I ran out of time for updates yesterday (other than the K hub above).
As I mentioned last week, we’ve been busy redoing my mother-in-law’s back yard pond area. It’s meant moving and rewiring the garden outlets, replacing water pipes and irrigation hose, ripping up old landscaping, and laying 2 tons of stone for a walk way. I spent most of yesterday laying the stone (see pics below).
On another note. Ann was walking towards the entrance of Lowest yesterday wearing her “Bomb Squad” shirt, one she got from Joe in Mesa (she loves the shirt). In the Airforce, among other things, she both armed and defused bombs. That was part of her profession, so she wears her Bomb Squad shirt proudly.
Anyway, as she’s walking into Lowes, some guy in a truck drives near her as she neared the front entrance of the store and calls out to her. She didn’t understand him, so she asked him what he said. He replied that “it was nice of your boyfriend to let you wear his shirt.”
Shit, meet fan ….
Let’s just say that it didn’t go well for that guy. Ann explained that she did not need to justify her service to the man in the truck, but she did anyway, telling him that it was her, not her husband, who was the bomb expert, that it was her profession. And, if a bomb ever needed to be defused, that she ought to be the one doing it and not her husband (I concur).
The lesson here is don’t be like that guy. There are over 200,000 of active-duty women in the military doing all kinds of work. Show’m respect.
Here are some pics of the backyard project …
this is the pond pump and plumping. The pipes needed some new sections. The wiring for the pump was never attached to a post, so I moved the wiring, sunk a post, and added a craftsman style box and cover.
This is another electrical outlet that needed a post and the craftsman box around it. I’ve added some anti-critter filler at the bottom to keep them at bay (hopefully).
New irrigation hose.
Finally ready for stone.
Let the laying of stone begin.
The layout includes areas for plants/flowers between the walkway and the pond.
Made good progress yesterday.
I should be finished laying the stones on Tuesday. Then, we’ll be filling in the gaps with some small stones. And, we need to finish staining the fence.
Looks fantastic!
Anne,
Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. We commend you for standing up to the idiots that are out running around free to spout out their ignorance because of your service. With Veteran’s day coming up, we all need to take the time to thank the Veterans that we come into contact with.
Your knowledge that you shared with Dave and me about the inner workings of the surface to air missile at the Veterans Museum in Huntsville this past spring was exceptional. Kathy and I were proud to have had the opportunity to have met you and Dave.
Dave,
I like the execution on the Craftsman box to hide the electrical for the pond. Job well done.
Ambitious project, but worth it when done. Looks great. Just seeing all that stone to be “picked up and moved” makes my back scream ‘here’ in Florida. I’ll bet you slept good last night. Hang in there.
I wish I was there to see Anne straighten out that guy, that must have been great. Were you there when it happened, Dave?
Oh to have been a fly on the wall when Ann re-educated that guy 🙂
I served with a lot of great women (Army, Navy and Air Force): all very tough individuals … I almost pity that poor guy!
And I agree with Steve Kreisher… makes my back scream just looking at the pics of all that stone.
Nice work Dave
You, sir are a good man !!!…….not sure I would have what it takes to do the project you have almost completed.
Thanks guys. After five summers of writing and travels, it’s the first time since we were married that we’ve fully tackled the backyard. Ann’s earned it.
One reason I work out on a regular basis is so that I can tackle projects like this without killing myself. I learned that from my father, though he hit the weights much harder than I ever have (I lift to maintain strength, not build additional muscle). Until age 69 and his stroke, he would strap on tree spikes and climb up a tree 50 to 100 feet to cut branches. He cut trees into fire wood with an axe and a whip saw to work out.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE FROM A HAIGHT-ASHBURY DRAFT DODGER — I FEEL PRETTY GOOD THOUGH — I PERSONALLY STOPPED THE WAR IN VIETNAM — SAVED THE REDWOODS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY — RIOTED FOR FREE SPEECH IN BERKELEY — AND POLLUTED THIS FORUM MANY TIMES — CHEERS
Good Job Anne… it is too bad that there are idiots like that one still in our country.
As a vet, and a son that is currently serving, that you for Your Service to our country.
And Dave, I didn’t see any Jeeps helping on that project. Thought for sure would see a couple strategically placed around just for show.
Good Job.
DAVID ?? — GOING UP A TREE WITH HOOKS ?? — THATS WHY GOD MADE AERIAL BUCKET LIFTS ?? — MY SPECIALTY ?? — IN OUR COMPANY , THE ONLY PEOPLE USING HOOKS OR LADDERS ARE THE NEWBIES — ALL MAINLINE TECHS HAVE BUCKETS — I HAVE A JEEP TOY HERE — ITS A FC-170 JEEP WITH A BUCKET LIFT — FUNNY I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY JEEP TRUCK IN WITH AN AERIAL BUCKET LIFT ??? — TRUCKS THAT HAVE BUCKETS ARE USUALLY MEDIUM SIZE , F-350 AND UP — USUALLY UP —> F-850 —> C-700 —> UP —> OH , AND REMEMBER —> MY FATHER WAS AT PEARL HARBOR — 12/8/41 — USS ENTERPRISE — STEAMED IN TO CLEAN UP THE MESS — R.I.P. CPO SHARKEY — CHEERS
Anne’s the bomb….
My mother died at the age of 94 last year and served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army from 1944 until discharged in 1952 from the Army Reserve. She served in northern Italy from 1944 to 1946, living in a tent. My father made it all the way to corporal and served stateside. Later in life, she worked for the VA treating men with PTSD and other illnesses triggered by their service. She retired at 72 and kept her uniform in the front hall closet in case she needed it again. When she was 88, I took her to Lowes to get a new refrigerator on Veteran’s Day (for the discount), and they were in disbelief that she had served even though she had her discharge papers with her (“I need to call a manager”). Yes, there were women in the Army — I knew it. My room went through inspection every day and my bed was made. My hat is off to Anne for her service.
PR ? — BOTH MY MOTHER AND FATHER WERE IN WW2 — MA WAS A NAVY WAVE — PA WAS A NAVY SAILOR , PEARL HARBOR , SOUTH SEAS , ON THE USS HORNET WHEN IT WAS SUNK — WAS A COOK LATER IN WW2 , ON THE ISLANDS , THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN IN ONE HAND , SOUP LADLE IN THE OTHER — MA HELPED MAKE THE ATOM BOMBS THEY DROPPED ON JAPAN — BOTH WERE COMMITTED TO THE SEA LAST SPRING — OFF SANTA CATALINA ISLAND — DUAL CEREMONY — OFF THE USS AMERICA — R.I.P. MA PA — BOTH HEROS !!