My Neighbor, The Artist Pt Deux

What can I say, obviously the man LOVES Opera!

Lucky Me

Through the "courtesy" of an unknown person last night, I have been given an opportunity to practice my letting go skills and breathing/stress relief techniques. (And I have yoga tomorrow morning)

Somebody kicked in the driver's door of my car last night.

I've spent the morning meeting new and interesting people like our police Community Services Officer (CSO) who took pictures and made a report, estimators at two body repair places ($1750), talked to an insurance rep and waiting for a call from another. After going for a walk to use up some of the endorphines, I talked to some neighbors to see if they had heard/seen anything. (In my absence, apparently the gendarmes had made the rounds)

My Neighbor, The Artist Pt1

For those who may have gone back and read the Bad neighbor series, this is who moved into the house after they left. Actually both next door neighbors are artists, but I digress.

The Amazing Adventures of The Leg, Pt 2

Word spread quietly within the confines of the station of the amazing performance of the departments newest member, recognizing that it's future performance depended on secrecy.

A short time later, one of the station's crews was helping teach new recruits at the fire academy. The class was gathered on one side of the 4 story training tower. Firefighter Jim Pelouse excused himself, explaining he had something to do on the 2nd story. He donned an old set of turnout pants that had been altered to accomodate The Leg. Again a piercing scream of pain, and all the recruits run to the scene. One recruit firefighter was so horrified at the sight, he covered Jim's eyes, screaming "Don't Look!!" The Leg had performed once again, but now the word was out, and it was once again relegated to a warm dry corner.

Having tasted the sweetness of attention and admiration, it couldn't go back to it's safe spot, with just the occasional chuckle and being pointed at. It no longer felt like an important member. It grew impatient and longed to see more of the world. It felt like there was no communication with his former buddies. He felt used.

Finally one day a crew from the Heavy Rescue station stopped by to pick up some paperwork. They had heard the tales, and Capt Don Blagueur was anxious to meet this Leg.

From the time he entered the room, there was an electric connection between the two. Although in hindsight it might have been static electricity from the carpet, they felt a connection. Don understood it's loneliness, stuck in the fire station 24/7 just because it wasn't drawing a salary which would allow it to get a place to live, a cool ride, and chance to travel and see the world.

Blagueur hatched a plot. A diversion was created, and as they left, The Leg was swept away to the Heavy Rescue Station.

They had an engine, the heavy rescue unit and A BOAT! The Leg dreamed of hydroplaning over the waves, lashed to the bow, saltspray dripping off its foot thrust into the air. He would get his sea leg and be able to tell stories to whoever would listen.

But first there was much to learn from Blagueur.

BABY NAMING CONTEST!!!!!

But not here.


HERE! (It's not her kid either)

This is the infamous Drunken Housewife blog, home to The adorable Iris Uber Alles, & Lola/Lucy, The"DH" herself and costarring Anton as Sober Husband (SH)

I'm thinking MsCatCalls has a BUNCH of cool names up her virtual sleeves, Smeagoul, I mean REALLY (You'll have to know how to pronounce it however)

DH loves and rescues cats, rats & books and is currently addicted to World of Warcraft. 3 out of 4 ain't bad.

Give it a shot! What's the worst thing that can happen? She invites you over for dinner then gets violently ill at the sight of you? (Already happened)

The Amazing Adventures of The Leg, Pt 1

Once, in a fire department, not so far away, there was a leg.

To the best of my recollection/imagination, this is it's story.

It's early years are, so far, undocumented. But it's humble entry into the fire department hint at rough years of poverty and exposure to drugs and alcohol on the mean streets.

The Leg was found abandoned in some bushes not too far from a large fire station.

This was a very nice fire station with a 110' ladder truck , a pumper, and a Battalion Chief. There were also two Hazardous Materials Trucks. The crews were very proud.

One day, a passerby rang the doorbell, he had found The Leg in some bushes, and not knowing what else to do, brought it to the fire station. The firefighters, not quite sure what to do with it themselves, cleaned it up and stood it in a corner. Now The Leg was clean, warm and dry and probably hoping that it had found a new home.

The firefighters tried to find a home for The Leg, but no one had reported it missing, no one seemed to have a use for it.

One day Capt (and future Batt Chief) Mouffette felt The Leg needed to earn it's keep. That evening, when everyone had changed out of their uniforms and into t shirts and sweat pants, he slit the back of an old pair of pants he was wearing and laid down on the apparatus floor with The Leg sticking out from one leg of the sweatpants at an unnatural angle. Then he screamed "MERDE!!! I've fallen!" with all his might. The crews came running out, only to see the captain lying there in obvious pain with what appeared to be a severely dislocated hip. The paramedics rushed into action to stabalize the trauma. One firefighter held the distraught captain, trying to comfort him until one paramedic tried to find a pulse on The Legs foot.

The Leg don't do pulses, but he did have a new job in the fire dept!

Memorable CoWorkers

An off blog discussion has reminded me of some memorable co workers. If some of them had a blog, I'm sure I'd be on their list.

#1 on my list was a guy I worked with about 10 years ago. He had the reputation of being a tad eccentric. (I'm sure I had my own reputatation) He had been a sniper in Vietnam, so there was probably a bit of baggage there, but he never talked about it. We bid into the same station, with him as the engineer and me as the Firefighter. Fortunately, I had worked with the captain quite a bit before, and we got along well.

"Dave" and I shared a skewed sense of humor, enjoying "The Simpsons", Bay area sports etc. Per his reputation he would sometimes get very quiet and avoid us. Remember, we're in a small fire station for 24 hours at a time. He was getting close to retirement. After working together for about a year, he was in an unusually long period of isolation, so one day I cornered him, and said, "Listen Dave, if there's something I've done or said, I'm sorry, and I'd like to correct any problem between us" His response was, "I never want to speak to you again". And per his word, for the next 6 months until he retired, he did not speak a single word to me unless it was necessary for the job. (He was also the crew paramedic, so he would tersely ask me for equipment he needed)

We only learned of his retirement and which day was his last, through the grapevine. I wished him well as he left. He never turned around or acknowledged me or anyone else. He got on his motorcycle and rode off never to be seen again.

PSYCH!

Ta DAAA!

Finally the chimney cap is DONE!

And only a couple of sliced up fingers! ( Sharp edges on sheet metal, GLOVES? for wusses!)

"A real Renassiance man", eh??

Hardly, but more pictures anyway

Spring is coming! Honest!

Storm/contractor update

Back in January we had a pretty good storm which resulted in the loss of our chimney cap. High winds + rusted bits = "What's this laying on the ground?"

So chimney guy is called, yes he can do it, 4-8 weeks for the cap and oh by the way you REALLY need to have the chimney repointed. (replace morter for you non chimney owners). I kind of knew that, but had been ignoring it til now. So masons were contacted, chimney was repointed for a slight phenominal fee, and we waited. and waited....and waited. A call is made to chimney guy, whose response could be summed up with "HUH?"

After about a week of lies, it hasn't come in, it's here someplace, what's your phone number again? It was NEVER ORDERED!

I went on line, found the same cap, ordered it, a week later it's here, installed in 30 minutes. It would have been faster but I was being careful and deliberate.

Ah. but NOTHING is THAT simple.

I ordered it with a 1" mesh sparker arrestor screen. I got a call a day or two after I ordered it and was advised that 1/2" was mandatory for California, but that it was the same price. No Problem!

Except that the cap which arrived Friday, that I installed today (sat) has NO arresting mesh. However, I looked around the neighborhood, and there are several of the same style caps around and NONE of them have spark arrestors! Check UPDATE at end

That was Fri-Sat. Today (mon) UPS dropped off the screens (with installation instructions) Also when I got up ,after typing in the original post, my back went into big time spasms. I have been mostly bedridden until this morning. I think the spasms have ceased and I'm just left with muscles that have been working overtime. Thanks, to a regular local reader/friend who may or may not have loaned me some muscle relaxants. (I slept REALLY well)

An "AW" moment

I had some business on the coast this morning. Late morning, when I was done, I realized it was a low tide. So I went to Miwok beach. Why? Because that's where I like to go for Me Walk!

You think I'm kidding about the name?

Seriously though, I usually take a plastic bag with me and pick up garbage while I'm there.
So I'm walking around the tide pools, picking up crap and enjoying the rest of the scenery. When I get as far up the coast as I feel like going, I get back to the beach for the return and to pick up trash enroute. I had not seen anybody else, but I had not really looked back towards the beach. When I got to one spot that had a nice wide sandy area, someone had taken a stick, and written "THANKS!" in the sand. It took me a second to realize that it was probably for me. Awwww

BTW, almost everytime I do this I find a golf ball (have we forgotten the lesson of Kramer?) and an "applicator"

Gentlemen, when you go to the beach hold onto your balls!

and Ladies.....use biodegradable "thingys"

Keystone Kops forensics

I've always been fascinated with how things work, how they go wrong, how things break etc. In hindsight, if I had the IQ, I should have gone into a career in Failure Analysis.

Moonrabbit, the woman I have tricked into marrying me and staying married for 30 years, loves CSI type shows. For some reason, me, not so much. But by osmosis I have seen and heard plenty of blood spatter theory.

Several weeks ago, a plastic bottle of liquid car wax fell off a shelf in our meticulously clean garage. OK, maybe not so clean, but anyway, the top split open and a small amount of wax spilled out. Yesterday, I was thinking that I should put the remainder of the wax in a new container so it doesn't dry out, since my waxing a car is a sign of the apocolypse. I carefully poured the remnants into another plastic wide mouth jar. I was holding it by the lid, and as I was walking to put the jar away, the jar fell off.

Here's where the fascinating and humorous forensics comes in. The jar hit the ground, and ALL the wax splashed up, all over my face, hair and shirt, but despite dropping at my feet, there was not a single drop on my pants or shoes!

Been tested?

Most People Diagnosed With Celiac Disease Show No Symptoms

Celiac.com 02/18/2008 - A greater awareness of celiac disease, coupled with better and more accurate tests for celiac disease have helped to bring about a situation where most people currently diagnosed with celiac disease show no symptoms at the time of their diagnosis.

Currently, most people diagnosed with celiac disease do not show symptoms, but are diagnosed on the basis of referral for elevated risk factors. This finding has caused doctors to call for an adjustment to screening procedures for high-risk populations.

A team of researchers led by Dr. Grzegorz Telega recently surveyed medical records of people diagnosed with celiac disease at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin from 1986 to 2003. The statistics showed that the number of celiac disease diagnosis rose from a single case in 1986 to 93 cases in 2003. The total number of cases during that period was 143.Before the mid-1990’s, more than 85% of children diagnosed with celiac disease were under 10 years old, with the average age being just over 5 years old. After 1995, less than 50% of children diagnosed with celiac disease were under 10 years old, and the average age at diagnosis had risen to about 8.5 years of age. Children diagnosed before the age of 3 years old usually complained of classic celiac-associated gastrointestinal symptoms, such as malnutrition, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating, while children diagnosed at older ages had less pronounced symptoms.

One of the important conclusions made by the research group is that the possibility of celiac disease should be strongly considered in people with other autoimmune disorders, even if those people do not show gastrointestinal symptoms traditionally associated with celiac disease.

The research team called upon primary care doctors to adopt a practice of celiac screening for all people with elevated risk factors, including people with a family history of celiac disease, people with Addison’s disease Down Syndrome type 1 diabetes, thyroiditis, Turner syndrome, and type 1 diabetes. The team also called for screening of patients with short stature, iron deficiency anemia, and high transaminase levels

.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2008;162:164- 168.

Trials of a Domestic maintenance engineer

We have an old house, a very old house. We have lived in it for a LONG time (30+ yrs). It was a fixer upper when we bought it, and I think it has aged back into a fixer upper again. I have heard, and it has been roughly my experience, that "things" last about 8 years. Thus I usually write the purchase date on appliances such as water heaters, washers, dryers and I should have put one on our new furnace that replaced our aged furnace that started "acting up" just before a forecast cold snap.

So small jobs accumulate. A leaky shower valve, "fixed" but still not right. Then last night while playing with Lily, I hopped (do NOT try to visualize) a bit in the hallway to get her to run away, and CRASH! down came the glass globe from the ceiling light. (OK, maybe I need to lose some weight).

So this afternoon I dismantled the valve, and put another new washer in it. The washer worked perfectly, however, now the valve stem leaked horrendously. (Horrendously = I won't be able to BS Moonrabbit that it's SUPPOSED to do that for lubrication purposes) So off to hardware store #1 for a new complete valve kit and a replacement globe for the light. Found the kit eventually($4), then found globe that LOOKED like it was the right size ($9). It was on a top shelf, and when I tried to grab it, it rolled to the back. Get help. Get home, the diameter is 1/4 inch too big, but I have already taken off the labels. I know the other globes they had would be too small, so it's off to hardware store #2 across town, but there are some other things I need in the neighborhood. They don't have the other thing I need, and when I find the globes, they don't have the size I need. They DO have a NEW base ($3)which would fit the new globe. My old base may be out of date?

I get home, reassemble the valve with the other new parts it needed, it seems to work properly. Then I tackle the light fixture. I SO enjoy working over my head, literally and figuratively. The best description of what followed is the old adage about a monkey having relations with a football. Dropped screws, connectors, drill (as a power screwdriver) etc. Anyway it works now.

More Storm Pics

Most of what you see is sea foam. lots and lots. This is about 3 hours before high tide. Here's the satellite shot which looks like it's at high tide.

Although the water is about 30' below the edge, it looks like the waves are going to break over the road.

Mushroom & Onions, hmm (not sure I'd eat THESE!

Spring can't be TOO far away

Stolen, I mean "Borrowed" from another blog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2bpc7LSRZc

Forgive me H, I have sinned.

"Was that a parable or a very subtle joke?"

Tour of California

1 picture of the early leader, then a camera malfunction...oh well

Thought For Today

"If you're NOT confused, you're probably delusional"


I believe this may be a corollary to " If everything seems to be going smoothly, you've overlooked something"

Get tested for Celiac for Valentine's day

Top Three Reasons to get your loved ones tested for Valentine's Day:

1)Nothing Says "I LOVE YOU" like not hogging the bathroom 10 times a day
2)Most Chocolate is Gluten Free
3)It's easier to cuddle when you don't have gas

http://www.celiacce ntral.org/ Newsletter/ February_ 2008/486/ #s9

Financial shenanigans

First off, a little bit after the Super Bowl, I was online, checking email etc. There was an email from a credit card company verifying that we had changed the email notification address. hmmm.

"Moonrabbit, did YOU change the email from xxxx credit card co?" "NO!"
So I tried to log on to our acct and was denied access. I'm thinking this is not good.

Called the 24/7 1-800 number, eventually got a live person, who told me the email had been changed to something like Juan Vasques Hernandez... We went over charges, and there was 1 charge made a minute before the time stamp of the notification I got, for chocolates from some East coast chocolatier. "Moonrabbit, did you charge chocolate from the East Coast?" "NO!"

SHIT!

The 1-800 guy said that to do what had been done, the @$$^%$#hole had to have had her SS#.

Double SHIT!!

So now we're on the ID theft merry-go-round. Notifications galore, new friends at Experion, Equifax etc

Now I'm on constant online patrol. This morning I log on to my bank, and there is a $25 acct fee charge.

Several months ago, I was notified that my bank no longer carried my kind of free checking, but that, since they had my mortgage, I could get fee waived checking, interest, VISA card and all these bells and whistles that I would never use. They made it sound like there were no other options. So I reluctently went with it. After several months, there was a $25 acct fee charged. When I inquired they said it was a mistake and removed it.

This time I was referred to a "specialist" who informed my that only 10% of the mortgage counted towards the minimum balance. This was the VERY first time I heard of that.

Anyway, it seems there is another fee waived acct that I can go to that has a lower minimum balance, but without the bells and whistles. He switched me to that and removed the charge.

Liars and thieves! EVERYWHERE!

Curtains & sofa table

New curtains (open) to further reduce glare (when closed) from the sunset, and additional privacy when the room is lit at night.


Closed


New sofa table (after an exhaustive search)

It's funny (hopefully), but true

What do a remodel and a spanking have in common?


Neither ends until you feel pain and shed a tear.

Medical Advance?

In the news today, it is claimed scientists from the Univ of Minnesota have been able to grow a rat's heart from dead tissue and stem cells.
They anticipate this will double the number of available lawyers in 20 years.

Ingratitude

First off, still having template problems...

But for the REALLY BIG NEWS!

I got my first online compliment (I should have saved it), but sadly it was in what may come to be called Nigereanese. Along the lines of " I see to agree that you have a fine blog here to read, I have a link to you now and hope you come see mine..."

And there was indeed a link. Anyway, due to template problems and my suspicious nature, I deleted it.

Sniff (Do you think they REALLY liked me?)

Header come Baaaack!!!!

Really

Blogger is giving me all sorts of grief lately, so I am changing things, trying to find something that works and that I like.

Isn't THAT just special?

For some reason, after the last post, the header reverted back to it's "trapped Lily" version. And when I posted about that, it went away until I deleted the comment, then it came back. So this is just filler to give Lily some breathing room.

Then again, on the subject of cats.... Michaela is not doing so well. She has kidney disease so she's on special food and gets a "poor man's" dialysis every day or so, (Subcutaneous Fluids) which she enjoys immensely. She has lost a lot of weight, was peeing inappropriately, loss of appetite, vomiting, etc

That's all better for now, but I don't know how long this will go on.

Burning smell?

If you smell something burning, it may not be from someone's cozy fireplace. It's more likely my brain dealing with a new (red) cell phone and trying to get it to "talk" to my Bluetooth equipped vehicle. My mental belts are slipping and smoking. One trip back to the ATT store so far. I am unable to edit a changed number, easier to just delete it and start over.

I bought a new phone because I wanted the hands free capability and the battery was dying on my old phone. If fact, it was dead when I got to the store, even a charge there could not bring it back to life long enough to transfer the address book to the new phone. That was accomplished after a "Let me go in the back and try one more thing, I can't guarantee anything" I think voodoo was involved.

Storm Pics

We went to the Sonoma Coast Saturday morning to watch the high surf at near high tide. Waves were predicted up to 30 ft high. Although the worst of the storm had passed, there were still high winds and rain. The second picture is Salmon Creek beach which is gone for the short term. Normally we don't see cresting waves from the house, but we could see two sets at a time and some of them were scary big.
We found the top of the spark arrestor from our chimney laying on the ground, so I had to cover the chimney with plastic for now. Several trees were down in the neighborhood and power was out until Saturday evening.

A Little New Year's Cheesecake

Best Xmas Present!

This is a Shona carved stone sculpture titled "Circle of Love". It is a (too expensive!) gift from my lovely and talented Sister in Law. It was made by craftsmen in Zimbabwe, and purchased from Spirits In Stone.

Another movie alert

"I Am Legend"
Recommend...
No kids
Not during Xmas (we saw it last night, xmas eve)
Not for the depressed
Not for people with startle issues or PTSD

Moonrabbit should get some of her money back since she had her eyes covered during some scenes.

Xmas Eve morning walk

Merry Window Coverings and Happy Holidays

A definite case of the sum being greater than the total, or vice versa. The new window "treatments" (That means they're expensive) for front and side windows are in. They create a nice ambiance inside and they look great. We still want to see a nice sunset through them. Gone is the morning glare at the kitchen sink (and the excuse of not washing dishes in the am). We're going to use the old rods on these windows for some shear curtains.


And enjoy the holidays!

Lawn Circles

We were recently searching in our storage locker/dustbin for an item which was not located, but in the process we found other items we HAVE been looking for and boxes that could be gone thru. One of the boxes was a hastily packed box from my last day at work (when my MIL died). Amongst the detritus was my old helmet which now graces the picture on the side,and some undeveloped negatives. I could make out a fire engine in one picture, so I had the half dozen pictures developed to see what there was. This was taken in the mid 90's.

Two pictures were of a lawn circle which appeared shortly after Capt. J reported seeing a UFO. I documented the circle just as Capt J spotted another UFO which looked suspiciously like a Frisbee. I missed that part of the shot. They may mave been attracted by the flag pole.

'Tis the season

Today I got to wondering if at this time of year dyslexics are asking themselves "Who's leoN?"

FicMe, FicYou, FICUS all !

I'm not sure whether this is creative or pathetic. After first thinking we wanted a small tree this year (no one's coming over), then a small artificial tree, (couldn't find one we liked) WHAT ABOUT THE FICUS BENJAMINA?

Then, the first three sets of lights we tried didn't work, even attempted repairs failed.

updated pictures

First, the new barometer. (White faced gauge below black faced anemometer) As I type I'm waiting to resolve a shipping dispute. Saturday I got a bill from Fed Ex for $51.90 for shipping. The damn thing only cost $99 and shipping was supposed to be free.

Next, the new fireplace screen

Lastly, our new door knocker. I almost wish there were two so someone could use the line from "Young Frankenstein"...."Wow! What knockers!"

But most importantly, the on demand hot water heater has not been working right. It wouldn't supply the bathtub faucet when it's supposed to supply two appliances. Also, it took ALL the gas, resulting in the pilot lights going out on the wall furnaces. The gas company came out today and replaced the pressure regulator and now you can have the 4 burners on the stove, two wall furnaces, AND two hot water users all on, and it works. Whew! The options were not pretty if that hadn't worked.

I'm a deadbeat

At least in the eyes of credit card companies, because I pay the entire balance each month, thus depriving them of their immoral interest rates.

I also refuse to pay for the priviledge of carrying a given card.

Given all that perhaps I should not have been shocked when American Express notified us yesterday, in a very confusing (misleading?) notice that at a date in the future there will be an annual fee of $450!

Some time ago American Express split off their credit card company and their investment side which is now called Ameriprise. My theory is they took all the coke addicted VP's and sent them to the credit card company. WTF are they thinking? If they charged $10 I would cancel the card. Anyway, we're going on a spending binge of our rewards points, and when they are sufficiently depleted ADIOS American Express!

So if you get an innocent looking envelope from American Express, DO read it. And I recommend calling and clarifying the date when this fee is to begin, because you could not determine from the letter or your existing expiration date for your card, when it takes effect.

All this was after seeing a matinee showing of "No Country For Old Men" . This is not an uplifting movie. I think it may be a movie that in a few years reflects the outlook of our culture during these times, much as the old sci fi movies may have been an expression of fear about nuclear (nucular for any Texans reading this) war. Anyway, no sweet dreams last night for sure.

After pics

Still to come, a "sofa table", a new fireplace screen, window treatments and some sort of desk. Oh, and a new barometer

Those with a discerning eye or no life might notice the lack of a light on one picture. This is due to the bulb failing the 8' drop test.

Ahh, memories

Looking at the picture in the previous post for awhile brought back some memories. This was obviously a certificate presentation of some sort, and there wasn't a lot of outside training going on in those days. I was the only EMT that I know of in the dept, although any others might have kept their mouths shut since that seemed to be cause for suspicion. The certs might have been for going through the Navy's shipboard firefighting school which was based on Treasure Island.

The young lad to the left of locker #3 was a captain, and one of the few people with Fire Science degrees which caused ENORMOUS amounts of suspicion and jealousy. He went on to fame and fortune with a large fire dept in the Silicon Valley.

He was also quite the prankster.

At the shipboard firefighting school we were divided into several groups which got out of classes at slightly different times for lunch. One day we were all out except for Danny, so we left without him, leaving him to walk about 4 blocks back to the fire house. As we were fixing lunch, the phone rang alerting us to a helo landing in 5 minutes. One of our duties was to "standby" for "Helo Ops" so we all loaded onto the rigs and drove down to the Helo Pad and waited. We're sitting there shooting the bull for awhile and I look around and there are no security vehicles. We call security, they don't know anything about incoming helos.

We get back to the station and there is a smiling Danny enjoying his lunch.

Oops

Heard a fun story today from a friend and former supervisor. First, without his permission, but WITH editing, is his story.

"Somehow the engineer's mic got stuck in transmit mode without any buttons being pushed. We didn't know this and by the time someone called us on our cell phone, "Benny" had already dropped the "Motherf...r" bomb three times. Fortunately he wasn't talking about anyone. I think almost every station called the cell to express their "shock". PJ was our chief that day and by the time he got through, he simply said, 'I guess I don't have to tell you anything.' "

My story is from over 25 years ago when I was working for the Treasure Island Naval Station fire department as an engineer. We were driving somewhere and the captain hung his hat on the engine microphone which pushed the transmit key. His most famous utterance was "Geez I'm bored, maybe we oughta go START a fire!"

I'm the good looking one...

remodel pictures coming soon!