As if I wasn't busy enough.. I am now doing volunteer work at the local museum.

SOME BACKGROUND: In the 60's my Wife's Mother belonged to the local Women's Club. It was a rather active organization in Casa Grande, AZ. They were responsible for making CG a much more Metropolitan community( I think in a good way). A lot of charity work and community improvement programs were spearheaded by this organization. One of those was the Casa Grande Historical Society. As a result, the local museum came into being. It is a fascinating place with collections of old farm implements, equestrian equipment, old photographs and static displays of all kinds ranging from typical medical implements and even a working old pumper fire truck... Very cool stuff. This museum will also do research for people trying to track down their roots in the community. All but 2 of the personnel are volunteers(including the Board). It is incredible to see what has been accomplished with virtually all volunteers!! That being said, they lack in areas that I can be of benefit to the organization and already have. Last year when Erin my Wife) and I got together, it was apparent to me that the museum was a very important part of her life. So, I toured the facility with her and noticed they had security cameras(with one major flaw). As I looked at the multi-camera monitor, I noticed that the red R(denoting record mode) had a circle with a line through it over all the cameras. So, even though they had installed the system years before, they were not recording them. So, we talked to the Curator and arranged for me to set up the system correctly. Two weeks ago, this became very important. A burglar broke into the facility and he tripped the silent alarm(unknowingly). When the police arrived, they were able to tie into the system and get footage of the fellow which is now the evidence to convict him. That footage was probable cause for the officers to also search his truck. As it turns out, he had evidence in the form of stolen goods from a crime spree that started weeks before amounting to multiple burglaries in the area. Had I not fixed the system he might have gotten off with a trespassing charge and the other crimes would been left open, unsolved.. It made me feel good that my effort had diverted what would have been a disaster (not monetarily so much as historically) many irreplaceable displays could have been lost forever.
I met with the board last night and pointed out the fact they were very lucky(The thief was a typical Dumb Criminal). If he had killed the main power to the facility, the security cams would have gone off-line(no power backup on the system) and again, there would have been no record. So, my new task is to put in more cameras and hook up the audio to all of them and implement a power backup for the recorder and cameras.
It doesn't stop there. I have volunteered my services in other ways as well. The Curator is a bright man with a lot of good ideas but, he lacks basic skills in build repair and construction. Right now, I am also installing a ceiling on an outside patio that had been done with interior drywall. It was a mess. I am putting in a distressed, repurposed wood ceiling and it should be pretty cool when finished. I also told them I would re-finish the benches and picnic tables on the property. I hate to see good wood painted. I have been doing the same on my own property. When you sand weathered wood and finish it with spar varnish, all kinds of colors come up out to the surface.
I also found out they have openings on the governing board so, I think both my Wife and I are going to apply.

THE BIG REASON: My Wife's Mother died when Erin was 12 years old so, this is a way I can help keep her legacy alive. If it is important to her, it is important to me!! That's the way it is...