Saturday, February 26, 2011

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!"
———————     

22 comments:

Gail said...

GRIZZ_

you are a wonderful Dad!

Love you
Gail
peace.....

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Oops - hope Murphy wasn't listening to that last comment!

My daughter recently bought a new condo and two weeks after moving in, the incoming water in the toilet did not shut off. Unfortunately, after using the bathroom she had left for a four day trip.

They are living with us now for 3 weeks while all wood floors throughout, and tiles in bathroom are replaced. It was interesting how the insurance company insists checking be done for mould - a special spray used after several days of drying with fans, etc.

Water damage is terrible. Hope there is not too much flooding this Spring after so much snow this winter!

Enjoy your new bathroom!

Arija said...

Your tale of woe made me smile . . . I like the kind of advice you give. As long as no-one gets hurt, we always manage to muddle through.

Cicero Sings said...

Just went thru some renos myself - always costs more and takes longer than originally bargained for.

We've just gone thru a COLD snap (-24C with windchills to -30) but now it is snowing and snow is in the schedule for the next 5 days. Sigh. Shovel, shovel. We are still under a couple of feet of snow, now more!

ellen abbott said...

As Rosanne Rosannadanna's daddy used to say...'it's always something.'

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Actually, I suspect it's more the other way around…I have a wonderful daughter.

Hope you've gotten your water damage issues resolved.

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

Stunning photo...it would make a wonderful painting, bringing the outdoors inside.

Oh, water damage! Yes, about 3 years ago one of my cats turned on the bathroom faucet which in turn damaged all 3 levels of my townhome. Then their was a new roof...nothing bad like that in 2 years, thankfully!

Grizz………… said...

Bonnie…

Water damage and possible mold problems afterwards are indeed a real mess to deal with. In fact, Rich, my bathroom redo good Samaritan—Dave's father—to whom I am forever indebted, is today in a town about 75 miles east of here, at the home of his other son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters, to help them take care of the aftermath of water which flooded the lower level of their condo yesterday. They have furniture to move, carpet to lift and begin drying, and who knows what other damage.

For us, living so close to the river, we're on what you might call a Level 2 alert, since the prediction for tomorrow and Monday is heavy rain. The river is already up 3-4 feet from earlier snowmelt, with maybe 6 feet to go before it makes it to our doorstep. We're not exactly worried, but are certainly keeping an eye on things…not that we can do anything to change the outcome.

FYI, as much work as it has been, this wasn't—alas!—a complete bathroom redo. That's still a bigger job to come. This was just a redoing the tub/shower plumbing, fixing up the framing in the walls, putting up new greenboard, and tomorrow, installing the tub surround. Rick is quite competent, but his time is limited; I'm at best middlin' help when it comes to most of this work, am currently in the midst of another round of severe back pain and spinal issues, and am thus just this side of totally useless. Hence the slow progress.

Grizz………… said...

Arija…

Yup, stuff is just stuff. So long as no one gets hurt, we have a place to sleep, food to eat, laugh as often as possible, and have those around who know us and love us anyway…how can that not be a successful day? Life will always present things to deal with, so long as we remain on the green side of the earth. Almost all of the details prove, in the end, to have been of little or no consequence—as un important as a cloud in the sky. I say walk in beauty and laughter and love.

Grizz………… said...

Cicero Sings…

In the scheme of things, seeing as how I'm paying Rich with nothing more than free meals and scintillating conversation (well, I say scintillating, Myladylove says bothersome), I suppose around $300 to repair a leaky faucet is a bargain. About what a plumber would have charged, and then, I'd only have a cessation of the dripping. Instead, I now have not only a fixed faucet, but new plumbing, walls, and fixtures.

And it only took a week!

And I would have fed Rich no matter why he came around, or how often. No one ever leaves here hungry. That's against my genetics, upbringing, and personal philosophy.

And…AND!…if, between now and mid-March, it doesn't snow again any more than it managed yesterday, I think I'll have seen the worst of winter! A couple of inches I can deal with in stride. I wouldn't want your couple of feet on this side of the season. But a couple of inches is only marginally more than a thick frost.

Grizz………… said...

Ellen…

Oh, hey…I'd forgotten that line of Gilda's. But the old man had it right—it is always something. Life is just one long series of somethings. Which is the best excuse I know for living.

Grizz………… said...

Teri and the cats…

Jaunty ol' Mr. Jay does make a handsome subject for the camera, and brightens up any scene. That's why painters also love him.

Three floors of water damage—and all because of a curious cat! Oh, my! And please don't mentions roofs as that's quickly working it's way toward the top of my "to do" agenda. Right after "electrical" and before "slate flooring" and "hot tub."

The Weaver of Grass said...

Nice that they could unload their worries on to you Grizz - as we say over here, "a trouble shared is a trouble halved."

Bernie said...

Hope the kids trip went well. It is so very cold here Grizz and snowing again.....it has been a very long cold winter this year.
Glad the bathroom is almost finished, will look so nice once it is I'm sure.
Wishing you and your ladylove and warm and wonderful Sunday....Hugs

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Sorry to hear about your back pain. That saying "It's always something" certainly seems to apply as we age. My back has suddenly decided to act up too, so I sympathize. Perhaps Spring will bring a whole lot of nothing if you know what I mean!

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

I'm glad they could get away for a few days. They needed a break.

We have the same saying here: A trouble shared is a trouble halved; while a joy shared is a joy doubled.

Rather wise advice, I think.

BTW, really enjoyed the recent post on your 5000 year old axe head. What neat new information!

Grizz………… said...

Bernie…

Well, they made it to Florida safely. And come Monday evening, after three days in the warm sun, I trust they'll get home safe and sound as well.

We should have our new shower area done by then. And we will certainly enjoy it…along with the no-drip silence.

Stay warm and cozy up there in Alberta.

Grizz………… said...

Bonnie…

A whole new lot of nothing sounds wonderful when it comes to pain—especially back pain.

Arthritis runs through my father's side of the family like an ancestral curse—almost every descendent for generations back have had some symptoms. Many were completely crippled by early middle-age. I was diagnosed at 16, and I've actually done better than most of my kin by remaining vertical, without any serious joint problems other than spine.

On top of which, there's a lifetime of pretty rough activities/abuse, including football, rodeo (broncs and bulls), various bicycle, motorcycle, and ATV wrecks, a couple of hundred falls off porches, buildings, rocks, cliffs, and out of trees, and similar accidents and calculated risks gone awry, plus the unavoidable banging around of an outdoor life, and it's no wonder I'm in the shape I'm in.

The last time I had a series of x-rays (a few years ago following another mishap) the technician said he'd never seen anyone with such a back actually capable of walking. I thought that was funny. Prior to the misadventure which brought me to his office that afternoon, I'd been bouncing around as perky as a squirrel, going to the gym several times per week and walking an hour straight on a steep-angled treadmill set to 4 mph. I simply ignored that measly level of pain, which I've had as a constant companion for decades.

It's only these tears-in-your-eyes, grit-your-teeth episodes that cause me problems. Unfortunately, the older I get, the more often they show up to have their way…

Robin said...

Just wanted to thank you for stopping by, and taking time to say the things you do.

I'm so off kilter these days, I seldom know what I'm doing.

But I read your words, and they help.

Love,
Robin

Grizz………… said...

Robin…

Hey, friends always do what they can to help—even if it's only a word of encouragement. I know times are tough right now. And the road ahead is unclear and more than a little frightening. But you'll get through this…I believe that absolutely. Write me here or via email any time. Believe in yourself, and believe in the power of tomorrow—it will be better than you can imagine.

Robin said...

I scared myself today in realizing how much my age is showing (in a good way).

Last night a friend who lives just south of me was awoken by major gunfire. When he went outside to see what was going on (once it was safe), someone had been shot in front of his building.

He's nearly half my age and was 'freaked out' because he had intended (but didn't) to go to work early and would have been standing close by at a bus stop.

So unlike me (well, the old me) I thought, you can look at it one of two ways. The first is, 'Oh my God, I could have been standing right there!"

The better one is that something made sure I wasn't.

One good thing that age can take away from us is the drama of it all.... and the need for it.

Best of thoughts for a better bathroom. And thanks for visiting.

Grizz………… said...

Robin…

Funny you should say that—I've just come in from a final pre-bedtime check of the river, which after all the snowmelt and several days of rain earlier in the week, is the highest it's been since I moved here. Maybe a foot more of rise before it comes into the house. There is widespread flooding all around the area—and I'm certainly worried. But the river level has started dropping, slowly, and will continue dropping throughout tomorrow and tomorrow night. Unfortunately, heavy rains are predicted for Friday and Saturday. So the question becomes, will I gain enough "freeboard" to carry me safely through the subsequent rise? I dunno. But just before reading your comment I was thinking…man, a week-plus without a working shower (we just finished last night) and now this—and I'm getting too old or too something to enjoy all the household drama.

Peace and quite looks more attractive all the time.

BTW, I read you car post earlier—didn't get around to commenting, though. And I've been keeping up with your posts because I've worried about you and all you were having to deal with lately. So just because I remained quiet didn't mean I wasn't paying attention. I'm more reassured about things now, though. You're doing well…especially if your can get Hereafter going and don't have to embarrass yourself driving a geezermobile.

Take care of yourself and stay strong.