We have lived in this house for over eight years. This is the ninth spring. Never before have I had anything go wrong with the sprinkler system. Today I went out and turned on the main line. After that I checked each sending unit to make sure they worked properly....nope two of them have broken pipes leaving them. I wondered why now...and in checking I found that I never got the water turned completely off last winter so it leaked into the pipelines all winter (way to go dufus). With water near the sending units they froze and broke the line---and maybe the entire sending unit---we'll see.
A few minutes ago I called a plumbing service to fix it for me. There is no way I know enough about repairing it to do it myself. I could put it in the first time and be alright but to have to repair something in an existing line--with very little room to work---is way beyond my capabilities. Now if they come and just take the entire thing out, make the repairs and replace it in the line I am going to feel really stupid. REALLY.REALLY.STUPID.
The lady that took my call said they would call me when they return from lunch---between 1 and 2 sometime---guess I'll just sit by the phone until they call---maybe I really do need to get another cell phone.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
AND WHAT A LOVELY GRADUATION DAY IT WAS
My youngest daughter MJ graduated from college Summa Cum Laude Saturday, May 8, 2010. She made it through college in three years. I am proud of her.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED AFTER THE FIRE
For this story to have any meaning you need a little background. I am about 5'7" and at the time this happened I probably weighed 145 pounds. The other guy in the story is about 6'2" and at the time probably weighed about 275 pounds.
For years this big guy and I had this little messing around thing going on where he would rough me up a little and I'd tell him "KEEP MESSING AROUND AND I'M GONNA HURT YOU---BAD." Then everyone associated with whatever group we were with would laugh--almost uncontrollably---because of the size difference.
I went over to assist with a wild fire that the adjoining district on a different forest was managing for resource benefit so it was a fire that you take action on where it gets outside of the parameters and let it burn where it is inside them. There were a couple of fingers that were outside and were being put out to get the fire back where they wanted it. We met on a ridge overlooking the fire with two Fire Management Officers (FMO), an Assistant Fire Management Officer (AFMO)[this big guy], the District Ranger for the area where the fire was and me (a District Ranger who was visiting another District Ranger's turf with a somewhat questionable invitation).
As soon as we got out of the rigs the roughing up---and keep it up and I'll hurt you started. It went on for a few minutes and I reached out and grabbed this guys right thumb and twisted it a little. There were two loud pops that everyone in the group heard and this big guy turned white as a ghost. I knew as soon as it happened that I had broken his thumb badly. I did---it was broken above the first joint in one place and just below the second joint in another. I was heart sick---I knew the break was serious and tried to stabilize it so it didn't get any worse with adhesive tape. Any way he worked through the rest of the shift supervising the suppression effort and went to the doctor that night after he got home. The doctor set the thumb and put a hand cast on then told him to be careful with the cast and not do any heavy work with that hand. The next afternoon we were all back on the ridge and there were some visitors from the RO there for the discussion.
He told everyone there not mess around with me 'cause I would hurt them real bad and then he held up his hand cast that was broken all to pieces from working and told them that I had done that to him the night before. Somewhere in that discussion his Ranger made the comment that she couldn't believe I had done that to him because she had always thought we were friends. (Which we are).
Anyway today he and his boss (one of the FMO's) stopped by the house to see me. I walked out to the vehicle to see who it was and he reached out of the passenger door and shook hands with me with a plastic hand. We laughed at that pretty hard. When he shook hands with my wife he shook with a really limp hand and said "Please don't break my thumb." He also told her that I had blessed him with "the ability to forecast any storm 24 hours before it arrived" due to the break. We all laughed but that was one really bad horse play accident that I wish I had never been associated with.
I am certainly glad that we have all remained good friends through all of that too.
For years this big guy and I had this little messing around thing going on where he would rough me up a little and I'd tell him "KEEP MESSING AROUND AND I'M GONNA HURT YOU---BAD." Then everyone associated with whatever group we were with would laugh--almost uncontrollably---because of the size difference.
I went over to assist with a wild fire that the adjoining district on a different forest was managing for resource benefit so it was a fire that you take action on where it gets outside of the parameters and let it burn where it is inside them. There were a couple of fingers that were outside and were being put out to get the fire back where they wanted it. We met on a ridge overlooking the fire with two Fire Management Officers (FMO), an Assistant Fire Management Officer (AFMO)[this big guy], the District Ranger for the area where the fire was and me (a District Ranger who was visiting another District Ranger's turf with a somewhat questionable invitation).
As soon as we got out of the rigs the roughing up---and keep it up and I'll hurt you started. It went on for a few minutes and I reached out and grabbed this guys right thumb and twisted it a little. There were two loud pops that everyone in the group heard and this big guy turned white as a ghost. I knew as soon as it happened that I had broken his thumb badly. I did---it was broken above the first joint in one place and just below the second joint in another. I was heart sick---I knew the break was serious and tried to stabilize it so it didn't get any worse with adhesive tape. Any way he worked through the rest of the shift supervising the suppression effort and went to the doctor that night after he got home. The doctor set the thumb and put a hand cast on then told him to be careful with the cast and not do any heavy work with that hand. The next afternoon we were all back on the ridge and there were some visitors from the RO there for the discussion.
He told everyone there not mess around with me 'cause I would hurt them real bad and then he held up his hand cast that was broken all to pieces from working and told them that I had done that to him the night before. Somewhere in that discussion his Ranger made the comment that she couldn't believe I had done that to him because she had always thought we were friends. (Which we are).
Anyway today he and his boss (one of the FMO's) stopped by the house to see me. I walked out to the vehicle to see who it was and he reached out of the passenger door and shook hands with me with a plastic hand. We laughed at that pretty hard. When he shook hands with my wife he shook with a really limp hand and said "Please don't break my thumb." He also told her that I had blessed him with "the ability to forecast any storm 24 hours before it arrived" due to the break. We all laughed but that was one really bad horse play accident that I wish I had never been associated with.
I am certainly glad that we have all remained good friends through all of that too.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
REST IN PEACE SGT. FRANCO AGUILAR
Sgt. Aguilar enroute to his final resting place in American Fork, Utah. He was one of our Sheriff's Office Deputies. He was killed when he was hit by another car while he was helping with an accident. He turned 36 the day before he was killed. He leaves behind a wife and five children ages 1-15. My heart goes out to his family. I can't look at the procession photos without having tears in my eyes. There wasn't a dry eye on the funeral procession route. People lined the street and waved American flags as the procession passed.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
KENTUCKY DERBY 2010
The running of the 136th Kentucky Derby was held May 1. It was a spectacular race on a soupy wet track. The winner, Super Saver, was ridden along the rail to the winners circle by Calvin Borel (the winning jockey in '07, 09, and now 10). It was a great run for the roses.
Gene Fullerton, a race fan, won a contest where they gave him $100,000 to bet on a winner for the derby. He couldn't just take the money---he had to bet it on a horse to win---and just one horse. He bet it on Super Saver (I can't imagine betting $100,000 on a horse race---even if it was someone elses money). The results---he walked away from the Derby with $900,000. Don't know what that is after taxes but it was a pretty good race for him no matter what the taxes are.
Now on to the Triple Crown---can Super Saver do it---NOPE. And that's my $0.02 on the matter.
Gene Fullerton, a race fan, won a contest where they gave him $100,000 to bet on a winner for the derby. He couldn't just take the money---he had to bet it on a horse to win---and just one horse. He bet it on Super Saver (I can't imagine betting $100,000 on a horse race---even if it was someone elses money). The results---he walked away from the Derby with $900,000. Don't know what that is after taxes but it was a pretty good race for him no matter what the taxes are.
Now on to the Triple Crown---can Super Saver do it---NOPE. And that's my $0.02 on the matter.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
HOME SWEET HOME
We got home last night about 6:00 p.m. after taking Inklings Mom south to see her Doctor. We left at 8:00 a.m. so it was a pretty long day in cars. We were supposed to get a big storm yesterday and we had beautiful weather (minus the wind) all day long.
The Doctor gave my MIL a clean bill of health so we won't have to take her down again unless something unforseen occurs. It is very nice to have her on the mend. She was terribly sick with her last surgery and we are all glad that she has finally recovered to the point she isn't in a Doctors care.
When we arrived home we stopped at a store to buy some bread for dinner. When we went in it was about 60 degrees. When we came out about ten minutes later it was about 40 degrees and the wind was howling and very cold. We got home and ate dinner and it started to rain. Shortly after that it changed to snow. When I got up this morning we had 4 inches of snow on the lawn but none on the side walks or roads. It started snowing again a few minutes ago. I am certainly happy to have the storm---after we got home from the trip---let 'er snow.
The Doctor gave my MIL a clean bill of health so we won't have to take her down again unless something unforseen occurs. It is very nice to have her on the mend. She was terribly sick with her last surgery and we are all glad that she has finally recovered to the point she isn't in a Doctors care.
When we arrived home we stopped at a store to buy some bread for dinner. When we went in it was about 60 degrees. When we came out about ten minutes later it was about 40 degrees and the wind was howling and very cold. We got home and ate dinner and it started to rain. Shortly after that it changed to snow. When I got up this morning we had 4 inches of snow on the lawn but none on the side walks or roads. It started snowing again a few minutes ago. I am certainly happy to have the storm---after we got home from the trip---let 'er snow.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
BIG FIRE
I stole this photo off one of my friends face book page---it is probably copywrighted but I took it anyway. This is a photo of a runaway fire on the Boise National Forest in 2006---my friend was burned on his arms, face and legs running from it. One of his crew members took the picture as they ran.
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