Spring 2014 schedule

I was getting frustrated that nothing has happened with our place since I left a few years ago, even though I traded Aaron the truck to install a septic tank and he never did it. I've called him many many times, and finally gave up and told him I was tired of trying to do it the Bahamian way with a handshake and hoping for the best, and was going to have to pursue other methods if he didn't get his shit together. I didn't press it harder sooner, because I knew we couldn't get back there because of the new babies. But still, on the other hand, a deal is a deal, and get your shit together if someone pays you to do something, right? Even for "island time," that's crazy slow.

Anyway, he called last night, and explained some delays and hardships, but took responsibility and said  that his reasons were not excuses, which I can appreciate. He offered to call every week and check in and tell me if there is progress or not, and hopes to start in earnest within a month.

He also told me the hill above the house (the potential landslide) had not deteriorated as badly as I'd heard, that there were trees growing out of what had been the foundation trenches we dug in the stone, and the place is overgrown. Mice had broken in and eaten our dry food. He said he's going to go clean that out and clean it up. I told him to get the septic/toilet done first, but that I appreciate it.

I gave the Bonito to Ton after his accident. We were in a dialogue about him buying it when it happened, and when Walter was killed. Ton's hands are  mended now, and his brother too, who was in the car that hit them. He's in good spirits, and seems as though it never happened from my distance. I thought he should have the boat, and it will be taken care of better if it's in use than if it sits, and he agreed to let me or my guests use it whenever we're there, and he uses it the rest of the time and maintains it. It seems like a win/win.

Walter's sister Audrey went down to collect his things after he died, and to say goodbye, but most of his things were stolen. There are some very poor people passing through, sometimes. Haitians with not a thing in the world, often. For that reason, it is hard to hold a grudge. These people take logs, dig them out, and start paddling north from Haiti. If you look at a globe, and imagine that, you'll likely shit your pants. How they get the guts to do it is beyond me. I guess desperation is the mother of boldness.

Ruth and I have acouple trips planned, one to Germany for her next spring (late spring, likely) and me to Eleuthera to build the other two rooms onto the guest building, to finish the original plan, hopefully gt an occupancy certificate, put a driveway in below it, a set of steps fromt he drive to the building, and paint and side the structure. I understand there is a new government lately, tightening things up, so I should get on that. WIth the boys getting a little more self sufficient, it's going to be more possible. Ton and Whiskey can entertain each other, and Rudeboy being off of the teat and onto the the bottle, maybe solid food by then, and crawling, things will hopefully be at least barely manageable for Ruth and Phyllis when I'm gone.

As far as the main building goes, I've rethought the idea a bit, including that I want a Bahamian architect to draw it, as I think it might go more smoothly if I do. I've also considered a book that Randy Brummitt planted in my head about a cement dome house. Hurricane proof, kinda.

I'll be in touch. If anyone is reading this, say so.

Love,
Jack

I don't know how much more weird it could get. I spoke to my friend Aaron today. Walter died from a head on collision, from a car on the wrong side of the road, passing on a hill, just as he had complained about to me one time as we were driving three years ago after a near miss we had. A few days ago, I started having weird jarring thoughts that made me cringe about a head on car crash on that same fucking hill with someone close to me, and here it is. The place where he died was the place I was imagining, the place where he and I talked about it. Walter was with our friend Ton, who is in the hospital in Nassau, in unkown condition. Ton's brother was in the other car going the other way.

RIP, WALTER, Bon Amie.

He was saying he was going to go to Eleuthera and go stay at the house I was starting to build when I met him. He was next door with Ton at that time. I would go over after working and hang out, he would stop by with a pineapple to plant outside our door. I don't know if when he went to Eleuthera he went to our place or not. Or where he died. I just know a few days ago I had preoccupying thoughts of the dangers of Queen's Highway there, even though I hadn't seen it in three years. I kept imagining a crash. I don't know why that's been in my mind lately. Maybe this is why.

My wife Ruth brought these flowers home today. I guess they are really for Walter. She didn't know what happened, but they are for him, nonetheless. She didn't know him, but he always asked about her when we spoke. And he never saw these flowers, or the shadow they cast, but she, they, and it were all connected. Because I don't know if I ever met anyone more connected. To the world. To his soul, his heart, his feelings, his convictions. More alive, thoughtful, vital, inspirational, passionate in his beliefs, curiosities, concerns, than Walter. I only got to spend a short time with him. Yet I was sure our friendship would be a centerpiece of my life as long as we lived; I expected it to be much longer. But as Neil Young said, "I love you more than moments we have or have not shared." It's true. Because I don't just love Walter for who he was, a friend to share time and experience with, a mind that understood more than I did at times (he always shared,, sometimes to keen listening ear, sometimes to a lively debate, [ha ha]), a heart of concern, guts to stand up for what's right, a guiding hand to help others along, two sturdy feet to keep it going all going, trudging on, to handle whatever appeared- it wasn't just those things, who he was, but who I was when I was with him, and who I am since I've known him, I'll never be quite the same, he'll always be an inspiration. And he'll always be part of the foundation for my understanding of the world now. For that, I could never thank him enough, even if we lived many lifetimes. He got me closer to being who I want to be. Walter, I will miss you more than you would ever know. The flowers aren't loading properly. I'll just tell you, they are simple, organic things, flawed and perfect simultaneously, striving for perfection, in their complicated and unique way. Just like my friend.

I love you, man.
-always, always, ALWAYS your friend-
Jack.

http://forum.santabanta.com/showthread.htm?167719-Cool-Underground-House-on-a-Hill

is giving me more ideas... could build the shell and then bulldoze dirt in on top of it and plant shit. Or build a dome house (Randy has loaned me a great book on the subject- you inflate a balloon, essentially, then you spray it with some stiffening agent, then build a wire mesh around it and spray it with concrete. Very cool. Something sweet's gonna happen, I believe, despite all the time passed. I sure hope one day it's something a bunch of cool people will share in common, that's our dream, really. As soon as we're done having babies... I think after M.S.R.L. is born, give it a year, and some more sweet shit will happen. Sorry to have it take so long. I really hope it'll be worth the wait and the trip. 

Lots of love, from me and Ruth. In the meantime, it's more important for me to be here to cheer her on while she does the most important thing in the world. 

(isn't that interesting/sad/ironic that the history books are just filled with men, mostly, when it's been women that birthed them, and made it all possible?  And yeah, siring is important, but let's be honest, it's equally important, but our part is like throwing a dart at a board, theirs is like pulling the board through the dart. Cheers to the women. Hurrah!)

XO, y'all. 

-Jack

Latest musings

Ha ha, I just realized, that I never followed up after Hurricane Irene, when the eye of the hurricane passed right over our own Antibabylon Daydream Hog Compound. The punchline  a year or more late, is that even though it got hit by both sides of the eye of the hurricane as it passed directly over, sturdy construction and thoughtful planning, accompanied by a shitton of nails and liquid nails, and plenty of triangulation resulted in no damage whatsoever, as it was reported. It's been over 2 years since I've seen the place now, but from all reports, it was all good anyway.

As I feared, time has eaten away at the good communication I had with my liasons down there, Aaron and Walter. I hear from Walter now and again, but when I ask how the boat is, he acts as though I never asked the question. I reach Aaron to ask if he still has plans to build that septic tank, etc. for us, since I paid him for it. I realize he's busy, and we're not there, and there's no need yet. So he probably figures he's good for it, and he'll get around to it, so no rush. But I guess growing up thinking everyone was screwing each other over, or trying, or stealing everything, or letting each other down, or that everything was self interest based only, mercenary, or whatever, makes me always afraid people are going to let me down. Especially when they're thousands of miles away, been paid in advance, and I have no recourse, and I haven't been back to ask in person in 2 years. Anyway, no matter. I'll be back, and I'll ask, and either he'll come through, or he won't. And the boat is either okay or it's not. But either way, the place is going to get built. I suppose if you're reading this, and you know me, you can believe me that I'm pretty serious about this. Maybe I'll waver on that at some point, but so far, my intention is just as clear now as it was three or four years ago.

So you probably also know that we have another baby coming now, so that'll slow things down too. Or he, or she. And a second did, as did the first. But it doesn't change anything but the time frame. The goal is the same. Pike wasn't given Lutra as a middle name for nothing.

Anyway, here's the latest idea: we're having a baby this spring, we know that much. And we know there isn't much that's going to be going on after that for a little while, at least a year. So this is the plan: I get the rental houses up and running, make em earn some profit, get a reliable handyman situation going, and then get down there for a few weeks or a month and build those other 2 bedrooms on the guest building, get a better driveway in, a septic tank and toilet, outdoor shower, and grade the lot, or terrace it a bit, since it's so steep. And then get back home to chill out for a while, wait for baby, help the family along with new baby, and eventually, in a year or two or three, go down there with the money we save and start building the main building out of block, wood, or whatever. But hopefully, you'll be at least able to use it then, if you're so inclined.

Oh, and I happened to see a price tag on the lot across the street, the one that projects out in the water. 4.5 MILLION. Aren't we glad we got ours for a few grand? But who can put a price on a window to the ocean? One day, it's coming, I'll be working on it full time. And that day is delayed, but at the same time, it's coming closer all the time. Thanks for taking a minute to read this. Be well. Lots of love to all of you who are into this too.

-Jack

Just wanted to let anyone/the world know that we plan to go to the compound this year. I'm going down first, and building the rest of the main building, and then my Ruth, Phyllis, Pike and Baron will be coming down after. I have the loot to do it, and the free time. I'm going to get these rentals going, secure the the income stream up here and make sure it's all on lockdown, then head down there. The plan at this point is 2 bedrooms, heading down to start after Christmas. And a driveway, bathroom, and septic tank. Be well, y'all. If anyone sees this, let me know with text, blog, or email. Just curious if this is being seen by anyone.

All clear

http://www.eleutheranews.com/national/1670.html

I haven't heard from any one there yet, hoping no harm to anyone. I understand some houses were blown or washed away. No word on ours, I'm sure it's fine. I think it's pretty strong and sturdy, the weak link being the shingles possibly blowing off.

I'll post more later.

Take care.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150292254638168.361218.599208167&type=1

If I were religious, I'd be praying for the Bahamas right now.

HUrricane Irene is now hitting central Eleuthera with Gale Force winds. Our pine box is taking a beating, but more importantly than that, all of the great people of Governor's Harbour, Hatchet Bay, and all of Eleuthera are experiencing this. My thoughts are with Aaron, Lisa, their family, Max and his family, Ton, and Rosalie, John and Mrs. Watts, Ezra Cash, Dan and Larry, and so many other great and special people that are there. Governor's Harbor is only a few feet above sea level, or much of it anyway. Storm surge of 9-13 feet is expected.

Here's a couple of the latest reports:
a link: http://www.eleutheranews.com/national/1668.html


and here's the text from another:

THE EYE OF IRENE IS BETWEEN NORTH ELEUTHERA AND SOUTH ABACO
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August 25, 2011
THIS IS ALERT NUMBER THIRTY-THREE (#33) ON HURRICANE IRENE ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, AT NOON EDT THURSDAY, 25TH AUGUST 2011.
… THE EYE OF IRENE IS BETWEEN NORTH ELEUTHERA AND SOUTH ABACO.
A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF BIMINI, GRAND BAHAMA, ABACO, BERRY ISLANDS, ELEUTHERA, NEW PROVIDENCE, ANDROS, LONG ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR, RUM CAY, CAT ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS.
AT 11:00 AM EDT, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.9 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 76.8 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HOLE IN THE WALL, SOUTH ABACO, ABOUT 30 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF SPANISH WELLS, NORTH ELEUTHERA AND ABOUT 75 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF NASSAU.
IRENE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MILES PER HOUR. THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT WITH A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH BY EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. ON THE FORECAST TRACK THE CORE OF IRENE WILL MOVE ACROSS ABACO THIS AFTERNOON. AS IRENE MOVES ON THIS TRACK, NORTH ELEUTHERA, EASTERN GRAND BAHAMA AND ABACO WILL EXPERIENCE HURRICANE FORCE WIND THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WHILE BERRY ISLANDS, WESTERN GRAND BAHAMA AND NEW PROVIDENCE WOULD EXPERIENCE TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 115 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IRENE IS A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE. SOME STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES FROM THE CENTRE AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 290 MILES FROM THE CENTRE.

STORM SURGE AND BATTERING WAVES ARE NOW IMPACTING NORTH ELEUTHERA AND SOUTH ABACO AND WILL SPREAD INTO NORTH ABACO LATER THIS AFTERNOON. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL RESULT IN WIDESPREAD FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS. EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED IN FLOODED AREAS WHERE DOWNED POWERLINES MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS BODILY HARM.
RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO REMAIN IN DOORS IN ALL OF THE ISLANDS IN THE WARNING AREAS. USE OF THE STREETS IN THE WARNING AREAS SHOULD BE FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES ONLY, AS MOST WILL BECOME IMPASSABLE DUE TO LOCALIZED FLOODING.
SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS IN THE NORTHWEST, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

Winter plan, spring plan, pling splan

YO. Thought you all should know the latest, in case you're Laura and Fam, Wheels n the Coop, Dave, Caroline, or the Machine, or someone else thinking of heading down to the ANTIBABYLON DAYDREAM HOG COMPOUND, as the guest house has been officially named, for the christening ceremonies of the spring. Ruth and will be going down Late February, and then adding on the two guest rooms. Aaron will hopefully have built the septic tank and run the toilet plumbing in by then, and if he doesn't, I will. But there will not be ample sleeping quarters until early march. If you are comfortable with an air mattress on the floor, you should come. IF you want to wait till you have an air mattress off of the floor, you should wait until mid march.

Also: we will not be buying a vehicle for the place most likely. We just don't have the flow for that kind of an expense yet. Maybe by the time we leave there, but not initially. We'll probably be hitchhiking/or renting a car. FYI. That's the breaks in paradise, I guess.

Love you all. Cannot WAIT to start having people check it out and carving your names in the 2x4s and drawing pictures of your adventures on the walls. This part, where you all check it out, is where it really gets exciting.

XO,
and other losing tic tac toe strategies,
Jack

Latest updates November 23rd ish, 2010

Yo. I wanted to get on here and give a bit of an update. Jack here, by the way. I've been talking with Aaron, down there in Lutra, and picked out a toilet, septic pump, holding tank, and all that, so that we have the proper equipment to install a toilet, and the waste can leave the toilet, into a holding tank, and then pump the waste uphill into the main septic tank. Aaron and I have an agreement for the final payment on the deal, the first part was signing the truck over to him (the black one that was down there), and then I'll pay him the balance sometime, probably when it's all done. He's building the septic tank over the hole Zhivago dug, and taking care of the rest of it.

House design update: we don't think that house in New Orleans will sell for any price we're willing to accept at the moment, and we have tenants in it starting december first (steady income again) so we're taking the best current that's serving, for now. That is, instead of building a big house with the proceeds from the sale of the NOLA house, we're going to continue building the small building with the proceeds from the rent and home improvement work. The building I started last march or whatever was approved for 24x24, but so far, is only 12x24. So this year, after saving some money, we hope to go down in March or so, and build the other half onto the building, making up the rest of the 24x24, grade the property better in the front half, so that it's easier to walk up to, build a porch or a deck on it, and paint it, or side it if we have the money to buy hardibacker. But before we do all that, we have to pick out a vehicle, so that people coming down have a good way to get around. I realized last year that the pickup was a lousy vehicle for down there because of A: low ground clearance, and B: two seater. I'm thinking a jeep or something tall, maybe. If anyone has any suggestions for what kind of vehicle would be a good bet, let me know. I'm aint too booksmart on cars.

I'm REALLy looking forward to going down there, and getting started. I might be doing some snowplowing up here this winter too, to augment the loot situation. I'm hoping though, that if I work steady, we should be in pretty when we go. Either way, it's gonna be a blast.

Matt O. is saying he's gonna go down there this year and scuba dive, and Tom and Becky this year possibly, maybe Laura and her clan, and Caroline is talking about going this next spring for 5 days, and maybe... cross fingers here... going down for an extended period in 2012. And big Dave is planning on going down sometime. Maybe when Caroline goes...?

I gotta tell y'all, that you guys coming down there, or thinking about it, or planning it, makes my DAY. It's like, it's no good to have something until you can share it, And yeah, it's always good, but it's way better when you can share it.
I just can't WAIT till then.

really grateful for all the good people in our lives we CAN share this experience with.

Jack

PIke Updates

Okay, um WOW. Holy sheep shit, that was insane. That makes crossing the Gulf Stream seem like nothin', per Ruth. I just told her that it makes jumping out of a plane seem blase. Anyway, "intense" is the word of the day, kids. We went in for induced labor at 6pm on Tuesday, because the boy was so huge. 8 pounds, 9 give or take, according to the ultrasound. One midwife felt Ruth's stomach though, and in 5 seconds said "I would have thought 8 pounds 5 ounces" which turned out to be dead on. She had a terrible bedside manner, though, but she could find work at the carnival no problemo guessing weights and stuff. She was no "Amazing Nice Lady," but she was okay.

Anyway, so we induced. We had a lot of fears about this stuff, inducing, early cord cutting, and what they call "active management" which is the new way, as opposed to the other ways that worked for millions of years. Had we not try to use a more ancestral birthing method combined with the benefits of a modern high protein and super nutritious diet which made our fine young man grow into too much of a fine young man, we might have done okay. So what we ended up with is inducing with Cytotec tuesday night at 7 and then Pitocin for a good long while, and two days later at 1:36 in the p.m., all these modern doo dads and hoo has bore fruit. We resorted to a vaccuum at the end, which really should have been called a suction cup, and that helped bring him over the last hump. It was scary, honestly, at times. I had concerns about his health. He had the cord around his neck when he came out, which was quickly dispatched, but it was a scary sight.

He came out though, and he started crying. He is well, and he's swaddled and crashed out. He had a long ride, and a harrowing one, but he kept his pulse steady throughout, and we did it.

We had an amazing cast of characters that helped make this happen. I have new tears in my eyes (man, how many of those things are IN there, anyway?) as I write my hugest sincerest thanks to Madeline, Caroline, Jean Murawski, Laura, and the many people who also helped make it happen, with three huge all stars being the Midwife Ruth, Joani, and Sandy. Wow, these women all were incredible. I could go on and on, but I'll just say they made this happen where it might not have, and that's it. A massive debt of gratitude is mine. I love you all, thank you so much.

Mr. Murawski and Dave came up, and I had the privelege of seeing these guys holding my awesome son, all 8 pounds 5 ounces and 20 and a half inches of him, as I took a breather and with great futility, wiped the tears out of my eyes and off my mug.

And I finally held my boy, last, and he seemed comfortable with me. And i love him madly. And to Ruth, you blew my mind with not only what you did, and who you made, but how you did it, and how far you made yourself go to make it happen. I will NEVER forget what you did for us, and for my son.

His name is Pike Whiskey Lutra Livingstone. Pike is a word we like. besides a mountain, its a big toothy fish in michigan< and an 18 foot long spear used by infantry to fight calvary. Whiskey is a drink that is drunk by cowboys, pirates along with rum, mountaineers, gold prospectors, the founding fathers, cattle rustlers, sheep stealers, Colin Glencannon, the Scottish, adventurers, Jack London, and most everyone who made their time count worth a damn. Lutra is the slang name for what we hope will be his first frontier, Eleuthera. His last name is Livingstone. We knew up front that his name would be unpopular with some, and very unpopular with others. A few people even act like we've told them a joke and then move on. But hey: that's his name. It's not a joke, so I don't need to hear it scoffed at any. We wanted a good name that would make people A: remember him, and B: get the hell out of his way, and obviously, having a name that made someone else happy was not a priority. thats for them to name THEIR kids with.We think it is the best we could have picked, and spent some time planning it, and if you don't like it, go meditate on it, somewhere where I can't hear you, and come back when you've made peace with that name. That's his name, and that's that. There is no suggestion box. I want, and expect that, his name will be respected, starting...

now. Thanks. I know that might not be easy for some, but I'm not telling you I don't like your name. I just love you and it, and that's that. I'm not asking. This is just how it's got to be.

He just woke up, and had a cry, and he's back asleep, and his mother's finally getting some rest. He's already feeding well and latching on, his eyes look at you, blink and look at something else in another direction, so he seems to be good at that. He grabbed a tube off the table and held on and started pulling it off the table, so he's already a troublemaker, so of course, we're pleased. He's got Ruth's nose, which I was hoping for, my, my father's, and my uncle Jack's hairline, I think, his grandma Jean's eyes (a Brooks family trait), and he's tall like me. I don't know whose cheeks he has, but they're huge, so big they make creases around his eyes that make the slits of his eyes, when closed, look twice as wide as they are. I'm afraid he might trip on his balls, which appear to be significant, but I hear thats common, and suppose if not then that's a favorable portent of his audacity if not his ambition.

He's a good boy, and we think you'll all like him.

These are the broad strokes, I'm going to try to upload some pictures. Ruth is sound asleep. Pike is on my lap while i type with one hand...

Jack

labor days

Hey y'all. It's 9:10 in the a.m., Ruth is currently opening a packet of butter and laughing about the comment the nurse just made or asked, rather: "so, we gonna get a baby today?" It still seems so far off, she says. Now she's eating a muffin.

The monitor behind her head shows the baby's heart rate is good (130), and the contractions are around 8 in a half hour, not yet 3 minutes apart. The big hiccup so far is that she's not dilated enough, but she took Cytotec (sounds like a sinister robot from the future and it's companion pharmaceutical lab) and that helped get her to 1cm. Got a bit of show, so that's good too.

The big question of the moment has been whether to plow ahead with pitocin, or try to hold out for another cytotec. The explanations given up till Ruth got on shift were conflicting and unsatisfactory. 2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222.

whoops. Had to set the computer down to help someone who seems to have special needs all of a sudden. Whatever, RUTH! Ha ha. Just kidding.

Anyway, I just thought you all might like a picture of this smiling beauty while she's in here, so you can better imagine how she's doing. Mother in Law, and Curtis, I figured you both would especially.

Okay, gotta get back to my post soon, so let me get these up here.

-Jack

June 28th Baby and Lutra updates

Hey y'all. What's up. Jack Snack attacking.

I'm just throwing some update stuff up here kindaquicklike, cuz I gotta work at PJs in the morning. I thought I'd let you know the latest though...


The baby shower was really great, and a big success. We got tons of booty, and I think possibly some booties were mixed in there, and once again, we just have to sit in awe of the friends and family we have that we can't possibly imagine how we could deserve.

Ruth's Mom, grandma Sue, and Aunt Kathy put it all together and it was awesome. The baby should be here pretty soon, and he's not lacking a thing. Thanks again, everyone. And... I guess I just don't know what to say, but WOW.

Ruth's doing well. Sleeping a few feet away. The dogs are well. Sleeping downstairs. I am well. I am not asleep.

We've changed course on our plans, and affects the Lutra haus in some ways, so I thought I'd mention what's up there. The deal was that we were going to sell the house in New Orleans and use the loot to build there, and do some other stuff up north. We decided not to, because we could use the income stream more than cashing out of the thing. As far as the Bahamas goes, that means a much smaller building.

Probably only another 200 feet getting added on this winter, after Christmas, and maybe a deck too. We'll see how much money we have by then. I'm working a lot already, thanks to good friends who've steered stuff our way (Christine, Hugh, and Brian), but after buying the place we're in, we've been pretty light on loot, but slowly catching up. If we get the house rented in NOLA, that would improve things considerably...

My buddy Aaron is going to build the septic tank yet, and I have to get him some money for a toilet, pump to go the septic, and for the holding tank under the house. It all takes money, so all in good time. I'd like to say it will have a toilet and stuff by this fall, but we'll see about that. The boy might have other plans.


I have a ton of work to do here on our place, and it's keeping me busy. We have the baby's room almost done, and I'm just embarassed with the hack work I did on the floors, but I guess it's what happens when you work without good lights on a deadline... Some day I'll fix my glaring errors, but maybe not. I'm hoping to have the upstairs done before the baby comes. And hey, we're still thinking of names, so throw us ideas. "Pike" is a favorite at the moment...

love you peeps,
JL

4-22-10 somewhere in Tennesseeeee

Check the archives at the bottom of the list just above what you're reading. There's lots of stuff that doesn't appear on the page because so much went up here at once, and some of it gets bumped immediately to the archives.




So it's Thursday, I think. We thought we'd make it home tonight, but uh, it looks like it isn't gonna happen. We were rounding a turn getting back on the expressway, and we heard a funny noise. Not like Bill Cosby talking about delicious Jell-O pudding either. So we pulled over, and there's brake fluid running out on the ground. That's bad, right? So we crept along the shoulder a 1/4 mile to the Red Roof Inn. They take dogs, so here we are. Tryin' to get the truck looked at tomorrow. That should be Friday or something. Hopefully, we'll be back in a few days...

Please be cognizant of the last time you saw this blog, and notice that not everything that's new on here is showing. Like, everything I've been writing since March was piling up when I couldn't get to town ended up getting posted on April 17 and 18 when I got back, but only half of the posts of the 18th are showing here. So if you want to see what the building looks like inside, you have to go back a bit to the archives on the very bottom of the page (newest stuff at the bottom of the archives)... okay. Nuff said.

Please be cognizant of the last time you saw this blog, and notice that not everything that's new on here is showing. Like, everything I've been writing since March was piling up when I couldn't get to town ended up getting posted on April 17 and 18 when I got back, but only half of the posts of the 18th are showing here. So if you want to see what the building looks like inside, you have to go back a bit to the 17th... okay. Nuff said.

okay, let me show ya around 4-18-10

Last video from the plizace

Saying goodbye to the Island, view from the top of the hill of the roughed in building.

this is Big Dus yellin at Ton over the dominoes. Dus is as close to a pirate as you'll ever see in modern day. He sculls his boat (rows out in the ocean to fish with one oar, it takes a lot of skill). He's got hands like vice grips and talks like a Jamaican. Should be a character in a book.