1- Saturday I was building a section of retaining wall out of “Castle Block”. Each solid concrete block weighs about 45 lbs. The first course of block is installed at the shoe sole level. And the first course imperfections will multiply as the wall gets taller. So they must be level in X & Y & Z dimensions and straight along the string line.
Either you work bent over like a crane using your back (bad idea) or you do this exacting work sitting down. Kneeling is not an option for my bad knees. I sat. It takes many trial placements to get the blocks in line correctly and level in all 3 dimensions.
Sunday morning when I woke up I heard my body complaining loudly. It sounded like hardwood splitting. Breakfast included aspirin, going back to bed, and cuddling a heating pad.
After (computer) church; I tried working some more. But the overnight rain had made the mud so slippery that it was impossible. So I hauled composted mulch to the flower bed. By mid-afternoon, I was done in and I quit.
I found myself in a bad place in my head & heart. I was hurting and lonely. Maybe more lonely than hurting but a major dose of both.
2- I recognized and I gave myself permission to be in that bad spot. I postponed writing my Sit. Rep. till I felt better. Poured a tall glass of Iced Tea, picked up a good book, and sat outside & read. I have found that giving myself permission to be in a bad place and to take the time to take care of myself is a really good way to get out of that dark, dank hole.
Call that a mental health prescription.
Y- What do you get when you cross a baseball player with a camper?
Z- A pitched tent.
3- We write this equation P = E * I.
What is the formula used to calculate electrical power in a DC circuit? Power (P) equals voltage (E) multiplied by current (I). Said another way: Watts = Volts multiplied by Amps.
Just as with Ohm’s Law, you can use algebra to come up with other forms of this equation to calculate the voltage if you know the power and the current, or to calculate the current if you know the power and the voltage. The formula to calculate the current, if you know the power and the voltage, is I = P ÷ E.
How much power is being used in a circuit when the applied voltage is 13.8 volts DC and the current is 10 amperes?
138 watts. The calculation for this question is P = E * I = 13.8 V * 10 A: so P = 138 W.
How much power is being used in a circuit when the applied voltage is 12 volts DC and the current is 2.5 amperes?
30 watts. The calculation for this question is P = x * I = 12 V 2.5 A: so P = 30 W.
How many amperes are flowing in a circuit when the applied voltage is 12 volts DC and the load is 120 watts?
10 amperes. In this question, “load” means the power the circuit is consuming. The calculation for this question is I = P ÷ E = 120 W ÷ 12 V: so I = 10 A.
Note: I am using Dan Romanchik, KB6NU, No-Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide: as a reference for my Ham Radio posts.
W- What happened to the camper that ironed a four-leaf-clover?
X- He pressed his luck.
4- What is a “Band-Aid”? You put a “dressing” on a wound. And you “bandage” the dressing in place. The bandage holds the dressing in place.
The dressing is to promote healing and prevent further damage and keep the wound from getting dirtier. The dressing is in direct contact with the wound. So A “Band-Aid” is both a dressing and a bandage. Got it?
5- Most camp saws are either a bow saw or a folding saw. I find that a folding saw is easier to pack and harder to use. It seems to flex a lot when I use it (yuck). But the bow saw is much, much harder to pack and has to be tied on the outside of the pack to hike. The teeth of the bow saw are always to be sheathed when not in use. The folding saw folded likewise.
Note: I transport my bow saw not tied to my pack. I have the bow saw sheathed and put between 2 pieces of cardboard in the car. Just to make sure! Then I tie it on my backpack when hitting the trail.
Clean & oil after every use/camping trip. Yes – Even if it does not get used. Take care of all your equipment.
V- Why did the insect eat on the tent flap?
X- It was a dining fly?
2 history notes:
6- Guess what happened on April 15, 1952. Hint: Eight motors. The Boeing B-52, Stratofortress first flight. It is nicknamed “Buff”.
Jean Baptiste Rochambeau was the French General commanding French Troops aiding the American forces in the Revolutionary War.
I assume that you have heard of Lafayette. His full name is: Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette. Lafayette will do for me. Lafayette served under Washington and commanded American troops.
OK – make that 3 history notes -).
New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.
The new normal will not be quite the same as the old normal.
Be rigidly flexible,
Gaither