New Baby on the way; Farming; Busted Knee

I have a great many things to report and much work to do, so I'll get right to it:

Becky and I are expecting our second child in January. We're really excited and have repeatedly asked Uly if he'd be willing to change the baby's diaper. He says, "No," and laughs his head off.

We are moving forward to obtain my father's farm in Northern Kentucky. That's exciting, too. Pictures are forthcoming.

I damaged my knee last week by falling between a dumpster and a wall at the Rumpke dump in Butler, KY. I most likely damaged my MCL. More on that here.

We are remodeling our apartment in Norwood and expect to have the work underway this week. Photos on that are forthcoming, too.

Steve

Meter Reading, sunny day, aggressive swans

Today has been fairly uneventful. Becky and I have been reading water meters today. It's a pretty decent side gig and we end up being able to pay our mortgage off of a few (or four) days work. (don't be too impressed. That's a Cincinnati mortgage!) Drawbacks are that it's a really hot job in the Summer and bitter cold in the dead of winter. Today, however, was a perfect day to be doing it. Sunny and warm, but just enough so that we could feel the warmth of the rays. I think it's warmer now than it has been in recent years past. The sun seemed more powerful for May than I remember. Then again, I was listening to Al Gore on the radio. Perception or actuality?

Global warming naysayers claim that their winter was plenty cold or their summer days are plenty hot. That's like saying there's no hunger in the world just because you just ate a big mac. Silly.

One hazard of meter reading is the bird populations. Swans, geese and ducks are all over the properties and are very protective of their young. I don't blame them, but I do have to run from them some times. Swans are huge birds, btw!

Steve

Car died, more hitchhiking

The idiot lights on the brown dog (my 92 corolla) didn't work and, sadly, during a 2-hour drive the engine overheated. It threw a rod.

I broke down in Columbus IN and had to hitch 150 miles home. It wasn't too hard. I asked folks at gas stations (four different stations and rides) if they were going my way and it got me all the way to 275 and winton. Muni hitching is harder so I got a ride home from my mother-in-law.

I ended up selling the rolla's carcass for $75.

Anyway, it's alright. We still have the 91 camry and that runs very well.

Steve