My 30th class reunion was this weekend. I went with my sister to the Friday night mixer at a bar downtown. I was a little intimidated by the crowd so I had a couple of drinks on the balcony above the fray before venturing down the stairs into the big group. T and I were dressed in casual nice clothes. Showing off the fact that we have aged well in 30 years. T's class was three years before mine. I thought she might enjoy partying with me and I needed a date. Tom being out of town. I hosted T. bought all our drinks and we took a taxi. so we wouldn't have to worry about the end of the night, who had to drive home.
That was both a curse and a blessing that Taxi. It gave us free rein to get carried away. WE were in the last group to leave, as a result we were invited up to an old building around the corner from the bar, to an unfinished old office space for an after after party. The group was passing around Whiskey Firewall, which I don't care for, so I opted out. T, on the other hand was very much into the spirit of the evening. She had no rings on her fingers, where I had made sure to wear all my rings so there would be no doubt as to my unavailability. She had let it be known she was free of any spouse or significant other. Three men had shown interest, but from their histories they were either married in an open marriage, or separated, or I didn't catch the story on the third guy. T was enjoying herself and that made me happy .
As the bottle of Firewall was killed the party broke up. We headed back to the street. I was going to call a taxi, when T did a little fancy foot work and ended up lying on her back in the middle of the street, bumping her head on the asphalt. Giving us all a little scare. One of the Gentlemen helped us to the doorway stoop of a close building and told us to wait while he went to get his car and proceeded to drive us home. He thoughtfully did not want to leave two women on the street probably thoroughly intoxicated, though I was planning to call a cab.
The next morning we were both feeling a little worse for where. I took some pepto and aspirin and around 2:00 pm began to rally. T on the other hand was not rallying. She was still prone an hour before we were to head out to the fancy night event. She made the call not to go. It just wasn't going to happen . She was afraid to still sit upright. I wasn't going to go without her. I still don't know who we were hanging with the night before even though they were my classmates.
I met two people I knew from high school that whole evening. The one person I had wanted to see was a friend I had gone out with my final week of my senior year. A really nice guy. I was curious to see where he had ended up. He had become a radiologist with a brilliant beautiful science researcher as his wife and three children. even younger than my boys by 10 years. They started really late with children.. And I thought I had been old popping out my first at 30. He has an 11, 8 and 4 year old. T loved his wife as they talked the science of research studies.
The other was a woman I occasionally run into around town as her family has social circles that overlap my family's social circles. In other words our moms know each other. I probably would have seen a few more people I knew the second night, but without T with me I didn't want to go. I needed the crutch of my sister to broach that intimidating crowd. My graduating class was 450 graduating of a class closer to 650 . I have to say though that the one guy I found at all interesting in high school went on to become a doctor. I did have good taste in intelligent men.
I drove home Saturday night feeling a little blue and disappointed about not braving my reunion without a date, but there is always the 40th to attend.
Sunday morning, Trevor reminded me he had been invited to a scout event. He thought he had heard 11:00 am pick up but it was an 11:00 performance with pick up at 8:30 am. We arrived at the pick up at what I thought was on time, only to find out we were over 2 hours late. Trevor!!!
Riley was with me and he asked me not to yell at Trevor again with him in the car, so I restrained myself. The event was a civil war reenactment and encampment. It was 30 minutes away. I had thought it would be fun for Riley and I to go also, which was why Riley was with me. I had given both boys $20 each for food and stuff. WE were late but there was also an afternoon show.
I ended up buying the entrance tickets and we shared fair food and wandered the camps, much like our trip to Gettysburg in 2010. The nice thing about smaller venues are that they are sometimes more intimate than the big shows. You can get up close and personal. WE were less than 20 feet from the cannons and the performers were right in front of us. WE could hear the commands and see them fall and fake their injuries as if really hit. Then ten minutes later they are not wounded and another fake firing and another injury brings them down. One guy was a fantastic wailer, as if really injured and screaming in pain. The reenactment went on for a good hour. Until there were many fallen in the battle field. It was hot in those wool uniforms. I am sure the ones playing dead appreciated being able to lay down.
Afterwards we passed the soldiers in line for pickles and lemonade and watermelon. WE were told if the dill pickle tastes sweet, then the soldier is dehydrated and needs attention. It is a quick and brilliant method to culling out the sick and sun stroke, dill pickles.
Trevor and I went hunting for a belt in the historic tent store. He had of course forgotten his belt as usual. He had to use his hands to hold up his pants. WE have been giving him a hard time about exposing his underwear all the time. We ended up buying a leather lace for $1 for shoe lacing to tie up his loose shorts. It was just long enough. The belts were too wide for his belt loops. Which was a disappointment as we have been trying to find a nice decent belt and these were lovely. The belts were real leather with fancy civil war buckles. They started at $60 . So it was a good thing that they didn't fit. It left a lot of money for more fair food.
WE bought a sampling of barbecue sauces, hand made. Two rounds of spicy hot dogs and hamburgers and drinks to wash it all down. a frozen strawberry dessert with cream cheese between layers then dipped in chocolate with nuts. a couple of snow cones of different flavors. Riley bought an elephant ear, but dropped half of it, before he could share with everyone. WE talked to wonderfully colorful characters. The weather was glorious. Now if I had attended my big class reunion party I would not have had such a wonderful quality day with my boys. In the grand scheme of my life, a good day with my boys has more value than one night of partying with a group of people I hadn't thought about in 30 years.
Meanwhile my sister got a text from one of the gentlemen saying he missed the " Shirley girls" at the big shindig. That definitely cheered T up . I got a text from the photographer for the event through the invitation e mail connection . She had taken many pictures of us Friday night. We are very photogenic and having a good time as you can imagine. She wanted to let me know she was going to be posting the pictures and also wanted to know if T was alright as we did not make the second night. Wanted to know if the head bump was serious. Which meant the tale of our end of the night stumble had made the rounds of the reunion. It was too bad T couldn't rally because I know we could have had another wild night. Or at least killed any rumors. We never really partied in high school. My brother was the high school partier. Both T and I have close college friends.
T and I were looking hot Friday night. I think we disappointed a few by our no show the next night. I was going to look even hotter. I had a black cocktail dress to wear. But there is that old saying about leaving them wanting more. I told Tom I was going to my reunion just to let all those boys know what they missed by not seeing me in High school. I was a late bloomer. I think that was why Tom was all a twitch about us going, and underneath just a little pleased we missed the next night. Though he did a poor job of hiding it. He can be very possessive and this tended to push a few of his buttons. I made sure to wear my wedding rings, that sign of ownership.
It is all good in the end. I did have one of those wonderful weekends full of adventure and family and love with my sister and then my boys. I was blessed with the way the weekend turned out. As my Sunday adventure would not have happened if things had been different on Saturday. With any luck perhaps T will connect with one of those interesting men who were checking her out Friday night. I haven't a clue who they were even though they were class mates of mine. Or maybe they were spouses of classmates, or just crashed the party. I leave it to T to try and figure out who those handsome men were who invited us to that After party in that loft, and the one that drove us home. It was truly an interesting night for a girl who did not really enjoy those four years in high school, that shadow who roamed the halls of school unnoticed.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
construction
Last winter we had tried to paint and caulk around the windows of the south wall exterior to see if we had solved our problem of winter rains seeping into the house through the seams around the window. It did not work. This year Tom hired two friends to come in who are in the business of construction and have a crew. They would not guarantee their work of just replacing the windows unless we did the siding because it was really the siding that was warped and allowing the rain to make its way into the house.
The men came by the house to measure the windows for replacement and take a sample of the siding to match. The siding is vertical 5 inch cedar. It has to be custom ordered.We need 16 foot lengths, tong and
groove. Today I awoke to the crew arriving at 7:00 am. they got right to work.
the boys tried to sleep through the hammering but i made them get up. Trevor had weight training and Riley needed to clean up his room before the men came in to replace his windows.
When the first window came off we saw immediately what the problem had been with the water getting in. . There was no flashing around windows. The previous job had cut the openings and cut the flashing to remove what was previously there, and not replaced the flashing with new. That wont happen this time.
I had to leave at 10:30 am but they were already over half way through. Most of the old windows on the house were removed and new ones going in quickly after the space was made ready.
The new code requires a six inch or more wide strip of stick seal to go around the window under the flashing, much like a toilet flange. The plywood walls will be wrapped with a third layer of house wrap. The new siding will be on top of all that, sealing everything, no more leaking walls or windows.
From the look of things this is at least the third or fourth window replacement the house has had. Once the walls were opened up when the old windows were removed you could see where the original framing had been added to at least once. I am counting on modern technology making this the last window replacement for the next 50 years or more.
The project is moving along smoothly. We were nail biting as the siding came off as we looked for dry rot or carpenter ant damage. To our surprise the walls were in pretty good condition. Only a couple of small spots needed replacing on the ply wood level. The insulation was in good condition with no signs of wet or mold or ant or animal activity. If the boards weren't so warped that they would just crack if you tried to flatten them , even the cedar boards themselves from the old siding were in good condition. Makes me wonder if they were hung green, which could be why they warped and had gaping .
Our biggest snaffoo was while re sizing the office window to match the rest of windows, the crew stumbled on some wiring running just below the original window. We had wanted to put a door in the office but there was an air vent below the window that Tom would not let me just block off. We compromised with agreeing to get a window that matched the rest on the deck in height and length. Not realizing we would be dealing with having to still move wiring. One of the wires was partially cut during the re size. The project stopped for a short while, while we tried to locate what the wire serviced.
At first we thought it went upstairs. I sent Riley up to his room with a power sensor only to find everything was fine. I had him do the whole upstairs and found nothing wrong. As far as we can tell it is a power wire to nowhere. I am guessing it goes to those unfinished sockets in the basement. A none issue. An electrician has been called though to move the wires out of the way and cap off the cut wire properly. It did not slow the crew down much though. They just covered the opening and moved on to another window.
The man cave is left with three windows to go, and this office window for tomorrow. The siding gets delivered in the morning and they will probably start putting the exterior wall back together. I have a guy coming to talk staining to me once the siding is up. Tom wants to match the front of the house with clear cedar stain.
I asked the guys if they were going to use scaffolding for the second story window. they laughed and said no just two ladders and a board. I laughed. do you know how much grief Tom gave me when I used two ladders and a board to paint the second story of our new garage in our first home. It was the construction crew's set up. I hadn't thought anything of it. Tom had a fit seeing me up on that ladder. I was glad to see everything put away when I got home today . What I don't know...
I left for work, just as the crew was beginning to remove the first upstairs window by ladder, at around 10:00 am on the second floor. They were handing the glass in tthrough the opening in the bedroom to carry downstairs from inside. that way the frame would be lighter and easier to manage. No risk of broken glass.
I came home to a quiet house and almost all the windows set in place. Riley told me they had left a few hours earlier. I figure they quit this house for another when the sun made the work on the south side uncomfortable. They left themselves enough work for another few hours tomorrow with four windows to go out of the 17 and the electrical needing to be moved. The crew is going to have to replace all the interior molding as they had to remove the molding to make the windows fit properly. The new windows are a bit beefier than what was removed.
The old windows are a mix of wood and vinyl windows and over half were shot, with the seals blown leaving that fog between the pains. Half the trouble with this house was the many different styles of window used. The house is not quite standard, but it will be glorious when we are done.
I am still in a muddle regarding gas in the kitchen. I am not thrilled with my options. One company I really wanted to work with told me no interior work until things slow down in October. I was hoping to have the ovens in for Tom's birthday. The crew may bail me out. Tom's friend said he would ask his cabinet guy about an oven cabinet. With the electrician coming for the window, I thought I might grab him for the oven project and perhaps the laundry room project while he is here. I will see what time he comes tomorrow.I am seeing a couple of patients in the morning, but they will be quick deliveries with luck. it has been exciting watching the fast pace of the progress and seeing how thorough the men are.
Most of all I am thrilled to find out why our house kept leaking despite our best efforts, and knowing that the big storms wont drip water into my living room this winter.
The men came by the house to measure the windows for replacement and take a sample of the siding to match. The siding is vertical 5 inch cedar. It has to be custom ordered.We need 16 foot lengths, tong and
groove. Today I awoke to the crew arriving at 7:00 am. they got right to work.
the boys tried to sleep through the hammering but i made them get up. Trevor had weight training and Riley needed to clean up his room before the men came in to replace his windows.
When the first window came off we saw immediately what the problem had been with the water getting in. . There was no flashing around windows. The previous job had cut the openings and cut the flashing to remove what was previously there, and not replaced the flashing with new. That wont happen this time.
I had to leave at 10:30 am but they were already over half way through. Most of the old windows on the house were removed and new ones going in quickly after the space was made ready.
The new code requires a six inch or more wide strip of stick seal to go around the window under the flashing, much like a toilet flange. The plywood walls will be wrapped with a third layer of house wrap. The new siding will be on top of all that, sealing everything, no more leaking walls or windows.
From the look of things this is at least the third or fourth window replacement the house has had. Once the walls were opened up when the old windows were removed you could see where the original framing had been added to at least once. I am counting on modern technology making this the last window replacement for the next 50 years or more.
The project is moving along smoothly. We were nail biting as the siding came off as we looked for dry rot or carpenter ant damage. To our surprise the walls were in pretty good condition. Only a couple of small spots needed replacing on the ply wood level. The insulation was in good condition with no signs of wet or mold or ant or animal activity. If the boards weren't so warped that they would just crack if you tried to flatten them , even the cedar boards themselves from the old siding were in good condition. Makes me wonder if they were hung green, which could be why they warped and had gaping .
Our biggest snaffoo was while re sizing the office window to match the rest of windows, the crew stumbled on some wiring running just below the original window. We had wanted to put a door in the office but there was an air vent below the window that Tom would not let me just block off. We compromised with agreeing to get a window that matched the rest on the deck in height and length. Not realizing we would be dealing with having to still move wiring. One of the wires was partially cut during the re size. The project stopped for a short while, while we tried to locate what the wire serviced.
At first we thought it went upstairs. I sent Riley up to his room with a power sensor only to find everything was fine. I had him do the whole upstairs and found nothing wrong. As far as we can tell it is a power wire to nowhere. I am guessing it goes to those unfinished sockets in the basement. A none issue. An electrician has been called though to move the wires out of the way and cap off the cut wire properly. It did not slow the crew down much though. They just covered the opening and moved on to another window.
The man cave is left with three windows to go, and this office window for tomorrow. The siding gets delivered in the morning and they will probably start putting the exterior wall back together. I have a guy coming to talk staining to me once the siding is up. Tom wants to match the front of the house with clear cedar stain.
I asked the guys if they were going to use scaffolding for the second story window. they laughed and said no just two ladders and a board. I laughed. do you know how much grief Tom gave me when I used two ladders and a board to paint the second story of our new garage in our first home. It was the construction crew's set up. I hadn't thought anything of it. Tom had a fit seeing me up on that ladder. I was glad to see everything put away when I got home today . What I don't know...
I left for work, just as the crew was beginning to remove the first upstairs window by ladder, at around 10:00 am on the second floor. They were handing the glass in tthrough the opening in the bedroom to carry downstairs from inside. that way the frame would be lighter and easier to manage. No risk of broken glass.
I came home to a quiet house and almost all the windows set in place. Riley told me they had left a few hours earlier. I figure they quit this house for another when the sun made the work on the south side uncomfortable. They left themselves enough work for another few hours tomorrow with four windows to go out of the 17 and the electrical needing to be moved. The crew is going to have to replace all the interior molding as they had to remove the molding to make the windows fit properly. The new windows are a bit beefier than what was removed.
The old windows are a mix of wood and vinyl windows and over half were shot, with the seals blown leaving that fog between the pains. Half the trouble with this house was the many different styles of window used. The house is not quite standard, but it will be glorious when we are done.
I am still in a muddle regarding gas in the kitchen. I am not thrilled with my options. One company I really wanted to work with told me no interior work until things slow down in October. I was hoping to have the ovens in for Tom's birthday. The crew may bail me out. Tom's friend said he would ask his cabinet guy about an oven cabinet. With the electrician coming for the window, I thought I might grab him for the oven project and perhaps the laundry room project while he is here. I will see what time he comes tomorrow.I am seeing a couple of patients in the morning, but they will be quick deliveries with luck. it has been exciting watching the fast pace of the progress and seeing how thorough the men are.
Most of all I am thrilled to find out why our house kept leaking despite our best efforts, and knowing that the big storms wont drip water into my living room this winter.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
All Good
Its been a while, but I had a few people tell me they want updates on our lives. You know I went back to work. It has been fun and challenging. I work with diabetics, giving them a pair of shoes and a medical foot inspection each year covered under their insurance. I have been doing a lot of driving and growing a new patient book. My job is to find every diabetic in a 40 mile radius and let them know we make house calls and can get them shoes to help them stay stable and as mobile as they can be.
I can't talk about my work more than that because it is medical and I would get in big trouble. Kind of like when I pick up my husband's meds, for what ever, at the pharmacy, but I can't get a year end summary for our taxes because that would be too much information.
Our premiums went up again this year. Every year the premium goes up 8%. Nothing changes on the the deductible. The first $5000 per person is still on us, and that is no typo. We are still paying for the rest of the uninsured as far as I can tell. $1200 a month and we pay all our medical bills. Old subject.
Riley had his one year check up at the end of June at OHSU. Still doing well with all his blood numbers. Slowly every thing seems to be climbing. Red cells, white cells, platelets were all good. His platelets were at 168,000. Red cells were 15.4. Strong Red cell numbers. White cells were at 5 or 6 which is where they should be for a healthy boy.
Riley giggled when the Doctor checked his kidneys and liver. Riley has always been tickilish when the doctor prods his stomach. the doctor ask how we all were and we asked how he was. Riley will be turning 18 in November. He will be getting too old for the children's hospital. the doctor said one more check up next summer about this time and then we get booted on with life. I don't know if I wont always be looking over my shoulder for that shadow though. I am always surupticiously viewing Riley's legs for strange spots or bruises.
Riley gave us a very decent report card at the end of his Junior year. As a result he will be taking classes at the local community college next year, as a Senior in high school. A nice test run for after graduating high school. We had to renew Riley's driving permit as it expired before he wanted to take the driving test. I hadn't been in any hurry to do the test as our car insurance would go up. He was quite content with just renewing the permit. As a matter of fact it was three months past expiration. We had both assumed it was a two year permit until a friend said no, it was one year. Riley pulled his permit out of his wallet and we laughed, he had been driving illegally for months. The next week we were at the DMV getting a renewal. We would have had to get one anyway as you can't take the test to drive without a permit.
I will probably push him when he turns 18 in November, to get the drivers license.
Trevor did not give me a great report card. It is funny when all the teachers' comments were that they love having him in their class, but his homework was late or missing. I told Trevor without good grades there would be no drivers ed and no permit. Instead I bought him a new bike so he could get himself around as needed. he hates our hill, but he loves his new bike he picked out himself. I had promised him a bike last year but didn't get around to it, until now. I told him it was a early birthday present for this year. With Trevor he needed a bigger bike seat, one of those wide ones, and a heavier frame to take his weight.
Riley borrowed the bike the other day and said the seat was very uncomfortable the handle bars were too low, the gear box was backwards for him and the bike was too heavy. I told Trevor that was a good thing as Riley wouldn't be borrowing his brother's bike very often if he didn't like it that much.
Tom is still away on business. He was home for the 4th of July. Thank goodness for a metal roofed home. He tested many fireworks to find the perfect launch location. He went up to the reservation because they have the best deals. Bought a litteral pallet of fireworks. the pallet came with its own dolly. didn't need another dolly as we have one already, but the five foot stack was impressive.
Tom plans to be home again labor day weekend. I am hoping to have some of our projects done. it is getting quite exciting and nerve racking around here. he hired a friend who comes tomorrow with a crew to rip off the leaking siding and replace all the windows and siding on the south side of the house. Our first big investment since the man cave.
Between the last two visits home. I stripped the finish and stained all the cabinets in his man cave. He picked a wall color he liked by long distance with photos and several false starts. The room was finished by the time he came home on the fourth of July. He wanted dark cabinets and had been threatening just to rip out the light colored ones we had as he really didn't like them. I wanted to give them a shot because we needed the storage. I also put more shelves in the cabinets to make them function better. He wanted an old tavern feel. I think the cabinets came out well. He liked the look and was very happy.
This interlude, we have hired experienced contractors to make the repairs needed. it is really bad when it rains and the wind blows the water into your living room. Nothing like buying a neglected home for good projects.
We did try sealing the wall by painting it but the warped boards were beyond salvaging. When our friend came to get a sample piece to match the rest of the house, the board came off easily and below the window was dry rot. I am thrilled to know all that will be fixed. Once the wall is done we will be staining the back of the house to match the rest of the house. And all the windows will match and not leak.
We still have not decided about the back yard. Tom wants to put in a $15,000 retaining wall and build out the lawn. I don't really see the point as neither of us want to care for a yard. The blackberries poke up their heads and I spray them down as needed. I threw out some grass seed and the beautiful grasses billow in the wind. I am thinking if we are considering back yard expenses at that level we should run paths with a mini tractor and hill sculpture or do a deck. The cost would be similar. I would love a patio below, off the basement.
I am very excited to be getting this very important maintenance taken care of. Tom wants the laundry and kitchen tackled next, after the windows and siding and staining. We have come to a great way of communicating long distance. It is too hard to argue over the phone, so we throw our ideas to each other to consider over the phone. We dwell on each other's thoughts and come back agreeing.
Tom wants the gas brought in this fall. I am not as enamored by the idea as he is. We have a perfectly good furnace and water heater. This house, by the time we are done will be back in good health and harmony and pretty glamorous.
I need to shop range hoods if we are bringing in gas. We have a glass top with a down draft now, which wont work with the gas cook top we also have to install.
Trev worked at scout day camp as a staffer last week. He taught little cub scouts how to cast and fish. he said only a few boys each day got stuck. He also was on one end of the tug of war, at the end of the week , against packs of little boys. I can visualize it. I came to pick him up and help with take down. I timed it well as most of the work was done by the time I got there. Trevor was exhausted from the week and turned down a camping trip to sleep and recover all weekend.
I had Riley doing chores all week. I told him as long as he doesn't have a job or doing regular volunteer work he would be picking up the slack for Trevor and me as we worked. Riley was not happy but he saw my logic. mostly he didn't want to make me cranky.
We have been working hard at keeping up appearances. We have had visitors coming and going with the contractors checking on the bids. We have been staying on top of the every day messes of kitchen and laundry. I hired a friend's daughter to come right before Tom got home to give the house a deep scrub and vacuum so the place sparkled. My boys can't seem to get that thorough finished look I desire without my screaming and pulling out my hair. They just don't make the effort. They can do the heavy labor and and the flipping of laundry and loading and unloading of dishes, but they can still drive me crazy with the jam on the counters or the dried pancake batter.
The clothes Washer has been leaking into its water drip tray, Not a good thing when we are going to be moving it upstairs, so today the Sears man came out to fix it. He had been on vacation so I did have to wait for two weeks for an appointment. It was a simple repair of a torn gasket. Luckily we have a warranty good until 2015. I bought the max warranty after our last repair cost me $350 .I was interested to hear that even though our local Sears closed, the repair service was in a different location and will still be local. I had been doing my laundry regardless of the pool of water in the tray below. I didn't want to drag my laundry to the laundry mat, which poor tom has to do every week. His apartment building has no laundry facility.
I golfed last weekend in a very fun two day tournament. Exhausting playing that much golf. I bought a new golf outfit so at least I would look like a golfer, even if I didn't play like one. In honor of Tom I dressed all in Orange on the second day.
Well, it is getting late and the contractors come tomorrow for the first day of demolition. I am supposed to golf in the morning. I am tempted. Tom said to stay out of the way and just let his friends do the work. They know what they are doing. It is just so hard to stay hands off on such a fun project.
I can't talk about my work more than that because it is medical and I would get in big trouble. Kind of like when I pick up my husband's meds, for what ever, at the pharmacy, but I can't get a year end summary for our taxes because that would be too much information.
Our premiums went up again this year. Every year the premium goes up 8%. Nothing changes on the the deductible. The first $5000 per person is still on us, and that is no typo. We are still paying for the rest of the uninsured as far as I can tell. $1200 a month and we pay all our medical bills. Old subject.
Riley had his one year check up at the end of June at OHSU. Still doing well with all his blood numbers. Slowly every thing seems to be climbing. Red cells, white cells, platelets were all good. His platelets were at 168,000. Red cells were 15.4. Strong Red cell numbers. White cells were at 5 or 6 which is where they should be for a healthy boy.
Riley giggled when the Doctor checked his kidneys and liver. Riley has always been tickilish when the doctor prods his stomach. the doctor ask how we all were and we asked how he was. Riley will be turning 18 in November. He will be getting too old for the children's hospital. the doctor said one more check up next summer about this time and then we get booted on with life. I don't know if I wont always be looking over my shoulder for that shadow though. I am always surupticiously viewing Riley's legs for strange spots or bruises.
Riley gave us a very decent report card at the end of his Junior year. As a result he will be taking classes at the local community college next year, as a Senior in high school. A nice test run for after graduating high school. We had to renew Riley's driving permit as it expired before he wanted to take the driving test. I hadn't been in any hurry to do the test as our car insurance would go up. He was quite content with just renewing the permit. As a matter of fact it was three months past expiration. We had both assumed it was a two year permit until a friend said no, it was one year. Riley pulled his permit out of his wallet and we laughed, he had been driving illegally for months. The next week we were at the DMV getting a renewal. We would have had to get one anyway as you can't take the test to drive without a permit.
I will probably push him when he turns 18 in November, to get the drivers license.
Trevor did not give me a great report card. It is funny when all the teachers' comments were that they love having him in their class, but his homework was late or missing. I told Trevor without good grades there would be no drivers ed and no permit. Instead I bought him a new bike so he could get himself around as needed. he hates our hill, but he loves his new bike he picked out himself. I had promised him a bike last year but didn't get around to it, until now. I told him it was a early birthday present for this year. With Trevor he needed a bigger bike seat, one of those wide ones, and a heavier frame to take his weight.
Riley borrowed the bike the other day and said the seat was very uncomfortable the handle bars were too low, the gear box was backwards for him and the bike was too heavy. I told Trevor that was a good thing as Riley wouldn't be borrowing his brother's bike very often if he didn't like it that much.
Tom is still away on business. He was home for the 4th of July. Thank goodness for a metal roofed home. He tested many fireworks to find the perfect launch location. He went up to the reservation because they have the best deals. Bought a litteral pallet of fireworks. the pallet came with its own dolly. didn't need another dolly as we have one already, but the five foot stack was impressive.
Tom plans to be home again labor day weekend. I am hoping to have some of our projects done. it is getting quite exciting and nerve racking around here. he hired a friend who comes tomorrow with a crew to rip off the leaking siding and replace all the windows and siding on the south side of the house. Our first big investment since the man cave.
Between the last two visits home. I stripped the finish and stained all the cabinets in his man cave. He picked a wall color he liked by long distance with photos and several false starts. The room was finished by the time he came home on the fourth of July. He wanted dark cabinets and had been threatening just to rip out the light colored ones we had as he really didn't like them. I wanted to give them a shot because we needed the storage. I also put more shelves in the cabinets to make them function better. He wanted an old tavern feel. I think the cabinets came out well. He liked the look and was very happy.
This interlude, we have hired experienced contractors to make the repairs needed. it is really bad when it rains and the wind blows the water into your living room. Nothing like buying a neglected home for good projects.
We still have not decided about the back yard. Tom wants to put in a $15,000 retaining wall and build out the lawn. I don't really see the point as neither of us want to care for a yard. The blackberries poke up their heads and I spray them down as needed. I threw out some grass seed and the beautiful grasses billow in the wind. I am thinking if we are considering back yard expenses at that level we should run paths with a mini tractor and hill sculpture or do a deck. The cost would be similar. I would love a patio below, off the basement.
I am very excited to be getting this very important maintenance taken care of. Tom wants the laundry and kitchen tackled next, after the windows and siding and staining. We have come to a great way of communicating long distance. It is too hard to argue over the phone, so we throw our ideas to each other to consider over the phone. We dwell on each other's thoughts and come back agreeing.
Tom wants the gas brought in this fall. I am not as enamored by the idea as he is. We have a perfectly good furnace and water heater. This house, by the time we are done will be back in good health and harmony and pretty glamorous.
I need to shop range hoods if we are bringing in gas. We have a glass top with a down draft now, which wont work with the gas cook top we also have to install.
Trev worked at scout day camp as a staffer last week. He taught little cub scouts how to cast and fish. he said only a few boys each day got stuck. He also was on one end of the tug of war, at the end of the week , against packs of little boys. I can visualize it. I came to pick him up and help with take down. I timed it well as most of the work was done by the time I got there. Trevor was exhausted from the week and turned down a camping trip to sleep and recover all weekend.
I had Riley doing chores all week. I told him as long as he doesn't have a job or doing regular volunteer work he would be picking up the slack for Trevor and me as we worked. Riley was not happy but he saw my logic. mostly he didn't want to make me cranky.
We have been working hard at keeping up appearances. We have had visitors coming and going with the contractors checking on the bids. We have been staying on top of the every day messes of kitchen and laundry. I hired a friend's daughter to come right before Tom got home to give the house a deep scrub and vacuum so the place sparkled. My boys can't seem to get that thorough finished look I desire without my screaming and pulling out my hair. They just don't make the effort. They can do the heavy labor and and the flipping of laundry and loading and unloading of dishes, but they can still drive me crazy with the jam on the counters or the dried pancake batter.
The clothes Washer has been leaking into its water drip tray, Not a good thing when we are going to be moving it upstairs, so today the Sears man came out to fix it. He had been on vacation so I did have to wait for two weeks for an appointment. It was a simple repair of a torn gasket. Luckily we have a warranty good until 2015. I bought the max warranty after our last repair cost me $350 .I was interested to hear that even though our local Sears closed, the repair service was in a different location and will still be local. I had been doing my laundry regardless of the pool of water in the tray below. I didn't want to drag my laundry to the laundry mat, which poor tom has to do every week. His apartment building has no laundry facility.
I golfed last weekend in a very fun two day tournament. Exhausting playing that much golf. I bought a new golf outfit so at least I would look like a golfer, even if I didn't play like one. In honor of Tom I dressed all in Orange on the second day.
Well, it is getting late and the contractors come tomorrow for the first day of demolition. I am supposed to golf in the morning. I am tempted. Tom said to stay out of the way and just let his friends do the work. They know what they are doing. It is just so hard to stay hands off on such a fun project.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The favor
Aver dear friend of mine has rentals. She moved a couple hours south of us which was a bit too far to care for the rental she has in our area. The most recent tenant moved out after 5 years and no one came to look at the house while it was for sale for a month. My friend asked if I could show the place for rent and I could keep the first month's rent.
It seemed an easy task as the house is not far from where we live. She called the listing agent to take the lock off the door and give me the key. The agent called and said she had left the key but that the neighbors were out on the street at the time and she feared they had seen her hide it.
She also asked if I was a property manager as she was desperate to find a good one in town. She had the demand if I was interested. I said I would think about it. I will have to look up the qualifications, if there are any. I think finding a good handyman is half the battle for a good property manager. And being a good judge of character. Get the good renters in the first time. But good renters want good houses and I am not sure what I am going to get with this property. It is an interesting neighborhood.
I took Riley with me since it was after dark and popped down to the house. I had told Riley it would just be a quick stop to get the key so he just threw on his sweats and no shoes for the trip in the car. The house really isn't that far away from our house but it is amazing how quickly the neighborhoods change quality.
This rental sits almost under a bridge. I counted 12 grocery carts just left to sit kitty corner to the house. A neighbor told me, when I asked what was being done about the carts, a woman comes by every few days and returns the carts to the stores. I wonder if she gets a finders fee. I asked once how much the carts cost. Those carts cost $400 each. The stores probably have someone designated to round them up, or all the homeless people would make a business of stealing them and bringing them back.
It was after 8:00 pm. The sun had set and it was very dark. I had brought a flash light as I thought the power had probably been turned off. I wanted to be able to find the hidden key. It was right where it was supposed to be but I thought I had better do a walk through of the house. I unlocked and opened the door and the door fell off its hinges. I called out to Riley in the car and flashed my light at him to get his attention. He had to walk over to me in his bare feet. The neighbors across the street, about 5 of them, were hanging out on their front porch watching me, a young crowd enjoying the warmer night without rain. I couldn't make out much more than that in the dark and they didn't have their outside lights on, just standing around in the dark.
It took Riley and me a good thirty minutes to get the door back into its frame and lock it so it would stay in place until I could come back with new bigger, fatter, longer screws to reattach the hinges to the door jamb.
I swung by Ace in the morning and picked up the screws and made copies of the keys for me to have a spare. I waited until Riley got home from school as I knew this was a two man job. Someone would need to hold the door in place while the other screwed the hing down. Riley commented on our way down to the rental asking if we were bringing a gun with us for our safety. I told him it was daylight and he was there to protect me. Trev had after school activities, so it was up to Riley to be there with me. I told Riley I would pay him to mow the lawn at the rental, but he declined and said he wanted to spend as little time in that neighborhood as possible.
We got the door fixed. It really needs a new surround, but it will hold for a while. I could have used longer screws but I didn't have a cordless power drill so we had to use a Phillips head screw driver and do it all by hand. Riley and I traded off who was holding the door as both our wrists were soar with twisting.
Just as we finished the people who were going to view it showed up. Riley watched me in action. These girls did not qualify to rent as one was unemployed and the other only made $1200 a month. The rent would be over half their income. I told them if it was still available when the other woman had a job, they could come back and talk to me. I hope to have it rented sooner than that.
As Riley and I headed back to my car after locking up without incident, A skinny man started to walk towards us. I speed up my pace to the car. The man called out that he was the room mate of the house next door. He was pretty scruffy and missing his four top front teeth. The house next door has piles of discarded furniture and broken bikes in the yard. I had met the neighbor next door at my first visit when my girlfriend took me to the house. He was a nice stout older man. Single guy who doesn't care what his yard looks like. Perhaps a hoarder with his life spilling out into the yard.
The man with missing teeth asked if I would like the yard mowed or anything done to the house. I had remembered the gutters on this one story vintage cottage needed cleaning. I said I would find out what the owner wanted to do. Honestly, I might pay him to clean up his own yard so I can get this place rented. You don't necessarily want to put up bushes to block views because someone could hide in them. Since Riley didn't want to mow the lawn I probably will have this guy do it. At least then The rental will have someone keeping an eye on it and it wont look neglected.
So I have something to distract me while Tom is gone, and definitely an eye opener for my boys and me, on the choices you make in life and where you can end up with the wrong choices. I just want to hug Tom and tell him how much I love him and appreciate everything he does for us, and the lifestyle he has given us. I miss him terribly.
I am showing the house again this week. It has a lot of interest, but being qualified for the rental price is important. I don't want to have to deal with this house again for a while. I call it Adorable Vintage in my ad, built in 1922. My friend remodeled the bathroom and kitchen. It really is quaint. I tell people the neighbors watch each other, but I don't say they may not be the kind of neighbors you want keeping an eye on you.
It seemed an easy task as the house is not far from where we live. She called the listing agent to take the lock off the door and give me the key. The agent called and said she had left the key but that the neighbors were out on the street at the time and she feared they had seen her hide it.
She also asked if I was a property manager as she was desperate to find a good one in town. She had the demand if I was interested. I said I would think about it. I will have to look up the qualifications, if there are any. I think finding a good handyman is half the battle for a good property manager. And being a good judge of character. Get the good renters in the first time. But good renters want good houses and I am not sure what I am going to get with this property. It is an interesting neighborhood.
I took Riley with me since it was after dark and popped down to the house. I had told Riley it would just be a quick stop to get the key so he just threw on his sweats and no shoes for the trip in the car. The house really isn't that far away from our house but it is amazing how quickly the neighborhoods change quality.
This rental sits almost under a bridge. I counted 12 grocery carts just left to sit kitty corner to the house. A neighbor told me, when I asked what was being done about the carts, a woman comes by every few days and returns the carts to the stores. I wonder if she gets a finders fee. I asked once how much the carts cost. Those carts cost $400 each. The stores probably have someone designated to round them up, or all the homeless people would make a business of stealing them and bringing them back.
It was after 8:00 pm. The sun had set and it was very dark. I had brought a flash light as I thought the power had probably been turned off. I wanted to be able to find the hidden key. It was right where it was supposed to be but I thought I had better do a walk through of the house. I unlocked and opened the door and the door fell off its hinges. I called out to Riley in the car and flashed my light at him to get his attention. He had to walk over to me in his bare feet. The neighbors across the street, about 5 of them, were hanging out on their front porch watching me, a young crowd enjoying the warmer night without rain. I couldn't make out much more than that in the dark and they didn't have their outside lights on, just standing around in the dark.
It took Riley and me a good thirty minutes to get the door back into its frame and lock it so it would stay in place until I could come back with new bigger, fatter, longer screws to reattach the hinges to the door jamb.
I swung by Ace in the morning and picked up the screws and made copies of the keys for me to have a spare. I waited until Riley got home from school as I knew this was a two man job. Someone would need to hold the door in place while the other screwed the hing down. Riley commented on our way down to the rental asking if we were bringing a gun with us for our safety. I told him it was daylight and he was there to protect me. Trev had after school activities, so it was up to Riley to be there with me. I told Riley I would pay him to mow the lawn at the rental, but he declined and said he wanted to spend as little time in that neighborhood as possible.
We got the door fixed. It really needs a new surround, but it will hold for a while. I could have used longer screws but I didn't have a cordless power drill so we had to use a Phillips head screw driver and do it all by hand. Riley and I traded off who was holding the door as both our wrists were soar with twisting.
Just as we finished the people who were going to view it showed up. Riley watched me in action. These girls did not qualify to rent as one was unemployed and the other only made $1200 a month. The rent would be over half their income. I told them if it was still available when the other woman had a job, they could come back and talk to me. I hope to have it rented sooner than that.
As Riley and I headed back to my car after locking up without incident, A skinny man started to walk towards us. I speed up my pace to the car. The man called out that he was the room mate of the house next door. He was pretty scruffy and missing his four top front teeth. The house next door has piles of discarded furniture and broken bikes in the yard. I had met the neighbor next door at my first visit when my girlfriend took me to the house. He was a nice stout older man. Single guy who doesn't care what his yard looks like. Perhaps a hoarder with his life spilling out into the yard.
The man with missing teeth asked if I would like the yard mowed or anything done to the house. I had remembered the gutters on this one story vintage cottage needed cleaning. I said I would find out what the owner wanted to do. Honestly, I might pay him to clean up his own yard so I can get this place rented. You don't necessarily want to put up bushes to block views because someone could hide in them. Since Riley didn't want to mow the lawn I probably will have this guy do it. At least then The rental will have someone keeping an eye on it and it wont look neglected.
So I have something to distract me while Tom is gone, and definitely an eye opener for my boys and me, on the choices you make in life and where you can end up with the wrong choices. I just want to hug Tom and tell him how much I love him and appreciate everything he does for us, and the lifestyle he has given us. I miss him terribly.
I am showing the house again this week. It has a lot of interest, but being qualified for the rental price is important. I don't want to have to deal with this house again for a while. I call it Adorable Vintage in my ad, built in 1922. My friend remodeled the bathroom and kitchen. It really is quaint. I tell people the neighbors watch each other, but I don't say they may not be the kind of neighbors you want keeping an eye on you.
Monday, March 25, 2013
next project
Tom left for his next project in Nevada. I found an apartment with much stress and anxiety for him, searching the classifieds and craigslist, and calling local agents. This area, he is working in, I am told from multiple sources is a very popular rental area with a coal plant and a coal mine both giving a lot of short term engineers projects to work on needing short term residences to live in.
I had a place lined up before, a little cottage with maid service once a week. But we took too long starting the project and the cottage was grabbed for the next 11 months by some other engineers coming in to work at the coal mine.
I left my name with several apartment complexes. I received a call asking if I was still looking as this apartment complex had an opening due to a no show in one of their units. It was a two bedroom. They charge more for short term, but I was happy to find something at all. I had seen an ad on Craigslist where a woman had a room to rent in her home and was offering her master suite in the arraingment. I wondered if she came with the bedroom, after all it is Nevada, and I didn't want to get so desperate for a place for Tom that I would have to ask.
The owner's partner had died recently so when I asked if there was any way I could get some furniture into it, the owner agreed, for a fee. He provided a dining room set and a couch and coffee table and a recliner that reminded me of Tom's first recliner when we were dating, 20 years ago. He also provided a Queen bed and frame. I really didn't want Tom sleeping on a mattress on the floor. I remember Vashon Island with Tom on a twin mattress, on the floor, we had stuffed into the backseat of his cadillac for a bed.
Tom took my jeep with the new tires and 4 wheel drive. Just in case he had bad weather while he was gone. The jeep holds more stuff anyway. Tom packed his HDTV, the mid size one from our bedroom. He had the boys move their smaller one up to my room to replace it, though small is relative in this household when it comes to TV's. Our smallest is 40 inches. I didn't even notice at first until the boys told me.
I threw in some dishes, pots and pans, and blankets into the car. I gave up my can opener just to make sure he had one when he arrived. I must remember to pick up a new one for myself. I used an old style beer opener to open a can of re fried beans after Tom left, and just demolished the can.
The trip was uneventful. Tom stopped in Pasco to see an old friend. He arrived Saturday morning about noon at his destination. He told me he had thought Wyoming was a desolate place until he drove through Northern Nevada. He spent a year during college in Wyoming working at a "man camp". After that year he went back to college and got his degree.
I had called for power to be hooked up before Tom arrived, and for the Direct TV guy to be available the first day so he didn't have to live without TV for even one day. I was thrilled to hear the installer worked on both Saturdays and Sundays. The Direct TV offers a second account for those that have two residences and you can keep your packages.
What I missed was the gas heat and gas water heater. When I called the electric company I asked them about gas hook up and they said "We don't have gas in that area." I took that to mean no gas. Well, Tom arrived down there to find clear skies and 17 degrees at night, and no heat. No hot water to shower either. He put a pot of water on the stove and turned the oven on and survived the first night. Thank goodness for the Direct TV's successful install. Tom can survive anything as long as there is HDTV.
The property manager has the unit across from Tom's. He is a golfer and had several conversations with Tom. Doug has been allowing Tom to use his shower over the weekend until the gas man can come get Tom hooked up.
I called to get the gas hooked up while Tom went to his first day at work. The account had to be put in my name as Tom wasn't with me to say hello to the agent on the phone, hooking up the power in Nevada. I made the appointment for the gas man to come over while Tom was at work. I begged for same day hook up so he wouldn't have to go another night without heat or hot water.
Tom called from his work the apartment manager to unlock the closet where the water heater pilot light needs to be turned on and accessible.It is in the closet between the two apartments. The door was unlocked by someone, but no one was there when the gas man arrived. It turned out the door was an automatic locking door when the door is shut. So after unlocking the door and leaving, the door shut and relocked. When the gas man arrived the door was locked. Tom has to go another night without hot water or heat. The gas company can't get back to him until Wednesday.
I am just glad Tom's next door neighbor, the apartment manager, is so accommodating, or Tom would be pretty stinky for his first few days on the job. Tom makes friends where ever he goes, the manager is a golfer. I am sure they are already arranging Tee times at the closest decent course for Tom's first day off from work. He will be working six tens so Sundays are his day of rest. Tom sent me a picture of the area and noted the blue sky in the background. As soon as he left the weather turned nice here also. Some how we need to figure out how to have these between projects times happen during summer, so Tom can get some golf in with nice weather.
Tom is all set up now at his new location. I'll wait to hear when I can come for conjugal visits, maybe Memorial weekend. I tried so hard to get everything comfortable and ready for Tom. My poor guy is freezing in the desert.
I had a place lined up before, a little cottage with maid service once a week. But we took too long starting the project and the cottage was grabbed for the next 11 months by some other engineers coming in to work at the coal mine.
I left my name with several apartment complexes. I received a call asking if I was still looking as this apartment complex had an opening due to a no show in one of their units. It was a two bedroom. They charge more for short term, but I was happy to find something at all. I had seen an ad on Craigslist where a woman had a room to rent in her home and was offering her master suite in the arraingment. I wondered if she came with the bedroom, after all it is Nevada, and I didn't want to get so desperate for a place for Tom that I would have to ask.
The owner's partner had died recently so when I asked if there was any way I could get some furniture into it, the owner agreed, for a fee. He provided a dining room set and a couch and coffee table and a recliner that reminded me of Tom's first recliner when we were dating, 20 years ago. He also provided a Queen bed and frame. I really didn't want Tom sleeping on a mattress on the floor. I remember Vashon Island with Tom on a twin mattress, on the floor, we had stuffed into the backseat of his cadillac for a bed.
Tom took my jeep with the new tires and 4 wheel drive. Just in case he had bad weather while he was gone. The jeep holds more stuff anyway. Tom packed his HDTV, the mid size one from our bedroom. He had the boys move their smaller one up to my room to replace it, though small is relative in this household when it comes to TV's. Our smallest is 40 inches. I didn't even notice at first until the boys told me.
I threw in some dishes, pots and pans, and blankets into the car. I gave up my can opener just to make sure he had one when he arrived. I must remember to pick up a new one for myself. I used an old style beer opener to open a can of re fried beans after Tom left, and just demolished the can.
The trip was uneventful. Tom stopped in Pasco to see an old friend. He arrived Saturday morning about noon at his destination. He told me he had thought Wyoming was a desolate place until he drove through Northern Nevada. He spent a year during college in Wyoming working at a "man camp". After that year he went back to college and got his degree.
I had called for power to be hooked up before Tom arrived, and for the Direct TV guy to be available the first day so he didn't have to live without TV for even one day. I was thrilled to hear the installer worked on both Saturdays and Sundays. The Direct TV offers a second account for those that have two residences and you can keep your packages.
What I missed was the gas heat and gas water heater. When I called the electric company I asked them about gas hook up and they said "We don't have gas in that area." I took that to mean no gas. Well, Tom arrived down there to find clear skies and 17 degrees at night, and no heat. No hot water to shower either. He put a pot of water on the stove and turned the oven on and survived the first night. Thank goodness for the Direct TV's successful install. Tom can survive anything as long as there is HDTV.
The property manager has the unit across from Tom's. He is a golfer and had several conversations with Tom. Doug has been allowing Tom to use his shower over the weekend until the gas man can come get Tom hooked up.
I called to get the gas hooked up while Tom went to his first day at work. The account had to be put in my name as Tom wasn't with me to say hello to the agent on the phone, hooking up the power in Nevada. I made the appointment for the gas man to come over while Tom was at work. I begged for same day hook up so he wouldn't have to go another night without heat or hot water.
Tom called from his work the apartment manager to unlock the closet where the water heater pilot light needs to be turned on and accessible.It is in the closet between the two apartments. The door was unlocked by someone, but no one was there when the gas man arrived. It turned out the door was an automatic locking door when the door is shut. So after unlocking the door and leaving, the door shut and relocked. When the gas man arrived the door was locked. Tom has to go another night without hot water or heat. The gas company can't get back to him until Wednesday.
I am just glad Tom's next door neighbor, the apartment manager, is so accommodating, or Tom would be pretty stinky for his first few days on the job. Tom makes friends where ever he goes, the manager is a golfer. I am sure they are already arranging Tee times at the closest decent course for Tom's first day off from work. He will be working six tens so Sundays are his day of rest. Tom sent me a picture of the area and noted the blue sky in the background. As soon as he left the weather turned nice here also. Some how we need to figure out how to have these between projects times happen during summer, so Tom can get some golf in with nice weather.
Tom is all set up now at his new location. I'll wait to hear when I can come for conjugal visits, maybe Memorial weekend. I tried so hard to get everything comfortable and ready for Tom. My poor guy is freezing in the desert.
Ski trip
Busy week barely time to breath. Took the boys to the mountains skiing. Trevor had gone the weekend before with his scouting buddy. They had a blast. Trev was pulled over for speeding down the slopes. I warned him this time if he loses his pass that is it, I will not replace it.
My sisters came with their children. First time my NY sister has had her children on skies. They did an hour lesson s day. By the end of three days my 4 year old nephew was getting down the hill by himself. My Dad always said if you start kids young skiing they don't have the fear factor to overcome.
Trevor wore his sun glasses and a fedora on his head. He had on a t shirt and his jacket. You would think he would freeze, but he was more worried about looking cool.
By the end of the weekend we all agreed we wanted to repeat this ski vacation. We stayed at Collins Lake. The Condo was bigger than my sisters two houses put together. There was a great room off to the side that had two double sized bunk beds and two double beds with room to spare and its own bathroom. A kind of giant sleeping porch arrangement. The master and the other bedroom shared another bathroom. The place was well designed for a big ski trip.
I was told by the concierge that summers are even more booked and busy than winters. This place rocked. It had a huge hot hot tub and a big luke warm pool. The kids liked the pool but I could have had it a bit warmer. There was a sauna that was delightfully warm. It was a luxury resort, but worth every penny we wincingly paid.
I brought all the food so we wouldn't have to eat out or deal with that extra expense. Every one supplemented with hot cocoas at the ski lodges or an extra hot dog, but over all we kept the cost to just the resort. Our ski tickets were deep discounted by staying where we did.
I had stayed there before with friends so I knew it was worth it. A good vacation is all in the details.
My boys had a ball. Riley injured his wrist slipping on some icy stairs during the tubing adventures. He ended up in a brace for two weeks and is still trying to make up English assignments from when he couldn't write with his hand.
Trevor hung with my sisters on the slope as he wanted to go FAST. Aunt J was about the only one that would do the speed skiing with him.
I had my knee injury skiing a few years ago so I played hostess. Having breakfast, lunch and dinner ready and prepped for when needed. I was so happy that everyone had a good time. I was the coordinator for this trip so I felt a lot of pressure to make sure everyone got their money's worth. I wanted everyone to go home sated but craving another family ski vacation next year.
My sisters came with their children. First time my NY sister has had her children on skies. They did an hour lesson s day. By the end of three days my 4 year old nephew was getting down the hill by himself. My Dad always said if you start kids young skiing they don't have the fear factor to overcome.
Trevor wore his sun glasses and a fedora on his head. He had on a t shirt and his jacket. You would think he would freeze, but he was more worried about looking cool.
By the end of the weekend we all agreed we wanted to repeat this ski vacation. We stayed at Collins Lake. The Condo was bigger than my sisters two houses put together. There was a great room off to the side that had two double sized bunk beds and two double beds with room to spare and its own bathroom. A kind of giant sleeping porch arrangement. The master and the other bedroom shared another bathroom. The place was well designed for a big ski trip.
I was told by the concierge that summers are even more booked and busy than winters. This place rocked. It had a huge hot hot tub and a big luke warm pool. The kids liked the pool but I could have had it a bit warmer. There was a sauna that was delightfully warm. It was a luxury resort, but worth every penny we wincingly paid.
I brought all the food so we wouldn't have to eat out or deal with that extra expense. Every one supplemented with hot cocoas at the ski lodges or an extra hot dog, but over all we kept the cost to just the resort. Our ski tickets were deep discounted by staying where we did.
I had stayed there before with friends so I knew it was worth it. A good vacation is all in the details.
My boys had a ball. Riley injured his wrist slipping on some icy stairs during the tubing adventures. He ended up in a brace for two weeks and is still trying to make up English assignments from when he couldn't write with his hand.
Trevor hung with my sisters on the slope as he wanted to go FAST. Aunt J was about the only one that would do the speed skiing with him.
I had my knee injury skiing a few years ago so I played hostess. Having breakfast, lunch and dinner ready and prepped for when needed. I was so happy that everyone had a good time. I was the coordinator for this trip so I felt a lot of pressure to make sure everyone got their money's worth. I wanted everyone to go home sated but craving another family ski vacation next year.
Dog gone it
Sorry I haven't written in a while. I got a job selling shoes to diabetics, well really giving them away. In 1993 Congress passed a bill requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of a new pair of shoes and Orthodox for diabetics with foot issues to help prevent the deterioration of their feet. Medicare and Medicaid are on board to pay my fee.
A crisis was occurring with injuries and infections leading to amputations and death. A new pair of shoes helps to keep the diabetic foot healthy. I go to people's homes and fit them. Many of my clients are elderly and have a hard time getting out and about, let alone go shopping for a custom pair of shoes for their feet, especially if they have nerve issues or soars.
I do a medical foot exam in the home and take molds for the Orthodox, and come back in a month with a new pair of shoes that fit the way they should. We also do educational seminars to make people aware of how important it is to care for your feet.
Even the simple every day process of washing and drying a foot well can prevent the spread of fungus that leads to infected nails and the nail falling off leaving an open wound. I could tell you I have seen some feet, but all my visits are confidential. Reminding people to check inside a shoe before putting it on, to see if they might have picked up a rock or pebble they can't feel, can save injury. Putting lotion on a dry chapping foot prevents cracking, split skin, and soars.
Today I had a humorous moment I have to share.
I was picking up an item from a client for a little tweaking for a better fit. We do that. If a shoe or orthotic doesn't feel right, we come back and adjust it or replace it as necessary as part of the package, at no extra fee.
The home had two small yappy dogs. They were all excited when I knocked on the door. It took a while for the owner to reach the door to open it. When the door opened the owner says "don't let the dogs out". but by that time the smaller one had squeezed through the opening. It hadn't wasted a moment to escape. It was attacking my feet and legs. The dog bit me, my pant leg, and my shoe, before taking off across the street. There is no way the owner was in any condition to chase the dog. I sell Orthodox to people with foot issues, remember. I tell her I will go after the dog, even though the dam dog just attacked me before running off. The owner hands me a doggy treat to entice the escapee.
I run after the dog. He is so small he can go under the cars rather than around them. He is having a ball. He pauses to piss on the neighbor's car tires and mail box and garbage can and flower bed. Any time I get close, holding out my little treat calling in a sweet voice "Here dear nice adorable doggy, come for your treat." He knows I just want to call the pound.
The owner stands at the door of the house watching helplessly. The dog finally runs out of fluids. After having me follow him around the block in a little circle, twice, turns for home and runs into his house where the owner is patiently waiting, holding the door open. He never did take the treat, but he sure had a swell time at my expense.
I can tell dogs are going to be an adventure in this business. I had one house where the dog just wanted to sit in my lap, with his nose in my face, while I tried to do the foot exam. Another dog had flea issues. Feet are easy compared to dogs.
A crisis was occurring with injuries and infections leading to amputations and death. A new pair of shoes helps to keep the diabetic foot healthy. I go to people's homes and fit them. Many of my clients are elderly and have a hard time getting out and about, let alone go shopping for a custom pair of shoes for their feet, especially if they have nerve issues or soars.
I do a medical foot exam in the home and take molds for the Orthodox, and come back in a month with a new pair of shoes that fit the way they should. We also do educational seminars to make people aware of how important it is to care for your feet.
Even the simple every day process of washing and drying a foot well can prevent the spread of fungus that leads to infected nails and the nail falling off leaving an open wound. I could tell you I have seen some feet, but all my visits are confidential. Reminding people to check inside a shoe before putting it on, to see if they might have picked up a rock or pebble they can't feel, can save injury. Putting lotion on a dry chapping foot prevents cracking, split skin, and soars.
Today I had a humorous moment I have to share.
I was picking up an item from a client for a little tweaking for a better fit. We do that. If a shoe or orthotic doesn't feel right, we come back and adjust it or replace it as necessary as part of the package, at no extra fee.
The home had two small yappy dogs. They were all excited when I knocked on the door. It took a while for the owner to reach the door to open it. When the door opened the owner says "don't let the dogs out". but by that time the smaller one had squeezed through the opening. It hadn't wasted a moment to escape. It was attacking my feet and legs. The dog bit me, my pant leg, and my shoe, before taking off across the street. There is no way the owner was in any condition to chase the dog. I sell Orthodox to people with foot issues, remember. I tell her I will go after the dog, even though the dam dog just attacked me before running off. The owner hands me a doggy treat to entice the escapee.
I run after the dog. He is so small he can go under the cars rather than around them. He is having a ball. He pauses to piss on the neighbor's car tires and mail box and garbage can and flower bed. Any time I get close, holding out my little treat calling in a sweet voice "Here dear nice adorable doggy, come for your treat." He knows I just want to call the pound.
The owner stands at the door of the house watching helplessly. The dog finally runs out of fluids. After having me follow him around the block in a little circle, twice, turns for home and runs into his house where the owner is patiently waiting, holding the door open. He never did take the treat, but he sure had a swell time at my expense.
I can tell dogs are going to be an adventure in this business. I had one house where the dog just wanted to sit in my lap, with his nose in my face, while I tried to do the foot exam. Another dog had flea issues. Feet are easy compared to dogs.
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