melmac78 - Tumblr blog

melmac78 · 3 days

Text

A reminder on anyone who may read me but not follow and are reading responses to my posts (not followers):

DO NOT circumvent my inbox filter and be that petty person to call me names in the ask.

I will block you and if needed report you for harassment.

I’m dealing enough of this behavior at work, so if I want it I’ll get paid for it thank you very much.

#melmac78 observation #rant on being so petty to ignore inbox restrictions

1 note · View note

melmac78 · 5 days

Text

New key paracord.

The tie down works but i think I’ll vary it up to a single at the top hole next go and use the underscored for that latching.

Good quality stamp on the key though.

#melmac78 observation #paracord fun

3 notes · View notes

melmac78 · 6 days

Text

@katblu42 wrote: “I know practically nothing about Texas, other than it is big, and in the South of the USA. It seems to be portrayed as having fairly warm weather . . . but as large as it is, does it have regions of varying weather patterns? And in a similar vein, are there various areas of diverse vegetation/fauna?”

••••••

In short, yes. I live in West Texas and mom in Southeast (about 500 or so miles apart), and we can have essentially two seasons. It can rain there and be bone dry here, and sometimes in the winter she asks me the temp so she can prepare the next day.

And it’s no exaggeration some parts of the state you can experience at least 3 seasons in the same day. I’m personally lucky in that I seem to have adapted to this particularly go here, which it’s frequent 2 seasons a day right now, but I get funny looks being in short sleeves in cooler weather because of it.

•••••••

Vegetation/fauna is definitely diverse. If I travel from home to Mom’s, in that 8 hour drive I go from:

• a flat area where most trees that aren’t mesquite were planted by settlers (you can tell where a house is/was based on clusters of trees), that grows cotton and feed if they aren’t an oil town

• area with mesas and wind turbines after leaving the Caprock, another ironically heavier oil area. The turbines are increasing to the point I joke they’re “Don Quixote’s nightmare.

• areas with thicker areas of trees that are shorter, oddly at times more prickly pear cactus, and bigger cities,

(This varies if I take the longer route - uncommon but I will in December to run a different St. Jude race - through Boerne/San Antonio where you go through the mesas and rolling plains again in the middle of the state, and unfortunately experience 40 mins. of cell phone dead zone. It’s bad to the point it’s LEGAL to go 80 mph to get through it)

• heavily wooded area and gentle hills.

And then if we go to Galveston or Corpus Christi there’s some marshy areas and then the coast.

The marshiest area is around La Porte I think, which is where the battle of San Jacinto was and the Texas fighters used this to an advantage.

••••••

Wildlife varies. I see more wild turkey and pheasant here than east coast. I’ve seen a few roadrunners but they seem more prevalent in the Palo Duro Canyon.

Prairie dogs are far more common in west Texas. Amarillo’s minor league team’s mascot is Sodpoodles (a nickname) and Lubbock has one park dedicated to the black tail prairie dogs.

Anyone watching them I’d say don’t walk close: their town system underground makes it dangerous to walk lest you fall through a hole.

I definitely see more deer near moms along with raccoons. Skunks more often here: in the summer I must walk the cemetery in full daylight, not dusk as they seem to like living there more. (Just clarifying for folks: where I am the cemetery is the safest place to walk due to bad traffic and has a very high visibility).

Snakes are definitely a big issue all around. For the poisonous ones, West Texas more rattlers and coral while East copperheads and water moccasins (though up here we’ll see some copperheads).

Coast we see a lot of sea turtles nest there, particularly Kemp Ridley. There’s a lot of hatching ceremonies in the year where the state protects the turtles until they waddle into the Gulf to give them a fighting chance to survive.

I’m sure there’s even more than this, but it’s more of I’ve experienced here

Thanks for the ask.

#melmac78 observation #ask me but person specific #melmac78

13 notes · View notes

melmac78 · 7 days

Text

You know… given my long winded, Fish from “Barney Miller” type observations of late…. I’m going to do an offer.

This is an ask me pretty much anything about my career (news or the stint at Fiesta Texas in particular), the state (since I’ve lived here most of my life and been literally all over the state so there’s a lot I can tell you about or anything I’ve been to.

I’ll even take some personal, but note they may not get answered if they reveal too much private stuff (I’m pretty open, but usually it’s family tied questions I’m more restrained).

Just something I’m interested in seeing in regard to how much/little folks really know about Texas.

#melmac78 observation #ask me - but person specific #melmac78

5 notes · View notes

melmac78 · 12 days

Text

You may be repurposing a bit hard when this is your set today.

I made both keys pieces… The typewriter one is bought.

Yes, newer key on bracelet but tied to where I am and doesn’t work anymore - lock changed years ago by person who gave it to me. Wanted me to use a piece of “home” when I’m working new place.

#melmac78 observation

9 notes · View notes

melmac78 · 12 days

Text

Confirmed. Starts next week.

Will commute, not out of ordinary most now.

Same position but half the work, which FTR my position it’s normal to write news/feature, layout and take photos with some managerial decisions. And sports photos, likely because of my big honors and well…. Just knowing how to adjust photos. Literally half the with I’m at now.

And a raise.

It’ll be interesting regardless.

Well… erm… looks like they’re having me transfer to another place near here. Not for any bad reason (I’d be getting a decent enough raise and it looks like I’d be dropping some extra work because bigger staff), but just was out of the blue. I’ll take it over other options obviously.

I can commute but I even know it’ll be ultimately a move if it stays long term. Of course they waited until after I could give my two months notice so I’ll have to pay extra unless I stay until December (which I’m still debating, as there’s fun stuff here I’d forget about and it’s an hour drive approx. and I’d actually get to have fun and not get behind a camera… plus I may be fed up in 8 months, want to leave and it’d save me an extra move.)

I think I’d become the pub, which is a step up technically (just a convoluted hierarchy… explaining the TARDIS would be easier).

••••••

One of the many interesting things in my town this week, which included a manhunt yesterday (which I didn’t realize until I remember said helicopters were used to protect the President George H.W. Bush’s funeral train in 2018 - yes I covered this procession) - covering some unusual events beyond this, and getting a card WITH a rubber duck on my car from someone wanting to fix my mostly barely noticeable hail damage. (I’ll give points creativity though).

I’m going to watch the Rockhounds in Midland tomorrow, which has me excited because I’ve missed any form of pro-baseball (they’re the A’s minor league team) and they’re fairly cheap (well to me compared to the Amarillo Sodpoodles). Do have to cover something tomorrow but it’s a fun event and co-worker attending offering to assist so I’ll let her.

And I’m making another key paracord bracelet but a more modern key someone gave me.

And taxes… gotta pay them.. shouldn’t be but I am. 🙄

#melmac78 observation #tales of a newsroom worker

7 notes · View notes

melmac78 · 14 days

Text

I have found a western shirt worse than John’s.

The shirt giveaway yesterday by the Rockhounds…

(Illustration by the Rockhounds’ site.)

I took a closeup of the plaid.

The plaid is nice… but not sure about the bib.

(And yes, it’s a giveaway and they’re supposed to be silly, especially minor league stuff but…)

#melmac78 observation #john tracy #thunderbirds are go #John’s shirt has met its match.

9 notes · View notes

melmac78 · 14 days

Text

I got world history and geography honors so this was easy.

Fun fact: if you go on Soarin’ and are waiting, there’s an interactive game in the queue you can install in the app.

It includes finding where capitols are in countries.

ok I’m trying to see something here

#australia #poll #auspol #australian #geography #melmac78 observation #capital cities

16K notes · View notes

melmac78 · 15 days

Text

Well… erm… looks like they’re having me transfer to another place near here. Not for any bad reason (I’d be getting a decent enough raise and it looks like I’d be dropping some extra work because bigger staff), but just was out of the blue. I’ll take it over other options obviously.

I can commute but I even know it’ll be ultimately a move if it stays long term. Of course they waited until after I could give my two months notice so I’ll have to pay extra unless I stay until December (which I’m still debating, as there’s fun stuff here I’d forget about and it’s an hour drive approx. and I’d actually get to have fun and not get behind a camera… plus I may be fed up in 8 months, want to leave and it’d save me an extra move.)

I think I’d become the pub, which is a step up technically (just a convoluted hierarchy… explaining the TARDIS would be easier).

••••••

One of the many interesting things in my town this week, which included a manhunt yesterday (which I didn’t realize until I remember said helicopters were used to protect the President George H.W. Bush’s funeral train in 2018 - yes I covered this procession) - covering some unusual events beyond this, and getting a card WITH a rubber duck on my car from someone wanting to fix my mostly barely noticeable hail damage. (I’ll give points creativity though).

I’m going to watch the Rockhounds in Midland tomorrow, which has me excited because I’ve missed any form of pro-baseball (they’re the A’s minor league team) and they’re fairly cheap (well to me compared to the Amarillo Sodpoodles). Do have to cover something tomorrow but it’s a fun event and co-worker attending offering to assist so I’ll let her.

And I’m making another key paracord bracelet but a more modern key someone gave me.

And taxes… gotta pay them.. shouldn’t be but I am. 🙄

#melmac78 observation #tales of a newsroom worker

7 notes · View notes

melmac78 · 16 days

Text

Yes… I’ve heard the wrong use before for the Lexington and battleship Texas.

They still use it for the nickname “blue ghost” on Lexington instead of she too.

Does get funny - I have heard the Hooks baseball team referred to as “she” when they use their faux-retro name “Blue Ghosts”… though that could be because the opponent does it as a taunt.

The USS Constitution was interesting: most if the time she’s simply referred to as Old Ironsides anyway and that’s what’s used.

You’re more confusing referring to her by the actual name and not nickname though.

Suddenly struck with a need to explain to you how boat pronouns work (I work in the marine industry).

When you're talking about the design of the boat, you say "it".

When the boat is still being built, your say "it".

When the boat is nearing completion, you can say "it" or "she".

When the boat is floating in the water you probably say "she", unless there is still a lot of work to be done (e.g. no engine yet) then you say "it".

When the boat is officially launched and operating, you say "she". If you continue to say "it" at this point you are not incorrect but suspiciously untraditional. You are not playing the game.

If you are referring to a boat you don't really know anything about you may say "it" ("there's a big boat, it's coming this way"). But if you know its name, it's probably "she" ("there's the Waverley, she's on her way to Greenock").

If you are talking about boats in general, you say "it" ("when a boat is hit by a wave it heels over")

If you speak about a boat in complimentary terms, it's "she" ("she's a grand boat"). If you are being disparaging it may be it, but not necessarily ("it's as ugly as sin", "she's a grotty old tub").

If she has a boy's name, she's still she. "Boy James", "King Edward", "Sir David Attenborough"? The pronoun is she.

If it's a dumb barge (no engine), you say it. But if it's a rowing boat (no engine), you say she.

I hope this has cleared things up so that you may not be in danger of misgendering floating objects.

#writing #vehicles #machinery #same thing for planes or any form of transportation #boats #shipping #shipping discourse #melmac78 observation

84K notes · View notes

melmac78 · 17 days

Text

Yes… from scratch (though it’s rare) and basic stuff (eggs and tomatoes, pasta, etc.) along with the simplest of foods.

I'm curious. Reblog this if you know how to cook

I don’t even care if it’s macaroni, ramen or those little bowls you stick in the microwave. Please, I need reassurance that most of the population on tumblr WOULDN’T STARVE TO DEATH if their parents couldn’t fix them food or they couldn’t go out to eat.

#melmac78 observation

156K notes · View notes

melmac78 · 19 days

Text

Yes. We had the solar eclipse, which photos are left to right taken with a special filter for phones

No we didn’t have a total one here.

Yes, I’m happy not living in New Braunfels anymore, as we’d had a lot of traffic for the event.

Oddly, half of San Antonio would see full eclipse and half partial… I think NB had partiality.

#melmac78 observation #solar eclipse info

8 notes · View notes

melmac78 · 21 days

Text

Did the paracord with an antique key last night. Worked well and fits, especially with a button. (Other bracelet is tiger eye and magnetic hematite I got at Dave and Busters).

This is the king cobra pattern in black, brown and olive drab (inside), if folks want to try it for themselves. I use #95 paracord.

Now I need to find my GM keys and decide if I want to do this with a key that’s a pendant.

#melmac78 observation #paracord fun

4 notes · View notes

melmac78 · 21 days

Text

Trip down memory lane time, but a minor rant given gossip I hear from high school seniors commenting about wanting a new car when graduating:

This is my first car… 1984 Chevrolet Celebrity Coupé 2.8 V6.

It was a hand me down from my parents when I graduated High School in 1997, though I was allowed to drive it to school during the year.

Yes, there was some gentle teasing, but it ran well for some time, but then threw an engine rod - which was unfortunately common for this model.

So… I then was given the minivan after my parents bought a new car.

They figured a. I was in college, but. I was paying my way through junior college and making wise choices to reduce my loan debt, so this was to help save for that loan when my sister went to college (which was $5,500 for the solo year I had to take it. I chose a college that met my education and finances to minimize my own loan).

My first three: these two then a blue minivan, were hand me downs or I paid for by selling the previous car.

They weren’t fancy. They got the job done getting me through college to Andrews when I finally got a new one…

But it made me respect my cars so when I bought my first one, a 2004 Carolla, it lasted 14 years and I’d likely still have if the starter at $400 wasn’t more expensive than the car was valued by then.

It became a ag mech project for the mechanic’s son to work on. With some fixes and new paint, he could have a good few years using it after that.

Even my next car after the ‘04 I’d have now for 7 years if it weren’t for another driver colliding into me.

Please, if you get a car and it’s a hand me down this year, appreciate it.

New isn’t always better, even if just out of pocket costs. Loans are scary enough right now… I got a cheap one for my CRV and it was 3.2% APR in 2019. You’re getting a blessing (or I will concede hopefully such as some folks will give you a lemon) so when you do get your first new one you appreciate it.

#melmac78 observation #long winded rant #it’s graduation time and I’m hearing too much of this

3 notes · View notes

melmac78 · 22 days

Text

Found this the other day and am not sure I ever have.

This is a pixie bag, a Tandy kit. I made this in 1997-98.

It comes with a leather band to decorate the bottom, but at the time I didn’t have my tools and Dad hadn’t found his yet.

So I did a basic loom work bottom with my initials,

Usually I’d use it in college to carry around my money as it fit in my pocket and made it difficult to try and take and claim theirs.

#melmac78 observation #leatherwork fun #old beadwork

2 notes · View notes

melmac78 · 24 days

Text

Well… this is fun.

Now I have MmmmBOOP on my head because I sang “Seeet Caroline” for a name that song at Spring Training one year.

The Hanson boys’ song was the day before and the fellow didn’t know the basically non-lyrical song.

paws. touching paws. reaching out. booping me. booping you

#sweet catoline (boop boop boop)#boop #melmac78 observation

32K notes · View notes

melmac78 · 26 days

Text

I have my limits due to some issues earlier this year, but I can eat the hotter pickled jalapeños as are without nachos.

I actually grab some to eat with my popcorn at the movies.

#melmac78 observation #polls

13K notes · View notes