Ode to Bruce

I love Bruce. He's seriously the nicest most excited about everything person I have ever met. Yesterday we encountered a few challenges. We found out that we don't have the boat stands, so we had to come up with something quick before the boat is moved on Tuesday. I talked to a lot of people about it at work yesterday, surely some poor customers who didn't really care at all as I'm rambling on about the electrical work and cutting down trees to use as support beams. You know what though? I listen to them all the time and get them 57 refills of water with extra lemon and still don't get tipped well, so I will talk all I want. I am a waitress, in case you didn't know. Anyway, I have found that talking to every possible person I can is extremely helpful. People are smart. They have connections. They have names and phone numbers. They have ideas. So throughout my eleven hour shift yesterday, I drew up about twenty different plans for a stand for the boat. However, they all involved an extensive amount of lumber which can be super pricey. One of the plans we drew out would cost us $400 in wood alone. I would cut down trees and use those before I would spend that much on wood. Seriously! So today I had planned on going up to camp and cutting down trees. On the way, I called up Bruce to talk about possibly borrowing the stands for a few weeks while we built our permanent frame. Did I mention how much I love Bruce? Not only did he brighten my day, but he saved us a lot of time, energy, and money. All we need to prop the boat up is a whole boatload(hah) of cinderblocks. They cost $1.42 each. I drew it out on the new whiteboard if you can see it. Three blocks underneath the keel, and then three 3ft stacks of blocks on either side to keep it from toppling over. We'll spend about $40. Thats more like it.

We also found a wood stove kindly donated by our friend Mike at work, and as of this morning, everyone in my family is cool with our project. That was super important to us considering it is my whole family's land. I'm sure they are all thinking it is completely crazy(okay...it is...a little) but they have all given me the same kind of response. Its the shaking of the head "Okayy Emily" in that higher tone of voice as if they are saying "You are insane but if its going to make you happy then I guess go ahead and do it.." Which I appreciate. I have just had to promise everyone that we won't freeze to death. Or burn the boat down accidentally.

Michael and I are really excited. This is finally coming to life now. Henry J is seriously all that we have needed. This summer has been pretty hectic, we were both working a alot, Michael especially, and thinking about going through the winter the same way was exhausting. When he first brought up the idea of living in a boat, I was on it. And when I say on it, I mean I talked about it constantly for about three days and put a crazy ad on Craigslist. We both came to life when we were talking about it. Even though it was just an idea at the time, we needed something to think about that wasn't work or bills. When I started getting emails, it became even more real. And now, when I say on it. I mean literally on it. We will be on it, on Tuesday. On our boat. In our new house.