It's a quarter after 6 and it's raining. Finally. That means the pain is starting to recede but it's a little late to re-write Chapter 2. Re-write? Yes. I can't find the chapter that I didn't get a chance to post last week. Aargh! And I really don't want to re-write it. I liked it. When I'm migraine-free for a while I'll try to find it.
Why can't I find it? I'll just say, keeping old hardware alive is an adventure, especially when the only message upon rebooting after an abrupt shutdown is:
BCCode : 100000d1 BCP1 : 02260037 BCP2 : 00000002 BCP3 : 00000000
BCP4 : F2A5DE31 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 3_0 Product : 256_1
A rough translation is: buy a new computer, peasant. But I really don't like throwing out a box in which most of the parts still work. And on a very limited budget I have to prioritize.
So if you will indulge me, let me ask for some advice here about getting or building a bicycle trailer. Not the fancy-schmancy kind used for hauling bikes (not that there's anything wrong with that). I'm talking about the kind that a bicycle can tow. Details below the three-speed antimacassar.
Not only do I not have a car, I also don't have a bike. Fortunately "Cash for Clunkers" didn't decimate the cheap used bike market, so I may find the bike of my dreams. But one of my dreams is that the bike needs to be able to pull a trailer. And the trailer needs to able to haul multiple loads of dirty laundry 4 miles to the laundromat and multiple loads of clean laundry 4 miles back. (I use rigid plastic rectangular 'tubs' with a closeable top.) And to be able to haul Amy my cat to the next free rabies clinic (that's only 3 miles).
That means the rear hub of the bike is pretty important because the trailer hooks on to the hub - I think. But as luck would have it there are different kinds of hubs. So I'm in need of enlightenment here. I may wind up posting this as a stand-alone diary also, but I felt so badly about shorting you faithful readers last week, I wanted to have something to go here. Besides, I'm down to wearing dark sox with shorts and there's a point after which generic 'febreze' stops being effective.
As luck would have it, while pondering the issue of bike-trailerdom, I noticed the availability of (read: almost tripped over) a pretty decent hand-truck. Rigid plastic frame, removable (sort of) handle, fat pneumatic tires. When prone, the 'bottom' of the frame would be about three inches off the ground and some sort of hitch (where the handle is right now) would probably elevate the front of the frame a bit. With plastic tubs (or the cat carrier) and bungee cords I could probably dispense of the need for heavy rails and decking. Hopefully, it wouldn't be a ticket magnet. But there are several bike trailers under $100, so maybe save my pennies. Decisions, decisions.
I do want "Otis and Evan" to be worth your time, and I'm determined to make it a little better than "Holmes in Space." Since I don't have air conditioning installed, that may mean output is a little diminished over the summer. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
best,
john