Oh, if it was only this easy.
And after spending an hour in my car in a parking lot on a phone conference yesterday, when will we have video conference capability built into the cars?
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Treadmill Desk
Been using this pretty steadily for about three weeks now.
I have to finish up some trim and staining, but I was holding off until I knew the design was stable. Probably have about 8 hours of time on it now -- figure I've done 30 minutes most mornings, one hour this morning.
2mph is a bit fast, and 30 minutes is about all the time I can do basic stuff before going to my regular desk.
I slowed down to 1.6mph today, and was able to occupy 60 minutes worth of time (and even took a phone call from mom) while on it -- it's slower enough I can concentrate a bit more and do some more advance work then I had been at the 2mph pace.
The top got a number (4? 5?) coats of polyurethane. The dish towel is rest my elbows on comfortably when typing. Almost wanting a wing now for it so I could fit a full-sized notebook to my right.
One of the screws went a bit errant, but it did the job. Counter sunk on the top, with the counter sinks filled with polyurethane to keep the surface even. Every place a "surface" met I placed a strip of rubber gasket material, which was held in place by superglue.
That includes between the wood arms and desk, between the desk and top of the treadmill, here between the arms and the uprights of the treadmill -- I think that's really helping a lot compared to just hard surface to hard surface. Plus it let the screws and bolts really bite down when tightened:
And between the metal "washer" and the treadmill uprights:
I have to finish up some trim and staining, but I was holding off until I knew the design was stable. Probably have about 8 hours of time on it now -- figure I've done 30 minutes most mornings, one hour this morning.
2mph is a bit fast, and 30 minutes is about all the time I can do basic stuff before going to my regular desk.
I slowed down to 1.6mph today, and was able to occupy 60 minutes worth of time (and even took a phone call from mom) while on it -- it's slower enough I can concentrate a bit more and do some more advance work then I had been at the 2mph pace.
The top got a number (4? 5?) coats of polyurethane. The dish towel is rest my elbows on comfortably when typing. Almost wanting a wing now for it so I could fit a full-sized notebook to my right.
One of the screws went a bit errant, but it did the job. Counter sunk on the top, with the counter sinks filled with polyurethane to keep the surface even. Every place a "surface" met I placed a strip of rubber gasket material, which was held in place by superglue.
That includes between the wood arms and desk, between the desk and top of the treadmill, here between the arms and the uprights of the treadmill -- I think that's really helping a lot compared to just hard surface to hard surface. Plus it let the screws and bolts really bite down when tightened:
And between the metal "washer" and the treadmill uprights:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Dump Score!
Dump picking is taken as a God-given right in many a New England small town, and woo to the politician who should oppose it. The history books state that General Gage had set out to seize the powder stored at Concord, and if possible also arrest Hancock and Adams while he was at it. I think that's a cover story -- from the reaction of the citizenry, I'd say it was more likely he was trying to prevent the Yankees from picking in their dumps.
My town's dump even includes a couple sheds for books, household items, and whatever else folks think would be useful to someone else. And it's basic etiquette to leave useable or repairable items just outside of the metal dumpster -- the town worker will chuck them in at the end of the day or the next day if no one claims them.
Indeed yesterday I'm taking a five gallon pail of scrap metal to the metal dumpster, and neatly laying against the guard rail is some vinyl-coated chainlink fencing in good shape -- just add your own posts. But I didn't need that.
As I'm dumping my scrap my eyes widen up, "Why, what do we have here?!?!"
Go over to the scale house, consult if the town guys knew the story (they didn't), and ask to borrow their long hook, and I gaff out this:
Those puppies sell for about $1000 new.
Figure it would be worth the college try -- I'm betting it's just a gummed up carburetor.
As I didn't really need it, and have enough projects, I figured I'd give it to Eric as he likes projects to tinker with in the garage when his kids are being too rambunctious in the house, and they have a camper it would work well with.
I had to go into work at the data center that night, so I swing by to drop it off at his house.
While he has some brats grilling up, we throw the Honda on his workbench.
I note there's very little oil in it. Hmmmm....
We hook up the spark plug tester and pull -- no spark, but the low oil light is flashing too.
Fill with oil, put in some gas...second pull it starts up.
Voltage checks OK, we put a load on it, purrs like a kitten.
Sadly, I suspect someone simply ran it never checking the oil till the low oil shutoff kicked in, then threw it away.
My town's dump even includes a couple sheds for books, household items, and whatever else folks think would be useful to someone else. And it's basic etiquette to leave useable or repairable items just outside of the metal dumpster -- the town worker will chuck them in at the end of the day or the next day if no one claims them.
Indeed yesterday I'm taking a five gallon pail of scrap metal to the metal dumpster, and neatly laying against the guard rail is some vinyl-coated chainlink fencing in good shape -- just add your own posts. But I didn't need that.
As I'm dumping my scrap my eyes widen up, "Why, what do we have here?!?!"
Go over to the scale house, consult if the town guys knew the story (they didn't), and ask to borrow their long hook, and I gaff out this:
Those puppies sell for about $1000 new.
Figure it would be worth the college try -- I'm betting it's just a gummed up carburetor.
As I didn't really need it, and have enough projects, I figured I'd give it to Eric as he likes projects to tinker with in the garage when his kids are being too rambunctious in the house, and they have a camper it would work well with.
I had to go into work at the data center that night, so I swing by to drop it off at his house.
While he has some brats grilling up, we throw the Honda on his workbench.
I note there's very little oil in it. Hmmmm....
We hook up the spark plug tester and pull -- no spark, but the low oil light is flashing too.
Fill with oil, put in some gas...second pull it starts up.
Voltage checks OK, we put a load on it, purrs like a kitten.
Sadly, I suspect someone simply ran it never checking the oil till the low oil shutoff kicked in, then threw it away.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
One of those days...
1) Why is it, of the three supermarkets I regularly go to, the one with the worst "baking supplies" (flour, sugar, etc.) selection is the one that has about eight different types of yeast. But the two bigger markets with much more selection and better prices...have maybe one, if you can find it.
2) Discovering the container for your four pound bag of sugar holds three pounds. *sigh*
3) That the yogurt, which I brew up 2-3 times a month, failed this week. All setup to take it from the pot into jars for the fridge, and find it's still liquid. I must've screwed up one of my times yesterday when warming and cooling the milk. First time since last spring I lost a batch.
4) Dog sitting Cooper. Cold, wet dog nose on bare foot. Yeeeeouweeee!
2) Discovering the container for your four pound bag of sugar holds three pounds. *sigh*
3) That the yogurt, which I brew up 2-3 times a month, failed this week. All setup to take it from the pot into jars for the fridge, and find it's still liquid. I must've screwed up one of my times yesterday when warming and cooling the milk. First time since last spring I lost a batch.
4) Dog sitting Cooper. Cold, wet dog nose on bare foot. Yeeeeouweeee!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Signs
While trying to find a full-length version of Paperman (see a few posts below), I came across Signs:
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Downton Abbey...
This just tickles my funny bone tonight:
And today, for the first time since the Blizzard, I was able to drive my Fusion up to the house and turn it around :)
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Blizzard of '13
Blizzard of '13
Snowed from about noon on Friday 2/8 till noon on Saturday 2/9. 24", maybe 26"...real hard to tell with the drifting.
Never a good sign when the wood stove chimney has developed snotsicles...
The garden tractor and plow...
The garden tractor and plow after 30 minutes:
At which point I decided I'll working from home until it melts. At least melts down to about 1' high so I can actually push the snow somewhere.
Adding some more pics...
Monday, February 4, 2013
We need more of this in the world...
Arrgghh! Those rat mouse bastards took the full six and a half minute version off the web!
Here's the trailer for Paperman though:
Friday, February 1, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
January Picture Dump
4" of wet snow today...mower did great plowing it.
And it's time to catch on pics for the first half of January:
Built a mantle finally!
Unlike the perimeter bookshelf that I simply rested on top of the eye-screws lagged into the studs, I used my new router to make a groove for them to rest flush in:
I cut the eyes off the screws after lagging them in:
Decided it needed a piece of trim around the top. Nailing it down wasn't enough, so I set a bead of wood glue -- then realized the four clamps I had weren't enough!!! Had to run across the street to the hardware store and buy a mix-and-match from their economy tool table:
And with it stained...stonework this summer!
Made some stove-top chili slow-cooked overnight:
And while I've cut my wheat consumption at least in half since this fall...sometimes I splurge. Pancake time!
Who the heck was the engineer who designed this? Need to drill a hole to screw in the angle iron to reinforced the cantilevered part of the bookshelf. (Thank goodness I had a right angle adapter that was able to do the job).
Done! I will hide the angle iron some how...maybe just paint it to match the wall when I paint it?
And it's time to catch on pics for the first half of January:
Built a mantle finally!
Unlike the perimeter bookshelf that I simply rested on top of the eye-screws lagged into the studs, I used my new router to make a groove for them to rest flush in:
I cut the eyes off the screws after lagging them in:
Decided it needed a piece of trim around the top. Nailing it down wasn't enough, so I set a bead of wood glue -- then realized the four clamps I had weren't enough!!! Had to run across the street to the hardware store and buy a mix-and-match from their economy tool table:
And with it stained...stonework this summer!
Made some stove-top chili slow-cooked overnight:
And while I've cut my wheat consumption at least in half since this fall...sometimes I splurge. Pancake time!
Who the heck was the engineer who designed this? Need to drill a hole to screw in the angle iron to reinforced the cantilevered part of the bookshelf. (Thank goodness I had a right angle adapter that was able to do the job).
Done! I will hide the angle iron some how...maybe just paint it to match the wall when I paint it?
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
New Years Day stuff...
Starting off with Oscar resting up on New Years Eve in his new bed from Aunt Pat:
Picked up a Router (and yet more Red Oak boards) at Lowes between a gift card and my work Christmas bonus on New Years Eve to be ready for today's projects:
Needed the router to make grooves in the boards to accomodate the pot rack, plus I know I'll need it when I finally get to the point of building the custom desk I want :)
On the woodstove side I need to build a mantle, though I'm starting to get a good idea how I'll built it. It'll continue the red oak trim theme. Also need to some quarter-round to neaten up the wall/ceiling corner. (And that whole ceiling above the woodstove needs work.)
On the kitchen side, I need to move the counter & baker racks it sits on around so I can fix up the wall and window behind it and get that painted this winter (you can see the new color on the woodstove side):
This summer, since I can't do it during wood burning season, I'll get the backer board covered with a cultured stone similar to this:
And also hung up the sign:
Picked up a Router (and yet more Red Oak boards) at Lowes between a gift card and my work Christmas bonus on New Years Eve to be ready for today's projects:
Needed the router to make grooves in the boards to accomodate the pot rack, plus I know I'll need it when I finally get to the point of building the custom desk I want :)
On the woodstove side I need to build a mantle, though I'm starting to get a good idea how I'll built it. It'll continue the red oak trim theme. Also need to some quarter-round to neaten up the wall/ceiling corner. (And that whole ceiling above the woodstove needs work.)
On the kitchen side, I need to move the counter & baker racks it sits on around so I can fix up the wall and window behind it and get that painted this winter (you can see the new color on the woodstove side):
This summer, since I can't do it during wood burning season, I'll get the backer board covered with a cultured stone similar to this:
And also hung up the sign:
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Snowed!
12/29/2012...started about 2pm and was done around 11pm. 10" (3-7" had been forecast)
First time I got to plow with Mickey Mouse the Garden Tractor...worked out OK. I spent about three hours...but a lot of that can be divided between still needing to finish some repairs on the plow so it works more efficiently, some learning, and a lot to pushing snow way back so I can deal with other storms.
Unlike a snowblower or truck plow, the short blade on the tractor can't really "throw" snow over a bank so it's really critical that I made snow dumps.
Cooper was just here for a visit this weekend, he goes home this afternoon.
If I get to the point I have to keep the car down by Route 6, it wouldn't actually take that long to just plow it out. That's where I really pushed snow back so I would have room if needed later in the season.
First time I got to plow with Mickey Mouse the Garden Tractor...worked out OK. I spent about three hours...but a lot of that can be divided between still needing to finish some repairs on the plow so it works more efficiently, some learning, and a lot to pushing snow way back so I can deal with other storms.
Unlike a snowblower or truck plow, the short blade on the tractor can't really "throw" snow over a bank so it's really critical that I made snow dumps.
Cooper was just here for a visit this weekend, he goes home this afternoon.
If I get to the point I have to keep the car down by Route 6, it wouldn't actually take that long to just plow it out. That's where I really pushed snow back so I would have room if needed later in the season.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Scallops and Risotto
Scallops with Risotto and onions, mushrooms, and because I had some to use up green beans -- my first attempt at Risotto. Second time I've fried scallops.
The onions carmelized on me, which is what I think darkened everything. I don't think that was supposed to happen.
Give it about a 1 for presentation, but it tasted average to above-average...but for a first attempt at a lot of things, probably not bad over all.
Part of the recipe involved some wine...I am not a wine drinker, and indeed as stuff was cooking I had to go scrambling through my backpack to find a Swiss Army knife since I realized I didn't own any other corkscrews!
Based on:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/risotto-with-wild-mushrooms-and-scallops-recipe/index.html
Edited to add: It was *very* good as left-overs. Go figure!
The onions carmelized on me, which is what I think darkened everything. I don't think that was supposed to happen.
Give it about a 1 for presentation, but it tasted average to above-average...but for a first attempt at a lot of things, probably not bad over all.
Part of the recipe involved some wine...I am not a wine drinker, and indeed as stuff was cooking I had to go scrambling through my backpack to find a Swiss Army knife since I realized I didn't own any other corkscrews!
Based on:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/risotto-with-wild-mushrooms-and-scallops-recipe/index.html
Edited to add: It was *very* good as left-overs. Go figure!
Monday, December 24, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Kindling
I got a Kindle from my sisters last Christmas. Only complaint is how much it cost me buying books for it :D
Looks like I bought 26 in 2012, and I had a couple more PDF downloads, plus a couple books I bought in old fashion paper:
Girl Hunter: Revolutionizing the Way We Eat, One Hunt at a Time Pellegrini, Georgia 22-Jan-12
Freakonomics Rev Ed: (and Other Riddles of Modern Life) (P.S.) Levitt, Steven D., Dubner, Stephen J. 23-Jan-12
Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit Estabrook, Barry 28-Jan-12
The Feast Nearby: How I lost my job, buried a marriage, and found my way by keeping chickens, foraging, preserving, bartering, and eating locally (all on $40 a week) Mather, Robin 4-Feb-12
Growing Up Amish: A Memoir Wagler, Ira 5-Feb-12
Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive Wesner, Erik 9-Feb-12
Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash Royte, Elizabeth 13-Feb-12
After God (Religion and Postmodernism) Taylor, Mark C. 21-Feb-12
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World Koeppel, Dan 4-Mar-12
A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present Zinn, Howard 5-Mar-12
The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir Baker, Elna 4-May-12
Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food Greenberg, Paul 13-May-12
Rurally Screwed: My Life Off the Grid with the Cowboy I Love Knadler, Jessie 15-May-12
Grace Leads Me Home Miller, Marlene C. 28-Jun-12
Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World Kurlansky, Mark 15-Jul-12
Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World Salatin, Joel 25-Jul-12
Spice: The History of a Temptation Turner, Jack 5-Aug-12
Better Off (P.S.) Brende, Eric 12-Aug-12
Why I Left the Amish: A Memoir Furlong, Saloma Miller 19-Aug-12
The American Way of Eating McMillan, Tracie 20-Aug-12
Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations Montgomery, David R. 25-Aug-12
The Contrary Farmer (Real Goods Independent Living Book) Logsdon, Gene 1-Sep-12
Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back To Health Davis MD, William 24-Sep-12
Rats Sullivan, Robert 31-Oct-12
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking Cain, Susan 9-Nov-12
Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat Wilson, Bee 12-Dec-12
Looks like I bought 26 in 2012, and I had a couple more PDF downloads, plus a couple books I bought in old fashion paper:
Girl Hunter: Revolutionizing the Way We Eat, One Hunt at a Time Pellegrini, Georgia 22-Jan-12
Freakonomics Rev Ed: (and Other Riddles of Modern Life) (P.S.) Levitt, Steven D., Dubner, Stephen J. 23-Jan-12
Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit Estabrook, Barry 28-Jan-12
The Feast Nearby: How I lost my job, buried a marriage, and found my way by keeping chickens, foraging, preserving, bartering, and eating locally (all on $40 a week) Mather, Robin 4-Feb-12
Growing Up Amish: A Memoir Wagler, Ira 5-Feb-12
Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive Wesner, Erik 9-Feb-12
Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash Royte, Elizabeth 13-Feb-12
After God (Religion and Postmodernism) Taylor, Mark C. 21-Feb-12
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World Koeppel, Dan 4-Mar-12
A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present Zinn, Howard 5-Mar-12
The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir Baker, Elna 4-May-12
Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food Greenberg, Paul 13-May-12
Rurally Screwed: My Life Off the Grid with the Cowboy I Love Knadler, Jessie 15-May-12
Grace Leads Me Home Miller, Marlene C. 28-Jun-12
Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World Kurlansky, Mark 15-Jul-12
Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World Salatin, Joel 25-Jul-12
Spice: The History of a Temptation Turner, Jack 5-Aug-12
Better Off (P.S.) Brende, Eric 12-Aug-12
Why I Left the Amish: A Memoir Furlong, Saloma Miller 19-Aug-12
The American Way of Eating McMillan, Tracie 20-Aug-12
Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations Montgomery, David R. 25-Aug-12
The Contrary Farmer (Real Goods Independent Living Book) Logsdon, Gene 1-Sep-12
Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back To Health Davis MD, William 24-Sep-12
Rats Sullivan, Robert 31-Oct-12
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking Cain, Susan 9-Nov-12
Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat Wilson, Bee 12-Dec-12
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Oh Buck!
Last week looked out of my window and saw this guy:
First buck in 13 years I've seen not in hot pursuit of a doe. He was still hanging out a couple hours later when I went out to do firewood, and the ladies he wanted to flirt with had shown up.
First buck in 13 years I've seen not in hot pursuit of a doe. He was still hanging out a couple hours later when I went out to do firewood, and the ladies he wanted to flirt with had shown up.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Home Improvements, Oscar is not impressed.
Got the trim up on the bookshelf this weekend:
It's still only 80% done, not shown in the picture is the remaining end that I haven't decided quite how to finish it -- I can't really make it round, and didn't want a sharp square corner. But as I'm typing this, I just thought up making like three sides of an octagon -- I can cut that easy enough in the plywood shelf and the trim boards :)
I also put this up Monday, after my first setup on Sunday proved unworkable:
The shelving itself is from Home Depot -- $6 each for two sections. Meant for a garage, but nicely powder coated. Niteize S-binders from Target made for perfect hooks to hang the pots. I'll probably end up setting it up a bit higher when all is said and done.
This area will be trimmed with red oak, matching the bookshelf above, which will also go around the hearth area (you can see the backer board in the pic that will have some decorative brick or stone when all is said and done.) Also up for the winter is painting the kitchen -- already have the paint, which you can already see on the wall on the right.
Oscar, however, was less impressed then McKayla Maroney with all the doings in the house tonight.
It's still only 80% done, not shown in the picture is the remaining end that I haven't decided quite how to finish it -- I can't really make it round, and didn't want a sharp square corner. But as I'm typing this, I just thought up making like three sides of an octagon -- I can cut that easy enough in the plywood shelf and the trim boards :)
I also put this up Monday, after my first setup on Sunday proved unworkable:
The shelving itself is from Home Depot -- $6 each for two sections. Meant for a garage, but nicely powder coated. Niteize S-binders from Target made for perfect hooks to hang the pots. I'll probably end up setting it up a bit higher when all is said and done.
This area will be trimmed with red oak, matching the bookshelf above, which will also go around the hearth area (you can see the backer board in the pic that will have some decorative brick or stone when all is said and done.) Also up for the winter is painting the kitchen -- already have the paint, which you can already see on the wall on the right.
Oscar, however, was less impressed then McKayla Maroney with all the doings in the house tonight.
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