It has been awhile

Seminary is going okay. Retirement isn't in the works yet.The dog got fixed. He now resembles the cat in the same fashion. The cat has adjusted. The dog has problems.

But he is still cute. So now that the daylight is passing away earlier each evening, it is time to come inside from the driveway and wash my hands off so I can get ready for the holidays. The stroke slowed me down more than I've realized. But that's okay because I like having some senses, like pain and blindness, to warn me that the psyche test is over. I failed. Again.

Well this is nothing compared to what it might have been.

 I'm guessing this time it's for keeps.

The Unibody Will Live Again

I know Dave thinks it a waste of time and I know he wouldn't give $50 for this. But he also thinks they film all of Google Earth in a Hollywood studio. I was a little disheartened when I walked past it at Buck's and didn't even recognize it. The last 13 years were not nice to it. But, I see all that is missing is the radiator, one split rim and tire, the headlight (headlight window is in the front seat), the ignition key, an old radio and the primer I put on it 16 years ago. Dave drove from our traffic stop just north of the casino. A Montezuma County Sheriff's Deputy, who was going to give me a speeding ticket in Towaoc until he discovered my two year expired driver's license has been suspended since 2010, just made Dave drive and gave me all my papers back with no ticket. I was just happy that the engine, transmission, transfer case, Dana 44 front and Dana 60 4:11 rear is still in it. Dave doesn't believe anybody would offer what some have for this one. It really needs help though. I will have to strip it down to the frame and completely redo the cab/box. But, first things first. We have a Jeep that needs an engine. I will attempt to get the 302 in the truck to run or tear it apart and clean it - whichever is needed. It will run again. We stopped at the truck in Cortez so Dave could eat a burrito. I had a coke and off we went. 

Tiger or Something Like it

Now I need to find parts to put this one together. The kids at the Catholic Church behind me watched while I painted this. They got a kick out of it. I got a lot done today until I stopped getting a lot done about ten minutes ago. The lesson for tomorrow is ready. The tool box is back on the truck. Dave Mossburg ran me into the city for my amitriptyline and we looked at a turtle while looking for expensive dog food at Pet Smart. They want $55 for the turtle but he does like me. He's not for me though. Mr. Anderson needs a pet. I am like the turtle myself. I can only move forward if am willing to risk sticking my neck out.

Bike Frame

The fork is in the window.

It's nice not to have anything else to do besides spray paint cheap bike frames. Maybe I can get down to Shiprock this coming week. Lula needs her Airstream hauled down to Teec and I think she wants the Wagoneer taken to her sister's place, too. I could use a couple of trips over Lizard Head Pass this month, as nice as it is now.

Return of the Unibody

A few minutes ago I was on the phone with Buck's in Shiprock, New Mexico. They told me to bring a thousand dollars for the ransom and I can have my truck back. It has been sitting in their storage lot for almost 13 years and they are getting tired of looking at. Someone came in a couple of months ago and offered them $2,000 but they knew I would come back for it eventually.

Next case. Mia had a little help from her uncle Mike. Hard to believe this was almost five years ago.

Six years ago I was on Log Hill doing a handrail for a very tall staircase. We had one of those cloudless days in Ouray County. For me, it doesn't get any better than this.

We took a little trip to Phoenix yesterday. It only took 9 hours.

 So our second stop in Dolores looked nice enough for a color pic. The road over Lizardhead was wet and it did spit a little sleet but four hours later I had the air conditioning turned on.

After all -- what good is a free day without a camera and some yellow leaves?       

That's exactly what I said!