Moochdocking™

I feel more comfortable now that I know what this is called.  First vocabulary, then understanding.

Do you geocache?  I'm "chillyrodent" and Annie is "toxicpickle."  It's a great hobby for sit-stillians and move-aroundites;  you can do it wherever you are in the world or in life.  We both have GPSs, but Annie also has an app that we use on her phone, so buying extra equipment isn't necessary.

Overheard At Our House:
It's in the low 90's ...  I know, but you get used to it.  And, it's true.  Annie is so sensitive to temperature extremes but she is adjusting fast.  [You guys are jerks - you have a pool.]  I don't think the pool is relevant.

We're hoping (hope!hope!) to get an appointment to visit Caboodle Ranch soon.  We have loved this place, and Craig, from afar, and now we want to love them up close.  We're not going to give him any cats (don't think we never considered it).  He could use small (and large) donations more than he could use more cats, but he never turns any of either away.  Consider a $$ donation of any size to this endeavor.

Blogo

Because I am hot.

Because I am thirsty.

Because things are looking up.

I've tried Bleezer and ScribeFire since we parted. The picture problem is always the sticking point, and if I can't add a photo from my computer, I may as well post from Apple Mail. They were free, but Blogo will cost me like love always has. I'll guard my heart until I see this show up online.

We're cruising down I-75, just discovering our dash A/C. Here you go, ladies - your Slow Learner's Permit!

I talked to Bruno back home this morning. She is just about ready to pack away the long underwear in her bureau (the drawer drawer). In NYS, we never really "put away" our winter clothes, we just give them a conditional rest. I think resting the longjohns before Memorial Day is foolhardy, but that's just the way she rolls.

We were planning to leave Georgia this morning, but horses happened. We could have muscled the dolly around and backed out, then done our prep in the "main" driveway instead of pulling out frontways, nice and easy, where the horse trailers were parked; instead we drank more coffee and narrated the horse dance, Mystery Science Theater-style:

Hi! I'm a horse! Just one horse! STOMP!

From what I see in the bottom of the trailer, you must be more than one horse.

Nope! Just one! NAY! ONE! I pooped ONE [stomp] TWO [stomp] THREE times!

I know, right!? Hilarious. Then we narrated the dogs:

Hi! I'm a dog! A shepherd! Nip! Stay inside the perimeter, please! Hey, you're another dog! [Aside to horse: Here, guard yourself while I take care of something.] HUMP! INAPPROPRIATE HUMP! EXCESSIVE HUMPING! ENOUGH HUMPING THAT SOME HUMAN SHOULD STOP ME! I'M OUT OF CONTROL!! [Other dog: bite] Okay, I'm under the trailer.

So, the point is that we waited while the horse people did what they do, and used the time to spruce up the place. Carrot used the time to pee over the side of the box more than usual, and the horses used the time to try to kick the dogs. It was time well spent for everyone, which is more than I can say for the time you've spent reading this.

I hollered over at Jeana

I said "DON'T LOOK, JEANA!" but it was too late ...



We're ready for it!



I told you the problem with our thermostats, the problem where they don't work. The furnace runs like a well-oiled heating machine, but too often, too long, and too hot. Carolyn suggested pointing a vent at the thermostat, which isn't possible but put us on the right track. If we could localize the heat just around the sensor we could OVERPOWER IT WITH OUR SUPERIOR INTELLECT and cunning mastery of caps lock. Plus, festive, am I right? Maria and MaryGail were impressed with our minimalist decorating.

Still, Annie felt there must be a solution, a real fix, so she kept researching until she found another Bounder owner who resets his thermostats by removing, then replacing, the fuses labeled "ECC" (electronic climate control). She did that last night, and my job today (my only job) was to test it. With the bulbs unplugged, the furnace came on at 61° F (~18° C) and brought a bag lunch. I plugged them back in and they're working again to suppress the sensor. It's so cold in here I can't feel my nose. Success! So sleepy. I'll nap in this snow drift ...

In happier days, we put on this window stuff:




This was the next happy day:



Speaking of happy days, Ralph, I've been taking extra vitamin D for the past two winters to help my mood.



After and before photo

Lily wanted to go out seconds before she wanted to come in:




BREAKING unresolved news: the power just went out in the Duck, but not in the house. Inverter won't come on. GFCI keeps tripping, and I can't find the fault. I just know it's not mine.