June 28, 2003

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  Weekend again,

  
  

  and finally a break in the heat wave!

  
  

  And…

  
  

  Its not raining!

  
  

  Life is good.

  
  

  Haven’t been able to take the time to write anything this week. Sat down and tried a few times, but changed my mind about posting what I wrote, because I was rambling (again)

  
  

  Anyway, it has been a really busy week, getting the new fridge and dishwasher (plus a new airconditioner in my living room, and a fancy new phone) set up. Plumber was here to do some other stuff, too, including replacing my leaky valves in the laundry room and fixing last winter’s broken pipe to the garage, which means the faucet on my patio now works and I don’t have to carry water to my plants from the other side of the house. Electrician again, to rewire a couple of outlets and check out the wiring for the dishwasher (which is fine, thank goodness) Plumber still has to come back to finish the dishwasher installation and replace a badly corroded faucet in my basement bathroom.

  
  

   Old houses are such fun. Can you say “can of worms?” seems a new one opens every time we try to change or do anything!

  
  

  I also took some time this week to address health concerns. Went for the lab tests on Monday, and passed out in the office. I was there for (among other things) a blood test for cholesterol, so I had to fast for 10-12 hours, which ended up 14 because I got up late and then had to sit in the waiting room a long time waiting to go in because they were really busy. Then the tech had trouble getting a vein (a recurring problem with me) and I guess the stress and pain of that was just too much. Out I went. But not quite completely. I was able to take the glucose lozenge the lab tech gave me to bring my sugar back up. Ended up with a nasty headache and took most of the day to feel normal. Haven’t heard anything from the doc yet about the results.

  
  

  I painted the side of the kitchen where the fridge was going. Just a fresh coat of paint left over from the last time I painted. Figured I would brighten it up a bit while we had the fridge away from the wall. Managed to fall off a 2 step stepladder. Caught myself on the fridge, and got a big bruise on the back of my arm. Matches the ones on the front from the blood test.

  
  

  Gave the dogs a summer haircut, too. I am sure they will have something to say about that on their site soon.

  
  

  I have lots to do now, because we are going to take a ride down to camp this afternoon to open up the trailer, hook up the electric and water and all that stuff. We finally got a nice day on a weekend so we will be able to seal the small leak in the roof after we take the tarp we had covered it for the winter with off. We are not staying over, it will be a day trip this time. The dogs should enjoy the outing, they have been sufferring from the heat this week.

  
  

  

  
  

  I will leave you with the song that has been playing in my mind this morning. I recently heard it was one of the first songs John Prine wrote and performed. What a way to begin a career! I have loved John Prine since I first heard his music back when I was in High School. His music touches something deep in my soul. His music runs the gamut from the most heart wrenching sad songs to the most uplifting happy songs. This is one of the sad ones. Poignant would be the word that comes to mind…

  
  

   

  
  

  Sam Stone
  ©John Prine

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Sam Stone came home,
  To his wife and family
  After serving in the conflict overseas.
  And the time that he served,
  Had shattered all his nerves,
  And left a little shrapnel in his knee. 
  But the morphine eased the pain,
  And the grass grew round his brain,
  And gave him all the confidence he lacked,
  With a Purple Heart and a monkey on his back.

  
  

  There’s a hole in daddy’s arm where all the money goes,
  Jesus Christ died for nothin’ I suppose.
  Little pitchers have big ears,
  Don’t stop to count the years,
  Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios.
  Mmm….

  
  

  Sam Stone’s welcome home
  Didn’t last too long.
  He went to work when he’d spent his last dime
  And Sammy took to stealing
  When he got that empty feeling
  For a hundred dollar habit without overtime. 
  And the gold rolled through his veins
  Like a thousand railroad trains,
  And eased his mind in the hours that he chose,
  While the kids ran around wearin’ other peoples’ clothes…

  
  

  There’s a hole in daddy’s arm where all the money goes,
  Jesus Christ died for nothin’ I suppose.
  Little pitchers have big ears,
  Don’t stop to count the years,
  Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios.
  Mmm….

  
  

  Sam Stone was alone
  When he popped his last balloon
  Climbing walls while sitting in a chair
  Well, he played his last request
  While the room smelled just like death
  With an overdose hovering in the air
  But life had lost its fun
  And there was nothing to be done
  But trade his house that he bought on the G. I. Bill
  For a flag draped casket on a local heroes’ hill.

  
  

  There’s a hole in daddy’s arm where all the money goes,
  Jesus Christ died for nothin’ I suppose.
  Little pitchers have big ears,
  Don’t stop to count the years,
  Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios.
  Mmm….

  • 10:20 am
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