.
It’s that time again…
.
.
Or not at all glamorous.
Eeww.
.
.
If I was a billionaire?
I would totally buy a dinosaur skeleton and have cocktails under my T Rex.
.
.
If I know I’m dead?
I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
.
.
Wombats poop cubes.
Enough said.
.
.
No good can come from hackable vacuums.
.
.
I’ve never wanted a robotic vacuum.
And now I really don’t want one.
.
.
I feel you bird.
Human noise is stressing me as well.
.
.
This is the old Frank J Wood bridge that crossed the Androscoggin River and connected Brunswick to Topsham.
.
.
A major thoroughfare for the area, but old and in dire need of major structural repair. Numerous studies and years of inspections and debates resulted in a plan for replacement.
.
.
The new concept was wider and free standing, with unobstructed scenic views and platform bump outs for taking in the sights.
As a rule, Mainers don’t like change and a lot of people fought to save and refurbish the historic old bridge… but finally lost the legal battle.
.
.
The new bridge opened a few months ago and personally… I like it. Easier to navigate with wider lanes and a sidewalk for strolling, I think it’s a vast improvement.
The old bridge is currently being town down, piece by cumbersome piece and its devoted fans want to pay homage. Which sounds lovely, but in reality? Not so much.
.
.
This is an artist’s rendering of what the (extremely expensive tax payer funded) memorial would look like.
Local reaction is not favorable.
.
.
I’m totally Team Banana.
.
.
How about you?
.
.
Day two of wall sconce installation saw our mantle taken over by tools
.
.
Multiple trips to the hardware store were needed and my husband’s patience was wearing thin.
.
.
I was trying to speed the process along by dropping helpful hints but was promptly told to vacate the work area.
.
.
The old wiring was troublesome and at one point I told my husband just to mount the lights and not worry about them being functional. To be honest we haven’t turned them on for years.
There’s a reason for this.
.
.
The built in bookcases on either side of the fireplace are deep.
Four rows of hardcovers deep, and reaching the light switch?
.
.
Way back there …
.
.
Means removing a few dozen books every time.
As you can see by the original unpainted paneling, it hasn’t been uncovered for decades.
Stupidest light switch placement… ever.
🥴
.
.
A simple question about preferences today.
.
.
Years ago, in my younger pre-menopausal days, I’m sure I would have said 100 degrees. We lived down south where summer lasted 8 months and I was breaking out the bikini for sunbathing in February.
Those days are long gone (as are my bikinis) and now? I’ll take the crisp cold 0 temps of winter over a sweltering sauna all day long. I can put on extra clothes to stay warm, but can’t strip down far enough to cool off in that suffocating high heat.
I’m sure I’m the outlier here, but does anyone else prefer the cold?
.
.
The snow is getting deeper but our lone little opossum is still visiting.
.
.
When he gets scared or spots us in the window he runs for the woodshed.
.
.
Climbing what must look like Mount Everest to a marsupial.
.
.
He prefers melting snow that reveals grass and a few puddles from which to drink.
.
.
Yes, they’re good to have around.
.
.
And though they’re pretty humble looking creatures…
.
.
We like Percy and wish him the best.
.
.
Another batch of questionable statistics, just because.
.
.
Damn.
My state has the most old codgers. Not sure how to feel about that since I’m rapidly becoming one.
.
.
Sorry about that South Dakota, I think you’re toast.
.
.
We do love our Chinese food here in Maine. Seems like even the smallest towns have a take out place.
Have egg roll, will travel.
.
.
I’m not sure if I should be disgusted, or impressed.
.
.
France used a guillotine as recently as 1977?
Yikes.
.
.
Lobster roll should come as no surprise for Maine. How did your state do?
.
.
February. In Maine?
I’m really calling foul on this one.
.
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten and his vampire teeth like to sleep next to me when I read.
.
.
This makes for some slightly disturbing photos.
.
.
Good thing he’s a pacifist.
.
.
We’ve been having a lot of small snow storms lately and are getting to that point in winter where clearing chores are losing their allure.
So let me just drop this here…
.
.
You can’t beat the price.
.
.
I can totally see our cat doing this and holding us hostage for tuna.
.
.
Said feline’s new favorite spot.
.
.
And speaking of spots, I’ve been meaning to put a rug under that table ever since we bought it but can’t find the right one.
.
.
Which means I waste entirely too time superimposing digital varieties.
.
.
Have any of you tried those washable versions?
.
.
They’re pretty, but seem so thin and cheap I’m thinking they can’t be any good.
.
.
What say you to cheap washable rugs?
.
.
It’s Monday.
Buckle up…
.
.
That’s not at all terrifying.
Nope.
😳
.
.
Good grief.
Does everything have to be political?
.
.
So basically it’s like every other major corporation.
.
.
Proving even robots know when to say when.
.
.
I can honestly say this is the first time I’ve felt embarrassed for a robot.
.
.
So that’s where it went.
.
.
Thank you, but I’ll think I’ll stick with the stupid version.
.
.
Installation of the new wall sconces started simply enough that afternoon.
.
.
With Lord Dudley Mountcatten on hand for the box unpacking assist.
.
.
He follows my husband everywhere, like a devoted dog.
.
.
Me? I’m just tolerated for my can opening and litter box cleaning ability. 🥴
When all the pieces and parts of the lights were laid out and the instructions ignored, because… you know, men… it was time to begin.
.
.
Upon initial examination, the existing electrical boxes (circa 1974 when the house was built) didn’t look good.
They were metal, barely stable, filled with old paper and sawdust and had nowhere to attach the new mounting hardware.
.
.
So they had to go.
New boxes were purchased…
.
.
But of course they didn’t fit.
*side note- this wall is actually two sections of old paneling I painted when we first moved in. Neither of us was skilled enough in wallboard mudding and application to rip it out around the fireplace… so there it’s stayed for 20 odd years. This was never an issue, until now*
For the next few hours my husband cursed, sputtered and cut. Or tried to. He only needed to make the holes a wee bit bigger but doing so without splitting and splintering the ancient paneling was more of a challenge than he thought.
By dinner time he’d finagled the boxes into larger holes, mounted the new hardware, grounded and wired one new sconce and attached it to the wall.
.
.
As you can see this did not go as planned.
To be continued…
Hopefully.
🥴
.
.
I’ve never been to Canada but am well acquainted with their geese.
.
.
Seriously, these birds don’t play.
.
.
We love the noisy little devils and see them often in our part of Maine.
.
.
Because honestly, who needs ICE when you have geese?
.
.
A photo of our local ice fishing camp at sunset.
I have no desire to sit on a stool in a frozen shack and stare at a hole in the ice waiting for tiny, oily smelt to swim by, but it’s hard to argue with the optics.
.
.
Okay, I admit it. My husband came home from the “gift store” … aka the dump… with a treasure.
.
.
A brand new Star Wars Death Star cheese cutting set that we’re going to give to a friend who’s obsessed with the movies.
.
.
$86 at Macy’s and the husband got it for free.
He was grinning from ear to ear…. while I was horrified at the dangerous precedent this is going to set.
🥴
.
River's world..... 