I told Grandpa that our nanny might be a polish Grandmother. His response...
"Do you know how to get a one armed polish guy out of a tree??"
"?"
"Wave at him."
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Fanny Bridge
The fanny bridge in Tahoe City, CA is famous for the sight of human rear ends hanging into traffic on HWY 89. Usually the humans are bent over the bridge rail gaping at the sight of trout that congregate just below the Lake Tahoe spill way. This past weekend the sight was a little different; you see historically Tahoe City has one of the best fourth of July firework shows on the lake. This past low-snow season and the continued economic doldrums in the Tahoe area has left Tahoe City short of funding for this years show. So the local talent organized a fanny bridge fundraiser in an attempt to fund the fireworks. Unfortunately the weather was in the 50's but they made out OK. I wonder if cousin Megan's bud Shawn was involved in the planning of this.....
There's a lot of ink on those girls....good for them.
There's a lot of ink on those girls....good for them.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Pinecrest Lake
Chaos is what's up at Chain Link Fence. A midst the chaos a previously scheduled trip to Pinecrest snuck upon us. By 10 a.m. of day 1 my phone had rang so much that I was ready to bag the whole trip, I think my wife was ready to bag me. I spoke with Bob, he was his usual calming self, urging me to turn my phone off. I let my battery expire, my email notification was activated incessantly until the juice expired. Now I sit on Sunday organizing and preparing for an onslaught tomorrow morning; the good news is I feel good about it and have an approach to what issues will get my attention....sort of.
Back to Pinecrest....
It's important when you are at Pinecrest to sit down or stand in the lake eating a soft serve ice cream from the snack bar. Erin and I did this after swimming a couple hundred yards for exercise...a caloric wash I suppose but ice cream makes you smile...
Also when at Pinecrest, leave camp at 6:00 am and run 4 miles around the lake, I did this Wednesday morning and loved it. The Serene Bean provided a perfectly made double cap afterwards.
Fish. I took grandpa out fishing and I'm really glad we went, it was a nice visit and according to the kids at the marina we caught more fish than anyone. 6 Rainbow trout. Must have been a slow day.
Dog rules.....Pinecrest is very Californian when it comes to dogs....that means there are lots of rules and pretty much most fun dog things are outlawed. Duchy had fun though because her Dad thinks a bunch of those rules don't apply to Labradors.
Camping is frustrating for Dads. While erecting camp I inadvertently sliced off the tip of my index finger with my swiss army knife. It was a minor injury and I kept my cool but the cut was a bother the rest of the trip, it was filled with dirt, dog hair, lake water and fish scales. I noticed other Dad's weren't so lucky to only have a cut to deal with. My own Dad hit his head on the tailgate and received a colorful knot, his Tahoe received a dead battery and his water filter failed flooding his tent trailer with a weeks supply of water. I strolled through the campground with Erin and the Babe and witnessed many other Dad's saying "Fuck." Most were 'gadget' Dad's who succumbed to Coleman's latest attempt to bring ALL of the comforts of home to the campsite. Problems with the new propane powered drip coffee maker seemed prevalent (Don't they know about the girls at Serene Bean?).
To a slight degree I admittedly over packed for this trip but nothing like the general Pinecrest population does. I wish I had taken a picture of some of the rigs as they rolled in overloaded to the max. Several people packed $1000 full size gas BBQ's....they look like kooks to me. Life is complicated, pack your tent, stove, one pan and keep Pinecrest simple.
What will this week bring???
Back to Pinecrest....
It's important when you are at Pinecrest to sit down or stand in the lake eating a soft serve ice cream from the snack bar. Erin and I did this after swimming a couple hundred yards for exercise...a caloric wash I suppose but ice cream makes you smile...
Also when at Pinecrest, leave camp at 6:00 am and run 4 miles around the lake, I did this Wednesday morning and loved it. The Serene Bean provided a perfectly made double cap afterwards.
Fish. I took grandpa out fishing and I'm really glad we went, it was a nice visit and according to the kids at the marina we caught more fish than anyone. 6 Rainbow trout. Must have been a slow day.
Dog rules.....Pinecrest is very Californian when it comes to dogs....that means there are lots of rules and pretty much most fun dog things are outlawed. Duchy had fun though because her Dad thinks a bunch of those rules don't apply to Labradors.
Camping is frustrating for Dads. While erecting camp I inadvertently sliced off the tip of my index finger with my swiss army knife. It was a minor injury and I kept my cool but the cut was a bother the rest of the trip, it was filled with dirt, dog hair, lake water and fish scales. I noticed other Dad's weren't so lucky to only have a cut to deal with. My own Dad hit his head on the tailgate and received a colorful knot, his Tahoe received a dead battery and his water filter failed flooding his tent trailer with a weeks supply of water. I strolled through the campground with Erin and the Babe and witnessed many other Dad's saying "Fuck." Most were 'gadget' Dad's who succumbed to Coleman's latest attempt to bring ALL of the comforts of home to the campsite. Problems with the new propane powered drip coffee maker seemed prevalent (Don't they know about the girls at Serene Bean?).
To a slight degree I admittedly over packed for this trip but nothing like the general Pinecrest population does. I wish I had taken a picture of some of the rigs as they rolled in overloaded to the max. Several people packed $1000 full size gas BBQ's....they look like kooks to me. Life is complicated, pack your tent, stove, one pan and keep Pinecrest simple.
What will this week bring???
Monday, June 18, 2012
Dismissed....
I fired a guy today....3 weeks as a fence man was enough. Worst part of my job, but we are so busy it makes it easier. Without sugar coating it the whole process took about 90 seconds. Touchy feely stuff doesn't apply in construction, it wasn't working out. I walked out to attend to other employees and issues while he waited for his last check to be printed up.
Ty was right, you don't want to work for me. Unless you can perform, then you do....big checks going out to all the guys who spent their Father's day digging a trench at the zoo. Thanks fellas....
Ty was right, you don't want to work for me. Unless you can perform, then you do....big checks going out to all the guys who spent their Father's day digging a trench at the zoo. Thanks fellas....
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Happy Fathers Day to Me
Today is really nice....Sullivan and I are busy rigging my fishing pole for the trip to Pinecrest this week.
Yesterday was nice too, only more physical...I think I established some type of psychic connection with Tim. I took a fairly new band saw to the cabin to cut my piers to grade and it went kaput after only seven piers.....only 18 left to cut next time. I think Tim thought that was pretty funny...
Alas there were other tasks to complete, I cut some trusses in, painted, chopped some firewood and floated around in the river where it was cool. It was 108 at my cabin site, 112 on the deck and maybe 84 on my back in the river. A peaceful day....and I was home for a dinner time panini from the new Breville device. Yum.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Stanley Cabin Project
The Stanley cabin project has kicked off....
Site Clearing & Development.
We cut about 9 trees in all, much more trimming and clearing will be performed to reveal the river behind the site and create a defensible space in an effort to reduce fire risk.
Site Leveling & Excavation.
Piers.
Broken Bobcat towed into the shade; replaced fuel line and it's up and running.
Septic System Development.
Filthy.
Sully, just chillin.
Fam....on the supervisory stump chair.
The anxious helpers finally have some fun on the way home...
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Salad Spinners
Ok....So what's the deal with salad spinners??? I love me some tender greens, especially when they've been washed and promptly spun dry....needless to say there's no soggy leafs in my house.
I think I'd qualify as typical household since BBB (Bed, Bath & Beyond) convinced my wife that she needed the grand daddy of all spinners (Vietnamese swings excluded); the OXO Stainless Salad Spinner...only $49.99. Do you guys know which one I'm talking about?? I think a lot of people have this thing...
That guy....the big one. It's 16" wide and 10" tall and it's been taking up shelf space in my kitchen for about five years now. I hate it.
That's not all...it's time to spin some butter lettuce, yeah I actually use this behemoth. Let me haul this bastard thing out out of the cabinet and spin my lettuce...wow that' little' thing sure can spin. I have a god damn gravitron right here on my counter top...and no hamster to test drive it...drat! The greens are spun and salad prep is well under way..what's next? The damn spinner transforms and multiplies into three equally large pieces that instantly consume all the space in my sink...how do I wash this thing?? The basin is pretty straight forward, the basket is awkward and tedious, and the lid...fuck..the lid is TWO pieces of random soiled molded plastic that seems to capture dirt particulates in every nook and cranny. I'm going to be here all night....
Finally the spinner is clean....now consuming 135% of my BBB micro fiber dish drying mat. OXO you're stupid.
BTW....Casa De Stanley is coming along...I mixed and poured 3400 lbs of concrete for a little over 1/2 of the pier foundations....I will get some pics up.
I think I'd qualify as typical household since BBB (Bed, Bath & Beyond) convinced my wife that she needed the grand daddy of all spinners (Vietnamese swings excluded); the OXO Stainless Salad Spinner...only $49.99. Do you guys know which one I'm talking about?? I think a lot of people have this thing...
That guy....the big one. It's 16" wide and 10" tall and it's been taking up shelf space in my kitchen for about five years now. I hate it.
That's not all...it's time to spin some butter lettuce, yeah I actually use this behemoth. Let me haul this bastard thing out out of the cabinet and spin my lettuce...wow that' little' thing sure can spin. I have a god damn gravitron right here on my counter top...and no hamster to test drive it...drat! The greens are spun and salad prep is well under way..what's next? The damn spinner transforms and multiplies into three equally large pieces that instantly consume all the space in my sink...how do I wash this thing?? The basin is pretty straight forward, the basket is awkward and tedious, and the lid...fuck..the lid is TWO pieces of random soiled molded plastic that seems to capture dirt particulates in every nook and cranny. I'm going to be here all night....
Finally the spinner is clean....now consuming 135% of my BBB micro fiber dish drying mat. OXO you're stupid.
BTW....Casa De Stanley is coming along...I mixed and poured 3400 lbs of concrete for a little over 1/2 of the pier foundations....I will get some pics up.
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