Look what I have created!

Warm!



I was at : 8079-8081 Plain City-Dublin Rd, Plain City, OH 43064,

Woodburning stove

Need some cheaper heat than this propane.  I made this from a 5 gallon can i found in the trash bin at work. 

I was at : 8079-8081 Plain City-Dublin Rd, Plain City, OH 43064,

Prototype Sign, Plant Manager Coming to check it out..

A special assignment I was put on.  The plant manager came out to look at it and told me good work.  The most experienced painter in the company agreed.

The back and side.

Disassembly

Engine, headlight, wiring harness, handlebars out.  Hopefully have a bare frame this weekend. 

1965 sears allstate 175

The new project is underway. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!! New layout - New topic catagory

First off , I hope all my family and friends are having a very merry Christmas.  Make is safe, merry, and bright.  errr.....  something like that.

I recently changed to a  lighter layout.  Also, a facebook badge was added to find me straight from here.

I am also adding a new "label" as they are called in Blogger, (they are really a topic catagory, which you can find listed lower right column)  I am going to show all my mini projects I am constantly doing.  Things I make, fix, tinker, paint, restore, or otherwise find relevant.   Hope you enjoy.

Made In China

On a trip to the mall today while doing a little christmas shopping I stopped into some old stomping grounds.  I used to manage a shoe store years ago and I heard an old co manager was back with the company.  I went in and chatted with her for a few minutes.  Good to see her again.  I got to looking around and noticed that they had a nice pair of Dr. Martens boots on sale.  I needed a pair of boots.  After a few minutes schmoozing I got an employee discount on top of the sale price.  


Dr. Martens are known for their quality made shoes and boots made in England since Dr. Klaus Martens started tinkering with making his own boots in 1947.  I was glad I had I had another trusty pair of "docs" UNTIL I GOT HOME.


I removed the laces and was lacing them up the way I prefer, and was dismayed to see the label under the tounge read "Made in China" 


Upon research here I confirmed it.


"On 1 April 2003, under pressure from declining sales, the Dr. Martens company ceased all production in the United Kingdom,^[1] with production moved to China and Thailand. "


I inspected the boots a little closer, and the quality still seems to be the same.  The materials, stitching, and rivets look the same.  


But for some reason, I just don't think they will ever feel as good under my feet as they used to knowing they came from China and not Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Somerset.  Pity.

Perfection

I was chatting with a co-worker today and she told me I was too big of a perfectionist.  I took rather offense to that, as if it was a bad thing.  But the comment did get me thinking.

I mean, I'm not naturally an organized or ocd individual.  I have to try to be.  I guess when I work, I would rather take the time and care to do the best job possible.  Any less and it really isn't worth doing.  Its a slippery slope from there to doing shoddy crap work.  I am pretty much all or nothing with a lot of things.  Not to mention I HATE doing things twice.  In fact, if I even stop on a project, it is very hard pushin to get it rollin again.

I am in the process of really trying to get my life organized , and after it is organized, trim off all the fat.  I am going to slim down on all my "stuff" and focus on what I decide should get done.  I have made some pretty good strides lately with this, and I attribute this mostly due to a new job that has much less stress and anxiety.  I am more motivated in the spare time I have to get 'er done.  I am hopefully going to have a plan in place by march to what I would like to accoplish, when I am going to sign a 2 year extension to my current rental agreement.  I am hoping it will be the last time I sign.

 Time will tell.  Look back on this post march 2012.

THE SNUB.

THE SNUB.
Made famous in this clip.






So I was walking into the local Wal-Mart and on my way in I spotted a young woman walking near the building on her way in too.  You know that thing where you can recognize someone from behind just by their walk, stature, clothes.  It was that kind of thing that made me double take her.  She seemed strangely familiar.  I kept on my path glancing over until at about 30 feet I knew it was her.  It was decision time.

It was seven years ago now when I met her in school.  I always had a liking for this little doll, she knew it, I knew it, it was no secret.  I did my best.  But to no avail, alas she was too into the bad boys, the hipster trendy rock guys with loads of flair and storied upbringings.  I think I was too bland, too predictable, too honest and transparent for her.  We had been in contact on and off over the past seven years, and in some moments, I thought she might give me a chance.  I met her family, she met mine.  But , wrong again, no dice.  sorry kid.......come back another day.

So my mind started racing on what to do.  I slowed my walk and even for a second considered turning around until I was clear of her, but I kept on.  I sped up my pace with continued glances at her.  I was trying to convince myself it wasn't her, as its been probably 2 years since I've seen her last.  At about 20 feet from her, she glanced up, and I met her eyes for about 1 second, I could see her searching her mind trying to convince herself it wasnt me.  It was a long second, but I looked away pretending to be looking through her and not AT her, and I sharply turned in the door when she was within 15 feet.  I heard a faint "bonacci!"  I kept on, never looked back.  I didnt seem to conciously make the decision, I just followed where my legs seemed to be taking me.  I WANTED to stop and chat with her, see how she was doing, but I didn't feel she deserved the satisfaction of knowing I was happy to see her.  She cut me out of her life, it wasn't my decision.  The funny thing is that if she called me today and wanted to get together , I would in a minute, we just got on that well together.  I think I was almost embarrased to see her, as I wouldnt be able to keep the straight face she deserves, I would fold my hand down on the table and smile.  So I did the only thing I could, pretend not to see her.  That's what she wanted from me anyway, isn't it?

It's a shame really, things could have been so much different.  Maybe its not the last chapter in the book, I don't know.  But I do know that in the past 7 years she never gave me a chance, so on this day, I didn't give her one.

Playing "Dumb"

I got to thinking today about playing dumb.  You know, when you intend to act as if you don't have as much information about something as you do.  This can be for a whole list of reasons.  To avoid responsibility, confrontation, liability, or just to let someone spout off about what they THINK they know.

I have found out I do this a lot.  I especially like to play dumb just long enough to make someone think I really am a daft idiot, then smash their assumption to smithereens as I correct them on what they were so expertly trying to teach me.  Then I look like a quick talking smart mouth little guy with a big ego.  Well, I'm not.  But that doesn't mean I'm going to let anyone talk like they are above me.  Sorry Charlie.

So everyone please treat each other as equals will you.  Let work together.  Lets have a freakin laugh once in a while and not take everything so seriously.

UH OH ! Mom's on Youtube!!!

Click the video twice to go to youtube and see the widescreen version. Also, this was my first video using my homemade camera stabilizer, I am still learning to use it. More on that in a later post .

Into the Wild - by Eddie Vedder

Soundtrack from Into the Wild - by Eddie Vedder. This is also a tribute to Christopher McCandless.

Based on a true story. After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters who shape his life.

Song Lyrics:

hmmm ooh hooo hooo

It's a mistery to me
we have a greed
with which we have agreed

You think you have to want
more than you need
until you have it all you won't be free

society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me

When you want more than you have
you think you need
and when you think more than you want
your thoughts begin to bleed

I think I need to find a bigger place
'cos when you have more than you think
you need more space

society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me
society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me

there's those thinking more or less less is more
but if less is more how you're keeping score?
Means for every point you make
your level drops
kinda like its starting from the top
you can't do that...

society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me
society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me

society, have mercy on me
I hope you're not angry if I disagree
society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me

A good use of 20 minutes

The Story of Stuff

Its starting to look like the 60s again....crazy

Link to story

Airstream Bambi @ MOMA, NYC

by VINTAGE AIRSTREAM on JUNE 5, 2009

Airstream Inc.,(1960).Photo by Robin Holland.Image courtesy MOMA, NY.

While this isnt particularly new news, it does have a place here and it is particularly noteworthy that only a very, very small handful of vehicles have ever been elevated to the status of works of fine art by MOMA and placed in their permanent collection.

Industrial design taken to its highest level indeed. When your product gets placed in the Modern Museum of Art you have officially earned the right to brag a little.

Here is the original press release from Airstream:

JACKSON CENTER, Ohio, March 6 — Thor Industries, Inc. , the largest manufacturer of recreation vehicles and mid-size buses, announced today that The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York had acquired from Thor an Airstream Bambi travel trailer for the Museum’s collection. Airstream, Thor’s flagship brand, is the world’s most recognized recreation vehicle, and is an icon of American design. The restored 1963 Airstream Bambi, representing the first design iteration of a model line that continues today, over 40 years later, will go on public display at MoMA on March 7. The Airstream Bambi becomes only the seventh automotive design in MoMA’s collection, joining famed designs such as the Volkswagen Beetle, the Jaguar E-Type, and the original Jeep.


“The selection of Airstream by MoMA for the collection reflects Airstream’s status as a true American icon, and further enhances Airstream’s already superior reputation for quality, innovation and design,” said Richard Riegel, Thor Industries Group President. “Airstream is recognized worldwide as a metaphor for wanderlust, adventure and freedom and as an ideal of the American family experience. We are exceptionally proud of this accolade.”

And a Few other beautiful Airstreams: