Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather

I added almost 1400 miles, and 9 nights to Serenity. I got to check off an item from my bucket list (visiting Centralia Pennsylvania) and visit an iconic old-school amusement park I've wanted to visit for a couple of years.

I need to 'take a break' - from camping? Well, sort of. First, my tow vehicle is in the body shop thanks to a kind and moped (she's OK) in a stationary accident. Second, I will start a new job tomorrow, and I anticipate being mentally exhausted.

New Chapter. It's time to get back to direct customer-facing skills and start being technical again. I'm learning new skills and refocusing my Microsoft products, which is what i suspect will be the hardest part. I really do not like Microsoft, I never have. But --- this will get my tech-chops refreshed and maybe I can springboard to another position in the same company, or, save enough money that I can do what I want to do.

It's hard to believe that it has been 75 days since my former full-time employer sent me home. Since I was a work-from-home employee, it may be better to say, "stopped paying me"

It's time for a cup of rich Columbian coffee and to get ready for a trip to my attorney is trying to open the probate for my parents...Not difficult, just trying.
When one door closes, another one opens...
Getting the paperwork over is a relief, too.
On to the next adventure, big guy!
 
Doing my best "Dr Nick" -- "Hi Everbody"! Its been an interesting week, starting my plan "C" job, I'm a bit overwhelmed. For 24 years, I had been an "old timer" who knew everybody, and could get things done becoming the "new guy" in a very diverse rural coop. Involved in Telephone, Electricity, Internet, Water, Saw, and MSP. MSP's are "IT for companies too small to have their own IT" --- yikes, lots go learn!

My boss has told me she expects at least 90 days of feeling like the chair I am sitting in just fell over backwards.


It’s up and functional although the electricity still needs to be hooked up.

Oh wow! If I had the space, I'd love something like that -- My brother inlaw did this at his homestead, adding a 4 post lift, spray foam and a heat pump, winter maintenance got a lot easier. I'm envious!

When one door closes, another one opens...
Getting the paperwork over is a relief, too.
On to the next adventure, big guy!

Seeing the note above is been a difficult two weeks - My only 'regret' is that there is no vacation to speak of. I get 6.67 hours of PTO per month, or 2 weeks, that is sick time, vacation, for any purpose. That is a little "stingy" but so far that is the only major bummer.

We'll see how this all works.
 
The Dr Nick reference is funny!
Sweeney I imagine you will be knocking it out of the park once you get past the "chair falling over backwards" stage.

Me too. There's always an adjustment period. My only concern is that I need focus to do things I need to do, and time to learn products that we support and sell...and I have a manager whos attention span is equivalent to a spider monkey on crack. New "top priority" every day, on things she know will take longer than a week. He also gives instructions in choppy incomplete sentences --- my colleague get frustrated with both of these facts, it not just me.

Regarless, after 20+ years at my old job, I'm not a quitter....so 6 months seems like a reasonable trial period....we'll see how I can form this...

Dr. Nick has always been one of my favorites...."Hello Everybody!"

We're into the wildfire season-
Bad one up north.
Reading about it, I found this online mapping tool; enabled in by ESRI for national area burn locations. Handy when traveling:

genasys Protect

Not as detailed as Gaia, but free and easy to use

So glad we don't have to worry about that much here in the midwest --- especially after we got about an hour of "gully washer" yesterday...rained hard enough the gutters on commercial buildings with 6 inch downspouts were overflowing.

California has always been a mad-made paradise, Los Angeles would be a desert if hadn't created the water system they did back at the founding of the state...

There is an interesting radio program that was made way back in the glory days of radio called "Romance of the Rancos" -- while it does take some liberty, from what the host of the network had to say, it was reasonably accurate enough -- one of the two channels I miss from my "Free trial" of XM/Serious radio....love old radio, and 40's music...

Romance of the Ranchos | Old Time Radio
 
We're into the wildfire season-
Bad one up north.
Reading about it, I found this online mapping tool; enabled in by ESRI for national area burn locations. Handy when traveling:

genasys Protect

Not as detailed as Gaia, but free and easy to use
Did we talk about Watch Duty (app) on this forum? Somebody recommended it to me - it’s excellent in many ways.

I’ve been using EPA AirNow, OregonAir, and tried Firesource.

I think Watch Duty is much easier to navigate, the specific fire info is the stuff joe/jane public needs, it has all the AQI stations, evac zones. It does not have a current smoke overlay, but does have all those AQI stations and wind direction. The map is so easy to navigate compared to the others. I’ve become a fanboy!

We have always enjoyed late season camping in the Fall. This may be our last year - shifting more to spring because of smoke and related closures. Hello mosquitos!
 
Last edited:
Taking a few days and visiting parts of Michigan we have never made it to, Mackinaw Island being one of those places. Spent the day walking the town, and spent the big $$ on brunch at the Grand Hotel. Lovely place. Now we've been there.
 
I own a 550 and a 560 and around the homestead I get the keys mixed up. After grabbing the wrong set too many times I finally solved the problem by ordering a key tag.

I know the month and year don’t match but it does solve the problem.

When I’m on the road I only carry the set for the one I’m towing. Those keys are on a shoelace I loop through my belt loop and it’s long enough to reach the galley and side doors.
I generally take both sets and leave the extra trailer key in the tow vehicle and keep the extra tow vehicle key in the teardrop.
 
Did we talk about Watch Duty (app) on this forum? Somebody recommended it to me - it’s excellent in many ways.

I’ve been using EPA AirNow, OregonAir, and tried Firesource.

I think Watch Duty is much easier to navigate, the specific fire info is the stuff joe/jane citizen needs, it has all the AQI stations, evac zones. It does not have a current smoke overlay, but does have all those AQI stations and wind direction. The map is so easy to navigate compared to the others. I’ve become a fanboy!

We have always enjoyed late season camping in the Fall. This may be our last year - shifting more to spring because of smoke and related closures. Hello mosquitos!
Seth, no I dont think we have- thanks for the tip.
I'll check it out.
UPDATE: oh yeah, this app is VERY handy- only the west US but inuititive and easy to drill down to local areas, key info like EVAC orders...seems faster than InciWeb based data, too via Gaia.

Here is another more RT resource from NASA on overhead detection of fires, I stumbled on reading news this AM:
NASA-FIRMS
 

Attachments

Last edited:
Taking a few days and visiting parts of Michigan we have never made it to, Mackinaw Island being one of those places. Spent the day walking the town, and spent the big $$ on brunch at the Grand Hotel. Lovely place. Now we've been there.
Wow! Pro pix!
 
Taking a few days and visiting parts of Michigan we have never made it to, Mackinaw Island being one of those places. Spent the day walking the town, and spent the big $$ on brunch at the Grand Hotel. Lovely place. Now we've been there.

Beautiful island -- though the initial step off the ferry has a certain "je ne sais quoi" too it :) We have been there multiple times. Mrs Sweeney's nephew, back in his college years, used to be the head coachman for the hotel. Unfortunately, we never got to see any of behind the scenes magic.

We used to stay at a private campground near by, Mackinac Mill Creek --- right on the lake, with a view of the bridge. It was a very nice plus, but like so many private campgrounds they've gotten very proud of what they have to offer...

Where are you staying?
 
I own a 550 and a 560 and around the homestead I get the keys mixed up. After grabbing the wrong set too many times I finally solved the problem by ordering a key tag.

I know the month and year don’t match but it does solve the problem.

When I’m on the road I only carry the set for the one I’m towing. Those keys are on a shoelace I loop through my belt loop and it’s long enough to reach the galley and side doors.
I generally take both sets and leave the extra trailer key in the tow vehicle and keep the extra tow vehicle key in the teardrop.

Good idea...where/who/how did you get the license plate tag? I look at the pile of keyrings on my desk sometimes and think of opening a used car lot...
 
Back
Top