What a week it was. Let's see if I can recall the goings-ons to help settle my nerves….Concurrently, I'm in (or was in) a rush to button up the electrical service for inspection so we can get the power flowing from the PoCo. Juggling arrangements for the cherry-picker to finish the front fascias before a crafty bird decides to move in. Playing JIT with the pumphouse build. Figuring and ordering the Formica sheet goods for the kitchen, searching for the perfect brick, and knocking out the day-to-day tasks that keep the wheels turning. In the past, April was the big spin-up month after a slow winter, with May reaching new heights of activity, but this past winter wasn't as loathesome as the previous, and having side soffits in made working out there all the more tolerable during the cold months, so I didn't get much of a break this year.
Getting the secondary feed in place meant visiting the local electrical supply house for a meter base specific to the local PoCo ($$), then trenching in conduit and 4/0 aluminum. Then locating a suitable 200A weatherproof disconnect (special order, but available, thankfully). Since these parts end up in the pumphouse, that structure has to exist. The framing plans had been done for some time now, but getting the necessary siding, ripping it lengthwise and then cutting the sections to width took a little doing. I put the framing up Friday after ordering the formica and picking up my brick samples, then plumbed in half the service conductors into the disconnect that afternoon. Took note of what was needed and added it to my list of lumber to acquire Saturday morning (needed to construct the roof). I was in good shape inside the lodge, having fought the heavy cables previously in the week and landing them in their terminals. Plus getting the low-voltage relays connected, the water heater bypass switch operable, etc. Friday night: The PL with Cara, and a drop-in from Ben.
Confession time: I took Monday evening off. Between leaving work late, struggling to keep my eyes open, and skies threatening, I finished up some geometry on the ol' PowerBook and took in Two-Lane Blacktop, compliments of Cam.
And the geometry paid off. After braving the box stores Saturday morning, I cut up the majority of the roof 2x6's, gave a tour of the place to the visiting grandparents, and finished up the total pumphouse electrical conduit run, after capping the walls with 10' plates. We're now ready for inspection, and ready for a roof. Finished up at 7PM and enjoyed the sundown with Dick Bartley, cold cider, Computing Before Computers, and my pipe. Perfection. Joined Cam at the PL at 9 and won a few rounds of pool before playing teams and losing to a guy that could barely stand up. After our 10 free juke selections had played out, we headed downtown for a cold one at the Cypress before closing up shop around midnight. Not bad at all.
Sunday AM, back over to W'loo, then out for more sun (and sweat). By late afternoon the sections were ready for assembly and I had the 18x18x14 roof put together with the minimal number of parts to allow it to be carried over for installation (tentative help today). Headed in to the parents with the tools and helped correct a crooked deck step that had heaved every which way over the years. Then home for shower and a dinner, and Cool Hand Luke.
OK, so if I keep running at full steam I should be able to put a lot of this to bed, but it'll take all of this month. It seems that if I have a general interest in a project, I can manage it no problem. Tasks are broken down by days, weeks and months, many contingent upon other seemingly unrelated tasks. All on a sliding scale to accommodate new issues that pop up, or a day or two of slack that can be better utilized. You wouldn't want to install carpeting, then weld the adjacent railing. But carpet has a lead time so it should be ordered early. However, you can't weld the railing without power (which we don't have). If you get the pex crimper for a day you want to make the most of it to attach all the final stops for the sinks and such, but you can't do that upstairs unless the vanity is in. Can't put the vanity in (even though it's built) without tile in place. But you don't want to install the kitchen countertops before the valves downstairs, so you have to strike a compromise of all the events those requirements hinge upon. I could tile the bathroom now, but it makes more sense to spend a weekend on the garage doors so the masonry boundaries are defined.
The wrench in the works is that I'm also getting one car ready for eb*y, and another fully roadworthy ASAP (waiting on parts, now). One less car in the driveway means the '59 can come out to play.
And lest we forget, Damfest!
Post Script: The roof has been hefted and installed!
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