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copyright 1998 diary of a mad handyma'am an anonymous cyberspace diary & property of the mad handyma'am

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December 16th, 1998

You might have thought I forgot all about this diary...

...but, I didn't.

I could easily understand why you'd think so, because I haven't been writing much lately... ...sorry!

Didn't mean to leave you hanging...

Drywall dust and mud has been flying again < this week >... the drywall on the ceiling hasn't even begun...

Still, it wouldn't be fair to slap this apparent slacker. Not when she's also dealing with the holiday season; shopping, and, additional socialization... ...and you know how THAT is.

There isn't enough time < never is >. Sometimes something has to give and it looks like this was it...

so, onto the usual news

what's been happening in the wing...

Of course, the holidays slow the pace - but, progress is being made nevertheless. Now, where can I get that self-cloning kit? Anyway, Laura thought we needed a home theater system. One day she's talking about it, and, the next day - there it is, sitting in the house in several large boxes. And there she is, with a big smile on her face < there I am clutching all of the instructions from each box >. Another project in itself, and I'm now in the process of adding hidden wiring within the structure < par for the course in finding complications along the way >.

At last, it looks as if we have found a person who will install the gas line for our new stove! I got the good news today via telephone from Laura while I was at the office. Tentatively, the date of installation is set for next Wednesday...

...so, we might have heat before we have snow on the ground < slap me... am I dreaming? >. It's been a true pain in the ass trying to get a plumbing/heating person/company/anybody to call us back - let alone any one of them who would actually show up to look at the job < before declining >. Laura called most of them in the book < while I called them every name in the book... >

In the dilemma outlined above, it's easy to understand why a person would want to take on extensive renovations with minimal involvement from either self-described, or advertised, "professionals" ...many of which are not < not in the truest sense of the word >. But then, you have to look on the other side of the coin. Contractors have to deal with a lot of crap from people they work for - as do all people working with the "general public" < need I say more? >. I suppose not.

Other than holiday delays, things are progressing fairly well on the project. Recently, I framed in a high shelf along the entire rear west side of the room < the side where the bar will be built >. The angle of the lower 12 foot portion of the cathedral ceiling will blend in perfectly with it when it's drywalled. Already, it looks like it was meant to be there. A foot below that shelf , I built 4 foot rounded shelf that is intended to eventually be a resting place for spirits < ...spirits of the bottled type >.

I took some sweet revenge on the tree that nearly killed me earlier in the year. After assessing the woodpile, I used one of the branches to make a handrail that is now stained, polyurethaned and mounted to the wall leading to the doorway of the original house. Another long branch will be used as the foot rail along the front of the bar < how's that for recycling? >. I cut up some branches from the same tree to make playing pieces for an oversized backgammon table that I recently constructed from project wood scraps that were glued and clamped together < the playing field is burned on it >. Now, I'm in the process of turning the backgammon board into a bistro type table.

It may seem rather odd to break stride in the midst of a major project to make a backgammon table, but it was exactly what I needed to do to give myself a break.

The holiday thing

Thanksgiving is now passed and Christmas is on its way.

We had 2 Thanksgiving celebrations this year. Laura had to work on Thanksgiving day but managed to eat at Mom and Dave's place just prior to the daily run. Mom's place was decorated with the usual flair. Everything in its place. Everything has a place < except that I don't know where that is in this house! >. Of course, the Christmas tree was decorated like a picture. Christmas music softly playing in the background < amazingly, without annoying me >. The long table set flawlessly, reminding me of pictures of the last supper < hoping of course, it wasn't >. Dave played the paparazzi, obliging all of us to pose for pictures < awwwww....do we HAVE to? >. I stood there with a frozen smile, waiting for the flash to go off. For a moment, I felt like I was a stranger there < maybe because the house isn't tore up like ours > ...

or

maybe

it's because

Thanksgiving was my Dad's holiday and I couldn't help but think of him. For the second year in a row, Dad didn't cook the turkey. In fact, Dad had never stepped foot in this house. And, I didn't feel him there. Just a flash in my head to match the one in my eyes.

A thought that was fleeting takes much longer to describe than the event itself...

My life on earth goes on... < albeit, forever changed by a gunshot and a thud >. Some facts of life are not pretty at all. Neither are they controllable, preventable or fair. It's only a truth < some things can't be sugarcoated >.

Head flash aside, the dinner was as glorious as it looked! Prior to dinner, I roasted almonds in a pan on the stove in a little olive oil. Granted, this is not something I'd normally be doing, but it was a required ingredient in Mom's spinach salad. So I did. I keep forgetting to ask her for the recipe. But, then again - I keep forgetting that I haven't made a salad at home in a good while. Yet... I haven't forgot that I enjoy cooking. In fact, I probably just don't have time to miss it lately.

... our second celebration < the weekend following >, took us 2½ hours from home. It was high time we visited! And, we had a great time with our Irish pal, Ms. B.

Lots of smiling faces including Mom, Dave, Dave's mom, Ms. B's mom, Ms. B's brother - and, my brother and his two smiley faced kids. And, us...

...we who can vouch for the hosts wine making skills, and - gardening flair. The goal there is to alleviate the property of all mowed grass...

I can picture it, especially after drinking the fantastic cherry wine...

...I can also picture being face first in that ground cover with a big smile plastered on your plastered face.

...it was nice to get away...

...and, speaking of getting away - Laura and I are getting away this year for Christmas. A three day mini-vacation. Imagine that! WAIT! ...will I suffer from project withdrawal? Probably not. Why? Because I think I need a recharge away from project central.

The big D< istance > update

Sis LOVES the new job! In less than a week she has developed a fear of being bitten by a dog. It's a very real concern in her occupation. Meter readers and postal workers have high incidence rates of dog bites. And, she relayed the fact that one woman there has been bit 3 times in the last year... ....ouch! But, is she preoccupied with dog bites today? Maybe not.

Her husband just discovered her affiliation with Mr. Man last evening. He let it be known to them both with a phone call...

...gee...he must have staked her out.

It was only a matter of time...

December 17th, 1998

The gas line has been installed. The heating appliance has not. The installers of the gas line won't hook up your appliance - apparently, they don't want the liability. So, we have to do it ourselves... Perhaps tonight. That is, if I managed to get the right parts for the gas connection. Which of course, I hope I did.

It took three guys to do the gas line job yesterday. One to work and two to look and take turns doing the gopher running. They didn't run it under the crawlspace either - they ran a "Y" off the main line going into the house < what I had initially planned for > and, ran the piping around the foundation. I arrived home early. By the time they got the job done, it was just after 6 p.m. They worked overtime.

In the news The bombing of Baghdad is well under way - via Operation Desert Fox. I'm not certain how I feel about that - or, any warring that goes on - for whatever the reason or, circumstance. I can't seem to justify it in my head. A loss is a loss is a loss... ...and here in America, we are insulated from it all except for what we see on our TV screens and, what we are told < along with our preconceived notions, perceptions, and depth thereof... > While I've related tales of my intermittent insomnia, I can't relate to the idea of having planes and bombs buzzing around at night keeping me up. I can't relate at all. Ditto for the terror a person must feel. You'd be kept awake from the adrenaline alone...

The political friction in this situation was high. It has been. Lines had been drawn and crossed and redrawn again... too many times. I nearly fell out of my chair when I heard one of the newscasters yesterday afternoon < shortly after the bombing started > saying that there were " those on capital hill that felt that this decision to hit Baghdad was Clinton's way to get out of impeachment." That may have been one of the stupidest things I'd heard lately... < but then again, he can't bomb the house! >. I'm sure that the presidential military advisors had more to do with this move than Clinton did himself.

Did you ever notice how fast our presidents seem to age once they are in office? I wouldn't take that job for anything.

As for the looming impeachment issue...

...I believe that the actions of the Republican majority in the house are fueled by the old underlying agenda < even though they flatly deny it > - that is, getting a republican back into the presidency. But, are they gaining public brownie points in that direction? Will this backfire?

It does appear that they've been gunning for Clinton since he took the oath. While nothing tangible came out of the Whitewater investigation headed by Ken Starr, the Monica incident comes to light brought to us by her less-than-wonderful "friend" Linda Tripp. Seems Ms. Tripp laid the trap and snared Monica into serving the big buffet to Ken Starr... and finally, they have something at last. They have spent millions of dollars exposing Clinton's sex life and appear to be salivating over the impeachment issue while standing on high moral ground. With the house majority of Republicans - I expect him to be impeached... but - I don't have to agree with it.

And, that's the greatest thing about being an American - freedom to say and think what you want.

December 19th, 1998

Wow. Well, erstwhile... Clinton gets impeached. I shake my head. I smirk. I knew it would happen - but, I can't believe it did...

... can only hope that the senate regains sense of the matter at hand...

...it doesn't seem as if it should be an impeachable offense... < as far as high crimes and treacherous crap goes >... but, it may be < in the strictly legalistic sense >... ... regardless, McCarthyism is brought back to life. Moralistic breath, pushed to resurrect the shadows. While something deeper abides. Unspoken yet implied through punishment, or the threat thereof. The insidious hunt for evil; or, what is perceived as such. The making of the enemy through magnification and justification - hoping your own slate is clean, or - seen as such. Lucky you if it is. The division has been drawn. Across party lines. Moral/Immoral. Right/Wrong. Throwing stones and claiming impartiality...

...we must have forgot...

...a house divided will fall.

Yeah, we must have forgot.

Have we become a weakened a composite of what we thought we were? Are we still a great nation?

...I'm unconvinced of our effectiveness when we aren't collaborating. This proves we aren't TEAM PLAYERS. The party lines have been drawn.

I'm unconvinced that impeachment is giving anything to nation except the impression of weakness and disruption... we are congressionally preoccupied...

Sad. Sad. Sad.

How many divisions do we need until we fall unto ourselves and realize that we need each other? Without solidarity what are we? What can we stand for divided?

< maybe we need a sharp slap across this land...

or... is it better placed across D.C. itself? >

other stuff

The Chicken update: The fowlest of our friends are hanging in there. Yep. Chicken Noodle and Brewster the Rooster have been scratchin' and kicking everything up in their path. I regret to inform you that they have been imprisoned within the confines of the dog/chick kennel for the most part. Lately, they roam freely whenever we feel guilt, charity - or a combination thereof. This change in chicken lifestyle was due to their spontaneous restructuring of flowerbeds and various plantings around and in the yard. Unauthorized changes are generally the worst. I doubt that they have come to the realization that their gardening project is what slammed the door on their tailfeathers. Of course, Brewster is the mighty pissed Rooster anyway. At least now he has a semblance of a reason for any attitude he has. Chicken Noodle is very, very sweet. She'd probably be a lap bird if it wasn't for bossy Brewster. Her egg production is down - but, last weekend she laid one in the driveway upon being let out in the afternoon < she must have been THAT happy >. Justine, the neighbors 10 year old granddaughter, saw the egg and picked it up and handed it to me. It was still warm. The strangest part of it was that it was translucent < I could easily see the yolk > and springy. The casing resembled one more like a sausage than an eggshell. And, it was tough, too. Springing right back upon a squeeze. I had absolutely no idea that the eggshell wasn't hardened upon laying. What an alien concept...