Annual blog resumption

I was actually going to just post photos on FB, but FB has apparently revised how one does that, and I didn’t understand the old way all that well, and this time once I got into the process  they just abandoned me there–no way forward, no way back, that I could figure out.  So I closed the page, and here I am.

I got into reading my old blog posts a few weeks back, and that convinced me I want to continue blogging–it was a nice way to reminisce.  I’ve been mulling over different things I could write about–blogging, for instance, or the in-between state of being almost-retired, and maybe soon I will do one of those.  But for now, I just want to post my pics and talk about them.

First, my deck.  I think I began working on it about three weeks ago, maybe four.  Powerwashed the whole thing, then brightened it, and finally applied sealer–which I just finally finished this afternoon.  Here’s a picture from shortly after I started powerwashing–you can see what things looked like originally over on the left.

The powerwashing made quite a difference–basically took off the outer layer and got down to fresh wood.

Next step, brightening (essentially, that amounts to bleaching with a weak solution of oxalic acid.)

I know you can’t tell much from this picture, but trust me, it’s brightened.  The brightening didn’t make the dramatic difference it did a couple of summers ago on my Oregon deck, but it was noticeable enough to induce me to do the whole deck.

And finally, the sealer.  I used the cheap stuff–Thompson’s oil-based watersealer, clear–no tints.  It’s what I’ve always used on this deck, and frankly considering the deck is 14 years old and in pretty good shape, I see no reason to switch now.

You can sure tell it’s a redwood deck, can’t you?  The oil really brought out the color.

I am VERY GLAD to have that done.  Applying the sealer was just as miserable a job as I remembered it being.  But I figure it should hold it until someone moves into the house, and the deck has served me well, so I wanted to leave it in good shape.  So that’s done.

Next pics: yesterday was my next-to-last polyester day (a polyester day is a day I have to appear professional.  I don’t do dry cleaning–so, polyester it is.)  It was our day of ceremonials–we don’t get really formal or anything, but we like to mark the completion of their programs for our students, separately from the University graduation ceremony.  Here’s our Single Subjects program coordinator in the midst of her speech about rocks.

She has a collection of rocks which mark and help her remember significant events or times in her life; each has a story.  She tells a few of those stories, and then has each student choose from among rocks she lays out on the table one that will mark the completion of their credential program for them.

Here’s my last group of math credential students, with assorted family members.

From left to right: parent, parent, student, student, student, student, student, student, husband, kid, student, wife, kid.  Two of my students didn’t come to the celebration.  I have a picture of me in amongst them, taken by the husband, but it came out blurry so I won’t post it.  Heh-heh.  The first two students on the left are the ones I will be observing on Monday, which shall be my last polyester day.  🙂  (Actually, I’m sure I will wear polyester again at some point, and I don’t intend to throw all of it away.  But for the foreseeable future–levis and tee shirts, my native garb.)

OK, last set.  In addition to grading three lesson plans and finishing the deck sealing today, I also renewed the Moby J sign on my van.  It was so faded you could hardly see it–the sea had entirely disappeared.  Here it is with just the Moby restored.

And here it is all done.

Done with a sharpie and a blue something-or-other I had lying around the house.  I don’t know how long it will last, but you gotta admit it looks better than it did.

OK, that’ll do it for now.  Hopefully I’ll continue to post throughout the summer–and perhaps beyond.  Thant’s my intention, anyway.  But who knows how retirement will take me.