I have been so pre-occupied with work and with trying to finally get rid of some of the clutter around here that I have not really been thinking and planning for the ride. I have finally started that ride planing process but I need to give it more time and thought. I don't need to obsess too much, but we only see crew 3 times in the 100 miles and one vet check no crew allowed where they say they will have water for horses and people. So I need to carry some supplies. I found the pommel bags will work on my saddle. The english style cantle bag will not. I can zip tie easy boots to the saddle. I need to try wearing my mesh pocket vest and see if I can live with it and then tie it to saddle if I get too hot in the middle of the day. We will be on the mountain for the hot part of the day.
Need to pull extra empty supplement buckets I won't use out of my trailer mangers and pack comfy chairs and pillows and things.
Friday, July 24, 2020
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
May 10: Did some decluttering and burning in burn barrel, still a good ways to go
July 15. Same status. and I HAVE been pecking at the decluttering all those 10 weeks. Just soooo much accumulated crap to deal with. But doing it as finding a few things to burn, put in rubbish or put in donate to charity thrift store pile every day has been good for not me not burning out mentally and emotionally and the guest room did get completely cleared so B could move in, I cleared out the secretary cabinet in the project room and have made good progress on the clutter that was on the floor and table in that room too. Plus progress in my bathroom, in mom's downstairs office (quite a bit of progress) and in the kitchen. Dr Mike told me he is dealing with his aunt's estate in Elbert county and the indoor arena was full of crap the neighbors who had been using it for free storage left behind and her 3-car garage was full of crap too. "I have filled 2 rollaway dumpsters". So some affirmation that it is good to be tackling this a bit at a time now vs having the "UGH, everything must go ASAP so I can sell this place" when I inherit. And Dr Mike noticed Tanza is thinner compared to when he did spring vaccinations and health certs. Well Tanza is thinner after LaVeta, plus I had some cushion on him before starting riding. But I guess I should ramp up the extra food for him even more in the 2.5 weeks leading up to heading for BigHorn.
Sunday, July 12, 2020
YIKES, I am not on the list the BH 100 RM posted on FB
It better just be a typo in the list I signed up and pre-paid back at convention. She sent me, or I took from FB the survey about belt buckles. I have asked sis and a good friend to crew for me. Tanza rocked the tough LaVeta 75 and I rocked a quick recovery (back to getting stuff done) after the ride.
I know its probably just a typo, but I'm all angst that "she lost my check, something was wrong with my check and she didn't tell me, some A-hole lied to her that I planned to drop to only riding 50 and stole my spot (well I think she can expand to 101 riders if that were the case)
Addendum. RM emailed me back thanking me for catching the mistake and stating that they are only worried about crowding at the basecamp. This does not make sense in my mind but whatever. I need to ask my friend how much I should pay her. Since she couldn't get Thursday off and is planning on driving herself on Friday in her car I need to at least pay her gas but I would like to offer her at least part of her normal salary since PTO accrual gets paid to one when leaving a job and so on.
I know its probably just a typo, but I'm all angst that "she lost my check, something was wrong with my check and she didn't tell me, some A-hole lied to her that I planned to drop to only riding 50 and stole my spot (well I think she can expand to 101 riders if that were the case)
Addendum. RM emailed me back thanking me for catching the mistake and stating that they are only worried about crowding at the basecamp. This does not make sense in my mind but whatever. I need to ask my friend how much I should pay her. Since she couldn't get Thursday off and is planning on driving herself on Friday in her car I need to at least pay her gas but I would like to offer her at least part of her normal salary since PTO accrual gets paid to one when leaving a job and so on.
Monday, July 6, 2020
Busy 3-day weekend
No nice vacation at the Shamrock ride in WY. Sigh, I loved that ride, such hospitable landowners and ride manager and the setting just exuded peace and tranquility. Oh well, I did enjoy it most years while it was active.
This year it was hauling hay Friday morning, spraying weeds with the frustration of tow sprayer not working correctly and the goat heads from the power company dozer work already had set a TON of burrs, then unloading most of the hay we (mostly neighbor Paul) had picked up in the morning and I helped dad zip tie his flags to the 810 John Deere that evening.
Saturday I got up decently early and sprayed more weeds with backpack unit plus got the last bit of hay off the flatbed trailer. I still have not swept the loose hay off the trailer. Then dad lined up to be in the parade and I put on my patriotic t-shirt (eagle with flag "these colors don't run") that I bought in FL last year when I went to watch the C2 launch, plus my red MAGA cap with U.S. flag on brim and blue jeans. It was a pretty good parade for couple weeks notice and just our mile square neighborhood of 10 acre lots. I took pics with my camera phone, they are not great, cheap ph and I have no practice with the camera feature but better than nothing.
Then Pauls friend A came over with his mom and sister and picked up the wood Paul had cut up from our downed trees of a few weeks ago, Paul came over and cut down the Elm tree trunk that was still standing and I got the tractor out to load those heavy pieces onto A's trailer. We got a little shower in the afternoon which cooled things off, then it dried up and the wind got low so I went ahead and burned some paper trash and branches in the burn barrel while pork chops were marinading in the Teriyaki sauce that came with some frozen stir fry veggies, dad grilled them up, and I microwaved some california veggie mix for our 4th of July meal.
Then Pauls friend A came over with his mom and sister and picked up the wood Paul had cut up from our downed trees of a few weeks ago, Paul came over and cut down the Elm tree trunk that was still standing and I got the tractor out to load those heavy pieces onto A's trailer. We got a little shower in the afternoon which cooled things off, then it dried up and the wind got low so I went ahead and burned some paper trash and branches in the burn barrel while pork chops were marinading in the Teriyaki sauce that came with some frozen stir fry veggies, dad grilled them up, and I microwaved some california veggie mix for our 4th of July meal.
Sunday I rode Tanza from Sharptail trailhead, a tough 20+ mile loop in the heat. The silver lining was getting a late start like I did and it being a hot day with threat of pm storms we met very few bicyclists. I thought I'd do it quickly but Tanza was tired or a bit sore and didn't want to trot down the hills. I got off and led him down one long single track stretch and he was more willing to move out when we got to the dirt road section. Its okay, I need the conditioning more than he does, and he seemed ok when we got done.
Friday, July 3, 2020
My blog so I'm allowed to whinge
I don't know why I like that British/Aussie version much better than plain old american whine, but I do.
Sprayer saga. Wed I went to use it, and broke a wire after I didn't get a turn made and had to unhook and finagle to get the 4-wheeler and sprayer where I could go again. Thursday morning and noon I sprayed with backpack sprayer after siphoning out of the tow sprayer to fill it; the neighbor bought new wiring and put it in for dad that afternoon. Friday we hauled hay in the morning. I went to spray and sprayer wasn't spraying well. I had been running pump in re-circulate mode. Back to gate, ask dad to help, he takes off the hose where the filter is. It had some crud in it but was not fully blocked. I rinsed it out, we re-assembled it seemed to work and off I went and again by I went to switch to spray from re-circulate the pump was not working worth a shit. I dis-connect battery clip and back to house. Complain to dad that he must not have rinsed crap out of tank and it keeps clogging. He replies "Its not clogging" fiddles, re-connects pump and it works fine. He undoes battery for while I get to the burrs. I go again, start up, it is spraying and after a couple minutes I notice 'just trickling again'. I disconnect battery, kick the pump and nozzles, re-connect and it goes. Lather, rinse repeat about a dozen times, of running for a minute or two and then just a trickle until I figured. 'well I got spray on some of the burrs and I can't stand to keep on with this anymore plus the neighbor's 4-wheeler seems to be starting to run hot.' Went in and and ate some lunch then drained sprayer and used backpack sprayer again 1 round. I need to go at least one more time with backpack. The bloody goats heads have set a bunch of burrs so I WILL have to hit this fence line again after we get July-Aug monsoons and again next spring I suppose. I should buy some oats or something to try to plant this fall to reduce weeds next year. What a PITA. Oh and found the contractors for the electric company practically left a hole down at the end of the pasture and I should try to fix that with the tractor bucket at some point. Argggghhhhh, Not pleased with either the contractor or the neighbor along that fenceline who told P about the burrs but couldn't pick up a phone and let me and dad know? For pete's sake we are in the phone book!@!
The horse I tried out was not really reactive. He is fairly distrustful but seemed way more "ughh, I don't wanna work in the heat than reactive, or spooky at all" The owner free-longed him after I was done riding and he was eager to please her so maybe he just gets very angst if he isn't sure what the game plan is. But not sure I can get along with that personality. I did schedule to try him on trail on July 9 and told owner I really need to focus on Big Horn until after Aug 1. Also he is 14 not 12 and seemed like he might be a bit foot sore or something even though I only rode him on the soft sand footing in round pen and arena. I'd like to help B's friend out, but just don't know if my personality can work with this horses personality and I won't mess with an unsound horse.
Sprayer saga. Wed I went to use it, and broke a wire after I didn't get a turn made and had to unhook and finagle to get the 4-wheeler and sprayer where I could go again. Thursday morning and noon I sprayed with backpack sprayer after siphoning out of the tow sprayer to fill it; the neighbor bought new wiring and put it in for dad that afternoon. Friday we hauled hay in the morning. I went to spray and sprayer wasn't spraying well. I had been running pump in re-circulate mode. Back to gate, ask dad to help, he takes off the hose where the filter is. It had some crud in it but was not fully blocked. I rinsed it out, we re-assembled it seemed to work and off I went and again by I went to switch to spray from re-circulate the pump was not working worth a shit. I dis-connect battery clip and back to house. Complain to dad that he must not have rinsed crap out of tank and it keeps clogging. He replies "Its not clogging" fiddles, re-connects pump and it works fine. He undoes battery for while I get to the burrs. I go again, start up, it is spraying and after a couple minutes I notice 'just trickling again'. I disconnect battery, kick the pump and nozzles, re-connect and it goes. Lather, rinse repeat about a dozen times, of running for a minute or two and then just a trickle until I figured. 'well I got spray on some of the burrs and I can't stand to keep on with this anymore plus the neighbor's 4-wheeler seems to be starting to run hot.' Went in and and ate some lunch then drained sprayer and used backpack sprayer again 1 round. I need to go at least one more time with backpack. The bloody goats heads have set a bunch of burrs so I WILL have to hit this fence line again after we get July-Aug monsoons and again next spring I suppose. I should buy some oats or something to try to plant this fall to reduce weeds next year. What a PITA. Oh and found the contractors for the electric company practically left a hole down at the end of the pasture and I should try to fix that with the tractor bucket at some point. Argggghhhhh, Not pleased with either the contractor or the neighbor along that fenceline who told P about the burrs but couldn't pick up a phone and let me and dad know? For pete's sake we are in the phone book!@!
The horse I tried out was not really reactive. He is fairly distrustful but seemed way more "ughh, I don't wanna work in the heat than reactive, or spooky at all" The owner free-longed him after I was done riding and he was eager to please her so maybe he just gets very angst if he isn't sure what the game plan is. But not sure I can get along with that personality. I did schedule to try him on trail on July 9 and told owner I really need to focus on Big Horn until after Aug 1. Also he is 14 not 12 and seemed like he might be a bit foot sore or something even though I only rode him on the soft sand footing in round pen and arena. I'd like to help B's friend out, but just don't know if my personality can work with this horses personality and I won't mess with an unsound horse.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Ah haha. "burrs aren't so thick I'm ready to go nuclear option"
TheyARE that thick in the one bottom corner, plus where the electric company dug up along the pasture fence so I got dad to get the little 25 gallon boom sprayer working. I don't know what I'll do when he isn't here. I'll have to get a neighbor to help me with mechanical things, that won't be the end of the world but I'll have to adjust to planning ahead so I have time to ask them to fit it into their schedules and have time to to some return favor to them. Thanking god I still have some time to make that adjustment.
I have mostly adopted "arrgghh I have to declutter" as my obsession the last few weeks. I will soon run out of the easy "just burn or toss this in the garbage phase." I'm hoping I can lean on B's communication and organizational skills for a bit while she is rooming here, and she will be able to find nursing homes or someplace to take some of the games and jigsaw puzzles and so on. I want that from her much more than any yard work etc because it is so emotionally draining for me making calls trying to find places that will accept donations. I may have to steel myself and just toss a lot of reasonably good used stuff because in these days of cheap chinese goods and Covid, bedbugs etc its just not that easy to get thrift centers to take things.
I lined up to test ride a horse on Thursday. B's friend L needs to sell a 12 year old arab that is too reactive for her. He sounds like a nice horse and if he is about like Tanza and not over the top like Sadie I'll probably find I like him just fine. L is interested in riding Razz sometimes on trails and if she likes him, he'll at least get some occasional exercise which will be great for him. I should try to find a job for Sadie where she wouldn't be ridden. She is sweet and super smart so might be good as a non-riding therapy horse but in my mind I imagine folks doing that kind of therapy are bombarded with folks wanting to dump horses that they don't want to ride on them and won't be interested, But if I don't ask I'll never know.
I have mostly adopted "arrgghh I have to declutter" as my obsession the last few weeks. I will soon run out of the easy "just burn or toss this in the garbage phase." I'm hoping I can lean on B's communication and organizational skills for a bit while she is rooming here, and she will be able to find nursing homes or someplace to take some of the games and jigsaw puzzles and so on. I want that from her much more than any yard work etc because it is so emotionally draining for me making calls trying to find places that will accept donations. I may have to steel myself and just toss a lot of reasonably good used stuff because in these days of cheap chinese goods and Covid, bedbugs etc its just not that easy to get thrift centers to take things.
I lined up to test ride a horse on Thursday. B's friend L needs to sell a 12 year old arab that is too reactive for her. He sounds like a nice horse and if he is about like Tanza and not over the top like Sadie I'll probably find I like him just fine. L is interested in riding Razz sometimes on trails and if she likes him, he'll at least get some occasional exercise which will be great for him. I should try to find a job for Sadie where she wouldn't be ridden. She is sweet and super smart so might be good as a non-riding therapy horse but in my mind I imagine folks doing that kind of therapy are bombarded with folks wanting to dump horses that they don't want to ride on them and won't be interested, But if I don't ask I'll never know.
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Trying to get stuff working again on the big processing cluster after its OS update has been like chasing a greased pig
And I'll be finding data that was not on the external raid system nor the long-term storage tapes for weeks I suppose. Found one filetype yesterday that is going to be such a PITA to replace I may just not dink with it. I really figured the cpu's internal raid would be fine after the OS update but nope, it got wiped out and the IT team couldn't find any way to restore it.
Then prima donna sr software engineer wanted the processing user's home area restored as well as all the normal user /home areas or at least his /home area. Which wiped out the new .ssh area that allowed no password comms, kicking off jobs between the head node and the rest of the cluster so I had to ask for that to be restored by the IT team. Then I was busy with other crap for about a week, went to tackle some processing last night and the slave nodes were missing a key system level rpm. I did not catch that for a couple hours and was thinking I just didn't have a PATH env set correctly. Hopefully now that IT has figured out that almost all the extra system level rpms needed for our stuff were installed only to the head node but not the slaves things will work tonight or tomorrow. Turns out it was not just that one library file that I was getting the message for but 100s of rpms they have to get onto the slave nodes. I sure hope the process goes much smoother when they go to start migrating our real-time cpu's to this new OS.
I finally got back to spraying some burrs this morning. The burrs are not too horrible, definitely I need to spray but not so thick that I'm ready to go nuclear and spray everything with the mini boom sprayer. The bad thing is there is such a lot of thistles. I thought I had pulled up most of the thistles last year before they went to seed and would not have much issue this year but no such luck.
Then prima donna sr software engineer wanted the processing user's home area restored as well as all the normal user /home areas or at least his /home area. Which wiped out the new .ssh area that allowed no password comms, kicking off jobs between the head node and the rest of the cluster so I had to ask for that to be restored by the IT team. Then I was busy with other crap for about a week, went to tackle some processing last night and the slave nodes were missing a key system level rpm. I did not catch that for a couple hours and was thinking I just didn't have a PATH env set correctly. Hopefully now that IT has figured out that almost all the extra system level rpms needed for our stuff were installed only to the head node but not the slaves things will work tonight or tomorrow. Turns out it was not just that one library file that I was getting the message for but 100s of rpms they have to get onto the slave nodes. I sure hope the process goes much smoother when they go to start migrating our real-time cpu's to this new OS.
I finally got back to spraying some burrs this morning. The burrs are not too horrible, definitely I need to spray but not so thick that I'm ready to go nuclear and spray everything with the mini boom sprayer. The bad thing is there is such a lot of thistles. I thought I had pulled up most of the thistles last year before they went to seed and would not have much issue this year but no such luck.
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