Home - Thursday Evening - June 25th
Time to paint the engine.
Before I delve into that, there are some of you who claim to have an interest in these ramblings. Let me share some insight as to my quest.
First off, I really get nutz when I put a thing down, take three steps and can not find it again. It drives me really, totally, wild. I usually find it, or like my 1" brush, I just go buy another one. Why? I did not buy a 1" to start with, but a 1 1/2" which I had right off, but forgot. Anyway, the 1" did a great job.
Btw, I buy the best brush I can find. And I clean them thoroughly when finished. I have some well over thirty years old that are doing the job quite nicely. Same with paint cans. The primer I used was Rust Oleum which I purchased at least ten years ago. Clean the lid, wipe the top and it will be just as you left it.
I totally underestimated the energy reserves necessary to finish The Dream. One nice thing now is, whatever does get accomplished, is permanent and one less thing to do again.
As far as cost goes, yes, it mounts up. I paid as much for the boat as I did for a Canon Digital camera in 1991 for my fledging studio. But when Empty Pockets -is- finished, it will really look nice and spanky bright. Just right for Mr and Mrs Dokken to enjoy, and dream of those times something bigger will be in our future.
Both the vessel, and the carpet of water we will travel upon to those distant shores we dream of.
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On another note, progress has slowed and that too, ticks me off. I have not been feeling good for the past 4-5 weeks. I am so very, very tired. I get home from work and I am absolutely exhausted. If I lay down for a minute, I wake up two hours later. I went to the Doctor yesterday, to be seen by a Nurse Practitioner. I am still tired and if I pay for a Doctor, I want to see a Doctor.
Here I am, in prime time, and Empty Pockets is not ready to sail.
So, with persistence being the key, I will keep on trudging along.
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My neighbor has cancer and is terminal. Fifty one years of age.
Last week, I was talking to a good friend who was going to spend the weekend in Mankato. I mentioned I knew a Pastor who lived there and had died of Lou Gehrig's disease. While chatting, I got on Google and there Don Roberts was. Alive and very sick since 1995. He published a book, a collection of a column from his church's monthly newsletter.
I knew Don. I was on the Bd of Deacons and had a hand in his Call to First Lutheran in Red Wing. Helped him move to Red Wing. A very kind and decent man. One you meet just once in a while.
I ordered his book from his wife. For me and for my neighbor. I encourage you to do the same. Who knows, you may find something useful inside from a man who is coping with one of life's severest blows. The inability to speak, or move anything except his eyes.
All the pieces laid down nicely and I will sand off the glue on my Sears and Roebuck belt sander. Then, three coats of varnish and it will go back in place.
Sometimes I make photos for future reference. "What size was the bolt?" "Where does this go?" And "What was that dimension?"
The new holding tank arrived with the reworked water tank.
I could not figure why the original had the vent for the holding tank in the upper right corner. Why not put it on the left side closer to the vent on deck?
Well, if we were healed over far enough to Port, then the contents (even when half full) could flow through the vent tubing and on deck. This way, the vent being to the upper right, the hole will always be higher than the contents. Hence, no draining.
The water tank, being just the opposite. Healed over far enough and outside water can drain down into the fresh water. I will find a way to minimize that as I located the tank vent on the same side as the deck vent. Ooops ...
Parts to paint. (Some painted)
It is alot easier if one has the patience to prep all the parts, prime all the parts, then paint one color after another til finished. Me? Too impatient, I guess.
I did most of the starter and perched it in a bucket so the paint would not stick to the paper of the table. Will do the rest tomorrow night.
Sometimes you make do for items you can not set on the paper.
Before. I decided to remove most of the lines and get them out of the way. I will clear lacquer them and replace them.
After.
I removed the tape to see the effect of shiny lines on shiny paint. They will look good. Same with the hardware.
I ordered a replacement decal from Australia. This one, is just a tad bigger than the old one. But, maybe it will work out okay.
Later ...