Well...This has been an extraordinarily educational week for myself. Lots of lessons learned, mostly the hard way. But, those are the ones that are hardest to forget also. So...I got that going for me.
What lessons are those, juvat?
Well, Mrs. J asked for my assistance in installing a drip irrigation for her plants. The Lady has quite the green thumb. Not only does she do well with flowering plants....
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| Lantana |
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| Anaheim Peppers, the Poblanos are in the background |
The reason she wanted the irrigation system is summer is nigh and we have several "events" scheduled over the next several weeks where we will be out of pocket for a couple of days or more. One of those we'll be discussing later in this missive. But, in any case, she wanted something to insure the plants would be watered. That task will be called "Plumbing".
We went to the Big Box Store (BBS) and bought all the accoutrements we thought we'd need, RTB'd and began construction. One of the first lessons learned is there's a difference between "Pipe Threading" and "Hose Threading".
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| Yes, Beans that's the "Pet-tio" and the Doggie door AKA "The Pet's Bathroom". |
So...First return trip to BBS for a hose threaded pressure fitting. Got a little further on in the project and realized we had miscounted how many 90 degree connectors we'd need.
Second return trip to BBS.
Finally, got it all connected and time for the big debut.
Yes, Sarge the diagonal white line from the center of the picture to the top left is water.
Third trip to the BBS.
At that point, we're out of time as we are leaving for CStat the following morning. Called my Sister and added "Watering plants" to "Feeding the Animals" on her caretaker list of To Do's.
So...Add Plumber to the list of skill sets I wish I had mastered but have not.
The morning after our arrival at CStat, we started the kitchen project for MBD and The Rev's new house bright and early at 1PM. Unfortunately, one of the other skill sets I wish I had but don't is "Doctor"
MG was feeling quite under the weather and ended up visiting the ER at around Midnight one evening. Thankfully, there were fully trained medical personnel there and she is on the road to recovery now (4 days later). But getting on track to work the house project took a bit longer than expected.
But we did manage to get started. I was confident that "Painter" was one of my actual skill sets having done so during summers to pay for college.. Unfortunately, whilst on a ladder later in the week, I came to the realization that I'd done that in 1973. Beans, before you take off your shoes, that was 50 years ago almost to the day. A lot of things have changed since then, primarily my Back and Knees.
At that point, we also discovered the difference between "Fleeting Glance" and "Intense Deliberation". On the first look at the project requirements, my assessment was "No big deal, just a bit of painting."
Foolish, Foolish, me. As I started to remove the drawer and cabinet handles in prep for painting, MBD decided to count them so we'd know how many we had or would need if she decided on new ones.
Who knew there would be 87?
Well, No big deal, they just unscrew. Let's get started.
Except several of them didn't "just unscrew" and required drilling out the bolt. This slowed down the expected progress somewhat.
So...Add Cabinet Maker to the list of Skills I have not!
MBD had decided she wanted a lighter, brighter kitchen than was currently in the house and her friend, the interior designer, had recommended a couple of shades of white. One for the cabinets, one for the walls. Off to the BBS to pick up samples. Applied the samples to the appropriate areas and Voila'.
This Eagle-Eyed Father could NOT detect a difference in the colors. Saying nothing about that deficiency to my Daughter, I was relieved/irked when she asked if I'd used the same paint on both areas
At that point, my advisory staff, Mrs. J and MBD, went into a conference and came out later with a request for a color change. Off to the BBS, I went. Found out the BBS I had been visiting had none in stock. But...It was on the truck and would be delivered in the next few days.
RIIIIGGGGHHHHHTTTT!
Off to another of the BBS, all the way across town, and picked up the paint. We are now at the end of the next to the last day of the planned excursion.
The following day, we get to work and start "cutting in" the cabinetry. Did you know that 87 cabinets and drawers have a lot of angles, hinges, edges etc that need to be addressed before painting with a roller can be accomplished?
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| The spots above the cabinets are the two "different" paints. |
I did.
So...Guess what?
I get to make a return trip to CStat next week. By myself. (Mrs. J, LJW and Miss B have a few Doctors visits to make next week.)
On RTB, our transit of Moscow on the Colorado involved the usual pain. So, on arrival at Ranch Juvat, we decide to have a relaxing glass of wine (or three) on our front porch that evening.
Ahh...relaxation. Mrs. J comments that the forecast over the next few hours will be severe thunderstorms. The astute, educated, experienced Fighter Pilot says "Nah, it's going to miss us to the North."
I think she managed to get a few excellent pictures of the storm before it hit us, don't you? Left another 2" of rain on the property. My Hay Guy needs to stop by soon.
Lastly, I've been working on my Friend's Retirement gift and had been making excellent progress on the mechanical pencil. Everything was going well.
I mean, look at the right part. Notice, no difference between the bushing and the pen blank. Woohoo! Learned my lesson.
Well, juvat, you learned that lesson, here's another.
One must make sure that the entire tube is covered with glue when inserted into the pen blank. Else...
Well, crap! Good thing I started this project early. "Wood Turner" has yet to be an awarded title for me.
So...I learned a lot of lessons this past week on what I am not.
I'm not a Plumber, Doctor, Cabinet Maker, Painter, Weatherman nor Wood Turner.
But I'm also not a Quitter.
Never Give Up, Never Surrender!
Now...If I only had an Omega 13!!!
Peace out, Y'all!
