Good evening. Currently 27 degrees and partly clear. Did you see that big moon rising from the east about a half hour ago? It was quite pretty. A bit chilly but not that bad. Looks like the mercury will drop a few more degrees this evening then start to warm up the approaching rain. The chances of freezing rain in the morning are decreasing but it’s all a timing thing on how fast the morning warns up.

Went down to the library for a bit then went for my evening walk after stewing over the cost of the replacement thermostat for my apartment which ultimately looks that my renters insurance will cover. But I hate dealing with stupid shit like this.

Got the thermostat fixed in my apartment today and the landlord left a $83 handwritten bill for the replacement. Legally it looks like I’m responsible for it, although the lease language assigning responsibility appears to be not written correctly and says neglect (willful negligence) rather than negligence, which can be a simple accident. The case law is contradictory on bona-fide accidents by tenants and not willful damage but ultimately it’s a moot point – I have renters insurance which covers up to $1,000 damage of property to others (e.g. landlord) with no deductible. I think it’s per year and not per claim. That said, my landlord needs to send me an actual bill and not something scribbled illegibly on a sheet of paper. I’m sure he will make me an actual bill if I ask, because he wants to get paid. I’m sure his insurance for accidental tenant damage only kicks in after the security deposit is used as an deductible. Insurance is a good thing to have. It’s a small claim, so my insurance agent can pay it out on the spot without having an adjuster involved, which is nice. Better yet, the loss occurred on November 30th, so it falls on last year’s insurance, protecting me fully for 2016. If for some unlikely reason the claim isn’t paid, it will buy me time and smooth over my cash flow. I like my apartment and I’m years into my auto-renew at a low rate, so I’d hate to have my lease end in 90 days or the rates hiked. Still a bit annoyed but accidents happen. Still a lot cheaper than a fender bender and certainly a lot less dealing with insurance adjusters and body shops.

Some day I want to own land and be my own landlord in a simple off-grid cabin. I’d be less cheesed off about paying to repair something I owned and broke. I don’t need anything fancy, just a place where I can shoot guns whenever I want, have fires and burn junk, and generally be left alone from an over zealous government. Kind of like Fixed By Doc’s cabin in rural Pennsylvania. I guess for now it’s called camping. It’s nice living in the suburbs and walking or taking the bus everywhere for now. I like Pennsylvania a lot but I have some serious questions about the future of that state, especially recently when both parties in the legislature have been so addicted to raising taxes.

Continued researching winter coats. My zipper is broken, missing teeth, and the coat is rattier than what some homeless people wear. Going to get another Carhartt and I found a place with a decent price with no state sales tax or shipping. No sales but they have the colors I like in stock and cheaper than Carhartt direct. The old worn out coat says size 50 which I think is equivalent to 2XL and tall but I really want to try one on for size. I know Crossgates Maul has a Carhartt brand store next to Dick’s, maybe they’ll have that size to try it on. I am seriously bummed out that they aren’t union made anymore.

Good evening. Currently 41 degrees and clear with a full moon. Throughout the evening it should be mostly clear, with a low around 33. South wind 6 to 8 mph.

It’s the evening before Thanksgiving. Traffic seems to be moving well leaving the city but that may have more to do with the driver taking South Pearl and that I left work early.

Good evening. The Tuesday work day has come to a close as we inch towards the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday and the full moon tomorrow night. Right now it’s around 39 degrees and clear with occasional clouds. The moon is already pretty bright and big, nearly a full moon. The sunset tonight was at 4:26 PM and tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:27 AM for 14 hours and 30 minutes of darkness. The first day of winter is rapidly approaching on December 22nd — less then a month away. Then the days will start getting longer

Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. In the morning, it will become a pretty pleasant day. Sunny, with a high near 46. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. For turkey day, look for some great weather — mostly sunny, with a high near 55. South wind 7 to 10 mph. Almost summer-like.

Started listening to some holiday music for my commute home. While it seems like it just was the holiday season, it’s yet that time once again. At least the snow has held off for a few more days then in recent years. The city has held off on Christmas decorations downtown so far, except for a few wreaths on city hall.

Back to my musings about the past weekend…

Heading up to Malone last Friday it started to snow pretty hard and the wind was blowing ominously. I stopped at Stewarts and got milk and more firewood. They are well priced for kiln-dried wood that is legal to bring across state lines and distances greater than 50 miles in state. I also stopped at Walmart and bought a bunch more bungee cords. I was afraid with the wind I wouldn’t have enough of an ability to tie down the three tarps I had bought to use as a wind and rain shelter with the expected high winds expected on Saturday night.

As I was heading out from Malone to North Lawrence the sun was rapidly setting in the sun. Fortunately I somehow remembered the turn, and when I got to the camping area, it was exactly as I remembered it from six years ago. The CC Dam Camping area is somewhat cramped sites but when I was there I had the place to myself bar some hunters setting up at the other end.

I set the tarps and tent up primarily in the dark but I had lights hooked to my inverter to help. I think I did a good job setting up, while I sipped a cold one or two for a while. Everything was set up by 6 PM and I got a campfire started and the Big Buddy Heater. Had some hot dogs and chips for dinner as it was easy.

Retired to bed around 9 AM as the heated tent was warm and I was tired from the long trip up there. I also knew how short the days were and wanted to go hunting at daybreak and explore the Deer River State Forest. It was a good first day on the trip even if everything didn’t go quite to plan.

Good morning. Currently 47 degrees and clear this morning. Sunrise will be happening soon at 6:52 AM. Looks like a nice day. Today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph.

Good evening. Currently 58 degrees and heavy rain. I went to the laundromat and store, and with the heavy rain, driving conditions are difficult. Showers continue, mainly before 1am. Low around 42. South wind 5 to 11 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Sunrise at 6:52 AM tomorrow.

Tomorrow is going to be great weather for my trip to the North Country. It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph. I plan to get up at 6 AM and leave by eight, with hopes of reaching Plattsburgh by 11. I will spend some time poking around Plattsburgh before heading to Malone by around 2 PM and setting up camp at 4 PM. Going to be a great day, I haven’t been to the North Country since 2009. This is the one region of the state I haven’t been in the past five years, so it will be interesting to see. I just remember how flat and expansive the land is up there, with relatively few little towns in between. At least gas is cheap!

Little on the fence where I will camp at, possibly Deer River State Forest or maybe CCC Dam at Brasher State Forest. Both are nice but the prior is more wild, while the other has more developed and nicer campsites. Both are situated on ample state land, and I think both have cell service so I can play on my phone on the potentially cold and rainy Sunday. Deer River has more hills so it might be safer for plinking. Maybe visit both.

Depending on the weather Monday, especially the risk of Lake Effect Snow, I will decide how to come back. There are several state forests I’d like to see in St. Lawrence County but not if that means I risk driving through white out conditions on slippery roads. Might instead come back via Lake Placid then the Northway. We will see.

Many things are packed. But there is more to do. So I better get to bed. Goodnight.