Post Thanksgiving fallout

Okay. So this is not the next posting. I did stick "The Perfect Evening?" in there. Don't like it? So don't pay your next subscription fee...

As I said before, I had a great break. But you know the feeling that you should not take a vacation because your work will all be waiting for you upon return? Well I did have a few issues.

A couple months ago, Evan bought a new kitchen stove from UM excess property ($50). We put the new stove in the Big House and set it up. All was good. The stove in the Big House was moved to the Keepers house complete with two burners and the oven not working. The totally non-functioning stove from my place was put in the boat for Evan to put in the dumpster at RSMAS. But what does this have to do with Thanksgiving?

My stand-in and his family (total 6) and Evan (and 5 others) somehow managed Thanksgiving together with no forethought or planning. The oven made it through the turkeys but that was it.  Casseroles and other baked dishes were carted to my house to use my oven. Remember the stove was moved into my place non-functioning. Luckily I had spent 30 minutes on it previously and had everything working just fine. All reports I have gotten indicated that Thanksgiving was good and well enjoyed.    But, upon my return, it was emphasized that it would be nice to have the oven working - soon.

Let's move on to the water issue...   You already know that the island uses rainwater for all non-potable water needs. Cool!  But no rain, no water...  And we are headed into the dry season.   There are two cisterns on the island. The basement of the Big House is 2/3 cistern. Big!  The other cistern is located under the tool room and is not so big. That smaller one feeds the owners cottage, my house and the boathouse. I have roughly calculated it holds about 7500 gallons.  While I was gone, someone used the hose at the tool room. When finished the hose was dropped and fell on the handle. You know what I mean, the way it falls to the ground when you are washing the car and will only land on the handle thus spraying you. And the errant user did not turn off the supply to the hose. So for who knows how long the hose watered the sidewalk. Upon my return and hearing of this story, I checked the water in the cistern... less than 1000 gallons were left in the tank! I started to dehydrate on the spot.

There were other minor annoyances but nothing of real consequence. It took me three days to find Inja's bed. "My" big boat (the Parker) was left a mess with diving and fishing gear strewn about. The RIB (remember: Rigid Inflatable Boat) was found with a few dead fish in it. And more but now I sound like I am complaining.

But, alas, all known issues are either repaired, corrected or washed away.  The boats have been tidied up.  The failed ignitor for the oven is on order. And 4000 gallons of Big House water were pumped to the tool shed cistern. And I am still glad I got to spend my Thanksgiving in West Virginia.

I hope your Thanksgiving was also enjoyable.

cz, 1816 12/9/14