One year ago today: September 30, 2024, ‘baristas’ is a euphemism . . .
Five years ago today: September 30, 2020, two apt nicknames.
Nine years ago today: September 30, 2016, Mitch the Great.
Random years ago today: September 30, 2006, twice as much.
Muscle memory works two ways, I think. I sank into sleep last evening with the lights on, it was like getting off shift at a lumber mill back in Montana fifty years ago. Without the heavy lifting, I mean, most of the time I’m standing on the ground beneath the joists hunched over, and almost my entire muscle network does not like it. Good morning. Let’s grab one of our precious four coffees left until tomorrow. Tea just does not cut it. Tea doesn’t stick to your ribs. The good news is we [finally] know where all the cabin wiring goes.
I used the pre-dawn to map out a bass accompaniment to Maroon’s “Memories” that captures the rhythm using the simplest of all guitar strums, boom-chick. The tune is in 4/4 time but has a triplet feel, meaning the phrases have to be two measures long, which sometimes does not match the pattern of the lyrics. I cheated by piecing together my should-be famous bass thirds with the pattern shown in this sheet music.
It’s piano music with no thirds. Took a while to wrap my head around it because my mind kept hearing the lyrics. Every twelve measures, you have to insert a 2/4 half-measure to get back on time. Think of it as 6/8 timing in the bass clef and you got it.
I scored a pallet with eleven possible good boards, so maybe today will be a good day to take a break from that flooring. The high y’day was 86°F again, a harbinger of a great autumn. Might as well build boxes, my guitar player has not been in contact. For the first time in around 88 days, the air conditioner was turned off. Silence, most unaccustomed. A distant train whistle, it turns out there are mining ore trains five miles south of town. And five o’clock in the morning, as well. Pt. Roberts was the only time in my life I was free of train whistles. I heard fog-horns instead.
The new camera has a 52 minute run time (claimed to be 70 minutes in the ad, the old millennial “up to” scam). This is barely time at all to get 15 – 20 minutes of good footage even using the remote. The remote does not turn the camera back on if you let it time out, an easy mistake. The camera does not come with a charger. It says use any, so I found by connecting it up to the 2A cell phone wart, the charge time is reduced from 4 hours to 1 hour. Neat. What really sucks is the file download speed. It takes a half-hour to unload the 32G SD card, even with a cable connection. At the lowest resolution, a card that size fills pretty quick, also not good.
I’ve decided on “Bartow Boxworks” or “Bartow Boxworx” because it is easier to say that Mulberry, Lakeland, or Winter Haven, not to mention the alliteration and an onomatopoeic hint at the noise of the brad nailer in the shop. Here is a snap of the completed laser-branding. Even with this toy version I’m using, this goes pretty fast. I had intended to finish five boxes, which should require two hours labor. Instead I took four. The scooter shed isn’t set up yet, so I had more walking around, as that is where the nail punch is set up.
It this time none of the boxes have bottoms, as I custom fit those. Calculations show that I should not be using storebought dowels for the handles. There are numerous (a plethora) of on-line methods showing how to make your own. Remind myself the smaller boxes are okay with a 7/8” rod, but anything larger needs 1” and that’s where you run into money. These boxes are experimental, I’m as much testing materials and methods as how to set up the assembly.
One reason the nail punch is relocated to the shed is the danger. If I get around to making a video, you’ll see how the nails are ejected into bucket of water. This isn’t for fun. Without water, the nails can ricochet and they are hot. They can also blast right through the plastic and ruin your pail.
Northeastern California, I think.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.
I geared down and took my time. This afternoon, I’m quitting at 3:00PM, as in siesta time, so I can be rested up for Festus hour. Here’s the five boxes with glue drying. The box on the top is the one that is different, it’s 1-1/4” narrower. The pieces on top form the handles once the bottoms are affixed. Tell you what, I’m going to read a semaphore message and tell you what it says, then set my timer for a 1.5 hour nap. Here goes. I HEAR A BIG DIFFERENCE NOW. Explanation: these are practice phrases arranged by order of difficulty. The creators did not imagine many would get to the advanced stages and left this sort of incomplete message.
Later, I stopped for two with the results to get opinions at the club. This has never produced any useful results, but we heavy-duty woodworkers like our cold brew after a long day a the shop. Actually, if you trim away the extras it was more like a couple hours, but still. Return tomorrow for a photo of one of the finished boxes. It’s surprisingly similar in size and shape to my unsuccessful beer buddy design from Tennessee.
Additionally, I went over the laser etching/cutting barrier I’m up against. I showed samples of the designs I’ve already cut in the faint hope there is another idea. Tell you what, I decided to get you a picture from tomorrow morning. Hang on while I turn off the time machine. Here it is, the prototype small toolbox. You like? Careful, this is just a prototype held together with pins.
ADDENDUM
Here is a “valid” New York commercial driver’s license issued to an illegal immigrant listed as “NO NAME GIVEN”. This driver was arrested in Oklahoma, but this Biden-related problem is very widespread.
For questions about last day’s motorcycle, here are the answers:
2006 Softail Deluxe frame and engine. 88 cubic inch. Unknown Road King front forks. Unknown Fatboy wheels. Pirelli tyres, Woods cams. Vance & Hines 2 into 1 'zorst multiple modifications, Memphis Shades windshield, short arse seat. 40mpg, 70K+ miles.
The gun goes on the left.)
