It’s an unexpectedly pleasant weekend at Harstine. I say “unexpectedly” because we’d been lead to believe that the weather was going to deteriorate. So far it hasn’t! It’s been very nice, and we took another boat ride yesterday. Went toward Olympia where we stopped at an old, pretty much abandoned marina where JDub used to work before he (had to) join the Air Force (to avoid the Army, since his draft number was up). So it had been 30+ years since he’d worked there! His old boss still runs the place, which has moved up the hill to a big shop that sells and repairs boats and motors. He’d pretty much closed down the marina part of the operation because of liability. (Insurance was killer). He’s a pretty old guy now, but in great shape, both physically and mentally. JDub said he used to be about 150 pounds overweight when he worked for him. Now he has JDub’s lanky physique! It took a bit for them to recognize each other, because 30+ years makes a huge difference. (JDub actually had hair when he worked for the guy!) We had the dogs with us (yup, in their life jackets) and here was Bailey running around the shop, sniffing all the boats and stuff. And here was Peanut, parked outside the shop, and no way was she coming inside into a strange place with strange people. She’s such a goof! “I’ll just wait for you outside, thank-you-very-much, because otherwise I might die.”).
We’d dropped the crab pot out front of our place – pretty far out where it was deeper. So when we returned, we checked it. Nada. We weren’t surprised, but we had to give it a try. Crab tend to like sea-weedy areas, and there really isn’t much of that around our place. We’re not ready to give up, though. There are other places to try, even though it would mean a boat ride each time to check the pot. But that’s not such a bad thing! It would be well worth it, especially if we could find Dungeness.
Aside from JDub sawing up some tree trunks he’d cut down a few weeks ago, and also attacking a bunch of those g*&da$!mned scotch broom, and me doing some cooking and washing a lot of dishes, it’s been quite relaxing. We’re making a list of stuff we want to bring with us next weekend, for when we’re down here the full week. I keep thinking (excitedly) of our upcoming vacation, and JDub keeps thinking (nervously) of the upcoming strike vote on Sept. 1st. Could definitely put a damper on our vacation. Especially if he has to return home for picket duty. Sigh.
And so, we’ve been playing the new game (The Longest Journey), and we are baffled. Totally stuck, and have been since basically Friday night. We desperately need to check out the hints website, which we can’t do from here with NO INTERNET ACCESS. Gosh, we’ve both tried so many things that make so much logical sense, all for naught. Very frustrating! It’s probably something stupid, but damned if we can come up with what it is.
Later…JDub’s napping and I’m not wanting to because I did sleep in fairly late this morning, and also because I don’t want the time to slip away any faster than it already is. I hate Sundays! They always mean “The End”, and the whole day has that heaviness on my mind. Need to pack up, need to go home, need to anticipate another work week. NEXT Sunday will feel heavenly because it won’t mean all that heaviness. We’ll get to stay!
The gravel road that gets us to our property has been chip-sealed. The road is private as well as quite long, plus it branches off into several different directions. We have a “road committee”, that, of course, means a road maintenance fund. In the past, that has resulted in having fresh gravel applied and sometimes grading or whatever. But we made the decision to chip-seal it, and those of us along the waterfront contributed significant extra funds to “fairly” offset the cost of those who are not on the waterfront (and simply don’t have those extra funds). It still caused an uproar, of course. Some of those non-waterfront folks actually wanted their DRIVEWAYS chip-sealed and were indignant that that wasn’t addressed! Plus, they’re the ones who always had such a major dust issue with traffic (such as it is) coming through. Huh? Anyway. It’s sure nice now. It’ll take a little time with vehicles driving on it to pack down the gravel into the tar to make it smooth, but it’s already 99% better than it was, and the dust is greatly diminished. Makes me aware (and appreciative) of how expensive roadwork truly is. It was something like $30,000 total to have the chip-seal done. Lord! Yes, I suppose it increases the value of our property, but only if we were planning on selling it. It’s kind of like thinking of the “value” of your diamond wedding ring. Only if JDub dumped me would I consider the monetary “value” of the thing!
Which makes me think: Why is it that over time, when the value of our properties increase and the equity goes up, why can’t we liquidate some of that cash? Why does it have to be a loan if you want to tap into that equity? The money is OURS, right? So what if you end up selling for less down the road – that would just be understood. It would be so nice to be able to take out whatever the increased equity was, and apply it to the loan payment to pay it off quicker, or whatever you wanted to use it for. Why can’t we do that?
JDub has decided that this 30 ft. camping trailer that is HERE for the duration (complete with deck and landscaping) needs a Real Toilet, in lieu of the typical Camping Trailer Toilet. Big difference. Since we’re hooked up to the septic tank, it makes sense. So, he bought one! And it’s currently sitting out on the deck, awaiting installation (during our vacation). (Simply can’t get away from the white trailer trash thing!) I sort of figure that the installation of it won’t be fun. We’ve also noticed that the flooring around the current toilet is pretty soft, which is a common problem with camping trailers. So it will likely require some floor-shoring, as well as plumbing it in, which will also likely be a headache, transitioning between camping trailer plumbing and household plumbing. (And also… doing away with the holding tank, that we currently flush into the septic tank as need be. How do you dispose of a holding tank? Eeewww.) I worry/stew about these things, but JDub tends not to, because he tends to be able to figure out whatever needs figuring out. However, the end-result I can imagine will be great! What an improvement it’ll be. (It’s just getting to that point…)
Well, it’s definitely starting to cloud up out there, but it’s still warmish and pleasant. It kind of looks like by this evening, we’ll be seeing rain drops. That’s OK. We need it, and at least they aren’t showing up until the weekend is almost done. That’s all that matters.
I’m still reading “The Historian”. And it’s good. I’m really glad that Melissa recommended it to me. It’s a bit of a heavy read, which I appreciate, but not everybody would. I’m totally intrigued with the history, as well as the geography, that I’m learning about. Yes, the story is about Dracula, but it’s about so much more than that. I realize that I learned so very little about history when I was in school. And I’m certain that Nate has learned even less. History isn’t taught well. It needs to be taught creatively so that you can “be there”, or visualize it, and have a “feel” for the flesh and blood of so long ago. A textbook doesn’t cut it. I think taking some liberty with the personalities of people (based upon as much fact as possible – from writings and letters and other documents) would bring history to life in a classroom setting. I think history teachers forget that history is, after all, about people. And about the beauty or ugliness of places, and the brutal grimness and sometimes sardonic humor of survival, religion, politics, and family life. I like thinking of our blogs as possible future documents that bring to life what life is like in our era. I wish so much that my grandmothers, or great-great-grandmothers, had kept journals. (Notice it’s the women I anticipate as natural historians. How many men keep journals?) However, back then, I’m sure that the women – and men – were too busy trying to survive and didn’t have the luxury of time to write about how they were managing it.
And… as I’m speaking writing, the rain drops have begun! (Earlier than I thought!) Oooh, and the wind has really kicked up, too. Can you say “storm”?
Strike vote happens tomorrow. And it looks like it may well happen. Management was ordered by mucky-mucks today to talk to the "rank and file" and strongly support the Company's doctrine. JDub couldn't help himself. He said he was quite verbal at this meeting. (Which rather surprised me, because he's not a major union fan -- but he does recognize bullshit when he hears it).
BOSTON -- And now let us pause to celebrate Aug. 26, the anniversary of women's suffrage. It's been 85 years since Harry Burn, a young Tennessee legislator, followed the advice of his mom and cast the deciding vote ratifying the 19th Amendment. 
OK, this game? "The Longest Journey?" The rate I’m going, I’ll be looking like this before I’ve completed that journey! 
It's not being a bad week, per se, but I've been feeling rather mopey anyway. I don't know why because the weather has been beautiful and nothing terrible is happening. Just end-of-the-summer blahs, I guess. (And hormonal issues, I reckon). 
