
Instead of trying to inhale salt water, I’m thinking I’ll just absorb the cool sea breeze (and pass on the asphyxiation and pulmonary edema).
I presume this is why they have their guests pay in advance…
Instead of trying to inhale salt water, I’m thinking I’ll just absorb the cool sea breeze (and pass on the asphyxiation and pulmonary edema).
I presume this is why they have their guests pay in advance…
I was so happy to return home and hit the beach again. The sea is where I go to soothe my soul. I know the sense of calm is produced by the negative ions released from the crashing waves but there is still something mystical about it.
I love this song as it captures that feeling pretty darn well (and it works whether you believe in the big G or little g).
“When I go down and sink my feet in the water,
And I soak up that sun and I watch it set,
Yeah, I can feel the power of the saltwater gospel,
I’m as close to God as I can get…”
As I mentioned in my last post, I drove through the outer edge of Tropical Storm Eta on my return trip. I felt fortunate to sneak home before the tempest arrived.
One of the reasons I haven’t been too concerned during this hurricane season is that the Tampa area hasn’t had a direct hit in about 100 years (though, of course, I know that’s not an indicator of future trends).
The next morning, after reading the warnings, I decided to err on the side of caution and install the hurricane fabric that the previous owners had left behind. As I explained to my neighbor, it was my first rodeo so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Unfortunately, the panels were not labeled, parts were missing, and the anchors were incorrectly installed. I discovered all of that while standing on a ladder in the rain. Good times!
Regardless, I did the best I could and it afforded me a bit of peace of mind as I listened to the wind howling around the house later that night.
Thankfully, all my preparations were for naught as the storm blew north of me. The next morning dawned warm and sunny, and in my new neighborhood things looked pretty darn normal.
My old neighborhood, however, did not fare as well. My afternoon walk to the beach was almost a swim. Low-lying areas were still flooded, and so many houses were trying to dry out. Friends of mine suffered some water damage, including a refrigerator that blew out since they had neglected to unplug it. Thankfully, they were all safe!
I have to admit though, the excess water did provide a scenic backdrop.
On a side note, someone missed me. Well, not me, but apparently my car…thanks for the mess, Morrissey! That’s the name I gave the big, sweet neighborhood tom cat. He doesn’t care what I call him, he doesn’t answer anyway.
Since I recently purchased a house and am settling down a bit (after hopping through four states in four years) it was finally time to get my sh*t together. Literally.
I had left a box of rocks and fossils with my parents before leaving southern Arizona in 2017 (former geology student, I dug those specimens with my own two hands! ‘Nuff said).
Later, in 2019, when I moved to the Texas Coastal Bend from Coastal Oregon, I wasn’t certain how that would work out so, I stored some boxes in my friend’s attic. It was rather prescient of me really, since that small “drinking village with a fishing problem” did not afford me the opportunities I was looking for.
However, since I ran short on time, I did not pack my belongings carefully enough for shipment. And while I may be blonde, I was also not willing to pay to ship that heavy box from my parent’s. That would be dumb as a box of…you know.
All of which meant an epic road trip was in my future. My plan:
Considerations:
Observations:
Of course, since it is 2020, nothing went according to plan. I didn’t see half the people I had hoped to (though perhaps in the time of COVID that’s for the best) but fortunately, it all worked out.
I found these barnacle-bedazzled specatacles on the beach this evening. Hurricane Zeta stirred up the bottom of the Gulf as she swept through so all manner of oddities have washed ashore.
Hoping for the best for everyone in her path…
So, the good news is that I finally finished the guest bedroom! Well, I have yet to order the mattress and still need to decorate but the room and the new closet are painted and clean and ready to welcome guests.
The bad news is that during the process of installing the baseboards I tore the meniscus in my left knee. My doctor has ordered me to rest, elevate my leg, and ice it. After I start physical therapy (first visit on Friday) she will reassess and see if I need an MRI (and possibly surgery).
I wasn’t doing anything too crazy when it happened, well, maybe something a bit like this (but I’ll never tell):
Hope your weekend is full of wondrous and unusual adventures!
I can’t fathom why but the previous owners really, really liked shelves. And the guest bedroom held the motherlode. I spent hours yesterday removing shelves, screws, and anchors before patching the associated holes.
Looks like the room has a bad rash!
Though the damage has long been done, in my frustration I modified a phrase from Captain Jack Sparrow, “Stop putting holes in my house!”
Oh, and here’s a pro tip, if you have a whole bunch of stuff to display, buy a damn bookshelf!
Stepped away from all my house projects this evening for a much needed, relaxing stroll along the beach. The sunset wasn’t exactly a stunner but I still found it interesting. It may be a cliche but as they say out here, “No bad days!”
I learned, when renovating my previous two fixer-uppers, every project will take twice as long and cost at least twice as much as I thought. Unfortunately, I kind of forgot that and I was overly optimistic when I tackled the Florida room last week.
In my defense, I was thinking the room was relatively small and uncomplicated. Ha! It could’ve been but I decided the six foot opening from the dining room into the Florida room was too awkward. It left my dining room table floating in the opening, so I decided to enclose half of it.
I have some carpentry skills but lack all the cool tools so it was a largely creative process (don’t look too closely at my lines). Thankfully, joint compound and paint can cover a multitude of sins!
I am pleased with the outcome, it is now a bright and cheery room. I have some artwork and a dart board to hang and it will be done. Well, not entirely, the six windows that make up the majority of the exterior walls are all single-pane, aluminum which I need to replace but my budget doesn’t allow it at the moment.
Next up, the guest bedroom, which will require opening up part of a wall to regain the closet. Seems simple and straightforward, right? Wish me luck!