New grinder...

I chickened out on buying the same grinder that didn't work the first time.  So, Penny and Meghan went to Menards, yesterday, and I just requested they pick out something similarly priced to the other one.  I now I have a Masterforce (sounds impressive) grinder.

As soon as I drink ONE MORE cup of coffee, I am going to go test that puppy out.  

Also, ordered LOTS of plywood from Himple, yesterday, so hopefully I can spend this lovely Christmas Eve and Day sanding and lining the stalls.

T - 5 days until the new horses get here.  It's been so long since they were purchased and the shipping has been such a cluster I've almost lost all excitement about them.  I think it's coming back, though!

Curses!!!

Went out, yesterday, to get my angle grinding on and sand the stalls.  First, that thing is heavy and I'm going to have Madonna arms before I'm done with this project.

Second, I COULDN'T GET THE DISK OFF!!!  I really feel like I'm not THAT dumb that I couldn't read directions and change the first disk off after sanding for a while.  Nope, tried for ages to get it off.  Could not.  (had tantrum in process, good thing no one was around to witness it)

Brought it to Cottin's Hardware this morning to verify that I'm 1.) a pussy who didn't turn the wrench hard enough 2.) stupid 3.) got a faulty grinder.

Turns out it was #3.  Which, is a relief (I guess), but who gets a BUNK tool that breaks the first time you use it?!

Me.

The spindle button thing was apparently not functioning correctly and not holding the wheel solid enough to turn the wrench and get it off.  So, back to Amazon it goes.

But, now I'm a little scared to get the same one.  Hmmm....

"I even bought the more expensive angle grinder... sob."

Gettin' my grind on...

I have four more days of my commuting job to make it through, then essentially, two weeks off with a random of assortment of cleaning jobs, housekeeping tasks in the office, and just two days with patients until after the New Year.

Uncle Phil came to visit and took a look at the stalls we bought that need some refurbishing.  After learning I was sanding with a hand sander and various grits of paper, he recommended an angle grinder, so I didn't go nuts and spend a thousand hours on it.

So, using my tits new Amazon Prime account, I ordered this puppy:

Porter-Cable 7-amp. 4 1/4 inch Angle Grinder/Cut-off Tool

I also ordered 3 packages of extra grinding wheels, as Phil thought I would smoke through them pretty fast.

This fun thing should be here Tuesday, and I am psyched to get started on sanding the stalls. I think we are going to sand and refinish the bars, fronts, pretty much anything that is rough and could poke an eye out. Then, since the inner walls are metal, but in a bit of rough shape, smooth those down without spending forever on them, and then re-line with plywood. And of course, repaint and add new hardware like the door latches, blanket bar, halter hook, etc.

I will try and take lots of pictures, to see how well this actually works out, vs. what I am picturing in my mind's eye. But, they have to be better than this green hideousness...

Lawrence Old Fashioned Christmas Parade

Decided to do something fun and "seasonal" instead of spending all day sanding the stalls (which I did the next day, and it sucks).

Only horses and wood wheeled carriages allowed!!!  I only took a few pictures, because the parade is really quite lengthy.  I think it took an hour or more!  Anyway.  Borrowed Brendan's truck and parked it downtown early in the morning.  Penny and I bummed around for a couple hours waiting for the start, then sat in the back of the truck and enjoyed the show.