Last Post About The Storage Box Lid
If you have been reading here for the last while you will have read about how we have been trying to get someone to build the lid for our storage box.
When we returned to the metal fabricator on Saturday evening, to pay him for the material so that he could begin the construction, things changed again. He had re-vamped his plan for reinforcing the lid, he knew that we wanted it strong enough to sit on. The additions were going to cost another $10.00 which would bring the price up to around $255.00 which was getting high for a simple lid. Besides that, the new supports that he felt we needed, were in the way for us to use it conveniently for storage. We told him that we were going to think about it some more. The quote for the wooden lid had been $80.00; but then he never showed up again so I think he estimated it a little low. Even if the termites get it in a couple of years we can still replace it several times over, for the price of the steel one. We discussed and finally decided that Roy would go and check out the lumber prices and look into making it himself. We were just tired of trying to find someone to do it and the waiting and wondering in between. Monday morning Roy, with Ciro to help him went to the lumber yard, while I went uptown to look into water heaters. Roy purchased the lumber and it was delivered in the afternoon. He went and purchased a small skill saw, nails, etc. . The bill for the saw(2nd hand), the lumber, etc. came to about $130.00 dollars. He then spent the rest of the afternoon building. The saw is still running so we now have another tool.
Yesterday we went to the local mall where I had seen foam slabs for sale. I needed one to make the cushions for the bench. We found the size that I needed and proceeded to the check out; but when she typed the number in the computer the price came up as much higher than the one listed on the shelf. I explained this to her and she called her supervisor, who then called another girl to go and check the price. She came back to the supervisor with the tag off of the shelf; but there was still a problem with the numbers and neither the supervisor or I could figure out the difference. The supervisor then went to her supervisor who was sitting at a table doing some paperwork. This lady finally realised what the difference was. The one that we had picked up was thicker than the one that the price tag was for. OK, that solved, now did they have one for the same price as the price tag? Yes, said the first supervisor and we went back down the aisle. She found one and she noticed that it was discolored and dug out another one. I thanked her and apologised for all the trouble. With a big smile she answered, it was no problem. I'm sure glad my simple Spanish was up to this exchange!!! We paid for the foam and headed home. I spent the rest of the afternoon sewing the cushions. There was enough little pieces left over to make cushions for three of our chairs and then because I had lots of material I also made a tablecloth for our outside table. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!
Looks so simple doesn't it, to have created so much hassle!! The wilted looking plant in the corner is the cutting the fellow gave me. I have been told that it will probably lose all its leaves; but will eventually root and regrow the dropped leaves. I am hoping!!
Ciro came up last night to visit and he tested out the lid/bench, I explained to him that because we don't have a doghouse this is where Roy would sleep when he got into trouble. He didn't understand this, so I explained that in Canada we always say that the man has to sleep in the doghouse when he has done something that the woman doesn't like. He thought that was funny. He liked the new cushions and tablecloth; but like Roy,he questioned the feasibility of it when the winds blows. Men!! I think that I am going to put some weights on the corners and a plant on the table so that problem should be solved; but for last night I brought it in the house. One must bow to reality (and men's advice) sometimes!!
I chatted with one of my sons on MSN messenger last night and he told me that it had been -24 C. in the morning when he got up to to go work. He wondered if he should maybe be working on a Mexican pipeline, ha ha. I gave him lots of sympathy, well actually I laughed at him.
We had some children last night for Halloween, here they shout (in English), "red apples, red apples, Halloween,". I am wondering if they learn this in their English class at school or if it is from watching television, etc.. When Alan came up, we pretended to be scared of him and I pretended I was afraid to get close enough to give him any treats. He said, "it's OK, it is only me, Alancito", or the equivalent in Spanish, and he quickly took off his mask. It was pretty funny, we were laughing so hard that I forgot to take a photo of him.
We asked Ciro about Dias de los Muertos and he said that it is tomorrow here, not 2 days, in his words, it is nice. He was also telling us that in the cemetery there is an old headstone with the date, "February 31" on it. We will have to go and look for this sometime. He had no idea why someone would have put that date on it.
As it is Wednesday, I may wander down to the tianguis and see if there is anything new and different going on.
