Let me just start this week by saying that if anyone who reads this knows how to kill large quantities of mosquitoes quickly, please let us know.  Our legs will thank you..

With one week left to finish preparing the arches for their big day, team Mind Bullitz (Gwyn/Kristy/Alex/Blake/Franklin) had to maximize our efficiency and utilize our newfound help from team Roadkill to tie up all of our loose ends.  We were 99% successful, with only one thing to fix next week.

learning objective C_ develop skills in using materials and tools.We continued using old fashioned methods on our repairs this week. It takes more time, but in the end, we have realized how much more rewarding it is. (the blisters aren’t so great though…) 

After getting our newly cut/detailed wood finished at the end of last week, we figured out the best way to assemble our new gigantic arch piece in the way that would keep it as level as possible while the epoxy dried.  It took several attempts and lots of critical thinking, but we finally got our final repair started on Monday.  While the large piece dried, we set to cutting wood blocks that will stabilize the arches on the columns of the church, making sure all of our bolts will fit in the piece that goes between the arch halves, and drilling bolt holes in the new pieces of wood.  It got pretty tedious, but with arch week right ahead of us, we kept going like a horse with a carrot in front of its face.

learning objective G_ develop a commitment to high quality, accurate work. Putting an arch half together is basically a six-step process, and a stressful one at that. A bit intimidating at the beginning of the semester, the process has now transitioned into something we do (usually..) with speed and accuracy. Every now and then, one will cause us a bit of strife, but as a team we can usually find the problem and take care of it quickly.

There were a couple of things that frustrated us this week, one of which was trying to get quotes on the new lumber for the roof we need to have on site by the end of the semester.  Trying to get quotes from some of these lumber people was painful and tiring, but the order was finally made, which gives us something to work on after the arches go up.  Also frustrating was realizing at the end of the week that the holes we had drilled on our newly repaired arch beam were off by nearly an inch, giving us added stress for next week.  Hopefully that won’t be too big of a problem to fix on Monday afternoon after the crane operator calls it quits for the day.

  The arches are ready, the equipment is ready, the site is ready, and we are definitely ready for the next few days.  Our whole semester has led up to this week, and we are confident that everything will work out.  We can’t wait to see the difference the arches will make on top of St. Luke’s, and we can’t wait to mess around on the cherry pickers when we’re bracing the arches with purlins.  Anyone who wants to come out and watch or help is welcome (especially help, the arches weigh a couple thousand pounds), and if you can’t make it, check back in next week for a recap of what is sure to be the most exciting week of the semester!