In case you don’t know, the sound of a circular saw with a ripping blade going through 2x6s is not conductive to creative writing. After the first two days, you think you are listening to the screams of tortured souls paying eternal penance in hell…. or Camden, NJ.

Most of the original deck in the back porch dates 25 years if the paperwork from the previous owner is right.  I coaxed, treated, recycled and did every trick possible to make it last long and it has, but the part of the porch exposed to the elements was finally to damaged to do anything other than replacement and that is what has been happening since Monday.

But like in any good infomercial, that is not all! She Who Must Be Obeyed decided that while we are at it, it would be a good time to repaint the house. I wanted to disagree saying that just because about 25% of the paint was peeling and 100% of it was faded & bleached by the South Florida sun, it did not mean it was bad.  Yes, I lost that one too. So in  about 30 minutes, I will have to drag myself out the comfort of my blogging perch, brave the current condition of 89 degrees, mostly clouded and go buy the damned primer, putty & paint for the contractor. Calculations on how much would be needed for the primer, putty & paint combo and my butt literally compressed into supernova status when the numbers said I would be coloring the humble abode with the equivalent of a brand new two-toned FNS 9mm with a 4 inch barrel and night sights, 3 extra mags and a holster from Dragon Leatherworks.

Versus

I ask you, Dear Reader: Is there no justice in this world? Why would the gods make me go through this ordeal? I thought Heracles pretty much did it already when he cleaned the Augean Stables?

The things we must to keep SWMBO happy.