Leaderboard

One of my past customers, who has become a friend, owns a bookstore in the City, near the ocean. She called me this morning to tell me that her reader is sick, and ask me if I could fill in. I had expressed my desire to do so a few years back, while I was remodeling the bookstore. I got here a little while ago. Early, because she has a coffee shop in the bookstore, and the coffee is phenomenal. As I was catching up with her and the employees about 75 kids have come in and settled in the big back yard. I'm really excited, but also pretty nervous. I don't know the material at all. But they're kids. I could screw up pretty bad, and still fake my way through it, hopefully! OK, I'm up in 8 minutes. Wish me luck! Oh, and Maki is here keeping all of them occupied and having the time of her life!

Hot Cross Buns

Actually I hadn't thought about that. Luckily no intestinal issues arose.

On the way, an Easter bunny cake

I cooked the steak and scrambled eggs. I cut the avocado. The other stuff is last night’s leftovers from Bistro’s Na in Temple City, CA.

OK, I know that he doesn't visit here and most likely won't see this, but I was struck by the fact that he turns 39 today. In a funny way Duggeh started the whole headphone stand business that I was once involved in. He had a pair of Jecklin headphones, and posted that he was worried they'd get scratches by just setting them on his desk. So without any instruction from him I went out to my shop, found some scrap wood, and built my first headphone stand. I messaged him that I had something that I'd like to send him. He gave me his address and I shipped it off to Scotland. Upon arrival I guess that he was pretty surprised and pretty happy. He made a very lengthy post, with pictures, and that was the start of my headphone stand business. I immediately had messages rolling in. I think that I built somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 stands before I left Head-Fi in 2007 I believe. He wasn't a teenager then, but very close. It's incredible that so much time has passed since then. And I've made some of the best friends I've ever known! So Happy Birthday Duggeh, and thanks for the memories!

As much room porn as anything else.

So that was absolutely awesome! One of the most enjoyable things I've ever done. The kids were a fantastic audience. Many of them almost mesmerized. Just looking out at the looks on their adorable little faces as I dramatized and accentuated the presentation, was incredibly rewarding. Almost a kind of high. This could be an addictive experience. Another surprise was how many parents sat and listened, instead of browsing the store. Many of which took the time to thank and compliment me on my presentation. This experience has had me wondering about giving up on my first career choice. Teaching was what I originally planned as my career. I did get my BA degree, minoring in child psychology and majoring in education. But after some experience as a substitute teacher, decided against that. I probably made the right decision for myself, as I can't imagine a career not building beautiful things. And I don't imagine that teaching would always be as rewarding an experience as what I encountered today. This is definitely something that I want to continue with, especially after retiring. I kind of feel like I'm coming down from a euphoric high. So much fun! I ended up reading two books, with a short intermission in between. Both around 40 pages, with the second being a very quick read.

Et Voila!

If you need inspiration for decoration...

Hot Cross bun, and nice cup of tea

Going to have Mexican food for dinner, then to see Dune 2 with Al, Claire, Dorothy and Rinni.

I didn't think you would buy it popped into my head immediately because he borrowed it for one day over a year ago. 😆 Just noticed that this is page @909 in this thread. Edit: Actually it became one after 909 with my post. Not planned but funny anyway.

This

there will be 4 output boards. 12 x 6 inch each. filament boards will stack on them, each filament board will have 5 x 5v 4a switchers. 2 switchers in series for the 211 so chassis is likely to be a bit over 24 inches wide and 20 inches deep. updated picture

Harvey? (Only the older folks will get that).

... sounds like a dangerous combo for a 166 min movie...

Really? That's strange.

Waffles!

So after many weeks of diagnostics and several trips to several part stores, my truck is finally producing an acceptable amount of voltage. It settled out after this photo and running the truck for about 35 minutes to about 14.2 volts. I am happy with that. It started with me hooking up the fifth wheel, about to make a short trip and noticed that I was no longer producing electricity. I proceeded to check things out and then replaced the alternator. This of course did not fix the issue. As it turns out, all the voltage regulation is run through the computer. I tried to buy a new one of those which would have cost me $500 but nobody had them or would sell me one. So I finally decided to go completely DYI and externalize the voltage regulator to its own device. I got that all hooked up and I was getting too many pixies with it, around 15.7 volts. I didn't want to just boil my batteries to nothing. So after running a separate power lead and doing some additional rewiring, none of which I am very proud of and will not take a photo of, I got it all back together and working "properly”. I can at least move on to other projects now.

Just finished this. Gonna be very curious what other people think about it.

I'm enjoying it too.

Irish Soda Bread

I learned that a law just passed the Virginia House and Senate that would make plastic firearms illegal. So, since suppressors are firearms under the guise of the law, phase 1 of my business plan is now felon-makingly illegal. FFFFUUUU...