The latest unforeseen issue is the presence of a water spring in the area where the paved stone patio is going. The water will need to be diverted before the ground can be prepared for the paving stones. Too bad it wasn’t oil that we found instead of water.

Here is a picture of landscape fabric lining the pool. A pool liner will cover the fabric at some point. The wooden fabrication behind the pool is the housing for the pool’s pumping equipment.

And here is what is left of my favourite white birch. The tree had been losing crown for the last couple of years. Its prognosis was not good and because it sat near the propane tank, we decided to take it down as a safety measure.

Yesterday wasn’t too sunny, but it was hot. The hot weather started this year earlier than I can remember and has brought with it severe allergies and drought-like conditions. The air yesterday was filled with pressure and humidity that foreshadowed the severe thunderstorm that had been predicted for days. The storm blew past us without a drop of rain.

After work I braved the humidity and went to Home Depot for some light bulbs for the office and other odds and ends for home. I always end up spending an extraordinary amount of time there because I can never easily find anything that I need and have to hunt and hunt.

Afterwards I hit the highway, pumped the tunes, sat back and started cruising at my usual speed 25km faster than the posted limit. This highway is quite a fast road and I’ve passed cops many times while I’ve been doing 125. They haven’t even looked in my direction. I’ve even spoken to patients who are cops and many of them have said they don’t bother with anyone who is doing under 130.

The last few weeks have seen some major fatalities on this highway, however. Most are because of street racers causing damage themselves, or leaving a wake of damage behind them.

It was while I was thinking of this that I noticed way back in the distance of my rear view mirror a car slowly but sure approaching. At some points I thought I could see something on its roof, at other times, the roof looked smooth.

As it approached, however, there became no question that the roof had a rack of lights. It was a provincial police cruiser approaching me from behind…about to pass…and then slowing down to match my speed. I cautiously decelerated to 120 and pretended I didn’t notice them–which was silly because I had slowed down as they approached.

After a few long seconds of me trying to act nonchalant and pretending to be enjoying my music, I noticed that the cruiser still hadn’t passed me and its front end was up to my door. Becoming nervous now, I turned to look out my window.

The car had two officers in it. The driver was driving and paying attention to the road. The passenger was female, dressed in uniform, and waving like crazy at me with a huge smile.

Turns out she’s one of my patients who is currently in-treatment with me.

With a sigh of relief I gave them the thumbs up and they shot past me. As they pulled ahead they flipped on their roof lights for a second and then they were gone.

So slowly but surely, I’m running out of corners here in Workland where I’m able to escape my patients. Two of my favourite stores, Costco and Home Depot, have patients of mine whom I’m always trying to hide from when I go in.

I guess I wouldn’t make a very good famous person. I like my privacy too much to be able to handle paparazzi.

…in these Salsa videos. I have enough trouble staying on time to the music to look as good as these dancers.

Trees are vengeful:

Robin, the foreman, pointing at a wide scar above one of his knee caps: Guess how I got this!

Me: How?

Robin: With a chainsaw.

Me: What??

Robin: Yeah, I was cutting this one tree and I swung the chainsaw up to bring it back down and it hit a branch behind me and kicked down.

Me: Uh huh?

Robin: So I thought, hmmm, the chainsaw ripped my pants. So I pulled up the trouser leg and saw all this blood. I held the bottom half of my leg so it wouldn’t fall off because I didn’t know how far through my leg the chainsaw had gone.

Me: Oh man!

Robin: Yeah, so I started yelling at the other guys to come and help but with 6 other chainsaws going, it took a while for someone to notice. I’m ok now. But I don’t cut trees down anymore.

Me: I see.

I made a call to a tree removal service today.