Just dropping in to say hi all. My computer has been down for some time now, and i've been working a lot lately, so i haven't had much time to come by the library. I can still get online sometimes, and i read what y'all are posting; but my computer will not let me post anything. I was off today, and decided that i would come to the library, just to pay y'all a visit. I miss being able to sit around all day posting whenever i want. I also miss having the back and forth conversations with my ss friends.
I have been very busy. I did a small paint job, some minor home repairs, and a couple of other things to earn some money. I spent much of it restocking my pantry room for the winter. I have been collecting fire wood, and my garden is bouncing back now that the weather is cooling down. It looks like i'll be getting a new set of peppers and tomatoes. I'm harvesting herbs to dry for winter use, and making tobasco sauce. I'm also planting out my greens, brassicas, and other winter crops. But not everything has gone so smoothly.
Two out of five threaded stems broke off my front wheel, which could have broken off and caused a major crash or killed me. I had to remove the brakes, the hub and bearings, and remove the rotor in order to punch out the broken stems and put in some new ones. After i put everything back together, the wheel was pulling hard to the left. I got out and found that the rim was smoking hot, almost enough to melt the tire and cause a blow out. Turns out the brake on that wheel was clamped down and would not release. Either the caliper is defective, or the brake line is bad, because i bled out all the air and ran out plenty of brake fluid. For now, i just left the caliper and brake shoes off, and put a clamp on the brake line. I'll replace both when i have the money. It was a nasty job, and i've decided that i really hate grease under my figer nails. But i guess it's all part of being self sufficient. You do what you gotta do, when you got no money to hire anybody.
My health is my biggest concern these days. There are no charity hospitals here. They won't turn you away for emergency care, but if you've got no insurance, they will bill you. If you can't pay the bill, they will give you some serious grief. I heard that there is a charity hospital in Shreveport, so i guess i could drive over there if i have to. The problem is the same leg is acting up again. I've decided that it is nerve damage from my old hip injury. I get sharp shooting pain from the sacrum joint, all the way down to the toes. My big toe stays numb all the time. My calf muscle cramps up and aches, and i get weird tingling sensations like restless leg sydrome. Some times all of my toes get numb. I think it my be inflamation in the damaged area around my hip, which is then putting pressure on my sciadic nerve. There were several days last week when the pain was very severe, and i was unable to do much of anything except lie flat on my back. Sitting or driving my truck are often more painful than standing or walking. Even as i write this, my hip is starting to hurt and my toes are all numb.
Y'all might not hear from me much, but i'm still here, checking in on y'all from time to time. Chat with y'all later!
Busy busy busy.
