There are certain things in life that once thought of as ridiculous, trivial or useless, becomes absolutely necessary.   Eventually, these “things” slowly weave their way into the tapestry of your life and become essential for ones very worldly existence. 

I never imagined a internet Cable Modem would be essential in my life.   Cell phones were  a burden.  Who wants to be at the beck and call anyone in a city, “Not… I”.  When email came along, who wanted to be at the beck and call of the world, “Not… I”.   Blogging…”must be for crazy people”.  Now I find I am really enjoying the craze of  blogging as I enter a new season in my life.   The “Not..I’s” have be the new normal and must haves.   Who knows, Facebook next?

I would like to introduce you to my new and very special friend, Irra.   I have not known Irra for a long time and never thought how quickly he would become so special in my life.  Now Irra has moved in with me and we couldn’t be happier together.    When my very close buddy Satellite Dish (Mr. D.) died, it took me quite a few months to get over his tragic loss.  Sadly he was killed by a new encryption code.  I had known Mr. D. for about 3 years and he was my first experience at going over to the ….well…. an “alternative lifestyle” of satellite radio.    Yes, I am finally coming out of the closet.  I am a Non-Local-Radio-Station listener.  I don’t even know what stations are available here in Charleston except for NPR.   I have given up the local yahoos for the more glamorous, exotic and interesting world life style.   

A few months after Mr. D died, I met Irra.  He started occasionally visiting just to say “Hi”.   Eventually, I found out he really needing a job since he’s been downsized.  I offered him some money, but he was too proud to take it.   When I found out he could really play music it became a match made in heaven.   Irra can play just any music you could imagine!   Every type of style, tempo, unusual, fantastic, world beat, pop, piano, jazz, nationality type  music you can imagine.  Man, he can play it all.   Amazingly, all he needs is a laptop and an amplifier.    I offered him a job and as hard as he works entertaining me I don’t have to pay him shit except for giving him a small place to stay and a steady diet of electricity.   He seems very content with this arrangement.   Irra has tried all kinds of free software and we both agree the software of the moment is iTunes… Its so easy a caveman (me) can use.    You can also use alternatives such as Pandora if you wish to build your own internet radio station.

Sometime he will get cranky after a long day but, after I give him a swift boot in the backside, he is ready to keep busy for another few hours of work.  I give Irra a couple of daily breaks mainly when I switch hit to the “real” radio for a dose of  “liberal” world news on NPR (Morning Edition, All Things Considered) or when I go to sleep.  Other than that, Irra’s butt is hard at work keeping me happy and content.  

Irra’s favorite iTunes radio station is located under iTunes: Radio: Ambient is  “Secret Agent! The soundtrack for your stylish, mysterious, dangerous life.  For Spies and P.I.s too, [SOMAFM]”.   Yea, I know, it hard to believe eh?   SOMAFM (out of San Francisco, CA) is really, really good.   Calif alternative lifestyle anyone?    SOMA is the most interesting mix of soundtrack, electronica, middle eastern, upbeat music imaginable.  Throw in some James Bond 007 soundtrack quotes and you get the idea.  Kick ass music to keeping me slaving away in the shop on pPod.

Irra ‘s second favorite station is “InTuneWithTheSpirt” (American Indian music) again under Ambient.     While cooking dinner, Irra likes to plays some Spy music.  When dinner is served it is time for jazz or a little New Age for the evening.   He is such a good sport.

There are not many “MUST HAVES” in life are free for the taking.  Everything I have found I really want always seems be either expensive or REALLY expensive.    Internet radio is one of life’s truly free pleasures.   There is so much music out there ready for you to experience.   Why limit yourself to just the local yahoo radio stations.

I know you cant image your life with out a cell phone.  I can no longer imagine Irra not being part of mine. Move beyond where you are, where you are comfortable to everywhere you can never be.  Experience the no limitations lifestyle of world music.   Find your own Irra and put him/her to work pleasuring you.  It will be just be our little secret when you discover you too are seduced by the naught guilty pleasures of life’s “other side”.

 Try InteRnet RAadio.  You’ll like it.

The bad news is my yard has a 4 ft by 75 ft trench in it.  The good news is I now have a brand new line and I am a lot smarter now.    Geezee, I thought I knew just about everything about plumbing, only to be humbled one more time.   Education always comes at a price! 

The way I view this experience is that the old pipe would eventually need to be changed, I needed a sewer clean out near the street (according to the new code), and it is better to have it done now at cheaper labor prices than in the future at higher prices.   

 After the pipe was installed the city came to clean out their portion of the system.  Two nice ladies ran the clean-out truck!

 Bottom line is the bright yellow box is gone and everything is back up.   Lost almost a week of production on the plane, but that’s OK.   Life is good once again!  

Heat valve being floxed to the interior wall

Just a little more to do on the heat duct and then I’ll be working on the nose lift cover.

Heat duct system

I had a fun day today!  I found my sewer is no longer working so obviously working on pPod was not going to happen.  I tried running a snake though it and at 98′ out hit a blockage I couldn’t get through.  Not a good thing. 

When I re-plumbed the house, I connected the new PVC hose piping to the existing “Orangeburg” pipe.  Funny stuff, this pipe.  Apparently after WW2, there was understandable shortage of metal for making piping hense the need for something to do the job.   Orangeburg pipe is made out of paper/asbestos coated with asphalt and was used from 1949-1970.  It had an ASTM specification and I guess was thought highly of.  Unfortunately, is it now known to have a life of about 50 years, and I would estimate mine is 40+ years old.   Time to go.  Spent the day calling contractors, getting estimates, and having my own personal port-a-potty delivered to my front door.  Woo hooo,  this is MUCH better than camping out at Oshkosh!    I think most people have a very negative opinion of port-a-john’s that come from only experiencing them at concerts or large events, but IF you are the ONLY one using it, there is no waiting in line it  is nice and clean with fresh paper while not totally pleasant, it is very nice alternative to a tree and a hand full of leaves.  The only negatives I can think of is the getting up in the middle of the night thing and having a BRIGHT yellow box sitting in my driveway.  If I had a big party at the house, I would definitely rent one.

Kind of funny, living with out sewer.  It reminds me of visits to my grandparents farm house in Missouri.  Out house, composting, chickens, gardening,  throwing the kitchen water in the yard.  I loved the smells, the great Italian food of my grandmother, riding tractors and watching grandpa milk the cow.   The positive aspect of camping out in my house  is I dont have to pump the water from a well in the yard.  At least I dont have to take a bath in a big steel tub in the middle of the yard (doesn’t everyone’s parents have a pictures of that hidden away?)   I  have now graduated from a steel tub to an exercise pool.   A little bigger tub but the same intent and final result.    

Overall, just a small change in life styles for a week or so.  I just consider it practice for the big ass hurricane which will eventually hit Charleston.  No water, electricity, sewer or phones….throw it at me baby, I am practiced and ready!

Hopefully, I’ll rejoin the mindlessly happy flusher of the world by next week..

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!