The day to day stuff

Yet another toy!

Comet — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:49:00 GMT

I just couldn't resist...unfortunately, I have problems with it already. A new Z-axis truck is on its way and I'm hoping after I install it, I'll be carving away. Here's what it can do. http://www.carvewright.com/results.html

Car accidents suck!

Comet — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 23:22:48 GMT

Well, there I was minding my own business traveling down Hazel Ave Sat. night in the slow lane....just as I was passing through the Sunset Ave. intersection the girl in the fast lane decides to try to make the driveway to the store on my right, failing to realize that I'm even there. Needless to say, I hit my brakes, swerve to the right....big collision, her SUV goes flying, rolls, hits a phone pole and land upside down. Both driver and passenger appeared OK....$6400 damage to my car (and 2 weeks in the repair shop)....her's was obviously a complete total. I really wish they would put more driving restrictions on teeanage drivers.

New Project

Comet — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 22:11:07 GMT

So I got it last year at a salvage yard for $7 thinking I would save money -most I've found are around $350. Knowing me, I'll end up spending more money trying to get this thing in some sort of running condition. I have taken part of it apart and the differential hub is what I'm going to tackle this weekend. Maybe try to find some wheels and braking system for it. I'll have to wait until school gets back into session to dissasemble it and bead blast it. Haven't decided on powder coating or paint yet...or a color for that matter. Also gonna need to build some baskets for it. Oh, I need to buy a big, comfortable tractor style seat for it too. I can't wait!

Ok, I swear I'm almost done!

Comet — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 16:09:56 GMT

So here is the latest edition to the workshop. Next is the bandsaw which should be on its way in a month or so. Now I can start building the drums. Funny thing happens when you clean.....you find stuff. Found my mosaic tile molds in a box in my storage unit. I was stressing out over thinking I had misplaced them. Now I can start making some pendants for BM. Boat is going in next Friday for servicing and should have that out on the lake by the weekend....I'm going to have to rebuild or refinish the teak swim platforms though and give it a good wash/wax.

More new toys....

Comet — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 22:26:56 GMT

The jointer came (nearly a month earlier than anticipated) and the dust collector also arrived. Unfotunately, I'll have to wait until I have more time in March (when school is out) to play with all of them.

I killed my toe

Comet — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 18:46:08 GMT

So last night I'm painting the bathroom and I trip over an electrical cord and proceed to land on the top of my big toe, loud pop and crack, lots of yelling and writhing. Good times. Why I was not wearing shoes I do not know (I kept thinking that I should put some on). I stopped the bleeding and put it on ice which was excruciating and this morning I'm on crutches with no shoe and the toe is about twice its normal size. Now Mom and I match...both have bunged up big, left toes.

Rough week

Comet — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 20:36:31 GMT

Well, it was a rough, sleep-deprived week in SF and I'm glad it is over. I really hope that the next projects go much smoother. While I was gone, my new jointer arrived :) and the 220 receptacle for it was dropped so I only have the planer and dust collector to finish out my shop. Now for catch up on the homework in my 5 classes that I've been neglecting.

Productive Week

Comet — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 21:42:15 GMT

Went over to T's to help him with the shop floor on Thurs night...we etched 1/4 of it. Went back Friday night and painted the epoxy coating and nearly died from the fumes. Sat. was spent cleaning the garage...I barely recognize it now. Sun. was a trip to the dump (need to make a couple more). Back has been killing me the last week from all of the activity and school started. I really am crazy to be taking all of these classes....I just looked at the coursework and it looks like until March, school is about the only thing I'll be doing. Went to my appt. yesterday and was told to wait another 3 mos to see if I am ready for the surgery then.....I'm getting a little tired of the waiting, but understand the caution. I really don't want to make an impatient decision that I will regret later, but the vision thing is really bothering me.

Full Load!, 2 A's, lost & found, and smart cars

Comet — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 17:39:56 GMT

Got my grades for this semester's classes. An A in Proj. Integration and Scope Mgmt and another A in Welding :) I signed up for all of my classes (8 of them, but three of them are 1 unit classes), bought my books and added it all up. This semester is going to be an expensive one...over $2500 - translates to fewer toys in the next two months, but I probably wouldn't have time to play with them until the Spring anyhow. Finally lost my battle with my cold :( On a good note: I found $67 in a shirt pocket and another $12 in a jacket (pretty bad when you don't even know when you are missing money). I'm also quite happy that my car is smarter than I am and automatically turns off the stuff I leave on.

Happy NY's it was indeed....

Comet — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 03:56:32 GMT

Had a great time at the HorseCow gallery. Met some new folks and ran into some old ones. Got home safely by 5am thanks to Dougie. I can't wait to get his pics from the evening too. Had no voice today after talking to people ALL night over the music, but at least my cold seems to have been held at bay. Got lots of compliments on the hat, one on my body (thanks Chuck), and one on my countenance (a first for me). Now I usually have a decent vocabulary, but I had to ask Dougie if I should be offended. After he explained it to me, I was ok with it...lol. countenance \KOWN-tuh-nuhn(t)s\, noun: 1. Appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect. 2. The face; the features. 3. An approving or encouraging look or expression. 4. Favor, good will, support; encouragement. Also got called a tool monkey (can't deny that one) and a homeboy...lol. Slept in until about 12 today...that is when the neighbor's chainsaw started up. One of their pine trees fell into the backyard during the storm. Fortunately, only did a little damage to the maple tree :)

Scooby Doo, where are you?

Comet — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 17:28:34 GMT

Oooooh, ooooh, jumping up and down. On Craigslist I just saw listed a 1963 Ford Econoline Van for FREE! I'm sooo tempted. I always wanted to get one of those and paint it like the Mystery Machine...hmmmm. Obviously I have a hard time drawing the line....I own a 1953 ice cream truck, I mean really, what the hell am I going to do with that?

Fog, perfume and a disposable toilet seat cover

Comet — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 17:11:16 GMT

What do they all have in common? Me. My drive in today was nice and foggy (unlike most people, I actually like driving in fog). Then in front of me on the freeway was a flat-bed truck with 2 porta-potties on it. The door of one flew open just enough to allow something to fly out of it. I had to swerve a little to avoid getting the toilet seat cover stuck to my car....that would have been cute. Then I get to the office and got stuck in an elevator with a smoker and (I must make up a word, or at the very least, an acronym for these people) a woman who felt it necessary to spray on a half a bottle of nasty perfume. Got down to the second set of elevators and I was trying to kind of hide so that I could catch the next elevator and avoid them both, but the kind, stinky lady brought to my attention that our elevator was there and she was holding it for me. Pouting, I got on and tried to hold my breath as I was nearly have an asthma attack after the first ride. People - one little spray is quite enough (or at least get something that smells good). I actually changed my daily work out schedule here at work because of a lady, whose perfume I couldn't stand, and I kept getting caught with her in the elevator and the work out room. OK, I'm done griping about that now...more pet peeves to follow I'm sure. Didn't do much the rest of the day at work...stopped off at Home Depot before heading home to finish priming the bathroom. Then T-dog (he prefers T-bone, but whatever) came over and we drank port and wine, ate cheese and popcorn, got into a cracker fight (you'd swear we were brother and sister) and finished grouting the bathroom and foyer.

A few things I'd like to remember from today or not...

Comet — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 05:02:45 GMT

This morning, I was abruptly awakened by a loud crashing noise which sounded as though it came from inside my room. However, I could not locate its origin and this bothered me the rest of the day...was it a dream?, the cat hatching his scheming plot to do me in (I knew there was a reason I'm a dog person)?, the aliens coming to abduct me again? (although, Pico will be relieved to know that my ass did not hurt when I awoke--Ok, I made that part up...my ass did hurt--actually I made that up too, it was my head that hurt - I still shudder at the sight of watertowers), an intruder? I dismiss my paranoia and fast-forward to the work day. Discovery park was flooded on my traffic-free drive in, the office manager ordered us pizza (I refrained from having one of the beers they set out and later regreted it), stopped by 'Reen's only to discovered Lamar drank all my beer and someone took 3 of my ratchets (people, don't ever mess with a girl's tools - guess it's time to put a lock on the toolbox), played with lil' boodie boo (tried to get her to walk, but to no avail), fixed the handlebars (and a few other things) on Josh's new chopper bike, stole some of Moe's fries after which she ordered me out of the kitchen (I think she was pouting cuz I told her I didn't like the tile she picked out for the kitchen and I wouldn't lay it - now I'll have to take her tile shopping), had to listen to G tell how her xmas present (ahem..sex toy) didn't work (not cuz IT was faulty), didn't have enough (any for that matter) beer to stay there and listen to more so I came home after speeding the whole way (just kept getting preoccupied with thoughts), had a glass of port and a bowl of homemade turkey soup and watched Out on the Edge on Logo...oh and the mobile base for the saw came today, so that now means that the entire thing has to come apart again....oh well.

9.5 out of 10 on the smartass scale

Comet — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 17:37:13 GMT

So I was ranked a 9.5 last night. I am disheartened by this and only it means one thing to this perfectionist....I must practice harder and hone my skills (I know I can score a 10). It was also brought to my attention that I now own 7 cars (2 of which actually run right now). So why am I compulsively looking for more? I can only answer that with this statement: I am a very sick person...er, uh I mean I am a very passionate person who vigorously wants to preserve an important part of our automotive heritage. And for some reason, all of a sudden, I have become a skilled drywall person (at least that is the impression everyone else has of me right now). I have agreed to put in the drywall in a friend's shop, install baseboard and paint the inside of the house. Hopefully, I'll get a little use of the shop for a studio :)

BM '06

Comet — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 20:25:13 GMT

Well, I received a call from a friend of my mom's and she said that she wants to go to BM '06. Mom told her that if she went, my mom would go with her. While I think she would have a great time there, I fear that I will be too preoccupied with chaperoning her and compromise my experience. I know...selfish of me, but I worry about her (it's the protector in me). Hopefully, her friend will do a good job of looking after her and I will not have to worry. I guess we'll just have to see when we get there. I think we are going to have a big crew there in '06...should be interesting. I really need to start working on my tricycle and get it from a shell of a frame into a bike that I can actually ride. Well, off to work on cleaning the garage to make room for more woodworking equipment soon to arrive......

Feliz Christmakwanzukkah...

Comet — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 07:08:00 GMT

or something like that. One word to sum up the holiday's family gathering - excrutiating. I need a new family. I played along and sang the xmas caroles, but drew the line at singing 40's showtunes (my grandfather's request and he sange with much vigor) On the bright side, I don't think we'll be doing it again next year :) and I only had to buy one present...Tampico is a lucky guy, but I'm not quite finished with my modifications to the little gifts yet so not sure when he'll actually be getting them.

220 installed

Comet — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 16:59:50 GMT

Got the subpanel installed this weekend and the 220 outlet set for the tablesaw. The electrician will be back to do the rest of the work after the 1st of Jan. I have a little drywall patching and touch-up painting to do. Have most of the saw set up and just have to align everything now. Turned it on and it sounds great....can't wait to actually start making stuff now.

Finals week and a cold

Comet — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 04:33:06 GMT

Well, it's finals week....one class down and one more to go. To top it off, I have the beginnings of a lovely little cold.

Dissapointment

Comet — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 22:28:22 GMT

This weekend I worked on the bathroom again and the new granite counter top is being installed today. Unfortunately, the table saw delivery didn't make it yesterday. Apparently after making fairly detailed arrangements, the order was placed in will-call. I was particularly irritated because I had taken time off work for this. So it is supposed to come today between 5-6:30...I hope it doesn't start raining again. After that, I'm off to welding class again.

Good news and bad news...

Comet — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 03:54:24 GMT

good news - table saw will definitely be here next week and the welding helmet came today. bad news - the jointer is on backorder until March and no welding jacket yet. Found out that I will have to unload the 6 cartons (one of which is 384 lbs.) that the table saw will be shipped in....that should be fun.

New purchases

Comet — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 22:28:07 GMT

Well, I finally broke down and bought a table saw and jointer today. The shop is almost complete....just need a planer, a dust collecting system and an upgraded circuit to 220 and I'll be all ready to make some stuff. I've been looking at welders too and just can't decide what I want. I've been spending money like crazy lately, but on things that should last me a very long time. The table saw should be here by next week and I can't wait!

Early Christmas

Comet — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 23:25:54 GMT

Today I bought myself a couple of early Christmas presents. I bought a nice auto-darkening welding helmet and leather welding jacket. Just in time to do some more MIG welding next week.

You know it's gonna be a good day when....

Comet — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 17:12:11 GMT

you see this guy on the freeway on your way in to work. A rare siting of the Poodleman. Oh and Get Off My Ass (this means you)! The rest of the day was uneventful at work and then came home and skimmed one of the bathroom walls. Will hopefully get that project done by the end of the weekend.

Worked and welded today

Comet — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 06:22:56 GMT

Went to work (I love traffic during a holiday week) then came home and went to welding class (tonight was MIG and stainless).

The weekend in review

Comet — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 03:49:35 GMT

Used a chainsaw for some yardwork, did some tilework, rewired 3 switches, loaded up the truck for a run to the landfill (didn't quite make it there today though) and cleaned a Ritzy's stall. A whole weekend filled with working and no trips to the ER...