High temp, high 60s, low temp low 60s, water temp 63-68. All the same. Spring suit is chilly, winter suit is toasty. Zonies (special concession to Wayne, who is honorary Del Martian and welcome at all times, as are all hobos) have departed but local Bettys on the sand on some of the best, classic beach afternoons in the after season.
Been going in at zero dark thirty for conference calls with the Frogs (sodding fornicators if you ask me) and taking a 3-6 afternoon rest cure wave riding, biking, or napping out.
Kitchen and marriage have survived kitchen remodel. New granite (Jaguar), cabinets (Merlot stain on red oak hardwood), stainless steel everything.
I wanted polished cement with stainless steel splashes, but now the kitchen surfaces look like NASA imaging of an area on some strange planet. Ah well, sometimes it's better to be happy rather than "right".
Plumber bailed at the worst possible moment in the process, so I was the plumber. New undermount stainless sink, quarter turn shutoffs, water filter, hot water recirculation system, three sink basin drains (made them removable for stoppages), garbage disposal, dishwasher hookup and airvent, and slide outs for what's left of storage under the sink. Thank God nothing leaks. Lined the floor of the under sink cabinet with linoleum and shower liner to deal with those leaks, but so far everything is dry and functional. I have several buckets of extra parts due to numerous trips to the hardware store. Jahan says I should return them and "get my money back".
Electrician was about as reliable as the plumber. The new built-in refrigerator and refrigerator installation goons arrived unannounced (a story in itself about buying high end appliances; don't do it, think "Sears") with my Farsi only, visiting (what was Jahan thinking, inviting her here, and now?) speaking sister in at law (SIL) home. Alone. Translation from Spanish to Farsi is just about darn near impossible, but somehow, she figured out that she should empty the old refrigerator into ice chests from the garage, and then call me at work. Cell phone call to electrician resulted in notice of disconnection of his service. Refrigerator installation goons: "Well, you have a 42" well, the new unit is 48", you don't have seismic restraints, and the junction box needs to be in the upper, right 16 x 16" back quadrant of the new refrigerator. We can't install this to code." I call Jahan on cell phone. "Why is it 48"?". Jahan: "It was $100 less than the 42"; some deal with their price book, but, I took it"; "I need more space", and they gave me an 11% discount, it is done yet? $50 to the refrigerator installation goons and my advice to "go get some lunch and come back", some deft work on the (sigh) new cabinetry with the Milwaukee Sawzall, and, thank God I keep those extra parts, rerouting of the electricity (with power off and my SIL missing Days of Our Life in English), the new refrigerator went in the newly adjusted well. It does keep beer well chilled.
Spent a few weeks tailgating out of the back of the teardrop, washing dishes in the utility room. Hobo living.
San
