My family lives in Houston, and I'm a bit concerned. My sister will probably be high and dry in her 1920s duplex, which is in a higher part of Houston (if you can imagine flat Houston having a "higher" area). But my brother and mom live in an area that floods. And they are not leaving. They plan to stay. I suggested that they should make sure they have plenty of fresh water and food that doesn't have to be cooked. My brother told me they would "make their own water" which does not mean what you think it means. It means they have a water filter. An electric water filter. They have an electric stove, too. I think my brother believes they will sit out the storm watching television and popping popcorn. In an electric microwave oven.
Sometimes I think my mom and brother are Dumb and Dumber. I gave them these nicknames a few weeks ago, when my brother started talking politics. He said that Obama didn't want to allow offshore drilling and that would ruin business for petroleum landmen in Texas. I thought he was joking...but he wasn't. "Not allowing offshore drilling will ruin business for landmen? Huh?" If anything, I would think Texas landmen would want drilling to occur on land, not offshore, so they could get the leases and drilling rights to the oil. I really don't understand him. He thinks Obama is going to raise everyone's taxes because he saw it on a McCain ad. He thinks Obama is a secret muslim because he heard it from someone. He doesn't read the newspapers. I can't even write what my mother thinks. Thus, the nicknames. Then, when my sister told me about some other dumb thing my brother said, I told her about the nicknames. She laughed. Later that night, she called me and said: "OK, so, which one is Dumb and which one is Dumber?"
You probably think I dislike my mom and brother. To the contrary, I love them very much. You might think that I am rude to them. I'm not. Well, maybe sometimes, when they say really stupid things. I have told my brother that he owes it to the rest of the country to educate himself before making ridiculous pronouncements. In the alternative, he and my mom should do everyone a favor and stay home on election day. Sometimes, they are more than a bit frustrating. The thing that bothers me most is that they may be representative of the majority of this country. Terrifying thought.
Anyway, I'll update the Ike situation later. And the dumbness situation too, maybe.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Life on the High Seas
Well, ok, so it's not really the high seas. But when our anniversary came around two weeks ago, H asked me what I wanted. I said "Let's not get each other something. Let's get something for US together. Or for the house." We both liked that idea, but a couple of days later, H says he's gotten something for us and he hopes I like it. He won't tell me what it is, but it's for us. The morning of our anniversary, I hear him outside banging on the BAT (big-assed truck) and I look out to see him putting the racks on it (we use them for such things as sheetrock and two-by-fours and the like, you know, for the house. But I knew he wasn't getting something for the house). I went outside and walked up to him and said "Just tell me it's not kayaks..." He knows I'm not ready for a kayak just yet. I love canoeing but I'm just not ready for a kayak. Someday. Not yet. "No, it's a canoe. We're going to pick it up now."
Yippee! A canoe! One of our first dates was a canoe ride on Summerville Lake in Texas. That was a lot of years ago! And I absolutely loved it. Then, throughout the years, we'd occasionally go canoeing with the elusive one. Then, he and the elusive one did a 10-day canoe trip in Canada, complete with backpacks, tents, and portage experience. We always wanted our own canoe, but there were other things that took the money then.
He found this one on Craig's list...a 14-foot Mad River Canoe. A little heavy...about 80 pounds. But not expensive. We picked up the canoe, went to lunch, then headed out to Mason Neck for our very first ride in our new canoe. We were only out on the water about 45 minutes to an hour. We saw several osprey and a bald eagle (being chased by a gull!), And you know the sound the eagle makes in the movies? It sounds so cool in real life! The water was calm, but I was very tired when we pulled the canoe out of the water. Despite the sunblock, I got a little too much sun...not a good idea for a red head. But I absolutely loved it. I expected my arms to be sore, but it was my neck that ached. I still loved it. I wanted to go out again the next day, but we already had plans.
So, this morning, we drove up to River Bend, above Great Falls. We paddled up river for about an hour, even trying our ability against some tough water. We decided to portage at one point...I'm not going to want to do too much of that with this canoe. Dang! It's heavy and awkward.
Then we came back down river. It took half the time. I worked much harder this week. I need to find a really strong sunblock, and a wide-brimmed hat. I've been using a painter's hat and it's not protecting my face well enough.
I feel great! I love this canoe! Can't wait for next weekend. Somebody suggested Burke Lake. I could go back to River Bend again and again, it's so beautiful. Maybe I'm ready for a kayak after all!
Yippee! A canoe! One of our first dates was a canoe ride on Summerville Lake in Texas. That was a lot of years ago! And I absolutely loved it. Then, throughout the years, we'd occasionally go canoeing with the elusive one. Then, he and the elusive one did a 10-day canoe trip in Canada, complete with backpacks, tents, and portage experience. We always wanted our own canoe, but there were other things that took the money then.
He found this one on Craig's list...a 14-foot Mad River Canoe. A little heavy...about 80 pounds. But not expensive. We picked up the canoe, went to lunch, then headed out to Mason Neck for our very first ride in our new canoe. We were only out on the water about 45 minutes to an hour. We saw several osprey and a bald eagle (being chased by a gull!), And you know the sound the eagle makes in the movies? It sounds so cool in real life! The water was calm, but I was very tired when we pulled the canoe out of the water. Despite the sunblock, I got a little too much sun...not a good idea for a red head. But I absolutely loved it. I expected my arms to be sore, but it was my neck that ached. I still loved it. I wanted to go out again the next day, but we already had plans.
So, this morning, we drove up to River Bend, above Great Falls. We paddled up river for about an hour, even trying our ability against some tough water. We decided to portage at one point...I'm not going to want to do too much of that with this canoe. Dang! It's heavy and awkward.
Then we came back down river. It took half the time. I worked much harder this week. I need to find a really strong sunblock, and a wide-brimmed hat. I've been using a painter's hat and it's not protecting my face well enough.
I feel great! I love this canoe! Can't wait for next weekend. Somebody suggested Burke Lake. I could go back to River Bend again and again, it's so beautiful. Maybe I'm ready for a kayak after all!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
If I Weren't Laughing I'd Be Crying...
We have been without one of our bathrooms since two days before Christmas last year. On December 23, we got up early to do a little straightening and cleaning before my sister arrived at 11:30 in the morning, and the EO arrived at 8:00 that night. So, I made beds and organized while H cleaned the second floor bathroom. He did a right thorough job on the bathtub. It sparkled! He went downstairs ahead of me, and when he got to the kitchen, I heard him say "We've got a problem." And when I got there, I saw water pouring out of the ceiling fan in the kitchen. Yikes!
I wanted to call the plumber. No, says my favorite husband, it's going to require pulling out the ceiling or maybe the upstairs floor to fix it. It's that 80-100 year old cast iron plumbing, rusting or corroding, or something like that. It's going to take a lot of work to replace it, he says. Luckily, it had nothing to do with the commode, so at least that worked, but not the sink or the tub. He suggested we wait until we can ]\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\0 (that was Wolfie, writing his own thing--translate "feed me"--as he walked across the keyboard, the little bum). OK, so H figured we could just replace the bathroom rather than tearing it up and putting it back together. A nice idea. We've been wanting to redo that bathroom for several years now. Fine, I said. We'll try to do it in February. Ok, then, maybe March. If not March, then April. Should I just call a plumber? "No," my husband says,"I'll do the work. It will save us money." But then we went to Scotland in June. So maybe July? Well, not July. Now, we started thinking about maybe waiting until the EO graduates next year. But that would mean...no second floor bathroom for another year!
The thing is, I'm a bath person, not a shower person. I believe in long luxurious bubble baths in a comfortable sloping tub. A glass of wine now and then. Some nice smelly candles. A good book. Now, the only other full bathroom in this house has the most ridiculous little bathtub in the world, obviously created by a designer who had never taken a bath in his or her life...preferring that splashy thing called a shower, I suppose. For eight months, I have used that awful bathtub. For eight months, I have longed for my comfy tub. I am proud to say I have never complained. Until now.
But now, my sister-in-law and her husband and two girls are coming to visit in September. We are very excited abou the visit, but it's going to be rough with all six of us using the same bathroom for the week. So, last week, in my sweetest voice, I suggested that perhaps now would be a good time to get a plumber to come out and tell us if we can just patch it up and use it for another year or so. To my surprise, H said he'd call the plumber.
The plumber came on Sunday. As they went upstairs, I heard my husband telling him to let him know when he needed the kitchen ceiling cut, and my husband would do that job...he's very particular about how things are done. The plumber agreed and started surveying the problem. Luckily, in this old house of ours, this bathtub has an access area that is easily reached from above the tub. The poor plumber was practically hanging upside down in the access area surveying... H and I went downstairs to leave him to his work. Before long, the plumber comes downstairs, looking for H. "Is it really bad?" I asked. "No, I think it's a lot simpler than you realize." "Really???" I was excited! Maybe we won't have to tear out the kitchen ceiling after all.
For eight months, I have been without my beloved comfy tub. For eight months, I have been using that ridiculous thing upstairs. It turns out that our flood was caused by my husband's exuberance cleaning the tub two days before Christmas. The water went up into the overflow (the very old gasket needs replacement) and poured down into the ceiling over the kitchen. The bill to find out this delightful "I told you so" nugget? $142. That and a tube of Goop silicone caulking. The plumber said that it would take an awful lot of corrosion or rust to get through those thick old cast iron pipes. And there was none.
And no, I haven't used the free "I told you so." I never do...even though I've had quite a few opportunities to do so. But telling stories about my favorite husband is much more fun than telling him "I told you so." It's more fun to fall back on the all-knowing smile and arched eyebrows than to say "I told you so." And I have so many stories to tell!
So, it looks like we can wait until after the EO graduates to remodel our upstairs bathroom. But I promise that the next tub that goes into that bathroom must meet my strict specifications. Even if it means climbing in to each and every model in my socked feet to try it out!
I wanted to call the plumber. No, says my favorite husband, it's going to require pulling out the ceiling or maybe the upstairs floor to fix it. It's that 80-100 year old cast iron plumbing, rusting or corroding, or something like that. It's going to take a lot of work to replace it, he says. Luckily, it had nothing to do with the commode, so at least that worked, but not the sink or the tub. He suggested we wait until we can ]\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\0 (that was Wolfie, writing his own thing--translate "feed me"--as he walked across the keyboard, the little bum). OK, so H figured we could just replace the bathroom rather than tearing it up and putting it back together. A nice idea. We've been wanting to redo that bathroom for several years now. Fine, I said. We'll try to do it in February. Ok, then, maybe March. If not March, then April. Should I just call a plumber? "No," my husband says,"I'll do the work. It will save us money." But then we went to Scotland in June. So maybe July? Well, not July. Now, we started thinking about maybe waiting until the EO graduates next year. But that would mean...no second floor bathroom for another year!
The thing is, I'm a bath person, not a shower person. I believe in long luxurious bubble baths in a comfortable sloping tub. A glass of wine now and then. Some nice smelly candles. A good book. Now, the only other full bathroom in this house has the most ridiculous little bathtub in the world, obviously created by a designer who had never taken a bath in his or her life...preferring that splashy thing called a shower, I suppose. For eight months, I have used that awful bathtub. For eight months, I have longed for my comfy tub. I am proud to say I have never complained. Until now.
But now, my sister-in-law and her husband and two girls are coming to visit in September. We are very excited abou the visit, but it's going to be rough with all six of us using the same bathroom for the week. So, last week, in my sweetest voice, I suggested that perhaps now would be a good time to get a plumber to come out and tell us if we can just patch it up and use it for another year or so. To my surprise, H said he'd call the plumber.
The plumber came on Sunday. As they went upstairs, I heard my husband telling him to let him know when he needed the kitchen ceiling cut, and my husband would do that job...he's very particular about how things are done. The plumber agreed and started surveying the problem. Luckily, in this old house of ours, this bathtub has an access area that is easily reached from above the tub. The poor plumber was practically hanging upside down in the access area surveying... H and I went downstairs to leave him to his work. Before long, the plumber comes downstairs, looking for H. "Is it really bad?" I asked. "No, I think it's a lot simpler than you realize." "Really???" I was excited! Maybe we won't have to tear out the kitchen ceiling after all.
For eight months, I have been without my beloved comfy tub. For eight months, I have been using that ridiculous thing upstairs. It turns out that our flood was caused by my husband's exuberance cleaning the tub two days before Christmas. The water went up into the overflow (the very old gasket needs replacement) and poured down into the ceiling over the kitchen. The bill to find out this delightful "I told you so" nugget? $142. That and a tube of Goop silicone caulking. The plumber said that it would take an awful lot of corrosion or rust to get through those thick old cast iron pipes. And there was none.
And no, I haven't used the free "I told you so." I never do...even though I've had quite a few opportunities to do so. But telling stories about my favorite husband is much more fun than telling him "I told you so." It's more fun to fall back on the all-knowing smile and arched eyebrows than to say "I told you so." And I have so many stories to tell!
So, it looks like we can wait until after the EO graduates to remodel our upstairs bathroom. But I promise that the next tub that goes into that bathroom must meet my strict specifications. Even if it means climbing in to each and every model in my socked feet to try it out!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Back In The Saddle Again
I had a rather rough week...no, make that TWO weeks. Yes, I enjoyed the Olympics, especially Michael Phelps' sweep of gold medals. And the gymnastics. Beach Volleyball. Basketball! Track and Field. Diving...hey I could go on, but you get the idea.
I used the Olympics to try to bring myself into a state of relaxation during the two weeks I worked on a particularly difficult case. I worked on my days off, in the evenings, and on weekend days (sometimes at the office and sometimes at home). But in the end, it was a good thing. The case has been resolved. Settled. It was a hard-won settlement. But we did it. My co-counsel is a true gentleman, with a silver tongue. I'm a bit bullheaded when it comes to trying to do the right thing. It's the red hair. We actually made a really good team, me with the quick snap-backs, and him smoothing everything over. At one point, I told him I really liked this "good cop, bad cop" thing we had going. He says "And we can reverse roles now and then if you want." "Sure!" I said "I'd like to be the bad cop every once in a while, too!"
Of course, I was the bad cop, something I have never really done before. Normally, I'm the sweet southern-style lady, winning 'em over with a smile and sweet voice. But for some reason, this time, I just got angry with the outrageous behavior of our opponents. In the end, we settled. And we got everything we wanted. But it wasn't easy. Still, it was worth all the work.
So, I'm trying to get back to normal. Back to blogging. I have the piano tuner coming over tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to some music. I plan to do absolutely NOTHING tomorrow. Well, obviously, I'll get up and have breakfast. I'll do that. And I'll probably turn on the TV to watch the basketball game. I'll do that, too. But I have no set plans. Finally! A real day off.
I used the Olympics to try to bring myself into a state of relaxation during the two weeks I worked on a particularly difficult case. I worked on my days off, in the evenings, and on weekend days (sometimes at the office and sometimes at home). But in the end, it was a good thing. The case has been resolved. Settled. It was a hard-won settlement. But we did it. My co-counsel is a true gentleman, with a silver tongue. I'm a bit bullheaded when it comes to trying to do the right thing. It's the red hair. We actually made a really good team, me with the quick snap-backs, and him smoothing everything over. At one point, I told him I really liked this "good cop, bad cop" thing we had going. He says "And we can reverse roles now and then if you want." "Sure!" I said "I'd like to be the bad cop every once in a while, too!"
Of course, I was the bad cop, something I have never really done before. Normally, I'm the sweet southern-style lady, winning 'em over with a smile and sweet voice. But for some reason, this time, I just got angry with the outrageous behavior of our opponents. In the end, we settled. And we got everything we wanted. But it wasn't easy. Still, it was worth all the work.
So, I'm trying to get back to normal. Back to blogging. I have the piano tuner coming over tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to some music. I plan to do absolutely NOTHING tomorrow. Well, obviously, I'll get up and have breakfast. I'll do that. And I'll probably turn on the TV to watch the basketball game. I'll do that, too. But I have no set plans. Finally! A real day off.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Olympic Fever
It may be a while before I get back to my blog...I am SO wrapped up in the Summer Olympics right now. Is it just me, or does it seem like the coverage is SO much better this year than ever before? Is it because Beijing is 12 hours earlier? Who knows?
Last week, I worked long hours at the office, and even on my day off. It's another one of those nasty cases (they seem to be coming along more and more often, probably because everyone expects the administration to change and the free ride to end but enough politics). I had planned to help my friend Dorothy move on Friday, but had to work instead. H and I were able to help her on Saturday, along with some other friends and movers. We were all exhausted. We started at 8 in the morning and finished by 2:30 in the afternoon. H and I went home and I showered and took a 20 minute nap, then started watching Olympic events. I like to work on things while I watch TV (review documents, do a little needlepoint, some knitting, paperwork, etc.) but I found it a little difficult to do much of anything but watch the action. If it hadn't been for the commercials, I wouldn't have accomplished anything.
I'm a big Michael Phelps fan, and he has not disappointed! The 400 meter was exciting, especially when he was a full body length ahead of the next swimmer at the end, and breaking his own world record to boot. Fantastic! Then we watched the basketball game between the US and China this morning. Loved that, too! And the gymnastics. But I was SO worried about the men's relay event tonight. The announcers kept talking about how there was no way the Americans would beat the French in this relay. And even until the last few seconds, I didn't believe it would happen. But, Damn! They did it! This time, I found myself sitting on the edge of the sofa. Then standing in front of the sofa. Then in front of the television. If I'd gotten any closer I would have been in the water with them!
So. Here it is. I'm just going to be so busy this week, between the job and the Olympics that it may be a while before I write again.
Last week, I worked long hours at the office, and even on my day off. It's another one of those nasty cases (they seem to be coming along more and more often, probably because everyone expects the administration to change and the free ride to end but enough politics). I had planned to help my friend Dorothy move on Friday, but had to work instead. H and I were able to help her on Saturday, along with some other friends and movers. We were all exhausted. We started at 8 in the morning and finished by 2:30 in the afternoon. H and I went home and I showered and took a 20 minute nap, then started watching Olympic events. I like to work on things while I watch TV (review documents, do a little needlepoint, some knitting, paperwork, etc.) but I found it a little difficult to do much of anything but watch the action. If it hadn't been for the commercials, I wouldn't have accomplished anything.
I'm a big Michael Phelps fan, and he has not disappointed! The 400 meter was exciting, especially when he was a full body length ahead of the next swimmer at the end, and breaking his own world record to boot. Fantastic! Then we watched the basketball game between the US and China this morning. Loved that, too! And the gymnastics. But I was SO worried about the men's relay event tonight. The announcers kept talking about how there was no way the Americans would beat the French in this relay. And even until the last few seconds, I didn't believe it would happen. But, Damn! They did it! This time, I found myself sitting on the edge of the sofa. Then standing in front of the sofa. Then in front of the television. If I'd gotten any closer I would have been in the water with them!
So. Here it is. I'm just going to be so busy this week, between the job and the Olympics that it may be a while before I write again.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Dumpster Riding
No, that's not a typo. I know you've heard of dumpster diving. This is different. Well, it involves dumpster diving, but it's not the point. Tuesday night, I went out to dinner with some friends (we celebrate our summer birthdays together every year), and Donna told us her tale. A week ago, she wrote out some checks to pay bills and put them in their envelopes, then put the stack on her table to take to the mailbox when she left for work. She remembered that it was recycle day at her townhouse complex, so she gathered her newspapers and piled them on the table, too. You know where this is going. When she grabbed the papers to take them out, she accidentally grabbed the outgoing mail, too. And she didn't realize her mistake until she had lifted the dumpster lid and thrown everything in. Oops.
She decided she simply had to go dumpster diving for those lost bills, so she went into the house, changed from her workclothes, found a nice chair to climb on, and went back out to the dumpster. Using the chair, she was able to get into the dumpster, which was basically empty except for her papers, the bills, and about an inch of water. Yuckky! She got the wet envelopes and tossed them out of the dumpster onto the ground, and suddenly felt a bump as the big rock that kept the dumpster from rolling fell out of place, and the dumpster started rolling. As in rolling toward a hill. Just as her life began to pass before her eyes with the thought that the dumpster was going to tumble down the hill with her in it, she remembered that the complex had put chains on the dumpsters because of previous problems with dented cars. She says she could only pray the chain held. And it did.
Now she had to figure out how to get out of the dumpster. The chair was on the outside, she was on the inside, and there was nothing to stand on...and on top of that, she had to hold the lid up, too. No one in sight to help. Eventually, my former ballerina friend managed to get one leg up over the side of the dumpster and squirm the rest of the way out. Unharmed. Wet and covered with yukky stuff, but unharmed.
Anyway, Donna is almost a germ-freak. Not quite Howard Hughes, but very aware of cleanliness. When we go out to eat, the first thing she does is go to the ladies room to wash her hands. And she doesn't like to touch public door handles with her bare hands. OK, so now, she is standing next to the dumpster, covered with dumpster muck, and holding a pile of gooey envelopes in her bare hand. Her bare hands, I tell you! What does she do about it? Well, she goes into her townhouse, spreads the envelopes on the table and dries them with a hair drier. Only then does she take her shower, clean everything up and get ready for work again. My friend Donna is a very organized clean person. Once she tossed those dry, albeit suspect, envelopes in the mail, I'm sure there was nothing left to tell the tale of her dumpster ride.
She says she hopes no one got it all on video on their cell phone. I said I hope they did! I'm going to be on the lookout, checking Youtube! But my advice to Donna? Two words:
Online banking.
She decided she simply had to go dumpster diving for those lost bills, so she went into the house, changed from her workclothes, found a nice chair to climb on, and went back out to the dumpster. Using the chair, she was able to get into the dumpster, which was basically empty except for her papers, the bills, and about an inch of water. Yuckky! She got the wet envelopes and tossed them out of the dumpster onto the ground, and suddenly felt a bump as the big rock that kept the dumpster from rolling fell out of place, and the dumpster started rolling. As in rolling toward a hill. Just as her life began to pass before her eyes with the thought that the dumpster was going to tumble down the hill with her in it, she remembered that the complex had put chains on the dumpsters because of previous problems with dented cars. She says she could only pray the chain held. And it did.
Now she had to figure out how to get out of the dumpster. The chair was on the outside, she was on the inside, and there was nothing to stand on...and on top of that, she had to hold the lid up, too. No one in sight to help. Eventually, my former ballerina friend managed to get one leg up over the side of the dumpster and squirm the rest of the way out. Unharmed. Wet and covered with yukky stuff, but unharmed.
Anyway, Donna is almost a germ-freak. Not quite Howard Hughes, but very aware of cleanliness. When we go out to eat, the first thing she does is go to the ladies room to wash her hands. And she doesn't like to touch public door handles with her bare hands. OK, so now, she is standing next to the dumpster, covered with dumpster muck, and holding a pile of gooey envelopes in her bare hand. Her bare hands, I tell you! What does she do about it? Well, she goes into her townhouse, spreads the envelopes on the table and dries them with a hair drier. Only then does she take her shower, clean everything up and get ready for work again. My friend Donna is a very organized clean person. Once she tossed those dry, albeit suspect, envelopes in the mail, I'm sure there was nothing left to tell the tale of her dumpster ride.
She says she hopes no one got it all on video on their cell phone. I said I hope they did! I'm going to be on the lookout, checking Youtube! But my advice to Donna? Two words:
Online banking.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Red Letter Weekend
The elusive offspring called Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If I didn't know that he was calling to make sure he didn't miss wishing me happy BD (yes, I'm a Leo), I'd have worried that something was wrong. It's great to see how stimulated he is working in the Physics department. If you want to know exactly what he is doing...well, I can't say. Not that it's secret. It's just that I don't understand it. Something about one substance acting as both a conductor and an insulator depending on temperature. Is this what "superconductivity" is all about? He says all he needs is a pen and paper to do his job. He's doing mathematics and theoretical physics and all that interesting stuff. Interesting stuff to physicists like the EO and his physicist flatmate, the Irish-lilting James. And interesting to my favorite husband, who took thermodynamics in college. The only thing I know about thermodyamics is that if you put a kettle of water on the gas stove and turn up the fire, you can make a nice cup of tea in about one minute. Mmmm. That sounds like a nice idea right now.
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