Good morning! Final week of the Legislative Session. Or so I’m hoping. Sitting downtown at a railway station 🚉 one toke over the line. Or so goes the Brewer and Shipley song on the radio. Next Monday is Latest Sunset of the Year 🌆. About a half week after the first day of summer, due to the shifting transit of the sun. Now if the sun ever came out, we could enjoy that more. Maybe today. Partly sunny and 68 degrees in Delmar, NY. Calm wind. The dew point is 57 degrees. Going to a nice day.

Feeling fairly decent this morning, 😀 only with a minor headache that isn’t bothering me too much. DIdn’t feel all that great after going to see my parents house, but then I went home and got to bed fairly early. I was originally planning to spend the night at my parents house in the camper shell, but it was kind of rainy, wet evening, so I decided to go home. 👔 I think it was a good thing though, because it gave me time last night to get my shirts hung up, and clothes put away before this most busy of weeks at work. I am just allergic to Mondays, or so I think. I did clean up the mildew in the bathroom, especially in the tub, 🛀 so hopefully that will help.

Today will be mostly sunny 🌞, with a high of 79 degrees at 4pm. Nice weather, with temperatures typical for today. Maximum dew point of 57 at 8am. Low humidity, nice. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 90 degrees. Much hotter. The record high of 94 was set in 1994.

I fully expect a long day at work. I packed lunch and dinner, and hopefully I will be able to find room in one of multiple mini-refigerators that have in the office to make up for the big dead one. 🍗🌯😋 I am guessing I will be taking the 9:45 or 10:30 bus home tonight, 🚌 but the nice thing about the bus, is even if I’m in a daze and tired, I don’t have to worry about the traffic lights or hitting something. Plus, I think most of the drivers know my stop, and I’ll set the alarm on the phone for 5 minutes before I expect to need to get off the bus. I’m going to take each day by day this morning, and only get my truck in evening if I expect to be released between 11:30 PM and 6 AM — which seems unlikely.

The sun will set at 8:35 pm with dusk around 9:10 pm, which is 21 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At sunset, look for partly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 72 degrees. The dew point will be 56 degrees. There will be a calm wind. Today will have 15 hours and 18 minutes of daytime, an increase of 15 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will have isolated showers after 11pm. Mostly cloudy 🌧, with a low of 59 degrees at 4am. Two degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around June 22nd. Maximum dew point of 56 at 7pm. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%. In 2018, we had mostly clear skies. It became sticky as the night progressed. It got down to 71 degrees. The record low of 39 occurred back in 1958.

Looks like a really nice weekend. Two options are on the short list for the weekend. ⛺ My preferred option would be to leave after work on Friday for Piseco Powley Road, paddle Lily Lake from Stewart Landing, see the Lilies 🌸, have a nice fire 🔥 and maybe do the Potholers on Sunday. I also want to hike back to Dexter Lake but I doubt I’ll be able to do that in a weekend. It would be nice to get back to the Adirondacks — the last time I was up in the area was in early May, and I would like to see Lily Lake before the lilies are gone, like happened last year.

But that all depends on how long the legislative session goes this week. 🏯 If I’m at work until 3 AM on Friday I’m not going to drive up to the Adirondacks unless maybe they give us Friday off. I also need time to pack 💼 and pick up some supplies although I guess I could stop on my way out there. It’s possible but unlikely that Wednesday will be the very late night. Maybe things could go into Friday daytime but I doubt it. I am not going to kill myself to get up there on a lack of sleep 😴 with Friday traffic.

The alternative is a Schoharie County trip. 🏊 Mine Kill pool opens Saturday so I could hike the trails around there, swim in the pool, ⛺ camp at Burnt Rossman, 🚶 hike the Cliffs of Middleburgh or Vromans Nose, fish the Schoharie Creek 🐠 and swim again. That could be nice alternative. I always like to do a few Schoharie County trips during the summer weekends, especially once that sweet corn is out. But I could get some strawberries 🍓 and maybe tomatoes 🍅 are Boriengers this weekend. If that’s the option I’m stuck with, which really wouldn’t be bad but I’d prefer the Adirondacks.

Wiring projects are done on the truck. 🔋I’m really interested to see how things preform with the additional battery, and how much power I’m actually getting out of the solar panel in various conditions. With the clouds yesterday, I only have a total of 82 watt hours from the panel, but to be fair it was cloudy and rainy yesterday, and the solar controlled floated the batteries after I had driven a bit with the alternator doing most of the topping off. I was thinking I am pretty much done with wiring projects, but now I’m thinking about getting an MPPT solar controller. ☀ That would help with charging the batteries better in low light conditions, and they’ve certainly come down in price, even if a decent quality one — like the Renology Rover, which I found for sale as low as $80. But not right away, as it would require some moving around of components and cutting new wires, and I’m in no rush to do it, when my existing PWM controller works just fine, and may be more then suitable for all my needs. Plus $80 bucks is money spent today is money that can’t be saved for a future, when I have land and actual need for a real MPPT solar controller for my off-grid home.

It will be interesting to see what happens with marijuana this week. 🚬 For sure. I think it’s an interesting agriculture crop 🌾, especially after reading that article this weekend in the Buffalo News that I shared below about the possibility of home growing. Turns out it’s a pretty easy crop to grow in a backyard flower pot, which is not surprising as you sometimes find it growing in the woods. I think it could get people interested in gardening and agriculture, although I do think there are legitimate concerns about the smoke and odors of people burning it especially in urban areas. It really stinks and the odor lingers around — I can tell when people are smoking pot in the parking lot 100 feet from my place — or when somebody gets on the bus after smoking.💨 Few things besides mucking a hog or dairy barn are as pungent in the air or on your clothes. 🐽

Hopefully with the majority of the nation’s population legalizing it we can see national action as that would make it easier for growers and avoid potential headaches for gun owners with the existing laws, although I’m not sure how they’d know if you bought legal pot or not. It might be a fun crop to grow in a pot or garden with other herbs and veggies 🌿 and cure when I own land, although I doubt I’d ever pay the high price for it commercially. 💰 Maybe if I got it free at a reception or party, but I’m not going to spend $20 bucks for a hit of it at some fancy-pansy commercial place. I would never use it heavy, but maybe a few times a year, a hit or some pot brownies would be good, especially when I own my own land.🍰

On this day in 1972, Five White House operatives are arrested for burgling the offices of the Democratic National Committee,👮 in an attempt by some members of the Republican party to illegally wiretap their opposition. 👂This would become the basis for the Watergate scandal. Then Tom Paxton wrote a fun song about it. Had they not burglarized the Watergate, Mr. Paxton would have had to write a different song. The DNC stuck there for decades after, but lately has moved to a newer shiny office building of their own.

As previously noted, next Monday is Latest Sunset 🌆 when the sun will be setting at 8:37 pm with dusk at 9:12 pm. On that day in 2018, we had rain and temperatures between 76 and 61 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 80 degrees. We hit a record high of 96 back in 1943.

Good evening! Mostly cloudy and 66 degrees in Delmar, NY. There is a south-southeast breeze at 8 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 50 degrees.

Not a half bad evening and I actually feel half decent. 🌃 A bit of a headache but better than I was feeling on Monday. I just don’t feel sick or achy long enough ever to go to the doctor. I think I’m just allergic to Mondays.😷 I shouldn’t be, I mean I like making money and saving for a better tomorrow. Sitting out back watching both the artificial fireflies and the real ones as they buzz along the trees. 🐝

Tonight will be mostly cloudy 🌥, with a low of 51 degrees at 6am. Five degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around May 29th. Maximum dew point of 50 at 9pm. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the evening. In 2018, we had cloudy skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 60 degrees. The record low of 38 occurred back in 1974.

Tonight will have a Waxing Gibbous Moon 🌔 with 88% illuminated. The moon will set at 3:07 am. The Strawberry Moon 🍓🌕 is on Sunday night. The sun will rise at 5:17 am with the first light at 4:42 am, which is 5 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌄 Tonight will have 8 hours and 43 minutes of darkness, a decrease of 33 seconds over last night.

Tomorrow will rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. 🌧 High of 61 degrees at 3pm. 16 degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around April 22nd. Maximum dew point of 53 at 4pm. 🏖️ Southeast wind 5 to 13 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Cold and wet. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 75 degrees. The record high of 94 was set in 1892.

Still Saturday looks pretty decent for the weekend. 😕 Saturday, partly sunny, with a high near 78. Maximum dew point of 54 at 5pm. Sunday, showers likely, mainly before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Maximum dew point of 65 at 5pm. Typical average high for the weekend is 78 degrees.

I doubt I’ll get out of town this weekend but maybe next weekend. 😎 Too many things with work and I’m not sure the weather will cooperate with me. I’m just hoping the weather will cooperate with me next week. Hopefully by then the rainy pattern will be done and things will warm up. Maybe I’m too optimistic. I’m really looking forward to summer.

In four weeks on July 10 the sun will be setting at 8:34 pm,🌄 which is 19 seconds later then tonight. In 2018 on that day, we had hot, humid, mostly sunny skies, a thunderstorm and temperatures between 92 and 62 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 82 and 61 degrees. The record high of 100 degrees was set back in 1936.

Looking ahead, Last Day of Session 🏛 is in 1 weeks, Last Sunset After 8 PM 🌆 is in 2 months, Altamont Fair Opens 🎡 is in 9 weeks, State Fair Opens 🎡 is in 10 weeks, September 11th 🇸 is in 13 weeks, More Night then Day 🌌 is in 15 weeks and Inauguration Day 2021 👴🏻 is in 84 weeks.

Good evening! Partly clear and 71 degrees in Delmar, NY. There is a south breeze at 7 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 48 degrees.

So far this is the most pleasant evening of the year for sitting out back. 🎑Not too hot or cold and lots of moonlight while I watch a mixture of artificial and real fireflies outback. Maybe I’m stupid but I sure like watching those laser light fireflies. I didn’t see any ground fireworks at Walmart but they must be selling them as I’m hearing occasional bangs around. Not that lighting off fireworks is an appropriate activity in the suburbs but America. 🎇 Crickets are chirping as is a very noisy heat pump groaning from the high end apartment down the road.

Everything on my list got done this weekend 📃. Well except maybe for working on John Wolcott’s history project but I’ve put in a lot of time in that so it can wait a few weeks until I have more free time besides work. The truck got washed 🛀 , groceries bought. Including a a special treat for the hot weather – orange juice. 🍊I get that orange juice is super sugary but it’s better than drinking beer or eating too much ice cream. I also try to drink lots of water with a drop of lemon juice or cider vinegar.

I also bought more drain solvent and my bathroom sink is working again for now. 😊 All the plumbing in my relatively cheap apartment is problematic, plungers and drain solvent are just part of life. Shower gas never gone more than a week or two without needing the plunger as long as I’ve lived here for the decade plus. Maybe it’s because I’m so dirty always bringing mud in. Yet another reason I prefer outhouses and very simple plumbing. 🚽

Tonight will be partly cloudy 🌤, with a low of 51 degrees at 5am. Four degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around May 29th. Not surprising with the low humidity. But good sleeping at least for tonight Maximum dew point of 48 at 9pm. South wind 5 to 7 mph. In 2018, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became partly cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 54 degrees. The record low of 36 occurred back in 1975.

Tonight will have a First Quarter with 60% illuminated. The moon will set at 1:40 am. Little bit of haze around the moon though. The Strawberry Moon 🌝 is next Sunday. Been so cold and wet not many strawberry 🍓 for sale yet. Or even daisies 🌼 along the roadside. For you early risers, the sun will rise at 5:17 am with the first light at 4:42 am, which is 11 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌄 I was watching a farm channel the other day, recorded at 5:30 in the morning and it was pretty bright out then. 🔆 I really watch too much agriculture YouTube these days. But farming is such interesting business. Tonight will have 8 hours and 45 minutes of darkness, a decrease of 44 seconds over last night. Not going to loose much more night time from where we are now as summer is coming. And 15 weeks from today will be autumn. 🍁 Even though the black flies are bad now in 12-14 weeks it will be peak color in the Moose River Plains.

Tomorrow will rain likely, mainly after 2pm. Increasing clouds 🌧, with a high of 68 degrees at 11am. Nine degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around May 12th. Maximum dew point of 60 at 6pm. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 78 degrees. The record high of 96 was set in 2008.

I will drop my truck off at the dealership tomorrow for the oil change and tire rotation. 🚘 Easy enough to do for sure, they’re the cheapest place around and I’m not lifting those 35 inch tires myself. Last oil change was in August because I drive so few miles during the winter. I do make sure though to keep the oil topped off when it is low. I used to do my own oil changes but it’s not worth the hassle. If I had my own land I might do it and it’s not a big deal on small engines or even tractors but it’s a pain crawling under my truck. I shouldn’t speak. I do remember that diasterous oil change on a $100,000 big John Deere farm tractor 🚜 (bigger tractor than nearly any farmer in New York would use outside of the Genesee Valley) on Millennial MN Farmers YouTube with the filter they couldn’t get off except with a grinder and a tap and die. Instead tomorrow, I’ll just drop it off before work and take the bus downtown. Let the experts do it.

While it’s a long ways off, NOAA is pretty optimistic about the weekend. 😕 Saturday, scattered showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Maximum dew point of 56 at 6pm. Sunday, partly sunny, with a high near 77. Maximum dew point of 57 at 11am. Typical average high for the weekend is 78 degrees.

If the weather is nice I may head up to the Adirondacks next weekend. 🗻 There is a possibility that I may have to work, physically in the office next weekend but I’m hoping that I can just camp somewhere I have cellphone 📱 reception and just work from my phone with a cold beer in one hand, laying back in the hammock.

This week I’ll order the wire to run the hot from the battery in the bed of my truck directly to the non switched terminal of the low voltage disconnect ⚡ so it is protected from under voltage by the LVD. I’m also going to hook up the shunt and meter on the panel so that I can monitor how much solar power I’m producing. Also plan to hook up another always on USB outlet back there to keep my little battery I ordered fully charged so I can charge my phone when I’m backpacking or at a swimming pool. I really want to do at least some back country camping this summer. ⛺ Lean-to or hammock. So many damn wires but I try to keep them neat with ties and things are properly fused. I’m learning a lot and while the panels, batteries and inverters are much bigger for an off grid cabin, at some point I’ll be blessed by living out in the country again. 🐮

In four weeks on July 7 the sun will be setting at 8:35 pm,🌄 which is 3 minutes and 12 seconds later then tonight. In 2018 on that day, we had sunny skies and temperatures between 80 and 51 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 82 and 61 degrees. The record high of 97 degrees was set back in 1988.

Looking ahead, Fathers Day 👨 is in 1 week, National Nude Day 👱 is in 5 weeks (hopefully warm enough by then for skinny dipping), Sunset Before 7:30 PM 🌆 is in 12 weeks, Autumn 🍂 is in 15 weeks and Average High is 60 🍂 is in 18 weeks.