Stanisms

 not mine:  ”The Devil Is In The Details” (the difficult part is in the many small details...)  The plumber came this morning because we are expecting house guests and wanted the toilet we have been babying along for a couple of years to be in tip top shape for our visitors.  We could flush the brown stuff with a bucket of water.  When we flushed normally it just swirled around and stayed in the bowl until you used a bucket of water to flush it on out.  So, we adpated and used the good flushing toilets downstairs.  But we could’nt expect guests to do that so I called the plumber listed in the yellow pages.  He arrived promptly this morning and surveyed the toilet and flushed it a couple of times, then tested the other toilets and asked several questions about water, toilet bowl cleaners etc.  He believed he could fix the toilet.  I accompanied him downstairs to go to his truck.  It was then I noticed his assistant (read: the REAL plumber) waiting in the truck.  He got his tools and went into the bathroom and knelt over the toilet. I too was praying it could be fixed without removing the toilet and breaking up tile and replacing pipes (worst case scenario).  He searched in his tool box for just the right tool and drew out a wire coat hanger.  He trimmed it to the correct size and began gouging into the holes around the inside part of the bowl.  After several minitues of gouging he flushed and waited.  Better but now for the big auger tool to make it look official I guess.  He and the supervisor inserted the auger and twisted and turned the tool and sure enough after some more gouging and turning the toilet was flushing fine.  Then Lynn noticed a leak from the toilet tank. Minor detail and easily fixed with the turn of a nut and screw.  Paid the supervisor the requested $20 and accepted his card for future reference and was glad to have the job fixed by a professional.  I now have to go buy one of those special tools to make sure the holes don’t clog up on the other toilets.  Details, gotta love em.

“Nothing can be done in one trip.”  Example:  one day to meet with the lawyer to go over all the papers to submit for renewal of our temporary residency cards as “Religious workers - not Catholic” (that’s what the Government chooses to call us).  Next day to submit the papers to window #11.  Next trip (day) submit one paper that was needed to complete request.  Next day return to the Government office and window #4 to get our “temporary” residency card that is good until the end of August when we will need to go back for an interview and another trip to get our new temporary residency card that will be good for 6 months and we need to begin the process all over again.  Love them hoops.  Stan

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung on the security gate,
In hopes that St. Nicholas would not be late;

Yes, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”, but could not resist this photo and verse.  Stan

Why is it that “when it rains, it pours” but “every cloud has a silver lining”?

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water . . . Jaws 2″  Summer 1978  This Quote has been used since 1978 to explain what you thought was “safe” often times really isn’t.  Never take safety for granted, be vigilant and observant always.  Think Safety First.

“If you want or need something when you get there.  Take it with you.”

Those familiar with Murphy’s Laws will notice how similar some of my Stanisms are to those laws.

Murphy:  “Anything that can go wrong, will.  And at the worst possible moment”   more Murphy’s Laws can be found here:  http://www.murphys-laws.com/

 My take on the classic Murphy  “Anything that can go wrong, will.  And at the worst possible moment” is to add “and it can probably be fixed with Duct Tape”  Always have Duct tape handy!

Well it is time to go back and as I suspected time has flown.  And so have we.  We made a trip to Portland, Oregon, Pullman, Washington and Springfield, Oregon last week and enjoyed our visits with friends (but they are really family).  We got to see the sprawl of Portland and the beauty of the Columbia River Gorge and LOTS of snow!  Met a new “nephew” Josiah Bradley and met new deaf friends.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.  We will be posting again soon.  Stan

Do not know who said it first but it is very true: “The faster I go, the behinder I get.”

This brings me to an observation about time: It may be constant, but it appears to me at 57 years of chronological time, TIME has different velocity. The above quote is one indication of this fact. As we count down the days until our 3 months in the States beginning October 3, 2006, it seems time is moving slower. I am sure as we arrive back in the States it will increase in velocity and we will blink and it will be January 17, 2007 and time for our return to the field. Smile and blessings, Stan

“Power Rules:  those who have the Power make the rules.”

For these times by Stan