Science Monkey

Okay, let’s get this story out of the way.

As I alluded to the other day, Emma and I came home to a slightly damp house, not just because we live in Florida. We came home to a damp house because we live in Florida where the roofers sometimes forget to cover an open roof with a tarp for the daily rainstorm. Grr.

The reason behind the new roof is somewhat complex, but I’ll try to simplify it. As many of you know, we rent our house from Emma’s folks in a situation that works well for all interested parties. Unfortunately, due to the recent hurricanes and such, many insurance companies are not writing policies for rental properties, meaning that Emma’s dad had to find a new company to cover his mortgage insurance. Not a huge deal, but a pain. The new insurance company’s inspector seemed to be overall pleased with the condition of the house, other than the age of the roof. The roof — the solid, intact roof — was greater than 18 years old, so to get the insurance coverage it had to be replaced. In a way that seemed clever at the time, the re-roofing was scheduled for the week that we would be out of town.

So, while we’re enjoying ourselves with the llamas and the lack of oxygen up in the mountains, the old roof is torn off and the new roof was put on. Unfortunately — and I honestly don’t completely understand how this happened — the roofers left on Tuesday with the roof incomplete and uncovered. This being Florida, there was a torrential rainstorm that afternoon and the water poured into the house, drenching our kitchen and our bedroom. There are water stains on the ceiling, the tiles on the kitchen floor are peeling up and bubbling, and our mattress was completely soaked. Water also came into our bedroom closet, soaking most of Emma’s clothes and about half of mine.

Let me interject at this point that we have some amazing friends, including Angela, who was feeding the cats and chickens while we were away. She must have spent a full day’s work being our intermediary with the roofers, cleaning, and doing laundry at the house. She did such an amazing job that I can hardly even believe it. By the time we got home our mattress was dry and the bedsheets had been cleaned, so we could sleep in our own bed, and the vast, vast majority of the water was gone. Just amazing. I don’t think we can thank her enough.

Emma and I met with the roofing company’s owner and the project manager this morning, who have been really helpful in getting this resolved. We went through and showed him the damage and he promised to do whatever we needed to get it fixed. I think we want to replace the mattress — although it’s dry, it just feels odd — and we’re having a painting company come look at the ceiling. All in all, the damage wasn’t quite as bad as we had feared.

The next story will be more fun, I promise. Maybe some mountain climbing adventures?

Most of my pictures are now online for the Colorado Reunionfest. I’m still working on the descriptions and such, but they’re at least viewable. Hope you enjoy!

If you’re reading this, I suspect you know Emma and myself. I’ll try to simplify everybody’s relationships, but it’s a bit of a muddle, to be honest. Hold on tight.

Abby: Emma’s mom and essentially the nucleus around which this reunion formed.

Mike G.: Abby’s first husband.

Larry G.: Abby and Mike’s older son. His son, Max, wasn’t able to come.

Deborah G.: Abby and Mike’s older daughter. Her son, Ben Z., was there, but her husband, Mike Z., couldn’t come.

Jenny K.: Abby and Mike’s younger daughter. Arranged the entire event (Yay, Jenny!) and attended with her husband, Brad K., and son, Sam K.

David G.: Abby and Mike’s younger son. Was there with his wife, Lorrie G., and children, Joseph G. and Sarah G.

Vince L.: Abby’s current husband and Emma’s dad.

Teresa S.: Mike’s second wife. Attended with her wife, Susan J., and their twin children, Isabelle (Izzy) and James.

Billy and Eli D.. Two of Abby’s cousins.

Susan S.: Another of Abby’s cousins. Attended with her s.o., Stuart.

Priscilla C.: Abby’s sister. Attended with her daughter, (”the older”) Sarah.

Ellen: Mike’s sister.

Judy: Mike’s current wife.

Ben: David G.’s friend, who came to join us for the last few days. His partner, Bruce, came up for the last evening (with his tuba).

Barb: Jenny K.’s friend, who also came up for the last few days.

Is that it? I’m sure I’m forgetting somebody. Hmmm. At any rate, counting friends and children, that’s 30 people at the reunion, at varying times. I think we averaged about 25 at the llama ranch over any given night.

We’re home, to a slightly damp house. (Story to come later)

Pictures and adventurous tales to come later, but for now, bed.

I’m heading off tomorrow on vacation, to Emma’s family reunion in Colorado. We’re staying on a llama farm near Rocky Mountain National Park, which should be a lot of fun. I’m taking my laptop, but I don’t really expect to be able to internet. I’ve set up Twitter (@sciencemonkey) on my cell phone, so I’ll probably send out too many messages the first few days and then get tired of it.

I hope you all have a lovely week and I’ll type to you all when I get back. If you see her, don’t forget to wish the unbelievably awesome Sarah a happy birthday on the 14th! Col-o-rad-o, here I come, gonna be a llama farm bum…