The long and the short of it…. As it turns out, the Panthers lost. Further grim news was that I'd be working a full 8 hours Saturday, starting at 6AM. The Saturday part I can deal with, but the implications of such news would drive a saner person to bed down early Friday night, completely deflating the self-set expectation of blowing off a little steam after a long week of OT. Suffering through the "saner" approach once already, I decided first to work on the lodge after leaving work, then, once home, discovered half a dozen phone calls on my cell about catching the game downtown at 8:30. Well, fine then. It was a pretty decent time though there's only so much Grainbelt I could take and the beer on tap was fairly high caliber for my, shall we say, traditional, palate. Got home in time to catch the last two minutes of the game, then caught a couple hours sleep.
The line ran somewhere between fair and poor the next day and I was pretty whooped by the time I walked out into the open air having dealt with fire-fighting and crappy attitudes. Pointed the blazer towards the parents, caught my second wind, and met Cam and Ben to lend a hand pulling an engine off a stand in the basement. From there, some cold brews, a heater working overtime, and an evening of engine removal and teardown on the '59. Cara stopped out but was none-too impressed with the situation. Meanwhile, we were celebrating our victory of liberating the engine from its bay in record time, without damage to it, or the car. We topped the night off with a sampling of quadraphonic cuts upstairs and a very questionable game of Go Fish. Totally exhausted, I made it back to the apt and collapsed.
The trailing downside of the Saturday-workday is the "lost weekend" feeling. I slept in Sunday as best I could, got myself out of bed to the welcome sight of sunshine, watched Cara go gangbusters cleaning up the porch, and got myself in gear to work on the side deck. A little windy, but you didn't need much of a jacket in the mid-day sun, as long as you kept moving. First though, was a yard cleanup. Took down the snow fences and posts, gathered the scrap wood, tightened down the canvas tarp and moved some steel stock. By "country" standards the yard is just dandy, but the toll of "clutter" is warping my brain. The yard may be my last refuge! We live in a small apartment with Cara's worldly posessions, shared furniture, and my daily things; pretty cramped. Most of my large stuff is packed in the basement not as display but rather an interim 'ready-to-move' basis. Looks like a warehouse in waiting. And then there's the lodge proper, half full of expensive, need-to-keep power tools and materials. Decently arranged, but visually assualting. Everywhere I turn, disorder!
Tackled the side deck while listening to a mix of AM radio and cassettes (huzzah, a player!). Finished up the majority of the planks with the sun threatening to set. Home for a little decompression followed by early bed. Yes, that's right, a week of 4:30 wake-up calls ahead.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Quid Pro Quo
Train wreck. That's how my body felt getting up the past couple days. Almost like the worn-out, hard-as-plywood mattress we've got out at the lodge. I can chalk my aches and pains up to construction-contortions but for whatever reason Cara is really feeling the pain.
Decent weekend with good weather Sunday. Friday, I was worn out from the OT but was still up for a little fun. Picked up my miter saw at Ben's before heading to CF. Met Cam at the PL to blow off some steam. We shot some pool, first against each other (with games rapidly deteriorating), then against a pair of chumps for shots. It all went downhill as I got destracted by the juke, and the other fellow got distracted by beer. In the end, all 4 of us were taking turns chasing the 8 ball around the table to the point that we sulked away embarassed. No shots were purchased.
It's clear spring is on the way. Of course the weather is improving, but the attraction of the PL is waning. The last handful of visits have been lackluster, not the least of reasons I can pin on the surly service from Mel, Miller and co. You'd think someone might offer a hello with the coin we spend there. Friday nights'll be better spent gathering 'round a bonfire or chatting it up on the deck in the sweet spring/summer air; a dollar goes further, too.
Up with the alarm Saturday for an estate sale where Cara and I ran into my parents, who tipped us off on a tag sale in W'loo. Our plan of heading directly to CR was delayed slightly by major re-org time in the back of the Blazer, trying to arrange a dresser, "Roto-Oven 400", cocktail cart and other misc finds (plus the miter saw, still riding with us). The Blazer's radio's rear channels finally went the total freakout route (gotta be bad caps) so we rolled along without the distraction of those commercial broadcasts. Once in CR, I spotted a new church addition that looks like it could have come from my hand (I say that with as little ego as possible), so we stopped for a photoset.
The restore failed to live up to past expections since their policies have shifted to carrying only newer or contemporary colors and fixtures, however, we did score some fixed tempered lites in frames and 4 complete miami window units for Cara's cabin. Pricing was decent, too. Next issue….how to fit 7 windows into the blazer on top of everything else.
Our return trip turned out to be fairly…interesting. CR to Palo, through Shellsburg, Vinton, Dysart, and Traer. Now we both know what "wind up in Traer" means. The original mission was to head for Steamboat Rock but we aborted after considering just how far out of the way it was. Plus we still had this load to, unload. Late afternoon, hit up the parents' place with the rats and laundry. Made a quick trip to the lodge to unload the goods and survey the outer yard. Showed Cara the progress upstairs. Then more laundry, home, and kaput. Full, productive day, to be sure.
Sunday, then, wasn't too bad. For once we had good temps and sun, but a coat was still recommended. I toiled at the lodge, carpetting in the closet, more side deck work, but my mind (and body) were elsewhere. Some leading-edge blocking and landscape cloth and the deck'll be ready for the planks (which I still have to rip lengthwise). With not a trace of August humidity in the air, wasps building nests, nor a weed to obscure the vehicle, I pulled out some cardboard and went about removing the front end and bumper from the Fleetwood in the yard. Few more pieces of trim and interior to yank and it'll be ready for the scrapper.
Now if I only had a place to store this stuff.
Decent weekend with good weather Sunday. Friday, I was worn out from the OT but was still up for a little fun. Picked up my miter saw at Ben's before heading to CF. Met Cam at the PL to blow off some steam. We shot some pool, first against each other (with games rapidly deteriorating), then against a pair of chumps for shots. It all went downhill as I got destracted by the juke, and the other fellow got distracted by beer. In the end, all 4 of us were taking turns chasing the 8 ball around the table to the point that we sulked away embarassed. No shots were purchased.
It's clear spring is on the way. Of course the weather is improving, but the attraction of the PL is waning. The last handful of visits have been lackluster, not the least of reasons I can pin on the surly service from Mel, Miller and co. You'd think someone might offer a hello with the coin we spend there. Friday nights'll be better spent gathering 'round a bonfire or chatting it up on the deck in the sweet spring/summer air; a dollar goes further, too.
Up with the alarm Saturday for an estate sale where Cara and I ran into my parents, who tipped us off on a tag sale in W'loo. Our plan of heading directly to CR was delayed slightly by major re-org time in the back of the Blazer, trying to arrange a dresser, "Roto-Oven 400", cocktail cart and other misc finds (plus the miter saw, still riding with us). The Blazer's radio's rear channels finally went the total freakout route (gotta be bad caps) so we rolled along without the distraction of those commercial broadcasts. Once in CR, I spotted a new church addition that looks like it could have come from my hand (I say that with as little ego as possible), so we stopped for a photoset.
The restore failed to live up to past expections since their policies have shifted to carrying only newer or contemporary colors and fixtures, however, we did score some fixed tempered lites in frames and 4 complete miami window units for Cara's cabin. Pricing was decent, too. Next issue….how to fit 7 windows into the blazer on top of everything else.
Our return trip turned out to be fairly…interesting. CR to Palo, through Shellsburg, Vinton, Dysart, and Traer. Now we both know what "wind up in Traer" means. The original mission was to head for Steamboat Rock but we aborted after considering just how far out of the way it was. Plus we still had this load to, unload. Late afternoon, hit up the parents' place with the rats and laundry. Made a quick trip to the lodge to unload the goods and survey the outer yard. Showed Cara the progress upstairs. Then more laundry, home, and kaput. Full, productive day, to be sure.
Sunday, then, wasn't too bad. For once we had good temps and sun, but a coat was still recommended. I toiled at the lodge, carpetting in the closet, more side deck work, but my mind (and body) were elsewhere. Some leading-edge blocking and landscape cloth and the deck'll be ready for the planks (which I still have to rip lengthwise). With not a trace of August humidity in the air, wasps building nests, nor a weed to obscure the vehicle, I pulled out some cardboard and went about removing the front end and bumper from the Fleetwood in the yard. Few more pieces of trim and interior to yank and it'll be ready for the scrapper.
Now if I only had a place to store this stuff.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Fibonacci's Corduory Conundrum
3/14/10- First day of lodge access.
A bit of a blur but this is how I recall it going down. Sunday- made a stab at heading to the lodge…and succeeded! Still some soggy, heavy, muddy snow blocking parts of the lane in, but once out there, I got busy. Opened some windows and aired the place out. Took off my coat and opened the shellac. Carefully measured the upstairs runs and corners and with only the table saw for assistance, I cut trim to length and shellaced 'em in the sunshine. While drying, I got the closet finished up, charged the compressor and surveyed the open list items. Installed what I could of the baseboard in the bedroom before the clock said it was time to go (actually, all the stock on hand). Had a good sit for a few minutes out on the deck admiring the neighbor's water-front property, then loaded the truck with trash cans and departed.
Still more OT spent at work for the week with a 3:30 reprieve Wednesday. Left work at 4, home at 4:30 to change and pick up my phone, then lodge at 5. Another "big" task closer to completion. The lower side deck still needed supports and joists…with angles. I finished the underpinnings just before the snow came on and there she sat for the winter. Got the difficult stuff done, then shellac'd more trim that I had picked up Monday night after work…..which brings us to…..
Thursday. I realized the night before after getting home that the shellac'd trim was still outside. Shellac and moisture do not mix. This was confirmed Thursday at 6:30 when I got the lodge. So- sand, couple coats of touchup, make a few cuts, move a few things upstairs, and at 7:30, trim was in. Bedroom 94% complete. Now I need the miter saw. Gotta say, even being "worn out": crossing things off my list and taking in the evening light feels 'good'.
Now, on the cusp of a Friday evening, heavy head and a long week behind me. Time to enjoy a bit.
You've Got to Get Up Pretty Early to Beat a Nazi Dictator
Apologies for the slacking, been too darn busy at work lately to bang one out. Get a couple hours of freedom, then hit the sack and do it over again. I figure I can keep it up for a couple more months, pay for an engine rebuild, throw a few bills at cold storage 2, then look for new opportunities when the Iowa summer comes alive. 2010, a pivotal summer to be sure.
I may have mentioned this theory before, but batting it around recently at the PL with Ben brings it back to the top of the heap. Lots was discussed, including "lucky money". There are those that think they should get paid more no matter what they currently make; these people tend to complain incessently about everything. But on the flip side there are those making average incomes for work the individual feels they're being over-paid for. Lucky Money. The more I think about it though, it comes down to the worker's mentality because let's be honest, you can lose a ten dollar bill on a can of good coffee and a loaf of bread, and the more I look around, the more I realize how little work ethic and honest skillset is available on the market. And while flipping burgers at McD's may be the cliché'd pissant job, someone that digs ditches for a living in the summer heat might think a clean uniform and air conditioning for minimum wage is Lucky Money. Perspective I guess.
Had a grand weekend- after an atypical Thursday night out, I was starting to drag by the time I got home Friday at 6. Picked up Cara and stopped at the parents, who were back from their lengthy excursion down South. Nothing ground-breaking to note in the few minutes I was there; swapped stories, then bustled back to the apt to change. Made it downtown at 8 and met up with Ben at Toad's for a gut-busting chicken sandwich and frosty mugs of Coors (ahem, light). After dinner the three of us dropped in on the PL for a drink and were appalled at the scene- the place was loaded with 20-somethings and the roar of conversation and tunes on the juke was deafening. Ben, no doubt tired from standing at the bar, took his leave with us nipping at his heels. No sleeping in Saturday, had a job to do.
Up with the alarm, dressed, coffee at kwikstar and on the road. Spent the day helping a friend sheetrock a ceiling…. 3 scaffolds up! Perfect day for it as the weather was generally gray all day so no loss on outside activities. By dark we had the final panels up and I pointed the Blazer back towards CF. Got home, toiled at some design, then passed out.
I may have mentioned this theory before, but batting it around recently at the PL with Ben brings it back to the top of the heap. Lots was discussed, including "lucky money". There are those that think they should get paid more no matter what they currently make; these people tend to complain incessently about everything. But on the flip side there are those making average incomes for work the individual feels they're being over-paid for. Lucky Money. The more I think about it though, it comes down to the worker's mentality because let's be honest, you can lose a ten dollar bill on a can of good coffee and a loaf of bread, and the more I look around, the more I realize how little work ethic and honest skillset is available on the market. And while flipping burgers at McD's may be the cliché'd pissant job, someone that digs ditches for a living in the summer heat might think a clean uniform and air conditioning for minimum wage is Lucky Money. Perspective I guess.
Had a grand weekend- after an atypical Thursday night out, I was starting to drag by the time I got home Friday at 6. Picked up Cara and stopped at the parents, who were back from their lengthy excursion down South. Nothing ground-breaking to note in the few minutes I was there; swapped stories, then bustled back to the apt to change. Made it downtown at 8 and met up with Ben at Toad's for a gut-busting chicken sandwich and frosty mugs of Coors (ahem, light). After dinner the three of us dropped in on the PL for a drink and were appalled at the scene- the place was loaded with 20-somethings and the roar of conversation and tunes on the juke was deafening. Ben, no doubt tired from standing at the bar, took his leave with us nipping at his heels. No sleeping in Saturday, had a job to do.
Up with the alarm, dressed, coffee at kwikstar and on the road. Spent the day helping a friend sheetrock a ceiling…. 3 scaffolds up! Perfect day for it as the weather was generally gray all day so no loss on outside activities. By dark we had the final panels up and I pointed the Blazer back towards CF. Got home, toiled at some design, then passed out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)