Here Comes Spring!

Here Comes Spring! - Spring begins tomorrow!


Unfortunately, the weatherpeople predict RAIN for the first day of spring!

The weather has been sunny, warm, and very spring-like for over two weeks, and it is certainly inauspicious that the first day of spring should be wet!

Our cats enjoy the rain: They look out the window and watch it! I envy them. I would enjoy staying indoors and watching the rain. I much prefer sunshine!

Fortunately, the following days are forecast to be dry, sunny, and warm, and the weekend is predicted to see temperatures of 80° and above.


On the way to my office this morning, I encountered this tiny horse.

Inversion Layer, Mopar Breaking Bad, and DIYDigital HDTV Antenna

Inversion Layer - This morning, the temperature was 31° at 7 AM. A mere 50 miles from here (Paradise, CA), it was 55° at that time—as a result of an inversion layer.

The high today is forecast to be 71° here, while the temperature in Paradise is predicted to rise only 4°—to a high of 59°.

I had depleted the windshield washer fluid in Mr. Nitro R/T's reservoir earlier this week. I braved the frosty weather this morning and re-filled the reservoir. When I positioned myself in Mr. Nitro's cabin and actuated the wiper/washer, it became apparent that the fluid had frozen in the lines. I sat and waited impatiently while Mr. Nitro's defroster melted the carapace of rime on his windshield.

Mopar Breaking Bad - I cried when I saw the Challenger explode!

DIY Digital HD TV Antenna - We discontinued DirecTV years ago and use Roku(R) units on our four LCD HDTVs. This affords us over 7,500 channels. At times, we enjoy watching local news, however, and for this purpose, I installed an RCA HDTV antenna. If you wish to avoid the $25 or so an HDTV antenna will cost, here is an easy build that will cost less than a dollar!:

Cold Weather, Ted Nugent, Gun Control, and the New Jeep Grand Cherokee

Cold Weather - It was a frosty 28° when I slithered into Mr. Nitro R/T this morning. His windshield was encased within a carapace of rime. Fortunately, the windshield washer fluid was not frozen, and a few squirts and a few swipes of the wipers cleared the windshield nicely.

Not far from here, temperatures of 4° were reported. This news did not, however, cause me to feel significantly warmer!

Ted Nugent - Ted Nugent—or "Uncle Ted," as he is very affectionately known to his millions of fans—was rocking arenas when most extant rock stars were in diapers. He continues to rock hard today and is a true rock legend. He is also an avid hunter, gun and bow enthusiast, and strong supporter and defender of the Second Amendment.

On his Web site—Ted Nugent Ammo, he thoroughly endorses and supports the hunting lifestyle and the right of the individual to keep and bear arms. He also markets high-quality ammunition in most popular calibers.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee - The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is a sweet ride!

Encased Within a Chitinous Carapace of Rime

Encased Within a Chitinous Carapace of Rime - Mr. Nitro R/T's windshield and driver side window were encased within a chitinous carapace of rime this morning.





Fortunately, it was 31° outdoors when I slithered into Mr. Nitro's cabin and surveyed the icy encrustation. While it was obviously sufficiently cold for ice to form mightily, it was not so cold that the windshield washer fluid was affected adversely. All that was required was the squirting of a small quantity of windshield washer fluid and a few passes of the wiper blades in order to clear the windshield.

Whilst awaiting the fluid and blades to complete their appointed tasks, I realized that—while I had replaced the windshield wiper blades days previous with high-end Bosch ION wiper blades—the rear window wiper blade was due for replacement. I shall order such an one this morning.



Soon, the Big Brown Truck will arrive. I shall see it arrive on CATCam.



I shall watch the driver exit and walk to my door with our new Oster TSSTTRWF4S 4-Slice Toaster in hand.



We have had our current toaster for 12 years. It has served us well, but it is showing its age and lately has not been functioning properly. Out it goes. I did a considerable amount of research prior to ordering the new Oster toaster. While reasonably priced, this unit has dozens of reviews that praise it highly—easily outshining units costing twice as much as its $37 price. As I generally do, I ordered the toaster from Amazon.com. I enjoy the free shipping (and the free movies and television programs!) afforded by our Prime membership.

Hello, 2013

Hello, 2013 - Am I perchance solitary in imagining that last year passed quickly? It certainly seems that way to me. As I sit here at my desk in my office I find myself absorbed in meditation over the past year—musing, if you will—and consumed by the concept that 2012 passed significantly more quickly than prior years.

It would be a simple matter to continue with mental concentration on this issue of 2012, however, it is time to move ahead. In doing so, I offer as closure the notion that 2012 seems to have passed quickly because the year seemed to pass quickly because the year was filled with so much tragedy, violence, uncertainty, and disappointment that I wanted it to pass quickly and, therefore, imagined that it did.

I must busy myself with other issues and attend to the daily business at hand—else, I fear, I would slip slowly but surely into a delirium and quickly find myself unable to successfully perform the various tasks so necessary to my daily agenda. I cannot allow this and must discontinue herewith my absorption relative to the year past.

Hello, 2013! What better way to greet the new year than by browsing lists of new laws greeting Californians today?

Here are the new laws greeting Californians today: List of New California Laws 2013

Here are the new gun laws greeting Californians today: New California Gun Laws 2013

What? That was not inspiring? All those new laws did not brighten your day?

Well, imagine that!

Sit back, relax, and be entertained!

Frost on the Pumpkin

Frost on the Pumpkin - Actually, we have NO pumpkin. If we had a pumpkin, however, it would be very frosty this morning. This was the view that presented itself to me at 7:30 this morning, as I slouched in Mr. Nitro R/T and awaited the defrosting system to melt the icy carapace sufficiently to allow me safe passage.



Earlier this week, Laura and I completed our viewing of the 96 episodes of "My Name Is Earl."



Several years ago, we discontinued our DirecTV service and bought four Roku units. We have access to over 7,000 channels and pay only for Netflix—a mere $7.99/month! We dislike commercials intensely—not because of their content, but because they are so disruptive. We much prefer watching uninterrupted action. Once in the mood has been set by a television show or movie, few things are more hideous than having that mood shattered by a commercial!

We thoroughly enjoyed "My Name Is Earl," and I ferreted about yesterday at my office in search of a series that might serve to entertain us in the evening. The result of my search is a series called "Raising Hope." It was produced by the same man as was "My Name Is Earl" and features many of its cast, as well.



We had intended to begin viewing this series last evening. By the time we were nestled in bed and ready to watch the pilot, we were too fatigued. Hopefully, we will begin viewing it this evening.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

BRRRRRRRRRRR! - Weatherpeople universally proclaimed 36° as the LOW for this morning. YIKES! It is after 8 AM, and the temperature has just now reached 34°! Obviously, the temperature fell below freezing earlier, since moisture on Mr. Nitro's windshield had turned to ICE by the time I clambered into him and prepared to drive to mine office! Oh, well, it could be worse!

Just a few miles north of here, one would encounter this:



Earlier today, I was compelled inexorably to awaken and find the time to be palindromic.



Drop the egg nog and move away from the kitty!



The dark side of pet adoption!

The top fails of 2012!

The Kids Are Alright, Animal Kingdom, -and- It's Only Rock 'n' Roll

The Kids Are Alright - Christian homeschooler wins Heisman Trophy
Animal Kingdom - cat survives encounter with deadly copperhead
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll - teacher calls police over Guns N' Roses on PA

On this day in history: December 13, 1973 - The Reverend Jim Jones is arrested in a cruisy movie theater bathroom in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, Jones had the bad luck to hit on an undercover LAPD vice officer.

Born on this day in history: December 13, 1948 - Ted Nugent (1948-) Musician. Born December 13, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan. Although Nugent would take formal guitar lessons later in life, he was largely a self-taught musician who began playing at the age of six. At the age of 14, he formed his first band, the Lourds. On the strength of their 1964 performance at the Michigan State Fair, the Lourds were given the opportunity to open for the Beau Brummels and the Supremes. Later that year, Nugent moved to Chicago, where he fronted the band the Amboy Dukes. Upon his high school graduation, in 1967, Nugent returned to Detroit, where he began recruiting new members for the Amboy Dukes. Within three months, the band signed with Mainstream Records and released their self-titled debut album. The following year, they achieved national recognition with the single, "Journey to the Center of the Mind," which reached No. 8 on the pop charts. In the early 1970s, the Amboy Dukes continued to record while averaging more than 300 concert dates per year. With the aid of props, wardrobe, pyrotechnics, and live animals, their concerts approached operatic dimensions. Nugent’s popularity, coupled with his expanding stage presence, surpassed that of his fellow band members. The Amboy Dukes were soon renamed Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes. In 1975, Nugent had disassociated himself with the Amboy Dukes and decided to pursue a solo career. Now recording with the Epic Records label, he released his first solo album, Ted Nugent, featuring the hit singles "Strangle Hold" and "Hey Baby." In 1977, Nugent recorded his most successful album to date—"Cat Scratch Fever." Eventually selling more than three million copies, the LP included the now-classic rock anthems "Cat Scratch Fever," "Workin' Hard, Playin' Hard," and "Out of Control." In the early 1980s, Nugent’s popularity began to dwindle. He retreated from the spotlight for a few years before releasing two relatively successful albums, "Penetrator"(1984) and "Little Miss Dangerous" (1986).In 1989, he joined forces with rock veterans Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades to form the heavy metal band Damn Yankees. An avid hunter and political activist, Nugent’s outspoken commitments to gun ownership and right-wing politics took a toll on his success in the 1990s. In 1995, he resumed his solo career with the critically panned album "Spirit of the Wild," in which he expressed his deeply held political views and his unique relationship with nature and hunting. In the summer of 2000, Nugent opened 79 sold-out concerts on the KISS Farewell Tour. That same year, he published a book of essays titled "God, Guns and Rock-N-Roll." In addition to recording, Nugent currently serves on the boards of more than two dozen political and charitable associations, including the National Rifle Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Scripture of the Day: "When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied, 'for this is what the prophet has written:' "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."'" (Matthew 2:4-6)

Video of the Day: Big Spider - submitted by Cindy

Unicorns are endangered! Click to enlarge.

Recommended Sites:
Nikon Photographer Forum - a free forum for photography enthusiasts
Corning California Message Board - a free message board for Corning
Olive Hut Blog - specials, olive news, recipes, and more

BRRR! Each weekday morning, I open the front door of our house and peer outside to determine the state of the weather, in order to better determine how to dress for the day. This morning, there was no wind, no rain, and it did not appear particularly cold. When I settled into Mr. Nitro and saw the frost on his windshield, however, I felt cold! When I started him and saw 32 degrees reported by his exterior temperature probe, I shivered!