Monday. 2PM. Livewire and a chicken salad sandwich. This is what it's become.
OK, time for the weekend recap: While replacing the shocks and front pads on the Blazer recently I noticed the boots on the driver's CV driveshaft had cracked. Not surprising for a vehicle old enough to be in jr. high. Called around last Monday and was able to set something up for Friday. This meant Friday after work driving the '76 to the Rotary (after paying for said automotive services) and walking the tracks in (despite the vehicle being ready). No biggee. Masked around a couple clerestory windows on the interior and proceeded to stain the framing black. Stopped after finishing the first; not entirely sold on the idea. We shall see. Storm was starting to roll in too. It was hot and humid up on the scaffold and frankly, I was ready for a little break. Walked the tracks out, cleaned up and met Ben and Cam at the Panther. The place was busier than usual, likely due to Sturgis Falls driving the downtown crowd up the street. Either way there was a welcoming energy level there. Cara and her friend Brooke stopped in later and them, Ben, and myself threw back a couple red-headed-sluts. Cam abstained, prefering to sip his liquors. I can see his point, but I just don't have the stomach to sip a 'three wise-men'. With Ben having a big day planned and a long drive back to LaPorte, we called it a night pre-12.
Which worked out well since Cara and I also had a big day planned for Saturday. Showered and ready we picked up the blazer at the shop parking lot and headed out to work. Aside from driving into town so I could make lunch, we were out there till 10:30 that night. I cut out the opening in the siding in the kitchen area for the glass block installation and stained the edges. Very weird having light back there. Then took the sawzall and chisel to the framing in a couple spots to true up the opening for the block. Mitered my cedar sills but botched the one miter by an 1/8". It fit pre-chiseling but that framing had to be squared up. New board tonight. Cara rollered the upstairs East and West walls while I masked and painted along the ceiling edge. Fernando stopped out to touch up a couple areas light on texture and pick up some of his stuff. Meanwhile I was priming and painting pegboard downstairs that'll be the backdrop for the row of washers. A different color for each 4x8 sheet. Cara was beat from the start so when I ran out of insulation for the north wall and we were running low on paint she opted to run to Menards (and saved the day). We both slugged through till dark. Finally, after checking the place out by the light of halogen worklights and getting ideas, I ordered up a pizza and we packed up for the night.
I had told Cara we'd have Sunday off but feeling behind and wanting to get things buttoned up before our 4th of July trip, she begrudgingly agreed to help me out there. First things first though, we hit up the Sturgis carshow around noon. An excellent reminder of the days when creative people could trump the beancounters. Not a single Caddy in attendance but I was smitten with a '59 Chevy, a beautiful Ford Skyliner and a '57 Plymouth Belvedere. Cool stuff!
Then we ventured on…first to the parents, then later to the lodge. Cara cleaned the gangway as prep for sealing it. I primed and painted the last sheet of pegboard. Then she cut insulation bats while I worked across the downstairs north wall. Mid-way we were paid a visit by Brent and Tracy. Brent hadn't been out there since near the beginning. We gave 'em the dime tour and kabitzed on the upper deck, noting the wild turkeys running through the field.
Nipping at the heels of 5 o'clock, we finished the insulation and Cara went to run errands. I went to the parents, started laundry and jacked up the Blazer and proceeded to roll around in dirt and shards of rusty metal while using the sawzall to cut out the OEM catalytic converter. All things considered it went pretty well. In tandem, Cara got back and we took _everything_ out of the truck. She set forth vacuuming, I replaced a mudflap liberated by winter's snowy ravages. Despite the unavailability of a 3" tailpipe expander at the parts store, I got the new cat-con and connecting pipe in and the works centered and clamped down. More laundry. Scrubbed floormats. Cleaned the dash. More vacuuming while Cara went home to start dinner. About 9:30, and with everything sorted, stashed in its place, I did the same. Cold beer awaiting. Showered. Entered the weeks' receipts. Hit the hay.
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