Feb 26 Next Snowstorm

If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.

E. O. Wilson

This is actually a copy of a message I sent earlier but it works for here.

I am here doing morning chores. Feeding cats, make kindling, making fire then outside gather wood , gather snow, sweep off solar panels, take pictures, saw boards. Try to light fire again. Wet wood today hard starting. Then type my journal.

Haha then collapse , make coffee, take vitamins, get gas for gen, change oil gen, start gen if lucky maybe breakfast.

You know same everyday.

Finished gathering wood and snow. The solar panels are swept they won’t produce but will tell how much snow has fallen.

The wet firewood ignited, with the help of a liter of used engine oil. It was snowing lightly the whole time.

Soon comes time to deal with the gen. First rest. Type words, wait for the kettle. I would have to saw more boards, later.

My new gen ran for five hours yesterday, but sounded rough at the end. I will check and change oil just to be sure that doesn’t look bad.

I ran 10w30 it was just warm enough. I figured it was a good breakin oil. Today I will switch to full syntetic 5W30. We did have a few more cold days coming.

My new gen shack is not designed or built yet, but there is a snow cover over the gen.

Just on top I don’t know how much heat it throws yet. I have a hardwood floor dolly. I may design a shack that fits that easier to roll the gen in and out. But it meant keeping the snow clean where it rolled.

My kettle is near boiled and it is time to fill the thermos and go to the next job.

Gen maintenance, check the oil , change the oil, fill it full of gas, put it outside start it.

Make coffee make breakfast, then collapse.

Had coffee rest and breakfast. On to the next things. Hope to be traveling to Virmire soon.

Gen work started. Changing the oil turned out to be a great idea. The new gen had a great way of changing the oil. An extended tube that lead out the front of the engine.

The problem was it was a very small tube and draining the oil would take a long time. Especially since i left the gen in a cold room overnight. The oil was as thick as molasses.

I know should have changed that while the engine was warm

That meant hauling the beast outside, starting it running it for awhile, then dragging inside emptying the oil. Refilling it

Dragging the beast outside starting it again.

My way let the oil drain for a half hour, refill it with synthetic. Drag it out side and start it.

A lot less dragging it in and out. More time waiting. I know that there will be extra oil left in the engine. When I add oil I will be extra careful checking the levels as I go.

In the mean time. I sit infront of a fire I almost killed with too much cat sawdust.

It is 12:30 PM. i am about to land on Virmire.