Day 1174
Today my list was going strong and then the Goldens and I took a break. In retrospect, I should have pushed forward to the next chore, but there was a weak moment. I invited the pups to follow me into the Little Cabin for a few minutes of sniffing (dogs) and reminiscing (me). We all entered and took a deep cleansing breath. To my surprise, I started sneezing and coughing as my eyes, and nose, took in the scene. We are having all the buildings painted/stained, but first the “newest addition” had to have the sides sandblasted in preparation for the paint! The painters did not think there would be a problem with dust infiltrating the 100-year-old walls… they were wrong! Inside, everything, EVERYTHING, was covered with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of dust!!! Argh!
My only alternative was to put my list on “pause” and ‘dig’ into the dust event. Even the Goldens left me with one last sneeze from Gus! As I worked, I recalled other “surprise opportunities” from my past…
One event, that changed the plans for the day, was the time I had a pipe burst in one of the upstairs bathrooms. Realizing, at the midnight hour when these things typically happen, that bath towels were not going to do the trick, I raced downstairs to the basement to turn if the main water line. It wouldn’t budge!!!! Next, I fled upstairs to grab the phone book (This was around 2002.) and frantically turned to the plumbing section in the Yellow Pages. There were a number of phone numbers and my fingers started dialing. By now, water was dripping through thr ceiling!
#1 No answer!
#2 No answer!
#3. A recording
By now, there was a trickle of water flowing down the stairs!
I was almost to the bottom of the list when someone answered! Joy! Rapture! I explained my situation and the voice responded with, “ I am sorry, we only offer after-hours to current customers.” I asked her how much money would it take to be on that list…I was desperate!!!! I think she hung up!
Now, water was flowing down the stairs, turning the corner and heading down the basement stairs! I called my cousin!
Dear Erik woke up out of a sound sleep and was at the house in minutes! We ran down to take another stab at the mainline shutoff, but Erik couldn’t budge it either. In a last ditch effort, he jumped up with his hands on the round handle and, much like a gymnast on the pummel horse, tried one last time. By now, I swear he was wearing a Superhero Cape! Success!!!!! My unplanned adventure was under control and my dear cousin held my admiration for life!
That little cabin with a layer of dust wasn’t so bad in comparison! The list lives on for another day! Tha Goldens are all napping…I would join them, but it’s not on the list!
