Save the Date

After further consideration (and at least a little bit of feedback), I've decided to schedule the celebration of my 50th birthday for Sunday June 1. I'm planning to coordinate communication for the party via E-vite (my first adventure in using that service) and will shortly start putting together an invitation list. At some later point I'll be soliciting contact information for that purpose, so don't worry that you've been excluded if you don't see anything in the next week!

The general idea is for a deck-and-garden-party type affair starting mid-afternoon and going to whenever. I'm thinking of some thematic amusements to keep things interesting.

Tourney Season Overhaul

Time to overhaul the camping equipment for the tourney season. I never quite managed various bits of planned overhaul last year, so some of this is overdue. And it helps that Friday is a company holiday, so the fact that I have to figure out how to pack all manner of different equipment isn't too scary. So what's to do?

* All the finishing work on the bench for the PPF is done and I figure I'll give it a test-run at Crown. ( See picture )

It's as heavy (uh ... sturdy) as a sonuvabitch and I've figured that the only way to haul it around without going crazy is to make a carrying bag. And I had this length of canvas left over from the tent that I'd never decided what to do with ....

* Re-strung the rope-suspension bed (after having finally gotten around to Varathaning the legs). I've always previously strung it with sisal (closer to authentic, doncha know) but since I always end up storing it in places that get damp during the winter, this has meant restringing it every year. So I capitulated and strung it with polyester rope this time. We'll see how that works. I'm also planning to make a canvas carrying bag for it too.

* Sort out the kitchen equipment into the new modular shelving units. The new system involves two of these units with a work surface set across the top. (Currently I have a mock-up to see how it works out, but I plan to put together a more esthetic and sturdy one.)

I had an amusing experience while stringing the bedframe out on my deck this evening. Two of the over-the-back-fence neighbors were chatting with each other on their respective second story decks and at one point I heard one of them loudly praising my house's paint job (in a manner that made it clear he intended me to hear) so I joined in the neighborly chit-chat about contractors and favorite plantings and whatnot. I don't think I've ever talked to those particular neighbors before -- when we're at ground level, we can't see each other.

Do they have to rub it in?

I have received my official application form for AARP. That is all.