The Mystery of Dust Everywhere: In a DIY (Do It Yourself) magazine that I read regularly, The Family Handyman, there is a page where readers share their classic goofs. I get a huge laugh out of reading those goofs each month. Well, I had one recent project for the record books that garnished not one but two goofs! I’m already laughing just thinking about it.

I was trying to install a TV on a living room wall. Hanging this TV posed a few challenges; but I always love a challenge. The first challenge was that the wall being used was between two bedrooms and each bedroom had a pocket door. The second challenge was that routing the cables from the TV to the cable and DVD boxes behind the wall was not going to be easy because of a horizontal 2x4 that blocked my straight access down to the boxes. I spent a day or so thinking this project through and took diligent measurements to make sure everything would be perfect before I started cutting holes in walls. I was pretty proud of myself when I accurately located the obstructing 2x4 and was able to cut above and below it to create a hole about the size of a single gang electrical box. Then I drilled out about a half inch of the 2x4 to create enough access space to route my cables. My 4 inch Dremel rotary saw came in handy for this part of the project. Having the right tools is always essential! After sitting back and relishing my near perfect work on this small part of the project, I turned around and looked in horror at the disaster left behind. Of course, I didn’t cover anything so I had dust all over this room my parents use! When I saw the mess, I did what I could to keep my parents outside and away from the mess until I cleaned it up. I had dust everywhere!

My attention then turned to the living room wall. Here I needed to make two access holes about the size of a two gang electrical box to route the necessary electrical, HDMI and other cables. My brother-in-law Jim was helping me at this point because, well, I needed help. It was hot and I was sweating at this point. However, I was quite content because the biggest obstacle in routing the cables behind the wall was conquered. I figured the rest of this was going to be a breeze! After confirming all of my measurements, I brought out my rotary saw and started cutting through the knotty pine wall panels. Jim was helping me out by reinstalling some of the moldings we removed. The cable housings fit perfectly in the holes I had cut. I routed all the cables and had them ready for the TV installation. Now my attention turned to the TV bracket. At this point, Jim left and Jackie showed up. Jackie held the bracket as I made sure all was level and perfect; I was confident I had the right measurements and this was going to be a breeze. I drilled my starter holes for the top two screws and then used my drill to install the top screws. After I finished screwing in the second mounting screw I looked in horror at the door. “Jackie, try sliding that door.” I had every intent on extending the one pocket door knowing this second screw might … just might … have gone into the door. Jackie immediately started to laugh. Yep, you guessed it; I drilled right into the door. Jackie was laughing so hard it became contagious. I put my drill in reverse and undid the damage. Thankfully, the hole in the door wasn’t too bad and wood filler (which I keep readily on hand) was going to be my rescue trick. This was an easy fix but Jackie couldn’t stop laughing.

All was set. The TV was now hung, the cables were plugged in and I was quite happy with the results. Jackie decided to help clean up the mess. She started to tackle the dust in the bedroom and was amazed with how the dust traveled everywhere. She then tackled the living room and started grumbling how dust was in and on everything. I mean this dust traveled to the far recesses of the room. Dust was on and under the furniture. It was on knickknacks and wall hangings. But God bless Jackie, she was a trooper and just tackled it. As we finished cleaning up the mess, I was talking out loud trying to figure out why the dust traveled as much as it did; I was really baffled. Jackie finally helped solve the mystery when she in her nice, calm and sisterly type voice reminded me: “Next time, would you please make sure you don’t turn on the ceiling fans and have Jim bring out a box fan when you cut through things. That dust flew EVERYWHERE!” “Oh yeah, I didn’t think about that … I was just trying to create a breeze because I was hot.” I think the cleanup took longer than the actual project! Oh well, I’ll know better next time! And believe me, Jackie will be happy with the learning experience because the next TV installation is at her house!

Little Sisters of the Poor: This weekend, friends of mine from the Little Sisters of the Poor will be speaking at all the masses to share with you the many wonderful ways the Little Sisters care for the elderly poor throughout the world. We will take up a second collection after communion for their ministry.

In a world where the elderly are not always treated with respect, you could walk into one of the Little Sisters Homes and literally feel as if you walked into another Kingdom; because in many ways you WERE walking into the Kingdom of God. These wonderful ladies, who now number close to 2,500 strong working for the aged poor in 234 homes in 30 countries not only take on the three vows of chastity, poverty and obedience but they take on a fourth vow, the vow of hospitality, which guides their profound respect for God’s greatest gift, the gift of life. It doesn’t take long after you’ve walked into one of their homes to witness firsthand the incredible ways they live out the gospel and their sacred vows. Their loving example of service, especially to the elderly poor, stands out as the way par excellence of the life of service that Jesus expects out of us. If you want to witness how to treat, care and love the elderly or the poor, spend some time with the Little Sisters of the Poor.

If you want to learn more about the ministry of the Little Sisters of the Poor, please visit their website at www.littlesistersofthepoor.org.

Know of my prayers. Enjoy the week.

In Christ,

gmb
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