Mr. Fix-it-Up, or, How to guarantee success

Night before last, 2 AM, wife tells me there's water on the floor.

6 AM, suspect washer,working on it
7 Am working on it
8 AM, mop floor again, continue working on it
9 AM working on it
10 AM, mop floor again, change out washers
11 AM mop floor again, grab truck keys
12 Noon, install new GE washer from Home Depot
1230 PM load 2 dead washers and a POS dryer in truck for dump run
1330 return from dump that was closed with a truck full of appliances. Realize that for some reason I can't get the theme song from Beverly Hillbillies out of my head.
1331 Pat self on back. Leak is fixed.

Hope you enjoyed your Sunday, too.

Got the sprinkler system repaired using a tech assist from Dad. Also repaired, or rather replaced, the 2 heads that line the driveway and end up frequently as road kill. Bowed to reality and bought extras while I was out. I fear that they shall get waxed again.

Figured out how to really track my mortgage online. Again, this was due to a parental tech assist. It was an eye opener. Out of $1012 sent, $148 went to principle. Not a real great ratio.

I also realized my attention to detail is slipping. I'll get a mortgage bill and I'll pay it, plus a little extra. I'll get another bill, and even though it may not really seem like a month has passed I'll pay it, plus a little extra. I've done this 3 times now and just now noticed that the last payment I made isn't even due til OCTOBER. Apparently, the statment comes to show you've made a payment right after you pay it. It also happens to have the next payment form, but the payment is not necessarily due right now. Like Dad said, if I don't start paying attention I'll have the place paid off in a year. Life has way too many details.

I did some yard work yesterday. You know, there's a 20 minute period here in the Tampa area that is perfect for yard work. Just as the thunderstorms are rolling in it gets comfortably cool and a breeze kickes up. You have about 20 minutes before the first lightning starts throwing down. I predominately use this period as "chainsaw time", but you could use it for whatever.

More posts from the Zoo end of my house.



I counted about 6 frogs on this window frame. At night, they sing to us. Oh daddy, do they sing to us. They're kinda fat and ugly which for some strange reason has caused me to form this sort of bond with them, although to be truthful, I'm not exactly sure they are feeling the bond the way that I am. Dang amphibians.



Another view. I was having to hold the camera above my head, and my neck being what it is, I was unable to see anything in the viewfinder. Still, this has an almost "casually professional" feel to it. I mean if you really open up to feel the vibe of it. Otherwise it's just an off center shot of some dang amphibians. ***ALERT ALERT: This is a git bigger picture. Click it for photo giganticism***



I call this a gekko. Probably mistakenly, but still I do it. And why? Because it's my yard and I can suspend the rules of polite zoology if I so desire. Don't like it? Then stay out of my yard. I also refer to the neighbor's Boston Terrier as a llama. BECAUSE I CAN, that's why.

Ramblin' Ed
Out