HOME WOES Being a homeowner (or multiple homeowner) has its moments. Outside of mortgages, taxes, upkeep there are the inevitable Surprise! moments. Like the temperamental dishwasher at the lake house. Sometimes she works and sometimes she doesn't. I use the feminine persuasion as I am the anointed dishwasher in the family a task I am happy to perform as I do not do the cooking. Works well. This week the GFI for the stove (Grand Ledge) kicked in twice. As I learned in my electrical classes-once a fluke, twice ruh oh. However, I could not get an appointment for a week so it's outside dining or microwaveable entrees. Whoo hoo!
Due to a cancellation the very next day (similar to the WHAM Last Christmas song) we were able to gift the electrician $200 to find NOTHING WRONG, of course. Meanwhile the stove is chuckling at our frustration. Also, no problems with the external box we had installed that works with the fancy-pants generator that did not work at the last power outage. Generator worked fine but no power. It is not our imagination; machines and AI are taking over, and we are just letting it happen. Had him replace the GFI anyway, which on a gas stove pretty much works the clock and got assurances they would come back-no charge-if either played dead again. Right. The OH gets frustrated that I insist on "safety first" with these episodes, but 40 years of education leaves its mark. And it's always expensive. Oh I get why management hated to see me coming, hmmm.
Though interestingly enough the electrician knew one of the ladies who was the first female to go through the BWL's apprenticeship electrical program. A time I remember well as the other female apprentice quit as the guys were pretty tough on them even though I explained that is part of being a "grunt" (ground person). However, based on my experiences and later when female firefighters were hired at the city, some men do up the ante on females treading their hallowed ground. The electrician described this successful female as being tough as nails - which is kind of a necessary skill in male-dominated professions which explains why I have been called that and worse in my career. No fainting flowers or terrified tissues here. Not over-reacting when the Teamster President starts banging his chair on the floor (literally) as he is screaming about something is a real skill set.
THE PLAY'S THE THING (credit to Hamlet) Happier thoughts. JP was being dramatic over something during our twice weekly phone call after school and I said he should definitely look into drama club when he has the chance. Though the boy loves an audience and performs without prompting, he said he would be worried he would forget his lines. I performed in a couple of productions in high school and told him about missing lines. The guy playing opposite would always muff a particular line just before mine, so I was ready when the inevitable pause occurred. After a brief wait, I started my part with "I know what you're going to say...." I was complimented roundly for saving the scene but, hey that's what rehearsals are for. I also got to throw water on him in the final scene so all good. Drew a gasp from the audience every time. I toyed with theater classes in college but life intervened and making a living seemed more important. Though having experience covering awkward pauses has been helpful with my podcasts. And people wonder why I insist on a run-through (think rehearsal) before we actually record. With little opportunity, personnel or time to do extensive editing "getting the take" in one is of paramount importance.
DEATH OF INNOCENCE As I rant occasionally...on politics I was reminded the other day that one of my first professional jobs was editing a newsletter called "Washington Watch" which later became the "Washington Spectator" written by journalist Tristram Coffin. He was a liberal democrat with strong opposition to the Viet Nam war and his day job was as a political reporter covering the White House for ABC & CBS. I enjoyed our conversations where my tiny role was to tell him where I thought he should cut his copy to meet the printing guidelines. Which meant I had to digest his opinion in the piece and suggest where we could cut and still make sense. That probably influenced my attempted organization of the mail room to support my first ever Presidential vote for McGovern. Well, we all know how the Nixon experiment played out. I did my part. Seemed so simple to hold the bad dudes accountable back then.
ONE WEEK TO GO On a different note, presents are wrapped; decorating is done and a..gasp...artificial tree is in place. As the daughter is hosting the Christmas dinner this year we toned it down a bit. She and her husband are breaking with the traditional meal and providing an alternative with an Italian flair.
Funny how disjointed memories pop up this time of year. Going to California to visit my brother at his Marine base one Christmas; being broke and having about $50 to spend two months after our wedding and a tiny little blue lit tree; shopping with Mother at Meijers when I hosted my first Christmas dinner and everybody coming down with the flu the next day (I went first); my daughter's first Christmas when it was 65 degrees; that Christmas after Mother passed with the Sweet sisters sadly taking on her duties; but then believing in Santa again with my grandson as we made our cookies for Santa and waiting impatiently for him to get up so we could celebrate. Peace out....💚 💛💙
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