Skateboard Park

Dead grass.

Holes dug for landmines.

What do we need?  A patio!

Two Dominican labourers (one is a golf caddy and one is an accountant) + sand + 14 bags of cement = one paved driveway pad and a patio aka skateboard park.  (Not really priceless but it is good entertainment to watch the process!)

Okay, there needs to be some explanation here.  We had a patch of lawn in the front of our house (great afternoon shade) where Boss had dug several holes and the grass would no longer grow.  We decided that it would be nice to have a small, slightly raised patio to enjoy the wind and the shade in the afternoons.  We talked to friends who suggested we use a Dominian friend of theirs who "knows concrete and is a hard worker".  So, we get a price for the patio and we decided that we would get the job done.

We decided in this process it would be a good idea to cement in the pad on our car port. 

The job is beginning to take on a life of its own now.

With the language barrier, we describe in great detail what we want the patio to look like.  The guys start the project (remember we have a golf caddy and an accountant).  Cement is not brought in by cement mixer truck nor is it mixed in a small portable mixer.  Cement is mixed by hand on the ground with a couple of shovels and a garden hose for water.  They mixed the dry sand, cement mix, kitty poop (Saleen decided the pile of sand was her new royal kitty box) and whatever else happened to be on the ground.  So, once all the cement was "poured", the remains also helped cement our street in front of the house.  Kinda like a gift with purchase.

The guys are using all the required safety equipment...flip flops, dress shoes (the accountant), one glove (a golf glove for the accountant), ball cap (caddy dude)...and Ross got the building permit (6 jumbo bottles of beer). 

The ground prep included breaking up the soil with a pick.  We only lost our propane line into the house which needed a small fitting to repair so I can use my stove again.  The guy who cut through it announced that it was "a good thing I wasn't smoking at the time".....YA THINK???

They poured cement in the dark until 9 pm last night with the light from the front of the house and a 100 watt bulb in a small lamp.  This morning we have a look at the "patio" and Ross is slightly sarcastic when he declared that he will need a 4 x 4 to walk up the patio as we insisted that the patio have a light slope for water drainage.  I think a rope on a post would be fine...he's so fussy...LOL  Believe me when I write that the patio has a good slope to it.  I think that a few additional modifications will be necessary so we aren't running downhill or climbing uphill.

The job should be complete next week...sometime...

Today, we had this brilliant idea that it would be a good thing to take the dogs to the beach for a run.  I now remember why I don't like to do this sort of activity.

The drive to the beach was uneventful.  Beautiful sunny day, nice breeze blowing, waves from the ocean not life threatening....all is good.

We get the dogs down to the water and decide it is probably a good idea to leave their leashes on.  The dogs start tearing around having a blast.  Boss decided he wasn't scared of the water after a half hour or so and once he decided it was a good idea to go in, he really didn't want to get out.

Until the guy running along the shore came along.

Do you know how fast a Belgium Malinois and a Lhaso Apso/Maltese can run and bark?  They chased down the poor guy who was now running for his life...remember how I said it was a good idea to keep their leashes on?  Yup, we managed to catch them and get control.  So, off the guy ran and he was forgotten.

Back to playing on the sand (Shelby is digging holes and rolling in it) and running in the water......

Until the Dominican riding his horse came trotting along the shore.....

Horse + Boss + Shelby + Jack = mass hysteria...I'm yelling at Ross...Ross is yelling at me and Shelby is chasing the horse down the beach with absolutely NO intentions of letting that horse get away from him.  He is a mighty horse hunter/chaser!

So, Ross hangs onto Jack and Boss...I'm now also a runner, running along the shore by the ocean, except I'm really not dressed to be an athlete...I'm wearing flip flops...and Shelby isn't listening...about a km later, the guy on the horse FINALLY realized that Shelby is chasing him...I seriously can't believe he didn't hear him barking...OMG...I'm gonna have a heart attack by the time the guy on the horse comes riding back toward me so I can catch that leash I left on Shelby.  By this time, Jack has broken away from Ross (the one km back) and he has joined me so now I have two dogs to take back.

We get back to our little piece of paradise...I drop Shelby's leash by the water bowl...the little ****** decided he is not done chasing that horse AND RUNS BACK DOWN THE BEACH TO WHERE THE HORSE IS.  I am on another run down the beach...Boss is trying to get away from Ross to run with me...Jack has made a break for it again too.....

My legs feel like jello....

Ross needs physiotherapy for his shoulders from hanging onto Boss.....

So, this time after my jog, I announce that it is time to go home.  We make our way to the car where Ross is waiting with Boss who is tied to the hitch on the car.

The ****ing horse and rider decide to make one final pass...

Boss breaks his choke chain when he leaps for the horse and rider....20 minutes later, we finally have all three dogs in the car...we are covered with sand...hot...cranky.

Time for a beer and a nap!