Droning On....The Construction Zone

The noise continues on in the PRH homestead....although two of the giant wind turbine dehumidifiers have shut down...a few power surges here, a few there, have them, as well as the kitchen lights, and even the computer or Internet blipping, creaking, squeaking, and shutting down and coming back on....little did I know when I returned home Sunday night to the "Flood", that this is the route we would take.

I'm not complaining mind you...the weather outside has been dry and pleasant, although that will change for the weekend, and we will have to close the windows and crank up the A/C...hopefully not putting additional stress on the in house power grid....time will tell.

Meanwhile I escape the house with baseball, a double header at LCC last night, another double with the recently graduated from Ohio State, Sam, here in Celina....he will be home for a few days, working games.  I told him..."Have Fun, make you room your home for the few days, or the Library, because the noise is something else".  Meanwhile at this hour he is interviewing for a second time with an insurance company in Columbus for an Actuarial opening.  We know he really would like to stay in C~Bus, and hopefully he can, but he will go with the right offer when presented....although he did tell me yesterday, Omaha is as far west as he would consider...seems Mutual of Omaha has a dozen or so openings for his line of degree, Actuarial Science.

With the work in the kitchen waiting on the floors and wood to completely dry, we have decided to upgrade that floor and make some other improvements....those will come from our pockets via a home improvement line of credit...we have been considering some upgrades, and this mini disaster will move us to that point....not sure exactly what we have in mind, but with some sidewalks needing repaired, I'm sure the insurance money to cover the damage and another $5 grand will help, take care of some of what we want/need.  Although we know $5,000 doesn't go far these days, and hasn't in a long time.   We have pretty simple needs and wants....and this should take care of business.  We would like to be out of debt completely when Patricia retires in four or five years....plus I cannot officiate/umpire forever.  Even if I stay healthy, I plan on dropping basketball in the next 2 years, football soon after than...baseball?  Well if I can walk and see, I will probably do that for the rest of my days....or at least until I'm 70....whichever comes first!

back later>>>>

Photos-The "Construction Zone" is in a holding pattern as the floors dry out, and the final damages are added up....cost wise and work to be done wise. (2)  Sam and I will escape the dust and noise of the house for a Twilight/Night Double Header at Montgomery Field in Celina tonight...the rubberized turf field is usually hot in the summer, but tonight it should be cool enough to work in comfort...not so for our double header Saturday, when 90 is back in the forecast.(3) Regardless of work to be done....the kitchen will change forever...a new floor type, and probably changes in windows and counter/appliance area as well.

As the Dust Settles and the Waters Recede...

Getting away from the noise, clutter, and dust, of the water soaked southern part of the house, as the water evaporates and the dust flies is always a good thing....and despite the number of games on tap for this week, I am grateful for the time out of the house....with the wind machines drying the floor, kitchen, and basement, the Nationwide Adjuster was here this morning, and cut our first check...this for the cost of the floor in the Kitchen, and the sub insulation.  There is more to come, and more we still are not sure of....because the damage, in total, has not been determined.  We continue to dry the hardwood in the living/TV area, the basement is drying well, but the crawl area under the kitchen floor is still in the process of drying out, and not quite ready.  Meaning, we will be with the noise, dust, and pain in the ass of the continued process of getting the house, and our lives, back to "normal"...

So getting away to Rockford for a Junior ACME game last night was indeed a good thing.  I got to work with one of our young umpires from up Defiance way, one of the new umps using our Mentor/Mentee program.  Putting Jacob behind the plate, I soon enough found out that he was ready, well ahead of his time.  If he stays with it, being only 19 years old, he will make a outstanding umpire down the road....he is better than many that I work with, with many years more experience, than he has.  I have no problem pointing him out to league assigners and athletic directors as a quality official(who also works basketball), who is ready for varsity assignments.

Tonight and again tomorrow, I will be working double headers...first at Lima Central Catholic, and tomorrow with Sam here in Celina....not a big double header fan these days, but with cooler temperatures, and a chance to get away from the noise, and dust....it's not all that bad.  Friday night I'm at Crestview, then Saturday morning, Sam and I work another double header, in another round robin format here in Celina...that might not be so "enjoyable", with 90 degrees on the forecast sheet.

There you have my life....noise, dust, baseball, and helping Patricia decide what kind of kitchen floor to replace with....it will be different for sure, and like the drying out, it's still a work in progress.

back later>>>>

Photos-Usually things are never as bad as they first seem....in this case, I am saying just the opposite..When we first walked in on this mess, I thought to myself "OK, this is bad, but not really something that will distract from our daily lives...boy, was I wrong on that count...still, however, it could be much worse, and for that I am thankful.(1)  The 57 years of flooring in the kitchen, for the most part, is gone, the drying continues, and do the plans for the new floor, and changes to be made. (2) The basement, which basically is a wash room, food storage cellar, and my personal weight room, antique room, and shower area, has never been pretty...the damage there, while it may look pretty awful, is really not a big deal, at least at this point in time.(3) The biggest question will be...can the TV room hard wood, 90 years old and restored in 2005 be saved?  Will it need sanded and sealed, or will some of it need replaced?  That may take a month or longer to figure out....after the initial drying takes place.

Assessing the Damage, the Work Begins....

Reality of the work ahead on the damage to the floors and other areas of the "flood" began to take shape early yesterday.....

A Recap of the "Flood"_____

After getting home some 11 hours after we left for Sam's Graduation from The Ohio State University, we were "greeted" by the sound of rushing water as we entered the back door of our house.  A value, it appears, had popped off on the hot water tap under the kitchen sink....new taps and lines had been installed just 10 months ago, and for some reason,  one cut loose, resulting in a massive flood of water going into the kitchen and part of the living room area's hard wood floors.  What didn't settle into the wood beneath the kitchen and living room pine, flowed into the basement under 80% of the house, and a vast amount into the large crawl space under the kitchen. 

The kitchen and half bath on the south side of the old Church Parsonage, were added in 1945 at the tail end of the second World War....the parsonage was built by the First Church of God{at that time across the street to the northwest} in the winter of 1923 for the pastors of that church, which is now located on Fairground Road on the far north and west corner, some mile from us.  While the original house was complete with a full basement, the kitchen under was fitted with a large crawl space...big enough to maneuver in, and place pipes, insulation, and wiring in....much of the water ended up there, on the hard ground and in that pink insulation....which was bagged out in 30 sacks of wet mess in the first hours of cleanup.

Next step was trying to dry the hardwood floors out with the help of no less than 10 large turbine type "wind machines" in living room, kitchen, and basement...God knows what the electric bill will look like next month, after three days of those roaring 24/7?  As the wind and noise was{and still is} howling, the guys from Servpro Fire and Water Cleaning and Restoration began assessing the damage to the kitchen floor....57 years of 3 floors were removed from most of the area....it will need replaced in total.

While Nationwide Insurance will take care of the damage and repair work...Patricia and I will decide on a new kitchen floor type.  We had been thinking of this and other home improvements over the past few years....and while this mini disaster was neither welcomed or planned....it will indeed take us off the"talking" and onto the "doing".  I have a feeling that it is going to be a long summer....but it could have been much worse.  Say we had taken a 4 day trip to Wisconsin...or worse yet, a two week trip out west and Vegas, as we had talked about?  That would have taken the "mini" out of this disaster....

For now it will give me photos and material for the blog....all the while listening to the roar of the turbine wind machines in the back ground....which I expect to last at least 24 more hours if not longer....

back later, if I have my sanity....

Photos-Servpro was here within 2 hours from Lima to begin work, after our initial contact with our Nationwide Agent Beth Weber here in Celina....(2) The front(east) area of the kitchen with the original floor, circa 1945 (3)The machines trying to save the original hardwood floors in the main part of the house(old parsonage) which have been in place since it was built in 1923 and which we had restored in 2005(4) The water reached into the dining room to the west of the kitchen....this to, will be replaced(5) and the cat, for the first time in 13 years seems out of her element...first old Reagan her Airedale buddy dies, then 2 months later she in living in a noisy wind tunnel....looking at the suction hoses like "WTH"?

 

Graduation at Ohio State/A Major-Minor Disaster @ Home

A fast moving weekend, full of baseball, food, college graduation, and a piece of plumbing that turned into a small disaster, but could have been worse....

Baseball...double headers and heat....

Friday night I worked a double header with veteran umpire Tim Copsey, fresh off another state appearance in Columbus....A Junior ACME/ACME double header at Coldwater, Tim working the JV game, I finshed up working the varsity contest behind the plate.  It was veteran appreciation night with the home team sweeping visiting Elida.  We finished up about 9:45pm...home by 10:30 I was faced with the prospect of a noontime double header on the rubber{artificial turf} at Celina the next day, in the 90 degree heat.  I worked those games with one of my District Tournament partners this spring, Ed Oberlander...the heat coming off the field was tempered somewhat by the breezes....but working the second game behind the plate in the 4 team round robin style weekend,, was pretty brutal...I was feeling every bit my age, and pretty washed out by the time we finished at 5pm.  I headed home, watched the Reds lose to Detroit{they would lose 2 of 3, all one run games, to the Tigers, over the weekend}, drank a couple of beers, and was in bed by 8:30...exhausted, knowing we would sit in the 95 degree heat for The Ohio State Graduation on Sunday.

The 400th graduation ceremony at OSU....

Ohio State University, founded in 1870, is the largest in the country....yesterday marked the 400th and last "Quarter" Graduation...OSU turns to Semesters this Summer and Fall.  Frankly I always like Quarters better....lots less boredom.  Sam Houseworth, the eldest son, wanted to finish up before the Semester thing started, and did so yesterday, along with 10,636 others....the largest graduation class in OSU history.  along with the 8000 or so Bachelor Degrees handed out, there were more than 2000 Doctorates, and Masters...over 8000 students actually showed up for the ceremony, and Sam along with his classmates actually marched onto the Ohio Stadium field, as 50,000 or so family and friends sat in the stands.

Ohio State President Gordon Gee is always a good speaker and entertained, before turning things over to Dr. Susan Rice, a UN Ambassador....who, after a good start talking about her parents and grandparents{her dad was a Tuskegee Airman in WWII}, turned into a typical left wing hack, straight out of the Obama Administration.  Giving glory to same sex marriage and other far left talking points, which we will listen to in the coming months of the Presidential Campaign.  I sat on my hands for that part....realizing she no doubt got her talking points straight from Obama and his Puppet Master, George Soros and Company.

Finally with the Ceremony two and 1/2 hours old, Sam marched in line with the others and got his Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science....and now can continue the interviewing process, take a couple more Actuarial tests, and hopefully have a good job in place in the next few weeks.

The heat, along with the blazing sun, was pretty intense....one young girls in the row behind us, got up and promptly passed out....Patricia held the umbrellas over her, and we gave her some water, as the medics on hand came up and took her to a cooling room....

Overall the ceremony was worthwhile, but we were glad when it was over....

Olive Garden and the trip home to "The Flood"

We met Sam outside the ancient former basketball hall of St. John Arena...took some photos, congratulated him, and then in separate cars headed through the mass of traffic to an Olive Garden Restaurant, in nearby Dublin, where we met with 3 of Sam's friends for the post Graduation Dinner".....we had a great meal over the next hour or so, said our good byes to Sam and friends, as they headed back to Columbus, and we to Celina.

Arriving home at 7:45 we had been gone for 11 hours....as we walked into the back door, a strange sound greeted us.

That sound was the sound of rushing waters across the kitchen floor, and into part of the living room....it seems  one of the newly(10 months or so ago) installed lines on the kitchen sink had popped out of place, and the water was rushing out onto the floor...into the living room and pouring into our basement.  What mess!  And it is a disaster for sure...just how major?  Not sure, but we know there is a 10 x 10 space in the "TV" room that the 90 year old pine floors took a beating on...that portion is warped already.  The kitchen floor....the hard floor under neath took a massive amount of water under the lanoleium...and the water that seeped beneath the wood and into the basement, with even more in the crawl space under the kitchen was something to behold....

So, not knowing how much actual damage there is...Patricia was off to the Nationwide Insurance office, whom I have used for over 45 years, since my first car, back in 1966, to find out what our situation will be as far as getting things repaired and back to "normal".  Hey life is a challenge, and this isn't the worst of those.

More as I find out more...back later>>>

Photos-Sam's Diploma....finally in hand at the ripe old age of 30...joining both mom and dad, and being a "bit" older when finishing up school...Hal had is Masters by 26 but the first years "partying" extended his time in college, the rest finished up pretty quickly, albeit a bit older, which is sometime a good thing.  (2) Part of the 10,000 students{Sam is somethere on the left side of the black gowned crew} (3) Sam on the bridge overlooking the Olentangy River, with the Horseshoe in the background.  (4) Sam with parents, me and Patricia..(5) at the Olive Garden in Dublin with some of his roomates and friends and (6)  The water as it sets in the kitchen, sump pump working as Patricia pushes the mess of water towards the pump so it can more quickly get rid of the excess....damage estimates will be coming in the next day or two...and we can work on the repairs....it could have been worse, we could have been gone on Vacation, instead of a half day road trip.

Whot Stopped the Music?

Those who regularly stop by this site may notice that the "Music has Died"....poof it went!   The plug in Juke Box, it seems, is gone, and I'm really not sure why....they asked me to sign up with another service....but the hassle didn't seem worth loading all those songs in....SO, for now we will go musicless on the Rant.

I will be looking however, for something new to "plug in" music wise.....but for now, enjoy the silence.

After last night's double header at Coldwater, which ended about 9:45....today I have a Noon Time double at Celina....then tomorrow, off to Columbus for the Ohio State Graduation....as Sam has completed his work, and will be receiving his diploma at the Horseshoe in the capital city.

back later>>>>

Creedence Clearwater Revival, circa 1969

Not Much Ado About Nothing or Anything

Summer it appears has arrived, but the low humidity sticks around....with the Summer, things on the blog will slow down, most photos and baseball talk....

Sam finished up his "final" finals at Ohio State today....graduation will be held Sunday at the Horseshoe, where about 10,000 of the 20,000 2012 grads will attend.  I am guessing there will be 40 or 50 thousand in the 110,000 seat football field, most parents, grandparents, and friends, to watch the proceedings....some hack from the Obama Administration will be the Keynote Speaker, but I guess it's only fair, since our Congressman and House Speaker, John Boehner was the 2011 June Keynoter....

A passel of young Robins are in the back and side yard, trying to learn how to fly before getting eaten by the neighborhood cats....or captured by the youngsters who lived in the duplex addition next to our place....good luck to them, the birds that is...the kids are on their own.

Busy with baseball as usual.....tonight staying in Celina for a game with Parkway, tomorrow a late afternoon JV/ACME Double header at Coldwater, site of the Districts that I worked 3 weeks ago...then staying in Celina Saturday for a Double Header, working with one of my District partners, Ed Oberlander....

This afternoon, I will grill out....but not eat until I finish up the games......

That is about it....

back later>>>>

Photos-More backyard flowers, including the Moon Flower plants, which, despite the lack of good rains, appears to be avoiding the backyard Rabbits....

Remembering D Day+68 years....A Walk in the Back Yard

Yesterday was cooler that predicted, mostly cloudy, and with a bit of rain, it never rose above the mid 60s, temperature wise....

All in all it was pretty pleasant...mowed mom's yard, killed of some Poison Ivy, without{hopefully} getting any more on myself....as the last of the stuff still on my body dries up.  Here is a hint, if you come up with a case of the weed itch, if you would rather not take a shot, or suffer from it, invest the $35 or so in Zanfel....used correctly it takes care of the itch in short order.

Off to Lima Central Catholic where they, off the 1-0 loss in the Division 3 high school state title game on Saturday, were back in action with Summer ACME ball, they had little trouble with a very young Kalida team, winning 14-3 in a run rule 4 1/2 inning game....I was home by 9pm and was delighted with the election results out of Wisconsin, where Governor Scott Walker easily survived a Marxist public union led recall by Democrats.  It appears that even the left leaning Cheeseheads are sick of outsiders interfering in their politics....good for them!

Walking in the Back Yard____

With the pleasant weather we are having, at least another day today, with temperatures reaching the mid 70s but no higher...the June Flowers are coming out, hopefully the late summer variety, as mentioned yesterday will follow, despite the early heat of Spring and lack of rain....I snapped some photos after feeding the backyard birds and squirrels.

D-Day plus 68 years____

American troops landed on the Normandy Beaches 68 years ago today....and for all general purposes ended the Nazi hopes of victory in World War II...despite our rescue of western Europe, sadly they have become what they feared....a craphole, take France for example, ruled by incompetence, political correctness, and infested by Islamic hordes, as dangerous, if not more so than the follows of Hitler.  But regardless Americans should step back and remember and honor those men who fought and left their blood on the sands of coast that day several generations ago.

back later>>>>

Photos-"Ike" with the troops on June 6, 1944....one of the back yard blooms this morning on my back yard walk....and the full Moon on Monday night through my upstairs bedroom window.

Wisconsin another Election and "As the Weather Turns"

Walking out back this morning, I have to say was refreshing....after the too hot, too early, mid to upper 90s over Memorial Day, we froze at the end of last week....the past 3 days have been solid.  Sunshine, a good breeze, and temperatures reaching the low 70s during the daytime.   Patricia washed the house windows yesterday and with those open, the breeze is making the house a comfortable place, without the aid of the central A/C.

Working the game at Crestview last night was pleasant enough....and hopefully the conditions at Lima Central Catholic, will be likewise for tonight's ACME opener for the Thunderbirds, just off their hard luck state championship 1-0 lost to Wheelersburg on Saturday.  A full week of baseball awaits....then Sunday we head for Columbus where oldest son Sam will become the latest in  Houseworth College Grads, when he takes his diploma in Actuarial Science, from The Ohio State University....

This morning, I snapped some photos in the back yard, and then checked on my newly planted Sunflower Seeds....despite a few coming up on the original planting...this spring was not so good...hopefully this last chance replant will work.  I'm used to having 30 or so Giant Sunflowers to go with dozens of other varieties...but this year, unless the second chance works out....I will be sadly short of those numbers....the next week or so should tell the tale.

Recall in Wisconsin____

Having lived in Wisconsin for several years, my wife being from southeast Wisconsin, and daughter Anissa being born in Wausau back in 1979, I always stay interested in the comings and goings of the Cheeseheads....after all, most of Patricia's relatives, including parents, still live there, and we get back a couple of times per year for visits.

Even when living there I could never understand the political leanings of the state.  The birthplace of "Progressives"...a state that is 90% white, probably 75% Lutheran, and they vote like drunken ghetto baggers from East L.A.   Go Figure?

Now the wife's side is almost all somewhat Conservative and Republican...but for some reason, the upper reaches of Wisconsin, like Wausau, along with the rabid Marxists professors and students at UW Madison, along with the urban trash in Milwaukee, vote for the tax and spenders.   On occasion those do get outvoted by the conservatives with a brain...when those folks get sick spending money that they don't have....on lazy no counts, welfare moms, and interloping move ins from Illinois.  Two years ago, joining a short list of GOP Wisconsin Governors over the past generation, including Tommy Thompson and Lee Dreyfus, Scott Walker came to power with a promise to cut spending and curb the public union thugs and Communist led Teachers Unions...he did just that.  And the Democrats and union trash went berserk...trashing the capitol in Madison, as the leftist members of the Wisconsin house left town in protest...Walker had a problem on his hands, but he came out on top.... at least for a short while.

Now it all comes down to this....Tuesday, June 5th, a state primary, and one item on the ballot is the recall election of Scott Walker.  The out of town unions, media, and dim witted Democrats have spent time and money into removing Walker....and today is their chance.  However,  it appears that it will fail...even Obammy the Wonder Kenyan is staying away from the state, and the union thug bosses have all but given up hope....

So tonight we will find out...just who has the will and the power in Cheeseland...The working citizens, or the public union cancer, and the out of state money? 

Good Luck Scott Walker and good luck Wisconsin Taxpayers      back later>>>>

Photos-This years backyard Sunflower crop is a far cry from years past, including those pictured from 2011....there is time to turn it around, and hopefully with enough sun and some rains, the newly planted seeds will push the flowers towards the finish line.  Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, his recall election is on the line today, hopefully by tonight, if the polls are correct, he will remain in Madison...and spit in the eyes of the union bosses and thugs.  Former Gov the late Lee Dreyfus, rode around the state  in a bus, in the late 1970s, in his shoe string bid to win the state house...I interviewed him face to face on several occasions, and remember him as an open and honest politician, which is rare, regardless of political party.

Back to Baseball, More Upstate NY Photos.....

After the record high temperatures over the Memorial Day Weekend, this weekend ranged from downright cold and clammy on Friday night, when Sam and I worked the 8pm start at Kalida, Ohio, and their historic ball park, St. Matthews...Saturday afternoon for a double header, at Lima Shawnee was sunny by breezy until some rains came after we finished up at 5pm....yesterday more seasonal conditions were on hand for West Central Ohio...and more summer-like conditions are headed this way.  We got some rain, which was well needed, but are still well short of what we need, and no end to the drought is in sight.

I worked 3 games, one at Kalida and the double at Shawnee, while Sam picked up those three plus a double header yesterday at Versailles, on his way back to Columbus, where he will finish up his final week at The Ohio State University this week....he will graduate this Sunday with a BS in Actuarial Science.  No job offers just yet, but several interviews,  and not too many Actuaries go without an offer, and despite him working his way through OSU with the athletic department and the Big Ten Network, he still managed to pull in a 3.0+ GPA and finish up in 4 years...Math always being Sam's strong point, he maneuvered though Ohio State without too many problems....being in his late 20s and now 30 years old helped, I can attest to the fact that older students can actually have it better, less distractions for sure.

A full week of baseball is on hand for me this week....tonight at Crestview, then that will be followed by games at LCC, another Crestview date on Wednesday, here in Celina on Thursday and a double header Saturday, wrapped around a Friday night JV/ACME double at Coldwater...June is going to be a busy month, baseball wise.

Speaking of LCC and baseball....the local teams in the OHSAA Finals went one up and two down...all in one run decisions.  Lima Central Catholic lost a heartbreaker 1-0 to Wheelersburg, on a missed call by the home plate umpire in the 7th...the out call, as it appeared on video, was pretty bad.  Meanwhile young Wapakoneta, with no Seniors, lost 3-2 to defending D2 title holder Columbus DeSales...on the other hand Minster's Wildcats defended their small school D4 title, despite blowing a 4-0 7th inning lead....the winning run was scored in the bottom half of the inning in Minster's 5-4 win, clinching it's second straight state crown.

More Upstate New York......

Despite only 36 hours on Wellesley Island...we packed plenty of food, photo taking, and activity, into those hours....the weather was great, the food and restaurants outstanding....and the photos, by Patricia and me, came out pretty good....at least in my opinion:

For information on and the history of Boldt Castle and Yacht House go here:

http://www.boldtcastle.com/visitorinfo/

The top photo is another view from Michael and Kelly's apartment of the marina that sits just off the 100 year old restaurant and hotel....one of George Boldt's boats, "Time Out" that sits restored in the Boldt Yacht Club...and interior view of the historic Boldt Castle....and a view from the Castle on Heart Island...the castle, was left sitting, still in construction in 1904 when George Boldt's wife died at the age of 41....the State Authority has been working on restoring it since the mid 1980s....and it is well on the way to completion  At the top of today's blog, the historic St. Matthews Field in Kalida, Ohio....built the year of my birth, 1949.......Sam and I umpired under the lights on Friday night...with wind and 48 degrees, good old fashion baseball weather...in a classic setting.

More Photos from Wellesley Island and the Boldt Castle and Yacht House

Before heading off to Lima for a double header at Shawnee High School....here are updates from yesterday's state baseball semi finals.....

Lima Central Catholic and Minster join Wapak as finalists today in Columbus....Minster's Wildcats will defend their D4 crown, while the Wapakoneta's Redskins and the LCC T-Birds will try to win their first state titles respectively in D2 and D3....

Here are more photos Patricia and I snapped at our quick stay at the Thousand Island Club on Wellesley Island located in the St. Lawrence River between NY State and Ontario:

Top Left:  Aerial View of Boldt Castle on Heart Island, with Wellesley Island in the back ground....archived photo...the remaining photos below were taken by me:

(1) View from the apartment above The Thousand Island Club....(2) The Hart Bed and Breakfast, once on the site of Boldt Castle on Heart Island, then relocated via ice skids to Wellesley Island, over 100 years ago...(3) The Boldt Yacht House on Wellesley Island, today a National Historical Local

Wellesley Island, Poison Ivy, and "Falling" into June

After the record hot Memorial Day Weekend, this have done a complete 180 as the first of June arrives.  From the record 98 degrees on Sunday, today will be a complete reversal, no sun and 40 ticks cooler...it may reach 58 for a high.  The rains is welcome, despite it's threat to the first weekend of ACME games scheduled,

There are other things this week that have not be welcomed....

Poison Ivy_____The "Eyes" have it!

I woke up Monday morning, with a itch/rash in a couple of places, including the worst of spots, and the second worst place on the body....I have not had a major case of poison ivy or poison oak for quite a few years...even with the bushes in my yard loaded with oak, and mom's bushes with poison ivy....I managed to shower quickly after getting near it, and with the exception of a couple of small spots, I had avoided the dreaded rash....and trust me, I used to get it pretty bad.  

After mowing and cutting some down late last week on consecutive days, I washed myself up pretty good....but still managed to contract it...probably from washing the clothes that were infected, and then putting them back on....frankly I'm not sure, but my eyes, and other parts were affected.  As I type this Friday morning, spots are still showing up in various spots on the arms, knees, etc, while the eyes are somewhat better, and the second worst spots is improving, there are still areas that are showing new eruptions.

So I went out and plopped down $35 at Wal Mart for Zanfel, something that is supposed to clear the ivy rash and take care of the "itching"....when done here, I will give it a try.....and see if this miracle drug works.  They say it's safe to use around the eyes{not in the eyes though} and private parts....while I may give it a go, body complete, not sure I am brave enough to use it around the eyes....?

Wellesley Island, Upstate New York_____The Thousand Island Club

Youngest sister Kelly and her small dog "Alfie", a Maltese and Shiz Tu mix spent, about 10 days with us, and visiting the family in Celina, while Kelly's husband Michael, "The Chef from Denmark", settled into his new gig for the summer on Wellesley Island, in the St. Lawrence River.  Wellesley is located in upstate New York, and borders the Canadian Border, while resting in the Thousand Island area{actually about 1700 small islands} of the river.  On Tuesday morning Patricia and I, along with Kelly and her dog headed the 630 miles north and east to Wellesley Island.  We would drive her there, stay the night and turn around and head home...or maybe we would stay 2 nights, take in the sites, sample some foods, and return home on Thursday....we opted for the second choice, and despite my battle with Poison Ivy/Oak, the trip was worth the extra day.

Wellsley Island is a playground for the rich and some famous folks.  The outlying Islands, small as they are, have many homes and mega homes, from the distant past.  The spot Michael is organizing this summer is a part of a famous club that, after years of decline, is being put back on the map...it is called the Thousand Islands Club....and the owners, and Mike the Chef are hard at work, updating the place as the vacation/summer resident season kicks off.

Like the club itself, the locations web site is under construction.....but can be found here:

www.thousandislandsclub.com

In addition to the club and marina, the sights on the island, and those nearby will be highlighted in photographs and words over the next few blog posts....but for now, it's time to try out that Zanfel and see if that expensive stuff works on this rash!

back later>>>>

 

Photos-The view of the Marina from Kelly and Michael's apartment above the old Hotel at the Thousand Island Club, where he will act as head chef for the summer....a former head chef at the Danish Embassy in Washington DC, and locations in St. Croix, US Virgin Island, and Naples, Florida, this challenge will a summer long project, which I sure he will be successful in, as always.  Other photos include....a look at the early stages of my poison ivy eyes...it got worse, before improving....also the Marina boathouse looking much as it did when built in 1910....and me, Mike, Kelly, and Patricia, the first night out at Docksiders a small burger restaurant in Alexandria Bay, New York.....after the goofing off, they took another photo, but Hell, this one looked better, and funny to boot!