Yesterday felt like a Saturday. I’m glad it wasn’t. We got a fair amount of stuff accomplished, all things considered, and even had a chance for the first time since we’ve been here to do what it was we moved out her to do in the first place – have a fire and set a spell while looking at the woods and listening to the critters. Very nice indeed. And today is supposed to even better. Got hold of my dirt guy, and will be getting a few yards of topsoil this morning, so that’ll give me something to play with for a while. Gotta see about getting some stone, too. So much to do, so little money.

Speaking of money, my Dish install went well, and I’m pretty happy with it so far (except I have to figure out where all the damn channels are). It’s gonna save me $44 a month (for a year, anyway), and when I called to cancel my TW cable (and made them swear not to shut off my Internet), they gave me $20 off RoadRunner for 12 months (I should call the bank and tell them I want to cancel the mortgage and see if they’ll cut a few hundred bucks off). So perhaps things are looking up a bit here.

Of course, no Bill Maher last night. And I’ll miss the second season of Treme, which I think starts in a couple weeks. Bummer. Guess I’l have to wait for DVD. On the bright side, I get to watch Nurse Jackie with my free three months of Showtime. And I watched Tootise this morning, which I haven’t seen in a long time, and find hard to resist because they put on a play at the “Syracuse Playhouse,” which is a barn out in woods across from a gas station. I give them a lot of credit for realizing that we actually have gas stations up here.

Haven’t really looked at the news, but I guess there’ll be no gubberment shutdown. Something to do with a tentative agreement leading to a temporary spending bill. Or something. Whatever it is, I bet those Democrats really drove a hard bargain. As usual.

Question: how long after a big earthquake does it have to be before another earthquake is no longer considered an “aftershock?” I mean, isn’t there a statute of limitations or something? I mean, there’s already been a “one month later” photo expose and an episode of NOVA devoted to the one on March 11. Shouldn’t a 7.1 count as its own earthquake?

Oh well, better get going. The sun’ll be up soon. I wonder how early I can wake the neighbors up with the soothing sound of a three-cylinder diesel engine?