My Blog

Rollin' a lawn...

opalmirror — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:56:28 GMT

Thanks to those who gave suggestions and offered mowers, although I ended up making a snap decision while I was out. I ended up buying a Black & Decker Mulching Electric Mower (epinions: http://tinyurl.com/ks8m3 ) that seems to work fine. It's strong enough to whack down the weeds. It mulches. It has one powered moving part which should be fairly dust resistant. I like that it is easily adjustable from one height to another. I can still mow over the edge of the slope at the edge of the yard. It's not petroleum-powered (although it is made from a LOT of plastic). It costs about as much as entry level gas units and I bet it'll last longer. Cons: It's not super great at bagging but I don't care about the bagger. I get to lug around cords but that's not such a big deal either. The cats miss hiding in the high grass.

Lawn Mower dies. Stop me before I pollute again!

opalmirror — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 22:39:46 GMT

So the old gas lawn mower went dead and the repair guy says that a compression of 40 is quite a bit lower than the spec of 110... he suggested a new mower. I live rurally but all the grass is within 100' of the house although at a varying degree of slope from flat to about 30 degrees, so I'd rather get an electric (cord) mower or try a manual push mower. Gas mowers are heavy and polluting and the dust in summer will eat another motor in a few years, and battery units won't be happy with my storage and use patterns. Electric is cheap, no point pollution, and lighter than the all but the manual push mower. I've never actually tried a push mower and don't think I'd mind the weekly workout. To avoid resource consumption, if you have an electric or push mower in great shape or just in need of some sharpening you'd like to part with, let me know.

Ottawa Linux Symposium lodging July ~17-23

opalmirror — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 23:14:13 GMT

Seems my employer is not going to pay my way this year so if anyone is willing to share a room for a week let me know.

Five questions interview meme

opalmirror — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 08:21:31 GMT

I don't blog on tribe.net, I blog at http://opalmirror.livejournal.com/ and flickr.com/users/opalmirror - but I asked Rain to ask me the five questions interview meme, so it needed to go here! Rain sez: "It was a little harder to come up with questions for you because I don't know you very well. Thus the reasons to ask questions!!!Here you go, have fun." Thanks for asking, Rain! Rain: "1)what is your favorite leisure activity?" Staring into sunlight or moonlight reflecting off moving water, with the sounds and scents of the natural world around me. Most recently at the big springs on the Metolius near Canyon Creek, but also experienced on the deck of a BC Ferry on the Sunshine Coast in moonlight, sitting on a rock just in reach of wave spray on Long Beach, or at a summer sunset next to Haystack Rock, when I drew "Love" in the sand with a toe and with tears in my eyes, watched the ocean wash it away. Rain: "2)How do you know when you are in love with someone? Is there a "moment" or does it sink in slowly?" It usually comes as a realization that the particular feelings of delight, joy, compassion, excitement, thoughtfulness, and understanding can't be described as merely friendship or admiration, but are so wide in range that the most accurate term for my emotional experience is love. Rain: "3)What is your relationship with fire?air?water?earth?" Elemental. :) Fire keeps me dry on a damp night, keeps me awake with friends, and it melts the hardest rock deep beneath my feet - it lights the stars and the closest of these makes my warm life possible! Air inspires me and sends shivers down my back, and fills my lungs at my own command when I need to remember that I am my own master - that fear only rules me when I stop breathing. Water is my Sun sign element and I notice how carefully I take note of each stream I cross and how the network connects on its way from my beloved mountains to our birthplace, the sea -- water is the most precious thing on my altar. Earth is a comfort and an affinity; I seek to know the land and its composition, its forms and the stories it tells me whereever I live or visit for more than a couple days (Geology nut!). Rain: "4)If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be and what would you fight for? Also what would your superhero name be?" If I could wish for a super power, it would probably be a word that would cause people recognize the stark humanity in others. So, maybe call me HuMan. Why? The world needs such a power so we may see one another more perfectly and treat each other more justly and compassionately. Rain: "5)If you looked up at the stars and they told you that you could have just one wish what would you wish for?" Dang! That's a hard one. Do I go for self-gratification or do I go for world peace? How about this one: I wish that I might see how to use the gifts I was granted at my birth do the most good for the most people in the world.