Saturday Story

I woke up Saturday morning, sore as hell. Apparently disassembling the bed wasn’t the brightest idea I ever had (but it did keep me awake, lol).

I spent a long time pulling the pills off the comforter while watching some Rifleman episodes. I noticed something, BTW. The television show The Rifleman was directed by Sam Peckinpah, best known in the Western genre for The Wild Bunch (1969).

Then I folded the comforter, the sheets and the pillow cases and put them in a trash bag for Judy.

Now that the car is finished being detailed, I can’t find the car charger for the cell phone. I bought it when I bought the belt holder and I put it in a “safe” place in the house until after the car was cleaned. Apparently it was safer than I thought.

I left and got my hair cut. It didn’t take long, so I had time to stop at Target and pick up a few things. If you remember, I had to buy a new bathroom rug and I got it at Target. It has memory foam inside and I really like it. So, I bought another one for next to my bed (to replace the little rag rug that now lines Caley’s Cat-o-matic bed). While I was there, I also found and bought a bicycle bell for my walker. I keep going around blind corners at work and running into people. But, now I can warn them I’m a-comin’.

Judy and her friend with a truck came about 10:30 AM, and, in no time at all, everything was put on the truck and they were gone. She was really appreciative and offered to come over and give me some help if I needed it. But I really appreciate them freeing up the office for the rocking chair!

After they left, I rearranged the office into what I thought was a good first try at the new layout. We’ll see. I took off a ton of pads and backs (you can see them all on the photo I posted when I got it) and put them in a garbage bag. Now all that’s left is the chair. I set it in the office.

Then I left again. First I went to Home Depot and bought some Polyurethane spray, two screw eye bolts, a box of Tapcon screws (the kind you screw into concrete) and two bags of Miracle-Gro potting soil.

[Sidebar: After my trip to Home depot, while watching a DIY show, I learned that the proper mixture for planters is one bag of potting soil to two bags of garden soil. So, I probably should take out the pure potting soil I put rail planter on the front porch.]

Then I went on a wild goose chase of sorts. My barber (a life-long resident) had said when I was getting my haircut that there was an antique restoration place on Farmington and 7 Mile between the corner and Joe’s Produce. So, I drove up there to get an estimate on returning the rocking chair bottom to a cane “porch weave” pattern. But, I couldn’t find it. I finally stopped at a resale shop in the area to ask if they knew where it was (and I also asked if they had any antique apothecary jars, but they didn’t). The owner said she thought there was one off of Farmington on 8 Mile. So, I drove up there, but couldn’t find it either, so I gave up.

Speaking of things Lake Orion, I need a picture of it, preferably taken from that beach at the bend of the road, so you can see the dock and the whole side of the cottage. It doesn't matter if it's black and white or color. I've seen a million of them over the years, but I don't seem to have one. If you do, please email it to me.

Next I went to Kroger for some groceries. They had been advertising rib eye steak and Florida sweet corn on sale this week and I thought a Sunday barbecue would be great. But, the sweet corn sucked and the rib eyes were boneless! I did buy a steak, but passed on the corn. I got the rest of the items on my list, although they only had one jug of Mott’s natural apple juice left and I wanted at least two. I switch between apple juice, V8 juice and buttermilk for my nightly alternative to water, you see.

As I headed home around 2:00 PM, I noticed I was hungry. So, I stopped at that Leda Coney Island. I had a patty melt, onion rings with coffee (for a change; I was chilled). It had started to sprinkle when I walked out.

Since it was on the way home anyway, I stopped into Westborn to see if they had any sweet corn (chasing the dream, man; just chasing the dream) and they did. So, I bought six ears. Man, it’s been a long, long time since I was there! I walked around inside, just looking at stuff…

Back home, I treated the cats, unloaded everything and unpacked the groceries.

I thought I’d try and take a nap. I didn’t fall asleep but had an enjoyable hour or so with that damn brace off.

Then it was back to little projects. I had washed all my wooden spoons yesterday, so now that they were dry, I rubbed them with food grade mineral oil. This helps to keep them in good shape.

Then it was onto reclaiming the couch (it was full of birdhouses and signs if you remember). I finally have an idea for using the bird houses that won't look too cutesy. I started by setting a square of plywood on the front porch rail and coverinf the coffee table (or whatever it’s called) with cardboard.

The first order of business was to convert the one that was made to be a feeder (it had a removable top). Some Elmer’s glue and a few finishing nails and the top was secured.

I put all but one of the birdhouses (that one’s too big and too ugly) on the plywood outside and gave them a light coat of Polyurethane on all sides and the top. I set the timer for 1/2 hour and when it went off, I went out and recoated them. It was only 50 degrees and cloudy outside, so they wouldn't dry right out there. So, I set the timer for another 45 minutes (they were still tacky after the first half hour). When that timer went off, I went out in the gathering gloom and carefully carried each one inside and set them on the cardboard to properly dry. I closed the pocket door to keep the cats out of the living room overnight.

I went back out to fetch the plywood and then remembered the mail, so I walked out and got it. It was the usual junk, but there was also a book from Amazon! Huh? So, I opened it up and it was a book called “When will Jesus bring the pork chops” by George Carlin (one of my heroes). There was a note inside saying it was a gift from Jake! I just skimmed it and was already laughing my ass off. Thanks, buddy!!!

I was running out of steam big-time by then, so I officially quit at 7:40 PM when B___ called. We caught each other up on our various doings and then made our goodbyes. I popped yet another chicken pot pie in the microwave for dinner. And, I popped the clothes I’d been wearing and my jacket in the washer. So, I ate dinner wearing my brace-less bathrobe, watching TV.

I watched another old movie, "The Third Man." It was a murder mystery set in post-war Vienna starring Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles. It ended at 10:00 PM and so did I.