It's been a slow read. That's the way it was written. Hasn't been a page turner. More of a "Shop Manual" that only shines when you know the question to look up ... and then find it in the index. "Hey!!, it IS in here!!"

We're going back to complete the cycle in Maryland. I know it seems like you've read that before - but we did a bunch of details there - and were unable to connect with the professionals we had interviewed. We have a set of folks now - and we think it should go better.

This sort of all encompassing move/reconstruction; is NOT for the faint of heart. This has been THE most stressful project of my life. It has seemed unending. Each day has stressed what I had previously thought was my last nerve. But - we are still here, still moving forward.

HOW could it TAKE so LONG??!!! Well, that is because you are dealing with AN artist, and his wife. This is not a big corporation. The curiosity, for many; has been the fact that I do it all. "Sole Authorship". The drawback is, "I do it all". It will all be a big plus when I'm dead. Trust me. The story will have to include quite a bunch regarding the difficulties of placing into being, and infrastructure wherein this one artist could work, and build. If the story does not mention that - and rather just shows a slideshow of pics of the work I completed, it will be a really lousy job, and inaccurate. Had I been born rich, and/or had I been born the Son of a Henry Ford ... then I would have had access to state of the shop equipment and facilities, from my earliest inclination to build. Instead, I was born to meager means. I "accumulated" a hodge podge of simple tools, both cheaply made new imports, and old used domestic. What I didn't have, or what I especially desired, I built myself. I pressed into service, basement garages, sheds, basement rooms, and any space which would hold me tools and myself too. It's a different world when you do it that way. Your train of thought is endlessly broken, when you have to fix the building's mechanicals, and keep the interior climate control fit for a day's work. You build in a room that it too cold, and one that is too hot. In the end, you retain a picture of the artifact which you either shivered over, or sweated on. The picture does not tell which. The story tells that part.

And, that part is what I've been doing for the past year. I've tried to make it mildly interesting. I've told you that I'm still alive and which section I'm trying to accomplish currently. Part of that effort is in attempting to "explain" the need for every step and the complexities of completing same. That is not always a simple task. I'm certain many of you have been quite convinced that I'm fooling around and/or incompetent to complete the task. I have not been fooling around. I may well have been inadequate to the task.

You have, no doubt, been aware that I attempt to carry on a relatively positive attitude. You have, no doubt, been aware that I often completely fail to carry on such an attitude, and fear I shall die with my steel toe boots on, still attempting to unload one more trailer. Putting away a train load of "stuff" is child's play, compared to creating the buildings, shelves, benches, racks, cubbies, cabinets, drawers enough to HOLD a train load of stuff ... AND THEN figuring out a rational system to store and retrieve all of those things. It's maddening, I can swear to that.

I've spent as much time and effort as allotted, this trip ... to USING the main machine shop/Studio. After a brief time, I've come up short with a missing tool, fixture, pattern, measuring device, or one of a hundred things. I then have had to stop, and begin a search or a project to deal with the need. If it's something I can simply FIND, then I can get back to work. If it's something that I must "build", then it breaks the flow. If it's something that I "Need, must build, can't find components, and it requires a trip for parts and materials", then that often ruins any hope of getting back to my desired "day in the shop".

I find that I do recall the steps, can read the drawings, find the shop ledgers make sense, even remember how to run the machines. I was a bit worried about all of that. Having been forced out of my routine and kept from these matters for so long ..... I was afraid there would be a steeper learning curve, to get back. That part will be OK.

This property didn't come with a written guarantee that it wasn't going to have some things that were unexpected. The whole word, "unexpected" has within it a world of research, wasted time, and new equipment needs. It's a real buzz kill and eats into an already otherwise drawn out process. I've done my best.

"Doing my best" ... now THERE is a topic. You see; I design and build complex mechanical objects. I engrave. I carve. I've been known to sand and polish. I am NOT a project engineer, NOT a moving specialist, and NOT 27 years old anymore. I've "done MY best".

I had really, really, really, wanted to accomplish a list of things on this stay at BPS. I wasn't allowed the concentrated time to do them. I was forced to react to nature, and to the "unexpected". I did try to also to the other. I just didn't have the time. That's something that fights me day and night. I even lack the time to adequately complete my dreams. I ALWAYS awaken prior to the punch line, to the unveiling of the mystery in the story line, I'm always getting ready WHILE the event it taking place ... and awaken just as I draw near the arena of activity. Gee - I don't think I need a "Joseph" to interpret those dreams. I just simply never have the time required for the task. I told Kelly, the other day ... I fully expect to have to "Chase my own Hurst".

Is it that I'm lazy. No. Is it that I don't know what I'm doing. No. Is it that the task required does not fit into the allotted time? Yes. And so, it's all this time down the road .... and I am still not finished. I feel required to apologize for the length of the delay. But, that would seem to indicate that I've not put everything I have into the task. I have, and far, far more. I have just exactly the endurance this task is gonna take, and not one little bit more. But - by then, I'll have other tasks to process. Airguns to complete. Projects to finish. I'll scar over and heal up a bit ... and grab my toolbox.

Thank you for reading. I know many are reading to see if you think you will outlive the move. I suspect most of you will. I intend to as well. I thank you for your patience, and when that expired - I just thank you for muttering to yourself. God Bless us All. We are all part of the story. What is it ... 2:32 am? That gives you some indication of the nature of a move like this. Save yourselves - don't do it.

Have a hearty breakfast - and a good day ahead.
Gary

I am still watching and do understand your issue with the house and the fact that progress can be slow. Yous have accomplished plenty with your new location and it will be worth it. GOOD LUCK!!!!

Gary,

Considering that you moved a house that had accumulated decades worth of "stuff" to another location 1500 miles away with a pickup truck and trailer and then set it all up at an even larger location, I think it went pretty quick.

Lon

Gary, hopefully your new Maryland contacts will prove to be amenable to your needs and you will be able to get closer to closing that phase of your life. Good luck.

Will

Gary,

Time flies and I do believe that you have accomplished a monumental project in a relative short time. Don’t you quit now that you are so closed to the finish line.

Do you remember when you once said that your airguns take more building time on the last 10% of the building process that on the first 90%? I do believe that the same principle applies to every project in our lives. Now you are on that last 5%, please keep up with the positive attitude and thanks for keeping us informed.

Julio

Drive safe, and hope for a break in the rain down south.

It has broken, Sean.

The completion of the Panhandle Tunnel signaled the end.

Gary

Gary,
Drive carefully and keep your eye on the finish line. You're almost there!

Willard, Julio, Lon, Scott, Sean, Don.

Thank you, sincerely; for your encouragement. It's much appreciated.

We are stopping for the night. Doing OK. Can't wait for the part where I'm testing newly completed projects.

There are a hundred things that will go on my "to do" list AFTER I begin life at BPS. there will always be something to do. The smiles will come more often as I get to work!

Thks guys ...

Gary

GO GARY GO GARY GO GARY
GO KELLY GO KELLY GO KELLY
just a little cheer I made up for
You all and once you down there
for good you'll forget the hard parts
and remember good .

Thanks
Kurt

I Echo Kurt's cheer all the way from Manila..

"GO GARY GO GARY GO GARY
GO KELLY GO KELLY GO KELLY"

Be safe

You guys look cute with those Pom Poms! Haha.

Thank you very much.

We're on the road again. 95 N/S is looking pretty familiar. All the truckers wave and honk! Haha.

So far - So good

Thanks for thinking of us.

Gary and Kelly, and Fritz the wonder dog. . .

Lets hope this time you can make it back without a new set of trailer tires. I thought those things were supposed to be reusable, after all.

Good luck up north and make it back safe.

Keith