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February 2nd, 1999

The months practically fly by. The last two haven't seemed to me to be the most incredibly productive months since the addition was built. Even though I did manage to accomplish some things, it comes as no surprise that am left with the feeling that I could have/should have got more done.

I've reached the not-so-startling conclusion that my time line might be overly ambitious. Immediately, I stopped mentally battering myself long enough to laugh.

The weekend progress update: Friday night I arrived home and gathered the cables for the home theater system. I decided that I should do a dry run prior to drilling and threading cables in the framing. That way I could also get a good idea of the sound and speaker placement within the room.

The mass of wires rivaled those behind my computer, but the sound in the room was great! Of course, the acoustics will change in the room once the drywall is completed and the floors are done, but, I think the sound will only be enhanced when it is.

Saturday Drilled and threaded the cables. Up and down the ladder for a good part of the day, when I discovered I needed a few pieces of coax cable for the VCR... and, a new VCR because the one we have isn't stereo.

Again, my mind has been preoccupied by the prospect of building another wing addition < master bed/bath suite > this upcoming summer. Should we, or shouldn't we? It's undetermined at this point. I guess it will depend upon whether there is a conclusive plan in place, and, how far we get with this room by the time summer comes around.

The prospect of building another significant addition so soon after this project is kind of scary. It's a lot of work, and stress, too. Not failing to mention the money involved...

It's rewarding - but, more so after it's done. Looking back generally removes you from the reality of the labor < and > pains associated with it.

If possible, I'd like to scale back the plan and find something I'd still be happy with - like, just adding room enough for a dressing room and the whirlpool.

Beside that, I'd rather not be working so hard. There's so much else I want to do. Things that have little to do with building on this scale.

Sunday Since Laura was working all weekend, our antique loving friend Gail and I spent the afternoon at a block long local antique shop. Before we left, I promised Laura < with a smirk > I wouldn't bring anything too strange home. She had that worried look I've seen before. The one that means, "don't be bringing any more old junk into this place - - - - PLEEEEEEZE!"

And off we go in search of passé possessions. What will we find? Who knows. Gail was looking for a old mirror for her bathroom, and, brought her tape measure along to assess the potential proper fit.

I didn't have anything in particular in mind when we departed. This should always be construed as a danger sign.

Then my mind began to wander...
Well, I did hope to find some old barware for the new room. Maybe one of those crank type ice crushers. And, it had been a couple of years since I added a new radio to my collection. If I happened across one that was unique enough to qualify for the collection, it was a possibility.

After rounding the block and making an illegal turn around in the road, we find a parking place not far from the entrance door of the giant antique mart. The first thing you notice as you walk in is the squeaky wood floor. The second is the visual display - what amounts to another massive optic overload. Of the vintage kind.

I swear you could spend a weekend in this place and not see everything there is to see. There's a little bit of every kind of antique you could imagine. Lamps, salvaged architectural details, books, bicycles, toys, furniture, gas pumps, pictures, glassware, signs - you name it.

My find of the day: a late 50's early 60's coin operated cigarette machine.

Yeah. Way RETRO cool ! < although I'm still laughing about it >

Go ahead. Say it.

Call me eccentric.

February 5th, 1999

Friday. Finally.

The vintage vendo I bought will make a great conversation piece in the room. It's got an art deco flair and, a fairly large mirror attached to the front of it. Small footprint: one foot deep at the base and, 28 inches wide.

To top off this recent odd aquisition, I dissassembled the coin mechanism, oiled it, and, once I figured out how the thing worked - I actually got it working again. Drop a quarter in the slot and pull a lever and you hear the clink of the quarter drop into the metal money box.

It's one hell of a quarter bank. Eventually, I might fill it with candy cigarettes, or, something else approximately that same size.

...I'm such a fucking dreamer. And one prone to these awful tangents.

But, at least this one makes me smile...

Another recent purchase was a DeWalt Planer. The purchase was based on yet another recently developed tangent.

This time we can thank Bob Vila.

While watching Bob on Home Again, he was showing this technique with a unique wood floor installation. The floor wasn't traditional plank flooring, it was more akin to tile, as the wood was squared block cut offs. The wood was attached to the floor using adhesive mastic, and then, it was grouted using sawdust and, sealer mixed. The last step being to seal the entire floor.

A lot of manual labor, but the end result was wonderful. Plus, it had a softer look than the ceramic tile.

This coincided with the fact that we have several piles of firewood in the yard, and, we hadn't bought the tile we intended to get.

What really tipped the scales is that half of the woodpile is red oak.

Especially after we planed a few slabs of wood and saw how gorgeous it was.

February 9th, 1999

Two years ago today, an event took place that forever changed my life. My Dad committed suicide. It seems like yesterday and so long ago at the same time. I wouldn't wish what we've gone through on an enemy. So many emotions.

Today we are tired. Maybe a little sad.

Sis and the kids spent the night, arriving in the middle of the night. And, we were up most of the night.

Sis slammed her hand in the car door and fractured her middle finger on her right hand. Laura took her to see a doc in the deep of the night.

She won't be flipping anyone off for at least a few days.

February 10th, 1999

And here it is...

The Sista update

In my last entry above, I alluded to the fact that there was another reason sis might not want to be home.

The same evening that she and the kids ended up here we drove over to her place to escort them here. Actually, we sprang into action after getting worried about her.

Sis said that there really was a car with at least 4 people in it, that sat out in front of her house in the dark blowing the horn for several minutes - apparently, beckoning her out - or, so she thought. A white four door with spoke wheels.

She said she looked out the window and that the person in the rear seat had the window down more than halfway - and, it scared her because all she could think of is a drive-by thing.

Who in the hell would want to hurt her? Well, to make a long story coherent, there's a woman in town who owns this fleabag bar. You know the type of bar: windowless, no ventilation system, grungy, narrow, dark, grimy, tacky decor; and - unheated, bare bulb hanging bathroom facilities that could make a maggot virtually vomit. The kind that has one of those supersonic supposed-to-be fruity deodorant cakes. Know what I'm talking about? The deodorant fragrance that gets in your mouth just from breathing...

....uuughhh. I shudder at the thought.

Anyway - that charming bar was the last place sista's dead husband was the night of the accident < what a shame it was he had to have his last drink at such a low class joint >.

The woman who owns the bar went to school with him. Prior to his untimely death, that same woman seemingly had a problem with my sis for whatever the reason < she would essentially ignore my sis as if she were invisible >.

Both Laura and I know who she is, too. Not that either of us claim to know her well, or, for that matter - ever wanted to. We know her because she's gay, she's loud, and, frankly, this town just ain't that immense.

Still, I wouldn't call her a card carrying member of MY community. She's not the kind of person I'd want to be around much, if at all. Having the GAY thing in common is sometimes the ONLY thing you have in common, and, if you ask me - I'd say that's having very little in common if that's all it is < or, perhaps my community is gated >.

The congregation at the bar is diminutive. An uneven slice of any given population sample. They stick together like birds of a feather. Because they are.

on with the story
The detective on the case relayed to sis that her dead husband's blood alcohol level was .19, and, that the detective received an anonymous call shortly after he was buried from someone who told them where he was last served. The information will be turned over to the prosecutor.

Down at the ol' bar, they might assume that they will be sued by my sis on behalf of his estate. Especially if anyone tries to get any information from patrons there. Newbies in the bar would stick out like a sore thumb...

...IF someone is out to scare her or whatever - this could be the source.

February 11th, 1999

Sista update part II
The meter reader job with the utility company job was going along great - until sis smashed her finger in the door on the job. The company doc wanted to see her, and subsequently, he gave her a week off work after the inspection.

Her supervisor wanted to see her today, so, she went into work. She had an evaluation a few weeks ago, and, it went very well. She's reading with 98% accuracy, much better than expected.

When she met with her supervisor, he informed her that management wanted to shitcan her due to the injury report and the fact that she doesn't have her 6 months in yet.

Her supervisor and another manager doth protest. They want her back on the job. They claim that she'll return...

...but, for now, she's laid off work. Maybe for up to 3 months. He told her to check in with him regularly.

Convenient considering she has the house to throughly clean in preparation to put it up for sale.

another Sista related update
Laura, my detective girlfriend, drove through the bar parking lot and wrote down license plate numbers of two white 4 door cars in the lot.

moving onto other stuff

...and just what in the hell is happening?

Jerry Falwell thinks one of the Teletubbies is gay. Tinky-winky teletubby, a barney-like kids show creature. The purple one. Carries a purse. Has a purple triangle on his head. Sounds like a boy.

Keep in mind that this is the same man that recently had the gall to say that the antichrist is here and that he was a Jew.

I can't help but wonder why this man, Mr. Falwell, is spending his time watching a show like this and equating anything about it relating to sex.

We haven't lost the planet Pluto... it retains its planetary status.

Jerry Falwell might think it would be rude to hurt Pluto's feelings by taking away this invisible award.

But, if he can prove that Pluto is gay...

Clinton stuff

Tomorrow the final impeachment vote hits the Senate floor. An acquittal is expected, the margin unknown.