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The Fixer archives

big picture planning

A good friend was rambling on about his latest knowledge seeking topic. He is a major fan of YouTube learning, often following a particular subject down whatever rabbit holes they lead to. He is very intelligent, retaining near-encyclopedic knowledge on an impressively wide range of topics. But he does lose focus on his own priorities from time to time.

Yesterday evening was one of those. So I brought my white board into play. I scribed and organized while he gave me his list and quantified the items there.

His list is not the subject I want to share […]

February 24th, 2019 | Category: household, preparing, security | Comments are closed

Darby ham radio operator class begins March 16th

I am bringing another amateur radio operator licensing class to Darby, Montana. I have not keept track, but think I have personally assisted 15 or 20 people to earning their FCC licenses through my study groups in the Darby, Montana library. My track record garnered me the assignment as the local ham club (BARC) education coordinator.

The club has many people who know radio A LOT better than I do, but none who can teach as well. The snide saying goes, “Those who CAN, DO. Those who cannot, TEACH”. I’m okay wearing that. Good instructors are as rare as […]

February 22nd, 2019 | Category: amateur radio, technology | Comments are closed

snow shoveling for old men

Recognizing the area requiring snow removal FAR EXCEEDED my shoveling capabilities I bought the Ariens snow blower when I moved here August 2017. Age and way too much snow caught up with me. My wrists, right arm, knees and back were not up to the amount of supplemental shoveling required here.

Enter our new Polaris Sportsman with plow. HOORAY!!! This combination of tools is exactly what I need to maintain our driveway and parking spaces without beating myself to incapacity.

In a week and a half I have become convinced I own the right tools. The combination is […]

February 22nd, 2019 | Category: about, household, transport | Comments are closed

connected with the cosmos

I have published several articles regarding the function of the hair growing out of our heads (search BitterrootBugle.com for “hair”). There is more to it than most understand. History is replete with examples of warriors losing powers when shorn, or retaining inexplicable senses with their long hair.

We long-hairs cannot quantify differences nor can short-hairs know what they are missing. A few days ago one of those unaccountable things happened to me.

I felt an urgent need to take both dogs for an off-leash walk up the road; something I NEVER DO. I tried to rationalize the urge […]

February 18th, 2019 | Category: health, nature | Comments are closed

shell people

A granddaughter moved in with us after failing to thrive in The Big City. We were close to her Mom’s last hope. It was going well, we thought, but were recently smacked upside the head that our great little community and wonderful resources were not enough.

We involved adults were of the same mind, landing like a ton of bricks on this ungrateful truant. The girl’s world was shrinking and tightening incrementally as previous sanctions failed to deliver desired results. In retrospect: If what you are doing is not working, “do more of it” is not really the greatest […]

February 11th, 2019 | Category: health | Comments are closed

ham class begins in March

I am bringing another amateur radio operator licensing class to Darby, Montana. I have not keept track, but think I have personally assisted 15 or 20 people to earning their FCC licenses through my study groups in the Darby, Montana library. My track record garnered me the assignment as the local ham club (BARC) education coordinator.

The club has many people who know radio A LOT better than I do, but none who can teach as well. The snide saying goes, “Those who CAN, DO. Those who cannot, TEACH”. I’m okay wearing that. Good instructors are as rare […]

February 2nd, 2019 | Category: amateur radio, community, teaching, technology | Comments are closed