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It’s not going to be your day.

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Waking up from a terrible nights sleep with a sore neck and a head ache that makes you want to vomit. Nice. The throat is still playing around with being either wretched or just annoyingly noticeable. Ear is not quite right still, and now my nose is runny too. Add the cough in and I’ve got my self a real life fiesta! Lovely.

So that was my 7:00am, and then it took multiple tries to get a sock on my foot, and I thought to myself, aloud. This isn’t my day. That’s cool. I can take one for the team. Yesterday was pretty good. Did some work. Did some painting on my model kit. Assembled a new tool in the garage, then spent some time lining up the materials I have on hand in case the Urn order actually materializes. Did a bunch of reading, and spent some time standing in the sunshine while it was 7°C yesterday afternoon. It was delightful. The cough was a hassle, but otherwise, a lovely, well rounded day. Today? Yeah not so much. Raining, with some freezing rain mixed in. Blah grey sky outside. And a touchy neck with matching head ache. Yeah. Not my tempo.

In other news my eldest brother has once again made Team Canada for the Invictus Games 2023. He’s off to Germany come September to compete for Canada as a wounded veteran of our Canadian Military. You can catch his news appearance from last night here:

https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/mobile/video?binId=1.1777487

I do have some paid work to dig into this morning, but I’m just waiting to see if my appetite makes a come back before I log in. The cough & cold medicine does a number on my insides after a day or two, so I’m seeing if it’ll settle enough to let me eat something. Had a glass of juice which went down smoothly, but no desire for a meal as of yet. I have some time, so no rush.

If you told me today was Friday I would believe you, but no, sadly, today is only Thursday. A somewhat relaxed week this week, in retrospect. Trying to manage my time between non paid projects a bit better this year. Get some reading in, model kit building, sculpting, painting, guitar, and wood working into the mix. Takes some planning. The weather, atleast this deep into winter will dictate what I can and can not do in a day. Sometimes it’s easier to plug in and jam on the guitar, than it is to go measure, cut, and hand work a bunch of hard wood pieces. The path of least resistance towards one of my many hobbies on any given day or week seems to work the best. With such a sunny day yesterday, it really was great to get out in the shop and tinker for an hour or so. Doesn’t take much to satisfy a creative itch. And on that bomb shell, I’ll bid you adieu. Ciao Bella!

Working out the kinks.

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Replaced the broken airbrush system yesterday, and was able to once again spray some paint about. I may have over thinned my primer due to pressure issues in the gun, which I later resolved. So today, we attempt round two of grey primer, and we’ll see if I can get better results from this new, and still as of yet unknown to me system. I did give considerable thought to buying a much more expensive unit, with additional guns, bells and whistles. But once I finish the VF-1, it will sit idle for weeks. Unless I paint some board game miniature bad guys. But even still that’s like one days worth of work for broad strokes with an airbrush and gradient passes. The big ticket item is the resin kit, and I’m still about sixty or more hours away from assembly, yet alone paint. If this new system can last for 3-5 years, I’ll be happy about it. Then I can think of a solid upgrade, unless it sits unused all that time, then why bother? Right? Right.

Went across town for some groceries, and picked up some small gifts for Valentine’s day. Nothing major, no bank breaking here. Christmas and birthdays are our big to-do days, and everything else is just kind of family time together, or a larger meal than usual. Easter will garner some attention, but nothing like a Halloween, or Christmas. So with that, I’m safe for another little while from missing any big dates.

The cough and ear infection are an ever present part of my day. I’m hoping this isn’t going to be six or seven weeks of this, like in years previous. But you never can tell. Once something gets inside me, it’ll rattle about from region to region, and back again, until it gets sorted by meds, or shear will power to over come it. So there’s that to look forward to, on the daily.

What’s new, what’s new? Finally about 100 pages in to book one of NK Jeminsin’s trilogy. Moving along at a good pace. There is already a character I would like to see die a slow, horrible agonizing death. So… yeah. My reading has slowed up a bit. Not hitting the new book every four days mark like January. But I’m not racing. And I knew I wanted to open up space in case my attention, or desire waned a bit. All part of the plan. As they say, I’ve got time.

Am supposed to go to a party on Saturday, but this cough, sore throat, and inner ear issue may preclude me from that. Saves us having to find a sitter anyway. I’ll watch the kids, and my wife can go see some friends for an evening. I do believe that the Superbowl is this Sunday as well, so that’s a whole afternoon to spend watching athlete pundits gab about teams, plays, injuries, and such in overly tight suits, under brazenly bright lights, on mock stadium sets. Pizza! Wings! Nachos! And chilli cheese hot dogs, oh my! Game day is full of fun, greasy, messy food that will wreak havoc on my interior. But it’s all part of the pageantry of the day. The game itself will be just another game, but intermingled with the build up, a half time spectacle, and all the new uber expensive commercials, it’s an EVENT! BOOYAH! Give’r boys!

I imagine Las Vegas feels like Christmas when these big events come around. You can gamble on just about any aspect of the game, the people surrounding it, even the national anthem. It’s pretty wild. I watch a lot of “It’s always sunny in Philadelphia“, so I’d wager on the Eagles if I felt inclined to do so. I don’t, but if I did, that’s how I’d go. I’ve done zero research, no facts or figures. I just like the Eagles this time around. I’m sure Mahomes is a lock, or what have you. But nope. Eagles. I have no money on it so what’s to lose.

It’s 420! What a rush.

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Not that 420, it’s not April twentieth, nor is it 4:20pm. The day has yet to go up in smoke, rather just another day on the writing journey. Day four hundred twenty to be exact. I keep meaning to have something extraordinary to do for days like this, but then those thoughts and ideas come head to head with reality, and I need to put my focus, and energies elsewhere. But I’m not a travel blog, nor a tech blog, nor do I do reviews of movies/games/tools either, so I haven’t a clue as to what would best exemplify “extraordinary” for writing in my case. I can hardly skip town for a wistful romp somewhere just to write about it. Nor would I make a major purchase just to give myself a basis for *content*. I’m a rambler. An inane, day to day, beige, suburban work from home dad kind of guy. I don’t discuss intimate details here, but I have covered Crohn’s disease a few times, and my hearing loss. But that’s not what brings in the readers. It was the collection of short stories that was driving growth here, and I’ve felt a bit tapped out on written creativity as of late. Reading was helping to rekindle that need to tell a story about what I wanted to hear, see, feel and do. It just hasn’t manifested as action – yet.

I wonder if work will slow down at all for a few days, or if we are going to run full tilt into Spring, then Summer at this pace? Who knows? I sure don’t.

One week until Valentine’s day, so get your finger on the pulse, and get ahead of the rush. Or don’t, up to you. I’m just sat here having breakfast making marijuana jokes, so what do I know.

My left ear is still a dull throbbing ache, so I have that to look forward to today. The ear drops help a bit, but no major shift either way. Towards getting better and going away, or rupturing, oozing out, and then going away. I’d just like it to choose, and get on with it. The waffling of will it, won’t it, annoys me to no end. Do the *thing*, and piss off!

This ear infection brings back a memory from my youth.

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Not of the intense inner ear pain, but a memory I had following a surgery to have tubes placed in my ears to shore up the collapsing inner walls of my ear canal. It was late in the evening, I was getting over the anesthesia from the surgery, in my own bed at home and I was crying because there were noises keeping me awake. And much to my surprise my mum told me I could hear the birds outside my window, and the rain on the glass. Two, usually too soft sounds I didn’t really take much notice of before, and were so new I couldn’t place them. Mind you I was drugged to the tits for a six year old or so, but it was still pretty startling. How can you live like this, hearing all this weird shit. How do you know what to pay attention to? If I can hear a fan, cars, mumbled talking, phone notifications, birds, and what not, odds are I can not hear you talking to me from several feet away. It’s all one jumbled mass of noise to me. Write that shit down. Text me!

Weird memory to have late last night as I was putting antibiotic drops in my ear. But a vivid one at that. Never can tell what you will remember about life. Happy Tuesday all.

Ps. Yes I did lose the airbrush compressor. It has died a death. I’m now on the lookout for a higher quality replacement that offers slightly more versatility. But which does not break the bank. I know the top of the line Iawata guns and compressors will cost over 1K. Too rich for my blood. I need a mid to lower mid tier set that will last five to ten years of intermitten, sparse use. Any recommendations from out there in internet land?

Overheating the compressor.

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Getting a jump on priming my model when the compressor gave iut. Felt a bit hot, so hoping it was just a safety shut down to cool off rather than, say, ruining the whole damn thing. Best case, as it was, as about 30 seconds later the work started pouring in, and I’ve been going all morning without breakfast. Time now for lunch! I got’sta eat!

Some new projects, some old projects, and some items that just won’t die! A good mix for a Monday morning. Plus my Daddy duties of laundry, tidying up, vacuuming, and refueling the vehicle for this afternoon’s extra curriculars. Sorting out uniforms, active wear, and making beds, fixing lunches, and school drop offs. It has been a bit of a blur today. Not to mention the ear infection my youngest passed along to me this weekend, with a minor cough, to round out my morning. It’ll hurt like a bitch until it ruptures, then the oozing, weeping mess will feel oh! so much better afterwards. Can’t wait. Feels right now as though I have gauze in my ear, and what was impaired to begin with is even quieter now. Fun times.

Looks like an early February thaw, or a pre-thaw going on these next couple days. What a messed up winter this has been. Glad my kid managed to get out on the slopes to enjoy snowboarding even with this winter being all out of whack.

Just finishing up lunch, and then back in for edits & change requests until late afternoon hits. Ciao Bella!

**I have an update!** yeah I pooched it. The compressor is kaput. Dead. Died. Deader’n a door nail. This complicates matters. A choice is to be made. I now need a new airbrush compressor, and possibly a matching set of guns with which to use said compressor. Some of these brand have proprietary connections to their hoses. So… damn. Not what I wanted for my Monday. Or any day for that matter. I finally had it up and working properly. Painted some models, miniatures, and sculpted ceramic busts, and plop. Dead. Decisions need to be made. And quick, spring approaches rapidly!

Second wood working job of 2023.

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I have been asked to build a Wooden Urn in three pieces. A base, a nested low profile tray, and a highly polished outer cover, that shows off some of the base. The base will have rubber feet. The tray will be lined in felt. The whole outer shell polished to a high sheen, and clear coated. It’s for an extended family member. At least they get to choose the specifications and fit n’ finish. Perhaps have it in their ownership for a while before they need to use it. I’m hoping this isn’t a race against the clock type of thing. There may be a question of stains, and wood type, but I think Spalted Maple or Ash would be classic looking, and stain nicely. Plus I have lots of it, and won’t need to charge through the nose for acquiring it either.

Some decisions to make before I begin: use the wood I have on hand (Spalted Maple or Ash) or purchase a darker hard wood (added cost) what colour felt to line the low profile tray: Burgundy, Yellow, Blue or Green. Any possible stain colour for the base portion, unless we go bare wood and a clear coat finish. Any additional details to include or forgo.

Some brief time spent doing research has led me to build something along the lines of the below. Classy without being obnoxious or ostentatious.

The three portions of the build. Outer cover, urn and low profile tray.
Where I realize the base is meant to show, and I need to order rubber feet.

The first project, is a moose fence topper I’m making for my mum. I have it all cut out, but I need to sand & paint it. Then ship it out to Campbell River in pieces. I’ve been really busy as of late with my day job, and the winter temperatures makes working in the shop less than ideal, but the Urn is a big deal, so I may just brave it. Plus we are getting ever closer to the February thaw, and I would like to spend some time in the shop again. Not certain what this will do to my VF-1 Valkyrie time line, but that can wait. This is a matter of death after all.

Dreamy dream dreams of fancy new tech and a weirdly fascinating job…

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As fun as it was it ended in extreme violence. Not sure what that says about me, but the job was a bit of all right. Using a VR headset to inspect machined parts to see if they met the tolerances of the final client. But using oddly low tech methods in a high tech VR world. It didn’t make a whole lot of sense, I just sort of rode it out as it was happening, like I knew what I was doing. And somehow – it ends in bone breaking violence. Weird huh? Yeah. I’d say so. Maybe I’ve been watching too much Click Spring and Inheritance Machining on YouTube lately. Though where the spine breaking violence slots in, I’m not sure. I have been taking medication for a niggling sore throat the last two days, so I’ll chalk it up to the medicine. I mean, I watch more than those two channels that deal with manual machining, but I don’t typically dream about it. That was a random surprise even to me.

Speaking of dreams, if I ever came into any real money I would, without losing a beat, upgrade my tiny drill press, to a slightly larger mill/drill, so that I could cut slots, and flats on wood, and maybe fix smaller metal brackets when I get around to building larger dining room tables. I have a whole fantasy plan for slightly better equipment for my shop, if ever we win, or create some form of life altering wealth. Nothing too crazy. I think I could accomplish my dream tool horde for around 12k, possibly less if I go used, so not *extreme*, but certainly extravagant. A new larger band saw, a new sliding double compound mitre saw, a larger air compressor, the mill/drill machine (possibly a lathe combo kit?), with collets, tooling and clamps & a vice (see how that escalates!) A new planer, a spray gun with water catch valve, an arbor press, a metal pan break, and possibly a small bench top English wheel. And with anything cash left over, I’d look at getting a 2ft square welding/assembly table, with drilled & tapped holes for jigs, and clamps etc… yeah, I have given it extensive thought. Also a wood rack to attach to a wall in order to lift my wood off the floor, and out of the way. If I had the means, a properly insulated, and finished space with heating and exhaust would be welcomed as well. But tools first, then later on, the space fixes if even needed.

Well, yeah the space needs more power outlets, on at least three walls, the doors should be insulated, maybe some tongue and groove pine walls, so I can hang directly off the pine rather than having to find studs, for all but the heaviest of items, like the materials rack. I would add more, and better quality lighting, and some form of an exhaust fan, for dust/fumes. And maybe a flat and smooth epoxy floor too? It’s all a dream, so go for it. Then I could make myself custom storage for everything, and eliminate any extra tables, carts, surfaces that eat up space, and no longer serve a purpose. It’s a whole thing. But remember, in this fantasy, we (the family) have created, or fallen ass first into generational wealth, so the kids futures are taken care of, same with their potential children, and we are just bettering our current situation to suit our future needs.

I love the idea of exposing my kids to all sorts of things so that they don’t feel like their only option is a crummy office job, where you vie for office manager, data entry clerk, or secretary. Do you want to fix helicopter engines? Build motor bikes, become a plumber or electrician? Vet tech or pipe fitter, then go for it. Try it out at home with pops, a.k.a *ME*, and see what takes your fancy! Car mechanic? Great, we have cars, fix ours for us! Ha. Oh to dream a little dream of…

The 416; not just a highway…

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So that’s where we are today, writing streak – day four hundred sixteen. Is it just me or am I getting worse at written communication? The reader numbers are way, way down as of late. Is the quality shot? Am I being confusing? No, I think it is because I repeat myself so much. Not a whole lot of new and exciting things going on around here. I suppose I can only matter on about the weather, work, and my hobbies so much before it all runs together, as just more of the same. Oh well.

Here we are on another Friday elementary school PA Day. And I’m feeling a little off health wise. Slightly sore throat, maybe – sorta. No temperature, nor any other ailments. So… could be nothing. I do feel a touch phlegmy, but with waking up with such a dry mouth/throat, that is to be expected if history is to be believed. So what’s next? Two rambunctious kids at home, incredibly cold weather outside, work emails are about to start poring in, I can feel it in my bones.

On the bright side, the sun, she is a shining today! I can even see some blue in the sky through the windows. Will my kids forget that I was going to take them to go wander another mall today? No, no they will not. It was the first thing my youngest said to me, before a hello, or good morning daddy. To which I replied, Oh minus 21! Not going outdoors today, brrrrr. To which they asked if we could go on either Saturday or Sunday, and I said – yeah sure, I guess so. So… there’s that sorted.

I don’t want to leave the house because both the NyQuil and the DayQuil lay my innards to ruin, and I’d like to be at home when that plague hits me hard today. Ugh. The count down to armageddon is ticking.

The progression of my VF-1 Valkyrie model build.

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The last two weeks, whilst busy with work, have included some leaps and bounds forwards with my model kit build up. I finally have all of the individual components cut off their sprues, cleaned off the nub marks, sanded where required, and built into the appropriate sub section piece, (ie.) Elbow, knee, ankle, hip, hands, cockpit etc etc… Below is a picture of all the parts laid out ready for priming soon.

All parts laid out, with thruster cones separated onto painter’s tape for ease of painting, and keeping track of the smaller bells.

I am going to use the yellow & black version of the water slide decals, image below. To change up from the red/black version I already have.

Going for yellow accents this time around.

As far as a paint scheme is concerned, I’m going to use USAF colours to make this model look a little more custom. My airbrush nozzle is too large to accurately achieve individual panel coverage, so I’ll need to tape off sections to get colour variations from the paint set I have in hand. A mixture of light greys on top side & legs, and the dark greys & black for the laser canons, major weapons attachments (darker grey plastic elements shown above) feet, vents, and other odds and sods. Plus oil washes, panel lines, decals and rust effects. I ordered the Tamiya 10mm low tack tape to help me with masking after all the priming and base coating is done. My hope is, that by leaving everything in smaller parts I can do a far better job of masking, and eliminating overspray where I desperately don’t want it. Fingers crossed! Then a high gloss coat to round out the sprayed portion of the build up.

I will need to paint the cockpit & pilot separately, as there are lots of edges and bits to pick out & high light. I’m really trying to make this one look legit, so no real time limit, but I’d like to not still be doing it in March. If you catch my drift.

Vallejo USAF colour range. Variations on grey.

I’ll finish it off with prominent decals, and the clear plastic stand. I’d like to be done by the end of February, but that will depend on workload, my kids staying healthy, and all the PA Days, & Holidays, and weekends not interfering too much on my schedule. We’ll see how that pans out.

Paint & decal instructions.

Work has been steady throughout January, so I haven’t even had the chance to crack open my illustrated children’s book. To be totally honest I haven’t even given much thought to how I will depict my two main characters, Lemon or Smush. Which is kind of important. The story is written. I have done five or six drafts, and I’m happy with where it is. But, I do need to get those pesky illustrations done. I know I focused a great deal of my free time into reading half of this years book list up front, and meticulously picking through my VF-1 model kit build up, so I didn’t leave much time for the book. Nor did I feel as though I needed to. I haven’t sculpted yet so far this year, nor painted, nor done any wood working, so… gotta pace myself. Too many hobbies, and too little free time. Have managed to play my guitar a few times, which is really nice for a change. That is very relaxing. Loud, but relaxing. Let us not forget that both my kids do four extra curricular activities per week – each. So my evenings are spent playing chauffeur/ assistant coach/cheerleader and water boy. So evenings aren’t exactly free time for me either.

Hell, here I was thinking I’d start Book Three of collected short stories this winter, like immediately after Christmas break, but that hasn’t hit me yet either. Do I go a whole different route? Or stick with what I have developed and just find a new angle to explore? Not sure. Really need to think about it, and write up some outlines. Maybe later. I’m pooped.

There are six books which I read cover to cover in January.

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The books in question.

I read Mary Robinette Kowal’s “The spare man“, “Fart Quest Vol.4“, Tom Segura’s “I’d like to play alone“, The first two “Dungeon Academy” books, and then Adrian Tchaikovsky’s “Children of memory“. With a partial read of Robert Evans’ “The kid stays in the picture“. A book I feel like I should go back to now that I have cleared my schedule for reading through until July 1st, 2023. But we’ll see. It repeats itself alot, with the gambling, drinking, and adultery themes. The names, and motion pictures change, but ultimately he’s retelling the same six stories over, and over again, with that Shake or slap an hysterical woman, old Hollywood charm. The girls are prizes to be claimed, and discarded at whim. Interesting, up to a point. Not my tempo. As it were.

I’m about the start in on the N. K Jemisin Broken Earth Trilogy, so I have high hopes! Please let them be good. It would be better if they were great, but I’ll gladly take good any day of the week. Exceptional would be amazing, but a good trilogy, with no filler feeling chapters is hard to come by. Is this the authors seminal work? What they’re known for? I don’t know. I didn’t do all that much research, but a few names I trust from previous high quality references to books gave this one a thumbs up, and it has won a prestigious Sci-fi award for the whole trilogy, book by book. So that’s gotta say something positive? Doesn’t it!?!

I should really go back and try to read more of the Carl Sagan book, but it came across like a text book, so I need to be in that sort of mind set. For education rather than entertainment. That was the difference between reading about the Pluto mission, versus the Mars rover stuff. One was *a story*, the other a technical play by play, like a parts list, and engineered drawings in exploded view. One I thoroughly enjoyed as it did contain lots of education information inside the story telling, the other I detested, and only got part way through before putting it away. My labouring over a text days are done. Philosophy, Sociology, Economics, even Business Admin textbooks were a chore at times, and I’m glad I don’t have to hack my way through those sorts of things anymore.

Also I do want to know how the Grapes of Wrath ends, but who-boy, that was an exercise in patience for colloquial speech patterns. Feels like it will mean something by the end, but gah! The idea of spending the next five months reading five pages at a time to just get to the end of it feels like a total waste of my time. Can it provide a great enough epiphany at the end to warrant such a slow, halting, and seemingly unending read? I don’t see it. Not from the 150 plus pages I have all ready read. Maybe the end packs the most whallop? I don’t know. Seems fool hardy to leave your whole message for the very end. But I’m no writer of an American Classic. So he’s gotta know what he’s doing.

Today is Wednesday, and I’m looking at being pretty busy today, and this evening. The kids have things to do every night of the week excepting Friday, and the weekends. One month in and I am exhausted, so who knows how the kids are coping. I know they enjoy it all. But, I think we need to narrow down some interests, as this is a bit much. I am grateful that I get to see the improvements from gymnastics, Taekwon-do, and their dance lessons. Had I still been working downtown for any number of breweries or agencies, I’d never get the chance to see this stuff. I get to see them tey it for the first time, work at it, conquer it, then build upon it. Rather lovely – at times. Anyway, great day to you all.