THE PROJECT′S NEXT MAJOR TASK is that of completing the parking lot. Due to the restrictions from the city of Oak Harbor, we will have to use a special type of concrete called pervious so that we can keep the rain water on the property. This goal will be accomplished by using both pervious concrete and rain gardens.
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(Day 19 BR) 56°F. (Day 882 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Final Cleaning. Final Inspections. Return Rental Equipment.
When I arrive on site at seven, I see that Bob from Bothel, the surveyor is here pounding in new hubs. Also, the truck has arrived to pick up the two large storage bins. He picks up one and says that he will be back in an hour to get the second one. The surveyor asks me to move a couple of things so that he can get a sight on his reference points. So a local Bob runs the fork lift while I spot for him and we move the new light poles and the remaining storage box. An hour later, the truck arrives to remove the second box. Later, two trucks arrive to remove the scaffolding and Bob and myselƒ work for almost five hours to get all of it loaded on the trucks. Finally, one more truck arrives to pick up the large construction dumpster.
Meanwhile, there has been quite a few of the local friends working inside the Hall with vacuums and other cleaning tools doing the final construction cleaning of the interior. I don′t leave the Hall site until after eight pm.
(Day 18 BR) 60°F. (Day 883 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Dig Second Rain Garden, Hauling Dirt Out, Hauling Drain Rock In.
I get a call at seven am from the security guard and drive right to the hall. The gate attendant did not arrive at six and I took his place. The day is one long one of watching truck after truck drive through the gate and then dump the drain rock. Bruce on the dozen then spread the rock and Mike and Bob spray it with water to keep the dust down. I continue at the gate and spay the road with water to keep the dust down there as well.
I work right up until six-thirty pm and then head for home. After two very long days working at the Hall, I am too tired to do anything so I stay home and rest my bones.
(Day 17 BR) 59°F. (Day 884 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Continue Site-work
I arrive at six-thirty and find that Ralph has showed up for the gate attendant so I return home to get the chronicle up to date. I will add photos later.
(Day 16 BR) 46°F. (Day 885 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Continue Site Work
The chill in the air this morning tells me that fall has arrived; someone yesterday said, I believe it was Bob that said he saw geese in formation heading south and commented that they are instinctively wise in knowing when to begin migrating. Yes, the time for heading south for me is fast approaching too. Often, I pray that my home will sell to enable me to make this move but as I have always felt, I will accept whatever Jehovah′s will is for me.
The primary work done today is the final digging of the east rain garden and then filling the trough with the sandy loam by local volunteers. This rain garden begins near where the entrance driveway curves and then continues along the eastern property line all the way to the southern property line and will be use to catch the water that enters the property from Ronhaar Street. The other work that has continued all day long is the grading of the drain rock by the dozer and laser leveler.
(Day 15 BR) 52°F. (Day 886 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Continue Parking Lot Work. Irrigate and Plant East Rain Garden, Remove Asphalt
While I was working on uploading photos, a phone call came in requesting that I show up early for my attendant shift. So, we all have to wait a little while longer for the photos to go online but I plan to expedite uploading them soon.
Upon arriving, I see that the landscaping crew has unloaded a load of compost and many new plants in the southeast area of the property and has begun to distribute the plants along he east rain garden. Also in the same area, trenching has been done for the irrigation sprinklers and the installing of the pipe work has begun. Slowly but steadily, the work on the Hall property progresses all day. Meanwhile, Bob the surveyor and John, his helper are setting new hubs throughout the property, many in the area of the north park of the parking lot where the asphalt has only recently been removed. In the afternoon, Allan arrives with a dump truck and begins hauling the asphalt off site working until dark.
At the end of this day, ninety-five percent of the old parking lot asphalt has been dug up and taken off site. The drive way into the Hall property is still intact up to where the guard swing gate is located. Also, removed is a couple pieces of the new concrete sidewalk where there was a crack or changes needed to be made. The new drain rock (which will be below the new pervious concrete) is now covering both the west side and the south side including the half of the old parking lot up to where the light poles were. The east side still does not have drain rock coverage but suspect that it will tomorrow. When the remaining parking lot asphalt is removed tomorrow, I suspect it will not take long before the north half of the parking lot area will be covered with drain rock also. It seems to me that the work of building the new parking lot is going quite well and I hope that the first meeting will be on my proposed date. I wouldn′t even mind if it came sooner.
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Also completed today is the work of adding compost to the front lawn making them ready for laying the sod which arrived on two pallets this afternoon.
(Day 14 BR) 53°F. (Day 887 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Continue Parking Lot Work, Lay Sod, Paint Entrance Dome
Upon arriving today, I see that all of the asphalt has been removed and hauled off site, including the entrance driveway. The sod that was delivered is now being put down on the front lawn and trees, shrubs and ground cover is being planted on the west side of the auditorium below the lawn. Also, the dome is being painted with a wax paint and has an interesting appearance.
At the end of the day, when Mike the landscaper is leaving, I ask him if I could use the scraps from the sod installation to plug the area dug up on the neighbor′s lawn. He said yes and I went to work getting it done.
(Day 13 BR) 55°F. (Day 888 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
For the meeting today, as our congregation has been doing since the last meeting in April of this year, we travel south on the island highway to the next Kingdom Hall where we rent a time slot for our meetings. Each day as I have been driving down, I have seen the sign for
Ebey′s Landing National Historical Reserve and have told myself to stop and take a photo for my national parks photo gallery. Well, today, I did just that.
(Day 12 BR) 50°F. (Day 889 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Continue Parking Lot Work, Dig and Install Conduit for Parking Lot Light
Arriving at ten am, I notice that there is not gate guard and take the position. There are six of us during most of the day and in the late afternoon, a few more younger ones arrive, all from the local congregations. All day long, the dozer and excavator dig and move the dirt and sand. The dirt is hauled off site and the sand hauled in is spread on the subsoil for an underlayment to the drain rock.
(Day 11 BR) 54°F. (Day 890 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Continue Parking Lot Work
The work today is the same as yesterday, moving dirt off site and spreading sand on the subgrade. The eastern side of the parking lot has been cleaned to the subgrade and the drain rock is now being put down.
(Day 10 BR) 50°F. (Day 891 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Continue Parking Lot Work, Install Water Dams.
I stop in only briefly today to see that the work on the parking lot continues and the small volunteer crew was putting one of the water dams in the drain rock. The water dams are used to limit water from flowing across the subgrade and instead seep into the ground at the dam. If not used, the flowing water could accumulate at the lowest spot and possibly cause a lake to appear on the concrete.
(Day 09 BR) 48°F. (Day 892 in Port)
First day of being a single digit midget. It has been a long, long wait.
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Continue Parking Lot Work, Install Sign, Stage Tile.
The electricians arrive today to run the wire in the underground conduits to the parking light poles. Also, the tile, the same tile on the wall in the entrance area is now on either side of the stage covering the wall projections. Drain rock covers the parking areas and the sand-gravel covers the entrance driveway. There are a few unfinished areas in the parking lot but they are small.
(Day 08 BR) 49°F. (Day 893 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Continue Parking Lot Work, Install Parking Lot Lights
Today I become a single digit midget in this ever so long of a Day, which began thirteen hundred and sixty days ago and now there are only nine days and a wakeup left to its conclusion. However, most of the drama from the long wait of this Day has been subdued because even though my official retirement begins on the last day of this month and I begin accruing the social security moneys, I will not see any of that money until almost two months later. Nevertheless, the first of October 2012 begins a new era for me due to the fact that I will no longer have to keep earning an income to exist. What I do after this happens is now a matter of deep and thought filled prayer. Currently, I am in negotiation for selling my paralegal business and pray ever so much that the sale of my home will follow right after but as yet, I have not one offer for it. Finally, with the free time afforded by not having to constantly pursue the filthy lucre (1 Timothy 3:3) my prayers are also to increase my time in the ministry, how much I am not sure at this time, but maybe as much as to auxiliary pioneer. Only time and constant prayer will afford me an answer.
I receive a call from my overseer Dave requesting that I come in early, as soon as possible and so I arrive by shuttle at nine-thirty am. This day begins with a light rain and continues until almost noon. The electricians have arrived to wire the parking lot lights and to remove the last temporary pole. They are busy at work when I arrive and take a couple of photos and then head to where the parking lot lights are being assembled for a photo the volunteers at work. Next, I walk to the northwest corner where the hoist truck is raising one of the light poles and take a sequence of photos. In the background I hear the large equipment working to level the drain rock and the high pitched beeping of the the laser leveler. Finally, I walk to what we have been calling the front porch of the Hall (known correctly as the drive through) and see that the chandelier is still sitting in the box there. I suppose that the remaining light fixtures will be installed, if not this weekend, then possible next weekend. Time is getting short, we have only possibly two more weeks to accomplish all the work left inside the Hall because then the parking lot should be complete and it will have to await curing before it can be driven upon.
Then I notice a small crew working along the west fence line and upon arriving find several local sisters removing weeds along the edge of the property and the intrusive morning glory that have begun to cover the new fencing.
(Day 07 BR) 50°F. (Day 894 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Continue Parking Lot Work, Begin building Parking Lot Forms
After leaving my vehicle at the off site parking, I take the shuttle to the Hall site arriving at two pm. The first thing that grabs the attention of my camera lens are the concrete forms, now nearing completion with their warm yellow color standing out in stark contrast to the cool blue-gray drain rock. I walk through the parking lot now completely covered with the drain rock and take several photos.
Soon after I arrive, most of the form builders are leaving and the remaining volunteers are all locals with the one exception of Bob the surveyor. He continues to work until five pm. Meanwhile, the locals set up the new dining tent just east of the Hall over the brick patio. Too, since the last temporary pole was removed yesterday, not the last piece of sidewalk was formed and is ready for concrete.
(Day 05 BR) 50°F. (Day 896 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
No work today
The Hall will lay quite today with only John and Karen there as security. I stop by at seven pm to take out the garbage and recycle bins and sit for some time in the motor home with the two of them guessing answers on Jeopardy.
John tells me that he has heard that there will be no work until Saturday when the volunteers will come to finish the forms.
(Day 04 BR) 48°F. (Day 897 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
No work scheduled today.
I go to the Hall to put the bins back in their place and greet John and Karen. Mike and Marina are also at the hall, Mike is watering some of the plants and Marina is tiding up the refrigerator. When talking to Mike, he tells me that there is work on the parking lot water dams that need to be finished and he will be here Wednesday and Thursday trying to get them done.
In the conversation, I mention to Mike that we are nearing the finish of the construction stage of the Hall building and soon we will be in the wait for the concrete to cure. He tells me that it could be ready as early as Sunday, 04 November 2012. I respond that I have from the beginning held out that I think that the first meeting will be Sunday, 28 October 2012.
(Day 03 BR) 49°F. (Day 898 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Level the Drain Rock
Bruce from the peninsula and several local volunteers work on leveling the drain rock.
(Day 02 BR) 42°F. (Day 899 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Level the Drain Rock.
Again, Bruce and the local volunteers work on leveling the drain rock.
(Day 01 BR) 46°F. (Day 900 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Install the last of the Parking Lot Water Dams and the Storm Drain.
Bruce and the local volunteers work on spreading the gravel on the entrance area. Also, the storm drain is installed near the east rain garden. This storm drain will catch the water coming down the street, which I have personally seen can be quite a lot during a heavy shower. The water will then be diverted along the east rain garden where most should be absorbed into the ground and then the excess will flow over the spillway into the south garden trough which will divert it to the southwest retention pond.
(Day 00 BR) 49°F. (Day 901 in Port)
Overnighting in the garage
Today′s Work:
Continue Leveling Drain Rock, Parking Lot Forms, and Landscaping.
Today is that long awaited day, the double zero day and the end of my 1369 day count to retirement. As of the end of this month, I have officially become a senior citizen and begin accruing social security. My arrival here after the those many days of writing this Journal is profoundly emotional upon my self. My thoughts go back to when this Online Journal began with chapter one,
The Journal, and then my thoughts travel forward from there through a time of almost four years, a period in my life that remains in my memory as if it lasted for a life time.
Now that my number of days Before Retirement countdown has reached the final wake up, I am footloose to begin working towards the initial goal set at the very beginning of this Journal. Yes, in this journal on Thursday, 01 January 2009, in the third paragraph, I wrote: "Furthermore, in using the ‘Journey to Mariposa’ in connection with this journal, Mariposa thus represents for me a metamorphosis, a major life transformation as it could be called for me and the Journey has come to represent the great distance and perils I am willing to forgo in my life as a Christian. Too, this pathway is a metamorphosis that I purposely have chosen; one that involves my retiring from secular work and beginning the path of using my energy, resources and time in serving the Most High over all the Earth."
(Psalms 83:18)
Only today, I have finalized the sale of my online paralegal business, a business which will no longer occupy enormous amounts of my time involved in the operation of that business. However, there is still the sale of my home that would seemingly prevent me from taking steps on that path to Mariposa. However, I will not let that happen and the path begins here and now, right here, even though still in captivity within this Port.
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