Well, that's an explanation, anyway.

I have been going to all kinds of medical people several times a week for the last month trying to figure out what's wrong with my legs.  Got to the orthopedic surgeon's today -- the answer is: there is no cartilage whatever in my knees. Either of them. Nothing to be done but replace them altogether. 

"I know you have a high pain threshold if you have been working on the floor all this time with that going on," the doctor said.

So I'm looking at six months or so of no work (because first one knee and then the other, and my work is knee-punishing for a healthy person) -- and very low disability payments, I guess (because they're based on wages and I have low wages)-- and tons of rehabilitation and of course a passel of medical expenses.

Time to finish a bunch of projects, and maybe find some side work I can do at home, not that that's ever been very successful for me before.

On another front: a yearling baby said my name for the first time yesterday.

edit: on yet another front, it is raining.  It is only the fifth! of September! and it is already raining.  Not buckets, but a Real Rain. that is remarkable, hereabouts.