Have a happy last day of, and last Sunday in, May.

Overheard the other day while driving to the ‘work-site’, AKA ‘the cave’:

“The incompetence of the IRS is such that it makes the Postal Service look like an epitome of efficiency”

This wag’s line came on the heels of news leaking out that the austere IRS bureaucracy had mailed out multiple $-billions (yes that is with a “b”) in refunds to phony recipients; including 18 checks (totaling a few million) to a single address in Lithuania.

I suspect that when the IRS’s top leadership gets squeezed in front of one Congressional committee or another that the ‘Nati will make the news as they all point fingers at some poor lowly smuck working in the bowels of our regional IRS office. Wait, you say that they’ve already done that?

Now a moment for me to brew a pot of Seattle’s Best coffee; we ran out of our normal White Castle brand and haven’t had time to race to Costco. One moment please, stay tuned.

Moving on – The month of May has that distinction. First graders going into second and those in second head for the third grade. Marin is leaving his primary school and head for High School – a place filled with two-thousand plus others, all just as apprehensive as he must be.

Anyway, North Avondale Montessori did it right with their graduation acknowledgement ceremony. Marin looks happy as he poses with his school principal.

Congratulations to all our young learners; Derek, Marin, Kellen, Dinah, Vaioleti, and, pushing hard from the rear, now formally in pre-school, Viliami.

One failure based on numbers released this month of May – and that is the continuation of our nation’s growth at a measly 2% and first quarter’s lackluster performance (read ‘shrinking’). This is after pumping $-trillions into government programs so that we now have the worst debt in the history of the world.

This administration trying to stay on their ‘progressive’ course should be ashamed. What do we have to show for all of the ‘happy’ talk? An economy held up on borrowed dollars, more people dependent on a government-handout lifestyle than ever, southern borders without any meaning whatsoever, a lack of firm leadership which sees the middle-east in total chaos with Russia proceeding along a newly rediscovered path which they abandoned decades ago and even China out there stretching its muscle; all with impunity, race relations on a hyper-diatribe path rather than toward a coming together, and unemployment still in the ‘crapper’.

As I see it this administration is a study of failure, providing ample fodder for future historians. Isn’t it a shame that we elected someone based on charisma and progressive platitudes rather than on leadership? Carving a course in this complex world requires a Commander in Chief along the lines of a Lincoln, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, and Reagan.

Perfunctory update; fini? – In short, last Monday the old house looked better than it did on Friday morning. This week Marcia and I have put in a steady stream of 14-hour days. All to the point that I noticed we had begun to be ‘curt’ with one-another.

At some point on Monday the estrogen driven paint crew had a full-blown shouting match. As a matter of fact, neighbors heard verbiage streaming from the Pastoor driveway never heard before. That shouting match complete with some serious name calling seemed to clear the air and they all went to lunch together – the two from Kentucky and the one-legged Mexican. After lunch they were able to slip into high gear – so far so good. PS, their work is beyond excellent! It’s the accompanying drama that gets a bit tiring.

What happened next is still a mystery. Beginning on Wednesday our plumber cleared his deck to devote his time to getting our place situated. On Friday he vanished. Our electrician was supposed to be on-site with me yesterday morning at seven to finish left hanging from last weekend. He seems to have evaporated into thin air, i.e., he never showed.

Sooooo, Saturday from 1 to 5 we had, by invite only, our open house for those who expressed interest. Beginning at 6:45 we were in cleaning mode, scrub the attic stairs, tools stored in the garage, hang the new mirror, vacuum the carpet, and so it went. Tevita helped hang a 70-pound 75” wide mirror over the new Master Bedroom vanity (looks stunning, but truth be told, it was me who helped Tevita). Adrianne came over to help box loose stuff and haul it to the garbage, truck, or garage. Meanwhile, the kids were on the floor watching Frozen on a portable player. That is when Vili started screaming!!!!

And did he scream!!!

No, it was not his sister pestering him. It was the ants. Ants? A long parade of ants was seen marching across the carpet. Shoes began to slap at the critters, the wet-dry vacuum cleaner was quickly retrieved as was a can of Ant killer.

Three minutes to one, a completely sweated through Marcia and Dirk backed out of the front door leaving it in pristine shape for our prospects.

The place looked great (at least the 98% that was complete).

At 5 PM I returned to close and lock the place. Based on the strategic placement of our information sheets we’d had no visitors.

NO ONE.

Next week we’ll get organized to list it.

Fini – Today is a day of rest. No, I take that back, we need to do some shopping, having day old stale bagels for dinner needs to be improved on.

Stay safe and be well, make it a great week.

Cheers.

Dirk