I hoisted a pint in Midlothian, Texas earlier this week.  Actually, I consumed about 9 of them.  And, it wasn’t in a local pub either.  It was at my mother’s.

We arrived at my mom’s place on Monday evening after a leisurely drive from Baxter Springs, Kansas and its Cafe On The Route across Oklahoma and through Plano on U.S. 69 and 75.  The maze-like run through the Big D was accomplished with only a modicum of stress.  And the heat never abated.

After a great reunion with Mom and my oldest sister Mary and a good night’s rest, I went out in the morning sauna to assess the job I’d come to do.  The  previous owners of my folks’ place had enclosed a double attached garage to create more living space.  Over time, the vertical masonite siding had rotted along the cement, and there was the possibility that dry-rot had also infected the bottom plate of that wall.

In addition, there was an external “people door” that was no longer used, and was destined for removal.

I tore off a bit of the siding, actually the bottom third all the way across the 16 foot length.  There was only about 3 feet of damaged plate, and the studs were all sound.   But, because I’d slept in a bit, the sun was already beginning to have a direct shot at the reconstruction site, and I am a wimp, I tidied up a little and escaped into the cool interior.

The next day is when I hit the bottle.  I worked out there for only 3 or 4 hours, tearing the rest of the siding off, tearing off the insulation board beneath, and beginning preparations for shimming, sheathing, and residing.  It wasn’t much more than 90 degrees (listen to me talk) when I quit, but I was very nearly dehydrated and definitely exhausted. 

And this was in spite of the 4 and 1/4 quarts I managed to guzzle as I wiped the excessive sweat from my head and neck.  144 ounces of liquid refreshment, and I craved more.  A regular lush, I am.   

Care to join me for a pint?  You can have it in either green, red, or orange.  And, if you don’t like Gatorade, you can always drink water.