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Sagittarius Horoscope for week of August 18, 2016

Some species of weeds become even more robust and entrenched as they develop resistances to the pesticides that are designed to eradicate them. This is one example of how fighting a problem can make the problem worse -- especially if you attack too furiously or use the wrong weapons. I invite you to consider the possibility that this might be a useful metaphor for you to contemplate in the coming weeks. Your desire to solve a knotty dilemma or shed a bad influence is admirable. Just make sure you choose a strategy that actually works.

This summer there has been a mice infestation here at Rather Manor.  We don't know how many of them there are, but their droppings are firm evidence of their movements around the premises.

Dad found one of them dead this morning.  It had drowned in the kitchen wash basin.  I'd had a moral dilemma about buying poison baits to use against the mice, partly because of fear of the possible impact on the surrounding wildlife.  I guess this might be a sign to let stupidity take care of its own.

FP

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I'm a net two meals closer to Revolution than I was this time yesterday.

The refrigerator ruined a better part of a pound of sausage overday. We have a problem with condensation or ice crystals that melt then refreeze.

Anybody know a good refrigeration techie on the East side of Tennessee who makes house calls?
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If I use two packets of instant oatmeal at a time, it only uses one cup of boiling water, not a cup and a third like it says in the instructions.
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The Bathroom War has hit Rather Manor. Our one-and-only washroom is being renovated. The progress so far: new floors being laid; new shower stall; remounted commode. Walls have been torn out that need to be replaced/redone. The overhead lamp/heat/fan unit is somehow not working so it needs repair/troubleshooting. The basin and its base/cabinet unit need to be reinstalled. And a whole lot of tidying still has to be done.

Most of the work is being done by Dad's friend Ray.

It's progressing, it seems, but I have no idea when it'll see completion.
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Nothing like an all-day electrical storm to temper one's enthusiasm for Internet participation.
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It got broken tonight.

It was like part of the family. It was iconic.

We had it thirty years...bought it soon after the shopping center at US 19 and Spring Hill Blvd. opened.

It was beginning to show its age, so its breaking should not have surprised me--but it did.

It was a Rubbermaid one-pint measuring beaker, slabsided, with scales on both sides, translucent smoky brown, no handle, spout on one side. Bought it at Publix.

Made countless dishes while utilizing it to confirm quantities of ingredients. Its "killer app" was the milk for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, which it excelled at. We must have prepared well over 1000 batches of Macaroni & Cheese using that beaker.

And now it's gone and we'll have to find another somewhere. Life from here on will not be the same.

FP
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Extremely heavy rain today. Worst in years, IMO. The street in front of Rather Manor had flooded for a while before the water could flow to Dumplin Creek. This place needs a better drainage system.

Moonshine didn't need to have a new belt put on the engine after all. The previous change was only about 30,000 miles ago, so in theory it should be good for nearly again that much. But my thinking is if I have to take the car in for another service on a different issue, I just might have a new belt put on at that juncture anyway.

Mum's waiting on a contract for the re-release of one of her older books.

Poor Trevor Bayne. Today is his Daytona victory celebration in Knoxville, and the weather shut down the town. Welcome to fame.
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Sagittarius Horoscope for week of February 17, 2011

"Better keep yourself clean and bright," said George Bernard Shaw. "You are the window through which you must see the world." Take that advice to heart, Sagittarius. This is an excellent time for you to do any necessary work to get yourself cleaner and brighter. I'm not at all implying that you're a dusty, greasy mess. But like all of us, there's a continuous build-up of foreign matter that distorts the view and that must be periodically washed away. If you do it now, your work will be extra smart and effective.


I happen to be a dusty, greasy mess. There never seems to be a good time to take a bath for me. In the day this place is too busy and at night this place is too darned cold. Shampoo and shave in the afternoon, I guess.
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*) We still don't have water to the bathtub after the pipes froze Tuesday night and cracked open yesterday...

*) Dad got a call from a bill collector trying to reach the previous owner of his cell phone's number...

*) I'm trying to get back into the mood to write or build models again. Else I'm going shopping in Sevier County.
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Sagittarius Horoscope for week of December 9, 2010

You've arrived at a delicate yet boisterous turning point when one-of-a-kind opportunities are budding. I'm going to give you seven phrases that I think capture the essence of this pregnant moment: 1. wise innocence; 2. primal elegance; 3. raw holiness; 4. electrifying poise; 5. curative teasing; 6. rigorous play; 7 volcanic tenderness. To maximize your ability to capitalize on the transformations that are available, I suggest you seek out and cultivate these seemingly paradoxical states of being.


Is there a geyser in this area? Maybe I should visit Hot Springs.
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This Operator Is A Pro...Do Not Try This At Home )

That bush plane looks relatively tame but it has three to four times the horsepower the plane was originally designed to have, and super-tough landing gear to go with those monster tires.
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Finishing it up. The dregs went on some Graham crackers earlier tonight...and to empty/clean the jar:

A kettle of boiling water;

A latte mug with instant coffee and creamer powder added.

Add the boiling water to the empty jar, stir for a minute with a long iced tea spoon, then pour from the jar into the mug.

Mix well and drink. Not as good as the Lindt Pan-Galactic Cocoa Blaster, but pretty darned decadent.
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New water heater is installed; it has water but not enough juice. Electrician buddy is checking the breakers and lines to the kitchen. This day may get more expensive than we realize.

Meanwhile, this just in: Russell Stover Chocolate Sauce.



Science will commence with dessert.

PS: Electrician was successful, but noticed that our wiring was 1) not 100% up to code 2) chewed up in places by "varmints". A major league upgrade will be in Rather Manor's future.
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Spent most of the day off the Internet due to a wait for important phone calls. We will have our new water heater delivered sometime tomorrow.
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As in...the water heater in Rather Manor burned out, yet again.

I'll try to stay downwind from everybody else.
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Since the house I'm living isn't mine, my desire is to be wealthy and independent enough to move elsewhere.

In the meantime, this house needs:
* A new roof and gutter system;
* Two new bathrooms and a tankless water heater;
* The foundation and floors stabilized, strengthened and straightened-out.

Tasks far beyond what we are capable of doing. But the problem was that this house was the best thing that my parents could afford.
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Over on Facebook I posted a link to the Jimmy Buffett song "Boat Drinks". Decided not to re-post it here for various reasons.

I'm stuck here in a house where 2/3rds of the water pipes are frozen and there's not much to do worth doing. We have the football game on, but it's two teams we care very little about and chances are whoever wins will be beaten by the next team they face.

CHUCK returns for the premiere of its third season tonight. I hope I can stay functional up to then.
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*) I treated Moonshine to an oil change and lube, but the place where I got that no longer has a car wash. Just as well because snow is forecast for the weekend. Want to get Moonshine a new set of tires before my long-delayed trip to Florida in February or March.

*) The Jimmie Johnson cap I got is nice. The 21 shotgun shell salute, that wasn't so nice. And I could have lived the rest of my life without the surprise package inside the water heater.

*) I made pizza for dinner. No cake or dessert but I'm holding off on that till I see my brother and/or my other buddies.

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Stephen R Bierce

March 2022

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