| September 2009 Daniel Taylor |
September 1 (Tuesday) 4:00 am
A new day and a new era dawn. Yesterday morning I li the fireplace. It was cool enough outside and in that
I found myself chilled, so I burned a couple of the sticks that Larry and Kenny brought to me. I would light
the fireplace this morning, but I do not have any kindling, which is the one thing I have not yet gathered.
The work we did yesterday with the tractor will provide us with more than enough kindling.
As for arising at 4:00 every day I am going to have to make arrangements with my body to sleep a little later.
I no longer have to leave from home at 5:00 in order to arrive to work on time, and I am probably going to be
working a bit later than before, so I now need to adjust my cycle to allow me to stay up later and sleep later.
No more going to bed at 7:00 in the evening.
September 2 (Wednesday) 5:00 am
Last week I would be leaving the house right about now, and I would be dreading the trip. This morning I
shall be meeting Larry in town at Martha's Menu, a local eatery, to map out the day's strategy. Evidently, we
had a piece of equipment stolen from our trailer yesterday. Such is the nature of things, I suppose, but I am
of the opinion that generally, if something is stolen from us, we must accept the blame -- at least partly. We
simply cannot leave equipment loose or just lying around. We simply cannot presume that others are going
to respect our property or behave themselves.
I am much sore from yesterday's activities. I haven't done much in the way of physical work in a very long
time, and I shall require some time to acclimate myself to things. But we have work to do, and it is good,
healthy work.
September 5 (Saturday) 5:00 am
What a great week it was! The weather all week long was perfect. I finally ran completely out of gas
yesterday around noon, and made it home in time to rest and nap and finally get off my feet. For most
people who are accustomed to working on their feet, whether indoors or not, this past week would have
seemed like a vacation of sorts, but for me, accustomed to sitting all day with my nose stuck in a computer,
the week, although very enjoyable, brought me experiences I haven't had in many years. Even raking up
leaves and twigs after felling a tree was arduous work for me. The guys who work with me were all
especially concerned yesterday, calling me after I arrived home, asking if I was okay.
I had tried to explain to them before we began on Monday that since I am not accustomed to any form of
manual labor to expect that I will tire out more easily and maybe not even be able to perform many tasks
that they take for granted. They did a fairly good job of recognizing this and cut me plenty of slack all week.
One of the guys suggested that I stay home and keep the books and let them do they "heavy lifting." Why
on earth would I want to do that? All I have been doing is staying home and "keeping the books." I want to
get out in the field and get some exercise, move around, and do some work.
I repaired the electric wire around the top of the fence, and although the wire is hot, Taz has still figured a
way to get out without getting burned. I shall have to keep an eye out to see if I can catch him escaping the
fence. Right now I do not know how he gets out, and until I do I cannot fix the problem.
9:00 pm
I must have been very exhausted. In perusing my entries for this month so far I have noticed several
grammatical errors and misspellings. I have stayed home today, thoroughly exhausted and napped most of
the day. I hope that I am rested and ready to go Monday morning. We have work lined up for next week.
September 7 (Monday) 3:30 pm
Labor day here in the U.S., but the crew of Stump Busters was at it early. Larry started the company a few
years ago, and I have now bought in as an equal partner. Alas, our stump grinder gave it up today, and it
looks like we shall be down until at least Wednesday, and hopefully we can get back in the groove by then.
The tractor is brand new and holds promise to be durable for a few years at least, but the old stump grinder
has quite a few hours on it.
In the mean time we had a visitor today as we worked. He is a black labrador retriever, and he is beautiful.
Larry befriended the guy as he and Kenny's brother, Scotty, worked a tree, for which we collected $400
today. Ah, the neighbors near where we worked said the big guy was a stray, and since he attempted to
follow us as we left the work site, I could not resist offering him a ride. He sat beside me in the passenger
side front seat, and sat there placidly all the way back to Willow Oak.
I don't need another dog. But the proprietor of the place where we worked informed us that she intended
to have her son drop the dog off somewhere away from her house, so I saw nothing else for it but to offer
the big guy succour and refuge at Willow Oak.
And then there were 12 ...
After arriving back to Willow Oak I introduced my crew there to the new comer one at a time, and in the end
there was nothing about which to worry. After the usual initial greetings, which included much sniffing and
a little bit of barking everybody settled in, and now the atmosphere at Willow Oak is as calm as if the new
dog has lived here all along.
All that is left now is to come up with a name. Pictures are forthcoming.
| Each new canine resident usually parks itself right under my feet. Grace did it; Grainger did it; and now the new one does it. |
| He does have a big smile. |
| He needs a "visit" to the vet. |
| I think that he is happy. He certainly does know how to smile! |
September 9 (Wednesday) 3:00 pm
Stump Busters, my company, has been down since Monday. Yesterday, we were able to order the
necessary part to get our machinery fixed up, and it arrived overnight. Larry already has things fixed, and
Kenny should be on the job this afternoon. We haven't yet accumulated enough work to keep the tractor
busy on a daily basis.
A reader, Reuben (who happens to be canine), has suggested a name for the new Lab: Lucky. That sounds
as good as anything I could come up with, so Lucky it is. Reuben suggested that Lucky was lucky that I
happened to be where I was.
Lucky still needs to learn how to "reside" indoors, if you know what I mean. Otherwise, Lucky has settled in
nicely, but he still exhibits nervous behavior. His system is "out of whack," but some good grub, a little
TLC, and time will clear that up.
Buster is doing great. He takes his excursions outdoors, but he spends most if his time indoors. I do wish
that I could acclimate Buddy and Darkly to the point that I could trust them, letting them remain outside their
cage.
I have managed to plug the gap in the gate where the dogs were escaping. None has escaped in a few
days.
I gave a presentation today at the First Presbyterian church in Corinth. There were six in attendance --
seniors all -- and they were very cordial. I even sold a book! I read a couple of chapters from my book.
Thanks to them for their hospitality.
September 11 (Friday) 6:45 am
Another reader has suggested the name of "Horace," for the black lab. Whether Horace of Lucky, the new
guy is presenting a different set of problems for me. His behavior is a bit different: he sits and pants
heavily constantly; he is slow to jump in with the other dogs, staying glued to me wherever I am and
wherever I go. He comes across as a "one-dog" dog, very attached to his master. I wonder is someone has
lost him. I do not have the inclination to put an ad in the paper, which might be the expedient thing to do; I
expect that such would be a fruitless endeavor.
We got our equipment up and running again. I haven't heard back from the other guys on how they did
yesterday. After venturing out early, I stayed home mostly. We have an excursion set for out for town
tomorrow early -- a couple of trees and a few stumps.
Here is a video of Horace Lucky.
September 13 (Sunday) 8:15 pm
Stump Busters enjoyed a busy Saturday. We only worked until around 2:00, but we got a lot done. Once
again, instead of spending hours staring at a computer in a cramped office, I breathed the fresh air of the
outdoors, and enjoyed a pleasant day under a clear sky.
We have enjoyed a very pleasant summer. We could have used a bit more rain, but the humidity has mostly
been low, and the temperatures have never risen to unbearable heights. I have begun to notice a change
in the color of the leaves in the trees. Winter moves inexorably closer. I just hope we have as pleasant a
winter as we have had a summer.
The animals are all safe and sound and in good spirits and health. I spent a little time this afternoon
throwing the "frisbie" for Lucky, who delights in chasing after and retrieving it. Fred was overcome with
jealousy, I believe, because as Lucky chased the ice cream top, Fred chased Lucky, growling and barking
and demanding that I congratulate him instead of Lucky.
Buster continues to be the sweet kitty I always knew he was. He is asleep on the table near me right now. I
do wish that I could trust Buddy and Darkly to turn them loose and let them enjoy the freedom that other
cats enjoy.
Well, bedtime approaches. Tomorrow is another day!
September 17 (Thursday) 5:00 am
This has been a rainy week, so work has ground to a halt. Nonetheless I finally got my chance to work the
tractor at my place. It has been several years since I last operated a tractor so I needed to get some time in
on this one. Basically, I did a little bush hogging, and moved a few loose logs around, placing them into a
pile. I also began to retrieve the concrete picnic table from the back side of the property. I discovered the
picnic table shortly after arriving to Willow Oak. There are nine pieces -- all concrete -- and the thing is
massive and heavy, and only a tractor could have retrieved it from where it is. It is all grown up with trees
and bushes surrounding it, so I've had quite a chore digging it out. I had already promised it to Larry's wife
in exchange for some work Larry did several months ago, so it is destined to not be a permanent part of
Willow Oak.
September 18 (Friday) 6:45 am
Well there you go! Rain! This entire week was lost to rain. I do not complain about the rain because we
need it, but ..., well, we still have to pay our salaried labor, and we have to do so out of what otherwise
would have been company profits. Ah, such is the life of a business owner!
September 19 (Saturday) 7:30 am
Rain is not a bad thing. But in the case of Stump Busters it is nearly catastrophic. We were down part of a
week with misfunctioning equipment, and now it has rained for two weeks. The weather will improve
eventually, but what a way to start out! Right now it is pouring! (I would say that it is raining cats and dogs,
but ...)
I am scheduled this morning to be at the local Arby's to do a book signing. Perhaps we shall sell a book or
two. This will be my second appearance at an event. I am scheduled to be at the animal shelter on October
31 to do a book signing. Some downtown merchants are putting on a block party next Thursday evening to
benefit the shelter.
September 22 (Tuesday) 6:45 am
When I went to bed last night the skies were clear and the stars were shining; but right now, this early
morning, we are experiencing thunder and rain. It appears that Stump Busters is going to lose another
week of work.
Willie is shivering in my lap (he too is "scared of funders"); Clyde is under my feet, and Grainger is draped
over my shoulders. No, Grainger is too big to fit on my shoulders, but he stands on his hind feet and draps
his upper body over my chest or shoulders -- wherever he can squeeze in.
Every once in a rare while I shall hear from someone with whom I have had dealings in one way or another,
and that person wants to know why I did not mention him or her by name in my journal. The reason for this
is simple: I tend to avoid mentioning others by name. I do this for nearly everyone I know. To my
knowledge, Larry is the only person I have ever mentioned in my journal by name. There may be one or two
others, but I do not recall. I do not like to mention someone's name without that person's explicit
permission, and even then I feel that the safe way to travel is not to mention any names at all. That way bad
feelings are avoided. If a person feels slighted because I dod not mention his name then that is one thing;
but if a person feels slighted because I did mention his name, then that is a different matter entirely.
September 23 (Wednesday) 7:00 am
It rained during the night. Surprise! Surprise! As I was performing my morning chores I noticed Buster
slinking around. He was soaking wet, which, even though it had rained during the night, surprised me a bit.
I grabbed him and began stroking him, and that is when I noticed a few scratches on him. Upon closer
inspection it became apparent to me that Buster was fairly well chewed up. His right leg has some large
wounds on it and he is chewed around the ears and other places. I have seen cats right after having been
mauled by dogs, and although Buster's condition was mild compared to what I have seen, what I saw was
reminiscent of what I've seen. But the question is this: When? Where? What dogs? My dogs had been
confined indoors with me all night, and it has not been Buster's practice to wander far from home during
the night, unless he has been doing so without my knowing about it. His injuries surely were not due to a
cat fight with Boots (he and Boots get into it sometimes), but he has definitely been injured somehow, some
way. I guess I shall never find out, but at least his injuries are not life-threatening. For now he is curled up
near me right now, peacefully snoozing away.
September 26 (Saturday) 8:00 am
Such rain! Incessant. Persistent. Oppressive. Yes, oppressive would be the appropriate word. We have
not had a dry day in two weeks. I have seen rain like this before, but it has been 25 years or more since. At
this rate, Stump Busters is going to be hard pressed to get back into shape. We shall end the month in the
black, but only because neither Larry nor I will take any salary. So, I guess that technically, we shall end in
the red.
The dogs are positively going stir crazy. They are not going outside (who can blame them?), so they are
cooped up all day indoors. I have to break up the occasional fight between and among the dogs, and
already this morning have had to referee several tête à tête's.
Horace Lucky comes across as aggressive. He is not mean, but he is not above defending his ground and
jumping one of the other dogs. He is definitely fiercely loyal and would make a great family pet for anyone
who is a one-dog type of family. I wish I could find a good family to take him; he is wreaking havoc among
my crew. Perhaps in time he will settle down, but for now he won't let up.
Buster has transformed from that elusive vagabond to a regular lap-baby. He rarely goes missing, but he
too is persistent in demanding attention. I still do wish that I could acclimate Buddy and Darkly.
September 29 (Tuesday) 11:00 am
Yesterday was extremely pleasant, and Kenny and I managed to get a bit of work done. We discovered a
nasty bump on one of the truck tires, so we spent a good portion of the day shopping for and buying tires,
which also involved buying rims. The original wheels were not really suited to the kind of work in which the
truck would be involved, since the truck had been used by the railroad. So, more money spent. Larry and
Kenny also convinced me to reach one more time into my pocket to purchase a pole saw -- a chain saw
used to reach into the canopy of trees. Hopefully my investment will one day pay off -- not too far into the
future please.
On a lighter note I have begun to teach Larry and Kenny the fine art of playing poker. Even though I
believe I can play, I have never had the moxy to consider going pro. But teaching and playing with Larry
and Kenny has been entertaining. We have been concentrating on the casino versions of poker, with all
the attendant poke etiquette, and I believe I have made some progress. For fun we played a hand of "blind
man's bluff" recently -- Texas Hold'em style, where you hold you hole cards to your forehead where the
others can see but you cannot. Larry held Q8 off-suit, and the flop included a Queen and an eight. Great
flop for Larry even though he could not know that he had two pair, but I was first to act, so I bet out $200.
As I expected, Larry surely would presume that my knowlege of the flop would imply that he didn't have a
hand and he folded! Was he fit to be tied when he saw his hand!
Kenny folded also, but not until afterwards did I discover that I also had a queen in my hole cards. It turned
out that two jacks came on the "turn" and the "river,"respectively, so if Larry had stayed in he and I would
have split the pot. But did I have a good laugh at his expense when he discovered that I had "bluffed" him
off his hand.
It was cold enough last night to light the fireplace. Sleeping by the fire is a most cozy experience!