Paul & Mary's Daily Diary

We went to the gun at 8:15 am.  We went to do battle and win, but alas, we both schlepped out of the building totally drained, feet dragging, and body parts rearranged into an almost unrecognizable form.

We had to go home after the workout to clean the house because Domilita was due in at 3:00 pm with her staff.

We did chores around the house all afternoon.  Mary kept finding Christmas decorations we missed, so I set up a box called “Christmas Miscellaneous.” At the end of the day, it was almost full.

Santa came today, and I got more presidents from Amazon, including a replacement recoil hose fr the air compressor, two new 36″ bar-clamps, and a replacement burner assembly for the hot-tub outdoor standup heater.

First came the recoil hose, which I use all the time in the shop.  The last one decided to break at the connector in the middle of the night, causing the compressor to run all night long, burning up the starter capacitor.  Joe took the unit and attempted a repair; four days later, it looked brand-new because it was brand-new.  Joe, the little stinker, bought me a new unit.  HE ordered parts for the old one, which he plans to use.

Description: SANFU (PU) Polyurethane Recoil Air Hose 3/8”ID(8.2x 12mm) x 25ft, Flexible, Professional 145PSI With Reassembled Brass Quick Coupler and Plug, Grey(25′)

My old hose finally broke, sending compressed air all over the garage.

We noticed that one of the linen cabinet doors was sagging slightly and, under close examination, a 1/8-inch split was forming along the side.  Formulating a repair plan was easy, but the necessary tool was NOT in my shop.  So, I hit the keys, logged on to Amazon, and procured a bar clamp big enough to handle the job.

Description: VEVOR Bar Clamps for Woodworking, 2-Pack 30 inch Parallel Clamp Set, F-Clamp with 1500 lbs Load Limit, Even Pressure, High-strength Plastic and Carbon Steel, for Woodworking Metal Working, Orange

It can apply 800 psi of pressure.

For the past year, we have been battling the vertical heater adjacent to the swim spa.  It was old (like me) and often refused to light up because the gas control assembly had bit the bullet.  On two occasions, the entire heater was rolled into the shop, disassembled, and fiddled with until it worked.  The fiddling lasted about 30 days, then died again!  OFF WITH ITS HEAD!!

Description: Patio Heaters Glass Tube Burner Module Replacement 47,000 BTU SGT Pattern Burner Replacement Parts with Regulator Valve Assembly Kit for Pyramid Square Glass Tube Patio Heater

I will replace the entire unit rather than attempt to fix the cantankerous device.

We got the house prepared by 4:00 pm when she finally arrived.  Just before Domi showed up, we decided to do the heavy pruning of our rose garden.  I went outside to collect the necessary tools, including a power-assist trimmer, a wheelbarrow, and rose gloves.  By the time they were ready and placed by the roses, it was decided it was too darned cold.  The Sun was setting, and cold arctic blasts were being felt—time to go back inside.

Then, out of the dark grey afternoon cold, I had a vision!  It was my magnificent wife and I sitting in an Italian restaurant dining on Veal Picata and Angel Hair Pasta with Hot Sauce while sucking down savoring a bottle of fine wine (sucking down was correct, but it did not sound good).

We combed out our hair and headed for the car.  Domi and the gang came in the front door, and we escaped via the garage.  We went to Renata’s near the Orange Traffic Circle.

I asked to dine “al fresco” because I thought that meant naked, but alas, my Italian is pretty poor.  We sat in the enclosed patio, which was sealed with heavy, weatherproof plastic curtains.  My idea of al fresco wouldn’t have worked this evening; it was colder than a well-digger’s bottom!

We dined semi-al fresco!

As usual, dinner was heavenly because I sat across from an angel.  The owner was serving this evening and brought bruschetta on the house!  Our wine was on the table the minute we sat down, and Mary did not have to order; the order was on automatic.  I went off the reservation and had angel hair pasta with meatballs and requested their VERY SPICY marinara sauce.

During dinner, we got a text from Charlotte: “We had a blast last night!  Haven’t seen Wayne have this much fun since he got sick.  It made my heart happy!  And we owe it all to you!!!  Thanks for thinking of us, entertaining us!  And hosting such a marvelous evening!  Best therapy ever!!!  Thank YOU ? ??”

We enjoyed seeing Charlotte so happy!  It keeps with our theme of “Do unto others as you want to be done upon!”

After dinner, we went down the street four stores and visited the Orange Elks Lodge.  We had a glass of vino, visited with fellow Elks, and headed home.  It was meeting night, and the place was jumping.

Returning home, it was “Book Night”.  We decided that two nights a week, we would turn off the TV, cuddle up in the TV/Reading Room, and use our brains to paint images instead of letting the TV control our thoughts.    I finished my Clive Cussler book, and Mary almost finished hers.  We both fell asleep sometime during the reading extravaganza and woke up around 11:00 pm; time to go to bed!