psychological aspects

[Ed Harrow]

Since this has to do with building and repair I guess this is the right place. Today I spent something close to seven straight hours debunging and descrewing two planks. I didn't keep track of the number of screws I got out, or that have, so far, resisted all attempts to remove them.

So my question, when progress is so slow, is what unit is a reasonable one to use as a measuring stick...

On another note, I purchased a little bottle of nearly magical elixir from Lee Valley. It doesn't do everything I hoped it would do, but it does exactly what it is advertised to do - give a straight-bladed screwdriver a better grip on marginal slots so the screwdriver is less apt to twist out of the slot.

[ken mcclure]

At my age (and we're not so far apart, I think) I use days as a unit of measure, as it takes to long to count anything less. I'm satisfied if I don't lose track of any of them.

[Greg H]

Well, I figure if it felt like a days work, it was one. But, I have the luxury (for now) of not having a need to keep track of time, so I work until I become inefficiant at the task, then find some thing else to be busy with.
The days keep getting shorter and the years......all I can figure is we must be near a black hole.
Just measure with pleasure.
Of course I'm just slow anyway http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[Eb]

"when progress is so slow...", Ed is that the engineer, the accountant or the little kid who wants his boat launched that's asking that question?

Me, whenever I finish a 'spell' at my little boatbuilding project I'm pleased that I'm futher along than I was.

Eb

[Bob Cleek]

It's all about the PROCESS, Ed. Enjoy the moment. It will take YEARS, so you may as well get your fun when you can! Anybody can sail a boat, but it takes a real man to fix one! LOL

[Ed Harrow]

LOL, it's not the accountant, I fired that personality long ago... I've intentionally attempted to fixate on the process, but even process can be measured. If one kept count of screws removed one's score would be much higher than for planks removed, for instance.

[rickprose]

ed, my friend, don't let roshi bob lead you down the garden path with that west coast zen buddhist process malarkey. women are process-oriented, which is what makes them so good at spending hours in the kitchen when any goal-oriented man can tell you that an omelette is a perfectly good meal and it only takes fifteen minutes to cook.
"climb every mountain, count every screw,
keep hacking at old "phoenix"
until the damn job's through"
i think rodgers and hammerstein wrote that, and god bless them for it...

[Concordia41]

Ed – I think if you figure out what to use as a measuring stick you’ll find that it’s still about perspective, and perspective IMHO should be controllable. A yard stick in your hand looks like it’s well about 3’ – a yard stick at the far end of a field is a small stick. Different perspective, that’s all.

Believe me, worn to the bone at the end of the day I’ve hung my head and weeped at the utter overwhelmingness of it all. Then there’s other days I’m at the top of my game – say 45 of 50 screws. What makes some days diamonds and others dust??? Don’t know, but if I could figure it out I’d bottle it and we’d all have full crews working round the clock. LOL

- M

P.S. Nobody get your hopes up, that 45 screw day was a rarity. And, I only counted because it was going so well, I wanted to remember it always…

P.P.S. How about a WBF Holiday Party Conflab???? Everyone could by a new tool, wrap it, open it, describe it to the other guests and then keep it http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

P.P.P.S – The Multimaster’s on sale at Jamestown

[JimConlin]

I'm comforted by the belief that the Lord does not subtract from a man's allotted years the time spent working on his boat.

[Scott Rosen]

Ed,

For every eight hours worked, take the number of screws removed, times the number of planks completed (rounded DOWN to the nearest plank), divided by the number of screws attempted but not removed.

SR X PR/SANR

For each broken driver bit, subtract 1 from the results.

If you are over 40, add 1 for each year from 40 to 45, add 2 for each year from 46 to 50, and so on.

That's the way the professionals measure their progress.

[Ed Harrow]

I work up with a start last night; I think I've figured it out (At least it seemed like a much better Bob Cleek answer than the one given. Did one count buttons or bases...

PS: Scott, I'll have to come back to your measurment description after I've had another cup, LOL. Good to see you...



[This message has been edited by Ed Harrow (edited 12-01-2001).]

[Mr. Know It All]

ED.......I MEASURE SCREW REMOVAL PROGRESS BY CHECKING MY BLOOD PRESSURE. WHEN IT GETS TO AN UNHEALTHY LEVEL I GO PET THE CAT OR PLAY WITH THE KIDS. I DON'T FORCE IT ON BAD DAYS AND GO WITH THE FLOW ON GOOD ONES. WITH A WOOD BOAT YOU'RE NEVER DONE ANYWAY. THERE'S ALWAYS ONE MORE THING TO DO.

[TomRobb]

Mr. K.I.A.,
Please turn off the "caps lock" key.
Thanks.

[Allen Foote]

On the 43' Egg Harbor...1 plank a day ain't bad. http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[Bernadette & David Hedger]

ahh - progress! we can remember when we lofted the lines...hmm

[Mr. Know It All]

TOM......MY EYE'S ARE WORSE THAN MR. MAGOO'S. YOU POST YOUR MESSAGES AND REPLYS ANY WAY YOU WANT AND I'LL DO THE SAME. I'M NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE. IT'S HELL GETTING OLD AS YOU WILL "SEE" SOMEDAY.
-OO-

[JMAC]

I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance a few months back and was able to relate it to boatbuilding in general and the removal of old screws in particular. When you are with that stubborn screw the rest of the universe melts away. No social issues of national or local import, no relationship issues, no ego...just you, screw, screwdriver... awaiting the big AHAH! moment when the screw yeilds to you -man-highest form of life on this planet. Men who live lives of silent desperation do not even try to remove old screws. And you're concerned with results?