Maintenance

 

         For a week now we have been touching up our house.  The deck REALLY needed a make- over.  I don’t think it’s been painted/stained for two or three years.  It NEEDED a fresh coat of something.  And Richard was concerned about the trim facing west as it also needed a fresh coat of paint in his opinion.  Honestly no one is going to notice.  Nobody ever goes back there – especially to look at the shutters.  But whatever.  So here are some things we have done.

 

we painted the chairs after this photo was taken

clean up

          I thought I had posted about our make-shift shed that we made from the tarp of a greenhouse kit.  Richard built the frame to last – but the tarp did not.  It started out with good intentions but became more of an eye sore each time it was moved.  And so much junk accumulated over the years.  We took that down today.  It was a lot of work as Richard had built it to last.  Took us a couple of hours and whacking at it with a sludge hammer.   Made a trip to the dump.  It’s been exhausting.

What a LONG and Exciting Day . . . for Richard

                Though the word “Exciting” is generally related to being a positive adjective, one’s anxiety level does not always mean the “excitement” is positive.  Take yesterday for example.  My, what a long day –

          It started out as a dry run to the dump – just to explore without first loading up and appearing to be lost.  I told Richard he should ask questions while we were there.  He didn’t.  That’s on him.

          As we were passing downtown anyway, Jaime wanted to stop by Tommy’s to get a treat. We loaded up the truck after we returned.

          The truck was purchased from a member who is going through a divorce.  He said that it needed a new battery which we have not purchased yet.  I think we need to do that.

          Point is we haven’t had the truck that long.  I have ridden in it myself but Jaime has not and so I wanted her to have that opportunity.  Good call on my part as whatever all I had eaten at Tommy’s had gone right through me (TMI) and I had problems different from the ones that Richard was about to endure.

          So while I was fighting my own battles with TMI – Richard and Jaime drove back to the MC dump only to be told they would have to go to Roseburg.  After offloading in Roseburg they got back in the truck and it wouldn’t start.  They said a prayer.  It started.

          They then went to Auto Zone to get something.  Got back in the truck.  Wouldn’t start.  Said another prayer.  It wouldn’t start.  Went back into Auto Zone and made a purchase for some other item that didn’t work to their (well Richard’s) expectations.  An employee figured out the problem and drove to the other Auto Zone (apparently Roseburg has two) and obtained the right part.

          Lot of sadness going on with the truck still not starting and Richard sending Jaime home (she had called a friend who came and got her and dropped her off) Finally a mechanic got the truck started and Richard then went to Costco to get some gas.  The truck died again at the fuel pumps.  Workers pushed him out of the way.  I don’t remember how he happened to start again or why he thought he needed to come home and have us follow him back. (Jaime drove as I cannot see at night) and we left the truck at a mechanics in Roseburg.  I think buying a new battery to begin with would have been less costly.  Certainly a lot warmer.

          Meanwhile Jaime had taken her car as she needed gas – which we filled up in Winston.  Richard was not thrilled to learn that neither her defroster or heater work.  Her car will be going to another mechanics tomorrow.  Oh what joy. 

            Perhaps I should mention that both vehicles are Fords.  Her Focus is 1995 and the pick up is 1999.  Fun fact.  Or maybe not FUN - or exciting.