Category Archives: General

Merry Christmas

…to all of my Christian readers, and anyone else who celebrates it. We went for a walk on the beach, and got rained on partway through, but we didn’t mind that much, because we so desperately need it.

I see that Webb is safely in space, a nice Christmas present to the astronomy community. Normally, most of the risk on a mission is retired after separation, but they’re just getting started.

And here is one of my favorite Christmas carols, by one of my favorite singers.

Aquatic Disaster

Patricia heard a noise in the middle of the night that she described as “gnashing of teeth.” When I went out to look at the pond this morning, it was almost empty, with a couple of the large rocks that line the edge of it having fallen into it, and apparently having cut the liner. Likely it was a raccoon trying to get the fish, who tipped the rocks over and fell in. Fortunately, at least some of the fish, including the one koi, are still in the bottom, but I’m going to have to find and repair the leak before I can refill it, and with fish in it, I’m going to have to neutralize the chlorine when I add water. And it’s a chilly day to be dealing with it.

Late-afternoon update]

Well, if I have a leak, it isn’t in the pond. I added some water that had been sitting overnight in a bucket to evaporate off the chlorine, and it didn’t go down. If it doesn’t go down overnight, I’ll turn the stream back on and see if that’s where the leak is.

[Friday-morning update]

The pond didn’t go down overnight, but when I turned on the stream, I found the leak. It was backing up to the beginning of it, beyond the liner.