Pain is involved

The problem with examining unfinished projects is that you start seeing them everywhere. At least, I do. That's painful.

Back room floor

Norton motorcycle

God help me, my porch

Crab sculpture

Sculpture with a title, but no plan. The tile is "Thanks For All the Beer"

When will I learn to solder?

Bicycle cart for my kayak

Broken iPod. Needs new logic board

God help me, again, my porch

Aunt Nancy's sliding rocker, rebuilt, needs some adjustment

Why do things not get done? Well, for one thing, they're hard:

My iPod, stripped down to its parts. New logic board installed. It now lives again,
but the audio is lousy.  Another problem to solve. So  it goes.

On the other hand, things DO get done:

New alternator next to the one I replaced. After a few hours of enjoyable problem solving,
 replacement seems to be a success. So it goes.

You Need a Plan

Dent in Van

Spider Habitat

Front Porch

I need a plan.

What can you learn from what's left undone?

Pond Boat

Propeller

Mermaid Weathervane

Spud Gun

They keep coming to mind, these unfinished things:

Kayak cart for the Stumpjumper

Cutting dining room foam back so Nancy's can't see it.

Insulate dining room bump-out

Finish spudgun for a friend

Film of Four Poets

Film: Adam's Crawlspace: The Pleasures of Plastic

Film: Nancy Orth, Adventure Woman

Film: This Is My Mom

Film: 2011 River Rat Race

Mermaid Weathervane: 2

Humpy Weathervane

Man Dropping Drawers Weathervane

Something for propeller to power,


As I dig deeper, I find layer upon layer of things I've allowed to derail because of an obstacle, or because I grew uncertain of the outcome, or became disappointed in the execution. Perhaps a lack of time is less of a factor here than I had earlier thought.

What does "unfinished" mean

Today, I finished repairing Nancy's French kitchen knife. She bought it decades ago, when she was learning to be a cook and baker. It has massive sentimental value, besides being a useful tool. Over time, the handle cracked and the thing rattled around, waiting to be fixed. It followed us from Alaska, in parts. A few years ago, I put a new handle on it. A few months ago, one half of the handle came loose. Today, I reattached it.

I'm starting to wonder if something you fix, and keep for decades, can ever be counted on to stay "finished."

This fixing of things may be a significant contributor to my list of unfinished projects. Maybe the answer is to stop fixing some things? Not this knife, however, it will always be a priority.

Get 'er Done, Day 1

You know that TV show, "My Name is Earl"? It's fun, in a quirky, gentle way. This guy spends his formative years being a Class- A Douche. Then, something happens. I'm not sure what, but who cares? What am I, Google? Anyway, he resolves to redeem himself by making a list of people he'd wronged and then, one by one, helping everyone on it.

Inspired by Earl, I'm starting my own guilt-riddled list -- I am calling it "Get 'er Done," in honor of one great, redneck standup comedian -- (Sorry, I'm, at heart, a working-class guy, as revealed by my cultural references,) I've resolved to not start anything new until I either complete all my unfinished project or acknowledge, one by one, the ones I will never get done.

Nothing new, unless ordered to do so by my women -- who I must always obey.

I can hear the yawns. It sounds so much like a doomed New Year's Eve resolution. I know this is what you're thinking. Maybe you're right.

In the beginning, being new, I will start with simple things that immediately come to mind as priorities. The more weighty matters needing resolution, ones that get to the root of who I will become, will come later. This will be hard. I love to start things, what fun! Finishing, ugh. What a slog.

Here's the first list. These are projects already started, but awaiting completion:

Reroute heating duct to warm back room.
Rig sailboat (Thank GOD I'd already started this)
Inspect possible roof damage
Finish repair plan for porch
Insulate basement
Install house fan
Downstairs shop, mechanics
Upstairs shop, wood
Basement shop: sculpture,
Sell, get rid of books
Empty storage room of my stuff.

This is the start of my list, I wonder what will become of it, and of me?

Adding to the list:

Kitchen remodel

Dragonfly iPod Docking Station (pictured)

Reassemble my North Commando 750 cc motorcycle. Had this in parts for decades. The original owner tracked me down in Alabama, asked to buy it so he could restore it. I never gave him an answer, I never called him back. That's how much of an asshole I can be.