building, making, thinking, geeking

[greatbearmd]

I'm currently sitting in the bowels of Ice Station Mayhem watching the temperature outside drop with every glance at the thermometer. It's currently 4 degrees F, and still steadily dropping. The house is toasty warm, with the woodstove working at near blast furnace levels thanks to the howling winds outside causing the flue to draw like crazy and

Comments

[holy13nation]

The news here is one dire warning and story about our bad weather here, which will then be followed by a quick item on the really challenging weather in the US. Already we are having train cancellations and the like. Were we to experience the weather you do I think the country would just collectively go back to bed and give up. Given the English obsession with the weather we are pathetic at actually dealing with any.

[greatbearmd]

People's ability to deal with the weather with any sensibility has diminished greatly here. From idiocy on the roads to hoarding mentality at the local stores and everything else, it is just sheer panic. It's driven by panic mostly, pumped up by the apocalyptic reporting style of the media. Granted, the extreme cold is something to be cautioned, but when snow is imminent, you'd think an asteroid shower was in the cards. The local hardware stores and home centers will have a large stock of snow shovels, snowblowers, etc. At the first sign of trouble, stocks are depleted and people panic. Really? No one every plans for the occasional snowstorm anymore? What I've noticed is people selling their equipment for handling snow after a mild winter or two, thinking they don't need it. Guess what? Weather is a fickle beast, even more so these days

[mrdreamjeans]

What is the opposite of a tinkerer? That would be me. I admire it in others and wish for you that you can return to your projects pain-free; but, I'm the opposite - no skills, no interest. We've been without a garbage disposal for 8 months, though the new one is purchased and sitting in the garage. Our gas fireplaces have never worked, though $1000 of work was done on them by the previous owner three years ago when we first moved in to our place. They would come in handy right now, but I'm wary of gas, never having had a gas bill prior to moving here. Yes, it all costs money ... which is why the projects remain undone.

[greatbearmd]

Maybe it'sa form of OCD, ADHD, EIEIO, I dunno. If I were nearby, all that stuff would be installed and working for you. It's something I do for friends. I don't expect everyone to be a tinkerer like me, I grew into this habit (or whatever else you might call it) at a very young age. Without any friends living nearby, I had to occupy my time somehow. I'd listen to the radio, watch TV, read books, magazines, newspapers, play outside, ride my bike, and indulge in my seemingly innate tinkering nature. It had a downside, as my younger years also made me a social pariah of sorts. I was a very trusting type, and I can't tell you how many times that was betrayed. I was taken advantage of, picked on, made the butt of countless pranks and jokes, often with adults to boot. That only forced me more into my own little world. Honestly, it's no different today. People at work took advantage of my good nature and abilities, took credit for my work, made me the butt of jokes. After 30+ years of working with the same boring people, I'm glad to be away

The Tinkerer

[mrdreamjeans]

I didn't take it as boastful, I took it as a fact of who you are and what makes you tick. I wish I had more skills, more interest in fixing. I could always rely on my dad until this past decade; of course, now he's gone and I wasn't smart enough to learn from him when he offered. I admire tinkering in others; I admire who you are as a person; though, we haven't met in person, our friendship is meaningful to me.

[ciddyguy]

I am more your type in regards to working with stuff - as I'm sure you've no doubt have noted in many of my posts, like fixing/reinstalling Windows, making an old PC into a media center of sorts (pretty decent for what it is in fact), stuff like that so I'm handy like that too, thankfully.

But I know my limits and know that there will be times when I will have to hire out for some things, and that's OK as I'm not quite to the extreme as you are, though I'm also love making stuff, cooking stuff and the like.

So glad to see a series of posts of you looking/sounding positive and celebrating each milestone/accomplishment (and in fairly quick succession too I might add) has been a treat to read.

Good luck and remember, don't do too much or you'll set yourself back my friend.

I've been hearing, sporadically about the weather back east. "Enjoy" it. ;-)

[greatbearmd]

I have to confront my increasing limits these days, and work around it. I wasn't abotu to do the roof on the house those few years back, even without the back trouble. 25 years ago it wouldn't have been an issue. These days I measure my time and abilities against the costs to get it done and leave more time for me to do other things, even relax or go places.

[redmoonriver]

I'm so glad to see the tinkery thinkery going on again! As glad as I am to NOT be in the northeast for this cold! :D

[greatbearmd]

Yeah, a lot of "escapees" from these climates are breathing lots of signs of relief. So far, I am coping. lol

[labeartorycub]

Tinkering with many things at least leaves you not being bored. I can do some of the handiwork around the house, but I really do leave the serious stuff for the professionals. I pay more, but it's done faster than I could do it. Best wises on the improvements later on this year!

[greatbearmd]

Thanks for the good vibes, I can use 'em! :)

[labeartorycub]

I hope the good vibes have been useful. :-)