Local Effort

I often refer to local effort.  That was the evaluation the Minnesota Department of Revenue did on a yearly basis when I worked.  It was my job to keep pace with values for taxation based on sale trends on all classification of taxable properties in Watonwan County.  If I did not do it fairly and equitably, the state did a blanket state raise with no recourse.  It did keep one on their toes.

Since I retired in 1999, local effort is alive and well on Stauffer Avenue.  It is no longer a yearly review, it is a daily one.  No matter how small our home, there is always something to do to keep it on track.  One day there is something that was seen but overlooked until sometime later or another day.  One day turns to two, to a week, to a month.  Multiple items; multiple days can easily take our home down a rabbit hole.  Then . . . where to begin?

Dennis says I am a task master.  I am kind of proud about that title.  Dennis doesn’t realize it, but over our decades together, I happily share that title with him.

Yesterday he noticed there was something on the little red pickup’s garage floor that resembled “wet.”  When he came in for afternoon coffee yesterday he commented when he came home from getting a pack of cigarettes, the red brake light in the dash of the little red pickup was on.

Dennis called Rod Rushing right away.  As luck would have it, Rod Rushing had had a cancelation for this morning and if Dennis could have the little red pickup out to his shop by seven, he would take a look at it.  We got up early and I followed Dennis and picked him up, leaving Rod to his work.

On this sunny bright day, it is mid afternoon and the little red pickup is back in its garage.  The problem with the red brake light was that the left rear cylinder needed replacing.  Rod called us at noon. I gave Dennis a ride, the bill got paid and all is well.

Local effort on Stauffer Avenue is alive and well.

My day was equally productive as I went through some items in the closet seeking a better solution for extra bedding.  I found it.  No . . . I have not found that easy way of folding fitted sheets.  What I can do is make that process as tidy as my arms will work.  Mission completion.

The city is sweeping the gutters past our house.  Talk about a dust fest.

With that I will take my leave.  ♥