Please hold

We are in a holding pattern at the moment.  At least with the work on House #1. 

We're waiting on a survey. We're waiting on a fence. We're waiting to have a parking spot created. 

I know these will all happen at the same time.

House #1 has been gutted (except for the bath tub) to the studs.  Now we need to get electricity to the second floor ceiling so we can work in the evenings.  We went to the hardware store this weekend to procure supplies to run a little power.  That's part of tonight's plan.

While we continue to hold in this pattern, I will post a few photos to remind us (ok mostly myself) how far we have come and how quickly it will all come together. 

In December we replaced the kitchen in the cat ranch.  It wasn't easy and it wasn't quick, but I love it and use it everyday. 

Before

 

After

At Sixes and Sevens

My friend turned six a couple of weeks ago.  Where do the time go?  (I'm certain his mother is saying the same thing.)

Their family is in the transition of moving. Moving is a monumental task for everybody.  I don't care how many times you've moved or how organized you are, it is never easy. 

I wanted to send him something for his birthday, but knowing their family is in this transition, I didn't want to send something that would have to packed up.  (Ok, I was thinking more about his mom in this case.)  I wanted something small to send through the mail.  Something related to him being six years old. 

I had nothing.

Two days before his birthday, and still no good ideas on the horizon, I took a phone call from a staff member on campus looking for a particular font to use for a poster. 

I found her font in my fonts folder and lots of other cool fonts I never get to use.  Most of my correspondence is via email, so I have the opportunity to use the cool, creative styles, but in the professional world, you don't have the opportunity.  It doesn't look very professional when you write an email like this:

At least not in my department.  (I SO want to work in a department/field where this would be acceptable.) My boss would be all over that in a flash.  He refuses to take anybody seriously if they use a font other than straight laced and serious.  We won't get into his neurosis right now.

This one would be fun too:

 
After looking at all of these cool fonts, I knew I had to do something related to 6s for the birthday boy.  I printed out a bunch of large 6s in all different fonts and started cutting around all of the edges of the 6s. 

If I started a year earlier, I might have had them all cut out by the time he was 7.  Cutting around all of the curves of the fancy fonts was slowing down the cutting progress.  Simpler.  Must be simpler.  Squares.  Straight cuts.  Easy. 

Then I found a slightly heavier weight yellow paper in my office.  Bright Yellow. Now we're getting somewhere.  I used 4 different colors, but kept the size of the card the same size.  A few minutes and a lot of fonts later, I had 80 squares with a big 6 in the middle of each.

Now what.  Now what.  Now what.

I need a different color paper.  So now I have two stacks of the exact same 6s on different color papers.  I just created a matching game!  Match the pattern or match the colors.  Off to the paper cutter I go. 

My office is across the hall from the Education Faculty.  The paper cutter is in the faculty mailroom.  As I was cutting out the sixes, one of the professors stopped.  She's an early education professor.  She said, 'Wait a minute.  This looks like a project I would be working on, not a project our tech support would be working on.'  Hmmmm, maybe I need to peak in her office for more ideas.


Here's the finished project in action.  The birthday boy and his brother loved it. 

By the way, I have 941 fonts in my fonts folder.  I use 2 on a regular basis.

Also, here is a quick history of the term "at sixes and sevens":

This expression is commoner in the UK and Commonwealth countries than in the US. It can mean something that’s in a state of total confusion or disarray, or people who are collectively in a muddle or at loggerheads about how to deal with some situation.

Huh??

I am drowning in a sea of acronyms.

We had a two hour (TWO HOUR!!) staff meeting today.  The boss dragged on for so long that we didn't even get to the part of the agenda where we go around the table and talk about any concerns the other staff might have.  Which now means that if we are having an issue, we'll have to schedule another meeting. 

We just listened to the boss talk on and on and on and on and on and on about how he was scheduling meetings to talk about meetings and planning for meetings and preparing to meet to determine a meeting time. 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Oops, I think I nodded off there for a moment.

I work in a field full of acronyms.  In every meeting (and we have at least one a week) I write them all down and then go back to my office and look them up on the internet dictionary of acronyms.  Only then am I able to understand what the meeting was actually about. 

He also loves buzz words.  I have another co-worker like that, too.

ASAP
BTW
EOM
ETA
FOB
KRA
APs
PAs
EOD
TBD
WEF
CTAC
SLA
OEM
ACL
DSL
LAN
NAC
CSSD
CIDDE
WAN

Ok so he didn't use all of these in the meeting this morning, but it was darn close.

Then there are the catch phrases.

chump change

disjointed
central repository
parasites
augmentation
boning up
self supporting unit
recruitment vehicle
facilitator
synergy
rudimentary
juxtapose
If you don’t move forward, you're a dinosaur.
bastardize
indigent
brain trust
microcosmic universe
emulate success
piggy back
quasi lease
superfluous
cannibalizing
intimate

I have only two words to say about all of this.....lunch time.

Signs

Let me first start by saying that everything turned out alright in the end. 

Saturday was a beautiful autumn day.  The sun was out.  It was warm, but not hot.  The sky was so blue. 

(The sky looks so big in this photo and the house very small.)

 

The day started out well.  Breakfast, cleaning up the yard, laundry.  The typical Saturday morning stuffs. Chain Saw Johnny was coming over after his morning work.  He and Walt Kowalski were going to attack another tree on the front hill.  They had a plan.  Walt Kowalski has been thinking about this for several weeks now.  After last Saturday's washout, we were pleased to be back outside.

 

Walt Kowalski and Chain Saw Johnny set the ladder up in the tree to tie off the guide rope.  The tree was covered in ivy and Virginia Creeper that was blooming and covered with bees.  Walt Kowalski headed up in the tree with the bug spray.  After spraying the bees, he tried to get the cap back on the bottle without dropping it and accidentally sprayed himself in the face with the bug spray. 

 

This was the first sign the day was not going to go well.  Hindsight, of course.

 

They got the rope tied off, the Come-Along attached, and Walt Kowalski started to tighten the rope, pulling the tree straight and towards the landing zone. 

 

Then the rope broke.  Another bad sign.

We think there was a small pull knot that came loose and the rope rubbed against itself, created weak spot, and broke.  No worries, we have a backup rope.

 

Re-tie and pull again. The tree was straight and pulling towards the landing zone.

 

Tree before tightening                                                                                 Tree after tightening

 

 

Tighten, tighten, tighten.  Saw, saw, saw, saw. 

 

It slowly started to lean.  It slowly started to fall. 

It slowly started to twist in the wrong direction.

Crap.  Crap. Crap. Crap.

 

 

It twisted and feel right onto our backup plan of a pine tree.  Slight sigh of relief.  Sort of. 

Walt Kowalski specifically did not cut down the small pine tree at the end of the driveway for this exact reason.  If a tree didn't fall properly, the little pine might help stop the falling tree before it crashed through the electric wires. 

It did.  Between the guide rope that was still holding the tree and the little pine tree, the big tree didn't crash into the wires.  Good sign!

But we still had the bigger problem that the upper branches of the big tree were very close to and tangled in the wires.  The telephone, cable, and electric wires.  The 50,000 volt electric wire.  The electric wire that is now sparking.  The electric wire that is now smoking.  Bad sign. Bad sign.

Crap. Crap. Crap.



Walt Kowalski yelled up from the bottom of the driveway 'CALL WEST PENN POWER!'  Then he said 'Wait, I have the telephone number right here.' 

 

What?  You just happened to have the emergency telephone number for West Penn Power in your pocket?  No, as it turned out, the mail lady just delivered the mail and in the mail was the electric bill.  Good sign.

 

I called West Penn.  They took my emergency call and said they would have someone out before 4:30pm.  It was only 1:30pm.  That's a lot of time. That's a lot of strain on a rope and on a pine tree.  Bad sign.

 

Walt Kowalski said 'You're going to have to call 911.  At least they will be here if the rope breaks before the power company gets here.  Maybe they can convey the urgency to the power company.'

 

 

 

 

I had to chuckle when I heard the fire whistles.  After hearing them everyday for my entire life, I knew exactly who they were for this time. It didn't make me feel any better for having to call them.  

 

The fire department was there within 10 minutes.  The power company was there within the hour. 

 

It wasn't that long of a wait when I look back and think about it.  We've all waited longer for a car inspection or a table at a restaurant.  But with the threat of impending doom dangling from a rope, it seemed like a much longer wait time. 

 

West Penn came to inspect and returned with their bucket truck.

 

First item of business, cut the power. 

Second item of business, cut the branches.

 

They were very nice about the entire situation.

 

Here is the photo before he cut the branches out of the wires:

 
And here is the after photo after he cut the branches out of the wires:

(I know it's hard to see.  Everything is green.)

 

He even topped another tree next to our stuck tree.  Thank you. 

 

Once we were able to breathe again, and power was restored, we were able to inspect the tree where it was originally cut.

 

It was big, top heavy, and rotted on the inside tree.  Things we were not able to predict.   

 

The power company and local fire department were very nice.  Thank you. Services we are glad we have but hope we never need.  Ever again.

 

Chain Saw Johnny and Walt Kowalski were not disheartened.  They rallied, put their gear back on, and formulated a plan of attack to take down the rest of the tree.  The mayor even came over to help.

 

The other, smaller tree the power company topped was also in this vicinity.  It would be easier to get the first big tree out of the little pine if the smaller tree was removed first and out of the way.   

Knowing how the day was going...take a guess where the second tree fell.

 

 

No, it didn't fall into the wires. Thank goodness.  Instead, it got stuck right next to the first tree, in the small pine tree. 

 

Really?!? Are there magnets in this tree? Tree magnets. 

 

At this point all we could do was laugh.  It was funny. 

 

With a rope and a little pulling the small tree fell to the ground easily.

More ropes. More pulling and pulling and pulling. 

 

The big tree finally fell.  All four of us gave a big cheer and a huge sigh of relief.  Beers all around to celebrate.  All in all the day turned out well, it could have been a LOT worse in so many ways.  We adjourned to the camp fire to drink our celebratory beers and to plan renting a lift for the last few trees.

 

 

Invasion

I know everybody is complaining about them.  We are no different.  We've got them and hate them, too.  Stink bugs. 

 

The trees are full of them. The chimney sweep guy who came on Thursday said that our area is one of the worst.  Lucky us.  I asked him not to judge us by the number of stink bugs in our chimney.  He laughed, but I have a feeling he was thinking it.  

This is just one side of the house:

 

Please note the sneakiness of these bugs.  They know to stay in the high places of the house, just out of my reach.

 

The front door, garage, and back door are just as bad. Every evening as the late afternoon sun warms the trees, they come out in droves.  Swarms.  Walt Kowalski attacks with the broom.  I attack with the swatter.  We could (and have) spent hours in this battle.  Getting into and out of the house is difficult.  They cover the screens and stick to your back hitchhiking inside when you're not looking.

 

We have even started keeping the windows shut to help slow down the traffic into the house, but even the glass isn't stopping them.  They find a way in through every little crack and crevice.   

 

We had a camp fire on the back patio one evening.  What we didn't realize was that the smoke from our fire created a bug bomb.  All of the stink bugs hiding in the oak tree leaves above, came out choking and coughing and flew right down on to us sitting below. 

 

Then yesterday afternoon, to make matters worse, we have a new battle to fight.  In addition to fighting the stink bug battle, a batch of flying ants hatched.  At least the stink bugs are slow movers.  The flying ants are fast.  They fly at your face, in your drink, in your food, in your hair.  gag.

 

I know this is their last hurrah.  They know it, too. The yellow jackets are especially annoying this time of year, too.  They are arrogant. 

 

*sigh* Remind me again why I like living in the forest? 

 

How about a pretty picture so we stop thinking about bugs:

 

 

 

Ahhh that's better. Walt Kowalski bought me these and a bunch of yellow.  My two favorite mum colors. 

 

 

I cropped the photo so you couldn't see the stink bugs.   :)

Sick Day

Walt Kowalski and I are healthy individuals.  (Knock on wood.)  We eat well.  Take our vitamins.  Wash our hands.  Exercise.  Wash our hands. 
 
The students are always sick.  (Just one reason I'm always washing my hands.)  Several of my co-workers are regularly sick.  Some are "sick" on a regular basis, too.  Don't get me wrong, I do not wish sickness upon anybody.  But as a healthy individual, sometimes I feel short-changed and over-worked. 
 
I know that sick days aren't just for being ill.  Doctor appointments, family doctor appointments, sick children, snow delays, school events.  I am not a sick day abuser.  The *official* use in our employee handbook says 'health reasons, family care obligations, and other conditions that have a bearing on physical and mental welfare.'

Other conditions that have a bearing on physical and mental welfare.  Hmmmm

 
Have I used a sick day when I wasn't sick? Yes.  
Have I come to work when I should have taken a sick day?  Yes.  


I have been nursing a sore heel for the last few weeks.  Heck, last week when I cut my finger I could have very easily taken a sick day.  Typing was not easy.  I bandaged it so I could type.  I could have bandaged it so I couldn't type and the injury could have prevented me from doing my job.  

I also know I have personal days and vacation days.  So do my co-workers.   
  


Is there an allowance for taking a sick day when your co-workers come to work when they are sick? 


 
Dear co-worker, You are sick, but you are at work.  Therefore, I am taking a sick day so I don't get your cold.  I'm taking a sick day because you should have taken one.  You are infecting the entire office.  Thank you.

Walt Kowalski said if he counted he'd probably see that he has co-workers that have used more days off than days worked. 


Physical and mental welfare. 

Either way, sounds like tomorrow might be a personal mental health day. 
No fake coughs needed.

Mystery

Yesterday after work, Walt Kowalski and I stopped home to the Cat Ranch before heading to House #1 to demo the bathroom.  The last room to demo! 

Hanging on the handle of our front door was a jacket.  A long sleeve, blue plaid, hooded jacket.  The kind I would wear on a cold fall day to work outside.  But it wasn't mine.

Walt Kowalski noticed it first.  I said 'Oh, Grammy must have been in the neighborhood and stopped by.  It's probably one of dad's old ones that she doesn't want him to wear anymore.'

Walt Kowalski said 'See if she left you a note in the pocket.'

No note in the pocket. 

Instead, I found $2 in one pocket and a silver teaspoon in the other pocket. 

This is weird.

I smelled it and it didn't smell familiar either. 

Walt Kowalski said 'Let's see if she left a note inside the house and what else she left.'

No note in the house either. No other evidence of Grammy in the house either.  Walt Kowalski said 'Call Grammy and find out if she left it.'  I did.  She didn't.  Grammy said she wasn't at the house at all. 

This is getting weirder. 

So who dropped off a long sleeve, blue plaid, hooded jacket with two dollars and a teaspoon in the pocket at the Cat Ranch?

Walt Kowalski set the jacket back outside.  it was a little too mysterious for him.  I washed the spoon.  The two dollars are in the basket in the kitchen.  The owner of the jacket can claim them all.

Eventually we made it to House #1.  Walt Kowalski had to drag me away from the garden department at the home improvement store.  We worked most of the evening trying to get the fiberglass bathtub surround off of the wall.  Tonight we will prevail. 

It was a very small room for two people swinging hammers. I get a little overzealous trying to help at times.  Walt Kowalski is always very careful and I am so thankful.  He joked and said, 'With the two of us, we really should be wearing hard hats and have 911 on speed dial.'  He knows me so well.