Singing along with Ode to Billie Joe on this beautiful morning. Skies are fairly blue this morning though you can see the wildfire haze and where there wasn’t clouds last night there was a fair amount of color from the wildfire smoke. We’d probably get more of the pollution here but there is a low off the coast that is expected to bring rain by Thursday through Saturday. Mostly thunderstorms but Saturday once again will be wet.
Went down to the Norman’s Kill Preserve and read some of the book I got out about rainwater harvesting. Such a pretty night, not too buggy. Topped off the rear tire on my bike, as it’s was only 40 PSI and while it riding okay, I figured I’m not riding trail and it does roll better with closer to 60 PSI in the tire down the road, though I feel the bumps more. I sort of like running it lower as I feel like it’s better on the rim but it is so much better hard. That said, the tire is complete crap, it’s cracked, and I think there are some cords that are broke in it. I need to get a rear tire for the bike soon, I’ve started to investigate torn tires but I’m not thrilled with replacing the tire right away. That book on rainwater harvesting is quite interesting. Sat down by the Normans Kill until around 8 PM.
It was a rush at the grocery store. Forgot to get milk and cider vinegar. Everything is all tore up at Hannaford, products ransacked and they now close at 9 PM – and it was around 8:20 PM when I first got there. I could stop on the way home tonight to pick up a few other things, especially milk which I’ll need for coffee tomorrow morning. Driving in tomorrow as I have the work picnic. My parents decided not to head out on their road trip due to the hot weather tomorrow, so I don’ have to go out there tonight to dog sit. Might instead go over to Five Rivers for the evening. Maybe I can piss off the woke bird watcher riding there with my mountain bike.
I kept hearing squeaks and creaks on bike, and it’s driving me nuts as I want to keep it good condition as long as possible, as it’s only two years old as of mid-July. Couldn’t find it but I did notice a loose – turned out to be broken bolt on the pannier rack where the box sits on my bike. Annoying, I ended up wiring that up with some wire I had and covering with electrical tape. Not sure what else I could do. I checked the chain, and it needs to be replaced again – just did that in early April – but I put so many miles on it. The rear tire is shot too. I swear all I do is put parts on that bike, but granted I go 30 miles a day lately, some of it on rather rough roads. I should just ignore the noises, some of it is probably the front wheel now needing replacement as those bearings are going too but no loose spokes as far as I can tell. At least most of the noise was the broken bolt on the rack. Bah. Replace parts when necessary, if they’re not perfect, nothing is perfect in this world. If it becomes a problem, they do make replacement pannier racks that don’t require the brass-on connectors. I could drill out the bolt and go through the pipe but it’s aluminum and I don’t want to weekend the frame. Probably the weight from groceries broke it but it was loose below. I think some of it is bouncing around in my truck bed when I’m carrying it places.
Riding in again today, going to wear shorts which always seems a bit strange and unprofessional but who cares it complies with the looser dress code of summer, especially when there is no session. While I don’t do a suit and tie for the most part nowadays, I do try to wear a dressy but reasonably casual Salvation Army shirt and jeans most session days. But in summer, t-shirt and jeans is fine. I am the Unit Director, so I can make such decisions, plus it’s compliant with the agency dress code memo, even if it does seem a bit casual. I can complain about the constant service the bike needs and how many parts I have to use, but it fun to
Lately it seems like I’m drinking out the fire hose at work. Still fighting with that computer system that isn’t working and vendor that isn’t responding. It wasn’t the contract I chose or set up, it was done before I started as Director but I still get all the inquiries about why the system is down, even though I lack the technical ability to adjust the system and get it running again. I don’t even have an shell account on the computer, but if the programmers can’t fix I can’t either. I really get the debate about doing things in-house or with a custom interface that is contracted out – which is what we are doing but the contractor is MIA versus completely outsourcing a process. Annoying to no end.
Got reading the debate about new versus used cars. Honestly, people should spend money on things they care about and have money to buy in cash. If you have to finance a car, then you probably shouldn’t buy new. But if you can pay cash, and it’s a vehicle you want and plan to keep it for the life of the vehicle – then buy it – especially if it’s something that get you were you want to go. Old vehicles are fine but they are more prone to breaking down and wearing out, and reliability matters especially if you plan to travel.
Last night I got my retirement statement. 16 3/4 years in the system. Not too bad, by late 2028 I should be at 20 years if I stay that long and it gets boosted to 2% of years worked in calculating my pension. I am still thinking about early retirement at 55 though maybe if I can find something useful to do or stay until I have 30 years in the system, then I won’t take the penalty. I’ll have to see.
some of the book I got out about rainwater harvesting. 
Such a pretty night, not too buggy. Topped off the rear tire on my bike, as it’s was only 40 PSI and while it riding okay, I figured I’m not riding trail and it does roll better with closer to 60 PSI in the tire down the road, though I feel the bumps more. I sort of like running it lower as I feel like it’s better on the rim but it is so much better hard. That said, the tire is complete crap, it’s cracked, and I think there are some cords that are broke in it. I need to get a rear tire for the bike soon, I’ve started to investigate torn tires but I’m not thrilled with replacing the tire right away. That book on rainwater harvesting is quite interesting. Sat down by the Normans Kill until around 8 PM.
Forgot to get milk 
and cider vinegar. Everything is all tore up at Hannaford, products ransacked and they now close at 9 PM – and it was around 8:20 PM when I first got there. I could stop on the way home tonight to pick up a few other things, especially milk which I’ll need for coffee 
tomorrow morning. Driving in tomorrow as I have the work picnic. 
My parents decided not to head out on their road trip due to the hot weather tomorrow, so I don’ have to go out there tonight to dog sit. 
Might instead go over to Five Rivers for the evening. 
Maybe I can piss off the woke bird watcher riding there with my mountain bike.
and it’s driving me nuts as I want to keep it good condition as long as possible, as it’s only two years old as of mid-July. Couldn’t find it but I did notice a loose – turned out to be broken bolt on the pannier rack where the box sits on my bike. Annoying, I ended up wiring that up with some wire I had and covering with electrical tape. Not sure what else I could do. I checked the chain, and it needs to be replaced again – just did that in early April – but I put so many miles on it. The rear tire is shot too. I swear all I do is put parts on that bike, but granted I go 30 miles a day lately, some of it on rather rough roads. I should just ignore the noises, some of it is probably the front wheel now needing replacement as those bearings are going too but no loose spokes as far as I can tell. At least most of the noise was the broken bolt on the rack. Bah. Replace parts when necessary, if they’re not perfect, nothing is perfect in this world. If it becomes a problem, they do make replacement pannier racks that don’t require the brass-on connectors. I could drill out the bolt and go through the pipe but it’s aluminum and I don’t want to weekend the frame. Probably the weight from groceries broke it but it was loose below. I think some of it is bouncing around in my truck bed when I’m carrying it places.
going to wear shorts which always seems a bit strange and unprofessional but who cares it complies with the looser dress code of summer, especially when there is no session. While I don’t do a suit and tie for the most part nowadays, I do try to wear a dressy but reasonably casual Salvation Army shirt and jeans most session days. But in summer, t-shirt and jeans is fine. I am the Unit Director, so I can make such decisions, plus it’s compliant with the agency dress code memo, even if it does seem a bit casual. 
I can complain about the constant service the bike needs and how many parts I have to use, but it fun to 
Still fighting with that computer system that isn’t working and vendor that isn’t responding. It wasn’t the contract I chose or set up, it was done before I started as Director but I still get all the inquiries about why the system is down, even though I lack the technical ability to adjust the system and get it running again. I don’t even have an shell account on the computer, but if the programmers can’t fix I can’t either. I really get the debate about doing things in-house or with a custom interface that is contracted out – which is what we are doing but the contractor is MIA versus completely outsourcing a process. Annoying to no end. 
Honestly, people should spend money on things they care about and have money to buy in cash. If you have to finance a car, then you probably shouldn’t buy new. But if you can pay cash, and it’s a vehicle you want and plan to keep it for the life of the vehicle – then buy it – especially if it’s something that get you were you want to go. Old vehicles are fine but they are more prone to breaking down and wearing out, and reliability matters especially if you plan to travel.
16 3/4 years in the system. Not too bad, by late 2028 I should be at 20 years if I stay that long and it gets boosted to 2% of years worked in calculating my pension. I am still thinking about early retirement at 55 though maybe if I can find something useful to do or stay until I have 30 years in the system, then I won’t take the penalty. I’ll have to see.
