Long Lost Friends, Floods, & New Keys

Whew....where do I start?.... Okay....so......this past saturday nite... my neighbor Char & I are chit chatting over the 'puter for hours into the nite....beers....cigs....blogs... & picture sharing. Sometime throughout the nite I pulled out the 'fetish & fantasy ball' pics. You know, pictures of 1/2 , 3/4 and full on nekkid pictures of people in various fetish & bondage outfits.

A group of us used to go to Vegas every Halloween to attend this event & my friend David (extremely artistically talented) created this Gargoyle outfit (pic @ left) one year & ended up winning 2500.00 in the costume contest. I was telling Char how much I missed him as we went thru all our travel pics over the years. He has been on my mind the last week & on my list to call. He & his partner Daniel had moved to Hawaii last year & its been a while since we have caught up.

WELL....Monday nite after a long work day, I ran errands....got the babies stuffed animal killing remains cleaned up, mopped, & changed into PJ's with intentions of reading a book & going to bed early.

Phone rings....its David! He was calling to see if I was hungry?!?!? huh?......... YEP....they were in town....for David's fathers funeral. =( We met at our favorite Meditterean food spot & chatted into the nite. It was soooo fantastic to see them....hear of their island life...& catch up. =) (more in later post).....

Fast forward to this am......I wake up.....put the pups outside to potty & step in the lake that was forming in my kitchen overnite....!!! My water heater blew. So I call into work......call Stuart to share my saga....mop....& run next door to my conveniently located plumber.

Now....I've owned this home since 1990 & never drained the water heater (I know,I know). We turn off the electricity...Shane told us we needed to drain it before carefully moving it. Well...my lack of attention over the years caused the drain plug to NOT WORK. The heater was clogged with sediment so thick that when Stuart turned on the flush valve....the water inside was all the way to the top & started draining out the release pipe to the side of the house. I went to find a dolly to assist in moving this 50 gallon heater. No dolly around.....but I did find a another neighbor to help drag the heater on a piece of carpet out to the backyard. We flipped it & cruised off to Home Depot...dropped 300+ for another heater.

After we got it home, & put the newly purchased heater into its little space, it turned out to be taller than the last. When Shane came over (at the end of his work day....mind u!) to hook it up, he took the time to replaced all the flex hoses & created a new release drain pipe.

In the meantime......while I waited for Shane, I took advantage of our beautiful AZ weather & changed the front door locks (two knobs & two deadbolts) one set for the front door & another set for the security door. I also repainted the black security doors. I really enjoyed the weather & doing manual things aound the house today. Because of school over the last three years....I have not had the opportunity to check things off that never ending list that exists when you own a home.

Even though I did not bill any hours at work...& spent $ I was not planning on.....it was a GR8 day! I also had the chance to get together with David for dinner. Daniel took the opportunity to attend a work function since they were in town. David mentioned that although they live in paradise....have banana & papaya trees growing in their backyard....walk to the beach each day, the variety of cuisine is lacking on the island. We had delicious Indian food .....mmm....mm..... =)

Thank U Stuart!, for letting me interrupt your day to rescue me....U are the best !!! Thank U Shane! for being there for me today...I appreciate your smiling attitude ....even after your long day ......no questions.....no hesitation....just there to help out a friend & neighbor...U rock! & Thank U David .....for spending your time & sharing your beautiful pictures of the paradise U now call home!




Off to watch Nip /Tuck...hang up the babies Winter shirts..... & prepare for another day.....after a nice long HOT shower of course!!!