Going Down Slow

Hey Folks! I'm writing this from Santa Fe, NM tonight. Wasn't sure for a while if Blogger was going to let me but it finally went through and let me load these photos. After we left Big Bend we headed up towards Carlsbad Caverns. Kinda just a giant hole in the ground that you can't see the bottom of. It was quite a hike, took a little over an hour but was way cool. . Then, once you reach the bottom you hike for another hour or so to see the rest of the caves. There were not too many people there, which was nice.

This is another place that these photos just don't do justice. We also had a nice chat with a couple of the Rangers here. This photo was taken down in the cave a bit but where you can still see out. This is also the entrance where the bats fly out in the evenings. And you can tell by the smell.

This is way down in the caverns. We spent most of the day here just tooling around and then had lunch above ground and browsed through the bookstore and photography exhibit of Ansel Adams' work.

The rain we picked up in the Chisos followed us up to Carslbad and when we came out of the cave it was raining again.We made it out of the park okay but really got into some rough stuff in Carlsbad proper. Apparently, they don't build storm drainage systems into the city streets like we do back home and it makes for some interesting driving. There was a couple of times that so much water washed over the windshield that we were completely blind. Fortunately, everybody was going pretty slow and no one stopped, which could have caused us all to stall in the water.

We eventually made it out of town and out of the storm. One of my first good sights in New Mexico was this full, double rainbow. You could see the entire thing stretched across the valley. It was quite a sight. There was a smaller, double part on this end but it may not show up on the photo and I could never get the whole rainbow in one shot.

We stopped overnight in Roswell, NM and puttered around there a little this morning taking in some alien sights. It was fun. Roswell is a much larger city than what most people imagine.

So, we are going to spend a couple of days in the Santa Fe area and then head for Flagstaff, I think. I'm kinda confused about itinerary at this point and what day it is. The 7,000 feet elevation is also interesting. It is making us a little tired but the extremely low humidity here feels wonderful. We are still having a blast and enjoying each others company. Oh, and I saw a bunch of antelope by the highway on the way here. We also saw several of those God-forsaken cattle feed lots too. I am going to try very hard to change my beef consumption after seeing that. I knew what they were like but it's disgusting to see in real life.

*Eric Clapton

Bedrock Cathedral

Hey Everybody! I intended on posting abut San Antonio next but time and circumstances just got away from us so you are going to get Big Bend next. I might try to put up a few pics of the Riverwalk later. We spend half a day and all night in San Antonio ad had a fabulous time there. Also had the best tamales I have ever eaten. If you have never been to the Riverwalk I would highly recommend checking it out. We had a lot of fun and ate way too much.
So, we took off for Big Bend National Park next and even though I was highly impressed with San Antonio, Mother Nature always has a way of upstaging anything man can build and this was no exception. What an incredible wonder this park is. I have seen Mt. Hood in Oregon, the Hudson Valley in upstate New York and various other places but this was like nothing I had ever experienced before.

This was the view from our campsite in the basin. It just doesn't come close to the real thing though. This was taken very early in the morning as the clouds rolled over and down the valley. We had planned on staying two nights but rain started coming in and we were really not prepared for camping in such.

We spend the late afternoon yesterday doing some short hikes around the area and then went on about a 5 mile round trip hike today, to Window Rock, a vista that looks out over the desert valley. We did not encounter any lions or bears thank goodness. I did hope to see some javelina but didn't get to. We did get see a few other odd critters though. If I get time I will put up some pics. OOOh, and on the way out, going down the highway to the park, which is just long stretches of desert and arid countryside, I saw this thing run across the highway in front of our truck. A little scurrying thing.  It was a spider! A freakin' spider big enough to see from a moving vehicle! That just ain't right. God help if I were to see one right next to me.

This was about half way to Window Rock. You can see that many of the peaks stayed shrouded in the clouds. On our way back it started to get a little warm but basically was fabulously cool and sunny.

This is the view right at Window Rock. If I'm not mistaken, the area waaay in the distance is the desert that you must drive through to enter the park from the north. It takes about 2 1/2 hours maybe to get from Fort Stockton into the park. If you love hiking and places such as this, I would most definitely say. go here! You really need about a week to see the majority of the park though. As I said, we were going to stay another night and hike at least one more trail but the weather turned kinda ugly. The ranger we talked to said the rainy season was supposed to be over in August but some of the hurricanes had brought in some unusual moisture.

Well, we are off to Carlsbad Caverns and New Mexico next. This has been an incredible amount of fun so far.

I hope I'm being as good a sport about things as he is. Well, I'll be posting again as soon as I can.

*Paul Winter / I think this is the correct name his song but I'm guessing and don't feel like looking it up.

Come Again

I basically finished the weathervane today so I just have to get it ready for transport tomorrow. Just a few things left to do so I don't have to be present when the vane is actually set and then I can use Thursday to get ready for the trip. One of the last things is to add a new ball bearing to the bottom of the main pole, so I stopped by an industrial supply on the way home today to purchase said piece. It took them a while to correctly size it but I believe I got something that will work.

Thanks for all the suggestions of things to see in Texas and Arizona. I will definitely check them all out and see if I can get them in our route. If anyone knows of any other great places please let me know. I am planning on hitting San Antonio, Big Bend National Park, Carlsbad Caverns, Sedona, Flagstaff, maybe Taos, Winslow, the Grand Canyon but the trip home is still up for grabs. If I am passing near to your location and you want to meet a half-crazed female construction worker, just drop me a line and maybe we can do lunch, as they say.

Enjoy The Ride

Well, I did manage to get a little done on the house this weekend. I got the rest of this siding run on the clerestory wall. I needed to run a full 12' length of siding over the windows, which also has notches cut out for the rafters, and such a piece is very difficult to install by yourself. Having a second pair of hands was very helpful. I also got over half of this area caulked but didn't finish that or get the other side of the clerestory sided.




More and more wildflowers keep sprouting up around here. It's kinda funny that they seem to be getting closer and closer the the house. I don't remember seeing these flowers just outside the kitchen windows before. It's sort of like the house is drawing the flowers to it. I know, that sounds all woo-woo. Well, so what.! Sometimes I'm kinda woo-woo.

I have a little more work to do on the weathervane tomorrow and then hopefully I can start packing for the trip and getting that in line. I so need this. It is all like a dream come true.

Pure Morning

Another one of my failed attempts to capture the ethereal quality of the morning light here. You just have to see it in person I guess. I went out for a quick morning walk today, before I get started with some work. It is a little muggy but still a nice day, although it may get rather warm later. I hope to get the last little bit of siding up over the clerestory windows this weekend before I leave on my road trip.


And the black-eyed Susan's are blooming again. I like them because they bloom in the spring and again in the fall here. Lots of flowers are blooming right now actually. Ugghhhh, I dread winter. I know it is still a ways off but I hate cold weather. I am definitely a southern girl. I wold shrivel up and die if I had to move to a northern climate. When I get back from my trip I am going to have some spend some serious time and effort splitting firewood.

Restoration on the weathervane continues. You can see here where I have cleaned and straightened this piece and am applying a new coat of sealer, which is just beeswax and linseed oil. The upper part that looks darker is where I have finished. I hope this church is happy with what I have done. I think it is going to look good. I have to install new ball bearings for this thing to rotate on and finish the sealer and it will be done. I spoke to our general superintendent and he said as soon as I complete this project I will be laid off again for a time but we do have some work on the horizon at least. They want me to help set this piece back on the roof of the church, which should happen Wednesday or Thursday and then I am off and free to go on the road.


Hopefully I will have some small progress on the house to post soon also. Hope you all have a great weekend too!

Catch The Wind

This is my new project that I started on today. Biggest freakin' weather vane I've ever seen. It will be about 20 feet tall when I am finished. Did the cleaning today and straightened out some of the bent up places you see. It's a combination of stainless steel, bronze and copper.

A big storm did this. It's not taking near the time I thought it would so I may be finished with it by Friday afternoon. If I do finish it early and they have no immediate work for me, which is very possible, I have decided that it is time for a very big adventure. Everybody say, "Road trip!!!!"

Best I could do to show the whole thing. It's a very interesting piece. When I restore an original sculpture like this I always try to take the care with it that I would want somebody else to take restoring a piece of mine after I'm gone. I think it is going to turn out well.

This afternoon when I got home, I felt compelled to walk down to the spring, just to see how things there were doing. When I got there I was a little surprised to see that the water was so clear, you could see rocks about 18" below the surface.
Been a long time since it's been that clear. As I crept closer to the edge about 8 little frogs jumped screaming into the water, probably peeing all the way. Oh well.


*Donovan

The More Things Change....

It's that time of year again and the sun made it's annual return to the house on Sept. 1. Just this little sliver is coming in now and it's gone by about 11:00 a.m. I'm always a little sad to see it return to the house although it does add cheerfulness and warmth. I finally have come up with a decent idea of how to finish that plywood wall and I think it will be pretty darn cool (actually warm) and be functional also. The architect wanted me to cover the wall with a fine grade of plywood and stain it in a grid pattern. This would look nice but be quite expensive and take a great deal of time. I think instead I am going to make it into a heat well by installing dark corrugated metal decking furred out about 2 inches from the plywood with small vents cut in the upper portions. The dead space between the decking and the plywood will collect the heat when the sun shines on the metal and it will then vent out the holes further up. It will go up rather quickly and be much more affordable. Even if it doesn't heat a lot it will not hurt at any rate and I can still install some grid shelving over the decking to display sculpture and pottery.

Some of you may have noticed that this is posted when I should be at work but we had a little glitch about being able to get to the weather vane on this new project, so I will start tomorrow. Kinda nice to have a little holiday and I am almost finished with the pantry cabinet and ready to pour the countertop.

Ok, here is a little snakey for ya'll to help me ID.

Appalachain Morning

I hope the weather has been as beautiful for you all as it has been for me here this weekend. The weather has been absolutely sublime the past few days and I have actually been able to enjoy it as we took Friday off in addition to having Monday. The air has been so cool with very little humidity. It's that feeling that only comes with the arrival of fall. I haven't had to run the air-conditioning since Thursday and slept with the windows open last night. Gawd, what luxury! Wonderfully cool temps, a new, comfy bed and fresh, silky sheets to slide into. It doesn't get much better. I love the feeling of this time of year but am sad for the departure of summer. Well, that's life I guess. Each season has it's joys and sorrows.

We finished the job so much so that we really didn't have much to do after Wednesday. I worked half a day Thursday and came home. Unfortunately, we don't get paid if we don't work but we had made enough hours the previous days to actually have a full week. I did get called to go to another job and look at a project that I will be working on next week. I have to restore a 20 foot weather vane for an old, historic church in downtown Birmingham. It looks to be a very interesting project, albeit short. At least I'm not laid off yet.

I have been working on the pantry, trying to get it completely finished. I completed the staining and finishing of the cabinet there and will be preparing to pour the countertop soon.

Seems like there was something else I was going to tell ya'll about but can't think of it now. Oh well, if I remember I'll come back.


*Paul Winter

When

You know the old saying, "Say 'when' ", when you get enough. I'm feeling like maybe I've had my fill at this point. These are pics of the Youth Wing we just completed for this large 'church' in town. I made the mistake of calling this the sanctuary for some time but they corrected me when I saw the lettering above the doors that read 'theater'. I agree that is more appropriate. And no, that is not dust or smoke you see in the shafts of light coming from the stage, that is fog from the special effects machines.
I find this building, and the 'church' as a whole, repulsive on various levels and actually feel some moral consternation that I helped build this abomination but that is not all of what this post is actually about.

Whatever the moral or spiritual implications, we did a beautiful job, and in 8 months to top it off. We brought this building in 100% complete on the exact day they wanted it, Sept. 1. The evening these pictures were taken they had their first service in the new theater. And all this after the church sat on their ass for 4 months and would not give us the approved drawings to start because they just were not sure they had completely made up their minds about everything. Of course, when they did finally give us the drawings they still wanted the building finished on the original completion date and all the while making changes anyway. Oh, no, wait...no, they wanted 30 days early! That's right, silly me. And we did it. We. Did. It. And not one sorry sonovabitch from our office or this church had the balls or the f***ing decency to just come out on the job and say "thank you" for your hard work. We didn't even get a damn Coke. Well, one of the many Saturdays we worked the church did give us some biscuits and fruit. But they had someone else bring it over. They wouldn't be bothered with actually speaking to us themselves.

Sorry for this incredibly horrible photo but I just had to show this. It's bad enough that they have a coffee shop in the youth section, a Starbucks no less, but the coolers are stocked with nothing but candy, sweets and soda. Ummm, and this country is experiencing a diabetic epidemic right now? Hello?? This is just how uncaring these people are that they will help destroy the health of their young people just to get them in the door. It's all part of their propaganda to me. All that caffeine and sugar keeps those kids so freakin' hyped up they can't think straight. And when you can't think straight you will let other people do your thinking for you. Couple that with the mind-numbingly loud music and you got pure, unadulterated emotionalism being used for mind control. It makes me sick and I don't think I can do it anymore.

This is where we tied the new addition to the existing structure, which is on the right. Looks like it grew that way doesn't it? Except that column on the left; it is not bent like that. Must be something in the camera. Oh, and by the way, there is another Starbucks just around that corner. We took down 4 existing tilt panels to make the opening. Oh, I did forget; one of our execs did call Daddy Rabbit and tell him to tell us that we did a good job. Oh wow. Never mind the fact he attends this damn place and could have come out here himself. I ask you, what would be so fucking hard about shaking our hand and saying wow! what a damn good job ya'll did! We realize you risked your life building this so fast, you spent all those weekends away from your kids and family and you ground your body a bit more in the hole towards pain and immobility but hey, you did a good job and now these people can suck more money and life out of the people.
And a lot of people would say, well, ya'll get paid money to build these things and that is your reward and yes, we do. Although they are doing their damnedest to drop our already low pay to below cost of living wages. See, this is one reason why I am so against this materialistic, disposable, fucking Mal-Wart saturated society we live in. When a people become so obsessed with cheap, disposable products it doesn't take long before people start becoming those cheap, disposable products and true craftsmen are shoved out the door. Their good labors are no longer valued. We are nothing more than a consumable product to be used up and thrown out, to society like this. 'Wow, this is a cool building, now get the hell out the door and don't come back.'

Well, I guess I'm still a bit pissed off by the whole experience but I knew it was coming to this. See, used to, many clients and even our superintendents would arrange lunch for us a few times throughout the jobs to show their appreciation. Any metals scrapped during the course would be used to buy the workers a meal. I mean, it's just a little something to say thanks. Let me say it this way, when you are working out in the rain, or snow, or 100 degree heat with mud up to your knees and you just busted your knuckles on a piece of steel or slit your forearm open on tie wire and the blood is running everywhere but you still have to finish your job because the concrete is already set up for 5:00 a.m. in the morning and they DON'T reschedule, knowing that the client or even your own fucking company appreciates your efforts really is encouraging and you work hard. I know a lot of guys now that don't feel so inclined to work that hard anymore.

Jubilate Deo

I guess the title to this one could have been, 'Purple Hulls and An Old Gray Cat', but that is not a song as far as I know. I had the whole weekend off so I got to go by the farmer's market and buy a few things Saturday morning. I got this mess of purple hull peas, sold by an old, dried up codger of a man, who assured me this variety was a true heirloom and he had been growing them for over 30 years. After I shelled what I wanted for eating that day and freezing, I saved a handful of pods for planting next year. Hopefully they will produce. I put these in a slow cooker with just enough water to cover them, about a 1/2 cup of chicken broth, 1/2 finely chopped onion, two strips of bacon, one crushed glove of garlic, salt and pepper to taste and a few dashes of cumin. They were the best I've ever cooked. Maybe it was the cumin. They got raves from others too.
I had a nice relaxing weekend; I hope ya'll did too.

It was back to the work frenzy today though and I got in fairly late. Just as the last of the light was fading from the sunset, but I looked up as I walked towards the house and spied this. Well, it was so luminous it was hard not to notice. It kind of startled me actually. I took it as a good sign. A sign of reassurance that things will be okay because I had spoken to Daddy Rabbit earlier in the day and he admitted that my time to leave the job is "coming fast". I may not even make it until Friday. As I have stated in the past to my company, it is only fair to lay me off first and keep the men with children working as long as they can. We have no other work and even though this same church wants some work done now on their original building, they have provided no drawings, so we cannot start until they get some and these people are not concerned about anyone but themselves. We must be substantially finished by tomorrow night as the church is going to hold the first service in the new addition Wednesday evening. So, as I have said recently about some other things, we'll see what we'll see.

Shoot The Moon

I guess I have always been fascinated by these flowers. Their alien appearance brings to mind faraway landscapes and strange places. Most people who are not familiar with this plant falsely assume the name 'passionflower' refers to the human, physical emotion when, in fact, it actually refers to Christ's passion. It is a well-known sedative and I have to say, in my experience, a tea made from it's leaves mix nicely with catnip to make a very effective sleepy time drink. But, as always, check up on the plant before you use any of it.

I was out for a little walk this evening, enjoying the slight coolness in the air that has lingered the past few days. It hints very subtly of autumn. Days like this always seem to make me very reflective and somewhat restless. There have been quite a few things on my mind lately and sometimes it's hard for me to get my thoughts to line up enough to express them coherently here. I suppose you all are quite used to my babbling anyway, but I do try to keep it to a minimum.

For now though work continues and the weather has become more agreeable to working around the house, so I hope to get some more done in that area. I need to get back on the siding and knock that out. And before it gets too cool, I have to rework my water system or more specifically, the spring opening itself. I have the stuff to work with, now I just need to make time one weekend. It's going to be something of a pain and I kinda dread it but it must be done and then I believe I will not ever have to worry about it again.
I will try to post some over the weekend if I can and if I have something to talk about.


*Norah Jones

What Do You Do?

This photo has nothing to do with the post but ya'll know I like to include at least one regardless. I'm not sure what type critter this is but I suspect it is a type of hornet maybe? It was much larger than any wasp I have ever seen.

Anyway, I worked many hours last week and didn't have much time for my blog or reading any of my favorites either, so forgive me if I haven't been dropping by or commenting on any. I only had to work 8 hours today so I managed to do a little catch up reading this evening. I'm afraid my work may be finishing up even faster than what we first suspected. I had hoped to at least make it to September before being laid off again, and may yet, but it is really getting slim now.



*Lyle Lovett

BugABoo

First of all, it was dead!! I assure you, I would never have a bug like this in my hand if it were still kickin'. Yet I feel a certain strange affection for these critters. I guess because they are so 'southern', even though they exist all over the world. I could not imagine our sultry summers without the song of these, seeking their mates. And you have to admit, they are so intricately designed. Their wings fascinate me. The delicacy belies their ability to lift such mass.

Well, I'm still working quite a bit and today were heard more rumblings of discontent and instability in our company. Our new company logo stickers for our hardhats came to our job today but only one foreman elected to cover our old sticker with the new. It's a sad time.

After a couple of comments I received recently I know a few of you might be wondering about this fellow I have gone out with some lately. I haven't said much for several reasons. One, I don't know whether he would mind me writing about him, even in a completely anonymous way and I guess I am remaining a bit more stoical about this one. If 'once bitten is twice shy' then what are you if you have been chewed on most of your life? lol! Perhaps a bit too skeptical. Well, we'll see what we'll see and he is fun to do stuff with at any rate. He is a good bit older than me so that is one of my main concerns I guess and feeds my inclination to be doubtful. However, I think it's always possible to learn and enjoy the experience of life with a wide variety of people. Just enjoying each other's company is the main thing.

Sun Comes Up, It's Tuesday Morning

Got a dentist's appointment this morning so I had a little time to put up a quick post. I meant to post over the weekend but was enjoying the company of a nice man part of the time, so I was a little busy. How about that?! I just threaten running around naked and a man shows up! ha! Well, this is a fellow I have been talking to and visiting with for a few months now but I wasn't sure he was interested in any romantic notions; until this weekend. I might tell ya'll more about it later.
At any rate, we are working many hours trying to finish this church in 2 weeks so posting might be a little sporadic for a while. Not much work going on around the house anyway.
Have a good week and stay cool!


*Cowboy Junkies

Curse Of Me

This is about all that my garden has been producing lately. 'Course, this is good too. I use all these seasonings whenever I can and I very much appreciate knowing they came from my garden, tended in the manner I see fit. Despite the wonderful beginning, my tomatoes have crashed and burned. I got a fair amount when they were producing but I still believe the soil is lacking something as many of them were diseased. I cut the plants back severely and they might actually have a chance to produce a few more before frost since our season is so long. I cut them back last year and they put out again before cold weather. We'll see.

Things are fairly boring around here lately other than going out to dinner last night with the BCBs. That's always fun but now it's more work, work, work. I'm not complaining about that either, because in about 2 and a half weeks that may be it. Kinda crappy not knowing for sure if you are going to have a job next month but that's construction.
Nothing going on with the dating front either. I am beginning to think I am truly cursed. Maybe I need to bury a chicken foot by the light of a full moon...no, wait, that's for if you are trying to remove a wart or something. Hhhhmm, maybe eat a bunch of chocolate..... while laying naked on the deck.... under a full moon...yeah! that's it!!! that has a much better ring to it!!

Life By The Drop

Busy, busy, busy folks! but I thought I would show ya'll a few more pics from my adventure to the Botanical Gardens. I want some of this black bamboo.

Between overtime at work, socializing and trying to salvage something from my garden, I'm not left with much time this week.

I'll try to be back soon though. And my back is screaming at me once again to go lay down. The new bed is helping but this is due to life in general. Where is a good pair of warm, man's hands when you need them?

So, talk amongst yourselves. I'm listening.


*Stevie Ray Vaughan

I'm So Open

I get a lot of comments of people saying they are amazed at how honest I am on this blog and I find that observation interesting or compelling. Maybe it's just them trying to find a nice way to say, "you're freakin' crazy to tell some of the stuff you do!" lol! I don't know but that's okay if they are thinking that. I find the observation interesting because I don't think of myself as being all that open or I think other bloggers, some of who make this comment to me, seem to be very honest themselves. I'm guessing what prompts people to say this is the fact that I will tell you all the defeats and discouragements as well as my victories. Of course, Southerners are well rumored to hide some of the most hideous truths behind immaculate table manners and social graces. And in my life I must admit to actually seeing this on several occasions. Hey, maybe that's it; I'm completely lacking in the social graces so I don't have the wherewith all to try to present myself as something I'm not.
I think basically I just don't see the point in presenting only a rose-colored view of myself if I want to make any real connection to people. Oh, I could get up here and act like I'm some kind of Martha Stewart/ Rosie the Riveter mutation and that I never mess up, break anything or have any other problems. But what would anybody learn from that? Oh, I know there are plenty of blogs that do that and that's fine; most of them are really good for technical knowledge. But what about heart knowledge? You all know as well as I do that the poor soul that has been through the mill is always a much more respected adviser than the little goody-two shoes that has seemingly never had any problems in their life. Hey, I'm willing to show how screwed up things are here because I want to show if I can get through it and still make something of it then any one of you out there can too. Life is a screw up. But you have to keep trying. I think a lot of times though I am talking to myself more than ya'll and I truly appreciate your encouragement.

I realize I don't have to tell you about my health problems or my frustration at not being able to get laid but hey, that's part of real life too and it kinda makes for some funny stories. There may be one other person out there that might read something I write and say, "thank God I'm not alone or at least I'm not that bad off!" and feel better about themselves. That is fine with me. If nothing else maybe I can make you laugh and shake your head. That girl's so silly! Heh!
Another part of it is from something I remember from when I was young. I was in junior high and, like I told ya'll, we had to take a half a year of home ec. and the other half in shop. Well, we built rockets in shop and mine just happen to fly the farthest and in home ec. we made aprons but my Mama had already taught me how to sew, so mine came out a little better than some of the other girls. Now, there was a very popular cheerleader in my class and one day when she saw my apron she threw hers down in disgust and blurted out, "this is not fair! you can make anything and the rest of us can barely put any of it together.!" I was shocked at first that she noticed what I could do but what she didn't realize is that I would have traded any number of my physical talents back then to have had whatever it was that made people....likable or popular. I mean, I had plenty of friends in school and such but was considered very different and somehow this was not always good. I still find myself thinking sometimes now that I would trade some of the things I can do for whatever it is that makes people more approachable or whatever. I'm not going to say 'normal' because that is not it but you know, not so odd. Many times in my adult life I have had women tell me, "Oh, I wish I could do what you do". Yeah well, maybe you do, maybe not. A lot of people we admire often feel less than adequate about many things themselves. I believe I lack something in my disposition that makes people 'attach' to me. I think some people think I will look down on them because they cannot do some of the things I can. Even some men. That's just such bullshit. Most of the time I wish I could do something they can. So, my point for telling some of my social catastrophes is just to say don't be jealous because I can weld and do all this other crap, because I am lacking many of the things that really make life worthwhile. Is anybody really going to remember and give a shit that I built this house when I'm gone? But I'm betting your kids and grand kids will remember all the great times and love you gave them, so don't put yourself down because maybe you can't get the hang of soldering copper pipe or knitting a sweater. Being Ms. (or Mr.) PerfectCrafty isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Let me tell you about this: you know I went shopping and I bought a cute little yoga tank top. Fits kinda snug and sexy like. Rarr! So, I try this thing on when I get home and yeah, it fits good, so I go to take it off and there's where the problems start. Now, my shoulders and upper body are a lot more muscular than most women's and yeah, it looks nice but I've paid for it. I got this way partly through hard work and now my joints don't work so good. So, I get the top up around my head, with my arms wrapped up in there too, and I literally can't pull the top off, so I'm stuck. My shoulders are just too weak in that position trying to pull. Now I'm practically rolling around on the damn floor trying to extricate myself from this stupid top and Grendal is running around nervously making little noises because I guess she thinks I'm suffocating and I just start laughing. I could just imagine if this had been in some 'heat of the moment' kinda thing with some gorgeous man. I'll tell ya, I've never had trouble getting my clothes off before in that situation! He would have thought I was some kind of freak. 'Course, I guess he would have been helping but still...it was ridiculous. I finally ended up pulling it down and stepping out of it.

Anyway, all I'm saying is that everybody's life has validity and purpose and we should not be ashamed of ours, warts and all and share if we feel comfortable doing so. My hope is that someone out 'there' can find something of use in my bungled up, often times funny way of looking at life.


*Cowboy Junkies

Sunshine Day

Well, turns out I did not have to work this Saturday after all so I decided it would be a good thing to take advantage of this and go see the exhibit of artwork by our favorite blogger, Rurality! and another friend of ours, Sharon, although she is not a blogger. Not yet anyway. We keep trying to lead her down that frustrating path but so far she has eluded us. All of us are also members of our informal group, the Blount County Bloggers, along with MountainMelody, MegPeaPie and Laurie, who used to have a blog but no more. We get together a couple of times a month or so basically to eat and rail against men and hear what the last country Melody has visited. That and they like to hear what other travesty has befallen my love life since the last time we met. Anyway, it is a nice little show at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and then you can go visit the gardens!

If you live anywhere in Alabama and have not visited the gardens I would highly recommend it, although I might wait until slightly cooler weather. Not a lot is blooming right now although it is still very interesting. It's a beautiful place with several different sections of gardens. I love the Japanese section but there is also an Alabama woodlands area (looks just like my place), a conservatory, a large section devoted entirely to roses and a Southern Living area (new to me). It contains a wonderful assortment of plants that are native or like growing in our climate.

The Japanese area is very serene as you might expect. I love the stone work here. Or lack of stone work maybe. Anyway, how they are arranged. I wish my company built stuff like this. Well, now I wish they built much of anything. Okay, I'm not getting back on that subject; not now anyway.

It had been a few years I guess since I had seen all the gardens so I took my time and wandered through the whole place. Well, they were about to have a wedding in the rose garden so I just walked through quickly. Damn people in love. Bleh.

I like this critter. I hope to have some more sculpture out and about on my place. So, afterward I went and did a little shopping on the way home. And yeah, yeah, I know what I just wrote a couple of days ago but I did actually need some stuff and there were some good sales going on this weekend. All I bought was one more set of sheets for my new bed, so now I have 2, and a couple of blouses for going out. I mostly have work clothes and am real bad to talk myself out of buying anything for dressing up and then sometimes when I want to go out I'm caught with not much to wear. Or wear the same thing over and over. So, I bought a couple of nice things and hopefully they will not rot away before I have a chance to wear them. But as you see, I do go out and socialize whether I'm with someone or not. I also went to a gallery opening a couple of weeks ago to shed my blue collar for a while. That was fun and I talked to several nice people.

So, today I worked on staining my pantry cabinet and just messing around the house. I hope to get the cabinet finished soon and will have photos shortly. Then I'll just have to pour the countertop. It is still horridly, freaking hot here so I have just been staying inside. It will cool off a little shortly and then I will get back on the siding. Oh, and tomorrow they are delivering a one-ton concrete pipe section for my well renovation, so that will be interesting. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures as I do that.


*Osibisa

Just When You're Having Fun

Well, I am just sad, sad, sad this evening. We heard today at work that our last full-time concrete finisher is leaving us. Work is so bad that they have had him driving a dump truck on our job, so he found another job with a competitor. Now, for reference, many of our finishers used to work for a couple of different companies at once because pouring concrete is not something that is always done every day. However, our company was once big enough to support probably a couple of dozen full-time finishers. Those days are long gone. He is going to stay with us long enough to finish pouring the sidewalks on the job I'm on now and then he's gone.

We were once so proud and such a good company. We were some of the highest paid carpenters in the biz and still are really. Everybody wanted to work for us. Now, we can't compete with all the others that work nothing but Hispanics for $16/ hour. We were a family. I've thought all day about so many of the guys I have been privileged to work with. Dal, Daddio, Jimmy, Dominecker, Anthony, Big Daddy, the Cobbster, Daddy Rabbit and all the others. Damn, we had some fun. Most of the stories I won't even write here 'cause I know I'd offend a lot of people but we loved working with each other. And we could work like hell; it was nothing to pour three, four hundred yards of concrete at time. That's 40 of the trucks filled to the brim. We had a helluva time at the railroad. The Cobbster was the boss there. At lunch we would all eat in the trailer and he would have us laughing so hard I thought we would fall out in the floor sometimes. He's retired now and I heard he had another 3 stints put in his heart this past week.
Jimmy was a labor foreman years ago. He's passed away now. We like to have gotten run over together trying to direct traffic in downtown Birmingham. Now, he was one of the most unattractive men I've ever known but he always used to brag about being, well, hung. I remember him popping off one day about having 12 inches. Dal busted out laughing. "Yeah, Jimmy, if you measure it like you measure a cat's tail; from the tip to your butthole." I know that's crude but they were so damn funny.

We would nail each other's tool belt down to the floors or bolt their toolboxes down. Or fill all the pockets up with sawdust or rocks. That's what you got for not wearing your tools. One time when I was just a little apprentice I was on the Cobbster's job. I was wrecking some forms and inadvertently chipped the edge of the concrete. Now, he was very particular about his concrete and he saw me do it. He pulled out his pocketknife and held it up to me. "I'll cut your throat if you ever chip my concrete again", he growled in all seriousness. Man, those were the days. He was also one of the most generous men I've ever known. He took good care of his men.

But we are all slipping away now. A few each week or every other. The company might stay around for a few more years but it will never be like it was. We used to hold around 350 carpenters. Now, we might have 25. It's hard to explain the camaraderie of construction unless you have experienced it. One minute you might be cussing someone toe to toe and the next laughing and carrying on. It's not faked though. I think it is as real as it gets. Lord, I'm going to miss these guys. I think I will be one of the next to go. I'm actually the highest paid carpenter on my job, even above the foremen, and in today's market, that ain't good. They got to cut those costs! Most of the guys are already looking for other work. I'll hang on as long as they will pay me but I think the time is drawing very near. Probably the end of this job will be it. Maybe not but it's not looking good. Hell, they even let our personnel manager go because we don't have any personnel left to manage.
The guy on the left above is Head, whom you have heard me speak of before. His head and his feet are about the same proportion, his feet being about a size 13. Thus, the nickname. His little boy turned 3 today. Bama is the guy on the right. He is our crane operator and a real sweet guy.

T-Dog, the guy in the middle, leaves tomorrow to go to a short term job in Tuscaloosa. When one of us leaves a job we always say, "See you on the next one". I told him I would like to say that but wasn't sure there would be a next one. I taught half these boys welding as part of their apprenticeship training. They used to try to get me to go mud wrestling after class so they could win money by betting on me. They were sure I could put anyone down in my weight category. There's so many stories I can think of. They would always put me out when I set myself on fire welding but in the next breath be ragging me about eating tofu and shopping at Wal-Mart. Anthony and Head standing behind the Switchman acting like me (goofy) to try to distract me while I was talking to him. Of course, he could not see them but I could and they would be prissing around with their chests thrown out. I remember going to a company Christmas party and dancing with Hippy. Someone once described Hippies' dancing as a cross between buck dancing and a seizure. They were pretty damn accurate in that but we had a blast and to hear his tales of his younger days and his unfortunate encounters with some Texas Rangers will just make you sore from laughing. They don't call him Hippy for nothing.
This past two weeks I have woken up several times in pain in my joints and muscles. The work is getting to me more and more. I have to take pain meds more often. But I'll hold out as long as I can to work with these guys just a little longer. Hell, we might even go mud wrestling.


*Cock Robin

Head Above Water

I have been trying for some time to get a good photo of these cows down the road from me. They have been seeking any relief they can from the heat lately and this little pond is one of their favorite tricks. It has taken me so long because I either don't have my camera with me on the days they are in or they are not there when I do have it. One other time we did sync but they jumped out about the time I got close. I think today they said the hell with it, we're staying put. Now, before anybody freaks, I've seen the little ones get in before and they always get back out okay. This is not as good a shot as what I see in my mind but it will do.

I've been thinking about that post I wrote a couple of days ago about finances and I had a few more things to say about that. First, I always feel kinda stupid writing stuff like that and here's why: I know I have several major advantages that lots of other folks would have trouble employing to build their own house and so I feel kinda silly saying, 'yeah, do this like I did!' First, I work in an industry where free material is easy to come by for us. Secondly, I am fortunate enough to be thought highly enough of by many men in higher positions so I also come by free stuff that way. The men are very generous to me. And before anybody gets all smarmy, no, I do not sleep with any of them to get it. Well, I used to sleep with Allen but that was a long time ago. Heh. Anyway, there have actually been a couple I really would have liked to have paid back that way but they really were just being nice. Thirdly, I was born with a strength advantage over many women; I know I am much stronger than a lot and this helps me build things by myself. Fourthly, I don't have the kids to pay for and this is a major thing. I can spend my money and time on whatever I want. And lastly, I just seem to have good mojo; things work out for me. One friend told me once that I was 'magic'. For instance, things just worked out that I got another acre of land that I had been wanting for $14 and I didn't even have to ask for it really. There are many more examples but for privacy reasons I can't really say, just take my word for it. I keep hoping this 'magic' will bring me a male partner (notice I did not say husband necessarily) but I think my mojo is broke in that area. Everything works out except for that! Oh well.
Anyway, I don't go around telling people how they need to live or conduct their lives but a lot of people ask me how I manage to do these things, so I will tell them in that case because I realize also that a lot of the things I have accomplished have been through sheer hard work and determination and that is something anyone can do. However, a lot of people don't want to hear that. I pains me to see how that living on borrowed money had become so ingrained in our society that the vast majority of people truly believe there is no other way. You must borrow money or you won't have anything. Now, please believe I do not look down on anyone who has a mortgage. There is nothing wrong with that if it is within your means and that's the way you want to do that. But we must relearn the fact that there is ALWAYS another way to do something. You do not have to keep doing what everyone else does. I wonder what has happened to that American spirit of enterprise and flat out gumption. A construction worker knows, there is ALWAYS a way. To be honest, a lot of it for me is this: I work way too hard for my money to give a big part of it to some filthy rich banker or corporation that wouldn't piss on my head if I were on fire. I work for Annie. That blood running down my arms some days is spilt for me and I am going to keep all of that paycheck I can to spend on things I want. Not make a payment on some CEO's Mercedes.

I also feel stupid babbling on and on about shunning some material possessions in order to focus on people and relationships. Yeah, for all the good that's done me I think sometimes I should have just been blowing my money on wine, men and song, so to speak. I've got nothing to show for all these years of trying very hard to appreciate a good partner. Hell, it's a major event if I go out on a date. I guess if nothing else I can be a warning beacon for those who are fortunate enough to have a mate. Do I sound kinda bitter? Well, sometimes I am, dammit, to be perfectly honest. I am a hell of a good woman and would treat a good man well. It kinda reminds me of the couple that most of us know. You know, the loving young couple that would make wonderful parents but by some sucking twist of fate, can't have kids. While around the corner, folks that literally should be sterilized can breed like rats. You know you've seen people like that and thought the same way. And I don't begrudge good people that have found happiness with someone, honestly I don't. I am very happy for them. I just really wonder sometimes what is wrong with me.

So, I guess that is why I don't write a lot of posts like that. I feel like a fraud on some things. I honestly believe in these things I preach but I realize nothing in my life works like most other people's do, so I wonder if I can really have anything to offer someone else, even advice.

Joy

I got my pantry cabinet today!! Yea!!! I'm so happy. I had to enlist Allen to go pick it up because we are now on 10 hours a day at work so I have virtually no time for such. Anyway, this makes me feel so good. Now when I lose my job I'll have lots to work on here! ha! Speaking of such, they let 3 more of our superintendents go yesterday. I think we are in the final downward spiral.
But on to happy things. These cabinets are maple and yes, there is no finish on them. I'll do that myself so I can use as natural a finish as I can. Not sure exactly what I am going to use. I am very pleased with the quality of these and they were made by a local craftsman. Lowe's couldn't even get in the same ballpark on price or quality. I am also going to pour concrete countertops for all my kitchen cabinets.
The sides are meant to be open; I like open shelves and very minimal styling. And now I can put the flooring down!! Yea!!!

The only thing is I may have some trouble convincing you-know-who that these are not meant for a perfect little hidey-hole.
Well, work was hot today. I think it was 100 degrees actual temperature today with the heat index about 110 or so. It's been that way for several days here. I got to weld all day out in the sun too and when I weld I have to wear two shirts to protect myself from the radiation. One t-shirt and a long sleeve denim over that. Plus big leather gloves and a welding hood. Amazingly, it didn't bother me that much. That is how acclimated to heat I am I guess. I mean, I was hot but I didn't feel bad. However, since I welded galvanized steel I did drink some milk when I got home in an effort to not get the fever that you can get from inhaling the fumes off that stuff. I was tasting the telltale sweetness in the back of my throat by the end of the day. I did have a little wind that helped me out with ventilation also.
I'm tired though so I'm off to bed.


*Lucinda Williams