Problem Solving 101

So here we are, still parked under the Blue Moon in FRONT of the gate instead of behind it.  My little brain is fried like that egg on the hot Arizona concrete!  Maybe more scrambled than fried.

The first event of the day was getting Dan to the airport in Fresno for his flight home.  It's a good thing we started early, because I couldn't find a way to get on the freeway.  No kidding, this disaster of a highway improvement is just ridiculous.  It's been going on for what, two years now?  And they STILL have a big narrow mess that causes accidents every single day.  The speed limit is 45 ... people go 60 and above.

So we passed by the only three onramps in town, all of which were closed, as I headed out the surface streets through the worst part of town to the last known freeway entrance.  FINALLY ... we're on the freeway.

I took Dan places he had never been before.  That's a first because he knows every single California road like the back of his hand.  I dropped him off at the airport in plenty of time.  Luckily I didn't get a phone call saying I messed up the reservations.

Back home I was still faced with this problem.  I'm really good at solving math problems ... mechanical problems, not so much.  I considered shooting it ... at least I would have felt better.   

With my handy dandy wrench, I opened the cover to find this.  Good grief ... I had no idea it was so complicated.  As I sat on the ground, I grabbed a chunk of a bush the gardeners didn't pick up and began fishing for cobwebs.  It was completely covered.

I found a reset button, but that did nothing.  There's an on-off switch, but to be honest, I didn't want to get electrocuted.  Does anyone know if I turn the switch off ... or find and flip the breaker, will I be able to open the gate by hand?  

Until I get my rig BEHIND the gate, I won't sleep.  I'm just afraid someone will steal it, along with about $3,000 worth of quilting supplies and quilts.  Why can't things just be easy?

At least this was something I could do with confidence and a good outcome.  I hooked the battery cables back up in my Jeep.  It started right up.  Success!!

Back in the house, I'm one of those people that can't stand clutter.  This was driving me crazy ... and this was the LEAST of it!  I started moving stuff out to the garage for yard sale time, though there wasn't much room left.  Some things went here ... some went there.  Really, the thought of a yard sale makes my blood run cold.

I rearranged the living room furniture, trying to figure out a way to make it work with my desk.  It seems this room is much smaller than that same room in Arizona.  All my longarm plans for this area went out the window.  

So ... the whorehouse couch has a place to live.  I'm sure this will all be rearranged at some point, but at least it's in the right room.

I opened a few more boxes to find most of the longarm parts and pieces, and I'm thinking the dining room might just be the spot.  I've had this table for probably 30 years, with maybe only ten meals served on it.  It's in perfect shape and can be made two feet longer.  I think it's time some big family get some use out of it.  And so the yard sale begins to take shape.  That is NOT going to be fun.

There was one rather frantic moment when I couldn't find any of my checkbooks, all of which live in a small binder.  I finally found them under the sink in the rig.  Who put them there?????  I've a feeling that's going to be a recurring event for the next few days.

Still worried about the trailer, Cooper and I sat on the couch for awhile as he peered out the window.  Suddenly he began barking like crazy and wouldn't stop.  I finally got up to see who might be in the front yard.  

Ahhhhh ..... it's his nemesis Mr. Lizard.  He lays on the concrete and flips his tail, just to irritate the kid.

And so ends the second day of mass confusion.  I guarantee by the end of today, my garbage can will be full to the brim.  It's time to clean house while making dozens of phone calls to see if SOMEONE can fix this darn electric gate!!!