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I feel like the past month has seen a weekly pattern set up in which bluster and words slightly boost short term confidence by Wednesday/Thursday, then the dives happen, with the overall direction of this trend being downward. The regime will tell you nonsense like the stock market had its greatest earnings ever in a single day, but not looking at the big picture and even mentioning that the aforementioned day didn't get close to half of what was lost in the three days prior. (Few are talking about the insider trading that occurred during the initial dump/buy before "record earnings" right as the Orange Julius said "it's a great time to make a lot of money")
It's a manufactured problem and straight out of Orwell's 1984.
It's as if the dystopian horror of post war fiction served as the actual playbook for what is happening in real life. Heinlein, Orwell, Huxley, Atwood, et al, were warning us about power in the future, and have become the unwitting authors of our present.
Phil
 
There is a NYT columnist who considers DT a man of great destiny in his time, though he concedes the awful consequences for so many people; his speech and behavior that violate the tenets of most religions, including his own, not to mention the constitution he swore to preserve. I have a hard time swallowing that viewpoint and many of that columnist's beliefs, clothed in his take on history and mankind. Our system of government may be due for some major changes, but not in this chaotic, autocratic, destructive way. Dante would give DT a circle of his own to stew in.
 
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My world is living small. I did a lot of prison work today that involved digging, filling my dump cart, and excavating all the garden soil from a 6x12 foot bed that will be replanted as a rose garden. Still have to fill this hole in the earth with cow manure and peat moss. I dug down about 16 inches into the clay.

Had to prune severely some Rode-A-Den-Drums. Root rot or a fungus…

Also created a bed with the recycled garden soil in the back-backyard. “Maggie” wants to plant a wild flower mix.

BTW digging I learned builds strength in the pelvic core. I learned this after surgery and suffered leakages and loss of bladder control.

Today was a long slow workout, a full day’s worth of work. “Maggie” made me wear a long sleeve shirt to avoid the sun. Sun can stimulate testosterone production.

I need to send a letter from my doctor to get excused from Jury Duty.

Cal
 
I'm back on the bike. As in commuting full time for a while. I took my car in to the dealership where I bought it, for annual inspection on Friday and they failed me! They said I need all new shocks and struts, as well as a control arm. Then they gave me an estimate almost $1500. Backstory is that last year I asked them if they could do the suspension and the timing belt. They told me to take it to the Ford dealership. So I'm going by their inability or refusal last year and not having them do the work. I need to save up for all the suspension bits, then I'll do the work and take it to a shop for an alignment, then back for reinspection.
Anyway, this got me back on the Miyata and this morning was a fantastic ride to work. 55 minutes of wheels rolling time. 11.7 miles with a pretty good grade over the last two miles. I might be riding full time for about three weeks as I'm needing a few paychecks to be able to pay for the car parts.
Phil
 
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Yesterday we traveled to Stormville, Adams fair Acre, Blossom Nursery, Hilltop Nursery, and a few runs to Home Cheapo for peat moss and cow manure. Somehow we beat the rain. After dinner ther was a savage thunderstorm…

Stormville with the sketchy weather was a bit of a wash, but “Maggie got a very cool vase for $7.00, and we secured metal retro plant stand.

One of the venders had a mucho cool truck, a 1946 Chevy that had a 10 foot bed, split hinged hood, and was 4 wheel drive. Basically he reclaimed the truck from a junkyard and then built one truck from a total of three.

This pretty much gave me GAS about the 1966 C-10.

At Adams we bought some terra cotta clay pots. They have the best prices.

Today we went to Elephant’s Trunk in Connecticut. We bought some professionally framed antique prints for $15.00 for a pair (roses). Maggie bought a pair of reading glasses, and a real-deal Indian cotton dress.

For me I bought two Kodak graduated tapered cone pitchers that can hold 32 ounces, and a 30 year old Bristol Model 65 fly reel. My bill for the three items was $27.00

So a fun weekend of treasure hunting.

Know I have a 6 weight graphite two-piece fly rod and a modern reel. The Model 65 is old school blue collar from back in the day, but today is collectible and held in high esteem for it’s high quality. My sample is well worn, but someone evidently caught many fish with this reel. I was surprised by how smooth it is. It has a wonderful patina that I find beautiful.

The model 65 is a 5 weight, good for trout. The modern 6 weight outfit is more of a bass rod.

The reel was $10.00, and each Kodak pitcher was $10.00, but I got all three for $27.00. Pretty much this was all the cash I had on hand, and the vender took it.

Over the past two days things reallly-really greened up suddenly. My eyes are itchy from the tree pollen.

Cal
 
We filled in the 6x12 pit that will be a rose garden. Tomorrow “Maggie” will order some roses. About $300.00 worth on cow manure and peat moss is in that hole by the small 10x10 white painted cedar pergola. Established climbing roses adorn two of the posts and after 4 years are forming a canopy.

Near waist high boxwoods are building up to be future privacy walls are I’d the pergola. The two car garage provides a third wall.

I did a Knotweed weeding down to the shelf. This is the 5th year of the war on Knotweed, and it is a war of attrition. At this point the Knotweed is severely weakened. I pull on the stalks and most times the root comes out with the stalk. Not so bad a job.

What remains is going into the marsh grass to weed. The marsh grass is advancing and spreading up my hill. It already made the jump to the “landing,” a shelf terraced just above the marsh.

So fighting Knotweed is like fighting Cancer. It is a long fight that lasts years. It takes a lot of energy and willpower. An upper hand is required, or else it is a loosing battle.

We have two rabbits on our property: one is the momma rabbit, and she is fat. Will likely birth soon, Then there is “Spotty,” who I think is the male. These rabbits are kinda tame and are not skittish. I expect mucho bunnies soon.

Cal
 
A red screen today, and even gold dips below $3.3K after 4 days of in the green.

I suspect some sideways movement, but my bias overall is still negative.

I went to Home Cheapo yesterday to buy replacement work gloves made by Milwaukee. None available. At home I checked the tags on my worn out gloves and they are made in China.

So shortages are happening… “TareIfs” or Tariffs… Shortages tend to lead into inflation… Most Americans are living beyond their means… Too much debt both public and private…

Cal
 
First off, I take it as a sign of respect and a bit of an honor to be “bottom-listed.” Instead of being “What’s New” this thread is kinda privelaged as “What’s Old.”

You see you can put a positive spin on almost anything. There is a lot of spinning going on, but I will limit and avoid politics and ranting about all that…

Good Cancer News: Evidently my income is low enough that my out of pocket enables me to be sponsored by financial aid. Know and understand that “Maggie” and I live in sin, meaning we are not married. Know that Maggie is a Catholic, but to me it makes no sense getting married.

So the big deal is my financial aid was calculated on my retirement income only, and not our household combined income. I currently am living in an austere manner with one pension and my savings. Growing up poor actually provided me with a great skill on living modestly and not wasting money.

SO THE BIG DEAL IS THAT MY OUT OF POCKET COST IS ZERO, instead of more than $206.XX a month for two years. $206.XX times 24 months is $4944.XX, almost $5K.

Don’t know if my claiming the mortgage deduction helped? Know that “Maggie” and I alternate years. How lucky is that my AGI was lowered for this calculation. This year happen to be my turn…

Anyways I acknowledge that I am mighty lucky. Do you think it is “divine intervention.” How much luck can a guy have?

So another very positive spin…

So pretty much having Cancer is allowing me to focus on the things that are important to me: guitars; bikes; fitness; eating well; gardening; working on the house…

A thought comes to mind that I think I will start shooting slide film, and pay for processing. Any recommendations? Pretty much EZ-PZ.

So how can I spin getting Cancer having a positive outcome? Not hard if you are me. Somehow my life got richer and more focused. I don’t waste time with B.S…

Funny thing is I know people that are mucho unhappy, but from where I sit they are just whiners that have mucho privelage. I grew up on Lawn-Guy-Land (Long Island) a place of mucho entitlement, concentrated privilege, and whiners. What an awElul place…

The only thing I miss are the ocean beaches and salt water fishing.

Anyways, I’m happy-happy.

In a closing note I have Phil to thank. Years ago we both ranted about the old 6-7-8 and 9 speed drivetrains that use a wider 3/16 chain, and were sturdier, longer lasting, and in their own way are smoother than the more modern bike drivetrains that are 10-11-12 and now even 13 speed.

I kinda loaded up the truck with these retro 8 and 9 speed components, and now I’m glad I did. Been doing lots of OCD thinking on how best to exploit this stockpile, and it gets complicated with possibilities because I have so many bikes. Anyways I think I’m done with the thinking…

BTW the bikes I favor are the old school, back in the day retro models, and the 8 and 9 speed are period correct for the bikes I own. Ends up I look mighty clever, but I was not trying to be clever at all. Pretty much I was just trying to save money, exploited supply and demand economics, and was trying to be mucho practical.

Remember that the 8 and 9 speed drivetrains were the pinnacle of durability and sturdiness.

The trigger was AJ closing shop. Pretty much my LBS and trusted friend would be harder to exploit. The Berkshires are not so close…

Another positive spin is I have motivation to move stuff into my attic, make the basement more useful, and go through all my stuff that has been packed away in storage for over 4 years. I get a chance to use my creativity and my design capabilities.

I’m inspired and motivated.

Cal
 
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A red screen for the indexes, but gold recovered back to nearly the $3350.00 range. This $3350.00 range I suspect will “channel sideways for a while to build out a base. Usually this happens after a big upward move in price. Sideways for a duration, and then up again…

At one point the DOW was down 300 points, but it recovered about half those losses.

BTW figuring out how to best exploit my 8 and 9 speed, and my big time stockpile of XTR 11-speed was a form of mental master-BAY-tion. Fun, exciting, and pure pleasure. All about freedom and living through possibilities.

Pretty much the same framework as living with Cancer: there are limitations, but also possibilities if you can focus.

Again, how can having Cancer have a positive spin? I can honestly say I think my life has suddenly become much richer, more focused, and has introduced a purity of pleasure. You can’t make this stuff up…

Cal
 
Cal, it's important to keep your old cables these days if they aren't frayed. There are ZERO manufacturers of bicycle consumables in the USA. With tariffs on China, where 99% of the inner tubes are made, a tube which was formerly $4.00 is now going to be not just $5.60 but add the 42% margin which shops need to keep in order to keep the lights on and pay employees. Nearly 100% of bicycle consumables are produced in Asia, though a few boutique items such as Vittoria latex tubes are made in Italy (using Asian imported latex). So if you are clipping your cables due to a handlebar or stem change, or a whole reconfiguration, move the old rear cable to the front (brake or derailleur) and then only need to replace the rear cable/s respectively.
Your hoarding of any bike components at this point is a benefit and could possibly become a nest egg depending upon how bad it gets. There may come a day when folks are buying $50 8-speed chains for their old 6/7/8 speed, which will always have the most longevity for wear as well as product availability. 6 speed began popping up in the 70s and 8 speed is still current with mid-range bikes out there. That's 50 years of a single product compatibility, which is otherwise unprecedented save for the 1/2" pitch, 1/8" width chain. All consumables you have stocked up right now should be what you draw from over the next few years in order to save any money. Happening upon an estate sale or shop closing might provide a bit of relief, but that will be short lived for any more than a few active cyclists.
Our local Specialized and Trek stores both closed last year just before the election. My conspiracy Spidey sense seems to think both of those mega corps knew something. If they can't stay open, then who can? Only highly mobile, or small footprint, hyper local repair entities that don't do any new bike sales. The overhead of a new bicycle, keeping inventory, paying for storage/retail space, is just too high these days.
Phil
 
Phil,

I grew up poor. I always recycle the long cables. Brake cables become brake straddle cables in the end.

If you need Sedis 8-speed chains I have mucho. I stocked up for single speed.

I inventoried my tire situation and I’m good. Loaded up when there were sales, but inner tubes I need to stockpile. Thanks again for saving my butt…

BTW if you are serious, I mentioned you to AJ. Pretty much I could gather mucho bike parts that AJ will be throwing out. I’m kinda crazy about recycling and protecting resources like our environment.

I have no timeline to when he takes down the shingle.

AJ pretty much does not want to sell on EBAY. Realize that AJ is a one-man shop, and he is about a decade younger than me. Back in the day he was a licensed Pro Downhiller.

I’m thinking that I will buy this spare HOPE front disc hub to match the one I had a wheel built.

I’m making room in the basement.

Cal
 
10 pull-ups today. Still a little stiff from yesterday. Seems like the exercise lowers my fatigue and lower energy level. Kinda counter intuitive, but exercise energizes me.

More bike inventory work of consumables.

I can stockpile stainless steel cables from AJ. He has bulk loads.

Wednesday I get the “Inhibitor” delivered. Tomorrow I’ll pick up my prescription for Pregnazone which combats side effects.

I’ll be doing drugs for the next two years. I made an appointment for my radiation oncologist for blood work. After the first 20 days of dosage they have to monitor the dosage to prevent liver and kidney damage. I’ll be having my blood monitored every two weeks.

So here are the risks for Cancer: age; genetics; weight; smoking; radiation; diet; family history; and personal history.

I use to smoke, but that was decades ago, close to 4 decades ago. No family history, although my sister died of likely uterine Cancer. My mother and father dies of heart failure. I’m a kinda skinny bitch.

The amount of radiation exposure from being a Cyclotron Engineer is not much at all. Perhaps an airline pilot suffers more exposure, or say someone who lives in Denver Colorado.

Anyways, I’m not a likely person to have Cancer, yet I have two: one low level; and the other aggressive. Kinda odd…

Cal
 
Cal, back when I was stationed aboard a Nimitz class carrier, one of my collateral duties was as a firefighter. As part of the ship's At Sea Fire Party, I needed to have access to 100% of the ship, which I also happened to have a clearance for. I was issued a TLD which was read monthly or as-needed after any firefighting exercise or actual casualty in either reactor room. Since my primary duty was as a meteorologist, I spent a lot of time above decks, out in the sun. When I got my TLD read, I would always have 3 times as much exposure as our reactor crew because I was out in the sun.
Phil
 
Phil,

A Nimitz class… Wow.

I lived in Madhattan for a decade. Very high background radiation. In New Hampshire high incidence of Lung Cancer due to Granite and Radon. Granite tops in kitchens is not a good idea.

We also lived in Brooklyn which is basically sand: low background radiation.

I’m having steel cut oatmeal for breakfast with a banana. Did you know that a banana is radioactive? Some of the potassium, a necessary element required for health, is a naturally occurring isotope. Brazil nuts are kinda highly radio-active.

Point is radiation is part of life…

Cal
 
The futures are a mixed market. Seems like all the chaos and uncertainty is looking like and pointing to a future of “stagflation.”

Meanwhile gold holds above $3.3K. As gold value goes up it reflects the devaluation of the U.S. Dollar and a loss of purchasing power. Effectively the U.S. Dollar got devalued.

Figure that in the yearly range, more or less gold has trades with a low around $2.3K and now is consolidating around $3.3K. That is a $1K difference. Do you see a $1K offset translating into your lifestyle and cost of living?

For me most of my costs are locked in, we do not consume like most households, we bought used antique furniture for the most part, but food prices are getting insane, especially if you eat well and unprocessed.

Inflation can make debt loads less of a burden, but as I say, “The money has to come from somewhere.” Expect the American lifestyle and standard of living to downsize. The people who will pay the most under this scenario are the people living large and beyond their means. I gauge that to be more than half our households.

Temperatures in either the high 70’s or low 80’s. “Maggie” has her library gig this afternoon. This is a pretty physical sorting out and shelving used books. This store benefits our local library.

Maggie has a goal of loosing 10 pounds, but at almost 72 and being a woman loosing weight is a struggle. Myself at age 67 and being a man has an advantage in loosing weight due to being more muscular and therefore having a higher metabolism. I can say I am skinnier because I have less fat, but muscle is more dense than fat, and pretty much I weigh the same: 158 pounds.

Not bad for a man who stands 5’10”. I love having a toned cut torso that is carved, but that pretty much is skinny-bitch mode. To burn the fat I need aerobic exercise… The physical yard work is good strength training for my pelvic floor. I know this because I feel tightness, stiffness, in my lower torso. The definition is there, but is masked a bit by some fat.

Have to buy groceries to feed the grandson tomorrow. Will likely visit AJ. Tomorrow I have to sign for the “Inhibitor” delivery. Will do a bike ride to burn calories: long slow distance is best; just want to pump blood and lower my cholesterol levels.

Cal
 
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