Tired of A Lot

It's been a long few days. Today was only marginally better in that the weather was nice and I got to do some work outside.I stained the back of our house. At least all that I could reach with a 12 foot step ladder and a 16 foot roller extension rod. How on earth am I going to finish the top part? I may have to put the ladder out in the PRIVATE Way and climb it with the 16 foot roller extension. I reached the areas next to the window by using just the extension...no ladder. Hmmm. That'll just leave the front to do which will be a bit more complicated around more windows and shutters, too.

One phone call for work. A tech will be sending a set of keys on June 1st. This little work is not a good thing and there's nothing I can do about it. From 4 - 6 sets a week to 1 - 2 sets per month.

I really and seriously don't know what to do. I've never been so work starved before.

The down side of working outside today is that the pollen count is HIGH. Way up there. So not only do I ache from arthritis, from carting a big ladder and painting for a few hours, from staring up while pushing a roller around way over my head, I am suffering from the excess pollen.

A Benadryl and I'll sleep well tonight. (Sneeze)

Another Pretty Picture...

for a foggy, dreary day.And a few updates. Our lovely robin's nest was attacked by bluejays. Two eggs stolen one day and then two pecked and eaten the next. No cute robin babies to watch this year. Late this morning, after shipping out some keys, I decided to try to make better my situation. I went to the candy factory where I work retail two days a week. I can't manage more than the two days on my feet, but I could certainly work in the factory part up to 4 days a week. It's somewhat self paced (I work efficiently) and not always standing. They need help this year as several are not able to return from last year. I offered to make the switch. I was politely told that it most likely wouldn't work. They need guys to do the big vat cooking. Yeah, I understand.

I guess.

One good thing happened today. Squirt is back! Most of the squirrels that have been around this spring have been ignoring us. Today, my mom saw one on the porch railing. She opened the door a crack and called, "Come on Squirt, I've got a peanut for you". And he came within a few feet of the door, waited patiently for her to toss the peanut to him, and ate it. He 'asked' for a second and got it. For more about our squirrels you can search this blog using their names. Squirt, Scooter, and Squeaky. Should get you some pictures, although I haven't tried it yet.

On Edge, Stressed, and Down

Yes, that's why I haven't posted much of late.

Business has been very borderline. A couple tunings, a couple key jobs. A new key client. The school seems to have forgotten that I exist. At least as far as paying me goes. I had an estimate to go and do today. I knew that it would be a make do, slim on money prospect. Evidently so slim on cash that they left a message yesterday canceling the appointment for a FREE estimate! Ultimately it was a good thing it was canceled as I spent three and a half hours with my mom at the emergency room. She wasn't feeling well this morning and called her doctor. Since her symptoms were light-headed, weak, sickish, and her arm was sore to touch and ache-y, her doctor told her to go to the hospital. Blood work and a three hour wait to even see a doctor! Then did a quick EKG. Sent her home. Supposedly everything is fine. To me, it seems like a repeat of the Christmas holiday illness. I got to work on keys after we got home.

The bills continue to come in and I'm just managing to squeak by. I hate this. I don't know how I'll keep up with everything. Mom stuff, Amanda to and from work, my two day job, keeping the piano business going on schedule, and all the house stuff. Painting, repairing, lawn mowing.

Here's a picture I took last week that's a whole lot more cheerful than I am right now.

Ahemmmmm, Tagged

By my twin of blogland dickiebo!
Neno's Award

Here are the rules for this meaningful award:

The aims of this award:

* As a dedication for those who love blogging activity and love to encourage friendships through blogging.

* To seek the reasons why we all love blogging!

* Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it

* Don’t forget to mention the person who gives you the award.

* Answer the award’s question by writing the reason why you love blogging.

* Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.

* Don’t forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

So....why do I blog?
My main reason for beginning was to establish a 'place' where my friends in Florida could check up on what I was doing. Phone calling is great, but not always convenient for both people. This way keeping in touch was made easier. Then I found that my blog gave me a place to meet people and 'talk'...sharing interests and stories, getting feedback. Here in blogland I can share with friends rather than always talking to myself (grin) and it's enjoyable to get a glimpse of life away from here.

[Wow, that sounds very mundane]

And now for satisfying my curiosity and tagging some others.
Heads up Annette and Claire (who has been silent for a while)
May I add that I wish Mary would start writing a blog?

Sometimes They Just Won't Stay Away

Many years ago, when we lived in Groveland, my parents built our own inground swimming pool. It was the big project before the boat! Anyway, the pool was a great summer gathering spot for friends. Come autumn, my dad would cover it all so that the leaves would not accumulate and make a huge mess to clean up in the Spring.

One Spring, when I was about 10 years old, I watched as my dad uncovered the pool to clean it, 'shock' it with a heavy duty chlorine treatment, and otherwise get it ready for summer fun. That's when we discovered the turtle that had wintered under the cover! He was happily swimming about and it became a challenge to net him and remove him from the water before adding all that chlorine. My dad finally captured him, put him in a cardboard carton, and traipsed out back through the woods to a little stream to let him go. Then Dad finished his work on the pool cleaning.

Three days later my mom called out from her spot at the kitchen window. "Come see who's back!" We ran to the window to watch as our turtle dragged himself across the cement-work surrounding the pool, teetered on the edge, and then plopped himself head first back in the pool.
We knew that the chlorinated water was not good for him and too much would probably kill him, so out came the net and another rescue! This time, just to be sure, we took him far in to the woods to a clearing with a swampy area. Upon release, he swam happily away.

Until...a few days later...we watched as he plopped in to our pool!

This silliness just had to end. My dad netted him for the third time and we boxed him up and put him in our car. This time we drove to the other side of town and released him at a very large pond. That was the last we saw of him!

A couple of days ago I was struck be the similarity of the turtle tale to some news I received. Seems my former husband/cyberstalker/harasser has moved to New Zealand (with some family help). Hmmmmm, first from the UK to the States and he returned home. Now halfway around the world! Sometimes you've just got to take them further and further away or they keep coming back.

Quattromom

This will most likely be the last egg pic and I'll be back to other stories (a good one coming up) until hatching!

And Then There Were...

TWO!

For 'A's Birthday

Checked on our newest 'tenant' this morning and found this.

At Last

Signs of Spring! The garden is greening with plants peeking out and beginning to bloom. We've got squirrels, chipmunks, and birds visiting at all times of day. So far we have only managed to train Bubba II to peanut eating, but give us time. A couple days ago we watched a robin build this gorgeous nest.And tomorrow it is to be over 70°F (and 'A's 27th birthday). Saturday through Tuesday in the 80°'s.

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Wow, A Night Out!

It is very hard for me to motivate myself to go out in the evening. Out of town, on my own. It's just not much fun being alone sometimes. So, if it's something that I really should enjoy, I force myself. On Saturday night I took myself to Manchester to a free (donations at the door and yes I did) concert. A ragtime concert with Bob Milne. I case you haven't noticed, I L-O-V-E Ragtime. I'd never heard Bob Milne. The advertising, and his website, made the concert sound like it would be spectacular.

The concert was a fundraiser celebrating the 200th anniversary of the First Parish Church in Manchester. Considering the notoriety of Mr. Milne and assuming that seating would be at a premium in a moderately sized New England church, I made a point of arriving early. I watched as two people entered the church, about 45 minutes before performance time and decided that it would be a good time to go in and get a front pew seat.

Wrong. The first 6 or so rows of pews had been reserved. I picked the seventh row center aisle and found that I'd been beaten, evidenced by a coat left on that pew. I took a seat at the center aisle, next pew back. Within 15 minutes the church was full! I stared at the diminutive, 1930's Cable-Conover grand 'on stage'. What a poor little piano expected to fill the church with top of the line ragtime.

Bob Milne (self imposed etiquette of no flash)

I feel like a ragtime traitor to say that I didn't enjoy the music. Mr. Milne is touted as one of the best, a musical ambassador, a Library of Congress treasure. I can't argue that his performance was spectacular. But, to me, it was just that. Performance. I missed the nuances and heart when ragtime is played as expressive music. Mr. Milne played like the old time competitions of oneupmanship. More than competent, way too showy. Not at all what I expected. At first, I enjoyed seeing and hearing how fast he could play, how he could emulate a player piano roll with it's octave 'dubbing' and innumerable trills, how his fingers blurred. But after a while I tired of the rush, the struggle to recognize familiar pieces as they flew from the piano at top speed.

It was a two hour concert and I was ready for it to end. The drive home in the rain was refreshingly quiet. My brain didn't settle until early morning hours.

Big night out exhausted me!

Of Turkeys and Tuning

The same day that K-D commented about having wild turkeys, this picture was in the GDTimes on the Rockport page.The South End has been a turkey haven for a number of years. Nowadays, I'm quite aware of them when I have a tuning job in that neck of the woods. A few years ago, being somewhat new to the area after an 18 year absence, I wasn't quite so knowledgeable.

As I recall the tuning was booked for a weekday afternoon in November. A local physician needed a small, old grand tuned. Neither he nor his wife would be home he informed me over the phone, but one of their teenagers would let me in. The check would be waiting for me at the piano. Normally, I don't enter a client's home without an adult present. Especially on a first time job. But this is Rockport and as much as I hate to acknowledge the fact...some things are just different here. I found the address and parked my truck in front of the home, alongside a stone wall. There were several granite steps bisecting the wall and connecting to the front walk leading to the house. As promised, the teen aged daughter let me in and showed me to the piano. The tuning was uneventful and after about an hour's work I was finished. I called out, to the daughter somewhere in the house, that everything was set with the piano, thank you, and if there were any problems or questions her folks could give me a call. I let myself out the front door, my heavy tool kit in hand and my lunch box sized chemical kit (glues and such) over my shoulder. I struggled down the granite steps while fumbling to get my keys out of my pocket, rounded the back of the truck and saw more than a dozen turkeys waiting for me! They had control over the driver's side of my truck!

They looked mean. And territorial. And far too interested in me.

I inched myself back. Around the rear of the truck and then looked to see that the passenger side was still turkey free. It was and I quickly unlocked the door and threw myself in along with my tool kit and glue kit. Once inside, with the passenger door secured behind me, I sorted out myself and my kits. Then I counted turkeys.

Well, as best as one can count that many as they milled about my truck! I used to know how many, now years later, I can merely say A LOT. Yep, more than a dozen, less than two dozen.

I started the engine but they refused to move. A quick toot of the horn and they jumped the wall and sauntered off across my customer's front lawn.

Turkeys

Now y'all know the recurring problem with the PRIVATE Way that runs along the edge of our property. Well, in agreement with the "appurtenant" property (the people who are entitled to use the way), I put up two, small, 'Private Way' signs. One on each end of the fence that runs parallel to the way. I very nicely explained to a particular neighbor that it is private and it does connect to the neighboring driveway, not a road, and that we did not mind if the neighbors used OUR portion reasonably (like if the road is blocked for some reason). However, I also added that I could not give permission for anyone (including ourselves) to use the connected driveway. (ed. note: this makes the use, well, useless, as the private way legally just ends, with nowhere to continue except on to the neighbor's driveway, which would be trespassing)

Anyway, the particular neighbor that I was conversing with seems to have taken offense. Now her adult son, who doesn't even live in the neighborhood, has decided to make it his 'out of his way' route of choice. Traveling past his parent's road and drive so that he can use the neighbor's driveway and the private way...long way around. Spite. As far as he knows, I'm ignoring him.
Idiot.

This morning, as I was having breakfast, I spotted one of our darling neighborhood brats riding his bike to school. Same brat that was told umpteen times last year to stay off our private way. So guess what he does.
He just had to make that turn up our neighbor's driveway.
I got up and waited by my window. Knuckles at the ready. Around the corner he sped on to our private way. As he careened past, down the hill, I rapped VERY loudly on the window pane. Wow, what a shocked look on that brats face!

I headed out and put up larger signs. If the brat continues, I'll be speaking to his mom.

At least this turkey knew how to read the signs! This morning he walked across our next door neighbor's lawn and sauntered across the street, through that neighbor's yard, and down to the woods. He stayed clear of our private way even if he did trespass on some lawns!

Out of Sorts

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And I'm Shaking My Head

Spring has sprung. Mr. Revlon is ba-ack! For you non-locals, Mr. Revlon is actually a member of the cosmetic family. Unfortunately, he apparently suffers from something at least resembling schizophrenia. He used to live here all the time. Then he disappeared and I heard that he had been relocated to a group home near Hamilton. He has made several appearances back in town over the last couple years. Our first sighting, this year, at Five Corners, revealed him as more bedraggled than ever. Slighlty heavier, but still with wild man hair and bushy beard and sporting the same turquoise and white jacket from our last year's sightings. Two different shoes. I think he sometimes hires a taxi to come back 'home'.

A couple days ago, I decided that it was time to take the 4 tubes of sand out of the back of my truck. They are in there to increase driving traction in the snow. Each tube of sand weighs 70 lbs. As I slid the first one out off the tailgate aiming to lower the end on to the two wheeled dolly, I dropped it. On my foot. A direct hit on my all ready aching arthritic knuckle just topside of the ball of my right foot. I tried to ignore the pain, the sick to my stomach feeling, and just keep it moving. It succeeded until I got out of bed the next morning! Ouch! I took a look and found a decently ugly bruise. It sort of screams when I put my shoe on even two days later. Tomorrow I get to be on my feet at work for 6 hours. Should be a screaming good time!

Our neighbors have decided to have a large tree removed and their driveway redone. Hurray to both things. But, that, combined with warmer weather and with the neighborhood kiddies on their motorized bikes, scooters, and mini 'cars', we decided to re-declare our ownership of the 'back drive' with PRIVATE WAY signs. Non-offensively small, they are meant only as a reminder to the adult neighbors and a legal deterrent to the kiddies. We don't want any liability for injuries of those who decide to trespass! BTW, I've never seen such a bizarre and involved method of tree removal! Couldn't have made it harder on themselves!

I was gazing out our door yesterday and spotted what appeared to be a large bubble on the lawn. I looked and looked. Could it really be a bubble? It was a clear orb, about 6 inches in diameter. It had a slightly reflective quality. Puzzled, I got my camera and headed out on a discovery mission. As I got closer, I could see a multitude of bright blue fragments 'through' the bottom of the orb. I took a picture, then gave it a nudge with my foot. It is a liquid filled ball with trillions of bits of blue glitter inside. Okay, maybe just thousands. Heck, for a toy, it is wonderful to watch the swirling glitter catch the light in waves and cascades. I brought it inside. It's a 'keeper'. I haven't a clue where it came from, no one had been around between when I had arrived home a mere 5 minutes prior to discovering the ball. Maybe, it was like the flying turkey breast, of years ago, that landed on our deck with a thump. Just dropped out of the sky...
fully cooked.
I'm not lying.

The Grand Design

Here's the display for the ivory earrings. The only addition that I have made since taking the photo has been adding a full size, real ivory key top in the blank spot on the upper left. Printed on that ivory is, 'Ivory Earrings $10.00'. It's a bit challenging to construct semi-decent displays without monetary outlay! Just stuff around the workshop. Anyway, with this new display I will, at least temporarily, quit using the mooring piling display for the necklaces and continue with the piano theme. The large miniature grand piano that I used at the Christmas Fair worked well so I'll stick with that. I've gotten together black & white photos (still needing to be mounted) depicting the process of removing the ivory from the piano keys and making the blanks for the jewelry, that will be displayed as a backdrop. Now I've got to construct a reasonably stable, yet lightweight and easily transportable, backdrop! It never ends.

Trust Me, It'll Sort Out

Having finished the reed organ, I am now Thrilled (Cap intentional!) to be working, once again, on my player piano. It's been a long while. Too long. That's causing some moments of "How does this go together?" as there are parts of this that have been in parts for over 6 years. Nevertheless, I'm having a blast with it.

Finished rebushing a set of keys today. Guy won't be showing up for them until late next week...at best. I hate that.

And guess what? On the first day that 'the Factory' will be open, I'll be working as a replacement clerk. The scheduled person forgot that they had a commitment for that day. It'll probably be a good thing as my shift on Sunday will likely be canceled due to foul weather. Heavy rain and wind.

I've made a lot more ivory earrings. I've also made 'cards' that they will hook in to. Now I've got to make a display for them all. I'm thinking that a grand piano lid shape as the background/mounting surface might be appropriate.

And in my spare time...I've read halfway through an intriguing book, written by the brother of a piano technician acquaintance. The book is titled Heyday and is written by Kurt Andersen. You can see a picture in the sidebar. Kurt is a brilliant guy and the story is an intricate weaving of characters against the background of the mid 1800's in Paris, London, and New York (so far).

Also, I'll take this moment to extend a belated thank you to both Annette and Dickiebo for this award:I shall get to paying the award forward.

Organ Kit

Don't let me do this again. If I even mention taking a free instrument, stop me. Especially if said instrument must first be taken apart and hauled down the bulkhead stairs, reassembled, rebuilt, disassembled, hauled back up the stairs, and then reassembled once more! My back is killing me!

But...it's finished!
The 'kit'
Basic case back together
The finished organ now for sale at $1400.00. (Considering the economy I may own this one for awhile...not a problem as I love it)

Moline Chapel Organ (back is as pretty as front)
16 Stops, l-r Bass Coupler, Viola, Echo Horn, Sub Bass, Flute, Melophone, Violetta, Forte, Vox Humana, Clarionet, Orchestral, Diapason, Celeste, Dulcet, Melodia, and Treble Coupler

2 Knee Swells, left opens all stops, right opens front and rear swells.

Penciled on keyframe: Dec. 22, 79 4147 Special

Originally in church in Strandquist, MN 1880 - 1969
Moved to Bloomington, MN - Fresno, CA - N. Andover, MA - Rockport, MA

[Note: apologies for the backlighting on the first two photos. Mom is redoing her drapes (they're down for new ones arriving shortly) so there was nothing to block the glare from the doors]

Monday Madness

or...Grandma said the water was fine here!

'A' and I went on errands Monday morning. One stop was at our local Ace Hardware, also known as Smith Lumber. I only needed two items, a couple disposable foam paint brushes and a couple dozen screw 'L's. I knew where the brushes were and grabbed them first. I couldn't find the packages of screw 'L's so I asked an employee that I know.

"Do you have screw 'L's?"

"What?"

"Screw 'L's. You know, like screw hooks only shaped like an 'L'!"

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "I thought you wanted to screw elves!"

Funny.

Then a gentleman in the same aisle said he was looking for small nuts.

"You found her."

So we got the brushes and we got the 'L's and we headed for the check out line. Oh my! Picture this...twin ladies, about 75 years old, each decked out in full length raccoon coats and tight knit caps, trying to return a vacuum cleaner that they had purchased some time ago and had decided that they weren't happy with...on their credit card, no store receipt, hauled it in in a laundry/grocery cart which was now blocking the aisle. They wouldn't accept a store credit. The manager was paged...just as Mr. ZZZZ arrived. Last we heard, from friends, Mr. ZZZZ and his daughter had a rather raucous food fight at a local restaurant. Quite honestly, most folks have been trying to avoid them in recent years. No wonder.

Another register opened and 'A' and I headed for it to get checked out. On our drive home we saw 'crutch lady' walking up Main Street. Carrying her crutch per the norm. 'A' turned to me, rolled her eyes, and asked, "What's up with people today?"

"It must be the water around here," I answered.
"Grandma always says the water is soooo good here, straight out of the tap."

Uh huh.

Today's Friday

This morning was tied up with errand doing. Collecting my pay from the good doctor for the restoration of the waterlogged organ, trip to the bank, on to Cracker Jacks for some black poster board, then Rite-Aid for the newspaper, and finally IGA.

I was expecting a call around noontime from the customer who had borrowed my grand board and mover's straps. He was going to return them around noon, but planned on calling first. No call, no return of goods. Oh well, I do trust that he will get them back to me.

Today, I made great progress on the rebuild of the Moline chapel organ. I love this reed organ and, if the idea weren't to make some money, I'd keep it as my own. I may own it for awhile anyway with the miserable state of the economy and the fact that it will be a tad on the high price tag for some. Most of the case parts are ready - a finish refurbish rather than new finish. I do have a lot of work to do eliminating a handful of grey paint drips on the back lower right. Nice that this is a chapel organ and therefore has a viewable back, lousy that it means it won't necessarily be against a wall and so the back must look as good as the front - no paint drips! Other issues included that someone had switched two of the stop labels, interchanging the 'sub bass' and the 'violin'. I pried the labels out of the knobs and switched them back to their original locations. The mouse screening on the bottom was in tatters and I've eliminated it. The supports had warped and were interfering with the collapse of the reservoir so I tipped the organ on it's back to remove the supports. No problem to lower the organ with gravity in my favor. Another story when I wanted to right it! First, I repeatedly added planking under each side of the back until it was tipped high enough to get a good handhold. Then I found that it was too great a span to comfortably grab each side and still lift the weight. What to do? 'A' was at work, Mom has a bad back - she just got cortisone injections in it yesterday. I thought and thought and finally came up with a solution. I tied a mover's strap around the prostrate organ, towards the top (if upright). I used the strap as a handle, pulling straight up from the middle of the strap, leveraging the organ back to it's upright position.

Worked great!

Now I've got the Vox Humana to sort out. It's linkage has been butchered in the past and doesn't seem to have the correct throw/fulcrum vs. brake/open that is required.

Then the entire organ, case and all, will have to be taken apart in to smaller sections to be moved upstairs. It won't fit up the stairs otherwise! Here are some parts of it when I had disassembled it to take it downstairs for the rebuild.

I feel like I got a lot accomplished today. My body feels like it, too!

A Duet of Days

Beginning on Sunday. Mom moved back in to her end of the house! Can you see me jumping up and down with glee!!! I spent Sunday morning undoing the hallway temporary block so that she could move her stuff. I also rearranged some furniture for her and got her TV and phones switched back to where they belong.

Sunday afternoon Mom and I went down to the Rockport Art Association so that she could see the exhibit and grab some goodies to eat at the reception. There were quite a few people even at the start. I should have taken a picture from the back of the gallery so you could have seen more. The picture I took just missed the couple looking at my painting and checking the listing...and talking. This woman showed up after.

After the RAA, we went home and picked up 'A' and headed for Amesbury to the Riverwalk Bead Shop. I needed some supplies. They didn't have what I needed. They never seem to have what I need. I'm not going again. On the way home we stopped at the Gloucester Friendly's to have our dinner. Lousy service. I'm telling you, pretty soon there will be no place for us to go!

This Monday morning I loaded up the parts to the doctor's reed organ. What a pain hauling all the stuff up to his office waiting room. Four trips carrying stuff or hauling it on the two wheel dolly. I got everything put back together (the workings minus the case parts) and tried it out. One reed didn't sound. I cleaned it and cured that problem. One pallet valve was leaking. Big problem. So, I had to take everything apart to get inside to the pallet valve. What a pain. Removed the one pallet and discovered a splinter of wood was trapped on the underside, preventing it from sealing properly. Grrrrrr. I removed the wood splinter and put everything back together - again. All is fine.

I got home to a message that my photo enlargements were ready. 'A' and I headed for Double
Exposure to pick them up. Three out of five looked really good. Here's one of them to end this post.

Fellow Bloggers Alert!

Now you can have a link to your blog right in my sidebar. Net Crimes is already there and you can be too! Just click on 'Follow'. Signing up takes only a couple seconds. Invite your other blog friends along.

(ed. note) I believe that if you use another site for blogging (such as Wordpress, LiveJournal, etc.) you can still participate in the 'Followers' by clicking on the text 'Follow and connect with your friends'. This opens a window with other options including Open ID.

The 400 Club

Well, the title of this post was going to be, Friday Again, Already? But then I looked at the 'dashboard' which told me that I had written 399 entries. So......this is number 400. As an aside, The 400 Club was a dinner/dance spot where my parents and their friends used to go on special occasions. Back in the 60's.

Ah well. The painting has been delivered and tomorrow I'll go to the RAA and have my own little preview. 'A' and I will be going for a walk in town so I'll check it out then. Just to see how it looks before the opening reception.

Mom and I went to Tuck's today to buy my aunt a solid chocolate Easter bunny. We'll be sending it to her as she lives in South Carolina. While in Tuck's, I got asked to start working on Sundays at the Factory (store). My first Sunday will be on March 29th. Met up with a friend/client and she scheduled a tuning.

After our visit to Tuck's, we headed to Gloucester to a photography shop called Double Exposure. This is to have some old color slides made in to 8 X 10s. Ya see, I found out that for the Contributing Member Exhibit I could have one in each category, painting, graphics, and photography. Had I been aware, I could have shown a photo as well as a painting. So...I'm becoming prepared. There are 5 enlargements being made!

We came back home and I got busy finishing the woodwork in the hallway. Finally done. Then I painted a few more earrings - butterflies. Now I have 3 butterflies, 3 sailboats, and 5 with flowers. I also have a pin with a nice nautical scene.

The doctor's reed organ gets reassembled on Monday.

Time flies when you're busy!

The Winner Is

The results of the voting for which painting to show at the Rockport Art Association are:

2 votes for Number One, with 3 people liking it but not choosing it for this exhibit.

10 votes for Number Two, with one vote definitely against Number One

3 rejected votes for another painting (Cathedral Ledge 'the tree' in the sidebar). Two of the three votes cast second votes to be included in the decision on the exhibited painting. Those votes were split between One and Two. Mary's hope for the Motif in winter was nixed since that painting has been sold and therefore is not available to show.

So, the painting that will be taken to exhibit at the Rockport Art Association is Good Harbor Beach

A Plea

Okay, folks, I need some opinions. This Thursday I will be submitting one of my oil paintings to be part of the Contributing Members Show at the Rockport Art Association. I am allowed only one painting and I've narrowed the options down to two. Which would YOU choose to exhibit?

Number One
Number Two
Please cast your vote in the comments section. Thanks!

Minutes for Me

Wow! Those acrid keys have been shipped, 'A' is at work, and my mom is off on her own for the afternoon. I've time to myself. In actuality, I should be either working on the reed organ, finishing my taxes, cleaning the house, cleaning the workshop, or working on jewelry. I'm not. Maybe I will later. I found two pennies this morning and when I got home from that I found a box waiting at my door. It's all the stuff from the 50th anniversary celebration of San Jose' Elementary School, in Dunedin, FL. Remember they called about printing posters from my painting? The 'anniversary day' was on February 13th. Yep, Friday the 13th. Hope it went well for them.Included in the box were the program (I got an entire paragraph devoted to me!), a copy of the legislative recognition, two cups (one in photo), two tote bags, one gift bag, two pencils (one pictured), an alumni button for 'A', a copy of the "About the Artist" placard that they displayed with the original painting, AND... the celebration reprint that has my painting of the school as the background. (I gave them permission to make reproductions and sell them to support the PTA.) Mine has a message written in the upper left corner:

D____L____, What a beautiful picture you created for San Jose'. Thank you for supporting our 50th celebration. M____W____, Principal

A magnificent day. Doesn't take much to please me.

There's a Bad Smell Around

Today, work gave me a headache. Yesterday, a box of keys showed up at the door. Unannounced. New client, no advance call or email. They just showed up. I hauled the box down stairs to the workshop and unpacked the keys. Eeeew. Smelled bad. Like rotted citrus. Reminded me of the odor from our garbage can when we had gathered the fallen fruit from our orange trees in Florida...after a week in the sun, closed in that garbage can.

These keys had been doused with something that someone thought would be a lubricant. An oily, smelly mess. This is a key bushing job. Whatever they had poured all over the bushings had hardened them (rather than lubricating) and had made them impervious to my usual soak out method of removal. Steam didn't work either. Eventually, I had to cut the bushing cloth out of the mortises and carefully 'file size' the holes to uniformity. Then I set about rebushing, all the while breathing through my mouth. Couldn't stand to be working over them and breathing normally. I'll be extremely glad to be rid of them on Friday. The odor has permeated half the workshop air space. Nasty.

This afternoon I went out to revisit a piano that I have condemned four times in the past six months. The owners are having a hard time accepting the fact that it is shot. Not worth a rebuild. It needs replacement. I understand their dilemma of cash flow, but I can only do so much. Today's appointment is due to a string whose pin will no longer hold string tension. I CA'd the terribly loose pin. Twice. It's still iffy. Really the entire piano could use the treatment, (although there would be no guarantees) but it's winter and the CA fumes are horrible. The window needs to be open and a fan exhausting the fumes. It'll have to wait until warmer weather. That is, if they haven't bought a replacement!

It was good to get out in the fresh air. Both getting out of the stinky workshop and then getting out of the CA smell near the customer's piano. (That should dissipate within an hour)

Good thing for all of you that I can't add odor to my blog! Of course, then you'd really be able to appreciate my smelly day.

It's predicted to be a warmer day on Friday. I think I'll get out for an afternoon walk in the fresh air!

The Roar

Of the lion in March and the surf at Front Beach. Photo of the gazebo is from our very little excursion this afternoon.

In Like a Lion

Oh yes.
I knew it was coming, but I really didn't want this view out my door this morning. I was out with the shovel, the little snow blower and the old broom from 9:30 until 11:45. Then I came in and rewarded myself with a big bowl of Cookies & Cream ice cream. Mmmmm. At 2:00 we're heading out to put some bills in the mail that need paying and drive around and look at the ocean. The mail still hasn't been delivered to the house, so I've given up waiting. Still waiting on THAT big check.





And to think that just last week I bought these...
I love my new sandals. Just wish it were warm enough NOW to wear them!

Concluding Remarks

So many things happen over the course of a few weeks. I write about them and then never catch you all up on what happens in the end. Maybe it doesn't matter. If you don't care to know how some things panned out, quit reading now.

Otherwise...

The BIG check is in the mail. I got an email telling me that the person was sorry for the delay, but it was on it's way. Maybe by weekend it'll arrive.

Evidently, sternness works. A______G______ called from the DTA. I've been approved. I can pick up my card at their office.

I called the midwest tech who called looking for info on the ivory key guy. Thought it might be a quick call. I just wanted to give him a couple phone numbers. 45 minutes later, I know the guy's life history! And...he's sending a pile of info on his piano business.

The weather is temporarily improving. It should be near 50°F tomorrow. I saw two chipmunks this week so Spring can't be far away. However, Sunday it's getting cold again and we are supposed to be having sleet and/or snow.

I never found a larger box for those keys that were shipped so poorly. I got creative in my packing and sent them back in the original box. Fingers crossed.

The book, Testimony, by Anita Shreve was a big disappointment. I didn't finish it. I've been reading through books by LuAnne Rice. Too soppy sweet, but they are easy reads until something better.

I walked along the front of our property today. Thought I'd check things out after our neighbor's brother managed to plow over four rocks from our front wall and not bother to put them back in place (Angrily, I had to do it. And he knew he'd done it as he looked out his truck window at the damage.) Anyway, still fighting dog battles. One in particular and I shoveled five huge piles of you-know-what out of our yard and flung them to the appropriate yard. There will be much more to come on that front once the weather warms and our windows are open.

So, there you have it. That's all for now, folks.

I Should Have Just

rolled over and gone back to sleep.

It's been that kind of day.

Oh, it all started out swell enough with a good mug of coffee, breakfast, 8 piano related 'digests' in email, finish off another set of keys to ship on our way out of town...

Fantastic, the mail-lady arrived just before we were leaving. Should be a BIG check for some key work by now. What? Not yet? But, hurray, there's an envelope from the DTA! Before I backed out of the driveway, I opened it. Totally unbelievable. Well, the sad thing is, it IS believable. They have denied my application because...I didn't provided the needed information or documentation.

WHAT?????

I talked to 'my' worker last Thursday. She called to say that they needed my Sept. 08 and Jan 09 business records. (Even though they weren't requested in the initial list of required documentation) I told her that I would mail them that same afternoon. I stopped everything I was working on and first recorded all my business stuff for Jan. in my account book, then went to the library and photocopied both month's records on legal sized paper and walked directly to the post office AND MAILED THEM. ATTENTION A_______ G_______. This was an ordinary business envelope. It would have been received the following day. At the latest two days.

I called today and got HER machine. I left a very stern message. Now I wait.

So anyway, back to the day...Shipped off the package and headed up to Haverhill, to Ted's Leathers, to buy a suede split for gasket (reed organs and player pianos). It's a 45 minute drive and we were relieved to see the hours posted for being open Wed. through Fri., 12 - 4. Except, Ted's has changed. I think 'old man Ted' is no longer around. A young man opened the doors to the leather storage area (behind the retail clothing space) and it was near empty. Nothing I could use. From racks upon racks and floors covered with bins, it is reduced to four tables of dregs. How utterly disappointing. I loved being able to touch and inspect the leather before buying.

We drove around Haverhill a bit and then decided to head to Amesbury and have lunch at Friendly's. As I opened the single, glass door to enter, a woman barged her way past me, leaving. Honestly. She actually pushed me out of her way as I tried to walk in through the door that I had opened. Ooooh, I could just...We were seated, and told that Amanda would be our waitress. Amanda didn't have all her oars in the water. Our meals were borderline warm and it took forever to get them. Amanda kept forgetting things...like us...and water, butter, my fries. While we were there, we planned the rest of our dismal day. Since we were so far north, we decided a trip to the Home Depot and Walmart in Seabrook, NH would be in order. Mom would buy birdseed, 'A' would buy a new portable CD player. Well, mom managed the birdseed, but there was not one CD player in the entire Walmart.

Time to head home and a really cool sighting along the way. Yes, I even had my camera with me. No, I didn't take a picture. Because...what would I do with a picture of a windmill? As we headed across the Rte. 1 bridge in Newburyport, my mom exclaimed, "Look!" Well, I was paying attention to staying in my lane on the bridge, so it was pretty hard to figure out where she wanted me to look. Then I saw it looming over the city of Newburyport. A brand spanking new windmill out in the industrial park! It's enormous! Yay, for Newburyport! (I will take a picture next time, now that I know it's there and can plan ahead.)

Got home to a box of keys at the door and no message from AG at the DTA.

At least there's work.

Fat Tuesday

Mardi Gras. We used to celebrate in Dunedin. It was a blast to make a total fool of oneself at the Mardi Gras parade. The parade consisted of folks dressed up in costume, most of them riding on floats that advertised local businesses. A mini Nawlins with none of the blatant exhibitionism. The big deal was screaming and begging for tacky, worthless, gaudy, beaded necklaces which had no other appeal than a feeling of exuberance at having amassed an enormous collection. My mom and dad, 'A' and I, and sometimes 'the other''S', a friend of my mom, would be there at the top of my parent's street. Front row for the parade. (In later years 'A' took off to the parade with a friend) We had a system. We'd all plead with the paraders for necklaces. Whenever my dad got any, he would give them to one of us. It quickly appeared that he had none while the folks (us) next to him had plenty. This seemed to cause the young ladies on the floats to feel sorry for him. They'd toss more his way. He'd hand them over to us girls and be back at the begging routine in no time. We'd end the evening with hundreds of beaded necklaces, all tangled together, around our necks! Except my dad, of course!

I wish I were there tonight.

I'd Be Getting Nervous

Heck, I would have been nervous months ago.

Today was my big day off and out. This morning I went to church, which is always a wonderful respite. Then I went home and had a relaxing lunch. Just as the rain began to fall, around 1:30, I headed for the second meeting of the Music Book Group. Today's book discussion centered around Piano Lessons, by Noah Adams. This month the group was smaller than last month, some of the same folks and a few new ones. Pleasant and I'm actually going to miss attending when I go back to work at my seasonal candy selling job.

When I got back home there was a message on my machine from a tech. Mr. G. left a very long and convoluted message. The gist of it being that he was trying to get in touch with a man in Maine who does ivory keyboard work. He had been trying to reach him and getting no response. He wondered if I knew him or anything about him. SIX MONTHS AGO he had sent him two keyboards for ivory work and hasn't heard a thing!

SIX MONTHS AGO!

I have yet to return the phone call. I wanted to have some helpful info before I called back. What harm will a few more hours be when it's been over six months? So this evening I did some research. The guy in Maine seems to be alive. He gave a presentation to his local Rotary Club this past December and there is no mention of his death in the Rotary newsletter. He does occasionally visit Florida (he attended a 'makeup' Rotary meeting there). Maybe he's there right now. He lists his profession as 'Antiques' yet neither his address nor a business name show up in the directory of antique businesses in his town. His name is not in the online obituaries. I noted the Rotary Club's president's name and phone number and I'll give this info to the Mr. G. technician when I call him.

Yep, I'd be real nervous by six months.

I Could Have Lived Without Today

Or maybe the calendar is mixed up. Maybe it was really this week with the full moon and Friday the 13th?

I woke up this morning to a few inches of snow covering everything in sight outside. Problem wasn't just the snow, it was the inch of crunchy ice underneath the snow. Oh yeah, I remember hearing it pouring rain outside late last night. Didn't realize we were to get more than just a flurry afterward. So I skipped my morning shower and went to the kitchen to get my coffee started. While it was brewing I went outside and shoveled the steps, my drive, and tried to scrape off the truck just a bit. That done, I relaxed over coffee and breakfast for an hour, then bundled up again and shoveled my mom's walk, drive, and cleared her car. I still have the back walk to do. Maybe. Maybe I'll just hope it melts. Yeah right, it only got to 30°F today.

So after the pleasantly cold and vigorous interlude surrounding breakfast, I finished up the fourth set of keys for this week and packed them up to ship this morning. Pete, my hippie shipper, greeted me at the door where he works and seemed thrilled to see me. He had made a CD recording for 'A'. A 1967 recording of Vanilla Fudge. OoooooohK. While I was there I got another leather peace symbol for my truck. Yep, a true hippie.

When I got home there was another box at the door. More keys! I carried the box downstairs to unpack them. Why, why, why, and why again? The keys were layered in the box alternating fronts to backs, sort of loosely packed. They had shifted and it was impossible to untangle the mess in an orderly fashion. I resorted to tipping the box upside down on the bench. The box is too small for reshipment. I don't have a suitable replacement on hand. I'm more than irritated and then I found that the keys had been numbered on the underside. What a mess to sort out having to keep flipping them over to get them in order. In the midst, the phone rang. I knew by the caller id that it was the tech responsible for these keys. He'd already phoned me three times before he even sent them! And this is a repeat customer - asking all the same questions again. So.....I answered the phone pretending I don't have caller id. He was calling to see if the keys had arrived. Aw gee, that's why they give you a tracking number! Mr. Tech! You know they arrived. You already checked. Stop bugging me. I'm already irritated enough with you. Although I was ready to let off some steam at him, I simply replied, "Yes, they are here. I'm just this minute unpacking them." "Thanks," he said and hung up. I'll just bet he calls tomorrow to see how things are going. Last time he did just that! My tongue hurts from biting it.

Onward with my exciting and rewarding day.

My mom decided that we should have steak and dumplings for dinner. She hates to cut up the meat and will treat me to sharing the meal if I'll cut the meat. 'A' had to be to work for 3 p.m. and I had grocery shopping and another errand to do after, so I got the beef ready and asked that my mom see to getting it started cooking while I was gone.

When I had finished my grocery shopping, 'A' found me and told me that one of her vacation weeks had not been approved. Seems one of her chosen weeks coincides with Fiesta in Gloucester. Not a time when they like giving vacation time. After she talked with her boss a bit, it may get approved. We'll have to wait and see.

Before I went home, I went box hunting. Tuck's, Rite-Aid, and Cracker Jacks. No one had anything that would work. I headed home to get to work on the keys.

I arrived home shortly past 3:30 p.m. Dinner was simmering on the stove. Smelling real good! I put away my groceries and went down the stairs to my workshop and found a rather large puddle of water on the floor mats. Oh crap. Where on earth was that water coming from? Just what I needed. I searched for the source, anticipating a call to our favorite plumber. More money out of anorexic pockets. Strangely, the water seemed to have dripped from the wiring to the stove/oven outlet. Huh? Back upstairs to look around. The floor was puddled with water all around the side and back of the stove.

MOM!

"Oh, the meat had just started to boil over when I left it for a minute, " she said. "I caught it just as it started over the side of the pot."

Ummmmm, I think not. The drip pan had overflowed down in to the inner stove top. That had overflowed in to the wall of the oven and was then leaking out two lower corners to the floor. The floor has a slight backward slope which guided the water to the wall and the floor outlet. From there it traveled down the exterior of the wire and dripped (or, by the amount, poured) from overhead, downstairs in my workshop, which now smells wonderfully of dinner. I swept a pile of sawdust over the puddle to soak it up.

Well, dinner was delicious.

Not much work got done on the keys and no box to ship them back.

'A' hasn't heard any more about her vacation.

But, YAY, no plumber!

I'm Repetitive

Carry boxes, open boxes, lay out keys in order, clean key wood, remove tops, slice off fronts, plane key wood, glue new tops.

Dry.

Notch tops, trim fronts, sand sides, hand file, polish capstans, buff once, buff twice, wrap 13 naturals each grouping, box, pack carefully, include receipt, tape box, fill out shipping form, stack upstairs ready to ship.

Times 4 this week so far.

I love work!

Barefoot

Gee, two posts today!

As I dragged myself out of bed this morning to yet another cold and blustery day, I couldn't help but think how much I miss going barefoot - every day. Which brought to mind a little poem that my dad used to say. And while now it seemed at arbitrary moments, I'm sure at those times it was appropriate.

So as I stood in front of my dresser this morning, I looked down at my soon to be socked feet and thought, "Barefoot girl with shoes on..." But what was the rest? I don't think he ever recited the rest. Well, the wonders of the Internet and Google later, I bring you...

The Dying Fisherman's Song

'Twas midnight on the ocean,
Not a streetcar was in sight,
The sun was shining brightly
For it had rained all that night.

'Twas a summer's day in winter
The rain was snowing fast,
As a barefoot girl with shoes on,
Stood sitting on the grass.

'Twas evening and the rising sun
Was setting in the west;
And all the fishes in the trees
Were cuddled in their nests.

The rain was pouring down,
The sun was shining bright,
And everything that you could see
Was hidden out of sight.

The organ peeled potatoes,
Lard was rendered by the choir;
When the sexton rang the dishrag
Someone set the church on fire.

"Holy smokes!" the teacher shouted,
As he madly tore his hair.
Now his head resembles heaven,
For there is no parting there.
-- Author Unknown

Balancing Act

Constantly. Between three generations of women under (sort of) one roof. Life in general. Most recently I've been reminded of having to try to balance my life as I worked on my income tax forms. I'm caught, once again, in the middle. Not little enough to benefit from various credits and tax status thingies, yet not nearly enough to live comfortably. My self employment income, remarkably, was at about the same level as last year. Not bad considering the economy. Not good since the cost of living rose so drastically. But, better than I had anticipated for the year's total. Thus the problem. Add to that my very part-time, seasonal employment and taxes soared. Yep, put me in a whole new tax bracket. Something to remember next time around, balance it out with much higher deductions from my paycheck than this past year. May have to go for 20% to the state and federal, plus paying my quarterly estimated tax for the business. All this will equal trying to live on less when there's next to nothing to cut back on. Entrapped. Gradual growth doesn't compensate for higher taxes and greater living expenses. I keep hitting the 'just over the line' income brackets rather than the top end of any particular bracket.

Oh well, so again this year, I'm paying out while 'A' is getting a MASSIVE refund. I still haven't started on my mom's paperwork. So far I've convinced them that I deserve a dinner out, on the two of them, for acting as their personal accountant. And, in a gem of a moment 'A' offered to buy me a new living room sofa! Don't think I'll call her on that, but the offer was super nice.

Business seems to have gotten a boost. Two more tunings booked for next week. Booked that far ahead because of FIVE sets of keys this week (an unexpected set arrived today). And still working on the reed organ with a couple weeks left on that, I think.

The Statue of Liberty gracing this post is a painting by Andreas Prustel.

Productivity

What a fantastic week! Monday began with removing the 'guts' of the reed organ that got flooded at the doctor's office. It went smoothly. Even to the UPS delivery guy's timing and getting doors opened while balancing the top unit of the organ on a two-wheeled truck. Since the loading up part went so smoothly, the unloading just had to be a challenge. Sheer ice on our garden path to the bulkhead door and the cellar. Unbelievable that it went without a slip. I've spent part of this week disassembling and readying for repairs. Monday ended with shipping out a set of keys.

Tuesday was a tuning day and trying to make a 45" Steinway upright sound better. Not just the tuning, which was no big deal, but the fact that the soundboard is shot. Really and truly had it - no crown, necessary for good sound quality and sustain. Huge cracks and the 'dealer' had screwed it all back together rather poorly. I'm afraid the owner is having some difficulty understanding that there is not much more that can be done aside from completely rebuilding the thing. Honestly, even with it's pedigree, I'd be hard-pressed to say it would be worth the cost. Some things just get too butchered.

I've been working on getting the baseboards (skirting to you UKers) finished in our upstairs hallway. In between other things, I've got it about half finished. I still have some staining to do and then some wee bits of detail work. It felt good to be doing hand sawing and hammering. Well, that is until the aches and pains of arthritis set in that evening! And in between working on the woodwork, I've been doing the ivory jewelry. I think the inventory on necklaces is up to somewhere near 36 finished and maybe another 6 ready to paint. I've made 3 pins and have 1 more blank, and my fave...a pair of earrings with purple pansies. I just created another 11 earring (pairs) ready to paint.

The best thing is that the phone has been ringing. Oh, for that to last! Tomorrow morning I'll be looking over a Vose & Sons upright and giving the owner my advice on repairs. Today brought two calls for key recovering. One, a repeat customer from California, and the other a longtime customer who is sending three sets of keys. Yep, three sets at once! Seems a school's music department was vandalized.

I finally heard from the DTA. I hadn't had chance to call and then an envelope came in the mail...Monday, I think. They are processing my application and required additional paperwork like income verification, birth certificate, current bills. The list was about 20 items long. They have to have the documentation by the 16th or my application will be null and void. I went to the post office and mailed it all on Wednesday. It should be no more than two day delivery time.

I started on our income tax forms. Mine progressed quite quickly and I have only one more form to fill out. Then it's on to simpler ones for 'A' and my mom.

And......I finished reading Piano Lessons by Noah Adams. Or should I say rereading after a many year lapse. It's the featured book for the next Music Book Group on February 22nd. Then I read a fiction book that my mom recommended called Summer's Child by LuAnne Rice. Mildly interesting. Enough to read some more of hers...until they become more than predictable. Now I'm reading the new Anita Shreve novel, Testimony. The deb jury is still out.

Busy week and it feels soooooo fine.
Scary that it's all happening between a full moon and Friday the 13th!

Hectic

So this is a stall. I will be back. I promise. I'll write something later tonight. Might be MUCH later. All depends.

See ya.

Back to Normal?

Cold and more cold. I was up at 6:30 this morning to finish shoveling the snow left over from yesterday's storm that went in to the night. The snow had really drifted in and, once again, the town decided not to plow the back right of way that one last time. After shoveling last night around 8 p.m. there wasn't a lot to move about this morning. I'm running out of room for it all and the piles at the edges of the driveways are getting too high for me to throw more shovel fulls. Anyway, I got it all cleared in time to grab a quick cup of coffee, eat breakfast, and then get 'A' to the oral surgeon for suture removal. Thankfully that went without too much consternation.

As reward we went to Target afterward.

We got back home just minutes after another set of keys had been delivered. Yay, more work! I grabbed a quick lunch and then got to work. In between things I painted a few more necklaces. Okay, actually one necklace, one brooch, and a pair of pansies on ivory earrings. Yes, I'm trying adding some other ivory jewelry to the inventory.

At three, 'A' was off to her first day back at work. I stopped by the library to pick up some tax forms before heading back home. It really bugs me that the government (federal and state) expect you to file and pay in a timely manner - or else, yet they can't seem to get the forms to us. I got both my fed and state forms but I'm missing my health insurance confirmation documents from the state. 'A' got her state forms but not her federal. My mom got none. I don't get why this happened.

Tomorrow brings a tuning job and late today I booked another for the start of next week. I'll be delivering the organ repair estimate tomorrow, too.

I got a letter from the DTA (Dept. of Transitional Assistance) last week saying that they will call me within 5 days. It's been 8 and nothing. The letter also says that if I don't hear from them to call them. Long distance, of course. I think I'll save that for Friday.

Friday night I may take myself out to 'A Night at the Museum' at the Rockport Art Association. I might as well get some use of my membership (although this event is open to the general public). It'll be a see and be seen mission! After all, I'm not only a contributing member of the RAA, I'm their 'official piano technician'. The event features art owned by the association.

So, things seemed to have gained a bit of momentum. I like this.

Six Days

My alarm clock woke me at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. As I walked past my second story windows, I couldn't help but notice that more snow was gently swirling to the white-coated ground below. I tried not to worry about the driving conditions that I might face when it was time to take 'A' to the oral surgeon. Her appointment was for 9:45. In good conditions it's a 15 minute drive. I told her we'd be leaving at 9 a.m. I was anticipating her usual stall tactics, her apprehension, nerves, poor driving conditions, you name it. I was a bit on edge about this all happening successfully. We did manage to leave the house on time. Driving was slightly unnerving. Nugent Stretch was particularly horrendous. It was unlike Rockport to leave the main roads so poorly tended. Well, tight budget, poor economy. What ever excuse. We arrived safely and 'A's surgery to extract her two lower wisdom teeth went well. We were out of the oral surgeon's office within an hour and back on the slick roads. I stopped at our local pharmacy to drop off the three prescriptions for 'A'. they didn't have one of them but called it in to their Gloucester store. Great, I'd have to head back to Gloucester in the lousy weather. I dropped a very groggy and unhappy 'A' off at our house, leaving her to my mom's care, while I headed back to the local pharmacy and then to Gloucester. What relief when I got back home thinking I was off the roads for the rest of the storm. Until 'A' needed to take one of the liquid meds and the store had fail to include the dosage spoon. Back out again. This time the roads were like ice. The plow had scraped nearly down to the pavement, nearly, and there was no salt or sand. I had one of those 'oh please just keep moving' moments as I headed back up the Main Street hill and slid around the corner of our street!

More shoveling.

Remarkably 'A' seemed rather perky on Thursday and she even went with me to pick up suitably soft foods from IGA. It couldn't be this easy could it?

Nope. Thursday night started the 'meds are making me sick'. No doubt between Percocet, Penicillin, and some anti-swelling pills, and very, very, little to eat. No rest until 12:30 at night.

Friday was not much better, with 'A' spending most of the day acting miserably. Meanwhile, I had three sets of keys to finish up ready to ship on Monday AND a call from our local doctor with the rebuilt by me, reed organ. The office waiting room roof had leaked all over the organ. Yes, I made an office call and found the organ thoroughly soaked. Groups of keys moved, invisibly interconnected, like wave swells. Felts were dripping wet. Stop knobs were frozen in place. The case was marred with the ghosts of water droplets and runs. I dried what I could and lubricated some steel parts against rusting. Leaving the case opened up, I told the doctor to leave a fan running and circulating air around and through the organ. I feared it was irreparably damaged and said I'd be back on Monday to check 'the patient'.

Work, work, work and wait on a miserable and irritable 'A'. Saturday was a blur. With the exception of an email from THAT ex! Stupid. Copied and dropped it off at the police station and forwarded a copy to J at WHOA. Wish I had as much free time as THAT guy to bother attempting to annoy someone who has better things to do than even think of me!

Sunday a day of rest? Not this week. In the morning I was working in the shop, finishing up keys. And since 'A' was feeling up to it, I took her for a ride around and to buy a jigsaw puzzle at Tuck's. It was getting to the point that I had to smile and enjoy the few and far between pleasant moments available with her.

The boxes were loaded in the truck and I headed out to ship them on Monday morning. Then I stopped at the bank and followed that with a trip to check on my organ 'patient'. The organ had made a remarkable recovery! It will still need most of the felts and leathers replaced, but the bellows are fine. The keys have unwarped nicely and neatly and they all function of their own! The stop knobs move freely! I told the docotr that I'd write up a work order and have it to him in a couple days.

If only things with 'A' were going so easily! She had a rough day and chose to share it with me. Tonight, though she made great leaps to eating Spaghetti-O's and a bit of deli ham. Of course, she's not taking any meds any more and she's not as nauseous. She quit taking the antibiotic with a tentative okay from the oral surgeon's office. Oh yeah, Mr. Snowmanaround the house had a rough day, too. He lost his head today over the 40°F weather.

And now full circle. I hear I'll be waking up to swirling snow in the morning.