We are in the middle of our spring glow-up. So we just got a new fridge yesterday which means we had to move the old one and paint the radiator and baseboards in the kitchen. Before that we did painting in our nursery and replacing the light fixture in that room. We also painting our primary bathroom (walls, ceiling, vanity etc.) and replaced the light fixture in that room as well.

Our next project is to replace our sink in the kitchen which we have to double and triple and then quadruple check the dimensions before we buy it and get a plumber to install it. We still have to do some spot painting to cover up where our new mini-splits were installed last year. We are doing some hardcore nesting since we are expecting our first baby in September. Trying to get the house as finished before the weather gets nice and we can spend time outside.

If you would like to live there someday I would recommend that as your goal. I would recommend you start doing some research on permaculture which is about building wholly sustainability. Part of this sustainability is financial and piecewise building and investment. So if you want to build and live on this one day you will need the money for it.

So start with leasing the land for at least 1 year to get some cash and for you to better understand where you might want to build a structure and what you need. This allows you to plan and see what part would fit a dwelling the best. This also lets you figure out what you need for this house (i.e. water, electricity, waste removal etc.) as well as figure out how this investment can make money for you. Start small and build modularly. Your dwelling may start on as shack or even a place to set up a tent and grow larger. Same with whatever you end up doing with the land.

Permaculture talks about building food forests which are sustainable year round sources of food, goods or materials. Some of which you can sell or use yourself. These are typically perennial plants, vines and trees which all grow off each other and make a beautiful space. This can be your space for “remote working” either for yourself or visitors.

While planning on starting on this you can continue to lease your land to farmers as you slowly take it over yourself for your bigger vision. This is suppose to be small, slow but sustainable growth to your final vision.

I always feel nervous preordering anything. I got a new Fitbit so I think I have some time before it fails so I can see how this rePebble works out. If it is as good as it looks I might just get it. 30 day estimated battery life is amazing

Same.

To combat this you can fill a heat tolerant water bottle with some boiled water, wrap it in a shirt or sweater to prevent burning, and put it into your sleeping bag to warm it up quickly.

The first time I did this I ended up so hot that I had to take it out. Its a wonderful trick and I have woken up spooning the cool water bottle in the morning

Role-playing game isn’t about miniatures

I feel like miniatures is a separate and interrelated hobby. I don’t really enjoy it but its nice to have something physical for combat. That being said free VTTs do so to replace the need for that.

It’s not about the ogre, it’s about whether choices have an impact on the story.

This is exactly my point is that by relying on it constantly there is no actual real choice and its just lying about railroading the players. If I have the choice about going to clear out the undead in the forbidden temple or clear out the bandits on the outskirts of town and behind the scenes its the same dungeon map I will never know nor will I care. But if I go to kill the undead at the forbidden temple and end up at the bandit camp why make this choice? I love being able to re-use material like this, (In fact I had a dungeon that was an extra-dimensional space where the players got to choose between monsters and demons which used the same map). Same thing if a group of assassins is coming to attack the party and they are deciding between going shopping or the spa. The assassins will find them either way at whatever place they are doing. This is a great use. But if I heard rumor about these assassins and attempt to hide from them but no matter what I do they will always find me that is removing choice.

I think its more of an advanced technique that given as some beginner friendly advice. Its easy to use it all the time to reduce agency instead of using it sparingly.

If you are dungeon mastering I would recommend avoiding the Quantum Ogre as much as possible. The idea here is to use the same encounter depending on whatever decision the party chooses. This is tempting because this reduces prep work and can reuse information. However, if the decision doesn’t have any consequence why make the players make this decision? TTRPG are about collaborative story telling so decisions so matter and if they don’t why am I even playing. If you want to reduce your prep maybe have the same monsters but at least change the terrain or starting criteria.

If there is decision lead clues about what might be different between the options if it is important decision. These clues might not be obvious but that is what skills checks are for. Make decisions worthwhile so players feel engaged

I like Minnesota Progressives anyway

I have been a big fan since its less confrontation and quieter than either coastal politics or southern politics. Its boring and effective

He is definitely not an appealing to conservative candidate except for being white and not super young (He is 60).

But look at what Minnesota did under his governorship was all simple none flashy midwestern progressive values. Free school lunches, trans refuge status, abortions rights into law (as well as a supreme court case), funding for schools and legal weed. He is a progressive just not very flashy about it.

AOC would be great as a VP pick

I think the goofy dad demeanor is truly authentic and is disarming enough to get people to like him. Also I really enjoy his fisher stories where he tells the truth but makes it a little bigger or tuned to the audience. Since truth does not seem to matter anymore why not bend it a little bit

I do think it is a winning strategy to focus on abundance which includes abundance of homes. I do think that talking about deregulating things for housing can be worthwhile. I know that Minneapolis removed regulations around single family home requirements that has been a success in building new housing.

I think there is something to be said here about showing the value of well run government. This is how to counter the narrative of how the government is nothing but evil. This includes removing regulations that are not needed but keeping those that save lives. Removing single family homes and parking lot requirements can do lots about making cities better. If Democrats want to be the party of urban American make cities livable.

Well we can always hope for 2028.

I love Tim Walz as the anti-Trump. He has lots of experience as well as a great example of a true public servant. He isn’t rich and relies on the decades of public service he complete for his livelihood. As both a veteran and former public educator he can talk about how the cuts to the VA and Education departments are hurting everyone with some personal authority. Minnesota under his leadership got some massive progressive wins and minimized losses in 2024. Most importantly he looks like a Trump voter which apparently is needed for those people. Republicans are going full white male identity politics and he fits the bill.

I see they are trying to tie Tim Walz to Feed our Futures. I don’t know if it is going to work but it is expected.

If you are following the trial of Aimee Bock its pretty obvious that the way the law was written was suppose to give our food aid fast with checking afterwards. In the middle of global pandemic whether this a good idea or not is debatable but I think it was. Also it was a large operation which sued to keep itself open. If you are interested I recommend the Sahan Journal which has been doing some great coverage.

I have been using Flawn which also sells other flowers for your lawn. My local garden center has White Dutch Clover in bulk for cheaper but I have used them for English Daisy and Self Heal for my yard.

Duh. Rubbing things together releases their own internal fire

I think it was lumped into fire. Since lightening does cause fire in nature. Moreover, I think fire stood for heat as well since fire is pretty much the only way to naturally heat something