Moving back into the barn and shop on Saturday

June 23, 2013 – Sunday

61 degrees/fog/light breeze

Pentoga Road

I’ve been reading Xinhua, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/home.htmChina’s international English newspaper and comparing stories with those written in the U.S. and European newspapers. One would hardly know they are the same.

As biased as our media has become, I try to read print from various sources hoping I might get a real insight into the truth, but I’m not sure that’s possible any longer.

When I lived north of the Arctic Circle, I listened to a Russian English language broadcast and was amazed how they perceived the United States. Just as we’ve been quick to blame Russia for everything from nuclear proliferation to having a bad hair day, they do the same. I suspect that somewhere out there, in the middle, is the real truth. Unfortunately, none of us will probably ever know what it is.

Saturday was a workday on Pentoga Road. I went to town first thing and was home by 9 AM. After, I spent the majority of the day moving items from the garage back into the barn. It’s difficult to write about moving saws, tools, nuts, and bolts. There simply aren’t words that can describe the boring repetition of loading and unloading.

I need to reinforce my woodbin this morning and get it moved, then I can finish emptying the garage. As excited as I was to get a new garage and barn floor, I’m equally as excited to get everything done. It’s been a process.

The weather cleared long enough that I was able to mow the yard. Assuming I might be incapacitated for a few days, I won’t have to worry about that chore.

Sargie was home early last night and after walking around the yard for a bit, we spent a quiet evening indoors. We talked about driving over and visiting with Mark and Sheri who are camping about twenty-five miles away, but my knee was throbbing and Sargie’d been working all day. We begged off and stayed home. I was all done in.

I finally used the new Craftsman bionic wrenches Sargie got me for Father's Day. They work like a charm. Here I'm tightening the vice on the work bench from underneath.

I was in bed by 9 and immediately fell into a restless sleep. I couldn’t get comfortable and woke around midnight, initially thankful that morning had arrived, then disappointed to find the night had barely begun. The early morning hours were filled with tossing and turning.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s procedure. I’m eager to get that piece of cartilage, obviously caught crossways somewhere in the knee, removed. It’s not only a pain in my knee, it’s getting to be a bigger pain in my backside. These last five weeks have been long ones.

Since we have to be at the hospital by 6 AM and it’s an hour’s drive, I doubt there’ll be an entry on Monday. On the other hand, if I sleep as poorly Sunday night as I did on Saturday, I may get up and write. It’ll help to pass the hours.

But first, there’s today. I want to finish moving the barn items from the garage. Sargie’s going to give me a haircut. The air conditioners need to be carried up from the basement and installed. An apple tree needs staking. There are assignments to read and grades to assign; lots to do before tomorrow arrives.

A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Maybe I should have had a sale and started over. It might have been easier.