New York has a deposit law. You pay a five cent deposit anytime you buy a can or bottle of soda, beer, or carbonated water. And then you get the five cents back when you turn the can or bottle in.
Howdy y’all. I am still about. Well hubs went to irk. Said it’s just to”look” and it’s just around the corner and no one else is there. It’s taking him a long time to look. One week today on new valve. I think I will just kill him and be done with it.
We finally got a new Director at irk. Of course I have not met him as I am still contaminated from Miami but he did send out a re-opening plan for 1-2 weeks after the decline in Covid cases. We are still going up so maybe by next year. Anyway, I have to fill in my plan and send it back to him.
We have been having lots of summertime showers here but it’s so blasted hot. I have so much housework to do today. I have laundry in the works. Next up kitchen. I need to cook today but don’t yet know what. Here’s hoping everyone has a great rest of the week.
Butters - since KW is a cruise ship stop, have you heard anything about when ships might be allowed back at the port? I’m doubtful that our Feb cruise will happen, but I was wondering if anything has been said thereabouts. Plus the ship departs from Tampa, which may also remain closed… who knows???
Went to bed early last night because my stomach decided that my back needed company. Sick this morning, but not terribly so. Anyways, pain forming a band around my lower back now that makes me gasp a little when I change positions, but at least I’m not trying not to cry. It seems like it’s muscular at this point - residue from the spasms that lasted all day yesterday. So…yay?
Anyway, “get” to have a 2 hour meeting this morning with lawyers for work. Only saving grace is that it’s in the morning (rip off the bandaid early-ish), I don’t have many - if any - meetings this afternoon and hopefully my daughter will get to hang with her best friend before the friend goes to her grandparents’ for 2 weeks.
Oh, well - I’m kind of happy the meeting is today. I’ve been dreading it for more than 2 weeks so it’ll be good to get it over with.
I had an adventurous night that included being surprised @FairyChatMom was awake in the middle of the night, sleeping fitfully, sleep walking and eating. Causing an uproar in the house. Hey, if I can’t sleep neither should the family. 
Now I’m over tired and crabby.
I have to help Mr.Wrekker pack for his trip. He’s driving to Georgia. I’m sort of worried about that. But flying is such an ordeal he doesn’t want to risk it.
I really think this is a crazy venture. Why can’t he just go fishing?
Mid-daughter was going home after the 4th. She’s decided to stay on a while longer.
I love having her here. She’s really a big help.
Y’all have a good day.
Waiting for my ride to get here. It’s cloudy and cool, which makes me happy. I didn’t sleep well last night. A couple of women, obviously social distancing, had a very long, very loud chat under my window. Then I woke up at 4 a.m. and took forever to go back to sleep. I’ll try to get to bed early tonight.
Becks, how long of a trip is Georgia from Arkansas? I’m guessing 10 hours? 12? The odds are overwhelming that he’ll get there in fine shape, and it’s certainly better than flying these days, but I know nothing stops the worry-meter. And yay for Mid-Wrekk staying longer. The more eyes on you, the better.
wordy, hope that crummy tummy gets better pronto.
butters, hope hubs stops pushing that envelope. Isn’t he supposed to be quarantining, too?
Sari, sad about the lonelier dog park. I kept reading “shift” without the “f,” which may or may not reflect your attitude towards your job.
Ride’s here!
It was for the fabulous job you took on (at the last minute) of organizing the 2019 SDMB Christmas gift exchange-- while you were in the process of moving halfway across the country. Above and beyond, my friend! 
We were shocked down to our CORE yesterday!
Our stimulus check arrived! 
Seriously, I figured we were deliberately overlooked because of my tendency to call our President an idiot.
I “borrowed” from savings weeks ago, and made a contribution to “Feeding America” for my half of the check. Honestly, things are so bad everywhere, I may forget about “paying back” the savings account and contribute again.
Mr VOW is still figuring out what he wants to do.
We probably should stock up on Lysol spray and buy a portable air filter. And another fifty pounds of flour for the bread machine?
~VOW
I made a scientific conclusion today.
Comets get their tails from releasing trapped gas. I know what releasing trapped gas is like.
This means that comets’ tails are farts.
Building the shed roof
As I’ve said, the roof on the shed that was (probably) built in the mid-'70s needed to be replaced, including new structure. I planned on a three-day job, and counted on the three-day weekend. The story thus far…
Friday, 3 July
It rained. All day. And that was that for the first day.
Saturday, 4 July
The hardware store was closed for the holiday, so I had to drive 25 miles to Home Despot. Procured lumber and nails. Refueled the Jeep on the way home. Erected the pavilion, and moved the stuff I wasn’t going to use under it. Demolished the old roof. Some of it just crumbled, it was so rotten. The solid parts were harder. Finally got to use my Sawzall. Used an old truss as a template to cut and assemble five new ones to replace the four old ones. Cut the ridge beam, side boards, and fascia boards. I left the house for Home Despot around 9:30 or 10 o’clock. Worked until 17:00. I was tired and a bit wobbly. After a shower, I cooked rib-eye steaks and corn on the cob on the barbie.
Sunday, 5 July
Went to the hardware store at 9:30 to buy plywood for the sheeting, a roll of roofing material, roofing material holder-downer, a brush and a handle to put the holder-downer down, 20 Strong Tie rafter holders, 20 feet of flashing, 48 feet of beveled cladding boards, some paint, and a paint brush. Nailed up the trusses and the ridge beam.
Started putting up the bevel boards when a part-time neighbour came back to see what all the ruckus was. He was impressed by my work. Having been in construction himself when he was younger, he gave me two bits of valuable advice: Nail scraps of wood to the side boards to align the roof sheeting and to keep it from sliding off; and return the plywood I bought and get oriented strand board (OSB) instead. Mrs. L.A. made me stop working, because she didn’t want me to get wobbly like the night before. Showered and had a tuna sandwich, dill pickle, and spicy Baken-ets for dinner.
Monday, 6 July
Had to do my real job. I logged on at 0600 and worked until 15:00. I took a half-hour for lunch, and went to the hardware store to return the plywood. By getting OSB instead, I got a $64 refund. After work I used the scrap wood idea to put up the side rails. I put the boards up and aligned them, while Mrs. L.A. held them flush against the butt ends of the rafters. On the front end, I drilled two holes and hammered in two nails to make getting that end up easy. The downslope side was going to be hard for Mrs. L.A. to reach the board, so I got two pieces of string and tied bowlines in them so Mrs. L.A. could hold the board flush from inside of the shed. Using the scrap wood idea, I put the front and back fascia boards on myself. I decided to call it a day after only a couple of hours. Preparing for possible rain, I lowered the pavilion to it’s lowest setting, put the chop saw, circular saw, Workmate, and hand tools inside of the catio. I took the OSB off of the top of the Jeep, and enlisted Mrs. L.A.'s help to help me move it to the deck where I covered it with a tarp. Mrs. L.A. had ‘dinner’ (tuna sandwich on a potato bun, with potato chips) earlier, so I had a tin of smoked herring, and Italian sausage, and a piece of cheddar cheese.
Still to do
Paint the side boards, fascia, and uncovered portions of the rafters. Cut the OSB and nail it up. Put the flashing on the edges. Apply the roofing material. Use some deck paint I have to paint the floor. Move everything back in.
Metalmouse I’m actually an American (Seattleite) living in Switzerland, even though I have some Swiss ancestors.
Today was my last German class for summer so I looked up School’s Out for Summer, which I didn’t realize was by Alice Cooper and is from 1972. Since my parents are not rock fans, probably the first time I heard that song was in 1978 when Alice Cooper was on the Muppet Show. I think I need to catch up on my Alice Cooper music knowledge. And maybe watch some Muppet Show.
As summer vacation is only 6 weeks here, the back to school sales start before school ends. It’s weird. When school starts again it’ll be almost time for the Christmas cookies to be in the grocery store.
Who knows if my class will still be Zoom or in person. Seems a lot can happen in just over a month.
Stay healthy everybody. This ride isn’t over yet.
Stayed home today, one of those “don’t get too far from the bathroom” days. On the plus side, DH is taking another shot at a light-duty gig, at a thrift store we both like to shop at anyway. Hopefully, this one works out.
Honeys, I’m home! You know, it never occurred to me I could have two separate things going on. The right eye has iritis, so lots of prednisone drops there for the next week. No rejection, though, so yay. The left eye had a popped stitch. It was embedded, and…well, I’ll spare you the details. The doc told me I shouldn’t have waited to come in, that there’s always someone on call for emergencies. Oh. But honestly, I didn’t think (and still don’t) that it was an emergency. Anyway, I figure since I’m not complaining, I’m not violating my rule, so I might as well end that chapter.
Die, “School’s Out” was played at the end of most HS graduations I attended during my teaching tenure. “School’s out forever!” I’m going to have to watch his guest appearance on The Muppet Show.
Nettie, hope you and the bathroom are seeing less of each other now.
Must move on. I’m trying to stay distracted.
Afternoon all. Rugs have been transported to the Thrift Store and water bill paid, so I have been constructive so far. Some drops of rain but not much, storms are scattered all around and I don’t know if we’ll get any substantial precipitation.
nellie, good that the eyes now have it…treatment, that is… And driving Arkansas-Georgia is anywhere from about 500-800 miles, so 8-12 hours.
nettie, that’s the nice thing being a single man with 2 bathrooms…I’m always close and don’t have to worry about anyone occupying it…
Die, thanks for the info. And I graduated HS in 1971, so I just missed out on Alice’s song.
flyboy, that’s a lot of work. Good on your wife for putting her foot down.
MG, I’ll be sure to be there when you accept the Nobel Prize…
{wordy}…but a gentle one. And hope the meeting went well.
Butters, my mom always said about my dad “Divorce never; Murder possibly.”
Nemo, ah, I see, Ali-bama doesn’t have that law (we do have a 9% tax on groceries, however…)
Sari, Adam is definitely in better shape than I am. Long as he’s eating and pita’ing, I wouldn’t worry much.
Whooooo…think I caught up with everyone (and apologies if I missed you). Reading and (probable) nappage is next.
rodent, as a couple with no other human household members, DH and I also find having two bathrooms highly convenient :).
Things seem to be calming down, so I’m tackling some cooking and having groceries delivered. Instacart has been and gone, decided to make my life easier by paying for express from Walmart (otherwise, would have gotten a rather difficult time slot this evening). Having a basically hermit day away from people will probably be good for my emotional health. Working in a call center, I do get pretty peopled out at times, even though I’m not an introvert.
Don’t forget the yeast!
Work wrapped up early, so they send most of the crew home. Then another truck showed up, needing sorting. 
But it’s money. On the way home, an ambulance and 2 fire trucks passed me, and turned into the funeral home I drive pass. 
So does anybody have “Zombie Apocalypse” on their bingo card for July? 
As someone with a roommate who is a slob, I enjoy having 2 bathrooms.
MG, 
But what would you call it when a comet fart crashes into Uranus?
FCM, I haven’t researched my family tree. Mainly because I’m afraid I wouldn’t find enough horse thieves and town drunks.
MG made a fart joke and quit drinking. High five, girl. May you be forever spared the smell of people eating McDonald’s food.
I have a small collection of recyclables to return, someday when I’m broke enough that it’s worth it (so, prolly … next week?)
Instead, I dragged a trash bag of unwanted clothes to Goodwill that I’d sorted thanks to Doper encouragement here:
and got a new light bulb for my lava lamp, so my home will be all grooooooovy again, man!
Now I’m driving to Grand Rapids to meet The Parental Units again for another meal. Yesterday went so nicely - think we can pull off a two-fer?
I’m way more relaxed, since we won’t be inside my home, which is just chockablock full of things to question/criticize. This is just a meal on neutral territory. I ain’t a-skeered.
She says, dicking around on The Dope to put off starting the drive.
Supper was good - meatloaf, 'maters, spuds-n-onions, and zucchini sticks. I’ve got some black cherry frozen yogurt for later - it’s pretty yum!
Other than that, evening chillage shall ensue.