Why Have I Written Before?

Time for a little Firesign Theatre nonsense (with a little ad libbing and forgotten lines - help, Geoff).

Dear Dr. Whiplash
Why have I written before? Cause I still suffering froma sama complaint? What should I do?

Still
Hideo Gump

I can't believe where my energy has gone since the move from Niagara St. Although I am well and lovingly ensconced at the Rodger's home near Ruth's Ridge, I am living out of boxes, without a Mac hook-up to the internet and exhausted almost beyond belief. I am typically in bed well before 9 p.m. and find it almost impossible to rouse myself before 7 a.m.

As I mentioned to DND yesterday, it seems that the Gold Ring seems further out of reach the closer we get to it, and closer we are.

This is Davis' last week. As of a week ago Monday, his contract with the Pembina Valley Humane Society is confirmed and he will commence with that project with the ground-breaking ceremony on Saturday. Ruth & I wish him all the best with this new and challenging project.

What has moved forward since last I blogged? Today Don Morrison of Manitoba Hydro came by and inspected the electrical rough-in (not entirely completed). With the exception of having to increase the size of a number of receptacle boxes, he was sufficiently pleased with Nathan's & my work to sign-off. Tomorrow, Deryl Brook, one of the inspectors with the South Interlake Planning District will be by to check the dozen small fixes on the structure and framing. That means we can start installing the insulation, vapour barrier and drywall that arrived yesterday.

Yesterday was fraught with a little frustration as the drywall delivery truck rolled off my new driveway and required almost 2 hours of our combined efforts to get him on the road again. That was followed by my wrenching my left ankle as Delaeno & I wrestled 2 sheets of drywall into the basement. Happily the ankle swelling was down by half this morning and caused little discomfort. Very lucky.

Today, we also got our well and pressure system hooked up. The plumbing rough-in is approved, as is the heating & ventilation rough-in. Wiring rough-in should be completed by Monday. Thanks, Nathan. (And a happy birthday to you this Friday.)

What else? The siding is out in the back of the house awaiting installation, likely in spring. Soffit and fascia should be installed by Friday. All the interior stairs are in, and Deryl says they are beautiful compared with most prefabs he sees. Thanks, Delaeno.

My life experience has narrowed dramatically in the past couple of weeks. Haven't attended church but once since the beginning of September and, hence, have desperately missed singing and the people in the choir... and Muriel Conner and Ray Turner and Rev. Jim Draper and Jeanne and so many others. Haven't seen Winnipeg friends like Geoff & Barb or Allan & Audrey, haven't seen much at all of the five children. This house increasingly continues to absorb all my time and thought.

I have to keep reminding myself that this is the major project I wanted and that I am truly home already - despite not having a bed, wife or animals, family & friends there with me.

That said, I can't begin to describe the breathtaking and soul-stirring sights I've experienced driving to and from the Ridge over the past couple of weeks. The sun rising through frozen, whisper-thin layers of cloud. A scrawny oak growing out of clump of field boulders haloed in glowing mist. A crescent moon, all bleeding against a deep blue evening sky. The dying golden fields ablaze in fused morning light.

Must simply push on.

Love to all.