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"I love that movie Explorers when I was a kid I wanted to get a trash can and go to the moon." -Gavin

Sunday, 10-31-21: Huge Halloween event = success = hard work.
Kat spent days decorating the bar and event-room for Halloween; it is her favorite holiday and it shows. She worked damn hard, and I'm proud of her for what she did. I didn't want to hang up Halloween decorations, F that. Decorating = what a bunch of crap! I did help with a few things, but then I left so I could go do yard work.

The cobwebs look even better in person, and the ghouls and skeleton lit up and made noises. Check out this cobweb with the up-light underneath in the event-room:

^AWESOME. I could not have done that; I would have mentally checked out before I got close to the finish line.

^The event-room bar. I took a lot of pictures with her camera so maybe I can snag a few of them to post. The place looked phenomenal with a room full of customers, most of whom were in costume.

The day wasn't busy at the bar yesterday, but things picked up in a hurry last night. People kept on piling in, and it didn't take long to fill up every seat in the restaurant/bar area itself. After that room filled up we sent people into the event-room, and it took a while but we pretty much filled up that space as well. There was a long line for people waiting to get drinks at both bars, epecially the bar in the photo above. Finally I had to make a command decision: no more customers. I had our new host (who did great) turn some people away becuase it was CRAZY-busy. Sales jumped up huge, and it stayed busy for a long time. It was a challenge keeping everyone on-point and keeping customers happy, but I think we did great. Gross sales were the best we've ever had. Oh Jesus, hell ya! Today sales are good, too. No doubt this will be the best month we've had so far for our fledgling new business.

I did make time for myself to do yoga and play racquetball earlier today. I was just getting to r-ball when Kat called me to ask me for help at the bar. There was a leak in the mens' room. I feel bad, but I told her I was going to play r-ball first then I'd come help. I can't be a slave to that place 24/7. Sometimes I need to go do something for myself or else I'll go crazy. I did go down to the bar after to help, but I was not really needed so I didn't stay long. The leak didn't exist anymore so probably there was just a tissue in the urinal and the flush backed it up. Maybe? Hopefully. We had other plumbing leaks there recently, but Bruce just came and fixed all of those yesterday.

Both my awesome wife and I will be beat by later today, and I hope we can sleep well. We have to deal with friggin' Trick or Treaters later so that sucks. I'd rather just turn the light off and pretend we're not home, but that's a dink thing to do so we have a bowl of candy ready to pass out.

I still haven't finished cleaning up our yard. What a bunch of crap! I did clean out the back gutter earlier so the dogs could also play outside for a half hour. Of course they found all the dirt and water so they got filthy. 3" of rain last night and not a leak in the house that I can see. I would have been pretty bummed out if I did a new roof this month and then it leaked after the first big rain-storm. I got a lot of the leaves raked up Friday, but I didn't have time yesterday to do anything because getting ready for the bar's most excellent Halloween party took up a lot of precious... precious time. Plus I had to get my truck back from the shop. Bye bye $3093 for all kinds of repairs. What a bunch of crap! The 4WD better work now...

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Friday, 10-29-21: Leaves go over fence, yard starting to look decent again.
Before today I've spent almost no time at all raking leaves in our yard because I get too busy. What a bunch of crap! Plus the weather was terrible for most of this week. However, today is nice and I've been outside sending leaves over the back fence. I probably won't finish everything today, but I've already put a big dent in it. I also have to finish this siding:

^Had to strip siding off down to the gutter so I could flash it the right way. I don't know if we will even live here several years from now, but I don't want to deal with rot issues if we do. If we sell and get something else then it's done right for the new owner, too.

^New roof better not leak for a couple decades or more! The roof is only 11.33 square, not huge, and cost under $2000 including dump fees for a few thousand pounds of old shingles. I should add it up since I saved the receipts... $1901 for supplies (really closer to $1930 since I had some nails and misc on-hand already), $195 for dump fees. $25 of that dump cost was an old mattress so really that cancels out the other misc from my supplies cost. I'll say total cost was $2100. Not bad at all. I didn't hire any help at all, I did 100% of it myself. No clue how many man-hours, but probably too many. I got good exercise and a tan so that counts for something, right?

It's only noon so I still have a few hours left before I work tonight. However, I still want to do yoga and jog. It's not warm outside, but I'll take sunny and mid-50s any day this time of year. We might hit 60 Sunday and Monday so hopefully I can finish up the yard by then. Getting my truck back will be a help so I can haul some trash out of here. Hopefully I can get it back later this PM or tomorrow. Bye bye $3000 for all the repairs, hello new inspection sticker and a truck that should at least get me through the winter.

Once I finish the leaves I have to do a final spot-mow, get some roof shingles and debris out of the front shrubs (no one can see it but I know it's there.), bring in some wood from out back, etc. If I can finish it all on Monday that would be fantastic. Then I can go vote Tuesday morning and *hopefully* go deer hunting Tuesday down in Warren. Jason already shot a HUGE buck with his crossbow a few weeks ago, but Dad doesn't have a deer yet because he hasn't even gone hunting. Poor guy loves to hunt more than anything yet his health has kept him out of the woods. Opening day for rifle season is tomorrow so I hope he can go out back in his badass blind. they lifted that thing onto a wooden platform so it really is epic now. I'd love to rifle hunt tomorrow, but we have a huge Halloween party at the bar and I'll be working. I'm off work tonight around 0200 then it's back to work tomorrow night by 1700, if not sooner.

I need to take pictures of all the Halloween decorations because they are incredible. My awesome wife gets right into it and works way too hard doing the decorating and setup. I helped her put up a few decorations last night. Thankfully she has help today because I'm glad to hang a few things on the walls and ceiling, but I have no desire to do all the little things like cobwebs and fake blood. I'd rather be raking leaves hehehe.

Alright turds, all two of you who read this bootleg site, I gotta do yoga, jog, then try to rake more leaves and deal with the gutters:

^Living under two huge maple trees = lots of leaves each fall. Oh well the shade in summer is great.

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Thursday, 10-28-21: Watching football and some Fox News.
I was at the bar earlier helping my awesome wife set up some Halloween decorations in the event room before I walked home to watch some football and news. I started off with Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News, and now I'm watching the Packers play the Cardinals. I don't know how many years ago the NFL started doing Thursday night football games, but I like it. A lot. I don't watch it often, but it is nice to have the option.

Tucker Carlson Tonight is an interesting yet depressing show. They all seem to hate Biden on Fox News, and I agree with most of their position. Biden is a total piece of shit, and if you disagree with me then I hate you. I probably hate you anyway, but I'll hate you a little more. Trump was a total piece of shit as well, but at least Trump believes in America and capitalism. Trump didn't let our border become a siv. Gas was under $3 a gallon when Trump was president, and the country prospered. Now things are a fucking mess with high inflation and higher gas/fuel prices. If winter is harsh we are pwned because nat gas will cost double. A gallon of gas is up to about $3.28. America was energy independent before Biden, and now we have to beg OPEC to produce more oil. What a bunch of crap!

^JOE FUCKING BIDEN YOU FUCKING FAIL YOU PIECE OF SHIT.

I had to walk to the bar earlier not because I was too boozed up, I only had one drink, but because I finally got my truck into the shop yesterday morning and it's still there. I've known for months that my truck needed repairs, but I kept blowing it off because my ass is always too busy. The F150 will be there for a while, and if I'm lucky I *might* get it back tomorrow. I need to spend around $3000 for all the repairs including some brakes, 4WD repairs, steering shit, oil, etc. Once I got the rough price quote I started online shopping for a newer truck. Sadly used newer trucks are mostly $30,000+ for something decent and $43,000+ for a new F150. What a bunch of crap!

I flipped back to Fox News and Hannity just came on. More dire news. Vaccine mandates for Covid, people not wanting vaccines, work layoffs, etc. More bad economic news, more news about some illegal immigrants possibly getting $450,000. OMG SERIOUSLY?! Maybe CNN will have a different take on it. Fox shows a derranged Biden pushing for a 1.75-trillion "Buy Back Better" plan that no one can fucking afford. On CNN Coumo talks about Biden's plan, but CNN does not hate Biden. I'm surprised Cuomo has a job still since his older brother is probably going to jail for being a pervert...

I weep for society. I'll be dead and gone before things really fall apart, but the younger generation is totally pwned.

Hey, I finished our roof. Oh Jesus, hell ya! Took me forever to get those last cap shingles on, and wow what a difference early Oct to late Oct is as far as weather goes. M-W was only in the 40s with high winds and some rain. Huge coastal storm, a "bomb" south of Cape Cod that hit the coast pretty hard but only grazed us. Still made working outside = what a bunch of crap! When I started the roof a couple weeks ago we had temps in the 60s and even low 70s, but not at all so far this week. I was actually cold doing the last cap shingles and putting siding back on. Then I quit to go play racquetball because I don't get to play very often anymore. Games were great, lots of fun, probably won't play again until Sunday at the soonest and even then maybe not.

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Saturday, 10-23-21: Better go rake leaves. Red Sox eliminated.
It is Saturday, midafternoon, and I have to get my worthless ass back to work at the restaurant in about 2.5 hours to run the evening and night crew. Lately Friday and Saturday nights have been busy, and I expect the same tonight. Busy = good, but too busy = burnout. I'm living on the edge of the burnout right now. What a bunch of crap!

Even though that restaurant might eat my soul (if it hasn't already) I did find time to lift weights in my bootleg three times this week including a 35-minute lift about a half hour ago. Oh Jesus, hell ya! I'd love to use that gym 3x a week, but it hasn't happened since February. OMG FAIL! I feel pretty good right now, but I'll probably be exhausted later. I was tired and cranky last night because I had a lot going on. Server coming late then crying during her shift, walk-in fridge dying, staff complaining about stupid shit, the usual. Oh well that's how it goes. I did want to take a nap yesterday afternoon, but that all went to shit because I had too much else to do. What a bunch of crap! I could have taken a nap, but it was good weather and I wanted to go for a jog instead. I made my own luck.

We have a craft fair going on in the event room at the bar today. I checked it out earlier for a while, and I was very happy to discover the dessert table. Bye bye $10 for premium junk food, hello happiness when I devour the rest of it later. The rest of the craft tables looked to have stupid shit that I mostly would never buy, but I didn't shop there long because I wanted to get out of there. I need to rake leaves and let the dogs play outside for a while before I go back to work. It's cool and crisp today, but it's not too windy. Moving leaves in high winds = what a bunch of crap!

I should probably finish out roof, too. I need to install a few more cap shingles and put some more siding back on. Some yard cleanup needs to be done as well. Hopefully I can finish the roof and some cleanup tomorrow because the weather forecast for Mon-Wed looks like ten pounds of shit stuffed into a 5 pound bag. Rain and cold-ish. Thankfully no snow yet, though.

The Red Sox lost game 6 last night in Houston and were eliminated from the ALCS and the playoffs. What a bunch of crap! Oh well, they made it further than people thought they would. They played Tampa Bay as underdogs and took that series. They just aren't quite good enough to compete with the best of the best, but overall I'd call it a good season for them. Pitching wasn't the greatest this year. I didn't even watch very much of the Sox this year because I work too frigging much. A little here, a little there, see some on the TV at the bar when I get a free second.

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Monday, 10-18-21: In Portland waiting...
I'm in Dad's 2014 F150, parked at the Portland Mall, waiting around and in no rush to actually enter the mall. Pop is just a few short miles up 295 at Maine Medical where is is currently recovering from a minor surgery. Two stents in the ticker. Is that minor? Guy does ot know, but guy does know they plan to release him at some point this afternoon and send us home. I'd guess if they called it a major surgery he'd have to bivouac at the hospital for at least an overnight? Hopefully this does not turn into an overnight and we can get him home safely later today.

I decided to drive Dad down to Portland because Jason does so much for them already and Doug is not doing well medically himself. Mom could have done it, but it might have turned into a shit-show since we had to navigate in town Portland on unknown streets just to find the main entrance of the medical campus. I could not even go in with him due to Covid restrictions. What a bunch of crap! I had to drop him off at about 0705 and then roll on out of there.

I've been taking my time so far today, no rush at all. It feels weird to be parked at the mall without my awesome wife since there have been several times her and I have come down to shop and spend an overnight since 2014. We'd often come in November to do Christmas shopping, but this year that ain't happening due to the restaurant and Covid. Fuckin' Covid...

I did already shop at a couple other places including Cabela's. The Cabela's campus is really nice, and it is a great store. A tad pricey, but well-laid out and comfortable to roam around in. Nice displays and some fun little stupid shooting gallery in the back of the store that costs money to play and that comes with no instructions on how to actually win. You shoot little targets with some rifle-looking laser gun. I guess it's the modern-day version of what once was Duck Hunt for the Nintendo. Hehehehe. Jason laughed hysterically at me when I told him I was killing time playing on their toy shooting range. Is it for kids? I dunno but I played it anyway! I sucked at it, too. What a bunch of crap!

^Generic Google photo of one of the Cabela's shooting galleries. The guns are not very accurate, but it is for kids... I guess.

I bought a couple Christmas gifts for people already, including something for Kat. Hard to shop for her when we are together so that is one nice perk of flying solo for the moment. If I buy something big for Dad he will obviously see it since it will be in his truck, though. I might not shop anymore today, I dunno. I'm not even excited to go into the mall because F that place. I'm looking at the OLD NAVY store sign so maybe I can go into there and find pants. All I wanna know is why? Why is it called OLD NAVY when there are no boats? Did an old sailor found the place? I doubt it because the store looks pretty lame.

I won't need to buy food, that's for sure. Mom packed a big cooler loaded full of sandwiches and goodies. She kept trying to get me to choose between chicken and ham salad, then she wanted me to pick the bread. It's a sweet gesture, but it's all fuel to me and I'm not picky. I told her not to pack anything, I'd just buy food somewhere, but she insisted and probably would have been upset if I totally refused her offer.

Kat loves Panda Express so I'd love to bring some home to her, but the logistics of that will be all but impossible since I'm not sure when I am going home yet. Maybe today? I'd love to get home later today, but I'm 3 driving hours away and Dad will be in the hospital for a while more. He actually just called me a few minutes ago to say he's doing well. They gave him coffee and a sandwich so that must me a good sign. Maybe? Hopefully! I can't imagine they'd give caffeine to a heart-surgry patient if they had grave worries about his situation. They probably just gave him decaf coffee and hoped he wouldn't notice hehehehe.

I guess after I finish this bootleg update that almost no one will ever read (and that won't even get posted today) I can read some more of the book Dad loaned me to bring along, Tucker Carlson The Long Slide. It's a collection of articles he has written over a few decades in journalism. I read a few already including one where he worked at the B & M Baked Bean factory right here in Portland back in his college days. Baked beans are awesome and if you disagree with me then I hate you. I probably hate you already, but I'll hate you a little more.

Revielle was 0445 today so maybe I will just take a short nap, too. I don't feel tired since I bivouaced very early last night and had weird dreams. I woke up a few times, but I was so tired that I mostly stayed asleep. I was up early yesterday morning after going to bed really late, the seemingly usual Saturday night and Sunday morning routine. Poor Kat does the same. The Sunday morning Brunch was very busy at the restaurant as well so I worked about 2.5 hours before I could even think of getting ready to head to the midcoast.

Dad's F150 is pretty nice, and it motivates me a tad to want to get a newer F150 for myself. I've mentioned it for years now, but I never get around to it. What a bunch of crap! I'd love to get a low-mileage 2017 or 2018, but probably that ain't happening this year since I'm so busy and since Covid made the price of used vehicles jump a lot. Fucking Covid...

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Saturday, 10-16-21: Wow we got busy last night.
Our Q3 sales tax return for the bar was due yesterday to the state so I got that filed in the morning, and paying that four times a year will suck. A lot. $18,860 goes bye bye and we don't even have that much precious... precious money in the bank account. What a bunch of crap! However, that doesn't get deducted until probably Monday so we should have some money coming in from our Thurs, Fri, and today's sales by then. Last night at the bar was BUSY. It was our best Friday night since we opened. Oh Jesus, hell ya! Not our best day ever, we had some really good ones in the beginning, but definitely the best nighttime revenue. Kat ran the karaoke like a boss, great show, and we had a big crowd all night long. This is looking to be a good week for the business, and we really need it so we can *hopefully* start at least breaking even instead of losing a little money each month. If we have a good last half of this month we might not be in the red for October. Maybe? Hopefully!

We are working with a local company to get a brand new business website since the one we have now is a total bootleg piece of shit. The designer sent us a draft of what the main page will look like, and we like it a lot so far...

^The main page has a few different scrolling images, and there will be separate links for events, menus, the banquet room, etc. Speaking of the banquet room, we are currently renting that space to a BDSM group. I didn't even know what that was until recently! They are using the projector screen to do a presentation on the proper and safe ways to do weird sex things like choking and shit. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AWESOME! Kat and I only had the stipulation that they don't take off their clothes and hang ropes and shit off our ceiling and walls. No real crazy shit, just an educational seminar-thing. I guess? I dunno and I don't really care I definitely do NOT want to ever sit in on one of those things I'm too old for that shit!

One of my tenants just texted me that their fridge bulb blew. Hahahaha! All I wanna know is why? Why do you need your landlord for that? I do keep a spare one on-hand because they are cheap. I actually have considered selling Allen Rd and just being all done as a landlord, but I don't want to give it up yet because of the gym. I don't hate being a landlord, but I feel like I have enough else going on between the restaurant and the tax business that I don't even need to be one. However, if the restaurant doesn't make it then it's nice to have Allen Rd still as a resource. I don't think the restaurant will fail because lately it has really done well, but things can change fast...

I gotta go down to the ol' homestead tomorrow and most likely until later Tuesday.Dad needs to go to Maine Med in Portland so I'll take him down, spend some time with him. I'm guessing while he's with the docs in the hospital there I'll be sitting in the car since they won't even let me in. Who knows, maybe I can sit in some waiting area there. I'll bring a book and other stuff so I can pass the time. Maybe drive over to Cabela's, we'll see how it goes. They might put a stent in his heart so I think that would take several hours. Maybe he'll have to stay the night, but I hope not because hotels down there are epic expsnsive. I think Covid made lodging prices jump into the hundreds of dollars everywhere. Not really sure so I should look, just in case...

Ok the prices aren't horrible, probably because it's a Monday I searched. $75 for the cheapest, $150 for something not looking like the Roach Motel. I probably won't have to stay the night, but I should be prepared. If I do have to stay in Portland Monday night it's because something went wrong with Dad so I'd pray to God that doesn't happen. However, there is no God so I'll just stay hopeful and optimistic.

Poor Dad hasn't even been able to do any hunting this fall. What a bunch of crap! It's what he loves to do so I hope this appointment helps him feel better. I'd love to do some rifle hunting with him next month. I want to hunt this month since there are lots of deer, but I don't think I'll have the time. Maybe I'll go Mon evening if things go perfectly and we leave Portland by early afternoon. I doubt that will happen, but his appointment is for 0800 so it's not impossible.

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Friday, 10-15-21: Almost nap-time!
I was the bar MOD last night, a relatively rare occurrance for a Thursday lately. On most weeks I "only" work Friday and Saturday nights. Of course I'm there a lot more than that doing paperwork, carpentry, misc, but officially I'm not on the schedule too often. However, since Dillon has baby Damon (kids fucking suck but they do have a very cute newborn) he is taking time off so we are all working more. I'm fine with it, happy to help, small price to pay for the family no worries at all.

We didn't have a dishwasher last night, we only had one bartender for half the night, and we had no host so we were all busy for quite some time. Kat was the DJ, and she was pouring beers at the bar in between putting up different singers. 4 minutes between songs does not give her much time to do other stuff. Plus people coming up to the DJ booth to make requests, her having to look up songs and adjust vocal levels for each singer, etc. It keeps her busy. I am glad she was there with me last night because she did a lot to help. Short staff and busy = what a bunch of crap!

To make matters worse I had to throw some douchebag kid out, permanent ban, and I had to yell at him to GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY BAR. I tried to be like Dalton from the epic great movie Road House. I was nice until it was time to not be nice. The kid just would not get it, and he was like a turd that would not flush. He was trying to plead his case as to why he should be allowed to stay so I had to use my usual reply. This is not a negotiation. When my staff say you need to go then it is my job to make that happen. I don't even know what he did to get the boot last night, but we've had to kick him out before so I'm not surprised at all.

I still feel like a have a shitload to do this fall, but the roof is almost done. I was a nincompoop and didn't buy enough shingles, but I came close! I had to drive down to Belfast Wed morning for 18 more bundles, 6 square, and that afternoon I used about 10 bundles doing the north side of the roof. I got a lot done in 4.5 hours of roofing before I had a tax client later in the day. I don't have too many tax clients this time of year, but a couple of them do extensions so their deadline to file becomes Oct 15th, today. Thankfully they are all filed and done. Later this fall I need to focus on tax updates and training, and the new office needs just a little more work before I call it officially done.

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Tuesday, 10-12-21: More roof photos, great weather, did I get a sunburn today?
I think I'm about 70% done with our roof now. Maybe? Hopefully! I spent yesterday stripping off the remaining shingles from the front side, and I did a shitload of cleanup and two trips to the dump totalling over 2000 pounds. A ton of debris like a boss. At first I wasn't sure I'd even get to the front this year, but it makes the most sense so I don't have to replace the ridge vent and cap shingles twice. Plus I'm already all set up with tools in place, etc. The weather is also perfect for it. Warm temps, no rain, and best of all, hardly any wind.

Should I have started the roof this fall? That's a 50/50 question and one that is hard to answer. I kept pushing it back, and I feel like if I waited all winter I'd have some other reason not to do it in the spring. Plus the thing was actually frigging leaking. What a bunch of crap! I was up there today on the roof, 78 degrees and much hotter in the sun, and poor Kat was getting crushed at the bar with an incredibly busy lunch rush. Busy = good, but not so much when I'm only 1/3 of a mile away yet not available to help on short notice because I'm a grimy, slimy, sweaty mess and in no shape to go serve tables to customers.

^I had to cut out a section of plywood that was quite rotten and replace it today while Kat was busy at the bar. The roof is only 1/2" ply, but at least the joists are 16" on center. I'd love to have 3/4 sheating, but F that replacing it all is way too expensive and way too much work. All the other sheathing is good enough to last another few decades. Maybe? Hopefully! The new piece I installed today is 5/8, but not really because of manufacturer cheapout. 19/32 so close enough. I used Ice/Water shield over all of that section so it better not leak ever again!

I let the dogs run around and play outside quite a bit while I do the roof:

^No Copper anymore = sadness. Groot and Tiger Lily need the exercise and they seem to enjoy being out there chasing birds, chipmunks, and squirrels.

I had to pull siding off so I could flash this new addition part properly:

When I built that new addition several years ago I knew I was not doing a great job with the waterproofing along that edge. Now it should be waterproof for a long time, but who knows maybe not since I'm not really a professional here. I really don't want this new roof to leak again until maybe 2046.

I ran out of shingles today around 1600, just as my awesome CEO-wife was rolling in after working at the bar all day. Supposedly Viking Lumber in Belfast has more shingles so her and I were going to go tomorrow and walk along the waterfront, have lunch, do some shopping, etc. Too bad all those plans went to shit because the bar takes up too much precious... precious time. So I'll call Viking early tomorrow to confirm they have what I need before I drive down to get 18 more bundles, 6 square. I think I could get away with 16 bundles, but F that I want extra in case I failed at math or at anything else.

I have two more days to *mostly* finish the roof before rain showers arrive. The timing is bad since Dillon is off work this week, but the timing was never going to be good no matter what. I am MOD this week Thursday night as well as my usual Friday and Saturday nights. Then next week I take Dad to Portland for a very important medical appointment. I'm still so jammed up with things I need to do it is ridiculous and what a bunch of crap all rolled up into one. Tonight I actually thought a bit about selling Allen Rd as well, and the ONLY reason I don't is I like the gym. However, I don't really even use the gym that often anymore it is more Doug's thing. I have been using the gym two times a week, but this week probably not happening since this roof job uses up most of my precious... precious energy.

I don't think I am going to do many more roofs in my lifetime. I notice a HUGE difference in what it takes physically to do a roof these days vs. what it took a decade ago. Last year doing Jason't showroom roof wasted me like DOc-J and 8-Ball from Full Metal Jacket. That was a huge roof that Neil and I did in only 4 days, though. At least here at the house I don't have to commute to a job-site. It still takes a ton of effort to strip off old shinges and to throw them away. Plus all the trips up and down the ladder, often up with shingles and gear. It burns epic calories and is a great workout, but it's more of a workout than I want. I don't have a helper either so it's all me, myself, and I. Makes the total cost less, but a good helper would have been nice. Too late now!

I actually planned to take a short break from roofing mid-afternoon and go for a jog. I went 0.17 miles and then I quit because F that. I just didn't have the energy. What a bunch of crap! So I walked back home and got my ass back up on the roof to shingles a bit more around the front stink-pipe and bathroom vent. I sealed the hell out of all that stuff so it better not leak. I hope this roof lasts 25 years. By then Kat and I won't even live here we will be in a warmer climate or maybe not even alive anymore. Maybe in 25 years Covid-19 and all its variations will waste us all? Except for Will Smith. He can live in NY with his dog and all the zombies...

Alright turds, all two of you who read this bootleg site, I'm gonna go do other things now. Goonies never say die!

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Thursday, 10-07-21: Roof started. Sox in postseason.
The Red Sox beat the Yankees in the Wild-Card game Tuesday night at Fenway. Oh Jesus, hell ya! The Sox played horribly for a stretch late-season last month, but then they swept the Nationals to end the season last weekend and that earned them the #1 wild-card slot. I watched some of the game Tuesday, but then I went to sleep because the game was on until past my bedtime.

The Sox just started playing tonight in Tampa Bay, and I probably will be awake until that one ends. Best of 5 series, and the Sox are serious underdogs. Kat is the karaoke DJ tonight so I will end up at the bar for at least part of the night. Her and I had a nice date evening at the bar last night for our first ever live music, 1600-1900, and that went great. We'll definitely do more live music in the future. Just a solo act, Navy veteran like myself, seems like a great guy whom we met last month and booked. He did a wonderful job for us. He and I have a tour in the Navy in common, but he is a great talent with the music and I am terrible. I can't sing and I can't play even one instrument yet I co-own a music-themed bar. What a funny bunch of crap!

Rays already have a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning in Florida. Not good!

I had a fantastic visit with Dad down at the ol' homestead Monday and Tuesday this week. I stacked all their 2 cords of firewood like a fucking boss, 6 total hours of work while I listened to talk radio as I moved each piece of hardwood from the back yard into their cellar. Sometimes I like the talk radio, especially when they rant about what a piece of shit Joe Biden is. Jason was able to get off work in time for a hunt, too. We brought our bows and camo gear and went in off the Keating Road for a great hunt. I sat in the spot where I shot a doe a couple years ago, and within 15 minutes I had deer action. A doe and a spike hanging around, but never close enough to shoot with a bow. If I was in there rifle hunting in November it would have been easy to shoot the buck. I enjoyed just watching them and was A-ok with not getting a chance to shoot one. It's a lot of work dragging out a deer plus I have lots of deer meat left here from last year. Just being in the woods was really nice, especially with perfect early fall weather.

I started the firewood Monday afternoon, and I finished it Tuesday morning before a good lunch with Dad and the trip home. I did find some roof shingles that *mostly* match the ones on the new addition at Viking Lumber in Warren so I did this today:

^Roughly 5.5 total square on that side. Not a huge surface area to do, but still took a while to prep.

So I got the back side all stripped down, prepped by staging new shingles up there, and cleaned up the majority of this shit-show:

^Cleaning up old roof shingles = what a bunch of crap! There is no easy way to do it. I got a bunch of the debris off that deck and into the truck. 820 pounds left at the local transfer station before a stop at Lowe's for some underlayment, caulk, etc. I'm all set up to do some shingling tomorrow. Maybe? Hopefully!

The weather today was perfect. 72 degrees, unlimited sun, not humid. Couldn't ask for a better day to be on the roof. I actually might have gotten a little sunburn, but this time of year the sun gets so low on the horizon plus we have big maple trees around so I didn't get sun all day long. It took around 4 total hours to strip off the old shingles on that side. By the time I loaded the truck up with debris, tossed the stuff, and got my supplies at Lowe's it was later in the afternoon and time to quit. I didn't even start until 0900 because everything was all wet from a heavy morning fog.

I probably won't get much time to work on the roof over the next couple days because I'll have to work at the restaurant a lot. Dillon was the scheduled MOD tomorrow day shift, but he's off for several more days because Debbie had their child at 1234 this morning. Kat is officially a grandmother now and I am a step-grandpa! Little Damon was born fast and healthy. Debbie went into labor mid-afternoon yesterday and probably only 10 hours later the little guy was born. We were up a bit in the night getting updates, and I'm very happy for them.

I don't really like babies. They puke and cry and shit and don't know anything. However, I like seeing everyone in the family happy so I have no real complaints. Kat spent a lot of precious... precious time getting the spare room ready for Damon. Check this out:

^Freash paint, Snoopy on the wall, happy wife = happy life. Or something akin to that. I did help do some painting in that room, but Kat did most of the work. I hope I don't get asked to change Damon's diapers. F that! I'm proud of the fact I'm almost 46 years old and have never had to change a baby shit-diaper. It doesn't really gross me out to the point of nausea, but I just don't want to do it. Hell, I don't even like to hold a baby! I'm not very good at it. I'd rather hold a power tool hehehe.

Alright turds, all two of you who read this bootleg site, I gotta get ready to go down to the bar for a while. Goonies never say die!

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Friday, 10-01-21: Tax office, gym, hunting, sports, stuff.
I installed most of the floor in my soon-to-be tax office yesterday, and today I spent a little time in there setting up my desk. It's not done yet, but it's damn close. I should have had it done a month ago, but things always happen to pull me away. What a bunch of crap! I could have had it done a month ago, but I would have had to work epic-long hours. I didn't need the office last month anyway.

^Photo taken around midday yesterday. I got most of the floor done during the afternoon.

My first tax client is scheduled for next Wednesday morning so that should give me enough time to put on the finishing touches. Maybe? Hopefully! I'll rent that area from the Mad Kat Restaurant, but it's really just a formality and a paper-trail since Kat and I also own the restaurant. I don't plan to put up any signs that say "Taxes done here", none of that stuff, for two reasons. First, the landlord wants to charge my ass a lot of extra rent if I put the tax office there. Second, I don't even want many new tax clients this season since the restaurant takes up so much of our precious... precious time already. I'll keep most of the ones I have and call that good enough. I don't want to take advantage of the landlord, but I don't want to pay him extra rent either so I'll tell him I'm only keeping my small client list and not advertising at all. It's 100% the truth, and it's what we need to do to help keep the restaurant going for now.

I have to work tonight as manager-on-duty so I just have enough time to update this bootleg site that almost no one will ever read before I clean the house some, feed myself and the dogs, and head out. Kat is the daytime MOD and the bartendette right now down there. I helped her earlier before I got a reprieve. Just long enough to use my bootleg gym and talk to the tenant in the apartment where Doug and I used to live. Her family is spreaing out of there mid-month next month so that place will be available. I don't think it will be too hard to rent, but the time of year is less than ideal for it. I'll worry about that later.

I got a really good workout in at my gym today. I've been lifting weights twice a week for the past several weeks, and that is good enough. I need to do more cardio and yoga this month. My goal was to exercise more last month, but that went to shit for various reasons. Mostly it was too much work at the restaurant, but it was also my ass getting really sick for a couple days. I was wasted like Doc-J and 8-Ball from Full Metal Jacket last Sunday. What a bunch of crap! It was all-bad, one of the worst sick days I've ever had. I tried to work at the restaurant for a while in the morning, but I only made it about an hour. Poor Kat was also sick, but she is tougher than me hehe. Thankfully it was a short-lived stomach flu [guessing on that] and by Monday I started to feel better. I was well enough to go for a jog Tuesday and today I feel just fine.

On Wednesday I dragged out my bow and practiced for a bit. Waxed the strings, gave it a good inspection, etc. I shot fairly well, and I just shot some today from 30 yards and feel a lot more confident about my chances if I'm in the woods next week and have a deer encounter. I'm going down to the ol' homestead for an overnight Monday and Tuesday to spend time with Dad and to also see Jason for a Monday evening bowhunt on the new piece of land he bought. Mom will be out west with Aunt Susie visiting Uncle Kevin so Dad will be home all alone for next week. His health is not so great these days so I don't want him alone the whole time. Jason is close, but he works a lot and does enough for them as-is. I gotta spend more time down there this fall or else I'll have regrets to last the rest of my life.

Dad's health has been a serious concern for us all since he had a heart attack last summer. For a while he seemed to be doing better, but lately things are worse for him. I'm also taking him to Maine Med in Portland on the 18th so I really hope they can get him feeling better. Maybe a stent? Doug just had one of those because he almost friggin' died last month. No joke, he had a heart attack at age 41 and it was all-bad. The doc told him to lay off the gym, but he doesn't give a crap and still uses it every day. I can't stop him from using it so I only hope he's taking it easy.

September was a rough month with everyone having health issues and our favorite dog dying. I still think of Copper often, and it's not the same here without him. Groot plays fetch some, but not nearly as much. It's hard to play fetch with Groot without feeling a sadness that Copper is also not there to try and get the ball first. I've tried to play with Tiger Lily and Groot more, but time is fleeting these days because we still have so much going on all the time...

I've had time to watch some of the Red Sox lately, and that has been a disaster. Epic failer them. In a playoff race, lead Wild-Card spot, got swept at Fenway by the Yankees last weekend then just lost 2 of 3 to the terrible Orioles. What a bunch of crap! 3 games left and they are about to not even make the playoffs. One more loss and one more Seattle win puts the Sox behind. I'm busy and don't really care that much, but it is nice to see the team I cheer for actually do well.

The Patriots kinda suck this year, too. New QB, rookie, one win and two losses. What a bunch of crap! I hope I can get some rest in advance of a huge Patriots vs. Tampa Bay game Sunday night so I can watch some or all of it. Tom Brady (left the Pats and won the Superbowl with Tampa Bay last year) vs. his old team should be fun to watch. If I bet on the game I would NOT bet against Brady. Normally Kat and I are totally wiped out Sunday night and bivouac early so we'll see...

Last weekend was going great for the bar, lots of customers and shaping up to be a great Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately we got 4" of heavy rain over the weekend and I guess one of the downpours took out a transformer because we had a packed bar Saturday night when the power went out. We were fucked! Good thing Ben and his boys spent precious... precious time working on the emergency lights so we could at least *mostly* see. I set up my little work radio for some tunes, but the power stayed off for an hour from about 2330 through 0030 and all the customers took off by then. We actually wanted them to leave after the lights stayed out for 45 minutes so we hollered out last call to those who remained.

Our bar/restaurant is not making a profit yet, but we are heading in the right direction. When the power went off we had tons of people there, and almost all of them came back in Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday to settle up their tabs with us. It was literally hundreds of dollars we could have lost out on, but we have such a great, loyal group of regulars who support us week in and week out that it was heartwarming to see. I know we lost out on a few smaller tabs, but the bigger ones were all settled. Losing power on a busy Saturday night = worst-case scenario. Hopefully we can install a generator in the future. A long-duration outage that lasts over a day will really fuck us as far as food and beer waste. I hope we don't have one of those for a very long time...

Alright turds, all two of you who actually read this bootleg site of mine, I gotta vacuum the floor and do other things. Goonies never say die!