Beaver Haven:

Decided to stay all week instead of tripping back and forth to Montreal. This meant I needed to let Vanessa do a firing so she could have her pots for gifts. I left her a detailed message which she did not follow, etc, etc. She phoned to tell me she had turned on the kiln and then I was not able to phone her back to inquire. Her failure to communicate, to perceive the need, .... An infuriating and frustrating afternoon for that part.When I finally reached her, I insisted she drive back down to the mill and make sure that what she had in the kiln of mine was not pieces that would be ruined. Last week's fiasco needs NO repeat. She could not find the kiln wash which was less than a foot away from the shelves!

Terrific visit with friend, catching up with each other after 15 years. I find our relationship intriguing. When I saw her in town a few weeks ago, she was adamant that I must stop in, so I did. She lives in the nicest house in town, has a high-powered lawyer as a husband, was dressed as for an upscale Toronto office when she opened the door. And we had a wonderful conversation for over an hour - from my environmental to her sci fi reading to the state of the town budget. I am gathering info, learning about what has happened since I left and looking for what my role needs to be, what I might be able to write about with the possibility of submitting to the newspaper.   

Managed to wrest the safety certificate from mechanic this morning. I fear he is losing it. He did the inspection last week but I needed to replace cracked windshield. Having done so, I went in this am and he said but I have to inspect it first! I reminded him that he had and got the certificate! Then I begged him AGAIN to repair and safety the "hippy van". Told him if I had to get down on my knees to beg, he would have to help me up! I will check tomorrow and the next day, if necessary. Looking for an opportunity to confer with his son, or try for a different mechanic in future.

Then went to try for car insurance. Peter took in in hand and said he will call me. I really want to have all my ducks in a row so I only have to wait in line once to get all done at Service Ontario - "Service" being bit of an misuse of the word.

Feeling that was in good hands, I stopped in at a friend's computer workshop to borrow a small enough screwdriver to change the RAM. She was very sweet but things did not go well and I left after about an hour, having had a visit but no RAM at all now.

Did a few other minor things, looked for a small screwdriver at the hardware store after a conference with #1 son. Came home and worked on trying and trying and... to get the RAM seated, with Troy on the phone in WA. Finally told him I needed a break. Had a bite to eat and tried again. Finally got the old RAM seated and may be able to do the new one later but I needed to get through the emails and do some research while I have a working computer!

The grass here is getting close to hay. I may find the right energy to sharpen the scythe tomorrow. Today it was wet from last night's downpour.

SRS! No end to what we can do with some ingenuity and determination. Congratulations on the door job!