05/25/2007
Today was the start of the long weekend for us. Michael had to go into work for half a day, then it was off to work on the boat for 3 solid days... or so we thought.
We all got up early about 5:30 (ick!), had ourselves showers and got our bags put into the back of the truck. We had loaded most of it the night before, so the load up went quickly. The kids and I dropped Michael off to work and went to the boat. We were going to get it all set up, get some schoolwork done and some small tasks done before we had to leave at 11:30 or so to pick up Michael. As I neared the property I noticed how much rain they had, there were puddles in the road which was unusual. I got to the start of Bernie's driveway and half way along, plopped down in the middle of the road was a dumptruck load full of chewed up asphalt. I drove up to it and got out. I looked at the grass next to it and back at the pile. There were tire tracks in the grass, but there was also a puddle and deep tracks. I had a temporary loss of sanity and had a brief panic attack. Yes, stupid I know.. but it happened.
I got back to the truck and started to back up the hill to get cell phone reception. Mikey said excitedly to me "Are we going to jump it?" It's funny now, but at the time I didn't laugh. I told him no, although that option was a valid one in my state of mind.
I called Michael. He was busy and had to get back to me. I asked them to have him call me right away. Well of course, he thought someone had died and I got a little upset. It WAS an emergency in my mind! I didn't know what to do. I had decided it wasn't worth the risk to get stuck because then I wouldn't be able to go get Michael and he would be upset at me. Nope, not worth it. He called back and agreed with my assessment... after telling me not to worry him like that.
So we drove back to Michael's office and found a nice warm spot in the parking lot. I knew Michael had an important meeting so we stayed in the truck. I was very tired from being up so early (I detest early mornings) and so took a nap. At about 11 Michael called me, he didn't even know we were outside. We came inside and eventually went back outside so Michael could get some work done and get out of there for the weekend. Luckily for us the guys in the warehouse were having a BBQ so we got to eat while we waited.
When we finally got out of there and made it back to the boat with Michael, the puddles had dried up and Michael decided to drive around the asphalt pile. We made it of course, but Michael had at least the foresight to bring a shovel from work incase of stuck-age. Good thinking.
For the rest of the afternoon we were able to get a fair amount of work done. Michael worked on putting the floor back in, and we had a problem. Some of the teak strips we cut yesterday weren't the width of the teak strips on the floor. Say what?! So we focussed on other projects and put in the last floor hatch. Michael also worked on the galley bulkhead repair and I puttered around other areas in the boat. Michael built up the damaged area using scraps of the teak fetches, and it worked beautiful. We had to leave the top section because we had to use penetrating epoxy, but it was only going to arrive from West Marine next Wednesday. Ah well, we still got some work done. I had brought a wallpaper book from Lowes so worked on picking out wallpaper to replace the pulled off stuff.
We made our way into the trailer and found no water on in the kitchen. We thought there was no water at all and knew we could not stay there. We decided to head back that night and we could get more teak cut. I think that was Michael's main reason to go back. I told him not to worry about the difference, it was a repair after all, but he likes things done right. Just as we started to head home, Bernie had come over and told us that the water wasn't working in the kitchen, but did work in the bathroom. At least we could use the toilets, but since Michael had it in his head to get that new teak cut, we still headed out. So we threw our pillows back in the truck and headed back home.
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05/19/2007
We have been working on building a couple new fences at home and have put off coming down last weekend. So this weekend was it.
So... we went to the boat today to get her all set up for more work. We brought the finished settee, floor hatches and repair boards for the floor. We had to make an inventory of what else we needed and what we HAD to get done now. Our priorities are being moved around involuntarily, but we can still do this.
We got the settee in place, figured out how many more floor sections we need to cut and put the floor hatches in place. We tidied up and she looks great. We even put on the seat cushions to look at it. Looks awesome. Now to get the table back. The settee isn't nailed down, but its at least back on the boat. We still have to fix the bulkhead between it and the galley and the port side. But we figure that can be done fairly quickly.
We had the hatches all stacked neatly in the garage, but forgot to screw the hatch lifts on... they were just laying in place. That's OK, I will bring the screws next week and get that done.
While Michael was working on the floor stuff, I removed all the cupboard doors with the caning. I have the items I need to redo them, except wedges of course (ugh!) and will start working on those during the week. We were only at the boat for only a few hours today, but she looks all nice and tidy again, not like a workshop.
Michael is thinking about staying on the boat a couple of nights a week to get some more work done on her. He wants to work on the floors, sanding and putting on the varnish. The hatches look so beautiful I can't wait to see the whole floor done.
When we got home about 4:00, I couldn't sit still. I felt like I should be doing something. So I left Michael to play a computer game and Paisley and I went to Lowe's to look for wallpaper. We need to replace the old stuff that was on there. It is so bad it looks like a hack job. They have patches of it here and there and I absolutely hate it. So I found some that has great potential. I will get the book and take it to the boat next weekend to check. I also checked for veneer for us to use to build up the spot where the plywood was peeling off in layers. Its cheaper for us to use birch with the teak on top that all teak... much cheaper. And then I also found some great wood leveling compound we can use. So it was a very fruitful trip to the store. Now just to put in my orders - woohoo!
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04/28/2007
It was a quick trip to the boat today. We knew the tarp was going to be ripped up and had to come down, but we didn't realize how bad. The tarp was shredded. We get a wicked northern wind where Sand Dollar is standing and just keeps blowing. We got the tarp down, cut off the PVC and picked up the mess. It took us a couple of hours. We then covered the portlights up with makeshift 'plugs' to prevent water from getting in worse that it was. We didn't notice but the cap where the chain comes out was left off. So, the water went right into the bilge. The boat is sitting with the bow slightly down, so it didnt' run out. Ah well. At least it is only a couple of inches and not feet!
I brought a half dozen totes full of food and boat items so we should be pretty much set to go when we start coming down regularly. Now, lets hope the mice have already been fed and there won't be any snackers!
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04/18/2007
I had fun shopping last week. I did my research and bought a new berth light with a xenon bulb. We need to replace all the berth lights (they have those ugly plastic covered ones), but I wanted to see if I like this one before I buy a bunch and discover I don't like them. I didn't use the xenon bulb, but went with an LED one instead. Then I bought a pair of Sensibulb LED replacements for the cabin lights. Again only a pair to see how well they work. If they are good then they will all be replaced.
Next I bought (well this one I had to beg Michael for) was a Pres-N-Snap tool along with 100 SS snaps. I need to make covers for the top deck goods and wanted to have a tool that would make it easier than a hammer. I will keep you posted on how well it works.
I also bought cane and spline to replace the ugly dirty cane that was in the cabinet doors. I bought one with stars instead. To tell you the truth, I don't know if I like it or not... I will have to finish one and find out. This will be my first time doing any caning. I won't be doing that though, until the door is sanded and revarnished. Yeah, more varnishing!
The last thing I have to order right now anyway are a set of hinges for the above cabinet doors. I have one set already, but they aren't the right depth. So off to order another set at $20 a pair. What's the saying BOAT - break out another thousand. Yup, working on that.
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04/03/2007
Our daffodils are up, the weather is warming up and the garage is cleaned up from winter (mostly). We are now targeting to get to the boat this Easter weekend.
I don't know what to expect at the boat. Michael said the tarp was torn when he was there a couple of months ago, so it could be bad. I guess we will have to see.
We have had the floor hatches in our garage since fall. The were about half done but we remedied that yesterday. One of the hatches had the plywood underneath pulling apart, so he epoxied them together and its sitting out in the garage until he removes the clamps (tomorrow). I finished the last one that needed wood filler. Its not as dark as the teak or the white oak, but we keep reminding ourselves that she isn't going to be a new boat. It's the perfectionist streak coming out.
We decided to use 'Ultimate Sole' on the sole. The directions on the site say we need humidity and I don't know how we are going to get it... I guess put pans of water in the garage ... maybe I could boil something out there. Hmmm
We plan on taking the settee, and the floor hatches out to Sand Dollar this weekend and start re-assembling her. It will be nice to have a place to sit and eat again.
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01/07/2007
Michael has been telling me how much he's wanted to be working on the boat stuff in the garage (settee, floor boards). But it got cluttered in the last few months, especially with computer stuff - we built Paisley a new computer for Christmas, and Mikey had some upgrades to his done too. But today I went in there, turned on heater (its FREEZING outside) and worked on tidying it up a bit for him.
He must have been excited about it because he immediately started sanding the corner piece of the settee so it would be flush with the front. He then sanded the plywood to put on another coat. Ahh to be covered in dust once again.
We then brought the settee into the house so I can paint the inside white tomorrow. I am looking forward to filling and sanding those floor hatches. I want a floor I can walk on again without falling in a hole.
Michael and I have already been talking about spring and working on the boat again. His office is moving to only about 20 min away from the boat, rather than an hour. We are excited about spending time on the boat again. Now if she was just on the water...
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01/06/2007
I can now check off one of my items on my 'If I ever get bored, do this' list. I have wanted to get my ham license for quite a while now. It started because I was looking at using Winlink to get email when we are out in mid ocean. I read somewhere I needed to get my general class. Now for those of you who don't know general requires morse code. I tried to learn it, I really did. But, I am a visual learner and I actually could read it better that hear it. I was very discouraged and gave up on it for a while. But recently the FCC announced they were going to get rid of the morse requirement. HOORAY! My motivation to get my license was back, and I had nothing to do for a couple of days.
I decided to study for the technician's class, the first requirement for a ham and a step below general. So once the holidays were over I started to study for the technicians exam. A great resource is QRZ.com I asked Michael if he could mind me going and taking the test, he asked me when and I told him I wanted to take one in three days. He said he wanted to take it with me, so I found a test a few days later and Michael studied like crazy.
We got to the testing place and got the testing done in about 20 minutes. As I figured, I was the only girl. Michael and I both passed our exams. I already call myself a geek, but now I think I can proudly call myself 'ubergeek'. Now just to get 'learn spanish' off that to do list.
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12/28/2006
I firstly have to state that I am not insane. Or at least I don't think so. :) Michael and I went out on Friday the 22nd to celebrate our anniversary. Two days prior we had a huge blizzard and this was the first time we went out of the house. I told Michael we could put it off, but after spending 3 hours shovelling out the truck, he was GOING to take me out.
We decided on Papadeaux's Seafood Kitchen restaurant and a movie afterwards. We had fried aligator, wonderful crab and crawfish. It had amazing service and outstanding food. We are definitely going to go back.
Anyway, Michael asked me what I would like for our anniversary next year. I told him to be on the water in our boat in the Bahamas. He said what if we didn't have the boat in the water yet? I laughed and said I still wanted to be in the Bahamas. He said 'You can't have the same gift two years in a row." Say what??
He smiled hugely and said he had been squirreling away money. He had done tons of research and arranged for us to fly down and stay on Bernie's boat for a week to 10 days. All he had to do was buy the tickets. He could have bought the tickets but decided to have my final approval.
As we had a great evening we talked about the boat and our dreams. I told Michael how much it mattered to me that he took all this time to do something special for me. However, my ultimate goal is to be on the boat permanently. We talked about what we could use the money for and we ultimately decided on a new deck. We are planning on putting tek-dek down instead of real teak. It will be a gift that gives for years and everytime I get to lay down on it, in the Bahamas perhaps, I can say Michael gave this to me for an anniversary gift. Sure beats saying he gave me a new set of fuel tanks.
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12/08/2006
Michael had time today and was in the area, so he went to check on the boat. There was about 3 to 4 inches of snow, so he decided to walk in rather than try the hill. It stinks going from a 4-wheel drive to a 2-wheel drive truck, but we make due.
We had a wind storm a few weeks ago, and to be honest I was worried about the boat, but didn't have the guts to go check and see if she was lying on her side, or smashed on top of the trailer. I also expected if that happened we would have gotten a call from Bernie (who is in the Bahamas now, btw - sigh)
Michael got up to her and she was still standing great. A couple of the staps could be tightened slightly and the tarp near the front was beating itself into shreds, but it wasn't affecting the upper part at all. She was nice and dry inside.
Michael told me he almost forgot how big and beautiful she is, he walked around her petting her hull... good thing she's a boat. :)
So all is well and we are trying to push through the winter blahs to get more work on her done. We took the floor hatches out last time we were there and have to sand them and fix them up. It helps walking around when there are no holes to fall into. Paisley figured that one out all on her own.
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09/17/2006
Michael worked on the floor hatch by removing the SS lifts, sanding and filling gaps. We also got our very first coat of varnish put onto the drawer fronts, and salon seat parts. It looks great. I am looking forward to seeing it come along.
I got motivated and finally cut out my sunbrella. I cut out, which is really a misnomer to those who have never used sunbrella before. You can't use scissors on it or it will fray terribly. You have to use a heat gun and melt it. At least you don't have to worry about edges that way.
I used some of it to set my sewing machine up with the proper stitch length and tension. I am using white UV resistant thread on the forest green sunbrella. Looks pretty good.
I used the measurements from the handrails and cut the smaller ones out. I thought I would try a small one first. It turned out nice, although I used one of the interior handrails we have here to check out size. I think I may have to make them slightly wider to account for the snaps. Now, I just need snaps.
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