Weekend Update

 

I finished chopping the stump out over the weekend. I whacked on it a bit Saturday after coming home from the gym and then finished it up yesterday. I still need to clean up the wood chips and get some black dirt to level up the hole and then plant some grass seed. I'll get that done this week.

Gas prices haven't hit $12.99 yet but they have shot up around here recently. After working on the stump, I got the Himalayan out and rode over to the filling station to top off the tank. $5.049 for premium unleaded which is exactly $1.00 more than regular. However, I'm finishing up cardiac rehab this morning, so I won't have to be driving much in the future. The motorcycle gets about twice the mileage my truck does and the bicycle, of course, only uses the energy I put into it. Short hops around here I can use a two-wheeler for most things. The Himalayan has saddle bags, and I have a small trailer for the bicycle, so trips to the grocery and hardware can be accomplished on two wheels.

Changing direction, I saw a couple interesting things on Facebook recently. I no longer post anything or comment since they censored my anniversary post a couple of years back, but I do enjoy some of the "Reels". Unfortunately, I didn't get the links for two of the most interesting ones. 

First up was one from Steve Morris Racing Engines. He took an aluminum block and cylinder heads to a welder that has to be one of the best in the business. He welded up water jacket holes in the block with no preheat or cleaning using a very small, water-cooled torch. Rather than pure argon shielding gas, he used some secret-squirrel blended gas containing helium, lots of amperage and the frequency control way up there. I really wished I would have bookmarked it; I'd like to watch it again - lots to learn there. The reel is about 30 minutes long but if you're a welder and run across it, it's definitely worth watching.

I've been following The Tool and Die Guy also. He posted a written test a few days ago that was given to want-to-be machinists to find out what they knew prior to being hired in and investing a lot of time and money in them. I took the test and I'm sure I got them all correct but I've been around for a long time now. I don't know how I would have done straight out of high school, but probably better than many of the mopes that showed up in my college classes.

And last but not least, MachinistX. There are MachinistX reels and a website. The focus seems to be addressing the issues of recruiting new blood into the trade and passing along the knowledge of the old timers before they retire. 

I'm not a machinist per se, but as a long-time educator and a concerned citizen, I like to hear what others are doing to recruit people into the trades along with what's being done to bring manufacturing and craftsmanship back - somebody has to weld those submarines after all.

On the Road

The ham radio group was meeting for lunch yesterday, so I went in early for rehab. The sessions run an hour long and Wednesdays they have a 15-minute session on topics of interest to cardiac patients. By going in early I had plenty of time to get to lunch as well as stopping to see my brother from a different mother for a short visit. It was about a 45-minute drive to the restaurant from his house and a beautiful day for it. Lunch was good, both the food and the company. Afterwards, I took a short spin around town. 

The church in the photo is a whopper. Unfortunately, the town no longer is. The main street is not quite vacant but not too far from it. It's a shame what has happened to so many of these small towns. I'm sure you could buy a lot of real estate cheap, both commercial and residential, but what would you do with it once you owned it? Hard to bring it back when there's nothing to keep the young people there. Especially after taking a hit from the covid shutdowns and the recent inflation. 

And what's worse than that? Tornado damage. On the way home I went through the small town that was hit recently by the tornado. Lots of damage - a couple of businesses destroyed along with many houses. However, like most small towns, the people all unite and come together to help each other out, but it's going to be really rough dealing with the loss in the long term. There are a lot of people just trying to get by with a roof over their head these days. Think how tough it would be when you've lost everything.  

Chopping Wood

 

       Had this one playing while I was chopping on the stump.

Not much left of the stump but I was getting gassed out, so I figured it was time to quit. I don't have much stamina yet but I can swing the axe - not like Paul Bunyon, but well enough to get some work done. I had cut some slots in the top of it the other day with the chainsaw, and I was able to break some pieces off with a big pinch bar, but I didn't get my angle cuts deep enough to connect. I didn't want to get the bar in the dirt. Another hour or so I should have the stump low enough to throw some dirt over it, rake it smooth, and throw some grass seed on top of it.

You can tell spring is here when the Magnolia trees start to bloom. The grass will be ready for mowing soon also. When the tractor was down, a friend of mine plowed the lane and threw some gravel into the grass. I need to rake some of it back in and the rest I imagine will get thrown into the fields by the mower. Not the best for the blades and the deck, but I don't have a rock magnet, so what will be will be.

And ain't that the truth. It's all about priorities.

Pickle Ball Repair Again

 

Coach Jen and I went to the Golden Gloves prelims Thursday evening. I haven't been there too much these last few years due to working or the Covid cancellations. I had a good time both at the fights and having the opportunity to catch up on a few things with Jen. I'm trying to decide if I want to be involved with amateur boxing in the future and we kicked a few ideas around on the drive down.

While I was at the fights I received a text about fixing another piece for the pickle ball courts at the rec center - no rest for the wicked. I picked the pieces up Friday after rehab, welded it up and sprayed a little paint on it, giving the paint time to dry, so I can deliver it today. I certainly don't mind repairing these things, but it's not all that easy. Originally, the round tube is fastened by soldering or brazing it to the rectangular tube. In order to TIG weld the two parts together, the solder must be removed, as well as the paint. Since the round tube is only about .020" thick, you can't get wild with the sander and take much stock off. It went fairly smooth until I burned a hole in it. Patching the hole was a pain but I got it, it's done and will be gone later today.

The weather is supposed to be warm again today, so I'm going to do a little outside stuff and then work on the trials bike or maybe put the electronic ignition in the Sportster. Just looking forward to being out there with the big doors open and the sunshine coming in.  

Bock is Back

 

Things have been pretty slow around here lately. Not with the weather though - storms, snow and temperature swings. It's supposed to warm up this weekend, however. The Missus has pert near won her battle with the shingles, so I'll be able to spend a little less time in the kitchen and a little more time in the shop. I ordered a new cut-off switch for the trials bike, but I didn't get around to working on finishing up the wiring like I had planned. That'll happen soon, however. 

The cardiac rehab is progressing nicely. Upper body strength is noticeably better and I've lost a few pounds. I've been working out a little at home on the off days as well.

Once a week there's a brief session with a topic relating to cardiac patients, as you would suspect. This week's session was on diet. I expected the cholesterol talk but that was never mentioned. Instead, the topic was sodium. I didn't get much out of the talk, but I got a couple of handouts that should be helpful. The one is a collection of healthy recipes, the 3 Bean Chili recipe in the photo being one I'm going to try. While there was no gumbo recipe in the handout, I'm planning on making a batch next week.

Alex Dreier

This is the time of year of Mardi Gras and the time when I was a young man Alex Dreier used to come on the television and tell the viewing audience that Bock is Back while promoting Meister Brau bock beer. I ran into the lady who used to sign my checks while in the grocery store the other day. It just so happened we were at the end of the beer aisle. While we were chatting, I could see a display of Shiner Bock out of the corner of my eye. After we parted company, I got to thinking about my train trip to New Orleans with Cuzzin Ricky a few years back - Cajun cooking and a good beer sounded pretty good, so I succumbed to the siren call of the Shiner Bock and next week I'll fix myself a batch of gumbo and wash it down with an ice cold Shiner. I wouldn't mind getting back on the City of New Orleans again and sample some more of that cuisine down there, though. Hard to beat the real thing.   

Mace

 

Photo shows the completed mace. Initially, I won't have the weights on the end of it. Hell, I might never get to that point as far as that goes, but I think I can work with this thing, improve my shoulder and arm strength without aggravating my chest too much.

Going along with this, I've got a 4x4 that I believe is cherry. I picked it up several years ago and I want to make a pair of Indian clubs out of it. I'm not much of a woodturner but I've got a small pair that I can use for a pattern, I just have to scale them up. Making one will probably be easy enough, but making the second one to match might be tricky. If I make a pattern to follow I should be OK. Not a pressing job by any means, but one of the many things that has been on the back burner for years. Once again, having a heart attack brings things into focus and I need to get some things finished or get them gone. Making a pair of Indian clubs should be fun and someone will be able to use them if I don't or after I pass.

 

Tornado

 

It's going to be tough to smile for a lot of people in my neck of the woods for a while after the storms and tornados that went through the area on Tuesday night.

West of me is the little town where I go for my ham radio club meetings. Lots of tornado damage to houses, the gas station and the Dollar General. Two people lost their lives.

East of me are solar farms. They took a big hit as did several houses and farms. I was lucky in that the tornados didn't touch down by me. We did have lots of thunder and lightning, small hail and a loss of power for a couple of hours.

 The generator kept the lights on, I pulled my little transistor radio out of the Faraday bag and I was able to pick up the repeater the radio club was using for the emergency with my little handheld. Pretty nice being equipped for emergency communications.

My heart goes out to all those affected by the storm. I can guarantee you the communities will pull together to get people shelter and help rebuild. I went through the big storm that took my almost finished barn down a few years ago but that's nothing liking losing your house and all your possessions.

Anniversary today - 55 years with the old girl. No big plans since she's still recovering from the shingles, but just real happy we're both still kicking and together.