Impediments, you abound!

So, in the fashion of any project, to say nothing for OCD issues, the still project has created a sort of garage monster. For example, despite the fact that I have three tool boxes and several loose pieces of  apparati around, I still needed to buy additional tools. That, of course lead to the need to consolidate the tool boxes. Do I REALLY need 14 Phillips head screw drivers? THAT lead to getting a super duper rolling tool chest whose live load rating is just shy of half a ton. After three trips to three different stores, I found the tool box of my dreams. So happy was I that I made Tim Allen noises all the way home from the store with my new tool repository. Amazingly, and this is serious, it was simple to put together. Slots were punched right, proper number of nuts/bolts/washer combinations. Directions straight forward. It was a dream. Now, in my next still fabrication delaying effort, I am going to to put all my tools in their respective places in the new tool chest! That should burn a week or two. Stay tuned for the next riveting (like the fastener reference?) chapter!

Still Building (continued)
This still project is a classic 'gotcha'. The kit and the instructions are super, but when it comes time for actual fabrication, the tool chest is woefully bare. Normally, I'm pretty well equipped, but I haven't done any significant soldering (plumbing) in a while, so I had to get a new torch ($39). Along those lines, I had to new 'wide mouth' vise grips ($24). (I haven't found my needle nose ones yet, so that'll be another twelve bucks soon). Ran out of the last of my solder and had to get a small spool ($18) and naturally thought I'd be out of flux any minute, so had to get a new small tub of THAT. Oh yeah, my bench vise sucked as an anvil, so I'm now the proud owner of a small, yet functional 15 pounder ($29). That'll come in handy after this project if I have any miniature horses that need shoeing.

Please know that there is not even the remotest possibility that all this stuff could be had in one trip to the hardware store. It's gotten to the point where, to avoid embarrassment and ridicule, I have staggered hardware store visits among the three closest. That way, if I have to go back three times in one day, I avoid the risk of the staff guffaws at any one given store. Pretty shrewd if you ask me, although the stores probably maintain a mutual website/bulletin board for posting pix of 'Dunce of the Week". I suspect that by next week I'll be about an 8 and the 'Snicker Scale'. They'll rue the day they made fun of me when I'm sipping my own home-made hooch. The way things are going, though, it'll probably double as paint thinner, so I'll have yet another opportunity to tell the red-vested hardware boys, "I told you so! I can burn my esophagus AND strip paint at the same time!"

Today marks the start of building a small still. The learning curve is immense, but the reward seems to be worth it, at least from what I've read. Lots of minutiae that goes with it. Not simply find some copper, throw in some corn, heat it up, and sip away...Oh no, riveting solder, water proof testing...and that's just the beginning. If you want to play by the rules, then there's all sorts of permitting that goes with it. Don't let anyone tell you you can produce alcohol for 'home use' without some sort of government oversight/interference....you can't! Stay tuned!

Up at 3:45. Went down to lobby to get desk clerk to fire up wifi. He was asleep on the floor. I didn't wake him. Big day ahead. Move to host familes. check out official blog www.gsegujarat.com

1/1/1o

All team members made it to the airport on time (and then some) Amy Wenk's parents came to see her off. They appeared to be relived that I didn't appear to be an ax murderer or child molester...

Flew to Detroit to get flight to Mumbai. Found out why fare was so cheap. Evidently, there is a 'missionary' fare. Glad I upgraded and received the expected amount of grief from team. Expensive but worth every dime. I don't eat or drink much on those flights so that part's sort of a waste.

flight to Amsterdam uneventful. Prior week, crazed bomber tried to blow up flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. security pretty intense. Amsterdam layover long and boring. security to India VERY intense and made the flight two hours late. Mumbai layover and then to Rajkot, Gujarat. Arrived Gujarat 6:30am to marvelous greeting committee headed by Bandhu, Deepak Agrawal, and ten others. Shuttled to Everbright Hotel for needed rest. it is now 3pm (10.5 hrs ahead of ATL). appears everyone is out cold.

Headed to India with Rotary Group Study Exchange. Student in '84, leader in '09. Check out http://www.gsegujarat.com/.

Well, Twitter is now part of my life. We'll see how that goes. "Somewhere between email and blogs?"

Off to South Korea to visit daughter, Kate. Haven't been there since my Rotary exchange in '84. Dreading the flight, but at least it's non-stop. She's in Je Ju Do, which is simply lovely. I look forward to seeing it and Kate. Sadly, most of my pals from my first visit are gone.