come up in my bloodwork, but EBV did. I got mono back in college (sadly, I got it from sharing a giant cup of iced tea with a group of friends) in the 90s (right before I was about to finish my degree-- I had ONE class left but was too exhausted and kept having throat infections) and have had chronic recurring Epstein-Barr Virus ever since. Some days I'll be fine and have decent energy and other days I'm like a zombie. And I'll have others where I have energy for a couple hours and then I just feel so exhausted I can't stay awake and I have to nap throughout the day. And now that my back is messed up, I have trouble with bending and lifting. Yesterday I was in zombie mode and slept almost all day- and after waking up to feed my mother, I was still exhausted and went back to sleep again. She woke me up around 3am to wash her feet and I napped for another hour and now I'm awake, although groggy.
My symptoms are similar to Klein Levins Syndrome, but that tends to only affect young people and seems to go away when they get older. It can be hard for other people to grasp that my brain just doesn't fully switch on, I can't concentrate, feel like I'm in a fog, and my eyes keep trying to shut, and sleeping doesn't make me feel refreshed or less tired, I can't have caffeine, and that exercising to try to boost my stamina usually makes me crash hard for the next couple of days where I can barely drag myself out of bed. People are always saying "Oh, just do x and you will get over it" but I've tried the suggestions (excluding energy drinks) and they don't work. I am wondering if I should ask my doctor to up my thyroid meds to see if it helps. I was worse before I started on them.
And I realize it must sound silly when there are people who live with chronic pain and serious injuries who get more done. I inherited my mother's wussiness I guess. LOL.

Speaking of Mom, I mentioned to her sisters about the bowl throwing tantrum and her eldest sister was worried that she is going senile. I had to explain that she's been having tantrums like that my entire life and has always had a hard time dealing when she doesn't get her way. But I guess since we traveled far away and haven't seen each other in years, she didn't get to see it happening over the years and didn't know about it.

On the good news front, the weather got cooler. It was 70 degrees the other day. When the sun comes up more, I'm hoping to take a look at some stuff outside to see what I need to do to fix the waterline for my dog waterer and maybe work on cleaning up some stuff in the house more as well. My brother has thrown trash all over the front room and is not going to clean it up. I want to start early on cleanup so my sister can sleep there when she visits. I know if I wait til the last minute, I won't get it done.

 

[zannej]

Had to go into town to mail a letter and get some stuff at the store. Got home and Mom had been sick and had an "accident" so I had to hand wash her pants.

Ok, it's still too hot today, but my friends came out and cut down more trees. I think all they need to do now is drag the cut trees out of the yard and burn them. They even fixed my side gate and cut down the trees against my car port and next in front of the barn. They also started looking at stuff inside the house to try to figure out what needs to be fixed on the electrical and talked about helping with replacing the subfloors and such. One of them noticed that the breaker for the dryer wasn't flipped all the way on so he pushed it more. I wonder if that was causing the error where it said the heating element wasn't working (according to the error code on the display). Will have to test it out later and see if it works.

My friend who was getting harassed about his yard (having someone complain) found out who was complaining-- a parishioner at the church next door. He tried to send a message to the pastor to discuss it but found he was blocked. One or more of the parishioners had lodged a complaint about EVERYTHING in his yard-- much of it wasn't even true. But, my friend wen to City Hall to protest the citations and mention that someone had vandalized his yard prior to calling. The mayor personally called him back later to apologize and said that they will no longer be sending citations and will ignore further complaints from the harassing party. To make things even better, my friend discovered that the church is actually built partway on his property and their fence and sign are way over on his property. He may not be able to get the building moved or anything, but he could move the fence and make them take down or move their sign and the mayor would back him up on it.

 

[frodo]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGa70tVYVKo"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGa70tVYVKo[/ame]

The vacuum machine was taken off today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[oldognewtrick]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGa70tVYVKo

The vacuum machine was taken off today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do I sense a small amount of excitement in your post?

 

[frodo]

Do I sense a small amount of excitement in your post?

just a tad bit excited.