Captain’s Log 3,847
Yesterday was a ball-raising event. I got to the museum at 9:00 to find the installer guy putting the last touches on our enormous ball. Cleaning it up and making it presentable to the public. When one is going to have one’s ball on public display, one must take appropriate measures to assure that things are done well. Our ball went right up the guide ramp, tipped, and landed in the correct spot on the very first try! It took four of us. Two people managed the pulley device, one was on a ladder under the ball to guide it properly, and I was on top making sure it didn’t fall forward onto the exhibit floor. Please note that we moved everything out of the way before we started.
Bright orange ball perched above the exhibit floor. Cost of guide ramp materials = $30. Time to build guide ramp = 2 hours. Time to install ball = 5 minutes. Value of the experience = Priceless
Huzzah! Bright orange Union 76 ball now securely fastened to aluminum structure in the garage-way of the museum. If someone asks me what I did yesterday, I am going to say, “I climbed a support structure and made sure an enormous orange ball didn’t fall on top of a VW Microbus that cost more than 5 times my annual salary.”
You just never know what a work day will bring. I also had lunch with Frank, the Drummer. Potato tacos at one of our favorite places! YAY! Gotta love Frank. He makes me laugh. He’s a tough guy from Long Island who gave up a lucrative career to become a house painter. He said he needed to the the master of his own destiny. I admire that very much.
The storm has started. The rain is beginning to come down and the winds are kicking up like mad. I filled the feeders and well over 60 goldfinches have descended for their morning meal. They know it’s going to rain. Smart birds. The hummers are going nutzoid for the nectar in the back. I made their solution a bit stronger than 4:1 because they need extra energy when the temperatures drop. I love my birds. I plan to go birding in the desert in the spring. Between geocaching and birding, I don’t have a whole lot more room for geekiness. Unless I toss in some role-playing games. Then I would have all bases covered.
EEEP! In the short time it took to write the paragraph above, the skies have opened up and all hell is breaking loose. The birds are still clinging to the feeders. They look like little sailors in a storm trying to hang onto their ship. Ahhhhh……here comes the wind. We are in for a day of it.
I’m sorry. Once I’d read the line “putting the last touches on our enormous ball” everything else just disappeared. The word ‘scrotum’ filled my febrile brain, leading to musing on the Roman remains in the city of Butrint, Albania, which had the latin name of Buthrotum, a name which makes me snigger every time I see it. When you are finished with it, I think you should send your “enormous ball” to be put on show at Buthrotum!
Might I need two?
Allllright then! I get to be the one to ask. Yay!!! What, exactly is holding the big orange ball in place? “Enquiring minds” want to know.
Magic! Actually, it is resting in a ball cradle. Our maintenance guy made it. Photo forthcoming.
Hi Poolie,
The diplay looks absolutely fabulous. I must get down there and see it. Between squalls.
Dodge those raindrops and come on over!
Ahoy there, Cap’n–just wondering what museum has installed this lovely 76 ball, and if it can be visited? This is a subject of great interest to we orange-sphere-lovers over at Save the 76 Ball.
I managed to screw up your comment with my phone, Kim, but I did send you an email about the ball. Oh wait! Your comment reappeared. Hooray!
Frank!!! Say hi for me if you think of it! Mama Testa’s was it?? yummy…..
It was El Cuervo. Little dumpy dive. The best place!
Love the Union 76 ball – perfect accent to the museum.
And as for the storm – I’m hoping for rain here too, just not on the level of insanity you sent us a couple of months back, lol.
I doubt if we could repeat that insanity. At least I am hoping not!
I hope not, too, That was some scary stuff!
Rain rain go away
I just got home from a trip over the bridge to an estate sale. There was nothing of any value at the estate sale, but I took an acre of excellent pictures of the Splendor at the 10th avenue terminal.
Nice stuff that wind and rain.
Very nice stuff.
I think it has different intensities depending where you live!
The squall has passed….for now.