Awake: 5:56am Temp 51 sleep 6+02 fog then sunny overnight @ Nicktown.
K & I motored to Indiana, PA with a stop @ Corte Masonry Supplies for (3) bags of 2-b stone. After loading the gravel in our Suzuki, we visited the Foote boys & Melissa for (3) hrs.
Melissa asked if I would repair a (50) foot string of Christmas lights that had several wires cut & crudely tied together; @ this time, she didn't need to have all the small bulbs checked, just the major glitches. So I rounded up my junior electrical helper, Matthew, & we spent most of our time in the basement; 1st, untangling the lights, then locating the cut wires, then the soldering, followed by wrapping the fix with electrical tape. I fully expected to see the light after plugging in the strand...but nothing, nothing @ all!
My junior assistant, who has been very accommodating on this project, very much wanted to see that string of lights glowing. "Alright Matthew, we'll test a few bulbs" I told him, but "I have a feeling there may be more bulbs that need replacing then your mother has available."
We didn't get very far; the tester VTVM (vacuum tube volt meter) that Kevin had lying near his workbench lasted about (5-7) min & then the batteries gave out. We desperately looked around the workbench & drawers for a small screwdriver to open the battery compartment & replace those batteries...to no avail. Maybe it's time to join the rest of the gang outside in the back yard having fun; our transition to the bright sunlight in lieu of the bright light bulbs went without a hitch.
In the back yard, all was casual with contentment; Andrew & Nathan with help from Melissa & Kathy were taking turns playing with the mini loader; riding, scooping, & dumping.
K & I had some grocery shopping to do with the potential of having a visitor before 6:00pm so we said our goodbyes & motored to Martin's & Wal-Mart & then returned to Nicktown. Our prospective caller couldn't make it tonight & that's ok. We'll try for another day.
Dinner: Tuna steak with brown butter & balsamic vinegar, brown rice with golden raisins & walnuts, asparagus, & a spinach salad with fresh cut strawberries.
We finished the movie: "The Human Comedy" with Mickey Rooney, Frank Morgan, Jackie "Butch" Jenkins, James Craig, Marsha Hunt, Fay Bainter, etc. Oscar-winning story of life in a small town during WWII. Unfolds like a novel, with many lovely vignettes & one of Rooney's best performances as a teenager with growing responsibilities. 1943. Excellent story with touching moments.
Lights out: 12:05am
Leave a comment