This is the online journal of Charles Dowdell. www.theguysatwork.com charlesdowdell at gmail.com
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Things are good. I am working from home for Accuray, Inc. in my home in Duluth GA... Maybe for quite awhile. I like it. A friend said it makes sense for me.
I am getting a new battery in Leaf west in California. It will meet Leaf east in Georgia in a few weeks. They have never met.
I should be back in the air back here in Georgia soon. We are looking to buy our 5th plane, likely at C172 (R Model).
Jewell and Gracie enjoy their space here in Georgia. The house projects are progressing well and hope to have the boat in the water this weekend after its retrofit. Master bath remodel is more than the halfway point.
I think the opening lines in "A Tale of Two Cities" has never been more true than today and what has beholden us with the pandemic. Georgia has been "open" earlier than any other state, now 2 weeks. Most restaurants are closed still, but take out is more brisk than it was a month ago. I am not seeing any changes to the reported state-by-state "body count." I am sure I am missing something unlike the folks who are sure they are not missing something.
I guess that I am trying to cope with the fact that the equivalent of a small city has died in the US from the virus (80,000). But I am also given numbers that I can't confirm. China is reporting very low numbers of deaths (5000), Russia (2000), etc. ---A source---. I don't have videos to look at like I can with the Tsunamis of 2004 (220,000) or 2011 (16,000). I didn't see a meteorite fall from the sky and explode. It is very hard to reconcile our current crisis.
Pictures:
The center of Terminal "A" Totally Empty at about 9:00PM on May 3rd in the World's busiest airport. Amazing!!
A full U-Haul after the cross country trip to Duluth. I am glad I didn't have to drive it.
The lawn it its rejuvenation phase now that it is getting regular doses of nutrient-rich lake water thanks to the new irrigation system.
The Honda back in its perch after its ride cross country and the new bathtub staged for installation.
I had some e-track powder-coated and I installed in the back of the truck. After having driven a truck for 30 years, I finally have some good hold downs and lashing points-- none to soon. I learned some about aerodynamics with stuff in the back of my truck over the years.
We are out in California emptying out the Apartment. I found a guy to tow a u-haul trailer cross country for us. It has been great taking 2 months "off" catching up on projects in Georgia and other things. I was going to try and write down everything I did in the last two months for myself and started the list... it was very very long, but there is still a lot of stuff undone still. Some of the projects include. 1.) A new lawn irrigation system, 2.) Bathroom remodel, 3.) Electrical work including a.) 50 Amp outlet in garage, b.) New outside weather-tight outlet through on the deck. c.) Hot tub work, d.) irrigation system electric for pump (I take water from the lake with a 2HP pump) and controller. 4.) rearranging and cleaning stuff (required laying out the hardwoods and letting them get a sunbath. Its all nice and properly stacked now). 5.) Several bicycle repairs and reassemble, including a new hydraulic brake, 6.) Lots of Radio bench work including the FRG-8800. 7.) Truck e-track hold down system 8.) Boat work 9.) Dock Work 10.) Yard Work 11.) Power tool repair (router) and much more.
I am back at work this coming week, albeit remotely.
Pictures:
Getting the Honda on truck for the long ride back to Georgia. I couldn't find an escutcheon for the new 50 AMP connection (fast car charger) in the garage so I made one. I think it turned out ok. View from apartment -- don't cry for us Costa Mesa. We enjoyed California.
The virus thing is somewhat refreshing in a few ways. One way is that even though I have seen many different things in my life our current situation is proof that there is still novelty ahead. A year ago, this seemed only theoretically possible. And we are still figuring out what "this" is. It will be a long time before we sort out what is happening now. The technical, the social, the panic, the contrived, the realities, all to be sorted out in good time. I gather very little news. I don't need the analysis, speculation, politics or panic mongering.
We have been into our food stores. The oldest item so far is some frozen chicken soup Angie made in 2014. It was interesting to figure out what we cooked and how back then. We were saving it just for today. It was delicious served in bowls I remember my Mom getting in the early 1970s.
We have been spending more time in the nice chairs (we never used to use much) on the front porch as a lot more folks walk by. But mostly, it has been about projects. I am fixing everything that is broken and improving and cleaning everything that is not broken. The master bathroom is coming along with the unexpected challenges and mitigations. Vlad started the project last year with demolition. The bath is getting a shower stall, large corner tub, new framing/entrances, walls, drywall, electric, and plumbing of course. I am also putting in an electric radiant heated floor for the first time. I enjoy the work, but I am slow...
Vlad created a two color mulch design for the front garden. I will be showing off my electronics bench soon. I have started actually fixing radios again. Much fun, but sorting through the components seems endless. I sold a few Nixie tubes on ebay today for over $100.
We are finally all together in Atlanta. Angie did a heroic single-handed evacuation of herself and our two cats from California. Spring is sprung here in GA and we are working hard on remodeling and everything else the house needs to fight the jungle back.
I spent another week up in Maine. The virus thing really has stuff shaken up. I drove back from Maine to Georgia. for the most part traffic was lite, but some absolute mentals out there. I saw three big rig crashes and a number of information signs regarding the virus.
Social Distancing they call it. I call it my everyday lifestyle. Even though I am not much of a germophobe, I am the one who gets up early to "beat the crowds". I am the one who often parks away from others or stands-alone. I have worked to break my herding instinct, but realizing that no man is an island. It is a gentle balance.
Fear is contagious. So is courage. I choose the latter. I am also not much for taking wild risks for some sort of thrill (personal value) nor taking action that will put others at harm (moral value). In a few hours I am flying up to Maine today from Atlanta. I will take an Uber to the airport versus Marta, and eat my meal made at home in first class. I went to the "Walmarts" this AM to take advantage of a sale. I think I saw the result of panic and lack of understanding of math associated with risk taking.
Some pics of the shelves in Walmart where there is supposed to be food and toilet paper. Also a pic of my shop in its "Its to-be better organized state".
My new bathroom is coming along in its blank canvas state. Walls, doors, electrical and plumbing will all be moved, of course. One of the keys is to not overbuild. I saw a lot of DIY remodeling that was done with such overkill. I had to rent a demolition hammer to get all the tile and metal reinforced concrete out. It's a house. It is not a megalith.
I have been traveling in the US and decided my blog wasn't as important as real life. Mostly, California, The Midwest, Maine and Georgia. One pic has a glimpse of a Zumwalt class navy ship. I have been restoring an antique roll top desk. I got to use many of my woodworking tools. I have realized I have vehicles spread all over the country. I need to get better organized.
This weekend I have been reflectful of our time here in Southern California. I don't feel I live here although it has been over a year. Not sure why. I guess it is because I don't own any real estate here.
California is indeed a bit like a separate country rather that one of the US states. When Kobe Bryant died last week (taking off less than a mile from our apartment and crashing in a familiar place just north of LA), it was another reminder that this is the place where the megastars live. Name almost any megastar and although they may not live here they will very commonly spend time here. I have almost forgotten what bad weather is. I walk to work everyday. I wear only a sport coat everyday. I have used an umbrella maybe once. It is common to get a small shower (or a very heavy dew) in the night and it will be dried up early in the morning. It is low humidity.
Angie and I went for a short drive to Chino (inland) today. We had the top down on the freeway up to 90 mph (or so).
