WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR SEPTEMBER 2023

Took the Camry in for an oil change, they checked the cabin filter and found a huge mouse nest. I need to start putting Bounce dryer sheets on the tires when I park the car in the garage, or mothballs or peppermint oil in the engine compartment. Rotten buggers. I watched the guy change the filter and I can buy one at the auto parts store and replace it myself in the future.

Stopped by the woodstove place where we bought ours 8 years ago to inquire about a chimney sweep - our regular guy retired three years ago and haven't been able to find a replacement. Well, they handed me a card and said here's a new guy who is doing that, they've had good reports. I called him and he was able to come out after lunch.

Long story short - the chimney and woodstove are cleaner than they were, but he left a mess for me to clean up. The vacuum he was going to use to suck up the ash and creosote from the chimney well malfunctioned and it blew ash and debris all over the living room. He left chunks of creosote all over the stove and ceramic tile. He left a sooty footprint on my gray carpet that my vacuum couldn't take out. He didn't seem upset about it and wondered if I'd give him a 5 star rating on Google. I smiled and said I'd think about it - I just wanted him out of the house ASAP.

But, the upside to that was I'd been putting off the carpet cleaning with my little Bissell home carpet cleaner which does an OK job - not terrific, just OK. So now I no longer have an excuse to not get it done, especially with a couple days of warm weather coming up.

I'll get some good exercise and the living room carpet will be cleaner, plus I now have more confidence I can build a fire in that stove if I need to without burning down the house.

Plus, another good thing about that chimney guy climbing on the roof to brush out the chimney stack - he said the wooden surround up there was in poor shape and he knew a guy who was a carpenter and could maybe squeeze it in to get it redone.

I admit, it was looking ratty - had mildew on the north side and paint chipping off on the east side. I had been concerned it was deteriorating and would cause a leak.

So, here's the good ending to this story - I remembered a contractor - older fella, I'm guessing in his 60's - that had been doing small jobs in the neighborhood the past couple years, I had his card and gave him a buzz.

He came out in the late afternoon, set up his ladder and climbed up to inspect it. The good news is - it's in great shape, just needs a little caulk replaced down where the hardiplank meets the metal flashing and a quart of paint. He said it would take him less than 2 hours and would cost $100 plus the paint.

I felt like I won the lottery. I'm now thinking of other jobs he might be able to do since he also does indoor and outdoor remodeling.

Guess what his name is.... ROGER!