Maddness and Mourning...

Skookum...

There's a term I've heard around Fisherman's Terminal lately that I'm really begining to like..."Skookum". It's Chinook jargon that's used more commonly than I thought in the Pacific Northwest. Generally, it means first-rate, strong or solid. Check out (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skookum) for a Wikipedia explanation of the word. I think the real reason I have a growing appreciation for this word, and try to drop it into normal conversation, is because my neighbor on the dock came down for a look at the plumbing work I'm doing and said, "that's skookum man, really clean."...made my day. Every element of this project has a vertical learning curve but once I've cracekd the crux, I tend to move much quicker and more effectively through the rest, kind of like a 5.10c climbing route. Of course a craft is never mastered, but it feels good to have some things working out well. Granted, I haven't filled the tanks and pressurized the water system yet and nobody's used the head - but for now I just put one foot in front of the other and only stop to eat, sleep and drink...