Sometime around 1pm I became highly motivated on Saturday. I backed the FJ out of the carport, pulled out the ladder, a 5gl bucket, a pair of gloves that were rubber coated and my long water hose ... and headed up on the roof. I think I missed cleaning my gutters last fall and after I started Saturday I was sure of it. Still it wasn't bad. There were more cinders from the shingles in the gutters that had washed off than leaves or sticks. It didn't take me long to make two trips down the ladder to empty the bucket of muck.
By the end of the cleaning I was spraying fresh water the full length of the gutter. While I was up on the roof I decided to trim back some low hanging limbs from the mahogany tree in back. I did a quick roof inspection and found out I will need to replace a sheets of shingles for the one that was damaged in high winds this spring. Otherwise the temps were cool enough in mid afternoon to sit on top of the roof for a whole different view on the neighborhood. I like it up there.
Once back inside the house I knocked off a couple of more easy things on the list, so by Saturday night I had put a thick black line through four things on the list. I ended up being pretty sore from all the bending, scooting on my knees while on the roof and climbing up and down the ladder a few times. I didn't realize I was that out of shape.
Sunday was a bright, sunny morning. Over my two cups of coffee, some blog reading and a game of Mahjong on the new laptop, I decided to miss traffic and all the construction hold ups on the way to Indianapolis that would take place during the week. I decided that I would run up to REI to exchange my tent that had a hole in the mesh after the night of high winds in Utah.
Before picking up the exact same tent I did look over their inventory and a few times I almost decided to buy a different tent. Yet, I liked that Marmot Tungsten 3P. It kept us dry. On the warmer night in Rifle Gap SP, it was nice to sleep without the vestibule and having a great view of the sky. There was plenty of room for me, a bloodhound and two basset hounds.
It was fairly tall at 48". So I decided to give that tent another try. When I got to the cashier with my replacement tent, she commented it was my lucky day. Most of their tents were on sale, including the one I was exchanging. So I picked up a new tent in exchange and a $74 refund for the price difference due to the sale.
Feeling pretty good about that, I headed south to Bloomington's Best Buy to have them check out my Nikon D3200 that stopped working properly when trying to auto focus. Now ... based on my past experience with the "Geek Squad" last fall, I was expecting nothing more than filling out some paperwork and having them ship it back to Nikon for a repair under warranty.
They didn't disappoint me. Their Geek Squad Tech Rep verified that the camera would not auto focus. He then asked me questions that were answered two or three times during our conversation. He filled out the paper work and under condition "scratched and worn", then tried to get me to sign the paperwork with out reading the find print. You know, one of those "check this box and sign here" things.
Last fall's experience told me to do otherwise. Last fall they also put "scratched and worn" on my iMac that was in mint condition. So when I saw that same condition today, I couldn't resist, I asked the tech rep to point out the scratches on my camera and also any parts that show abnormal or even normal wear.
I knew there weren't any ... so I was curious what his answer would be.
I know they put that as a condition to protect their asses, in case someone drops it while working on it, damaged in shipment, it falls off the counter ... whatever ... but I'm a stickler for paperwork being filled out correctly. At least this time the date of purchase was correct and not just a fill in date.
The tech rep could not find any scratches, even on the big rear monitor. Nor could he find any places that were worn ... I mean the camera was bought 9 months ago ... give me a break!!!!
After a stare down, he changed the "condition" on the paperwork to "like new". I still dislike Geek Squad with all my heart. I am saying that in a "politically correct kind way". Their phone service even sucks worse than they do in person. I might fall off my diet and celebrate when my 1 year membership expires this fall. I will be that thrilled about not having to talk to them again.
So I get a new tent plus a refund but give my camera away for 2-4 weeks, maybe less time than that. I marked off somethings from my "to do" list, putting the hounds and I close to the travel mode.
I would say that was a pretty successful weekend.
I took a siesta when I got back ... it seems that's the norm again on weekends. The hounds are always in agreement with a siesta since that IS their favorite hobby.
I know what my next plan is on the list and that should be completed by Monday afternoon. All inside work since it will be raining tonight and most of tomorrow. Can we give some of this rain in the Midwest to California??
I still plan to head west again as soon as my list is complete. I know my last trip wasn't long but it was long enough to show me what I needed to adjust for future travel. Heidi's skin continues to improve and grow more hair on those bald spots. Her appetite is still good but I'm not sure if the vet prescribed Pepsin AC is working ... I think she is constipated now.
Is it timing or just a coincidence that she seems to be doing better on food with chicken and rice, no fruits, no veggies and only one protein source ... compared to months of eating no grain food with fruits, veggies and multiple protein sources? In past years during the month of May and June she was getting allergy shots. So far this year there has not been a need for shots or meds in May and June.
I have a few photos today from the Nikon D3200 but starting tomorrow it will be the iPhone 5s camera and my small Nikon CoolPix 3100 taking the photos, until the D3200 is shipped back to the house.
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