I’m rarely up this early, but the electrician was scheduled to arrive at between 7:30 and 8 so I dragged myself out of my cozy bed at 7 and quickly nuked a cuppajoe from yesterday’s pot. When I nuke yesterday’s coffee, I usually add flavored creamer or a spoon of hot cocoa mix to hide any stale flavor. The hot cocoa also gives it an extra kick of caffeine.

I was a little worried they wouldn’t show today as it is uncharacteristically pouring rain out there and the job involves hooking up the pump to the new drain field after drilling through the wall and connecting with the electric box inside. He arrived at 8 sharp. It’s 8:25 right now and he has been going back and forth since then.

Yes, you heard right, a new drain field. The septic tanks (one for the waste and one for the pump) are in the front yard, under the two giant willows. Before the project was started almost 2 weeks ago (planned over a year ago) there was only one waste septic tank and a drain field that has been limping along, getting progressively worse, for at least 5 years. Since last year it has been pumped out no less than 3 times at between $350 and $400, leading to the township inspector being called out to assess, report, and recommend. Because there was moderate flooding in the whole area a few years back, the ordinance has changed as far as how high the drain fields need to be. The back field does have standing water in it every spring and they have gps maps that can detect it, so he said. Recommendation was a drain field that had to be 5 feet above ground. Because it was not able to be put back under the willows, which would be madness, the 2nd tank with a pump was installed in the front yard, with a pipe leading to the back field, where the drain field was installed.

Do you know how much sand is involved in a drain field installed 5 feet above ground? 480 yards. The back field looks like a beach. The number of dump trucks of sand arrived day after day.

The number and types of heavy equipment that have been here at various times boggles my mind. Dump trucks, diggers, caterpillars, cranes, and a whole crew, busy as ants, getting the job done. After a solid week of 8-hour days for the crew, it was finally done on Monday. The electrician did show up one morning but I wasn’t told he’d be here at 8 sharp that day and so didn’t hear the knocking. The wiring for the pump is the last step before it becomes operational.

The back field is a favorite grazing spot for many deer. It has been disrupted in a major way. They sprinkled grass seed over it but all I see in my mind is a bunch of weeds sprouting up. Thankfully it has not deterred the deer from coming into the back yard and munching on grass and fallen apples.

I’m not sure whether I’ll go back to bed after the electrician leaves. I’m 2 cups in so not likely. It’s kinda nice listening to the thunderstorm and watching the rain pour off of the roof. And because I was up so late last night watching movies, I didn’t get a chance to prepare the FFF post.

Brief mentions of the movies I watched last night and the night before. A couple of nights ago I finally saw, “Disclosure Day.” Sorry to say it did not live up to its hype for me. Maybe its a sleeper, where my regard will grow. Emily Blunt was great in it, but where did her English accent go? That was off-putting to me.

Last night I watched, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” on Disney+ and was delighted with it. Hoping they keep making movies or another season of the series. Then I watched a free movie on Fandango — with a zillion ads! — that I hadn’t seen since it first came out: “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.” Directed by Robert Rodriguez, it is the 2nd and final movie in Frank Miller’s Sin City adaptations. I own the first one and have watched it many times, but this is only the 2nd time seeing this one. I had forgotten what a fabulously stacked ensemble was in it. It’s not for the squeamish, but if you liked the first one, you’ll love this one.

OK, that’s about it for me for this week’s FFF. Hope you all are enjoying your Friday and wish you all a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!