HAPPY BIRTHDAY Vivian!!!

Yesterday(April 22) was Vivian's birthday.
  It was a busy day. We had an out of town soccer game to attend. So...picked up pizza on the way back home.

Does anyone remember me saying I need to pare down my list of projects so I can concentrate on getting Mary Lee and the nester dinghy finished?

Even when I was working (before getting hurt) I was always working on a project of some kind. So the day before Vivian's birthday, I decided to re-dye her leather jacket. She has had it over ten years. She likes it. She doesn't want a new one. The dye was wore off in a bunch of places like the seams on the sleeves etc.

I researched how the re-dyeing is done at those places you can send them to.

Then did it myself.

It was not difficult. I airbrushed the dye and sealer on. It was a little time consuming, but not bad. The very cheapest I could find to have it done was $100. By the time shipping was paid etc, it was about what a local place charges for a new leather jacket. Did I mention Vivian did not want a different jacket?

It cost me about $4 and about 45 minutes of actual activity. Counting the wait time between coats....about two hours.



It looks a bit shinier in the direct sun. You cannot tell where the worn spots were.

That was my first time doing anything like that. However...since I had everything set up. I decided to do something about the sketchers I had ordered online. They looked much different (color) when they arrived than the picture showed. I decided to just wear them anyway.

They were pretty silverish looking. I was thinking grey when I ordered them....not shiny grey. I had spilled stuff on them and although still comfortable, they were getting pretty dirty looking.

I decided to experiment with the brown dye. They are not shiny anymore.

We spent some time in the courtyard last weekend. I put some of the edging up around some of the flower beds(?). I have a bit left to do. Vivian planted the flower boxes and more herbs. I planted the green bushes by the white fence pieces we put around the heating/cooling unit.

Of course there is always more stuff to do

I got a ticket. Not speeding.

Vivian played Della Street and put together a case file.

I got up in front of the courtroom and pled not guilty. Got to choose between a bench hearing or jury trial. Chose bench. Got to sit in the vacated jury seats while everyone else pled guilty and moved on. By the time they were all done, the officer who wrote my ticket had arrived. I really didn't have much of an argument but.....why not? The fine started at $155. It ended up being $65. It turns out that just showing up cuts it in half. I saved $12.50. Worthwhile effort??? Maybe not. Vivian went with me. We drove the van down, experienced a court proceeding. Watched a couple people argue tickets in ways that were not beneficial. Went out for pizza at a new place(for us). The $12.50 savings just about paid for the pizza. I think we even went to the state park to enjoy a walk on the pier.

It was a great day in all.

Two soccer games this week so far. Socastee(sock-us-tea) won both. Vivian's youngest son Jon plays for Socastee. One more on Friday. Monday's game was also senior night.

Of course...I have a picture of proud Mom with son..

and a couple game shots. Jon is 6'4" and weighs about 180 pounds. Vivian is about 5'10" and maybe 140 pounds sopping wet with a pocket full of rocks. Funny how much bigger Jon looks.

Last but not least. Vivian works at the university. Last week the mascot (chauncy?)was caught on break.

Yup...mascot is a chicken!