I hate dreams like that that mess with my psyche.

You'd be much angrier when you started trying to find replacement parts and realize that it might not be possible to fix it for months.

Those guys only go in a straight line?

This is a marching band:


Even the real UT can do more than walk in a straight line:

When the kids were young, we were involved in a Y group that did a lot of camping, and particularly a winter campout each year. One year my daughter and I were tent camping, and the nighttime temp was below zero the entire weekend with day temps of about 10. Our group built a bonfire that was about 15' wide at its base and over 20 high. One guy in the group brought a bunch of 6' X 6' fence panels that we used, and another brought some really large sections of tree trunks. The thing was so hot it was melting the soles of our shoes, but it killed the cold as long as you stayed close to it. We eventually had to roll some of the large tree trunk sections into the lake to put out the fire before we left camp.

Interestingly (or not, probably) Ebay now sends you an email when an offer expires, reassuring you that you can still buy it for the higher price. How comforting.

I'm sure more than zero people actually go and buy it.

I get it, and I think we are living the new "norm." At least for a couple more years.

I'd prefer to live elsewhere (someplace like North Carolina would be nice), but wouldn't want to move far from our kids. We are sort of the flip of you.

A friend told me a story about bowhunting Elk in Montana one winter. He and his guide got a little turned around in the darkness and ended up having to stay in the woods overnight. They found a place out of the wind, in the bowl left by the rootball of a pine tree that had blown down. So there they were, trying to nurse a fire along with the driest wood they could find, not having much luck. Then the guide says, "Oh, for the love of god!", scoops up ALL OF THE FIRE with his gloves (that's how small it was), and puts it right on the middle of the rootball, which being pine was full of resin and lit off immediately.

"Looks like we're gonna live!" my friend told the guide.

In the morning they found they were about 100 yards from the road.

Yep. Or they wouldn't bother telling you.

I suppose I could have counteroffered something like $600, but then if he'd said yes, I'd have had to explain the expense to Mrs. GeneJockey.

Sounds like someone needs a rat hole.

In a 1600 sq ft house?

Yeah. Boulder is likely out due to water concerns. NC looks nice, but relatives there are two cousins I'm not that close to. In the phrantic09 area, we have her parents a few minutes away, both of our sisters (and another cousin) in Boston, an aunt and cousins in Marblehead, my dad and an aunt and uncle pair in two parts of CT, and the homestead. And many of those people are starting to get uncomfortably old and frail. AG's mother is just now recovering from a broken ankle from the week after we were out there. And in Uri, that would have been super helpful (the homestead has well water and a massive generator and propane tank...).

I can handle the cold if I go run an hour shirtless in it every day, though it'll suck. Being without water for days re-jiggered my life priorities and decisions.

I have a safe my wife can't figure out how to open. Right out in the open in our closet. I've even showed her how to open it. ;)

There's probably a sock deep in one of your drawers that you never wear.

If you don't have a place you can squirrel away an arbitrary amount of cash, you don't have much imagination.

Better believe all of our wives do it!

I can't say as how I ever thought deception was key to a good relationship.

It's not. It's just saving for a rainy day. My wife knows I stash cash. I sometimes even spend it on her. She doesn't care as neither of us go without anything we want and we're not talking about material amounts. All big expenses are discussed, and each has unilateral veto rights without explanation.

That sounds dumb.
That's before they even get to the stadium.

I see TAM copied the Power T. Sad.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ef05449819.png


Here's quality non-straight marching.

You have to admit though, that Ohio State has the absolute best marching band.

It's actually really handy when it's cold outside.

Didn’t that recently happen to VeganCyclist? I want a dollar for every time he says “dude.”

Daughter #1 might not agree.

It’s raining cats and dogs now. The cat wanted to go out, but changed her mind in a nanosecond once she got hit by torrential rain.

It has just sort of started here after being able to see some blue sky patches maybe 30 min. ago. Got the bike cleaning done just in time.

Philly police blotter:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...05d3ef4b2.jpeg