When was the last time?

Last night I tried to remember when I bought a new power tool at the store for the last time.

I concluded that it must have been in the mid 1980’s when I bought a Dremel scroll saw for my dad as a birthday gift. He never used it and sold it a few years later.

It wasn’t until about 15 years ago, when I started woodworking, that I needed some hand tools and small machinery. Over time I gathered what I needed buying everything used at garage- and estate sales as well as through websites such as Craigslist.

Some of it I resold because I really didn’t need it or when I could find a better one. My first table saw was a little Ryobi that I bought for $40. I used it for several years and  then sold it for $70.

Some tools I acquire with the sole purpose of selling them for profit so I can invest more money in the equipment that I want to keep. I don’t want any money  for my hobby coming out of the household budget.

My wife and I go to garage sales almost every weekend. Here in Southern Arizona, there are sales all year long. And frequently, amongst another items, we find a usable tool for a great price.

And we also keep an eye out for hardware and consumables such as saw blades, finishing products and sandpaper. I am stacking up on those items because I’m going to need them in the near future. When I see a piece of furniture with good solid wood I may just buy it, take it apart, and save the parts.

A few times I sold a tool that I wish I hadn’t. But sooner or later I will find a good replacement. I’m not an impulse buyer. I can spend time in a tool store and walk out empty handed.

Now I’m looking for a scroll saw. I had a nice one at some point but I never used it and it was in the way. I got rid of it and now I wish I still had it because I have some plans with it. There is no rush, I keep looking and I will find a good one at the right price.

No silly names for dogs

A while ago I ran into a lady who was walking her dogs. Two cute and well behaved little critters, pets to be proud of I should think. She told me that they are like kids to her, something I can very well relate to.

Their names? French Fry and Ketchup. Did I hear that right? How in the world can you give them such ridiculous names? And since you think of them as your kids: if you had real kids would you name them like that?

Be serious, if you have a dog, give it a decent name. At the Humane Society they had the sweetest little puppy named Pumpkin. We wanted him, but the name had to go. As soon as we got him in the car we renamed him to Reno, I think that is a cool name.

Even worse than silly names is giving them a dumb looking haircut. It's a dog, it should look like one. Get rid of those terrible bows and other accessories. 

And don't even think about dying its coat (yes, some people do that). Don't do what makes you happy, do what makes the dog happy and comfortable.

No Buddy and Barney for me

Years ago, my wife and I lived in Tombstone Arizona for about 6 months. As you probably know this little town is of historical significance, after all, who hasn’t heard of the famous gunfight that took place there.

Now it is a major tourist attraction, people from around the globe come to check out the OK Corral, the Birdcage Theatre, the cafés, and gift shops. One of the attractions is a ride in a replica of an 1800’s stagecoach. It takes you past the most important places with narration of the driver. The introduction just before departure always was, and may be still is, exactly the same including the introduction of the horses: “On my left-hand side is Buddy, and on my right-hand side is Barney.” One day he had two different horses, and he still referred to them as Buddy and Barney. He corrected his mistake, but it showed he was used to those same opening sentences.

And it made me think, wouldn’t he get tired of doing that same thing over and over again? I’m not sure how long he had been making those tours, but I got the impression that it had been for quite some time. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of times repeating himself and traveling the same short route, multiple times a day, year after year. Well, if he’s happy with it, more power to him but I couldn’t do it.

I get bored with routine stuff really quickly. Twenty years ago, I had an office job where it was more of the same every day. The pay wasn’t bad, the atmosphere was good, and the boss was a nice person. After two years I had the feeling that I was going to explode from boredom. So, I went to school and became a trucker.

Some people have asked me if driving long distances isn’t boring. No, it isn’t. I have always liked traveling, going places, and seeing new things. Of course, trucking is a job, its hard work and often there is no time to stop and look around.

But I enjoyed every mile, whether it was in the Southwest desert, the wide landscape of Wyoming or the rolling hills of Virginia. Around every bend there is something new to see and every state has its beauty. And the great thing about being a trucker is that no two days are alike.

Some people are happy with safe and uneventful routines, whether it is at work or otherwise. I remember having a neighbor who worked at the same office for 52 years. He rode his bicycle to work twice a day and he totaled about 36,000 return trips.

I have had a wide variety of jobs, from running a store, working at an office, and being an assistant auctioneer to driving a truck. I did a lot of different things, learned a lot and I consider that to be rich. I have encountered difficulties and not every job was a pleasant experience, but I can look back with satisfaction and pride.

Table and Restaurant manners

We just love going to a buffet restaurant if the food is good of course.

The downside of visiting a busy buffet is that often kids are running around. I can’t tell how many times I barely managed to avoid a collision and spilling food on the floor. And it’s not just the kids displaying lack of caution; quite a few adults make surprising moves as well. Even turning around quickly may cause an embarrassing situation.

While this doesn’t really bother me, there is something that annoys me to no end. There are always some individuals who load up their plates to the max, like they think the place may be sold out any minute now. And after balancing the pile to the table they take a few bites and discover that they don’t really like it. The plate gets pushed to the side and they go for something else. 
That kind of behavior I consider to be extremely rude and inconsiderate. Why not take a little from everything you like to try and go back for more if you enjoy it.

“Well, we’re paying for it,” they will say. No, you’re not. You are paying for the food you eat, not for the food you waste. I have seen a few places that have posted a sign to that effect, perfectly reasonable in my opinion. Wasting food like that is costing the restaurant money and does not help to keep prices low. 

And wasting food in general is totally unacceptable in my book.

Now I won’t even mention all those people who are short on table manners. I was taught to chew with my mouth closed and not to talk with my mouth full. It is basic etiquette that is lost on many eaters these days. Have you seen the ones who put their arm around the plate like they are afraid that someone will try to take it from them? And of course, every now and then there is this individual who is loud and obnoxious in attempt to spoil the dining experience for others.

I always thought that having a meal together is not just about food, it is also social thing. A while ago my wife and I went to a nice place and shortly after we arrived a family of 3 sat down next to us. All three of them pulled out the cell phone and all the way through their meal they didn’t speak to or looked at each other. They took bites between texting and couldn’t keep their eyes off the screen. I wonder if the even appreciated the food. However, people’s addiction to cell phones is food for another story.

Over the years I have been to hundreds of restaurants and with a few exceptions I always had a good meal and acceptable service. I’m making this statement to let you know that I’m certainly not a notorious complainer. And I’m not a picky eater either. 
But I do want good value for my money.