Not much to talk bout today

Nuttin much to say today. Mainly 'cause I ain't done nuttin to write about.

I do want to touch on my chiropractor visit. It seems just cause I had me a couple good days, everbody think'n the chiro fixed me up. Ya got to change yer tune on that idea....I ain't no wheres close to fixed up. A couple 500 mg aspirins do the same thing.

I just couldn't stand it, I had to put some fiberglass on the deck of the boat.

After a while....bout 3 hours, I was able to trim off the fiberglass cloth from the edges.

While I was wait'n for the fiberglass resin to set up, I worked on the steering wheel. In kit form, the steering wheel is in poor shape....mold marks an' stuff like that. Sandpaper, fingernail files an' a pumice stone removed them marks. Then came the 600 grit wetordry sandpaper an' my Dremel tool fitted with a buffing wheel an' some Brasso. Puts a nice chrome look'n shine on pot metal....I rekon that's what it is.

Much more polishing yet to be done. The outer ring will be painted (sprayed) with acrylic enamel....color ivory. Yes, I will post a pic when completed.

I got a big (for his age) damn cat. Leonard be his name in case ya forgot.

Still kind of hard to see his size, but he's get'n quite big. Probly bout 5 or 6 months old now. Hell, I don't know.

Windows 10 has been installed on the laptop computer. Since I don't use the laptop, I cain't tell ya what I think of Windows 10. But it is different from Win 8.1. Do I install it on "this" computer??? Not yet.

Ok, it's time to take me a little walk out to the road an' back. Then I'm gonna go work on a boat....but you already knowed that....right?

Two tone boat....Yeeee Haa!!!

It's midnight, I don't usually do this. But I ain't ready to go to sleep.

Before we get into boat building, let's touch on the subject of how the old Billy Bob feels. I know this ain't the best subject to talk about, but, dad gum it, when I feel pretty good, I'm gonna tell ya bout it.
With the chiropractor visit the other day (Friday), I don't want to paste no gold star on his forehead or pat him on the back or nuttin like that, but yesterday an' today, my back an' that dad gum hip feeled much better. Never took no aspirins until late in the evenings.

Now let me tell ya bout this chiropractor. He ain't no bone twist'n an' pop'n chiro. He uses other methods to align things. One machine does a beep'n sound as he runs this thingy down my spine. When it comes to a "bad" place, it makes a weird low pitched sound. Then he take this electronic hammer thingy an' goes over the area of the spine....until it don't make that weird sound no more. He got all kind of gadgets lay'n round. Other than the electrocution device, a TENS unit, the only other thing he did was a new kind of electronic acupuncture machine what I ain't never see before. On my right ear, he run this little gizmo around until it make a certain sound. Then he pull a trigger....or something like that, for 15 seconds. Then he place a stick on "seed" for me to massage later when I'm in pain. Doubts kick in an' I'm listen'n for a "quack". The first night I reaches up there an' I massage them seeds. Damn, that hurts. The following day, there was no longer any seeds in my ear.

"Hot damn Billy Bob, let's celebrate". I been puff'n under 10 smokes a day for almost a week. Yup, I hit 8 a day for the last two days. An' both them days was 18 hour awake days. That's a 73% decrease in smokes a day. I'm think'n Chinese food is in order.
Ha, looks like today is gonna be a 9 smoke day.

Well, I spended the last couple days try'n to figger out the 2 mahogany colors to stain the boat with. Shit, I was do'n it all wrong. I read the instructions on the cans, an' in nuttin flat....I had my colors.

A couple more hours of sand'n an' we ready to apply some stain.

The deck was masked off an' the lighter stain was applied.

Fine look'n job Billy Bob

The lighter stained deck was masked an' the darker stain applied.
I like it, I like it, I like it. Excitis, that what I are.
When the first coat of epoxy is applied, the colors will come alive. Damn, I can hardly wait.

 

 Grandson Nick drop by to see his papaw. He's such a good boy...bringed me a sammich an' a ice tea for lunch. 

Sorry Louie, I still don't have that pic of Leonard you want soooo much to see. He's almost a full size cat. I'm think'n 7 pound or so. Damn cat eats too much.

Chiroquacker visit......Ho Hum!

Well shoot, here it is the finish of another day. Not the best day in my book.

For 2 nights in a row, I been hav'n these "new" awful pains in my back. Different from the usual pains. Two big ol' aspirins an' a couple three hours sit'n in front this computer, an' I'm in better shape.

Today, at 3pm, I had me a appointment with a chiropractor. Well, before I even fill out the first piece of paperwork, I had to talk to the doc. "What much good can you do for me with arthritis of the spine"? I was surprised by his answer..."I don't know"? He then proceeded to tell me "there's no harm in try'n what he has to offer". I says..."I can do that". I filled out the paperwork. They call my name.....that quick.
I 'splained to him the kinds of pains I was hav'n an' where the pains were at. He start do'n some bending an' twist'n tests for the pain. It weren't too good. Don't bend backards worth a poop an' don't twist worth a poop. Ha, now my back hurts. He did some things with a couple electronic gizmos....don't even ask. Did another bend'n test with seat belts....don't even ask. Electrical stimulation....damn that feel good. A couple other things....don't even ask...an' I can bend a little bit further without much pain. Left his office feel'n a bit better than when arrived. See ya next week doc.

Then me an' Robert climb in the truck....head to Ace Hardware to pick up some Red Mahogany stain. I used no buggy in Ace to help support me...."a walker with 4 wheels". Back in the truck, the back pains are back in full glory. I need me some big ass aspirins an' lay back for a spell.

Build'n a boat. I been tak'n my time, tak'n a day off when I'm in pain, but damn, I need to slow down.

I know, let's install some plank'n on the rear deck

Look'n pretty good Billy Bob....keep up the good work

Oh man, you finished the back deck

Well shoot, may as well put some plank'n on the front deck. Oh my God, let me tell ya....did ya ever try to remove a super glued crookit piece of plank'n? Never gonna make that mistake again. Note: There's a trick to get'n the planking straight as a arrow. Remind me to show ya laters.

This is the fully planked hull. It has bout 50 coats of hand sand'n with 100 grit applied....my God, my arm hurts.
Up to this point, there is 2 or 3 tiny cracks that need filled. How to fill them....don't even ask. I have to do some 'spearmint'n. Hmmmmm....maybe sand'n dust an' carpenters glue???? After stain'n of course. Have to give that a test on scrap mahogany.

Am hav'n a terrible time pick'n out stain colors. My 1949 Chris Craft runabout will be of 2 colors....dark mahogany an' light mahogany. Wish me luck.
Ha, like this......

No....not like that, but close. 

This is NOT good

From where I'm sit'n at "my house"....this is not good.
Yesterdays follow up appointment with the back doctor did NOT go good. First, he said..."you do not hurt from there.....I killed them nerves". Ya see, for the last 3 weeks, I've been hav'n me pain....right here....at the joint of the F5 vertibre  (SP) an' the S1....he killed that nerve. I know where the pain is an' I know what joint it is com'n from...there is no mistake. "Ok doc, if I don't know where my pain comes from, you tell me where it comes from". He says, "lower Billy Bob, it's from here". I feel nuttin there.
This is when the doc is git'n furious with me...."I don't know what to do". "Have you considered physical therapy or go'n to a chiropractor"? Whoa doc, let's back up a minute. "I came to you as a last resort to kill the nerves that cause pain an' you say you cain't fix me up"? This is when the doc walked out of the room an' I don't see him no more. Nice nurse lady come in an' says..."you can go now". Appointment set up for a injection in S1 Oct. 8th.

To appease the doc an' my son Robert, I agreed to see a chiropractor. But not physical therapy. I've had dealings with chiro's before an' out of bout a dozen, only one did me any good. A Texas chiropractor. You can tell a duck by his quack. I have absolutely no confidence at all that this visit to a chiropractor will do me any good. I've been this route before. For a back injury or a slipped disc, there's a good possibility he could help. But with Author Itis....????? Appointment has been set up for Friday.

 My other health issues, we will not talk bout that today. That shit above was enough for one day.

Now.....bout that boat project. "My God Billy Bob, how many times ya gonna screw up"? You would think that a master boat builder would not make simple little mistakes. Well, I did. While installing a few pieces of mahogany planking on the top deck, they was crookit. Had to be carved off with my trusty box cutter type knife. Resanded an' re-measured...let's git 'em straight. I did that. But....now they are off center by 2mm...that's bout a 16th of a inch. It will show in the finished installation. Grrrrr......modification in order. Anybody else build'n a boat....take yer time an' "think" before ya apply a glob of super glue.

That's all I have to say today.

Oh oh, you go'n too fast Billy Bob...slow down

"Oh my God, I want you lookie here....there's Billy Bob". "Were ya been"????

Ha, where I been???? I been out there in the shed, that where I been. An' I ain't been build'n no household cabinets, lay'n roof shingles...driv'n nails....none that kind of stuff. I been work'n on a model boat....but you already know that.

So let's see what progress we made the last couple days. Until yesterday, I was right on schedule...this build will take months if'n I stay on schedule.

I decided it was time to build the engine room hatch cover thingy.

Then I planked it with strips of mahogany.....

Then I sanded it down to a very smooth surface....ready for stain an' fiberglass'n.
When finished, this engine room cover will be a 2 piece hatch on tiny piano hinges. Ha, ordered from England. 

A couple cockpit parts to git one more polyurethane coat'n an' then glued in place
 

See, I tole you....all finished parts glued into the two cockpits.
"Oh wait Billy Bob, did you install the deck sub planking"? "And what is that that I see on the side the boat....is that mahogany planking"?
Ok, this is where I got ahead of myself. Should have never installed the side planking. Although, it looks pretty damn good from my house.

Side planking installed....a couple little cracks to be filled, the top sub deck sanded an' faired. Two outside deck plank thingys measured an' prepared for glue'n down to the deck.
"My God Billy Bob, that sure is purr-ty". 

Sanding an' fairing on the starboard side has begun. My God, this will take forever.

By the way, I'm ahead of schedule....

Today, I have decided to take the day of an' do me some much needed housework....YUK!!!

Speak'n of "purr-ty", Leonard sure is get'n some kind of big. I would take a wild guess an' say he is bout 6 of 7 pounds right now. He eats tooo much. Frick...I don't have a recent photo, an' he's outside do'n what cats do. I don't know how he did it, but last week he catched a humm'n bird. Bringed it in "da house" for me to see how he has turned into a 'hunter" of wild critters. He drops it at my feet an' that little sucker flaps his wings an' out the door he goes. Leonard says...."what the hell"?
Photos of Leonard later.

Ok, dishes are done. Stacked on the counter, but warshed up pretty good.
Got half a chicken bout defrosted up for a pot of "chicken noodle tater vegetable soup".
I ain't pregnant or nuttin like that, but I sure have been crav'n me some this soup for over a week now. Today is the day. Will let ya know how it turns out....but not today.

My back issues have much improved the last few days. Ain't took me no aspirin for over a week. Git'n skeered to take aspirin with the stomach problems I been hav'n. Everthing I eat I feel like I need to puke it up. Burp'n an' stuff. Had me a couple bouts of constipation....yeah I know, ya don't wanna hear bout that. Come on doctor, call me for a appointment.

Oh, I didn't tell ya. Robert is on a family camp'n trip up in the north Georgia mountains. No, I weren't invited to tag along. Not that I would have been able to go, but damn, I could have at least been invited. No ill feel'ns on my part.....hope they all have a wonderful camp'n trip.

That's bout it for this post. Shoot, I cain't think of nuttin else to write about. Maybe next time.

Two days off

The boat construction project has been put on hold for the last 2 days due to "circumstances". "My God, I thought I was gonna die".

Speak'n of boat build'n....not the big boats ya take on a fish'n trip, but the little ones ya hang on the wall an' look at. They are not TOYS like what ya would buy for $20 from the toy section in Walmart. These are replicas of the real thing....classic an' historic boats, down to the finest detail. Just thought you should know that.

Nuttin at all has happen at Billy Bob's house, other than health issues. An' I'm fed up to [here] with health issues. I'm kind of like everbody else when I think I'll get better. In the real world, it don't always happen that way, but we try anyhows. Ha ha....then we roll over in our grave an say..."what the hell just happen"? 

I keep think'n "Texas". You have no idea how much I miss be'n in Texas. Then I get to think'n, with my health issues, what the hell would I do in Texas? Rent a RV space? Sit on my ass an' "do nuttin"? Have nobody to come visit or to call on when in need? At my present location, "yo mama's", I have both. I am checked on daily. My needs are met...daily. I am provided food....daily. Shoot, I got it made.
But that still don't cure my desire to be back "home" in Texas. 

Today, I will attempt to make that long walk (50 feets) to the shed an' work on my model boat. For those that have some extra time on their hands an' ain't got nuttin to do...Google "1949 Chris Craft photos" . You won't be sorry. Will attempt to update today's construction on a post tomorrow...or the next day....or so.

This is the REAL thing......

Ok, got my shoes (sandals) sit'n next to me....got things to do. See ya laters.

When it rains, it pours

Holy cows.....this stuff sucks.

Let's take the most important problem at Billy Bob's house an' work from there. Last week I had ordered some hobby stuff through Amazon. I received a phone call from my debit/credit card holder from some dude I couldn't understand worth a poop. He was verify'n a couple charges on my card. Then he says..."Contact Edward Jones". Then I received a email for Geico..."your insurance" payment was rejected". Then I call the credit card holder...."you have a zero balance"....."Contact Edward Jones" Well that cain't be, I just installed a whole 5 gallon bucket of dollars in that account.

First thing this morn'n...I contact Edward Jones. Pat is such a nice lady. She bring up my account on the computer...."you got's a whole bucket of dollars in your account". Then she call the card holder. It seems I need a physical address. Me an' Pat take care of that lickity split....even though I don't live there. She call the card holder back, the restriction has been lifted. But...I only have access to a thousand dollars for the next couple days. All is well. *fingers an' toes crossed*

Ok, this "master boat builder" done screw up. I glued a piece of wood in the wrong place an' it had to be removed. I break out my trusty box cutter like hobby knife an' commence to cut between the two pieces. The knife slips. My thumb is in the way. A big ass deep gash in my thumb. Blood all over the place. Well.....maybe it ain't that bad, but it hurted like hell. Doctor Robert bandages it up an' I go back to work.

Go'n back to work, what little I got done, you cain't see unless ya look real close.

I painted the engine room compartment. While that was dry'n, I builded 4 mahogany side boards an' 2 floorboards for in the cockpits. 

Oh oh, I done forget to take pics of the construction of the "modified" engine room hatches. Modified from a single hatch to a double hatch. That's it right behind the foward cockpit...two little white do-hickies. That white deck covering will give ya a idea what I'm do'n. Pretty ain't it? 

 These are the sideboard thngys with 2 coats of polyurethane. I don't like it. Will sand the poly off an' sand out a couple bad places in the mahogany. In other words, start over.
The 2 decks come out lookn sharp. Hmmmm, did Chris Craft have grey floor boards?

 Health issues ain't so bad this morn'n. I've had much worse. Still no doctor appointment. But they did receive my records from other doctors. Dang, this is tak'n way to long.

 Just called Geico. My payment went through....Yeeee Haa!!!

Now it's time to go out to the shed an' work on a model boat.