September 2, 2005
-
Changing Seasons
Last weekend we closed the window behind the computer desk. None
of the windows in this place have screens, but we improvised with
something that came out of a camper. We stick it in that window
every year as soon as the weather warms up, and we open the bathroom
window, which provides cross ventilation and free ingress and egress
for the cats. Closing the window in here was enough for a few
days, until last night’s frost. Now I’ve closed the bathroom
window, too. If we get some Indian Summer this year, it can be
opened again.Around midnight I got tired of shivering in bed and got up to light a
fire in the woodstove. I wasn’t prepared for it. After we
cleaned the stovepipe while we were fixing the roof, I hadn’t removed
the creosote bits that accumulated on the edges of the baffle at the
top of the firebox. I used the vacuum cleaner to get the creosote
out of the stovepipe and off the baffle at its bottom end, but the hose
won’t reach off to the sides. I go in through the door of the
stove with my bent coat hanger tool for that.When I’d poked and pulled and scraped down the creosote, I shoveled it
and the damp ashes (damp because there is no cap on top of the
stovepipe) out. I filled one bucket, Doug emptied it and I filled
it about two-thirds full again. Then I crumpled newspaper, laid
kindling and then some split birch, lit it and encouraged it for an
hour or so before the fire was stable enough to shut down for the
night. I got back in bed about 2 AM, thoroughly chilled, but it
was warm in here when I awoke today. Warmth is so comforting.Greyfox’s radio interview is going to be aired this weekend. The program it’s on, AK, was selected as best news and public affairs show for 2004 by the Public Radio News Directors.
It has long been my favorite locally produced show. With me it
can’t fail, because it’s always about my favorite subject,
Alaska. This weekend the theme is crime, and Greyfox’s
segment is about the law-abiding citizens of Felony Flats. When
he learned that the segment he is on wasn’t all about him, he sounded a
little disappointed. That’s the painful part of NPD, I
suppose.I have given myself a break from news sources so far today, so I could get another reading done for KaiOaty.
Yesterday, I found a couple of articles about Katrina from a sorta
different perspective from the mainstream media, here and here. Now, I guess I’ll go search out some fresh news, and then fix dinner. G’nite.
Comments (4)
I’m still abstaining from news too.
guess what i bought at borders books yesterday?
will get it mailed sometime next week. alright?
your wood fire sounds so nice. it’s still more than warm here.
and humid.
but you can tell there’s a change on the way.
<.”
Oh well, five minutes of fame is better than nuthin’–and it might just help business. Still, too bad they didn’t include any of my remarks about addiction and recovery, might have helped some folks.
Xgram–weather is slated to be shitty today, worse tomorrow–I just might get to go to the DT meeting with you. It was raining at the Flats when i left, was drizzling in Big Lake.
Talked to the boothie lady for the festival– a space is only $10, you supply your own tables. I think I’ll go for it.
Still no Hohner or Dingus. Sigh.