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Date: October 2, 2010
It is another typical nice week-end and I didn't go South - but should have. And I didn't go to the vet - but should have.
Old Ranger and 1 yr old Suky (the little beagle pup) need check-ups.
I decided - drive next week.
Meanwhile, I am trying to recover from the "every time I go near San Diego something happens" syndrome.
Once it was the dishwasher - blew a leak - not repairable.
$$$$$
Then it was a leak under the sink - when they did the dishwasher I hadn't noticed that they disconnected (as in broke loose) the drain connection - so more water and another call to plumber. And since 30 days past, another bill.
$$$$
In January the Fremont fence went over in that "catastrophic storm" as the insurance categorized it. I got 4 of the 5 people involved on board and finally - a couple months after "emergency" repairs - expensive ones - the whole rickety fence was replaced. One neighbor didn't pay his fair share so I had to. Cheap skate! $315! That was all he owed. What a jack-annapes!
A little bit came from insurance (the panels that actually fell over). The rest? $$$$
Then I drove to San Diego to relax and do yard work, and lo and behold, the water heater had leaked, took out the platform AND the furnace, and the bathroom wall. And the back wall of the house had gotten so much water from the storm (the same stupid storm system), that it too needed repair. And mold abatement.
Of course, 10% Clorox solution is mold abatement. Insurance yes - but I also upgraded - San Diego now has whole-house air-cooling and also a tank-less water heater. They do take getting used to - but if you are patient - once hot water flows - it will fill the Jacuzzi bath tub just fine thank you! Love that tub!
More $$$$$. Nice upgrade. It was planned - just not for right now!
A year after the repair on the dishwasher, I got someone to haul it off. I may have the spa removed (it has been sitting rotting and is too big for me to move. It blew its control plug in the move. I never should have removed it from Fremont!) I need a new one - in Fremont!
Thinking $$$$$.
But then, I was trying to save up $15-16,000 to put up the 4th bedroom wall and doors, the walk-in closet and move the wall furnace. The bathroom will remain a planned improvement that I never get to.
My lawn swing in San Diego is in tatters. My umbrella nests black widow spiders. I am ignoring them.
Trip before last, I went for a "road check" at Toyota and they actually drove the truck! Seems they stopped road tests. I didn't know that. Here I was trusting them..... And I needed (desperately) and new clutch. (Well, I had 168,000 on the original one.) They managed to blow out a headlight (I didn't notice until I was on the road to San Diego - what fun. They had also blown out the O2 sensor. They paid for the headlight. And they rotated my tires. AGAINST MY WISHES!)
My tires are Revos - and Wheel Works takes care of them.
Read more $$$$$$.
A year or so ago, I had a honey bee nest in my chimney - and dead bees all over the house. And a couple of wasps. I need to get the NEW skylights seen to. Another flake roofer! I had to get the nest exterminated. I cleaned up hundreds of bee bodies. The chimney is sealed. I never use the fireplace.
More $$$$$.
So, after the clutch incident and the blown headlight, imagine my last trip when I found a 2' across honey bee hive on the second story eve. On yet another holiday week-end. And they found the "main hive" in my back fire-break retaining wall (which I installed after the Cedar Fire.) I refused to have the wall opened and I would have ignored the hive (on the back bank) but ---- the big 50-60 foot Eucalyptus tree finally had died. It was damaged int he Cedar fire and I had paid for thinning and trimming and tired to save it. This is 5 years down the road. But it finally died. The fire had left it weak - and the bug invasion we have in Scripps Ranch had gotten to it. The bee nest was sealed so they could trim the brush. I understand the bees will find a way back in-----. Good.
I will take to spraying the house. Yes, I do have an exterminator. He never looked UP.
More $$$$$
And, by the way, a couple of dead trees (Virus attacking the liquid ambers---- I had no idea!). And a heavy fuel load on the back bank, including Chaparral growing where I have succulents! All that winter rain! The canyon had BLOOMED!!!!
Add more $$$$$ Because it has been 5 years since the Cedar fire came right into my back yard - and we have a 5-year cycle. So - clear fuel, don't damage the fire-break. (These are usually ground fires driven by a Santa Ana wind.)
So forgive me if I didn't run load the truck and hit the road.
Instead, I did 3 loads of laundry, weed-whacked the back yard in Fremont, took my squash pathetic plants and put them in the holes the puppies have made in my back lawn (lawn? Not for years!!!! Weed-patch!) Picked green tomatoes. They can ripen away from bugs on my kitchen counter. I did dishes. Folded and put away the laundry.
The puppies didn't walk --- they charged and ran in circles around me while I weed-whacked.
Starz and Encore are free this week-end. I am trying to see if they are running ANYTHING I want to watch. Not really.
Instead, I watched one of my new Midsomer Murder DVDs. They are way behind the 80+ episodes that exist. Gotta love the Brits! Time to order a few more shows. It is a long time lag from the show to getting it on Region 1 (USA format) DVDs. (With the Mac, I can watch the shows on Region 2 DVDs if pressed.). Inspector Lewis 3 and 4th season. Not from PBS - they cut 10 minutes out of each show! BOO- HISS! I have watched Season 1 and 2 of George Gently. Martin Shaw as a 1960s British Detective. They are shooting a couple new shows. The newUSA TV shows haven't rung my chimes.
It is only Saturday - I have more to do and a day left to do it in. I am thinking, READ A BOOK! Because I signed up for NaNoWriMo - challenge to write 50,000 words in a month. There goes my November! (No - I no longer cook a turkey.)
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