Back In Texas

Our Thursday departure was not noted in the greater annuls of cosmic events. Overshadowed by the antics of Puxatawny Phil and other world leaders of more import, we drove. We procrastinated because of social obligations and dwindling funds.

Money, that's it. Our budget for the month , squandered on cat maintenance, boat electrics, teeth maintenance, truck repairs and screw organizers, is blown, and we pushed on in spite of the constraints of the current fiscal month. As much as we fantasize about the pursuit of dreams and goals, the cold hard fact of paying for it is tantamount to success. I suggest that you pick goals monetarily achievable with a sufficient amount of headroom like baking apple pies, providing you can spring for that slice of cheddar on the top. For me, a good 10+ percent of the boat cost is in the electrical system. I started out this project with the Wharram concept of simple boats for simple people (we certainly fit that profile). As we progressed, the concept of bare bones did not align with old bones and I decided to be comfortable. Refrigeration, AC power inverter, warm food, warm showers were no longer luxuries, but necessities.. The money, hard earned and tight in fist, is mostly there. It's there because of a frugal habitude and a niggardly attitude with few platitudes to muddy the waters. I don't just rush in and spend. Most parts are purchased through painstaking research and patience. If a good deal is not available, mostly I can wait for one.  Hopefully. a tax rebate will buy the next batch of necessities. 

Hah! The boat. Proof that we are really here. Did we work on it? Naw, we arrived Friday evening and spent today reassembling the shreds and shards of our life. There's a huge pile of electrical stuff in the shed that budge says I have to decide how to mount it. That guy doesn't have a clue that I don't have a clue. Oh well, we'll muddle together and reach the middle, testing our mettle in the process.

On the way across Kentucky, we stopped at Heaven Hill, makers of Evan Williams bourbon, and toured a rick house. The distillery burned down in 1996 along with a few rick houses. A rick house is 7 stories of full bourbon barrels. Do you know how fast a rick house burns? Let's put it this way: all the fire department can do is bring the marshmallows, and they'd better hurry.

After a long day's drive. The stop in Tunica and a bit of wind-me-down steeled us for the second day of driving.  

Remember the beer I made in December, or was it November? See? I don't even remember. Anyway, I poured the first one today. It's a stout..........real stout. It'll put hair on your chest and on your tongue.
So we start working again. We shall see .

The Music♪: Tommy McClennen "Bottle Up And Go"

When it's time, through circumstance or desire, ya gotta go.