ALL HANDS
It has been a long time since the last one, because nothing happened (it seemed). OK. The ship ran aground and the capt swallowed the anchor. But it's not the end of the story, which slows down a lot without quite petering out (pun intended). Hey - We've been aground before, and the sea is no threat here, ashore in VT with Mimi has worked out pretty well.Mimi's VersionI did the knee thing this summer; two new ones and still working on the PT to get to walking properly. I do get around, can drive, even get some physical work accomplished, find it very hard to kneel, lean over, or reach down.
House husbanding continues to be my principal occupation - feeding Mimi and myself - bread too, even a pie now and again. Plow snow. Vacuum clean. The challenges are very much less, but pretty well matched to the reduced ability. Surprises no one, probably overdue since I've made it to eighty.
I'm feeling its worthwhile to live, eat, breathe, stagger, stumble and stoop. The sun is bright, and the snow is clean, so I'm carrying on at whatever pace I can make.
Peter sold his house in Puerto Rico in 1994 and moved into the house I was renting in Strafford, VT. I was recently divorced and waiting for the 'marital home' to sell. When that was accomplished in November of 1994 we bought a house in Tunbridge, VT, the next town over. Still very rural, quiet and friendly.Christmas MessageIt's an old 1 1/2 story cape that needs lots of work. The attached garage serves as Peter's shop in the summer time (when I don't use it for parking). It's not heated, so winter use as a shop has obvious difficulties.
Since we've been here (and in spite of the time spent recovering from surgery) Peter has re-built many windows and accompanying storms, has put up dozens of shelves, and fixed most of the doors so that they close. Our first major project was to put in a new bathroom with a six foot tub - very wide and deep. He spends many happy hours sleeping in it.
The one acre lot we're on allows me to garden to my heart's content in the summer time, both flowers and vegetables. Peter complains about my "potty petunias", but if he didn't complain I'd know something was wrong. (He complains a lot.)
I work part time, which gets me out of the house. Neither of us could stand full time togetherness. As it is, we fight a lot and enjoy every minute of it.
Ha! I bet none of you thought you'd ever hear such a thing from either of us! Actually, that's in there only because I happen to be writing this on Christmas Day, which is for us just another Sunday (day off for Mimi) thrown into the middle of the week. This particular Christmas Day is a little different, however.Last wordsIt all began sometime last October when we decided to replace the grungey (sp?) rug on the kitchen floor with linoleum. In addition to Peter's penchant for spilling everything, this was also required because Mimi's dog, Tess, refused to quit pissing on the kitchen floor (rug).
Note from Mimi: I used to have two dogs, but Lady has completely adopted Peter as her person. She involves herself in all his projects and insists on riding with him in the car so that she can tell him when to turn and other useful things like that. Very conversational dog.
Anyway. We contacted our local carpenter/do-anything man for assistance in the floor project. He was busy in October, but thought he could get to us in early November. Later that became "by Thanksgiving for sure". As things worked out the 1/4 inch plywood subfloor went down on Monday Dec 23. Paul and Peter spent the day Tuesday cutting a template, and finally, the linoleum. Perfect fit! They gleefully spread the adhesive and put the linoleum down crooked.
After many messy attempts to straighten it, it was decided to throw it out and start over (the day after Christmas, of course). Did you know that linoleum adhesive takes more than twenty-four hours to stop being sticky (we don't know how many more, yet). We're walking on the stuff out of necessity, but being careful never to leave a foot down for more than a second or two. Have you ever tried to cook while marching in place? How about a simple thing like pouring a cup of coffee?
We went out for Pizza on Christmas Eve, having finally found a place that was open. Peter managed a delicious breakfast, somehow or other, on Christmas Day. As I (Mimi) finish this up I have no idea how we'll deal with other meals, but they will be unusual, delicious, and require very little time in the kitchen. This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Don't just stand there!".
Computers are fun! We have a guest room that is always ready for company. All are welcome to check out our zany household. Never a dull moment. Some interesting catastrophe promised almost every day. December 1996