Posted On Monday, July 26th, 2010 By David Veatch
And indeed it was. I’ll start with Sunday and move backwards, because it’s just easier that way. After a hectic day, I had intended Sunday to be a relaxing day, but as it turned out, I got quite a bit done. First, Jami brought her kitty, Elliott over from our Southern Home to live with us in the Northern Home. He’d been staying down south since the wedding, and we felt it was time to integrate him. He’s 23lbs of Big Baby, and cried the entire drive, and when the terror of the drive was over, he wedged himself far up underneath a table and boxes in the basement. He did, eventually begin exploring with more confidence, and by this morning, he’d all but settled completely in. However, if his shenanigans of last night are any indication, he’ll be fantastic practice for when we have a baby, and a full night of sleep is but a fond memory. He. Was. Restless. It’s possible that my banging around didn’t help him settle in, and served to spook him something good. I can admit that. But I got on a bit of a roll, and didn’t want to stop. The Squanto didn’t more »
Posted On Saturday, March 15th, 2008 By David Veatch
It’s a lazy day today. The snow and cold keeps me from riding, though I have many miles to make up to meet my goals for the year. Instead, we have accomplished exactly the following: Recovered from a fantastic evening with the GF’s brother and soon-to-be fiance. There was imbibery, Scattergories, and Taboo. Watched the last four episodes of season four of Nip Tuck. In spite of myself, I’ve really come to enjoy that show, though the self-destructive nature of the characters drives me absolutely nuts on occasion. Picked up some grass seed at Home Depot and hit the bare spots in the yard for the first time. Yeah, it’s a little cold, but it’s damp, and I’m hoping that some will take root. I hate muddy puppy footprints, and the more grass I plant, the less of that I’ll have to deal with. Ate pizza. Contemplated buying the boxed set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I miss that show, and I’m sure the GF would love it. Cleaned up the kitchen some. Everyone needs days like today where absolutely nothing is accomplished, and absolutely nothing need be accomplished. I’m glad I’m able to have one every now and again. more »
Posted On Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 By David Veatch
Last night the GF called me out into the backyard. She was out rounding up the four legged members of the family. She put the puppies inside while I waited on the porch and told me to be as quiet as possible and just listen. “Do you hear that?” she said. “Hear what? I near nothing.” “Listen… the soft rustling…” I finally heard it. It was background noise. Input on the very periphery of my senses, until I finally zeroed in on it. Earthworms! I didn’t go out into the yard and trample them, but there were a couple we could see right up close. From the sounds, there must have been hundreds of them! I’ve never heard earthworms before. They pose no threat to me, so why would I notice them? They offer no direct benefit either, so they have, for over 30 years, completely escaped my attention unless they’ve found there way to a sidewalk or path. I wonder what else has been under my feet all these years that I’ve been blind to.
Posted On Wednesday, June 21st, 2006 By David Veatch
With the upstairs all but done, I’m looking now to the patio. Whoever installed it before did NOT know what they were doing. Big surprise there. The previous owner didn’t know what he was doing in a lot of ways, except when it came to the drink. He knew that. Oh yes. He knew that, and it’s showed in every room we’ve had to redo. So, the weeds got so bad on the patio that they’re starting to warp the lay of the bricks (with some help, naturally, from ground squirrels). Admittedly, I let it get that bad. I could have sprayed. I could have pulled. But it would have been a losing battle b/c the bricks were laid straight on the dirt. No gravel, sand or landscapers plastic was used. He might as well have seeded it with Dandilions and been done with it. Dumbass. Lining the patio are old, rotting and yet still very heavy railroad ties. Those have got to go. I see lots of digging, lots of gravel and sand, lots of leveling and lots of moving bricks around in my near future. But the end result… I’m hoping it’ll be something to be proud of.