House
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Tadpole Science
I’ve been sleeping better at the trailer than I have in years. It’s so incredibly quiet! Today I didn’t get up until about 7:30, which is late for me. I woke up before that, but it was so nice to open my eyes and see blue sky through the leaves on the trees outside my window that I didn’t want to get up. I finally did, though, and hiked up the hill to get some water for coffee (I still have to install a part to get water running in the trailer). I had bacon and oatmeal for breakfast, and then went to work digging some steps up the hill to the outhouse. I am really tired of sliding down it on my ass when it’s raining.
The Copenhagen Girl dropped off the Purple Cowboy a couple hours later, and he hung out with me while I labored at the end of a shovel. I made it a little over half way up the hill before I hit rock. I was exhausted, so I hung it up for the day around 2 PM. Tomorrow, I’ll borrow a pick axe and see if I can make it through the rock a la John Henry. Well, OK. Not quite.
Later in the afternoon, the Purple Cowboy and I drove over to the Worm Lady’s place. After a couple rounds of Red Hot Chili Peppers with a jump rope, her granddaughter showed us the aquarium she was filling with tadpoles from a nearby ditch. The new habitat was looking downright livable until Stella the dog decided to come over and take a slurp of water. “This is why it’s important to have a lid,” the granddaughter told me.
Septic Satellite
I got up early yesterday morning to head to town. I had originally planned to buy the rest of the parts for my septic system from a business that caters to contractors (and where my dad gets a discount), but that didn’t work out. I had to go back to Hilfiker and buy 240 feet of infiltrator system and four D-boxes, which was a shame because I could have had everything delivered all at once with the septic tank. Instead, I had to haul all of it in the back of my pickup. There was quite a bit of debate today among my various advisers about whether I’d actually be able to pull it off, but everything fit just fine. The forklift operator turned out to be the same guy who delivered my tank. It was nice to see a friendly face, but everyone at Hilfiker was great. When I walked in the door this time, the gal at the front desk asked, “Are you the girl from Blocksburg?”
“I am,” I said.
“Your dad is on the phone,” she replied. I busted up laughing. Small towns are so funny like that.
In other news, I’ve decided it’s possible the mix-up with the satellite dish technician was actually a blessing. My friend the surveyor stopped by yesterday to catch up over coffee. We had a lot to discuss, but he mentioned that he had a terrible experience not too long ago with the same outfit that was supposed install my dish. The Worm Lady has recommended another company out of Arcata, so I’m thinking I’ll try them. It will probably mean a longer wait, but it’s worth it if I don’t have to deal with creeps.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
I am a Very Unhappy Girl
It has been pouring rain for several days now, and I admit it’s starting to get to me. I sat around all day waiting for a guy to install my satellite Internet connection. He was supposed to arrive between 10 AM and 2 PM, but called at 1 PM to say he was in Hayfork and probably wouldn’t be to my place until 5 PM. I was annoyed, but I gave him a break because at least he called. Then he showed up around 3:30 PM, and I just happened to be at my parents’ cabin at the other end of town. When he discovered no one was there, apparently he just split. It would have been better if he hadn’t called at all. So, I am still Internet-less, and yes, a few tears have been shed. So sad....
Tomorrow I’m headed to town to pick up the infiltrator system for my leach lines. Hopefully, the Diesel Mechanic and I can finish up the septic system early next week.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
My Shit Will be Contained
The Diesel Mechanic and I spent Monday figuring out where to dig a really big hole for the septic tank, which was to be delivered the following day by the Hilfiker Pipe Company out of Eureka. It was originally supposed to be placed behind the house, which was bad for a few different reasons. The Diesel Mechanic said the system would work better if the tank was placed in front of the house. I could see that he was right, but was concerned that any change might delay the project. I was pleasantly surprised when we were able to straighten out the matter with a simple phone call to the inspector.
I stayed with the Purple Cowboy on Monday night. We got up at dawn and headed over to the Worm Lady’s for coffee and French toast the next morning. Later, I was supposed to meet a caravan of cowboys who were headed deep into the interior to brand calves. I had planned to film them, thinking I might be able to use some of the footage for next year’s short at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, but the rain came early, so I decided not to go.
We headed back to my place to wait for the Hilfiker driver, who turned out to be a little early. He gingerly unloaded the tank with a boom on the truck, and to the Diesel Mechanic’s credit, we didn’t have to adjust it at all. He dug the hole with a perfectly level bottom. Nice work, Diesel Mechanic!
Unfortunately, it’s been raining pretty hard, and we have to leave everything uncovered until the inspector has a looksee. It turns out that a concrete tank--even one as big as this one--will float in just a little bit of water. When I woke up this morning, it was pouring and I was a little scared to go over and check the hole. It appears to be draining fine, though, so hopefully everything will be OK. The weather is supposed to let up a little bit tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Tomorrow, the installation guy is coming with my broadband satellite dish. I can hardly wait. Once I put in an outdoor shower, I may not need that house....
Saturday, April 28, 2007
I Live in a Trailer House
I’m not sure when you’ve officially broken ground on a new house, but an event that I believe probably qualifies is just around the corner for me. Next Monday, my neighbor (and possibly the nicest diesel mechanic you will ever meet in your life) will cruise over to my place in his backhoe to dig a hole expansive enough to hold a tank that will prevent up to 1,500 gallons of my very own excrement from contaminating the town of Blocksburg. Exciting? Yes! I can’t exactly say the rest of the townspeople are cheering, but my friends and neighbors have graciously offered all sorts of help and advice that has left me experiencing feelings that I usually only reserve for baby animals.
Help happens spontaneously around here, and I have learned to drop whatever I’m doing and accept it when it comes . That’s how I ended up filling propane tanks in one of my cutest outfits over at the Alderpoint Store today. I was on my way to Eureka to replace my cellphone for the second time in less than a month when I spotted the Diesel Mechanic on the road and stopped to chat. Not only did he offer to help me hook up the propane at the trailer where I’m staying, but he also ran an extension cord from his house so I can have power, which means I can order a satellite Internet connection tomorrow. I am a very happy girl. He also brought me a microwave and helped me figure out what I need to fix the water. My quality of life drastically improved in just a couple of hours. Sure, even as I type this (for uploading later at the Worm Lady’s house), I’m thinking about how I should walk up a very steep hill to the outhouse before I turn in for bed, but still...things aren’t too bad right now.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
A Modern Bunkhouse?
The guys who designed the house we plan to build next spring have gone pre-fab. I think I might need one of their Jot Houses to use as a bunkhouse on the back flat! Congratulations, Leigh and Bryant!
