Dave's Good Stuff

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 really have much to say about him. I’m sure they saw each other, but beyond a tolerant glance here and there, I don’t think they’re going to have much to do with each other. At 15, he’s up in his years, and just doesn’t have the energy to deal with the young-uns like he used to.

Back to What I Accomplished

• Finally mounted the hose rack, so the hose isn’t laying in the dirt next to the doghouse.
• Finally hung the wheelbarrow on the side of the house next to the hose rack, so it’s not sitting in the dirt and gathering rain next to the hose. It’s a pretty clever mounting system my bro-in-law gave to me before he was my bro-in-law. Just roll the wheelbarrow up to the house, lift up the back end, and snap into place.
• Finally hung the bike rack my bro-in-law gave to me before he was my bro-in-law. It’s in the garage and replaces a simple nail that supported the old Kona Fire Mountain frame, which in turn supported the tires and fenders. Now, it’s a much cleaner look.
• Spread anti-weed and anti-crab grass granules on the driveway, sidewalks, and lawn to try to combat the weeds and crab grass that threaten to take over.
• Spread grass seed in the back yard where the grass is having a hard time staying alive.
• Watered said grass seed.
• Pulled some weeds on the patio.
• Swept the patio of excess sticks and branches, and pushed some of the sand back between the bricks.
• Cleaned the “very dirty” baseboards to make for better house showings (it is up for sale, by the way).

Oh Noes!!

YES!! IT IS BACK!!!

Something will be done about this. I assure you.

And with that horrifying discovery, I think that about covers it for Sunday.

Saturday was a busier and interesting day, but I think I’ll save that for another post.

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. I know not everyone has that luxury.

Perhaps I’ll get out and ride tomorrow. If not, perhaps I’ll get some more done on the basement. Who knows, and right now, I’m too lazy to care. :)

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.

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.