Dreamflower's Mathom-house

This was a day I was going to spend finishing up both art and a story for this month's challenges, so that I could post them without being late. I was also going to post some pics I'd been meaning to post.

Well, instead we spent the day with the plumber, who took care of our washing machine (the drain was stopped and running over) and the refrigerator repairman (because water was leaking into the vegetable drawer and freezing there).

And just before the plumber arrived, as I was attempting to clean up the kitchen before he got there, my utensil drawer broke (actually it was the track to the drawer which broke.)

So the plumber was here for about an hour, and after fixing the drain informed us that the problem is roots in the line, which if we do not get taken care of, will mean that the drain will stop up again. Ball park estimate? $2,500.00. Luckily, he thinks that the fix he did today (which, thanks to our home warranty only cost $60) will hold until next spring. The kicker? We don't have any trees large enough to infiltrate our lines; it has to be one of our neighbor's trees.

Then of course, there was a flurry to get the fridge and freezer empty before the refrigerator guy got here. Stuff from the freezer at the bottom went into our chest freezer on the porch. Then ever surface and counter in the kitchen was covered with the stuff from the fridge. It didn't take him long to fix it--and it cost us $50.

Then we had to try and locate a new track for the drawer, so that the DH could try to fix it--that took most of the rest of the afternoon...

Also, has anyone else been having trouble with Photobucket? It's being all weird. When I go there a pop-up appears asking me if I want to take a "tour" of their new features. Before I can either click on it OR close it, the whole page turns kind of grey and the screen freezes.

After only 3 hours sleep, the DH has gone back to work. He phoned on the way to say that the roads were open again, and that Walmart appears to be still standing. The news says that there are still a couple of fires in the area around Hwy 33 and Hwy 99, but at the moment they are contained. If the wind picks up again, they may be a problem again, but so far they are doing OK.

Weather-wise we are getting a break: a "cold front" has come through, so our high today is "only" 99F! The northern part of the state even has a 20% chance of a little rain, but none of that looks to come where we are.

My son and his girlfriend are still here, so I may not be able to go to church this AM. (Sophie is being decently behaved with her leash and harness on, but I don't really trust to leaving her alone with them, and she won't stay shut up. She's found out how to get the child gates down. I especially don't really trust her around a 10-year-old and a 1-year-old, which are the ages of the girlfriend's kids.) I'm not sure what their plans are for the day, though. I might still be able to go if they aren't staying.

I'm pretty sure I will still be able to go this evening; I'm scheduled to feed the youth tonight.

The DH made it home after several detours. Going to try to get some sleep I think.

Thanks for all the good thoughts.

The DH made it home after several detours. Going to try to get some sleep I think.

Thanks for all the good thoughts.

The cat carrier's in the house, and the dog's got her harness on. Locked in the car: checkbook, my billfold, our Rx meds, some pictures, the DH's laptop. A few other things we will grab if we have time-- they are earmarked. I have to pack myself up a few clothes, and will do that in a few minutes. We just got Sophie quieted down and I don't want to disturb her yet.

Honestly, I don't think it will come to that. But Mike's girlfriend got a phone call from a friend of hers who says she thinks she can see that the Walmart is on fire. Of course, these things are deceptive-- we thought a fire the other day was to the south of the road, and it wasn't until we got closer that we realized it was actually to the north of the road and a lot farther away than we had thought!

They ARE evacuating the hospital, which is only two blocks from here, but that's just a precaution-- hospitals take a long time to evacuate!

There are fires all over the state. If we do leave, I'm not sure where we will go or how we will get there.

There are fires to the east of town. My son called to say they have evacuated Walmart, and he thinks they are going to evacuate his girlfriend's neighborhood. He's bringing her and her kids over in a few minutes, and he wants me to get stuff together in case I need to evacuate too. I don't think it will come to that-- I'm in the middle of town, but I'll take his advice about getting stuff together.

It's a little scary. I know how to deal with a hurricane. This is a little different.

ETA: My son is here with his girlfriend and two of her kids. He's going to bring the cat carrier in from the garage in case we do need to split.

Mostly I'm worried about the DH getting home: Hwy 33, which is his direct route home, is closed between Drumright and Cushing. An alternate route, Hwy 51 is closed part of the way also. He may have to stay at work tonight.

Sophie is pitching a fit, and we are having to shut her up.

This is not fun.

There are fires to the east of town. My son called to say they have evacuated Walmart, and he thinks they are going to evacuate his girlfriend's neighborhood. He's bringing her and her kids over in a few minutes, and he wants me to get stuff together in case I need to evacuate too. I don't think it will come to that-- I'm in the middle of town, but I'll take his advice about getting stuff together.

It's a little scary. I know how to deal with a hurricane. This is a little different.

ETA: My son is here with his girlfriend and two of her kids. He's going to bring the cat carrier in from the garage in case we do need to split.

Mostly I'm worried about the DH getting home: Hwy 33, which is his direct route home, is closed between Drumright and Cushing. An alternate route, Hwy 51 is closed part of the way also. He may have to stay at work tonight.

Sophie is pitching a fit, and we are having to shut her up.

This is not fun.