Particle Physics

Gee, who would have thought all those old physics classes would have come in handy? The above visualization is what the ore and grinding media (cannon balls) should look like when the mill is turning at the proper speed and load. Proper speed has to be maintained so that the centripetal force ever so slightly has the advantage over gravity for a little while (say until about the 1 o'clock position). That allows the media to be flung and fall from the most height (and subsequent impact onto the ore) without being flung into the far wall where no ore is to be found.

Short Rack

Whipped up some ribs last night and watched a few movies. Hard to tell I'm from the South :)

Splish, Splash

Another water truck making it's rounds. For all intent, it is a mobile swimming pool with a couple of nozzles to water the roads around the mine---both for dust and compaction but in the winter to keep the roads from freezing by spraying a mixture of water and magnesium chloride. The same stuff that some government agencies have started using throughout the United States.

My favorite girl has a birthday today!

You don't look a day past twelve :)

Mom and Little Miss B off to School Today

I'm sure she'll stay in touch with her mom.....

Study Hard

Be careful when playing with fire

Get lots of sleep

And wear the robe again in 4 years!!!!

Have a great time and be good!!!!

New CAT in Town

The mine received a new CAT loader in July---in pieces for shipping of course. Once it was resassembled and put through a testing period it was let loose to prowl the mine site.

RIP Tire Armor

Oh the indignity of it all. This pile of steel mesh had protected high dollar tires from sharp rocks and when it comes time retire, it gets thrown into the mud by the side of the tire yard.

Red and White Soft Tail

Never heard the term "soft tail" in regards to a bicycle before but a recent college grad called my new ride one. It just arrived so I'm still tweaking a few things (24 forward gears--no reverse) but my plans are to get to the edge of the mountains where I am told there are plenty of trails to ride on in their shadow---plus it is downhill all the way back home too :)

Sloppy Day

We had all of 1/3" of rain and everything turns to slop--literally. Had to go to 4x4 to get around this weekend. I am sure that there will be a line at the wash bay when things dry up in a couple of days to remove the dirt.

Just follow the signs....

I'm cautious in my travels around the site (momma didn't raise no fool) and these actually caused me to pause for a few moments. It is, of course, a storage area for signs used at the site. The signs have a weighted base and are ~10+ feet off the ground for haul truck drivers to see easily.

How many squirrels do you see in this picture?

I don't see any squirrels either and I took the photograph, but there is a White Tailed Antelope Squirrel near the corner of the building. They look like bleached chipmunks and run with their tail curled over their backs. I obviously haven't got their buy-in but the women who work in the store say they feed them by hand---and also called them chipmunks.

Reverse Migration

Momma bird flew back home yesterday to feed the teenagers . Flight was smooth with a window view of the Florida gulf coast quite a bit of the way.

Small and Bashful

There are a few hummingbirds that visit the feeder outside the kitchen window. What they find for food beyond the few folks that put feeders out is beyond me. Not as colorful or aggressive as their eastern cousins who have plenty of "feather fights", these seem to be a more well mannered breed and will wait their turn to take sips.

Daily Double

While Summer is slowly fading now, the walkway pictured had its usual double treat to bring the season in. Hostas and daylilies line the path out the front door.

Numbers Guy

Over 40 years ago I am photographed counting while sitting outside on a step in Florida....

...and nowadays I do my counting in the middle of a high plains desert to help get the most out of a grinding mill.

Great Catch!!!

I struggled mightily hauling in fish after fish all day long trying to beat the big fish being held by the fair maiden in the picture above. Alas, it was not meant to be and I have lived with the humility for 20 years now :)

An Ounce of Prevention

Really just 325 mg-----popping one of these just before breakfast in the morning truly helps keep things on an even keel for us older guys. Nothing really measurable, a few less heart beats a minute and maybe a tad less high end blood pressure (systolic), a good thing overall.

Pretty Bird Flying South

Another family member in the air today, flying to somewhat warmer climates for a few days of R&R.....

An Apple a Day...

Ok, you may have to eat a dozen of these to keep the doctor away but a whole paper bag of the small apples were available for consumption from a fellow employee who brought them in from one of his trees.

Delusions of Grandeur

Some of the reptiles around here are fairly bold and while this lizard seems to be thinking of pouncing on the next plains ape exiting the building, he'd be better be served watching out for the numerous hawks and crows that fly around the site looking for tasty snack size treats such as these little guys.

Power to Spare

Here are a few spare radio repeaters for the communication at the mine. The system works pretty much anywhere on the mine stite with the help of this type of moble repeater.

Not so Wile E. Coyote

A young coyote is somewhat confused just outside of the community on a recent morning. He appeared to be looking for friends and trotted briskly up the fence line stopping occasionally to look around not really paying me any attention.

Spare Blue Room

Just starting here at the mine, I often heard that people were "in the Blue Room." I just assumed it was some kind of ready room for oncoming teams or something of that nature. Little did I know.... Pictured here is a mobilized version ready for placement in a moments notice.

New in Town...

I've been slowly working through the sprinkler heads in the yard--replacing a few heads and sometimes entire units. I finally decided to start replacing the impulse heads I've been having so much fun with over to a gear driven head. The only problem was that the hardware store didn't carry the newer heads. Manager told me no one had ever asked for them before. On a recent trip I picked up a few (which made airport security interesting) and installed them this past weekend.