I Have The Power!

Hi blog!  We sourced and received almost every little thing I need to run my c-pap out in the desert.  I've got a battery, solar panel, charger, inverter, and wire.  It's really hard to find wire!  You'd think Radio Shack would have spools of all sorts, but they only had ready-made cables for TVs and stuff, and some speaker wire.  We finally found wire at the auto parts store, but they only had 10 gauge and I wanted bigger.  The Internet seems to think it will be good enough, but I'll be running the thing for a week at home to make sure.  The only thing I didn't find was a specific connector that goes to the solar panel.  Sheldon's grabbing a set of those off Amazon right now.

I also did all the math and found out that the battery I bought should actually power my c-pap for 57 hours on one charge.  8 hours a night * 7 nights is 56 hours.  That means with the 100W solar panel I'll have plenty of power to spare for charging phones and such, I'll want to run some LED lighting in the tent, and....?  Oh, I should make a quick swamp cooler!  What else awesome can I bring to power?  The inverter's 400W.

I don't think I have time for my art project. :-/  I really wanted to build a hula hoop with total control lighting that could be programmed and then controlled via a remote to speed up or slow down the pattern or change patterns.  That would probably take me $200 I shouldn't spare and a number of hours I don't have.  I'm kind of bummed about that.

Two in a row!

I'm eating a big chunk of watermelon at 11pm for dinner.  Just finished working.  Long days happen when I work from home.  I took a couple hours out of the middle to see a counselor though.  That's going to be interesting.  They'd like to see me up to once a week, but I can't make time or money for that much.  I'm going to try every other week.  Paying fifty bucks to talk to someone for an hour seems weird.

Parts have been delivered.  By this weekend I hope to be able to put together and test a solar setup capable of running my C pap machine all night every night for a week.  We have not sourced the wires or connectors we need though.  If that stuff can be gotten locally I'll definitely be able to test this weekend.  Also on the docket for this weekend is solving the housing crisis (procuring a suitable tent), and starting to take seriously the issues of clothes and food.  Oh, there's a camp meeting I'll be attending via Skype.  

Hello again Margaret

Whew.  Ok, I stopped blogging again.  I'm not doing too good with eating, I'm not doing too good with exercising, and work is...omg work is crazy.  It's like working as fast as possible all day to get stuff done and still having more at the end of the day than I started with.

BUT other stuff is happening.  Most of the parts I need to run my c-pap machine via battery and solar power are on their way here, and we got a bunch of stuff from costco that we're going to need for Burning Man.  We have a list, and we will be spending weekends sourcing and packing from now til then, so I think that'll be ok.

Greg will be happy to know we procured a sturdy bucket and lid.

We decided not to make a hexayurt.  I found some tough reflective sheeting though that I hope to heavy spring clamp onto whatever tent we get in hopes of a darker cooler sleeping spot.  I have not figured out tent or bedding.  I hate sleeping bags, they make me feel claustrophobic. How many comforters would I have to bring in lieu of sleeping bags?  I have a lot of comforters, but they're bulky to pack.

Clothes is proving to be a pain in the ass!  I need to find light cotton pants and stuff.  The only pants I have are work slacks, y'all, and I can't find any that are right in a flowy cotton style.  I have a sewing machine, but I'm kind of shitty at sewing and fabric is expensive too.  Shoes, oh shoes.  I need good shoes but I want pretty shoes.  I need hiking boots but I want go go boots.

On another note, I've got a counseling appointment Thursday.  Please send kind thoughts to the poor intern that gets my business!

Ignorance

Sheldon and I were talking about some Zimmerman trial juror quote and Sheldon said he felt that Trayvon Martin was doomed the moment Zimmerman decided to stalk him.  I said, "Maybe he could have saved himself, maybe he could have called the police... Sheldon interrupted and said, "Sweetie, Black people don't call the police."  I never actually realized that was a thing.  I thought everyone who wasn't a criminal could just call the cops if they needed help.  I feel a little foolish for thinking that way.

The Sun is a harsh mistress.

We went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom yesterday.  It was pretty fun.  I can't do big rides.  I understand why they're fun and all, but I can't breathe when I'm on them, and feeling like I'm genuinely going to die quashes my fun.  We ran around all day from attraction to attraction.  We ate nasty expensive food but I burned a ton of calories moving myself around all day.

We learned after the first four drinks that it would have been cheaper to get their refillable all day drink pass for $16.   We got the drink pass and still saved money.  It was hot, and cold beverages were amazing.  I think I need to prioritize chilled water for burning man if I can, so we'll have to bring a good cooler of ice for drinks.  It also made me realize that yeah, a camelback will really come in handy.

I meant to use the opportunity to get some more sun in preparation for Burning Man, but I got a moderate sunburn instead.  Even my arms, which I'd thought were pretty well farmer-tanned got burnt. I'm grateful I got burned now so I can while away the burny hours somewhere with AC.  I've learned my lesson.  I won't rely on my melanin to keep me safe at Burning Man.  I'll be researching to find a sunscreen I like to wear.  I've always just got the cheapest kind before and it's always been goopy and slimy and I've hated it.  Perhaps if I venture into the pricer brands I'll find something nicer.  I think I might want to get something specifically for my face too.  Oy, I'm too many years off the farm.

Burning Man skin care is a worthy topic though.  I bought a hat at Six Flags that I like.  I generally hate  wearing hats, so finding one I can get along with is good.  That should help protect my face, neck, and hopefully cleavage.  I have a really funny looking burn line there right now, y'all.  I'll definitely bring different medicated and non-medicated foot creams.  I have some great steroid cream for rashy stuff.  I'll look into what the best body skin stuff there is.  I heard vinegar helps counteract the dust alkalinity on skin.  Just what I want to smell like, old wine.  I'll have to make a kit for skin injuries too.  Oh, I need to remember that bodyglide stuff too.  After the raft ride at Six Flags we walked around in wet clothes for hours and I really wished I'd used some that morning.

11:11

I think I overate, but only a little.  I didn't get much exercise, but I did jump in the teeny pool at lunch and pulled myself around and around by the arms to make a whirlpool for Evy.  I also got a bit of sun.  I know that's not the healthiest, but I've spent a long time working in an office most daylight hours over the past year, and I don't want to go from that to spending a week in the outdoors without getting in a bit of precursory melanin.  I think I'm going to buy that solar panel this weekend, as soon as I see if I have enough spare cash.

Blargh post

About to go to bed super early because I want to be alert tomorrow.  I didn't exercise or eat well today, but whatevs, can't win them all.  I did a bunch of stuff at work today, it made me happy to feel productive instead of like I was trying to get stuff done with my hands tied.  Then at the end of the day they literally took away my toy that was letting me be so productive.  I'll get it back Monday, but tomorrow will be a pain again without it.

I did something for burning man!  I put a 100 watt solar panel in my amazon cart.   I didn't buy it only because I need to make sure I need to spend a couple hundred dollars on one, or if it's completely unnecessary.  Is it the more power the better out there, or will there be so many places to charge my deep cycle battery that I could spend that money better on something else.

Random

Here's a bit of mental health TMI:  Sheldon pointed out today that I don't ever call my ex on his dickish behavior because I'm afraid to make him mad.  I had no clue I was doing that until he pointed it out.

I lost a little weight compared to 2 weeks ago.  Only half of what I'd hoped but it's going in the right direction.

I'm having a love affair with paninis.  I am on the lookout for a panini press to call my very own.

We're going to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.  That's going to pose an interesting day for dieting, but a good day to practice "walking about in the heat all day" both for exercise and acclimatization.  It also made me wonder about the ethics of keeping dolphins in captivity, especially the "dolphin experience" things where the public gets to paw at them.  On one hand I think it's not the right ethical choice to keep them captive for something so unimportant as a novelty show.  On the other hand, I think they're pretty lucky we don't like to eat them instead.

I wanna play video games

I have a teeny narrow window in which to play video games.  It used to be from 8pm to midnight, now it's more like 10pm-11pm, though I should go to bed closer to 10pm.  I resent not having time.

Other than that things are good.  I didn't exercise today, but I did eat well.  Poor Sheldon got a shock when he ate something too calorie dense for lunch and used up too many Weight Watchers points.  I actually used too many at lunch too, but had a tiny dinner supplemented by a "free" banana.  I resent not having a comfortably full belly too.  I guess I did have one at lunch, but still, waah.

Redux

How many times have I happily stated that I tracked my food and stayed within my points for the first time in a while?  Well I did it again.

Interesting twist though, Sheldon joined Weight Watchers online and is going to do the program with me.  I think that's really nice of him and it will be super helpful, not to mention that losing a bit will be healthier for him as well.  

Hello Again Blog

Mrph.  This week's been nonproductive as far as anything other than work goes, and even that is iffy.  Some of it was fun though!  I got to finally meet Neil Gaiman for a moment last night.  He is just really really NICE.  If we used Whuffie or Karma instead of cash he'd still be wealthy.  The poor guy is willing to be whisked around the world for this signing tour, signing for 1500 people in each spot, and that's AFTER he's pre-signed tens of thousands of his latest book.  He was right at the top of his game during the speaking portion and was just the funniest I've ever heard him.  Then he signed for all of us, and was still signing when we got home to Sacramento (the event was in Santa Rosa).  He was super personable during that part too, and happily doled out handshakes and hugs, and exclaimed over all the little gifts and drawings people brought him.  He seemed genuinely touched that we read Blueberry Girl to Evy at our wedding.  Apparently he got 2 hours of rest after last night's signing before being whisked off to Michigan for another, and then the guy apologized on Twitter because he was late to that one due to the SFO closures.

I'm worried about work.  The boss went on vacation and I said I'd do a BUNCH of stuff this week, but then there was a software release and I spent 3/5 days vetting that instead.  I'm worried he won't care about the vetting part and dwell on the bit in which I didn't get as much done as I said I would.  I wasn't quite worried enough to work this weekend though.  I did about 50 hours total, and you'll read below that the health aspects get cut out first.

I didn't do ANYTHING else that I said I would this week.  Remember how I was going to call about getting some counseling a few weeks ago?  I haven't yet.  I also didn't cook at all, or take breakfast to work, or do anything about Burning Man.  I did exercise, but I mostly forgot to wear my activity monitors during it, so it only counts in my head.

Today I went to Eco Thrift looking for playa wear, but didn't find anything but a couple of shirts suitable for work.  I tried on every pair of size 22 pants I could find (4), but they were all a couple inches too narrow for my gigantic legs while being a couple inches too big for my waist.  There were no skirts or anything, and I couldn't find the fabric at all.  :-/

Blaaaaargh

I don't feel like blogging.  I did walk for 30 min at lunch, braving the 93F heat.  It was bearable.  Later when I left work it was 111F, so I'm glad I walked at midday!  Tomorrow's a holiday!  I really could use Friday off too.

I was mad at work.  I've known for months that I had to go to the city for a 2 day training.  We made special arrangements around Sheldon's night course teaching so I could go, and then today, like three weeks before it happens, they postpone it a week.  Course schedules are published and stuff, Sheldon can't arbitrarily just change them around.  Meh, I'm mostly pissed because I complained and got myself in a spot where I felt I had to explain to the boss that the inconvenience is because I have a kid with disabilities.  I already suspect he's sexist, so I really hate doing anything that calls attention to my femaleness, if that makes any sense. "A mom" is probably even worse to him, and "a mom with extra responsibilities" worse yet.

Tweet Sized Blog...almost

Worked all day, until now.  In fact I'm typing on my work computer still because I'm about to log off.   Ate properly...until that loaf of french bread I ate half of for dinner.  Swore to exercise at 7am, slept.  Decided to exercise in the house in the evening instead, worked late.  Now today's exercise is moved to Saturday (because I already have exercise plans for tomorrow and Friday).  Could have been worse, could have been better.

<==3

Tonight I found this really heartening endorsement for an engineering toy geared towards little girls.  It made me think of my own upbringing and the results of it.



I grew up on a small farm, but we didn't work it really.  My dad was a firefighter, and then a wheelwright/horse drawn vehicle builder/fixer/restorer.  He had a workshop and I was allowed to use the hand tools.  Because Dad was a firefighter and my ma was sickly I also learned how to do a lot of rural homeowner stuff pretty early.  I could fix fences, flip breakers, irrigate fields, fix the toilet and build a fire to keep the house warm.  My mom knew how to do all that stuff too, so I didn't think of it as "man stuff" though I did observe that Mom only did some things if Dad wasn't there to do them, and vice versa with cooking and laundry and such.  I was aware that there were usual roles, but that they weren't really important.  My parents didn't care that I didn't like dolls or playing house, and they liked me playing outside.  We lived far enough away from toy stores that I didn't know there were pink aisles.

At the same time I still noticed gender bias.  Dad never asked me to help him or work with him out in the shop, and never did teach me to use the power tools.  No one jumped all over themselves to teach me to drive like they did when my cousin Jason turned 16.  It was pretty minor.  As I grew up I found out more, like that there weren't many women in my physics classes, and even more annoying things like people asking to talk to someone in the IT department when I, as the head of the IT department, answered a call.  Most annoying is when I try and do technical or mechanical things with men, and they steamroll me and take over, and all I get to do is strip wires and fetch wrenches.  I've gotten a bit defensive about it to the point of keeping my own tools and not letting anyone use them, and not letting men (Sheldon in this case, though he hasn't done anything wrong!) work on MY projects with me.

This only relates loosely to burning man because I want to do a "mine all mine" electronics project, but I need to hurry!  I'm not sure if I had any other point.

Good news though, you've been saved from hearing about my ridiculous day at work, or the dangerous heat wave, or that I stayed within my points today but I didn't exercise.  I don't have a weigh in this week due to the holiday, so I'm going to try and have a nicely impressive loss by next week.  It won't take much more than I'm doing now to get it I don't think.