I normally wouldn't be writing today, since it is Monday; but since it is a holiday, I figured it might work out fine. We usually have quiet days on holidays, with very few problems or interruptions to speak of, which means we have ample time to catch up on the things.

A quiet day at work is second only to a day spent somewhere besides work, I suppose. I can see the pros and the cons of working on holidays, with the best thing being that it's usually devoid of most distractions and meetings, since the rest of the world's going about it's own business. Well, actually most of the businesses are closed, so the world's out going about some business other than business.

Thankfully, I had the opportunity to get a little of my own business done over the weekend. I started on a bedroom over the weekend, removing the old ceiling, which had been damaged by a leak many moons ago, and replacing it and covering the walls with Sheetrock. I also removed the insulation and replaced it while I was at it. It's not every day that you have access the inside of the ceiling like that. And thank goodness for that.

Tearing out the old ceiling was a terrible job. Dusty and covered with things in the attic I'd rather not talk about, the old ceiling's removal was an exercise in longsuffering. Well, it seemed long, even if it only took about an hour. Dreaded or unwelcome things are always like that. Once the ceiling was torn out it was time to go back with new drywall. Of the things I've learned, one is that men my age can't do things like they did when they were half their age. However, I did manage to hold a 12-foot sheet of half-inch drywall over my head until it could get screwed into place, so I haven't lost all of it. On the other hand, I woke up with a back ache and sore muscles, which is the part that just sort of stays with you after awhile. It really doesn't matter if I'm doing drywall or holding things over my head or just getting out of bed in the morning, I'll sometimes experience an unexplained ache or pain. Of course that's better than everyone else in the house, who have to wake up with one very big pain every day—me.

With only the trim and some painting left to do, I've knocked at least one more job off my long list that I had compiled for myself this summer. In fact, this may be one of my most productive summers to date.

Even so, I still have a bit more vinyl to hang, some painting and staining to do and several other projects to complete before winter sets in. Fall is the time to clear off and harvest the garden, to cut, haul and stack the firewood and to prepare everything for the cold months. I had also hoped to finish sealing off my building for the winter so I might be able to work in there when it gets cold outside and dark about the time I get home.

I was listening to a local weather personality who said the sun is setting about two minutes earlier each day. I might be wrong here, but it seems like more than that to me as fall arrives. Maybe a good part of that is because the clocks get turned back in October, causing me to get the feeling that it just went from summer to winter somehow. It's almost as if there's a switch somewhere that turns off the summer in an instant.

As I've said many times in the past, if human beings ever learn to control the weather, chaos would undoubtedly ensue. How much rain do we need? That depends on whether you're growing rice or a cactus, doesn't it? I always want it to rain at night and be sunny during the daytime, if you don't mind. If daytime rain is necessary, please let it happen on workdays and never evenings or weekends. If my plan were put in place, those who work in construction would likely either be sitting home a great deal or working second shift. Have you ever tried to put on a roof after dark?

I guess the main thing to remember about people is that they complain too much. This year, people have been fussing because there has been too much rain. Last year, they were fussing because there was too little.

It makes me think of Israel coming out of Egypt. They asked several times to be returned to slavery to escape what amounted to temporary discomfort. What, did you bring us out here to the desert to starve and die of thirst? What, no raisins? A cloud by day and a fire by night? Is that the best you can do? When given manna from heaven, they cried out for meat and many died after eating it. I guess that was God's way of saying, "Here and I hope you choke on it!" If God even gets half as tired of hearing people complain as I do, it's a wonder we're still here. Not that I'm the great exception or anything, but I do try to be thankful. Sometimes I get depressed just from hearing what folks have to say about their multitude of health issues, their lack of finances, their terrible spouse, their awful children and their bad job. Why, by the time you get through with that, I'm thinking, "Pass the cyanide Kool-aid, please." No matter how bad things seem, there's always the opportunity to hope, though it's not usually taken.

So how can you tell the difference between pointless complaining and sharing important facts of life? You cross that threshold when you complain about things that can't be physically changed. It's always better to discuss solutions than it is to discuss problems. One will make you feel worse, while the other will take away your complaints. On the other hand, I've found my solutions aren't always welcomed. Maybe some people prefer the problem, but we won't get into all that.

So, as I look to the fall rush with some apprehension, I'm going to try and take time to be thankful that I'm able to lift, cut and carry firewood and that I have the skills and abilities to do construction work. I try to remember that I shouldn't complain about having too much to do, but be thankful that I have property on which to work. When my work seems monotonous or aggravating, I try to remember the thousands without jobs, not to mention the thousands more who are making less money today than they were a few years ago.

I don't mean to give anyone a lecture here, but if you're a complainer, stop whining and work toward fixing it. If you can't find a way to fix it, pray about it and at least put on a brave face so that you might inspire others rather than drag them down. Not only does no one want to hear it, but a defeatist attitude beats you before the fight even gets started. Anything's got to be better than choking on your quail.
 

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