ValleyRD Mailing List: Ski's Letter

[Bob Heiser (w7ikt]

Hello One & All Dear Friends - - -

 

Here it is, about one month, since our retirement from the Valley, and we have come to a stark conclusion. That being: We are retiring from retirement and going back to work ! ! !   It was easier and less hectic running a full round dance program. We are being engulfed in flames since we cannot put out all the fires that are surrounding us (no real fire flames just everything going on and not being able to get anything under control). Bad enough this is happening, but then I have to listen to Kay complain about this also. I need to find a place in the back 40 to hide from her.

 

Overall we are doing fine. Since our leaving the Valley we have been busy trying to get things under control. First it was try to set up the workshop in the barn. Prior to leaving the Valley we went and purchased and cut the wood for an Office Cabinet. Well, the wood is still piled up and waiting to be put together. All I need to do is find some of my tools to assemble the cabinet. We know the tools are in the barn, but where?

 

That lead us to building a bench for the table saw once we got things going. At least once it was built we had a work area. Since the saw is 220 volts we had to run electricity to the saw. That was done and in the process we also ran electricity to a side wall for outlets and another set of lights. Everything still needs to be hooked up to the electric panel. We also put sheet rock up, built a bench, and then got the peg board up. We spent a day looking for peg board because all my hooks are for small holes and everyone has peg board for the larger hooks. Anyway we found the peg board and hooks and got it up and started unpacking boxes of tools. We have found some of the tools. But there still is a bunch missing somewhere in the barn. I was thinking of buying new tools that I needed, but Kay put her foot down on that. I always thought you could never have to many tools. We built a beam to hang lights from but that is still sitting on a bench because we have a wall that is not anchored to the floor or wall, it is only being held up by one on the roof beams. I need to anchor that before we can hang more lights.

 

I was planning on doing that a few weeks ago but we had to move two shelving units that I keep all my hardware on. We did get the shelves moved but while doing that we needed to trim the trees and on the weekends we have been doing that with Chris and Tim. We are planning on doing that again this weekend so we can scratch doing anything in the barn. I will say that the yard is looking better. All we really need to do is plant some grass to make it look better yet, but then we need the weather to stay a little more consistently warmer.

 

Did I mention that the weather needs to be a little warmer? We set a record last week with an all-time high, 93 degrees, but overall it is cold up here. We wake up in the mornings and we see a white glistening on the ground. You go outside you definitely know what it is. It is call frost, for those of you that are in the Valley and do not see it. Besides being cold the wind does not help make it any more comfortable. No going outside with that kind of weather. Barn is not heated, yet! It is supposed to be in the 50-60 this weekend and windy. I am going to regret trimming trees.

 

We are still unpacking boxes as we find space to put the stuff. It is making it easier to work in the barn without all the boxes. There for a while it was a continuous move from one location to another just to get them out of the way. Things are getting better in the barn. I cannot say that about the house because we have boxes and boards in 3 rooms now.

 

Kay wanted the beer mugs shelf boards out of the barn and moved to the garage. We moved them. They sat there for a couple of weeks and the we washed them and stacked them in the game room. Also have to move the boards that we cut for the office cabinet to the game room. Now two stacks of wood on the floor. Then at the beginning of the week Kay needed some records so she decided to move them to the garage. From the garage, they have to be moved, we moved them into the game room. Not too many games going on right now, unless there is some kind of moving game I don’t know about. Kay wipe up the boxes and try to organize them on the floor. Less room for games now. Now she is ready to move the bookcase for the records to the garage from the barn.

 

All this is being done so that we can have the garage floor finished. We were going to go with an epoxy paint but decided against that and we are now going with a commercial tile. As I sit here and type the tile layers (?) are starting to lay the tile. Yesterday when they were here they ended up prepping the side walls and put a coat of thinset on the floor. They told me that they would be done today. (Since typing this and trying to get it out the floor is close to be half done).  Once that is done and the floor is set up we will need to clean the floor and get some wax on it. Another priority or fire we need to get done, so stop everything else, because we are having out first workshop this coming Wednesday, if everything goes OK. We want to paint the bookcase for the records before putting the records back. Hopefully we can get this done on Sunday, if we do not have another higher priority pop up.

   

We are preparing for a big festival coming up in Washington, DC and we are busy trying to write two dances. We do need to get the garage floor done so we can start having workshops so we can check out the dances with the local dancers. It is always nice to have you guys or them to work out the bugs and goofs. I sure am going to miss my proof reader from down there.

 

We have been out dancing once a few weeks ago and every time we want to go back out there is always something that comes up at the last minute. I guess we will try again this week because I know the weekend is shot right now. There is a big festival going on this weekend in Houston and we thought about going to that, but with the floor being done today, and then we get a gate tomorrow, oh, got to tell you about the gate, we just could not get away with everything else going on.

 

Getting an electric gate installed tomorrow. I am tired to hearing Kay complaining about opening and closing the gate when we go through it. I am driving so I stay behind the wheel. I really cannot understand why she is complaining because it is not raining. With rain I could understand her being wet, cold and a little hostile. But without the rain, come on, give me a break. Anyway, you will definitely know it is us as you drive by the entrance.

 

Well, I better be going. We have heard that we left the Valley because of Kay’s health. Nothing could be further from the truth. We left the Valley mainly because we could not get hall time to do a viable Round Dance Program. Yes, we did sell the house quickly but we were already looking for a place to rent for the season. We just need more hall time to make things work for you and us. Kay has been doing great health wise. She does get a little testy with the gate and with the kids, along with me, telling her not to do things, but outside of that she is doing great. Please keep that in mind.   

 

In closing we do miss you guys a lot. When most of you are traveling north, for you northerners that are still up there – traveling south, please let us know. We do have the guest room set up, we did find the boxes in the barn and have the bedding washed and ready to use. Plan on spending a night or two with us. We are not all that familiar with the area but we can explore it together. Also, we had a 220 volt, 30-amp service wired in the garage for RV’s. No the garage will not allow for RV parking and besides that is for dancing. Please do not plan on coming through around the middle of March since we will be out of town from the 17^th to the 23rd.  

 

Well, I better be going. This message is getting quite long and if it is to long for you, delete it. A fine time to tell you since you are at the end. Take care and have a great season dancing. We miss you all – even the ones that were a pain in the posterior - - -

 

Have a great season - - - Ski’s

--
God Bless,
Bob (W7IKT) & Carol (N5CBQ) Heiser
Shaving the way to Conquer Kid's Cancer