Some of y’all live in the Arctic Circle compared to me.
But if you choose<\/strong> to live where snotsickles are a regular thing 6 months out of the year, that’s on you. I grew up in the frozen barren wastes of Hoth, and have no need nor desire to return there. I blew that snow encrusted A.O. and left it for the Tautauns and Wampas. <\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bigcountryexpat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SkywalkerWampa.webp\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nReminds me of a few of my more savage<\/em> <\/strong>classmates from High School… that or one or two of my first dates… The guy running the shop said everyone<\/strong> in the business is ‘frozen in place’ as Silver closed at $90.85 in US Markets on Friday, despite ALL the claims that it was going to ‘crash low’ due to ‘volatility’. I pointed out that the US Mint has shut down sales to ‘recalibrate’ right here on this blog long ahead of the rest of folks… Yessir. Proof Silver Eagles jumped 82%, from roughly $95 to $173 per ounce, while uncirculated and backdated Silver Eagles soared 86%, from $91 to $169. The message is unmistakable: the old silver price system can no longer function under real-world constraints.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Which is what Asian Guy and a bunch of other have been yelling for a while… the US COMEX is bullshit<\/strong> and now? Real-Time pricing is coming out, hence the ‘freeze’ in so many areas of the market… IF you use a credit card and only buy less than 20 coins…
Don’t ask.
So FINALLY got the disk to slip back into place in the lumbar via an inversion table that I’ve had kicking around out in the garage for about ten years or so. I completely forgot<\/strong> I had the thing until Sapper brought it in from the garage and told me to give it a whirl, as he was sick of me gimping around… that and he had to load and empty the dishwasher as I can’t (or I should say couldn’t) bend at the waist to save my life for a week or so there.
Some folks say NOT to use those things
I’m of two minds,
One Negative is the danger factor… and yeah, it’s sort of dangerous to use. Lots of Docs have spoken out against using them, and well, also being upside down hanging while locked in is sort of placing myself at a disadvantage right?
However, and despite all the negative reports, for Me? It works and works well<\/strong>. I literally felt the disk (I think I even heard it TBH) pop back into place. SO here I am, and I’ll probably be using it more frequently as I’m far more energetic these days, feeling a LOT like my old self, and getting ‘back in the saddle’ both mentally and physically.
It’s been nice to get back there\/here.
And because of it, I got a LOT packed into today.
Went a saw a man about getting the oil pan done on the Boat. Still too pricey for my blood however<\/strong> I did get ONE piece of intel I have to research next week. Seems that The MWR People (Morale Welfare and Recreation) at McDill have an Automotive Self Help Shop!<\/strong>
Now when I was back on active duty, we had one in Germany, and it’s where I learned to turn wrenches beyond what DeadDad had taught me. I learned quite a bit. Now what I need to do is find out if they let disabled Vets use the place. If they do, a Bay with a lift costs only $24 an hour! And they have two mechanics on hand to assist, as well as ALL the tools and modern conveniences that one would find in a top tier repair shop.
THAT is what the mechanic ordered!
I can (and have done) oil pan replacements before. It’s just I need<\/strong> either a lift, or a pit to work in… and there’s nothing available until potentially now!
Figure $70 for the pan\/gasket\/goop on the ‘zon (already priced it) and $75+\/- for the bay… figuring three hours as I’m old, cranky and don’t want to rush it… add an additional figure $100 for the oil and filter… which I -have- to buy from them according to the website… no outside loob allowed!
Call it a max<\/strong> of maybe<\/em> $300 to do what the cheapest mechanic in town wanted $750+ for? Game, set, and match!<\/strong>
And if it goes smoothly, and I talk to the Mechanics who’re there on duty to assist, I might be able to get the AC Operational before we descend back into Hot n’Hoomid weather again. Here ‘s hoping right?
Otherwise, the news I also got today is very interesting.<\/strong><\/em>
Sapper an I whilst out doing errands stopped into a local Silver and Gold Dealer to check things out, and see what is happening locally. While we were there, the guy tells us that everything<\/strong> has come damned near to a stop. <\/strong>One of the biggest refiners of silver in the country, Elemetal has completely stopped buying scrap silver and selling silver bullion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bigcountryexpat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ele-1024x507.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That was a few days ago…
And it seems they DID recalibrate.
I got an email from a substack I read called Silver Academy<\/a>
The hyperlink will take you to the article that I got this news from, but it seems the US Mint has<\/strong> recalibrated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bigcountryexpat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/mint-1024x656.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There’s recalibrating and then there’s this.
That IS<\/span><\/strong> the ‘live pricing’ on uncirculated One Ounce coins, selling for $169.00<\/span><\/strong> a throw! Proof coins being a wee bit higher at $173.00! As stated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
No one know whether to shit or go blind so to speak.
I’m curious if I’ll see the delivery of those 3 ‘dirty’ Eagles I bought at $77 an ounce back on January 3rd. At this rate I’m doubting it. If I -do-? That’ll be about a hundred bux profit each<\/strong> before it even gets in the door. And currently, the APMEX is selling random year coins going for $109.22<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bigcountryexpat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/sil117-1024x624.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
And for those who’re asking about why I was calling them ‘dirty’ Eagles, they’re just that… circulated, maybe tarnished but complete US Silver Eagles… They may not be pretty, but they ARE worth waaaay more than I paid for them ALREADY.
Which is why I’m wondering IF they’ll ship or decide to play the game of “Oh so sorry, here’s a refund!” of my $240 as it’s in the smol print that they can do that.
We’ll have to wait and see I guess.
Monday I’m figuring some form of fuckery will be afoot with COMEX and ETFs… I mean it was (the fuckery) was going on ALL week long, but despite the best attempts of the Large GloboHomoHebrew banks to try and drive the price down via bogus ETF Paper Trash and dumping TONS of fiatbux, silver still<\/strong> rebounded like a Weeble<\/p>\n\n\n\n