Topic: waz up bookwus

quote Bookwus
Hiya Hank,

How are you doing?  Haven't heard from you in a while.
just lurking and working in my shop. My '57 bug is still waiting for me to wash my hands and give the headliner a try.
The 356 is hanging from the second floor waiting for the winter before I get back into it. I've been learning to weld aluminum.

Did you ever get that river under control?
well yes and no -we aren't as treatened as before and the work we did has opened up the old channel and now 75% of the water is flowing there. I know that it would only take a couple of trees to make another log jam and direct the river back this way. The joy of living near a wild river.

Still doing creekwalks?
No fish left --just kidding - I retired a few years ago now spend some of my time milling wood and just about finished building the addition on the shop- sure feels good to cut the tree down then mill the wood and use it to build something.
Now I can move some of the good stuff(junk) out of the shop and into the addition.

thanks for asking how is your retirement going?
cheers
hank

'57 bug "BlackBerry"
'58 type261 single cab "Ruf"
'86 vanagon syncro "Syncro da Dr.Mayo"
and way too many project waiting

Re: waz up bookwus

Hiya Hank,

Welding aluminum?  Holy heliarc!  That's a neat skill to have.  I'd be happy just to be able to complete a reasonably nice looking bead on mild steel.  Still very much the novice in the welding department.  But there is so much neat stuff one can do with welding that I just gotta master that.  And welding aluminum is way outta my league.

I really do regret not being able to one of those creekwalks with you.  I'm a thinking that would have been fun, educational, and just a great experience.

It has been a hectic retirement to say the least.  After spending my career in education I decided to go out into the world and get a job.  Among educators (at least, this educator) there is a nagging question of whether they could make it in the "outside world".  Which is not to say that education is a pushover.  Quite the contrary actually.  Anyway, I got a job with Costco.  I had to compete with people half my age.  148 of us were hired (it was a new store opening) and only six of us would wind up being hired permanently.  I was one of the six.  And as soon as I was employee of the month a few months later, I quit.  I found out what I needed to know.

Since then I have been doing remodeling.  A lot of electrical and sheetrock kind of work.  Also doing engine building.

Just got done yesterday putting windows in my Bug.  Now that's a job I don't want to go back to anytime soon.  Yeegads!  Was that a miserable experience.  But it is now done.

Also for the past half year I've been on a diet.  Dropped about sixty pounds so far.  I decided that since I seldom saw any 65 year old guys who weighed 250 pounds I'd better get my act in gear and drop some weight.  I can't say that dieting is fun, but I am feeling better.

Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck

Re: waz up bookwus

'scuse the interrupt, can't resist ;-)

Mike, somehow through all these years I'd imagined you as being considerably younger - funny how you get a picture of someone you are familiar with just through text and find out how your image was completely wrong!

Good on you for the weight loss - I'm sitting somewhere around 240 these days and just getting the motivation up to start doing something about it is a challenge.  My hat's off to you for your gains...er...losses...er...you know!

@hank - I'm sure I've seen pics of your 356 at some point, but for the life of me can't remember anything about it.  If you find yourself looking for parts, my brother lives in the lower mainland and has/had a pretty good assortment of parts for 50/60 vintage 356s - he's got himself a sweet '60 (or is it a '62...can't remember!) Super 90.

1979 Type 1 Convertible                                       1976 Scirocco (For Sale!)
1971 Type 1 Semi-Automatic Super                       1968 Type 1 Sedan
1961 Type 1 Sedan
1957 Type 1 Sunroof

Re: waz up bookwus

Hiya DB,

Der Bugmeister wrote:

'scuse the interrupt, can't resist ;-)
Mike, somehow through all these years I'd imagined you as being considerably younger - funny how you get a picture of someone you are familiar with just through text and find out how your image was completely wrong!

Hah!

Actually, I will own up to be 60.  Still have a few years yet to 65!

But your point is well taken.  We do have "acquired" mental images of other met through the net.  I know when I think of you, I see a Canadian sailor out at sea.  Are you still at it?

Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck

Re: waz up bookwus

Yeah, more or less, but I'm landlocked these days.  That's fine, though...wrapping up the seemingly neverending renos on the house and I'll be able to spend some time on the cars this summer.  I've been ignoring them for years, but now I'll have more time, and the shop space to do something with them.

Also gives me more time to spend with the kids, and getting them out into the shop to learn how to work on the cars too.  :-D

1979 Type 1 Convertible                                       1976 Scirocco (For Sale!)
1971 Type 1 Semi-Automatic Super                       1968 Type 1 Sedan
1961 Type 1 Sedan
1957 Type 1 Sunroof

Re: waz up bookwus

Der Bugmeister,
I'd like nothing better than being able to see for my self just what the underside of a complete 356 looks like.
The one I'm working on had aluminum sheet pop riveted then fibreglassed to the tunnel. My plasma torch made short work of that mess. I'd sure like to get in touch with your bro. for some spiritual advise.

We have our 13yo grandson for the summer and our project will be getting the chopped Ghia zoom buggy for him to bomb around in.
http://towd.smugmug.com/photos/362900781_DKUQ3-M.jpg

hank

'57 bug "BlackBerry"
'58 type261 single cab "Ruf"
'86 vanagon syncro "Syncro da Dr.Mayo"
and way too many project waiting