A Postle Paul Pays a Visit

 

I slept until almost 8am and was convinced that I would wake with a headache. I was on the edge, no doubt, but once I was up and downstairs I felt fine. I opted to pass on taking Advil. Instead, I started some coffee then took to the internet. Looked like a nice start to the day, sunny and about 50 degrees with an expected high around 70.

I played around online until sometime after 9am when I finally readied myself for a run. It had to be about 915am when I headed out the door. Like most Saturday's, I ran three miles. It was an easy run, too. Back at home, Mindy was finally up. We spent some time out back on the deck with the pug. I shared some coffee with Eiknarf then filled the bird feeder with what was left of last year's bird seed.

Mindy had designs on making a run to Sam's Club as well as a few other stops to get snacks and drinks for Jacob's friends-only birthday party later that afternoon. We talked about making the run together and also discussed the possibility of stopping for basement lumber while out. While she headed to the shower, I thought I might run to dad's to pick-up the trailer, but there was a catch. We were expecting the Orkin man between 11a & noon, and it was already 1040am. So instead of going to dad's, I spent the time waiting for Orkin raking the flower beds out front in preparation for flowers and mulch. Unlike year's past, last year's mulch has almost completely decomposed making bed prep that much easier. However, I also took extra care and time late fall cleaning the beds in preparation for winter.

I had the two main beds raked smooth and clean by the time the Orkin man showed up. His name is Greg. Been with Orkin for 17 years. Mindy was out of the shower by then and immediately recognized Greg from her Orkin days in Worthington when she was married to Jimaken. Greg was very animated and asked a lot of questions. One of his first observations and strategies was to pick-up and throw out all the ant bait traps Mindy had placed around the entry doors and favorite hangout spots. Greg said he was afraid that we were actually attracting them with those traps. Said there must be a reason they're coming back.

We agreed to follow his direction. After all, he's the expert. He sprayed inside and out again, only this time using another chemical. He left more confident than I that we won't see anymore and promised to follow-up on Monday to get our feedback. However, he said if we did see more that that is a good indication that they're nesting somewhere in our walls. He checked out the house from the inside and out to see if there was anything obvious. He said the firewood pile just outside the east wall wasn't a factor, at least not for piss ants. If they do return he claims they'll need to deploy a baiting strategy as opposed to the spray and eradicate. Greg was finished by noon.

I spent another 30 minutes or so in the front flower beds loading a few small piles of plant debris into a 5 gallon Home Depot pail and then dumping it in one of my compost piles. Mindy asked if I still wanted to run errands. I changed my mind, sharing that it made more sense for me to stay home and focus on the demolition of the hand rail wall leading down the basement steps. That wall isn't there in the finished basement plans and taking it out now would make it far easier to carry all the lumber, drywall, doors, etc down the stairs. Mindy agreed and left wishing me happy demolition. She also told me not to swear too much. :)

I got started right away. I didn't expect it to take too long. After all, it was just four or five 2X4's and one piece of drywall fully exposed on the back side. I used a hammer, utility knife, and mini crowbar. Took no more than 10 minutes to have the wall down. Took a bit more time to cut the drywall up into bite-sized pieces that would fit into the trash can. But I also took time to remove the nails from the 2X4's, which I'll reuse in the project. Having the wall removed opens up the basement considerably.

After finishing the demolition, I went for a snack and a nap. I snacked on Triscuits topped with good cheese and hot pepper rings. Yum! A short nap was next. I don't think I slept for more than 10 minutes but remained horizontal on the sofa for at least 45 minutes. Felt good. I was up shortly before Mindy got home. She showed me all the goofy stuff she bought for Jacob's friends-only b-day party. I thought she was joking. She bought butterfly nets, bubble makers, bad mitten wickets, and plastic yard balls, all stuff one might expect to find at a 7 year olds party. Said she got it all in part as a joke, but she also was convinced that a lot of the kids would think it was cool, especially the girls. Oh boy! Honey, he's 13!

Paul Postle arrived just as Mindy was unloading her haul. Paul was by to inspect our backflow meter, just as he does each year in late April. It's a bit of a racket that the city requires it to be inspected and repaired if necessary each year. Paul is responsible for sending in the form, too. He's a super guy, and reasonably priced. He wasn't there but maybe 10 minutes tops. I opted to pay him right then rather than have him leave an invoice. I'm sure he appreciates that, not having to worry about hounding customer's for payment. I was especially pleased this year, in that he called me proactively saving me the trouble, though it was on my list of calls to make.

Shortly after Paul left, Mindy asked if I still intended on going after basement lumber. Yes. We quickly got ready to go. I was still in my running clothes and looked like a dirt ball after working in the yard and basement all afternoon. Yuck! No sense showering and changing before getting lumber, though.

We headed to dad's, but not before me giving him a quick call to see if the trailer was there and available. It was. Said he was outside fooling around with his tractor. Mindy got out and greeted dad and Archie while I maneuvered the Pilot in order to attach the trailer. I exited the Pilot with a dog treat in hand. Archie has never been kind to me. but a dog treat in hand seemed to do the trick. We talked with dad for about 10 minutes, him sharing how he got his big tractor stuck in the mud deep in his back yard. He used the Blazer to pull it out. Did it all by himself. Told him he should've called me for help. But that's dad. He never asks for help.

We didn't stick around too long. We needed to get the lumber, get it home and unloaded, and then ready for Jacob's party. We took the back way to Lowe's, up Old Dublin Rd and through The Glen, completely ignorant of the Robert Rd/270 ramp being closed. At Lowes, the framing studs, both regular and treated, are arranged conveniently near the overhead door. When we told the sales associate that we needed 141 I could see the pain in his eyes. He agreed to fetch a forklift and bring it out the overhead door for easy loading into the trailer, though we'd still have to load them into the trailer by hand.

I paid for 141 regular studs and then 8 treated. Not sure what I was thinking, but the plans call for 15 treated studs to serve as the sill plate. I'd have to get the others later. I paid for the entire load without knowing for sure that we could get all of them into the trailer. But by eyeball alone, I knew it was going to be close.

Mindy and I guided the studs into the trailer while Frank held them on the forklift at the rear of the trailer. Didn't take too long. We could only get 110 or so on board without risk of them sliding out. Mindy suggested we try getting the others in the back of the Pilot, but I already knew they wouldn't all fit. I suggested that I would return for what remained, which was somewhere between 30-40. We opted to take Old Dublin Rd home, more because the trailer lights weren't working. The short wire harness won't reach the Pilot's trailer light socket.

As soon as we rounded the bend at Old Dublin Rd and Scioto Darby traffic was at a complete standstill. It was then that I remembered that the Roberts Rd entrance and exit ramps were to be closed all weekend. Took 15 minutes to go the next 1/2 mile. Ugh! At home I asked Mindy to back the Accord onto the street and along the curb so I could back the trailer and Pilot into the driveway. We then propped open the glass storm door and carried the 100+ studs to the basement. I had a spot already ready for them.

Mindy carried two at a time; I carried three. Monotonous work to say the least, and tiring too. I worked up a good sweat and so did Mindy. I was very pleased to have her help. It would've been several more trips by myself. After emptying the trailer, I wasted no time heading back to Lowes to get the rest of our lumber. Mindy opted to stay home and prepare for Jacob's party. It was about 4pm.

This time I took Wilson to Roberts to Old Dublin avoiding the bumpiest part of Old Dublin between Roberts and Trabue. Dad's trailer bounces all over that part of the road, which is that way from all the concrete trucks that traverse that portion of the road on a daily basis. While at Lowes, I purchased the 7 additional treated studs we'd need along with the Tap-Con screws needed to secure the sill plate to the concrete floor. While in the checkout line I ran into my pal Tom Clark there buying some heating & cooling supplies.

Frank helped me load the rest of my studs and then I chatted with Tom just outside the overhead doors. Tom and I talked for about 20 minutes. Invited him to meet Mindy and I at Barley's later, after Jacob's friends-only birthday party. I called Mindy in route to home sharing that I ran into Tom. She said I needed to hurry home if I wanted her help carrying in the remaining studs. Time was fleeting. This time I took Fishinger to Riverside avoiding the 270 bypass on Old Dublin Rd all together. Smart move! Made excellent time, though I was a little worried about driving down Riverside Dr and not having trailer lights.

Jimaken was already at the house with the kids. He helped Mindy and I carry about 40 2X4's to the basement. Thanks Jim! After pulling the empty trailer alongside the curb, I headed for a shower. I had to be smelling more than ripe. Shower felt terrific. By then it was near 545p. Jacob's friends were set to arrive at 6pm. And actually, a couple kids arrived early. Several boys showed up over the next 20 minutes. Jacob's girlfriend, Lauren showed up around 615p. She quickly shared that her mom wanted to come in. Mindy headed out to talk with her. I waved from the door.

All the kids headed out back to the treehouse and swings. It wasn't too long before Papa John's showed up with 9 pizzas. Jimaken suggested that we would likely be stuck with lots of leftover pizza because kids tend not to eat much when hanging at a party with a mixed crowd of girls and boys. His hunch was correct. Mindy let the kids know that pizza was available but few seemed to care or take any interest.

About halfway through the 2 hour long party, Mindy took some of the party favors she bought earlier out to the deck. Jacob was beside himself and tried to collect them all and toss 'em aside. But as Mindy suggested, the girls seemed to enjoy the bubble makers. In fact, later, some of the bigger kids used the butterfly nets to try and catch frogs from the pond. Aside from Jacob, the party favors seemed to be a success.

Mindy walked pizza out to the treehouse. The kids seemed more apt to eat it up when hand delivered. A few minutes later Mindy called all the kids inside to sing happy birthday and have brownies. Jacob was understandably a little embarrassed. By then it was 725pm. Jacob opened his cards and gifts next. During all the excitement I slipped off to our bedroom for a quick nap. Felt good. I watched a few minutes of the Yogi Bear movie from bed. Funny!

By the time I was back downstairs all the kids were gone save for A.J., who is one of Jacob's neighborhood friends and the son of a guy i went to high school with (Pat McMasters). It was 820pm. Mindy somewhat hurried Jimaken and the kids along. They were heading back to Jimaken's place. We in turn were heading to Barley's to meet Tom Clark for a beer or two. Jimaken and the kids left at 830pm. Mindy sent A.J. home with an entire pizza. Even then, we had two more left for home.

Mindy & I left for Barley's as soon as the others left. Somewhat surprising, the lot was sparsely attended. In fact, there are often more cars there on a Monday than there were on this occasion. We bellied up to the bar where we both ordered a Hoptopus. Mindy planned to have just one. She said wasn't hungry either. Tom Clark showed up about 15-20 minutes later. I moved down one stool to make room for Tom to sit between us. I ordered K.C.wings and a second beer, this time a Indie Pale Ale. Tom ordered food and beer, too, the Saturday brisket special and a Bud Light.

Tom woofed down the brisket and then ordered 10 wings just like me. Said he would eat just a couple and then take the rest home. However, he ended up eating all of them. Like Mindy, I was tired. Not only did we stay up late the night before, but we worked hard all day Saturday, too. We settled our tab and headed for home around 1015pm. Before pulling away, Tom offered help with the basement finishing project.

At home Mindy quickly headed to bed. I promised to be up shortly. I thought about having another beer but changed my mind. I watched the end of last week's Saturday Night Live episode which airs just before the late news and before the current week's episode. I got to see the last few minutes, that's it. I joined Mindy in bed around 11p.