Stats and Chuckie

I thought I would change the post up a little this time, and start with something just a tad bit different.  This lovely picture happens to be one of those moments in my life that I hope I don't live to regret.  Well...regret...is a strong word, since I believe it is a waste of time to regret anything in one's life.  That isn't to say I haven't made mistakes, we all do, look at my hubby, he asked me to marry him.  I am sure there are days he is going "Doh!".  Anyways, my "career" is at a crossroads.  I was converted to a permanent position over a year ago.  However, that came at a small price.  The powers that be want me to be a Database Admin and Decoding nut for our Science Center when our Database Queen decides to retire.  I am hoping this doesn't happen for another 30 years.  Apparently, I have a unique perspective when it comes to the data we collect and maintain.  I make sure it is right, and I have the ability to pick up software, and I know my way around a pc - all this according to the same powers that be.  The downside is, as all the computer geeks know, it isn't necessarily an easy job; however, it is a different kind of thinking than I am used to.  I am a scientist.  That is scary to write.  This requires a different kind of processing...one that intrigues me the most.  It is searching for an answer to a question that doesn't necessarily have an answer.  Over the past year, I have been struggling with this new role.  On one hand, it is flattering that they have this belief in me that at some point in the future they are willing to let me control this beast; however, on the other hand, I have to wonder, am I not a good enough scientist?  How much control do I truly have over my own destiny.  After a lot of soul searching, I made the decision why can't I have the best of both worlds.  I have decided to learn ArcGIS on my own, I am currently taking a QA/QC course in TX, and in May I will be taking a statistics course.  How will this help?!?  In my mind, these will give me the tools I will need to move into a more analytical role in water quality.  Right now, I collect the data and I figure out the logistics of getting the most representative data I can.  With these new and "refresher" courses, I can become the interpreter of the data...which I can do when they chain me to the desk and no longer allow me to go float on the boat.

I know...I am long winded tonight...but that is what you get when I am stuck in a hotel room by myself procrastinating because my head is hurting from all the statistics of my current course and the big class of stats in May...but without further adieu...CHUCKIE...

He is looking good...he has his drawer slides installed.  We still need to add another coat of stain to the top row of storages areas.  Otherwise, his top has been fitted.  :)  He is looking good!

Chuckie looks like a tailgating champ...he gets along well with
B-E-E-R!!  This is definitely a relationship that is all too important to the Wezul Equation of Tailgating...

Houston...Chuckie the Chuck Box is standing

After a week of being unable to work on Chuckie due to Wezul's sore back and not feeling well...we got some work on it Saturday.  That is right, Chuckie grew some legs on Saturday.

I got stuck with taking pictures, holding and lifting....no building...and I wasn't keen on the entire sanding that was occurring last night.  It was a lot more powerful than the one I am used too...it was more like a sand blaster...plus...it makes a bigger mess.

Now I am MIA due to work and Wezul is working on it himself.  :(  This doesn't make me too happy.  Wezul PROMISES me though he is staining and painting the box without me :( that I can help to make all the inside drawers.

Hopefully, I will get to have a little more fun in putting the finishing touches on Chuckie!

Happy Halloween and more on Chuckie the Box

Hope everyone is having a good Halloween.  The kiddies nearly wiped us out of candy!  Woo hoo!  There were some cuties, but none were as cute as a little giraffe that visited us.  ;)  I am also sure the neighborhood kiddies are no where as cute as the two itty bitties in Iowa.  ;)

We made some more progress on the Chuck Box.  As you can see, we have started to stain the guts of the box.

The outside is more well defined too...

It definitely is beginning to take shape...

Chuck Box! Part Deux (2009)

It has been awhile since the opportunity presented itself for us to work on our box.  We were able to make a good amount of progress.  Saturday began with us attaching everything to the base.

Yes, it is starting to look like a box...maybe...you think?!?

I got to use a jigsaw!  Woo hoo!  Power tools rock.  I am going to give Bob the Builder a run for his money.  Heehee!!!  Not!  Wezul had loads of fun using his router.  By fun, I mean swearing and flying wood.  :)  His router was definitely not made for large scale projects.  He was able to make do with what he had.

Our next round of activity will probably occur this weekend; however, only if we get the cleaning done. I am just asking for one room per weekend, to do a top-2-bottom cleaning.  This has been on the schedule for months and I have been very patient as the house has been.  You can hear it wimpering every night from all the neglect.

With that said, we do have a deadline to meet...November 21st!!!  Go Canes!

Chuck Box - The Beginnings

We are tailgating nutz!!  Earlier this fall, Wezul got a wacky idea in his head to build our own chuck box.  Some might be familiar with other names such as:  patrol boxes, field kitchens, camp kitchens, etc. Wezul asked me to help...which meant I got to go help pick out wood...which meant we ended up spending twice the amount of money on wood because I opted for the better wood...WHAT?!?

• I offered to pay for half of the wood
• This box is going to hold a lot of stuff...needs to be durable
• We want it to look good
• You KNOW you would buy the better wood IF someone offered to chip in half the money
• If you looked at the cheap stuff and saw what we saw...you would have wanted the better looking wood too!

We had an ominous start.  We went to the HD to get the wood, and we were thoroughly disgusted with their lack of help.  We needed them to trim down some of the wood, had them page for help, and we were left standing there...luckily for us, we have a wood nut in our circle of friends, and for a case of beer and some male bonding time, Wezul was able to get the wood cut down to the pile you see below...we are back on track!!!

It is taking a bit of time, but as you can see, we started to get the pieces cut out.  Wezul is doing most of the cutting because the plans are in his head.  He has some rough sketches, but I wouldn't be able to follow them since I don't think it will be safe to crawl in his head to see them, and his verbal descriptions leave me scratching my head when he speaks...kinda like the teacher in Charlie Brown...heehee...just kidding...However, I will have you know, I am a MEAN wood gluer, wood holder, and sander...That's right...I have used another power tool.

I hope you like the action shot below...all I can say is...I so want to use the router!!  However, the wood was splitting...and it is a little scary for me...plus I think Wezul is afraid I might put his eye out, chop my hand off, or fling a piece of wood into the car's windshield...who knows...or he is just in Manspace, and wants to keep all the joy to himself.

There is part of the base...still not quite sure how it is all going to turn out...what I thought was going to be the final box...is no where close to what Wezul described to me yesterday...we are slowly make progress...though...it might help if we had an experienced carpenter giving us a little guidance...