I'm Always Mentally on Vacation

Clean Up

Two big storms in 10 days left a lot of debris.

A little fire in the back yard to handle the little stuff and a big fire up at the coop for the big stuff.

Then a good all over with the backpack blower brought some order back in my life.

A bad deed, Tanner knocked over the rotisserie and the handle went through the screen. I think I have a patch big enough wait to plant flowers. He hates leaf blowers.

I can't to plant flowers in the spring.

Time to Pack

Or at least time to organize.

It is so strange that I have not been billed for my villa yet. I rent this place from a friend at summer low season cost. That is a big savings from high season rates.

At first the owner required a deposit, contract and full price. Then he saw how I left the place, payment always on time, and how well I got along with the groundskeeper.

So he dropped the deposit, lowered my rate, and just kept it on a friends and family basis.

This year I requested an invoice 45 days out as usual and he said he would get to it.

30 days out I reminded him again and he promised an invoice.

A few weeks ago I called him and he laughingly apologized for not billing me and said you are in and he has just been slack about billing because I am the last person in the world That wouldn't pay the bill.

One week out and the invoice is still open.

Outcome is Better

A followup from yesterday... the entire crawl space will be cleaned and rebuilt including removal of contaminated soil, replacement of all insulation, and a new vapor barrier installed.

All that stuff was in pretty bad shape anyway seeing that this is a 40 year old house. I am grateful to get it done for the thousand dollar deductible.

Oh My....this is bad

Real bad. Very bad. I am darn near speechless.

We had a sewer pipe...the main one, burst some time ago. It is located under the house and in the crawl space.

Since it is cold and winter, it has gone unnoticed.

It was noticed by our HVAC guy who did an inspection on Wednesday. We concluded it was just a leaky gray water pipe.

We called the plumber and our worst fears came true. We have a sizable biohazard under our home.

So I call the insurance company and they dispatch a team out of High Point, NC with hazmat suits and they crawled under our house to assess the damages.

They set up blowers and dehumidifiers and will return after they told us what will happen.

This all has to be removed, then dug down until dry dirt is found and taken off site. Then a second inspector will come in to assess any further damage to the foundation, mold, vapor barrier, etc.

Oh well, shit happens.

I Am a Planner

Guess who is wearing flip flops to the airport?

Carry on Wayward Son

Larry Welk style. Enjoy.

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So Far

I haven't been in a winter funk, but I can feel one brewing deep.

It is a confusing time with no real gravitational pull of any event.

St Croix is 11 days and whatever demon is in me will melt away.

I need Spring, warmth, leaves and green grass.

Lets Get Real

I am 12 days away from this:

Normally I would be beside myself, but for some reason I am calm. Excited yet calm. I haven't even packed.

The warm fresh air and humidity will feels so good. My skin aches for some sunshine.

I have dives on my mind. I have all new equipment and a new technique. I will also gain new skills from an advanced Nitrox class.

I swear, if I keep this up, I just may be able to relax.

Midwife

I brought another iPad into the world just this afternoon. I got a call from a friend, desperate for help in setting up a new iPad 4 for his wife.

I headed over and patiently helped her set up an Apple account, and showed her some basic skills on the iPad.

He was grateful and gave me a nice bottle of wine for my help.

I other news, my hens are 100% free range now and it shows in the eggs. The yokes are very intense yellow.

Free ranging is saving me big money on feed. The eggs are smaller but they seem more intense in flavor.

BBQ

Accurate and true from my point of view.

A Little More

The license tag is on, and the sides are almost complete.

From here I am going up another board with a 2X4 scab on. Then I need the front and back built....that is what the new wood is for.

Oh, and see this dick head? Yep, another thief I know, but he is no friend. He swindled millions and tried to take a few of my clients life savings.

Finally the bear market of '08 flushed him out like so many rats.

He ran from the law once and shot himself in the chest with a shotgun. They kept his sorry ass alive and he pleaded guilty. He went home and didn't show up for sentencing.

I had dinner with him once when I suspected he was about to steal from one of my clients. Oh he was slick.

The son of a preacher man. I hope they get him alive and behind bars for good.

Just in Case you Were Wondering

If you needed and idea for my birthday or Christmas. I like my hash browns this way. I want the salt to bounce off because they are so crispy. A little pepper and egg yoke make perfection.

This is difficult to reproduce at home.

Breakfast potatoes are also welcome in about any fashion. This is good too:

but not my favorite.

A Problem

How does a prepared Southern Man prepare for an ice storm?

A sensible person heads out to Bojangles and picks up a bag of country ham biscuits to gather strength. Previously I had taken inventory of essentials like wine, beer, and orange juice.

Then he positions the generator to runs key essentials in the main house. This will run the water pump, refrigerator, Direct TV and the HDTV, the internet modem and router, and a few lights. I can survive with these indefinitely.

I cover existing projects and leave the tools in place. It will all be over by the morning and I can resume work.

Feed the livestock.

Collect the eggs.

Stockpile some gasoline. That's about all a feller can do.

Success

Not a bit to be broken. Not a sliver of metal in either eye.

Bondo walked me through the steps.

I now have recessed tail lights. Hopefully protected as one can possibly make them.

My New Favorite TV Commercial

It is funny, solves a problem, it is gross, lots of action, makes a conclusion to buy, and has hot women.

Solid

The welder came yesterday and welded the floor boards back in the C channels. He also gave me two great spots to attach tail lights.

It is looking very tight and solid.

It is 19 degrees here and we are caught in what most of the country is seeing...our first real hard cold in two years. It should continue for a while.

So I peer into my magic place where it is eternally 80 degrees and I see Richard sitting among the tourist that are preparing to snorkel.

I suppose Richard is my magical negro to a certain extent. I enjoy talking to him on most every visit. He is insightful, and has a very different perspective on the world. I guess part of the attitude is Rastafarian, which he holds true....except for alcohol. Richard is always in a good mood, he is respectful, a good conversationalist, a classy dresser, and lives on those park benches.

I have seen him for 10 years and he looks as good as ever.

Meanwhile, I have spent thousands of dollars coming and going to do what he does every day.

Who is the bigger fool?

Tests

I hate taking tests....I am surprised I managed to graduate college.

For me, knowledge leaks in like a tent sweating in a rainstorm. It takes a lot of energy and effort to retain the information I read. I cannot discern important facts from BS, so I am easily tricked.

I have a course now that I have three weeks to complete. It is advanced Nitrox and I will do my skills testing on St Croix by one of the finest technical instructors in the Caribbean.

Gotta get my head right now. No time to waste. I don't want to waste this opportunity.

Typical MLK Day

For whatever reason, I take MLK day to do something useful around the house. This year it was continued work on the utility trailer.

I started hanging the side boards. I can't them them all on until I secure the floor boards, and my welder is MIA.

Looking better already.

I am brushing and painting all the old hardware.

And I pulled off the old tires to get at the metal hidden by the old tires.

I decided it was time for new tires and packing of the bearings. It was nice to release the old trailer from it leafy grave.

An hour later I have two used $20 tires that I swear look new.

In addition I was told that this car rear end is lubed by the differential fluid in the differential. There was still a decent amount of fluid in in the differential and the guy added fluid to top it off for free.

I thought tires and a lube would be over $200 and it turns out to be $40.

Most of the hard part is done. I still need about 4 to 6 more boards and the lights hung if my welder shows.

You Will Never See This on my Blog

I don't do mechanical stuff. I wouldn't know where to start.

But I admire folks that can tackle this type of job.

Trailer Update

I bought and stained the side boards. They are 1X6X8. I'll do the other side tomorrow.

The sides of the floor boards got stain today.

The new tail light kit is almost installed.

My welder friend should be over tomorrow to tack the steel bars on to lock down the floor. I am also getting him to tack on holders for the tail lights.