This weekend saw no NEW movement on the SUP building. Why you may ask??? Well, I was just being lazy! In fact, it's Sunday and we (yes...MrsBlue and I) never got out of bed nor did we get dressed. Well...technically, we did get out of bed to get some food and perform various little things around the house, but we didn't do ANYTHING and it was NICE!
You may ask, how could someone just lay around in their PJs all day long and not do anything... Well, it's much easier to do than you can imagine. In fact, we took a few little naps throughout the day. I'm not sure what's up, but we just seem to be exhausted right now.
Exhaustion...I'm sure this has nothing to do with our Party Hopping everyone weekend to all of the unit parties. We have been driving around the town, stopping by to wish our holiday best's to all of those in attendance. I will say that several of the units have done quite well with prizes and gifts. I believe most of them have over $1500 in give aways...multiply that by all of the units...equals loads of money!
Also, we had several messages and calls with the Gman today. He's doing a lot of things including the moving (from the sale of his house) and trying to find new employment. Today we knocked off several things on the ToDo list...Resume rewritten--check, Cover Letter written--check, etc. Lord willing, he'll have a job offer soon and be on the road to a new career! I wish him the best in making the transition from his "home grown" entrepreneur plans and moving on to large scale businesses and companies. These Big Businesses offer some stability in regards to pay and benefits.
Hopefully, tomorrow the Gman will have good news and a new JOB!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Friday, December 09, 2011
Eye Opening
There is nothing worse that realizing how "inadequate" you really are! This week I found out that I'm NOT "all that"! In fact, I'm not sure what I am!
I thought after 25 years of service in the Air Force, I would be someone who could easily walk out of the Air Force some day and land a job. However, as I continue to review my "skills" I find that I have really atrophied in my Technology Skills. I guess I'm a manager...but of what? I guess I manage "details"!!!! But not really sure what I am doing or how this relates to my life after the Air Force.
Therefore, I guess I'm going to need to go back to school!!!! I need to refresh my skills and plan for what I want to do in the future. I thought at this point in my life, I would be ready for the impending change of profession, but I not there. At least I'm not ready to make the transition since I need to get back into the books and learn some more IT!
I was always a generalist...now I need to be a specialist! What to specialize in??? HMMMM
Looks like I have the next 5 years to figure out what skills I need to learn to make myself marketable!
I thought after 25 years of service in the Air Force, I would be someone who could easily walk out of the Air Force some day and land a job. However, as I continue to review my "skills" I find that I have really atrophied in my Technology Skills. I guess I'm a manager...but of what? I guess I manage "details"!!!! But not really sure what I am doing or how this relates to my life after the Air Force.
Therefore, I guess I'm going to need to go back to school!!!! I need to refresh my skills and plan for what I want to do in the future. I thought at this point in my life, I would be ready for the impending change of profession, but I not there. At least I'm not ready to make the transition since I need to get back into the books and learn some more IT!
I was always a generalist...now I need to be a specialist! What to specialize in??? HMMMM
Looks like I have the next 5 years to figure out what skills I need to learn to make myself marketable!
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Cement and Surfing...does this really go together
Tonight, I finally found some time to do a little work on the Surfboard Shaping Stands (SSS). The first thing was to get the upright pieces in the bucket with some cement. I figured using 40 pounds of QuickCrete was going to be easy...not so much. I had to mix up the mix by had and I was doing it in on...
After I started "mixing" the quickcrete, I quickly found myself having a few problem: 1) the bucket was not large enough to mix 40 pounds of this stuff and get it mixed properly, 2) I needed more water...3 pints was NOT enough water to make this stuff mix up, 3) I was making a mess quickly...and had cement going everywhere, 4) planning is the key to making it work RIGHT the first time...you know measure twice and cut once -- same thing goes for quickcrete.
But MrsBlue was quick to point out, she could have helped and also provided some "pointers" about what I should have done...wish I would have had that BEFORE I started :) But I always love the feedback MrsBlue provides...it's always SpotOn!
If the quickcrete sets up by tomorrow, I should have the stands assembled and ready for use. Then I'll need to figure out what I'm doing to use for the spare and ribs??? I haven't found any 1/4 inch marine grade plywood around here...guess I'll make a stop by the local boat dealer to see what they have! Maybe I'll have some luck there. The local Home Depot and Lowes ain't making it happen for me.
Here are the pictures of the stuff I put together tonight...
BTW: CHANGE in the air!
After I started "mixing" the quickcrete, I quickly found myself having a few problem: 1) the bucket was not large enough to mix 40 pounds of this stuff and get it mixed properly, 2) I needed more water...3 pints was NOT enough water to make this stuff mix up, 3) I was making a mess quickly...and had cement going everywhere, 4) planning is the key to making it work RIGHT the first time...you know measure twice and cut once -- same thing goes for quickcrete.
But MrsBlue was quick to point out, she could have helped and also provided some "pointers" about what I should have done...wish I would have had that BEFORE I started :) But I always love the feedback MrsBlue provides...it's always SpotOn!
If the quickcrete sets up by tomorrow, I should have the stands assembled and ready for use. Then I'll need to figure out what I'm doing to use for the spare and ribs??? I haven't found any 1/4 inch marine grade plywood around here...guess I'll make a stop by the local boat dealer to see what they have! Maybe I'll have some luck there. The local Home Depot and Lowes ain't making it happen for me.
Here are the pictures of the stuff I put together tonight...
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| Buckets with quickcrete...the tape is for leveling |
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| Drill it! |
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| Pieces Parts together with screws |
BTW: CHANGE in the air!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
What SUP - let the building begin
Today,
I finally got off the couch and have started a new adventure (read this
a project). This adventure is another Adventure in Blue, but it will
be blue water and not Blue AF.
This adventure all started with "Q"and his brother, "P". When I was departing the fav local of Cocoa Beach, I had the opportunity to see a Hollow Wood Surfboard in action. Then again in January of this year, I got another glimpse of the famed Hollow Wood surf machine in action, when "Q" showed off his wooden Longboard...yes he owns a hollow wooden longboard and it's a beauty!! However, he only surfed it a little while because of a crack in the glass and she was taking on water.
This adventure all started with "Q"and his brother, "P". When I was departing the fav local of Cocoa Beach, I had the opportunity to see a Hollow Wood Surfboard in action. Then again in January of this year, I got another glimpse of the famed Hollow Wood surf machine in action, when "Q" showed off his wooden Longboard...yes he owns a hollow wooden longboard and it's a beauty!! However, he only surfed it a little while because of a crack in the glass and she was taking on water.
So I had the bite and wanted to have me one. Over the past 15 months I
have researched on the net for a way to "build" my own surfboard. I
have looked at hollow wooden surfboards, DIY Home Depot pink/blue foam
boards, kits, EZ-foam blanks and every other possibility. However, I
keep coming back to those beautiful hollow wood surfing machines.
I think I may become close friends with Lowes or Home Depot during this project...today we made the first deposit on some basic items...
So today, I started with getting the pieces/parts for building the
Shaping&Glassing stands. I am still looking for the materials to
build the rib&spars for my hollow wood behemoth of a 11 foot 6 inch
SUP (standup paddleboard). I have used the starting shape from a 9 foot
3 inch PIG longboard and made it longer and wider.
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| Some supplies for the Shaping Stands |
The 9'3" PIG dims are:
Length - 9'3"
Width - 22 9/16"
Thickness - 3"
Volume: 71.25 litres
Tail: width 16 1/2" x thickness 1 3/4"
Center: width 22 1/2" x thickness 2 15/16"
Nose: width 16 1/4" x thickness 1 1/2"
The "BigBlue" SUP dims are:
Length - 11'6"
Width - 30 3/4"
Thickness - 4 1/4"
Volume: 169.89 litres
Tail: width 20 5/16" x thickness 2 1/16"
Center: width 30 3/4" x thickness 4 1/4"
Nose: width 20 3/8" x thickness 1 5/8"
After I assemble the Shaping Stands, I'll need to get the 1/4" marine grade plywood for the rib and spars. Didn't realize that it was going to be so tough to get some of the materials. Once I have the Rib and Spars together, I'll need to make a trip to Ikea for some paulownia blinds...yeah I know, crazy but you can supposedly get a set of blind at Ikea to surface the board...going to give it a try.
The biggest challenge I see is the shaping/building the rails. This still scares me a LOT!!!! Not sure if I will get this right and the buildup is strips or solid design. Still thinking through this.
Then comes the glassing of the SUP. New ground for me, but I think I can do it. I plan to practice a little before putting glass on the board.
Wish me luck. This will be a LONG term project...no need in speeding through this!!!!
Mahalo to all of the websites and diagrams I could find on the net. While I think a "kit" would have been the best way to start this, I want to give it a go...so here we GO!
Length - 9'3"
Width - 22 9/16"
Thickness - 3"
Volume: 71.25 litres
Tail: width 16 1/2" x thickness 1 3/4"
Center: width 22 1/2" x thickness 2 15/16"
Nose: width 16 1/4" x thickness 1 1/2"
The "BigBlue" SUP dims are:
Length - 11'6"
Width - 30 3/4"
Thickness - 4 1/4"
Volume: 169.89 litres
Tail: width 20 5/16" x thickness 2 1/16"
Center: width 30 3/4" x thickness 4 1/4"
Nose: width 20 3/8" x thickness 1 5/8"
After I assemble the Shaping Stands, I'll need to get the 1/4" marine grade plywood for the rib and spars. Didn't realize that it was going to be so tough to get some of the materials. Once I have the Rib and Spars together, I'll need to make a trip to Ikea for some paulownia blinds...yeah I know, crazy but you can supposedly get a set of blind at Ikea to surface the board...going to give it a try.
The biggest challenge I see is the shaping/building the rails. This still scares me a LOT!!!! Not sure if I will get this right and the buildup is strips or solid design. Still thinking through this.
Then comes the glassing of the SUP. New ground for me, but I think I can do it. I plan to practice a little before putting glass on the board.
Wish me luck. This will be a LONG term project...no need in speeding through this!!!!
Mahalo to all of the websites and diagrams I could find on the net. While I think a "kit" would have been the best way to start this, I want to give it a go...so here we GO!
MiB
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Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thanksgiving
Thankfulness is something to behold. I am very thankful to be HOME this year. Also, it's nice to be hanging out doing NOTHING!!!!!
Really, there are many things to be thankful for and being with MrsBlue is only one (but it's a big one).
Thankful for:
- LilBlue -- she's grown into such a wonderful young lady...I'm loved and love her SOOOO much!
- MrsBlue -- she still loves me even when my brain is stuck on SURFING (Mahalo) I'm not sure how she does it, but MrsBlue is an AWESOME "teammate"
- BigBlue -- for giving me a job. Who knows how long I'll stay Blue, but it has provided so many opportunities
- TheJudge -- great to have a friend who enjoys talking about surf as much as I do...you are a real friend and lifesaver (you kept me sane for a year)
- RocketMan -- he taught me to surf and LOVE it...you have changed my life
- BEEGEE - for being a leader who is REAL...you can be a GO and still be down to earth...stay this way
- Fitness -- (this one's a stretch) but I did get a 100 on my PT test this week. I think I need to reward the young Airman who did my waist measurement...I asked him to be sure it was within the tolerance...he measured it 3 times and each was G2G (good2go)
.
Really, there are many things to be thankful for and being with MrsBlue is only one (but it's a big one).
Thankful for:
- LilBlue -- she's grown into such a wonderful young lady...I'm loved and love her SOOOO much!
- MrsBlue -- she still loves me even when my brain is stuck on SURFING (Mahalo) I'm not sure how she does it, but MrsBlue is an AWESOME "teammate"
- BigBlue -- for giving me a job. Who knows how long I'll stay Blue, but it has provided so many opportunities
- TheJudge -- great to have a friend who enjoys talking about surf as much as I do...you are a real friend and lifesaver (you kept me sane for a year)
- RocketMan -- he taught me to surf and LOVE it...you have changed my life
- BEEGEE - for being a leader who is REAL...you can be a GO and still be down to earth...stay this way
- Fitness -- (this one's a stretch) but I did get a 100 on my PT test this week. I think I need to reward the young Airman who did my waist measurement...I asked him to be sure it was within the tolerance...he measured it 3 times and each was G2G (good2go)
.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Game Night
Last night was a FUN night in the neighborhood! We went over to play "games". The game was "The Game of Things"!
At first, it started as thinking for real, but quickly turned to some of the CRAZIEST comments and THINGS... It was fun hanging out and playing this game!
While I'm not a big game player. In fact, I find it to be very little fun playing games. In my mind, what a waste of time. However, since arriving here, we have had two games nights with our new "friends"! I guess I better get used to it...looks like a games location that I'll have to keep playing.
At first, it started as thinking for real, but quickly turned to some of the CRAZIEST comments and THINGS... It was fun hanging out and playing this game!
While I'm not a big game player. In fact, I find it to be very little fun playing games. In my mind, what a waste of time. However, since arriving here, we have had two games nights with our new "friends"! I guess I better get used to it...looks like a games location that I'll have to keep playing.
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| The "Roseeees" |
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| AMMO Man |
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