Hello Campers.

I'm happy to reveal that I am feeling much improved.  Marcie the PA called me in some meds Friday and I went in yesterday for a full blood work up. Luckily we have kept the grunge out of my chest.

Addison remains in community hospital, where they did surgery on her leg late Friday.  They cleaned the pocket and scraped the bone.  Much to everyone's dismay the preliminary reports are that it is a strep infection.  They are trying to figure out what strain.  Actually the infectious disease people are saying this is potentially worse than a staff infection.  Wound care is addressing it daily but last word was probably another week in the hospital.

I have begun mental planning on a project here at Memama's house.  In fact I have contacted Allen, who owns Homer's repairs to come and look with me.

The bedroom is on the far west end of the house and is the only one on the north side.  It has a bathroom that drains across the house which has always been marginal at best.  When the bedroom and bath wereused regularly, it did o.k., but as it became more of a guest room (until I moved into it) it became more problematic.

Shortly before Pepa died he asked me and Hag to look at it.  We decided to pour muriatic acid down the vent pipe and hopefully open the drains.  We positioned a ladder and Hag went up and began pouring.  I followed him up carrying more gallon jugs of the acid.  After about three gallons I went down and started in the bathroom.  It turns out after a 1974 remodel this bathroom has a false ceiling, BUT acid was dripping out of the light fixtures, the exhaust fan, the air conditioner vent and anywhere else it could escape.

I ran outside, telling Hag to cease and desist.  He went into the attic to see why it would be leaking out of the pipe and discovered that the roofers had pushed the pipe over and the joint was not glued or sweated in and that was the reason for the leak.

By now, the house was filled with the horrific odor of muriatic acid.

As soon as the dripping stopped we began a cleanup that did nothing short of burn your lungs.  Initially the damage didn't appear too bad.  The acid burned through the thin chrome drain pipe in the tub, and there was some discoloration in the tub and on some tile and there was a small hole burned in the carpet.

As time has gone on, the damage is more apparent.  Some discoloration on the ceiling and more and more tile issues, AND the slow drain problem persists.

So I have come up with a plan.  We are going to do a complete remake on the bathroom.  We will probably relocate several fixtures to change the configuration and then install a handicapped shower in place of the tub.  I have seen one of these Allen put in at his cousin's house in the guest bath and I love it.  Biggest project is going to be putting in this bathrooms own septic tank and drain field.  But I have found a small trac hoe that can get inside the tile fence without taking the fence down.

You know it is odd, but that was probably the last time Pepa asked me and Hag to do a project.

Just sayin'.

Well, I had better get busy.  Bill didn't work yesterday.  No call, no nothing.  He is exhibiting the same pattern of a year ago.  If we are not going to strip our own cotton I may let him go.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for the many blessings YOU give us.  I continue to lift up Addie and Brian for YOUR gifts of healing and care.  Be with the many students, teachers, and administrators as they begin another school year.  Thank YOU for YOUR rain blessing and we ask for more if it is YOUR will.