T-Minus 2 Months

(Written Thursday)

This has got to be the longest "short week" that I can recall. We've started every day at 6AM, tentatively running 'til 6:30PM. As if that weren't a good base for a long week, add in a comedy of errors trying to thwart our production each and every day. This has included castings arriving from overseas rusty as all get out and unable to be used, changing our schedule significantly (a pretty important casting). Chassis parts out of tolerance requiring (out of plant) re-work to run (put us a full day behind schedule and caused layoff last week). Managers running around trying to explain why our production is not up to snuff. People just not showing up for work. Parts and pieces getting damaged in-plant. A chassis getting dropped. Paint system failure sending 3rd shift home. Etc. Etc. A full two hours of downtime were accrued yesterday and we still laid off early due to material availability. In short, a long week of fire-fighting. Today started no differently but it will end differently.

Exhausted, but work clothes are in the car and temps are expected to be glorious. After work it's lodge time to tackle some staining, engine parts bagging and cleanup, and side deck work. Nothing too wild, a prelude to tomorrow's list (water on for the season?), with, perhaps, a chance to enjoy the balcony or go out for a drink in the evening (or eat at Denny's, score some hard candy and roll a few hobos). Saturday, more of the same, but a load or two may be heading to the lodge, including the vintage Coldspot fridge.

Which brings me to T-Minus 2 months. 'Month 1' the lodge interior will shake off the cobwebs and accumulations of the past season, the floor will see epoxy, the SE corner will see paint and finishing, and the great move-in will begin with a vengence in 'month 2'. By June 1st, out of the apartment and into the lodge. Last night would have been great to enjoy out there with a drink and a book; winds had died down, sun was out and temps were just right. Lots of people hanging out on rooftops around campus. Me? Dead tired and inside. Soon enough though, soon enough.