I think Saturday’s newspaper is the weakest of all days. I would guess that’s because of lower amount of advertising content, though I am just guessing. If there is less as content there is less other space to fill and fewer stories which defines less content and makes the days per weak from a readers perspective. That’s my critical analysis. Or two cents worth. Though I think with inflation it’s more like $1.50.
Emily is teaching Saturday school today. So it is as a lot like a regular morning. One difference, she gets up and says “stay in bed” which is nice. But when she gets up I wake the hell up. She keeps quiet but that hardly matters. I wake up. So, feed animals, feed Emily, coffee her. Same as every day. Then she goes to work and I sit and read a lousy newspaper. Comfortably, with nowhere to go. So this is a peaceful day. I have finished my coffee and breakfast of nasty cakes. Read the paper and just sit. Nice. Soon, when I finally feel like it, clear the table, do the dishes, empty the dishwasher, check the laundry, take a shower, and get ready for the days chores. Speaking of, I am meeting Emily at her classroom at 1230. We are going to clean out her classroom. When I say clean out I mean it ends with a trip to the dump. I hate our local dump, it costs at least 20$ to get in and often much more. To throw away garbage. Probably cost less to buy it in the first place. Another racket. Though I have little choice.
As a kid I loved the periodic trips to the dump. I always had fun throwing garbage out the back of the trailer. Breaking glass, and smashing things. In those days a kid, like me, could wander around and no one said boo. I could find cool stuff, see huge rats eating unidentified things, and also identified yuck, occasional tv screens to throw a rock through(CRTs explode,fyi), watch the seagulls fight for garbage, and have a blast. That’s not allowed anymore. Probably why my kids did not enjoy it as much as I did. Also, as a kid my Dad paid. He never complained so I suppose it wasn’t that bad. I haven’t been to the dump in a couple years.
I forgot. Plumber Kevin is here to strap the water heater. Local code says it’s got to be strapped or it’s unsafe. So I guess it’s been unsafe, without incident, for the last 37 years. I am sure all of us will sleep better knowing it is strapped down. Finally. 
This item is just one more stupid task that must be done to serve our government regulation machine. I also have to go to the hardware store and pick up a fourth CO alarm. Because, it turns out, three is not enough. Some bureaucrat somewhere is sleeping more soundly as I protect his job. I feel better.
Strapping job is done. Now it won’t fall over in an earthquake. The house will fall over but the water heater will stand. Just another $100 I can do without I guess. Seems to keep the plumber employed and at least I like him.
With plumber gone I can go do the laundry. Then its time to launder me. Gentle cycle please. No tumble dry, I break easily.
Off to the hardware store. More government regulation to satisfy with another CO monitor. Ran into John, he repairs and maintains my big riding mower. He actually knows someone who may want to buy it. Glad I went in. Next up the post office. It’s open on Saturdays which is really beneficial. I might never get there otherwise.
I am back home. Need to get the truck to Emilys classroom for the junk haul. To the dump we go.
I have spent the last 90 minutes pulling boxes and bags from Emilys classroom. What a load of crap. The truck is not quite full but you can see it from here.
Emilys class does not even look emptier than before. Yikes.
I pulled up to dump and there are 20 vehicles in line in front of me. 
There are an equal number lined up to get out. Gonna be awhile. Kind of a hurry up and wait sort of thing.
So I got in in only 15 minutes. Not so bad. Five minute drive to the dump site and start tossing garbage! All my garbage is “clean” and it was a quick dump. I thought I would be out quick. Wrong. 
That is the out line. 30 minutes to leave. What a pain.
Went straight back home once I was released from the compound. Nice day for a drive. Got home and had a little nosh, one of the deviled eggs. Don’t want to eat too much since we are going out to party tonight! Really looking forward to it. I do love Bull Valley and have not been there in quite some time.
Emily just got home from school. She had a long day as well. We are both tired. Maybe I can talk her into going to bed with me. For a nap. It’s worked before. Right now I am just sitting which is really nice when you have been working all day.
It’s 530 and I haven’t moved in the last hour. I have blogged a bit. I signed my dad up for online banking. Actually it’s for me to pay bills but it his account. The 800 number signed me up with no trouble and very little security. Worked well.
Called dad too. Just checking in and let him know what I’m doing. I learned something from him that’s very interesting. My grandfather Ralph and his sister Tillie moved to East Auburn from San Francisco right after the ‘06 quake. And they settled about a mile from where we bought land. Crazy. My great grandfather Armand Maurice Vivier married a woman from Auburn and her farm was near us too. Funny how life makes a circle. Not much else going on in Visalia. Dad does not live an exciting life. Of course, I don’t either but I do have more going on.
Emily has been napping. Without me. The bum. I came up and found her asleep. So I am here watching TV news, which is not new news, for the last 20 minutes. Before news was a travel show. Kinda boring. At least I can blog for entertainment.
It took Emily 30 minutes to get ready. Why so long so do not know. Then she decided she can’t drive at night. So I got out the S2000. Ablittle more fun but I has to drive. Which is a bad idea. The trip is not long but takes about an hour. Barb and Kirk were right behind us. Port Costa is a nice trip just off the interstate and a few miles up the coast of the San Francisco Bay. That Pernod the drive, right off the bridge is fun in a little roadster like mine. Not sure Emily had as much fun as I did.
Tonight’s dinner was fabulous. Lots of great food and cocktails. We had our favorites, mussels and fries, and pork stew. Also the buttermilk chicken and macaroni. Not a dud in the bunch. The Roadhouse makes some truly awesome pre prohibition cocktails. Inhadbonenof my favorites where the others had some tried and true cocktails. We all had seconds. Our bar bill was equal to the food bill. Doesn’t matter, a good time had by all.
I almost fell asleep on the way home. But that would not work because Emily was already asleep. Who would drive. So I stayed awake. And I am finally home. I feel like I won’t need to eat for a week. Though I may force myself.
Time for alcohol induced coma I think. Goodnight.