*Montgomery Station*
Every morning during the work week as soon as I step off the BART train at Montgomery in San Francisco, I get a small pain in my chest. Mostly, because of the visual nightmare of everyone else stepping off the train, in their nice clothes, bags, and shiny shoes. Then like a ghost border collie rounding all of us, we turn like sheep toward the escalaters, I feel the floating sensation. It's not just the escalator moving me up to the city above but of the surreal behavior of everyone around me acting like lemmings. I remember the word, as cliche as it is, popping in my head over and over again, morning after morning "lemmings!". After three years it has finally taken a back seat. Now I just sense a weird floating sensation - I call it my detachment mechanism. I know as soon as I get to Market Street after ascending the stairs I will again be bombarded; first by the sitting homeless man asking for "spange" (spare change), pet food coupon marketers, or what not and then the seemingly drunk tourists who zig zag on the sidewalk and stop for no reason. I'm of course walking fast - being pulled by the invisble magnetic force of WORK.
What's with the short story?!
If I must explain it's because I am so tired of commuting. I keep dreaming of the day when I can get out of bed and walk to my computer and I would be at work in my pjs. I do graphic design for AVFKW and Color:A Fiber Festival, but I wish I could do more and knew more to do more. Then there is my lathe. Julia the Jet - she is so mad at me right now. I haven't seen her in weeks. It's because I am working for a greater good. What is it already, geez!
It is the A Verb for Keeping Warm store.
Builder - Lady of all trades - Renaissance woman --
Call me what you will, I am very proud to be working on this project and excited. I know it's not Gardening related but it is homesteading to some extent. Because, now I really do feel like I could go make my cabin in the woods. It's also a stepping stone to owning the fiber farm we want. I will try to blog about the progress. Here's some photos for you:
Here is the unveiling of the new store at the AVFKW anniversary party. A very empty, open, blank slate.
As you can see I first framed out the wall on the floor and then lifted it up with Kathleen's help. Thanks Kathleen! I then nailed it to the existing wall. I make this sound easy but I read about the process, drew three different plans on graph paper, calculated the materials, measured and remeasured, then made lots of cuts with the circular saw, nailed and renailed, checked the level a million times, smashed my pinky finger, got two blisters, scratched my arm on some wood, banged my thumb, hit my knee, got sawdust in my hair, sweat a whole lot, and I'm still not done....but still having lots of fun. Right now my favorite tool is the crow bar. It takes nails out of wood like butter!
Then Krisitne and I went to Urban Ore and found a door and window that were perfect. This took two visits, a lot of arguing and discussion, looking, measuring, and real skill at loading the honda civic.
After trueing up all the sides and making them level, I installed the door and window. This is seriously harder than you think or at least harder than I thought.
I rented a truck last weekend to pick up plywood, whitewall, and some furniture at the Antiques by the Bay. I desparately want a truck, but it's nice to rent one and give it back too. What a gas monster. EVIL. Good thing I only went 5 blocks for materials pick up at Ashby Lumber and OSH. If only you saw me unloading it by myself, I felt like an ant with the 8'x4' pieces wobbling here and there. This is a standard size for almost all sheathing. No injuries reported. Just a sunburn from the Antique show (we got there at 9am).
Cutting the plywood is very noisy and dusty. I wear a dust mask, goggles, gloves, and ear plugs. It's very easy to lose your hearing. I used wadded tissue one day when I had no real ear plugs.
The picture above is the exterior. I am now nailing plywood over the framing. I plan to go back tonight. I started the project the day after the party.
So far we are on day 18 of construction. Please check back for more exciting details.
