Monday Garage with M@

At 10AM Monday, Matt (M@) showed up at Château Wild to lead the cleaning and reshuffling and to get Air VW the Gray inside and safe from local bird artists. I started the work a few days ago for a few hours each day to get some of the junk out of the way. I also threw away lots of chargers, transformers, and cables. Like many involved in USB equipment, I had a different set of cables for every older version and matching chargers. All were now in tangled messes and just clutter. I decided if I needed one, I could always buy one. I also found the Octopus A USB cable to other (but not C) types. That will do.

I found where The Ring was for all those years; it was lost in Sauron’s Garage. That is where I found my precious. I suspect the orcs accidentally took Sauron’s ring to Goodwill, and an enterprising hobbit bought it there. The hobbits, who love a good story, later made up a more interesting version.

The goal was to eliminate the accumulation of stuff with the realization that much of it had not been used in five years (before the pandemic), meaning it was not really needed and should be tossed or taken to Goodwill. We took two loads of stuff in the EV to Goodwill (they would not take the office chairs that were peeling). Among the items were more of Susie’s clothing, which always makes me sad when we find it.

M@ commented that he, too, has many 28mm figures he has not painted (I have piles of unpainted figures in the garage), but then he remembers all the ones he has painted and played with and just smiles (and I have painted hundreds? or thousands?). I will consider painting again as I find it relaxing and enjoyable.

M@ assembled the wheeled storage shelving (the same I used for the orchids), and we put the board games on that. Matt also organized the unplayed games (some less than loved Kickstarters). We found places for stuff, and I slowly but steadily cleaned up a work desk I had put in place years ago. It is where the charger for the EV will go and was blocking access to the electrical panels. The desk was Susie’s from college, and it had become unsteady (it never was very steady), and it was time for it to go. It took me a few hours, but I found places for stuff on it and under it. Much was trashed or recycled.

We moved Corwin’s motorbike outside and put the cover over it. We must find a solution for it (he does not need it). Through the magical powers of M@, the garage found order and was once again large enough inside (unlike the Doctor’s TARDIS, the garage is smaller inside) to hold a vehicle, and Air VW the Gray now sleeps in the garage. There is also access to the power panel.

The panel was replaced some years ago when I learned that the panel was recalled and was not safe. F**k! Again, I am always impressed when you buy a house, have it inspected, and later find out it was not-to-code and that certain safety items were missing/failing. I replaced the natural gas hot water heater early, and they had to rebuild the connections, redo the exhaust, and put a safety tank on it, but as it was a fixed bid, I did not pay extra (for once). Previously, I was informed that I had to strap the one that came with the house and cover it with a blanket (I did), that the house had no ground faults (I installed them), and that the garbage disposer was directly connected to the power as was the stove (I spent $1200 fixing the stove connections). I replaced the furnace, added AC, replaced all the windows, sliders, roof (and 3/4 of the plywood underneath–again, a flat bid, and they ate that), deck, and fence, and updated or replaced much of the landscaping. I refreshed the bathrooms with the master damaged by a toilet leaking while I was in NYC with Susie as an accidental tourist for four weeks.

I will consider, in the future, an electric tankless heater in the bathrooms and something for the kitchen. The newish natural gas one was high-efficiency and lowered my gas bill, as did the new furnace, which was moderately efficient. The trees keep the house cool in the summer with their shade and also eliminate the option for solar panels on the house.

I will contact the recommended contractor, and I should get a discount for installing a charger at the house. Richard offered to do the electrical work, but I think that was covered. If not, I will likely take him up on that.

It was late, and I had received some more strange items from the church and was upset. I also spent some time just chatting with Deborah (it was her day off), and we are excited that she will be here in less than four weeks. I finally found focus again, finished the blog, published it, and decided it was time to get something to eat; it was already after 7:30.

BJ’s Brewhouse was my choice, and it was a pleasure to get Air VF the Gray out of the garage, but the garage opener is still in the old Volvo. I need to stop by Volvo anyway to update them on the status of the wreck (waiting for a title replacement). I will likely donate the wreck and the motorbike to Oregon Public Broadcasting; they will likely need money once Trump gets going and tries to sell PBS to Elon Musk–sounds like a joke, but I am not sure it is.

I sat at the bar and had some fill-in bartenders, Taylor and Chris. Taylor was busy cleaning and working. Chris sort of just made drinks and wandered (I was not impressed that he let Taylor clean). The previous bartender, who I knew, was happy to see me. I had not been back in a month or two. First, I have been traveling, and second, their food adds pounds fast! I had the chicken soba noodles and a salad. I did have a red ale that the manager, happy to see me, brought me before the bartenders even spoke to me. I saw their wide eyes, as that was an unusual occurrence. I had good service, and Taylor, already dressed for home, got me coffee and a shot of amaretto to go with my coffee.

I saw that they are back to training folks on the basics. This was on the bartender’s screen.

I took the EV home and had to get out and open the garage, but still, it was nice to park inside. Soon, I was reading in bed in my PJs after a shower. I was asleep after 11, work at midnight, three, four, five, and six, and rolled over each time. Coffee late wakes me up at night.

Thanks for reading.