[180] Screed City

[180]

08/11/2022 Thursday. Milk Crate. Stabbin' Cabin. Worlando Beach, Wyoming.

I pulled it off. Yesterday, I mean. I woke up at 5:30a. Drank some coffee. Looked at things. The evening before I had made lunch. For me and BroChuck. I don't know, I am trying something new. Maybe it will work. BroChuck, BroLuke, BroJade, BroBuck. I made two burritos. Packed some cookies and chips and peanuts and peaches. So that was ready for me. I made a coffee to go. Some iced water. I was out the door by 7a. I mean, I stopped by the crossroads to take a picture of some deer, so I was a little late. I got to TenSleep at 7:33a.

[Insert Deer Photo]

BroChuck was ready to go. We got in his truck, backed it up to the trailer with the wood on it. Then we were on the road to the mountain. The drive was nice. The canyon was pretty. When we turned at DeerHaven we rolled the windows down. The drive from there was slow but pleasant. We got to the cabin at 8:37. BroChuck parked the truck. Okay, it doesn't work, Brother Charley parked the truck. He had me unhook the trailer. I did it. He pulled the truck up a bit. Parked it. Got out. He opened the back. He has a gurney on wheels that pulls out. Where all his tools were. It is very clever. Nobody was at the cabin. We looked around. Then Brother Charley told me what we were going to do. The idea was to dig a ditch around the front of the porch. Put chicken wire around the thing. Then cover the chicken wire with good looking poplar. Why was the wood envied by all the other wood? Because it was good looking and poplar. I mean, that was the general idea. There were some other things too that I was not privy to. The owner showed up. He and his wife and Brother Charley went inside and had a talk-see about what needed to happen. I was not invited. I mean, I just stood outside looking at stuff. Listening to cows in the distance. And crows. Earlier Charley had told me the guy had declared war on the sagebrush for some reason. I mean, I looked at his fence line. How the sagebrush suddenly disappeared on his side of the fence. I mean, ranchers, they think they own the world. And it is there's to tame. I mean, whatever. That sort of mindset is how we got to where we are, so I do not appreciate it, but there is nothing I can do about it. So instead of getting pissed, I just found myself annoyed.

I mean, the guy seemed alright. He talked like an old acquaintance I had that has since died. By the name of Michael Anderson. I mean, where was he from again? California? The diction on this guy was nearly exact. I mean, hearing him talk in the distance I was sure that Michael was inside. But he was not. This guy was in his late 60's I think. His wife was younger, but not by much. She seemed kind of interesting. She had bright eyes. And told me about how she was mad at the dogs. Oh, they had two dogs with them. An old sheep dog and some puppy lab thing. Who were very ignored and seemed very thirsty. But the dogs were in trouble because they killed a chicken. And the wife had tried to tie the dead chicken around one of their necks in order to teach it a lesson? I didn't really follow. But she said that instead of the thing doing what she wanted it to do, there were instead just feathers everywhere and the chicken wouldn't stay tied on. I mean, eventually we started digging the trench. It was easy. The dirt was loose because Brother Charley had recently poured a foundation in order to move this cabin from town up to the mountain here. I mean, I got in trouble for shoveling too aggressively. Launching dirt everywhere. I said: "I am only doing it kind of." To which Brother Charley replied: "Well, don't do it at all." I mean, sorry for living.

After that Brother Charley got to work doing some stuff to get ready to put the chicken wire in. He gave me some linseed oil and a brush and a drop cloth and had me paint the columns that he had installed to make the roof over the porch. The job was easy and nice. There were hummingbirds flying around. I knocked my head on their feeders no fewer than ten times though. Each time as surprising as the last time. Brother Charley cut some things. Made other loud noises. Then he cut some chicken wire. Then he installed the chicken wire. Then we refilled the trench. I was done painting at this point. Then we cut the poplar and installed it. I mean, I would go into detail, but I am not going to. Eventually we were done and it was time for lunch. We ate in the truck. I had a burrito and some chips. Brother Charley had a tuna sandy and some chips and an apple. I ate a peach. When we were done with the fruit we threw the apple core and the peach pit over the fence and into the sagebrush on the other side. I mean, maybe one day there will be some apple trees and a peach tree growing there? I doubt it, but it is nice to think about.

After lunch we went back to work. We moved a refrigerator out of the cabin for some reason. Then a dryer. The dryer made sense. Who needs a dryer in a cabin? I mean, it would take like all your generator gas just to dry your panties. Then I got put in charge of removing the cover over the hot water heater. I mean, the idea was to replace that with a insta-heater. Which heats the water as it comes through. Instead of heating all the water before it comes out. I mean, this was a little bit of a fool's errand ATBMS, because I couldn't do it without Charley helping. Because of complicated reasons. I mean, I did undo a bunch of screws. I mean, the next thing I knew, Brother Charley was down under the cabin. In the crawl space. Cutting things and looking at things. We needed to drain the hot water heater, and Brother Charley had been smart when he plumbed the thing, in a way that kind of screwed us now. He had set it up so you could drain the entire system to "Winterize" the place, but he didn't set it up so you could only drain the hot water heater. I mean, we found a hose and hooked it up. Ran it down to the bottom of the hill. Opened the spigot. And nothing came out. He unhooked the pipes and still nothing came out. Then eventually a little water started trickling out. So we waited and waited and waited. It took forever. Eventually the owner and his wife went on a Mule ride with the dogs. Probably to bone in the woods. I guess. Maybe something else. I prefer to think that they went to bone. I mean, we kept waiting and it took forever.

Eventually we took the water heater down the hill and tipped it over on it's side and let the water flow. This wasn't really working, so we put it back upright and opened the spigot. This worked real good until the thing got clogged with silica. At that point there was nothing doing, so we dragged it back uphill and put it in the back of the owner's truck. Next to the fridge and the dryer. We strapped everything down and called it a day. When we were back on the main road I saw the owner and his wife driving the mule back. Probably exhausted from all their bonin'.

[Insert Cabin Photos]

We drove back to TenSleep. It was hot now. It was 86F when we left the cabin. It got up to 103F by the time we reached TenSleep. I took my stuff and got in the rental. Drove back to Worland. Brother Charley stayed behind. He was supposed to pick me up in a bit and we were going to drive to Kevy Wevy's place to drink some beer with Nick. I ate Brother Charley's burrito on the way back to Worland. When I got to PegLeg's I took it easy. Resting a little. Then Brother Charley called. He wanted to know if I was hungry and wanted to have dinner. I said I ate his burrito on the way back, so no, I was not hungry. He said, Okay. At some point PegLeg came home. We watched the news for a while. She was very excited about the new happenings. I found myself fading. I decided to walk to Kevy Wevy's. Otherwise I was going to fall asleep on the couch. I mean, I brushed my teeth and started walking. It was hot as balls outside. There was shade on the bike path, but not much. And the walk was like two miles. I looked at my phone and saw that Kevy Wevy had called. I called him back. He said he would come get me. I walked about another 200 hundred yards before he showed up. He was driving a 4-Runner. But an older one. I got in. He handed me a cold Busch. We drove around, past PegLeg's compound. Then back into town. Caught up. Then we were at his house. We went inside. Amber and the Tiny Wild were playing with potatoes of all things. I mean, the kid is hilarious, and three, and, I mean, she was playing with a bag of potatoes! Haha. I mean, she was kind of acting like they were food, but kind of not really. They were just play things. I mean, we had some good times. Talked about weddings and kids and Casper. About sake and Kevy Wevy's uncles. And the mayhem they wrought when they were in town. Then it was bedtime for Little Tiny Wild. I mean, I was supposed to pretend that I was leaving out front, but I didn't get the memo. Somehow. I mean, kids. They are trouble. Especially when they think something fun is happening elsewhere. I mean, I remember when G would stay up super late, not because they thought something fun was happening, just that they could tell that I wasn't asleep, and as long as I wasn't asleep, G refused to sleep. I mean, it was exhausting, but that is how kids are. They are maniacs!

I mean, me and Kevy went into his shop and hung out. Drinking beer and talking and listening to music. He showed me his tree trimming "Invention" that seemed like an accident in waiting. He had fixed an electric chainsaw to the end of a metal pole. Ran the wiring through the inside of the pole. That way he could control the thing from the bottom, while the chainsaw was in the trees. I mean, I guess I will report on the missing limb when it happens. And I am not talking about tree limbs.

Eventually Nick showed up. With truly horrible news. I mean, I won't go into details, but a dear old friend has passed away. I mean, sadly, it was not surprising news, but I am still trying to process it. I mean, eventually Brother Charley showed up. We sat around drinking beer, talking about things. I mean, it was like the old days. Kind of. I mean, I won't go into details, but things change as you get older. And here we were, older. I mean, Kevy Wevy and me kind of drank a few too many beers. I won't lie. And, I mean, I was ready to go when Brother Charley gave me a ride home. I mean, it was barely 10p, but I was pooped. Not looking forward to the morning. I mean, normally I would have drank a bunch of water before hitting the sack, but I was very exhausted. I drank some water. Brushed my teeth. And I was snoozing as quickly as my head hit the pillow.

I mean, I woke up earlier than I wanted to. I felt fine, but I must not have slept well because I didn't want to get up. But I did. I made some coffee and looked at things. Called Professor Curly. We talked for a while. Then I realized I needed to motor because I had to get G from TenSleep. I cut the conversation short and took a shower and got on the road. The idea was that I would get G and we would meet PegLeg at Taco John's for lunch. I mean, I had a complicated conversation with PegLeg about this. I wanted to tell her when we were heading back from TenSleep. She wanted me to tell her when we got to Taco John's. We compromised with me telling her when we were passing her place of work. I mean, I picked G up at the Brewery. We drove back. Parked outside of her work. I texted. We called Professor Curly and talked on the car phone. Eventually PegLeg came out and we followed her to Taco John's. We parked and went inside. I ordered for me and G. Two taco burgers, three soft shells, an order of ole's and some queso. Two medium drinks. PegLeg thought we should share a large ole' and get two things of queso. She ordered tow Taco Bravos and a large iced tea, unsweetened. I mean, I was going to get that, but this TJ's has the freshest Pepsi in the world. I mean, they make it across the street. At the Pepsi factory. I mean, the joke is that they have a hose running from the factory, under the street, that is directly connected to the fountain machine. I mean, it is not true. But the pop is as fresh as it can be there. I mean, everywhere in Worland has fresh pop like this. The canned pops in the machines are on $.75 cents. Which is whatever. They also bottle the tap water in town. And sell it back to us for a dollar, so it's not like they are some benevolent force for good. In fact, the opposite. I mean, that pop is a blight on Society. Diabetes juice. Making everyone fat. I mean, I don't know if they still do it, but you used to be able to fill a half gallon jug with pop at the Maverick for $.25 cents. A Maverick Mug they called it. I mean, if they made bigger jugs you could do those ones too, but think about that! A half gallon of sugar water for $.25 cents. And you wonder why everyone in town waddles when they walk. If they walk at all. I mean, it's equal to buying cigarettes in Winston/Salem, Alabama? North Carolina. I mean, sure you get cheap smokes, but at what cost?

Either way. The lunch was great. I mean, sometimes that place just really hits the spot. Especially if you had been out the night before drinking too many beers in Kevy's shop.

[Insert TJ's Lunch Photo]

I mean, after that PegLeg went back to work. Me and G went back to PegLeg's. We were supposed to go to Larsen's Bicycles to see Lisa, but I was not feeling very social, tomorrow, always tomorrow. I mean, I took a nap when we got back. Which was nice. G hung out in the living room looking at things. I got up. Feeling better. We drove into town. I wanted to take some photos of the Sugar Beet Factory for the cover of Sugar Beets [Italics,] I mean, we'll see. Maybe I can get Jack to do his Jack magic on the thing.

[Insert Sugar Beet Factory Photo]

I mean, after that we went to the car wash. I needed to vacuum out the mud clods from when I went and picked up Cousin Eddies GF the other day. After I vacuumed I washed the rental for some reason. I mean, it is just dust out here. All day dust. All night dust. All week dust. All month dust. All year dust. But I did it anyway. What hurt could it do? I mean, I do wonder. Maybe some hurt. I don't fucking know. This stupid truck thing is making me insane. I hate it. I hate it so much. Butwhatever. We drove over to the Brewery in town. Where Brother Buck works. I took a photo of the movie theater.

[Insert Twin Cinemas Photo]

I mean, see? That neon sign is insane. But as a testament to how things have changed, the weeds growing out of the sidewalk. I mean, not only does this town hate the rest of the world, they are willing to destroy any sense of collective joy in order to make a point. I mean, if they showed Fox News on the big screen, I am sure people would come from miles around to watch it. But if those K slurs in Hollywood are going to keep putting out their woke movies, no thank you! I mean, it truly is pathetic. And also, very sad. I mean, the decay is palpable. Soon this place will be just ancient geezers wondering where everyone went. Blaming the Dems for it. And they will deserve it. They brought it on themselves. And frankly, they can suck a big fat fatty.

I mean, we drove over to the Brewery. I talked to Brother Buck for a while. Told him I would be spending the weekend in TenSleep. He said it would be a fun time. I agreed. Then I left. G stayed in the rental the whole time. I took them on a tour of Worland. Showed them where I hid out all those years ago when I didn't want to take guitar lessons anymore. They thought that was some bizarre logic. That I thought I would get away with hiding out from a guitar lesson. Like the teacher wouldn't tell my parents. I had to agree. They also thought it was funny that I just hung out by some dumpsters until the thing was supposed to be over. Like I didn't even go inside or something. I mean, when I said kids were maniacs, I mean it. I know, because I was once one of them. And I think it is pretty funny that G can recognize this sort of nonsense as being irrational. I mean, Brother Buck told me I did a good job raising a normal kid. That kid being G. With no drama, and no weirdness. I mean, G is a weirdo, just not in these kinds of ways.

I showed them the elementary school I went to. Then we went to the Blair's to get milk and peaches. I decided that tacos would be good for dinner, so I bought some steak and some corn tortillas and some jalapeños and some tomatoes. We ran into Sister Megan there. She was fresh out of work at the high school. First day. I mean, she looked like a teacher. Which was very cute. I said: "You are looking quite marmy." I mean, I meant it as a compliment. I don't know if she took it that way. I mean, she may read this, so, Megan, if that statement was offensive, I apologize, I just meant you were looking cute in your school clothes. I mean, she was searching for a watermelon. I thought about getting one. I don't know why. I mean, they keep selling out, so maybe I was having panic buying reflexes. But I resisted. I mean, I am glad I did, because I found out later that there is about two gallons of watermelon chunks in PegLeg's fridge. I mean, I almost bought limes too. Luckily G was there. They pointed out that PegLeg had a whole sack of limes at the house. I mean, if Little Tiny Wild happened to come out, she would have a blast playing with those limes. I mean, we got some milk too. Then we checked out. We drove back to PegLeg's. I got to work making dinner. G took a shower. PegLeg showed up. Then Cousin A. With her friend R. They had been hanging out. At McDonald's. Doing teenager stuff. I mean, we saw Cousin A's car at Blair's, but she was nowhere to be found. I mean, I guess they parked in Blair's and crossed the street on foot to go to the McDonald's, why? I don't know. Teenager reasons I suppose.

Cousin A and R left again. G got out of the shower. Hung out in the living room with PegLeg. I cut onions and tomatoes and cilantro. I squeezed lime on the steak. Added some black pepper. I mean, at some point I went outside and started the grill. Lit the grill. Waited for a while. Took the meat outside and grilled it. I mean, I also made some beans. Both black beans and refried pinto beans. After I cooked the meat I turned on the griddle. I took the meat inside. Let it rest. Took some water outside and cleaned the griddle. Then I went back inside and got the corn tortillas. Took those out and heated them up real good. Put them in the thing that I had for them. A bowl with a tea towel. Turned all the stuff off. Went inside. We ate tacos standing up in the kitchen. They were good. Sister Megan had left some salsa the last time we barbequed with Brother Jade and his family. Which was on Monday, I guess. So that was tasty. I mean, there were lime squeezes and cheese if you wanted. Hot sauce. I ate a taco so hot that I had trouble speaking for a moment.

After dinner I helped PegLeg take some trash to the dumpster. Clouds were rolling in. By the time we got back to the house it was raining. It wasn't exactly a Summer storm, but there was lightening and thunder. And wind. I mean, a little while went by. Cousin A did the dishes. Which was nice. I tried to get G involved. Instead of getting involved, they just sat like a log on the wooden bench by the kitchen. Looking at things. I tried to get them more involved. PegLeg said: "Oh, leave-em alone, they are on vacation!" I said: "A vacation from what?" Mirroring the same words PegLeg had used against me last year, or was it the previous year. I mean, I didn't care if G helped with the dishes, I just thought it was rude that only Cousin A was doing dishes. I mean, I had every intention of doing them myself, but you don't look a gift horse in the mouth ATBMS. I mean, at some point the dishes were done, those guys were planning on watching a movie, and I came out to the cabin to tickle the ivories.

I mean, tomorrow I plan to make Taco Burger Bubbys if I can get my ambition going. Then we will go see Lisa at Larsen's. Then at some point we will head to TenSleep for the musical stylings of NoWoodStock. I mean, I guess you won't hear from me until Sunday. If you care at all. I mean, I need to do laundry tomorrow. And remember to pack some clothes for the weekend. I also need to make sure the microphones are working so Shane can do that interview on Saturday. I mean, things are looking fun, I suppose. I mean, typical Wyoming, all things fun having a undercurrent of tragedy behind them. I need to make some phone calls. I mean, I don't even know.