Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

In the last month, the Texas Gulf coast has had Hurricane Dolly hit our lower coast and Tropical Storm Edouard hit our upper coast. These storms really get our attention after Hurricane Rita ripped through the upper Texas coast three years ago. But Dolly and Edouard just left us with needed rain. My grass was starting to die and Edouard gave the grass a life saving breather. Luke cut the grass today. The first time in about 7 weeks. While Luke was having fun on my mower, I was slaving away with my weed eater. First time I cranked it up all summer. It has been dry!

Allstate came out and gave me an estimate on the water damage from Luke's water polo tryouts. It was way more than I expected, but not much after my $500 deductible was taken out. I already have new carpet pad and trim. Now just to find the time to install it. Then I can take the dollars from the insurance settlement and get concrete poured in half of the barn. I have been stagnant while trying to figure out if I want to continue finishing the barn or wait for the concrete. Actually I haven't had the time to do any barn work. So everything happens for a reason. God's will is very mysterious!

Okay, the pills for stressed out nerves did not work. I stopped taking them after becoming physically clumsy. I have been having good days and sick days, but made it back to work without getting sick or weak. I finally was referred to a specialist. He took me off of the diarrhea medicine I was taking and prescribed pills for stomach cramps. He also told me what I was dreading to hear..............."I think we will schedule you for a colonoscopy". I have had one before and I am not looking forward to it. The procedure is not that bad, but the prep the night before is murder.

I have an ad to sale Dad's generator in the American Classified want ads out of Bryan, Texas for a 4 week run. But with 10 days into the ad, nobody has inquired about buying it. Maybe my neighbors will buy it if I lower the sales price. I had planned on taking the log slicer over to let Top Flight Equipment get it running, but they had a two week back log in service. So I decided to remove the carburetor and take it apart myself and clean it. I had to order a few parts and waited a week for them to come in. In the meantime, I got sick again and didn't get a chance to tear apart the carburetor, let alone get it back on the engine! Guess I might take it to Top Flight after all. I did manage to change out the 2x6 ramps on the lawnmower trailer and replace them with treated 2x12s. Now the turn and stop lights are protected by the ramp when loading or unloading equipment. As for the Troybilt tiller, I haven't touched it. They are all still out in the barn, chained together, taking up space.

I sold Mom and Dad's furniture at a bulk lot right out of the storage space to a used furniture salesman. We didn't get near what the furniture was worth, but we have no storage fees to worry about now. We have a few antiques in the house and Mom and Dad's couch that I might try to sell, but with the economy in the tank, it just might take a while. Rebecca is coming up this next weekend. She will take the furniture we brought back with us while moving her into a smaller apartment back to her Mawmaw's house in East Texas. One of the armchairs she will take back is an antique gold brocade with tacks around wooden arm trim. The guy we sold most of the furniture to told us that it might fetch $250 in Houston. But it isn't mine to sell, but my ex Mother-in-law's. Oh well, it sure looks nice in my living room for another week. I did manage to get a few minutes on the Mahindra, but it was only to move my gooseneck trailer in and out of the barn. Hopefully next weekend I can get back on her and rack up a lot of seat time after her 250 hour inspection.

As the weeks go by, Buttons is more or less starting to show some of his unique personality traits. He is a lover, not a fighter. He is always following his new girlfriend, Phoebe, around. They never sleep together in the cage, but I can always find them intertwined in my Grandma's antique dresser bottom drawer. When Phoebe takes a nap and Buttons isn't tired, he hangs around my feet while I am busy in my bathroom or bedroom. He still hasn't taken a liking to raisins and may never even eat a raisin. He doesn't touch his favorite pillow that came here with him. Most importantly, he has learned that ferrets play rough and cuts Phoebe no quarter.

My birthday present finally came in. I ordered it back on July 11th. and picked it up last Friday. Three days short of a month. That is a big difference of what the salesman told me of 10 days to two weeks. What I ordered is a Ruger Light Compact Pistol (LCP) in .380 auto. It is a small pistol that only weighs 11 ounces empty. This little Ruger is selling like hotcakes. I will wear it strapped to my thigh when I wear long skirts or gowns that totally clash with my large pistol purse that is about the size of a saddlebag. It really is a big purse and my Kimber (along with cosmetics and other necessities) really weighs it down. Now I will have protection even in a skimpy evening gown.

Well, I am tired now, so I guess I will go get ready for bed. Stop in later to hear what is happening with Brandi, Booger, and the Big Red Beast. I did manage to upload a few more photos. You can view them here.

hugs, Brandi