Stjohn's RV-7

6 hours.
Ddrilled, deburred, dimpled, primed, and riveted left elevator stiffeners to stiffener skin. Also unpacked and inventoried the box of replacement parts from Van’s that showed up yesterday. I forgot to order 2 E-720 stiffener angle strips, I only ordered one. So that’s on the way. So much for a day of stiffener fun. I also managed to do the classic trick where I try to back-rivet something that’s not actually on the back rivet plate. But the ding in the stiffener and skin is negligible. I replaced the rivet with an oops rivet, so you probably won’t ever see it. Despite my best efforts to the contrary, the skin is ready to be drilled to the left elevator skeleton. I’m betting most of tomorrow will be taken up by the left elevator as well, so I’m not holding my breath on getting to rudder 2.0. Although I should probably re-do the right elevator instead, because the elevators are the hardest. the rudder’s not so bad, except for the trailing edge, and I’ve got a plan for that this time.
Sometimes this whole process just puts me in a filthy mood. I feel like I’m stealing time from something else, like I never have enough time, and I’m never going to finish. This makes me irritable. I have plenty of time, I just feel like I should be much further along. This, of course, is my fault.. All those days where I sat on the couch and surfed the web, or poked around with computer music apps, or went to the beach, or sat on the patio and read a book, I could have been building. I need to take my time, relax, and not let my mind wander while I’m doing things that could result in damage. I’m sometimes afraid to set goals, because not meeting them time after time can be discouraging. Dialing in realistic goals is probably a good skill to have.
So tomorrow, I’m going to say the goal is to get the LE drilled, deburred, dimpled, and primed. Assuming I don’t frak up too badly, this isn’t out of the realm of possibility, and even with the occasional mistake, I should be able to get it done. I know I’ll get started early, because the neighbor’s damn dogs will be up and barking their fool heads off at 0600 like clockwork. I miss living in the country.