Canadian Thanksgiving, Monday, October 8, 2007

This is where I spent many happy years with Edgar before the cancer.

I don't think I could go back now.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Marine Forecast issued for Lake Ontario. Issued: 10.30 AM EDT Tuesday 9 October 2007 for the period ending at 10.30 AM Wednesday with an outlook for the following 24 hours.
Forecast: ..Small craft wind warning in effect.. Wind northeast 20 knots diminishing to east 15 this afternoon and to light and variable this evening. Scattered showers with isolated thunderstorms tapering to isolated showers. Waves 1 metre or less. Outlook..Light and variable becoming southerlies then veering to moderate westerlies.

The rain came shortly after the cold front passed bringing much needed rain. It is early and I have to change that habit this week as training for the new job is late meaning it is time to mess with my sleep cycle and black out the aft cabin so I can sleep in a bit later.

I had a house full of cats when I got moving and don't have the heart to be outright nasty to Clyde, I only wish he would leave his social a visiting early evening. Defiance is Rufus's home and as his vision gets worse I want him to have a safe place . Unfortunately, I suspect Rufus is making up for his beginnings in a cat rescue and prefers to be out roaming the marina than hanging around inside. He is so sweet and without a doubt working his own cat motivation as it is not as if he has moved in. In fact he is around less this week and I see him up at the Sunnydale workshop hanging out with the guys. The sneak, I bet he is just doing his "rounds" and I am but one of several stops and many people that he says hello to in a day.

Uncle Sam needs an election. Not only is the Loonie better than par and the country mired in another mindless war. The United States Immigration Service is making extensive sweeps of workplaces and are now targeting those who have come in contact with the law. Orwell was getting close. How long before they want DNA and other biometrics on our passports? Passports, travel documents what country are we in? It will not be long before the next evolution of paranoid North America will make Passports required for all and it will need to carried for internal travel. Other than being between me and the south I do not regret moving back to Canada for my old age. Go Hillary!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Five more days to full time work and I am running out of time to get stuff done. On the other hand I am almost looking fo reward to the predictability of a paycheck. Defiance and this bottom has distracted me too long. Time to get back to tending the cash flow.

That was a good rain last night. Dawn crept in this morning with the sun hiding behind wet clouds and a light breeze. Hard on the project, but we need a lot more to build up some of these water levels. Lake Ontario is quite low and it will take a winter of heavy snow to replenish the watershed. Speaking of watershed that where my days project will take me, right after getting the car serviced I am back to finish cleaning out dead storage north.

It is about time because a lot of it is heavy garage tools and boxes and boxes of video tape. So far about a third heads straight to the thrift shop, a third for heavy sorting and disposal, and a third is house keeper stuff. Today will be tougher as now I will be down to boxes not Rubbermaid bins, and I can see several are wet and the mice have hit some as well so this run may generate a lot of garbage.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

This fall does not seem to want me ever catching up on "Must Do" projects. Here I had though that I would have a week to orderly address Defiance's keel and instead I end up loosing my deep storage on immediately effective notice. Thursday did have a bonus in that Tamarack Jack (Norm)| came up with me to give me a hand. The day was cool with threatening rain clouds that finally decided to disgorge their contents once we started emptying the trailer. It did not take long outside before I had achieved a very damp persona that left me chilled long after we started back. On the other hand I knew it was comming one day soon as the trailer had died long ago and only thRubbermaidid bins protected stuff.

The trip back was in the dark at 80 clicks as the little trailer could use shocks and the wally-woos on some parts of 62 would set up a horrible gyration. We did make it back and get it put away in time to vote.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Marine Forecast issued for Lake Ontario. Issued: 3.00 AM EDT Friday 12 October 2007 for the period ending at 3.00 AM Saturday with an outlook for the following 24 hours.
Forecast: ..Small craft wind warning in effect.. Wind north 20 knots backing to northwest near noon. Wind further backing to west 15 this evening. Isolated showers. Waves 1 to 2 metres. Outlook..Moderate to strong westerlies.

Today is the move to Defiance's final winter spot on the hard and absolutely nothing more has gotten done on the keel! At this rate of progress I will be lucky to get the keel bottom finished before the snow flies let alone finish the entire bottom. Ah well, Rick has been very good and put down some gravel on the one side making the spot work friendly. Once I get the shelter erected it will make welding much easier without wind or rain.

The move ran a little behind and the trailer blew a tire moving the actual move until after lunch. Overall things went smoothly and the modifications to the trailer were more than adequate to support Defiance. Rufus on the other hand was not too sure about all the shifting around.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

This was another crunch day as this weekend is the last of my own time before I start the new job. I did get all the winter plywood that had been the aft dodger and deck insulation from the shop and get a good start on a good winter cover. It is all critical that this cover be a work of temporary are as for progress to move ahead smoothly I need the space under Defiance dry and without wind. Then of course comes the big sandblast.

Never let it be said that I do not do a job of recycling. This is the 4th annd fifth year that I have used the 3/8" ply that is now a template for a aft dodger. See winter 2006/7 By the end of Sunday I had pretty much gotten the shape of the work shelter roughed in and will have to finish it in the morning. Don't worry once the poly and white tarps are staple and secured in place Defiance will have a relativly good looking white skirt.