A Weekend Of Repairs!

 So remember that cool Mural I worked on for most of my Saturday?   Well,  It began to unravel.   Literally!   The paper began to peel away from the wall and curl over on itself!   A TOTAL disaster!

I, in my panic,  forgot to take pics of it.   But I wrestled with the sticky underside and unraveled the pieces to put them back up right again.   (Ever try to un stick tape that has stuck to itself?   Yeah!   That multiplied by 1000!)  

I was pretty proud that I dealt with it and did not cave and rip it all down.   I knew after the first few minutes that I was in total Damage Control....  I was not going to expect it to be as good as those first pics. 

As I slept through the night... with a few "band aids" applied...  I woke up to the edges peeling once again.   This time, at least, It was merely unsightly and not a disaster that had to be unraveled.  I then began to formulate a plan. 

The mural is designed to be able to be pulled off.   So it is "semi-permanent".   The problem is I had hoped that it would stay put until I wanted to pull it off!   Not less than and hour after installation.    

So how do you keep the ability to remove it while still having it stay on the wall?  My solution:

Painters tape and wallpaper glue!  I would tape under the seams and then glue the vinyl mural to the top of the tape!   

But when I went to Menhards, I discovered 2 sided tape by Gorilla Glue!

In retrospect, I should have bought a second roll.... because that Gorilla Tape did the trick!   It grabbed onto the sticky adhesive that came on the backside of the Mural.   And it has held up so far. I honestly see no reason now why it should fail ( the first 24 hours would have been the test)    

However, I did run out of that tape... so I was forced to use my plan "A" after all.   Which also worked!   So I am pretty proud of that at the moment.  I did have a third option of taping the two seams together... but thankfully I did not have to go down that path.   I tested the theory out on a small section, and it "worked" but was a flimsy, lumpy solution.   The gorilla tape worked the best!

So now I have to work on the seams that are slightly turned up.   I can press them down, but they still pop up.    So I will do the Wall paper trick of glue and a putty knife to smooth it down.  But I may have to wait on that one when I have more time. 

Other than that,   I failed to mention the monthly allowance of Candy from the Haribo!   We got a number of goodies... including Wild Berry Bears,  Unicorns, Reindeer, and Sour Spaghetti. I shared mine with a number of Zebra friends because I knew they had requested Gummys from Phil and Patty and never got them. Besides... What was I going to do with all of that candy?

I'm sure I will be unloading more treats on various friends in the future as the gummys pile up.  Might as well share the love.  

By the way,  the Unicorn and Wild Berry Bears are AWESOME!   And fresh.   Personally I think Fresh trumps everything in the realm of food. And having gummy bears that are this fresh will probably make you never want to buy them from the store again!    

I believe the Chanterelles are closing up shop for the summer.   It really had to hunt for them last Sunday, but still managed to fill a basket.   I also found a few other dandies along the way.   But I'm going to miss finding the Chanterelles now.   I guess the next things to look out for will be the hen of the woods and Lung Oysters.  I know the Shrimp of the woods and Chicken of the woods are still viable finds.  Along with the Lion's mane.  But they never pop out in the numbers like the Chanterelles.   So finding those mushrooms are kind of like a flash of light....   Fun for a moment, but then quickly forgotten. 

Another week begins!  And Monday is already over!  Time certainly flies at the Haribo...  And you really have to focus to make every second count.  

A Busy Week! A Busy Day!

 Every now and then, too many things happen that I just can't blog about all of them in one post.   But if I try to split things up... I end up cutting something.   And too many cool things that were blog worthy happened this week...  So I will try to fit them all in as best I can. 

How do you make a mountain out of a Molehill?  That is the writer's dilemma.   I mean..  It has to be somewhat entertaining, right?    Phil says that my blog posts have become boring, as of late.   And if there is one things Phil is known for... It's his honesty.   (Usually Brutal honestly, but honest all the same.... I can respect that.)  

But this is my blog, and sometimes  the blog posts are just a serious of facts and events of the life...  And not solely written for Phil's entertainment value.....   So let us begin with the dull and boring life that is mine. (I personally find my life fun and fulfilling.   But I admit I have a bit of a bias...) 

I changed the oil in the Subaru!   I know this seems like it is not a big deal... Until you see how long it has been since my last oil change!

Judging from the handwriting, I think I was the last one to do it.   I must have done it right after I purchased the car.    That means it has been almost a YEAR since my last oil change!   

Now before I get the hate mail pointing out my ineptitude at Motor Vehicle Maintenance...  I want to qualify a few things.   

One:   Subie takes 0w20 Full Synthetic Oil.....  Which is rather expensive.    Along with the oil filters.   

Two:   According to the Owner's Manual,  you only need to change the oil once every 10,000 miles!   \

And three,  I have been checking on the oil so it never runs low.   (Usually every other fuel up.)   I'll add a quart here and there when I need to.  

And lastly,  I have not even driven the full 10,000 miles yet!   So I actually changed it ahead of schedule.  

To be honest,   I was getting a little nervous waiting that long.  Especially after being religious about the 3000 mile change up....   But I have read and watched videos that this is the new norm.    And perhaaps the newer cars are build with a better design.. provided you stay up on the "check the oil" part of things.  

Back with the Silver Bullet,  I never had to check the oil,   I would always change it before it was down a quart... so it was never an issue.  But the Full Synthetic seems to wear a little bit better and lasts a bit longer.   All I can do is follow the directions of the manufacturer for the best results. 

Last Sunday I went out mushroom hunting with my favorite Partner:  Ladybird the Mushroom Dog!   We found another basket full of Chanterelles, along with a number of other beauties.   (Some of witch were not edible.. but pretty!)  I finally had to move a number of them into the freezer as I was not eating them fast enough.   I also gave a bunch away to one of the Bartenders at the Clubhouse;   who also likes wild mushrooms.   I may go out gain tomorrow and see if there are any new Chanterelles sprouting up.  ( It just rained over the last couple of days...) You have to make hay when the sun shines!  OR in this case,  "Find the Mushrooms when it rains!"  It's nice to know that I have a few people who appreciate them and are willing to take a few off of my hands. 

I got new glasses!   They came in last night and I picked them up this afternoon.   It is a bit odd whenever I get new glasses..   I am past the point of caring how I look..( Mostly)   But I now focus on whether the things even work!   Becoming farsighted has really plunged me into a new category!   And these bifocals are really tricky to get the hang of.  I'm sure my brain will adjust over time...  and I will hopefully notice that I can see a little better.   Hopefully. 

And finally...  I installed the Wallpaper mural that I purchased  several weeks ago.   It has been a while since I put one of these things up, and doing it alone was both calming and scary at the same time.   Calming in that I did not have to argue with anyone over how best to install it.   And scary because there were several times when an extra set of hands would have come in handy.   Even if only to hold something while I flattened the paper to the wall. 

The first sheet went up easy enough.   This old house is not 100% level or square... so I had to rely on my small hand level to make sure things were straight.   And really....  I doubt anyone will pull out a calipers to make sure there are no gaps in the paper. 

The second one went up a little easier.   There was no overlap on this mural ( I discovered that along the way...)   So I had to be as precise as I could with the lining up of the seams.   Thankfully I could pull it off and adjust  as I went along. 

The third was getting easier, and it began to take shape.   Now for the Windows!

Not as tough as you might think.  I do feel a bit wasteful cutting off large chunks of the picture and tossing them.   In all honesty, I'm keeping them just in case...  for when my other mural arrives.   There are a couple of areas that may need a bit of a background filler... so I would rather have it around and not need it rather than discovering that I need it to late! 

All done!   Now to put the chair and dresser back in place.   When the next one comes I will have my own corner of the forest.  and it "should" look like I'm sleeping in the woods or surfing the internet on a forest trail.   

It seems like there are other things I wanted to blog about, but those can wait.   Dave invited me for dinner and I should start heading over there.  Honestly... ( And don't take this as a joke...)  I think the last time I had any of Dave's cooking was the day of the fire. So this will be a milestone of some sort.   ( Not really sure...  but it has been noted.)  So I shall end this blog post and quickly add the pics before heading out.   Sometimes it id a challenge to make every second count. 

The AMC Car Show! A Journey Back In Time.

 The AMC Car show was today.   And I have much to talk about.  But really.. Where do I begin?  I guess I could begin with the cars... 

Or the swap meet for parts that are no longer in service...  

Or maybe even the history of the AMC company that no longer exists... 

But really....  There is so much more to talk about.   About the Moment in American culture, when we celebrated the "little guy"   who was scrappy and fought against giants to find their place in history.   That was the American Motors Corporation back in the '80's. They created the Jeeps and the Gremlins that people respected, and made fun of.   

And purchased... by the boat loads!

And handed them down to their Grandsons when they, themselves, could no longer drive.   

And bought as new cars off the lots for their families... 

Honestly,  AMC holds a far deeper meaning for my family that even they  would think.  If you were to ask my Mom,  she would say that we were a Chevy family.  

If you were to ask my Dad,  his favorite car was the Oldsmobile Delta 88!  Diesel!  

But what I remember is the Concord DL that we purchased off the new car lot... with only 9 miles on the odometer.  It didn't last long, as my Dad totaled it in a blizzard driving home from Midland Michigan.  

But the memory stayed.  

And then there was my first Car..   The AMC Gremlin that my Grandmother handed down to me when she could no longer drive.  It only lasted about 2 years for me after she gave it to me....  But it made an impression for me.  There were many experiences that I had in that first vehicle... Along with the new found freedom that a car brings that will stay with me forever. 

And then I discovered the Jeep Comanche.  The car I had the longest and triggered a chain of events that would change my life forever.   Including going into the Army,  Traveling to Alaska.   And enjoying a Meteor Shower with Cheryl in the parking lot of Rockford High School in the Open Back.  

There were other memories attached to the Jeep that I  shudder to mention on the blog.   Getting stuck in the mud of Comstock Park...  Breaking a fan belt on a date.   Climbing a mountain and not being able to engage the 4 wheel drive....  Etc.   Oh!  The time Cheryl and I "parked" in a secluded field ... Only to have it rain and get stuck.... We had to walk 2 miles in the dark and call her Parents!  To give us a ride home.   Ugh!   The foolishness of youth!

And all of those precious moments came flooding back the moment I walked up and touched the Beige Jeep Comanche Sport Truck.  A Talisman of History!   It made me smile with all of those memories... both good and bad.   Especially the bad ones!   Who would have though that I would ever look back on those bad moments  and remember them with a smile.   

Because we ultimately survived... And gained a bit of wisdom along the way. 

I found my first "Dream Car"  The AMC Eagle.   The first 4X4 drive car.  I once had the opportunity to purchase one, but it had "problems" according to the mechanic... so I passed.  And went with a more prudent purchase to get me through college. 

 And so it went as the three hours I spent there progressed.    I stepped back further.   And Further!   And realized that a small auto company that was AMC touched so many lives.   And as I watched and listened to people telling their stories,  I realized that this small patch that was sewn into the quilt of American Culture was made with love.  

Oh Sure.   There were profits and greed and money to be made and earned....  But the people who purchased these cars, initially for transportation,   ultimately gained a love for them that  you can not put a price tag on.  Several times while talking to the owners of these historic cars,  I heard the word "family" being used in reference to the vehicle.   A cold, inanimate chunk of steel and plastic and rubber.  

Family! 

How can a car become a part of the family?   It breaks down,   Costs money to maintain and occasionally fix.  And will often leave you stranded when you need it most!   

Kind of like Family.  

And yet,   it routinely puts up with your abuse.   Your neglect.   Your reckless behavior. and continues to get you from point a to point b without incident or complaint.  

Kind of like Family. 

And occasionally,  As it was with my Dad...  The car will sacrifice itself to protect its occupant.  

Kind of like Family.  

I never saw the Concord DL after Dad totaled it on that blinding, Blizzard day.  But Mom said it was a Miracle he survived without so much as a scratch.    The car  was pressed up like an accordion!   Sandwiched between two trucks like one of those soda can crushers.   That car saved my Dad from a possibly life changing injury.    Or even death!  

I wonder how many other stories are similar... Perhaps not as life and death as that one....  But still as meaningful as those "First Kiss" moments of growing up.  Or those "First Time Car buyers" that remember the moment of being handed the keys to their first car.  

The park was filled with lots of people who had plenty to stories to tell.   And I learned a lot  of things that I had not known before.  A History...  Of the AMC brand.... And all of the people that were touched with their creations.   Oh how just remembering a time when being "Made in America" actually meant something.  Something precious.   Something magical....

And so it goes that something as simplistic as a car show can have so much more meaning that anyone could ever know... Or write about.   So without further words... perhaps it is best to simply post the pictures.    Pictures of the cars and the colors,  and the People that attended today's event.    I know that looking in the past is not always the most healthy thing to do since it  can trigger depression...   But now and then we need to look back at history to see a time when things were "OK" and when people took pride in their craftsmanship.  A time .. When People made Ever second count....