Listening to the Voices in My Head

Took down the pool (finally) and got it and the cover partially cleaned. Have to turn it over and hose out the inside of it now. Today has been the only day both of us have been home and have had a clear/no rain day at the same time. I have told Aikidomayland that if we can't patch the itty bitty leak in it with the vinyl patch kit, I will be getting a new one before summer sets it, but maybe a slightly smaller one this time.

Alan knows I over did it today. The lower ribs on my back are really getting pulled down to the hip, and my back is spasming. I have had two small glasses of Semillion Chardonnay and the ribs are loosening a bit. Still difficult to draw a deep breath, as the ribs are locked.

As for getting the rest of the back yard cleared out, I am going to hire a handyman. I can't keep up with it, and Aikidomayland is no help, not really. He means well, but he is so citified he cringes at the thought of dirt. *sigh*

Well, the ac is up and running. Much easier to deal with 39.1c (103f), even on a muggy day. Cooled and humid beats hot and humid hands down.

But (you know that was coming, right?) the duct tape patch on the pool gave out. Alan spotted in early, so we tried to fix it again, but didn't have very good results. I put my brain into McGuyver gear, and came up with this: I put a kitchen utensil suction cup (the kind you use to hang things on the fridge) and placed it on the inside of the pool where the leak was. Ta da!

When it's time to take the pool down, and put it away, I will put a proper patch on it. I will get some water bed patches for it, as I think those would hold longer.

After one night after cleaning the filter cartridge and of increased aeration the pool is free of mosquito larvae. I waded through the pool with the sieve making random scoops in the water and found none.

Go me.

I came in, did a quick rinse down, and washed my hair.

Then, I had the urge for a drink. I decided to try one of my birthday presents from Delicious Irony. Crystal, Served over ice, as suggested.

Oh my my my. Sweet, without being too cloying, with a lovely after taste of honey. Almost like a fine aged honey mead.

A few days after Christmas/Yule there was a power outtage. The On/Off/On/Off variety, and then our 3 yr old stove top stopped working. We called where we got it, and got the 'brand of appliance appropriate' electrician out here to check it. Turns out the power surges fried one of the switches, and popped the fuse in the breaker. One of the other switches was making funny fizzing noises, so we got that one replaced as well, rather than have him come back out in a few months time to fix that one.

The pool water was a bit cloudy, more than likely a calcium build up. So, I got my old bath brush, and a siphon hose. I used the water in the pool to clean it with the brush, and then used the siphon hose to pull out the dirt that settled in the botton. I also drained about half the pool water out (10 watering cans I lugged to use it on the garden, potted plants/trees, and the orange tree). I cleaned the water filter, and then refilled the pool. Added bleach to, waited 1 hour, and got it. Blessed relief again. Back pain has vamoosed again. Has been gone for (looks at the clock) six hours and counting.

I think I am going to try to figure out a way to keep the water warm during what passes for winter down here.

Put the "Simba training" into practice for the first time today. He went after Ziggy, he got locked in the bathroom for 5 minutes. You should have heard his yowling! You would have thought he was being tortured!