HERE WE GO....floor refinishing.

PLASTIC: This morning we hung up plastic....the sheets are 10' by 25'...unfortunately they aren't long enough....there's about a one foot space at the bottom that isn't covered by plastic. It made me very nervous cos Gene was standing on the very top of our ladder...you know the one that says: "this is not a step".

THE MACHINE: Jeez....click on the picture to make it big. This machine is made of four different machines and looks to be about 50 to 100 years old. Just the cord alone scares me cos it has about 12 repairs with electrical wire. It takes 2 people to put on the sandpaper. It weighs at least 50 lbs. The guy in town who rented it to Gene says it's name is S.O.B.... Mr. Lee ( the guy who rented it to us) didn't take any money at all when we got it. He said the rental is $25. per day but will only charge us for the days we use it....keep it a week or two and use it whenever you have the energy. Ya know...this is Pecos...and the honor system and a handshake is as good as a contract. Mr. Lee's very large teenage son heaved the machine into the back of Gene's truck with little effort. Gene asked him :"Are you sure you don't wanna come over and help? How much is your Daddy paying you to work today?" He answered "Nuthin'." Gene said: "Well, I can beat that!" The kid politely declined.

THE BEGINNING: O.K.....The whole floor is vibrating. I'm sitting in the back of the house right now and the spoons in my spoon collection are rattling. Gee Wally, 'ol S.O.B. is heavy duty!

Mr. Lee said it'll take about TEN times of going over the floor with heavy grit sandpaper and then the same with a finer grit....that isn't even figuring in the possible staining and then varnish...we might not stain it if we like the raw color. Gene's doing his part right now and forever. I have a feeling that MY clean up part will last infinity!

UH-OH....after 10 minutes it's ominously quiet in there. Just went and checked and the sandpaper is shot already. Now Gene's cursing at S.O.B. cos he can't figure out how to open it and apply more sandpaper even though he watched Mr. Lee do it.

RADIO HOTLINE:
For Sale:
the "hedge hogs" have turned into "hodge hogs".
Wanted:
A ride to Roswell New Mexico.

This weekend is a big Diez Y Seis celebration.
There was small parade this morning and our big Catholic church sponsors a HUGE party with food and music that'll go into the wee hours.

Love, Mary