Better Left Unopened

So, I think I’ve opened up a can of worms! No, not literally. I’m not going fishing! The can of worms, I’m referring to is the home maintenance one of repair and beautification, something I’ve neglected in recent years.

If you read last week's post, you may remember that I spent the previous week, my vacation, painting my house. That has resulted in the realization that I really needed to catch up on some other long overdue projects. And these projects are all related, entangled together with each one leading to two or three more. Thus, my analogy of the can of worms. I start one project and soon have a list of others.

I’ve replaced the back door; installed one with a window so we can see out onto the deck, which needs a few minor repairs and treated, along with the cedar fence. I’ve repaired the door on one of my sheds, so it actually closes properly! I’ve replaced the front entryway carpet, which was completely worn out. There was only a thin piece of carpet to cut out around the edge before the new carpet could be cut and installed. I’ve sealed up cracks in the driveway. I cut some new trim boards, and attached them, painted the front door, repaired the gate, and... well, I think you get the picture. Can you see all the worms?

The good news is, only so many worms will fit in a can. Problem is, I’m not sure what size can I’m dealing with. I should know since I’m the one who opened it! But no.

What I do know is I’ve now spent more than two weeks working on my house and not getting much else done. (Maybe I should have left the can closed). But the house is looking nice so at least I have something to show for my effort. And, I think I’m almost done! Thinking can sometimes lead to trouble though! Could be opening a whole new can of worms! ~

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook and paperback on iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords, or at www.bruceabordersbooks.weebly.com. Amazon Profile - http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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The Vacation Cover Up

After sixteen years, I decided it was time to paint my house. Way past time. Paint isn’t really supposed to last that long. The house didn’t actually look that bad—until you actually looked at it!

But I was sort of dreading the job. Typically, painting requires much more than simply painting. First, everything needs to be cleared away from the house. In my case, this meant cutting the twenty-two rose bushes, getting rid of the weeds, and cleaning all the junk stored in partially hidden areas. Then, all the dirt has to be cleaned, loose paint scraped off, any minor repairs taken care of, and all the cracks caulked.

Once primer has been applied to the bare wood areas, it should be time to paint. But what color, or colors? Should it be left the same? Modified slightly? Or, should the color scheme be changed entirely? If it’s changed what color should it be? What color for the trim? There are literally thousands of ready-made color sets, as a trip to any paint store will attest. And, if the colors they have aren’t enough, they’ll gladly mix any color you want.

Decisions. Decisions.

Ah, but in my case, this was the easy part, I let my wife decide; with only a couple of conditions—no pink and no green. (I didn’t really have to worry that much, I doubt she would want a pink house and she doesn’t like most greens either). I figured my strategy would give me plenty of time to prep the house and allow me to put off painting for a month or so. But no. Within a week, she had decided. The house would be Commuter Grey, which is actually a dark blue with a slight hint of purple, and the trim would be Fluffy Biscuit, a yellowish creamy color that looks just like the light golden color on the top of a biscuit. Makes me hungry just looking at it.

So, last week, on my stay-at-home vacation, I spent most of my time outside painting. Never realized how big of a house we have. It doesn’t really seem that big from the inside. Of course, that could be due to all of my stuff—or, junk as my wife calls it.

It was a great vacation project. I needed something to do anyway! And the weather was awesome; plenty of sunshine, temperatures in the hundreds, and no rain! Yes, it was a little hot but it is August! Besides, painting in the summer can be cool—if you find the right shade.

I’m happy with the way the it turned out, it looks like a new house. And although painting is a lot of work, I had fun doing it. And now I should be good for another sixteen years, right? Maybe not. But for the moment, the job is finished. Which is good because I have other things to do—like go have a biscuit, a fluffy one. ~

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook and paperback on iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords, or at www.bruceabordersbooks.weebly.com. Amazon Profile - http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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Tired Of Flats

It’s only logical that a truck driver is probably going to have more flat tires, and/or blowouts, than the average person. More tires plus more miles equals more flats. As the saying goes, “It goes with the territory.” And since I drive a truck with twenty-four tires instead of the usual eighteen, I’m more apt to have a flat than even the normal truck driver. I know this, and am used to it. It’s just part of the job. Summer is the worst time; weak tires do not fare well in the heat.

But this year, I’ve been sort of lucky. Down time due to flats has been pretty low—I’ve only had one. Until the week before last.

On Wednesday, I’d gone less than thirty miles when one of my drive tires decided that 14.7 psi was enough pressure. It wasn’t as it turns out. But, I drove on to the tire shop and got it fixed, losing only an hour. Not too bad.

The next day, I made it a little further. In fact, I was almost done with my run when a drop axle tire blew. That was an easy fix, though. There were no scales to cross and it was dark so I just lifted the axle and continued on my way. Wasn’t even five minutes late. So far, so good, right?

Then came Friday. I was sent to a terminal pick up a loaded trailer and when I got there, I discovered not one, not two, and not even three or four, but five, yes, five flat tires. Since it was the only loaded trailer there, I had to wait while they all were fixed or replaced. A two hour delay, on a Friday night was rather discouraging. That two hours was cutting into my weekend. Five flats on one trailer? That is a little ridiculous.

I’m usually in a pretty upbeat mood when I know I have two days off coming up so, the wasted time left me a little deflated. Think I’m ready for a vacation to roll around. After a week of flats, seven of them, this truck driver is tired. ~

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook and paperback on iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords, or at www.bruceabordersbooks.weebly.com. Amazon Profile - http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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Just Rambling

Did something this past week that I haven’t done in a long time—spent the night at my parents’ house. Of course I have been to their house many times since moving out years ago but this seemed different. Maybe because my wife wasn’t there.

My dad is building a garage, and since he’s getting close to one hundred years old, I thought he could use a little help. Oh, there I go exaggerating again. He’s not really that close to one hundred, but he is a lot closer than I am! And some days I feel like I could be one hundred years old so you can see where I might become a little confused. Or, not.

Anyway, my dad is building a garage. I’ve been helping here and there. Just how much help I’ve been is questionable, I’m a truck driver who is definitely no longer accustomed to manual labor.

Last Friday night, I got off work and since my parents live in the town where I work, instead of driving an hour home and then an hour back, I just went to their house to sleep for a while before we got started. It was a little odd, just me, by myself, staying at their house. I was hoping I didn’t wake up and think I was a kid again. Although, that might be fun; just for a day, to pretend that I have no responsibilities, no worries, and no problems. My whole future ahead of me!

But then, now that I think about it, being a kid again may not be that much fun. I think I would miss my wife, kids, and grandkids—and several other things I take for granted. I wouldn’t be able to drive, make my own decisions, write books, or a lot of other things. While I wouldn’t have to go to work at a job (Yay!), I’m sure—based on past experience—my father would have something for me to do! Like help build a garage! It seems some things do not change with time.

Not sure what the point of this blog is. Not entirely sure I had a point. We put the roof on the garage on Saturday and I may have stayed out in the sun too long. Perhaps I’m a bit delirious. After all, it’s August and that means it was hot! But we did have a good time. Nobody fell off the roof or got hurt. Everything went well and the garage is almost done! Yes, it was a good day. A productive day. It was also a tiring day. Did I mention I’m a lazy truck driver?

And now, it’s Sunday night. I’m still recuperating. My legs, ankles, and knees were not meant to spend that much time on a roof. Think, I’ll try to get a little more sleep tonight than normal. I might need the rest—we’re pouring concrete tomorrow! ~

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook and paperback on iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords, or at www.bruceabordersbooks.weebly.com. Amazon Profile - http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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So Not Me

As I’ve previously stated in posts on this blog, and elsewhere, I’m a do it myself kind of person. I don’t hire things done if I can help it. Can’t see paying someone to do what I can just as easily do myself. If I don’t know how to do it, I’ll learn.

But among the things that I do NOT do, is sew. Not really my thing. I have no doubt I could if I needed to, it might not look pretty but, I could do it. So far, I’ve never needed to and there’s a good reason for that; my wife is quite proficient in the art of sewing. As I’ve mentioned before she makes dresses, fancy ones, shirts and, well, almost anything. She loves to sew.

She has, not one, but two, sewing machines and keeps them both busy. Not at the same time, of course, although... that might not be true. Quite often they are both setting out on the table, plugged in, light on, and threaded—obviously being used. Just because I’ve never actually seen her run them both at the same time doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t happen. Oops! Off on a side trail again! See why I don’t sew? I get sidetracked too easily. I’d never get anything done. Back to my story now.

Where was I? Oh yes, my wife has two machines. It’s my job to keep them running. So see, I do get involved in the process. However, sometimes I think she “breaks” them just to give me something to do. Really! How often can a sewing machine break anyway?

As I was saying (again), my wife loves to sew. One of her favorite things to make is quilts. And she makes a lot of them— a hundred or so already this year. Okay I might have exaggerated that number slightly. But she does make a lot; I think around thirty or better is a closer estimate for the current year. You’d think then, that we’d have plenty of quilts in our house, right? But no, most of them are given away, sometimes before I even get to see them. (This, after all my hard work in keeping the sewing machines going). Lately though, she has taken to posting them to Facebook, so I at least get to see a picture!

This past week, she was once again on a bit of a sewing kick. Binge sewing. I think it’s some sort of therapy or something—just not sure exactly what it’s supposed to cure. In the case of quilts, perhaps it’s meant to cure the cold—not the sickness, the temperature. There is a bit of irony in that, considering it was 114 degrees outside this week. But then, I guess that may be proof her efforts are paying off!

I’ve included a few pictures below so you can see her handiwork—or, quilt work, I guess it would be called.

Okay, time to wrap up this post. My wife is sleeping and I’ve got to see if I can snag another one of those quilts before they all disappear. Winter is coming; I might need to stay warm, and as I said, I don’t sew. ~

 Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook and paperback on iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords, or at www.bruceabordersbooks.weebly.com. Amazon Profile - http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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