Yesterday, for the most part, I took the day off from the project, because I wanted to spend it with Deb. We went to the Nicolin Mansion in Jordan, MN, and we can’t recommend it highly enough. If you are looking for a relaxing getaway in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, this would be the place to go (www.nicolinmansion.com).
The only project-related activity I did yesterday was ironing the screen material. For the screen itself, I’m using curtain blackout material. It’s an opaque fabric that’s sewn behind curtains to keep the sun from shining through. It’s very white, and should I decide to paint the thing later to have better color balance and reflectivity, I believe that it will hold paint nicely. When I bought the stuff (9 yards from a 54-inch bolt), I wasn’t paying enough attention and I allowed the clerk to fold the cloth up instead of rolling it into a tube. By the time I got home from work, there were creases down the width and length of it.
I covered the area I was ironing with a towel, and moved the iron slooooowly down the creases. It worked for the most part, but they were difficult to get out. I had to make multiple passes with the iron. If you decide to try this on your own, be very careful during this step; I got a few tiny scorch marks on the fabric. I found out after the fact that I should have had the ironing board underneath (I had the fabric laying on the floor to prevent more creases and to make things easier). When I attach the screen, I don’t plan on stretching it taught over the frame, but just enough to take care of any remaining creases. (I’ll post pictures of the fabric later this weekend).
One thing I forgot to mention from the last project-related post was the playlist. As certain songs keep running through my head or popping up on whatever music source is handy, I thought I would keep track of them, especially if there was any significance. So far:
- Barking at the Moon by Jenny Lewis: This is from the Bolt soundtrack. Bolt was a standard cute, CGI-animated movie about a little dog trying to get back home. It was also one of the last movies that I saw with Ian at the theater. My mother got to go with us (a rare treat), and we all enjoyed it very much. Ian especially loved the character named Rhino who was (of course) a hamster. This is a catchy little country tune about the importance of “your home”. Not only does it remind me of an enjoyable time with my son and mother, but it also reminds me of my eternal home, and how Ian is already there.
- Everything Sad is Coming Untrue (Part 1) by Jason Gray: Save yourself the trouble and buy the whole album. Actually, buy two copies, because you will probably want to share it with someone. Deb and I first heard Jason in late July, when he played at a conference we attended. If you have been following either Deb’s blog or the caring bridge, you might notice that Deb has been quoting his lyrics and liner notes quite a bit. Jason is a breath of fresh air in Christian music. For the past 15 years or so, I’ve been so focused on the “business” of Christian music (and turned off by some of the practices) that I lost sight of the fact that there are artists who are still in it as a ministry. Jason is one of those artists.
This song is a reference to the Lord of the Rings books (I don’t think the line is in the movies), when Samwise Gamgee is astounded that all of the tragedies that he thought had occurred are not true: he and Bilbo survived, Gandalf is alive (and in a more glorified state), all of his friends are alive and the evil force that had threatened the land is now gone forever. The idea that, someday, all of the bad things in this world are going to be “undone” is both fascinating and heartbreaking.
I find it fascinating, in that at any time I can look around and see dozens of things that will not exist in the new Heaven and new Earth. No more cigarette butts lying on the ground. No more air pollution warnings. No more lost relationships. No more doctors saying “there’s nothing else that can be done.” Actually, no more doctors. If you think about it, according to the Bible, we will have glorified bodies that will be perfect, with no more sickness or death. Ergo, no more doctors. At least, that’s what I believe here and now. When we are standing in Heaven (and, if you are not sure that you will be there, call me as soon as possible), feel free to either commend me on my theological insight, or point out that I really missed the mark. Then again, I think that we will both have better things to do.
I also find the idea of everything sad becoming untrue a bit heartbreaking, because it hasn’t happened yet. Every so often, I pray to God that “I’m ready, whenever you are.” Immediately, I feel God reminding me that He’s waiting on me (see Romans 10:14).
Next: Building the frame!
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