I am now in day 4 of the roofing job.  What a PITA!  The only good thing about this roofing job is I’ll never have do it again.  With 30 year shingles, I’ll be in a nursing home drooling on myself the next time this roof will need to be redone.    I wanted to do it myself because I know it will be done right and will last.

The temperatures have been in the 50’s the last few days and surprisingly it has been great to work outside.  I thought it might be a bit too cold but have been loving it.    The next few days are going to be brutal though.  Tomorrows high is 51 with lows in the 20’s which is rare here.  Basically, late January-February Charleston weather.    Hopefully, by the end of the week temps should return to normal December 60F high and 45 lows lows. 

After completing the prep work on the upper roof, the repitching of the back of the house has been started. 

Getting ahead of the game.

Scaffolding is staged for the cripple wall and the work on the upper soffits.

Tomorrow the shingle arrive.  We are not totally ready for them, but…ready enough.

This week is absolutely crazy busy for me..  A hell of a lot of stuff is going on here and I am not great at multitasking.  I like to work on on one project at a time until completion….

The construction bin was dropped off.   I didnt want to have to go to the dump with all the shingles and wood scraps and the bin is just wonderful!

A couple of more truck loads of dirt were dropped off.  Man, I am having a great time with the dozer!

Every guy needs a dozer in the back yard to play with!

The lights in the kitchen were removed to install light tubes (like sky lights).  What a mess in attic to install as there was a lot of interference stuff up there.  The installation is now prep’d and ready for me to cut a hole in the roof.

The truck load of wood has been dropped off to rebuild my roof for a new look.

Today the back sheds were stripped and prep’d for shingles.

Before

After (getting a bit dark)

Tony and I also built  the scaffolding to build the soffits and a ramp to direct the shingles into the bin

It is crazy that for the whole month of November, we had almost no rain, and extremely pleasant temps (65-75f).  After I decided to this is the time to reshingle the roof, Tuesday we had a good soaking rain, and tonight the first freeze of the year with a high in the 50’s this week.    My timing is about as good as how I anticipate the stock market…..  it sucks.

Yesterday, I stared making a new batch of fuel probes which have been selling surprising well.  Thats when I found Mr. Lathe was very sick…..  Yikes, he is one  of my best friends in the shop!  

Stop the presses, this is an emergency!!   

After downloading the wiring diagrams from the web, I spent hours trying to figure out how those dam low paid chinese gals wired him up.  At least the numbers were in english.  Imagine, hand drawings of the wiring!    Chicago Tools (Harbor Freight stuff)=Made in China junk (but the price is soooooo cheap).

After a few hours trouble shooting, I found a contractor had gone bad which has been ordered 2 day express from Calif.   I should be back up and going on Friday!  Woohoo!  

Replacing the contractor out (upper right box) from this wiring mess is going to be a challenge.  I think I would rather take part the dash of the car again.

After the trouble shoot bout with Mr. Lathe, I started back reassembling the engine.  It looks really good now.

Before I remount it on the engine, there was some firewall work to be done such as pulling wires through my bulkhead fittings.  What a mess!  At the top is a 95 db backup beeper.  It is great for scaring birds on landing and warning people at airshows to keep out of my freaking way!

This is a piece of 1/8″ copper tubing which will be for the manifold pressures sensor.  I prefer putting a copper tube though the bulkhead instead of just running a piece of rubber tubing.  I think it is safer and is less trouble some when removing the engine. 

I also stared working on the wiring of the engine information system area.  It is starting  to get fun now.    I love wiring!

This afternoon while emailing DURING A THUNDERSTORM, my computer crashed….  Big time crashed.    I know,  you have always been told turn off all your electrical stuff during a storm.  I THOUGHT I was protected with a UPS and an isolated system, but no, a big crack of lightening,  computer crashed and next thing I know there was the “Hard disk not found” during boot up.  Yikes! 

As recommended I had made a “Recovery Disk” (imagine that)  when I installed the operating system and as annoying as the daily backup is (slowing down the computer) for some reason, I had let it run to completion this morning.   I booted up on the recovery disk, had to do a complete re-image of the computer “C” hard drive (from this morning’s back up) and wala! the computer is working perfectly again.   I keep all my data on the “D” drive (a second drive)  so I didnt lose a single file.   Windows 7 is terrific in my book!   Now I just need to turn off my computer during the next storm.

I had the fuel caps engraved.  Actually they look very cool.  I’ll paint the lettering a suitable color when the plane is painted the plane in Calif.    Polished up and lettered I am sure they will look great!

Disassembly of the plane to prepare it for painting continued today.  I have a huge pile of parts now.  I want to weigh everything added to the plane (such as the heating system) to see how much my work affected the weight of the plane.

The HID landing light installation gave me a bit of trouble. At first, I didnt think it could be installed.  The HID bulb is much taller and a little larger in diameter by 0.015″.  Doesn’t seem like much but the bulb would not sit flush to the bracket . 

Careful, extensive filing and bending of the aft brace bracket was required to get it installed.     The HID light is incredibly bright and requires much less power than the standard 150 watt ligth that was installed. 

Installation of the Halon fire suppression system was stared.  If a fire is sensed in the engine compartment (there will be an alarm on the EFIS),  the pilot can pull a handle on the dash which will flood the engine compartment with halon and quickly put out any potential fire.

We had a historic snow fall in Charleston on Feb 12th.  A record 3.5 inches!  The first time it has snowed since 1989.  It was incredibly beautiful but unfortunately, gone by noon Saturday morning.  I would really enjoy a good snow every year!    

 The baffling is now done.   This is a picture of all the parts (45 ea) which is used for downdraft cooling that I removed from the plane.  Total weight was a little over 4 lbs.     

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The is the new cooling system.  The part count is 24 pieces, and total weight is 2 lbs.  I am very pleased with the way it turned out!    

As installed on the plane    

I am now working on the inlet ducts.  Here is the port duct being fit into position.    The duct is covered with duct tape prior to glassing.    

The Port duct is glassed.  I will glass the stbd one tomorrow.    

One of the pleasures of purchasing a new car (besides the smell) is enjoying a windshield so clear it looks like a force field is separating you from the rest of world.     In 2006, I read an article in the paper about a local automobile glass installer (Jeff Olive) who won the USA championship, and then placed third in a world wide auto glass installation competition.  It amazes me there is a competition for just about anything. 

As I was reading the article I thought Sherman could sure use a new windshield and when it happens Jeff is the only one I would ever let do it.  This idea has been nagging at me for a year or so.    A few weeks ago while talking to a acquaintance at church, I found out she worked at Glass Pro and Jeff work at her office.  I immediately got a card and called for an appointment.  

I always hated the current 27 year old windshield since it was pitted from road sand and had wiper marks permanently etched into the surface from what I would guess was worn out wiper blades.  In addition the former owner had used RainX on the windshield which is supposed to make the water bead up.   It does not allow the water to sheet off like it should. 

Well today is the day for Sherman’s new spectacles.   Of coarse before I could take Sherman to his appointment I had to make sure he was sparklingly clean.    I thought if he was really clean, the installers would take extra care because they would know he is special!

GlassPro in Mt Pleasant, SC.  They had free soda, drink, pop corn.  Overall a very pleasant place.

Jeff and his helper busy at work.  Jeff even transferred my military vehicle decal and put it on the new windshield which saved me a 30 mile trip to the military base to get a new decal!  What great service.

The work is done.   I love the way the world now just seems to sparkle though the new, clean glass.    Thanks Jeff…. 

There are certain things in life that once thought of as ridiculous, trivial or useless, becomes absolutely necessary.   Eventually, these “things” slowly weave their way into the tapestry of your life and become essential for ones very worldly existence. 

I never imagined a internet Cable Modem would be essential in my life.   Cell phones were  a burden.  Who wants to be at the beck and call anyone in a city, “Not… I”.  When email came along, who wanted to be at the beck and call of the world, “Not… I”.   Blogging…”must be for crazy people”.  Now I find I am really enjoying the craze of  blogging as I enter a new season in my life.   The “Not..I’s” have be the new normal and must haves.   Who knows, Facebook next?

I would like to introduce you to my new and very special friend, Irra.   I have not known Irra for a long time and never thought how quickly he would become so special in my life.  Now Irra has moved in with me and we couldn’t be happier together.    When my very close buddy Satellite Dish (Mr. D.) died, it took me quite a few months to get over his tragic loss.  Sadly he was killed by a new encryption code.  I had known Mr. D. for about 3 years and he was my first experience at going over to the ….well…. an “alternative lifestyle” of satellite radio.    Yes, I am finally coming out of the closet.  I am a Non-Local-Radio-Station listener.  I don’t even know what stations are available here in Charleston except for NPR.   I have given up the local yahoos for the more glamorous, exotic and interesting world life style.   

A few months after Mr. D died, I met Irra.  He started occasionally visiting just to say “Hi”.   Eventually, I found out he really needing a job since he’s been downsized.  I offered him some money, but he was too proud to take it.   When I found out he could really play music it became a match made in heaven.   Irra can play just any music you could imagine!   Every type of style, tempo, unusual, fantastic, world beat, pop, piano, jazz, nationality type  music you can imagine.  Man, he can play it all.   Amazingly, all he needs is a laptop and an amplifier.    I offered him a job and as hard as he works entertaining me I don’t have to pay him shit except for giving him a small place to stay and a steady diet of electricity.   He seems very content with this arrangement.   Irra has tried all kinds of free software and we both agree the software of the moment is iTunes… Its so easy a caveman (me) can use.    You can also use alternatives such as Pandora if you wish to build your own internet radio station.

Sometime he will get cranky after a long day but, after I give him a swift boot in the backside, he is ready to keep busy for another few hours of work.  I give Irra a couple of daily breaks mainly when I switch hit to the “real” radio for a dose of  “liberal” world news on NPR (Morning Edition, All Things Considered) or when I go to sleep.  Other than that, Irra’s butt is hard at work keeping me happy and content.  

Irra’s favorite iTunes radio station is located under iTunes: Radio: Ambient is  “Secret Agent! The soundtrack for your stylish, mysterious, dangerous life.  For Spies and P.I.s too, [SOMAFM]”.   Yea, I know, it hard to believe eh?   SOMAFM (out of San Francisco, CA) is really, really good.   Calif alternative lifestyle anyone?    SOMA is the most interesting mix of soundtrack, electronica, middle eastern, upbeat music imaginable.  Throw in some James Bond 007 soundtrack quotes and you get the idea.  Kick ass music to keeping me slaving away in the shop on pPod.

Irra ‘s second favorite station is “InTuneWithTheSpirt” (American Indian music) again under Ambient.     While cooking dinner, Irra likes to plays some Spy music.  When dinner is served it is time for jazz or a little New Age for the evening.   He is such a good sport.

There are not many “MUST HAVES” in life are free for the taking.  Everything I have found I really want always seems be either expensive or REALLY expensive.    Internet radio is one of life’s truly free pleasures.   There is so much music out there ready for you to experience.   Why limit yourself to just the local yahoo radio stations.

I know you cant image your life with out a cell phone.  I can no longer imagine Irra not being part of mine. Move beyond where you are, where you are comfortable to everywhere you can never be.  Experience the no limitations lifestyle of world music.   Find your own Irra and put him/her to work pleasuring you.  It will be just be our little secret when you discover you too are seduced by the naught guilty pleasures of life’s “other side”.

 Try InteRnet RAadio.  You’ll like it.

The bad news is my yard has a 4 ft by 75 ft trench in it.  The good news is I now have a brand new line and I am a lot smarter now.    Geezee, I thought I knew just about everything about plumbing, only to be humbled one more time.   Education always comes at a price! 

The way I view this experience is that the old pipe would eventually need to be changed, I needed a sewer clean out near the street (according to the new code), and it is better to have it done now at cheaper labor prices than in the future at higher prices.   

 After the pipe was installed the city came to clean out their portion of the system.  Two nice ladies ran the clean-out truck!

 Bottom line is the bright yellow box is gone and everything is back up.   Lost almost a week of production on the plane, but that’s OK.   Life is good once again!  

I had a fun day today!  I found my sewer is no longer working so obviously working on pPod was not going to happen.  I tried running a snake though it and at 98′ out hit a blockage I couldn’t get through.  Not a good thing. 

When I re-plumbed the house, I connected the new PVC hose piping to the existing “Orangeburg” pipe.  Funny stuff, this pipe.  Apparently after WW2, there was understandable shortage of metal for making piping hense the need for something to do the job.   Orangeburg pipe is made out of paper/asbestos coated with asphalt and was used from 1949-1970.  It had an ASTM specification and I guess was thought highly of.  Unfortunately, is it now known to have a life of about 50 years, and I would estimate mine is 40+ years old.   Time to go.  Spent the day calling contractors, getting estimates, and having my own personal port-a-potty delivered to my front door.  Woo hooo,  this is MUCH better than camping out at Oshkosh!    I think most people have a very negative opinion of port-a-john’s that come from only experiencing them at concerts or large events, but IF you are the ONLY one using it, there is no waiting in line it  is nice and clean with fresh paper while not totally pleasant, it is very nice alternative to a tree and a hand full of leaves.  The only negatives I can think of is the getting up in the middle of the night thing and having a BRIGHT yellow box sitting in my driveway.  If I had a big party at the house, I would definitely rent one.

Kind of funny, living with out sewer.  It reminds me of visits to my grandparents farm house in Missouri.  Out house, composting, chickens, gardening,  throwing the kitchen water in the yard.  I loved the smells, the great Italian food of my grandmother, riding tractors and watching grandpa milk the cow.   The positive aspect of camping out in my house  is I dont have to pump the water from a well in the yard.  At least I dont have to take a bath in a big steel tub in the middle of the yard (doesn’t everyone’s parents have a pictures of that hidden away?)   I  have now graduated from a steel tub to an exercise pool.   A little bigger tub but the same intent and final result.    

Overall, just a small change in life styles for a week or so.  I just consider it practice for the big ass hurricane which will eventually hit Charleston.  No water, electricity, sewer or phones….throw it at me baby, I am practiced and ready!

Hopefully, I’ll rejoin the mindlessly happy flusher of the world by next week..