mikehikemike Member

Well, as the saying goes, a man’s pole barn is his castle—right? Was up almost all night Saturday waiting for last dogsledder to arrive, rest and then plod to the next safety station between us and the next checkpoint/rest stop 60 miles away. Did get 2-1/2 hour snooze on my cot in the musher’s sleeping area after they left…

Morning gents. Drove an hour north yesterday to Fort Kent for ham radio meeting — about 20 of us—and afterwards had dinner with my checkpoint partner. He’s been in ham radio for decades and has done this race several times before. On the ride back to my cabin the car thermometer read 2° below. Snowing lightly now—5”…

Lee, good luck at work…

For those who have trouble sleeping…

Mornin' Figured I would check in, as I have the morning free before heading an hour north to Fort Kent to meet the other hams. Checked into my cabin yesterday afternoon. Left home 5:30 AM and arrived here 2:30; last few hours of driving were in blowing snow with lots of unnerving logging trucks on the road. My cozy little…

Tomorrow I leave for N. Maine; forecast here is rain, some snow as I get halfway up into Maine. 400+ mile drive. Looking forward to being a radio guy for the race checkpoint, but not sure about having to cover overnight if sleds go slow. Was told to bring a cot and sleeping bag. We have to stay on until sleds get halfway…

Mornin' Getting parking brake adjusted or fixed this morning--it stuck on, when I parked on a hill last week. Cable maybe frozen... Lee, good luck with your recovery. All things pass with time, my folks used to annoyingly tell me. Gotta run.

Hot tub sounds good. My hands hurt when I pick up my large diam. water bottle and my coffee flask, especially the thumb joint. Worse I think in cold weather. Doc suggested hot wax hand bath. So cold these days there's an icicle hanging off my balcony roof approaching 3 feet long. Time for spring. I envy Dave with the…

Thought I checked in this morning but I guess not. Drive home from Melrose was a nightmare… GPS took me down rte. 1 to I-93 right into Boston into the tunnel, where traffic was almost stopped. Ceiling had caved in on Mass Pike plus accidents on 93. Finally got off and meandered through streets of Boston and after another…

After feeding DS's dog and walking him, I will do the 2 hour drive to head home. A neighbor is taking Rory till Tuesday when DS & fam. get back. 20º this morning and feels like 6º; only four more weeks till official spring begins. Got DDIL's piano tuned yesterday; getting so I can finish a tuning in one day. Spanned 5…

G'morning... High winds have died down and temp got above freezing yesterday. I think the reason the fireplace belched smoke was the 50-60 mph gusts outside, and when I started it I didn't preheat the damper and flue by lighting balls of newspaper stuffed up into the flue. And there was just one "Instant Light" log…

Mornin' men. Still at DS's house. Rory and I had an exciting day yesterday. Being so cold and windy out I got the fireplace going and sat on the couch to relax. Then the talking smoke alarm went off. BEEP BEEP BEEP. "Smoke in living room... Evacuate! Evacuate!" I cracked a window open to improve the draft and pressed the…

13º here and wind makes it feel like 5 below. I'm supposed to take Rory for a walk but we'll wait a bit for that. Besides the weather there's lots of icy spots on the sidewalks here and there. Should I wear spikes and dull them on the pavement, bare-boot it hoping I can hop over the icy spots, bring them and put them on…

Good afternoon from DS’s couch in Melrose, watching their dog snooze down the other end. Drive in this morning was harrowing, starting with car doors all frozen shut and 3/8” of ice on the windows. Over an hour to clean it off. En route to highway encountered fallen electric wires and had to backtrack. At DS’s the walkways…

Snowed all night but it looks like there’s only an inch on the ground. With the snow and ice forecast, DS and I decided their neighbor would take care of the dog today and I’ll arrive tomorrow morning and stay till Friday. They have a cute house in the suburbs of Boston. I’ll work on their piano while there—I’ve learned to…

Morning. Sam, hoping things resolve soon for DW. After my divorce and not sleeping I was on Atavan. after months on it I mentioned to my doctor I was getting very depressed, and he said "Oh, atavan has that side effect." Gee, now you tell me. Sometimes it's better to be off certain meds if you can, even if they do help…

Icy roads this morning. Looks like the snow bomb this weekend is fizzling out. Forecast dropped from 23" to 7" overnight. coffee...

We got wintry mix and it's an icy, slushy mess outside. Sunday we're getting bombed with snow although the forecast keeps changing. Finally got the the piano keys and hammers regulated, just the dampers need to be adjusted. I should probably file down the grooves in the hammers to make it sound less harsh, but that's a…

Rise and shine. Dog sitting 3 or 4 days next week for DS & DDIL. Was hoping to XC-ski around here this weekend but forecast has turned to sleet, rain and ice. Found out yesterday that a member of our Bible study group has 6 months to live--ovarian cancer, which she has battled for years, is now spreading to other organs.…

Mornin' Bill, my prayers go up for you and the family. Bible study this morning. Doing some planning for the dogsled race in 2-1/2 weeks. Current forecast shows night temps 10 and 15 below for Fort Kent. And it's a 7-1/2 hour drive if I never stop (I sometimes have to stop once hour... an old man thing.) Wondering what…

Morning men. Watched the game last night, a dismal 4 hours of football. Plus I was rooting for KC while the rest of the room was cheering for Philly. I like Mahomes, but he sure didn't play well until it was too late. Had a nice time snowshoeing yesterday with DD. She was shocked at how strenuous it is, so I was surprised…

Mornin' Still snowing here with 5" on the ground. Church after I shovel out my parking space, then snowshoeing at the park with DD. She couldn't find XC-ski rentals at the ski store on her street, but I have an extra pair of snowshoes. A friend's wife has old skis she doesn't use that might do, and might trade for having…

Expecting 8” of snow tonight then 8” Thursday and another 6” next weekend. Planning on xc-skiing tomorrow with DD if the roads are okay to travel. Will use the fields in state park a few miles away. Am realizing the ham radio job I volunteered for (400 miles north of here) involves being on call all night as sleds on the…

Good morning, gents. Up too early this mornin... Bill, I will keep your mother in my prayers, and you and your family. I think Lee is still in Tennessee? Getting ready for 8" of snow tomorrow night. And more, I guess, next week. Have a good day, everyone.

Schools were cancelled last night in some towns--snow, sleet and freezing rain expected today, although nothing happening so far. 16º F. No piano class today; senior center called and said the teacher fell and hurt himself and won't be in for a few weeks. Nice old guy, hope he's alright. Eldest DD turns 53 today. Egad, I…

Chilly 12º above this morning. Probably snow tomorrow. Got busy yesterday-- out to Bible study, where one woman there has been battling cancer five years or more, and now it seems she is beginning to lose the battle. Sad. After bible study (and leader's leftover chocolate birthday cake--why do I go to this thing?!!) I…

Good morning. Had a couple inches snow last night, warming today to 40s. Blackened salmon and asparagus last night, with parmesan couscous. I remember Asparagus wasn't in the market till spring and only for a month or two. Reading a book from 1904, dystopian sci-fi with cars, planes, highways, world government... page…

Rained yesterday and now it's 1º this morning under a clear sunrise. DB in NH has 11º below zero. (Not sure if I mentioned-- the Mt. Washington weather station had a windchill of 97º below the other night. About 200 miles north of here and 6,000 feet elevation.) In times past, today was the day that Christmas decorations…

Still dark out, but I can see tree branches covered in ice and frost on cars. And much colder weather on the way tonight. DD is into health foods and I asked her about mushroom coffee...says it's "gross". Ryze company is very good at marketing.... Really need to get back to finishing work on the piano so I can tidy up my…