Notes For Me ( and You)

Last night, just as we were sitting down to watch Peter open his presents, Jake remarked that there was water on the wall of the kitchen. Oh Sh*!. Closer inspection revealed at least two spots on the ceiling where water stains could be seen and one was positively wet.

I knew this might happen. We have seen a few drips coming from the pipes in the basement. In our area there is a known problem with pin-hole leaks in copper pipes. There is some disagreement on the cause, but the most common explanation is a reaction between certain chemicals in the water and microscopic impurities in the copper pipe. For the pipes in the basement we have seen some degree of self healing. My guess is that the  the pin prick hole caused by the dissolving  impurity is then blocked by copper oxide or similar.

However in this case the ceiling will need to be repaired and once the drywall is cut out I will then cut out as much pipe as can be easily reached and replace with, heavy duty, copper pipe.  But it could happen elsewhere !

There are folks out there selling processes that coat the entire system with epoxy  from the inside – but that is very expensive ( but still less than re-piping the whole house)> For now we will fix this one and hope.

Two days before we launch Alex off to the University of Maryland. He is finally getting motivated to take care of the various loose ends we have been bugging him about – and we are getting a taste of the various extra expense over and above the tuition fees ( which are not too bad, given the in-state rate). New laptop, new printer, bunch of new clothes, mini-fridge, etc, etc..

Here is where he will be staying, Cumberland Hall.

One of the noisier nights last night – we had three ( at least) storm lines come through, waking everyone up. Jake had a hard time getting back to sleep – although at least part of it – he would never admit this – was nervousness about his football scrimmage set for this morning.

Alex is finally getting focused on the fact that this week he actually leaves home – and that there are things to do, parents to be taken advantage of, and time is running out. He did get his new Macbook computer yesterday – combination graduation present/ thing he needed for school – and is thrilled with it. I’ve never been exposed to Apple stuff before, but it seems perfect for someone like Alex who is really not interested in learning “techy” things. He got it up and on the wireless network, webcam operating, etc, etc.. with no instruction from anyone.

Peter had the first football scrimmage of the year last night, and he played quite a bit – at least half the game at right guard. Jake plays football this morning, after playing soccer last night until the dark clouds and lightning ending play.

Today was the first day of serious “football” – not the round ball type – practice for Peter. These are the infamous “two-a-days” with the first session from 7:30 am to 10 am and then a second session from 5 pm until 7:30 or so. At least this avoids the heat of the day. There is, correctly, major emphasis on keeping the boys hydrated.

Jake has also been to his first practice for the middle school team, which is set up as a feeder for the Wootton squad, playing the same plays, running the same offense.

Hopefully this weekend I will find time to get the veg garden back into shape after the neglect of the long vacation. The potatoes, which looked rather weak before the holiday, seem to have died off completely. I hope that the actual tubers themselves are OK in the ground.

The weather is dry and rather warm and humid. The first named tropical storm of the season has formed in the Atlanta – TS Ana.