I Need a Date!

How hard is it to get a date around here? Not having a date is the only thing that's holding me up right now. Just one, measly date. ONE!

Of course, the date I need isn't the one you're thinking of. It's the date my little parcel of land was created on. That's it. If it's before August 31, 1991, the property's not subject to a bunch of annoying CDF fire regulations regarding water storage. I'll probably comply anyway because it's in my best interest to make it easy to splash some water on a burning house....

But, sheesh! Give me one simple date!!!

Poo Pumped Perpendicularly?

Well, it's been about a week since the Septic guy gave a bid for both the septic and some surprising bulldozing and grading I didn't really realize I would have to have done. And the work is progressing quite nicely on that front. As you can see in the picture, I got a new place to stick the house (that's that white rectangle-like thing-a-ma-bob) and some other work on the immediate homesite I wanted but didn't know I was going to get. (That's the second picture.)

And here's that second picture. The driveway is where it says, uh, "driveway" in the picture. The leech line for the septic system is there at the top of the hill (can poo be pumped uphill???) and that nice gentle wide swath of dirt is the bit of work I was hoping could be done but didn't really think it would be. So, aside from living downhill of my poo, I'm pretty happy with all this.

(Ok, ok... The poo isn't really going to be pumped up to the top of the hill and I'm not going to be living downhill of my poo. What will happen is the leech line takes water from the top of the septic tank and disperses it over 180 feet of pipe buried in the soil. The poo and other assorted solid, uh, waste settles to the bottom of the septic tank and is digested by bacteria and such.)

And here I am lookin' growly sittin' in the compactor that's rolling around compacting dirt.

Night Frog

Picture of one of my frogs at night.

Big whoop...

That picture was taken with only the 3-led solar light for illumination. Shutter speed was about 1.6 seconds at f-stop 3.5 (I think). I had to do color correction since the overall lighting was greenish and had to use curves to bring out more detail in the mid-tones.

Big whoop x 2...

Froggers!!

Nothin' much to say. Just two pictures of two different frogs in my little pond thing in the back yard. I think I'll be movin' them with me up to the hill. (If that actually ever gets ready for a resident... Sheesh! Still is taking forever.....

They're slightly blurry because I had to take the pictures through the screening around the back porch so the little amphibians wouldn't see me and }plop{ right into the water the second I got within range. But, on the other hand, the screen does lend a nice four-pointed star effect to the highlights...

The only other times I've been able to get closer to the frogs than this is at night with the solar lights on and me creeping up on the frogs from behind the light.

Fear and Trembling in Sweden

Ok, this doesn't really have anything to do with Sweden. It just sounded good in the title.

I've been visiting the HIV/AIDS chat room over on Yahoo! (Yeah, the same Yahoo! with the Crazy Woman who believes in ghosts). There are a ton of sadly underinformed people running around in absolute terror of HIV. They think that every little bump or red mark is a sign of having HIV when it simply isn't so. They're filled with such abject fear that every little thing that might go wrong--a cough, an itchy spot--is a sign that they're infected with HIV.

Why has HIV education gotten to this point? Yes, HIV infection is an awful disease but what went wrong so that everybody is terrified that a little drop of spit on their knee is going to give them HIV?

It truly saddens me that so many people who are at risk for HIV don't know the basics of transmission, infection, and progression of the infection. But I don't know what to do about it. More accurate information in High School health classes? I don't know; I haven't been in a high school health class for nearly 20 years. More billboards? Probably wouldn't work. I just don't know....

Water Tanks, and still more dirt...

Despite my last post and things really seeming like they're going at a snail's pace, some things are actually moving along. Last week, we got both the major work of the well and pump done and a large amount of bulldozing done. (Here's a tip to future bulldozers: Don't use a 20hp 'dozer; it'll be more trouble than it's worth. Sheesh!)

So, you remember that picture I posted earlier with the supposed lines of the house drawn on it? Obviously, that isn't where its going anymore... We've had to bulldoze a bunch of dirt out of the way and rotate the home site about 90 degrees. These two pictures show before and after the crappy 20hp 'dozer did most of it's pitiful whining and pushing of dirt. (There was still about 3 hours of work done the next day; I forgot to take a picture of it...)

The chair sittin' in the second picture is where I supervised from for a good two hours. Supervisin's hard work! Man, I got so thirsty sittin' there! Good thing I drank all the water before the guy on the 'dozer got to it...

Oh, and here are the well, the 2,500 gallon water tank and stuff put in by the cute, unfriendly guy from the pump company.

Like Frozen Molassas in the Heat of Summer

This whole house and property thing seems to be going so.....damn.....slow.... Seems like everything is just creeping along at the pace of a snail about to die. The septic guy doesn't seem very organized and seems to drag his feet. And, I need this guy to tell me where the septic tank is going so I can stick its location on the site map so I can get the site map to the CDF (California Department of Forestry) so they can approve the locations of all the planned buildings so they can get their firetrucks in and out so I can get the CDF-approved site plan to the county so I can get a building permit to even get a dang house on the property.

I don't have the grand deed so I can't even prove that the land is mine even though it was recorded at the beginning of May.

Haven't heard back from PG&E about the electrical service application I sent them about two weeks ago; not even "Thanks, we'll get back to you...."

I need to have the building permit by July 10 'cause the house is going in on (or around) July 18.

Just seems like everything is so damn slow... It's frustrating... (I need to go chat with crazy ghost people again... That'll get my mind off it!) ;{)

Yahoo!! Crazy people.....

I guess nobody has a monopoly on crazy people. This is from an IM I got while over on Yahoo!Messenger... Sorry it's so damn long, but it's all purty funny to me....

{Crazy Woman}: are you there

{Me}: Sorta.

{Crazy Woman}: i need to ask you something

{Me}: Ok.

{Crazy Woman}: i have a friend that you weren't being nice to

{Crazy Woman}: {deluded Yahoo! Member who thinks she’s taken pictures of the paranormal}

{Crazy Woman}: you were talking bad about her pics

{Crazy Woman}: they are great pics

{Me}: I actually think I've been rather nice to her. I was offering my opinions about what the pictures were actually of.

{Crazy Woman}: i've seen alot of pics in my time and non of them are that good

{Crazy Woman}: you don't need to give her tips

{Crazy Woman}: she doesn't need them

{Me}: And offered suggestions on how to avoid having my explanations as a possiblity....

{Crazy Woman}: who are you to tell her how to take pics

{Crazy Woman}: and i know what you are doing right now

{Me}: Frankly, someone who knows how to take pictures and can spot camera shake when I see it.

{Crazy Woman}: you are sending her a pics aren't you

{Crazy Woman}: it's not

{Crazy Woman}: how old are you

{Me}: Yes. It is. Most of the "energy" pictures are simply a shaking camera.

{Me}: What difference does it make how old I am?

{Crazy Woman}: i just want to know

{Crazy Woman}: what is the harm in that

{Me}: I'm 37.

{Crazy Woman}: are you a photographer

{Crazy Woman}: are you there

{Me}: Yes, and yes.

{Me}: Though, not professional. But that's probably because I've never submitted anything I've taken to be purchased.

{Crazy Woman}: how do you know that {fairly nice if not deluded Yahoo! Member} isn't a photographer

{Crazy Woman}: do you know how many paranormal pics i have seen

{Crazy Woman}: i have seen a lot

{Me}: For one, she doesn't have a tripod. Two, she doesn't seem to recognize camera shake when she sees it.

{Crazy Woman}: and {pictures of dust mites and other airborne particulate matter taken by Deluded Yahoo! Member} are really good

{Crazy Woman}: i know what i am looking at

{Me}: Most paranormal pictures are nothing more than reflected dust (or other particles) from a flash, camera shake and overactive imaginations.

{Crazy Woman}: these aren't

{Me}: Yes. They are.

{Crazy Woman}: i know paranormal pics when i see them

{Me}: No, you don't.

{Crazy Woman}: plus i'm psycic

{Me}: No, you're not.

{Crazy Woman}: so yeah i do know

{Me}: If you're psychic, you would have known how old I am.

{Crazy Woman}: i can tell when things are real and not

{Me}: (Not to mention it's in the tiny bit of information in my profile.)

{Me}: No, you can't.

{Crazy Woman}: i can's sense anything about you because you are closed up

{Crazy Woman}: i haven't checked your profile

{Me}: How do you know I'm closed up?

{Crazy Woman}: i can sense that

{Crazy Woman}: you are hard on ppl aren't you

{Crazy Woman}: oh wait you wouldn't know

{Crazy Woman}: you are closed up

{Me}: But you just said you can't sense anything about me...

{Crazy Woman}: i can sense enough

{Crazy Woman}: you got something to say about that

{Me}: You can sense enough to not sense anything? Do you realize you're not making any sense?

{Crazy Woman}: to you

{Crazy Woman}: i make lots of sense to others

{Me}: No. To anybody with any sense of normality and rational thought.

{Crazy Woman}: what i sense is that there is a wall up

{Me}: Oh, please....

{Crazy Woman}: what is normal

{Crazy Woman}: who are you to say anything to {rather nice Deluded Yahoo! Member who, unfortunately, has a Crazy Woman for a friend} or me about what we do

{Me}: Who are you to say that I have a "wall" up?

{Crazy Woman}: i can feel it

{Crazy Woman}: i'm a psycic

{Me}: I can feel that you're just a moron.

{Crazy Woman}: you're not psycic

{Crazy Woman}: i am

{Me}: You are not a psychic. If you think you are, you're just fooling yourself.

{Crazy Woman}: you are a scared man

{Me}: Maybe I *am* a psychic and I'm battling you on a psychic level because I'm more powerful than you are...

{Crazy Woman}: yeah right

{Me}: Did you "sense" that I'm scared?

{Crazy Woman}: no

{Crazy Woman}: it's very obvious

{Me}: So I told you that I was scared?

{Crazy Woman}: no

{Me}: Obvious to whom???

{Crazy Woman}: me and {rather pleasant deluded Yahoo! Member with crappy camera skills}

{Crazy Woman}: and i'm sure everyone you talked to

{Me}: Oh, and now you know about all my contacts. Wow! You *are* psychic.... (Even though you can't spell it.)

{Crazy Woman}: you just leave my friend along

{Crazy Woman}: whatever

{Me}: I'll do what I want with and to whom I want.

{Crazy Woman}: leave my friend alone

{Crazy Woman}: you're gonna want to leave my friend alone

{Me}: You gonna send a psychic ball of energy at me?

{Crazy Woman}: you never know

{Crazy Woman}: just leave her alone

{Me}: And your friend doesn't seem to mind my talking to her nearly as much as you do...

{Me}: You ain't gonna send a psychic ball of energy because psychic balls of energy don't exist.

{Crazy Woman}: i don't like you

{Me}: Then why did you IM me?

{Crazy Woman}: to tell you not to be mean to {Unfortunately friend-challenged Yahoo! Member} and give her tips she doesn't need

{Crazy Woman}: bye

{Me}: She needs the tips to help her avoid having her pictures explained away the way I explained them away.

{Crazy Woman}: did she ask for the "tips"

{Me}: If you don't want your friend to improve, what kind of friend are *you*?

{Crazy Woman}: i am the type of friend that will stand up for her friends

{Me}: No, she didn't. But I easily explained away the pictures, and told her of some ways she can help avoid having similar explanations.

{Crazy Woman}: did she say thanks

{Crazy Woman}: or did she tell you that the pics were real paranormal pics

{Me}: You're the type of friend who doesn't seem to really know her friends... 'Cause she seems interested in bettering her self...

{Crazy Woman}: she didn't say that to me

{Me}: "Real paranormal" pictures don't exist because the paranormal is absurd.

{Crazy Woman}: have you ever seen a ghost

{Crazy Woman}: or felt one

{Crazy Woman}: i've seen things, i've felt things

{Me}: So your friend is two-faced??? Showing me one thing (Pleasantness) and telling you others??

{Me}: You *are* a horrible friend.

{Crazy Woman}: i've seen an orb with my own two eyes

{Crazy Woman}: no i'm not

{Me}: No. I've never seen a ghost because ghosts don't exist.

{Me}: Yes you are.

{Crazy Woman}: ghosts exist

{Crazy Woman}: i know this

{Me}: No, you don't.

{Crazy Woman}: you can't give up can you

{Me}: You *THINK* you know it. But, since they don't, you can't.

{Me}: What makes you think ghosts are real?

{Me}: Oh, psychic one....

{Crazy Woman}: i've seen them

{Me}: You saw something that you couldn't explain any easier than saying it was ghost. That's what really happened.

{Crazy Woman}: i'll tell you exactly what i saw

{Me}: We *want* to believe there is something after this life on earth, but there isn't. We want to believe that our dead loved ones can contact us after they died (because we feel so much grief at their passing) but they don't.

{Crazy Woman}: i was looking at the driveway of the trailer park i live in and i saw an orangish red ball of light hovering about 3 feet above the ground

{Crazy Woman}: there were no cars or anything like that

{Me}: You live in a trailer park? If you were really psychic, why don't you play the lottery and win and get out???

{Crazy Woman}: i don't use my gift for myself

{Crazy Woman}: it's not what it's there for

{Me}: Of course not...

{Crazy Woman}: and living in a trailer park isn't bad

{Me}: Ok, here's what I think is going on with you. You *know* this whole ghost/psychic thing is a complete sham but you still want your friend to believe in it. So, you're absolutely *terrified* that I'm giving her the tools to realize that it's all not real.... And you'll have lost another person to reality and rational thought....

{Crazy Woman}: that's not true

{Crazy Woman}: and you're acting like a shrink

{Crazy Woman}: do you have a degree

{Crazy Woman}: i doubt it

{Me}: The louder you say it isn't true, the more true it becomes...

{Crazy Woman}: well how about this i'll say goodbye and never talk to you again, you think you're so smart talking like you know it all, when you really don't, sorry but i am one person you will not fool

{Me}: Because you've already realized that this whole Ghost thing is a sham and a way to make money.

{Me}: Oh, since you don't use your psychic gift for yourself, are your readings all free?

{Crazy Woman}: i don't make money off from it

{Crazy Woman}: and you can't give up

{Me}: So, they *are* free?

{Crazy Woman}: you must be scared of the other world

{Me}: You'll give a reading to anybody who asks for it for no money?

{Crazy Woman}: you think you know it all when in reality you know nothing

{Crazy Woman}: i don't do readings

{Crazy Woman}: and if i did i would charge

{Me}: There is no "other world". The "other world" is simply a myth that we've created based on information we, as a species, couldn't process correctly.

{Me}: If you don't do readings how do you know you're psychic?

{Crazy Woman}: i get dreams that come true

{Crazy Woman}: i am empathic

{Crazy Woman}: i feel what others are feeling

{Me}: Everybody has dreams that they think come true.

{Crazy Woman}: they come true

{Me}: Empathy is not psychic.

{Crazy Woman}: sure it is

{Me}: No, you *THINK* your dreams come true.... It's the feeling of de ja vu.

{Crazy Woman}: i know what ppl are feeling cause i feel it

{Crazy Woman}: i thought i said bye

{Crazy Woman}: freak

{Me}: Do you ask them if they're feeling something that you think they're feeling"?

{Me}: How often are you right?

{Crazy Woman}: 95%

{Me}: How often are you wrong?

{Crazy Woman}: 5%

{Me}: You're not psychic; you're just good at guessing what other people are feeling.

{Crazy Woman}: i don't ask them i tell them

{Crazy Woman}: then why do i feel what they are feeling

{Crazy Woman}: why can i feel it so deep it's like my own but i haven't been feeling that

{Crazy Woman}: until they came around

{Me}: Oh. So you're an agressive "psychic" who doesn't do readings who tells people what they're feeling (heedless of whether or not you're right or wrong....) You must be a blast at parties and bar mitzvahs....

{Crazy Woman}: ppl love me

{Crazy Woman}: now i'm saying bye

{Me}: Yeah, right. Do a scientific study to prove your claims then come back and talk to me. You have nothing but anecdotal evidence.

{Crazy Woman}: fine i will

{Crazy Woman}: and i'll have a lot

{Crazy Woman}: bye

{Me}: I thought you were leaving.

{Me}: No, you won't have any because your "gift" doesn't exist and can't be proven.

{Crazy Woman}: bye

{Me}: Well, go already!

{Crazy Woman}: bye

{Me}: Pychic Girl who can't "empathize" to get the lottery numbers....

{Crazy Woman}: bye

{Me}: Psychic Girl who doesn't use her "gift" for herself. (How can you empathize with yourself???)

{Crazy Woman}: it's not for me

{Crazy Woman}: bye

{Me}: Of course not; because no one can empathize with themself.

{Me}: You're just a deluded trailerpark trash woman who thinks she knows stuff that she doesn't....

{Crazy Woman}: DON'T FUCKING CALL ME TRAILERPARK TRASH YOU NO GOOD FREAK OF NATURE

{Me}: Ooh! I think I hit a nerve with the trailer trash!!!

{Me}: I think you protest too much....

Look at me! Look at ME!!!!

Well! This was fun... In preparing to high tail it outta town here, I went through my crap for a yard sale and found a picture of me I've been trying to find for some time. And here it is.

Yep. That's me... Sorta. Obviously, it's a distorted image and it's from at least 1995. It's from Road Rash, a computer game made by Electronic Arts. No, I didn't get paid; I was employed by them at the time. And, yes, that's a chain in my headband. Yes, it hurt. Yes, that's a real wrench. No, you wouldn't use it on a motorcycle.

Oh, those Crazy Mormons!

As part of the Discovery Channel's 100 Greatest American program, there is a message board over on AOL. And, well, for various reasons, I only have a strong opinion on one of the 100; Joseph Smith. I posted in their blog:

Joseph Smith does not deserve to be in the same ranks as most of the other nominees; he was a charlatin, a polygomist, mysogynistic, and a complete sham. If you, like other faithful LDS members, believe otherwise, I suggest you look into the Kinderhook Plates, the Pearl of Great Price's original papyrus source, the "types" of eyes (spiritual) which which some Book of Mormon "witnesses" say they saw the plates; the ages and marital status of *all* of the woman Smith practiced Polygamy/polyandry with; etc. The man may have started a religion but he is no "greater" than those who started the Lutherans, Protestants, Buddahists, Gnostics, etc.

In my opinion, a fairly reasonable and measured response. I got a few little responses back that didn't bear responding to.

Then, on the message board, I got this message written to me by some guy named "gatorkoonce". (I've changed my name to protect my innocence... :) ) (Hell, this is my blog, I can do whatever the hell I want!)

{Bryan}, Do you stand for anything except trying to be a rabblerouser? I guess it makes you feel good to tell people they are not as smart as you. I'll hand it to you, you sure have a good library of Church History. Did you come up with that all by yourself? Doubtful! Are you so insecure with who you are that you lash out at those who are secure? You have used this messageboard forum as your anti-Mormon bully pulpit. But then again, it is easy to do as you are locked away in the privacy of you home, office, or where-ever. Bullies are the most insecure people on Earth. There must be some underlying issues that cause you to be so extremely prejudiced against anything Mormon. There is nothing you can say to sway most people away from the Church. I recognized your intentions in your first post. It's an old practice to take excerpts out of written history and use them completely out of context and demonize someone. I could do the same thing with any of the most honorable men in the world that has a written history. I would like all people to be members of this Church, but I do not browbeat them into getting baptized. Are the standards this Church teach too high for you. A person with character and integrity does not need to make others feel less important in a quest toward self-aggrandizement. If the character you portray in your posts is the character you portray in other aspects of your life, you are truly an unhappy person. I pity you.

Well, although that's completely Off-Topic for the message board, I responded:

(First rule of Message Boards: Do not feed the trolls.... Well, here I go feeding the troll......)



Gator, let me take your post point by point...


gatorkoonce wrote:
[[{Bryan}, Do you stand for anything except trying to be a rabblerouser?]]

Yes, actually, I stand for the truth. As I've said a couple times, the only thing truth can damage are lies, falsehood, and deceit. (All of which are practiced in varying degrees and various times by the leadership of the Church.)

Further, the truth is much easier to find when you stop assuming you already have it.


[[I'll hand it to you, you sure have a good library of Church History. Did you come up with that all by yourself? Doubtful!]]

You're correct. I didn't "come up with" it all by myself. But that doesn't negate the basic truths behind the statements.


[[Are you so insecure with who you are that you lash out at those who are secure?]]

Actually, Gator, you're dead wrong here. I'm actually quite secure in who I am.


[[You have used this messageboard forum as your anti-Mormon bully pulpit.]]

No more so than those who have used it as their pro-Mormon pulpit.


[[There must be some underlying issues that cause you to be so extremely prejudiced against anything Mormon.]]

Yes, actually, there is an underlying issue. However, it isn't with me. It's with the Church and it's attidude toward itself and it's own members and its own teachings.


[[There is nothing you can say to sway most people away from the Church.]]

The church's own histories do a fine job all by themselves.


[[I recognized your intentions in your first post. It's an old practice to take excerpts out of written history and use them completely out of context and demonize someone.]]

Something tells me you haven't done your own due diligence and looked for yourself. But no matter, the Church likes its members to believe only what it told them during General Conference and forget *all* about the past.


[[I would like all people to be members of this Church, but I do not browbeat them into getting baptized.]]

Yeah, that's for the missionaries and their mission presidents to do. Do you realize there are plenty of stories of deceit and pressuring for numbers out in the mission field?


[[Are the standards this Church teach too high for you.]]

Ya know, it's funny you mention something like that. 'Specially since you started out your post with an admonition to me about making myself feel good. Seems like you've just done the same thing in inferring that I'm "less than worthy" or "less worthy" than you are. (And, frankly, that's an attidude that premeates the entire chruch membership. When was the last time you saw the spirits of those you were doing temple work for in the temple? Never? Oh, you must not be worthy enough.)

But, regardless, the standards the church teaches are fine. It's the church behind the facade that is the problem.


[[A person with character and integrity does not need to make others feel less important in a quest toward self-aggrandizement.]]

First off, I can't make anyone *feel* anything. If someone feels less important after something I said, that's not my fault. Your emotions are your fault.

Again, you earlier implied that I'm not up to the standards that you try to live. And, again, that's exactly what you imply I'm doing with this statement.


[[If the character you portray in your posts is the character you portray in other aspects of your life, you are truly an unhappy person. I pity you.]]

Actually, I'm quite happy. I don't spend three boring hours a week dressed up in a suit and tie listening to the same drivel every Sunday. I don't part with 10% of my income never to see it again and never to have an accounting of where it goes. I don't take part in secret/sacred unchanging ceremonies that change. I don't waste my time in pointless "callings". I don't feel guilty watching an Acadamy-Award winning R-rated movie.

Further, I am happy living my life well. I don't smoke, I don't drink to excess, I help others in need (provided I have the means).

Gator, you might be surprised that someone who isn't a member of the Church can be happy and productive; but I am. And there are others out there just like me who are happy, productive, and joyful. Your church does not have a monopoly on pleasantness.

You might also be surprised to know that, world wide, your church is stastically insignificant. (Less than two-tenths of one person of the world population.) Yeah, that 12 million number the GAs throw around so much sounds impressive, but it isn't.

And, since we've gotten off the topic of the message board, I suggest that any further conversations you wish to have with me go into Email.

I'm anxious to find out what response I get, if any, and if he takes it to Email like he should.

Oh look, Martha! Homosexuals!!!!

We had our little Gay Parade-lette and Festival-esque gathering today here in town. While bigger than years past, it was still just as dismal. Just the same ol' fags you see in the bars doing the same old thing only this time in the middle of the day in the sunlight. They even had a stupid little logo that seemed to have been cranked out in about 5 minutes. Yeah, they had a contest and I could have entered my (in my opinion) much better design but I didn't get it even close to finished in time. Oh, well!

Here's their logo:



And here's mine (in a state of half-completed-ness....)



The theme was "Come Out, Come Out From Wherever You Are". I don't think the chosen logo has anything to do with the theme. But, you be the judge as to which one's better

On the other hand, it is nice to have a little gay community 'round here. Once I get to moved up in the hills, there are gonna be quite a bit fewer gay folks around.

And, I also saw some nice folks that I hadn't seen for a little while; heckled some, poked others. It was a nice 30 minute visit.

Oh, and I got the house ordered today for the property.

Dirt, dirt and more dirt...

Turns out the possible deal breaker isn't so bad afterall. (Didn't think it would be.) Just a little bit of bulldozing and everything will be fine.

Those lines on the ground? They're just suggestions....

Whoops! Hit a fairly large snag with the House on the Hill today. Ok, it may be enough to derail the entire deal of putting a house on that beautiful property. (I don't think that will happen, but it could.)

Turns out my little hand drawn Site Plan wasn't "Fireman Friendly". Spoke with a very kind and understanding and helpful battalion chief for the California Department of Forestry. Looks like I need to enlarge a portion of the drive way to a width of 20' for at least 30' in length (along with a 25' long approach on either side. With the drive way sittin' there along the side of the hill and the rock beneath the dirt so close to the surface that's kinda difficult to get. Unless, of course, dynamite is used. (Which might be fun in its own right...)

Also had to rethink the orientation of the house on the building pad to allow for CDF requirements to allow enough space for a fire truck to turn around. We jus' spun the house 90 degrees and shoved it back onto the hill. Problem solved! (Still got some bulldozing to do, though.)

This picture shows where the house used to be planned.



Got the first guts of the well pump put in today, too. That's what these pictures are of. First, the pump truck. It's the truck with the thing on the back. And second, the bear-ish pump guys who came in the pump truck to put the pump in the well. The nearly 1,000' deep well.