26 September 2013

I have been remiss in my communication with you, it has been about 6 weeks since I last wrote... we have been busy and we have accomplished a lot.  I am still working long hours and haven't taken a day off since I can't remember.  It was hot for a couple of weeks and I don't tolerate the heat very well and they were slow days.  Last week I had the shingles...  This week I feel great!!  Horray!!

Since last I wrote we went to the bank and requested a 90 day extension for the project - this moves completion to the end of October and closing sometime in November.  We are hoping we can have everything done the middle of October.

The Appraiser came out last month and we gave him a tour.  We had a good conversation about the appraisal process and what needs to be completed before the house can be financed on the secondary market... I think we are doing well.  I am going to take a day off!!!

While Sam was here he completed the installation of the walking surface on the deck.  The weather has been a bit hot during the day to enjoy the deck but toward evening, when the day begins to cool, Carol and I enjoy a drink on the deck.

Mark Strege was here for a couple of weeks installing the T1-11 siding.  Mark completed the siding on the master bedroom and hallway and we completed the foam and siding on the east end of the great room late last week.

For the past couple of days Carol and I have been working on installing shingles during the morning before the heat of the day really settles in and working on the sheetrock/plaster in the master bedroom during the hottest part of the day.  We completed the small roof on the hallway between the tower and the master bedroom, and the master bedroom roof and all but one corner of the big roof on the main part of the house... I was short one piece that had to be special ordered.  A couple of weeks ago Carol and I painted the exterior T1-11 siding,

Installed a timer on the water heater.  Our local electric supplier is changing its rate structure and has added demand charges for power.   The new timer will turn off the heater during peak times.

Luke Neff has been here for a week and a half installing trim.  Carol and I are installing the metal lap siding.

The days are getting shorter, the evening getting cooler, there is talk of rain tomorrow and snow tomorrow night... I am hoping not, but it is pretty typical for this time of the year.  The snow won't last but for a couple of days and then it will be in the 70s and 80s again.

We have deer in the yard almost every day.  We spooked one sleeping next to the garage on two occasions.  We also have 3 happy rabbits, Carol is feeding them carrots and lettuce.  The other day  this guy visit us....

Middle of the night

Saturday night, the 10th of August, around midnight, Sam woke us up, he was experiencing chest pains.  We took him to Custer Regional Hospital Emergency Room where he was seen by Dr. Joy Faulkenberg, one of our local physicians.

Dr. Joy initially thought that it was an anxiety attack as Sam didn't have any of the tradition markers for heart attack, but she remained skeptical.  When the morphine drip didn't cut the pain she started a drip of nitroglycerine and the pain stopped.  She told Sam, "I called the bus, you are going into the emergency room in Rapid City, you are having a cardiac related event."

Sam was cathed on Sunday morning and the Cardiac Physician installed a stent and balloon pump.  We called Sam's wife Deni and she and the kids arrived Sunday evening.  Sam was in ICU for several days.  The doctor's told Sam that the artery that feeds the heart was 100% blocked... it was the "widow maker".  Sam was transferred to the Cardiac Care Unit on Wednesday.  We saw him on Thursday evening and he looked much better.  He was released on Friday morning and Deni and the kids took him home.

To tell the truth I was scared shitless.  It didn't look very good for a while.  Carol and I were much relieved when we saw him on Thursday evening.

Sam, my dear friend, rest and get well soon!