"Hole" today...gone tomorrow.
You may recall I have my AC and heating system checked every six months.
The company that installed it 13 years ago has kept it running smoothly.
"You can't stop a Trane," is their slogan.
The same tech climbed up into the attic the last several visits as well as checking the large unit outside.
This time, his foot slipped and punched a hole in my ceiling.
Seems the company has a ceiling repair guy on call (on their speed dial?) and he came by last weekend.
He had a young "helper" with him to do the first of a 2-step repair.
Six-year old Grandson Tyler was well behaved. He even fetched small items when Grandpa asked him.
I had placed my cat in a back bedroom so the pet was no problem.
"That drop cloth costs nearly $100," I was told.
"It has a rubber backing so even a gallon of paint spilled would not soak through," added the repair man.
There was no paint involved in this job so I took him at his word.
He had draped a light plastic cover over my counter top so no dust or particles landed there. A neat man.
My dad would have appreciated that even more.
He drew a square around the hole, cut it out, removed the broken pieces and cut a replacement piece of wall board.
He added nail-to pieces of wood inside the opening then screwed the new piece into place.
He scraped away some of the "popcorn" ceiling around the patch then taped and used "mud" to blend it in.
I am terrible with tape and mud so I admire his work.
Apparently his use by the HVAC company is pretty steady.
He is coming by tomorrow to sand things smooth.
Then he'll fashion a protective plastic tent and spray "popcorn" material onto the finished job.
The guarantee is either it matches perfectly or he'll spray the entire ceiling.
Sounds fair to me.
The other night we had a drop in temps preceded by a stiff wind.
As the fierce wind blew, I happened to be driving on Savannah Highway near
Rick Hendrick Chevrolet.
As you've seen, they fly a VERY large flag but usually it hangs down in a drape caused by the sheer weight of the material.
It was pointed straight out the night I pulled over to grab a shot.
When I visited Baltimore a few years ago, I was impressed with the Ft. McHenry flag that inspired the writing of our national anthem.
The original 15-stars, 15-stripes flag was a whopping 30 feet high and 42 feet across!
The defenders of the fort said they wanted it big enough that the 1814 invading British would see it.
Labels: $90 painter's drop cloth, 1814 British attack on Baltimore., 30' x 42' garrison flag inspired the National Anthem, Ft. McHenry, popcorn ceiling, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet
Lost and Found...
Baltimore is known for its Harbor and for Ft. McHenry with its
star-spangled banner.
Oh, did I mention jumbo lump crab cakes?
Yes, state slogans abound: "Virginia Is For Lovers" and
"Maryland Is For Crabs".
The first stop - at 10 in the morning - was Faidley Seafood for its fist-sized specialty served with lettuce & tomato, saltines and a cold beer. A second crab cake was ordered so it was a two-fisted meal.
That is a
BIG flag!
Don't know if Francis Scott Key could really see it at
dawn's early light (he was on a ship about 2-3 miles away) but it inspires goose bumps.
Now a fleet of Water Taxis move visitors around to various points on the harbor.
Start at the top (27th floor) of the
World Trade Center for the view then cruise around and alight to explore the American Visionary Art Museum. Catch another boat to continue sightseeing ... or stop for a beer.
At Fells Point there was an Irish pub named
Slainte.
Cozy and friendly, it sat on a cobblestone street overlooking the harbor with stubby tug boats coming and going. Time to take a break.
Eventually wandered out to join a short line for a water taxi and headed toward the Aquarium area at twilight.
The city lights sparkled as we docked and went to a nearby
Chipolte for a massive burrito.
Wanted quick service because the train to Philadelphia would leave in about 90 minutes but we were close to the railroad station.
"Hey want to save the leftover chips?" "Sure, just put them in your back pack."
Huh? What back pack? Looked down at the emptiest floor I've ever seen. Nothing. YIKES!
Did I have it on the Water Taxi? Don't remember that. At the Fort? Yeah, had it then.
Uh oh...the Irish pub. Pretty sure... but where was it? How far away? Go by boat or hop in a cab?
Have never shouted
"Follow that cab," but now have breathlessly said
"Gotta catch a train..can you get us quickly to Fell's Point and Slainte?"Phyllis reminded me of Queen Latifah in the 2004 movie
"TAXI" as she wheeled that car through changing yellow traffic lights, around slow drivers and up a one way street - the wrong way. Well, it was a short block.
We bounced on cobblestones and pulled up in front of the bar.
"Keep the meter running, I'll be right back," I said as I sprinted for the front door.
The place now was packed and hanging on the front of the bar.... by the stools where I had sat.... was....a ladies purse.
The manager took my card and said he would also check upstairs. Oh, that's right, we also had gone up there!
Up the stairs, found a big "bouncer" size guy and started to explain. He said
"Yeah, It's sitting behind the bar."And it was.
I charged out the front door, the bag raised over my head and Phyllis started honking the horn in celebration. She knew all sorts of shortcuts to the train station and we arrived with 14 minutes to spare.
She got a VERY nice tip and the train pulled in on time.
Guess what closes in
Philadelphia on Easter Sunday? Yep....all the restaurants. But, that's another story.
(Click on the photos to see massive enlargements! Amazing detail. I don't miss shooting with film.)
Labels: American Visionary Art, Baltimore Harbor, burrito, Chipolte, Faidley Seafood, Fells point, Francis Scott Key, Ft. McHenry, Maryland is for crabs, Queen Latifah, Slainte, water taxi
