bobss396

64 with a RH of 78 and overcast.we are supposed to get a drive by of hurricane Erin. The local surfers are excited, I may go down to the ocean for a look.

I took a full time machine shop course in early 1981 that was great. I got PAID to learn. Out of about the 30 we started with, maybe 18 stuck around to graduate. By 10 years after, I was 1 of 3 that were still in the trade. I know it went on for a couple more years, then the funding ran out.

There's the answer. They use the local shop to pick the owner's brain and buy on Amazon. I like to buy local so I CAN pick the owner's brain. Kit prices, outside of Hobby Lobby with the 40% off, are $30 to $40. Online you may save a couple of bucks if there is free shipping. Just about any shop has ditched aftermarket parts completely. I guess they sit around too long. Most local builders don't get that deep into builds. Just my theory.

Went to my girlfriend's sister's house yesterday for a late lunch/early dinner. On the menu: One huge tomahawk steak. I'm supposed to be getting a picture of it. It easily fed 4 of us with leftovers. The little dog got the bone.

70 with an RH of 68. What a difference from a scorching Saturday just 3 days ago. The upside is, I'll be taking my '66 Belair to a local cruise. The expected high will be around 75.

We are down to just a handful of shops. They used to be all over, even up through 2010. Sone of us would do a hobby store crawl on a Saturday, hit 4 to 6 shops in an afternoon. We have a close by shop that has been completely done over, no more clutter like the old store. They got kits and paint, zero aftermarket stuff.

My first MPC kit was a 1966 Pontiac product. They made loads of Pontiacs and Mopars. I recall a 1976 Fury convertible. Their Charger was pretty nice. I found the bodies to be molded thinner than AMT kits and the detail was a little crisper.

70 F at 6 AM. I did sleep with the windows open last night. It was breezy so I had to close the deck umbrellas just in case. Overcast and looks like rain... with some luck. I think we have had maybe 3 days of significant rain all summer.

More of the same today. It never rained yesterday. Humidity is a bit lower. I was doing garden work, watering plants and taking pool breaks. Went to dinner with the girlfriend, came back and hit the pool. The water temperature was warmer than the air.

Hot peppers 🌶 anyone? Red cayennes are coming in strong, at least 6 per day. Green ones are siricha (sp?), similar to jalapeños. This batch I'm slicing up, vacuum sealed and into the freezer. I pickled a couple of jars of them too. Plants are still producing like mad.

This was daylight and I have no cats around outside. Owls, I have yet to see one. Since the feathers had a 80' spread I'm saying hawk.

Just a few shots of my columbines in full bloom. The bees are all over them.

72 F and off the chart humidity. The pool was 82 yesterday. I can't even consider doing any paint work right now. It looks like it might rain later on.

I do have hawks around, the bluejays usually make quite the racket when they appear. If so, it likely took off with the bird after a brief battle. This may explain the trail of feathers across my yard and pool. Nothing showed up on my Bird Buddy which was about 8 feet away.

And to think that ships have used massive chains for at least 100 years. I'd like to see how they were done back then.

I was out on my deck in the late afternoon and came across a huge amount of bird feathers. I don't see any hurt bird or blood. I tried to ID the feathers online with no luck. I think this may be molting. I'll see who shows up at the Bird Buddy with a bad haircut.

He was also a master-shredder for his time. Listen to some of his recordings with Mary Ford. He was in a bad car accident at some point and shattered his right arm. He had the surgeons set it in a way that he could play guitar.

That takes up some serious electric power 🔌. Looks like all was done by induction welding.

Ivan from last night. The first 2, he is nesting in a box that Chinese food came in. Right on top of the bag of noodles and fortune cookies. The last, he is under the ottoman. A thunder storm rolled through and he went to his safe space.

It rained last evening from 7 to at least 9. Probably after that too since my deck and patio were still wet this morning. 71 right now with 97% humidity. A little cloudy.

I may have that exact kit around. They always built up nicely.

I got 2 new 26" bike tires and tubes for my garbage picked Schwinn. I installed them yesterday... rides like a new bike.

74 at 6 this morning, 93% humidity. Inside i already have sweat running down my back. It may rain later on. If anyone wants me, I'll be in the pool.

I did have a dead cicada yesterday in my pool. Took it out, put it on my deck table. Went inside to get my phone... came out and it was GONE... some bird had a nice breakfast....

Brie was curled up with me yesterday. She's a very sweet little cat.