Little sucking sound joins GIANT sucking sound

This is the latest "look" at our community pool. We're back to where we were several months ago, except now in an area which was "missed" (for lack of a better word) before. Readers will recall that when the subcontractor was removing additional "discovered" organic matter, they dug where somebody in authority had staked out the perimeter. Unfortunately, that perimeter was the wrong footprint. What you're viewing here is the "supplemental dig" which has been going on now for approximately a week.

The new area is opposite the "shade element" where in the process of excavating to firmly secure this giant awning, it was "discovered" that not all debris had been removed before. The current area is, to my understanding, where steps down into the pool will be located.

Sadly, the effort to lower the water table by draining the adjacent pond was not working as well as hoped, so this additional process (seen once before during the "big dig") became necessary. I hold no blame for this crew - indeed they appear very competent and hard working. In speaking with the owner of the company (who also was on-site every day I observed), he indicated it would probably be at least five (5) more working days to drain the water table, before they could complete the removal of organic matter. This firm then will turn over the site to the General Contractor who will than bring in a separate firm to actually dig and install the pool. UPDATE: They finished by Friday, the 24th, with the pump turned off but still hooked up.

The pipes you see run along the new area, and tie into the "de-watering" pump, which then extracts water from vertical pipes that are projected deep into the ground. The inset picture (close up) shows air bubbles through the clear plastic, where one can observe water being sucked out of the ground. And so, we have proof of the little sucking sound. The GIANT sucking sound will arrive in the mail soon, when an additional $2,000 on top of our regular quarterly assessment is imposed on all 55 paying members of the Winding Oaks Homeowners Association. Rest assured, this additional "debris extraction" adds to the already escalating cost of this two year project. One can argue significant incompetence has been demonstrated by various parties who shall remain unnamed. Before final payment to some of these people, one should hope our board does it's best to assess blame and recover some expenses which NEVER should have been incurred if only people would have been paying better attention throughout the project.

Bonnie makes her debut

This is Bonnie, who lives on Ripley's street, and is arguably his best doggie friend. She comes over to play, and Ripley has been to her house many times as well. Bonnie makes herself at home when she visits, and in this picture she is sitting on the love seat in the corner where my wife does her needlepoint. This larger picture was taken the day Bonnie returned from Camp Bow-Wow, where she had spent the prior days in residence while her owner went to New York. The inset picture (taken earlier) is outside on the driveway. Bonnie is a "Westie", a West Highland Terrier.

Earlier this week, Bonnie and Ripley had proceeded to run around the house while we humans spoke, but clearly they wore themselves down and Bonnie decided rest was best. Bonnie also is very difficult to capture on film - thankfully digital cameras resolve the issue of wasted "film" as one can pick and choose the best images, and erase the rest. I am contemplating a new career field, that of a "dog whisperer" since I am told Bonnie will only sit still in my lap - much to the consternation of her "mommy". Bonnie is also very quick to roll over and seek a tummy rub.

If only this skill of getting females to roll over with a simple "that's a good girl" worked when I was 45 years younger.

it's raining men, hallelujah

OK, maybe the title should say "it's raining workmen on the pool project", but having watched the Tony Awards last night, I was still in a musical vein when I chose this title. The good news is that FINALLY our community pool project has once again started up with the removal of additional trees.

Now, don't get me started on "how come they didn't do this before when they had the equipment here" because frankly I don't think anybody has a good answer. Residents were told we'd have a new pool by October of 2010. Now we're closer to October of 2011, but hope springs eternal. Nobody was here when the original developers built the community pool over organic fill material, and if you've read my blog before, you'll find pictures of the original excavation. When they did that, you'd think the excavation contractor might have noted the dimensions on the new pool plan - a pool that would be a bit longer, but more shallow (same amount of water, better for lap swimming). So, they apparently only dug where the old pool had been.

And they dug halfway to China because they kept coming up with more debris. I've heard various numbers bandied about, but suffice to say that when they reached ten feet down, they had to go at least another five. About a month ago, after another interminable wait while bureaucrats pushed paper, they started to place "footers" (for lack of a better word) at the end of the pool where a sun shade (this required a separate permit, as none had been there from earlier pool in 1988 construction era) was going to be erected. It would require sufficient anchoring to withstand high winds under the Miami-Dade hurricane standard passed statewide in 1995. When they went for that dig, they found stuff "missed" before.

Now, I'm not saying there have been screw-ups, but to a casual observer and resident having to keep paying more and more to restore our pool, somebody should step forward and admit mistakes have been made. Instead, I fear we'll simply be asked to go visit the ATM of our choice. At least, this pool crew was patriotic - note the red, white, and blue t-shirts. I'm sure they all thought me weird, snapping pictures of them at work, but after NOTHING happening, it was time to share the good news with friends and neighbors.

Ripley takes Bonnie Climbing

Bonnie's mother wanted to see Ripley climb his newest tree tonight, so five of us (she, my wife, Ripley, Bonnie and I) walked over to the marina where Ripley found his newest challenge. So we went and showed Ripley the tree, told him to find that squirrel, and up he went. My wife was rather astounded at how high he was off the ground, or how far he traveled along that limb. We got this one picture as he was headed back to the ground.

After Ripley showed off, we went on to the Marina, where the dogs shared a bottle of water, drinking out of my hand. This was also new to Bonnie, but after watching Ripley do it, doggie see, doggie do. We looked at the boats, then headed home.

The pictures of Ripley's little friend, Bonnie, were taken in a less difficult tree, as we passed through the parking lot. I picked Bonnie up and lifted her into the "V" where the tree splits. Bonnie was a good little Westie, and quickly adjusted to this perch. She also got down by herself, head first, along the roughly 45 degree trunk. For a girl, she did OK, I'll have to admit.

So, that's a typical day for a retiree and his dog. Like the Roman saying "veni, vidi,vici", I came, I saw, I conquered. I also never took Latin, so don't hold my spelling to task.

Ripley goes to B.U.D.S. school to become Navy SEAL

OK, BUDS in human terms stands for Basic Underwater Demolition School, where U.S. Navy SEALS start out their careers. Here we use Beagle Unlimited Daring School, as Ripley has demonstrated all the basics for SEALS - Sea, Air, and Land.

Now the water course was known to his friends, and without fail he'll show you what a great swimmer he is, and the land part is evident from the photo of Ripley and two fellow Beagle Scouts digging a foxhole. Until today, nobody believed me when I told them Ripley has mastered the air, or at least ten to twelve feet above the ground. Trust me, he was well over my head (we have film to prove it) and perhaps in over his head too - but he got up there, tried to follow the squirrel higher, then decided discretion was truly the better part of valor, and came back down (head first) the same way he went up. The dog has positraction paws, and a powerful engine that won't quit. This morning, during his early walk, he saw a squirrel go up this tree, and he first stood at the bottom and barked. The squirrel gave him a bit of attitude, and barked back. That was it for Rip, and he decided two could play that game. Up he went, to my surprise, and to Skip (who was ferrying golf carts from the cart barn to the marshaling area). Skip is one of Ripley's buddies at the Longboat Key Club, as is Bernard. Bernie is a tennis gardens employee, not a dog, but certainly a saint. Bernard or Bernie has been on vacation, but perhaps he'll read about Rip in this blog. Ripley loves this particular tree, and I expect him to climb it again from time to time.

Sea, air, and land - our Beagle Scout is no tenderfoot - he's the real deal, a canine SEAL.

Bark in the Park

Today was a day for Ripley, and friends. The Southeast Beagle Rescue held a get together in Seffner, Florida, at the Mango/Seffner Dog Park. The dog park is about an hour north, off the colorfully named Clay Pit Road, and has a wonderful facility for dogs - two in fact. Plenty of seating on benches, a pool to cool off in, and lots of friends to play alongside. That's Rip in the pool, but he does most of his swimming in the lakes alongside the golf course during his daily walks.

Ripley is often the center of attraction, and this was no different - there was one beagle who had a gender confusion issue, and Ripley kept having to tell him "not interested", and "get off my back, I'm working here". Beyond that irritation, he had a great run with beagles awaiting adoption, and those who like him had found their "fur-ever homes" through the work of Jack and his loyal band of beagle saviors. Ripley had gone straight from the Humane Society to his foster mother, so this was his first chance to meet Jack, a man of many talents and pilot of The Beagle Bus. The bus had six dogs aboard, including three males who were rescued from a kill shelter up north. Jack drives the bus, and if distances require, he pilots his own Cessna 182. Great guy, and somebody who truly cares about dogs.

Today, there were two individuals who may adopt a dog and Ripley hopes those dogs do indeed find a loving home. Ripley found his fur-ever home with us, and we're forever grateful to have him. We'll do this again - it's so neat to watch him run with the pack, and to hear his beautiful beagle bay. Three hours of beagle bliss - a great way to start the day.