The End of Liberty

Jan
30

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Ross backed down the icy driveway this morning headed for Norfolk. Not sure when he’ll be back! He took some venison with him, and his brand new West Virginia driver’s license. He’s working on re-establishing his residency here since he intends to come back to West Virginia when his enlistment ends in a little over two years. He joined the Navy’s nuclear program for six years. Hard to believe he is almost four years in already, and his eye is on the future. He’s planning to start college classes soon. He wants to get a degree in electrical engineering. Weston is majoring in computer engineering, and Morgan is set on industrial engineering. I have no idea how I gave birth to three engineers. Their father is an electrical engineer, so this must be his fault. When they’re all together, they start talking about math and I just want to poke a stick in my eye.

In other news, things should start melting around here today. The temperatures should be above freezing this afternoon, maybe as high as 40! By this weekend, it will be in the 50s! I don’t think this will last long, but if all the snow melts, I will be a happy camper. I did get the pipes unfrozen in the house yesterday with the help of a borrowed heater set outside near the opening to the crawl space under the house. Everyone was so excited when water started running. But then water started running in the cellar–from a broken pipe. I shut the water off at the main. Ross came up with some “nuclear-grade” duct tape. He said he wasn’t making that up. “They patched a submarine with it once and nobody died,” he said. So he tried to patch the pipe with it, but it didn’t work. I guess broken pipes are more difficult to fix than submarines. My neighbor will be over this afternoon to fix the broken pipe and I will finally be able to turn water back on in the house. I’m planning to pick up a little space heater for the cellar to put an end to this trouble every time it freezes.

Meanwhile, I’ve been a bit overwhelmed carrying buckets of water (which we had to go get at a neighbor’s house) to the animals. The creeks are starting to thaw today. I’m tired!





Comments

  1. NancyL says:

    You wouldn’t believe the school and government offices, not to mention the bus service, here in Savannah. And we didn’t even have any snow. They were worried about possible ice. I just had to laugh, having moved here from Iowa!

    Nancy in Savannah

  2. NancyL says:

    I forgot to include the word “closings”!

  3. holstein woman says:

    Suzanne, I am so sorry you have had to go through that. I have gone through it and it is miserable. Mine was with a disabled husband who was for the most part unable to do anything. GOD BLESS YOU.

  4. Pat says:

    Suzanne, I do know how you feel about that math and poking yourself in the eye with a sharp stick. When my husband (chemical engineer) starts with his “ize” words (maximize, minimize, optimize–all good engineer terms), my eyes roll back in my head. And then come the math calculations. But here’s the thing: engineering school doesn’t typically emphasize WRITING courses! Engineers do a great deal of writing–reports, presentations, white papers. Guess who all those engineers are going to turn to. YOU!!! You gave birth to them, and they will bow at your knee. Give ’em time. I’ve been reading documents for almost 25 years; verbs and commas can be elusive creatures to math people. Good luck on the thawing and the pipes. Won’t be long until you’ve outlasted yet another winter!
    from Eastern NC

  5. Kathi says:

    When he gets ready for school, even though he will get (I hope) help paying for school because of his service, there are some engineering scholarships he should apply for. Sometimes people just don’t take the time to apply, so the money has nowhere to go. PM me when you’re ready (if he wants) details.

  6. lattelady says:

    My son is a mech. engineer. Works on landing gear for Boeing. I swear his native tongue is ‘math’. Mt eyes cross when he gets going,
    >Pat. You are right in re the writing. He does okay, but if it has to be by hand, his printing looks like typing. Tiny and precise.
    Suzanne, so glad you are finally thawing out. Before long the new calf will be here, grass will be up, and you will have chubby horses to ride. :snoopy:

  7. Joell says:

    :happyflower:
    I cant beleive it has been 4 years, goodness how time flies.It seems like just a short time ago when you has a post with Ross and a recruter.
    Ross is going into a great field, my Step-son is also an engineer, and now is manager of one of a very large chemical company.

  8. Leah says:

    :snowman: You do have a lot of animals to water. My cat just shoves her bowl into the middle of the hall if she wants/needs more food or water before I get to it. Plus she whines a lot. I thought I was gonna die from cold when I had to go to work @ 5am and it was in the teens with the windchill below 0 Tues. This too shall pass! :sun2:

  9. zteagirl71 says:

    “When they’re all together, they start talking about math and I just want to poke a stick in my eye.” 😆 When my sister starts talking “accounting” to me, I’m pretty sure my eyes glaze over and I start thinking about recipes, it’s a defense mechanism of mine.

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