Memorial Day Weekend, Day 2

I woke up at 7:00 AM on Saturday. I went out and reheated a big cup of coffee and then went in the office to finish the Blog entry. I actually slept quite well last night, but I still feel tired...

I had planned last night on making bacon, eggs and home fries for today's breakfast, but this morning it seemed like way too much work. So, I had another cup of coffee, instead, listening to "Saturday Morning, Over Easy." BTW, Amy, since you said you like to listen to this whenever you are in Michigan, I gotta tell you: You can hear it streaming on the Internet by going to http://www.wcsx.com/.

So, it was after 10:00 AM and I was sitting on the couch, drinking coffee and just listening to the music in my bathrobe when the good old Puritan work ethic guilt finally got to me (dammit!) So, reluctantly, I got up and headed for the shower (shaving is not an option, today).

By 10:30 AM, I was dressed and began working inside the house, straightening and/or cleaning up. By 1:30 PM, I was starting to get hungry, so I cut up some cheddar cheese and added some Triscuits to a paper plate. I took that in the bedroom and snacked, reading my next book (I finished "The Sea Wolf," BTW and, still wanting more maritime adventure, have begun re-reading Moby Dick, by Herman Melville). Hey, call me Ishmael...

Somewhere along the way, I fell asleep. I woke up at 2:30 PM, refreshed. So, I began making a pasta salad (that, along with beer-baked beans will be my contribution to Jake and Carla's cookout, tomorrow).

If you're interested in the recipe, go back to my April 30th post of this year. The only things I changed was to use "radiator" pasta (so-called as each piece looks, well, like a radiator) instead of the usual Rotini Twists. And, instead of the provolone cheese I used last time, I used the original suggestion of fresh mozzarella. I thought I'd jazz it up a bit.

BTW, the A/C kicked on. I turned it on for the first time this year on Thursday, when it was so hot. I know it's a bit early, but, believe me, there is something to be said for coming in all sweaty, after working outside, into a cool house!

I finished that up around four o'clock and went outside to work on the tomato trellis. But first, I blew the thousands of maple seeds off my patio. Then I fished them out of the reflecting pool, added the hose and turned it on low to refresh the water. Next I filled the bird feeder and the suet cage.

Then I dug three holes in the raised bed for the 2 x 4's. I hooked up the 100 foot extension cord and found it was a bit too short. So, I added another 25 footer and I was good to go.

Back inside, I cut the two eight-foot 2 x 4's in half and put three of them in the trailer. I added the air compressor and the big nail gun, the drill motor and some deck screws and hauled it all out back (I love this trailer, man!)

Now, my plan was to use the 2 1/2 inch finish nails (with the air gun) to hold the 2 x 4's in place (I know they are not meant for outside). After leveling, I would use the drill motor to screw in deck screws to hold them in place.

But, there was a problem. The top boards are not flush with the insides (why would they be? It was a sandbox, for Pete's sake!) So, I will have to make some custom-sized spacers out of the remaining pressure treated 2 x 4. Discouraged, I checked the time. It was 7:30 PM, so I loaded the trailer back up and pulled it inside.

I left the 100 foot extension cord outside (shutting off the switch, though) but took the 25 foot one back inside. While hanging it up, one of the bungie cords hanging next to it popped off and broke the garage window! To make things worse, I cut the base of my thumb while picking up the broken glass. Dammit!

Back inside, I had been planning on grilling some hot dogs for dinner. I even rolled the grille out on the garage apron. But now it seemed like way too much trouble. So, instead, I sorted through the dried beans (great Northern), looking for stones (there were none). I put them in the Dutch oven and covered them with about eight cups of cold water.

I fixed a plate of the pasta salad and headed for my bed and book.