Water!!

We now have a water supply to the Nickel Church! When the water was turned on, it leaked. Okay, it was a geyser! After digging up the line from the meter to the wall, I found that the very old pipe had simply corroded away. It is now replaced with schedule 40 pvc, and "poof" we have water. Now I can do masonry and concrete and maybe even put in a working toilet.

It's just not fair...

...when I'm getting older, but Patti and Lanelle aren't. In Dallas this past weekend, I met with to dear friends from the past that I haven't seen in a long time. (Always think about, but never see.) When I see them- it's like time has frozen in awe. For me- it's like time has thawed and I'm freezer-burned. :)

We had lunch at which time I put my foot in my mouth so hard that I now have athlete's tongue. But feelings were mended and my behavior was amended. We had a fun night at Sullivan's. Jazz combo, good food, a couple of drinks, and a sweet server named Tia who had just moved in from Philadelphia. All in all a great day with the girls.

After parting on Sunday morning, I hung out long enough to shop in The Great Indoors for fixtures on the building. Some nice stuff and helpful people- prices high, but otherwise not all that special. I think I'll just order from local businesses and support the local economy.

Luau

Tonight, the beat of my heart (Kathy) and I will go to Tyler, Texas for a luau-themed party. We will be the guest of Charles and Scarlett Drane, the notable socialite couple in Palestine. Should be a lot of fun. I'll update this after I return.

Esta noche, el latido de mi corazón (Kathy) y voy a ir a Tyler, Texas, para un luau-fiesta temática. Vamos a ser el invitado de Carlos y Scarlett Drane, la pareja notables socialité en Palestina. Debe ser muy divertido. Voy a actualizar esto después de que yo regrese.

In other news(?), I'll be heading to Dallas to catch up with some very dear friends from the past: Patty and Lanelle. We were quite a team a few years back. I'm sure they haven't aged as badly as I have. Of course they started out a lot better looking than me anyway. Should be a ball. I'll also see Charles II this weekend. That's a good thing for many reasons and on many levels. Catch ya later!

Can you dig it?

As mentioned earlier, the water line has ruptured like a middle-aged hernia. I've been digging it up a bit at a time. But since heavy rain was predicted, I covered the "ring of death" with a tarp and will wait for a later time.

This weekend I'll be meeting Lanelle and Patty in Dallas for a just for fun afternoon. I'll be with Charley part of the time, too. So even though this is boring for a blog, it's now out there in the electronic ether.

Tag, you're it!

Alright. Looking back over my posts, I realized that a mobile post I did was not posted. Rats! A couple of weeks ago on a Wednesday night, our wonderful old building got tagged (as in graffiti) again. This time it was Soloe, V Epic, and somebody else. I'll paste photos on here later. The tagged windows, brick, the garage door, the borrowed boom lift, and the neighbors behind and to the west. I filed a police report, and the responding officer said that the "somebody else" is an adult teaching youngsters how to tag. You could see the instruction going on in the graffiti. For the kids, tagging the machine is a class B misdemeanor, but for the adult it's "organized crime activities", a felony. It's also a felony to tag a historic building. I've gotten most of it off, but it's a pain in the butt. I think I saw the young perps the Sunday before scoping out the location. Two tween or early teen Hispanic males (with 3 bicycles!) hanging out behind our building. I WILL press charges. Caveat Nota

Lights...camera...no action!

OK, got security lights up on the building to deter more budding graffiti artists. I wish they would realize that, as a historic building, it's a felony to deface it. and the adult training the kids to do it is engaged in "Organized Crime Activities" which can equal real jail time. Anyway, hope this helps.

Kathy, the love of my life and mother of my child, has decided that the kitchen needs a total redesign. (Glad she said so before I started framing it out.) I don't care for her plan, but if she ain't happy- ain't nobody happy! "She who must be obeyed" WILL be happy.

The plan now is to get plumbing (read bathrooms) and kitchen ready, then move into the great hall while we finish renovations. We can then sell the old house and infuse that capital into the project.

Speaking of plumbing: Had the water turned on this past week which resulted in an elegant waterfall in the basement. The waterline between the meter and th e house is ruptured. *singing* We dig dig dig dig dig dig dig in our mines the whole day through!... (dwarf miners from Snow White) Ah well, this too shall pass.

Performance anxiety

Lots of performing this week and only a little masonry. Going to be performing "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" on Thursday, singing Broadway Melodies on Friday, performing a brick ballet on Saturday, and showing the love to Mom on Sunday. Busy busy busy!

I have redesigned the new roof for the "baptistry" area that will require more brick work, but it will be worth it! Should have the water turned on Friday. Moving in the right direction again.