Round Two, Clothing Optional

Some days are just a bit more interesting than others and last Monday qualified. The day started with a walk at sunrise with the dogs and ended with a buck naked man swimming in my pond. My friend Shawn is a fabulous craftsman... he built my barn for the previous owners and has helped me with various projects including the pergola across the front of the house (we designed it as we built it from 2 fir trees he milled with a chainsaw in my woods) and a 20 foot outdoor dining table. He's a jack-of-all-trades (and the most eccentric person I know) - someone I call when I have a project I can't figure out on my own. This particular project was the damn pond pump/fountain (see 'Still Blonde'). I had written it off until next May, but Shawn had some time to look at it.

We retrieved the boat from the barn (I had just put it in storage the day before), rowed out to the darn thing, disconnected it from the anchors (used the same detergent bottles to keep the anchor ropes in place), and towed it in. Our best efforts to heave it onto the dock were thwarted by the bottom heavy weight, so we pulled it to the bank. Turns out the fountain weighs about 300 lbs and no way to get it out but to wade into the chilly water. I had my Muck boots which work just fine, but Shawn didn't have the proper footwear and didn't want to get his pant legs wet as he'd arrived on his motorcycle. He announced he would undress to pull the freakin' fountain from the pond... I decided it was best to retrieve a towel from the house while he meddled with the monstrosity. He got it onto shore enough to determine I needed a new motor, and while in the process dressed and undressed at least 4 times (and took a lap around the pond in between). This is my life? A man stripping naked in the November chill to check out the mechanics of a fountain? Had it been anyone else it would have been creepy, but it was Shawn and his straight forward, get it done way. Of course he made reference to getting naked together, but I've learned to be straight forward with Shawn too... not gonna happen.

In the end, and much to Shawn's dismay, we rowed the fountain back out into the pond so I wouldn't have to look at Tide bottles floating on the anchor ropes all winter - we'll get back to it when the weather warms.