Here and There Blog

In SF for a Doctor Who event. Hanging out in line waiting for it to start.

2:00 pm Complete. One side vent had deteriorated so much in the attic it was like having an open door invitation. I'm now a single household resident once again! 11:09 am. The bad is out and now the crevice and entry barring stuff is flying in via tube. Haz-Mat suits are off so I guess that's a good sign.   10:30 am. Nice, big, obvious Terminix trucks pulled up this morning for the de-ratting and de-birding of the attic. The guys are in full white haz-mat gear and wearing pink oxygen masks.  Think Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Tons of plastic wrap is on the upstairs area and constant movement is going on in the attic as the crap is rolled up and away and death to rodents begins. There is no word for it. Strange, relief, wishing I wasn't here, and  what's that smell? Yeah. So for all future homes that I ever plan to buy, a full attic inspection will be part of the process and upon purchase, a full rodent proof treatment will go in.

Another one. The colors are fading and the rain is coming.

Friday night sunset or 5 minutes past. Still it was a good one and a perfect end to the week. Weekend plans include more ice plant and weed pulling and possibly a movie. Not exciting but that's okay. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

What a great day to be at the beach!

After today's inspection it appears the attic has gone in one year from "the cleanest I've ever seen" to "not good." I get the birds, they can fly in any gap but the rats have been a mystery. I cut down the trees and there are not a lot of places for climbing. I forgot about the dish network cable that's installed but has never been used. Ever. That cable is the rat conduit to the hole in the attic. I don't mess with stuff like this. The gopher, that's annoying but not a house invasion. On Monday the attic is getting cleaned, trapped, sprayed, holes sealed, new insulation, lots of steel wool and other stuff, all exterior vents covered up, and pest proofed as much as possible. How much you wonder? $3200. To keep out pests, a good investment!

I drove one of the canyon roads to Malibu  Beach and got there close to sunset. The windy road was of the car sick kind and I won't do it again but once was kind of neat. Looking down from the top of the canyon. Too bad it wasn't a clear day.

Annual termite inspection going on right now. Good news is, no termite activity. Bad news, rats and birds have set up house in the attic. Annually one or two things require home maintenance each year. One  down, waiting on the next one.

I went out on the Manhattan Beach Pier for the first time ever. Each time I have to pick up someone at LAX and take them around for work, I try and fit in a different sight seeing stop so it doesn't get boring for me. A Sunday morning arrival was perfect to find parking at an otherwise crowded place. It's  a short but pleasant walk down the pier.

The game begins again. The balances are all at zero. Who to keep and who to discard? United is still a keeper. 100,000 miles to go. American, that can go. Paying $500 to keep the lowly silver status isn't worth it today. It might be in the summer when I'm flying in coach and not in the pre-check security line but that's the gamble. Hotels locked in for one more year but keeping top status on 6 major chains is too much. Bye to Days Inn (note to self, cash in those points) and downgraded on Holiday Inn. Such is the travel life. Starting Monday I lock in the first 5 hotel nights of the year to get going again. 2015 looks to be a repeat of 2014. Hotel heavy, flight light. All flights crammed in the last 10 weeks of the year. As soon as I have my January schedule worked out then I'll book some flights. Must keep in mind that Wichita was one of the trips that ensured my United 1K renewal. Don't discount the weekenders. My own bed at home is feeling more and more comfo...