Rough week

We have had a rough week. The flashing on our fireplace has been leaking, probably since the house was built back in 2001. We found this out before Christmas when water was streaming down the wall above the mantle. Roofers came out to fix part of it, but when they discovered more rotten wood around the chimney surround, they said they'd be back another day to fix it and of course, roofers aren't carpenters, so we never saw them again.

Clark found some guys who actually are skilled in carpentry and construction and they have been working all week, tearing out rotten wood and replacing it. A much bigger job then we originally thought. The original estimate to fix the job is no longer a good estimate, of course. One days work versus four days work. If we get away with the original estimate times four, we'll be lucky. It was a big job, but at least the chimney didn't fall off the house.

As the week draws to a close, perhaps the construction work will as well.

So all this added up to be a wearing week for us. Clark keeping an eye on the workers, me doing extra at work in his absence. Our little bubble was a bit out of whack. It happens, its part of home ownership, its inconvenient and expensive. But we are fortunate to have the means to fix it. And also to have a safe and comfortable home to rest our heads at night while its being done. As much water as we want, coming from the taps. Toilets that flush. Food. More then we could eat in a week. Electricity. Clean clothes. Satellite tv. Cell phones. Jobs. Basic needs far exceeded.

Tuesday, Haiti experienced an earthquake within 10 miles of Port-Au-Prince. Total devastation. Tens of thousand dead, suffering, without basic needs. Why in the hell did we get stressed out about a water leak, a leak that is being repaired?

I have read some pig-headed comments this week about the catastrophe, Pat Robertson continues to give religion a bad name.

Clark and I vacationed a few years ago in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Haiti is the western third of the island of Hispaniola, the DR is the other 2/3. Punta Cana is at the most eastern point in the DR.

The resort areas of the DR are beautiful. The rest of the country lives in poverty unlike anything I had ever seen first-hand. Rubble that served as people's homes. Knowing that Haiti is even more of a poverty-stricken country then the DR, it is really sobering to think of the millions of people that are suffering there.

A very basic way you can help the people of Haiti is through the Red Cross. You can text HAITI to 90999 and $10 will be billed to your cell phone bill to support the needs there. Pray for the people of Haiti and the rescue workers. They are some special people that respond to help those affected by such tragedy.