Tidbits are just small little things that I run across. Today, Day #11 of Social Distancing is supposed to also bring us other restrictions and be called something new. In addition to everything else, the State Parks are closing today.
This site: Subpar Parks, reminds me of an old NPR broadcast of CarTalk where an 11 or 12 year old wrote in and complained that the show was horrible 🙂 I will have to find that and re-listen to it, the letter was priceless, for now, realize that a lot of what you see in life depends on your perspective and enjoy the humor in Subpar Parks.
Youth worker and community leader Orland Bishop explains the meaning of the Zulu greeting Sawubona (“We see you”) as an invitation to a deep witnessing and presence. This greeting forms an agreement to affirm and investigate the mutual potential and obligation that is present in a given moment. At its deepest level, Orland explains, this “seeing” is essential to human freedom.
I always run into the decision of whether to save or toss an item. Tools, especially ones that no longer give joy, or apparent service, are a real mind bender. I have carried a number with me through moves as sometimes it is hard to do a job without the tool at hand, and some carry sizeable investment costs, others…well, I am still making my mind up.
For example, I do have a 4×24 belt sander for floors and I might use it again; however, it has been 10 years, newer ones probably collect dust better and would serve me better if I went to redo floors, indeed, I may find a completely different toolset to use. It isn’t clear that keeping it in my space is worthwhile.
This square socket was in a silly set of “drivers” for portable drills that I must have picked up for something at one time. I saved them in order to wear the Phillips-head sockets out as I always need those. In addition, the set itself is small enough.
I used it today for the first time in a long time. I must have used it at one time, as I vaguely knew I had it. The handle and magnet on my rear sliding screen door needed adjusting as the screw had almost fallen out and the magnet no longer stuck without manually adjusting it. This is my only small square tool which matched up with the unusual screws used on this door. Having it saved me a trip to the hardware store and got the job done. Yes, the handle has been loose for a bit and I could not remember where this set was for the life of me, but perhaps that is more a workbench than a tool problem.
On the other hand I am ruminating about whether tools, like so many thing, can clutter up the mind and space and take away from a MAKER process. Perhaps I need to ponder what kind of putterer I have been, and what kind I will be in the future as that is always the most important question. To move thoughtfully forward.
Arrived Lost Lake yesterday PM, no boats available, while sitting watching everyone I realized that this summer is NOT last summer, and my Subaru has flat bars which fit my Yakima boat mounts and my Kayak. The same Kayak I left sitting in the garage.Â
Mounted them to test and mentally lock in that they work and I can take the Kayak!
The image demonstrates a working prototype of a concept on camping inside the Subaru. I was working on the idea of how much clearance I would get if I wanted to leave room for a 7″ box, featured in picture and create a level or near level platform.
Two things happened.
First, I bumped the rear hatch light and as I use my bicycle to commute everywhere during the week, I ran the battery down.
Second, I realized that with only one person I could drop the sleeping platform to the floor, shim it for level, make it 26″ wide and then use the remaining 16″ for storage on the other side of the car.
I am hoping to create 1.0 in the next three weeks, use to camp over Spring Break at least once or twice and then adjust as necessary for the summer.
It finally got cold enough that when Aerostich rolled into town with their popup I purchase an Aerostich WINDSTOPPER Electric Vest seen here. It plugs directly into the bike and I will be out testing it as soon as I am cleared to ride! Only a couple of weeks now!
