"Self pity is our worst enemy, and if we yield to it we can never do anything wise in this world." - Helen Keller

 Shorts:

• Never jump rope right under a ceiling fan. DAMHIK.
• There is crying in baseball and I'm fine with that. Shows what's important to him, that he cares.
• If you're going to be gone for 3 weeks plug the drains, including in the laundry tub. 
• Cockroaches can't climb up the wall of a laundry tub. 

Pam's job is getting really messed up. She got called off today, something that wasn't supposed to happen in return for her giving up a 12-hour shift every pay period. Two years ago she would have been upset at the thought of leaving her role on 5C. The reverse is true now, in part because her time on 5C is just a small portion of what she does...on days when she actually works. Retiring in Oregon looks pretty good to her. 

I worked on the bed wood most of the day. I got all the edges rounded with my router and then sanded all the boards down to 220 grit. Next up, pre-stain sealing, stain, and 4-5 coats of spar varnish. While those coats are drying I'll get back to work on panel fitment. 

My passport came in today's mail. On Sept. 2 I'll fly from Phoenix to Houston, from Houston to Dallas/Fort Worth, and from D/FW to San Jose Costa Rica. On Sept. 14 I'll do the reverse. In between I'll be busy teaching in a variety of settings, including evening seminar meetings to which area churches will be invited, smaller studies with the host church, and time with pastoral students in the Bible institute. I'm really looking forward to it, and beginning tomorrow afternoon will begin lesson prep in earnest. 

I started sketching out plans for the storage bed this morning. I've read that some people have trouble with moisture between the mattress and the platform, especially in most climates like western Oregon, so I'm going to make it with slats over the drawers instead of a solid sheet of plywood. 

Flush drawer fronts or overlays?

I also did some research on heritage turkeys. I'd never heard of them until we saw what Bruce & Debbie have, but they're pretty cool looking. McGowans are raising them for their beauty and we'd do the same. But there's a growing market for their meat which is considered better and healthier (they're raised free range). Some places give away turkeys to their employees while heritage turkeys ready for the oven bring up to $200 a piece. 

I especially like the Bourbon Red.

My first trip back to the gym in three weeks was a reminder that a fitness regime must be either a daily habit or rather painful. But I will get it back. 

I worked like a camp mule while we were at the property, but the week spent with the Davies & McGowans involved too much good food and no exercise. Not that I complained, mind you!

We're catching up on programs we watch regularly and tonight it's Poldark, the PBS series. It's British, a period piece, and very good. I learned this production is drawn from one of about a dozen books in the Poldark series of novels, similar to the Aubrey-Maturin series, also very good. If you're looking for something to read start with the first one, Master and Commander. You'll be hooked.