I am reluctantly handy. My first response when I have an issue is – Eeeek. Then I think if I can handle it or if it is better handled by someone else. Someone with actual skills in the handy skills arena. This evening I was presented with an issue. Eeek.
When I took my laundry down to start the regular Sunday load, I bumped my head on a pipe that I don’t usually bump my head on. Confused, I looked to see what the problem was. The duct had come away from where it connected to the duct (not the right word) that leads fumes out of the basement and up and out the chimney. This duct was connected to a piece of equipment that is no longer in use (which reminds me, someday I need to make sure that the gas line to that device has been sealed). So it wasn’t necessary. A few well placed yanks resulted in the duct being completely removed from the main room of the basement. Including the bit in front of the washer and dryer upon which I banged my little noggin.
The larger problem was that a hole was thus exposed. I decided I wanted to seal it for the time being until I could get a qualified handy person to take a look and see what they can do about it. I thought about sticking something over the whole and then using duct tape (for its actual purpose) to seal it closed. Nothing in the vicinity looked to do the trick. So, after cleaning off the top of the chimney targeting duct (by judicious use of duct tape (yeah, it didn’t stick because it was so dirty on top of the duct)) I managed to get some tape to stick. And sealed the whole. Ta dah! I have done my handy duties for the year. Good thing that I did this before the year was over!! 2026 look out!
Although I haven’t done much, I feel like I have been much more productive today than I was yesterday. More thoughts and more actions make Augustus a happier camper. I have clean sheets, I’m clean and a load of laundry is working itself through the system. I have done a few books. And I have done some work on my candidacy. Always a learning experience. Yay learning!
Soon it will be left over Chinese food time. Then I will hunker down and do more books and more thoughts.
Augustus for President: I am making some progress on assigning tasks in the thoughts database. Not really sure who to assign quotes I have put in the database to. Maybe I will make an assignment category that says Quotes or something like that. So, no one will be assigned. Or maybe I will leave it as me. Though I also want to use the quotes during events. And speeches. Sigh. Life is so complicated in some ways. Simple in others.
I looked at the CVs of the Political Science people at HWS and two look like they would be a good fit. I will write them on Monday and see what response, if any, I get. I wonder if I have an HWS email address. I doubt it. I wonder if as an alumnus I can get one. Probably not. But it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Still Life 