No, not for me, even if my knees did object to the grouting. But I did get the grouting done, on Tuesday, as scheduled, and the project does look good. Now I need to figure out how to inject a photo into this blog. (Actually, I had gotten this far just a minute ago, and then tried to get a photo in, and ended up losing the whole thing.) Maybe the photo will follow later.
Actually, a neighbor passed away last Wedneday, and we were at the funeral home for the visiting hours yesterday, and the funeral service this morning. She was 94 years old, had arthritis very badly, and had been in severe pain for quite some time, and wanting to be gone, and have the suffering gone as well. She had a stroke 2 weeks ago, had gone into the hospital, and transferred to hospice a couple of days later. She looked much more at peace in her casket. She had no family left, other than her son, who had provided care for many years, particularly the last year, after he retired, to be able to stay home and care for her, almost 24/7. Carol would go over at times, just across the street, when the son needed to go to the doctor, etc, for himself. Carol has known her for almost 45 years--they are the last of the original neighbors that were here when Carol arrived in '64.
I had just read an article in the latest Smithsonian magazine, that was quite interesting. The author had had occasion to bury both his father, and his father-in-law, just a few days apart, in two different states, and had quite varied and interesting burials for each. For the one, in Maine, the family was able to prepare the body, build their own casket, (Home Depot--You can do it, we can help.) And make arrangements for cremation, not without some difficulties in being allowed to transport the body, but they got it done. The second funeral, in Michigan, had to deal with a lot more mandates and restrictions, and obviously, expense, as well. In Maine, the casket cost $91 to build, and $350 for cremation, not sure if the urn was included, or what. In Michigan, the cost was over $11,000, even with what they considered a moderately priced casket. Quite a difference.
In discussion with the funeral directors, and stating my desire to have a RED casket with Chrome handles, they agreed that it probably would be most possible, provided I built and supplied my own, which is permissible, and then could have what I wanted. And at a most reasonable price, as well. I do not see this as a major hurdle, as I can handle the construction, at least at this point in time. My biggest concern is storage until it is needed. Short of using the finished project as a storage cabinet of some kind, until it is needed for a final container, I do not know where I could store it. But I will give it some thought, and see what I can come up with. Hmmmmm, wonder if H-D or Lowes has the best selection of handles??
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A whole week already?
Time flies when you are having fun, or when the years accumulate and everything is downhill, I guess. Have been busy, either working, or managing to avoid work, since the last post. Tiling job has progressed. Not finished, but progressed. Managed to seal the chatahoochee three coats, and all of the tile has been set, just not grouted yet. Probably Tuesday, as I have enough lined up to keep me occupied tomorrow.
Besides, my knees keep telling me to put it off! The actual setting of the tiles went rather well, actually. They had all been cut and dry-fit, and the actual cementing of them to the slab went fairly quickly, and I was able to kneel on the grass, as well as my knee-pads, so it was tolerable. The grouting takes a little longer, so keep putting it off, waiting for a day when I 'want my knees to keep me awake'! Hasn't shown up on the calendar yet.
Actually, had a couple of doctor visits this past week. The cardiologist sort of flew in-and-out of the exam room, staying long enough to recommend another pill each day, (fish oil,) and see him in 7 months. The urologist was in the room slightly longer, but said they would send a card in a year, and make my appoointment when I got the card. My kind of scheduling. Then he wants an x-ray, to check for any new kidney stones forming. (I hope NOT!!)
Looks like another busy one coming, perhaps with both activities like the past one.
Besides, my knees keep telling me to put it off! The actual setting of the tiles went rather well, actually. They had all been cut and dry-fit, and the actual cementing of them to the slab went fairly quickly, and I was able to kneel on the grass, as well as my knee-pads, so it was tolerable. The grouting takes a little longer, so keep putting it off, waiting for a day when I 'want my knees to keep me awake'! Hasn't shown up on the calendar yet.
Actually, had a couple of doctor visits this past week. The cardiologist sort of flew in-and-out of the exam room, staying long enough to recommend another pill each day, (fish oil,) and see him in 7 months. The urologist was in the room slightly longer, but said they would send a card in a year, and make my appoointment when I got the card. My kind of scheduling. Then he wants an x-ray, to check for any new kidney stones forming. (I hope NOT!!)
Looks like another busy one coming, perhaps with both activities like the past one.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Is it gone yet???
The unusual cold weather, that is. We tied some records this past week, for low temps, and the local growers have been hit pretty hard again, although not wiped out, or so they seem to think. Frost and freezing is not going to help produce prices in the least.
But today is much better, headed for the mid 70s, and forecasts of low 80s for midweek are a nice thing to look forward to again. I have some outdoor projects waiting for warm
weather again. Sure don't want to do pressure cleaning, or the tiling project, when any trip out of doors requires a jacket! That was what I left Ohio to get away from, many years ago now, but at least, no snow or slush to require the use of boots around here. And from the reports, people up north would be delighted with the temps we have had. (Come for a visit, and bring money, Florida can use the green stuff.)
I guess 2009 is officially off to a start, now. The first NASCAR of the year was on last night, the BUD Shootout. I don't usually like Saturday night races, as they run so late that I am in bed, needing to get my sleep before Sunday morning. However, the Shootout was only 75 laps, only scheduled for 2 hours, and due to be off just before the 10 pm news. With a record number of crashes and caution periods during the race, they did not quite get in done before 10, but not long after, and besides, the news we watch is on the channel the race was on, so the news did not overlap or conflict.
Due to a very limited chance to run the cars and do testing during the offseason, this was as much a testing race as anything, and the number of crashes showed it. Cars were not set up ideally for the track yet, many of the drivers were in different cars from last year, and had different pit crews and crew chiefs, so it was a rather wild race. Seems a lot of teams were testing setups, and trying to be in a better position to be ready for next weeks Daytona race, to go for points and prestige, with the big race. The restrictor plate races are not as exciting, in a lot of ways, as regular races, and the plates really do cause the cars to be very evenly matched. Of course, having 10-12-20 cars all running bumper to bumper, and door handle to door handle, at 190 mph does have excitement, but not the same as allowing different cars/teams to get the most out of their cars as they can. Glad there are only a couple of plate-races during the year.
It was interesting to see the new team/driver combinations, as there has been a lot of changes this year, as well as several new teams formed. It will take some getting used to, to quickly recognize drivers in new car numbers, some with different powerplants under the hood, but all battling with the Car of Tomorrow, bigger, wider, taller than the old ones used to be. BUT---SAFER! Bad crashes happen, but very seldom is there injuries. The tougher cars, and safer soft-walls, are making it a much safer sport. Even with some nasty crashes, cars demolished, upset, hit several times, it is VERY rare that the driver does not crawl out, wave to the crowd, and walk to the ambulance for the required visit to the care center, exiting the CC minutes later with a cold drink in his hand, and talking to the TV reporters, ready to go back and try it again. And that is a good thing.
Looks like I had better make this a busy week, at least between doctor appointments. Nothing serious, just checkup time.
But today is much better, headed for the mid 70s, and forecasts of low 80s for midweek are a nice thing to look forward to again. I have some outdoor projects waiting for warm
weather again. Sure don't want to do pressure cleaning, or the tiling project, when any trip out of doors requires a jacket! That was what I left Ohio to get away from, many years ago now, but at least, no snow or slush to require the use of boots around here. And from the reports, people up north would be delighted with the temps we have had. (Come for a visit, and bring money, Florida can use the green stuff.)
I guess 2009 is officially off to a start, now. The first NASCAR of the year was on last night, the BUD Shootout. I don't usually like Saturday night races, as they run so late that I am in bed, needing to get my sleep before Sunday morning. However, the Shootout was only 75 laps, only scheduled for 2 hours, and due to be off just before the 10 pm news. With a record number of crashes and caution periods during the race, they did not quite get in done before 10, but not long after, and besides, the news we watch is on the channel the race was on, so the news did not overlap or conflict.
Due to a very limited chance to run the cars and do testing during the offseason, this was as much a testing race as anything, and the number of crashes showed it. Cars were not set up ideally for the track yet, many of the drivers were in different cars from last year, and had different pit crews and crew chiefs, so it was a rather wild race. Seems a lot of teams were testing setups, and trying to be in a better position to be ready for next weeks Daytona race, to go for points and prestige, with the big race. The restrictor plate races are not as exciting, in a lot of ways, as regular races, and the plates really do cause the cars to be very evenly matched. Of course, having 10-12-20 cars all running bumper to bumper, and door handle to door handle, at 190 mph does have excitement, but not the same as allowing different cars/teams to get the most out of their cars as they can. Glad there are only a couple of plate-races during the year.
It was interesting to see the new team/driver combinations, as there has been a lot of changes this year, as well as several new teams formed. It will take some getting used to, to quickly recognize drivers in new car numbers, some with different powerplants under the hood, but all battling with the Car of Tomorrow, bigger, wider, taller than the old ones used to be. BUT---SAFER! Bad crashes happen, but very seldom is there injuries. The tougher cars, and safer soft-walls, are making it a much safer sport. Even with some nasty crashes, cars demolished, upset, hit several times, it is VERY rare that the driver does not crawl out, wave to the crowd, and walk to the ambulance for the required visit to the care center, exiting the CC minutes later with a cold drink in his hand, and talking to the TV reporters, ready to go back and try it again. And that is a good thing.
Looks like I had better make this a busy week, at least between doctor appointments. Nothing serious, just checkup time.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
If I was in trouble before,
I am in bigger trouble now, looking at the date of my last blog. It is surprising that my daughter has not taken me to task again. Not that nothing has been going on, but more like too much going on, or the chilly weather in south FL has gotten to me, or whatever.
I intended to get online last week, but got involved in a tiling job, here at the house, over several days, that made me want to just curl up and let the Tylenot try and do its job! I am not thrilled about doing tiling, and my knees and back were singing the chorus to that, loud and clear, after just a couple of hours on my knees on several afternoons. Even with my kneepads, I can hardly get up from the ground after kneeling for a hour or so. Must have something to do with my drivers license! (Like the DOB!) And I still have more to do. I can hardly wait. Just doing a tile border around two sides of our carport, to keep the chatahoochee from being damaged. The raw edge has been crumbling away, a little at a time, leaving part of the underlying slab exposed, so we had 8 inches of it removed, or as much of 8 inches as was still there, and I am placing an 8 inch tile along the edge. The tile is about the same thickness as the chatahoochee, so it is grouting in well.
Of course, 8 inch tile are mostly a thing of the past, so we had to purchase 16x16 tile, with a pattern looking like 4-8 inch tiles, and saw them into 8x16 sections to make it work. As I have a friend with a diamond-blade wet saw, which I can borrow, the cutting to fit is the easy part, partially because it is done standing up! I have about 1/2 of the length done, and the rest cut and dry fit, waiting for a nice day to work outside. With yesterdays cool front having come in, (48 to start the day today,) and a freeze warning for tomorrow, it may be a few days before it gets finished.
A funeral (memorial) service to attend tomorrow, and doctor appointments scattered thru the week, will get first priority over crawling around on mu knees.
Besides, the Super Bowl kept me busy Sunday. I think there was 8 hours of hype, on TV, before the kickoff ever happened, which I managed to avoid almost entirely, but when the game started, it was a real intense struggle. Probably the best game I have watched for a long time. Not a blowout, but a tough, back and forth struggle, right to the end. Two of the standouts, one on each team, are from Palm Beach county, from small towns out by Lake Okeechobee, which sort of added to the fun. Never made it to the South Florida Fair this year, however. For one thing, the weather got chilly and damp, not unusual for fair time, but we did got go at all. Maybe next year. (Assuming I survive without my fix of sausage sandwich, elephant ears, and blooming onions.) We don't ride the rides, but look around, people watch, and EAT!!! Oh yes, kettle corn and fudge make good fillins, as well. Got to quit writing, I am getting hungry.
I intended to get online last week, but got involved in a tiling job, here at the house, over several days, that made me want to just curl up and let the Tylenot try and do its job! I am not thrilled about doing tiling, and my knees and back were singing the chorus to that, loud and clear, after just a couple of hours on my knees on several afternoons. Even with my kneepads, I can hardly get up from the ground after kneeling for a hour or so. Must have something to do with my drivers license! (Like the DOB!) And I still have more to do. I can hardly wait. Just doing a tile border around two sides of our carport, to keep the chatahoochee from being damaged. The raw edge has been crumbling away, a little at a time, leaving part of the underlying slab exposed, so we had 8 inches of it removed, or as much of 8 inches as was still there, and I am placing an 8 inch tile along the edge. The tile is about the same thickness as the chatahoochee, so it is grouting in well.
Of course, 8 inch tile are mostly a thing of the past, so we had to purchase 16x16 tile, with a pattern looking like 4-8 inch tiles, and saw them into 8x16 sections to make it work. As I have a friend with a diamond-blade wet saw, which I can borrow, the cutting to fit is the easy part, partially because it is done standing up! I have about 1/2 of the length done, and the rest cut and dry fit, waiting for a nice day to work outside. With yesterdays cool front having come in, (48 to start the day today,) and a freeze warning for tomorrow, it may be a few days before it gets finished.
A funeral (memorial) service to attend tomorrow, and doctor appointments scattered thru the week, will get first priority over crawling around on mu knees.
Besides, the Super Bowl kept me busy Sunday. I think there was 8 hours of hype, on TV, before the kickoff ever happened, which I managed to avoid almost entirely, but when the game started, it was a real intense struggle. Probably the best game I have watched for a long time. Not a blowout, but a tough, back and forth struggle, right to the end. Two of the standouts, one on each team, are from Palm Beach county, from small towns out by Lake Okeechobee, which sort of added to the fun. Never made it to the South Florida Fair this year, however. For one thing, the weather got chilly and damp, not unusual for fair time, but we did got go at all. Maybe next year. (Assuming I survive without my fix of sausage sandwich, elephant ears, and blooming onions.) We don't ride the rides, but look around, people watch, and EAT!!! Oh yes, kettle corn and fudge make good fillins, as well. Got to quit writing, I am getting hungry.
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