Retirement

BW worked her last day in the Circulation Department today. Thanks for the hugs, the candy, and the pearls of wisdom, BW. Okay, okay.....Thanks for the hugs and candy. You're free of BR now.

Pirates-follow up

AN made my place around 5PM Saturday night. I gave her a quick tour of my house. I think she was impressed. We were a little pressed for time so we got a carry-out dinner and ate it at my house. (Most restaurants around here have you wait an hour before sitting you).

We drove down from North KC to the UMKC campus (which is near the Plaza) and picked up our tickets. We were a little early in our arrival, so we took a little walk around the campus and talked.

The operetta itself was fantastic, especially the song "I Am the Model of a Modern Major-General." I was very impressed by the set-up of the theatre.

Later, we went dancing at a KC dance bar and danced and talked until the bar closed. Afterwards, we went to a local coffee house and talk and had a little breakfast. We arrived back at my place at 3:30 Sunday morning. I asked AN to phone me when she made it safely to a family members house, which she did at 4:30 AM. I went to bed at 5.

Saturday morning drive

This morning I drove down around the UMKC area to determine where the Missouri Repertory Theatre was located (so that AN and I would not get lost tonight). The fall colors are brilliant this year. I wonder if it's due to all the excess rain we got this year.
The trees in my yard are turning a brownish gold. Translation: It will take these three trees six months to shed their leaves giving me constant mowing opportunities over the winter months.

Pirates--another thought

I might add that AN is traveling 200 miles from her home to go on this date with me. Fortunately, she has family in the KC area so she'll have a place to stay. In one of my emails to her, I told her that I owe her a couple of trips to her town.

Pirates of Penzance Saturday Night

I've asked AN out on a date Saturday night and she accepted. We will rendevouz at my house, grab dinner, and then grab the musical on the UMKC's campus. I am looking forward to it.

Assessing the damage

Yesterday my friend MS and I assessed the damage to the ceiling to the guest bathroom following Septembers episodes of torrential rain. It looks like I will have to replace the sheetrock in the ceiling. But, on closer view of the ceiling, it looks like the leak has been around for quite some time. We poked and prodded the ceiling and discovered a lot of give in the ceiling. MS says the damage to the ceiling is the result of years upon years of leaking. In other words, this problem started before I moved into the house. I am not looking forward to the costs of replacing this sheetrock.

Family reunion, sort of--follow-up

After work yesterday, I went to the family gathering at Basehor. I was an hour late but still managed to have a good conversation with family members I haven't seen for two years. SE is doing well. Her husband is home from Kosovo (I think). BL and his wife are doing okay too. After spending a year in Minnesota, they returned to Kansas where Bill is employed by Nebraska Furniture Mart and has also bought a house in Basehor.

I had an especially nice conversation with BL and SE's parents. They are of retirement age and are very proud grandparents of BL and SE's children (a total of four). I spent about an hour talking with them, getting caught up on family news.

A Sunday night well spent.

Family reunion, of sorts

Last night I received a phone call from SE. She is the daughter of my mom's cousin. Anyway, she invited my sister and me to her place for a barbecue gathering this coming Sunday. SE is my age, is happily married, and has three daughters (I think). I have to work on Sunday, so I'll be late to the barbecue.

Three-year plan for the house

After the visit from the roofer yesterday, I made a list of major home improvements that I would like to perform on the house during the next three years. Whether I can afford these improvements will be determined.

2005--Replace the house's original heating and air conditioning system with something brand new. I have a feeling the cost on this will start at about $8,000. But I should research it, first.

2006--New guttering around the house. I noticed during September's torrential rains that a lot of rain water drained through rust holes instead of draining to the drain pipes along the side of the house.

2007--Reroof the house. The roofer notice that my roof had two layers of shingles and it looked like the second layer shingles were stapled into their position. The roofer said the cost of reroofing would be about $4,000.

Ah, the joys of home-ownership.

Roof repairs by Barney Rubble

Yesterday, I had a new turbine installed on the roof of my house. The old one became out of balance and made rattling and clanging noises whenever the wind would blow. I was very impressed with the gentleman who installed the new turbine. He has been a roofer for twenty years for Gentry Roofing of KC. He installed the turbine in no time and, to my surprise, was able to locate the source of the leak that was draining rain water into my guest bathroom. Apparently, one of the roof's ventilation devices had a two inch crack in it. So, when with the torrential rain the water would pool above the ventilator and then drain into the crack and then under the roof to the bathroom. The roofer caulked the crack.

I enjoyed the roofer's personality. He has the ability to laugh at the most simple things but, more importantly, he has the ability to laugh at himself. He kind of reminds me of Barney Rubble from the Flintstones.

Computer Lab supervisors meeting

I will be meeting with the Main's computer lab supervisor on Wednesday. The purpose of the meeting is to engage in a discussion about computer use issues in a public library setting. I want to maintain an open communication with SND so that our two libraries can maintain a consistency on service to the public and also help each other keep abreast on computing trends.

KC Highways

In an effort to anger me, my friends at MODOT (Missouri Department of Transportation) will be closing down Highway 152 at I-435 starting tomorrow, October 4. I don't know if they'll be expanding that part of the road from 2-lane to 4-lane or if they'll just be simply stripping and resurfacing that portion of the highway. Whatever the reason, my route to work is compromised. I'll have to drive through Parkville on MO Highway 45 adding five to ten minutes to my drive time. I do not like the color of road construction orange. Arghhh!!!!

Mt. St. Helens and family members

I have been following on the net today the volcanic activities of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State. My uncle has lived in Richland, WA since I believe the '70s and has seen the devastation of the big Mt. St. Helens eruption from back in 1980. If memory serves, I think Richland got a healthy dusting of volcanic ash back then but not much damage. Correct me if I'm wrong, Uncle.