Basement Lake

Apparently you're not supposed to have a lake under your basement floor.

This is what was left after the dewatering systems guys were here today.

They couldn't find a drain tile so with all the water there either isn't one or if there is they couldn't find it and it's stopped up somewhere. I really don't want them to have to cut up more of the basement floor.

The plan. Get another company to look at the tile or lack thereof situation. The thought is either try to unclog a drain tile if they find it, put in a drain tile, or put in a sump pump.

Calgon Take Me Away

Is today the magic day? Will the water system people come today???

EDIT: Supposedly between 3:30 and 4:00 today!

Movie Reviews

I’m not a big movie watcher—something about the time sitting for a couple of hours even with a Pause button for bathroom breaks and the money that typically leave me thinking I could have used both more valuably. However over the weekend Renae got two movies that although I really had planned to see either left me pleasantly surprised.

I’m also not a big one to read a lot into the meanings of movies. I watch a movie for entertainment, and while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Slumdog Millionaire I was left with the sense of God’s love continually reaching out and seeking us. There was also a strong message of the futility of living one’s life in a self-centered money grabbing way versus looking out for the good of others.

The other was Marley and Me. First, my “allergies” really got to me near the end of the movie, and Renae kept reminding me that I don’t like dogs. Second, I was surprised at how much I liked the movie. Yes, it had some sophomoric humor to it, but it was really nice to see a movie with a message of family first—when marriage and family life gets rough you work through it and adjust to the changes that years bring to a relationship.

Two movies in one weekend; I probably won’t watch another movie for months.

WBB Blues

Talk about depressing--both Oklahoma and Stanford lost in the women's tournament yesterday. No t-shirt for me this year.

If I had a dollar for everyone time I said, "I just don't like UConn" during last night's game, I'd be rich! Just ask Renae.

Saturday

Today was beautiful. The sun shone all day and the temp was in the low 50s--a bit chilly but very nice to be outside.

So Renae and I worked with manure. We went to a horse farm to get the manure to spread on the garden to get it ready for planting in a few weeks. My cousin said horse manure is best for rhubarb so we have high expectations this year.

Random Friday thoughts that I haven't blogged this week

This is not a good time of year to buy fruit. The apples just aren’t as tasty and crisp as in the fall and it seems when I buy a bag there are often a lot of bruises that I don’t see until I get home and pull an apple out of the bag. Grapes are just more expensive and they too aren’t as sweet and good as earlier in the year. Clementines, if available, have gone back up to a price I refuse to pay. Strawberries shipped in from California are usually a nice red, but they just aren’t very sweet. Fresh strawberries are still at least seven weeks away.

Last night I went with Glenn and Renae to her induction in Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honor society. It was fun to see her recognized for her hard work the past four years.

Five weeks after the second rain storm that sent water into my basement, the situation is still not corrected. I’m frustrated and tired of getting water up out of the carpet. This is one reason not to be a condo owner.

Last night before leaving for Renae’s honors dinner, she saw a muskrat in the pond. I got the 22, went out on the deck, put the gun on a tripod, found the muskrat in the crosshairs, and plucked it off with one shot from 50 yards away. I thought I’d get a little love from my niece Jaimie about it, but she didn’t answer her phone. Tonight I have to go out with a shovel to bury it as there wasn’t time last night. Maybe another animal got it during the night so I don’t have to. In Klopfensteinese—it eckles me to pick up a dead muskrat with the shovel.

My company has instituted every other Friday shutdowns which results in a 10% reduction in the paycheck. I’ve been analyzing my budget to cut out fluff. One expense I could cut is the newspaper, but my mother said when I was home, “You were born with a newspaper in your hand.” (She also has said I was born tired, but that’s for another post.) I’ve read the paper almost daily since I can remember. As kids we would all try to see when the paper ladies turned on our street and would race to be the first to get the paper. In college I always made sure I ordered the paper for the year to be delivered to my dorm room—The Greenville News had a rate of $20 for the year at that time!!! One of the first things I’ve done whenever I’ve moved is get the paper started. When I was in Illinois I said I knew my life was ok if I had time to read the paper every day, and it was really good if I got to read the paper and watch Jeopardy. I should probably not get the paper now since the rates went up in late fall and will probably go up again, but the fact is that I like the newspaper. So for now I’ve decided I can keep my house a lot colder now and will keep it warmer in the summer to keep getting the newspaper.

Jayne from handbells. I haven’t mentioned her for awhile so I thought I would today.

So which of my random thoughts interested you?

Thankful Thursday

1. While I'm frustrated that I'm having to buy tires after only 40,000 miles, a tire guy told me the ones on my car usually last only 20-25,000 miles. Glad I've gotten an extra 15,000 miles out of them--good, but safe???
2. Found a new DVD recorder at a garage sale last Saturday for just the amount of money I got at Christmas for one. My old one got fried by a thunderstorm last summer.
3. Went to an emergency procedures meeting this morning so if there's a tornado or fire I know how to and where to take cover or evacuate for my safety.
4. John Michael is 12 today!