An actual update is due. It’s been Vagueville City for a while, I’ll pull back the curtain just a tad.

I’m all about fire-making these days. Building it from scratchity scratch. Gathering the twigs and tree bark, processing cedar bark into to tinder. Making the fluffiest of fluffy tinder cloud nest. Using my favorite steel striker and flint to get that first spark onto the charcloth. Blowing onto the tinder nest, listening for that dragon’s breath sound, waiting for the first flame to show itself. The process is so satisfying when I get the steps to work. Frustrating as hell when I get stuck on a step to get to a full blown fire. Right now, the challenge step is getting the fire going once I get that first flame. The transfer of the fiery tinder nest onto the kindling and keeping the fire going. Will it take four years to finally get that fire going? Perhaps two? However long it takes, I plan to keep at it.

In other news, I’m recently in chronic pain. The area changes so I can’t quite pin down the cause. Mostly my calves and lower back. I’ve tried epsom salt baths, old man smell menthol-y roll-ons, ibupropen, yoga, elevating my legs, you name it. It’s lasted long enough that I finally called for a doctor’s appointment. I can move and still do my job and stuff, but it’s a struggle. I don’t know anymore what pain-free feels like. It sucks.

Well, that’s it for now. Hope to return before year’s end.