Taken at Mark's plant in Caspian on Monday

August 27, 2013 – Tuesday

70 degrees/rain/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I lay in bed earlier this morning listening to the rain striking the metal roof directly overhead. Between the steady beat of the rain, the hum of the air conditioner, and the repeating rhythm of the oscillating fan, the noises that usually lull me to sleep were keeping me awake. I gave up at 4:30 and came downstairs.

If only I could keep my mind from awakening. Once it cranks up for the day, I’m finished.

The majority of Monday was spent working on and uploading this coming semester’s classes. I’m happy to say both are finished and ready for the start of a new school year.

It took over two weeks to complete the syllabi a year ago. I did the same amount of work in four hours on Monday. You can’t beat experience.

I hopped aboard the four-wheeler and went to the lumberyard to purchase a piece of trim for the bathroom window. It felt good to finally get it cut and tacked into place later in the afternoon. Mark had some problems on Sunday with that particular cut and I experienced the same yesterday.

My miter box is a relic. Made from wood, it was Dad’s and he inherited it from one of my grandpas. The grooves are worn and when used, the cuts are sloppy. One of the angles in the window trim wasn’t quite right, so when the adjoining piece was cut, it was always an 8^th of a inch short. Yesterday, I cut an angle of 48 degrees rather than 45 and it fit perfectly.  Other than staining and painting, I can cross the new bathroom window project off my list.

Uncle Terry and Aunt Sue are coming for a visit later next week. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year. Uncle Terry says he’s going to paint the kitchen cabinets. Formally a professional house painter, he claims to actually loves painting. Personally, I think the man is sick. I’ve had root canals more enjoyable than most times I’ve painted. Sargie and I are looking forward to their visit and catching up on all the news. When we’re together, the four of us don’t run out material to talk about, that’s for sure!

Terry says I need to rough up the gloss on the cabinets by lightly sanding them. There’s also wallpaper to be removed… arg. I’m beginning to have flashbacks of the upstairs bathroom days. Certain I’m suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, I simply want to find a corner, curl up in the fetal position, and suck my thumb, all the while rocking back and forth and reciting the days of the week. And he finds that sort of thing enjoyable?

Sargie works early today and has a beautician’s appointment this evening. She enjoys talking with her friend, Melissa, while getting re-purtified. <- that’s one of those professorial words that came to me once during a moment of deep thinking.

I’m going to work on Brutus’s doghouse this morning and see if I can’t get the garage and front porch framed in. It’s cool and rainy, a perfect time to play in the shop.

After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…