Remember last fall, this post specifically, when I told you about the motor on the table saw going south? Well, it seems there has been an early spring. I hooked it up and tried it one more time before having to buy a new one (simple math: rewind=$250, new one=$268) and it worked. Yes, it came back to life.

No, I have no idea how or why. But I do like the fact that our bank account is not lighter by 268 units.

Now – valance for F&S, toy box for a little man, cabinets for a railroad club, handgrips for a friend, display case for work – yeah, I’ll be busy for a while. I promise pictures when I can.

edit, 1/19/11: forgot about a bedroom wall unit for a friend, too. the memory, she ain’t what she used to be!

Chat ya later…

Thank you for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, God bless you all, don’t buy or breed cats or dogs while homeless pets die (spay, neuter & adopt a pet, one by one, until there are none), Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

All the birthdays in the household happened, without loss of blood or other bodily fluid. The “real” anniversary passed by without fanfare, just a quiet observation by those involved (long-time readers will remember that we moved our anniversary to May, to better unclutter the holiday season – the same year that MEG would later be born in the middle of the holiday season …). Inventory at the store is progressing. Looks like it may be safe to say that 2011 is moving right along.

That’s not to say there aren’t things I’ve already noticed. I did witness an incredible intersection of local driving foibles and teenaged disregard for anything not on the screen of the phone, though. Don’t worry, no bloodshed here either:

One morning, headed to the babysitter, I stopped at the light south of Centennial Independence High on 75th. A student, her head bowed to the Screen Of All That Is Needed with earbuds stuffed in, was walking in the crosswalk on the north side of the intersection. A young (female, on the phone) driver in a white SUV started her turn from the cross street onto northbound 75th. My eyes widened as I realized I was about to witness a bloody mess. At the last possible second (and I do mean the last possible second, as in, the student’s coat snagged on the bug deflector on the SUV) the driver slammed the brakes. The student shrugged her coat back on her shoulder and, without missing a step, a sidelong glance, or even a curious look as to WHY she need to shrug her coat back on, kept on crossing without taking her eyes off the Screen Of All Knowledge. The driver, in what appears to be typical fashion these days, waited for the interruption to move out of her way, then sped north.

Two things:

1. Pedestrians, while they do have the right of way, also have the responsibility of self-preservation.

2. Drivers have the responsibility of driving safely, not the right to drive on the streets.

I have noticed lately that right and responsibility are being confused by people who should know better. Should, but don’t, because their education is targeted more towards passing a test than actually learning how to learn.

And, in a totally unrelated but more important (in my universe) development, GM Roper has joined my “Daily” list. Note that “Daily” is in quotes – since there is no handy word that means “occasionally, but not every day, unless I have more than one day off in a row”. Be that as it may, head over there when you get a chance and tell him I said “hi”.

In another development, on par with GM joining my blog list, is the loss of a blogging powerhouse. Basti (real name: Bill) passed away on January 2, 2011. Rob over at American and Proud has a post up. I think that Bill’s last post is most appropriate for him. May he rest peacefully now that his part is done.

Chat ya later…

Thank you for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, God bless you all, don’t buy or breed cats or dogs while homeless pets die (spay, neuter & adopt a pet, one by one, until there are none), Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

To all the friends, relatives, friendly relatives, and relatively friendly people I know:

May 2010 reside in your memory as a year of moving forward, and may 2011 be a year where your personal growth continues.

I love you all very much, and wish much peace and God’s blessings on each and every one of you.

By the time you read this, I will be another year older.

It won’t feel the same, however, as my mother won’t be calling me today to wish me a Happy Birthday.

No matter how bumpy the relationship was, I still loved her, and miss her every day.

Chat ya later…

Thank you for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, God bless you all, don’t buy or breed cats or dogs while homeless pets die (spay, neuter & adopt a pet, one by one, until there are none), Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

I would love to tell you all that I will be visiting each and every one of the blogs listed in the sidebar this Christmas season, but it just ain’t gonna happen. I’m exhausted. At work we kind of celebrated my survival of my first retail Christmas season in a toy store. My crew worked hard, and I thank each and every one of them.

For those of you who have stuck with me, even though I haven’t been consistently posting, thank you. I try to get to the list as often as possible, but even checking in on my absolute favorites was taxing at times. Fair warning for next year at this time – The “O” Word is just going to go into hibernation from Black Friday until Christmas Eve.

That said, it is time to reacquaint myself with my wife, my daughter, and my pillow – in that order. TMBWitW said something about having to wrap all the gifts tonight. This, after wrapping everyone else’s gifts (complimentary with regular priced items) at work. We’ll see how long I last before falling into a coma.

Now, for the customary greetings:

First, to the liberals, enviro-nazi, politically correct whackos and lefties who troll along here occasionally – Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of secular practice of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2011, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

Now, to my like-minded conservatively libertarian friends – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (with a tip of the stetson to Texas Fred)

Chat ya later…

Thank you for stopping by, In GOD We Trust, God bless you all, don’t buy or breed cats or dogs while homeless pets die (spay, neuter & adopt a pet, one by one, until there are none), Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!