A Hot and Stormy Night
I was standing in front of a 2,200 degree furnace in a corrugated metal building full of glass when the tornado sirens sounded.
Not the place you want to be in the event of a direct hit.
Fortunately, we only got slammed by heavy wind and lots of rain.
Unfortunately, the storm was bad enough to cut my glass forming class short.
For Christmas, my mom got mne a gift certificate for a glass forming class at a local glass studio. I wasn't feeling too hot at the beginning of the year, but now that things are getting better with the pituitary tumor, I was ready for the class. I scheduled it for a couple Saturdays ago, but the instructor went home sick befor the session. The instructor was there tonight, but unfortunately flickering lights and tornado sirens cut things short.
I'll go back for the second half of the class another time in a week or two.
I could easily babble on and on about how much I liked the class. I like the studio, the people, and what I was doing. It's very meditative and I like that aspect of things. It's also hot!
The heat was different than what I expected. I used to work outside in the heat of Texas summers and I've had a lot of hot warehouse jobs. I've worked around ovens and handled resins that heated up when mixed. This was a different kind of heat entirely!
The shop didn't seem that hot, though. Maybe that's because heat becomes relative when you're standing in front of a furnace full of molten glass. One step back from the furnace, and it seems much cooler. Step away several feet, and you can trick yourself into thinking it's cool.
I need to get some sleep and I'll probably post more about the class when I'm done with the second half I didn't get tonight because of the storm.
The Instructor Heating Up Glass in the Glory Hole
(Yes, mfelps, It's Called a Glory Hole!)
The Instructor Demonstrating Forming
Gathering Glass at the Furnace
At the Glory Hole
Another Shot at the Glory Hole
(My Mom and Cynthia Cracked up When They Noticed the "Glory Hole #1" Sign)
Wider Shot of the Working Area of the Studio
Putting Air Holes in the Glass with a Linoleum Knife
Jacking the Glass
(mfelps Knows All About Jacking Things--I Think He'd Excel at This :)
Forming the Glass
It's Amazing How Hot that Little Ball of Glass Is
Cynthia Hated the Smell From the Forms (They're Made from Wood)
Cooling the Rod
(Have at it, mfelps! :) )
About to Break the Globe from the Rod
Standing Around
Right About Here Tornado Sirens Sounded, Ending the Lesson
Not the place you want to be in the event of a direct hit.
Fortunately, we only got slammed by heavy wind and lots of rain.
Unfortunately, the storm was bad enough to cut my glass forming class short.
For Christmas, my mom got mne a gift certificate for a glass forming class at a local glass studio. I wasn't feeling too hot at the beginning of the year, but now that things are getting better with the pituitary tumor, I was ready for the class. I scheduled it for a couple Saturdays ago, but the instructor went home sick befor the session. The instructor was there tonight, but unfortunately flickering lights and tornado sirens cut things short.
I'll go back for the second half of the class another time in a week or two.
I could easily babble on and on about how much I liked the class. I like the studio, the people, and what I was doing. It's very meditative and I like that aspect of things. It's also hot!
The heat was different than what I expected. I used to work outside in the heat of Texas summers and I've had a lot of hot warehouse jobs. I've worked around ovens and handled resins that heated up when mixed. This was a different kind of heat entirely!
The shop didn't seem that hot, though. Maybe that's because heat becomes relative when you're standing in front of a furnace full of molten glass. One step back from the furnace, and it seems much cooler. Step away several feet, and you can trick yourself into thinking it's cool.
I need to get some sleep and I'll probably post more about the class when I'm done with the second half I didn't get tonight because of the storm.
The Instructor Heating Up Glass in the Glory Hole
(Yes, mfelps, It's Called a Glory Hole!)
The Instructor Demonstrating Forming
Gathering Glass at the Furnace
At the Glory Hole
Another Shot at the Glory Hole
(My Mom and Cynthia Cracked up When They Noticed the "Glory Hole #1" Sign)
Wider Shot of the Working Area of the Studio
Putting Air Holes in the Glass with a Linoleum Knife
Jacking the Glass
(mfelps Knows All About Jacking Things--I Think He'd Excel at This :)
Forming the Glass
It's Amazing How Hot that Little Ball of Glass Is
Cynthia Hated the Smell From the Forms (They're Made from Wood)
Cooling the Rod
(Have at it, mfelps! :) )
About to Break the Globe from the Rod
Standing Around
Right About Here Tornado Sirens Sounded, Ending the Lesson