Left Field

Being out of work can feel like baseball and being picked to play the position of ‘left-field.’  For the most part left-field never was a busy or seemingly purposeful place to be, as a matter of fact it was possible to loose track of how many ‘outs’ had occurred – and many times even where the ball was at.  Of course early-on that was the tradition of the left-field player, the one of a wandering mind and thinking of lots of other things rather than the game at hand – so at the moment, I’m keeping the tradition of playing ‘left-field’ alive as I meander around the lake in the name of progress.

Our visit with Gray and Licia, a winter blizzard (the snow is still on the ground), and then a night eating chicken-wings and watching football in Charlotte with JP and Melissa made our Christmas complete a week early.

Its nice to see kids become young folks and then adults, its even better to learn that their value’s have risen above their parents – not sure why that happens, but its a pretty good feeling.

With our Holiday behind us a week early I returned to the Lake for more dock-work, seems to be the routine I’m getting into - Monday through Thursday or Friday, then back to Kim’s for the weekend, I like it.

But this past weekend (and Christmas day) Kim made a rare winter visit to the lake (too quiet and remote for her during the winter), it was a simple time where I continued to work on the dock while she enjoyed her beverage and kept her “feet-up,” – the kitty did too.

The wildlife and wood-ducks (beautiful) were around so many times during the day I just stop and just watch them do their thing.  The weather is similar to Asheville, but with the temperature 8 degrees warmer down the mountain (which is a big difference), its easier to be outside and enjoying the work.

The pace is perfect, when the frost is gone (usually about 930) I head outside and start wherever I want, ’one screw at a time.’  Of course I have a small ‘field of dreams bag‘, which leads to many insignificant revelations as I work (in left-field) - It has been pure enjoyment – my only tangible goal was to complete all the things ‘below the waterline’ before January 15 (when they will ’put the stopper back in’) and the lake level returns 8 feet where it will remain three years.  I am really close to that goal.

Kim came for Christmas weekend so I have returned to Hendersonville for New Years week – 2009 was a good year, lots to feel blessed about.

- and I do……

Happy New Years Birthday Melissa/JP.

But then along came Jethro…..

Well I was almost at a stand-still with the Dock, and then along came Gray with the much needed boost to the ‘crows-nest.’

If I learned anything from my Dad, it was that if your son comes for a visit – put him to work the first day (chances are that he’s not worth a flip after visiting friends the rest of the trip), I guess it only took a visit from me for my Dad to figure that out – I ‘picked up’ on it too….

So Gray and I spent a day in the mud challenged by this heavy 30-foot utility pole, and there was a point that we thought the pole might win………. His girlfriend Licia was along and pitched in (also took these pictures)..

Go girl….

We ‘skated’ the pole across the early morning frost and worked (heaved) it into position,

It was kinda like ‘Stonehenge,’ – but ‘quality-time too in its own way.

then it slipped (this is where we though it might have us beat), but then it was to plan ‘b’…….

looked for a little help…………

and after a few anxious moments (it vertical and ‘tetering’) persevered……

The effort evolved into this....

Thanks buddy, now hang around for some more ‘quality-time,’ – What? you have things to do?

- have a good visit with your friends.