So I purchased the cheap cistern pump that Lehman's sells. It's cast iron, and it was made in China. When it arrived, and I opened it, my nose cringed in horror at the smell that wafted from the box. I was instantly reminded of the lead paint in toys that was such a media circus not so long ago, so I e-mailed the company and asked for confirmation that the item was safe for water that was going to be used on our food plants. I let them know that if the only confirmation available was from the vendor of the pump, then I'd just as soon return it for the US-made, plastic model. Instead of trying to sell me up on the plastic model, which was $70 more, my contact told me to wait and they would get it tested. Yes, Lehman's sent a pump (or a sample of the pump) to be tested for lead. I don't know where they sent it, and I don't know for sure that the pump is entirely non-toxic, but just knowing that they could've made a bigger sale but decided to do the right thing has me convinced that I made the right choice. I've yet to mount it, but I'm going to bolt it to a base that can be moved from one rain barrel to the next as needed (although the $7 manual siphon I got at the car parts store has served me well enough, so far). With the cistern, however, I'll be able to tap all the water in the barrels and not just the top foot or so. I've also decided to try to find some cheap lattice or fencing that will surround the barrels and serve as climbing space for some of the beans, tomatoes, and other plants growing in the back yard, now. The intention is to shade the barrels with an edible screen.
I checked in on C-SPAN the other night and caught some Republicans discussing the proposed cap and trade implications of the new climate change bill (for those that don't know, by the way, you can review every comment your congress members make through this terrific site,
http://www.c-spanarchives.org/congress/). A representative from my former home state of Louisiana was beating that old drum about how the planet has warmed and cooled many times throughout its existence (even before fossil fuels were being used). This is a significant statement, since he related that this is an "empirical fact." I don't want to get hung up on the semantics of what is fact and what is probable, even though he is a medical doctor and should know the difference. I do want to highlight that this "proof positive that the Earth can warm under its own circumstances" is based on scientific models that ESTIMATE former planetary temperatures based on attributes of fossilized pollen and seeds, ice cores, and other components of the planet's surface. In other words, there is never proof positive of anything, but if you're willing to believe the science on temperatures that existed before human presence (or, at least, before humans were measuring temperatures accurately), than you should be willing to give estimates of future temperatures the same consideration. Are more Republicans finally seeing the light of science?
On the other hand, it is not as simple as a one party problem. Too many of all stripes ignorantly grab whatever science suits their goals and pay no heed to the limitations of probability. Science does not prove things, it merely suggests things. Too many out there are quick to grab at the absolute choices in any given argument. This makes sense, because if we really took the time to weigh each choice "we" make as a political organism, we would have to substantially slow everything down. Think about that the next time you're waiting in a line at the bank, or the DMV, or a restaurant. Think about it the next time you click the mouse for a website link, and it takes longer than one second for your system to locate it. Think about it, also, the next time you hear somebody say they didn't vote, call/write their elected representative, or attend a county/city council meeting because they didn't have time. We suffer in a million ways from this addiction to quickness, and the entire economic and social structure reinforces it. We all need a really long vacation.
At least with the girls in our lives, now, we're more likely to do just that on occasion (prior to their birth, aside from every other x-mas with Andree's family, our last real vacation was when we drove to Oregon for my first class at UBI...that was 2003).
This Sunday marks my return to the world of full-time employment, and I couldn't be happier. I truly love my girls, but I need this summer break. I'm so anxious for them to be communicating, crawling, and crooning, but it's hard to see much progress when one is around them every day (the watched-pot conundrum). I've built a few wheels and fixed a bike or two in the garage over the past few months, but I miss the shop environment, and I've been smoking and drinking more than I'd prefer. Thanks to a recently acquired virus (according to my doctor) that has my lymph glands swollen, I'm down to 1 cigarette per day (from what was up to 3, at most), and I shouldn't have any problem maintaining that if I'm working (update...I've since gone a week without any). The plan is to have quit by the end of the summer (yes, please ask me how this is going closer to that time...the interaction will help motivate me, I'm sure). As for the drinking, I've been taking a week off to let the prescribed antibiotic (what else?...amoxicillin!) do the most. It hasn't bothered me, so far, and I'm hopeful that the new schedule will provide more opportunities for rides and other diversions to keep this habit subdued, as well.
As for the antibiotic issue, I'd rather not be taking them, but this thing wasn't really improving. I have a feeling it was more stress related than anything else, so the medicine was probably necessary. However, this is the first time I've taken anything in years, since most of the infrequent illness that hits me is gone pretty quickly. For others, this is, apparently, not the case. To the point that the grocery store, Publix, gave me the prescription for FREE. This kind of alarmed me, since I've seen indications that we abuse antibiotics in this country, and there are all sorts of places such things wind up once they're flushed into our water supply.
It is a fairly good assessment of what needs to happen to transportation in this country if we are to be able to survive outside our dwellings in the next 100 years.
As well, I've just contacted a guy, Nelson, at Carolina Commuter to see if they will add bicycle ride sharing to their site. Right now, it is set up to get people to share car rides, but there are plenty of people that I've met through the shop that I know would ride to work if they simply had one or two other people riding the same route on the same schedule every day.
The garden is coming along. The squash has completely taken over the planter I made, though the bell pepper is still holding its own in there and has produced a few respectable fruits, so far. We're harvesting about 3 squashes every few days, right now. I'm hopeful that we'll have blackeye peas within a few weeks, since they're all growing well. The tomatoes and other peppers are slowly making their ways, and we've probably already got potatoes, but I'll wait until we see the plants flower and wilt to harvest those. The bee balm was about the only wash this time, though I just planted a new batch of seeds. The parsley and dill are still small, but they'll make it. Besides, I got those more for the black swallowtails than anything, so that the girls will get to watch the life cycle next year. The sunflowers are chugging along, too, but no celebratory bouquet for Andree's school year end, unfortunately.
Currently watching the film "Battle of Algiers," and it couldn't be more timely, relative to world politics. Very good movie, so far (hour into it). Also rode in a pouring rain to see a film benefit for the local advocacy group, Charleston Moves, the other night. It was called Veer, and, though good, it only briefly touched on anything other than those that use bicycles as toys, props, or fashion statements. There is a place for that stuff, and it can be fun and refreshing, but there is so much more of the education/enforcement/infrastructure stuff they could've given exposure (I know, I know...who would go see such a movie?). On the other hand, nearly 100 or so people showed up (1 of which made the decision I made to ride, by the way), and they were there to support the group as much as see the movie. That was the coolest part.
Photos:
The helmet pad is a chunk of old wool sock. Simply discard the old pads when they start falling apart from a season of sweat and washing and replace with a custom cut wool pad. They won't stink half as much, and you can just throw them in the compost when they're shot. Long socks that have gotten too tight to put on are the ones I'm robbing, for now. I've since washed them and they are not falling apart without the stitched top portion.
Delia digesting a little of the local paper. This was right before she had me fetch her the slippers and bubble pipe.
Tillie's new crib-prison tattoo.
