Monday, October 16, 2006
AHHHHH......the beauty of demolition!!!!
By a bit after nine this morning, the two trucks, each pulling a long trailer, arrived and backed into the driveway........as the rains continued to deluge TheHowserHouse. After a bit of discussion with me, the crew brought the tools inside......and for the rest of the day, the crowbars, hammers, and other instruments of destruction were working furiously. By the end of the afternoon, there were no cabinets on the wall or floor, the built-in pantry was not longer there, the appliances were all gone,and the layers of flooring were almost gone.
UGLY!!!!!!! An honest description of the room where the kitchen used to be..........various paint colors exposed, large swatches of ancient wallpaper were visible, and nail holes, screws protruding, and strange holes in the walls......all of this where our former kitchen used to be. Will it ever be done???? OF COURSE it will......and soon we will be enjoying the rewards of all of our stressed out shopping and decisions and arguments!!
A few decisions need to be made as to exactly where we want to locate the electrical outlets, the switches, and exactly where we want the recessed canned lights placed in the ceiling. Nothing major........just the final little details!!!
And so.........after all of the banging, sawing, groaning with the weight of the appliances, etc., etc., etc......the day has come to a close........and with the excitement of a glass half-full type of day.......
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also.
UGLY!!!!!!! An honest description of the room where the kitchen used to be..........various paint colors exposed, large swatches of ancient wallpaper were visible, and nail holes, screws protruding, and strange holes in the walls......all of this where our former kitchen used to be. Will it ever be done???? OF COURSE it will......and soon we will be enjoying the rewards of all of our stressed out shopping and decisions and arguments!!
A few decisions need to be made as to exactly where we want to locate the electrical outlets, the switches, and exactly where we want the recessed canned lights placed in the ceiling. Nothing major........just the final little details!!!
And so.........after all of the banging, sawing, groaning with the weight of the appliances, etc., etc., etc......the day has come to a close........and with the excitement of a glass half-full type of day.......
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Evening update......READY!!!!!!!
Can't believe that most of the morning and on into the middle of the afternoon, the 1st Lady and I were each on our own lappies researching the many, many and varied rv resorts in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I made over 30 phone calls to different parks checking on facilities and amenitiess trying to narrow down our choices. There are right at 500 campgrounds and rv resorts in the Valley.....and so the choices are MANY!! I/we feel the need to get a reservation made so that we don't have to drive up and down the highway checking them out before we set up housekeeping in TheHowserHouse for 31 days in January. I prefer to not be tooooo close to the Gulf as the winds are neverending and that is something neither one of use would like to put up with......for a month.
Since neither one of us are golfers, that is not a priority.....of course! But, we would like some activities within the resort.......cards, dances, dinners, social activities to say the least. Sooooo, more calls tomorrow.......
Later this afternoon I finished up....in two hours....the evacuation of the kitchen and the sun room. WOW.......we already can't find anything.....and it doesn't matter which item I put into the RV.....THAT is just the item that the 1st Lady HAS to have immediately!!!!! I don't know how many trips I have made out to the RV to bring back a single item.........only to go out again for another thing she must have......HAHHAA....it never fails!
And now.........a bit of the tellie shows and then off to my book that I have been reading for eons of time. The Cards may not win this one tonight........so we are flipping back and forth between the game and "Brothers and Sisters" on ABC. We are hooked on this new show.......really, really interesting with each family member having their own personal story.
Sooooo...........with the demolition set to begin....the rooms are "READY".....and....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Since neither one of us are golfers, that is not a priority.....of course! But, we would like some activities within the resort.......cards, dances, dinners, social activities to say the least. Sooooo, more calls tomorrow.......
Later this afternoon I finished up....in two hours....the evacuation of the kitchen and the sun room. WOW.......we already can't find anything.....and it doesn't matter which item I put into the RV.....THAT is just the item that the 1st Lady HAS to have immediately!!!!! I don't know how many trips I have made out to the RV to bring back a single item.........only to go out again for another thing she must have......HAHHAA....it never fails!
And now.........a bit of the tellie shows and then off to my book that I have been reading for eons of time. The Cards may not win this one tonight........so we are flipping back and forth between the game and "Brothers and Sisters" on ABC. We are hooked on this new show.......really, really interesting with each family member having their own personal story.
Sooooo...........with the demolition set to begin....the rooms are "READY".....and....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!
An early post.....
Oh yeah......yesterday WAS another moving "stuff" day. I spent most of the day emptying the sun room of plants and other "stuff" that has been stored there way tooooo long as we remodel this house. I am running out of places to temporarily store things as we prepare for the demolition of the kitchen and the shared wall to the sun room.......which begins tomorrow morning at 7:30am!!!! My contractor dropped by yesterday (Sat) and we discussed the plans again....hoping that we have all bases covered. He plans to bring his construction trailer by today and dropping it off in our driveway so he can begin on time tomorrow. He also told us that they would be working "late"...."over-time"....if we didn't mind. HELL NO.....just get the job completed.........this is my "Stage 2" of our home remodeling which BEGAN on FEB 2 of this year!!!!
Soooo, I only left the house once to get some things from the local grocery store. The rest of the time was in getting things out and stored.
I did have to be extremely quiet though for many hours as the 1st Lady awoke with a horrific migaine yesterday morning. It took until the middle of the afternoon before she was able to stand and walk through the house.....and enjoy any light of day. She has to have darkness during these infrequent bouts of head banging..........but she recoverd as she does, but it takes the medications several hours to do their work......Thank God!!
We enjoyed the ball games....Mizzou (except they lost)....and the Cards during the day yesterday and last night. During the FB game I was still moving things, so I couldn't give it my full attention....is that the reason they lost????? hmmmmmm.......don't really think so!
Today......well, the items in the diswasher and on the counter that we have been using to "stay afloat" the last couple of days must be moved and everything gone from the kitchen by tomorrow. The fridge will be moved in the morning, with the contractor's crew's assistance and replugged into some outlet in the living room. Hopefully we can keep most of the items inside without taking them out.
Sooooo......have a good day and I will be back this evening to inform you of this cloudy day's activities of TheHowserHouse/stick and brick.
Soooo, I only left the house once to get some things from the local grocery store. The rest of the time was in getting things out and stored.
I did have to be extremely quiet though for many hours as the 1st Lady awoke with a horrific migaine yesterday morning. It took until the middle of the afternoon before she was able to stand and walk through the house.....and enjoy any light of day. She has to have darkness during these infrequent bouts of head banging..........but she recoverd as she does, but it takes the medications several hours to do their work......Thank God!!
We enjoyed the ball games....Mizzou (except they lost)....and the Cards during the day yesterday and last night. During the FB game I was still moving things, so I couldn't give it my full attention....is that the reason they lost????? hmmmmmm.......don't really think so!
Today......well, the items in the diswasher and on the counter that we have been using to "stay afloat" the last couple of days must be moved and everything gone from the kitchen by tomorrow. The fridge will be moved in the morning, with the contractor's crew's assistance and replugged into some outlet in the living room. Hopefully we can keep most of the items inside without taking them out.
Sooooo......have a good day and I will be back this evening to inform you of this cloudy day's activities of TheHowserHouse/stick and brick.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Another day.......disappeared!!!
My "start the day slowly" with a couple of cups of hot French Roast coffee......well, sorry to say, these types of days do not seem possible right now. It is much more like grab the coffee cup....carry it from one room to another....and keep moving the infamous HowserHouse "stuff" as quickly as possible. And so, today was one of those hurry up and get busy days.....and so, I carried that wonderful dark, aromatic cup of coffee from one place to another as I moved the "stuff" from the rear sun room. I found myself making several dozen trips from the sun room, across the patio, and over the wet lawn to the storage shed in the rear of the overly-filled garage.........carrying as much as I could keep stable in my arms. The good news is that the sun room is almost empty and should be tomorrow morning.
The man who lays the hardwood floors arrived at about noon today to look over the task that he has to lay the new flooring in the kitchen AND re-finish the all of the hardwood floors in the entire house. He figured out the sq. footage for the re-finishing, checked the size of the kitchen and then gave us his costs.......and, not as bad as I had thought. Sooooo, we then discussed the plans for getting this all done in coordination with the contractor and his crew. And.......when he could re-finish the floors and the tasks we would then have moving ALL of the furniture AND all of the "stuff" again.....to allow complete access to the floors. We decided to do it in two stages so that we would have place for all of the furniture .........and this means moving EVERYTHING once again, including the grand piano!!!!!!!! ( Hear that, Goldie???) Within the next 2...maybe 3, weeks. I will NEVER move again.......I have moved all of this furniture in this house once before when we had the floors stripped and re-finished several years ago......and now ....well it is going to happen again.
As soon as he left, the 1st Lady and I headed up to the city to finish getting the new recessed lights, pendant lights for above the bar/counter, under the counter lights, and lights for inside two of the new kitchen cabinets. We also picked up our new sink........
Then it was a trip through Trader Joe's!!! We have been to these stores a few times before, but IF you have NOT been there, get your buns moving and spend some time looking and then purchasing some of their great bargains. They have some EXCELLENT bargains on my dark red medicine.....and so, I bought several bottles for my health.
And then.......we decided to have dinner at Red Lobster. Hmmmm.........again, I ask: am I getting toooo crotchity????? I really don't think so, but the Snow Crab Legs, all 1.5 pounds that I ordered, were just not good!!! They were over-cooked, very dry, and didn't have that wonderful sweet, succulent taste....and I was a bit upset about it. I kept trying to eat another one, but the taste and the meat were.....well, it just wasn't good!! Soooo, with my ripe, experienced age....I called for the server and complained. The 1st Lady also had ordered the crab legs and she was very displeased with hers. The server was very nice, apologetic, and brought another very hot and not over-cooked dinner to the 1st Lady......and I just told her to bring me some fried shrimp. Her crab legs were much improved over the first plate and she consumed them. My shrimp was good......and no one became upset.......thankfully. The older I become, the more I find myself feeling that quality and service should always be very good for any establishment that has any pride and reputation for decent food. While there are much, much better seafood restaurants, I have always enjoyed dining at Red Lobster, even thought it IS a chain establishment. I was very impressed at their "customer service" tonight.........the entire matter was handled with smiles and professionalism.
We returned home around 10pm......and I am now about ready to lay this aging hulk on the bed.....as it is after midnight....AND.....there IS more "stuff" to move tomorrow. And so.........after a fast moving day that disppeared into........somewhere,
Life is Great(for this "stuff" mover)......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
The man who lays the hardwood floors arrived at about noon today to look over the task that he has to lay the new flooring in the kitchen AND re-finish the all of the hardwood floors in the entire house. He figured out the sq. footage for the re-finishing, checked the size of the kitchen and then gave us his costs.......and, not as bad as I had thought. Sooooo, we then discussed the plans for getting this all done in coordination with the contractor and his crew. And.......when he could re-finish the floors and the tasks we would then have moving ALL of the furniture AND all of the "stuff" again.....to allow complete access to the floors. We decided to do it in two stages so that we would have place for all of the furniture .........and this means moving EVERYTHING once again, including the grand piano!!!!!!!! ( Hear that, Goldie???) Within the next 2...maybe 3, weeks. I will NEVER move again.......I have moved all of this furniture in this house once before when we had the floors stripped and re-finished several years ago......and now ....well it is going to happen again.
As soon as he left, the 1st Lady and I headed up to the city to finish getting the new recessed lights, pendant lights for above the bar/counter, under the counter lights, and lights for inside two of the new kitchen cabinets. We also picked up our new sink........
Then it was a trip through Trader Joe's!!! We have been to these stores a few times before, but IF you have NOT been there, get your buns moving and spend some time looking and then purchasing some of their great bargains. They have some EXCELLENT bargains on my dark red medicine.....and so, I bought several bottles for my health.
And then.......we decided to have dinner at Red Lobster. Hmmmm.........again, I ask: am I getting toooo crotchity????? I really don't think so, but the Snow Crab Legs, all 1.5 pounds that I ordered, were just not good!!! They were over-cooked, very dry, and didn't have that wonderful sweet, succulent taste....and I was a bit upset about it. I kept trying to eat another one, but the taste and the meat were.....well, it just wasn't good!! Soooo, with my ripe, experienced age....I called for the server and complained. The 1st Lady also had ordered the crab legs and she was very displeased with hers. The server was very nice, apologetic, and brought another very hot and not over-cooked dinner to the 1st Lady......and I just told her to bring me some fried shrimp. Her crab legs were much improved over the first plate and she consumed them. My shrimp was good......and no one became upset.......thankfully. The older I become, the more I find myself feeling that quality and service should always be very good for any establishment that has any pride and reputation for decent food. While there are much, much better seafood restaurants, I have always enjoyed dining at Red Lobster, even thought it IS a chain establishment. I was very impressed at their "customer service" tonight.........the entire matter was handled with smiles and professionalism.
We returned home around 10pm......and I am now about ready to lay this aging hulk on the bed.....as it is after midnight....AND.....there IS more "stuff" to move tomorrow. And so.........after a fast moving day that disppeared into........somewhere,
Life is Great(for this "stuff" mover)......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
WHAT a day!!!!!!
We began the HUGE task of removing all of the kitchen items/food/etc. from the kitchen and trying to find a place/places to temporarily put/store it......UGH. (How was that for all of those slashes??) Most of the glassware/stemware is now laying on the bed in the guest room, the dining room table sits in the hallway groaning not with food, but with dishes, pans, boxes of food items, spices, etc. I would never have believed that it would take us ALL day to get everything out of the kitchen............but it did.
We also began the clearing out of the sun room........books, plants, furniture, etc., etc. Oh my god....but we just have toooooooooooooooooooooo much stuff!!!!! I have said it before.....and I will say it again.......we HAVE to get rid of some of this crappy stuff. Why do I have 44 coffee mugs/cups laying on the bed????? I don't even know 44 people who drink coffee!!! We have five sets of dishes........do we entertain that many people??? NO....seldom are we home enough to even have friends over for dinner.
One of my former students from Eldon came by and brought me some info on rv parks in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I hadn't seen her for a long time, even tho she lives here in F'town....it was sooooo good to visit with her. Why is "time" robbing me of being able to visit with friends.......of getting together for dinner.......of going to wineries during this wonderful Missouri weather???? Hmmmmm......where are MY priorities???????? They sure shouldn't be in this stick and brick........ Melissa, I sooooo enjoyed seeing you today!!!
Tonight will be the first freeze of the season....so, I have covered up a few plants. IF they don't make it.......it won't really matter, will it??? There is always next year....right??? There will only be a few more days/nights here in Missouri when plants can survive at night. THIS is the very best time to live/be in Missouri......because it is not Misery. There is no humidity to notice, the skies are clear and deep blue, and the air is soooooo damn fresh.......WOW!!! It is GREAT.
And with the beautiful weather and the joy of seeing a former student/good friend.......
Life is GREAT........and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
We also began the clearing out of the sun room........books, plants, furniture, etc., etc. Oh my god....but we just have toooooooooooooooooooooo much stuff!!!!! I have said it before.....and I will say it again.......we HAVE to get rid of some of this crappy stuff. Why do I have 44 coffee mugs/cups laying on the bed????? I don't even know 44 people who drink coffee!!! We have five sets of dishes........do we entertain that many people??? NO....seldom are we home enough to even have friends over for dinner.
One of my former students from Eldon came by and brought me some info on rv parks in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I hadn't seen her for a long time, even tho she lives here in F'town....it was sooooo good to visit with her. Why is "time" robbing me of being able to visit with friends.......of getting together for dinner.......of going to wineries during this wonderful Missouri weather???? Hmmmmm......where are MY priorities???????? They sure shouldn't be in this stick and brick........ Melissa, I sooooo enjoyed seeing you today!!!
Tonight will be the first freeze of the season....so, I have covered up a few plants. IF they don't make it.......it won't really matter, will it??? There is always next year....right??? There will only be a few more days/nights here in Missouri when plants can survive at night. THIS is the very best time to live/be in Missouri......because it is not Misery. There is no humidity to notice, the skies are clear and deep blue, and the air is soooooo damn fresh.......WOW!!! It is GREAT.
And with the beautiful weather and the joy of seeing a former student/good friend.......
Life is GREAT........and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG, but what a mess TheHowserHouse/stick and brick is in this evening. When the 1st Lady returned home this afternoon, and after I finished my instrumental lessons, we began to move the "stuff" that I discussed so thoroughly a few weeks ago. Yep........we are now moving it again from the sun room into any other room(s) that we can find space in!!!!! Can you believe it??? It is just as I said........keeping the stuff requires moving the stuff again.....and again.....and again! DAMN!!!!
PLUS, every little fork, plate, box of crackers, spice bottle, zip lock bag, can of soup........EVERYTHING has to be boxed and moved out of all of the cabinets, and the good size pantry. WHERE????????????? WHERE DOES IT ALL GO FOR A FEW WEEKS?????????????? There is no room left.......the dining room and most of the living room are filled with the new cabinets....the garage is filled with furniture that will be put in a yard sale next month....along with all of the new appliances that are currently stored in the garage. Can I survive this????? Usually you will find a positive person here.......but.....this time may push me over the edge.....???
Bear with me....please. "Stay the course"...........and I get indigestion just from typing that phrase..........these new few weeks will be ....errrr....interesting. "Had Enough?".......and I will have before this last project is finished!!!
And as always.........
Life is great....(I think?)......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
PLUS, every little fork, plate, box of crackers, spice bottle, zip lock bag, can of soup........EVERYTHING has to be boxed and moved out of all of the cabinets, and the good size pantry. WHERE????????????? WHERE DOES IT ALL GO FOR A FEW WEEKS?????????????? There is no room left.......the dining room and most of the living room are filled with the new cabinets....the garage is filled with furniture that will be put in a yard sale next month....along with all of the new appliances that are currently stored in the garage. Can I survive this????? Usually you will find a positive person here.......but.....this time may push me over the edge.....???
Bear with me....please. "Stay the course"...........and I get indigestion just from typing that phrase..........these new few weeks will be ....errrr....interesting. "Had Enough?".......and I will have before this last project is finished!!!
And as always.........
Life is great....(I think?)......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
ALL plans can change with ONE phone call!!!
I have spent the past three days, including today, cleaning and waxing TheHowserHouse and the F350 in preparation for fall, winter, and a 1-2 week jaunt around Missouri this month. Granted it really needed all the cleaning and waxing, BUT.........late this afternoon I received a phone call from our contractor, and guess what the news was????
He will be here on Monday to begin the demolition of our kitchen, including the wall between the kitchen and our sun room!!!!!!!!!! Originally he had said that it would be November, at least, before he could finish the project he is currently doing, soooooo the phone call was a BIG and a GREAT surprise!!!! Our instructions: remove EVERYTHING in the cabinets, pantry, refrigerator, etc., etc. AND everything from the sun room before Monday!!!!!! OMG.......shades of last spring: where do we put everything???????????????????
The 1st Lady, who is visiting with her mother, was excited.....and, disappointed. Excited that finally we might get this all wrapped up and finished......and disappointed that we will not be able to make this October trip......BUT.......the good news certainly took priority over the disappointment!!!!
Soooooo, she will return later tomorrow and then we will get to work MOVING everything around to make room for the demolition and for the reconstruction. Now I must get hold of our floor man to make an appointment for the hardwood floor to be laid in the kitchen, after the cabinets are in. Then we have to get the granite tiles for the countertop, lights for the ceiling, lights for under the cabs, and two lights for the cabs that will have glass front inserts. A trip to STL is definitely in order for this weekend!!
And with all of this news............
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
He will be here on Monday to begin the demolition of our kitchen, including the wall between the kitchen and our sun room!!!!!!!!!! Originally he had said that it would be November, at least, before he could finish the project he is currently doing, soooooo the phone call was a BIG and a GREAT surprise!!!! Our instructions: remove EVERYTHING in the cabinets, pantry, refrigerator, etc., etc. AND everything from the sun room before Monday!!!!!! OMG.......shades of last spring: where do we put everything???????????????????
The 1st Lady, who is visiting with her mother, was excited.....and, disappointed. Excited that finally we might get this all wrapped up and finished......and disappointed that we will not be able to make this October trip......BUT.......the good news certainly took priority over the disappointment!!!!
Soooooo, she will return later tomorrow and then we will get to work MOVING everything around to make room for the demolition and for the reconstruction. Now I must get hold of our floor man to make an appointment for the hardwood floor to be laid in the kitchen, after the cabinets are in. Then we have to get the granite tiles for the countertop, lights for the ceiling, lights for under the cabs, and two lights for the cabs that will have glass front inserts. A trip to STL is definitely in order for this weekend!!
And with all of this news............
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Monday, October 09, 2006
Day 3 of cleaning and waxing!!!!
Oh yeah.........another evening/night of aching shoulders and arms!!!!! BUT....the good news is that I am just about through with this project of fall cleaning........I only have some caulking to do on the roof seams of TheHowserHouse(rv) and then putting some conditioner on the "rubber" roof of the unit. AND then it will be done (for another year).
So, today I was out in the incredibly beautiful October weather here in Missouri.....out about 9AM and immediately began scrubbing the awning on TheHowserHouse, both top side and underneath. THIS I had not done since purchasing it two years ago, sooooo.......it was badly in need of some TLC. I just didn't get around to it last year and somehow this summer......well, I'm not certain where it disappeared to since it is now approaching the middle of October. After a couple of hours of work and getting drenched from the water hose........the appearance is great!!! I used a very small amount of "Simple Green" in a bucket of water....and WOW!!!! Does it every make cleaning much easier!!! Try it, if you haven't done so........it seems to work on about everything.
When that was finished, I then washed the outside of the rv windows on the shady side. And then.......I began a new project.....washing the truck. This, in turn, led to..........yep....more work. I decided I might as well go ahead and wax it, also. Looking at my mental calendar, I realized that I might not have another wonderful day to work on it. Sooooooo, the rest of the day was spent taking care of this project.
I did make some reservations for this coming weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks. I need to spend some time with the "EverReady Battery"........my mother. I haven't been to visit with her since late June and so this looks like a good time to go over there. We will be rving.....and will hook it up at Riverview Campground, just below the "new" bridge down from Bagnell Dam. Plan to stay at least to Sunday......and, perhaps until Monday morning. Then we will see where the road takes us......
Looks like Missouri's weather is about to change in the next couple of days..........will be dropping down into the "cold" area of the thermometer.......DAMN!!!!! It is tooooooo early for cold weather.......isn't it?????
Tonight.....well, I am really tired tonight.....guess the past three days are all compounding with my sagging hulk.....and it is not only sagging, but it a hurting sag with all of the stretching and and polishing and working up and down the ladder that I have done. OK........it COULD be my advancing age......couldn't it????? But....I will not let my body talk me into that excuse!!!!!!!!!!!
So.......with a full day outside in this beautiful weather, it can be nothing other than.....
Life is GREAT......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!!
So, today I was out in the incredibly beautiful October weather here in Missouri.....out about 9AM and immediately began scrubbing the awning on TheHowserHouse, both top side and underneath. THIS I had not done since purchasing it two years ago, sooooo.......it was badly in need of some TLC. I just didn't get around to it last year and somehow this summer......well, I'm not certain where it disappeared to since it is now approaching the middle of October. After a couple of hours of work and getting drenched from the water hose........the appearance is great!!! I used a very small amount of "Simple Green" in a bucket of water....and WOW!!!! Does it every make cleaning much easier!!! Try it, if you haven't done so........it seems to work on about everything.
When that was finished, I then washed the outside of the rv windows on the shady side. And then.......I began a new project.....washing the truck. This, in turn, led to..........yep....more work. I decided I might as well go ahead and wax it, also. Looking at my mental calendar, I realized that I might not have another wonderful day to work on it. Sooooooo, the rest of the day was spent taking care of this project.
I did make some reservations for this coming weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks. I need to spend some time with the "EverReady Battery"........my mother. I haven't been to visit with her since late June and so this looks like a good time to go over there. We will be rving.....and will hook it up at Riverview Campground, just below the "new" bridge down from Bagnell Dam. Plan to stay at least to Sunday......and, perhaps until Monday morning. Then we will see where the road takes us......
Looks like Missouri's weather is about to change in the next couple of days..........will be dropping down into the "cold" area of the thermometer.......DAMN!!!!! It is tooooooo early for cold weather.......isn't it?????
Tonight.....well, I am really tired tonight.....guess the past three days are all compounding with my sagging hulk.....and it is not only sagging, but it a hurting sag with all of the stretching and and polishing and working up and down the ladder that I have done. OK........it COULD be my advancing age......couldn't it????? But....I will not let my body talk me into that excuse!!!!!!!!!!!
So.......with a full day outside in this beautiful weather, it can be nothing other than.....
Life is GREAT......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
A weekend of cleaning and waxing.....
NOW......don't misread that title.........THIS old man was NOT the one getting cleaned and waxed!!! From early yesterday morning until dusk and from mid-morning today until dusk, I was on top of TheHowserHouse(RV), under it, standing on an 8 foot ladder along the 13 foot sides, etc., etc.etc. YEP.....it was time to get some of the accumulated dirt, mud, and stuck-on bugs off of it.....and to "spruce" it up to the original look.
Soooo, yesterday by dusk, I was almost unable to lift my arms above my waist......my shoulders and arms were soooooo stiff and sore from all of the cleaning and then the beginning of a wax job!!!!!! I couldn't even bring myself to make a post on this little blog......it just hurt tooooo damn much!!
Today.....the 1st Lady left for 2-3 days to see her dentist (Dr. Jeni) tomorrow morning, and then a two day trip to NE Missouri to visit her mother. Soooooo, after spending some Fr. Roast coffee time with the Sunday morning talk shows.......I was soon up on the ladder and waxing and polishing the huge dinosaur-on-wheels that rests peacefully in my driveway. And....by this evening, I must say it is looking much, much better!!!!!! STILL some work to do tomorrow.......the window need washing, the tires/wheels need some cleaning, and I have to scrub the awning, too!!!
Sooooo, tomorrow is another day of sore arms and shoulders. Am I looking forward to finishing this fall cleaning????? You damn well bet I am!!!!!
OH MY GOD.......I just see on the tellie that N. Korea has done a nuclear test!!!!!!!!!! NOW what will "W." do?????? I am certain he will put on his cowboy boots and join Dark and Doom Cheney to do something that shouldn't be done!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did we invade the wrong country a few years ago????? Hmmmmmm......... With the Bush Administration at the helm of a sinking ship/country, the news does not bode well for us........which makes it MORE imperative that we have a new Congress in four weeks!!!! I can remember back to the Truman presidency.....and I will quite honestly say that this is the worst President and Administration that I have seen in my Lifetime!!!!!!!!! I have NEVER voted a straight ticket in my entire lifetime of voting........, but this year WILL be different!!!! IT is time for a change!!!!!
And sooooo, I will climb down from my tiny soapbox for tonight....and still declare that...
Life is Great.......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Soooo, yesterday by dusk, I was almost unable to lift my arms above my waist......my shoulders and arms were soooooo stiff and sore from all of the cleaning and then the beginning of a wax job!!!!!! I couldn't even bring myself to make a post on this little blog......it just hurt tooooo damn much!!
Today.....the 1st Lady left for 2-3 days to see her dentist (Dr. Jeni) tomorrow morning, and then a two day trip to NE Missouri to visit her mother. Soooooo, after spending some Fr. Roast coffee time with the Sunday morning talk shows.......I was soon up on the ladder and waxing and polishing the huge dinosaur-on-wheels that rests peacefully in my driveway. And....by this evening, I must say it is looking much, much better!!!!!! STILL some work to do tomorrow.......the window need washing, the tires/wheels need some cleaning, and I have to scrub the awning, too!!!
Sooooo, tomorrow is another day of sore arms and shoulders. Am I looking forward to finishing this fall cleaning????? You damn well bet I am!!!!!
OH MY GOD.......I just see on the tellie that N. Korea has done a nuclear test!!!!!!!!!! NOW what will "W." do?????? I am certain he will put on his cowboy boots and join Dark and Doom Cheney to do something that shouldn't be done!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did we invade the wrong country a few years ago????? Hmmmmmm......... With the Bush Administration at the helm of a sinking ship/country, the news does not bode well for us........which makes it MORE imperative that we have a new Congress in four weeks!!!! I can remember back to the Truman presidency.....and I will quite honestly say that this is the worst President and Administration that I have seen in my Lifetime!!!!!!!!! I have NEVER voted a straight ticket in my entire lifetime of voting........, but this year WILL be different!!!! IT is time for a change!!!!!
And sooooo, I will climb down from my tiny soapbox for tonight....and still declare that...
Life is Great.......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Friday, October 06, 2006
Beautiful October Days in Missouri!!
THESE are the kind of days that I LOVE to live in Missouri!!!!! But you know what......there are soooooo few of these wonderful humidity-free days that I oftentimes wonder why I still stay here most of the year????!!!! Nevertheless......it was an absolutely gorgeous day here.
After a wonderful steaming cup of Fr.Roast coffee this morning, I jumped into the truck and headed north to STL to pick up the new ss dishwasher and ss microwave that we purchased prior to leaving for Disney World. I also needed to exchange the lamp shade on one of the new bedroom lamps that we purchased for the bedroom. The shade that was on the lamp was slightly dented on two corners.....and so I made arrangements with Amercian Furniture/Appliances to exchange it for a "perfect" one. And......so, I took the dented one with me this morning.
I stopped on I-55 north of Festus at a QT to get some "cheap"(??) diesel at $2.29 a gallon.....and then went on to STL. It seemed to take longer to get all of the other small errands that had to also be done besides picking up our new appliances. Soooo, it was about 2pm when I returned to F'town this afternoon.
And now that it is October, we can LEGALLY burn brush, limbs, leaves that have accumulated for the past spring and summer, but we can only burn from 10am to 4pm. Soooooo, I quickly changed into my "burn" clothes and spent the next hour after returning with a hose in one hand and a rake in the other........burning lots of brush and limbs!!!! It took about an hour to do this safely......and I am thankful that it is finally done. I HATE piles of brush just laying in the corner of the yard.....not a clean look to any area with all of that brush.
Then this evening......well, it has been just kick back and enjoy. The 1st Lady fixed a beautiful mixed salad with a couple of flash fried chicken strips laying on top of the greens. A balsamic viniagarette (there's that mis-spelled word again) dressing was drizzled over the top......and tonight I made a DRASTIC change: I had a wonderful chilled glass of Chardonnay (Long Neck brand from South Africa).....and it was really, really great!!! I purchased it at World Market in STL......and it was the last one in the slot on the rack of wines for that particular brand. I finished off a Cabernet of that brand....and loved it. Sooooo, I am enjoying the Chardonnay now.
With that glass of wine still flavoring my palette.......I must say heartily that......
Life IS Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!!!!!
After a wonderful steaming cup of Fr.Roast coffee this morning, I jumped into the truck and headed north to STL to pick up the new ss dishwasher and ss microwave that we purchased prior to leaving for Disney World. I also needed to exchange the lamp shade on one of the new bedroom lamps that we purchased for the bedroom. The shade that was on the lamp was slightly dented on two corners.....and so I made arrangements with Amercian Furniture/Appliances to exchange it for a "perfect" one. And......so, I took the dented one with me this morning.
I stopped on I-55 north of Festus at a QT to get some "cheap"(??) diesel at $2.29 a gallon.....and then went on to STL. It seemed to take longer to get all of the other small errands that had to also be done besides picking up our new appliances. Soooo, it was about 2pm when I returned to F'town this afternoon.
And now that it is October, we can LEGALLY burn brush, limbs, leaves that have accumulated for the past spring and summer, but we can only burn from 10am to 4pm. Soooooo, I quickly changed into my "burn" clothes and spent the next hour after returning with a hose in one hand and a rake in the other........burning lots of brush and limbs!!!! It took about an hour to do this safely......and I am thankful that it is finally done. I HATE piles of brush just laying in the corner of the yard.....not a clean look to any area with all of that brush.
Then this evening......well, it has been just kick back and enjoy. The 1st Lady fixed a beautiful mixed salad with a couple of flash fried chicken strips laying on top of the greens. A balsamic viniagarette (there's that mis-spelled word again) dressing was drizzled over the top......and tonight I made a DRASTIC change: I had a wonderful chilled glass of Chardonnay (Long Neck brand from South Africa).....and it was really, really great!!! I purchased it at World Market in STL......and it was the last one in the slot on the rack of wines for that particular brand. I finished off a Cabernet of that brand....and loved it. Sooooo, I am enjoying the Chardonnay now.
With that glass of wine still flavoring my palette.......I must say heartily that......
Life IS Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, October 05, 2006
A busy two days.....
I sure as hell hope I am not getting lazy in my advancing age!!!! Yesterday......well, I decided that I had to give my lawn a haircut.......and this time I made certain it was a bit shorter than usual. But.....the bad thing is that it was sooooo damn hot outside....and not a breeze could be found up here on Buford Heights. I didn't get started until about 11:30.....and of course, that was in the heat of the day........so it took me a bit longer than usual as I stopped more frequently to rehydrate my dripping body.
Then during the late afternoon, I had some private music lessons to give. Supper was light and not very caloric......something that I needed because I really packed on the pounds while eating ALL of that great food in Disney World last week.
I then perched myself on the new sofa in front of that great plasma tv.......and fell fast asleep by 8:30pm!!!!!! I NEVER do that!!!!! The 1st Lady woke me up and told me to get to bed......which for once, I complied with no verbage from me.
This morning we were up early as we had decided to spend the morning and early afternoon with Mike in Bonne Terre. On the way up I had to drop off my truck at a diesel service shop for an oil change and a general overall checkup on all of it's fluids and arteries and breathing mechanisms. After our visit with Mike, we dropped by and I was told that everything had checked out A-OK.....except a new right wheel bearing was required. UGH.....I had no idea it would be sooooo expensive!!!!!! THAT sure set back our monthly budget planning. But......like many things, it was necessary to replace it and so it had been done!!!
Returned home late afternoon and just kicked back and relaxed a bit. I decided to fix dinner since the 1st Lady is STILL not recovered from her cold which she came home from Florida with......not a very good sentence, is it?? Soooo, I fixed some Tortellini with Alfredo sauce and mushrooms with some fresh parsley and fresh basil from my herb garden dribbled on top, a bit of Tuscan garlic bread with freshly grated Parmesan cheese melted on top, and some dark red medicine for myself. Ummmmm......soooo good, if I do say so myself!!!
Then it was a quick change and I was off to the county Democrat Club meeting. This lasted a bit longer than I anticipated, but it was good to see soooooooooooooooo many of my supporters and friends from my own campaign two years ago.
And soooo, I then returned home and am now attempting to catch up on my posting. I may throw on a few other pics from our trip last week.....hope I don't repeat any I have posted already.
And sooooo, another two days of my rapidly diminishing Life has passed.....but not matter how the days have gone.....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!! REALLY, I DO!!!
Then during the late afternoon, I had some private music lessons to give. Supper was light and not very caloric......something that I needed because I really packed on the pounds while eating ALL of that great food in Disney World last week.
I then perched myself on the new sofa in front of that great plasma tv.......and fell fast asleep by 8:30pm!!!!!! I NEVER do that!!!!! The 1st Lady woke me up and told me to get to bed......which for once, I complied with no verbage from me.
This morning we were up early as we had decided to spend the morning and early afternoon with Mike in Bonne Terre. On the way up I had to drop off my truck at a diesel service shop for an oil change and a general overall checkup on all of it's fluids and arteries and breathing mechanisms. After our visit with Mike, we dropped by and I was told that everything had checked out A-OK.....except a new right wheel bearing was required. UGH.....I had no idea it would be sooooo expensive!!!!!! THAT sure set back our monthly budget planning. But......like many things, it was necessary to replace it and so it had been done!!!
Returned home late afternoon and just kicked back and relaxed a bit. I decided to fix dinner since the 1st Lady is STILL not recovered from her cold which she came home from Florida with......not a very good sentence, is it?? Soooo, I fixed some Tortellini with Alfredo sauce and mushrooms with some fresh parsley and fresh basil from my herb garden dribbled on top, a bit of Tuscan garlic bread with freshly grated Parmesan cheese melted on top, and some dark red medicine for myself. Ummmmm......soooo good, if I do say so myself!!!
Then it was a quick change and I was off to the county Democrat Club meeting. This lasted a bit longer than I anticipated, but it was good to see soooooooooooooooo many of my supporters and friends from my own campaign two years ago.
And soooo, I then returned home and am now attempting to catch up on my posting. I may throw on a few other pics from our trip last week.....hope I don't repeat any I have posted already.
And sooooo, another two days of my rapidly diminishing Life has passed.....but not matter how the days have gone.....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!! REALLY, I DO!!!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
A day of driving......625 miles
I left a few minutes after 5am this morning for Kansas City to bring TheHowserHouse back to F'town where it belongs. I had taken it to KC(Grain Valley) to Nationwide RV for some repairs that were needed. Nationwide RV has such a fine-55. reputation for sales and service of rv's and since they are such wonderful supporters of our Cedar Creek RV Owners Club....I decided to let them handle the repairs. I was called while I was in Orlando last week that it was ready to be picked up....and paid for.
Hence....my quick trip to KC and back today. I returned here exactly 12 hours after I left this morning.....almost to the minute!! I ran into HEAVY early morning rush hour traffic in STL, but once I was headed west on I-64....the traffic thinned out and and I was in KC in less than 5 hours. Thankfully, I had brought my own Fr. Roast coffee in a good thermos.....and so I sipped on it clear across the state.
I filled up with diesel fuel before picking up TheHowserHouse......$2.29 a gallon!!! It was at the QT in just outside Grain Valley.....and it was the same price I had paid at the QT two weeks ago just north of Festus on I_55. It only took about 30 minutes to pay the bill, discuss the repairs, and then hook up ......and soon I was rolling east on I-70. LOTS more traffic on 70......and so it was much more tense as I was pulling 38' of rv behind me.....and the winds were slamming me from the side which made the driving not soooo pleasant.
Just outside of Warrenton I stopped at a Flying J to grab a bite to eat. Wellllllll.....that was a BIG mistake!!!!! I ordered just a cheeseburger and it was COLD when they served it to me......so I told the waitress and she returned it to the kitchen. The "put it on the grill" and so she asked me if it was ok. Wellllllllll....it was like trying to eat shoe leather.......sooooo tough! What did I do???? Welllllll, I told her about it and so she had the cook fix me a different one. Hmmmmm, guess what!!! Same story.........I had to cut it with a knife in order to eat it!!! Soon the manager came over to the table and ask how things were......and I told him. He explained that at Flying J the hamburgers are all pre-cooked when they get them, so they will be tough!!!! I said that certainly was not good for the restaurants......to serve tough hamburgers. Sooooo, he took my check and said it was not necessary for me to pay for my meal.....and asked if I wanted anything different to eat. I explained that I did not complain just to get my meal paid for.....but to let the kitchen....and him.....realize that the food was not of a very high standard.
Hmmmmm.......so I let him tear up the bill. Was I being crotchity in my old age???? I think not......I was just being honest when it comes to being served food that is not presentable or edible for their customers. My suggestion to all of you: Do not order hamburgers of any kind at Flying J's!!!!!!!!!
And so....I will get off of my "soapbox" and finish this little blog post for the evening....and get some much needed rest. Even if my hamburger wasn't edible........
Life is Great.......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Hence....my quick trip to KC and back today. I returned here exactly 12 hours after I left this morning.....almost to the minute!! I ran into HEAVY early morning rush hour traffic in STL, but once I was headed west on I-64....the traffic thinned out and and I was in KC in less than 5 hours. Thankfully, I had brought my own Fr. Roast coffee in a good thermos.....and so I sipped on it clear across the state.
I filled up with diesel fuel before picking up TheHowserHouse......$2.29 a gallon!!! It was at the QT in just outside Grain Valley.....and it was the same price I had paid at the QT two weeks ago just north of Festus on I_55. It only took about 30 minutes to pay the bill, discuss the repairs, and then hook up ......and soon I was rolling east on I-70. LOTS more traffic on 70......and so it was much more tense as I was pulling 38' of rv behind me.....and the winds were slamming me from the side which made the driving not soooo pleasant.
Just outside of Warrenton I stopped at a Flying J to grab a bite to eat. Wellllllll.....that was a BIG mistake!!!!! I ordered just a cheeseburger and it was COLD when they served it to me......so I told the waitress and she returned it to the kitchen. The "put it on the grill" and so she asked me if it was ok. Wellllllllll....it was like trying to eat shoe leather.......sooooo tough! What did I do???? Welllllll, I told her about it and so she had the cook fix me a different one. Hmmmmm, guess what!!! Same story.........I had to cut it with a knife in order to eat it!!! Soon the manager came over to the table and ask how things were......and I told him. He explained that at Flying J the hamburgers are all pre-cooked when they get them, so they will be tough!!!! I said that certainly was not good for the restaurants......to serve tough hamburgers. Sooooo, he took my check and said it was not necessary for me to pay for my meal.....and asked if I wanted anything different to eat. I explained that I did not complain just to get my meal paid for.....but to let the kitchen....and him.....realize that the food was not of a very high standard.
Hmmmmm.......so I let him tear up the bill. Was I being crotchity in my old age???? I think not......I was just being honest when it comes to being served food that is not presentable or edible for their customers. My suggestion to all of you: Do not order hamburgers of any kind at Flying J's!!!!!!!!!
And so....I will get off of my "soapbox" and finish this little blog post for the evening....and get some much needed rest. Even if my hamburger wasn't edible........
Life is Great.......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Monday, October 02, 2006
A crappy day....
I woke up not feeling tooooo good, but I had made plans to drive the truck to KC to pick up TheHowserHouse tomorrow morning. Well.....the longer I laid there, the stranger I felt.....and soon I realized that I wasn't going anywhere except to the necessary room. Sooooo......I just hung out in an easy chair for most of the day.......UGH!!!
Nationwide RV is expecting me to pick up the RV tomorrow.....sooo, I will get my hulk out bed during the dark of early morn.....and head north and then west across the state. I hope to be there by mid to late morning.....and then perhaps get TheHowserHouse home by tomorrow before sunset. A busy day......right?????
And sooooo, I have nothing new to send out to you......and even with that.....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
Nationwide RV is expecting me to pick up the RV tomorrow.....sooo, I will get my hulk out bed during the dark of early morn.....and head north and then west across the state. I hope to be there by mid to late morning.....and then perhaps get TheHowserHouse home by tomorrow before sunset. A busy day......right?????
And sooooo, I have nothing new to send out to you......and even with that.....
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)