Random thoughts from the moose cave.

fell down.

I felt the flare coming about the same time I realized we were not gonna get any rain...

so I am still sandblasting, but being a lot more comfortable all covered up.

I got plenty of ways to warm it back up for primer when I get there...

one step at a time, even if it kills me.

not gonna paint it until I say it's ready to cover up.

being a perfectionist sucks sometimes...

the headache is strong today.

the barometer has been rising steadily to 29.5...

looked at benadryl from wally's but it wasn't in the budget that day.

havin a cuppa before I go get all bedouin with the vert.

I hate this part...

old imbedded memory surfacing...

when I was a wee rock, the family (before it got all weird) used to take a summer vacation.

driving around Kansas and checking out little museums.

and staying at a motel with a pool. (I liked to swim then)

but every morning, I wanted hot tea.

and the "english" tea I got because I can't find any EG right now reminds me of the restaurant tea I used to have with my pancakes...

somewhere I found Scottish Breakfast tea

nevah heard a that before - tasty though

I've been working out of a different office most of the week. Auditing files. I think they were a bit surprised to see me pull a big box of tea out of my knapsack when I was setting up in the mini-boardroom. I want tasty tea, so I bring my own. Seems obvious to me.

Watch that barometer.

I had to take a break, my compressor is getting hot.

sandblasting is not it's favorite task either.

but I'm over a quarter done, and it is beautiful.

it leaves a nice finish for the epoxy primer to bite.

all I will hafta do is vacuum the hell outta it to get the sand gone, then wipe it with solvent and start squirting paint...

with the cold weather, I am not nearly so sandy.

still gonna need a shower when I get done.

gotta look at the weather to decide what day is paint day.

no rain on the horizon, I'm doing the happy dance.

Ima get over the hump, and be ready for finish work real soon...

I will have used almost 600 pounds of sand by the time I am done.

it's very windy tonight, so I am able to share some of it with my neighbors...

he came over to check out what I was doing earlier.

most of it is over his head, but he thought it was cool.

just wanted to see what the commotion has been of late at my place.

been busy.

lotsa strange noises and stuff.

I think Ima set my stove on my next break.

gonna hafta run in shifts so I don't hurt the compressor.

I bet my electric bill is nothing to sneeze at this month...

done for tonight.

over half way around the car, and I started on the worst rust. (the windshield frame and right front corner)

it looks fabulous.

and I'm outta sand. used 150 pounds tonight...

having a bowl o noodles to warm up.

it's 32 outside...

and I fired up my little heater in the bedroom.

when I wake up, there will be a cat on either side of it...

I hope my baby kitty finds a warm spot tonight. her fur is getting verra thick. she let me pet her the whole time she was eating tonight. even sits with her back to me so the other cats can eat and watch me.

she's not skeered of me any more.

mebbe we can get to some laptime soon...

Zzzzzz.

Rockhead wrote "I'm outta sand. used 150 pounds tonight..."

i sanded a kitchen table set once, it was so much fun! Yhanks for the memory jar.

sure.

apples, oranges, whatever works...

I'm into my stage window now. no more vw until Sunday.

gonna run to town and get a rigging lesson before I begin, so I don't look like a rookie.

and grab a salmon dinner, I think.

it's all about being good for tomorrow now.

oh, and I'm cultivating a new look.

I found a really cool bag o' welding beanies amongst the crispy kid's old junk.

one is black leather with red flames.

I kinda feel like a biker pope...

(mebbe I can get gram to take o picture of me again. it's been a while)

home.

had my rigging lesson. I know what all the symbols mean, and the size breakdown on bridles and buckles.

got gram to the pharmacy.

stopped at mr vw's and printed my last twenty cards. gonna hafta buy some more stock...

stopped and fed all the animals. hadda untangle ruby from the car. and I closed down the door. gonna be real cold tonight. I'll stop and open it as I head for the arena in the morning...

havin a cuppa decaf earl grey with honey.

trying to figure out how to go to sleep 5 hours early.

gonna try and be up at 5:30.

I bought a new alarm clock. stinky doesn't like it. when I tested it, he went running into the other room...

I really hope not to be foggy tomorrow. unlike being a hand, we will start off using our brains. mr vw will be pushing boxes for the first coupla hours. we will start hanging motor points as soon as we hit the grid...

urf.

dog I hate mornings...

but there ain't gonna be any sleeping through the new alarm.

if I can scrape stinky offa the ceiling...

he's not a fan.

but I'm awake.

and the dryer is running, and my second heater is in the bathroom for my shower.

I think Ima be ok by 8...

even saw my lucky star this morning.

well...........

I don't love my new job yet.

but I managed to do it...

there were 4 of us that had never been up before.

2 of them still haven't. they took a look at it from the catwalk and said they couldn't go out on the beams...

I did ok on the 12 inch wide girders.

and I held my own pulling up a hundred pound rope. and cabling the line to the girders.

but the 6 inch beam almost broke me. no room for error, and I was unable to find a comfort zone perch. and we had a snag...

I locked it down with my foot and called for help.

and we made it through the point without further troubles.

but I felt the panic impulse, and was able to choke it back...

I think he wants me on the ground tonight to learn that side of it, and that is WAY fine by me.

my butthole might unclench by sometime next week...

Biker Pope with a clenched butt.


What a vision.

only me and the girder knew aboot the last part.

I passed.

got a lotta stories about other guys first times.

there is a lot of camaraderie a hundred feet in the sky.

and if I continue to do this, I want to own my own harness...

My beloved grandpa walked the high girders of Noo Yawk. In wind an other not good conditions. My advice. Don't fall.

B, that's very very good advice...

I think you got some of his spirit.

my grandfather was an accountant...

(and the arena is wind free.)

nukin' some noodles.

sitting here with a rope tieing and untieing bowline knots.

gonna be able to do it in the dark before I 'm done.

one step closer to being a sailor...

ok.

I can now tie both knots on command.

prolly won't matter a lot tonight.

be busting down a lot of steel I would guess.

I'm about as fast at that as anyone we've got. and I can receive pointers on what is why as we go.

unless I go back up...