There are times in your life when you just get in a groove, follow a path, chasing that goddamn ball to the exclusion of anything less important. I've been doing that ball chasing since February, working on a new novel and working on Brigadoon. I've made great progress in both arenas, with an additional benefit along the way; just slowing the fuck down.
Much of my work/life has been about performing -- and that meant agility and speed. As I progressed in my career I saw the speed tended to produce a lot of energy and a lot of 'fast failure' on a random track to success. People got hurt, either physically, emotionally, mentally or financially. Success, true success was rare, with mediocre accomplishments being touted as great things indeed. After that, it's time to rush off to the next initiative, burn up a lot of energy and time, and hope for the best. As I got older I started seeing more places for caution, maybe consideration before action, in a world surrounded by people who fix a mistake by doing the same thing again -- only faster, harder, and with more self promotion.
The last few months have really driven the lesson home of the work I can actually accomplish when I slow the fuck down. It's given me the time to think and consider the best use of my time. The projects don't move at a breakneck pace but, I'm finding I'm accomplishing much.
So far, I've completed the first draft of a 50,000 word novel. The next process is copy editing, design and self-publishing. We hope to have it out soon. Right behind that is another writing project - a collection of motorcycle articles I wrote between 2001 and 2005. There are three other writing projects behind that one.
I've also made progress in Brigadoon (pictures and more details coming soon):
- Reconditioned the teak decks, leveling all calk and scrubbing well.
- Stripped and reconditioned the teak on the cap rails, teak topsides, anchor platform, traveler arch, cockpit combing and cockpit sides.
- Managed a 2nd haul out, including bottom paint and new zincs
- Managed an insurance-mandated valuation survey during the haul out.
- Wrecked out the remains of the old head system, including the holding tank and all remaining hose.
- Installed an ultra-sonic hull cleaning system, which included the head unit, installing four transducers to the hull and wiring back to the unit through countless bulkheads.
- Cleaned the damn bilge.
- Repaired a cooling system leak -- tracing it to chafed heat exchange hoses with the old water heater, which was leaking fresh water...
- Removed and replaced the 6gal water heater, which included redesigning the water manifold to make it easier to flush and isolate parts of the system.
- Removed the old teak deck box, designed a new one, ordered the parts and started assembly.
- Removed and inspected both primary and secondary ground tackle.
- Re-bed all chain plates and covers to solve deck leaks.
- Re-painting the gold leaf scroll work and cove stripe.
- and more
There is a lot more to do in the next six months as we prepare to leave Tacoma and head for Pt. Townsend in December.
Something about the story of the tortoise and the hare rings clear and true right about now.
