32 June 2016

Must make an entry as we are rapidly running out of June. July will be here before one knows it and after taking a time out, there is much to report. Inquiring minds are clammering to know.

Up early this day. On fact, before dawn. But its OK. I went to bed wicked early and perhaps I should start there.

From today's image, one can clearly see that there were peaches to process.

However NOT included but also gathered (think ‘hunter gatherer’) were second picking of bluets and a cache of banana peppers from Debbie at the blueberry patch.

She also had some surplus squash with is another story but the zucinni was divine marinated, grilled & topped with a commercially shredded cheese mixture. The first yellow neck was homicidal finely chopped in the nights supper salad.

So yesterday I was an ‘off’ day from real work, that is the paying job with benefits starting next week HOWEVER as you well know by now, Bill is never truly ‘off’.

In this case, bluets, peaches & peppers were processed for winter. As you imagine, there is or ARE multiple story levels due to time gaps & I will do my best to make as much sense as possible while being as brief as possible reporting spin-free, more or less, before it becomes time to move on OR report to work later THIS DAY.

OK. So Walt & I are rocketing back to McK from Fannin County when idiot lights start going off in the cockpit & we start losing the ability to accelerate. Walt, ever the engineer & now co-pilot, engage in multiple scenarios, all NOT GOOD as we hobble off of 75 & into McK.

I drop off Walt at his house, we split up the peach harvest, squash & peppers & he takes his bluets & I head straight to AutoZone (AZ) for to put Silver on the free tester. As I start her up, one of the lights is now off.

In our emergency diversion meetings, I brought up to Walt the possibility of random electrical anomaly and a soft reset as a possibility but he sort of dismissed it as more likely a tranny problem. That would be 'transmission' in this context to be frank & absolutely CLEAR.

After leaving AZ, I went straight home parking Silver in the shade of the garage & prepared for real work all the while thinking & most anxious about the state of the old mare.

Shortening this longish tale, she started with NO (idiot/warning) LIGHTS and functioned as advertised all day Thursday.

Friday, 31 June, was first Friday Mass so that got me up & out so I took Silver to the dealership & explained the situation to Pete my Customer Service therapist at El Dorado (ED). I took my bike & rode it to Saint Michael’s for Mass while Pete & the cracker-jack mechanics at ED performed their own independent analysis.

I must interject & go tangenital here to describe ever-so-briefly the lovely bike ride thru the side & back streets of McK from ED to St Michael’s.

But first, I could tell Pete thought I was a little nuts when I pulled the bike from the back of Silver & briefed him of my Plan.

The air was cool and traffic very light except around 380 which as we all know is a polluted river of mankind’s worst. Just filthy, dirty & nasty.

The back street route was mostly Graves (St) and took this rider past the gamut of older homes running down due to benign neglect to more modern yet older ranch-style homes some impeccably maintained complete with manicured yards & quite stunning.

I was wicked early so took the opportunity to admire the art work, designs & architectural features. Mass was the usual spectacular event and in the little chapel.

Upon my return to ED & expecting the absolute worst from Pete, that didn’t happen.

CUT THE SUSPENSE ALREADY. THIS MUNDANE ACCOUNT IS STARTING TO READ LIKE AN ALFRED HITCHCOCK THRILLER.

First Born. No patience.

Pete explains the electrical error in self testing (think diagnostics) is a self-correcting event and minor, not serious but repairs will take 6-7 HOURS. Not today but again not hazardous AND not critical. We make a tentative plan for an appointment in two (2) weeks and now the killer. NO CHARGE.

WHAT !!

You heard me.

I checked my records & the throttle body with the wiring harness was replaced there at ED in November 2015 & was still under warranty. I mentioned this to Pete, he confirmed & agreed.

Fast-forwarding as I am running out of patience, ambition and material …

Returning to the casa y mi cocina, the work started in canning & food preservation nearly immediately.

Martha had called & left a message during Mass so I returned her call explaining that the entire process appeals to me wrt planning, preps & executing to a successful completion. Think Systems Engineering.

I successfully put up AND all jars sealed of blueberry-lime jam, conserve with coconut and flavored rum, plus some small raw pack jars, peach jam, conserve with mint and some with bourbon (Makers) and again sections in raw packs with mint syrup and two jars of a new product offering, Bill’s Pickled Peppers. Sliced & sticks. Should be elegante this winter straight or on homemade pizza.

As the jars were going into the final water bath, I cracked a celebratory first brewski. A 7%-er Little Sumpin' from our good friends at Lagunitas.

After four (4) more quick ones and some clean up, I felt ready for a longer training ride. Afterall, the HH100 is rapidly approaching & my training is way behind schedule with this new ‘work’ gig. Besides, I felt good & it would be an easy training ride.

Was I wrong. SO WRONG.

First of all, it WAS hot in the afternoon. I quickly found that 7% was NOT the solution and before reaching the half-way point, found a shady spot with a picnic table & took a little siesta.

About an hour-and-a half later, I awoke & finished the ride.

YIKES. Bud Harrell died this way after a round of golf a few years ago. But he was old.

HAVE YOU LOOKED IN THE MIRROR LATELY ? BE CAREFUL.

FB. Again.

She said she was going to put me in a ‘good home’.

When the time is ‘right’ (?) but more likely over MY dead body.

This is Bill,with a little over 1000 words.

A new day and more adventures right around the corner, the bend in the river & curve of the road.

Manana or perhaps in Julio … officially.