We’ll start this rather light blog with the unexpected gift. A pump failed. I sent for parts. NO parts. Instead of getting parts, I was referred. That was about four months ago. I was referred to six or seven (maybe more) manufacturers, sellers, warehouses and, of course, any number of nincompoops. No parts anywhere. It was stupid-frustrating. The part itself is simply a conical shaped plate about six inches around. I actually found one early on in my efforts in Florida at a super plumbing warehouse for US$150.00….plus, plus, plus……I was almost sure I could make one…..I dunno.…instead I tried the next referral. I kept at it for four months. Nada.
So, I gave up. I was gonna throw the pump out and buy another. We’re talking about $600 give or take for the want of a $10.00 part. Just before I gave up, I wrote the whole boring story to the one lady who actually tried to help. I did it to get it all straight in my head and to acknowledge her help and to point out some dated information that she was operating with. We got along fine.
She wrote back and said, “You have tried hard enough. It is taking forever. I have obtained permission from the higher ups and we have sourced one in Mexico and we are sending it to you for free.”
That is fantastic service in this day and age. Sherri works for the American firm Franklin Electric and she is a Canadian in Canada. Pretty damn good, eh?
But wait! There’s more! The tides have been high. We’ve now got wood. We have more than enough and we are bringing in extra simply because it is there and we are into it. Universal largesse!
Ahhh, but for those dog physics, eh?
Sal was up at the communal dock readying to help unload the grocery delivery water taxi. She put both dogs on leashes and stood near the bottom of the ramp and, of course, chatted with a neighbour before the boat arrived.
A new and strange blue-eyed dog had ruffled a few furs earlier but nothing came of it until Sal’s attention was diverted. Two hundred pounds of our dogs leaped down the ramp to confront ol’ blue eyes who was coming for them again. Sal was jerked off her feet and landed entirely on her face on the dock’s sharp-surface hardware mesh. Blood flowed. People responded. Dogs snuck off. Sal must have flown several feet in the air. Her face took a serious blow. Eyes are already blackening up. Nose pretty swollen. I was taken up to the dock by a neighbour so that I could drive her home in her boat. Got it all together and came home. Sal’s gonna be fine. But we now know that two hundred pounds of canine should not be wrapped around her wrist.
It is hard enough having 240 pounds of husband wrapped around her little finger.
Is there a point to that story? Probably not. Accidents happen. They happen to you more and more the older you get. And we’re getting older. However, ol’ Sal is already back and doing stuff. A septuagenarian lady severely face planted on a metal clad mesh that is essentially a giant grater. That’s a punch in the face. After a bit of love and attention, she is back to normal save for a face that suggests she is studying in MMA.
Ya do get tougher out here.
Our Off the Grid Home 
Wow!
Those are impressive.
Glad she wasn’t hurt worse than that.
The crappy thing?
Every time you and Sal go to town for the next few months…..
People are gonna look at YOU!
My uncle had guys tried to punch him out because his wife had two shiners like that from slipping on icy steps and breaking her nose.
He was automatically a “wife beater”.
You should get a shirt that says, ” I didn’t do it”.
If I send you one will you wear it?
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Thank you, but no thank you. Sal and I figured the same thing. For her it is just an excuse NOT to take me anywhere for awhile. And I am OK with that. Otherwise I am just gonna look the hard cases in the eye and say, “Well, she was bugg’n me just like you are now!”
Ironically, we are picking up two older fems in an hour or so…..we’ll see how that goes…
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Well as the old joke goes.
“What do you tell a person with two black eyes?
“Nuthin! They’ve been told twice already!”
Try that joke in mixed company…….
If you dare.
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I live on a remote island and I am STILL not leaving the house…not brave at all. Funny-ish kinda thing…..two tourist float planes came in at the same time as the food delivery boat. All that happened at the Wednesday dockside lunch which was very well attended. There were more people on the dock that day than ever before. Sal made quite a scene. I was at home. I have more than a hundred witnesses to my NOT being there.
I am still not leaving the house.
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A wise man….
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Sally was the perfect patient. No moans and groans from that girl. And she was instantly surrounded by the well trained local First Aiders who saw she was well looked after. But the dogs were another story.
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Sal is a tough chick. When our city guests arrived, I told the first woman that Sal had decided to join the local MMA class. “It’s a hard class – all the other students are adult males.” The first woman said, “You know, I am not surprised at all!” And it just got goofier and goofier from there……
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Yep…the dogs are another story….and one I intend to address….
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Wow, she took quite a blow! I hope the bruises and black eyes heal fast!
Good that you had a 100+ witnesses, although you are not an agressive man!
But still, people believe what they want to believe
Like 25 years ago, I was on a plane, of on holliday with my 3 kids (still very young at that time)
They were really behaving very will, like playing very quietor coloring
The guy next to me said “well, your kids are so well behaved and calm”
I replied “yeah, you can see that the valium really helps”
What followed was 2 hours of flight with people angry at me and saying it was really not done to give kids drugs
Even after my wife explained time and time again, that I was only joking, a few guys kept arguing with me for the remainder of the flight
So maybe I would refrain from any jokes about the back eyes if I were you
Similar thing happened with my wife and 1 dog (about 75 poundsà
He knocked her of her feet, chasing after another dog
Shoulder dislocated and the shoulder never healed completely
Now we have 2 dogs, so we always have to be alert when they are on leash
All the best to Sal!
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hahahahaha.
My sister said something similar on a long plane flight.
Except she told the lady next to her “Its the rum in the Coke that keeps the baby quiet!”.
The lady laughed and asked her if she could have some for the screaming baby on HER lap…..
I used to enjoy flying.
Some people have a sense of humor.
Some people are idiots.
Roll the dice for who will be your “neighbor” on a plane.
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Sal’s face is already healing. Swelling is going down. Purples getting smaller. But she loves the affection expressed. So, thanks on her behalf.
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I think she’s still beautiful!
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That bruising is something to behold!
You may well get tougher out in the wilds but perhaps a crash helmet might be in order 😉
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I don’t know why my comment is anonymous, I’m logged in! It’s Margaret btw!
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So who owns the other dog?
A male that needs to be “fixed”?
( I meant the dog not the owner….)
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Don’t know. Don’t care. The dogs did NOT actually fight or do much of anything save for running in each other’s direction. Maybe they just wanna sniff butts? Gus has not been fixed. Daisy has. But Gus is likely the most gentle dog I have ever known. He is perfect with small children and most every other dog. He does not feel as if he has to assert dominance except sometimes he is protective of our property….but only by barking. I have never seen him snarl or snap ever. Daisy is a bit less secure and she gets skittish, sometimes (twice, I think) shows her teeth at another dog but never a human……but she has been fixed.
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Good to see you.
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Sal you look right into the camera and your eyes shine out for all. Hope each day has lessened your bruises and pain. I know the two dogs didn’t do it on purpose, just being themselves. Hugs to you and Dave.
Joy
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She heals well. Every day is an improvement. Her right eye is almost back to normal. But Sally never left the building. Purple faced, she just kept on carrying on. Hell, we even had two guests for the last three days. Sal is a rock.
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