IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING…

Sorry I haven't posted for a few days…but things have been a little hectic here.

First off, the bathroom redo is still ongoing, though the end is now in sight. I'll apply the last of the spackle today, sand lightly tomorrow morning, then Rich will be over in the afternoon and we'll install the surround around the tub/shower area. And to think this week's worth of work all comes from simply wanting to fix a dripping faucet! As they say…no good deed (or home maintenance notion) goes unpunished.

As you can see from the post pix, we again have snow. This latest storm arrived around dawn yesterday. A real humdinger of a min-blizzard while it lasted—though only an inch or two in accumulation. Still, at the height of the passing front's downpour, the flakes were whirling and swirling so furiously they dimmed the early light and blotted out trees on the island across from the cottage. That's Ohio for you—60˚F and green crocus and daffodil shoots one week, snow and mid-20s˚F temps the next; our typical pre-spring smorgasbord.

The storm did temporarily knock out the Internet lines for our immediate area. I have a Friday deadline for one of my columns, and like to get it zapped off first thing. Considering the weather, I was a rather worried that such outages could be widespread and thus repairs might be slow.  

While I was fretting, watching the snow come down, and fixing breakfast, my daughter, Lacy, called to say Dave—the son-in-law—had slid sideways down an icy freeway ramp on the way to work and banged into the rear of a stopped truck. Luckily, only the car's passenger-side sheet metal and Dave's driver-pride were damaged. Time, a trip to the body shop, and a bit of paint will heal all. 

Lacy was also bummed out because the local metro airport had closed operations. "No flights in or out, Dad," she said, exasperated. "What do you think?"

She was concerned because she and Dave were set to leave on a three-day getaway to Jacksonville, Florida in the evening. I reassured her that the airport's closure would only be temporary. "Don't worry, your plane will take off as scheduled."

In fact, the airport reopened a couple of hours later. And when I checked after breakfast, I found the Internet was again working. But when Lacy and Dave arrived in late afternoon to drop off their car along with Will and Gwen, the granddogs—who, much to Moon-the-Dog's disapprobation will be bunking with us—they told me that while packing, they noticed water stains on the ceiling of their condo's master bedroom. The spots were dry, which means they didn't happen as result of yesterday's storm, but most likely occurred sometime during the huge ice-storm three weeks back. Another issue, however, that will have to be addressed after returning home from their vacation.

As I drove the beleaguered pair to the nearby airport, my blue-eyed blond offspring sighed. "If it isn't one thing it's another."

"Yes," I said. "But, Dave's accident was minor and no one got hurt, the airport is open and your trip is on, the Internet is working…so you just need to thank God you don't have a leaky bath faucet!"

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