August 26, 2009

I was able to leave work at 3:00 am so I could get an early arrival in time for the plumbing crew to kick off their first day!

A quick stop at home to pick up perishables and change clothes and I was out the door by 3:20. Much to my chagrin, after checking my trunk and backseat empty of stow-aways, I got on the highway as the rain started. According to the GPS, my ETA at O'Wich was 6:27.

Between a few sections of construction, the darkness, the bright headlights reflecting on the wet pavement, the horrible downpour and the onset of me being tired - I decided to stop at the oasis for coffee and a potty break. Actually it was a potty break and coffee! I got back on the road and dealt with more rain and wasn't comfortable driving the speed limit due to the poor visibility. And one the coffee was gone (which didn't taste too good in the first place), I did everything I could to stay awake - thank goodness for the few phone calls I was on because once they all went back to work, I sang, screamed, talked really loud, sang and screamed some more. Outside of giving myself a headache, it worked along with blasting the A/C.

After I got off the highway, there was a lot of fog...so, with that, the darkness and the wipers which were acting like a hypnotists pendulum; swinging really really fast with a side of water - I was moving right along and arrived at 6:45 - only a 17 minute weather / oasis delay - and when I pulled into the drive, I noticed a brand new red and white fire marker (address sign) and a front yard full of nearly 20 turkeys. They quickly scurried away into the trees. I unloaded the car, got into the cabin and watched more turkeys out the back and a chipmunk on the deck. There were even hummingbirds fluttering around like crazy. All gone by the time I got my camera out - how do those National Geographic Photographers capture those wildlife photos??? I will forever be amazed and perplexed!

Ron and Tommy arrived and had everything old removed by 11:00 am.

They, by the end of their day, installed the new pump, filter, pressure tank, hot water tank and partial lines for the draining system. Carlo arrived around 2:00 after fight the weather and a bunch of traffic. During all of this time (during the morning and early afternoon hours), I started reading The Time Traveler's Wife and attempted to capture pictures of the hummingbirds. I could hear them coming but geez...they are so fast and were either a blur or gone again by the time I could even lift my camera, let alone focus it!

I cleaned up a bit of the plumbing mess - yep, I know, and they ended their day around 4:15 - and to my excitement, although nothing was really fully running or even connected - they did supply water to the toilet for me. They will be back tomorrow to (hopefully) finish this phase of the job.

I was exhausted most of the day - yep, I know, and by 5:00 I was well on my way to sleep. According to Carlo, I slept through dinner, through the evening and through his emitting his definition of fun!