Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Tuesday Long Stone

2 things. I put paragraphs in this & the computer keeps taking them out. I forget the 2nd thing.
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How did you spend your Tuesday? [ this may be too long but the ending is a beaut ]. Hope you can stay tuned for that part.


Before I begin - first thing I heard on the radio was the reminder that this date was the anniversary of Kennedy getting shot.  Where were you?  I was in class in Sudan - teaching band.  A kid came in between classes and said something - which I "poo-pooed" as nonsense. I was wrong. Someday I shall bring this subject back up. Weird week that was.


1. Let's start with #1. Morning is too light compared with night since we had the time change. The sun streams into my bedroom making it difficult to slumber. it has nothing to do with the dogs barking or the wife taking a shower right next door; it is the streaming sun. Shine Baby Shine.


Last winter lovely daughter Christine knitted me a stocking cap for winter. I keep it in a drawer by my bed - next to the gun and torn T-shirts. When it got cold last winter, I slept with the knitted cap pulled way down over my ears. It was a live saver since the wife has this thing about reducing temperature in the house at night in the winter (or for that matter raising temperature in the house at night in the summer - but no stocking cap need for that - just a sponge and a towel).


It came to me this morning at 7 a.m. - pull the cap down over your eyes. I did. Slept till 8:15 when above mentioned spouse opened door and suggested it was time to join the world. I struggled into the kitchen; had my traditional bowl of Grape Nuts and fake sugar; and crawled back into the bath area for an early morning dip.


2. Out at 8:59, I turned on Live with Kelly (formerly Live with Regis and Kelly) and her guest host for the week, Jerry Seinfeld. I did not want to miss today because Jerry was bringing his new dachshund Puppy "Jose" (named after a NY Met baseball player) to the show. Eventually it was introduced, a long hair black and tan. Gads it was cute as it ran across the stage to leave. Jerry's wife waited in the wings to scoop it up. Doxies have a recognizable stride when they walk fast. So very cute.


3. All of our dogs were corralled into a play area-holding pen as the spouse and I made our way through the front door. We left.


4. First Stop: You won't be able to tell it here - but as I type - it is 5:15 pm. Our dog Fritz needs to eat before his stomach takes over the Continent. When I return, it will be after Church choir practice (Tues instead of Wed because of Thanksgiving - stay tuned, I promise an exciting exit to this trip.)


5. Home from church (had to do some major stuff here and at town) so it is 10 p.m.


6. Where was I? Ah, I remember. We put dogs in the cage and headed to our motorhome. Now I don't talk much about the motorhome cause I just don't like to. But in this case... When we moved here, we put it on a lot attached to a bunch of storage units. When it rained, we sank in the mud. It was bad. I would put boards under the tires and on and on an on. It was bad.


South of town on I-45 there is a guy who sells mostly travel trailers and does RV repair work. I needed some stuff done & talked to him. He fixed my stuff fine. Noticing he had an enormous lot with nothing on it, I asked if I could park the M.H. on his paved lot for the same $$ as the mud pit. He liked the idea. We moved in.


Our neighbors have a 5th wheel. They told us about a place where they leave it - covered space. Three, maybe four months ago, I dropped by the place and was told they had no empty spaces and all tenants were paid up for a year.   Left my name and number.    Wife goes by there on Monday coming home from the grocery store (had to buy for Thanksgiving)(another stone in that). The guy said, "We have a space." She whipped out that checkbook and we were tenants.


That's what we were doing. Moved the M.H. to the covered space. In the process I had to tell the Camper Depot that we were leaving. It sorta broke my heart cause I really like him. He sends me political emails. We bond.


7. Parking over - we head to town. Not that I would want to talk ugly about anyone - but, I will. My wife, bless her heart, called on Monday and made a Dentist appt. for me on Tues. to get teeth cleaned. I did not approve. I went. Had a lovely time with the girl cleaner and the dentist. It was okay and over. Headed home.


8. Walked in the house; some dog had torn into a dog cushion and green stuffing was everywhere. sigh. Outside they went.


Got home - dogs out - cleaned up green stuffing off floor - phone had a message - listened to message - it was the septic system repair guy - called him back - (Chad) he'd be here after he finishes present job - nice guy, younger, loves Texas Tech - we have things to equally complain about - and so forth.


Back to septic system in a moment. The wife bought one of those biscuit shaped packages-things at the store which, when popped open, revealed an uncooked pizza dough. She fixed up a pepperoni pizza which was actually quite good. The dough worked fine. I believe it will become a part of our staple food items.


Septic History: The guy who installed it - went away. We couldn't find him if we wanted - then, we hear. The guy has liver cancer. He died. Now, we really can't find him. His installation was less than pristine. He passed all tests and county / lake rules. The system works. One day on the other side of the back fence, there was water on the ground.  I called a bunch of people until  !!!!!    Finally found Chad to come fix it. Chad works for his father and repairs systems. He did a good job for us and I was happy.


About 9 months later, more water coming up. "Hello Chad." He came out and fixed the leak - this time he brought a guy to help dig the hole. I like Chad. Does good fast work and doesn't stick it to me $$.


Over 2 months ago, before we had any rain and the ground was hard as a rock from being dry. I noticed wet ground in the same general place. The problem had returned. I ignored it.   One month passed, still moisture. Second month passed, new moisture. We had a couple of rains. Last week the water was running not only in my yard but into the neighbor's. It is not good to let your septic system drip into the neighbor's yard. Called Chad.


So Chad shows up and we go back to the place. Dig, look, dig, look, dig, look - water seeps up. Chad thinks this doesn't make sense. We go to the main septic unit. For those who don't know, the septic system has an enormous concrete tank divided into 3 big sections. It could hold about 1500 gallons. One part collects the stuff, the next section puts air into the goop to clean it, the third section collects the cleaned water and empties into little plastic lines that are located under my entire back yard.


Chad took the green top dome off the tank and pulled the pump out to study. It was covered in dirt....mud really. This is not right. That third tank - according to the manufacturing folks - that third tank contains water good enough to drink. Wrong, in my opinion.   { Remember 1500 gallons }.   Let me finish this. The concrete tank has a vertical crack which is letting in dirt. The dirt is pumped out into the yard and has plugged up the lines. He says I probably will need new lines - his father will come out and survey it next week. In addition, the tank will be pumped out and a concrete sealer will be put over the crack. We are talking money here.


But now the kicker. We are sitting there talking worse case senarios. It dawns on me to pick up the green cover and put over the hole. We talk. Out of the corner of my eye I see a brown dachshund walk over and step on the cover. It flips and the dog goes straight down into the tank.


All I could see was a tiny head above water and little feet paddling. I reached. Chad reached. Chad's arm makes contact with the water and the electrical connection. He got shocked. I frankly don't know how bad. I could not reach the dog. Finally, I laid down and stuck my entire shoulder down into that system and touched his head. He swam away. I reached two more times. The last time I felt his nose and grabbed it.


Doxies have long noses. This is where you can say, "Thank the Lord." I pulled on that nose and grabbed for his collar. It was like Lord of the Rings trying to reach Frodo. A finger went under the collar. I pulled straight up. The boy was pulled straight up out of the water by his neck collar. I was afraid the collar would come up over his head - long noses, small heads, big collars.


It didn't. I lifted him straight up and got my other hand on him. I flipped him to the ground and yelled "STAY !!!" That dog didn't move. I picked up that sewer soaked fully covered in goop puppy by both hands around his chest and up against my body and headed for the house. I climbed those back stairs and stopped. My heart was firing on 375 horses. . . it was pounding.


I yelled into the house. BJ met me and we took the dog to the bathtub. She started washing and washing. The dog shook spraying the wife. It was terrible. I am so sure she would have another way to describe it. The puppy was just scared to death. He didn't move other than to shake.


At this point, I pause. For those who have met my brown bombers, guess which dog went into the septic tank. Go ahead and guess.


Yes, from the time he fell in - I was yelling at Oscar. I carried him in yelling at Oscar. When he hit the tub and water was applied - it was NOT Oscar - it was the sweetheart, scared loveable, so wonderful Bruno. This dog will not enter a room without an engraved invitation. He is so polite. Bruno, went into the tank. And, Bruno now knows how to swim.


This whole thing has just devastated me. All of the "What ifs."    I was ready to jump into the tank after him. Can you imagine? We were all so lucky. It bothers me to just talk about it. Later I sat in my chair and just held him, talking softly into his floppy ear. He laid on my stomach looking into my eyes. I do not know if Bruno truly understands how close he came tonight. And, sweet Chad, may have come extremely close too. Electricity and water are not friends.


So I close. May you and all of yours and all of your puppies be fine and healthy for many years to come.


G'night.  Mtz


mtz

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