I started the day early at Starbucks, working on my lesson for Sunday. I'm coming to the end of this series of lessons, wrapping up and drawing some final conclusions. (see below)
From there to Josh's clinic to swap the Falcon for his F-150, and from there to Five Star Engines. I had to take them pushrods and bolts I'd neglected to include when I dropped the engine off, and then go down the street to a BK for a Diet Coke while they finished assembly. Forty minutes later I got a call that the engine was ready so I went back, they loaded it into the truck, I hauled it home and then wrestled (!) it on to the engine stand. I was drenched in sweat by the time that was done. A quick bite of lunch and then back to the clinic to reverse the vehicle swap. By the time I got home I was exhausted.
Here's what I have sitting out in the garage now:
He said this second block and head were in excellent condition and made for a solid rebuild. After looking at their work I'm even more convinced having them do the block and head was the right decision. I've got plenty of work to do in final assembly that will give me a sense of satisfaction, but I'll also know that the technical stuff on the inside was done by professionals.
I'm still waiting for FedEx to show up with my order of parts from "The Filling Station," a supplier for vintage Chevy trucks. That box will include headers for converting this to dual exhaust and a carb rebuild kit.
Getting the engine all back together and painted will take me a couple of weeks, working an hour or two each morning before the heat gets too oppressive. I'm eager to have that major milestone reached, and by then it should have cooled off enough that I can return to body & paint.
I got another box today, this one with the correct 1959 oil bath air cleaner from a guy on the truck forum who lives in Idaho. It will clean up nicely, and with a fresh coat of paint will look new. Add to the air cleaner and engine the available reproductions of all the factory decals and the engine will look like it just rolled off the assembly line.
I'm whooped.
While I was at Starbucks I watched a conversation taking place 20' away from me in chairs directly across the room from my high-top table. It's a small enough place, and they weren't trying to be quiet, that I could hear most of what they were saying.
One of them was the pastor, the other seemed to be the guy in charge of music. They disagreed about technical issues - mics, monitors, the mix coming out of the board, and the musicians' conduct during rehearsals and services.
I quickly figured out the pastor had settled and firm opinions about what was wrong and what needed to be changed, including in some pretty techie areas. This wasn't really a discussion, it was one guy asserting his will over the other. The pastor's body language while the other guy was talking could have been from a SNL skit it was so obviously impatient and dismissive.
This went on for 20 minutes or so before the other guy left, and he didn't have a smile on his face. It wasn't combative, but neither was it cordial or collegial. One guy won, the other lost, got spanked.
Several things occurred to me as I watched this exchange transpire.
- How off target has a church gone when things like monitors and sound boards engender that kind of conflict between staff? I can guarantee that unless there's screaming feedback coming through the speakers 90% of the congregation hasn't a clue re. the subtle differences in the sound.
- Why is a pastor sweating it in the first place? Again, unless there are major issues clearly hindering worship for a significant number of people he'd be a lot better off delegating and then leaving them to do their work. Those line workers are volunteers and should be seen as a blessing, not screw-ups. He's got more critical things on which to focus, things only he can do. Like prepping his sermon.
- Twenty years ago churches were engaged in "worship wars," conflicts over hymns vs. contemp. music, piano & organ vs. guitars and drums, choirs in robes vs. worship leaders in blue jeans.... Most churches have moved past that, but apparently not all have matured past that.
- We are very, VERY blessed at Pathway. Kevin, Debyi, and Justin turn out music way beyond what a church our size has any right to enjoy. They are so easy to work with, totally without egos, and eager to comply with any special request I may have to make because of schedule requirements. Great musicians who don't act like musicians. I don't have to give the music part of our service a thought; they've got it covered and do it wonderfully.
T'ank you, Fadder.
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