Up again at 6:35 this morning, I quietly left the bedroom, allowing the 1st Lady to hopefully stay in bed and catch up on her sleep. BUT.....at 7AM this morning I heard something...and it was someone walking and then running across the roof.....yep...the roofing crew had arrived bright and early!!! Before long, their "dump" truck arrived and drove through the back yard.....seems almost like we now have a "truck highway" going through the backyard. Can't think just how many trucks, bobcat dozers, yard tractors w/trailers, etc., etc. have driven through the back yard in the past three months. Today...it is exactly three months since the inland hurricane....and we are finally getting the roof!!!
Sooo, as the pounding, scraping, and shoveling continued this morning, I had my Fr. Roast coffee and then decided to begin mowing the lawn. Getting the mower out, I started it up...and made a couple of passes around some plants that HAD been beside the fence, which went down under the fallen trees....and then it just died...slowly. Tried to re-start it....and no progress.....looked under it...and the damn blade would not even move!!!!! LOCKED up, but not touching the edges.
Going inside, I located my business card folder and called the man who has always tuned it up...Charlie Toppins. WOW....he was IN town and so within about 15 minutes, he appeared at the patio door......and during those 15 minutes I was discussing with Joe Finch, the contractor about the day's plans...and reminding him that we would be gone over the weekend. Meeting Charlie on the patio, we looked at the machine...and he thought it might be the oil....and there was very little in it. Week before last I had just filled it up.......????? What the hell happened to it??? Well, we filled it up again......the cord wouldn't even pull, and so raising it up, he cranked and cranked on the blad and finally got it to move. Soooo, then it started...roughly...and finally took off and sounded super. So, I wrote him a check for a small sum....and began mowing.
Returning inside, I realized that the 1st Lady had left for Cape Girardeau....and I needed to run to the City Hall to pay the monthly utilities bill. Starting to leave, I ran into the next-door neighbor and he was on his way to the Post Office....and so I told him I would take his mail there for him. OK.....paid the bill at the City Hall....and then got into the truck to go to the Post Office.....and the truck had a bit of trouble starting......struggling a bit to start, but it finally did. Did the business at the Post Office.....and got ready to drive back to the stick/brick on the hill....and the damn truck would NOT start!!!!! And..as I tried it several times.....the batteries got weaker, so I just stopped trying. Getting out my wallet, I found our emergency road service card.....called the number, spent five minutes or more giving the necessary info to them...and was told that I would have service truck within 40 minutes.
And.....lucky for me, it only took about 10 minutes before the service man arrived.....hooked up the cables....and the truck started right off. While waiting I began to figure just when I had put in new batteries....and it has been over five years....so, I began to realize what needed to be done. The service guy said it appeared the batteries were shot......so, I left and went straight over to Heartland Auto Repair....and they were not busy. So....just told them I need them to drop in two new batteries as these were dead. Jesse....a former tpt player in band.....checked out the batteries and agreed......they were DOA!!! And.....about an hour later....I paid him and returned to the stick and brick.
By this time it was almost 1pm.........I quickly had a sandwich...and began mowing the yard. Ok.....the heat factor was getting higher, more humidity....and soon the heat index was 95 degrees with a hot sun shining all over the yard....no trees!!! Off and on....I mowed and then returned to the patio, or to the a/c inside for rest breaks with lots of water. Each time I stopped, I found myself resting long, drinking more, and staying inside a bit longer. It was finally 6pm before I finished........DAMN!!!! WHAT a hot afternoon.....
The roofers left around 7:30pm....and after I showered, I fixed a "Panera Bread" salad......I cup up some of those incredible fresh tomatoes that I have been purchasing at the local fresh produce store, cut up some mozzarella cheese into chunks, took one of the tortillas we had purchased at Trader Joe's....cut it up into bite sized pieces, and then drizzled EVO over all it including salt and pepper......and VOILA!!!!! A delightful, tart and wonderfully flavorful fresh salad......and OMG, it was sooooo good!!!
This evening......I have just reclined on the wonderful sofa with the built-in chaise and watched the plasma for a couple of short hours.....kicking back and relaxing. My body is really, really angry with me...and is letting me know just how badly it feels!!!!! My mind continues to work overtime on the morning where everything mechanical went wrong. However, it was sooo much better for those batteries to die on me here in town rather than some damn rest stop in the middle of hot and dry Kansas next week as we drive across that not-so-pleasant state on the way to Colorado.
The roofers got the front half of the house shingled, but the details have not been completed....and they still have the next half, the guttering, the rubber roof sections to do, and the chimney to fix. I believe it is going to take them longer than they anticipated. The roof in the front looks great and will look better with the new guttering......love the architectural shingles.....a 3D look with shades of dark brown!
Yes.....YES,YES....I hear you, damn it!!!! My body is now screaming out at me for mistreating it this afternoon.....and I suppose I will have to humor it, since it IS elderly!!!! Time for a relaxing cup of tea, a piece of chocolate....and soon obey it's wishes.....and lay it down on the bed. But.....even with "it" in revolt tonight.......as always........
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
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