Aug 1-2 - growing, growing

Our numbers are increasing ...

Sandy arrived back from Toronto around 2pm yesterday with David & Kim. They had a good trip and everything went according to plan. We are now 8, growing to 13 when Arlene arrives, 17 with Philip and 18 with Jeffrey.

First things first -- early in the morning I finished up the bedroom -- final coat of paint in the closet -- and got the furniture back into place. Now we just need doors ! Arlene arrives on Friday and this room is well setup for them. I'm sure that she would survive without a bedroom door but I really have to get a door on the bathroom. Doors arrive Friday ...

Aaron and I went for a bike ride to highway 69 and back. That was my first ride in weeks ... hard to believe. His ankle is still swollen from a hornet sting that he got at our back door the day before. It was bothering him but not enough to stop him from riding.

On that topic it seems that there was a hornets nest behind the siding below the deck at the back door. At first I thought it was just under the deck so I removed one of the deck boards, but no. I emptied an entire can of the hornet/wasp killer stuff into the small space under the door sill and it must have dripped down into their nest because they have ceased activity. Before that there was a constant stream of hornets in and out. They weren't bothering anyone until Aaron was stung -- which figures because he is the one with the allergy -- not a life threatening allergy, but he swells up.

Before going biking I took an ATC load of stuff up to the garage for storage and to the truck for the dump. I'm gradually getting the basement organized.

I also decided to try and get the 9.9 running better -- it started on the third pull yesterday but was running rough -- it's been like that for a couple of years. Jason has a can of carburetor cleaner so I gave it a treatment and, lo and behold, it's now purring -- quieter running, smooth idling -- wow ! I added some watersorb to the gas tank as well because no doubt there is condensation at the bottom of the tank just waiting to mess things up. Late in the day I pulled both the little boat and the whaler up on the ramp and gave them a power wash. Aaron helped, scrubbing the hull with cleaner and degreaser.

Aaron went out on the windsurfer after lunch since the wind was growing. He had a good long ride, getting down into Smiths Bay at one point because I was out in the 9.9 and could not see him. Eventually though, I spotted him tacking back and forth and went to see how he was doing because it was going to be a long way back. He was getting tired -- on a small lake the wind dies as you get close to the shore and you lose some of the progress that you've made tacking. At any rate, yes, he could use a tow back but of course I've just gotten this boat running and have no life preserver (ahem), paddle (ahem, ahem), or rope ... so I went back, retrieved said articles and gave him a tow partway back. By the time he got back David & Kim had arrived and David immediately went out for a ride. The three guys (including Jeffrey) love the windsurfer. Aaron is the expert from his days in California. David and Jeffrey improve with every year.

I inflated the ski tube for Stef and they played with it in the cove. It was too rough for tubing -- perhaps this morning it will be calmer. Windsurfing weather is not the same as water tubing weather. We have had this tube since we lived in Mississauga -- it's one of the first types made and it has lasted forever. Of course it does not get that much use but still hard to believe that it is still around. I'll get them out on the tube today -- even if we have to hop in the boat and find a calmer spot. It's time to give the Bayliner some exercise !

I have two things on my agenda today -- the first is at 9:30 -- yes, a conference call. My first in many moons. I'll have to take my construction worker's hat off and put my business hat on.

There is an ongoing dispute going on between Towers Perrin and EDS regarding the value of the business that EDS purchased. The dispute has to do with the quality of the client relationships and they have both asked me for information. I had a call with TP and their external counsel a number of months ago and they have told me to expect a deposition sometime in November ... ok. I have had lots of questions, however, regarding my obligations and risks and so they have hired another firm to provide advice for the witnesses -- who would not have the conflict of interest. My call this a.m. is with that firm.

Meanwhile EDS' external counsel has been trying to have a call with me. They were insisting on coming to meet me face-to-face, expecting that I was in Florida. Even when I told them where I was located for the summer they still wanted to meet me face-to-face. I told them that this was not practical, that I would have to come to Toronto, and that I was not prepared to do so. (Loring Internation Airport ... Ha -- perhaps the General Store has a conference center attached -- Ha). EDS also wants me to provide commentary on some document that they were going to bring to the meeting but I set down my conditions -- a) conference call, not face-to-face; b) I must have any documents in advance. I assured them that the documents would not go anywhere.

The other thing that I have to do is more personal -- I have not had a haircut since ... when ? ... let me think ... April, before I went out west for the bike ride. It has moved past shaggy to long. Perhaps I should grow a pony tail ? If I did that and got an earring the kids would think that I had finally cracked up !! There is a person who does haircuts in Loring, but she does not seem to answer the phone or return messages -- I've been trying her for a week. There is also a place in Golden Valley, 15 minutes or so further -- I'll call them this morning and hopefully I can get a cut in the next couple of days. If not ... pony tail ? My other option is to have Jason give me a cut -- but that would be a clean cut -- I'm not prepared for that !

Oh -- tuna for dinner last night, from the St. Lawrence Market, along with a feed of beans from the garden and Sandy's rice/wild rice mixture. Good stuff ! Tonight it's Cohoe Salmon.

It's calm out there now, but that's not unusual for early in the day. It is supposed to be hot again today -- I had the air conditioner on yesterday because it was warm inside and the day started out at 82 degrees from the early a.m. It's a little cooler this a.m. -- 71 when I got up, but it is supposed to go up to 31c -- an official 88 degrees, but will likely be over 90 or higher in the sun. It will be a good day for watersports, one way or the other.

Time for breakfast for me and Abby ...