I'm happy to report that Tom's back seems much better today - at least that's what he's telling me. But knowing how stubborn he is, I wouldn't be surprised if it's still hurtin' like hell, but he just refuses to baby it any longer...not when he's in the mood to "get something done around here." It worries me, but I'm used to it - he ignores pain all the time! Mementoes of my life are taped in a scrapbook...his are collected throughout parts of his body, from his cliff-climbing (and falling) Coast Guard days in Alaska...his dirt-biking (screw in the broken ankle) days in Houston...and the grand doozy head-on collision (ribs, ankle, hip, face) here in Lago Vista. The fact is, if he wasn't bull-headed enough to ignore the pain, we wouldn't be sitting in this mostly-finished dream house...our thirty-year project.
Now, I'm not saying he doesn't take breaks. He's spent plenty of afternoons snoozing on the couch or the hammock...or hidden away in our bedroom watching old "Leave It To Beaver" re-runs. It took me years before I figured out those were the times his brain was so busy designing, planning, figuring out the next project that his body just had to take a break.
And once he gets it figured out...watch out! He is a working machine...hardly taking a break or getting enough rest until he gets enough of the job done that he sees it's going to work out or look just as good as he envisioned it. By then, his brain has seized upon another project idea (we have an endless supply here)...which grows larger and larger until it requires some full-time thinking in the hammock itself.
The latest project is a ceiling above the downstairs patio. From the very beginning, when he first built the upstairs deck along the entire back of the house, he had the idea to use old fenceboards for the ceiling underneath...and sure enough, two years ago he spotted exactly what he needed: an old wooden fence, FREE, on Craig's List. Yes, that was two years ago...which means for over two years I've tried to ignore this huge pile of old fence sections because other projects were more important. A bit of a challenge, considering I've had to move them out of the way at least three times to make way for other projects and parties.
A few weeks ago we (as in 'I') decided it was time to clean up the backside of the property...figure out what we were going to do with leftover construction materials - what to save, what to trash. Not a very exciting project, I admit, but something that needed to be done. I just couldn't take it any more!
It was hot - the beginning of the 100+ degree afternoons - and soon Tom was upstairs snoozing on the couch.
And sure enough, the next day he had forgotten all about the "trash or treasure" clean-up - he was measuring, cutting and hammering all day long. 100 degrees by 9am? So what! Drink more water...Aching neck, shoulders and back? Live with it! He was a man on a mission.
And let me tell you, that ceiling is looking good! Just like he envisioned it. The clean-up can wait a little longer, I guess. It helps just knowing I won't ever have to move that pile of boards again!
