Firefly revisited

I've started re-watching the entire Firefly series again. This time me and one of my former condo neighbors are having a group Firefly night every Monday, starting around 8pm to watch two episodes a week. It is always more fun with a group, especially with my friend "Fun Lisa" to chirp in the occasional joke from the side. We're watching it projected outside on a midtown back deck so chilly night need a blanket to keep warm. Fortunately, there was a small white puff of a dog and two enormous cats to serve as lap warmers. For the pilot episode last night, I brought some giant strawberries for everyone from the Buford Highway Farmer's Market.
Now I have to decide what to bring to next week. Next week we'll be watching "Train Job" and "Bushwhacked." More berries?

fixed

The man arrived at 4pm today. The septic tank pump is now performing as it should.
MonsterMustDie got home, after in an average day in a grumpy mood. After dinner from Mediteranean Bakery, he was much better.

After two glasses of cheap Zin and two episodes of Firefly, I am cheerful.

Tomorrow, I really really need some quality time with friends.

Now it's ridiculous.

Gotta be home at 3:30 to meet the septic tank fixer-upper man again. This will be the third time Atlas has been out to fix this problem. They appear to lack the skills to make things work.

Septic tank alarm was on again this morning.

Actually, the toilets were not flushing properly in the house today. Drains were sluggish. So I checked the septic tank alarm system to see if it was operating. It was - the red alarm light was on but the horn was off. I turned on the alarm horn and it stayed on until I turned it off again. Apparently, the horn had been turned off since the last time Atlas had their men working at the house.

I believe they said the alarm was on and functioning when they left last time and I did not bother to check that the horn - the very thing that lets us know something is wrong - was switched on.

today

Once again, the alarm for the septic tank started this morning. The man from Atlas Free Flow came late this afternoon to see what was wrong. He listed a few things - switch having fallen into the tank, pump coming unplugged, float not working. All of this probably because they were in too much of a hurry last time. I really hope its fixed now and done the right way.

In good news, Monstermustdie finished his intended project in the back yard. We now have a lot more area cleared out for planting and entertaining. There is a new little fire pit up on the hill at the back of the yard and he intends now to make little benches for it from the scrap wood he collected. This should all be in place for the Taurus Potluck next week. We will also have the grill ready for anyone who wants to use it and we still have the outdoor fireplace we purchased at a yard sale in the neighborhood, so there will be opportunities for several tiny fires in the back yard. If we can have a few well-timed rain showers before the party to cut down on pollen and dust, it should be quite nice.

again, trouble in the tank

The man from Atlas just got here.

The alarm for the septic tank came on this morning around 7AM.

the week, so far

Thursday - Sunday: We had MonsterMustDie's best friend and fellow antique dealer, Mr. Smith, as a house guest this weekend while he attended the monthly Scott Antique Show.

Saturday evening was spent celebrating the 50th birthday of Our Lady Of The Lake with the Grateful Gluttons. That was a huge party at the Lake Claire Land Trust, complete with a live band, majorettes, and lots of good Cajun food.

Sunday - Yard work and house cleaning.
Dinner from Little Cuba: roasted chicken, beans & yellow rice, yucca cooked with onions in a white wine sauce, and hearts of palm salad.
Then the septic tank alarm came on in the afternoon and stayed on until we turned it off. Called the landlord. Panicked over the thought of a repeat of the situation when we first moved in here, right after I bought a new washer and dryer, when sewage backed up into the house and UP the drains. That was when we first learned that the house had a septic holding tank because the house sits below street level. Rental manager phoned back quickly and said their man would be at the house in the morning.

Monday - Couple of guys came to check out the tank around 9AM before I left the house for the day. Turns out the ancient pump was dead. They emptied the tank, then replaced the pump and a pipe connected to it. They had a few complications with the pipe coming apart several times but it was just because they were in too much of a hurry to get the job done and didn't give the adhesive time to set up properly. Reminds me of the old saying There's never time to do it right at first but always time to do it again. They ended up working until after 6PM.
Watched two good episodes of No Reservations after they left and I could finally shower without fear. I enjoyed watching Anthony Bourdain visit the country of Ecuador and the state of Main.

labors of laundry

One thing always considered at Rancho de WereMonster while getting dressed for an evening out is the anticipated degree of smoke exposure. A nice restaurant means I can even get away with something that must be dry cleaned, but attire for a smokey bar must be fully machine washable to remove the nicostench that will be carried home in the material.

Tonight will be a Machine Wash Warm, Tumble Dry night.