I have been fighting this insane fatigue issue for several years now. I sweat very heavily when out in the heat. I am from North Idaho, it is not so hot and humid there. I suspected I had been blaming it, partially, on recovering from my back injury. Certainly being laid up for as long as I was can make you weak. I just kept forcing myself to keep moving and it steadily got worse. Even though I was getting things done, it was taking the fun out of doing things(that and everything was taking longer than it should).
  I suspected I was sweating out a lot of minerals/electrolytes, and even took supplements off and on. Apparently not "on" enough. I stumbled across an article that explained why it takes 6 months to eliminate a magnesium deficiency. I also was looking into how much/long you can take supplements before it is toxic. I have changed my program. It is working.
I started something else.

Raw food shakes until the belly is flat again. I actually think I like this. I have been studying nutrition for quite some time. I was actually doing quite well with my eating and exercise before I got hurt. For a long time it was just survival mode. Now it is time to pick up the pieces and resume my life.

Installed one of the cat doors for Mary Beth. Bailey gave it a good study.

She ordered the other cat doors. Those will go in shortly.

Best of all.

The rest of the cushion arrived for my couch/settee. 3inches of super soft foam to top the mattress/seating part. 11 inch thick super soft foam for the back cushions.. Might sound a little thick on the back rest. But when the rest of this goes together in the next week, it will make sense. Should be extremely comfy.

I have been busy. Moving storage unit stuff to Southport, NC. Two last loads. Table saw, router table and the planer should make one load. Several sheets of marine ply and a few sheets of other wood will make the last. My mountain bike can go in with the plywood.

In the meantime. I have been working on a few other projects.

New 8 foot florescent light to replace the 4 footers. I brought in the drill press, a couple different bench Sanders and the big band saw.

 Also what other tools I thought I would need immediately. I am pleased to have the compressor set up. I really enjoy spraying finishes.

I will finish this chairs new cushion in the morning. Install a kitty door for Mary Beth in her house and then the boat upholstery starts.

I must admit to being anxious to get going on the upholstery.

I was thinking back to just over 3 years ago when I built the dinghy in this same garage.

 Just off the pain pills. Could not lift much at all. I am so very much stronger now. I have come a very long ways.

So if you have been following along and have been wondering why it is taking so long? It takes longer to recover from a back injury than you might think. Those who have a back injury will corroborate this fact. But like I said, I am doing things that were not possible 3 years ago. My diligence is paying off. I feel very good about my progress.

Hurricane Mathew came and went. Not much in the way of damage here in Southport NC. The boat did fine. It was in McClellanville SC. That is right about where the storm made landfall. I saw some trees down, but there was no storm surge at the marina that I could see.

Not positive, but this boat was having serious pump out issues before the storm. It is a houseboat. I told them to wait until low tide and chop the top off. They would never see it again :-)
Have been getting all my storage unit moved up to Southport. Then will be setting up the garage I will be renting to do upholstery. I am going to get as far along as I can with upgrades in boat and upholstery. Still waiting on a slip for the boat.

Have been contemplating a big trip on boat. Once showstopper lays off in July. The boat will have all upgrades done. I have been researching what it takes to get through the Panama canal. I think I want to make the trip to Alaska. Well. Seattle first. Boat may have to be wintered and then the inlets of Alaska done as early as possible in the spring.

That will be the trip of a lifetime. I have been wanting to make that trip since buying the boat. If remaining working with showstopper, the next trip will be Polynesian Islands. Easter Island will be on that list. I am still struggling with my back some. I am going to be getting serious about dumping about 30 pounds. I get pretty skinny at around 200-210 pounds but I think I need to seriously do it.

Will be putting up pictures of upholstery projects soon.

So here I am. Basically moved to Southport NC.
Old relationships all wrapped up, just me again. The truth is, we just grew apart because we had no common interest.

So what is next? Waiting out hurricane Mathew. Then moving Mary Lee up to Southport. I could just go jump in a truck. Certainly can make a decent living doing that, but this time I am going to try what everyone keeps telling me. A repair business. I think I can fix just about anything.

I really am going to try this. I will be working on upholstery projects in slack time. If it has not paid off by February, I can either go back driving with showstopper or just about any other trucking company I choose. Either way. I will have had the time to teach myself upholstery. I have about a half baked plan if it works out that way. You see, I will have redone everything on Mary Lee myself(even the canvas), I could do the same with another boat. You may see where this is going.

Mary Lee will be done by next spring. I bought all the tools I needed last winter. This time around will just be finishing boat. Autopilot, watermaker, solar panels, etc.

I will be starting on upholstery and booth in salon as soon as I get it here. I have all the materials to do it.

I want her self sufficient enough to anchor out for extended periods. I have given it a lot of thought. I know what needs done and I am recovered enough from back injury to make it happen.

Can you believe it has been over five years since I left Idaho to buy Mary Lee? It has been a difficult climb, to say the least. I cannot tell you how many times I was told I would not go back to work. Buying Mary Lee was absolutely the right thing to do.

I will be renting Mary Beth's garage to run the business out of. If you look back a ways, you can see I built the dinghy here. She is a good friend.

I am first on the list, for a slip at Deep Point marina. Plenty of sailing without having to motor a long ways to get to it. I will be sailing all winter. I had different plans for the boating this season but....life happens. Besides... What I do is come up with a plan that takes into account everything I know at the time. I throw it out there. Then see what new information comes up. A lot of times it changes the plans. That being said... I grow ever closer to the main goal. I am getting stronger every day. I do still have some weight to lose but it will come off in time. I suspect that is going to have a noticeable affect on my recovery. Step at a time.

So not a lot to add this time. Mostly just keeping it up to date.

Now if that storm just leaves Mary Lee alone......