Christmas Chaos

Sunday, we met Kristina, Bryan and kids at Bonnet Springs Park for our annual Christmas visit. An easy drive for us from Orlando and those in Tampa and Plant City. Too far for Patten this year since he has joined the hurt back club. We chatted while the kids played. 

With Kyle’s parents with dogs Rio and Vader in town, Stephanie was hosting Christmas dinner. Because of Aiden’s schedule, the main celebration was to be Christmas Eve, with our having a smaller, lighter meal the next day. Exact details TDB. That got changed when his mom flew out last minute Monday to visit her mother who was not well, so he and his dog Minnie were added back into the mix. Much anxiety.

Patten was going to be alone on Christmas, however his back was killing him, so the thought of his driving up was not appealing. Perhaps Grant and I should bail on the Orlando crew and go south to cook. Much hemming and hawing. As things fell out, we floundered back to the original schedule. Patten toughed it out, driving up Christmas Eve afternoon, then leaving at o’dark hundred Christmas morning to make oyster stew for breakfast for a friend. 

Tuesday evening Grant noticed water leaking around the guest toilet. This had happened once months (years?) ago. Our plumber said we needed to reseal the toilet which would involve an expensive part. Should we do that or install the taller geezer toilet we would prefer, perhaps with a bidet seat? I left it to Grant to decide.

He wiped up the water, then tested the septic tank alarm, just to be sure all was well. The alarm didn’t work, its GFI outlet didn’t reset, and we couldn’t find the breaker that controls the outlet.

Wednesday morning, I called Ark Septic. David reset the outlet and got the alarm to flash. He told us that since we’d plugged the pump in without the float, we’d probably burned out the pump. We’d wondered why there were 3 cords and only 2 places to plug into: the float plugged into the pump cord. Incompetent staff are us. Bottom line: he pumped out the full septic tank and the pump tank. He will return after Christmas with a new pump and a new tank top that has a port. I’m not clear what value the latter will add, but I hope to learn. Still haven’t found the breaker for that outlet. TBD*

Christmas came and went. Everyone survived, mostly intact. We made black beans and rice, focaccia, Jewish apple pie (Granny Smith apple chunks piled into 9” springform pan covered with cake batter) for Christmas Day lunch. 

Boxing Day, Clara and I went thrifting for her to find clothes. Three stores later, I had bought her a glass bowl with red stripes, a cute purse I may borrow, and at our last stop, Synz, a Harley Davidson t-shirt among racks of camo and vintage black tees. My hope of a hoodie did not pan out since the only one I found with a full zipper was Ohio State, who UM trounced in the Cotton Bowl, New Year’s Eve, 24-14. Sadly, on Saturday, Ga Tech lost the Pop-tart Bowl with a last minute interception by BYU, 21-25. I found a set of measuring spoons for $1.

*David and Daley returned Monday. Replaced the pump in the sump tank and put a raiser and new lid on the septic tank to the tune of $1,700 for both trips. Definitely not a Christmas present. My gift to the local economy.

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