More wired outlets...




Or junction boxes...


Or conduit where junction boxes will be installed...


But Saturday afternoon through late Sunday evening, I was chained to my desk doing taxes. It is *almost* as much work to have a professional do my taxes than to do them myself. The reason for the pro is the trustee sale that happened this last February. I want the name of a high-powered tax accountant on the bottom line of my tax return, to reduce the chances for IRS trouble. Not that I expect any. She gave me the scoop on how this should work, tax wise.

After the tax paperwork was compiled for her to take over, I contemplated going back under the house in the dust to do more conduit work. Instead, organizing two years worth of back statements took precedence. Now it is late at night and I boxed up what I did not yet have filed away, to come back to another time. Probably far in the future, if the past is any guide...

I got about 90% of this mass properly filed.

Labels: San Pedro homestead

The front steps are finally complete as of Sunday morning.

Scrapwood staircase: total cost, two cans of wood preservative and three (!) weekends.


Back to the low voltage electrical project late Sunday and this morning (President's Day).

One outlet box, with wiring pigtail. Ooh! Aah! Yes, of course, there's more stuff underneath and out of view, but still less than I want to have done in the time available. I spent much time working on my hip-and-shoulder-caterpillar-hump, and my shoulder-blade-lizard-crawl techniques, down under in the dust and cobwebs. I didn't spill the solvent cement this time (yaay me!)

This afternoon I'm transferring my bulk coconut oil into smaller jars, doing a few household tasks, then heading back to the city.

Labels: San Pedro homestead

Rumor has it that the "Powers That Be" are preparing to declare Greece officially in default as of the close of business on Friday March 23, 2012: Vox Popoli: The scheduled default

My concern is that, similar to the way they thought the subprime crisis would be contained to that market sector alone, but were totally mistaken about the contagion, they underestimate the contagion of a Greek default.

Admittedly they have done a surprisingly good job of "kick the can", with duct tape and bailing wire, in the four years since, so who knows what rabbits they may be able to pull out of the hat this time.

It would still not hurt to top off your water and food supplies, and review your preparation for a bank holiday of at least several days duration.

And mark your calendar.

Some things make *so* much more sense these days...;)

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Update: crap. They pulled the original video. This one is an ok substitute.

(psst. Not the original point, but the whole song is a "shit test". Yes, she is very impressed. Why write the song otherwise?)

Labels: game, women

Yes, still at the front steps project. No, still not done.


Supplies ran out again. Not literally onto the ground this time, but I ran out of copper wood preservative before I got the bottom two steps constructed.

They're cut and laid together, but won't be fastened together until next week when I come with more copper wood preservative.

Left to construct is the bannisters, and then I can get back to the electrical project.

Jasmine is getting in some last minute hugs before Sam comes into the city for a couple weeks.

Labels: San Pedro homestead

I elected to continue the front step project in lieu of continuing the low voltage electrical installation. This is as far as I got:

Stuff takes long to do, period. Maybe it's my age showing, I don't know. But I worked steadily on this project all weekend without major breaks, except this morning I installed a manual choke kit on my vehicle.

I discovered that the cure to an intermittent problem* this vehicle experiences is to temporarily enrich the mixture. I did this by adjusting the automatic choke biscuit. The downside is dramatically reduced fuel efficiency. So my solution is a manual choke. When it needs a goose, I'll give it, otherwise I let it run on the lean side.


*the problem is backfiring through the carb under load. Same load, different day, no problem. I don't know the cause, but now I have the cure.

Labels: San Pedro homestead