Two Years Later Two years ago I was part of the engine rebuild crew on the Speer. Don’t remember that? Check it out in the archives: January, February and March of 2007. There was plenty of big, greasy work to be done, but near the end of the project I was given the job of installing sensors. Not a big task, but it was fun, due to the fact that I have years of experience routing wiring. Looking around the port engine recently, I was happy to see that my work remains intact. Examining other aspects of the massive diesel, it was rewarding to see that it’s all holding together. Ah, The Munson… Just down the dock sits the Munson, the ship where I worked as a deck hand August of 2006. When I boarded the Blough as a member of the engine crew in the Fall of ‘06, Eric was my supervisor and did a great job of teasing me about the Munson. Recently we grilled steaks with a group friends in Superior. We told stories and laughed about the past while enjoying beef from the farm. Arrggh Matey - Eric after enjoying a tasty steak It’s been fun to visit friends in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I’ll return to the farm next week and get back to work.
Friends who live in other states often ask me, “What is there to do in South Dakota during the winter?” My roommate has a love of the great outdoors, and entered an ice fishing derby this weekend. He won an ice shack, which he brought home and promptly set up. I was not involved in the derby and was not aware of his winnings, so you can imagine my surprise when I walked through the kitchen to see his office decked out for ice fishing. American flags hanging from the ceiling fan, a string of lighted bobbers overhead, and Chris enjoying his ice shack. One of the only indoor/outdoor rigs I’ve ever seen. There’s plenty to do in South Dakota. Inside and out. I lived alone for many, many years. I was hesitant about having a roommate, but after all, it is his house. Things are going well, I can honestly say we get along. Ice fishing has never been so comfy. I have my portion of the house decked out with audio gear, he brings the outdoors in. Maybe we get along because we are comfortable being enthusiastic to an excess, or maybe it’s because our interests are so diverse. I don’t ask to borrow his lures, and he’s never asked to use a microphone. As long as he doesn’t drill through the floor with the ice auger, we’ll be fine.
