and the phoenix rises from the ashes

[coolford]

Sorry about the dogs Bird, I lost a fine one during the last year also.  I thought I bought a lot of planes, 900 pounds of them, mostly apart but you win hands down.  There are about 250 of them and have only managed to put about 20 together.  There is always another day.

[p_toad]

Furkids...   

[bird]

Sorry about the dogs Bird, I lost a fine one during the last year also.  I thought I bought a lot of planes, 900 pounds of them, mostly apart but you win hands down.  There are about 250 of them and have only managed to put about 20 together.  There is always another day.

Ha! Those are just the WOODEN planes.... didn't take any pictures of all the metal ones  (probably around 4-500?) .... o lord, what a mess I've made!!! At least I haven't made a mess out of my life.  HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!! If it weren't for the word "mess" I don't know how I'd describe anything in or having to do with my life. Oh, papaw, it's right kind of you to say I'm not actually upside down (in picture), but I'm about as upside down as you can get without being right side up again. O well, supposedly you can clean up a mess, so... there's that.   Except that I don't know how to clean. Yes, I've always managed to pawn laundry, ironing (which my neighbors do for me.... just chef coats that need to be ironed), and cleaning, in general, off on someone else. It's one of the few talents I have.... making  other persons clean and do my laundry for me..... maybe even grab some old sap that will mow my lawn... if I'm lucky."Poor Jenny, the lawn is 30 inches tall, I guess I'll load up the tractor and make a trip over there."  I have cooking to thank for that.  "I'll cook all the food if"...... you clean ,do the laundry.....  Hey, it always helped me to get out of chores with mom and dad as a kid.I never had to do laundry, "mom, if I cook supper can you do the laundry?"  There was never a problem with that.  I'm smart enough to bargain that" cooking thing"  against anything else.
     Now, if you find yourself living with a guy or a gal that can cook..... well, I'm screwed.
        That means I have to move on to "plan B." I have to rely on other bribes.... what can I fix for you? That table looks a little off kilter. You know, those pipes going into the lawn shouldn't be corrugated plastic, you really should replace those with PVC...  Those maple roots will take over every thing! I swear they will! And there's always the reliable last ditch effort : "You know, those gutters need to be cleaned out, maybe even replaced."

     I hold that gutter card for emergency situations. 

There are plenty of other ruses, not enough gravel, lawn graded wrong, wiring too old, pipes will start to leak, that flashing in the chimney needs to be replaced, you could use a new floor, how about building a deck?,  everything looks like it needs to be stained, a few boards replaced, I can fix that creak in the floor board, I noticed your toilet keeps running, the faucet is leaking, I noticed you don't have any outdoor furniture to go with that nice deck..... I can make you some, those shelves on the wall will come down at any moment, they're not supported right. Whewwww, let me take a breath.   Those kitchen counters are awfully old, they look awful. Maybe you should get a garbage disposal, "no, don't have lowes come and do it! They aren't reliable" Haven't you always wanted an "island" in your kitchen? What if it was made out of all local hardwoods? That piano will sound a lot better if it's 2 inches off of the hardwood floor. If you let me build a stand for that guitar or banjo, it won't suffer so much abuse. You should really have a step stool to get up to that top shelf. ... I can make that for you. I noticed all of those blankets stacked up in the corner, you could really use a blanket chest.... I'll make it for you cheap!
       Maybe if I got up into a crawl space or attic, I could stomp hard enough that persons might actually think the sky is falling.  That's a bit risky.... have to have the right amount of "stomp" to have some drywall fall out, but not have your boot go through into someone's beautiful living room. But, while I'm at it, some pull down stairs / ladder would sure make it easier for you to go up and down from there.
    You should get a new computer, tv, phone, and stereo that all work off of the same thing.... HA, just seeing if anyone is still reading this! I'm the guru of technology!
      Well, the long and long of that is that I wouldn't say any of that stuff to anyone.... unless they deserved being cheated out of a few dollars :) (or, if it was true)  But, it's fun to dream about all of the things you COULD say!
    Man, maybe I should have sold cars... those folks are great at lying and coming up with every weird answer in the book.  OK, now I feel bad. If anyone sells cars, please don't take it personally.


I guess I should explain myself to those that don't know me. I've been cooking in restaurants since I was fifteen years old (begged this great chef to let me work there for free). I've been catering for about 25 years. I'm 41, 42, or 43... I can't ever remember my age.  I did go to college. I got a degree in both English and History. Those have served me well.... if you count knowing a whole lot of stuff that doesn't precipitate in a job.  WELLLLL after that, I went back to another college---- Johnson and Wales. During my time attending that school, I also worked at a restaurant. Then, big surprise, I worked at some more restaurants. I'm proud of some of them I have worked out. But, I can just imagine my dad......" you got an English and History major and you're doing the same thing that you were when you were fifteen years old?".  In my defense, I told him all  I wanted to do is cook from about the age of 6 years old or so..... his mistake, not mine!

So, long and long of that is that the only "official" jobs I've ever had were jobs in a kitchen. ... that's the whole "chef" thing that's supposed to get me out of other chores.
After going completely insane in the restaurant industry, I quit. I moved on to refinishing, fixing , and building furniture. And now have made another wise decision to buy thousands of tools in order to sell them and make a profit.  Boy, dad must have a lot of patience and love when it comes to his daughter!!!!
      All the same, I wouldn't change what I'm doing right now.... tools and woodworking. Who could ask for anything more? .... unless you can win the lottery 
  "Dad, you were the one that told me I had to go to college..... bet you wish you never said that!"

[lptools]

Hello, Bird. Thanks for sharing!! You are a great storyteller, in addition to all of your other accomplishments!!! Regards, Lou

[Northwoods]

I see lots of planes, glad you didn't overlook the transitionals.

I picked up a nice little Stanley No. 35 last weekend to go with my 36.  Upon closer inspection it turns out that 35 and 36 stamps look much alike in a poorly-lit junk room in an old barn on top of a hill in Hermann Mo.  So, now I have two 36's.
Oh, well, much of the fun is in taking them apart and cleaning them up....

[p_toad]

"I wouldn't change what I'm doing right now"

We wouldn't change anything about you either.  Thanks for thinking of us.   

[papadan]

Sorry for your loss this year. We had to put our girl down because of cancer, she was only 13. We talked it over and decided not to get another dog right now, but I really missed my ride-a-long partner and I stopped by the local pound. <<<<<<check my avatar as to what went home with me. We lost precious in April and picked up Buddy Oct.2nd.

[bird]

Sorry for your loss this year. We had to put our girl down because of cancer, she was only 13. We talked it over and decided not to get another dog right now, but I really missed my ride-a-long partner and I stopped by the local pound. <<<<<<check my avatar as to what went home with me. We lost precious in April and picked up Buddy Oct.2nd.

forgive me if I repeat myself from time to time.... missing my ride a long partner too

In the vo, and yes I still have it... going strong, I had to put the seats back in it once my friend anne and the dog came along. I thought I was smart by hiding the passenger seat in the rafters at the lake house. It wouldn't take up room in my shed. But, of course, my dad was smarter. He stole the seat because it was better then his in his 240... damn it! I didn't much care. ... then, Anne, dad, and I were having breakfast one day... Dad said, "Hey, Bird, BR is parting out an old 240, do you need anything?"
     "I can't think of anything, did he already give the armrest away?" ..... they're a commodity in my family .... mine has been passed through at least three or four of the volvo s throughout the family." Of course, he snatched that up!
     Anyhow, Anne gave me a death look and said, "Yes, she needs a passenger seat!"  I couldn't really expect her to ride around sitting on a tool box but for so long. So, a nice blue fabric seat went into the vo. I didn't realize it would be the talk of the town....
      Time and time again, "What happened to your car? I almost didn't recognize it?"  I wasn't quite sure what that meant.... is there a new dent I didn't notice?
I soon realized everyone was asking why I had a seat in my car.... hadn't had one in there for 16 years or so. Which inevitably led to , "who's so important that you'd put a seat in that car for?"
     I gave my favorite response, "Wouldn't you like to know?" Anytime you don't want to answer a question, just remember that.
Hmmm, where was I ?  Oh yes, a riding partner. So, I can get rid of the back seat with no problem. It's already out... in my rafters instead of dad's this time around. I'm currently advocating for the front seat to go. We do have other cars to ride in... I'd like my "no seat" car back (accept for mine, of course). I was moving an eight foot Hemlock board the other day for her.... "well, if that seat wasn't in, it'd be a lot easier."  I've not won yet, but I don't give up easily.. .
    I now realize I've been sitting here with this heavy broad axe head in my lap, which is why I got on here in the first place.  Hmmmm ... you love me or you don't ! 

[Bill Houghton]

I was moving an eight foot Hemlock board the other day for her.... "well, if that seat wasn't in, it'd be a lot easier."  I've not won yet, but I don't give up easily.. .

Bird, sweetie, they've invented these things called top racks that can go on the roof of the car for carrying boards, pipe, plywood, and stuff like that.  It's not either/or; it can be both.

And, love ya?  You bet!

[coolford]

You are okay Bird, maybe a little bit off tune, but definitely okay!!!

[p_toad]

 

[Papaw]

We all love you !

[bird]

We all love you !

I've got y'all fooled :)

[Yadda]

We all love you !

I've got y'all fooled :)

...and we remain blissfully deaf and dumb on the issue!  Your posts bring a small ray of sunshine to an otherwise ordinary day.

[bird]

We all love you !

I've got y'all fooled :)

...and we remain blissfully deaf and dumb on the issue!  Your posts bring a small ray of sunshine to an otherwise ordinary day.

I'm glad... used to actually be a write .. in a more professional sense.  After all of those drugs I have to take now, not much creativity left. In fact, this is the only place I ever get a chance to ramble on about a story. It's nice to be able to write a little blurb of crap to some folks! I love you all