Today most of the 6^th grade went on a school field trip to the Port of Seattle. First, we went to the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center, near the cruise ship docks. I saw a plastic salmon statue, a Lego model of a cruise ship, and a model dam. There was more stuff at the museum but I didn’t see it because I was more interested in playing with the model dam, and some other students on the field trip were, too.

The model had a mountain where water came out, and there was a dam with square holes in it which could be opened and closed. There were 2 canals: one had blocks blocking the water, which you could take off and on. There were plastic stone edges and plastic stone islands, and orange and blue blocks to take on and off between joints below the dam to make floodgates. Then, there was a drain which took the water in (and probably took the water back up to the mountain) and a little dock, with toy boats mostly at that end, and also toy dolphins and sharks, a toy turtle and a rubber ducky with snorkeling goggles. We put up the floodgates and walls in the dam and closed the dam and put some of the boats and sea animals in the canals closed off, also from the dam’s water and then, let open the holes in the dams which made a big wave. The boats in the canals toppled over and the rubber ducky always fell off the boat he was on. We were at the museum for 25 minutes (I didn’t want to leave the museum).

Next, we went on an Argosy boat in which we toured around the Port of Seattle. After the harbor cruise we had lunch outdoors near the Seattle Aquarium and then went to the Port of Seattle Headquarters. We got to see a presentation about importing and exporting and “baby pictures” of the Port of Seattle and what they use to lift containers on train cars to take them across the United States. The presenter also gave us an interesting fact: the car garage in Sea-Tac airport is the biggest car garage under one roof in North America. Did you know that? After the presentation, we went back to school but we didn’t have to go to class because it was almost the end of school, and then we went home when school was over.

I think my cousins would enjoy the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center, especially the Water At Work exhibit (the model dam). The museum’s web page has some games to play at home!

A Tale of High Adventure and Much Travel wherein The Gimlet brings an episode of Schoolhouse Rock to life and has the pen to prove it.

During the drywall hanging timeframe, I was also very busy with a high priority project at work. I coordinated getting some legislation passed in Washington State. This photograph is the proof of success in that endeavor. It involved discussing issues with many legislators and coordinating the work of outside lobbyists with our internal workers. The company is very happy, almost as happy about the success as I am.

Mud — mud everywhere! In order to put the tape and joint compound (commonly called “mud”) on the walls and ceiling I used the traditional tools. My hand has become one with the 6 inch and 12 inch knives. It takes three layers of mud to finish the walls. The first layer embeds the tape against the drywall. Layers two and three are done to smooth out the wall, and then you sand it smooth. This week I will begin sanding. Drying takes so long here I was wondering how a house can be built in one week on TV. Tonight they showed a butane heater running the temperature up to between 90 and 100 degrees to dry out the mud. Now I know how they do it on TV.

Because of tools and storage in the basement, I cannot do the mud over the entire basement at once. I have started in the workroom, to develop some ability to do this right, and also in one of the back bedrooms and hallway after my skill level improved. The next rooms will be the rec room and stair case. Finally will be the other back bedroom and the laundry room. I still need to hang the metal corners, but that will go quickly.

While I was waiting for layer two to dry, I tiled the fireplace surround. When I finished the third layer of mud I was able to grout the surround. My nifty new diamond bladed wet saw worked great to cut the marble tiles. The fireplace surround project will be finished when I install a wood trim border to cover the edges between the marble and the wall.

After I finish sanding the two rooms I am working on I will be putting a primer/sealer on the walls and follow that, in the back bedroom and hallway with paint. I think I will do the finish electrical after the paint, but before I move tools and stuff into the rooms. I just like the idea of having two rooms completed. This may change depending on my mood at the time.