Can't sleep

I ran into a bunch of problems yesterday when I went to install the panels. First problem came after I was on the roof and getting ready to install 2 of the panels on their old mounts. Apparently I broke the seal and pulled out the screws on a couple of them when I was scraping the inch thick sheet of ice off the trailer. I thought I was being careful... Second problem is that the panels will have to move a foot and a half toward the front of the trailer to make room for the additional 2 panels in the back (which actually kind of negates the first problem a bit - other than I will now have to re-seal the holes in the roof where the old mounting brackets are and build new ones). The third problem is that I will have to re-design the brackets to make it so the panels can be mounted closer together as the current Z brackets I made require quite a bit of space (4 inches or so between panels so I can get my hand in underneath to unbolt them). Again, a redesign was in order anyway, so it's not a total waste of time and energy. I had to make 48 L brackets from a some aluminum L channel I bought. I figured that was a good full day project in itself... Then the wind started picking up and the temperature quickly dropped 10 degrees or so. I thought - this feels like one of those storm fronts... I climbed up on the roof and brought the panels down so they wouldn't blow off while I was working on brackets - good thing I did - keep reading... Then the fourth problem. I figured, ok, get the brackets done. Just after I finished cutting 48 L brackets and drilled a few of them I realized that my aluminum channel was too small to put 2 bolts through at right angles to each other and keep them aligned right. So, at about 4:30 yesterday I had to go on another hunt for larger aluminum stock. I found it at a local hardware store and headed back toward the shop/trailer. About 2 minutes into driving back to the shop it starts raining. Freezing rain. Followed by a mix of freezing rain and sleet. Finally full blown snow - big heavy snow flakes and the temperature keeps dropping... Currently outside it's a mess. A sheet of ice/slush and 2 inches of snow on top of it... With any luck it will melt by tomorrow afternoon, but it's unlikely that the roof of the trailer will be dry enough for me to seal the new brackets or the holes in the roof where the old ones are currently. Good thing I put the panels back in the trailer or they would be frozen and buried in snow and ice on the roof of the trailer right now.

I was planning to move the trailer over to the apartment today so we could start moving things in. I will have to see how the roads look this afternoon before I will know if that is possible or not. I have to manufacture 48 new brackets at the shop and wait for the weather to turn around. It's supposed to be partly sunny tomorrow, so there's some hope that we'll still get the panels on the roof. I figure worst case I make the brackets while I have power - we leave the panels inside the trailer and just install them when we get to the desert in Arizona. Now that we don't have a converter in the trailer we're running the heater and everything else off batteries that have no charging system in place. If I can't install the panels I will have to charge the batteries from the truck or use a battery charger (I have a small 6 AMP one with me) to make the trip to Arizona with heat and lights. The truck is set up to charge the trailer, but I'm not sure that the lines to the batteries within the trailer are there anymore. I will check that once I have the truck hooked up. If the truck charges the batteries - well, then we can make the trip alright without panels and this is all fretting for not... Of course the mechanic that went through the truck when we bought it said that the alternator was making some noise and not to load it too heavy from the trailer if possible...

So, I am up - can't sleep - it's 4:30 AM - I've been up since midnight worrying about everything. Will I have power? Will my hand made brackets line up well enough? I don't have the proper tools to make them easily - cutting with a grinder and drilling with a hand drill. I will have to make a jig to ensure the holes are lined up right. Will the weather hold out? It snowed on us last night and might snow again this weekend. I felt like I was running from hail storms and tornadoes on the way here last year and I am now kind of frightened I'll get stuck at some RV park in Oklahoma with a severe storm bearing down on us again... Will the truck be able to stop the trailer without the extra set of brakes on the slick roads here? How are the road conditions south of here? Will gas go up again? It jumped from 3.07 to 3.20+ (I think it was over 3.20) a few days ago and was back down again to 3.07 again today. Where the hell are my packages? They were supposed to ship last week and still have not arrived. I can't leave until they arrive. Will I make it out of here by Saturday or get stuck here longer - which seems like some kind of failure on my part for some reason - don't know why... Will the roof sealant cure in near freezing temperatures? (or if it gets wet with another rain/snow storm?). What all should I take with me and what should I leave in the Van to meet me in Oregon? Will we be able to go without reliable high speed internet connectivity once we hit the road? Without the van I worry about the truck or trailer breaking down and having no backup vehicle. We can't take the bicycles unless I put them in the trailer in the way. I am a mess right now and because I am tired I am fussing over details that are pointless...

I may be late hitting the road. I am trying my best to get out of here on time, but I am stressing out about it and need to settle down and get things done right so I don't forget something really important.