On Wednesday morning, I traveled into Harlem, in northern
Manhattan after all. I wound up picking
up the turtle from a very nice couple who were giving it away because
they could no longer care for it. They were leaving for a work assignment in
East Africa on Thursday. I figured I would adopt it out at the then upcoming
Long Island Herpetological Society 23rd Annual Reptile Show. I had also ordered
a group of Blue Tailed Salamanders to exhibit at the LIHS show. I had some last
year but asked a friend to care for them during my bout with the big C and most
were lost probably due to contaminated food. So I figured to replace them and
had placed an order right before the storm; the order has been delayed until
next week by the dealer due to the storm. I just found out yesterday that the
upcoming LIHS show is no longer upcoming, it has been postponed indefinitely
(personally I think this an overreaction to the storm but that is just my
opinion). That was a disappointment. Now I am stuck with a Red Eared Slider
that I certainly did not expect to have to care for for more than 10 days but
shit happens. It will get good care nonetheless.
My trip to pick up the turtle was pretty uneventful, I just
wish I had topped off my almost full tank of gas on the return home. Some gas
stations were open with very short waits. Now, forget about it, the lines are
long, tempers short and there is a fuel shortage. I can wait, I still have over
half a tank. Should last the week.
Later on Wednesday afternoon, we sat down with the roofing
estimator. She figured $10,350 to replace my roof shingles. Another $1,250 or
so for the gutters too. Ouch. I am hopeful the insurance company will cover it
all except for the $500 deductible. After that I had a few drinks and proceeded
to get snockered. I also put together 15 or so packets of coins wrapped in
aluminum foil for any trick-or-treaters who might show up. We had been busy in
the house with the roofing lady and did not even answer the door when some kids
came by because we had no candy on hand. So after my wife went to work for the
evening, I thought having some spare change in hand to give any more that came
around would be the way to go. There was from 50 cents up to a buck in each.
Then, I sat out on my front stoop, cup with the silver foil wrapped treats and
a pumpkin nearby. I went and got a few knives and started to carve as the
evening quickly faded o black (well, not really black as the moon was just
passed full). Not one kid came by. So, after that, since all the trick-or-treaters
had come by only while it was still light outside, I visited three neighbors
with kids and let each of their kids have two or three packets each. The rest
went back into my almost depleted change jar. I continued to get snockered and
wound up doing a bit of reading by glo-stick (white light).
On Thursday, I went to Walmart and Costco to do some
shopping. I picked up some candles at Wally World. We had enough for the storm
with quite a few left over but I figured you just about cannot have enough of
them if the power goes out and do not have a generator. At Costco, I picked up
some AAA batteries, a 48 pack of them to add to the stock, even though I had
enough on hand for the then current emergency. Those I had were in small 6
packs and I figured I could throw them into my go-bags or hunting pack. I also
bought a few steaks (for dinner for today, Saturday), and a roasted chicken
(best deal in the land at $4.99 for a large, nicely cooked chicken) and some
other things. Before heading out to Costco on Thursday, my wife told me that a
local beer distributor was selling ice. Even though they had no power, they had
a freezer full of bags of ice from before the storm and it has stayed frozen
solid. Once we discovered that the distributor had ice, I bought some and put
the ice in our fridge to keep what little we had left in there edible; some of
the previously frozen stuff had already gotten questionable even though we had
some ice in the fridge and freezer. Also
took a walk with the wife, daughter and 7 dogs. That was an eye opener, lots of
downed trees in next village over from ours. On Thursday night, I again did
some reading by glo-stick before hitting the hay by 10.
On Friday, I dealt with the insurance company on the phone
and was told that an adjuster will be assigned my case within 10 days and will
come by after that. Long wait but with all the houses that were destroyed what
can one expect. The guy told me to go ahead and have any needed emergency
repairs done if we think the roof will leak. Roofer told me not to worry, I
hope she was right. I stopped by an elderly neighbor and had a nice chat. I
wanted to make sure she was okay. I also went to get some ice for her from the
beer distributor and while there I bought myself a 4 pack of Mike's Hurricane
drinks. I have not tried them yet; the guy at the store told me they were
basically alcohol in fruit punch. Saved for this weekend, probably tomorrow
after work, if I work. The library has been closed since Monday. I got a small
bit of plastering done yesterday. I filled in the hole where my medicine
cabinet used to be. Bought a new one that is surface mounted.
Today has been much of nothing. I ate breakfast only about
an hour ago. I have been emailing people to check to see if they are okay after
the storm. I also checked my mail, mostly junk. I did find that the Browning
Citori Lightning that I had up for sale, on GunBroker.com, sold. The final bid
was not quite as much as I had hoped but I got more than I paid for it after
all expenses and that money will go toward my gun collecting. I also read a few
blogs. Then I checked on the availability of 62-64 grain 5.56x45 ammo, and saw
it is still mostly unavailable except at inflated prices. Found out there is a
gun show this weekend in Middletown, NY (as in today and tomorrow) that I will
not be attending. Also found out there is a gun show in White Plains, NY next
weekend that I hope to attend with my buddy Charlie K..
My wife is at work,
my son still upstate and my daughter at her fiancé’s place.
I just took a call from my son, interrupted my typing this
post. He is okay, still visiting his girlfriend upstate. He plans to be home
early next week. I noticed a basket full of laundry upstairs and threw the
clothes into the washing machine. I will have a few loads to get done today, of
that I am sure. Happy I saw that one to remind me. She who must be worshipped
left it in a location where I was sure to trip over it if I did not see it
first. Lucky for me it was light out.
I already also did the dishes (I am very pussified
domesticated).
Now, I had best close this blog post and go upstairs to sand
down the plaster work that I did yesterday, then clean it up, before she who
must be adored gets home from work. If I get a coat of primer/sealer on it
before she gets home, that would be a plus. After that, I'll have to wrap her
birthday present; her b'day is imminent more or less.
Such is a boring and almost uneventful 5 days and a wake-up of my life
before, during and after the super-storm.
So what did you do before, during and over the few days after the super-storm?
All the best,
Glenn B
No comments:
Post a Comment