Entries from July 2007

Elements

Thursday, 26 July, 2007 · No Comments

I want to add more photos in the album, but can’t.  Bryan’s at a week-long Scout Camp and has taken the camera with him.  I got some really cool scenic shots of where we live the other day - I wish I’d thought to upload them before he left.
Speaking of cool, I had two guys come over yesterday and install air conditioning for us.  It’s been the hottest summer on record for this area of MT (of course) and we were melting without anything.  When Bryan and I came here almost a year ago to house hunt, people said, “oh no, you don’t need air conditioning, just open your windows for two weeks of the year, you’ll be fine.”  So needless to say, we were excited for that prospect, especially considering we were moving from the desert.
The first guy that showed up, Scott, arrived just after 10 a.m. to install the unit and the coil and anything else he took down the crawl space or outside with him.  Ian was so excited.  He hung out with Scott for most of the morning, and by Scott’s admission - after I thanked him for letting Ian hang out with him and for entertaining him - said Ian kept him company.
By 5 o’clock, Scott was done and another guy showed up, Gerry.  Gerry was fascinating to Ian too, but no doubt because he had a small blow torch with him to weld the copper pipping inside and out.  By 6:15, he was gone too, and I excitedly got the house down to a comfortable 80ºF (27ºC).  At 9 p.m., I turned the AC off and opened all the windows and let the now cool air breeze in through the house.
So now I’m sitting here this morning, slightly ticked off.  It’s usually 79ºF by this time in here, and today (of course) it’s still just a very comfortable 73ºF (23ºC).  I have no words for that.
I’m hoping that’s all I have to be disgusted about though, because you know they say incidents happen in threes.  Well, I’m still waiting for number three.  A week-and-a-half ago, Bryan and I had just woken and were laying chatting in bed.  Suddenly there was a huge cracking noise and we sprang up to find the source of the smashed glass noise.  One of the three small windows above our bed broke for no reason - on the inside pane.  Thankfully the house is still under warranty and we got the window replaced for free.  Kelly was installing the replacement window and was taping in the last piece of plastic window seal — and crack, it smashed again.  I would have laughed harder if it hadn’t been 98ºF outside.
Sunday, Bryan took a half day from work to pack for Scout Camp, and as he was walking past the fridge, heard hissssssssss!  “Oh crap”, he thought, “it’s the fridge”, pulled it out and listened.  No, it was coming from the wall.  The crawl space!  He ran for it and flew down there to investigate.  A pipe was spraying out water, and who knows how long it had been doing it either.  I don’t remember hearing anything that morning, but I had a floor fan, The Wonder Pets, Ian and Cameron to muffle any sounds before heading off to Church with them.  Bryan turned off the water supply and joined me.
After we got home, we called the general contractor and he sent a plumber in 10 minutes.  Turns out the connector in the basement between the water pipe and the fridge was faulty and that’s what was spraying the water out.  Looking back, I’m just glad it happened now and not when we decided to go on vacation for 2 weeks.
So here I sit, wondering what number 3 will be, hoping it happens in the next two months because by then our lovely warranty is up.  And that would be about as welcome as a double cheeseburger at a Bar Mitzvah party.

Categories: Everyday Drama · Family
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Word of the Week

Wednesday, 25 July, 2007 · No Comments

toty:  (pronounced toe-tey)
A term applied to anything very small or a person very young:
“Aww, look at these wee toty shoes!”
“Ye said he wisnae tall, but ye never said he wis toty!”

Categories: Word of the Week
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Me. In a Nutshell, In 10 Seconds. Maybe.

Tuesday, 17 July, 2007 · No Comments

Me, in a nutshell, in 10 seconds. Maybe.
Preface
I was born and raised in Scotland and moved here for 6 months when I was 25 (and 2 days). Three states, two mortgages, two boys and 7½ years later, I’m still here, surviving the quiet, tumbleweed life in scenic Montana.
[I'm not making this up, a deer just ran past my back fence. It was mental!]

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Ok, here we go. Despite being a Scot, I can’t stand porridge, oatmeal or anything mush-like at all. And let’s throw in warm milk for good measure too. I’m a soft-hearted perfectionist with a flair for drawing, shopping, reading dictionaries, and teaching myself new skills. There goes the 10 seconds. I love peach rings, gummy worms (the sour kind) and sausages. I can juggle, wire a British plug, change a fan belt, sign in BSL and burp on demand. I really want a bike and a pair of rollerblades. I also want a pavement outside my front door (the UK and US kinds) to facilitate said rollerblading. And yes, I still have my accent. And yes, it has bought me bargains at stores.
Post script: I’m married to a microbiologist who loves science-fiction, Man Vs. Wild, Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs, but rarely watches sport.

Categories: Me · Meme

Word of the Week

Wednesday, 11 July, 2007 · No Comments

stupit-lookin:

An abusive objective, popular among those who prefer not to swear:

“Gaun, ya stupit-lookin daft big clown, ye!”

Categories: Word of the Week
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