Storm Door, Road Trip and Yard Work

So, I woke up without the alarm at 6:00 AM on Thursday, the first day of vacation. I made myself breakfast and a pot of coffee (different from my usual weekday!) I made two eggs over easy and warmed up some of the bacon not used in making the creamed Brussels sprouts. Two pieces of toast and I was happy.

It was about 8:30 AM when Ron from Lowe's showed up. He was going to install the storm door, if you remember. He was about five years older than me, BTW. Two things made me feel really, really stupid. One, if you remember, I have gone through numerous cut-off wheels and a lot of time to cut through the aluminum on the one side. He said it would throw the door off that way, so he cut off the other side, in about two minutes, using a wide chisel and just his hand!!!

The other thing was I had to cut off the outside trim to fit it through the opening from the inside. He said it didn't leave enough material to screw in the door trim. So, he took it all off and then went back home (he lives about two miles from me) and got some more wood and installed it. I could have done that, had I thought of it, but no...

He finished up about 11:30 AM. I did slip him some extra money, because he went way over and above to get that storm door in and I appreciated it.

So, I showered and shaved and then started the long trek to Richmond, and the doctor. I got off the expressway at the New Haven/Richmond exit (I normally go all the way to 32 Mile Road, and then head west) and took Gratiot to Richmond, because there were signs everywhere about an upcoming six mile work zone where the expressway is only one lane (Jeremy must have to drive through this every day!)

I got to my appointment on time, borrowed their bathroom and waited for the doctor. So, after the usual (blood pressure, temperature, EKG, listening to my carotid arteries, etc.) and checking the results of my blood work, she pronounced me fit as a fiddle. She complimented me on the near 30 pounds I have lost since my last appointment six months ago and encouraged me to keep it up.

So, a long ride home was next and I got there around 4:30 PM. I immediately went outside (oh, sure, the cats got their treats) and worked on the last of the ToDo list. I drained the other hoses and put them in the wheel barrow. I got out the tarp and threaded some clothesline though the grommets. I put that over the chairs, tables and wheel barrow, tightened the rope up and secured it with a cement block.

Now, normally, I use a coffee can to empty the reflecting pool. But, I had an inspiration! So, first I pulled out the water lily. It had amazing leaves this year, but no flowers. Then, I got out the pump and hose from Jake's fountain, hooked it up and within 5 minutes, had less than one inch of water in the old galvanized tub. I added a cup of bleach to the yucky water and threw in a short log. This is a much older variation of the pillows people now put in swimming pools. It gives the water something to crush when it freezes besides the sides of the tub. Sounds dumb, I suppose, but the tub still doesn't leak after all these years.

Next, I put the piece of plywood that I use every year in a garbage bag, secured it with duct tape and set it on top the tub. A cement patio block went on top that. Unfortunately, it was too dark to take any pictures for you, but I will tomorrow morning.

Back inside, and having missed lunch completely, I plated the other pork chop, the last of the potatoes and gravy and the creamed Brussels sprouts. I popped that in the microwave and by 6:30 PM, I was eating a great dinner.

I watched a taped show until Kitchen Nightmares came on. There were two episodes on Thursday night and the second was a restaurant in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, where my brother Joe lives. I went to bed at 10:00 PM.