Look Who's Back!

Yesterday went from Fun to Fu_ked up in the matter of a phone call.

So as the story goes.......

I didn't have any pressing work yesterday, so i got up and got nicole and the kids on their way for the day and then worked on installing the pond safety net that we've had for several years, and that Nicole has asked me repeatedly to install, so i did. I'd dreaded this project, and figured it would take at least a day to get done. For once, not the case. I found myself done and the project cleaned up by 9:30! If i'd of known it'd go that fast i'd have put in on a long time ago.....!!!!
So once finished, i decided to go down to holiday market and sportsman wearhouse (sporting goods stores) to look for just one more hunting jacket. A quick call to my buddy Gene, and the two of us were leaving town by 11 a.m.. It was good quality MAN time, and the bullshitting never stopped. We were just about done and ready to head back North on I-5 when i get a call from Nicole at around 2:30 p.m.. Her first question was "Did you take the kicker motor off your boat b4 you parked it out at grandpa's old house" my answer "yes" ..her response....a deep sigh of relief. Then she filled me in on the rest of the story. Seems that some time between Monday and Friday some thieves stole just about everything they could get their hands one out there. She told me all this, but my initial reaction wasn't of much concern. Before i'd taken the boat out there i'd taken everything out of it....i mean EVERYTHING.....well, almost..
So, Gene and i'd headed back north with the conversation filled mostly with what we thought they'd stole....and what we'd do to someone if we caught them stealing stuff from us. The final plot of justice involved duct tape, zip ties, and an IRON SKILLET.....i'll let you fill in the blanks on that one. So, by the time we got back to bellingham, i had vented long enough and was ready for what we'd find.
We arrived around 4 p.m., and did a once over of the boat. Footprints were found inside the boat, and the drop curtian unzipped, but nothing was missing.....so i thought. Gene and i agreed that it'd be best to tow her back to my place, and get her out of the theft zone. I went to jack the big motor up....a.....no power...that's wierd....no power on both batteries......very odd.........
A quick inspection of the battery storage area revealed both batteries missing! Dirty bastards stole em!
So another trip back to town, to purchase new batteries, and back out to the farm with a handfull of tools to install the new ones (have to have a battery to jack up the motor so the boat can be towed home).
So i installed just one battery, after looking at the jumbeled f'd up mess of wires they left me with (installing both, in the dark, in a hurry, and with a handfull of tools wasn't the best of conditions. )

This picture really doesn't due the justice of what's in this small hole, where two batteries live...only Dad will know what a pain in the ass this involves.


So with the aid of Gene (I CAN'T THANK HIM ENOUGH FOR HIS HELP), and a little trouble shooting, we installed one battery, jacked up the motor, hooked the boat to the truck and headed back to my house in one of the biggest rain storms of the year, and one of the darkest nights i've ever driven in! (another PAIN IN THE ASS)


So, at 6 p.m., this is where the old gal got parked for the night. In the FRONT driverway, under the SPOTLIGHT!


So today i'm out to purchase a couple of big tarps, seal her up tight, and park her back in the hole behind the garage. I'd hoped to leave her out at the farm, under cover for 2 more months while i built the new carport she's to reside under...but, no dice there. Just means i have to build it faster!


So, that's my tale of woe. It could have been worse, that's for sure! Nicole's uncle had his brand new 25 hp outboard stolen off the back of his boat stored right next to mine!
The only thing i can say is those thieves didn't get much from me, after a phone call to dad, it turns out the batteries were older than dirt and due to be replaced. Still sucks though.

Well, I've rambeled long enough for today.


From the North.....where things thought safe aren't, stuff gets stolen, and justice is plotted too....which is nice.


Mark....The Iron Skillet