The rain, the leak, and things that go "bump" in the night!

Have I told you all about my leaky ceiling in my kitchen?  After a high wind accompanied by rain and hail a few weeks ago, my kitchen ceiling began to leak.  Now, bear in mind that the roof was replaced less than 3 years ago.  It was one of those "rubberized" roofs that is guaranteed for 20 or 30 years. I had the original roof guys here, and they used some sort of caulking around an upstairs window, and around the "flashing" what ever that is.  I am not a contractor, so I really don't need to know this stuff, or didn't until now.  The last big rain we had early last week had water pouring in like I didn't even have a roof.  I had pans, buckets and any other receptacle handy placed strategically around the floor to catch the drips.  Oh, have I mentioned that I had contacted my State Farm Insurance agent after the first leak...3 times before he returned my calls.  When he did call he said that the adjusters had lots on their lists and were handling the calls by seriousness, and he was sure they would call soon.  Meanwhile, I had a contractor here to start figuring costs of repairs, and he agreed with the #1 roof guy that the leak "may" becoming from around the upstairs window. No way to "tarp it" as my insurance agent suggested, and it was sunny out and no rain predicted for a week or so.  I thought I was in the clear. 
Yesterday, still no call from said adjuster.  One trip thru the kitchen doing laundry, I noticed that the drywall on the ceiling was sagging more than it had been.  Hmmmm!  The adjuster called late that afternoon to set up an appointment for next Wednesday.(Almost 2 weeks later)  He asked me how bad it was.  I said that I considered it really bad, and wondered how much longer it would be before the ceiling fell in.  He laughed!  Well, it was no laughing matter, and you could tell it wasn't his house!  AND, then last evening, and mind you it hadn't rained for at least 3 days, I was sitting watching TV, and heard a loud crash in my kitchen.  I hurried in there and lo and behold, half of my ceiling was on the floor.  I began cleaning it up, and another chunk fell taking a blade off of my ceiling fan.  Well, that is cleaned up, but let me tell you; wet drywall is heavy.  I lugged the big pieces that didn't fall apart out to the fence, and then swept up the small stuff, along with several big chunks of original plaster.  Now, my kitchen ceiling looks like a house from the "projects."  I have always prided myself in having a nice home.  This is so frustrating. 
Now, it's raining, and without the drywall and plaster up there, I have drips where it never dripped.  And I still can't do anything until State Farm says so.  I am seriously pissed off about the whole thing.  And I can see $$$$$ signs rolling as the leaking continues!  And my beautiful cabinets and stuff might get ruined.  Drats!!!

Peace, (soon please)
JE

Loss

Today, I am feeling sad.  I lost a good friend last night.  After a long struggle with kidney failure, a kidney transplant, having that kidney fail, dialysis, my good friend Lynn died of a heart attack.  He had been sick for a long time.  But he never lost his spirit.
Lynn and I have sung together in choir, a quartet, an adult "swing" chous, and madrigal groups for over 35 years.  He sang bass and could reach those really low notes that seem to shake the rafters.  He was fun.  He was humorous, and was a good Christian, family man. 
His passing makes me sad, but it is a sadness that I realize is mine.  Lynn has suffered so in the last year, that I know in my heart that he no longer is suffering.  But today, that reality doesn't ease the sorrow in my heart.
Lynn was a strong leader in the community, and a respected business man.  He had a near death experience several years ago, and because of it, wrote a book which told his story, and maybe made it easier for those faced with death and dying.
Lynn, will be missed, but I know that he is one guy that when he arrived at the heavenly gates, God greeted him with open arms and said, "Welcome home, O good and faithful servant."
Goodbye Lynn, I'll miss you, buddy!

Peace,
JE

TV, Jeopardy, and Netflix

I have never been too much of a TV fan.  Oh, I watched my share of cartoons, and Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and Have Gun Will Travel, as a kid.  I watched the original Dallas, and even got hooked on the series Lost for a while, until it got just too weird.
Since my wife passed, I have strayed away from watching too much  TV and tried to amuse myself with the internet and books, and of course my hobbies and music.
Lately though, I subscribed to Netflix!  I am hooked on watching some TV series. After watching every available episode of Downton Abbey, I am beginning MI-5, a British series about British intelligence.  There are 86 episodes, and I am on episode 22.  I am not sure I will stick with it, but for now, I will watch one after another after another!  I watched the mini series, all 8 episodes, of The Ends of the Earth, and had already watched Pillars of the Earth.  I have to admit to watching several movies, and have even watched some foreign flix with subtitles.  Wow.
Of course, I always watch Jeopardy.  It refreshes my mind, keeps me thinking and besides, I think I would actually win some money if I ever got on there.  But, I would be a wreck if I was in front of a TV camera knowing that millions of people were watching be make a complete fool of myself!  (smiling here),
All of this combined with my Friday night lineup of CSI New York and Blue Bloods, and Thursday night's Big Bang Theory, adds up to  a lot of "boob tube" watching.  Maybe when it gets to be Spring, I will get outside and leave the TV alone.  Until then, it's late nights,(or early mornings) and the remote control.

Peace,
JE