27 April 2012

An eventful day.  Started out by driving the Ranger to Desabrais Brothers Glass, then to Windshield World, in Middlebury, to get estimates for repairing the Sienna faux pas.  From there continued up to Junction Auto for the truck’s annual inspection.  Truck passed… but only with my promise to bring it back on May 7^th to have a “rotten” structural bracket replaced.  Bet you didn’t know steel could “rot”.  Having examined the suspect member myself, I assure you that the term is an accurate description of what Vermont winter salt has done.  Next stop was the Lowe’s in South Burlington.  They don’t carry the Cabot Weatherizing Stain and can’t even get it via special order.  But Kevin, the Paint Department Manager, most helpfully called Cabot, whose customer service rep was able to point us to two other stores in the area that should have the product.  On to Alverta’s to help her with some financial planning and computer issues… plus washing to two loads of very filthy clothes and lunch (which tastes much better after cleaning).  After lunch, ventured to Bibens Ace Hardware (just a mile from Alverta’s condo), where Chris, the Assistant Manager, said they didn’t have the stain in stock but could order it for delivery next Wednesday… but with a four gallon minimum order.  The coverage info on the New Cedar can says I only need two gallons to treat the shed siding and doors; my calculations based on experience with the New Cedar stain says I will probably need three gallons.  But Chris said to try Vermont Paint, located just another mile down the road (just past Pete’s RV of expensive new refrigerator fame… but more on that later).  As Vermont Paint was the second place the Cabot rep had mentioned, off I went.  Sure enough, Vermont Paint not only had the stain in stock, but the price was $2 per gallon cheaper than Lowe’s.  Next stop: Pete’s RV to talk about replacing Delores’ generator and finding/repairing the massive water leak underneath the forward roof air conditioner.  In order not to even think about the price tag on those two items I have opened the Johnny Walker Black tonight… which surely do taste good!  Back at Alverta’s, as I was getting ready to head back to Fern Lake I quickly checked my email.  A message from Paul Koenig popped up, saying that the white cedar 1x4’s I ordered last week were ready to go.  So Alverta and I went over to Winooski and loaded the Ranger with a nice, expensive, pile of lumber (being careful not to break any windows), that now reposes, most appropriately, inside the woodshed.  Temperature tonight is supposed to get down into the low 20’s… and it snowed off and on all day in Burlington.  Did I mention that the Scotch do taste especially good tonight?